February 13, 2011 - Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time page 2

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois

Parish Office 203 E. Main St., P.O. Box 730, Teutopolis, IL 62467-0730 Office Hours: Mon. -Fri. – 9:00 am -4:30 pm Phone....................................................(217) 857-6404 Fax........................................................(217) 857-1031 Parish E-mail ................... stfrancischurch@mchsi.com Parish website: stfrancischurch.com Submit written bulletin notices by noon Monday. Diocesan website: www.dio.org Sacramental Celebrations Weekday Liturgy: See inside schedule Weekend Liturgy: Saturday 5:30 pm; Sunday 7:00, 8:45, & 10:30 am Holy Days Liturgy: Eve 7:00 pm; Day 6:00 am, noon & 7:00 pm Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday: 3:30-4:30 pm Thursday before First Friday: 3:30-4:30 pm Anytime by appointment Sacrament of Matrimony: Arrangements must be made a minimum of 6 months in advance with the Pastor. Sacrament of Baptism: Baptism Prep. class is required before baptism. Please call office to pre-register. Parish Pastoral Team Fr. Austin Albers, OFM, Pastor Fr. Vernon Olmer, OFM, Associate Pastor Fr. Ken Rosswog, OFM, Associate Pastor Maria Wargolet, Director of Music Ministry Theresa Draper, Coordinator of Music Ministry Anita Broom, Bookkeeper Bernice Matteson, Part-time Secretary Jane Miller, Part-time Secretary Ron Ruholl, Maintenance Religious Education: Sr. A. Pierre Wilken, OSF, Director of Faith Formation: 857-6404 Sr. Ann Siemer, SSND, Gr. Sch./Jr. Hi. DRE: 857-6477/3015 Lisa Siemer, Youth Director & Sr. High CRE: 857-1500 Carlene Rauch, Part-time Rel. Ed. Secretary: 857-6477 Trustees: Terry Meyer & Tina Brumleve Parish Council: Bruce Buhnerkempe Jodie Pruemer John Bushur Louise Sheehan Sandy Fisher Tammy Willenborg Jack Hardiek Steve Witges Doug Mette

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 13, 2011

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 13, 2011

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Teutopolis, Illinois

St. Francis of Assisi Parish – Teutopolis, Illinois page 2

Nominees for Parish Council Jim Apke Carl Schwinke Tim Sheehan

Kate Bloemer Marti Breer Janet Goldstein

Kay McMahon Deb Niebrugge Sue Schultheis

Election will be held next weekend. We will be vot-ing for one man and two women. Every parishioner 18 years and older is encouraged to vote.

Discovering Franciscan Spirituality When asked why did you decide to join The Order, some local Secular Franciscans reply, “because my parents were in it,” or “because one of my parents was an active member.” One person recalled being very edified as a youngster in observing that both parents put God first one Sunday afternoon every month by attending the scheduled gatherings for prayer, formation, and fellowship. Both married and single individuals are eligible to join. Or one spouse can come alone if the partner cannot at this time. Active Catholics 18 years of age and older are invited to an initial formation session at 1:00 pm on February 20, 2011 and also join in the Benediction service at 2:00 pm which is followed by on-going formation and refreshments. This will take place at St. Francis Church and St. Clare Hall in Teutopolis. For further information contact Fr. Ken at 217-857-6404 or Jim Weis at 217-857-3491.

Enrich Your Spiritual Life DeColores is a three day experience beginning on Thurs-day evening and ending on Sunday. This weekend leads to a closer relationship with Jesus and a renewal of our faith. Share inspiring talks, the Eucharist, the Way of the Cross, etc. You will enliven your faith and have fun with new friends. The Men’s Weekend #121 is March 31-April 3, 2011 The Women’s Weekend #122 is April 7-10, 2011 Weekends are held near Effingham. For the exact loca-tion and additional information, please contact Jerry Vogt at 217-844-2321 or Tom & Patti Jansen at 618-238-4339.

