• Again, NO MASS this week–my apologies! I am making minuscule improvement each day, just hard to see sometimes. Thank you all for so many well wishes, prayers and love.

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Dear Friends,

Being that my days of late have needed to be about “care for myself” as I recover from knee surgery, I am including a few paragraphs for your consideration from a past homily for this week. Hopefully, you will find meaning in reflecting upon them once again.

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Readings:

• Acts 2: 14, 36-41
• 1 Peter 2: 20-25
• John 10: 1-10

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Thoughts to consider based on the above readings:

     I begin today with a story as it serves well, I think, as a fine example of what we are each to be as Jesus’ followers:   A person stopped for the yellow light, and the person who was tailgating, furiously honked because they missed their chance to get through the intersection.  Still in mid-rant, that person heard a tap on the window. The officer ordered the person to exit the car with hands up, was ultimately taken to the station, searched, finger-printed, photographed and placed in a holding cell.  After a couple of hours, a police officer escorted the would-be criminal back to the booking desk and the arresting officer who said, “I am very sorry for the mistake, but I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, and giving the person in front of you the finger. I noticed the “What Would Jesus Do?” bumper sticker, the “Choose Life” license plate holder, “Follow Me to Sunday School” bumper sticker and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally I assumed you had stolen the car.

Good to remember that people are watching!

The reading from Peter today as well as the gospel from John speak of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, one who knows his own and calls them by name—who has “put up with suffering [for us] for doing what is right” and only asks that we try and do the same.  If our stance toward our world is going to be one of “pastoring” as opposed to that of “legislating,” we will have to see our world through a lens that is often more gray as opposed to black and white.

   I began these thoughts with a story that asked us to consider if we merely “proclaim” our Christianity or actually “show it” through our actions.  Only we can determine how that will be for us.  Only we can determine if we will live, as Jesus did—trying to understand, giving a response and action that is reflective of justice, mercy and love for each other, or not.  Amen? Amen!

Dear Friends,

Due to a meniscus tear in my R knee and its repair on this past Thursday, and being that I will have a “humungous” bandage on till my first physical therapy appointment on Monday, there will be NO MASS THIS SUNDAY, April 16, 2023. I will put out some readings, prayers and a homily, tomorrow for your use for the 2nd Sunday of Easter.

Hopefully, this is finding you all well.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

• Mass on Sunday, April 2, 2023 at 10 A.M
• Board Meeting, April 19, 2023–Mask policy will be addressed–for now, masks are still in place.
• Holy Week Schedule: Good Friday Service–April 7, 2023 at 4:30 P.M., Easter Sunday–April 9, 2023 at 10 A.M. A list of Holy Week readings will come out later in the week.
• Please don’t hesitate to call, 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I may be of help to you.

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Dear Friends,

With this Sunday, we begin the holiest of weeks in our Church Year. If you were to hold onto one thought during these next, “holiest” of days, I would suggest, remembering how much we are loved by our God in the sending of our brother, Jesus to “be one with us,” for a time, to show us the way, truth, and the life.

Come; plan to be with us this next week, when you can, to remember and be grateful.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• Matthew 21: 1-11 (reading for the blessing of the palms)
• Isaiah 50: 4-7
• Philippians 2: 5-11
• Passion of Jesus the Christ, Matthew 26:14–27:66

• Mass on Sunday, 3-26-23 at 10 A.M.–masks yet for a while more–come, spring, come!
• Holy Week Schedule

1. Palm Sunday Mass–10 A.M., 4-2-23
2. Good Friday Service–4:30 P.M., 4-7-23
3. Easter Sunday Mass–10 A.M., 4-9-23

• Please don’t hesitate to call, 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can help in any way.

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Dear Friends,

This 5th Sunday of Lent calls us through each of the readings this week to die to all that does not bring life, and to live in the Spirit of our brother, Jesus.

Come; let us ponder all this together this week.

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• Ezekiel 37: 12-14
• Romans 8: 8-11
• John 11: 1-48

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• Mass on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 4:30 P.M.
• Masks are still being used to keep us all safe–as soon as it gets warmer out, we will try and open windows and perhaps can go mask-less!!
• Please never hesitate to call 507-429-3616 or email, aaorcc2008@gmail.com if I can be of help.

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Dear Friends,

This week we are being encouraged to again, “shine our own particular light,”–to move out of our comfort zones and do the piece that only we, each of us can do.

Come; pray with us this Saturday!

Peace and love,

Pastor Kathy

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Readings:

• 1 Samuel 16: 1; 6-7, 10-13
• Ephesians 5: 8-14
• John 9: 1-41

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