Weekly Update 8- October 29, 2026
Calendar of Events |
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| Th. 10.22 | 6:00 PM Wolf Ridge Chaperone Mtg (Kenney Commons) |
| Fr. 10.23 | 9:00-10:30 AM Picture Retake Day 8:00 AM K-8 School Mass (church) |
| Mo. 10.26 | Out-of-Uniform passes may be used |
| We. 10.28 | 6:00 PM Ignite (6th-8th) and Spark (2nd-5th) Youth Groups (youth room) |
| Fr. 10.30 | Archbishop Hebda visit starting with 8:00 AM K-8 School Mass with an All Saints Procession 1:45 PM Staff/Student Volleyball Game (gym) |
| Su. 11.1 | Daylight Savings Time ends 10:00 AM All Saints Day Mass followed by All Saints Day Party (church & Doran Hall) |
Looking Ahead |
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| Fr. 11.6 | NO BUS SERVICE |
| Fr. 11.13 | SCHOOL NOT IN SESSION: Staff Development Day 8:00-9:00 AM Explore & Kindergarten Event (school) |
| We. 11.25-Fr. 11.27 | No school: Thanksgiving Break |
Dear St. Charles Parents,
It was great to see so many of you at conferences. Monday evening middle school conferences featured a crowded room and long wait times. We got to the source of this, and we promise it will be better in the spring!
We would like to make you aware that there have been some incidents where a person in our neighborhood was attacked, or there was an attempt to harm them. These happened in the morning before daylight, between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM, in the area of Benjamin and 26th. One of the victims is a St. Charles community member. We are keeping the name private at this time. Please pray for the victims, the person who hurt them, and our community.
The CSCOE Summit was a great day for Catholic school staff. This is where we all were last Wednesday, October 14th. It was a great day of professional development, Mass with Bishop Izen, and a chance to celebrate our Catholic schools together.
We’re closing out October next week, and the month will go out with a bang! Please show up for Mass on Friday the 30th at 8:00 AM! Archbishop Hebda will be presiding; our 1st graders will be processing in dressed as saints (anticipating All Saints Day on November 1st), and it will be Friday! Archbishop Hebda will get a tour of the school after Mass. There is also the Vatican Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit that our students will be able to see in Doran Hall. (This exhibit was created by the recently canonized St. Carlo Acutis.) The exhibit will be open to our community after school on Friday and through the weekend, so come check it out!
Please look at the information below about the Explore Preschool and Kindergarten Event on November 13th at 8:00 AM. This is an opportunity for current parents, but especially for new parents who have not seen St. Charles before. Please share this information with anyone you know who is interested in a Catholic School with the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ who strive for excellence in faith, virtue, service, and academics.
God bless you
Danny Kieffer
St. Charles School Principal
Come explore where learning begins with love! Families with children ages 3 to 5 are invited to enjoy muffins and juice with our Preschool and Kindergarten teachers, visit our classrooms, and complete a scavenger hunt together. You’ll also learn about enrollment, tuition, and tuition assistance for the 2027-28 school year. Registration is free; siblings are welcome.
Schulze Early Learning Scholarships for PreK
Schulze Early Learning Scholarships (SELS) for the 2027-2028 school year will open on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Only families with a child entering PreK next year are eligible. For more information, click HERE.
Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive ~ Coming Soon
The 3rd graders are hosting the 31st Annual St. Charles School Thanksgiving Food Drive that runs Monday, November 3 – Friday, November 20. The donations go to the Missionaries of Charity in Minneapolis and the Franciscan Brothers of Peace in St. Paul.
- The Brothers are in need of personal hygiene items and any non-perishable foods. They also requested traditional Thanksgiving dinner food items. Canned foods are of lesser need, but are still appreciated.
- The Sisters are requesting the following: boxed food, dried beans, white rice, maseca flour, cooking oil, cereal (any), spaghetti noodles & sauce, and any noodles (including ramen). Also appreciated are diapers in sizes 3, 4, and 5, paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, Kleenex), and personal hygiene products.
