ST. JA M E S
ST. ANDRE W
ST. J OS E PH
Holy Family Area CATHOLIC COMMUNITY
A LOOK AT OUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DRIVE-THRU FISH FRYS Keeping a Favorite Lenten Tradition Going
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When this sign is out, everyone knows that a great fish dinner is at hand!
omething like the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t going to stop the St. Joseph Knights of Columbus from holding their Lenten fish frys. This year, the Knights have made the fish frys a drive-thru event. This is the fourth year that St. Joseph 1551 Council of the Knights of Columbus has held fish frys for the community. Kevin Lonneman was one of the original founders of the dinners, and he and several fellow Knights continue to coordinate the events today. “Last year we got it in time just before the shutdown,” Kevin says. Offering the fish frys as drive-thru events has not deterred customers, however. During the March 5 fish fry this year, the Knights served more than 300 meals at $10 each. The menu is consistent with popular fish fry offerings, such as fried fish, baked potato, coleslaw, and a dessert. A second fish fry was held on March 26 that served approximately 270 people. While the drive-thru fish frys have proved a successful way to continue the event during the pandemic, it has not been possible to offer delivery or to take phone orders. The entire Knights council has turned out to help prepare the meals in a finely tuned assembly-line fashion. The fish is fried in a trailer that is equipped with three deep fryers. The Knights prepare everything except the coleslaw, and the desserts are pre-made Rice Krispie treats provided by a local company. Preparing so many fish in a single day would be a tall order for most, but continued on page 5
MAY 2021
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THE BIBLE
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The Textbook of Stewardship
ave you ever wished that life came with an instruction manual? What a valuable resource that would be! Whenever you find yourself running in circles, this instruction manual would give you step-by-step instructions on how to fix the problem and reroute your course. Well, here’s some good news. For those living a Christian life, there is such a manual — the Bible. Sometimes referred to as the “textbook of stewardship,” the Bible is a bountiful resource for the present-day Christian. Written by anointed prophets and sages, this collection of divinely inspired parables, poems and letters is full of testimonials that express the blessings that come from true discipleship, conveyed through lives of stewardship. Stewardship is not a new concept. The Bible gives proof to this claim through passages such as the 26th chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy. We read Moses’ words, as he tells the Israelites to offer the choicest portions of their harvest to God: “When you have come into the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you as a heritage, and have taken possession and settled in it, you shall take some first fruits of the various products of the soil which you harvest from the land the LORD, your God, is giving you; put them in a basket and go to the place which the LORD, your God, will choose as the dwelling place for his name… ‘Now, therefore, I have brought the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, LORD, have given me.’ You shall set them before the LORD, your God, and you shall bow down before the LORD, your God” (Dt 26:1-2, 10). St. Paul briefly touches on the essence of stewardship when he said, “In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and
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keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). Again, in St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, we read about living a life of Christian stewardship: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:6-7). While this is well and good, what does it mean for the present-day Christian? Why should it matter that the Bible alludes to stewardship in various passages? It shows us that Christians and Jews have struggled with and benefited from the concept of stewardship for thousands of years. It ties the message of stewardship to the role of a Christian disciple. It gives proof that stewardship and discipleship go hand-in-hand. It offers encouragement to us, that stewardship is in fact a foundational component of the Christian life, a way of life that one of the founding fathers of the Church — St. Paul — preached about and advocated. The Bible is indeed the textbook of stewardship. It lays out the steps we must take to become true disciples of Christ. Reading and meditating upon God’s Word is always a fruitful exercise. Those who regularly delve into Scripture often develop a deeper understanding of Who God is, how and why He loves us, and how we can show Him our love in return. As you strive to become a grateful steward and live the life of Christian discipleship, develop a love for Sacred Scripture. Allow God’s Word to nourish your soul regularly, and watch as stewardship changes from a foreign concept to an integral component of your daily life.
