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EUCHARIST
SATURDAY: 4:30 PM (also live stream on our Facebook page; find
the link on our website, www.sjolc.org)
SUNDAY: 8:30 and 10:30 AM
DAILY: 8:00 AM Mon. (Communion Service), Tue., Thu., Fri.; 11:10
AM Wed. (with School)
RECONCILIATION
7:30 AM Tue., Thu, Fri. 3:30 PM Sat. and by appointment
PARISH OFFICE
P: 651-484-2708 8:30 AM-Noon Mon.-Thu. Please ring doorbell for
assistance.
CHURCH HOURS
Mon.–Fri. | 7:30 AM–NOON 30 minutes before Masses
Pastoral and Finance councils:
www.sjolc.org/pastoral-finance-councils
DIRECT DIAL & EMAIL
Pastor: Rev. Tom Balluff
651-288-3265 | [email protected] Director of Pastoral Care: Dcn.
Eric Cooley
651-288-3268 | [email protected]
Director of Liturgy & Music: Ryan Chimzar
651-288-3269 | [email protected]
Director of Faith Formation: Joe Block
651-288-3259 | [email protected]
Business Administrator: Don Kellett
651-288-3267 | [email protected]
Director of Communications: Laura Haraldson | 651-288-3270 |
[email protected]
Bookkeeper: Karla Schultz
651-484-3038 | [email protected]
Parish Office Support: Kay Wimer
651-288-3271 | [email protected]
Parish Trustees: Paul Dinndorf: 651-697-1747; Donna Lehmann:
612-500-1466
CEMETERY
For plot or columbarium sales and
information:
P: 651-288-3268
Cemetery Caretaker: John Parker
P: 651-407-0532
SCHOOL
P: 651-484-3038 | F: 651-481-1355
Hours: 6:30 AM–6:00 PM
Principal: Dan Hurley
651-288-3220 | [email protected]
Office Administrator: Karla Schultz
651-484-3038 | [email protected]
EAGLE CLUB CHILDCARE
Coordinator: Tayler Smith
P: 651-484-3038 | [email protected] Hours: 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Mon.-Fri.
380 LITTLE CANADA ROAD • LITTLE CANADA, MN 55117-1699 |
WWW.SJOLC.ORG
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2020 | FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
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Merry Christmas! Even with all of the darkness surrounding us,
there is always beautiful light from on high. In this season, Jesus
is born. The newborn King has arrived in Bethlehem. He has been
worshiped by the shepherds, the poorest of the poor. He is resting
quietly in the manger with Mary and Joseph present (two peasants
without the ability to stay at the Inn).
The child has the ox and ass for company. The world has no idea
that its Savior has come into the world. Jesus is born in poverty.
And yet, His light shines brighter than the brightest light
imaginable.
God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, not to condemn
the world, but rather, to save it from its sin! We have been given
this great gift of the Lord most high! The three Kings will come
and pay homage to Jesus. They will offer Him gold, frankincense and
myrrh, gifts befitting a great king!
But Jesus is not just a king, He is God, Himself! Let us worship
and
pay homage to the great King of the Universe. I think we forget
sometimes the meaning of the birth day of Jesus. Through sorrow for
sin, we gain eternal life through Him.
God could have chosen to be born behind the castle wall and lord
it over us. But no: God chose to be one of us as He comes into the
world. Jesus is little and small, vulnerable, and as He grows up,
He will know our difficulties and problems intimately. Jesus will
walk with us and helps us through this life into eternity. Heaven
is our true home, my friends.
God begins His life here on earth as a poor peasant baby wrapped
in a manger amongst the animals in the stable, visited first by
those who live on the fringe of society. Jesus knows and loves each
one of us infinitely! Let us open our hearts to this wonderful
light. The light of God’s love bestowed on us poor humanity.
