Sunday November 1 Feast of All Saints

Today we celebrate the saints, the saints we know and the saints that we will never know, saints that "the world does not recognize." What is a saint? Someone once said that a saint "does ordinary things in an extraordinary way." Can you think of someone you know who has some of the qualities of a saint? Can people become saints even if they are not "perfect"? (What might the sacrament of Reconciliation have to do with becoming a saint?) The Church canonizes some people and affirms that they lived lives of true holiness. Canonization is the Church's "stamp of approval" on their lives of following Christ. You might like to get to know a saint by researching one of the saints the Church remembers during the Church year. Consult the Lives of the Saints and the Liturgical Year calendar on www.webelieveweb.com. Ask: What in my life is similar to the life of this saint? What can this saint teach me about following Christ?

week of November 1-7

Remember to turn you clocks back Saturday night so you aren't way early for Mass on Sunday morning!  Sunday November 1 All's Saint's Day (remember to stop and purchase some cinnamon rolls, to help support the Youth Ministry Program, after mass Sunday morning (Yummy!); Monday November 2 All Soul's Day, Mass will be at 7:00 PM to honor all those who have died, particularly those from our parish who have died within the last year; Wednesday November 4 Relgious Education for Grades 1-7 & High School Youth Ministry will be meeting as well.

Classes this evening

Tonight Grade 8 will have religious edcuation from 6:00 - 7:30 PM; Grades 1-6 will have religious education from 6:15 - 7:30 PM and High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 - 8:00 PM.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Question for the First Reading: In what ways does God console us when we return to him after wandering into sin, bad habits, or forgetfulness of him?  Gospel Questions: What are some of the influences in our society that weaken our ability to see as Jesus does? What kinds of blindness might people your age experience? How can you improve your spiritual eyesight?  When does being Jesus' disciple require courage?

Week of October 25 - 31

Sunday October 25 at 1:00 PM the parent/child session for First Reconciliation will meet in the Parish Center.  (This is for both public school families and our CASE families with 2nd graders); Tuesday October 27 the Faith Formation Council will be meeting at 6:30 PM in meeting room 2; Wednesday October 28 Religious Education classes for Grades 1-6 will meet beginning at 6:15 and end at 7:30; Grade 8 will meet beginning at 6:00 and end at 7:30.  High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30.  Grades 4 & 8 will be taking the diocesan assessment tests during class time this week as well.  Saturday October 31  HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Religious Education Classes

Tonight, Wednesday October 21, Grades 1-6 will be meeting from 6:15 until 7:30, Grade 7 will be meeting from 6:00 until 7:30 and High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30.  There is a parent/son meeting at 7:30 PM in the Gathering Space for those boys interested in joining Boy Scouts.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Life Question: To what have you said, “Yes, I can,” and discovered you made the right commitment even though you didn’t know fully at the time to what you were committing?
Gospel Question: To what do you commit at Mass when you drink the cup?

Upcoming Week

Sunday October 18 wish Fr. Konopa a Happy Birthday today!  Wednesday October 21 Grades 1-6 will have rel. ed. from 6:15 until 7:30, Grade 7 will have rel. ed. from 6:00 until 7:30 and Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30.  Friday October 23 the parish offices are closed.  Sunday October 25 2nd graders and their parents will meet in the parish center at 1:00 PM for the 1st Reconciliation parent/child session.

October 15 Feast of St. Teresa of Avila

St. Teresa is the patron saint of Headache sufferers and Spanish Catholic Writers. Her symbol is a heart, an arrow, and a book. She was canonized in 1622.  She is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites. In 1970 she was declared a Doctor of the Church for her writing and teaching on prayer, one of two women to be honored in this way. The other woman who has been declared a Doctor of the Church is St. Catherine of Siena.  To learn more about St. Theresa visit: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=208

October 14th Classes

There is religious education this evening for grades 1-6 beginning at 6:15 and ending at 7:30, and for grade 8 beginning at 6:00 and ending at 7:30.  High School Youth Ministry will meet this evening beginning at 7:00 and end at 8:30.  7th grade small faith groups are scheduled to meet this week.

