He is risen from the dead! Alleluia! He is truly risen! Alleluia! 

In the Easter bulletin, I usually thank the many people who helped make Lent, Holy Week and Easter such prayerful experiences for our parish. Though this year’s Lenten journey and the celebration of Holy Week and Easter have been anything but usual, I still have many people to thank for the liturgies we have been able to celebrate with you. I am grateful to the staff members who planned and assisted at the liturgies, with a special thank you to Daryl Mortek who recorded and prepared the liturgies for the internet, and to Kate Franssen-Hansen, who posted these liturgies and the other videos and messages to our webpage. I am grateful for those who led the Stations of the Cross early in Lent and for those on the Environment Committee, for preparing the church for Lent and Easter. I am grateful to our staff members, who are working behind the scenes to keep the parish moving forward, checking in on our seniors and faith formation families, maintaining our facilities, and responding to the needs of our neighbors.  I want to extend a word of gratitude to the many people who assist at the liturgies throughout the year, musicians, altar servers, readers, projectionists, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, ushers, greeters, church cleaners, leaders at Children’s Liturgy of the Word and the nursery, Mass coordinators, roadies, welcome and hospitality people, video recorders, broadcasters and those who launder the Mass linens and albs. I offer thanks to Fr. Tom Fitzgerald, who shares his ministry so generously in the parish.

Finally, I offer my thanks to all of you, the people of Saint Mary of the Lake. This Lent has been a very trying time for all of us, physically separated from our church, the Eucharist and each other. You have remained faithful, engaged and generous. The number of people who have attended Mass via the videos has been outstanding, which is very encouraging to me. People have shared with me their moments of prayer and consolations, unexpected moments of grace, which is very inspiring for me to hear. I hope everyone has had (and will continue to have) some of those grace-filled moments, peace among the uncertainties and anxieties of the unknown. Those God moments should not surprise us, for God is always there, seeking to bring good from the difficult moments of our life. As I said in my homily on Palm Sunday, be confident in the Lord, for God always wins.  On behalf of your parish staff, I offer a blessed Easter to all!!

Peace, Fr. Talbot

Haiti

Several people have asked me about COVID-19 and the people in Haiti, especially Sr. Evelyne, her community, the people in Marfranc and our other ministry partners we serve with Reiser Relief. On Monday (April 6), Haitian health officials reported that 24 people had been confirmed with the coronavirus. Though this number is low, the number of people tested was also low. The fear is that this virus will spread quickly in Haiti because of overcrowding (no opportunity for social distancing) and lack of access to clean water for many people. Sister Evelyne is in Marfranc, which is quite a distance from Port-au-Prince. No cases of the virus have been reported in Marfranc. The government has closed the main road leading to Jeremie and Marfranc, so the people are hopeful that the virus will not be brought to them. The Croatian Sisters, Sister Liberjia and Sr. Anna, are well, though some of their work has been curtailed. We pray for all of our friends in Haiti!

On a positive note, Sr. Evelyne has begun construction on the second building at the Cecelia Duffy School in Marfranc. This second building is needed because the enrollment continues to grow. The construction is being funded by the people of St. Mary of the Lake and Reiser Relief. Since no COVID-19 cases have been reported in Jeremie or Marfranc, the construction continues. Please remember that your support of the school allowed Sr. Evelyne to install a handwashing station last year. Hopefully, use of the handwashing station is helping to keep the children healthy.

You can continue to support the people of Haiti by sending a check to the parish and noting “Haiti” in the memo line.

Frassati Catholic Academy Gala 

The Gala is the largest fundraiser of the year for Frassati Catholic Academy. It is always a joyful night to celebrate and support the great work being accomplished at the school. This year’s Gala is scheduled for April 24, 2020. Instead of an evening at the school, we are moving online and going virtual. All parishioners and friends of Frassati are invited and encouraged to “attend” the Gala. You can see and bid on wonderful silent auction items. Please go to https://frassati-wbl.org/ frassati-gala/ to register for the Gala. The online auction begins at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, April 22 and closes at 10:00 PM on Friday, April 24. There is no cost to register for the Gala.

