A Holy Week Reflection by Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ

A Holy Week Reflection by Sister Colleen Gibson, SSJ

By the time Lent comes to a close, we can feel worn down and ready to simply turn the page on an all-too-familiar story. Yet, to truly enter into Holy Week, we must confront the power of paradox. We must grapple with the Paschal Mystery and its ever-present invitation to us: to die and rise with and in Christ.

This is the story, not only of this holiest of weeks, but of our entire lives of faith. Opening our eyes to the world around us, we witness the betrayal; we intuit the suffering; we account for the lengths to which faith and fear can push us; and we find that Christ, our companion and our guide, is with us always… beckoning us to new life. Be it the washing of feet, the breaking of bread, the sting of suffering, or the quiet of grief: Christ is there…

Young Adult Ministry: March “Theology at the Table” Gathering

Young Adult Ministry: March “Theology at the Table” Gathering

Our Young Adult Ministry has been busy this Lent! From the weekly Practicing Lent series exploring different prayer styles to the latest installment of Theology at the Table, our young adults have been diving deeper into their faith lives and building community in the process.

This past Saturday, the group welcomed Kelly Meraw, SJSP Director of Pastoral Care, who shared about Women in Ministry: Past, Present, and Future. The evening was a blessed sharing of stories that invited all involved to better understand the way God calls us and how the ongoing discernment around women and the diaconate can give voice to God’s call in a particular way!

Saturday, March 21: Young Adult Ministry “Theology at the Table” at St. John

Saturday, March 21: Young Adult Ministry “Theology at the Table” at St. John

As a Church, the Holy Spirit is constantly moving in us and among us!

Join us as we welcome Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, to our table this month to explore the topic: “Women in Ministry: Then, Now, and Where the Spirit is Guiding”

Young Adults (age 21-40) from in and around the Collaborative are invited to this evening of reflection, enrichment, and fellowship as we feed our minds and nurture our spirits in community!

Registration appreciated but not required…

Wednesday March 18 at 7pm: “An Evening With the Psalms” – Music, Prayer, and Reconciliation at St. John

Wednesday March 18 at 7pm: “An Evening With the Psalms” – Music, Prayer, and Reconciliation at St. John

Centuries of faithful have prayed with the Psalms to wrestle, lament, petition, and give praise to God in every moment of their lives. This evening is an opportunity to pray with various interpretations of exemplary psalms while praying through the music of Duruflé, Palestrina, Byrd, Bruckner and Frisina. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered beginning at 7:45pm.

A Reflection on The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats

A Reflection on <i>The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats</i>

This reflection on Matthew 25:31-46 was prepared by Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, for the March “Evening for Women” program that was cancelled due to weather.

This is the last of Matthew’s great parables. Every instinct I have (formed by my concept of a God of unfathomably deep love and infinite capacity for mercy) wants to skip the second half of this Gospel reading. On the majority of occasions when the great judgement, at the end of time, is proclaimed at Mass, the short form is selected, eliminating “the eternal fire, the Devil, and his angels” from tenderhearted ears. However, who is our God of Mercy without our God of Justice? 

How could we survive a time such as this, with the worst of humanity before our eyes every day, if we didn’t also rest in the knowledge that Jesus is still present…

Lenten Loft Book Club: “Struck Down, Not Destroyed” – March 10 at St. Paul

Lenten Loft Book Club: “Struck Down, Not Destroyed” – March 10 at St. Paul

As we pray for steadfast spirits this Lent, join in this one-night discussion of Struck Down, Not Destroyed, a spiritual memoir by America Magazine’s Vatican Correspondent, Colleen Dulle.

Exploring the inner workings of the Church and her own faith journey as a Millennial, Dulle’s story helps us reflect on our own journey of faith and what it means to claim our faith as our own in this day and age.

Join us for an evening of sharing and reflecting. Registration appreciated – please register below…