Pastor’s 2 Cents From: Fr. Jim Cassidy

I think it is reasonably accurate to assert that most of us do not feel comfortable with the uncertainties of life. We most often appreciate an accurate assessment of "what's happening next," and with a clear plan in mind, we make it our goal not to be offset by uncertainty. Life shows us on a regular basis that our need for certainty is not always met. It is precisely in those times of "not knowing," of "not understanding," of "not accepting," that we turn to our faith. Somewhat to our surprise and dismay, the paschal mystery is a paradox in and of itself. Suffering and death lead to new life and resurrection. There can be no resurrection without death. There is no new life without casting aside the old. We hear in today's gospel the words of Jesus as we are reminded that in order to find our lives, we must lose them. As I mentioned in my homily for Corpus Christi, is it any wonder, as Augustine reminds us, "Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you, Lord."

For the past number of months, we have experienced a dramatic increase in what it means to have a restless heart. We have lost loved ones to the virus. The coronavirus pandemic closed many schools and businesses. Financial strain taxed some families as parents lost jobs. Our "normal" expectations of coming together in person to worship with our beloved community of SJA has been put on hold for what is beginning to feel like a lifetime, but for good and medically safe reasons. Then we experienced the death of George Floyd and our community responded by both peaceful protests and civil unrest, including burning buildings and tear gas. Hopefully we have gained a deeper understanding of Black Lives Matter and how systemic racism has for decades created a "cancer" in our American life. In the last several months, that cancer has been revealed to the light of day. Thousands have taken to the streets to demand and an end to police brutality and racism. At the same time, the coronavirus pandemic, which has disproportionately affected African Americans in communities across the country, continues to spread.

Why would our hearts not be restless? I want to invite you to a heartwarming opportunity. With great excitement, I want to invite you to partici-pate in Arm In Arm In Africa's very first Virtual Fundraiser--Family Style. Our event is "Arm In Arm In Action--Celebrating 20 years of Compas-sion." The celebration will be on Sat., July 18th 2020, which also happens to be International Mandella Day. This celebration will lift up the 20 years of partnerships that AIAIA have nurtured in SA. I believe that our journey has endured over the years from a fundamental belief that All Black Lives Matter. While apartheid "officially" ended in SA in 1993, its intentional deprivation of education and forced relocation will be felt for generations to come. Couple that with 70% unemployment, with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am seeing the need for food assistance to be greater than ever before. On behalf of our brothers and sisters in Africa, I can say with absolute certainty, WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT.

Our one hour celebration will livestream on YouTubeTV and Facebook Live at 12 noon on Saturday, July 18. You can find all the details at aiaiajuly18.funraise.org or visit our website at aiaia.org. It is an hour of family learning and entertainment, co-hosted by our very own Christo-pher Hermann and T Mychael Rambo. It will lift your restless hearts and with your support, bring nourishment to those who desperately are in need. In Gratitude, Fr. James Cassidy

SJA LGBTQ Group: As we bring Pride month to a close, we give thanks for the presence and the witness of faith of our LGBTQ community at St. Joan of Arc. Our LGBTQ group meets for social, educational and worship experiences together - and all are welcome. Please contact Julie Madden for more information, and happy Pride, SJA

http://aiaiajuly18.funraise.orghttp://aiaia.org

Sun, June 28: 2 Kgs 4:8-11,14-16a; Rom 6:3-4,8-11; Matt 10:37-42 Mon, June 29: Acts 12:1-11; :2 Tim 4:6-8, 17-18; Matt 16:13-19 Tue, June 30: Amos 3: 1-8; 4:11-12; Matt 8:23-27 Wed, July 1: Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Matt 8:28-34 Thu, July 2: Amos 7:10-17; Matt 9:1-8 Fri, July 3: Eph 2: 19-22; John 20:24-29 Sat, July 4: Isa 57:15-19; Phil 4:6-9; John 14:23-29 Sun, July 5: Zec 9:9-10; Rom 8:9, 11-13; Matt 11:25-30

Cheryl Adams, Steve Ahlman, Arlene Alexson, Ann Allen, Carol Anderson, Molly McLaughlin Antila, Dennis Barta, Dave Benson, Elaine Boehm, Marcia Boehnlein, Patty Brennan, Brent, Lorraine Bryant, Stacy Budd, Jonathan Bulthuis, Pam Burd, Betty Byrne, David Carroll, Jim Cassidy,

Bob Corrick, Culver family, Elizabeth Davidson, Larry Dease, Jim DeBruycker, Colleen Dooley, Rosemary Drees, Bob Duffy, Ava Dunlay, Kathie DuRocher, Henry F., Patricia Forster, Carol Fourre, John & Margaret Frees, Michelle Fries, Kate Gilbert, Heidi Gregorich, Ron Guillfoile,

Mary Hale-Haniff, Claire Hayes, Isaiah Henry, Brad Hinker, Jim Hinton, Megan Hoffman, Jan Horner, Kathy Horner, Kathy Itzin, John K., Glen Kelley, Chuck Kennedy, John Kingston, Sage Kirscht, Steve Kremer, Helen LaFavor, Amy Lainus, Melva Larson, Margaret Lulic, Chantilly Lynch, Dawn

