First Saturday Devotions

First Saturday of the month at 8:45 AM
OLG Church and Dining Room

Join us on the first Saturdays (October through May) as we pray the rosary, go to Mass and confession, and meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.

Schedule:
8:30 AM: Mass (Church)
9:00 AM: Confessions and Rosary (Church)
Refreshments and fellowship in the Dining Room until 11:30 AM.

Background on this event: Our Lady promised to Sr. Lucia, one of the visionaries, that she would assist, at the moment of death, with all the graces necessary for salvation if we do the following with the intention of making reparation to Mary for the offenses committed against her. For five consecutive months on the first Saturday: attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, recite a five decade Rosary, go to Confession seven days before or after, and meditate on one of the 15 mysteries of the rosary while keeping Our Lady company for 15 minutes.

For more information, please contact Maureen at 952-927-0089.

Upcoming Dates:

December 7, 2024
January 4, 2025
February 1, 2025
March 1, 2025
April 5, 2025
May 3, 2025

GO: Christmas Lights and Caroling Bus Tour

Tuesday, December 3, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Register by November 30!
Get in the holiday spirit on our second annual Christmas Lights and Caroling Bus Tour with Father Kevin! This Golden Opportunity was so much fun last year, we decided to do it again this December. Enjoy festive beverages and treats while we take a coach bus through a local route to view Christmas lights and carol on the bus together. Invite a friend! This event filled up last year, so pre-registration is required for a seat on the bus.  

Learn more about Golden Opportunities!

Join a Small Group

There are many different topics covered, and groups for all stages of life. If you're interested in joining a group, click here to find a group that works for you!

Are you called to start a small group? Maybe there's not a small group happening when it's convenient for you, or perhaps you feel called to help others (yourself included) get to know and love Jesus better in a small group setting. If so, the next New Leader Training will be this winter. Contact Jessica or Tyler for more information.

Birthday Card Ministry for the Incarcerated

November 15 and December 20, 2024

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM | Dining Room

To serve the poor, the imprisoned, the hungry, the forgotten is to serve Jesus
– Father Kevin Finnegan

Birthday cards are an attainable way for parishioners interested in a meaningful way to minister to the imprisoned and forgotten. OLG is partnering with Affirming You Birthday Card Ministry for the Incarcerated to respond to Jesus’ injunction in Matthew 25:36.

Birthday Card Ministry will take place at 9:30 AM at OLG after Mass. Training is provided and includes guidelines to ensure privacy for the writers and recipients. RSVPs appreciated but not required at 952-929-3317.

Our Lady of Grace's partnership with Twin Cities Prison Ministry, the coordinating body for prison ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis, provides many opportunities to serve the incarcerated and returned citizens that include: prayer companions, pen pals, extraordinary minister/assist priest with Mass, OCIA, bible study, mentoring and much more.

Fridays in 2025:
January 17
February 21
March 21
April 18
May 16
June 20
July 18
August 15
September 19
October 17
November 21
December 19

Please contact Jeff Skinner at tcpm.jeff@gmail or 917-207-3877 for more information about Prison Ministry at OLG.

“This card made my day, the words you sent to me mean more than you can imagine.”

— Minnesota inmate expressing thanks for receiving a birthday card from OLG's Prison Ministry

Taking the Teaching Mass Into the Depths

Starting Tuesday, November 12, 6:30 - 8:00 PM | Dining Room, Church and Commons

Session 1 | O Sacred Banquet: Eucharistic Theology in Four Parts

6:30 PM Talk by Father Nick Vance
7:15 PM Small Group
7:30 PM Holy Half Hour

Join Us for the Kickoff of the Into the Depths Speaker Series! Fr. Nick Vance will dive deep into the profound mystery of the Eucharist with a captivating presentation inspired by the liturgy for Corpus Christ written by St. Thomas Aquinas. This one verse from the Alleluia will be the foundation of the 4-part talk:

“O sacred banquet! in which Christ is received, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given.”

In this session, we will explore the theological richness of the Eucharist in four parts:

• Christ is Truly Received: Uncover the doctrine of transubstantiation and what it means for us.

• Memorial of Christ’s Passion: Experience how this sacred meal brings Christ’s sacrifice into the present moment.

• Filled with Grace: Discover the transformative power of the Eucharist in our lives.

• Anticipation of Future Glory: Reflect on our hope for complete union with God in Heaven.

Each segment will be a thoughtful 10-minute exploration, complete with a handout outlining major points and key quotations to enhance your understanding. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your faith and knowledge: reserve your spot today! We can’t wait to see you there! If you have questions, please contact Jessica.

Faithful Citizenship with a Catholic Conscience

Are you happy or unhappy with the election results? Do you want to communicate with your elected officials and let them know you are following their work even after campaign season is over? Join the Catholic Advocacy Network and stay informed on important issues affecting life, dignity, and the common good. You can receive a newsletter, 'action alerts' when important legislation is pending, as well as easy ways to contact your elected officials. Jason Adkins, Esq., Executive Director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, explained to us at our fall Lunch and Learn that for every 1 letter or email a politician receives on an issue, they 'count' it as 10, assuming that other constituents care about the same issue but are not taking time to write in. Your participation makes a difference! To join the Catholic Advocacy Network, click here or text "CAN" to 1-651-998-7322.

