Holy Trinity Church 208 Kilworth St N

Exira, IA 50076 Office 712-563-2283

Holy Trinity Hall 712-268-5466

St. Patrick’s Church 116 E Division St Audubon, IA 50025 Office 712-563-2283

St. Patrick’s Parish Ctr 712-563-3300

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 12, 2020

Pastor: Father David Nkrumah Phone: 712.304.5966 (cell)

Email: fr.nkrumah@yahoo.com

Secretary: Position is open…..please apply.

Business Mgr: Linda Blomme

Dir. of Religious Education: Jennifer Mosinski

www.parishesonline.com/find/st-patrick-church

www.parishesonline.com/find/holy-trinity-

catholic-church-50076

Office Hours This Week: Tuesday 9:00 a.m.-Noon

Wednesday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Office E-mail: spht@iowatelecom.net

Website: www.sphtdm.org

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: When have I realized that my expectations had fooled me?

Regarding hardships, what have I learned from asking for help?

Isaiah couldn’t have had the scientific understanding we have today of the water

cycle, but he nailed it in the metaphor we read today. Water falls from the sky in

the form of precipitation, provides hydration for plants and trees so they can bear

fruit, collects in rivers and lakes to provide a necessary resource for humans and

animals, then returns to the heavens having nourished and sustained life here on

earth. So too does God’s word. When spoken from the heavens, it has a creative

(think of the creation story in Genesis) and transformative (think of the Transfig-

uration story in the Gospels) effect. It nourishes us and sustains us even as it rises

back to the heavens to continue the cycle of life.

At first glance, the sower seems to be doing a lousy job of sowing. Why throw seed

onto a path or on rocky ground where it has little chance of germinating? Why not

take the time to pull the thorns first so that they won’t choke the plants later?

Wouldn’t it make the most sense to sow all the seed in rich soil? But God will not

limit where the seed goes. Everyone gets a chance to receive God’s grace, no mat-

ter what obstacles may be in the way. God’s wild extravagance gives goodness a

chance to bloom in unexpected and unlikely places, allowing it to bear fruit far be-

yond expectations.

It is natural to listen to the Gospel and try to determine which spot on the ground

we are. Am I the rich soil or the rocky ground? If we’re honest, perhaps we’ll realize

that we can be each of the options at different times. Sometimes God’s word just

doesn’t take root or is choked off by material concerns to which I give greater pri-

ority. Let us resolve to be fertile ground for God’s living, transformative word as of-

ten as possible.

ST. PATRICK’S / HOLY TRINITY MISSION STATEMENT To share the good news of Jesus in word and deed; to gather in prayer, worship, and

the celebration of the Eucharist; to facilitate life-long faith formation; to serve the

larger community especially the poor and marginalized; and to sustain parish minis-

try through the stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.

DAILY READINGS: Monday

July 13 - Henry

Is 1: 10-17

Mt 10: 34—11: 1

Tuesday

July 14-

Kateri Tekakwitha

Is 7: 1-9

Mt 11: 20-24

Wednesday

July 15 - Bonaventure

Is 10: 5-7. 13b-16

Mt 11: 25-27

Thursday

July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Is 26: 7-9. 11. 16-19

Mt 11: 28-30

Friday

July 17

Is 38: 1-6. 21-22. 7-8

Mt 12: 1-8

Saturday

July 18 - Camillus de Lellis

Mi 2: 1-5

Mt 12: 14-21

16th Sunday

in Ordinary Time

July 19

Wis 12: 13. 16-19

Rom 8: 26-27

Mt 13: 24-43

Holy Trinity Finance Council:

Judy Bintner

John Osvald

Dale Huegerich

Mark Richards

Leonard Hansen

St. Patrick’s Finance Council :

Dennis Carter, Chair

Danny Wittrock

Joan Bauer

Tom Chambers

Doug Sorensen

Karen McGuire

Corpus Christi Pastoral Council:

Scott Hansen

Jean Madsen

Joe Rasmussen

Bob Blomme

Alice Lauridsen

Lynda Best

Kalli & Matt Wilder

9 Yrs. ~ July 16, 2011

Happy Anniversary

Happy Birthday

13th- Mason Brand

Weston Rasmussen

15th- Lavonne Shoesmith

18th- Cletus Anthofer

Kaitlin Anthofer

Rene Blocker

Marie Brand

PRAY FOR THEIR SERVICE: Several of our members and relatives of members are currently serving in the military.

Please pray for them and their families. We pray for their safety and when on a mission, their quick return home to fami-

ly and friends.

