e-Bulletin
Week of May 9 - 15, 2021
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... to Love, to Serve, to be Hope ...
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HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY
We honor and remember our mothers and all of the nurturing women in our lives. Whether you are a mother, step mom or mother-in-law aunt, sister, grandma, wannabe mom, expectant mom, dog or cat mom , foster mom or left behind mom, Happy Mother’s day to you.
May the beauty of today’s sun shine on you. The aroma of nearby flowers fill you and the love of anyone around you help you smile.
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There are Angels
God puts on this Earth
who care for us and guide us
you can feel their love and gentleness
as they walk through life beside us
they do great things for us every day
they whisper in our ears,
they even hold us in their heart
when we are filled with all our fears
they are always there to give a hug
and there to make us smile
they treat us with respect and love,
they treat us like their child
God blessed me with an angel,
I'm proud to call my own
she's been with me throughout my
life, been with me as I've grown
she guided me the best she can,
she's thought me like no other,
and I'm thankful I'm the lucky one
who gets to call her...
MOTHER
Kathleen J. Shields
Photo by Fathi Vee from Pexels
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Beginning tomorrow, Saturday, May 8 we will have the 5:00 pm Saturday Mass available.
Please make sure to reserve your spot at book-a-pew. |
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CALENDAR
Saturday, May 8:
Sunday, May 9: Mother’s Day
- Baptism beginning at 11:00 am
- Confirmation Flower Planting
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9:00 am MASS, Fr. Tim (reservation required) Livestreamed
Monday, May 10:
Sacrament of Confirmation, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, May 11:
Sacrament of Confirmation, 6:30 pm
AA meeting, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Spirit of Justice Zoom meeting, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Wednesday, May 12:
Word Communion Service, 12:00pm - 12:20 pm
Sacrament of Confirmation, 6:30 pm
Thursday, May 13:
Mass, 10:00 am - 11:00 am
Parish Leadership Council Zoom meeting, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Al-Anon meeting, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Sustainability Committee Zoom mtg. 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday, May 14:
No Event Scheduled
Saturday, May 15:
Troop 451, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Sunday, May 16:
Spring Clean up, 10:00 am
Sacrament of Confirmation, 6:30 pm
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MOTHER'S DAY
MAY 9
THIS WEEKEND!
Flower Donations Needed
This year, the annual Mother’s Day flower planting will be done differently. Because there are not currently a lot of children attending Mass, and we continue to be cautious about safety, the flowers will be planted by some of our Year 1 Confirmation students on Mother’s Day, May 9.
What has not changed is our need for donations of flowers. Any quantity of any type of Marigold is welcome. Anyone can donate a few or as much as a flat of Marigolds by bringing them to the South patio (back door) on Saturday, May 8 or before 9:00 Mass on Sunday, May 9.
If you would like to donate but are not available for those drop-off times, please contact Dez Sobiech.
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FR. KOMMERS RETIREMENT
My Friends at St. Thomas Becket, as the founding Pastor of STB, I want to share with you the news of my Retirement from Active Ministry and the 41st Anniversary of my Ordination.
You are invited to celebrate both of these with me at a Reception on Sunday, May 23rd, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
This event will take place in Covill Park just south of downtown Red Wing (map)
Going south on Hwy 61, turn off at Hwy 292 and onto 7th Street. Then another right down onto Nymphara Lane and just follow the signs to the Courtyard Building.
Thomas M. Kommers, Pastor
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SPRING CLEAN UP
If you like the outdoors or just want to lend a hand, join us on Sunday, May 16, after the 9:00 Mass from 10:00am—noon for our Spring Mulching and Grounds/Meditation Trail
Cleanup to prepare our outdoor space to welcome everyone back to the parish grounds. Wheelbarrows, shovels and rakes are always welcome, so if you have some at home, make sure to bring them that day.
Wear your jeans to Mass so you are ready to help afterward.
This event is for all ages but we recommend having the 12+ be the ones to help out the most. Little ones can cheer from the side lines.
