2015 July The Courier

The

COURIER

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, July 14

July 2015

“Almighty Father Renew

www.dowcourier.org

Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, MN

g rant to this ser vant of your s the dignity of the priesthood. within him the Spirit of holiness.

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Natural Family Planning From avoiding excessive medications and awful side-effects to creating a strong marriage to unleashing the power in a woman's cycle, there are so many reasons to use NFP! This year, NFP Awareness Week is July 19 - 25.

The dates of this week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25), which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother.

It is better for your body and better for your soul! Learn all the benefits, how it is not just for married women, and how inexpensive it is.

NFP Awareness Week, cont'd on pgs 6-7

The Diocese of Winona rejoiced at the ordination of Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht on Friday, June 19, through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. He joins his own brother Fr. Matt Fasnacht as well as brother priests throughout the diocese in this most sacred calling.

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart was filled to the brim, with people driving in from across the Diocese of Winona to celebrate this momentous Ordination Mass, cont'd on pg. 4 INSIDE this issue

Characteristics Priesthood

for

Diocesan

read more on page 11

Ministry Days see photos from the event on page 12

Celebrating Graduation Baccalaureate Mass

with

read about the Class of 2015 on pages 8-9

Pope Francis Watch

The Courier Insider

2 Pope Francis Offers H o p e f u l Vi s i o n o f Renewal in New Encyclical Laudato Si

Articles of Interest

Ordination

page 4

Pastoral Planning Update

page 5

Good for the Body, Great for the Soul

1st Annual Catholic HS Baccalaureate Mass

pages 8-9

Catholic Education Helped Me Grow

page 10

St. Theodore Receives Accreditation

page 10

School Snapshots

Pope Francis with a group of disabled children, led by Unitalsi Lazio in Santa Martha on May 29, 2015. Credit © L'Osservatore Romano.

pages 6-7

page 10

Characteristics for Diocesan Priesthood

page 11

Ministry Days: Personal and Parish Renewal

page 12

Endowment Funds Faith Formation Initiatives

page 12

Lessons Learned While on Pilgrimage

page 13

School’s Out for Summer…

page 14

Finding Faith in the ‘Busy-ness’ of Life

page 15

Religious Life: The Apostolate

page 15

by Elise Harris. Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 / 04:05 am (CNA/EWTN News).- In his new encyclical on the environment, Pope Francis slams attacks against human life Totus Tuus: A Life Changing Experience page 16 such as abortion, embryonic experimentation and population control – saying that respect for creation and human dignity go hand in hand.

Chris Stefanick is Bringing Reboot! Live! to Mankato pages 17 The Pope explained that “a sense of deep communion with the rest of nature cannot be real if our hearts lack tenderness, compassion and concern for our fellow Principle 6: Solidarity page 18 human beings.” “At times we see an obsession with denying any pre-eminence to the human person; more zeal is shown in protecting other species than in defending the dignity which all human beings share in equal measure,” he said.

The Pope's encyclical “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian Bishop's Calendar prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.”

July 11, Saturday Steubenville North Youth In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of 12 p.m.

– Confessions at Conference, Rochester “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by retired pontiff Benedict Steubenville North Youth XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate Conference, Rochester July 15, Wednesday change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the 4:30 p.m.

– Confessions at 1 p.m. – Holy Hour environment without first working to defend human life.

Steubenville North Youth 2 p.m. – Bishop’s Cabinet It is “clearly inconsistent” to combat the trafficking of endangered species Conference, Rochester Meeting while remaining indifferent toward the trafficking of persons, to the poor and to 9:45 p.m.

– Confessions at the decision of many “to destroy another human being deemed unwanted,” the Steubenville North Youth July 16, Thursday Pope stated. To have this attitude, he said, “compromises the very meaning of our Conference, Rochester 11:30 a.m. - Mass for Feast struggle for the sake of the environment.” of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Francis also highlighted that concern for the protection of nature is “incompatiJuly 12, Sunday Annunciation Hermitage, ble with the justification of abortion.” “How can we genuinely teach the importance 10:30 a.m.

