The
COURIER
June 2014 Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, MN
Diocese
“125 Years
to
of
www.dowcourier.org
Celebrate
Faithful Service”
Where does Jesus send us? There are no borders, no limits – he sends us to everyone. The Gospel is for everyone.… Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. The Lord seeks all; he wants everyone to feel the warmth of his mercy and his love. (Pope Francis, Closing Mass for World Youth Day 2013) A major diocesan gathering will be held on September 12-13, 2014, at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Diocese, and to call our diocesan Church to a deeper response to Jesus’ invitation to proclaim the Gospel and to bear witness to the faith through loving service of our neighbor. The theme for the anniversary celebration, “Where Does Jesus Send Us?,” is taken from Pope Francis’ 2013 World Youth Day homily. The celebration will begin on Friday evening, September 12th, at Saints Peter and Paul Parish in Mankato with a time of prayer, reflection, and sacred music. The program will feature the acclaimed Chamber Singers from Saint Mary’s University, under the direction of Dr. Patrick O’Shea. The evening will provide a context of prayer and thanksgiving for God’s faithful love and care of our Diocese during these past 125 years, and lead into the activities and events of the following day. On Saturday, September 13th, the celebration will move over to the Verizon Wireless Center for a day of presentations, live music, historical displays, outdoor activities, and prayer and liturgy. Headlining the speakers and performers for this day: • Most Reverend Álvaro Ramazzini is the Bishop of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. Born and raised in Guatemala, Bishop Ramazzini was ordained a priest in 1971. As a priest and bishop he has been involved in social justice issues, especially in the area of protecting the rights of indigenous people, and has become known as one of Latin America’s most important human rights leaders. (Bishop Ramazzini will be speaking at a general session for Spanish-speaking participants, and will concelebrate the Mass at the celebration.) Where Does Jesus Send Us, cont'd on pg. 1 of Special Edition insert
Ministry Days to Initiate YearLong Formation Program
The annual diocesan “Ministry Days” gathering for diocesan clergy and lay leaders will be held on Monday, June 9th – Tuesday, June 10th, at Saint Mary’s University in Winona. This year’s event will bring a team from the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO, to begin a formation process, called Symbolon, which seeks to “transform parish leaders to become effective instruments of the New Evangelization through doctrinal, spiritual, and pastoral formation.” The year-long process will include: 1) an initial two day training at Ministry Days; 2) nine monthly webinars (from August, 2014 – May, 2015); and 3) a one day follow-up training to conclude the process in the spring of 2015. The upcoming days will feature keynote presentations on the New Evangelization and breakout sessions in the areas of the RCIA, adult faith formation, and youth ministry. Symbolon, cont'd on pg. 16
INSIDE this issue
Celebrating Priestly Anniversaries read more in the Special Edition Insert
Ordination of a New Deacon
Investing in Your Child more on page 9
details on page 5