The Church of St. Mary 420 Irving Street (PO Box 669) Alexandria, MN 56308 Parish Office: 320-763-5781 School Office: 320-763-5861 Rel Ed. Office: 320-763-9202 Website: www.stmaryalexandria.org Email: stmary@stmaryalexandria.org Diocese website: www.stclouddiocese.org Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 3:00 PM Monday Thursday 7:30 AM - 1:00 PM Friday October 29, 2017 THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Fr. Steve Binsfeld Our Mission is to know, love, and serve God by living the Eucharist. Promulgated on Pentecost Sunday 2013 Dear Members of St. Mary s, This Saturday-Oct 28, after the 5 PM Mass, our Parish Life Committee is hosting an Oktoberfest Supper and Dance. Come on over to the gym. Teach the young ones how to dance. Have a good German supper. Nathan s Old Time Band is playing (they are very good). It is open to everyone. Masses on the Feast of All Saints-November 1 a Holy Day of Obligation are at 8:30 AM (with St. Mary s Grade School) and 7 PM (with religious ed young people) Various relics of Saints will be on display at the front of the Church. Mass on the Memorial of All Souls on Thursday is at 8:30 AM. There will not be a 7 AM Mass. Mass is also celebrated at 1:30 PM at Knute Nelson. Although not a Holy Day, it is a time to remember all who have died. There will be a memorial book at the front of the church in which you can write the names of those whom you would like to remember at Mass this Month of November. Next Sunday-Nov 5- at4 PM we will hold our annual Memorial Service for all who have died from the Parish this year since November 1 of 2016. It is a beautiful service to which ever one is invited To celebrate Thanksgiving, we again have our Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service with First Lutheran and Calvary Lutheran Churches on Wednesday, November 22 at 6:30 PM here at St. Mary s. Our Mass on Thanksgiving Day is at 8:30 AM. Thanks again to the couples who came forward to again lead the Thanksgiving Community Meal that is being served in our School gym from 11:30 to 1:00. If you would like to share a meal with someone on that day of giving thanks, you are more than welcome. From November 7 through November 20 you will be under the care of our retired priests Fr. Fred Fink and Fr. Bob Kieffer. Fr. Steve Readings for the Week of Oct. 30 th Monday: Rom 8:12-17; Lk 13:10-17 Tuesday: Rom 8:18-25; Lk 13:18-21 Wednesday: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a Thursday: Wis 3:1-9; Jn 6:37-40 Friday: Rom 9:1-5; Lk 14:1-6 Saturday: Rom 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29; Lk 14:1, 7-11 Sunday: Mal 1:14b -2:2b, 8-10;1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13; Mt 23:1-12 WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE Daily Mass Server: Tues., Thur., Fri., - Phil Bromen Monday No daily mass Tuesday 5:00 PM +Jeanne Jepsen Wednesday 8:30 AM +Steven Ignowski 7:00 PM +Arlene Bosek Thursday 8:30 AM +Dennis& Sylvia Leier 1:30 PM @ Knute Int. of John & Diane Stephens Friday 8:30 AM Int of the KC s Saturday 5:00 PM +Evelyn Hamilton Sunday 8:00 AM +Rita Pansch 10:00 AM Int. of Kimberly Mikkelson Sacraments Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday at 4 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (room behind presider s chair; also has a separate entry) Celebration of Baptism: All parents must take the Baptism Preparation Course before their child s baptism. Sign up by calling the Parish Office. The next course will be offered on Nov. 14 th at 7 PM. Baptism Dates: Nov. 5 th, 11 th, 19 th, Dec. 3 rd, 9 th, 17 th & 30 th. To schedule a baptism on one of these dates, please call the Parish Office. Preparation for Marriage: Members of the parish (or children of members) must arrange for marriage at least 6 months in advance. Information can be received from the Parish Office. Anointing of the Sick: is held on the first Sunday of the month, immediately following the 8 AM Mass. Those who wish to be anointed are asked to come to the front of the church. New members - to register please stop by our hospitality desk located in the Commons Area of the church or visit our website to complete the registration online.
WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY 1 LITURGICAL MINISTERS November 4 th & 5 th SATURDAY 5 PM MASS Greeters Team 1 Cheryl Willie, Grace Lambert, Reenie Elkington, Brenda Struck, Pat Polesak Ushers Team 1-Brad Olson, Joe Struck, Gail Feriancek, Vicki Lorentz, Joyce & David Essler, Edward Dummer Extraordinary Ministers Team 1 Lector 1 Carol Hughes Lector 2 Kari Burrow Servers Matthew Donley, Ashley Donley SUNDAY 8 AM MASS Greeters Team 5B Larry & Mary Lou Simpson, Patricia & Paul Johnson, John & Janet Stone Ushers Team 5 Bernard Wambeke, James Walz, Bradley Brejcha, Daniel Zimny, Kevin Tvrdik, Kenneth Tvrdik, Vincent Hennen Extraordinary Ministers Team 5 Lector 1 Thomas Savageau Lector 2 Karen Grundei Servers Selby Olson, Ella Sanden SUNDAY 10 AM MASS Greeters Team 9 Gregory & Linda Thompson, Paulette Engels, Rodney & Sue Borden Ushers Team 9 Brad Dumm, Bruce Standskov, Jacob Schiltgen, Mark Meuwissen, Hank Janz, Dennis Mack, Lyle Holscher, T. Michael Thompson Extraordinary Ministers Team 9 Lector 1 Aaron Korkowski Lector 2 Erin Petermeier Servers Elizabeth Winter, David Winter Drivers November 5 th Bethel Manor Jerry Wright Windmill Ponds Rich Solheid Arabella Manor Ken Wersinger Grand Arbor John Hovel & Ron Boyden.Hospital/Nursing Home November 5 th Hospital Eileen Eiser Knute Nelson/Nelson Gables Len & Bonne Didier Bethany Jan Breun ADULT FAITH FORMATION ADULT BIBLE STUDY - Tuesday evenings in the Great Hall immediately following the 5 PM mass. Call Mike at 759-1911 for more info. MEN S BIBLE STUDY - Thursday mornings in the Commons Area of the church at 6 AM. Call Mike at 759-1911 for more info. WOMEN S BIBLE STUDY - Peter: Cornerstone of Catholicism Meets on Saturday s from 8-10 AM or Sunday 6:30-8:30 PM. For more info call Lori at 320-808-1145 or Tammy at 320-808-6404 or email biblestudywomen@gmail.com. ST. MARY S PRAYER LINK: If you have a prayer request, please send to Wosepkak@aol.com or phone Kelly Wosepka at 320-815-4655. You may also call Julie Desautels at 846-1842. All prayer requests will be kept confidential. PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel Rosary: Sundays (before Mass) 7:35 AM & 9:35 AM Holy Spirit Prayer Group: Thursdays 5:30-6:00 PM (rosary in Commons Area) 6-7 PM prayer time in the Chapel Contact Jim Joerger 834-2945 Divine Mercy Hour: Mondays from 3-4 PM Contact Barb Nei at 846-0022. Sanctity of Life Prayer Group: Meets the 1 st Wednesday of every month at 7 PM. Contact Louise Revering at 762-8632. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION, A STEWARDSHIP OF PRAYER. For more information you can contact Sue McCulloch at 320-491- 7006 (call or text); tscamcculloch@charter.net. The 50/50 Club What is the 50/50 Club? The 50/50 Club is a place for adults to gather and talk about issues facing our teens and pre-teens. Where? When? Meet at the KC Hall, 722 6 th Ave E. on Wednesday Nov. 15 th Social Gathering Time 6:30 PM Session Begins 6:50 PM Session Ends 7:50 PM We wish to offer our sympathy and a promise of our prayers to: Family and friends on the death of Brian Conn, Dorothy Trousil & John Walz. PRAYER CORNER If you or someone you know in our parish community is sick or ill or has a family member who could use our prayers, please call our Parish Nurse, Kathy Fischer, at 762-2320. Please remember the following people in your prayers: Ruth Partington, Ron Hoffman, Chris Ficenec, Ken Judson, Betty Schlosser, Butch (Bruce) Schmidt, Jim Rutten, Nancy Westhoff, Scott Addy, Carol Fruth, Ben Vanderheiden, Ronald Decker, Kathryn Vieaux, Irene Bundy, Dick Wagner, Pat Pahl, Irma Moriarty, Ione Grubb and Shirley Botzet.
