Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — May 2023

CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

Holy Family Area

PARISHIONER MONICA HINGST REFLECTS ON THE BLESSINGS OF MOTHERHOOD ROOTED IN FAITH

When Monica Hingst speaks about motherhood, her words are adorned with gratitude to God for the gift that she has received.

“The children we have are not actually our own,” Monica says. “In Baptism, we surrender them to the Lord, and in motherhood we pour ourselves out, forming them as the gifts from God that they are.”

Monica and her husband, Aaron, have two daughters — Chiara, 2, and their infant daughter, Elizabeth. And, for her part, Monica says that being their mother is one of the greatest blessings of her life.

“It has helped me get a glimpse at the way the Father loves us,” Monica says. “It is a pure gift.”

When Monica and Aaron were engaged, they spent some time discerning what their openness to children would look like with their marriage.

“We talked with our chaplain about the Church’s teachings on openness to life and whether couples should set aside time in the beginning of their marriages before they start families,” Monica says. “Father told us that we needed to pray about that and discern what the Lord was asking of us.”

So, they did. Monica and Aaron prayed, and the answer they continued on page 5

“It Is a Pure Gift”

Aaron and Monica Hingst with daughters Chiara and Elizabeth

MOTHERS and Stewardship

We celebrate the month of Mary during May, and during this month, we also celebrate Mother’s Day. It seems fitting that we honor our mothers during May, since Mary is given to us by God as the example of true Christian motherhood.

Those who are called to be mothers have been blessed by God and called to fulfill a very important responsibility. Mothers are the vehicle through which God brings new life into this world. When we talk about Christian stewardship, we talk about sacrificially returning to God what we have been given. What can more clearly be a demonstration of complete sacrifice than the relationship between mother and child during the nine months of growth in the womb? During these nine months, the child’s life depends on the actions of the mother as her energy and nourishment goes directly to the growing baby.

Although this relationship may change to some extent after the child is born, a mother’s sacrifice for her child is far from over after the birth. The role of the mother is critical in the child’s development — both

spiritually and physically — throughout life. Mothers provide the comfort, nurture and support necessary for their children to become productive citizens and responsible Christians.

The job of a mother is not an easy one. This is a fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew very well. She worried when her young Son appeared to be lost, only to find Him later in His Father’s house. She was probably concerned as Jesus began His public ministry — not knowing what difficulties and rejections He would encounter along the way. And, Mary must have experienced great anguish as she watched her Son’s body being crucified to a cross.

May all mothers look to Mary as their model for motherhood and ask her intercession as they strive to fulfill their God-given role in their children’s lives. During the month of May, let us all take some time to express our appreciation to our mothers for allowing us to come into this world, for loving us, and for serving as an example of what it means to be a steward for life.

HONORING OUR LADY IN MAY

May is Mary’s month. For centuries, Catholics throughout the world have included special devotions to the Blessed Mother in their activities during May. Best known, I’m sure, is the widespread and ever-popular practice of crowning an image of Our Lady with flowers during the month.

May is a beautiful month, full of renewal and hope. The March winds and the April showers have done their work, and the spring flowers will be in bloom. May doesn’t quite have the look or feel of summer. It is spring at its finest! And it’s not only the flowers or trees that show new life in May. For many students, May is the month to prepare for graduations, and these students will soon move on to new phases in their lives.

And of course, May is a month of joy for all of us who claim the Church as our spiritual home. We spend the whole month this year in the Easter season, which closes with Pentecost on May 28. The joy of the Resurrection, the glory of the Ascension, and the descent of the Holy Spirit are the themes that fill our Christian calendar.

But as we rejoice with Mary at her Son’s triumph over sin, Satan, and death, we remember her faithfulness to God’s will throughout her life. Indeed, she can be viewed as the model Christian steward. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pointed to her in its pastoral letter on stewardship: “After Jesus, it is the Blessed Virgin Mary who by her example most perfectly teaches the meaning of discipleship and stewardship in their fullest sense” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 41).

Let us follow her example of total dedication to God as we rejoice in the blessings He gives us this month!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

My Dear Friends in Christ,

Embracing Motherhood and the Faith, Fostering MEET ST. ANDREW PARISHIONER

Nancy Trudel has no magic solution for raising children in the faith. For her, it can be summed up with a quote from St. Teresa of Calcutta — “if you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”

She and her husband, Todd, have three grown girls. As Nancy reflects on Mother’s Day, she thinks about how proud she is of her daughters.

“I just always knew I wanted to be a mother,” Nancy says. “When God gave me these three beautiful gifts, I knew that’s what I was meant to do.”

