Parish Happenings

Daily Reflections

Click on link below for Fr. Kopacek Daily Reflections

Weekday Reflection ~ December 7
Weekday Reflection ~ December 6
Weekday Reflection ~ December 5
Weekday Reflection ~ December 2
Weekday Reflection ~ December 1
Weekday Reflection ~ November 30

Second Sunday of Advent Mass ~ December 4, 2022

Live Streamed Mass Available:  December 4, 2022 at 9:00 AM

Click on this link to join  Second Sunday Of Advent Mass

 

 

From Fr. Kopacek Desk:  December 6, 2022

1.  Reminder:  our monthly Eucharistic Holy Hour will be this Tuesday, Dec. 13, in Elma.  Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be at 5 p.m. and Benediction at 6 p.m..  I’ll be available for confessions during that hour.

2.  Another reminder:  you are invited to a discussion of what should be recommended to Pope Francis for discussion and decision at the October 2023 Synod meeting in Rome.  The discussion in our part of the archdiocese will be held at the St. Michael Parish Center, next to St. Michael Church in Nashua (602 Cedar Street); it will be held this Thursday, December 15, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.  The Holy Father seeks input regarding three questions:
  • what attracts you to the Catholic faith and to be active in your parish?
  • what Church teaching or practice makes you feel unwelcome, alienated, or angry?
  • what topics should the pope discuss and decide at the October 2023 Synod meeting in Rome?
Archbishop Jackels and/or Kim Hermsen (director of pastoral planning and leadership development for the archdiocese) will be present to lead the discussion and record your responses.  You need not register ahead of time.
3.  Last weekend I mentioned the conference on the subject of confession held at the Vatican in October, including the reasons that some give for not going to confession.  I spoke then about four of those reasons (you can see the Dec. 4 homily on our cluster website–check the bulletin cover for the website).  Here are two more reasons given:
  • “I don’t like talking about my personal life with someone else.”  It’s true that verbalizing and owning up to one’s sins can be awkward or embarrassing.  But it is the most effective and powerful way to honestly accept responsibility for our wrongdoing.  Remember also:  the priest is absolutely prohibited under any circumstances whatsoever to reveal to anyone else whatever he hears in confession.
  • “Why should I confess my sins to a priest who may be a worse sinner than me?”  Of course priests are sinners as well; we are sadly aware, for example, of priests who are guilty of the terrible sin of sexual abuse.  But the moral condition of a priest is irrelevant when he serves as minister of this sacrament.  The absolution that he gives is wholly valid and effective to remove the guilt and burden of sin because the one absolving the sin is God himself who chooses to use priests (weak and sinful as they may be) to absolve those sins brought to confession.
4.  “Don’t Forget to Laugh!”  From a Reader’s Digest collection:  “Just before Christmas, my five-year-old grandson, Jacob, said ‘Could you put away all the decorations, Dad?  I want Christmas to be over with.’  ‘But why?’ asked his father  “I’m just so tired of being good!'”  Ah, the challenges the youngsters have to face at this time of year!

 

 

Archbishop Jackels “Together” Bulletin – November

Click on this link for Archbishop Jackels November Message

 

 

Ministry to the Sick and Hospitalized

If you would like to receive the sacrament Anointing of the Sick or would like Fr. Kopacek to visit you while sick or hospitalized, please call the cluster office and let him know. He will be more than happy to see you.

Music Ministers Needed

A strong music ministry is necessary for a vibrant parish.  All our parishes are in need of music ministers to help lead us in prayer.  If God has given you a gift of singing or playing an instrument, or even if you still need to develop that gift, contact the Cluster Office at
641-393-2520.

 

Online Giving

We appreciate your contributions  to the church community and would especially like to recognize those who are now using our ConnectNow Giving link.  Our online giving site is safe, secure and most of all convenient.  You will always control the amount and can change or stop it at any time.  If you would like to donate using our online giving system and have not yet had a chance to do so, click on the Online Giving tab on this website and then your parish name.  If you have any questions please contact Nancy Theis at the cluster office (641-393-2520).

 

Befriender Ministry

Volunteers are needed from each parish to:

  • Drive people to medical appointments
  • Drive people to Mass
  • Make daily calls to people who live along (make sure they are okay)
  • Actively participate in a prayer chain

Please call the cluster office (641-393-2520) or Teresa Klobassa (641-393-2598) if you are interested in volunteering or would like more information.

* The Holy Rosary Cluster has assembled a group of 15 parishioners representing each of our parishes who are prepared to visit people in difficult and transitional situations such as illness, loneliness or loss of a loved one.  If you, or someone you know, would like a visit from one of our outreach ministers, please call: Alta Vista – Philomena Boehmer (641-364-6962) Lourdes – Marge Ludwig ((641-393-2568) Elma – Teresa Klobassa (641-393-2598) Riceville – Jeanne Watts (641-985-2031) New Haven – Nancy Theis (641-985-4145)