St. Joseph + St. Matthew + St. Teresa Good Thunder Vernon Center Mapleton

The Catholic

Diocese of Winona-Rochester

TRI-PARISH MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday 9:00 a.m. at St. Teresa

Saturday 5:00 p.m. at St. Joseph (1st, 3rd, 5th)

or St. Matthew (2nd, 4th)

Weekdays: Please See Inside Bulletin Holy Days: Please See Inside Bulletin

Eucharistic Adoration held before daily Mass.

TRI-PARISH OFFICE

Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Address: 104 West Silver Street Mapleton, Minnesota 56065

Phone: (507) 524-3127

Email: sjsmst@gmail.com (NEW in 2019)

Website: www.sjsmst.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SJSMST Mass Times: (507) 387-8806

TRI-PARISH STAFF

Father Andrew Vogel, Pastor

(507) 524-4628 frapvogel@gmail.com

Sacramental Emergency:(507)320-9669

Marcie Anderson, Tri-Parish Manager

(507) 524-3127 sjsmst@gmail.com (NEW in 2019)

Darla Graf, Bookkeeper

(507) 524-4646 darlatp@hickorytech.net

Betsy Landsteiner, Evangelization/FF Director

(507) 524-4606

betsy.triparish@gmail.com

PARISH CONTACTS

for Home Communion, Visits, Prayer

St. Joseph: Connie Peters @ 507-420-3406

St. Matthew: Mary Lewis @ 507-674-3798

St. Teresa: Deanna Shanahan @ 507-524-4963

(or the Tri-Parish Office @ 507-524-3127)

Should you or a family member be experiencing a

medical or home bound situation, please let us know.

The Sacrament of Baptism Pre-Baptism preparation is required. Please contact the

office at least one month before the desired date.

The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick

Please notify the office if you or a family member is in

the hospital or homebound and would like to receive this

sacrament.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

One half hour before each weekend Mass, 8:00 a.m.

Thursday at St. Teresa or by private appt. with Fr. Vogel

The Sacrament of Marriage

All Catholics need to meet with the priest or deacon at

least 6 months before being married. Contact the office

at least 6 months in advance of your wedding.

FINANCE COUNCILS John Jensen (ST) Joel Larson (ST) George Leary (ST) Gina Massop (ST) Lindsey Lanoue (SM) Art Schuch (SM) Scott Kleven (SJ) Dean Sohre (SJ) Jim Wieseler (SJ)

PASTORAL COUNCIL Butch Bach (ST) Owen Dickey (ST) Marty Bissonette (ST) Peg Breiter (ST) Karen Fox (ST) Wendy Bennett (SM) Brad Lanoue (SM) Neil Majeski (SM) Paul FitzSimmons (SJ) Shelli Grover (SJ) Kim Kleven (SJ)

March 24, 2019 Third Sunday of Lent

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

(Second Chances We All Need)

For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig

tree and have found none. Cut it down.

Sir, leave it one more year and I shall cultivate the ground

around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future.

If not, you can cut it down.

Luke 13:6-9

Mass Intentions, Readings, Saints

Monday, March 25 The Annunciation of the Lord Isaiah 7:10-14, 8:10; Psalm 40:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38 Tuesday, March 26 Daniel 3:25, 34-43; Psalm 25:4-9; Matthew 18:21-35

8:30 a.m. Rosary at St. Joseph

Wednesday, March 27

Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9; Psalm 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20; Matthew 5:17-19 Thursday, March 28 Jeremiah 7:23-28; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Luke 11:14-23 7:30 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Teresa Mary Breiter Friday, March 29 Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 81:6-11, 14, 17; Mark 12:28-34 10:30 a.m. Mass at MCH Lucille Kunkel Saturday, March 30 Hosea 6:1-6; Psalm 51:3-4, 18-21; Luke 18:9-14 7:30 a.m. Eucharistic Adoration & Benediction 8:30 a.m. Mass at St. Teresa Dolores Denn 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Joseph People of the Tri-Parish

Sunday, March 31 4th Sunday of Lent Joshua 5:9-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 9:00 a.m. Mass at St. Teresa Keith Etherington

Upcoming Tri-Parish Meetings & Events

March 26: Tri-Parish Pastoral Council @ 6:30 p.m. at St. Joseph

April 6: SJ Meal after Mass by Unit 3

April 8: ST CCW Meeting @ 7 p.m.

