Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — January 2022

ST. JA M E S

ST. ANDRE W

ST. J OS E PH

Holy Family Area CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

MEET PARISHIONER SHERI SCHNEIDER: Maintaining a Grateful Heart in Difficult Times

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Sheri Schneider with her grandchildren

any parishioners can reflect on the pandemic lockdowns that went into effect in 2020 and remember that it was the only extended time away from the Mass they’ve endured.

For St. Andrew parishioner Sheri Schneider, a personal lockdown has kept her away even longer. Unable to attend public Masses due to a breast cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatments, she realizes more than ever what a blessing it is to receive the Eucharist.

“My husband, Richard, and I are able to go to the church to quietly pray, and Father makes sure I receive the Eucharist,” Sheri says. “I may not be able to participate in the Mass with everyone, but I continue to watch Mass on TV, and that’s wonderful.”

At the end of last summer, Sheri was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, a form of breast cancer that has a high risk of return within two years of diagnosis. Last fall, after consulting with her doctors and after prayerful discussions with Fr. Paul, Sheri decided to undergo a double mastectomy. Due to her weakened immune system, she has been forced to pursue alternative ways to participate in her faith life and the St. Andrew community.

Sheri’s diagnosis did not come entirely by surprise due to a family history of breast cancer. She recalls her doctor, a family friend, feeling nervous to tell her the news. In some ways, she felt she already knew.

“You have to rely on God and trust what He has planned for you,” Sheri says. “Many people may ask, ‘Why me?’ with something like this. I

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MEET PARISHIONER SHERI SCHNEIDER continued from front cover “You have to rely on God and trust what He has planned for you. Many people may ask, ‘Why me?’ with something like this. I said, ‘Why not me?” — Sheri Schneider said, ‘Why not me?”

Committed to still participating in parish life to the best of her ability, Sheri supported the fall fundraiser by working at home on designing promotional signs to be displayed outside the church. She also has been able to spend more time quilting, and last Christmas, she crafted special quilts for her three children and their families.

Prayer has also become a focal point for Sheri and Richard. Each night, they set aside time for a litany of prayers, which Sheri says provides

Sheri Schneider with her husband, Richard

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her a true sense of peace.

Looking back on the support she received around her diagnosis, surgery, and treatment, Sheri says she is incredibly thankful for the prayers and sense of community St. Andrew parishioners have shared.

St. Andrew’s Council of Catholic Women and other members of the parish community have reached out to Sheri to assure her of their continued prayers.

“I have been having so many people reaching out telling me that they are praying for me and saying

Rosaries for me,” she says. “Many of these people, I don’t even know.

I think it’s God’s way of sending angels telling me that things are going to be OK.” For Sheri, this has especially brought comfort and hope during the most difficult times.

“The hardest part of this journey is not knowing how long you are going to be on earth,” Sheri says. “I had all the difficult talks with my family, with Fr. Paul, and I have a different perspective on life now than I had previously.”

Sheri Schneider and family celebrating her youngest daughter’s wedding

A Letter From Our Pastor

START 2022 WITH A CLEAN SPIRITUAL SLATE My Dear Friends in Christ,

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e were taught in school that the month of January gets its name from Janus, the ancient Roman god of doors and gates. His image was always carved or painted with two faces, one looking forward and the other backward. This reflected, of course, that you can go either out a door or in through one. From this very specific function, his role was generalized to include all beginnings and new endeavors.

Because of Janus’ place in the Roman pantheon, it seemed natural to the Romans to name the first month of the civil year after him (the Church year began back with the First Sunday of Advent, you’ll remember). Although we no longer worship the pagan gods of the ancient Romans, the name has stuck down the centuries.

But, we’re not immune to the human instinct that moved the Romans to name the first month after Janus.

His double countenance, facing forward and backward, reflects how we approach the coming of each new year.

The last week of the old year finds the newspapers and TV programs giving a glance back at the past year (“the 10 best, or worst, movies of…” and such) along with predictions of what the new year will bring.

