January 17, 2021

Visit: www.stjoan.com 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55419 612.823.8205 Fax: 612.825.7028

Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker

You know by now my favorite saying: Make God laugh tell him/her your plans for the future. Life is unpredictable sometimes, a lesson learned again and again as a hospital chaplain, the expression “if only” began many a conversation in the waiting rooms of the hospital emergency and intensive care units. If you have been lucky enough, disciplined enough, and intelligent enough, you may have had a straight line from what you wanted to what you got. I know a few people like that, but I know even more people who achieved their goals only after a couple of detours and trips down dead-end streets.

One of those questions we often say we want to ask God (or God’s factotum when we meet face to face) is how much of our life was cho-sen, how much was a crap shoot, and how much was divine intervention. In today’s reading, Samuel was called directly by God. He didn’t realize it at first but he had Eli, an old hand at listening to and for God, to help him. As a child, helped by the salesmanship of Fr. Arnold We-ber, I thought I had received a call to priesthood. I spent eight years at St. John’s but at the end of those eight years I decided against priest-hood. By accident, 10 years later I ran into a classmate who suggested I look at it again. This time I stuck around long enough to get or-dained. Would I do it again? It’s hard to say because to make that decision I would have to had all the experiences of the last 42 years. I cherish a lot of these experiences, but the bureaucracy and its peevishness are and were sometimes crippling.

I worry about my confreres claiming a special calling, and how that seems to make them think they have privileges and infallibility beyond their personal experience. Cultivated narcissism, even in the best of the clergy, can be deadly. I believe we all receive a call and each of us by name. As we go through life we receive many different challenges. It may be a personal decision which challenges us to do the right thing, it might be a situation which calls us to take a stand or to take leadership over a situation we might rather walk away from. Did you ever think that this may be God speaking to you?

It does take a great deal of discernment to act properly and great damage has been done by people who think they are right but are working on false premises. Last week’s events are a prime example. But we also have the example this week of Martin Luther King. Like most of the prophets of the Bible he didn’t think he was the right vehicle for the liberation of his people, but time after time he chose to do the coura-geous and just action. And like many a great prophet it led to martyrdom and finally recognized greatness.

Sometimes you hear God’s voice in the privacy of your room, sometimes you hear it in the question, “Are you going to walk on by?” As has been said many times before, no one is excused from doing the right thing, but also sometimes it is not always easy to ascertain what that might be. Someone once told me: God loves it when we make an ass out of ourselves trying to do the right thing.

No Gathering for Masses planned at this time. The same applies to all meetings or gatherings.

Parish Center will be open 9:00am - 3:00pm Monday thru Friday

On Tuesday, January 19 at 5:30pm St. Joan of Arc Church Bells will ring out for 15 minutes. We join a national bell ringing which is part of the inaugural events, honoring those we have lost to COVID. St. Joan's community is proud to be a part of this national moment of unity and remembrance.

Food Shelf/Toiletries Donations Needed: We will continue to accept non-perishable food items, laundry detergent and body soap for Sabathani Community Center and toothbrushes, toiletry-sized soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and new, lightweight socks for Mobile Loaves Twin Cities. All items can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 9am - 3pm, in the bins in the Parish Center. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need!

Scripture Readings:

Sun, Jan 17:1Sam 3:3b-10,19; 1Cor 6:13c-15a,17-20; John 1: 35-42 Mon, Jan 18: Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 2:18-22 Tue, Jan 19: Hebrews 6:10-20; Mark 2:23-28 Wed, Jan 20: Hebrews 7:1-3,15-17; Mark 3:1-6 Thu, Jan 21: Hebrews 7:25-8:6; Mark 3:7-12 Fri, Jan 22: Hebrews 8:6-13; Mark 3:13-19 Sat, Jan 23: Hebrews 9:2-3,11-14; Mark 3:20-21 Sun Jan 24: Jonah 3:1-5,10; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20

Carol Anderson, Arlene Axelson, Bill, Marcus B, Dennis Barta, Phyllis Berninger, Rob Brown, Ellen, Erik, Linus & Lily Bendel-Stenzel, Elaine Boehm, Marcia Boehnlein, Michael Branigan, Patty Brennan, Lorraine Bryant, Stacy Budd, Pam Burd, Sue C, David Carroll, Larry Clark, Barbara Cracraft, Dan Crough, Culver family, Larry Dease, Jim DeBruycker, Joe Dooley, Linda Duffy, Ava Dunlay, Kathie DuRocher, Pete Eichten, Ellie Fitzgerald,

