Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — July 2021

ST. JA M E S

ST. ANDRE W

ST. J OS E PH

Holy Family Area CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

THE SEVEN SISTERS APOSTOLATE:

Prayerfully Supporting the Needs of Our Pastor

A

t Catholic churches all across the state, country, and world, there are good and holy men leading people to Christ at priests. They offer their lives to Jesus and pray for all of us, their parishioners. But how often are all of us, as parishioners, praying for our priest? They urgently need our prayers, as well.

We are blessed to have Fr. Paul Timmerman serving the Holy Family Area. Several years ago, Fr. Paul’s mother, several sisters, sisters-in-law, and nieces recognized the need to offer him up in prayer. One of his sisters learned about the Seven Sisters Apostolate, which was started in 2010 by Janette Howe, who felt a calling to pray specifically for the Rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn., Fr. Joseph R. Johnson — she was so appreciative for all he did for her and her family. In 2011, Janette was praying a Holy Hour for Fr. Johnson, and she heard the words “Seven Sisters.” She felt a calling to invite six other women to pray for one hour, per day, specifically for Fr. Johnson and for a deepening of his devotion to the Blessed Mother.

To expand this ministry, one of Fr. Paul’s sisters asked Pat Niemand to start the Seven Sisters Apostolate at Holy Family Area. Women from our parishes have committed to each take one day where they offer up an hour or 30

Fr. Paul with his parents and siblings in 2019

minutes specifically for Fr. Paul. Pat Niemand is considered the “anchoress” of the group. Some of the women split the time, so they take 30 minutes each to make one hour each day. Fr. Paul’s family members have now shifted their focus to pray for their own parish priests.

St. Joseph’s parishioner Pat Craigmile prays for Fr. Paul on Mondays. There are several recommended prayers for the Seven Sisters to follow, including the Novena to the

JULY 2021

continued on page 5

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Highlights of Our

2021 STEWARDSHIP RENEWAL

E

arlier this year, our Holy Family Area Catholic Community leadership conducted the 2021 Stewardship Renewal. The Stewardship Renewal gave our parish community the opportunity to discern how we are using our gifts of time, talent and treasure in service to the parish and in return to God. This month, we are happy to share with you some of the highlights of the Stewardship Renewal.

• • • •

There were 116 commitment cards received from 38 percent of active households.

There were 1,085 prayer commitments — the stewardship of time — from 95 percent of participating households.

There were 486 ministry commitments — the stewardship of talent — from 84 percent of participating households. Of these, 119 were new ministry commitments, while 367 were re-commitments to parish ministries.

There were 83 offertory commitments — the stewardship of treasure — from 72 percent of participating households. The average pledge was $2,173.

We thank all those who participated in our 2021 Stewardship Renewal.

If you did not have the opportunity to fill out and return a commitment card, we invite you to consider the ways you may share your gifts of time, talent and treasure with God and the faith community!

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P LIFT U ARTS

YOUR HE

AR EA HO LY FA MI LYm u n i t y m Catholic Co

TIME

Spending Time with God in Prayer

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart.” In order to keep this commandment, we have to spend time in prayer, talking to the Person we love most. Below are some suggested ways to make prayer a priority.

Please check the circle next to your commitments to prayer: MENT CARD re Attend Mass every Sunday and Holy Day su 2021 C O M MTiIT ea Tr & t me, Talen

My Offering of

 Attend weekday Mass at least once a week  Spend time in Adoration each month  Invite a friend or acquaintance to Mass  Pray together with my family  Pray for the sick, the lonely and the

me First & Last Na

deceased

 Discuss our Catholic Faith with my family  Read the Bible for a half hour a week  Spend at least 15 minutes a day in personal

Phone

prayer

 Pray the Rosary at least weekly  Join the parish Rosary  Go to Confession at least every other

Email Spouse: First &

6731) 03) 551)

month

Last Name

 Spend extra time with my spouse each day  Read the Mass readings for the upcoming Sunday

Spouse: Phone

 Pray for my country daily  Pray for an increase in vocations  Pray for our priests  Pray for our parish community  Do something to overcome one sinful habit  Pray for persecuted Christians  Pray for life from conception to natural

Spouse: Email Address City

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death

State

 Pray for those serving in the military ZIP

 Pray for Fallen-Away Catholics  Pray for the Church in the face of crisis

ish membership: Please check par eph James,  St. Jos St.   St. Andrew, mail to the ss, Ma to d car please bring this out online it fill or ed After completion, vid the envelope pro God bless you! and parish office using you ank ilyarea.org. Th at www.holyfam

TALENT

LIFT UP YOUR H TREASURE

Using My Talents in Parish Ministries

Offertory Gift

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love requires that we act in the best interests of others. How can you serve others by your involvement in parish programs? When you sign up for a program, the leader will call you to explain how to become involved.

