·         Arranging for their own substitute when necessary   top

Eucharistic Ministers to the Nursing Home 

For more information call the Eucharist Ministers to the Nursing Home chairpersons listed later. 

Eucharistic Adoration 

Eucharistic Adoration is simply our response to Jesus’ love for us, whereby each of us is willing to spend a quiet hour of prayer in His Eucharistic presence-“Could you not watch one hour with me?” (Mt 26:40) 

Eucharistic Adoration is held Mondays from 9:00 am until 8:30 pm in the chapel at Sacred Heart Church. Individual adorers commit to an hour.  The chapel is always open for anyone to visit . 

The Eucharistic Adoration committee works to promote the participation in the  Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart Church by planning: 

            Bulletin inserts

            Intentions for the month

            Holy Hours for special occasions

            Gathers new materials

            Promotes and educates  top

Fall Festival 

The Fall Festival is a major fund-raiser for Sacred Heart Parish and involves the whole parish. It is held the third weekend in September (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).  

Activities include: white elephant sale, pork chop dinner, concession stand, wellness booth, pull tabs, variety show, Saturday lunch and supper, fish fry, polka mass, festival auction, silent auction, children’s carnival, Sunday bingo, Country Store, outdoor games, Super Bingo, Catholic Item Store, and Scholastic Book Fair. 

·         Friday:  SPECIAL EVENTS include:

·         A Fish fry

·         The festival auction 

·         Saturday:  SPECIAL EVENTS include:

·         Lunch and supper featuring hot pork commercial, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable

·         Early Bird Bingo

·         Super Bingo

·         A Polka Mass

·         Live music for listening and dancing 

·        Sunday:  SPECIAL EVENTS include:

·        Sunday Masses

·        Pork chop  dinner  served by the men

·        A children’s carnival

·        Sunday Bingo

·        The BIG TICKET DRAWING  top

Finance Committee 

The job of the Finance Committee is to assist the Pastor in the development and management of the budget for Sacred Heart Parish. Based on what the parish as a whole contributes towards our various programs, the committee tries to direct dollars in the most appropriate manner. 

Nine voting members are appointed by Father to serve 1-3 year renewable

terms. The meetings are open to parish members. 

The regular scheduled meeting is the 3rdTuesday of each month,

and special meetings are called when necessary. top

Funeral Committee 

Funeral lunches are provided by request from the family of the deceased. Funeral lunches provide an environment for family and friends of the deceased to share comfort and fellowship. 

Funeral lunches are an opportunity for men and women of all ages to be actively involved in our parish.  top

Gift Bearers 

Gift Bearers are invited to represent the faith community by presenting the gifts of water, wine, bread and the offertory collection to the Pastor during Mass. 

·         When the hospitality minisisters begin to take up the collection, the gift bearers walk to the table behind the last pew and wait there until the money has been collected and placed in the large basket

·         Process up the center aisle to present the gifts to Father top

Greeters 

Greeters welcome all who come to Mass. 

Responsibilities include:

·         Arriving 25 minutes before Mass

·         Greeting people as they enter the church

·         Providing a welcoming and respectful atmosphere top

Grief Support 

For more information call the chairperson listed later. top

Knights of Columbus 

Knights of Columbus Sacred Heart Council #2768 includes members from Waseca, New Richland, and Waldorf parishes. Our council meets the first Monday of each month. Our combined membership from all three parishes total over 325 members. The following are some of the activities and contributions our council does throughout the year: 

Our council donates over $30,000.00 dollars and more than 5,000 hours in personal service annually to schools, churches, and community activities. 

Free Throw Contest, open to boys and girls ages 10 – 14.  

Three-Month Calendar Fund-raiser. The money raised from this event is used for our many charitable contributions and community projects. 

Tootsie Roll Fund-raiser, with the money raised donated to our local agency for people with developmental disabilities. 

150 Club Night Dinner / Dance. Three $1,000.00 scholarships are given to high school seniors to further their education. 

Youth area baseball, softball, and bowling teams. 

Adopted a stretch of highway south of Waseca, where we are responsible for cleaning road ditches in the spring and fall.  

Sell pull-tabs at our annual Fall Festival put on by Sacred Heart Parish. 

Sponsors for the Marathon for Non-Public Education held each fall to raise funds for our Parish School. Open to all students in kindergarten through 4th grade. Awards are given to students for their participation in the fund raising. 

Social functions involving Brother Knights and their families. Some of the events include the annual Christmas party for Knights and their spouses, summer family picnic, golf outings, and get-togethers following selected meetings. 

Food Drive for the Neighborhood Service Center.  

Members and their families are eligible to participate in our Insurance Programs. 

Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practicing Catholic men aged 18 and over and offers the opportunity for fellowship with those who are of the same beliefs, who recognize the same duty to God, family and community, and who stand side-by-side in defense of those beliefs.

Discover a world of good things in the Knights of Columbus. Contact Grand Knight, Brad Krause if you are interested in the Knights of Columbus or would like more information on our organization. top

Lectors 

The lector proclaims God’s word in an understandable and meaningful way, sharing it with those assembled. Lectors are scheduled for a month at a time. 

