ST. JA M E S
ST. ANDRE W
ST. J OS E PH
Holy Family Area CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
THE PRAYER INTERCESSOR MINISTRY
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Lifting Our Youth to God
any of us may be familiar with the poem known as Footprints, where the narrator sees footprints in the sand — one set for them and one for Jesus. When asked why there is only one set at the most difficult times, Jesus says, “It was then that I carried you.” Rich Schneider compares the Prayer Intercessor Ministry to this poem. He’s spent the last year praying for a Confirmation student and wrote letters to the student throughout the past year. “I think it’s important that young people realize that people are looking out for them,” Rich says. “It doesn’t mean we can remove the obstacles. We will help you get through it.” Just as a Confirmation sponsor is there for the confirmand, the intercessor is there, albeit in a less visible way — through prayer. We may not immediately see the fruits of this prayer. But we can rest assured that God will bless the person who is being prayed for, daily. The intercessor will also be blessed. “This prayer ministry is really important now when we don’t see a lot of people,” Rich says. “I consider this to be a major tenet of our faith. We can’t just be praying for our own needs, but also praying for others.”
The 2021 Confirmation students with Fr. Paul Timmerman — each student had someone praying from them as they prepared for Confirmation.
As Rich points out, this is a simple thing we can do for those in our community. Our youth, especially, are under a lot of pressure. Our prayers for them let them know they are cared for. And as Catholics, we unite in
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Stewardship
DON’T TAKE A VACATION FROM STEWARDSHIP THIS SUMMER
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veryone deserves a vacation. After nine busy months of school, kids get to enjoy the summer to relax and regroup before beginning a new grade. Employees, after diligently working long hours and dealing with stressful situations, deserve time away from the office to enjoy their favorite getaway. No one would argue that we need to mentally refresh our minds and bodies from time to time so that we can come back rejuvenated and ready to do our best. Taking a break from some things, however, is not a possibility. Take stewardship, for example. Imagine saying to yourself, “Well, this month I think I will not pray, I won’t share any of my talents with anyone in need, and I will hoard my treasure.” What would doing this accomplish? You certainly wouldn’t feel refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to be at your best. Instead, feelings of greed, selfishness and spiritual unrest may occur. Stepping back from being a good steward just doesn’t make sense. So, now that summer has arrived in full force and our leisure time each day has increased, how can we remain good stewards? It is likely that the regimented opportunities available during the school year are no longer available. Faith Formation classes are on summer break. So, where do you turn? How can you keep your faith alive? First and foremost, don’t stop praying. The slow-paced days of summer are a perfect time to quiet ourselves for a few moments and try to reconnect with God. Why not take a moment of your free time each day to read the Gospel or a spiritual reflection while lounging in a hammock?
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Next, try to participate in an outreach program over the summer. Think of the life of Christ — everything He did on Earth was an act of service. Now, think of the gifts God has bestowed on you. He wants you to share them with others like He did, and summer gives us the time to do just that. If you like working with kids, you can volunteer at Totus Tuus or Vacation Bible School by helping to decorate, organize or being a team leader for the younger children. If you are handy with tools, you may call Habitat for Humanity to see how you can help build a home for a family in need. Or, if you are musically inclined, you might share your singing or instrumental gifts with a local nursing home. Maybe you are good in the kitchen — if so, you could offer your culinary skills to a local soup kitchen or food shelf. If you are a strong student, you could offer tutoring services to neighborhood kids to help prepare them for the next school year. No matter what gift God has given you, there is a way to share it. Getting paid for volunteering sometimes happens. And, if you have a summer job while on break, you’ll get a paycheck for sure. Have you ever taken an opportunity to think about sharing the first fruits of your check? As a young adult, returning a portion of your paycheck to God is an important thing to consider. Giving a portion back to Him is a way to say “thanks.” Whatever you do this summer, don’t take a break from being a good steward. Remember that the time God gives you is a gift. What you do with it — whether on vacation or not — is meant to give Him glory.
