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Church of St.Anthony

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A Message from Father Aaron The Beauty of Marriage and Family

Dear brothers and sisters,This Sunday, World Marriage Day, calls attention

to the significant influence that marriage has on the Church, the society and the world. The witness of a strong Catholic marriage brings about a ripple effect of blessings that reaches far and wide for many years to come. At the same time, we know there can be an opposite ripple effect that comes from a failed marriage or one that has significant struggles. Today we pray for and promote strong, faith-filled and happy marriages between one man and one woman in the Catholic Church that bears witness to God’s loving plan.

Today there are significant challenges posed to traditional Christian marriage and family. This should be no surprise to followers of Christ as from the very beginning Satan has attacked marriage. From the time of Adam and Eve, to the beheading of John the Baptist for calling Herod to conversion for marrying his brother’s wife, to our time today in which Christians are made into “discriminators” or authors of “hate speech” for believing in faith and good conscience that the God of creation has ordained marriage to be between one man and one woman.“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1: 27) God created two genders only, not multiple.

At times there may be confusion over what the Church today really teaches about marriage and the issue of gender in our culture. What the Church teaches about same-sex attraction and marriage is crucial for each follower of Christ to know, understand and be able to articulate. Is the Church against those with same-sex (homosexual) attraction? The short answer is, no, of course not. The Church loves and cares for all of God’s children and She also continues to call all to the holiness of life and conversion that God desires.

A distinction here must be made between a person who has a tendency to be attracted to the same sex and one who is actively living out a same-sex relationship, or as it is referred to in scripture, sodomy. Therefore, an individual who may be burdened with the tendency to same-sex attraction is called to chastity and purity of life and not to act on impulses which reject God’s plan for sexuality which leads them into grave sin. In Pope Francis’ encyclical Amoris Laetitia, it clearly states, "There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family.” At the same time the Church lovingly extends a hand to those in need, as Francis states, “Those who struggle with homosexual tendencies, ‘“can receive the assistance they need to understand and fully carry out God’s will in their lives.”’

As Christians we do not judge the heart but we must judge the action. We must hate the sin, not the sinner. And we believe that true love is found in proclaiming and calling each other into God’s truth of creation. In these trying times for marriage and family may we continue to pray that our Creator’s beautiful plan is known and lived out in its fullness. God bless you, Father Aaron

Twinned Parish News

Confirmation Retreat Thank You!A huge thank you goes to all who helped with the confirmation retreat this past Monday; it was a wonderful experience for all. Thank you to all who set aside time in their week: set up crew, MC's, leaders, coordinators, speakers, table leaders, musicians, kitchen workers, servers, behind-the -scene crew and clean up crew. Thank you to all parents for your cooperation, youth for your participation, and Fr. Aaron for your support. Thank you to all of you that prayed for a successful day....your prayers were heard and answered. It was a joy to sit back and watch the Holy Spirit touch the hearts of all those involved.

Ash Wednesday MassesAsh Wednesday Masses will be on February 14th, 5:00 PM at the Assumption Church and 6:45 PM at St. Anthony’s.

Ecclesia Domestica Men’s Retreat The Ecclesia Domestica Men’s Retreat is next weekend! It will be held at the Assumption Church on February 17th, 8:00AM-5:30PM. A free will offering will be accepted. This is open to all men and male Confirmation Students (or all guys 16 and older). More information can be found on their website at: www.ecclesiadomestica.net. You can register on the website or by contacting your parish office.

Honoring Marriage Day Saturday, May 5, 2018 – This event will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Saint Cloud at 1:00 p.m. for couples celebrating their 5th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 60 plus anniversaries in 2018. If you are celebrating one of these anniversaries this year and would like to attend Honoring Marriage Day, please contact your parish office by February 26th.

Men’s ChoirCalling all men from the parishes! There will be a men's choir for the 5:30 Mass on February 17th following the Men's Retreat. The men's choir will sing from the choir loft; practice will be Friday, February 16th at 7:00 PM. This should be fun! Men from the surrounding area are also welcome. If you have any questions, please contact Becky Haag at 612-206-2746.

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Superbowl Sub FundraiserThank you to all those that supported the Superbowl Sub Fundraiser. Lots of volunteers worked together to get the subs made. Many people gathered supplies and organized the work list. It was nice to see the support and togetherness...God Bless you all.

