UPCOMING EVENTS:

Note – Father Matt will be away on vacation next week.   Sacred Heart will have Daily Mass on Wednesday, May 13 at 9:00am; Word and Communion services Tuesday through Friday at St. Gregory.  Bible Study is cancelled for Friday, May 15.

• Thursday, May 7, 7:00pm—Catholic Watchmen, Parish Hall
• Friday, May 8, 4:00pm – Cemetery Clean up at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, approximately 2 hours
• Friday, May 8, 5:30-7:30pm – Our Lady Seat of Wisdom homeschool co-op presentation night, Parish Hall (all are welcome to attend)
• Saturday, May 9, after 5:00pm Mass – Saturday Hospitality, Parish Hall
• Sunday, May 10, after 10:30am Mass – Coffee Sunday, Parish Hall; Garces family Baptism, Church
• Sunday, May 10, 5:30pm – Last DOC Class, Parish Hall
• Wednesday, May 13, 6:00pm – KIC Discipler meeting, Parish Hall
• Thursday, May 14, 6:30pm – Baptism prep class, Parish Hall
• Saturday, May 16, 10:00am – Stations of the Resurrection video series, Parish Hall
• Sunday, May 17, 8:30am – DOC Rite of Sending during Mass at Sacred Heart for all Year 2 Confirmands

Archbishop Hebda’s Pastoral Letter: releases Wednesday
Titled “Only One Thing is Necessary” and focused on parents as the primary educators of their children, Archbishop Hebda’s pastoral letter will be officially released on Wednesday (May 13^th). To sign-up to receive the letter when it is released, go to archspm.org/familyletter. All parishioners will be encouraged to read it.

Cemetery Seasonal Clean-up: Friday, May 8, 4:00pm
We are seeking volunteers to join members of the Cemetery Committee for 1 to 2 hours of light to moderate work (including washing the gazebo and raking pine needles) prior to the annual Memorial Day Mass.  Please bring your own gloves and rakes.  Many hands will make light work.
If your loved one is buried in the Cemetery, please review the cemetery Rules and Regulations 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.

St. Greg’s Grill and Gather: Save the Dates!
A new parish-wide summer social is happening each month this summer. Join fellow parishioners for an evening of food and fun! Join us from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following Wednesdays: June 10, July 8, and August 5. More details to come.

Saturday Hospitality: Volunteers wanted
Help plan a simple main dish (e.g. sandwiches or pizza) plus desserts and drinks for about 20 people at no cost (the parish will reimburse).  Menu items may be purchased from a store or restaurant, and do not need to be homemade.   We are seeking people who would like to host our Saturday Hospitality on one of the following dates:  June 13, September 12, and December 12.  Please contact Joleen Pierce or Mary Determan for more information or sign up on the sheet in the narthex.

Totus Tuus – June 14-19, for Grades 1-12  & Adult Volunteers needed
Totus Tuus (which means “Totally Yours”) is returning to St. Gregory’s in June with their faith-based and fun youth Vacation Bible School-style program.  The daytime program for grades 1-6 runs 8am-1:30pm from June 15-19.  The evening program for grades 7-12 runs 5:30-8:15pm from June 14-18.  (Registration is based on child’s grade in the upcoming fall.)  Registration forms are available from the Parish Office and narthex.
We are also seeking adult volunteers to assist during the program or provide meals/snacks.  Please see the sign up sheets in the narthex or contact us to see what is needed. (liz@stgregorynb.org, patty@stgregorynb.org, Faith Formation office 651-674-7382).

Video Series:  The Stations of the Resurrection:  next session May 16
The final two sessions with Father Matt and this video series are coming up on May 16  and May 23, at 10:00-11:00am in St. Gregory’s Parish Hall.
Dive deep into the encounters of the risen Jesus found in the Bible through The Stations of the Resurrection. The videos are available online to watch at your own pace:  https://www.archspm.org/behold/

Eucharistic Adoration:  Thursdays
St. Gregory’s offers Eucharistic Adoration every Thursday, 9:00am to 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: May – Community and Prayer
You may know that Fr. Matt’s background is in urban transportation, which also overlaps with city design. Pope Francis links city design with evangelization in his 2013 apostolic exhortation  “The Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium): “Houses and neighborhoods are more often built to isolate and protect than to connect and integrate. The proclamation of the Gospel will be a basis for restoring the dignity of human life.” One question that follows from this–How can we be a witness of God’s love to our neighbors given our limitations in our community?
ACTIVITY #1 FOR MAY: Do a prayer walk with your household for your community – God calls us to love everyone He has put into our lives, including our neighbors. To that end, do a prayer walk with your household for your community–walk together around your neighborhood, praying for those in each house you pass. Pray also for those who serve your neighborhood, including police, firefighters, local government, school officials, etc.

Formed.org Catholic Resource – Video of the Week:  
St. Damien of Molokai  was born in Belgium but spent most of his life ministering to lepers in Molokai, Hawaii. An incredible example of holiness, he dedicated his whole life to spreading the Gospel.  Sit down with Dr. James Prothro and Mary McGeehan as they discuss the life and witness of this great saint.  https://app.formed.org/app/videos/2663023/

YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS:  Contact Liz Long (liz@stgregorynb.org) with questions and to sign up.
Our monthly youth events have wrapped up for the school year.  Thank you to all who participated and volunteered at these events since September.   We look forward to welcoming you back to Friday Fun Nights and High School Youth Group events in the Fall.   Have a great Summer!

Totus Tuus – June 14-19, for Grades 1-12  & Adult Volunteers needed
See paragraph above for more information.

Graduation Dinner and Scholarship presentation: Saturday, June 6, 6:00pm
Graduating seniors and their families are invited to the annual graduation dinner where we celebrate our St. Gregory’s Class of 2026 members and announce scholarship winners.  Invitations and applications for the scholarship were mailed last week.