Prayer after the Election from the US Council of Catholic Bishops:
God of all nations, Father of the human family, we give you thanks for the freedom we exercise and the many blessings of democracy we enjoy in these United States of America.

We ask for your protection and guidance for all who devote themselves to the common good, working for justice and peace at home and around the world.

We lift up all our duly elected leaders and public servants, those who will serve us as president, as legislators and judges, those in the military and law enforcement.

Heal us from our differences and unite us, O Lord, with a common purpose, dedication, and commitment to achieve liberty and justice in the years ahead for all people, and especially those who are most vulnerable in our midst. Amen.

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The Catholic bishops of Minnesota encourage all Catholics to vote in the 2024 election, guided by prayer, with a focus on human dignity. Recognizing that every person is made in the image and likeness of God and therefore has inherent dignity, the bishops emphasize that many issues debated by elected officials significantly impact this principle. On April 2, 2024, the Church released a Declaration on Human Dignity, titled Dignitatis Infinita. This document provides insights into how contemporary issues such as abortion, war, poverty, assisted suicide, and gender relate to human dignity.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference urges Catholics to utilize this declaration alongside the USCCB's Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship to educate themselves and guide their voting decisions for local, state, and federal offices in the upcoming November election. While no candidate may fully align with all Catholic values, we are called to participate actively in shaping our communities through thoughtful and prayerful civic engagement.

Ultimately, voting is an expression of love—love for God, love for neighbor, and love for the world we inhabit. By casting our ballots with a well-formed conscience, we participate in the civic life of our community in a way that reflects our deepest values and hopes for society. We are called to be salt and light in the world (see Matthew 5:13-16). Voting with a Catholic conscience is one way we can bring the light of Christ into the public square, working toward a society that respects life, promotes justice, and upholds human dignity.

To help Catholics prepare to vote, Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) has created a collection of resources, including specific information on Catholic Social Teaching, faithful citizenship, human dignity, and political guidelines for parishes. These resources, designed to guide and inform voters, can be found by clicking the titles below:

On Human Dignity: Summary

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

Examination of Conscience: Loving Our Neighbors in the Public Square

Scripture Meditation: Pope Francis and the Parable of the Good Samaritan

Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics

As Catholics, we must never be afraid of bringing our faith into the public square. However, because the Church is not a political entity, we must make sure that our individual advocacy efforts are kept distinct from the Church’s teaching voice. Their guidelines for parish and church organization political activity clearly lay out which activities are prohibited, and which are permissible.

Lunch And Learn: Meet the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters

Tuesday, October 22, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM | Dining Room

Have you ever wondered about the difference between the colors of the PES Sisters veils? What does a true 'day in the life' of a Sister look like?  We will enjoy lunch and a special dessert from Peru as we listen to the Sisters describe the charisms that drive their life of devotion and how they stay close to Jesus in all they do throughout each day.  Bring your special prayer intentions, which we will write down for the Sisters to bring back to the Convent. The Sisters in Pro Ecclesia Sancta are very excited to share the love of the Sacred Heart with the community and share about the beauty of their vocation in religious life!

Our Lunch and Learn is free, and RSVP's are encouraged to the Parish office at 952-929-3317.

Golden Opportunities: Wisconsin Pilgrimage

Wednesday, October 2, 9:00 AM - Friday, October 4, 5:00 PM
Our Lady of Champion and Holy Hill

Join Father Kevin for an overnight fall pilgrimage to Wisconsin! We will depart on a coach bus and enjoy a meal on the bus as we drive directly to Our Lady of Champion, the first and only approved Marian apparition site in the United States.  We will have a private Mass on site and a self-guided tour of the grounds.

We will drive into Green Bay where we have an optional tour of Lambeau Field and will then spend the night at Lodge Kohler. Our journey continues the next day to Holy Hill, Basilica and National Shrine of Mary, Help of Christians. We will celebrate Mass, enjoy lunch on site and tour the grounds. Our evening stay will be at the DoubleTree in Milwaukee. In the morning, we will enjoy the full buffet breakfast at the DoubleTree and tour the Basilica of St. Josaphat before returning home.

$450 double occupancy; $600 single occupancy. Two meals are included each day. Register by Sunday, September 22. To register, click the register button or call our Parish Secretary at 952-929-3317.

Click here for more details on Golden Opportunities.

Teaching Mass: Walk through the Mass Step-By-Step with Father Kevin

Tuesday, October 1, 6:15 - 7:45 PM in the Church and Commons

The Walk through the Mass Step-By-Step with Fr. Kevin and Fr. Nick is a great place to learn more about the why behind what we do!

Come and discover the deeper meaning of the items we use and the gestures we do! 

Have you ever wondered why we cross our forehead, lips, and chest at the Gospel?  Have you ever wondered what Father says to himself sometimes during the Mass?   Have you ever wondered when exactly does Jesus become present on the altar?

Join us for A Walk through the Mass Step-by-Step with Father Kevin and Father Nick. You’ll receive a worship aide with additional fun facts, scripture references, and deeper insights into the prayers. The Teaching Mass will be a great way to kick off this year’s theme, Remain in Me and Bear Much Fruit. By learning about what we do at Mass and why we do it, we will come to a greater understanding of this great prayer the Lord has given us. What we come to know, we are more likely to love, and what we love, we desire to share.

If you have questions, please contact Jessica.