SUNDAY, May 24, 2015 | PENTECOST SUNDAY Parish Office Phone: 651-777-8116 Fax: 651-777-8743 Office Hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Website: www.presentationofmary.org 1725 Kennard Street • Maplewood, Minnesota 55109 Parish Staff Pastor Fr. Benny Mekkatt 651-842-6013 Deacon Deacon Michael Martin 651-842-6014 Director of Administration and Finance Steve Blessing 651-842-6017 Director of Faith Formation/ Pastoral Minister S. Kathleen Rademacher, OSB 651-842-6018 Director of Stewardship Kay Mottaz 651-842-6022 Director of Music Rebecca Eurioste 651-842-6026 Receptionist/Secretary Mary Heymans 651-842-6010 Administrative Assistants Meghan Bothwell 651-842-6019 Karen Simons 651-842-6020 Confirmation Coordinator Sara Bertini 651-842-6076 Presentation School 1695 Kennard Street Maplewood, MN 55109 Phone (K-8): 651-777-5877 Fax (K-8): 651-777-8283 Phone (PreK): 651-770-3093 Fax (PreK): 651-779-2307 Principal Peter Noll 651-842-6032 School Secretary Linda Prazak 651-842-6030 Preschool Director Erin Hinds 651-842-6070 Mass Schedule Confessions Saturday: 5:00 pm Saturday: 3:30 pm—4:30 pm Sunday: 8:30 am and 10:30 am Mon-Thurs: 7:30 am—7:50 am Mon-Thurs: 8:00 am Fri: 8:45 am or by appointment Adoration Morning Prayer Thursday: 8:30 am—8:30 pm Mon-Thurs: 7:30 am Mass Intentions From the Pastor 25-Mon: Veni, Sancte, Spiritus 8:00 am All Veterans 26-Tues: Pentecost is the sign of hope and new beginning. Filled with the Holy Spirit, 8:00 am † Lynn & Berniece the apostles became the powerful messengers of the good news, and the Halberg church was officially inaugurated on the day of Pentecost. With the 27-Wed: celebration of the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost, our parish church, too, 8:00 am † Shirley Sandercock begins a new journey with greater enthusiasm and hope. 28-Thurs: A poor, homeless man lay on his deathbed. His last words to his youngest 8:00 am † Bill Mahre son, who had been his constant companion during his begging trips, were: 29-Fri: “Dear son, I have nothing to give you except a cotton bag and a dirty bronze 8:45 am † Arthur & Rose Beard bowl which I got in my younger days from the dumpster of a rich lady’s 30-Sat: backyard.” After his father’s death, the boy continued begging, using the 5:00 pm † Kathryn Wingate bowl his father had given him. One day a gold merchant dropped a coin in † Robert Handrahan the boy’s bowl and he was surprised to hear a familiar clinking sound. “Let 31-Sun: me check your bowl,” the merchant said. To his great surprise, he found that 8:30 am Parishioners the beggar’s bowl was made of pure gold. “My dear young man,” he said, 10:30 am † Lorraine Wilson “why do you waste your time begging? You are a rich man. That bowl of yours is worth at least thirty thousand dollars.” We Christians are often like this beggar boy who failed to recognize and appreciate the value of his bowl. We fail to appreciate the infinite worth of the Holy Spirit living within each of us, sharing His gifts and fruits and Infant Baptism: charisms with us. On this major feast day of Pentecost, we are invited to Contact the Parish Office. experience and appreciate the transforming, sanctifying, and strengthening A preparation session is required. presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Today’s readings remind us that the gift Session may be taken prior to of the Holy Spirit moves its recipients to action and inspires them to share the birth of the child. this gift with others. Marriage: It is indeed a season of grace and blessings for our parish community. It is Begin arrangements with the springtime for us in every sense. After journeying through the days of the priest or deacon at least worries and uncertainties, we are gradually settling down with some 1 year in advance. certainties and firm decisions. I am highly honored to be assigned as the Pastor of this great parish. My 16 months’ experience as the Interim Pastor Anointing of the Sick: really helped me to get to know this community and now enables me to This sacrament is available to function better as the Pastor. For sure, I am excited to assume the position, anyone who is seriously ill or without forgetting the responsibilities and challenges ahead of me. But I am suffering from a prolonged illness. highly impressed by the spiritual power and the unity you manifested as a Please call the Parish Office for community during those days of trials and tests. Your strong trust and faith in arrangements. God is rightly rewarded. You were tested and proved that no storm nor huge waves can destroy or distract your gaze towards your destination. Now we can First Communion, focus