Peace, Father Tom
A NOTE FROM OUR PASTOR
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 8:30 AM Mass |
Church
10:30 AM Mass | Church
11:30 AM Communion Distribution | Gathering Space Circle
MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 8:00 AM Communion Service | Church
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 29 7:30 AM Confession | Church
8:00 AM Mass | Church
10:00 AM Funeral Visitation | Church
11:00 AM Funeral Mass | Church
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30 7:30 AM Confession | Church
8:00 AM Mass | Church
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31 PARISH OFFICE CLOSED 6:00 PM Vigil Mass |
Church and Live Streamed
7:00 PM Communion Distribution | Gathering Space Circle
SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD: FRIDAY, JANUARY 1 PARISH OFFICE
CLOSED 9:00 AM Mass | Church and Live Streamed
10:00 AM Communion Distribution | Gathering Space Circle
SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 7:30 AM First Saturday Confession |
Church
8:00 AM First Saturday Mass | Church
3:30 PM Confession | Church
4:30 PM Mass | Church and Live Streamed
5:30 PM Communion Distribution | Gathering Space Circle
SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 8:30 AM Mass | Church
10:30 AM Mass | Church
11:30 AM Communion Distribution | Gathering Space Circle
COMING UP THIS WEEK
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PARISH OFFICE
All Calendar dates/times are subject to change. Find updated
events at www.sjolc.org, or call the Parish
Office at 651-288-3270. To submit events:
[email protected].
JOLLY OLD SAINT NICHOLAS
OUR PARISH HAS A NEW ST. NICHOLAS COSTUME, THANKS TO
THE GENEROSITY OF ONE OF OUR PARISHIONERS. WHILE OUR
USUAL ST. NICK FESTIVITIES WERE SENT VIRTUAL DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC, THE SCHOOL WAS ABLE TO CELEBRATE THE ORIGI-
NAL SANTA CLAUS IN STYLE. PRINCIPAL HURLEY DRESSED UP ON
DECEMBER 7 AND SURPRISED EACH OF THE STUDENTS WITH
CANDY CANES AND A PRAYER CARD FROM ST. NICK. THANK YOU
TO PEGGY VERKUILEN FOR THE GENEROUS DONATION, WHICH
WAS MADE IN HONOR OF HER LATE HUSBAND, CLAUDE.
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3
LIVING OUR FAITH
HIGH-SCHOOLERS: REGISTER FOR WINTER FAITH CAMP BY
JAN. 15, AND SAVE $20! Join more than 100 young Catholics from
our parish, and the parishes of St. Charles Borromeo, St. Odilia
and many others for a weekend you’ll never forget. REGISTER BY
JANUARY 15, and save $20! (Camp is all-inclusive of meals,
activi-ties, materials; scholarships available.) There will be
Mass, powerful music and tes-timonies, Eucharistic adoration, and
fun and games, including a tubing hill (with tow rope), a climbing
wall, crate stacking, black-light dodgeball, broomball, floor
hockey
and tons of board games. Don’t sit at home on your phone all
weekend. Join us: Friday, Feb. 12, to Monday, Feb 15, at Trout Lake
Camp in Pine River, Minn. See our website for details and to
register.
FOOD COLLECTION NEWS! Out of the generosity of our parish, we
again collected 118 bags of groceries
for our Franciscan Brothers. We can-not thank you enough.
Brother Pio had
one small request as we continue to give so generously: Please
consider
double-bagging your groceries, to avoid those rips and spills in
soggy
weather. Our next Food Collection for the Poor will be January
2-3, 2021.
FAITH FORMATION
CHRISTMAS PRESENTS FOR
PARISHIONERS If you attended Christmas Mass at Saint John’s, you
were offered the
gift of a book, Matthew Kelly’s I Heard God Laugh ...
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4
LIVING OUR FAITH
As we near the one-year anniversary of our Capital Campaign
kickoff, we are so grateful for you. The people of Saint John’s
have generously pledged nearly $1 million, and we already have
received almost 50 percent. THANK YOU for your support! You might
recall that, in Sep-tember, we were able to pay off our mortgage.
