2014 March Issue of The Courier

The

March 2014 Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, MN

COURIER

Ash Wednesday March 5

www.dowcourier.org

Give up, Take Up, Lift Up!

Lenten Message from Our Holy Father, Pope Francis Dear Brothers and Sisters, As Lent draws near, I would like to offer some helpful thoughts on our path of conversion as individuals and as a community. These insights are inspired by the words of Saint Paul: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9). The Apostle was writing to the Christians of Corinth to encourage them to be generous in helping the faithful in Jerusalem who were in need. What do these words of Saint Paul mean for us Christians today? What does this invitation to poverty, a life of evangelical poverty, mean for us today?

1. Christ’s grace First of all, it shows us how God works. He does not reveal himself cloaked in worldly power and wealth but rather in weakness and poverty: "though He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor …". Christ, the eternal Son of God, one with the Father in power and glory, chose to be poor; he came amongst us and drew near to each of us; he set aside his glory and emptied himself so that he could be like us in all things (cf. Phil 2:7; Heb 4:15). God’s becoming man is a great mystery! But the reason for all this is his love, a love which is grace, generosity, a desire to draw near, a love which does not hesitate to offer itself in sacrifice for the beloved. Charity, love, is sharing with the one we love in all things. Love makes us similar, it creates equality, it breaks down walls and eliminates distances. God did this with us. Indeed, Jesus "worked with human hands, thought with a human mind, acted by human choice and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, he truly became one of us, like us in all things except sin." (Gaudium et Spes, 22).

By making himself poor, Jesus did not seek poverty for its own sake but, as Saint Paul says "that by his poverty you might become rich". This is no mere play on words or a catch phrase. Rather, it sums up God’s logic, the logic of love, the logic of the incarnation and the cross. God did not let our salvation drop down from heaven, like some- "He became poor, so that by his poverty you one who gives alms from their abundance out of a sense of altruism and piety. Christ’s love is different! When Jesus might become rich" (2 Cor 8:9) stepped into the waters of the Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist, he did so not because he was in need of repentance, or conversion; he did it to be among people who need forgiveness, among us sinners, and to take upon himself the burden of our sins. In this way he chose to comfort us, to save us, to free us from our misery. It is striking that the Apostle states that we were set free, not by Christ’s riches but by his poverty. Yet Saint Paul is well aware of the "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph 3:8), that he is "heir of all things" (Heb 1:2).

So what is this poverty by which Christ frees us and enriches us? It is his way of loving us, his way of being our neighbour, just as the Good Samaritan was neighbour to the man left half dead by the side of the road (cf. Lk 10:25ff ). What gives us true freedom, true salvation and true happiness is the compassion, tenderness and solidarity of his love. Christ’s poverty which enriches us is his taking flesh and bearing our weaknesses and sins as an expression of God’s infinite mercy to us. Christ’s poverty is the greatest treasure of all: Jesus’ wealth is that of his boundless confidence in God the Father, his constant trust, his desire always and only to do the Father’s will and give glory to him. Jesus is rich in the same way as a child who feels loved and who loves its parents, without doubting their love and tenderness for an instant. Jesus’ wealth lies in his being the Son; his unique relationship with the Father is the sovereign prerogative of this Messiah who is poor. When Lenten Message, cont'd on pg. 12

INSIDE this issue

Exciting changes in Lay Formation read more on page 16

Marriage Advice from Pope Francis page 4

Catholic Schools Week pages 8 - 10

Photo Spotlight

Blankets of Love

The Courier Insider

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Articles of Interest

Please, Thank You, I'm Sorry

page 4

Go and Make Disciples

page 5

Lord, Teach Us How To Pray

page 6

Scouts Earn Religious Awards

page 7

Catholic Schools Week

Roni Hunder and Allison Hansen (back row), Antonia and Lucia Smith (front row) giving blankets and love.

Members of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Junior Catholic Daughters Court of St. Charles Borromeo Parish, posing with some of the 20 fleece tie blankets that were donated to Birthright in Rochester this January. The girls proudly pose with the fetal models whicgh are part of the LIFE teaching the faith formation classes receive in January for Right to Life month.

Pope Francis Watch

Pope Francis, with Retired Pope Benedict Present, Creates New Cardinals

Fr. Ernster: Saint Elizabeth's is Extended Family

page 11

Rite of Election

page 13

What if I Can't "Embrace My Cross"?

page 14

Dignity for Those in Need

page 15 page 16

An Old Window Gives New Life

page 16

“Fervent souls shall rise...” Part 2

page 17

How Are the Children?

page 18

Bishop's Calendar March 1, Saturday 5 p.m. – Mass, St. Mary Church, Houston 8:30 p.m. – St. James Coffee House, BrewHaHa Fundraiser, Rochester

March 4, Tuesday 7:30 a.m. – President’s Roundtable, Saint Mary’s University, Toner Center Lounge 9 a.m. – Prayer and Welcome for kickoff of orientation of New Parish Software, Visitation Commons, St. Mary Church, Winona March 5, Wednesday 8:20 a.m. – Mass for Ash Wednesday, Cotter Schools, Chapel of the Angels, Winona

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On a feast day commemorating the authority Jesus gave to St. Peter and his successors -- the popes -- Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in the presence of retired Pope Benedict XVI. To the great surprise of most people present, the retired pope entered St. Peter's Basilica about 15 minutes before the new cardinals and Pope Francis. Wearing a long white coat and using a cane, he took a seat in the front row next to Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai, patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church.

Pope Benedict's presence at the consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of Peter, marked the first time he had joined Pope Francis for a public prayer service in the basilica. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, retired archbishop of Washington, said all the already existing cardinals went over to greet Pope Benedict. "The ushers kept saying, 'Please, your eminences, take your seats, the Holy Father is coming,' and we thought, 'But, but ....'"

Before beginning the service, Pope Francis walked over to Pope Benedict, who removed his zucchetto to greet Pope Francis. The scene was repeated at the end of the consistory.

The Courier is the Official Publication of the Diocese of Winona 55 West Sanborn, P.O. Box 949, Winona, MN 55987 Vol 105 - 02

Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Publisher Joel Hennessy, Editor Theresa Martin, Associate Editor 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 Madelia, MN Postmaster. (ISSN 0744-5490) Publishing Schedule: Monthly - Deadline for advertising & articles is the 15th of the month prior.

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Introducing … the “Institute of Lay Formation”

March 2, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Mass, St. Joseph Church, Rushford 5:30 p.m. – Operation Andrew Dinner, St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Charles

Retired Pope Benedict XVI joined Pope Francis for the first time in a public liturgical ceremony.

pages 8 - 10

March 6, Thursday 11 a.m. – Mass at St. Anne Extended Healthcare, Winona 1 p.m. – Holy Hour 2 p.m. – Cabinet March 9, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Mass at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona 3 p.m. – Rite of Election, Queen of Angels Church, Austin March 13, Thursday 9 a.m. - USCCB Committee on Education Meeting, Washington, DC March 14, Friday 3:45 p.m. – Mass and Anointing at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Wabasha March 15, Saturday 11 a.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Waseca for Irish Days, followed by lunch 4:40 p.m. – Mass at Holy Trinity Church, Rollingstone

Child Abuse Policy Information 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.

Our Lenten Journey - to love as Christ Dear Friends in Christ,

Rejoice in Hope Bishop John M. Quinn in holiness through fasting, prayer and almsgiving. This year, I will begin Lent at Cotter Schools in Winona by celebrating the 9 a.m.

Mass. All are welcome to join me.

We fast to imitate Christ as He fasted for 40 days and 40 nights in order to grow in holiness. As we abstain, or “give up” things, we make room for another essential

“Go and Make Disciples” Another journey that begins again this month is the Annual Diocesan Appeal – Go and Make Disciples.

The Annual Appeal is the

primary source of funding to help sustain programs and ministries to assist the 114 parishes, 30 schools, seminary, and the ministries of the diocesan Church.

The Catholic Church serves the needs of many people in our local diocese and beyond. While some of the services are offered at the parish level, it is often more effective when many join together in ministry and service of the people of the diocese. Each of our diocesan ministries exists to support the work of our local parishes. This year we follow Pope Francis challenge at the end of his World Youth Day visit to "Go, and make disciples!" Each of our ministries seek to answer that call as we bring the love and life of Christ to all those we serve. Together, we can respond as a diocese to ultimately bring others to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Defending the Dignity of the Unborn Once again this spring, members of the Diocese of Winona will participate in the 40 Days for Life Campaign. It is a focused pro-life campaign with a vision to access God’s power through prayer, fasting, and peaceful vigil to end abortion. The campaign explains that their mission is “to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a

culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion.” Please check our events page to find a campaign near you.

Growing in Faith, Discipleship and Service The diocesan Institute of Lay Formation is a program of prayer, study, and reflection on the Catholic Faith and on the life of discipleship and service within the Church. The Institute began in 1998, under Bishop John Vlazny, and is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. As your bishop, I have had the privilege to commission two classes of the Institute, in 2009 and in 2013, and have also enjoyed meeting with and getting to know Institute students during their time of formation. I am very grateful for the dedicated service these lay leaders provide to the parishes of our Diocese, and also for the faith-filled witness they bring to their families, their neighbors, and their local communities. It is a witness our world needs very deeply in these days!

The Institute is accepting applications to its next class, to begin this fall. I encourage the lay people of our Diocese to prayerfully consider participating in the Institute. You might also discuss this with your pastor. For more information about the program and the application process, go to our diocesan web page (www.dow.org) or contact Todd Graff in the diocesan Office of Lay Formation (507-858-1270/tgraff@dow. org).

