October 2, 2026
Greetings in Christ,
Yesterday, October 1, was the feast day of our patron, St. Thérèse. The Church allows a parish to celebrate the feast of its saint on the closest weekend so that all parishioners can benefit. That said, we will celebrate the feast of St. Thérèse at all the Masses this weekend!
Pet Blessing: Our annual pet blessing is today (Oct. 2) at 4:00 pm in front of the stage at the Outdoor Learning Center. Naturally, all God’s furry friends are invited, including those that meow. I won’t be stingy with the holy water. If you have a pet that is a little rambunctious around other animals, please make sure you take the necessary precautions.
Capital Campaign Update: Our Growth in Christ campaign continues to make progress thanks to the generosity of our community. As of October 1, our campaign total is $2,061,146.
Many families have asked when they should return their pledge card. We are hoping to have all pledge cards returned as soon as possible. This does not mean that a family needs to start their payments right away. One of the great things about pledges is that they are flexible. Some families will start their monthly contributions on November 1, some will give quarterly, and others might give annually.
Save the Date: Many people have been asking how the Greece Pilgrimage went. In short, it is difficult to put into words such a rich experience and all the blessings from our Lord! Our visit to the House of the Blessed Virgin Mary will remain with me for the rest of my life. Celebrating Mass right next to her home reminded me that she opens her heart and home to all of us, inviting us into the infinite riches of her Son.
Also, I felt truly blessed that the Lord helped me find such a beautiful hand-painted icon from a monastery in Greece of our Lord’s crucifixion. I put it in the confessional so that I could see it often in serving as an instrument of the Lord’s mercy. Below is a picture of the icon. God is so good to us!
Many families have asked when they should return their pledge card. We are hoping to have all pledge cards returned as soon as possible. This does not mean that a family needs to start their payments right away. One of the great things about pledges is that they are flexible. Some families will start their monthly contributions on November 1, some will give quarterly, and others might give annually.
Save the Date: Many people have been asking how the Greece Pilgrimage went. In short, it is difficult to put into words such a rich experience and all the blessings from our Lord! Our visit to the House of the Blessed Virgin Mary will remain with me for the rest of my life. Celebrating Mass right next to her home reminded me that she opens her heart and home to all of us, inviting us into the infinite riches of her Son.
Also, I felt truly blessed that the Lord helped me find such a beautiful hand-painted icon from a monastery in Greece of our Lord’s crucifixion. I put it in the confessional so that I could see it often in serving as an instrument of the Lord’s mercy. Below is a picture of the icon. God is so good to us!
Spain Pilgrimage: Every two years, I offer a pilgrimage with parishioners to deepen their life of faith and prayer. Magi Travel does a very nice job organizing and choosing guides for the pilgrimages. After a bit of discussion, we will offer a Spain Pilgrimage from February 12 – 23, 2028. Mark Hoffman at Magi provided me with a proposed itinerary below for the pilgrimage. I am very excited about this pilgrimage as it has a Carmelite feel with visits to Avila (St. Teresa) and Segovia (St. John of the Cross). It will also include a couple of days' stop in Lourdes and end in Barcelona with a visit to the world-famous Sagrada Familia Cathedral. For those interested, save the date as more information will be forthcoming!
Chapel Update: Work continued in our beautiful little chapel this week as frames were added and stained around the windows. The altar was put back in place this week as well. Additionally, we have selected a nice frame for our new Stations of the Cross. We will install the new stations once the frames are finished. Finally, we are waiting to receive an update on our stained-glass windows. I will keep you posted as I learn new information.
Relive the glory days at the 4th Annual North Star Night Out Tomorrow, Oct. 3!
This evening brings together our school and parish community for a night of fun and fellowship—all while supporting St. Therese School.
Donations to the Annual Fund go directly towards the school's general operating budget and are used where they are most needed each year: teacher salaries, supplies, utilities, and special projects and initiatives.
Any school spirit apparel is encouraged but not required. Think letter jackets, varsity sweaters, your alma mater sweatshirt, cheer skirts, and your favorite game-day style.
Included in the price of your ticket are beer, wine, a specialty cocktail, and live music. A food truck will be available for purchase.
Here is the link to get tickets:
This evening brings together our school and parish community for a night of fun and fellowship—all while supporting St. Therese School.
Donations to the Annual Fund go directly towards the school's general operating budget and are used where they are most needed each year: teacher salaries, supplies, utilities, and special projects and initiatives.
Any school spirit apparel is encouraged but not required. Think letter jackets, varsity sweaters, your alma mater sweatshirt, cheer skirts, and your favorite game-day style.
Included in the price of your ticket are beer, wine, a specialty cocktail, and live music. A food truck will be available for purchase.
Here is the link to get tickets:
Psalms Course Starts on Tuesday: We will begin our course on the Psalms on Tuesday, October 6! I am very much looking forward to this course. The first class will be an introduction to the Psalms, including a great look at Psalms 1 and 2. The book that we will be using is called Psalm Basics for Catholics by Dr. John’s Bergsma and is very well done! We will offer a morning session at 9:00 am and an evening session at 6:30 pm. You can sign up on our parish website or after the Masses this weekend, as we will have a table set up.
Respect Life Baby Bottle Campaign, Sept. 26 – Oct. 11:
The Respect Life Team is distributing baby bottles in the Gathering Space after Mass this weekend to raise funds for SouthWest Options for Women, our nearest pregnancy resource center.
We invite you to take a Baby bottle home, fill it with coins, paper money or a check payable to “SouthWest Options for Women,” and return it to the table in the Gathering Space by the Oct. 11 deadline.
