Little Falls
Catholic Community
NEW MINISTRY ENSURES OUR PARISHIONERS STAY CONNECTED DURING PANDEMIC
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St. Mary’s parishioner Michele Rosha was one volunteer who called over 100 fellow parishioners in the spring, keeping them connected to our faith community during the COVID-19 crisis.
his past spring the global pandemic that began changing the way Americans live — and worship — was an entirely unprecedented event. While our parishes, like all Catholic churches across the world, had to adapt to new ways of serving God’s people, one thing remained the same — the strong faith and close connection of our parish families. Early on in the COVID-19 crisis, when churches were required to close to the public due to health safety concerns, one new ministry popped up very quickly as Fr. Ben and Deacon Jeff recruited a few members of our parishes to make phone calls to each and every registered parishioner. St. Mary’s parishioner Michele Rosha was one of the callers, covering the first five pages of the alphabet for her parish — for a total of 168 calls! “We wanted to support the people who had been instantly isolated,” says Michele of the calling ministry. “Many were feeling isolated, especially the elderly and so many for whom daily Mass was just their thing. Everybody who answered really appreciated the call. I believe it meant a lot to people to hear from their parish, to just have someone checking in and seeing how they were doing, and just to hear a voice at that time.” continued on page 2
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St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family
NEW MINISTRY ENSURES OUR PARISHIONERS STAY CONNECTED continued from front cover After checking in on the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of our parishioners, the callers also made sure that our offices had the correct contact information for everyone. Those who were willing to share their email address or cell phone number with the parish were then included in the Flocknote email and texting service, which allows for an even greater connection to parish life. The outreach phone calls were a great success throughout our tri-parish community. At St. Mary’s, 883 households were reached; at Holy Family, 390 were contacted; and at Our Lady of Lourdes, all 938 registered households were reached by telephone! For the 31 callers who participated in this ministry, the rewards of the outreach were many. “I really enjoyed it,” Michele says. “It was encouraging for me. It was at a time where a lot of my work was sitting at home, so it was nice to talk to people from the church.” In addition to the phone calls and the Flocknote messages, Fr. Ben also made sure that parishioners still felt connected to the liturgy — even while the churches had to remain closed — by livestreaming the Sunday and daily Masses over social media. Michele points out the significance of watching a Mass livestream from one’s own home parish. “The Masses on TV are beautiful, but I think it was just a beautiful thing for churches
We’re still looking at how we can be church when we can’t be in church. That’s a big part of all this, looking at what we are missing and how we can do a better job in these areas — and just staying connected, because people love hearing from their parish.
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to do to make themselves available for [livestreaming],” she says. “Even if it’s just the priest present in the church, it is your priest and pastor, and there is a relationship there that makes you feel more connected and more involved.” Michele returned to church the very first Sunday that Masses were open to the public. Even with the many new regulations involving social distancing and mask wearing, the experience of being physically present for the Mass was incomparable. “When I walked up to Communion, I was in tears,” Michele says. “It was absolutely beautiful to be back in church. And it just proved that we need each other. It was just good to see people again.” Understanding how difficult this time of pandemic has been for our Catholic faithful, we are greatly heartened to see the continued discipleship of our parishioners and thankful for the blessings that are to be found even in the midst of crisis. As we continue to slowly open things back up and adapt to a “new” normal, our parishes will remain dedicated to serving the people of Little Falls in every way possible. “We’re still looking at how we can be church when we can’t be in church,” Michele says. “That’s a big part of all this, looking at what we are missing and how we can do a better job in these areas — and just staying connected, because people love hearing from their parish.”