A Letter From Our Pastor
PENTECOST: The “Birth” of Stewardship My Dear Friends in Christ,
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s we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on May 23, which is one of the most significant events in the life of the Church, I can’t help but relate the outpouring of the gift of the Holy Spirit upon the first disciples as “the birth of stewardship.” As stewardship parishes, we have come to understand it in our personal lives and our parish life as the work of the Holy Spirit, active and inspiring us to be the disciples Jesus called us to be, just as He did those very first disciples. It just makes sense to once again realize and acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in our decisions to be authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. As every parent knows, birth brings new life to every family, and the “birth of stewardship” here in our parishes has brought new life to us, personally and communally, and continues to do so. We had a “Pentecost event” when the message of stewardship was first brought to our parishes, and it hasn’t been the same since. Many curious people of our parishes and from around the country ask the question, “How did all of this begin?” The only answer is, “moved by conversion, we knew stewardship was going to be the ‘plan’ for our future as disciples and as a parish family.” It makes sense. For some, like me, it took a conversion of sorts to move us from unbelievers to believers, and from fear or suspicion to courage and confidence in the values and ideals of stewardship. Reading the accounts of the Acts of the Apostles, it wasn’t much different for them. Their experience is our experience and continues to encourage us to be open to the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. That “Spirit” renews the “Pentecost event” in each of us, as we practice discipleship as we know it through the stewardship way of life. Also, as with each new birth, the life that begins needs to be nourished, nurtured and loved. Through our understanding of the four pillars of parish stewardship — hospitality, prayer, formation and service — we each are called to nourish, nurture and love our parish family with the gifts we bring to each other. And without ever really knowing how much of an impact we have on each other’s spiritual lives, we trust the Holy Spirit to continue the “good work of faithful stewardship” in each of us and to those
around us. Isn’t that what the first Pentecost event started, and isn’t that what you see in our parish, especially since our own “birth of stewardship”? God has blessed our parish family and continues to do so, as the Holy Spirit continues to pour out gifts upon us and send us forth to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. As we grow and mature in our stewardship efforts, how fortunate we are that the stewardship way of life has become our way of life. May we always give thanks to God for the Holy Spirit’s gift to each of us — for, when we do, it seems only natural to be inspired to live discipleship as it was intended to be lived in the first disciples and in each of us. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor
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EUCHARISTIC A Adoration at St. James Parish in Dawson
s Claire Weimann was growing up in a small town in Kansas, her parents showed her what — or rather, who — was most important in life, and how to keep Him first forever. “My parents were in charge of the adoration program at our parish,” Claire says. “As a child, I was taught to start with a written prayer at the beginning of adoration, to get myself in a mode to adore Jesus, and then let my heart go from there.” The seeds of devotion to the Holy Eucharist that her parents planted in her young soul began to grow in a profound way when she was a college student. “Nick and I both went to Benedictine College in Kansas, and we met through a ministry program which coordinates all of the liturgical events on campus, including adoration,” Claire says. “Once we started dating, we made a Holy Hour of adoration together each week. Adoration is something very near and dear to both of our hearts.” Recently, they began to come to fruition in the midst of our parish family as well. “Soon after Nick and I joined Holy Family Area last August, Fr. Paul Timmerman approached us and asked if we would be willing to help get adoration started at our parish because he saw that it was needed,” Claire says. “We said ‘yes’ and we are now coordinating it. I am taking on my family’s tradition.” Nick and Claire are passionate about promoting Eucharistic Adoration because they know the extraordinary graces that it can bring into the life of a parish family. “Adoration brings a sense of peace to a parish, and fosters a real sense of devotion to Christ,” Claire says. “It renews one’s faith and helps them to pray better. Adora-
“Adoration brings a sense of peace to a parish, and fosters a real sense of devotion to Christ. It renews one’s faith and helps them to pray better. Adoration is especially important in this day and age because it allows you to shut off the world for a little bit, and focus on Our Lord, who calls us to be in the world but not of the world. It allows you just to be quiet for a while, which is something the world does not allow at all, because there is always a TV show going on or something.” — CLAIRE WEIMANN 4
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ADORATION:
The Best Time You Will Spend on Earth tion is especially important in this day and age because it allows you to shut off the world for a little bit, and focus on Our Lord, who calls us to be in the world but not of the world. It allows you just to be quiet for a while which is something the world does not allow at all because there is always a TV show going on or something.” For those who are not sure about how to pray during adoration, Claire has some helpful words of wisdom to share.
