February 1, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

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1 St. John Vianney Catholic Church th Avenue North, South St. Paul, MN Office: (651) Fax: (651) Together Renewing our commitment to God and our community. February 1, 2015 Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time On Stormy Seas St. Francis De Sales once said, "We shall steer safely through every storm, so long as our heart's right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed on God." When I read this, I can t help but wonder if he had a vision of what the future would hold for the church on earth. Let s be honest it s hard to be Catholic lately. Everyday a new storm seems to besiege us. If it isn t more horrifying stories of child abuse, its forced bankruptcy, or cover-ups and the hits just keep on coming. Here is an undisputable truth that might help us to keep our hearts right and our courage steadfast - The church is about two things, the faithful and the Blessed Sacrament. Everything else is unessential. Nothing changes the Blessed Sacrament or God s love for us. Not bankruptcy, not criminal activity, not the worst kind of unspeakable evil that exists can ever change it. NOTHING. The only thing that changes our relationship with God and our faith is us. All of the rest of this stuff is distraction specifically designed by the devil to pull us away from the Blessed Sacrament and our relationship with Christ. Most of us remember being taught that when you are confirmed in the Catholic faith you become a defender of the faith. What we often forget is that sometimes we have to defend it within ourselves. In Matthew 14: 22-33, Peter wants to believe that it is Christ walking on water towards him. In fact, Peter s faith is momentarily so strong in Jesus that he, Peter, was able to walk on the water towards Christ. As soon as the storm became worse and the wind became stronger, Peter lost his faith to fear, doubt and distraction. Peter panicked and started to sink. Christ chastised Peter and said, You of little faith, why did you doubt? As Catholics, we are on a very stormy sea right now. The wind is blowing hard to shake our faith and toss the boats of our souls. But if we keep our faith focused on the Blessed Sacrament, if we receive both the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist often, attend Mass regularly and pray for the Church and that the faithful stay strong, then we won t sink into the sea of fear and doubt like Peter. We, as St. Francis De Sales said, Shall steer safely through this storm too. Jill Vujovich-Laabs, Director of Religious Education Do you have old palms at home? If so, there will be a basket outside of the chapel beginning next week for you to deposit them in and we will burn them to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. We will be collecting old palms until February 15Th. Thank you.

2 ANNOUNCEMENTS Wanted: Volunteers! With a growing number of youth participants, the youth group needs adult volunteers. This is a great problem to have. Today we welcome into the family of God and to our Saint John Vianney family Amelia Joy LaMotte Daughter of Anthony & Angela LaMotte With the Sacrament of Baptism Please pray for her as she continues to grow in Christ. Attention Crafters! I am hosting an event for anyone interested in card making! Event date is Saturday, February 21st 9:30am 12 noon You will make 15 cards with envelopes for $25. You only need to bring your own adhesive for putting everything together, all other materials are provided for you. In order to get materials ordered and ready, registration is due by February 10th. Register by ing Sarah Greene at sarahgreene824@gmail.com or calling If you or anyone else you know would make a great volunteer, please contact me via or phone. Also, thanks for those "food volunteers" who have brought snacks and food so far (you know who you are). SJV youth are so blessed by your generosity! INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC OR LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? Please contact Deacon Scott - mail: scott@sjvssp.org phone: The process, known as RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults), will begin soon. The day and time are negotiable. The process, for those who decide to join the Church, culminates at the Easter Vigil (the Saturday before Easter) next spring. ANNOUNCEMENTS AT WEEKEND MASSES Please send announcements to be made at the weekend masses to Deacon Scott by noon the preceding Friday. address is: scott@sjvssp.org FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN There was an enthusiastic response during Advent when our volunteer time allowed for families to give. So I have set up our March volunteer for Saturday, the 21st, 7 to 9 P.M. A good Lenten family activity. Let me know if you can help. Mary Ann Novotny