This pregnancy center offers FREE RESOURCES to help pregnant women in need and those parenting young babies: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, classes, baby clothes, diapers and wipes, and more.
The Spiritual Adoption Party, This Sunday, Oct. 4:
The Respect Life Team invites you to a party on Oct. 4 to celebrate the births of 80 “spiritually adopted” babies who were at risk of abortion and are now due in Oct. Beginning last Jan., each little one and its mother were prayed for daily throughout their pregnancy.
Come to the Spiritual Adoption Party this Sunday, Oct. 4, in the Community Room after the 10 am Mass.
St. Therese Talent Show: Do you sing, dance, act, do magic, juggle cats, play an instrument, or have a hidden talent you’ve been waiting to share? If so, join us for Talent Show Tryouts and show off your gifts. All ages and acts are welcome!
Tryout times are:
The Respect Life Team is distributing baby bottles in the Gathering Space after Mass this weekend to raise funds for SouthWest Options for Women, our nearest pregnancy resource center.
We invite you to take a Baby bottle home, fill it with coins, paper money or a check payable to “SouthWest Options for Women,” and return it to the table in the Gathering Space by the Oct. 11 deadline.
This pregnancy center offers FREE RESOURCES to help pregnant women in need and those parenting young babies: pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, counseling, classes, baby clothes, diapers and wipes, and more.
The Spiritual Adoption Party, This Sunday, Oct. 4:
The Respect Life Team invites you to a party on Oct. 4 to celebrate the births of 80 “spiritually adopted” babies who were at risk of abortion and are now due in Oct. Beginning last Jan., each little one and its mother were prayed for daily throughout their pregnancy.
Come to the Spiritual Adoption Party this Sunday, Oct. 4, in the Community Room after the 10 am Mass.
St. Therese Talent Show: Do you sing, dance, act, do magic, juggle cats, play an instrument, or have a hidden talent you’ve been waiting to share? If so, join us for Talent Show Tryouts and show off your gifts. All ages and acts are welcome!
Tryout times are:
- Tuesday, October 27 from 2:30 to 5:00pm
- Wednesday, October 28 from 6:00 to 8:00pm
- Sunday, November 1 from 2:00 to 4:00pm
If you can't make one of the tryout times, you may create a video of your talent and email it to talentshow@st-therese.org.
Also, if you've performed in either of our two previous talent shows and want to perform again, email a detailed description of what you're planning to do to talentshow@st-therese.org.
Also, if you've performed in either of our two previous talent shows and want to perform again, email a detailed description of what you're planning to do to talentshow@st-therese.org.
Men's Group Meeting on November 10—We look forward to gathering in fellowship and strengthening our walk with Christ. November will feature a ticketed event as our parish hosts the REBOOT experience with Chris Stefanick. We warmly encourage all men of the parish to mark their calendars and join us for these meaningful opportunities to grow in faith together.
REBOOT A Life‑Changing Event: REBOOT, a powerful evening of renewal with internationally acclaimed Catholic speaker Chris Stefanick, is coming right here to St. Therese. This dynamic experience is designed to help you rediscover and deepen your faith in a fresh, practical, and inspiring way.
Please see the information below for details on how to participate. We hope you’ll join us for this exceptional opportunity.
Please see the information below for details on how to participate. We hope you’ll join us for this exceptional opportunity.
Join Us in Praying the Rosary: You are invited to gather with us on Wednesdays at 9:15 am 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 who think this time works better.
The garden season is winding down! Our final garden session will be on October 10. Thank you for a fantastic year — made possible by all the hands that pitched in. To date, we have delivered 5,855 pounds of produce!
As a reminder, we also offer the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet every Thursday at 3 pm in the Chapel for those who think this time works better.
The garden season is winding down! Our final garden session will be on October 10. Thank you for a fantastic year — made possible by all the hands that pitched in. To date, we have delivered 5,855 pounds of produce!
Recurring Giving: You are welcome to set up recurring giving and let your stewardship be a continued expression of faith, even while you’re away. Your generosity helps sustain our ministries, strengthen our parish family, and share God’s love throughout the year. If you are currently enrolled in online giving, please prayerfully consider increasing your donation amount to help support our parish and its mission. Thank you for your faithful commitment.
Adoration Keep in mind that you can always share an hour with someone, and you rotate with another person each week. Any amount of time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth.
Most needed times:
For more information, call Geri at 952-473-4422 or Marilyn Olson at 952-474-4344.
Most needed times:
- Tuesday, 3–4 pm
- Wednesday, 11-12noon
- Wednesday, 1–2 pm (need a sub until Oct 7)
- Wednesday, 4-5 pm
- Friday, 10-11 am
- Friday, 12 noon-1 pm
For more information, call Geri at 952-473-4422 or Marilyn Olson at 952-474-4344.
October Happenings from the Archdiocese:
Vocations: Discerning vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and permanent diaconate; visit and learn information here on the Vocations page
On the weekend of October 16-18, 2026, the archdiocese will be having its annual Discernment Retreat with Archbishop Hebda for men ages 17-24 without a college degree (if the young man is a Junior in high school but not yet 17, he is allowed to attend). The retreat will be located at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo. flyer
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!
Vocations: Discerning vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life, and permanent diaconate; visit and learn information here on the Vocations page
On the weekend of October 16-18, 2026, the archdiocese will be having its annual Discernment Retreat with Archbishop Hebda for men ages 17-24 without a college degree (if the young man is a Junior in high school but not yet 17, he is allowed to attend). The retreat will be located at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo. flyer
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 ready for North Star Night Out tomorrow evening!