Holy Family Area Catholic Community Newsletter — September 2021

ST. JA M E S

ST. ANDRE W

ST. J OS E PH

Holy Family Area CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

MEET OUR AREA CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

FAITH FORMATION COORDINATORS

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he Holy Family Area parishes are ex“and my faith has deepened through cited to welcome a new Faith Formamany God-moments. I want to help kids tion team. Ann Voller and Claire Weimann and their families see those God-moments have joined forces to serve St. Andrew, St. and see God’s presence in their own lives.”

James, and St. Joseph with a unified and Ann credits her husband, David, updated Faith Formation program. with bringing her deeper into her faith.

Ann has been serving St. James and Ann and David have been married St. Joseph and is excited to add St. Andrew for 24 years and have three children. to her ministry. Claire will be assisting Her background includes a bachelor’s Ann, managing much of the administradegree in social work from Minnesota Our Faith Formation Coordinators tive responsibilities, to allow Ann to focus State University-Moorhead, but her path Claire Weimann (left) and Ann Voller brought her to ministry in the Church. on the children, youth, and families of the parishes. While Ann will manage programs at each parish “This is where God wants me, to minister to His kids who individually, she also looks forward to seeing the communities are desperately seeking something more,” Ann says. come together. She is especially looking forward to getting to Ann is inspired in her faith by saints who trusted deeply know the families at St. Andrew. in the provision of the Lord. St. Monica and St. Joseph have “We are one family in Christ,” Ann says. “I feel like a paboth influenced Ann by their models of deep faith, prayerrishioner at all the parishes I’ve served.” fulness, and trust. Just as the Holy Spirit led Ann into her Ann, a parishioner at St. Joseph, has been a catechist ministry role, she also depends on the Holy Spirit to bring her for many years, a volunteer in the parish, and a committee a team of dedicated volunteers and catechists. member, so her move into the role of Area Faith Formation “The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting and I’ve been so Coordinator seemed natural. Ann has a passion for leading blessed with the Catechetical teams He has sent me,” Ann says. kids closer to Christ.

Claire, a parishioner at St. James, might be a new face to “I’ve experienced every phase of faith myself,” Ann says, some of us. continued on page 5

SEPTEMBER 2021

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Stewardship and Evangelization:

USING OUR TIME AND TALENTS TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

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esus came to save the world and to draw all men to Him. When we think of the salvific work of Christ, many of us think of His life, death, resurrection, and His ascension into glory. And while those salvific events are of primary importance in salvation history, it doesn’t end there.

Christ wants everyone to know the salvation He has won for them. He wants every soul to experience heavenly glory. Therefore, after having conquered death through His cross and resurrection, Christ commissioned His disciples to carry the Gospel to the world. They were charged to “preach the Gospel to all nations,” winning, through their words and examples, souls for the kingdom! What a task! The disciples were overwhelmed at the thought of carrying the Gospel to all nations after Christ had returned to heaven. But the Lord assured them, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). When the Holy Spirit descended upon them on the feast of Pentecost, all those in the crowd were amazed. They all spoke in different tongues, preaching the same message, and everyone there could understand!

And so it was that the Church was established

through the power of the Spirit and for the purpose of evangelization. Each of us has been baptized in that Spirit, and through that, made a member of the Church. It is, thus, up to each and every one of us to actively participate in the Church’s mission — proclaiming the Good News to all the world and building up the Kingdom of God! Each of us must re-evaluate how we are using the gifts God has given us to build up His Kingdom. Do we preach the Good News in all that we do and say?

The same Spirit that descended upon the apostles that first Pentecost remains with us now, giving us the strength and courage to labor in the vineyard of the world.

Christ came to save the world, and He established the Church as the “universal sacrament of salvation” (Christifideles Laici, 2), by which many people throughout the world would know the glory of His truth. St. Paul describes the Church as one body with many parts. And just as each part of the body has a particular function, so each member of the Church has a particular calling, but united as one body in the Spirit, all of the members are to carry out the Church’s one mission. How is God calling you to carry out this mission? What particular gifts has He given you with which you ought to build the Kingdom?

Each of us must re-evaluate how we are using the gifts God has given us to build up His Kingdom. Do we preach the Good News in all that we do and say? The same Spirit that descended upon the apostles that first Pentecost remains with us now, giving us the strength and courage to labor in the vineyard of the world.

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A Letter From Our Pastor

An Ongoing Opportunity to Change the World

My Dear Friends in Christ,

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n his letters, St. Paul often began by greeting his “brothers and sisters.”

Every time I read one of these letters, it reminds me that you and I truly are sisters and brothers in the Body of Christ, the Church, but especially here in the Holy Family Area. We need to understand that we are indeed a family, and the way we see and treat one another is fundamental to the health and happiness of this family.

Our spiritual family doesn’t stop at the walls of our church, but rather, extends to include every man and woman created in God’s image and likeness. You may be familiar with the term “Catholic Social Teaching,” part of which is built on a commitment to the poor.