A Letter From Our Pastor
Redefining Love
THROUGH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
My Dear Friends in Christ,
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ne of the great feasts of the Christian year will occur in June, but it is often overlooked. It doesn’t fall on a Sunday, and it isn’t a Holy Day of Obligation. I am referring to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which will be on June 11 this year. This wonderful feast provides a great way to begin the summer. However, despite widespread devotion and many parish dedications to the Sacred Heart, many Catholics have only a vague idea of what it’s all about. So, let me try to briefly fill in the picture. Often, when we think of the heart, we think of it as the seat of our emotions and feelings. The heart is often contrasted with the mind, as though our God-given reason were somehow evil or, at best, second-rate. But feelings come and go — we can’t really depend on our emotions to be reliable, steady guides. However, when classical theology refers to the heart, it is considering an aspect of human life that goes beyond our feelings. It includes our will, where we make decisions. The heart can be considered the center of our personhood. In explaining Christian teaching about human nature, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one’s being, where the person decides for or against God” (368). It is common to mistakenly label love as an emotion. Love often includes feelings, but true love is more than that. Real love is a settled attitude that wants the best for the person being loved. That’s why the Church’s teaching usually uses the term “charity” — to distinguish the Christian virtue from the more superficial popular concept of love. The Catechism tells us, “Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own ‘to the end,’ he makes manifest the Father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive” (CCC, 1822-1823). This sort of love, this charity — demonstrated by Jesus Christ and commanded to His followers — is
no lightweight passing emotion. Feelings alone do not bring one to offer oneself to an agonizing death for the sake of someone else. No, that sort of sacrifice can only come from a considered and deliberate decision. Although we sometimes forget that fact, Jesus is fully human as well as fully divine. So, His human heart was involved in His sacrifice on the Cross. Thus, simply put, devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us of the basic fact that God loves us. It was a costly love, the ultimate act of charity, to give His life on our behalf. We know the kind of love Jesus has for us. What kind of loving response are you going to make? How will that affect your use of your time, talent and treasure? Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor
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MEET NEWLY CONFIRMED
n many Scripture passages, like 1 Timothy 4:12 — “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity” — we are told to expect great things from our youth. Indeed, it is often in the vibrant faith life of some of our youngest parishioners that we can find inspiration. In April, the Holy Family Area Catholic Community was blessed to witness so many of our high school students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. With the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit conferred on them through this sacrament, these young people are sure to bring abundant blessings to our parish communities! St. James parishioner Mason Epeneter was one of the students confirmed two months ago. Like his peers, this 17-year-old junior at Dawson-Boyd High School had spent two years preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. During that time, the teens learned a lot about Church teachings and their own personal faith journeys. In addition to attending Faith Formation classes, they were asked to write essays about their desire to be confirmed and their selection of a patron saint. They also participated in faith sharing with their sponsors, mentorship within the Church, and service hours. Mason found the service aspect of Confirmation preparation to be particularly rewarding. “I helped give meals around town for the hospital and I also helped my grandparents,” he says. “I helped a family friend who was handicapped, led the Rosary before Mass, and helped with the fish fry. The service projects gave me a sense of understanding of other people’s situations. It helps us not to judge others as harshly, and to be more helpful and generous in general.” In at least one case, a Confirmation service project led to a longer commitment — Mason enjoyed leading the Rosary before Mass on Sundays so much that he continues to do so even now that his required service hours are complete. Mason also appreciated the opportunity to deepen his faith through conversations with his
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St. James parishioner Mason Epeneter received the Sacrament of Confirmation in April.
Confirmation sponsor, Joann Evjen. He chose Joann as his sponsor because she is a family friend and was his ninth-grade catechist. Mason has been greatly inspired by Joann’s strong faith and her willingness to help guide him through the Confirmation process. In keeping with the tradition of choosing a patron saint at the time of his Confirmation, Mason selected St. Thomas More, the patron saint of politicians. Mason, who is already active in local politics and hopes to continue to pursue this passion, is sure to find occasion to call upon this saint often in the future. Mason is currently serving as the ViceChairman of the Lac qui Parle County Republican Party and is running for the position of ViceChairman of Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District Republican Party. In all he does — both in the political sphere and
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Our Youth Are the Future of the Church the classrooms of his high school — Mason turns to his Catholic faith as a guide. “One of the main challenges of being a teenager today is the peer pressure, whether it be from friends or the media,” he says. “It helps to attend Mass weekly and to go to Reconciliation on a regular basis. I would encourage teens to choose your faith first. You can have a million different friends and a million different opportunities, but there is only one God.” Now that he has completed the Sacraments of Initiation, Mason looks forward to an active future in
the Church. “I plan on continuing to go to Mass, of course,” he says. “Being in politics, I’ll definitely speak to being pro-life and help with that issue. Then after college, I hope to help out in whatever parish I’m in.” With a strong foundation in the faith and a commitment to active discipleship, Mason’s future is sure to be bright. We are thankful for all of our newly confirmed youth in the Holy Family Area Catholic Community and look forward to watching them continue to grow as enthusiastic disciples of Christ!
“One of the main challenges of being a teenager today is the peer pressure, whether it be from friends or the media. It helps to attend Mass weekly and to go to Reconciliation on a regular basis. I would encourage teens to choose your faith first. You can have a million different friends and a million different opportunities, but there is only one God.” — MASON EPENETER
THE PRAYER INTERCESSOR MINISTRY continued from front cover
prayer for one another. Rich says the Prayer Intercessor Ministry is similar to the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass — we pray for those in our community, country, and world. Rich thought this ministry would be a great fit, as he is a familiar face, serving as superintendent at Yellow Medicine East. He also can fit this ministry in his schedule. “I can start my day in prayer,” he says. “I can find
time on the weekends and spend a little extra time in prayer for someone else. This is a good way to spend my extra time.” The beauty of this ministry is the intercessor does not need to know the student for whom they are praying. In that way, it’s truly a selfless ministry. “I get as much or more out of it than the student,” Rich says. “It’s changing me and reminding me that I should not focus on self-pity, but think of others first.”
Ministry members are also needed to pray for the Faith Formation classes. If you would like to get involved in the Prayer Intercessor Ministry, contact Ann Voller 320-226-5205 or sjocoordinator@holyfamilyarea.org.
