Blessed Trinity The Cluster Journey Volume 15 Issue 2 March-April 2015 ur sister parish is in an area that has few Catholics, the majority of parishioners being Latino tomato o pickers and their families. They live in a state of poverty but have a strong faith in God. Other parishioners include some people native to Tennessee, some also very poor, some middle class, as well as a few retirees from other states. It has been a goal of the Glenmary staff to bring these diverse people together to form a community of believers. Saint John Paul II is still a mission church staffed by the Glenmary Missionaries. When the parish is able to sustain itself, it will be handed over to the local archdiocese; and the Glenmary staff will move on to another location without a Catholic presence. That won t be for quite awhile. Mass, religious education classes, parish gatherings and celebrations, as well as adult classes teaching English as a second language are held at a storefront which they rent. However, they have purchased some land for their future church site. They celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 19th with a procession carrying a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe beginning on this land. To see a picture of this procession and other information, google Union/Granger Catholic Missionary Beginnings and then scroll down to find Rutledge. Pictures are worth a thousand words; and you can get more information firsthand from them. Mission trips to Rutledge, Tennessee have shown that our financial and spiritual help to this community of Catholic believers has been needed and appreciated. Please pray for them and contribute what you can. A collection will be taken up in April for our annual sponsorship of $2400. We are making a difference in their lives. Giving to them should be making a difference in our lives too. As St. Francis said, It is in giving that we receive. Each year we are invited to renew our commitment to this spiritual community through our prayer and our financial support. This is a concrete yes to God and our neighbor. Submitted by Two Tennessee Travelers, Jody Doyle & Janet Leonard Anonymous - Thank you for your support 1
Immaculate Conception, Saint John, Saint Mary & Saint Patrick St. Mary Social Justice Committee The Cluster Journey is published bi-monthly by The Blessed Trinity Cluster, 119 W. Fayette St., Manchester, Iowa. 2 Anonymous - Thank you for your support
www.blessedtrinitycluster.org Catholic Daughters Update The Catholic Daughters Court 1976, held their January meeting at the Pizza Hut on Tuesday, January 6th at Noon. After lunch and a short meeting, we went across the street to the Good Neighbor Home to play Bingo with the residents there. They enjoy playing Bingo. Our court furnished the prizes. Our February meeting was held at the Pizza Ranch on Tuesday February 3rd at noon. Following lunch and the meeting, the program was presented by Michelle Harris. She told us how she took a number of high school students to Haiti, to work in an orphanage there. The students also presented a puppet show, at the orphanage, which was directed by Michelle. She also showed pictures on her computer of some of the activities that the students partcipated in. It was a very interesting and inspiring presentation. If you are interested in joining the Catholic Daughters, you can contact Eunice Sill at 927-5272. St. Mary Religious Education St. Mary 1st and 2nd Grade Wednesday evening students make Valentines for Veterans. The Quiltmaker s Shoppe - Kathy Wilgenbusch, Owner - Thank you for your support 3
Immaculate Conception, Saint John, Saint Mary & Saint Patrick Winter Party at Immaculate Conception Sunday January 11, 2015 I.C. Parish held its Winter Party. The party was hosted by the Rosary Society Officers and Circle #2. A butterfly chop meal was served to 50 people. Those interested closed the evening with card playing. Celebrating Epiphany at St. Patrick On Sunday January 4th the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, the little children of St. Patrick s Parish brought symbolic gifts to the crib to honor the Newborn King- The gifts symbolized Faith, Gladness, Dreams, Belief, Hands, Kindness, and our Hearts to Jesus. 4 Cy and Charley s Firestone, Inc. - Thank you for your support
www.blessedtrinitycluster.org St. Mary School Snow Much Fun! Registration Information for Early Childhood St. Mary s School Early Childhood preregistration for the 2015-2016 is currently underway. St. Mary s Early Childhood program offers preschool, junior kindergarten and kindergarten. The St. Mary s Board of Education has waived the tuition for the Preschool program for the 2015/2016 school year. Please contact the school if you have any questions at 927-3689. Respect Life Poster Winners Respect Life Committee representative, Julene Smith presented this year s poster winners certificates and checks after a Friday St. Mary s Mass. Winners from left to right are 1st place, Sheeley McMahon, 3rd place Molly Mullis and 2nd place Brynn Boeckenstedt. Country Car Wash - Brian & Kathy Oberreuter, Owners - Thank you for your support 5
Immaculate Conception, Saint John, Saint Mary & Saint Patrick Immaculate Conception Valentine Breakfast Sunday, February 15, 2015 I.C. Parish honored the couples from the parish who have been married more than 50 years at the 9:30 am Mass. Circle #3 hosted the Valentine Breakfast which honored the 6 couples in attendance. The following couples are pictured: Art & Betty Schaul, Leo & Lois Francois, Ladd & Mary Lee Wessels, Merrel & Mary Ann Schnieders, Dean & Doreen Moroney & Bob & Helen Clemen. The following couples were not able to attend the celebration: Tom & Rosie Funke, Bud & Alice Bockenstedt, Joe & Mary Gallery, Jim & Barb Goebel, Loras & Donna Manternach, Don & Sally McGraw and Bob & Marge Schaul. St. Mary Baptisms Corbin James Schiess, son of Benjamin and Darcy Zoey Marie Davis, daughter of Bradley and Jamie Silas Eugene Nefzger, Harrison Louis Nefzger, Liam Robert Nefzger, and Olivia Nadine Szymke, children of Joshua and Melisa Kinleigh Kay Clemen, daughter of Adam and Jena Memphis Jan Trenkamp, son of Jason and Keri Gabriel Michael Demmer, son of Joshua and Jacquelyn St. Mary New Parishioners Steve and Kyla Klosterman and their children Layne and Kooper St. Patrick New Parishioners September Gorsh and her daughter, Ava Immaculate Conception Baptisms Adelyn Jennifer Weigel, daughter of Mark and Katie 6 Thole Electric - Rick & Kris Thole, Owners - Thank you for your support
www.blessedtrinitycluster.org Generous Donations to the Cluster The Cluster Parishes were able to purchase new chasibles and two diaconal dalmatics due to the generosity of the Norbert Goedken, Ambrose Langel and Theresa Oberreuter memorials. A big THANK YOU to those families without the donations this purchase would not have been possible. Right: Also, St Mary Parish was able to purchase seasonal chasibles through the generous contribution of the Schultz family in memory of their father Cyril Schultz. Anonymous - Thank you for your support 7
TheClusterJourney Blessed Trinity 119 West Fayette Street Manchester, Iowa 52057 Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Manchester, IA 52057 Permit No. 71 Phone: (563) 927-4710 Fax: (563) 927-9949 Email: stm@iowatelecom.net RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Deadline for submissions for the May-June 2015 newsletter is April 20, 2015. Please e-mail them to: St. Mary: Amy Reeder (areeder@gmail.com) St. Patrick: Suzanne Britt (suzanne1942@yahoo.com) Immaculate Conception: Patsy Francois (patsyfrancois@yahoo.com) or drop off at the Blessed Trinity Cluster Office