St. John the Baptist of New Brighton

PARISH OFFICE (651) 633-8333
Fr. William Murtaugh, Pastor
Fr. Thomas Kunnel, Associate

SCHOOL OFFICE (651) 633-1522

FAITH FORMATION OFFICE (651) 633-1540

WELCOME DESK HOURS

Sunday & Friday 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Monday & Wednesday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

NEW PARISHIONERS

Welcome to St. John's! We are glad that you are here. Our next registration is Sunday, September 11, in Room 211 of the Parish Center at 10:30 a.m. For more information, please call the Parish Office at (651) 633-8333.

A SACRAMENT OF DIVINE MERCY
Private Reconciliation every Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
(or by appointment)

GILEAD
Marilynne Robinson's award-winning novel Gilead is in the form of a long letter from a Congregationalist pastor in his mid-70s to his seven-year-old son. Aware that he is dying, John Ames explains that he is writing the letter because he wants to tell his son some things that his son will understand only when he is older. In his letter, he explains that his best sermon is one he never delivered. He wrote it during World War I - the "Great War" - when many people in Iowa were dying of influenza. The young men who succumbed to the disease, he wrote, were actually being spared a far worse fate. The Lord "was gathering them in before they could go off and commit murder against their brothers," he wrote then. Ames put the sermon aside, all too aware that it would not be heard by ears absorbed with the noise of the conflict.

CONNECTION
It is a natural reaction to avoid or walk from whatever is unpleasant or hurtful. In today's Gospel, Peter simply wants to protect Jesus from the suffering he has predicted - but Jesus rebukes Peter for trying to avoid the cross because it is difficult. May we embrace the faith of the cross, faith that understands that the crosses of our lives are but the vehicles for bringing God's promise of resurrection into our lives and the lives of those we love.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL! John G. Roberts Jr., a practicing Roman Catholic, has been nominated as our next U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Please pray that he will respect all of God's children, born and unborn, if confirmed by the Senate. Please call Senator Coleman (1-202-224-5641); Senator Dayton (1-202-224-3244); Senator Frist (Senate Majority Leader, 1-202-224-3344); and Senator Specter (Senate Judiciary Chairman, 1-202-224-4254) and ask them to build a culture of life. Thank you for defending life from conception to natural death. God bless you.

TONY MELENDEZ, the singer & guitarist born without arms, who performed for John Paul II, will be the keynote speaker at the Total Life Care Centers' 8^th Annual Banquet & Silent Auction at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, Saturday, September 17, at 5:30 p.m. Kalley Yanta, former WCCO-TV anchor, will host the event. In 2004, the Life Care Centers served more than 17,000 women seeking an alternative to abortion. For details, call (651) 291-9473.

ALSO: North Side Life Care Center is remodeling and needs volunteers; call Cindy at (612) 522-6589. Thank you!

Bulletin deadline is 12:00 noon on Thursday, 10 days before the Sunday publication date. Space is very limited; NO inserts.

November Forerunner articles are due Monday, September 26