Meditation Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mathew 5:20) What a burden! Or at least that’s how Jesus’ words here sound at first. After all, we all know how rigorous the scribes and Pharisees were at keeping the Law of Moses. Do we have to do even better than them if we want to get into heaven? Well, yes and no. On the one hand, Jesus does have high expectations for us. He does want us to be holy as he is holy. But on the other hand, he has made it possible for us to attain this very high calling—through his death and resurrection. He has given us his own body and blood in the Eucharist. He has given us the gift of reconciliation. And even more, he has given us his own Holy Spirit. This is why the gospel is such good news. Yes, the stan-dards are high, but so too is the grace. It really is possible to live a life of righteousness and love. It really is possi-ble to be heroes and heroines of Christ in the world! Don’t be afraid to embrace your calling. The world is waiting for the witness that only you can give. It’s wait-ing for people who are willing and able to rise above the temptations that beset all of us. It’s waiting for men and women who manifest the joy, the confidence, and the freedom of children of God. You don’t have to be per-fect; you just have to try your best to surrender to the Spirit. Jesus will take care of the rest. Jesus is waiting, too. He is waiting to shower you with all the blessings and grace he has in store for you. He is ea-ger to pour his Spirit into you and to watch the kind of effect you have on the world around you. You really can change the world! “Jesus, I surrender my life to you. Come and fill me with your Spirit. Lord, transform my heart so that I can live out your high and noble calling.” —The Word Among Us

Newly Registered We welcome those who have recently registered with our parish:

Jason and Megan (Hoene) Tegeler

Tracy Zerrusen

Liturgy Schedule 6th Week in Ordinary Time

February 14-20 Monday, St. Cyril St. Methodius Mass at 6:30 am Tuesday, Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Wednesday, Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Thursday, Seven Founders of the Order of Servites Mass at 6:30 am Friday, Mass at 6:30 & 8:05 am Saturday, Mass at 5:30 pm Sunday, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Mass at 7:00, 8:45, 10:30 am

Confession Schedule Saturday, February 19 - 3:30-4:30 pm

Liturgy of the Hours with Friars

Monday-Friday -- 11:45 am & 4:45 pm

Stewardship of Treasure Sunday Total Fiscal 2/6/2011 Year 317 Adult envelopes $8,012.50 $254,629.00 Other 535.00 18,982.34 TOTAL $8,547.50 $273,614.34 GOAL $9,900.00 $316,800.00

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Pray for the Sick

Monday, February 14 • Men’s Holy Name mtg., 7:30 pm, Museum

Meeting Room Wednesday February 16 • Children’s Choir, 3:30 pm • Young Adult Choir, 6:00 pm Thursday, February 17 • Adult Choir, 7:00 pm Friday, February 18 • Rosary, 9:30 am, Church and St. Clare • Teen Center open Saturday, February 19 • Confessions, 3:30-4:30 pm • Teen Center open Sunday, February 20 • Secular Franciscans meet, 2:00 pm, Church

Parish Calendar

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick, especially: Sr. Clara Esker, Jodi Waymoth, Evelyn Krone, Cathy Green, Nicholas Rhodes, Renae Roepke, Clint Dasenbrock, Sally Weber

Homebound Ministers Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion to the Homebound for Sunday, February 20th are: Lenora Drees 857-3583, Betty Koeberlein 342-3204, Sharon Brummer 857-6092

Question of the Week How can Christians remain in the world yet grow in love, purity & nonviolence? Sirach 15:15-20 I Cor. 2:6-10 Mt. 5:17-37

Sympathy We extend our sympathy to families and friends of Eleanor Fuesting, Louis Probst, Rebekah Volk and Tom Overbeck. May they be enjoying eternal peace and happiness in heaven.

Next Foccus Date Saturday, April 2, 2011. Foccus is a requirement for all couples marrying here. Please call the parish office to register—857-6404.