Love, Evangelize, Believe As we continue our Year of Thanksgiving, we rejoice in the richness and great diversity of the people of the Diocese of Winona. Each of you is endowed with a great dignity from our Father and as Pope Francis reminds us, we must first love and respect our neighbor. It is only in loving our neighbor that we may also share the beauty of our faith with him or her. Be courageous in your love! It is not always easy, but we must all seek ways to share our gratitude of each other’s lives by acting in love towards them.

The Year of Thanksgiving is an opportunity to love, and in love, evangelize and in evangelizing, believe. May God bless you! Please keep praying for me as well!

From the Bishop

Ash Wednesday – Cotter Schools, Chapel of the Angels The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5th, as a time of preparation for the Feast of Easter. The reasons are taken from St. Matthew’s Gospel and the Book of Joel and call us to free our lives from the attachments of sin and renew our lives

component of our Lenten journey: prayer. The Holy Sacrament of the Mass is the best prayer and many people make a special effort to attend daily Mass during Lent. I hope you will consider doing this - letting the Lord Jesus come into your heart in the Eucharist will surely change you in ways that will amaze you.

Of course, there are many other ways we can pray; we can make the Stations of the Cross, spend an hour in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at any of our Perpetual Adoration chapels in the diocese, pray the Divine Office, or join a Lenten study or prayer group. Time spent in prayer will allow Christ the opportunity to reveal Himself as our Lord and Savior.

Lent is also a special time of almsgiving, which means supporting the Church and our neighbor financially, as well as with our time and talents. There are countless ways we can show love of neighbor in our parishes and communities. Through almsgiving we grow in the virtue of poverty, by becoming less attached to things.

My prayer for you is that during this Lenten journey, you will find time for silence and prayer “in the desert” to conform your will to the will of the Father, so that you too can say, “Not my will, but Thy will be done.”

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Thank you I am very touched by the generosity of God’s people in contributing to the diocesan capital campaign, Rooted in Faith-Rejoice in Hope. At this time, the pledges amount to 26 million and more contributions continue to come every day.

This campaign was about the priesthood and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your gift to secure the pension funds for our senior priests and for the renovation of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona

Bishop's Calendar cont'd March 16, Sunday 8:30 a.m. – Mass at St. Mary Church, Minneiska 10 a.m. – Mass at St. Paul Church, Minnesota City March 17, Monday 5:30 p.m. – Gathering of Theology Department of St. Mary’s University, Bishop’s Residence March 18, Tuesday 6:30 a.m. – Mornings Prayer, Mass and Breakfast at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona Clergy Study Day, St. Theodore, Albert Lea March 20, Thursday 9 a.m. - USCCB Subcommittee Meeting on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service, Washington, DC

March 21, Friday 10 a.m. – Recording of TV Easter Mass, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona March 22, Saturday 7 p.m. – Confirmation at Queen of Angels Church, Austin March 23, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Mass at Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona March 25, Tuesday 10 am-3 p.m. - Seminary Evaluations at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona March 26, Wednesday 7 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Columbanus Church, Blooming Prairie

March 27, Thursday 7 p.m. – Diocesan Review Board, Resurrection Church, Rochester March 30, Sunday 9:30 a.m. – Confirmation at St. John the Baptist Church, Dodge Center 11 a.m. – Spanish Mass at St. John the Baptist Church, Dodge Center April 1, Tuesday 10:45 a.m. – Mass for Founders Day at Saint Mary’s University, Winona 1:15 p.m. – Convocation for Founders Day, Saint Mary’s University, Winona, Page Theatre April 2, Wednesday 11 a.m. – Mass, for St. John Vianney School Students, Fairmont 7 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Rose of Lima Church, Lewiston

April 3, Thursday 1 p.m. – Holy Hour (with Bishop’s Cabinet) 2 p.m. – Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting 5:30 p.m. – Vespers and Dinner at IHM Seminary, Winona April 4, Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Meetings with Seminarians at IHM, Winona April 5, Saturday 5 p.m. – St. Peter School, Hokah, Extravaganza April 6, Sunday 10:30 a.m. – Confirmation at St. Pius X Church, Rochester 2:30 p.m. – Confirmation at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Rochester

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Life, Marriage & Family

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Please • Thank You • I'm Sorry

How did you spend your Valentine’s Day this year? Thousands of engaged couples from all over the world spent it with Pope Francis after accepting his invitation to the event entitled: “The joy of ‘Yes’ forever”.

Pope Francis shared with them wisdom that all of us can benefit from! He responded to questions from engaged couples which were centered on three areas of marriage: Life-Long Love, Healthy Married Life, The Marriage Celebration.

Life-Long Love The first question dealt with life-long commitment. “Today many people are afraid of making definitive decisions that affect them for all their lives, because it seems impossible … We must not allow ourselves to be conquered by a 'throwaway culture'. This fear of 'forever' is cured by entrusting oneself day by day to the Lord Jesus in a life that becomes a daily spiritual path of common growth, step by step.”

Peter Martin, STL Director pmartin@dow.org

“In the Our Father prayer we say, ‘Give us this day our daily bread’. Married couples can also learn to pray, ‘Give us this day our daily love’, teach us to love each other, to care for each other. The more you entrust yourselves to the Lord, the more your love will be ‘forever’, able to renew itself and to overcome every difficulty.”

Pope Francis referenced the unfortunately all-too-common problem of those who “fall out of love” and divorce: “But what do we mean by ‘love’? A mere emotion, a psychophysical state? Certainly, if it is just this, it

cannot provide the foundation for building something solid.” Pope Francis advised: “You can't base a marriage on feelings that come and go. But rather on the rock of true love, the love that comes from God.”

Healthy Married Life “Living together is an art, a patient, beautiful and fascinating journey that doesn’t end when you’ve won over each other’s hearts… Rather, that’s exactly when it begins!” With these words, Pope Francis begins speaking about a healthy married life which absolutely requires the frequent use of three phrases: please, thank you and I’m sorry. “‘Please’ is a kind request to be able to enter into the life of someone else with respect and care. … True love does not impose itself with hardness and aggression.” Quoting his namesake, Pope Francis remarked: “St. Francis said that ‘courtesy is the sister of charity, it extinguishes hatred and kindles love’... today, in our families, in our world, often violent and arrogant, there is a need for far more courtesy.” “‘Thank you’: gratitude is an important sentiment. Do we know how to say thank you? In your relationship, and in your future as married couples, it is important to keep alive your awareness that the other person is a gift from God, and we should always give thanks for gifts from God. … It is not merely a kind word to use with strangers, in order to be polite. It is necessary to know how to say thank you, to journey ahead together.” “‘I’m Sorry.’ In our lives we make many errors, many mistakes. We all do. … And this is why we need to be able to use this simple word, ‘sorry’. In general we are all ready to accuse the other and to justify ourselves. It is an instinct that lies at the origins of many

Pope Francis greeting engaged couples in St. Peter's square on St. Valentine's Day.

disasters. Let us learn to recognize our mistakes and to apologize. … Jesus, who knows us well, teaches us a secret: never let a day go by without asking forgiveness or without restoring peace to your home. … If we learn to apologize and to forgive each other, the marriage will last and will move on.”

The Marriage Celebration When asked about the actual marriage celebration, the Holy Father had the following advice: “Do it in a way that it is a true celebration, because marriage should be a celebration, but a Christian rather than a worldly one… Some people are more concerned with external signs, with the banquet, the dress... These are important aspects of a feast, but only if they are able to indicate the true reason for your joy: the Lord's blessing upon your love.”

In his final words of advice to the engaged couples, Pope Francis said: “Marriage is also a daily job, we could even say… it’s like a jeweler’s work because the husband makes his wife more of a woman and the wife in turn should make her husband a better man.

Growing together in their humanity, as man and woman.”

Beginning Experience A time and place for healing Dedicated to submitted by: Mary Whalen RENEWING THE LIGHT OF HOPE for the separated, divorced and widowed, Beginning Experience of Rochester, Minnesota is offering a weekend retreat at Assisi Heights on April 25-27 for men and women who have experienced death, divorce or separation.

Beginning Experience (BE) is an international organization which focuses on helping to heal this brokenness. In 1973, Sister Josephine Stewart and Jo Lamia, realized the importance of a program of ministry to facilitate the grief resolution process for adults and children who have suffered a loss through death, divorce or separation. This program enables participants to again love themselves, others, and God. “The ministry’s programs, faith-based in the dying and rising of Jesus, offer support and an opportunity to examine and evaluate one’s self, one’s life and the tragic loss. Through God’s grace, wounded healers offer hope that broken lives can March, 2014 w The Courier

find healing.” comments Kathleen Murphy, recent executive director of Beginning Experience.

An uninterrupted weekend is created by a certified team of “wounded healers” and provides a safe nurturing environment conducive to private reflection, journaling, prayer, and small group sharing which allows time for the individual process of healing to begin. Sunday’s Liturgy is a scheduled part of the weekend and the Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available.

For more information on the upcoming weekend at Assisi Heights on April 25-27, visit www. beminnesota.org, email beminnesota@gmail.com or leave a message at 507-261-8248.

In speaking to Bishops of Poland, Pope Francis encouraged them to consider how they can help those who are divorced “so that they do not feel excluded from God's mercy, from the fraternal love of other Christians and the solicitude of the Church for their salvation; on how to help them not to abandon their faith and to enable them to raise their children in the fullness of Christian experience.”

Go and Make Disciples

“Sharing the experience of faith, bearing witness to the faith, proclaiming the Gospel – this is a command that the Lord entrusts to the whole Church.” Pope Francis – Address at World Youth Day 2013. our safe environment program to ensure the safety of everyone in our care. We invite you to visit www.dow.org and learn about the extensive and comprehensive programs, which have been in place for more than a decade.

As important as it is to deal honestly with these issues of the past, we cannot allow these examples of moral failure by a few individuals so long ago define who we are as Catholics. We must focus on fulfilling Christ’s call to serve and give witness to his saving love. We are called to “Go and Make Disciples,” to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. We are called to love each other with compassion and to build each other up in community. This is what it means to be Catholic. This is who we are.