“Adoration is time to be with Our Lord and experience His presence in an intimate way,” Claire says. “Having the monstrance there gives you something to focus on. When I come to adoration, I like to start off by praying a decade of the Rosary or a full Rosary, and then I pray in silence. I bring a journal with me so I can write down my prayers, or I just talk to God without writing anything down.”
If you would like more information about how to adore Our Lord through this beautiful ministry, please contact Claire Weimann at 785-657-0088 or at nicholasweimann@gmail.com. Presently, St. James Parish is planning to offer adoration on one Sunday per month, from 2 to 4 p.m., though the schedule is subject to change. St. Andrew Parish is currently offering adoration on most Tuesdays, 3-5 p.m. and St. Joseph Parish is offering adoration on Thursdays, 4:15-10 p.m.
Drive-Thru Fish Frys our Knights get the job done so that all who support the fish frys can enjoy a great meal. “It’s a little struggle to fry that amount of fish in a two-hour period,” Kevin says, citing the serving time of 5-7 p.m. The camaraderie and stewardship of the Knights Council working the fish frys extends to their families, with spouses and children also helping out. Young parishioners who are preparing for Confirmation have been able to earn service hours by helping, as well. “It’s a whole community effort for the church,” Kevin says. The St. Joseph 1551 Council is already looking forward to offering the fish frys next year, with great hopes that our community will enjoy the efforts of the Knights of Columbus on behalf of our parish.
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Knights of Columbus members and their families help with packing the fish fry dinners.
Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to men at least 18 years of age who are practicing Catholics. If you would like more information, or are interested in joining, please visit www.kofc.org. 5 5
THE MAY CROWNING
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Celebrating the Coronation of Mary
or many Catholics, May Crownings of statues or icons of the Blessed Mother have become rites of spring. Like flowers blooming or Mother’s Day, this annual Marian devotion reminds us that the cold of winter is behind us, and it ushers in a month during which the Catholic Church pays special homage to Mary as the Queen of Heaven and Mother of God. Generally taking place during the first weekend of the month, May Crownings bring children — often, recent First Communicants — out in their Sunday best to participate in processions and adorn statues of the Blessed Mother with crowns of flowers or actual gold crowns. Additionally, the children often place roses at her feet, and Catholics carry out similar practices in their homes by placing roses around statues of the Blessed Virgin, or even adding ornamentation to images of Mary. But where did this practice come from, and how did it develop into the tradition that we currently know and love? The Coronation of Mary had been a popular subject in European art and literature for centuries, but the tradition of the May Crowning can be most accurately traced back to the late 16 th century. Perhaps inspired by the practice of adding ornamentation to
Marian icons that had been carried out by some Eastern churches, Pope Clement VIII added two crowns to the icon of Mary with the Infant Jesus in the St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The crowns were eventually lost, but were replaced by Gregory XVI in 1837 in a rite that was to become the standard practice for crowning. While the May Crowning is not an official liturgical celebration on the Church calendar, it is an important practice in honoring Mary as the Queen of the Universe, and its imagery is especially influential in the faith formation of children. As Liz Kelly writes in May Crowning, Mass, and Merton and Other Reasons I Love Being Catholic, “One of the defining aspects of being Catholic is devotion to Mary. I favor no Marian celebration more highly than May Crowning, the feast that recognizes Mary as queen of heaven and earth. To a person of any age, this is a mighty big title, but to a child of five or six or seven, it expands to enchanting, magical proportions. How many queens does one get a chance to meet in a lifetime, much less crown?” This year, make a special effort to honor the coronation of Mary through participation in a personal or public May Crowning devotion.