Just like the secular world does — Janus-like — we both look back at our own successes and failures, happy events, and sad ones, during the year just ending, and forward to the new year as we prepare our resolutions.

When we reflect back on the blessings we’ve received, our hearts fill with gratitude — and blessings there have been, no matter how difficult the year has been. But for most of us, there have been failures and failings, too. That calls for repentance, and perhaps a trip to the confessional — but God, who makes “all things new” (Rv 21:5), will then

give us a clean spiritual slate with which we may begin the new year.

I’d also like to challenge you to include your grateful response to God as you make your resolutions for the new year. You don’t have to wait until you fill out a commitment card to decide this is the year when you’re actually going to attend Mass once a week in addition to Sunday (or begin worshiping every Sunday if you haven’t been doing so) or to pray the Rosary every week or to begin regular prayers with your family. Include in your resolutions how you are going to get involved in some ministry in the parish or some service to the community, and then do so. Decide to become more faithful in your financial stewardship if your treasure commitment is less than proportionate to what God has given you. Look forward to the new year and bring Christ and His Church to the center of your resolutions. Then see what a good year it will be, with God at the center!

Have a happy, and holy, New Year!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

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Q uest io n s an d Answer s About

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nce again, it’s time for our Annual Stewardship Renewal. Every year, someone asks, as you may have asked yourself, “Didn’t we just have a Stewardship Renewal? Aren’t we sufficiently ‘renewed’ by now?” Yes, we had a Stewardship Renewal last year, and we’re going to have one next year, too! This is an annual occurrence – part of the rhythm of parish life in our Holy Family Area Catholic Community. Just as the Church proposes a time of spiritual renewal each Lent, we believe in the importance of a yearly examination of commitment. Is the Lord asking you to give more time, talent, or treasure to our parish this year? The following Q&A about our Stewardship Renewal should help you discern your commitments to Holy Family Area Catholic Community this year.

I feel like my life is already too full with family obligations and work obligations. I barely even have time to relax. How can I possibly share my time and talents with our Holy Family Area Catholic Community?

We all have many obligations to our families, jobs, schools, and other endeavors. But we also all have the same number of hours in the day with which to accomplish these things. The issue is not how much time we have, but how we prioritize that time.

Before you fill out your Commitment Card, take some time to reflect on your priorities, and where God fits into your day-to-day life. Remember, living as true stewards of God’s gifts involves giving back the first fruits of what He has given to us in thanksgiving, not the “leftovers.”

I am happy with my current level of parish participation. Why do I need to keep filling out a Commitment Card every year?

Commitment Weekend is Feb. 5-6. Don’t forget to bring your Commitment Card to Mass!

As part of the renewal process, it is important that we consider our current level of participation in parish life.

Sometimes, the call to stewardship involves the quality of service in addition to its quantity. In looking through the opportunities for ministry available at the parish, you may find yourself drawn to a new ministry you haven’t tried before, or new ways to share of your time with God to enrich and enlighten your prayer life. So, even though your current level of parish participation might not change drastically, the ways in which you participate may evolve continued on page 5

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N UA L ST E WA RDSHIP RE N E WAL as you grow in living the stewardship way of life.

Even if you end up continuing to participate in the exact same ministries as you have in the past, marking and turning in a Commitment Card means you have reviewed your present ministries and recommitted yourself to them.

I’m not very active in the Church and, frankly, feel like it may be too late to get involved. Why should I fill out a Commitment Card?

It’s never too late to renew your faith life, and filling out a Commitment Card is a simple step through which you can immediately re-enter the life of the parish. Our parish community is not here to judge you, but to welcome and nourish you in your faith journey. Begin by checking the box that says, “Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Days,” and take some time to discern additional ways in which God is calling you from that starting point.

I’m physically unable to attend Mass or be active in parish life. Is there any reason for me to submit a Commitment Card?

