Bad things do happen to good people. At least that is one of the messages of today’s Gospel. Jesus lets us know that the people who suffered because of Pilate’s injustice and those who were killed in an earthquake or the aftermath did not die because of something they did, but they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This is both good news and bad news. The good news is no one is out to get us; the bad news is we are all in the same boat. You do not have special protection other than luck and your own ability to make good decisions when bad luck hits.

The world does not revolve around you - other than in your own mind. When it rains on your parade it rains on everybody's plus it waters the garden. The tree did not have figs on it be-cause of you, it just wasn't ready to ripen.

Sometimes people are not yet ready to ripen either. The need to forgive and let people try again is always needed.

Personally, I am what you call a slow starter; skills and talents do not come easy to me. This is not false humility, just the truth. I owe penance for the trees I have killed trying to build things but by hard work and good schools with the telephone company I did learn.

Ask the poor parishioners at my first parish how long it took them to get me past my rocking back and forth when I spoke or my habit of looking at my hands so intently a lady once grabbed them to see what was written there.

As a child I stuttered and had a pronounced lisp but the patience of my speech therapist, Miss Lenz, prevailed. Today I can still hear her say “Again, James, f-f-from not th-hrum.” That was well over 50 years ago.

I don’t think there is a person alive who has not had someone intervene in their life to teach. An even greater blessing if it was done with kindness. Not all of us are ready to bear fruit right away; it needs to be cultivated in of some of us.

That gentle cultivation is called among other things “mercy.” We all need it to grow.

Pope Francis says: “Let us be renewed by God's mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect

all creation and make justice and peace flourish."

Join the community for food, conversa-tion and prayer.

5 - 6:30 pm: Soup Supper (also grilled cheese sandwiches!); Hospitality Hall

5 pm: Quiet, Personal Reflection; Church

5:15 - 5:45 pm: Centering Prayer led by Prayer Partner Ray Spack; Church

6:30 pm: Sofia...a Sacred Sing. Pray and sing the Beatitude teachings of Je-sus in His original Aramaic language led by recording artists Timothy Frantzich, Carin Vagle and Dean Magraw, Church

6:30 pm: In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre project preparing for a unique Palm Sunday presentation of Jesus last days; Gym.

Presider: Fr. Jim DeBruycker.

We welcome our friend and singer, song-writer Brother Timothy Frantzich to inspire our Gym liturgies today. Timothy has recorded his own solo CD's and a new project "Sofia" which features the Beatitudes sung in Jesus' own Aramaic language. Thank you as always! yourbrothertimothy@gmail.com.

Join us in the Church at 9 & 11 am for The Way of the Cross. This contempo-rary Stations of the Cross brings the story of Jesus’ passion to life with adult and youth actors accompanied by SJA musicians. We encourage families to share in this wonderful Lenten event for the whole family. Family Mass follows immediately. If you miss today, we will repeat the performance on March 16 at 6:30 pm. All are welcome!

Sun, Feb. 28: Ex 3:1-8a,13-15; 1 Cor 10:1-6,10-12; Luke 13:1-9 Mon, Feb. 29: 2 Kings 5:1-15ab; Luke 4:24-30 Tue, March 1: Daniel 3:25,34-43; Matthew 18:21-35 Wed, March 2: Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9; Matthew 5:17-19 Thu, March 3: Jeremiah 7:23-28; Luke 11:14-23 Fri, March 4: Hosea 14:2-10; Mark 12:28-34 Sat, March 5: Hosea 6:1-6; Luke 18:9-14 Sun, March 6: Josh 5:9a,10-12; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Tuesday and Thursday morning 8 am Mass is celebrated in the Church with Fr. DeBruycker.

FFI check the bulletin, the SJA website or call the Parish Center. The Upper Room is located in the Parish Center; Hospitality Hall is in the Church basement; the Arc is the brick building across the street (corner of 45th and 3rd)

Tuesday, March 1

8 am Mass in the Church

Precinct Caucuses, 6 pm in the Gym

Wednesday, March 2

Soup Supper, 5 pm in Hospitality Hall

Sofia...a Sacred Sing, 6:30 pm in the Church

In the Heart of the Beast, 6:30 pm in the Gym

Thursday, March 3

8 am Mass in the Church

Parish Council, 5 pm in the Upper Room

Choir, 7 pm in the Church

Friday, March 4

6 pm Mass in the Church

Stations of the Cross, 7 pm in the Church

Saturday, March 5

Mobile Loaves & Fishes Pancake Breakfast, 8 am, Hospitality Hall

Amy, Arlene, Zach Arlein, Pat B., Ray B., Sally Backstrom, Lois Ballard, Dennis Barta, Linda Baule, Margaret Berger, Alex Briner, Sara Brock, Anthony Brixius, Lorraine Bryant, Tim Burd, Don Burke, James Cates, George C., Dayna Cell, Malia Cole, Corinne, Dolores Cufaude, Desirae, Barb D.,

