Thank You New Faces Newsletter Updates
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New Faces It’s an exciting time at Saint Bonaventure as there are a few new faces in the office. Meet Friar Bryan, Grace, and Jodi at the Feast of Saint Bonaventure picnic on July 15, or stop in for a visit. Friar Bryan has arrived from Texas! Our new Pastor, Friar Bryan Hajovsky, is a Conventual Franciscan Friar and Roman Catholic priest Thank You within the Province of Our Lady of Consolation, USA. I felt overwhelmed at the farewell celebrations by your kind During his free time, he enjoys words, affirmation and generosity. Your support, prayer and hiking, camping, jogging and spending responsiveness have been heartwarming and a tremendous time with his family and the friars. blessing not only recently but throughout my time here. You An installation Mass and welcome continually show me how much the Spirit is alive and active party are in the works. in your hearts. I leave here with overflowing gratitude in my heart for having been able to serve you and serve with you Grace Schaefer, our Youth these past nine years. I pray that we might recognize and Minister, started June 17. Grace is respond to God’s blessings as we travel into the future. a recent graduate from the Catholic Studies program at the University Peace and all good, of St. Thomas. She is originally from Rockford, IL and is now living in St. Paul. In her spare time, she loves to jam out on the guitar, read lots of books, and spend time with friends. Newsletter Updates Jodi Ketter started on May 13 as The Spirit of Saint Bonaventure is YOUR parish newsletter. our Communications & Stewardship This newsletter is a place to share your stories, how people Coordinator. Jodi comes to us from can help or be involved, and celebrate successes! Let me know Minnesota Farm Bureau and has what you’d like to see and what’s happening in our community worked for a number of years in and your ministries. marketing and communications. You also may have noticed a new look and style. My door is Jodi and her husband, Kevin, live always open. Please let me know your thoughts as we grow in the neighborhood with their cat, together. You can reach me at [email protected] or Georgie, and enjoy bonfires, visiting by phone at 952-297-8417. Thank you! breweries, and trying new foods. Saint Bonaventure Catholic Community July—August 2019 Top 10 Joys of Being a Catechist Gary Russell When I was younger I had many reasons why I didn’t think I could be a catechist: “I’m too young,” “I don’t know enough about my faith,” “I don’t have the time,” “I’m afraid I won’t be able to control the class.” It took me a few years to realize that these excuses were just that, excuses, and not valid reasons that prevented me from being a catechist. When I realized this, I took the next step of calling the church and said I would teach a faith formation class. I was scarcely 19 years old and nervous, but I knew God would not let me fail. 901 East 90th Street Bloomington, MN 55420 Looking back, I see my faith started to take root in serving my first year as a catechist. Phone: 952 - 854 - 4733 Up to this point, I was a spectator in my faith. I went to church regularly but figured I Email: [email protected] had little to offer the church outside of warming the pew on Sunday mornings. It was by Website: www.saintbonaventure.org volunteering to be a catechist that I had committed myself to do something that would Office Hours: require more than I realized I had within me. I’m guessing you may have your own set of Monday — Thursday 8 am - 4:30 pm excuses why you can’t be a catechist so I thought I’d share my top 10 reasons why you Friday 8 am - 3 pm should consider being a catechist. Pastor Fr. Bryan Hajovsky 10 - Being a catechist can deepen your faith. [email protected] For those who feel you don’t know enough about your faith, as you serve in this ministry, you will grow in love and understanding of what it means to be Catholic. Deacon Jon DeLuney 9 - Experience the joy of sharing. [email protected] Have you ever listened to a song or read a book and were so deeply moved that Deacon & Executive Director you wanted to share it with others? That same joy will fill your heart as you learn Mickey Redfearn [email protected] about and share your faith with those in your classroom. Parish Secretary 8 - It commits you to your faith. Joan DeLuney No one wants to go into an assignment unprepared. As a catechist, you will [email protected] prepare