STAFF Rev. Raúl Pérez-Cobo, Pastor [email protected] Saint Francis Sr. Lucy Pérez-Calixto, Guadalupe Minister [email protected] de Sales Dennis Ouderkirk, Administrative Secretary Catholic Church [email protected] Devan Hirning, Coordinator Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church of Religious Education Diocese of Crookston [email protected] Luke VanOverbeke, 601 15th Avenue North Phone (218) 233-4780 Coordinator of Liturgy and Moorhead, MN 56560 Web https://stfrancismhd.org Music [email protected] Hours M – F 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon Email [email protected] 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Facebook https://fb.me/stfrancismhd Swede Stelzer, Parish Management Coordinator “Seek the Lord in All that You Do!” [email protected] ──────────────────────────────────────────────────── Anthony Schefter, Bulletin/Web/Sign Editor FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT [email protected] Dean Bloch and Lucila Cuarto Domingo de Adviento Amezcua, Custodians December 20, 2020 Bob Seigel and Kim Bloch, Trustees Mr. Andrew Hilliker, St. Joseph’s School Principal [email protected] Phone (218) 233-0553 PASTORAL COUNCIL Bob Hawk Danielle Holmes Sharon Jorschumb Shari Lee Sr. Lucy Pérez-Calixto Irma Santos Kelli Simonson Traci Steffen Francisco Valenzuela FINANCE COUNCIL Kim Bloch – Trustee Ann Henne Carol Nygaard Bob Seigel – Trustee “Hail, full of grace! VICTIM ASSISTANCE If you or someone you know has been The Lord is with you.” the victim of sexual misconduct on the part of a priest, deacon, or individual (Luke 1:28) representing the Diocese of Crook- ston, its parishes, or its schools, your first call should be to law enforcement. In addition, the diocesan Victim Assist- ance Coordinator is available at (218) 281-7895 (24-hour confidential number).
THIS WEEK RITES OF PASSAGE MINISTRY SCHEDULE Saturday 19th BAPTISM ~ We welcome those newly THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 4:30 PM baptized. Please pray for them as they 5 pm, Mass for the Fourth Sunday Ushers Volunteers Needed Please continue to grow in Christ. Parishioners of Advent – Bill and Cora Sheik †† Temps Don Vos, Volunteer seeking baptism for their child should Sunday 20th contact Luke VanOverbeke in the parish Lector Sharon Jorschumb EMHC Volunteer Needed Please FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT office at (218) 233-4780.
8 am, Mass (G’town) – Pro Populo MARRIAGES & BANNS ~ Please join us 10 am, Mass – Msgr. Michael in praying for all newly married couples THURSDAY, DEC. 24, 8 PM Patnode † & those preparing for the sacrament of Ushers Volunteers Needed Please 12 noon, Mass (Spanish) – Anna Matrimony. Registered members of the Temps Volunteers Needed Please Amaya † parish are to make arrangements for the Lector Volunteer Needed Please 1:30 pm, Confirmation Candidate wedding at least 6 months in advance. EMHC Volunteer Needed Please Meeting DEATHS ~ Please remember those who St. Nick Online Silent Auction Ends are grieving the loss of a loved one in your FRIDAY, DEC. 25, 9 AM prayers. Ushers Volunteers Needed Please Monday 21st Anna Amaya – November 27 Temps Volunteers Needed Please ST. PETER CANISIUS, PRIEST AND Gordon Kringler – November 23 Lector Volunteer Needed Please DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Cliff Stenger – November 16 EMHC Steve Cahill 8 am, Mass – Richard Toenies † PRAY FOR OUR PARISHIONERS WHO 9 am, Social Concerns ARE ILL ~ Please join us in praying for SATURDAY, DEC. 26, 5 PM 7 pm, Pastoral Councill all our sick parishioners. If you are ill and Ushers Mary and Steve Novacek Tuesday 22nd would like to be prayed for by our parish Temps Swede Stelzer 8 am, Mass – John Politiski † family, or if you are hospitalized or Rebecca Smith homebound and would like a visit, please Lector Ken Sims Wednesday 23rd call the parish office. EMHC Sharon Jorschumb ST. JOHN OF KANTY, PRIEST Michael Anderson Stefan Arey
8 am, Mass – Msgr. Gerald Noesen † Nikolai Carlson Gregory Coulter SUNDAY, DEC. 27, 10 AM 9 am, Church decoration Michael Daugherty James Erickson Ushers Tina and Anadia Cruz NO R.E. Marge Erickson Andrew Fridgen Julie Fridgen Kathy Harrington Temps Swede Stelzer, Jim White Thursday 24th Daniel Hendricks Judy Kuzel Lector Ava Holmes VIGIL OF CHRISTMAS Tony Lee Mary Lewis EMHC Karen Stern OFFICE CLOSES AT NOON Jane McGough Ann Mertes 4:30 pm, Mass – Pro Populo Randy Mertes Lynden Mohler 8 pm, Mass – Lucy Al Morris Tom Perez STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Ohnstad † Maralee Pinkney Betty Richards Contributions received during Nov. Jim Schreiner Kris Shelladay Online $1,675.00 Friday 25th Kathleen Steinmann Bob Strnad Thanksgiving $ 400.00 THE NATIVITY OF THE Charles Wendlick November Total $ 26,536.00 LORD (CHRISTMAS) For all parishioners suffering from Monthly Budget Goal $ 30,466.00 OFFICE CLOSED COVID-19 