upcoming area faith community events...2019/12/22 · please call elise lanoue 629-3252 or jan...
TRANSCRIPT
Our Lady of the Prairie Area Faith Community December 22, 2019
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Pastor –Fr. Mark Steffl
Parochial Vicar –Fr. Todd Petersen, 507-532-5711 (Holy Redeemer Church, Marshall).
Websites: www.ourladyoftheprairie-afc.org, www.holy-redeemer.com
St. Mary’s Church, 249 6th Street, Tracy, MN 56175, 507-629-4075, [email protected]
Mass times: 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays, 8:30 a.m. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Sundays
Confessions times: 30 Minutes before Sunday Masses
Contact information: Secretary: Carol Strand, 507-629-4075
Religious Education Coordinator: Diann Timmerman, 507-629-3667, [email protected]
Maintenance: Tim Amick, 507-829-5197
Prayer Network: Alita Lenertz, Cell: 507-993-2654, Home: 507-629-4145;
Lota Hannasch, 507-629-4866
WG Prayer Line: Pam Baumann, 507-859-2503
St. Mary’s School, 225 6th Street, Tracy, MN 56175, 507-629-3270
www.stmarysschooltracy.org
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday – Friday
Contact information: Principal: Lisa Dieter, [email protected]
Secretary: Chris Schons, [email protected]
School Cafeteria: Kate Schmitt, 507-629-3841
Maintenance: Tim Amick, 507-829-5197
St. Michael’s Church, 200 Euclid Ave, Milroy, MN 56263, 507-336-2505,
Mass times: 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays, 8:30 a.m. Sundays
Confessions times: 30 Minutes before Sunday Masses
Contact information: Pastoral Associates: Don & Jean Schmidt, 507-336-2583
[email protected], [email protected]
Religious Education Coordinator: Suzanne Lightfoot, 507-336-2505,
Bookkeeper: Kami Parker, 507-828-6515
Church Cleaner: Linda Dolan, 507-829-1032
Groundskeeper: Larry Karsten, 507-336-2624
Baptisms: Contact Diann Timmerman at the St. Mary’s parish office (for both St Mary’s and St Michael’s parishes)
Marriages: Contact Priest at least 6 months prior to the desired wedding date for preparation requirements.
Hospitalized or ill parishioners: Contact Priest.
New Ulm Diocese Catholic Charities: Counseling and adoptions toll-free at 1-866-670-5163.
FORMED.org audio-videos: www.ourladyoftheprairie-afc.formed.org, or www.formed.org access code #YW2JXQ
Other local Mass times:
Campus Religious Center, SMSU, Marshall: 12:00 p.m. Tuesdays & Thursdays (while school is in session); 6:00 p.m.
Sundays.
Holy Redeemer Church, Marshall: 5:30 p.m. Mondays; 7 a.m. Tuesday – Friday; 5 p.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m., 10 a.m., & 12:30
p.m. (Spanish) Sundays.
St. Clotilde, Green Valley: 7:00 p.m. Saturdays.
St. Mary’s, Cottonwood: 9:00 a.m. Sundays, see the Bread of Life Area Faith Community bulletin for current daily Mass times.
UP COMING AT OUR LADY OF THE PRAIRIE AREA FAITH COMMUNITY:
Sun. Dec. 22 8:00 a.m. Confessions at St. Michael’s in Milroy
8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Michael’s in Milroy
+ David Mann
10:00 a.m. Confessions at St. Mary’s in Tracy
10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s in Tracy
+ Wayne & Jason Steffes
Mon. Dec. 23 8:30 a.m. Decorating at St. Mary’s Church in Tracy. All help is welcome and appreciated!
