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.
Meet Our Priests
Mass Schedule
Whether you are a newcomer, visitor, or long-time parishioner, we warmly welcome you to join us for Mass. Feel free to attend any of our Masses and be sure to greet us when you do!
Mass Times
Our Lady of Victory
Tuesday - 12:05 PM
Wednesday - (see bulletin)
Thursday - 9:00 AM
Friday - 9:00 AM
Saturday - 4:30 PM
Sunday - 8:30 AM / 10:30 AM
St. Leonard
Wednesday - 6:30 PM
Sunday - 10:30 AM / 12 PM (Spanish)
St. Elizabeth
Sunday - 8:30 AM
Office Hours
Our Lady of Victory
Monday - Thursday:
8:00 AM - Noon; 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday:
8:00 AM - Noon
St. Leonard
Wednesday:
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
To sign up for Ministry Scheduler Pro or check your schedule, click here.
Join Our Community
We look forward to seeing you at the banquet of the Lord.
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.
Pastoral Column
A Message From Father Alan
Dear Pelican Valley ACC,
On this Second Sunday of Advent we congratulate all who celebrate their First Reconciliation this weekend at Our Lady of Victory. They have heeded John the Baptist's clarion call for all of us to prepare for Christmas with a good confession of our sins, and welcome of God's forgiveness! The ACC Advent Penance Service will be next Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory with the availability of several additional priest confessors. Father Lucho and I also hear confessions at the regularly scheduled times throughout Advent and any time by appointment. We repent so that we can truly rejoice!
On Monday of this week, December 8, we celebrate The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a festive, bilingual Mass, 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory. A bus will leave St. Leonard at 5:35. Mass will be presided by Bishop Neary. He will also bless our renewed worship space. There will be a reception and light meal following in the fellowship hall. This feast is especially significant to two countries represented in our ACC: United States and Nicaragua. Immaculate Mary is patroness of both; there will be a special statue of Mary in the sanctuary hiliting the culture and spirituality of our sisters and brothers among us from Nicaragua, a very religiously persecuted country at this moment. We pray for Mary's motherly protection and intercession for us all.
ADVENT PEACE AND HOLY DAY BLESSINGS! Fr. Alan
Estimado ACC de Pelican Valley:
En este Segundo Domingo de Adviento felicitamos a todos los que celebran su Primera Reconciliación este fin de semana en Nuestra Señora de la Victoria. Han atendido el llamado de Juan el Bautista para que todos nos preparemos para la Navidad con una buena confesión de nuestros pecados y demos la bienvenida al perdón de Dios. El Servicio de Penitencia de Adviento de la ACC será el próximo domingo 14 de diciembre a las 3:00 p.m. en Nuestra Señora de la Victoria con la disponibilidad de varios sacerdotes confesores adicionales. El Padre Lucho y yo también escuchamos confesiones en los horarios regulares durante el Adviento y en cualquier momento con cita previa. ¡Nos arrepentimos para poder regocijarnos verdaderamente!
El lunes de esta semana, 8 de diciembre, celebramos la Inmaculada Concepción de la Santísima Virgen María con una misa festiva bilingüe a las 6:30 p.m. en Nuestra Señora de la Victoria. Un autobús saldrá de St. Leonard a las 5:35. La misa será presidida por el Obispo Neary. También bendecirá nuestro renovado espacio de culto. A continuación, habrá una recepción y una comida ligera en el salón de actos. Esta fiesta es especialmente significativa para dos países representados en nuestro ACC: Estados Unidos y Nicaragua. María Inmaculada es patrona de ambos; habrá una estatua especial de María en el santuario que realzará la cultura y la espiritualidad de nuestros hermanos y hermanas de Nicaragua, un país muy perseguido religiosamente en este momento. Oramos por la protección maternal de María y su intercesión por todos nosotros.
¡PAZ DE ADVIENTO Y BENDICIONES EN ESTE DÍA SANTO!
P. Alan
The Journey
Pelican Valley ACC Newsletter
December 2025 Issue
As we enter this holy season of Advent, our parishes are filled with moments of faith, generosity, and community.
Inside this issue, you’ll find inspiring reflections, updates from across our ACC, highlights from recent events, parishioner spotlights, school news, and a full schedule of Advent and Christmas liturgies. From outreach efforts and fellowship gatherings to the joyful preparations of our students, each page captures the grace at work within our parishes.
We invite you to take a few moments to read, reflect, and rejoice in the blessings shared throughout our community.
Wishing you a blessed Advent and a joyful Christmas season!
Edición de Diciembre de 2025
Al comenzar este sagrado Adviento, nuestras parroquias se llenan de momentos de fe, generosidad y comunidad.
En este número, encontrarán reflexiones inspiradoras, actualizaciones de todo nuestro ACC, momentos destacados de eventos recientes, feligreses destacados, noticias escolares y un calendario completo de liturgias de Adviento y Navidad. Desde las iniciativas de alcance comunitario y las reuniones de confraternidad hasta los alegres preparativos de nuestros estudiantes, cada página captura la gracia que obra en nuestras parroquias.
Los invitamos a tomarse unos minutos para leer, reflexionar y regocijarse por las bendiciones que compartimos en nuestra comunidad.
