OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Growing In Faith Together (G.I.F.T.)

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1 OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Growing In Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) From the Pastor: With the official Christmas Season behind us, we dive into various parish and school activities that are part of being a vibrant, active and involved, faith community. Besides the regular liturgical services, attending to the sick and dying, and continuing our faith formation programs, here are a few of the events that have occupied our planning time and attention. There is New Member Welcome Sunday, preparation for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and Confirmation, Catholic Schools Week, and planning for our Area Faith Community Mission/Retreat in March. Oh, and did I mention planning for a few days vacation in Phoenix the first week of February? (Remember, I promised to not take myself so seriously.) These and many other small or significant activities keep calling us as staff and parishioners to continue to witness to the Good News that God is with us! We, for our part, try to make that Godly presence felt by the way we enter into relationships and care for one another. The Wedding at Cana Gospel from this weekend gives us an example of how Jesus (and Mary) and the disciples entered into the normal activities of their day and made a powerful positive impact. God s presence in Jesus saved a family from embarrassment and added to the festivities of a joyous occasion. We all have natural gifts that St. Paul names in the second reading of this Sunday and encourages us to use these gifts for the common good. The one Spirit distributes gifts like faith, gifts of healing, and other mighty deeds. We might translate these gifts into very practical gifts offered to the community, like the gift of being computer savvy, being friendly to trees and plants, being a baker, a liturgical minister, or office helper. Some of our best gifts are gifts like a positive attitude that encourages others on the front lines of the battle or just showing up to participate in a social or prayer experience. The life of a parish really does depend on each one seeking and finding their particular way to offer their gifts for their faith community. We all are called to be good stewards of God s bountiful gifts. Thank you to all who have done that and continue to serve generously in the ways that bring satisfaction to yourself and to others. May God Bless You, Fr. Phil Schotzko WEEKLY SCHEDULE January 20 27, nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 20 8 AM Mass at Nicollet 10 AM Mass (Parish Family) & New Member Welcome Sunday 10 AM Faith Formation Preschool Gr AM Coffee & Rolls, Social Hall 7 PM LifeTeen, Social Hall Monday No Service No JIS Teacher Workday 9 AM Bible Study, Family Room Tuesday 8 AM Mass (+Timothy Kowal), Chapel 6:30 PM VIRTUS, Nicollet Wednesday 8 AM Mass (+Jerome Weber), Chapel 8:15 AM School Prayer, Church 6:30 PM Choir Practice, Band Room 6:30 PM 1 st Reconciliation, Church 6:30 PM Faith Formation Gr. 3-6, Gym, Science 6:30 PM EDGE, Social Hall 7:30 PM Catechists Mtg, Family Room

2 Thursday 10:45 AM School Mass (+Dorothy Ritz) 1 10 PM Eucharistic Adoration, Chapel 3:30 PM Confessions, Chapel 7 PM KCs 3 rd Degree, Dustin s Corner Friday 8 AM Mass (+Frances Connor), Chapel Saturday 9 AM 4 PM Confirmation Retreat 4 PM Mass (Parish Family) 5 PM Mass at Nicollet 3 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 27 8 AM Mass at Nicollet 8:30 11:30 AM Catholic Schools Week Breakfast 10 AM Catholic Schools Week Mass (+Ashley Leonard) 10 AM FF Preschool Gr. 1, Dustin s Corner No Coffee and Rolls 7 PM LifeTeen, Social Hall New Saturday Mass Schedule The new yearly Saturday Mass time schedule will be as follows: 4:00 