= Currently Involved = Interested in Joining Please clearly write the first name(s) of interested family member(s) on the line.

EARTS

“For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will... but first they gave themselves 2 0 2 1to Sthet Lord” (2nd Cor. 8:3-5). w a rwe In the Holy FamilyeArea, d sask h ithat p Reach enewal household give:

5% to the Offertory at my parish 1% to the diocese 4% to other charitable causes

HOSPITALITY

Parish Hospitality  St.  St.  St. Youth Hospitality  St.  St.  St.

Andrew James Joseph

My Offertory pledge to my parish:

Please complete either a weekly or monthly offertory gift:

PRAYER

Eucharistic Adoration  St. Andrew  St. James  St. Joseph Prayer Network  St. Andrew  St. James  St. Joseph Prayer Intercessor  St. Andrew  St. James  St. Joseph Rosary  St. Andrew  St. James  St. Joseph Seven Sisters Apostolate  St. Andrew  St. James  St. Joseph

%

Percentage of household income:

Andrew James Joseph

Weekly gift

$

x52 = $

annually

$

x12 =

$

annually

or Monthly gift

HOLY FA MWeekly giving based on IL Y A REA Catholic C proportion of income ommunit

y

Weekly Giving Chart

% of Hshld Income: Household Income $30,000

continued on back panels

10%

5%

4%

1%

Amount of Weekly Gift $58

$29

$23

$6

$50,000

$96

$70,000

$134

$100,000

$192

$48

$38

$10

$67

$54

$96

$76

$200,000

$384

$192

$19

$153

$38

$14

A Letter From Our Pastor

WHAT IS THE My Dear Friends in Christ,

D

Real Purpose OF OUR LIVES?

o you ever think about your purpose in life? Even as a priest, I certainly do. There are days and times of frustration when I think, “What am I really supposed to do? What does God want me to do? Why am I here?” For eons, philosophers have considered these very questions and written about them.

But the truth is that we, as Catholics, already know the answers.

When we consider the many facets of life in our parish community, there are numerous activities and endeavors that go beyond attending Mass. From fundraising efforts, to social outreach/service, Faith Formation classes, and more, there are many ways in which we serve our community.

Yet, as we undertake these important pursuits — both within and outside of the parish — we must always remember that our ultimate goal is salvation. After all, the only reason we exist, the only reason our Church exists, is the same as the reason Jesus joined us and became a part of us here on earth — He came to save humanity.

We use the term the “body of Christ” to describe the Church with Christ as the head. We are all parts of that body, and the parts of the body must move in the same direction as the body itself — it simply won’t function if the parts are moving in different directions. We are all in this together.

When our lives are complete, we do not base our success or failure on how much money we have, or whether or not we are famous. Nor does our success or

failure depend upon the difference between health and sickness, or pleasure and pain, or even being nice or nasty. Rather, it is the difference between being saved and not being saved.

I often think of my family members who have passed away, and as a priest, I deal with that issue with others on a very regular basis. Sometimes, I wonder if they ever fully realized that salvation was the answer to so many of our questions in life.

I am surrounded by memories of those who have gone before, as are almost all of you. We are apt to use the term “the communion of saints” in many ways in our Church. Someday, we will know more about the “communion of saints” and how it all works. In the meantime, we pray for everyone who has gone before us, hoping they have made it home.

Pray for me as I pray for you!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

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W ELCOMING

AUSTIN MAGNU S O N T

Austin Magnuson and family celebrate his Confirmation.

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hrough her patient perseverance, Joanna Magnuson saw that the power of a praying wife is great indeed.

