Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — Jan 2023

CATHOLIC

COMMUNITY

Holy Family Area

MEET PARISHIONER ANNE MARIE HALVORSON

Joyfully Embracing the Catholic Faith

Anne Marie Halvorson didn’t have any significant event that caused her to stop practicing the Catholic faith — she just stopped attending Mass, being involved, giving, and praying. She grew up in a devout Catholic home, raised her two boys in the Church, and was married to her husband, Larry, at St. Joseph’s. But, once her two boys were out of the house, she fell out of her habits. She looked around at other churches and spent many years feeling like something was missing.

“I had a longing and an emptiness,” she says. “The first thing I missed was receiving the Eucharist.”

After about 10 years of being away, she went to church and knelt down and prayed, asking God to help her find the way back. She relied on the words in the Gospel of Matthew — “Whatever you ask for in prayer, you will receive it if you have faith.” Her prayer was answered relatively quickly.

“Fr. Paul met me to hear my confession,” she says. “He prayed over me, and I felt like I belonged. That is how quickly it happened. There was no crash of thunder or anything.”

Anne Marie says she blames “Satan” along with her own general “laziness” as the reason why she fell away from the Church.

“That whole time, everything was going my way,” she says.

Since coming back to the faith, Anne Marie’s faith and stewardship have grown.

“I didn’t feel the need to go to Mass. The big part of it was that I was relying on myself — not realizing without God, I am nothing. I can do nothing.”

Anne Marie has been back for about two years. She was so happy to see the familiar faces when she returned.

“I looked around and saw so many people I knew,” she says. “They were here the whole time. Why did I leave?”

Since coming back to the faith, Anne Marie’s faith and stewardship have grown. She serves on St. Joseph’s Administrative Council and the Stewardship Committee. She also leads the Rosary before Mass, is a member of the Seven Sisters Apostolate, and is on the Prayer Chain Meal Train. She gets involved wherever she can. Anne Marie even brings her faith to her

career as a dental hygienist.

“Now, I try searching for others who are hurting,” she says. “I try to be bold about it and not be ashamed because Jesus saved me. I am not afraid to say, ‘Let me pray for you.’”

Overall, Anne Marie has endless gratitude that she is back to attending Mass. She’s very thankful to everyone in the Holy Family Area Catholic Community.

“I am thankful to be back — to be home,” she says. “I have so much gratitude to God and the Blessed Mother — she takes care of us.”

Anne Marie and Larry have two sons, one daughter-in-law, and two grandsons. In her free time, Anne Marie loves to read, garden, run, work out, cook and host people. She and Larry also love to travel.

A NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

It is a new year, and it is my prayer for all of you — and for me, as well — that we can take new steps on our faith journeys and seek new ways to live out discipleship and stewardship.

Pope Francis once commented on his perspective of our modern approach to life. He said, “Certainly, possessions, money, and power can give a momentary thrill, the illusion of being happy, but they end up possessing us and making us always want more, never satisfied. I have learned that the most important thing is to put on Christ in your life, place your trust in Him, and you will never be disappointed.”

The pope has been called “the world’s parish priest.” As we pray for one another in this New Year, may we all ask the Lord to help us appreciate Pope Francis’ approach to life, his simple way of seeing things, and his very basic way of appreciating things. I would hope that we see this year as a time for opportunity, a time to deepen our relationship to Christ, and for that matter to one another.

If we wish to change our lives and the lives of others, there are two easy ways to do it. We are blessed with many opportunities in our parishes to pray, but as much as we need to take advantage of those, we also need to develop a strong personal prayer life. Recall the young Samuel, who was not quite sure what to do with his life, or what direction to go. When he finally settled on that one important prayer, “Speak, Lord, for I am listening,”

Samuel gave us the hint as to what we need to do. Prayer is a two-way street, and part of that is taking the time to listen to God.

The second important way is to exude joy. Christ certainly called us to do that. Pope Francis has had much to say about joy, as well. The Holy Father says, “Joy cannot be held at heel; it must be let go. Joy is a pilgrim virtue. It is a gift that walks — walks on the path of life, that walks with Jesus… proclaiming joy, lengthens and widens that path.” We must seek that joy by following Christ whole-heartedly and then we can share it. That is truly our call. Joy translates quite easily into “love your neighbor.”

Yes, there may be challenges ahead in 2023, but we must focus on the opportunities, and then exert the effort to benefit from those opportunities. Happy New Year!

yours in Christ,

Sincerely

Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

My Dear Friends in Christ,

Our Pastor

The Eucharist

OUR ANNUAL

Thanking God for the

You have to take care of yourself before you can take care of those you love. This rationale is difficult for many of us to accept. Mothers and fathers routinely place the needs of their children before their own; soldiers at war often throw their own safety to the wind in the interest of protecting their fellow soldiers. The story of Jesus also focuses on giving to others. If Christ calls us to imitate Him – to become completely selfless – then it would seem that focusing on ourselves might counteract our efforts as Christians.

