A Message from Our Head of School

We are blessed and grateful for your support and generosity, Give to the Max was a huge success! As of today, $107,635 has been raised, exceeding our $100,000 goal. This allows us to fund school technology and innovation in our PreSchool-8th grade classrooms this year. Know that we are very grateful and appreciate your prayers and support!

This week we entered into the holy season of Advent. We lit one candle, the candle of hope, on our Advent wreaths. The candle symbolizes our longing, our desire, and our hope. My hope is that this Advent renews in us the sense that Jesus came to save us from our sin and death. And that we experience his coming to us now, in our everyday lives, to help us live our lives with meaning and purpose. Wishing you a happy Advent season full of enjoyment and preparations to make a memorable Christmas celebration.

Mike McGinty

A Message from Our Principals

O Come, O Come Emmanuel Blessings on your Advent! Advent is a beautiful time in our Church’s liturgical year. We use these weeks before Christmas to prepare our hearts for Christmas. Our school is filled with wreaths, calendars, Jesse trees, and manger scenes to help us prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas with joyful anticipation. Our school has many wonderful activities planned to come together in prayer, service, and

celebration over the next few weeks. As the traditional Advent hymn states, “Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord, be strong, take heart!”

Trimester 1 report cards are posted in Educate. Report cards are a great opportunity to have a conversation with your children encouraging them to reflect on their learning. Helping students connect their successes and challenges to their actions will help reinforce behaviors that contribute to their success and modify others that are not helping them flourish. It is also a good time to remind students that grades do not define who they are. No matter what is written on the report card, every child is a beloved son or daughter of God, and nothing can ever change that reality. 

Julie Moran & Jim Dahlman

Electricity Down This Weekend

This weekend the power will be shutdown, as we convert the Parish Office, old gym, old Middle School, and the Worship space to new electrical transformers. The entire back-alley road and sidewalk will be closed to all traffic. This power shut down and conversion will NOT affect the new building or weekend Masses.

Santa's Secret Shop

Santa’s workshop is ready for your student(s) to shop! All proceeds benefit our sister school JPII. Forms/payments must be in by Monday! There are still a few volunteer spots available Sign Up Here. Please contact Taylor Mahoney, Jess Gessner and Kate Hobbins if you have questions.

Sponsor-A-Family

Thanks to all those that already donated, any final donations must be in the classrooms Monday morning. Your hand in making this season joyful is truly a blessing for these families. Contact Julie Regan or Missy Ringle with questions. For more information on Ascention Catholic Schools, click here!

Middle School Service Club (MSSC)

Tuesday, December 6 - Cookie Exchange for OLG

Friday, December 9 - Help put Santa's Shop in Storage

Wednesday, December 14 - Christmas Cards for Seniors

Friday, December 16 - Salvation Army Bell Ringing

Sunday, December 18 - Sunday School Donuts

Sign up here!

Baked Goods Needed

Due Tuesday, December 6 by 3:00 PM

Middle School Service Club (MSSC) is putting together packages for senior members of our Parish and we need baked goodies 2" and smaller. All bakers are welcome to donate cookies, bars or candy. Drop off at the carts at any entrance. Middle School Students earn religion service hours for any time spent planning, shopping & baking. Learn more...

PreSchool and Kindergarten Starting Fall 2023

Applications Due Thursday, December 15 Siblings are not automatically enrolled so please email Amy Selby to get application information for next year. Current OLG preschoolers do not need to reapply--you should have received an email with intent directions. Acceptance/wait pool letters will be sent to families in January. If you know a family who would be a great fit for OLG School, have them reach out too!

January Lunch Menus

Orders Due Monday, December 19

Click here to order. Click for PreSchool Menu and K-8 Menu.

OLG Nativity Play (K-2nd Graders)

Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM

Learn about the Nativity through crafts, books, activities, play, and performance. Our experience will culminate with a Nativity Play before the 4:00 PM Mass on Christmas Eve. Details will be emailed to registrants. Sign-up here for this extra special experience!

Christmas Vocal Music Concerts

PreK - 2nd Grades on Tuesday, December 6, 7:00 PM

3rd - 5th Grades on Tuesday, December 13, 6:30 PM

Students should wear their Sunday best (unless they are wearing a costume). Students should arrive 15 minutes early. Each concert is about 50 minutes long.

