October 9, 2026
Greetings in Christ,
This weekend, Fr. Martin Chouinard, who was a seminarian at St. Therese and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT, will celebrate the Mass. I will join Fr. Martin in concelebrating the Mass. This weekend, we will hear about our Lord’s parable of likening the kingdom of heaven to a wedding banquet. We see our Lord’s generosity in the repeated calls and patience with those invited. It is a great reminder of the blessing of being invited to participate in the eternal wedding banquet of heaven!
Capital Campaign Update:In less than four weeks, our Growth in Christ campaign has raised $3,244,979 in gifts and pledges! We need to raise just over $3 million to receive the $10 million gift. We have been truly blessed by those who have led the campaign through their service and financial gifts. The parish is extremely grateful to receive such gifts that are given in the spirit of love and gratitude to a God who has richly blessed every one of us.
Even though we have made wonderful progress, we need the support of the entire faith community. We ask that those you have not yet responded to prayerfully consider a contribution to the campaign. Please know that your donation, no matter the size, will have a positive impact on our community.
Pet Blessing: Thank you to all our families who brought your beloved furry friends to the pet blessing! I am always amazed at God’s sense of humor in creating so many kinds of dogs. My prayer is that those of you who brought your pets will experience the closeness of God as they bring you joy!
Even though we have made wonderful progress, we need the support of the entire faith community. We ask that those you have not yet responded to prayerfully consider a contribution to the campaign. Please know that your donation, no matter the size, will have a positive impact on our community.
Commissioning during the weekend Masses: Attention, Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion. If you haven’t yet been commissioned or it has been over 3 years, we'll be doing so this Saturday and Sunday. We look forward to celebrating this special moment with you!
Pet Blessing: Thank you to all our families who brought your beloved furry friends to the pet blessing! I am always amazed at God’s sense of humor in creating so many kinds of dogs. My prayer is that those of you who brought your pets will experience the closeness of God as they bring you joy!
Chapel Update: We met with Boyer Construction this week about the chapel. We still need to paint the wall, given the smoke from the candles by the Martin Family icon. We are having the painter give us an estimate on freshening up the beams, as they have become pretty dull over the years. We will also be adding soundproofing that blends into the chapel so that it remains a place of quiet and peace. New soundproofing glass went in this week in the back of the chapel. We will be adding two films for the glass in the back that allow people to still see into the chapel with designs of the Matin Family and St. Therese. Finally, we are hoping the stained glass will be repaired by the end of the month and ready for installation. We will keep you updated as we learn of a target date for reopening our beloved chapel.
North Star Night Out Success: Our school families had an unforgettable Saturday evening at North Star Night Out! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our St. Therese community, they raised over $160,000 toward our St. Therese School Annual Fund!
Our principal, Adam Greobner, and I are extremely grateful to our phenomenal volunteer parents whose tireless efforts made this event such a resounding success. We had amazing event chairs who prepped for this event since last year! Thank you, Carrie Eyler, EJ Merrill, and Johnna Rossbach!
Didn't get a chance to contribute?It's not too late! You can still join in the celebration and support our students and staff by making a donation today: HERE!
North Star Night Out Success: Our school families had an unforgettable Saturday evening at North Star Night Out! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our St. Therese community, they raised over $160,000 toward our St. Therese School Annual Fund!
Our principal, Adam Greobner, and I are extremely grateful to our phenomenal volunteer parents whose tireless efforts made this event such a resounding success. We had amazing event chairs who prepped for this event since last year! Thank you, Carrie Eyler, EJ Merrill, and Johnna Rossbach!
Didn't get a chance to contribute?It's not too late! You can still join in the celebration and support our students and staff by making a donation today: HERE!
Psalms Course: We will continue our course on the Psalms on Tuesday, October 13! We will look at Book I (Psalms 1 – 41) of the Psalms. If you did not pick up your book, please do so! It is an excellent book called Psalm Basics for Catholics by Dr. John’s Bergsma. There is still time to sign up if you have not done so! Below are the slides from the introductory session earlier this week.
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 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.
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.
Men's Group Meeting on November 10—as 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.
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—as 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 Nov. 10: 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 prefer that time.
Thank you from the St. Therese Food Garden Ministry: This week we wrap up this year's final garden sessions. We are thankful for all the volunteer hours that you have put in to help us provide an amazing number of fresh vegetables to Sharing and Caring Hands and ICA. We are already over 6000 pounds, thanks to many hands.
For those who are available, we will meet tomorrow, Saturday, October 10 at 9am to put the garden to bed.
Thank you from the St. Therese Food Garden Ministry: This week we wrap up this year's final garden sessions. We are thankful for all the volunteer hours that you have put in to help us provide an amazing number of fresh vegetables to Sharing and Caring Hands and ICA. We are already over 6000 pounds, thanks to many hands.
For those who are available, we will meet tomorrow, Saturday, October 10 at 9am to put the garden to bed.
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, 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 and November 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
On Tue., November 3, at 6 pm, men 16 and older are invited to join Archbishop Bernard Hebda & Vocations Director, Fr. Mark Pavlak, for dinner and a discussion about discerning the priesthood and religious life. (flyer here)
On the weekend of November 19-21 will be the Vianney Visit:
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
On Tue., November 3, at 6 pm, men 16 and older are invited to join Archbishop Bernard Hebda & Vocations Director, Fr. Mark Pavlak, for dinner and a discussion about discerning the priesthood and religious life. (flyer here)
On the weekend of November 19-21 will be the Vianney Visit:
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 reading for the Psalms course. He wants to “sing to the Lord a new song” (Ps. 96:1) using one of his happy barks.