emergency number · 12/22/2019 · day by going to bed, sleeping and dreaming; because the sacred...

525 GRANT AVE., NORTH MANKATO, MN 56003 | 507.387.6501 | F: 507.387.7365

Parish Office

507-387-6501 | Fax: 507-387-7365 Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Emergency Number

320-522-2180

Religious Education Office

507-345-6765

Accounting Office

507-345-6828

Email [email protected]

Website

holyrosarynorthmankato.com

Holy Rosary Parish Staff

Father Paul van de Crommert, Pastor Cindy Gawrych, Office Administrator Jim Theuninck, Accounting/Administration

Ministry for Sick & Homebound/

Support Staff

Lorraine Klaseus | 507-388-4932

Calvary Cemetery

Board Representative

Tom Kiffe

Loyola Catholic School

Adam Bemmels, Pre-K—12 Principal

Loyola School Office

507-388-0600 | Fax: 507-388-3081

Bulletin Article Deadline: Tuesdays at 12:00 pm Noon

HOLYROSARYNORTHMANKATO

FOR SACRAMENTAL INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

HOLYROSARYNORTHMANKATO.COM/WORSHIP-SACRAMENTS

December 22, 2019 4th Sunday of Advent

Rev. Paul van de Crommert Pastor

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’” - St. Matthew

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT DECEMBER 22, 2019

HolyRosaryNorthMankato.com | LoyolaCatholicSchool.org

You can almost hear Bing Crosby singing those beautiful words of the Christmas song, White Christmas: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas! Just like the ones I use to know…”. Equally as famous are the words of Clement Clarke Moore who wrote, “The Night Before Christmas,” and those most memorable

lines: “…The children were nestled all snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. And mama in her kerchief and I in my cap, had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.” I can recall the first years we were on our own farm and my Mother telling me that I had to go to bed by 8:30 P.M. I detested then in childhood and still in adulthood of going to bed early. My Mother would quickly remind me that if I did not listen and go directly to bed that “Sinterklaas”, (St. Nicholas), would neither come nor bring any gifts for me. (*I later found it curious that St. Nicholas came in Holland on the night of December 5th while in the United States he came on December 24th.) I mention these examples of expiring at the end of our day by going to bed, sleeping and dreaming; because the Sacred Scriptures are filled with endless examples of prophets, saints and holy people sleeping, dreaming and visions, not of what they “all want for Christmas”, but rather what the Almighty and Christ wants from us here in this world. The link between the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel from St. Matthew is that both men from Ahaz to St. Joseph, are experiencing a spiritual encounter through which God is communicating with them. In the case of Ahaz, the prophet Isaiah has come to him, having received an oracle from God (perhaps through a vision or a dream – scholars are uncertain). In the case of St. Joseph, St. Matthew records that the future foster-father of the Son of the Heavenly Father has a dream. But just as you or I have a dream and may dismiss its message, or see the dream as means of Divine direction or

(continued on page 3)

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her…” - St. Matthew

intervention; both of these human responses to the holy, happen to the two men from the First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel reading from St. Matthew. For in the case of King Ahaz, when the oracle that Isaiah acquires from God is presented to the King of Judah; Ahaz does not respond with delight and joy, but instead with terror and fear. The king had previously plunged into idolatry and had experienced many military failures. Yet, in spite of his many troubles, the King is not moved in the least by the message of the prophet to change his behavior. It does not end well for King Ahaz in the end. Ahaz’s bad conduct results in God raining down His Divine judgment on Judah in the form of military defeat. At his death, King Ahaz was buried without honor in Jerusalem. Oh yes, and what was the oracle from the Prophet Isaiah? It is this: “…the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and you shall name him Emmanuel.” As the saying goes, “There is something to be said for consistency”. For the message from God to the Prophet Isaiah, that is passed on to King Ahaz, in the Old Testament, turns out to also be the exact same message centuries later in the New Testament to Joseph, a descendant of King David, revealed to him by an angel in a dream. The message is equally this: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” And while the Good News message told to King Ahaz and St. Joseph are invariably the same, their response is radically different. King Ahaz, divorces himself from God’s Divine plan, is defeated by his enemies and dies a desperate and despised man. St. Joseph who plans to divorce Mary, accepts the message and welcomes her into his home and takes delight in being the head of the Holy Family by following God’s Divine design. Today, St. Joseph is given a place of honor in nearly every Roman Catholic Church around the world. As we stand on the threshold of Christmas, it is so spiritually good for us to reflect on this strong and silent saint named Joseph. We need to be reminded at the close of this brief Advent season that we too must trust in God’s Divine Providence working in our life, even when God’s plan does not make sense to us or is confusing to our human intelligence. As that expression goes, “God works in mysterious ways.” Pastorally, I am saddened, spiritually when I come

before Mass or I am leaving at end of Mass and pass

before the shrine of St. Joseph. For normally, there are so

many candles burning before our Blessed Mother’s shrine

on the left side of the sanctuary. Sadly, St. Joseph, on the



THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

“Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us’”.