2 COMMUNITY NEWS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO Sunday, October 29 th at 7:00 PM & Wednesday, November 1 st at 2:00 PM at the KC Hall on 6 th Ave E. & Nokomis. Team 9 Rory Roers, Rich Klein, John Schimek, Kevin Tvrdik, Randy Kinney will be in charge. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MONDAY NIGHT MEETING TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 7 PM. SANCTITY OF LIFE MOMENT: Lord, you are the creator of all things. Guide my thoughts to consider your creation in all of its majesty, beauty and holiness. Guide my heart especially to your creation of precious human life. Help me to comprehend how essential life is in your own heart. Teach me to appreciate, love and protect all human life. Visit St. Mary's Sanctity of Life online, at http://sanctityoflifestm.org/ for information and resources THANK YOU to all who put their faith into action by responding generously on World Mission Sunday! Your solidarity and love for our global brothers and sisters makes a huge difference! PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY if you know of someone in need of comfort and prayer, we have prayer shawls available. Please call Kay at 320-815-6604. BISHOP S ANNUAL APPEAL 2017 END OF YEAR MAILING: 2017 is coming to an end, and we have achieved 77% of our Appeal goal of $1,300,000. Bishop Don is deeply grateful for the generous response thus far and is hopeful that the faithful will continue to come forward to bring 2017 to a successful conclusion. Appeal offerings support vital ministries that spread the life-affirming Word of God throughout our diocese. The Fall letter will mail this week. Donations can also be made online at www.stcdio.org/annualappeal or by calling 320-258-7654. Thank you for your prayers and stewardship. VETERAN S DAY As an ongoing annual event, the Alexandria area Veteran s Day program will be conducted this year on Saturday November 11, 2017 at 11 AM at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Following the program, lunch will be served at Alexandria VFW Post 936. In recent years the program has been held at Lake Community Church, Living Waters Church and the Alexandria Covenant Church. In recognition of our area veterans and to commemorate their service to our country, all are invited to this event. DAUGHTERS OF ISABELLA MEMBERS: If you had the Group Term Life Insurance with D of I, you may have received a letter stating the provider will be terminating this insurance as of December 1, 2017. You will need to call the telephone number listed in the letter (844-530-4133) and ask for Christy to make sure you are on their list. A further letter will be sent to you regarding conversion of this policy. THANK YOU FROM THE CEMETERY COMMITTEE To all the parish members who were able to come out and help with the fall cleanup. This was by far the best turnout that we can remember having. Fence was repaired, a gate was squared up, decorations removed, low spots filled, trees cut, trees trimmed, rocks dug, leaves blown and raked with plenty of time for socializing and refreshments. Thank you for supporting our efforts to make your cemetery the best in Douglas County. Watch for more information in future bulletins. THANK YOU Cam Loch, Poots Nelson and Team 5 for serving the funeral luncheon for Dorothy Trousil. ANNUAL COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DINNER With the help of many people from various faith communities in Alexandria, the Church of St. Mary is again hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM in St. Mary s School gym, at 420 Irving Street, (using the school entrance). This meal is for those who would be alone or are unable to have a good meal on Thanksgiving Day, as well as those who would simply like to meet others who live in the community. We also offer delivery of 1 to 2 hot meals per address to those who are homebound. --To take part in the meal, just come! --For meal deliveries to the homebound, call 763-9429 (after Oct 30). --To volunteer as a delivery driver, help with the dinner setup, dining room or cleanup call 763-310-6263 or 320-834-3313 (after Oct 30). --To donate a pumpkin or fruit pie (no cream pies), please bring it to St. Mary s School Kitchen on Wed. afternoon Nov. 22 nd, from 3-5 PM or Thanksgiving morning before 10 AM -- All donations and volunteers are greatly appreciated.
WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY 3 A Giving Mindset STEWARDSHIP God First In Living And In Giving Winston Churchill reportedly said that we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. According to Churchill then, our lives are defined less by what we have gotten, and more by what we give away. Our Lord s life is defined in this way. He gave completely of Himself for us. He became man for us. He taught the truth of God s Word. He healed those with many and various diseases. He died the death that we deserve because of sin. He gave of Himself in order to save us from sin, death, and hell. And so, it is that by giving completely of Himself, He got for Himself us, making us citizens of His eternal kingdom by grace. As it was for Jesus, so it is also for us. We get more from giving than we do from simply getting. For giving softens our hearts and frees us from the grip which the worries of this world and making a living has on us. For when we are singularly focused on making a living, we are singularly focused on what we get. That mindset begins to bleed into all areas of our lives our relationships with friends and family, with neighbors and coworkers, and with the Lord. It shifts our focus from asking the question How can I be a friend, family member, neighbor, and servant to others to asking the question what have they done for me lately. We become more selfish instead of selfless. But when we give, we do not have less, we have more because when we give we join in the bond of friendship and family, the bond of service to those around us out of love for them. And love is the fulfillment of the Law. It is the nature of God Himself, for God is Love. Thus we are reflecting the divine nature. As Jesus said It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). lcms.org/stewardship/ RELIGIOUS EDUCATION email: stmreled@stmaryalexandria.org Phone: 763-9202 Class Schedule Sunday School: November 12, 9:50 11:00 AM Grades 1-5: November 1, 3:45 4:30 PM Grades 6-12: November 8, 6:30 8:00 PM Sunday School Voices Today we made a take-home prayer project - an All Souls Novena. We read about saints and received a coloring book about saints that we can share with our families. Next week we do not have Sunday school. The next time we meet, November 12, we will take a little field trip - we will visit the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and talk about what we see there. Jr/Sr High Faith Formation November 1st is All Saints Day. This is a Holy Day of Obligation and attending Mass is a wonderful way to honor all the saints in heaven. We will not be having class this night, but families are encouraged to attend Mass together.
