THE FISH WRAP

The Catholic Parishes of

Saint John Capistran Immaculate Conception Holy Rosary

Amherst Elm Creek Overton

2nd Sunday of Lent March 1, 2015

MASS TIMES FOR MARCH Elm Creek– Saturday 5:00 PM Overton– Sunday 8:00 AM Amherst – Sunday 10:00 AM

MASS TIMES FOR APRIL Amherst– Saturday 5:00 PM Elm Creek– Sunday 8:00 AM Overton– Sunday 10:00 AM

HOLY DAYS MASSES Amherst – Anticipatory Mass (night Before) 6:00 PM Elm Creek – Night of 6:00 PM Overton – Night of 7:30 PM OR AS NOTED IN BULLETIN

OFFICE HOURS Please call (308) 856-4375 to make an appointment.

RECONCILIATION Saturday – 4:30 – 4:45 Sunday – 7:30 – 7:45 Sunday – After 10:00 Mass By request Anytime by appointment

MARRIAGES Friday Evenings or 2 PM Satur-days, 4 month minimum preparation, if previously mar-ried takes 1 1/2 to 2 years for annulment decision.

BAPTISM Call Rectory for class and inter-view.

NEW PARISHIONERS Please introduce yourselves to the Pastor or call the rectory (308) 856-4375 to register.

DEADLINE FOR BULLETIN Wednesday 12 NOON If you miss the deadline sorry no announcements at Mass.

STAFF Rev. Alexander J. Borzych Pastor Rev. Mr. Bill O’Donnell Deacon Helen Glatter Parishes Secretary Angie Kenney Religious Ed High School -Amherst Annette Line Religious Ed Grade School – Amherst Sue Kizer High School Religious Ed - Overton Alicia Luther Grade School Religious Ed—Overton Cheska Hubbard Religious Ed – Elm Creek Denise Ourada Adult Religious Ed – Elm Creek

Website: www.icelmcreek.wordpress.com Parish e-mail:

Immaculate.holyrosary.stjohn@gmail.com Facebook:

Immaculate Conception Youth Group

Phone: (308) 856-4375 Fax: (308) 856-4017

Mail Address: P.O. Box 530 Elm Creek, NE 68836

Weekday Masses: Tuesday, March 3, Holy Rosary 9:00 AM for Melvin Buettner by Barbara Hellriegel Wednesday, March 4, Immaculate Conception 9:00 AM for Sebastian Flores by Dennis & Connie Broe Thursday, March 5, St. John Capistran NO MASS

Weekend Masses: Saturday, March 7, Immaculate Conception 5:00 PM for Delores Hellriegel by Pam & Dick Harrington Sunday, March 8, Holy Rosary 8:00 AM for Peggy Wilson by the Trace Tool family Sunday, March 8, St. John Capistran 10:00 AM for the People of the Parishes

TRI PARISH NEWS

Immaculate Conception

St. John Capistran

Holy Rosary

Diocesan Stewardship Appeal News Lent is a special season for the Christian steward to center attention on conversion, one of the first principles of Chris-tian stewardship. It is a time when conversion finds practical expression in prayer, fasting and developing habits of greater generosity. Let us pray for the wisdom and strength to let go of things that get in the way of our relationship with God; for a strengthening of faith; and for the grace to see that the poor of the world are not strangers, but are our sisters and brothers. As Jesus called his disciples, so he calls

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 2007 scholar-ship forms are now available. Two scholarships will be awarded in the amount of $500.00. Applicants must be an active Catholic boy or girl. Applications are available at area high schools or by contacting CDA Education Chairperson, Jeanine Goedert at 308-627-5049 or e-mail jgoedert@Charter.net. Deadline is March 13, 2015.

Immaculate Conception is hosting Visits to the Blessed Sac-rament every Friday during Lent from 9 am to 6 pm. begin-ning Friday, Feb. 18 to Friday, March 27. There is no need to sign up or commit to a certain time. On March 4, Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Pen-

alty is hosting a Lobby Day at the Nebraska state capitol in support of LB268, a bill to repeal the death penalty and re-place it with life without parole. For information or to rsvp for lunch and the event, visit wwwnadp.net/lobby. Also, for a letter-writing kit to help promote letters to our sena-tors, contact sarah@nadp.net."

CHS is having a Soup and Dessert lunch on March 1st at the Over-ton Senior Center from 11:00-2:00 to raise money for the local food banks. It is a free will donation.