Michele Rosha
A Letter From Our Pastor
“What’s in It For Us” May Surprise You My Dear Friends in Christ,
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ou already know that our parish is committed to living as intentional disciples of Christ through the holistic practice of stewardship. What you may not know is that one of our inspirations and mentors is the late Msgr. Thomas McGread of the Diocese of Wichita. Who was Msgr. McGread? Msgr. McGread was a humble, servant priest who created a model for how stewardship should be practiced — both here and in many Catholic parishes across the country. What began simply with Msgr. McGread applying his stewardship principles at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wichita — where he served as pastor for 31 years — has become a way of life for our parish family and for Catholics around the nation. With such an incredible blueprint from this visionary priest, how could we go wrong? We have truly embraced stewardship here in our Little Falls Catholic Community, and for that, I am blessed and grateful. From the beginning, however, the question “What’s in it for us?” had to be on our minds as our efforts to educate parishioners and promote the stewardship way of life were introduced. At first, “What’s in it for us?” seemed to center on what people were willing to do to give back to God as part of practicing their faith and living as disciples of Jesus Christ. While this is important, there is so much more to it. The truth is, “What’s in it for us?” is really about “What’s in it for you?” “What’s in it for you?” perhaps is best explained as one simple principle — cultivating a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. When Christ calls us to discipleship, He is also calling us to be faithful stewards of our time, talent and treasure. Our gratitude for these gifts is best expressed through giving a portion of each back to God. Thus, stewardship becomes a way of
life that is also the way to holiness. Our relationship with Christ is what we get in return. Our efforts as a parish to promote the spiritual benefits of active stewardship are designed to foster a deeper relationship with God for all of us. Membership in a parish family should encourage, support, and celebrate that relationship with the living God, first and foremost. Everything else flows from that. If we are not focused on our relationship with God, then what will define our spirituality? If we have embraced the blessings of stewardship as a practical way of being the disciples we are called to be, we will in turn know a deeper relationship with Christ. We celebrate Thanksgiving this month, which truly is a stewardship holiday since stewardship begins with an attitude of gratitude. I am truly thankful for all that is done here in the Little Falls Catholic Community, and for the many parishioners willing to do so much. In closing, let me share one final thought to help you realize the gift that our parish is to each and every one of us. Be grateful for all you have. Be generous in giving something back to God. Be faithful stewards, and you will have done both. That is what’s in it for you, and in turn, that is what’s in it for us! And don’t forget — God has been doing this for centuries. We’re just the latest and most fortunate recipients. Happy Thanksgiving, and may God bless you and your family. Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Ben Kociemba, Pastor 3
St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family
Unbound Mission Trip PANDEMIC CHANGES PLANS,
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he pandemic has curtailed travel plans for Deacon Bruce and Gail Geyer’s Unbound Mission Trip in November to Cuernavaca, Mexico, as well as a trip to San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala last March. But despite the change in plans, they are staying in touch through letters with young people that they sponsor, and continue to learn how important faith is in the lives of the Hispanic culture. During past trips to Mexico and to Guatemala, the Geyers have come to appreciate the importance of building relationships. Through correspondence, they have built relationships with the young woman they sponsor, and the two youths that St. Mary’s parish sponsors. Some twenty years ago Deacon Bruce began making the trips, but after retirement, Gail was able to travel with him. Sofia — the young woman the Geyers have been sponsoring — is studying for her nursing degree. “She shares about her life, about school, her grades,” Gail says. “She’s always very grateful and she prays for us, and we for her.” Gail also writes to the two youngsters that St. Mary’s sponsors, although she does not know them as well at this time. “I tell them what life is like in Minnesota, and
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we talk about snow, and different holidays we celebrate,” she says. Through their trips to the area, the Geyers have learned extensively about the Mexican culture. For example, the oldest daughter is the significant person in the family. She assumes the role of “mother” over time. If she steps out of the home to accomplish a goal, this has a great impact on the family. “The young woman we sponsor, we asked for an oldest daughter who’s a good student and serious about her academic work,” Deacon Bruce says. “Sofia is who we sponsor.” “They talk about the activities they do around their faith and family — mostly around their life and what’s going on,” Gail says. “Faith for them is integrated into their lives,” Deacon Bruce adds. “Their culture and faith are very integrated. Many things they do are done through the prism of the Catholic faith.” During their past trips, not only have the Geyers been able to share their faith and lives with those they meet, but they also have experienced an awakening of how our Catholic faith serves to connect with Mexican families who
The trips are awareness trips. You bring back the humanity of people who live very differently than you do. After the last trip to Guatemala, I took extensive notes about what we saw and took lots of photos. I wrote up a presentation I gave to the Deacon Wives group and to a retired teacher group. I put a pictorial presentation together to show people the humanity of people — about how we live different lives, but we’re the same, and how some have to struggle with their lives, about things we take for granted here.
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Gail Geyer
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UT NOT IMPACT OF MISSION’S EFFORTS
The priest who traveled with the Geyers hears confession in San Rafael, Mexico.
The faithful crowd the church for Mass at San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala.
have moved here. “For me, I want them to have the life they dream of,” Deacon Bruce says. “I don’t know what it is, but we need to listen to them. They don’t have the same experiences we do. We need to understand what they desire. When they talk, they talk from a framework of faith. Our world is more separated in faith. To them, the worlds of faith and civil society are more integrated. I’m more convinced the Catholic faith is hugely important for the future in the ordinary living of our lives.” Besides having their own significant experiences, the Geyers also hope their trips enable them to bring back to our parish the idea of what others are trying to do with their lives. “It’s not what we think they need,” Bruce says. “The trips are awareness trips,” Gail says. “You bring back the humanity of people who live very differently than you do. After the last trip to
Guatemala, I took extensive notes about what we saw and took lots of photos. I wrote up a presentation, which I gave to a Deacon Wives group and to a retired teacher group. I put a pictorial presentation together to show people the humanity of people — about how we live different lives, but we’re the same, and how some have to struggle with their lives, about things we take for granted here.” The couple’s experiences have given them a deep perspective on the issue of immigration. “When you think about immigration, they don’t come here because they want to live in a different place,” Bruce says. “They cross the border to survive. They live in a nice place as far as the weather, for example, but there are lots of issues about the economies and violence. They cross because they have to, do it out of necessity. Our ancestors did the same. Almost all of us are the children and grandchildren of immigrants.”