John D., Manfred D., Roger D., Dan, Dean, Megan Daoust, Dave Dease, Chris & Larry Dease, Anne Duvalley, John & Margaret Frees, Sr. Gabriel, Mary Gallagher, Greta, Megan Gooselaw, Ralph Gotto, Molly Gormley, Tom Griep, Sr. Gabriel, Tom H., Linda Haeg, Jamel Harris, Mary Havstad,

Bernhard Hering, Betty Hinker, Jim & Pat Hinton, Mary Hoody, Kathy Horner, Jody Hughes, Kirk Ingram, Judy, Joe, Dan & Tom Jay, Thomas John, Paul Jonsson, Judy Kadlec, Glen Kelley, Liam, Paul L., Amy Lainus, Jim Lappen, Melinda Larsen, Rachel Larson, Jan LaVone, Gary Lindstrom,

Kyle M., Anthony Marino, Jim Mars, Marie Marschel, Kahtleen Mazur, Katherine & Lauren McManus, Jackie Mead, Chuck Meiers, Mike, Dorothy Mongoven, Sid Monroe, Gene Muelken, Morrie Mundahl, Nate, David E. Nelson, Craig Norby, Mary Noviske, David Novitske, Olivia,

Tom O’Brien, Doris Oakes, Sr. Dolores Oaks, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Pam, LuAnne Palmer, Rick Pattison, Jay Pearson, Joan Penrose, Bill Peterka, Dick & Mary Pirola, Barbara Pouliot, Nikki Poynter, Rusty Pueringer, Ruth Reese, Herb Rorke, Helen Russett, Steven, Tyler S., Dana Sell,

Mary Margaret Schmidt, Nancy Schneider, Aileen Sheppard, Sam Slagerman, Emily Slotness, Jeff Stearns, Tom, Irene Taddiken, Marge Tax, James Tax, Mike Tegedor, Matthew Tenant, Mary Eve Thomas, Gregory Thomas, Echo Thoren, Tim, Madison Travers, John Tovsen, Carin Vagle,

Leroy Vague, Darlene Wheeler, Carol Whitlow, Ian Wiek, Mary Witte, Phil Wixsten, Jim & Jerry Wohnoutka, Zoe, Ava & Annemaire Zubrzycki

A Book of Prayer is located in our Gym vestibule. If you have a family member or friend who is ill, or who has recently died, please write their names in our Book of Prayer before Mass so we may include them in prayers during our Sunday Masses.

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To renew your request, please call Nancy Becker at 612.823.8205 ext. 223.

Sunday 9 and 11 am Gym Masses:

March 6: Presider: Fr. DeBruycker. Mercy...given. Pre-Mass speaker: parishioner Martha Pettee will share a powerful story of mercy. SJA Musicians Tommy Barbarella and Steve Kremer will offer solos.

March 13: Presider: Fr. DeBruycker will preside and speak on Mercy...received. Our soloist will be Twin Cities popular guitarist, Dean Magraw

March 20: Palm Sunday. Presider: Fr. Cassidy. Gospel singer Robert Robinson joins the SJA choir and readers in a presentation of the Passion of Jesus. Looking Ahead: Family Mass: On Palm Sunday (March 20) at 9 & 11 am, come to the Church for a unique telling of Jesus’ last days told with In the Heart of the Beast puppets and artists, SJA musicians, actors and families. Don’t miss it!

SignUpGenius for Eucharistic Ministers is available online. It is simple, user friendly and a reminder is sent 3 days before your scheduled volunteer day. FFI contact Marcia at mkurtz@stjoan.com. Gluten-free Communion is available upon request. Please see

any of the Sunday sacristans in the Gym before Mass.