Faith is the October Virtue of the Month

Each month this year the students in relgious education will be learning about a different virutue.  Parents look for a Home/School Connection to come home about the virtue they are working with for that month.  This will help you to foster the growth of the virtue in your home.  And you will find some of those ideas on this blog as well.  This month as the title of this blog tells you the virtue the catechists will be talking about is Faith:
What is this virtue?   “Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that He has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because He is truth itself. By faith ‘man freely commits his entire self to God.’ For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ Living faith ‘works through charity’” (CCC 1814)  (Note: Theological means that this gift comes from God and leads us back to God.)
Faith is a grace, a power which enables us to believe and accept the truth. Faith is a supernatural virtue infused by God into the soul.  We believe in God because what He has revealed is the Truth.  We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus is Himself God.  We believe in the Holy Spirit because He is God.
Why do we need this virtue?   Faith makes us capable of living as God’s children and of inheriting eternal life. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Rom 11:6).  Faith disposes us to live in relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is the only One who can save us; we need to cling to Him by faith.  Faith indicates the right moral behavior to be a disciple of Christ.  Faith is a constant and firm support, even in the most difficult times.• Faith helps us to know the existence of God’s mercy.  Faith enables us to see Christ in those around us, above all, the poor.
The saint that is given to us as an example of Faith is St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.  He is the husband of Mary and the foster father of Jesus.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Life Question: Where does your money go?  
Gospel Question: Why does the rich, young man walk away from Jesus?

Week of October 11-17

Wednesday Evening October 14 religious education classes for grades 1-6 will meeting from 6:15 until 7:30, grade 8 will meet from 6:00 until 7:30, and the High School Youth Ministry group will meet from 7:00 until 8:30. 7th Grade small faith groups are scheduled to meet this week. Thursday Evening October 15 at 6:30 PM Scripture Study on the Hebrews will meet at 6:30.

Feast Day of Our Lady of the Rosary

October is the month of the Most Holy Rosary, this came about because of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was introduced by Pope Pius V in the year 1571, is on October 7th.  If you would like to know a bit more about the history of the rosary check out the following web page http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/rosaryhs.htm

Religious Education

Grades 1-6 will have religious education classes this evening beginning at 6:15 and ending at 7:30.  Grade 7 will have religious education class this evening beginning at 6:00 and ending at 7:30.  High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00 until 8:30 this evening.

Reserve Your Place Now

Evening Harvest Fest


When: Saturday November 14 
Where: Father Robert Agnew Parish Center Time: 6:00 PM Cider, Beer and Hors d’oeuvres  6:45 PM Dinner - Seasoned, Breaded Pork Loins, Cabbage Rolls, Parsley Buttered Potatoes, Assorted Vegetables, Dinner Rolls & Dessert
Cost: $30/person, tickets sold after masses or call the parish office, 832-2504, x100,  if    purchased after November 8th cost is $35/person. Limited availability so make your reservations early. 
Presentation by Dan Doughty 7:30 PM  Dan Doughty,a longtime member of St. Olaf, will share his experience of being a Prisoner of War during the Vietnam Conflict. His powerful story is filled with faith and even humor.  It will humble and inspire you.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Check here each week for questions to use with your family that pertain to the Sunday readings.

Life Question: How do our friends helps us become who we want to be?


Gospel Question: What is Jesus’ ideal for men and women?

October 4-10

Tuesday October 6 at 6:30 PM catechists from the area will gather at St. Bede Center for an in-service.  Fr. Tom Krieg will present on "Understanding the Eucharist." 
Wednesday evening October 7 religious education classes for grades 1-6 will meet from 6:15 until 7:30, grade 7 will meet from 6:00 until 7:30 and the High School Youth Ministry group will meet from 7:00 until 8:30.  8th grade small faith groups are scheduled to meet the week of October 4-10.

St. Theresa of Lisieux

October 1st is the feast of St. Theresa of Lisieux, also know at the "Little Flower" which comes from the subtitle of her autobiography.  St. Theresa is the patron saint of Russia, aviators, missions, and florists.