FEBRUARY 28, 2021 FEBRUARY 28, 2021 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT SAINTOLAF.ORG • PAGE 1 SAINT OLAF CATHOLIC CHURCH • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA • 612-332-7471 • SAINTOLAF.ORG PASSING THE LENTEN TEST by Mary Kennedy, Parish Administrator One of those not-to-be-erased memories of my grade school years, the kind that stays with me, is that of “Test Day.” Test Day always started the same way. First an announcement along the lines of: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please completely close all of your books, place any papers in their proper folder, clear your desk completely, and make sure you neatly store all of your belongings inside your desk, with the exception of your #2 pencil and pink eraser.” The palms of my hands would begin to get damp. Nervous excitement quickly followed. A second pronouncement: “Eyes to the front, sit up straight, and pass the papers over your head to the student behind you.” I am not sure why we needed to pass the papers over our heads, but perhaps there was a chance of an errant answer shared by turning towards your seat mate. No matter. Just like Pavlov’s dog, my senses were on high alert to ascertain if my peers and I would be treated to the favorite part of any testing day. I first looked to see if the stack of tests had the violet ink. If so, as I grabbed the stack of papers I would quickly bring the pile close to my nose and deeply inhale the aroma as I moved the papers up and overhead to the student behind me. The memory of the smell of a freshly made Mimeograph copy remains a favored part of my olfactory system to this day. Mimeograph machines were a staple in the 1970’s classrooms, a precursor to the copy machine. Besides the unique purple color, it was the sweet smell of ink left on the paper. To me, it was the smell of hope and potential. I had an opportunity in front of me that was clean, clear, and open to all of the world’s possibilities. The directions to me were clear: embrace the scent and ace the test. We have been tested this past year in so many ways. It’s sad to think that one of the overarching symptoms of COVID-19 is the loss of one’s sense of smell. We have also suffered with the loss of sight in beholding loved ones faces without a screen between us, the loss of touch through hugs holding our dear family and friends. We have weathered the pain of loss as thousands have succumbed to this pandemic. We have made many sacrifices, some as difficult as Abraham experienced in the commanded sacrifice of his son as told in this weekend’s readings. But sacrifice does not come without love. One does not suffer a loss when it is something of no importance. Grabbing a few coins off the kitchen counter and tossing them into the collection may not be considered sacrificial giving, unless the gift of those coins is transformational to you, the giver. Saying that you will send prayers for others is not the same thing as actually praying. Fasting from meatloaf is not a sacrifice for me as I do not care for meatloaf. During this Lenten Season, find ways that you can live Stewardship as a Way of Life, sharing from your first fruits, spending time in meaningful prayer, fasting from the negativity and the things that keep you from being close to Jesus Christ. We have been tested and we will be tested again. How are you being called to share your gifts with love this Lent? 215 SOUTH 8TH ST, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402 “…because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore” - Genesis 2:16-17
Transcript
FEBRUARY 28, 2021FEBRUARY 28, 2021THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENTTHE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
SAINTOLAF.ORG • PAGE 1
SAINT OLAF CATHOLIC CHURCH • MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA • 612-332-7471 • SAINTOLAF.ORG
PASSING THE LENTEN TEST by Mary Kennedy, Parish Administrator
One of those not-to-be-erased memories of my grade school years, the kind that stays with me, is that of “Test Day.” Test Day always started the same way. First an announcement along the lines of: “Ladies and Gentlemen, please completely close all of your books, place any papers in their proper folder, clear your desk completely, and make sure you neatly store all of your belongings inside your desk, with the exception of your #2 pencil and pink eraser.” The palms of my hands would begin to get damp. Nervous excitement quickly followed. A second pronouncement: “Eyes to the front, sit up straight, and pass the papers over your head to the student behind you.” I am not sure why we needed to pass the papers over our heads, but perhaps there was a chance of an errant answer shared by turning towards your seat mate. No matter. Just like Pavlov’s dog, my senses were on high alert to ascertain if my peers
and I would be treated to the favorite part of any testing day. I first looked to see if the stack of tests had the violet ink. If so, as I grabbed the stack of papers I would quickly bring the pile close to my nose and deeply inhale the aroma as I moved the papers up and overhead to the student behind me. The memory of the smell of a freshly made Mimeograph copy remains a favored part of my olfactory system to this day. Mimeograph machines were a staple in the 1970’s classrooms, a precursor to the copy machine. Besides the unique purple color, it was the sweet smell of ink left on the paper. To me, it was the smell of hope and potential. I had an opportunity in front of me that was clean, clear, and open to all of the world’s possibilities. The directions to me were clear: embrace the scent and ace the test.We have been tested this past year in so many ways. It’s sad to think that one of the overarching symptoms of COVID-19 is the loss of one’s sense of smell. We have also suffered with the loss of sight in beholding loved ones faces without a screen between us, the loss of touch through hugs holding
our dear family and friends. We have weathered the pain of loss as thousands have succumbed to this pandemic. We have made many sacrifices, some as difficult as Abraham experienced in the commanded sacrifice of his son as told in this weekend’s readings. But sacrifice does not come without love. One does not suffer a loss when it is something of no importance. Grabbing a few coins off the kitchen counter and tossing them into the collection may not be considered sacrificial giving, unless the gift of those coins is transformational to you, the giver. Saying that you will send prayers for others is not the same thing as actually praying. Fasting from meatloaf is not a sacrifice for me as I do not care for meatloaf. During this Lenten Season, find ways that you can live Stewardship as a Way of Life, sharing from your first fruits, spending time in meaningful prayer, fasting from the negativity and the things that keep you from being close to Jesus Christ. We have been tested and we will be tested again. How are you being called to share your gifts with love this Lent?
