News & Events
St. Joseph of the Lakes is proud to have an active faith community - there’s always something going on! Be sure check the listing below for news & events. Please check out our other channels too:
Christmas Wreaths
Boy Scout Troop 263 is selling Christmas Wreaths in the Gathering Space after Mass this weekend:
· October 25 & 26
Please stop by to place an order in the Gathering Space after Mass. Pick up is on November 22 & 23.
Halloween Hoopla
Saturday, October 25 from 6:15 to 7:15 pm
Join us for the Annual St. Joseph of the Lakes Halloween Hoopla! Bring 2 non-perishable food items or a $2.00 donation per person to help feed hungry kids and chase away hunger in our community. Don’t forget to wear your costume and join in the fun! Enjoy games, prizes, trick or treating, and concessions will be available for purchase.
Candy Donations: We are still in need of candy donations for our upcoming Halloween Hoopla. Thank you for your
generous support in helping make this special event possible! Candy can be dropped off at the Parish Office during the week, before or after Mass, or during Faith Formation sessions. Please drop off your donated candy by Wednesday, October 22.
Halloween Hoopla Volunteers Needed: Come be part of the fun and help make this special event a success! We’re looking for volunteers to hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, staff one of our exciting Halloween games, and help serve concessions. Thank you for sharing your time and spirit with our parish community! If you’d like to join the fun, please reach out to Sarah Ray at SarahR@SaintJosephsParish.org.
Fair Trade Weekend
October 25 and October 26 after Masses
Mark your calendars for our Fair Trade weekend October 25 & 26! We’ll have pumpkins for sale, baked goods, and fair trade items from all over the world benefitting artisans who are trying to earn a living wage.
Love Baking? We’d love to have some help for our Fair Trade event the weekend of October 25 & 26. Whatever your specialty is, we would appreciate your donations. Please drop your baked goods Friday, October 24 at the parish office. It would also help us for planning purposes if you could email us to let us know you plan to contribute. Contact Denise Walsh at DeniseW@saintjosephsparish.org.
Compassion Bags Available
Compassion bags from the Knight’s of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary will be available FREE after Mass in the gathering space to share with those in need for the weekends of October 25 & 26 and November 1 & 2. Hat, scarf, mittens or gloves, socks, a few snacks and hygiene items are included in each backpack. Consider keeping one in your car to have when needed.
Men’s Group Meeting
All men of the parish are invited to attend the next Men’s Group meeting on Tuesday, October 28 at 7:15 pm in the Great Hall. All are welcome to join us for Mass at 6:30 pm and stay for the meeting. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.
Spirit Connection Fall/Winter Edition
Everyone who attends St. Joseph of the Lakes is invited to submit an article for our yearly newsletter. Articles about happenings around St. Joe’s, your faith journey, an actively-involved parishioner, or a topic that is relevant to our worshipping community may be emailed to AnneS@SaintJosephsParish.org or sent to Anne Serwe in the parish office. Articles are due by Wednesday, October 29.
All Saints’ Day Mass—Saturday, November 1
Our Mass is at 8:30 am in the Worship Space.
All Souls Day Masses
Saturday, November 1 at 5:00 pm & Sunday, November 2 at 8:30 am and 10:00 am
During the month of November, the Church contemplates the mystery of life and death. As a community of faith, we have shared in the loss of your/our loved one(s) this past liturgical year. In light of this, we will be remembering them at our All Souls Day Masses on Saturday, November 1 at 5:00 pm and on Sunday, November 2 at the 8:30 am and 10:00 am Mass. If you would like to have a picture of your loved one displayed at Intercessions (when their name is read aloud) during Masses, please send a digital photo to Director of Pastoral Ministry, Meisha Johnson at MeishaJ@SaintJosephsParish.org no later than Noon on Friday, October 24.*When sending a picture, please include in the email the name of your deceased loved one (with proper pronunciation) as well as birth date and date of their passing.
