Though the world teaches us to be self-absorbed, we

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1 March 2017 St. Alexius Our Lady of the Angels St. Paul s This Issue: 2 A History of Lent and Lenten Practices 3 Lent Is More Than Preparation for Easter 4 Teresa Burlet Grows in Faith by Giving Back to her Parish Community 6 Blessed by Service, Inspired Through Formation Holy Family Teacher JoLynn Welle Parish Office 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN (320) In His Service, Gieskes Have Each Other s Back Standing back to back, parishioners Deb and Ken Gieske work hard to support one another in their personal stewardship calling. Though the world teaches us to be self-absorbed, we as Christians are called to be counter-cultural. Imitating Christ s own example, we are meant to put others before ourselves, living our lives as a continuous offering to the Father. For St. Paul parishioners Kenneth and Deborah Gieske, this is what stewardship is truly about offering our lives in humble service to Him. I feel that you have to do something with your life that is good for others, Ken says. We aren t called to live our lives simply for ourselves we re meant to live it in service of others and of God. It s all about reaching out to people and living out the Gospel, about becoming that example, Deb adds. Blessed to have been raised in strong Catholic families, both Ken and Deb learned at early ages the importance of faith and service to the Church. And though stewardship wasn t necessarily spoken of back then, it permeated their lives through their parents daily examples. We took part in all the Church activities, Ken says. It was just a way of life a life of service that I really learned from an early age. In Ken s case, this example of service led him to join the Christian Brothers, a teaching order, at the end of high school he would remain a member for 20 years. This also led Ken to his 39-year career as a Catholic high school teacher in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, as a numbers girl, Deb spent her professional life working with personnel and payrolls, and then later in a hospital environment. In fact it was Deb s love for balancing her checkbook to the last penny that eventually inspired a friend to introduce her to Ken, an equally meticulous financer. Throughout the couple s dating years and early marriage, stewardship really centered on Ken s mission as a Catholic educator. Always seeking to be that example to the students, they made a point of attending school functions and administering to the young people whenever possible. So, when the couple retired in 2010 and joined St. Paul s, they were suddenly in need of a new mission. continued on back cover

2 A History of Lent and Lenten Practices When we approach the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday, we look toward a season of preparation, sacrifice and penance, culminating in Holy Week and the joyous celebrations of Easter. And while the liturgical season of Lent offers us a time for solemn reflection, it is also widely welcomed each year as an opportunity to be drawn closer to our faith. But just how did this penitential season come to be? And how did the reverent hallmarks of Lent such as fasting and prayer become so deeply ingrained in our observance of this season? To understand the Lenten season, it is important to understand the word Lent itself, which is derived from two Anglo- Saxon terms: lencten, meaning spring, and lenctentid, which is the term for both springtide and March of course, Lent often falls throughout most of the month of March, and during the transition into (and renewal of) the spring season. In Latin, the corresponding term for Lent, quadragesima, refers to its dating from the 40th day before Easter. This brings us to another hallmark of the Lenten season its length of 40 days. However, Lent was not originally observed for this length of time. During the first three centuries of the Christian era, Easter preparations consisted of three days of fasting and prayer. In some places, this preparation was extended into the entire week prior to Easter which we now observe as Holy Week. There is also some evidence that, in Rome, Easter preparation was as long as three weeks. In its early form, Lent was an intense period of spiritual and liturgical preparation for catechumens who were to be baptized at Easter. At the time, many members of the community observed this period of preparation alongside the catechumens. But, as time passed and more people were baptized as infants, the connection between catechumens and Lenten preparation gave way to a focus on the themes of repentance and fasting during Lent for all Christians. It was not until the fourth century upon the legalization of Christianity that Lent developed into its current length of 40 days, which mirrored the length of Jesus fast and temptation in the desert, as chronicled in Luke 4:1-13. Yet, interestingly, the Lenten observations of fasting and prayer did not always take place for 40 consecutive days. For instance, in Jerusalem, fasting was observed for 40 days, Monday through Friday, but not on Saturday or Sunday thus, Lent lasted for a total of eight weeks. In Rome and the West, fasting took place for six weeks, Monday through Saturday, with Lent being observed over six weeks. The practice of fasting for six days over the course of six weeks eventually prevailed, with Ash Wednesday being instituted to account for 40 fasting days prior to Easter. And as the length of Lenten observance developed over time, so did the observance of fasting itself. At first, some areas of the Church abstained from all meat and animal products, while others made exceptions for certain foods, like fish. And while a person was to only have one meal a day, a smaller repast would be allowed so that manual laborers could maintain their strength throughout the day. Eventually, eating meat was allowed throughout the week, save for Ash Wednesday and on Fridays. One of the Lenten traditions in our parishes since 2003 has been the Lenten Chaplets. The chaplet is usually a crucifix on a black knotted cord. There are a total of 22 knots, on which the Creed and seven Our Fathers, seven Hail Marys and seven Glory Bes are prayed for the conversion or deepening of faith of another person. Then, after Good Friday, the chaplet is given to the person you have prayed for during Lent. Each year, our parish has between 900-1,000 chaplets being prayed. This year, our chaplets were purchased in Rome, blessed by Pope Francis and laid on the tombs of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Monica by Fr. Theis during his last trip to Rome. May these six weeks of Lent bring you deeper into prayer and closer to Jesus. 2

