Little Falls Catholic Community Newsletter — October 2021

Little Falls

Catholic Community

MEET YOUTH PARISHIONER

LOGAN WITT:

Embracing His Faith Through Stewardship

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t is very comforting to know that included in a lectionary that a priest we have a serious prayer warrior gave to him. He always wants to dwelling in our midst — one who know which week we are at on the is willing to so generously share of liturgical calendar so he can prepare their time to help bring a shower of himself and read the upcoming graces upon our parish family. readings.”

“I really like praying and going Those around him cannot help to church a lot,” Logan Witt says. but be touched by his devotion “I try to pray something special like to Our Lord in the Eucharist, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the especially his friends and family Rosary almost every day. I also pray members. Logan is currently in 12th every night, and for those who are grade at Little Falls Community dying.”

High School. His father, Ron, was Logan’s devotion to the Sacrifice baptized and raised in our parish, Logan Witt celebrates his of the Mass is inspiring and and he has two older brothers, Ben Confirmation with beautiful. and Jordan.

Bishop Donald Kettler!

“Logan loves to come to Mass at “Logan loves the Mass very our parish, as well as listen to and participate much,” Laureen says. “Ever since he was about in various Masses online,” says Laureen Witt, 5, he liked to pretend he was having Masses his mother. “Logan also really enjoys praying at home. He enjoys the Mass so much because through the daily Mass readings and Mass parts it has predictable things in it that he can continued on back cover

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St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family

Haven of Mercy Catholic Community Highlights

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he Haven of Mercy Catholic Community committee met on the evening of Thursday, Sept. 16 at Holy Family Parish Hall. We added two representatives to the committee: Val Kula to represent Mary of Lourdes School and Nicolette Gindele for Holy Family Parish. Fr. Jimmy and Fr. Ben are committed to a pulpit swap once a month during the months of October thru December. Ongoing discussion continued with a communications strategy for the planning process at large: a summary of the minutes will be provided in the bulletin, on Facebook, and in the monthly newsletter for the Little Falls Tri-Parish. Suggestion boxes and copies of minutes are in the entrances of the six churches marked with signs. A prayer was approved that will be prayed before Mass in our parishes. They could be placed in the back of hymnals at church. They will be put on refrigerator magnets that would be available for families to have on their home refrigerators. A Catholic company, Lighthouse Strategic Solutions, will be coming to do two phases with the staff of the six parishes. The first is to do an organizational assessment by doing confidential interviews with each of the staff of the six parishes gathering from them individually what they do, what their strengths are, and what their suggestions would be with coming together as six parishes administratively. Phase two will be to assist

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in hiring a business manager that could serve the six parishes by the beginning of the new year.

It was discussed that Mary of Lourdes School is something the six parishes share together.

Fr. Ben will be sure to include Fr. Jimmy in the schedule for presiders at MOL school Masses. It is an idea that MOL students could do the ministries on Sundays at each of our parishes once a month to bring the Haven of Mercy parishes and school community more together. Refreshments and fellowship could be offered after. Students could also offer hospitality after the Wednesday and Thursday school weekly Masses.

Having a common bulletin was discussed for the six parishes. It might not be the right time until we would have a business manager that could help with the process. It would be good at some point to have one person on staff be the one to officially receive the various events and communications that would go into the bulletin.

We will seek the suggestion of Lighthouse through insights also gained by their interviews with staff.

Website design was also discussed. This discussion involved the possibility of a common website for the Haven of Mercy Catholic Community and Jan. 1 as a possible launch date.

A subcommittee was created to work on this, and it would require a lot of work to make this a reality.

A Letter From Our Pastor

PF-4 Nights:

Joining Our Parish Families in Hospitality, Prayer, Formation and Service My Dear Friends in Christ,

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s we begin a new year in Faith Formation, we have the opportunity to live stewardship. There are four pillars to the stewardship way of life — hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. These correspond well to our Catholic faith that we profess in our Nicene and Apostle’s Creed as “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic..."

This year, we are leading PF-4 nights. The four “Fs” involve “faith, family, fellowship, and formation.”

It continues what we did with PF-3 nights that involved beginning the night with dinner and fellowship, formation, which includes breaking into two groups with adults and children and ending with Eucharistic Adoration led by our musicians and the priest. The formation part includes adults taking in a teaching on the subject of the month. For October, it will be on Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory. We will have a family from our parish community that will give a witness talk to their experience of their loved one passing on to the Lord. This will be followed by a teaching from the Catechism about what the Church teaches on these topics. We also introduce the following week’s lesson so parents may teach this to their children at home. During this time, the children will be with catechists to learn the lesson of the week having also to do with these topics. On PF-4 nights, childcare is provided. All PF-4 nights begin at 5:45 p.m. with dinner and fellowship, 6:30 p.m. with Formation, 7:25 p.m. with Eucharistic Adoration which concludes promptly at 7:45 p.m.

We also invite families for a second night each month. For this second night, we simplify the same components of the PF-4 night, but we will begin with a teaching Mass for adults while their children learn their lesson from catechists, and we provide a light snack for both adults and children for the fellowship component.

