I am grateful for you and the ways you have welcomed me here to the parish cluster. I spent this past year working through personal struggles in my life and continue to find my way forward through the help of others. As I continue to discern and work on some things in my life, I will be living at Star of the Sea and helping at the two parishes. I hope to be able to participate in outreach to the people of the neighborhood around SMSS and provide opportunities for prayer for anyone seeking the Lord. 

In a particular way, the Lord has worked in my life through the life of Saint Faustina and Blessed Michael Sopocko in the message of Divine Mercy. I hope to share in this message through prayer and teaching, as well as outreach to those in need of mercy in all its forms. Please pray for me in the year ahead and know of my prayers for you as well. May God bless you and may Jesus Christ be praised. 

Peace, 

Fr. Ryan

Please do not park in front of the garage doors at St. Mary Star of the Sea.  We now have priests living in the rectory and parking in front of the garage blocks their access to their cars.  There is some street parking and the ramp off of 4th Street is free when parking for under an hour.  

St. Mary Star of the Sea Church is having a Pork Loin Dinner on Sun. Sept. 19, 11:00 am - 2:00pm. Dinner includes pork, seasoned roasted potatoes, vegetables, Polish side dishes of sweet & sour cabbage, Polish sausage with sauerkraut, dessert and beverage. Cost: Adults $15.00; Children 12 and under $8.00. Plenty of parking and handicapped accessible.Take out available. Questions? Call 218-722-3078.

Couples celebrating a marriage year milestone of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or more are invited to our 7th Annual Anniversary Mass & Dinner on September 25 with Bishop Felton.  The Mass will be at 5:00 pm at the Cathedral of Our Lady with dinner outside in a tent at Stella Maris- Holy Rosary Campus parking lot.  All are welcome to Mass; space for dinner is limited.  There is no charge for this event. 

For more information or to register, visit https://www.dioceseduluth.org/marriage-and-family-life or call Betsy Kneepkens 218-724-9111. Registration closes on September 21st at noon. This event is supported partially by your UCA contributions.

A weekly Bible Study will begin Monday, September 13 from 6:30-8 PM in the Cathedral Social Hall.  The topic is Genesis to Jesus.  

This 12 session DVD-based study from the St. Paul Center focuses on the covenants God established through human mediators as He brought the plan of salvation history to fulfillment in Christ.  In addition to learning about the covenants, the class offers a broad overview of Old Testament history.  The goal is to understand that salvation history, as presented in the Old and New Testaments is our family story; a story in which we play an active part, today. 

There is no cost and no need to pre-register.  Call 218-728-3646 with questions.  

The Diocese of Duluth Office of Marriage and Family Life has restarted in-person Engaged Weekends. Engaged Weekends are part of the preparation for couples as they prepare and approach the Sacrament of Matrimony. We have a retreat weekend scheduled for October 23rd at St. Joseph parish in Grand Rapids. Please register for this weekend at Marriage, Family and Life | Diocese of Duluth (dioceseduluth.org) or call Betsy Kneepkens at 218-724-9111. Registration closes on October 14th. Although there is a charge for this event, your UCA contributions help cover the cost of the weekend.  

If we read today’s Gospel carefully, we will see a pattern in Jesus’ teaching method that will be repeated in the weeks ahead. Jesus’ first teaching is directed to the Pharisees who questioned him. Jesus’ words are then directed to the crowd, teaching that a person is defiled by his or her words and actions, not by the food that he or she eats.

Jesus taught the crowd that the Pharisees had forgotten the meaning behind their rules. They thought that they were making themselves holy by following the rules about making things clean. Some of Pharisees and Jews thought that the people who did these things were holier than people who didn’t.

But Jesus taught that there was something more important than these actions. Jesus taught that the words and attitudes behind our actions are what show us to be holy people. God wants us to do good things with our lives, such as share what we can with our youth and to think kind thoughts about those who don’t agree with us.

When we remember the essential element behind our religious observances and all our actions, we see that our rules help us be the good people that Jesus wants us to be. Jesus reminds us that we do not make ourselves holy by our actions. Rather, we become holy when we allow God’s Spirit to transform us. Our actions should be an expression of the conversion of our heart to God and to God’s ways.

-Sonya Morris, Director of Faith Formation K-5

We are looking for someone who is interested in developing and leading a parish choir.  A qualified candidate would have graduated high school, and have the ability to direct and accompany a choir.  They would be proficient in training volunteer musicians and running practices and will be consistently present for weekend Masses as well as other parish liturgies (funerals, weddings, sacramental events).   Preference is for someone who has an understanding and facility with sacred music and Catholic liturgy.  Formal training isn’t absolutely necessary, but experience or training are desirable.  Willingness to work as a team to offer beautiful and prayerful worship in the parish is very important.  Please contact Stephanie Jago at 218-722-2259 or stephanie.jago@duluthcatholic.org for a full job description and application.

Several part time and full time positions are open at Stella Maris Academy. Please visit us at stellamaris.academy/employment to view current openings and apply to be a part of our mission to lead, love and serve as Jesus taught!

East Duluth Catholic Faith Formation, a collaborative effort of the parishes in East Duluth, is accepting applications for the Director of Relational and Youth Ministry for 6th – 12th grade students. This is a part-time position with flexible hours. We are looking for someone who possesses a sincere and demonstrated ability to share their Catholic faith in the dynamic environment of a larger-scale middle and high school religious education program. The director is responsible for opportunities whereby faith can be sparked and nourished through retreat experiences and other opportunities for building relationships with our young people. Please see the full job description here. If you are interested in this position, please send a cover letter, resume and references to lauren.mccracken@duluthcatholic.org.  

The St. Vincent de Paul Society: Please continue to support us especially with your prayers. Questions, call Dcn. Jim at 218-348-6258.  We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 6pm.  1st Thursday at SMSS; 3rd Thursday location: TBD.  Email svdpduluthmn@gmail.com or call Deacon Jim for details.

KofC.org/JoinUs Call Bob Spehar: 218-349-5051

The Diocese of Duluth's Pastoral Center is filling their building maintenance position. This role is casual, therefore one will be called upon as needs arise. The successful candidate will assist in maintaining and monitoring building operations, equipment, and grounds of the Diocese of Duluth. The goal is to maintain an efficient, safe, and effective environment for staff and visitors. Please contact Mary Rasch at mary.rasch@duluthcatholic.org for a job description and an application.