John & Margaret Frees, Michelle Fries, Daniela Garcia, Jim Green, Heidi Gregorich, Ron Guillfoile, Amy H, Bob & Sandy H, Christina H, Linda & Tom H, MJ & Fred H, Jon & Rae H, Christina H, Judy Hilkemann, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Gene Hniilicka, Megan Hoffman, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kathy Itzin, Ruth J, Tom Jay, Barb Janisch, Annie Kack, Alex Kalal, Brad Karkkainen, Glen Kelley, Chuck Kennedy, Paul Kennedy,

John Kingston, Sage Kirscht, Lois Koegl, Steve Kremer, Abby L, Helen LaFavor, Amy Lainus, Melva Larson, Pankraz Lechner, Theresa Little, Bob Loftus, Chantilly Lynch, Claire Madden, Amy Matykiewicz, Dawn McCelland, Kate Meyer, Bob Miller, Rita Miller, Tom Moore, Bev Moran,

Royce Morrissette, Jack Muelken, Ted Mueller, Cheri Murch, Nate, Randy Naae, Rita Nelson, Craig Nordby, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Mike O’Rourke, Colette Ott, John Palmer, Jacques Parent, Milo Parker, Jimmy Peterka, Alice Pirola, Gina R, Kevin R, Lourdes Ramirez, Carol Reiland, Ann Resemius,

Jack Riebel, Jean Rieck, Donald & Susan Roufs, Dorothy Rowe, Pat Russell, Sam, Monica Sausen, Don Schafer, Carter Schmidt, Phil Schmidt, Colleen Schroeder, Pam Schulstad, Betty Scully, MaryAnn & Dick Seekamp, Gerry Sell, Jack Sell, Sam Slagerman, Harold Sonnek, Teddy Sparrman,

Joan Speltz, Ross, Doug Stahlke, Vivian Steblay, Carson Stier, Nancy Stockhaus, Rick Streng, Christine Stuart, Grayson Taylor, Matthew Tennant, Dennis Thurmond, Glo Tonskemper, Arturo Torres, Al Traynham, Linda Underhill, Jesus Uz Tiu, Abby V, Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague,

Mary Sue VanVeen, Dave Velasco, Floyd Ward, Pam Washington, Marlys Weber, Bob Wedl, Jerry Wohnoutka, George Wolf, Morley Woodruff, Michele Wylie, Mike Wyman, Dave Youngren, Edwina Zagami, Annemaire & Ava Zubrzycki, Bridget Zvirin

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To add a name or to renew your request, please call the Parish Center at 612.823.8205.

Prayer Corner: Please remember in your prayers those who are in need of healing:

Our Liturgies from April through today’s will be available through the St. Joan of Arc website. Celebrate virtually with Fr. DeBruycker , Fr. Cassidy and the SJA community. Watch online at www.stjoan.com.

Also join us online for our weekly Family liturgies.

Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.

Week of December 28 - January 2, 2021 CORRECTED (formula error) Actual $98,919 Budget $30,667 Prior Year Actual $32,032

Week of January 3 - January 10, 2021 Actual $36,721 Budget $30,667 Prior Year Actual $32,032

Year to Date (July 1 – January 10, 2021) Actual $1,002,880 Budget $1,117,671 Prior Year Actual $1,230,724

THANK YOU for your continued generosity!!

SJA 2020-2021 Concert Series – Pre-recorded Concerts are broadcast at 7pm on the following dates. Watch for FREE (donations welcome) at stjoan.com • Jan. 17, 2021 - No Turning Back: Annual Concert For

MLK Holiday – Intimate songs and stories from performers, writers and activists, including Thomasina Petrus, T Mychael Rambo & more.

• Feb. 14, 2021 - SOFIA: Chambers Of The Heart – A spiritual, open-hearted Valentine experience from this sublime trio: Carin Vagle, Tim Frantzich & Dean Magraw • Mar. 21, 2021 – From My Backyard – Michael Monroe

presents music and reflections about Superior’s North Shore with photos by Jim Brandenburg.

Watch on demand after premier for FREE at stjoan.com - Thanks to our underwriters and SJA for making this series possible. Blessings to you, wonderful SJA parishioners! We have tried our best to connect with everyone, so if you didn’t hear from us, we probably don't have the correct information for you. You can go to our SJA website and make any changes by clicking on "Membership" on our homepage. Thank you! Are You Financially Stressed? In this difficult time, any SJA parishioners who are in need of confidential emergency financial assistance to maintain housing or utilities are encouraged to contact Julie Madden at jmadden@stjoan.com or 612.823.8205 x228. Our SJA CARE Committee is available and waiting to help. Thanks to all the donors to our SJA Outreach Fund, who make this support possible.