and their families. % of Monthly Budget Goal 87.1% 9 am, Mass – Msgr. Michael Blankets are available for you to pass along Contributions received the weeks Patnode † to those whom you know need prayers. of Dec. 5-6/Dec. 12-13 (Weeks #24-25) Names to this list are added at the Envelopes (61) $ 5,235.00 Saturday 26th request of the individual or by family on ST. STEPHEN, THE FIRST MARTYR behalf of the individual. The name ACH (37) $ 5,116.00 5 pm, Mass for the Holy Family - remains on the list unless and until we are Youth/Children (1) $ 5.00 Clifford Stenger † contacted and told to take it off. Loose Collection $ 37.10 Total $ 10,393.10 NEW PARISHIONERS ~ We welcome Sunday 27th Immac. Conception $ 175.00 everyone to come and worship with our THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, December Total $ 10,568.10 faith community. Contact the parish MARY, AND JOSEPH Monthly Budget Goal $ 30,466.00 office or visit https://stfrancismhd.org to 8 am, Mass (G’town) – Aaron Lee † % of Monthly Budget Goal 34.7% register. If you are not Catholic, please 10 am, Mass – George Bosch † call the office to learn about RCIA. Retirmnt Fnd for Relgious $ 489.00 12 noon, Mass (Spanish) – Pro Populo Welcome to our parish family. Guadalupe Ministry $ 577.00 PARISH NEWS Winter
Weather Policy Please Reconsider 4:30 pm Mass In the event of a blizzard warning in Fargo-Moorhead, or when St. Joseph’s Because of COVID capacity restrictions, the 4:30 pm Christmas School is cancelled, the parish office will be closed and all activities cancelled, Eve Mass is full; some people will be asked to sit in overflow including daily morning and weekend seating (the parish center, watching a video screen) and others Mass. If a “no travel advisory” is in effect may not be admitted at all. This is a circumstance beyond our parishioners should stay home. Daily Mass as well as the 5 pm Saturday, 10 am control that is the result of Minnesota law and the instruction of Sunday, and 12 noon Spanish Mass will the Bishop. Please consider prayerfully whether you can attend be livestreamed as usual on our Facebook page. another Mass. The 8 pm Christmas Eve Mass and the 9 am Cancellations will be decided on a Christmas Day Mass both have plenty of space. case-by-case basis in the event of less severe weather (such as a winter storm warning). In all cases of severe weather, closings and cancellations We Need YOU! will be advertised on local TV and radio Various liturgical ministers are needed for the Christmas stations KVLY, KFGO, and WDAY, and on the parish website, https://stfrancis Masses. Please email or call the office to sign up. Thank you. mhd.org.
No Singing during Mass Please continue to be mindful that Remembering Our Neighbors this Holiday Season congregational singing is not Please be mindful this holiday season: if you are attending permitted per the bishop’s most recent memo on guidelines for in- social gatherings, think about your neighbors’ health and person masses. Only the musician(s) consider staying home from Mass. The Bishop’s Sunday are allowed to sing. Thank you, we dispensation remains in effect, and you can always watch a know this is hard to do. livestream of Mass at St. Francis on our Facebook page, ______https://fb.me/stfrancismhd.org. We all need to help take care of each other during From St. Vincent de Paul these trying times. Imagine how Mary felt at the birth of Jesus: excited, awed, frightened. ______Deep faith was her light in the darkness, for Jesus was born during Library Volunteer Needed the night of the year when darkness The parish is again looking for someone who can volunteer a is the longest. Your gift to the few hours a month to help organize the parish library. Hours Society of St. Vincent de Paul brought light into the darkness are flexible. If you can help, please call Dennis in the parish surrounding the heart of those office. living in poverty bringing them the real, lasting, and deep joy of KNIGHTLY NEWS Christmas. ______
The Knights of Columbus Calendar raffle is coming to a Mental Health Crisis Response close. Contact any Knight, Ken Sims 701-367-6594 or Call Lakes & Prairies if you or some- Vernon Senger 701-793-8880. The Grand Prize of $1000 one you know is at risk of harming self or others, expressing thoughts of will be drawn on January 1st. Weekly winners every Friday. suicide, experiencing severe stress The Knights of Columbus will hold a membership that results in a significant decline in renewal gathering at the Dilworth VFW on January 2 from daily and/or family functioning, or you just don’t know what else to do! 12 to 4 PM Covid guidelines permitting. On January 2 after Free help is available over the phone the 5PM Mass and on January 3 after the AM Masses at both St. Francis de Sales or in person 24 hours a day, 7 days a and St. Joseph, Knights are asked to stop and pay their dues. week. 1-800-223-4512.
