Merry Christmas (we are still in the Octave of Christmas)! We start the New Year with a Holy Day…see you at Church!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• Thursday, January 1 – Mary, Mother of God (Holy Day of Obligation)
  • 6;30pm Vigil Mass (on Wednesday) at St. Gregory’s
  • 8:30am at St. Gregory’s
  • 9:00am at Sacred Heart
  • 7:00pm at Sacred Heart
  • Note: Eucharistic Adoration only available from 7:30 to 8:20 a.m.
• Sunday, January 11 – Confirmation Retreat by NET Ministries (note: no Coffee Sunday after Mass)
• Sunday, January 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. – High School Youth Group, Romero House (note: rescheduled from Jan. 4)

Blest Art – January 3 and 4:
Blest Art will be visiting St. Gregory’s on behalf of the Christian families in Bethlehem, Palestine.  When they visit on Saturday, January 3 and Sunday, January 4, they will have hand-carved nativity sets, statues, crosses, rosaries, and many other pieces of beautiful olive wood art from the Holy Land.  Each purchase helps support the many Christian families who depend on this form of art for their living.   Please visit their display in the parish hall after the Masses.

A Wounded Church:  Finding Peace and Healing, with Bishop Cozzens

So many of us have been shaken by the events of Aug. 27 at Annunciation, Minneapolis.  Almost six months later how can a Church find hope and healing amidst the suffering?   Join Bishop Cozzens as speaks on A Wounded Church on Monday Jan 12 at 5:30 pm at St John the Baptist in New Brighton or virtually as well.  Use this link for more information and to register: https://www.archspm.org/events/a-wounded-church/

Miriam Dinner for women ages 16-35 who are thinking about religious consecrated life.

Tuesday, January 27 at 6:00 pm at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center.  Registration is available here:  https://www.10000vocations.org/miriam-dinner.html

Reclaiming Sundays: 

The “Reclaiming Sunday” initiative for January is “Invitation and Prayer.” Faith needs to be shared with others, especially the young, so that they can make it their own. The sacrament of Baptism is our entryway into the life of grace.

Action Item for this week:  Recall your own baptism and the baptisms of your family members, by celebrating the Baptism of the Lord (January 11th) in your family. Find your baptismal candles and light them, look at photos and videos from your celebrations, bless your children with holy water, pray for your godparents, pray for the clergyman who baptized you, etc. While you have out all the momentos, document your family’s baptism dates and mark them on your calendar to celebrate in future years (note: the parish may have this info if it is difficult to find).

Formed.org Catholic Resource – Video of the Week:  Epiphany 

Have you ever wondered what the Epiphany is? In this engaging episode of the True Meaning of Christmas, join Dr. Michael Barber to find out what the Epiphany is. https://app.formed.org/app/videos/1952319/

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

Friday Fun Night:
The next Friday Fun Night for Grades 6-8 will be Friday, January 2, 6:00-9:30pm in the Parish Hall.  Please RSVP to Liz by Wednesday, December 31.

Lifeline Mass at NET Center – Saturday, January 10, 6:00pm:
The next Lifeline Mass for 6th through 12th graders will be Saturday, January 10 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 January 7th.

Get excited for Vatican Unveiled at the Mall of America – January 10 through February 1, 2026:

Experience interesting historical perspectives, artistic items with old-world craftsmanship, and papal artifacts what show the humanity behind the leaders with Vatical Unveiled, the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome.  Visit archspm.org/vaticanunveiled/ to learn more!  Tickets are available for pre-sale now.

Mary and Martha:

The next monthly meeting is Thursday, January 15^th in the Parish Hall at their new time of 5:30pm.

LOOKING AHEAD: Parish Survey

As mentioned in Fr. Matt’s December 28^th bulletin article, the St. Gregory’s parish survey will go live on January 10^th. Expect a FlockNote around that time.