Dear Parishioners,
Our sympathy to Don Schwarz and family on the death of his father, Tom. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
As we enter May this week, we call to mind that it is a month to remember in a special way the Blessed Mother. While we may not have fresh, homegrown flowers to offer yet, we can offer her a bouquet of prayers. She is the perfect disciple of Jesus Christ - she responded to God's will perfectly. She intercedes for us because of that, and she leads us without fail to her Divine Son. If we are not in the habit of praying a rosary daily, this month during this Year of Faith provides a wonderful reason to begin.
Hopefully, spring will be here soon. I am sure all farmers and gardeners are getting anxious to get out in the soil soon. My hope, however, is that once it begins, we can remember to honor the Lord and refrain from unnecessary work on Sundays. I am reminded of the legends of St. Isidore who went to daily Mass, despite the feudal lords hostility toward the faith and demands that he be more productive. The oxen plowed the fields without human guidance while he was giving hi first fruits to the Lord. I do not think it wise to turn your tractors over to the angels so you can attend Mass, but all the same give the Lord His due!
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Pastor's Notes for April 21
Dear Parishioners,
Congratulations to Levi Donald Salfer, son of Steven and Kayla; and Dalanie Catherine Daub, daughter of Paul and Rebecca, who were baptized in the last weeks.
Congratulations, too, to newly confirmed members of our parishes. May the Holy Spirit pour out all his blessings on them and make them full active members of the Church.
On Monday, Pope Francis gave a homily during which he stated that calumny (gossip) is a work of the devil: "We are all sinners; all of us. We all commit sins. But calumny is something else. It is of course a sin, too, but it is something more. Calumny aims to destroy the work of God, and calumny comes from a very evil thing: it is born of hatred. And hate is the work of Satan. Calumny destroys the work of God in people, in their souls. Calumny uses lies to get ahead. And let us be in no doubt, eh?: Where there is calumny, there is Satan himself." Everyone deserves the right to their reputation. Whether true or false, any spreading of harmful statements or personal attacks destroy that reputation. I find Pope Francis' words as a gentle reminder to think before I speak.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
Congratulations to Levi Donald Salfer, son of Steven and Kayla; and Dalanie Catherine Daub, daughter of Paul and Rebecca, who were baptized in the last weeks.
Congratulations, too, to newly confirmed members of our parishes. May the Holy Spirit pour out all his blessings on them and make them full active members of the Church.
On Monday, Pope Francis gave a homily during which he stated that calumny (gossip) is a work of the devil: "We are all sinners; all of us. We all commit sins. But calumny is something else. It is of course a sin, too, but it is something more. Calumny aims to destroy the work of God, and calumny comes from a very evil thing: it is born of hatred. And hate is the work of Satan. Calumny destroys the work of God in people, in their souls. Calumny uses lies to get ahead. And let us be in no doubt, eh?: Where there is calumny, there is Satan himself." Everyone deserves the right to their reputation. Whether true or false, any spreading of harmful statements or personal attacks destroy that reputation. I find Pope Francis' words as a gentle reminder to think before I speak.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Pastor's Notes for April 14
Dear parishioners,
As I forgot to email my notes before I left, I am taking some time away from retreat to do so. So far, the retreat has been prayerful personally, and mostly academic in the conferences, but they are helping me begin the hard transition into a larger parish/workload setting while helping me form words of gratitude for what I have enjoyed these last 6 years. My future predecessor is here, so we have had some talks about the assignment, so I am much more at ease. At this point, though, I will be packing most is my stuff for short term (hopefully) storage and living in a temporary housing situation as a rectory is obtained (the current pastor and past pastor both bought houses in St. Peter). Hopefully, I will be moving into a permanent home within a few months. Fr. John is also here, and is very much excited about coming. Fr. Van de Crommert is not here, so I will touch base with him later.
