St. Michael the Archangel Pastorate
Sacred Heart, Remington
Sts. Peter & Paul, Goodland
St. Augustine, Rensselaer
Friday Flocknote - September 30th, 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
“In those days [Jesus] departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12
This upcoming week, I will be attending the annual priest retreat arranged by our diocese at the St. Joseph Retreat Center in Tipton. Thus, we will not have any daily Mass or confessions on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. I will be back for Friday morning Mass with the St. Augustine School children, as I will be leaving after Mass today to start my five day retreat this afternoon. Deacon Ed Boes, a permanent deacon of our diocese, will be at St. Augustine at Noon on Wednesday, Oct 5th for a Communion Service. While this is not Mass, it is an opportunity to come and be nourished by the Sacred Scriptures and the Body of Christ as we pray for more priestly vocations and for all priests making their retreat this week.
While I will be away on retreat, if there are any needs, please contact Marie Oliver, Pastorate Director of Operations, in the office and, as always, please coordinate with her any facility or space reservation needs. I will be available in the event of an emergency, but Marie should be the first point of contact so I can focus on my prayer and recharging myself spiritually these few days.
Some people may ask why the priest needs to leave and cancel weekday Masses. The Code of Canon Law (the law that governs the life of the Church) requires that every priest make at least a 5 day retreat every year. Of course, this is a bare minimum, and many priests will often take a couple retreats a year, some longer, some shorter. This week, many priests from our diocese will attend this annual that our diocese sponsors every year, which feeds us spiritually but also gives us an opportunity to spend time with our brother priests from the diocese doing what we were primarily ordained to do: pray.
This might beg the question then, “what is a retreat”? A retreat gives any person who goes on one, the time to take a step out of their routine and to refocus their attention on their relationship with God. In many cases fixing some things that are broken and strengthening the things that work well. The primary difference between a retreat and a vacation is that directed and intentioned focus on one’s relationship with God, versus recreation. However, like vacations, we all need both. We need vacations to give our minds and bodies a break so we can live to our full potential; we need retreats to recharge our spiritual batteries for the spiritual battle that we are engaged in every moment of every day of our lives.
In the end, all people – priests included – are a body and soul, and we need to take care of both. If we over emphasize one or the other, we will necessarily cause the other to suffer. Retreats are great times to reflect on our lives, our relationship with God and to make sure that the balance that we are striving for is being lived out and that we are aiming for the holiness that all of us should strive for and can achieve.
I encourage all of you to consider the many retreat offerings available at the St. Joseph Retreat Center in Tipton. This is a very great resource in our diocese and a beautiful and peaceful place to go and pray and spiritually recharge.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
October is the Month of the Holy Rosary, an entire month set aside by the Church to the great gift of the Most Holy Rosary. I ask you to consider how you can make the Holy Rosary more a part of your life and the life of your family this Month? Maybe you can pray it together on the way to school in the morning? Maybe you can pray the rosary while commuting to work? Maybe you can pray the rosary while sitting in the harvester or pulling the grain cart in the fields? Maybe you can teach the rosary to one of your grandchildren this month?
This great gift was given to the Church by the Blessed Mother herself to St. Dominic to be prayed by all the faithful in commemoration of the great mysteries of the life of her Son. Mary is begging us to join her in this prayer, and October is the best time to pick up our beads and join her in praying to her Son.
God Bless,
Fr. Bennett
Sacred Heart of Jesus – Have Mercy on Us
Our Lady of the Rosary – Pray for Us
Sts. Michael the Archangel, Joseph, Peter, Paul, Augustine – Pray for Us
Youth Ministry Grades K-12
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
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
October 12th St. Augustine Faith Formation PK-8 meet @ 6:30pm CT
(Peer Ministers lead middle school) & PITS meet @ 6:30 pm CT
October 16th Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart
K-12 meet @ Fulcher Center 9:45-10:45 am ET
October 19th St. Augustine Faith Formation
PK-12 meet @ 6:30pm CT St. Augustine Gym
October 23rd Sts. Peter & Paul and Sacred Heart
K-12 meet @ Fulcher Center 9:45-10:45 am ET
National Evangelization Team (NET) Retreat
NET Retreat is a middle school retreat that will happen on
Sunday, November 6th at St. Augustine, Rensselaer.
The retreat will be from 10am ET/9am CT – 5pm ET/4pm CT and include Sunday Mass before it’s over.
