St. Mary’s, Avoca St. Patrick’s, Walnut

Father Thomas Dooley, Pastor Rectory Phone: 712-343-6948

Jane True, Secretary Parish Hall/Office 712-343-6951

Website www.stmarysavoca.org e-mail smpavoca@walnutel.net

Faceboook - facebook.com/smspchurches Fr. Dooley smpriest@walnutel.net

Vocations Website VocationsOnline.org FORMED CODE is R2Z2VN

February 25, 2018 Second Sunday of Lent

Today’s Scripture

Genesis 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13: Abraham is tested by God to sacrifice his son Isaac.

Romans 8:31b-34: St. Paul tells us that God did not spare his only son for our sake.

Mark 9:2-10: Jesus reveals his glory as the only begotten Son of God.;

Sunday, March 4: Exodus 20:1-17; 1 Corinthians 1:22-25; John 2:13-25.

Mass Schedule for February 26 - March 5, 2018

Tues. 02/27 8:30 a.m. Peace Haven, Walnut †Agnes Gaul

5:45 p.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca World Peace

Wed. 02/28 10:00 a.m. Elk Horn Nursing Home The Elderly

5:15 p.m. St. Patrick’s, Walnut †Janet Schooner

Thurs. 03/01 5:45 p.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca No Mass Fri. 0302 8:30 a.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca Personal Intension Sat. 03/03 8:30 a.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca The Sick 5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca †Mary Kock

Sun. 03/04 8:00 a.m. St. Mary’s, Avoca †John/Evelyn Culek

10:30 a.m. St. Patrick’s, Walnut All Parishioners

Normal Weekend Mass Schedule:

Saturday: 5:30 p.m. St. Mary’s

Sunday: 8:00 a.m. St. Mary’s (1-3-5)

St. Patrick’s (2-4)

Sunday: 10:30 a.m. St. Mary’s (2-4)

St. Patrick’s (1-3-5)

Reconciliation (Confessions): Saturday & Sunday before Mass

From Father Dooley’s Desk…

Dear Parishioners at St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s,

During this Lenten Season I have chosen to use the homily at Mass as an

Examine of Conscience by reflecting on the Ten Commandments. I started off with

an understanding that our moral decisions should not be based on feelings. We need

to develop a well-formed conscience, verses a scrupulous, lax, or erroneous

conscience.

That is where God’s Ten Commandments come in. They are rooted in the

natural law, the law written on our hearts that can be understood using our reason

alone. It naturally makes sense to have a relationship with God through the first three

commandments, then in our relationships with others by means of the last seven

commandment. These are the beginning of a well-formed conscience. I have three

more Sundays to cover the last seven commandment. Maybe Commandments Four,

Five and Eight could go together on a Sunday, leaving Commandments Six and Nine

for next Sunday and Seven and Ten Commandment for the Fifth Sunday Lent.

I hope that through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit something will tug at

your heart as we reflect on the Ten Commandments. May that inspiration strengthen

you to come to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to be filled with God’s grace.

Blessings,

Father Dooley

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

Do I have a “Well-Formed” conscience? Do the Ten Commandments guide me in

decision making or am I run by my feelings? Do I take advantage of the opportunity

to go to confession?

THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE February 25 - March 4

Sunday, February 25 - Second Sunday of Lent

* Please Join Us for Coffee and Rolls at St. Patrick’s following the 8 a.m. Mass.

* 2nd Grade Religious Education #13 Class is from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. at St. Mary’s.

Wednesday, February 28

* High School Religious Education #17 is from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s.

* Ecumenical Lenten Prayer Service & Soup Supper is at 6:00 p.m. at Trinity

Lutheran Church in Avoca and St. Mary’s is the presenter.

Thursday, March 1

* Adoration and Evening of Reflection is at St. Mary’s, Avoca. There will be a

Question and Answer Session to follow.

Friday, March 2

* Stations of the Cross begin 5:45 p.m. at St. Mary’s, Avoca and Confessions will

follow.

* Knights of Columbus Fish Fry is from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at the Avoca Legion Hall.

Come and support our KC’s and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Sunday, March 4 - Third Sunday of Lent * 2nd Grade Religious Education #14 Class is from 9:15 - 10:15 a.m. at St. Mary’s.