4 ST. MARY'S SCHOOL St. Mary's School educates the whole child within a nurturing Catholic Christian environment. Email: stmaryss@stmaryalexandria.org Phone: 320-763-5861 Fax: 320-763-7992 St. Mary s School Magazine Sales OCTOBER 2017 CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS October 22 Sherral Parteka, Browerville $35 October 23 Mary Kuhn, Starbuck $20 October 24 Paul Wilmesmeier, Alexandria $20 October 25 Jim Faber, Alexandria $20 October 26 Cathy Kinney, Glenwood $20 October 27 Joe Marquardt, Glenwood $20 October 28 Jim Kuhn, Alexandria $20 Are you looking to renew some magazine subscriptions or considering a subscription to a new magazine? If so, now is the time to order. By doing so, you will not only be getting new reading materials, you will also be supporting our school as well! On Tuesday, October 24, the students of St. Mary s School kicked off our annual magazine sales. St. Mary's School receives 40% cash back from every subscription sold during the event! To order, log on to www.gaschoolstore.com and click shop now in the top right hand corner. In the school ID section type in 2582419 and you will be asked to type in the name of a student to support from our school. If you know a current student, type their name and click next. If you do not know any of our current students, click on skip this step. In either case, you will now be logged into our school store. To verify, in the top right hand corner of the site it should say, your purchase is appreciated and will benefit St. Mary s School. You will now be able to navigate through our school store to renew or purchase your new magazine subscriptions. St. Mary s School will receive 40% cash back from everything purchased from this site. Enjoy reading and thank you for your support. SCHOOL HAPPENINGS Halloween Costume Parade - Oct. 31 at 2:10 - Gym All Saints' Day Mass - Students will attend Mass on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Students will not attend Mass on Friday. Thank you for supporting St. Mary's! BALANCE Today s scriptures emphasize the fundamental link between love of God and love of our neighbors, especially those who are most in need. Love of God should compel us to love the people whom God cherishes. Conversely, work for justice and charity for those in need should be rooted in our love of God. That connection and balance, however, isn t always easy to maintain in our lives. Even in religious orders we find that some Christians are more oriented toward contemplation and prayer, while others are more active in reaching out to those who are oppressed. Today Jesus reminds us of the necessity for both in the life of faith. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.
5 PARISH STAFF Pastor Steve Binsfeld 763-5781 Parish Business Administrator Todd Wentworth 763-5781 Director of Music and Liturgy Laurie Youngers 763-5781 Parish Nurse Kathy Fischer 762-2320 School Principal & Elem. Religious Ed Troy Sladek 763-5861 Logistics Coordinator Laurie Bienias 763-9202 Coordinator of Youth Ministries & Confirmation Gina Pohlen 763-9202 COMMITTEE CHAIRS Parish Trustees Elmer Kobbermann 834-3103 Francie Peterson 320-360-0325 Pastoral Council President Steve Russell 218-943-5191 Finance Committee Mike Dolan 763-4705 Board of Education Francie Peterson 320-360-0325 Liturgy Committee Laurie Youngers 763-5781 Committee for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Tammy Boushek 760-5405 Parish Life Committee Verna Winter 507-329-0135 Cemetery Committee Phil Bromen 320-763-5781 CARING & SHARING ROOM FINANCIAL GIFTS Collections for the Weekend of 10/22/2017 Actual Budgeted Sunday Envelope $32,978.50 $29,941.88 Loose $ 2,434.03 $ 2,115.38 Sunday Children $ 200.76 $ 115.38 A more detailed report may be viewed at the Parish Office. 320-760-8084 PASTORAL COUNCIL President: Steve Russell Vice President: Mike Sponsler Secretary: Sonya Skinner Megan Bristow, Tammy Huss, Dan Hillback, Dawn Houska, Mary Jane Reif, Tabatha Odens.