1 Pastor Rev. Msgr. R. Paul Heiting 507-458-5702 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Church Office 305 S. Lafayette Ave. Fulda, MN 56131 Phone: 507-425-2369 Email: [email protected]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TRI-PARISH RCIA PAT & SHELLY MERRICK 507-274-6760 Faith Formation: Peg Olsem 507-425-2369 ext. #3 [email protected]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Administrative Assistant: Nico Doom Cell: 507-227-8239 Bookkeeper: Cheryl Thiner 507-425-2369 Ext #2 [email protected]Maintenance: Willie Sanow ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Schedule A Bapsm or Wedding please contact Msgr. Heing 507-458-5702 CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9a.m.-3p.m ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Prayer Chain JoAnne McCormick 507-425-2568 Bey Czepa 507-425-2566 ST. GABRIEL CATHOLIC CHURCH 309 West Lake Ave, Fulda, MN 56131 March 2020 News Letter FROM THE DESK OF MONSIGNOR HEITING BEING COUNTER-CULTURAL… In Saint Mahew’s gospel for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, we see Jesus completely reverse Old Testament law. Instead of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, Jesus tells us to resist revenge and to go the extra mile. Instead of hang our enemies, Jesus says to love them and to pray for our persecutors. This is certainly outlandish and counter- cultural by human standards. And yet, once we realize that Jesus is the divine fulfillment of the Old Testament law, and that love and mercy have a place in our lives, then things seem to make more sense. This week, using love, mercy, prayer and compassion...seek to be “counter- cultural” in the best way possible! THE SEASON OF LENT 2020… The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which is this Wednesday, February 26 th . Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 AM at Saint Anthony Parish in Westbrook; 5:30 PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cur- rie, and at 7:30 PM at Saint Gabriel Parish in Fulda. Staons of the Cross will be celebrated on Wednesdays beginning with the rosary at 6:30 PM in Fulda. In Currie and Westbrook, the Staons of the Cross will be cele- brated immediately aſter the weekday Mass. “SHARE HIS GOOD GIFTS WITH ALL”… Thank you for living out the theme of the 2020 Catholic Ministries Ap- peal through your prayerful financial support of this annual appeal. Every dollar you give helps us to meet our parish goals and also helps to ad- vance the work and ministry of our diocese. Our parish goals are: Saint Gabriel Parish, Fulda -$12,695.00; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Cur- rie -$8,700.00; Saint Anthony Parish, Westbrook - $4,800.00.
BEING COUNTER-CULTURAL… In Saint Matthew’s gospel for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, we see Jesus completely reverse Old Testament law. Instead of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, Jesus tells us to resist revenge and to go the extra mile. Instead of hating our enemies, Jesus says to love them and to pray for our persecutors. This is certainly outlandish and counter-cultural by human standards. And yet, once we realize that Jesus is the divine fulfillment of the Old Testament law, and that love and mercy have a place in our lives, then things seem to make more sense. This week, using love, mercy, prayer and compassion...seek to be “counter-cultural” in the best way possible!
THE SEASON OF LENT 2020… The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which is this Wednesday, February 26th. Masses will be celebrated at 8:30 AM at Saint Anthony Parish in Westbrook; 5:30 PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Cur-rie, and at 7:30 PM at Saint Gabriel Parish in Fulda. Stations of the Cross will be celebrated on Wednesdays beginning with the rosary at 6:30 PM in Fulda. In Currie and Westbrook, the Stations of the Cross will be cele-brated immediately after the weekday Mass.
“SHARE HIS GOOD GIFTS WITH ALL”… Thank you for living out the theme of the 2020 Catholic Ministries Ap-peal through your prayerful financial support of this annual appeal. Every dollar you give helps us to meet our parish goals and also helps to ad-vance the work and ministry of our diocese. Our parish goals are: Saint Gabriel Parish, Fulda -$12,695.00; Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Cur-rie -$8,700.00; Saint Anthony Parish, Westbrook - $4,800.00.
