The Courier - April Issue

THE COURIER

April 2013

Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona

Volume 104, No. 4

New Life in Christ, New Life in the Church: Habemus Papam! he chose this name and As we celebrate the more about St. Francis of Resurrection of our Lord, the Assisi). reminder of the new life we The eyebrows that receive in Christ, our Savior, were raised when he was we also celebrate the contiannounced as the new nuity of His Church. From pope continue to be raised St. Peter, whom Christ through the unique style Himself gave the “keys of Pope Francis has already heaven” to now Pope Francis, shown us. The day he our Catholic faith is reafwas elected, all the carfirmed and invigorated. The dinals rode back to the announcement of a new pope place they were staying allows us to connect through in buses and there was time from the poor fisherman the papal car and entouto all the centuries of believrage to take Pope Francis ers to the present day. The to the papal apartments.

Holy Spirit has and will be Much to some cardinals always guiding the Church's surprise, as Cardinal teachings, breathing vitality Dolan of New York into her, and leading her.

Many speculators were recalled, they saw the papal cars driving by as quite surprised at the they sat on the buses and announcement of Cardinal Pope Francis waving to the crowd at his first appearance as pope. figured, we’ve got a pope Bergoglio as the new pope and even more eyebrows were raised at his chosen name of again and there he goes; however, when they arrived at the “Francis.” Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, residence, who got off of one of the buses but Pope Francis 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was one of five children himself! He didn’t want to go in the papal car; he chose to be of Italian immigrant parents. He joined the Society of Jesus with his brother cardinals instead.

The day after he was elected, he surprised many by an (the Jesuits) on March 11, 1858 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 13, 1969. He became archbishop in impromptu visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.

1998 and was named a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001. He wanted to honor Mary and brought flowers that he placed He was known for his humility, intellect, and commitment at an image of her there. After the basilica, he went in person to the poor. Even as archbishop, he chose to live in a small to the hotel he had been staying at and paid his bill. The clerk apartment rather than the bishop’s residence, and gave up the tried to tell him he didn’t have to pay it, but Pope Francis limousine available for him and instead, took public transpor- insisted saying he needed to set a good example. (Can you imagine the clerk’s surprise that morning to see the new Holy tation.

He was elected on the second day of the conclave on Father coming there in person to get his luggage and pay his March 13, 2013. Cardinal Bergoglio chose the name Francis bill?!) (on page three of the Year of Faith insert, you can read why The Pope Our Church Needs, cont. on pg. 16

INSIDE Special Year of Faith Insert: Pope Francis!

See YOF insert, after page 8

Vibrant Catholic Life of Young Adults

More on pages 6

Divine Mercy

Learn more on page 3

A Statement Regarding the Mayo Clinic and Saint Marys Hospital Winona, MN - March 25, 2013 - Mayo Clinic announced this morning in a news release that Saint Marys Hospital will be fully integrated into the Mayo Clinic Hospital System and will no longer be designated as a Catholic health care institution. Saint Marys Hospital along with Methodist Hospital will transition to a single licensed hospital operating under the name Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester. This change will be effective January 1, 2014.

The discontinuance of the Catholic identity of Saint Marys Hospital is a loss to the people of Rochester, the Diocese of Winona and to the wider community. A Catholic health care institution has the

unique mission to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, and to give public witness to the moral and ethical principles that flow from the foundational truth, that every person is made in the image and likeness of God. The Catholic Diocese of Winona is deeply grateful to Mayo Clinic for having sustained the Catholic identity of Saint Marys Hospital since 1986, when Mayo Clinic first began the integration of Saint Marys Hospital into its health care system. It is unfortunate that government regulations, accreditation requirements and reporting requirements influence a health care institution’s decision to no longer maintain a Catholic identity but

it is a sad reality of our current times.

In commenting on the announcement

by Mayo Clinic about the change in the identity of Saint Marys Hospital, the Most Reverend John M. Quinn, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Winona, issued the following statements: “While Saint Marys will no longer be an official Catholic hospital, it is encouraging that Mayo Clinic will continue to observe the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare Services, will infuse Franciscan values into the care of patients, and uphold the legacy of the Sisters of Saint Francis who founded Bishop's Statement, cont. on pg. 10

2 - The Courier, April 2013

BISHOP QUINN

Most Rev. John M. Quinn: The Joy of Easter, New Life in our Church Dear Friends in Christ,

Easter Joy

The joy of the Risen Christ, who conquered sin and death, fills us with hope and courage and assures us that the victory is won and Christ’s redemptive work can never be defeated. Throughout the Easter season, the readings from Scripture testify that the Risen Christ is the crucified one, who is transformed and can appear to his disciples.

Christ is no ghost or projection of the disciple’s imagination.

Jesus Christ is real and living and is present, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist. What a gift to us and what an expression of divine love and hope, that Jesus Christ is present, body, blood, soul and divinity in the Eucharist and wishes to enter into our lives and be the food to nourish us to eternal life.

Habemus Papam! We have a Pope!

I am overwhelmed with joy - it is truly an exciting and historic moment for the Catholic Church! His Holiness, Pope Francis is a deeply spiritual man and has great love for the poor. He will lead the Church with great zeal and

humility. I presided at a Mass of Thanksgiving for our new Holy Father on Friday, March 15, at the Cathedral of Sacred Heart in Winona.

I ask all of you, the faithful of the Diocese of Winona, to pray for Pope Francis. I also appeal to those of other religious faiths to remember our new pope in prayer so that all of us can enjoy the blessings of our shared faith in God. We pray that the Holy Spirit, who gave us this pope, will guide him and the Church in this current time and for many years to come.

Rooted in Faith, Rejoice in Hope!

In 2012, the entire Diocese was invited to participate in a Feasibility Study to gauge the support for projects that will be incredibly important for our future – the strengthening of our priest retirement fund and improvements to our Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary. The response to the Feasibility Study was very positive and in late July we began making preparations for the "Rooted in Faith, Rejoice in Hope" campaign.

As Catholics, we are compelled to make sure that our priests – who have given their

lives of priestly service to the Church – will be cared for appropriately during their retirement years. In addition, it is incumbent on all of us to encourage, educate and provide vibrant formation for a new generation of priests at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

Through this campaign, and with your continued generosity as faithful Catholics, we will provide for our priests and make sure that the clergy of tomorrow will be educated in modern, safe facilities. In addition, the 2013 ADA will be included as part of the campaign.

Diocesan Pastoral Planning

The parish pastoral planning process is intended to provide a clear and consistent process of organizing and reporting the assessment of our parishes. We will collectively define the key actions we must take at the parish level to build the Catholic Church and to attend to the pastoral and sacramental needs of the Faithful by answering some key questions.

What is God calling us as individual Catholics, as parishes and as a Diocese to

be? What are our common and unique responsibilities as priests, deacons, religious and laity? How well are we fulfilling the characteristics of vibrant, faith-filled Catholic parishes and schools? How well are we fulfilling the characteristics of holy, faith-filled priests whose lives sustain both the Faithful and themselves? How will we become a stronger, more vibrant, sustainable and unified Catholic faith community by our 125th Anniversary in 2014?

The Diocese is currently in the midst of making these important evaluations across our deaneries through Deanery Task Forces who are providing the above assessments and consultation as to how best achieve the key objectives of: 1) Vibrant, faith-filled Catholic parishes and schools, 2) Holy, faith-filled priests whose lives sustain both the Faithful and themselves, 3) Stronger, more vibrant, sustainable and unified Catholic faith community through a key element of the number, location and time of liturgies, the number and locations of priests, the important pastoral needs at the parish deanery and diocesan level, as well as

Bishop John M. Quinn how to increase the value, effectiveness and efficiency of our ministries, services and programs.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Beginning in 1931, Sister Faustina reported the first of what would become a number of apparitions, in which Jesus gave her His messages of His limitless Mercy and its availability to all who embrace it.

Jesus’ message to her was that God is merciful. He is love itself, poured out for us, and He wants all to share in it, to turn to Him with trust and repentance before He comes as the just judge. Turning to and asking God’s mercy is the answer to a troubled world.

There are four main points, or devotions, connected with that message. The first is the sacred image, a painting of Jesus with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in Thee.” The promise connected to this Bishop, cont. on pg. 8

Bishop's Calendar - April 2013 April 7, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Mass, St. Mary Church, Winona 7 p.m. – Mass, St. Thomas More Newman Center, Mankato

April 11, Thursday 1 p.m. – Holy Hour (Bishop’s Cabinet) 2 p.m. – Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting

April 9, Tuesday 10:45 a.m. – St. Mary’s University Founders Day Mass and Convocation, St. Thomas More Chapel, St. Mary’s University, Winona

April 12, Friday 6:30 a.m. – Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona 7 p.m. – Confirmation at Pax Christi Church, Rochester with Ss. Peter & Paul, Mazeppa

April 10, Wednesday 10:30 a.m. - Mass at Callista Court, Winona, followed by Cotter High School Swing Choir Performance 7 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Mary Church, Caledonia with St. Patrick, Brownsville

April 13, Saturday 11 a.m. – Confirmation at Resurrection Church, Rochester 4 p.m. – Mass and Installation of New Officers, Catholic Daughters State Convention, St. Joseph

Church, Owatonna April 14, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation at Pius X Church, Rochester 2:30 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Francis Church, Rochester with St. John the Evangelist Church, Rochester April 17, Wednesday 10:30 a.m. – Deans’ Meeting, St. Theodore, Albert Lea 7 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Joachim Church, Plainview with Immaculate Conception Church, Kellogg April 18, Thursday 10 a.m. – Holy Hour (Bishop’s Cabinet) 11 a.m. – Diocese of Winona

Diocese of Winona - Child Sexual Abuse Policy Information The Diocese of Winona will provide a prompt, appropriate and compassionate response to reporters of sexual abuse of a child by any diocesan agent (employees, volunteers, vendors, religious or clergy). Anyone wishing to make a report of an allegation of sexual abuse should call the Victim Assistance Coordinator at 507454-2270, Extension 255. A caller will be asked to provide his or her name and telephone number. Individuals are also encouraged to take their reports directly to civil authorities. The Diocese of Winona is committed to protecting children, young people and other vulnerable people in our schools, parishes and ministries.

The diocesan policy is available on the diocesan web site at www.dow.org under the Safe Environment Program. If you have any questions about the Diocese of Winona’s implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please contact Peter Martin, at 507-858-1264, or pmartin@dow.org.

Foundation Board Meeting, Pastoral Center, Winona 5 p.m. – Mass, followed by dinner at Federal Medical Center, Rochester April 19, Friday 10:30 a.m. – Mass and awards to Essay Contest Winners, Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Winona 7:30 p.m. – Lay Ministry gathering, Alverna Center, Winona April 20, Saturday 5 p.m. – Confirmation at St. John the Baptist Church, Mankato April 21, Sunday 9:30 a.m. – Confirmation at

St. John the Baptist Church, Dodge Center 5:30 p.m. – Operation Andrew Dinner, St. John the Evangelist Church, Rochester April 23, Tuesday 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Visits with Winona Seminarians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona 8:15 p.m. – Discernment Group Meeting, St. Thomas Room, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart-Winona April 24, Wednesday 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Visits with Winona Seminarians at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona.

THE COURIER (ISSN 0744-5490)

Official Publication of the Diocese of Winona 55 West Sanborn, P.O. Box 949, Winona, MN 55987

Telephone: 507-454-4643 Fax: 507-454-8106 E-mail: courier@dow.org Subscription Rates: $5 per year in the U.S. Parishioners in the Winona Diocese subscribe through their parish. Periodicals postage paid at Slayton, MN Postmaster.

Publishing Schedule: Monthly - Deadline for advertising & articles is the 15th of the month prior.

Publisher: Most Rev. John M. Quinn Editor: Joel Hennessy Associate Editor: Theresa Martin

The Courier, April 2013 - 3

IN THE DIOCESE

Divine Mercy Sunday - April 7

Submitted by Mary Zimmerman

we again resound his words, “Be not afraid!" in our hearts. Who among us The dictionary's meaning of Divine cannot use a dose of spiritual energy Mercy is “given or inspired by God… to go out into the world and share the power to forgive or be kind, kindthe good news of God’s great mercy ness in excess.”

This graciously revealed to us through the Divine explains the apparitions and mesMercy devotion? The image, the chapsages on Divine Mercy that Sister let, the novena and Divine Mercy Faustina Kowalska received from our Sunday are all rich in His Mercy, just Lord, and that provide the basis for as Pope John Paul II revealed in his the Devotion to the Divine Mercy encyclicals.

There is an especially new and Helen Kowalska was born in 1905 renewed interest in this devotion as to a very poor farm family in the this good news continues to spread Archdiocese of Krakow, Poland (the around the world. Sister Faustina home diocese of John Paul II). She was beatified April 18, 1993 (Divine eventually entered the convent of the Mercy Sunday), and was canonized on Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took April 11, 2000 (again, Divine Mercy the name Faustina. Having had only Sunday). On Divine Mercy Sunday three years of simple schooling, she this year (May 1), the Church will celwas given only the humblest tasks to ebrate the beatification of Pope John perform, usually in the kitchen or the Paul II, the mercy pope. This should vegetable garden. give us great hope in today’s world as Beginning in 1931, Sister Faustina reported the first of what would become a number of apparitions, in which Jesus gave her His messages of His limitless Mercy and its availability to all who embrace it.

She was only 33 when she died in 1938. By then, she had, according to the Lord’s instructions as well of those of her superiors, written a diary of more than 600 printed pages in which she recorded all of the revelations received, as well as her own thoughts, insights and prayers.

And what is Jesus’ message? It is that God is merciful. He is love itself, poured out for us, and He wants all to share in it, to turn to Him with trust and repentance before He comes as the just judge. Turning to and asking God’s mercy is the answer to a troubled world (everyone would agree about the need for Divine Mercy in our present day sinful world).

God sees the world’s condition and desires the salvation of every soul, which is why He gave His message of incredible graces to Sister Faustina.

This is the image of the Divine Mercy.

There are four main points, or

devotions, connected with that message. The first is the sacred image, a painting of Jesus with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in Thee.” The promise connected to this painting is that the soul who venerates it will not perish.

The second is the Feast of Mercy, to be celebrated the first Sunday after Easter. “Whoever will go to confession (need not be that day if in a state of grace) and receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment,” Sister Faustina was told.

The third is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It is said on ordinary rosary beads. Our Lord promises that souls who say this chaplet will be embraced

by His Mercy during their lifetime and especially at their last hour.

And last is the Novena of Divine Mercy which begins on Good Friday and ends on Mercy Sunday, in which a different group of souls is brought to Jesus’ heart each day to immerse them in the ocean of His Mercy. As an example, the first day is for all mankind, especially sinners; the second day is for the souls of priests and religious, and so on.

We need not fear this message of Divine Mercy through Sister Faustina.

It was once banned for nearly twenty years (as Our Lord told her it would be).

But Pope John Paul II was instrumental in lifting that ban and

Bishop's Calendar - cont.

