Church of St. Peter 2600 N. Margaret St.

North St. Paul, MN 55109 651-777-8304

SEPTEMBER 6, 2020

GOD CALLS MAN FIRST (From the wisdom and beauty of our mother the Catholic Church)

Catechism of the Catholic Church about prayer.

2562 Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain. 2563 The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant. 2564 Christian prayer is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ. It is the action of God and of man, springing forth from both the Holy Spirit and ourselves, wholly directed to the Father, in union with the human will of the Son of God made man. 2565 In the New Covenant, prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit. [...] This communion of life is always possible because, through Baptism, we have already been united with Christ. Prayer is Christian insofar as it is communion with Christ and extends throughout the Church, which is his Body. Its dimensions are those of Christ's love. 2566 Man is in search of God. In the act of creation, God calls every being from nothingness into existence. [...] Even after losing through his sin his likeness to God, man remains an image of his Creator, and retains the desire for the one who calls him into existence. All religions bear witness to men's essential search for God. 2567 God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. In prayer, the faithful God's initiative of love always comes first; our own first step is always a response. Dear parishioners through the Stewardship of Prayer, we hope that you will rediscover the beauty that has been given to us in our personal life and the life of the Church of St. Peter and enhance our prayer life, reflect on the priorities of Pope Francis and the Church and pray for the end of the pandemic.

Yours in Christ

Fr. Ettore Ferrario, FSCB

Stewardship of Prayer: The Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help

Dear Parishioners,

As you may know every year I journey to the Shrine of our Lady of Good Help for a pilgrimage

with college students and young adults. This beautiful and tiny shrine in Wisconsin is built on the site

of the only approved apparitions of the Blessed Mother in the United States of America. This year,

due the Covid-19 we had to shorten our pilgrimage to just 2 days, compared to the 5 we normally

take to walk to the shrine.

Even in this format, the pilgrimage was a simple but profound experience of prayer. As stewards

of God’s countless gifts, first we must turn to God and the Blessed Mother to ask them to protect,

guide and help us in our lives.

As Pope Saint John Paul II once wrote: “Experiencing the memorial of Christ's death in the Eucharist

also means continually receiving this gift. It means accepting – like John – the one who is given to us

anew as our Mother. It also means taking on a commitment to be conformed to Christ, putting ourselves

at the school of his Mother and allowing her to accompany us.”

Dear parishioners and visitors, let us walk the path of stewardship following in the footsteps of

Mary the perfect steward of God’s unique gift to humankind: His only begotten Son Jesus Christ.

Fr. Pietro Rossotti, Parochial Vicar

STEWARDSHIP OF PRAYER

Hold the Date for our Fall Gathering

Join us for a safe, social distance Fall Gathering on Sunday, September 20 under two big tents

in the parking lot. We have a fun afternoon planned with a catered pulled pork dinner, food truck

favorites, beer/wine/pop/water sales, raffle tickets, cornhole tournament and the Vikings vs. Colts

game on the Jumbo Screen.

Here are some ways you can help us make the

afternoon a success:

Sell and return your raffle tickets

Check out the volunteer opportunities and sign up

You must pre-register for the event to help us maintain our 250 person limit

Pre-pay for your pork dinner to help us with cash handling

Sign up for the cornhole tournament so we can form our brackets

Find your favorite purple and gold Vikings fashion for the game

Bring your family, friends and neighbors to enjoy the afternoon with us

Consider helping us by becoming a sponsor. Contact Kari at kari@umn.edu or call

651-332-1070 to learn more about our needs.

Visit churchofstpeternsp.org for more information and access to our online forms.

Need help registering? Contact the parish office at 651-777-8304 and we’ll help you!

FALL GATHERING

STEWARDSHIP OF TIME AND TALENT

St. Peter Catholic School is looking for someone to demonstrate Stewardship of Time as a substitute teacher or volunteer school nurse. As we prepare to re-open our school as safely as possible, these two positions could support the work we are undergoing in the education of our children. We are looking to add capable substitute teachers to our list of subs. We are also looking for someone to support us as a volunteer nurse. This person would need to have nursing

experience. If interested in either of these positions please contact Principal, Alison Dahlman at adahlman@stpetersnsp.org or call at 651-894-6156.

Lebanon is Bleeding

Archbishop Hebda has requested that parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis take up an emergency collection for Catholic Relief Services – the U.S. Bishops international humanitarian aid organization for poor and

most vulnerable - and their lifesaving support in Lebanon. On the weekend of September 5 and 6, we will take up this much needed emergency collection for those suffering in Lebanon. The Center for Mission will forward financial donations to Catholic Relief Services. Please be as generous as you are able: many are counting on our help.

LEBANON EMERGENCY APPEAL

FAITH FORMATION

Faith Formation Registration is Open!! Register Today!