4 St. A 8:30 A & Stations 9A St. G Rosary 6:30P Stations of The Cross 7 P
5 I.H.M. 8:30 A & Stations 9A Last H.S. Rls 1:24 –3:03 P
6 St. G 8:30 A & Adoration 9A
7 I.H.M. 5:30 P
8 St. G 8:00 A St. A 10:00 A St. Anthony Soup and Pie Dinner 11A-1P
9 E.S. Release 2-2:55P
10 M.P.L.N. 10:00 A
11 St. A 8:30 A & Stations 9A
St. G Rosary 6:30P Stations of The Cross 7 P
12 I.H.M. 8:30 A & Stations 9A
13 St. G 8:30 A
14 I.H.M. 5:30 P
15 St. G 8:30 A St. A 10:30 A
16 E.S. Release 2-2:55P
17 M.P.L.N. 10:00 A
18 St. A 8:30 A & Stations 9A
St. G Rosary 6:30P Stations of The Cross 7 P
19 I.H.M. 8:30 A & Stations 9A
20 St. G 8:30 A
21 2nd Collection I.H.M. 5:30 P
22 2nd Collection St. G 8:30 A St. A 10:30 A Lenten Tri-Parish
Reconciliation St.
G 2P
23 E.S. Release 2-2:55P
24 M.P.L.N. 10:00 A
25 St. A 8:30 A & Stations 9A
St. G Rosary 6:30P Stations of The Cross 7 P
26 I.H.M. 8:30 A & Stations 9A
27 St. G 8:30 A
28 I.H.M. 5:30 P
29 St. G 8:30 A St. A 10:30 A
30 E.S. Release 2-2:55P
31 M.P.L.N. 10:00 A
St. Patrick’s Day!
3
Schedule of Mass Times and Mass Intentions for the Tri-parish Cluster of Westbrook, St. Anthony; Fulda, St. Gabriel; and Currie, Immaculate Heart of Mary
March 2020
Day Date Parish Time † Intention
Sun 1 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Jeff Zins
Sun 1 St. Anthony 10:30 a.m. Parishioners
Mon 2
Tues 3 Maple Lawn Nursing Home 10.00 a.m. † Bill & Joan Sauer
Wed 4 St. Anthony 8:30 a.m. † Hans & Mary Hiedemann
Thurs 5 Immaculate Heart of Mary 8:30 a.m. † Bill Peschges
Fri 6 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Kathy Ramert
Sat 7 Immaculate Heart of Mary 5:30 p.m. † Kathleen Dollander
Sun 8 St. Gabriel 8:00 a.m. Parishioners (Note time change)
Sun 8 St. Anthony 10:00 a.m. † Craig Olsem (Note time change)
Mon 9
Tues 10 Maple Lawn Nursing Home 10.00 a.m. † John & Mary Maciolek
Wed 11 St. Anthony 8:30 a.m. † Rodney Maguire
Thurs 12 Immaculate Heart of Mary 8:30 a.m. Int of Catholic Daughters
Fri 13 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Morva Marco
Sat 14 Immaculate Heart of Mary 5:30 p.m. Parishioners
Sun 15 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Hank Lenards
Sun 15 St. Anthony 10:30 a.m. † Scott Osland
Mon 16
Tues 17 Maple Lawn Nursing Home 10.00 a.m. † Charles Holinka
Wed 18 St. Anthony 8:30 a.m. † Norbert Klein
Thurs 19 Immaculate Heart of Mary 8:30 a.m. † Stan Clausen
Fri 20 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Mary Ahlers
Sat 21 Immaculate Heart of Mary 5:30 p.m. † Bill Pattinson
Sun 22 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † John Hanten
Sun 22 St. Anthony 10:30 a.m. Parishioners
Mon 23
Tues 24 Maple Lawn Nursing Home 10.00 a.m. † Henry & Margaret Pollak
Wed 25 St. Anthony 8:30 a.m. Int of Shut Ins
Thurs 26 Immaculate Heart of Mary 8:30 a.m. † Teri Luft
Fri 27 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. † Anton Sturm Family
Sat 28 Immaculate Heart of Mary 5:30 p.m. † Gary McClure
Sun 29 St. Gabriel 8:30 a.m. Parishioners
Sun 29 St. Anthony 10:30 a.m. † Monica Stoderl
Mon 30
Tues 31 Maple Lawn Nursing Home 10.00 a.m. † Stella Heimendinger
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Liturgical Duties March 2020
PLEASE FIND YOUR OWN REPLACEMENT IF YOU CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN THE MINISTRY.