Choir will rehearse for Holy Week and Easter this Thursday, March 3 at 7 pm in the Church. If you wish to sing for Palm Sun-day and Easter and can read music...this would be a good time to join our musicians. Call Anna for info 612.823.8205 ext 235. Soup Supper Volunteers Needed to prepare soup and bake/

bring bread for soup suppers through Wednesday, March 16. Soups/Breads need to be in Hospitality Hall as close to 4:30 pm as possible. To sign up please call the Par-ish Center or go to SignUpGenius.com and

take a minute to create an account, sign up and they send an auto reminder three days before your service date. Everyone is welcome to join us for Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, 5 - 6:30 pm, in Hospitality Hall followed by Prayer and Learning at 6:30 pm in the Church. Last Week our Soup Supper Free Will Offering collected $470.25 for Sabathani Food Shelf. Located just up the street from SJA at 38th St. and 3rd. Ave, this food shelf provides sustenance to many neighbors in need, and our weekly Family Mass food collected is donated there. You can always drop off food in the lobby of the Parish Center for Sabathani, too. This week's Soup Supper offering is going to the Refugee and Immigrant Services Program of The Advocates for Human Rights. Thank you! Sofia...a Sacred Sing will be presented on Wednesday, March 2 in the Church at 6:30 pm. Pray and sing the Beatitude teachings of Jesus in His original Aramaic language led by recording artists Timothy Frantzich, Carin Vagle and Dean Magraw. Lost and Found: If you think you may have lost an item at SJA please stop in the Parish Center by March 1 and look through our bin of lost items. All items not claimed by March 1 will be donated to Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Thank You! Singles 50+ 2nd Sunday Supper, March 13 in Hospitality Hall. 5 pm, Social Hour; 6 pm, Irish Stew Dinner; 7 pm, Mostly Celtic Trio. Cost is $10. Come alone or bring a friend! FFI call Karen at 952.884.5165. Concert Series - Forever Everly: Sunday, April 17 at 7 pm a

concert of great duets immortalized by the Everly Brothers with Paul and Tim Frantzich, Boyd and Aimee Lee,

Mary Jane Alm and more! Tickets are on sale at www.stjoan.com. Sunday ticket sales resume on March 6. Women of SJA - Save the Dates: Saturday April 9: Coffee, Conversation and Connection, 9 -

10:30 am in Hospitality Hall. Cheryl Thomas, will speak on Women's Human Rights: Are Legal Solutions Working?

RSVP to the Parish Center or on online by March 14. Friday, May 6: Celebratory Event - Hats off to the Women of

SJA, 5:30 - 9 pm in Hospitality Hall.

Summary of contributions for the week and fiscal year. Includes plate, envelopes and estimated Sustaining Member payments.

Week of February 21, 2016

Actual $38,357 Budget $32,478 Prior Year Actual $31,984

YTD (July 1 – February 14) Actual $1,272,608 Budget $1,248,153 Prior Year Actual $1,225,031

Thank You!

The 2016 Arm In Arm In Africa Delegation is in South Africa until March 13. You may read about their mission and see photographs at www.aiaia.org, then click blog or follow the link from the SJA website (www.stjoan.com).

Parish Survey: This is the last week you can complete the SJA survey on our Website (www.stjoan.com) or pick up copies in the Parish Center, at the Gym entrances and back of the Church. Thanks to all who have responded. Mercy Shared: A Family Service Evening: On Wednesday, March 9, bring family and friends to the Gym anytime between 6:30 and 8 pm for an evening of service projects benefitting local non-profits. Stations include making • Birthday bags for Sabathani with "green slime" • Hygiene kits for Mobile Loaves & Fishes • Fleece blankets for Harbor Light • Placemats & bookmarks for Walker Methodist • Dog toys for Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue (we’ll have dogs there!) • Letters for Veterans • Easter banners for families Everyone is welcome; there will be meaningful service opportunities for all ages. Come when you can, and leave when you like. Don’t forget Soup Supper! FFI ask Gabrielle, gdane@stjoan.com.

Save the Date: Plan now to join our St. Patrick’s Day Senior Mass and Luncheon, Thursday, March 17, 11:30 am – 2 pm.

Shoes for the Homeless: Calvary Church in Minneapolis has a foot ministry, volunteers wash and groom the feet of homeless guests and give them shoes. We are accepting donations of gently used sturdy shoes and winter boots in good condition for this minis-try. Questions? Contact Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com. Adoptive Families Book Club: Our next selection will be a play, Watermelon Hill, written by parishioner Lily Baber Coyle, playing at the History Theatre. The play tells the story of three birthmothers who were residents of the Catholic Infant Home on St. Paul’s Ca-thedral Hill in the 1960s. We plan to attend the 2 pm matinee on April 3. Join us! FFI ask Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com.

FFI on Pastoral Ministries contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at 612.823.8205 ext 231 or via email: mkelly@stjoan.com.

