December 25, 2011 The Nativity of the Lord

Our Lady of the Prairie Area Faith Community of
St. Mary’s – Tracy, Minnesota

Father’s Office in Tracy (507) 629-4075, Residence in Walnut Grove (507) 859-2164

Church of St. Mary
249 6th Street
Tracy, MN 56175
(507) 629-4075
www.stmarytracy.org
stmary@iw.net
St. Mary's School
Kathy Vondracek, Principal
(507)-629-3270
www.stmarysschooltracy.org
stmarys@iw.net
Religious Education for Tracy & Walnut Grove
Jean Schmidt (507) 629-3667
saintmaryre@iw.net

School Secretary
Cathy Schons (507) 629-3270
Church Bookkeeper
Joe Sanow (507) 629-4075
Prayer Network
Lota Hannasch (507) 629-4866
Alita Lenertz (507) 629-4145
Custodian - Tracy
Chuyee "Chewy" Her
(701) 212-9258

Church of St. Michael

200 Euclid Ave
Milroy, MN 56263

(507)-336-2505
stmichael@means.net
Administration / Religious Education
Rich Hamsa
(507) 336-2505
stmichael@means.net

Bookkeeper
Kami Parker (507) 336-2635
Prayer Network
Mary Kirsch (507) 336-2353
NU Diocese Catholic Charities
Counseling and Adoptions
Call toll free 1-866-670-5163

Confessions are before all weekday Masses

Baptisms: Contact Fr. Mraz or Rich Hamsa to schedule a date

Marriages: Contact Fr. Mraz or Rich Hamsa 6 months prior to proposed date to begin marriage preparation.

Hospitalized or sick parishoners: contact Fr. Mraz or Rich Hamsa.

Church of St. Paul
600 3rd Street Po Box 236
Walnut Grove, MN 56180
(507) 859-2164
Administrative Secretary
Nancy Hewittt (507) 859-2375
hewithin@redred.com

Bookkeeper
Pat Hansen (507) 859-2581

Prayer Network
Pam Baumann (507) 859-2503

Custodian - Walnut Grove
Merle Pacholl (507) 859-2627

RCIA CLASS THIS THURS. DEC. 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Mary’s parish center offices.

MANY THANKS FOR ALL THOSE MAKE CHRISTMAS SO SPECIAL. Thanks to our choirs and musicians, to our servers, to our decorators and those who donated flowers and decorations, to our lectors and ushers and all who helped out in any way, we could not do it without you. May God bless you for all your help.

MANY THANKS FOR THE CHRISTMAS GIFTS, Masses, Goodies, Cards and Prayers I received. Many thanks to the CCW for the new computer. I appreciate your support and help in our Area Faith Community Parishes. Your positive attitudes and faith make it a joy to be here. God bless you. – Fr. Bob

KC LADIES NIGHT will be held Sun. evening Jan. 8^th at St. Paul’s in Walnut Grove. Social Hour at 5:30 p.m. with Dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $30.00 per couple. Sister Sharon Altendorf who is Vice – President of Mission Services at Avera Marshall will be our guest speaker. Her topic will relate to Catholic Health Care Services. See Dr. Richard Brown and Bob Boerboom for tickets.

WE ARE FAMILY, WELCOME HOME!

www.CatholicsComeHome.org

If you used to be Catholic, Are not Catholic or Are Catholic, click onto this site to

Discover or Rediscover the Catholic Faith.

Or call Fr. Bob at (507) 629-4075 or Rich Hamsa at (507) 336-2505 for assistance.

BLESSING OF A MANGER OR NATIVITY SCENE (Recommended that the blessing be done on Christmas Eve)

Let us ask for God's blessing on this Christmas manger and upon ourselves, that we who reflect on the birth of Jesus may share in the salvation he accomplished. All pray the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary and the Glory Be.

God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a savior was great you sent your son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice mercy and love.

Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Savior of all, who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

It is not too late to send in your DMA pledge, extra pledge envelopes are found in the churches. Remember what we get in over our goal comes back to the parish for parish projects and is not “taxed” as income for the Diocesan United Fund assessment. Tracy needs to bring in $150,000 over our goal to replace the school roof. Milroy is using the excess for running the parish. Walnut grove needs work on the furnace. Please be generous!!!

2012 CHURCH CALENDARS ARE FOUND IN THE ENTRANCES OF THE TRACY & WALNUT GROVE CHURCHES compliments of the Almlie Funeral Home. Please feel free to take one. If you see Steve or Seneca Almlie please say thank you for their generosity.

WEEKDAY MASS CANCELLATION POLICY. If the local school district cancels school or has a late start due to the weather - then the morning weekday Mass is automatically cancelled. If it is an afternoon school Mass and school is in session in the afternoon, even with an earlier late start, then the mass is still on. If school is cancelled for the day or is released early - then the afternoon Mass is cancelled too. Father Bob will say the mass intention privately at Walnut Grove in those situations. When the weather is bad, it is best for all to keep off the roads and sidewalks.

SUNDAY MASS CANCELLATION POLICY, if the roads are designated as closed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation www.511mn.org/ Mass will be cancelled. If Fr. Bob finds it too difficult to travel he will put a cancellation on Marshall KMHL AM 1400 & Redwood Falls KLGR AM 1490 radio stations. If you find it dangerous to be out on your road, please stay home!

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT BECOMING A CATHOLIC? ARE YOU AN ADULT WHO MISSED BEING CONFIRMED? Father Bob is having RCIA Classes for those who are looking into these options on Thursday’s at 6:30 p.m. Contact Fr. Bob if you are interested 629-4075.

The word “marriage” isn’t simply a label that can be attached to different types of relationships. Instead, “marriage” reflects a deep reality – the reality of the unique, fruitful, lifelong union that is only possible between a man and woman. Just as oxygen and hydrogen are essential to water, sexual difference is essential to marriage. The attempt to “redefine” marriage to include two persons of the same sex denies the reality of what marriage is. It is as impossible as trying to “redefine” water to include oxygen and nitrogen. (USCCB.org, Marriage: Unique for a Reason)

Tune in for Christmas Radio Messages from Bishop John LeVoir broadcast on KNUJ Radio (860 AM) daily at approximately 7:30 a.m. & KDUZ Radio (1260 AM) daily at approximately 8:05 a.m. Bishop’s weekly messages can also be heard online! Visit www.dnu.org

NOTE: PLEASE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BULLETIN IN BY WEDNESDAY A.M. PLEASE SEND ALL BULLETIN INFORMATION TO THE CHURCH OFFICE - e-mail use: stmary@iw.net or call the office 629-4075.

DID YOU MISS GETTING THE SUNDAY BULLETIN?- Feel free to look up the website to find the Sunday Area Faith Community bulletin, the Area Faith Community monthly calendar, last Sunday’s homily and other information at the OUR LADY OF THE PRAIRIE WEBSITE: www.ourladyoftheprairie-afc.org

Diocese of New Ulm, FIRST TIME EVER: CATHOLIC ADS AIRING NATIONALLY ON PRIME-TIME NETWORK TV: Starting Dec. 16, CatholicsComeHome.org will begin airing Catholic TV ads nationwide, inviting relatives, friends, and others to return home to the Catholic Church. Home now to usher in the largest family reunion in Church History! It has been used in 30 dioceses already with 300,000 returning to the Church. We need your help and your outreach and spirit of welcoming. Pray and spread the word by sharing this link with all Catholics you know: www.CatholicsComeHome.org/Advent

Congratulations to this week’s calendar raffle winner—Sissa Bitton. Thank you for supporting our school.

Please see the school website for the school calendar, menu, Scrip and fundraising information--http://www.stmarysschooltracy.org

School resumes on Tuesday, January 3, 2012. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all from the faculty and staff at St. Mary’s School.

