PRAYER & WORSHIP · Loretta Smith e n M ¬ar nel Larr Liepold Kim Leopold nida reli Õiosa, matrimonio u los Marl us Olson Dae . ar J. John R. Jean H. Elaine T. Ronda K. Dianne .

Sacred Heart Church | 321 9th Street, P.O. Box 377, Heron Lake, MN 56137 | Sunday Mass: 8:00 am Sacred Heart Church | 516 10th Street, P.O. Box 187, Brewster, MN 56119 | Saturday Mass: 5:00 pm

St. Francis Xavier Church | 532 17th Street, P.O. Box 39, Windom, MN 56101 | Sunday Mass: 10:00 am

Readings: Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17; Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

“‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.’” 725 kilometers. That’s the distance on modern roads from Bethlehem to Cairo. Assuming one covered 40km a day on foot — ambitious for two young parents and their infant son — the journey would take well over two weeks. Of course, the Holy Family didn’t have modern roads. They would travel through wilderness, fear bandits, run low on water, and cross the vast Sinai Peninsula in a reverse of their forefathers in Exodus. Here, in struggle and sacrifice, are the beginnings of the forging of the Holy Family.

“Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod.” Large Jewish communities existed in most major cities of the ancient Mediter-ranean world, after the collapse of their kingdoms chronicled in the Old Testament, and Joseph could likely find work as a carpenter. All the same, today’s Gospel reminds us that the first formational years of Jesus as a babe-in-arms were spent in a strange land. The members of the Holy Family were foreigners, outsiders, immigrants.

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God took on our humanity. He is in solidarity with our own trials and difficulties. On the feast of the Holy Family, we honor the special place of the family within society. We are invited, too, to recall those families who share in the struggles of the Holy Family in a particular way. We pray for immigrants, asylum seekers, and refugees. We pray for all parents who sacrifice their own well-being and comfort so their children may have a better life. ©LPi

WELCOME!

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS: DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 5, 2019

NEXT WEEKEND’S READINGS:

Isaiah 60:1-6 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6

Matthew 2:1-12

Solemnity of Mary Vigil

Tuesday 6:00pm Windom +Dorothy Becker

Solemnity of Mary Wednesday 8:00am Heron Lake +Leonard T. Leopold

9:30am Brewster +Laurie Haberman

Thursday 9:00am Brewster +Linda Ruehle

Friday 9:30am Sogge Home +Ed Grunewald

Saturday 5:00pm Brewster +Sylvester & Loralie Schmitz

Sunday 8:00am Heron Lake +Leonard & Viola Liepold

10:00am Windom +Clara Bartosh

SACRED HEART HERON LAKE

SACRED HEART BREWSTER

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER WINDOM

DECEMBER 29, 2019 | THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, & JOSEPH

Weekly Gospel Meditation

PARISH PRIEST Fr. Pratap Reddy Salibindla, 548 17th St., P. O. Box 39, Windom, MN 56101 Cell: 507-226-4536 E-mail: [email protected]

BREWSTER OFFICE: Loretta Smith: Office Administrator Phone: 507-842-5584 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30AM-4:30PM E-Mail: [email protected] Dawn Murphy: FF Coordinator

HERON LAKE OFFICE: Carmen Rasche: Office Administrator Phone: 507-793-2357 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30AM-4:00PM E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://sacredheartheronlake.org Judy Stenzel: FF Coordinator E-mail: [email protected] WINDOM OFFICE: Pat Spencer: Office Administrator Phone: 507-831-1985 Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00AM–3:00PM E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sfxwindom.org Katelin Brown: FF Coordinator E-mail: [email protected]

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.

PRAYER & WORSHIP

SACRAMENTAL LIFE

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VOCATION VIEW: The priests, brothers, and sisters of the new centu-ry 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)

MARRIAGE PREPARATION: Contact the priest 6 to 12 months in ad-vance 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 chil-dren, who would be willing to volunteer to help prepare our en-gaged couples for marriage. Please contact Fr. Pratap at 507-226-4536, or your parish office, if interested.

BAPTISM PREPARATION: Contact the parish office a month in ad-vance to fill out the form and to attend Baptism Mentoring Sessions. All Baptisms will be celebrated during weekend Masses.

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION will be offered beginning at 4:30PM before Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Brewster, and by appointment at Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake and Saint Francis Xavier in Windom.

YOU ARE INVITED TO PRAY THE ROSARY: At Sacred Heart Church (Brewster) on Thursday mornings 8:40 AM & Saturdays 4:40 PM; At St. Francis Xavier on Sundays at 9:30AM; At Sacred Heart (Heron Lake) before Sunday Mass and prior to 9:30 AM Wednesday Mass at Lakeview Assisted Living.

CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL: Your generosity to the CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL of 2019 is so greatly appreciated! Please make your annual donation before the December 31st deadline. Thank you for your giving spirit!

Franciscan Mission Collection to-tals for the Tri-parish:

SH Brewster: $260 SH Heron Lake: $258 SFX Windom: $548 Total: $1066

Thank you for your generosity!

