Le Mars area cluster to hold mission

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Posted March 6, 2003

LE MARS - When the six parishes of the Le Mars area cluster considered offering a parish mission, organizers thought the Lenten season would be an ideal time for such an endeavor.

"A mission is a good way to bring in an outside speaker, someone with a different perspective. It can help us see a broader picture," said Father Mark Stoll, pastor at St. Joseph in Neptune.

The six parishes of the cluster include St. James and St. Joseph in Le Mars, St. Joseph in Ellendale, Assumption in Merrill, St. Joseph in Neptune and St. Joseph in Struble.

The adult mission, which was planned by the cluster pastoral council, is titled Courage: A Response to the Holy Spirit. It will be held March 28 to 30 for persons 16 and over.

Father Ken Bartsch, director of Franciscan Retreats at Prior Lake, Minn., will facilitate the mission. Ordained in 1975, he is a priest friar of the Conventual Franciscan Order.

Mary Ann Ruether, a parishioner at Le Mars St. Joseph, is the main organizer of the mission. She has attended several retreats at Prior Lake and so recommended Father Bartsch as the facilitator of the cluster mission.

The reason for the selection of courage as the topic of the mission was two-fold. First, the cluster council felt that it tied in well with what the six parishes needed - courage - in response to the changes ahead as the parishes transitioned from two clusters of three parishes to one cluster of six parishes. Second, courage was the theme of this year's Franciscan retreats.

Father Stoll pointed out that each of the six parishes will host a portion of the mission. People may opt to attend one or all of the sessions.

The opening session, to be held at 7 p.m. March 28 at the Neptune parish, will include Stations of the Cross as well as a presentation by Father Bartsch and benediction.

Struble St. Joseph's will host the next session slated for 9:30 a.m. on March 29. This conference will include prayer and will be followed by a soup and sandwich lunch.

Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 p.m. on March 29 at Assumption in Merrill, followed by a 7:30 p.m. conference at St. Joseph in Ellendale. Refreshments will be served after the session.

On March 30, Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at Le Mars St. Joseph. Coffee and rolls will be served after the liturgy.

The final conference by Father Bartsch will be presented at 2 p.m. March 30 at St. James in Le Mars. This session will include a penance session. Refreshments will follow.

"People are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they can," said Father Stoll. "We would love to fill each facility with people."

Along with learning how they can respond to changes within the church with courage, the pastor said they will build community by attending.

"It will help all of the parishes see how they can work together," said Father Stoll. Parishioners will also have the opportunity and a reason to visit the other parishes of the cluster. And finally, in offering the mission as a cluster event, the parishes will share both resources and costs.

Ruether pointed out that at one of the sessions, Father Bartsch will have parishioners share stories about their parishes on several topics such as their favorite pastor.

At another session, each parish will present a story they want to tell to the whole cluster.

"Those six individual parish stories will become our cluster story," said Ruether. "Each parish is important and each has memories. Father Bartsch likened it to when a man and woman get married - they each have stories and they bring their two stories into their family story."

She also viewed the mission as a chance to learn about "the spiritual side of courage" and thinks it will be "a Lenten prayerful opportunity."

As a closing event, a social will be held at the ice cream parlor in Le Mars from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 30.

While anyone is welcome to attend on the spur of the moment, those who plan to attend are asked to call (712) 546-5223 or Ruether at (712) 546-6779 to ensure ample materials and refreshments. There is no cost for the mission, however, a free-will offering will be taken at each of the locations to help cover costs.