S T. A L E X I U S - O U R L A D Y O F T H E A N G E L S - S T. PA U L ’S
Parishes on the Prairie Community Members Attend Renowned Stewardship Conference An Inside Look at a Life-Changing Trip to Wichita
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hen Fr. Greg Paffel invited the parish Stewardship Committee to attend the Msgr. Thomas McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita, Kan., St. Paul’s Parishioner Sally Ross thought she had emailed to say she could not attend. But the email was in drafts and never sent. Sally took this as a sign she was meant to go, so she attended the conference in August along with Fr. Greg, Adam and Shari Saltmarsh, Charlotte Johnson, and Janet Zenzen, all from Sauk Centre. Several folks from other communities also rode in the two-van caravan. Sally enjoyed the speakers and time for reflection at the conference. In turn, she learned a lot about practical ways to promote stewardship. “The purpose of stewardship is to bring people closer to God,” says Sally, who has been on the Stewardship Committee for two years. “And it will become a way of life.” As Sally points out, we need to give time back to God, as we all have 24 hours in a day. She implores all parishioners to find a way to use their gifts to serve our parishes. “Be grateful and generous with the gifts God gave us,” she says. “Be who God meant you to be
Sally Ross with her husband, Randy, and their children and grandchildren
and you will set the world on fire.” Stewardship is personally important to Sally, and she’s thankful to have had the chance to learn more about integrating stewardship in our faith community. She learned about the Pillars of Parish Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service. continued on page 5
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ST. ALEXIUS - OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS - ST. PAUL’S
Keeping Things in Perspective During the
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Christmas Season
he Christmas season has arrived. Garlands, poinsettias, lights, and Christmas trees are starting to pop up in homes and businesses. Cookies are being baked, holiday guests are arriving, and Christmas cards are flooding our mailboxes. This joyous season is now upon us. But before we know it, in just a few short weeks, the Christmas cards will be replaced with holiday bills and statements reminding us of the money we spent on holiday gifts for our loved ones. So how are you financially handling the holiday season thus far? Perhaps you are staying within your means by planning a detailed budget and remaining within its limits. You may be taking advantage of seasonal sales in order to purchase that otherwise expensive, sought-after item. Maybe you are simply overspending on unnecessary items, having been drawn in by the seasonal marketing campaigns. The financial pressures of creating the perfect holiday scenario can be quite daunting, especially in America, where the “buy now, pay later” philosophy prevails. Of course, we all want to provide a wonderful Christmas experience for our family and friends. But at what cost? As good stewards of our financial resources, we are called to be responsible with our money throughout the entire year, even at Christmas. Take a moment to remember last Christmas. Do you remember all the presents you received? Probably not. Instead, you probably remember the way a certain food tasted, or the smell of the Christmas tree, or how the beautiful lights glistened in the dark. You most likely remember the feelings of joy caused by sharing a special
occasion with loved ones. These are the memories that truly matter most, rather than what was packaged under the tree. Though most of us believe this in our hearts, each year we find ourselves focusing on the material aspects of Christmas, sometimes forgetting the true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. After all, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t buy nice presents for every person on our long gift list – or would it? Perhaps, instead of just buying and spending, we could use our talents to share with others. Or, as busy as we are these days, maybe we could actually spend more time with those we love. We could make a gingerbread house with our grandchildren, or brew up a cup of hot cocoa and watch It’s A Wonderful Life with our family at our side. We are often so busy shopping, we don’t have time for sharing of ourselves. As good stewards, we are called to share our time and talent with others to glorify God, just as much as we are called to share our treasure. And even if we are fortunate enough to have the financial means to shower our friends and family with gifts, should we so recklessly spend our money? Aren’t there better places to utilize our God-given treasure? Keeping our finances in perspective can be difficult, but asking God’s guidance as we make our financial decisions this holiday season is a perfect way to stay on track. Ask God to help you be a good steward. Ask God to give you the strength not to overspend as a result of guilt or a desire to “show off.” Indeed, true friends and family members will love you for your gesture, rather than the size of their gifts.
We find ourselves focusing on the material aspects of Christmas, sometimes forgetting the
true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. After all, it wouldn’t feel like 2
Christmas if we didn’t buy nice presents for every person on our long gift list – or would it?
