HAPPY BIRTHDAY FR. PRATAP!!
Thursday, July 2nd

Weekly Words from The Rock:

Does the Eucharist forgive sins? Certain sins, yes. Read ahead and learn about the Eucharist, forgiveness, and sins.

One of the greatest blessings and least known facts about the Eucharist is that, in the reception of Holy Communion, a person’s venial sins are forgiven.

The Eucharist is one of four sacraments that imparts the forgiveness of sins. The waters of baptism wash away all prior sins. Both sacraments of healing – reconciliation and anointing – also grant forgiveness. The sacrament of reconciliation grants the absolution of both mortal and venial sins, and it offers God’s pardon and peace. And the instruction to the sacrament of anointing says, “If they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them” (see James 5:15).

When we attend Mass, even if we have not committed a mortal sin, we still have blemishes on our souls, the venial sins that we have committed. Some of these sins may be smaller, others may be larger, but they offend God and alienate us from his son Jesus and the body of Christ, the Church. A person with venial sins is still in the state of grace, and he or she is not only eligible to receive holy Communion, but also is encouraged to receive holy Communion. Then, when we receive the Eucharist, “Holy Communion separates us from sin...the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1393). When Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, he wipes away our venial sins (see No. 1394).

Jesus made the Eucharist-forgiveness connection at the Last Supper when he took a cup of wine and said, “This is my blood...which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). The first generation of Christians considered the gift of forgiveness in the Eucharist to be a foundational belief: “by his blood...[we have] the forgiveness of sins previously committed” (Romans 3:25); “the blood of...Jesus cleanses us of all sins” (1 John 1:7); and, “Jesus Christ...has freed us from our sins by his blood” (Revelation 1:5).

The teaching that sins are forgiven in the reception of the Eucharist is reaffirmed in other writings and the words of the liturgy. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) referred to the Eucharist in a homily on Corpus Christi saying, “No other sacrament has greater healing power; through it sins are purged away.” Preface I of the Most Holy Eucharist in the Roman Missal says, “As we drink his blood that was poured out for us, we are washed clean.”

It is important to make a distinction when it comes to the forgiveness granted through the reception of the Eucharist: venial sins are forgiven, but mortal sins are not. The Catechism teaches, “The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sin – that is proper to the sacrament of reconciliation” (No. 1395). St. Paul explained the danger of receiving holy Communion when a person is separated from God and neighbor: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

A person with mortal sin is not in the state of grace, and the path to holy Communion is to approach the sacrament of reconciliation first, receive sacramental absolution, be restored to the state of grace, reestablish full communion with the Church, and then receive holy Communion.

When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus extends to us his love, compassion, mercy, healing grace, pardon, and peace. He offers a new beginning, strengthens us in the battle against future sin, and nourishes us to live a virtuous and holy life.

(Written by Father Michael Van Sloun, in The Catholic Spirit, June 21, 2018, page 15).

Do you have any electric motors that are lying around, and you would like to be rid of? Even with the passing of my father, I would be happy to take any electric motors. You can leave them by the rectory garage in Slayton, or I can pick them up at any of the parishes. Thanks!

Peace be to you!
Father Peter Schuster

Vocation View: If you wish to follow Jesus, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow. Are you courageous enough to follow as a priest or deacon, brother, or sister?

Matthew 16:21-27

There will be Confession available 1/2 hour before mass on Sundays.

Meetings: Pastoral & Finance Councils will meet on Wednesday, September 16th starting at 6:45 PM.

Faith Formation Registration for the 26-27 school year is now available to pick up at church entrance. Please return registrations to Judy Stenzel or the office by September 13th. Registration $20 per child with a $50 cap per family.

COF Steak Fry will be on Sunday, September 20th, 4:30 PM at Steger Hall. $5.00 for COF members and burgers are free to those who do not want steak. You NEED to reserve a steak to get a steak! Please call Kevin Leopold 507-793-2894 or Dennis Salentiny 507-360-1910 to reserve your steak.

A Box of Joy may be the only Christmas gift a child in need receives. Please help your CCW with this project by picking up a Box of Joy from the church; fill it and return it to the rectory by October 20th. A list of gift item suggestions & instructions can be found next to the boxes in church entrance. They have requested that a rosary be included in each box. The postage will be paid by CCW.

