So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields.
~Mk 11:7-8
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Today marks the beginning of Holy Week and the celebration of the most important events of our faith. What a difference a year makes! Last year, our churches were empty because of COVID, a quite distressing Holy Week. Though we still have attendance restrictions, the ability to gather as a community gives this year’s Holy Week a heightened sense of joy. I offer a brief overview of the Triduum liturgies. [Please note that because of COVID protocols, you must register on line to attend these liturgies in person. All the Triduum liturgies will be livestreamed.]
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord: Today, the Church recalls the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. As he rode into the city on the back of a colt, many people waved palm branches and hailed him as king. Within a few days, however, those voices were drowned out by those calling for Jesus to be crucified.
Holy Thursday (7:00 PM): In this Mass, we recall the Last Supper of the Lord and the institution of the Eucharist. He took bread and wine, blessed them and gave them to his friends, promising that these simple elements had now become his Body and Blood. [Incense will be used at this Mass.] Following the Mass, the Eucharist will be reserved in the Notre Dame Chapel. You are encouraged to spend time with the Lord, as the apostles did in the Garden of Gethsemane on that first Holy Thursday night [8:00-10:00 PM.]
Good Friday (7:00 PM): In this liturgy, we recall the suffering and death of Jesus. We hear the Passion of the Lord according to St. John. We solemnly pray for all people of the world, venerate the cross on which hung our salvation, and receive Holy Communion. [Good Friday is the only day of the year that we do not celebrate Mass. The Eucharist we receive at the Good Friday liturgy was consecrated at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.]
Easter Vigil (8:00 PM): This is the most solemn liturgy of the Church’s liturgical year. We begin in darkness, as we wait for the resurrection of the Lord. We hear the story of salvation history, from the beginning of creation, the exodus of the Israelite people, and finally the victory of the Lord over sin and death in his resurrection. The liturgy includes the blessing of fire and our new Easter candle, the blessing of the Easter water, and the renewal of our baptismal promises. We also will celebrate the Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist of our Elect. [Incense will be used at this Mass.]
Easter Morning (9:00 and 11:00 AM): The celebration continues into Easter morning, as we hear the glorious news that Jesus has risen from the dead.
Those unable to reserve a seat inside the church on Easter morning are invited to park on the street or gather on the lawn to listen to the Mass on FM 88.9. We will bring Holy Communion to you.
Communion will be distributed in the parking lot from 12:15 PM to 1:15 PM on Easter day.
Catholic Services Appeal Update
The 2021 Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) is underway. After five weeks, 335 families have responded. Thank you. I invite all families to contribute to the CSA and the 20 ministries supported by the CSA. You can make an online gift at https://csafspm.org/givecsaf.
Stimulus Payments – An opportunity for extra almsgiving?
President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, aimed at easing the economic impact of the virus. A portion of the legislation includes up to $1,400-per-person stimulus payments that will be sent to about 90% of American households. Many people need these funds to pay their bills. They have lost their job or had work hours reduced. These funds will be used to make their rent or mortgage payment, buy groceries, and pay medical bills. Other people’s economic situation has not been as significantly impacted by the virus and do not need these funds. To the parishioners in this group, I invite you to prayerfully consider extra almsgiving, by donating some or all of your stimulus payment to one of the following areas:
- St. Mary of the Lake debt reduction
- St. Mary of the Lake capital repair and replacement fund
- St. Mary of the Lake Haiti fund
- Catholic Services Appeal
An extra gift can be included with your regular Sunday & Easter stewardship. Please clearly indicate your gift intention on the check or on your envelope. Gifts to the CSA should be made payable to the Catholic Services Appeal.
Peace, Fr. Talbot
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Blessed palm branches will be available in the parking lot after the two Sunday Masses on Palm Sunday for those who watch the Mass on livestream. |
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Current Options for Mass at St. Mary of the Lake
Please view the guidelines for attending Mass HERE. Masks are required and seats are assigned.
Daily Masses
We have daily Mass in the church at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There is no limit to the number of times you can attend daily Mass. Sign up is no longer necessary.
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Sunday Mass
We have Mass in the church on Sundays at 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Sign up is required as space is limited. These Masses are for those who are unable to attend Mass during the week.
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Sign up for Sunday Masses HERE. Or you may call the parish office between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday at 651-429-7771 option 1.
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Confessions Heard Saturdays,
9:00 AM at the House of Mercy
Thanks to a generous donation, outdoor drive-up confessions will continue this winter with Fr. Talbot sheltered in a fish house, a.k.a. “The House of Mercy.”