Why Catholic? is quickly approaching. Anyone who has not been part of a group but would like to be part of a group as a Lenten project can register now. It is not necessary to have been in a group in order to register now. Re-registration will not be necessary for those al-ready in a group. Please call Sr. Pierre 857-6404 ext. 227.

BIBLE STUDY meets on the first and third Thursday of the month in St. Clare Hall at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 17’s topic is: Conquest and Judges.

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Religious Education News Grade School--Gr. 2 children are preparing for the re-ception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation which takes place Saturday, February 26, from 9:00 to 10:00 (A-M) and from 10:30 to 11:30 (N-Z). Parents, please practice the Act of Contrition with the children. Parents and family members are also invited to receive the Sacrament as a way of preparing for the Lenten sea-son, which begins with Ash Wednesday on March 9. Parents, please mark your calendars for the First Com-munion Parent Meetings taking place on Thursday, March 10, in St. Clare Hall and Monday, March 14, in the Museum Dining Room. Grade 6-Children are preparing for their Mission Bake Sale—Winter/St. Patrick Bake Sale—which takes place on Thursday, February 24, the proceeds going to supply food, clothing, and education to the poorest of the poor children of East India. Grade 6 children will be bringing home a note requesting signing up to donate a decorated cake. Other baked items or homemade candy (butterscotch/fudge) are also needed for the late February sale. We thank all those who are helping the children learn this very important lesson in Catholic education—spreading the Good News of Jesus by helping missionar-ies and mission children in foreign lands. Monday, February 21, is Presidents’ Day. There is no school that day. Pre/Kdgn. Sunday morning religion classes take place in the Grade School cafeteria during the l0:30 Mass . Junior High—We congratulate the Seventh and Eighth graders—both players and fans—who helped bring suc-cess to their school and to Teutopolis by their recent vic-tories. Classes resume on Wed., February 16. Grade 7 students will be asked to participate in the silhouette stations of the cross on Friday, March 18, at St. Francis Church from 7:00 to 7:30. Forms will be passed out for parents to sign and return and information will be discussed in class about participating in the various roles. Practice times take place before class on March 2 and 16.

B&B Sunday group meets from 8:00-9:30 on Sunday evenings in St. Clare Hall. One topic is not dependent on another. This week’s topic: Overview of the Gospels. Bring your favorite beverage and come join us.

RCIA meets every Sunday following the 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Rose in Montrose. Anyone interested in up-dating their faith or desiring to know the Catholic faith is welcome. Sessions last about an hour. This week’s topic: The Sacrament of Marriage

Youth Notes: Ski Forms are due by MONDAY! Ski trip is February 21 at Paoli Peaks, IN & it is always a blast! Cost is $72 and checks are payable to St. Franks. Cost includes ski rental, lift ticket & transportation on a Bales bus. Forms are available on the parish website. Teen Center is open on Friday, February 18 for Jr. High Night – Chaperones are Elaine Buehnerkemper and Randy & Amy Thoele. Saturday, February 19 is open for High School night – we are still looking for a chaperon! Call the High School office if you are available!

Today is celebrated as World Marriage Day. Your love is not only for your own good, but you are a witness that sacred promises are possible to keep. Encourage and sup-port other married couples you know. For daily marriage tips visit: www.ForYourMarriage.org.

Mark Your Calendar The annual Right to Life Rummage Sale will be March 9, 10, 11 at the Effingham K of C building. When cleaning house save your treasures for this sale.

Holy Humor… If Students wrote the Bible Instead of God creating the world in six days and rsting on theseventh, he would have put it off until the night be-fore it was due and then pulled an all-nighter. The Last Supper would have been eaten the next morn-ing—cold. The Ten Commandments would actually be only five—double-spaced and written in a large font.