PF-4 nights is an application of the Ham Lake Family Faith Formation model, which seeks to invite and empower parents to take an active role in talking and teaching faith to their children in their families. Time and time again, statistics confirm our Church’s teaching that parents are the first educators of their children in the ways of faith and how crucial their witness is to their children’s continued practice of their faith. Many parents, understandably at times, may feel inadequate about this role, but their witness and role are irreplaceable and they are offered grace by God to live this role.

We are here to support and empower them! We actively invite parents twice a month to teach the lesson of the week to their children at home with the help of packets that make it very manageable, meaningful, and substantial. The PF-4 night and the second night of the month that we bring families to the parish is to foster this growth and provide them an experience of the parish family.

We want to invite ALL parishioners to come and join our PF-4 nights! PF-4 nights this month are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 27 at Our Lady of Lourdes (for both St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Lourdes) and Wednesday, Nov. 3 at Holy Family Church. The second and simpler nights involving the teaching Mass are scheduled for Oct. 13 at Our Lady of Lourdes and Oct. 27 at Holy Family.

We have a chance to live our stewardship way of life as we join our families in the parish for hospitality, prayer and formation, and service!

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Ben Kociemba, Pastor 3

St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family

The Patriotic Rosary:

A CALL TO PR AY FOR OUR COUNTRY

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he members of our Little Falls Catholic Community — and, indeed, all of Little Falls and the surrounding area itself — were invited to take part in the recitation of the Patriotic Rosary at 7 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.

Gerri Klimek once again coordinated this special evening that coincided this year with the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, as October is also the Month of the Rosary.

“It is just a call to pray for our country,” Gerri says.

The Patriotic Rosary event follows the Living Rosary that in years past the Christian Women’s group of Our Lady of Lourdes Church traditionally held in October. However, last year's COVID restrictions canceled plans for that event. In its place, Gerri, with the support of Deacon Jeff Winkelman, organized the first Tri-Parish Patriotic Rosary for life, so this year’s event continued his efforts.

The Patriotic Rosary originated in 1995 through the Caritas Community near Birmingham, Ala., from the inspiration of Marija Pavlovic, one of the six original visionaries of the Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, Yugoslavia.

Although it was originally written for a Fourth of July celebration, it now is said on other occasions to ask for prayers for our country and leaders.

This powerful and moving way of praying for our country was introduced to our community over 20 years ago by past members of the “Healing Light Prayer Group” who themselves were introduced to it on two occasions of July 4th visits to the Caritas Community.

Other times this growing devotion has been used in our neighboring Haven of Mercy Catholic Communities prior to the 2020 elections; and patriotic holidays such as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. The devotion helps to remind people that we need to pray for our country and that our country is based on Christian values.

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Patriotic songs and readings from writings by Founding Fathers for each Mystery are also part of the Rosary. Any of the Mysteries may be said during the Patriotic Rosary. The prayer begins asking for the consecration of our nation.

At the start of the Rosary, the Apostle’s Creed is prayed for the conversion of our nation’s capital; the Our Father is said for our pope; the three Hail Marys are said for our priests and bishops; before the Glory Be, intentions are asked for the conversion of the country.

As the Rosary proceeds, each Mystery is offered for a special intention, such as the Presidency. For each Hail Mary, the prayer, “we plead the Blood of Jesus over” is offered for 10 states, named and listed alphabetically. Each decade is completed by the singing of patriotic songs, including the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“We had booklets to follow,” Gerri says. “I invited people to participate in the music or the readings — we did have some who signed up. It was nice to have people do the different readings.

People were so moved. I know non-Catholics came to pray for our country and to pray personally.

“It’s a way to serve God,” Gerri adds. “It gets people outside themselves. As far as growing in faith, they are praying for our country and the world. We are reaching beyond ourselves to people we don’t know. You can always give prayer to people.”

St. Mary’s Church Income and Expense for 2020-2021 ORDINARY INCOME Regular (Adult & Plate) Youth Christmas, Easter, Misc

388,135 28 65,888 454,051

EXTRAORDINARY INCOME

Christmas Bazaar Stole Fees Votive Stands/Flower Annual Appeal Religious Education Interest Fall Collection PPP Loan Misc.

TOTAL INCOME

12,515

3,350 2,963 2,420 810 19 9,150 24,300 16,011 71,538 525,589

DESIGNATED INCOME Cemetery Fund Insurance Refund

11,434 17,456

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 8,339

ORDINARY EXPENSES Clergy Staff (Benefits & Taxes) Office & Equipment Insurance Youth/Adult RE Liturgy Maintenance & Grounds Mary of Lourdes School Fuel Electricity Other Utilities Telephone/Internet Parish Life/Training Household/Pastor Auto/Travel Stewardship Appeal Miscellaneous Total

29,845 73,201 13,920 19,966 8,658 14,180 19,213 230,723 5,518 2,113 2,607 2,212 4,376 2,469 12,109 19,543 6,320 466,973

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS Assessments Abuse Settlement Total

TOTAL EXPENSE

58,509 15,000 73,509 540,482

DESIGNATED EXPENSE

Respectfully Submitted: Jerry Smude, Trustee Brigid Fitzgerald, Trustee Fr. Benjamin Kociemba

Insurance Repairs

18,539

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 8,339

TIME

TALENT

TREASURE

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St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family

Our Lady of Lourdes Income and Expense for 2020-2021 ORDINARY INCOME Regular (Adult & Plate) Youth Christmas & Easter

456,958 752 67,057 524,767

EXTRAORDINARY INCOME

Summer Bazaar Stole Fees Votive Stands/Flower Annual Appeal Religious Education Interest Helping Hand PPP Loan Misc.

