Holy Rosary Cluster

Saint Peter New Haven, IA

Saint Bernard Alta Vista, IA

Immaculate Conception Riceville, IA

Immaculate Conception Elma, IA

Our Lady of Lourdes Lourdes, IA

March 15, 2020

Holy Rosary Cluster Office Address: 203 7th Street Elma, IA 50628-8391

Phone: 641-393-2520 Website: http://holyrosarycluster.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HolyRosaryCluster

Staff

Rev. Jerry F. Kopacek, Pastor: dbq075@dbqarch.org

Nancy Theis, Business Manager: dbq075sec@dbqarch.org

Renee Burke, Secretary: dbq075sec2@dbqarch.org

Office Hours The office this week: Closed - Monday Staffed: Tuesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Reconciliation Any time by appointment 15 minutes before weekday Mass in Elma First Friday 3:00 - 3:40 p.m. at St. Peter, New Haven First Friday 4:00 - 4:40 p.m. at Immaculate Conception, Riceville Lourdes - Saturday, 3:00 - 3:45 PM

Alta Vista - Saturday, 5:00 - 5:45 PM; when Lourdes has 4 PM Mass Alta Vista confessions will be 5:15 - 5:45 PM.

Elma - Sunday, 6:30 - 7:00 AM

Riceville - Sunday, 8:15 - 8:45 AM; when there is no 7:15 AM Mass at Elma. No confession time at the parish that does not have weekend Mass.

Marriage Please contact the priest at least six months in advance.

Baptism Baptism Class is required. Make baptism arrangements by phoning the Cluster Office (393-2520) during office hours.

Ho l y R o s a r y C l u s t e r Mass Intentions For the Week

Monday, March 16 Lenten Weekday 8:00 AM (Elma) - Bernard & Helen Dunn - 2 Kgs 5:1-15b/Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4/Lk 4:24-30 Tuesday, March 17 St. Patrick 8:00 AM (Elma) - Jeanne Freidhof - Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6, 7bc, 8-9/Mt 18:21-35 Wednesday, March 18 St. Cyril of Jerusalem 8:00 AM (Elma) - Harold Thiele - Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20/Mt 5:17-19 Thursday, March 19 St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary 10:00 AM (Riceville Care Center) - Merlyn Gunsallus - 2Sm7:4-5,12-14/Ps 89:2-5/Rom4:13,16-18/Mt 1:16,18-21 Friday, March 20 Lenten Weekday 8:00 AM (Elma) - Jim Angstman - Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6c-8-9, 10-11ab, 14, 17/Mk 12:28-34 Saturday, March 21 The Vigil of the Fourth Sunday of Lent 4:00 PM (Lourdes) - Living & Deceased Members of the Beata Kubik and Beatrice Havlik Families 6:00 PM (Alta Vista) - Norbert Kramer - 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Ps 23:1-6/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41

Sunday, March 22 The Fourth Sunday of Lent 7:15 AM (Elma) - For the People 9:00 AM (Riceville) - Genevieve Blake 10:00 AM (Elma Colonial Manor/W & S) - Temporarily Suspended 10:45 AM (New Haven) - NO MASS - 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a/Ps 23:1-6/Eph 5:8-14/Jn 9:1-41

Pray For Those in Need

Michelle Cerwinske, Therese Collins, Sara Folkers, Dick Gebel, Ken Gebel, Joann Heying, Rose Heying, LouAnn Huegel, James Jennison, Marilyn Klobassa, Arlene Kuennen, Geraldine Lenehan, Joe & Elsie Ludwig, Ann Foxen Maas, Gladys McGrane, Kathleen Meirick, Fran Palmersheim, Randy Pickar, Shirley Ptacek, Rosemary Schwickerath, Pat Smith, William ‘Bill’ Smith, Joan Wegman, Linda Zeimetz, Carol Zobeck

EARLY BULLETIN DEADLINE: Tuesday, March 24th - Items for April 5th bulletin are due. Monday, March 30th - Items for April 12th bulletin are due.

