For the People of our Parish

The Area Catholic Community of Mayhew Lake,

Sauk Rapids, Sartell, and St. Stephen.

Updates for the virtual meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020:

A oneinchristacc@gmail.com e-mail account has been created for our ACC. It is an account whereby all parishioners can use it to contact our ACC planning council with questions or comments.

A oneinchristacc.org website is currently under development. Ultimately, our hope is that this website will contain information relating to our ACC as well as the Sunday bulletins for each of the four parishes within our One in Christ ACC.

The "Progressive Supper", as a "community building event" has been tabled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Our ACC plan that was submitted to the diocese and Bishop Kettler last winter has been reviewed and returned to us with feedback, recommendations, and expectations. The following are the first three we will address.

First - that we have some sort of joint bulletin. Discussions relating to format, frequency, and method of availability are now under way and will be spearheaded by a "bulletin team".

Secondly - that our ACC activity needs to include more "outreach" focus. The RCIA team will start by revising the plan to include methods for "keeping families engaged between Baptism and First Communion".

Thirdly - that we have a Mass schedule that has staggered Mass times. The Mass time subcommittee will meet to discuss and develop a revised proposal.

Next meeting: If held in person, it will be Tuesday, May 5th, 2020, @ 7:00pm at St. Francis Xavier Church in Sartell. If not in person, it will be a virtual meeting for that same time.

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For the People of our Parish

The Area Catholic Community of Mayhew Lake, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, and St. Stephen

Updates for the meeting on Tuesday, February 4th, 2020 @ Sauk Rapids

A "One in Christ" ACC shared website was discussed and will be created showing and linking our four parishes.

Individual church bulletins will remain the same for now.

We are looking into a communication platform, an app, on which our four parishes can share information.

A Community building event, a “Progressive Supper”, is being planned. Its purpose is to introduce and bring our ACC community together.

Our ACC is in support of a request that was made to the Bishop that an additional priest be added to our ACC. It would help us to better serve the 10,000 plus members of our four parishes.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 31st, 2020 at 7:00p.m. at St. Francis Xavier.

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For the People of our Parish

The Area Catholic Community of Mayhew Lake, Sauk Rapids, Sartell, and St. Stephen. Updates for the meeting on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 @ Mayhew Lake.

 

Our ACC Planning Council approved the subcommittees’ proposals for the four elements of Stewardship, RCIA Evangelization, Young Adult and Worship. These four proposals will be submitted to the Diocese for review and approval.

 

A consensus was reached on Mass times.

Annunciation: Sunday 8:00 am

Sacred Heart: Saturday 5 pm and Sunday 10:00 am

St. Francis Xavier: Saturday 5 pm and Sunday10:00 am 

St. Stephen: Saturday 7:00 pm and Sunday 8:00 am

The above Mass time schedule, beginning July 2020, is part of the Worship element that is being submitted to the Diocese for review and approval.

The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 4th, 2020 at 7:00p.m. at Sacred Heart Church.

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The "One in Christ" logo has been selected to represent our Area Catholic Community of Mayhew Lake, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, and St. Stephen.

In the formation of our ACC, Bishop Kettler is asking that we come together and share our strengths and challenges. Then, as an Area Catholic Community, we can address our challenges.

The first four elements that we will work on will be in the areas of:

- Young Adults (ages 18-28) - opportunities for faith formation and growth

- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) - part of Evangelization

- Caring for the Poor - Part of Stewardship

- Worship Schedule - Mass times

 

From within our ACC Planning Council, subcommittees have been formed for each of

the above elements with one representative of each parish on each subcommittee.

We ask all parishioners to please contemplate the four areas: Young Adults, RCIA, Caring for the Poor, and Worship Schedule. Provide your suggestions/feedback to one of your parish representatives. Keep in mind that as an Area Catholic Community our goal is to use our collective strengths to address our collective challenges.

Next meeting is Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 at St. Stephen @ 7:00 p.m.

What does faith and religion do for us? Ultimately, they

remind us of some truths we conveniently forget: we are

created by a loving God, we have imperfections, we sin,

we need to be forgiven, we have a mission and a

purpose, it’s not just about us, and we hunger for the joy

of salvation. These are human truths that are not

dependent upon whether we like them. Ignoring them

places us on the paths of comfort and satisfaction as we

blindly pursue the busyness and superficiality of our

empty lives. Instead of pursuing supernatural and lasting

pleasure, we choose things that are easier and quicker to

obtain: sex, drugs, travel, houses, cars, fame, popularity,

self-achievement and satisfaction, physical enjoyment,

and the like.

We may also find ourselves falling victim to more

negative responses to what life brings us: anger, envy,

lust, pride, gluttony, greed, and apathy. Human hearts

can become so hardened to the truth that violence

becomes the response of first choice. Being a Christian is

hard! Yet, as Pope Francis reminds us, the Church needs

to be a field hospital that has to be prepared to provide

people with the remedy they need. What we need is

Jesus Christ. The Church, with all of the glory of the

sacraments, exists to help make Christ present and real

for us. Once we find Christ, we find joy. Joy is a matter

of the heart that is beyond pleasure and happiness. It is

not found in some earthly satisfaction, only in Christ.

