This past week, you may have heard that President Biden had declared that the pandemic of covid was done in the United States. It didn’t take very long for lots of qualifiers to come out. For example, Dr. Fauci said this: “What he really meant is that the very severe stage of the pandemic of having … 3,000 deaths a day — that stage is no longer present. People should not be cavalier that we’re out of the woods.” I don’t know about you, but I have become very weary about it, and I am hoping that we are now in an endemic stage, that it will become more like the flu that happens yearly. At least that’s my hope. Taking a look at the number reported in St. Louis County, we have been in a low spread stage for weeks now.

I’ve lived 59 years now, and this is the first time in my life that I lived through a severe pandemic; and I didn’t like it, especially when I ended up contracting covid. I did not like the disruption that it caused to all facets of our lives. I hated closing churches down for 2 1/2 months. I hated all the restrictions placed upon us. I despised decisions to keep public schools closed for a whole year (and was grateful we kept our Catholic Schools open AND SAFE!). 

While I don’t believe we are completely out of the woods, I do hope we are heading in the right direction: much has returned to a new normal, and we are making our way forward. But I do think it would be helpful if we took stock, and see what we learned through this difficult experience. We certainly learned that even with all our research and technology, we are not masters of all we see and experience. A virus brought us way low, without many weapons to fight it at first. We learned that the Sacraments were really essential ways we connected with our God. How hungry were we without them?! We learned that while Zoom and Teams online meetings were helpful, nothing takes the place of connecting with other humans on a personal level. And we learned that God has created us with incredible resilience. 

Are we completely out of the woods?  Not yet, I believe. But we are on our way. I wonder though, what are the lessons that you learned these last 2 1/2 years? Take some time to meditate on that question, and then put what you learned into action.

In Christ & Mary Immaculate, 

Fr. Tony

Seminarian Jacob Toma will be ordained a transitional deacon on Friday, October 7 on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary at noon at the Cathedral.  All are invited!

The Holy Innocents Adoration Chapel at St. Mary Star of the Sea (325 East Third Street, Duluth with the chapel entrance located on 4^th Street and the alley) will be reopening on Sunday, October 16! It will be open continuously from Sundays at 5 PM until Thursdays at 9 PM.If you are willing to become a regular or substitute adorer, please sign up beginning Monday, September 26 using our new AdorationPro software or call the St. Mary Star of the Sea office at 218-722-3078.

A note about some updates: a coded keypad will be installed for entry, security cameras will be installed, and police will have an increased presence for the overnight hours. 

Visit https://adorationpro.org/starduluth  or scan the QR code to sign up for hours.  

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.

The Msgr. O'Shea Council of the Knights of Columbus recently concluded another banner year achieving the Star Council award for recruitment of new Knights, providing insurance information to support families and conducting charitable programs that serve the Cathedral and St. Mary Star of the Sea parishes and the local community.  This is the fourth year in a row the council has received this top award from the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus in New Haven, Connecticut. 

The main mission of this council is to provide donations annually to two organizations: Stella Maris Academy and the Women's Care Center (WCC). Through programs including the salmon bake and wine raffle, the council was able to present checks of $2,500 to each of these organizations this year.  Because the council also participated in the new program called Aid in Support After Pregnancy (ASAP), Supreme will be providing an additional $400 to the WCC.  Individual Knights along with other council programs also raised over $19,000 for local and national organizations such as the Damiano Center, CHUM, UGM, Goodwill and Special Olympics.  

We invite all Catholic men to take the exciting step to join the Knights of Columbus and to participate in charitable service to our parishes and communities. Visit kofc.org/joinus today or call Bob Spehar 218-349-5051.

“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!

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 

SMA is expanding our athletic offerings and preparing for our winter sports season! We are looking for coaches to lead our girls nordic ski team, girls basketball team and boys basketball teams. The winter season runs from mid-November to mid-February. For more information please visit www.stellamaris.academy/coaches 

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!

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/

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.  

St. Michael’s KC’s Pancake & Eggs Breakfast Sunday, October 2nd  from 9 am to noon at St. Michael’s Church, 4901 East Superior Street. Adults $8, Youth ages 6-13 $4, Children under 6 Free.  

St. Lawrence KC's Pancake Breakfast Sunday, October 9^th from 8 am to 1 pm at Holy Family Church, 2430 W. 3rd St. Duluth.  Adults $10, Children 12-5 $5, under 5 FREE!  Proceeds will benefit the Women's Care Center and to help with ongoing expenses of the Council.