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

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary feast day on August 15th schedule is as follows:

08/14/2025 6:30 PM Vigil-Sacred Heart Church, Brewster

08/15/2025 9:00 AM Sacred Heart Church, Heron Lake

08/15/2025 6:30 PM St. Francis Xavier Church, Windom

Weekly Words from The Rock:

Our gospel pericope of this weekend is taken from the twelfth chapter of Luke’s gospel. It speaks to us of possessions and greed. The story is of the rich man who has a bountiful harvest and decides to tear down his smaller bins to build larger bins. With these new and larger bins filled to capacity, an abundance which would last years, he can “rest, eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). Many questions come to mind with this story.

I have shared the story of how I got caught in this “greed” mentality when I was younger. I thought it cool to have a lot of hunting and fishing items. In fact, the basement of the home where I grew up became the “new bins” for all types of things. Here are some of the things I did:

The time finally arrived. My brother decided to build a new house. The basement needed to be emptied out. With that prospect, my mindset changed. Instead of looking at all the items with pride, I now needed to figure out what I was going to do with everything. Boxes were filled with fishing items. Plastic totes were filled with fishing items. Most of the hunting items were carried and stored in my brother’s new house. All of this became “work.”

And that was the end. I had been downsizing many of the items I had been taking from parish to parish. I am proud to say that everything can now be moved with just one pickup load. Downsizing became the focus of hunting and fishing items. The question being, “What do I really need?” Downsizing has taken place and while I still have plenty of items, the “greed” mentality is no longer the driving force. The “smaller bins” bring just as much happiness as the “larger bins.” Think long and hard about this gospel and don’t let “greed” lead you along a fictitious and slippery path.

A friend of mine who was pregnant was on a strict diet and both her doctor and her husband kept close tabs on her. She is a good cook and didn’t want to deprive her husband of sweets just because she couldn’t eat them. One day she made a chocolate cream pie for lunch and her husband ate half of it. While clearing the table, she decided to sneak just a bite. One bite led to another, and before long she had eaten the rest of the pie. Knowing that her husband would lecture her, she could think of only one way to keep her secret. She quickly made another chocolate cream pie and ate half of it.

If you haven't done so, please send in your pledge for the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Any monies raised over the goal are returned to each respective parish at 100%. Also, any monies raised over the goal are not assessed by the diocese. The Catholic Ministries Appeal is a great way for us to raise funds for our parishes. Please be generous!

Peace be to you!

Father Peter Schuster

Vocation View: Grow rich in the sight of the Lord. Pray to know God’s will.

(Luke 12:13-21)

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

Liturgy Roles: Looking to become more involved in church? Please contact Melanie if you would be interested in helping out with the rosary readings, serving, ushering, eucharist minister, lector, or contribution steward.

Meeting: CCW Meeting will be on August 12th at 7 PM in the church basement.

Catholic Ministries Appeal: Congratulations on reaching our goal of $9,433. We are now over goal at $10,260 which means that so far we will have $827 coming back to the church without any assessment. Please continue to donate to the CMA. Thank you to those who have already donated!

Statements: Mid-year statements have been mailed. Please call Melanie with any questions.

Thank You to all who helped cut down diseased/dead trees and branches around the church property. We appreciate the hard work you put in!

*A Holy Year of the forgiveness of sin, conversion and joyful celebration.

“The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God. May it help us to recover the confident trust that we require, in the Church and in society, in our interpersonal relationships, in international relations, and in our task of promoting the dignity of all persons and respect for God’s gift of creation.” (Pope Francis, Spes Non Confundit 25)

For more information about Jubilee please visit the following website: https://www.usccb.org/jubilee2025

Sacred Heart in Heron Lake is a Jubilee location within the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

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, signs at the church, announcements or even the bulletin when able. Thank you for your understanding.

Mankato Area Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation: Oct 25th Church of the Crucifixion, La Crescent, MN. Go to: https:// www.dowr.org/offices/life-marriage-family/marriagepreparation.html The next session is January 31st, at St. John Vianney, Fairmont, MN.

World Wide Marriage Encounter: The next session is October 4-5, 2025 at Schoenstatt of the Lake—Sleepy Eye, MN. Contact Miki Schultz at 507-227-8229 with questions.

“THIS IS MY BODY” is the theme of the Winona-Rochester Diocese Council of Catholic Women Convention Saturday, October 11, 2025. St. Adrian in Adrian, MN is hosting the convention starting at 7:45 am until ~3:00 pm. Save the date, more information will be coming in future bulletins.

Institute of Lay Formation. The Institute of Lay Formation is a way for Christians to fulfill their Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharistic promises to participate actively and co-responsibly in the Church's mission of salvation in the world. ILF exists to bring lay people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ so they can become His missionary disciples, who go forth proclaiming the Gospel and forming new disciples for the Church.

dowr.org/offices/lay-formation/institute-of-lay-formation.html

The Institute of Lay Formation is now accepting applications for the 2025-2028 lay cohort. Lay people can apply on the DOWR website and they can access the website through the QR code. The application is at the bottom of the Institute of Lay Formation page.

The application deadline is on August 15th and the formation year begins on September 19th, 2025.

SYNOD For Evangelization & Vocations: Mankato Aug 21 starting at 4pm through Aug 22, full day. two representatives from EACH parish are needed to serve on this SYNOD. You must be available during these days/times. Limited hotel rooms are available. Please contact Dana: 507-836-8030 if you are interested in serving. Each church must have two representatives.

Please remember to check the back page of the bulletin and support our sponsors!