March 5, 2017 - First Sunday of Lent ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI CATHOLIC CHURCH Parish Office 203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:00 am-4:30 pm Phone (217) 857-6404 Fax 217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail: stfrancischurch@mchsi.com Parish website: stfrancischurch.com Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Diocesan Child Abuse Reporting and Investigation Number (217) 321-1155 Parish Pastoral Team Fr. Joe Carlos, OFM, Pastor Fr. Ken Rosswog, OFM, Associate Pastor Fr. Thinh Tran, OFM, Associate Pastor Kim Deters, Director of Music Ministry Anita Broom, Bookkeeper Jane Miller, Part-time Secretary Ron Ruholl, Maintenance Religious Education: Sr. A. Pierre Wilken, OSF, Director of Faith Formation: 857-6404 Sr. Ann Siemer, SSND, Gr. Sch./Jr. Hi. DRE: 857-6477/3015 Lisa Siemer, Youth Director & Sr. High CRE: 857-1500 Carlene Rauch, Part-time Rel. Ed. Secretary: 857-6477 Parish Council Dan Beckman Rich Niebrugge Sandy Gillespie Tony Pals Lois Meinhart Sharon Waldhoff Steve Kroeger Cory Wermert Karen Runde 203 EAST MAIN ST., PO BOX 730, TEUTOPOLIS, IL 62467
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 2 From the Pastor The parishioners of St. Francis extend our sympathy and condolences to the family of Bill Runde, whose funeral was Saturday, 4 March. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. If you came to Mass on Ash Wednesday, then you were one of a large number of people! How good it is to see so many people come to the Eucharist. I hope the 6:15 weekday Mass will be well attended during Lent, and the other Masses too! The Social Concerns Committee has been busy. We will pray together a special prayer after the Universal Prayer or General Intercessions at each weekend Mass during Lent. This prayer can be found in the hymnals in the pew. You are encouraged to take home a picture of one of the boys from the Congo and pray for him. Please remember Fr. Damien in your prayers as well. He runs in many directions! During Lent try to set aside some funds so that on Sunday, 2 April, you can bring this sacrifice to Mass for the second collection. Almsgiving is one of the pillars of Lent, and this is an excellent way to reach out to those in need. We congratulate our varsity basketball team for their remarkable season of 28 wins! And we thank Coach Hanson and the team for providing the community a season filled with excitement and spirit. One more victory would have been great, but the major win this year was our Lord keeping our youth and staff safe in the bus accident on 10 February! Anyone want to play some baseball? St. Francis of Assisi Lenten Project As a church community, we will have a special Lenten fundraising and prayer project to benefit our parish missionary effort of Assisi for Africa. Prayer cards with one of the abandoned boy s photo and name on the front will be available at entrances. Please say this prayer at home with your family for this boy, and all the boys and their caregivers. We will also say the prayer, inserted in the missalettes, as a parish family at weekend Masses during Lent. We request an extra sacrificial offering to help with many needs not covered by our regular monthly yellow envelope donations, such as medications, counseling and doctor s visits. Training the boys to learn a trade to be employable, and teaching them how to work the land so they will have skills to grow their own food and become more selfsufficient are other needs. There are always more expansions necessary with additional boys who come, such as the need for more bathroom facilities and another dormitory addition. Please search your heart to give generously during this holy season of Lent, so that the hearts of our brothers in Africa will be equally full and forever linked to you, the parishioners at St. Francis. There will be a special collection on April 2 for this cause. May Almighty God, who has given us so very much, reward you abundantly for your efforts to help the poorest of His children! ATTENTION PARENTS URGENT REQUEST The Religion Program is needing persons to volunteer to teach any of the 1 through 4 grades or 5 through 8 grade classes MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS FRIDAYS. THERE ARE NO SUBSTITUTES SIGNED UP TO HELP FOR THESE DAYS. March is a difficult month regular catechists are taking vacations family members are in hospitals or recuperating from surgeries. Some parents who have flexible schedules at work, call us at the beginning of each month and let us know the days they are available. (What a great resource they are, but we have no one available for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays this month CAN YOU HELP) You will receive all the