A Letter From Our Pastor
Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas
My Dear Friends in Christ,
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hen I think of December, the first thing that comes to my mind is Christmas. I could think of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas. I could think of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), a Holy Day of Obligation and the patronal feast of the United States. I could think of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec. 12), whose popularity has spread far beyond the Hispanic community. December also brings the winter solstice, when days begin to get longer again. And it brings the end of the secular calendar year. Mostly, I think of Christmas — along with Easter and Pentecost, one of the greatest Christian Holidays of the year. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, the Son of David. It gives us reason to rejoice and worship. However, if you’re like me, you tend to pile on so much extra to your Christmas observance that prayer is often diminished and possibly lost in the hustle. We might send Christmas cards to people we contact at no other time of the year. We put up wreaths, Christmas trees, and lights. We host parties for family and friends. We visit relatives. We plan and prepare Christmas meals. And we have Christmas gifts to give one another. No wonder the Christmas Mass sometimes becomes an afterthought! What if we blend our Christmas activities with our Stewardship Way of Life? Treasure is the simplest. Perhaps the most expensive Christmas present we give should be to Jesus, the one whose birthday we’re celebrating? Being now
risen and glorified, He needs nothing we have. Nonetheless, His Body — the Church — always benefits from additional resources and continues His mission to proclaim the name of Jesus here on earth. Time. Why not spend a little more time in worship and prayer? Maybe stop by the church for a visit to the Christmas Crib and offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of God’s Son. Or attend Mass on some weekdays of the Christmas Octave. Possibly gather your family for prayers together in the morning or at dinner through the Christmas season in preparation for Christmas Day. Talent. There are lots of possibilities to share: Help decorate the Church. Sing in the choir for Christmas. Cook or bake for someone who is homebound. Invite someone who will be alone to share Christmas dinner with your family. Offer to work in a soup kitchen instead of gorging on cookies. The possibilities are endless. Yes, December means Christmas. Yet with some planning, we can make this hectic time a real blessing both for ourselves and for others. Pray for me that I too can keep Christ in Christmas, and I’ll pray for you. Have a Merry Christmas! In our Father’s hands, Fr. Greg Paffel Pastor
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ST. ALEXIUS - OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS - ST. PAUL’S
The Knights of Colu
Da
Grand Knight Reflects on the Blessings of F
or nearly 40 years, Dan Krousey of the Rosary, and you’re leading the has been a member of St. Paul’s Rosary,” he says. Church in Sauk Centre, and he can’t He also attends adoration several say enough good things about the hours each week, with plans to give area he calls home. more time, and he has been praying “What I love is that everybody the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. is friendly and willing to help out,” Being a member of the Knights of he says. “I see it firsthand, as Grand Columbus means that Dan is witness Knight of Council 4863, Knights of to the many attributes that his felColumbus. Whenever we need help, low Knights have in common — all the businesses are always willing to are pro-life and pro-Christ. Charity help. They’ve never said ‘no.’” is their main focus, and this takes the Dan lists as examples the requests form of volunteering. Each time the of businesses for small donations for Knights are asked to volunteer, they the Knights’ golf outing for seniors. do so willingly because they believe So much was donated that the council they are volunteering for Christ. was able to hold a raffle with the items. “When you are asked to do someThe Coats for Kids project also thing, it’s like you feel you want to brought in generous cash donations say ‘yes’ because Christ is the one from local businesses so the Knights asking you to volunteer,” Dan says. were able to purchase coats for chilActivities for which Dan has voldren in need. unteered include chairing the blood Dan attributes his becoming acdrive in October and helping with the tive in the Knights to his ability to annual food drive. grow in his faith. He retired five Dan Krousey and his wife, Lori, enjoy spending “When you’re Grand Knight, time in our outdoors. Since his retirement five years ago after working for 35 years you’re always planning for the next years ago, Dan has become involved in many at the Jennie-O Foods plant. He had event,” he says. “We have a Mass for projects with the Knights of Columbus, and more time to become involved in his deceased Knights coming up, so we serves as Grand Knight of Council 4863. community and as a result, joined the will be notifying the families and arKnights of Columbus. ranging for the saying of the Rosary.” “When I became Grand Knight, it started to really Each month of the year includes activities sponsored strengthen my faith because you have to — you have to by the Council, such as the Free Throw Contest in January, really get involved, such as in the Divine Mercy Rosary, and the fundraising Breakfast for Vocations in February, and you memorize those prayers and all the Mysteries with proceeds going to priests, deacons, and seminarians. continued on page 5
If you are interested in joining the Knights of Columbus, please call Dan Krousey at 320-429-4628. 4
umbus Council 4863
an Krousey
Service in Our Community In March, the Council holds the Rosary for the Unborn, and in April, the Special Olympics Tootsie Roll Drive. In September, the Council begins 40 Days of Life for the Unborn, beginning on Sept. 22. At that time, the Council erects 100 crosses each day at a cemetery south of Sauk Centre. “The crosses represent the 4,000 abortions performed each day in the United States,” Dan says. In November, the Council holds a poster contest for their Keep Christ in Christmas campaign, with $50 awarded to local winners. “We have a Nativity scene we put up each year in
the yard of a Knight on Main Street,” Dan says. “We put it up the first week of Advent. Our chaplain, Fr. Rick, Parochial Vicar, comes out when we light it, and we sing Christmas carols and he blesses it.” Throughout the year and through all the Council’s activities, recruitment of members is the top priority. “We had 11 members who died last year, and we have added four new members,” Dan says. “Whenever we have an event, like Coats for Kids, we try to promote the Knights. And the best thing is, you have to be a practicing Catholic. So, at Mass, I try to see who we might recruit. However, our new members have been sons of Knights members.”
