ST. MARK’S BOTTINEAU & ST. ANDREW’S WESTHOPE

PARISH OFFICE: (701) 228-3164 RECTORY: (701) 228-5164 stsmanda@utma.com

322 Sinclair St. • Bottineau, ND • 58318 - www.stmark-standrew.org

February 18-19, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

PARISH STAFF

Fr Michael Hickin, Pastor

Ursula Palmer, Secretary

Cathy Miller, Custodian

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Valerie Heth, DRE

St. Andrew’s Parish

Ursula Palmer, DRE

St. Mark’s Parish

WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE

Saturday 5:30 pm, Bottineau

Sunday 9:00 am, Westhope

And 11:00 am, Bottineau

CONFESSIONS

Saturday, 4:30 pm, Bottineau

Sunday, 8:30 am, Westhope

Or by Appointment

OFFICE HOURS

Tue 12:30pm-5:00pm

Wed 9:00am-3:30pm

Thurs 12:30pm-5:00pm

Fri 9:00am-5:00pm

PARISH NEWS AND EVENTS

UPCOMING EVENTS St. Andrew’s— K-6 Religious Ed.— Feb 26, March 5, 12, 26 March 15 @ 5pm First Reconciliation Retreat St. Mark’s— Religious Ed Classes K-6— Feb 22, March 8, 22, 29 March 2—Altar Society meeting, Social Hall 6:30 pm First week of March and every month thereafter —Second collection for parish building fund. March 12—Confirmation/First Eucharist retreat @ Social Hall at 2pm April 2—First Reconciliation retreat and First Reconciliation for our 2nd graders.

STEWARDSHIP MOMENTS “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” – Matthew 5:44 Love your enemies, easier said than done, no doubt. But, remember, the foundation of stewardship is prayer. When we are in close communication with God, it opens our heart and it turns our attention away from “me” and moves it towards God and others. It allows us to have a little more empathy for “our enemy”. When we pray for others, even “our enemies”, maybe it softens their hearts as well.

Report For February 12, 2017

St Andrew’s: Ad env $ 455 Pl $ 54 and Ch $ 5

St Mark’s: Ad env $ 2523 Pl $ 149 and Ch $ 4.50

Sat, February 18, 5:30 p.m. St. Mark’s

(† Rosemary Wald)

Sun, February 19, 9 a.m. St. Andrew’s

(Parishioners)

Sun, 11 a.m. St. Mark’s

(† Steve & Lorraine Haberman)

Tue, February 21, 12 p.m. St. Andrew’s Hospital

NO MASS

Wed, February 22, 12 p.m. St. Mark’s

NO MASS

Thurs, February 23, 9 a.m. St. Andrew’s

NO MASS

Fri, February 24, 11 a.m. Good Samaritan

(† Bud Emmer)

Sat, February 25, 5:30 p.m. St. Mark’s

(† Duane Sebelius)

Sun, February 26, 9 a.m. St. Andrew’s

(† Leona Huss)

Sun, 11 a.m. St. Mark’s

(Parishioners)

Home Communion Any St. Mark parishioners desiring Ho-

ly Communion at home, call Claudia

Trebas (228-2339) by Monday evening

to be put on the list.

To add or remove a name,

please contact Deb Wyman at

245-6538 or the parish office.

PARISHIONERS, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS: Military personnel &

their families, Cindy Volk, Wayne Barbot, Kenadi Zappone, Brid-

get Herpel, Jerry Burns, Glen Brandjord, Eloise Halvorson, Dako-

ta, Lloyd McKeown, Todd Pigeon, Duane Indridson, Arvid Ander-

son, Jim Volk, Ryan Volk, Donna Estenerson, Candice

Fulsebakke, Brenda Marquardt, Marlys Hummel, Tanya Buzzerd,

Sandy Hoffman; a special private intention.

Mass Intention Request

A Mass intention is requested for :

_____________________________________________

From:

_____________________________________________

Suggested offering is $10.00 per Mass intention

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for February is to

Comfort for the Afflicted

Welcome the Needy

We live in cities that throw up skyscrapers and shopping centers

and strike big real estate deals … but they abandon a part of

themselves to marginal settlements on the periphery.

