“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.”
Psalm 84:11
Here are some helpful resources:
- All past Discipleship Formation Live sessions can be found on the STM Facebook page.
- View the pick of the week on Formed.org
- Thank you for participating in the Disciple Maker Index. The results are being compiled and will be presented at our parish Annual Meeting on June 22.
- Ideas for living the four key discipleship skills.
- We are no longer asking you to sign-up for Mass. But be sure to look at the updated COVID liturgical guidelines attached. Be sure to note that moving forward, our Saturday 5 pm Mass is will be a Mass for the vulnerable and we are asking those who participate in this Mass to wear masks. At all other events and liturgies, masks are welcome, but not required. Also, we're no longer requiring you to sign up for mass.
- A letter from Bishop Ricken in response to the Wisconsin Attorney General's request to review clergy abuse files.
- Please pray for those intentions on our prayer tree.
- Check out this week's new meaningful meals starter question, and faith sharing help!
- This week's Lincoln Log.
- Check out the News, Updates, and Links to the bulletin and other great resources.
- And something to make you laugh.
Know that you are in our prayers.
MEET OUR EXTENDED FAMILY
St. Thomas More
Feast Day
June 22
1478-7/6/1535
Thomas More was born in 1477. Thomas was married and had four children. He was
a shrewd lawyer and eventually became the chancellor of England, which is the highest-ranking judicial office in England. Thomas was a charming, witty man, who won the friendship of the king. That friendship changed when King Henry asked Thomas to approve of the divorce he wanted. When Thomas refused, the king became angry. Then when Thomas refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, he was sent to prison. He was kept for more than a year in the Tower of London. The king tried hard to make him change his mind, but Thomas stood firm. He knew this stand would mean certain death for him and disgrace for his family, but he followed his conscience. Finally, after suffering for a long time, Thomas was led out to be beheaded on July 6. The story of Thomas More is a reminder of the importance of religious liberty and the importance of witnessing our faith in the public sphere. St. Thomas More teaches us that this can only come about through Christians with courageous conscience, being faithful to truth, and having a proper understanding of the relationship between church and state.
a shrewd lawyer and eventually became the chancellor of England, which is the highest-ranking judicial office in England. Thomas was a charming, witty man, who won the friendship of the king. That friendship changed when King Henry asked Thomas to approve of the divorce he wanted. When Thomas refused, the king became angry. Then when Thomas refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, he was sent to prison. He was kept for more than a year in the Tower of London. The king tried hard to make him change his mind, but Thomas stood firm. He knew this stand would mean certain death for him and disgrace for his family, but he followed his conscience. Finally, after suffering for a long time, Thomas was led out to be beheaded on July 6. The story of Thomas More is a reminder of the importance of religious liberty and the importance of witnessing our faith in the public sphere. St. Thomas More teaches us that this can only come about through Christians with courageous conscience, being faithful to truth, and having a proper understanding of the relationship between church and state.
Ideas for the Four Skills...
Simple is the magic word this year. While these four skills are simple, they take commitment to get started. Please make the effort this year. The long-term benefits are fantastic! We are taking a back to basics approach for Discipleship Formation by focusing on four key skills for individuals and families:
- To use the bible as individuals and as a family
- Idea: Pick a book of the bible to read through during the summer and read it slowly for 10 minutes each morning during your prayer time.
- To pray regularly as an individual and as families
- Idea: Pray with the new parish intentions listed below.
- To share a meaningful meal together regularly
- Include some guests in your meals. What do they think of your discussion?
- To have faith sharing conversations - "faith talks" and "faith walks"
- New questions every week! Use this week's "Faith Talk" questions in the Mealtime Moments section below at a meal or some other time as a chance to go deeper in your faith as a family. It will be awkward at first, but stick with it and it gets easier.
In case you missed it, watch our April Discipleship Formation Session at our STM Facebook page. Other formation videos can also be found there.
New COVID liturgical guidelines
During the pandemic, Bishop Ricken reinstated the dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday and Holy Day Masses in the diocese until further notice. This means that you are not obligated to attend Mass on Sunday (or Saturday night) or Holy Days for the duration of this dispensation. We are encouraging you to consider returning to Mass if you have been away for a while.
Our 5 pm Saturday Mass will have a focus on protecting the vulnerable. We are asking those who attend the 5 pm Saturday Mass to wear masks to protect the vulnerable
At all of our other events and liturgies, masks will be welcome, but not required. We continue to monitor the COVID rates in our area and will make adjustments as needed (see the Lincoln's Log below for the guiding principles).
