Parish Newsletter 12.13.2025
“Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit” - St. Lucy
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the days are getting shorter and the nights longer. It won’t be long before we experience the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Within this dark time of year, we hold to the promise of the light of Jesus to be reborn, just as the daylight begins to lengthen. Light overcomes darkness. Jesus overcomes sin.
One young virgin we commemorate in the first Eucharistic prayer gave her life as testimony to the Light. Her name was Lucy, which means light! Her memorial day is December 13th. There is not much known about her, except that she died under the Diocletian persecution about 304 AD in Sicily. Traditions says the her father, a wealthy Roman, died when she was young. Her mother became sick and, worried about Lucy’s future, made an arranged marriage, not knowing that Lucy had made a vow of virginity and to distribute her wealth to the poor. St. Agatha, who had been martyred 50 years earlier, came to Lucy in a vision and told her that because of her faith, her mother would be healed and that Lucy would become the glory of her city. Her mother recovered, and when she learned of Lucy’s vow, allowed her to begin to give her wealth away. This angered her betrothed, who turned her in to the governor. It is said that when the guards came to arrest her, they were unable to move her even with a team of oxen. They tried to build a pyre to burn her, but the wood would not light. Finally, they executed her using the sword. Later stories indicate she was tortured by gouging out her eyes, and when her body was prepared for burial, they were miraculously restored. That is why she is the patroness of eye diseases.
St. Lucy’s Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Scandinavian countries where young girls dress up in white, with red sashes (symbolic of Lucy’s martyrdom), and a crown of lighted candles; processions, songs, and gingerbread are part of the celebration that, if done well, will help people live through the dark winter with enough light. In her native land, feasts are prepared with homemade pasta and other Italian dishes, of course!
St. Lucy, pray for us!
Deacon Mike
Spend Time With Jesus in Adoration
“God was not content with giving us His only Son once for all, willing Him to take flesh in the womb of a Virgin – flesh like ours, so that He might suffer and die for us on the Cross – but He wished Him to remain with us forever, perpetuating His real presence and His sacrifice in the Eucharist.” (Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.)
There is a great need to cover open hours for 6:00 p.m. adoration hours for Thursdays and Fridays as well as open adoration hours as prayer partners with other adorers. Contact Barb Kleiter at 651-774-1172 for more information on open adoration hours or log on to https://presentation.weadorehim.com
Congratulations to Ivy Lynne Hemann who was baptized on July 12th!
Baby Items/Advent Collection
The Respect-Life Committee along with the Mother Terese Sewing Group are sponsoring a baby drive for Options for Women East life Care Center, Bundles of Love, Cradle of Hope, First Care and Catholic Charities Family Services. From November 30th through January 4, we will collect baby items for mons in need and their infant’s newborn to size 2T.
We prefer all donations be new, but we do accept gently used clothing. Items can be placed in the creche in the Kennard Street entrance. You may also call the office if you need to drop items off outside of church times.
Auction items needed for the Panther Pride Benefit!
The Panther Pride Benefit is Presentation of Mary School’s biggest fundraiser of the year. This year’s theme is Rodeo Roundup, so saddle up and save the date for Saturday, April 18th. We are currently accepting donations for both our live and silent auctions to help ensure the event’s success! Good ideas include: theme baskets, gift cards, tickets to experiences, hosted meals/parties, etc. All donations can be brought to the school or parish office. Questions? Contact the school office at 651-777-5877 or mdavini@presentationofmary.org.
Come to the Drive-In!
Park your car, come in the church and head to the Reconciliation Room with the lit candle.
Tues & Thurs: 5:00-5:45pm
Sat: 4:00-4:45pm
Or make an appointment: fr.ly@presentationofmary.org
Pastoral Care
Conversation, prayer requests, resources...? Please ask.
All information will remain confidential.
Contact the Parish Office at
651-777-8116 or Mail@PresentationOfMary.org
Prayer Line Requests
Do you know someone in need of prayers? Contact Kay at the Parish Office at 651-842-6022 so they can be added to our Prayer Line.
You can also contact her if you are interested in joining the Prayer Line!
Online Giving
If you are interested in enrolling in online giving, follow the instructions on our website, linked here!
Don't forget to switch over from our old online giving platform, Vanco, to ParishSoft Giving. If you have any questions about how to do it, please contact the Parish Center at 651.777.8116, or click on this following link: Online Giving