Tues. Dec. 24 5:00 p.m. Christmas Eve Mass at St. Mary’s in Tracy; Choir singing carols at 4:25
+Laurence & Judy Lenertz
Wed. Dec. 25 8:30 a.m. Christmas Day Mass at St. Michael’s in Milroy
For All Our Youth and Families
Thur. Dec. 26 8:30 a.m. Mass at Country View, Walnut Grove
+ Mary Como
Fri. Dec. 27 8:30 a.m. Mass at St Mary’s in Tracy
+Jean Lamfers
Sun. Dec. 29 8:00 a.m. Confessions at St. Michael’s in Milroy
8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Michael’s in Milroy
+ Donald Goblish
10:00 a.m. Confessions at St. Mary’s in Tracy
10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary’s in Tracy
+ Paul DeSmith
Prayer Network prayers for healing for all the sick and other needs in the area faith community especially: Darcy
who is donating a kidney to Bonnie at the Uof M, Bonnie Boerboom, Sarah Asmus, Gloria VanOverbeke, Mary Dolan,
Mary Leonard, Lawrence Stassen, Joan Hannasch, Paul Soupir, Audrey Sik, Troy Hannasch, Linda Fultz, Larry Karsten,
someone having breast cancer surgery. If you know of someone who should be now removed from the sick list, please let the
rectory know. Names will be left on the list for 1 month and then taken off, if you wish them put on again please contact the office
we will gladly put them on again.
Pray for safety for all those serving in the military from our families and from our communities especially: Aaron
Moudry, Samantha & Lucas Karnes, Troy Sik, Joe Goodnow, Stuart Stroman, Patrick Carnahan, Brad & Andrea Bond,
Travis Davis, Martin Hamsa, Cole DeBlieck, Patricia Baker, Pat Weisbrich, and Troy Baumann.
OUR LADY OF THE PRAIRIE FAITH COMMUNITY NEWS:
NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BULLETIN IN BY WEDNESDAY 10:00 A.M. PLEASE SEND ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION TO THE CHURCH OFFICE - e-mail use: [email protected] or call
the office 629-4075.
IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION FOR THE AFC WEBSITE – E-MAIL IT TO DIANN TIMMERMAN AT
DID YOU MISS GETTING THE SUNDAY BULLETIN?- Feel free to look up the website to find the Sunday Area Faith
Community bulletin, the Area Faith Community monthly calendar, and other information at the OUR LADY OF THE PRAIRIE
WEBSITE: https://www.ourladyoftheprairie-afc.org. Make sure to go to the HOME PAGE, scroll down and you will find the up-to-
date bulletins.
St. Mary's Pie's make great Christmas gifts! $10.00 per frozen pie-- Apple, Caramel Apple, Cherry, Blueberry, Peach, Pumpkin, Rhubarb Custard, Strawberry Rhubarb. Stop in kitchen 8-12 on school days or make arrangements for pickup by calling Jan at 629-2755, Lota 629-4866 or Elise 629-3252. We also have gift certificates available.
Bulletin Ads: We are once again selling a full year of advertising blocks on the back of the Our Lady of the Prairie Area Faith Community weekly bulletin for 2020. Please call Elise Lanoue 629-3252 or Jan LaVoy 829-2755 if you are interested in an advertising space
New 13-week GriefShare session to begin December 9, 2019. This 13-week session is a seminar for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one or friend. GriefShare is a
nondenominational, Christ-centered DVD seminar, featuring grief experts and real-life stories, followed by a small group
discussion. The program is designed so anyone experiencing grief can join at any time. The group meets Mondays at
3:00-4:30 p.m. at Boulder Estates in Marshall, MN.
For more information, call Dorothy at 507-401-0601 or the church office at 507-532-5711
There is a bus going to the Cities on January 22 to attend the Pro-life Prayer Service and Minnesota Citizens Concerned
for Life Rally at the Capitol. The bus is sponsored by area K.C.'s and Council of Catholic Women. The bus will load at
6:30 am and leave from Marshall and stop in Redwood Falls. For more information contact Lori Timmerman at 507 476-
0070 or [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
You are invited to a
Community Christmas Dinner Serving on Christmas Day, noon until 1:30 p.m.
Holy Redeemer Church, Carlin Hall, Church Lower Level
503 West Lyon Street, Marshall
Carry Out meals will be available and need to be ordered by
Friday, December 20. Call 532-5711
Plan to pick up your carry out meals at the South Side Entry at 11 a.m.\
Christmas Day. Thank you for your donation!
