Marriage bann Megan Lynn Doerr & Gerald Joseph Krenik

We welcome the newest members of the Church through the waters of Baptism: Jacob Anthony Traxler

Baptism Classes If you are interested in having your child baptized, please contact Father Chris at the Parish Office to reserve your spot and to schedule a Baptism class. This 1 1/2 hour-long class is required for the parents and godparents of the child to be baptized.

Please note the next scheduled date for baptism will take place on August 13, 2017.

Please Note: A requirement for Baptism is a copy of the child’s birth certificate.

Sacramental Life

Community and Social Events

TODAY, Sunday, July 16, 2017 Ice Cream Social - from 2-4PM at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 51 Church Street, Elko New Market. We will provide free ice cream and toppings; you provide the good company and conversation. Please be sure to bring a friend!

Thursday, July 20, 2017 Village 55 Plus - Ice Cream Social gathering at Horizon Place, 510 Commerce Drive, Le Center. Fun musical entertainment provided by the Neverly Brothers from Mankato followed by local concertina musicians. Come join us for pie, ice cream, and a good time!

Sunday, July 23, 2017 Ice Cream Social - St. Paul Lutheran Church, 22693 German Lake Road, Cleveland, 10:30AM-1:30PM, serving pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, hot dogs, chips, beverage, pie & ice cream.

Saturday, July 29, 2017 Country Garden Tour & Luncheon - 9AM-3PM Visit 5 Scott County gardens on this self-guided tour. A salad lunch will be served from 11AM-1:30 PM at St. Catherine, 4500 220th St. E, Prior Lake. See bulletin boards for more information.

Sunday, July 30, 2017 Litomysl Summer Festival - On the grounds of Holy Trinity Catholic Church (6 miles south of Owatonna on I-35 to Hope Exit #32, then East on County Road 4 to County Road 3, then South for 1/2 mile, then 3 miles East on 98th St. SE). Polka Mass at 10AM, festival from 11AM-4:30PM. Lunch in air conditioned and handicapped accessible basement, food and refreshment stands outdoors, raffle with over 65 prizes, root beer barrel game with over 5000 prizes to be won, live musical entertainment including the Owatonna KC Choir, The Klecker Band, Dan Stursa Band, The Sand Creek Connection, and Hans Hohrman, prune, poppyseed, apricot biscuits and so much more, www.litomysl.webs.com

St.Mary/St. Henry Pastoral Council Meeting July 25, 2017 at 7:00 PM Conference Room

Save the Date! Join Fr. James Adams on a 1 day Pilgrimage Tuesday, July 25, 2017

We will visit the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart Sisters in New Ulm, MN and the Schoenstatt

Sisters of Mary and Shrine in Sleepy Eye, MN.

This is especially geared for young people to spend the day learning about religious life and God’s plan

for you! - but all ages are welcome!

Sign up in the parish office by July 18th. Tentatively the plan is for each person to bring their

own packed lunch and to carpool making it a free event.

France with Fr. James Adams & Mary Ann Kuharski

September 19-27, 2017

France Pilgrimage Informational Meeting Fr. Adams will hold a short informational meeting for anyone interested in getting more information on the pilgrimage to France that he will be leading in September. The meeting will take place at the Marysburg

Hall after the 10:30 AM Mass at Marysburg. Deadline to sign up for the pilgrimage is July 30.

Lourdes Lisieux Nevers Normandy Mont Saint-Michel

Cost: $3,699 (Airfare included from anywhere in the US) To Register: Call 855-842-8001 or register online at

www.proximotravel.com (in search bar type Father James)

More information, including trip itinerary can be found in church entrances and outside the parish office entrance.

