8
Second Sunday of Advent December 6, 2020 Fr. Reginald Garigou-Lagrange, O.P., was a Dominican priest from France, who served as a theological advisor to four twentieth-century popes, including two saints. He was among those who aided the Vatican in composing the proclamation of the doctrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—in other words, a true theological heavyweight of the last century of the Church. One might perhaps name him as the leading Thomist (student and exponent of the works of St. Thomas Aquinas) of the 1900s.
I am not what anyone would call a great reader, so I'm always grateful to stumble upon theological gems by highly reputed Catholic writers. In this case, it was a Facebook group to which I belong that posted a tidbit by Garigou-Lagrange that I found so fascinating. He wrote: "Since we love only what we know, we continue to love only the things we do not cease to think about."
Now, there is probably a profound philosophical context to this single sentence that would flesh out specifically what he means. However, those words on their own spoke to me immediately in a way that echoes the Gospel of last week’s message of “Watch!”
For me, both Garigou-Lagrange and Jesus are exhorting the heart to pay attention, “keep your head in the game,” “eyes on the prize.”
Loving “only the things we do not cease to think about” means that I must fix the goal in mind—and bear in mind that goal is not a place, but Jesus himself. Repeating over and over encouragements to chasten my heart. Detach from the things of Earth. Detach. Detach.
If we are not free of affection for the pleasures of the world, we are not free to embrace the things of eternity.
This does not mean we must live joyless lives devoid of pleasures, but that we hold loosely to those things and spend our energy in pursuit of holiness. The difficulty is that we are so easily wooed by the earthly, sensible pleasures, and so practices of self-denial are crucially helpful in this endeavor.
We must remember, as the reading from second Peter makes clear, that these pleasures will be burned away, and insomuch as we have invested our hearts in these things, we will experience the pain of losing these loves. The things to which we attach our affections will cause us the more sadness as they are stripped away—this is the importance of loving God with all of our heart and mind and strength.
God will supply all we need, and in him we find all delights. The tough part is to prevent ourselves from loving those gifts more than the giver. Our Gospel this week gives us the example of John the Baptist, who we are told fed on locusts and wild honey—this certainly is a diet that illustrates a denial of earthly pleasures.
Today’s first reading is related to these themes, as well, of ordering life properly, depending on God for rest and
comfort, of the promised Christ, and unveiling of the glory of God. In the meantime, however, we are to share in the mission of John the Baptist, as he acts as that voice crying out in the desert.
We Christians—we Catholics increasingly—are the ones who feed on strange foods for our sustenance (the Eucharist), provide a prophetic voice to a culture straying from God (the dignity, nay, sanctity of every human life), and offer a baptism, but ours is into that one mightier than John. The Church, under the power and direction of Christ, baptizes not merely for repentance and forgiveness of sin, but with that Holy Spirit, as John foretold.
We ought not fear to cry out, as Isaiah says, to declare that God is coming for his beloved. We should not be ashamed to be abnormal for the sake of the joy Christ offers to our lost neighbors, to our separated brothers and sisters. How much greater that glory to be revealed in Him, than these passing amusements. David Dunst Director of Music and Liturgy
YOUTH NEWS AND FAITH FORMATION
OFFICE INFORMATION Father Steven Hoffman 651-452-4550 [email protected] Deacon Tim Hennessey 651-905-4301 [email protected] Peter Guzulaitis, Director of Operations 651-905-4307 [email protected] Lisa Fontecha, Mission and Ministry 651-905-4304 [email protected]
Parish Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone: 651-452-4550
BAPTISMS - NEW PARISHIONERS - WEDDINGS Call the parish office for more information.
PRAYER CHAIN REQUESTS Email Lisa Fontecha at [email protected] or call her at 651-905-4304 or call the parish office.
FAITHFUL SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL
AND TRI-PARISH CENTER
St. John Neumann * St. Peter * St. Thomas Becket 3355 Columbia Dr Eagan MN 55121
651-406-4747 www.fscsmn.org
FAITHFUL SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL Academic excellence, a faith-based education and a supportive community that engages the whole family are just a few reasons why our families love Faithful Shepherd. Financial Aid is Available. To arrange a private tour, please call Jen Claude
at 651-262-2898. We look forward to meeting and sharing our school with you!
Learn more about our Preschool Program at Faithful Shepherd Catholic School! Our NAEYC Accredited and 4 Star Parent Aware programming is for 3-5 year olds and offers flexible, customized schedules. We still have space for the 2020/2021 School year! Our Catholic-based program offers teaching to the Whole Child: social, emotional, academic, and spiritual. Learn more, view our COVID-19 Response Plan, and schedule a tour at www.fscsmn.org.
