He Is Risen!

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This Easter is a particularly special one. While we have been sacrificing our regular routine and regular access to the Eucharist, we have been drawn closer to God, just as Jesus intended when he died and rose again three days later, ensuring a space in Heaven for all who desire it. Let us truly give thanks and praise to Him as we enter the Easter Vigil, coming out of the darkness of fear and self-despair, and truly into the light of a future in Christ Jesus. 

Live-Stream Our Easter Masses

Live-stream our Easter Services, beginning tonight! We have the link to our Facebook Live on our website (www.sjolc.org), or just click here to go direct to our Saint John’s Facebook page. Because we have a public page, you don’t need to be a member of Facebook to view our Masses.

 

Live-stream Schedule for Easter Week

8:00 PM Saturday, April 11: Easter Vigil  Mass
8:30 AM Sunday, April 12: Easter Sunday Mass
4:30 PM Saturday, April 18: Divine Mercy Sunday Mass

 
Dress in Your Easter Best 
We'd like to encourage a little virtual interaction! If you're still getting dressed to the nines for Easter Mass (and we hope you are!), snap a quick photo and either email it to our communications coordinator, Laura Haraldson, or post it directly to our Facebook page. Note any images submitted might be shared on our website and Facebook stream; your submission constitutes permission to use. 
 

Giving In Challenging Times

As a parish, we continue to incur operational expenses. Both church and school benefit greatly from the weekly collection offerings from our generous Parishioners. There are three primary ways you can continue to give, even while we're are social distancing:

1. Give online through Vanco: There are quick-links active on our website’s homepage and Coronavirus sub-page now. Go to www.sjolc.org/giving
2. Mail your contribution to the Parish Office: 380 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117
3. Drop check or cash off in the secure lock box at the Parish Office (between the front doors).

Thank you so much for your continued generosity.
 

Food Collection a Success

Last weekend, we tried an experiment, opening up the Gathering Space for our monthly Food Collection for the Poor. I couldn't be more grateful and impressed by the generosity of our parishioners, who even in these times of social distancing brought together 43 bags of food. Franciscan Brothers thank you for helping those most in need during this time.
 

Updates to Adoration & the Eucharist

We’ve also gotten direction from the Archdiocese that the faithful can make an appointment to receive Communion one time during the Easter Season; please call me directly to set this up (651-288-3265). Additionally, we have been given permission to bring back Eucharistic Adoration, so starting Easter Monday, we will return to this schedule:

• Parish Office building closed; staff are checking email and phone regularly

• Church building open 8:30 AM to noon Monday through Saturday 

• Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction 10:00-11:00 AM Monday through Saturday

• Individual Confessions 10:00-11:00 AM Tuesday through Saturday

• Live-stream Mass on Facebook 4:30 PM Saturday

Social distance best-practices are still in place (no more than 10 individuals in the building at a time, maintain a distance of 6 feet, wash and sanitize your hands, please don’t come if you are sick).

What Else Has Changed?

We have a number of postponements into the rest of April; please check our Church Calendar regularly, as it’s constantly changing during this time of uncertainty.
 

Divine Mercy Sunday

There are many ways to participate in Divine Mercy Sunday, which we celebrate next weekend. The easiest way is to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Other options include reading the diary of Saint Faustina, displaying the image she had commissioned based on her conversations with Christ in prayer (see above), and devoting your household to the Divine Mercy. The prayers and more information about the chaplet can be found on our website.
 

I am thinking of and praying for all of you in these difficult times of social separation. Let us all bond together in our Faith, remembering Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice and triumph over death that saved us from our sins.

Peace,
Father Tom Balluff, pastor