Spiritual Enrichment and Education Opportunities

St. Henry News

Treatment of Prisoners

As Pro-Life people, we need be concerned about the quality of life for all people, which includes the innocent victims of war and crime, as well as prisoners and prisoners of war. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that even in a just war, “non-combatants, wounded soldiers and prisoners must be respected and treated humanely. Actions deliberately contrary to the law of nations and to its universal principles are crimes, as are the orders that command such actions. Blind obedience does not suffice to excuse those who carry them out” (CCC 2313). But even so, they must be treated with respect. One of the Corporal Works of Mercy is to visit the imprisoned, which is a response to Jesus’ call: “When I was in prison, you visited me” (Matthew 25:36). Even if we are unable to visit them physically, we can still visit them with our prayers.

St. Mary-St. Henry Pro-Life Team

Church Cleaning - Ann Selly & Sandra Miller are scheduled to clean the church by July 23, 2017.

- Hispanic Food Sale this Weekend -

Sunday, July 16 at St. Mary Plan to join us!

Red Cross Blood Drive - Le Center Community - American Legion Friday, July 28, 2017 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM Please call 1-800-RED CROSS (733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org and enter LeCenter to schedule an appointment.

Churches of St. Mary & St. Henry 165 N. Waterville Ave., Le Center, MN 56057

Phone: 507-357-6633 Phone/Fax: 507-357-4838

www.stmarysthenry.org

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

July 16, 2017

Parish Staff

Pastor: Fr. Christopher Shofner, fr.chris@hotmail.com

After Hours Emergencies: 612-227-7985

Associate Pastor: Fr. James Adams, padrejfa@frontier.com

Trustees St. Mary: Clarence Mager 357-4338 Pete Plut 357-6222

Trustees St. Henry: Dan Germscheid 357-4923 Jim Selly 357-4898

Coordinator of Faith Formation: Jean Boothby

jeanrb@frontier.com

Secretary/Receptionist: Gloria Wolf

gloriagw@frontier.com

Accounting/Bookkeeping: Tara Robinson

tarar@frontier.com

Maintenance: Joe Holicky

jholicky1@frontier.com

Music Ministry: Terri McMillen

mcmillen752@gmail.com

Office Hours - 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Thursday

9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Friday

Bulletin Deadline - articles need to be submitted to Gloria by noon

on Wednesday.

For use of meeting rooms or Social Hall - contact Gloria

Mass Schedule

Saturday 4:30 PM (St. Mary)

Sunday 8:00 AM (St. Henry)

10:00 AM (St. Mary)

12:00 PM (St. Mary, in Spanish)

Monday No Mass

Tuesday 5:00 PM

Wednesday to Friday 9:00 AM

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Saturday 3:45-4:20 PM (St. Mary)

Sunday 7:30-7:50 AM (St. Henry)

Or by appointment (contact Fr. Shofner)

Our Eucharistic Adoration chapel is open for individuals to come

for 5 minutes or an hour and be with Our Lord in the Blessed

Sacrament. Our chapel hours are: Tuesday 9:00 AM to Thursday

9:00 AM (closes during daily Mass and Funeral Masses).

“God loves

each of us

as if there

were only

one of us.”

-St. Augustine of Hippo

Readings for next Sunday, July 23, 2017 Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

Romans 8:26-27 Matthew 13:24-43

From the Pastor’s Desk Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week we are very excited to welcome the Totus Tuus team to our community as they lead a week of activities, discussions, prayer and fun with our youth in Grades 1-12. Four young adult team leaders are spending the week living in our community and staying with host families as they offer the Gospel message to our youth. We have heard of the good fruits of the Totus Tuus program for years and have wanted to bring it here in the past, but circumstances did not allow us the opportunity until now. We are so blessed to have this chance now. I am certain that all the youth will have a positive experience with Totus Tuus and that they will end the week with a greater appreciation for their Catholic Faith. Please make plans to join us for a potluck on Wednesday evening at St. Mary’s at 5:30 pm to meet the Totus Tuus team and to enjoy the company of those in our community. All are invited – bring the family and a dish to share!

