This Week

Wednesday December 2nd – Religious Education Classes for Grades 1-6, 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM; Grade 8, 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM. St. Nicholas Celebration 6:15, for ages 3 through grade 1. HSYM, those able to help with the St. Nicholas Celebration will arrive at 6:00 PM, after the St. Nick celebration HSYM will be traveling to St. Patrick Church (322 Fulton St. in the youth room) to hear nationally know speaker Jim Beckman speak from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, this event is open to all high school youth. The topic is, Columbine: the Untold Stories. Other opportunities to her Jim speak are: Wednesday 12/2 at 6:15 PM – 7:30 PM at St. Patrick Church (in the cafeteria) for Parish Faith Night, topic – Putting on Prayer in the Family (child care available); Thursday December 3rd at Regis High School, 10:00 AM, God’s Plan: It All Adds Up; and Thursday afternoon from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Jim will speak at St. Mary’s (1812 Lynn Ave, Altoona) to parents of teens or parents of children about to become teens, Making the Most of Your Relationship with Your Teen, please RSVP for the Thursday event with Sharon at 715.855.1294. Thursday Evening at 6:00 PM will be Holy Hour at St. Olaf in the church. Come have a prayer filled hour of Scripture, music and quiet reflection. This is a wonderful opportunity to begin Advent by beginning a regular commitment to prayer, as well as praying for our priest during this Year for Priests.

First Sunday of Advent

Discussion Questions for Reading 1: Hope is a virtue. Virtue means "strength." Why do you think hopeful people are strong people?  Our hope is not in ourselves. We are sometimes weak and we sometimes fail, despite our best efforts. Our hope is in God. What does it mean to you to put your hope in God? (Remember: Hope is the virtue for November)
Discussion Questions for Gospel: Advent is a good time to ask: What holds me captive? Why do I need someone to ransom me or rescue me? And what is my attitude toward this Someone who, when he comes, will set me free?

No Religous Education this evening

Religious Education classes are not being held this evening, this includes all grade levels and High School Youth Ministry will not be meeting this evening.

Our Lord Christ the King

Life Question: When have you caved into public pressure, family intimidation, or the taunting of your peers?  Gospel Question: To what does Jesus’ life testify?

November 22 - St. Cecilia

    Cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome’s history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised.
    The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn.
    The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: “While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse.” It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.     http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-cecilia/

Week of November 22 - 28

Tuesday November 24 CATECHIST Potluck and Training Session 6:00 PM in the Gathering Space; Wednesday November 25 NO RELIGIOUS EDUCATION; Thursday November 26 HAPPY THANKSGIVIING! Mass at 9:00 AM; Thursday and Friday November 26 and 27 the parish offices are closed.

Classes this evening

Religious Education this evening for Grades 1-6 from 6:15-7:30, for Grade 7 from 6:00-7:30 and High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00-8:30.

Saint of the Day St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin (Feast day November 13) St. Frances was born in Lombardi, Italy in 1850, one of thirteen children. At eighteen, she desired to become a Nun, but poor health stood in her way. She helped her parents until their death, and then worked on a farm with her brothers and sisters.  One day a priest asked her to teach in a girls' school and she stayed for six years. At the request of her Bishop, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for poor children in schools and hospitals. Then at the urging of Pope Leo XIII she came to the United States with six nuns in 1889 to work among the Italian immigrants.  Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, this remarkable woman soon founded schools, hospitals, and orphanages in this strange land and saw them flourish in the aid of Italian immigrants and children. In 1946, she became the first American citizen to be canonized when she was elevated to sainthood by Pope Pius XII. St. Frances is the patroness of immigrants

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=278

Week of November 15 - 21

Sunday November 15, Rite of Welcome at the 8:30 Mass for this year's RCIA candidates; Wednesday November 18, religious education classes for grades 1-7 and High School Youth Ministry; Thursday November 19, Ecumenical Thanksgiving Prayer Service and Social with Hope Lutheran Church at St. Olaf abeginning at 7:00 PM.