3 Dear Parishioners, St. Alexius Our Lady of the Angels St. Paul s In 2013, Pope Francis issued his first significant work. It was what is called an apostolic exhortation titled The Joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium in Latin). While Rome may use fancy words for some of these things, an exhortation of this sort does not change any official Church rules or traditions. However, it does offer advice and encouragement about how we should live our lives. Pope Francis offers this kind of guidance on a regular basis, but this one in particular seems to present us with suggestions that are worthy of our consideration, especially during Lent. The pope called us to become missionary disciples: The Church which goes forth is a community of missionary disciples who take the first step, who are involved and supportive, who bear fruit and rejoice (Evangelii Gaudium, 24). Speaking about his exhortation, Pope Francis said, One of the riches of the Second Vatican Council was to remind the Church of the two lenses of the season of Lent: baptismal and penitential. In fact, Vatican II noted specifically, The two elements which are especially characteristic of Lent the recalling of baptism or the preparation for it, and penance should be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in A Letter From Our Pastor Lent Is More Than Preparation for Easter liturgical catechesis. It is by means of them that the Church prepared the faithful for the celebration of Easter, while they hear God s word more frequently and devote more time to prayer (Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church #1348). There were vows made during our baptism, vows we should try to fulfill at all times throughout the year. Lent is a time of evaluating our faithfulness to the baptismal vows and Easter is a specific time for renewing them. Sometimes however, we are given other opportunities to renew these promises to reject Satan and believe in God, but we say them automatically and without much thought. Lent is a good time to think. Perhaps this year, we can renew our vows as families even at home. Then, as a family, we can help each other understand what that renewal means. The other important part of Lent pointed out by Pope Francis has to do with penance. Most of us have heard the traditional practices of Lent fasting, prayer, reception of the Sacraments, and almsgiving. These are things that may bring us closer to Christ. By fasting, we may gain a greater understanding of the hunger the Lord feels for our souls; by increased prayer, we join in union with God; through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, we become a greater part of that union with God; through giving alms, we empty ourselves in part, just as Jesus emptied Himself for us on the cross. This is a time to do more than prepare for Easter. This is a time to change how we may approach living and our faith. God bless you now and throughout this holiest of seasons. In our Father s hands, Fr. Greg Paffel There were vows made during our baptism, vows we should try to fulfill at all times throughout the year. Yet Lent is a time of evaluating our faithfulness to the baptismal vows and Easter is a time for renewing them. 3

4 Teresa Burlet Grows in Faith by Giv At an early age, Teresa Burlet quickly learned how important it is to give of oneself. Growing up on a dairy farm with three brothers and four sisters, she was able to clearly see how we can use our unique talents to make our community a better place. [I learned] early on that work and chores don t go away if you just ignore them, she says. If everyone chips in and does their part, it makes the burden lighter on each individual. When I think about stewardship, I think about the poor widow who didn t have much to give, but she gave the little she did have. We all have something to give a gift or talent God gave to us and we just have to recognize what it is. As a child, Teresa attended St. Alexius with her family and had wonderful examples of faith and stewardship in her parents, who remain actively involved in parish life today. She was baptized, received her First Communion, and was confirmed at St. Alexius. Years later, she would celebrate her wedding to Andrew, her husband of 25 years, here at the parish. Teresa moved to the Twin Cities to attend college, and remained there for almost 25 years. In late 2010, she Teresa Burlet on her wedding day at St. Alexius 25 years ago. She stands in front of a stained glass window bearing her great-grandfather s name. and Andrew also a Sauk Centre native moved back to the area. It was an easy decision for us that we would join St. Alexius when we moved back to Sauk Centre it felt like coming home, Teresa says. One of my favorite childhood memories of attending Mass at St. Alexius is my sister and me sitting with my grandmother and great-aunt in the pew adjacent to a stained glass window bearing my great-grandfather s name. I still sit near that window today. I enjoy the relationships and sense of belonging that come from being a member of a small, active parish. After attending a Stewardship Ministry Fair, Teresa realized that there were many ways she could contribute to the parish. I was surprised by the number of ministries that still needed to be It s so important as Catholics and disciples of Christ to recognize the needs around us not just in our own community, but around the world and do what we can to fulfill them. It s up to each of us to be God s eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. Teresa Burlet 4

