St. Joseph of the Lakes

The Personal Encounter

Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/17/16

From Last Sunday's Gospel: "Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"  

This is a classic case of misdirection which catches most who read it. It seems that Jesus is concerned about the gratitude ... Read More »

Looking to the future

Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/11/16

On the very first day that I celebrated Mass in the "new' church I had several parishioners complain to me that they just couldn't hear all that I had said during my homily.  I think they were frustrated because they didn't know why everyone else was laughing as I ... Read More »

The Gift of Marriage

Posted by Anne Serwe on 10/03/16

This weekend I will be in McGregor, Minnesota witnessing and blessing the marriage of an old friend's son. it will take place at Holy Family Church in McGregor. From that experience I will be traveling up towards Alexandria to have a little Fall vacation. I return on Friday to ... Read More »

Catholics for Choice

Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/19/16

I hate duplicity in any form, and in the full page ad in the Star Tribune this misleading advertisement can cause one to speculate that one can pick and choose from the Church's social teachings.  I applaud the Minnesota Catholic Conference for challenging this duplicity with a very clearly ... Read More »

Making Jesus Real in our Local Community

Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/12/16

The Catholic parish exists to make Jesus Christ a reality for the particular area in which it is established. For us that means we exist to make Jesus Christ real for the residents of Lino Lakes, Blaine, Circle Pines, and Lexington. We are empowered to do this by encountering ... Read More »

Camping Adventures

Posted by Anne Serwe on 9/06/16

In my earlier years I would go camping with my father and brother.  These would be epic journeys in which we would face major mechanical, natural and personal challenges.  We usually went for a week or two right around Labor Day.  I was on the edge of the Boundary ... Read More »

Set the Earth on Fire!

Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/15/16

Jesus said to his disciples: "I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" (Mt 12:49) We have a fire pit on the west end of the campus. There is usually a pile of brush sitting a few steps away and ... Read More »

How quickly the harvest time comes!

Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/11/16

How quickly the harvest time comes! It seemed not too long ago that the ground was just thawing and now we are enjoying the fruit of our gardens. Sadly I have already noticed some leaves beginning to color as we are in the early stages of the impending Fall. ... Read More »

Turning a corner in the Archdiocese

Posted by Anne Serwe on 8/02/16

Last week was very momentous as Ramsey County dropped the criminal charges against the Archdiocese in exchange for the admission that the Archdiocese had failed to protect children from sexual abuse by clergy. I was grateful that Archbishop Hebda had the capacity to admit that we failed. He took ... Read More »

Bringing about Unity

Posted by Anne Serwe on 7/25/16

Toward the end of the 1400's it was decided that St. Peter's Basilica which had been built by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century should be replaced because it was so old and falling apart. Pope Julius II began the process of replacing the Basilica in 1506 and it ... Read More »