CATHOLIC UNITED FINANCIAL (CUF) meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 7 at 6:30 pm in the St. Francis Xavier School. Please join them.

“500 Cards” Wednesday, February 8, 1:00 pm in Xavier Hall. Everyone is invited! Because the fourth Sunday in February is Ash Wednesday, there will be no cards played on that day, February 22.

GUMBO FEED FUNDRAISER—Saturday, February 11, 2012 from 4:30 to 7:00 pm being held at Cathedral High School in the commons area, benefiting the CHS Band & Choir Spring Trip to New Orleans! Chris & Al Horning (members of our parish) will be in the gathering Place on the weekend of February 4 & 5 if you would like to show your support and purchase tickets to this delicious event. At the event, there will be live jazz and Dixie entertainment during dinner. Price: $10.00-all ages. Tickets also available at CHS school office or from any CHS band or choir students. They will be performing in New Orleans, LA over Spring Break, 2012.

FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF LITTLE FALLS—Invite you to join them for Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading) on Thursday, February 16, 6-7pm in the Gathering Space at St. Francis Convent, Little Falls. No need to pre-register. For more information, please call 320-632-0668 or email: franciscanlife@fslf.org; www.fslf.org

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER—Are you looking to enrich your relationship with your spouse?  Attend a Marriage Encounter weekend at the St. Francis Center in Little Falls! For over 30 years St. Cloud Marriage Encounter has enriched thousands of marriages in Minnesota. The next two weekends will be held on February 11-12 and April 14-15.  To get further information please call 320-252-3220 or on the internet: http://stcloudme.org

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING CLASSES—A first instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in

St. Cloud on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 pm at the Office of Marriage & Family. For more information, or to register, call

320-252-4721. The class is approximately 1½ to 2 hours long. 

ST. JOHN’S ABBEY LENTEN RETREAT at the Abbey Guesthouse in Collegeville on February 24-26. This Lenten retreat will meditate on the scripture passages that narrate the last few days of Jesus, leading up to his passion, death and resurrection. Conferences will focus on (1) Palm Sunday and the entrance into Jerusalem, (2) Jesus’ words over Jerusalem, (3) The washing of His disciples’ feet, (4) the Last Supper and (5) His death and resurrection. The retreat starts with dinner on Friday night at 6:00 pm and ends after lunch on Sunday at 1:00 pm. The cost is $180 for a single room and $300 for a double room ($150.00).

To register for this retreat online, go to the guesthouse webpage: www.abbeyguesthouse.org or call the Abbey Spiritual Life Office at 320-363-3929.