Nancy also works as a special education paraprofessional. She has always loved her work and is

currently part of a team that works with children with autism.

“I love working with kids,” she says. “I love trying to figure out how to help the kids be their best when they face many challenges. I have a team that I’ve worked with for a lot of years. It’s a great team and a great place to be.”

But for Nancy, being a mother has always been her most important “job.”

“It’s the best thing I have ever done,” she says. “That’s the only way I can describe it.”

Nancy has loved watching Lauren, Allie, and Rachel spread their wings and find their own faith

“It’s been fun to see that example come to fruition. You don’t always know as a mom if you are doing it right. Now, it’s fun to listen to how they give back and go to their own churches. It feels good when you see them do those things on their own.”

— Nancy Trudel

Nancy Trudel with her husband, Todd, and their three daughters and son-in-law

Fostering Stewardship for Generations to Come PARISHIONER NANCY TRUDEL

communities. Todd is an optometrist. The couple settled in the Granite Falls area to try it for a few years — 32 years later, they are still here! They’ve loved being part of the St. Andrew’s and the greater community.

“When raising a family, it helps to be surrounded by good people, family, and close friends,” Nancy says.

When her daughters were growing up, Nancy was involved in many ministries. She mostly took a break after the girls were all out of the house. But she greatly enjoyed those years of teaching religious education, coordinating Vacation Bible School, helping with funeral luncheons, and doing what she could for the Fall Fair.

“I still am happy to help when asked,” Nancy says. Nancy and Todd had always encouraged the girls to get involved, whether that was by volunteer

babysitting for church events or buying Christmas gifts for a family in need. The girls were also altar servers for many years.

“It’s been fun to see that example come to fruition,” Nancy says. “You don’t always know as a mom if you are doing it right. Now, it’s fun to listen to how they give back and go to their own churches. It feels good when you see them do those things on their own.”

Nancy is the first to admit she isn’t a perfect parent — no one is. She and Todd didn’t have all the answers. But when they didn’t have an answer, they asked.

“We just tried always to do our best and set an example,” Nancy says.

In her free time, Nancy enjoys outdoor vacations, exercising, reading, and visiting the kids.

“I am so proud of my girls,” Nancy says.

MONICA HINGST continued from front cover

came away with was a profound one!

“I prayed through a lot of fears,” Monica says. “I was worried we would have more children than we could handle. And in the midst of it, I felt the Lord ask me, ‘Do you not trust that I will provide for you?’ With that, Aaron and I realized that our marriage and our family is not ours, but a gift from God that belongs to Him, and we needed to offer it to Him as such and always be open to life!”

And while Monica admits that motherhood is not without its challenges, she says that she is grateful for the way it has allowed her to not only pour herself out in service to her children but also to connect with other mothers in a deeper way.

“I am so grateful for the way our parish reaches out to moms,” Monica says. “I am involved in the Moms’

Group, and while juggling the children and our schedules often makes it harder to get involved in some aspects of parish life, there are plenty of ways we moms can connect.”

In fact, Monica says that her motherhood has allowed her to not only connect more with other moms but also connect in a deeper way with the Lord and understand better what it means to be a steward of His many gifts.

“Trusting Him with our family has allowed me to see that when we give to the Lord, He will not abandon us or leave us overwhelmed,” Monica says.

As Monica and Aaron have found through their own living of stewardship, God is such a gracious giver that He cannot be outdone! When we give back to Him of the gifts He has given, we will always be more fulfilled!

THE PATRON

SAINT

OF IMPOSSIBLE CAUSES: ST. RITA

Feast Day, May 22

St. Rita of Cascia is an important saint in the Catholic Church, revered for her steadfast faith, exemplary life of stewardship and discipleship, and her miraculous intercession.

Born Margherita Lotti in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy, St. Rita lived during a time of great turmoil, marked by conflicts between rival Italian city-states and the Papal States, as well as widespread poverty, disease, and lawlessness.

Despite these challenges, St. Rita was raised in a devout Catholic family, and from an early age, she exhibited a deep love for God and a desire to serve Him. As a young girl, Rita desired to become a nun. However, her parents arranged for her to marry a man named Paolo Mancini. Paolo was known for his violent temper and abusive behavior towards Rita. Despite this, Rita remained patient and forgiving, even as she endured physical and emotional abuse from her husband.

