Pelican Valley ACC
All are Welcome
Welcome
In 2019, the Diocese of St. Cloud combined the three parishes of Church of Our Lady of Victory, St. Leonard Parish and St. Elizabeth’s Parish into an Area Catholic Community. As the Body of Christ, we come together and are known as the “Pelican Valley Area Catholic Community”

YOU are invited – All are Welcome!! Pelican Valley Area Catholic Community’s faith family looks forward to dining regularly with you at the Lord’s table. The Venerable Fulton Sheen shares his wisdom: ‘He seeks us before we dream of seeking him; he knocks before we invite him in; he loves us before we respond.’
Our Pastor, Father Alan Wielinski, recognizes each of our parishes has its own identity; however, together we work for the common good of our ACC through our mission:
The Pelican Valley Area Catholic Community reaches out
and is comprised of an ethnically diverse population,
young and old, rich and poor…celebrating Eucharist, praying,
witnessing, educating, and sharing our Catholic traditions
and love for Jesus.
We look forward to seeing you at the banquet of the Lord.
Blessings and Joy!

Father Alan Wielinski
Pastor

Father Lucho Palomino
Parochial Vicar
218-731-2939
fatherlucho@ffolvchurch.org
Annual events
Fish Fries – February and March, Our Lady of Victory
Ash Wednesday Soup Supper – February 18, Our Lady of Victory
Christian Men's Club Breakfast – April, St. Elizabeth
Spring Gala – May, Our Lady of Victory
Pork in the Park – June, St. Leonard
Pork Out - August 17, St. Elizabeth
Fall Festival – September 21, Our Lady of Victory
Roast Beef Dinner – October, St. Leonard
Marathon for Catholic Schools – October, Our Lady of Victory
Turkey Bingo - November 8, St. Elizabeth
Holiday Expo - November 22, St. Elizabeth
Feast of Guadalupe - December 12, St. Leonard
Faith Formation Bake Sale – December, Our Lady of Victory
Important News & Updates
Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.
List of Services
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Fall Festival Raffle Early Bird deadline (Sept. 7)
Please return your sold raffle tickets and sales proceeds to OLV as soon as possible! All raffle tickets sold and returned on or before Sept. 7 will be eligible for the early bird drawing. The early bird ticket seller will receive $100.
State law requires all unsold tickets to be returned to OLV as well. Please return all sold and unsold raffle tickets in time for the Fall Festival on Sunday, September 21.
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Children’s Liturgy registration (Sept. 13-14)
Registration for Children’s Liturgy of the Word, a program that takes place during the 10:30 Sunday Mass at OLV, will be available before and after Masses on September 13-14, and from 4-7 PM on Wednesday September 17. This program is for children ages 3-7. There is no registration fee to participate in this program, but we will accept free will offerings to help cover the cost of materials.
The first session will be Sunday 9/28 during 10:30 Mass.
The first session will be Sunday 9/28 during 10:30 Mass.
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Adoration Returns to OLV
Adoration time is back in the Our Lady of Victory Church weekday mornings starting at 7 AM, and Tuesday afternoons from 12:30 to 5 PM. Please sign up in the Gathering Area and spend time with the Lord.
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Thanks for Pork in the Park support
Thank you to everyone that helped make the Pork in the Park fundraiser a success. We raised approximately $2,200.00.
‒ Cyndy and Julie Ann
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Welcome Dolcar to St. Leonard
Dolcar Rodriguez Montenegro has been hired as the new parish assistant at St. Leonard Parish. Dolcar will be starting from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the St. Leonard parish office. Feel free to stop by and welcome Dolcar!
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St. Leonard Finance Committee needs members
The St. Leonard Finance Committee is looking for two new members! If you have a passion for the church, looking to serve and learn about the church’s finances, this is a great opportunity. Experience in business or finance is helpful!
The finance committee meets the third Wednesday of the month 8 to 10 times per year.
If interested, contact Father Lucho.
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Pork Out Thank You
Thank you to all that attended our Pork Out. It wasn’t the nicest of days but was good overall. To all the workers: thank you for all the help and willingness to go with the flow. You all made it a great day for everyone.
Click here to view the raffle winners.
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Book Donations Needed
The OLV Parish Library is accepting book donations for our brand new book shelf located in the gathering space! You may leave your donated books in the container provided by the book shelf and they will be placed on the shelf. Donations should be Catholic/Christian in content. No need to check out books, just take whatever appeals to you and enjoy! Thank you in advance for your donations and visiting our OLV Parish Library.
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Coping with Life Alone - Sept. 18
Beginning Experience (BE) is a Non-Profit Christian Support Group for anyone who has lost a partner/spouse due to being divorced, widowed, or separated. A 10-week session "Coping with Life Alone" begins September 8, 2025 in Fergus Falls. To sign up and for more info, please coll 218-560-1686 or click here.
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Family Pilgrimage Thank You
On Saturday August 23rd, there was a Family pilgrimage out to Inspiration Point to celebrate the Jubilee Year theme of Pilgrims of Hope. While we might have hoped for more favorable weather (cool, windy, but just occasional spritzes of rain), we could not have hoped for more positive and willing spirits! Groups participated in team building activities, hikes, tours, paddle boats, swimming, and pedal carts! The lunch was delicious, and we ended with Mass. Thanks to Fr. Alan who was there in the morning, and Fr. Lucho in the afternoon, with their time overlapping enough to enjoy coffee, conversation, and ping pong. We are blessed. Happy Jubilee!
Highlight
Andrew Jennen, Alli Neuleib, and Deb Forstner from the Faith Formation staff thank all the wonderful volunteers that helped run the ACC Vacation Bible School this past week at Brenny Hall. We hope all the kids left with the clear message that they can trust Jesus in this wild world!