AREA FAITH COMMUNITY RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
We want to wish our students, catechists, parents and volunteers a very Merry Christmas!
There will be no class for Wednesday, December 25th and Wednesday, January 1st. Classes
will resume January 8th.
Catholic Heart Work Camp youth will be having our
Soup and Chili Cookoff Fundraiser
January 12th after Mass in Tracy at St. Mary's this year!
Start perfecting recipes and let us know if you are interested in entering
your soup or chili in this year's cook-off! We are also looking for judges.
If you are interested, please give Suzanne or Diann a call!
Winter weather cancellations for Religious Education classes will be posted on www.marshallradio.net. Please contact us if you need any additional information.
If your student will not be at class due to illness, please email Suzanne or Diann
ST. MARY’S AREA FAITH COMMUNITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL Merry Christmas! Our Savior is Born!!! Rejoice!
No School December 23 through January 3 – Christmas Vacation.
ALUMINUM CANS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY FUND for St. Mary’s School, can be dropped off in the wagon behind St. Mary’s
Church.
ST. MARY’S SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS
We no longer collect milk jug caps, bread wrappers or printer cartridges.
We do still collect Our Family UPC’s and you can clip Box Tops until next year.
Box Tops can now be collected electronically by downloading a Box Tops app on you smart phone and then just scan your receipt.
We do so appreciate your continued support of these easy fundraisers. Thank you!
ST. MARY'S WEEKLY CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS: Dec. 13 – Joe Schreier $100; Dec. 20 – Darcy
Carlson $100; Christmas Program winner was Lloyd Goltz, $500.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPONSOR A STUDENT’S TUITION? Tuition at St. Mary’s school is only $1,925.00 a year
for one child, or about $214 a month. What a great investment in the future! Contact the school or parish office if you
would like to help. Thank you.
NEWS FROM ST. MARY’S IN TRACY
LOCKING THE CHURCH: St. Mary’s basement will be locked at about 2:30 p.m. and the upper church about 6 p.m.
If you need to get a pie see Jan LaVoy or one of the staff to let you in. If you need to get inside for meetings or other
needs, contact Keith Schons 507-629-4289 or Jan LaVoy 507-829-2755 to get the doors opened for you.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND CHURCH, and live in Tracy, you may receive communion weekly. Please contact Jeanine
Vandendriessche @ 507- 212- 2018 for information.
THE LITURGICAL MINISTERY SCHEDULE for January, February & March are in the back of church. Please pick
one up. The schedule is also on our website Our Lady of the Prairie – St. Mary's & St. Michael's
Funeral Ushers needed: We presently have three ushers on the list to be on call to usher for funerals. It would be nice to
have a few more to choose from, as you are called on a few days notice. Please let Elise Lanoue know if your schedule is
such that you would be able to assist St. Mary's in this way.
RECONCILIATION SERVICES –
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22 – COTTONWOOD – 3 P.M.
The Church basement will be closed from December 19 thru January 5 as we finish our project with new carpet in the dining hall. If there should be a funeral during these two weeks the Caboose has once again graciously offered their facility to us if needed.
ATTENTION SERVERS: We would like all servers to stop into the sacristy after any of the Masses during the
Christmas season, as we have a small gift of candy for each to thank them for serving for us throughout the year.
ST. MARY’S PARISH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED TUES., DEC 24 & WED., DEC. 25.
We will be decorating St. Mary’s Church on
Monday, December 23, at 8:30 a.m. All help is welcome and appreciated!
Christmas Raffle Winners of $100 each were: Karen Lanoue, Dianne Kamrud, Lisa Dieter,
Helen Peterson and Bev Kosse. Thank you to all who supported this raffle.
