Mass and Faith Formation have been canceled for Sunday, January 14th. St. Francis Xavier will still be having 10 a.m. Mass in Windom on Sunday.

What A Snarled Mess!

It happens far too often. The fishing bite is hot. I am closing in on a limit of fish and the bite is fantastic. Every five casts another fish finds itself in the livewell. But then things take a turn for the worse. I cast and my lure only goes ten feet beyond the boat. I wonder, “What is happening?” I look down at my reel and the line is tangled so tangled that I start to curse. It is as if God is out to get me. I look at the tangle and wonder how such a tangle could have possibly occurred. The choice is mine. I either try to untangle the “mess” or cut off the line and retie everything. Either option is frustrating and time consuming. After all, remember what I stated earlier, the bite is hot and now isn’t the time to have a line out of the water. Considering my options, I take a moment to try and untangle the “mess” only to become frustrated and decide it is best if I just cut the line and start from scratch. This may entail a bit of cursing because I am telling myself if I had cut the line earlier, I wouldn’t have wasted precious minutes. After what seems like an eternity, I am once again ready to try my luck. Cast after cast ensues and nothing happens. The fish have moved and just like that my luck has changed. Oh yes, this may cause me to swear even more.

In today’s gospel, Jesus states, “I am...”. His references as “I am” are numerous.

I am the Good Shepherd.

Today’s gospel references Jesus stating, “I am the vine.” Have you ever looked at a vine. It literally looks like a snarled mess. One branch curls itself around another branch and the story continues and continues. If one were to try and untangle each branch, like my story above, after a period of time, one would give up. It is so tangled together that it is impossible to untangle. However, if one could get at its center, its very heart, one would find the vine. The branches “branch” off from the vine and the vine is the source of each branch’s life. If a branch were to try and exist on its own, it would wither and die.

Such is our story when it comes to Jesus Christ. If we abide in Christ, we have life. If we fall away from him, we slowly wither and die. However, the choice is left up to us. Do we abide with Jesus or choose our own path? Whatever our answer determines our life in this world and life in eternity. What is your choice? My choice is to abide with and in Jesus Christ.

Blessings to you!

Father Peter Schuster

Vocation View: If you live in me and my words stay part of you, you may ask what you will and it will be done for you. Pray for an increase in vocations to priesthood and religious life. (John 15:1-8)

May 18th Adoration in Heron Lake has been canceled.

There will be Confession Available 1/2 hour before mass on Sundays. (7:30 am - 8:00)

Catholic Order of Foresters would like to THANK everyone for coming and supporting them for the Pancake Breakfast. They were able to achieve matching funds from the event. They would also like to say THANK YOU to HL Fire Department, especially, Andrew Rasche and Chad Diemer who cooked the pancakes. THANKS to Dennis Damm ad Doug Damm for cooking sausage and Samantha Krumbach for being the runner.

Congratulations to Agnes Lohse who won the quilt made by Delores Pelzel and to Barb Appel who won the second quilt. The drawing took place at the annual COF Pancake breakfast that was held on Sunday, April 14th.

The Pilgrimage to Paris and Rome. If you are planning to take part in the tour, please sign up as soon as possible. The tour is scheduled for May 6—17, 2025. Sign up forms are in the brochures at entrances of the church.

Consider visiting the cities of Paris, Lourdes, Rome, and Assisi. This is an opportunity to explore the rich Catholic tradition of these places and experience the miracles of our Faith. If you are planning to take part in the tour, please sign up as soon as possible. The tour is scheduled for May 6—17, 2025. Sign up forms are in the brochures at entrances of your church.

In Preparation for spring cemetery mowing please remove, as soon as possible, anything that is not attached to the headstone. This specifically means anything that is on the grass of your descendants gravesites. Thank you.

Meeting: CCW will meet on Tuesday, May 14th at 7:00 PM.

Eucharistic revival – Consider going to the National Eucharistic Revival, Indianapolis, Indiana, in July of 2024 from the 17th-21st.

For more information, go to https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/ and click on the Congress tab. If you wish to go as a procession with the diocese, click here, THIS LINK, (for digital bulletin readers. ) Or contact Zach Rawson, zrawson@dowr.org.

Diocesan Mass at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester - June 2, 2024: Bishop Barron is inviting the whole Diocese to come celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, the close of the Parish Year, and the beginning of the Year of Mission with Mass at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester. There will be a Eucharistic procession from the Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to the Civic Center before Mass, and from the Civic Center to St. Francis of Assisi after Mass. All are invited and welcome to participate in the Mass on June 2nd. Mass is scheduled to begin at 2 pm at the Mayo Civic Center.