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TECHNOLOGY THAT KEEPS US CONNECTED TO OUR FAITH: There’s an App for That!
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et the Church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved and forgiven.” These words from Pope Francis weren’t delivered during a homily in St. Peter’s or in a speech from St. Peter’s Square — nor were they written in a papal bull or apostolic letter. Rather, they were delivered in an instant to millions of Catholics around the world through the pope’s very own Twitter account. The technology of communication has perhaps changed more in the past century than in the previous 20 combined. And with these developments, the Catholic Church — led by our Holy Fathers, from Pope St. John Paul II through Pope Francis — strongly encourages that the faithful adopt and adapt these resources for the all-important task of spreading the Gospel throughout the whole world. Just as St. Paul used every convenience at his disposal to spread the Gospel throughout the far reaches of the Roman empire, today’s evangelists are using every resource available to them. Examples of Catholic figures using the new media with great success abound. Only a few months into his pontificate, Pope Francis took the Vatican’s social media efforts to a whole new level. In spring 2013, the Vatican released The Pope App, which featured quotes, news, images and videos of all the Holy Father’s latest doings. Having since been relaunched as the Vatican News App, it continues to offer the latest news and information from
Pope Francis and the Holy See. Following the pope’s lead, bishops, priests and apologists have taken the technological gifts at their fingertips and are utilizing them to spread the Gospel throughout the world in a variety of ways. One great example is Bishop Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, whose Word On Fire Ministry has produced wildly popular YouTube videos discussing everything from controversial Church teachings to movie reviews from a Catholic perspective. Word On Fire also released the critically acclaimed Catholicism DVD documentary series. Independent Catholic bloggers and Web-based media are also widely established and provide their audiences and readership with Catholic news and cultural commentary. Throughout America, parishes, Catholic schools, dioceses, and even the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops are utilizing these tools as well, creating first-rate websites, maintaining Twitter and Facebook accounts, and more. All of these resources are geared toward a wide variety of audiences, from the un-churched and fallen-away Catholics to active parishioners. Being knowledgeable of the new media tools available to us as Catholics is a great way to be more effective in our universal call to evangelization. Take some time to see what media resources our parish and diocese are using, and be sure to pass them along to those in your sphere of influence!
EMBRACING THE GIFTS OF
Sacramental Preparation
Catechist Rachel Weiss Reflects on How “Children Remind You to Live in Your Soul”
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achel Weiss had taught sacramental preparation and in Catholic schools for years, and when she and her family moved to the area, she missed that part of her life. “I knew I wanted to be active at St. Joseph’s when we joined in 2014,” Rachel says. “I wanted to be a good steward of my time and talent. My husband, Jeff, and I have two children, Blake, 9, and Olivia, 5, and I have always put a high priority on religious education and teaching by example.” Following this call to stewardship, Rachel became involved in sacramental preparation at St. Joseph, and on April 25, 2021, her students received their First Holy Communion. “Witnessing young children receive Jesus reiterates what the Holy Eucharist is,” Rachel says. “It is Jesus Christ, His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is a beautiful sacrament and a joyous day for the whole parish family.” Beginning in September 2020, her class met every Sunday for an hour and 15 minutes until April.
“During a typical year, we learn in class together with an interactive curriculum and have family centers,” Rachel says. “Families are usually invited in, and we have parent meetings. Children also practice with our priest to help them prepare for the big day.” Of course, this past year was a little different as Rachel and the other catechists were navigating the challenges of offering faith formation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In some ways, parents were asked to live their vocation as catechists to their children. “I think most of the families took this responsibility seriously,” Rachel says. “The parents are the primary role in their child’s spiritual learning and development, and just bringing your child to Mass every weekend is extremely important.” Faith community members are always welcome to discern becoming catechists. Rachel admits that you don’t have to “have all the answers” because you can always refer to the Catechism. “We’re always looking for people of faith who are willing to support others as they grow in their faith,” continued on back cover
Celebrating First Holy Communion with Fr. Paul Timmerman
Rachel Weiss leading a review game for the students preparing for the sacrament of First Holy Communion
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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. Andrew, Granite Falls 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 6:30 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo with elements of Spanish
CONFESSION TIMES: 30 minutes before daily Mass Sunday 8 a.m. — St. James, Dawson
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Saturday 9:30 - 10 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo 5:45 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION continued from page 7
Rachel says. “We have a great support system among the catechists too.” For Rachel, teaching others about the faith is the best way to learn and grow on her own faith journey. “When you instruct others, you grow,” Rachel says. “I am growing into the role of a catechist. It has allowed me to grow in my knowledge of the faith. I learned all these concepts as a child, but now as an adult, I have a deeper understanding and am eager to pass that on.” Today, more than ever, we need to share the Good News, and teaching the next generation the faith might be the most important thing we ever do. “Children are so eager, and they remind you to live in your soul,” Rachel says. “They remind you to live in the moment. They give you renewed energy and get you enthused about simple things. Sometimes, adults really need that. I know I do.”
If you are interested in becoming a catechist at one of our parishes, please contact Ann Voller at 320-226-5205 or sjocoordinator@holyfamilyarea.org.
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