Liturgical Ministers

March 21/22

Lourdes Saturday, 4:00 PM

Alta Vista Saturday, 6:00 PM

John Ludwig (EM) Marge Ludwig (EM) Tom Shatek (EM) Pauline Shatek (EM) Brad Shatek (L) Jamie Shatek (L) Clem/Jan Havlik (R/G) Elaine Farrington (Sac.) Miranda Buckley (S) Justin Nibaur (S) Bob Voves (U) Bernie Voves (U) Kenneth Shatek (U)

Pat Halvorson (EM) Dick White (EM) Dan Mahoney (EM) Joe/Donna Zweibohmer (G) Gary/Pat Halvorson (L) Mary Lee Geerts (Sac.) Cindy Holthaus (Sac.) Megan Pickar (S) Jay Pickar (S) Rick Heying (U) Leon Geerts (U) Jim Geerts (U) Linda Geerts (U) Gary/Pat Halvorson (VC)

Elma Sunday, 7:15AM

Riceville Sunday, 9:00AM

Sandi Burke (EM) Vern Voves (EM) Mac McGrane (EM) Jason Gardner Family (G) Teresa Zeimetz (L) Kendra O’Brien (L) Marina Burke (S) Chloe Burke (S) Janice Kobliska (U) Mark Pietan (U) Randy Burke (U) Jenny Burke (U)

Debbie Oulman (EM) Mary Novacek (EM) Elaine Govern (EM) Angie Sprung (EM) Carson Hale, Carter Mauer (G) Andrea Gronwoldt (L) Brynn Hemann (L) Jim Green (L) Pat Theis (R) C.Adams/S. Adams (Sac.) Taylor McElroy, Brody Koenigs, Ruby Lohuis, Riley O’Donnell (S) Carter Mauer, Madison Mauer (U) Lauren Hemann, Carson Hale (U)

Thank You to all our advertisers listed on the back of the bulletin for their generous support. Show your appreciation by patronizing these businesses.

C l u s t e r News Dear Members of Holy Rosary Cluster,

I suspect you have learned by now of the death of Fr. John Ptacek, native son of Our Lady of Lourdes parish and retired priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. His health had declined rather suddenly before his death last Sunday, March 8. His funeral was this past Thursday, March 12, at St. Joseph Church in Farley where he had served for several years as pastor and then continued to live there after his retirement. He was buried the next day in the Lourdes cemetery.

It was my joy to get to know Fr. John in my first years of priesthood. My first assignment was asso-ciate pastor in Dyersville (1988-90) when Fr. John was pastor in Luxembourg, a few miles north. We also were part of a priest prayer group at New Melleray Abbey, and I saw more and more what a genuinely faithful and devout priest he was. He had a real love for Jesus and for his Blessed Mother as well.

Of course, we shared at least one other very important thing: our Bohemian heritage! Many times over the years after I intro-duced myself to others as "Fr. Kopacek", the person would respond with: "Oh, are you related to Fr. Ptacek?". And I'd always respond with "No, his name is Ptacek, and mine is Kopacek". I know, those Bohemian names all sound alike! In fact, there were a number of Ptacek's in my home parish of St. Wenceslaus in Duncan (between Britt and Garner on Highway 18), and I'm pretty sure that Fr. John was related to at least some of them. Who knows--maybe he and I were related in some way!

Fr. John Ptacek was a good man who lived his life and priesthood with deep faith and real joy. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him--may this priest of Jesus Christ rest in the eternal peace and joy of the heavenly king-dom with the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints.

Cluster Finance - Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 PM Cluster Pastoral - Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 PM *Meetings in the Elma church basement. New Haven Finance - Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 PM *Meeting in St. Peter church hall.

Speaker-Anthony Digmann Why God? Why Christian? Why Catholic?

Anthony Digmann will explore the reasons behind our faith in God, Christianity, and Catholicism with this three-part parish mission.

Holy Rosary Cluster Mission to be held at 7 PM: Sunday, March 15, I. C., Riceville Monday, March 16, Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes Tuesday, March 17, St. Peter, New Haven Presentations will last about 45 minutes. Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration at 6:00 PM. Fr. Kopacek will be available for confessions.

St. Bernards Church, Alta Vista St. Patrick’s Day Supper

Sunday, March 15, (Snow Date: March 22)

Alta Vista Municipal Hall, Serving 3:00 - 6:00 PM *Carry-Outs Available in the VFW Hall*

Menu: Grilled Pork Chop, Dressing, Green Beans, Potatoes and Gravy, Coleslaw, Roll, Pie; Cost: $11/in Advance, $12/at Door; Raffle tickets are also available; Raffle sponsored by Catholic Order of Foresters

Additional Reconciliation Dates *Reconciliation times in all parishes from 4:30-5:30 PM. Mon., March 30 - Immaculate Conception, Riceville Thurs., April 2 - Our Lady of Lourdes, Lourdes Monday, April 6 - St. Bernard, Alta Vista Wednesday, April 8 - Immaculate Conception, Elma Thursday, April 9 - St. Peter, New Haven Fr. Kopacek will be available for individual confes-sions at the usual times: • before the weekend Masses at Lourdes, Alta Vista,

and Elma; also, before the Riceville Mass when there is no Elma Mass

• 15 minutes before the weekday Masses in Elma • First Fridays at New Haven (3:00-3:45 p.m.) and

