January 23, 2026
Greetings in Christ,
This weekend, the Church gives us the beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. The beatitudes are a reversal of what we would expect. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. In other words, blessed are those who recognize their dependency upon God, as they will share in the kingdom of heaven. In short, the beatitudes challenge us to see the world as God sees it. They are the “inner attitudes” or dispositions of the heart that glorify God and conform one to Jesus Christ, who is the face of the beatitudes.
Catholic Schools Week Kick Off: Beginning this Sunday, January 25, we kick things off at our school with National Catholic Schools Week, where we take time to celebrate the great contribution of Catholic education in our country. The Church has celebrated this week since 1974. We will have pancakes after the 10 am Mass. Please keep our students and their families in your prayers!
Pancake Breakfast This Weekend: Sunday, Jan. 25, please join us after the 8 am and 10 am Mass for a pancake breakfast sponsored by Faith Formation Ministries, no RSVP necessary.
Archbishop Hebda: Our Archbishop put together a very nice piece reflecting on the current immigration debate and crisis in our state and country. It is nice to see a thoughtful approach as he calls on politicians to come together for immigration reform. The longer they fail to do so, the greater the cost on our local communities. His article is well-worth the read.
Holy Hour – Pray for Peace: I would like to invite you and your families to join us for a special Holy Hour before Jesus in the Eucharist on Thursday, Feb. 12, from 6:00–7:00 pm. This hour of prayer will include a short scripture reading with some intercessions and an opportunity for confession. It will be a time to lift our State and Country, especially as we face significant challenges together.
Many parishioners have expressed a desire for a dedicated time to pray for unity and peace, and this gathering is a beautiful opportunity to do just that. All are warmly invited. Please mark your calendars for February 12! As Peter said to Jesus on Mount Tabor, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” (Matt. 17:4)
Men’s Group Connect Meeting on Thursday, February 12:
The Men’s Group of St. Therese Parish will be joining parishioners for a Holy Hour from 6:00–7:00 pm to pray for our state and nation. A meeting will follow in the Community Room.
Chris Kokal will be sharing a Personal Faith Testimony. Come and hear firsthand how God has been at work in his life. All men of the parish are warmly invited.
A light dinner will be available at 7:00 pm The presentation will begin at 7:15 pm and is expected to conclude by 8:00 pm.
School of Prayer: We will be offering a course on prayer to help deepen your life of prayer with our Lord Jesus in a more intimate way! The course will run from February 3 to April 28. Classes will be weekly on Tuesday mornings from 9:30 am – 11:30 am or Tuesday evenings from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. The 11-week course will include how to pray from your heart, overcoming difficulties in prayer, persevering in times of dryness, how to discern God’s will, and ways to sanctify your day.
Current St. Therese parishioners receive a discounted course fee. If financial assistance is needed, there will be an opportunity for a financial scholarship found on online registration. All registrations are done online through the St. Paul Seminary Catechetical Institute. Please note that livestreaming will not be an option. Below is a flyer about the course and the registration to sign up for what will be an amazing course this spring!
Stenciling Repair: We received the bid from Conrad Schmitt to repair our stenciling that was damaged shortly after Christmas Day. We are working with our insurance company as we have submitted the claim. Our insurance representatives reviewed the damage a couple of weeks ago. If our claim is accepted, Conrad Schmitt will begin work to repair the damage right after Easter. We will need to put scaffolding up again for one month, which is the time they estimate to fix the damage. If you would be so kind, please pray for this important repair work!
Papal Apartments: I came across an interesting video of 15 weird facts about the papal apartments, which are the traditional living quarters of the pope. For quite some time, the apartments operated with outdated electrical infrastructure and leaky pipes. Pope Benedict XVI had his 20,000-book library transferred to the apartments, which he asked to be put back in the same order before being moved! The video also shows how they seal the room where a pope dies with red ribbon and wax. In short, the papal apartments are most interesting!
Join Us In Praying the Rosary: You are warmly invited to gather with us on Thursdays at 10 a.m. by the fireplace to pray the Rosary together. It’s a peaceful way to pause, reflect, and lift our intentions as a community.
As a reminder, we also offer the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Thursday at 3 pm in the Chapel for those that this time works better.
Catholic Services Appeal 2026 Coming Soon: As modern-day disciples, there are numerous ways we can serve the Lord and spread his Good News, like supporting our Catholic Service Appeal. Let us prayerfully consider a gift to the Appeal so that the light of Christ continues to shine for those who are in need. As a reminder, 90 cents of contributions benefit ministries and parishes directly, and just 10 cents go to administrative costs, which is below the standard fundraising and operational costs of 12-20%. St. Therese parish also benefits from your donation.
Archdiocesan Marriage Retreat: Saturday, Feb. 7, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Maternity of Mary, Saint Paul. Couples married for 0-7 years are invited to attend the 2026 Archdiocesan Newly Married Retreat. Keynote speakers are Renzo and Monica Ortega, hosts of the popular marriage podcast, Two Become Family. Find keynote and breakout topics, registration, and further details in the flyer below. Cost is $60/couple.
Women's Retreat Updates: Wife, mother of six, evangelist, and retreat leader Jessica Chastek will help retreat participants build their relationship with Jesus through three talks
- An Invitation: Come Away with Me to a Lonely Place
- Embracing the Yoke of Friendship
- You are Called to the Vineyard
The retreat also includes small group discussions, worship, prayer, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, Friday dessert, Saturday breakfast snacks, lunch, and fellowship.