7 p.m. – Confirmation at Nativity Church, Harmony with St. Olaf, Mabel and Assumption Church, Canton April 25, Thursday 1 p.m. – Holy Hour (Bishop’s Cabinet) 2 p.m. – Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting 7 p.m. – Diocese of Winona Review Board, Resurrection Church, Rochester April 26, Friday 6:30 a.m. – Morning Prayer and Mass, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary-Winona 8 a.m. – Evaluations of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminarians, Immaculate Heart of Mary SeminaryWinona April 28, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Joachim Church, Plainview

April 29, Monday 12 p.m. – Lunch and Advisory Board Meeting, St. Catherine of Siena Academy, Wixom, MI April 30, Tuesday 5:30 p.m. – Evening Prayer with FOCUS Team, followed by dinner, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart-Winona May 1, Wednesday 7 p.m. – Confirmation at Immaculate Conception Church, St. Clair with St. Ann Janesville; All Saints, Madison Lake; and St. Joseph, Waldorf May 2, Thursday 10 a.m. Holy Hour (Bishop’s Cabinet) 5 p.m. – Prayer service for Vocations with Winona Serra Club, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart-Winona

May 3, Friday 8:05 a.m. – Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church, Rochester for Lourdes High School students 5:30 p.m. – Social and Dinner for Diaconate Retreat, Alverna Center-Winona May 4, Saturday 1 p.m. – Confirmation at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Blue Earth with St. John Vianney, Fairmont; St. Mary, Winnebago; and Holy Family, East Chain May 5, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation at Holy Family Church, Kasson with Christ the King, Byron May 8, Wednesday 5 p.m. – Bishops’ and Rector Dinner, Saint Mary’s University-Winona

labored to help proclaim this mercy in one of his encyclicals, Rich in Mercy.

While still an archbishop at the time, Pope John Paul II also initiated the cause for Sister Faustina’s beatification.

Listen carefully to the Lord’s words to her as she reported them: “Before the Day of Justice, I am sending you the Day of Mercy…I am prolonging the time of mercy for the sake of the sinner. But woe to them who do not recognize this time of my visitation...

While there is yet time, let them have recourse to the fount of mercy…He who refuses to pass through the door of My Mercy must pass through the door of My Justice”.

A rather stern warning, but Our Lord does not intend it to cause us to despair, but rather to hope…hope in His Divine Mercy.

For more information, materials, etc, contact: Mary Zimmerman, 318 Orrin Street, Winona, MN 55987 (507452-2570).

Newly Professed Secular Franciscans

Congratulations to the newly professed members of the Blessed John Paul II Emerging Fraternity, Waseca, Owatonna and Janesville. Pictured left to right are Kyle Gahlon (St. Ann's Parish, Janesville), Peggy Koan (Sacred Heart Parish, Owatonna) and Jean Gallegos (St. Joseph Parish, Owatonna), and Father Joseph Ngo. St. Joseph Parish Owatonna.

The Rite of Profession into the Secular Franciscan Order was held on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013 at the Church of St. Joseph in Owatonna, MN with Father Joseph Ngo, presiding.

Accepting their profession for the Secular Franciscans was Tom Taormina OFS, the MN Council Representative for the Queen of Peace Region. Attending the reception following the services were many family members and friends,St. Joseph (Owatonna) parish members and several Sisters of St. Francis from Rochester and Janesville.

Secular Franciscans are Catholic men and women of all ages, married or single including diocesan clergy, who have promised to live the way of life given to them by St. Francis of Assisi. This way of life has its foundation in the gospel teachings of Jesus. Together with all Secular Franciscans, these newly professed are working to strengthen their commitment to love and serve the Lord through prayer, ministry, family and community. For more information on becoming a lay Franciscan within Waseca, Janesville, Owatonna and surrounding area call Carol Tollefson at 507-461-3597 or call 1-800-Francis.

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LIFE

Pope Francis: Defender of Marriage & Family

The Office of Life Peter Martin, STL Director pmartin@dow. org

When the bishops of our region met with Pope Emeritus Benedict a year ago I remember reading his address to them and thinking “my goodness, he must read the Star Tribune! He knows exactly what we are struggling with here in Minnesota regarding the attempt to redefine the sacred institution of Marriage.”

Now a year later, the Holy Spirit has chosen for us another good and wise Shepherd who also knows exactly what we are going through (both as a State and as a Nation whose Supreme Court has begun to take up the issue of same-sex “marriage”). Pope Francis knows very well what this struggle entails by virtue of the fact that he experienced it first-hand. In 2010 Argentina passed legislation to redefine marriage as a genderless institution despite strong opposition led by Archbishop Bergoglio (now Pope Francis).

Why is the Church so “hung up” on the marriage issue? Let me close with our Holy Father’s own words: “At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father and mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God’s law engraved in our hearts.”

“Let us not be naïve: this is not simply a political struggle, but it is an attempt to destroy God’s plan. It is not just a bill (a mere instrument) but a ‘move’ of the father of lies who seeks to confuse and Pope Francs stops to kiss a baby during the procession of his Inauguration Mass. deceive the children of God.” Please pray for our Pope, our Nation and for marriage, the bedrock of our society.

The Dignity of the Human Person and POLST

The Bishops of Minnesota have recently written “Stewards of the Gift of Life,” a pastoral statement that has great significance for those nearing the end of life. This document cautions the faithful of a new form that many hospitals, long-term care facilities and healthcare systems are using: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining treatment (POLST).

POLST is preferred in healthcare facilities because it streamlines the difficult and often time-consuming process of making end of life decisions. It does this by way of a form that defines the desired actions to be taken (or not) at the end of life.

The bishops wish to advise, however, that the decision-making process cannot be completed when the circumstances are unknown.

A particu…the moral lar medidecision making cal intervention process cannot could be be determined unethical ahead of time or morally due to the simple obligatory dependfact that the ing on the future cannot be c i r c u m stances. known!

In other words, the moral decision making process cannot be determined ahead of time due to the simple fact that the future cannot be known!

So, what alternative does someone have if they are presented with a POLST form? Another form exists called a Catholic Advanced Directive with durable power of attorney. This allows a person to make their desires known (to the extent that this is

possible without knowing the future) and to select a trusted individual to speak on their behalf if they are unable to do so.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference has prepared a Minnesota Catholic Health Care Directive that meets our state’s legal requirements and reflects our Catholic teaching. Additionally, they have a Health Care Directive Guide that answers basic questions about law, Church teaching, and completing a health care directive. View more: http://www.mncc.org/resources/mncatholic-healthcare-directive-2/

Obituaries

Sr. M. Helene Schmitz Jan. 24, 1920 — Feb. 22, 2013.

S i s t e r M. Helene S c h m i t z , SSND, 93 died February 22, 2013, at Good Counsel, Mankato. Her funeral Mass was held February 27 at Good Counsel.

Sister Helene (Florence Schmitz) was born in 1920 near Raymond, IA, to Leo and Martha (Tegeler) Schmitz. She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1936 and professed first vows in 1940. In her SSND ministry she served

first as an upper grade teacher in several Catholic schools in Minnesota and South Dakota, then as teacher of Religious Education in various catechetical programs, including Fitzgerald Catechetical School, LaCrescent (1965-70); St. Ann, Janesville (1973-76) and St. John Catechetical School, Minnesota Lake (1976-85). She also worked as a parish pastoral minster, especially to the elderly at SS. Peter & Paul, Mankato (198590).

She is survived by her sister, Sister Dolores Schmitz, SSND, Mankato, and was preceded in death by her parents, nine brothers and two sisters.

The Courier, April 2013 - 5

MISSION ADVANCEMENT

Rooted in Faith, Rejoice in Hope After much preparation, the Diocese of Winona’s Rooted in Faith, Rejoice in Hope fundraising is on the verge of publicly launching in the Rochester deanery. This historic and important campaign will: • Allow our Diocese to provide appropriate care for our retired priests of today and tomorrow by fortifying our Priest Pension Fund.

• Strengthen the formation of future priests through much-needed renovations and upgrades at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

• Continue support for the countless ministries and faith formation programs funded by the 2013 Annual Diocesan Appeal.

• Strengthen the Catholic Church throughout the Diocese by returning 25% of funds raised to parishes to address projects locally.

Over the past few months, Bishop Quinn has been leading a successful “silent phase” during which parishioners with a strong capacity to support the campaign have been approached by Bishop

Quinn and asked to contribute. Thus far, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The excitement level for this historic effort is very high.

Bishop Quinn and Diocesan leadership are committed to providing transparent and open communications regarding the campaign. As part of those efforts, we want to answer some common questions which have arisen as we make these preparations.

1. When will my parish participate in the fundraising campaign?

The campaign has been divided into three waves.

During Wave #1, Bishop Quinn will approach parishes in the Rochester deanery for their support.

Since January, we have been working behind the scenes toward a public kick-off in the Rochester deanery in early May. If you are in the Rochester deanery, expect to hear much more information about the campaign in the coming weeks. We humbly ask you to pray about how your involvement could help us reach our goals.

Bishop Quinn with the seminarians & staff standing in front of IHM Seminary. Strengthening the formation of future priests through much-needed renovations and upgrades at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary is one of the goals of the Rooted In Faith, Rejoice in Hope campaign.

Waves #2 and #3 will occur as follows: Wave Dates Deaneries #2 April (prep phase) – Sept., 2013 Worthington and Mankato #3 July (prep phase) – Dec., 2013 W i n o n a , Albert Lea/ Austin 2. Will my parish keep any of the money raised?

Each parish will receive 25% of all funds raised from its parishioners, unless specifically designated otherwise by the donor.

ROOTED IN FAITH REJOICEINHOPE CAMPAIGN PRAYER

God our Father, we thank You for Your many blessings.

From age to age, You gather a people to Yourself so that an offering may be made to the glory of Your name.

Blessed is Your Son, Jesus Christ who is present among us and whose love gathers us together.

Enliven us with Your Holy Spirit and open our eyes and our hearts to the needs of all.

Bless our efforts to provide a secure future for our senior priests and for our future priests.

We rely on Your guidance and bounty to remain rooted in faith and to rejoice in hope.

May our generosity bring honor to Mary, our Mother and Heavenly Queen.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Prayer based on adaptation of Eucharistic Prayer for Masses for Various Needs and Occasions and Eucharistic Prayer III. The Roman Rite

The Office of Mission Advancement

Joel 3.

Will the Hennessy annual appeal be a part of the Diocesan fundDirector raising campaign? jhennessy@ Yes. The 2013 dow.org annual appeal (ADA) will be included as a line item in the Diocesan campaign.

No parish assessments will occur in 2013. This will ease the burden on pastors, volunteers and donors.

The ADA will return in 2014.

4. Will other dioceses be approached to help fund the Immaculate Heart of Mary renovations and upgrades?

Yes. As part of the fundraising campaign, dioceses that send seminarians to IHM will be asked for significant support.

More details about the campaign will be forthcoming. If you would like to serve as a volunteer on this important effort, please contact your pastor.

Your gifts of time, talent and treasure during this relatively short campaign will impact the Catholic Church and the priesthood for generations to come.

Thank you for your prayers and consideration of how your family might make such an impact.

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YOUTH & YOUNG ADULT

Young Adult Ministry Highlights This past year has seen many blessings in the area of young adult ministry. Our diocese has much to be excited about and we would like to share a little bit of that excitement with our readers:

St. Thomas Aquinas Newman CenterWinona

The St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center in Winona, MN continues to experience growth and blessings. Director Tom Parlin, who has been overseeing the ministry for years, is very optimistic about the enthusiasm on campus. A great addition to campus ministry has been the presence of FOCUS Missionaries. These four young adult staff members have been engaging the student population and equipping leaders to spread the Catholic faith at Winona State University. Fifteen Catholic bible studies have sprouted up on campus, and activity at the Newman Center is expanding. It is also a blessing to see many college students attending daily Mass and holy hour. In addition to evangelization efforts, the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center challenges young adults to serve near and far. Groups participate in mission trips, and local outreach events. This year, students will be traveling to Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation in North Dakota to offer their time and talent for the good of others. College life at Winona State also offers a great opportunity to grow in holiness and pray about ones vocation. In the past year, two women from the Newman center have left to join the religious life. There is also a men’s discernment group to help explore the potential call to priesthood. God continues to bless the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center and we look forward to what lies ahead.

St. Thomas More Newman Center- Mankato

Under the guidance of Fr. Tim Biren (Director and Chaplain), The St. Thomas More Newman Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato has seen significant growth and fruit. The Newman center has grown to become the largest group on campus, and this explosion of activity has led to an exciting new development. In the next year, The St. Thomas More Newman Center will break ground for a brand new chapel and facility. This is great news for the students on campus, alumni, and benefactors because up to this point all of the programming has taken place out of a small two story house. Having a packed house is a blessing to see, but a new facility will allow The St. Thomas More Newman Center to reach thousands of more students on campus and lead them to faith in Christ for eternity. One key ingredient to Mankato Newman's success has been the consistent presence of a vibrant zealous staff open to the Holy Spirit. They currently have 10 staff in which 8 are ministry related. Six are considered to be full time FOCUS missionaries. FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) is a national campus ministry discipleship organization which equips missionaries to engage university students and invite them into a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Not only does the staff plant seeds on campus, but they have student missionaries who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel on campus as well. The Newman center is involved annually with a National Conference hosted by FOCUS, in which tens of thousands of college students gather and celebrate our vibrant Catholic faith. This year, The St. Thomas More Newman Center sent 100+ students to the conference, and the excitement on campus continues to flourish. They currently have 30 weekly bible studies, 14 men pledged to the Catholic Fraternity Phi Kappa Theta, hundreds receiving the sacraments on a weekly basis, and much more. The Newman Center would like to thank everyone who has been a part of the ministry since our beginning in 1928, and most importantly for the support of Rev. Bishop John Quinn for his ongoing support for Catholic Campus Ministry. Without them, the ministry would not be possible.

One of the blessings of the year was the FOCUS Conference in Orlando, FL. Above is a photo taken of the MSU and WSU contingent that attended the Conference.

Rochester Area Young Adult Ministry

Chances are, if you are a young adult in the Rochester area, you have either moved to the area from another city or state, or you grew up in the area and your friends have moved away. The good news is that the Rochester area Catholic parishes have been collaborating to offer young adult events. The Rochester Area Catholic Young Adult Ministry is for adults ages 18-39, and everyone is welcome. Our mission is to connect young adults to: God, through Jesus Christ; the Church and the Christian community. We gather together for a variety of events including: Holy Hours for vocations, evening prayer, faith and sports night and a new gathering called “Radiance”, which is a young adult holy hour and social. To learn more about our gatherings you can check out our website at: (rayoungcatholic. org), like us on Facebook: (facebook.com/rayoungcatholic) and follow us on Twitter: (twitter.com/rayoungcatholic) We look forward to seeing you soon.

Please pray for continued blessings upon our young adult ministries in the Diocese of Winona!