ST PETER’S RE/FF TEAM To learn more about Faith Formation at St. Peter’s, click this link: www.stpetersmendota.org/faith-formation
St. Peter’s Religious Education/Faith Formation Team
Kathy Raible Grade 1-5 Program Reconciliation and First Eucharist 651-905-4311
Elizabeth McCanna Grade 6-8 and Confirmation 651-905-4312
Beth Halbert Preschool Coordinator Liturgy of the Word for Children 651-905-4313
Karen Cronin Catechesis of the Good Shepherd 651-905-4314
FAITHFUL SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
CHRISTMAS SALE Our 5th annual Christmas sale was a huge success! All items had been donated from parishioners or their family and friends, and we were able to use the online selling platform which created a safe and easy way for people to “shop” during this time. Within 10 minutes we had made $1000 online! By the time the sale was finished, we received a little over $4,000 for the operating funds of our parish!
Thank you all for donating and participating. This is a great way to reduce, reuse, and recycle. We will have this sale again next year, so we will continue to accept Christmas items all year long. If you or your loved ones have any Christmas decorations or Dept 56 items you would like to donate, please let us know. Items can be dropped off in the parish office entry way or on the weekends in the coatroom. Please contact Anne O’Keefe with any questions, [email protected] or 651-905-4308.
As we come to the end of the calendar year and year-end tax planning, please remember all charitable contributions to the parish must be received or postmarked by December 31, 2020 in order to be claimed as a deduction for 2020. Contributions received or postmarked on or after January 1, 2021 will be counted as contributions in 2021, regardless of the date on the check. Please contact Peter Guzulaitis in the parish office if you have any questions.
2020 CONTRIBUTIONS
Come as a Guest Leave as a Friend
During this unprecedented time, stay in the loop with a Catholic perspective on local, national, and world news. Email Rita Holien at [email protected] to receive a free subscription to the Catholic Spirit.
ADMINISTRATIVE NEWS * STEWARDSHIP * COMMUNITY NEWS
SUBSCRIBE TO THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Don’t forget to bring in your gifts! If you have chosen to purchase a gift on one of the Giving Tree dolls, please note that the NEW, UNWRAPPED gifts must be here at St. Peter’s today, Sunday, December 6, at noon. It is very important to return the gifts by the deadline, or we may
not get the gifts to the recipients in time for pickup.
Thank you for your generosity. Questions about specific gift requests can be directed to Lisa Fontecha at [email protected] or to 651-905-4304.
Other helpers are also needed. The more the merrier! There are small tasks with limited time commitments for adults and young adults, and the rewards are huge. On December 13, we will gather following the 12 Noon Mass to sort and package the gifts for pickup. If you would like to help this year, please call Carol at 651-356-2970. Thank you!
GIVING TREE
October 2020 COLLECTIONS Oct 2020 Oct 2019 Year over Year Fiscal Year to Date
Prior Year thru Oct Year over Year
Sunday Envelope & Electronic Gifts $ 70,911.70 $ 64,950.50 $ 5,961.20 $ 297,613.35 $ 284,371.04 $ 13,242.31
Sunday Plate $ 141.00 $ 1,774.76 $ (1,633.76) $ 1,068.25 $ 6,442.28 $ (5,374.03)
Total $ 71,052.70 $ 66,725.26 $ 4,327.44 $ 298,681.60 $ 290,813.32 $ 7,868.28
Sunday giving keeps the lights on, pays for repairs, and funds all ministries and operations. Thank you for your continued generosity to our parish community.
SANDWICH LUNCH MINISTRY
Our next collection of lunch items to be distributed to Sharing & Caring Hands in Minneapolis will be Tuesday, December 8, from 12-1pm. Please pull up to the north Main Church doors, and we will come out to your car. We will continue to collect one Tuesday each month. If you are interested in donating items for lunches, please contact Nancy Stanton at 651-686-9009 or [email protected].
It is extremely helpful to know how much food to expect, so please be sure to sign up in advance. Each donor is asked to bring 20 to 40 of one or more of the following (you may bring everything, or just one or two items from this list):
· Sandwiches: Choose turkey, ham, or PB&J. No condiments please. Please place each sandwich in an individual bag. Sandwiches are easiest to store and transport if you stack bagged sandwiches inside your empty bread bags!
· Individual serving bags of chips · Individually wrapped cookies · Bananas, oranges or cuties, or individual fruit cups
Please do NOT put items into paper lunch bags.
Thank you!
