over 150 years of faith

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday, May 25 Acts 19:1-8; Psalm 68:2-7; John 16:29-33 Tuesday, May 26 Acts 20:17-27; Psalm 68:10-11,20-21; John 17:1-11 Wednesday, May 27 Acts 20:28-38; Psalm 68:29-30,33-36; John 17:11-19 Thursday, May 28 Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11; John 17:20-26 Friday, May 29 Acts 25:13-21; Psalm 103: 1-2,11-12,19-20; John 21:15-19 Saturday, May 30 Acts 28:16-20,30-31; Psalm 11:4,5,7; John 21:20-25 Sunday May 31 Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23

Prayer Requests If you or someone you know is in need of prayers, please call or email the parish office and we will add their names to our ongoing parishioners and friends list of intentions:markmstlouis@comcast.net or call 651-224-3379. Also, kindly let us know when the names of people should be removed. Please pray for our parishioners and friends of St. Louis Church who are sick: Paul Anderson, Bill, Tim Brandenburger, Christy, Ginny Collins, Monty Denniston, Shirley Dufresne, Barb Arland-Frye, Greg Ennis, William F. Faulkner, Anne Hallgren, Margaret Ann Hennen, Lary Haupt, Jim Heimann, Sister Marie, Tom Mogren, Ruth Murray, Robert and Gretchen Naegeli, Tom Nutter, Mary Bartel O’Connell, Zachary Redland, Roy Sheehan, Jean Sluss, Brian Walstad, Justin Woessner. .

MEDITATION Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Ascension of the Lord (transferred)

Are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)

Amazing. After three years of traveling with Jesus, after seeing him arrested, tried, and crucified, after seeing him risen from the dead, even after forty days of Holy Spirit-inspired instruction—after all this, the apostles are still confused. They ask Jesus if he is now going to kick out the Romans and restore Israel to its former glory. They just didn’t get it yet. Still, we can ask a similar question today: “Lord, when are you going to come and set everything right again? What about all the wars and poverty and abortions?” In response, Jesus tells the apostles, and us: Yes, I came to establish the kingdom of God—but I want you to help build it. It’s only right, on today of all days, to praise Jesus with “a blare of trumpets” (Responsorial Psalm). But in the midst of our celebrating, Jesus’ words still reverberate: “You will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). “Go, . . . and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus may have ascended, but the work of his kingdom continues—and he has placed that work in our hands. That’s why he promised us the Holy Spirit. We need the Spirit so that our attempts to preach the gospel, take a stand against sin, and lift up the poor are filled with God’s own grace and love. It’s not as hard as you might think. Preaching the gospel can be as simple as offering to pray for a struggling friend or sharing with a neighbor about how God helped you during a tough situation. Lifting up the poor can mean a weekly visit to a nursing home or increasing your donations to the poor box. Taking a stand against sin can mean praying for people’s conversion or trying to establish a more peaceful environment in the home. Yes, Jesus is going to restore his kingdom. And he’s going to use you to do it. “Come, Holy Spirit, and fill our hearts. Empower us to build

a kingdom worthy of the risen Lord!” Reprinted with permission from The Word Among Us

HOLY VIRGIN OF GUADALUPE, QUEEN OF THE ANGELS AND MOTHER OF THE AMERICAS. WE FLY TO YOU TODAY AS YOUR BELOVED CHILDREN. WE ASK YOU TO INTERCEDE FOR US WITH YOUR SON, AS YOU DID AT THE WEDDING IN CANA. PRAY FOR US, LOVING MOTHER, AND GAIN FOR OUR NATION AND WORLD, AND FOR ALL OUR FAMILIES AND LOVED ONES, THE PROTECTION OF YOUR HOLY ANGELS, THAT WE MAY BE SPARED THE WORST OF THIS ILLNESS. FOR THOSE ALREADY AFFLICTED, WE ASK YOU TO OBTAIN THE GRACE OF HEALING AND DELIVERANCE. HEAR THE CRIES OF THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND FEARFUL, WIPE AWAY THEIR TEARS AND HELP THEM TO TRUST. IN THIS TIME OF TRIAL AND TESTING, TEACH ALL OF US IN THE CHURCH TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND TO BE PATIENT AND KIND. HELP US TO BRING THE PEACE OF JESUS TO OUR LAND AND TO OUR HEARTS. WE COME TO YOU WITH CONFIDENCE, KNOWING THAT YOU TRULY ARE OUR COMPASSIONATE MOTHER, HEALTH OF THE SICK AND CAUSE OF OUR JOY. SHELTER US UNDER THE MANTLE OF YOUR PROTECTION, KEEP US IN THE EMBRACE OF YOUR ARMS, HELP US ALWAYS TO KNOW THE LOVE OF YOUR SON, JESUS. AMEN.

