May 15, 2026
Greetings in Christ,
This Sunday, many dioceses in the United States celebrate our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. Jesus’ Ascension follows forty days after His Resurrection. By ascending to His Father, our Lord returns home. And where the Head has gone before, the Body (the Church) hopes to follow! The Ascension, then, is a celebration of our Lord’s home. It is a great feast of hope!
Greetings in Christ,
This Sunday, many dioceses in the United States celebrate our Lord’s Ascension into heaven. Jesus’ Ascension follows forty days after His Resurrection. By ascending to His Father, our Lord returns home. And where the Head has gone before, the Body (the Church) hopes to follow! The Ascension, then, is a celebration of our Lord’s home. It is a great feast of hope!
Capital Campaign Planning Study: As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is undertaking a capital campaign to strengthen the local church. All 185 parishes in the archdiocese will participate in the campaign.
For almost a year, I have been working with parish leaders to determine how our beloved parish can benefit from our participation in the campaign. For the homily this weekend, I will present our proposed plans for the campaign, including various ways that you can provide feedback.
In the next week or so, you will receive information in the mail about an upcoming campaign planning study and will have an opportunity to participate either through a brief interview or survey. We will also be holding an informational session at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 28, at the Community Room, open to the entire St. Therese community. If you would, please pray for the success of the campaign and that God’s will be done!
For almost a year, I have been working with parish leaders to determine how our beloved parish can benefit from our participation in the campaign. For the homily this weekend, I will present our proposed plans for the campaign, including various ways that you can provide feedback.
In the next week or so, you will receive information in the mail about an upcoming campaign planning study and will have an opportunity to participate either through a brief interview or survey. We will also be holding an informational session at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 28, at the Community Room, open to the entire St. Therese community. If you would, please pray for the success of the campaign and that God’s will be done!
Sunday 5:00 pm Mass: We will have our weekly 5:00 pm Mass this Sunday, May 17. We are blessed to have Teresa Shackelford with her beautiful singing voice and musical gifts with us at this liturgy.
Christ’s Ascension and the Eucharist: Dr. Brant Pitre does a nice job with short videos on educating the faithful about the Catholic faith. He is particularly good at showing how Christ fulfills God’s promises in the Old Testament. In this case, he explains how with Christ’s Ascension into heaven, He intercedes for us with the Father. He is our High Priest.
Additionally, with Christ’s Ascension into heaven, His Good Friday sacrifice is made present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, i.e., it is perpetuated or made present on every Catholic altar down through time and throughout the whole world. While Jesus does not suffer in heaven, He still offers Himself for us in the Mass. In short, God is so marvelous the way He gives Himself to us!
Additionally, with Christ’s Ascension into heaven, His Good Friday sacrifice is made present in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, i.e., it is perpetuated or made present on every Catholic altar down through time and throughout the whole world. While Jesus does not suffer in heaven, He still offers Himself for us in the Mass. In short, God is so marvelous the way He gives Himself to us!
Senior Luncheon 2026: We will be hosting our luncheon on Tuesday, May 19. While the cost is free, we ask that you RSVP so that we can adequately prepare the food. The RSVP deadline has passed; please call the parish office to see if you can still join if you have not yet signed up. Thank you to Aleen Okey and all our fabulous volunteers who help make this wonderful gathering possible!
Traveling this summer? Set up recurring giving, and your stewardship continues, even when you're away. Your generosity helps keep our ministries strong all year long, supporting the parish community no matter where your summer adventures take you.
Healing Mass at St. Therese, June 10: A Healing Mass will be offered once again at St. Therese on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:15 pm. Rosary will begin at 4:45 pm, and confessions will be offered from 5:45 pm to 7 pm. This will be a grace‑filled time for our parish, and we look forward to gathering in prayer and hope.
Healing Mass at St. Therese, June 10: A Healing Mass will be offered once again at St. Therese on Wednesday, June 10, at 5:15 pm. Rosary will begin at 4:45 pm, and confessions will be offered from 5:45 pm to 7 pm. This will be a grace‑filled time for our parish, and we look forward to gathering in prayer and hope.