Guild MeetingThere will be a guild meeting on Sunday, February 11th at 7 pm for active

chairs & co-chairs. Any questions, call Phyllis 320.228.2298

Faith & FunAll students in grades K-6 are invited to participate in the Faith & Fun afternoon on Wednesday, February 14th (Ash Wednesday). Details will be sent home in classes this week. Please e-mail or call the office if you know your child(ren) will want to participate.

Living StationsAll are welcome! Come and experience the passion of our Lord performed by the students on Friday, February 23rd at 5:30. The Way of the Cross is a beautiful Catholic devotion and a great Lenten tradition.

Save the Date! The Assumption Church Appreciation Dinner will be March 4 at the Eden Valley Event Center. Social hour at 3:00 and meal at 4:00. All members of ministries and their spouses are invited.

Assumption Church Lenten Fish FryThe Assumption Church’s Lenten fish fry is set for Friday, March 16th from 4:00-7:30 PM. You can save some money and purchase your tickets in advance by contacting Dan Thielen or PJ Connors. Advance tickets will also be available in church after Masses in February.

Silent Auction and Bake SaleSaturday Feb. 10th, 4:30-7:30 pm and Sunday Feb. 11th, 9:00-11:00. The Silent Auction bidding will close at 11:00 on Sunday.

Valentine Flower Sale for Baby Baptism BasketsOn February 10 & 11th after Mass the Christian Women will be selling carnations to benefit the baby baptismal baskets.

Ash Wednesday Ministry ScheduleLectors: Bill Tschumperlin Ushers: Frances Bischof, Gene Bischof,

& Deb Huschle Greg Bischof & Tom Lenz

Ministers of Communion & Ashes*: Servers: Ava Schumacher, Alex Haag,

Mary Jo Ruhland, Steve Schoenecker Carmen Haag & Porter Kuechle

& Donna Bischof Music: Guitar Group

*Ash Distributors: please come to the sacristy 15 before Mass for instructions.

�����������Wednesday, February 14:

5:00 pm Mass: † Nobert Jansen

Friday, February 16:

7:00 am Mass: † Adella Schmitt

Saturday, February 17:

5:30 pm Mass: People of the Parish

Sunday, February 18:

8:00 am Mass: † Marie Ruhland

����� ���������/+�,�!�����0���1�����Lector: Lona Brutger

Ushers: Jim Rademacher, Chad Field,

Ken Nistler & Steve Ludwig

Ministers of Communion:

Jody Bauer, Deb Huschle

& Ron Ruhland

Servers: Eric Bauer, Tyler Brutger,

Peyton Thull & Ellaree Anderson

Music: Men’s Choir

Rosary Leader: Mary Jo Ruhland

/+�,�!�����&��&1�����Lectors: Wanda Reiter & Olivia Kuechle

Ushers: Mason Molitor, Brandon Kelm,

Dan Thielen & Reuben Stommes

Ministers of Communion:

Shelby Kuechle, Chad Field & Steve Schmitt

Homebound: Colleen & Gary Sogge

Servers: Ashley Gruenes, Alex Haag,

Carmen Haag & Ruby Hesse

Music: Guitar Group

Rosary Leader: Nick & Sheri Blonigen

����������������Parish IncomeLoose PlateAdult Env. Youth Env.VotiveTotal

Bazaar YTD: $17,823Monthly Auto Drafts: $1755

Thank you for your donations!

2/4/18140.25

2096.0019.50

41.02$2296.77

Assumption Church APPRECIATION DINNER RSVP

March 4, 2018, at the Eden Valley Event Center Social Hour: 3:00 Dinner: 4:00

Name ______________________________

Number Attending ________

*Please return the RSVP in the collection basket or call Linda Ruhland at 453-7052 or Ruth Holdvogt at 290-5183 by February 25 to reserve your spot!