Riceville (4:00-4:45 p.m.) • any time by appointment Lenten Reconciliation Other reconciliation opportunities will be available at the following places and times. • Wed., March 18: St. Mary, Greene- 6:45 PM • Wed., March 25:Holy Family, New Hampton-6:30 PM • Wed., April 1:I. C., Charles City- 6:30 PM

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick Father Kopacek will do the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at the weekend Masses of March 21-22 (the 4th Sunday of Lent). We will celebrate this sacrament immediately after the homily and the Creed at all the Masses that weekend. Father Kopacek would encourage those who would like to be anointed to sit toward the front of the church. If you find it difficult to stand for any length of time please come to the front pews.

Calendar Events

+ Lourdes +

Steeple Day Meeting We will hold a Steeple Day meeting on Tuesday, March 24 at 6:00 PM at Quam’s in Lourdes.

+ Immaculate Conception-Riceville +

Coffee & Rolls Catholic Order of Foresters Court 0878 will be hosting coffee and rolls after 9:00 AM Mass in Riceville on March 22. Everyone is welcome to attend. Financial Stewardship

March 7/8

Our Lady of Lourdes Budget Envelopes $1,672.91 Act of Kindness 89.00 On-Line Giving 25.00 St. Bernard - Alta Vista Budget Envelopes 830.00 Act of Kindness 45.00 On-Line Giving 10.00 Immaculate Conception - Elma (NO MASS) Budget Envelopes 911.00 On-Line Giving 40.00 Immaculate Conception - Riceville Budget Envelopes 938.00 Act of Kindness 240.00 On-Line Giving 115.00 St. Peter - New Haven Budget Envelopes 451.00 Act of Kindness 124.00 On-Line Giving 80.00

+ St. Peter +

Welcome New Members St. Peter will be welcoming new parish members after the 10:45 AM Mass on Sunday, March 15. We will serve a light luncheon. Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch and greet our new members. Rosary Society News 1. If you have not received your 2020 newsletter, they are available on the table in the church entrance. 2. Dues this year are $25. You can place them in the drop box in the church entry way or mail to Ann Johanns at 3032-380th St. Osage, IA 50461. Religious Education News Our religious education celebration will be on Sunday, March 29. Please help us celebrate another successful year of classes and also honor our graduating seniors. We will be serving a meal after the Mass.

+ Immaculate Conception-Elma +

Thank You Thank you to the I.C. Elma Rosary Society for the $500.00 donation to go toward energy needs. Elevator/Lift Project Update We are making good progress on the lift project. The lift has been installed! The bathrooms need to be finished and once everything is complete volunteers will be needed to help do a deep cleaning of the whole church.

Tri-County Citizens for Life Meeting There will be no March meeting for Tri-County Citizens for Life.

+ St. Bernard +

Church Cleaners Kay Recker, Amy Retterath, and Lynn Ries are church cleaners the week of March 15.

Fish Fry, St. Aloysius in Calmar, Iowa Fish Fry at St. Aloysius Parish, Calmar on Friday, March 20 from 4 - 8 PM. Serving Fried Cod, Homemade Tartar Sauce, Potato Salad, Coleslaw, Bread, Bars & Beverage. Carry Outs Available. $11 in advance/$12 at the door, $6 for 6-12 year olds, 5 & under/Free (Dine In Only).

CRS Rice Bowl Catholic Relief Services (CRS) sends help and services to people in need around the world. CRS bowls are available in the entrance of your church. Turn in Rice Bowls to Director of Religious Educa-tion or the Cluster Office by Sunday, April 12.

Parish Mission, Charles City March 22, 23 and 24, I.C. Parish in Charles City would like to invite you to their 2020 Parish Mission, featuring speaker Kendra Von Esh. Kendra was a fallen away Catholic, caught up in the “me” culture of our society. She did not need God, nor did she have time for Him. Kendra is very energetic and engaging as she tells her story of reversion to the Catholic church, and her struggle with faith, humility and surrender! Serving a free will donation supper at 6:00 PM, and Kendra speaking from 7-8 PM each evening.

Dad’s Belgian Waffles-Sacred Heart, Osage Sunday, April 5th, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM in the Sacred Heart Parish Hall, Osage we will be serving All You Can Eat Dad’s Belgian Waffles with sausages, toppings and beverage. $8/in Advance, $9/at Door, Free/5 and Under. Proceeds to benefit “New Church” Fund.