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

Weekly Words from The Rock:

With the Covid pandemic, churches tried to provide Mass to people via electronic means. The purpose was that while people could not attend Mass in person, the connection with the parish still remained. With the restrictions of the Covid pandemic lifted, the numbers of people attending Mass declined, in some parishes drastically. Watching Mass on television for many became the norm. I want to share an article written by Monsignor Charles Pope on the topic of television Mass and one’s obligation in attending Mass. I hope you find it helpful in understanding the Church’s theology on the importance of attending Mass in person. (Note: Some are not physically able to attend Mass and that is also addressed in this article).

Question: Our parish family is fairly large, and during certain times of the year, usually Christmas and Easter, more people show up for Mass than we have room for in the church. As a result, the overflow crowd goes to the parish center for Mass. Another priest would celebrate that Mass there. However, in the past year, they just put up a few television screens and streamed the Mass from the church to the parish center. This was done even though we had two priests available to say Mass. But they chose not to. I wonder if I fulfilled my obligation to attend Mass since you wrote, “watching Mass on television does not fulfill the obligation.” Why does it fulfill the obligation if I watch it on television in a parish center instead of my house across the street? If we have an obligation to attend Mass, I think the church has an obligation to provide a priest to say Mass in person, especially when a priest is available.

Answer: You fulfilled your obligation by attending the overflow room. Ideally, the parish should have another priest at the parish center. But, there is a difference between watching Mass on a screen in an overflow room at a parish and watching the Mass on television at home. The most significant difference is that one is able to receive holy Communion in the overflow room, whereas, at home, this is not possible. Further, while the actual church may be full, one is still on-site where the Mass is taking place, and one is with the people of God who are gathered together in the house of the Lord.

This leads us to an important consideration of the sacraments and the human person. As human beings, we are not our soul and body alone, we are a composite of body and soul. Hence, there is a physical component to the celebration of all the sacraments. In baptism, water is poured upon the body to bring cleansing to the person, body and soul. In several of the sacraments, holy oils are used to anoint the body and bring healing to the soul. Other sacraments involve the laying on of hands or, in the case of holy matrimony, the joining of hands. In all cases, the body is touched. Even in confession, celebrated behind a screen, still involves the priest laying hands on the person by extending his hands over or near him or her. In holy Communion, Christ Jesus is received into the body to nourish body and soul. Hence, physical presence is essential for Catholics in the celebration of the sacraments and the holy liturgy.

In cases where one cannot come to the Church for a serious reason, they are dispensed from the obligation to attend holy Mass. A “TV” Mass has long been offered for such occasions, which supplies some connection to the holy liturgy, but this is not the same as going to holy Mass at a church. Holy Communion cannot be received on TV and must be brought to the home-bound in some real and physical way. Confessions cannot be heard over the phone, baptism cannot be conferred online, and so forth. It is lamentable that one cannot physically attend holy Mass, and for this reason the Church has long made efforts in such situations to bring the sacraments to the homebound.

During the pandemic of 2020, the closing of churches impacted Catholics greatly since the reception of the sacraments requires physical presence. Some began to like recorded or streamed Masses and spoke of them as being the same or even better than going to Church since it was so convenient. But this offends against sacramental theology for the reasons stated above. We have bodies, and notions of “virtual” (electronic) presence are simply not adequate... In Jesus’ parable about the wedding feast of the king, declining the invitation to attend in person drew some severe punishments, promises that “I will be with you in spirit” notwithstanding (cf. Matthew 22:1-14).

Parishes must, in situations that you describe, make extra Masses available in times of overflow; ideally celebrated by different priests or, less ideally, by the use of a large screen. But it is always best to ensure and enable physical attendance of God’s faithful in the holy house of God, which is the church and parishes structures.
(The above article was written by Monsignor Charles Pope, Our Sunday Visitor, April 30-May 6, 2023, page 19).

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: The King is bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. The King is the servant-leader, who let go of his life for our sake. Who will follow the example of David, the example of Jesus, and renounce wordly power of the power of the children of God?

2 Samuel 5:1-3

The Military Service is to ensure that service members, Veterans, and their families be able ; to benefit from consultation with a priest, and to receive the sacrament of penance as they defend our rights of freedom, speech, and face constant transition and uncertainty.

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

Meeting: Wednesday, December 3rd, Pastoral Council will meet at 6:00 PM and Finance Council will meet at 6:45 PM.

Immaculate Conception of Mary Mass will be held at Sacred Heart in Heron Lake on Monday, December 8th at 5:30 PM. There is a sign up sheet in the back of church for Liturgical duties for that day.

2nd Collection: There will be a 2nd collection for Joseph Bartosh on Sunday, November 30th.

2026 Catholic Extension Calendars are available to pick up in the back of church. Thank you to LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center for sponsoring our calendars again this year. We greatly appreciate your generosity.

Angel Tree Program: Angel Tree tags have been distributed. If you would like a tag please reach out to Dianne Freking to see if there are any available. Also, please let Dianne Freking know which tag you have if you haven’t already. Please have all unwrapped gifts to the rectory no later than December 14th, as the gifts will be distributed to the parents of these families on Tuesday, December 16th. Thank you.

Faith Formation: There will be no Faith Formation classes on Wednesday, November 26th or Sunday, November 30th due to Thanksgiving weekend.

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

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.

There will be No OCIA Class Monday, December 8th due to the Holy Day of Obligation: Immaculate Conception of Mary.

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.

World Wide Marriage Encounter: The next session is November 22-23, 2025 at Alexandria, MN. Contact Miki Schultz at 507-227-8229 with questions.

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.