H1N1 VIRUS

Just to follow up on some comments about concerns over the H1N1 flu. Research shows that the practice of sharing the common cup at Eucharist generally carries a very low risk of infection with wine that is 12% alcohol. But the practice of dipping the wafer, called intinction, does carry a higher risk since fingers are can be dipped into the consecrated wine. Therefore, we ask people not to receive by intinction.

Please remember: If you are coughing or sneezing, it's probably a good idea to stay home. Let us know and we can have a communion minister bring you communion during the week; and we do pray for those who are sick and cannot be with us!

MOM, THANKS

This year is a different Mother's Day for my mother. For the first Mother's Day in 60 years, my mom will not get a card from my dad who passed away last October. Since then she has gone through two knee replacements and has made 4 changes of address. She is doing well with the changes. Her relationship is changing with me and my siblings. She who has been such a great caregiver has been more on the receiving end. I feel privileged to be able to pay back just a bit of what she has given to us. I know that many have similar thoughts and feelings this weekend. Thank you moms!

BLOOD DRIVE TUESDAY

This Tuesday, May 12, from 2:30 to 6:30 PM, the Memorial Blood Bank will be here for a blood drive. When we think of our mothers giving their life blood for us, what a wonderful memorial to them as we share this gift of life. Thank you donors.

CATHOLIC SERVICES APPEAL

The Annual Catholic Appeal fund drive which funds many of the Archdiocese's ministries was renamed as the Catholic Services Appeal. It began in February and starting May 15 the Archdiocese will begin calling people who have not responded to invite their participation. If you are planning to give, please
do so now. Our parish receives 25% of your pledge but if you pledge with the phone drive we do not receive the 25% rebate. This appeal funds some very good ministries and your gifts are very much appreciated.


PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

In June we will have the selection of new Council members. If you are interested in serving on the Council, please contact me or Council Chair, Michael Cowell.

EARTH DAY PRAYER

Senator Geoff Michel graciously invited me to be the guest Chaplain for the Minnesota State Senate this past Wednesday, April 22, and lead the opening prayer for the day's Senate session. As this was Earth Day, I based my prayer on Psalm 8 with a Minnesota coloration. When you are invited to give the prayer it is expected that the prayer be "interfaith and nonsectarian, so it is inclusive of all."

(I should note that the chaplain is paid $100 plus mileage, but in the effort to keep your taxes as low as possible I declined the remuneration.)

On this 39th Earth Day, we pray: How wonderful, O Loving Creator, are the works of Your hands. The heavens declare Your glory, the Northern Lights display your handiwork. In Your love You have given us power to behold the beauty of Your world robed in all its splendor. The Sun and the stars, the prairies and great north woods, the sky tinted waters of 10,000 lakes and rivers all disclose Your presence. The roaring breakers of Superior tell of your awesome might; the timber wolves and moose and buffalo and the birds of the air bespeak your wondrous will. In Your goodness You have made us able to hear the music of the world. These voices reveal to us that You are in our midst. A divine voice sings through all creation.

And we thank you for the visionaries who have been among us, Judge Magney, Mary Gibbs, Sig Olson, Helen Hoover, Willard Munger, the native peoples. Help us to follow their example of being good stewards of this great gift. Bless all who guide our state in wisely using our natural resources.

We make our prayer in your holy names. Amen

(Judge C R Magney was a mayor of Duluth, a State Supreme Court Justice and early supporter of our great State Park system; Mary Gibbs took over as superintendent of Itasca State Park at age 24 and faced death threats as she protected the last great pine trees there from being cut down; Sig Olson was a great nature writer, founder of the Wilderness Society and protector of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area; Helen Hoover was also a nature writer who with her husband Adrian left their careers and the big-city life of Chicago to live in a small cabin in the north woods peacefully coexisting with their wild neighbors; and Willard Munger was a state representative from Duluth who had a passion for preserving the natural resources of our great state.)

Easter Joy

The joy of the Easter Season is rightly focused on the gift of eternal life, but Easter joy also impacts our earthly lives here and now. Martin E. P. Seligman discusses the power of positive thinking on the first page of his book, "Authentic Happiness." He cites the "Nun Study" which traces the aging process among the Notre Dame Sisters based in Mankato. Over 180 nuns "became subjects in the most remarkable study of happiness and longevity ever done. It was discovered that 90 percent of the most cheerful quarter was alive at age eight-five versus only 34 percent of the least cheerful quarter. Similarly, 54 percent of the most cheerful quarter was alive at age ninety-four, as opposed to the 11 percent of the least cheerful quarter." Pretty good reasons and odds to share Easter joy (or become a nun!).

