Something new is coming to your mailbox — and to the homes of every parishioner we serve

DEAR ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL PARISH FAMILY,

There is something happening at St. Michael the Archangel that does not always make it into a bulletin announcement or a social media post. It happens in the quiet moments: the conversation after Mass between two people who haven’t spoken in months, the volunteer who shows up every single Saturday at the food pantry, the family that received a meal when they didn’t know how to ask for one, the confirmation student who went from going through the motions to going to daily Mass. It is the life of Christ, alive and active in the ordinary life of this parish.

We want more people to see it. Including the ones who are not here on Sunday.

That is why we are launching Sword & Shield — the new bimonthly magazine of St. Michael the Archangel Parish. Beginning in August of this year, every registered household in our parish will receive a beautiful, full-color magazine delivered to their home six times a year, free of charge. It will arrive not as a fundraising ask or a calendar of events, but as a story — the story of what God is doing in this community, told through the faces and words and witness of the people who make it up.

The name comes from the image we know well: St. Michael the Archangel, sword raised in truth, shield held firm in protection. It is a name that speaks to our mission — to go boldly into the world with the beauty of the Gospel and to offer refuge to anyone who is searching.

Each edition of Sword & Shield will feature stories from our school and religious education programs, spotlights on the ministries and volunteers who animate our common life, testimonies from parishioners whose faith has been renewed or deepened, and a letter from our pastor — personal, pastoral, and written for every reader, whether they were at Mass last Sunday or have not been inside a church in years.

This magazine is for you — the longtime parishioner who loves this community and wants to see its stories told well. It is also for your neighbor who is registered but drifting. For the family that used to be here every week and gradually stopped. For the parent who brought their child to first communion and then stepped back. Every one of them deserves to know that the door is still open, the community is still here, and the Lord has not forgotten them.

You can be part of making this happen. If you know a parishioner who has drifted, pray for them — and trust that Sword & Shield may be the quiet knock on the door that the Holy Spirit uses to bring them home. If you have a story worth telling, let us know. If you have a gift for photography, writing, or design, we would love to hear from you.

This is not a project. It is a mission. And it belongs to all of us.

The first edition of Sword & Shield will be arriving in homes in August. We hope you love it. We hope you share it. And we hope that someday, you hear from someone whose life was changed by something they read in its pages.

To the glory of God, and the good of every soul in our community. 

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Brian Schieber, Pastor

Mission Statement

To evangelize and build meaningful trust with all registered parishioners — and those beyond our walls — by delivering a beautiful, inspiring, and locally rooted Catholic magazine to their homes every other month, reflecting the face of Christ alive in our parish community.

Our Vision

We envision a parish magazine that:

• Acts as a warm, non-threatening first point of re-engagement for Catholics who have drifted

• Showcase the living faith community at St. Michael the Archangel; our people, our stories, our witness

• Inspires curiosity and invites readers to 'come and see' through beautiful photography and compelling storytelling

• Bridge the gap between the registered Catholic household and an active life of faith

• Build parish identity and pride among those who are already engaged
  
  

Core Evangelization Principles