Bring Flowers of the Rarest Bring flow’rs of the fairest, Bring flow’rs of the rarest, From garden and woodland And hillside and vale; Our full hearts are swelling, Our glad voices telling The praise of the loveliest Rose of the vale.
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O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May, O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today, Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.
THE PRAYER MINISTRY:
Drawing Closer to the Lord in Our Faith Communit y and Beyond
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ome of us have busy schedules that don’t allow much time for church ministry. Others may not be able to leave their homes, so volunteering at church is tough. But we all have time and space to pray. So, the Prayer Ministry is accessible to all! Patrice Schulte has led the Prayer Ministry at St. Andrew for several years. In turn, Fr. Paul Timmerman would like to see this ministry started at St. James as well. “Scripture says, ‘Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be,’” Patrice says. “This is one way that I can commit myself to what is good and right. It’s easy to get distracted by so many things in this life.” Currently, 29 people from St. Andrew Parish receive an email or text when someone needs prayers. Fr. Paul also receives the requests so he can pray for the requests and stay up-to-date. Each month, Patrice also sends an email with all those who continue to need prayers and any updates she has on people. She adds a reminder to pray for the pope, priests, religious, and our country. Also, she reminds people to pray for our parish’s “Shepherds in the Field,” the two priests from the diocese for whom we are specifically asked to pray. When it comes to the Stewardship of Time — prayer — Patrice emphasizes that this is something in which we can all participate. Also, this ministry is a beautiful way to show hospitality to parishioners and all those for whom we are praying. “This ministry has drawn me closer to the Lord and to the people of our parish,” Patrice says. “It helps us all realize that there is a lot of support here at St. Andrew.” The ability to continue this ministry at home has been even more important in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, with strict limitations on group gatherings
Patrice Schulte enjoys making a difference at St. Andrew through the Prayer Ministry.
in communities across the country. In turn, people have had more time to pray because they are at home more. What better time to be praying for people than during a global pandemic! Patrice says, overwhelmingly, members enjoy this ministry. Many feel they have grown in faith through being involved. “This ministry draws us all together in something we have in common — Christ,” Patrice says. “This ministry is one act of service.” Being a woman of prayer, Patrice has many examples of prayers she has prayed for people and others that she prays daily. She recently emailed everyone on the Prayer Ministry list the prayer called A Perfect Resignation, by St. Joseph Pignatelli. She thinks this prayer is one of many that so perfectly represents this important ministry: “My God, I do not know what must come to me tocontinued on back cover
“This ministry has drawn me closer to the Lord and to the people of our parish. It helps us all realize that there is a lot of support here at St. Andrew.” — PATRICE SCHULTE
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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 4:15 p.m. —St. Andrew, Granite Falls
THE PRAYER MINISTRY continued from page 7
day. But, I am certain that nothing can happen to me that You have not foreseen, decreed, and ordained from eternity. That is sufficient for me. I adore your impenetrable and eternal designs, to which I submit with all my heart. I desire, I accept them all, and I unite my sacrifice to that of Jesus Christ, my divine Savior. I ask in His name and through His infinite merits, patience in my trials, and perfect and entire submission to all that comes to me by Your good pleasure. Amen.”
Anyone is welcome to call Patrice Schulte with prayer requests. The person being prayed for need not be a St. Andrew member or Catholic. With urgent prayer needs, Patrice sends out the prayer request as soon as possible. Please contact Patrice at jet07@mvtvwireless.com or 507-430-8303 to submit a prayer request or to become part of St. Andrew’s Prayer Ministry; at St. Joseph contact Karen Kling slkekling@gmail.com. If you are willing to lead the Prayer Ministry at St. James, please call the Area Office at 320-269-5954. MAY 2021