* St. Patrick’s Parish Council Meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. in St. Patrick’s cry

room.

UPCOMING EVENTS

√ Ecumenical Lenten Prayer Service & Soup Supper is Wednesday, March 7th at

6:00 p.m. at Peace Church in Walnut.

√ Family Catechesis #7 is Wednesday, March 7th beginning with dinner at 6:15 p.m.

and Formation w/parents from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Child care is provided.

√ Stations of the Cross are Friday, March 9th at 5:45 p.m. at St. Patrick’s, Walnut.

FORMED PICK OF THE WEEK - LECTO: PRAYER “God, are you there?” How often do we

feel like our prayer is a one-sided conversation? In this moving and informative presentation on the

art of Lectio Divina, Dr. Tim Gray reveals how praying with Scripture can be a powerful means of

entering into an authentic dialogue and intimate encounter with God. To get started GO TO:

FORMED.org, the Parish Code is R2Z2VN, then create your account. Committee members are

here to help with FORMED. Contact Nancy Holtz, Lynne Carroll, Cindy Gross, or Mary Pearson

with questions or for help if needed.

MINDEN UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Broasted Chicken Dinner is Sunday, March

4th from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Adults are $10, Children 12 & under $6 and under 2 are free.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL begins next weekend. Each year, Bishop Pates and

Father Dooley ask each member of our parish families to make a commitment to support

the work of our Diocesan programs and ministries that provide services that no one parish

could provide on its own. We need everyone’s participation in order to reach our goal.

St. Mary’s Parish goal is $20,840 and St. Patrick’s parish goal is $9,192. Remember that

the money our parishes raise above our goal stays here at St. Mary’s and St. Patrick’s

parishes. Please experience the joy of giving and join us as we work to continue God’s

work of spirituality, charity, and education.

IOWA CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE is Saturday, March 10th from 8 a.m. to

3:30 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines. This is a one day event

featuring world-class speakers, fellowship, the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, Adoration

and more. The cost is $30 and includes lunch. Get registered online at Iowacatholicra-

dio.com or at (515)223-1150.

KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS & MASSES: Marie Manuel, Howard Goettsch, Patricia Koster,

Kenneth Suhr, Doris (Jeannie) Mertz, LaVern Mertz, Carol Porter, Alice Lamer, Betty Markham,

Max Klindt, Doyle Gilland, Helen Dea, Mike D’Angelo, Sharon Sorrells, Marie Suhr, John

O’Keefe, Janet Doyle Antony, Lori Reinig, Mitch Osborn, Judy Willoughby, Tim Tuel, Robert

Stuart, Roland McLaughlin, Monica McLaughlin Merryman, James Hoffmann, Bud VanCamp,

Cole Geraghty, Eleanor Brown, Marcus Upton, Shelly Mattox, Ted Aikman, Dan Noonan, Angela

Brisbois, Darla Snyder, Ethel Thomas, Gordon Gladdin, Leona Bladt, Lillie Sue Mace, Nathan

Hall, Nancy Blum, Sherman Snyder, Carol Gubbels.

TITHES: St. Mary: 2/18 Tithes $1247; Plate $74. St. Patrick: 2/11 Tithes $315; Plate $63.

St. Patrick’s Breakfast: Feb. 25 Grant & Aubrey Stuart, Denny Book.

March 11 Maureen & Jim Hoffmann, Doris & Kenny Blum.

Ministry 03/03 SM 5:30 p.m. 03/04 SM 8:00a.m. 03/04 SP 10:30 a.m

Lector Rose Sternberg Lector Bernitta Goettsch Lector Lou Totilas

Comm Nancy Gress Comm Robert Prokupek* Comm Cindy Gross

Dave Sternberg Jane True* George Gross

Deb McCarthy Ron Kenkel Jim Hoffmann

Servers Grace Luna Servers Ellie Peterson Servers Volunteer

Henry Luna Jace Peterson

Isabel Luna Jett Peterson

U/G Greg Martin U/G Bob Goettsch U/G Grant Stuart

Tom Bruck Tom True Chris Freund

Gifts Greg Martin Family Gifts Josh/Erin Peterson Gifts Helen Juelsgaard Jo Cable