St. Mary's University-

Students at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona are encountering their faith through a number of exciting events and programming inspired by the Lasallian Catholic mission. The team in the Office of Campus Ministry has been working hard to foster: Faith, Service and Community. A few of the events to help accomplish this have been: S.O.U.L. trips (Serving Others United In Love), Together Encountering Christ retreats, small faith groups on campus and on-going community service groups. S.O.U.L.trips bring awareness of social justice issues in communities locally, nationally, and worldwide. These trips are facilitated by student leaders alongside Saint Mary’s employees volunteering their time. . S.O.U.L. trips have recently served in communities in Baltimore, Chicago, Montana, Iowa, New Orleans and Guatemala. Together Encountering Christ (TEC) retreats occur in the fall and spring and bring students together for a weekend of faith and fellowship with a focus on exploring the Paschal Mystery. In addition to events happening away from campus, there are great things happening on campus. Small faith groups come together to discuss topics including stewardship of God’s creation using Lenten practices and praying with the saints. There is also a program called “Big and Little Pals” in which students are paired with elementary students from Jefferson and Goodview elementary schools in Winona and a program called "Buddies" where students work with adults from the Winona community who have mental disabilities. There is also an active Habitat for Humanity group and Students for Life group. These are only a few of the many programs and groups supported by the Saint Mary's University Office of Campus Ministry. It is a blessing to see students active in their faith and sharing their love for the Gospel.

Students enjoying St. Mary's University's most recent TEC retreat.

YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS

Ask Father Vogel:

it really happened. So Paul’s and other Christians’ claims could have been disproved with just a little first hand research. This is a risky thing to say then if it is not true. So in all, there were hundreds of people who witnessed seeing Jesus after the Resurrection.

Fr. Andrew Vogel Before the Resurrection, the Apostles again and again just don’t seem to get it. For example, after Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to Jerusalem to die and then rise from the dead on the third day, Peter rebukes him. To which Jesus has to say, “Get behind me, Satan!”

(Matthew 16:23) They are also quite cowardly. All of them, except for John, are not at the foot of the Cross. They all flee the scene. Think also of Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus. Yet, all of this changes once they see the risen Lord and the Holy Spirit descends upon them at Pentecost. They become bold and courageous proclaimers of Jesus. So much so that all of them are martyred except for John. In Jesus, a person who lived and died for them, they find their reason for living and dying.

Now let’s look at some external, or non-Biblical reasons. One of the strongest reasons for believing in the Resurrection is the empty tomb. Pilate has a stone rolled over the entrance of the tomb. The chief priests and the Pharisees were also afraid that Jesus’ disciples would steal the body and then say Jesus had risen from the dead. Therefore, Pilate gives them permission to seal the stone and set a guard in front of the tomb. After the Resurrection, Jesus’ enemies’ first claim was that the Christians had stolen the body of Jesus. However, they couldn’t come up with Jesus’ dead body. (Matthew 28:13) Now there are four possible reasons for this. One, Jesus’ enemies stole the body. However, they didn’t want Christianity to spread and they could have stopped the spread of Christianity at any time by producing the body. Any time after the Resurrection, the Jewish leadership or the Romans could have put an end to Christianity by producing Jesus’ body.

However, no one ever does.

Secular historians of the era, Tacitus and Josephus mention Christ, but they never mention anyone find-

Is it reasonable to believe in the Resurrection?

This isn’t like trying to prove that 3 + 5 = 8. Yes, we believe on faith that Jesus rose from the dead, but is it reasonable to believe? Most of us have not been to China, but it is reasonable to believe China exists. It shows up on maps. We hear about China in the news. We may have met people who say they are from China. However, the Resurrection is the central teaching of Christianity. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, NAB) First let’s look at some internal evidence (i.e. evidence that depends on the Bible, which is obviously “internal” to Christianity). So the obvious first reason is because the Bible tells us that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus predicts His death and resurrection to His disciples three times. The first is recorded in Mark 8:31-33, Matthew 16:21-28, and Luke 9:22-27. Jesus tells His disciples that the “Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days.” (Mark 8:31) Jesus also alludes to His death and resurrection in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man: “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31) As we read the Gospels, we get the sense that Jesus is not a lunatic or a deceiver, but rather He is who He says He is.

The Bible records 10 distinct eyewitness accounts of seeing and encountering Jesus, sometimes quite personally, after the Resurrection. Two examples are Jesus appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus and His appearance to the Eleven in the upper room. Also, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul lists that after rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to the Twelve and then to 500 other brothers, most of whom were still living. A variety of people claimed to see, hear, and touch Jesus after the Resurrection.

So people could hear and read these things and then go ask someone who was there if that is how

The Courier, April 2013 - 7

The Office of Youth & Young Adults

ing Jesus’ body.

Two, Jesus’ disciples stole His body. If this is true you have to find answers to Ben Frost other questions: Could they have overcome the Director guards? If it was bfrost@dow.org a lie, would they later have taught with such great authority that Jesus had risen from the dead, knowing that He had not? Would they have risked their lives and accepted beatings for something they knew was a fraud? Third, Jesus was not dead, but unconscious when they laid him in the tomb. Not even Jesus enemies tried this one. Romans were experts in killing and torturing people. Remember, the soldier pierced Jesus side just to make sure He was dead. Water and blood flowed from His side showing that Jesus had been dead for some time. So the last possible, the most reasonable, even if it is extraordinary or supernatural, is that Jesus really did rise from the dead on the third day.

Another important reason to believe in the Resurrection is because of the first and second century martyrs. These people would have known Jesus personally or known someone who knew Jesus. So if Jesus really hadn’t risen from the dead, it would have been easy to find out. And yet, these people not only believed, but Tacitus and Josephus record how the early Christians were willing to suffer horrible deaths, to be martyred, for this belief in Jesus and His resurrection. This willingness to die for Jesus continues down through the centuries and is even true today.

As we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ during these days of Easter, may we too be bold for Jesus knowing the Holy Spirit will provide the faith needed to bring a person from reasonable to belief in Jesus and His Resurrection.

8 - The Courier, April 2013

Bishop, cont'd from pg. 2

painting is that the soul who venerates it will not perish. The second is the Feast of Mercy, to be celebrated the first Sunday after Easter. “Whoever will go to confession (need not be that day if in a state of grace) and receive Holy Communion on Mercy Sunday, will receive complete forgiveness of sin and punishment,” Sister Faustina was told.

The third is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It is said on ordinary rosary beads. Our Lord promises that souls who say this chaplet will be embraced by His Mercy during their lifetime and especially at their last hour. Lastly is the Novena of Divine Mercy which begins on Good Friday and ends on Mercy Sunday, in which a different group of souls is brought to Jesus’ heart each day to immerse them in the ocean of His Mercy.

Pope Francis has also reminded us of this message of God’s mercy.

May we all place our trust in Jesus Christ, Who is our salvation, and find hope and joy in His eternal mercy!

VOCATIONS

Seminarians Stand for Life 37 IHM Seminarians bring their presence and prayers to the Closing Prayer Vigil of 40 Days for Life in Winona.

Submitted by Kathy Foerster

The Office of Vocations Rev. Will Thompson Director wthompson@ dow.org

Winona was part of the ever-growing and successful 40 Days for Life campaign this spring. This is a peaceful and prayerful approach to save babies and end abortion. It tracks biblical history, where God used 40-day periods to transform individuals - from Noah in the flood, to Moses on the mountain, to the disciples after Christ’s resurrection. The campaigns have been occurring nationally (and also now internationally) each fall and spring since 2007. Semcac in Winona, which is an deligate of Planned Parenthood and refers young women to local towns for abortions, plus prescribes birth control which can be abortifacient in nature, was the site for the prayer vigil. 40 Days for Life has born much fruit: 7,288 babies have been saved (documented) and mothers have been spared the agony of abortion since Marian Pilgrimage 40 Days for Life began in 2007. A total of 29 abortion facilities have closed where 40 Days for Life had been at In the first week of March, I was given the great blessing, to go on that site. Also, 77 workers have quit their jobs in the abortion industry. Over 550,000 participants and 15,500 Pilgrimage with about forty people from the Diocese of Winona, to the churches have joined in the prayer/fasting, community outreach, and educational efforts.

Marian Shrines of Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Pillar and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each of the Shrines witnessed in a different way to the unique and unrepeatable role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in God's plan for the salvation of the world, by being the Mother of the Word made incarnate.

Each Shrine was very distinct. At Lourdes, there is an atmosphere of praying for the sick and asking for God's healing grace. One evening, all of the Winona pilgrims gathered at the Grotto where Mary appeared Those in attendence at the closing prayer vigil for the first ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Winona. to St. Bernadette and then we walked in a candlelight procession around The mid-point rally in Winona included inspiring presentations by Raymond deSouza, followed by Will the plaza praying the rosary. Fatima is a place of peace and forgiveness. Mary appeared there to three shepherd children and invited the Goodman. Friday, March 22 marked the end of the campaign, and in Winona, the most Reverend Bishop John children to make known her request for prayer and penance as the way M. Quinn, Msgr. Rick Colletti, Fr. Jeff Dobbs, Fr. Jason Kern, and the seminarians from IHM Seminary came out to avoid war and bring about world peace. In Madrid, we visited the to be a part of the prayer vigil and take part in the closing rally events. Many participants at the closing prayer vigil Shrine to Our Lady of the Pillar, where Mary appeared to St. James the were overwhelmed by the presence of the Bishop and the seminarians especially. They felt strength in numbers Apostle and brought a pillar carried by angels to encourage St. James to and prayers as they stood up for the countless little lives who will never get a chance to speak or stand up for keep up his efforts to evangelize the people. It is a place of hope and themselves. Patricia Woodworth coordinated the event, with the help of Lynn Kujak who assisted with scheduling perseverance under trial. Much to my surprise is the Shrine to Our Lady and Kathy Foerster with promotion and advertising. To learn more about this inspiring and successful movement, of Guadalupe in Spain. The statue of Mary in the Franciscan Church in see www www.40daysforlife.com.

Guadalupe, depicts the Immaculate Conception, that is very similar to the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, imprinted on the tilma of St. Juan Diego. Mary came to console the poor in Guadalupe, Spain, and in Guadalupe, Mexico and to give them the true riches which is her only Son, Jesus Christ.

At every Shrine, every day, you were remembered in prayer at the daily Mass, during morning and evening prayer, at Eucharistic adoration and when praying the rosary on the bus. Jonathan Fasnacht, our seminarian, carried faithfully your names and intentions to each Shrine.

You came on pilgrimage with me, Msgr. Colletti, Deacon Eduardo, Fr. Scott and Jonathan. It was our privilege to pray for all of our priests, deacons, religious seminarians and God's faithful people. May Mary continue to wrap her mantle around us and intercede for us on our pilgrim way through this world to our eternal home in heaven.

Sincerely in Christ, Most Rev. John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona

Operation Andrew Dinner "Come, and you will see."

dinner begins at 5:30pm

April 21

at St. John the Evangelist, Rochester This dinner is an opportunity for pastors to bring young men out for an evening of fellowship, prayer and to hear priests' vocation stories.

Please consider joining us!

For more information, please contact Fr. Will Thompson: (651) 3806512 or email: wthompson@dow.org

April 2013

In this Issue Saint Francis

Year of Faith Special Pope Francis Edition

Be Only Protectors of God's Gifts! those who serve with love are able to protect!

Let us protect with love all that God has given us!

This is the translation of Pope Francis' homily at the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry Mass, held in St. Peter's Square March 19, 2013.

The Saint Behind the Name More on YOF page 3

Ask a Canon Lawyer

How can a Jesuit be Pope?

More on YOF page 3

Vicki Thorn

International Speaker shared her Wisdom with Diocesan Women More on YOF page 4

Year of Faith 2012 - 2013

As he processes in, Pope Francis greets the crowd gathered at St. Peter's Square for his Inauguration Mass on March 19, 2013.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I thank the Lord that I can celebrate this Holy Mass for the inauguration of my Petrine ministry on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary and the patron of the universal Church. It is a significant coincidence, and it is also the name-day of my venerable predecessor: we are close to him with our prayers, full of affection and gratitude.

I offer a warm greeting to my brother cardinals and bishops, the priests, deacons, men and women religious, and all the lay faithful. I thank the representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial Communities, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the other religious communities, for their

Pope Francis kisses the altar at his Inauguration Mass on March 19, 2013.

presence. My cordial greetings go to sensitive to the persons entrusted to the Heads of State and Government, the his safekeeping. He can look at things members of the official Delegations from realistically, he is in touch with his many countries throughout the world, surroundings, he can make truly wise decisions. In him, dear friends, we learn and the Diplomatic Corps.

In the Gospel we heard that “Joseph how to respond to God’s call, readily and did as the angel of the Lord commanded willingly, but we also see the core of the him and took Mary as his wife” (Mt Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let 1:24). These words already point to the us protect Christ in our lives, so that we mission which God entrusts to Joseph: can protect others, so that we can protect he is to be the custos, the protector. The creation! protector of whom? Of Mary and Jesus; The vocation of being a “protector”, but this protection is then extended however, is not just something involvto the Church, as Blessed John Paul ing us Christians alone; it also has a II pointed out: “Just as Saint Joseph prior dimension which is simply human, took loving care of Mary and gladly involving everyone. It means protecting dedicated himself to Jesus Christ’s upbringing, he likewise watches over and protects Christ’s Mystical Body, the Church, of which the Virgin Mary is the exemplar and model” (Redemptoris Custos, 1).

How does Joseph exercise his role as protector? Discreetly, humbly and silently, but with an unfailing presence and utter fidelity, even when At one point during the procession, Pope Francis hopped he finds it hard to under- down out of the pope mobile to bless a handicap man. stand. From the time of his betrothal to Mary until the find- all creation, the beauty of the created ing of the twelve-year-old Jesus in the world, as the Book of Genesis tells us Temple of Jerusalem, he is there at every and as Saint Francis of Assisi showed us. moment with loving care. As the spouse It means respecting each of God’s creaof Mary, he is at her side in good times tures and respecting the environment in and bad, on the journey to Bethlehem which we live. It means protecting peofor the census and in the anxious and ple, showing loving concern for each and joyful hours when she gave birth; amid every person, especially children, the the drama of the flight into Egypt and elderly, those in need, who are often the during the frantic search for their child last we think about. It means caring for in the Temple; and later in the day-to- one another in our families: husbands day life of the home of Nazareth, in the and wives first protect one another, and workshop where he taught his trade to then, as parents, they care for their children, and children themselves, in time, Jesus.

How does Joseph respond to his call- protect their parents. It means building ing to be the protector of Mary, Jesus sincere friendships in which we protect and the Church? By being constantly one another in trust, respect, and goodattentive to God, open to the signs of ness. In the end, everything has been God’s presence and receptive to God’s entrusted to our protection, and all of us plans, and not simply to his own. This are responsible for it. Be protectors of is what God asked of David, as we heard God’s gifts! in the first reading. God does not want Whenever human beings fail to live a house built by men, but faithfulness to up to this responsibility, whenever we his word, to his plan. It is God himself fail to care for creation and for our who builds the house, but from living brothers and sisters, the way is opened stones sealed by his Spirit. Joseph is to destruction and hearts are hardened. a “protector” because he is able to hear Tragically, in every period of history God’s voice and be guided by his will; there are “Herods” who plot death, wreak and for this reason he is all the more Pope Homily, cont. on pg. 16

Pope Francis

2 - Year of Faith, April 2013

Si eres Católico por encima de todo lo amaras Por el Diacono Eduardo Luis Fortini

Jorge Mario Bergoglio, el Papa Francisco, es un argentino hijo de padres italianos. Su padre Mario trabajó como empleado ferroviario y su madre Regina Sivori se hizo cargo de los quehaceres del hogar. Jorge nació en Buenos Aires el 17 de diciembre de 1936. Después de su bachillerato en Química se incorporó al noviciado jesuita el 11 de marzo de 1958. Cuando obtuvo su Licenciatura en Filosofía enseñó Psicología y Literatura en el Colegio Jesuita "El Salvador", en Buenos Aires, donde también mi tío, el Padre Atilio Fortini SJ, enseñaba física. El 13 de diciembre de 1969, Jorge Bergoglio fue ordenado sacerdote. En marzo de 1986 fue enviado a Alemania para que obtuviese su doctorado para luego volver a enseñar en el Colegio "El Salvador" de Buenos Aires. Tanto el Padre Jorge como mi tío trataron de proteger la tradicional espiritualidad de los fundadores jesuitas de los fuertes vientos ideológicos de esos tiempos. Hoy en día, esta tradicional espiritualidad jesuítica está viva en nuestra Diócesis, en Mankato, gracias a la presencia del “Instituto del Verbo Encarnado” fundado en Argentina. Mi tío jesuita fue muy influyente en los comienzos del Instituto.