April 11: SM CCW hosting Lion’s Supper @ 6 p.m.

April 24: Final Night of Faith Formation

April 30: ST Finance Council @ 5:45 p.m. at SM prior to Tri-Parish FC

April 30: Annual Tri-Parish Finance Council @ 7 p.m. at St. Matthew

May 1: Faith Formation End of Year BINGO Party at St. Matthew from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Lent is going. Hopefully your Lenten practices are going well. If not, if you have failed, don’t give up. Change is hard; especially sudden changes. If you have failed, stop, resolve to do them from here on out, and begin again.

Speaking of new beginnings…This coming Wednes-day at 7 PM, we are having our Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service. (The religious education kids

will begin in their regular classes at 6:30.)

This weekend we have an initiative called Safe Haven Sunday. In this first annual Safe Haven Sunday, the theme is, “Equipping the Family, Safeguarding our Children.” I know in some people’s eyes, the Catholic Church does not have much of a leg to stand on. How-ever, no matter what horrible things members of the Church have done, the Truth about morality remains the same. The analogy I’ve been using is a math teacher. If the math teacher does something immoral, that doesn’t change the truth of what they taught. Five plus three still equals 8. The Catholic Church, especially the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, since the early 2000’s, has tried very hard to make life safe for our children and vulnerable adults.

It is not the only cause, but pornography certainly doesn’t help the situation. I was reading the excerpts from a rape case. The man said he had a right to the woman’s body. They also found pornography on his computer. With the internet one does not have to secretly obtain a “dirty” magazine. Pornography can come to us where ever we have an internet connection. So it is easy to say that it doesn’t do any harm. It is just me. Some people even use pornography to learn how to bring more pleasure to their lives, even to their marriages. Pornography is also used in in-vitro-fertilization. Pornography also contributes to the forces and urges that push for sexual human trafficking. If there was no demand for sexual human trafficking, the supply would not exist. Most of us aren’t going to rape someone, let alone think we have a right to someone else’s body. However, repeated pornography changes the way we see and interact with each other. We start to treat people more and more as objects and less and less as persons. Pope John Paul II says in his book Love and Responsibility in the positive, a human person is a being who deserves to be treated with love. In the negative, a human person is a being who never deserves to be used as a means to an end. Pornography never considers the person as a being to love, but always as an object to be used for self pleasure. We need to do all we can to be people of virtue not just for our own sakes, but also for those around us, especially our families, especially our children.

Sorry to dump so much on you, but next weekend (March 30-31) the Catholic Church is have another initiative called “The Light is On.” (Most other churches did the Safe Haven Sunday several Sun-days ago, but since I was gone in the Holy Land, we waited.) The Light is On initiative is about inviting people to Church, to a deeper relationship with Jesus. I have found that most people who quit going to Mass do so not because of some difference in doctrine, but be-cause of something personal that happened. Sometimes it was a priest who said something insensitive. Sometimes it is because other priorities took precedent. Sometimes it is because we feel like we are beyond the hope of God. To the first group, I would say, “Sorry.” The Catholic Church, being close to the graces of the Sacraments is so much bigger than one lousy priest or bishop. To the second group, I would just say that Jesus loves you. So much so that He died the Cross so you could be with Him forever in Heaven. In the end, our greatest desire is to be loved unconditionally, to be loved for who we truly are, good and bad. God loves us this way more than we can imagine. To the third group, I would remind them that there is no sin too great that God can’t forgive you. Often, it is not that God can’t forgive us, but we have a hard time forgiving ourselves. I know it can be scary to come back, especially to the Sacrament of Recon-ciliation. Now that I’m a priest, I have a different perspective on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is about our sins, but even more so it is about God’s mercy. I used to get caught up in the penance that the priest would give me. I would think why did the priest just give me three Hail Marys as my pen-ance. Didn’t he hear what I did? I practically almost killed someone.

