For the week of Sunday, November 18, 2018
Dear Members of Pax Christi,
Depending upon family upbringing, cultural heritage, and societal expectations, our viewpoint on showing emotion, particularly the shedding of tears, can bring some specific thoughts, feelings, and remembrances. Sometimes we may feel a need to apologize for our tears. Sometimes we may feel embarrassed because we cry. Sometimes we don’t even know why we may be crying. Sometimes we cry because we have been hurt. Sometimes we cry because we have hurt someone.
Psychologists and researchers claim, though, that crying is a healthy way of emotional release, particularly if one is experiencing deep pain, sadness, stress, and anger. This liberation of pent up feelings of sadness and pain is cathartic and healing for the soul. Tears matter. In the washing away of hurt and confusion, in the expression of pain, sadness, and even joy, tears matter.
Joan Chittister, OSB, in her book For Everything a Season, muses on the meaning and truth-speaking of tears:
Tears attune us to ourselves and tears attune us to the rest of the human race as well. Once we ourselves have suffered, the suffering of others falls upon our softened hearts, and we become more human members of the human race. We learn that there are tears of joy as well as tears of sadness, and we allow ourselves to weep them. We come to realize that it is tears alone that stop us where we stand in life and demand that we assess it one more time, this time with the sort of reflection that seems more than anyone can see. For those who develop the spirituality of weeping, life becomes a place of honest assessment and humble achievements, of keen love and desperate losses. Life matters to those who weep.
In the next months of reminiscing and story-telling as the holidays near and as loved ones and events are remembered, we may find ourselves graced with tears. May we have the ability to fully experience the gift of cleansing that tears can bring, and find comfort in knowing that big-hearted and brave people do cry.
Blessings to you this week!
Jane
Jane Schmitz, Parish Director
jschmitz@paxchristi.com
952-405-7238
FATHER MIKE'S HOMILY BLOG
CLICK HERE to view Fr. Mike's blog.
PART-TIME JOB OPPORTUNITY AT PAX CHRISTI
Would you like to work in a paid, part-time position for Pax Christi Catholic Community? We have a position available in Building Services. This person in this position would work every other weekend on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.Principle Job Functions:
• Work independently every other weekend to provide building services to the community of Pax Christi Catholic Community.
• Provide care for our church building, conduct event set-ups, and respond to the physical asset needs of programs for all ministries.
• Provide a secure environment for members, visitors, and staff.
• Maintain proper settings for heating and cooling systems and act as the focal point for addressing any building or equipment needs and/or malfunctions.
All training is provided, and you work with the greatest community of faith! If you are interested in working for our community, please call the Director of Operations, Ken Reineccius at 952-405-7250 to discuss the job more fully.
MEN’S RETREAT OPPORTUNITY
Jesus would go to the mountain top or into the desert. Where do you go to find quiet and a deeper connection with God? The Midwest Jesuits offer three day silent retreats, forty-seven weekends including conferences based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, and filled with prayer and time for reflection. The experience is challenging, yet restful and rejuvenates the soul. Pax Christi’s own, Victor Susai coordinates the Holy Week retreat, if interested. The Jesuit Retreat House is located in Lake Elmo, MN. More information is available at: www.demontrevilleretreat.com Please feel free to contact Bruce Koehn at 612-790-9075 or bkoehn9075@gmail.com with any experiential questions.ATTENTION SNOW BIRDS AND OTHER "MOVERS"
How would you like to help Pax Christi save money by a simple email or phone call? If you plan on being out of town and notify the post office to forward your mail, also contact Maria Miller in the parish office, 952-405-7217, or mmiller@paxchristi.com, and she can do a temporary address change for the magazine, the PaxChristiNews. Or, you can have the magazine stopped until you are back in town. You always have the option to view it each month online on our "NEWS" page. Questions? Contact the parish office, 952-941-3150.A NEW MASTER PLAN IS IN THE WORKS!
As you may know, the parish has hired a landscape architecture team, Calyx Design Group, to help us create an updated landscape plan for the entire exterior grounds. In this process, we are gathering ideas from the parish, committees and staff. Next, preliminary plans will be developed by the landscape team and will be shared with the parish, committees and staff for review and comment. From all our ideas and feedback, a final comprehensive landscape/site plan will be presented to the parish in early 2019. The intent of the master landscape plan is to provide a cohesive, spiritual site design that will be implemented in phases and mainly by volunteers.Please join us as we plan for the next 10 to 15 years for our care of our spiritual environment. Our open input meetings have passed but there is still time to submit your ideas. We have set up a survey for additional input. Please CLICK HERE to access the survey.