Nevertheless, as we enter into our annual Stewardship Renewal, Fr. Paul Timmerman is asking us all to focus a bit more on ourselves. No, he’s not encouraging self-centeredness; he’s asking us to examine our own lives and determine the areas that are in need of growth. Before the stewardship way of life can totally transform the Holy Family Area, it must begin in each of our hearts. As each individual’s spiritual life blossoms and grows, so will our community as a whole. Will you plant the seed of stewardship in your own heart?

How do I use my Commitment Card?

Your commitment card allows you to make commitments to prayer, parish ministries, and offertory giving. It is designed to be used by the whole family.

Time Section: Except for the ill and homebound, everyone should be able to check “Come to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days.” Try to check at least a few other items. Daily prayer should be a priority for every person trying to grow closer to God.

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES (continued) SERVICE (continued)

of Catholic Women

St. Andrew

Decorating Committee

St. Andrew

STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL

St. James

St. Joseph

Funeral Luncheon Volunteer

the Blessings He has Bestowed on Us

Hispanic Ministry

St. Andrew

St. James

St. Joseph

St. Joseph

Knights of Columbus

St. Andrew

St. James

St. Joseph

Maintenance Committee

St. Andrew

St. James

St. Joseph

Is your prayer life in need of a tune-up?

Meal Train

Talent Section: You can either sign up for new ministries or re-commit to your current ministries. Be sure to write your first name next to the ministry! This is especially important if the card is being used by more than one person. Treasure Section: Clearly print how much money you plan to give each week or month to your parish. Try to take a step toward giving five percent of your income to your parish.

St. Andrew

St. James

St. Joseph

Money Counters

Parish Volunteer Ministry

Special Event Volunteer

Stewardship Committee Do you have a talent not listed that you would like to share (some examples: cooking, organizing, photography, carpentry, gardening)?

HOLY FAMILY AREA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

Honestly ask yourself, “How much time do I spend in prayer each week?” The answer is probably a bit embarrassing. Everyone wants to spend more time in prayer, but there’s just never enough time to do everything we want to do. Good intentions are just that: intentions. This year, as you’re discerning how you will offer your time to God, resolve to follow through with your commitments. Consider each moment you spend in prayer as nourishment for your soul and your parish. The spiritual health of your parish is only as strong as the sum of its parts (individual parishioners).

512 Black Oak Ave. | Montevideo, MN 56265 320-269-5954 | www.holyfamilyarea.org

Is your level of involvement in need of a boost?

We give our talents back to God when we get involved in our parishes. And, with a host of ministries to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Sure, ministries give parishioners opportunities to serve others in the community, but they also benefit those in the ministry itself. Ask anyone who actively participates in a ministry, “Why do you enjoy serving in this way?” They’ll probably say, “I get more out of the ministry than the people I serve.” This year, as you’re discerning how you will offer your talents to God, considering signing up for a ministry that may benefit you, like a Bible study, prayer group, or retreat. Or, contribute to an outreach ministry where your good deeds not only help others in the community, but also give you feelings of satisfaction and thankfulness.

Do you give a percentage of your income to the offertory?

It may be hard to see offertory giving as a way to “help yourself,” but when we approach the subject from a spiritual viewpoint, it can lead to individual spiritual growth and an increase in faith. Even the savviest businessperson worries about his or her personal finances from time to time. Adding a weekly offertory check to the list of monthly bills may seem crazy but, ultimately, sacrificial giving forces us to cut unnecessary spending, create a budget and have faith that God will help us make it through the month. All of these are good things for each of us, individually. After faithfully giving to the offertory for a few months, many Catholics find that it’s not only possible to give a weekly offering, but that the fruits of their gift far outweigh the expense.

In the Holy Family Area, we ask that you give five percent to your parish, one percent to the diocese, and four percent to other charities. Why a percentage of income? First, because the tithe (10 percent) is a scriptural benchmark that the Church has honored for centuries (see Malachi 3:10). Secondly, we give a percentage of income because it is a common-sense standard by which everyone can equitably support the parish. Most of all, we give because we believe God comes first in everything, even finances.

HOSPITALITY EXTENDS TO OUR FAMILY AT HOME AND IN OUR PARISH

As Catholics, we are members of two very important family units. First, there are our own families, which consist of our spouses and children. And as a parish community, we are members of a larger “family of faith,” along with our clergy and fellow parishioners. Of course, both types of units share in the Catholic faith, as we gather to celebrate Mass each Sunday.

Yet, all does not appear to be well. The modern media unfortunately seems to place a heavy emphasis on the destruction of both types of family units. Indeed, every day, we are bombarded with disconcerting stories about the various issues that threaten the vital bonds of the family — divorce, abuse, gay marriage, and abortion, just to name a few. At the same time, the “families of faith” in our own parishes have also been threatened by several issues, from scandals and mismanagement of resources to drops in Mass attendance.