materials and individual help and support you will need for each class. Call 857-6477. Mass Intentions Monday, March 6, 6:15: Mack Kitten Monday, March 6, 12:10: Dorothy Waldhoff Tuesday, March 7, 6:15: Raymond and Virginia Probst Tuesday, March 7, 7:55: Fred J. Waldhoff death anniv. Wednesday, March 8, 6:15: Bernard and Betty Koeberlein Wednesday, March 8, 7:55: IAD Thursday, March 9, 6:15: Carolyn Poe Thursday, March 9, 12:10: George Habing Friday, March 10, 6:15: Betty Koeberlein Schottman Friday, March 10, 7:55: Matilda Bierman Saturday, March 11, 8:00: IAD Saturday, March 11, 4:30: Mary Baker Sunday, March 12, 6:30: Pro Populo Sunday, March 12, 8:30: Living and Deceased C D of A Members Sunday, March 12, 10:30: Frank Figueroa death anniv. There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less. --G. K. Chesterton
March 5, 2017 - First Sunday of Lent page 3 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Liturgy Schedule 1st Week of Lent March 6-12 Mass at 6:15 am & 12:10 pm St. Perpetua & St. Felicity Mass at 6:15 & 7:55 am St. John of God Mass at 6:15 & 7:55 am St. Frances of Rome Mass at 6:15 am & 12:10 pm Mass at 6:15 & 7:55 am Mass at 8:00 am & 4:30 pm 2nd Sunday of Lent Mass at 6:30, 8:30, 10:30 am Stations of the Cross Friday, March 10-7:00 pm Confession Schedule Saturday, March 11-3:00-4:00 pm Liturgy of the Hours with Friars Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm Sing Along St. Francis Singers and Friends will be singing at Evergreen Nursing Center on Wednesday, March 8th at 10:00 am. Pray for the Sick Please remember in your prayers: Jack Hardiek, Lucille Worman, Agnes Kremer, Devin Mette, Harold Hardiek, Margaret Pruemer, Will Niccum, Joe Ruholl, Bill and Rosie Myers, Emily (Heuerman) McCabe, Lorraine Deters, Claude and Geraldine Brumleve, Craig Lindvahl, Scott Repking, Andrea Wernsing, Elizabeth Weidner, Paula Spencer, Betty Borries, Jody Furlano, Mark Roedl, JoAnn Deters, Elizabeth Waldhoff, Linus Willenborg, Cheryl Woodard, Norma Weber, Pat Poston, Kathryn Wesselman, Betty Runde, Philip Wendt, Charlotte Miller, Pat Weis, Florence Koester, Barb Cornell. Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 2/26/2017 Year 284 Adult envelopes $8,359.00 $297,375.50 Other $735.59 $28,784.76 TOTAL $9,094.59 $326,160.26 Assisi for Africa $245.00 $20,829.00 Parish Calendar Tuesday, March 7 Lenten Series, 10:00-11:30 am and 7:00-8:30 pm, St. Clare Secular Franciscans meet, 6:00 pm, St. Clare Photography Sessions, 2:00-9:00 pm Wednesday, March 8 Youth Choir, 7:00-8:15 pm Jr. High & HS Religion, 7:20 pm Rosary, 8:00 pm, Chapel Photography Sessions, 2:00-9:00 pm Thursday, March 9 Adult Choir, 7:00-8:30 pm Photography Sessions, 2:00-9:00 pm Friday, March 10 Rosary, 9:30 am Church and St. Clare Stations of the Cross, 7:00 pm Photography Sessions, 2:00-9:00 pm Saturday, March 11 Confessions, 3:00-4:00 pm Photography Sessions, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday, March 12 Financial Peace University, 5:00-7:00 pm Parish Council Dinner, 5:30 pm Photography Sessions, 12:00-7:00 pm Special Collection The Annual Collection for Catholic Charities will be March 11 th and 12 th. Catholic Charities depends greatly on your generosity to provide the services for men, women, and children who need help with the basic necessities of life, such as food, a place to live, lights and heat in their homes, medication, clothing, school supplies. Envelopes have been provided in your Church contribution packet for this collection. Please use this envelope or use an envelope with Catholic Charities written on it. Thank you in advance for being the presence of Christ in the lives of those in need and for your generosity. Lent Come join us as we hear Bishop Robert Barron s video series, Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness. This series will be held every Tuesday of Lent. We will be in St. Clare Hall from 10:00-11:30 and again from 7:00pm 8:30pm. Come join us for this free, inspirational and uplifting series. Homebound Ministry Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound for Sunday, March 12th are Rita Pals 857-3569 and Brenda Henry 857-3964.