ADDRESS 9600 Regent Avenue North Brooklyn Park, MN 55443-1499

OFFICE HOURS Monday-Thursday: 9 am-5 pm

Friday: 9 am-1 pm

Saturday: CLOSED Sunday: 1/Month, 9 am-12 pm, Sept-May

EUCHARIST Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 8:30, 10:30 am

WEBSITE: www.st-gerard.org

Like us on FACEBOOK

St. Gerard’s Youth TWITTER handle: @StGerardYM St. Gerard’s Youth INSTAGRAM: @StGerardYouth

Parish Office: 763-424-8770 Fax Number: 763-424-4327 Faith Formation: 763-424-8600 Victim Assistance: 651-291-4475

PASTORAL Services Rev. Thomas Santa, C.Ss.R.

Rev. Tuan Pham, C.Ss.R.

Rev. Matthew Bonk, C.Ss.R.

Fra. Chung Tran, C.Ss.R.

Barbara Staats - Business Administrator

Anne Tiller - Director of Justice and Outreach

Amy Wittak- Liturgical Ministry

Tim Smith - Dir. of Liturgical Music

Colette O’Brien - Communications

Judy Foster - Dir. of Faith Formation

Emily Wenner - Youth Faith Formation

Heidi Schleif - Preschool & Elementary

Coordinator

SUPPORT Services Sue Czerniak - Secretary/Receptionist

Dianne Goodwin - Secretary/Receptionist

MAINTENANCE Services Dave Neuman - Maintenance Operator

Roger Popham - Custodian

Hearing Assistance Devices are available at the Sound Desk in the Church. Low-Gluten hosts are available.

Please call the parish office for more information.

All Are Welcome! We are a Catholic community striving to love God and our

neighbors. No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here!

“Who Am I To Judge?” --Pope Francis

The Church of St. Gerard Majella TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

The Church of St. Gerard The Church of St. Gerard

A NOTE FROM THE PASTOR We enjoyed a wonderful and blessed beginning last weekend for our Faith Formation program with the blessing at the morning masses of our families and our leaders. With the upgrades that we invested in during the summer months, and the continued enthusiasm of all who are participating, I am anticipating that it will be a great year in Faith Formation. A big thank-you to our leadership team for Faith Formation: Judy, Emily and Heidi and, of course, all of the volunteer leaders and families. Parents and families are the primary and the essential formators of the faith that we share. Anything that we provide as a parish community is understood as in support of their efforts. The parish efforts are never understood as a replacement for parental and family formation. Ideally, there is communication and support that enables the process of formation and all of us, whether we have children directly involved in the formation program or not, share in this co-responsibility. As a priest, and also as a homilist, I too have a role to play in formation, both the initial and in the continuing formation of our parish community. Primarily through the Sunday homily I have a responsibility, shared with Father Tuan and Father Matthew, to “break open the Word” each week as we gather together as a worshipping and believing community of faith. When the community is nourished and fed through both Word and Sacrament, we are prepared and strengthened to be people of faith. We have always needed this kind of nourishment but perhaps, at least in recent history, we are in need of this essential grace and blessing even more. Each day, or so it seems, we hear something else that rocks us and throws us back on our heels. Unfortunately, that is the sad reality of the experience of emerging truth as it is dragged into the light. The energy and the deception that was used to cover something up, rebounds with a vengeance as it is uncovered. I think we all share a desire for the whole truth, a desire for justice, and a clear path that will lead to healing. There are no shortcuts and we certainly do not want anything half-baked or incomplete. It is not going to be an easy journey and it should not be. There is just too much pain. I am looking forward to a somewhat uneventful week in the parish. These last few weeks I have been traveling from one meeting to another and I have seen way too much of the airport, to be perfectly honest. Everything seems to converge in the month of September. I guess it is because it is the official start-up for so many programs after the summer lay off. At any rate, we are slowly ramping-up, and the return of the ordinary rhythm seems to be on the horizon. There is one more bump in the road however. The first week of October, October 1-5, the Redemptorists of the Denver Province will all gather at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona for the election of our

Provincial leadership. We will select the men who will lead us for the next four years (beginning January 1, 2019). As a result of this meeting, and because it is mandatory for us to be in attendance at the meeting, we will have a Communion Service each morning instead of a mass. The mass intentions that are scheduled will be offered at our community mass in Tucson but there will be no priest available for the weekly morning mass at St. Gerard. Thankfully, we have a wonderful leadership community who is able to lead a communion service each day. The weekend that follows the meeting I must remain in Tucson for a Provincial Council meeting that will extend through Tuesday. Father Aaron Meszaros from St. Alphonsus will be the celebrant at the weekend masses (October 6-7). I am sure you will enjoy his energy and his preaching. Well, that is about all for this week. In your thoughts and in your prayers let us continue to remember each other and our needs. Please say an extra prayer that we choose the most helpful candidate for Business Administrator over the next few weeks. This position is such a central position in our parish staff and we really want to make a decision that will be good for all of us and continue to help us grow and develop as a parish community. Have a great week. Fr. Tom Santa, C.Ss.R. For the Redemptorist Community and Staff

