This WEEKEND!

This coming Sunday night is the first Teen Mass of the school year. November 9th, 5pm. Presider: Fr. Nels Gjengdahl. Come for this powerful Mass that is passionate, energetic, and faith-filled.

WATCH THIS VIDEO

March for Life
 
Also, did you know students are making preparations now to attend the March for Life in January 2015
 
 
 
Holy Heros 
St. Leonard

 Feast Day

November 6th

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During the month of October students at St. Michael Catholic School have been raising awareness about bullying and how to prevent it. This week at Mass the student reflection focused on doing the right thing. Please join the children's Mass for a mid-week reflection and Eucharist! Every Wednesday at 8am.

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November 2014

 

Greetings! 

      

        From before Thanksgiving until after Christmas there is a great focus on food, in our society. There is a focus on special foods, sweet foods, abundant foods, all accompanied by special and enjoyable drinks. There is a focus on collecting food for those less fortunate and finding time for parties among friends and co-workers. Thanksgiving and Christmas would be very different celebrations if we removed all the special foods that are associated with them. 

     For centuries, human beings have celebrated special events and important days with special food and drink. More important than celebrating with gifts or elaborate clothing, food that is above and beyond our daily fare has marked human festivities for as long as we can remember. 

     I believe that there is a lesson for us in the natural human desire to recognize the "exceptional" by doing what is "ordinary" in the very best way that we can. 

     Providing special gifts that families can enjoy when they cannot afford to purchase them, is a caring, Christian tradition. But I would be so bold as to suggest that our efforts to provide special and "better than average" food for people throughout this time of year can be an even greater expression of compassion and love.

     Following the example of Blessed Mother Theresa, we show our faith when we bring joy to others by doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. 

     The Prophet Isaiah described the ultimate triumph of God in terms of a banquet (25:6-8). "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever." 

     The forgiveness of the prodigal son is accompanied by a banquet. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a wedding feast. Jesus celebrates the New Covenant with his disciples by gathering them to share a Last Supper with him. 

     One of the most lasting and enjoyable memories I have from this season are memories of being in the family kitchen, working with my mother and sisters to create extraordinary treats that we could share with each other and with friends. I do not remember any gifts that smelled as wonderful as those baked at home. I understand that not every family has the time for such baking and shared cooking these days. I do not mean to criticize anyone but, personally, I have always valued this kind of holiday experience.

     The child of Bethlehem chose to stay among his people as food, as ordinary bread that has been transformed in an extraordinary way. Essentially, the months of November and December are just like all the other months and yet we experience them in very special ways. The best of food can turn an ordinary day into a very special day. The wonderful foods and Christmas and Thanksgiving can turn an ordinary season into a very memorable one.


Thanksgiving Day Mass, Thursday Morning
November 27th, 9:00 a.m.

Beginning Nov 15th there will be a Thanksgiving Day poster in the Narthex. The poster will have slips of paper nearby with a box so that parishioners can write what they are thankful for or offer up a prayer intention. Some of these prayers will be used during the Thanksgiving Day Mass.



CELEBRATING THE
FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
AND ALL SOULS

An Article from the Parish Council
By Dave Orham
 

      We have just passed two wonderful feasts in the life of our Church: the Feast of All Saints and the Feast of All Souls. The Feast of All Saints celebrates all saints, known and unknown. The Feast of All Souls remembers those who are not quite there yet. The members of the Church can use the two days to look at the lives of those who have gone before us and use those as models for our own lives. 

      There are so many saints from whom we can choose to emulate: St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John Paul II, and so many more. Each one followed his own path to life in Jesus Christ: St. Teresa of Calcutta served the poorest of the poor and saw Jesus in everyone; St. Therese of Lisieux did small things with great love; and St. John Paul II boldly proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Matthew Kelly says, there has been no more diverse group of people than the saints. Each of us can find a saint that best suits our personality. Do you remember whom you chose as your confirmation saint ? Which attribute(s) did he or she exhibit that inspired that choice? 

      On the Feast of All Souls, we commemorate the faithful departed who have not been completely purged of the stain of sin. God's love is burning that stain away so that the soul can be in total communion with Him. Our prayers for God's Mercy on these souls are powerful and can aid in releasing them from Purgatory. They, in turn, will pray for you. 