Matt Anthofer Don Mosinski Sara Kerkhoff Robert Hjuler Rusty Dixon

Aaron & Deanna Kerkhoff Mark Hjuler Craig Hjuler Chris Hjuler Mason Hjuler

Casey & Taylor Kerkhoff Madeline Bintner Marshall S Hansen Mark Otte Zachary Kirkpatrick

Bradley Sutter Irlmeier Cole & Mary Jo (Bauer) Turnbull *Please contact the office with any other names.

WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE

Tuesday, July 14: 7:30 a.m.– Mass at S.P. [Michael Hjuler]

Wednesday, July 15: 7:30 a.m.-Mass at S.P.

[Ardella, Ed & Robert Schlichte]

8:30 a.m.– Mass at H.T. [For the People]

Thursday, July 16: 7:30 a.m.– Mass at S.P.

[Rita, Richard & Rickey Briggs] Friday, July 17: 7:30 a.m.– Mass at S.P. [Al Klocke]

Saturday, July 18:

5:00 p.m.– Mass at S.P.

[Bernard & Delores Klocke and Dale Tigges]

Sunday, July 19:

8:30 a.m.– Mass at S.P. [Jean Michalski]

10:30 a.m.- Mass at Holy Trinity

[Leinen Family: Health & Happiness]

July 5, 2020 giving

St. Patrick’s Holy Trinity

Tithes 2,035.00 870.00

Plate 7.00 38.00

Total 2,042.00 908.00

DO YOU KNOW?

Authority:

I don’t need a church to tell

me what to believe. I can read

the Bible and decide for my-

self.

Jesus told the disciples to

“teach,” not to hand people a

Bible and let them decide for

themselves.

“Go…. Teaching them to ob-

serve all that I have com-

manded you.” Matthew 28:

19-20

Without teachers who have

learned what was handed

down from the apostles, the

Bible can be interpreted in a

million ways! That is why

there are thousands of

Protestant denominations,

who each interpret the Bible

differently.

The Bible alone is the ulti-

mate authority of truth, not

the Church.

That is not what St. Paul says

in his letter to Timothy….

“But if I should be delayed,

you should know how to be-

have in the household of God,

which is the church of the

living God, the pillar and foun-

dation of the truth.” 1 Timo-

thy 3:15

Jesus established a living au-

thority, the Church. The

Church gave us the Bible and

it the final authority on matter

of faith.

JoAnn Wittrock has entered the Accura Health Care

2241 N. West St.

Carroll, Ia. 51401

Well wishes can be sent to room #415.

ST. PATRICK’S: Saturday, July 18:

Ushers: Jon Lauridsen

Lectors: Paul Schultz

Sunday, July 19:

Ushers: Brent Bauer

Lectors:

HOLY TRINITY: Sunday, July 19: Ushers: Ben Hansen

Music: Riann Hansen

Lectors: Mary Ann Huegerich

Music will only be instru-

mental. The instructions on

how to begin the music from

the St Pat’s piano are on the

piano. (Lectors please as-

sist.)

Liturgy Schedule

BECOMING THE BEST DISCIPLE:

The quote for this week that also appears on the

whiteboard in the entry of the church is:

“One nation, under God, indivisible , with

liberty and justice for all.”

Take time this week to sit quietly, or perhaps as you

drive to your destination, to reflect on that question.

REMEMBER TO LISTEN FOR GOD’S RESPONSE.

As the news ADA campaign begins, let’s strive for 100%participation at each parish. Please give what your budget allows. NO GIFT IS TOO SMALL.

2020 ADA CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

St. Patrick’s Goal: $28,901.00 Donor Yet to

Pledges & Gifts: $21,077.19 Households Donate

Payments Rec’d: $19,360.53 57 85

Needed: $ 7,773.81

Holy Trinity’s Goal: $ 7,903.00 Donor Yet to

Payments Rec’d: $ 7,488.75 Households Donate

Needed: $ 414.25 23 14

We are looking for a church secretary

to manage our website, sacramental

records, parish contact lists & commu-

nication, order liturgical & office sup-

plies among other duties.

Position would be 4-6 hours/week PLUS you would have

ROCKSTAR co-workers! :)

If you are interested, please contact the office for more

information!

All those involved in serv-

ing our country in any capac-

ity. May they be kept free of

harm and know our prayers

are with them.

