Our Mission is to know, love and serve God by living the Eucharist.

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1 Our Mission is to know, love and serve God by living the Eucharist. Promulgated on Pentecost Sunday, Irving Street Alexandria, MN (320) The Church of St. Mary MAY 13, 2018 ASCENSION OF THE LORD LOOK FOR YOUR ST. MARY S CAR RAFFLE TICKETS St. Mary s Parish Car Raffle ticket sale begins soon. This year, we are implementing a new procedure for distribution of tickets to our 2,100 parish families. An envelope for each registered parish family, containing 5 tickets, will be available for pick up in the Commons Area beginning the weekend of May 19-20, We ask that each family pick up their envelope and purchase or sell the raffle tickets. The ticket price of $20 remains the same as last year. We appreciate your ongoing support of the raffle. JOIN US FOR VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL! JUNE 11-14, 2018 Join us this summer for VBS St. Mary s annual summer vacation kick-off. During this busy time we present God s word to children (ages 3 Grade 3) in four fun, activity-packed mornings. Registration and Volunteer forms can be found at the Hospitality Desk, in the Religious Education office or on our website at stmaryalexandria.org/vacation-bible-school/ READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 13 TH Mon. Acts 1:15-17,20-26; Jn 15:9-17 Tue. Acts 20:17-27; Jn 17:1-11a Wed. Acts 20:28-38; Jn 17:11b-19 Thurs. Acts 22:30;23:6-11; Jn 17:20-26 Fri. Acts 25:13b-21; Jn 21:15-19 Sat. Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Jn 21:20-25 Sun. Vigil: Gn 11:1-9; Jn 7:37-39 Day: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, Tue. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE 5:00 PM ++Hubert & Emily Ignowski 8:30 AM +Gary Dynda 7:00 AM +Jack Juettner 2:00 PM Windmill Ponds +Bernadine Fleming 8:30 AM +George Lundberg 5:00 PM For the Parish 8:00 AM +Kathy Maudal 10:00 AM + Phyllis Keith NEW MEMBERS: To register, stop by our Hospitality Desk located in the Commons Area of the church or visit our website to complete the registration online. CONTACT US stmary@stmaryalexandria.org

2 FROM OUR PARISH BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR Fr. Steve is vacationing in Europe, so here is a brief administrative update of our parish. Just like at home, St. Mary s practices sound financial stewardship by tithing to serve others, paying off our debt, saving for the long-term and unexpected significant events, reducing costs without negatively affecting our mission, and paying just wages. Here are a couple examples: The chiller that handles all of the air conditioning on campus was damaged in storms last summer. It didn t make sense to spend money on repairs to a chiller that is 21 years old. We obtained 3 competitive bids and chose to purchase a new unit for $104,000. After deducting the $42,000 received from our insurance company for the storm damages, our net cash outlay will be approximately $62,000. This new unit should do a better job at managing the temperature throughout campus for the next 20+ years. Until this unit is installed next month, you may notice on very warm days that it is also a little warmer in the buildings as our existing unit is limping along. A balanced budget has been approved by the Finance Committee for the fiscal year. Some of the highlights in the plan include, just wages and benefits (a Fr. Al legacy), debt payments of $301,000 (including principal and interest), 4 columbaria at the cemetery, increased funding of our faith formation program, enrollment of around 210 in the school, & significant administrative cost reductions from savings initiatives implemented this past year. Because of the continued financial stewardship of our parishioners and visitors, we are able to make sound financial decisions without having to rely on fundraising campaigns. We try to set aside savings for expenditures such as, taking advantage of unplanned opportunities to grow our faith & serve others, carrying out benevolent giving in unexpected circumstances, continuing to live out our mission and pay off our debt during economic downturns, and dealing with unplanned capital expenditures. A parish this size has significant, ongoing operating costs used to support our more than 50 ministries. We are all called to live as disciples of Christ, so it is important that everyone continues to strive to improve their sacrificial giving of the time, talent, and treasure entrusted to us by God. May you have an awesome summer ahead with family & friends here in the Alexandria Lakes Area! With gratitude, Todd Wentworth, Parish Business Administrator BAPTISMS Daisy Mae Child of Matthew & Addie Verant Kyle Roger - Child of Justin & Katie Weisbrich Hayden Rae - Child of Gregory & Joanna Zimny BANS OF MARRIAGE II Chase Paulson & Kristal Zenzen Looking for the Liturgical Minister Schedule? All schedules are posted on our website (stmaryalexandria.org), posted in the sacristry, and mailed to every liturgical minister. PARISH STAFF Steve Binsfeld Pastor Todd Wentworth Parish Business Administrator Laurie Youngers Director of Music & Liturgy Kathy Fischer Parish Nurse Troy Sladek School Principal & Elementary Religious Education Laurie Bienias Logistics Coordinator Gina Pohlen Coordinator of Youth Ministries & Confirmation Elmer Kobbermann Francie Peterson Parish Trustees FINANCIAL GIFTS COLLECTION FOR THE WEEKEND OF MAY 6, 2018 Sunday Envelope Loose Sunday Children SACRAMENTS RECONCILIATION Saturday at 4 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (room behind presider s chair; also has a separate entry) BAPTISM All parents must take the Baptism Preparation Course. Call the Parish Office to sign up. Check our website for dates. PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE Members of the parish (or children of members) must arrange for marriage at least 6 months in advance. Contact the Parish Office for more info. ANNOINTING OF THE SICK is held the 1st Sunday of the month, immediately following the 8AM Mass. Those who wish to be annointed are asked to come to the front of the church. ACTUAL $38, $2, $ A more detailed report may be viewed at the Parish Office. BUDGETED $29, $2, $115.38