Drive up and stop alongside the fish house and Fr. Talbot will hear your confession through the window.
View Father Talbot’s Invitation to Reconciliation HERE
Going to Confession 101 – View HERE
There will be no confessions on April 10.
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Holy Week - Easter Sunday Schedule
(There are waiting lists for some of the events below.)
Thursday, April 1
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Morning Prayer, 8:00 AM - No need to sign up.
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Holy Thursday Liturgy, 7:00 PM - Sign up required, livestreamed.
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 8:00 - 10:00 PM
Friday, April 2
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Morning Prayer, 8:00 AM - No need to sign up.
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Stations of the Cross, 3:00 PM - Sign up required.
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Good Friday Liturgy, 7:00 PM - Sign up required, livestreamed.
Saturday, April 3
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Easter Vigil, 8:00 PM - Sign up required, livestreamed.
Sunday, April 4
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Easter Sunday, 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Sign up is required for both Masses.
- Only the 9 AM Mass will be livestreamed.
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Parking lot option: Sign up is required for both Masses. Listen to the Mass on your car radio and Communion will be brought out to your car. Please park on Bald Eagle Avenue or the parking lot.
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Easter Sunday, 12:15 - 1:15 PM - Watch the livestreamed Easter Sunday Mass at home on YouTube, and come and receive Communion between 12:15 PM and 1:15 PM in the church parking lot. No sign-up needed.
To reserve your space go HERE.
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Free Lenten Resources Available
Please visit the church gathering space immediately before or after a scheduled liturgy you attend or the Parish Life Center Lobby (8:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday-Friday) to pick up your free Lenten resources. Limited copies of “The Word Among Us” daily readings, “At Home with the Word” Sunday readings and reflections, and “Mending Our Hearts” daily Lenten reflections are available for pickup. “Sunday by Sunday” readings and reflections weekly guide are also available exclusively at the Parish Life Center. Finally, there are still calendars available for anyone who has not already received one. Please contact Nick Brady at nbrady@stmarys-wbl.org if you have any questions.
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Funerals are Private
In our ongoing efforts to keep parishioners as safe as possible during COVID-19, funerals at St. Mary’s will be private. Many families choose to have the funeral live streamed so that others can participate online.
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Good Friday Collection for the Holy Land
This collection helps the Franciscan community minister in parishes, sustain Catholic education, maintain Holy Land shrines and provide medical and housing assistance for the poor and elderly. A percentage of the collection will also provide aid to our partner Archdiocese of Damascus, Syria, as they struggle to rebuild from years of conflict. In addition, the Holy Land continues to struggle due to the COVID epidemic. When you contribute to the Good Friday Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land. Checks should be written to St. Mary’s. Use your Holy Land envelope and/or notate Holy Land in the memo line of your check. Thank you!
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Stay on Mission this Lent
This Lent, St. Mary’s is inviting parishioners to engage in this year’s theme of “Mending Our Hearts.” Please consider one or more of the options below for engaging in an examination of what in your heart needs mending. For more information about the options below, please visit www.stmarys-wbl.org or contact Nick Brady at nbrady@stmarys-wbl.org.
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Join a small group – Registration is ongoing, and options are available for all adult ages including young adults. High school options are also available.
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Praying with America Lenten Retreat – options to meet via ZOOM include Mondays at 6:30 PM or Wednesdays at 10:00 AM.
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Synod at Home with Chris Stefanick – 5-week faith enrichment series, especially for families with children at home, developed by the Archdiocese.
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Stations of the Cross – in-person at the church on Fridays during Lent at 4:30 PM or at home through the recorded version available on our YouTube channel.
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Free Resources Available -– stop by the parish office during regular business hours to pick-up a couple of the free Lenten resources available to parishioners.
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Social Justice
Advocate for peace and justice with our representatives in the Minnesota Legislature. The Social Justice Legislative Tracker provides continual status updates of important legislation impacting our shared values as Catholics. View the latest updates HERE
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Cuppa Joe: 10 Talks on the 10 Wonders of Saint Joseph
First Tuesday of the month, March - December 2021, 4:00 PM
Cuppa Joe is a series of 10 talks by 10 theologians on the the 10 wonders of Saint Joseph, taking place at 10 locations in our archdiocese entrusted to the patronage of our spiritual father. These talks take place on the first Tuesday of the month, March through December, at 4:00 PM - just in time for your afternoon coffee. Talks will be posted on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram - and at archspm.org/synod/stjoseph/.