SJA Outreach Fund Update: The SJA Outreach Fund provides the budget for our Justice Grants, our CARE Committee, and Sus-taining Partnerships with several organizations integral to the life of SJA. Donations to the Outreach Fund must be made separately from those to the operating budget, and we thank all our donors who make this work possible. $5000 Justice Grants were awarded last month to six organizations, in which our parishioners are vol-unteers & leaders.

CARE Committee: Our SJA CARE Committee provides emergen-cy financial assistance for housing and utilities to parishioners and neighbors in need. We also serve the clients of several local part-ner organizations. As we begin the new year, we are aware that the lifting of the eviction moratorium may impact up to 20,000 families. We will keep SJA posted on the impact of this in our community.

Sustaining Partners: Donations were made for this fiscal year, as follows: $5000 to Women Against Military Madness; $10,000 to Mobile Loaves Twin Cities, Risen Christ School, and Sister Parish. Fr. Jim Cassidy leads a yearly second collection for Arm in Arm in Africa.

Special Project: This fall, as we mourned the murder of George Floyd, and witnessed the unrest in response to deep inequities in our community and our country, our SJA Outreach Fund Board approved the following grants of $5000 each, to grassroots efforts, majority led by people of color, working in direct service with im-pacted communities in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and also working for systemic change to address racial, educational and economic inequity. The recipients are: Mercado Central DuNord Foundation Cristo Rey Jesuit High School "We Love Midway" MIGIZI Communications Northside Achievement Zone West Broadway Business and Area Coalition Urban Ventures

Immigration Policy Changes: The Hope and Work Ahead of Us. SJA's Welcome the Stranger ministry will host a two part discus-sion on the possibilities for a new, just immigration policy that unites families, honors the dignity of work, and gives people the chance to legalize their status in this country. Part I, on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 1pm, will focus on possible federal changes. A state policy discussion will follow, on Saturday, February 6. FFI/to

RSVP, contact Julie Madden at the parish center.

LGBTQ+ Group News: FFI/to rsvp, please contact Ron at rejslp@aol.com. • Book Club Zoom Gathering: Monday, Jan. 18 at 7pm, a dis-

cussion of "Trans-Sister Radio" by Chris Bohjalian. If you haven't read the book, we'll have a synopsis.

• Zoom Happy Hour: Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 6-7:30pm. This is such a great way to connect together with old friends and new!

FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext. 228 or jmadden@stjoan.com.

Huge ISAIAH Online Gathering in January: We Make MN Virtual Launch! On Sunday, Jan. 24, join hundreds of fellow SJAers, and thousands of people of faith from across ISAIAH member organizations,

as we lay out a strategic plan for racial and economic justice in the next legislative session. We will work on issues like paid fami-ly leave, immigrant protections, affordable housing, and restoring the vote, and we are a powerful voice in Minnesota. FFI, contact Julie Madden. We Resist the Line 3 Pipeline: SJA, through our Antiracism and EcoSpirits ministries, is organizing a presence to stand with indig-enous leaders in northern MN to resist the Enbridge Line 3 pipe-line. We will also organize support and advocacy for these re-

sistance efforts. Why are we opposed? According to MN 350:

• This pipeline will add as much CO2 to our atmosphere as 50

new coal-fired power plants every day for the next 60+ years.

• It breaks tribal treaties.

• It crosses 212 bodies of water in MN, including the Mississip-

pi River, which means any leak could be catastrophic.

• The MN Environmental Protection Act forbids any massive project that doesn't directly benefit Minnesotans. None of this

oil is destined for us, or needed by us.

• During the official process, 68,000 Minnesotans spoke

against this project, and 4000 spoke in favor.

Call Gov. Walz (651.201.3400) and let your voice be heard now, and contact Julie Madden to be involved in our SJA efforts.

SJA Housing Ministry News: We are all in on end-ing homelessness in our community, and there are so many ways to participate in this sacred work!

• On Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7pm, join our virtual Beacon Inter-faith Housing Collaborative launch to the legislative session, when we will make affordable housing a priority for all Minne-sotans. Sign up here: https://www.beaconinterfaith.org/event/2021-legislative-launch-action/.

• On Saturday, Jan. 23, join our SJA team volunteering on-site to rehab a home or apartment building that will provide beau-tiful and affordable housing to a low-income family through Urban Homeworks. No supplies, tools or experience needed! Contact Julie Madden to make a big difference in a few hours with fellow SJAers.

• On Sunday, Feb. 7, at 11am, we invite you to a virtual coffee and update on our Housing Ministry goals for the new year. You have a huge role to play in our work, and we will be very excited to see you! RSVP to Julie Madden.

Peace and Justice

Pre-school: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Magnolia

Ditzler at mditzler@stjoan.com.