The Journey
Pelican Valley Area Catholic Community Newsletter
July 2025 issue
Father Lucho reflects on the time spent in seminary studying under Pope Leo (previously known as Padre Roberto) in Trujillo, Peru. He notes that, despite being born in Chicago, Pope Leo had a very humble start to his ministry, serving the communities in Trujillo and later Chiclayo as bishop. He directly helped the needs of the people and grew very close to the community in Peru.
Pastoral Column
A Message From Father Alan
Dear brothers and sisters,
The PNRM is arriving with special speakers in our ACC next weekend. Who is that? The Parish Neighborhood Renewal Ministry embarks a missionary couple from Ecuador: Iris Prieto and Glahecer Baque as well as a 501 c3 Board overseeing a vision of serving the poor. Two Board members, either Sr. Pat Forster, OSF or Barbara Oemcke will be present at all of the Masses the week-end of August 30-31 asking for your support. The Mission Office believes that it is very important for Catholics to understand why these folks come to your parishes. It is not just another collection or request for funding for people you might not know. It is an opportunity to open our heart and our minds to the truly poor. We are all missioners. We ask you to please welcome them wholeheartedly on behalf of the diocese of St. Cloud to learn and grow in your faith in Christ through the experiences they share with you. This is a wonderful way that we are able to be in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who have so little yet give their lives to serving the Gospel. Thank you.
Father Alan
Queridos hermanos y hermanas,
El PNRM llega con oradores especiales a nuestro ACC el próximo fin de semana. ¿Quiénes son? El Ministerio de Renovación Vecinal Parroquial (PNRM) presenta a una pareja misionera de Ecuador: Iris Prieto y Glahecer Baque, así como a una Junta Directiva 501 c3 que supervisa la visión de servir a los pobres. Dos miembros de la Junta, la Hna. Pat Forster, OSF, o Barbara Oemcke, estarán presentes en todas las misas del fin de semana del 30 y 31 de agosto, solicitando su apoyo. La Oficina de Misiones cree que es muy importante que los católicos entiendan por qué estas personas vienen a sus parroquias. No se trata de una simple colecta o solicitud de fondos para personas que quizás no conozcan. Es una oportunidad para abrir nuestro corazón y nuestra mente a los verdaderamente pobres. Todos somos misioneros. Les pedimos que les den una cordial bienvenida en nombre de la diócesis de St. Cloud para que aprendan y crezcan en su fe en Cristo a través de las experiencias que comparten con ustedes. Esta es una manera maravillosa de ser solidarios con nuestros hermanos y hermanas que, aun con tan poco, dedican su vida al servicio del Evangelio. Gracias.
Padre Alan
Upcoming Events
To discover more upcoming events, please check our bulletin.

Fall Festival
Sept. 21
11:00 - 2:00 pm
The OLV Fall Festival is an exciting place to take your family for great food, a cake walk, bingo, and fun children's games. There will also be a raffle drawing at the end with plenty of prizes, so be sure to get your tickets early by contacting the school.

Roast Beef Dinner
Oct. 15
6:00 - 8:00 PM
Join us at St. Leonard Parish for our annual Roast Beef Dinner. Savor mouth-watering roast beef served with all the trimmings, including mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and a side of warm bread. Come and Share a Meal with Our Community.
Fergus Falls, MN
207 N. Vine St.,
Fergus Falls, MN, 56537
218-736-2429
contact@ffolvchurch.org
Weekend Masses:
Saturday 4:30 p.m.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Weekday Masses:
Tuesday 12:05 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m.
Friday 9 a.m.
Reconciliation:
Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Pelican Rapids, MN
36 1st Ave NE,
Pelican Rapids, MN, 56572
218-863-5161
stleonard@loretel.net
Weekend Masses:
Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. (Español)
Weekday Masses:
Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.
Reconciliation:
By request
Elizabeth MN
706 W. Pleasant Ave.
Elizabeth, MN 56533
218-736-5230
carriewedll@yahoo.com
Weekend Masses:
Sunday 8:30 a.m.
Reconciliation:
By request
ACC Council members
Rhonda Peterson
John Schmidt
Dec. Dean Pawlowski
Andrew Heinrich
Judy Zenner
Diane Aschnewitz
ACC Council members
Rosaneli Barrogan
Alejandra Mancilla
Deacon Mario Mancilla
Jose Escobar
ACC Council members
Bill Riestenberg
Catherine Wilde
Mike Rengel
Walter Paler
Carla Shermerhorn