– Mass at of concern for other vulnerable beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they Bishop's Calendar, cont'd on pg. 3 may be, if we fail to protect a human embryo, even when its presence is uncomfortable and creates difficulties?” he asked.

Once the ability to welcome a new life is lost on the part of individuals and society, other forms Child Abuse Policy Information of acceptance also “wither away,” he said, warning against a “culture of relativism” that sees an Diocese of Winona - Child Sexual Abuse Policy absence of any objective truth outside of our own immediate wants and needs.

Information Laudato Si, cont'd on pg. 20 The Pope also addressed the highly-debated topic of The Diocese of Winona will provide a prompt, appropriate and The Courier is the Official Publication of the Diocese of Winona 55 West Sanborn, P.O. Box 588, Winona, MN 55987 Vol 106 - 07

Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Publisher 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 10th of the month prior.

(ISSN 0744-5490)

July, 2015 w The Courier

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.

Courageously Following Jesus Christ Dear Friends in Christ,

Rejoice in Hope Bishop John M. Quinn the impression of consent.

The Church has a unique identity, that comes from Jesus Christ and it must be free to proclaim its identity without interference from

Our New Priest, Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht On Friday, June 19, through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, I ordained Deacon Jonathan Fasnacht, a priest. What joy we all felt as he was ordained to the one, eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. The priesthood is not an ordinary calling, it is extraordinary. The world needs good men to be priests! From baptizing infants to witnessing marriage vows to anointing the sick or dying, a priest can go through in a day what others experience in a lifetime. It is the priest who brings a soul into new life in Christ through the baptismal waters, and at the end of their life, it is the priest who prepares the soul for the journey home to God. This calling is a giving

up to God many natural inclinations in order to live an extraordinary one of service and unity with Jesus Christ and the Church.

The world needs strong men to answer the call. Our beloved Catholic faith is under attack in the current climate of our culture, but this is especially true for priests. I urge you to fervently pray for priests!

Pray for them to be strong, courageous and faithful. Pray for them to be bold and holy. And pray for young men to open their hearts to hear God’s call and to answer that call with love. Please encourage those young men who are striving to follow the faith to discern priesthood. Thank you for your prayers for me and all our priests.

Prayer for Our State & the Protection of Our Children During this time of change in our state, I ask that our clergy, religious and lay faithful in the Diocese of Winona hold in prayer the people of the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis and Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese, as he guides them through this time of transition. We in the Diocese of Winona are committed to

Officials The Most Rev. John M. Quinn, Bishop of the Diocese of Winona, announces the following:

Appointments:

Rev. Patrick Arens, currently Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Chatfield, St. Patrick Parish in

Lanesboro, and St. Columban Parish in Preston; appointed Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Windom, Sacred Heart Parish in Brewster, and Sacred Heart Parish in Heron Lake, effective August 5.

Rev. Timothy Biren, granted a one-year leave of absence beginning June 1.

Rev. Jason Kern, appointed Chaplain of the St. Thomas More Newman Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato, in addition to being Pastor of St. Teresa Parish in Mapleton, St. Joseph Parish in Good Thunder, and St. Matthew Parish in Vernon Center, effective July 1.

Rev. Mark McNea, appointed Vicar for Clergy, in addition to being Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Rochester, effective July 1.

Rev. Chinnappa Pothireddy, currently Parochial Vicar for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, St. Casimir Parish, and St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center in Winona; appointed Parochial Vicar for Pax Christi Parish in Rochester and Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Mazeppa, effective July 1.

Rev. Timothy Reker, currently Pastor of St. Theodore Parish in Albert Lea and St. James Parish in Twin Lakes, appointed Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Mankato and Holy Family Parish in Lake Crystal, effective July 1.

Very Rev. Russell Scepaniak, currently Pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Windom, Sacred Heart Parish in Brewster, and Sacred Heart Parish in Heron Lake; appointed Pastor of St. Theodore Parish in Albert Lea and St. James Parish in Twin Lakes, effective July 1.

