Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim DeBruycker

For centuries the Roman Catholic Church has looked at today’s readings as one of the guarantees of the primacy of Peter in leadership over the apostles. By the concept of vicarage, the future chosen leader of the Church, the pope, also receives the mantle of authority over the future apostles, the bishops of the church. This concept was later used to name the pope not only the vicar of Peter, but of Christ. He was declared Christ on earth.

It’s a lot more nuanced than presented here and has quite a tortured history. Luther and many others portrayed the pope as the anti-Christ and even as the whore of Babylon. There is some history as to why. Since Leo XIII (1878-1903) the popes have not been sovereign rulers over a country other than Vatican City proper. Previous to that they ruled over much of central Italy. I even have stamps from the old Papal States.

The Church spent a great deal of energy defending this territory and making pacts and treaties with other countries for protection, although not always with the best people. Some popes were not necessarily chosen for their spiritual leadership but for their military and diplomatic acuity.

Since the loss of the Papal States, more time seems to be spent on spiritual matters, although the diplomacy of Pius XII with the Nazi’s and John Paul II with the Soviet Union still highlights the need for world diplomacy and involvement in the world.

There are literally millions of pages written about the papacy and one could spend a lifetime doing research, but it always goes back to this first small band of believers. One of them seems to have an insight, or at least the courage, to blurt out what he believed to be true…or hoped to be true: this Jesus was the true Messiah.

As we will find out, he didn’t really know what that meant yet and he would have to undergo a trial before he could really take hold of the keys of the kingdom of heaven. This Peter, or Rocky, was not only to be a rock of stability but also a rock of obstruction. The same could be said of some of his successors.

SJA Welcome Back Sunday: 2020 Version! On Sunday, September 13, between 9am-noon, we invite you to drive through the SJA parking lot and pick up info (from your vehicle) on all kinds of fall activities, including Faith Formation and Family Liturgy, Warm Hands Warm Hearts Coat Collection, peace and justice ministry events, SJA garden-

ing, and other Shared Ministry volunteer opportunities. AND you can purchase Cabaret raffle tickets, too! Please plan on stopping by our drive-thru. We'll be thrilled to see you, even for a moment, and we promise we won't try to hug you. See you soon! SJA Vigil for Detained Immigrants: On Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30am, join us at the Whipple Federal Building for a vigil of prayer and music to lift up those who will appear in immigration court - many of whom will be deported directly from this facility. SJA readers and musicians will host this important vigil for our brothers and sisters in detention. Space is limited; RSVP to Julie Madden.

Sun, Aug. 23: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matt 16:13-20 Mon, Aug. 24: Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51 Tue, Aug. 25: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a, 14-17; Matthew 23:23-26 Wed, Aug. 26: 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10, 16-18; Matthew 23:27-32 Thu, Aug. 27: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; Matthew 24:42-51 Fri, Aug. 28: 1 Corinthians 1:17-25; Matthew 25:1-13 Sat, Aug. 29: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Mark 6:17-29 Sun, Aug. 30: Jeremiah 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

Carol Anderson, Molly McLaughlin Antila, Bill, Dennis Barta, Dave Benson, Phyllis Berninger, Elaine Boehm, Marcia Boehnlein, Patty Brennan, Lorraine Bryant, Stacy Budd, Jonathan Bulthuis, Pam Burd, Josefina Cahuex, David Carroll, Bob Corrick, Barbara Cracraft, Culver family, Judy Dean,

Larry Dease, Jim DeBruycker, Mae Deiekhuis, Colleen Dooley, Rosemary Drees, Ava Dunlay, Kathie DuRocher, Henry F, Bridgit & Paul Fiore, Carol Fourre, John & Margaret Frees, Michelle Fries, Kate Gilbert, Heidi Gregorich, Ron Guillfoile, Barbara Hager-Olsen, Mary Hale-Haniff,

Claire Hayes, Isaiah Henry, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Megan Hoffman, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kathy Itzin, Tom Jay, Janie, Jean E, Jeri, John, Annie Kack, Glen Kelley, Chuck Kennedy, Paul Kennedy, John Kingston, Sage Kirscht, Theresa Knaus, Steve Kremer, Abby L., Helen LaFavor, Amy Lainus, Melva Larson, Bobby Lindholm, Margaret Lulic, Chantilly Lynch, Dawn McCelland, Kate Meyer, Bob Miller, Rita Miller, Tom Moore, Bev Moran, Paige More, Royce Morrissette, Jack Muelken, Ted Mueller, Nate, Rita Nelson, Craig Nordby, Arla Olive, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera,

Mike O’Rourke, Colette Ott, Charmaine Owens, Jacques Parent, Pam Paul, Alice Pirola, Gina R, Pat Radecki, Graham & Nancy Rattray, Carol Reiland, Jack Riebel, Jean Rieck, Gina Romani, Donald & Susan Roufs, Dorothy Rowe, Pat Russell, Sri, Shasa Satrin, Ottavio Savina, Don Schafer,

Dale Schmidkee, Carter Schmidt, Phil Schmidt, Colleen Schroeder, Pam Schulstad, Betty Scully, Gerry Sell, Gary Sheppard, Sam Slagerman, Harold Sonnek, Joan Speltz,,Ross Spriggs, Doug Stahlke, Vivian Steblay, Carson Stier, Nancy Stockhaus, Rick Streng, Grayson Taylor,

Matthew Tennant, Dennis Thurmond, Glo Tonskemper, Arturo Torres, Al Traynham, Linda Underhill, Jesus Uz Tiu, Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague, Dave Velasco, Floyd Ward, Pam Washington, Marlys Weber, Mary White, Jerry Wohnoutka, Jim Wolfe, Morley Woodruff, Michele Wylie,

Mike Wyman, Denise Wyttenbach, Sarah Yoder, Curt Youngren, Dave Youngren, 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.

