News & Events

News

Catholic Charities: For more information on the Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis: who they are, what they do, and their agenda for 2019, visit their website at cctwincities.org or click on the following:

Advocacy & Social Justice
2019 Legislative Agenda

Community Garden Registration NOW OPEN: St. Gerard’s Community Garden registration materials are NOW available to download or pick up in the parish office for the 2019 growing season. There are 14 individual 20 ft x 20 ft garden plots available. Both parishioners and the public will be able to rent an individual plot for growing fresh and healthy food. Goals include serving low income and diverse groups within the Brooklyn Park community and promoting and providing access to healthy food. One of the garden plots will be reserved for parishioners to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP). If you would like further information or to volunteer, contact Anne Tiller at annet@st-gerard.org or 763-424-8770 ext 120. For more information and registration materials, you can also visit our JUSTICE & OUTREACH page

Hygiene Kit Collection: St. Gerard's will continue to collect items for hygiene kits throughout 2019 to be donated to Hennepin County Health and Human Services. These items will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness. For a list of items needed click here. Items can be labeled (hygiene) and placed in the CEAP bins. Thank you for your participation.

Attention Online Shoppers: Do you shop on Amazon? When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the same low prices, same products and same shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to St. Gerard's. Support St. Gerard's when you shop Amazon by using the link https://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0973587 - it is already setup to directly support St. Gerard's. Thank you!

February Events

February Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated on the following days in February. If you are ill and would like to receive this sacrament, please stay in the Church following Mass.
Saturday, February 9 - after 5:00 pm Mass
Sunday, February 17 - after 8:30 am Mass
Sunday, February 24 - after 10:30 am Mass

Community Garden Registration - NOW OPEN!

St. Gerard’s Community Garden registration materials are NOW available to download or pick up in the parish office for the 2019 growing season. There are 14 individual 20 ft x 20 ft garden plots available. Both parishioners and the public will be able to rent an individual plot for growing fresh and healthy food. Goals include serving low income and diverse groups within the Brooklyn Park community and promoting and providing access to healthy food. One of the garden plots will be reserved for parishioners to grow fresh vegetables to be donated to the Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP). If you would like further information or to volunteer, contact Anne Tiller at annet@st-gerard.org or 763-424-8770 ext 120. For more information and registration materials, you can also visit our JUSTICE & OUTREACH page.

St. Gerard’s Community Garden Needs Your Help! A Garden Coordinator is needed for the coming growing season. Many benefits, including free garden plot for the growing season. For additional information and a job description, contact Anne at annet@st-gerard.org or call 763-424-8770 ext 120

Feed My Starving Children Mobile Pack - Feb 20-24

We need your help with the NW FMSC Metro Mobile Pack! St. Gerard’s has reserved spots for our community to pack food at the FMSC Mobile Pack. The Knights of Columbus will have a table in the Gathering Space with information on how you can volunteer or donate to FMSC. Join us! It would be great to volunteer together. Wear your St. Gerard’s t-shirt to the event. If you don’t already have one - pick up a t-shirt in the parish office. (Now only $5!!!) Thanks for living your faith out in the community! For more information and directions, see the flyer.

Register online to pack meals with other St. Gerard parishioners:
Wed, Feb 20, 6-8:30 pm - Register here.
Thurs, Feb 21, 6-8:30 pm - Register here.
Sat, Feb, 23, 3-5 pm - Register here.

Corn Fest Planning Meeting - Feb 21

Tired of cold and snow? Think warm thoughts and join us at the Corn Fest planning meeting on Thursday, February 21 at 7:00pm. New members are especially welcome this year as many long time members have stepped down. Please join us as we prepare for our 49th gathering of Faith, Family and Community (August 9-10, 2019). Call Craig at 763-200-3949 or email
cornfest@outlook.com with questions.

Loaves & Fishes - Feb 22

St. Gerard’s hosts Loaves & Fishes on the 4th Friday of every month. Our next date is Friday, February 22nd. We serve from 5-7pm at St. Stephen's in Minneapolis. Sign up to serve on the easel in the Gathering Space. Contact Karen Brenteson at 763-561-7411 with any questions.

Catholic Schools Weekend - Feb 23/24

Have you ever considered a Catholic school for your child? If so, we have invited St. Alphonsus and St. Vincents to represent themselves in the Atrium after mass Saturday, February 23 and Sunday, February 24. Each school has education opportunities from Preschool through 8th grade. Come visit after mass with these schools in our area and members of our St. Gerard's parish whose children attend these Catholic schools to learn more. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Katie Bartsch at dk_bartsch@msn.com.