WINTER CANCELLATIONS: The rule is if the schools are cancelled due to bad weather or if they let out early, then the Religious Education Classes are also cancelled. Cancellations will be announced on Marshall KMHL AM 1400 & Redwood Falls KLGR AM 1490 radio stations.

January 4^th (FAMILY NIGHT AT RELIGIOUS ED) Fr. Paul Schumacher, our Speaker for Parents and

Students K-12 & Parishioners. Topic: “Getting Excited about Jesus and Church!” EVERYONE INVITED! This is the class for the day! ( Free SUPPER 5:30 – 6:45 & SPEAKER following)

January 8^th, 2012 – Youth Game Night - Grades 5-8 – Cost $5.00 Food and drink provided! Bring a friend. Come and join in the fun!

CHRISTMAS RAFFLE WINNERS:Congratulations to the following winners: $250 Arlene West, $250 Jan LaVoy, $100 David Vandendriessche, $100 Dave & Charlene Lenertz, $100 Duane Van Keulen, $100 Clara Andrews, $100 Harold Halfman. Many thanks to all who participated and donated, we raised $3945.00 for our parish projects. Many thanks to those on the committee who worked on the raffle, we appreciate your help.

YOUTH ENVELOPE WINNERS: Starting January 1, 2012 with the new 2012 youth envelopes we will offer a weekly prize to any youth whose envelope is drawn from the Sunday’s collection. The youth needs to put any amount of money in the envelope or write a good deed they did for someone on the envelope and drop it in the collection with their name written on the envelope. From those that come in the collection, one will be drawn at random each week and will be listed in the bulletin next to the collection amounts as above. The winner is invited to come to the sacristy before or after Mass to pick out one blessed religious item from the box of prizes. Supporting the parish and the work of God is NOT just the job of the adults, we need to get the children into the habit of sharing some of their blessings, allowance, wages and talents back to God for His work too. This should be a fun way to help develop our future church leaders.

Scrip Orders: If you wish to order scrip bring your request to the school office.

CCW SHEPHERD OF THE FIELD FOR 2011-12 for St. Mary’s: Fr. Eugene Hackert, Lake Villa Maria Senior Apts. 702 3^rd Ave. NW Apt. 13, Sleepy Eye, MN 56085. Date of Ordination: June 2, 1951, Date of Birth: 2-14-27. Please remember him in your prayers and send cards and letters of encouragement, appreciation and congratulations for his priestly ministry.

WE WILL HAVE SECOND COLLECTIONS WEEKLY TO PAY OUR DEBTS to the Diocese and for the insurance payment. Please use your “Debt Reduction Envelopes” for this.

ALUMINUM CANS FOR THE TECHNOLOGY FUND for St. Mary’s School can be dropped off in the wagon behind St. Mary’s Church.

LION’S CLUB: January 12: Beatrice Maeyaert, Carol Johnson, Karla Hay, Marianne Boerboom

RECONCILIATION: 5:00 P.M. at St. Paul’s Saturday’s and prior to mass on weekdays when held at church.

OUR NEW CCW SHEPHERD OF THE FIELD is Fr. Robert H. Krystosek of the Church of St. Clara , PO Box 425,

Clara City, MN 56222. His ordination anniversary date is May 29, 1956, date of birth October 5. Please remember

him in your prayers, send cards and letters of encouragement, appreciation and congratulations for his priestly ministry.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER donations will be taken for our altar flowers for Christmas. Please put your donation in

an envelope and mark it “FLOWERS”. Also add a note if you would like them donated in memory of a loved one.

CCW CHURCH CLEANING FUND If you have not yet donated to our collection, please do so soon.

This collection covers most of the cleaning bills, so we depend on your contributions. Drop in the collection and

Thank you to the following who donated to our Christmas Flowers to St. Paul’s~

Arlis Ourada in memory of Ed Ourada, granddaughter Ashley, Sons –in-law Marvin & Dean

DURING THE HEATING SEASON WEEKDAY MASSES WILL NOW BE IN THE SACRISTY, to make use of the free heat from the furnace below so
we don’t have to heat the church. Please enter by the sacristy door by the outdoor Mary statue.