Mental Health Ministry: Monday, March 14 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4100 Lyndale Av. Mr. Dustin Chapman, Fairview Behavioral Liaison for Health Services, will be with us to speak on Navigating the Health System: for Individuals with Mental Health Concerns. Light supper 5:45 pm, program 6:30 - 8 pm. All are welcome. Free will offerings accepted. 1.8 CEU's offered to professionals. FFI contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. Did You Know? What Everyone Should Know About Stress. Copies are available from the pamphlet rack in the Parish Center Mental Health Resource library. BeFriender Ministry: Experiencing a difficult time? Need a great confidential listener? Find out how a SJA BeFriender can be a supportive presence. Call Carolyn Dobis, 651.485.2868 or Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. Parish Visitor Ministry: Offers phone calls, visits, prayer, communion. If you or someone you know is unable to join us for worship or would like an additional connection, long or short term, in the home, hospital or rehab/care center, contact Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center. SJA/TRUST Grief Support: On Thursday, March 3 at St.

Thomas the Apostle Church, 2914 W. 44th St, Beryl Schewe will present on Habits of Resilience. Registration and refreshments 6:15 pm; program 6:30 pm; facilitated

small groups 7 - 8 pm. Come for all or part of the evening. All are welcome. FFI contact coordinator, Norine Larson, 952.925.2437 or Mary Ann Kelly-Wright at the Parish Center.

Mobile Loaves and Fishes Pancake Breakfast: Plan to attend the pancake breakfast, next Saturday, March 5, 8 am - noon in Hospitality Hall. All proceeds go to our mobile food outreach ministry. MLF is a Sustaining Partner of the SJA Outreach Fund

and involves hundreds of our parishioners by serving food to those who are homeless and to the working poor in our communi-ty. A great breakfast for a great cause! Buy tickets after Mass.

Minneapolis Residents: Raise Your Voice! Our SJA ISAIAH core team is working hard to ensure Earned Sick and Safe Time for the 245,000 Minneapolis workers - 42% of the city's workforce - who do not receive paid time off to care for themselves or loved ones. We need your help to ensure support for this from all our City Council members. Find out more after the 11:00 Mass in the Parish Center, or contact Julie Madden.

Precinct Caucuses THIS Week: This Tuesday, all are encour-

aged to attend their precinct caucuses, and we have a flyer at the table in the school corridor with proposed resolutions from our SJA Eco-Spirits, our ISAIAH core team and our Conver-sations on Health Care Group. Thanks to these ministries for their leadership and to all who will

bring their love for justice to the public arena this week!

Taking a Stand at the Border: From March 13-19, a group of SJA parishioners will make their way to the U.S./Mexico border to learn more about those who risk their lives to cross into this coun-try. We thank our own Rose Grengs for convening and leading this delegation and parishioners Deb Pomroy, Paul Frank, Cathy Burrell, Katherine Malaga, Jeff Grosscup, Sandy Stengel and Me-ghan Grossman for this witness of courage and solidarity. We will bless our delegation on Sunday, March 6.

A Great Global Learning Opportunity: On Sunday, March 6 in the Parish Center, following the 11:00 Mass, hear from parishion-ers Amy Finnegan and Mike Westerhaus, who have begun an incredible global public health initiative called SocMed. They are planning a local conference in April and attendees will include health care professionals from Uganda, Haiti, Rwanda and Zimba-bwe as well as the U.S. If you'd like to learn more about their work and consider hosting a conference attendee, please join us!

Nonviolence in an Era of Endless War: The next Every Church

a Peace Church Gathering will be here at SJA in Hospitality Hall on Monday, March 21, starting with a potluck at 6:30 pm and continuing with a presen-tation by Jack Nelson Pallmeyer. One of our most powerful voices for nonviolence and the role of

peacemaking in our faith journey, Jack is an Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas, and a returning favorite to SJA. All are welcome to attend.

FFI on Peace & Justice programs contact Julie Madden at 612.823.8205 ext 228 or jmadden@stjoan.com.

Housing Ministry Volunteers Needed: Next Saturday, March 5, parishioners are needed to serve with Urban Homeworks, rehabbing a home to provide beautiful and affordable housing to a low income family. Work with fellow fabulous SJAers, all experience levels welcome! FFI/to volunteer please contact Julie Madden. Our Common Home: Discussing Pope Francis' Encyclical: On Monday, March 7 at 7 pm, join fellow justice-minded Catho-lics at Lumen Christi Church, for dialogue on our faith and car-ing for our Earth together. Hosted by our friends at Catholic Charities' Office for Social Justice.

We form the faith of our community through participation in prayer, liturgy, sacraments, education, community and works of justice.