JOY IN VERMONT

At a Catholic parish in Vermont, there is rejoicing over the dramatic and traumatic conclusion of the hostage ship captain, Richard Phillips, held for five days by Somali pirates. Phillips was rescued unharmed on Easter by Navy Seals. Over Holy Week, with haunting echoes of Jesus, Phillips had offered himself as a hostage to the pirates who tried to seize his ship in the Indian Ocean, in exchange for releasing the crew.

"We're so happy that it turned out the way that it did," said Donna Schaeffler, secretary of St. Thomas Church in Underhill Center, Vt., the parish where Phillips, 53, and his wife, Andrea, regularly attend Mass.

"There is so much media here and we're trying to give the Phillipses their privacy, but we've been praying at Mass for his safe release," Schaeffler told Catholic News Service April 13 in a telephone interview.

"It's been a real eye-opener, I'll tell you that," Father Charles Danielson, the Phillips's pastor told CNS. "An event like this really humanizes the news. It really brings home that the faces of people in the news belong to real human beings. It's someone in your parish, in your community, and we're hoping and praying for the best."

A little-noticed aspect of the story also reinforces those bonds, in a parish and in the wider, global community: The ship the pirates tried to hijack was carrying tons of food from Catholic Relief Services that was destined for Rwanda. The food will feed 8,000 of that country's neediest people including people in orphanages, old age homes and homes for those with handicaps. CRS hopes that the ship will now be able to make its way to its destination of Mombassa, Kenya as any interruption of the food supply for these vulnerable Rwandans could be critical to their health.

A HOLY WEEK

One of our parishioners (Joan Rudd) sent me the following: "Just a note to tell you about my 6 grandchildren who were with me this Easter.  They are all teenagers and accompanied me to church on Thursday, Friday and Holy Saturday. After Mass on Saturday when we got into the car to come home, my grandson( freshman in high school) said, 'This is the nicest service I have ever been to.'  This lead to some real discussion about the triduum. Thank you so much for the wonderful services at St. Edward’s."

Considering that the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil service with the 5 Baptisms, 4 receptions into the church and 10 Confirmations was about 2 hours and 20 minutes long, Joan's grandson's statement made my day. No, it made my week.

And what a super grandmother!

Happy Easter!

With the rest of the staff, I hope that this Easter will be an occasion of great joy and happiness for all the members of our parish community and those who join us this weekend. We pray that the tremendous meaning of the Easter celebration will give new meaning and purpose to our lives.

We extend a very special welcome to those who have been received into our community and welcomed to the Lord's table this Easter and those who have been confirmed!

Having celebrated Lent and Holy Week as well, a special word of thanks must go out to all who have made this a special time. This includes all who generously give their time and talent to make our liturgies especially graceful and grace-filled. Many help to prepare the church and assist in ministry. Thanks to those who help with environments, our worship committee, the choir and other musicians, ushers, greeters, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and RCIA team. And thanks to the maintenance staff who keep the church looking good.

This weekend, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We sing wonderful music that speaks of our praise, adoration and joy! But in reality, every Sunday in the Christian Church is an Easter Sunday, because we remember Christ's resurrection each week. I thank you for your generous stewardship. You make it possible to share the Easter message every day. Thank you for all the outreach through such wonderful programs as Families Moving Forward (FMF), VEAP, Bridging, Loaves and Fishes and our Sister Parishes. These are also signs of new life.

ST. ED'S 40TH FUND

This past year we are celebrated our parish's 40th Anniversary. and parishioner generously gave to our 40th Anniversary Fund which has pledges so far of over $700,000. Our first major use of the fund will soon commence with the restoration and enhancement of our church organ. The Austin Organ Company is in the process of crafting the new console and additional pipes. It will be installed mid-summer. I wish we had it this Easter but the wait should be well worth it.

As part of the Anniversary commemoration, and in the spirit of our parish tithing, we are giving 10% of our Fund proceeds to our Sister Parish projects. We have already made an early thanksgiving gift to our sister parish, Our Lady of the Angels, in Jinotega, Nicaragua. We have so much to thank God for and we are fortunate in being able to share our blessings. Your stewardship makes this all possible. Thank you and Easter Blessings to you all.