¨Two From Galilee¨ honors the beautiful love story between Mary and Joseph and focuses on their family's relationships leading up to the birth of Jesus.

SHOW DATES AND TIMES:

*Thursday, February 12,  2015    7:00 p.m. (Sneak Preview)

*Final dress rehearsal; all seats $5.00

Friday, February 13, 2015 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, February 14, 2015 1:00 p.m.

Senior tickets are $5.00

Saturday, February 14, 2015 7:00 p.m. 

*Dinner theater option offered.  Click HERE for the dinner theater flyer.

Sunday, February 15, 2015 3:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale after Masses, or reserved by calling 651-415-3367

Reserved seating for all performances

Doors open 30 min. prior to show time

Ticket Prices:  Adults $12.00, Children, Students & Seniors $8.00

Ash Wednesday Services, February 18

Stations of the Cross (held in Chapel unless otherwise noted)

February 20 - 12:00 noon and 5:30pm Stations of the Cross

February 27 - 12:00 noon and 5:30pm Stations of the Cross

March 6 - 12:00 noon Stations of the Cross

March 13 - 12:00 noon and 5:30pm Stations of the Cross

March 20 - 12:00 noon and 5:30pm Stations of the Cross

March 27 - 12:00 noon Stations of the Cross and 5:30pm 

Click HERE for the complete worship schedules.

St. Clare has arrived!  A second columbaruim has been installed in our St. Odilia Prayer Garden.  

This columbarium wall dedicated to St. Clare beautifully complements  the round columbarium dedicated to St. Francis and is situated on the plaza to the east of St. Francis. The new curved wall holds 160 niches, 80 facing east and 80 facing west.  Be sure to check out this beautiful new addition to our Prayer Garden!  For more info about the St. Odilia Prayer Garden click HERE.

- The Prayer Garden Committee

Four St. Odilia Expansion Design action teams have been formed to begin to address the results of the Feasibility Study that took place this past fall.  The teams include: Design, Communications, Finance and Development, Mission and Vision.  Stay tuned for regular updates on their progress. 

Right now, the teams are focusing their efforts on:

Reviewing the questions that you raised during the feasibility meetings and process

Developing a long-term plan for our parish community

Writing a parish vision statement (which defines where we are headed)

Identifying the top priority areas for expansion/redesign consideration (that is, the "musts" and "needs" that will help us continue to live our mission), and

Determining the amount of financial support that will be needed for facilities improvement.

During the coming months, they will work to actively communicate how proposed expenditures will fulfill genuine needs for our future success in ministering to our parish community. 

Brrrrrrrr!  There were 17 plungers from St. Odilia School and Preschool along with Father James Peterson who braved the cold waters of White Bear Lake on Saturday, January 31. It was all for a good cause; to raise money for the Special Olympics of Minnesota.  Watch the video below:

St. Odilia Polar Plunge 2015

The 2015 Catholic Services Appeal is underway. The Board of Directors of the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation thanks all who contributed in 2014 to this organization that is raising funds to support CSA funded ministries. The 2014 campaign did just as well as the 2013 campaign.

The Appeal funds services that no one parish or individual can do alone and these services must go on despite these troubled times in our archdiocese. It is important to know that contributions to the Catholic Services Appeal are being used for the benefit of designated ministries of the Appeal.  Please visit the new Catholic Services Appeal Foundation website at csafspm.org for more information.

Many of our parishioners will soon receive or have already received a mailing from the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation requesting your support of the 2015 Catholic Services Appeal. Please respond generously. When you give to the Catholic Services Appeal you provide food and shelter, education, spiritual support, and sacraments to individuals who are in need, disabled, imprisoned, hospitalized, or in nursing homes. You support low-income seniors, pregnant mothers, refugees, and immigrants. You support seminarians preparing for the priesthood, make the annual Archdiocesan Youth Day happen, and help fund the evangelization and catechesis initiatives. You help our 65,000 brothers and sisters at the mission parish of Jesucristo Resucitado in Venezuela.

This year, the theme of the Appeal is: "Be Imitators of Christ". Your gift to the CSA helps to meet that challenge by enabling the funded ministries to reach out and demonstrate Christ's love to many, many people in need. Funds given to the Catholic Services Appeal help to share the message of salvation not only in our parish but throughout our local Church and beyond. Commit to helping the CSA supported ministries. Then, please contemplate God's gifts to you and reflect on your gratitude for these gifts. Your financial support for the work of our parish and vital ministries throughout this local Church is one way to express this gratitude.

Please note that when contributions from our parish reach our goal of $109,599, 25% of all funds received from our parish will be returned for use to support our own ministries of worship, education and outreach.