All of these threats and issues most certainly promote a hostile environment for today’s American Catholics. In turn, we may feel that there is little we can do to counter the negativity that is so pervasive within our country towards those practicing the Catholic faith.

The good news is that finding the solution to such seemingly insurmountable problems often begins in the most simple and basic of places — at home. In this particular case, it begins in two homes — that of our own family, and in the parish home of our “family of faith.”

Certainly, we would like visitors in our own homes to feel welcome, whether they are extended family, familiar friends, or new acquaintances. Therefore, we do whatever we can to make these visitors feel appreciated — we might prepare a homemade meal for our guests, or serve them a fresh cup of coffee, all while we initiate a friendly and insightful conversation.

Of course, this effort to make visitors to our home feel welcome is a wonderful example of providing Hospitality, the first of the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship.

So, if we consider our other family unit — the “family of faith” in our own parish — the same can be applied to those entering our church for worship and fellowship. Whether we try to get to know some of the familiar faces we see at church each Sunday, reach out to someone new to the community, or extend a warm welcome to those visiting our parish, we are following Jesus’ example of hospitality at its most foundational and engaging level.

Of course, while hospitality serves to enhance worship and fellowship for the entire parish family, it also impacts our community on a day-today basis. If we foster a welcoming environment in our parish home and present the many opportunities to minister and serve, involvement will only increase throughout the community! Therefore, if hospitality continues to flourish throughout the parish and its many ministries, so will the stewardship way of life!

While hospitality serves to enhance worship and fellowship for the entire parish family, it also impacts our community on a day-to-day basis. If we foster a welcoming environment in our parish home and present the many opportunities to minister and serve, involvement will only increase throughout the community! Therefore, if hospitality continues to flourish throughout the parish and its many ministries, so will the stewardship way of life!

The Role of Faith in Raising a Family MEET PARISHIONER NANCY AUS:

As Nancy Aus thinks back to her early years with her husband, Carl, she recalls moments of faith across the decades. Nancy and Carl met at Wheaton High School and they became good friends with each other. While he was Catholic, Nancy was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. But the difference in faith was never an issue for them.

“When we married after two years of college, we still didn’t fuss over the difference in our religion,” Nancy says.

After marrying, Nancy and Carl moved into an apartment in Wheaton, above the bakery Carl’s father owned. Carl worked for his dad, but two years later in 1957, a banker in Granite Falls told Carl and his father that a bakery was for sale in Granite Falls.

“We thought it was a perfect spot for us and since we had a baby girl by then, we realized we needed our own

bakery,” Nancy says. “The town is beautiful with the Minnesota River running along the main street. There were many nice churches in town and Carl immediately joined St. Andrew Catholic Church.”

Nancy admired Carl’s dedication to the parish, and eventually when she was expecting their third child, decided she would join the Church with him. She has been a member of the parish ever since.

The Aus family continued to grow in the years that followed. By 1965, Carl and Nancy had welcomed eight children under the age of 10.

“They were quite the crew,” Nancy says. “We took them to church with us and were proud of our children’s behavior.”

For many years, Nancy taught religion classes and served as a lector at Mass. She joined the choir as well, where she remembers singing in the loft of the church.

Nancy Aus with one of her grandchildren

continued on back cover

Nancy Aus and family

Nancy Aus and her late husband, Carl, celebrating their 50th anniversary

512 Black Oak Ave. Montevideo, MN 56265

www.holyfamilyarea.org

MASS TIMES: Sunday

8:30 a.m. — St. James, Dawson

10:30 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

Tuesday

5 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

Wednesday

5 p.m. — St. James, Dawson Thursday

5:30 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

Friday

10 a.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

Saturday

5:00 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

7:00 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo (Spanish)

CONFESSION TIMES:

30 minutes before daily Mass

Sunday

8 a.m. — St. James, Dawson

Saturday

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

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

MEET PARISHIONER NANCY AUS

continued from page 7

“I was a good member of the church and enjoyed it,” she says. In 1979, Nancy and Carl welcomed another child, just five months after their grandson was born. Three more grandchildren came soon after, so in Nancy’s words, their littlest one “did not have to grow up as an only child.” Their large family has always been close. Nancy says when people asked how she managed with so many children, she “prayed a lot and tried to keep a good sense of humor.” Carl passed away in 2010, and they lost their first daughter, as well as a son and grandson through the years. Her faith helped her during these difficult times.

“My love for Jesus and our church has been a great help through these losses,” says Nancy, who has 27 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren (with two more on the way).

Nancy remains proud of her large family, seeing them grow and accept faith as their own.

“It was always our greatest joy to see them grow up with a beautiful faith, marry wonderful spouses and raise their children knowing God,” she says. “St. Andrew of Granite Falls is like home to me and I thank God for my faith — God has been very good to me.”