We are growing and want you to consider joining our staff. St. Mary’s Catholic School and St. Mary’s Catholic Parish are looking for the following: Elementary Principal, Director of Advancement and Admissions, Elementary School Teacher, Middle School Teacher, Music Teacher, Pre-School Teacher (full and part-time), Paraprofessionals (full and part-time). Youth Ministry and Parish Faith Formation (full and part-time positions available). If you are looking for a sign from God – perhaps this is it. We are unique because we are competitive with employee compensation. For further information or to request a detailed job description, please email: info@smswgtn.org for details.

Open Enrollment is now happening for St. Mary’s Catholic School and Little Blessings Preschool at 1206 8th Avenue in Worthington. St. Mary’s is an accredited school with individualized attention for each student to grow to their fullest potential. Here we are Forming Tomorrow’s Saints Today. Serving 3-year-olds to 8th grade. Consider this outstanding Catholic School in your discernment. Join us for a no-obligation Open House on Wednesday, April 24th from 5:30pm. – 7:30pm serving supper, providing tours and giving you hope for life-long Catholic committed children. For more information visit www.smswgtn.org or contact us at (507) 376 – 5236 or info@smswgtn.org

Ministry Days June 18-19, 2024 at Saint Mary’s University in Winona:

Register by May 20. This year's focus will be the third year of the Eucharistic Revival: The Year of Mission. It will place our attention on the role each of us is called to play in sharing the Gospel. Our theme comes from the Gospel of Matthew 5:13, "You are the salt of the earth." Our keynote speaker on Tuesday morning will be Deacon Keith Strohm, Executive Director of M3Ministries. We will pray with and hear from Bishop Barron as well as he will be celebrating Holy Mass both days. Finally, on Wed., we will be offering breakout sessions that are ministry/ apostolate-specific and will be led by diocesan staff and other great leaders. All clergy, parish staff, parish volunteers, and apostolate leaders are encouraged to attend. Learn more and register on the Ministry Days webpage: dowr.org/offices/lay-formation/ministrydays.html

The Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass recalls the Paschal Mystery and makes it new in every celebration. Celebrating the Eucharist is the highest form of liturgy celebrated by the Church. As such, it is effective for those who take part in the offering as well as for others who are not present at the Mass.

In particular, it is the immemorial custom of the Church to ask that priests apply the celebration of each Mass for a particular intention. Intentions may be persons who are living or deceased. Intentions may also be made for a particular cause, a group of people, or for a commemoration (e.g., a wedding anniversary). Specific details of private intentions should always be made known to the priest. Pastors are also expected to offer one Mass every Sunday and holy day of obligation for the people of the parish (canon 534).

The Christian faithful themselves are encouraged to make known to priests the intention for which they wish the priest to offer the Mass. In doing so, those who are able may contribute a stipend that would be attached to the particular intention. Priests are encouraged to review canons 945-958 to ensure Mass stipends are treated appropriately and fulfilled in a timely manner.

Jesus tell us in Matthew 10:10 that “the laborer deserves his keep.” The church has interpreted this statement to refer to, among others, the priests of the Church. It is fitting, therefore, that a priest receives a stipend from the Christian faithful who are able to give it, not as a payment for a sacrament, but as part of his wage for the most important work that priests do: confect the Eucharist so that the people of God may benefit.

Therefore, I herby decree that, in accord with the decision of the bishops of the province:

This decree is effective July 1, 2024

The 2024-2025 Compensation Policy for Priests will reflect this decree. Any intentions made prior to July 1, 2024 will be honored according to the number of Masses intended with the original offering. All Mases celebrated after July 1, 2024 will be afforded the stipend at the new rate.

The Most Reverend Robert Barron

Bishop of Winona-Rochester

Christmas letter from Lisa Kremer OFS of the Worthington Deanery

click here to view the PDF

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. Fr. Pratap is seeking married couples who are practicing Catholics, and have children, who would be willing to volunteer to help prepare our engaged couples for marriage. Please contact Fr. Pratap at 507‑226‑4536, or your parish office, if interested.

Contact the parish office a month in advance to fill out the form and to attend Baptism Mentoring Sessions. All Baptisms will be celebrated during Mass.

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