Good People of St. Michael— Merry Christmas to All of You! May the peace, joy and love of the Christ Child fill your hearts and your homes this Christmas season! Does your family have any Christmas rules or customs that you observe? Like—you can open one present on Christmas eve, or no one opens present on Christmas morning until everyone’s awake, or you have to give one present that is homemade, or one of the presents has to be to charity or to a good cause, and what about cookies—are there any rules governing cookies. My sister is the cookie-maker in our family. Everyone gets loads of cookies from her and she doesn’t even like to cook. I know most of you observe Christmas with care and devotion which it truly deserves. A Savior has come to us. God is with us. Once we begin to take this seriously our entire lives are transformed. We come to know the love of God. God’s promises and blessings become real for us. I want you to know that I am serious when I say that I am very happy to be celebrating the Feast of Christmas with all of you. The gift of God at St. Michael’s is truly a saving and healing help. Thanks for a very good year. And here’s to blessings to come!

Welcome Home! ~ Catholic Come Home Top 10 Reasons to Come Back Number 10: Because we want meaning in life. Number 9: Because childhood memories surface Number 8: Because we made mistakes. Number 7: Because we need to forgive others. Sometimes we hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt us deeply. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Perhaps it was someone, (a sister or a priest), or something in the Church. “Will God ever forgive me?” Our modern culture condones and encourages anger and revenge. But hatred and bitterness are spiritual cancers that eat at the heart of a person. The Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God's help in forgiving others, even when the other person does not ask for forgiveness or does not deserve it. The ability to forgive is a gift that opens a person's heart more fully to God's love and peace.

Question of the Week Do you consider your sleep an opportunity to say "yes" to God's communication? Do you pray before retiring? Will you make yourself open to his call as you sleep?

KC Ladies Night Sunday, Jan. 8, 5:30pm, St. Paul’s Walnut Grove Dinner served at 6:30pm. Cost: $30/couple. Sister Sharon Altendorf, Vice-President of Mission Services at Avera Marshall Hospital is the guest speaker. Her topic is related to Catholic Health Care Services. See Dave Zwach for tickets.

Parish Outreach & Assistance Do you know of any person or family who is hurting due to un– or underemployment, illness, hardships and may need some financial assistance at this time? Please give me a call at the parish office @336-2505. This information will be confidential.

Parish DMA Report 29 of our parishioners have contributed to the Diocesan Ministries Appeal. The total amount received so far is $11,018.57. $3,574.53 goes for diocesan programs. The remainder comes back to our parish. Thank you for your generous contributions!!

Beginning Experience of Southwest Minnesota, a peer ministry support group for widowed, separated and divorced people is offering its Level II "Rebuilding" series for ten weeks beginning January 16, 2012. The Monday night sessions begin at 7:00 P.M. at the First Lutheran Church on Church and "A" Street in Marshall. Registration is held the first two Monday nights starting at 6:30 P.M. Registration is then closed for that session. The support group is open to people of all denominations. There is a fee to cover the cost of materials. This series is designed for those who are past the initial pain of losing a partner and are working to put their lives back together. All dialogue is confidential and facilitators are individuals who have suffered a similar loss. If you wish to pre-register or have other questions concerning level participation, contact Karen at 507-532-0922 email: mpokey@hotmail.com, Shirley at 507-829-3106 email: bbm@mvtvwireless.com, Gene at 507-215-1362 or Kathy at 507-215-2361.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Celebrate your Marriage by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. It’s a positive, simple, common sense, private experience between husband and wife that revitalizes your marriage. Make your reservation now! Upcoming weekends are scheduled for: Feb 10-12, 2012 - Windom, MN; Mar 16-18, 2012 - Frontenac, MN; July 13-15, 2012 - Hutchinson, MN. For information and/or registration, contact: Jeff and Rondi Kodet at 507-644-3523 or jrek@redred.com or visit our website at www.wwmeSection8.org.

