Support Life Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025

Save the date! Sunday, Jan. 12, will be Support Life Sunday, sponsored by HNOJ’s A Community Caring for Life (ACCL). Come hungry for a fresh, warm cinnamon roll after the morning Masses! Please note that this Sunday hospitality will be replacing our annual Baking for Babies event. There are still opportunities for volunteers to bake, frost and serve the rolls. There will not, however, be packaged rolls available to take home. Our cinnamon roll event has historically been our biggest fundraiser of the year, and we are hoping to find the same generosity this year. All free-will donations can be made in cash, check, or credit card, and will be split between Elevate Life and Pro-Life Across America.

Cost is a free-will donation. Some people have asked how they can donate as they will not be able to attend the event. People may either click here to give online or mail or drop off a check made out to Holy Name of Jesus with a note that it is for ACCL Support Life Sunday.

Organizations Supported:

Elevate Life is a life-affirming nonprofit organization that supports women and families by assisting more than 40 affiliated Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRCs) and clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Elevate Life provides the network and training to the clinic directors and medical staff that contributes to elevating care standards for the communities they serve. HNOJ has worked directly with Southwest Options for Women and Abria, both of which are affiliate PRCs. For more information, see elevatelifeusa.org.

Pro-Life Across America, also known as “the billboard people,” is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to changing hearts and saving babies' lives. They focus on bringing positive, persuasive messages through billboards, radio, print, and online ads. Their efforts offer information and alternatives to abortion and provide post-abortion assistance to those in need. Their impact is demonstrated by a quotation on their website from a woman in Minneapolis as she says, "I just had to call you and tell you that three and a half years ago I was planning to have an abortion when I passed by one of your Billboards. I took a picture of it and started to cry. That was then. Today I'm driving to church with my little girl and I spotted one of your Billboards and I just had to call and say 'Thank You! Thank You!" For more information, see prolifeacrossamerica.org.

Baking for Babies 2024

Two of the sweetest things in the world are babies and deliciously glazed cinnamon rolls. A Community Caring for Life (ACCL) is hosting Baking for Babies Pro-Life Cinnamon Roll Bake and Sale event Jan. 19-21. This will be the 32nd year the ACCL has put on this event. This tradition started in January because it’s the same month and anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision when the Supreme Court legalized abortion on demand in all 50 states in 1973.

We are pleased that on June 24, 2022, Supreme Court case Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Center overturned Roe vs. Wade, placing the writing and enforcement of abortion legislation on individual states. In Minnesota, the reality is abortion remains legal, and many laws that were in place to protect and support women and their preborn child are gone.

At Holy Name of Jesus, ACCL will continue to support women facing unexpected pregnancy or challenging pregnancies. Pope Francis reminds us, “Our parishes need to be islands of mercy in the midst of a sea of indifference.” Our bishops, pastors and parish leaders want our church members to be informed on how to help. Everyone in our parish should know where to refer a pregnant woman in need. While we put on our most well-known pro-life event of the year, the ACCL is offering you a chance to get to know the organizations we will be supporting. If you’re volunteering to frost or assemble cinnamon rolls, you will have the opportunity to meet one of them.

The ACCL committee will give the money raised from our Baking for Babies event to organizations like Pro-Life Action Ministries and Pro-Life Across America. They speak messages of hope and encouragement by counseling on the sidewalk or phone to abortion-minded women. SouthWest Options for Women (SWOW) in Eden Prairie, Crystal Women’s Clinic (CWC), Abria in Minneapolis and St. Paul, are pregnancy resource centers near us offering free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, education, counseling and supplies for mothers to make that life choice an easier one. Lastly, Elevate Life is an organization that provides staff and volunteer training, marketing assistance, special grants and more to their affiliate pregnancy resource centers.

Baking for Babies Pro-Life Cinnamon Roll Bake and Sale needs volunteers for frosting and assembling Friday and Saturday as well as selling rolls Saturday and Sunday. Please sign up by the following link here.

For questions, please contact Melissa Eckert or Angie Paske.