El 13 de junio de 1997, el Papa Juan Pablo II nombró a Bergoglio como arzobispo coadjutor de la Arquidiócesis de Buenos Aires y en 1998 se convirtió en el nuevo Arzobispo cuando el Cardenal Quarracino murió. A este punto un estilo de vida muy evangélico caracterizó los comienzos de su episcopado; decidió vivir en un apartamento pequeño, cocinar sus propias comidas y tomar el autobús todos los días en lugar de tener su propio automóvil.

El nuevo arzobispo de Buenos Aires se opuso vigorosamente a la presidenta argentina y al Congreso cuando la ley sobre el matrimonio del mismo sexo se aprobó, definiéndola como un plan diabólico al cual había que oponerse a

On his first full day as Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis goes first to St. Mary Major Basilica to pay homage to Our Lady, placing flowers before her image. toda costa. La presidenta Cristina Kirchner reaccionó definiendo al Cardenal Bergoglio como un Inquisidor de la Edad Media.

El 13 de marzo del 2013, el día de la elección del Papa Francisco hubo un debate muy interesante en CNN entre dos católicos, un periodista liberal de CNN y un político conservador.

El primero declaró que la propagación del SIDA es culpa de las Enseñanzas de la Iglesia sobre los anticonceptivos en relación con el uso del preservativo. El Papa Francisco le recordaría al periodista liberal que para aquellos que llevan una vida promiscua el principal problema es el pecado de la fornicación con o sin preservativo.

Una vez que se ha entrado en la mentira de entregar su propio cuerpo a alguien con quien no se está casado lo que se va a oír de Cristo y del Vicario de Cristo es "no peques más". La Iglesia enseña a las parejas casadas que el uso del preservativo es pecaminoso porque impide al marido y a la mujer de concretizar su comunión

en una sola carne con disposición de apertura a la vida pero, por otra parte, la Iglesia no le enseña a gente promiscua que forniquen sin usar preservativos como este periodista liberal quisiera hacer creer. “No peques mas” es simplemente lo que la Iglesia le enseña a los promiscuos.

Por otro lado el político conservador dijo que el cuidado de los pobres es el deber de la Iglesia y no del Gobierno. El Papa Francisco le recordaría a este político conservador que los principios de la Doctrina Social de la Iglesia están hechos justamente para ser aplicados por los gobiernos y los líderes de la sociedad civil, los cuales también tienen un deber moral y político hacia los pobres (el Cardinal Bergoglio fue el redactor principal del documento que Papa Benedicto XVI presentó en Aparecida, Brasil, el 13 de Mayo del 2007).Estas dos posiciones extremas son sintomáticas de una fractura que por desgracia es muy común entre los católicos de los Estados Unidos. En estos casos específicos ambas ideologías no reflejan

la mente de Cristo. El Papa Francisco, dados sus antecedentes, invitará a ambas partes a aceptar la enseñanza católica en su integridad.

Preveo que el Papa Francisco será llamado "conservador" por los liberales y "liberal" por los conservadores sólo por ser "católico ante todo" sea en su enseñanza como en su testimonio de vida. Es el Papa ideal para ayudar a los católicos americanos a ser católicos en primer lugar, por encima y más allá de toda orientación política. Su personalidad engloba de una manera maravillosa la santidad de vida, la profunda oración y sana doctrina, el sentido católico de la justicia en la sociedad y un genuino amor por los pobres. ¿Que esperar del Papa Francisco?

Un mendigo de Roma antes que se anunciara el nombre del nuevo Pontífice por el balcón de San Pedro tenía un cartel que decía: “Francesco I”. Este nombre era prácticamente imposible de acertar para los expertos porque no tenía precedentes. Sin embargo el Espíritu se lo inspiró a un pordiosero. Es un nombre muy significativo: Habla de la necesidad de reformas manteniendo absoluta lealtad al Magisterio de la Iglesia como hizo San Francisco en su tiempo. Recalca la importancia, centralidad y prioridad del amor a los pobres por parte de la Iglesia, de la Sociedad, del Gobierno y de los individuos. Un estilo de vida de desapego a las cosas mundanas (dinero, carrera, posición, prestigio, etc.) También podría significar un plan en contra del clericalismo, la ambición por obtener puestos eclesiásticos y consecuentemente la limpieza de la Curia Romana a favor de hombres santos que remplacen eclesiásticos de profesión y no de vocación.

“La religión verdadera y perfecta ante Dios, nuestro padre, consiste en esto: ayudar a los huérfanos y a las viudas en sus necesidades y no contaminarse con la corrupción de este mundo.” Santiago 1:27

Pope Francis Reminds us to be "Catholic first"

By Deacon Eduardo Luis Fortini, translation of the Spanish article above Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, is an Argentinean son of Italian parents. His dad, Mario, was a Railway worker and his mom Regina Sivori took care of the family at home.

Jorge was born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936. After receiving his bachelor degree in Chemistry, he joined the Jesuit Novitiate on March 11, 1958. He obtained his License in Philosophy and taught Literature and Psychology at the Jesuit School “El Salvador” in Buenos Aires where also my uncle, Father Atilio Fortini, SJ, was teaching Physics. On December 13, 1969, Jorge Bergoglio was ordained a priest. In March 1986, he went to Germany where he completed his doctorate in theology. He then returned to teach again at the Jesuit School “El Salvador” in Buenos Aires. Both Fr. Jorge and my uncle worked to protect the traditional Jesuit Spirituality of the founders from the political winds of their times. This traditional Jesuit Spirituality is also alive in our Diocese, in Mankato, through the presence of the Institute of the Incarnate Word founded in Argentina. My Jesuit uncle was very influential in the beginnings of this new order.

On June 13, 1997, Pope John Paul II appointed Bergoglio as Coadjutor

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires and in 1998 he became the new Archbishop when Cardinal Quarracino died. He decided to live in a small apartment, to cook his own meals and take the bus every day instead of having his own car.

The new Archbishop of Buenos Aires opposed vigorously the Argentinean president and Congress when the law on same sex marriage was passed, defining it as a diabolical plan that had to be fought. The president, Cristina Kirchner, replied to Cardinal Bergoglio that he was and Inquisitor from the Middle Ages.

On March 13, 2013, the Day of the election of Pope Francis there was an interesting debate on CNN between two Catholics, a liberal reporter and a conservative politician. The first one stated that the spreading of HIV is the fault of the Teachings of the Church on Contraception related to the use of condoms. Pope Francis would remind to him that for those who conduct promiscuous lives the main problem is the sin of fornication with or without a condom. Once you have decided to enter into the lie of giving your sexuality to somebody to whom you are not married, what you are going to hear from Christ and from the Vicar of Christ is “sin no more.” The Church

teaches to married couples that the use of condom is sinful because prevents the communion of husband and wife in one flesh to be achieved together with the openness to life but, on the other hand, the Church does not teach promiscuous people to fornicate without the use of condoms as the reporter claimed. “Sin no more” is Her Teaching to this specific category of people.

The conservative politician stated that the care of the poor is the duty of the Church and not of the government. Pope Francis would remind the conservative politician that the duty of the poor is for everyone including governments and civil leaders of society as seen in the Social Teachings of the Church (Cardinal Bergoglio was the chief editor of Benedict XVI Document on Social Justice addressed at Aparecida, Brazil, on May 13, 2007). These two extreme positions are symptomatic of a fracture which unfortunately is very common between Catholics in America. In these two specific cases both ideologies do not reflect the mind of Christ. Pope Francis, given his record, will invite both sides to embrace the Catholic Teaching in its wholeness.

I anticipate that Pope Francis will be called “conservative” by the liberals and “liberal” by the conservatives

just for being “Catholic first” in His Teaching and witness of life. He is the ideal Pope to help the American Catholics to be Catholic first, above and beyond any political orientation.

His personality in a wonderful manner encompasses holiness of life, deep prayer life, sound doctrine, the sense of Catholic justice in society and a deep love for the poor What to expect from Pope Francis?

A homeless street beggar of Rome, before the Announcement of the new Pope from St. Peter’s balcony, had a sign which read: “Franceso I”. This name was an impossible guess for the experts but a bagger was inspired by the Spirit; a very meaningful name.

It speaks of reform in loyalty to the Magisterium as St. Francis did; the love of the poor as a priority for the Church, for Society, Government, and the individuals; a life style of detachment from worldly things (money, carrier, prestige, etc). It may also signify a plan against clericalism, the race for ecclesiastical positions and consequently the cleaning of the Roman Curia in favor of ecclesiastic holy men who will replace ecclesiastical professionals. "Religion that is pure and without stain before God Our Father is this: Assist orphans and widows in their affliction and remain free from the corruption of this world." James 1: 27

Pope Francis

The Saint Behind the Name

By Sr. Mary Juanita Gonsalves, R.S.M.

On March 13, 2013, following a period of deep prayer and anticipation, the world received the newly elected successor of Saint Peter, Pope Francis. Just minutes before he arrived on the papal balcony, the cardinal protodeacon announced that the new Vicar of Christ had taken the name of Pope Francis. Although, both the evangelization by Saint Francis Xavier, a founding member of the Society of Jesus, and the renewal work in the Church by Saint Francis of Assisi have contributed to the holiness of the Church, Pope Francis took his name after Saint Francis of Assisi. What is the significance of the Pope choosing the name of “Francis”? What is Pope Francis calling each of us to by taking this name?

A name is a way of identifying who we are.

By being called Pope Francis, the Shepherd of the People of God is identifying his mission in the Church today with the witness of Saint Francis, a simple, humble and obedient servant of the Church.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…”

Saint Francis of Assisi was born either at the end of 1181 or beginning of 1182 in Assisi, France. Born into a wealthy family and during a time of civil war, Francis grew up with ideals of knighthood and glory. When he was about twenty, Francis took part in a military campaign and was taken captive. Through the sickness and hardships endured in captivity, Francis began a slow and gradual process of spiritual conversion. With this conversion, he began to take on the heart of Christ by closely living out the Gospel way of life. After listening to a passage from the Gospel of Matthew (Mt. 10:10), where Jesus sends the Apostles out on mission with instructions on carrying few possessions, Francis felt called to live in poverty and preach the Gospel. He began to give away his material possessions and order his spiritual life to Christ.

Like Saint Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, was an advocate of the poor and preferred a simple life. He grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a country in the part of the world which is home to the majority of Catholics in the world, but also where poverty is found at large. Cardinal Bergoglio lived in a simple home in downtown Buesnos Aires, instead of an archbishop’s palace, and travelled by public transportation. Now, due to the working of the Holy Spirit, we have a leader of the Church, Pope Francis, who is accustomed with the practice of self-emptying and trust in Divine Providence.

Year of Faith, April 2013 - 3

Ask a

Canon Lawyer

By Mr. William Daniel

Q: "Pope Francis is a Jesuit, but I didn't think religious could become popes and bishops. How is this possible?"

“Blessed are the meek…”

The life of Saint Francis portrays his love for Christ and the Church. A story that highlights the love of Saint Francis for Christ is the call he heard at the little church of San Damiano.

Here, Saint Francis heard Jesus, from a cross, tell him, “Go, repair my house which, as you see, is all in ruins.” At first Francis thought Jesus had asked him to repair the physical structure of the church of San Damiano which was in a state of ruins. But, he later understood the central part of this mission being to repair the Church, which is made up of living stones and is in need of purification. As the need arose to found an order for renewing the People of God for the Lord, Saint Francis went with a few of his friars to Rome to obtain permission from Pope Innocent III for the new order, thus placing himself fully in communion with the Church.

Today, too, the Church continues to be in need of renewal. We have been blessed with the many popes, especially in the past century, who have sought to purify the memory of the Church for the sake of greater unity in Christ. In keeping with these efforts, before being elected Pope, Cardinal Borgoglio sought to bring about unity and peace with other faith communities, and to strengthen the faithful in Argentina with the teachings of the Church.

“Blessed are the pure in heart…”

What is Pope Francis calling each of us to? By identifying with Saint Francis, Pope Francis may also be guiding our attention to our calling as the People of God. When Saint Francis’ father, Bernardone, reproached him for his acts of generosity, Francis, standing before the Bishop of Assisi, stripped off his clothes to symbolize his renouncement of all earthy inheritance and his belonging to God, the Creator and Father. As children of God, how do we turn away from the things in our daily life that separate us from the love of God? Let us be attentive to the guidance of the Holy Father whom God has willed for the Church.

Reply: As is well known, on March 13, 2013, the College of Cardinals elected Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires and a member of the Society of Jesus (a Jesuit), as the Successor of St. Peter. The man holding this office (the Pope) is properly called the Supreme Pontiff, since he has full power in and over the whole Church and every one of her members. He is the supreme legislator, judge and administrator of the Church, and no one may challenge or appeal his decisions or acts.

Cardinal Bergoglio was not forced to become Pope by the Cardinals. Rather, upon being chosen, he was asked if he accepted; he freely accepted and at that moment became the Pope.

Having power is not at all the aim of religious life.

Consecrated persons, on the contrary, strive to imitate the poverty of Christ by becoming “poor in fact and in spirit” (canon 600). They also seek to imitate Christ’s obedience to the Father by their “submission of the will to legitimate superiors” (canon 601).

The Supreme Pontiff, however, in his office has considerable resources at his disposal for carrying out the mission of the Church, and he is obedient to no one on earth.

Moreover, Jesuits are known to make some additional special promises, including the promise never to strive after ecclesiastical dignities or high positions. How is it that thenCardinal Bergoglio could even be eligible for election to the papacy, let alone accept his

election?

His special promise as a Jesuit did not create a prohibition to accept a position of authority; rather, it was a commitment to refrain from an ambitious spirit. We can be sure that, with fidelity to his promise, Pope Francis’ acceptance was based not on any personal ambition for the office, but rather out of obedience to God and a willingness to place his life even more dramatically at the service of the Church. The Code of Canon Law foresees the possibility of a priest-religious becoming a bishop, saying that he remains a member of his order, that his obedience is transferred directly to the Supreme Pontiff, and that “he is not bound by the obligations [of his religious life] which he himself prudently judges cannot be reconciled with his condition” (canon 705). This implies, though, that the religious will strive to exercise his episcopal (or, in the case of Pope Francis, his pontifical) ministry according to the spirit of his religious identity. Accordingly—as has already been seen—we can expect Pope Francis, in his pontifical ministry, to maintain the demeanor of poverty and obedience (to God) which he embraced in his original profession of vows.

