UPCOMING EVENTS:
*Note – Father Matt will be away next week for Spiritual Director training.  We will have Word and Communion services Tuesday through Friday next week (April 14-17) at St. Gregory.  There is a Mass at 8:30am at Sacred Heart on Wednesday, April 15.  There is no Bible Study on Friday, April 17.

• Saturday, April 11, 10am – “Stations of the Resurrection” video series (see below for details, no registration required); Parish Hall
• Saturday, April 11, 6:00pm – Saturday Hospitality and Reception for those who received sacraments at the Easter Vigil; Parish Hall
• Sunday, April 12, 11:30am – Coffee Sunday; Parish Hall
• Sunday, April 12 – Divine Mercy Devotions at St. Joseph’s in Taylors Falls.  Adoration & confessions 1:30-3:00pm; Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3:00pm.
• Thursday, April 16, 5:30pm – Mary & Martha monthly meeting; All women of the parish welcome; Parish Hall
• April 18-19 – DOC Confirmation Retreat at NET Center, St. Paul
• Sunday, April 19, 6:00pm – High School Youth Group; Romero House
• Tuesday, April 21, 11:00am – Funeral Mass for Ray Kelly
• Thursday, April 23, 11:00am – Funeral Mass for Betty Peltier (Adoration will begin at 1:00pm)

*NEW* Video Series:  The Stations of the Resurrection:  starting Saturday, April 11
Join Fr. Matt for four Saturdays after Easter for a new video series that will explore the 14 Stations of the Resurrection. All who are interested may join him 10:00-11:00am in St. Gregory’s Parish Hall on April 11, May 2,
May 16, and May 23.  Some of the parish small groups will also be watching the videos.
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.

Divine Mercy Devotions – Sunday, April 12:
St. Joseph’s in Taylors Falls is having Divine Mercy devotions on Sunday, April 12 with Eucharistic Adoration and confessions from 1:30-3:00pm. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be recited at 3:00pm followed by Eucharistic Benediction. (490 Bench St, Taylors Falls)

Weekend Hospitality – This weekend:
This weekend is the Hospitality Weekend for April.   At Saturday Hospitality, after the 5:00pm Mass, we will also celebrate and welcome those who received sacraments at the Easter Vigil.  Traditional Coffee Sunday will be after the Sunday 10:30am Mass.  We hope to see you there for one or both.
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, 4:00pm, and 5:00pm.  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:  Have a special family meal.  You will probably have a special meal for Easter Sunday, but what about next Sunday? Every Sunday is a mini Easter, and it is good to have a special family meal together, especially on Sunday. Plan ahead with your family. For example, if your kids in Confirmation or at Youth Group are getting Domino’s Pizza for dinner, make the midday meal the big one (with everyone present). If there is a dessert specialist in the house (or at least someone who enjoys buying them from the grocery store earlier in the week), the Sunday meal is especially a good one to have a special dessert at. Try to avoid any temptation to “dine-and-dash”–perhaps include some elevated conversations (as discussed in March).

Roof Project for Zambia: 
Thank you to all who donated towards our Lenten almsgiving project!  Through your generosity, we have collected $7,560 to help Fr. Andy re-roof his two parish churches in Zambia which are in dire need of repairs.  We can ensure a safe and welcoming space for Fr. Andy’s community to gather and worship.

Formed.org Catholic Resource – Video of the Week:  
Divine Mercy Chaplet | Franciscan Friars of the Renewal –  Consider praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in a new way with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. This video on Formed includes breathtaking footage of Catholics across the world performing works of mercy and asking God to have mercy on us.    https://app.formed.org/app/videos/768934/

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 3-5 (note: the bulletin listed the wrong age group) will be tomorrow, April 10, 6:00-9:30pm in the Parish Hall.  Please RSVP to Liz right away if you haven’t already done so.  The final FFN for Grades 6-8 will be Friday, May 1.

Lifeline Mass at NET Center – Saturday, April 11, 6:00pm:
The next Lifeline Mass for 6th through 12th graders will be Saturday, April 11 at 6:00pm at the NET Ministries Center in St. Paul.  Please let Liz know if you have interested kids.  Transportation will be provided.  RSVP and permission forms are required by Wednesday, April 8.

High School Youth Group:
The next gathering for the High School Youth Group will be Sunday, April 19, at 6:00pm in the Romero House.  The final gathering of the school year will be Sunday, May 3, at 6:00pm.  Friends from outside the church are welcome.  All youth 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 coming soon; 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)