OUR GIFTS TO GOD: December 15, 2019 Adult: $4315.00 Youth: $1.00 Loose Plate: $422.00 Immaculate Conception: $35.00 Christmas Flowers: $185.00
Christmas Decorations: $20.00 Spec. Collection: $50.00; School donation: $350.00 Misc: 28.00 TOTAL: $5406.00
Total needed/week: $3,923.07
Liturgical Ministers for Christmas Eve, Tues., Dec. 24, 2019 at 5 p.m. Lector: Molly Peterson
Cantor: Carla VanDeWiele
Eucharistic: Jolynn Johns
Servers: Lauren, Lawton and Nolan Verlinde
Ushers: Jake Tauer, Bill Tauer, Richard Krueger, Jeff Buyck
Gifts: Gary and Patty Peterson
Prairie View Nursing Home Communions: December 25, Dick Tuszynski
Liturgical Ministers for Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Lector: Marlene Halfmann
Cantor: Katie Lanoue
Eucharistic Lota Hannasch
Servers: Ashton and Taylor Squires, Hailey Hubner
Ushers: Jake Tauer, Bill Tauer, Richard Krueger, Jeff Buyck
Gifts: Gary and Jolynn Johns
Money Counters for December 30: Jan Griffith and Karen Lanoue
Prairie View Nursing Home Communions: Jan. 1: Sandy Tuszynski
CCW NEWS
TRACY: Next Large Function— St. Lillian – Jane Carlson and Carol Buyck
Next Small Function – St Agnes-Bonnie Boerboom and Jolynn Johns
SHEPHERD OF THE FIELD for 2018-19: For St. Mary’s in Tracy – Monsignor
Douglas Grams, 417 S Minnesota St., New Ulm, MN 56073. Birthday is July 3rd and
Ordination date – June 13, 1987 MILROY: Next Funeral is Circle 1.
SHEPHERD OF THE FIELD for 2018-19: For St. Michael’s in Milroy – Rev. Germain
Rademacher, Ridgeway, 720 23rd St. N. Apt. 201, New Ulm, MN 56073,Ordination Feb.
23, 1958, Birthday Dec. 4.
COFFEE IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
ground & whole beans, $10/bag. Contact Alita Lenertz, 507-629-4145.
NEWS FROM ST. MICHAEL’S IN MILROY
ADORATION is a time of silent reflection and prayer many Catholics practice regularly.
It is a time to commune with God, emptying all worries and anxiety out of your heart, body, mind
and soul. St. Michael’s will have a time slot open for Adoration. Would you consider spending an hour with Jesus
once a week? Please call 507-828-2171 and we can find the time that works for you. 8:00 – Noon. PLEASE
CHECK THE ADORATION SCHEDULE on the bulletin board in case we are short a person on Thursday. Thanks.
ST. MICHAEL’S IS IN NEED OF MASS INTENTIONS. Please contact Jean Schmidt or call the office.
You may also send to St. Michael’s, 200 Euclid Ave. Milroy.
St. Michael’s is looking for more volunteers for Money Counting on Sundays after Mass. You would be
assigned 3 months out of the year to help with this process. If interested – please contact the parish office or
call 507-828-2171 (Jean Schmidt).
THE ROSARY BEFORE MASS: If you or your family are interested to lead the Rosary before Mass on Sundays,
please sign-up on the bulletin board in the back of church. Rosary begins at approximately 8:05. We have pamphlets to
help you in the back.
~ St. Michael’s is missing 3 large books (Journey Songbooks ) Keyboard Accompaniment . If you have
borrowed them would you please return them.
~We are looking for an additional Pianist or organist to help out on Sunday. If you are interested please contact
the office or Carole Snyder – 507-336-2436.
Join the Christmas Choir at St. Michael’s If you like to sing Christmas Songs – come join the St. Michael’s Choir on Christmas Day.
We will be singing songs starting at 8:10 a.m. Let’s make this the BEST Christmas EVER!
Stewardship Report for December 15, 2019
Adult: $5219.52 Student: $1.94 Loose Plate: $112.50 TOTAL: $5333.96 Total needed/week: $1,500.00
Liturgical Ministers for Christmas Day, December 25, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.