Scout Troop 575 Spaghetti Dinner - Feb 23

St. Gerard’s Scout Troop 575 invites you and your families to join us on Saturday, February 23 from 5-8 pm in the hard floor area for our 27TH ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER, DESSERT BAR AND SILENT AUCTION!!! This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Some of our silent auction items are numerous merchant/restaurant gift cards, hand created baskets and many other awesome items!
Price: $8, age 4 and under free. Monetary donations also accepted. Hope to see you there!

New Member Welcome Brunch - Feb 24

We would like to invite you to a New Member Brunch on Sunday, February 24 after the 10:30 Mass. We will meet at the Welcome Desk in the Gathering Space. The brunch will also include a tour; time to meet some staff members and other new parishioners; and tons of helpful information. Please RSVP online or by emailing suec@st-gerard.org or by calling the parish office at 763-424-8770 . Hope to see you there!

Catholic Charities: Recognizing Trauma - Feb 27

Join the Catholic Charities Advocacy Team to learn from a panel of experts how childhood, historical and current trauma can alter those who are dealing with it, our society and the role the community plays in supporting one another. The event takes place Wednesday, February 27, from 5:30 - 8:30pm (program begins at 6:00pm), at the Woulfe Alumni Hall, Anderson Student Center at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul. For more information, and to register, visit the Catholic Charities website.

March Events

March Against Hunger in MN - All of March

St. Gerard's will collect both food and cash donations throughout the month of March!
For the last 45 years, CEAP has been the neighborhood food shelf for the Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center communities. Every year, when the calendar turns to March, CEAP coordinates efforts to bring together individuals, businesses, civic groups, and faith communities, to raise both food and funds to March Against Hunger in MN.

CEAP’s 2019 goal is to raise $245,000 and 210,000 pounds of food for our community. A portion of every dollar and pound raised for CEAP will be matched by Minnesota FoodShare in this joint effort to eradicate hunger in Minnesota. Please help by filling a grocery bag or making a cash donation. Make checks out to CEAP and either place in the Sunday collection baskets or drop off at the parish office. For more information on hunger in MN click here. Thank You for your participation!

Sharing & Caring Hands - March 2

St. Gerard’s prepares and serves a lunch at Sharing and Caring Hands every first Saturday of the month. Our next date is Saturday, March 2. No need to sign up, just come on Saturday morning at 9:00am to St. Gerard’s kitchen and help prepare the food. Then at 10:50am help pack up the food, take it to Sharing and Caring Hands on 7th Street (Minneapolis), and help serve at 11:30am. Questions? Call John at 763-561-3841.

Volunteer Appreciation Night - March 2

St. Gerard’s Volunteer Appreciation Night will be Saturday, March 2 at 6:00pm. Please RSVP online or at suec@st-gerard.org or to the parish office at 763-424-8770 by Monday, February 25. Thank you for your many hours of time and talent!

KC Pancake Breakfast - March 3

Please join the Knights of Columbus and your fellow parishioners for a pancake and sausage breakfast after the 8:30am and 10:30am Masses on Sunday, March 3. The proceeds from this free-will offering event will be used for parish needs and community programs. Let the Knights cook and clean up while you enjoy a great breakfast and the good company of your friends and family.

Family Fun Band Concert - March 3

All are invited to attend a FREE concert by the St. Louis Park Community Band! Steve Lyons, a parishioner at St. Gerard’s, is the Director of the St. Louis Park Band. This family-friendly concert will be in the St. Gerard’s Worship Space on Sunday, March 3, at 2:30pm. Reception to follow. All are welcome! Hope you can make it!

Benefit Concert for Avenues for Homeless Youth - March 3

You are invited to a benefit concert for Avenues for Homeless Youth on Sunday, March 3rd from 3:00-4:30 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church (7217 West Broadway Ave, Brooklyn Park, 55428.) The Caritas Vocal Ensemble will be performing. For more information, see the flyer.

Ash Wednesday, Lent Begins - March 6

Join us for Ash Wednesday!
8:30am - Mass
12:00pm - Word Service with Ashes
5:00pm - Mass
6:00pm - ALL PARISH SOUP SUPPER!
7:00pm - Word Service with Ashes
For more information, visit our 2019 Lent page.

March Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be celebrated on the following days in February. If you are ill and would like to receive this sacrament, please stay in the Church following Mass.
Saturday, March 9 - after 5:00 pm Mass
Sunday, March 17 - after 8:30 am Mass
Sunday, March 24 - after 10:30 am Mass