Once we accept that we are destined to be in Christ, then

we will discover eternal life. Namely, “that they should

know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent,

Jesus Christ.” It is easy to conveniently forget truth and

pursue illusions immediately within our grasp, but at what

price? A man celebrating 60 years of marriage

remarked that it took so much effort and so many

attempts to convince his wife that they were meant to be

together. Even his friends told him he was foolish. He

easily could have given up and pursued other interests.

He chose to persevere and is so grateful that he made

that choice because he now has a pearl of great price.

Do we see a value in persevering in our faith regardless

of the cost? If we don’t take the risk, we could lose more

than we know.

©LPi

What does a Steward look like?

A steward looks like a person who…

…responds to an emergency call in spite of

potential risk

…is a health care provider caring for the sick

…is a custodian who keeps hospitals and other

essential facilities clean and safe

…is a farmer who raises the food we need

…is a truck driver delivering basic needs and the

store employees who keep shelves filled

…works at a food shelf and those preparing meals

for people in need

…along with one’s family, provides live streaming

of the Mass

…is a priest, a musician, a lector, and an acolyte

who help with the celebration of the Mass

…is a teacher who prepares class work for students

in a distance-learning environment

…is a parent who is working from home who is also

the “teacher” for their children

…is a child who is trying to be helpful and

cooperative at home during the “stay at home”

order

…is a person who checks on neighbors to make sure

they are all right.

…is someone who is financially supporting the

church and charitable organizations

Jesus taught, “Whatever you do to the least of my

brothers, that you do unto me.”

Joyce O’Driscoll

Stewardship Committee Member

Come to Christ Life is perhaps God’s greatest gift to each of us.

Without life, we would be unable to experience all the wonder of this world, the love of family and friends, and the joy that comes from using our talents and skills. Life itself is more profound a gift than we can even truly contemplate.

On Easter, we celebrate life. For on this day, Jesus Christ conquered death and gave to us the chance for a life eternal. The wonder, love, and joy of this world does not have to end. Through a life in Jesus Christ, these emotions are heightened, and we find even greater fulfillment in this world.

Maybe this Easter you find yourself open to take a next step in your relationship with Jesus. This could be the moment you decide to follow Him more closely and take seriously all that he has given you. If so, welcome to the journey, where there are many other disciples on that same path who can help show you the way and share their stories. If not, hopefully it doesn’t take a whole year for this possibility to be considered again.

Jesus is alive and waiting to get closer to you. May this Easter season find you and Our Lord getting to know one another in a whole new way.

Happy Easter!

—Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

When we awoke this morning, we found ourselves

blessed with another day. It is Easter Sunday. As

that thought crossed our minds, did we find ourselves

saying “so what” or “alleluia”? For many, today is

truly a day of alleluia. For others, it is just another

day of “so what.” Faith makes a huge difference. It

not only makes a difference in how we understand

today and the significance of what we celebrate, it

also makes a huge difference in terms of how we

understand ourselves.

Succeed, live well, be productive, find your niche,

follow your dreams, make money, protect your

social status, be politically correct, and keep your

preferences to yourself are pretty good examples

of the messages our secular life wants us to hear. In

and of themselves, they don’t sound all that harmful.

But when really examined, they are. The life of

resurrection embodied in the Gospel tells us a much

different story.

Life keeps us busy. We are always connected,

distracted, occupied, and working. For many of us,

an agenda awaits us before we even start our day,

and unfinished stuff is brought with us when we retire

at night. Make the best of life and “find your own

road to happiness” are messages we all too easily

believe. The “so what” response to the new life of

resurrection is often the result of believing that life is

only what I make it. What God has to say isn’t

important to me securing my next raise.

Sadly, we live as if the grave is the end. While we

may give the wonder of heaven a blink now and

then, its glory really doesn’t impress us or matter all

that much. It’s all about the here and now and what I

need to do today to get where I want to be

tomorrow. We tend to put off considering the one

significant “tomorrow” that will come the millisecond

after we take our last breath. When that happens,

will we want to be thinking “so what?” or “alleluia”?

There is only one Jesus, one mission, and one

resurrection. There is also only one of us. Have you

ever pondered what one solitary, humble human life

can do? Faith, not our world, tells us how special we

are. We are not robots. We are not replaceable.

We have one shot. There are no do-overs. Love is at

our core and unites us together as one with the God

of love who so desperately wants us to be with Him

forever. This may not match our secular agenda, but

it ought to make our true inner agenda leap for joy.

There doesn’t need to be an end. I can live forever.

Alleluia!

©LPi

Want to help your parish facility look its best? Our landscaped areas around the church and school need some attention and tender loving care this time of the year and our maintenance crew can’t do it all alone. We need volunteers to adopt an area (or more than one) to “Spring clean” – pull weeds, remove debris, trim plants and spread new mulch. This can be an individual or family endeavor. Equipment and supplies can be provided, or you may bring your own. If you want to spend some time outside and get your hands a little dirty, contact Adam in the parish office at 320-252-1363 x1105.

