Salutations! How are you? Throughout the Christian family of believers we celebrate a fascinating Saint today known as Martin of Tours. While his natural life ended in what is modern-day Tours, France, he was actually born in what would be now considered Hungary. At the age of fifteen, Martin served honorably within a branch of the army within the Roman Empire.
While he is known as the Patron Saint of Soldiers it is interesting to note that Martin left the armed services and went on to become a monk and later a Bishop. Once he had made his decision to leave the army he told the commander of his troop, “I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ...I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight” (franciscanmedia.org).
We are all serving as soldiers in the metaphorical army of the Lord. Our battle is not against other human beings but the wiles of Wicked One. We need to be prepared for the war within our hearts and souls with the peace that comes from Christ alone. As St. Paul wrote so powerfully within his Letter to the Ephesians,
“For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (6:12-17)
As members of the Body of Christ, we ask for the sustaining grace and mercy of the Lord to help us in our time of need through the intercession of this holy man. To conclude this eNewsletter we have the opening Collect Prayer from the Mass of the Day:
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O God, who is glorified in the Bishop Saint Martin both by his life and death, make new, we pray, the wonders of your grace in our hearts, that neither death nor life may separate us from your love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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Grace with Christ
Fr. James
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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:
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Trivia Question of the Week
The Responsorial Psalm for Mass today is, “Your word is ______, O Lord.”
A. Resplendent
B. Marvelous
C. Incredible
D. For ever
See the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
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Synod Groups
As we end the Synod Parish consultation period, we give thanks for all those who came forward to serve as facilitators and scribes for both our English and Spanish small groups. Your commitment and dedication were truly humbling. It has been eighty years since the last Synod and as one facilitator put it, she was not going to miss out on the unique opportunity of contributing to this one! Thank you to those who attended the sessions, including some of our confirmation candidates who came to our last session which focused on teens and young adults. The input is invaluable. Now we look forward to seeing where all of this leads our local Church. “Come Holy Spirit Come!”
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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. James! |
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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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Enjoy a free subscription to FORMED.org
FORMED provides amazing online videos, audio and books 24/7 for you to grow in your faith. It's EASY and FREE to Register!
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Go to iccsonline.formed.org and click next
- Enter your name and email and click sign-up
- Enjoy and share with others in our local community!
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You can watch with your free parish subscription by simply selecting our parish’s name during registration at formed.org/signup.
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Immaculate Conception School |
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We are still registering students for the upcoming 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
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Immaculate Conception Parish App |
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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.
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Answer to the Trivia Question of the Week: |
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Immaculate Conception
Church and School
Church: 763-788-9062
School: 763-788-9065
info@immac-church.org | ICCSonline.org
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You're receiving this email because of your relationship with Immaculate Conception Church and School. To no longer receive messages from Fr. James Peterson, please click the link at the bottom of this email to unsubscribe. Thank you. |
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