Weeping in the Life of Christ
 Greetings!
Salutations! How are you? You might already know this but within Sacred Scripture, the briefest verse can be found within John 11:35 which states, “And Jesus wept.” The context of this significant moment was after Jesus had met with his friends Martha and Mary following the death of their brother Lazarus.
 
That experience was an external glimpse into the compassionate and merciful and empathetic Sacred Heart of Jesus. It also serves as a reminder for us that it’s ok to shed tears for our loved ones and allow ourselves to go through the stages of grief.
 
It’s worth noting that while John 11:35 is the most famous passage where Jesus wept it is not the only instance that He did so. The Gospel for the Mass of the Day on this November 18th (Luke 19:41-44) also references a time when Jesus wept:
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If this day you only knew what makes for peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.
Our Lord wept over the Holy City of Jerusalem for the impending suffering that would come upon the citizens dwelling there who would not repent. Historically this event would take place in 70 A.D. when the Roman Empire caused widespread destruction of Jerusalem including the Temple (britannica.com). At the spiritual level, the words that Jesus spoke and the weeping that He did are a summons to us to repent of past wrongs and continually open our own heart to His saving Mercy. May the Lord continue to strengthen us and support us through His Grace so that at the end of our life we would have tears of joy to be welcomed into the Heavenly Kingdom.              

Hope with Christ
Fr. James
Fr. James Daily Video Message

Daily video messages from Fr. James and Masses celebrated by Father James can be found on Facebook, YouTube, our My Parish app and on our website:

Trivia Question of the Week

1 Maccabees 2:29 states that Mattathias and a group of his followers went to settle where?

A. Bethlehem
B. The desert
C. Egypt
D. Jericho  

See the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. James!
November 7 - 18, 2022
Experience a once-in-a-lifetime journey in faith while walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Sail on the Sea of Galilee, explore the Old City of Jerusalem and have Mass at the most meaningful sites in Christianity. Accompanied by an excellent local guide, learn about the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of the Holy Land. More information coming soon! magitravelinc.com/holy-land
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Immaculate Conception School
We are still registering students for the 2021- 2022 school year. Please contact any of the following with questions – we love to show off our wonderful school!

Jane Bona, 763-788-9065, x 220
Megan Sackmaster, 763-788-9062, x 207
We're sure you'll want these healthy snacks and great Christmas gift items this holiday season! Your order can be delivered or you may pick it up at church after Mass. As always, all CCW Fundraiser profits support various worthy causes, primarily our ICC Parish General Fund.
 
We encourage you to order early because our vendor has encountered supply and workforce issues. Look for our new items: Butter Toffee Peanuts, Maple Bourbon Toffee Almonds, and All Sorts Licorice. These are great gift items!

We will be in the church narthex on these dates after all Masses:

November 27 • December 11 • December 18
and at the Bake and Craft Sale on December 4-5.
Immaculate Conception Parish App
Course Description: What does Catholic social teaching look like embodied in our daily lives? This course, co-taught by Colin Miller (Ph.D., Duke, and Director of Outreach at Assumption, St Paul) and Tyler Hambley (M.Div, Duke), seeks to answer this question by offering a compelling vision of a Church deeply engaged with the reality of Jesus Christ by being deeply engaged with the liturgy, each other, our communities, and especially the poor.  Topics include Catholic social teaching; serving Christ in the poor; the Church as a local community; incarnational ministry; caring for creation; and a host of related topics. The course is free, open to all, and will meet weekly on a night TBD for 90 minutes, from January-May, 2022, at Assumption Church in St. Paul. For the full syllabus or with questions, interested parties should contact Colin Miller at cmiller@assumptionsp.org. We will seek to find a meeting time that works for all. 
Answer to the Trivia Question of the Week:
B. The desert
 Immaculate Conception
Church and School
Church: 763-788-9062
School: 763-788-9065
info@immac-church.org | ICCSonline.org
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