Stewardship Conference
continued from front cover
“Stewardship gives us the opportunity a Teen Intercessory Prayer (TIP) volunteer. to do good deeds every day of our life,” she Since attending the conference, Sally has says. been spending more time in prayer and has The site of the conference — held at the been attending daily Mass more often. Sally Diocese of Wichita’s Spiritual Life Center — and her husband, Randy, have also been atoffered attendees a lot of space for prayer tending Sunday Mass early to have time to and reflection. Sally especially appreciated pray the Rosary. Sally learned that “prayer is the opportunity to walk the grounds, enjoy the center of the steward’s life.” the Way of the Cross stations and spend time Sally is thankful to have had the opporin Eucharistic Adoration. tunity to attend the Stewardship Conference. Sally Ross and her In addition to serving on the StewardIt allowed her to learn more about stewardhusband, Randy ship Committee, Sally gives of her time as ship and to share her faith with others. a substitute for Eucharistic Adoration, an Extraordinary “The more we talk and share our faith with others, the Minister of Holy Communion, a funeral meal helper, and more we grow in our faith,” she says.
“The more we talk and share our faith with others, the more we grow in our faith.” — Sally Ross 5
ST. ALEXIUS - OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS - ST. PAUL’S
John and Jan Murch Reflect on Their Marriage and Giving Back
Parishioners
Saving W
hen John Murch’s best friend died in a fire in 1985, he stopped and examined his life. John realized he had a problem with alcohol and that it had plagued his marriage for years. It was time for a transformative change, and while he joined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), his wife, Jan Murch, joined Al-Anon. “These programs saved us and saved our marriage,” Jan says. “We have gotten so much enrichment out of this community, and we’re so blessed. We have had the opportunity to give back over the years, and it has been an awesome time together.” For over seven decades, Jan Murch has been a parishioner of Our Lady of the Angels. She was baptized there in 1947 and has been a member ever since. “We tithe at Our Lady of the Angels, and we attend St. Paul’s because they have the 8 a.m. Mass,” John says. “We’re in a cluster now, and I believe whatever you give is shared, so we always put our shilling in the basket, so to speak.” John and Jan met in second grade and started dating the last two months of high school. While Jan was raised Catholic, John was raised Lutheran but began attending Mass with Jan. After high school, Jan went into nursing school, and John joined the Air Force. Unbeknownst to Jan, John became Catholic while they were engaged as he was serving in the Vietnam War. “I took a ‘crash course’ on becoming Catholic while in Vietnam, but I guess you could say everything was a crash course there,” John says. “The rocket attacks we went through were scary, but my first Confession at 21 was really scary. I came home a Catholic, and we got married in 1968.” Jan served as a lector at Our Lady of the Angels for years, and together John and Jan attended church with their two daughters. They also gave their time to help with faith formation classes and to serve as Eucharistic Ministers.
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John and Jan Murch
“Both our daughters graduated and went on for their education, and we were blessed to put them in a Catholic college for a few years at St. Benedict’s,” Jan says. When John was three years sober, he attended TEC — Together Encountering Christ — and experienced a spiritual awakening. “There were so many broken people out there, and I was one of them,” he says. “We began helping with the TEC program and then became involved with REC (Residents Encountering Christ), a prison ministry. We would share about the hidden issues that affect families and about our story with alcohol, my using it and her continued on page 7
John and Jan Murch
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putting up with the consequences.” Today, John has been a member of AA for 35 years, and Jan has been a member of Al-Anon for 33 years. “These programs are very spiritual,” Jan says. “We also have a break-off group for couples in these programs, and we get together as couples to support each other.” John and Jan have gone through different seasons in their lives and have given back in different ways over the decades. Today, they’re thinking about new potential opportunities within the parish, such as serving as greeters together and raising awareness about life-changing programs like TEC and REC. “There are so many ways to give, and it doesn’t have to be big and complicated,” John says. “Go to the church
and talk to the secretaries about options and what is needed. Take a risk and try something. If it’s not for you, try something else.”
