All tents open at 5:00 pm on Friday, May 18^th. The children’s tent will open from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.,(kids can then head over to see the live band). Along with the regular grilled foods we offer (brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, pork sandwiches), we’ll be offering appetizers from 5:00 p.m.-7:00p.m.  Look for chicken wings, cheese curds, and deep-fried green beans, tacos in a bag, onion rings, fries and more. Come from work and eat with us. Returning for their 6^th year is Steve Millar and Diamondhead playing live music from 7:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

On Saturday, May 19^th the festival will be open from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Events include the 5k fun run/walk, silent auction, bingo, children’s game tent, food & beverage tent, inflatable’s and more. The children’s tent has new games and we’ve replaced the kid’s garage sale with a “make -it & take-it” craft corner. Kids (and adults) can design t-shirts and flip-flops, decorate cup cakes and make spin art. Our most exciting change this year is the Italian dinner we’re hosting Saturday night from 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.,  in Archangel’s Hall.  We’re serving pasta, meatballs, salad and bread. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Enjoy a great Italian meal with some nice ambiance and music. After dinner, head to the beer tent for live music from the Dakota Ramblers.

Sunday starts with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Knights of Columbus beginning at 8:00 and tents open at 11:30. Vern Schultz and the High Hat Band will play from 12:00 p.m. -2:00 p.m.  This year the event will close at 2:00 pm concluding with the cash and prize raffle drawings.

Volunteers are the cornerstone of this weekend. Please prayerfully consider offering some of your time in the area of your choice to make this year’s festival a great success! Sign up online at www.springfestonline.org.You’ll also find more detailed information and contact information online.

They approach you with an outstretched hand and introduce themselves. There is something strangely familiar about his face. “What are they selling?” I ponder.The man explains why he stopped by, “I  am a member of the Church of St Michael, right here in Prior Lake,” he states.   “My son and I are out in the neighborhood this morning spreading the word about our upcoming church festival  SpringFest.Our family attends  every year and we enjoy the time we spend together. Are you familiar with SpringFest?” he finishes. You are puzzled, “OK, what does he want, money, raffle tickets?” you say to yourself. Politely you answer, “Yes, I have seen the signs up around town.” He responds “Great, here is some information about the festival, a coupon and some information about our church. We would love to have you come.”

Still, these is something familiar about this man……BINGO! – he was my son’s soccer coach a few years back. I remind him, and we start to laugh. After a brief catching up and reminiscing about coaching 5 year old kids trying to play soccer, we shake hands and he starts back down the driveway. Hmmmm……..I am smiling……..

Join us as we spend an easy few hours on Saturday, May 14^th from 9:00 a.m.,visiting neighbors and reminding our neighbors what a great parish community we belong to.

If  I am sick or am facing some significant challenge, I would not hesitate to ask my family and friends to pray for me. In the same way, they do not hesitate to ask for the assistance of my prayers. This is a practice common among Christians, whether Catholic or non-Catholic. What makes the Catholic experience of this a bit different is that we do not hesitate to ask those who have died to pray for us and we do not hesitate to pray for those who have died.  We are still united with all these people in “The Communion of Saints.”

In the rite for a “Vigil Service” before a funeral we find these words: “My brothers and sisters, we believe that all the ties of friendship and affection which knit us as one throughout our lives do not unravel with death.”  Death cannot break our union with other believers nor diminish our mutual love.  It also cannot break our union with God in Jesus.  In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul writes: “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (8:38+39).

It is because of this “Communion” that Catholics do not hesitate to turn to the saints, who have preceded us, and ask for their prayers in our times of need.  We do not pray to the saints in the same way that we would pray to God, but we do ask for their prayers as we might ask any friends for their prayers.  Thus, in the Hail Mary, we ask the Mother of God to “pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.”

Because we believe that some believers may still be undergoing the preparation they need to enter into the Divine Presence, we also pray for the dead.  Since we cannot know if our loved ones are presently in God’s Presence or are preparing for that, it is appropriate to simply pray that God will bring them into the fullness of the Kingdom.

During the month of May, when Catholics traditionally turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary through special devotions, asking for her help and intercession, it is important that we understand what it means to seek the intercession of another believer in our time of need.  It is also important that we can explain our actions to those non Catholics who may not understand “The Communion of Saints” as we do.

Fr. Tom Sieg -4/4/2012