February 19, 2012

THIS LENTEN SEASON, TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON JESUS’ WALK TO CALVARY.

MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND SERVICES AND SPECIAL EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN OUR CHURCH.

 

 

                  Ash Wednesday—February 22

Mass and distribution of Ashes — 9:00 a.m. and  7:00 p.m.

 

Rice Bowl Collection throughout Lent

Pick up a bowl from the church entrance and return it on Holy Thursday.

 

Daily Mass & Services

Monday   8:00 a.m.  (Word & Communion)

Tuesday thru Thursday  - 8:00 a.m.  (Mass)

Friday  -  9:00 a.m.  (Mass)

 (Rosary is prayed 20 minutes before services)

 

Stations of the Cross Devotions

Stations will be prayed each Friday in Lent at 5:30 p.m.

Each Friday in March, there will be a simple soup and bread supper

served in the Gathering Place immediately following Stations.

A free will offering will be accepted with proceeds given to the Missions.

 

Fish Fry

THIS Friday, February 24—Serving  4:00 to 7:00  p.m. in the School.

 

Lenten Penance Service  

Tuesday, March 27 - 7:00 p.m.

Additional priests will be available to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the end of the service.

 

Individual Confessions

April 2—1:00 & 6:30 pm, April 3—4:00 pm, April 4—1:00 & 6:30 pm

 

Holy Week Masses & Services

Palm Sunday Masses:      Saturday, March 31       5:00 pm   Cantor

                                                            Sunday, April 1                   8:30 am   Adult Choir

                                                                                                      10:30 am   Worship Ensemble

 

Holy Thursday Mass:        Thursday, April 5           7:00 pm   Adult Choir

 

Good Friday Services:    Friday, April 6              1:00 pm   Adult Choir

                                                                                                            7:00 pm   Worship Ensemble

 

Easter Vigil Mass:    Saturday, April 7 8:00 pm   Adult Choir

 

Easter Sunday Masses:  Sunday, April 8         7:00 am   Cantor

        9:00 am   Adult Choir

    11:00 am   Worship Ensemble

 

---

 
PASTORAL MINISTRY
 

BeFriender’s will meet on Monday, March 12 at 6:30 pm in the Social Hall of Xavier Hall. Two of our BeFrienders will share on their recent time to Guatemala. If there are other members of the parish that would enjoy hearing this presentation, please let me know so that we can arrange.

 

St. Francis Health and Wellness Committee will meet on Wednesday, March 14 at 5:30 pm in Xavier Hall. Please plan to attend if possible. We try to keep our meetings to one hour.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Lenten Anointing of the Sick Service will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:00 am.

 

Our parish will serve a meal at the Place of Hope on Tuesday, February 21 at 5:00 pm. Thanks to the many people who have contributed time, money, food and interest in our assistance with the homeless of our area.

 

This past summer I had the good fortune to be selected to attend the National Symposium on Lay Ecclesial Ministry at St. John’s, Collegeville. At that time a commitment was made by St. John’s to provide five full tuition scholarships in each of the next three years for Master of Divinity students preparing to serve as lay ecclesial ministers. Preference for reception of these scholarships will be given to candidates recommended by co-sponsors of the Symposium. These scholarships are for those already doing ministry and those who feel called to lay ecclesial ministry. If you have questions, please contact me.

 

REMEMBER, get those Catholic United Financial raffle tickets today! Time is running out. The drawing will take place on March 1, 2012, less than two weeks away. Get to the Gathering Place today to purchase your tickets!

 

Sister Cordy

---

 

FRIDAY SOUP SUPPER DURING LENT

Each Friday evening during Lent, Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 5:30 pm. On all Fridays in March there will be a non-meat, soup and bread supper, offered in the Gathering Place following Station of the Cross. A free-will offering will be accepted for this meal with all proceeds being sent to the Missions. Please, consider a minimum donation of $2—$3 per person for this meal.

 

Thank you to Mary Mader and Diane Kiley who have again agreed to coordinate the suppers.

 

If you would like to help out by making of a crock of soup, please call Mary at 253-2555 or Diane at 253-3750. If you can help to defray the cost of the ingredients for the soup and bread by making a monetary contribution, please put your donation in an envelope, marked “Soup Supper,” and drop it in the Sunday collection basket or bring it to the Parish Office.  Thank you!

---

 

BENEFIT BREAKFAST & SILENT AUCTION—NEXT SUNDAY—FOR

JESSICA WINKELS-HAGERL

The benefit breakfast for Jessica Winkels-Hagerl

is taking place this weekend.

Sunday, February 19 from 8:30 am to noon

at St. Francis Xavier School.

 

The menu includes: sausage, eggs, pancakes all for $7.50-adults, $4.00-10 & under, Free 5 & under.

 

On May 1, 2011, at age 31, Jessica received the gift of a liver and kidney transplant. This benefit is being held to assist her with significant medical expenses. For the rest of her life, Jessica will be required to be on multiple anti-rejection medications.

 

If you are unable to attend the event, consider making a donation for Jessica at Bank Vista in Sartell.