Many hands make light work, so let's get a large group to help
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OUTDOOR MASS
MAY 22
Join us on Saturday, May 22, at 5:00 pm for the Outdoor Welcome Back Mass, the first of our monthly summer outdoor Masses, followed by a cookout with burgers and chips.
It's a great way to reconnect with other parishioners.
Space is limited to 200 people. Bring along a chair or blanket to sit on. Be sure to make a reservation using this link https://bookapew.com/app/mn/stb/ for Book-A-Pew.
NEED USHERS AND GREETERS:
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ADOPT A HIGHWAY
MAY 22
ONLY 3 spots out of 30 are filled!
Join us to help clean our Highway!
Around a 2 hour commitment.
Saturday, May 22, 2021 (Rain Date: Saturday, May 29)
Adopt-A-Highway CleanUp Project. To move our mission beyond our parish doors, the Sustainability Committee has secured the adoption of Cliff Road, between Pilot Knob and Lexington, from Dakota County for the Catholic Community of St. Thomas Becket. May 22 is the next scheduled clean up of our stretch of road.
We will meet at the church between 8:00am and 9:00am in shifts to gather supplies and then move out to different zones along the road.
Expect to spend about 2 hours between safety briefing and clean up efforts.
Participants must be at least 12 years old. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring your own gloves, grabbers, sunscreen, and hats. Please bring a safety vest if you have one. The county will provide bags and some safety vests. Participants should wear long pants and closed-toe shoes.
Questions?
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SUSTAINABILITY POSTCARD/EMAIL CAMPAIGN
MAY 15/16 AND 22/23
On March 2, 2021, members of the St Thomas Becket Sustainability Committee met with Congresswoman Angie Craig as part of a delegation of faith communities organized by Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL). All members of the U.S. House of Representatives met with representatives from their districts in March and April. MNIPL is still working to schedule meetings with Senators Klobuchar and Smith.
Our delegation was one of seven who presented to Rep. Craig. We stressed the need for funding in the form of grants and no-interest loans so that non-profit organizations like ours can implement energy saving improvements to their properties. We wish to be stewards of responsible sustainability within our community, reduce our carbon footprint in accordance with the directive of
Laudato Si, and provide work for our local contractors.
MNIPL recommended that we follow up with our congressional representatives by email and mail in order to reinforce the need for bold climate action.
The Sustainability Committee asks for your support by either:
- Signing a physical postcard the weekend of May 15-16 or May 22-23 while at Mass, cleaning up the church grounds, or the spring Adopt-A-Highway cleanup.
OR
- Sending an email using the text provided in the bulletin.We are grateful for the opportunity to promote green legislation that will support the efforts of nonprofits throughout our district and our nation.
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ONE OF US IN THE NEWS
There is a new column titled "Meet the Minnesota Makers: Land of 10,000 Treats" that's published in Sun This Week Eagan Burnsville, Sun ThisWeek Lakeville, and Dakota Valley Tribune. The second article featured our own parishioner, Tom Ruhland, of Ruhland's Strudel Haus.
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THANK YOU
Thank you to all who contributed to the Knights of Columbus fundraising drive to Benefit People with Intellectual Disabilities the weekend of April 24/25. We raised over $3800 through the parishes that our council supports and the community. Funds will be equally divided between Special Olympics, ARC – Greater Twin Cities, Life Works in Eagan and Proact in Eagan. Thank you for your generosity!
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THANK YOU FOR WEARING YOUR FACE MASK
Archbishop Hebda Thanks the Faithful for Social Distancing and Wearing Masks
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STOP BY AND PRAY FOR THEM
STB will confirm 71 young people in May.
Last weekend, one of our Year 1 Confirmation small groups came together to prepare small gifts and a bulletin board for these Year 2 students. Each circle on the board bears the name of one of our soon-to-be-confirmed youth.
Stop by to pray for them next time you’re in the building!
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STB GRADUATES MASS CELEBRATION JUNE 12
We would like to congratulate and honor all our young people who are graduating this year on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at the 5:00 pm Mass.
