Greetings,

This time of year all the parishes in the Archdiocese begin their religious education programs. I gave a talk last week to a group of the parents who have children in our programs here in our two parishes.  In my talk I shared some very important points.To see so many parents who care about the faith lives of their children, who care about the values and principles for which they are to live, I told them was very inspiring for me as a priest. The parents looked tired after a full day of work, but they were incredibly resolute in their love for their children and desire that they know Gods love.  Thank you to all of you parents who have enrolled your kids into our faith formation programs  Your children will benefit greatly in many ways.  And the fact that parents care this much about their children shows that Gods grace is already profoundly at work in their hearts and very much alive in their families.  I told the parents about the importance of prayer in their daily lives. Here at St. Boniface we have Eucharistic Adoration from 5p-8:30p during most of the Faith Formation Wednesday night classes.  I offered them the opportunity to sign up for an hour to pray for their children and to deepen their own friendship with Jesus truly present exposed in the monstrance.  I offer this to all of you as well.  Bishop Fulton Sheen many times talked about the importance of making that Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament every day.  That when we are committed to a consistent and solid, authentic prayer life, then things begin to happen.  We begin to experience that deeper joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.  I told them that we can actually get to the point where the whole world can be falling apart all around us, and have it not affect us at all because of our connection with God.  That is the goal of the spiritual life.  To have such a beautiful trust and confidence in our loving, caring, kind and gentle God, that the whole world around us could be falling apart while we are sustained with a joyfulness and peace.  It takes a lot of work to get to this place but we all are called to that kind of relationship with God.  I told them that if they dont get anything else out of my talk, get this that the purpose of life is to go to heaven when we die. The world and the culture, most do not understand this reality.  This place on earth is only temporary.  Our true home lies in heaven with all of the angels and saints, our Lord and our Lady, with the elect and family who have gone before us.  This world we are simply working out our salvation.  There is trial and tribulation, pain and suffering here in this place, but in heaven only peace and joy.  That the parents have given the great gift of life to their children, but that now they are with us here, the greater gift is to help them on their way to heaven, eternal life with God.  That the greatest tragedy in the universe is for a soul to reject Gods love and desire to share eternity with it.  God will not force us to be with him.  We have to choose eternal life with our own free will.  There are consequences to our actions and that both heaven and hell exist.  But that we are made in the image and likeness of God.  We are children of God and have great dignity as His creatures.  Here in these parishes, in this archdiocese, and the universal church, we are extended family.  We are adopted sons and daughters, brothers and sisters in Christ.  We need to desire to support and care for one another, to encourage and pray for one another.  Remember that it is prayer that opens us up to all of these realities.

Peace, Fr. Tom

Greetings,

Thanks again to all of you who have done so much to make this year’s Country Fest (Hog Roast) so successful here at St. Boniface. I really enjoyed everything.  The pork dinner was exceptional as usual.  Although, numbers were down a little bit due, I think, to all of the fall festivals and different activities going on in the area.  The silent auction was incredible.  Thank you to all who helped organize it.  The adult faith formation and education booth was full of energy all day.  The country store had lots of fresh vegetables, breads, etc  and really provided great food.  The music was very enjoyable mixed in with the beer garden and the Vikings game too much of a good thing!  The kids who helped out at the games were incredibly good hearted and playful.  I hope that I am not leaving anyone out.  I was able to call the last cover all of bingo, sharing some of my wonderful jokes and sense of humor.  Bingo seemed intense, there were a lot of parishioners looking to win a few bucks and the raffle went really well.  The weather cooperated and was very nice.  I believe us to be very blessed here at St. Boniface.  All in all, a wonderful day.  And let me not forget to give a special thanks to Mary Lou Hilgers, who as the chair to the Hog Roast, did a phenomenal job organizing and making sure everything ran smoothly.  Mary Lou hates to hear me say this, but she is a superstar!  And to all of the behind the scenes people who helped to cook, clean, set up and take down, organize and for your contributions, many thanks.  You all truly made this years festival a great success.  And with all of this, to have the understanding that we give all of the glory and honor to God even in our fun, efforts and our success is incredibly important and makes it all worthwhile. 

Peace, Fr. Tom