Join the SJA Children’s Choir! If you are in grades 3-7, we want you to be part of our SJA Children’s Choir! The choir will have four exciting performances this Spring: April 17: Earth Day in the Gym Masses; April 24: Earth Day in the Family Masses; May 8: Children & Youth Sunday in the Gym Masses; May 14: Concert

at Walker Methodist. Rehearsals in the Egan Room, 12:45 - 2 pm: Today, March 6, 13, 20, April 3, 10 and May 1. Don’t miss the fun! Sign up with Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com. Camp St. Joan 2016 Italy! Save the dates: July 18 - 21. Registra-tion is online and filling fast, deadline to register is April 1. If you would like to join the Camp Planning Committee please contact Therese at 612.823.8205 ext. 230 or tpendleton@stjoan.com.

: FFI contact Jennifer Gessner, at 612.823.8205 ext.

240, or jgessner@stjoan.com.

Our Nursery, located in the lower level of the Parish Center, is open for the 9 & 11 am Sunday Masses. The Nursery is a wonder-ful community of families and volunteers that allows parents to en-joy Mass and meet other families in the Parish. Drop-ins welcome! The Nursery is looking for a new assistant staff person to assist in the Nursery 2 Sundays per month, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm. The ideal fit is someone that loves working with young children, is reliable, punctual and has experience working in a group setting. FFI or to apply, please contact - Jennifer at jgessner@stjoan.com or 612.250.4160.

: (Ages 4-Kindergarten) FFI contact Therese

Pendleton at 612.823.8205 ext. 230 or tpendleton@stjoan.com.

: (Grades 1-6) FFI contact Marie Bissonnette

at 612.823.8205 ext. 229 or mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

Upcoming: First Communion registration and information meet-ing will be on March 13 at 12:30 pm in the Gym. If your child was not baptized at SJA, a copy of their baptismal certificate is required. FFI contact Marie at mbissonnette@stjoan.com.

: (Grades 7-12) FFI contact Donelle

Poling at 612.823.8205 ext. 241 or dpoling@stjoan.com or Kelley Deshler at kdeshler@stjoan.com.

Youth Got Talent: Are you in grades 7 - 12 and have a talent that you want to share? Come and audition on March 13 or April 10 for Youth Got Talent! Auditions are in the youth house starting at 12:30. Sign up for auditions at CLUB or online! Youth Got Talent is on April 23 at 7 pm in the SJA Gym.

Delegation to Pine Ridge Reservation, SD for 9th-12th graders! Two trips this year! July 23 - 29 & July 30 - Aug. 5. Interested in having a meaningful experience, working at various projects across the reservation while learning about the culture and history of the Lakota people? Join us on our delegation trip this summer! Come to an important information/registration meeting on Sunday, March 6, 12:30 - 2 pm in the Arc. FFI contact Donelle at dpoling@stjoan.com. #TRUESTORY Middle School Retreat: For youth in grades 6-8.

Join us for an awesome NEW retreat at Young Life’s Castaway Club in Detroit Lakes! This retreat will be packed with fun outdoor activities, live music, a

speaker, community building, and great food! Retreat will be held April 15 - 17. Cost is $175 - scholarships available. FFI email Kelley at kdeshler@stjoan.com. Registration is online. Friday March 11, Water Park of America: Grab your swimsuits and get ready for some fun! 7th-12th Grade – Friends are wel-come! Bus will leave SJA at 6 pm and return around 10 pm. Cost is $20. Online registration under “ministries, outreach/social”. FFI contact Donelle at dpoling@stjoan.com.

: FFI contact Dennis Heaney at

612.823.8205 ext. 234 or dheaney@stjoan.com.

Parish Book Club: We meet on the 2nd Wednesdays of the month to discuss our experiences with great stories. Everyone is welcome anytime! Here’s what to read next: March 9: The Emigrants by Vilhelm Moberg April 13: The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom Discovering New Possibilities for the Brain: On Saturday, March 12, 9 am - 12:30 pm in Hospitality Hall, presenters Elaine Gaston and Mark Scannell will explore new and better ways to nurture our brains. Coffee and refreshments will be available beginning at 8:30 am. Cost is $10. RSVP to the Parish Center. 2nd Monday Dialogue with SAGES: Enjoy coffee and dialogue with presenter with Julie Ronning from Gentle Transitions. The theme is Housing Transitions & Estate Sales. Monday, March 14, 1:30 - 3 pm, in Hospitality Hall.

VIRTUS Classes at SJA: All SJA volunteers who have regular or unsupervised interaction with children, youth and vulnerable adults, must complete a VIRTUS classroom session, if you have not previously attended one. Two are being offered at SJA on Sat-urday, March 19, 9 am and Thursday, April 14, 6:30 pm. FFI and to register for one of these sessions, or a different session in the metro area, go to www.virtus.org.

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