Mission Statement: Be part of the family—St. Alexander Parish
“Do not neglect hospitality for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.”
Hebrews 13:2
Welcome to St. Alexander Parish, our family would like to welcome yours to join us to praise and worship God. If you are interested in joining our parish please click the registration button. We look forward to seeing you at Mass!
“Do not neglect hospitality for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels.”
Hebrews 13:2
Welcome to St. Alexander Parish, our family would like to welcome yours to join us to praise and worship God. If you are interested in joining our parish please click the registration button. We look forward to seeing you at Mass!
To help Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy follow the link to Catholic Charities to find a list of needs and where they need to be dropped off.
Afghanistan Refugee Assistance – Catholic Charities (cclse.org)
Afghanistan Refugee Assistance – Catholic Charities (cclse.org)
REV. R. JOHN SWING
Pastor serving both St. Alexander Parish, Port Edwards and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Nekoosa with residence at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish |
The Most Reverend
William Patrick Callahan The Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse |
Deacon Rick Skifton
Deacon serving both St. Alexander Parish, Port Edwards and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Nekoosa. |
Deacon Mark Quayhackx
Deacon serving both St. Alexander Parish, Port Edwards and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Nekoosa with residence at St. Alexander Parish |
Click on e-giving above to access the application form to sign up for electronic giving. Print and fill out the form and return it to the parish.
Contact the parish office at 715-887-3012 with any questions.
Contact the parish office at 715-887-3012 with any questions.
God bless and thank each and every one who has mailed in their financial contribution. Your attentiveness and extra effort is very much appreciated!
A new option for financial giving is our online contribution form. Click the “contribute” button below and fill in the confidential form. This is different and in-addition-to EFT (electronic fund transfer). By doing this you will receive full credit for your contribution.
A new option for financial giving is our online contribution form. Click the “contribute” button below and fill in the confidential form. This is different and in-addition-to EFT (electronic fund transfer). By doing this you will receive full credit for your contribution.
*****The Obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation is now in force,
please read the letter from Bishop Callahan:*****
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Lord give you peace.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us! As we recall Jesus’ words in Holy Scripture, “Behold, I make all things
new,” I am pleased to announce the lifting of the general dispensation from Sunday Mass and Holy Days
of Obligation, and I welcome all of you back to your faithful Catholic family beginning the weekend of
June 26-27, 2021. Only those who have reasonable cause for a continued absence from Sunday Mass
and Holy Days of Obligation shall continue to be dispensed.
The Mass is our intimate encounter with Jesus. We offer our lives together with Jesus to God the Father.
We receive the fruits of the sacrifice. And we hear and obey His command to “Go and announce the
Gospel of the Lord.”
There is a necessary connection, then, between the reception of the sacraments and our call and obligation
to be Christ’s agents for good in the world. All of us have learned this painful lesson during the past
18 months. With the onset of the COVID pandemic, the limitations on the public celebration of and
participation in the Mass, and the slow return of the faithful to the regular reception of the sacraments,
the world has felt the loss of its soul—of Christians alive for God. Our families testify to anxiety and
fear; our communities bear the marks of sickness; and the daily news of our nation reports a life and
culture far from God. So that we might begin again to live more fully as the soul of our wounded world,
it is necessary that we return to a regular reception of the sacraments, especially the Sunday Mass, the
foundation of our lives as faithful and vibrant Catholics.
It is with open arms and a grateful heart that you are welcomed back to your Catholic family!
God always wins! We are saved! It will be good to have you back!
In the heart of Jesus and Mary, I am,
+Bishop William Patrick Callahan
Bishop of La Crosse
please read the letter from Bishop Callahan:*****
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Lord give you peace.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon us! As we recall Jesus’ words in Holy Scripture, “Behold, I make all things
new,” I am pleased to announce the lifting of the general dispensation from Sunday Mass and Holy Days
of Obligation, and I welcome all of you back to your faithful Catholic family beginning the weekend of
June 26-27, 2021. Only those who have reasonable cause for a continued absence from Sunday Mass
and Holy Days of Obligation shall continue to be dispensed.
The Mass is our intimate encounter with Jesus. We offer our lives together with Jesus to God the Father.
We receive the fruits of the sacrifice. And we hear and obey His command to “Go and announce the
Gospel of the Lord.”
There is a necessary connection, then, between the reception of the sacraments and our call and obligation
to be Christ’s agents for good in the world. All of us have learned this painful lesson during the past
18 months. With the onset of the COVID pandemic, the limitations on the public celebration of and
participation in the Mass, and the slow return of the faithful to the regular reception of the sacraments,
the world has felt the loss of its soul—of Christians alive for God. Our families testify to anxiety and
fear; our communities bear the marks of sickness; and the daily news of our nation reports a life and
culture far from God. So that we might begin again to live more fully as the soul of our wounded world,
it is necessary that we return to a regular reception of the sacraments, especially the Sunday Mass, the
foundation of our lives as faithful and vibrant Catholics.
It is with open arms and a grateful heart that you are welcomed back to your Catholic family!
God always wins! We are saved! It will be good to have you back!
In the heart of Jesus and Mary, I am,
+Bishop William Patrick Callahan
Bishop of La Crosse
You can watch a live stream Mass on Sunday morning
at 9:00am using the "YOUTUBE CHANNEL" button below.
D i o c e s e o f L a C r o s s e
Guidelines for the Public Celebration of Masses Effective May 18, 2021
Preparations before Mass:
1. Out of concern and safety for others, anyone with fever or flu-like symptoms should not attend Mass.
2. Capacity at Mass should be determined according to recommended social distancing and safety precautions. The recommended distance varies according to vaccination status or personal choice. Therefore, provision should be made at every Mass to accommodate these safety precautions. Barriers between pews should only be removed gradually to accommodate social distancing recommendations: for example, part of the church may need to be without barriers to accommodate the number of people, yet barriers should remain in other areas for those for whom distancing remains an important safety measure.
