24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time September 17, 2017 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 Summer: Monday-Friday 10:30 am 2:30 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, September 19 8:30 am BENSON w/ Holy Hour & Confessions + Helen Hughes 6:00 pm DANVERS + Winnie O Leary Wednesday, September 20 8:30 am CLONTARF + Gladys Boutain Thursday, September 21 8:30 am MURDOCK + Jack DeVaan Friday, September 22 9:00 am APPLETON + Elly Rakowski Weekend Masses Saturday, September 23 2:00 pm MURDOCK wedding of Mitchell Lesteberg & Crystal Schneider 5:00 pm APPLETON For the People Sunday, September 24 8:30 am BENSON + Wayne Nicholson 10:30 am MURDOCK ++ Nick & Mary Gengler Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturdays 4:00 pm Appleton * 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 the Sacred Heart 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 needs 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 needs 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.
DAILY SCHEDULE The Vocation View We neither live nor die as ruler of our own lives. That is a scary, but freeing, thought. What does God free us from? What does God free us for? (Romans 14:7-9) Sunday, September 17 Monday, September 18 Tuesday, September 19 Wednesday, Sept. 20 Friday, September 22 Saturday, September 23 Sunday, September 24 The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Masses in Appleton & Benson 7:00 pm Pro-Life Presentation by MCCL at St. Francis 7:00 pm Rosary in Benson intention is a good and safe harvest and for all those suffering from the hurricanes 9-10 am AFC Holy Hour & Confessions in Benson Faith Formation 6:45 pm Parent-Child Night Grades 1-6 6:45 pm Class Grades 7-11 8:00 pm Teen Talk in Benson 5 pm Wedding rehearsal at Sacred Heart The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Mass in Appleton The Holy Rosary will be prayed ½ hour before Masses in Benson & Murdock 4-7:30 pm Sacred Heart Fall Turkey Dinner see attached flyer Faith Formation Program is in need of classroom aides for our elementary classes. Please contact Cyndi at 842-4021 or cstifter@embarqmail.com Sunday School for ages 4 through Kindergarten will begin in October. This is open to all families in the Area Faith Community. Currently class time is scheduled for 9:30 am on Sunday mornings in the St. Francis Gathering Space. Please use the attached registration form to register your students. Pro-life Presentation--All are welcome! Minnesota Citizen's Concerned for Life (MCCL) will offer a brief pro-life presentation on Sunday, September 17 at 7 pm at Church of St. Francis Xavier 508 13th St. No, Benson. You will learn about how to help pregnant women in need, Minnesota abortion statistics, efforts to overturn our law against assisted suicide, and more. Discover how you can make a difference in protecting human life. Enjoy fellowship at this one-hour gathering! For more information, visit the Events - Fall Tour section at www.mccl.org. Sacred Heart Youth Group will be meeting on Sunday, September 17 th from 6:30-8 pm in the Sacred Heart Church basement. All youth from all of the St. Isidore the Farmer AFC in grades 4-12 are welcome to come. At our first youth group meeting on Sunday we will be having a Scavenger Hunt at Sacred Heart Church. We will be learning more about our church and how everything within our church is ultimately supposed to point us to Christ! We will be meeting approximately one Sunday evening per month. Our Theme is Doing Beautiful Things for Beautiful People. Our desire is to become stronger disciples of Christ. We are looking for volunteer families/individuals to provide snacks for the youth group meetings. Please contact Samantha Johnson or Jessie Collins if you are to do this. The next meeting will be Sunday, October 29 th. Please watch the bulletin for upcoming events and meeting dates. Parents are also welcomed to attend with their child if desired. St. Joseph Catholic Church in Montevideo will hold their Fall Festival on Sunday, September 17 th. Mass is as 10 am, meal will be served 11-1:30. Grilled Pork Chop Dinner $10. Kid s Hotdog Meal $5.00. There will be Bingo, Cake Walk, Games for kids, Country market featuring crafts, baked goods and garden produce and Silent Auction. Sweepstakes Drawing at 2 pm for Cash prizes. OLD FASHIONED BREAKFAST (Catered by Good Ol Days Café) ~ Sunday, September 17 th at Chuck Brown Building at the Swift County Fairgrounds in Appleton. Serving Biscuits & Gravy, Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage & Beverage from 8:30 am 12:00 pm. Adults: $8.00 Under 6: $5.00 Sponsored by Appleton Community Foundation (ACF) Proceeds go towards various Appleton Community Projects. We will be taking up a second collection for the Mercy Fund the weekend of September 23 & 24.
