OUR MISSION STATEMENT: Growing In Faith Together (G.I.F.T.) Dear Parishioners, At this time, I wish to formally welcome Dale Schmidt to our parish staff. Dale has accepted the position of Custodian, and has been on the job already for two weeks (I am a little late with this notice sorry). He has been doing a great job already, and we look forward to continuing his presence with us for many years. We also formally welcome Deacon John Reed. He and his wife Maryanne just moved here in December, and he has been working to be granted faculties in our Diocese so that he can function as a Deacon. Hopefully, by this weekend, he will be informed of his status. We are discussing how he will serve, but at this time, he will assist at the liturgies that he attends, assist in visiting the sick and elderly, and I may ask him to witness weddings, baptize infants, or preside at funerals (all without Mass, of course). This Wednesday, we enter the season of Lent. It is a great season to prepare our hearts. Of course, with Lent comes the annual reminder of the requirements for fasting and obligation: Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Fasting as explained by the U.S. bishops means eating only one normal meal, with some food (altogether not to equal another full meal) is permitted. Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat, or broths derived from meat. Water does not break one s fast, nor does coffee/tea if needed. Of course, now is a great time to remind ourselves of the obligation to fast an hour before reception of the Eucharist. Both the fasts (the hour as well as the Lenten fasts) are to help us become empty of ourselves and to rely on the Lord. Fasting helps to unite our body and soul, and helps us subject our wills to the will of God. Abstinence reminds us that Christ became flesh for us, and by fasting from meat, we meditate with our bodies His Incarnation, His body nailed to the cross for our salvation, and His bodily Resurrection. Starting next weekend, I will offer confessions starting one hour before the Saturday evening Mass (so through March at 3 pm) for about ½ hour or until Mass time, if needed. I humbly ask you, though, not to wait until the last minute (or the last day), but come early! I have the Act of Contrition on sheets, and if you need an examination of conscience, there are a few floating around in the chapel, as well. Also, starting next weekend, I will be preaching on the Spiritual life during the homily using the Sunday s Gospel. Next week, we will address Facing Temptation. In Christ, Fr. Todd J. Petersen ================================================================= WEEKLY SCHEDULE March 2-9, 2014 8 th Sunday in Ordinary Time, March 2 8 AM Mass at Nicollet 9 AM noon Jewelry Sales, CDA Recruitment, LOI Ticket Sales, Narthex 10 AM Mass (+Bernice Vetter), St. Peter 10 AM Faith Formation Preschool Gr. 1 No Coffee & Rolls check out the All Night Graduation Party Breakfast Fundraiser, Legion 2 PM Fr. Ed s 50 th Anniversary Mass, Nicollet 7 8:30 PM LifeTeen, Social Hall Monday 8 AM Mass, (+Nancy Schaus), Chapel 9 AM Bible Study, Family Room Tuesday 8 AM Mass (+Larry & +Mary Regenscheid), Chapel) 1:30-2:45 PM JI Mardi Gras Event, MPR 7 PM AFC Pastoral Council, Family Room Ash Wednesday 8 AM Mass, Nicollet 8:15 AM School Mass (+Ellen Marso), Church 3 PM School Choir, Band Room 5 PM Mass, Nicollet 6:30 PM EDGE, Social Hall 7 PM Mass (+Deacon Sy & +Mary Ann Sauer), SP Thursday 8 AM Mass (+Eugene & +Genevieve Silkey), Chapel 1 10 PM Eucharistic Adoration, Chapel 3:30 PM Confessions, Chapel Friday 8 AM 1 st Friday Mass (+Jerry Regenscheid), Chapel Saturday 3 PM Confessions, Chapel 3:30 5:30 PM LOI Ticket Sales, Narthex
4 PM Mass (Parish Family), St. Peter 5 PM Mass, Nicollet 1 st Sunday of Lent, March 9 Daylight Savings Time Begins 8 AM Mass, Nicollet 9 AM noon LOI Ticket Sales, Narthex 10 AM Mass (+Beverly Boys), St. Peter 10 AM Faith Formation Preschool Gr. 1 11 AM Coffee & Rolls, Social Hall 5:30 PM Mass (+Jim Seitzer), St. Peter 7 8:30 PM LifeTeen, Social Hall Monday: 1 Peter 1:3-9 / Mark 10:17-27 Tuesday: 1 Peter 1:10-16 / Mark 10:28-31 Wednesday: Joel 2:12-18 /2 Cor 5:20 6:2 /Mt 6:1-6,16-18 Thursday: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 / Luke 9:22-25 (220) Friday: Isaiah 58:1-9 / Matthew 9:14-15 Saturday: Isaiah 58:9-14 / Luke 5:27-32 Sunday: Gen 2:7-9;3:1-7 / Rom 5:12-19 / Mt 4:1-11 DAILY READINGS IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES: Ash Wednesday, March 5: Masses: 8:00 am Nicollet 8:15 am St. Peter 5:00 pm Nicollet 7:00 pm St. Peter Sunday, March 16: Confirmation Mass at 10 am. Sunday, May 9: First Eucharist Mass at 10 am. Coffee and Rolls Please join us on Sunday mornings in the Social Hall at 11 AM as we enjoy coffee & rolls with family & friends. Volunteers for March 9, 2014: Chuck Niederriter, Christina Simonette 2 Headboards: a twin and full-size CHURCH OF ST. PETER THRIFT and CONSIGNMENT STORE (507) 931-9150 401 S. Minnesota Ave., St. Peter REGULAR HOURS: Monday Friday: 9 AM 5 PM Saturday: 9 AM 4 PM Sales Special: Avon Collectible Bottles Looking for good, used furniture to sell, either on consignment or as a donation. Call Barb K. for details at 931-9150.