Baking for Babies

Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Parish is 'Baking for Babies' Jan. 22-23! A Community Caring for Life (ACCL) is back in person baking cinnamon rolls. The following article was reprinted with permission from Providence Academy in Plymouth, MN by Kate Neill on Jan. 30, 2020.

"Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church holds a fundraiser each year combining two of the sweetest things on earth: cinnamon rolls and babies. With the help of many pro-life organizations and volunteers, they assemble and sell thousands of cinnamon rolls to benefit young mothers and their babies. The founders of this event, Tom and Lee Ann Silver and Jeff Van Beusekom, started the fundraiser as a way to raise money to combat the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade, the decision that officially legalized abortion throughout the country.

Each year soon after the anniversary of this case, HNOJ asks for volunteers from the pro-life community in and around the Wayzata parish to help bake cinnamon rolls. One family from HNOJ shared they had been volunteering at this event for as long as they can remember. They brought along the whole family, and all of the children contributed in their own way. Their youngest daughter, a self-proclaimed cinnamon roll connoisseur, got to work frosting the freshly baked rolls.

Her mother explained that the frosting was her favorite part. The little girl exercised her generous nature as she gave all of her rolls extra love and frosting. Once the rolls had been frosted they were cut and packaged to allow for easy pick up.

After a long morning of baking on Saturday, Jan. 25, Tom called together the volunteers to chat about the impact of this event. He emphasized the cause they were contributing to. He informed the group about the heartbreaking 61.7 million abortions performed legally in the U.S. since Roe v. Wade. Tom is a member of A Community Caring for Life."

The ACCL is thrilled to be back in the kitchen Jan. 22-23, with new leadership who carry a passion for LIFE, and want to continue this Holy Name of Jesus tradition. Volunteers will be needed; please keep an eye out for further announcements in the weekly bulletins and save the date!

For questions, please contact Melissa Eckert or Angie Paske.

Here is what we ARE doing:

More Than Tasty, Cinnamon Rolls Help New Families

Friday, Jan. 22, marks the 48th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe vs Wade. In this momentous ruling, abortion in the US became legal! This decision regarding the unborn has been a controversial topic for many years. Here at Holy Name of Jesus we have made the decision to support Pro-life causes.

In January of 1991, Tom Silver began leading a group of men in putting on an annual fundraiser. Tom decided that a cinnamon roll bake and sale could be done given the short deadline. With the help of many men of the parish, they were able to bake, package and sell 400 dozen rolls! A total success with the blessings and the grace of God! This was the start of the annual event that has been held for thirty years.

Tom has continued to chair this event with the help of many, many volunteers. Initially it was men only, but in recent years this event has been supported by many others in the parish; confirmation students, parents, K of C members and other volunteers who support pro-Life causes.

Holy Name of Jesus has a long association with a number of pro-Life groups that are supported by the proceeds of the cinnamon roll sale. Over the years, this fundraiser event has raised over $100,000 with all the proceeds being donated to the following organizations: Abria Northside Clinic, Southwest Options for Women, Birthright, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL), Pro-Life Action Ministries, and Pro-Life Across America. Together these organizations provide the following: doing ultrasounds, serving women in need who are unexpectedly pregnant, giving financial assistance to pregnant women or new families, and educating the public about life issues.

Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 virus situation, the cinnamon roll bake sale will not be happening this year. The Community Caring for Life (ACCL) committee is asking the parishioners of Holy Name to help us to continue supporting the above organizations by making a monetary donation during this month of January. Please make your donation to Holy Name of Jesus with a notation: “Pro-life.” That will help the parish keep these funds separate from the general funds.

We would like to take this opportunity to say, “Thank You” to the parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus for supporting this very wonderful cause.

God Bless you!

A Community Caring for Life Committee

Pro-life supporters and Confirmation students: your help is needed!

A Community Caring for Life’s (ACCL) annual Cinnamon Roll Breakfast and Sale to benefit local pro-life causes will be held the weekend of Jan. 25-26, and we need many volunteers each day to bake and sell cinnamon rolls. Sign up to help at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0C4AADA822A57-30th or contact Tom Silver at 612-508-1088.