Health Care in Minnesota September 20, 2017, University of St. Thomas Learn more about how to respond to the health care challenges that we face as Minnesotans, such as health care reform, the opioid crisis, and gender theory, by attending the conference sponsored by the Minnesota Catholic Conference entitled Health Care in Minnesota. There will be a great line-up of speakers to foster dialogue and discussion. For further information, contact Sr. Candace Fier, cfier@dnu.org, 507-233-5328. The New Ulm Diocese Office of Youth & Young Adult Ministry invites you to Cor Jesu (latin: Heart of Jesus) for an evening of music, adoration, and fellowship! This event will be held at 7:15 pm on the following dates throughout the Diocese: September 22 at Cathedral, New Ulm; November 4 at St. Mary, Arlington; December 3 at St. Michael, Milroy; February 10 at St. Clotilde, Green Valley; March 17 at St. Andrew, Granite Falls; June 1 at Cathedral in New Ulm. Sacred Heart Annual Fall Turkey Dinner Sunday, September 24, serving family style turkey dinner, real mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, cranberries, cole slaw, pickles, pie, milk, coffee. Serving is from 4-7:30 pm. Cost: Adults $10; Ages 5-10 $5; Ages 4 and under Free. Take-out meals are $10. Silent Auction: Theme Baskets and other items. Juan Ana Coffee $9.00/17 oz. Bag direct from our mission families in San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala. Available in ground, regular roast bean and dark roast bean. Our facility is handicapped accessible. Faith Formation Enrichment classes will be held again at Sacred Heart in Murdock to supplement our regular Faith Formation program. These enrichment classes are not an alternative, only a supplement. First class will be held on Wednesday, September 27 at 3:30 pm at Sacred Heart in Murdock. To register or if you have any questions, please call Gina at 320-894-7302 or Stacy at 320-220-7242. Discipleship Day sponsored by the Diocese of New Ulm will be Saturday, September 30 from 8;30 am until 3 pm at the Church of St. Catherine in Redwood Falls. Bishop LeVoir will preside at the Mass at 8;30 am. The theme is Catechism as a Ladder of Ascent. The keynote includes Dr. Sean Innerst, Co-founder and full professor at Augustine Institute in Denver and Theology Cycle Director for St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver. For further information, contact Cindy Blickem (507-233-5325) or Kevin Losleben (507-233-5327). Or email Cindy at cblickem@dnu.org for information and registration. Open House Bridal Shower honoring Alexis Jauss, bride elect of Juston Dooley to be held on September 30 th at 10:30 am at the Kerkhoven Civic Center. SACRED HEART CHOIR: We will sing for Mass on October 1 st. Practice will be 1 hour before Mass time in the church basement. Practice at 9:30 am, sing at 10:30 am. Anyone can come sing along! See you then! Fall Festival & Turkey Dinner ~ St. James Catholic Church, Dawson... Sunday, October 1 st. Serving Turkey, Dressing, Gravy, Corn, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Salad, Pie & Beverage from 11:00 am 1:30 pm. Adults: $10.00 Children (12 & under) $5.00. There will also be a raffle, pull tabs, bingo, cake walk, games & country store. 40 Days for Life is a non-profit pro-life organization with a vision to access God's power through prayer, fasting and peaceful vigil to end abortion. The organization states their efforts have resulted in 10,331 lives saved from abortion and the closure of 60 abortion clinics. The nearest 40 Days for Life group is located in St. Cloud. We plan to join that group in their peaceful vigil outside the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on several dates (yet unknown) during their fall campaign from Sept. 27 to Nov. 5. If you would like to join us, please call Judy Hofer 264-5228 or Brenda Klema 599-4280. See also www.40daysforlife.com If you are unable to come along, please join us in prayer and fasting during this time.
