Back in August of 2020, we were in the midst of the covid pandemic. You may recall that we had made the decision to have in-person classes at Stella Maris Academy, and what a great decision that was! We also began our first combined Faith Formation classes for all the young people who were part of the parishes on the East Side of Duluth. Due to covid, each class wasn’t meeting every week. We actually were grateful for that since we were not fully staffed in all our leadership positions. Sadly, at the time, we had no choice but to allow structure and the pandemic to dictate the mission. The effort has been admirable! But it brought with it unavoidable consequences – less outreach to children, youth and even adults.

But now it is time to allow Mission and Ministry to dictate the structure. I think our Holy Father, Pope Francis, would agree. Hiring in these times has not been easy, but we have been blessed with two new employees who will help us do what we need to serve our young people. We’ve had great momentum in the programs that have begun. We are working well as parishes that have come together to provide great resources for our young people to learn more about our faith. By adding Juan to focus especially on providing leadership in catechesis for the middle and senior high students, and Megan mostly focusing on the relational ministry with the same youth, we are rounding out a fully functioning Faith Formation Staff. I am so excited for our young people for this new catechetical year! But I don’t want to sit on our laurels. So, I do ask how do we will build upon this foundation? How do we take up the call of our Holy Father to go to the margins, to be a beacon and light of Christ in Duluth, spreading the Gospel message? How do we move from maintenance to evangelizing those in the pews, and those who rarely if ever walk into our doors? And how do we better equip all of you to be the apostles of our time? These are the questions that too need answers. They might need to come in also looking to some form of leadership for adult faith formation as well. Time will tell.

And we can’t forget that our new bishop is calling us to move from maintenance to mission, to be catalysts for evangelizing and forming 21st Century Catholics. I have no doubt you will be hearing more about this in the coming months. This effort will go beyond parish boundaries. I am sure we will be asked to do even more when it comes to outreach to our non-catechized brothers and sisters.

My dear friends, none of this will be easy. It will require more commitment from you as well. But in the end, this sets us on a path that, I believe, will not just grow our parishes, but more importantly, grow each Catholic’s commitment to Christ within this, His Holy Catholic Church.

In Christ & Mary Immaculate, 

Fr. Tony

Are you interested in using your musical talents to serve the St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish as a cantor, choir member, or instrumentalist? If so, please consider reaching out to learn more about our music program here at Star of the Sea. Participating in liturgical music is a great way both to learn more about sacred music and to use your talents to build up our music program here at St. Mary’s!

If interested, please email Peter at peter.brown@duluthcatholic.org for more information.

Join us in the St. Mary Star of the Sea social hall after Mass this Sunday for donuts, refreshments and fellowship!   All are welcome!   

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you.”

Our 40 days for life Planning Team has doubled in size this year and many prayer warriors have already signed up!  Many more are needed especially at the 7 am time.  Come join the 40-days peaceful prayer vigil (not a protest or counseling) and witness the changes of hearts as we defend the Culture of Life, Sept 28 - Nov 6, 2022 from 7am-7pm, in front of the Building for Women, 32 E 1st St., Duluth.  You can sign up online at 40daysforlife.com/duluth or contact Kathy Cory-Whitmyer at 218-390-8560 or email: 40daysduluth@gmail.com

Our opening Kick Off Rally for 40 Days for Life Prayer Vigil will take placed on Tuesday, September 27, 2022, beginning with Mass at the Women’s Care Center, 103 E. 1st St. Duluth, celebrated by Fr. Anthony Wroblewski at 6:00pm, and then moving to the Building for Women, across the street, at 7:00pm where there will be a Prayer and Worship Service imploring God to bless our campaign. Please join us!

The Fall Market will be held at St. Mary Star of the Sea on Saturday October 15th from 9am –2pm. 

Lunch will be available from 11am- 1pm.  Stop by to shop from local vendors and crafters, fresh produce from a local farmer, and visit the bake sale! 