This weekend we hear the familiar parable of the sower who goes out to plant seed, and some of the seed falls on different soils, either allowing the seed to take root and bear fruit or not. This is the first parable and the most foundational that Jesus presents in Matthew’s Gospel. It’s also the only parable that Jesus fully explains the meaning of. The soils represent the groundwork of our soul – that is, how ready our spirits are to accept the message of faith in Jesus. 1) The seed that falls on the path are snatched by birds and eaten. This

represents those that hear Jesus’ message but allow the Enemy to come and take away what they were given. The message of faith doesn’t take root, and they are unchanged.

2) The seed that falls on stony ground grows quickly, but its roots are shallow, and they quickly die. This represents those that hear the message of Jesus, but it doesn’t go deep enough in their soul, so the message does not endure.

3) The seed that falls on thorny ground takes root and grows, but the thorny vines choke the plant, and it dies. This represents those that hear the message of Jesus, but worldly distractions and anxieties cause their faith to be choked off.

4) The seed that falls on fertile ground takes roots, grows, and bears abundant fruit. This represents those who hear the message of Jesus, allow it to take root in their heart, and persevere in it so that their lives bear the fruits of love, joy, peace, faith, hope, goodness, etc.

Of course, we want our lives to be defined by the good soil (the fourth one described above). But at times we may find our spirits weakened and we falter. One of the other soils may better reflect the state of our soul at times, or we find that a loved one is stuck in one of the other states. But we are always invited to return to faith in Jesus, which is life-giving. No matter if we find our faith faltering every once in a while or almost all the time, this is the nice thing about Jesus – He will always welcome us back. If we come to Him and place our lives in His hands, He will nurture the soil of our soul and make it able to receive the message of faith effectively. But it requires prayer. It requires the grace of the Sacraments (which are amazing gifts of God to strengthen our spirit!). It requires the commitment to living as Christ lived. And it requires the humility to come to Jesus, be honest about our lives, ask forgiveness, and surrender our lives into His hands. Our Lord is the Master Sower. He knows what is needed to create the perfect groundwork in our soul for the seed of faith to be nurtured. But we must be ready and willing to place ourselves into His care.

God bless, Fr. Chris Shofner Fr.Chris@hotmail.com

Mass Schedule & Intentions

Please note Mass time changes for this week

Monday, July 17 11:00 AM Confessions 11:30 AM Mass Adam Smisek†

Tuesday, July 18 9:00 AM Opening of Adoration 11:00 AM Confessions 11:30 AM Mass Milo Warnemunde† 8:30 PM Confessions

Wednesday, July 19 11:00 AM Confessions 11:30 AM Mass Living and Deceased of Milo Vavra and family

Thursday, July 20 9:00 AM Closing of Adoration 11:00 AM Confessions 11:30 AM Mass Dorleen Schmieg†

Friday, July 21 11:00 AM CHC Mass Rev. Michael V. Tegeder† 11:00 AM Confessions 11:30 AM Mass Eileen Factor†

Saturday, July 22 - Missionary at all Masses 3:45 PM Confessions 4:30 PM Mass Robert Meyer†

Sunday, July 23 - Missionary at all Masses 7:30 AM Confessions (St. Henry) 8:00 AM Mass (St. Henry) Dick Wieland† 10:00 AM Mass Living and Deceased of Joseph Cemensky Jr. family 12:00 PM Mass (in Spanish) For the Parish

This Week in the Parish

Monday, July 17 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 1-6) 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 7-12)

Tuesday, July 18 Communion Calls - Kathy 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 1-6) 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 7-12)

Wednesday, July 19 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 1-6) 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 7-12)

Thursday, July 20 Horizon Place - Lillian 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 1-6) 7:30 PM - 9:45 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 7-12)

5-6:00 PM Hispanic Choir Practice 7:00 PM Hispanic Bible Study

Friday, July 21 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM TOTUS TUUS (Grades 1-6) PM Wedding practice