Your Mass and Bell Intentions Please know that although public Masses have been suspended temporarily by Archbishop Hebda, the Priests at St. Louis will be celebrating private Masses each and every day for the intentions listed in our parish bulletin. Our beautiful Bells will continue to ring as well for the requested Bell dates also listed in our parish bulletin each week. For those wishing to reserve a Mass intention or Bell Ringing, please call the parish office at 651-224-3379. The Stipend is $10 per Mass. The offering for the Bells is $25.

FEATURED ON THE COVER: We look back to 2012 at the wonderful tradition at the Little French Church - La Cérémonie Printanière du Couronnement de Marie on the first Sunday of May and the 2016 First Communion Class of 2016 held on Mother’s Day. These young students are now graduates from grade school, high school and some are in college. The Month of May, traditionally entitled “Mary’s Month” is indeed a month of Promise. We honor the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother. The Prophet says, “there shall come forth a rod out of the rood of Jesse, and a flower shall rise out of his root.” Who is the flower but our Blessed Lord? Who is the root or beautiful stalk or stem or plant out of which the flower grows, but Mary, Mother of our Lord, Mary, Mother of God?

RING OUT, O BELLS… DATE REQUEST FOR INTENTION REQUESTED BY May 26 †Emmanuel Masqueray Anniversary (†1917) Mattieu L’Amiduclergé May 27 Cathy and Michael Halloran Happy Anniversary (May30) Nancy and Bruce Lindberg May 28 Barb Juelich Happy Birthday Helene Houle May 29 Charme and Chris Davidson Happy Anniversary Nancy and Bruce Lindberg May 30 Larry and Evelyn Coleman Wedding Anniversary Samuel Family May 31 John Thode Happy Birthday Helene Houle

OPEN BELL DATES: The following dates are still open in June for anyone wishing to have the bells rung in memory or in honor of a loved one: June 3th-4th, 6th, 9th, 13th-14th, 16th, 19th-21st, 23rd-24th, 26th, 28th-30th. Please call the rectory during office hours to make arrangements. Monday, May 25 St. Bede, St. Gregory VII, St. Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi 6:45 Leoncio Jesus Edison Mojares 12:10 †Helen Speakman Tuesday, May 26 St. Philip Neri 6:45 Fr. Rolf Tollefson 12:10 Leoncio Jesus Edison Mojares Wednesday, May 27 St. Augustine of Canterbury 6:45 Gloria Scheidnes 12:10 †Jean Ann Dougherty Thursday, May 28 6:45 Leoncio Jesus Edison Mojares 12:10 For Sick Children Friday, May 29 St. Paul VI 6:45 Leoncio Jesus Edison Mojares 12:10 Homeless and Unemployed Saturday, May 30 6:45 Larry and Evelyn Coleman 5:00 †Dolores Stewart Sunday, May 31 Pentecost Sunday 7:00 Living and Deceased Parishioners and Friends of St. Louis Church 9:15 Mark Mullaney 11:00 Leoncio Jesus Edison Mojares 12:30 Families

Ways to Watch/Listen to Mass During this time that Mass is suspended, the faithful are asked to find a Mass on TV, the radio or online and make a Spiritual Communion. Where that is not an option, it would be appropriate to pray the Liturgy of the Hours or the Rosary. For ways to watch or listen to Mass, visit archspm.org/live.

