The Christmas Time Story Time Friday morning in the Rock County Library basement featured a special visitors for the children and adults who attended the event, which kicked off activities for Winterfest weekend in Luverne.

Like it or not, the holidays are upon us.

Are you a “Christmas tree-goes-up-on-Nov. 1” kind of person? Or are you a “Christmas-tree-goes-up-after-Thanksgiving” kind of person? 

I’m more of a “What Christmas tree?” kind of person, because I have cats.

Monday, Dec. 15: 

Beef bell pepper casserole, mixed vegetables, dinner roll, pumpkin bar.

Tuesday, Dec. 16: Smothered chopped steak, baked potato, sliced carrots, wheat bread, applesauce cup.

Eunice Ruth Bartels, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Luverne Hospice Cottage.

Mary Ann Davis (McDowell), age 97, of Arden Hills, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Nov. 26, 2025.

Robert “Bob” Iverson, age 76, husband of Sharon, of Glencoe, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, surrounded by his family at Cedar Crest Estate in Silver Lake, Minnesota.

Edwin "Ed" Elbers, age 86, of Luverne, Minnesota, died on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, at Sanford Luverne Hospital in Luverne.

Like most Christian pastors, I was frustrated with the commercialization of Christmas and the lack of spiritual meaning expressed during the holiday, UNTIL I served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain and understood, for the first time, that there is more than one correct way to celebrate Christmas.

St. Catherine Catholic Church

203 E. Brown St., Luverne

St. Catherine Ph. 507-283-8502; www.stscl.org

Father Joshua Miller, Pastor