Communion With Jesus and the Liturgy Of the Hours

Nathan Budde • August 8, 2024

The Christian life is about communion with Jesus. I am reminded of this truth each day at the seminary in which our lives as seminarians are scheduled around liturgical and personal prayer. This is why the Church requires us to attend Mass every Sunday and encourages us to receive communion as often as possible (at least once during the Easter Season). At Mass we offer praise and thanksgiving to God for his goodness and the blessings he has given us. We also offer petitions for our own needs and the needs of the Church Universal. Most importantly, we offer our hearts during the Eucharistic prayer, joining our own intentions and offerings to the sacrificial offering of Jesus on the Cross and receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ who gives us divine life, and healing which conform our hearts and lives to look more like his. The source and summit of the Christian life, indeed, is the Eucharist. 


However, the Church’s liturgy does not end with Mass.


However, the Church’s liturgy does not end with Mass. The memorial of the Paschal Mystery, our communion with Jesus, and our offerings of praise, thanksgiving, and petition to the Father are extended throughout the day in the Liturgy of the Hours. This prayer is offered by the Church so that we are joined to Christ in prayer at all times and to sanctify the entirety of every day “from the rising of the sun to its setting” (Psalm 113:3).

Near the end of his public ministry on earth, Jesus instructed his disciple that “You must pray at all times and not lose heart” (Lk 18:1). In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that from the Church’s beginning, the apostles took Jesus’ command to “pray always” to heart by praying at fixed times throughout the day: the apostles were praying together on Pentecost during “the third hour of the day” (Acts 2:1-15); Peter “went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour” (Acts 10:9); “Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour” (3:1); “about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God” (16:25). Following the example of the Apostles, the Church gradually formalized this “hourly” personal prayer of the Early Christians into liturgical prayer which is called the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office. Through the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church draws all of its members to “offer to God an unceasing sacrifice of praise” (Heb 15:15).


For those who pray the Office regularly, the Psalms begin to become part of the rhythm of life and a source of dialogue with God, both praying the psalms to the Father and also listening to how the word speaks to one’s own heart. 


The Liturgy of the Hours is made up of seven specified times of prayer (called “Hours”). The two most important hours, called the “hinge” hours, are Morning Prayer (prayed around sunrise or 6 am) and Evening Prayer (prayed around sunset or 6 pm). At the seminary, we pray both of these hours in community on most weekdays. The other hours are Office of Readings, the three Daytime Hours (Midmorning, Midday, and Midafternoon), and Night Prayer. Sanctifying specific times of the day, each Hour reflects a spiritual theme that correlates to the physical time of day. During the morning, for example, the prayers focus on resurrection and new life in Christ. During the evening, the prayers focus on thanksgiving for the day's blessings and preparation for the day ahead. For those who pray the Office regularly, the psalms begin to become part of the rhythm of life and a source of dialogue with God, both praying the Psalms to the Father and also listening to how the word speaks to one’s own heart. 

At their ordination, priests and deacons promise “to celebrate faithfully the Liturgy of the Hours”(1) for the glorification of God and sanctification of his people. While not required of the laity, the Second Vatican Council encouraged the entire Church, including the laity, to incorporate the Liturgy of the Hours into the liturgical life of parishes and individual Christians. 

The Liturgy of the Hours has been a significant part of my prayer life for several years. In the year or two before I entered seminary, I began to make Morning Prayer and Night Prayer a regular part of my prayer life. Since I did not have as much time to pray as I do now in seminary life, I found that committing to praying one or two Hours daily gave my prayer life stability. Being almost entirely scriptural, it helped me to become acquainted with Psalms and Scripture passages that I would not have otherwise prayed with or read at that time. Finally, it gave me a better sense of living a liturgical life, especially during the seasons of Lent, Easter, Advent, and Christmas.

If you are struggling to enter into a routine of prayer in your family life, if you would like to live more liturgically, or if you would like to pray more with Scripture, I encourage you to try incorporating one or more of the Hours into your daily prayer routine. A very simple start is to end the day with Night Prayer, which is simple to learn. While you can purchase a volume of Night Prayer or Christian Prayer (which contains Morning, Evening, and Night Prayer), there are many apps for iPhone and Android that prepare all of the prayers for you (no need to worry about ribbons or purchase an expensive book). Two very easy to use apps are the Divine Office and IBreviary apps. I encourage you to make a plan to pray one or two hours regularly by yourself or with your family. If we do not make plans for prayer, it will never seem like there is time for it. Making a commitment to pray Morning Prayer to sanctify the day as it begins or Night Prayer as a prayerful reflection on how the day went before going to bed is a great step toward prioritizing your prayer life and remaining in communion and conversation with Jesus each and every day. 

Please consider joining us at St. Leonard every fourth Saturday of the month after the 5 p.m. Mass for Evening Prayer in the Divine Mercy Chapel, beginning January 27.