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.

Family liturgies are taking a brief hiatus before launching again on September 6th, when we start off our Fall together!

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

Week of August 10 - August 16, 2020 Actual $30,111 Budget $27,467 Prior Year Actual $28,866

Year to Date (July 1 – August 16, 2020) Actual $196,359 Budget $219,733 Prior Year Actual $252,767

THANK YOU for your continued generosity!!

LGBTQ+ Book Club in the Great Outdoors! All are welcome to join the discussion this Wednesday, August 26, 1 - 2:30pm of A History of My Brief Body, by Billy-Ray Belcourt. This is a collection of brave, raw essays on grief and joy, colonial violence and queerness by a person from the Driftpile Cree Nation. We'll meet at Como Park West Picnic Shelter. Bring a lawn chair, lunch and beverage. Food Shelf Donations Are Needed: We will continue to accept

non-perishable food items, which can be dropped off Monday thru Friday, 9am - 3pm, in the bins in the Parish Center entry. Your food offerings are donated to the Foodshelf at Sabathani Community Center and they have also indicated a need for laundry detergent

and body soap. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need.

School Supply Collection at SJA through September 18: Even if you're doing distance learning, the best part of back-to-school season is a brand new backpack and fresh new supplies. We are collecting items for distribution by the Church of Blessed Kateri, so plan on dropping off a backpack with supplies at our

ministry drive-thru on Sunday, September 13 from 9am-noon, or at the Parish Center Monday - Friday 9am til 3pm thru Friday, September 18. For a list of necessary supplies, go to www.stjoan.com or contact Julie Madden. SJA Antiracism Ministry: Our SJA community is committed to learning together, confronting our own racism as well as the racism of our church and other institutions, and working together for racial justice. We continue our discussions and hope you will join us: Community Safety: Today, Sunday, August 23, 11am - 1pm,

we envision and explore new models of community safety, including divesting from and even abolishing the current model of policing. Registration link to come.

42 Days Until Imagination Cabaret 2020: Mark your calendars! and join us on Saturday, October 3 at 7pm for: A FREE, 90-Minute Live concert broadcast on Stjoan.com Our 26th Annual SJA Concert Fundraiser - Your contribu-

tions make a difference to our 90 programs throughout the SJA community, city, country and world.

Featuring over 20 performances from Twin Cities musical luminaries

Starting August 31, you can also buy raffle tickets for $20 each (no limit-cash or check only) for chance to win a 2021 Maui vacation or cash prizes of $500 or $250!

Find details on the SJA website (www.stjoan.com) and our Facebook page

Sister Parish News: COVID-19 has had a devastating impact in Guatemala, including in our Sister Parish in Tierra Nueva Dos. We were scheduled to have a delegation from SJA in TNII at this time. Instead, we have been maintaining contact online (many of us have prayer partners or pen pals in Guatemala, and it's incredible how sustaining these prayers and connections have been), and we have sent financial support for medical supplies and food outreach to the community. We are mourning the passing of several brothers and sisters in TNII, and we ask you to keep our beloved family in your prayers. Mobile Loaves Twin Cities needs toiletry size soap, shampoo and lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes and lightweight socks. Please place your donations in the collection hamper in the Parish Center. (Monday - Friday, 9am - 3pm) FFI contact info@mobileloavestc.com.

SJA Responds to Housing Crisis: Affordable housing is al-ready scarce, and when eviction protections are lifted (making current and back rent due), we know that countless families and

individuals will face becoming homeless. SJA is responding: We are proud to partner with Beacon Interfaith Housing

Collaborative as they develop beautiful, affordable housing. Together we just celebrated the launch of Emerson Village, in North Minneapolis. Your advocacy will help bring this project to fruition - contact Julie Madden for info.

Our CARE Committee is very happy to resume our meet-ings with individuals in need of emergency financial assis-tance for housing and utilities. The SJA Outreach Fund Board has approved temporarily doubling the budget of the CARE Committee, and we will help as many households as we possibly can. Our thanks to the Outreach Fund donors who make this response possible.

Faithful Citizenship: ISAIAH is a coalition of faith communities and other organizations committed to economic and racial jus-tice, and SJA is a proud member. We will be engaging voters in conversations about our shared values, and our commitment to living those out in our public life. Join us! Contact Julie Madden for more info.

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 ext. 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

Warm Hands Warm Hearts Is Back! Our beloved annual collection of 500 new coats and winter accessories for children in our community will commence very soon. It is led entirely by SJA volunteers and you can be involved in several ways: Here’s how you can get involved – pick one or more!

• Shop early -- Purchase a coat with mittens and a hat, put it in a plastic bag, label the gender and size on the outside, and drop it off at SJA’s Drive-thru Ministry Event on Sunday, September 13 from 9am to noon. We will have extra bags available, too.

• Sign up later – look for the link to our WHWH Sign Up Genius online site (coming soon). Select a gender and size, then bring your purchased coat/hat/mittens to SJA on one of the following dates. Plastic bags and labels will be available for you there. Saturday, October 10, 9am - noon Saturday, October 17, 9am - noon Monday - Friday, October 12 - 16, 9am - 3pm

• Send in a donation by check or cash to SJA, attention “Warm Hands, Warm Hearts” in the memo line. Volunteers will use your donation to shop for missing sizes.

• Volunteer to don your mask and gloves to accept donations at SJA on the dates above and move them into the gym and/or sort previously donated items. Look for the WHWH Volunteer Sign Up Genius online site (coming soon).

• Have questions? Call 612.823.8205 (Ext 237).