These are offered by the Social Concerns Committee to help us all understand more about the reality of living with homelessness in Central MN.

"Finally the weather broke, reducing the need for our neighbors outside to call for emergency help.

One new couple went to the woods in Sartell and needed sleeping bags. And one woman left the woods in town and doubled up in a friend’s apartment. One woman and disabled son living in her car needed gas to stay warm, as did another man also living in his car. We distributed six 20 lb tanks of propane, and eleven gas cards this week. Gas cards were for both heating and reimbursements for those giving rides. The warmer weather also allowed us to resume the furniture program, and we had six pickups and eleven deliveries. We are in need of beds, dressers, and pots and pans. On the challenging side our folks have been hit with an outbreak of influenza A. Many are going to the ER."

To offer assistance contact Harry Fleegel: 612-868-0465

Dear Women of the Parish,

Every women of the parish, age 18 or older, is invited to consider joining the St. Monica Christian Women organization of our parish. This organization has been active since the parish was established back in 1949. We meet on the third Tuesday of the month beginning in September through May. However we do not usually meet in December or January. So as you can see, there are only about seven meetings a year. We hold various events throughout the year including our annual Craft Sale, the Poor Clare’s Tea fuel fund collection for the Poor Clair Sisters, BINGO in the fall and spring, collection of personal care items for Anna Marie Alliance, diaper drives, rose sale for local pro life groups, and will occasionally have guest speakers attend our meeting. We come together to pray and support each other and help raise funds to support those in need, both within our community and throughout the world.

We will begin our new year and have our first meeting on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:30 pm in Xavier Hall. We will begin our meeting in prayer and discuss what we have planned, so far, as an organization. Because we have had the summer off, this first meeting will primarily be a business meeting but will also be a great opportunity to visit with guests and catch up with each other on how their summer has been.

We invite all current members and those interested in joining us to watch for a Membership Enrollment Form in the bulletin on the weekend of September 8. Instead of mailing to only the current members, we want to invite everyone to consider becoming a part of this great group of women.

So, bring a friend, your ideas, any questions and make plans to attend.

Blessings on your days ahead.

Aggie Schulte, Linda Kmitch and Lisa Kirchner, CW officers

Please consider making a gift to our St. Francis Xavier Catholic School Endowment Fund. Your gift to the Endowment is a way to ensure all children seeking a Catholic education at St. Francis Xavier Catholic School are able to attend. Gifts of appreciated mutual funds shares, stocks or other assets can provide some wonderful tax benefits to you. Share your blessing at this time of year by giving a gift that keeps on giving! Please call Adam Vonderahe in the parish office at 320- 252-1363 (ext. 1105) to make a gift.

1. Live with intention. College will be full of new opportunities. Think carefully about your priorities for your new start.

2. Make the right friends. There will be plenty of new people! Concentrate on the ones who motivate you to be a better person.

3. It's a big world! Look for new perspectives, new opportunities, and new ideas that push you to grow.

4. Find a mentor. Building relationships with people who have "been there, done that" can be a great help.

5. Give yourself away. You may not need to volunteer anymore, but you'll be surprised what you learn, how you grow, and who you meet when you serve.

6. Before you go, learn how to do your laundry, address an envelope, schedule a doctor's appointment, use public transportation, and cook basic meals (ramen doesn't count!).

7. Remember that God is in control. And that's a good thing!

As Father Tim pointed out last weekend, we need all of

our registered parishioners to contribute financially to

the parish if we are to continue to provide the current

level of service in our school, faith formation program

and parish ministries, as well as maintain and improve

the campus facilities. Our Catholic Faith calls us to share

the many gifts God has given each one of us, and we do

that in a very powerful way every day throughout our

parish community.

To that end, I encourage you to consider signing up to

make electronic contributions and automate your weekly,

bi-weekly or monthly contributions. You can control your

own account by visiting stfrancissartell.org and click on

the red Donate/Payments button at the top of the page.

Read about ways to donate, and then click to donate

online. On the right side of the new webpage, choose

Log-In and enter your email address and password or

select Create Your Online Profile if you have never

created one. Once logged in, you can set up new or edit

your scheduled transactions. You can also update credit

card and bank information. Remember, using your bank

account as your payment method is safe and secure,

there is no additional cost to you, and it helps the parish

avoid paying the associated 3% transaction cost in

credit card processing fees.

If you prefer, paper authorization forms are included as

a stuffer in this bulletin and are always available at the

kiosk and in the entrances to the Gathering Place.

Complete the form to start new electronic contributions or

to make changes to your existing contributions. Return

the form by mail or drop off in the parish office, or drop

in the collection basket during weekend mass. Call the

parish office at 320-252-1363 if you have any

questions.

Finally, I understand that many parishioners prefer to use

their contribution envelopes and drop those in the

collection basket at mass. This is a long-standing

tradition for them and we support that method. There is,

however, a cost to the parish to print and mail over

1,800 sets of weekly and special envelopes (roughly

$10-11,000/year), so if you do not use or do not wish

to receive these envelopes, please let Becky in the parish

office know. Thank you!