PRAYER VOLUNTEERS DURING GOING BANANAS FOR JESUS 2015 Are you willing to spend an hour in prayer in the chapel at St. James Church, praying for all those involved in Going Bananas for Jesus 2015? While participants are actively engaged in the prayer and activities of this event, YOU ARE PRESENT offering your prayerful support before the Blessed Sacrament. We need Prayer Volunteers on Friday, March 27th from 7-9PM, and on Saturday, March 28th from 9-4. Sign-up sheets are posted in the Entryway of the Church. Your presence and participation are deeply appreciated.

The Ordination and Installation of Msgr. Joseph G. Hanefeldt as Bishop of the Diocese of Grand Island will be telecast live on the Nebraska Television Network (NTV) and affiliate stations on Thursday, March 19. The service will begin at 2:00 p.m. A priest (the rector of St. Cecilia’s Cathe-dral in Omaha) will serve as commentator during the service to explain what is happening.

World Youth Day 2016 If any youth is interested in going to Poland for World Youth Day 2016 there is multiple $1600 scholarships towards $4350 cost of the trip. Ask Father for Information and details.

“When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting.”

—St. Jerome

ADULT CONFIRMATION Did you miss Confirmation as a Junior or Senior in High School and would like to receive the third sacrament of initiation? If so please contact Fr. Alex at 308-856-4375. We will start the sessions on March 10th. Place will be determined by participants. Confirmation will take place by the bishop in your home parishes with Confirmation Class.

LENT FACTS * Lent is spiritual preparation for the celebration of Easter. both catechumens (those preparing for Baptism) and the faithful prepare for the celebration of the Paschal Mys- tery at Easter. * Lent begins on Ash Wednesday continuing until the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. * The practices of Lent involves prayer, fasting and almsgiv- ing. * Lent originated in the first three centuries A.D. and, over the centuries, developed from a one or two day ob- servance to forty days (recalling the 40 day fasts of Christ, (Matthew 4:2; Moses, Exodus 34:28; and Elijah, 1 Kings 19:8). * During the Season of Lent, the Church urges all the Faithful to reflect a spirit of penance in their daily life through performing acts of fast and abstinence.

Collection Report: February 22, 2015 Immaculate Conception Holy Rosary St. John Capistran Income needed to meet expenses $1,000.00 $ 500.00 $750.00

Sunday 1067.00 786.00 1667.00 Children 8.50 8.00 1.00 Church Restoration 100.00 50.00 -0- Diocesan Appeal 1,000.00 250.00 350.00 Ash Wed. (Cent. & Eastern Europe) 199.00 169.00 72.00

We are tithing Parishes ,

meaning we give 10% of what

God gave us back (5% parish

and 5% other charities).

Based off bible (Tobit 1:6-7,

Deuteronomy 14:22, Hebrews

7:2-25)

Remember the sick in our parishes. Pray for the sick in our parishes.

Immaculate Conception Parish Homebound: Robert Harms, Bob Dudek Ill or Recovering; Hayden Hubbard, Chase Klingelhoefer, Lawson Worthing, Virginia Margitz, Marlene Petzold, Tatum Meads, Denny Daake, Mike Meier, Ruth Cornell, Michelle Barger, Charlie Bryan,

Holy Rosary Parish Homebound: Katie Bourn, Marge Kearney, Clarice Bamrick, Jean McTy-gue, Regina Zulkoski Ill or Recovering: Ed Graczyk, Aiden Lukasicwicz, Janice Streit, Paul Streit, Amy Schroeder, Tina Gruntorad, Ra-chel Pierce, Garrett Scholz, Alan Smith, Mary Cook

Saint John Capistran Homebound: Gladys Conroy, Patricia McMahon,. Ill or Recovering: Vera Lienert, Chase Klingelhoefer, Bernadene Sullivan, Dean Roach, Betty Rodehorst, Cindy Malander, John Conroy, Patricia Win-ter, Barbara Eckhout

Diocesan Appeal Update:

Goal Collected Balance % Collected

Immaculate Conception $7,985.00 $ 1 ,100.00 $6,885.0 13.7% Holy Rosary $5,690.00 $1,866.00 $3,824.00 32.8% St. John Capistran $6,029.00 $1,900.00 $4,129.00 31.5%

West African Peanut Stew • 1 medium onion, chopped • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced • 4 tablespoons FAIR TRADE olive oil • 6 cups water • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon black pepper • 3 small sweet potatoes, cubed • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped • 3 cups chopped kale or spinach • 1 cup crunchy peanut butter In a large pot, sauté onion, garlic and ginger in oil until tender. Add 5 cups water and season with crushed red pepper, salt and black pepper. Stir in sweet potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in 1 cup water, tomatoes, greens and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over rice.

