Fr. Steve Binsfeld Our Mission is to know, love, and serve God by living the Eucharist. Promulgated on Pentecost Sunday 2013 The Church of St. Mary 420 Irving Street 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 January 14, 2018 THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Dear Friends, Many people did the majority of their annual charitable giving in the last few weeks of the year. For me, it is not just in order to get a break on my taxes (although that's nice), but it's also the season of giving and the season for much solicitation. Many said the requests for donations became overwhelming and a cause of stress. There are so many worthy causes out there and we can't do everything for everyone who needs our help. Personally, I don't find it too stressful, even though I get all the requests for donations that I'm sure you get. Every year I make it a point to sit down in advance and decide what is most important for me to support with my giving, and why. When I get solicitations that don't fit that set of priorities, they get discarded. That's not being insensitive; it is deliberate and realistic. The giving list includes Catholic causes (though not exclusively), but that still doesn't narrow it down very much. St. Mary's is the most significant donation recipient from me, and after that, I support a number of Catholic school appeals. Care for the elderly and the formation of youth are represented in my giving too. I also choose to support Catholic Relief Services and Heifer International. I wish I could do more, but I believe I am obligated to do what I can. In looking back over the years, one aspect of the changing circumstances of my life over time is the number of Christmas gifts that I give. As a young adult, I had all kinds of gifts to buy for family and a few close friends. Gradually as people died or grew up or became involved with other life commitments, the list began to shrink, to the point that today I have almost no need of Christmas shopping. (I do make a CD of music I give to friends.) In one sense that is liberating, but in another sense it is sobering. I'd rather spend quality time with my loved ones than feel an obligation to purchase something that they likely don't need. A number of years ago, my siblings and I quit the practice of buying silly gifts (with a $15 limit) for one another because it had become a chore for most of us. We'd rather just enjoy each other's company at family gatherings. Continued on page 2 Readings for the Week of Jan. 14 th Monday: 1 Sm 15:16 23; Mk 2:18 22 Tuesday: 1 Sm 16:1 13; Mk 2:23 28 Wed: 1 Sm 17:32 33,37, 40 51; Mk 3:1 6 Thursday: 1 Sm 18 6 9; 19:1 7; Mk 3:7 12 Friday: 1 Sm 24:3 21; Mk 3:13 19 Saturday 2 Sm 1:1 4, 11 12, 19, 23 27 Mk 3:20 21 Sunday: Jon 3:1 5,10; Mk 1:14 20 WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE Daily Mass Server: Tues. Wed., Thurs., Ron Goracke Monday No Daily Mass Tuesday 5:00 PM +Mary Ann Suchy Wednesday 8:30 AM +Judy Johnson Thursday 7:00 AM +Ray Suchy 2:00 Windmill Ponds +Kevin Eddy Friday 8:30 AM +Margie Leal Saturday 5:00 PM +Veryl Stevens Sunday 8:00 AM +Arnold Lauer 10:00 AM +Paula Cusick 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 March 13 th at 7 PM. Baptism Dates: Feb. 3 rd, 11 th, April 1 st, 7 th, & 15 th. one of these dates, please call the Parish Office. To schedule a baptism on 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 8:00 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 January 20 th & 21 st SATURDAY 5 PM MASS Greeters Team 3 Bernice Wagner, Nancy & Richard Beltz, Susan & Joe Korkowski Ushers Team 3 James Lingor, Alec Wosepka, Curt Mateer, Shaun Mateer, Wayne Siffing, Diane Lukes, Loren Lukes, Randal Meyer, Kathleen Lingor Extraordinary Ministers Team 3 Lector 1 Janice Doebber Lector 2 Kimberly Rose Server Julie Wilmesmeier, Christian Lopez SUNDAY 8 AM MASS Greeter Team 7 B Jane & Michael Syverson, Alan & Catherine Hansen, Evelyn G. Roers, Kathy & Wayne Summer Ushers Team 7 Jeff Perreault, Daniel Ridler, Anton Schlosser, Shane Schmidt, David Schmidt, Steven Schmidt, William Verschaetse Extraordinary Ministers Team 7 Lector 1 Tom Wosepka Lector 2 Parker Olson Servers Joshua Kietzmann, Ashton Schlosser SUNDAY 10 AM MASS Greeters 11 B Gaile Furth, Amy & Nathan Borden, Taylor & Amy Evjen Ushers Team 11 Randy Kinney, Andrew Bristow, James Kokett, Brad Klinkner, Wayne Decock, Patrick Bruggeman, Nicholas Nettleton, Nathan Borden Extraordinary Ministers 11 Lector 1 Julie Boyle Lector 2 Gregory Thompson Servers Riley Sabolik, John Sabolik Drivers January 21 st Bethel Manor Pete Olmscheid Windmill Ponds Randy Meyer Arabella Manor Mike Baudrau Grand Arbor John Hovel & Ron Boyden.Hospital/Nursing Home January 21 st Hospital Mary Moore Knute Nelson/Nelson Gables Ed Desautels & Diane Gay Bethany Mary Strasser We wish to offer our sympathy and a promise of our prayers to: Family and friends of Roland Bub Bruzek BANNS OF MARRIAGE I Victor Herrera & Lauren Garcia 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 Please join us when we begin the exciting new study Wisdom: God s Vision for Life by Jeff Cavins and Thomas Smith. Meets both Sat. AM and Sun. PM beginning Jan. 13 th & 14 th. For more info. and/or to enroll, contact: Tammy 320 808 6404 or Lori 320 808 1145. 