5 St. Alexius Our Lady of the Angels St. Paul s ing Back to her Parish Community Teresa and her husband, Andrew, celebrated their 25th anniversary last September. fulfilled, she says. Instead of sitting back and asking who is going to teach our young children, or who is going to provide the music that makes Mass so enjoyable, I asked myself, What gifts and talents did God give me, that I can share with others? Today, Teresa serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a lector and a sacristan. She is also a Co-Chairperson of the St. William Dining Hall for the annual parish Sausage Supper, and helps out with various other activities throughout the year. Through these ministries, she has been able to grow in fellowship with many others in the parish community. Being involved is a great way to build relationships and get to know each other on a personal level, in ways that just aren t possible when you only see each other at Mass, Teresa says. It s amazing what you learn about each other when you spend several hours together packing sauerkraut in jars, or boiling pork meat to make head cheese! Those are the kinds of personal connections you just can t make when your only interaction with someone is shaking their hand at the Sign of Peace. Teresa has also served as the Confirmation Coordinator for the past several years. It s humbling to know that I ve played a part in our young adults faith journeys, she says. I ve enjoyed getting to know every one of them. By living a life of stewardship, Teresa has also grown in her relationship with God. She encourages all parishioners to take this opportunity to grow in faith by serving others. Service, faith and prayer can be expressed in so many different ways from the actions we display, to the quiet conversations we have with God, she says. Whether it be money, time or prayer, we all have something to offer. If you don t have money to contribute, donate your time. If you re busy and don t have much extra time, join a prayer chain prayer is something that can be done anywhere, anytime. For example, I love to run, and I ve found that some of my best conversations with God happen during my early morning runs, when the sun is just breaking over the horizon and the world is still quiet and peaceful. God is everywhere you just have to be open to Him! I love this quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God s kindness, she adds. There is so much need around us, both spiritual and physical. It s so important as Catholics and disciples of Christ to recognize the needs around us not just in our own community, but around the world and do what we can to fulfill them. It s up to each of us to be God s eyes, ears, mouth, hands, and feet. 5

6 Blessed by Service, Inspired It s something we hear, time and time again, as we live out the stewardship way of life that when we serve, we are in turn blessed and formed in a powerful, profound way. This is certainly true for JoLynn Welle, who is currently in her 16th year of teaching first grade at Holy Family. I probably would ve never had this conversion, had it not been for having this experience in the school, Mrs. Welle says. Those kids didn t realize how much they were teaching me. Mrs. Welle, who was born and raised in Sauk Centre, grew up in a Lutheran family. Active in her Lutheran community, it didn t bother her that her husband, John, was Catholic, and her two children were raised in the Church. But as the years passed, one thing led to another. After spending 16 years teaching preschool, Mrs. Welle decided she wanted a change. As she sought to figure out her next step, she had the opportunity to work as a substitute at Holy Family. I remember coming home and saying, Oh my gosh, they made me feel so welcome in that school! Mrs. Welle says. I thought, if they ever have an opening, I d like to work there. Lo and behold, it wasn t long before a position came open and Mrs. Welle was hired to teach first grade. That summer when I got the job, I just studied that religion curriculum like no other, she says with a smile. Once I started working at Holy Family, I started learning more and more. Through learning more and more, my desire was growing. But it wasn t until 11 years into her time at Holy Family that Mrs. Welle really noticed something changing. After her children went off to college, she found herself paying more attention to her and her husband s Sunday routine. Mrs. JoLynn Welle and her husband, John, (center) are happy to be parishioners at Our Lady of the Angels, and members of the local Catholic community. I would watch him going to church alone, and I was going to church alone, and I just thought something should change, she says. It took me 11 years to figure out that I wanted to be Catholic. Mrs. Welle prepared to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, and the more she continued to fall in love with the faith, the more she learned. I think the Holy Spirit overcame me, because I just cried tears of joy, she says, recalling the emotions she experienced, after the Mass where she entered the Church. It was a really good experience for me. continued on page 7 6