 

(1) Ordination of Deacons – Promise of the Elect

Pew Refurbishment Will Begin Summer 2026

July 7, 2026
The project to refurbish the church pews will begin this Summer. It is expected to take several weeks to complete and to cost $190,000. This project was announced in 2023 and is funded as part of the Love One Another campaign . After reviewing the results of a survey given to parishioners in May of 2026 and further deliberation among parish leadership teams, alongside our pastor, we have decided that we will not add seat or back cushions to any of the pews at this time. Parish leadership vetted several contractors and hired A&A Finishes (based in Lyons, WI). This contractor came to us highly recommended by St. Mary and St. Charles parishes in Burlington. The contractor will determine the appropriate sequence in which to remove the pews, and will refurbish and reinstall one section of pews at a time. The pews will be transported to the contractor’s workshop to be cleaned, sanded and restained. Areas that are missing the laminate finish will be filled in. The pews will receive a clear coat before being returned and reinstalled. The kneelers will be stripped down and disassembled so that metal parts that are visible can be painted. New foam cushions for the kneelers will be applied and reupholstered. New tilting brackets will be installed and support brackets will be painted and repaired. While pews are out for refurbishment, additional seating will be made available in the Gathering Space. Due to safety considerations we will not be able to put chairs where the pews are normally located. We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of the members of our faith community, without whom this project would not be possible.

Being God’s Hands and Feet: Mission Trip to Knoxville, Tennessee

By Bethanne Maus-Schaefer • July 1, 2026
Our mission trip to Knoxville, Tennessee was an incredible week full of faith, friendship and serving others. Early in the morning of June 21, 2026, 10 adults and 45 teens and young adults headed out from St. Leonard and made the trip to Knoxville Catholic High School. From the moment we arrived we jumped right into the Catholic Heart Workcamp experience: serving others, growing in our faith and praising God together. Throughout the week, we teamed up with teens and adults from Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Connecticut to serve the Knoxville community. Some of us volunteered with Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM), helping in their clothing stores, food pantries and homeless shelters. Others worked with Operation Backyard painting homes, making minor repairs and building wheelchair ramps for people in need. We were also grateful for cooler-than-usual weather, which made the work a little easier. Each day started with Mass and prayer, helping us focus on the work ahead. We saw God's love in so many ways: through our team, the people we served and even the simple conversations we shared. It was a great reminder that small acts of kindness can make a big difference. The week wasn't just about serving others; it was also a time for us to grow in our own faith. We learned to trust God in new ways, spent an evening in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, took part in a moving foot-washing service and shared many meaningful moments of prayer together. We're so thankful to everyone who supported this trip with prayers, donations and encouragement. Your generosity made this mission possible and gave us the opportunity to share Christ's love with the people of Knoxville. As we return home, we're bringing back more than great memories. We have a renewed commitment to keep serving right here in our own community. Mission work doesn't end when the trip is over, it continues every day as we look for ways to love our neighbors and share God's grace wherever we are. Please continue to pray for the ministries in Knoxville, the people we were blessed to serve, and for our youth as they continue living out the lessons God taught us during this unforgettable week.

Understanding the Divine Mercy Chaplet

By Gene Gospodarek • June 23, 2026
As many of you are aware we now pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet after every Mass on the fourth weekend of every month (a ten minute prayer). Are you also aware of why we say the prayer, and where it came from? Like the Our Father, this prayer came directly from Jesus himself in appearances to St. Faustina, who he commissioned to spread the prayer, image and devotion worldwide. Jesus asked St. Faustina to paint an image of himself as he appeared to her. This is the image that appears on the prayer cards and pictures we see today. In this Divine Mercy image the pale ray stands for the water which makes us righteous, and the red ray stands for the blood which is the life of souls. These two rays came from the very depth of his Mercy when his agonized heart was opened by a lance on the cross. He promised that those who venerate this image will not perish. 

Our Record-Breaking Turkey Trot in 2025

By Marejo Ramsey • June 23, 2026
As planning begins for the 15th Annual St. Leonard Turkey Trot, we’d like to celebrate the incredible success of last year’s race and thank everyone who made it possible.  A special thank you goes to Allen and Loretta Jorn. Through Allen’s leadership and dedication, the Turkey Trot has grown into one of our parish’s largest community events and most successful fundraisers. We are deeply grateful for his years of service and wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement as race director. We also extend our sincere thanks to the many volunteers whose time and talents make this event safe, welcoming and successful. If you’d like to join our volunteer team, contact the Parish Office. We’re always happy to welcome new helpers. Thanks to your participation and generosity, the 2025 Turkey Trot welcomed a record 1,916 participants and raised nearly $32,000 in net proceeds- more than 30% higher than our previous record. These funds will help support future parish capital projects and continue strengthening our parish community. Mark your calendars for the 15th Annual St. Leonard Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26 at 9 a.m. Watch for registration announcements later this year. Thank you for your continued support, generosity and prayers. We look forward to seeing you at the starting line!