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 at 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 contact Sue McCulloch at 320 491 7006 (call or text); tscamcculloch@charter.net. Daughter Of Isabella will meet Thursday, January 18 th at 1:00 PM in the Commons Area. Please note the time change. Baptism Quentin Allen Child of Jeremy & Tiffany Wagner 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, Scott Addy, Dick Wagner, Pat Pahl, Ione Grubb, Maureen Bruzik, Ilene Woida, Joel Novak, Glorene Iverson, Joy Guenther, Ryan Beers, Lyle Keller, Emily Trousil, Loretta Wilken, Julie Slavik, Pat Pihaly, Craig Erickson and Dice Ganje.
2 Fr. Steve s article continued I express my sincere gratitude for all the giving that the people of St. Mary's do throughout the year, not only to our parish and school but beyond our own ministries. Again, we can't do everything for everyone, but we can do an awful lot when we are united in our passion for what is important, and we do this all the time. As we have moved out of the Christmas season, let us continue to be a thankful people who express ourselves in selfless giving. We welcome and accept the Candidates for Full Communion in the Catholic Church today. Keep them in your prayer as they move toward full initiation. Pray also for our Confirmation Class Grade11, who are also being welcomed and are making their retreat this weekend. RE: Human sex trafficking in our area: On Monday, Jan 22, from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Alex Tech Community College auditorium (743A) a special panel who will present what human trafficking looks like in our area, what we can do about it, the role of law enforcement and the justice system, how we can help victims, and how we can stop the demand. Our area is prime territory for recruiting kids 12 15 years old. Come learn how this happens and what we can do about it. Panel members are Becki Jordan (Safe Harbor Regional Navigator for MN Dept. of Health), Jeanine Thompson (Someplace Safe Youth Advocate), Chad Larson (Douglas Co Attorney), Scott Kent (Captain of Alex. Police Dept.) This is sponsored by F.R.E.E. Alexandria (Forever Reaching to Eliminate Exploitation), a group spearheaded by one of our parishioners Josh Waltzing. Last weekend I spoke of the US Bishops call to support the Dream Act (DACA). You can find out more about it by going to www.mcc.org (Minnesota Catholic Conference). You can read about why it is important AND you can choose to write our senators and congressional reps. This is part of the ADVOCACY NETWORK we have been trying to get people to sign up to be part of. Plan ahead: THIS Friday, January 19 at 7 PM in the Great Hall the Parish Life Committee is hosting Father s Movie Night. The movie I have selected is a comedy called. It s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. It features some of the best comedians of the 20 th century. So bring a comfortable lawn chair (the folding chairs are terrible), bring a bottle of wine or a brew to sip. We ll provide the glasses, popcorn and soft drinks. Come meet other folks and enjoy their company. NEXT Sunday, January 21 at 2 PM we are having a special Respect Life Prayer event: The Chaplet of Ramah. It is a prayer for the safety of the unborn, all mothers, fathers and families. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar in church following the 10 AM Mass through the special prayer service. Fr. Steve COMMUNITY NEWS THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BINGO Sunday, Jan. 14th at 7:00 PM & Wednesday, Jan. 17th at 2:00 PM at the KC Hall on 6 th Ave E. & Nokomis. Team 4 Frances Kouba, Kevin Freiderich, Tom Savageau, Daniel Hovel, Ken Wersinger will be in charge. THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS MONDAY NIGHT MEETING TIME HAS BEEN CHANGED TO 7 PM. SANCTITY OF LIFE MOMENT: The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good Government. Thomas Jefferson Meets the 2 nd Monday of each month from 7 8:30 p.m. in the prayer room in St. Mary s School. Please join us! Contact Bruce Becker for more info: 320 759 2003 or bbecker100@gmail.com. Visit St. Mary s Sanctity of Life online at: http://sanctityoflifestm.org/ for information and resources AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE will be held at St Mary s Church on Monday Jan. 15 th from 1:00 7:00 PM and on Tuesday, Jan. 16 th from 10:30 4:00 PM. For an appointment or more info. please call Janet at 320 763 3381. PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY Lifting Spirits, Touching Lives Seven Spiritual Practices for the New Year. Cultivating our faith life is an important part of wellness. Here are a few ways to gain new perspective of yourself, others and God throughout the year. 1 Try to pray at different times during the day. You may notice that you pray differently at different times of the day. 2 Laughter and rejoicing need to be a part of faith life. Think of something funny that has happened, and thank God for giving us humor in our lives. 