Radio Relevant Radio 1330am: Weekdays and Sundays at Noon, and Sundays at 9am. EWTN: ewtn.com/radio/listen-live

Online / Live Stream Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis Mass live streamed on Facebook, Weekdays at Noon and Sunday at 9:30am, also posted on their website Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul Mass live streamed on Facebook, Weekdays at 7:30am. and Saturday at 5:15 pm; also posted on their website.

St. Agnes, St. Paul Mass live streamed on Facebook, Daily at 6:30 am. Your Financial Support is important As the Coronavirus may be keeping you away from Masses, please remember that we depend upon your weekly contribution to sustain our operations and maintain our facilities. You can easily continue your financial support for our Parish, even if you cannot be here physically—either by mail or contributing electronically using our website. stlouiskingoffrance.com. Please mail to the office: St. Louis Church, 506 Cedar Street, St. Paul MN 55101. Thank you!

Are You Interested In Becoming A Parishioner? We welcome all new parishioners into our parish family. To register, please call the parish office at 651-224-3379. Anointing of the Sick Anointing of the sick, which normally takes place on the first Monday of the month, has been postponed until further notice. Thank you.

PARISH CALENDAR Mon., May 25 Rosary in the Church 11:40am - Cancelled Tues., May 26 All Organ Recitals Cancelled For The Season Wed., May 27 Eucharistic Exposition 11:00am to 12 Noon - Cancelled

Memorial Day Weekend This Monday, May 25th is Memorial Day. There will be no confessions on this day and the Chapel will be closed. Synod Timeline Update Thank you to all those who participated in the first year of the Synod process! Over 8000 people participated in the 19 general prayer and listening events and 11 focus sessions, providing over 35,000 comments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Archbishop Hebda has decided to delay the Parish Consultation with Small Groups from Fall 2020 to Fall 2021 to focus on our parishes and schools without distraction. The exact dates will be forthcoming. The focus areas for the Synod will still be announced soon! Stay in the loop by reading The Catholic Spirit newspaper or online at thecatholicspirit.com. Lost and Found There are a large number of items that have been left in our lost and found box from over the winter months. If you are missing an item of clothing, glasses, keys, etc. Please call the parish office during the week or stop by in June after Mass in the sacristy and check out the lost and found box. We will be donating items not picked up by the end of June to charity.

LATEST UPDATE PUBLIC MASSES RESUME MAY 26

Archbishop Hebda in a letter published on Wednesday, May 20th, gave permission for parishes to resume public Masses beginning May 26th. Parishes will be following strict guidelines. For St. Louis, this means no more then 100 people in attendance at any Mass on Sunday or Weekday. Reservations for any of the Sunday Masses can be make by emailing or calling the parish office during business hours. The bishops of Minnesota will continue to dispense from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Please call the parish office at (651-224-3379) or email (markmstlouis@comcast.net) for reservations for Sunday Masses. Likewise please continue to check our website at stlouiskingoffrance.org for updates. Thank you for your patience and keep praying…

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK. VISIT OUR FACEBOOK LINK https://www.facebook.com/SLKOFMN/ VISIT OUR WEBPAGE AT: STLOUISKINGOFFRANCE.ORG

Both of these sites will assist you when you need answers to Hours and Events

475 University Avenue W.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS ⧫ DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON ⧫ DIOCESE OF DULUTH

Tel: 651-227-8777

Fax: 651-227-2675 DIOCESE OF NEW ULM ⧫ DIOCESE OF SAINT CLOUD ⧫ DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER

www.mncatholic.org

May 20, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Catholic Bishops of Minnesota, along with many people of faith, were disappointed

in Governor Walz’s May 13 announcement that he would end the Stay-at-Home order to allow

more commerce but prohibit religious gatherings of more than ten people. We have attempted

to work collaboratively with the Walz Administration up to this time, seeking the guidance of

the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Public Health to help us strengthen our

specific safety protocols based on the statewide plan. Along with some Lutheran colleagues, we

submitted a plan to the Governor on May 8 that detailed the sanitation measures we would

take and proposed a cap on occupancy limited to 33 percent of building capacity. Our proposed

protocols are based on the work undertaken by a group of national medical experts and

theologians, the Thomistic Institute, and they are consistent with the practices that have

already been put in place in many dioceses throughout the United States. We continue our

willingness to make any necessary adjustments to our safety protocols upon review.