Grade School: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie

Bissonnette at mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

First Reconciliation and First Communion: For those who are planning to prepare for First Reconciliation, we may begin to pre-pare early this year, hopefully to be celebrated in February/March 2021. Children 2020 First Communion children who have regis-tered and prepared do not need to prepare again. You will be in-cluded with the 2021 group in whatever plans are developed. The hope is to begin preparation in March 2021, and to celebrate in late April, early May 2021. All plans are Covid-19 dependent! FFI contact Marie, mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

Youth Ministry: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Rose Aspholm at

raspholm@stjoan.com or Brennan Hall at bhall@stjoan.com.

Confirmation 2020-21 Update: Due to the pandemic we have decided to postpone the start to our Confirmation classes until spring 2021. Open to teens in 10th and 11th grade, our program is grounded in relationship building, discernment, and service. If you would like to be added to our contact list for teens and families who are interested, please email Rose and we will keep you up to date with our plans. raspholm@stjoan.com

Trivia Night! Sun, Jan 31, 7 PM. Families, groups, and/or individu-als: here's your chance to flex everything you've ever learned, with some pop-culture questions thrown in for fun. No studying or cram-ming required. Our themed rounds change every month! All are welcome, especially new-comers. See you there! Contact Rose with questions and to get the zoom link: raspholm@stjoan.com

FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 ext. 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

Monday Mental Health: Please join us for a Zoom Webinar Event Monday, Feb. 8, 6:30 - 8pm as Rev. Melissa Hensley, Ph.D., LICSW, presents, Smooth the Path When the Terrain is Rough. This is a free event. All are welcome. To join us, follow the link on our weekly email blast. FFI contact Sherri Stella at sstella@stjoan.com. To watch

our previously recorded events, follow the link on the Mental Health Ministry page of our website.

Family Mental Health: Join us via Zoom as Michael Borowiak, MSW, LICSW and Callie Albaugh MA, LAMFT from Traverse Counseling & Consulting, present a series dedicated to helping families navigate the challenges of COVID-19. Presentations are from 6:30 to 7:45pm on the following Wednesdays: • January 27: Parenting Your Anxious/Depressed Kids in a

COVID World • February 3: Grief, Loss, and Family Resilience During the

COVID Era • February 10: What if Your Kid Says No: Practical Tips of How

to Manage Resistance and Defiance During COVID Times • February 17: Help! Technology is Taking Control; Strategies

for Leading Young People in Healthy Relationships with Technology These are free events. All are welcome. To register, please contact Sherri Stella at sstella@stjoan.com.

The South Minneapolis Coalition for Grief Support provides education and support on a wide range of needs and concerns for those grieving. Speakers share their experience and knowledge on grief and loss, and small discussion groups follow the speaker each week. Groups are led by trained facilitators. You are invited to at-tend the next series, held virtually, starting Thursday, Jan. 21. 6:30 - 7 pm - Speaker; 7 - 7:30 pm - Breakouts. Attendance is free, but registration is a necessity. Please call 612.827.6159. Zoom details will follow registration. Groups are open-ended and individuals may join at any time. FFI, call Norine Larson at 952.925.2437. For a schedule of speakers, go to www.trustinc.org.

Help Parishioners In Need! If you are able to help members in our community with things like picking up & delivering groceries please contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 x 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

Pastoral Ministries

Faith Formation

Adult Learning

FFI contact Cynthia Bailey Manns at cmanns@stjoan.com.

SAGES sponsors Last Tuesday Seminar, Jan 26 at 4pm: The topic is The Importance of Intuition. Mark Scannell will provide the input and there will time for discussion. To register for the Zoom link, please e-mail Mark Scannell at gasscann@bitstream.net.

Archdiocesan Synod: The Church Prepares - Please go to https://www.archspm.org/synod/ for more information on What's Next in Year 2 of the Synod. Beginning January 20-Virtual Faith & Cultural Series-tackles widely misunderstood top-

ics in Catholic teaching. https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/virtual-faith-and-culture-series-tackles-widely-misunderstood-topics-in-church-teaching/ Contact Cynthia at

cmanns@stjoan.com with any questions.

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation): It's not too late to join this year's RCIA group! RCIA will meet via Zoom bi-weekly at 6:30pm. All materials are provided. Is this your year to come into full communion with our church? Contact Fr. DeBruycker at 612.823.8205

Parish Book Club: Wednesday, Feb. 10, 6pm. Tribe by Sebastian Junger. To register, email Lucy at lpetermei-er@comcast.net for Zoom link.

Centering Prayer: Sundays, 10 - 10:30am. To register, email Ray Spack at raymondspack@comcast.net.