From the Desk of Fr. Mike
Entering My 9th Year as Pastor of St. Joe's
Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/11/23
I began my life as your pastor on July 1, 2015. I am entering into my 9th year. It has been a time that has some great highs and lows. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in 2009. I was told then that sooner or later this physical malady ... Read More »
Thanks Again
Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/03/23
On the day of the anniversary celebration I received a beautiful plaque saying: Congratulations, 40th Anniversary Rev. Michael Anderson, Church of Saint Joseph of the Lakes. Along with the plaque I received a check that was the accumulation of many gifts that were collected in the weeks leading to ... Read More »
Thank You for the Wonderful Celebration
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/26/23
…And then it was over! I had been reflecting on what I wanted to say at the celebration of our anniversaries, but between the Archbishop’s and Fr. Ken’s words I did not have an opportunity. What I wanted to say would have sounded something like this:
I have served ... Read More »
Celebration of the Eucharist
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/14/23
In 2019 there was a survey done by the PEW research (Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world) which announced its findings with the headlines: Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that ... Read More »
God is the Creator
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/05/23
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever ... Read More »
Next Steps from the Synod
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/30/23
A year ago, on Pentecost weekend, Archbishop Hebda held the first Archdiocesan synod in 80 years. We experienced the years of preparation as he first held multiple listening sessions. From that work he developed an outline for the synod and he began a series of parish based catechesis sessions ... Read More »
Medical Update
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/22/23
My latest visit to Mayo Clinic went as I expected it to, but not as I hoped. I went to see a neurosurgeon who Dr. Dyck had referred following my first visit at Mayo. Dr. Dyck’s diagnosis based on a new MRI and a variety of other sensory tests ... Read More »
See God in Each Other
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/09/23
What does God look like? In the book of Genesis God walks with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening and they converse with each other. Generations later, long after the fall of Adam and Eve; God enters a very close relationship with Abraham. Although Abraham has ... Read More »
Be Welcoming of Everyone
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/01/23
Jesus said: "Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.I am the gate.Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.
In his Regina Ceoli address last week Pope Francis said the apostle Thomas, “wants an extraordinary sign – to touch the wounds. Jesus shows them to him, but in an ordinary way, coming in front of everyone, in the community.” Jesus makes Himself known in the community, and it is in the presence of the community that He shows the Apostles His wounds, “the proof of his love, the ever-open channels of His ... Read More »
Fr. Mike Mayo Clinic Update
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/24/23
I had a good week at Mayo Clinic. I met with Dr. Dyck, one of the teaching staff of neurology. Following that I had another MRI of the lumber region of my back. The next day I had several tests including an EMG to check the nerve sensitivity of ... Read More »