Happy Valentine’s

Day

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Family Corner “I love you.” We don’t nearly hear that enough. Maybe, when we’re young and parents want to reinforce self-esteem in their youngster, but as a teen and/or an adult…? It seems that we have a built in “love day” with the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day. It isn’t so we spend billions on chocolates, flowers and cards for those we love. It isn’t so we “make a date” with a special someone or go out to eat so mom doesn’t have to cook that day. It isn’t so we exchange valentine cards to classmates, neighbors or people we don’t really know. Valentine’s Day is one of those “Catholic” feastdays that have been taken over by our culture as a day to up the consumer index. Just what can we do to show someone we love them? My guess is that daily, family members show their love to one another in countless ways. Why not take Valentine’s Day and remind one another just how much we do love each other. (no money involved!)

• Cooking, baking, making favorite desserts for special family days

• Hosting family gatherings for just a great weekend; nothing special • Cleaning; a clean house that

is lived in but not immacu-late tells those in it that we care enough to respect our common space together

• Having sleepovers that are safe & fun

• Car pooling to games, gymnastics, music lessons, etc

• Taking the “forgotten” homework or lunch to school

• Holding hands when walking together • Helping another in/out of a car, van or truck • Sharing a liquid libation when all the kids are in

bed • Not texting when talking to someone else • See how many other ways you show your love….

Happy Valentine’s Day. We are loved! Remember: God loves you. Try counting all those ways!!!!

Thank You The family of Rebekah K. Volk would like to thank everyone for all your visits, cards, and help during her illness and for all your prayers, cards, visits, phone call, flowers, meals, donations, loving memorials to the children’s college funds, or help in any way that was given in memory of Rebekah. We feel very blessed to be surrounded by such loving friends and a caring community. Words cannot express the ongoing love and support that has been shown to Rebekah and our family through the journey of her illness and recent passing. We have all been truly blessed and comforted with your kindness and generosity and Rebekah’s passing showed us how many lives she has touched with her teaching, friendship, and spreading the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Fr. Austin said in a recent homily at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Teutopolis: “We are called to go make a difference in this world.” Those of us who were privileged to know, work with, and love Rebekah—truly know that she did and so did all of you! May God continue to bless each one of you in a special way. Thank you all again!

With our love in Jesus, Mark, Kate, and Matthew Volk

John, Donna, Fr. Luke, and Jacob Spannagel

Prayer Vigil for Life The Catholic Newman Center, Charleston, will host the February 21st Prayer Vigil for Life. Praying the scrip-tural rosary will begin at 6:00 pm, followed by Mass at 6:30 pm. Reports on the Washington March for Life and the RTL Breakfast will be on the agenda. A short seg-ment of the Lifetalk News Video will be viewed and cur-rent pro-family legislation will be addressed. Everyone is welcome to join us in prayer to end abortion and embry-onic stem-cell research.

RECOGNIZING THAT WE OWN NOTHING We own nothing. We are simply stewards of our lives, our goods, and our relationships. A basic understanding of Christian stewardship is that we are set in this world as caretakers, as stewards, not as possessors. To be wise, is, in one sense, to be a good steward. The Gospel story of the talents constitutes a plea for us to use what has been entrusted to us, but it is grounded in the truth that we own nothing, not even our lives. See more at www.parishpublishing.org/. © www.parishpublishing.org/

Save Your Receipts Rural King will donate 5% of the subtotal of your bill to our parish for purchases you make during the week of February 13-20th. Send or bring in your original receipt to the parish office by February 24th. Thanks!