Stewardship Do you have other "gods" in your life (job, money, power, ego, possessions)? Do you put them before the Lord? A stewardship lifestyle means putting God first, in all things! It means living stewardship 24 hours a day and not just the time that I go to Church or participate in my parish ministry. It means reprioritizing and putting God first. (catholicstewardship.com) Time & Talent: Stewardship of Family: How often in our busy lives does time with family get neglected? Resolve to find a special time with each family member each week. Make sure that family meals are celebrated frequently. Plan a special family outing once or twice a month, and go to Mass together. Resolve that when your spouse or child speak, you will look at them and truly listen. Treasure: Fiscal Year July 2012-June 2013 Week Ending: February 23, 2014 Offertory Envelopes $ 5,343.31 Electronic Giving-Offertory $ 4,530.12 Loose Plate $ 257.08 Initial Offertory $ 36.00 Total Weekly Offertory Contributions $ 10,166.51 Each week the offertory budget is $10,194.50 $10,194.50 Difference: ($27.99) Year to Date Contributions $ 301,211.20 Year to Date Budget $ 356,807.50 Year to Date Difference: $ (55,596.30) Children s Giving $ 22.77 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (material wealth)." Upcoming Parish Events: Confirmation - Sunday, March 16, 2014 10:00 am Mass Luck of the Irish, Johnson Hall, Saturday, March 29, 2014 5:00 p.m.
Black and Indian Mission Collection By virtue of our baptism into Christ Jesus, we are all missionaries, beginning with our own families and parishes. Like the Apostles, we are encouraged to reach out to our brothers and sisters in faith, love, and sacrifice. We must continue to cooperate with God in the building of His kingdom in our world. You are invited to help Build our Mission to the Missions by supporting the 2014 Black and Indian Mission Collection that will be taken up next weekend. Thank you for your prayerful support. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT S COMING UP.. Tuesday, March 4 Mardi Gras Preschool Event 1:30 2:45 pm John Ireland School, St. Peter (east entrance) Children Ages 3-4-5 and parents Games, activities and snack provided. Free for any preschool families with childcare provided for younger children. Contact Brenda at 931-2810. Saturday, March 8 All-You-Can-Eat Spaghetti Buffet 4 7 pm ~~ St. Anne s School, LeSueur Sponsored by St. Elizabeth Unit of St. Anne s CCW. Sunday, March 9 Bake Sale and Raffle also. Annual Men s Ham Dinner Church of St. Mary s, New Ulm 10:30 am 1 pm Sunday, March 9 St. Peter Choral Society Concert Union Presbyterian Church, St. Peter 2:30 pm The concert features French masterpieces, Ave Maria, Stabat Mater, and Requiem. Reception follows. Members of St. Peter s performing with the Choral Society in this concert are Sue Serbus & Diane Harms. Monday, March 10 2014 Bishop Lucker Lecture White-Hot Faith Transforming the Culture St. Catherine s Church, Redwood Falls 7 pm Sponsored by Diocese of New Ulm guest speaker is Barbara Elliott, founder of the Center for Cultural Renewal in Houston. Free admission. Church of St. Peter Sunday Mass Mondays 7 pm Tuesdays 9 am St. Peter Public Access TV Channel 7 Discernment of Spirit Join Fr. Timothy Gallagher as he examines St. Ignatius of Loyola s 14 rules for discernment of spirits. Using real-life examples, Fr. Gallagher shows how the 500-year-old rules can be applied to one s daily life. Episode 23: Wednesday, March 5, 9:00 pm Thursday, March 6, 10:00 am
Youth Faith Formation Important Dates: RESCHEDULED: PLEASE NOTE.Wednesday, March 12: First Eucharist Learning Centers @ 6:30 pm Sunday, March 16 Confirmation Mass at 10 am (NO AM Youth Faith Formation) Saturday, May 3: First Eucharist practice @ 9 am Sunday, May 4: First Eucharist Mass @ 10 am Last Class Dates: Preschool, Kindergarten & Grade 1: Sunday, April 27 Grades 2-6: Wednesday, April 30 LifeTeen: Sunday, May 4 EDGE: Wednesday, May 7 LifeTeen Masses: Sundays, March 9, April 13, and May 18 at 5:30 pm. Everyone is welcome! No Youth Faith Formation Class: Grades 2-6: Ash Wednesday, March 5 Preschool, Kindergarten & Grade 1: Sunday, March 16 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lenten Opportunity: Lent: Reflect on the Paschal Mystery in Jesus Life and in Ours Saturday, March 8, 2014 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Good Counsel Hill, Mankato Come apart for a while; enter more fully into our Lenten Journey and be nourished. Through presentations, prayer, reflection and sharing, the themes of Lent will be addressed. Fee: $40, includes lunch. Please register by March 4 at mjwelter@ssndcp.org or 507-389-4266. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JEWELRY SALES ARE HERE! Before and after each Mass this weekend, we will be selling a large variety of rosaries, Catholic medals, rings, bracelets, and necklaces. Any of these items would make the perfect gift for 1 st Communion, Confirmation, Easter or Mother s Day. The money raised during this sale will support our teens attending the Franciscan University Leadership Conference this summer. Thank you for your generosity and support! =============================================================================== The MARCH Greater Minnesota Food Share Drive is here! The St. Peter Area Foodshelf (S.P.A.F.) is once again participating in the statewide, month-long campaign to re-stock our foodshelf. S.P.A.F. provides emergency food assistance to persons within the area of the St. Peter School District and all of Nicollet Co. not served by other foodshelves. In March, and only in March, your donations of food items and money earn purchasing credits at the St. Paul Food Bank of which S.P.A.F. is a member. Following is a list of items needed. Canned Fruits & Fruit Juices Cake Mixes Cooking Oil Apple Sauce Sugar 5# bags Cereal Jelly/Jam Biscuit / Pancake Mix Syrup Tuna Spam Beef Stew Pork & Beans Canned Vegs. Mac & Cheese Spaghetti Spaghetti Sauce Canned Spaghetti Chili Soups (all kinds) Peanut Butter Crackers Pudding Mix / Jello Tooth Paste Shampoo Deodorant Toothbrushes Toilet Paper Facial Tissues Paper Towels Monetary donations are ALWAYS welcome! In order to be counted for the pro-rated credit, they must be received between March 1-31. All checks must have a March date.thank you for your past and continuing support! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Catholic Daughters On Tuesday, February 11, the CDA program was given by Terrie Lager on Defib training. Thanks to Geri and Lisa for arranging the informative program. Thanks to all who brought Birthright donations and to Marge Miller for delivering them. Thanks to Sally Wilkins, Lois Pettis and their crew for lunch. If you are interested in joining Catholic Daughters, please contact Eileen Attenberger. Also, mark your calendars for April 9 th which will be the date of our Spring Salad Luncheon, held once again here at the Church of St. Peter. Plans are underway and letters to the co-chairs of each month should be out shortly. Next Regent outing is March 23.
Church of St. Paul March 2, 2014 Pastor - Fr. Todd Petersen Parish Office - 507-232-3857 Priest in Residence - Fr. Ed Ardolf Rectory / Parish Hall - 507-232-3897 Parish Administrative Assistant - Office Hours: Tuesday - Thursday Deacon Steven Spilman 9:00 am to 12:00 pm CHURCH OF ST. PAUL SUNDAY COLLECTION All who die in God s grace and friendship salvation punishment of the damned are indeed assured of their eternal which is entirely different from the As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come. This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God Let us help and commemorate them. If Job s sons were purified by their father s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them. MASS SCHEDULE / INTENTIONS During the winter season, if there is no school or a late start, there will be no Mass. 5:00 pm SUNDAY (Today): 2:00 p.m. Mass for Fr. Ed s 50th Anniversary Celebration with Bishop LeVoir TUESDAY: 4:30 p.m. Choir Practice 7:00 p.m. Joint Parish Council Meeting at St. Peter WEDNESDAY: ASH WEDNESDAY MASSES: 8:00 a.m. (Fr. Ed) / 5:00 p.m. (Fr. Todd) The fast is proclaimed; the people are gathered to return to God with whole hearts.
FRIDAY: World Day of Prayer: 9:15 a.m. Coffee / 10:00 a.m. Prayer Service NEXT SUNDAY (March 9): Coffee and rolls Hostesses: MINISTRY OF LITURGY Saturday, March 8 Sunday, March 9 USHERS: USHERS: LECTOR/COMMENTATOR: LECTOR/COMMENTATOR: EME: EME: SACRISTAN: SACRISTAN: SERVERS: SERVERS: GIFTS: GIFTS: GREETERS: GREETERS: The sick and/or homebound: God is taking care of you. Nursing Home Residents: Group Homes: Assisted Living: PARISH NOTES: 1. COMING UP AT ST. PAUL S: Sunday, March 16 - Men s Breakfast and Bucket Raffle Sunday, June 15 - St. Paul s Parish Festival with a 10:00 am Mass Pastoral care of the elderly and sick: 3. New Parishioners: 4. Church of St. Paul, Nicollet, MEN S BREAKFAST, Sunday, March 16 We want to have a bucket raffle in connection with the Men s Breakfast. Call Jake Zins - 232-3930, Chuck Gappa - 354-3918 or Deacon Steve - 217-6432. 5. Minnesota Food Share March Campaign Be a Hero! Fight Hunger! : Me to eat. All checks must have a March date. When I was hungry, YOU gave