Here’s how you can get involved:

Friday, Jan. 24

· Baking and frosting, 5:30-9 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25

· 8:30 a.m.-noon, baking and frosting

· Noon until finish (3:30-4 p.m.); baking, frosting and setup for Sunday

· After 5 p.m. Mass, selling rolls

Sunday, Jan. 26

· Before and after 8:30 a.m. Mass; baking, selling, pouring coffee, etc.

· Before and after 10:30 a.m. Mass; baking selling, pouring coffee, etc.

· Noon until finish (approx. 2 p.m.), cleanup

· After 5:30 p.m. Mass, selling rolls

More Than Tasty, Cinnamon Rolls Help New Families

As printed in the previous year - January 2018 - newsletter.

Sunday, Jan. 22, marks the 45^th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe vs Wade. In this momentous ruling, abortion in the US became legal! This decision regarding the unborn has been a controversial topic for many years. Here at Holy Name of Jesus we have been remembering this unfortunate decision with a Pro-Life fund raising event on a weekend close to Jan. 22. It began with a pancake breakfast for a few years. In January of 1991, Lee Ann Silver became the president of the Holy Name of Jesus Pro-Life group. Today it is called ACCL, A Community Caring for Life! Lee Ann asked her husband, Tom, if he would lead a group of men in putting on the annual fund raiser. As it was already in early January, Tom asked Father Arnold Weber if we could possibly skip the pancake breakfast or do some other type of fund raiser. Fr. Arnold told Tom, “I don’t care what you do, but you are going to do something!”

Tom sought out the help of his friend Jeff Van Beusekom to co-chair this event and together they decided that a cinnamon roll bake and sale along with a raffle could be done given the short deadline. Jeff & Tom were able to procure the pre-made frozen cinnamon rolls, frosting and packaging supplies along with raffle prizes in time to do the fundraiser. They chose a very aggressive number of 400 dozen rolls. With the help of many men of the parish, they were able to bake, package and sell all the rolls and held the raffle too! A total success with the Blessings and the Grace of God! This was the start of the annual event that we will again hold this weekend for the 28^th year.

Jeff moved to Tennessee three years later and the decision was made to drop the raffle. Tom has continued to chair this event with the help of many, many volunteers. The men helped for a number of years but now this event is being supported by many others in the parish, namely confirmation students, parents, K of C members and other volunteers who support Pro-Life causes.

Over the years, this fundraiser event has raised over $100,000 with all the proceeds being donated to Pro-Life organizations such as: North Side Life Care Center, Pro-Life Minnesota, Birthright and Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life.

Holy Name of Jesus has a long association with a number of Pro-Life groups that are supported by the proceeds of the cinnamon roll sale. Many members of our faith community have volunteered at local pregnancy care centers Birthright, Northside Life Care and Southwest Options for Women, serving women in need who are unexpectedly pregnant. The Archdiocesan Life Fund and Cradle of Hope Maternity Fund give last-chance financial assistance to pregnant women or new families with medical expenses or housing crises that they cannot handle. MCCL and Prolife Across America educate the public about life issues and keep us all apprised of legislative issues that concern respect for human life. And Prolife Action Ministries pray at abortion centers, trying to offer women seeking abortions a last-minute chance to choose life instead. All of these nonprofit organizations depend on contributions from the faithful to achieve their mission; your purchase of cinnamon rolls makes their work possible.

The official symbol of Pro-Life is the red rose. If you choose to come into the Good Samaritan Center on this weekend and enjoy a cinnamon roll, you will see a red rose on each table. Many parishioners have told Tom that when they see and smell the cinnamon rolls at Holy Name of Jesus, they automatically think of Pro-Life! Maybe the cinnamon roll has become the new Pro-Life symbol.

Thank you to the parishioners of Holy Name of Jesus for supporting this very wonderful cause.

Tom Silver and Karen Karn