Weekly Calendar

Sunday, October 2 - Parish Breakfast, 9:00 AM to Noon; Sunday School, 10:15 to 11:30; Tuesday, October 4 - Women's Prayer Group, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM; Wednesday, October 5 - Grade 7 Religious Education, 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM; Grades 1-6 Religious Education, 6:15 PM to 7:30 PM; High School Youth Ministry, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM; 8th Grade Small Faith Groups are scheduled to meet this week; Thursday, October 6 - Men's Prayer Group, 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM; Friday, October 7 - Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary; Eucharistic Adoration, 9:00 AM to Noon ending with Benediction

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (The Corner Stone)

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1–7 (The Vineyard is the House); Second Reading: Philippians 4:6–9 (Do Good); Gospel: Matthew 21:33–43 (Vineyard Owner Leased)
Adults: How does this Gospel expand my understanding of respect for life?
Children: How can I take better care of God’s creatures?

Religious Education Begins Tonight

Religious Education for Grades 1 - 8 will begin this evening in the Church at 6:15 PM.  Regular class times will start next week.  After the prayer service this evening parents and children should go to the school to find which classroom they will be in this year and to meet the catechists and the classroom aides and to pickup books etc.

National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding

In 1990, the U.S. Congress established the first week of October as Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW). This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with community groups in your area to raise awareness about mental illness. Tuesday of Mental Illness Awareness Week is designated as The National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding. It has had widespread support by individual congregations and National Faith Community Mental Illness Networks.  The following is a prayer to be used on October 4th or any time for that matter:
   Loving Creator, we come to you on this National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Recovery and Understanding because we know that you are a God of love and compassion. We come as people of all creeds and all nations seeking your presence, comfort and guidance. We come as individuals living with mental illness, family
members, friends, co-workers and mental health professionals. We come this day because we believe that you, Divine One, love each one of us just as we are. You walk with us onour individual journeys through life. You see the ignorance and injustice that divide and separate persons living with mental illness and you weep with us.
   Give us courage to face our challenges and open us today to the many ways you are already working in our midst. Help us to identify mental illness as the disease it is, that we might have courage and wisdom in the face of ignorance and stigma. Inspire us as we seek to overcome fear, acquire knowledge and advocate for compassionate and enlightened treatment and services.
   Lead us as we open our hearts and homes, our communities and job opportunities, our houses of worship and communities of faith. Enable us to find ways to include persons living with mental illness in our everyday lives. Be with doctors, therapists, researchers, social workers and all those in the helping professions as they seek to overcome ignorance and injustice with care and compassion. 
   Sometimes, Divine Spirit, we feel discouraged and hopeless in the face of so many challenges. Help us to see ourselves as you see us—persons of value and worth, persons of creativity and potential. May we come to understand the interconnectedness of mind, body and spirit in bringing about health and wholeness. And may we go forward into our communities with a renewed sense of vision, hope and possibility for the future.  Amen.

Reverend Susan Gregg-Schroeder

Pontiff to Parents: Keep Striving to Be a Model for Your Children

Benedict XVI is encouraging parents not to give up in their efforts to be a reference point for their children. The Holy Father said that children need to discover the "face of true love" in "constancy and the sense of duty." He also exhorted families to "be a sign of hope in present-day society."

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A - The Sheep know and Follow

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25–28 (Repent!); Second Reading: Philippians 2:1–11 (Be Christ Like); Gospel: Matthew 21:28–32 (He repented and Went)
Adults: How can I identify the things that keep me bound to an old way of living and cut off from God’s grace?
Children: How can I let God know that I want to do what he wants me to do?

Weekly Calendar

Sunday, September 25 - Sunday School begins at 10:15 (if you have not registered contact Kathy), Baptism Prep Session, 9:30 AM; Tuesday, September 27 - Women's Prayer Group, 6:30 - 7:30 AM in the gathering space; Wednesday, September 28 - Religious Education begins at 6:15 in the church, after we pray together the children and parents will visit classrooms to meet catechists, pick up books etc., High School Youth Ministry will meet at 7:00 - 8:30 PM in the Loft; Thursday, September 29 - Men's Prayer Group, 6:00 - 7:00 AM in the gathering space.

Weekly Calendar

Monday, September 12 - Couples Bible Study, 6:30 PM.
Tuesday, September 13 - Sacred Worship Meeting, 6:30 PM, Meeting Room 3.
Wednesday, September 14 - Catechist Potluck and beginning of the year meeting, 6:00 PM in the Gathering Space.
Thursday, September 15 - Men's Prayer Group, 6:00 AM in the Gatherings Space
Sunday, September 18 - Catechetical Sunday.  

Papal Intentions for September

General Papal Intention for September

That all teachers may know how to communicate love of the truth and instill authentic moral and spiritual values.

Mission Papal Intention for September
That the Christian communities of Asia may proclaim the Gospel with fervor, witnessing to its beauty with the joy of faith.

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A (The Last shall be First)

First Reading: Isaiah 55:6–9 (Seek while you Can); Second Reading: Philippians 1:20c–24, 27a (Christ will be Glorified); Gospel: Matthew 20:1–16a (The First will be Last)

Adults: Have I ever complained because God was generous to others who in my opinion did not deserve it?

Children: Do I get upset when one of my friends gets something that I think I deserve?

7th Grade Small Faith Group Orientation

This evening all 7th graders and at least one of their parents will be part of the Small Faith Group Orientation beginning at 6:30 PM in the St. Olaf Conference Room (school cafeteria).  See you there.