LITURGICAL LIFE

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LITURGICAL ROLES– JANUARY 4 & 5

ROLE BREWSTER Saturday | 5:00 pm

HERON LAKE Sunday | 8:00 am

WINDOM Sunday | 10:00 pm

Servers Kaiden Haberman Mason Haberman

Matthew Madsen Thomas Bartosh

Lydia Fossing Olivia Fossing Trey LaCanne

Lectors Melonie Haberman Loretta Smith

Larry Liepold Jeremy Bartosh

Candy Riordan Tom Riordan

Cantor Suz Iverson Katelin Brown

Gifts Larry Schmitz Denise Schmitz

Brian Ferguson Rhonda Ferguson

Orville Cook Virginia Cook

Eucharistic Ministers

Ed Smith Loretta Smith Bev McCarvel

Larry Liepold Kim Leopold Marlys Olson

Dave B. Barb J. John R. Jean H. Elaine T. Ronda K. Dianne B.

Ushers

Larry Schmitz Derek Schmitz

Dennis Damm Rhonda Damm Jeremy Janssen Katie Janssen

Rod Theesfeld Jackie Jurgens Joan Schafer Jean Hoppe

Greeters Brian Ferguson

Rhonda Ferguson Margaret Juhnke Marie Soto

Contribution Stewards

Ed Smith Tony Haberman Melonie Haberman

Marty Henkels Cathy Henkels Jason Freking Tracy Freking

Rosary Bibi Spartz Cleo Miranowski Mary Benson

STEWARDSHIP THE CATHOLIC MINISTRIES APPEAL 2019

Parish Goal $ Received From # of Parishioners

SFX-W $15,700 $8,266 #44

SH-HL $11,000 $11,000 #33

SH-B $5,970 $3,960 #20

CHURCH SUPPORT Category Brewster Heron Lake Windom

Week 25/52

YTD $30,275 $68,178 $56,595

Budget $78,850

Total

MEDITACIÓN DEL EVANGÉLIO – ALENTAR UN ENTENDIMIENTO MÁS PROFUNDO DE LA ESCRITUR

La Sagrada Familia 29 de diciembre de 2019

Seguimos en Navidad y hoy la Liturgia hace hincapié en la im-portancia de la familia. La familia siempre ha sido vivero de es-peranza y alegría por el amor de los esposos y el cuidado que deben brindar a sus hijos. La fa-milia, es una pequeña comunidad que inicia en la oración y vocación cristiana. Es desde ahí que la semilla nace para el sacerdocio, la vida religiosa, matrimonio y los hombres y mujeres laicos com-prometidos que sirven a la Iglesia y en la sociedad. Los consejos que se dan en las lecturas de hoy son luz que debe iluminar el hogar y debemos practicarlos durante el año. El libro de Sirácide dice así: “El Señor honra al padre en los hi-jos y respalda la autoridad de la madre sobre la prole.” San Pablo lo resume de la siguiente manera: “Que en sus corazones reine la paz de Cristo, esa paz a la que han sido llamados, como miembros de un solo cuerpo.” En el Evangelio se ve el cómo actúa José y María para proteger a su hijo: “‘Levántate, toma al niño y a su madre, y huye a Egipto.’”

Consejos del Papa Francisco para la familia: "A los recién casados les doy siempre este consejo: 'Reñid lo que queráis. Si vuelan los platos, dejadlos. Pero nunca acabéis el día sin hacer las paces. ¡Nunca!'” "Para hacer las paces no hace fal-ta llamar a Naciones Unidas, que venga a casa a hacer la paz. Basta un gesto pequeño, una caricia: 'Bueno, adiós, hasta mañana'. Y mañana se comienza de nuevo”. ¿Qué te anima de estos consejos? ¿Qué harás por tu familia ac-tualmente? ©LPi

INSIDE OUR PARISHES

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WINDOM

BREWSTER FAITH FORMATION CLAS-SES will not meet on December 25th, or January 1st, but will re-sume on January 8th. On January 8th, there will be a children's Mass. Parents, please try to at-tend. This is an important part of your child's Faith Formation pro-gram.

THE FAITH FORMATION CHIL-DREN are collecting gloves, socks, mittens and scarves for those who are in need. They would appreci-ate the help from our parishion-ers. Please bring your items and put then in the basket at the en-trance of the church.

SACRED HEART FINANCE COUNCIL will meet on Tuesday, January 7th at 6:00pm.

THE PASTORAL COUNCIL will also meet on Tuesday, January 7th at 7:00pm.

THE JANUARY ISSUES of the Courier and the Word Among Us are available at the entrances of the church. Please take a copy home.

THE FINANCE COUNCIL will meet afterward, at 8:00 PM.

THE SERVICE COMMISSION of Family Concerns is vacant. If you’re interested in filling this position within your CCW please contact Dianne Freking for de-tails. We are also looking for someone to chair the Funeral Care Committee. Please consid-er volunteering. Thank you.

A FUN DAY planning meeting will be held in the Church Hall at 6:30 PM on Monday, January 6th, for anyone interested in helping plan this annual CCW event. Guild Chairs and Co-Chairs please attend. Fun Day will be held on Sunday, February 16th.

