Tri-Parish Mass Intentions
You are invited to pray the rosary 1/2 hour prior to masses.
Friday (11-1)
9:00 am - Heron Lake
† In Memory of Those Forgotten
5:30 pm - Windom
† Richard Krueger
Saturday (11-2)
5:00 pm - Brewster
† Mary Helen Menke
Sunday (11-3)
8:00 am - Heron Lake
† Bill, Kelly, & Paul Fest
10:00 am - Windom
† Donald Hoppe
Tuesday (11-5)
5:30 pm - Windom
† Orville Cook
Wednesday (11-6)
9:00 am - Heron Lake
Living/Deceased of the Miranowski Family
Thursday (11-7)
9:00 am - Brewster
Living/Deceased of the Kirchner Family
Friday (11-8)
9:30 am - Sogge Home
† Greg Schoborg
Saturday (11-9)
5:00 pm - Brewster
† Joe & Rose Weinandt
Sunday (11-10)
8:00 am - Heron Lake
For the People
10:00 am - Windom
† Richard & Helen Becker
Know that our pastor includes all of us in his daily prayers and private Mass intentions.
If a Mass is cancelled, our pastor will include that scheduled Mass Intention at his private daily Mass. If you prefer it be rescheduled, please let your respective parish office know.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen
Mass and Faith Formation have been canceled for Sunday, January 14th. St. Francis Xavier will still be having 10 a.m. Mass in Windom on Sunday.
Adoration Schedule
Sunday November 3rd 11:00-12:00
Saint Francis Xavier Church Windom
Saturday November 9th 4:00-4:45
Sacred Heart Church Brewster
Mankato Area Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation
Jan 25th. St. Thomas More Newman Center, Mankato - To register, go to: https://www.dowr.org/offices/life-marriage-family/marriage-preparation.html
Weekly Words from The Rock:
Reflections on November
As I sat down to write this column, I thought back on the month of November and what it was like for me growing up. Here are some thoughts:
- While in primary and secondary school, it meant Thanksgiving vacation.
- Thanksgiving always meant gathering around the kitchen table and eating turkey with all the sides. If my memory serves me correctly, we usually packed together in the family car and attended Mass on Thanksgiving.
- Harvest was in full swing. I am struck by how times have changed. My brother usually has harvest complete and soil tilled by the end of October. Not so back in the day. The corn harvest was still in full swing.
- When I was younger, I can remember us picking, not combining, corn. The corn was still on the ear and elevated into steel or wood bins.
- Being a hunter, I spent time hunting ducks. A spectacle I haven’t seen for years was the various flocks of mallards circling and landing in fields. As a young squirt, I would try to crawl after them or hide myself for a passing shot.
- November meant deer hunting. Deer hunting was an all-day affair. I usually assisted my father with cleaning hog barns and grinding feed on Saturdays however during deer hunting a reprieve was given.
- The lakes were iced over by the end of November and ice fishing was in full swing.
- More often than not, snow was on the ground sometime during November.
- The Novembers of yesteryear seemed colder than the more recent Novembers. Colder weather meant bundling up.
All serve as great memories. From a priest’s perspective, I would add the following to my November list.
- All Saint’s Day is a Holy Day of Obligation. It is a time to call the people together and remember the saints who have paved the way prior to us. I think of Saints like Peter, Andrew, Hubert, John Vianney, Joseph, and Mother Teresa. Their inspiration paved the way for us to live the faith Christ has laid out for us.
- All Soul’s Day. We all have people who have gone before us that remain in our prayers. I think about my grandparents who played an instrumental role in my vocation and the priests who helped in my vocation. The priest to whom I am most indebted was Father John Tighe. If my memory is correct, Father Tighe moved from St. Casimir’s in Wells to St. Francis Xavier in Windom. You didn’t mess around with Father Tighe. He demanded respect yet he encouraged me along my vocational path to priesthood. I would be remiss to not think of the people whose funerals and/or interments I celebrated over the past year.
- The Sundays of November focus on the end-times. They ask us to ready ourselves for the coming of our Lord. They challenge us on how to ready ourselves in facing the Lord at our death.
- With the arrival of Thanksgiving Day, I include on my thanksgiving list the gift of priesthood and the people I have been given the honor and privilege of serving.