Of course! Your prayers are just as important to the success of our parish community in carrying out its mission as ministry participation and financial contributions.

Take a moment to look over some of the opportunities to spend quiet time with God listed in the “Stewardship of Time” section of the Commitment Card, and take a step towards growing in your relationship with Christ and His Church.

I’m reluctant to make a financial pledge for the year in case my circumstances change and I’m unable to fulfill it. Should I? Your Commitment Card is not a legally binding contract; it is a pledge of intentions. Make your pledge based on what you are setting out to do to give back to God, and do your best to fulfill that pledge. If your financial

circumstances change, your gift will likely change, as well, but it is still important to prioritize God first. Nobody is going to send the bill collector to your house if you can’t fulfill your pledge due to a change in your financial situation! But, we’ve all got to start somewhere, and it’s important that we begin our commitment by writing down our goals for giving back of our gifts to God. I’ve expressed interest in a ministry in the past through filling out a Commitment Card, but nobody from the parish ever followed up with me about it.

While we do our best to consistently follow up with everyone who has shown interest in the opportunities for ministry in our faith community, we are human, and we sometimes fall short in our follow-up. If this has happened to you in the past, we sincerely apologize, and we encourage you to renew your interest in any activities in which you might like to participate by filling out a Commitment Card this year. Every year, we go into the renewal with every intention of making sure that everyone who has expressed interest is contacted with more information, and we will do so again this year.

I don’t agree with everything that goes on in my parish. I feel like when I fill out a Commitment Card, it condones the things I disagree with.

In filling out a Commitment Card, you are not making a pledge between yourself and your parish community; you are making a pledge between yourself and God. Disagreements occur in life; this is a part of being human, and we respect the opinions of each and every member of our parish family. But, it is of utmost importance that each of us fulfills our discipleship of Christ by growing in our relationship with Him and utilizing the gifts He has given us to carry out His mission on Earth, regardless of disagreements or misunderstandings. Beyond helping the parish, filling out a Commitment Card expresses a devotion to spiritual growth and a strong belief in the Catholic faith.

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he New Year has arrived, and we have all been busy making — and trying to keep — our list of New Year’s resolutions. Many of us choose resolutions geared toward health and fitness.

After all, possessing good overall health is critical to our well-being. Others may try to avoid a particularly bad habit.

Maybe you need to quit smoking or stop swearing. Still, many of us plan things we have always wanted to do, but never get around to doing.

As the days of January continue onward, however, many of us find the inspiration of keeping our good-intentioned resolutions to be fading fast. By the end of the month, most of us have given in to our temptations and returned to our old ways. We are only human, right? Discouraged by this yearly failure, many of us don’t even bother making New Year’s resolutions anymore, especially if we feel like we won’t succeed.

Maybe our failures lie in both how we make our resolutions and what resolutions we actually choose. What we need to understand is the “root” of our resolution. For example, if you resolve to eat less candy to drop those recently added holiday pounds, is the “root” of your resolution a selfish one — wanting to look better since you overindulged?

Or, are you genuinely seeking to stop giving in to each “sweet tooth” craving by practicing mortification — giving up of a personal pleasure to glorify God? If the “root” is a selfish one, only to benefit yourself, then it is often difficult to keep

in the long run. However, if we are trying to glorify God, our mission is much more important and worth keeping.

Tying your New Year’s resolutions into the principles of stewardship — giving of your time, talent and treasure back to God — is a great way to ensure that the “root” of your resolution is right on track! For instance, resolving to pray each evening before going to bed glorifies God, brings you peace before slumber, and allows you to grow in your relationship with Christ. The “root” is pure. Your desire to keep it will be stronger and make it easier for you to keep. In the same way, resolving to return your talents to God by helping others in need is an excellent choice in creating a selfless resolution with the right “root.” Furthermore, resolving to re-evaluate your finances is also extremely important, and the beginning of a new year is a great time to do it. Are you giving back to God out of gratitude for all He has given you?