Responsibilities include:

·         Preparing adequately at home using the Lector Workbook

·         Arriving 15 minutes before Mass

·         Proclaiming the Word in a manner that can be heard clearly by the assembly

·         Arranging for their own substitute when necessary top

Marriage Encounter

Marriage Mentoring 

Marriage Mentors at Sacred Heart Parish are volunteers that are trained in theology and mentoring practices, as well as self-reflection on their own marriage, in order to guide newly engaged couples preparing for marriage. In addition, Sacred Heart Parish has a team of marriage mentors that are also trained to work with married couples to enrich their marriage.

Sacred Heart uses the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment tool to help guide the mentoring process. top

Men’s  Club 

The main function of the Men’s Club is to provide services to Sacred Heart Parish. All men of the parish are automatically members. 

Activities include:

·         Palm Sunday turkey dinner prepared and served by the Men’s Club

·         The Fall Festival entails helping with the fish fry and preparation of food for the meal served  on Saturday evening, and  the pork chop dinner on Sunday

·         The fall auction held the Saturday after Thanksgiving involves picking up donated items and helping the day of the auction 

Any input of other ideas are greatly appreciated. The Men’s Club meets the 3^rd Monday of each month unless otherwise specified. top

Music

Music is a vital part of the Liturgical prayer life at Sacred Heart Parish. 

Opportunities for parishioners of all ages are:

The Cherub Choir is open to students in grades 1–4. It runs from September through May with rehearsals after school on Wednesdays. The Cherub choir sings approximately once a month at various times and on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter. 

The Junior Choir is available for grades 5–8. It runs from September through April and rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 6-7 PM in the Church. The Junior Choir sings approximately once a month at various times and on special occasions such as Christmas and Easter.  

The The High School Choir is a group of students in grades 9–12 which sings approximately 1-2 times a month and on special occasions. Practice times vary depending on school activities. The norm is to practice 1 hour before a scheduled liturgy.

The Adult Choir is available for grade 9 through adult. It runs from September through May and rehearsals are on Wednesday evenings from 7–8 p.m. The Adult Choir sings approximately twice a month at various Masses and at Christmas and Easter. 

The Men’s Group, and a women’s group called Treble Cantori sing throughout the year. These groups practice 1 hour before their scheduled Mass times.

In addition to the above vocal groups there are opportunities to play in a wide range of Handbell Choirs beginning with grade 5 through adult. These groups are organized by musical levels from beginner through advanced. Practice times are September through May on Wednesday afternoons and evenings. The bell choirs play at various times throughout the year.

      Please see the Music page on this site.   top

Parish Council 

The Parish Council is a collaborative body of the Christian faithful who work with Father to promote the mission of Jesus Christ and His church  in its entirety. 

The Parish Council works in close collaboration with the pastor of the parish, advising him in matter pertaining to pastoral ministry. 

All council members shall serve a three-year term. 

The Parish Council meets once a month on the 3rd Tuesday at 6:45 PM.   top

Parish Nurses 

Before the advent of modern medical technology, churches were actively involved in tending to the needs of the sick as part of their ministry. The parish nurse program helps reclaim for the church its role of ministering to the sick. Parish nursing is a means of meeting the health care needs of the community in a spirit of  Christian concern for others.  

·         Parish nurses are volunteers.

·         They provide hypertension screening the first Sunday of each month in Nativity Hall.

If you would like a parish nurse to visit with you, please call the parish office.

Persons interested in contributing time, talents or finances for the expansion of this project should contact the Parish Nurses Coordinator listed later.   top

Prayer Network

The purpose of the Prayer Network is to pray for the intentions of parishioners, relatives or friends. People who join commit themselves to pray for those on the list.  

A prayer list is sent to anyone making the commitment. 

To have an intention added to the prayer list or to be part of the

prayer network, call the Prayer Network chairperson listed later.   top

Prison Ministry 

For more information call the chairperson listed later.   top

RCIA  (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)  

RCIA is the process by which adults who have never been baptized and adults previously baptized in a church other than Catholic are initiated into full communion in the Catholic church through Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation. Adult Catholics who have never been confirmed are also prepared for confirmation through this process. Call the parish office for information. Adults are received into the church during the Easter Vigil.  A year round opportunity exists to join the process and celebrate initiation at various points of the year.

RCIA seeks volunteers to assist with the process as:

·         Catechists to facilitate the various phases of the RCIA process. Catechists need to be actively practicing the Catholic faith, a caring person willing to share their faith, have good listening and communication skills; and be able to follow the lesson plans provided for each session. ·        

·         Hospitality persons to provide refreshments for the RCIA sessions.   top

Life Long Faith Formation 

Sacred Heart Parish has a Faith Formation program staffed by a Director of Faith Formation, Coordinator of Young Adult & Adult Ministry and a Coordinator of Children’s Ministry.  They rely heavily on adult volunteers. 