How are Rice Bowl donations used? Driven by our faith, we are committed to help those in need no matter where they may live. In that spirit: 75 percent of your gift supports CRS’ programs around the world. Some exam-ples include: *Agriculture projects help farmers improve harvests *Water and sanitation projects bring clean water to communities *Microfinance projects support small businesses *Mother and child health projects offer health and nutrition services *Education projects provide resources and training 25 percent of your donations go to hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in your own community. Contact your CRS diocesan director to find out how your dio-cese uses the 25 percent.

1st SUNDAY OF LENT

For the Second Sunday of Lent we read of how God tested Abraham's faith. In the gospel we witness how Jesus showed his disciples his glory, to prepare them for what is to come. A voice from a cloud said, “This is my Son, my beloved. Listen to him.” All we need to do for

the journey ahead is to listen to him. Each day the first reading is chosen to prepare for the gospel and the theme of both readings is complementary. The second week begins with Jesus telling us: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merci-ful... For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” All week we will be taught by Jesus about the simple lessons of being his followers. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Jesus pre-dicts his passion again. Again, they misunder-

stand, and so he says, “whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant.” Jesus tells the Pharisees a parable about a poor man and a rich man. The rich man asks Abraham to warn his brothers about the consequences of this behavior. Abraham answers: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, nei-ther will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” Then Jesus tells the scribes and religious leaders the parable about the farmer whose servants were abused by his tenants. Finally, they killed his own son. Jesus concludes, “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” While tax collectors and sin-ners are being drawn to Jesus the Pharisees complain, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So Jesus tells them the won-derful parable of the Prodigal Son. For the Third Sunday of Lent we read the

Ten Commandments and witness Jesus driv-ing the money changers out of the temple. He says, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” John's Gospel tells us the point: "Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scrip-ture and the word Jesus had spoken." In most parishes, there will be one Liturgy for the RCIA candidates, using the Gospel of the Woman at the Well.

DAILY PRAYERS THIS WEEK

During this second week of Lent we continue to try to make use of more reflective time each day. We are using all the resources available to us to practice new habits and patterns. We are still in the begin-ning stages of that process, so we shouldn't be dis-couraged if it takes more practice.

It is good to begin by being reminded that God is rich in mercy to us and that we should therefore be merciful to others. It is great to remember that exalt-ing ourselves is dangerous and that there will be consequences for our mistreatment of the poor. We are like tenants of our Father's gifts to us. We can ask ourselves if we use them gratefully and return the fruits that our Lord desires, or do we reject the prophetic words that come to us? Do we reject Jesus himself? This can all be part of the background of our busy, daily life. Each morning, when our feet hit the floor, if only for a few moments, we can ask for a

simple grace. At first, it might only be, “Dear Lord, help me today.” As we brush our teeth, wash and get dressed we might specify our prayer more: “Dear Lord, give me the grace to recognize my impatience, anger and judgment today. Help to soften my heart to hear your love. I need your healing, Lord.” Or we might get even more concrete, “Lord, Pat is such a struggle for me. Help me to remember how much you love me when I see Pat today. And, when I'm tempted to be impatient or angry, just help me pause and give that over to you, in gratitude for your love.” Each of us will be able to grow in our ability to have brief conversations with our Lord. Whether driving or shopping, doing laundry or paying bills, working in our office or walking down the hall to the bathroom, we can use brief “background” moments to connect with our Lord. These moments of “contemplation in action” will give a character and shape to our day. Lent becomes a living reality for us when our days are spent with the Lord, listening to

his love for us, calling us to gratitude and freedom.

Taken from the "Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer" on the Creighton University's Online

Ministries web site: http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.htmlUsed

with permission.

“Never forget that there are

only two philosophies to rule

your life: the one of the cross,

which starts with the fast and

ends with the feast. The other of

Satan, which starts with the

feast and ends with the head-

“Stop judging and you will not be

judged. Stop condemning and you will

not be condemned. Forgive and you will

be forgiven.” -- Luke 6