3 The Holy Father, Pope Francis I, has requested that for the month of February, the faithful pray for the following special intentions: Universal: That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity. Evangelization: That married people who are separated may find welcome and support in the Christian community Catholic Services Appeal The 2015 Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) is underway. Many of our parishioners have already received a mailing from the newly established Catholic Services Appeal Foundation requesting your support of the Catholic Services Appeal. Please respond generously. The Appeal funds services that no one parish or individual can support alone. These services must go on despite the troubled times in our archdiocese. It is important to know that contributions to the Catholic Services Appeal will be used for benefit of designated ministries of the Appeal. Please visit the Catholic Services Appeal Foundation website at csafspm.org for more information. When you give to the Catholic Services Appeal you provide food and shelter, education, spiritual support, and sacraments to individuals who are in need, disabled, imprisoned, hospitalized, or in nursing homes. You help give nearly 2,500 students access to life-changing Catholic school education their families could not otherwise afford. You support seminarians preparing for the priesthood, make the annual Archdiocesan Youth Day happen, and help fund the evangelization and catechesis initiatives. You help support Latino ministry for our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters at 23 local parishes. And, when our parish reaches its goal, 25% of all funds received will be returned for use to support ministries in our parish. This year, the theme of the Appeal is: Be Imitators of Christ. Your gift to the Catholic Services Appeal will help to share His message of salvation not only in our parish but throughout our local Church and beyond. Commit to helping the CSA supported ministries. Then, please contemplate God s gifts to you and reflect on your gratitude for these gifts. Your financial support for the work of our parish and vital ministries throughout this local Church is one way to express this gratitude. Thank you Year of Consecrated Life November 30, February 2, 2016 Pope Francis declared that a Year of Consecrated Life (YCL) be celebrated throughout the world. YCL started on the First Sunday of Advent, November 30, It will close on the World Day of Consecrated Life and the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord,February 2, The Holy Father has outlined these objectives for the year: Making a grateful remembrance of the past Embracing the future with hope and Living the present with passion Keep updated on events and resources throughout the Year of Consecrated Life by Visiting:: Pastoral Council Members Rhonda Bauer Doris Bringgold Jerry DeZelar Deb Luskey Gayle Wallace Finance Committee Members Bill Filler Laura Kosmicki Dan Lencowski Dennis McGrath Mary Jo Merten Tom Boser Pat Dold

4 Mass Schedule & Intentions Monday Feb 2 No Mass Tuesday Feb 3 Communion Service Wednesday Feb 4 Ottilia (Tillie) Fling + Thursday Feb 5 Communion Service Friday Feb 6 Clarence Ernst + Saturday Feb 7 5:00 pm Joan C. Fox + Sunday Feb 01 10:30 am Peter & Bea McLean + Liturgical Minister Schedule: February 7-8 5:00 PM 8:15 AM 10:30 AM Ushers Don Geng Dan Lotzer Mary Holzemer Jay Colburn Norm Methner Rhonda Duscher Lectors Koz Kosmicki Kristi Luskey Paul Ramos Altar Servers 1st come 1st serve 1st come 1st serve 1st come 1st serve Please pray for the sick who asked for prayers: Elizabeth Arnold, Deanna Avenriep, Lyndon Baker, Dorothy Behrend, Kevin Conroy, Connie Courteau, Magdaline Faber, Jane & Mark Fishback, Judy Fuglie, Greg Gille, Kassie Greene, Yvonne Hain, Joe Hall, Grayce Hartman, Bill Holzmer,Delores Lindell, Ed Oster, Margaret Overman, Lavina Reuter, Ken Rouse, Julia Schneider, Joan Shoberg, MaryAnn Olejnicak, Myrt Milner Linda Pelletier, Mildred Hoff, Whitey Willer, Chris Cheney,Amanda Morris and Olivia Milner. Eucharist for the Sick & Homebound Please call Margaret Demco if you are willing to bring Communion to the sick and homebound for either a short or long term basis.

5 Parish Information Fr. Antony Skaria Office Hours: Monday Thursday8:30-3:00, Friday 8:30 2:30 Parish Phone Number: (651) Parish Fax Number: (651) Parish Website: Deacon: (in the office Tuesday mornings) Deacon Scott Wright Phone: (651) Accountant: Patrick Dold Phone: (651) Director of Religious Education Jill Vujovich Laabs Phone: (651) Maintenance Kent Trkla Phone: (651) Music Director Heidi Schleif Phone: (952) Ministries and Committees Contact or Chair Phone # Adoration Mary Kaliszewski Altar Servers Archivist Baptism/RCIA Deacon Wright Blood Drive/Mobile Meals - Myrt Milner Coffee & Donuts Nancy Schneider Community Care/Life Deb Lusky Crafters Carol Lokhorst Decorations Marge Willer Eucharistic Ministers Need Volunteers Feed My Starving Children, Mary Ann Novotny Fish Fry Dennis McGrath Funeral Luncheons Barb Reichstadt Girl Scouts Nicole Scheiber Gift Bearers Vi Stewart Knights of Columbus Larry Bidwell Lectors Anne Larson Musician/Organ Lori Lencowski Neighbors Mary Holzmer Parish Apostolate Mike Smeby Parish Trustee Tom Boser Laura Kosmicki Pig Roast/SJV Day Tom Boser Prayer Group Barb Tinucci Project Home Mary Ann Novotny Reduce & Reuse Sale Joyce Athmann Ushers Ken Schult Volunteer Coordinator Doris Bringgold

6 St. John Vianney Bulletin # Contact: Jill Vujovich-Laabs Telephone: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

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