Just a friendly reminder….. Eucharistic Ministers please remember to approach the Altar after the sign of Peace is completed and before the ‘Lamb of God’ has begun.
PLEASE BE AT THE CHURCH 15 MINUTES EARLY IF YOU’RE SCHEDULED FOR A MINISTRY.
Please prayerfully consider being a reader, commentator, Eucharistic Minister, or Minister of Hospitality. We are in need of your help for these meaningful ministries.
Respect Life
Sun . March 1 8:30 a.m. Sun. March 8 8:30 a.m. Altar Server: Eva Flores, Brenton Erdmann
Altar Server: Brie Kirchner, Nevaeh Echternach
Reader: LeAnn Zins Enninga Reader: Peg Olsem
Comm: Terry Crowley
Comm: JoAnne Bartosh
Euch Min: Barry Holinka,Randy Kremer, Mary Lubben
Euch Min: Ted Winter, Ken Salentiny, Suzi Zins
Min of Hosp: Steve & Lori Thiner, Doug & Kaite Clarke
Min of Hosp: Steve & Donna Clarke, Jody & Kathy Steiner
Euch Min: JoAnne Bartosh, Ray Bartosh, Steve Clarke
Euch Min: Lenore Wendorff, Roger Zins, Kar-yn Zins
Min of Hosp: Ed Lewis, Ray Reith, Tim Runkle, Sue Zins
Min of Hosp: Craig Ahlers, Don Fuerstenberg, Glen & Sheila Crowley
Sacristan: Shelby Steiner Sacristan: Edie Troje
Thurs. Mar.29 8:30
Altar Server: Brady Madison, Andrea Lang
Reader: Renee Dorpinghaus
Comm: Lenore Wendorff
Euch Min: Brooke Zins, Sue Zins, Tiffany Sanow
Min of Hosp: Tom & Mary Appel, Ken & Cathy Salentiny
Sacristan: Margene Vortherms
5
MARCH
2020
Confirmation Preparation Students: Continue to be working on your “Catholic
Handbook” project with your sponsors. This assignment is due at our March 4 meeting (7 p.m. at IHM/Currie)
Prayer Cards: Continue to pray for the
following Candidates for Confirmation:
Logan Erdmann, Ryder Henning,
Chrissy Hermeling & Emily Madison
There are a few more picture prayer cards located on the Faith Formation table in the back of Church.
*
St. Gabriel youth events
DON’T MISS THE FUN!
MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH FESTIVAL Sunday, March 15
1-6:30 p.m./St. Mary Parish in Owatonna
“I THIRST” Great speakers, pizza, youth mass & prizes!
Proof positive that the Catholic faith vibrant & ALIVE!
Contact Peg if interested in going. OPEN TO STUDENTS IN GRADES 6-8
RESTORE Steubenville North/Rochester
Registration continues for this FANASTIC summer event for students in grades 9-12.
July 10-12 Although early bird pricing is done, students can still register!
Contact Peg for more information. COST: $360
CAMP SUMMIT Adventure Camp for middle schoolers
Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center Lanesboro, MN
Although Camps are full at this point, we can add names to a ‘wait list’
July 25-30/COST: $300 Fundraising & scholarship money available for all of these events. If you are a parishioner wishing to sponsor a student
who can’t otherwise afford camp, please contact Peg
Grow in love & knowledge of your Catholic Faith …
CHECK OUT: relevantradio.com or Ascensionpress.com
BREAKFAST CLUB BOOK STUDY ~ Final Notes ~
Thanks to all the young women who took part in this five- month journey as we enjoyed great fellowship & fun while
discussing the book, “The Other Side of Beauty”
LAST MEETING: Wed., March 4 at 7 a.m. As always, donuts, cocoa & fresh fruit provided.
It’s never too late to check out!
First Holy Eucharist SAVE THE DATE
Sunday, April 19 ~ 8:30 a.m. Mass
PARENT/STUDENT MEETING: Wed., Mar. 4 ~ 5:15 pm Students will lead the Rosary for Stations of The Cross at
church following the meeting. Supper will be served. TOTUS TUUS 2020
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
June 6-12 at St. Ann’s in Slayton Transporation will be provided
Fantastic for ALL students in grades 1-12
ST. GABRIEL
FAITH FORMATION
- WANTED -
4th Grade Teacher for Release Time!