3 Loving yourself is the first step in Love your neighbor as yourself. Spend a few minutes writing about what it means to love yourself. Remember that God loves you. 4 Meditation or listening is a part of our faith life that we often neglect. Consider taking five minutes to sit quietly and breathe. Try to quiet your inner voice and just listen. 5 Go for a prayerful walk and remember that all of creation belongs to God, though it can be easy to forget that. The air you breathe and the ground you walk on belong to God. 6 Pray a movement prayer. Stretch out your arms. Touch your toes. Stretch your neck. Feel the brilliance in God s creation and the way that your body is put together. 7 Thankfulness comes in a variety of forms. Each day make a list of everything that you encounter for which you are thankful. At the end of the day, incorporate the list into a prayer. From: Visit Church Health Reader for more healthy flyers: chreader.org
WELCOME TO THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY 3 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION email: stmreled@stmaryalexandria.org Phone: 763-9202 Senior High: The 9 th 11 th graders will be starting a new series this week focusing on the Sacraments as well. The goal of the lesson is to help the teens recognize how Jesus is present in the Sacraments and how He dispenses divine life through the Sacraments. Castaway 2018 Choose Joy Class Schedule Sunday School: January 21, 9:50 11:00 AM Grades 1 5: January 17, 3:45 4:30 PM Grades 6 11: January 17, 6:30 8:00 PM Castaway is a weekend retreat for 9 12 th graders. This is a very popular retreat experience with great motivational talks, small group time, and lots of fun activities. Castaway is Friday Sunday, March 16 18, and the cost is $150. Sign up before February 9 to ensure your spot. Registration forms are available in the Religious Education office. Sunday School Voices Here s a question each family can think about today do we REALLY love God with our whole heart, mind, and soul? If it comes between church and sports, which wins? Do we give as much to charity as we give to the local movie theater? Do we pray together? As a family, identify ways you do show your love for God (coming to Mass, helping others, etc.) Then challenge your family to think of ways you fall short in giving God your total love. VBS 2018!!! Holiday Decorators... When you begin to think of packing away your Christmas decorations, St. Mary's VBS 2018 is looking for any ARTIFICIAL GREENERY (trees of all sizes, garlands, etc.). If you are planning to discard your greens, consider donating them to us! Call Julie at 320 491 7089 for more information. JR/SR HIGH FAITH FORMATION Junior High: This week the 6 th 8 th graders will be continuing their semester on the Sacraments. We will be focusing on Sacraments and the family. The goal of the evening is to help the youth come to a greater understanding of what it means to be a child of God, particularly that they are part of a larger community and family, the Church, that will journey with them throughout their lives. Our 7 th graders will also have the opportunity to attend the Sacrament of Reconciliation this evening. HELP US! We are in the process of getting ready for a new parish directory, and before we can get started we need to update our parishioner contact information. This is a big job and you can help us by contacting the parish office at 763 5781 if you have any of the following changes or would like to add additional information: New address Change in your household (spouse, children, adult children should set up own household) Disconnected your land line phone number and now using your cell phone E mail address to receive our bi monthly email communication Photo sessions will begin May of 2018. More information to come. We are looking for volunteers to help parishioners schedule a photo session before and after Masses and/or greet during photo sessions. Please contact Laurie at 763 9202 if you are interested or have questions. MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE LIVING STATIONS: JAN. 28 after the 10:00 AM Mass, meet in the Great Hall for an organizational meeting all are welcome. FEB. 4,11 & 18 rehearsals after the 10:00 AM Mass. FEB. 22,23 & 24 dress rehearsal and performances. Whatever your talent is we can use you. Come and be a part of this great Lenten Devotion. Contact Bonnie Bromen at 320 763 9429 for more information.