Upcoming Events ATTENTION ALL SEARCHING SOULS! Are you seeking to find answers and wanting to grow in your Catholic faith? Join other searching souls every Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Centre for Christ in Sauk Centre for videos and small-group discussions with a different topic each week! Text or call 320-298-6778 for more information or with questions! Join our Searching Souls Ministries Facebook page for more information! DECEMBER TOPICS Dec. 6 — Jesse Tree craft night Dec. 13 — Catholic Symbols Dec. 20 — Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Dec. 27 — The Feast of the Holy Family *** Dec. 20 — Registration deadline for 1/3/22 “Spiritual Vision Board” craft!
Dec. 7 7:30 p.m. — Sts. Peter and Paul (refreshments after Mass) 7:30 p.m. — St. Alexius (refreshments after Mass) Dec. 8 7 a.m. — **St. Francis de Sales (refreshments after Mass) Noon — St. Donatus (potluck lunch meal after Mass) Noon — Our Lady of the Angels (light lunch after Mass) 5:15 p.m. — **St. Paul’s (hot beef sandwiches/dinner after Mass) ** Individuals making their consecration to St. Joseph will attend a 15-minute ceremony after these Masses. Each of the parishes will also have a display or decoration to recognize the celebration to St. Joseph.
CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH On Dec. 8, 2020, Pope Francis announced this the year of St. Joseph. He invited us to learn more about St. Joseph as a way of getting closer to Jesus. The ACC Leadership Team wanted to celebrate the end of this year and the beginning of a stronger prayer life with St. Joseph. Please join us!
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ST. ALEXIUS - OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS - ST. PAUL’S Parish Office: 304 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 (320) 352-2196 parishesontheprairie.org Mass Schedule
Saturday 4:00 p.m. - St. Paul’s Saturday 5:00 p.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Saturday 8:00 p.m. - St. Paul’s Sunday 8:00 a.m. - St. Paul’s Sunday 8:30 a.m. - St. Alexius Sunday 10:00 a.m. - St. Paul’s Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Our Lady of the Angels
Reconciliation Schedule
Thursday 4:00 p.m. - St. Paul’s Saturday 3:00 p.m. - St. Paul’s Saturday 4:00 p.m. - Our Lady of the Angels Sunday 8:00 a.m. - St. Alexius
A dvent and C hristmas Schedule Advent Reconciliation Services:
Dec. 8 12 Noon, Our Lady of the Angels
Dec. 5 — 1 p.m., St. Alexius, West Union
5:15 p.m., St. Paul’s
Dec. 5 — 4 p.m., Sts. Peter & Paul, Elrosa Dec. 12 — 1 p.m., St. Donatus, Brooten Dec. 12 — 4 p.m., Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre Dec. 19 — 4 p.m., St. Paul’s, Sauk Centre Dec. 19 — 7 p.m., St. Francis de Sales, Belgrade Along with other times for individual confessions-see church bulletin for dates and times. Holy Day — Immaculate Conception Mass Times: Dec. 7 7:30 p.m., St. Alexius 7:30 p.m., St. Peter/Paul Dec. 8 7 a.m., St. Francis De Sales 7 a.m., St. Paul’s 8:30 a.m., St. Paul’s, Holy Family students & staff only 12 Noon, St. Donatus
Christmas Eve Masses: 4 p.m.
St. Francis De Sales, Belgrade
4 p.m.
Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre
4 p.m.
St. Paul’s, Sauk Centre
7:30 p.m.
St. Alexius, West Union
8 p.m.
St. Paul’s, Sauk Centre
8 p.m.
St. Donatus, Brooten
Christmas Day Masses: 7 a.m.
Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre
8 a.m.
St. Paul’s, Sauk Centre
8:30 a.m.
St. Alexius, West Union
9 a.m.
St. Peter/Paul, Elrosa
10 a.m.
St. Paul’s, Sauk Centre
10:30 a.m.
Our Lady of the Angels, Sauk Centre