February 10, 11: Silent Auction & Bake SaleFebruary 11: Guild Meeting, 7 PMFebruary 14: Faith & Fun, 3:00-5:00February 16: Men’s Choir Practice, 7pmFebruary 17: Men's Retreat, 8:00-6:30February 18: Rite of Election "Forgiven" Adult Faith Formation, 9amFebruary 20: RCIA Meeting, 7:30February 23: Living Stations, 5:30February 25: "Forgiven" Adult Faith Formation, 9:00

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Rest in PeaceRest in Peace, Lawrence Geislinger, 75, of Litchfield (formally of Watkins) who passed away on Friday, February 2nd. The funeral service for Lawrence was held on Wednesday, February 7th at the Church of St. Anthony. Please keep Lawrence and his family in your prayers.

Breakfast Thank You! Thank you to all who helped make the youth breakfast last Sunday a great success. We are grateful to the Confirmation class and their families, our parish education committee members, members of the KCs and CCW for their leadership, and all who came to enjoy the meal.

Mission-of-Love ValentinesI will be selling valentines on Sunday, Feb. 11 in church. The cost is $2.00 each. The money and valentines are sent to San Lucas. Widows, orphans and other needy people receive the valentines which can be exchanged for school supplies, corn, beans or rice. Thank you for your support, Kathy Erpelding

Stations of the Cross (’n soup)Our first “Stations ‘n Soup” will be this Friday, February 16th at 5:30 PM. Please join us for Stations of the Cross and stay for a simple meal of soup & bread & fellowship to enrich our Lenten journeys. We still need volunteers to bring in soup or bread. Contact the office if interested.

Save the Date for a St. Anthony Fish Fry!On Friday, March 9th, the Church of St. Anthony will be having a fish fry from 4:30-8:00 PM. We are looking for volunteers to work and donate bars. Please contact the parish office if interested, 764-2755 or stanthony@meltel.net. Sign-up sheets will also be available at the church. Thank you!

Fish Fry MeetingThere will be another fish fry meeting on Thursday, February 15 at 7:00 PM. All are welcome. This is a parish-wide project!

New Ulm Diocesan Ministries Appeal The DMA is still ongoing and it’s not too late to contribute. St. Anthony’s has the goal of $14,953.57 and so far 39 donors have contributed $5420. There are DMA envelopes in the back of church which you can use to give to help support these important ministries throughout the diocese.

Ash Wednesday Ministry ScheduleLectors: Heidi Schoenecker Ushers: Ralph Linn, Maynard Walz,

& Mary Ann Hesse Leander Salzl & Ralph Vossen

Ministers of Communion & Ashes*: Servers: Reyse & Cambel Hesse,

Molly Schlangen, Sharon Simmons, Ben & Charlie Teicher

& Margi Schreifels

*Ash Distributors: please come to the sacristy 15 before Mass for instructions.

�����������Tuesday, February 13:

9:30 am Mass: † Isadore & Clara

and Gene VonBank

Wednesday, February 14:

6:45 pm Mass: People of the Parish

Thursday, February 15:

8:30 am Mass: † Adrian & Lorraine Klein

Friday, February 16:

9:30 am Communion Service at Hilltop

Sunday, February 18:

10:00 am Mass: † Daniel Dockendorf

����� ���������+�,�!�����&����1�����Lectors: Chad Dockendorf & Tammy Winter

Ushers: Ron Molitor/Carson Geislinger,

Margi Schreifels/Blake Donnay,

Joe Rathmann & Leander Salzl

Ministers of Communion:

Precious Body: Heidi Schoenecker

Precious Blood: Lori Unterberger &

Betty Vossen

Homebound: Ruth Geislinger, 764-6431

Servers: Carly & Cadence Meierhofer,

Alexis Vossen & Abby Holthaus

Rosary Leader: Sharon Simmons

Children’s Liturgy: Sharon Simmons &

Jaylah Umana

2�����$�%�3�������%%+�,�!���������1�����Servers: Anna, Olivia & Emily Kramer

���������������Parish IncomeAdult Env.Loose Youth Weekly Auto VotiveBuilding Auto Building FundTotal

��������������Mondays: Mary’s Cenacle, 2:00 Mission Quilting, 11:30-3:00Thursday: Thrift Shop, 9-12Saturday: Thrift Shop, 9-12

��� ������� �February 11-24: Stan Welle, Nancy Wiechmann, and Dan Winter & families.

*Please call Theresia at 764-7251 to unlock.