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 Kindergarten Parent Information & Registration Meeting The St. Mary s School Kindergarten Parent Information and Registration Meeting for the 2018 2019 school year has been set. All parishioners with children who will be five (5) on or before September 1, 2018, are invited to attend the meeting on Tuesday, January 30 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to share information about our kindergarten program and provide you with a kindergarten registration packet as well as. Prior to that meeting, families are invited to tour St. Mary s School to see and feel what we have to offer. Our See Us In Action tours will take place January 10 26 from 8:15 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Contact Mr. Sladek to schedule a time. If you are not registered or have family members or friends who may be interested in St. Mary s School, contact the school office so we can get additional information sent to them. Before you decide on your child s future, make certain you have explored all your options. Average class size for grades K 2 in 2017 18 was 15. K 6 Spanish Foreign Language Program is offered. We learn and grow in our Faith every day and celebrate Christmas and Easter. Parent involvement is encouraged and welcomed. Tuition assistance is available no child has ever been turned away from St. Mary s School due to financial concerns. Come and check us out to learn more! Mr. Sladek JANUARY 2018 CALENDAR RAFFLE WINNERS January 7 Beth VanderVeen, Ocheyedan, IA $35 January 8 Doug Rivers, Alexandria $20 January 9 Norb Hendricks, Sauk Centre $20 January 10 Ashlie Bradley, Alexandria $20 January 11 Jen Gustafson, Alexandria $20 January 12 Rob Davidson, Alexandria $20 January 13 Kelly Wosepka, Alexandria $20 SCHOOL HAPPENINGS No School Monday, January 15. Kindergarten Information and Registration Meeting Tuesday, January 30 at 7 p.m. Calendar Raffle Tickets are available! Tickets can be purchased after Mass in the Commons area or at the School Office. It s a great way to have some fun and support St. Mary s School at the same time! Watch for your name on this page in the bulletin every week. Winners for every day of the year are posted along with the amount they have won. If you see your name, you will be receiving a check in the mail! TRAVEL WITH FR. STEVE TO SICILY AND MALTA MAY 7 17TH. I am organizing a tour to these two wonderful Islands so full of history. Sicily is not just the birthplace of the Mafioso, but has tremendous history. The foods and the wines are great. Malta has been home to the famous knights of Malta but has been at crossroads of history from Greek and Roman times. Right now we have 12 people who have signed up to go and we would like to have 18 to 20. There is room. We have interesting tours, tastings and experiences built in. Take a brochure from the display in the Commons Area. Give me a call at the office or email me for more information. Fr. Steve DAILY MASS SERVERS we will be working on the schedule for Feb., March & April so please call the Parish Office before Jan. 19 with dates you are not available. Thank you! January 21 March for Life Join us on the bus for a Prayer Service and the March for Life on January 22 nd at the Cathedral of St. Paul. The bus will leave after the 7:15 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony Parish parking lot in St. Cloud, picking up in Foley and Clearwater, and will return at approximately 3:00 p.m. A free will offering will be accepted to help defer the cost of the bus. To reserve a space for the bus ride, register online or contact the Office of Marriage & Family at 320 252 4721. http://omf.stcdio.org/th event/march forlife 2/
5 LITURGICAL & MUSICAL NOTES How to Get More Out of the Mass by Putting More of Yourself into It! PEOPLE GET READY!!! Prepare during the week by studying and praying the Mass readings. The Mass readings are easily found on the website of the United Conference of Catholic Bishops (go to www.usccb.org and click on Bible, then on Today s Readings ). Think about what you are grateful for, or who or what needs prayer this week. Bring these needs with you to Mass. Enter the church, greet other members of the community with sincerity and affection, and then collect your thoughts and prayers in silence before Mass. Notice what liturgical season the Church is celebrating by observing the seasonal colors and decorations around the church (banners, altar cloths, priest s vestments). Above all, be mindful and intentional; not passive or purely sociable in this time before Mass. INTRODUCTORY RITES When you are at Mass, do you sit, stand, kneel, speak the responses and sing? That s only the beginning of how you can be fully involved! The Introductory Rites unite us as the Body of Christ and prepare us for worship. These Rites succeed in their purpose as the gathering of individuals forms into a conscious, worshiping community ready to listen and celebrate. The oneness of the community in prayer and song more fully manifests the presence of Christ. Join in the song as the Ministers process to the sanctuary. Join in the Penitential Rite, admitting your own sinfulness and sing the Gloria with joy. You are here to praise and worship the Father through Jesus Christ the community needs your voice. As the priest says, Let us Pray, add those intentions you reflected on earlier your thanks or your needed prayers. This is your Mass as well as the community s. All rights reserved. Used with permission. NEXT WEEK: Part II Liturgy of the Word / Offertory 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 Leon Breun 320 763 5781 CARING & SHARING ROOM 320 760 8084 FINANCIAL GIFTS Collection for the Weekend of January 7, 2017 Actual Budgeted Sunday Envelope $ 36,159.50 $ 29,941.18 Loose $ 1,532.65 $ 2,115.38 Sunday Children $ 13.00 $ 115.38 A more detailed report may be viewed at the Parish Office. 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.