We are looking forward to the new Faith Formation year and are excited to see all that God has planned for us! Like everything else in this time, our class schedule has been modified from previous years. Please see the Education section of our website for the calendar and registration form. We are thankful for this opportunity to grow in Family Faith Formation, as we endeavor to assist both children and their families to learn about and deepen their relationship with God. If at any time you need assistance or would prefer to register in person, please do not hesitate to contact our Faith Formation assistant, Jennifer: jgreger@stpetersnsp.org or 651-779-8304. Scholarships are readily available.

Due to the change in class format, it is likely that we may

be in need of catechists or assistants. If you are interested

in finding out more about this ministry in our parish,

please contact Jennifer or Father Stefano.

PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE

Dear Engaged Couple, Planning for your upcoming wedding is a beautiful time. Your wedding day is the beginning of your marriage and commitment to each other for as long as you both shall live. If you are planning on celebrating your marriage here at Saint Peter, you should let us know at least 9 months in advance. To assist you at the start of this vocation, you are required to attend three pre-marriage information sessions here at Saint Peter. There is a substantial amount of information that will be beneficial and therefore we request both of you to be present. We will cover:

Overview of Theology of the Body with an introduction to Natural Family Planning (NFP) Overview of the Catholic view on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony Requirements and paperwork to be filled out Pre marriage retreat information Pre-marital inventory information Present a personal witness of married life

The next sessions are: Saturday, October 3, 2020, 8am – 2pm (lunch provided) Saturday, October 17, 2020, 8am – 11am Saturday, November 7, 2020, 8am – 11 am We will meet in person, in accordance with the guidelines of the CDC *Zoom option is available

Questions e-mail: wedding@stpetersnsp.org.

GRIEF EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM

Offered at Incarnation in Shoreview

With losses continuing to mount and people’s lives are still being affected by COVID-19, Grow-

ing Through Loss, a six-week education and support series dealing with a variety of losses, was

set to start with weekly registration at 6:45 p.m., Sept. 10, at Incarnation Lutheran Church, 4880

Hodgson Rd., Shoreview.

Feel free to attend one or more of the sessions. Wearing masks is required. The Thursday

evening programs will include a lecture and facilitated support groups. For more information, call

763 755-5335 or visit www.growingthroughloss.org.

MASS INTENTIONS

Week of September 6 - September 13, 2020

Sunday: 8:00 AM †Joseph Francis Schultz

10:30AM †Allison Feldkamp

6:00 PM Church of St. Peter

Monday: 8:00 AM †Paul Koller

Tuesday: 8:00 AM †Karen Pickar

Wednesday: 8:00 AM †Peggy Turcotte

Thursday: 8:00 AM †MaryAnn Schwaab

Friday: 8:00 AM †Frank and Harriet Kielsa

Saturday: 8:00 AM †Don Jestel

4:00 PM †Arlene and Jerry Mogren

Sunday: 8:00 AM †Dorothea Stolz

10:30 AM †Dennis Weimann Sr

6:00 PM Church of St. Peter

SACRIFICIAL GIVING As of August 30 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021

Collected for Week: Electronic Giving $4,116.

Total Amount Collected for Week $15,361.

Amount Budgeted for Week $16,382.

Collected to Date: Stocks & Special Gifts $174,956.

Budgeted to Date: Stocks & Special Gifts $181,791.

Percentage Above (or Below) Budget -3.76%

Amount Above (or Below) Budget ($6,835.)

Collected for Week: Envelopes & Plate $11,245.

STARTING SEPTEMBER 6

NEW

Mass & Confession

Times for 2020-21

Mass Schedule

Monday thru Saturday 8:00 AM

Sunday Mass Schedule

Saturday, 4:00 PM

Sunday, 8:00 AM, 10:30 AM Live streaming

Mass, 6:00 PM

Confession Schedule

7:30 AM Tuesday thru Friday

Saturday 9:00-11:00 AM

Sunday 1/2 hour before each Mass

Your prayers are requested for the

repose of the soul of Elizabeth (Pat) Morrissey, whose

funeral was celebrated this past week.

LABOR DAY

Note: The Parish Office will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. There will be Mass at 8am.

- Our parish has made plans for RCIA instruction sessions to begin again this Fall. It is important to continue to provide instruction and sacramental preparation for those who want to join the Catholic Church or for Catholics who have not received the sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist, or Confirmation. Please contact the parish office (651-777-8304) to seek more information or to have Nick and Peggy John call you back for an initial meeting.

RCIA

The Diakonia Fund is set up in our parish to help those in need of assistance with food, gas, rent or utilities.

We serve those in our parish and in the North St. Paul area. Thank you for your generous donations of

3,746.00 to the Diakonia fund.