An awesome marriage is not when a perfect couple come together ~ it s when an imperfect couple learns to celebrate their differences! Please consider registering for the October 7-8 Marriage Encounter at www.marriages.org. You can also call 651.454.3238 for additional dates and information. ENRICHMENT EVENING FOR LADIES of St. Isidore the Farmer Area Faith Community TUESDAY, October 3 at Sacred Heart Church, Murdock BECOMING MISSIONARY DISCIPLES - How to share the Joy of the Gospel (even if you re reluctant!) Would you like to share your faith in Christ but don t know where to start? Deacon Mike McKeown will be sharing insights from the recent Convocation of Catholic Leaders on how to share the Joy of the Gospel with those who need it most. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE AN EVENING WITH OTHER LADIES, SOCIALIZE with DINNER SERVED, AND ENERGIZE YOUR FAITH! The evening will include: 5:30 P.M. Registration: $6 6:00 P.M. HOLY MASS with Father Mark Mallak 7:00 P.M. Dinner and Presentation PLEASE COME AND BRING A FRIEND. ALL ladies of St. Isidore the Farmer Area Faith Community are cordially invited! Registration fee for Sacred Heart ladies paid by their CCW. Sponsored by Region 4 Council of Catholic Women. Winning Number: SH80 The annual Children s Holy Field Trip will be on Wednesday, October 4 at 10:30 am at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Bishop John M. LeVoir is presiding at a rosary prayer service for children and any other interested individuals. It is open to the public. Catholic schools, religious education programs, and home-schooled families are invited, along with their parents and teachers. Don t forget your rosary! If you are not able to attend the field trip consider visiting www.childrenoftheeucharist.org for information to participate in the worldwide Children s Eucharistic Holy Hour. Rice Hospice Volunteer Training: We d love to invite you to consider being a Rice Hospice volunteer! As a volunteer, you will be able to enrich the lives of others during their final journey. Rice Hospice care brings hope to help people live life as fully as possible. Our fall volunteer training will be held at Rice Memorial Hospital on Monday, October 2, and Wednesday, October 4. The 2-day training we will give you a comprehensive look at the hospice program including communication and caring skills, infection control, an overview of our complementary therapies, and so much more. Rice Hospice is looking for men and women of all backgrounds who have hearts of compassion and a genuine interest in helping others. (We do have a high need for veteran volunteers.) Please call Deb Van Buren at Rice Hospice, 320-231-4450 for more information, or online at www.ricehospice.com. Fall Dinner and Bake Sale ~ St. John s Lutheran Church, Madison... Sunday, October 8 th from 11:00 am 1:00 pm. Menu: Ham and Turkey, German Potato Salad, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Salads, Corn, Desserts, Bread & Beverage. Adults: $10.00 Children Ages 5 11: $5.00 Preschool: Free. All are invited to join Bishop LeVoir in commemorating the 100 th anniversary of the last Marian apparition in Fatima with a Candlelight Rosary Procession in Sleepy Eye. The procession will begin at 7:00 pm on October 13, 2017 at the Schoenstatt Shrine and will end at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye. A social will follow the event. An optional shuttle from St. Mary s to Schoenstatt will be available from 6;15 pm to 6:50 pm to allow participants to park at St. Mary s where the procession will finish. Feel free to contact the diocese of New Ulm Office of Worship for any questions 507-233-5320.
