Pastor: Father Patrick Arens 548 17th St., P. O. Box 39, Windom, MN 56101 E-mail: acmpastor@gmail.com

Rectory Phone: 507-831-3300

Brewster office: Loretta Smith: Office Coordinator PH: 507-842-5584 Office Hours: Monday and Thursday, 9:00AM-5:00PM E-Mail: sacreds@centurytel.net

Heron Lake office: Carmen Rasche: Office Coordinator PH: 507-793-2357 Office Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30AM-4:00PM E-mail: sacredhearthl@gmail.com Website: http://sacredheartheronlake.org

Windom office: Kathy Ratzlaff: Office Coordinator PH: 507-831-1985 FAX: 507-831-0717

Office Hours: Mon, 10-12; Tues, 10-4; Wed 9-3 (Closed Over NOON)

E-mail: stfxavier@windomnet.com Website: www.sfxwindom.org

WEEKEND LITURGIES

U SACRED HEART

BREWSTER SATURDAY

5:00 PM U

SACRED HEART HERON LAKE

SUNDAY 8:30 AM U

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER WINDOM SUNDAY

10:00 AM

SPANISH MASS 2:30PM

U MARRIAGE

Arrangements must be made with the priest at least six to eight months prior to your intended date of marriage to begin preparation.

U NEW PARISHIONERS

We welcome you into God’s family! If you are interested in learning more about our church, or would like to join, please stop in the Parish Office. Please notify the Parish Office of any change of address.

THE PARISH COMMUNITIES OF: ST. FRANCIS XAVIER, WINDOM SACRED HEART, HERON LAKE SACRED HEART, BREWSTER

PASTOR: REVEREND ANDREW D. OLSEM 548 17th Street, Windom, MN 56101 PHONE: (507) 831-3300 Visit our website at www.sfxwindom.org.

NEXT WEEK’S READINGS NUMBERS 6:22-27 GALATIANS 4:4-7 LUKE 2:16-21 UKE 1

SATURDAY BREWSTER 5:00PM SUNDAY HERON LAKE 8:30AM WINDOM 10:00AM SERVERS Jay Hennings, Cooper McCoy Sami Freking, Kendra Stearns Trent LaCanne Ethan Haberman Elise Rostomily Trey LaCanne LECTOR Ann Schmitz Judy Stenzel Candy Riordan Melonie Haberman Joanne Waldron Tom Riordan CANTOR Nadine Forman GIFTS Larry & Denise Schmitz Agnes Lohse, Elaine Stenzel Leonard & Betty Thiner COMM MIN Martha Eichenberger Kraig & Sharon Leopold Jean Hoppe, Kathy Ratzlaff Ed Smith Lori Henkels Ronda Kelly, Diane Beens Loretta Smith Larry Wagner, Mark Fest Arlene Bartosh USHERS Larry Schmitz Lukas DeWall, Taylor DeWall Paul & Pat Reinhardt Fred Polzine George Diemer, Jason Diemer Mike Haugen, Malon Thompson

GREETERS Darol Schmitz Donald & Maurita Volk Gale Symens Family SOGGE HOME December 31st Elaine Tasler, Rose Schwalbach ROSARY Larry & Shirley Wagner CONTRIB Darol Schmitz Ryan & Carrissa Haberman Rose Schwalbach STEWARDS Kim Lambert & DJ Erin Haberman Cindy Reid

BREWSTER HERON LAKE WINDOM Week 25/52 $ -0- $ -0- $ 2417

YTD 31913 60363 61326 BUDGET 78900 (18537)

THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION will be offered before Mass on Saturday beginning at 4:30PM at Sacred Heart Church in Brewster; on Sunday beginning at 8:00AM at Sacred Heart in Heron Lake, and “by appointment” at St. Francis Xavier in Windom.

IN BREWSTER: The Rosary will be said every Saturday evening before Mass at 4:30PM at Sacred Heart Church in Brewster.

YOU ARE INVITED to join in praying the Rosary every Sunday morning before Mass at Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake and at 9:30AM at St. Francis Xavier Church in Windom.

THE ROSARY will be said every Thursday at 8:30AM at Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake. Come pray with us!