“Austin and I have been married for 13 years, and we both explored each other’s faith affiliations prior to marriage,” she says. “Austin grew up in a Protestant family, and I am a ‘cradle Catholic.’ We had many good discussions about the differences in the faith traditions we were raised with. I prayed that he would eventually convert and become a member of the Catholic Church. In the end, we decided to attend Mass regularly, with Austin attending but not receiving Communion.”

In due time, Joanna’s prayers were answered when Austin decided to enter the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults process, or RCIA, a couple of years ago. In July 2020, he received the Sacraments of First Confession, Confirmation, and First Communion, and was fully initiated into the Catholic Church.

“RCIA was an enjoyable experience because it made me reflect on my faith and what I believe,” Austin says. “I don’t normally think about why I believe what I believe, so it was good to explore these ideas.

I liked meeting the other members of the RCIA class, as well. They were very nice people and we had some great discussions. Overall, going through the RCIA process really helped reaffirm my faith.”

Joanna is grateful to have been privileged to walk alongside Austin on the journey “home to Rome.”

“This journey has brought about some conversations regarding our faith as a couple, and has brought God more into the forefront of our marriage relationship,” she says. “Throughout it, we have spent a lot of quality time together and have learned more about each other. We have also enjoyed getting to know other couples going through the same process.”

Joanna appreciates the impact that Austin’s conversion has made on their five children, as well.

“It has been wonderful for our family to see Austin go through this part of his faith journey,” Joanna says.

“I especially love that our children have been able to witness it. Austin has set a very positive example for them. Our two oldest children, in particular, enjoyed

H O ME TO TH E CATH O LIC CH URCH

“A Blessing to Be United Spiritually” seeing their dad go through this process as they were better able to understand what was going on and comprehend that he was joining the Church.”

As a father, Austin is grateful for the peace and unity his family now experiences.

“Joanna helped lead me to the Catholic faith,” Austin says. “And with our children being raised Catholic, I wanted us all to be practicing the same set of beliefs. It is a blessing to be united spiritually.

Showing my kids that our faith is very important is something that has driven me along this path. I want

them to see that it can guide us through challenges we face in life. It is also important to me that we worship together as a family and that our children continue to attend Mass after they leave home.”

Now as an active Catholic, Austin looks forward to embracing the stewardship vision in new ways.

“I have enjoyed helping out at the church,” he says. “So far, I have helped take down Christmas decorations, brought up gifts during the service, and helped with the parish fish frys. As time goes on, I will find more ways to be of service.”

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming Catholic, or exploring that option, please call the Area Office at 320-269-5954 or email secretary@holyfamilyarea.org.

THE SEVEN SISTERS APOSTOLATE Sacred Heart of Jesus. Three saints who are important to the Apostolate are Madonna of the Grapes, St. John Vianney, and St. Margaret Clitherow. The sisters are asked to pray for the priest’s physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs.

The Seven Sisters Apostolate is a behind-the-scenes, silent ministry. The women aren’t in this ministry to draw attention to themselves — rather, the ministry exists with the sole purpose of supporting Fr. Paul. In the future, the women might have lunch with him, but, for now, they go on with their weekly hour. Pat Craigmile enjoys being a part of this ministry. It was easy for her to say “yes,” because she so appreciates all Fr. Paul does for Holy Family Area.

Pat Craigmile often uses her time to pray the Rosary and Stations of the Cross. She says that, through this ministry, she has learned more about the priesthood and the struggles priests are facing.

“I really admire Fr. Paul,” she says. “I see so many

continued from front cover

virtues in him. I know he takes his vocation to the priesthood very seriously. This is the least I can do is take an hour of my week to pray for him.”

In turn, the ministry also helps remind Pat Craigmile that priests are just like the rest of us, and have their own struggles, too. She is so thankful to have been asked to be a sister and to have the opportunity.

“Fr. Paul exemplifies the vocation to the priesthood,” she says.

Another group of women could form to also pray for Fr. Paul. To get involved, contact Pat Niemand at pat@catholicmn.com or 320-269-5954.

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STEWARDSHIP A Need to Give W

hen the church needs a new roof or the local food bank needs donations, we jump at the chance to give for the sake of the need. It’s part of our human nature — we identify a need, and we want to give of our time, talent and treasure to help.