-St. Matthew

Our Gifts to God & Holy Rosary

Adult Contributions $6,085.00 Plate Collection $379.17 Electronic Giving $2,871.13 Junior Collection $45.85 Christmas Collection $700.00 Christmas Flowers $300.00 Front Steps $100.00 Thanksgiving $50.00

Weekly Offering Total $10, 531.15 Weekly offering goal is set at $10,300.00

Bridging the Gap $0.00 Additional Weekly Income $585.75 Grand Total * $11,116.90 Total weekly stewardship goal is set at $13,200.00

Thanks for your gifts of gratitude to God!!!

Stewardship of Gratitude

Stewardship of Gratitude As we come to the close of the calendar year and anticipate the great feast of Christmas, fiscally, we are approaching the 50% mark of our financial year of 2019-2020. Praise God, we have been able to stay above our budgeted needs. Many thanks to all of you who faithfully give week in and week out to keep us on our sound, spiritual track. I suspect you are well aware that Christmas is an important time of stewardship for any church or non-profit organization. Sadly, I notice that there are faithful at Mass who do not even wish to take the basket at the time of the offertory to pass it down the pew, and which our ushers have shared with me is frustrating. Liturgically, not only are we all called to be part of the liturgical action of receiving the collection basket, but we are also all called to give something of ourselves, so that when the offertory gifts are brought forward, we are also bringing a little bit of ourselves to our Divine Lord and His holy altar of sacrifice! In addition to your Christmas offering, I ask that you

might give some spiritual and stewardship consideration

for the enclosed envelope for assistance to help defray

our Catholic School commitment for St. Ignatius of

Loyola. I particularly encourage our families who are

experiencing the benefit of a Catholic education at this

time to show their support. We will be taking up a

second collection at our 4 Christmas Masses to cover a

portion of our Catholic School commitment. This week

we again paid down our Catholic School commitment by

some $5,000.00 through our parish reserves. In the past

years we took in around $2,000.00 through this second

collection at Christmas. It is my pastoral wish that we

might have this commitment concluded by January 1st,

so that we can give our full stewardship attention to the

needs of our Bishop and the Diocese in which we still are

committed to coming up with an additional $63,000.00,

plus any additional monies the faithful can contribute to

the Diocesan Ministries Appeal from their own reserves.

Stewardship is a never ending challenge. Thank you for

your gifts. Please know that they are appreciated.

right, has so few (if any) candles burning before his shrine.

And while Mary is given the title, “Queen of All Saints”, if

there would ever be such a similar title, perhaps St. Joseph

“might” receive one day the title of the “King of All the

Saints”. For St. Joseph is the patron saint of many areas. St.

Joseph is recognized as the patron saint of the Universal

Church, unborn children, fathers, workers, travelers,

immigrants and the patron of the dying. Maybe before or

after Mass, you might invoke the patronage of good Saint

Joseph (who unlike King Ahaz) changed his mind, and led

the Holy Family from Bethlehem, to Egypt and back to the

Holy Land, protecting them all the while, in order that we

might be protected from evil through salvation and his

foster-son, to one day share in everlasting life. One last

time, Happy Advent!

Rev. Paul van de Crommert Pastor

“the Quill and the Cloth” continued...



The Week Ahead Sunday, December 22: 4th Sunday of Advent 7:30 am - Rosary 8:00 am - Mass - People of Holy Rosary Parish 9:30 am – Rosary 10:00 am – Mass - Ricky Gish† 1:00 pm - Individual Sacrament of Confession Monday, December 23: [Saint John of Kanty, Priest] 8:05 am - Rosary 8:30 am - Mass - Living & deceased members of the Louis & Barbara Wieseler† Family 6:30 pm - Individual Sacrament of Confession Tuesday, December 24: Advent Weekday (Christmas Eve) Parish office closes at 1:00 pm 4:00 pm - Mass - Bishop Paul Sirba† 10:00 pm - Mass - William & Bertha van de Crommert†

Wednesday, December 25: THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD (Christmas) Parish office closed 8:00 am - Mass - Norb & Ruth Gag† 10:00 am - Mass - Margaret Baxter†

Thursday, December 26: Saint Stephen, The First Martyr No morning Mass Parish office closed Friday, December 27: Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist Parish office is open 8am - 5pm 10:15 am - Mass at Monarch Meadows - Preston Doyle Saturday, December 28: The Holy Innocents, Martyrs 4:30 pm – Sacrament of Reconciliation 4:30 pm – Rosary 5:00 pm – Mass - Wayne Haefner† Sunday, December 29: THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH 7:30 am - Rosary 8:00 am - Mass - Juliette Shamp† 9:30 am – Rosary 10:00 am – Mass - People of Holy Rosary Parish