(I didn’t, but that’s how I felt about my sins.) I felt like my penance should be climbing Mount Everest on my hands and knees until they bled or something like that. Certainly not three Hail Marys. But that’s just it. As a priest, you realize that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so much more about God’s mercy than it is about our sins. So in light of inviting people to Mass, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to a greater relationship with Christ, we are offering extra times of Recon-ciliation. Times listed on next page. Jesus is the Light. He shines brightly for us. Let’s invite ourselves and others to the Light of Christ. May God bless and keep you, Father Vogel

God, grant healing and peace to the sick and those having surgery from our communities who

have requested our prayers:

Dorothy and Clint Lindemann (car accident this week), Ceal Caldwell (fractured wrist), Char Schuch, Donna Stevens, Mark Harris (Lindsey Quast’s dad), Cindy Alleven, Carol Parsley, Bernie Kunkel, Sylvia Fleming.

Sacraments

Faith Formation/Youth

AUGUST GEORGE LANOUE We joyfully welcome August into the family of God. August is being BAPTIZED this week-end at St. Matthew’s. His parents are Brad and Lindsey Lanoue and his grandparents are Steve and Jo Trio. May God bless August and his family as he grows in stature and faith.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS DURING LENT

St. Matthews Stations of the Cross—Wednesdays @ 6:30 pm

(Lenten Supper from 5:30-6:30 p.m.)

Each Wednesday during Lent except March 27th

St. Teresa Stations of the Cross—Fridays @ 5:30 pm

(Followed by Lenten Supper)

Middle School Lock-In: LAST CHANCE!!! RSVP’s are due by Sunday, March 24th. Email Betsy @ betsy.triparish@gmail.com Lock-In subject to cancellation if we don’t have enough sign up. FAITH FORMATION UPDATE: This Wednesday, March 27th is our Communal Penance Service. ALL STUDENTS SHOULD COME TO CLASS! 6th-10th grade students will attend Communal Penance during class time. K-5th graders will have class as usual.

HOLY WEEK TRI-PARISH MASS SCHEDULE Marcie has had some inquiries about the upcoming Holy Week and Easter Mass schedule for the Tri-Parish. In case you missed it in the February newsletter, here it is:

Holy Thursday on April 18: Mass @ St. Joseph at 7 p.m.

Good Friday on April 19: Service at St. Teresa at 3 p.m.

Service at St. Matthew at 7 p.m.

Easter Vigil on April 20: Mass @ St. Teresa at 8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday on April 21: Mass @ St. Matthew at 8 a.m.

Mass @ St. Joseph at 10:00 a.m.

Home Communion Available Throughout the Tri-Parish

Each of the 3 parishes now has lay volunteers available to

bring communion to the home bound. Should you or a direct

family member like to receive communion at home, please

call the Tri-Parish office at 524-3127 or let your parish contact

person know (listed on front page of the bulletin). Arrange-

ments will be made and a home bound communion minister

will call you to set up a time to bring communion and visit.

CHURCH SCAM ALERT!!! A few times during the past year parishioners or parish staff members have received emails and/or texts “supposedly” from Father asking them to buy a gift card for him to give to someone in the hospital or to a relative. This is a scam! Father does not ask parishioners to do this type of thing. Do NOT reply to this type of message should you ever get one. Never buy anything, send money, or give out your financial information in response to an email or text request.

There will be a 2nd Collection next weekend, March 30-31 for Catholic Relief Services. See bulletin insert for more infor-mation. There is a special envelope in your envelope box.

LIVING FAITH DEVOTIONALS for April-May-June are

now available at each parish. Please take one and enjoy!

Stewardship of Treasure

God’s generosity will never be

outdone by our own.