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 4 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND YOUTH NOTES ATTENTION ALL CATECHISTS, MASS SU- PERVISORS, VIDEO PRESENTERS, HELP- ERS pictures will be taken for the Parish Directory on the day that you are scheduled to be in attendance to teach, to walk the children to church, to present the video, to sub. After your service, please come over to the Religious Ed Office by 8:50. If it is not raining, snowing, or storming the PICTURES will be taken on the East steps of the religious education office. If weather is not good, the PIC- TURES will be taken in Church on the steps in front of the altar. Please remind each other on the day of the picture taking. Mark your calendars. Thank you. MORNING RELIGION GS BUILDING SUPER- VISORS We are asking you to please participate in the group picture for the parish pictorial directory. This will take place, Thursday, March 9th at 6:30 pm at St. Clare Hall. GRADE SCHOOL Children have received letters to parents about the Lenten activities and practices the children are participating in the classroom. They have received Lenten boxes which they are asked to take home. They are asked to put in a donation each week to represent the amount of some item they are giving up. This year each child is receiving a prayer card with a picture of a child in Fr. Damien Isabell s mission home for African boys, our parish mission outreach. They are praying for these children each day, specifically naming several each day. Children in grades 3 through 6 have listed their special Lenten practice on a purple strip of paper which they will place in a basket to be carried up to the altar with the Offertory gifts during their class Mass. Parents, please encourage your child to carry out their Lenten practices each day each week. PRE-K Sunday Morning religion classes for 4 year and 5 year old children takes place during the l0:30 Mass in the Museum Dining Room. ATTENTION PARENTS URGENT REQUEST The Religion Program is needing persons to volunteer to teach any of the 1 through 4 or 5 through 8 grade classes MONDAYS WEDNESDAYS FRIDAYS. THERE ARE NO SUBSTITUTES SIGNED UP TO HELP FOR THESE DAYS. March is a difficult month regular catechists are taking vacations family members are in hospitals or recuperating from surgeries. Some parents who have flexible schedules at work, call us at the beginning of each month and let us know the days they are available. (What a great resource they are, but we have no one available for Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays this month CAN YOU HELP) You will receive all the materials and individual help and support you will need for each class. Call 857-6477. JUNIOR HIGH Junior High Catechists and Grade 7 and 8 Mass Servers will have their picture taken for the parish directory this Wednesday night before class begins at 7:20 in the cafeteria. During religion class, the students have written on a purple strip an action of Prayer, Almsgiving, or Penance which they plan on doing for Lent. We have suggested that for prayer they may attend a Friday Stations of the Cross and the Holy Week services for Almsgiving they may start using their church envelopes for Penance they may give service to others: family, church, community. Grade 7 will be studying the Bible the exile return and Maccabean Revolt. Grade 8 will be studying Chapter 6 We ve Got Issues. HIGH SCHOOL High School Servers pictures will be taken this Wednesday during religion class time. Please be at class if you want your picture in the directory with the servers. Seniors: Don't miss the opportunity for the Senior Retreat! Registrations are due soon! It will be an awesome experience! Parents, this is an excellent event to encourage your students to take part in! YOUTH NOTES Youth Councils meet at 7 pm in the Teen Center TO- DAY, Sunday, March 5 for all junior high and high school students! PLEASE NOTE THE TIME CHANGE (and tell your friends). Roller Skating and Laser Tagging for Junior High and High School is March 25! We will leave the church parking lot at 11:30 am and head to Mattoon for Roller Skating at Silver Star Roller Skating and Laser Tagging at Isaak's Family Fun Center! We will be back around 6 pm. Cost is just $20 and includes skating, skate rental, laser tagging, and miniature golfing. Please eat before you go! Forms are available online at the parish website! Protecting God s Children We are all called to care for the vulnerable among us children and adults. We need to be aware of warning signs that indicate something may not be right in the care and upbringing of both children and adults-- elderly and mentally challenged. St. Francis has training for adults of the parish involved in any parish ministry on Monday, March 27 at 6:30. Please call the parish office to register. 857-6404. RCIA sessions continue on Monday nights. This week our topic is Lent. If you know of anyone interested in more information on the Catholic Church, please call Sr. Pierre at 857-6404.
