PASTORAL MINISTRY
On Monday, August 30, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m., the St. Cloud Hospital Women and Children's Center and Home Care and Hospice will sponsor a -Mini-Law School for Caregivers.� A lawyer will discuss management of your loved one's financial affairs, medical decisions and preserving family assets-Free. All attendees will receive a health care directive packet. For registration information, see www.centracare.com or call 320-229-5139.
On Thursday evening, September 2, at 7:00 p.m., anyone who has an interest in learning more about the BeFriender program is invited to the Gathering Place where there will be an overview of the training and time for inquiry and questions. If you wish to attend the information night, and have not yet notified me, please do so by Tuesday, August 30. Call me at 252-1363, Ext.1103 to leave your name. Attending the meeting does not imply commitment to training.
On September 8:00 at 11:00 a.m., Parish Nurses meet in my office.
BeFriender's will meet for their first fall meeting on Tuesday, September 14 in Xavier Hall at 6:30 p.m. We will reunite after the summer months, catch up a bit, share prayer and view the CD, The Grit and Grace of Being a Caregiver.
Let us be thankful that Joseph Newinski, son of Greg and Pam Newinski,is scheduled to return to the U.S. on September 2 after his six month deployment in Iraq.
St. Cloud Widowed Persons Socials is scheduled for Sunday, August 29 at -Jack and Jim's.� 11025 Duelm Road NE, Foley, 4:00 pm social, 5:00 pm dinner. All St. Francis Xavier widowed persons are welcome.
Separated and Divorced Support Group: Offered EVERY MONDAY from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Caritas Family Services, 911 18th St. North, St. Cloud. No charge. All faiths are welcome. Confidentiality respected. Please call 320-529-0427 for more information.
Hope Support for Kids. Age 6-16. Short term support group for children/teens who have experienced the death of a loved one. No charge. Please call 320-529-0427 to register. Located at the Catholic Charities Center for Life Transitions, 312 2nd Avenue North, Sauk Rapids, MN.
Today as I was noting a message in A Book of Wonders by Edward Hayes, I read this entry for August 24: -Force me to strenuously use an eraser to remove my mind's old knowledge that stymies my soul and stagnates me, so I'll be eager and ready to learn new ways.�
Let's see what we can learn this week!
Sister Cordy, Pastoral Minister
LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN
LWC will resume on Sunday, September 12 at the 10:30 am Mass for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Current leaders and assistants are to contact Jeanne Jaeger at 202-9762, with their scheduling preferences.
New leaders are also needed. Won't you please consider helping with this ministry? The ministry itself is rewarding and the children are wonderful! If you can help, please call Jeanne.
Spurred on by the response to last spring's Parish Mini-Retreat, two ancient prayer form group sessions will be offered and hosted this fall by the St. Francis Xavier Parish Adult Faith Formation Committee.
Lectio Divina
These six-week, one hour sessions will begin on Tuesday, September 28th at 10:30 am to 11:30 am and will be held in Xavier Hall. The Gospel for the following Sunday will be used for the meditation process. For more information, please contact Millie Moran at 251-2540.
Centering Prayer
This will be offered for six weeks by Bernie Sykora,
492-3032. There will be two sessions each week starting Thursday, September 30th, in Xavier Hall. One session from 10:30 pm to 11:30 am and another from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Centering Prayer is defined as our human attempt to:
1. Leave behind external tumult
2. Surrender our will to God
3. Relate to God who speaks to us in our internal silence.
We look forward to your participation!
Our 2009/10 Weekly Collection Goal is $18,085.00
Needed to Date $ 144,680.00
08/22/10 Collected $ 11,947.58
Electronic Giving $ 4,779.50
Received to date $ 135,325.24
Deficit to Date -$ 9,353.76
PARISH DEBT REDUCTION
Our Current Debt $ 365,000.00
Received 08/22/10 $ 85.00
Electronic Giving $ 344.50
Parish debt is paid off after we accumulate $10,000.00 or more.
40 DAYS FOR LIFE
Life Saving Efforts to being September 22-
40 Days for Life-an intensive prolife initiative that focuses on prayer, fasting, peaceful vigil and community outreach in preparing for their Fall Campaign. This effort has already mobilized over 350,000 people worldwide, saving more than 2800 lives from abortion, led to the conversion of 38 abortion workers, and seen five abortion facilities close.