If you are graduating this spring, please help us update our records by completing the ONLINE FORM.
Make sure to mail your wallet size photo by Monday, May 31 to:
4455 South Robert Tr.
Eagan, MN 55123
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Eagle Scout Project at STB
Hello, my name is Ryan Farrington and I’m a Scout with Troop 451 in Eagan.
For my Eagle Scout Project I’m refurbishing the backyard playground at the Dakota Woodlands women’s shelter in Eagan.
I’m raising money to help pay for the cost of the project material.
I’ve prepared the attached video with more details and a GoFundMe page link has been provided.
Thank you for your support!
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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
by MAY 28
Registration Now Open!
Deadline May 28, 2021.
All Aboard for VBS 2021
The Rocky Railway will be rolling July 12-15 from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm each day.
- We will limit total campers at VBS to 35 participants
- We will limit small groups to 7 campers and 2 leaders
- Each small group will remain in their own “pod” as they move through the day
- We will follow whatever CDC guidelines are in place in July
- Snacks will be prepackaged and eaten only with small groups
- Fee: $30 per child.
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VBS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
St. Thomas Becket is gearing up for VBS. We are rolling into the station July 12-15 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Thank you to all who have volunteered for VBS! We would still love to have anyone willing to share their gifts in these areas:
- Love music and dance? In Sing & Play Express, you can teach the crews fun dance moves that are provided or make up your own!
- Are you theatrical? With an easy to follow script, Bible Adventures gives you a chance to show your dramatic side.
- We could also use a few more crew leaders and would welcome middle schoolers who will be entering 6th grade this fall as additional helpers.
To proceed with plans for VBS, we need these spots filled ASAP.
Contact VBS Coordinator, Lori Skare:
651-683-9808 | Ext. 111
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RCIA
AN INVITATION TO LEARN MORE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND/OR HOW TO BECOME CATHOLIC
Do you have questions about the Church after worshiping with us online?
- Wondering about the role of God in your life, about Jesus, Pope Francis, the Catholic Church today?
- Wanting to know more about the Catholic faith of someone you love?
- Thinking about being baptized? Already baptized but want to find out about becoming Catholic?
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Do you have a child seven years old or older who isn’t baptized? Do you have a young person baptized in another tradition but seeking 1st Eucharist and Confirmation in the Catholic Church?
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Did you never complete your initiation into the church? Did you miss 1st Eucharist or Confirmation?
- Are you or a friend or loved one looking for a faith community which can nurture growth in faith?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process by which people ages 7 to 107 become Catholic Christians. But before making this decision we spend time exploring our own faith and the faith of this community. Then the process is tailored to the needs and background of the person.
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STB VIRTUAL PRAYER WALL
Let's pray for each other!
When you get to this page, double click on the brick wall to post your prayer or a prayer request, or click on the "+" on the lower right of the wall.
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GOSPEL MEDITATION
“Remain in my love,” and, “I call you friends,” are powerful words that are found in John’s Gospel. Most of us probably have them committed to memory or have at least heard them proclaimed dozens of times. They are words that can easily become trite and quickly glossed over without fully pondering and digesting their profound beauty. When we take the time to immerse ourselves in them, they can radically change our lives and our relationships. They can open up new doors of adventure and hold countless possibilities for meaning. The essence of love and friendship are things that can easily be taken for granted. They have always been there and are a significant part of our lives. Many would say that they could not live without love and friendship, and they put a great deal of care into preserving, deepening and sustaining them. Love and friendship share a mutual relationship with each other that deserves more reflection.
Where does love come from? We can consider relationships that have not succeeded and conclude that they were somehow due to our “failures in love.” In doing so, we assume that human beings are the ones responsible for love, its success and also its failure. While our weakness, emotional composition and sinfulness can easily impact our ability to love, its origin is not human. God is love. God is love’s author and origin. When we love, it is God who loves in and through us. It is because of this divine closeness that Jesus is able to call us friends! It is not because of anything we have done but simply because of who we are. Realizing and contemplating this awesome reality becomes a game changer across the board. It gives us reason to clear the table of anything that can adversely affect the way we love so that we can open the door for its author to shine forth.