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS
For 3rd and 4th grade youth and intergenerational singersOur Children's Christmas Eve Liturgy begins with third and fourth-grade youth telling the story of Christmas in word and song at 1:45pm followed by Mass at 2:00pm. All Pax Christi third- and fourth-grade students are invited to participate. An intergenerational group of singers will help lead the songs for this special Children's Christmas Mass. Anyone wishing to join the Intergenerational Singers, are invited to be a part of this Christmas Eve celebration. Registration is required no later than December 2. Complete details - CLICK HERE.
CLOW LEADERS NEEDED
We need Children's Liturgy of the Word leaders at the 11:00am Mass. Training, all materials, and activities are provided. You are already coming to Mass every week, so come join our team and read the gospel to our children. You will return to the sanctuary in time for Eucharist. You pick the schedule and how often you would like to lead. Questions? Contact Renee Dignan, rdignan@paxchristi.com, for more information. CLICK HERE to learn more about CLOW.
“THE MODERN SAINTS” DISPLAY CONTINUES
A Great Cloud of Witnesses for Modern Times“The Modern Saints,” a series by Columbus, OH artist Gracie Morbitzer, will be on display in the Pacem in Terris Gallery (Room 247) from November 1–15.
INTERFAITH CELEBRATION
November 17, 7:00pm, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, EPEden Prairie will once again celebrate our unity in diversity at our annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration. The event, which has its roots right here at Pax Christi, will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church. Many diverse faith communities will participate with artistic and liturgical expressions of music, song, readings, and dance. Through the theme of Becoming One, we will share expressions of who we are as distinct individuals and diverse faith traditions, and discover that there is so much more that binds us than divides us. We are truly one community of neighbors, always discovering how to become one.
The Pax Christi Choir, Fr. Mike Byron, and a special group of intergenerational singers will be part of the program. Anyone who wishes to join the intergenerational singers, which will be made up of members of all faith traditions, is welcome! You don’t have to be part of the Pax Christi choir. There will be one rehearsal for this intergenerational group on Saturday, November 10, at 9:00am. All Pax Christi members are invited to attend this very well-loved Thanksgiving tradition—Becoming One: An Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration. CLICK HERE to RSVP as a singer.
TWELVE BASKETS THANKSGIVING MEAL DRIVE
Drop Off THIS Weekend - November 17/18There are three ways you may choose to help! CLICK HERE to view a flyer with a suggested shopping list.
TWELVE BASKETS SHARE THE JOY
Stop by Displays after Mass November 17/18 through December 1/2Please stop by to chat with a Twelve Baskets Minister and to see the many creative opportunities to participate. DROP OFF DATE: Drop off gifts at Pax Christi, at doors 1 and 3 in the designated bins, by Sunday, December 9. Holiday Store deadline is Sunday, November 25, by noon. CLICK HERE for an informational flyer.
SOCIAL JUSTICE SPEAKERS SERIES:
On Criminal Justice EquitySunday, November 18, 12:30–2:00pm CLICK HERE to rsvp online
Jason Sole, Community-First Public Safety Director, St. Paul
Mark Haase, Director of Government Relations, Minneapolis
CLICK HERE for complete details.
BOY SCOUT WREATH SALES THIS WEEKEND
Following Masses November 17/18It is that time AGAIN! Time to order your Holiday wreaths from our local Boy Scout Troop! Stop by following Mass to check out their selection.
HOLIDAY GRIEF:
WHEN ALL ISN'T SHINY AND BRIGHT
Monday, November 19, 6:30pm, Thomas Merton ChapelRev. Chris Wheatley, Director of Christian Ministry & Social Services at Presbyterian Homes, will share his insights about the many forms of grief that can be especially present over the holidays. It is common to feel grief after the death of a loved one or as we adjust to a slower pace of life due to an illness or disability in the midst of all the holiday chaos and hurry. Grief can also come to those who suffer the spiritual pain of loneliness or depression and search their faith for comfort. This talk is for everyone who is entering into the Thanksgiving and Christmas season in need of words of comfort and support, not expectations of sugarplums dancing. Rev. Chris will address various forms of holiday grief and also share tools for those of us who minster to family, friends, and neighbors in our presence. No need to RSVP. An opportunity for small group discussion will be available after the talk.