PM ~~ - 1 st Saturday in October thru last Saturday in March 5:00 PM ~~ 1 st Saturday in April thru last Saturday in September This new schedule is effective immediately. CHURCH OF ST. PETER THRIFT and CONSIGNMENT STORE (507) REGULAR HOURS: Monday Friday: 9 AM 5 PM Saturday: 9 AM 4 PM SALES SPECIAL THIS WEEK: Lamps ½ price (excluding consignment items) Come in this week and check out Valentine s Day Cards, décor, cups, tin boxes Surveyor-style Floor Lamp Plaid 3-cushion Flexsteel Couch Tapestry 3-cushion Sun Line Couch Four Office Chairs End Tables Two TV Cabinets on coasters/wheels Oak-like Buffet Bar Glasses Two square Coffee Tables Four Oak Dining Room/Kitchen Chairs Silver-plated Coffee Press Paul Revere Bowls (made by William Rogers) Wrought-iron rectangular Coffee Table w/glass top

3 DAILY READINGS Monday: Hebrews 5:1-10/Mark 2:18-22 Tuesday: Hebrews 6:10-20/Mark 2:23-28 Wednesday: Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17/Mark 3:1-6 Thursday: Hebrews 7:25 8:6/Mark 3:7-12 (314) Friday: Acts 22:3-16/Mark 16:15-18 Saturday: 2 Timothy 1:1-6/Mark 3:20-21 Sunday: Nehemiah 8:2-4,5-6,8-10/1 Corinthians 12:12-30/Luke 1:1-5;4:14-21 Coffee and Rolls There will be no Coffee & Rolls next Sunday, January 27. INSTEAD, you are all invited to enjoy a delicious Caramelized French Toast Breakfast in the Social Hall, marking the beginning of Catholic Schools Week. Serving is from 8:30 11:30 am come and enjoy! Faith Formation Class Schedule Preschool-1 st : Class begins in church during 10 am Mass Grades 2-6: Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. EDGE: Wednesdays 6:30-8:00 p.m. LifeTeen: Sundays 7:00-8:30 p.m. No Class: Jan. 20 Grades 9-12 Sacramental Preparation January 23 First Reconciliation for 2 nd graders and their parents at 6:30 pm in the church Confirmation Retreat January 26 from 9:00 am--4:00 pm at the church. Aluminum Can Recycling Thank you for supporting aluminum recycling and Cans for Christ. Please place your cans into the barrels in front of the trailer. Also, please do not put glass, plastic, or garbage in the barrels. Thank you again for your wonderful support of this project to support the Faith Formation program! Questions about Faith Formation: Preschool Grade 6: contact Connie connie.bollum@churchofstpeter.org or call EDGE Gr. 7 & 8, LifeTeen Gr and Confirmation Preparation Gr. 11: contact Heather heather.gilbertson@churchofstpeter.org or call ext 143. Go to faith formation Good News TV Channel 7 The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius hosted by Fr. Raymond Gawronski, S.J. In this series, Jesuit Father Raymond Gawronski directs the viewer through a retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Topics include God the creator, sin, discipleship, and the Passion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Episode 4: Hell: The Ultimate Consequence of Sin Wednesday, January 23, 9:00 PM Thursday, January 24, 10:00 AM Social Concerns AREA FOOD SHELF Now that the Holidays are over donations to the Area Food Shelf may be dropping off, but the need continues. Following are some items that are needed at S.P.A.F. With your help, area families will be able to eat balanced and nutritious meals in the weeks to come. Breakfast: Canned Fruit Juice, Hot and Dry Cereal, Dry Powdered or canned milk; Lunch/Dinner: Soups or stews, Tuna, Canned beef and/or chicken, peanut butter, Canned fruits and vegetables, Rice, Pasta, Baked Beans, Canned Chili, Potato Buds, Tomatoes, Tomato Sauce/paste; Staples: Crackers, Sugar, Flour, Coffee, Tea, Hot Cocoa, Pancake/Biscuit Mix, Toiletries, Baby Items, Special Treats. All are needed and are greatly appreciated. You may drop these items off at the Food Shelf or in the container provided in the Narthex. We will see that these items get to S.P.A.F. Thank you for your continued support for our brothers and sisters in need.

