Flocknote

St. Michael the Archangel Pastorate

Sacred Heart, Remington

Sts. Peter & Paul, Goodland

St. Augustine, Rensselaer

Friday Flocknote - September 16th, 2022

Father Joshua Bennett, Missionary Pastor fr.jbennett@dol-in.org

Marie Oliver, Director of Operations marieoliver@parish.dol-in.org

Kris Dobson, Coordinator of Continuing Formation and Evangelization kdobson@parish.dol-in.org

Sarah Hall, Coordinator of Youth Religious Education shall@parish.dol-in.org

Natalia Brady, Administrative Assistant for the Pastorate nbrady@parish.dol-in.org

Nancy Goodwin, Bookkeeper for Sacred Heart & Sts. Peter and Paul ngoodwin@parish.dol-in.org

A Message From Our Pastor

“This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.” II Tim 2:3-4

St. Paul writes Timothy this week with the encouragement and affirmation that coming to know the knowledge of the truth of God is pleasing to the God who desires our salvation. Last week, Kris Dobson mentioned the great opportunities we have upcoming for adults in our parish to grow in their knowledge of God by means of the Adult Faith Formation opportunities we have available (more information is found within this bulletin). This is of vital importance for us as individuals, but also, and perhaps even more so, for our families, especially our children and grandchildren.

We take the education of our children in the Faith very seriously in our pastorate. I know that both Sacred Heart and St. Augustine are very proud of the youth programs that have been built up over the years. However, this cannot be something that our small group of volunteers do in place of what needs to take place at home. Our role, at the parish, is to supplement and build off the Faith Formation that your children receive at home. The Church teaches, very emphatically, that parents are “the first teachers of the Faith.” I say this because your children’s first and/or only interaction with the Faith cannot be once a week in Faith Formation classes to have any benefit for them or the rest of the children in the class. Also, this is not, nor cannot be a substitute for Sunday/Holy Day Mass attendance; faith disconnected from the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is dead, because Jesus Christ – truly present in the Holy Eucharist – is the source of all life!

I know that some parents may not know the teachings of the Faith or have confidence in their knowledge of the Faith to teach it their children. That is why we are working so hard to give you the tools you can use to grow. FORMED.ORG has so many resources that all of you can use as individuals and as families to dive into and to learn something more, at your own pace and in the areas you want to explore. Our Small Faith Formation Groups are a response to Jesus’ teaching, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20

St. Paul is talking to all of us today, encouraging all of us to not be complacent and lazy in our faith, but to do the hard work and grow in our knowledge of the Love of God. Be encouraged; be courageous! Jesus promises JOY to those who follow Him; take this moment to stop making excuses and to do something that will transform your life forever!!

Turn off your TV and come to Mass –

Your Faith is Worth it!

There I said it. Many people, since the shutdown of 2020, have developed new bad habits and gotten out of old good habits. One that I hear most often than not, whether it be directly or via other family members, is “Oh, I watch Mass on TV on Sunday’s, so that’s why I don’t go to Church.” Masses on Television are great tools for outreach and may be a way to encounter a non-Catholic or non-Christian for the first time and to begin their Journey to the Catholic Church. Televised Masses are also nice spiritual aids for those who are unable to attend Church due to health reasons that prevent them from doing so. However, televised Masses DO NOT, nor have ever, fulfilled the Sunday Obligation to attend Mass for able bodied Catholic’s.

Faith doesn’t come cheaply. For many of us here, we are links in an unbroken chain of ancestors who embraced Catholicism over the centuries and who often paid a great price for doing so. It always pains me to hear of someone dropping out of the Catholic Church or losing their faith. The link of faith, which might be 1,000 years old, is broken! I’m writing this because many of our parishioners and friends are at risk of losing their faith, and sadly I believe watching Mass on TV and avoiding church are contributing factors.

I’m speaking to those parishioners, who have grown accustomed to either not going to Mass or watching it on TV. Except in serious cases of sickness or weakness, everyone by now should have returned to Mass, live and face-to-face. Watching Mass on TV is not what Jesus had in mind when He said at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me.” We are all members of the great family known as the Church, and just as phone calls don’t make up for one’s absence, so watching Mass on TV doesn’t cut it.

Faith is a gift from God that is second only to the gift of our existence. We cannot assemble faith; we can only be open to receiving it. We should never take chances with our faith because we may never get it back again once it’s lost. The dispensation from attending Mass was lifted over a year ago. Turn off your TV and come to Mass! Shake off your lethargy and come back to Mass. Don’t take chances with your faith. Rather, let us ask God to increase His gift of Faith in us!

God Bless,

Fr. Bennett

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Have Mercy On Us!

Immaculate Heart of Mary – Pray For Us

Sts. Joseph, Michael, Peter, Paul and Augustine – Pray For Us

Thank you to all the noodle makers, turners and baggers!
We had a great group and enjoyed the morning working together, thanks to all! Country Kitchen at the Turkey Dinner will be selling the noodles. Also, thanks to Russell Emond for his new invention on flattening and cutting noodles. See you at the Turkey Dinner!

Youth Ministry Grades K-12

September 18th No Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart Faith Formation

due to Turkey Dinner 11a-2pm ET
September 21st St. Augustine Faith Formation

PK-12 @ 6:30pm CT St. Augustine Gym
September 25th Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart
K-12 meet @ Fulcher Center 9:45-10:45am ET
September 28th St. Augustine PK-8 meet for Faith Formation (Peer Ministers lead middle school) & PIT callout @ 6:30 pm in Peer Minister Rooms (upstairs of preschool)
October 2nd Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart

K-12 meet @ Fulcher Center 9:45-10:45 am
October 5th St. Augustine Faith Formation PK-12
@ 6:30pm CT St. Augustine Gym
October 9th Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart
K-12 meet @ Fulcher Center 9:45-10:45 am ET

Please share with us your Adult Small Group Faith Formation needs and interests by taking a short survey here. Thank you!

Are you interested in learning more about your Catholic Faith?

Join Duane and Debra Nagel on Wednesdays beginning October 5th at 6:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall for Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained. Symbolon is a systematic presentation of our Catholic Faith. It will lead you through the "big picture" of the Catholic Faith and our Creed is the guide. This is a 10-session series. All are welcome to attend. Free will donations will be accepted at the first session to help offset the cost of leader and participant materials.

Save The Date for the St. Augustine Bazaar

The annual Turkey dinner and Bazaar is on
Thursday, November 10th. Preparations are underway!
Please be thinking of items you would like to donate for the Big Wheel, Silent Auction, Bake Sale & Christmas Booth. We are also needing Chairs & Co-Chairs for the event. If interested, please contact the Chairs of last year’s Bazaar: Lyle or Deanna Myers
(219-816-1418 or 219-863-9036)
Thank you!

Apples for the Students

Beginning September 1, 2022, Stack & VanTil receipts can begin to be collected. Drop off is available at St. Augustine School, box provided in the front entrance of the church or drop in the collection basket on Saturday or Sunday Masses. Receipts will be collected until March 31, 2023.

St. Augustine Christian Women Raffle

“QUEEN SIZE AMISH QUILT“

Proceeds to St. Augustine Church for the Bazaar

Return tickets to collection basket at Mass or parish office by Thursday, November 10th. Pick up envelopes with raffle tickets will be on the front pew in the church. If your name is not there, extra ticket envelopes will be available.

Boards & Boards:

Young Adult Event

Those who attended the event shared that they had a good time. It was good to talk with young adults of our pastorate and get their insight and perspectives. Watch for announcements for future young adult events.