Mr. William Daniel is a canon lawyer of the Diocese of Winona, serving as a Tribunal Judge and Vice-Chancellor. If you have a canon law question which may be considered in a future issue, you may send them to the Associate Editor at Courier@dow.org.

Pope Francis: "I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor."

When it was first announced that then Cardinal Bergoglio would in fact take the name Pope Francis, the media and social networks were a buzz as to which St. Francis he was honoring in taking that name. The immediate thought was St. Francis of Assisi, but then others argued it must have been St. Francis Xavier since he, like Pope Francis, was a Jesuit. Pope Francis answered these questions directly in a press interview.

“Some people didn’t know why the bishop of Rome wants to call himself Francis. And some thought of Francis Xavier, or Francis de Sales and also Francis

of Assisi. I will recount the story.

In the election, I had beside me the archbishop emeritus of San Paolo, also the prefect emeritus of the Congregation of the Clergy, Cardinal Claudio Hummes. A great friend, a great friend,” he said. “When the thing became a little dangerous he comforted me,” the Pope laughed. “And when the cotes were up to two-thirds, there was the expected applause because the pope had been elected. And he embraced me, and kissed me, and he said to me, “Don’t forget about the poor.””

“And that word entered here,” the Holy Father said pointing to his forehead, “the poor, the

poor. Then, immediately with the thought of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. Then, I thought of wars, meanwhile the vote counting continued, until the end of all the votes. And Francis the man of peace … that was how the name came into my heart, Francis of Assisi. And for me, the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and guards creation. At this time that we have a relationship with creation that is not very good, right?”

“The man who gives us this spirit of peace - the poor man.

How I would like a Church that is poor and for the poor.” (Video from March 16, 2013.)

Living Our Faith in Society

4 - Year of Faith, April 2013

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, Rules the World

On Saturday evening, March 16, 75 women from across the Diocese of Winona gathered at St. James Coffee in Rochester for our 2nd Theresa Martin, Endow Diocesan Women's Night.

Coordinator And once again, I am blown away by the interest, excitement and strength of women in our diocese!

First, we would like to thank St. James Coffee for hosting such a crowd and in particular Dee Smith who was such a loving hostess at the coffee house. She brought her own "feminine genius" to the decorations and setting and everyone there was awed by the feminine touch and welcoming atmosphere. Thank you, Dee! Women of all ages attended, from college gals to grandmas and everyone enjoyed it. This is mostly due to our powerful (and yet down to earth), dynamic speaker, Vicki Thorn.

Vicki began her talk with the quote "The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world." She spoke about how true this is and what a real impact women have on the next generation and therefore the world.

April 4-5, 2013: Theology of the Body for Teens facilitator training. St. Theodore Church, Alberta Lea. CONTACT: Ben Frost, bfrost@dow.org April 12, 2013: Diocesan “Together in Faith” program for Catholic school teachers and administrators (Mankato) CONTACT: Marsha Stenzel, mstenzel@dow.org April 27, 2013: Together in Ministry program on Vatican II. Final session, Alverna Center, Winona CONTACT: Todd Graff, tgraff@dow.org May 18, 2013: Diocesan Women's Event: Mother Daughter Luncheon! All women are invited! Ss. Peter and Paul Church, Mankato CONTACT: Theresa Martin, Endow@dow. org

Formation

Sr. Mary Juanita Gonsalves, RSM

However, as of late, Director she recalls, it seems faithformation that women want to @dow.org cling to this quote but We also had women fill out forget the first part. surveys on what they would It is in "rocking the like to see happening through cradle" that our digour office in the next year. All nity and greatness lie.

I can say to you now is get Our ability to bring excited! We are planning out new human life into the next year and there will be the world is an abilmany opportunities for wonity reserved only for derful events like this one and women. It is in our other ideas, too! femininity, in our motherhood, that our Vicki Thorn inspired and educated us at the 2nd DWN! For now, mark your calendars! Our NEXT EVENT: real greatness lies.

Feminism should be about promoting this great- Celebrating Motherhood: a Mother-Daughter ness of woman. Instead, she says, it seems femi- Luncheon will be on May 18 at Ss. Peter & Paul nism wants to lessen our womanhood in order to be in Mankato. 10:30 a.m. Mass with Bishop Quinn more like men and therefore (in their minds) more followed by a fabulous luncheon where we will hear reflections on motherhood from different women as equal.

Vicki gave a stunning talk on the proven biol- well as personal experience of participating in the ogy of our interactions with one another and how Endow study groups sharings from all ages.

All women and girls are welcome! If you do not different things can interfere with that. To think that God in a sense "pre-programed" us to be have a daughter, come anyway! In fact, bring your able to know who we would be most com- mother! Mother not available? It's okay - come with patible with genetically is amazing. Yet, friends! Blessed Pope John Paul II said the our just as startling as that is amazing was the womanhood is who we are and our motherhood is counter fact that chemical contraception our mode of being in the world. How we act out our interrupts these receptors and women lose femininity in the world is our motherhood. So, every this instinctive ability to choose the proper woman is a mother in some way - and we are celemate according to our genetics. This cor- brating YOU! Join us on May 18th! The luncheon is relates to the rise of infertility problems free though you may give a $5 donation if you wish. in our society and raises many questions Please do register by May 14! (If you can register about how healthy the pill actual is (or is before then, that would be even better!) not) for women.

We are so excited to tell you that the entire talk was video recorded and will be up on the dow.org Endow page (under the Lifelong Faith Formation page)! I know I will be watching it again - truly an amazing talk!

Events in the Diocese for the Year of Faith

Color Key: General Youth Adults School Teachers/Catechists

The Office of Faith

June 23-25, 2013: Ministry Days, SMU, Winona CONTACT: Todd Graff, tgraff@dow.org July 12-14, 2013: Steubenville, Rochester Civic Ctr. CONTACT: Ben Frost July 19-30, 2013: World Youth Day, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

CONTACT: Ben Frost August 12-15, 2013: Junior High Catholic Summer Camp at Eagle Bluff in Lanesboro CONTACT: Ben Frost August 26, 2013: Catechetical Day, St. Augustine Church & Pacelli School, Austin CONTACT: Sr. Mary Juanita Gonsalves, RSM, mjgonsalves@dow.org November 24, 2013: Official Closing of the Year of Faith for the Universal Church

E vent of the M onth

Theology of the Body for Teens Training

By Sr. Mary Juanita Gonsalves, R.S.M. On April 4 and 5, the Theology of the Body for Teens training is scheduled to take place in the Diocese of Winona. This training program helps educators bring Blessed John Paul II’s Theology of the Body into a practical format that high school and middle school students will enjoy and understand. In this Year of Faith, as we seek to know the truth of Christ as love, the Theology of the Body teaches on human sexuality as an essential part of love and life. This training is offered

by Damon Owens from Theology of the Body Institute.

Who is invited: principals, teachers, priests, DRE’s, catechists, deacons, youth ministers, campus minis-

ters, parents and anyone who works with pre-teens (6th-8th grade) and teens (9th-12th).

Where: St. Theodore’s Parish Center in Albert Lea, Marian Hall 323 East Clark St., Albert Lea, MN 56007 When: On April 4, 2013, Theology of the Body for Teens, Middle School Training, will take place from 9am3pm. On April 5, Theology of the Body for Teens, High School Training, will take place from 9am-3pm.

For information on how to register or for other questions, please contact Ben Frost, Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at bfrost@dow.org or visit www.dow.org.

The Courier, April 2013 - 9

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Meet Our Catholic Schools St. Casimir, Wells submitted by Teresa Chirpich

Walking through the front doors of St. Casimir’s School, one notices a scripture passage on the wall—“Live justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with God.” These words (Micah 6:8) set the stage for the faith-based educational focus of the school.

St. Casimir’s School serves as a mission outreach for St. Casimir Church, whose pastor is Fr. Thomas Niehaus. It is a Christ-centered faith community rooted in the sacramental life of the church where we pray, learn and celebrate together in a way that promotes the Gospel. Serving the students in Faribault County since 1915, the school offers an academically rich Catholic college preparatory elementary education. Drawing their students from five different school districts, SCS is currently the only source of parochial education in the county.

The faculty members focus on

interspersing into education the faithfilled values and morals of their school families. The students participate in Eucharistic celebrations twice weekly.

“Our students display a vibrancy that is a joy to witness,” says Fr. Niehaus.

SCS student Chloe Bushlack says, “It is great to learn more about my faith every day and participate in Mass.”

A recent addition to SCS is a preschool program. Principal Joanne Tibodeau states, “The program, for 4 year olds this year and enlarging it to include 3 year olds next year, was a direct answer to parents’ requests for this type of care for their children.”

With 60 students in grades K-8 and eight additional students in preschool, SCS is large enough to offer excellent educational opportunities, yet small enough to create a nurturing environment for the students, as eighth grade student Samantha Chaffee affirms, “The teachers are incredible. Not only do they show you what we are learning, they make

submitted

by LeAnn M. Dahle In 1886, the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus of Philadelphia, i n v i t e d by Father Alexander Christie, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, agreed to build a school on the present site of the Treanor Campion Parish Center. In 1904, administration of the school was transferred to the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester, MN. Through the generosity of this parish community and those before us, Sacred Heart has provided a Catholic Education to children of our parish community without charging tuition for the past 126 years. This makes our school and parish very unique. We are the only Catholic parish in the Diocese of Winona that pro-

sure to address an individual’s needs and concerns. You can truly tell how much they care.” When asked about his favorite thing, fifth grade student Adam Stenzel immediately replied, “You never get left out here.” SCS also takes advantage of the best multi-age classroom techniques in the subjects of history, science, music and physical education giving them a more hands on approach in learning. Computer technology is integrated into all areas of the curriculum through the use of an attractive media center, mobile computer laptop lab and Mimio interactive technology.

In the last five years, 77% of the school’s former students earned graduation honor chords; 56% of the students also earned high honor medallions (GPA 3.50+). Students transition through the high school years and into college very, very well.

When a child first enters the doors of St. Casimir’s School as a preschool or kindergarten student, so begins the journey to instill within them a sense of faith, hope and love. Through their years, opportunities are provided to

The Office of

Catholic Education Marsha Stenzel Director mstenzel@dow. org

help students make decisions in the light of theses ideals with the goal of becoming responsible members of the Church and society. As they leave the walls of SCS upon their eighth grade graduation, it is hoped that the students take with them a sense of God’s purpose and direction for their lives—fulfilling the words of Micah to “Live justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God.”

Sacred Heart, Waseca

vides this gift to our children: all may receive the gift of a Catholic Education.

The mission of Sacred Heart School is to promote Catholic values and life-long learning. The school is committed to providing equal enrollment opportunities to all children in preschool through elementary grades K-4 regardless of race, sex, or religion (with appropriate preschool and non-parishioner tuition as determined by the Parish Board of Education).

The academic learning at Sacred Heart School is monitored by MNSAA (Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association), the Sacred Heart Board of Education, the diocesan director of Catholic schools, principal, pastor and school staff. Test data this past year reports that students of Sacred Heart School exceed national, state and local norms in reading and math. In addition to the normal core curriculum, children in grades K-4 receive Physical Education instruction three times and Music two times per week by certified professionals. Religion is taught daily in grades K-4 by all teachers.

Unique programs at Sacred Heart School include our SHARP before and after school resource program, Accelerated Reader, Read Naturally, Arts Attack and Morning Meetings. The teaching staff at Sacred Heart School is highly qualified with over 275 years of combined experience in the field of

education. All teachers have a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, a Minnesota State Teaching License, and are members of the National Catholic Education Association. Five staff members have a Master’s Degree in Education and six others have special certification in other areas. The teachers and staff are dedicated to provide a thorough and comprehensive faith-based Catholic education to all children. Accomplishments this past year include the installation and use of SMART Boards in every classroom, curriculum updates were made in the subjects of religion and math, implementation of STAR Reading and Math assessments, NWEA assessments, perceptual training room for kindergarten and first grade students, the implementation of our safe environment curriculum Circle of Grace, the addition of Grandparent’s Day, and parish wide activities celebrating our 125th anniversary as a parish school. Sacred Heart School was also named Waseca Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. The future has the school and parish leadership working on a vision to restructure our current programming moving forward to possibly include 5th and 6th grades. Sacred Heart has been blessed with Divine Providence from its existence and believes it will lead us in our future development and destiny.

Crucifixion, La Crescent submitted by Mrs. Lori Datta and the sixth graders at Crucifixion

Crucifixion School of La Crescent is an amazing Catholic school located in the beautiful Mississippi River Valley in Southern Minnesota. Crucifixion School offers small classes, dedicated teachers, and a family friendly—faith based environment to students in grades pre-k through 6.

Our school has many wonderful things. We have a library, a computer lab with a Smartboard, a science lab, a music room and a gymnasium that serves as our lunchroom, gym, and hall for concerts and lyceums.

Outside we have green space for football, soccer and softball. We also have playground equipment. In the winter, if we get enough snow many forts are built on the “snow hill.” This involves students of all ages working together to construct elaborate “structures.”

Our biggest assets at Crucifixion School are our parishioners and parents. They support us in more ways than we can list from constant prayer to constant work to make our school life special and activities fun. We get to attend, and help lead, masses twice each week with our pastor Father Havel.

This year we started the online

MAP testing.

Our students surpassed the national MAP averages in the three areas we tested: math, language arts, and reading.

Our sixth grade class is considered the leaders of our school. As one student stated, “We are in the front line of duty.” This means they are the captains of the Safety Patrol, help with flags and barricades, kitchen duty, carrying and fetching items from the

Church to school and whatever chore is asked of them. Sixth graders are also leaders at Mass where they take very seriously their roles as altar servers, greeters, ushers, lectors and gift bearers. After each mass, they take a few minutes to straighten books and pick up before leaving the church.

They also train and mentor younger students to take over as leaders.

10 -The Courier, April 2013

CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE

and Religious Directives for Bishop's Statement Ethical Catholic Health Care Services the hospital in 1889. Also, the religious art and symbols will remain throughout the hospital.”

Mayo Clinic has communicated to Bishop Quinn that it has no plan or intention to relocate clinical services prohibited by the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services to the Saint Marys Hospital Campus. In light of this and a signed Memorandum of Understanding among the Bishop of the Diocese of Winona, Mayo Clinic and the Academy of Our Lady of Lourdes (Sisters of Saint Francis), the chapel at Saint Marys Hospital will remain a Catholic chapel, with the Blessed Sacrament present and Mass offered daily.

“Mayo Clinic has earned a worldwide reputation for excellence in patient care and medical research, and plans to honor the values that have characterized St. Mary’s Hospital for over 130 years,” stated Bishop Quinn, “I urge all Catholics and everyone to continue to pray for the doctors and staff of the Mayo Healthcare System; that God continue to bless the good work that they do to care for His people.”

Statement from the Sisters of Saint Francis

By Sister Marilyn Geiger, Congreagational Minister and President

Rochester, MN - March 20, 2013 - For more than 130 years, the Sisters of Saint Francis, Rochester Minnesota have a shared history with Mayo Clinic. Together, we have been able to serve the health care needs of thousands of patients.

