Ask a Priest
If you had a chance to sit down with a priest and ask any faith-related question you'd ever wondered about, what question would you ask? Get thinking now and join Fr. Nathan and two priest colleagues at our first 'Ask a Priest' panel on Saturday, Oct. 26 in Howley Hall after the 4:30 p.m. Mass. Why do we collect and display bones, blood, and hair of dead saints? How does Holy Water work? What's the craziest miracle you've ever personally witnessed? The more out-there, the better! Drinks and heavy appetizers will be served.
The Eucharist is the Sacrifice of Jesus
We recently received a donation to get a new altar crucifix and candles. I wanted to take the opportunity to explain why the Church prescribes that the altar should have a crucifix on it. There is a very practical reason.
The altar crucifix is a visual reminder for the priest of what is taking place during the Eucharistic Prayer. As the congregation is uniting itself in prayer with the priest as he prays the Eucharistic Prayer, they are able to see him do the same actions Jesus did at the Last Supper. The people see the priest take the bread, bless it, break it, and give it. At the same time, they are able to look past the priest to the crucifix which stands predominantly in the sanctuary. They are able to see the powerful connection between the event that took place the night of the Last Supper and the event that took place the next day of Good Friday. This connection is essential because we believe that the Eucharist is the re-presentation, the making present again, of the crucifixion. As we say the prayers of the Mass, the sacrifice of Jesus in which we are saved is made present to us. It is prescribed that a crucifix be on the altar so that the priest may see an image of the reality taking place in his hands, just as the people are able to see the large crucifix as the Eucharistic Prayer is prayed.
If you are interested in learning more about the connection between the Eucharist and Crucifixion, I would strongly recommend watching Fr. Mike Schmitz’s talk from the National Eucharist Congress.
Is This Your Call?
Bring Communion to the Homebound—
Holy Spirit is expanding and formalizing our ministry to homebound parishioners. This is a vital part of our mission to ensure that all the faithful have access to the Eucharist, especially those who are unable to join us at Mass.
If you feel called, let us know your interest by completing a brief interest form. After we've assessed the interest level of parishioners, we'll invite you to a brief training session later this fall.
Questions? Contact Deacon John.
Annual Mission Appeal
On July 27–28, we will have our annual mission appeal. This year we will be hosting Mother Maria Compassionis, a missionary sister, who is currently serving in the Philippines. Read more about her religious order below.
The Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará (servidoras.org or ssvmmissions.org), a missionary Institute of religious sisters, are happy to be given the opportunity to speak at Holy Spirit for the mission appeal. From our beginnings in San Rafael, Argentina in 1988, we have grown to about 1,700 sisters in 45 countries. We strive to go where the presence of religious sisters is most needed. Although we are an international community, we have been blessed with over 100 vocations from the United States. This appeal allows us to inform the members of your parish about our mission work in the Philippines. As you may imagine, our missions in places like the Philippines are in great need of support. The sisters work with children and families in human and religious development, specifically providing medical care, educating in hygiene, managing a large feeding program, and teaching catechism. As you may know, the Philippines is not economically stable. For this reason, missionaries do not receive much help from the local people who very often themselves lack basic necessities. Thank you, Fr. Nathan, for giving us this opportunity to speak at Holy Spirit and share with you about our mission in the Philippines. As we strive daily to help those in need, we are most grateful to all of you for your prayers, contributions, and generosity, truly a grace from God and a consolation for our missionary sisters. Please be assured of our prayers for all of you as well!
Introducing: Jim Campbell
Our new Director of Evangelization and Catechesis, Jim Campbell, started at Holy Spirit on June 24.
Jim and his family are coming to Holy Spirit from Athens, Georgia, where he has spent the last five years. While in Georgia, he received a master's degree in languages and literature at UGA, where he also taught Japanese to undergrads. While studying, Jim had a strong conversion back to the Catholic faith mediated by the Blessed Virgin, especially under the title Our Lady of Sorrows. He persevered through academia and went immediately into the happier life of full-time lay ministry. For the last three years, he served as Director of Youth Formation at his home parish and was deeply involved in coordinating and teaching RCIA, one of his favorite parts of the work. Jim grew up in New York, and before moving to Georgia, spent a year living at the top of a mountain deep in rural Japan, teaching English to middle schoolers. His forty-minute commute for groceries during this time has prepared him mentally for the commute from Plymouth to St. Paul for work every day.
Jim has been married to his wife and best friend, Michelle, for three years. Michelle has in recent years taught high school theology, but will be returning to her professional background in science research as a middle school science teacher at St. Therese in Deephaven. Jim and Michelle have two boys: Fulton, who is two years old, and Jimmy, who is eight months. Fulton will be just down the hall from dad as a preschooler at Holy Spirit this fall.
Jim's hobbies these days almost entirely surrounded by his Catholic faith. He loves to pray the rosary and go to adoration. When not doing these things, he likes to play with his boys or read and watch movies with his wife. Now that he is here at Holy Spirit, he is entirely yours and is at your service. However he can help you come to know, love, and serve the God who knows, loves, and serves you, he is ready and willing to drop everything and do it for you. All you need to do is ask. Come by or reach out any time!