Winona-Rochester Diocesan CCW will be holding a meeting at St. Theodore Catholic Church in Albert Lea on Saturday, October 10th. Sign up sheets available on tables.

The Southwest Area Diocesan CCW is looking for a Commission Chair. A commission chair reads a report from the Diocesan newsletter at each area meeting. They are, also, looking for the position of Vice President. They would like to return to a 2 year term. If interested contact the office or Barb Hussong.

Phone/Address Updates: Please let Melanie know if you have any updates to addresses or phone numbers that may be out of date in the system or directory. Thank you!

Recent Changes Have taken place with the Catholic Foundation (CMA). Checks should be made payable to : Diocese of Winona-Rochester. It is very helpful if donors include CMA– Heron Lake in the memo line. The CMA appeal, as always, remains a tremendous benefit for our parishes when goals are met and overage funds are returned.

The Light Is On For You: : Reconciliation continues to be available. All are encouraged to continue coming to confession throughout the year; or return to the sacrament of reconciliation.

Don’t Miss The Joy The Lord Wants You To Have! The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available in the tri-parish, during adoration, on the 1st Sunday in Windom from 11-12 AM, also in Brewster on the 2nd Saturday from 4:00-4:45 PM and in Heron Lake before Mass on Sundays at 7:30 AM. Reconciliation is also before Mass on Saturdays at 4:30 PM in Brewster.

Remick Ridge Estates is looking for an individual or couple who would like to lead a weekly Bible Study for our residents. We are open to dates/times. Please call Brenda at 507-831-0745.

Mikkelsen Manor invites all seniors to join us Fridays at 2:00 pm for Bingo fun with our residents! Call Brenda with any questions, 507-831-0745.

Weekday Mass Schedule: Regarding the weekday Mass schedule; funerals and vacations scheduled intermittently may affect weekday Masses and there may be cancellations. Please be patient as we learn of these schedule changes. We will update you as best we can via facebook, the church website, signs at the church, announcements or even the bulletin when able. Thank you for your understanding.

Heavenly Father, Giver of all good things, Your Son told us to beg You to send workers into Your rich harvest, and so we have the confidence to ask You to raise up an abundance of priests in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Send us good and holy men to respond to your call to lay down their lives in service to Your people. We know that the Church comes from priests. Therefore, Gracious God, send us priests to build up Your church, through Jesus who is High Priest and Lord forever and ever.

Amen.

Intinction is the practice of dipping the host into the Precious Blood (the chalice). It has come to my attention that a few people are practicing self-communicating which means the person receiving Holy Communion takes the host, carries it to the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion who is distributing the Precious Blood, and dipping the host into the chalice on their own. This practice is not allowed in the Catholic Church. The theological reason for this stems from the Church’s tradition to receive rather than take the Eucharist. Also, this practice prevents the possibility of the Precious Blood dripping onto the floor after the host has been placed in the chalice and transferred to a person’s tongue. Thus, moving forward, I would ask anyone receiving Holy Communion to receive the Precious Body and Precious Blood from the priest or Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Thanks, Father Peter Schuster.

On Sunday, August 30th the motorcycle group “Prayer Zone Partners” will be at the High School on the east side by the flag to offer prayers for school children for their school year, their safety and well-being. Listen to KDOM radio station for a tentative time to come and pray with them.

Please like and share our Facebook page. The page is intended to connect current parish members and members that have moved with the activities of Sacred Heart Heron Lake.

We welcome you into God’s family! If you are interested in learning more about our church, or would like to join, please stop in the Parish Office.

Please notify the Parish Office of any change of address.

Contact the priest 6 to 12 months in advance of the date of marriage to fill out the forms, to do FOCCUS Test and to attend Marriage Prep Mentoring sessions. Please contact your parish office, if interested.

Contact the parish office a month in advance to fill out the form and to attend Baptism Mentoring Sessions.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation still available by appointment for each Parish.

When booking a Quinceanera and needing a 1st Reconciliation and a 1st Holy Communion. There is a three month preparation time. Please schedule your Quinceanera 3 months in advance. Thank you. It is also required that the family is a member of the parish.