These are the beliefs that guide Catholics on how to apply the faith to all aspects of life, and they lay the framework for the Church’s teachings on the dignity and sacredness of human life. Once we make a commitment to be disciples of Jesus and pursue stewardship as a way of life, the principles of Catholic Social Teaching become very easy to incorporate into our lives.

Catholic Social Teaching has been around since those first followers of Jesus tried to balance their new faith with the realities of living in a world of Roman oppression. Jesus reminded His disciples then, just as He reminds us now, that caring for and administering to the poor should be at the core of all we do.

Recall when the Lord said in Matthew, “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you welcomed me; I

was naked and you gave me clothing; I was ill and you cared for me; I was in prison and you visited me.”

This is our foundation as we seek to embody mercy and justice to our fellow man and should be one of our major goals as a faith community. Many of our parish ministries provide for us an opportunity to do just as Jesus asked — to serve those most in need. As we move into the fall season, with Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas soon to follow, now is a good time for us to recommit ourselves to addressing the needs we see around us — both as a parish and as individuals.

I am proud of our collective efforts in assisting and serving the poor, but I also know that we can do more. Many of us personally need to get involved in these efforts. Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has a great love and regard for the poor and, like Jesus, he reminds us often of what we need to do. Pope Francis once said in a homily, “The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.” Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Paul Timmerman, Pastor

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Hispanic Marriage Preparation I

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n our parish family, we welcome our Hispanic couples and families with open hearts and strive to bring them the grace and mercy of God however we can.

“Many Hispanics come to this country and they have their Catholic faith, but they don’t necessarily understand it,” says Yonis Martinez, who coordinates the Hispanic Marriage Preparation Ministry. “They don’t really comprehend what the Mass or the sacraments are. Too often, they are badly influenced by their work environment and don’t regularly go to church. I want to help them learn more about their Catholic faith, and help save their families. That is why I lead Bible studies — to help them grow closer to God.” Currently, St. Joseph’s offers many opportunities to help Spanish-speaking engaged couples and families to live a grace-filled life. Spanish Bible study classes take place each Tuesday evening, along with the praying of the Rosary. There is also Eucharistic Adoration offered regularly to help our English and Spanish-speaking parishioners draw near to Our

Lord and receive His peace.

Hispanic Marriage Preparation classes are offered one Sunday evening per month, each year from January through June. These inspiring and enriching classes cover various monthly themes, such as communication; resolving conflicts; the identity of the Catholic family; sexuality and Natural Family Planning; the Sacrament of Marriage; and the Sacrament of Confession.

“I really enjoy putting on this program for our Hispanic families because I want to bring them closer to Christ, and help them understand what our Catholic faith is all about,” Yonis says. “During the classes, we talk about Catholic family traditions, as well as the characteristics of a true Catholic family. For example, we highlight the importance of Lenten fasting, praying the family Rosary, reading the Bible, and going to Mass and Confession regularly.”

Ultimately, the Marriage Preparation program provides a wonderful way to help couples prepare to unite their bodies, minds, and souls in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. The program prepares them not

Paola and Arturo have been married for five years.

These two couples have been preparing for marriage this year and they are going to get married in August and September.

n Ministry:

BUILDING A GRACE-FILLED LIFE TOGETHER only for the “big day,” but also for a lifetime of wholeheartedly embracing the Catholic faith as a family.

“We want to help the couples get to know one another better and help them learn about each other’s family customs and traditions,” Yonis says. “I feel it is my vocation to help Hispanic couples and families grow in their faith.”

Our parish also offers baptismal classes in Spanish, as well as courses for Hispanic adults who would like to become fully initiated as Catholics. A Spanish Mass is offered on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Joseph.

If you would like more information about these beautiful opportunities to grow in your relationship with Our Lord, please email Yonis Martinez at Martinezyonis14@yahoo.com or call him at 320-226-0844.

FAITH FORMATION COORDINATORS continued from front cover

“I grew up in a big Catholic family,” Claire says, “My parents were pretty adamant about us going to Mass and getting a good religious education.”

After studying accounting at Benedictine College in Kansas, she stayed in the state and worked for the Diocese of Salina. Claire and her husband, Nick, made the move to the Holy Family Area after they were married. They recently welcomed a baby boy, Dominic. In college, Claire served as a Totus Tuus missionary in her home diocese.

“I realized that I missed working in that ministry,” Claire says. “When this position opened, I took it as a sign that maybe that’s what I was supposed to move toward.”

While Claire will be handling much of the administrative work, she looks forward to meeting people and getting to know the parishes better. In her new position, Claire will be able to shape her role to whatever needs arise, whether administrative or interpersonal.

In the upcoming year, our families can look forward to First Communion, Reconciliation, and Confirmation preparation classes, faith formation classes,

and youth ministry. This year, Ann wants to ensure that the middle school and high school students have regular access to Eucharistic Adoration with praise and worship.