Beginning THIS week until the end of the year
If you’d ever considered teaching a class, but been afraid to commit to a full year, now’s your chance to give it a try! There are only six clas-ses left in the Release Time Year. Classes are every Monday, from 2-3 p.m. This would in-volved teaching just seven classes to a very
sweet group of students (There are 7 students and the student workbooks are very
clear and easy to follow. A teacher’s manual includes
suggestions & lesson planning ideas)
Contact Peg or Petra (507)329-7725 for more information
6
Reminder~ if you have anything to submit to the bulletin or newsletter please email it to [email protected]. Thank you.
Money Counters Thank you Jason Appel & Kelsey Bartosh for your help and dedication to this ministry during the month of January!
Easter flower donation envelopes are at the entrances to the
church. If you would like to donate flowers in memory or honor of
a loved one, please write on the envelope the name of the your
loved one and your name.
January Jason Appel and Jason & Kelsey Bartosh
February Jennifer & Ken Clarke, Tom & Mary Appel
March Dave and Cheryl Thiner, Jim & Barb Elsing
April Derek Berning Jim & Barb Elsing
May Harlan & Mary Ann Boom and Randy Kremer
June Barb Kruger and Linda Clauson
July Bill & Sharon Fuerstenberg, Harlan & Mary Ann Boom
August Doyle & Betty Abrahamson and Mike & Sue Zins
September Dave & Cheryl Thiner, Margaret Popp
October Mike Vortherms and Mark Voss
November Barb Kruger and Linda Clauson
December Charlotte Anderson Donna & Steve Clarke
Altar Society Schedule: Feb 22 - May 15, 2020
February
Shannon Bakke Feb 22-28 507-329-4263
Mike & Margene Vortherms Feb 29- Mar 6 507-360-7144
March
Lenore Wendorff Mar 7-13 507-360-7667
La Verna Olsem Mar 14- 20 507-425-2722
Pat Hart Mar 21-27 507-873-8053
Margaret Goedtke Mar 28- Apr 3 507-425-2031
April
Elaine Kirsch Apr 4-10 507-425-2457
Edie Troje Apr 11-17 507-360-4236
Donna Lenards Apr 18-24 507-425-2120
Lisa Opdahl Apr 25-May 1 507-425-2612
May
Tammy Ahlers May 2-8 507-360-3954
Pat Uittenbogaard May 9-15 507-360-3134
ST. GABRIEL QUILTING The quilting is going quite good this year. One person has been sewing lots of tops together and a few others have been completed, also. We do not meet eve-ry Monday morning, and perhaps if we get in a routine of doing so, every other Monday. Keep watching the bulletin for announcements of quilting Mon-days. Anyone may join us and you do not have to come every time we meet. No sewing experience is necessary to tie quilts. If you are a sewer and would like to complete a quilt top, come to a quilting Monday or contact a quilter and we will provide some blocks to sew. Thanks to all who help with this ministry!
