
WOHVn in Faith Catholic Community
ACC Parishes
Prime Rib or Chicken Dinner
Saturday, Feb. 22
5PM
St. Rita's Parish Center
Quilt Bingo
Sunday, Feb. 23
1:30PM
St. Rita's Parish Center

Fr. James Remmerswaal
The Crosier Fathers and Brothers mourn the loss of our confrere, Fr. James Remmerswaal, o.s.c.
His funeral Mass will be at Holy Cross Church on Tuesday, February 18th at 11AM.
Details
Upcoming Events at Holy Cross

Celebration for Fr. Marcos: Our WOHVn-In-Faith Area Catholic Community is planning a celebration for Sunday, February 16th following 9 A.M. Mass honoring Fr. Marcos’ ordination. This event will be held at Holy Cross. If you would like to participate with the planning for the reception, please contact Amanda at wohvnbusinessmanager@gmail.com or 320-277-3595.

Fr. James “Jim” Hendrikus Engelbertus Remmerswaal, osc
1938–2025
The Crosier Fathers and Brothers mourn the loss of our confrere.
Fr. James “Jim” Hendrikus Engelbertus Remmerswaal was born Sept. 1, 1938, in Dordrecht, Holland, to Engelbertus Remmerswaal and Cornelia Tillemans. He was one of three children.
Fr. Jim died peacefully at Mille Lacs Health System in Onamia, Minn., on Feb. 7, 2025. He was 86.
He attended St. Joseph grade school in Heerlen, the Netherlands, before attending Crosier Seminary in Uden, the Netherlands, from 1950–1958. He entered the Crosier novitiate in 1958 and completed his philosophy studies at the Crosier House of Studies in Zoeterwoede, the Netherlands, and his theological studies at the Crosier House of Studies in Diest, Belgium.
He made his first profession of vows on Aug. 28, 1959, and after his solemn profession on Aug. 28, 1962, he moved to the United States to continue his studies in theology at the Crosier House of Studies in Fort Wayne, Ind., and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at St. Francis College in Fort Wayne.
He was ordained to the priesthood on June 19, 1965, in his home parish in Heerlen, and worked for a number of months in a large parish there. In 1966, he returned to Indiana to serve on the faculty of the Crosiers’ Our Lady of the Lake Seminary in Syracuse. He taught there for six years.
After becoming a U.S. citizen in August 1971, Fr. Jim was called to further missionary service. He served in Papua, Indonesia, from 1972–1981. He returned once again to the United States and ministered at several parishes in Michigan (St. Monica in Kalamazoo, St. John and St. Theresa in Benton Harbor, Immaculate Conception in Three Rivers, Holy Angels in Sturgis and St. Joseph in Kalamazoo). In 1985, the Order called him to serve in the headquarters in Rome; he was the assistant to the master general and secretary from 1985–1997. In 1998, he returned to the United States permanently and spent the next two decades in parish ministry in Minnesota as well as six years as prior of the Crosier Community of Onamia.
Fr. Jim was a member of the Crosier Community of Onamia from the time of his election as prior until his death. He served as pastor of St. Mary parish in Milaca, Minn., and St. Louis Bertrand parish in Foreston, Minn., until his retirement in 2019.
In addition to his many years of pastoral ministry, Fr. Jim provided invaluable assistance translating some of the Order’s historical materials from Dutch to English to make them available to a wider audience.
He had an immense passion for history and did well in learning languages. Fr. Jim spent time working on three continents while living in five countries. He appreciated the opportunity to travel and to work in various roles and in interesting places and cultures. Most importantly, he had a great love of God, our Crosier Order and all of the people he worked with over the years. When asked before his 60th jubilee to sum up his amazing life in five words or less, without the slightest hesitation he said, “To God be the glory.”
Fr. Jim is survived by his brother, Martin Remmerswaal, and sister-in-law, Clara Remmerswaal-van Poll; his sister, Nelly Loop-Remmerswaal; his niece, Yolande Schonewille-Remmerswaal and her husband, Eric Schonewille; his nephews René Remmerswaal and his wife, Kath Remmerswaal-Mc Ivor, and Carlo Loop; and his Crosier confreres in Phoenix and Onamia and around the world. He was preceded in death by his parents.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Fr. Jim will take place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 18, at the Crosier Priory in Onamia with a 10 a.m. vigil and visitation. A luncheon will follow. A private inurnment is planned for the priory cemetery columbarium.