As we move ahead in a year that Bishop Quinn has proclaimed as a “Year of Thanksgiving,” we pause, reflect on the blessings and graces in our lives, accept them gratefully and then look ahead to how we can best tend these gifts, share them in justice and love with others, and return them to the Lord with increase.

There is so much to be excited about in the Church today. As you read the following pages, we invite you to join with us in continuing to support the good work being done throughout this local Church – serving families, strengthening parishes, forming future leaders, and reaching out to invite others to full life in the Catholic faith.

“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Mission Advancement

It is an exciting yet chalJoel Hennessy lenging time Director for the Church and Diocese of jhennessy@dow.org Winona.

Like all Christians throughout history starting with the first disciples, we are faced with many struggles and challenges in our lives. From the simplest issues in our daily lives to the complexities of war and famine, we are given opportunities to let the Love of God shine forth through our words and actions.

There has been much attention in local media in regards to past issues of sexual abuse by clergy. We are all saddened and deeply concerned about the tragic cases of abuse. As difficult as it may seem, we must face the past and look forward through the eyes of Christ. We must seek continued healing, forgiveness and reconciliation for victims and all who are affected.

You can be assured that much has been done to prevent abuses from ever happening again and we constantly work to further strengthen

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Masses of Reparation can now be found online. Please visit dowcourier.org to see the complete Mass list.

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Vocations

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Lord, Teach Us How To Pray After following Jesus for some time and seeing how John the Baptist worked with his own followers, the Disciples made this simple request: “Teach us how to pray.” In response, Jesus gave them (and us) the Lord’s Prayer. This basic yet complete prayer gives us a structure for our prayer lives, and even though we have recited it hundreds and perhaps thousands of times, this prayer continues to bear fruit in our lives. Prayer is the path to communion with our Triune God and therefore also necessary to discern and grow in our vocations.

Over the past few months I have attended conferences, spoken with young people and made a personal retreat, all of which have contained this similar theme: Teach us how to pray. Communion with our Triune God does not happen overnight and requires some training. This is why seminarians are assigned to a spiritual director right away when they join the seminary. It is helpful to have someone to journey with us and show us the way. We can attend dynamic conferences and retreats and have powerful spiritual experiences, but without growing in a personal prayer life, none of that will stick. Learning to pray gives us the necessary nourishment to live in Christ.

When I made the decision to enter seminary, I made a visit to Immaculate Heart of Rev. Will Thompson Mary and had a conversation Director with Fr. Jim Steffes. At one wthompson@dow.org point he asked me why I had decided to begin formation for the priesthood and I said I had been thinking about it a lot and it seemed like the right move. His response was very pointed: “You’ve been praying, too, right?” “How about that!” I thought, “I’ve been praying!” My parents gave me enough tools to pray, even though I didn’t realize that was what I was doing. There was much more to learn about prayer, and there still is, but I had enough of a foundation to hear God’s gentle voice calling me into the seminary.

Many people, perhaps most or even all of us, pray. But how developed is our prayer? How dedicated are we to a life of prayer? I have found two realities to be vital. The first is that we need to pray every day. Not just for what we want, but to build our relationship with God. The second reality concerns how to pray. St. Theresa of Avila was once asked what the best way to pray is and she said “Whatever way works.” This is

Prayer to know one's vocation Lord, My Lord and my God, you are Love itself, the source of all love and goodness.

Out of love you created me to know you, to love you, and to serve you in a unique way, as no one else can. I believe that you have a plan for my life, that you have a mission in your Kingdom reserved for me alone. Your plan and your mission are far better than any other I might choose: they will glorify you, fulfill the desires of my heart, and bring salva tion to those souls who are depending on my generous response.

Lord grant me the light of grace I need to see the next step in Your plan; grant me the generosity necessary to follow your call; and grant me the courage required to take up my cross and to follow you.

Show me your will, O gentle and eternal God, and help me to say with Mary, "I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word." Let me say with Jesus, "Let not my will be done, but yours." Amen.

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Will you answer?

a beautiful insight. Jesus taught us to pray, but in order to enter that prayer, some people prefer a method like Lectio Divina (picking out a word or phrase and thinking about it); others prefer something like Ignatian Meditation (imagining a biblical scene). I won’t say too much about how these prayers work; there are books written about them and many other methods. The primary point is that prayer requires consistency and effort; it doesn’t just happen.

Jesus calls us to follow him in the depths of our hearts. Prayer helps us to know and heed his voice. Consider this: when someone calls or texts us and we don’t recognize the number, it is unlikely that we will answer. When we do recognize the number, we may not want to respond, but we know that person wants to speak with us and will keep contacting us. Prayer is very similar. It is easier to ignore Jesus when we don’t know it is he who is speaking to our heart; but it is not better for us. Jesus wants to live in us, know us, love us. Personal prayer is the path to let that happen.

Scouts from Holy Spirit Parish, Rochester Earn Boy Scout Religious Awards

Pictured from left to right are Tim Schommer, Sam Boes, Fr. Tom Loomis, and Alex Larsen.

On Scout Sunday, (February 2), 3 Scouts from Holy Spirit Parish – Rochester received their Boy Scout religious awards. Tim Schommer earned the Pope Pius XII award, Sam Boes, the Ad Altare Dei award and Alex Larsen earned both Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII awards. We are proud of their dedication and hard work to achieve these awards. submitted by: Tim Valley

The purpose of the Light of Christ Emblem is to help the Cub Scout develop a personal relationship with Jesus. The purpose of the Parvuli Dei (Children of God) Emblem is to help young boys explore a wide range of activities in order to discover the presence of God in their daily lives as mem-

Pictured with Fr. Tom Loomis are Sam Wattier (Light of Christ Emblem) and Cooper Gamble (Parvuli Dei Emblem).

bers of their families and parishes.

Please Check Out Our dowcourier.org Website for MORE Scout Stories (& Photos!) Online!

Youth & Young Adults

submitted by: Karen Fritzjunker

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Ben Frost Director bfrost@dow.org

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Catholic Schools Week

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Sacred Heart, Adams Sacred Heart School had a full week of activities to celebrate Catholic Schools Week!

A Religion Bee was held on Tuesday for grades 1-8. Pictured is Team 2 Owen, Will, Isabelle and Hallie preparing for Round 1.

Sacred Heart School was chosen to participate in the Catholic United Financial raffle. Last year, the raffle raised $16,000 to improve technology at Sacred Heart. Pictured are Catholic United Financial representative Susan Stenzel and principal Darlene Boe.

Marsha Stenzel Superintendent mstenzel@dow.org

Chinese Acrobats wowed the crowd Wednesday of CSW for Sacred Heart.

Madison, Olivia, Hallie, Auna and Brittney took a moment before the performance to greet the acrobats.

Catholic Schools Week culminates every year with an all-school bowling trip. Sacred Heart second graders Travis, Andrew, Jakob and Samuel were very excited to try for strikes and spares!

Rochester Catholic Schools For Rochester Catholic Schools, Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of Catholic education through fun activities and service projects.

Minnesota Catholic Conference visits Lourdes High School Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC), the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, held its January Education Committee meeting at Lourdes High School in Rochester, Minn. The meeting location accommodated the requests of the diocesan superintendents of Catholic schools to tour the new Catholic high school in the state of Minnesota. Michael Brennan, President of Lourdes High School, provided the necessary arrangements for the day. It was a proud moment for the Diocese of Winona to celebrate and share such a beautiful Catholic high school with their Minnesota colleagues.

MCC directly supports the ministry of our state’s Catholic bishops by: working with political and community leaders to shape legislation that serves human dignity and the common good; educating Catholics and the public about the ethical and moral framework that should be applied to public policy choices; and, mobilizing the Catholic community to make its voice heard in the public square.

The Catholic teaching of subsidiarity, which is the basis of relations between families, the Church, and the State, is often used to analyze the education policies that MCC advocates for at the Capitol. Legislation has included bridging the educational achievement gap, maintaining nonpublic school pupil aid, and creating fair and effective anti-bullying policies, along with childcare licensure statues, and the equity and opportunity in education tax credit. In its role, MCC also serves as a bridge-builder between the six Minnesota dioceses, and between Catholic and non-Catholic organizations, including MN CAPE (Minnesota Council for American Private Education) and MISF (Minnesota Independent School Forum), as a way to stimulate discussion and collaboration on educational initiatives.

A meeting between the MCC Board, comprising all six Minnesota bishops, and the organization’s three Committees – Life and Bio-Ethics, Social Concerns, and Education – takes place annually. The MCC Education Committee meets three times a year. The remainder of the year is spent monitoring and advocating for issues of social concern for the Church, and helping Minnesota Catholics get more engaged in the legislative process.

You can follow their advocacy work on the array of social issues by becoming a member of their Minnesota Catholic Advocacy Network. Sign up for free at www.mncc.org.

March, 2014 w The Courier

Holy Spirit School students participate in the school Science Fair during Catholic Schools Week. Over 100 projects were reviewed by volunteer judges.

St. Francis of Assisi students celebrate Catholic Schools Week at their annual Open House, Ice Cream Social, and Book Fair.

Cheering on the Cotter basketball team during Catholic Schools Week.

Bishop Quinn presided over the all-city Mass held at the beautiful Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka. The Cotter and WACS students provided the music for this Mass. WACS families were especially invited to the Cotter campus for a Friday night boys’ basketball game. There were events held during half time for the younger students from WACS. In a very spirited game, the Cotter boys won over Wabasha-Kellogg with a buzzer- beating shot. The fans stormed the court! Also during Catholic Schools Week, Cotter students celebrated the Chinese New Year. Cotter High School is an international boarding school, where local students get an opportunity to learn about other cultures on a daily basis. There are 35 students from China, 28 from South Korea, 4 from Taiwan, and 2 from Vietnam that celebrated the Lunar New Year with their Cotter family.

