Welcome to all our Super Bowl visitors! The weather may be cold but the welcome is indeed warm! While you're here, be sure to check out this list from Mpls St Paul magazine. We particularly like number 11!

Today’s readings are calling us to discover the real source of truth in our lives. What is the real source for authority? Where do you look for counsel; where do you look for the answers to meaning? Where do you look for direction?

Lourdes Justice and Charity team member Heidi Gibson was part of a mission trip to the Oblate Mission in October of 2017. She shared her thoughts and impressions in this article.

As Roe v Wade turns 45 on January 22, is it is particularly important to recognize the wound an abortion can inflict on the woman (her child, of course) and the father. Our Pastoral Care coordinator, Victoria Johnson, shares more.

Our Lenten Book Study small groups are now forming. This year, we will study Father Ronald Rolheiser's book titled, "The Passion and the Cross", a series of meditations that invites us to a new understanding of redemption, suffering and loss.

A Lourdes Facebook post has gone viral, and we're having great fun with the response! Here's more information on the social media reaction, as well as important information on a change in the Mass schedule at Lourdes for Super Bowl LII weekend, February 3rd and 4th, 2018.

Our Faith in Action series continues January 14th with a program on the topic of homelessness. Lourdes parishioner Tom Johnson, Kevin Abernathy, Father Griffith, and Amanda Horner from Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, will participate in this panel discussion. Our Sunday bulletin features an article on homeless in our state by Justice and Charity team member, Dave Beal.

Father Griffith shares two updates in this letter: his appointment as parochial administrator of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Northeast Minneapolis, which will be in addition to his current roles here at Lourdes and at the St. Thomas law school; and the success of our Jubilee Fund and the recent gifts that will allow us to complete the church interior projects.

Join us to celebrate His birth! Christmas Eve Masses are set for 4 and 10 pm and Christmas Day Masses at 9 and 11 am. The Lourdes choir will perform a Christmas music prelude beginning 30 minutes before each of these Masses. Everyone is welcome and Merry Christmas!

When we think of Christmas, there are many images and symbols that flood to mind, but no symbol is more prominent to the meaning of Christmas than light. Father Griffith shares his reflections about light; the references to light in the readings for the celebration of the Nativity of Our Lord; and what becoming a source of light means to all of us here at Our Lady of Lourdes.

Our Advent preparation continues the weekend of December 16th and 17th. "Waiting for Jesus' our next intergenerational event is set for Saturday the 16th and "Pancakes to Heaven" our annual pancake breakfast, featuring Deacon Winninger's talk: "Encountering the Child Jesus" will be held on Sunday, the 17th.

In this letter, Father Griffith talks about the cultural reckoning taking place and the rolling tide of harassment and misconduct allegations. He addresses this important issue through the prism of our Catholic faith. In addition, he shares an update on an invitation Our Lady of Lourdes has accepted to be a pilot parish for a Restorative Justice and Healing program in this Archdiocese.

This weekend marks the end of this Liturgical Year and of our 140th Jubilee Year at Lourdes. We celebrate the Feast of Christ the King and give thanks for an extraordinary year of projects, celebrations and renewal at Our Lady of Lourdes!

Father Griffith was interviewed on Relevant Radio this week and he talked about the Culture of Encounter series at Our Lady of Lourdes. Here is more on the schedule for these upcoming Adult Formation talks and events and the podcast.

Our Culture of Encounter series continues. Father Patrick Quinn will be with us for a Parish Mission that will include his talke titled, "Encountering Culture with Christ" on Sunday, November 19th.

Father Griffith talks about a culture of stewardship, and takes a personal look at gratitude, in this kick-off to our call for Stewardship.

There are opportunities to get involved in two of the Hunger Ministries sponsored by our Justice & Charity team in November. Dinner for the Hungry prep will take place Saturday, November 11th and delivery is set for Monday morning, November 13th. Our next Sharing & Caring Hands volunteer opportunity is Tuesday, November 14th. Contact Mark at mark.ditter@gmail.com with any questions.

The Stewardship booklets for this year's campaign were mailed out last week. Thanks for your review of this important information. Please return your pledge cards by December 1st by mail to the parish office or in the collection baskets at the weekend Masses. Thank you!

Sunday, November 5, 2017, 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM How do we meet the needs of the present without compromising how future generations meet their own needs? How does Catholic teaching inform this work? Join us in Hofstede Hall for this Faith in Action Series talk titled, "Sustainable Development and Catholic Teaching." A panel including Fr. Daniel Griffith, Prof. Jerry Organ and Mark Ditter will talk about this topic. Coffee and refreshments will be available. Everyone is welcome!

All Saint's Day Masses will be held at 12:05 and 5:30 pm on Wednesday, November 1st. On Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 6:30 pm Christopher Ganza and the Lourdes Choir will perform T.L. de Victoria’s Requiem Mass. This Mass will be the celebration of All Soul’s Day, and will include the choir singing the Requiem Mass by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Join us to celebrate this Feast Day Mass: to enjoy the beautiful music and to pray remember our beloved dead in a special way. Sung parts of the Mass such as the Kyrie Eleison, and the Psalm, will be drawn from this work. Victoria’s Requiem is a beautiful setting of the text of the Requiem Mass, which reminds us that God saves us from death through the gift of eternal life, and that our departed loved ones are never closer to us that when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist. All are welcome to experience the beauty of the All Souls Mass and of Victoria’s Requiem.