2025 CCW & K of C Christmas Boutique
Please join us on Saturday, November 8 from 9 am to 3 pm and Sunday, November 9 from 9 am to noon. Shop unique gifts, crafts, and decorations from more than 50 vendors. Snack on fresh handmade cinnamon and caramel rolls. Lunch on a delicious pulled pork sandwich, hotdog, sloppy Joe, turkey wild rice soup, or Fr. Minh’s famous egg rolls. Take home a treat from the wide assortment of handcrafted candies and bake sale items and be sure to grab some KC beef jerky.
Looking for Support as a Caregiver - Tuesday, November 11
St. Joe’s offers a caregiver support group once a month on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am in Rooms 105-106. Caregiver and group member Diane K., a St. Joe’s parishioner, encourages others to join us – give it a try, continue if you’re comfortable, and have some needs met as you navigate a challenging situation.
We’re a small group that meets for camaraderie and help with care ideas for those for whom we provide care. We provide the opportunity for each voice to be heard and to feel understood by other caregivers who may have different experiences but who share many of the same feelings about their caregiving experience. The group facilitator, Sarah Ray, is a ‘sandwich caregiver,’ providing support for her mother while also raising a family with her husband. Caregivers are welcome to join us and attend for as long as they feel comfortable, including when their caregiving situation changes. Please reach out to Sarah Ray with any questions (SarahR@SaintJosephsParish.org). No sign-up needed; come as you are.
Saint John’s Bible This Week
This weekend’s illumination is from the Book of Amos and is titled Demands of Social Justice. The artist, Suzanne Moore commented that many of the pieces she worked on have been about choice, the alternatives of light and dark, obedience and disobedience; and this is no exception. Stop by the St. John’s Bible in the Gathering space and spend some time with this incredible illumination. You can also find it on the Saint John’s Bible’s website at www.saintjohnsbible.org and click on SEE THE BIBLE.
What does this passage tell us about God’s mercy and judgement?
Registration for the 2025-2026 faith formation program year is now open!
Our faith formation team looks forward to helping our parish’s children and youth grow in their personal connection with God in our world.
The registration period ends on September 1, 2025. Registrations made after this date will include a late fee, and the child’s name may be placed on a waitlist until an open spot on our active roster can be confirmed.
Please register using the Google Form link below that corresponds to your child’s age/grade for the 2025-2026 school year. Each child must be registered separately.
After you register your child, return to this page for the link to pay online (unless you wish to pay by check or cash at the parish office instead).
We love our faith formation volunteers! We’re looking for help across a variety of roles. Check out the volunteer opportunities we offer and sign up to help make our programs a success again this year.
General questions? Please contact Sarah Ray, Director of Faith Formation ( SarahR@SaintJosephsParish.org or 651-784-3015 ext. 108).
Here’s how to register for faith formation, pay for fees, and sign up to volunteer:
- Please read our Faith Formation Overview Letter (2025-2026 ).
- Read through the St. Joe’s Faith Formation Program Offerings .
- Select, complete, and submit the registration form(s) you need for your children.
- Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration Form
- Elementary and Middle School Registration Form
- Confirmation (9th grade and older) Registration Form
4. Decide on your payment method for faith formation registration fees.
- Payments can be made online through the St. Joe’s secure payment page (click the button below), or in cash/check brought in to the parish office during regular business hours.
- Scholarships (whole or partial) for faith formation fees are available this year. See the registration forms for more information.
5. Consider joining us as a volunteer this year!
See which opportunity appeals to your gifts and your schedule, and register your interest with us here. We’ll be in touch closer to the start of the program year.
Receive a Monthly Message from Archbishop Hebda
All of us in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis have the opportunity to sign up for a monthly message from Archbishop Hebda. You still have time to sign up for Archbishop Hebda’s newsletter, “Together on the Journey”! Sign up and learn more on the Archdiocesan website:
https://www.archspm.org/togetheronthejourney/