Gifts: Organist: Carol Snyder
Cantor: Neil Dolan and Choir
Lector: Bob Dolan
EHMC: Don Schmidt, Taylor Mueller
Servers: Tanner Hauger, Dawson Jenniges, Tyson Lightfoot
Ushers: Daryl Leach, Bill Lightfoot, Tim Zwach, Josh Leach
Liturgical Ministers for Sunday, December 29, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.
Gifts: Eric Dolan family
Organist: Doris Cauwels
Cantor: Suzanne Lightfoot & Tori Coudron
Lector: Jen Coudron
EHMC: Dick Vroman, Anthony Dolan
Servers: Margaret Dolan, Leah Lightfoot, Ezekiel Dolan
Ushers: Daryl Leach, Bill Lightfoot, Tim Zwach, Josh Leach
Money Counters: Becky and Joe Lanoue, Jane Louwagie, Dean and Alice Vroman
From Fr. Steffl:
We have just a few remaining days of Advent, preparing our hearts for
Jesus in Bethlehem. If you have not yet been to Confession, there are still
some scheduled times that you can find in the liturgy schedule. St.
Mary’s in Cottonwood is also hosting a Penance Service with 3 priests
available for Confessions at 3 pm today, Sunday December 22. I would
also encourage everyone to carve out a bit of time for some prayer in
these last days of Advent – stop in the church for a few minutes for some
time of recollection and reflection.
We are very close to the end of the calendar year. To that note, I would
like to encourage everyone, as I have in the last weeks, to think about making an extra gift to the parish. Many
have taken the opportunity to save some tax burden by gifting their RMD’s (required minimum disbursements
of their IRA’s) to the parish, saving the tax that they would otherwise owe on the accumulated interest. The
parish can accept gifts of stock and grain which also can offer some tax benefits. Please contact the parish
office for more information.
On that note, it is good to thank everyone for their continued generosity and stewardship. We have made some
good progress in recovering from our shortfalls over the past years, especially at St. Mary’s in Tracy. I have
been meaning to write a bit about this. I realize that many years ago, St. Mary’s got into a big financial hole. I
know that for all the time Fr. Mraz was here, he diligently worked to pay off a huge debt that he “inherited,”
slowly but steadily digging out of that hole, and I admire the work he did in the face of discouragement. When
I first arrived, there were still some periodic “cash flow” issues, that I think are now in the past. (I am grateful
for my training in accounting before studying to be a priest, it has helped me more than I could ever have
imagined!) I have also worked hard, in both parishes, to be transparent about stewardship and what each parish
needs each week for us to meet our obligations. I hope that everyone feels very comfortable about the finances
and the way money is accounted for and spent. It is one of my goals for next year to continue to work on
“stewardship” in our parishes, and a good understanding that we give to our parishes because we need to give
back to God because He has blessed us so much, and not only because some bills need to be paid or a specific
project needs to be accomplished.
Since Fr. Mallak left in July, Tracy and Milroy have been without their “resident priest.” I don’t know if there
will be a new one assigned next June, but just wanted to say once again – please do not hesitate to call if you
need to see a priest, and either I or Fr. Todd will be glad to do whatever is needed. And on that note, I am
grateful for the positive comments and support of my efforts since arriving here 18 months ago.
Last week, I wrote about the great gift that daily Mass is to us and our spiritual lives. Becki Johnson, who
works at the Campus Religious Center on the SMSU campus in Marshall turned it into a “Daily Mass
Challenge” for her students to go to daily Masses that were offered there during finals week and beyond. In
light of the other “challenges” that we have seen in the media in the last years to raise awareness of certain
things, last year we did a “Scapular Challenge” to encourage people to wear the Brown Scapular and in this next
year, let’s take up the “Daily Mass Challenge” – try to find some time, as you can, to make one more Mass each
week, or even every day for those whose schedule allows for it. If there are better solutions for Mass times for
daily Masses in Milroy and Tracy, I am open to those suggestions.
Please know of my prayers for you in these last days of Advent, and for our parishes as we continue our journey
to Bethlehem together.