The Cotter Junior High School Olympics were held for our 7th and 8th grade students. These events created great team building opportunities.

For more information on our schools, visit Winonacatholicschools.org

9 Catholic Schools Week

Cotter Schools and Winona Area Catholic Schools Winona Area Catholic Schools (16months-6th grade) and Cotter Schools (7-12th grade) came together several times during National Catholic Schools Week to celebrate their faith and Catholic education.

International students celebrating the Chinese New Year with their Cotter family.

Loyola Catholic Schools, Mankato

The Cotter boys team won their game over WabashaKellogg with a buzzer-beating shot! The fans stormed the court!

Loyola Catholic School, Mankato celebrated Catholic Schools Week by participating service projects organized by students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, capturing the true meaning of Catholic Schools Week and the spirit of Catholic education. Primary grades at Loyola collected canned food items as admission to the annual Loyola Catholic Schools Week Sock Hop. Intermediate and High School grades were responsible for collecting personal care items, and they were all donated to support The South Central Project Community Connect. The South Central Minnesota Project Community Connect (PCC) seeks to reduce poverty, hunger and homelessness by bringing together community resources into a single location for a one day event. People who are struggling financially are invited to attend this event which reduces barriers to accessing services. Providers in attendance include: medical, housing, employment, county financial assistance, food programs, disability, legal aid programs and chemical dependency services. Free services offered include child care, haircuts, photographs, HIV testing and dental screenings. Guests can select donated items for themselves and their family. Guests, volunteers and providers are given a complimentary lunch. Last year, over 700 people attended this event. The items donated by Loyola families are a blessing to the community, and we are proud to be a part of such an important local event.

Loyola Catholic School, Mankato celebrated Catholic Schools Week by participating service projects organized by students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, capturing the true meaning of Catholic Schools Week and the spirit of Catholic education.

St. John the Evangelist/St. Pius X School celebrated by participating in outreach and service projects to eight different organizations within the Rochester community.

With over 400 people attending, families rotated through simple hands on service projects. At each station, they combined action with thoughtful integration completing many projects for the community. Pictured is a SJSP student who donated her long hair to Locks of Love, one of the organizations the school partnered with.

March, 2014 w The Courier

Catholic Schools Week

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Crucifixion, LaCrescent Crucifixion School had a great Catholic Schools Week.

Amy DuPont from Channel 19 News talked with the Crucifixion students about being a reporter.

Crucifixion Catholic School Receives 7 Year Re-accreditation The Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (MNSAA) has accredited Crucifixion Catholic School in LaCrescent for the eligibility period of 2013 to 2020.

Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance with a goal to evaluate, validate, and improve each school’s quality.

MNSAA is a federally- and state-sanctioned non-profit association for accrediting nonpublic schools in the State of Minnesota. The Association’s mission is to be a catalyst for enhancing the quality of K-12 nonpublic education in Minnesota through a comprehensive process of accreditation. Our agency helps schools provide quality nonpublic education for the children of Minnesota for its member schools. MNSAA is governed by a member-elected Board of Directors that bases its accreditation on a school’s evaluation through a self-study process.

Schools are accredited based on their compliance with a set of rigorous standards which identify essential personnel, instruction, facility, curriculum, governance, and marketing policies and practices that are considered necessary for an effective school. The accreditation process includes the creation of a visionary and focused strategic plan and an onsite visit by a team of educators from member schools.

Accreditation with MNSAA relies heavily on how the individual school defines its mission and the way it seeks to accomplish that mission.

MNSAA is pleased to have Crucifixion Catholic School join some of the more than 170 accredited schools that make up the Association. MNSAA salutes Crucifixion School’s commitment to providing outstanding education to the children of this community. MNSAA will continue to provide guidance to the Crucifixion through an annual review of its strategic plan. submitted by: Lori J. Walz, Principal

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The Crucifixion 5th & 6th grade band members performed together for the Talent Show.

St Mary's, Madelia St. Mary's had a busy Catholic Schools Week. They collected food for the local food shelf. They also participated in Mass at two of the parishes. They had pajama day and souper bowl day, which was the day they collected the food.

St. Mary's Spirit day was Thursday, & all were sporting blue and gold. They celebrated Friday with a trip to a local Rec. Center for swimming and gym time.

St. Mary's students collected food for the local food shelf.

Fr. Ernster: Saint Elizabeth's is Extended Family

Although no stranger to Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Father Milo Ernster is settling into his new neighborhood as one of the newest tenants of Saint Elizabeth’s Assisted Living Apartments. Perched on the third floor overlooking Saint Elizabeth’s Field of Dreams, Father Ernster enjoys beautiful sunsets, quiet afternoon naps, frequent visits from friends and fellow priests, and above all, a quick walk to Saint Elizabeth’s Chapel for mass and meditation.

Father Ernster retired 17 years ago from full-time ministry having served in several Winona Diocese parishes. While stationed in Caledonia he purchased a home on Sand Prairie, lured by the beauty of the river and bluffs. Frequent weekend visits to Wabasha set the stage for the formation of a fruitful relationship with Saint Elizabeth’s.

During this time he, along with other retired priests, officiated masses.

According to Father Ernster, attending to the spiritual needs of patients and residents became an important calling that brought purpose and meaning to his later years in ministry.

The thought had crossed his mind last winter to become a tenant himself and move from the isolation of his home to a safer, more secure environment. It was the recent diagnosis of cancer that necessitated

immediate action.

“It was time and I can accept that,” Father Ernster acknowledges with ease. “There are many things I miss about living in my own home, but the advantages of residing at Saint Elizabeth’s far outweigh them.

Everyone is kind and friendly. I receive excellent care.

And I have everything I need and more. There is really no better place for me right now.”

At 84, Father Ernster doesn’t have family nearby to rely on. He happily considers Saint Elizabeth’s his extended family. Long-time friends and legal guardians Carol and Bob Wooden also play an important role in preserving his well being, accompanying him to medical appointments and assisting him with other needs.

“I have never feared death,” he confides. “I have no worries. I am blessed to have been given the gift of faith. I can’t imagine living life without it. At Saint Elizabeth’s, I am surrounded by employees who carry out the mission and values of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.

This grants me much peace and solace. I am taking each day as it comes, and waiting for what the Lord has in store for me.”

Saint Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Wabasha offers a full continuum of care, including home health, swing bed, assisted living and long-term care services. To learn more about senior housing and services, contact Kathy Jeffery, 651-565-5566. Access to virtual tours can be found on our website under senior housing, www.stelizabethswabasha.org.

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In the Diocese

"I have never feared death. I have no worries. I am blessed to have been given the gift of faith ... At Saint Elizabeth’s, I am surrounded by employees who carry out the mission and values of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. This grants me much peace and solace. "

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Celebrating the Life of the Diocese

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Lenten Message cont'd from page 1

Jesus asks us to take up his "yoke which is easy", he asks us to be enriched by his "poverty which is rich" and his "richness which is poor", to share his filial and fraternal Spirit, to become sons and daughters in the Son, brothers and sisters in the firstborn brother (cf. Rom 8:29).

It has been said that the only real regret lies in not being a saint (L. Bloy); we could also say that there is only one real kind of poverty: not living as children of God and brothers and sisters of Christ.

2. Our witness

We might think that this "way" of poverty was Jesus’ way, whereas we who come after him can save the world with the right kind of human resources. This is not the case. In every time and place God continues to save mankind and the world through the poverty of Christ, who makes himself poor in the sacraments, in his word and in his Church, which is a people of the poor. God’s wealth passes not through our wealth, but invariably and exclusively through our personal and communal poverty, enlivened by the Spirit of Christ.

In imitation of our Master, we Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it. Destitution is not the same as poverty: destitution is poverty without faith, without support, without hope. There are three types of destitution: material, moral and spiritual. Material destitution is what is normally called poverty, and affects those living in conditions opposed to human dignity: those who lack basic rights and needs such as food, water, hygiene, work and the opportunity to develop and grow culturally. In response to this destitution, the Church offers her help, her diakonia, in meeting these needs and binding these wounds which disfigure the face of humanity. In the poor and outcast we see Christ’s face; by loving and helping the poor, we love and serve Christ. Our efforts are also directed to ending violations of human dignity, discrimination and abuse in the world, for these are so often the cause of destitution. When power, luxury and money become idols, they take priority over the need for a fair distribution of wealth. Our consciences thus need to be converted to justice, equality, simplicity and sharing.

No less a concern is moral destitution, which consists in slavery to vice and sin. How much pain is caused in families because one of their members – often a young person - is in thrall to alcohol, drugs, gambling or pornography! How many people no longer see meaning in life or prospects for the future, how many have lost hope! And how many are plunged into this destitution by unjust social conditions, by unemployment, which takes away their dignity as breadwinners, and by lack of equal access to education and health care. In such cases, moral destitution can be considered impending suicide.

This type of destitution, which also causes financial ruin, is invariably linked to the spiritual destitution which we experience when we turn away from

Pope Francis becomes "SuperPope" in graffiti found on one of the streets of Rome.

God and reject his love. If we think we don’t need God who reaches out to us through Christ, because we believe we can make do on our own, we are headed for a fall. God alone can truly save and free us.

The Gospel is the real antidote to spiritual destitution: wherever we go, we are called as Christians to proclaim the liberating news that forgiveness for sins committed is possible, that God is greater than our sinfulness, that he freely loves us at all times and that we were made for communion and eternal life.

The Lord asks us to be joyous heralds of this message of mercy and hope! It is thrilling to experience the joy of spreading this good news, sharing the treasure entrusted to us, consoling broken hearts and offering hope to our brothers and sisters experiencing darkness. It means following and imitating Jesus, who sought out the poor and sinners as a shepherd lovingly seeks his lost sheep. In union with Jesus, we can courageously open up new paths of evangelization and human promotion.

Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can do this to the extent that we imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.

May the Holy Spirit, through whom we are "as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (2 Cor 6:10), sustain us in our resolutions and increase our concern and responsibility for human destitution, so that we can become merciful and act with mercy. In expressing this hope, I likewise pray that each individual member of the faithful and every Church community will undertake a fruitful Lenten journey. I ask all of you to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and Our Lady keep you safe.

Thinking about a will?

Request a free Wills Kit from CRS. Learn what you need to know before you see an attorney.

1-800-235-2772 CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES Giving hope to a world of need.

March, 2014 w The Courier

On March 9, 2014, the Diocese of Winona will celebrate the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. Queen of Angels’ Parish in Austin, MN, will host this liturgical celebration at 3:00 p.m.. Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Bishop of Winona, will preside over the liturgical celebration. The Rite of Election marks a change for the catechumen, who begins the final stages of preparation for initiation at the Easter Vigil of 2014. The Call to Continuing Conversion is the rite in which the Bishop acknowledges baptized candidates who continue their journey in faith during the Lenten season and eventually profess their faith and receive first communion within the Catholic Church. As the catechumens and candidates prepare for their full communion into the life of the Church during the Lenten season, all Catholics are invited to support them through their prayer. Everyone is invited to participate in this celebration!

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Bishop Quinn at the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, 2013, in Austin last year.

Faith Formation

Rite of Election and The Call to Continuing Conversion

Kids Against Hunger

Sr. Mary Juanita Gonsalves, R.S.M. Director faithformation@dow.org

Shadow Drama

On Wednesday of Holy Week, April 16, at 7 p.m., the Confirmation candidates from St. Theodore's Catholic Church perform a Stations of the Cross “Shadow Drama,” a moving drama of the last hours of Jesus’ life through the eyes of Mary

Saturday March 22nd, 10 a.m., there will be a potluck at Kids Against Hunger and the activity will be to help package food for hungry families throughout the world.

This is an amazing works of mercy opportunity for children. They have done this twice this past year and loved it because they can help other hungry, needy children in a tangible way.

Families are asked to make a donation to KAH as they can only pack as much as is donated (to pay for the food we package). There is a big side room for the potluck and for toddlers to play. KAH is located at 77 Pine Street in Mankato. To learn more go to http://www.kidsagainsthungermankato.com.

Celebrating Families ministry, Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

Shadow Stations of the Cross

Shadow Stations of the Cross is performed where a backlight is on the actors and the audience members see the shadows of the performers through a cloth screen. Here are a few of the student actors’ reflections:

“Portraying Mother Mary was a great experience which helped me to mediate more on the Stations of the Cross envisioning myself present at Calvary. This experience was a great honor.” -Sarah Hegland “Being one of the Weeping Women of Jerusalem caused me to feel contrition. Witnessing Jesus' death and passion helped me realize the importance of suffering. The inspirational music echoed throughout the Cathedral, enhancing the tone of the moment.”-Laura Hegland “Portraying Jesus the past three years has challenged me in my own walk as a Catholic. It never ceases to amaze me how He loves me and asks me to continually follow in His footsteps.”-Jacob Kullot

This year, the Shadow Stations of the Cross will be enacted on: Friday April 4 at 7 p.m. at Holy Redeemer in Eyota Friday April 11 at 7 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Charles Everyone is invited!

A Treasury of Prayers:

A monthly column of prayers and their place in the tradition of the Church.

1. Jesus is condemned to death 2. Jesus carries his cross 3. Jesus falls the first time 4. Jesus meets his mother 5. Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry his cross 6. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 7. Jesus falls the second time 8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem 9. Jesus falls the third time 10. Jesus is stripped of his garments 11. Jesus is nailed to the cross 12. Jesus dies on the cross 13. The body of Jesus is taken down from the cross 14. Jesus is laid in the tomb Ash Wednesday begins Lent, a time to reflect on Christ's Passion.

The Stations of the Cross began as the practice of pious pilgrims to Jerusalem who would retrace the final journey of Jesus Christ to Calvary.

Later, for the many who wanted to pass along the same route, but could not make the trip to Jerusalem, a practice developed that eventually took the form of the fourteen stations currently found in almost every church.

- From Popular Devotional Practices, A Statement of the USCCB An alternative to the traditional 14 stations, are the scriptural based version of the Stations of the Cross, which were prayed

by Pope Blessed John Paul II on Good Friday, 1991.

Is there a Lenten prayer that is important to you? If you would like to share the reason in a few sentences, please email: faithformation@dow.org or write to the Office of Faith Formation.

March, 2014 w The Courier

Celebrating the Life of the Diocese

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What if I Can't "Embrace My Cross"?

As the deadline to register for our Women's Lenten Retreat approaches, I think about suffering and the weight that past hurts and current struggles can weigh on us – especially us as women. I recently wrote about suffering on my blog New Feminism Rising and I would like to share with you some of those thoughts: Within a few months recently, we went from the assumption that only one child had this (extremely rare, genetic) disease to realizing that three of them had it. Knowing the pain and suffering my 7 year old has gone through, it broke my heart to know the potential disasters that would await the other two and all that came with it (for example, daily injections, for my baby?! How could I?!! But alas it is now a daily necessity).

So many people (well meaning and people I cherish as my dearest friends) told me that ‘it’s all going to be okay because God never gives us more than we can handle’ or ‘you’re a great mom; you can handle this’ or ‘you are an amazing woman; you will get through this.’ My internal response was always ‘no, I won’t and I can’t, but God can, so I’ll lean on Him.’ The more I’ve been reading Abandonment to Divine Providence it is as if my eyes have been open to a deeper layer of reality. Another veil has been removed and I find myself feeling so silly for the way I saw things before (and probably a step behind all of you!). The book explained the reality of God being in every moment of your life, especially the ones that are most mundane and simple.

God is there; and if we look with the eyes of faith we can see Him and know His will. Yet, faith is a

gift and each of us is on her (or his) own journey.

In the past few days, God has given me new eyes of faith.

I couldn’t embrace the suffering of my children.

I still can’t. Everything about the sickness is contrary to joy, love and life. And I have been having such a hard time grappling with the pain of my broken heart and trying to understand God’s will and then – I saw it. As simple as can be.

God is in each moment, in each person, in each situation we encounter – it’s not the the suffering of my children or my broken mother’s heart that I need to embrace, but it is GOD in the suffering that I embrace and love. I can surely do that! I do not have to be submitting myself to sickness or distress, but to the most merciful Father in that sickness, present in that distress. Lightbulb!

When Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta would say “When I serve the poor, I am serving Christ in them”, that wasn’t just a nice theological statement! She must have really meant it. Mindblow.

And sometimes it does feel like we are taught to just suck it up and get it done, as if we can simply will ourselves to feel a certain way or force ourselves to accept the suffering of this life as God’s will and that’s just that. Life is tough, deal with it. (Or even by sheer will obtain holiness...) But that’s not our loving Father. He is present in those moments to help us, carry us, heal us, bring us joy.

So, no, I cannot embrace my cross, but I can throw my arms around my Savior who hangs on it for me and with me – burying my head in his

Obituary

Sister Marguerite Cahill (Sister Moninna), 92, a Franciscan

Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, MN, died at Assisi Heights on Sunday, December 29, 2013.

Marguerite Elaine Cahill was born November 13, 1921 in Ossian, Iowa to James M. and Ann (Gleishner) Cahill.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1951 from Saint Cecilia Parish, Wisconsin Dells, WI, where she was a teacher. Sister Marguerite made first vows in 1953 and perpetual vows in 1956. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Social Studies from the College of Saint Teresa in Winona (1944) and an MBA in Business/Education from Denver University (1963).

After first vows S. Marguerite was a secondary business education teacher at Sacred Heart High School in Waseca, MN (1953-57); Pacelli High School, Austin, MN (1957-63) and Notre Dame High School in Portsmouth, OH (1963-68). She returned to Waseca in 1968 where she served one year as guidance counselor and two years as principal before moving to the State of Washington. In Port Angeles, WA, she served at Queen of Angels Parish as religious educator and liturgist while also teaching accounting at Peninsula College. She then served as religious educator at St. Pius X Parish in Bothell, WA. In 1975 Sister Marguerite returned to Minnesota and worked in religious education at parishes in Shakopee, Red Wing and St. Bonifacius. In 1990 she moved to Assisi Heights where she served as sacristan until her retirement in 1995.

Sister Marguerite has no surviving family members. The Franciscan Sisters are grateful for the sixty-two years of life she shared with the community.

March, 2014 w The Courier

chest, as his precious blood mingles with my own acting as a balm to the wound. Here, am I healed; here, do I find peace on the cross – here – held by my Savior and Lord.” (NewFeminismRising.com) He came to free us from sin, free us from suffering. Don’t hold on to it any longer! Come join us for this Lenten retreat to give it all over to Him and let His love cover you!

The cost for the retreat day is only $37 and that covers coffee and juice, snacks, lunch and dinner.

See the Ad below for more details and the registration website (or click the QR code with your smart phone to access the registration page).

We will be in the crypt at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, so there is plenty of room for

Theresa Martin Endow Coordinator Endow@dow.org

everyone! Bring your sisters, mothers, girlfriends, aunts - every woman in your life. Yet, we do need to give the cafe our total count two weeks in advance, so everyone who wants to come must be registered by March 12.

If you have any questions or trouble registering, pleases email me at Endow@dow.org. May God bless you! And I will see you on retreat!

Dignity

for

Those

in

Need

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As an individual or family, list all the things you need in order to live today. Include things we often take for granted such as air and water. But also include things which you need to live a happy and holy life such as love, prayer, and companionship. Something I take for granted… my legs, and the ability to get around and leave whenever I want… Now, scan the front pages of the newspaper or listen to the lead stories on your local television news. Identify a single basic need which someone is being denied, and decide on one thing you can do to help that person get what he or she needs to live a life of dignity and hope.

