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.

Weekly Words from The Rock:

Today’s gospel comes from Mark 10:46-52. I sum up the story in three B’s.

Imagine having to be a beggar. You rely completely, totally upon others for your very existence. Due to this reliance, it is my sense that Bartimaeus was not the quiet sort. Upon hearing someone approach, he would say, “Due to my blindness, I cannot work. Please help me.” I make such an assessment because in our gospel we hear, “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.”” The very act of crying out meant Bartimaeus was outspoken in nature.

What really grabs my attention in this gospel is the response of the people to Bartimaeus’ request of Jesus. Pity was the far from their minds. We hear instead, “Many rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” In a frank sort of way, imagine someone telling you to “shut up” or “be quiet.” Such phrases mean you are nothing but a bother and people don’t want to hear from you. This can happen in many situations:

To such, our words are the cutting of “shut up” or “be quiet” as my voice is the only voice of reason.

In response to such an attitude, I offer three alternative B’s which point to our faith. They sound like this:

It is my hope that the Beatitudes, Being, and Bringing be at our core as followers of Jesus Christ.

Blessings to you!

Father Peter Schuster

Vocation View: You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. Let us pray for an increase to the vocation of priesthood, pray for the priests who serve us. (Hebrews 5:1-6)

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.

All Saint’s Day Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 1st at 9:00 AM. There is a sign-up sheet on the back tables for Liturgical Roles for Mass. Please sign up if you are available to help.

Please return any baby bottles to the church ASAP. THANK YOU!

October Census: Thanks to all parishioners for showing up throughout October to make our census more complete!

MEETING: CCW will meet on Tuesday, November 12th at 7 PM in the church basement.

Parish Directories for 2024-2025 are now available to pick up in the back of church.

Baby Bottle Campaign:

THANK YOU!

Thank you for your generous donations to the Baby Bottle Campaign! The gifts you provided during the month of October will continue to impact the lives of new and expectant parents throughout the coming year. Each donation supports a confident pregnancy and a stable beginning for a new little one. Thank you for supporting the gift of life!

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 Structure of the Mass, Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist, is one single act of worship, remaining unchanged through time.

It is Christ himself, our eternal high priest who, acting through the priest at Mass, offers the Eucharistic sacrifice.

At the heart of the Eucharist are the bread and wine which, by Christ’s word and the calling of the Holy Spirit become Christ’s Body and Blood.

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.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal offers a unique opportunity for you to give back to the God of Love, from whom all things are given. Grow closer to Christ by doing your part to build up the Kingdom of God in southern Minnesota. The Appeal funds ministries to invite more than 38,000 households each year to encounter Christ and embrace His Church.

Through your support, the Catholic Ministries Appeal funds diocesan-led ministries throughout the 20 counties of southern Minnesota. Thank you for providing opportunities to thousands of people to draw closer to Christ because of your generosity. If you haven’t already contributed, please return your CMA pledge card or give online at www.catholicfsmn.org.

Your generosity to the Catholic Ministries Appeal from year to year is so greatly appreciated! You are making a difference in our Catholic community through faith-enriching ministries that take place throughout each year. Your gift makes a direct impact in supporting these ministries that are leading people closer to Christ.

You May also give online at: https://catholicfsmn.org

Christmas letter from Lisa Kremer OFS of the Worthington Deanery

click here to view the PDF

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. 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.

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.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation still available by appointment for each Parish.