If you would like more information about the Unbound Mission Trip, please contact Deacon Bruce at 320-616-1213. 5
St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family
STEWARDSHIP:
The Four Pillars Y
ou’ve heard about the three Ts of stewardship, but what about the four Ps? The three Ts – Time, Talent, and Treasure – describe the personal gifts we offer to the Church. The four Ps are the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship described by the renowned pastor Msgr. Thomas McGread. They are the hallmark of a stewardship parish – Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. Let’s take a look at each of them to understand how we can improve in each area. Hospitality Christian Kindness “When I was a stranger, you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). The Gospel teaches that whenever we welcome the least of our brothers or sisters, we welcome Christ Himself. That is why the first mark of a stewardship parish is hospitality. Being friendly is one of the first ways we can be Christ-like toward others. Modern Catholic parishes are often so large and have so many Masses that many parishioners don’t know one another. To create a sense of community, be sure to smile and greet others as you enter and exit the Church. Let’s try harder than ever to be a welcoming community. Prayer Heart-to-Heart with God “Do not become so involved in the work of the Lord that you forget the Lord of the work,” a seminary professor once taught. In other words, don’t get so caught up with parish projects and outreach efforts that you forget to draw aside to spend time with God in prayer. Every great saint has taught that prayer is the most essential component in the life of the Christian. Through prayer, we nurture our most important relationship – the one that will last for all eternity. A healthy prayer life should include communal prayer such as Mass, as well as personal prayer and family prayer. The two 6
biggest obstacles to prayer are lack of time and lack of understanding of how to pray. We have to schedule time for prayer just as we would for an important appointment. And we have to learn how to pray from other people. Many saints have written spiritual books that describe different methods of prayer. Formation Continuous Conversion Pope John Paul II always emphasized ongoing conversion. From childhood through adulthood, our whole life must be a process of drawing closer to God. He never stops calling us forward to learn more and to examine ourselves more deeply. Very often our society values material things more than interior virtues. But as personal experience shows, when we finally acquire the car or house or “toy” that we wanted so badly, it doesn’t really satisfy. On the other hand, we don’t tend to desire spiritual virtues with the same kind of longing, but when we actually have them, we find them far more rewarding than material things. Service Love in Action “Amen I say to you, whatever you did to the least of my brothers, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). This Scripture was one of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s favorites. Each time she picked up a poor and hungry child, she knew she was ministering to Christ. While we may not view ourselves as saints, we too are called to such heroic service right within our own community. As St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “To be a saint is not the privilege of a few, but the duty of everyone.” We have many service opportunities right here within our own parish. If you have the willingness to serve and take the initiative to find where you are needed, you’ll find that there is no end to the families and individuals who truly need help. How can you reach out to them in love?
CHURCH DECORATORS MINISTRY Keeping St. Mary’s Looking Beautiful
Decorators gather to prepare St. Mary’s for Christmas.
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Angela Houdek works on the Nativity scene.
he Catholic Mass is something that we experience with all five of our senses. The senses of sight and smell — in decorations and in flowers, respectively — are enhanced by the St. Mary’s Church Decorator Ministry. Members of this ministry work hard to ensure that our worship space looks perfect as we celebrate the liturgy. “We do this work to create an environment to help people that come to worship give honor and glory to God,” says Brenda Przybilla, who coordinates the ministry along with Lori Kneeland. “We want to create an atmosphere that enhances prayer.” Many volunteers share of their talents in creating a beautiful environment for the entire year, based on the liturgical season. They also decorate when there are special events, like Confirmation and First Communion. Brenda spends a lot of time keeping the various plants and flowers looking their best.
Jared Houdek and his daughter decorate the tree.
“Decorating with living plants and flowers, we use God’s creation to bring beauty and dignity to the worship space, creating peacefulness, serenity, comfort, welcoming, gratitude and a sense of fulfillment,” she says. Brenda and Lori also take photos of the decorations and enjoy looking back at past years. They both appreciate having the opportunity to make each season look unique. “We hope that people recognize what feast is being celebrated by how the church is decorated,” Lori says. St. Mary’s is beautiful in itself, so Brenda and Lori work to ensure the decorations complement the church’s real beauty. They both enjoy sharing their talents with the Lord and their fellow parishioners, and they also enjoy all the new friends they have made as part of this ministry. There is a real sense of camaraderie when volunteers, of all ages, are decorating together. continued on back cover
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St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family Parish Office: 208 West Broadway Little Falls, MN 56345 (320) 632-8243 www.littlefallscatholic.org
CHURCH DECORATORS MINISTRY continued from page 7
“I enjoy being able to work in the church building and squeezing in prayers while working on a project,” Brenda says. There is always a need for more volunteers, funds and talent. One way that many people have contributed is donating handcrafted items for decoration. “We would like to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who has ever helped by lending a hand or donated money for flowers or other special needs,” Lori says. “All has been greatly appreciated.”
Decorators gather after Christmas decorating.
Anyone who is interested in helping with this wonderful ministry should contact the St. Mary’s office at 320-632-5640 or office@stmaryslf.org.