Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — December 2022

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Holy Family Area

Sydney Hedman

REFLECTS ON THE JOYS OF PRACTICING THE FAITH IN COLLEGE

When Sydney Hedman was visiting schools in her senior year of high school, the University of Mary (UMary) in Bismarck felt right. She knew she wanted a college with small class sizes relatively close to home.

“UMary has this ‘feeling’ about it that I cannot really explain, but I just felt like this is where I am supposed to be,” she says.

Sydney is currently a junior study ing social work. When she first visited campus, she was impressed by the social work program and the small class sizes. If all goes as planned, she will graduatein December 2023. In addition, Sydney works as a nanny and at the on-campus bookstore — she finds both of those jobs very fulfilling.

Although Bismarck is a bit of a trek from home, and the winter can be brutal, Sydney truly loves UMary. Several things stand out about the university, including the view of the Missouri River.

“Campus overlooks the Missouri River, which is gorgeous with all the fall colors,” she says. “The sunsets here are unlike any I have ever seen.”

She also appreciates the professors and how much they take care of students. Mental health and self-care are just as important to them as schoolwork.

“They are all truly incredible at what they do and always make sure that we are doing okay,” Sydney says.

But the number-one benefit of the school is being immersed in the Catholic faith. The chapel, where Sydney attends Mass, is just down the hall from her dorm room. She appreciates the openness to the faith and the access to faith-based opportunities. UMary also does not have classes at 10 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during Mass to encourage attendance.

The kindness of others on campus has made an impact

Sydney Hedman attends the University of Mary in Bismarck.

“This Is Where I’m Supposed to Be”

STEWARDSHIP AND HOSPITALITY for the

Advent and Christmas Seasons

We’re in the midst of the Advent season, with Christmas on the way. You’ve extended invitations, planned the menu, and decorated your home. You are ready to be hospitable. But what does it really mean to live the stewardship of hospitality?

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 4: 8-11, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever.”

When we read Peter’s words, we see that hospitality is more than good manners. We see that hospitality is part of what it means to be a faithful steward. So, during the hustle and bustle of Advent and Christmas, how can we be hospitable?

Open your home to strangers:

The holidays can be an especially painful time for people. This year, do something about it. If you’re already expecting strangers, welcome them warmly. Decide

Be truly cheerful:

When you open your home for the holidays, you may be a happy host, but are you a cheerful one? Believe it or not, there’s a difference. A happy person feels happiness. A cheerful person causes happiness.

Use your gifts to serve:

Hosting and serving go together. You bake the turkey, pour the drinks, and slice the pie. To some degree, this is expected and normal. What’s not normal is for a host to truly serve — to look for the needs in others and the gifts in themselves and find even a small way to help.

Give God glory:

When family, friends and strangers enter your home, it’s an opportunity for them to see Christ in you. You never know what’s going on behind the scenes in people’s lives or how much an encounter like this might mean to them. So when you welcome and serve your guests, remember that your ultimate goal is to give God glory.

Advent and Christmas give us the opportunity to reflect on Jesus’ call to live as stewards and

“...Hospitality is part of what it means to be a faithful steward. So, during the hustle and bustle of Advent and Christmas, how can we be hospitable?”

UNWRAPPING THE GIFT OF Stewardship

Most people associate stewardship with giving. Some think it is a desperate plea for money. Some think of it as giving of their time, talent, and treasure to a worthy cause. Still, others think of stewardship as a single, noble gesture of generosity so common this time of year.

But I have come to understand stewardship as a way of life rather than a singular act, donation, or the answer to a plea for resources. It is a lifestyle that focuses on giving back a portion of the gifts I have received from God, which brings abundant joy and blessings in return.

At Christmas, when gift-giving and receiving is so common, couldn’t it also be the time when stewardship as a way of life is unwrapped in each of our lives and shared with others? After all, the gift of the first Christmas was the gift of God’s own Son, whom He shared with all of humanity with love and joy.

A stewardship conversion changes our mindset and the catalyst for stewardship is gratitude. As we recognize that all we have is a gift from God, it lights up our gratitude, as if it were a giant Christmas tree with too many lights to count. All we can do is look at it with wonder and awe and be grateful for what we see, what we have, and the opportunity to give back

something to God. It is more than just a “holiday stewardship,” which seems so common at this time of year. It is at the core of this way of life, and once that gift is unwrapped our conversion takes hold, and our lives transform into a life of faithful stewardship and active discipleship intended by our God.

