HAPPY BIRTHDAY FR. PRATAP!!
Thursday, July 2nd

Weekly Words from The Rock:

On this Pentecost weekend, I want to share a story which reminds us to use our ingenuity.

A wealthy man decided to go on a safari in Africa. He took his faithful pet dog along for company. One day the dog starts chasing butterflies and before long discovers that he is lost. So, wandering about he notices a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the obvious intention of having lunch.

The dog thinks, “Boy, I’m in deep doo-doo now.”

Then he noticed some bones on the ground close by and immediately settles down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat.

Just as the leopard is about to leap, the dog exclaims loudly, “Man, that was one delicious leopard. I wonder if there are any more around here?” Hearing this the leopard halts his attack in mid-stride, as a look of terror comes over him, and slinks away into the trees.

“Whew,” says the leopard. “That was close. That dog nearly had me.”

Meanwhile, a monkey who had been watching the whole scene form a nearby tree, figures he can put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard.

So, off he goes. But the dog saw the monkey heading after the leopard with great speed and figured something must be up. The monkey soon catches up with the leopard, spills the beans and strikes a deal for himself with the leopard.

The leopard is furious at being made a fool and says, “Here monkey, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that conniving canine.”

Now the dog sees the leopard coming with the monkey on his back and thinks, “What am I going to do now?” But instead of running, the dog sits down with his back to his attackers pretending he hasn’t seen them yet.

Just when they get close enough to hear, the dog says, “Where’s that monkey? I can never trust him. I sent him off half an hour ago to bring me another leopard, and he’s still not back!”

Upon hearing this, the leopard screeches to a halt, the monkey flies off the leopard’s back and barrels directly into a tree.

With that, the leopard and monkey are never seen or heard from again.

This weekend of Pentecost we are reminded that the Holy Spirit gifts us our God-given ingenuity. We call them the gifts of the Holy Spirit – Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Right Judgment, Courage, Reverence and Wonder and Awe. They are given us to be used so let us use them to build up the world!

Do you have any electric motors that are lying around, and you would like to be rid of? Even with the passing of my father, I would be happy to take any electric motors. You can leave them by the rectory garage in Slayton, or I can pick them up at any of the parishes. Thanks!

Peace be to you!

Father Peter Schuster

Vocation View: Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, and we shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth! Blow, strong winds of spirit, stir the fire of your love; encourage our response.

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

There will be Confession available 1/2 hour before mass on Sundays.

Congratulations to our graduating seniors: Cameron Brunk, Renae Salentiny, Jonah Becker and Alex Kueny. Good Luck with your future endeavors and always keep the Lord by your side.

Cemetery Decorations: Please remember to remove ALL planters and decorations that obstruct mowing before Monday, June 1st. This includes all flowers and solar lights that are not attached to the head stone base. Anything the cemetery caretakers have to remove, after June 2nd, will be placed by the East gate for a short time. Thank you!

Second Collection for seminarian Joseph Bartosh will take place on Sunday, May 31st.

I want to begin by thanking you all for your prayers and financial support throughout this past year of seminary formation. Truly it helps tremendously and I am very grateful. Just like that, my second year of seminary formation in Winona is already over, and I am preparing to start my summer assignment beginning May 27th. This past year has been one of great grace and great trial, however, not without Christ’s constant presence! Along with beginning philosophy studies, I also had the great gift of building relationships with other college students at the WSU Newman Center. Witnessing my generation on fire for our faith was truly inspiring and was a gift to serve them in this small capacity. This summer I will be on a Totus Tuus team serving the Archdiocese of Dubuque, IA until the end of July. I am excited to share the Good News in a way that is personal and relatable to the youth across the Archdiocese, and embrace the heart of a child, which Christ calls each of us to have. This year’s theme will cover the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary as well as the Ten Commandments, and I am beyond excited to further my love and knowledge in these areas of the faith! Please keep me in your prayers, and know that you all are in mine!

Peace in Christ,

Joseph Bartosh

Recent Changes Have taken place with the Catholic Foundation (CMA). Checks should be made payable to : Diocese of Winona-Rochester. It is very helpful if donors include CMA– Heron Lake in the memo line. The CMA appeal, as always, remains a tremendous benefit for our parishes when goals are met and overage funds are returned.

The Light Is On For You: Reconciliation continues to be available. All are encouraged to continue coming to confession throughout the year; or return to the sacrament of reconciliation.

Don’t Miss The Joy The Lord Wants You To Have! The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available in the tri-parish, during adoration, on the 1st Sunday in Windom from 11-12 AM, also in Brewster on the 2nd Saturday from 4:00-4:45 PM and in Heron Lake before Mass on Sundays at 7:30 AM. Reconciliation is also before Mass on Saturdays at 4:30 PM in Brewster.

Weekday Mass Schedule: Regarding the weekday Mass schedule; funerals and vacations scheduled intermittently may affect weekday Masses and there may be cancellations. Please be patient as we learn of these schedule changes. We will update you as best we can via facebook, the church website, signs at the church, announcements or even the bulletin when able. Thank you for your understanding.

Heavenly Father, Giver of all good things, Your Son told us to beg You to send workers into Your rich harvest, and so we have the confidence to ask You to raise up an abundance of priests in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Send us good and holy men to respond to your call to lay down their lives in service to Your people. We know that the Church comes from priests. Therefore, Gracious God, send us priests to build up Your church, through Jesus who is High Priest and Lord forever and ever.

Amen.

Remick Ridge Estates is looking for an individual or couple who would like to lead a weekly Bible Study for our residents. We are open to dates/times. Please call Brenda at 507-831-0745.

Mikkelsen Manor invites all seniors to join us Fridays at 2:00 pm for Bingo fun with our residents! Call Brenda with any questions, 507-831-0745.

The cost of educating one seminarian averages $45,000 per year, totaling over $1 million annually. This financial burden can be a major obstacle for those discerning a priestly vocation.
That’s why I’m asking for your support. Your gift to the Seminarian Education Fund directly helps form future priests-men who will preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, and shepherd our parishes for generations to come.

Let us not allow financial hardship to stand in the way of God’s work. With your generosity and God’s grace, we will continue to cultivate a rich harvest of vocations in southern Minnesota.
Thank you for your faith, your prayers, and our support.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. Robert Barron
Bishop of Winona-Rochester

Please like and share our Facebook page. The page is intended to connect current parish members and members that have moved with the activities of Sacred Heart Heron Lake.

We welcome you into God’s family! If you are interested in learning more about our church, or would like to join, please stop in the Parish Office.

Please notify the Parish Office of any change of address.

Contact the priest 6 to 12 months in advance of the date of marriage to fill out the forms, to do FOCCUS Test and to attend Marriage Prep Mentoring sessions. Please contact your parish office, if interested.

Contact the parish office a month in advance to fill out the form and to attend Baptism Mentoring Sessions.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation still available by appointment for each Parish.

When booking a Quinceanera and needing a 1st Reconciliation and a 1st Holy Communion. There is a three month preparation time. Please schedule your Quinceanera 3 months in advance. Thank you. It is also required that the family is a member of the parish.