There is such a need for prayer in these troubled times. Please join us for a special Holy Hour of Adoration on Wednesday, December 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm in the Main Church.
In the words of St. Teresa of Calcutta, these “hours of adoration will be special hours of reparation for sins and intercession for the needs of the whole world.” Gathering around Mary, the Mother of God, we will bring “the sin-sick and suffering of humanity before the healing, transforming rays of Jesus, radiating from the Eucharist.”
If you can’t be here in person, please join us on our livestream at stpetersmendota.org.
HOLY HOUR OF INTERCESSION WITH OUR LADY
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR: NOVEMBER 30, 2020
St. Peter’s is here to bring the good news of the Gospel to all, so that every person can have a personal, life changing, life giving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Trustees: Sue Zhulkie 651-454-6434 Mark Mischke 651-444-8888
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 [8]/2 Pt 3:8-14/Mk 1:1-8 Monday: Is 35:1-10/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13- 14 [Is 35:4f]/Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Gn 3:9-15, 20/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [1]/ Eph 1:3-6, 11-12/Lk 1:26-38 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31/Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10 [1]/Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Is 41:13-20/Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12- 13ab [8]/Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19/Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6 [cf. Jn 8:12]/Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13:18bcde, 19 [15:9d]/ Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Next Sunday: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11/Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 51 -54 [Is 61:10b]/1 Thes 5:16-24/ Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
© Liturgical Publications Inc.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2020
The following are the intentions offered by the priest at Mass:
Monday, Dec 7 9 am No Mass Tuesday, Dec 8 7 am † Robert & Fray Davies 9 am † Chisue (Ann) Joung 6:30 pm Mass For The People Wednesday, Dec 9 9 am Thomas Richter Thursday, Dec 10 9 am Trevor & Robin Holien Family Friday, Dec 11 9 am † Ralph & Virginia Boettger Saturday, Dec 12 5 pm Mass For The People Sunday, Dec 13 8 am † Richard Leitner 10 am † Don Taylor
MASS INTENTIONS
Monday, December 7
Tuesday, December 8 7 am Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, Main Church 8:30 am Rosary, Main Church 9 am Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, Main Church 5 pm Reconciliation, Main Church 6:30 pm Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass, Main Church
Wednesday, December 9 Sharing and Caring Hands, Minneapolis 8:30 am Rosary, Main Church 9 am Daily Mass, Main Church 6 pm Perissos, Virtual 6:30 pm Holy Hour of Intercession with Our Lady, Main Church
Thursday, December 10 7 am Daily Mass, Main Church 9 am Daily Mass, Main Church 6 pm First Reconciliation, Main Church 7 pm AA Meeting, Classroom 5
Friday, December 11 8 am Reconciliation, Main Church 9 am Daily Mass, Main Church,
Saturday, December 12 9 am & 10:30 am AA Meeting, Classrooms 3:30 pm Reconciliation, Main Church 5 pm Mass, Main Church. Register on Sign Up Genius
Sunday, December 13 7:30 am Rosary for St. Peter’s, Main Church 8 am Giving Tree Gift Wrapping, Heritage Center 8 am Mass, Main Church. Register on Sign Up Genius 10 am Mass. Main Church, livestreamed on St. Peter’s Website, YouTube, or on Facebook. Register on Sign Up Genius 12 noon Mass, Main Church. Register on Sign Up Genius
PASTORAL MINISTRY
IN SINCERE SYMPATHY St. Peter’s Parish extends its sympathy to the family and friends of Jane Zielke .
We invite all to join us in praying that God may make her a sharer in eternal salvation.
If you are unable to attend one of the Masses and desire to come in to church to receive Holy Communion, please contact Jennifer at 651-905-4305 to set up an appointment. If you wish to receive Holy Communion at
your home, please call Lisa Fontecha at 651-905-4304.
HOLY COMMUNION CHAPEL OF THE NATIVITY PERPETUAL ADORATION CHAPEL
"The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning to all of my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world."
~ St. John Paul II
We are in need of adorers in the Chapel of the Nativity. Please prayerfully consider committing to one of the hours listed here that is still empty. White spaces indicate where we have the most urgent need.
“Could you not watch one hour with me?” ~ Matthew 26:40
To sign up for a regular Hour of Adoration, please call Lisa Fontecha at 651-905-4304 or email her at [email protected].
Sun. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. 12 am 1 am 2am 3 am 4 am 5 am 6 am 7 am 8 am 9 am
10 am 11 am Noon 1 pm 2 pm 3 pm 4 pm 5 pm 6 pm 7 pm 8 pm 9 pm
10 pm 11 pm
RESOURCE CENTER
Rosary Makers will not hold monthly meetings for at least the rest of the 2020 year. If you need any supplies or kits, we can drop them off at the Parish business office, where you can pick them up.