St. Teresa (March 17)

Weekly collection $1,691.15

Amount collected year to date $130,129.81

Amount needed year to date $126,008.00

St. Matthew (March 6)

Weekly collection $2,171.72

Amount collected year to date $33,879.27

Amount needed year to date $39,063.75

St. Joseph (March 16)

Weekly collection $1,519.00

Amount collected year to date $41,575.29

Amount needed year to date $40,589.00

Ministry Roles

Saturday, March 30 St. Joseph @ 5:00 p.m.

Reader: Julie FitzSimmons

Ministers of Communion: John FitzSimmons,

Paul FitzSimmons

Hospitality: Nick Caven Family, David & Jody Trio

Servers: Will Trio, Isabel Hollerich

Money counters: Nick Caven, Paul FitzSimmons

Sunday, March 31 St. Teresa @ 9:00 a.m.

Reader: Kris Miller

Ministers of Communion: Mary Ellen Larson,

Sue Morrow, Kay Proehl

Hospitality (see instructions on schedule):

John Hengel and Tom Pankake,

Doug and Tammy Schmidt

Servers: Will and Cole Stencel,

Dalton and Dawson Schmidt

Sacristan: KC Reuter

Money counters: Jan Sonnek, Sandy Miller

Altar Linens: Anita Rigdon for March

Donuts: Will return in the fall

Please remember to check the Ministry Schedule. If you misplaced your copy, it is available on the Tri-Parish website at www.sjsmst.org or call the office for another copy. If you cannot serve on your scheduled date, please find a replacement. THANK YOU!

2019 Catholic Ministry Appeal Donations

Parish 2019 Goal Amount Received # of Donors

St. Joseph $ 4,870 $2,400 6

St. Matthew $ 4,170 $1,090 4

St. Teresa $14,440 $1,765 9

Thank you to all who have supported the Appeal so far. Envelopes are available at each parish church.

Stay Informed of Your Parish Finances! Agendas and Minutes from Finance Council meetings are posted at your parish. Talk with a Finance Council member if you have questions.

ANNUNCIATION

OF THE LORD

Monday, March 25

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the vir-gin’s name was Mary. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:26-38)

How could Mary possibly understand the meaning of this message. What an incredible act of faith she lived those months before Jesus’ birth and through-out the rest of her life.

The words spoken to Mary by the angel are words we can take to our own hearts for comfort. Each of us has been baptized into Christ and marked to be a blessing. In our unique ways, we are called to give birth to Christ through our daily living. When we become fearful (afraid) to be Christ in our world, listen to the voice of the angel reminding us that the Holy Spirit is hovering over us. Learn to trust in the power of the One who is overshadowing us.

Taken from Living Faith, March 25th daily devotion by Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr

Things to ponder this Lenten season. Are we Christ in our daily lives? Do we allow Jesus to live and love through us or are we too busy to listen for His voice and trust His path of blessing? It’s so easy to be consumed with our own plans, concerns, and interests. It’s so easy to crowd Jesus out. Mary, help us to listen and not be afraid. Help us to trust as you trusted. As Joseph trusted.

YAC Mankato

Young Adult Catholics

A ministry for young adults (20s/30s, married/single, kids/no kids) in the Mankato area!

Disciples’ Night: Thursday, April 4th, Mass 5:30pm, Dinner 6:00pm, Talk 7:00pm Location: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Speaker: Anna Carter, Eden Invitation

Topic: At the center of every human heart, there is an ache to know and be known, to love and be loved, to give and to receive. For persons experiencing romantic desires for the same sex, choosing to live by a Christian sexual ethic is a place of both confusion and commitment. If desire is off-kilter, where do we direct it? Together we example four po-tential stumbling blocks for same-sex attracted Christians, as well as opportunities for grace and resurrected life in the midst of our longings. Cost: The cost of dinner/talk is $10 with an RSVP, $15 without an RSVP. If you are not eating dinner, the cost of the talk is $5.

RSVP by March 31st via Facebook or email mankatoyac@gmail.com