3 PARISH NEWS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO Sun., May 13 at 7:00 PM & Wed., May 16 at 2:00 PM at the KC Hall on 6th Ave & Nokomis. Team 5 Don Thoennes, Al Hansen, Roger Johnson, Dustin Thoennes, and Bill Flaig will be in charge. UPCOMING PASTORAL COUNCIL ELECTION The following people have been nominated for the Pastoral Council and have said Yes, they would be willing to serve on the committee. We have three open positions. The election will take place on Sunday, May 20 in the Great Hall after the 10:00 AM Mass. Janice Doebber Mary Gorghuber Deb Hadley Deb Hertzog Jerry Kostreba Janet Schiltgen Bruce Strandskov Rita Winters - CEMETERY CLEAN UP SAVE THE DATE - May 17 at 1:00 PM May 19 at 1:00 PM PRAYER CORNER If you or someone you know in our parish community is sick or ill or has a family member who could use our prayers, please call our Parish Nurse, Kathy Fischer, at Please remember the following people in your prayers: Ruth Partington, Chris Ficenec, Ken Judson, Jim Rutten, Scott Addy, Ione Grubb, Pat Pihaly, Dice Ganje, Carol Peterson, Pat Eich, Lorine Vipond, Yvonne Lorsung, Betty Schlosser, Lyle Keller, Joyce Tomasulo, Melissa Guggisberg, Perry Brown, Patrick Stroh, Chuck Miller, Dan Woods, Rock Anderson, Virgene Grubb, Carla Wheeler, Geno Ley and Keith Tvrdik. OUR PICTURE DIRECTORY WON T BE COMPLETE WITHOUT YOU! Sign up after Masses this weekend, or go to stmaryalexandria.org and click on Picture Directory Sign-Up on the home page to reserve your photo session time. Online sign-up will be available Monday through Friday. Plenty of good times remain. Please contact Laurie Bienias at for more information. THANK YOU - To everyone present at the St. Mary s amazing and humbling farewell party and to all who expressed regrets due to other commitments, for your many expressions of respect, love and gratitude, we say Thank You. We, in turn, express those same sentiments to you. You have helped us in our personal, professional, and spiritual journeys. Your gift of monies for our retirement program are MOST generous and again, we say Thank You. When the sun says goodbye to earth, it leaves a beautiful sunset as a gift, when friends say goodbye, they leave memories that are everlasting and priceless. Adieu Amis! - Sr. Patrice and Sr. Sharon RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE at St. Mary s, Monday, May 14 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM and Tuesday, May 15 10:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Appt/Info, call Janet at DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA meeting is May 17 at 7:00 PM in the Commons Area. THE BEST CATHOLIC CONTENT. ALL IN ONE PLACE. It s EASY and FREE to register! Go to: stmaryalexandria.formed.org ABOUT LIFE Justice Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC): Pope Francis teaching on the DEATH PENALTY: It is necessary, to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person. THE EXECUTION OF JUAN COSTELLO of Texas is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16th for the killing of Tommy Garcia, Jr. We pray for the accused and the victims of this crime, and also for an end to state sanctioned killings. The Pope and Bishops of the U.S. urge us to grow in our awareness and sensitivity to all pro-life issues. SANCTITY OF LIFE MOMENT: Mother s Day Prayer May God reward you for the many ways you love - For choosing wisely, for accepting openly, for giving freely, and for teaching, encouraging and reprimanding patiently. May Mary make your memories joyful as you keep them in your heart, and may she gain for you every blessing from Jesus, her son. Amen.