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Softball is back!
If you are interested in joining or starting a St Mary’s team, we have funds to offset the team cost. There are a variety of softball options from Men's, Women's, CoEd and Church leagues through White Bear Lake community recreation. The season runs throughout the spring and summer evenings. All games played at Lakewood Hills Park. Games will start the week of May 3!
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Prayer Network At
St. Mary of the Lake
Please call your prayer requests in to the Parish Office 651-429-7771, option 1 or Terry (651) 429-4972.
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Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis monthly prayer request for priests:
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Blessed Sacrament Chapel - Adoration Hours
The 24 hour Eucharistic adoration chapel at church is now open for parishioners. Please call our main number 651-429-7771 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM weekdays for the three-digit code to get in the chapel. You will be asked to provide your name. Only one or two worshipers are allowed in the chapel at a time, to ensure social distancing. You must wear a mask in the chapel.
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Parish Office Information
The parish front desk is open from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday–Friday. During office hours, the door from the front entryway towards the front desk (to the right) will be unlocked. However, pick-ups and drop-offs are still available without approaching the front desk itself. If you would like our answering service to pick up your call when the front desk is closed, please call 651-429-7771.
The parish office is closed on Good Friday (4/2/2021) and on Easter Monday (4/5/2021).
Note to Our 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. Thank you to parishioners who have made a donation to our Emergency Assistance Fund.
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How To Subscribe to Our Parish Bulletin on Parishes Online
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Go to www.parishesonline.com.
- Enter your church name and your city, state or zip. Click the search icon.
- Find your church on the search results page and click on the name of the church.
- Under recent publication, click subscribe.
- Enter your email, first name and last name in the pop-up box. Click subscribe.
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.
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Subscribe to St. Mary of the Lake on YouTube
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Consider Remote Giving to Support Our Parish
There are currently three ways to give electronically:
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Monthly amount transferred from your bank account (click on the DONATE button on our website home page to find a form). It would be better to mail the form to us, since you need to include a voided check.
- Weekly, monthly, or one-time checks sent by your bank or other financial service organization (contact your bank to set up a plan that works for you). It is helpful to have your envelope number on the check your bank sends to us.
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Weekly, monthly, or one-time gifts charged to your credit card (click on the DONATE button on our website home page to set up your gift).
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.
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FRASSATI CATHOLIC ACADEMY NEWS |
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The students at Frassati Catholic Academy attend Mass at St. Mary of the Lake each week, on either Monday or Wednesday afternoon. Classrooms take turns with the readings. You can see each of the student's excitement when it is their turn to read. We are truly blessed at Frassati to be able to gather for Mass, and to celebrate the Liturgy! |
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Falcon Feed Blog
Stay in the loop on Frassati news and Falcon activities, be sure to subscribe to the Falcon Feed Blog. Have new blog posts sent directly to your inbox. Subscribe HERE
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White Bear Food Shelf Update
March is food sharing month in which every donation given to the White Bear Food Shelf is matched. Because of the pandemic this year, collections will be a little different:
- First, there will be a social media campaign for nonperishable goods
- Second, the WBL Food Shelf is in need of fresh and perishable foods
- Third, diapers (sizes 4-6) and baby wipes are in high demand
- Lastly, financial donations are encouraged for every dollar donated, the Food Shelf can purchase eight dollars worth of food.
Please consider this donation.
White Bear Area Food Shelf
1884 Whitaker Street
White Bear Lake, MN 55110
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YMCA Food Distribution
The YMCA is partnering with Loaves & Fishes and United Health Group to serve free healthy meals to families in need. These organizations believe that supplying healthy fresh food is critical to supporting families in our communities to alleviate food insecurity and hunger. Together they combine the YMCA region-wide distribution network, Loaves & Fishes internationally recognized program, and United Health Group efforts to cover the more than $2 million in food costs and wages for the cafeteria employees preparing meals for people in the Greater Twin Cities.
Families may pick up food from Noon – 1:00 PM Monday through Friday at select YMCA and choose a meal package for a family of four including a protein, vegetables and other fresh food. Also, lunch bags with a sandwich, snacks and fruit are available. The White Bear Lake location is a designated pickup spot. Go to
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Safe Environment Information
St. Mary of the Lake is devoted to creating safe environments for all to feel welcome. Protecting children, youth and vulnerable adults is of highest importance. If you want more information or suspect abuse go HERE.
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