Coon Rapids Annunciation Catholic Church

05/11/2026

Don't forget! Rogation prayer services start tonight at 6:30pm at Annunciation.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day!

05/09/2026

Well, that's a wrap! Wednesday marked the end of our religious school year, with May Crowning being our last night of class. Before we headed to Mass, we held a little assembly in the Parish Center. Our students with perfect attendance were recognized. We had 5 students who made it to class every week this year. Congratulations to these students for hitting this mark. All of our teachers were also recognized and thanked for their faithfulness by voluntarily teaching our young people each week. We are blessed at Annunciation to have such great teachers who give their time and talents to be here each Wednesday night. We thank them for all they have done to help instill the Catholic faith in our students. Lastly, the night ended with May Crowning Mass. Each student is asked to bring a flower to place by the Blessed Virgin as they walk into church. 💐 We thank Fr Peter and Deacon Louie for being here to celebrate the end of our school year. Father's homily was very engaging as he asked the students questions about our Blessed Mother in heaven. ✝️ Thank you to those students who volunteered to perform the liturgical duties. Thank you to those parents and grandparents who attended Mass. Lastly thank you to Diane Slater, Blake Heydon and the choir for the wonderful music. We look forward to summer break 🌞 and then starting class back up again in September.

05/06/2026

Please join us for May Crowning Mass tonight at Annunciation. This starts at 6:45pm. This marks the end of our religious school year. All are welcome to attend. ⚘️ Because of this, there will be no Friday 10am Mass at the Thomas Rest Haven.

04/29/2026

Join us for Rogation Days prayer services at Annunciation, St Elizabeth Seton, and St. Joseph churches May 11-13. Rogation Days are a long-held tradition where we humbly appeal to God through penance and prayer for a plentiful harvest and protection from natural disasters.

04/23/2026

We are blessed here at Annunciation to have 2 priests who give up a few Wednesday nights to visit our students in their classrooms This spring, our priests came and visited our 1st, 5th, 6th and Jr High grades. Anytime our students can be in the presence of our priests is time well spent.

04/22/2026

There will be a funeral Mass this Friday morning at 10:30am. Because of this, there will be no Friday 8:30am Mass at Annunciation. Please spread the word.

04/19/2026

They did it! Congratulations to our 2nd graders on making their 1st Holy Communion. They did a great job lectoring, bringing up the gifts, and singing their special song 🎵 at the end of Mass. Thank you to Fr Peter for celebrating the Mass and Deacon Louie for assisting. Blessings to these students on their special day.✝️🙏

04/19/2026

Today is the big day for our 7 2nd graders. They will be making their 1st Holy Communion! They have completed their chalices and banners and are ready to come before the Holy Eucharist to receive the Precious Body and Blood. Shout out to their teachers, Jen and Steve Dougall, for getting them prepared for this special day. May the Lord be with them, blessing them with His love and guiding them in their actions. 🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏✝️🙏

04/19/2026

✝️ WHEN ARE YOU LATE FOR MASS? THE ANSWER MANY DON’T WANT TO HEAR 😳
___________________
“I came just after it started…”
“I arrived before the readings…”
“At least I was there before Communion…”

These are common explanations.

But here is the uncomfortable question:

👉 When does Mass really begin… and when are you actually late?

Because this is not just about time.

👉 It is about encounter, reverence, and readiness.

✝️ 1. MASS DOES NOT BEGIN WHEN YOU ARRIVE… IT BEGINS WHEN THE CHURCH BEGINS

The Church already tells you the time.

It is announced.
It is written.
It is known.

So Mass does not begin:

👉 when you walk in
👉 when you feel ready

It begins:

👉 at the appointed time.

And you…

👉 are expected to be there before it begins.

✝️ 2. BEFORE THE FIRST WORD… THERE IS A SACRED PREPARATION

There is something many people ignore:

👉 the time before Mass starts.

That time is not empty.

It is where you:

recollect your mind

present your intentions

enter silence

prepare your soul

Even the priest prepares.

There are prayers said quietly.

There is a gathering of intention.

So if you arrive when everything has already started…

👉 you have already missed something real.

✝️ 3. YOU ARE NOT COMING TO AN EVENT… YOU ARE JOINING A SACRIFICE

The Mass is not a show.

It is not something you drop into halfway.

👉 It is a sacrifice.

And every Catholic is not just watching.

👉 You are offering with the priest.

So if you come late…

👉 you are not fully entering what is being offered.

✝️ 4. CHRIST IS ALREADY THERE… WAITING

Here is a truth many forget:

👉 Christ is already present before Mass begins.

He is not arriving when you arrive.

So when you delay…

👉 it is not just lateness.

👉 it is arriving after the encounter has already begun.

✝️ 5. THE TRUTH ABOUT “JUST A FEW MINUTES”

Many say:

👉 “It was only a few minutes.”

But those minutes may include:

the opening sign of the Cross

the penitential act

the collect

These are not introductions.

👉 They are part of the Mass.

So missing them is not nothing.

👉 It is missing part of the prayer of the Church.

✝️ 6. WHAT ABOUT THE OLD TEACHING ABOUT ANGELS?

Many were taught as children:

👉 that angels are present…
👉 that they “record” those present from the beginning

Whether understood literally or spiritually…

👉 the truth behind it is clear:

👉 Heaven takes worship seriously.

The idea teaches:

👉 Be present from the beginning.
👉 Do not treat sacred time casually.

✝️ 7. THE HARD TRUTH

There is no exact “minute” that defines lateness in a legalistic way.

But spiritually:

👉 if you are not there at the beginning…

👉 you are late.

Not because God rejects you.

👉 but because you have not fully entered the offering.

👉 If you would not arrive late to meet someone important…
👉 why arrive late to meet God?

✝️ SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

Arrive early.

Sit in silence.

Prepare your heart.

Say your own prayer before Mass begins.

Because those quiet moments…

👉 are where your offering begins.

✝️ NEXT SUNDAY… TRY THIS

Be in your seat before the first word is spoken.

Look at the altar.

And say:

👉 “Lord, I am here.”

Because Mass is not something you join halfway.

👉 It is something you enter from the beginning.

✝️

04/12/2026