What will you do to extend dignity to others?

I met both Maria Matza Guoz and Roberto Guit Coz in 2009 while on a Mission and Awareness trip to San Lucas Toliman Mission in Sololá, Guatemala and was determined to help them!

Preparing another group to go to San Lucas Mission this October, our tri-parish community fundraised money for many projects on our trip and partnered with two agencies, Hope Saint May's Parish of Worthington, MN Haven and P.E.T. International (Personal submitted by: Gwen Fleece has a Faith Formation Program called “Kids Energy Transportation) to provide a handFor Christ” open to students grades K-6. The Kids for Christ program wrote a Bible cycled wheelchair for Maria and Roberto, both Grant application to Saint Mary's Press of Winona and was awarded 48 Catholic whom are homebound.

Maria is 56 years old and lives with her Family Bibles to be used by individual students in grades 5th & 6th. Students are sister and her family… She has never had a been taught to use their personal bibles at Faith Formation where they reflect on wheelchair or had anything to get around and the Sunday readings each week. Each child will be gifted their Bible to take home has been confined to her sisters very humble at the end of the year. home all of her adult life. She weaves incredible placemats and table runners for the San Lucas Toliman Deacon Vern Mission and Chona (lead cook at the mission) sells them on Beherends blessed her behalf. While visiting and delivering the P.E.T. vehicle the Bibles and we heard that Maria had been sick for over a month and her each individual niece had to stay home to take care of her… she is 14 years old. student. Each child They did not have enough income and went often times withhad such joy when out eating. She cried when we delivered the P.E.T. vehicle they received their and said “Now I can go out to market and sell my own wares.”

Wow! The nieces and nephews loved getting rides on it as gift of the blesswell! What a gift from God! ings. It's a beautiRoberto is 45 years old and is a main supporter for his ful way to bring the mom, dad, sister with mental illness and other brother, sister Scriptures to our in law and nieces and nephews that live in the home. Roberto students. Bibles will also weaves gorgeous table runners and table cloths. Last year also be awarded to he was given an antique wheelchair that everyone had to push families that homehim around but it wasn’t very useful due the cumbersome size school their faith and weight. His father, an indigenous Mayan praised God formation. and thanked us for remembering his family! Roberto was very grateful for the P.E.T. vehicle/cart.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said, “Being a 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.” Thanks solely to my own encounter – or renewed encounter with two individuals- with God’s love, SECURE: Catholic United Financial traditional and Roth IRAs* are which blossomed into an enriching friendship, we were able to help two individuals’ live more independent lives. Thank you 100% safe from stock market risk. In fact, no member has ever lost to P.E.T. International as well as Hope Haven in Guatemala a dime on their Catholic United products. and the Friends of San Lucas Mission for helping us give digCOMPETITIVE: Catholic United Financial IRAs offer a nity to Maria and Roberto! submitted by: Nichole Paladie

In the Diocese

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Maria Matza Guoz poses proudly after receiving her new P.E.T vehicle

*Catholic United IRAs are individual retirement annuities. **Initial interest rate subject to change after first year. Minimum deposit required. †Catholic United does not offer tax advice. Contact your tax advisor for more details.

March, 2014 w The Courier

Lay Formation

16

Introducing … the “Institute of Lay Formation” The Institute of Lay Ministry began in the Diocese in the fall of 1998, as the first class of 40 lay people gathered to begin their two-year formation program. Since that time, there have been five Institute classes, and 256 lay people have participated in the Institute’s formation process – representing 67 parishes and four church institutions of the Diocese. In addition to these lay leaders, 17 of the deacons of our diocese participated in the Institute before entering diaconate formation.

Institute of Lay Ministry alumni are active in a variety of ministries such as faith formation, liturgical ministry, pastoral care, parish administration, etc. Over these past 15 years, the purpose of the Institute has been to call lay women and men to a deeper living out of their Christian vocation in the world, and to prepare them for more faithful and effective lay leadership in the Church.

The Institute of Lay Ministry is now changing its name, but not its identity. The “Institute of Lay Formation” will continue this mission of forming lay people in the Catholic Faith for service both in the world and within the Church.

And so, one might ask, ‘why the name change?’ The new name of the Institute helps to better clarify the nature of the program, which focuses on formation of women and men in terms of their lay vocation as it is understood in the Church’s teaching. While a part of the laity’s vocation is directed to service within the formal life of the Church, the broader aspect of their vocaTodd Graff tion relates to proclaiming and Director giving witness to Christ within tgraff@dow.org the secular world (i.e., within our workplaces, our families, our neighborhoods, our civic settings, etc.). In Pope Francis’ words, we as lay people are to “bring the perfume of Christ’s love not only in churches and parishes, but in every environment.”

During their years of formation, Institute students will continue as they always have to study the Scriptures, church history, and canon law as well as Church teaching on the sacraments and liturgy, moral theology, the Trinity, etc. They will spend time together in prayer and reflection, and learn about spiritual development and the different expressions and traditions of spiritual practice in the church. Time will also be devoted to building their skills as lay leaders in such areas as communication, collaboration, and leadership.

The Office of Lay Formation is now recruiting our sixth class

of the Institute, to begin its formation this coming fall. Information and application materials are available online at the Diocese’s web page: www.dow. org; click on the ILF logo to access the application materials.

There will be information sessions held this spring, at regional sites across the Diocese, for those considering applying to the Institute. Check the April issue of “The Courier” for the dates and sites of these sessions. For more information about the Institute and/or the application process, please contact me in the diocesan Office of Lay Formation (507-858-1270 / tgraff@dow.org).

The Institute of Lay Ministry has a vibrant and strong history of calling the lay people of our Diocese to a deeper living out of their faith.

The Institute of Lay Formation carries on that legacy, and seeks to broaden and deepen it in the coming years. Deo Gratias! ____________________________________ “… The Institute forever changed the way I view and wish to live my faith in my day to day walk with Jesus Christ.” (Institute of Lay Ministry student)

“Let us bring the perfume of Christ’s love not only in churches and parishes, but in every environment. In schools, in universities, in work-places, in hospitals, in prisons; but also in the city squares, in the streets, in the sports centers, in places where people gather.”

- Pope Francis

An Old Window Gives New Life submitted by: Kevin O'Brien and Michelle Miller

On Sunday, December 22, 2013 Bishop Quinn celebrated Mass with the parishioners of St. Mary’s near Geneva, MN. There was also a dedication and blessing of a very special stained glass window.

The merging traditions of St. Mary's of Geneva and Immaculate Conception of Oak Ridge combined to honor the Mother of Jesus again.

St. Mary’s near Geneva is a rural congregation with the rich background and tradition of many Irish settlers who worked the land. Their many large stained glass windows throughout the nave were imported from Ireland. The stained glass, in Celtic patterns and traditional design lend rich color and light every Sunday to this century old worship community. Their devotion to Mary is reflected in the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a gift of seaMarch, 2014 w The Courier

sonal Mexican laborers who worshiped with them in the days before the productive farms of the area became less reliant on hand labor and more invested in modern machinery. Even now, children of the Mexican workers will sometimes stop to visit this church of their youth.

In 2012 and 2013, the congregation enlisted O’Brien Stained Glass of Rollingstone, MN to refurbish and attend to the upkeep of their stained glass windows. While contemplating the work to be done, a vision arose in the congregation of a stained glass window dedicated to their patron, the Blessed Virgin. A location in the sacristy was seen as the new site.

O’Brien Stained Glass offered two possibilities. One was a contemporary design featuring Mary and the Christ Child. The other was a design grounded in the Celtic patterns and tradition in the Irish windows of the nave but incorporating a window that had been preserved from St. Mary’s Stained Glass, cont'd on pg. 20

The 8th Promise of the Sacred Heart

17

“Fervent souls shall rise to great perfection” Part 2

Raymond de Souza, KM Director rdesouza@dow.org

fortunes can have good results and the greatest successes can also end in disaster. A rule also that God usually follows is to attain His ends by ways that are the opposite of those human prudence would normally choose.

In our ignorance of what the future holds, how can we be so bold as to question what comes about by God's permission? Surely it is reasonable to think that our complaints are groundless and that instead of complaining we ought to be thanking the Sacred Heart.

In the Old Testament, Joseph was sold into slavery and thrown into prison. If he had felt aggrieved at these apparent misfortunes, he would really have been feeling aggrieved at his happiness for they were the steps that took him to the throne of Egypt.

Saul loses his father's donkeys and has to go on a long vain hunt for them. But if he had felt annoyed at the great waste of time and energy it caused him, his annoyance could not have been more unreasonable as it was all a means of bringing him to the prophet Samuel, who was to anoint him king of his people.

Yes, we will be filled with confusion when we appear before God and understand the reasons why He sent us the crosses we accept so unwillingly. The death of a child will then be seen as its rescue from some great evil had it lived; separation from the woman you love the means of saving you from an unhappy marriage; a severe illness the reason for many years of life afterwards; loss of money the means of saving your soul from eternal loss.

So what are we worried about? The Sacred Heart looks after us and yet we are full of anxiety! We trust ourselves to a doctor because we suppose he knows his business. He orders an operation which involves cutting away part of our body and we accept it.

We are grateful to him and even pay him a large fee because we judge he would not act as he does unless the remedies were necessary, and we must rely on his skill. Yet we are unwilling to treat the Sacred Heart in the same way! It looks as if we do not trust His wisdom and are afraid He cannot do His job properly.

We allow ourselves to be operated on by a man who may easily make a mistake -- a mistake which may cost us our life -- and protest when God sets to work on us.