Rev. William Thompson, appointed Parochial Administrator for St. Mary Parish in Chatfield, St. Patrick Parish in Lanesboro, and St. Columban Parish in Preston, in addition to being Director of Vocations, effective July 1.

the protection of the young people entrusted to our care and to providing support and healing to those who have been sexually abused by clergy. The Diocese of Winona has zero tolerance for the exploitation or abuse of any of God’s children.

To that end, the Diocese of Winona has developed child protection policies and procedures to prevent child sexual abuse and identify and support children who may have suffered abuse.

The clergy, teachers, employees and volunteers within our Diocese of Winona receive annual training regarding their obligations as mandatory reporters so any suspected claim of abuse is investigated by law enforcement as soon as it comes to the attention of our priests or teachers.

We encourage anyone who has experienced abuse recently or in the past to come forward and report the abuse to civil authorities with whom we remain committed to partnering.

The Sanctity of Marriage There is great confusion in our culture about marriage and human sexuality. There is a belief adopted by many that our bodies are not intrinsic to who we are. This is not a new idea, and as Fr. Robert Barron recently pointed out, this philosophy dates back to the time of St. Irenaeus and was at that time called Gnosticism.

One of the main theories of Gnosticism is that our soul is trapped in matter in which we need to escape. There is much more to Gnosticism

but it is enough to say that this mentality affected many philosophers through the ages and can still be seen in the language of ordinary people today.

This is why I have encouraged the studying of St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body in our parishes and schools. I am pleased to hear that so many parishes and schools have taken up this challenge studying the Theology of the Body for Teens and the Theology of the Body for Middle Schoolers.

I applaud Ben Frost, our director of the Office of Youth and Young Adults, and Marsha Stenzel, our Superintendent of Catholic Schools, for spearheading this effort. I also applaud the work of Peter Martin, our director of the Office of Life, Marriage & Family, for weaving the Theology of the Body into our marriage preparation programs and marriage retreats, as well as teaching a Theology of the Body class annually at IHM Seminary.

St. John Paul II teaches us that our identity stems from the reality that we are sons and daughters of God, made in His image and likeness – body and soul. Our body is good and beautiful and an intrinsic part of who we are. Our culture would have us believe that the only thing that matters is our “inner self” and our bodies can be manipulated as we please.

Yet, being created body and soul, our bodies and their

From the Bishop

Fortnight for Freedom As we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day this month, let me thank all of you who participated in the Fortnight for Freedom.

The prayers, fasting and educational programs about religious freedom, were a great blessing. If we are silent, then we give

the government. Religious liberty is the first and most cherished of our freedoms.

Keep praying for the Lord to give us the courage to defend religious liberty for all the generations yet to come. We are proud to be Americans and proud to be Catholic, and proud to make our voices heard in the public square and by our elected government officials.

3

Bishop Quinn, cont'd on pg. 17

Bishop's Calendar cont'd Austin July 18, Saturday 4 p.m. – Confessions at Sacred Heart Church, Owatonna 5 p.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart Church and blessing of new office building, Owatonna July 19, Sunday 9 a.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart, Owatonna 10:30 a.m. – Mass at Sacred Heart, Owatonna

1 p.m. – Spanish Mass at Sacred Heart, Owatonna July 20, Monday 5 p.m. – Serra Club Golf Day for Priests Dinner, Willow Creek Golf Course, Rochester July 21, Tuesday 6 p.m. – Reception and Dinner with Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Jerusalem

July, 2015 w The Courier

Ordination Mass, cont'd from pg. 1

Ordination

4

There was standing room only in the Cathedral as people from all across the diocese came to celebrate the ordination of Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht.

occasion.

Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht spoke from the heart as he thanked everyone who had been a part of his vocation journey. In particular he thanked his brother, Fr. Matt Fasnacht, who he called his best friend, and Fr. Jason Kern, who he said, "is a wonderful friend of mine who literally stopped me once or twice from leaving the seminary. Without him, I wouldn't be here." He concluded by thanking his family. He thanked all his extended family, who have been such a blessing to his life and then he thanked his parents, "this is the third son, the third son they've given to the Lord."

Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht said, "[they were] always there for me and I know how proud you are of me and the rest of the family. It's because of parents and the family that vocations come around and sacrifices made.

