Ladies, grab the favorite women in your life and come hear from Kenna Millea!
6:30 PM - Social Time
7:00 PM - Speaker
8:00 PM - Additional Social Time
8:30 PM - Close
Please RSVP by Thursday, November 7.
Click here for complete details on Women of Grace and the 2024 gathering schedule.
Join audiences nationwide for a one-night-only theatrical release of Radiating Joy, a heartwarming documentary film about the life of Michelle Duppong. A former FOCUS missionary, Michelle’s story of unwavering faith and joy in the face of a courageous battle with cancer is a powerful reminder of the peace that comes from trusting in God's plan. Her journey invites us all to reflect on the power of faith that comes from living for Christ. Gather your friends, family, and parish community for an uplifting evening at the movies. Don’t miss this opportunity to see a truly remarkable story of faith and love on the big screen.
Watch kickoff of the Into the Depths Speaker Series! Fr. Nick Vance will dive deep into the profound mystery of the Eucharist with a captivating presentation inspired by the liturgy for Corpus Christ written by St. Thomas Aquinas. This one verse from the Alleluia will be the foundation of the 4-part talk:
“O sacred banquet! in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given.”
In this session, we will explore the theological richness of the Eucharist in four parts:
Christ is Truly Received: Uncover the doctrine of transubstantiation and what it means for us.
Memorial of Christ’s Passion: Experience how this sacred meal brings Christ’s sacrifice into the present moment.
Filled with Grace: Discover the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives.
Anticipation of Future Glory: Reflect on our hope for complete union with God in Heaven.
Each segment will be a thoughtful 10-minute exploration, complete with a handout outlining major points and key quotations to enhance your understanding. If you have questions, please contact Jessica.
Several priests will be available throughout the day to hear your Confession.
A light soup supper will be served from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM, available to all as long as supplies last.
Use an “Examination of Conscience” before going—we have copies of these outside both crying rooms at OLG. Feel free to take one! It walks you through how to go to Confession, helps you remember what your sins are, and even has the Act of Contrition on it in case you don’t have it memorized.
It’s ok to write your sins down. This can help us to remember all the sins we want to confess, especially if it has been a while since we’ve gone to Confession.
Be bold, be brief, and be gone! When we go to Confession all we need to do is name our sins (and if it’s a grave sin, the approximate number of times it happened). We don’t need to give any background. Here is a good example of this: “I have gossiped at work, I have been unkind to my parents, and I have had too much to drink on one occasion.” That's it! That's all we have to do. Confessing in this way ensures that our sins are forgiven and that there’s enough time for everyone else in line to receive God’s mercy as well.
Confession is not spiritual direction. While it’s ok to ask the priest questions in Confession if we have them, and the priest may offer some advice on occasion, the confessional is primarily for receiving absolution and grace to live virtuously. If someone wants some counsel about something, they can always contact the priest and set up a meeting.
The priest is the garbage man—he’s just there to take out the trash. He’s not interested in or scandalized by what’s in the trash. He’s heard it all before! He’s just happy that another soul is freed from its sin.
Don’t be afraid. Confession is where we receive God’s love and mercy. I promise you’ll be glad you went.
Our 4th - 8th Grade OLG School students will host a Veterans Day Program that includes a speech, a few songs played by our student band and a chance for students to visit with veterans.
RSVP here by Wednesday, November 6.
Throughout the month of November, OLG is partnering with several military veteran organizations to provide items to local veterans. Items needed: New men’s undershirts, underwear and socks, reusable bags (i.e. duffle, backpack) and bags of coffee. Please place donated items into the giving bins outside Cassidy Hall.
Sunday Rehearsals until December 22, 10:35 AM, Mercy Music Loft
Be a Jubilate Kid and join the Kids Choir! 3rd and 4th graders of our parish and school are invited to join the Jubilate Kids Choir for the Christmas Eve Masse at 4:00 PM! Six rehearsals will be held on Sunday mornings, plus a walk-through rehearsal on December 18 followed by a Pizza Party! Virtus-trained parent helpers are also needed.
Contact Mary Jo Cole at maryjocole@comcast.net or call her at 952-334-0165 with questions or for more information about the Jubilate Choir.
PLEASE NOTE: We will not be singing at the 2:00 PM Mass.
Saturday, November 9, 9:30 - 11:00 AM, OLG Church
All mothers of young children are invited to join us in Holy Hour. Come and receive peace before the intensity of the Holidays by sitting with Jesus. Fellowship will be held afterwards in the Dining Room.
Limited childcare is available, click here to reserve a spot.
Are you happy or unhappy with the election results? Do you want to communicate with your elected officials and let them know you are following their work even after campaign season is over? Join the Catholic Advocacy Network and stay informed on important issues affecting life, dignity, and the common good. You can receive a newsletter, 'action alerts' when important legislation is pending, as well as easy ways to contact your elected officials. Jason Adkins, Esq., Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, explained to us at our fall Lunch and Learn that for every 1 letter or email a politician receives on an issue, they 'count' it as 10, assuming that other constituents care about the same issue but are not taking time to write in. Your participation makes a difference! To join the Catholic Advocacy Network, click here or text "CAN" to 1-651-998-7322.
