SacredHeart Heron Lake
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
St. Gertrude the Great
Observances and Readings for the Week
Monday (12-22)
Advent
1 Sm 1:24-28
Lk 1:46-56
Tuesday (12-23)
Saint John of Kanty, Priest
Mal 3:1-4, 23-24
Lk 1:57-66
Wednesday (12-24)
Advent Weekday
Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16
Lk 1:67-79
Thursday (12-25)
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas),
Solemnity Holyday of Obligation
Vigil: Is 62:1-5
Acts 13:16-17, 22-25
Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25
Night: Is 9:1-6
Ti 2:11-14
Lk 2:1- 14
Dawn: Is 62:11-12
Ti 3:4-7
Lk 2:15-20
Day: Is 52:7-10
Heb 1:1-6
Jn 1:1- 18 or 1:1-5, 9-14
Friday (12-26)
Saint Stephen, the First Martyr, Feast
Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59
Mt 10:17-22
Saturday (12-27)
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, Feast
1 Jn 1:1-4
Jn 20:1a, 2-8
Sunday (12-28)
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Feast
Sir 3:2-6, 12-14
Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17
Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
Monday (12-29)
Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
1 Jn 2:3-11
Lk 2:22-35
Tuesday (12-30)
Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
1 Jn 2:12-17
Lk 2:36-40
Wednesday (12-31)
Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
Saint Sylvester I, Pope
1 Jn 2:18-21
Jn 1:1-18
Thursday (1-1)
Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God
The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord
Solemnity Holy day of Obligation
Nm 6:22-27
Gal 4:4-7
Lk 2:16-21
Friday (1-2)
Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church, Memorial
1 Jn 2:22-28
Jn 1:19-28
Saturday (1-3)
Christmas Weekday
The Most Holy Name of Jesus
1 Jn 2:29—3:6
Jn 1:29-34
Sunday (1-4)
The Epiphany of the Lord, Solemnity
Is 60:1-6
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6
Mt 2:1-12
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

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

Adoration Schedule
Saturday December 13th
Sacred Heart Church Brewster
4:00-4:45
Sunday, January 4th
St Francis Xavier Church Windom
11:00-12:00
Saturday January 10th
Sacred Heart Church Brewster
4:00-4:45
Mankato Area Pre-Cana Marriage Preparation
The next session is January 31st, at St. John Vianney, Fairmont, MN.
World Wide Marriage Encounter
The next session is November 22-23, 2025 at Alexandria, MN. Contact Miki Schultz at 507-227-8229 with questions.
Weekly Words from The Rock:
This bulletin column will cover for this weekend and next weekend. In this column, I want to share some thoughts surrounding Christmas.
First, I want to begin by posing some questions that aren’t answered in the pages of the Bible yet intrigue me.
  • How cold was it the day our Lord was born?
  • How cold was it in the stable of Christmas morn?
  • Over the days spent in the stable, how many people laid eyes on the Christ-child? Was it more than the three kings? More than the shepherds?
  • Did Joseph have to leave the stable in search of food or was enough brought along for the journey?
  • We call Jesus the Prince of Peace. Was their peace in the world the day our Savior was born?
Second, as I write this column, I look out the window and see snow on the ground. Snow is apart of Minnesota and Christmas. What did snow mean to me as a child?
  • Watching my father out the bay window moving/plowing snow.
  • A day or two off from school.
  • My mother’s homemade soup, a common winter staple.
  • Sledding and building tunnels in the large snowbanks with my brother and sisters.
  • Trying to open the hog barn doors was slightly more difficult.
  • Placing boots, hats, and gloves next to a heat vent to dry off.
Third, what are some of the family memories?
  • We faithfully attended Christmas Mass. I don’t remember the time of the Mass; however, I never recall missing Mass due to weather.
  • We opened one or two gifts on Christmas Eve. The remainder waited until Christmas Day.
  • It was rare we celebrated Christmas with extended family. It was the six of us who gathered around the Christmas table.
  • Santa Claus never disappointed.
  • I don’t recall watching a great deal of television on Christmas Eve. It was the Arctic Cat snowmobile which made its way around the yard.
And fourth, what does Christmas mean? Some things have changed.
  • My mother and father will no longer be at the Christmas table.
  • My sister in California really tries to come on Christmas. This year may be different.
  • I rarely make it home on Christmas because of travel distance or being tired after the Advent schedule and Christmas Masses. This year may be different. I am going to make an effort to make it home.
While other things, never change. Christmas is about a Savior. A child born to save us from our sins. He is Emmanuel, a name which means “God is with us.” It is a fact we should never take lightly. God is with us. Wherever we find ourselves this Christmas, surrounded by others or alone, struggling or at peace, God is always there. That is the message of Christmas. That is why Jesus Christ came to us. We are never alone. We should never despair.
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Electric Motors
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 priests, brothers, and sisters of the new century are in the care of your family today. Tend to them well; encourage their gifts; pray for their happy response to God’s call.
Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18
There will be Confession available 1/2 hour before mass on Sundays.
December Couriers are available at the entrances.
Office Closed: The office will be closed from December 24th through January 4th.
Thank You to everyone for their prayers, cards, and gifts during this Christmas season. I continue to keep all of you in my daily prayers. Merry Christmas! - Father Schuster
Faith Formation: There will be no Faith Formation classes from December 24th through January 4th.
Solemnity of Mary Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, December 31st at 5:30 PM. There is a sign-up sheet for Liturgical Roles in the back of the church.
Catholic Order of Foresters will be having their annual TOM & JERRY celebration on Sunday, January 11th at 2:30 PM. A light lunch will be served.
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.
Catholic Ministries Appeal: Sacred Heart's goal was $9,433. THANK YOU to all who have donated as we have surpassed our goal. Any money put towards the appeal over our goal comes directly back to the church not accessed so please keep that in mind moving into the new year.
Sacred Heart 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.
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.
Diocese of Winona-Rochester Prayer for Vocations
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
A huge Thank You to those involved with the Christmas Program. To Mary Theesfeld, Amy McNamara and Tom Zimmerman for organizing and leading the Faith Formation classes, to Jackie Jurgens for directing the children playing the bells, a special Thank You to Candy and Tom Riordan for hosting the delectable reception after the program, and to all the special teachers and volunteers before, during and after our program. Your efforts and time are greatly appreciated!
The Diocese of Winona-Rochester is excited to send, for a second time, a group of religious and laity from our diocese to experience and participate in the Walk to Mary from May1-3, 2026!
The Walk to Mary is an annual, twenty-two-mile pilgrimage walk in Wisconsin. The pilgrimage begins at the National Shrine of St. Joseph located in St. Norbert College and ends at the only Church-approved Marian apparition site in the United States of America, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion. In 1859, Mary appeared to Adele Brise in Champion, Wisconsin instructing her to teach the Catholic faith to the children of the land. On this pilgrimage, pilgrims not only remember this beautifully simple Marian apparition, but they also journey spiritually with Joseph and Mary to witness their love and fidelity to Jesus Christ. People of diverse ages, races, and nationalities all come together to participate in this sacred experience. Information will be posted on bulletin boards at entries, you can register by visiting here: https://www.dowr.org/ event-details/3789 or call (507)516-6945. Early deadline is January 1st, 2026.
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.
https://www.facebook.com/sacredheartheronlake.org/
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. Please contact 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.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation still available by appointment for each Parish.
Quinceanera Preparation
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.