So, I just want to thank you so much for the sacrifices [you've made] and you've given a son to the Lord ... So thank you very much."

Fr. Matt Fasnacht lays hands on now Fr. Jonathan Fasnacht, his familial brother and now brother in the priesthood of Christ.

Most Rev. Bishop John M. Quinn leads prayer in the sacristy before the Mass begins.

July, 2015 w The Courier

by: Msgr. Richard M. Colletti, Vicar General/ Chancellor, and Leandra Hubka With summer bringing a more relaxed schedule and vacation for many in our Diocese, the Diocesan Pastoral Planning team is at work processing information gleaned from the first cluster meetings this past spring. The first week of June saw the completion of the first round of facilitated cluster meetings for those parishes facing major change in our Pastoral Planning process.

There were 14 spring meetings over the course of two months, where our consultants from TeamWorks, Intl., and members of our Diocesan Planning team traveled around the Diocese to the different cluster meetings. These meetings have helped people to share their thoughts and feelings in regards to VISION 2016, build relationships between parishioners of parishes that are merging, answer questions, and prepare pastors and parish leaders of parishes recommended for oratory status to begin summer work. The listening sessions that were held in some parishes were also important for our planning team to learn of further recommendations from some of the parishes that were asked to move to oratory status.

But even though we currently have a break from facilitated cluster meetings, there is still much to be done this summer. In addition to scheduling the second, third, and fourth cluster meetings for this fall/winter, summer is the time when the parishes recommended for oratory status are working hard to complete two primary tasks before cluster meetings begin again in August and September. Thank you to the dedicated parish volunteers who are helping with these projects.

The first task at hand is the recording of parish histories. The purpose of the parish histories is to

help parishioners get a better sense of their his- Use of Church Facilities.” We have tory and identity as they bring that history to the had many questions from parishes parish with which they are merging. The format regarding care, assets, and usage of for documenting parish history is up to each oratories and we hope these docuparish, and it can be as creative or complex as ments will provide answers for which the parish chooses. people are looking. Additionally, A few common methods are we are always willing to answer any 1) Parish History Book - This usually includes questions you may have about the milestones and photos of the people and arti- VISION 2016 process. facts of the parish's history. These are published Lastly, for those parishes not facing and shared/sold to those who want copies; major change or having facilitated 2) Audio/Oral History - Taped interviews, cluster meetings, this is a remindeither by professionals or amateurs, of people er that all parishes/clusters in the who recall a parish's history and stories. These Diocese are expected to prepare a Parish/ are compiled and saved; Cluster Pastoral Plan to present to Bishop Quinn 3) Video History - Recorded interviews and by February 2016. VISION 2016 is an opportugathered video clips and photos of a parish's nity for all parishes to assess their strengths and story. Sometimes this involves younger parishio- weaknesses, and to develop a concrete plan ners conducting interviews of more seasoned of how to become more vibrant and faith-filled parishioners/leaders communities. We hope that throughout this The second task for this summer is creating coming year all parishes will continue to work an inventory of sacred and secular goods that together in building up the Catholic Church in belong to parishes recommended for oratory the Diocese of Winona. status. This is not hard work, but it does take time. The VISION 2016 Guidebook, which has been handed out at multiple meetings and is also on the Diocesan Pastoral Planning webpage (http://www. dow.org/vision2016), Almighty God, we the people of the Diocese of provides details on this Winona prayerfully look to the future. During this time aspect of planning. of pastoral planning, we implore the Holy Spirit to pour Two other docuout upon us the gifts of wisdom, courage and hope. ments that can also be found on our webMay we exercise the virtue of prudence by opening site are “Guidelines our hearts and minds to be good stewards of the for the Administration legacy of faith inherited from those who built the and Physical Care of Church on the prairie, the hills, and in the valleys.

Oratories” and “Policies and Procedures for the May we exercise the virtue of justice by opening our

“Almighty Father,

we prayerfully look to the future.

Holy Spirit,

pour out upon us the gifts of

Wisdom,

Courage,

Hope.

