Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus

The Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus, a young and flourishing religious community, have sent some of their sisters to serve at our parish and at Holy Family in St. Louis Park. They are currently living in the rectory at our St. Joseph Campus, while remodeling our convent building and working in both parishes. 


The Handmaids community was founded in New Ulm 13 years ago. Their charism is "to live in imitation of Mary as handmaid, virgin, bride and mother in the diocesan life of the Church, carrying out the New Evangelization in parishes."

Sr. Anna & Sr. Margaret Joy have been assigned to work full-time at St. Gabriel's. Sr. Mary Pieta & Sr. Mary Elizabeth have been assigned to work at Holy Family.


Help the Handmaids in Hopkins

Helpful Items to Donate

Fresh Vegetables


Construction Supplies for Convent:

Blue painters tape

Rags for staining

Wood Stain Varathane® Premium Fast Dry Interior Oil-Base: Early American

Joint Compound Pail SHEETROCK® Pre-Mixed All-Purpose (green lid)

Joint Compound Pail SHEETROCK® Plus 3® Pre-Mixed Lightweight All-Purpose (blue lid)


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To donate items to the Handmaids, you may come to the rectory door at the St. Joseph Campus (our temporary living space).  Coming from the back parking lot, go up the sidewalk next to the school, just west of the three-stall garage.  Handmaids are the first door on your right (if you get the adoration chapel you have gone too far).  You many ring the door bell or drop off items outside the door.  Sisters are coming and going regularly everyday, so items will not be left unattended.


Or, if you are having something shipped to the sisters, you may have it addressed to: 

Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus, 1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN   55343.



Convent Work Days

Help the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus renovate St. Gabriel’s convent. Below is a list of work weekends. Work times will be Fridays 5:30-8:30pm & Saturdays 9am-3pm. There will be snacks on Friday and sack lunches on Saturday. In order to keep the number of people limited (for COVID-19 requirements), please sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0448afaa2da31-handmaids

 

Work Weekends:

April 9-10

May 7-8*


Construction Help: 

Sheetrocking, framing walls, mudding, taping, installing floors & doors.


Food Help:

¨ Snacks & water for volunteers.

¨ Sack lunches for volunteers on Saturdays (25 people).

¨ Provide dinner for 10-12 sisters on any of the days listed.

*Starred weekends are St. Gabriel’s turn to provide food.

Thank you to the volunteers who provide food, time & monetary donations. If you have questions about food donations, or could help with dinner, call Harriet: 952-935-3716.


Monetary donations can be sent to the parish office, 6 Interlachen Rd, Hopkins, Attention: Lori, with Food/Sisters’ Work Weekend in the memo.

Thursday Dinners

St Gabriel’s would like to provide our Sisters with dinners on Thursdays starting January 21.  The Sisters are very grateful for this offer.  It might be fun for 2 families, a few friends or a Group from the Parish to collaborate on putting together the meal. You can sign up on a regular schedule, random dates or just once.  For more information and/or to sign up, call Karen Fish 952-239-1949 or email: fishkarenk@gmail.com


  • We suggest 7 or 8 servings (sometimes the Sisters have visitors).   
  • Make it simple - main dish, side dish and dessert.   
  • Some ideas: homemade MN hot dish (like Chili, Goulash, etc)  meat (baked chicken, crockpot pot roast, etc) ;  premade meal from Costco/Sam's or Deli;   frozen meal;  take-out.   
  • The Sisters would prefer it be dropped at the rectory sometime between 8:30am-10:00am on Thursday or the day before.  They will reheat or bake anything that is served hot. Let me know if you need help with delivery.


Donate to the Handmaids

Our Online Giving program now includes being able to make donations to the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus. It is located under the “Gifts to Others” section. You can make a one-time gift or a recurring gift. These donations will go directly to the Handmaids to support their needs. Click the "Make a Donation" button below to make an online gift to the Handmaids.