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

Weekly Words from The Rock:

Someone gave me a picture of a mother pelican, pecking at her breast causing blood to flow, and the mother pelican’s chicks drinking her blood. What is being depicted? Here is a summary of the story.

An image of a mother pelican with her chicks is carved into the capital on top of a pillar at the Cenacle, the upper room on Mount Zion in Jerusalem where tradition holds that Jesus shared the Last Supper with his apostles and instituted the Eucharist.

It is the only artwork in the entire room, and it is singularly appropriate because it is a symbol of Jesus and the Eucharist.

Mother pelicans lay their eggs in a nest, and after the chicks hatch, the mothers leave the nest to search for food, return, and feed the chicks. Many birds feed their young with worms. Pelicans usually live near the water, and their prey tend to be small fish, frog tadpoles, crayfish, or salamanders.

In times of drought the marshes and streams might dry up, or something might cause the fish in the lake to die, and the mother pelican is unable to find food. Her chicks are delicate, need to be fed daily, and without food are quickly in danger of starvation and death. Faced with this crisis, the mother pelican uses its beak to poke holes in its breast, which causes blood to come out, and the chicks are nourished with their mother’s blood. The mother dies and the chicks survive.

Christians see parallels between the mother pelican and her chicks and Jesus and his followers. The mother pelican represents Jesus, the chicks represent us. The chicks dwell in the safety of the nest, believers dwell in the safety of the Church. The mother is the head of the nest, and Jesus is the head of the Church (Ephesians 1:22). The mother has an intense concern for her chicks, and it goes against her nature to allow any of them to perish. Jesus has a great love for us and wants none of us to perish.

When food is in short supply, the pelican pierces its breast with a sharp, pointed beak, and the side of Jesus was pierced by a sharp, pointed lance (John 19:34a). Blood flows from the pelican’s breast, and blood flowed from Jesus’ side (John 19:34a). The mother’s blood is drink for her chicks, and the blood of Jesus is “true drink” for his followers (John 6:55b). The mother gives her life that her chicks might live, and Jesus laid down his life that we might have live (John 15:13). The mother’s blood saves the lives of the chicks, and the blood of Jesus is salvation and eternal life (John 6:54) for those who receive it. Because of these striking similarities, the mother pelican and her chicks have come to represent the Eucharist, as well as redemption and salvation.

A depiction of a mother pelican and her chicks frequently is on display in places associated with the Eucharist: the doors of the tabernacle; the front of the altar; a hanging in front of the lectern or ambo; a stained-glass window in the sanctuary area; the decorative design on a chalice, chasuble or cope; or on the ends of the pews.

(Taken from Father Michael Van Sloun, The Catholic Spirit, January 24, 2019, page 15).

Now, Now...

The Minnesota Vikings have played only one game of the regular season. I wrote this article prior to the Packers-Vikings game of September 13. Reactions as of September 20 would stem from:
We kicked the Packers off the field and are headed to the Super Bowl.

Or, We lost to the Packers and have no chance of sniffing the playoffs.

Whatever the outcome, remember, the football season is like life.
It is a long slog. It is too early to get too high or too low. Take it day by day and let us see where we stand come January.

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: Life in service of the Lord is never dull, and often challenging. Consider life as a priest, brother, or sister.

Mark 9:30-37

Donald Volk, who passed away on September 12, 2026. Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 20th from 5-7 PM at Sacred Heart Church. The funeral will be held on Monday, September 21st at Sacred Heart in Heron Lake with burial to follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Heron Lake.

May his soul rest in peace. We remember his loved ones in prayer.

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

Faith Formation Registration:

Please return registrations to Judy Stenzel or the office ASAP.

Faith Formation: Classes will begin for K-7th grades on Sunday, September 27th and for 8th-12th grades on Wednesday, September 30th. (Please note the change in times for 7th grade students. They will attend Sunday mornings instead of Wednesday nights)

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 ha 2 year term. If interested contact the office or Barb Hussong.

The Southwest Area Diocesan CCW Meeting will be held at Sacred Heart in Heron Lake on Tuesday, October 20th at 7 PM in the church basement. All are invited to attend.

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.

Don’t Miss The Joy The Lord Wants You To Have! The Sacrament of Reconcilliation 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 quesions 507-831-0745.

Fall in love all over again by attending the October 17-18 Marriage Encounter. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Weekends are held at Mt Olivet Retreat Center in Farmington. Register at: www.marriages.org. A “perfect marriage” is simply two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other!

Register for St. Francis Xavier OCIA program:

The Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA) is 5+ months of prayer, learning and reflection designed for:

Those seeking to become Catholic

Those seeking the sacrament of Confirmation

Those exploring the Catholic Faith. Classes are held at St. Francis Xavier Church

Classes are Sunday evenings starting October 4th at 6:30 pm. There will be 12 sessions.

Classes will be every other week until March 21st. A Spanish option is available.

OCIA is open to all adults and serves Windom, Heron Lake and Brewster.

Registration forms, course topics and dates of classes are available at St. Francis Xavier Church.

The deadline to register is September 15th, 2026.

For questions, contact Fr. Jordan Danielson 507-831-3300 or Fr. Schuster 507-304-2541.

The Diocese of Winona-Rochester will provide a prompt, appropriate and compassionate response to reporters of sexual abuse of a child by any diocesan agent (employees, volunteers, vendors, religious or clergy). Anyone wishing to make a report of an allegation of sexual abuse should call the Victim Assistance Coordinator at 507-454-2270, Extension 255. A caller will be asked to provide his or her name and telephone number. Individuals are also encouraged to take their reports directly to civil authorities. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester is committed to protecting children, young people and other vulnerable people in our schools, parishes and ministries. The diocesan policy is available on the diocesan web site at www.dowr.org under the Safe Environment Program. If you have any questions about the Diocese of Winona's implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please contact Michael Gerard, at 507-361-3377, or mgerard@dowr.org.
Anyone working or volunteering in a Catholic parish or school is a mandated reporter. Anyone who knowsr has reason to believe that a minor (a person under the age of 18) or vulnerable adult is or has been abused or neglected, must report all suspected abuse or neglect to proper civil authorities/law enforcement within 24 hours of the abuse or neglect becoming known to him or her and must also follow up with a written report to civil authorities within 72 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays. Many people working or volunteering in a Catholic parish or school, including clergy, are mandated reporters under state law.

https://www.dowr.org/report-abuse

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.