Third Sunday of Advent December 11, 2016 St. Isidore the Farmer Area Faith Community St. Francis, St. Bridget, St. Malachy, Sacred Heart, Visitation Oratory, St. John Fr. Jeremy Kucera, Pastor Cyndi Stifter, Faith Formation Director AFC Office: 508 13 th Street North, Benson, MN 56215 Murdock Office: 320-875-2451; kitchen 875-4320 Website: www.stisidorethefarmerafc.org Mondays 8:30 am Noon E-mail: stfran@embarqmail.com Appleton Office: 320-289-1146; stjccao@gmail.com AFC Office Number: 320-842-4271 Monday-Friday 10:30 am 1:30 pm Fax Number: 320-843-2264 Fr. Jeremy Kucera Cell#: 507-828-5247 AFC Office Hours: fatherjeremykucera@hotmail.com Monday-Thurs.: 8 am noon; 1-3:30 pm Cyndi Stifter: 320-842-4021 Fridays: 8 am - noon cstifter@embarqmail.com LITURGY SCHEDULE Tuesday, December 13 8:30 am BENSON w/ Holy Hour & Confessions + Anna Mary Carr Wednesday, December 14 8:30 am DEGRAFF + Jesse Pahl Thursday, December 15 8:30 am MURDOCK + Katie Diederich 10:30 am GOLDEN LIVING ++ Mick, Mike & Viola Madden Friday, December 16 8:30 am APPLETON + Richard Evans 10:00 am APPLETON NURSING HOME ++ Robert, Sr., Dorothy, & Francis Steinke Weekend Masses Saturday, December 17 4:00 pm BENSON + Louise Lachmiller 6:00 pm APPLETON + Anastacia Burog Sunday, December 18 8:30 am BENSON + Karen Bonawitz 10:30 am MURDOCK For the People Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays 3:00 pm Benson * Marriage Preparation: Please contact AFC Office at least six months ahead of time to plan and prepare for your wedding. If one party has been previously married, the wedding cannot move forward unless an annulment has been granted by the Catholic Church. * Baptism Preparation: Please call Fr. Jeremy Kucera at 507-828-5247 * RCIA: Anyone interested in joining the Catholic Church please call the Area at 320-842-4271 Office for fall registration. * Registration/Moving: To register in a parish or if moving, call the AFC Office at 842-4271 or Murdock office at 875-2451 or St. John s at 320-289-1146 Catholic Charities - offering personal, marriage, family and pregnancy counseling 1-866-670-5163. *PASTORAL CARE* If any parishioner or family member is in need of a pastoral care visit and Holy Communion, please call the parish office. Today s privacy laws do not permit hospitals to contact churches when a patient is in need of a pastoral visit. We are made aware of it only when the individual or their friends and family contact us. We are also not always aware of parishioners that are homebound and would desire a pastoral visit. The Vocation View Be patient until the Lord comes. Be patient and listen; ask the Lord what he wants of you. (James 5:7-10)
DAILY SCHEDULE Sunday, December 11 Tuesday, December 13 The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Masses in Benson & Appleton 9:30 am 3-5 year old Sunday School in Benson Coffee and rolls after Mass in Benson 9:30 am Religious Education Enrichment classes for Grades K-6 at Sacred Heart 9 am 5 pm Eucharistic Adoration in Benson 9-10 am Confessions in Benson 4-5 pm Confessions in Benson 6:00 pm Area Social Concerns meeting in Benson 7:00 pm St. Francis Parish meeting in the Gathering Space Wednesday, December 14 2:30 pm Rosary in Benson for peace in families and the world Faith Formation Grades 1-6 Home Lessons 6:45 pm Class for grades 7-11 8:00 pm Teen Talk in Benson Thursday, December 15 Friday, December 16 Saturday, December 17 Sunday, December 18 3 pm Thursdays@3 at St. Francis Church, Benson 5-6 pm Confessions in Appleton The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Masses in Benson & Appleton The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Masses in Benson & Murdock 9:30 am 3-5 year old Sunday School in Benson St. Francis will be decorating for Christmas following 8:30 am Mass 9:30 am Religious Education Enrichment classes for Grades K-6 at Sacred Heart Sacred Heart Grades K-6 Advent Program and potluck after Mass Thank you to everyone who donated, worked or attended the Danvers Holiday Festival this past weekend. Cash raffle winners were: $500 Mike Gallagher, $400 - Clete Grossman, $300 Mike Schnitzler, $200 Gerald Kucera, $200 Scott Ascheman, $100 Lane Larson, $100 Kathy Dolan, $50 each to Rita Wersinger, Amy O Malley, Mary Coy, Clete Grossman. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ St. Isidore the Farmer Area Faith Community Advent Confessions Schedule Tuesday, December 13 9-10 am St. Francis, Benson 4-5 pm St. Francis, Benson Friday, December 16 5-6 pm St. John, Appleton Saturday, December 17 3 pm St. Francis, Benson Tuesday, December 20 9:30-10:30 am St. Francis, Benson ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Aging religious need your help. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others educating the young, comforting the sick, seeking justice for the oppressed. Today, many are frail, elderly, and in need of assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to furnish medications, nursing care, and other necessities. Please give generously. Second Collections During Advent: Second collections will be taken during all weekend Masses in Advent. The designated organizations or programs to which each weekend's donations will be distributed are: Dec. 10/11 Dec. 17/18 BACK (provides bags of food for the weekend for K-12 students) Mercy Fund (monies to address requests presented to the pastor/afc by persons in need when other resources are not available) (NOTE: The BACK program is for Benson Schools' students. There are similar programs operated through KMS and Lac Qui Parle Valley Schools. Donations received at Sacred Heart will go to KMS; at St. Johns to LQP; at St. Francis to Benson schools.)
