A Word From Our Associate&

     This weekend one of my friends, Gerard, from St. John's University, married a Southern Baptist woman, Julie, from North Carolina.  They had originally hoped to be married in her parents' Baptist Church, but the pastor refused to marry her, because she was marrying a Catholic.  Personally, I was shocked to find that such prejudice still exists between major Christian denominational lines, in light of the ecumenical efforts of recent years.  Nevertheless, her cousin, who is also a   Baptist preacher, accepted the invitation to preside at their marriage ceremony, so the prejudice is certainly not uniform throughout the church.
     As Christians we long to be united as sisters and brothers in Christ: united in love for God and neighbor, in worship, in working for peace and justice in society, and evangelizing the world, etc.  Jesus prayed, "Father . . . may they be one as we are one" (John 17:11).  And you may recall the words of the songwriter, "They will know we are Christians by our love."  We can and should celebrate what we share in common with our Protestant brothers and sisters in Christ, namely, belief in: Jesus as our Lord and Savior, the inspired Word of God (Scriptures), baptism, our vocation to holiness and moral living, sharing God's love with the world.
     I was delighted to spend time over lunch with area pastors last week, listening to and learning much about their experience as ministers of the Gospel.  I was thoroughly impressed by what I saw of the youth room and ministry at the Church Upon the Rock, where we gathered.  This small church of 150 members attracts 75+ youth every Wednesday night because of the exciting   activities offered for teenagers.  I also found a retired  Baptist minister to be full of wisdom in naming the reasons for work-aholism amongst ordained: namely pride and control issues: thinking we must do it all rather than delegate, because we do it best.  These are my  brothers too.  I do have some reservations about a kind of ecumenism, which flows from relativism, meaning the watering down of our doctrinal differences in order to feel united, for a moment.  True ecumenism honors and respects theological differences, while celebrating what is held in common.  Next week I'll share about one controversial issue in this regard, namely intercommunion.

Fr. Michael

Faith Formation&
MARY GARCIA RESIGNS POSITION
Mary Garcia, Elementary Coordinator since Fall 1999, is leaving this position effective February 1 to devote her time to family.  Mary plans to remain active at St. John's as a volunteer in Faith Formation.  Thank you Mary for all your work in the faith formation department and best of luck!
Former coordinator, Louise Fester, is returning to the   position, to finish out the year.  Please welcome Louise back to her "limited engagement"!

SEEKERS:  ADULT THEOLOGICAL BOOK CLUB
Explore your faith, expand your vision.  Read:  The Twelve, The Lives of the Apostles After Calvary , by  C. Bernard Ruffin, Our Sunday Visitor Press.  Join us for discussion this Thursday, February 8, 7:00--8:30 p.m. in the Parish Center.  Questions?  Call Mary Ann Zervas at 651-633-1540.  For future dates and titles watch this space.

Circle of Women&
Pat Hendricks, Assistant Executive Director of the     Christos Center for Spiritual Formation, in Lino Lakes, will be our speaker on Thursday, February 8.  Christos is an ecumenical Christian center dedicated to solitude, silence, contemplative prayer, retreats, and spiritual direction.  Her presentation will be on "Prayer:  An Invitation to God's Love"
Circle of Women invites ALL women of ALL ages to join from 9:15--11:25 a.m. in the parish center, lower level. Childcare is available during the Circle of Women, register your child by  calling our Children's Program  Coordinator, Kari Gill @763-785-6947.

Little Lights Preschool&

St. John's Little Lights preschool is currently taking registrations for the 2001-02 school year.  Parishioners will continue to have priority placement until February 20, at which time we will take outside registrations.  For more information or registration forms, please call the parish center 651-633-8333.