McCelland, Joaquin Mendez, Kate Meyer, Bob Miller, Rita Miller, Tom Moore, Bev Moran, Paige More, Royce Morrissette, Terry Muelken, Ted Mueller, Nate, Rita Nelson, Craig Nordby, Dick Olson, Paul Olvera, Mike O’Rourke, Colette Ott, Jacques Parent, Pam Paul, Alice Pirola, Rita,

Pat Radecki, Graham & Nancy Rattray, Carol Reiland, Jack Riebel, Jean Rieck, Gina Romani, Donald & Susan Roufs, Dorothy Rowe, Pat Russell, Sri, Ottavio Savina, Don Schafer, Dale Schmidkee, Phil Schmidt, Colleen Schroeder, Betty Scully, Gary Sheppard, Paul Skrip, Sam Slagerman,

Harold Sonnek, Teddy Sparrman, Joan Speltz, Ross Spriggs, Doug Stahlke, Vivian Steblay, Carson Stier, Nancy Stockhaus, Rick Streng, Joleen Strosahl, Beth Swanson, Gabe T, Grayson Taylor, Matthew Tennant, Dennis Thurmond, Troy, Glo Tonskemper, Al Traynham, Linda Underhill,

Carin Vagle, Leroy Vague, Dave Velasco, Barbara Verthein, Floyd Ward, Pam Washington, Marlys Weber, Lee Weinberger, Bennett Wentworth, Mary White, Jim & Jerry Wohnoutka, Jim Wolfe, Morley Woodruff, Michele Wylie, Denise Wyttenbach, Sarah Yoder, Curt Youngren, Dave Youngren,

Annemaire & Ava Zubrzycki , Bridget Zvirin

Prayer Corner Requests: To keep prayer requests current, names will be included in the bulletin for four weeks and then removed. To add a name or to renew your request, please call the Parish Center at 612.823.8205.

Our Liturgies from April through today’s will be available through the St. Joan of Arc website. Celebrate virtually with Fr. DeBruycker , Fr. Cassidy and the SJA community.

Watch online at www.stjoan.com.

Families, tune in to the video liturgies designed for families!

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

Week of June 15- June 21, 2020 Actual $46,719 Budget $33,717 Prior Year Actual $32,610

Year to Date (July 1 – June 21, 2020)

Actual $2,090,886 Budget $1,974,317 Prior Year Actual $1,978,019

THANK YOU for your continued generosity!!

Congratulations! Many of you will remember Shaymaa and Mustafa Al-Tameemi who first arrived in Minneapolis in the fall of 2009 for what was to be three separate medical visits. In 2012, the family of eight immigrated to Turkey, and then located permanently in the Twin Cities 2014, when their application for refugee status was awarded. Now, six years later, Shayymaa has let us know that the family’s US citizenship was granted and their adult son, Hussein , received his in a court appearance last Thursday. Congratulations to the whole Al-Tameemi family as they begin their new journey as US Citizens!

Emergency Arts Boxes is asking families to create boxes filled with art supplies that will be distributed to people devastated by the killing of George Floyd. Simply find a box and pack it with new, packaged

and unopened art supplies. You can then safely drop off your box at SJA Mon-Fri between 9-3. FFI contact Gabrielle at gdane@stjoan.com or visit https://emergencyarts.net

Food Shelf Donations Are Needed: We will continue to accept non-perishable food items, which can be dropped off Monday thru Friday, 9am - 3pm in the bins in the Parish Center entry. Your food offerings are donated to the Foodshelf at Sabathani Commu-nity Center and they have also indicated a need for laundry deter-gent and body soap. Thank you for your willingness to help those in need.

Help Parishioners In Need! If you are able to help members in our community with things like picking up & delivering groceries and such, please contact Sherri Stella at 612.823.8205 ext. 231 or sstella@stjoan.com.

A Prayer During Times of COVID-19

In this time of COVID-19, we pray: When we aren’t sure, God,

help us be calm; when information comes

from all sides, correct and not, help us to discern;

when fear makes it hard to breathe, and anxiety seems to be the order of the day,

slow us down, God; help us to reach out with our hearts, when we can’t touch with our hands;

help us to be socially connected, when we have to be socially distant;

help us to love as perfectly as we can, knowing that “perfect love casts out all fear.”

for the doctors, we pray, for the nurses we pray,

for the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the caregivers, we pray, for the researchers and theorists,

the epidemiologists and investigators, for those who are sick,

and those who are grieving, we pray, for all who are affected, all around the world …

we pray for safety, for health,

for wholeness. May we feed the hungry,

give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked and house those without homes;

may we walk with those who feel they are alone, and may we do all that we can to heal

the sick - in spite of the fear. Help us, O God,

that we might help each other. in the name of the Creator, in the name of the Healer,

in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all, We pray.

May it be so. -Rev. Richard Botts