TOTAL INCOME

47,754

3,950 7,256 4,015 8,864 50 10,029 29,500 23,988 135,406 660,173

439,361 (9,048)

(Due to expenses including: new lawn mower and surveying of the cemetery)

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 3,985

Respectfully Submitted: Denise Czech, Trustee Tom Ploof, Trustee Fr. Benjamin Kociemba

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TIME

Clergy Staff (Benefits & Taxes) Office & Equipment Insurance Youth/Adult RE Liturgy Maintenance & Grounds Mary of Lourdes School Fuel Electricity Telephone/Internet Parish Life/Training Household/Pastor Travel Stewardship Appeal Miscellaneous Total

24,372 103,724 20,786 21,545 8,664 13,500 34,842 293,819 10,427 8,558 2,120 8,503 3,348 1,821 70,144 10,976 637,149

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS

DESIGNATED INCOME Growing in Faith Cemetery

ORDINARY EXPENSES

Assessments Abuse Settlement Total

TOTAL EXPENSE

63,565 15,000 78,565 715,714

DESIGNATED EXPENSE Growing in Faith

61,901

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 3,985

TALENT

TREASURE

Holy Family Church Income and Expense for 2020-2021 ORDINARY INCOME Regular (Adult & Plate) Youth Christmas & Easter

211,828 245 24,147 236,220

EXTRAORDINARY INCOME

Raffle & Treasure Hunt 23,012 Stole Fees 1,900 Votive Stands/Flower 5,730 Annual Appeal 1,655 Religious Education 2,123 Bequests 27,615 Interest on Savings 3,575 Parents’ Assistance Fund 2,475 Building Improvements Fund 9,341 PPP Loan 11,700 Misc.

6,094 95,220

TOTAL INCOME

331,440

DESIGNATED INCOME Cemetery Fund Building for our Future

7,654 72,899

ORDINARY EXPENSES

Clergy Staff (Benefits & Taxes) Office & Equipment Insurance Youth/Adult RE Liturgy Maintenance & Grounds Mary of Lourdes School Fuel Electricity Water Telephone/Internet Parish Life/Training Travel Stewardship Miscellaneous Total

20,615 73,510 10,191 4,600 15,017 12,853 11,855 85,000 3,879 4,901 1,146 7,040 2,782 2,433 14,687 2,177 272,686

DIOCESAN ASSESSMENTS Assessments Abuse Settlement Total

30,233 15,000 45,233

TOTAL EXPENSE

317,919

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS 4,312

Building for our Future

Respectfully Submitted: Lori Kasella, Trustee Keith Silbernick, Trustee Fr. Benjamin Kociemba

TIME

DESIGNATED EXPENSE 4,553

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

TALENT

4,312

TREASURE

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St. Mary’s • Our Lady Of Lourdes • Holy Family Parish Office: 208 West Broadway Little Falls, MN 56345 (320) 632-8243 www.littlefallscatholic.org

Meet Youth Parishioner Logan Witt understand. When he comes to Mass, he loves to sit in the front pew so he can see everything that is going on. He is so passionate about his faith and he loves to learn about it. We care about Logan so much and we love helping him learn more about Jesus.”

Impressively, Logan has a unique devotion to the Holy Souls as well.

“Whenever we go to a funeral, Logan takes one or two of the obituary cards and makes sure to pray the prayer listed on them over and over,” Laureen says. “The way that he prays for people who have passed away and their loved ones, so they are not so sad, is such a big part of who he is. It is the way he honors and remembers the grieving and their families. He brings great comfort to others through his prayers.”

Before the pandemic, Logan appreciated the opportunity to serve at the altar as well as at the Stations of the Cross. Because of recent

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changes in altar serving practices, Logan now serves as the cross-bearer instead. He also rings the chimes for the Consecration and holds the liturgical books for Father.

“He is also so happy to be the cross-bearer,” Laureen says. “It is a great way for him to practice stewardship.”

Overall, Logan is very grateful to be an integral, stewardship-focused member of our parish family, and it shows. In addition to serving, he also likes to help clean up after parish bazaars.

“I love our parish,” he says. “I love that my religious education teachers are here. I have had my First Communion and Reconciliation here, and this spring I was confirmed by the bishop.”

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Let us keep Logan in our prayers in a heartfelt way, as he is a great blessing to our community.