We are approaching the end of our fiscal year with the end of June. You have been generous in supporting the parish fiscally and also with all of the ministries we offer.

This weekend we welcome Sr. Lucia Benedict for our annual Archdiocesan Missionary Appeal. While our Commitment to Parish Like means what we do within our parish it also means what we do within our universal church and in our daily lives within our communities.

As a parish we have been Committed to Parish Life for many years.  That represents the many ministries we offer in the parish for families and individuals.

One of the things that gives me special delight every weekend is watching our young children come forward at offertory time to put money into the collection basket.

We are coming to the end of the fiscal year. I want to thank you for your continued support of our ministries by volunteering in so many of them as well as your fiscal support.

This past weekend there was a woman visiting from North Dakota.  She said when she first walked in she was wondering if we were a Roman Catholic church.  

Things are wrapping up for the year at St. Joseph’s.

Over 10 years ago our parish decided to emphasize the need for a Commitment to Parish Life, or CPL.  I have discovered that folks who like and appreciate something is eager to get involved.

I believe one of the best Eucharistic celebrations offered by the church is the Easter Vigil.  It is at least 3 hours at our parish.  It includes the stories from the Old Testament about God's faithfulness, even when the people were not so faithful to the covenant.

Our social justice efforts at St. Joseph the Worker have begun to have collections for various organizations that we have supported in the past.  By focusing upon their needs we now collect specific things for specific groups.

As the number of COVID infections has been going down the number of people attending our weekend and daily Masses has been going up.

My head tends to spin at times.  The CDC puts out information upon which we plan for our Eucharistic Celebrations, then things change within days.

There is not much good that can be said for COVID, no matter what strain we talk about.

Sometimes while talking to children I tell them that their parents did not forget how to take the dog for a walk, set the table, take out the garbage or even how to make beds.  They are asking them (the child) to help because when everyone does a little bit the job of taking care of the house and the people is so much easier.  

If you ever get a chance to sit on the shores of an ocean you will see the waters ebb and flow.  They go from well up onto the shore to going back out to sea so the beach is much larger.

With the increased numbers of people who have come down with covid or been exposed to covid with this latest version, the number of people who are attending weekend Masses has dropped considerably.

Over time I have talked about our parish’s Commitment to Parish Life as something that affects the larger group.  The reality is that is starts in the small group of our family and our immediate friends.  For example, think about your family or your friends and your relationship with them.

Recently a married couple who had been very active in the parish died and included the parish in their will.

The Minneapolis paper the other day spoke about how many non-profits are suffering from a lack of contributions.  

As Christmas approaches I am reminded of the years that I grew up with my parents owning a restaurant, hotel and bakery.  The front door did not have a lock on it and some people lived in the hotel as their home.