PSO Meeting

Tuesday, December 13, 9:30 AM

All parents are encouraged to attend to learn about all the PSO activities.

Snowbusters

Register by December 30th

Snowbusters is a PSO sponsored downhill skiing and snowboarding program for OLG students in grades 3-8. Whether a beginner or expert, participants will learn new skills and have fun with their friends! View the flyer for more information! Click here to register.

Mark Your Calendars for Mom's Night Out

Come join your fellow OLG moms for a grade level mixer at Hilltop. Stop by between 7:30 - 9:30 PM for a casual night of bonding and conversation.

• PreSchool - Thursday, January 19 click here to RSVP
• Kindergarten - Wednesday, January 4 click here to RSVP
• 1st Grade - Thursday, January 5 click here to RSVP
• 2nd Grade - Thursday, January 26 click here to RSVP
• 3rd Grade - Wednesday, January 18 click here to RSVP
• 4th Grade - Monday, January 30 click here to RSVP
• 5th Grade - Thursday, February 2

OLGMC Christmas Tree Lot

Friday, Dec 2 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday, Dec 3 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Sunday, Dec 4 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM

The OLG tree lot features Award-Winning, locally-grown Christmas trees. We have beautiful Frasier, Canaan, Balsam, White Pine and others to select from. Also available: wreaths, garland, porch pots and decorative birch logs to help with exterior decorating needs. The tree lot is 100% volunteer staffed. All proceeds support OLG school, youth programs, and the greater community. Please grab some friends and block off a few spots on our SignUp Genius. Let's set another record this year! Thank you!

Advent Activity

Saturday and Sunday, December 3 - 4

This weekend as mass, stop by the Advent wreath on the center table in the Commons. Each candle in the Advent wreath symbolizes a virtue. Each weekend add a pom to represent Hope, Joy, Love, and Peace!

Advent Morning of Reflection

Monday, December 5

Our fellow Mom Of Grace, Kari Shideman, has welcomed us into her home for our second annual Christmas Cookies & Cup Of Cheer. All OLG moms are welcome to join us! Bring your favorite Christmas cookies and a beverage to share. Add the event to your calendar by clicking here. 

Immaculate Conception

Thursday, December 5

Please note the weekly OLG school mass will be on Thursday this week (not Wednesday). The Immaculate Conception Vigil Mass will be Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30 PM and on Thursday at 6:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Click here for further Advent information.

Advent Day of Mercy (No All School Mass)

Wednesday, December 14, 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Main Church and Commons

Reconciliation stations will be set up throughout the Church, and several priests will be on hand to hear your Confession. A light meal of soup and bread will be available from 11:00 AM to approximately 7:00 PM. Come and prepare for Advent. Please note the weekly Wednesday OLG school mass will more to Friday, December 16.

Feeding the Hungry

If you are looking for a way to give back, try volunteering for Meals on Wheels, Sharing and Caring Hands or Loaves and Fishes. There are many ways to work with these ministries. You can drive and deliver meals to homebound neighbors with Meals on Wheels, bake goodies or serve at Sharing and Caring Hands, or cook, make sandwiches, assemble and distribute meals at Loaves and Fishes. These are great ways to help our neighbors. For more information, contact Melissa Miller.

Giving Trees

OLG has our Giving Trees up in the Commons. This year we are supporting St. Joseph's Parish and Our Lady of Grace Senior High School in Ghana, San Maximiliano Kolbe Parish in Honduras, St. John Paul II School in Minneapolis, and four local charities in Minneapolis: Sharing and Caring Hands, Abria, Every Third Saturday, and Breaking Free. We are asking for monetary donations ONLY. Please return the envelope with cash or check to the collection basket or to the parish office. Your generosity will make Christmas happier for many and will make Jesus Christ known and loved.

Note Christmas Mass Times

Saturday and Sunday, December 24 - 25

Please note that Christmas Masses are as follows Vigil Masses are 2:00 PM, 4:00 PM, 7:00 PM, and 9:00 PM. Christmas Masses will be at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Click here for Livestream times and other Advent information.

Advent Morning of Reflection

Saturday, December 10, 8:00 - 11:30 AM, St. Raphael's Church (New Hope)

Discover how to live as women of encouragement! Join us during this Advent morning and hear inspiring, practical talks and experience fellowship with other moms, hosted by the Cana Family Institute. Mass and Confession will be available. Infants are welcome! Click here to register by December 7.

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