Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Community

Celebrating 30 Years of Sister Parish!
Norma Linseman-Schuh’s remembrance of creating a mission statement as communities together on the 1995 delegation:

We met as friends. Always starting our days with welcoming embraces, opening prayers, songs, and laughter. Working on opposite sides of the room independent of one another, both delegations drafted separate goals as a starting point. We then shared our respective ideas, which, despite our different cultures, history and circumstances, were amazingly similar with two exceptions...
At the top of SJA's list was "personal growth.” For the people of Tierra Nueva Dos, that was a stumbling block. The goal of the Sister Parish relationship, they explained, is to benefit the community, not the individual. Our focus on self undoubtedly seemed out of place to people who identify so strongly with their families, communities, churches, indigenous groups and a shared economic and political struggle. It was a good reminder to be wary of the ME perspective that people blessed with abundance often develop...

CLICK HERE to read the whole blog --> saintjoanofarc.org/30-yr-sp

Fermentation Class was positivly bubbly! Here's a few photos of parishioners, and their pickles in waiting!

Celebrating 30 Years of Sister Parish!
Tim Leone-Getten reflects on our first delegation:

In 1993, Father George formed a committee to study how St. Joan's could become more directly involved in Central America. He had had some impactful visits and connections in the region and was looking for a way that we as a parish could increase our solidarity beyond our borders. Mary Beth and I had been working and traveling in Latin America on and off for several years at that point and eagerly joined the committee. After exploring a number of organizations, we settled on Sister Parish. It seemed like a good fit for SJA due to its focus on forming deep relationships between communities, based on solidarity, not charity. Sister Parish was working in Nicaragua and Guatemala at the time, but as a group we opted for Guatemala, which was great for me as I had spent the last few summers there and was growing very connected to it. In fact, I had just gotten a job at an international school in Guatemala City and we were moving there in August of 1994. We eagerly volunteered to help set things up by visiting the community and getting to know people before the first official delegation the following spring....

CLICK HERE to read the whole blog --> saintjoanofarc.org/30-yr-sp

We are SO excited to welcome Camille Kolles as SJA's new Liturgy Director, and George Maurer as SJA's new Director of Music! Here's photos of the obligatory, oh so emblematic, "Handing Over of Instruments" from Anna's retirement celebration!

Photographer: Tom Corcoran

Anna's Retirement was not just a celebration of Anna (and Fred!), but a celebration of all the great musicians of Saint Joan of Arc!
Thank you beloved SJA musicians for sharing your gifts with our community!

Photos by Tom Corcoran

THANK YOU, Anna (and Fred!) Vagle, for over 50 impactful years of serving the SJA community. The night was full of laughter, tears, and love, as we celebrated Anna. We send her off with prayers and blessings for a fulfilling retirement!

Stay tuned for more photos of the celebration to come!

Photos by parishoner Tom Corcoran

Thank you to everyone who volunteered to represent SJA at the Downtown Churches Booth at the Twin Cities Pride Festival in Loring Park! The presence of our LGBTQ+ community, family and friends is an important witness in our church and in our world.

Photo by parishoner Tom Corcoran.

Thank you to all who made our Pride Week Prayer Service a beautiful thanksgiving for the gifts of our LGBTQ+ community! The presence of our LGBTQ+ community, family and friends is an important witness in our church and in our world.

https://youtu.be/y7F22CGjhBg

Fr. James Cassidy's June 23rd Homily More information at www.StJoan.com

https://youtu.be/adRMVYkZ2qs

Father James Cassidy's June 16th Homily More information at www.StJoan.com

Guest Speakers on Preventing Gun Violence Guest Speakers Fred Beier, Luca La Hoz Colassara, and Maggiy EmeryMore information at www.StJoan.com

Thank you to all of you for warmly welcoming our guests on Outreach Sunday! We were joined by representatives of 26 organizations and projects that received funding in the past year. It was truly a celebration of abundance!

Guest Speakers Catch Up and Succeed More information at www.StJoan.com

Father James Cassidy's June 2nd Homily More information at www.StJoan.com

Don't miss this wonderful workshop! Join us next Wednesday to learn how we can reduce our use of plastics!

Father James Cassidy's Pentecost Sunday Homily More information at www.StJoan.com

Guest Speaker Julie Madden, Peace and Justice Ministries Director More information at www.StJoan.com

Another Concert Series in the books! Thank you Fabulous Armadillos and Collective Unconscious for a spectacular closing show.
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the 2023/2024 Concert Series, we can't wait to return next year!

Photos by Bill Cameron

Behind the scenes of this year's Alfombra! Creating carpets of colored sawdust is a centuries-old tradition in Guatemala. In solidarity with our Sister Parish, the youth of our parish design and build an Alfombra every year commemorating that relationship.

Father James Cassidy's April 21st Homily More information at www.StJoan.com

Last night was Extravaganza! Celebrating their faith milestone of First Communtion, kids and their families travel from station to station; they meet Moses and Jesus while dressed in contemporary garb, discover what's in the Sacristy, and learn how wheat & grapes are made into bread & wine. Oh, and don't forget the spaghetti dinner!

Father James Cassidy's April 14th Homily More information at www.StJoan.com