 

Make checks payable to:

BankVista FBO Jessica Winkels-Hagerl

Send donations to:

Jessica Winkels-Hagerl Benefit,

     c/o BankVista,

     125 Twin Rivers Court, Sartell, MN 56377

---

BECOME A PARISH WEBSITE SPONSOR

We invite your business or organization to become part of our growing online ministry. It's a very affordable way to put your message in front of fellow parishioners and a highly-local audience.

 

In 2011, our website had 74,602 page views, 22,699 visits, and 9,942 unique visitors.  41.17% of those viewing our parish website were new visitors and the number of visits continues to grow. With website sponsorship, you'll be supporting a vital parish ministry.

 

Call parishioner Mark Kuhl for additional information at 266-1393.

 

---

 

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER is being held at St. Augustine’s Church, 442-2nd Street SE, St. Cloud, MN on FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012 AT 1:00 PM. The country that will be recognized is MALAYSIA. The Christian Women of Malaysia invite us to join them in prayer. The theme is “Let Justice Prevail.” The ladies of Malaysia wrote the prayer service, and open with “Selamat datang” – “Peace and Welcome.” You are invited to join us at the Ecumenical Prayer Service with fellowship to follow. The facility is Handicapped Accessible

---

 

KID’S AGAINST HUNGER  BAGGING EVENT

THIS Thursday, February 23, we will be bagging rice for Kids Against Hunger at the Sauk Rapids warehouse from 6:30-8:30 pm. If you would like to be a part of this event, please call Bonnie by Monday, February 21 at 252-7838.

---

 

Have you ever wanted to read the WHOLE bible?  St. Francis Xavier Parish will be offering an 8-part study entitled “A Quick Journey Through the Bible.” This study is a “Brief” overview of the story of our salvation history.

We will begin this 8-week study on Tuesday, March 6 and finish on Tuesday, May 1. We will meet at 6:30 pm in Xavier Hall.

To register, call the parish office at 252-1363 by Friday,  February 24. If you have questions, call Jeanne Jaeger at 202-9762.

The cost for the study is $20. Please register by Friday, February 24 so study guides can be ordered. Thank You!

---

 

CATHOLIC WORKERS  GATHER

Save the Date—Day on the Hill, Tuesday, March 20th Sponsored by the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC).

Join with other Christians, Jews and Muslims from across the state in coming together at the State Capitol to hear about what's happening regarding certain issues that are being talked about at the Capitol. There is a keynote address and issue updates in the morning and in the afternoon we go and visit our representatives. 

If this is something that makes you uncomfortable, come! Practice getting better! We need to speak on behalf of those who feel like they are on the margins and have no voice. Contact me by e-mail for more information.   ~  Molly Weyrens

---

 

COBORN’S  HAM CARDS

Have you started a Coborn’s Ham Card yet?

If you find you can’t fill the card, would you consider donating your stamps to the parish so the stamps and/or partial cards can be combined. Easter hams will then be given to local agencies and individuals in need? (Receipts that are not stamped can also be used. However, remember, we need the entire receipt, not just the portion that says the number of stamps.)

 

Cards/receipts can be brought to the parish office or dropped in the Sunday collection basket from now until Easter.

 

Thank you to Coborn’s for their generosity and for making this program possible. Thank you also to Don & Marcella Piasecki and all their helpers for coordinating the collection and disbursement of the hams.

---

 

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER SCHOOL NEWS

Lent begins this Wednesday. St. Francis Xavier students will be guided through Lent by focusing on 14 virtues that correspond to the Stations of the Cross. We will begin with the washing of the feet at the Last Supper. At the time of Jesus, foot washing was common because people often had dirty feet from wearing only sandals or walking barefoot outdoors. Often slaves did this chore. But Jesus wanted the apostles—and all of us—to understand that no one is ever so important that they don’t need to serve others. No matter who we are, we should be concerned about others and willing to help them.

 

The Catholic United Financial Raffle for St. Francis Xavier School is going well. Over $5,000.00 has already been collected, and there are still a few weeks to go. Last year the total raised by the CUF raffle was $8,630.00.

 

In addition to instruction, the school year at St. Francis Xavier is sprinkled with extra opportunities and activities. The week of February 27—March 2 is AAA week. Arts and Academic Awards is an opportunity for students to be recognized for skills and talents that are not part of the regular school day. Students will be displaying artwork, crafts, and demonstrating skills such as karate and playing a musical instrument.

 

Linda Wilfahrt, Principal

---

 

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

HELP NEEDED! Our Annual Fish Fry is THIS Friday, February 24!  Much help is needed in setting up, serving, preparing food, and clean up. Please call Eileen Garcia at 252-8761 to volunteer. Proceeds of this event are used by the St. Francis Xavier Home and School for activities for your children and by Faith Formation for programs such as bringing ValLimar Jansen to us. This cannot succeed without your commitment.  Thank you!

 

Lent begins this Wednesday, February 22.

Please make plans to attend Mass as a family. 

 

Attention PARENTS—Gr. 4-7  Your children are bringing home a note about Lent this week. Please read it with them. As a Religious Education Faith Community we are asking your help in the Lenten practice of Almsgiving.  

 

Magazines with pictures and words appropriate for use in classrooms to make posters and collages around faith formation themes. If you have magazines such as Liguorian, America, U.S. Catholic, anything with family or nature scenes, we would love to have them. Please bring them to Xavier Hall. Thank you!

Eileen Garcia & Linda Arnold, RE Coordinators