Saint Marys Hospital has been very much a part of the Sisters’ lives. Even in the early days, Sisters were known to give up their own personal beds when there were more patients than hospital beds. Today, we stand in a different place, but on the same holy ground. We still maintain a presence, but in a different capacity.

The unification of Saint Marys Hospital and Methodist Hospital into a single licensed hospital and into a single legal entity is but one factor in response to the ongoing changes in healthcare that has continued to evolve over many years.

The Sisters are sad to realize that the newly merged hospital will no longer be an official Catholic health care institution. But although the Catholic identity and the name of the hospital will change, much will remain the same. The chapel shall continue to be used as a Catholic chapel, a public place of worship available to patients, their families, employees, and local residents. The Sisters of Saint Francis and Mayo Clinic will continue to work together to perpetuate the Franciscan Mission and the values of Mother Alfred Moes and Dr. W.W. Mayo.

The Sisters of Saint Francis are rooted in Gospel and Franciscan values, impelled to act courageously on challenging issues for the common good of all. We Sisters believe in the power of prayer and are sustained by the belief that God’s presence is with us in the decisions we need to make. We have great trust and hope for the future of the Mayo Clinic healthcare system.

protect her future Secure your Income Do both with a Charitable Gift annuity from CRS.

Contact CRS today: E crs.org/annuities c 1-888-277-7575, ext. 7324 m plannedgiving@crs.org

The official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States.

4x4.25

Below are listed only a few of the directives from the Ethical and Religious Directive for Catholic Health Care Services (the document mention in Bishop Quinn's Statement Regarding the Mayo Clinic and Saint Marys Hospital). We would encourage all readers to read the full document found on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' website: usccb.org. Each part of the document contains an explanation and introduction before the directives are listed that is necessary to understanding the full meaning behind the directives. It is merely space constraints that keep us from reposting it all here.

Part One: The Social Responsibility of Catholic Health Care Services 1. A Catholic institutional health care service is a community that provides health care to those in need of it. This service must be animated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and guided by the moral tradition of the Church.

2. Catholic health care should be marked by a spirit of mutual respect among caregivers that disposes them to deal with those it serves and their families with the compassion of Christ, sensitive to their vulnerability at a time of special need.

4. A Catholic health care institution, especially a teaching hospital, will promote medical research consistent with its mission of providing health care and with concern for the responsible stewardship of health care resources. Such medical research must adhere to Catholic moral principles.

6. A Catholic health care organization should be a responsible steward of the health care resources available to it. Collaboration with other health care providers, in ways that do not compromise Catholic social and moral teaching, can be an effective means of such stewardship.

9. Employees of a Catholic health care institution must respect and uphold the religious mission of the institution and adhere to these Directives. They should maintain professional standards and promote the institution’s commitment to human dignity and the common good.

Part Two: The Pastoral and Spiritual Responsibility of Catholic Health Care 10. A Catholic health care organization should provide pastoral care to minister to the religious and spiritual needs of all those it serves. Pastoral care personnel—clergy, religious, and lay alike—should have appropriate professional preparation, including an understanding of these Directives.

11. Pastoral care personnel should work in close collaboration with local parishes and community clergy.

Appropriate pastoral services and/or referrals should be available to all in keeping with their religious beliefs or affiliation.

12. For Catholic patients or residents, provision for the sacraments is an especially important part of Catholic health care ministry. Every effort should be made to have priests assigned to hospitals and health care institutions to celebrate the Eucharist and provide the sacraments to patients and staff.

13. Particular care should be taken to provide and to publicize opportunities for patients or residents to receive the sacrament of Penance.

Part Three: The Professional-Patient Relationship 23. The inherent dignity of the human person must be respected and protected regardless of the nature of the person’s health problem or social status. The respect for human dignity extends to all persons who are served by Catholic health care.

32. While every person is obliged to use ordinary means to preserve his or her health, no person should be obliged to submit to a health care procedure that the person has judged, with a free and informed conscience, not to provide a reasonable hope of benefit without imposing excessive risks and burdens on the patient or excessive expense to family or community.

34. Health care providers are to respect each person’s privacy and confidentiality regarding information related to the person’s diagnosis, treatment, and care.

35. Health care professionals should be educated to recognize the symptoms of abuse and violence and are obliged to report cases of abuse to the proper authorities in accordance with local statutes.

36. Compassionate and understanding care should be given to a person who is the victim of sexual assault.

Health care providers should cooperate with law enforce-

ment officials and offer the person psychological and spiritual support as well as accurate medical information. A female who has been raped should be able to defend herself against a potential conception from the sexual assault.

If, after appropriate testing, there is no evidence that conception has occurred already, she may be treated with medications that would prevent ovulation, sperm capacitation, or fertilization. It is not permissible, however, to initiate or to recommend treatments that have as their purpose or direct effect the removal, destruction, or interference with the implantation of a fertilized ovum.

37. An ethics committee or some alternate form of ethical consultation should be available to assist by advising on particular ethical situations, by offering educational opportunities, and by reviewing and recommending policies. To these ends, there should be appropriate standards for medical ethical consultation within a particular diocese that will respect the diocesan bishop’s pastoral responsibility as well as assist members of ethics committees to be familiar with Catholic medical ethics and, in particular, these Directives.

PART FOUR: Issues in Care for the Beginning of Life 38. When the marital act of sexual intercourse is not able to attain its procreative purpose, assistance that does not separate the unitive and procreative ends of the act, and does not substitute for the marital act itself, may be used to help married couples conceive.

39. Those techniques of assisted conception that respect the unitive and procreative meanings of sexual intercourse and do not involve the destruction of human embryos, or their deliberate generation in such numbers that it is clearly envisaged that all cannot implant and some are simply being used to maximize the chances of others implanting, may be used as therapies for infertility.

40. Heterologous fertilization (that is, any technique used to achieve conception by the use of gametes coming from at least one donor other than the spouses) is prohibited because it is contrary to the covenant of marriage, the unity of the spouses, and the dignity proper to parents and the child.

41. Homologous artificial fertilization (that is, any technique used to achieve conception using the gametes of the two spouses joined in marriage) is prohibited when it separates procreation from the marital act in its unitive significance (e.g., any technique used to achieve extracorporeal conception).

42. Because of the dignity of the child and of marriage, and because of the uniqueness of the mother-child relationship, participation in contracts or arrangements for surrogate motherhood is not permitted. Moreover, the commercialization of such surrogacy denigrates the dignity of women, especially the poor.

43. A Catholic health care institution that provides treatment for infertility should offer not only technical assistance to infertile couples but also should help couples pursue other solutions (e.g., counseling, adoption).

44. A Catholic health care institution should provide prenatal, obstetric, and postnatal services for mothers and their children in a manner consonant with its mission.

45. Abortion (that is, the directly intended termination of pregnancy before viability or the directly intended destruction of a viable fetus) is never permitted. Every procedure whose sole immediate effect is the termination of pregnancy before viability is an abortion, which, in its Ethical Directives, cont. on pg. 13

CATHOLIC HEALTHCARE

The Courier, April 2013 - 11

The Power of Prayer and Faith Mayo Clinic would Not Exist without the Bold Faith of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester.

A catastrophic act of nature brought two amazing individuals together. On August 21, 1883 a great tornado ripped through the residential area of Rochester killing 37 and injuring more than 200.

Dr. W. W. Mayo realized he would need more help in caring for the wounded survivors of the storm and called on Mother Mother Alfred Moes Alfred Moes and her Sisters of Saint Francis.

Mother Alfred had journeyed to the New World in 1851. Her name by birth was Maria and she (at the age of 22) and her sister Catherine (who was 30) sailed 6 weeks across the ocean to be religious Sisters, serving God in the New World. Maria took the name Sr. Alfred and Catherine became Sr. Barbara. The Sisters’ journey led Sr. Alfred to the Sisters of Saint Francis and to move to Rochester, MN where she established a school and a convent, and gave birth to the Rochester Franciscan congregation.

After the tragedy of the tornado had passed, Mother Alfred approached Dr. Mayo saying, “We need a hospital.” There were only a couple hospitals in existence at that time and Dr. Mayo had an awful experience at one in New York City.

Hospitals were known to be a place where people go to die. The idea that Mother Alfred had was rather revolutionary for its time and in fact, Dr. Mayo was not in favor of it.

All odds against her, she convinced him. Dr. Mayo said if she could get the funds together, they could proceed. The Sisters took the next four years doing everything they could. Mother Alfred devoted herself to raising that money. She taught her Sisters fine needlework that they could sell; they taught music lessons, sold crafts, and worked diligently in any way possible to raise the money needed.

After those four long years, Mother Alfred went to Dr. Mayo with the funds needed and Saint Marys Hospital was established on September 30, 1889 with 27 beds and open arms to every person who needed them. The Sisters had a vision for caring for each person as inspired by the Gospels and despite color, sex, financial status or religion, all were welcome.

Yet not one brick would have been laid without the Sisters’ dedication to this mission and goal. Dr. Mayo was better than his word when Mother Alfred presented him with the funds four years after they discussed it. He said, “not only will we build a hospital, but we’ll build the best one money can buy.”

Dr. Mayo’s sons, Dr. Will and Dr. Charlie expanded their father’s practice. The Mayo brothers were contemporaries with the next superintendent of Saint Marys Hospital, Sr. Joseph Dempsey and they worked together splendidly. Sr. Joseph had a strong work ethic matched with faith and Dr. Will would often choose her as his first assistant in the operating room even over other doctors. It was her small, steady hands and careful eye that actually discovered a nodule that signified abdominal cancer. Even to this day in medical literature it is referred to as “Sr. Joseph’s Nodule.”

In 1922, under the supervision of Sr. Joseph the hospital doubled in size. Sr. Joseph said, “Saint Marys Hospital should be a house of God and a gateway to heaven for His many suffering children.” Sr. Fabian Helleron another leader at Saint Marys Hospital was so tender with the patients.

She taught them how to persevere through the struggles and prayed with the loved ones of the sick. She brought such warmth to every person there, making sure they felt welcome even giving everyone a glass of milk.

During WWI, Mayo specialists were extraordinary in that they would work together for the good

A depiction of the first surgery at St Marys; the patient still has his boots on!

of the patient. The Mayo brothers and their wives converted Mayo Clinic into a non-profit with a salaried staff and they also added an enormous amount of personal savings into the foundation.

During the Great Depression there were no mass layoffs and the Hospital still refused to turn anyone away. This put the Sisters into great debt, and even a wing of the hospital was going to be condemned because it was not up to code for fire regulation safety. But Sr. Joseph reminded them all that everything comes through “prayer and fasting,” and sure enough, the loans came through and they were able to rebuild that wing of the hospital.

1939 was a sad year for the Hospital as Sr. Joseph Dempsey passed away in March, Dr. Charlie in May and his brother Dr. Will in July. Yet, the Sisters and the Mayo brothers had worked so diligently to set such a strong foundation that the Mayo Clinic moved forward in strength. They broke ground for a new building on September 30, 1939: The Francis Building named in honor of the sisters.

Sr. Domitillo DuRocher was the next administrator and in 1941, Saint Marys expanded to be the largest private hospital with over 860 beds. WWII left a burden on the hospital as many doctors and nurses enlisted. Sr. Domitillo established a school of nursing and retired in 1949.

Due to the growing number of vocations, the Rochester Franciscans began building a new motherhouse, Assisi Heights, laying the cornerstone in 1952. In 1964, the Congregation reached its peak with over 1000 Rochester Franciscan Sisters. Sr. Mary Brigh Cassidy was the next administrator of Saint Marys Hospital and had a heart of service; she said, “We believe that every human being is This historic photo "Two Sisters by a hospital bed" shows important, and that in taking care of people – givthe tireless effort of the Sisters to care for others.

This was the entrance to St Marys Hospital in the 1880s. ing them physical, mental and spiritual care – we are serving God.” “The true mission of a hospital must be not only to treat a specific illness but to care for the whole person.”

Sr. Generose Gervais, the last religious Sister to be administrator of Saint Marys Hospital viewed every employee as important to the hospital. From the ones who mop the floor to those who work in the cafeteria to the surgeons, she treated them all with respect. She believed that what they have at Mayo is a gift from the sisters to Rochester and to the world. In 1986, they established the Poverello Foundation which provides finding for patients in need. She still remains employed at Saint Marys Hopsital, currently serving as the President of the Poverello Foundation.

Sr. Generose said in 2010, “I’m proud of our institution, I love it. I’ve been here over 60 years … as a novice, I said I would die if I was assigned to the Hospital. I find you don’t die that easily and you learn to love the things you think are going to be hard.”

We do not have space here to include all the developments and exemplary work of the Sisters, doctors, nurses and staff. Please see Mayo Clinic’s website under “tradition and heritage” to read more and access the Mayo History Videos collections.

As the Mayo Clinic changes its relationship with the Sisters of Saint Francis and chooses a path that dissolves the official Catholic Identity of Saint Marys Hospital, it is a sad event in this beautiful history of faith and science working together for truth and healing. The Catholic Church has always believed that truth is universal and science and faith can and should work hand in hand. The history of Saint Marys gives us a beautiful example of this relationship. Science anchored in the truth of faith has produced such fruitful results for the Mayo Clinic. It is disappointing to see such ties officially ending.

Let us pray for the Sisters, who looking back at the challenges that have been faced in the past, continue to trust in the ways God leads them; as well as pray for the doctors and staff at Mayo during this time. One can also not help but wonder at the future through the words of Dr. Eugene Mayberry, who was a Chief Executive of Mayo Clinic, who said, “We know who we are with the Sisters, but we don’t know who we’d be without them.” __________________ Information for this article was gathered from: Mayo Clinic Heritage Film: Healing Hands, The Sisters of Saint Francis and Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER), 2011.

12 -The Courier, April 2013

LAY FORMATION

Fatherhood: it is all about Love.

By Todd Graff

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about “fathers” – both in terms of my own family life, and in terms of Pope Benedict’s recent decision to step down from the papacy. The first context may seem clear enough.

I have a father, of course, and am a father myself.

But the context of Pope Benedict’s resignation may not be as clear. So, let me try and bring them together a bit…

My own father is 89 years old. A lifelong banker, he still goes in to the office every day, but he’s facing some health issues as one would expect for his age.

My oldest son, Isaac (whose middle name comes from his grandfather), recently traveled to Chile for a required semester of study in a Spanish-speaking country. Before he left, I wanted him to see my dad and to spend some time with him. So, we headed out together for Nebraska to visit my parents. It was a simple but very meaningful three days.

First, there was the drive – 11 hours in the car together, both ways. And, most of those hours were filled with conversation about many things, including our lives, our memories together, our hopes for what lies ahead, our values and what we hold most dear. We shared many important thoughts about our faith and the way we understand God’s presence and grace in our lives. I’ve often told Isaac that he was the first one to teach me how to be a dad, and this trip was another grace-filled experience of this precious father-son bond.

And, there was the time with my dad, Isaac’s grandfather. We didn’t do anything special with him and my mom; we had lunch together, took a drive around town, visited the new local brewery,

and went to my brother’s for dinner with other family members in town. I knew that Dad appreciated seeing both of us and that we had taken the time to come for a visit. And, I knew that it was an important thing to do – both for Isaac, and for my dad.