THANK YOU to all who helped during November packing the food bags for the BACK (Benson Area Cares 4 Kids) program. 72 bags were packaged for each week. This was done in an "assembly line" fashion taking less than 15 minutes. The food bags are then taken to Benson Schools and distributed to those students who have requested them. It was a worthwhile and fun activity. Reminder to Faith Formation Families: If you have not picked up your packet, you will find them in the back of church. All families, especially those with children, are invited to attend an Advent Prayer Service with Bishop John M. LeVoir on Sunday, December 11. The service is at 4:00 pm in Morgan at the Church of St. Michael. This service is designed to help us focus on Advent and prepare for the true meaning of Christmas, centered on the birth of Jesus. Families are encouraged to bring the Baby Jesus figure from their home nativity set. The figure will be blessed by Bishop LeVoir individually as families come forward in procession. There will be a blessing on families and expectant mothers as they prepare for Jesus birth in their hearts. A swaddling clothes collection (blankets, sleepers, layette items, etc.) will be taken for babies in need and given to We Care in Morgan. Any cash donations will also be taken to We Care in Morgan. For more information, contact the diocesan evangelization and catechesis offices at 507-233-5325. St. Francis Parish meeting will be held on Tuesday, December 13 th at 7:00 pm. The Administrative Council will be giving an update on the following: 1. Results of the fiscal year that ended June 30 th 2. Results through November of the current fiscal year 3. Building repair work completed recently and possible future projects All interested parishioners are invited and encouraged to attend. St. Francis Parish will be decorating for Christmas following the 8:30 am Mass on Sunday, December 18. Please come and share your talent with your fellow parishioners. December 18 after 10:30 am Mass at SACRED HEART CHRISTMAS PROGEAM and MEAL for SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN - All are invited to the Children s Christmas Program and Potluck Lunch on Sunday, December 18. Please come and enjoy a special program, good food and fellowship with others. Hotdishes provided, others are encouraged to bring salad or dessert. Free will offering to support our mission in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. Everyone welcome, visitors especially invited to come, meet and enjoy. See you there! Also for sale: quilts, embroidered dish towels, doll clothes, hotpads, all beautifully handmade by our Mission Group. Sponsored by Sacred Heart Catholic United Financial Council matching grant up to $1,000. We are going to decorate the Church of Sacred Heart on Sunday, December 18th following Mass. We need as much help as possible. It is going to be a busy morning as there is a Guatemala potluck and Christmas program but we will decorate right after Mass so that we can participate in the other activities! Healing / Anointing Mass: A Healing/Anointing Mass is scheduled for Tuesday December 20 at St. Francis. Fr. Jeremy will begin hearing Confessions at 9:30; Mass begins at 10:30; a light lunch will be provided following Mass in the St. Francis Gathering Space. All members of the AFC are invited to participate. Please pray for Owen Meyer and family while he has Chemotherapy treatments. Donations for Christmas Decorations You may make a donation in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving, or for a special intention. Your donation will be used to help buy the flowers, trees, garland, etc. Please place your donation in the collection basket and mark the envelope church decorations or use the envelopes that are in your contribution packets. If you are giving the donation in memory of someone, please remember to give us the person s name so that we can remember them in prayer. Thank you for your generosity. Winning Number: SM58 APPLETON ST. JOHN S... LADIES, PLEASE pick up you bowls, cake pans, & other containers that are in the church kitchen. THANK YOU.