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Life Question: What is the fun of teasing? What is the harm?  Gospel Question: In what sense is Jesus always at our door?

Classes this Evening

Happy Veteran's Day! Please remember all of the men and women who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States.  Religious Education this evening for Grades 1-6 from 6:15-7:30, for Grade 8 from 6:00-7:30 and High School Youth Ministry will meet from 7:00-8:30.

Saint of the Day

St. Leo the Great - Feast Day: November 10
St. Leo the Great was born in Tuscany. As deacon, he was dispatched to Gaul as a mediator by Emperor Valentinian III. He reigned as Pope between 440 and 461. He persuaded Emperor Valentinian to recognize the primacy of the Bishop of Rome in an edict in 445. The doctrine of the Incarnation was formed by him in a letter to the Patriarch of Constantinople, who had already condemned Eutyches. At the Council of Chalcedon this same letter was confirmed as the expression of Catholic Faith concerning the Person of Christ.
All secular historical treatises eulogize his efforts during the upheaval of the fifth century barbarian invasion. His encounter with Attila the Hun, at the very gates of Rome persuading him to turn back, remains a historical memorial to his great eloquence. When the Vandals under Genseric occupied the city of Rome, he persuaded the invaders to desist from pillaging the city and harming its inhabitants. He died in 461, leaving many letters and writings of great historical value.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=299

Hope is the Virtue for November

Last month I let you know that 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 of hope next week. This will help you to foster the growth of the virtue in your home.
What is the Virtue of Hope?   “Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. ‘The Holy Spirit…He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that we might be justified by His grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life ’” (CCC 1817)  The supernatural virtue of hope allows eth possiblility for Christians to trust in God.  This grace is a gift of God.  Hope has to do with things that seem difficult or impossible to receive, such as salvation.  Hope tells us that God, Who promised us eternal salvation, will also give us the graces that we need for the journey to Heaven. He is faithful to His word, so we can put our trust in Him.  Hope sustains us at all times, especially when feelings of discouragement or abandonment seem to overwhelm us. Hope opens up our heart in expectation of future blessings and eternal beatitude.  Why do we need the Virtue of Hope  The supernatural gift of hope helps us to trust in God’s promises, opening our heart to His mercy.  Hope leads us to persevere in prayer, even when all reason for hope seems absent.  Hope offers to us joy and courage which sustains us in times of trial.  Hope allows us to live, grow and persevere in faith. St. John Vianney is the model of the Virtue of Hope.  He continued to pursue ordination to the priesthood, even after failing the examination. St. John Vianney persevered in hope even though he often trembled from a conviction of his personal inadequacy.  St. John wept for the sins of the penitents in confession and had the constant hope of seeing sinners turn back to God. St. John Vianney is also the Patron Saint of Priests and of Confessors.  Discussion Questions: Discuss what it means to have hope in the future.  How would you someone know you are a person of hope?  How does the Sacrament of Reconciliation relate with the virtue of hope?

Week of November 8-14

Wednesday November 11: Happy Veteran's Day!  Religious Educaiton class for Grade 8 at 6:00 PM; Religious Educaiton Class for Grades 1-6 at 6:15 PM; High School Youth Ministry will meet at 7:00 PM.  Saturday November 14: the Anointing of the Sick will take place at the 5:00 Mass for those who are in need of healing, physically and/or emotionally.  The Harvest Dinner will take place beginning at 6:00 with a social time, meal and speaker to follow.

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Why do we admire people who "give their all"? What does "giving my all" mean to me in my life? Do I give my all to my family? to my studies? to sports? What does it mean to "give my all" to God?

classes this evening

Tonight Grade 7 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 - 8:30 PM.

Feast of All Soul's Day Mass and Reception

Our Catholic Tradition has always prayed for the members of the community who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.  At St. Olaf we join the church universal in observance of that tradition at our celebration of the Eucharist on Monday, November 2, at 7:00 PM.  At this Mass we remember all our members who have gone to the Lord during the past year.  Following this liturgy there will be a reception in the Gathering Space.  Please join us as we honor all those who have gone before us.