Luke’s Latest Liturgics
A PRAYER FOR Christmas is just around the corner and we PUTTING ON A FACE MASK are busy here in the office continuing to prepare for the season. St. Francis de Sales “Heavenly Father, as I prepare to go into the is currently planning to celebrate three Masses here for Christmas: 4:30 and 8:00 world, help me to see the sacramental nature of p.m. on Christmas Eve, and 9:00 a.m. on wearing this cloth. Let it be a tangible and visible Christmas Day. We ask you to let us know way of living love for my neighbors, as I love ahead of time---via the website, email, or phone---which Mass you and your family myself. are attending. As of this writing, we currently have about 100 people who have Christ Jesus, since my lips will be covered, uncover reserved for Christmas Eve 4:30 p.m., 1 for 8:00 p.m. and 15 for the 9:00 a.m. mass. my heart, that people would see my smiles in the We are currently at our max capacity for crinkles around my eyes. Since my voice may be the 4:30 p.m. Mass which means that future reservations will be for overflow muffled, help me to speak clearly, not only with seating in the parish center. There is still my words, but with my actions. plenty of space in church for the 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Masses, and we ask you to consider attending these masses instead if Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears, remind you are still on the fence. me to listen carefully and caringly to all those I Especially as we approach the Christmas season I respectfully urge our meet. May this simple piece of cloth be shield and in-person Mass attendees to keep in mind banner, and may each breath that it holds, be filled the spiritual and prayer needs of your with your love. In your Name and in that love, I fellow neighbors as you enter church for Mass. More and more we have been pray. Amen.” noticing the tendency of parishioners to “wander about” the church before Mass chit-chatting with others. This is causing unnecessary distraction and furthermore takes away from the real need of all to prepare our hearts together to worship “Mankind is a great, an God in the celebration. Consider that the choice to engage in chit-chat before Mass indirectly portrays to others that my need immense family… This is to socialize trumps the Christian solidarity I could be sharing in prayer with my proved by what we feel in neighbors. While preparing our hearts in prayer before Mass, we also remember our neighbors down the pew struggling in their our hearts at Christmas.” various life circumstances. There is profound beauty and unity when we (Pope Saint John XXIII) prioritize and pray for the needs of our neighbors and our mission in the presence of one another. This is lost when chit-chat takes over. Let’s help keep each other accountable to our mission and the needs of one another. Finally, I invite you to arrive early for …and He Took Flesh each of the Christmas Masses and enjoy by Father Don Braukmann some beautiful Christmas music while you prepare your heart. There will be prelude Father Braukmann’s book is still available for purchase music beginning 30 minutes prior to all in the parish office for $15. All proceeds go to St. masses. Come early and reflect on the Gianna’s Maternity Home. greatest gift given to us at Christmas: Jesus Christ the Lord. Christ always Through Jesus who came to rest in the womb of desires the whole you. Mary and on the straw mattress of the manger in Peace be with you as we draw near the Bethlehem, God fulfilled a promise He had made long end of Advent. In the words of the advent ago… that we would not be abandoned, that God is hymn, “People, look East, the time is near!” with us, and death will not have the final say. Your companion in Christ, -Luke
Christmas at Saint Francis de Sales
Mass Schedule: Christmas 4:30 pm Thursday, December 24 (Choir singing starts at 4 pm) 8 pm Thursday, December 24 9 am Friday, December 25 Please contact the parish office to inform us of which Mass you will be attending and how many are in your group. (218) 233-4780. Please note that as of publication time the 4:30 pm Christmas Eve Mass is very full. New Year’s Day: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Holyday of Obligation) 9 am Friday, January 1
Envelope No. (if known) ______
Feeling Stressed by Current Events?
How about escaping into the world of Guardian Angels? Or are you looking for the perfect Christmas gift? The Angelic Letters book series is on sale when you buy all seven books for $120. Normal price is $20 per book. Please call Dennis at the parish office to reserve your complete set today. (218) 233-4780.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021 From the St. Francis de Sales Parish Staff
Father Raúl Sister Lucy (back on Feb. 2!) Dennis Ouderkirk Luke VanOverbeke Devan Hirning Swede Stelzer Anthony Schefter
Vern Senger Grand Knight 701.793.8880