Weekend Ministry Schedule

December 28th & 29th Readers: 5:00 pm Mary Clare Wyrowski 8:00 am Linda Olson 10:00 am Roxi Lang

Eucharistic Ministers: 5:00 pm Brenda Voracek, Karen Winters, Jim Theuninck, Tom & Mary Clare Wyrowski, Rick Gruber 8:00 am Craig Amundson, Mary Homan, Sharon Lenz, Cathy Neve, Arlyce Anderson, Julie Schoettler 10:00 am Maxine Davis, Dennis Haga, Sherry Henrickson, Ryan Howe, Mike & Diane O’Dea

Altar Servers: 5:00 pm Anna Voracek, James Voracek, Zach Chelstrom(C/B/B) 8:00 am James Younge, Carson Fischer, Walter Michels (C/B/B) 10:00 am Abi Lang, Hailey Barker, Mark Larson (C/B/B)

Presentation of Gifts: 5:00 pm Dan Wingert Family 8:00 am Gordy & Terri Compton 10:00 am Jim & Darlene Schorn

Ushers: 5:00 pm Karen Winters, Tom Koch, Roger Steinbach, Mark Weingartz (Head Usher) 8:00 am Julie Bigaouette, Frank Weber, Paul Harguth, Doug Homan (Head Usher)

10:00 am Brent Friedrichs, Steve Kaiser, Sherry Henrickson, Bob Weigscheid (Head Usher)

Rosary Leaders: 5:00 pm Ashley Paul 8:00 am Margaret Ayers 10:00 am Curt & Donna Stanke

Music Ministry: 5:00 pm Julie Gruber/Michael Steimel 8:00 am Benjamin Paul/Michael Steimel 10:00 am Joe Kunkel/Vicki Galli

Money Handlers: 5:00 pm Jim Theuninck 8:00 am Linda Olson 10:00 am Sherry Henrickson Money Counters - December 2019: Bob Manwarren, Terri Compton, Bob Meyer, John Holden Bulletin Folders - December 2019: Ruth Fitterer, Rosal Molski, Mary Haley, Ken Thiele, Anne Doyle

Upcoming Parish Events

Faith Formation Classes Resume - Wednesday, January 8th, 6:00 pm.

Confirmation Class - Sunday, January 12th, 12:00 pm, Conference Room 2.

This Week’s Sanctuary Light Intention:

Ricky† & Michael† Gish



Thank You! The Social Concerns Committee would like to thank you all for being so generous to our Adopted Family For Christmas program.

ALL the cards were taken and the gifts were returned. This will give many families in our community lots of smiles on Christmas morning. May God bless you all!

Last Classes in Faith Formation for

2019 This past Sunday we held our last Confirmation class for the 2019 calendar year. Classes will resume for Confirmation on Sunday, January 12, 2020! Our last class for grade school and middle school also concluded for the calendar year this past Wednesday. Classes will resume for grades 1-8 on Wednesday, January 8th, 2020 at 6:00 P.M. This past Sunday, we had a “mild” celebration of Christmas in our Confirmation classroom, as there was a small “treat”, and after several other housekeeping items, I showed a video that came out several years ago, but is still very relevant called the “Demographic Winter”. The students took a few notes on this documentary in which the video describes in detail that the world is experiencing an aging population. In the coming decades we will have more people retired than those in the work force. At the conclusion of class, I spoke to the students about marriage and how it should be approached from the Catholic perspective. The students came to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation an hour or so later and I had a small Christmas gift for each of them as they stopped by the confessional on their way out the door. A parent from the parish came to me at Mass last Sunday and told me that she had been hearing only good things about this year’s Confirmation program and the student’s response. I have to say as both their pastor and their teacher, that I have been pleased at their response in class through their attendance, turning in the required materials that are expected of them, and their participation in the Holy Eucharist weekly. They are showing true “zeal” and interest in the faith, which is so good to see as a catechist. I teased the students in our last class (they do not laugh very easily), as I told them that I got them all a Christmas gift but they did not get anything for me. The truth is their faithfulness in attending class, their faithful attention in the classroom and turning in their assignments, their faithfulness to coming to Mass each week, is a wonderful spiritual gift all by itself. When we return to class in January, our instruction will already be 50% done. The time is going quickly for this priest and perhaps too for our students. Have a great Christmas Confirmation candidates. At the close of class on Wednesday, I had a gift for each of our catechists as they headed out the building for the last time in 2019. I have been proud of our catechists as I believe they are making very good use of the sacred hour that they have with our young people. As I walk through the halls, I see and hear active learning going on. The students are responding more to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and this is evidenced by a greater response of stewardship from the past. May our catechists and our students have a great Christmas break and be eager again with our students to grow in the knowledge and love of the Lord in 2020, the year of our Lord. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Thank you! - Father van de Crommert