Every Parish Needs Builders

By Brian Weidner • June 4, 2026
Pastoral Council Nomination 2026

St. Leonard In the News: Spring 2026

May 28, 2026
It makes us happy to see our faith community being recognized for the ways our families are living our mission. St. Leonard was featured in two news outlets recently: Members of our Knights of Columbus Dynamic Men’s Group went on a walking pilgrimage from Holy Hill to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. The Milwaukee Catholic Herald featured them in an article sharing their route and experiences. You can read all about it here .

A Simpler, More Connected Parish Experience

May 27, 2026
Over the last few months we’ve been alluding to a new digital parish system. We are implementing a program called ParishStaq- a parish management platform that will integrate many of our services and communications- making it easier for parishioners and staff to stay connected, informed, and engaged. ParishStaq uses industry-leading security and encryption to keep your personal and financial information secure. With ParishStaq, you will be able to log into your own profile where you can: Stay more connected to your ministry groups Register for events and ministries more easily Access ministry schedules, volunteer opportunities and giving in one place Update family contact information conveniently Receive communications more consistently We are also excited to build our own mobile app for quick access to parish life and resources. This transition will help our parish staff and ministry leaders work more efficiently by reducing duplicate work, improving communication and streamlining administrative tasks. We will be able to focus more time and energy on our mission. As part of this process, our online giving platform has already transitioned to Pushpay (which is part of the ParishStaq system). We are grateful to everyone who has already made that change. As we continue to implement ParishStaq over the next few months, we will provide clear instructions and support. Thank you for your patience and support as we take this important step forward together.

Dcn. Nathan Budde's Priestly Ordination Information

May 11, 2026
Deacon Nathan Budde- one of our former parish seminarians visiting from the Diocese of Green Bay, WI- will be ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, May 30. You are invited to support Dcn. Nathan through prayer and by following along with the ordination and other celebrations surrounding this blessed occasion. Ordination & Other Masses Ordination | Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m. at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay, WI The Ordination Mass is open to the public, with a light reception and opportunity to receive a blessing to follow. This Mass is also livestreamed . First Mass | Sunday, May 31, 2 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church, De Pere, WI This Mass is open to the public with a light reception and opportunity to receive a blessing to follow. Masses of Thanksgiving at St. Leonard | Sunday, June 21, 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Light refreshments to follow these two Masses only. Our 9 a.m. Mass is also livestreamed . These Masses are also opportunities to receive a Plenary Indulgence. Continue reading below to learn more about indulgences and how to prepare to receive it.

Lenten and Easter Collections 2026

April 9, 2026
The Human Concerns Committee's Lenten and Easter collections were a great success, thanks to the generosity of our faith community. Through the Lenten collections we helped 5 organizations: The HOPE Center , Community Smiles Dental , Kathy's House , The Women’s Center and Street Angels . In addition to the items sent directly to the organizations through their Amazon wish lists, we donated 30-45 packed boxes/bags each week. The organizations themselves also thank you, with comments including the following: “Thank you for coordinating this effort! We are so thankful for everything. It will definitely be put to good use in the house,” (Kathy’s House). “We want to say how grateful (and still surprised) we are! So many children and families will benefit from this. It truly is an amazing thing your congregation does to help the community,” (Community Smiles Dental). Through the Easter Food Collection, we were able to provide a wonderful Easter meal and other necessities to 19 families. We are over-joyed to share that an anonymous parishioner also assembled and donated Easter baskets for all of the children in each family that benefitted from Easter Food Collection. Our elementary Christian Formation students who participated in an enrichment program on "The Plight Of the Working Poor" donated food items for and assembled shelf-stable meal kits to add to the Easter food being donated. The meal kits included a handmade card and recipe instructions for the meals. The assembled recipes were taco soup, chicken parmesan and an Italian spaghetti dinner. Thank you, parishioners, for your incredible generosity! Thank you to the Human Concerns Committee for coordinating these efforts to help us live our mission and carry out the Lenten pillar of almsgiving.

Luck Of the Auction Results

March 30, 2026
On behalf of the Auction Committee, thank you so much for your generosity and support for this year’s auction fundraiser, Luck of the Auction. Due to your support, we have raised more than we ever have before! We have raised over $58,000 for Home & School and the Church to use for our school students to improve their educational experience as well as purchase much-needed playground equipment! This amount is a 25% increase over our proceeds from last year’s auction! We also had our highest auction attendance in recent years with 196 attendees! This fundraiser could not be successful without the support of our school staff, church staff, parishioners, and community supporters! Thank you for your donations, support, and hard work! Make sure you are on the lookout for “The Good, the Bad, and the Lucky,” our Wild West/Country themed auction for 2027!