4 FAITH FORMATION ADULT FAITH FORMATION VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IS COMING!! JUNE 11 14, 2018 Join us this summer for VBS St. Mary s annual summer vacation kick-off. During this busy time we present God s word to children (ages 3 Grade 3) in four fun, activity-packed mornings. Registration and Volunteer forms can be found at the Hospitality Desk, in the Religious Education office or on our website at stmaryalexandria.org/vacation-bible-school/ We are looking for helpers of all ages. We need teachers, recreation helpers, craft helpers, snack preparers, music leaders, and aides. We also need someone to lead the Faith Fun classes this is the time we celebrate and highlight our Catholic Identity (not found in other community VBS programs). Classes run from 9:00 AM Noon. Volunteer position hours vary depending on the job. Grab a friend and come join us! Call or to volunteer!! Large stuffed forest animals (raccoons, skunks, bears, squirrels, eagles, beavers, fox, etc ) Animal Print Fabric (forest animals) Old binoculars (real or toy) Canteens, backpacks & camping toys Ranger hats Small tents for children Old sleeping bags Wicker baskets Pine boughs & pine cones Donations needed for VBS!! Tree stumps Old rolling pins Cross cookie cutters Plastic horse shoes or throwing games Marbles Lots of big brown paper grocery bags Empty 2-liter pop bottles Ketchup & mustard Hamburger & hot dog buns M & M s Snacks for hungry teen volunteers All items can be left in the box in the Commons Area at church or brought to the Religious Ed. office. Thanks!! ADULT BIBLE STUDY: Tuesday evenings in the Great Hall immediately following the 5 PM mass. Call Mike at for more info. MEN S BIBLE STUDY: Thursday mornings in the Commons Area of the church at 6 AM. Call Mike at for more info. WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY: The St. Mary s Women s Bible Study meets yearlong with short intermissions between sessions. Each study is nonthreatening and geared for both the beginner and seasoned studier. A Saturday morning and Sunday evening session is offered with the ability to alternate between sessions. Our goal is to grow in faith and fellowship together. We hope you ll join us for the summer study beginning in June. Watch for details! Contact Tammy or Lori biblestudywomen@gmail.com ST. MARY S PRAYER LINK: If you have a prayer request, please send to Wosepkak@aol.com or phone Kelly Wosepka at , or Julie Desautels at All prayer requests will be kept confidential. PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Rosary: Sundays (before Mass) 7:35 AM & 9:35 AM HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER GROUP: Thursdays 5:30-6:00 PM (rosary in Commons Area) 6-7 PM prayer time in the Chapel. Contact Jim Joerger at DIVINE MERCY HOUR: Mondays from 3-4 PM. Contact Barb Nei at SANCTITY OF LIFE PRAYER GROUP: Meets the 1st Wednesday of every month at 7 PM. Contact Louise Revering at EUCHARISTIC ADORATION - SHARING ONE HOUR WITH THE LORD. Adoration is one way you can make prayer and spending time with the Lord a greater priority in your life. Please consider being a regular adorer for our Chapel. For more information - contact Sue McCulloch at (call or text); tscamcculloch@charter.net.

5 Dear Parishioners, ST. MARY S SCHOOL St. Mary s School educates the whole child within a nurturing Catholic Christian environment. stmaryss@stmaryalexandria.org The 11th Annual St. Mary s Golf Tournament is planned for Wednesday, May 30 at 1:00 PM at Geneva Golf Course! There is still time to form a team or have your place of business sponsor a hole. The purpose of this tournament is to raise money for the Trust Fund Tuition Scholarship Fund. This year, 26 students are receiving scholarships valued at over $36,000. Without the help of the scholarships, many students would not be able to attend St. Mary s School. Having fewer students would create higher cost per pupil, increased tuition, and fewer technology and learning experiences for all students. As a result, all students, families, and parishioners benefit from the Trust Fund Scholarship Fund! CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS MAY 2018 May 6 Josh Sanden, Alexandria $35 May 7 Tom Klecker, Alexandria $20 May 8 Barb Friederichs, Alexandria $20 May 9 Studio C Salon, Alexandria $20 May 10 Dave Close, Alexandria $20 May 11 Christine Wittrock, Alexandria $20 May 12 Jim Kuhn, Alexandria $20 SCHOOL HAPPENINGS Registrations are being accepted. Please contact the school office for more details. Save the Date St. Mary s School Trust Fund Golf Tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, May 30th. If you are unable to play or sponsor a hole, there is still a way you can participate. All school families and parishioners are able to participate in the tournament Super Ticket Drawing. The Super Ticket drawing has prizes valued over $3,322. Prizes and their values are listed below: v Individual Golf Membership to Geneva Golf Club - $1857 v One Year Membership to Vital Fit Club - $660 v Tunz Duo Custom Fit Audio Earbuds - $375 v Gift Certificate to Custom Comfort Beds, Waite Park - $250 v Blizzard Hockey 10-Game Flex Pass - $180 The values of these great prizes make it well worth the $25.00 chance to enter! Thanks and good luck - St. Mary s Golf Tournament Committee To enter - simply fill out and return with payment to St. Mary s School by Tuesday, May 29. Winners do not need to be present to win! ST. MARY S SCHOOL TRUST FUND GOLF TOURNAMENT Super Ticket Drawing - $25 per Ticket v Individual Golf Membership at Geneva Golf Club - $1857 v One Year Membership to Vital Fit Club - $660 v Tunz Duo Custom Fit Audio Earbuds - $375 v Gift Certificate to Custom Comfort Beds, Waite Park - $250 v Blizzard Hockey 10-Game Flex Pass - $180 Name Phone