CHURCH CLEANING will take place the week of January 6 – 11, 2020. Church will be open from 8:00am to 7:00pm and a list of duties will be in the kitchen, along with cleaning supplies. Please cross off the item as com-pleted and sign your name and time worked. Bring a bucket and rags; let’s get our church spaces back in clean order! This is a big job and we need everyone to do their part, so come as you are able.

COFFEE & ROLLS will be served in the Church Hall after Mass on Sunday, December 29th. Every-one is invited to come celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. Our hosts are Dennis and Rhonda Damm, Tom and Melanie Krumbach.

THANK YOU to all who have so generously donated to the Sa-cred Heart Foundation in 2019 and previous years. Your contin-ued support has enabled the par-ish to make beautiful enhance-ments to our renovation.

FAITH FORMATION CLASSES will not be held on December 25th, December 29th, or January 1st due to Christmas break.

A SIGNUP SHEET FOR 2020 Coffee and Rolls is available on the table in the Church hall. Please consider volunteering.

BEGINNING IN JANUARY, our weekly offering will be counted following 10 am Mass. There is a signup sheet in the Church entry for anyone interested in helping. If you are currently a Steward, we still need you to sign up. Ques-tions, please call the office.

IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE who is ill of injured and would like to be added to our prayers, please let Pat know.

ALSO, THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to our Catholic Ministries Appeal this year. It is greatly appreciated.

COFFEE & ROLLS will be served next Sunday, January 5th. Our hosts will be Tim and Sharon Jen-niges. Everyone is welcome to join in the fellowship.

THE NEW LITURGICAL MINIS-TERS LIST is available in the Church entrances. PLEASE, if you are listed and are not able to be here, find a substitute or let Ronda or Vicky know ahead of time. Thank you!

THE JANUARY LIVING FAITH DEVOTIONS and “the WORD among us” books are also availa-ble in the Church entrances.

FAITH FORMATION’S new email address: [email protected] HERON LAKE

FAITH FORMATION classes will not be held December 25th or 29th, and January 1st, due to Christmas break. Happy Holi-days!

YOUR JANUARY issue of The Courier is available at the en-trance of the church. Please pick it up.

PASTORAL COUNCIL meeting will be held in the Rectory on Tuesday, January 14th, at 7:00 PM.

THANK YOU to everyone who made a donation towards the Christmas flowers. A list will be included with next week’s bulle-tin.

NOTES FOR ALL PARISHES

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RESPECT LIFE: Upcoming Events Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020: Sanctity of Human Life Sunday Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020: MCCL March for Life (MN Citizens Con-cerned for Life) at State Capitol in St. Paul. Details to follow. Friday, Jan. 24: March for Life in Washington, DC. See www.marchforlife.org for information. Please keep these events in your hearts and prayers.

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2019 must be received by Sunday, Decem-ber 29th, to be included for this tax year. ALL contributions received after December 29, 2019, will be reported with 2020 giving state-ments. Please plan accordingly.

JOIN US FOR THE Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop series on Tuesday afternoons from 1-3:30 p.m., beginning January 21, 2020. This six-week workshop series helps caregivers develop skills and confidence to better care for themselves, while caring for a loved one. Weekly topics include identifying and reducing stress, com-municating in challenging situations, dealing with guilt, anger and depression and mastering care giving decisions. The workshop has been shown to improve self-care behaviors, management of emo-tions, confidence in managing your situation and use of community resources. The free workshop series will be at Bethlehem Lutheran Church (401 7th Avenue N, Lakefield, MN). To register by Jan 13th, contact Diana Madsen at 507-459-0426 or email [email protected]. Register today, space is limited!

CHECK THIS LINK for options and programs for paying for assisted living, nursing homes, etc. https://www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/paying-for-assisted-living.html The link is also available on our page: www.sfxwindom.org

HE IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD! The celebration of the birth of Christ is global, and EWTN brings you special programming through-out the season. Experience Mass in Italy at the Vatican, enjoy con-certs from Europe, and visit sacred sites in the Holy Land. Enrich your faith: tune into EWTN this Christmas season! Visit ewtn.com for

more programming details.

REMEMBER TO CHECK THE BACK PAGE of our Bulletin when you are looking for a special service or product. And remember to thank our advertisers when you see them.

Tri Parish Prayer Intentions: How can our parish pray for YOU? Contact your parish coordinator with your intentions.

• For those who have left the Church • Mary Parent-Klukas • Nate Vorthems • Lenny Thiner • Mark Elmer • Freddy Adame • Lorraine Anderson • Rod Theesfeld • Jim Salentiny • Cindy Reid • For the souls in purgatory • Expecting mothers and their babies • For the sick and suffering

SOLEMNITY OF MARY HOLY DAY MASSES IN TRI PARISH

Solemnity of Mary Vigil: Tuesday, December 31st

Saint Francis Xavier of Windom 6:00pm

Solemnity of Mary: Wednesday, January 1st

Sacred Heart of Heron Lake 8:00am

Sacred Heart of Brewster 9:30am