My hope and prayer for you and your family are that each and all of you be blessed during this season of God’s grace, unwrapping the gift of stewardship in your lives, and finding the joy and peace of His gift during this season of grace and all year long.

Sincerely yours in Christ, Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

My Dear Friends in Christ,

Pastor

Meet Kristy

ASSISTANT FAITH FORMATION

Living the Faith Daily and Striving to Provide

Aparishioner of St. Andrew Parish for 38 years, Kristy Rasmusson has truly enjoyed being an active member of the parish community.

“I started volunteering as a catechist and became more involved playing guitar and song leading for Mass, and as an extraordinary min ister of Holy Communion, sacristan, with CCW and decorating the church, and as Assistant Faith Formation Coordinator,” she says.

Kristy became a Faith Formation site coordiner last year, after receiving a call from Ann Voller, Holy Family Area Faith Formation Coordinator. Having previous experience as Director of Religious Education at St. Andrew, Kristy had some familiarity with how the office would run.

“I have enjoyed getting to know our catechists and students,” she says. “My role is to support our teachers by copying, setting up supplies, substitute teaching if and when needed, helping with youth group nights, setting up, leading group prayer, and gathering attendance.”

This past July, Kristy added a new role to her respon sibilities in the community — serving as Assistant Faith Formation Coordinator.

“Again, I was called by Ann to see if I was interest

ed,” Kristy says. “I had just retired from 30 years at YME, so this part-time job appealed to me. My primary role is to assist Ann for the three parishes by provid ing administrative duties for the Faith Formation and Youth Ministry programs.”

One of her favorite aspects of the job is meeting new people in our community, particularly from other par ishes. She also enjoys the opportunity to work with our youth and develop relationships with them.

“Working with our youth and developing

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Kristy Rasmusson has been a parishioner of St. Andrew for 38 years. She and her husband, Scott, have been married 41 years and have four daughters (pictured).

“Faith, family, treasures and talents are all gifts from God. I believe He only asks that I share all of these gifts with others. There is no other way to instill stewardship belief to my children than to be an example.” — Kristy Rasmusson

Rasmusson,

FORMATION COORDINATOR

Provide a Strong Stewardship Example

relationships with them and helping them build their relationship with God is so important and rewarding,” she says. “I get to be a part of that!”

Kristy and her husband, Scott, have been married for 41 years and are blessed with four daughters and seven grandchildren. Kristy was baptized and raised in a Catholic family with parents who taught her the impor tance of giving her time and talents. She began serving at a young age in the church choir and helped with various church dinners and breakfasts.

“I try to live out my faith daily, starting my day with coffee, Scripture, prayer, and meditation,” she says. “I started this about eight years ago and it is the best way to start my day. Living out my faith is more about build ing my relationship with God in prayer and being aware of the needs around me that I am capable of meeting.”

Stewardship is very important to Kristy, who says God has blessed her and her family.

“It is only right to make my faith a priority and a necessity in my life,” she says. “Faith, family, treasures, and talents are all gifts from God. I believe He only asks that I share all of these gifts with others. There is no other way to instill stewardship belief in my chil dren than to be an example.”

SYDNEY HEDMAN REFLECTS ON THE

JOYS OF PRACTICING

THE FAITH IN COLLEGE continued from front cover

on Sydney. People genuinely care about one another.

“It is very rare for you to pass a person walking on campus and for them not to say ‘hello’ or tell you to have a good day,” she says.

Sydney would recommend others consider Catholic universities and colleges. It’s been an excellent fit for her.

“Being at UMary and the professors have shown me that I can do anything I set my mind to,” she says. “I would 100 percent recommend UMary. Listen to your heart because when you step onto the campus God has intended for you, you will know right away.”

“Listen to your heart because when you step onto the campus God has intended for you, you will know right away.”

— Sydney Hedman

A Christmas Craft:

Serving Others and Spreading Holiday Joy

The Christmas season brings joy and excitement to every one, from children to the elderly. As Christmas music cheerfully fills the air, we prepare our hearts and our homes for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. As we take part in many different activities this sea son — from Christmas concerts to caroling, shopping and wrapping presents, decorating, and attending holiday parties — Christmas is a very busy time of the year. How ever, the spirit of generosity is a significant part of the Christmas season. It is a time when we pause and are thankful for all that we have and we are filled with a desire to share our blessings with others. For the children in the Faith For mation program at St. James, their service project has become a fun tradition for about 10 years.