The result of this situation is that great sections of the population

are excluded and marginalized: without a job, without options,

without a way out.

Don’t abandon them. Pray with me for all those who are afflicted,

especially the poor, refugees, and marginalized, may find wel-

come and comfort in our communities.

St. Mark’s Ministries for February 25-26 DATE EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS READER GIFT BEARERS USHERS GREETERS COUNTERS

Satr. Bread: Vickie Gangl Bobbi Aus / Lenny McGuire

Vickie Gangl Mitch Schmidt family Paul Amsbaugh / Walt Pasicznyk

Al & Barb Wondrasek

Sun. Bread: Kathy McGhan Warren & Leanna Emmer

Deb Stewart Patricia Graber family Cory Bercier/ Wayne Barbot

TBD Carla Eisenzimmer /Addie Berg

From the Pastor’s Pen

holier than thou. Nobody likes a ‘holier than thou’ attitude. So how do we square that with Jesus’ exhortation last week and here again this week?

Last week, we heard that we can’t enter the Kingdom if our righteousness doesn’t surpass that of current reli-gious leaders. This week, Jesus claims even more, “Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect!” How does this translate into life and a life in communion with others, without being seen as ‘a royal pain in the neck’?

God is pure Goodness. How can we be perfect like God?

Jesus is not afraid to call his listeners to such a reality. He draws on one very specific example of his Fa-ther’s perfection. “He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the un-just” (Mt 5:45).

The Father pours his gifts on his creatures regardless of whether they deserve it or not. This is how Jesus understands the perfection to which we’re also called. We too can pour forgiveness, compassion, honesty, under-standing, generosity, effort and love on both the just and the unjust. Doing so does not make anyone ‘holier than thou’, but it does make us very much like the Father, that is, God’s very own children.

St. Andrew’s Ministries

DATE EUCHARISTIC

MINISTERS READER GIFT BEARERS ALTAR SERVERS COUNTERS USHERS

Sun. Feb 26 Tom Henry / Roberta Henry

Bella Radzwill Bryan family Calma Henry / Maria Solis

Tom Henry / Mark Radzwill

Terry & Jan Bauman

St. Mark’s Altar Society’s next meeting will be on March 2 @ 6:30 pm at the Parish Hall.~~

We would need some volunteers to work during funerals at St. Mark’s. If you are interested, please contact Claudia Trebas @ 228-2339.~~

Furnace situation, St. Andrew’s, Westhope. There were concerns surrounding the (lack of) heat in the church basement this past weekend. It was the igniter switch. The situation was easily resolved and there is no indication we are in ‘emergency mode’, nevertheless, we are taking active measures to gather information in view of a new heating system later this year. The situation is currently being diligently moni-tored.

Welcome Fr. Duane Pribula—Before the Lenten rush, I slipped away for a brief retreat at the Jesuits’ El Re-tiro house in Los Altos, Calif. Pray for me, as I do for you! Fr. M.

(Fr. Pribula’s aunt, Mrs. Ethel Dolezal [Anthony] Vanyo, lived in the Bottineau area as a child.) Fr. Duane Pribula was ordained for the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, on June 13, 1970. After 43 years of full-time parish ministry, he has retired. Fr. Duane is now serving as a part-time Catholic chaplain at CHI-Riverview, a retirement community, in Far-go. Since October 1, 2013, he has faculties for priestly min-istry from Bishop Folda. As a “semi-retired priest” Fr. Duane is involved in some pastoral ministry to women and men inmates at Cass County Fargo Jail; and he encourages all Catholic parishes to provide more sacramental contact and prayer ministry to the men and women who are in our coun-ty jails.

Fr. Duane is also an advocate for the encyclical, “Laudato SI, on care for our common home”. This encyclical was written by Pope Francis and distributed on May 25, 2015. The appeal from Pope Francis is addressed to every person living on this planet for an inclusive dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet Earth. Pope Francis

calls us Catholic Christians and the entire world community to acknowledge the urgency of our environmental challenges. He writes with both hope and resolve, with candor and humility.