“It speaks to everybody,” Ann says. “They can open their heart to the Lord and then have that silence too.”

This summer, Ann took a group of students to the Steubenville Rochester Youth Conference, and she also started a young women’s group for high school girls, which has been fruitful.

“We talk about all of the topics pertinent to young teen girls,” Ann says. “I’m really excited to see where that’s going to go and how that’s going to grow.”

Ann and Claire have been busy recruiting and training catechists, preparing the curriculum, and planning classes and events for the year. Sunday classes at St. Joseph begin on September 26 and Wednesday classes begin on September 29 at all parishes. Families can register online at www.holyfamilyarea.org. They are both looking forward to bringing their gifts together to serve the Holy Family Area parishes.

For questions about the Faith Formation program or to volunteer, contact Ann at 320-269-5954, ext. 17 or by email at areaffcoordinator@holyfamilyarea.org.

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EL APHA ST. R

ST. GABRIEL

Celebrating the Feast of the

Archangels

ST. MICHAEL

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very Sept. 29, the Church celebrates the feast day of the Archangels — St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael. We are blessed to be inspired by these “servants and messengers of God” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 329).

The term “archangels” has its Scriptural basis in the New Testament (1 Thes 4:16, Jude 1:9), indicating a chief or leading angel. “Archangel” generally refers to St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael, as they are the three angels most frequently mentioned throughout Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The fact that these three angels are mentioned by name on multiple occasions indicates the significance of their roles in the history of salvation. It is because of these important roles that we take pause to celebrate on Sept. 29.

St. Michael is mentioned by name on several occasions in Sacred Scripture (Dn 10:13, Rev 12:7), and his role in the Tradition of the Church has been extensively documented. He has been widely referred to as the “great prince,” and is most often associated with the apocalypse — the final battle against Satan. Christian Tradition gives St. Michael four different roles, but he has primarily been regarded as the patron and protector of the Church.

St. Gabriel is mentioned by name in Scripture (Lk 1:19), and Tradition has also assigned him implicit roles within Scripture where he is not specifically mentioned. Most important, however, is St. Gabriel’s role as the messenger of God, delivering to Mary the announcement of the birth of Our Savior (Lk 1:26).

St. Raphael is mentioned by name only in the Book of Tobit, where he is responsible for healing Tobias. Raphael means “God has healed” and thus, he has also often been associated with the “angel of the Lord” (Jn 5:4).

The feast day on Sept. 29 gives each of us the opportunity to consider our own role in the Church, as we gratefully commemorate the Archangels responsible for carrying out their roles of defender, messenger, and healer.

S T. JA M E S

FALL FESTIVAL AND TURKEY DINNER

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M A K E S A M U C H -A N T I C I PAT E D R E T U R N

“Enjoy a Meal With Us”

ne thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is to not take the simple things in life for granted. A crisp autumn day where we can gather as friends and family will most certainly be a welcome event! We are blessed to have just such an event on the horizon, as St. James brings back the annual Fall Festival on Sunday, Oct. 3.

Longtime parishioner Joann Evjen says the highlight of the day will be the Turkey Dinner, an annual favorite. The dinner will be structured to allow for quicker take-out meals from the Education Center, meaning there will be four lines instead of two. The main hall of the basement will be used for dine-in seating.

“In 2019, we served a total of 800 people, with 500 of those being take-out meals,” Joann says.

The take-out meals are helpful for everyone working in the fields for harvest. The Turkey Dinner accounts for the largest portion of the money raised each year at this event — the raffle is the second-highest revenue generator.

The Fall Festival is not just a fundraiser — it’s also a chance to gather with St. James and the rest of the Holy Family Area community. There is fun for the kids and a chance to come together with old friends and make new ones. The popular country store, kid games, and raffle will take place. There will also be Bingo and a “Sweets Walk,” like the popular Cake Walk with a larger variety.

Many St. James parishioners look forward to the Fall Festival event each year. Joann is just so happy to see this event return for 2021 after it was canceled last year due to the pandemic.

“Last year it was a loss to building community,” continued on back cover

“There are always people who come to church dinners, no matter what and no matter where. Come out and enjoy a meal with us!” — JOANN EVJEN

All photos courtesy of the Dawson Sentinel

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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 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

FALL FESTIVAL AND TURKEY DINNER continued from page 7 she says.

Joann is especially thankful that the community and other Holy Family Area parishioners show up to support the parish.

She is also proud to work with fellow parishioners to continue the tradition of the dinner, which started as a chicken dinner in 1957. Joann thinks about 600 people were served at that very first dinner, and she hopes everyone will come for this year’s meal. It will include the famous cranberry salad, turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, and gravy. The meals will be first come, first serve.

“There are always people who come to church dinners, no matter what and no matter where,” Joann says. “Come out and enjoy a meal with us!”

Please join St. James for the Fall Festival and Turkey Dinner, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3. Each meal costs $11. Meals for 5 and under are $5.

SEPTEMBER 2021