It’s safe to say that everyone enjoys a good story. That’s why libraries, and institutions like them, are such an important part of any culture. Even with the changing of the times, where it might seem that books no longer hold the same value as they once did, we are still pulled into stories on the TV shows and movies we watch.

When you were a child, chances are you jumped at the chance to listen to a story. As an adult, you likely find yourself wanting to be the one to share them. Now, have you ever wondered why we are so drawn into stories? Here are a couple reasons why I believe we enjoy them so much.

A good story helps us know ourselves better because it lets us reflect on our own life. You compare yourself to the characters and decide if you are like them or not. This helps you understand who you want to be, what you are capable of, and what your heart longs for (based on the emotions that were triggered while listening to the story). Thus begins a process of self awareness.

A good story will help us foster an imagination to begin dreaming of and striving for greater things in life beyond mediocrity. Stories help us realize that we are able to enact and be a conduit of change. Our life and how we live it matters and will affect the lives of those around us. A good story will ground you in reality, allowing you to recognize your own limitations but also realize that you can find ways to rise above challenges that may pop up along the way.

Saint Jerome once said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” Ok… why is this important here? Because Scripture, the Bible, is the greatest story that exists! The Bible is the story of God’s love for you and me. From the very beginning when He created all things and created us in His own Image and Likeness, to when He became flesh in Jesus to restore our fallen nature so that we would be able to go home, He continually reminds us that He will never leave us.

Doesn’t that sound like a great story? I hope you said yes, because it is. As Saint Jerome says again, we need to pick up and read the Bible because that’s how we come to know who God is, who Jesus is, and why his teaching are so important. Since the moment Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, we have been away from God’s Presence. We have forgotten who we are and who God is to us. To remind us, He becomes like us to bring us back to Himself. And we can find all of that in sacred Scripture, the Bible.

Only when we remember and understand who we are and how we have been called to live can we be fully alive. As Saint Irenaeus says, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Now, this isn’t doing whatever you want, but knowing WHO you are as a child of God and realizing that the world was made for us as a place to rise above sin and to carry our cross in this world while helping others do the same, all the while keeping our eyes to heaven, where Jesus has prepared a place for us.

That’s a good story, one which we continue to live out to this very day. One where you don’t have to pretend to be a character, but know that you are part of the story and have been called to take on a great role in it, to participate in Jesus’ plan to bring others with you to heaven. This is the story of Easter. That God would become flesh to restore His family, so that we might join Him in His Kingdom, where He has been waiting such a long time for us to be with Him.

Easter Blessings!

-Fr Peter

Watch this video below and then color this page so you can give it to someone you love and celebrate

For more information please contact Kay Mottaz at kmottaz@presentationofmary.org or call 651.842.6022. Training will be provided.

April 24th, the Second Sunday of Easter, will be a day of celebration, prayer, and reflection on the gift of mercy the Lord has given to us freely and heartily. All are invited to join the celebration at St. Jerome's Day of Mercy from 1:30-5:30pm. Our own Father Peter will be giving a reflection at 1:45pm. It will be an afternoon to reflect on, give praise to, avail with the sacrament of reconciliation, and gather to celebrate the Eucharist.

Let us celebrate the gift of mercy!

The next Presentation 55 Club Luncheon is Tuesday, April 19 at noon at Blessed Sacrament Church. The menu is beef ravioli, salad, Italian bread and butter, and cake for dessert. Catered by Little Oven. Our entertainment will be Bingo! Reservations should be made by Friday, April 15 by calling Teri Garrity at 651-303-2145.

Stop after Mass during the weekend of April 30/May 1 and get a sweet treat from the Knights of Columbus. Donations will be collected to benefit Special Olympics MN as well as other groups supporting people with developmental disabilities.

Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 14th for the next American Red Cross blood drive. It will run from 8:00am—1:00pm in Kenney Hall. Registration for appointments is already open! Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule yours today at https://www.redcrossblood.org/ or call Barb Swanson at

Please join us on Saturday, May 21st from 8am-2pm to complete some needed tasks around campus. All skill levels welcome. This is a great family activity - we can find a job for everyone! Stay for an hour or the whole day. Lunch will be provided. Contact Rick Bidwell with any questions at rickbiddy@comcast.net or

Please keep our first communicants and confirmation candidates in your prayers as both of these groups will be receiving their sacraments within the next couple of weeks. First Communion will be here at Presentation during the 9:30am Mass next Sunday, April 24th and Confirmation will be at the Cathedral on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7pm.

Used eyeglasses can now be donated in the white container near the HEO container at the Kennard Street Entrance of the church. The East Parks Lions will collect and deliver the glasses to an agency that gives them out to those in need.

Last week Middle Schoolers were tasked with designing roller coasters in their Innovation classes. They were given specific parameters (number of turns & required length) and using math and engineering, built tracks with straws and tape. The results were quite impressive!

Ms. Nikki and Mr. David will be leading our Summer Care Program this year and are excited to have a great time with the kids! It is offered to children that will be entering kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year and older. Please click here to learn more and reserve a spot for your child(ren).

Admission: $20 (for 1 adult and 1 child, each additional child is $5)

RSVP is REQUIRED by May 6th (wrist corsage order is due by that date)

Please RSVP here with the number of

When: 6:30pm – 8:30pm, Saturday, May 14th

Where: Presentation Gym, 1695 Kennard St., Maplewood, MN

The Presentation of Mary Men's Softball team is looking for new players. Click here to learn more!

No need to RSVP, just show up!

Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land. Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools and offer religious education, and helps preserve the sacred shrines. The pandemic hit particularly hard the Christians in the Holy Land. When you contribute to the Pontifical 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. For more information about Christians in the Holy Land, visit www.myfranciscan.org/good-friday.

Protection of Youth: All employees, and volunteers who interact with minors, are required to complete and maintain safe environment credentials (E3) through the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. To ensure successful completion of these requirements or if you have any questions regarding our safe environment practices or would like more information on what is needed to volunteer, please contact our Safe Environment Coordinator: Kay Mottaz @ 651-842-6022 or email kmottaz@presentationofmary.org.

To learn more about reporting suspected abuse, please also visit: www.safe-environment.archspm.org/report-abuse/Report.