CROSS PLAINS — St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cross Plains will be hosting a free outdoor movie night on Friday, Aug. 15, at St. Francis Xavier football field, 2947 Thinnes St., Cross Plains.
Families are invited to bring their blankets and chairs for a free, fun family event. Picnic dinners are welcome, but no glass bottles.
CROSS PLAINS — A free identity theft educational seminar will be held on Sunday, March 30, from 12 noon to 12:30 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Parish in the Fellowship Hall, 2947 Thinnes St.
The seminar is hosted by Catholic Financial Life and will be led by Neil Purtell, a retired FBI agent who has been an identity theft consultant with Associated Bank for seven years.
CROSS PLAINS — The St. Francis Xavier Endowment Committee will be hosting the parish’s fifth annual Casino Night on Saturday, March 1, in the parish fellowship hall at 6 p.m.
This year’s Mardi Gras-style Casino Night is an opportunity for parishioners — and all friends of St. Francis Parish — to get together for a fun-filled evening that includes food, beverages, entertainment, and prizes galore.
CROSS PLAINS — Students at St. Francis Xavier School focused on the true meaning of Christmas through prayer, service projects, and spreading holiday cheer.
During Advent, the entire school came together on Monday mornings for a prayer service. Surrounding a large Advent wreath, the students looked on as candles were lit. Students then took turns leading the school in prayer and singing.
Students in kindergarten, first, and fourth grade classes spread holiday cheer by caroling at local nursing homes.
CROSS PLAINS — St. Francis Xavier School students in all grades (K4 through eight) are taking part in a year-long, school-wide program focused on putting positive actions and behaviors into practice.
Each month teachers develop lesson plans and activities around a specific character trait and will create opportunities for students to be living models of Christ.
The program is being organized by second grade teacher Ms. Jennifer Eicher. Eicher explains that the goal behind the school-wide program is to create an environment where all students, faculty, staff, and parents are active participants in the growth and development of each child within school community.
MIDDLETON — The sights and sounds of “panda ball” and mozzarella sticks fresh out of the oven meant it was time to start another year of Cardinal Virtue.
Cardinal Virtue is a Catholic youth apostolate that aims to engage high school students in the Middleton and Cross Plains areas.
The group recently held its kick-off event at St. Bernard Church in Middleton.
CROSS PLAINS — There’s a special parking space in front of St. Francis Xavier’s parish office — a cone with lots of markings letting people know — this spot is reserved for Sister John Rose.
In recent weeks, you could see signs all around Cross Plains asking for prayers and encouraging her to, “Hang in there, Sister!” I found her inside the church, moving around the facility, attending to visitors. She was willing to take a little time to talk about her recent diagnosis.
Sr. John Rose Acker has been involved in pastoral ministry at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Cross Plains for 23 years, where she ministers to the sick, elderly, and dying. Prior to that, she was a teacher for 32 years. She celebrates 62 years as a School Sister of St. Francis this year.
MIDDLETON — There’s a welcome sight once a week at the 8:15 a.m. daily Mass at St. Bernard Church in Middleton.
About 15 to 20 Middleton High School students take advantage of a late-start day to go to Mass and have breakfast together.
It’s one of many activities in the Cardinal Virtue youth apostolate for high school students in the Middleton area. It’s a joint effort by four parishes: St. Bernard in Middleton, St. Francis Xavier in Cross Plains, St. Peter in Ashton, and St. Martin of Tours in Martinsville.
CROSS PLAINS — On Friday, April 12, St. Francis Xavier School, Cross Plains, became a “little Heaven” when the saints “came marching in.”
The fifth graders, under the guidance of their teacher, Jennifer Esser, did research on their patron saints or those they were interested in.