Prayer after the Election from the US Council of Catholic Bishops:
God of all nations, Father of the human family, we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy in these United States of America.
We ask for your protection and guidance for all who devote themselves to the common good, working for justice and peace at home and around the world.
We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants, those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges, those in the military and law enforcement.
Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord, with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment to achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people, and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst. Amen.
The Catholic bishops of Minnesota encourage all Catholics to vote in the 2024 election, guided by prayer, with a focus on human dignity. Recognizing that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and therefore has inherent dignity, the bishops emphasize that many issues debated by elected officials significantly impact this principle. On April 2, 2024, the Church released a Declaration on Human Dignity, titled Dignitatis Infinita. This document provides insights into how contemporary issues such as abortion, war, poverty, assisted suicide, and gender relate to human dignity.
The Minnesota Catholic Conference urges Catholics to utilize this declaration alongside the USCCB's Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship to educate themselves and guide their voting decisions for local, state, and federal offices in the upcoming November election. While no candidate may fully align with all Catholic values, we are called to participate actively in shaping our communities through thoughtful and prayerful civic engagement.
Ultimately, voting is an expression of love—love for God, love for neighbor, and love for the world we inhabit. By casting our ballots with a well-formed conscience, we participate in the civic life of our community in a way that reflects our deepest values and hopes for society. We are called to be salt and light in the world (see Matthew 5:13-16). Voting with a Catholic conscience is one way we can bring the light of Christ into the public square, working toward a society that respects life, promotes justice, and upholds human dignity.
To help Catholics prepare to vote, Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) has created a collection of resources, including specific information on Catholic Social Teaching, faithful citizenship, human dignity, and political guidelines for parishes. These resources, designed to guide and inform voters, can be found by clicking the titles below:
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Examination of Conscience: Loving Our Neighbors in the Public Square
Scripture Meditation: Pope Francis and the Parable of the Good Samaritan
Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics
As Catholics, we must never be afraid of bringing our faith into the public square. However, because the Church is not a political entity, we must make sure that our individual advocacy efforts are kept distinct from the Church’s teaching voice. Their guidelines for parish and church organization political activity clearly lay out which activities are prohibited, and which are permissible.
In the United States, 1 out of every 4 pregnancies ends in miscarriage and 1 out of every 160 pregnancies end in stillbirth. These numbers do not include infant death from preterm labor, diagnosis of life-limiting conditions, or SIDS. This reality has impacted many of us and those we love. These children will forever hold a place in our hearts!
With great hope, we entrust these children to the mercy of God. In the Catechism we hear “Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all… should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: ‘Let the children come to me, do not hinder them’” (1261).
For those suffering from the loss of a child, there are good resources available…
The Catholic Miscarriage Support website was created by a Twin Cities couple after they experienced the devastation of miscarriage. The site offers advice for physical, spiritual, emotional recovery following miscarriage. The site also provides suggested resources, and advice for family and friends as they support their loved ones through their loss (https://www.catholicmiscarriagesupport.com).
The Catholic Cemeteries in our Archdiocese offer a Service of Remembrance (https://catholic-cemeteries.org/service-of-remembrance).
Two highly rated books:
Nursery of Heaven – Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss in the Lives of the Saints and Today’s Parents by Cassie Everts and Patrick O’Hearn.
Grieving Together: A Couple's Journey Through Miscarriage by Laura Kelly Fanucci and Franco David Fanucci.
This month, as a community of faith, we pray for these beloved children and for those parents who have lost a child, that one day we will all live together with Jesus in heaven.
There is a refreshment, a peace, a recentering on Jesus that oftentimes is experienced by those on a retreat. If you have never been on a retreat, have not been on a retreat for some time (over a year), or even if you were on our most recent retreat, we would love for you to join us.
Regardless of what life is feeling like right now, an annual retreat is a must for every Catholic. We step away from the pace of life to breathe. We take time to be intentional with the Lord and to hear His still, small voice in the silence. We have the opportunity to commit or recommit to living an intentional and abundant life in Christ. As Saint Paul writes, “And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 4:19). God is the answer to our desires. May we open up our hearts to the full and lasting satisfaction that can come from God alone.
We will be heading about an hour away to the beautiful Dunrovin Retreat Center, located north of Stillwater. 50 acres of the natural outdoors—a gorgeous woods for walking and simply being out in nature with the St. Croix River right there to remind us of the beauty of God’s creation.
Registration is full for this event.
Great news! The Catholic Community Foundation (CCF) has awarded Our Lady of Grace a grant in the amount of $2,000 to support the Young Professionals Fall Retreat! Grants like this help keep the cost of retreats and other programs affordable for the members of our Young Professionals ministry. Thank you, CCF!
