Pastors Notes from 12/04/2022
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December 5, 2022Last Wednesday Fr. Jim Bruch turned eighty three. Residing in Manson, he is comfortable in the parish rectory and able to assist with daily Mass, Confessions and other the Sacraments when needed. His last active parish assignment, serving as pastor at St. Malachy and St. John parishes, remains as a fond and gracious time in his priesthood; and likewise serving Sacred Heart as the administrator of the parish. He retains an active faith, love of people, and that gracious smile. If you have the time Fr. Bruch would enjoy, immensely, a handwritten card or note from you.
(P.O. Box 221 - Manson - 50563)
Next Sunday we will offer our Advent Communal Penance Service, a time for Confessions, in preparation for the Coming of Christ, Christmas. One o’clock at Sacred Heart and three o’clock at St. Malachy. Approaching Christmas our time may seem limited, yet a few minutes and longer to pray, reflect, and receive the Sacrament Reconciliation may bring the peace and healing within our soul we are searching for, and direct our attention to the meaning of Christmas. Just a few minutes or longer of your time to receive a spirit of serenity through forgiveness and the presence of Christ again providing a light within your heart and very soul. As St. Julian of Norwich reveals: “Because of our good Lord's tender love to all those who shall be saved, he quickly comforts them saying, ‘The cause of all this pain is sin. But all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’ These words were said so kindly and without a hint of blame. So how unjust it would be for me to blame God for allowing my sin when he does not blame me for falling into it.” Confessions will be offered before the weekend Masses at St. Malachy, and afterwards at Sacred Heart.
Feast of the Immaculate Conception is this Thursday, December 8th, a holy day of obligation. Please see the Mass schedule in the bulletin. From the Catholic Catechism: To become the mother of the Savior, Mary ‘was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role.” The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as ‘full of grace. In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace, free of original sin.
On Monday the Communal Meal will be offered at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, serving from 5:30 to 7:00. Please feel welcome whether a parishioner, visitors, individuals or families from the community. Serving a hot meal compliments of past donations, we always welcome anyone’s generosity to continue offering this free communal supper. Thank you for your support, and most importantly, sharing your time and presence with others at these monthly gatherings.
Calendars are now available for the New Year compliments of Schroeder-Reimers Funeral Home and Medical Associates & Clinic Pharmacy. Our calendars are just one of the avenues of support toward Catholic Extension. Catholic Extension’s mission—since 1905—is to bring the Church to all corners of our country. They provide the necessary resources to more than 86 mission dioceses, from Alaska to the Gulf Coast, assisting parishes who do not have the financial ability to keep parishes viable. One such diocese is that of Duluth, where Catholic Extension outreach has supported more than 100 church construction and repair projects. A unique aspect of Duluth diocese is their outreach to the indigenous peoples that have historically inhabited this area of Minnesota.
Only a prophet such as Isaiah could paint the object of God’s fulfillment heard in this Sunday’s first reading: “the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb. . .the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them.” As the anonymous quote goes, “What God intended for you goes far beyond anything you can imagine.”
God Bless, Fr. Tim