March 5, 2017 - First Sunday of Lent page 5 RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MO- MENTS Can you believe Lent is here already? It seems like not that long ago I was decorating a Christmas tree! Time waits for no one and that is why it is important to make a mindful commitment now to not let this Lenten season pass you by. It is a great time to focus on growing as an everyday steward. The temptations are always there to procrastinate or to give in to spiritual laziness, but the Church's observation of Lent offers us so many tools to help us get on track. Increased devotions such as Stations of the Cross, various parish missions, or Lenten-focused literature are all gifts that your parish may be offering to assist you in this season. With the Passion being the focus of Lent, it is easy to contemplate the value of true generosity. How could someone give more than Jesus? He gave until his life was spent on a cross. When contemplating how we can increase our generosity in all aspects of our life, we only need to look to the cross. Of course, this also brings home to us that more may be asked of us than we bargained. The temptation is to not give too much, out of fear that we might face persecution or worse. But we take solace in the fact that we are disciples of One who had the same temptations. He overcame those temptations. He rejected the easy way out. His love and generosity could not be contained. He gave it all so that you and I have the chance to do the same. This Lent, look to the greatest example of stewardship that ever lived. Jesus will show us the way to observe a Lent that will soon bring forth great Easter fruit. --Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS 40 Days for Life is March 1-April 9 - Let us join people of faith across our nation to pray and fast for an end to abortion during this Lent. Much prayer is still needed to close abortion centers and restore respect for human life. Some ideas could be giving up 30-60 minutes of TV or computer time weekly and spending that time in reading a children s bible or lives of the saints, praying the family rosary weekly, eating less (in whatever way you like) one day a week, spending 30-60 minutes in Eucharistic adoration weekly. Please decide now how you and your family might offer extra prayer and sacrifice for the end of abortion. We will also have a Eucharistic Day of Prayer for Life at St Francis Church on March 21. Fr. Ron Hilt invites you to the Sacred Heart Parish Center on Monday, March 6, from 6:00-7:00 pm to see the remarkable story of Mother Mariana and Our Lady s Revelations to her. Come and learn about this approved apparition of Our Blessed Mother as she reveals her love and that of her Son s to all humanity. Fr. Ron will also be offering to take people on a trip from Friday, May 12, to Saturday, May 20, 2017. For questions or more information, call Fr. Ron at St. Mary s Parish at 217-466-3355. Everyone is welcome. 2017 The Year of Grace The second creation story is heard today. It is the story of God s goodness, God s breath and life. The story of beauty and delight. The story of divine choice, divine election. Of the serpent s cunning and deceit. Of turning away from God. And then, Saint Paul reminds us that, even in this sin and death, grace is stronger. This gracious gift of Jesus Christ restores us to the first garden s original goodness. How can I not let deceitful voices drown out God s Good News? What will I do to stay tuned to God and to Good News? Let me count and then tell stories of grace outshining sin! National Catholic Sisters Week is celebrated from March 8-14. Take the fun quiz in this week s bulletin and see how much you know about the women religious who serve with you in ministry. We love what we do, for and with whom we do it. This week contact a sister you know or, better yet, one you don t and get to know them. Have a cup of tea, coffee or cocoa with them. Quiz answers: 4, 3, 2, 11, 7, 10, 3, 4, 7, 9, 1, 11, 4, 1, 10, 8, 5, 5, 8, 6 Pictorial Directory Group Pictures The following group pictures will be taken at 11:30 am today, March 5 th : Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Cantors, Ministers to the Homebound, Museum Workers and Volunteers, Collection Counters. Another day has been added for pictures--sunday, March 12. You can go online to register or contact the parish office. If you wish to submit a picture for the directory, please send it, along with a release form, to sfcpictorial@mediacombb.net. There will be a $10 fee for the directory. If you do not have your picture in the directory, there is a $20 fee for the directory. If you already had your picture taken and are expecting a free one, it is in the parish office. You can pick it up there. Sacred Heart Parish Mission - The Journey Makes Us One - will be held March 20-22. Monday, March 20, 7:00 pm - Set Your Heart On The Way ~ Let us begin our journey. Tuesday, March 21, 7:00 pm - Catch a Glimpse of What Might Be ~ Our conviction in giving witness. Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 pm - Faith on Fire ~ A vision for the future. Immediately following Mass on Wednesday evening, you are invited to a Parish Dessert Social in the Sacred Heart Parish Center.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois page 6 Special Thanks to all who assisted with the "Little Dresses for Africa" sewing project! Adorable dresses were sewn and will make some little girls feel very special when the dresses reach their African destination. Thank you to our St. Francis Council of Catholic Women for funding the delivery of our dresses to the Michigan location. Project helpers included: Joan Buehnerkemper Lois Kreke Linda Waldhoff Tess Probst Neve Probst Rosie Brumleve Jane Ruholl Clare Swingler Brenda Henry Julie Hotze Jeanette Westendorf Rita Habing Angie Hotze Thank you from the Franciscan Missionary Union for the gift of $6,737.00. This will be used to aid the missionary ministry of Fr. Damien Isabell, OFM. By your assistance to the FMU, you are enabling us to meet the needs of many people the world over. Please know that we are grateful to you and that the missionaries will remember you and your family in their prayers. Sacred Relics Of The Saints: Treasures Of The Church The Diocese of Springfield in Illinois will host at The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception a teaching and exposition of Sacred Relics on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at 7pm. Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross will be here with his very special ministry to teach about these holy objects. He will bring with him over 150 relics, some as old as 2000 years. Among the treasures will be relics of St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower"), St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Faustina Kowalska. In addition, there will also be present a portion of the veil of Our Lady, as well as one of the largest remaining pieces of the True Cross in the world. Those in attendance will be able to examine and venerate each relic. In the Church s history many miracles and healings have been worked in the presence of relics, and many have been healed through this ministry. Please do not miss this opportunity. You are encouraged to bring your articles of devotion (such as rosaries, holy cards, etc.) and pictures of ill friends/family members which you will be able to touch to the reliquaries as a means of intercession. Teutopolis Park District March 10: Indoor Pool Party Sign-up continues: Instructional Volleyball, Baseball/ Softball, Baseball Clinics, Softball Clinics, Fitness Programs (April 3 - July 1). Area Events Fish Fry at Sacred Heart Parish, Effingham, will be held on Friday, March 17. Serving from 4:30-7:30 pm in their Parish Center. St. Mary of the Assumption Church in St. Marie extends an invitation to their annual Parish Brunch to be held today, March 5. Serving 8:00 am-noon. Knights of Columbus Initiation The Knights of Columbus Council #2874 will hold an initiation today, March 5th, at 11:00 am. If you are interested in becoming a KC member, forms can be picked up at the club. Must be 18 years old or older. Family Life Center presents Broadway for Life, annual fundraising musical event Life to Share on March 11 at Carriage House Event Center, Altamont, IL. Call 217-342- 5433 for ticket reservations. Dinner tickets $25. Doors open at 4:30 pm, dinner at 6:00, show at 7:00. Reserved seating for show only also available. Seating at 6:45 pm. Annual Right to Life Rummage Sale will be held on Thursday, March 16th, 7:00 am-5:00 pm and Friday, March 17, 7:00 am-2:30 pm at the Effingham Knights of Columbus building. Items accepted on Wednesday, March 15 from 6:00 am-5:00 pm. Donations of clothing, books, toys, kitchen items, bedding, small appliance, etc. would be appreciated. No TVs, Computers, or printers accepted. Wine Tasting on Saturday, March 25th at Holy Cross Parish Center, Wendelin from 6:00-10:30 pm. 5 local wineries will be available to sample and/or purchase their wines. Live music will be provided throughout the evening. There will be a raffle drawing. No need to be present to win. DeColores Spring Weekend s Men s Weekend, March 23-26. Lay Leader is Eric Koester 217-273-4071; ericfkoester@gmail.com. Spiritual Director; Fr. Ron Hilt. Women s Weekend, March 30-April 2. Lay Leader, Sheila Greuel, 217-725-6081; smgreuel@gmail.com. Spiritual Director - Fr. John Titus. Experience a 3 day beautiful experience at Camp Walter Scott. Share in inspiring talks, renew your faith, and make new friends. For more information, call Mary Sur at 217-342-2003. Please Note We have noticed that lights have been left on in the Paper Depot. Please turn them off when you finish. God Bless Those Serving our Country. Anthony Vahling, Jeremy Deters, Caleb Hoene, Cody Bushue, Jared Apke