August 9

Home bound & desiring Communion? Contact Linda at 361-1600 to schedule an appointment.
Save the Date! Ice Cream Social & Mass on the Grass is August 30th.

Weekend Bulletin
Children’s Bulletin
Prayer for Vocations

Dear parishioners of St. Michael the Archangel,

Today's Gospel is about Jesus who calls forth Peter to bravely walk on storm seas. Our world thinks that being thrown into water is a matter of sink or swim. With Jesus, there is always another way. I don't walk on water, but I follow a Jesus who leads us in every storm. For a year you're going to get one more priest who is the child of South Dakotans, so allow me to share a bit about how I have heard the Lord's voice calling me. 

My parents are from Plankinton and Kimball, SD. I was born in Virginia, the second of four kids, and I lived most of my childhood years on or near military bases. For two years, however, my mom and us kids lived in Plankinton when the Navy sent my dad to Antarctica. I love movies, writing, hiking and traveling, and the Seattle Mariners. Something formative in my faith happened to me when I was 15 years old and we lived in Oak Harbor, Washington. My dad invited me to a prayer breakfast on the Navy base. The guest speaker was Jim Zorn, quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks. He talked about how a strong relationship with Christ made him a stronger person and NFL player. He gave me his autograph and an influential scripture quote. Look up 1 Corinthians 10:13 about overcoming trials with a God who is faithful. 

I grew up Catholic, but it wasn't until I went off to college at Seattle University that I studied at a Catholic school. That's where I met the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. That's when the Jesuits really helped me get to know Christ much more deeply. The Jesuit spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola, glorifying God in all things, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, or A.M.D.G., attracted me to consider becoming a Jesuit. Seattle is a great movie town: I saw lots of movies. Storytelling in movies can be much more than entertainment, and it's through this that the Jesuits encouraged me to do advanced studies in filmmaking and screenwriting. For me, God can be glorified in movies and Jesus doesn't have to have a role in order for this to be true. However, you don't get a more compelling figure than Jesus.

After graduating with a business degree, I entered the Jesuits in 1984. Every Jesuit does the Spiritual Exercises twice (this is a 30-day silent retreat). We all study philosophy and theology and works before being ordained. I taught in a high school for four years. I was ordained in 1996. I learned to follow Jesus as Lord and as friend. In ministry I loved seeing light bulbs go on in other's heads and watching them grow in faith, hope and love. As a Jesuit I have had two great chapters of service: a teacher in high school and university and a military chaplain. Twelve years ago I produced a documentary about unaccompanied immigrant youth and directed a national program about immigration It was about helping immigrants and Catholics find and tell their stories, and be found in the story of salvation. It was exciting work that took me in many directions. It made me proud to be Catholic because, in the words of Pope Francis, our Church "builds bridges" for immigrants. 

In journeying across the country for that project I saw more young people in wheelchairs and with prosthetic limbs. These were service members and veterans who returned with combat wounds. I wanted a more pastoral priesthood to hear their stories, as well as the stories of those with wounds invisible to the human eye. I asked to be a chaplain in the military because I believed I was called to leave the safety of the boat of the university life. It was a faith journey to serve all military members and their families with respect, regardless of their faith profession or no profession, and to be with Catholics to help them find and join their stories to Christ. I served in the US Air Force at six bases (four active duty and two in the Reserves) and deployed twice to the Middle East. After nine years, this past January, I believed I could be better used if I served veterans as a chaplain.

The Jesuits missioned me to Sioux Falls for a one-year residency at the VA Medical Center so I can be a VA chaplain. I'm very grateful for Fr. Terry and Bishop DeGrood to have me live and serve at St. Michael the Archangel for this year. Undoubtedly I will  see more light bulbs burn more brightly among vets and in the parish. I arrived during the deadly storm of Covid 19 and America's turbulent racial and social times.  I'm here to learn and do health care and parish ministry, and this calls for getting out of the boat and following the Lord. This terrible virus has changed the way we do things. However,  it does not change the Way. Jesus is the Way. As Lord and as a friend, he calls to us. In Jesus, there is no stronger hero to help us understand our purpose, our plot line in God's story of salvation. 

Do I still love movies? All kinds! Among many popular films I like are the original "Star Wars"trilogy, "Terminator Two" and "The Lego Movie." I take an interest in movies with military themes, like "Blackhawk Down" and "Hacksaw Ridge." Among many foreign films I like are "Babette's Feast" and another trilogy, "Red," "White" and "Blue." "It's a Wonderful Life" is on my annual list. Let me know the movies that you like. People often ask two things, 1) "Have you met Pope Francis?" Yes, in Rome in 2019, for an awesome 30 seconds. 2) "Do you prefer to be called Father, Fr. Mark, Fr. McGregor, Fr. McG?" I echo what the farm boy said in "The Princess Bride:" As you wish. 

In our times, as we row across the water, I pray for you and share with you the prayer on a plaque that President John F. Kennedy had on his Oval Office desk, "O, God, Thy sea is so great and my boat is so small." 

A.M.D.G.
Fr. Mark McGregor, SJ
"Light a light. Be a light."
#beajesuit