Please keep our Confirmation candidates in prayer as they prepare for this wonderful Sacrament next Saturday.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd J. Petersen
As I forgot to email my notes before I left, I am taking some time away from retreat to do so. So far, the retreat has been prayerful personally, and mostly academic in the conferences, but they are helping me begin the hard transition into a larger parish/workload setting while helping me form words of gratitude for what I have enjoyed these last 6 years. My future predecessor is here, so we have had some talks about the assignment, so I am much more at ease. At this point, though, I will be packing most is my stuff for short term (hopefully) storage and living in a temporary housing situation as a rectory is obtained (the current pastor and past pastor both bought houses in St. Peter). Hopefully, I will be moving into a permanent home within a few months. Fr. John is also here, and is very much excited about coming. Fr. Van de Crommert is not here, so I will touch base with him later.
Please keep our Confirmation candidates in prayer as they prepare for this wonderful Sacrament next Saturday.
In Christ,
Fr. Todd J. Petersen
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Pastor's Notes for April 7
Dear Parishioners,
Happy Easter! We continue our Easter rejoicing on this second Sunday of Easter weekend, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a season to remember the overwhelming mercy of God, more powerful than our sin! We rejoice in that.
Our sympathy to the family of Jerry Frericks. May his soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Congratulations to our first Communicants this weekend. May their reception of Jesus fill them with His grace and love.
Please keep our priests in prayer as most of us will be on retreat this week.
This week, I received formal word that I am being reassigned, effective June 26. It is with sadness I go, but as I have so often prayed, may I never get in the way of the Gospel. I will be serving in St. Peter and Nicollet. There are two priests being assigned to our AFC: Fr. Paul van de Crommert as Parochial Administrator and Fr. John Ekwoanya as Parochial Vicar. Please welcome them graciously. They come with unique gifts and talents that I lack, and between the two of them will be able to do things that I am unable to do, such as regular visits to the sick and homebound, and perhaps even additional Masses and devotions. You will notice that Fr. van de Crommert has a different title than pastor as this is a temporary assignment for him.
These next weeks will be filled with lasts for me with you. I have loved it here, and consider the time we have had together a tremendous blessing. I know that I am a better priest and pastor by having been here these last years - and I hope that every priest that follows me has that same experience. Too often, we focus only on the formative role that the pastor has on his parish, but the truth is that the parish plays a major formative role on the priest as well! Thank you (with many more to follow)!
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
Happy Easter! We continue our Easter rejoicing on this second Sunday of Easter weekend, also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. It is a season to remember the overwhelming mercy of God, more powerful than our sin! We rejoice in that.
Our sympathy to the family of Jerry Frericks. May his soul and the soul of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Congratulations to our first Communicants this weekend. May their reception of Jesus fill them with His grace and love.
Please keep our priests in prayer as most of us will be on retreat this week.
This week, I received formal word that I am being reassigned, effective June 26. It is with sadness I go, but as I have so often prayed, may I never get in the way of the Gospel. I will be serving in St. Peter and Nicollet. There are two priests being assigned to our AFC: Fr. Paul van de Crommert as Parochial Administrator and Fr. John Ekwoanya as Parochial Vicar. Please welcome them graciously. They come with unique gifts and talents that I lack, and between the two of them will be able to do things that I am unable to do, such as regular visits to the sick and homebound, and perhaps even additional Masses and devotions. You will notice that Fr. van de Crommert has a different title than pastor as this is a temporary assignment for him.
These next weeks will be filled with lasts for me with you. I have loved it here, and consider the time we have had together a tremendous blessing. I know that I am a better priest and pastor by having been here these last years - and I hope that every priest that follows me has that same experience. Too often, we focus only on the formative role that the pastor has on his parish, but the truth is that the parish plays a major formative role on the priest as well! Thank you (with many more to follow)!
In Christ,
Fr. Todd
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Prayer for Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Ninth Day - Prayer for Ninth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Prayer for Eighth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Eighth Day - Prayer for Eighth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Prayer for Seventh Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Seventh Day - Prayer for Seventh Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Prayer for Sixth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Sixth Day - Prayer for Sixth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Prayer for Fifth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Fifth Day - Prayer for Fifth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Prayer for Fourth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Divine Mercy Novena - Fourth Day - Prayer for Fourth Day of Divine Mercy Novena
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
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