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Socials Annual Breakfast hosted by St. Rose Catholic Church, Montrose, today, February 13th. Serving will be from 7:00 to 12 noon in the church basement. Whole hog sau-sage, ham, pancakes, eggs, rolls, coffee, juice, and milk will be served There will be a Country Store and Quilt Raffle. Prices are $6 for a large plate and $4 for a small plate. Winter Dance on Saturday, February 19th at the Holy Cross Parish Center, Wendelin, Illinois, 8:00-11:00 pm. Music provided by Hidden Creek (country music). Set-ups (soda/water) will be available, you may bring your favorite adult beverage. Must be 21 years of age to be admitted. $5.00 per couple, $3.00 per single. Sponsored by the Family Life Committee. Annual Breakfast at St. Clare’s, Altamont on Sunday, February 20th in the church basement. Whole hog sau-sage patties, ham, biscuits & gravy, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and a variety of delicious home-baked breads and sweet rolls. There will also be a quilt raffle and 50/50 drawing. Soup Supper hosted by the St. Isidore Youth Ministry will be held on Sunday, February 20th at the St. Aloysius hall, serving soup, sandwiches and dessert from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. A basket raffle will also take place. This is in conjunction with the day of prayer at St. Aloysius Church Card Party at St. Michael’s, Sigel will be held on Sun-day, February 20th, 6:00 pm in the Parish gym. Cost is $5.00 per card for the night. Card Party to benefit the Dieterich Civic Center will be held on Sunday, February 27th, at 6:00 pm. Pinochle, Solo, Pitch and Dominos will be played. The cost is $6.00.

Ooo La La Raffle Oooo La La Raffle tickets are still being sold by Catholic Heart Work Campers! For $5, you can purchase a raffle ticket to win a night’s stay in the Whirlpool Suite at the Hilton Garden Inn in Effingham along with 2 breakfasts in the Great American Grill. The 2nd opportunity to win is a 2 hour limo service from Bales Unlimited! All partici-pants going to Milwaukee have tickets for this event or tickets can be purchased at the parish office or Niebrugge Financial. Gift Cards/Scrip Cards Don’t forget to keep using the Scrip/Gift Card program offered through the church! ! Haven’t tried it yet? It’s simple! You purchase gift cards just like you would at the store or restaurant for full face value and the youth earn a percentage from those cards. It’s an easy program to use & it’s a great way to support the area youth in the process. We carry cards to local places like Niemergs, Joe’s Pizza, TGI Fridays, Pizza Man, Cracker Barrel, Wal-Mart, IGA, Kohls, JC Penneys, Maurices, Menards, and more! We also have some in stock for national retail-ers like Aeropostle, Applebees, Marathon, American Ea-gle, ITunes, Old Navy & More! Not only do we have these in stock, we also have the ability to order from hun-dreds more retailers & you get the cards by the following week. Pick up a Scrip Card order form & check out what we have to offer! Cards are available Mon – Thurs at Niebrugge Financial on Main St. and on Saturdays from 8 – 12 at the Parish Office.

You Make The Difference Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Over the past five years, our community has recycled over 350 tons of cardboard, plastic and cans, improving our quality of life and has demonstrated our investment in the future. Though the recycling program is experienc-ing an impasse, the Village is exploring options to pay for the recycling program as it presently operates. The Vil-lage has committed to pay the charges until April 30, 2011, and the continuance of the program will be dis-cussed at the board meeting this Wednesday. For the program to continue and the rates to remain low, the recycling needs to be checked ensuring the materials are clean. The time requirement is approximately one to two hours a day. We are looking for interested organiza-tions, parishioners and citizens to help solve the man-power aspect of the program. If you are interested volun-teering, please contact Shelise Parsley, the Peace Corps Fellow working for the Village at shelise.parsley@gmail.com or 857-1884.

Soup Supper – The Catholic Heart Work Campers invite you to a soup supper on February 27 from 3 – 6:30 pm at the Grade School Gym! It’s a new location for us to offer home-made soups, sandwiches, & homemade desserts! Come enjoy great food & company and support the youth of the area in the process!

Mark Your Calendar: The Family Life Center is pleased to announce the eighth annual production of Broadway For Life to be held March 19, 2011 at the Ef-fingham Performance Center, Effingham. Please call the Family Life Center at 342-5433 to reserve your tickets.