Help for Hurting Marriages Twin Cities Retrouvaille offers a monthly program consisting of a weekend and several follow-up sessions. Retrouvaille helps couples put the pieces of their marriages back together and rebuild loving relationships. Registration is required. For information call 651.464.5855, or www.helpourmarriage.com

Pray for safety for all those serving in the military from our families and from our communities especially: Steve Sik, Jonathon Mejia, Nicole Harcus, Stuart Stroman, Patrick Carnahan, Brad & Andrea Bond, Matthew Dieter, Thomas Moudry, Travis Davis, Martin Hamsa, Sam Van Nevel, Henry Bernardy, Cole DeBlieck, Patricia Baker, Joe Vogl, Pat Weisbrich, Rory Matter, Nathan Bernardy, and Troy Baumann.

Pray for healing for all the sick of the area faith community especially: Jocelyn Vue, Ray Peterson, Harry Hewitt, Sandi Jarmer, Elizabeth Novak, Orville Ruppert, Theresa Mota, Bernie Van Moer, Cliff Cundy, Tony Greenfield, Joe Goodnow, Virginia Foley, Ardella Gilles, Sharon DeVetter & family, Lorin Gilland, Joyce Leach, Mary Jo Christopherson, Sarah Gergen, Jill Fier, John Kubica, Mary Franke, & for 11 special intentions. If you know of someone who should be now removed from the sick list, please let the rectory know. Names will be left on the list for 1 month and then taken off, if you wish them put on again please contact the office we will gladly put them on again.

Adult Envelopes:	$ 4209.00	Immaculate Conception:	$ 55.00
Plate:	$ 650.00	Debt & Insurance:	$ 168.00
Youth:	$ 6.00	Fuel:	$ 50.00
Christmas Flowers:	$ 65.00	School Memorials:	$ 30.00
Religious Retirement:	$ 85.00	Raffle:	$ 3,945.00
Total		$ 9,263.00	Thank you for your Generosity!

Gifts	Lisa Schaar Family
Lector	Brock Benson
Organist	Ann Przybillz
Cantor	Cookie Cooreman
Ushers	January Matt LaVoy, Tom Lenertz, Michael Lenertz, Bill Brockway
Eucharistic Ministers	Jan LaVoy, Ann Krueger, Dick and Sandy Tuszynski, Carolyn Vandendriessche
Servers	Isaack Koenig, Gabriel Koenig, Makenna Portinga

Dec 25	8:30am Christmas Mass at St. Michael
Dec 27	No Tuesday service this week
Jan 4	6:00pm & 7:15pm: Religion classes resume
Jan 5	8:00am-Noon: Eucharistic adoration
Jan 15	CCW Dinnerfest planned, cooked and served by the men of the parish—served after the 10:30am Mass

Monday	Dec. 26		No Mass
Tuesday	Dec. 27	.	No Mass
Wednesday	Dec. 28	8:30AM 10:45AM	Mass at St. Mary’s/Tracy + Joe Smarzik Mass at Prairie View Nursing Home/Tracy Lourdes Sifuentes
Thursday	Dec. 29	8:30 AM	Mass at St. Paul’s/Walnut Grove + Willard Urban
Friday	Dec. 30	8:30 AM	Mass at St. Mary’s / Tracy + Virginia Fetter
			Confessions before all weekday Masses SOLEMNITY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD
Saturday	Dec. 31	5:00 PM 5:30 PM	Confessions at St. Paul’s /Walnut Grove Mass at St. Paul’s/Walnut Grove +Ed Ourada
Sunday	Jan. 1 2012	8:00 AM	Confessions at Saint Michael’s / Milroy
		8:30 AM	Mass at Saint Michael’s / Milroy The People of the Area Faith Community
		10:30 AM	Mass at Saint Mary’s / Tracy + Dan VanDeWiele