Fund-a-Need Project – Chapel at the Parish Life Center

Last fall, a suggestion was made to have a chapel at the Parish Life Center, where we could celebrate Mass and reserve the Blessed Sacrament. This chapel would be available to the students and staff of Frassati, the students and leaders in Faith Formation, the parish staff, and small faith sharing groups. I brought the idea to Archbishop Hebda, who gave his permission to move forward with the project. Over these past few months, I have been working with someone new to this type of work who recently completed two similar projects in other parishes. He has a real gift for this work. His design transforms our current “Sacred Space” on the second floor of the Parish Life Center into a simple and beautiful chapel. You will be able to see his design and support this joint project of Frassati and St. Mary of the Lake by registering for the Gala. You will see liturgical items, including chairs, statues, paintings, the tabernacle, altar, ambo (lectern), that can be “purchased” by you for the chapel. Again, go to https://frassati-wbl.org/frassati-gala/, register, get your bid number and then support the chapel in the Fund-a-Need.

Our hope is that the chapel will be ready for use in the fall.

Easter Sunday Mass will be recorded and posted on our website home page by Sunday morning this weekend. We will not be recording Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. but encourage you to celebrate these liturgies with Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens. These liturgies will be the center of the Virtual Holy Week Retreat offered by the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

View the schedule for upcoming Holy Week Retreat offerings at www.archspm.org/holyweek.

If you know someone who does not have access to online Masses, please let them know that WCCO radio will broadcast the archdiocesan Mass at 9:30 AM on Easter Sunday. Archbishop Hebda is the presider.

Subscribe to St. Mary of the Lake on Youtube

Search and subscribe to St. Mary of the Lake - WBL on YouTube for Sunday Mass with Fr. Ralph Talbot. Or, just click on the Mass that is posted on the homepage of our website.  

Parish Office Information

Currently, we will allow access to the front entryway of the Parish Life Center for drop-off and pick-up but the doors to the right and left will be locked. Please call the main number 651-429-7771 option 1 if you need assistance. Our office hours are 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Monday - Friday until further notice.

Pick up the Easter edition of The Word Among Us and other resources in the entryway.

They're FREE!

The parish office will be closed Good Friday, April 10 and Easter Monday, April 13.

St. Mary's Parishioners: Assistance may be available for parishioners who need some help during these uncertain times. Email cjgreen@stmarys-wbl.org or call the parish office at 651-429-7771 option 1 and ask for Casey Green. Parishioners who are able to financially assist other parishioners are encouraged to make a donation payable to St. Mary of the Lake and note “Emergency Assistance Fund” in the memo line. Your gift will be restricted for the purpose of helping those in need.  

How To Subscribe to Our Parish Bulletin on Parishes Online

You will now receive alerts in your inbox when new publications become available for your church on parishes online.

View this process step-by-step with visuals HERE .

Consider Remote Giving to Support Our Parish

There are currently three ways to give electronically:

There is a way to give remotely that is not “high tech”: Simply mail us your check. Our address:

4690 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, 55110.

Thank you so much for your support in this difficult time.

White Bear Area Food Shelf

will have “To-Go” Bags, Monday-Friday

No Appointment Necessary, any and every household is eligible to receive them. Food helpline 1-888-711-1151. Hours: 

Monday: 10 AM-12:30 PM

Tuesday: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Wednesday: 10 AM – 12:30 PM

Thursday: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM

Friday: 10 AM -12:30 PM

Mahtomedi Area Food Shelf:  651-395-5350

Vadnais Heights Community Food Program:  651-746-4158

Questions about “ Meals On Wheels”  651-653-3123

National Alliance on Mental Health:  651-645-2948

Northeast Youth & Family Services:  651-429-8544

Medicare/Health Insurance – Senior Link – Age Line:  1-800-333-2433