New Parish Center 2/6/18Total Project Goal 1,896,954.00Expenses Paid ($1,740,802.27)Remaining Bills (est.) 50,000.00Loan $75,000.00 Unpaid Pledges $73,654.23

2/4/182913.00175.00

5.00 310.0016.0035.00

125.00 $3579.00

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February 14: Faith Formation Classes, 6:30-7:30 Ash Wednesday Mass, 6:45February 15: Fish Fry Meeting, 7:00 PMFebruary 16: Stations ‘n Soup, 5:30 PMFebruary 17: Men's Retreat, 8:00-6:30 at AssumptionFebruary 18: “Forgiven” Study, 11:00 AM

Daily ReadingsMonday: Jas 1:1-11/Ps 119:67, 68, 71, 72, 75, 76/Mk 8:11-13Tuesday: Jas 1:12-18/Ps 94:12-13a, 14-15, 18-19 /Mk 8:14-21Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18/2 Cor 5:20--6:2/Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17/Mt 6:1-6, 16-18Thursday: Dt 30:15-20/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6/Lk 9:22-25Friday: Is 58:1-9a/Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19/Mt 9:14-15Saturday: Is 58:9b-14/Ps 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 [11ab]/Lk 5:27-32Sunday: Gn 9:8-15/Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9/1 Pt 3:18-22/Mk 1:12-15

SacramentsMarriage- Couples should contact the parish at least 6 months prior to wedding date. Baptism- Parents/expecting parents should contact the parish office to sign up for a baptismal prep class and to schedule a meeting with Father. *The next class is schedule for March 3rd at 9:30 at the Assumption Church. Anointing of the Sick - contact the parish office when anointing is needed.

Local EventsFebruary 13: 7:00 PM, the Shepherd of Souls Area Faith Community is hosting a WINE (Women in the New Evangelization) event at the Church of St. Philip in Litchfield. For more information on WINE and what it has to offer, you can visit their website at www.catholicvineyard.com.

*Bulletin Deadline*Bulletin announcements are due by noon on Tuesdays.

40 DAYS FOR LIFE-ST CLOUD

Feb 14-March 25th, 2018 40 Days for Life-St Cloud needs people to take vigil hours to pray in front of the planned parenthood abortion facility in East St Cloud. Ron Leither (the Friday captain) is asking our 2 parishes to sponsor the afternoon hours of 1-2pm, 2-3pm, 3-4pm or 4-5pm. What we are asking you to do is to PRAY PEACEFULLY with us as we walk back & forth on the sidewalk in front of planned parenthood. We remain peaceful at all times. If you can do this or if you just have questions, contact Ron Leither at 320-597-2149 or Judy Haag 320-453-7592 VIGIL: Mon-Fri 7am-7pm Location: On the public side walk in front of Planned parenthood, 451 East St Germain St.Park in St Augustine’s parking lot a block south. We need people to sign up for an hour or “just come”.OPENING RALLY SAT, Feb 17 noon-2pmENDING RALLY SAT, Mar 24 noon-2pmRallies begin at NOON-1pm at Vigil site, Then 1-2pm for a Reception-St Aug’s. The opening rally will feature SFL from SCS & SBSJ reporting on their pilgrimage to the MARCH FOR LIFE in Washington DC If you can’t come to our vigil M-F, come join us for one of our rallies. *To sign up contact Judy Haag or “just come” join us.320-453-7592 judy4life@meltel.net

Traveling Chalice and MadonnaCHRIST SPOKE of the talents each one of us has, talents which must not buried. Our calling is to take those talents, develop them fully, and then use them in establishing His Kingdom on earth. Are you using your talents to fulfill your vocation to service? Take some time today to reflect on how you might use your special talents in the service of the Kingdom. Sincere thanks to Rosie Becker and Darren Becker of Assumption Parish will host the Traveling Chalice and Madonna this week.

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Please Pray ForBishop John Kinney, Lori Crozon, Jane Anderson, Tim Eder, Jackie Boulton Family, Theresa Welle, Jeff Pauls, the Ertl Family, Alexis Vossen, Jerry Weinmann Jr., Laura Miller, Alizabeth Ludwig and Grace Hohenstein.

Father of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these

special people find lasting health and deliverance, and so join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this

through the Lord Jesus who healed those who believed. Amen.

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