4 The KC s have supplied a video camera and equipment to record the Mass each Sunday for shutins on Saint Peter Public Access Channel 7. The need for editing the video is the most crucial need. Someone from town would be ideal. You will learn editing for DVD and can be supplied free a video editing program. Contact Mike Theissen at if interested. Catholic Schools Week Collection Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated the week of Jan. 27 through Feb. 2. In conjunction with that significant event, Bishop John M. LeVoir has once again announced a second collection will be taken up at all Masses in the diocese the weekend of Jan to benefit Catholic schools in the Diocese of New Ulm. In those communities that have Catholic schools, 75% of the proceeds will go directly to those Catholic schools. The other 25% will be deposited equally in two endowment funds already set up to benefit those Catholic schools. Where there are no schools, 100% of the funds will go into the endowment funds. Thank you so much for your generosity. Special Opportunity for Donations in January 2013 Retired people may be able to make a donation during January 2013 and take it off their 2012 tax return. In the past, those who were required to draw out of their IRA account annually (over age 70½) could have the distribution sent directly to the parish and the IRA income would not be taxed on their Form But Congress let the law expire, so all 2012 required distributions had to be taken as income. The so-called fiscal cliff law just passed by Congress includes a very short window of opportunity. If you took a required IRA distribution during December 2012 and now make a charitable donation to the parish by January 31, 2013, the IRA will not be taxed on your 2012 return. You may also take a new IRA distribution in January 2013 and have this directly transferred to the parish. The law allows a January 2013 qualified charitable distribution to be treated as if it happened on the last day of The opportunity is limited to $100,000 per taxpayer, but any amount given would be a blessing to our parish. Remember to promptly consult with your tax advisor or IRA custodian, as this opportunity expires at the end of this month. Let us know if we can help you facilitate such a gift in any way by calling the office. Thank you for your regular and continued support of our parish. A Note to our Farmers As in the past, the gift of grain to the church is encouraged for its tax advantage of both a charitable donation and reduction in farm income. However, you are reminded that to get the full benefit you, as the grower, do not sell the grain. You deposit it in the name of the Church and bring us the elevator slip. We then make the call to sell it. As in any tax matter, please consult your tax advisor if you have questions about this procedure. This is a great way to increase the gift to the church. Fr. Phil CATHOLIC DAUGHTER REGENTS Catholic Daughter Regents next outing is Sunday, January 27. Meet at Lonestar Barbeque, S. 3 rd St., (formerly Cedar Grill) at 5 pm. WHAT S COMING UP.. Saturday, January 26 Spaghetti Supper (to benefit Kids Against Hunger) Immaculate Conception Church, Marysburg Serving from 5 7:30 pm. Sponsored by the Confirma-tion Students of Nativity Church and Marysburg. Cost: Adults $5; K 6 th grade $3; $20 Family Maximum. Sunday, January 27 Catholic Schools Week Breakfast and Scholastic Book Fair Church of St. Peter Social Hall Serving from 8:30 11:30 am. Caramelized French Toast w/scrambled eggs, sausage, fruit and muffins. Adults $7; ages 4-12 $3; 3 & under free.

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8 Church of St. Paul January 20, 2013 Pastor - Fr. Philip Schotzko Parish Office/Rectory Priest in Residence - Fr. Ed Ardolf Parish Hall/Office Parish Administrative Assistant - Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday Deacon Steven Spilman 9:00 am to 12:00 pm CHURCH OF ST. PAUL SUNDAY COLLECTION 1/13/13 - Adult - $1, / Youth - $1.00 / Plate - $25.00 First Choice Pregnancy Services - $ This week we recall the 40 th anniversary of the Roe vs Wade Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal in the United States. It was a very sad day for our babies, our culture, and our country. Proponents of abortion early on established a marketing approach that hid the evil work behind a false nobility called, pro-choice. In practice, there is little or no difference between pro-choice and pro-abortion. Marketing says that choice is a better word to use than abortion if you re looking for supporters. Now they try to market their work as women s health care. It too is an attempt to hide the evil of abortion behind a falsely noble sounding term. We need to see the work for what it really is. Last year, Planned Parenthood performed 333,964 abortions and received $542 million dollars from our government to help them do it. Meanwhile, the other side of the abortion choice is the pro-life movement, with organizations such as First Choice Pregnancy Services who, through the generosity of volunteers and private donors, are working to make life a real choice for pregnant women who need help and support. All of their help is free to the client. Next Sunday, we will be concluding our baby bottle fundraiser for FCPS. If you ve taken a baby bottle to collect your change, please try to bring it with you to Mass. If you haven t taken one, there are still some available if you d like to participate in the final week. We ll be honoring life in a special way next weekend. Tuesday evening, January 22, at 6:30 here at St. Paul s, I ll be facilitating a diocesan VIRTUS training session for employees and volunteers who work with children. This session is also open to all adult parishioners who are interested in learning more about protecting God s children from child sexual abuse. If you know you re coming, please let me know so I can plan to have a set of the handouts for you. Last weekend I attended a permanent diaconate retreat and workshop. As part of the weekend, we met with some of the people who are considering joining the next formation group this fall. It s encouraging to see the numbers of people coming forward. There are currently about 26 who are discerning the call. Pray for them and for others to come forward. The harvest is plenty but the workers are few. January 20 th marks the anniversary of my baptism, the day I became a Christian. I encourage you to celebrate your baptism anniversary too. Our baptism is at the foundation of our faith in Jesus and is certainly a cause for celebration. Peace.Deacon Steve TUESDAY: 4:00 p.m. Choir Practice WEDNESDAY: 6:30 p.m. Religious Education K - 10 MASS SCHEDULE / INTENTIONS: During the winter season, if there is no school or a late start, there will be no Mass. Monday, 1/21 - NO Mass Friday, 1/25-8:00 am - Bernie Guimond Tuesday, 1/22-8:00 am - Francis Prochaska Saturday, 1/26-5:00 pm - David Weber Wednesday, 1/23-8:00 am - Wendell Z. Wenner Sunday, 1/27-8:00 am - For the Parish and Thursday, 1/24-8:00 am - Vince Dumdei Jeff Kozitza In your charity, please pray for the repose of the soul of Arlene Miska, wife of Jack, and we pray for her family and friends who will miss her. May she be reunited with God in heaven and enjoy everlasting peace. When we are hurting and seek our Father s care, He gently takes us to His heart and gives us solace there.