Eventually, her husband was killed in a feud between rival families, and St. Rita was left a widow with two young sons. She faced many trials during her widowhood, especially when her late husband’s brother continued the feud and hoped to convince Rita’s sons to seek revenge. As her sons grew, they wished to avenge their father’s murder. Fearing her sons would lose their souls, she tried to dissuade them from retaliating to no avail. She asked God to remove her sons from the cycle of vendettas and prevent mortal sin and murder. Her sons died of dysentery a year later, which pious Catholics believe was God’s answer to her prayer, taking them by natural death rather than risk them committing a mortal sin punishable by Hell.

After the death of her sons, St. Rita was free to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nun. However, the convent she wished to join had a strict rule that only women who had never been married could enter.

St. Rita prayed for three days, asking for a sign from God, and on the third day, a miracle occurred. She heard a knock on the door, and when she opened it, she found herself surrounded by a group of nuns who took her into the convent without question.

St. Rita lived the rest of her life as a nun, dedicating herself to prayer, penance, and service to others. She lived a life of true stewardship, exemplified by her work caring for the sick and poor. Her life of service and dedication to God has made her an important figure in the Catholic Church.

She is known for her ability to intercede on behalf of those facing impossible situations, and is best known for her association with roses, which often are used as a symbol of her life and legacy. It is said that as she neared the end of her life, Rita was bedridden from tuberculosis. It was then that she asked a cousin who had come to visit for a rose from the garden in her old home. As it was January, her cousin did not expect to find any roses, but there was a single rose in bloom, which was brought back to Rita at the convent. Rita passed away four months later, on May 22, 1457. Following her death, she was buried at the Basilica of Cascia.

Today, St. Rita is venerated as the patron saint of several causes, including desperate and impossible situations, abuse victims, and marital problems. Rita was beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1627 and canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22.

As we look toward St. Rita’s life and example, we can learn so much about what it means to be a disciple of Christ here in our own time. We can strive to emulate her virtues of compassion, forgiveness, and humility, seeking to serve others while living a life that fully reflects our faith.

Finding a Faith Home at St. Joseph’s MEET THE MAGNUSON FAMILY

Although Jo and Austin Magnuson didn’t grow up in Montevideo, through their years of living here and raising their five children here, it’s become home.

“I like that it’s small enough that you can get to know everyone,” Jo says. “It feels like a family. I also love that there are a lot of kids. At any Mass, it’s just crawling with kids.”

Austin and Jo have five children — Jillian, 13; Russell, 11; Edwin, 7; Leah, 5; and Henry, 2. Transporting the kids to their sports and other activities keeps Jo and Austin very busy. Jillian and Russell are also devoted altar servers.

“Those two do a lot of serving, and Edwin can’t wait until he is old enough to serve,” Jo says. “I enjoy seeing them serve. I loved serving when I was a kid. It’s good to see them involved.”

It gives Jo and Austin so much pride to see their children involved in the sacrifice of the Mass. They appreciate that Jillian and Russell are setting an example for their younger siblings. Jo and Austin also love to hear everything the kids are learning at Faith Formation.

“They get a lot out of it,” Jo says. “They have a lot to talk about when they are done. We can have more adult conversations with them.”

Austin was raised Lutheran in Murdock, and Jo was raised Catholic in Columbia Heights. Jo spent her childhood surrounded by many Catholics, so she admits it was a bit of a shock coming to Montevideo, where there are so many more Lutherans. A health teacher at Montevideo schools, Jo loves living here and raising her kids in this community. In 2005, she first moved to Montevideo, where Austin lived and worked continued on back cover

The Magnuson family

“I love seeing my kids grow and develop in every aspect of their lives.

I love seeing them excited to go to Mass, discussing religious things with them, seeing them learn, and seeing them do things that they love. There is a lot to love about being a mom.” — Jo Magnuson

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

Saturday

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

5:45 - 6:20 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

THE MAGNUSON FAMILY

continued from page 7

as a crop consultant. The two were set up by a friend — recognizing they were maybe some of the only young single people in town. Austin also farms in rural Murdock, along with working for Centrol Crop Consulting.

At St. Joseph’s, Jo teaches Faith Formation for second-graders, which she enjoys as she is preparing them for the sacraments. She is also a member of the Moms’ Group, and the family also serves as gift bearers.

As part of St. Joseph’s and the Holy Family Area Catholic Community, Jo is thankful for the opportunity to get to know people from the other parishes. It’s like an extended family. As she reflects on her years as a mother, she can list countless blessings that have come her way.

“I love seeing my kids grow and develop in every aspect of their lives,” she says. “I love seeing them excited to go to Mass, discussing religious things with them, seeing them learn, and seeing them do things that they love. There is a lot to love about being a mom.”