3. “Vaccinated-only” Masses are not allowed; checking vaccination status of Mass attendees is also not permitted. However, pastors might consider designating a Mass time for those seeking more stringent precautions.
4. Wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance is highly encouraged for unvaccinated persons.
5. Hand sanitizer should be available for those who wish to use it.
6. Holy water fonts may be filled at the discretion of the pastor.
7. It is permitted to have Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, greeters, ushers, and other volunteers to assist at the Mass, as necessary. Ministers should practice proper social distancing and safety procedures.
8. A cantor, accompanist, and choir are allowed. The choir should practice proper social distancing and safety procedures.
9. Sacristans and those who prepare communion elements must carefully wash their hands prior to touching the breads and pouring the wine.
10. All vessels containing bread and wine are to remain covered until the distribution of Holy Communion (except from the epiclesis to after the consecration during Eucharistic Prayer).
11. Separate chalices should be used for the celebrant, each concelebrant, and deacon, or the practice of intinction should be observed, for clergy not fully vaccinated.
12. All liturgical ministers must wash/sanitize their hands before and after Mass. During Mass:
13. Ministers may process through the body of the church at the beginning and end of Mass.
14. For a monetary collection, baskets or other appropriate containers could be placed at church exits or elsewhere in the building for people to drop envelopes or donations (with proper security). As an alternative, baskets with long handles are allowed; collection baskets are not to be passed person-to-person. Ushers must immediately wash or sanitize their hands after the collection.
15. Presentation of gifts is allowed. Hand sanitizer should be made available for use by those presenting the gifts.
16. For now, the Sign of Peace will continue to be omitted. Consequently, when the celebrant says, “The peace of the Lord be with you always,” and the people respond, “And with your spirit,” the celebrant forgoes the usual invitation to offer a Sign of Peace and moves immediately to the “Lamb of God.”
17. All communion ministers must sanitize their hands before and after the distribution of holy communion.
18. Communion will continue to be given to the faithful under the form of bread alone. Communion is encouraged to be received in the hand. If inadvertent contact is made between minister and communicant, the minister is to purify his or her hands before continuing to distribute Communion. After Mass:
19. Frequently touched surfaces in the church (pews/pew tops, door handles, microphones, etc.) should be cleaned and/or sanitized per CDC recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-buildingfacility.html
20. Other gatherings associated with Mass (e.g., coffee & donuts, funeral luncheons) can be held following current safety precautions.
21. The ordinary process of counting the offertory collection can be resumed.
Guidelines for the Public Celebration of Masses Effective May 18, 2021
Preparations before Mass:
1. Out of concern and safety for others, anyone with fever or flu-like symptoms should not attend Mass.
2. Capacity at Mass should be determined according to recommended social distancing and safety precautions. The recommended distance varies according to vaccination status or personal choice. Therefore, provision should be made at every Mass to accommodate these safety precautions. Barriers between pews should only be removed gradually to accommodate social distancing recommendations: for example, part of the church may need to be without barriers to accommodate the number of people, yet barriers should remain in other areas for those for whom distancing remains an important safety measure.
3. “Vaccinated-only” Masses are not allowed; checking vaccination status of Mass attendees is also not permitted. However, pastors might consider designating a Mass time for those seeking more stringent precautions.
4. Wearing face coverings and maintaining social distance is highly encouraged for unvaccinated persons.
5. Hand sanitizer should be available for those who wish to use it.
6. Holy water fonts may be filled at the discretion of the pastor.
7. It is permitted to have Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, greeters, ushers, and other volunteers to assist at the Mass, as necessary. Ministers should practice proper social distancing and safety procedures.
8. A cantor, accompanist, and choir are allowed. The choir should practice proper social distancing and safety procedures.
9. Sacristans and those who prepare communion elements must carefully wash their hands prior to touching the breads and pouring the wine.
10. All vessels containing bread and wine are to remain covered until the distribution of Holy Communion (except from the epiclesis to after the consecration during Eucharistic Prayer).
11. Separate chalices should be used for the celebrant, each concelebrant, and deacon, or the practice of intinction should be observed, for clergy not fully vaccinated.
12. All liturgical ministers must wash/sanitize their hands before and after Mass. During Mass:
13. Ministers may process through the body of the church at the beginning and end of Mass.
14. For a monetary collection, baskets or other appropriate containers could be placed at church exits or elsewhere in the building for people to drop envelopes or donations (with proper security). As an alternative, baskets with long handles are allowed; collection baskets are not to be passed person-to-person. Ushers must immediately wash or sanitize their hands after the collection.
15. Presentation of gifts is allowed. Hand sanitizer should be made available for use by those presenting the gifts.
16. For now, the Sign of Peace will continue to be omitted. Consequently, when the celebrant says, “The peace of the Lord be with you always,” and the people respond, “And with your spirit,” the celebrant forgoes the usual invitation to offer a Sign of Peace and moves immediately to the “Lamb of God.”
17. All communion ministers must sanitize their hands before and after the distribution of holy communion.
18. Communion will continue to be given to the faithful under the form of bread alone. Communion is encouraged to be received in the hand. If inadvertent contact is made between minister and communicant, the minister is to purify his or her hands before continuing to distribute Communion. After Mass:
19. Frequently touched surfaces in the church (pews/pew tops, door handles, microphones, etc.) should be cleaned and/or sanitized per CDC recommendations. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-buildingfacility.html
20. Other gatherings associated with Mass (e.g., coffee & donuts, funeral luncheons) can be held following current safety precautions.
21. The ordinary process of counting the offertory collection can be resumed.