Christmas Ministry Schedule

December 24th & 25th Readers: 4:00 pm Chris Cain 10:00 pm Vince Geurtin 8:00 am Dolores Portz 10:00 am John Holden

Eucharistic Ministers: 4:00 pm Bev Linnes, Jim Theuninck, Tom Koch, Tom & Mary Clare Wyrowski, Jane Younge 10:00 pm Pat & Wanda Hull, Rick Gruber, Karen Winters, Brent Friedrichs, Julie Schoettler 8:00 am Arlyce Anderson, Cathy Neve, Bernie Basitan, Gene Brandt, Terri Compton, Mary Homan 10:00 am Mike & Diane O’Dea, Curt & Donna Stanke, Darlene Schorn, Maxine Davis

Altar Servers: Altar servers will be contacted for Christmas Masses Presentation of Gifts: 4:00 pm Tom & Mary Clare Wyrowski 10:00 pm Brian Cain Family 8:00 am Gary & Mary Zellmer 10:00 am Blaine Kolstad Family

Ushers: 4:00 pm Dan Wingert, Tom Rheaume, Jim Theuninck, Bob Meyer (Head Usher) 10:00 pm Mark Weingartz, Karen Winters, Jacob Voracek, Dan Voracek (Head Usher) 8:00 am Mary Zellmer, Frank Weber, Donna Wenkel, Gary Zellmer (Head Usher)

10:00 am Teresa Kilstad, Isaac Kilstad, John Jagerson Blaine Kolstad (Head Usher)

Music Ministry: 4:00 pm Christmas Group/Vicki Galli 10:00 pm Adult Choir/Michael Steimel 8:00 am Corinne Ort, Kathy Jo Johns/Kurt Schroeder 10:00 am Kathy Jo Johns, Tom Bachmann/Vicki Galli

Money Handlers: 4:00 pm Tom & Mary Clare Wyrowski 10:00 pm Pat & Wanda Hull 8:00 am Mary Homan 10:00 am Jeff Lang



Prayers and support for all of our sick and injured of Holy Rosary Parish

Our prayers go out to all of the sick and injured in our parish who are at home, in the hospital, nursing homes or assisted-living residences. May God bless them and keep them under His guidance and protection!

For Our Families Monday Richard & Cathleen Ahern Tuesday Mary Helen Kennedy Wednesday Helen Anderson Thursday Becky Ulmen Friday Ryan & Katie Howe Saturday Robert & Debra Stachon Sunday Nicolas & Elma Ubongen

Home Visitation: If you wish to have yourself or a loved one receive the sacraments, Holy Communion or a personal pastoral visit, please call our coordinator, Lorraine Klaseus at 507-388-4932

Lord, Hear Our Prayers

For Those Who Are Ill & Special Needs Ruth Baker, Laurice Telshaw, Arnie & Eileen Wadekamper, Mary Kelly, Molly Viehweg, Mary McVicker, Steve Drummer, Ruth Fitterer, Steve Fitterer, Brandon Winters, Nancy Eilbert, Dan Telshaw, Charles Wesely, Craig Van Loy, Delores Haubrich , Orval Marquardt, Amy Cain, Gerard Lorentz, Dave Neubert, Dale Nickel, Dorothy Jo Hiniker

For Those in the Military Nick Blace Matt McGraw William Backes Jared Hiniker Christopher Schmidt Ben Barsness Dana Schiller Anna Drummer Timothy Eick Mark Hansen

This Week’s Readings Mon: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Lk 1:57-66 (199) Tues: Morning: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16/Lk 1:67-79 (200) Weds: Vigil: Is 62:1-5/Acts 13:16-17, 22-25/Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-

25 (13) Night: Is 9:1-6/Ti 2:11-14/Lk 2:1-14 (14) Dawn: Is 62:11-12/Ti 3:4-7/Lk 2:15-20 (15) Day: Is 52:7-10/Heb 1:1-6/Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14 (16) Pss Prop

Thurs: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59/Mt 10:17-22 (696) Pss Prop

Fri: 1 Jn 1:1-4/Jn 20:1a, 2-8 (697) Pss Prop Sat: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Mt 2:13-18 (698) Pss Prop Sun: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14/Col 3:12-21 or 3:12-17/Mt 2:13-15, 19-

23 (17) Pss Prop

Congratulations to the new Loyola Activities Hall of Fame inductees: Female Athletes: Kim (Sheldon) Brunmeier ‘92, Sarah (Price) Boyle ‘05, Stephanie (Price) Reneau ‘08 Male Athletes: Kevin Mettler ‘85, Dan Ward ‘91, Truc Ho ‘04 Fine Arts: Kim Rotchadl ‘75, Bridget Hermer ‘80, Coaches: Dale Compton ‘91, Chris Biehn

Inductees will be formally recognized at halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball game on Saturday, January 11 in the Fitzgerald gym, 110 N 5th Street, Mankato. Inductees and their families are also invited to a pregame reception at Fitzgerald starting at 6 pm.

