April 17, 2026
Greetings in Christ,
The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday, where our Lord says not once but twice, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is our Good Shepherd as He not only cares for us but also lays down His life for us. This laying down is sometimes called “sacrificial love.” Love always involves sacrifice, and St. Thérèse says that love is nourished by sacrifice. May our Lord’s sacrificial love enable you to imitate Him by laying down your life for others.
Greetings in Christ,
The fourth Sunday of Easter is called Good Shepherd Sunday, where our Lord says not once but twice, “I am the Good Shepherd.” Jesus is our Good Shepherd as He not only cares for us but also lays down His life for us. This laying down is sometimes called “sacrificial love.” Love always involves sacrifice, and St. Thérèse says that love is nourished by sacrifice. May our Lord’s sacrificial love enable you to imitate Him by laying down your life for others.
Sunday 5:00 pm Mass: Our 5:00 pm Sunday Mass returns this weekend, April 19! We are blessed to have Teresa Shackelford returning with her beautiful singing voice and musical gifts with us at this liturgy.
Shroud of Turin: I will give a presentation on the Shroud of Turin on Wednesday, April 22 at 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm in the Community Room. The Shroud of Turin is the most studied artifact in the world! Many believe that the faint image of a crucified man consistent with the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ passion is Jesus of Nazareth. There have been some recent studies pointing to the Shroud’s authenticity that is from first century Jerusalem. We will look at the Shroud via pictures and fascinating facts to help you both appreciate and fall more deeply in love with our Lord and all that He has done for you!
Litany of Thanksgiving: The season of Easter is a joyful time where we give thanks for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Attached is a beautiful litany of thanksgiving put out by Janelle Peregoy from a website called Catholic Mom that is well done! For our Catholic moms, you will likely find something very helpful on this great website.
St. Therese Gala: The St. Therese Gala will be on Friday, May 1, at The Metropolitan in Golden Valley. The theme for our Gala is: Prince of Peace. This year, our fund-a-need will focus on improving security for our church and school. Our parish and school gala is a wonderful event and celebration of our beloved parish, and it helps strengthen our community! If you have never been to a gala, I encourage you to come! Sales close Friday, April 24!
Gala Silent Auction: Donations are needed for our Silent Auction! Donation ideas may include, but are not limited to, a spa day package, private chef dinner party, weekend getaways, cabin retreats, sporting experiences, concert experiences, wine tastings or tours, city adventures, craft sessions, wellness retreats, airline miles, tech gadgets, and easy opportunities: gift cards to local favorites. Donations are preferred by Wednesday, April 22, though sooner is better to allow for more bidding time.
Fund-A-Need: Whether you can join us on May 1st or not, consider donating to our Fund-A-Need. Help to improve the security needs of our campus! Your donation will help with automatic locking doors, riot-proof glass, and emergency police buttons in the event of a campus lockdown. Every gift helps improve security for our campus. Donate today and make a lasting impact!
Job Openings: We are looking to fill two very important positions at St. Therese with Liz’s upcoming retirement and Joe’s move to Campus Minister at Holy Family Catholic High School next year. If you are interested or know someone who would be qualified for either of these two positions, please encourage them to apply. Below are the job postings for Director of Faith Formation and Middle School Youth Minister. Please pray that we can fill these positions with great disciples of Christ!
Archdiocesan Bereaved Mothers’ Day Brunch on Sat., May 2: The Red Bird ministry is holding this special brunch at the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids; registration closes on April 25. This event is promising to be one of great healing and faith, acknowledging the very real love that mothers carry for children who are no longer with them.
Here is the link to the registration and information page.
Here is the link to the registration and information page.
Young Adult Prayer and Listening Event: Tuesday, May 5, 6:30-9 p.m., Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul. Archbishop Hebda invites young adults to pray, listen, and share as the Archdiocese discerns next steps to support local young adult ministry. The evening will begin with music, lectio divina, and a few words from the Archbishop. Find more information at the link:
Deacon Discernment Day: Saturday, Apr. 25, 8:15-5 pm, at the Saint Paul Seminary. Are you drawn to a life of service? Have you ever considered a vocation as a permanent deacon? Do others ask you about it? If so, the Saint Paul Seminary Institute for Diaconate Formation invites you to attend a Deacon Discernment Day. Discerners and their wives (if applicable) will learn about the vocation of the permanent deacon, the application and formation process. The day includes Mass, prayer, reflections, lunch, Q&A, and more. Find more information below:
The Food Garden Ministry warmly invites both new and returning volunteers: Join us in maintaining our vegetable garden. Every vegetable we grow will be donated to those in need within our community, enriching lives and fulfilling our mission to serve. This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to make a meaningful impact! Even if you can spare just a couple of hours, your help will be invaluable. Feel free to bring a friend or family member! Together, we can cultivate both our garden and a vibrant, supportive community.
