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

Weekly Words from The Rock:

Do you recall the song “It is the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?” It was sung by Andy Williams and the first couple of verses read:

It is the most wonderful time of the year

with the kids jingle belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer.

It is the most wonderful time of the year.

It is the hap-happiest season of all

with those holiday greetings and gay happy meetings

when friends come to call.

It is the hap-happiest season of all.

It is hard to argue the beauty of Christmas and the story of the incarnation – the birth of our Savior; however, if we were looking at the four seasons, I would take issue with winter being my favorite “time of the year.” Don’t get me wrong. The people of Minnesota have made the winter months enjoyable – hockey, ice skating, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing to name only a few. My favorite time of the year is the fall. Think of all the activities:

That is the difficulty for me. There are too many things to enjoy and not enough daylight (as the daylight dwindles day by day). In my childhood and teenage days, life revolved around school, football, hunting and helping on the farm. I would like to reminisce about the fall and the farm. Some of the memories I have are:

I was asked to help in all areas in fall – drive truck, tractor, combine. While tiring, it was a lot of fun. I didn’t realize it at the time but what we gathered in the fall is what coincided with our existence for the remainder of the year. Some years the harvest was bountiful; other years you would just as soon forget. Through it all, my mother and father had faith. They believed that God would see them through. It didn’t mean it was easy in the moment, but we made year after year.

In the gospels, Jesus tells us repeatedly “have faith and believe in me (see John 14:1).” May we have faith even in the trials of life!

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: Wanted: humble sinners who know the forgiveness of God. These make good servants of the Gospel.

Luke 18:9-14

The Mission Sunday collection is a day that is celebrated in all the local Churches as the feast of catholicity and universal solidarity so Christians the world over will recognize their common responsibility with regard to the evangelization of the world.

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

The Baby Bottle Campaign started on October 5th for women who are choosing life for their babies. Please pick up a baby bottle at the entrances of the church and be as generous as possible. Donations designated for the campaign are used for rent, etc. for new mothers.

CCW Meeting: There will be a CCW meeting on Tuesday, November 11th at 7PM in the church basement. Hope to see you there!

Huge Thank You to everyone who was able to make it for the Fundraiser to help support Joseph Bartosh. Thank you Joseph and the Bartosh family for being there to visit with everyone and help in the kitchen. Thanks, also, to Burt & Pat Bonnell, Thomas Krumbach, Rhonda Damm, Ryan Haberman family, and Sharon Leopold for helping with organizing and hep in the kitchen. Thanks to the CCW for providing salads and desserts. You are all very much appreciated!

Thank You to all who participated in the “Box of Joy” campaign. Your kindness and generosity will provide much happiness for children who receive these gifts this Christmas.

The October Couriers are available at the entrance of the church. Please pick one up. Thank you.

October Census: The diocese always counts parishioners every Sunday in October for a census. Please try to attend your parish as much as possible in October so the numbers will reflect our true census. THANK YOU!

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.

OCIA: (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) Do you want to learn more about the Catholic faith? Do you want to understand your faith better? Are you a baptized Catholic who has not received all the Sacraments? Would you like a lifelong encounter with Jesus? Our classes are Sundays at 6:30pm and begin on October 19th. There will be 12 sessions every two weeks. Contact Judy Green at 507-822-6497 or email jmg.kofc@gmail.com for more information and to let us know you are attending. Thank you.

Financial concerns are one of the common reasons why women have abortions. This makes your financial support for pregnant women vital for encouraging the choice for life. The 19th annual Baby Bottle Campaign is raising funds across the Diocese. When everyone brings home a bottle and fills it with change, Catholic Charities can use those funds to support women who are choosing life for their baby. Financial assistance provides tangible hope as they create a plan for the future.

Our Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual well-being is important, God wants us to blossom! How do you keep the faith in the stormy seasons of your life? How can you accompany others during these storms? The Whole Hearted seminar is meant to provide basic and helpful awareness to address the whole being, during life’s painful experiences. It informs participants of how traumas impact the individual, and how one might begin to move forward. It will also provide information on accompany loved ones and other individuals during these painful experiences. Furthermore, Whole Hearted is a faith-based seminar that provides basic and helpful mental health and spiritual awareness for life’s painful experiences. It is designed to be a personal and reflective mental health seminar for everyone. Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota will be offering the Whole Hearted Program to parishioners and community members in our area, Saturday, November 15th from 9am-2pm, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lakefield. If you have any questions or would like to register call Maria at 507-905-8602 or email mahmed@ccsomn.org.

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.

Loving Father, source of all that is good, we beg you to look upon us with mercy and love. As your beloved sons and daughters, redeemed in the blood of Jesus Christ, we seek to do your will in every action of our lives.

We beg you now to pour out Your Holy Spirit upon the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and help each member of this diocese to live out the call to holiness given to them in baptism. Please grant us many priests and consecrated persons to serve Your Church, strong and holy marriages that serve as a sign of Your self-giving love, and single men and women who are intent on living out Your plan for their lives.

Let each of us be more deeply conformed to Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to live in holiness and love, keep us on the path You have marked out for us, which leads to eternal life with You. May Your grace be abundant as we rejoice in hope and confidently trust in Your Divine Providence each day. With grateful hearts, we ask this prayer through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in the name of Jesus Christ, who is Lord, forever and ever. Amen.

Volunteers Needed:Catholic Accompaniment and Reflection Experience The CARE Program is committed to connecting volunteers with fellow community members who are neighbors in need of accompaniment, as well as emotional and spiritual support when dealing with the US immigration system. Our mission is to make sure no one stands alone. The program is administered by Catholic Charities of Southern MN, housed at Kivu Immigration Law office in Worthington, and supported by the Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester. We welcome volunteers of all faiths and will seek to serve all people who need accompaniment on their immigration journey. Volunteer Training: Thursday, November 6 at 5:00 pm. To register or for more information, contact Maria Stumpf-Ahmed at 507-905-8602 or email or mahmed@ccsomn.org.

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.