Please contact Mary Ellen by email: [email protected].
Thank you for your continued work making rosaries for mission and evangelism efforts in this country and overseas!
ROSARY MAKERS
PLEASE REGISTER FOR WEEKEND MASSES
Please remember to register for weekend Masses only. We are no longer taking registration for weekday Masses. Use this link to register: www.signupgenius.com/go/saintpeters.
All weekend Masses that are currently available will be included in the online form. Please follow the guidelines on the signup page. If you are not able to sign up online or if you have questions, call the parish office at 651-452-4550. Someone will help you get registered.
Thank you for your cooperation.
During this time when we are all staying home more, you might have more time read. You might be looking for good resources to encourage and help you grow in faith. Consider checking out the Resource Center located in the Gathering Space. You will find books, CD’s and pamphlets about a variety of subjects. In addition, you will be able to choose spiritual reading that you can trust, recommended by Fr. Steven, Lisa Fontecha, and Elizabeth McCanna (yes—there are even books for teens and young people!). This center is self-funded. We would ask that those who are able to do so, please donate $5/CD, $1/pamphlet and the list price of the books you choose (usually listed on the back cover). Because we want everyone to be able to enjoy these resources, whether they can contribute or not, we welcome any additional donations, above these suggestions. There is a slot in the center to place your donation. If you are unable to donate, please take a resource anyway! Thank you and may God bless your every effort to grow in faith and love.
A component to the justice God drives us toward in the commandment, "you shall not steal" is reconciling the "haves" and the "have nots" in terms of international circumstances.
The Catechism addresses justice among nations with regard to finances and resources, by first acknowledging that inequality occurs, and this creates a gap between nations (CCC 2437). This kind of disparity goes well beyond the principle of subsidiarity (the smallest, nearest feasible
societal structure should be empowered to solve problems and effect change), in that human injustice that develops as a result of disparities in the means of growth from one nation to the next must be addressed on a scale that is global, in a real way.
Nations must behave in solidarity to combat problems of human need at the largest levels because of the preexisting interdependence between peoples. In some cases, there exist abusive financial systems that impede the development of less advanced countries. There must be a multi-mutual, good-faith effort to see that the priorities of the common good are given priority. (CCC 2438)
In keeping with what is justly owed to a human person, rich nations have a grave duty to help developing nations (CCC 2439). "Direct aid" is appropriate to help less wealthy countries, but it is not sufficient, because what must be enacted are international and financial reforms to support the poorest people in the poorest nations (CCC 2440). Out of humility and an increased sense of God, material goods must be put at the service of the person and his freedom (CCC 2441).
The Church is careful to point out that this is the province of the laity, to cause the temporal realities we see to become venues of Christian virtue in action. It is not the role of the priesthood to intervene directly in political structures. (CCC 2442)
Next week: love for the poor.
PASTORAL MINISTRY
CATECHISM CORNER FOLLOWING JESUS John baptized with water, but we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit that lives within us stir in our hearts the fire of love for Jesus.
National Right to Life is holding a Pro Life Essay Contest. Essays entered should address this question:
Why are you pro-life?
The Junior Contest includes grades 7-9. Submit your 300 to 500 word essay between December 20, 2020 and January 21, 2021. Details and submission information can be found at nrlc.org/students/essaycontest.
The Senior Contest includes grades 10-12 for the Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Pro-Life Oratory Contest. Minnesota’s winner may compete in the national contest at the National Right to Life Competition. High school juniors and seniors will submit a 5 to 7 minute video on abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia anytime from September through May. Contact MCCL at 612-825-6831 or email [email protected] for rules and application, or visit mccl.org/youthcontests.
NATIONAL RIGHT TO LIFE 2021 PRO LIFE ESSAY CONTEXT
ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD: YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH
As Archbishop Hebda announced in his October 22 column for The Catholic Spirit, the Archdiocese will be observing a Year of St. Joseph, beginning December 8 (Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of America). Archbishop Hebda wrote, “On that date, the Church Universal will be marking the 150th anniversary of Pope Pius IX’s proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church. Our hope is that the Year of St. Joseph will be a source of renewal in our local Church, most especially as we continue our preparations for the Synod of 2022.”
Mass and Archdiocesan Consecration to St. Joseph will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul and will joyfully open the Year of St. Joseph at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of America. Following Mass, Archbishop Hebda will lead the formal Consecration to St. Joseph of the Archdiocese.
COVID-19 protocols will be observed for those in attendance, and the event will be livestreamed.
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