CONVERSATION CIRCLES
Our Contribution to Justice in the ChurchTuesday, November 20, 6:30-8:00pm, Hall of Martyrs
Join us for our second Conversation Circle, with the sharing of the story by the Consultation Group of Pax Christi's contribution to the Victim/Survivors Fund, and an exploration together of what else can be done as individuals or as a community to continue to contribute to justice within the church.
THANKSGIVING DAY MASS AND WEEKEND
Mass Thursday, November 22, 9:00am in the SanctuaryPlease note there is no Mass on Friday, November 23 and the building and parish office will be closed for the day. Also note that there will be no hospitality served at weekend Masses and the nursery will be closed for the entire holiday weekend.
A PLACE AT THE TABLE: FILM AND DISCUSSION
Saturday, November 24, 3:00-5:00pm, Room 212A Place at the Table is a documentary that shines a light on the hunger, malnutrition, and "food insecurity" that is plaguing 50 million Americans, 17 million of whom are children. The next chapter on America's food crisis comes from the people that brought you Food, Inc. A Place at the Table offers a powerful portrait of hunger in America and the absurdity of a food system that produces millions of tons of food that goes to waste while simultaneously leaving millions of Americans without enough to eat. It shows that while hunger is a growing epidemic in the US, we can fix it as we nearly did in the 1970s, if enough people demand change. We will view the film and have a facilitated discussion afterward. All are welcome!
NAMI LISTENING SESSION
Thursday, November 29, 7:00-8:00pm, Martin Luther King Room 247NAMI Hennepin (National Alliance for Mental Illness) wants to hear from you. Join representatives of NAMI for an informal conversation, and share your personal experiences with the mental health system in Hennepin County. They welcome all perspectives and experiences: positive, negative, and anywhere in between. Your voice will help NAMI decide what direction to take their advocacy in. Refreshments will be provided. No RSVP needed.
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE
Saturday, December 1, 9:00am–3:00pmStart you holidays in style at our annual boutique and bake sale! This shopping extravaganza is for the whole family. It will feature a variety of handcrafted items from over 50 quality crafters and artisans, a bake sale, and luncheon. Come and shop for the perfect holiday gift for everyone on your list. This event is free, and there is plenty of parking available. Don’t miss out on this annual holiday tradition!
BAKE SALE: BAKED GOODS NEEDED
Saturday, December 1, 9:00am–3:00pmBake your favorite cookies, breads, pies, and bring them to the bake sale. Proceeds benefit our youth! Baked goods can be dropped off at the church in Dietrich Bonhoeffer, room 111, in the lower level, on Friday, November 30, 4:00–8:00pm, and Saturday, December 1, 7:30–8:45am.
WISDOM OF THE BODY: A LABYRINTH WALK
Monday, December 3, 6:30–8:30pm, Dorothy Day HallCLICK HERE for complete details.
FARE FOR ALL DROP-OFF
Tuesday, December 4, 3:30–5:30pmPark in Pax Christi's lower level parking lot. CLICK HERE for complete details.
SOULCOLLAGE: OPEN CARD MAKING
Tuesday, December 4, 6:00–8:00pm, $5.00 optional materials feeCLICK HERE for complete details. CLICK HERE to register online now!
CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT THE CARE CENTERS
Sunday, December 9, 2:00–4:00pm, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Room 111Come and join us for this fun annual event as we brighten the day of our senior friends and neighbors at local care centers. We gather at Pax Christi at 2:00pm, then go out in teams to the care centers and return for pictures and treats. CLICK HERE to register online now!
BOOMERS AND BEYOND: CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON
Saturday, December 15, 11:00am-1:00pmCLICK HERE for complete details. CLICK HERE to register online now!
Lunch and Theater Outing: November 14, 11:30am
Annual Christmas Party: December 15
Annual Christmas Party: December 15
All seniors, age 55 and older, are invited to join Boomers and Beyond Senior Ministry. Members receive monthly emails with details on upcoming events and easy on-line registration.