Garden Preparation and Planting Schedule (weather permitting):
Garden Preparation and Planting Schedule (weather permitting):
- Due to weather, April 18 is moved to Monday, April 20 at 5:00 PM.
- April 25 – 9:00 to 11:00 AM: Initial Garden Prep and some Spring planting
- May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 – 9:00 AM to11:00 AM: Spring Planting Sessions
- June 2 through early October: Tuesdays 6:30 to 7:30 PM and Saturdays 9:00 to 11:00 AM.
Pillars Program: The Catechetical Institute will be offering classes starting this September. This two-year Pillars Program will be offered live at St. Bartholomew in Wayzata and simultaneously live-streamed to multiple satellite locations. Applications are now being accepted.
The Archbishop Fulton Sheen Class
CI Host Site (In-person)
The Archbishop Fulton Sheen Class
CI Host Site (In-person)
- St. Batholomew, Wayzata, MN
- St. Dominic, Northfield, MN
- St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo, MN
- St. Peter, Forest Lake, MN
Christ the King Silent Retreat: Fr. Zachary Ochsenbaur and I will be leading a special retreat at Christ the King Retreat House from June 5th through the 7th. This retreat will be with parishioners at All Saints in Lakeville. The guided silent retreat will include inspiring talks, daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, communal and personal prayer, spiritual direction, and time for quiet reflection. If you have never taken a retreat before, this will be an ideal way to take one! The cost will be $385 per person. Please check out the links below to register on our website for more details.
Youth Ministry Scholarship Fund: We are raising money for our Youth Ministry Scholarship Fund. Through this fund, St. Therese Youth Discipleship Ministry is able to provide life-changing opportunities to our middle and high schoolers. This fund provides full & partial scholarships to our youth so that they are able to afford camps, retreats, conferences, and other powerful ministry events. The fund is also used to cover expenses such as transportation, food, and chaperone fees that are necessary for us to take part in these events. You can donate to the fund at our table after Mass this weekend, or at this link.
Steubenville Registration Deadline Extended — Only 2 Spots Left!
Good news! We have extended the registration deadline for the Steubenville St. Paul Conference. However, only 2 spots remain, and they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Steubenville is open to students currently in 8th–12th grades, and a $50 deposit secures your teen’s spot. Thanks to our parish’s generosity, the remaining conference cost is fully covered.
If your teens are interested, please register as soon as possible to make sure they don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Registration Link
Good news! We have extended the registration deadline for the Steubenville St. Paul Conference. However, only 2 spots remain, and they will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Steubenville is open to students currently in 8th–12th grades, and a $50 deposit secures your teen’s spot. Thanks to our parish’s generosity, the remaining conference cost is fully covered.
If your teens are interested, please register as soon as possible to make sure they don’t miss this incredible opportunity. Registration Link
The April focus for Reclaiming Sundays is Breaking Bread: Marta Pereira, a campus minister at the University of St. Thomas, reminisces about her traditions of breaking bread while growing up in Costa Rica — praying, telling stories, and sharing a family meal on Sundays. With the busyness of today’s family life, she encourages families to be intentional about making time for the most special of guests — Christ and family. Let’s claim Sundays for the Lord and our families.
Breaking Bread
“A meal is a moment that can create a meaningful encounter with those we love.”
Breaking Bread
“A meal is a moment that can create a meaningful encounter with those we love.”
Adoration in our Little Flower Chapel:
Currently, we are seeking a bit more assistance during the following times:
Tuesday, 3–4 pm
Wednesday, 12–1 pm
Please join us as we recite the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy every Thursday at 3 pm in the Chapel.
For more information, call Geri at 952-473-4422 or Marilyn Olson at 952-474-4344.
Currently, we are seeking a bit more assistance during the following times:
Tuesday, 3–4 pm
Wednesday, 12–1 pm
Please join us as we recite the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy every Thursday at 3 pm in the Chapel.
For more information, call Geri at 952-473-4422 or Marilyn Olson at 952-474-4344.
Greece Pilgrimage - There are still two cabins left for a short amount of time: 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:
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:
- Middle School Math Teacher/Technology Support
- Pre-School After-School/Evening Aides (10-15 hrs./wk.)
- Toddler Teacher, full-time
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:
Blessings,
Fr. Andrie
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.
Blessings,
Fr. Andrie
Goldy: “Fr. Andrie tells me that you’re hiring at St. Therese. I know some people. Hold tight, I’ll make some phone calls.”