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

Weekly Words from The Rock:

As I sat down to write this column, the gospel I had in mind was Mark 1:14-20. John the Baptist has been arrested and Jesus comes to Galilee to proclaim the gospel: “This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.” After this proclamation, Jesus passes by the Sea of Galilee and sees Simon (Peter), Andrew, James, and John. In Mark’s account, we do not know how the fishing has been. Was it good? Was it lousy? There is no answer. All we hear is that Simon and Andrew were casting their nets into the sea. Meanwhile, James and John are in their boat mending nets. Jesus calls out to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” What happens? They leave their nets behind and following Jesus Christ.

I have shared the story previously. The first inkling I had of the priesthood came in the second grade. After that, I never looked back. Like Simon, Andrew, James, and John, my story also involves fishing. Unlike the four apostles, fishing for me wasn’t a way of life rather a hobby. If I was fortunate enough to catch fish on a given day, that was a bonus. If I didn’t, that is the way it goes. I have a hunch why God called me to the priesthood at such an early age, steering me away from a lifetime of fishing. Here are two stories.

The first was an experience surrounding ice fishing. I decided to try perch fishing on Freeborn Lake. I loaded everything in my pickup and headed to the lake. I drove onto the lake and followed the others tracks. At one point, I came to an ice heave and noticed others had driven over it with no difficulty. As I drove over the ice heave, the front end of my pickup crashed through the ice and dropped into the lake. Talk about something that scared you! There I sat, the front of my pickup in the lake and the back of my pickup off the ground. What kept my pickup from completely submerging? The ice heave refused to give way and held the pickup like a pendulum balance.

Fortunately, I could open my pickup door and walk onto the ice without getting wet. Unfortunately, I looked like a fool. Did you ever notice that when you don’t want someone to see something foolish you did, someone does? Sure enough, here comes another pickup out to fish where I was headed. They must have shaken their heads and called me all sorts of names. My predicament was what to do. I called my dad and he offered to bring out the tractor. Up till the time he arrived, I had plenty of time to think. Finally, he arrived. There was enough ice on the lake that he could drive the tractor onto the ice. We hooked a chain onto the rear of my pickup and my father gave it a jerk. I was certain he wouldn’t be able to budge the pickup or the tractor would spin on the ice and we would have to put chains on the tires. Maybe it was by the grace of God but my pickup came right out of the lake. I was relieved. The only damage was one of my fog lights on the front of the pickup was busted and had to be replaced.

Was that the end of the endeavor? No. I decided to try it again (not over the ice heave) and reached my ice fishing destination. I remember catching a few fish and heading home. In the story, you may sense why God didn’t call me to be a fisherman. Being too foolish to quit the first time eventually leads to greater problems.

And that leads into my second story. This story involved me and a friend fishing together. We were in his boat, heading across the lake, when something felt funny. Water was coming into the boat and starting to swamp my shoes. What happened? You guessed correctly. We forgot to put the plug in the boat. We didn’t panic. We knew we would never make it to back to the landing so my friend brought the boat up to high speed (his boat didn’t have a bilge pump). With the boat above water level, water started to run out the drain plug hole. When we got out as much water as possible, still at high speed, my work was to insert the plug. I got the job accomplished. Did that stop us from fishing? No way.

This story follows the path of the first story. When it comes to fishing, common sense isn’t in my vocabulary. And that is the simple answer to why God called me to be a priest. If I was a fisherman, I would be dead by my age of 57.

Thus, the headline to this column. While I enjoy fishing, God wasn’t certain, seeing my lack of commonsense, it was to be my calling. Mine was to be the priesthood. From my stories, have faith and trust in what God calls you to do. He knows what is best.

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: Blest are they who... take a good look at the beatitudes. These are the gifts of spiritual leaders. Encourage them wherever you see them growing.

Brian Ferguson who passed away on January 20, 2026. His funeral was held at Sacred Heart in Heron Lake on Monday, January 26. Burial will be at a later date. May his soul rest in peace. We remember his loved ones in prayer.

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

Mission Quilt Sewing will be on Tuesdays at 1:30 PM in Steger Hall, weather permitting. Extra hands make light work! Do you have any old drapes, mattress pads or blankets that could be used for batting? We could, also, use good used sheets or fabric for the quilt backs. Please drop these items at the Church, Steger Hall or Rectory. Thank you!

Fun Sunday will take place today, Sunday, February 1st with a snow date of February 8th. Please give all raffle donations to Lisa Carlson. We are, also, accepting $5 per family for Bingo prizes.

Reminder: If school is late or closed due to adverse weather, Wednesday Mass is also canceled. Sunday Mass cancellation will be announced on KDOM and Worthington Radio Stations, along with being posted on Facebook.

Sacred Heart of Brewster is now taking applications for the position of Office Administrator Job title descriptions are available. Please contact Father Schuster or Loretta Smith at 507-370-2215.

Liturgical Roles for February and March are now available.

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

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.