7
FCCW NOTES Group 1 has the next funeral. Group 2 plays Bingo at Maple Lawn on March 12, 2020. The Fulda Council of Catholic Women (FCCW) held a meeting after Sunday mass on February 16, 2020. Renee Dorpinghaus will no longer be acting President of the FCCW. This will be her last FCCW notes. Betty Abrahamson will continue to be secretary of the FCCW. Edie Troje will be treasurer. Shannon Welling will call and preside over meetings of the FCCW. We currently need someone to do the other duties as president. The job includes being a go-to per-son when there is a need for the FCCW to act. It includes writing a few notes for the bulletin/Trumpet to keep people updated with any actions or requests from the FCCW. This person attends and represents the FCCW on the Pastoral Council, helps to update the FCCW list yearly and helps recruit chairpersons for groups, update phone numbers, etc. We are currently members of the Slay-ton Area Council of Catholic Women and of the Winona-Rochester CCW, so would attend 3 times a year the Area meeting of the CCW in Slayton. If you would be moved to do this ministry, contact Renee at 605 695 7817. Shirley Sturm publishes the FCCW list for our groups and does almost all of the work with phone numbers and recruiting chairpersons. Edie Troje keeps the kitchen supplied. The FCCW designated $1000 to St. Gabriel Building Fund and another $1000 to work with the drink-ing fountain and snow blower. In actuality, according to Msgr, Heiting, it is all the same fund. Many people expressed concern over the water fountain in the school, it's cleanliness, water standing in the fountain and the fountain being a health hazard. Others in the parish have been working with the water fountain. The fountain has a plugged drain and is stained. To replace the water fountain would be very costly and the question arises as to how much the water fountain is actually used. Culligan water is available in the church office which is open and attended during Faith For-mation hours. Many people that are otherwise in the school bring bottled water some of the Faith Formation catechists supply beverages. There will be more updates on the water fountain. The FCCW will donate funds to the young people attending Steubenville this summer. We chose to set up A.C.E. stations and keep records of volunteer hours that qualify for A.C.E. Activities that qualify are those that the public is invited to attend, such as funerals, the Har-vest Festival, and the Salad Luncheon/Supper. Volunteer hours are important because they help bring resources and services for aging into our area. St. Gabriel Quilters is currently a volunteer sta-tion. We often have a notice in our bulletin/Trumpet that advertises some of the services of A.C.E. A.C.E., what does it stand for? Advocate, Connect, Educate, and is your local voice for aging and volunteer services.
8
Lenten Rice Bowls Plan ahead and think about how you can best utilize our yearly “Rice Bowl” project. Money collected from this project will go towards feeding those throughout the world who are less fortunate that we are. The Rice Bowls will be sent home with all Faith Formation Students; and will be made available in back of church beginning on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 26. Ideas on how to approach doing the Rice Bowl collec-tion with a “Lenten spirit” of almsgiving and sacrifice: Decide to forego something you enjoy … It might be a spe-cial treat (Perhaps that morning cup of coffee? Or choco-late) Maybe it could be a night out at the movies or a res-taurant. Or that pizza you were going to order from Anto-nio’s? Are you a smoker? What about trying to kick the habit this Lent and giving the money you would’ve spent on cigarettes to families who can’t afford food? The ideas are endless. Prayerfully consider how you can make this the best Lent EVER!
Give up tele-vision and internet for one day
Genuinely com-pliment someone who isn’t expect-ing it.
Donate a bag of food to a local church or charity
Go to a week-day Mass
Pray for good things for someone who has been un-kind to youw
Visit an elderly friend or rela-tive who doesn’t get a lot of visi-tors
Make home-made pretzels, a traditional Lenten food.
Rice Bowl Make an alms-giving box and collect change throughout Lent to donate.
Plan a simple meal and talk as a family about how to help the Hungary.
Pray for those facing challenges of their own.
Do a craft, piece of art, or creative project that glorifies the Lord
Send a card or note of encour-agement to a priest or a member of a religious com-munity
Pray for an increase in religious voca-tions
Ask for for-giveness from someone that you have wronged.
Not just Friday. Have an additional meatless day one week dur-ing Lent.
Pray for some-one preparing for First Com-munion or Confirmation
Light a candle at church and pray for someone in your life.
Volunteer some of your time to help at church, school, or home
Clean up a mess that somebody else made (without complaining)
Memorize a prayer that you don’t already know by heart
Surprise someone by doing a task or chore that they normally do.
Donate a bag of things that are still nice but that you don’t use
Pray the rosary (or even just a decade) as a family
Thank some-one who has been a good influence in you life
Read a reli-gious book individually or as a family
Listen to reli-gious music while doing a task you have been putting off.
Attend the STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Pray for world political and religious leaders
Make hot cross buns
Learn more about a saint the your family is unfamiliar with
Do something healthy to take care of the body God gave you
Clear you mind of other things and sit quietly with God
Do Some-thing to help Earth
Go to Adora-tion, even if it’s just for a little while
Pray for the Pope
Watch a reli-gious movie together as a family.
Give up sweets and other snacks for a day.
Read one book of the Bible
Do a foot washing with your family members
Attend a Holy Week Mass
Mission of Love 2020!