your lessons, and in doing so, grow your own faith. Bulletin Editor Sharon Menden 7 - It connects you to your faith community. [email protected] Serving in this ministry, you will get to know other catechists, staff members, students and their families. There is no better way to learn how great our Communications & Stewardship Jodi Ketter community is, than to serve in it. [email protected] 6 - You will be inspired. Faith Formation You will witness people who live their faith with integrity and joy. [email protected] Gary Russell [email protected] 5 - You get to inspire others. Parents plant the seeds of faith. As a catechist, you nourish them and get Administrative Assistant to watch them grow. Your service will inspire others to do great things. Tricia Kawakami [email protected] 4 - Serving as a catechist calls you to be the best version of yourself. Health & Wellness We all get caught up in our own challenges. In serving others, Becky Running our trials are put in perspective, helping us find balance. [email protected] 3 - It can calm your spirit. Maintenance Custodian Jo Segura Garcia There is a sense of peace that comes from doing the Lord’s work. [email protected] You will feel that serving as a catechist. Custodian 2 - It instills hope. Elena Perez Oftentimes we hear dismal comments about the future of our Church. Director of Music & Liturgy As a catechist, you will see first-hand the remarkable families and youth Karen Thompson in our parish and be reinvigorated by them. [email protected] Organist & Accompanist 1 - You will shape the future of our Church. David Padden We live in a world filled with conflict and confusion. As a catechist, you get to share the Word of God, our Catholic faith, and your personal story Youth Minister Grace Schaefer to help those in your care joyfully follow our faith. [email protected] In the weeks ahead, spend a few moments in prayer each day. Ask God to guide you to a Friars in Residence Fr. Ed Goldbach deeper faith and greater love and allow yourself to be open to the idea of becoming a Fr. Matthew Malek catechist. Have a safe and blessed summer. I look forward to your call and working with Fr. Camillus Gott Fr. Richard Kaley you in this ministry as we begin anew in September. The Spirit of Saint Bonaventure July—August 2019 2 Respect Life Ministry “Supporting Life from Womb to Tomb” Will Herrmann On Mother’s Day weekend, a young woman arrived at an abortion clinic where a number of people, including someone from Saint Bonaventure, were calmly praying outside. One of the volunteer sidewalk counselors told her the Robbinsdale Women’s Center, a pregnancy center for mothers and fathers in need, was right across the street and could help her. The clinic escorts brought her inside, but after about ten minutes, she came back out and decided that she couldn’t go through with an abortion. She decided to keep her baby and received information from the sidewalk counselors about the Robbinsdale Women’s Center. At the Center, she can get all the prenatal care she needs along with diapers, infant supplies, and other aid once the baby is born. It is because of your prayers and generosity that this woman will have a place to go. The Robbinsdale Women’s Center is kept open in part by Saint Bonaventure’s baby bottle fundraiser campaign. Thanks to your generous donations, we raised nearly $8,500 this year! But our care doesn’t stop at birth. During our Mother’s Day diaper drive, we collected 2,634 diapers and 2,568 wipes, which were donated to the St. Vincent De Paul food shelf! Sadly, many women in crisis will be raising their children without fathers. And so we prayed especially for the fathers in prison. As a part of our Adopt a Felon Sunday, parishioners selected 250 prisoners to pray for all the way through Pentecost. And we continue to visit and care for the grandparents and other elderly who are residents of Martin Luther Manor. Our Catholic faith deeply values all life, from conception to natural death. The Respect Life committee would like to thank everyone at St. Bonaventure for your generosity and prayers as we commit to living out this teaching. God has given us many gifts. We are very thankful He has enabled us to make use of them to serve the most vulnerable in our local communities. Ed Pidde Scholarship Winners of the $1,000 Ed Pidde Scholarship were announced to the parish on May 19. Anne Marie Bittner will be attending the University of St. Thomas to pursue Computer Engineering and Catholic Studies.