      The faithful on earth are here to be Christ to those around them. After Pentecost, the disciples went out into the world and put into practice what Jesus taught; namely feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and clothing the naked. They also preached the Word of God to those who would hear. That is what we are called to do as well. The families of the Church of St. Michael have responded to this call by meeting the needs of our neighbors whether they are next door or thousands of miles away. 

      The saints in Heaven, the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and the faithful on earth form the Communion of Saints, the Mystical Body of Christ. Isn't it wonderful to be joined with those close to the Heart of God?

  




NEWS & UPCOMING EVENTS

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION OPENINGS
Tuesday's: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.. Thursday's:  8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. To sign up please contact, DeAnne Shea at 952-402-0385 or 952-412-6274 or [email protected]

THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING 
For all of you who responded to God' invitation and filled out a "Step Up to Stewardship Invite" card, the Disipleship Committee would like to say THANK YOU!! We want you to know that we are working with Parish Council members to ensure everyone who filled out an invite will be contacted by the end of November to discuss ways in which you can become more involved in doing God's work here at St. Michael! Thank you for responding.

MASS INTENTIONS CALENDAR 2015            
  
The Mass Intentions calendar for 2015 is open for requests now. You may submit your Mass intentions request either in person, by phone, or email. Please contact Jane Keough for more information. 952-447-2491 or [email protected].

 

ECUMENICAL COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING 
WORSHIP SERVICE     
Join us for an Ecumenical Community Thanksgiving Worship Service on Sunday, November 23, 2014 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake. Members of St. Michael Catholic Church will be participating in this service (combined choir, ushers, etc.) Non-perishable food items and monetary donations will be collected to benefit CAP Agency Food Shelf. Bring your favorite pie to share at the Pie Social following worship.

 

SCRIP - Get your SCRIP NOW
As you prepare for the holidays, please stock up on gift certificates through our SCRIP program. Scrip is a no-cost program that raises money for our church and school. Simply buy gift certificates from store you plan to shop anyway! Easy and Free! Stock up on gift certificates for gas, groceries, dining out and many other stores. 
 
PRAYERS FOR THOSE ATTENDING QUEST  
Prayers go out to the 9th graders who are attending the Quest Retreat this weekend. If your 9th grader was not able to attend this retreat there is another opportunity December 12 & 13. Please contact Pat Millea with questions. [email protected] or 952-447-9056

 

500 CARD CLUB

Join us for cards on Saturday evening, November 8th at 7pm in the Archangel's Hall. Bring your own beverage and an appetizer to share. Please call Marge Ells at 952-440-3004 today!
  
ALTAR SEVERS NEEDED
If your child is in 5th to 8th grade and would like to be an alter server please call Deacon Dick at the parish office 952-447-2491 or email at [email protected]

ST. MICHAEL PARENT RETREATS
Moms: November 14 & 15th
Dads: November 21 & 22 Retreats are Friday 6:45 to 9:30pm and Saturday 8:00am to 6:00pm (ends with Mass) 
Please contact Pat Millea if you have questions or to sign up [email protected] or 952-447-9056
 
FAMILY FUN NIGHT - Saturday, Nov 15th 6-9pm
St. Michael Catholic School. All parishioners are invited to join us for a night of family fun! There will be board games, a table filled with art supplies, open gym, and more! Bring your neighbors and friends and enjoy good conversation and laughs. Pre-purchase Dominos Pizza for dinner by contacting Maggie Stack at [email protected] or 952-452-3485. Order by November 12th. Water will be available, feel free to bring your own beverage.

PARISH EVENTS CALENDAR 
Please open the following link to see what is happening at our parish. (Events subject to change)

"'Take the fatted calf and slaughter it.  Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'  Then the celebration began."   (Luke 15:23-24)

 

Sincerely,


Fr. Tom Sieg, Pastor 

Church of St. Michael

  Questions or comments regarding this newsletter? Email us at [email protected] or call 952-447-9045.

Interested in writing a story for The Angelus?
Contact Heidi Preslicka at
[email protected]
   
 
Church of St. Michael  16311 Duluth Ave. SE  Prior Lake, MN 55372