The Life of Faith is Essential

Given our willingness to coordinate with the Governor, we are especially disappointed

that his most recent order (20-56) does not address both the vital importance that faith plays in

the lives of Americans, especially in this time of pandemic, and the fundamental religious

freedom possessed by houses of worship that allows our country to thrive. The Governor’s remarks today further underscored a failure to appreciate the role of our Church and other

faith groups in serving the community. The human cost to this pandemic has been

extraordinary, not just in terms of lives lost to the virus but the rapidly growing problems of job

loss, depression, crime and violence, and substance abuse. As Pope Francis has said, the church

must be a field hospital, ministering to all, but especially the poor and vulnerable. He has

cautioned that overly drastic measures that limit church life will have a disproportionate impact

on “the little ones” and those who have no one to rely on.

The bishops of Minnesota are united in our conviction that we can safely resume public

Masses in accordance with both our religious duties and with accepted public health and safety

standards. We can worship in a way that reflects both the love of God and the love of our

neighbors (cf. Mark 12:30-31). Therefore, we are giving our parishes permission for the

resumption of the public celebration of Mass on Tuesday, May 26, which will give us time to be

ready for the celebration of Pentecost on May 31. Parishes will be required to follow the strict

protocols we have published for sanitation and social distancing and will have to limit

attendance to one-third of the seating capacity of the church. No one will be obliged to attend,

MN Bishops Letter to Walz Administration

5/20/2020

Page 2 of 4

475 University Avenue W.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS ⧫ DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON ⧫ DIOCESE OF DULUTH

Tel: 651-227-8777

Fax: 651-227-2675 DIOCESE OF NEW ULM ⧫ DIOCESE OF SAINT CLOUD ⧫ DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER

www.mncatholic.org

as the bishops of Minnesota will continue to dispense from the obligation to attend Sunday

Mass.

Responsible Worship in Service of the Common Good

We share the Governor’s concern about the importance of taking all reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We have charged our parishes with the task of

preparing for a limited return to public Mass, but we are not requiring them to begin public

Mass on May 26. Each parish community needs to be comfortable that it can meet the

standards set forth in extensive and stringent diocesan protocols. We already know that many

will be unable to do that immediately because of the configuration of their churches or because

of a shortage of staff or supplies. They need a plan for how they would limit admittance to one-

third of the seating capacity of their church, and how they will seat those who arrive. We also

recognize that some parishes may choose, for now, to adhere to the existing ten-person limit.

We trust local leadership will determine when they are able to follow all the directives and

open, and we stand ready to assist them when necessary.

We also know that parishes may have to adjust to changing circumstances, recognizing

that we do not know how the pandemic will affect us in the weeks and months ahead. A parish

that begins public Mass on Pentecost, for example, may have to impose further restrictions

later in the year, in the event of an outbreak in the local community.

We have made it clear that the obligation of a Catholic to attend Sunday Mass remains

suspended and we have uniformly encouraged those most at risk to stay home. Not

surprisingly, dioceses in other states that have already reopened their churches for public

Masses report that the number of those attending is significantly reduced. We ask our parishes

to continue to provide ministry by live streaming even when public Masses resume. We find it

reasonable, moreover, that parishes would continue to look for opportunities for outdoor

celebrations.