6 PARISH NEWS LITURGICAL AND MUSICAL NOTES Stay for a While At the end of each school year, in American schools such as Saint Louis University, the students, along with their networks of friends, scatter. And fly away. As a presider at a recent mass admitted with beautiful poignancy, how much we miss them when the school year ends. I can remember that from my own college days. It happened especially if I was delayed in leaving for home. Empty halls and rooms. Broad, completely undisturbed yards of grass. We were all glad to have the year done, but at the same time, why did the buildings seem so deserted, and where was the buzzing and intermingling student life? Maybe this is a hint at the hollowness Jesus disciples must have felt after the crucifixion. Especially the women who had loved Jesus so much. The passion had been the worst part, as we said last week. But now, nothing. What could ever fill that gaping emptiness? Graduated college students find ways to cope with their new lives apart from each other, and besides, who wants to stay in school forever? But what sort of lives were Jesus followers to find after the very center of their lives had given way? Well, you say, there was the resurrection. Correct. But we saw last week how confusing this was to the disciples. I will not believe this unless I put my hands on him. Doubting Thomas. And Jesus new presence did not last so very long, did it? There came this event called the Ascension.* It emptied the school yards and hallways for good. It was joyous, I suppose, but why did he have to go away so thoroughly? Here is one way to look at it: he had graduated from life into Life. Having tunneled through the narrow passageway of death as you and I will do one day he had given everything he possessed and everything he was to the Father out of sheer love. Instead of there being nothing left, there was humanity transformed: a divine/human person most thoroughly divine and human, now marked obviously with the totality of love. He was on his way back to the dynamic, swirling, trinitarian circle of love from which his humanity had issued in the first place. After the Resurrection he had lingered in order to tell us about it, to comfort us, to ease the loss. But what then? Stay in Jerusalem until my Spirit comes to fill your heart, Jesus said to his followers (First Ascension Reading). They were going to be filled with all humility and gentleness, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit (Second Ascension Reading). The immense act of modest love that was the resurrection was going to be poured into us and it would be called the Holy Spirit. Jesus would continue to be alive within the world after all, but in a different form: that of our own human bodies and those of our neighbors. Loss and absence would be turned into real presence. In the Eucharistic Prayer and Communion, we consent to have his body and blood mingle with our own body and blood. The Spirit comes to live in us, inviting us to accept his whole life, death, and resurrection, as these settle into us and into others around us. This real presence now knocks on our doors, urging us, gently nudging us to say yes. John Foley, SJ * The Church provides an embarrassment of riches in the readings this week. Some few dioceses (the ecclesiastical provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, and Omaha) celebrate the feast of Ascension on Thursday, and therefore today they will use the readings from the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Most others have the Ascension feast on Sunday and use the Ascension readings instead of those from the Seventh Sunday. In either case there are a number of possible second readings for Ascension. So, let us simply talk in this space about the Ascension itself. Fr. John Foley, SJ, is a composer and scholar at Saint Louis University. Copyright 2018, John B. Foley, SJ All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to reproduce for personal or parish use. STEWARDSHIP ASCENSION OF OUR LORD Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1 John 4:15 How strong is your faith? When you have an opportunity to either defend or clarify a question about our Catholic faith, do you do it? Or, do you remain silent so that others don t think you are weird? Pray for the courage to be strong in all circumstances and to share your witness with others.

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