CORNERSTONE CATHOLIC SCRIPTURE STUDY Join us October 4 from 10-noon for Information Day for The Cornerstone Catholic Scripture Study! This year is the 12th year at St. Gerard’s, where we will begin the study of The Book of Revelation. To register, call or email: Lynn at 763-205-4253 or lynnelsen78@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.TheCornerstoneScriptureStudy.org

CONSIDER THE MINISTRY OF HOSPITALITY! We are in need of people to either prepare cinnamon rolls or help serve refreshments after mass. Please contact Amy at amyw@st-gerard.org or Frater Chung at tchung1438@gmail.com if interested. Also, please help supplement costs by adhering to the suggested donation guides when grabbing a cup of coffee or a donut. Thanks for helping us continue this ministry!

WEDDING BANNS Megan Foster & Gregory Teigland will be married at The Church of St. Gerard Majella on Saturday, October 6, 2018. We pray for God’s richest blessings on this couple as they begin their married life together.

POSITION OPENING St. Gerard's is currently searching for a Business Administrator. This is a full time position with benefits. Please send cover letter and resume to: Fr. Tom Santa at toms@st-gerard.org. There is a full position description posted on our website under NEWS & EVENTS.

Justice and Outreach Faith Formation

INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE The Interfaith Prayer Service is scheduled for Saturday, September 29 at 2:00pm by the pavilion at St. Gerard’s. The purpose of the interfaith prayer service is to come together as a faith community to pray for our youth experiencing homelessness in our community. The service will include a Native American Elder Prayer, an Islamic Prayer, and a Christian Prayer. There will also be a brief presentation on youth homelessness in the NW suburbs by Anna Bergreen from Avenues for Homeless Youth. There will also be a collection for new twin bed sheet sets for Avenues for Homeless Youth. Thank You!

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES COMING IN FF Coffee & Conversation: Following daily mass, September 25 (Faith and the Media) and October 16 (TBD). Women and Wine: An evening of community, conversation, wine, hors d'oeuvres, and faith. Offered 3 times a year, starting November 2. Bros and Brew: A men's opportunity, the counterpart of Women and Wine. Offered at least 2 times a year, dates TBD. Grandparents Workshop: "Spiritual Grandparenting Workshop: Ideas and inspiration for passing your spiritual legacy on to your grandchildren." Saturday, November 17 from 9am - 12:30pm (lunch to follow). RCIA: Begins November 2018. Contact Judy Foster at 763-424-8770 for more information.

LOAVES AND FISHES St. Gerard’s hosts Loaves and Fishes on the 4th Friday of every month. Our next date is Friday, September 28. We serve from 5-7 pm at St. Stephen's in Minneapolis. Sign up to serve on the easel in the Gathering Space. Contact Karen Brenteson at 763-561-7411 with any questions.

HERMANAS FRANCISCANAS NEWSLETTER Visit the NEWS & EVENTS page of our website, www.st-gerard.org, to read the Hermanas Franciscanas May/June/July 2018 Newsletter. The young women that attend the Casa Franciscana, and their parents are our fellow parishioners from San Rafael.

A NOTE FROM SISTER PARISH MINISTRY Sweet Dreams are Made of These… You can make a difference and make an educational dream come true for the young women in San Rafael and the surrounding pueblos. Amigos de las Franciscanas (ALF), (www.alfmn.org), is a 501(3c) that assists young women in San Rafael and the surrounding pueblos a c h i e v e t h e i r e d u c a t i o n a l goals. Join us after m a s s e s n e x t weekend for hospitality and then consider how you might be able to help them in the areas of: higher education, computers, transportation, and general funding. Thank you!

FAITH FORMATION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED These are the volunteer positions we still have open:

Nursery: 1 adult and 2 teens for monthly family night Liturgy of the Word: 2 adult volunteers for 8:30 mass

SHARING AND CARING HANDS St. Gerard’s prepares and serves a lunch at Sharing and Caring Hands every 1st Saturday of the month. Our next date is Saturday, October 6. No need to sign up, just come on Saturday morning at 9:00

am to St. Gerard’s kitchen and help prepare the food. Then at 10:50am help pack up the food, take it to Sharing and Caring Hands on 7th Street (Minneapolis), and help serve at 11:30am. Questions? Please call John at 763-561-3841.

COFFEE & CONVERSATION - SEPT 25 Join us for Coffee & Conversation on Tuesday, September 25 from 9-11am in the atrium, for FAITH AND THE MEDIA: How is social media and other technology impacting The People of God? The presenter will be Judy Foster, Director of Faith Formation. Judy will explore the challenges of social media and technology in the lives of our youth and young adults (and elders) and how today’s use of cell phones and other communication devices impact our relationships as well as social norms.