40 Days For Life will begin on September 22 through October 31. As the people of the St. Cloud and New Ulm Diocese join with other across the country to pray, fast, and hold a peaceful vigil at the St. Cloud Planned Parenthood, we invite everyone to be an active part of this program. For more information contact Mary Jo Ruhland, Rhlgr@aol.com, call 320-453-3695 or Judy Haag at Judy4life@meltel.net, call 320-453-7592.
For more information-go to www.40daysforlife.comNOW THIS COULD BE FUN
Gathering in the Arts is planning a Variety Show this fall.
You have heard about the show America's Got Talent-Now there is Sartell's Got Talent!
Can you sing, dance or play an instrument? Do you like to have fun? Make plans to be a part of the event and share your talent with us all.
Open to children and adults of all ages. Don't wait until the last minute to sign up. Call Ginny O'Malley at 251-4407 this week!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN
Parents: The Family Registration information for 2010-2011 AND a new schedule with corrections has been sent. Your prompt attention to completing and returning the registration is imperative in our planning. Thank you.
Please return your registration forms to the parish office by Tuesday, August 31.PARENTS & PARISHIONERS-WE NEED YOUR HELP. IT TAKES A VILLAGE ~ Who do we need from this village? We need STORY TELLERS! Stories engage our imagination. They open our minds and hearts to new possibilities. Jesus used stories as he taught for this very reason. Catechists tell stories that connect life today with our Gospel message.
Please pray about how YOU will help in this ministry and please be open to saying yes to the Holy Spirit when you receive a call to help this year. For more information call the Religious Education Office at 252-8761. Eileen Garcia and Linda Arnold Religious Education Coordinators
ELECTRONIC GIVING-WHAT'S THAT?
Electronic Giving is an automatic transfer program which allows you to make contributions to St. Francis Xavier Parish without writing checks. It saves time and work, and simplifies your life. Like home mortgages and utility payments, this is another way that electronic banking takes away much of the weekly or monthly paperwork we all have to deal with. With Electronic Giving, parishioner's contributions are done either once or twice a month - on the 5th and/or the 20th. There are also a growing number of parishioners who automatically give through their online banking on a monthly or semi-monthly basis. Our parish website - www.stfrancissartell.org is also set up with a secure site for allowing electronic contributions.
Those who sign up for Electronic Giving continue to receive church envelopes every other month. The envelope packets contain additional envelopes for Holy Days and Special Collections. Also, as part of the Mass, we have the offertory. During this part of the Mass we make an offering to God and return to God a portion for all that God has given to us. The envelopes have a box to check that you give electronically so that you can continue to be involved in this part of the liturgy. The number of families contributing electronically has grown to 103. You can easily become 104.
If this sounds like something that you're interested in, contact Tom Offerdahl in the parish office - 252-1363.
Thank you to all the good stewards of St. Francis Xavier. Your generosity and support of our parish and its ministries is greatly appreciated.
Thank you to Rajkowski Hansmeier and Erickson Drywall for sponsoring an ad in our parish bulletin. Support from area businesses pays for the printing of our bulletin. Please remember them if you are in need of the services they provide.
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER
SCHOOL ENDOWMENT
In the August/September envelope packet mailed to registered parishioners, there is an envelope inviting contributions to the School Endowment Fund. Proceeds from the fund assist families that need tuition assistance and support the general operations of our school. Please consider a gift to our Endowment Fund to keep Catholic education a viable option for families to choose now and in the future.
How about a RETREAT WEEKEND!
Stop by the bulletin board in the south entrance of the Gathering Place for information about upcoming retreats taking place at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo. There are a number of weekends available. Start out the autumn season by taking advantage of a beautiful, inexpensive, lakeside weekend of relaxation and spiritual rejuvenation. Call 763-682-1394 for a registration form and more information.
QUILT BINGO
Two opportunities to win beautiful quilts:
Today, Sunday, August 29 at Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Center in Richmond.
Sunday, September 19 at St. Francis Xavier Parish here in Sartell.
See Bulletin boards for details. Make plans to attend and join us!