From the Desk of Fr. Mike
Re-Reading Documents from the Second Vatican Council
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/21/22
I have been re-reading the documents of the Second Vatican Council. I think the first (and only) time I read these documents was when I was in the seminary. The Council began in 1962 and ended in 1965. It produced 18 documents on varied subjects that addressed the Church’s ... Read More »
Upcoming Shoulder Surgery
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/13/22
I am amazed at the growing physical limitations I am experiencing with the arthritis in my shoulders. Even before I became pastor at St. Joe’s I was beginning to experience weird noises as I moved my arms, especially as I combed my hair or attempted to put anything above ... Read More »
Eucharist a Sacrament of Love and Unity
Posted by Anne Serwe on 6/07/22
This past weekend it was announced that Pope Francis will create 21 new cardinals on August 27th. These princes of the Church come from France, Brazil, India, Mongolia, Paraguay, Nigeria, Timor Oriental, Ghana, USA, Singapore, Columbia, Belgium, and Italy. Pope Francis has been consistent in naming these “electors” of ... Read More »
It's Spiritual and Physical
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/31/22
Not long ago someone greeted me at church and told me that they were just coming back after the great COVID scare (my words, not theirs) and they were very happy to be back. A month later they once again alerted me to their return, because they had stopped ... Read More »
These have been Good Years
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/24/22
Watching the news this morning I saw a woman graduating from the University of Minnesota 40 years after she began. Her comment was: “just tell everyone they have to go for it!” The news reporter told us that she began her journey in the 80’s. My first thought was ... Read More »
A Revolution of Tenderness
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/16/22
Rome - In the hopes that the world can be freed from the “specter of loneliness and the demon of war,” Pope Francis is calling on the elderly to lead a “revolution of tenderness.”
Old age, he said, is not a time to “give up and lower the sails,” ... Read More »
Confirmation and First Eucharist
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/09/22
It was a very eventful weekend last week as we completed the initiation of our high schoolers as they received the gift of the sacrament of Confirmation and the second graders advanced their initiation with the reception of Holy Communion. I am sure you have been told this several ... Read More »
Great Days of the Easter Promise
Posted by Anne Serwe on 5/02/22
Every Spring I am amazed at the violence of life that cannot be subdued by most anything the weather throws our way. Last Sunday, most people coming into the church complained about the bitter cold and harsh wind, yet as I drove my golf cart back home after doing ... Read More »
Easter Blessings and Thanks
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/25/22
I am writing this in anticipation of a wonderful Holy Weeks’ worth of celebrations. It is Tuesday of Holy Week, and everything is building with anticipation of the days to come. The choir and the instrumentalists have been doing extra practices as they prepare to enhance our liturgy with ... Read More »
Alleluia - He is Risen!
Posted by Anne Serwe on 4/22/22
Congratulations to our newly confirmed members of our church: Amy Bremness, Taylor Smith and Katie Strauss. I am so grateful that you listened to the Holy Spirit and turned towards this Body of Christ. My hope is that you will continue to be open to that same Holy Spirit ... Read More »