2020 archive of From the Desk of Fr. Mike
My 4th of July Story
Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/13/20
Thank you for your prayers and notes of encouragement as I take this trip with the medical community.
Some pre-history: about two years ago I began to struggle with sores on my right leg. I was diagnosed with cellulitis and prescribed an anti-biotic. I took the medicine faithfully, but ... Read More »
Happy 4th of July!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/06/20
Happy 4th of July to everyone. May your travels be safe and the time you spend with family joyous! If you are away from St. Joe’s this weekend—you can still watch Mass after 8:30 am on our website, YouTube channel and Facebook.
Thank You for Your Support of St. Joseph's!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/29/20
Jesus said to his apostles:
Whoever gives only a cup of cold waterto one of these little ones to drinkbecause the little one is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” Mt10:42
I want to thank you for your ongoing generous support of ... Read More »
The Gift of the Eucharist
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/15/20
Thank you to all who sent me cards wishing me well on my birthday and congratulating me on my 37th anniversary as a priest. It was a great and necessary distraction in a very difficult week.
A group of Jews gathered about Jesus after he had fed the five ... Read More »
Act with Kindness and a Shared Humanity
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/08/20
I spent last Saturday in a fog as I watched the flames shooting out of many different buildings in Minneapolis. I did not know what to do with what I was watching; I had never experienced anything like this before. I felt sadness for those whose properties were destroyed ... Read More »
The Church is Never "Closed"
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/01/20
Last week in response to President Trump’s declaring that churches were essential and need to be reopened right away the Bishop-elect of the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Missouri; Deon K. Johnson wrote:
"The work of the church is essential. The work of caring for the lonely, the ... Read More »
Reveal the Presence of Christ in Each Other
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/18/20
And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Jn 14:21
When I was pastor of St. Bernard’s in 2009 there arrived a group of Burmese refugees. Unlike earlier days when the Hmong and Vietnamese refuges came to our ... Read More »
We all have a part in His Church
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/11/20
Can you believe it - the asparagus is already producing and someone just came in with a big handful for me! It is my favorite vegetable to eat. It makes for a happy day at dinner tonight as I cook up some chicken and the rest of the meal.
... Read More »
Recognizing the Shepherd's Voice
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/04/20
This had been a wonderful beginning of Spring. I think that with the slowing down of all sorts of activities the generation of Springtime becomes much more focused (for me at least). The birds have been making their beautiful music as they begin their nesting. The greening grass becomes ... Read More »
Answers Come in Their Own Time
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/27/20
When I was pastor of St. Bernard’s there came a time when it became obvious that we were going to have to close the school. The population of students had dropped quite low and with that, the amount of money coming in also dropped. Over several years we tried ... Read More »