our attention towards achieving our goals and work harder with much First Confessions, more enthusiasm and spirit. The Lord hasn’t abandoned us. Jesus, who Confirmation, Adult Baptism: promised to his disciples the Holy Spirit, an advocate, still sends out His Spirit Please call the Parish Office to us. The Church that was inaugurated on the day of Pentecost is in our at 651-777-8116. hands today. We are the Church, and it needs to grow and move forward. Let us join our hands and hearts and work together. New Parishioners: Anyone wishing to register The goal I set before you for the coming years is to grow stronger and deeper as a member of the parish in our faith as a parish community; become the beacon of hope on the top of may call the Parish Office at this hill; and become a more welcoming and hospitable community. The 651-777-8116. If you move, or doors of our church are open for everyone who wishes to pray and praise the change your phone number, Lord. I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers and blessings, please call the Parish Office support and cooperation, encouragement and constructive criticisms, and let us know your new address. guidance and suggestions for my ministry at Presentation. Prayer Line: - Fr. Benny Jo Kusz 651-771-7438 Faith Formation Pastoral Care Yes, Faith Formation is for all ages. One can never say “I learned PASTORAL VISITS: Because of the it all as a kid!” Thus we always want to strive for a greater love for Right to Privacy laws, Presentation Jesus and his people, and allow the Holy Spirit to help us become Church is not notified of parishioners deeply spiritual and intentional disciples of Jesus. The Saints can who are in the hospital, homebound, be a great inspiration for us. Susan H. Swetnam entitled her or have entered a health care book, MY BEST TEACHERS WERE THE SAINTS. We too can let facility. We must hear from you, a those heroes of the Church teach and help us at any time and at any age. family member, or a friend if you This coming Tuesday we celebrate the feast of St. Philip Neri who is called wish to be visited by our pastor or “the Clown of God.” His emphasis on joy and laughter drew many to the pastoral minister. Call our Parish sacraments and to join him in performing acts of charity. His two favorite Office, and our receptionist will pass books were the Bible and a book filled with jokes! St. Philip can help us be on the information. joyful and intentional disciples of Jesus through prayer, joy, and acts of Thursday Adoration kindness. - S. Kathy Join us for adoration on Thursdays from 8:30 am— Social Concerns 8:30 pm. Vespers and Benediction begin at Justice: Here is a summary of ways the JUST PEOPLE COMMITTEE has 8:00 pm. Adoration is held succeeded in living out its MISSION STATEMENT: in the St. Francis Chapel located in Using the weekly bulletin to convey the two feet of social concerns; the Parish Center. (All are welcome Conducting a postcard campaign which proved to be a great contributor to come anytime.) to the Dorothy Day revision; Meeting at Our Redeemer Church regarding respectful conversation on Holy Rosary gun violence; Following daily Masses Monday Merger of two faith communities, Presentation of BVM and Our Redeemer through Thursday; prior to daily Lutheran Church, so they can work together on social justice issues; Mass on Friday; and 1/2 hour prior Hosting of Just People workshop at Our Redeemer Church with 45- 50 in to all weekend Masses. attendance; Hosting the Just People meeting on HUNGER at Presentation with Pastor Stewardship Karsten from Our Redeemer Church and staff from Merrick Community Center giving the presentation; St. Paul reminds us Hosting one of the Diocesan meetups and attending some of the others today that all of our gifts in the Diocese; have their source in the Hosting Diocesan Legislative Advocacy meeting at Presentation; Holy Spirit and that those Hosting ISAIAH production at Presentation with guest speaker Pastor gifts are given “for the Grant Stevenson. common good.” What gifts are mine to share? An art exhibit entitled WE’RE IN AMERICA NOW is being held at St. Paul Monastery from May 23rd to July 1st. This exhibit pertains to the Holocaust. GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS meets Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm in Charity: Donations of anything useful and in good shape will be accepted the Parish Center lower level. For throughout the summer months. Gratitude was expressed by the recipients of more information, please call the household and clothing items and three “like new” car seats received this Colleen at 651-295-9853.