May God watch over us this Advent and may our new liturgical year find us filled with grace and peace.

Blessings to you!

Father Peter Schuster

First Sunday of Advent: You are asked to utilize the Advent Confession times during Adoration in Brewster and Windom to prepare yourself for the coming of our Lord. See the adoration schedule above. An Expanded Confession time for Heron Lake is at 7:00 AM on Sunday December 15th before Mass.

Vocation View: The Lord is near! Am I able to read the signs of the times? What is God asking of me? (Luke 21:25-36)

Second Collection: There will be a 2nd collection on Sunday December 8th for the Retirement Fund for the Religious/Catholic University.

The Collection raises funds for retired religious and helps religious institutes realistically assess their current retirement needs and implement planning, further educating religious institutes to allocate assets realistically and develop educational tools, programs, services and resource materials that enable religious institutes to address retirement wisely.

The Collection also underwrites scholarships to assist financially deserving students in completing their education at CUA in over 50 disciplines.

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

The Angel Tree Program names have been distributed. Please have all unwrapped gifts to the rectory by December 15th. Thank you!

THANK YOU for your generous donations of $1355.58 to the Baby Bottle Campaign! The gifts you provided will continue to impact the lives of new and expectant parents throughout the coming year. Thank you for supporting the gift of Life!

Greeters: Looking for volunteers to greet parishioners as they enter for Sunday Mass. Please reach out to Melanie in the office or sign up on the sheet in the back of the church if interested! THANK YOU!

Office Closed: The office will be closed from December 25th through January 5th. Please get all end of year contributions to the office by December 23rd. Thank you.

No Faith Formation: There will be no Faith Formation classes on Wednesday, November 27th or Sunday, December 1st.

If you have not sent in your donation for the Catholic Ministries Appeal, please do so. Sacred Heart's goal is $9,629. We are at $8,940. Anything over that amount comes directly to the church. You can send it in directly or drop it in the offertory basket. CMA donation envelopes are at the entrances of the Church. Please give your fair share. Thank you.

Liturgy Roles for December/January are available. Looking to become more involved in church? Please contact Melanie if you are interested.

Carlos Acutis, an Italian computer-coding teenager who died of cancer in 2006, is known for his great devotion to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He is a patron saint of the Eucharistic Revival. Pope Francis announced Wednesday that Blessed Carlo Acutis beloved for his vibrant faith and witness to holiness, will be canonized during the Jubilee of Teenagers at Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano which is held April 25-27, 2025. Carlos Acutis is remembered for saying: “People who place themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints.” Pope Francis encouraged young people to imitate Acutis in prioritizing “the great gift of the Eucharist” in his message for the upcoming diocesan World Youth Days last weekend, on the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (Christ the King Sunday).

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.

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

THe Synod / Advent Bible Study:

The Synod Fathers desire that the divine word ‘be ever more fully at the heart of every ecclesial activity’ (Verbun Domini,1). The gate to Sacred Scripture should be open to all believers. Every opportunity for the study of Sacred Scripture should be made available. The Scripture should permeate homilies, catechesis and every effort to pass on the faith. In consideration of the necessity of familiarity with the word of God and for the spiritual growth of the faithful, the Synod encourages dioceses, parishes, small Christian communities to continue serious study of the Bible and Lectio Divina, the prayerful reading of the Scriptures. (taken from cf. Dei Verbum, 21-22)

Many people change address, email and phone numbers and we don’t have correct information for our parishioners. Please share your information with us so we can keep communication up to date.

On a piece of paper please put your name, new address, new phone and new email address. Then please turn in to the Parish Office or drop in the Sunday Collection. Thank you

If you would like a registration form for your parish, contact the parish office of your church.

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.