Last week, Fr. Matt gave you a bit of his autobiography, so this week is my turn. This Coronavirus isn’t helping us to get to meet and know each other. But hopefully this is a start. I was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, though my family spent much of our summers in the Brainerd Lakes Area, where my parents bought a lake-place when I was about 6 years old. Some of my happiest memories come from my years “on the lake.” My parents were born in Poland and then eventually immigrated to this nation after World War II, in very circuitous routes. So Polish language, culture, traditions and food were always a part of our family’s time together, and still are to this day. Of course, being Polish, it was almost automatic that my Catholic Faith would play a large role in my upbringing. We attended St. Casimir Church in St. Paul during most of the year, and then St. Emily’s in Emily when we were up at the cabin.

I always loved my Catholic Faith, and loved being involved in many aspects of Church life, so I guess it wasn’t a surprise to those who know me that I eventually entered the Seminary. Because the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate had served at St. Casimir’s since my birth, I entered their formation program at Creighton University, where I earned my undergraduate degree. Seminary was in Chicago at Catholic Theological Union. I did take 3 years out of formation from 1990-1993, not ready to make a lifetime commitment as a priest. After re-entering formation in 1993, I was ordained a priest on June 10, 1995.

Since then, I have served as Associate Pastor and then Pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Duluth, Minnesota, at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois, and after I joined the Diocese of Duluth as a diocesan priest as Pastor of the Brainerd area Catholic Churches of St. Francis, St. Mathias, St. Andrew’s, All Saints and St. Thomas. My parents permanently moved to Emily in 1995, and still live on the Lake in retirement. I have 2 sisters, both who live in the St. Paul area; one is a retired Police officer, and the other does communications and education consulting. That’s just a small snippet of my life. I hope to have many years with you, so that we can come to know each other much better. 

-Fr. Tony

We have a limited supply of both at the church!

For holy water bottles, please bring your own.  It should be clean inside and out.  A little remaining paper on the outside of the bottle is acceptable.  If you need more than a small bottle, bring your own filled water bottle and ask Father to bless it.  

For hand sanitizer, if you have any at home, please bring your own supply to church. It will assist us in helping you to stay healthy!  

The Sunday bulletin for August 2 includes the weekly stewardship report and Mass intentions for the week ahead.

A limited number of paper copies are printed and placed at church entrances.  If you know of someone who does not have internet access, please let them know that the bulletin will be available at church entrances. If they prefer to have the bulletin mailed to them, please ask them to call our office.

Thank you for your continued financial support of our parish. Your contributions have enabled us to continue the important work and mission of St. Mary Star of the Sea!

Contributions can also be mailed or dropped off at the parish office at 325 E. 3rd Street Duluth, MN 55805 or made through our online giving platform at https://www.duluthcathedral.com/ and clicking on the Giving Tab, then St. Mary Star of the Sea Fund.  Please contact Lauren McCracken, Business Manager at 218-728-3646 or lauren.mccracken@duluthcatholic.org if you need assistance.