Gratitude comes easily when pride is no longer in the way. Many wise people, both religious and secular, point to the vital importance of gratitude in the pursuit of a happy life. The ability to give thanks, to God and each other, is an essential skill for all of us to learn. However, it is easier said than done, as we have a natural tendency to take things for granted, especially if our lives are blessed with many material possessions. In fact, it is easier for us to want more than to be thankful for what we have.

The key to overcome this greedy inclination and to foster a spirit of thanksgiving is the virtue of humility. St. Vincent de Paul, in his Introduction to the Devout Life, explains this central spiritual principle.

A lively appreciation of the grace given to you should make you humble, for appreciation begets gratitude .. .Any one who will calmly consider what he has done without God, cannot fail to realize that what he does with God is no merit of his own; and so we may rejoice in that which is good in us, and take pleasure in the fact, but we shall give all the glory to God Alone, Who Alone is its Author.

At the same time, St. Vincent de Paul points out how this can also work in reverse: gratitude can lead to humility.

Nothing so tends to humble us before the Mercy of God as the multitude of His gifts to us; just as nothing so tends to humble us before His Justice as the multitude of our misdeeds. Let us consider what He has done for us.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the prime examples of a truly humble individual, who gave thanks to God for his wondrous deeds.

It was in this spirit that the Blessed Virgin confessed that God had done “great things” to her; only that she might humble herself and exalt Him. “My soul doth magnify the Lord,” she said, by reason of the gifts He had given her.

If we find ourselves having a difficult time being thankful for all that we have been given, let us foster within our soul a spirit of humility, recognizing God’s presence in our lives. He is the one who guides us and provides for us on a daily basis. When we recognize God’s providential care for us, we can raise up our hearts to him and thank him for everything he has given. This same spirit of humility will also direct our actions towards others, recognizing how dependent we are on others and the things they do for us.

Thanksgiving and humility go hand-in-hand and both help us unlock the key to a joy-filled life.

*The original article by Philip Kosloski was published on 11/19/19 and can be found on Aleteia.org.

Saint Vincent de Paul and Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!

-Fr Peter

The Introduction for Preparation for the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) begins Monday, October 16, at 6:30pm in the Parish Center. 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 this program is for you! Registration forms can be found on our website, at the Parish Office, or in the back of church. Contact Kay Mottaz at 651-842-6022 or email her at kmottaz@presentationofmary.org with any questions.

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.

St. Odilia parish is celebrating a Dementia Friendly Mass on Thursday, October 5 at 1:30 pm. This Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Greg Skrypek at St Odilia Parish, located at 3495 Victoria St N, Shoreview, MN, and will be followed by a gathering & refreshments.

On Friday, October 6, the Archdiocese is hosting a Candlelight Rosary Procession from the State Capitol to the Cathedral. The procession will gather at 6:30pm at the State Capitol and will begin at 7:00pm. At the Cathedral, there will be first class relics of St Therese of Liseux and her parents, Sts Louis & Zelie Martin, as well as the below advertised event, a Cor Jesu night of Adoration, Confession, and more! To learn more, or if you have questions, feel free to visit the following website: www.minnesotarosaryprocessions.org.

Join us at 10am on Saturday, October 7th outside the Kennard Street Entrance for the Blessing of the Animals in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. All are welcome!

If you have any questions, or to register, please contact Molly Noel at 651-842-6010 or mnoel@presentationofmary.org.

Materials for our Parish Stewardship Renewal are being mailed to your homes. Over the next couple of weeks, please pray about your role in our parish. On October 7-8, we will hear from one of our parishioners who will share what stewardship at Presentation of Mary has meant in their life followed by Commitment Card Sunday on October 14-15.

1st: Pete Koegel & Mary Rebeck - 2,960

2nd: Joe Wisniewski & Carl Madsen - 2,750

3rd: Mike Fratto & Matt McCabe - 2,420

Thank you to our Basket Booth business donors. When you visit them, don’t forget to say you’re there because they help our parish. Many thanks, also, to all our parishioner donors, and to the CCW for helping to assemble baskets. This booth is a SUCCESS because of all of you!

Do you love to bake? Have you been wondering how to use your gifts from the Lord to serve those around you? Here at Presentation of Mary, we have an opportunity to combine those two passions -- baking delicious treats & serving those in need. We are currently in need of bakers for funeral luncheons. If you are interested in providing baked goods to serve families & loved ones at the parish for funerals, contact Karen at 651-842-6020 or ksimons@presentationofmary.org.

All school and church events can be found on our live online calendar here - make sure to check it out to stay up to date on all the amazing things taking place around campus!

This webinar will cover the basics of understanding financial aid, how and when to apply, and how an award is calculated. They'll also do a live Q&A session to answer more detailed questions.

Cheer on our Panthers! The Soccer & Volleyball schedules can be found on the CAA Website: https://stpaulcaa.org/.

The Presentation Halloween Party will be on Saturday, October 28, from 6pm– 9pm. Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

Due to rain on the course, the Panther Classic has been rescheduled to October 8, 2023! Connect with parents, alumni, and friends of Presentation while enjoying an afternoon of fun, games, and golf. Bring your foursome, or come by yourself to join us at Oak Marsh Golf Course in Oakdale on Sunday, October 8 for an 18-hole scramble golf tournament to benefit our favorite school. Tee times start at 1pm. A boxed lunch and complimentary drink ticket are included with registration. All paid golfers will receive an 18 hole green fee for future play at Oak Marsh Golf Course. Don't miss out on a great afternoon of prizes, games, friends, food, drinks, and golf! Don’t wait, space is limited, so sign up early! Sponsorship opportunities available as well. Contact Bill Josten at wjjosten@gmail.com to discuss sponsorships.

Click below to register today!

ALSO Don't miss out on this chance to look your best and show off your school spirit when out on the course! We have partnered with Legendary Golf Apparel, a veteran-owned and Minnesota-based business, to design exclusive golf polos embroidered with the Presentation of Mary logo. Even better is that Legendary will donate a portion of all proceeds from these sales to Presentation of Mary School!

Gold level sponsors ($1,000+):

Envision Plastics & Design

Bob and Diane Dufresne

Eclectic Culinary Concepts and Steve Hesse

Aspen Exteriors

GNW machinery owned by Jim Wahlstrand

Blue level sponsors ($500)

Knights of Columbus

Premier Bank

Northstar Property Partners - EXP Realty

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.