- Advent. Depending upon the year, the season of Advent begins in November with its call to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ.
To conclude this column, here is a November story for you. I was home for Thanksgiving during my college years. I saw flock after flock of mallards landing in a field which jutted up to Grandpa Schuster’s farm. The temptation was too great. I grabbed my gun and headed for the corner of my grandfather’s field. I didn’t have permission to hunt the neighbor’s property, so I leaned against the corner post which marked the intersecting property lines. For hours on end, flock after flock kept landing in the neighbor’s field. While it was a majestic sight, it had a twist of frustration to it. Not a duck would come close to my location. This went on and on and on. Duck after duck passing well beyond shooting range. Then it happened. One flock passed over and I took a chance. I got lucky and one mallard found itself on the way home with me. All is true; however, what I remember the most was how cold I was. Leaning against the fence post, it snowed and snowed and snowed with a northwest wind blowing. Try to stay as still as possible in that weather. On the walk home, my dad drove out to pick me up and I was shaking from the cold. Still, the mission was accomplished.
What memories do you have of the month of November? Whatever they might be, keep them close to the vest.
Blessings to you!
Father Peter Schuster
Vocation View: The Lord has called us to love God and our neighbor. Are you called to love by becoming a priest, brother, or sister? (Mark 12:28-34)
There will be a 2nd Collection this weekend, November 2-3. This collection is to assist those affected by the two recent natural disasters, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Bishop Barron has asked all parishes to please take up a special emergency collection.
Catholic Charities USA is coordinating relief efforts. Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic disaster relief agency of the Catholic Church in the United States, is currently providing support and assistance to its Diocesan Catholic Charities member agencies throughout the regions that are being impacted by the past hurricanes. To learn more about supporting local efforts through Catholic Charities, go to: www.ccsomn.org
There will be Confession available 1/2hour before mass on Sundays.
FOUND: A ring has been found in the parking lot. Please call the office to claim.
Council Meetings: Wednesday, November 6th Pastoral will meet at 6 PM and Finance will meet at 6:45 PM.
Meeting: CCW will meet on Tuesday, November 12th at 7 PM in the church basement.
Please Return any Baby Bottles to the church ASAP. THANK YOU!
October Cencus: Thanks to all parishioners for showing up throughout October to make our census more complete!
Parish Directories for 2024-2025 are now available to pick up in the back of church.
International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day Event, November 23, 2024, from 10:00-2:00 at LaCanne's Family Celebration of Life Center, Jackson. You are not alone; come together to find connection, understanding, and hope through shared experience. For questions or to register, contact stigmafree@dvhhs.org.
Eucharistic Revival News:
Reflections On the Eucharist
The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, so the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially present.
Christ is present at the moment of consecration, and endures as long as the Eucharistic species exist. So the Eucharist is adored during and outside of Mass.
We see the full presence of Christ in the Eucharist, not through our senses, but through the deeper perception of faith.
A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a private weekend away from the distractions of daily life for couples in good marriages. Give your marriage this gift! The next available weekend in Windom is Feb. 14-16, 2025. Contact Miki at applications@southmnwwme.org or 507-227-8229. To register, visit our website: https://southmnwwme.org/applyWeekend.php?/hl=en choose Feb 14-16 Windom Shalom Hills Farm.
RCIA News: (Now OCIA)
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA, as it has been more commonly referred to, has a name change to Order of Christian Initiation For Adults, or OCIA, per the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The name change applies both to the process by which one enters the Church and the course/book that contains the ritual text and prayers for those steps.
In order to become a Catholic, individuals go through several rites with the final being at the Easter Vigil when they are welcomed into the Catholic Church.
If you are someone you know would like to know more, contact your parish office for more information.
Please remember to check the back page of the bulletin and support our sponsors!
Facebook Page
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.
New Parishioners
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.
Marriage Preparation
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. Fr. Pratap is seeking married couples who are practicing Catholics, and have children, who would be willing to volunteer to help prepare our engaged couples for marriage. Please contact Fr. Pratap at 507‑226‑4536, or your parish office, if interested.
Baptism Preparation
Contact the parish office a month in advance to fill out the form and to attend Baptism Mentoring Sessions. All Baptisms will be celebrated during Mass.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation still available by appointment for each Parish.