• Saturday, October 24, 9:30am – OCIA / Catholic 101 class, Parish Hall
• Sunday, October 25, 2:00-4:00pm – Trunk or Treat, parking lot and lawn
• Thursday, October 29, 1:00pm – Prayer Shawl Meeting, Off-Site (call the Parish Office for more info)
• Sunday, November 1, 10:30am – Mass with Children’s Choir
• Sunday, November 1, 6:00pm – DOC Confirmation Sponsor meeting, Parish Hall
• Monday, November 2, 9:00am – All Souls Day Mass at Sacred Heart, Rush City
• Monday, November 2, 6:30pm – All Souls Day Mass at St. Gregory, North Branch
   

Trunk or Treat – This Sunday, October 25
Bring your best costumes and decorations for our 5th annual Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 25, from 2:00 to 4:00pm in the North parking lot and lawn.  

All Souls Day Masses – Monday, November 2
As we celebrate All Souls Day (not a Holy Day of Obligation), we gather to pray for and honor all who have gone before us in faith.   While this is not a Holy Day of Obligation, it is a beautiful and meaningful opportunity to lift up our deceased brothers and sisters in prayer.  Please join our parish community as we remember them together at Mass at 9:00am at Sacred Heart and 6:30pm at St. Gregory’s.  We extend a particularly warm welcome to anyone who has lost a loved one over the past year.  

Veterans Day Breakfast – Saturday, November 7 at 10:00am
All parishioners who are veterans or active duty military are invited with their immediate family members to our 2nd annual Veteran’s Day breakfast on Saturday, November 7th in the St. Gregory Parish Hall.   Veterans and family members should RSVP to the Parish Office by Wednesday, November 4th.  

Chill & Chatter – Sunday, November 8, 12:30pm
The first Chill & Chatter event will be on Sunday, November 8, beginning at 12:30pm (after Coffee Sunday) in the Parish Hall.  All ages are welcome to join us for pizza, popcorn and pop, along with our next Cribbage tournament and other games.   There will also be a “Jigsaw Jam” puzzle building contest for teams of four.  Mark your calendars now for January 31 and April 4 so you don’t miss any of our Chill & Chatter fun this Winter!  These events are open to all ages, and all families of both parishes.    

KC Bingo – Friday, November 13
The annual Turkey BINGO and Taco Dinner hosted by the Knights of Columbus will be on Friday, November 13, in St. Gregory’s Parish Hall.  The evening begins with food service at 6:00pm and continues with BINGO at 7:00pm. Try your luck and you may win a Thanksgiving turkey dinner with all the fixings.

Friday Fun Nights – Family Edition:  Bowling at Split Rocks, November 20 at 5:00pm, (RSVP by Friday, November 13)
All ages are welcome to meet at Split Rocks in Wyoming on Friday, November 20 for a night of family fun and bowling.   Meet there at 5:00pm.  Families will pay their own shoe rental ($4 each) and bowling (cost to be determined by the number of participants and timeframe).   Food is also available to purchase on your own.  Please RSVP to Liz Long by Friday, November 13.
        About Family Fun Night Events:   These will be off-site events.  Families will be responsible for their own transportation and for paying (although a group discount may apply).  We will meet in a central spot at the event location. Parents will need to attend with their children. In the case that a child attends with a different family, notice needs to be given with the RSVP.  Watch for details of these other upcoming family events:  Snow tubing at Wild Mountain (January 15), and roller skating at Thunderblades (March 12)

Mary & Martha Craft Sale – December 5 & 6:
December seems a little far away, but if you are a crafter, now is a good time to start making items for the annual Mary & Martha Craft Sale which takes place on the first weekend in December.  They are looking for donations of any handmade items, so be creative and crafty!  Raffle tickets will be on sale soon for your chance at winning a quilt or quilted tapestry made by the talented women of our parish.  

Formed.org Catholic Resource – Video of the Week:  
Saint Charles Borromeo: The Good Shepherd:  As the Cardinal-nephew of Pope Pius IV, Saint Charles Borromeo was one of the wealthiest and most powerful men in all of Rome. Yet he chose the extraordinary challenge of reforming the enormous Archdiocese of Milan to the pampered life of a Renaissance prince, and willingly spent himself in the service of his flock.   https://app.formed.org/app/videos/582682/

SYNOD Year 4 Objectives:
As an objective of the Synod – Year 4 plan, each month will feature a special blessing on one weekend, and a liturgy to highlight.  The Mass blessings on November 14th and 15th will be for all grandparents.  
        The November liturgy to highlight is Christ the King of the Universe.  Celebrated at the regular weekend Masses the weekend of November 21 and 22, the solemn feast of Christ the King gives families the opportunity to reflect upon how they can make Christ the king of their homes.  Our parishes will also be inviting everyone to participate in a special Advent small group study; additional information will be released closer to the date.

Fr. Andy’s Church Roof Project:
For those of you who were with St. Gregory’s in Spring, you will remember our Lenten almsgiving project was to raise money to install a new roof on two of Fr. Andy’s churches in Zambia, which had no roof at all.  As work progresses, Fr. Andy wishes to extend his gratitude to our St. Gregory community.   One church is finished and the contractor is soon to begin work on the second church.  A few photos of the progress are shown below.  Click this link to view all of the photos he sent for this first building, the Church of Divine Mercy:  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TwxZ9KZV24bp5Bp1OliqJAyF1gvF1wyR?usp=sharing

Job Opening – Part-time Bookkeeper; now accepting applications
While we have had a few applicants, we are still in the search for a part-time bookkeeper to serve our two parishes.   This hourly-paid staff position is part-time at 10-20 hours per week.  If you know anyone with bookkeeping or accounting experience, who is a practicing Christian, and seeking a job, please encourage them to apply.  Cover letters and resumes can be sent to St. Gregory’s Parish Office or emailed to donna@stgregorynb.org.  The full job description can be found online at    https://www.indeed.com/job/part-time-bookkeeper-eb10b051a58554e9

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

Youth Nativity Play – Practices start November 4
The sign-up is now open for St. Gregory’s 3rd Annual Youth Nativity Play for Pre-K through 3rd grade kids. This play will only happen if there is enough interest.  Please don’t delay in communicating if your child/ren want to participate.  Contact the Faith Formation office or Liz Long (liz@stgregorynb.org).  Practices will be 6:00-7:30pm on Wednesdays (November 4, 11, 18, and December 2), plus Sundays (December 6 and 13).  The performances will be December 16 (Performance at KIC), and December 20 (3:00pm, open to the parish).  

Lifeline Mass at NET Center – Saturday, November 7, 6:00pm:
The next Lifeline Mass for 6th through 12th graders will be Saturday, November 7 at 6:00pm at the NET Ministries Center in St. Paul.  Please let Liz know if you have interested kids.  Don’t let them miss this amazing event!  RSVP and permission forms are required by Wednesday, November 4.

High School Youth Group
All high school youth of St. Gregory’s and Sacred Heart are invited to join the Youth Group which meets monthly on Sunday evenings during the school year. The next gathering will be Sunday, November 15, 6:00-7:30pm at the Romero House (6385 Maple St, North Branch). Signed permission slips are required. You are welcome to bring high school-age friends also.  Contact Fr. Matt with questions: fathermatt@stgregorynb.org