Baked goods are also needed to sell at this event. If you can bake items please contact Kayline Grochowski at 218-729-7717.

There will be a  Blessing of the Pets at St. Mary Star of the Sea on Sunday, October 2 in the church parking lot at noon.   Refreshments to follow.  If inclement weather, the blessing will take place in the social hall. All pets are welcome!

Join us to study The Letter to the Hebrews which began Monday, September 12 at 7 –8:30 PM in the Cathedral Social Hall.  The themes of this 8-week DVD-based study is how Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament covenants, how He ministers in heaven as eternal high-priest, and how we enter the New Covenant and participate now in the heavenly liturgy through prayer and sacramental worship. There is no need to pre-register, but please contact the parish office with questions.  

The Cathedral Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. (beginning September 8th) in the choir loft, and sings at the 10:30 mass on Sundays. Although we appreciate regular attendance, we invite you to participate as you are able – we understand that you all lead busy lives that often include travel!

If you are interested in joining the choir or simply have questions, please reach out to me via email at richard.carrick@duluthcatholic.org. I hope to hear from you soon!

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary will be offering a five-week grief educational/support program beginning on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Cathedral Multi-Purpose Room, and continuing for the following Tuesday evenings at the same time: October 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th. 

On November 2, 2022 there will be an All Souls’ Day Mass at 6:00 P.M. and all are invited to attend. This group is appropriate for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. To register for the classes and/or for more information, please call Bridget Leighton at (218) 724-8597. 

The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) will begin on Wednesday, October 5. This group is for those who are interested in becoming Catholic, (baptized in another tradition or unbaptized) and those who have been baptized into the Catholic faith but have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation. The group will meet (almost) every Wednesday until just after Easter with those who enter the Church and receive Confirmation to do so at the Easter Vigil on April 8.

Please join us! We’re looking forward to using the Symbolon series of videos with wonderful participants, great discussion, hot drinks, good snacks, and comfortable chairs!  We’ll meet in the Cathedral Fireside Room on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 with some of the priests, deacons and the Bishop joining us occasionally as well. Contact Deacon Jim or Margo Philbin with any questions or to sign up; Jim: 218-348-6258, Margo: 218-409-5289.See you in October!

Couples from the Diocese of Duluth that are celebrating the marriage milestone of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 …. 50 and beyond are invited to our Eighth Annual Anniversary Mass and Luncheon on Sunday, October 2nd. Mass at the Cathedral will be at 10:30 a.m. with Bishop Felton and lunch will follow at Stella Maris/Holy Rosary School, 2802 E. Fourth Street, Duluth. All are welcome at Mass but space for lunch is limited to the first 50 couples who reserve a space. The lunch will be free for the celebrating couples.  For spacing purposes, this event can not accommodate additional family members this year. Reservations close on Wednesday, Sept. 21. For more information/registration, please go to the Diocese of Duluth website at http://www.dioceseduluth.org/

Upcoming in-person Fall Engaged Weekend is scheduled for October 8th and 9th at the Cathedral of Our Lady.  Engaged Weekends are part of the preparation for couples as they ready and approach the Sacrament of Matrimony. If you know a couple that is getting married within the next two years invite them to participate in the opportunity.  More information and registration can be found at www.dioceseduluth.org/. The 2023 Engaged Weekend schedule will be made available early Fall. 

Our annual Bishop's Dinner will be held on Sunday evening,10/30, at the Greysolon Ballroom. All proceeds from this event go to support tuition assistance for SMA.This year's guest speaker will be Monsignor Shea, the president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND. For more information about the event please visit www.stellamaris.academy 

We are still hiring part-time extended day aides for our Holy Rosary and St. James campuses. Please visit www.stellamaris.academy/employment for more info! 

If you have recently changed addresses, please let the church know your new address. You can call Bridget at 218-728-3646 or email bridget.leighton@duluthcatholic.org for Cathedral address changes and Rebecca  at 218-722-3078 or rebecca.domagala@duluthcatholic.org for St. Mary Star of the Sea address changes.