Rights and Responsibilities

In moving forward with public worship in this limited manner, we wish to provide more

explanation for our decision. First, the six dioceses of Minnesota voluntarily suspended parish

activities, Catholic schools, and the public celebration of Mass, and did so before any executive

orders were put in place. We have followed public health guidance and Governor Walz’s leadership so that we, as a state, could 1) flatten the curve, 2) allow time for the necessary

health care infrastructure to be created to handle a surge of patients and avoid unnecessary

deaths, and 3) allow a testing regime to be put in place to limit spread of COVID-19. We have

done so because we care for our neighbors and it is important for us to be in solidarity with our

MN Bishops Letter to Walz Administration

5/20/2020

Page 3 of 4

475 University Avenue W.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS ⧫ DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON ⧫ DIOCESE OF DULUTH

Tel: 651-227-8777

Fax: 651-227-2675 DIOCESE OF NEW ULM ⧫ DIOCESE OF SAINT CLOUD ⧫ DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER

www.mncatholic.org

vulnerable sisters and brothers. We have also done so out of respect for rightful authority—another biblical principle (cf. Romans 13).

Second, we have attempted to engage in dialogue with the Administration. We have

twice sent the Governor letters asking for a dialogue, most recently last Saturday. Though

public health and public safety officials have listened to our concerns and have created

opportunities for input and conversation, we have not received a concrete timeline and

roadmap for resuming public worship that includes reasonable guidance on congregational size.

Third, we believe we have been leading by example. Our people and institutions have

enthusiastically cooperated with the public health guidance and have been part of the solution

at every turn: providing relief to struggling families, finding creative ways to minister to a

suffering people, serving on the front lines of the health care crisis, and leaping forward in

technology to meet the demand for spiritual comfort created by this pandemic.

Our decision to suspend the public celebration of Mass was painful. We made that

decision not because we were compelled to do so, but because we judged that the

circumstances required it. We believe that those circumstances have changed, as confirmed by

the Governor’s decision to end the Stay-at-Home order and allow more commerce. It is now

permissible for an unspecified number of people to go to shopping malls and enter stores, so

long as no more than 50 percent of the occupancy capacity is reached. Big-box stores have

hundreds of people inside at any one time, and the number of goods that are being handled

and distributed in one store by many people—stock staff, customers, cashiers—is astounding.

Workers are present for many hours per day, often in close proximity. There is no state

mandate that customers wear masks in those malls or stores, wash their hands consistently, or

follow any specific cleaning protocol. In these circumstances, and given the well-researched

protocols that we have proposed (and that are being followed successfully elsewhere in our

nation) how can reason require us any longer to keep our faithful from the Eucharist?

We are blessed to live in a nation that guarantees the free exercise of religion. This right

can only be abridged for a compelling governmental interest, and only in a way that is narrowly

tailored to be the least restrictive means of achieving the desired end. That is why a large

majority of states now allow in-person religious services, including many states that had

previously suspended in-person religious services. We think that the executive order issued last

Wednesday fails this test. An order that sweeps so broadly that it prohibits, for example, a

gathering of 11 people in a Cathedral with a seating capacity of several thousand defies reason.

Therefore, we have chosen to move forward in the absence of any specific timeline laid out by

MN Bishops Letter to Walz Administration

5/20/2020

Page 4 of 4

475 University Avenue W.

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55103

ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS ⧫ DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON ⧫ DIOCESE OF DULUTH

Tel: 651-227-8777

Fax: 651-227-2675 DIOCESE OF NEW ULM ⧫ DIOCESE OF SAINT CLOUD ⧫ DIOCESE OF WINONA-ROCHESTER

www.mncatholic.org

Governor Walz and his Administration. We cannot allow an indefinite suspension of the public

celebration of the Mass.

In conclusion, as local leadership makes these important decisions about when to safely

re-open, we ask them to be in communication with diocesan leadership about their plans. The

bishops of Minnesota are grateful that we have such excellent leadership in our parishes and

we know that as we work together, we can provide for the essential sacramental life of our

faithful, fulfill our duty to worship God, and do so in a way that also protects the common good

of our state (cf. Matthew 6:25-34).

We remain yours in Christ Jesus the Lord,

Most Rev. Bernard A. Hebda

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul

and Minneapolis

Most Rev. Michael J. Hoeppner

Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston

Most Rev. Donald J. Kettler

Bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud

Most Rev. John M. LeVoir

Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm

Most Rev. John M. Quinn

Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester

Most Rev. Andrew H. Cozzens

Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of St.

Paul and Minneapolis

Very Rev. James Bissonette

Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of

Duluth