Coming upon this truth is what leads folks like St. Francis of Assisi to leave that which is comfortable and worldly and live a radical life. They relate with the love of God that radiates in and through all living things and appreciate their sacredness. It was having an intimate experience of God’s love and friendship that propelled St. Francis and others to embrace simplicity, act nonviolently, pursue humility, love enemies, care for the earth and open up avenues for true justice. Understanding this profound truth will also help us find peaceful solutions to world’s problems, restore relationships with our sisters and brothers, bring the grace of loving stewardship to creation and heal many wounds. Once we begin to see how wonderfully holy all of life really is, we discover joy. We lose our need for fear, develop a fierce fortitude, act prudently and seek justice. There is great power in love because it comes from God. It will never fail. It also enjoys the company of two other friends who are eager to become our friends as well: faith and hope. These are just as important to have and to share.
©LPi
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RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS
Choosing to Love One Another
Love one another. The greatest commandment, the simplest commandment — and if you’ve ever loved anyone, you know it’s also the hardest.
I’m man enough to admit it. I’ve seen one or two of those cheesy Hallmark movies that are especially popular around the holidays. Boy meets Girl. Boy and Girl encounter a catastrophic roadblock to their relationship — they’re coaches of rival high school volleyball teams, or he runs a dog kennel and she works at a feline rescue, so it could never, ever work out, right? But sprinkle a little movie magic over the whole situation and Boy and Girl find what Hallmark tells us is true love.
I could make a list of all the things that are inaccurate about these movies, and something I would put right near the top — maybe even above the sometimes-unbelievable storylines — is the idea that love is a feeling.
See, I’m not sure if it’s accurate to call these movies love stories. Attraction stories, sure. But if you’ve ever forgiven someone who’s hurt you, nursed a dying parent, gotten up for an infant’s night feeding or let your kid have the last piece of cake, you know that real love is a verb. It’s something you do. And it is almost always a choice.
Love one another. How often do we hear this? How often do we think about what it really means? How often do we take a moment to consider the action Jesus is asking us to take and the choice he is asking us to make?
— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS
©LPi
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Every week on the printed bulletin we have a section for kids.
During this time of isolation, we will share this activity booklet for you to print out at home.
6th Sunday of Easter
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DAKOTA COUNTY'S COVID-19 INFO
This is the link to Dakota County’s COVID-19 info which has a wealth of info and links. Check out the Community Resources tab for all sorts of useful info. This is a central place for county info and community resources that a team of staff are regularly updating.
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PRAYERS FOR THE SICK
Please hold these parishioners in your prayers:
Janet Higgins
Lisa LaFrance
Mary Cloutier
Peter DePover
Judy Schmidt
If you have someone you would like added to our confidential Prayer Line call Cathy at 651-344-3350.
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READINGS
Sunday:
Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 [cf. 2b]/1 Jn 4:7-10/Jn 15:9-17
Monday:
Acts 16:11-15/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b [cf. 4a]/Jn 15:26—16:4a
Tuesday:
Acts 16:22-34/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 [7c]/Jn 16:5-11
Wednesday:
Acts 17:15, 22—18:1/Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14/Jn 16:12-15
Thursday:
Acts 18:1-8/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [cf. 2b]/Jn 16:16-20 Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 [6]/Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13/Mk 16:15-20
Friday:
Acts 1:15-17, 20-26/Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 [8]/Jn 15:9-17
Saturday:
Acts 18:23-28/Ps 47:2-3, 8-10, 10 [8a]/Jn 16:23b-28
Next Sunday:
Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 [6]/Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13/Mk 16:15-20 Seventh Sunday of Easter: Acts 1:15-17, 20a, 20c-26/Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20 [19a]/1 Jn 4:11-16/Jn 17:11b-19
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