Special prayers to those

on our prayer chain: Hayden Weisenborn, Caleb Deist, Brid-

get Rutherford, Kellen Hemmingsen, Scott Sporrer, Darrell

Shoesmith, Amber Clark, Joe Bauer, LeAnn Hoffman, Peggy

Venteicher, Teri Williamson, Ivan Blocker, Candy Chambers,

Kathy Anderson, Steve Purdy, CoeAnn Mosinski, Kenny Pe-

tersen, Kelly Robertson, Shari Ann Heilman, Luke England,

Bill Ryan, Gert Madsen, Laurie Berger, JoAnn Wittrock and

all those with COVID-19.

All those who are suffering and their families remain in our

thoughts and prayers. Please contact the office if your loved

one’s condition changes.

We are no longer

collecting newspapers.

Thank you for your

past contributions!

New Opportunities Audubon County Family Development Center will be dis-

tributing school supplies to low-income families. Many families that cannot

afford supplies send their children with little to no supplies to school. The

school supply event is very special. The disadvantaged children that receive

the help with supplies can start another year of school prepared! We try to

get these supplies out to families by the time they enter school; if we could get any donations

from you by Monday, August 3rd this would give us enough time to disperse them. Donations

can be dropped off at Landmands Bank, Audubon State Bank, or Audubon County Development

Center (109 Tracy St., Audubon).

Back pack, without wheels Glue sticks Composition notebooks

Folders w/pockets & center clasp Clorox wipes & hand sanitizer Index cards, 3x5, lined

Erasers (pink and pencil top) gallon sized ziploc baggies Kleenex

Calculator (simple or scientific) markers & highlighter notebook paper, loose leaf

plastic pencil box/bag Notebooks, spiral (wide ruled) 3 ring binder (1”, 2” & 3”)

Pencils, #2 colored pencils dry erase markers

Pens: red, black & blue Towel for mat Scissors

Ruler, 12” w/inches & metric Heavy plastic folders

Each summer, Catholic Charities of

DSM holds a second collection that

is specifically focused on the pro-

grams and services offered through

Catholic Charities to empower individuals and

strengthen families in our diocese. While our world is

experiencing unprecedented changes, the needs for

the most essential services to our neighbors have

only increased. Through its array of programs Catholic

Charities provides: family counseling

2 family shelters (DSM/C.B.) food pantry

refugee resettlement domestic violence

sexual assault human trafficking

school based counseling located within many of our

Catholic schools

During the COVID-19 pandemic, these programs have

Continued to maintain uninterrupted services to our

diocesan communities while annually serving more

than 25,000 individuals and families.

Please prayerfully consider a monetary gift to Catholic

Charities through this second collection (on July 19)

so we may continue our mission of “labor in the

streets inviting and serving those who have been left

out” [excerpt from the Catholic Charities USA prayer].

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Rev. William M. Joensen, Ph.D.

Bishop of Des Moines

READING 1: Isaiah 55: 10-11

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:

Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered

the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word

be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I

sent it.

Israel became convinced of the effectiveness of the “Word of the Lord” when prophetic announcements of the fall of their

northern and southern kingdoms were fulfilled. Some of these prophecies came from First Isaiah, who worked in Jerusa-

lem in the eighth century BC and whose preaching is collected in Isaiah 1-39. Today’s reading is from the prophet called

Second Isaiah who worked in Babylon in the sixth century BC and whose oracles are found in Isaiah 40-55. Second Isaiah

applies the preaching of his predecessor to this later situation and adds his own Spirit-given insights, among them the un-

failing power and effectiveness of the “Word of the Lord.”

The Hebrew for “word,” dabar, denotes not only a spoken word but also in certain contexts “a thing, an event, or an affair.”

In Israel’s early traditions, the Lord’s word referred primarily to the covenant commandments. But for the prophets it con-

veys the Lord’s all-powerful and dynamic presence in history.

Second Isaiah’s metaphor of the rain and snow aptly conveys this invisible divine activity to his listeners. Yearly they watch

in wonder as the snow melts, the rains come and the parched desert wilderness around them bursts into bloom. They mar-

vel as the dried-up earth of their fields brings forth food and seed to sustain their families for another year. The prophet

assures listeners of every age that, no matter how arid and hopeless their situation appears to be, God is at work in it,

bringing to fulfillment divine plans for their (and all creation’s) present well-being and eternal glory.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 65: 10, 11, 12-13, 14

R/The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s watercourses are filled; you have prepared the

grain. R/

Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield.