The Faith Formation program works directly with the Youth Advisory Board and the Education Board to help further meet the needs of all households in our parish. 

Our Faith Formation Program offers a wide and diverse variety of activities for pre-schoolers through adulthood.  These include Faith Formation sessions for all ages, sacramental preparation, Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, social activities, service opportunities, liturgy, scripture studies,  retreats, opportunities for personal and spiritual growth  and much more. 

If you have any questions or would like more information about our Faith Formation program,  please call the Office of Faith Formation listed later.   top

Sacred Heart Board of Education 

The Sacred Heart Board of Education is an elected body of eight people, which  is a consultative board that advises the Pastor and the administration with the education policy,  the operation of the school, and the Faith Formation program. The board strives to work with the Parish Council to ensure that the school ministry is a vital part of the parish. 

The Board meets monthly on the second Thursday. The meetings are attended by the Pastor, the board members the school  principal, and the religious education/youth ministry personnel. 

The Board is involved in working committees that include activities at the Fall Festival, Catholic Schools Week, and Teacher Appreciation week.  The Board also advises for Faith Formation , youth ministry activities, Scrip requirements, school enrollment policies, budget task force.   top

Sacred Heart Children’s House 

Sacred Heart Children’s House is a program for children age 33 months to 6 years. There are two classrooms for a multi-age Montessori learning environment. Montessori follows the method of self-paced individualized learning. Here children develop a love of learning, curiosity to continue to learn, self-discipline, and a sense of responsibility.

Monday through Friday – a five-day program

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday – a three-day program

Thursday, Friday – a two-day program 

·         Class times for morning sessions are 8:15-10:45 a.m. and afternoon sessions are 12:15-2:45 p.m.  

·         Tuition per month is based on a two-day, a three-day, or a five-day program.  top

 Sacred Heart School  

The mission of Sacred Heart School is to promote the lifelong discovery and transmission of knowledge and Christian values. This is achieved by providing an atmosphere which promotes building self-esteem, open communication, and the development of an awareness of peace and justice in a culturally diverse global society.

·         Sacred Heart Elementary School includes grades K-4.

·         The kindergarten is a full-day everyday program.

·         The first through fourth grades are in session for the full day with two sections of each grade level.

·         Sacred Heart School is supported by the parish and is open to the children of the families registered in the parish.

·         There is no tuition, but there is a registration fee per family. In addition, parents are expected to purchase enough Scrip to generate a predetermined amount per family. Families are also encouraged to five regular church financial support in proportion to the means of the family.

·         If space is available, non-parishioners can enroll for a tuition fee. 

Sacred Heart School is accredited by the Minnesota Non-Public School Accrediting Association.

All teachers hold a minimum of a BA/BS degree and are State certified.   top

Social Concerns Committee 

The purpose of the Social Concerns Committee is twofold. The first purpose is direct service; that is, helping people survive their present crisis.  The second purpose involves social action, removing the cause of many of the problems causing that crisis.  

Projects and activities include:

·         Sponsoring and providing the distribution for the needy in our parish at Christmas

·         Thanksgiving gifts for Sacred Heart members who are shut-ins

·         Arranging for volunteers to be escorts on the senior citizen bus a few Sundays during the year and helping when the bus transports the elderly to church services

·         Putting people in touch with the agencies which can serve their particular needs    top

Stewardship Committee 

The purpose of the Stewardship committee is to educate the parish as to the meaning of stewardship and ways to implement it, including the annual renewal of Time, Talent, and Treasure surveys.  

Members are invited by the Pastor. There are currently ten members but the committee may expand. Meetings are held monthly.   top

Ministers of Hospitality (Ushers) 

The ministry of usher is one of hospitality. Ushers are scheduled for a month at a time. 

Responsibilities include:

·         Arriving 20 minutes before Mass

·         Wearing an usher badge

·         Assisting in seating people

·         Gathering the collection

·         Directing the communion lines

·         Distributing the bulletins after Mass

·         Assisting emergency situations

        Welcoming parishioners and friends   top

WCCW (Winona Council of Catholic Women) 

The Winona Council of Catholic Women is the bishop’s official diocesan organization of Catholic women. All Catholic women 18 and over in the Diocese of Winona, by virtue of being Catholic, are members of WCCW and of the National Council of Catholic Women. Membership dues are collected in November. 

WCCW is composed of six commissions including organization, church, family concerns, community concerns, international concerns, and legislation. Respect Life is a special diocesan committee.  

There are four area meetings per year. These dates are announced in the bulletin. Sacred Heart hosts a meeting whenever it’s their turn. 

Sacred Heart has active bible study and prayer groups, as well as sewing and card playing circles.

 For more information call WCCW Chairperson listed later.   top

Welcoming Committee 

The purpose of the Welcoming Committee is to welcome and encourage present and new members of Sacred Heart parish to active membership and involvement within the faith community.  

The Welcoming Committee:

·         Sponsors serves dinner at the Polka Mass

·         Welcome Committee Meals for New Parishioners

·         Sponsors and hosts other parish activities thoughout the year     top