We have a special challenge for you!
Help Provide Needed Teaching Materi-
als for School!
Suzi Zins’ 5th grade class has been chal-lenged to be creative and design a message of love that can be sent to San Lucas. They are asking for your help to raise money for the children of San Lucas. For every donated $2.00 a San Lu-cas child will receive corn, rice, & School supplies. Money from last years donations helped purchase 30 classroom computers. Thank you for your support! Please put your donation in an enve-lope marked San Lucas Mission of Love Donation to be given to Suzi Zins, Peg Olsem, Offering plate, or Nico Doom in the church office. Thank you for being a part of the Mission of Love Project!
9
Up Close With the Saint For March
Continued on page 11
March 2nd’s is Saint Agnes of Bohemia’s
Agnes had no children of her own but was certainly life-giving for
all who knew her.
Agnes was the daughter of Queen Constance and King Ottokar I of
Bohemia. She was betrothed to the Duke of Silesia, who died
three years later. As she grew up, she decided she wanted to enter
the religious life.
After declining marriages to King Henry VII of Germany and King
Henry III of England, Agnes was faced with a proposal from Freder-
ick II, the Holy Roman Emperor. She appealed to Pope Gregory IX
for help. The pope was persuasive; Frederick magnanimously said
that he could not be offended if Agnes preferred the King of Heav-
en to him.
After Agnes built a hospital for the poor and a residence for the
friars, she financed the construction of a Poor Clare monastery in
Prague. In 1236, she and seven other noblewomen entered this
monastery. Saint Clare sent five sisters from San Damiano to join
them, and wrote Agnes four letters advising her on the beauty of
her vocation and her duties as abbess.
Agnes became known for prayer, obedience and mortification.
Papal pressure forced her to accept her election as abbess, never-
theless, the title she preferred was “senior sister.” Her position
did not prevent her from cooking for the other sisters and mending
the clothes of lep-
ers. The sisters
found her kind but
very strict regard-
ing the observance
of poverty; she
declined her royal
brother’s offer to set up an endowment for the monastery.
Devotion to Agnes arose soon after her death on March 6, 1282.
She was canonized in 1989.
Reflection
Agnes spent at least 45 years in a Poor Clare monastery. Such a
life requires a great deal of patience and charity. The temptation
to selfishness certainly didn’t vanish when Agnes walked into the
monastery. It is perhaps easy for us to think that cloistered nuns
“have it made” regarding holiness. Their route is the same as ours:
gradual exchange of our standards—inclinations to selfishness—
for God’s standard of generosity.
Pope Francis: The world needs Catholics who go out, proclaim Jesus (catholicnewsagency.com)
Vatican City, Feb 2, 2020 / 06:20 am (CNA).- Pope Francis spoke Sunday about the need for Catholics to be active in going out to announce the faith of Jesus Christ to the world.
“The world needs Christians who let themselves be moved, who never tire of walking the streets of life, to bring everyone the consoling word of Jesus,” he said Feb. 2 in his Angelus address.
“Every baptized person has received the vocation to proclaim,” he added “– to proclaim something, to proclaim Jesus – the vocation to the evangelizing mis-sion: to proclaim Jesus!”
For the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s Gospel passage, which speaks of Joseph and Mary bringing the child Jesus to be consecrated in the temple, where they encoun-tered the holy Simeon and Anna.
These men and women “represent models of wel-come and giving of their life to God,” he said. “These four were not the same, they were all different, but they all sought God and allowed themselves to be guided by the Lord.”
The Gospel describes them as having attitudes of movement and amazement, he said.
According to the pope, “in this way the four protago-nists of the Gospel passage show us that Christian life requires dynamism and requires willingness to walk, letting oneself be guided by the Holy Spirit.”
“Paralysis does not suit Christian witness and the mis-sion of the Church.”
He advised parishes and other communities in the Church “to encourage the commitment of young peo-ple, families and the elderly, so that everyone can have a Christian experience, living the life and mission of the Church as protagonists.”
The pictorial directories are here. If you paid for your directory, you may pick them up in the office. If you just have an 8 x 10 photo, you may pick it up at the office. If you did not pay for your directory, you need to go to Studio Z to get it. We do have more directories, so if you didn't order one and you would like one, they are available at Studio Z or you may pur-chase one at the church office. The cost is $20. Thank you to all who par-ticipated in the St. Gabriel Church directory project!