If we could only see all He sees we would unhesitatingly wish all He wishes. We would beg Him on bended knees for those afflictions we now ask Him to spare us. To all of us He addresses the words spoken to the Sons of Zebedee: ‘You know not what you ask -- O you, blind of heart’, He says, ‘your ignorance saddens Me. Let me manage your affairs and look after your interests. I know what you need better than you do yourselves. If I paid heed to what you think you need you would have been hopelessly ruined long ago’.

If we would be convinced that in all the

Sacred Heart allows and in all that happens to us the Sacred Heart has no other end in view but our real advantage and our eternal happiness, let us reflect for a moment on all He has done for us: We are now suffering, but let us remember that the author of this suffering is He who chose to spend His life suffering to save us from everlasting suffering; whose angel is always at our side guarding our body and soul by His order; who sacrifices Himself daily on the altar to expiate our sins and appease His Father's anger; who comes lovingly to us in the Holy Eucharist and whose greatest pleasure is to be united to us.

We must be very ungrateful to mistrust Him after He has shown such proofs of His love and to imagine that He can intend us harm. But, someone will say, this blow is a cruel one, He strikes too hard...

What have we to fear from a hand that was pierced and nailed to the cross for us? -- The path I have to tread is full of thorns, we argue.

If there is no other to reach heaven by, do you prefer to perish forever rather than to suffer for a time? Is it not the same path He trod before us out of love for us? Is there a thorn in it that He has not reddened with His own blood? – The chalice He offers us is a bitter one. Yes, but remember that it is our Redeemer who offers it. Loving us as He does, could He bring Himself to treat us so severely if the need were not urgent, the gain not worthwhile? Can we dare to refuse the chalice He has prepared for us Himself?

Let us reflect well on this. It should be enough to make us accept and love whatever trials He intends we should suffer. Moreover it is the certain means of securing our happiness in this life quite apart from the next.

Next article: how can we attain to this happy state? www.ProLifeKnights.com

Evangelization & Apologetics

This is a continuation from January 's article.

It is usually the case that, at times, other people can see better than we can ourselves what is good for us. It would be foolish to think that we can see better than the Sacred Heart of Jesus Himself, who is not subject to any of the passions that blind us, knows the future and can foresee all events and the consequences of every action.

Experience shows that even the gravest mis-

Raymond de Souza's Schedule Sacred Heart Triduum: three different talks on the Devotion to the Sacred Heart, in this order:

Talk 1: The Historical overview: Why did He come to reveal His Sacred Heart to the world? De-Christianization and relativism – Why France? The Sacred Heart message and its relevance to the United States today.

Talk 2: The twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart to His true Devotees - happiness in this life and the hereafter.

Talk 3: Jesus, the Lamb and the Lion - Meekness and Humility, not weakness and mediocrity - Understanding the True Devotion to the Sacred Heart.

St. James Coffee House: March 17 St. Rose of Lima, Lewiston: March 14, & April 11 Sts. Peter and Paul, Mankato: March 4, 5 & 6 St. Teresa, Mapleton: Mar 12, 19, & 25 St. Bernard, Stewartville: Mar 13, 20, 27 & Apr 10 St. Ann, Slayton: Apr 7, 8, & 9 Pastors and Faith Formation directors are invited to contact Mr. Raymond de Souza (RdeSouza@DOW.org or 507-450-4196) to schedule the triduum in their parishes.

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Visionary, Mystic

18

Gift

of

with

Healing

Social Justice

Alan Ames Holy Mass & Healing Service (from Australia)

Saturday, March 15

Rosary 4:30 - Mass 5:00 - Talk

Monday, March 17

Rosary 6:30 - Mass 7:00 - Talk

ST. ChARleS BoRRoMeo

ST. MARy’S CATholiC ChuRCh

Tuesday, March 18

Wednesday, March 19

ST. JoSeph The WoRKeR

ST. MARy’S CATholiC ChuRCh

1900 east 6th St., St. Charles, MN Fr. Kurt Farrell 507-932-3294 • borromeo@hbcsc.net Rosary 6:30 - Mass 7:00 - Talk

423 West 7th St., Mankato, MN Fr. Timothy Biren 507-388-3766 • sjwhfch@hickorytech.net

513 pine St., Caledonia, MN Fr. Matt Fasnacht 507-725-3804 • stmaryschurch@acegroup.cc Rosary 6:30 - Mass 7:00 - Talk

1215 7th St., Worthington, MN Fr. James Callahan 507-376-6005 • stmaryschurch@knology.net

Alan’s talk immediately after Mass followed by healing prayers.

How are the Children?

During the past twenty-eight years of by: Kristine Madsen, MSW, LICSW working in the mental health field, I have Clinical Social Worker seen many approaches to dealing with Catholic Charities, Mankato office youth. There was tough love, Dr. Spock, Dr. Dobson, authoritarian and permissive parenting, to name a few. In the 90s, the notion that people outside the immediate family can have a positive influence on a child’s well-being became popular. Adults tried to engage youth by talking with them and calling them by name with the intention of having a community effort in raising resilient children. What is most effective today in reducing symptoms of some of the common problems and disorders of today’s children?

One common disorder diagnosed in youth is Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). The National Institute of Health says three to five percent of Americans have this disorder. Daniel Amen (2001), with his book, Healing ADD, defines six different types of ADD: • Type 1 - Classic ADD - Inattentive, distractible, disorganized, hyperactive, restless, and impulsive.

• Type 2 - Inattentive ADD - Easily distracted with a low attention span, but not hyperactive. Instead, often appears sluggish or apathetic.

• Type 3 - Overfocused ADD - Excessive worrying, argumentative and compulsive; often gets locked in a spiral of negative thoughts.

• Type 4 - Temporal Lobe ADD - Quick temper and rage, periods of panic and fear, mildly paranoid.

• Type 5 - Limbic ADD - Moodiness, low energy. Socially isolated, chronic low-grade depression. Frequent feelings of hopelessness.

• Type 6 - “Ring of Fire” ADD - Angry aggressive, sensitive to noise, light, clothes and touch; often inflexible, experiencing periods of mean, unpredictable behavior, and grandiose thinking.

Symptoms of ADD are different from a sugar or caf-

Alan Ames www.alanames.org ThurSday, March 20 Rosary 6:30 - Mass 7:00 - Talk ST. KAThARiNe DRexel ChuRCh, 1800 S. Katie Ave., Sioux Falls, SD Friday, March 21 Rosary 6:30 - Mass 7:00 - Talk ST. BeNeDiCT ChuRCh 1500 St. Benedict Dr. yankton, SD

Alan Ames, an internationally known visionary and mystic has been speaking and praying for healing around the world since 1994. He has spoken in more than 50 countries and 6 continents, has 21 books, many in over 15 languages. Alan shares his unique conversion experience that caused a dramatic change in his life from a violent alcoholic, motorcycle gang leader, international karate expert who almost killed 3 men, to a man completely devoted to God. Alan was transformed from a virtual unbeliever to a powerful apostle of Christ. The Lord has raised him up with a special mission for these times. Alan moves under a powerful anointing, exhibiting the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the Gift of Healing.

His message is sincere, sound and he speaks and writes in fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church. There have been thousands of documented spiritual and physical healings as he travels worldwide. You can read more about the healing and the testimonies of the doctors on his website.

You may not need a physical healing but trust that God knows what is best for you. Come and receive that blessing for yourself or another.

Come and listen to Alan’s amazing story of all that God has to give us. Please don’t wait until the last minute to think about who you might invite. Make a conscious decision to bring your teenagers the whole family, your friends and neighbors too. They will be so grateful you did.

Contact - Tom and Carol Bouquet - 651-565-4727, 1 507 951 4973, cb@wabashaemail.com Free will offering.

feine buzz; it is not a minor problem that goes away after exercise and proper diet. Families need solutions in treatment for this disorder.

For many people, the solution for childhood ADD is not easily solved. The symptoms take a toll on relationships, school performance, and self-esteem. Relationships become challenging when ADD symptoms cause fighting, disorganization, tantrums, and social isolation. In school, a child with ADD gives up early and often after receiving failing grades and behavioral referrals. Self-esteem plummets after frequent fights and many failures. When such symptoms overwhelm a child and their family more than they can address on their own, Catholic Charities counseling services are there to help.

Families many times turn to their family physician for pharmaceutical solutions helpful in reducing the symptoms of ADD. Catholic Charities counseling services provide supplemental strategies to intervene on the most difficult aspects of having ADD. Yes, we talk with clients and call them by name; we work with parents and families to aid in getting rid of the guilt cycle parents sometimes have developed. Parents need the tools to shape positive behavior in their children, improve communication, and fight the splitting that occurs with untreated ADD. Medication can be very effective in treating ADD. Yet with the addition of exercise, sleep strategies, and a competent mental health professional, the chances of effectively treating the symptoms of ADD dramatically increase. The staff at Catholic Charities counseling services can help teach people with ADD how to discard negative thoughts and replace them with hope.

Hispanic Priests/Sacerdotes Hispanos: Padre Luis Alfonso Vargas: Capellán del Decanato de Worthington. lukiponcho@yahoo.es Tel. 507-341-0403 Padre José Morales: Capellán del Decanato de Rochester. jloralesr2008@yahoo.es

Tel. 507-329-2931 Padre Carlos Arturo Calderón: Capellán del Decanato de Mankato. fathercarlos@hotmail.com Padre Mariano Varela IVE: Párroco de “SS. Peter and Paul” en Mankato. mvarela@hickorytech.net Tel. 507-388-2995 ext 103

Padre Octavio Cortez IVE: Vicario Parroquial de “Ss. Peter and Paul” en Mankato Tel. 507-388-2995 Padre Raul Silva: Pastor de “All Saints” en New Richland, “St. Aidan” en Ellendale, “St. Mary” en Geneva padreraulsilva@gmail.com

Padre Wellington Muñoz: Vicario Parroquial de “Queen of Angels” en Austin, “All Saints” en New Richland, “St. Aidan” en Ellendale, “St. Mary” en Geneva. munozwel@gmail.com Tel. 507-433-1889

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.

