With little more than a year until the United States’ national elections, I find myself feeling, like many Catholics, both dread and energized. Dread, because our democratic republic can be a messy endeavor and campaigns a long, nasty, and unedifying slog; energized, because hope for positive societal change can be enticing and engaging. As a pastor, I see similar conflicting attitudes in those whom I serve. How can Catholics best engage our political arena in a way which is truly helpful and worthwhile?

This weeks’ gospel reading offers wisdom in this regard. Jesus says, “Render therefore to Caesar the things are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” This riddle forces us to answer for ourselves a hidden question: what is the relationship between political and divine authority? Two common but false answers lead to mischief. If we answer that the two are equivalent, politics becomes our absolute authority. This happens whenever religion is slave to the state, as in the travesty of the pro-Nazi German Christian movement in the 1930s and 40s. It also usually occurs when there is an official state religion. If we answer that the two are totally unrelated, we end up with an unchecked aggressive secularist state as we often experience now. Thus, religion becomes a weak and private pastime.

What’s a better alternative? At our best, Christians hold that political authority does indeed have its own legitimate autonomy but is nested within God’s all-encompassing authority. Think, for example, of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s respect for politics while also being able to criticize unjust human laws because he recognized a higher heavenly law. In other words, Caesar owns politics — and God owns Caesar. So, we should allow Jesus’ words to lead us to have a deep respect and willingness to peacefully engage in politics without making that engagement our religion. We bring our faith to bear on our politics knowing confidently that Caesar isn’t God — but he is indeed God’s.

— Father John Muir

©LPi

The Introduction for Preparation for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) has just begun! It is certainly not to late to join in if you, or someone you know, wish to join the Catholic Church, learn more about your Catholic Faith, and/or receive the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, or Eucharist for the first time as an adult! Find registration forms on our website, at the Parish Office, or in the back of church. With questions, feel free to contact Kay Mottaz at kmottaz@presentationofmary.org or at 651-842-6022.

We want to let everyone in the parish know that all ages are warmly invited to join our choir! Weekly rehearsals will be 90 minutes (6:30 - 8pm) and you can invite your friends and neighbors to come join us as well. We pray and sing together as a (growing) family, and like any family we want to include multiple age groups and generations. For now, rehearsals will be on Thursday nights at 6:30. The choir will sing for one weekend Mass (Sunday or Saturday) normally on the 3rd weekend of each month, from September through May, and also for special liturgies including Holy Week and Christmas. Each weekly rehearsal also includes vocal training and techniques. Only requirements to join: be able to read music to some degree of proficiency, carry a tune, match pitch - and truly love to "sing your prayer," from the heart! If you have any questions or ideas, please contact Donna at 408-406-6240 or by email at dstoering@presentationofmary.org.

Join us in praying for those who are taking part in our Synod Small Group Leader Training over the past two weeks.

It’s that time of year again! Save the date for our next Fall maintenance day: Saturday, October 28th. We’ll be working from 8am-2pm. Lunch will be provided. Come for the whole day or just for an hour! As we prepare for a change in seasons, this is a beautiful time for our parish family members, young and old, big and small, to come together to keep our Lord’s house in order. Contact Rick Bidwell if you have any thoughts or questions: 651.260.7032 | rickbiddy@comcast.net.

CCW Holiday Boutique Registration The 2023 CCW Holiday Boutique will take place on November 4 in the gym. Registration is open now for anyone who would like to set up a booth. If you are interested, fill out a registration form in the parish office, or contact a member of the CCW.

They also will be making “Gifts in a Jar” to sell at the boutique. To support this effort, please consider donating one of the following in the boxes at the church entrances: White Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Chips, Brown Sugar, White Sugar, Pecans, Barley, or Split Peas.

Presentation Men’s Club invites you to participate in this year’s Mini-Cad Raffle & Social! Raffle tickets are $50 dollars each, and there are only 100 tickets sold, so you have an excellent chance of going home with the grand prize of $1000! The drawing will take place on November 11th at 7:00 pm in Kenney Hall, with the social beginning after the 5:00 Mass. The social will have buffet style appetizers for $10 per person, as well as Bingo. Winners are not required to be present, and those attending the social are not required to have purchased raffle tickets. This event is a great opportunity to spend some time with our parish family, while supporting the Church and School!

Save the date for our parish Town Hall Potluck on Tuesday, Nov. 14th at 6:00pm in Kenney Hall. Learn more & let us know what you're bringing below!

Mark your calendars for Turkey Bingo on Saturday, November 18! More information to come in the following weeks.

Last week was Stewardship Commitment Sunday. If you were out of town, you can still mail your Commitment Card to the parish, drop it of at the office, or place it in the collection baskets. Or, if you’ve misplaced yours, we’ll mail you an extra one at your request. Returning your card is an important part of being an active member of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Please take this opportunity to express your support for our parish!

The Loaves & Fishes Ministry will be taking collections this weekend, October 21 & 22. All donations can be placed in the canisters at each entrance of the church. Your donation allows us to purchase the food which we prepare and serve monthly at Dorothy Day. In October, we served 340 meals to those in need. Thank you to all who support this ministry!

Wednesday, November 1st is All Saints’ Day & a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses will be at 8:45am & 6:30pm. Thursday, November 2nd is All Souls’ Day & is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses that day will be at 8:00am & 6:30pm.

Every Third Saturday Drive for Veterans

We will soon be collecting items for Veterans with Every Third Saturday, a veteran support organization in the area. We will have a box in the Kennard St entrance to collect needed items for their ministry from November 5th-19th. See the posters on the bulletin boards for their most needed items.

On Saturday, December 2, from 8:00am-1:00pm in Kenney Hall, Presentation of Mary and the American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive. Please join our mission and schedule an appointment today at www.redcrossblood.org or all Barb Swanson at 651-395 -0453. Appointments only. No walk-ins.

Join us next Saturday, October 28th from 6pm-9pm for our family-friendly Halloween party in the School Gym! Admission is $7/child, adults are free of charge. Concessions will be available for purchase and include hot food, snacks, and glow-in-the-dark items. There will be activities for all ages: games for younger and older kids, dance music later in the evening, a costume contest (child and family categories), & a haunted house put on by our middle school students!! If you are interested in volunteering at the party, check out the available opportunities below.

We are hiring a middle school math teacher starting in early November. Anyone interested can reach out to Sue Lovegreen at slovegreen@presentationofmary.org. Also, anyone interested in being a reading buddy or math tutor for students at the school can contact Sue or the school office at 651-777-5877.

Great Scott! The 2024 Presentation of Mary Catholic School Gala is coming back to Presentation on Saturday, April 13, 2024! We need you to take action now, so you don’t get left behind! Check out the different ways you can get involved by visiting the Gala web page below!

Purchase your Gala t-shirt now to help advertise the event, and any student that has one can wear it in place of their uniform each Wednesday beginning in the new year. Shirts can be ordered online below or paper order forms can be picked up in the school or parish office.

Do you know someone in need of prayers? Contact Kay at the Parish Office at 651-842-6022 so they can be added to our Prayer Line.

You can also contact her if you are interested in joining the Prayer Line!

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.