Monies will next be going to our rooftop air conditioner units and
aging boiler, as well as stained glass window repair and school
needs. We know the pandemic has changed our climate, but our
personal experience is Saint John’s parishioners continue to be so
open with their giving.
INTERESTED IN
INCREASING YOUR
PLEDGE? Call Don Kellett at
651.288.3267 or email
[email protected].
FATHER TOM CEREMONIOUSLY
BURNED OUR MORTGAGE PAPERS
AT OUR FALL FESTIVAL. THAT
SAME WEEKEND, ARCHBISHOP
HEBDA SPOKE AT OUR
INAUGURAL DISCIPLESHIP
SUNDAY EVENT.
Here are our next investments: Total cost of work estimated (as
of 2020) is between $634,159 and $711,939.
• School roof
• School roof-top air conditioning units
• Lower church stained glass
• Church boiler
• Church air conditioner
• Concrete work
LOOK WHAT OUR COMMUNITY’S ACHIEVED IN 2020!
THERMOMETER CHECK Capital Campaign results through Nov. 30,
2020
Pledged: $968,766.00
Received: $475,874.59
Cash in Bank:
$170,962.64
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REGISTER TODAY
FOR YOUTH MN
MARCH FOR LIFE Join high school and col-
lege students from across the Archdiocese for a day of prayer,
inspiration, pro-life education and advoca-cy for the pre-born.
Regis-tration by January 15 is $10; visit
www.sjolc.org/youth-events.
CALLING MORE
USHERS! Have you noticed the peo-ple in the wings at Mass? Those
are our fantastic ushers, and their commit-ment and hard work this
year is truly appreciated. We are looking to add to this list of
great people in 2021: If you are interested in becoming an usher,
there is no commitment, simply contact Ryan in the Parish Office to
learn more. [email protected]
BISHOP ANDREW
COZZENS AT THE
NEXT DISCIPLESHIP
SUNDAY JAN. 24 Be ready to be challenged! Discipleship Sunday is
kicking off 2021 with a
bang, hosting a riveting presentation from Bishop Andrew
Cozzens. Join us
both in-person and virtually at 9:30 AM Sunday, Janu-ary 24, as
he speaks to “The Cost of Being a Disci-ple in 2021.” Learn more at
www.sjolc.org/disclipeship-sunday.
YEAR OF SAINT
JOSEPH
On December 8, the Archdi-ocese began a Year of Saint Joseph,
beginning with Archdiocesan Conse-
cration to Saint Joseph, who is the patron of the second year of
the Archdi-ocesan Synod. The Arch-bishop’s homily and read-ing of
the consecration prayer is on the Archdio-cese’s YouTube channel,
and details from the decree regarding partial indulgenc-es during
this Year of Saint Joseph are explained. The Archdiocesan Synod
Pray-
er to Saint Joseph and prayer cards can be found at
www.archspm.org/
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LIVING OUR FAITH
MASS SCHEDULE UPDATES FOR THE HOLIDAYS Daily Mass-goers: As the
school is off on Christmas Break, we will have Confes-sions at 7:30
AM Wednesday, December 30, followed by Daily Mass at 8:00 AM.
Additionally, due to the way the Feast of Mary Mother of God falls
this year, the parish office will be closed December 31st and
January 1st, which means we also will not be having regular daily
Mass or adoration on those days.
Our holiday Mass schedule is the same as it was last year: We
will offer up our
COVID Silver Linings at 6:00 PM Vigil Mass on Thursday, December
31, and also will celebrate 9:00 AM Mass on January 1. Drive-up
Communion Distribution will be available after both Masses (7:00 PM
Thursday and 10:00 AM Friday).
As a reminder, the Archbishop’s dispensation from Mass
continues, and we will be live-streaming the 6:00 PM December 31
and 9:00 AM January 1 Masses.
LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT
COVID SILVER LININGS Thank you so much to those of you who have
shared your personal witness from 2020. Here are a couple of the
highlights: “God gave us COVID to bring our fami-lies closer
together.” —Ella H. “Without COVID, we would not have adopted our
puppy, Emma. Since we were both working remotely, it was a good
time for us to do it. She has been a sweet blessing.” —Anonymous
“Virtual School Conferences: As parents of four kids, conferences
have always been a challenge. One year we had to navigate four
schools with about 20 teachers to see in a span of four days … We
could relax and enjoy the confer-ences and have great conversations
with each teacher.” —Margaret M. We are asking for your “COVID
silver linings,” or, better put, the blessings you’ve experienced
in the past year. Your witness means so much to those
who might be suffering more this year. All of these messages of
hope will be offered up in our Vigil Mass on Decem-ber 31.
[email protected]
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IN OUR PRAYERS WE REMEMBER THOSE WHO NEED HEALING, INCLUDING
Rita H., Kevin H., Terry C., John S., Sandy D., Darlene H.,
Catherine T., Rachel G., Helen C., Judy M., Carmen D. and Jim P. If
you would like to add or remove a name from the prayer list, please
contact our director of pastoral care, Deacon Eric Cooley, at
[email protected] or call 651-288-3268. We will include names
in this listing for two months. If you need the time extended,
please contact Deacon Eric.
IN MEMORIAM As a faith community, it is important to hold each
other in prayer, especially in difficult moments such as the death
of a loved one. The families experience much comfort knowing that
we are supporting them. Please pray for Tony Conroy, Bernice
Roberts, their families and the souls of all the deceased.
PRAYER NETWORK Parish Teams pray on behalf of the entire parish
for needs brought to them. One call begins the chain of prayers.
Only a first name and the prayer need are given to preserve
confidentiality. Call 651-484-1048 between the hours of 9:00 AM and
9:00 PM.
PARISH INFORMATION PARISH REGISTRATION:
All those interested in joining the parish are invited to call
the parish office to register. Please contact us at 651-484-
2708.
VISITING THE SICK:
During the Coronavirus “stay in place” order, procedures for
ministry to those who are homebound, sick, in hospitals or nursing
homes varies depending on
location. Please contact the parish office if you would like to
schedule a visit for yourself or a loved one.
BAPTISM AND MARRIAGE: For questions or to set up a meeting,
please contact Kay Wimer in our Parish Office, [email protected] or
651-288-3271.
Call the Parish Office: 651-484-2708
Sun: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 or Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
[cf. 1] or Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 [7a, 8a]/Col 3:12-21 or
3:12-17 or Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19/Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40
Mon: 1 Jn 1:5—2:2/Ps 124:2-3, 4-5, 7b-8 [7]/Mt 2:13-18
Tue: 1 Jn 2:3-11/Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6 [11a]/Lk 2:22-35
Wed: 1 Jn 2:12-17/Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 [11a]/Lk 2:36-40
Thu: 1 Jn 2:18-21/Ps 96:1-2, 11-12, 13 [11a]/Jn 1:1-18
Fri: Nm 6:22-27/Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 [2a]/Gal 4:4-7/Lk 2:16-21
Sat: 1 Jn 2:22-28/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [3cd]/Jn 1:19-28
Next Sun: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 [cf. 11]/Eph
3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12
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MASS INTENTIONS DECEMBER 29-JANUARY 3 TUESDAY For the Parish
WEDNESDAY Tony Conroy
THURSDAY For the Parish
FRIDAY For the Parish
SATURDAY | Rick Millette †
SATURDAY | 4:30 PM Rich Ripka †
SUNDAY | 8:30 AM For the Parish
SUNDAY | 10:30 AM George Valento Family
To be a steward, one must have faith, and faith enables us to
look beyond ourselves and recognize that what we have is a gift
from God, which we must share with others.
PRAYER & WORSHIP
STEWARDSHIP CORNER
READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 27