VOCATION VIEW: A child is born for us; a son is given to us. Are we willing to proclaim tidings of great joy to the world? (Luke 2:1-14)

FUNERAL: Eternal rest grant unto Margaret Finnegan, whose funeral Mass was Wednesday, December 21st, at Sacred Heart Church in Heron Lake. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. We also remember her loved ones in prayer.

Monday NO MASS Tuesday NO MASS Wednesday NO MASS Thursday NO MASS Friday NO MASS

Solemnity of Mary, Vigil Saturday 5:00PM Brewster Jeneva Nau Solemnity of Mary, Holy Day Sunday 8:30AM Heron Lake For the People 5:00PM 10:00AM Windom JoAnn Wisdorf Windom For the People Spanish Mass 2:30PM Windom Delores Daggett

FROM THE DESK OF FR. ARENS

My friends,

After four weeks of preparation during the season of Advent, our Christmas observance is now upon us. During this celebration, we contemplate many important aspects of our Lord's coming to earth in human form and what it means for humanity.

The most obvious aspect of Christmas, I think, is the fact that Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Creator of the world and all it contains, came to earth in human form, as a tiny child. There is no human being since Adam and Eve who has been alive who has not experienced this stage of life. In fact, it is the most common experience that humanity will ever know. It is extremely beautiful and joyful, but also extremely ordinary.

It’s easy to see from this, that God the Son came to earth to show us that He wants to have an ordinary, day to day, role in our lives. He wants to be there at the most joyful and celebratory times, but also in the ordinary, everyday times. He couldn't have come in a more ordinary way to show us that He wants to be in every aspect of our day to day lives, especially the ordinary.

This message of our Savior speaks boldly, especially to those who only want Jesus to be a part of their lives at Christmas. Jesus will enter our hearts through our beautiful celebrations at Christmas, but He wants more. He wants to enter our hearts on the Sunday after Christmas, on the first Sunday of June, on Tuesday of the third week in October, and in fact on every day and in every moment of our lives. He wants to enter our hearts through the Sacrament of Confession, through our daily prayers, and through our participation at weekend Mass every weekend and Holy Day of Obligation.

Christmas shows us how much God wants to enter into our lives to raise up every moment. Our lives can be so much better with faith and with putting that faith into action. Jesus wants to be there and invites us to open our hearts to Him, especially during Christmas. He waits for us, and assures us that there is no one who is so far away that they can't be brought back into His heart.

Christmas is not only a promise that God will be there for us, but also an invitation. We are always welcome to approach Jesus and grow in our faith. But as with all things, this is a limited time offer. It lasts as long as our earthly lives do. And so, now is the "acceptable time," now is the "time of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). Jesus is there and will be there for us. Will we take Him up on His offer? This is a great question to ponder at Christmas.

A blessed Christmas to all. Know of my extreme gratitude for how you are generous and kind to me as your priest. I know many of you keep me in your daily prayers, and for these I am most grateful. Thanks too for all who have sent cards and gifts. Every day I pray for each of our parishes and ask God to keep us all safe from harm and filled with the gift of faith. May you know of His presence and joy in your lives.

On Monday after Christmas, I will be taking vacation for two weeks for some rest and rejuvenation. Next weekend, please welcome Fr. Anthony Pick for the Masses in the Tri Parishes. May God bless us all with the peace that only He can give and show us the beauty and goodness of the great mystery of Christmas.

In Christ, Fr. Arens

BREWSTER

CHURCH SUPPORT for the 2016 church year needs to be postmarked by December 31, 2016, in order to appear on your 2016 giving statement.

WE ARE STILL COLLECTING mittens/gloves, scarfs and hats for those who are less fortunate. Please put them in the basket at the entrance of the church. Thank you.

LITURGICAL MINISTRY ROLES for January and February are available at the entrances of the church. Please find a replacement if you are not able to be present.

FAITH FORMATION CLASSES will resume on Wednesday, January 4, 2017.

CMA - If you have not sent your donation in for the Catholic Ministries Appeal, please do so now. Your contribution is needed to make our goal of $6,090.00 and, thus far, we have raised $4,410.00. The balance of $1,680.00 has to be paid by December 31st, either by your contributions or out of our parish account. We have 28 families that have given to date. Please do what you can to help alleviate this amount by taking an envelope from the pew and sending your contribution in. Thank you.