The registration fee is $70. Please stop by the table in the Gathering Space after Masses to speak with a committee member, pick up a registration form, or click below to register online.
Vatican Unveiled: A wonderful exhibit called Vatican Unveiled is now at the Mall of America! The display is the largest exhibit of Vatican memorabilia in the world outside the Vatican. The exhibit will be at the Mall of America until February 1, 2026, and will feature more than 350 diverse items. Below is the website from the archdiocese that provides details about the exhibit!
Sunday Evening 5:00 pm Mass: Our Sunday evening 5:00 pm Mass is this Sunday, January 25th. Teresa Shackelford shares her beautiful singing voice and musical gifts at our Sunday evening Masses.
Vianney Visit at St. John Vianney College Seminary: The Archdiocese warmly invites you to join them for this special weekend on February 12-14. It is open to young men who are in their sophomore year of high school to age 24 (without a college degree). This gathering is a wonderful opportunity to connect with others who are discerning and learn more about the beauty of religious vocations. See flyer for more details.
Adoration: There is a quiet peace that settles over the heart in the presence of Adoration. Sitting before the Blessed Sacrament invites us to slow down, breathe, and rest in the loving gaze of Christ. In this sacred stillness, worries soften, clarity returns, and we remember that we are held by a love deeper than anything we face. Whether for a few minutes or a longer visit, Adoration offers a place to simply be—with God, with our thoughts, and with the peace that only His presence can bring.
High Schoolers Lifeline: Join us on February 7 from 6:00-9:30 pm. Lifeline is a powerful night where high schoolers can encounter Jesus in a real and personal way while building authentic friendships. Each evening includes Mass, an engaging speaker who connects faith to real life, energetic praise and worship, and meaningful time in adoration.
The Guest Speaker, Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck, is a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois, currently serving as Vocation Director. Before priesthood, he lived an extraordinary journey: he was a high school All-American in soccer, played on the U.S. National Team, competed at the Division I level for Clemson University, and spent several years playing professional soccer in Chile and with Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution. In 2008, he left professional soccer behind to follow God’s call to the priesthood and was ordained in 2014. Today, Fr. Chase shares his powerful story of faith, purpose, and surrender with young people across the country.
We will be attending Lifeline in February and hope you can join us! If you are interested in coming, please contact Chelsie Blustein at cblustein@st-therese.org
High Schoolers Embark Session: Join us on February 25 from 6:30–8:00 pm in the Community Room for a meaningful Embark session on faith and mental health with Addy Diaz from the Martin Center for Integration. Addy is a Master’s-level clinician working toward licensure as a Licensed Practicing Clinical Counselor (LPCC), a former youth minister, and an active worship leader with In The Name Worship. She brings real-life experience, practical tips, and a passion for helping teens grow in both faith and emotional health.
Together, we’ll explore how our Catholic faith offers hope, healing, and practical support for the ups and downs of life. This is a welcoming space for anyone seeking encouragement and tools for the journey. Parents are also invited!
Extreme Faith Camp: Registration Now Open!
Registration is now open for Extreme Faith Camp, our middle-school summer camp, which will be held from July 13-17, 2026. EFC is a high-adventure summer camp for middle schoolers. It is packed with incredible activities, including high ropes, zip lines, tubing, laser tag, climbing walls, archery, water activities, and more! It is also a wonderful opportunity for middle schoolers to grow in community and fall in love with Jesus and our Catholic faith.
For a taste of what EFC is like, you can check out this video of past camps!
Registration is open now at this link. For more questions or information about our scholarships, you can email Joe at jschiltz@st-therese.org. Space is limited, so sign up now!
Greece Pilgrimage: Registration is open for the Greece Pilgrimage in 2026! We will be taking a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Paul on a 9-night Cruise plus 4 nights in Athens. The pilgrimage that will take place from September 14 to 28, 2026, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
We will follow in the footsteps of Saint Paul through Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Thessaloniki, and Philippi! The 9-night cruise will sail through the breathtaking Greek Isles, giving you the opportunity to visit ancient temples and idyllic seaside villages in six ports of call: Rhodes, Ephesus, Santorini, Mykonos, Philippi, and Thessaloniki. Check out this updated link:
Job Openings at St. Therese School:
- Pre-School After-School/Evening Aides (10-15 hrs./wk)
More information on our school website or the Archdiocesan careers page.
Estate Planning: A reminder that we have a Little Flower Legacy Society at St. Therese to encourage planned and estate gifts to our parish, our school, or one of our endowment funds. Please include St. Therese as a beneficiary in your estate planning! It is an opportunity to give back to our beloved parish and ensure that our parish remains financially viable for generations to come!
Flocknote: You can receive my daily Mass reflections sent right to your
phone! To sign up, just text the word “ANDRIE” to 84-576 to follow the link.
Stewardship: Thank you to everyone who continues to support St. Therese! I invite you to continue supporting our beloved parish as it helps us to serve you and remain connected with you! This can be done in the following ways:
- Click the donation button on our main parish website. You can contribute as a guest or log in if you have previously created a profile. You can choose the frequency of your gift (one-time, weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually).
- Bring or mail your stewardship envelope to our parish office.
- Consider transferring a stock “gift” to St. Therese. It’s a tax-free donation.
As always, be assured of my gratitude for your generosity and prayers to St. Therese. Be assured of my prayers for you as well!
Blessings,
Fr. Andrie
Goldy ready for Catholic Schools Week!