- Special note: Please do not donate anything in glass jars. Thank you!
God bless your generosity to our neighbors in need!
Borromeo Bash ~ Looking for Silent Auction Volunteers!
The Borromeo Bash committee has kicked off their meetings and is in need of volunteers to join the silent auction team!
Requirements
- Attend a monthly hour-long Bash meeting (7 total)
- Assist in outreach via email or phone to local businesses for auction items
- Help coordinate silent auction logistics
- You will be trained and have lots of fun doing it!
Next meeting is Tuesday, November 10th at 7:30 PM. Please reach out to Borromeo Bash if interested!
Prayer Partners Still Needed
Calling all prayer warriors! Parishioners and staff have an opportunity to pray for one of our students by name from October to April as our second and eighth graders prepare to receive important sacraments this year. A “prayer partner” prays daily for a specific student and writes a short monthly note of faithful encouragement to that special person. If you are interested in volunteering, you can email Linda. After signing up, you will receive more details along with the name of your student.
St. Charles Playgroup
The St. Charles Playgroup meets outdoors at local parks every Thursday at 10:00 AM from May through October. During the colder months (November through April), Playgroup will meet in the youth room at Church and enjoy coffee and fellowship. Please follow the link below to sign up on Flocknotes to get updates.
Parish Updates and Events
All Saints Party ~ Sunday, November 1 ~ November Formation
Celebrate All Saints Day Mass at 10:00 AM – come dressed as your favorite saint, and you will be entered into a raffle! Following Mass, there will be lunch provided, a chance to meet all the saints, and games/activities with prizes. The celebration will conclude with praying the Litany of the Saints. To RSVP, click HERE!
Eucharistic Miracles ~ Vatican International Exhibit
Experience an amazing exhibition conceived and designed by St. Carlo Acutis, who during his short life was to help bring others closer to Jesus through awareness of the mystery of the Eucharist. This exhibit will be on display this Friday (after daily Mass & 3-7 PM), Saturday (after daily Mass – 7PM), and Sunday (7:30 AM – 12:30 PM) in Doran Hall.
Join a Parish Small Group!
Please consider joining a small group here at St. Charles. The focus this year will be on the Family. These small groups are fellowship groups, prayer groups, study groups, and a place where you can grow in discipleship together. If you are interested in joining a small group, please click HERE or call the parish office at 612-781-6529
The Meal Train Ministry
Would you like to help provide meals for a person or family in their time of need? OR do you or someone you know have a short-term need (due to a birth, surgery, illness, etc.) for meals to be delivered to your home? Contact Megan if you are interested in this ministry.
Prayer Corner
If you would like to add someone to our prayer corner, please email the information to Danny Kieffer.
- For a special intention for a speedy recovery for a St. Charles student’s mother.
- For a full recovery from surgery and from complications for Katy, grandmother of students Caroline and Eliza.
- For the repose of the soul of Eddie S., grandfather of teacher Señora Johnson, and comfort for his family.
- For Mary E., our library assistant & preschool substitute teacher, as she undergoes surgery, and prayers for healing and speedy recovery.
- For full recovery for Jerry, brother of staff member Glenn.
- For the peace of Christ to reign in our hearts, our homes, our community, our world.
Helpful Links for Parents for School, Parish, & Community:
- St. Charles School Calendar
- St. Charles School Lunch Menus
- St. Charles Athletic Calendar
- St Charles School Volunteers
- Spirit Wear orders
- St. Charles Borromeo Parish
- Columbia Heights Parks & Recreation Brochure
- T-G Open House Oct. 29
- TG Free Youth Wrestling Clinic Oct.26 & Nov 2
- TG Youth Wrestling Club 2026
Weekly Update article deadline: Wednesday, 9:00 AM – Send submissions to mwappes@stchbs.org