¡Les deseamos un bendecido Adviento y una feliz Navidad!
Highlight
Congratulations to Jill Geary, winner of the Our Lady of Victory Fall Festival $5,000 grand prize! A total of 594 dinners were served this year. Thanks to everyone who helped make the Fall Festival a success. Click below to view the list of winners.
Upcoming Events
To discover more upcoming events, please check our bulletin.
1st Saturdays Potluck
Dec. 6
after 4:30 mass
Please join our parish for a potluck supper on Saturday, December 6 following the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Everyone is welcome to this Pelican Valley Area Catholic Community gathering. Come enjoy a delicious meal and wonderful fellowship. Feel free to bring your favorite hot dish, salad, bread, or dessert.
KoC Pancake Breakfast
Dec. 7
9:30 am - noon
Please join us at OLV on Sunday, December 7, 2025, between 9:30 a.m. and Noon for a Pancake Breakfast sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. A free-will offering will be accepted. All are welcome.
OLV School Christmas Program
Dec. 11
1:30 pm & 6:30 Pm
Celebrate the season with us at our Christmas Program on Thursday, December 11! There will be two performances located in the church - 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Come enjoy an uplifting afternoon or evening of Christmas joy.
Faith Formation
Bake Sale
Dec. 20 & 21
Starting holiday baking? Freeze some for the OLV Faith Formation Bake Sale! Drop off on Saturday 12/20,
10 a.m.–2 p.m., with sales before and after Masses on December 20-21. Thank you for your generosity!
Important News & Updates
Please feel free to reach out with any additional questions or concerns.
List of Services
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Monday, December 8 Holy Day Mass
We will have one ACC Mass for Immaculate Conception on Monday presided by Bishop Patrick at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Victory. It will be a bilingual celebration and include a blessing of our “renewed and refreshed” worship space.
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St. Leonard Annual Parish Raffle
Ticket sales for our annual parish raffle have already begun. If anyone would like to purchase tickets or help with sales, please contact the parish office or Father Lucho.
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Angel Tree for Kids at OLV
Our Angel Tree is up and everyone is invited to take a tag and return it with a donation for a child in need. Ideas for gifts are on the tags but creativity is encouraged. Please return your unwrapped gift under the tree in the church gathering area no later than Sunday, December 7 so we can deliver them to the Salvation Army on the 8th. Please contact Mary Widiger 218-770-2435 if you have questions. - The Social Concerns Committee
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ALL BAKERS ON DECK!
The annual Faith Formation Christmas bake sale will be December 20th and 21st this year in the OLV Gathering Space. Everyone in the parish is encouraged to contribute goods for this sale, and to buy with a free will offering that weekend. Thanks for your generosity! If questions, contact Deb Forstner at deb@ffolvchurch.org
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Improved Hearing Assistance at OLV
We are pleased to announce that Our Lady of Victory has upgraded our hearing assistance capabilities with a new Williams AV Auracast™ system. This technology provides a clearer, more reliable listening experience—especially for those with hearing aids or mild-to-moderate hearing loss.
There are now three ways to listen:
- Auracast™ Broadcast (Recommended) - Connect directly using Auracast-enabled hearing aids, earbuds, or a smartphone.
- Loaner Receivers (Available in Back of Church near projection desk) - We provide two Williams AV receivers for those who prefer a simple, ready-to-use device.
- WaveCAST App - Listen through your phone and earbuds by downloading the Williams AV WaveCAST app, and connect to the church guest wifi network, utilizing your phone and air buds.
Step-by-step instructions are available at https://bit.ly/olv1
If you have any questions or need help connecting, please speak with an usher. We are happy to assist.
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Meals & Fellowship for Students
The Middle and High School Faith Formation team will be offering meals and fellowship for students prior to class on Wednesday evenings. However, we need your help! We would love to have our parish community help and sign up to provide meals for our middle and high school youth. We are still looking for volunteers to lead small group discussions, teach, lead rosary, help in the kitchen, and more! Please contact Emily Stawarski at 320-292-7939.
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St. Leonard Finance Committee Members Needed
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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OLV Bible Study
There will be a ten session Bible study on the Prophet Books of the Bible. The sessions will be split into two parts on Mondays, with a class at 1:30 and one at 7:00 at OLV. The first part will occur on Nov. 10,. 17, 24, Dec. 1, and 15. The second part will occur Jan 5 to Feb 2. Each session will contain about a 40-minute video and a small group discussions. The charge is $30.
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OLV School looking for Adopt-A-Class sponsors
Want to make a difference in the lives of local students? Help an OLV class start the year strong with a $200 sponsorship! Your generous donation comes with special perks and a meaningful opportunity to connect with the amazing students of Our Lady of Victory (OLV).
Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please contact Home and School President DJ Robbins at 812-525-5463 for more details.
Together, let’s make this school year unforgettable!
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Sign up for our email newsletter
Not receiving our weekly Pelican Valley ACC email? Please contact Emily Schmidt at 218-736-2429, or email her at emilys@ffolvchurch.org. Our weekly email newsletter contains information about upcoming church events and happenings, so you don’t want to miss it! In your email, just tell us to put you on our email list!
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