Cluster News
TABLES FOR TWO: Tickets are now on sale for Tables for Two. This is a unique event for married couples only. The evening begins with a special Mass for couples attending, followed by a short social and a 4-course catered dinner prepared by Heinrich of Michael’s Restaurant. During dinner, couples will enjoy quiet time together to reflect on their relationship and the many ways God blesses and challenges us in marriage. Please join us on Saturday, February 11 at St. Augustine’s. Tickets are $50 per couple and are available at our three parish offices. Treat your Valentine to a very special evening this year!
ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL: This weekend marks the beginning of the 2012 Annual Diocesan Appeal. Every registered household will receive a letter from Bishop Kinney seeking support for the many ministries that support the efforts of our parish in providing pastoral care to our parishioners. Please prayerfully consider how you will respond as a member of the Body of Christ and as a faithful steward of the gift that God has given to you. Celebrate our continuing commitment to the Appeal by pledging your support with the materials you will receive in the mail.
EXCITING NEWS: We are having a Parish Mission to kick off our 2012 Lenten Season. It’s been a long time since our last mission and we are so happy to be having Fr. Michael Fones, OP, as our speaker. He has been the co-Director of the Catherine of Sienna Institute for the last 12 years and has traveled the U.S. and beyond giving workshops and missions. Fr. Michael attempts to present Jesus’ invitation to each one of us to become his disciple in ways that are personal, fresh, and sometimes surprisingly amusing. Please mark your calendars for these important dates: Fr. Michael will speak at all the Masses for St. Augustine and St. Mary’s the weekend of Feb. 18 & 19. The Mission will begin Sunday evening, Feb. 19 and end of Tuesday evening, Feb. 21.
CLUSTER COMMUNAL ANOINTING OF THE SICK: “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” Lk 17:11-19 The Sacrament of the Sock will be offered in a communal context on Sun., Feb. 12 at 3 pm at St. Augustine’s Church, followed by a catered dinner in the parish center. Any parishioner of our cluster who is in need of God’s grace, hope, and healing for mind, body, or spirit is encouraged to attend this special service to receive this important Sacrament of healing. RSVP for dinner required to help us better plan. Please call 251-8335 by Feb. 9 if you plan to attend this special service and dinner. All are welcome! If you are in need of transportation call the parish nurse Mary Jo at 529-3233.
THANK YOU!!! The River Cluster Social Ministry has hosted an energizing and effective attempt to reach out to the hungry in Jamaica. We were able to exceed our goal by over 50,000 meals for a total of 201,528 meals being sent to Jamaica! The success of the Kids Against Hunger, Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day last Saturday, is the result of the work of individuals from many community organizations and congregations: the members of our three parishes; St. Augustine Christian Women and the Men’s Group; the students, parents and staff of St. Katharine Drexel school, many fraternal and service organizations, students from the area high schools, and SCSU, CSB and SJU, homeschoolers, and the many donors of funds to buy the ingredients. Others who offered their support by donating supplies needed, especially Simonson Lumber, Appert’s, Spirit 92.9, and Game Day Athletic. Special appreciation is offered to Marcus Anderson, Pam Beard (of Kids Against Hunger, Central Minnesota), Teresa and Kelsey Kruger, Sr. Joyce Iten, OSB, Ben Caduff, Joe & Helen Bettendorf, Stacy Preusser, Jim Novak, Tammie Thyen, Bill Riner, Jim Wagner, Al Lawrence, Joe Ackerman, and the many folks who are always ready to serve in our community. We are grateful also for the many prayers that offered this event as praise to our loving God. May God bless those receiving the meals with hope and the knowledge that someone cares.
LECTIO DIVINA: Join us for Lectio Divina in the St. Mary’s Cathedral Lower Church at 4:00 pm on the second Sunday of each month. Lectio Divina, meaning Sacred Reading, is a guided prayer using the Scriptures.
LITURGY OF THE HOURS: EVENING PRAYER: Join us for evening prayer every Monday through Friday from 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm in the lower church Blessed Sacrament Chapel at the Cathedral. It is a restful finish to one’s busy day.
RIVER CLUSTER SOCIAL MINISTRY: Habitat for Humanity still has a need for volunteers at their home sites. Available dates are listed on their website, where you can sign up as an individual: www.cmhfh.org. It is not necessary to have specific construction skills. Good directions are given for the tasks, and you are free to decline an assignment. Many of us learned several new things about construction this summer.
