UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Thursday, April 23, 11:00am – Funeral Mass for Betty Peltier (Adoration will begin at 1:00pm)
• Saturday, April 25, 10:00am – First Communion Retreat for 2^nd graders and parents, Parish Hall
• Sunday, April 26, 11:30am – Sunday School, Classrooms
• Wednesday, April 29, 6:00pm – Parent Small Group and KIC class for grades 1-5
• Thursday, April 30, 1:00pm – Prayer Shawl Meeting, off-site (call the Parish Office to join this group)
• Friday, May 1, 6:00pm – Friday Fun Night for grades 6-8, Parish Hall
• Saturday, May 2, 9:00am – First Saturday Mass at Sacred Heart
• Saturday, May 2, 10:00am – “Stations of the Resurrection” video session #2, Parish Hall
• Saturday, May 2, after 5:00pm Mass – Evening Prayer in the Church
• Sunday, May 3, 10:30am – May Crowning and First Communion at Mass, St. Gregory
• Sunday, May 3, 6:00pm – High School Youth Group, Romero House

*NEW* Video Series:  The Stations of the Resurrection:  next session May 2
This video series, produced by our Archdiocese, will explore the 14 Stations of the Resurrection. All who are interested may join Fr. Matt at 10:00-11:00am in St. Gregory’s Parish Hall on May 2, May 16, and May 23.
Have you wondered why we celebrate the Stations of the Cross during Lent, but don’t have a similar practice for the 50 days from Easter (from Easter Sunday to Pentecost)? Heidi Harvey and Janae Bower of St. Paul in Ham Lake found a papal document referencing such a practice. With Archbishop Hebda’s endorsement, they have brought to fruition a written set of 14 stations and a 7-part video series for this practice, narrated by Bower. Each station recalls a Gospel story that takes place after the Resurrection, including the road to Emmaus, the encounter with the doubting Apostle Thomas, and the Ascension.  The videos are available online to watch at your own pace:  https://www.archspm.org/behold/

Cemetery Seasonal Clean-up: Friday, May 8, 4:00pm
Spring clean-up at the cemetery is to remove the faded decorations and items from seasons past, such as Christmas wreaths, and to restore fresh Spring beauty to St. Joseph’s before Memorial Day.  We are seeking volunteers to join members of the Cemetery Committee for 1 to 2 hours of light to moderate work.  We will also plan to wash the gazebo and rake pine needles.  Please bring your own gloves and rakes.  Many hands will make light work.
If you have decorated your loved ones’ graves, you can assist by removing your own old plants and decorations.  It is especially important to remove your own if you wish to keep the items.  Items like durable pots and wreath stands will be placed by the shed for one week.  Unclaimed items will be discarded after that time.  As a reminder of what decorations are allowed, the cemetery Rules and Regulations are viewable at this link:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B_nwl8oeuROonTFq-J0zBdbPF8mitxE7/view?usp=drive_link  Thank you for your assistance in making our cemetery a place of peaceful rest and beauty.

Saturday Hospitality: Volunteers wanted.
We are seeking people who would like to host our Saturday Hospitality on one or two dates through 2026.   Available dates are:  June 13, September 12, November 14, and December 12.  Please contact Joleen Pierce or Mary Determan for more information or sign up on the sheet in the narthex.

Eucharistic Adoration:  Thursdays
St. Gregory’s offers Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday, 9:00am to 9:00pm.  If there is a funeral, Adoration will be open 1:00pm until 9:00pm.  We are seeking more people to sign up as regular adorers – those who would commit to a certain hour every week or every other week to spend time with Jesus.  We are particularly seeking people for the hours of Noon and 4:00pm.  Contact Bob Zangs, Father Matt, or the Parish Office if you are interested in this commitment.
Don’t know what to do during Adoration?  Here’s a short video by Bishop Robert Barron about the power of Eucharistic Adoration:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3snpp3VrYvE

Reclaiming Sundays:
The theme for April is “Breaking Bread and Prayer”.  One of the expressions for Christians having fellowship together is “breaking bread”(Acts 2:46). We do this at the parish through hospitality after Mass as well as coming together for the Fall Festival. It is good for families to focus on the goodness of having special meals together, especially on the Lord’s Day.
Activities for April:  Learn the “Regina Caeli” (meaning Queen of Heaven) prayer, which is a Catholic prayer traditionally prayed in the season of Easter. It can be prayed at any time, including as part of meal prayers or night prayers.
       Regina Caeli/Queen of Heaven Prayer
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia.
For He, whom you did merit to bear, alleluia.
Has risen as He said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. For the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray: O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of thy             Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech thee, that through the
intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting       life.
Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Formed.org Catholic Resource – Video of the Week:  
Joseph of Nazareth Celebrate the feast of Christ’s foster father with even more joy and respect this year by watching a movie about him!  Enter into the life of this great saint through the movie Joseph of Nazareth!  https://app.formed.org/app/videos/588480/

YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS:  Contact Liz Long (liz@stgregorynb.org) with questions and to sign up.

Friday Fun Night:
The next (and final) Friday Fun Night for Grades 6-8 will be Friday, May 1, 6:00-9:30pm in the Parish Hall.  Please RSVP to Liz by Wednesday, April 29.

High School Youth Group:
The next gathering for the High School Youth Group will be Sunday, May 3, at 6:00pm in the Romero House.  This will be the final gathering of the school year.  Friends from outside the church are welcome.  All new attendees need to have a signed permission slip.

Summer will be here before we know it!  Plan now for your child’s/children’s summer faith activity.   
*These summer activities are also open to youth of Sacred Heart and friends outside of our church.  Please contact the staff person listed if you have any questions about who is eligible to attend and deadlines for registration.

• Totus Tuus (June 14-19) on-site at St. Gregory’s with a daytime program for grades 1-6 and evening program for grades 7-12.  Registration forms are available now.  (contact Liz Long at liz@stgregorynb.org)
• Mission Trip (June 21-27) to the Catholic Heart Workcamp in Champaign, IL for high schoolers will join other youth from nearby parishes. (contact Vince Hendren at vince@stgregorynb.org)
• Extreme Faith Camp (July 13-17 – Middle school; July 11-17 – High school) at Trinity Woods Center in Trego, WI has openings for middle school campers (current 5^th-8^th grade) or high school mentors (current 9^th-12^th grade). (contact Liz Long at liz@stgregorynb.org)