Catholic United Financial sup ports and funds this service project

for the students. Each year, the stu dents make a craft project to bring a little Christmas joy to the residents at a local nursing home.

“We have done cards, ornaments, and door hangers," says Cindy Staab, a member of Catholic United Fi nancial who organizes this service project each year. "Usually it is some thing a little simpler for the younger grades and a little more complex for the older kids.

“The kids just really have a lot of fun with this project," she adds. "Some of them may have family members at the nursing home, so that makes it even more special. They enjoy the arts and crafts and they enjoy knowing that they are doing something for someone else. It is a really special project to be a part of."

This year, the project will consist of making small angel ornaments. The children make between 50-60

ornaments and Cindy delivers them to the Johnson Memorial Health Ser vices Care Center in Dawson, Minn.

“They will get placed on their meal trays or passed out to them," Cindy says. "We always get a 'thank you' from the activities department. Many of the residents don’t have family close by. They really appre ciate the project, especially coming from children. They really seem to bond with young people."

Taking time to serve others during this special season that our Lord came to Earth to save us from sin and death is an important honor that we can give to Him. This service project is one way that the children take time to serve others, especially serving those who can give them nothing in return.

“The children really get a taste of what it is to volunteer for someone else — to do something to brighten their day,” Cindy says.

THE ORIGIN AND

OF THE NATIVITY SCENE

With all the commercialism surrounding Christmastime, it’s far too easy for us to lose sight of the true reason behind the season. Overwhelmed by our endless to-do lists and the hustle and bustle of last-minute shopping, our focus quickly shifts away from the Christ Child’s birth. And yet, hidden amongst the holly wreaths and garlands, the Christmas Nativity remains a tangible reminder of the Incarnation, pulling us back into time for a moment as we reflect upon the incredible gift of Christ’s birth.

Interestingly, it was circumstances much like our own today which first led St. Francis of Assisi to recre ate the Nativity scene nearly 800 years ago. Frustrated

BEAUTY

with the growing materialism and greed that seemed to pervade 13th-century Italy, St. Francis wanted a way to visually remind people of Christ’s humble beginnings — to show them that Christmas isn’t about pomp and circumstance or material goods, but rather about unself ish love. Describing the idea to his friend Giovanni, St. Francis wrote, “I want to do something that will recall the memory of that child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger...”

And so St. Francis’ idea took form on Christmas Eve in 1223. This original Nativity scene was a living one, even including live animals. Villagers were deeply

Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth.

continued on back cover

512 Black Oak Ave. Montevideo, MN 56265

www.holyfamilyarea.org

CHRISTMAS EVE MASS:

4 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

4 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

6 p.m. — St. James, Dawson

9 p.m. — Spanish - St. Joseph, Montevideo

CHRISTMAS DAY MASS: 9:30 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

CONFESSION TIMES: 30 minutes before daily Mass

Sunday

8 a.m. — St. James, Dawson

Saturday

9:30 - 10:30 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

4:15 - 4:50 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

COMMUNAL PENANCE

SERVICE:

Sunday December 18th

3 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

THE ORIGIN AND BEAUTY OF THE NATIVITY SCENE

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moved by the silent display of humble beauty, and the Nativity tradition soon spread throughout Italy and surrounding Europe. It is a tradition that remains today in nearly every Christian church and in many homes. In fact, it’s hard to imagine Christmas without a Nativity scene somewhere.

Coming in various sizes and styles, each Nativity replica continues to focus our hearts on the true meaning of Christmas — to help us remember that Christmas isn’t about the amount of gifts under the tree or the festive decorations, but rather about celebrating Christ’s birth. Many families have a tradition of hiding the Infant Jesus, only placing Him in the crib on Christmas morning. This helps build anticipation during the Advent season as we anxiously await the Divine’s birth. Others go a step further, actually wrapping up the Christ Child to be opened as the very first gift of Christmas.

Yet, whatever your family’s particular traditions, we hope that the Christmas Nativity continues to draw your heart heavenward this Christmas season — to center us all on the greatest gift ever given, our Incarnate Lord.