SAINTST. GERALD CATHOLIC CHURCH

Volunteer Appreciation Dinner - RSVP Today!

You and your family are invited to join Fr. Mark, Fr. Michael and the Parish Staff as they honor YOU for all your service to St. Gerald Parish and School. Please join us on August 24th for a special 5:00pm Mass with a dinner immediately following at 96th & Q. Use the link below to RSVP or call the Parish office at 402-331-1955 or email: office@stgerald.org.

RSVP

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Embrace Grace - Starting in August

St. Gerald’s is launching a new ministry/small group called Embrace Grace. This group provides emotional, practical, and spiritual support for single, young pregnant women who find themselves in an unexpected pregnancy. The primary goal of Embrace Grace is to empower the church to be a safe and nonjudgmental place for these young women to run to when they find out they are pregnant, instead of the last place they are welcomed because of shame and guilt. It is a 12-week program that teaches them about God's love and grace, and at the end we will give them a baby shower to honor them for choosing life and to help provide for their baby’s needs. We need your help! Would you prayerfully consider coming along side us as we launch this ministry and serve weekly in the group meetings, consider serving at the events that are a part of this program, or contributing in some other way? For more information on Embrace Grace ministries, please visit www.embracegrace.com. If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please contact Bernadette Costello @ (402)960-3259, who is leading this ministry at St. Gerald’s.

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RCIA Starting September 10

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is an avenue for interested inquirers to learn about the Catholic Faith. Through the program, they walk the journey of faith with fellow parishioners who are dedicated in their desire to learn about God through the Catholic Faith. These men and women meet on a weekly basis from September through Easter.

Just as in the early Christian Community, Baptism takes place at Easter time. Families and friends are welcome to enjoy this joyful event with those who have completed the steps to a defining point in their lives.

More Info & Registration

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Alpha at Nebraska Brewing Company

If you haven't yet had a chance to attend Alpha, this summer you have the unique opportunity to encounter Jesus in a more informal setting. Starting June 18, Alpha is being offered at the Nebraska Brewing Company Taproom just south of 108th & L. Alpha meets every person right where they are on their faith journey. It is more than a program, it helps create a culture in our parish in which our vision and mission can flourish. Now is the time for you to "come and see" what Alpha has in store for you. It is not too late to join us... click the button below!

More Info & Registration

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Welcome Aboard!

Please join in welcoming Connie Farrell to our Parish Staff, as our new Secretary. Connie has been a member of St. Gerald Parish since 1986. She has been married for 32 years to her loving husband, Shawn Farrell. They have 3 grown children; who attended St. Gerald School. Prior to joining the Parish Staff, Connie worked at the school for 16 years as a Kindergarten Teacher Aide.

Connie loves to watch college baseball, is a BIG Husker football fan and love's being outdoors. Her family and prayer are high priorities for her daily living. Mother Mary is Connie's rock and she turns to her for guidance in all occasions. The Lenten Parish Mission really inspired Connie to encounter Jesus in new ways and grow in her relationship with God. She continues to grow through daily prayer and meditation.

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Fr. Mark's School of Prayer

In Matthew 21:13, Jesus tells us that "My house shall be a house of prayer". You and I, by virtue of our baptism into Christ are now God's house, God's dwelling place, God's temple of the Holy Spirit. In Luke 11:1, one of Jesus's disciples said, "Lord, teach us how to pray just as John taught his disciples." God created us for Himself, that we might come to know Him and the profound love that He has for each of us. As disciples of Jesus, it is absolutely essential that we be deeply grounded in Him (in Love) through a life of prayer. For without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5)!

If you would like to grow in your relationship with Jesus through a life of prayer, please join Fr. Mark every first Saturday of the month at the Lakeview chapel following the 8:15 Mass. Please bring a journal and pen.

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New Rectory

In an effort to cut our parish expenses and to get our parish out of the “rental” business, Fr. Mark and the Servant Leadership Team, and with the approval of our Finance and Maintenance Committees, have decided to sell our current priests’ residence (rectory) sometime this summer and to make our parish rental house behind our church office the new rectory. Proceeds from the sale of the current rectory will then be used to pay off the majority of the rental house mortgage, while the remainder of the proceeds will be used for much-needed renovations of the rental house. Thanks to the generosity of countless volunteers, mostly from our parish, and donations of labor, materials, supplies and resources, we should be able to keep this renovation project under budget. Our hope is to have our priests moved in to the new rectory sometime this summer. Words cannot express our deep gratitude to all our volunteers who have made so many sacrifices and have worked countless hours in providing our parish a beautiful new home for our priests.

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Article Suggestions from Father Mark

• American Minute with Bill Federer
• The Most Powerful Thing You Can Do For Your Kids
• Why Such Empty Pews?
• President of U.S. Bishops' Conference Announces Effort That Will Involve Laity, Experts, and the Vatican as U.S. Bishops Resolve to Address "Moral Catastrophe"
• To Prevent Gossip, Think Before Speaking
• Take This 10-Point Gossip Test and Never Gossip Again
• New Year's Resolutions from St. Padre Pio
• Mass is a time of silence and prayer, not idle chitchat, pope says
• Why So Many Have Stopped Going to Church
• The scary truth about what's hurting our kids

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