During this season of Advent and reflection, please consider a year-end gift to Loyola and its students. Your support is a direct investment in their future and tells them, “I support you; I’m here with you.” Please contact Sam Smith or Matt Fink in the Development Office with any questions They can be reached at 507-386-5300. Gifts are tax deductible, as applicable under IRS guidelines.

THANK YOU to all who send us Box Tops for Education, Hy-Vee receipts. Loyola no longer processes Campbell’s soup labels.

Your parish support makes all we do,

learn, and celebrate at Loyola

possible.

Leading through Faith, Academic Excellence, and Service.

Prayer Chain

If you have a short term prayer request or prayer of thanksgiving for our prayer chain to pray for, please call Teresa Kolstad at 327-9810.

Baptism! Our prayers and best wishes go out to Alexis and Eric Berkner on the occasion of the Baptism of their daughter, Madisyn Rose Berkner. May the Baptism of this child in the waters of new birth, be the beginning of a life-time relationship with Jesus Christ. Blessings to you today and always!


Fair Trade Goods

C.C.W. is supporting Fair Trade - Coffee (whole bean and ground), tea, olive oil, and baking cocoa is available for sale in the parish office!


Stepping Up in Faith Collected this week: $100.00 Received to date: $86,392.22 Goal: $175,000.00

Death of a Stove! A couple of weeks ago a few parishioners approached me before and after the weekend Masses with concerns of

smelling “gas”. Of course, my training is in theology, not mechanics or heating. I told some of the folks that the natural gas men had been working on the lines and most likely this was a residual smell. As we later discovered, “someone” had turned on the gas on our ovens in our parish kitchen, but had not re-lit the pilot light. So the smell that people were smelling was in fact gas. If things had gone poorly, we could have had a severe explosion. I know that many people want in their homes a gas range. Gas has always scared me and I would never want a gas range in a home. If possible I would like to avoid using gas in a commercial facility as well because of situations such as this one that we recently experienced. The stove has been shut off and we discovered additional issues with the gas lines as well, among other mechanical concerns. In consultation with the leadership of the parish, we are ending the use of our gas stove in our parish kitchen at this time. In about 150 days, the State of Minnesota has mandated that this appliance and the ventilation system will be shut down permanently due to its age and condition. We believe that this range is original to the structure of 1950. In a recent discussion with the Finance Council, we are debating about not installing a new gas range and ventilation in the future due to the high cost, as well as the rare occasions that the range and ovens are actually used for meal preparation. Nearly all of our food today that is served in our social hall is brought in through catering or pot-luck. For those groups on the rare occasion that are in need of a stove or cook-top, can make arrangements with those renting the kitchen across the street in our school kitchen. The food could be prepared in that kitchen in school and brought across the street to be served. That stove/ventilation in the school have been updated in the recent years. I will be in continued discussions with the parish leadership and with the Finance Council as to what is the best approach to address the future needs of our parish kitchen and social hall.

Welcome to Holy Rosary!

Are you new to the area and would like to join our growing Holy Rosary parish family? Just go to holyrosarynorthmankato.com/membership-registration and download the registration forms to fill out. You can also simply send us your contact information via an easy-to-use form and we will mail you a hard copy of those forms. Come join our growing Holy Rosary parish family!

Accompanist Needed! Do you play piano, or know someone who does? Holy Rosary is in need of another person (or two) to play piano for

our song leaders during Mass. It would be a few times per month. This is a PAID position! We can train someone on when to play the Mass parts, etc. Please call the parish office at 387-6501 for more information.


K. of C. Council #5551 News

January 9 - Planning Meeting January 23 - General Meeting

Connect with TEC! Connect with Jesus at Riverbend TEC 273 – January 18-20, 2020, 9:30 am Saturday – 4:30

pm Monday at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 605 N State St, New Ulm, MN 56073. Riverbend TEC (Together Encountering Christ) is a three-day Catholic retreat experience focused on the Paschal Mystery: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Young people (16+ years old) as well as adults are invited to encounter and integrate the life of Jesus into their daily lives on this retreat weekend. The team leading the weekend includes a priest, teenagers, and adults who have participated on previous TEC weekends. The format of the weekend includes time for getting to know other people, music, learning more about Jesus, socializing and recreation, prayer experiences, and Mass. Retreatants’ applications are due 2-3 weeks before the weekend. Applications and promotional video can be found at https://www.riverbendtec.org . You may also contact Dave Grams, Holy Rosary, North Mankato, 507-995-3375 (voice or text), or email, [email protected] for more information.

