Parish Bulletin: "Gratitude for our Last Six Months": 7-14-19

            I cannot believe it that on July 16th, 2019 I have now been at St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Columban for five years—I am definitely getting older and a lot less hair, though more than my younger brothers!

I have appreciated every six months to offer gratitude from God and you to show some of the great gifts we have received as it is always crucial to remember our recent history.  So here we go with some significant events, items, and receptions:

•    Thank you for many of you that served and/or ran the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard run, the coldest one I have experienced thus far;

•    Thank you for delicious Fish Fries during Fridays in Lent as well as parishioners who led the Stations of the Cross;

•    Thank you who supported and prayed for a half-day retreat for our students in Lent;

•    Thank you who offered from your treasure as we received a new Baptismal Font that is truly beautiful;

•    Thank you, Bishop Paul Sirba, as we priests learned more information for our Bankruptcy process and our pastors who shared this information around the Diocese of Duluth.  While we are almost done with this, let us continue to pray for the victims of sexual abuse;

•    Thank you who sold and/or bought tickets for our Catholic United Raffle process.  We won two years in a row and received a $3,000 grant;

•    Thank you who organized or experienced our Lent Mission as we received almost 40 hours of Eucharistic Adoration, confessions, a talk, Breviary prayers, the full Rosary, the Mercy Chaplet, and benediction;

•    Thank you who went to the Diocesan Chrism Mass during Holy Week;

•    Thank you who helped to decorate, organize and enter into the Triduum as well as the service of Trevor Peterson (one of our seminarians in our Diocese of Duluth);

•    Thank you, juniors, as well as your family and sponsors who were confirmed by our Bishop as well as Deiter Humbert who worked with them throughout the year;

•    Thank you, children, who received your first communion as well as Sabrina Ettiene who taught these kids;

•    Thank so many of you who led our Silent Auction which took a lot of time, talent and treasure;

•    Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for some delicious brunches and a BBQ, as well as the events that the Catholic Daughters served or their several community events;

•    Thank you, Dr. Anthony Stone and Ben Freeman who shared their process into the Diaconate and Priesthood journey (and know of our prayers!);

•    Thank you to a donator who offered us a truck as we are continuing to sell tickets to support St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and School;

•    Thank you who organize donuts and cookies after STA Masses, as well as SC with cookies and our monthly family breakfasts;

•    Thank you who offer donations to Fr. Albert Wugaa and their school 6,000 miles away as they will still grow to nearly 1,000 students.

Thank you and praise God!