7 St. Alexius Our Lady of the Angels St. Paul s Through Formation Holy Family Teacher JoLynn Welle And while Mrs. Welle was always a practicing Christian, she has found a new richness and depth in her faith since becoming Catholic. When I was Lutheran, I would go to church on Sundays and pray at night, she says. Now it s deepened. I love the Sacraments. I love, love, love Confession. As a Lutheran, I would tell God [my sins], but those things would still come back to me. As a Catholic, I know those things are wiped away. Mrs. Welle has now been Catholic for five years, and is a parishioner at Our Lady of the Angels. Although she always enjoyed teaching at a Catholic school, now she has a particular love for sharing the faith with her students and incorporating it all throughout the day. From spending time in prayer with the children and reminding them to include Jesus in their decisions, to using Catholic word problems in math, Mrs. Welle loves helping the children embrace the faith that she has come to love. It s also a special gift to be able to give back to the community that first sparked her interest in the Catholic faith. It was by being in the school all the time that I decided to become Catholic it s because of these little ones and learning with them, she says. I feel really lucky that I can bring these kids constantly into loving Jesus. I feel like I m in the right place. God did this for a reason. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Welle is in her third year serving on the Pastoral Council, representing the school. She loves having the opportunity to share about what is going on in the school, as well as learning more about what is going on at the three cluster parishes. I really enjoy the Pastoral Council, she says. I get excited about telling them [about what s going on at the school] it s just another way to serve, and I learned a ton about different things that the three parishes do. She s grateful for the opportunity to get to know other parishioners better, as well as learn about the many opportunities available to parishioners. You do get a feeling of belonging, developing relationships with other people, understanding more, Mrs. Welle says. I learned a lot from being on the Pastoral Council. Mrs. Welle encourages others to get involved in the life of their parish, as well. There were so many different things that I was not aware of, there are so many little things that you could do, she says. You don t really know how many opportunities are out there until you see it written on paper. Most people believe that stewardship is just giving of more money, and it s not. There are so many ways to serve. Thank you so much for your generous service, Mrs. Welle! We re so glad that you re now even more fully part of our Catholic community! There were so many different things that I was not aware of, there are so many little things that you could do. You don t really know how many opportunities are out there until you see it written on paper. Most people believe that stewardship is just giving of more money, and it s not. There are so many ways to serve. Mrs. JoLynn Welle 7

8 St. Alexius Our Lady of the Angels St. Paul s Parish Office: 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN (320) NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE PERMIT NO. 3 Return Service Requested Mass Schedule Saturday 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. - St. Paul's Saturday 5:00 p.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Sunday 8:00 a.m. - St. Paul s Sunday 8:30 a.m. - St. Alexius Sunday 10:00 a.m. - St. Paul's Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Reconciliation Schedule Thursday 4:00 p.m. - St. Paul's Saturday 3:00 p.m. - St. Paul's Saturday 4:00 p.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Sunday 8:00 a.m. - St. Alexius In His Service, Gieskes Have Each Other s Back continued from front cover Our lives had really revolved around administering to the students and doing things with them, Ken says. So, when we came here, we had to come up with something new. My life had always been so involved in ministry and I just didn t want to give up on that. And so, much like they had before at the school, the couple quickly immersed themselves in parish life. Ken began regularly serving as a lector, Eucharistic Minister, and assisting with the parish landscaping and gardening, while Deb became involved with Handmaids of the Lord, enjoys making prayer blankets for sick and elderly parishioners, and currently serves on the Stewardship Committee. Both have served on Pastoral Council and have been actively involved in the new church addition project. As a couple, they also assist with funeral dinners, Elementary Faith Formation, and enjoy participating in various Bible studies. Not preachy people, Deb and Ken work hard to live out the Gospel message through their daily lives, quietly doing what needs to be done in service of our church. Describing stewardship as what gives balance to their lives, their service over the years has been a huge source of joy to the Gieskes, as well as a strengthening force in their marriage. We re just so united with what we are doing, becoming such a team, Deb says. It helps us communicate better with one another and makes us more excited about our faith and parish. We work hard to support one another in our various ministries, Ken adds. Working together hand in hand, the Gieskes are striving daily to live out their discipleship calling to quietly become that example to others and to preach the Gospel through their words and actions. We don t want to be preachy, Deb says. We just want to serve quietly and do what needs to be done; to become that living example so that others will maybe become inspired to get more involved, too.