2019 ECHO FOOD SHELF COLLECTION

Total Amount Collected: $18,091.17

*This collection started in March 2017

Year-End Giving The end of the year is not far away, and it is time to start thinking of strategies to maximize the tax benefits of year-end giving. Federal tax

laws and many state laws make it possible to reduce or eliminate taxes on gifts to charities like your parish, diocese, schools and other ministries. Remember that only gifts made by December 31st can help reduce the amount of taxes you owe next April. Please consult your professional tax advisor for tax strategies for your personal situation. Gifts of Cash: The most popular way to give to charity is still by cash or check. Gifts completed by December 31st will qualify for tax deductibility for the current tax year. Gifts of cash qualify for up to one-half of your adjusted gross income (AGI). You must receive an acknowledgement for gifts of $250 or more. Gifts from Retirement Plans: Retirement plan assets can be a practical source from which to make charitable gifts to your parish. If you are over 70 1/2 and are required to take withdrawals from a Traditional IRA, you may want to consider making a charitable gift using all or a portion of your mandatory withdrawal amount. This way of giving may result in little or no tax impact when you report the amount withdrawn along with an offsetting charitable deduction. Securities & Appreciated Assets: Gifts of stock, bonds, mutual funds, and certain other property that have increased in value can result in even greater tax savings than gifts of cash. If you have owned such investments for longer than one year you can generally donate them to your parish and deduct their full current value, even if it far exceeds your original cost. Congress has provided that in addition to regular tax savings, you also do not have to pay capital gains tax when these assets are given to a qualifying charity. This "extra" tax savings is another reason why some choose to make their gifts this way.

Catholic School -

Christmas Second Collection! I know! I know! No good Catholic likes a second

collection! But you have to give us a little credit. Presently, we still need to pay in financial support to Loyola in this Fiscal Year of 2018-2019 of more than $113,000.00! In the past few years this “second collection” has brought in around $2,000.00. Please make use of the envelope that is enclosed with this week’s bulletin. Everything that we collect will go straight to our Catholic School and reduce our needed goal. Please be as generous as your heart will allow!

Liturgical Calendars

As we celebrate the Christmas season and extend gifts to family and loved ones; here at Holy Rosary, we also offer again, on behalf of our benefactors, a liturgical calendar to keep track of the liturgical seasons, feasts and Holy Days of Obligation throughout the course of the year. Calendars will be available at all of the entrances at all of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses, as long as the supplies last. Merry Christmas!


Penitential Praise! Last Sunday we celebrated our Advent Penance Service and I was most pleased as pastor to see so many in attendance. I believe that this was the largest attendance at our Advent Penance Services in the past six years since my arrival. Nearly half the church was filled with penitents. The five priests in attendance were busy hearing confessions for a good long time, and although I was the last priest to the leave the confessional; when I looked at my watch, it was after 5:00 P.M. Recall, that we had begun at 3:00 P.M. with only a brief service at the start of this gathering. The Church calls all faithful, Roman Catholics to

celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation a minimum of

once a year according to the Precepts of the Church.

Would you like to be in a near “perfect” state of grace

before the great feast of Christmas. There are still a

couple opportunities to have your confession heard

before Christmas. I will be in the confessional, after

Mass, this Sunday, December 22nd at 1:00 P.M. and

again on Monday, December 23rd at 6:30 P.M. I will be

in the confessional as long as there are penitents

coming to confession. I encourage you to come on are

around the times that I will begin to hear confessions.

“Go, your sins have been forgiven.”

Stewardship Corner

Diocesan United Fund (D.U.F.), Diocesan Priest Pension Fund/ Medical, Care Comp Ins, Priest Care Fund, & Audit: Pd. to Date: $17,335.14 Due: $80,442.69

Annual Diocesan Ministries Appeal (D.M.A.): Rec’d. to Date: $6,190.00 Due: $33,183.26

Loyola Catholic School Assessment: Pd. to Date: $149,571.97 Due: $179,571.97

Total Paid to Date 2019-2020: $172,849.97

Apostolate Stewardship 2019-2020: $293,197.92

This week we again paid down our stewardship

commitment to St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic School by

$5,000.00, resulting in a remaining balance of

$25,000.00. Is there any soul or two in the parish who

has a strong commitment to Catholic Education that

they might take on this remaining stewardship

commitment and pay down this remaining amount

before the close of the calendar year. Perhaps this

might be a help to some of you for tax purposes? As

soon as we complete the stewardship for our area

Catholic School, we will begin in earnest for concluding

our commitment to the Diocese of New Ulm in which

we owe more than $63,000.00. Thank you for your

commitment to reduce these commitments outside of

our parish boundaries. When we conclude these

commitments, we will be committed to hopefully doing

more repair work on the interior of our church that has

structural needs that have not been addressed for more

than half-a century. Thank you for your gift!

Back by Popular Demand!

“Taste of the Nations” Mark your calendars for, Saturday, February 15th, 2020! Because of the abundant support from you, our members of this parish, for our last two “Taste of the Nations,” it gives the committee great pleasure to announce that we are going to hold “Taste of the Nations” #3. Thanks to everyone who came last year, and enjoyed the evening’s event, we hope that this year’s “Taste of the Nations” will again be a fun evening of delicious food and fellowship. Share the good news with family & friends. Stay tuned for more details.