Baby Shower for Birthright/Kitui Kenya Presentation:  

Everyone is invited to join the St. Odilia Council of Catholic Women and the Mothers and Others Group on Thurs., Feb. 12 from 9:30am - 11:00am in the Courtyard.  Enjoy a special presentation by Lucy Johnson, President of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women. Lucy recently joined an archdiocese delegation to Kitui, Kenya to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the collaboration between our archdiocese and the Kitui Diocese. 

She will show pictures from the many events she participated in and talk about the life and work of the women of Kitui. Please bring new or gently used baby items which we will donate to Birthright. Baby diapers are also very much appreciated. If you are able to help with refreshments, please call Flo at 

651-484-8670 or email: florence507@comcast.net. 

Florence Schmidt Appointed as ACCW President:   

Congratulations to parishioner Florence Schmidt, current St. Odilia Council of Catholic Women Co-President and President of the St. Paul Deanery, on her appointment by Archbishop Nienstedt to be President of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women.  

The ACCW annual convention will be held April 17 & 18 at the Church of St. Dominic's in Northfield and all women are welcome to attend.  More info:  www.accwarchspm.org   The convention includes the installation Florence as new president on Friday evening by Bishop Piché.

Hi, Kids!!!  Are you ready for Kids' Choir and Bell Choir Spring 2015 Edition???

We always welcome new singers and players!!!!

When: Kids' Vocal Choir: 4:10 - 5:00pm, Kids' Bell Choir: 5 - 5:45pm  On these Wednesdays: Feb. 4, 18 (no bells), 25, Mar. 4, 11, 25, Apr. 8, 15, 22, 29, May 6

Who:  Kids' Choir is open to all parish students in  grades 1-5.  Students who wish to play in the bell choir must be in 3-5 grades and be proficient in reading music (at least one year of instrumental lessons).

Registration Form:  Click HERE for a registration form. The children may bring registration forms to the first session on Feb 4 or drop them off in the school office.    

Cost: FREE 

Performance: We will prepare music to be presented at two Masses: Sun., April 12 at 11am and Sun., May 10 (Mother's Day) at 9am. 

See you soon! 

Lynda Savard, Children's Music Coordinator, 651-636-5519 tomnlynda@gmail.com

This is just a big THANK YOU to all of the St. Odilia School teachers and the students who helped make some absolutely beautiful Lenten cards for the elders (over 80 years old) from St. Odilia!  They are a beautiful way to connect our youth with some of the founding members of the church who might not be able to attend some or all of the Lenten Services.

I think these can be a powerful reminder of the connectedness that we need to maintain among the generations.  Along with your student's cards we will be sending out a daily Lenten reflection booklet that can a companion throughout the Lenten season.

I'm sure that I'll see many a refrigerator adorned with the children's pictures when I get out to visit with some of our elders this Lent.  Blessings on all that you do and may your Lenten Season bring you closer to Christ!   

- Deacon Jim

• What: 8-week course on how climate change impacts all of the people in the world.
• When: Feb 5 - March 26, Thursdays, 7:00-9:30pm
• Where: St. Odilia Classrooms 1301, 1303-1305, Library
• Cost: $5 for books and materials
• Source: Catholic Coalition on Climate Change and Just Faith Ministries.
• Sponsor: St. Odilia Social Justice Council

It's not too late to take part in this Lenten study group sponsored by the Social Justice Council!  Just come to one of the Thursday sessions at 7:00 p.m. between now and March 26 in the rooms listed above.  Join us in prayer and study as we try to discover how we can become better stewards of God's creation.

Make your Lent more meaningful this year by learning what the Catholic Christian response to climate change could be.  Join us as we read, pray, discuss messages from the Pope, the Bishop's Environmental Justice Program, videos, Catholic Relief Service studies, and scientific papers confirming scientific consensus on climate change.  The program will conclude with concrete calls to action.  For more info: contact Jerry Tiller, 763-572-8740 or tidbit@bitstream.net.

Monthly green envelopes and special collections

Our parish does an amazing job of sharing our abundant blessings with thousands of others through charitable outreach supported through special monthly giving in the form of your "green" envelopes and special collections.  

The chart below illustrates your generosity to our outreach efforts in 2014.

A Supply Drive for Homeless People

As you know we have many people living without basic supplies in shelters, transitional housing, and in streets or places not intended for human habitation. These brothers and sisters of ours have a great need for hygiene supplies. February 1- 22 we will be collecting items that will be donated to Health Care for the Homeless, Listening House, and SafeZone (a resource center for youth ages 14-20 who are striving for a safe place to meet their goals and work towards independence). Items needed are:

Travel size deodorant, disposable razors, hand and body lotion, toothpaste & toothbrushes, sanitary pads & tampons, small soaps, baby wipes, bottles, pacifiers, teething rings, winter gloves, hats, socks & underwear, sunscreen, pocket tissues, hand sanitizers.  A collection bin is on the counter in the Courtyard marked Caring Hearts.  Thank you for remembering those in need.

- Deacon Jim Saumweber