Saturday, July 22 2:00 PM Wedding

Sunday, July 23 - Missionary at all Masses

Faith Formation 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saturday, July 22 4:30 PM Altar Server Ethan Gibeau

Eucharistic Minister Christy Gibbs Volunteer Needed

Lector Gene Holicky

Usher Dick Bradshaw Warren Connelly Austin Gibeau Jeremy Gindt

Sunday, July 23, 8:00 AM Altar Server Noah Holicky

Eucharistic Minister Mike Boettcher

Lector Bill Norris

Sunday, July 23, 10:00 AM Altar Server Thomas Budin Elizabeth Christian Kaylee Harkins

Eucharistic Minister Angie Christian Brent Christian Kae Traxler Pat Traxler

Lector Julie Deutsch

Usher Dan Lang Dennis Lang Pete Plut Don Reak

Totus Tuus Parish Potluck Wednesday, July 19, 2017 from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Come join the fun! The entire parish is invited to meet the team and families of the Totus Tuus community. Bring your favorite dish to share. The younger youth will perform some of their favorite songs from the week.

Totus Tuus Tonight begins our fun-filled adventure with the Totus Tuus team.

Join us for a week of fellowship, catechesis, prayer and fun!

Totus Tuus: Grades 7-12, Sunday, July 16 – Thursday, July 20 from 7:30 pm – 9:45 pm

Tuesday Evening: Adoration & Confession from 8:30-9:30pm Thursday Evening: Social 7:30-9:45pm– plan on meeting offsite for

food, fun & games. Details to come.

Totus Tuus: Grades 1-6, Monday, July 17 - Friday, July 21 from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm

Daily Mass from 11:30am-12:15pm Wednesday Evening: Parish Potluck for all families.

Children will be singing! Friday Afternoon: Water games – Children are encouraged to bring a

squirt gun and wear clothes and shoes that are able to get wet! Bring a towel.

VBS Children ages 3-5 are invited to join us for a week of song, bible stories, and hilarious activities as we learn about God’s creation. Come ready to

get messy and learn about what makes our world and ourselves so special! Volunteers ages 14 and up are needed to make this week a

success. Contact Jean or the church office if you would like to help out.

VBS: Pre-School 3 – Kindergarten, Sunday, July 30 – Thursday, August 3, from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Registration forms may be found at the entrances of the church or on our website.

“And in this fellowship we enjoy the eternal life he promised us.” 1 John 2:25

Jean R. Boothby Faith Formation Coordinator jeanrb@frontier.com 941-962-5168

Parish Stewardship

July 8-9, 2017 St. Mary St. Henry

Weekly Budget $ 3950.00 $ 825.00

Weekly Offering $ 2364.09 $ 835.00 Plate $ 233.00 $ 136.00

TOTAL $ 2597.09 $ 971.00

Diff. from budget -$ 1352.91 +$ 146.00

Building Maintenance and Improvement Fund $ 1042.00

All future Building Fund money collected will be put toward building maintenance and improvement projects.

Vacation Bible School - Summer 2017

All Things Bright & Beautiful: Celebrating God’s Creations

July 30 – August 3 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Ages 3 years old – entering Kindergarten

All things bright and Beautiful, All creatures great and small, All things wise and wonderful, The Lord God made them all.

-Cecil Frances Alexander

Day 1: God Gives us Light Day 2: God Gives us Water Day 3: God Gives us Plants

Day 4: God Gives us Animals Day 5: God Gives us the Earth to take care of

Registration forms at church and office entrances. Or contact Jean at 507-357-4838 or

jeanrb@frontier.com

Peter’s Pence Collection Thank you for your generous support in last week’s Peter’s Pence Collection! Our contributions will be combined with those from our brothers and sisters around the world to help Pope Francis provide essential relief to people in need. If you missed the collection, it is not too late to give, visit www.usccb.org/nationalcollections, and click on the “How to Give” link on the left or drop your envelope off at the parish office during the week. Thank you!