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Purification, water, and cleansed heart: Ezekiel 36: Thursday, August 20th, 2020
The conversation between the young man and Jesus (Matthew 19:16-22): Monday, August 17th, 2020
Bulletin Points for Shepherds and Sheep: Wednesday, August 19th, 2020
"I do believe. Help my unbelief.": 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time “I do believe, help my unbelief!”
Brothers and sisters, our family needs support in a few different places. Specially, we have many people making decisions, according to their discernment and their health, as our service could always use more support. Here is where:
At our Tabernacle Society, we need several individuals. Many years ago, we had 8-10 different teams that took turns to clean our parish. Many of these men and women have served for many years. Now it is time for new generations to use your time and talent—stewardship, to continue to clean our parishes! This not only keeps us safe during Covid-19 but also saves money for our budgets. If you or your family would be able to serve this way, please contact me, Les Hendrickson, or Jackie Glowack. We could also need support in our St. Thomas Aquinas cemetery. And if you love history, this would be a place for you! I mean, we have records for our cemetery and plots almost a century old! As we are very blessed with a crew of parishioners that have been cutting and trimming the grass, we could also use some muscle to fix some headstones and footstones to keep our buried brothers and sisters revered. Also, we do have a Cemetery Board, which is also needed. Again, please call me, Les Hendrickson or Jackie Glowack. Finally, as I want to connect to our families in our parishioners, please know that we continue to grow with students who have been registered at St. Thomas Aquinas School Saints—praise God! Please continue to pray for all of our (home)schools, public schools, and ours that God's will may be done. If you know anyone in your family, friends, or acquaintances who are still discerning where to send their kids to go, please pass our school's number at 283-3430. God Bless! Cool ways that our Daily Readings were Organized and Jeremiah: Monday, August 1st, 2020
The Transfiguration, Peter, James, John, Elijah, Moses and Jesus: Thursday, August 6th, 2020
John 12:24 points to Martyrs: Monday, August 10th, 2020 (St. Lawrence)
Parish Bulletin Article: "New School Information": 8-9-20
We have some more information with transparency as we are beginning to prepare for St. Thomas Aquinas School. I will first mention some of the significant thoughts of how we spoke about in our School Advisory Committee. The first question—which was pretty powerful—was asking what their first words these last few months: marathon, full (positive, negative), emotional, grateful, appreciate, protective, anxious, lots of details, worried, losing minds, drama, over it, different emotions, not stable, so busy—stay focused, terrible. For me, the openness of our members began our meeting by listening with each other. And that is how I want our team/family to walk with each other. Next, our goal is to have your school five days a week. Our faculty, parents, and students at St. Thomas Aquinas School may grow with peace and calmness during this time. Our school is a Catholic/Christian School, allowing many opportunities for prayerfulness, "holy spaces," safety, health, and of course, Jesus Christ. Also, we will be having max numbers for classrooms: PreK = 10 students per session, Kindergarten = 10, First-Second Classroom = 15, Third-Fourth = 15, Fifth-Sixth Grade = 15. We have done the best we could speak with all of our families who had their student's last school year, as well as our families at our parishioners. It will now offer registration for families in our community. Please call our school and registration as soon as possible due to the safety of the maxed classrooms. Finally, adding to this bulletin article, you may pick up Principle Jerry's Covid-19 Preparedness Plan. Now, he did not make this up by himself! He received a lot of information as our Dioceses worked together within the Minnesota state that arrived at our Diocese of Duluth. After that point, it came to our school. At the same time, each school will experience different situations, especially at the beginning of the year. May we all pray for our students, parents, families, teachers, administrators, and our whole family as school 2020-2021 school year begins! God Bless!
“What will separate us from the love of Christ?”: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” · A great letter to the Romans by St. Paul · As he continues o “Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” · I must keep focusing on this, especially when I have moments of nervousness, not knowing the finish line · No matter what, we must know of his love, seek to his love, not what we can achieve And with His love, we heard from Isaiah again: · “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost…” o Again, this probably makes sense when our lives our comfortable o But what if you are literally thirsty? No food? No money? Free? § These are different around the world in reality. § And of course, Jesus is also showing our spiritual journeys Finally, the connection of the above: five loaves and two fish · Is the crowd fed? Yes, with a full belly. · Is the crowd fed in a different way, too? Yes, with a chance to see how God shows us the more important lives beyond this place. · Body and soul seeking the revolution of redemption. · Devil tempted Jesus: “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
Forgiveness, especially during Stressful Times: Thursday, August 13th, 2020
"He brought a child...": Tuesday, August 11th, 2020
Elijah, Peter, and Ourselves: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Elijah and Peter have similar experiences Elijah on the high of a mountain, in a cave
Now Peter’s experience
§ He did so, then, similar to Elijah, “Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened;” § By the way…isn’t this us today? § “…beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”” § And this too? Now, aren’t some of us like Elijah, strong, faithful, and trust in what he saw and how he reacted? · Aren’t some of us acting like Peter, wanting to walk on water, focusing to Jesus Christ, but realizing our fear with all the challenges we see, like the wind, like the storm, like the waves? · Or, aren’t most of us doing both? “Lord, save us!” And he will Or, “Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.” And he wants to do that too! Parish Bulletin Article: "Principal Jerry's Letter": 8-2-20
Dear Parents, I know many of you are concerned about sending your children to school and knowing what is the best option for keeping them safe. Should they be sent to school? Keep them home? Home school? On-line enrollment? Attend St. Thomas school? Enroll in the public school with distance learning or hybrid instruction? There are many options available to you. This is a personal, emotional and difficult decision to make. Each individual case is different. We understand and support you in whatever decision you make. It is decision time. We need to know if you will enroll your child at St. Thomas School for the 2020-21 school year. Our plans are to open up and provide face-to-face instruction. A COVID-19 Preparedness Plan has been drafted and is being reviewed by or Advisory Community, staff members, and public health officials. Once feedback is received, copies of our plan will be made available to parents, parishioners, and the general public. Our plan calls for capping enrollment at 10 students per grade and preschool section. We have had several request for enrollment information from new families. To ensure your child has a spot at St. Thomas School, we need you to contact the school and let us know your intentions. Even if you notified us earlier in the year, please contact us again. Our community health situation is very fluid and people may have changed their plans. We need current information. You can respond to this notice immediately via e-mail at jerry.hilfer@duluthcatholic.org or call the school office starting August 3 to give us the information. Heather will be in the office at that time to receive your calls. Please continue to be safe, stay positive and practice social distancing. We look forward to a new school year. May God continue to protect and watch over you and your family. Sincerely, Jerry Hilfer, Principal Dogfish or Ocean Fish: Thursday, July 30th, 2020
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