But as a stewardship people, we are called to give of ourselves not simply because the Church has needs, but because each of us has a need to give. As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states in its pastoral letter on stewardship, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, “We need to give our money to individuals and families in need, to the Church, and to other worthwhile charitable organizations because giving money is good for the soul and because we need to return thanks to a loving God for all of the many blessings each of us has received” (67).

As fellow members of the Body of Christ, created in God’s image, we should strive to go beyond simply co-existing with one another on earth. The life we live should be fueled by love for each other. This love should dictate how we live — by giving of ourselves.

Jesus Christ showed us the perfect example of this self-giving love when He died on the cross. His death was a completely selfless act. He gave of Himself for our sake,

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offering us — through that gift — life everlasting.

As Christ’s disciples, we follow His example, and we give of ourselves for the sake of others, out of love and an inherent need to give.

That’s not to say that we gain nothing through our gifts. In fact, in His goodness, God sees to it that we do.

Most of us have experienced what happens when we give of our time, talent or treasure. We feel as though we get more out of it than we give. If you speak to someone who serves at the soup kitchen or someone who has made it a regular practice to tithe to the Church, you are likely to find that he or she feels blessed to be able to give. As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops points out, “To be a Christian disciple is a rewarding way of life, a way of companionship with Jesus, and the practice of stewardship as a part of it is itself a source of deep joy. Those who live this way are happy people who have found the meaning and purpose of living” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 21).

Find out for yourself. Get involved in a ministry.

Make a commitment to put some money in the collection basket next Sunday. Don’t wait to find out if there is a need — give of yourself right now. You will be richly blessed for doing so.

KELLI LIEN

Catechist Reflects on Giving Children “Positive Connections to the Church”

K

elli Lien has truly been a steward of the Catholic faith, teaching some of the youngest members of the Church and on up through 11th-grade students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

“It is a joy to watch the children connect to the Church and grow in their faith,” Kelli says. “The young children always have the best questions that make you realize they really are listening and growing in their relationship with God.” Kelli and her family joined St. Andrew around 2011 when they moved to Granite Falls from Renville.

“Our oldest son, Derrick, was just in early elementary and we were wanting to have him in local faith formation,” Kelli says.

When Derrick was in fourth grade, the Coordinator of Faith Formation asked Kelli if she would be interested in becoming a catechist.

That simple invitation prompted Kelli to consider becoming involved in the faith community in a new way.

“At first, this wasn’t something I thought I would have the time to do,” Kelli says. “Then I decided I needed to take the time to make sure the children of our community were given a positive connection to the Church.”

As a catechist, Kelli has found so much support to help her be successful in this meaningful ministry, from a very detailed curriculum and lesson plan to the support of the Faith Formation Coordinator. continued on back cover

Catechist Kelli Lien and her husband, Brian (right), and their oldest son, Derrick (center), at his Confirmation

“It is a joy to watch the children connect to the Church and grow in their faith.

The young children always have the best questions that make you realize they really are listening and growing in their relationship with God.” — KELLI LIEN 7 7

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. Andrew, Granite Falls 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 6:30 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo with

elements of Spanish

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

8

Saturday 9:30 - 10 a.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo 5:45 p.m. — St. Joseph, Montevideo

KELLI LIEN

continued from page 7

“It is really easy to get ready for, and the lesson book gives many different activities to choose from,” Kelli says. “Any materials that are needed are listed, and the Coordinator always supported what was needed in terms of materials.”

Over the years, Kelli has found that through serving in this ministry, her own faith has grown.

“When you talk to others about your faith and help them grow in theirs, it also grows your own,” Kelli says. “There are many things I learned about the Catholic Church and my own faith through the materials I was working on with the children.”

If you’re looking for a way to share your faith and to support the young members of our faith community as they grow on their own spiritual journeys, consider discerning if you’d like to serve as a catechist.

“I would encourage others to consider becoming a catechist because it is a very rewarding and positive experience,” Kelli says. “Although I was the one teaching, the children always continue to teach me things by listening to them and seeing them grow.”

If you would like more information about becoming a catechist, please reach out to Ann Voller, Coordinator of Faith Formation, at sjocoordinator@holyfamilyarea.org.

JULY 2021