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ St. Isidore the Farmer AFC Christmas Mass Schedule Christmas Eve, December 24 4 pm Mass Sacred Heart, Murdock 4 pm Mass St. Francis, Benson 6 pm Mass St. Francis, Benson 6 pm Mass St. John, Appleton Christmas Day, December 25 9 am Mass St. Francis, Benson 9 am Mass St. John, Appleton ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ CHRISTMAS MUSIC AT SACRED HEART -- There will be special music starting at 3:15 pm on Christmas Eve - 45 minutes before our Mass time of 4:00 pm. Everyone is invited to come and listen! There will be a practice on Sunday, December 18 at 8:30 am to prepare for our Christmas music. Everyone is invited to come sing with us - bring your family and friends or anyone from the area parishes - all ages. Christmas is a fun time to sing! We also need people to do things for the special music time before Mass - solos, duets, trios, groups, instrumentals - you pick! Any questions, contact Marlis - 320-875-2201. See you then! Young Adult Winter Weekend January 6-8, 2017 Step away from electronics and join other young adults (age 19-39) for an a la carte weekend of downhill skiing, snowboarding, XC skiing, and snowshoeing at Lutsen Mountains on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Casual discussions about our Catholic faith and the Theology of the Body as well as daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration will be included in our time at Cascade Lodge. Go to www.idretreats.org for more information and to register. WORLD WIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER - Prepare the way of the Lord. Is 40:3 If you have never attended a Marriage Encounter and would like to find out more please contact Miki at 507.227.8229. If you have attended, is it time to refresh your commitment? The weekend is for all couples of all ages of all religious backgrounds. A weekend is also a GREAT gift to your grown, married children! You can even offer to take the grand kids for the weekend and it is a win/win! Apply online at https://southmnwwme.org/applyweekend.php Or contact Miki Schultz at 507.227.8229 SYMPATHY We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Ronald Fernholz who passed away on December 1 st. Ronald s funeral was held on Wednesday, December 7 th at St. Bridget in DeGraff. We offer our sympathy to Rosemary Barth and her family and all the family and friends of Fred Barth who passed away on December 3 rd. Fred s funeral Mass was held on Saturday, December 10 th at Visitation Church in Danvers. We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Sandy Brickzin who passed away on November 30 th in Montana. Sandy is the sister of Beatrice Weber and aunt of Jim Weber. A funeral is being planned for the Spring. May Ronald, Fred and Sandy rest in peace and may the Holy Spirit bring consolation and healing to all of their loved ones.
Reflections for the weekly readings are part of this bulletin. This publication is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council #2129. OUR WEEKLY OFFERING St. Francis - Benson Sacred Heart - Murdock Adult $3,705.00 Adult $1,399.00 Student $35.06 Student $6.00 Loose Plate $145.00 Loose Plate $128.00 Fuel $110.00 Christmas $3,085.00 Christmas $50.00 Thanksgiving $66.00 All Saints $5.00 Immaculate Conception $10.00 Thanksgiving $130.00 Campaign for Human Dev. $40.00 Immaculate Conc. $45.00 Religious Retirement $85.00 CHD $40.00 Christmas Decorations $150.00 Catholic Comm. $10.00 Initial Offering $100.00 Religious Ret. $35.00 Votive Lights $12.00 Total $5,069.00 Christmas Decorations $210.00 Danvers Oratory $1,085.00 St. John - Appleton Building Maint. $35.00 Parish Cemetery $235.00 Adult $1,926.20 Arch. For Military $15.00 Student $24.00 Loose Plate $11.00 Total $5,902.06 Votive $25.00 Christmas Flowers $100.00 St. Malachy - Clontarf Fuel $100.00 Thanksgiving $45.00 Adult $1,505.00 Christmas $25.00 Student $3.75 Retirement for Rel. $20.00 Total $2,256.20 Immaculate Conc. $20.00 Fuel $50.00 St. Bridget collection figures will Christmas Dec. $21.00 appear in next week's bulletin Thanksgiving $3.00 Christmas $50.00 St. Isidore the Farmer AFC collection for the Swift County Food Shelf was $1,295. Thank you! Total $1,672.75 Please take note of and support the sponsors of our Area Faith Community bulletin. Over the coming year we will be giving away gift cards that have been donated by these sponsors. Within the content of the bulletin will be hidden one Adult Contribution Envelope number. If that is your number, please call the Area Office at 320-842-4271 to claim your prize for that week. You will have until 9 am Thursday morning following that Sunday s bulletin to claim your prize. If you are out of town any given weekend, you can look at our bulletin on-line at stisidorethefarmerafc.org.