Families are welcome to attend Mass at 4:00pm ET/ 3:00pm CT
Youth will be served lunch and a snack.
Please register here by October 26th
Sunday, November 6th at St. Augustine, Rensselaer.
The retreat will be from 10am ET/9am CT – 5pm ET/4pm CT and include Sunday Mass before it’s over.
Families are welcome to attend Mass at 4:00pm ET/ 3:00pm CT
Youth will be served lunch and a snack.
Please register here by October 26th
along with a $20 registration fee per child.
ORDER OF
CHRISTIAN
INITIATION OF
ADULTS (OCIA)
Previously known as RCIA
Open to all adults interested in becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church
Small group meetings led by Doug Nagel begin
October 5th at 6:30pm CT @ the Knights of Columbus Hall
Contact Kris Dobson at kdobson@parish.dol-in.org or Fr. Bennett if you are interested in participating
or for more information
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.
Pastorate Pet Blessing
September 30th at 3pm CT
St. Augustine parking lot
Sts. Peter & Paul Monthly Cleaning
First Monday of each month
9am CT/10am ET
Sacred Heart Altar & Rosary
Meeting on October 3rd starting at 6:30 ET at the Fulcher Center.
Matilda Jane and Rose + Wick will be visiting us so you don't want to miss it!
Sacred Heart
We will be making pumpkin & chocolate rolls at the Fulcher Center.
Please join us in making these sweet treats!
October 22nd starting at 8:30am ET
October 23rd starting at 10am ET
Sacred Heart will host the Food Finders Mobile Food Pantry on Friday, October 21. This will begin at 11AM ET, with volunteers needed by 10:30 AM ET. Please call Pat Berger with any questions and to volunteer,
(765) 427-0357. This is during Tri-County Fall Break, so if you are staying home, and your high school students are available, we can use their help.
Hygiene Kits are to be distributed by the Food Finders Mobile Pantry. There are bags in the entryway at Sts. Peter & Paul. Please take one or more, fill them, and return them to the church on or before Sunday, October 16th. Each kit includes a Washcloth, a bar of soap, a toothbrush, a tube of toothpaste, deodorant, and a comb. Please include only (1) each of the items listed.
Please call Lois Dowell @ 219-863-3793, with any questions.
St. Augustine School Fundraiser
St. Augustine School is utilizing RaiseRight this year, formerly known as ShopWithScrip. Purchase gift cards through St. A school to use just about any where including local places like Stracks, Walmart, Willow Switch, Northside Car Wash, Fenwicks Brewing CO., Mt. Hood Pizza, Royal Oak, just to name a few.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Karen Youngs at (219) 775-5592 or call Juli in the school office.
Enrollment Code: 2EL69D3284L4
All Souls Day Preparations for St. Augustine
Please share with us your beloved St. Augustine parishioner who have passed away after October 2019. We are collecting names to include in All Souls Day Banners. Please contact Pat Weigand via email Weigand@s-augustine.org
Christian Women of St. Augustine
Join us on Tuesday, October 11th for Rosary at 5:00pm CT followed by Mass at 5:30. Meeting will begin at 6pm. All women of our parish are encouraged to come and socialize and find out how your time, talent, and treasure can serve St. Augustine Church.
Christian Women Activities: Bring Food for Good Samaritan Food Pantry Quilt Raffle Ticket Sales Fall Cleaning of Church Monday, Oct 31st (Please note date change) ( Refreshments will be served with proper social distancing)
All Souls Day Preparations for St. Augustine
Please share with us your beloved St. Augustine parishioner who have passed away after October 2019. We are collecting names to include in All Souls Day Banners. Please contact Pat Weigand via email Weigand@s-augustine.org
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.
Mass Intentions
One of the traditions of the Catholic Church is to pray for the deceased. If you are interested in scheduling a mass intention now thru April 2023, please contact Natalia in the pastorate office at (219) 866-5351 or nbrady@parish.dol-in.org
Open Office Hours
Pastorate Office at St. Augustine
318 N McKinley Ave., Rensselaer IN, 47978
Tuesdays & Thursdays from 12:30-5:30pm CT
Father Bennett & Marie Oliver will be available throughout the week by appointment, please call ahead (219) 866-5351
Sacred Heart Mailing Address P.O. Box 159, Remington, IN 47977
(219) 261-2302 - Remington/Goodland