Psalms Course: Save the dates for the fall course on the Psalms. I will offer a five-part series on the Psalms, which are sung or said at every Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours. The Psalms are a rich array of human expression from times of lament to times of supplication to God, and finally to times of praise. Psalms classes will be on Oct. 6 & 20, Nov. 3 & 17, and Dec. 1.
Family Life, Holiness in the Everyday: In his monthly video, Archbishop Bernard Hebda explores saintly examples of holiness in families, explains how our Lord shows us families are important, and invites us all to support families as building blocks for our churches and communities. Along with celebrating his 10th anniversary shepherding our archdiocese, visit the Archbishop's letter to families below and see details here.
Why Archbishop is releasing his pastoral letter to families
Why Archbishop is releasing his pastoral letter to families
Watch the full video, or jump ahead to see:
It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in your family. Have you changed your phone number? Do you no longer have a landline? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Please call Geri in the church office to update your record in our database.
- Memories of Archbishop's Installation Mass 10 years ago
- What children teach us about faith
- Saints that show holiness is possible in our families
- How Jesus' family shows us that "only one thing is necessary"
It is time for us to update our database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in your family. Have you changed your phone number? Do you no longer have a landline? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Please call Geri in the church office to update your record in our database.
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!
Final Charge night for middle schoolers: Those in grades 6-8 are invited to join Youth Ministry for our FINAL Charge Night this evening, Friday, May 15. Charge Nights are our series of monthly social nights featuring gym games, food, prayers, and fun. This month will feature the Championship Round of our year-long Frozen Pizza Bracket, featuring Jack's vs. Red Barron.
Charge Nights are free and open to all youth in grades 6-8, even if they do not go to St. Therese. Please sign up online at the Youth Ministry website.
Charge Nights are free and open to all youth in grades 6-8, even if they do not go to St. Therese. Please sign up online at the Youth Ministry website.
Join us for Summer Blast: Our summer series for youth! We’ll be offering opportunities for both middle school and high school students to grow in faith and community all summer long.
Middle School students (current grades 5–7) are invited to Summer Charge Nights featuring food, games, and prayer on June 24, July 8, and August 5.
High School students (current grades 8–12) are invited to Bible Studies on June 17, July 1, July 29, and August 12. High schoolers are also welcome to help lead at Charge Nights.
All events take place from 6:00–7:30 pm, with an invitation to attend Mass at 5:15 pm beforehand.
To register, click the button below!
Middle School students (current grades 5–7) are invited to Summer Charge Nights featuring food, games, and prayer on June 24, July 8, and August 5.
High School students (current grades 8–12) are invited to Bible Studies on June 17, July 1, July 29, and August 12. High schoolers are also welcome to help lead at Charge Nights.
All events take place from 6:00–7:30 pm, with an invitation to attend Mass at 5:15 pm beforehand.
To register, click the button below!
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 this link.
Vacation Bible School: Registration is open for St. Therese's Vacation Bible School (VBS) for both campers and volunteers. Please register prior to June 13. Register here: https://www.st-therese.org/vbs
Empty coffee cans with a lid (plastic or metal), any size, are needed for a VBS craft project. Please drop your container off in the large black bin located in the main church entrance.
The May focus for Reclaiming Sundays is Community: Karla Gergen, wife, mother, and principal of Saint Helena Catholic School in Minneapolis, invites us to be present to others through real relationships in order to receive the joy and the rest God has given us in the Sabbath.
Adoration in our Little Flower Chapel:
Currently, we are seeking a bit more assistance during the following times:
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
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:
Job Openings at St. Therese Early Learning Center:
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!
- School Office and Database Manager
Job Openings at St. Therese Early Learning Center:
- Pre-School After-School/Evening Aides (10-15 hrs./wk.)
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: “Look at Jesus going into heaven. I sure hope we can go there someday, too!”