215 SOUTH 8TH ST, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55402
“…because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your son, your only one, I will bless you and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore” - Genesis 2:16-17
READINGS FOR SUNDAY MASSFebruary 28: Gn 22: 1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18, Ps 116, Rom 8: 31b-34, Mk 9: 2-10March 7: (used year B) Ex20: 1-17, Ps 19, 1 Cor 1: 22-25, Jn 2: 13-25WATCH SAINT OLAF SUNDAY MASS ON CABLE TVWatch our Sunday 10:00am Mass on MCN Cable TV Channel 6 on Sunday evenings at 8:00pm and replayed on Mondays at 10:00am.DAILY MASS LIVE STREAMSaint Olaf Live Streams our Monday-Friday 12:00noon Mass and our Sunday 10:00am Mass on YouTube: youtube.com/user/SaintOlafChurch/live.On Facebook, search for and like: Saint Olaf Catholic Church, Downtown Minneapolis. Saint Olaf also archives all of our Masses on the website, www.SaintOlaf.org/media.STATIONS OF THE CROSSFridays at 12:30pm in the church (Live Streamed): February 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26.LENTEN CONFESSIONSMonday through Friday: after the 7:00am MassTuesday, Thursday, & Saturday: after the 12:00noon MassExtended Confessions: Saturday, March 26: 12:30pm to 3:30pmLENTEN REGULATIONSFasting: Restricts eating to one full meal and two lighter meals in the course of a single day, and prohibits eating between meals. This is for Catholics beginning at age 18 until their 59th birthday. Pregnant women and people who are sick are not obligated to fast. Such fasting is obligatory on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.Abstinence: Catholics older than 14 years of age may not eat meat on Ash Wednesday or any Friday of Lent.PALM COLLECTIONNow till Wednesday, March 31st. Old blessed palms can be burned or buried. You may bring them to church for disposal. Place palms in the baskets around Saint Olaf.
SAINTOLAF.ORG • PAGE 2
EVENTS ANDOTHER INFORMATION
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT SAINTOLAF.ORG/EVENTS
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULEADDITIONAL INFORMATION AT SAINTOLAF.ORG
ANNUAL BUDGET AS OF WEEK #32
Thank you for your continued support of Saint Olaf.
WELCOME HOMEPlease be attentive to the following:
• If you are sick, please stay home• Please arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before Mass starts (allow
us to clean the Church between Masses)• Please enter through the Parking Lot doors or the Handicapped Door
off of Eighth Street• Hand sanitizer is available• Please wear a mask and observe social distancing
Building closes at 1:00pm Monday - Friday until further notice.Offices are open until 4:30pm Monday-Thursday SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2712:00 PM MASS12:30 PM CONFESSIONS 4:00 PM MASS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 6:00 AM MASS 8:00 AM MASS10:00 AM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)12:00 PM MASS 4:00 PM MASSMONDAY, MARCH 1 7:00 AM MASS 7:30 AM CONFESSIONS12:00 PM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)TUESDAY, MARCH 2 7:00 AM MASS 7:30 AM CONFESSIONS12:00 PM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)12:30 PM CONFESSIONSWEDNESDAY, MARCH 3 7:00 AM MASS 7:30 AM CONFESSIONS 12:00 PM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)THURSDAY, MARCH 4 7:00 AM MASS 7:30 AM CONFESSIONS12:00 PM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)12:30 PM CONFESSIONSFRIDAY, MARCH 5OFFICES CLOSED ON FRIDAYS 7:00 AM MASS 7:30 AM CONFESSIONS11:00 AM ADORATION12:00 PM MASS (+LIVESTREAMED)12:30 PM STATIONS OF THE CROSS (+LIVESTREAMED)SATURDAY, MARCH 612:00 PM MASS12:30 PM CONFESSIONS 4:00 PM MASS
CONTRIBUTIONS ACTUAL BUDGET DIFFERENCE
Feb 8-14 $12,510 $16,692 -$4,182
YTD throughWeek #33 $834,040 $768,918 $65,122
Three more of the 20 Programs supported by the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation.Rachel’s Vineyard Twin Cities – Offering retreats for individuals who seek healing from abortion. These retreats provide a supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental environment where the process of restoration, renewal and healing can begin. Seminarian Tuition, Room and Board – Strengthening the local Church by assisting with the tuition, room and board for seminarians studying to be future priests for our Archdiocese, both at Saint John Vianney College Seminary and at the Saint Paul Seminary.Youth Ministry – Ministering to teens and youth ministers including sponsoring the annual Archdiocesan Youth Day.
12,000PEOPLE PER WEEK RECEIVING FRESH GROCERIES AND HYGIENE ITEMS
33,000YOUNG PEOPLE BEING STRENGTHENED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH
28,000CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS BENEFITING FROM IN-PERSON LEARNING
OVER
50FUTURE PRIESTS RECEIVING TUITION ASSISTANCE, ROOM AND BOARD
1,300WOMEN & FAMILIES PROVIDED WITH PRO-LIFE SUPPORT
1,200HOT MEALS SERVED MONTHLY
635PEOPLE PROVIDED WITH HOUSING/EMERGENCY SHELTER EACH MONTH
ThousandsRECEIVING LIFE-GIVING CARE VIA HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS
IN-PARISHFill in the envelope
and place in parish collection
basket.
ONLINEGo to
GiveCSAF.orgto make a
difference today.
POSTAL MAILMail your gift to:
The Catholic Services Appeal Foundation 12805 Hwy 55, Suite 210
Plymouth, MN 55441
We invite you to participate in the Deo Gratis Society, a leadership giving society that furthers the CSAF mission through annual gifts of $1,500 or more.
12805 Highway 55, Suite 210Plymouth, Minnesota 55441
612-294-6622 | www.csafspm.org
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