One of the most important teachings of the Second Vatican Council for me is its affirmation that we are all called to holiness by virtue of our baptism, and that lay people live out their holiness in their daily tasks – as workers, as citizens, as neighbors, and especially as family members. I treasure this insight of the Council Fathers deeply as it resonates so clearly with my own experience. I find my path to God in a very real way by being the best father that I can be to my son, Isaac, and to all of my children. Of course, my prayer life and celebrating the sacraments of the Church are a vital part of my path to holiness as well, but God doesn’t call me to these spiritual practices apart from my daily relationships. I find God’s presence in my life in the day to day responsibilities I have, and especially in the way I love and care for my family. What a grace! What a profound privilege!

I learned this in a very real way from my own father, who had 11 children to raise. As a boy, I used to stop by the bank to see him after completing my paper route each afternoon. I don’t ever remember him saying that he didn’t have time to see me.

On Saturdays, he would often take me along with him to do some work on the farm he owned outside of town. I can still remember how much I enjoyed our having lunch together at a local diner on some of those Saturdays. These were simple things, but they brought me such joy and assured me of his love for me. And, now, I seek each day to carry on this sacred duty of being a good father to my own children, and to be a source of God’s love and care for them through my role as their father.

How does Pope Benedict come in to all of this? The word, “pope,” comes from the Wednesday, April 17 8 a.m. - St. Ann, Janesville Latin word, “papa,” which means “father.”

10:30 a.m. - St. Anthony, Altura Pope Benedict has been our “Holy Father” 7 p.m. - St. Mary, Madelia for these past almost eight years. And, for Thursday, April 18 me, he has been truly a spiritual father 8 a.m. - St.Bernard, Stewartville and someone whom I could trust to give 8:30 a.m. - St. Adrian, Adrian

Masses of Reparation for Sins

Many parishes throughout the diocese committed to offer consolation to the Heart of Christ through a Mass of Reparation for the sins of the Diocese of Winona. At least one Mass will be said every day:

Monday, April 1 8:30 a.m. - Good Shepherd, Jackson Tuesday, April 2 8 a.m. - St.Pius X, Rochester Tuesday, April 2 4:30 p.m. - Holy Trinity, Rollingstone Wednesday, April 3 8:30 a.m. - Sacred Heart, Hayfield Thursday, April 4 9 a.m. - St.Mary of the Lake,Lake City 10:30 a.m. - Good Samaritan, Pipestone 10:30 a.m. - Rigeview Estates, Pipestone 5:15 p.m. - St. Mary, Winona Friday, April 5 4:03 p.m. - St. John the Evangelist, Rochester Saturday, April 6 5 p.m. - Holy Famiy, Kasson Sunday, April 7 8 a.m. - St. Columban, Preston Tuesday, April 9 8:30 a.m. - St. Anthony, Lismore Wednesday, April 10 5:15 p.m. - St. Leo, Pipestone 7 p.m. - Ss. Peter and Paul, Mankato 8:30a.m. - Resurrection, Rochester 8 a.m. - St. Teresa, Mapleton 9:15 a.m. - Sacred Heart, Waseca 7 p.m. - St. Francis of Assisi, Rochester Friday, April 12 5 p.m. - Assumption, Canton Saturday, April 13 8 a.m. - Holy Redeemer, Eyota 4 p.m. - St. Joseph, Owatonna 17 - St. Francis de Sales, Claremont Sunday, April 14 8 a.m. – Crucifixion, La Crescent 8 a.m. - St. John the Baptist, Mankato 8 a.m. - St. Patrick, Lanesboro 8 a.m. - St. James, Twin Lakes 8:30 a.m. - St. Mary, Minneiska Tuesday, April 16 8 a.m. - St.James, St.James 8 a.m. - Our Lady of Mount Carmel Easton 8:30 a.m. - St.Rose of Lima, Lewiston 12:05 p.m. - St. Francis Xavier, Windom 5 p.m. - St. Mary, Worthington

10 a.m. - St. Paul, Minnesota City Friday, April 19 8 a.m. - St. Charles Borromeo, St Charles 8:30 a.m. - St. Gabriel, Fulda 8:30 a.m. - St. Joachim, Plainview Saturday, April 20 8 a.m. - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Winona Sunday, April 21 10 a.m. - St. Joseph, Good Thunder 11 a.m.St. John Baptist de La Sall, Dodge Center 6 p.m. Holy Spirit, Rochester Monday, April 22 8:30 a.m. - St.Columbanus, Blooming Prairie 9 a.m. - Pax Christi, Rochester Tuesday, April 23 9 a.m. - Christ the King, Byron 9 a.m. - Oak Park Place, Albert Lea 5 p.m. - St. Joseph, Jasper 5:10 p.m. - St. Mary, Caledonia Wednesday, April 24 8 a.m. - St. Agnes, Kellogg 8:30 a.m. - St. Anthony, Westbrook 9 a.m. - St. Augustine, Austin 5:15 p.m. - St. Martin, Woodstock Thursday, April 25 8:30 a.m. - Immaculate Heart of Mar,y Currie 8:30 a.m. - St. Joseph, Lakefield 9:15 a.m. - Sacred Heart, Waseca Friday, April 26 8:30 a.m. - Our Lady of Good Counsel, Wilmont 8:30 a.m. - St. Martin, Woodstock Saturday, April 27 4:30 p.m. - Holy Spirit, Rochester Sunday, April 28 8 a.m. - St. Vincent de Paul, West Concord 11 a.m. - St. Mary, Chatfield Monday, April 29 7:15 a.m. - Sacred Heart, Owatonna Tuesday, April 30 8:30 a.m. - St. Luke, Sherburn 8:30 a.m. - Immaculate Conception, Wilson Township

The Office of Lay Formation

me guidance and to help lead me in the way of holiness.

There have been Todd Graff countless times that I have read someDirector thing he’s written or something he’s said tgraff@dow.org that has touched me profoundly But, at the very heart of his message have been two great insights that I will always treasure most.

First is the simple and central truth of our faith that “God is love,” which he used as the title of his first encyclical (Deus Caritas Est). This man who came to the papacy with the reputation in the media of being so rigid and harsh – “God’s rottweiler,” as some labeled him – gave us a most beautiful teaching on God’s tender and constant love for his people. He wrote this: “In a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence … I wish in my first Encyclical to speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in turn must share with others.” This is who Jesus called, “Abba,” and who he taught us to call “Our Father.”

Second, he has reminded us so clearly that our Christian Faith is ultimately about entering into a loving relationship with God the Father by coming to know and walking with his Son, Jesus. As he writes: “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” This “event,” this “person” is Jesus Christ, and our faith must ever be grounded in a true love of him – not in a “lofty idea” or even an “ethical choice,” but in the “encounter” with our Living Lord.

Over the years and in particular during these past few weeks, I have learned that being a “father” is all about love. I have known this through my dad’s love for me and through my love for my children; and, in these human loves, as affirmed by the wisdom of our “Holy Father,” I have come to know a true reflection of God’s great love for me. Deo gratias!

EVANGELIZATION & APOLOGETICS

The Courier, April 2013 - 13

Ethical Directives,

The Office of Evangelization & Apologetics

cont'd from pg 10

moral context, includes the interval between conception and Raymond implantation of the embryo. Catholic health care institutions are de Souza not to provide abortion services, even based upon the principle of material cooperation. In this context, Catholic health care institutions need to be concerned about the danger of scandal Director in any association with abortion providers. rdesouza@ 46. Catholic health care providers should be ready to offer dow.org compassionate physical, psychological, moral, and spiritual care to those persons who have suffered from the trauma of abortion.

April Speaking 47. Operations, treatments, and medications that have Schedule as their direct purpose the cure of a proportionately serious pathological condition of a pregnant woman are permitted when All talks begin at 7 p.m. they cannot be safely postponed until the unborn child is viable, even if they will result in the death of the unborn child.

In April: 48. In case of extrauterine pregnancy, no intervention is Sat 6: Men’s conference, morally licit which constitutes a direct abortion.

Carmelite Monastery, 49. For a proportionate reason, labor may be induced after Austin; the fetus is viable.

Mon 8: Winona State University 50. Prenatal diagnosis is permitted when the procedure Thurs 11: St James Coffee does not threaten the life or physical integrity of the unborn House, Rochester child or the mother and does not subject them to disproportionFri 12: Saint Rose of Lima, ate risks; when the diagnosis can provide information to guide Lewiston preventative care for the mother or pre- or postnatal care for Sat 13: St Charles (in the child; and when the parents, or at least the mother, give Spanish) free and informed consent. Prenatal diagnosis is not permitted Sun 14: St Joseph Worker, when undertaken with the intention of aborting an unborn child Mankato with a serious defect.

Tues 16: Sacred Heart 51. Nontherapeutic experiments on a living embryo or Cathedral, Winona fetus are not permitted, even with the consent of the parents.

Wed 17: Holy Redeemer, Therapeutic experiments are permitted for a proportionate Eyota reason with the free and informed consent of the parents or, if Thurs 18: Winona State the father cannot be contacted, at least of the mother. Medical University research that will not harm the life or physical integrity of an In May: unborn child is permitted with parental consent.

Thurs 9: St James Coffee House; 52. Catholic health institutions may not promote or condone Fri - Mon 10, 11, 12, & 13: Talks contraceptive practices but should provide, for married couples at Sts Peter and Paul, Mankato and the medical staff who counsel them, instruction both about Tues 21: Sacred Heart the Church’s teaching on responsible parenthood and in methCathedral, Winona ods of natural family planning.

Wed: St Joseph the Worker, 53. Direct sterilization of either men or women, whether permanent or temporary, is not permitted in a Catholic health care institution. Procedures that induce Mankato (to be confirmed) sterility are permitted when their direct effect is the cure or alleviation of a present and serious pathology and a simpler treatment is not available.34 Sat 25: St Casimir, Wells 54. Genetic counseling may be provided in order to promote responsible parenthood and to prepare for the proper treatment and care of children with genetic defects, in accordance with Catholic moral teaching and the intrinsic rights and obligations of married couples regarding the transmission of life.

There are still days available for April Part Five: Issues in Care for the Seriously Ill and Dying and May. Other parishes interested 55. Catholic health care institutions offering care to persons in danger of death from illness, accident, advanced age, or similar condition should provide them in booking talks on Apologetics for with appropriate opportunities to prepare for death. Persons in danger of death should be provided with whatever information is necessary to help them understand the Year of Faith are invited to contact Mr. Raymond de Souza at (507) their condition and have the opportunity to discuss their condition with their family members and care providers. They should also be offered the appropriate medi858-1265 or RdeSouza@DOW.org. cal information that would make it possible to address the morally legitimate choices available to them. They should be provided the spiritual support as well as the opportunity to receive the sacraments in order to prepare well for death.

56. A person has a moral obligation to use ordinary or proportionate means of preserving his or her life. Proportionate means are those that in the judgment of the patient offer a reasonable hope of benefit and do not entail an excessive burden or impose excessive expense on the family or the community.

57. A person may forgo extraordinary or disproportionate means of preserving life.

Disproportionate means are those that in the patient’s judgment do not offer a reasonable hope of benefit or entail an excessive burden, or impose excessive expense on the family or the community.

58. In principle, there is an obligation to provide patients with food and water, including medically assisted nutrition and hydration for those who cannot take food orally. This obligation extends to patients in chronic and presumably irreversible conditions (e.g., the “persistent vegetative state”) who can reasonably be expected to live indefinitely if given such care. Medically single premium Ethical Directives, cont. on pg. 14

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14 - The Courier, April 2013

SOCIAL JUSTICE

Taking Time to Sustain Your Marriage Ethical Directives, cont'd from pg 13

by John McGuire, Clinical Social Worker, Catholic Charitites Rochester Office

Several years ago, at 3:30am on a Sunday morning, the sound of the telephone awoke me from a deep sleep. My wife was visiting her parents in Pennsylvania, and our kids were out of the house, so I was home alone. A recorded voice informed me that I was receiving a text-to-landline message from a phone number in the 507 area code. A digitalized voice then said: “I love you. I miss you. Are you okay?” I was invited to respond at the sound of the tone.

My wife had our new cell phone with her, but, I could not remember the number. I decided that a prudent husband should respond to such a message, so I said, “Hello Ann. I got your message. I miss you and love you too.”

Later, I would be glad I specified the name.

As I woke up I realized my wife could not have sent the message because she does not know how to send text messages. Bewildered, I went back to bed.

“I love you. I miss you. Are you okay?”

These words had a mysterious origin for me that night but are often apt in marriage.

Maintaining feelings of closeness is a challenge given the demands of work and family life. John Gottman, a psychologist, has identified what he calls the “five magic hours” each week to sustain a loving marriage. No model fits everyone, but his ideas serve as a good basis for reflection. His five hours are: • Partings. Don’t part in the morning without knowing one interesting thing that will happen in your spouse’s day. (2 minutes a day X 5 working days: total 10 minutes) • Reunions. Take 10 minutes to talk about your day. The goal is to provide support and understanding, not advice. (20 minutes a day X 5 days: total 1 hour 40 minutes) • Admiration and appreciation. Find some way every day to genuinely communicate

affection and appreciation toward your spouse.

(5 minutes a day X 7 days: total 35 minutes) • Affection. Be physically affectionate with one another. Play is good. Make sure to kiss each other before going to sleep. (5 minutes a day X 7 days: total 35 minutes) • Time together. Take at least 2 hours a week for a marital date. This time can be to update each other more fully on what each has been thinking and feeling during the week, discuss any issues that might have arisen, or just have fun together.

Specifics will vary for every couple, but Gottman raises questions worth reflecting upon. How well do we stay in touch with what is happening in each other’s life? Are we routinely expressing appreciation and care? Are we making time for each other on a regular basis?

Put another way, it is important for couples sometimes to convey the message that mysteriously came to me: “I love you. I miss you. Are you okay?” When such discussions reveal more hurt than a couple can address on their own, Catholic Charities counseling services are there to help.

As it turned out, the origin of my message was a mistake, not a mystery. A lonely soul in one college town tried to convey a message to one of our children in another, pressed “home” instead of “cell” and awoke a befuddled husband. They were still extraordinary words to hear out of the blue in the middle of the night, and well worth conveying, from time to time, to those we love.

assisted nutrition and hydration become morally optional when they cannot reasonably be expected to prolong life or when they would be “excessively burdensome for the patient or [would] cause significant physical discomfort, for example resulting from complications in the use of the means employed.”41 For instance, as a patient draws close to inevitable death from an underlying progressive and fatal condition, certain measures to provide nutrition and hydration may become excessively burdensome and therefore not obligatory in light of their very limited ability to prolong life or provide comfort.

59. The free and informed judgment made by a competent adult patient concerning the use or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures should always be respected and normally complied with, unless it is contrary to Catholic moral teaching.

60. Euthanasia is an action or omission that of itself or by intention causes death in order to alleviate suffering. Catholic health care institutions may never condone or participate in euthanasia or assisted suicide in any way. Dying patients who request euthanasia should receive loving care, psychological and spiritual support, and appropriate remedies for pain and other symptoms so that they can live with dignity until the time of natural death.

63. Catholic health care institutions should encourage and provide the means whereby those who wish to do so may arrange for the donation of their organs and bodily tissue, for ethically legitimate purposes, so that they may be used for donation and research after death.