HERON LAKE

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2016 must be received by Saturday, December 31st to be included for this tax year. All contributions received after December 31, 2016, will be reported with 2017 giving statements. Please plan accordingly.

MEALS ON WHEELS for December 26th – 30th, will be delivered by Agnes Lohse. If you are interested in participating in the delivery of meals for 2017, contact Suzanne Iverson at (507) 360-1948 or 793-2808. Thank you to all our volunteers. God Bless You!

REMINDER-PARENTS & STUDENTS: There will be NO Faith Formation Classes due to Christmas break on December 28th or January 4th. All classes will resume again on January 11, 2017.

COFFEE & ROLLS will be served on Sunday, January 8th, after Mass. Our hosts are the Sam and Lori Henkels family. This has been moved to the second weekend of January due to the New Year Holiday.

MISSION QUILT SEWING will begin at 1:30PM on Tuesday, January 10th, at Steger Hall, weather permitting. All are invited and most welcome to participate! Can you make time to help sew for the less fortunate?

CATHOLIC ORDER OF FORESTERS’ annual TOM & JERRY refreshments will be served on Sunday, January 22nd, at 4:00PM in Steger Hall. Save the date and join in the fun!

FUN DAY SUNDAY is scheduled for February 26th, 2017. Ask your guild chairs what you can do to help them this year. This event takes many hours of prep and planning. Mark your calendar; consider donating a raffle prize.

SACRED HEART FOUNDATION: The fund balance to date is $222,340. If you would like to make a monetary donation to the campaign, please contact Carmen in the parish office or a member of the committee (listed in our Parish Directory). You may place your donation in the collection basket using the Capital Campaign envelopes from your packet (labeled “Sacred Heart Foundation” on the flap) or any plain white envelope.

WINDOM

2016 CONTRIBUTIONS for tax purposes will be sent out the first weeks of January. Please note that any contribution received after December 31st, will be recorded with 2017 contributions.

ROLLS AND COFFEE for January will be held on January 8th, due to the Holiday on the 1st. Tim and Sharon Jenniges and Dan and Linda Ortmann will be hosting. Please note there are several openings yet for “hosting” this event throughout the year. A sign-up sheet will be in the Hall. Please review the sheet and sign up for an available date. Thanks!

WE ARE IN NEED of your talent. Do you play the piano, organ, a guitar or other musical instrument? We are looking for persons willing to accompany our cantors during the celebration of the Eucharist. Sunday and Holy Day masses are more beautiful when music is included. If interested, please let Kathy in the office, or Vicki or Ronda know.

NEWS NOTES FOR ALL PARISHES RESPECT LIFE: “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:3-4) “Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life from its conception and do not be deterred from the commitment to defend the dignity of every human person with courageous determination. Christ is with you: be not afraid!” ~ Address of John Paul II to the Bishops and Apostolic Administrators of Albania, February 3, 2001

To contact your parish nurse: Rhonda Ferguson at pnrhonda@gmail.com or call 507-468-2265 or cell 507-370-2303. Kathi Haberman at pnkathi@msn.com or call 507-360-1469.

NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE:

Solemnity of Mary Vigi l/Holy Day

New Year’s Eve, December 31st

5:00PM- Sacred Heart Church, Brewster

New Year’s Day, January 1st

8:30AM Sacred Heart Church, Heron Lake

10:00AM St. Francis Xavier Church, Windom

CONTRIBUTIONS FOR 2016 must be received by Saturday, December 31st to be included for this tax year. All contributions received after December 31, 2016, will be reported with 2017 giving statements. Please plan accordingly.

The Catholic Ministries Appeal

If you have not already contributed, please return your CMA envelope / pledge card today, or give online at www.catholicfsmn.org/Appeal.

Parish Goal $ Received From # of Parishioners SFX-W 15870 7223 49 SH-HL 12410 13913 37 SH-B 6090 4410 28

Immigration Retreat St. Mary’s School Worthington, MN

Saturday, January 7, 2017 Beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Mass at 5:30 p.m.

Join us to prayerfully consider the issues of immigration, solidarity and our Catholic responsibility. The day will include information, reflection, and shared stories, as well as time for prayer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend! If you have questions, please contact the St. Mary’s Parish office at 507-376-6005.