Personal tidbits: In addition to his parish ministry of 43 years,

Fr. Duane served as Vocation Director (6 yrs), Rural Life Director

(7 yrs), and as member of the Crookston Diocese Social Justice

Commission (20 yrs). He also served on a regional Christian

Ecumenical Commission, along with Father Michael Hickin, sev-

eral years ago. His parents farmed north of East Grand Forks,

Minnesota (near Warren, Mn) and he is the oldest of seven sib-

lings. His sister, Suzanne Nelson, serves as executive secretary

to Bishop Folda. Pray for more vocations to the priesthood, diac-

onate and religious life.

Climate Survey—At their meeting on February 15, the

Parish Council decided to have four members tabulate the

Climate Surveys. 146 Surveys were submitted. It will take a

while to tabulate all of them, so we appreciate your pa-

tience and understanding. A final report will be presented

to the parish as soon as possible.

Vocations. During Bishop Folda’s visit, he ended each of his Masses with a plea to pray for vocations. Days later, Sister Abigail appears. We are grateful for everything God is doing in our midst. One of those mysterious things is that He is calling people to follow Jesus in some form of radical discipleship.

To our young people, our Holy Father launches this appeal: Ask Jesus what he wants from you and be brave! Be brave, ask Him!!! Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life, is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community…. That’s why Jesus said, “Pray the Lord of the harvest – that is, God the Father – to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt 9:38).

Vocations are born in prayer and from prayer, and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I like to underline this today. “World Day of Prayer for Vocations” – Pope Francis

FELLOWSHIP

THE NORTHERN LIGHTS APOSTLES—will have an-

other soup-luncheon after Mass on

Saturday, February 25th. You are all welcome to come

and help our Youth Group with this fundraiser which

will help them attend the next Steubenville Conference

in Rochester, MN., on July 14-16. Let’s be there for them. Free-

will donation.

Warm welcome to our New Parishioner

Joleen Pardo and her family. They have

just moved to Bottineau this month of

February. Joleen is already working for

our Sheriff’s Department. Because of her

odd schedules, she doesn’t know what Mass will she be at-

tending, but you will be seeing her so please show her a little

warmth in the midst of this cold winter.

Our deepest sympathy goes to Albert Pugh

and his family for the loss of his beloved wife

Mary. May God give you the comfort and peace

that you seek.

We want to offer some prayers to Rick and

Marlys Hummel who are going through a rough time.

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He

cares for those who take refuge in Him.” Nahum 1:7

Old Palms—You can bring your old Palms to the Church starting next week. We will put a basket at the entrances of both Churches.

Charisms, Saints, & Me. This Lent, Carla Eisenzimmer will lead a unique study Thurs evenings, 7 pm, in St. Mark’s rectory basement. We will be considering the various char-isms in the life of the Church, how they are exemplified in the lives of the Saints, and how they help us discover our own unique gifts as members of God’s family.

Mardi Gras. Would anyone be interested in a Mardi Gras party? If so, speak up. Either parish. Any thoughts? Some cards, some music, even some danc-ing? Think about it.

Mardi Gras is French for Fat Tuesday. In Italy and Spain they call it Carnavale, which literally means farewell (vale) to meat (carne).

For centuries Catholic cultures have whooped it up on the eve of entering Lent, our annual season of penance and conversion. Of course, it’s wrong to think of these days as an excuse to sin. But we shouldn’t let the over-indulgence of some ruin the legitimacy of mer-rymaking. God calls us to our knees begging for mercy, but He also enjoys seeing His children laugh and enjoy life.

Sometimes when the world has lost a hold on what is its own, like justice in the workplace, love in the family, and healthy living that leaves room for leisure,

then the Church steps in with reminders and incen-tives to rediscover what’s authentically human.

The Church, be it the local parish or the Vati-can, separates nothing from her faith and worship of Jesus Christ. God’s Wisdom is not only given to us so that we can become divine, but also so that we can stay human.

Lent is a very serious time of the year. It’s not easy and it’s not supposed to be. It’s a time to hunker down, to get gut-honest with ourselves about deficien-cies in our discipleship, and expand the horizons of our generosity by some much-needed self-denial. Be-ing the human critters that we are, a good formula for getting ourselves ready to take the big plunge of Lent is to not take ourselves so seriously. Those who are willing to laugh at themselves are probably in a better position to take responsibility for the Lord’s Crucifixion and let themselves be clothed with God’s laughter at the Resurrection.