Blessings at Christmas As we are about to enter into one

of the most solemn of celebrations of the Incarnation of the Almighty through the celebration of the anniversary of the birth of the Savior of the world in Bethlehem; on behalf of the parish staff of Holy Rosary, and myself as pastor, I want to wish each and everyone of you the most blessed of Christmases as you gather with your family and your friends. May the New Year ahead, of 2020, be one that is both Holy and Happy and Healthy. Blessing and best wishes to you all!


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Finance Council Meeting Minutes November 4, 2019 Holy Rosary Church

The Holy Rosary Finance Council convened on Monday, November 4th. Following the opening prayer, the past minutes of the June 10th, 2019, meeting were reviewed and approved as read. The majority of the Finance Council members were in attendance. There were no additional items added to the November agenda. Pastor’s Comments: Father began his comments by stating that we just completed one of our most successful Fall Festival (November Fests) to date. Nearly 600 people were served, and the Mass attendance both on Saturday and Sunday was very strong with a full church at the 10:00 A.M. Mass. There was a large amount of donations given this year for the parish to re-sell. The gross intake is approaching $30,000.00, which is excellent. Father was equally grateful to all of the people that came to volunteer, participate, or contribute to the day. The past summer was busy with continued repairs. A new roof was installed on the 1925 school and the steps are presently being worked on with the expected completion in or around the later part of December. There were numerous challenges to the church sign but it has all been approved and the parish is moving forward. In the past fiscal year more than a $100,000.00 of repairs and updates were performed on the parish plant. This fiscal year we anticipate spending in excess of $200,000.00 with the new front entrance and church sign. The Education Committee met several times throughout the summer with the changes in leadership. The enrollment from last year to this year is nearly equal or perhaps slightly higher. Father is very pleased with the participation as well as those that are assisting with the program. Financially, the parish completed the Fiscal Year of 2018-2019 in positive territory. Many parishes across the country, as well as the Vatican have been experiencing large shortfalls due to the clergy crisis and some people have voted with their pocketbooks. The Vatican alone has had a shortfall of 80 million dollars. The parish is able to do the repair work and updates due to the continued support of the faithful.

Even though the overall offerings were down, the parish took in nearly $900,000.00 of revenue in the past year. Virtually every week the parish was above budget. So far, in this fiscal year, the parish has also been above budget as well. Father is hoping to complete the Loyola commitment by Christmas and then begin in earnest in the Diocese of New Ulm Diocesan United Fund. The Diocesan Ministry Appeal will begin this weekend with the video that will be held immediately after Mass in the main church for those that wish to remain and watch the video. According to our auditors, one of the requirements in counting and processing the Sunday collections is that “money counters rotate in the schedule.” The same people cannot be part of the counting from week to week or year to year to avoid patterns developing, and so Father will be addressing this area. Father also expressed the importance of confidentiality of those who assist with the collection. The Worship Committee met this fall and addressed several issues including the change in environment for the fall. There have been discussions about addressing the sacristy and the electrical in the sanctuary. A new cordless microphone has been ordered due to many problems with our present system that has been causing problems and was acting up at the Festival Mass. We are also discussing about putting up some permanent banners that would match the present mural. These would be done by the artists who restored our mural. The artist may have time to do this in or around the middle of 2020. Eide Bailey Report: Ryan Spaude, reviewed the parish finances and investments from his firm. The markets and stocks have seen noticeable gains in the past months. The portfolio of the parish has done well as a result, recovering in part from some severe losses in October of 2018, and throughout the 2018-2019 Fiscal Year. Ryan shared at the close of his presentation, that he has handled the parish money for many years and would be open to have someone else manage the parish portfolio. He stated that in non-profit organizations, every six years or so, companies and firms often decide to switch investment firms to get a different perspective on their investments; but he would continue to manage the parish money if the council choose to do so in the future.


(meeting minutes continued)

Northwestern Mutual - Doug and Steve Helget: Steve and Doug Helget were invited as members of the parish to be considered (in part), to manage the Endowment Fund of the parish that is slowly growing and gaining stewardship momentum. Doug and Steve presented their proposal on the benefits of working with Northwestern Mutual. They emphasized that they would help in the selection of mutual funds, bonds, etc. that were morally and socially responsible for an organization such as the Catholic Church to invest in at this time of history. Following their presentation and handout, the two men departed. The Finance Council discussed at length the pros and cons of moving the investments from the Endowment Fund from Eide Bailey to Northwestern Mutual. A point was made of the active involvement and long-time membership of the Helget family at Holy Rosary. After further consultation and the previous points made by Ryan Spaude, of the nature to move investments from one firm to another after a period of years; it was decided to transfer “both” the Endowment Fund as well as all of the general parish monies to Northwestern Mutual in the near future. (As this report goes to press, the transfer from one company to another has been completed.) There was full consensus of the committee to proceed in this direction. Financial Report – 2018-2019: Father reviewed the Financial Report with the Finance Council that had been prepared. The Church of Holy Rosary again concluded the year in the black with some financial gains as well as a number of capital improvements on the parish facility. There were favorable comments about the report that laid out the parish finances in a clear and understandable format. One of the members who was not able to attend the meeting, but stopped at the parish office to tell Father that he was proud of our “transparent” report in relation to what other churches do to present their parish finances.