Memorials are preferred to the Crosier Fathers and Brothers, Box 500, Onamia, MN 56359-0500.
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2025 Catholic Men’s Conference – Dare to Hope - Saturday, February 22, 8:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Cost: $40 or $35/each for groups of 5; for young men ages 15-22: $10. Includes morning refreshments and lunch. Where: St. John’s University in Collegeville. Keynote speaker: Father Scott Traynor, JCL, a priest in the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is the Vicar for Lay and Clergy Formation. Various Workshops will be available, including topics for young adults ages 15 and up. Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C. will join us for the day and celebrate Mass with us. Registration Deadline: February 12. For more information contact Jan at 320-258-7615 to register, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2025CMC
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New Census/Registration Forms – Please submit your census/registration forms by the end of February. Phone calls will begin the first week of March for those who have not returned the forms or contacted the Parish Office.
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Holy Cross Cemetery Crucifix Area Renovation – The Holy Cross Cemetery Renovation project is really starting to take shape! Feel free to stop by and take a look or follow along with the pictures on our web page. The link is https://www.wohvn-in-faith.org/cemetery Thank you to those that have supported us so far!
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Harvest of the Earth Community Dinner - Wednesday, March 12th from 6-7 p.m.
Everyone is welcome!
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​​Confirmation Classes – Upcoming class dates: February 19. Should you have any questions, please contact Amanda Gjerde at 320-277-3595 or Fr. Jerry at 320-532-3122.
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Health Emergency Volunteers Needed - We are blessed to have a medical facility close to our church if needed; however, what do we do when a parishioner or guest needs assistance during Mass? Typically, this is where the Ushers step in, but not all of our ushers have medical training. Therefore, we would like to compile a list of active parishioners who are willing and able to be consulted DURING Mass or to help with the use of the AED in the dining hall during a medical emergency. If you would like your name added to this list, please contact the parish office or Tina Dickson. 532-5038 / c.dickson18@frontier.com
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What is a TEC Retreat? How Do I sign up? TEC – Together Encountering Christ is a three-day retreat supported by the St. Cloud Diocese. The retreat is intended for both youth (age 16+) and adults and is modeled after the Paschal Mystery - the Easter message of death, resurrection and sending forth. Check out what others have experienced by participating in an upcoming TEC weekend. For information and registration details, visit the website at www.cmtec.org or call (320) 532.4455. Questions about TEC? Ask someone who’s been there: Tim Honek, Margaret Hitzemann, Kathy Lundeen, Br. Rio, osc, Richard Schumacher, Br. Christopher Erran, OSC, Mary Pat Sorvik, Brenda Gotvald, Fr. Marcos Leles, OSC, Marge Agnew, Br. Salama, osc, Paul Dickson or Amanda Gjerde. Future retreat dates to sign-up: February 15-17.
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Volunteers needed to help lend a hand – Staff at Lake Song Assisted Living Memory Care have brought to our attention that there are residents that would like to attend mass on Sundays. Due to staff limitations they are unable to bring them to mass. We are looking for volunteers to go over to Lake Song and pick up the resident at 8:45 a.m., bring them to mass (staying with them during mass) and then return them to Lake Song when mass is over. If you would be willing to help in this ministry, please contact Kathy at the parish office 320-532-3122. Thank you in advance!
Time and Talent Surveys – Please return any completed Time and Talent surveys to the basket in the Narthex. Blank copies are available in the clear file holder on the wall near the elevator. Remember, these surveys will also be used for a Holy Cross Parish census update. Any questions, contact Tina Dickson at 320-532-5038.
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Recovery Works - The Freedom Center is offering a new opportunity open to anyone in a recovery program. It is called "Recovery Works" and it is held from 7:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. every Monday in the basement of the Holy Cross Center.
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WHAT IS A PRAYER LINE? A Prayer Line is a line of communication among believers who are willing to be “on call” to pray for a specific need. The set up allows prayer requests to be relayed immediately without waiting. You can be a part of this very important ministry, receiving prayer requests either by phone or by e-mail. Call Mavonne at 651-276-3317; Kathy at the Parish Office 320-532-3122 or Tina Dickson at 320-532-5038, if you would like to use your time and talents in this way. Also, if you have a prayer request for a specific need, call the Parish Office or Tina Dickson.
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