Hello! The last few days have been stunningly beautiful outside ~ how blessed we are to live here and experience God's glory in all four seasons. I went for a bike ride today at lunch and enjoyed the smells and colors of fall. Praise the Lord!

​K-12 Faith formation classes continue this Sunday with our annual October Rosary event to commemorate the month of the Rosary. Students will make Rosaries, pray the Rosary together, and learn about the history and mysteries in their classes. Little Church is also available at 9:00am and 11:00am Masses, please spread the word to parents with small children that we offer a kid's lesson during the Liturgy of the Word for those in 1st grade and under.

​Much consternation has arisen since the federal Covid-19 vaccine mandate. I wrote a "FAQ regarding Covid vaccination" that expresses what I believe to be Church teaching on the matter. The long and short of it is that everyone has an obligation to act for the common good. The Church has long supported science, research, and medicine that serves the common good of persons, including the use of vaccines. But it takes time to evaluate the nature of a disease, treatments, safety, and effectiveness of a vaccine. Vaccination should be a voluntary decision by the individual who has weighed the risks and benefits so they can give their free and informed consent. There should be robust protections and accommodations for those who choose not to get it or who judge it wrong for them to receive it. Those who refuse a vaccine are obliged to do all they can by other means and behavior to avoid transmitting disease. You can read the whole insert here: Frequently asked questions regarding Covid vaccines.pdf. I hope it's helpful!

​Last Saturday was the Feast of the Guardian Angels. There's a lot of legend out there about angels, and not a whole lot of clarity about what the Church teaches about angels. Pillar Catholic spoke with several theologians who spoke about what the Church has taught about guardian angels, and why. It's a great read: Are guardian angels really a thing (and how do we know)?​

​Speaking of Pillar Catholic, they really do great reporting and story writing. They recently completed a 3-part series on the past, present, and future of Native American Catholics. Our diocese is blessed with many Native American Catholics, interspersed in our parishes and in primarily Native parishes in Brimley and Assinins. This 3-part series is well worth the read to understand the history and hope of Native Catholics: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

​This is Week 2 of our Parish-wide Fall Scripture Study on St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. If you haven't yet started Romans, it's the 6th book of the New Testament. We're asking everyone to participate at one of three levels: 1) Read the two chapters each week; 2) Use the study guide to learn and reflect on what you read; 3) Participate in the Saturday morning discussion led by me online from 8:30am-9:15am. Visit our website to learn more and get the study guide and Zoom link.

​The annual Wise Men's Retreat led by Fr. Ben Hasse will take place December 3rd-5th at Fortune Lak Camp near Crystal Falls. It’s a great facility with lots of room, so we hope to have a big group! Men of all ages are invited to attend for a weekend of fellowship, good food, talks, prayer, and an awesome sauna they have there. Cost is $150 and the theme will be "Back to the Basics: The Big Three. Regular Confession, Sunday Mass, Daily Prayer, illustrated with examples from the lives of the saints." Registration: https://mtucatholic.org/wisemensretreat​

​There's good news about our local Care Clinic family resource center located in St. John's convent. Last week they began to be open five days a week, M-F every afternoon. The Care Clinic offers educational resources, mentoring, parenting classes, and support for mothers and fathers with children of all ages. We have a fantastic staff of volunteer mentors eager to help, and a closet full of diapers, wipes, and clothes. Spread the word that appointments can be made by calling 228-CARE or by dropping by during open hours.

​Finally, we're chartering a bus again for this coming January's March for Life in Washington, D.C., the largest pro-life gathering in the world. We'll join hundreds of thousands of people for the Mass for Life in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, and for the rally and prayerful walk to the Supreme Court steps. A day of sightseeing on Saturday will cap off our pilgrimage. The dates are January 19-23, 2022, and cost is $375 per person. Registration is open at ishpemingcatholic.com/march. Join us!

​Peace,

Father Ryan