Business: Stepping UP in Faith: There has been continued financial progress on the front entrance of the church. On June 10th, 2019, the parish had taken in a total amount of designated funds totaling

$80,992.22. By November 4th, 2019, the parish had taken in a total of $83,217.22, (or an increase of $2,225.00 over the past 5 months.) The permission for the project by the Diocese has been given to Father verbally, but Father has not yet received official word through a letter. (Since this meeting, Father was informed that the Diocese lost the parish request form and has requested a second copy of this form. As of December 15th, no official document has received but a Diocesan official has given verbal permission for the project.) The City of North Mankato has given the “green light” for the church sign. The matching grant is still holding with a matching grant for any money that is contributed towards this project by parishioners, as we work toward its completion. WEB construction intends to begin the work in November and to have it completed by mid-December, with the front doors re-opened by the Christmas Masses. Father stated that he is skeptical about work being done in winter and the completion time-line seems overly-optimistic. Father is hoping it will be completed by Holy Week and Easter! November Fest 2019: The festival was a great success with many areas up from the previous year and some areas were slightly down. Overall, the number of dinners sold, the number of tickets at the children’s game and over-all revenue was up. Some concerns were expressed on food portions. Some people received way too much food and others felt slightly short-changed. A detailed report of the Festival finances will be published in the parish bulletin when all of the figures have been turned in, in the coming days. Staffing Review: The staff and the finances were reviewed. Two new part-time staff members have been added and one full-time staff member has been added. Diocesan Financial Audit: Although the parish had gone through a required financial audit at the time that there was a change in pastors; the Diocese informed Holy Rosary, that after 5 years, we would once again be going through a “random” audit to review the parish finances for the past year. Father stated that he found this surprising,

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as normally audits have never been done this

frequently in the parish. Father was returning from

Colorado when the auditors came and was not on

sight. The parish administrator had all of the

documentation prepared that was requested. Since so

much of the information had been given in advance of

the actual arrival of the auditors, the representatives

from Clifton/Larson/Allen were only a couple of hours

at the parish. Father was later informed that the

books were in such good order the auditors did not

require a follow-up meeting with Father, which is

normally the standard practice. A final report will be

coming out to the pastor in December. Father will be

sharing this report with the Finance Council at our

next scheduled meeting. Father expressed his thanks

to Jim, for doing such a thorough job of our parish

accounting and management of the parish monies.

Parish Kitchen- Social Hall: A further discussion was

held on the present state of our social hall. Father has

talked to one firm about the possibility of renovating

our social hall. It was recommended that a new

suspended ceiling would be installed due to asbestos

issues in the ceiling versus an “industrial” exposed

ceiling look. However, the ceiling could be raised

much higher and would make the social hall seem

larger. There are concerns with the bathrooms. The

toilets are very low and are original to the structure.

The stalls are too tight for those that are older and

may be experiencing some disabilities. Doors may

need to be widened and perhaps handicapped buttons

installed for those who have a hard time opening the

doors as they swing closed rapidly. There is a bad odor

in the men’s bathroom. There was an extensive

discussion about the kitchen. With the stoves being

shut down by the State of Minnesota, the question

was raised if food is really prepared downstairs with

any frequency? Aside from the Knights of Columbus

pancake breakfast and annual fish fry, the Boy Scouts’

suppers, and perhaps a time or two for keeping food

warm that is brought in for C.C.W.; questions were

raised for the legitimacy of spending so much money

on a full-kitchen when in most cases the food is

catered such as at the time of funerals. No final

decisions were reached at this time. There will be

further discussion about updating our church facility.

Father would continue to explore options. Some of

the parish reserves would be used for the renovation

and parishioners would also be encouraged to

contribute in order to take ownership of these

projects. School Roof Repair: The school roof on the

1925, structure was completed this summer and paid

for at a cost of $56,000.00. This new roof will preserve

this structure that is included in the long-term parish

plan. The 1925 structure is well-built like the parish

rectory and a space will be needed well into the

future for faith formation, parish meetings and office

space. Budget 2019-2020: The new budget was

“officially” approved that is both balanced and nearly

similar to last year’s budget with some additional

capital improvements included. There being no

further business, the meeting concluded with prayer.

Father held a brief, executive, Corporate Meeting with

the trustees following the Finance Council meeting.

The next meeting will be scheduled for January, 2020.

(meeting minutes continued)

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