FAITH FORMATION FAMILY NIGHT One of the most exciting parts of our new Faith Formation structure is that we will now be offering Family Night to all the families in Faith Formation at St. Gerard's, including Home Formation Families. All family members are welcome, not just the children registered in our programs. This will be a great opportunity for families to gather together for fellowship, prayer, and faith exploration. Family Night will be the first Wednesday of the month from 6-8pm and at least one parent from each family is asked to attend with the children and youth. The Nursery will be open for children younger than 1st grade. Each Family Night will begin with a meal provided by our Meal Team and include Large Group Prayer, a Family Activity, and Small Group Breakouts, with Adults meeting for Adult Formation and Teens meeting for Youth Group while children are with their Small Groups. Some exciting things to look forward to this year are Family Prayer Night in November where families will be able to experience and learn about a variety of different prayer practices, and speaker Laura Fanucci who will be speaking to parents about Catholic Family Life in April.

Announcements

WELCOME TO ST. GERARD’S! If you are visiting St. Gerard's today and would like more information about the parish or how to become a member, please stop by the Welcome Desk in the Gathering Space, pick up a new member info packet, and sign our guest registry. You can also visit the “I’m New” tab of our website (www.st-gerard.org) or app (search for “St Gerard Majella” in the app store)! Or check out our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/churchofsaintgerard)! Thank you for worshipping with us today!

PUMPKIN FEST Pumpkin Fest is Saturday, October 13, 2-5pm, rain or shine! Kids games, prizes, magician, pumpkin catapult, pumpkin derby & more! Stop by the bake sale to pick up a yummy snack! Shop the used book sale for all of your winter reading. Visit the NEWS & EVENTS page of our website for a schedule of activities and rules to build your pumpkin derby car! Don’t forget to drop your books off at the pumpkin sign in the gathering space. Books will be collected until October 7. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you again this year at Pumpkin Fest!

MEDICAL SUPPLIES NEEDED Medical supplies will again be collected by the Knights of Columbus the last two weekends of September. These supplies will be used in a medical mission to the Philippines in February. Especially needed are braces, canes, crutches, wheel chairs, and walkers. Please drop them off in the gathering space on the back side of the wall from the wheel chairs. Also desperately needed are prescription eye glasses regardless of their age or style. "Readers" are also accepted. These can be placed in the round basket outside the office with the electronics recyclables. Your donations will definitely change lives! Questions? Call Dave Brom at 763-560-8845.

JOIN US AND PRAY THE ROSARY Join members of the Knights of Columbus as we recite the Rosary on Saturday, September 29 at 4:30pm in the Church. Following the Rosary, stay for Mass that

begins at 5:00pm. Let us gather together as a Catholic community to pray for the protection of all life and for our Church.

ST. GERARD APP Stay connected with St. Gerard’s by downloading our mobile app! The app features prayer resources, parish calendar, online registration and giving, photo gallery, prayer journal, bulletins and homilies, and access to our facebook page, youth website, and parish website. Also, you can receive important announcements called “push” notifications from St. Gerard’s with the parish app. Download the free app by scanning the QR code located on the inside page of the bulletin, or search for “St Gerard Majella” in the app store.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! https://www.facebook.com/churchofsaintgerard

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 6:30 pm - FF Home Study Meeting 7:30 pm - Boy Scouts #575 Meeting

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 9:00 am - Perpetual Help Devotion 9:15 am - Womens Prayer/Support Group 9:15 am - Coffee & Conversation 7:30 pm - Regent AA

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 9:00 am - Eucharistic Adoration 6:00 pm - Faith Formation 1st-5th 7:30 pm - Music Rehearsal

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 6:00 pm - Centering Prayer 7:00 pm - Sister Parish Meeting

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 8:30 am - Loaves & Fishes Prep 5:00 pm - Loaves & Fishes (St Stephen’s)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 2:00 pm - Interfaith Youth Homelessness Prayer Service

4:00 pm - Individual Confessions 5:00 pm - Eucharist 6:00 pm - Amigos de las Franciscanas Appeal

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 8:30 am - Eucharist 10:30 am - Eucharist 10:30 am - Faith Formation St. G’s Kids 10:30 am - Lit of the Word for Children 11:30 am - Amigos de las Franciscanas Appeal 6:00 pm - Edge/Confirmation Parent/ Student FF Meeting

INTENTIONS M-F 8:25 AM - Eucharist, Liturgy of Hours TUE 9:00 AM - Perpetual Help Devotion

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 8:25 am - Communion Service TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 8:25 am - Leroy & Veronica Schultz † WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 8:25 am - Richard Potvin † THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 8:25 am - Parish Families FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 8:25 am - Antonia Ignagni † SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 5:00 pm - Hal Dietz † SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 8:30 am - Kelly Herron † 10:30 am - Sara Olukolu †

PARISH EVENTS

PLEASE PRAY for the sick and ailing members of our parish community,

and all those in our Parish Prayer Book, especially: Jim May Mike Brenteson

Also remember those loved ones who have died.

Donate Online

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SEPT 30, 2018 26th Sunday OT NM 11:25-29

JAS 5:1-6 MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

This Week at St. Gerard’s

SACRAMENTS: BAPTISM

Call the Parish Office to schedule a date and register for the preparation class.

RECONCILIATION Saturday at 4:00 pm or any time by appointment.

MARRIAGE Please contact the parish office at least six months prior to the desired date.

Text Giving:

763-225-1078