Our Area Faith Community has purchased a great new on-line resource for all our members. We hope you find this resource helpful in your faith journey and in sharing your faith with others. The website is Formed.org and the parish code is: N6W22K. Please go to the website to set up your own personal account and please share this with your family and friends. SYMPATHY We offer our sympathy to Patricia Diederich-Watkins and her family on the death of her husband, Arvel Watkins. Arvel passed away on September 4 th. His funeral was held on Saturday, September 9 th at Assembly of God Church in Benson. May Arvel live on in the presence of God and may his memory strengthen his loved ones. We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Bill Zahnow who passed away on September 11 th. Bill s funeral was held on Friday, September 15 th at St. John Church in Appleton. We offer prayers for the repose of his soul. Congratulations to the newly married couple: John Chevalier & Marissa Thompson who were married on Saturday, September 9 th at St. Francis Church in Benson. May they enjoy a full and happy married life. We Welcome into the Faith Community: Greta Jo Jensen who was baptized on Sunday, September 10 th at St. Francis Church in Benson; Clara Cynthia Fremling and Quinn Elizabeth Carruth who were baptized on Sunday, September 10 th at Sacred Heart Church in Murdock. May we always be a good example to them.
Reminder: MyEoffering is available for St. Francis Parishioners. Whether you are off to the lake, on vacation, enjoying family or class reunions, MyEoffering allows you to give electronically, much the same way you already pay bills and make other purchases on-line. Just go to http://stisidorethefarmerafc.org/locations/ and click on the myeoffering logo. You can create your account and set up your donation schedule to match your pay periods. This service allows you to set your own donation interval weekly, monthly or whatever you choose. Even onetime donations. Check it out. 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 $1,995.00 Adult $1,594.92 Student $5.00 Student $11.50 Loose Plate $109.52 Loose Plate $100.00 Assumption $5.00 Fuel $40.00 Catholic University $20.00 Insurance $315.00 Votive Lights $3.00 Catholic University $95.00 Danvers Oratory $210.00 Building Maintenance $100.00 Total $2,156.42 Parish Cemetery $25.00 St. John - Appleton Total $2,472.52 Adult $1,040.00 Loose Plate $106.00 Restricted Gifts - Elevator $50.00 Restricted Gifts - Roof $30.00 Catholic University $120.00 Total $1,346.00 Please take note of and support the sponsors of our Area Faith Community bulletin. 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.
St. Isidore the Farmer AFC Sunday School Registration 2017-2018 Sundays 9:30 am Gathering Space St. Francis, Benson Child Information Child s Last Name First Name M/F Birth Date Age Grade Severe Allergies, Medical Conditions, Special Needs Family Information Mother s Name: Father s Name: Home Phone #: Home Phone #: Work/Cell Phone: Work/ Cell Phone: E-mail: E-mail: Street: City: Zip Code: Child Lives With: Address if different: Parent Involvement & Registration Signature Teachers may be asking for help supplying snacks for the students. Please be willing to help when requested. Please be mindful of any food allergies of which you are made known. Also please be helpful in cleaning up after class. In case of emergency where I cannot be reached, I hereby authorize Children s Sunday School Staff to administer necessary first aid or to seek emergency medical attention for my child. --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------- Signature of Parent/Guardian Date Who is authorized to pick up my children? St. Isidore the Farmer Area Faith Community 508 13 th St. N Benson, MN 56215 (320) 842-4271 Church Office (320) 842-4021 Cyndi Stifter Director of Faith Formation (320) 815-0579 Molly Gades Sunday School Supervisor
CHURCH OF ST. FRANCIS ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Thursday June 1, 2017 12:00 p.m. Area Office The St. Francis Administrative Council met on Thursday June 1, 2017 at noon in the church gathering space. Members present were: Fr. Jeremy, Dan Enderson, Jim Hilleren, Mark Frank, Dick Lambert, Pat Lee, and Charlotte Rosemeier. The meeting was called to order and opened with prayer. The April 20 th, 2017 minutes were read and approved. The financial report was given and the 2017/2018 final budget was discussed. Dan Enderson is planning to give another talk to the St. Francis parishioners regarding the financial needs of the church. In old business, Mark Frank followed up from questions at the last meeting about the balance sheet and the values given to the church property. He noted the values listed on the Catholic Mutual Insurance ledger page were significantly higher and represented the replacement cost of the buildings not actual market values as shown on the balance sheet. Dan Enderson asked about the value of the assets, and wondered if they should be showing depreciation. The meeting adjourned with prayer led by Father Jeremy. Respectfully submitted by, Charlotte Rosemeier