St. Gabriel’s Classifieds
Presentations on St. Oscar Romero
This year, as prepare to celebrate the Feast of St. Oscar Romero
of El Salvador and the 40th anniversary of his death, please join
the social concerns Committee of the Diocese of Winona/
Rochester and Catholic Charities of Southern MN in welcoming
Marta Portillo, a catechist who worked with Archbishop Romero in
the 1970s. She will sharing with us great insight into this saint, who
he was what he stood for, and her experiences of being in ministry
in El Salvador during those turbulent times.
Presentations are planned for: Wed. Mar 4th - 6:15 p.m. The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist-Rochester; Mon. Mar 9th - 7 p.m. Our Lady of Good Counsel-Mankato; Wed. Mar 11th 7 p.m.-The Church of St. Leo-Pipestone; Sun. Mar 15th - 2 p.m. The church of St. Joseph-Owatonna; Fri. Mar 20th-7p.m. The Church of St. John of Vianney-Fairmont; Sat. Mar 21st - 10 a.m. The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart-Winona.
The ANNUAL CATHOLIC DIOCESAN APPEAL is once again here.
Please prayerfully consider your donation. Thank you!
The Murray County Historical Society is hosting a …
Brownie Bake-Off Fundraiser!
To Enter Your Brownies! Contact the Murray County Museum to sign up
your best brownie recipe to be entered into the competition.
Competitors pay a $20.00 entrance fee.
Brownies will be judged based on: Appearance, Texture, and Flavor.
Winner will receive a $30.00 cash prize and a
“brownie” gift bag! Competitors must register by March 24. To register
stop into the Murray County museum or call 507-836-6533.
To Taste the Brownies! The tasting will be held on March 28 at the
Dinehart Holt House in Slayton.
Cost is $5.00 for a scoop of vanilla ice-cream and a sample of each of the brownies en-tered.
Each plate will come with a score card so
you can decide which of the brownies is your favorite.
The brownies will also be scored by a panel
of local judges!
Bring your appetite!
11
Pope Francis: God acts in the midst of our trials and failures(Vaticannew.va) Continued from page 9
In his address, Pope Francis also spoke about amaze-ment. He said, “the ability to be amazed at the things around us promotes religious experience and makes encounter with the Lord fruitful.”
The inability to be amazed, on the other hand, can make people indifferent, he added.
“May the Virgin Mary help us to contemplate the gift of God for us every day in Jesus, and to let ourselves be involved by him in the movement of the gift, with joyful amazement, so that our whole life may be-come a praise to God in the service of our brothers,” he prayed.
After the Angelus, the pope noted the Church in Ita-ly’s celebration of the Day for Life, with the theme, “open the doors to life.”
Francis said he joins the Italian bishops in hoping the
day will be an opportunity to remember “to guard and protect human life from the beginning until its natural end.”
He also added that it is “necessary to combat any form of violation of dignity, even when technology or the economy is at stake, opening the doors to new forms of responsible fraternity.”
Speaking about the celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life, also celebrated Feb. 2, the pope led those in St. Peter’s Square in praying a Hail Mary for consecrated men and women, who, he said, “do a lot of work and many times in secret.”
This day “recalls the great treasure in the Church of those who follow the Lord closely by professing the evangelical counsels,” he stated.
Check out our St. Ga-
briel Church Face-
book page for more
photos & videos of
the recent activities
WELCOME VISITORS! We offer classes on "Faith Formation" during the school year for students in grades K-12. We encourage you to peruse through the many resources in the South entrance of the Church. There are a variety of good books; CD's and pam-phlets that will help you to better understand the TRUE teachings of the Catholic Church. We welcome you ... and we welcome your questions!
Theology on Tap
Franciscan Spirituality St. Clare & St. Francis
With Fr. Pratap, OFM
Our area parish roots are found in the Franciscan
Spirituality of St. Francis & St. Clare. Fr. Pratap
(Pastor of the Catholic parishes in Windom, Heron
Lake & Brewster) will present the Franciscan Spirit-