64. Such organs should not be removed until it has been medically determined that the patient has died. In order to prevent any conflict of interest, the physician who determines death should not be a member of the transplant team.

66. Catholic health care institutions should not make use of human tissue obtained by direct abortions even for research and therapeutic purposes.

Part Six: Forming New Partnerships with Health Care Organizations and Providers 67. Decisions that may lead to serious consequences for the identity or reputation of Catholic health care services, or entail the high risk of scandal, should be made in consultation with the diocesan bishop or his health care liaison.

68. Any partnership that will affect the mission or religious and ethical identity of Catholic health care institutional services must respect church teaching and discipline. Diocesan bishops and other church authorities should be involved as such partnerships are developed, and the diocesan bishop should give the appropriate authorization before they are completed. The diocesan bishop’s approval is required for partnerships sponsored by institutions subject to his governing authority; for partnerships sponsored by religious institutes of pontifical right, his nihil obstat should be obtained.

69. If a Catholic health care organization is considering entering into an arrangement with another organization that may be involved in activities judged morally wrong by the Church, participation in such activities must be limited to what is in accord with the moral principles governing cooperation.

70. Catholic health care organizations are not permitted to engage in immediate material cooperation in actions that are intrinsically immoral, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and direct sterilization.

71. The possibility of scandal must be considered when applying the principles governing cooperation. Cooperation, which in all other respects is morally licit, may need to be refused because of the scandal that might be caused.

Scandal can sometimes be avoided by an appropriate explanation of what is in fact being done at the health care facility under Catholic auspices. The diocesan bishop has final responsibility for assessing and addressing issues of scandal, considering not only the circumstances in his local diocese but also the regional and national implications of his decision.

72. The Catholic partner in an arrangement has the responsibility periodically to assess whether the binding agreement is being observed and implemented in a way that is consistent with Catholic teaching.

The Courier, April 2013 - 15

IN THE DIOCESE

April Event Calendar Parish and Community Events The Following are Divine Mercy Celebrations: Divine Mercy Sunday is April 7.

St. Ann's Church, Slayton 8 a.m. mass followed by exposition until Benediction at 3:15 p.m. Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3:30 p.m.

Confessions from 1 - 3 p.m.

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona Video on the Divine Mercy at 1 p.m. Celebration from 2 - 4 p.m. Confession starting at 2 p.m. and until all are heard.

St. Ann, Janesville 2:30 p.m. Exposition. 2:40 p.m.

Confession. 3 p.m. Chaplet.

3:30 p.m. Benediction. For more info contact: Rita 507-239-2201.

Ss. Peter and Paul, Mankato Celebration is from 2:30 to 3:30 with adoration, prayers and confession.

Ss. Peter and Paul, Blue Earth Celebration from 3 - 4 p.m.

Exposition, Chaplet of Diving Mercy, Confessions between 3:15 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. Benediction at 3:45 p.m.

St. Mary, Madelia Chaplet 3 p.m. Adoration 3-6:30 p.m., Confessions 3:30-5:30 p.m., Vespers & Benediction 6 p.m. Contact person: Mary 507-375-3542 Ext 10 St. Charles Borromeo, St. Charles Celebration at 1 p.m. Chaplet followed by Reconciliation.

Resurrection Church, Rochester Celebration at 1 p.m. Movie

shown at 1 p.m. Public celebration in church 2:30-4:30 p.m.

St. Peter, Rose Creek will have a Divine Mercy celebration. Contact the parish office for details.

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Winona Hosts "Theology of the Body and NFP" talk by Sr. Marie Paul Lockerd, R.S.M., D.O. Thur April 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Mass for Life & Marriage St. Mary’s Church, Winona offers a Mass for Life and Marriage on both the first and third Thursday of the month, at 5:15 p.m. Rosary at 4:50 p.m.

Call the office for updates.

IHM Seminary, Winona 10th Annual Bishops & Rector Dinner on Wed. May 8, 5 p.m.

The dinner will be honoring Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke with the Immaculate Heart of Mary Award. $100 per ticket.

Contact: Ellen Speltz: espeltz@ smnmn.edu or 507 457-7376.

The Sanctity of Life, St. Felix, Wabasha April 3, 7-8:15 p.m. PROLIFE Across America Speakers: Michelle Steel and Angela Beljeski. For grades 7 - 12, or anyone else who wants to know more. Admission: FREE. Info: stfelixgrowthinfaith@ yahoo.com.

Queen of Peace, Lyle Annual Spring dinner on April 7, 4 - 7 p.m. Turkey, Ham. Including homemade pies. Tickets adults $9 in advance, $10 at door, kids

6-12 $5, under 6 Free. For advance tickets call 507-4386694 or 641-737-2255 9th Annual Mother's Day Conference "Identity of a Mother's Heart" May 6, Schoenstatt on the Lake, Sleepy Eye. $35 admission.

Contact: Lorie Spear: 507-6761529. Register by April 20.

Sacred Heart Cathedral, Winona Holy Hour of Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty on Sat, April 20 8:30 9:30 a.m. (after 8 a.m. Mass.)

St. Patrick Church, Brownsville hosts a Breakfast, April 7 following the 8 a.m. Mass until noon. Adults $7, ages 6-12 $3, under 6 FREE. All welcome!

Resurrection Church, Rochester Catholic United Financial Holy Family Council of Rochester, hosts their 7th annual "Baseball Night" April 19 at 5:30 p.m.

Free to all! Prizes, food, fun!

St. Felix Church, Wabasha hosts a French Toast, Pancake, Sausage breakfast on Sun., April 7, 8 - 11 a.m. in the school gym. This fund-raiser, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus of St. Agnes and St. Felix parishes and the Serra Club of Wabasha County, will benefit the IHM Seminary & Religious Vocations.

Spanish Mass Schedule Albert Lea, St. Theodore, Spanish Mass, 11 a.m., every Sunday.

Austin, Queen of Angels, Spanish Mass at 11 a.m and 5 p.m. every Sunday.

Dodge Center, St. John Baptist de La Salle, Spanish Mass, 11 a.m., every Sunday.

Fairmont, St. John Vianney, Spanish Mass, 2 p.m., every Sunday.

Madelia, St. Mary, Spanish Mass, 10 a.m., every Sunday.

Mankato, Ss. Peter and Paul, Spanish Mass, 1 p.m., every Sunday.

Owatonna, Sacred Heart, Spanish Mass, 1 p.m. every Sunday.

Pipestone, St. Leo, Spanish Mass, 2:30 p.m., every Sunday Rochester, St. Francis of Assisi, Spanish Mass, 12 noon, every Sunday.

St. Charles, St. Charles Borromeo, Spanish Mass,

11:30 a.m., every Sunday.

St. James, St. James, Spanish Mass, 12 p.m., every Sunday.

Waseca, Sacred Heart, Spanish Mass, 11:30 a.m., every Sunday.

Windom, St. Francis Xavier, Spanish Mass, 12 p.m., every Sunday Worthington, St. Mary, Spanish Mass, Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.

Hispanic Priests/Sacerdotes Hispanos: Padre Luis Alfonso Vargas Capellán - Decanato de Worthington lukiponcho@yahoo.es Tel. 507-341-0403 Padre José Morales Capellán - Decanato de Rochester jloralesr2008@yahoo.es Tel. 507-329-2931 Padre Carlos Arturo Calderón Capellan - Decanato de Mankato carlosantiguas@hotmail.com Padre Mariano Varela Parroco - Ss. Peter and Paul en Mankato

mvarela@hickorytech.net Tel. 507-388-2995 ext 103 Padre Octavio Cortez Vicario Parroquial - Ss. Peter and Paul en Mankato Padre Raul Silva Vicario Parroquial - Queen of Angels en Austin Padre Rafael Chávez Capellán de Decanato/ Región de Austin/ Albert Lea-Austin Tel. 507-219-1284

Please note: submission deadline is the 15th, Courier@dow.org

St. Kilian Catholic Church, St. Kilian Annual Spring Dinner, Sun. April 7, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Roast beef, homemade glazed carrots, pies, desserts.

Quilt raffle, big ticket.

Carry outs available.

Call the parish office for more details.

relationship. At Assisi Heights, Rochester.contact: beminnesota@gmail.com or 507-261-8248.

Registration deadline April 22.

St. Stanislaus Kostka, Winona Spring Craft/ Art/ Gift Show Sat., April 13, in St. Stan’s School gym from 9 - 3 p.m. Lunch offered.

Handicap accessible. For more info: call Parish Office: 507-452-5430 or email ststans@hbci.com.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage Join us to visit a place were the Virgin Mary has been appearing to six visionaries.

November 12-20. Visit website: www.pilgrimages.com/stoen.

Prayer Vigil and Public Witness against Abortion Semcac Clinic is a delegate of Planned Parenthood – the nation's leading abortion provider. Please consider joining a local group from 3-4 p.m. each Tuesday in front of Semcac at 62 E 3rd Street in Winona for an hour of prayer. Contact Will Goodman at (608) 698-7443.

Certification Program in Church Business Administration Is your administrator certified?

Give them the knowledge and tools they need to perform skillfully!

Certification Seminar June 3-14, 2013 Topics: • Legal & Tax Matters • Theology & Ethics of Church Administration • Christian Perspectives & Theology of the Church • Strategic Planning • Financial Management • Stewardship of Self Contact: (651) 962-5050 Certification Program Coordinator www.stthomas.edu/spssod/nacba/default.html

Beginning Experience April 26 - 28, a weekend retreat to help with the process of grieving the loss of a love

The Televised Mass Offered as a service for the homebound and elderly. Every Sunday on the following stations: KTTC-TV, Channel 10, Rochester at 9 a.m. KEYC-TV, Channel 12, Mankato at 7:30 a.m. Donations for the continuation of this program may be sent to: TV Mass, PO Box 588, Winona MN 55987.

Thank you for your donations to the TV Mass

Traditional Latin Mass Schedule Alpha, St. Alphonsus Liguori, weekly and daily. Sunday: 8 a.m. except second Sunday of the month variable.

Guckeen, Our Lady of Ransom, weekly. Sunday, 11 a.m., except second Sunday of the month, 9:15 a.m.

Mankato, Ss. Peter and Paul, first Saturday month, 9 a.m.

Rochester (Simpson), St. Bridget, first and third Sundays of the month, 1 p.m.

Wabasha, St. Felix, weekly. Saturday 8 a.m.

Chatfield, St. Mary's, Saturday morning, please check with the parish for the time. www.rochesterlatinmasssociety.org

16 -The Courier, April 2013

WELCOME POPE FRANCIS!

The Pope our Church Needs, from pg. 1 There have been many stories since to come out even in these short few weeks of the new Holy Father’s papacy about his humble nature, his dismissing of fancy things even if they were the normal papal traditions, and his willingness to reach out to the common person.

One beautiful Before giving the crowd his first story in particublessing as Pope, Pope Francis lar was during the asked them to pray over him. He procession at the bowed his head in a profound Inaugural Mass. moment of silence.

The pope stopped to get down and bless a handicap man. This man was being held by another and Pope Francis spoke with him, hugged him and blessed him. The handicapped man could not even stand on his own and in the eyes of the world might not be considered valuable because he is not able to "contribute much to society." Yet, our new Pope elevated that man’s dignity by giving of his own time to him. (See photo

Pope Homily,

Pope Francis visits Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo.

Pope Francis refused, “We are brothers,” he is reported as saying, and knelt beside Benedict in the first pew leaving the papal kneeler at the front of the chapel empty.

The Holy Spirit gives the Church exactly what she needs. The Church and the world needed Pope John Paul II in 1978 and again, needed what Pope Benedict XVI had to offer in 2005. Pope Francis brings a new style to the papacy that doesn’t dismiss the styles of past popes, but just reaffirms his individual spirituality that he brings to the papacy and the Church.

It is a spirituality that the Holy Spirit knows our Church, and the world, needs right now. Let us continue to pray for our Church, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, and especially our new Holy Father.

God bless Pope Francis!

on Year of Faith insert, page one).

Another remarkable story is Pope Francis visiting Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Pope Francis went to Castle Gandolfo, where Pope Emeritus is staying, to greet him. Benedict met him at the helicopter and it is said that Benedict went out of his way to make sure Pope Francis took the papal seat, for example when they road from the helicopter to the residence Benedict sat to the side and gave Pope Francis the seat reserved for the Pope on the right. Also, in the chapel, there is one kneeler in the front of the chapel and then pews for others to sit in behind that. When they entered Benedict went into the first row of the pews and gestured to Pope Francis to pray at the papal kneeler in the front Francis & Benedict XVI praying side by side as brothers. cont'd from YOF pg. 1 of the chapel.

havoc, and mar the countenance of men and women.

Please, I would like to ask all those who have positions of responsibility in economic, political and social life, and all men and women of goodwill: let

caring, protecting, demands goodness, it calls for a certain tenderness. In the Gospels, Saint Joseph appears as a strong and courageous man, a working man, yet in his heart we see great tenderness, which is not the virtue of

us be “protectors” of creation, protectors of God’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of the environment. Let us not allow omens of destruction and death to accompany the advance of this world! But to be “protectors”, we also have to keep watch over ourselves! Let us not forget that hatred, envy and pride defile our lives! Being protectors, then, also means keeping watch over our emotions, over our hearts, because they are the seat of good and evil intentions: intentions that build up and tear down! We must not be afraid of goodness or even tenderness!

Here I would add one more thing:

the weak but rather a sign of strength of spirit and a capacity for concern, for compassion, for genuine openness to others, for love. We must not be afraid of goodness, of tenderness!

Today, together with the feast of Saint Joseph, we are celebrating the beginning of the ministry of the new Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter, which also involves a certain power. Certainly, Jesus Christ conferred power upon Peter, but what sort of power was it? Jesus’ three questions to Peter about love are followed by three commands: feed my lambs, feed my sheep. Let us never forget that authentic power is service,

and that the Pope too, when exercising power, must enter ever more fully into that service which has its radiant culmination on the Cross. He must be inspired by the lowly, concrete and faithful service which marked Saint Joseph and, like him, he must open his arms to protect all of God’s people and embrace with tender affection the whole of humanity, especially the poorest, the weakest, the least important, those whom Matthew lists in the final judgment on love: the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick and those in prison (cf. Mt 25:31-46). Only those who serve with love are able to protect!

In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks of Abraham, who, “hoping against hope, believed” (Rom 4:18).

Hoping against hope! Today too, amid so much darkness, we need to see the light of hope and to be men and women who bring hope to others.

To protect creation, to protect every man and every woman, to look upon

them with tenderness and love, is to open up a horizon of hope; it is to let a shaft of light break through the heavy clouds; it is to bring the warmth of hope! For believers, for us Christians, like Abraham, like Saint Joseph, the hope that we bring is set against the horizon of God, which has opened up before us in Christ. It is a hope built on the rock which is God. To protect Jesus with Mary, to protect the whole of creation, to protect each person, especially the poorest, to protect ourselves: this is a service that the Bishop of Rome is called to carry out, yet one to which all of us are called, so that the star of hope will shine brightly. Let us protect with love all that God has given us!

I implore the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, and Saint Francis, that the Holy Spirit may accompany my ministry, and I ask all of you to pray for me! Amen.