• Mass on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 10 A.M.
• Masking is optional.

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Dear Friends,

We have a wonderful opportunity this week to delve into who our God is in the persons of the Creator, the Savior, and the Spirit. We shouldn’t get lost in the “top” layers of the Scripture readings that explain the human-made “head” understanding of “who” indeed, God is, but go deeper –to the “heart”-level seeing our God who loves and cares for each of us beyond all imaging. Then, if we do this, we have a clearer picture of what is expected of us.

Come; be with us this week.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

P.S. Please never hesitate to call, 507-429-3616, or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can help in any way.

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Readings:

• Exodus 34: 4-6, 8-9
• 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13
• John 3: 16-18

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• Mass on Sunday, May 28, 2023 at 10 A. M.
• Masking is optional.
• Due to Mugby’s last day being May 31st and the coffee shop being closed during June for updates under the new management, we won’t start our fellowship again until July.

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Dear Friends,

I think it is significant that the liturgical color for Pentecost is red and that the Scriptures about this special day for Christians speaks of “tongues of fire.” Our Christian faith does call each of us in the footsteps of our brother Jesus to, “catch fire” in living out our call.

Come; pray with us this week.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

P.S. Please don’t hesitate to call, 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I may be of help in any way.

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Readings:

• Acts 2: 1-11
• 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13
• John 20: 19-23

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Mass on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 4:30 P.M.

Masking is optional.

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Dear Friends,

With this weekend, we will be concluding the Easter Season, a time if we have been paying attention, that has prepared us to walk more fully in Jesus’ footsteps, aided by the gift of his Spirit.

Come; pray with us on Saturday.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

P.S. If I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to call, 507-429-3616, or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com.

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Readings:

Acts: 1: 1-11

1 Peter 4: 13-16

John 17: 1-11

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• We will meet for Mass this Sunday, May 14, 2023, Mothers’ Day at 10 A,M.!!! I will be back and hope that many of you can join us! My recovery continues!
• This past Wednesday, May 10th marked our 15th anniversary as a Vatican II parish! We will celebrate a bit later –perhaps in June, just a simple remembrance, when I am more fully recovered. For now, we will just concentrate on getting us back together.
• Mask-wearing will now be optional. This issue has been discussed by our board and the general consensus seems to be, that it is time. All the medical facilities in the area have made mask-wearing optional as well. It would be expected that if you have symptoms and are not feeling your best, then you should mask. Also, if you would feel more comfortable wearing a mask, for personal reasons, certainly feel free to do so.
• We will be returning to having fellowship as well, and this we will do again, beginning May 28th–one step at a time.

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Dear Friends,

We will be back together this Sunday! My recovery has kept us apart for most of the Easter Season, but this week, as we gather again in person, let us keep in mind that our brother, Jesus, is always with us, and that we as his followers must do likewise–hear and see the needs of others.

With spring unfolding now in Winona, and in other places too, let us carry on in hope, knowing that we are not alone, but joined in love.

Come; be with us this Sunday!

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

P.S. Please don’t ever hesitate to be in touch if I can help you in any way. 507-429-3616 or aaorcc2008@gmail.com.

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Readings:

• Acts 8: 5-8, 14-17
• 1 Peter 3: 15-18
• John 14: 15-21

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• NO MASS AGAIN THIS WEEK, May 7, 2023. We are hoping to resume liturgies next week, May 14, 2023. A final decision will be made toward the end of next week. I continue to have trouble with my nights and sleeping, which makes it difficult to get going in the morning. Continue to pray for me as I do for you. Thanks! Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• Acts 6: 1-7
• 1 Peter 2: 4-9
• John 14: 1-12

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Dear Friends,

Once again, I can’t be with you for Mass this week, but let’s look forward to next week! In lieu of that, I share a story with you from the past, for your reflection this week. Please keep in mind that the Scriptures included above, for this Sunday, hold the simple message that our God walks with us each day, and, we are never alone.

Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, lifts up the image that those who “preach the Word” should be “freed” from the daily tasks of “caring for others.” In this, I would say, he is wrong. “Preaching the Word” and “caring for the needs of others,” are one and the same, and the mission of all, as was so well demonstrated through the life of our brother Jesus.

Peter, in the 2nd reading confirms that Jesus can be a “stumbling block,” but if we keep our eyes on him, doing as he did, remembering to “not let our hearts be troubled,” all will be well.

His message was always, “If you have seen me, you have seen my Abba-God.” And by extension, we too must see God in others. In light of this, the following story from Sister Joan Chittister says well what we are to be about in our world.

“An old rabbi once asked his pupils how they could tell when night had ended and the day had begun. ‘Could it be,’ asked one of the students, ‘when you can see an animal in the distance and tell whether it’s a sheep or a dog?’ ‘No,’ answered the rabbi.  Another asked, ‘Is it when you look at a tree in the distance and can tell whether it’s a fig tree or a peach tree?’  ‘No’ answered the rabbi.

 ‘It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because, if you cannot see this, it is still night.’ ”

   Friends, we must always see life on a larger scope than the students in the story did—Jesus, the Christ who came to be one of us, we remember as, “the Light of the World” –if we are to truly follow him, we must too, bring light and not darkness.

   Joan ends her reflection of the old rabbi by saying, “Pay attention to the new nativism,” [that seems to continue to be spreading across our country, because] as Joan continues, “if you don’t, we may never know when the night has ended and the day has begun.”  Amen? Amen!