9 MINISTRY OF LITURGY Saturday, January 26 Sunday, January 27 USHERS: Mike Holmin, Mike Mans, Dana Potter USHERS: Clete Wenner, Paul Zins, Tim Zins LECTOR/COMMENTATOR: Barb Holmin LECTOR/COMMENTATOR: Dale Mack EME: Jeff Zajac EME: Marlys Wenner SERVERS: Jon Mans SERVERS: Wallace Michels GIFTS: Bernadine Mettler, Brenda Thompson GIFTS: Gerry Leonard, Clarice Rosin GREETERS: Marlene Wilking GREETERS: Bill and Barb Blashack The sick and/or homebound: God is taking care of you. Fr. Ed Ardolf, Sister Miriam Ardolf, Pam Bernal, LeAnna Brown, Joann Dalrymple, Harvey Dorn, Charlie Epper, Lola Freundl, Lisa Hackett Family, Darwin Havemeier, Sarah Iverson, Helyna Mack, Gerald Mans, Whitey Mayer, Herman Mettler, Barb Meurer, Shirley Michels, Wally Molitor, Stacy Schultz, Greg Schwartz, Tyler Thompson, Ila Vogel, Angie and Valerie Weber, Gene Wenner, Rob. We pray for all who are ill or hospitalized. Nursing Home Residents: Rose Marie Zins, Oak Hills Living Center, New Ulm. Group Homes: Nadine Brown, James Weber, Mary Jo Weber. Assisted Living: Eddie Bauer and Lyman Irrgang, The Wilds of Sand Prairie, St. Peter. Lucy Kozitza, Monarch Meadows, North Mankato. PARISH NOTES: 1. Tuesday, January 29, 6:30 pm - Parish Festival Meeting to choose a date. All who are 2. Sunday, February 3 - Coffee and rolls after 8:00 Mass. Hostesses will be: RaeAnn Tho 3. St. Peter Area Foodshelf: Thank you for the support you constantly give us - the need is growing so. Have included a few stats to give you an idea of what is done with your $ and # s. Thank you so much, Lorie Braam, St. Peter Area Foodshelf Volunteer Aug. to Nov., 2012: 7,209.41# donated Aug. 1 to Oct ,918.67# given out Aug. 1 to Oct. 31 Clients served - 1,916 persons: yrs. / 1, yrs. / and up 532 households / 260 unique visits (1st time this year) 86.3# average to each household / average size household St. Paul s donated in 69.50# in October and 32# in December. 4. MCCL March for Life! On Tuesday, January 22, join thousands of Minnesotans at the State Capitol in St. Paul at 12:00 noon for the MCCL March for Life. The march commemorates the deaths of more than 55 million unborn babies killed by abortion since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalized abortion on demand. Your presence will help show elected officials and the public the depth of support for pro-life legislation protecting women and unborn babies. For more information, visit 5. St. Mary s Catholic School, Madelia, Bingo Blitz, Sunday, January 27, 12:30 - Early Bird, 1:30 - Bingo. Tickets available at Lunch and snacks start at 11:00 am. This is a Catholic United Financial Matching Grant. Proceeds to benefit St. Mary s Religious Education Program. 6. I m looking for a half-time Religious Education teacher to share duties with our 1st grade class. If you are interested in helping, please contact me. Deacon Steve