What is that??
It is a cross between Vacation Bible School and Summer BLAST. You gather with your family, tune in each morning to the music and lesson video of the day, then carry out the daily mission.

When is it?
The first video will be posted on YouTube starting Monday, August 10. We will post one video each day for five days. The beauty of this is if you are not able to tune in the first day, that’s ok, just go to the DAY 1 video as soon as your family is ready to start. It could be a day or two later or a whole week—it’s up to you!

What exactly is our daily mission?
Your mission might be to pray for a particular person assigned to your family, play a game or sing a song and complete a specific service project. But most of all, it is to intentionally reach out into the hearts of others during a time when we have been instructed to keep our distance.

How do you get started?

Register HERE for our first-ever Summer Vacation Blast Camp! There is no cost for this camp.

Then come to the Parish Life Center some time between Thursday, August 6 and Sunday, August 9 to pick up your take-home kit. We will send you a confirmation email with more information after you register.

View the Summer Vacation Blast Videos HERE.

“But racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart. This evil causes great harm to its victims, and it corrupts the souls of those who harbor racist or prejudicial thoughts. The persistence of the evil of racism is why we are writing this letter now.”

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a pastoral letter against racism. View Here.

Practical Steps for Eradicating Racism: An Invitation – This Guide was prepared to assist Catholics and people of good will in reflecting on the evil and harm of racism. While this is not a comprehensive list, it provides actionable steps that may assist Catholics to reflect and respond in faith.

Just Mercy

Based on the bestselling book by Bryan Stevenson, the film Just Mercy presents the stunning and true story of Walter McMillian, a Black man convicted and sentenced to death in Alabama in 1988 for a crime he did not commit. The film illustrates the structural racism endemic to our capital punishment system, and lays bare how this system devalues and cheapens all human life.”

View the movie trailer HERE. View reflection questions, Catholic Teaching, and more – Here

Just Faith

Weekly resources are being shared and are free to access.  St Mary’s has a JustFaith group that continues to meet.  They have shared this video: Speech delivered by Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III

Fr. Bryan Massingale Professor, Fordham University and author of Racial Justice in the Catholic Church.  This video is an interview about how the church can combat racism and white privilege. View Video.

There are currently three ways to give electronically:

1. Monthly amount transferred from your bank account (click on the DONATE button on our website home page to find a form). It would be better to mail it to us, since you need to include a voided check.
2. Weekly, monthly, or one-time checks sent by your bank or other financial service organization (contact your bank to set up a plan that works for you). It is helpful to have your envelope number on the check your bank sends to us.
3. Weekly, monthly, or one-time gifts charged to your credit card (click on the DONATE button on our website home page to set up your gift)

There is a way to give remotely that is not “high tech”:
Simply mail us your check. Our address is 4690 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, 55110.

Thank you so much for your support in this difficult time.

In this upcoming series, the mission team will again reflect on that special relationship that each Christian has with the Lord.  Those relationships are centered in prayer. This 4-week series began July 17 and will focus on three common forms of prayer: The Our Father, The Psalms and Lectio Divina.

• The Our Father is part of every Eucharistic liturgy and was prayed three times a day by the first Christian communities. Casey Green reflected on the Our Father on July 24.
• The Psalms are a mirror of God’s marvelous deeds in the history of his people, as well as reflections of the human experience of the Psalmist.  Carley O’Bryan will share reflections on July 31.
• Lastly, Nick Brady will share his reflections on the ancient prayer of “lectio divina,” which opens us up to reading and meditating on sacred scripture.

View Nick Brady’s reflection about Lectio Divina HERE. 

Mission Matters Series 2 Reflections:

• Carley O’Bryan’s reflection about The Psalms HERE.
• Casey’s reflection on the Our Father: View HERE
• Samantha Hagel kicks off the Mission Matters second series! View HERE.
• View all Reflections

Your Mission Matters, surround yourself with people on the same Mission!

Are you running low on your favorite coffee, chocolate bars, or olive oil? Then place your Fair Trade Sales order today. The Social Justice Committee of St. Mary of the Lake is resuming their Fair Trade Sales this week and every week after, virtually! Please follow the steps HERE to place your order. Contact Nick Brady, Coordinator of Mission at nbrady@stmarys-wbl.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Order Form and Step to Place Your Order

On a regular basis, St. Mary of the Lake publishes The Gathering Space to keep parishioners informed of activities and news from the parish. Click here for the most recent edition.

Past editions: Lent 2020 | Advent 2019 | Lent 2019 | Advent 2018 | Lent 2018 Part 2 | Lent 2018 Part 1 | Advent December 2017 | November 2017 | Lent 2017 Part 2 | Lent 2017 Part 1 | November 2016 Part 2 | November 2016 Part 1 | Lent 2016 | Advent 2015 | Summer 2015