Or, are you merely dropping a dollar or two in the collection basket just to feel good about yourself ?

If you are not where you would like to be as a good steward — either with sharing your time, talent or treasure — you can resolve to do better. The New Year is a perfect opportunity to start anew and become the good steward that God desires each of us to become. When we choose selfless things that build His kingdom instead of ours, we are sure to not only stay on track, but to succeed!

Tying your New Year’s resolutions into the principles of stewardship — giving of your time, talent and treasure back to God — is a great way to ensure that the “root” of your resolution is right on track!

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THE BIBLE IN A YEAR PODCASTS: A Daily Opportunit y to Be Drawn into the Word of God

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he prospect of reading the entire Bible from start to finish may seem intimidating for many of us. But we have a wonderful way to do just that, while we are provided with insights to help us more fully understand God’s Word and connect with the Bible in a powerful way.

Thanks to a podcast from Fr. Mike Schmitz, a worldrenowned Duluth priest, St. Joseph parishioners Bob and Jennifer Jacobson will have read the entire Bible in just over a year. The Bible in a Year podcast with Fr. Mike was the number-one Apple podcast during the early days of 2021.

Bob and Jennifer have been following the readings and a 30-minute podcast each weekday since early 2021. The couple will have completed all 365 podcasts in early February — they don’t always listen on the weekends.

During the early days of the pandemic, when

churches were closed, Bob and Jennifer had often watched Fr. Mike’s recorded Masses. But, when Bob and Jennifer’s son and daughter-in-law, Allen and Pamela, recommended the Bible in a Year podcast, Bob and Jennifer were hesitant; it seemed like a big commitment and they weren’t certain if they wanted to commit that much time for an entire year.

“I listened to a few,” Jennifer says. “We were hooked. Fr. Mike is just so down-to-earth in explaining everything. We really enjoy listening to him.”

Jennifer retired at the beginning of 2021, and this was a great way to help her make the transition to retired life. Now, the couple goes for an early morning walk, eats breakfast, and listens to Fr. Mike.

“This helped me get through the transition,” Jennifer says. “There is more to life than just working. This was a gift from God to me.” continued on back cover

Jennifer and Bob Jacobson

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512 Black Oak Ave. Montevideo, MN 56265

www.holyfamilyarea.org

MASS TIMES: Sunday 8:30 a.m. — St. James, Dawson 10:30 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo Tuesday 5 p.m. - St. Andrew, Granite Falls Wednesday 5 p.m. — St. James, Dawson

Thursday 5:30 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo Friday 10 a.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

Saturday 5 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls 7:00 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo in Spanish

CONFESSION TIMES: 30 minutes before daily Mass Sunday 8 a.m. — St. James, Dawson

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Saturday 9:30 - 10 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo 4:15 - 4:50 p.m. — St. Andrew, Granite Falls

THE BIBLE IN A YEAR continued from page 7

While Jennifer attended Catholic school from first to eighth grade, she never remembers owning a Bible during those years.

It had been many years since she had done any kind of formal Bible study. So, the Bible in a Year podcast was a great way to jump back in. Fr. Mike follows Jeff Cavins’ Bible Timeline. Jeff Cavins even joins Fr. Mike on some of the podcasts, to introduce a new section.

“Fr. Mike stresses that this is the Word of God,” Jennifer says.

“I fully believe that. It’s amazing how what applied centuries ago, still applies today. Fr. Mike brings it to life.”

Anyone can access these podcasts. January would be a great time to get started, as we have just entered a new year. The podcasts are numbered and are not tracked by date. Jennifer hopes to do the study again, using a three-volume book from Ascension Press as a companion to the podcasts.

“It’s awesome how God uses the Bible to speak to us,” Jennifer says. “You don’t know what you are missing until you listen to one or two of them. I don’t know how I ever thought I didn’t need this.”

The Bible in a Year podcasts may be found on several podcast apps. Be sure to visit ascensionpress.com to learn more.

JANUARY 2022