From the Desk of Fr. Mike
Keep our Eyes on What Matters
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/20/23
I enjoy reading mystery novels. The best of them gives misleading cues causing the reader to be misdirected as s/he tries to figure out the who, what, why’s of the story line. The worst of these kinds of stories are when the author gives few, if any, clues which ... Read More »
Prayer for Peace
Posted by Anne Serwe on 11/06/23
On Friday afternoon, October 27, Pope Francis presided over the Prayer for Peace in Saint Peter’s Basilica. The whole day was dedicated to fasting and prayer for peace in the world. A day that was called by the Holy Father given the events in the Holy Land.
Here is ... Read More »
Encountering Jesus
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/31/23
Throughout the Psalms and elsewhere in the scriptures the various authors raise their praise to God, describing Him as their rock. Psalm 18 is particularly effuse with this expression: In its second verse it proclaims: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in ... Read More »
Time for a Sabbatical
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/22/23
I am glad that the CCW sponsored a night with the Lino Lakes police department to talk about the growing threat of scammers. It was particularly poignant given the fact that same week we were scammed to the point of one of our staff members being personally affected and ... Read More »
The Gift of Receiving the Gospel in Our Own Tongues
Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/09/23
On Saturday, September 30 Pope Francis raised twenty one men to status of Cardinal. They come from all over the world: they hail from Argentina, Poland, Spain, Tanzania, Malaysia, France, Venezuela, Italy and South Sudan, America, and Hong Kong.
In his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the day’s reading, ... Read More »
Unity in Jesus Christ
Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/11/23
Jesus prayed: “I pray not only for these, but for those who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one; Father may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was ... Read More »
Our Salvation Comes from Our Relationship with Jesus
Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/06/23
The spiritual life has occurrences of great triumph and great failure and typically all within connected moments. Last Sunday in the Gospel Jesus asks his disciples who people say that he is. Peter responds beautifully and profoundly: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus responds ... Read More »
The Practice of Restorative Justice
Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/29/23
The American justice system is based on retributive justice which has punishment as its primary aim. The punishment given for the offense is seen as sufficient compensation to the victim and to society. This type of justice system has always had its limits. The victims who suffer loss often ... Read More »
Unity in Christ
Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/20/23
Now in regard to meat sacrificed to idols:* we realize that “all of us have knowledge”; knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up. If anyone supposes he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if one loves God, one is known by him. (1Cor*:1-3)
We had a beautiful festival last Sunday with great food, entertainment, and activities. I appreciate the many members of our family who stepped up to make the festival a reality, which shows the best of our parish family to those who come to visit us on those days. (Note: I do not use the word “volunteers” since that would indicate an “over and above” sort of contribution). Yes, we as a family of faith gathered and expressed the best part of ourselves to the rest of the local community. Throughout those two days I was both very proud and at the same time saddened as I watched a new tension ripple through this very hospitable community. We have a new Respect Life committee that was formed over the summertime. I was grateful that there were members of the family who stepped up to create a much-needed group that can help us monitor the political winds and direct our energies in such a way that we might be an effective voice of the Gospel of Life. At the same time, I encountered grumbling from members of that same group wondering if we were truly a “Catholic” community because some posters that they had put up were found offensive to others in our family. For some it seemed a simple answer: “We are Catholic-We should be pro-life” and anyone who might have a different expression of pro-life sensitivities is considered not-catholic. It seemed almost as easy (and difficult) to say: because I do not agree with him, he is not my ... Read More »
Celebrating as Community
Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/17/23
This weekend is one of my favorite annual moments at Saint Joe’s. Easter and Christmas Masses are our biggest gatherings of the community, however their great shortfall is that we too quickly move from the large communal gathering that lasts about an hour to much smaller family gatherings that ... Read More »