Attached, you will find the latest COVID liturgical guidelines from the Diocese.
A letter from Bishop Ricken
See the attached letter from Bishop Ricken which responds the the Wisconsin Attorney General's request to review clergy abuse files. I would encourage you to read it carefully.
We still have morning 8:30am-12:15pm and afternoon 12:15pm-3:30pm openings available for the welcome center. I have attached the schedule, please review and prayerfully consider serving. Thank you in advance for your service!
~Minka Bourner
920-739-7758
~Minka Bourner
920-739-7758
- Erv, was biking and was hit by a car. Has a broken shoulder, cracked ribs and punctured lung.
WHAT
Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion.
HOW
The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century.
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS?
Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion.
TAKE ACTION
Click here to sign the petition to Congress!
Congress is trying to force Americans to pay for abortion.
HOW
The Hyde Amendment and similar laws have protected taxpayers from funding elective abortion for 45 years. Now, powerful members of Congress want to take away these laws that both Democrats and Republicans have supported for nearly half a century.
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THESE PROTECTIONS?
Billions of taxpayer dollars could be used to pay for abortion.
TAKE ACTION
Click here to sign the petition to Congress!
Mealtime Moments...
Remember, a weekly meaningful meal is a key discipleship skill. You can even make them more meaningful by having a "faith talk" around the table. Here is a gentle starter question to get the ball rolling:
Are you very active, or do you prefer to just relax in your free time?
Find out if they are all about the gym or all about the couch. To each their own!
And for that "faith talk"...
based on this weekend's readings
TAKE TIME TO CHAT
- Share a time when you were in a big storm. Were you scared? Did
you pray to God for help? - What would it have been like to witness the wind and the sea obey Jesus’ command to be still?
- Why do you think Jesus asked the disciples, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?”
... or you can just use these questions at a meal or any time for a "faith walk"!
Adult Question: When have you felt enriched by a sacrifice you made for another?
Child Question: Whom could you help by your acts of kindness this week?
Common Ground and Creating Community
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:40
Are you tired of the polarization and divisiveness in society? Our faith calls us to be engaged in the world around us, but how do we do that in a productive way? Do you want strategies to engage in dialogue with others online or in person, even about "taboo topics" like politics, race, religion?
St. Thomas More is a member of Common Ground Fox Cities which is launching the "Golden Rule Project." This initiative seeks to equip individuals within the Fox Valley community with practices that foster dialogue, trust, and positive relationships. In this time of division, the Golden Rule Project strives to move the needle of our society - away from polarization and demonization of the Other, and toward authentic relationships that celebrate differences while working toward community.
One of the primary ways we build a healthier community is...
Exploring His Kingdom Podcast
Check out the podcast for the latest homilies and an interview with Maximus Cabey, the Director of the Encounter School of Ministry which will be hosted at St. Thomas More this year. Find out more and consider enrolling in this life-changing school.
You can also find all the previous episodes at stmcath.org or wherever you subscribe to podcasts.
Notes of congratulation can be sent to Bishop-elect Felton at the following address:
Bishop Daniel Felton
Diocese of Duluth
2830 East Fourth Street
Duluth, MN 55812
Bishop Daniel Felton
Diocese of Duluth
2830 East Fourth Street
Duluth, MN 55812
Sunday Mass with Bishop David Ricken
Please note NEW TIME - Every Sunday at 10:30 AM until the football season begins again. All are invited to tune in every Sunday morning to WFRV-Channel 5 and pray with us from wherever you are! You also may access by clicking this link https://www.gbdioc.org/
Please note NEW TIME - Every Sunday at 10:30 AM until the football season begins again. All are invited to tune in every Sunday morning to WFRV-Channel 5 and pray with us from wherever you are! You also may access by clicking this link https://www.gbdioc.org/
Sacraments: See above for information about the dispensation for Sunday Mass obligation. If you plan to attend Mass this weekend, you can sign up using the sign-up form above or on the website or by calling the office.
We are celebrating weddings and funerals and baptisms and anointing of the sick with some precautions in place. The Sacrament of Reconciliation continues with our regular schedule (see below for details). We have resumed the public celebration of the Sacrifice of the Mass with precautions (see above for details).
Our regular schedule for celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation (4:15 pm on Saturday and 9:15-9:45 am on Sunday).
Give us your Feedback...
Let us know what you want in our Wednesday Flocknote by replying. We want this to be useful to you as we grow as disciples of Jesus.