Lake City, St. Mary, Spanish Mass, 6:30 p.m., every third Saturday.

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

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

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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.

and by the deadline in order to assure receipt and inclusion in the Events Calendar. Though not all events will fit, we strive to include as many events as possible. Thank you! - Courier Staff

DEADLINE DATE HAS CHANGED

Parish Events St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Brownsville St. Patrick's Day Breakfast! Sunday, March 16 serving 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Scrambed eggs, sausage, rolls, peaches. Basket Raffle with matching funds from Catholic United Financial. Proceeds benefit St. Pat Scholarship Fund. Free Will Donation.

Pax Christi Church, Rochester The 9th Annual St Patrick’s Day Bash will take place on Sat, March 15 from 6:15 to 9:30 p.m. Irish music with Joe Kelley and Friends, a silent auction, and Irish meal catered by Canadian Honker.

The proceeds will help fund the 2014 Pax Christi youth activities. Ticket prices: Adult (13 & Up) $20; Children (4-12) - $12; Ages 3 & Under - Free; Family Maximum - $80. All prices increase $5 after March 10.

St. Joseph, Jasper will have their Fish Fry on Friday, March 21 at the St. Joseph Center. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pollock Fish, baked potatoes, cole slaw, bread, bars, drinks.

Pilgrimages

Raffle drawing will also be held.

13 Day Holy Land & Rome Pilgrimage to Rome March 17-29, $3,590.00 per person.

Spiritual Director: Fr. Robert Schneider.

All Saints Catholic Church, Madison Lake. www. as-ic.org click on pilgrimage, (507)469-9979.

Pilgrimage to Rome for JPII's Canonization Father Thomas Jennings will be leading a Pilgrimage to Rome for the canonization of Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II April 22 - 29, 2014. A day trip to Assisi will be included.

Mass will be celebrated everyday. Please call 507-351-7136 for a flier and more information.

this will be a day of peace, forgiveness and healing. Register online: http://conta.cc/1cSCec0.

A Woman’s Journey With God, Frontenac From 6 p.m. April 11 - noon Apr 13 at Villa Maria Retreat and Conference Center, 29847 Co. 2 Blvd., Frontenac. Focus on your own personal faith journey, with dynamic presentations, introduction to contemplation and outdoor experiences.

Featured speakers: Sr. Pauline Lorch, OSU and Sr. Adele Brennan, OSU. Mass on Saturday evening.

Cost: $180 includes lodging and meals. Rooms are shared; for a private room add $35. Contact Sarah McClellan, 1-651-345-4582.

Other Catholic Daughters of the Americas at St. Anthony's, Lismore Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Ct. St. Bernard #886 invites you to share in their 90th anniversary celebration on Sat, June 14. Mass at 5:00 p.m. at St. Anthony's. Free lunch & program to follow. RSVP to debdew@lismoretele.com.

Who is St. Patrick? Assisi Heights, Rochester March 13, 7 - 8:30 p.m. $20 per person. Come hear Irish native Máirtín de Cógáin regale Rochester area folks with stories of Ireland and St. Patrick himself. This Irishman has won two All-Ireland Storytelling champion titles. www.rochesterfranciscan.org or contact: Angie Grimm: 507-2802195 or ahsc@rochesterfranciscan.org.

Traditional Latin Mass Alpha, St. Alphonsus Liguori, weekly and daily. Sunday: 5 p.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.

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

www.dowcourier.org

more events online!

Retreats "Healing, Forgiveness and God's Great Love", Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse Sponspored by the Diocese of Winona, a Lenten retreat for women on Saturday March 29 at The Shrine, 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. What are you holding onto? Bring all your worries and heartache to the cross. Retreat Speaker: Vicki Thorn, founder of Project Rachel. Our Savior, Jesus Christ forgives and heals. Through talks, time of peaceful prayer, reflection, Confession and Holy Mass, we pray

19 Events in the Diocese

Adults: $8 and children ages 3-10: $5.

St. Mary's, Geneva St. Mary’s Church, Winona Fish Fry March 14, 4-7 p.m. (snow date March 15th). offers a Mass for Life and Marriage on the first St. Rose of Lima, Lewiston Thursday of the month, at 5:15 p.m.

The annual Mission Supper of turkey will be held Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona at St. Rose of Lima Church Hall on Thurs, March will host the monthly Holy Hour of Prayer for Life, 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Adults: $10, Children Marriage, and Religious Liberty on Saturday, March 4-10: $5, Children under 3: free.

15 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. after the 8 a.m. Mass.

Ss. Peter and Paul, Mazeppa 40 Days for Life, Rochester Annual Spring Dinner! Wed, March 19 from 4:30 Planned Parenthood in Rochester DOES now pro- to 7 p.m. in the church hall. Serving: turkey, gravy vide the medical abortion proceedure using RU-486, over mashed potatoes, desserts, etc. Adults: $9, and they do refer individuals to clinics that provide Children 5 - 10: $3, Children 4 & under: $1. surgical abortion services. Our goal is to prayerfully, Holy Trinity, Rollingstone in a Christ-Like manner, provide other alternatives to Will host its annual Annual Spaghetti Dinner on those who are suffering and afraid while faced with March 13. At Holy Trinity Community Center an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy. Sign up online: from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. $7 Adults, $4 chilhttp://40daysforlife.com/rochester-mn.html. or condren six to twelve years, under 5 FREE. Serving tact Paula Ellefson: buggz25@msn.com Spaghetti and meat sauce, lettuce salad, garlic Prayer Vigil and Public Witness against Abortion toast, dessert, milk and coffee.

Semcac Clinic is a delegate of Planned Parenthood – Church of Christ the King, Byron the nation's leading abortion provider. Please consid18th annual Lenten Fish-Fry March 14 and going er joining a local group from 3-4 p.m. each Tuesday through April 11. We begin serving at 5 p.m. in front of Semcac at 62 E 3rd Street in Winona for Seniors: $10, Adults: $11, kids 6-12: $6. Kids 5 and an hour of prayer. Contact Will Goodman at (608) under: FREE, family max: $40.

698-7443.

St. Mary's Church, Winona Praying to End Abortion, a Special 40 Day Vigil will will have their "Luck of the Irish" Festival, Come join “Hearts Aloud” uniting with over 800,000 on Sat March 15, 5 - 9 p.m. Irish Stew meal, folpraying worldwide for an end to abortion. Kickoff: lowed by Irish Dancers. We will also have Casino Sunday, Mar 2 after the 10:30 Mass at the Cathedral. gambling for fun including Black Jack, Texas Hold March 5 thru April 13, a 40 day, 4 hour a weekday, Em and Poker. Treasure Chest and Silent auction. prayer vigil. Meet in front of SEMCAC at 62 East 3rd.

Lots more!

Signup sheets at Cathedral or call Patty at (507) 429St. James Catholic Church, St. James 4636 or at ptrw333nnc@yahoo.com.

Will host its Annual Mardi Gras Parish Festival on Sunday, March 2, at Marian Hall. Mass at 10 a.m. Festival 11 a.m.

SUBMISSION for the calendar to 2 p.m. Fabulous food and activities including a raffle, silent auction, etc.

Please note: submission deadline is the 10th of the month Knights of Columbus Council #3427, prior to the month of publicaSt. James tion. All submissions must be sent St. James Council #3427 Knights of electronically on our website: Columbus will be having its 60th Annual Mulligan Stew on Sunday, www.dowcourier.org March 16, at Marian Hall, St. James or by emailing: PLEASE Church 5 - 7 p.m. Serving our famous Courier@dow.org Mulligan Stew, Pie and Beverages.

NOTE:

Action with Prayer

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March, 2014

20

Stained Glass,

Church of the Immaculate Conception at Oak Ridge. The church had been clustered with Rollingstone, Minnesota City, and Minnieska.

The strong pride of the Oak Ridge congregation lives on in this window which bears the image of their patron saint. How that church was named in honor of Mary has an interesting story to it, summed up here from a history of the Winona Diocesan Churches, “Mr. Speltz offered the necessary land if the church would be named St. John’s in honor of his patron Saint. His brother Peter also offered a land donation if the church would be named St. Peter’s. Mrs. Mary Stiever, a widow offered the present church grounds if the church would be named in honor of her patron. Since this donation seemed a more desirable location her offer was accepted.” This congregation was well established in the late 1800s but none survive today who can tell the origin of the beautifully painted St. Mary window originally installed at Oak Ridge.

The “new” stained glass window in the sacristy at St. Mary’s Geneva is a blend of the Irish tradition of its founders and the European influence of

• The Courier

cont'd from page 16

the early Luxemburg families who farmed the hills and valleys near Winona at Immaculate Conception. The present window was created by preserving the figural and hand painted sections of the Oak Ridge window and combining it with new glass that was designed with a background and border that closely emulated the nave windows of the rural Geneva congregation.

The window, a blend of old and new glass has been rebuilt using restoration lead of the highest quality and fitted with re-enforcing braces that will see it well into the next century. Visitors are welcome at St. Mary’s of rural Geneva. The original pressed tin walls and ceiling, the wonderful and unique stained glass windows from Ireland, the preserved St. Mary glass from Oak Ridge, and the beautiful country setting make this a memorable and rich place to visit. It is located about 20 minutes south of Owatonna.

Sunday mass is at 10:30 a.m.

The window was dedicated in Memory of Perl and Mildred Angell. Donated

by Thomas and Barbara O’Connor, Michael and Beverly O’Connor, Daniel and Mary Donnelly, Larry and Ellen Stebbins, David O’Connor, James and Kelli O’Connor, Mildred Thissen, and Michael and Michelle Miller.

dowcourier.org