The weekend of Labor Day is upon us, which means we are coming to the end of another great summer season. I especially want to thank all of our visitors who have graced our churches this year. Know we welcome you back with open arms. And parishioners, please realize that in earnest, we begin many programs after Labor Day, so keep your eyes peeled for those events and meetings in the bulletin, on our website, and in our weekly email newsletter. I am hoping that we will be able to add some of the events that were cancelled during Covid, but can be re-started again this fall. Finally, if you haven’t yet had the opportunity to go to a daily Mass this year, I invite you to do so! There is a regular daily Mass at the Cathedral at 7 AM (8 AM during the school year on Wednesdays), and at 12:10 PM at Star of the Sea downtown (with confessions from 11:30 to 12 noon). Have a good end of summer and enjoy the following Labor Day poem!

In Christ & Mary Immaculate, 

Fr. Tony

The St. Mary Star of the Sea Pork Loin Dinner originally scheduled for Sunday, September 19 has been postponed.  We will be rescheduling the date and look forward to welcoming you to Star of the Sea to enjoy a wonderful meal with us soon.  

Labor Day Schedule:  Please note that on Monday, September 6, Mass will be held at 9 AM at the Cathedral.  There will be no 7 AM Mass or 12:10 PM Mass at Star of the Sea.  Our parish offices will be closed.  Happy Labor Day!

Wednesday Mass Schedule:  Beginning this week, Wednesday Mass at the Cathedral will be at 8 AM whenever school is in session.  Welcome back SMA students and teachers!  

The Cathedral and St. Mary Star of the Sea are in need of volunteers to assist in counting our weekly collection. We are looking for volunteers who have experience or are willing to learn a 10 key calculator, have attention to detail, and are trustworthy with confidential information. The time commitment is approximately 2 hours per one day a week during normal business hours with a rotating schedule to be established after a team of volunteers are in place. For more information or if you are interested, please contact Lauren at 218-728-3646 or lauren.mccracken@duluthcatholic.org.  

The Holy Rosary Society invites all women to their next in-person meeting, this Saturday, Sept. 11th.  We meet in the St. Mary Star of the Sea Social Hall, 325 E. 3rd St. Duluth, at 1:30 pm.  First there is fellowship and prayer, followed by the formal meeting.  We usually finish around 3:00 pm. Please join us for prayer and fellowship even if you can't stay for the meeting.  Contact Rosary President Renee Zurn at 218-723-1321 for more information.

There will be a second collection for UCA at Mass this weekend.  Please be generous as we work to reach our 2021 goal!  

The fall campaign for 40 days for life is starting up and we need volunteers!  There will be two volunteers  during each shift, Sept, 22 to Oct. 31 from 7am to 7pm daily to keep vigil in front of the Building for Women where the Women’s Health Center is located; 32 E. 1^st St. Duluth. Contact Roy St. George at 218-940-9591 or Renee at 218-723-1321 if interested in volunteering or for more info.

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.  

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.  

We hear over the next two weeks in Mark’s Gospel that the deeds of Jesus have shown him to be the Son of God.  His disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ and Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely. The image of Christ that Jesus is giving is not the image of the Messiah that Peter was expecting.

Peter had expectations about what it meant to call Jesus the Messiah, the Christ. Jesus was indeed the Messiah, but his life and death would show a different understanding of what it means to be the Messiah. We, too, have expectations of God and our own ideas about what we think God ought to be doing in our world. Like Peter, however, we may risk limiting our image of God by thinking only in human ways. 

Jesus says that anyone who wants to be his disciple must follow his example by denying oneself and taking up one’s cross. Quite understandably, Peter, like many of us, didn’t recognize this second part of Jesus’ teaching as good news.  One of the reasons we believe this to be good news is because Jesus set an example for all his disciples to follow. He loved us so much that he was willing to suffer and die for us. 

Adults and children alike can be as selective in their hearing as Peter is in today’s Gospel. We all need to work to understand that to accept Jesus’ Good News, we must also accept the way of the cross. In order to be his followers we have to accept all of it, both the cross and the glory of the Resurrection.

Jesus knew that his suffering, Death, and Resurrection were God’s plan for our salvation. He taught us that God’s plan for us is far greater than we can know or expect. God is always working for the world's salvation in ways that are beyond our imagination.  We need to trust in His plan for us.

-Sonya Morris, Director of Faith Formation K-5

St. Raphael Church (5779 Seville Rd, Duluth) is having a Book Sale on Friday, September 10th from 9 am to 1 pm and Saturday, September 11th from 9 am to 1 pm.  We have lots of fiction, non-fiction and children's books, audiobooks, puzzles, and DVD's! Masks are requested.   Sponsored by St. Teresa's Circle.

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.