R/

You have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest; the untilled meadows overflow

with it, and rejoicing clothes the hills. R/ The fields are gar-

mented with flocks and the valleys blanketed with grain. They shout and sing for joy. R/

READING II Romans 8: 18-23

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be re-

vealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made sub-

ject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free

from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in

labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within

ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

In this reading, Paul seems to be working with the maxim, “misery loves company.” He tells the baptized that

they are not the only ones who are suffering from the limitations and distresses of life. All creation, which in this

passage denotes everting that God made except people, is suffering with them.

The foundation of Paul’s thought is the Old Testament conviction that the existence and destiny of creation and

human kind are bound together. For example, in Genesis 1, God creates people in his image and gives them re-

sponsibility for what happens to the earth. In Genesis 3, the earth is cursed because of the first couple’s sin. To-

day in Romans, Paul preaches that, because of Adam’s sin (and all human sins), the earth was made subject to

“futility,” which in Greek also denotes a useless or meaningless existence. Paul further describes creation’s lot

as being in “slavery to corruption”, it is disintegrating and is powerless to change its situation.

Since creation’s hope is the sons and daughters of God, it awaits their unveiling with eager expectations. For

Paul, these are the baptized who enjoy on earth the freedom that comes from sharing life with Christ, and who

are destined to fullness of life in the divine family forever.

What sustains God’s children and gives them hope are the first fruits of the Spirit, which they received in

Baptism. These are the pledge and foretaste of eternal life. And yet, Christians groan because these

“graced moments” leave them restless and increasingly dissatisfied with beauty and pleasures that fade.

They long to be set free from life in the flesh. As the Nicene Creed puts it, they “look forward to the resur-

rections of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

GOSPEL Matthew 13: 1-23

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

[On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around

him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to

them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the

path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once

because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and

produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”]

The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak in parables?” He said to them in reply,

“Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it

has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has

not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but

do not see, and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:

You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this

people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and

hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them.

“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you,

many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and hear what you

hear but did not hear it.

“Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the

kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes steals away what was sown in his heart. The

seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no

root and last only for a time. When tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately

falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, and then worldly anxiety and the

lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the

word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

The Gospel unfolds in three parts: the telling of the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-90; an explana-

tion of why Jesus teaches in parables (13:10-17); and the interpretation of the parable (13:18-23). Key

to understanding this passage is the significance of “bearing fruit” in Matthew’s Gospel; namely, fruit is

what one brings to the final judgement as evidence that he or she is Jesus’ disciple.

The parable begins with an enthusiastic and prodigal farmer who sows on all types of terrain or soil. Sev-

enty-five percent of what he scatters produces nothing, but the yield of the rest is extraordinary. The word

sperma, “seed,” does not appear in the Greek text, but is conveyed by “some” (of what the sower sowed)

and “that which” (was sowed). This lack of specificity about what is sown sparks the interest of the atten-

tive listener.

Such elements of ambiguity are typical of Jesus’ parables. They make it easy for their listener, whose sit-

uations and experiences are unique, to apply the parables to their life. For this reason, parable should

not be summed up in a one-size-fits-all message which, as the biblical scholar John R. Donahue puts it,

“reduces the Good News to good advice.” The parable of the sower intends to disturb all who hear it and

challenges them to discern which description of “those who hear the word” best describes their life as

Jesus’ disciple.

In Matthew 13: 10-17, the evangelist explains to his Jewish Christian community why Jesus switches to

teaching in parables. He does so when his contemporaries reject him because their hearts are “gross” or

“fat.” Since in Hebrew, the heart often denotes the min, a “fat heart” is a mind that is impermeable, re-

sistant, or sluggish; those who reject Jesus are those who are too lazy to ponder and try to understand his

teachings. They are like their ancestors who rejected the preaching of Isaiah in the eighth century BC, the

people of Judah who doubted that the Lord was in their midst and became lackadaisical about keeping

the covenant. Now, the failure of their descendants to accept that God is present and acting in Jesus

once again fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy.

In contrast to these unbelievers are people who accept Jesus and commit their life to him. They are

“blessed” because they are beginning to understand “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven” and to re-

alize the opportunity that Jesus offers them. They yearn to learn more about God’s kingdom. They want to

contribute to its unfolding manifestation on earth.

In the interpretation of the parable (Matthew 13:18-23), “what is sown” in its telling is finally specified as

the people who hear “the word of the kingdom” preached. Of all these, only those who take the time and

make the effort to understand Jesus’ teachings and live by them bear fruit-but the amount they bear is

beyond their wildest imaging. There is no greater fulfillment nor nobler calling than living and working for

the Lord’s concerns –the privilege of the baptized in every age.

Thoughts by Elizabeth M. Nagel, SSL, SSD