5 Vision 2016

Pastoral Planning Update: Spring Cluster Meetings Conclude; Summer Work Begins

”

hearts and minds to assure that the voices of people from all generations, all vocations and all areas of the Diocese are welcomed and respected.

May we exercise the virtue of fortitude by opening our hearts and minds to understand and acknowledge the spiritual and practical realities of our day and prepare for the days to come; and May we exercise the virtue of temperance by opening our hearts and minds to accept the changes in diocesan, parish and personal life that the Holy Spirit, through this planning process, is guiding us to make.

Under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, our Mother, may we discern and implement what is best for the diocesan Church and all the faithful of southern Minnesota.

We pray this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

July, 2015 w The Courier

NFP Awareness Week

6

Good for the Body,

#iuseNFP

because fertility is not a disease.

Who can use NFP?

What is NFP? Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman's cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy. NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.

Any married couple can use NFP! A woman need not have "regular" cycles. NFP education helps couples to fully understand their combined fertility, thereby helping them to either achieve or avoid a pregnancy. The key to the successful use of NFP is cooperation and communication between husband and wife--a shared commitment. NFP is unique among methods of family planning because it enables its users to work with the body rather than against it. Fertility is viewed as a beautiful part of life, not a problem to be solved.

(See article below to learn how even SINGLE women can benefit from NFP!)

How Effective is it?

When couples understand the methods and are motivated to follow them, NFP is up to 99% successful in spacing or limiting births.

Isn’t NFP just the old Rhythm method?

NFP is not "Rhythm." The Rhythm (or Calendar) method was developed in the 1930s. It was based on the theory that the time of next ovulation could be determined by calculating previous menstrual cycles. This method often proved inaccurate because of the unique nature of each woman's menstrual cycle: some women have very irregular cycles and almost all women have a cycle of unusual length once in a while.

On the other hand, NFP methods are progressive. That is, they are based on progressive, day-to-day observations of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. NFP methods take advantage of the changes associated with ovulation, treating each cycle as unique.

NaProTechnology: Unleashing the Power in a Woman's Cycle

In his ground-breaking book, Dr. Thomas Hilgers shares the successful results of thirty years of scientific research and application of the natural family planning model applied to women's healthcare. NFP is not just for married women anymore! NaProTechnology aims at caring for the woman and actually solving the problems she is experiencing.

Dr. Hilgers asks the reader, “Are you one of the many women (between 12 and 50 years of age) who has been to your obstetrician/ gynecologist with recurrent ovarian cysts, menstrual cramps, long and irregular cycles, irregular bleeding, Polycystic ovarian disease and/ or other conditions related to menstrual and fertility cycles? Has your doctor given you birth control pills to treat your symptoms?

Have you felt frustrated after that because the doctor did not actually do any testing to find out what the cause of the problem was? Did you feel like you had only received a Band-Aid?” “Are you a woman who has infertility problems and frustration with referring you to IVF* without trying to find out what caused the infertility?”

“Are you a woman who experiences significant mood swings, premenstrual syndrome or just a feeling that your hormones are "all wacked out"? Did your doctor listen to your concerns or just prescribe either birth control pills, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications without evaluating your hormones or doing anything to find out what was wrong?”

“Maybe you experienced post-partum depression only to be treated with anti-depressants which are slow to work, make you feel drugged and never return you to normal. And yet you were never told about a simple hormone therapy that brings rapid relief in nearly 95% of cases!”

Dr. Hilgers explains that so many women with these and other complaints related to menstrual and fertility cycles have felt dissatisfied or frustrated or even abandoned when trying to seek help.

“NaProTECHNOLOGY uses the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System and it #iuseNFP is a science that actually listens to women. Instead of suppressing and destroying, it works cooperatively with a woman's cycle. It is this that allows this new science to unleash the power that exists in a woman's cycle. This power is one of knowledge, understanding and medical application.”

It approaches problem solving by looking for the underlying problem. It approaches patients by listening to them! It approaches treatment by working toward eliminating the cause of the disease which is creating the symptoms.

This book is a MUST for EVERY woman! Find out more at unleashingthepower.info * IVF is immoral for several reasons: It undermines the meaning of sex; it violates the exclusivity of the couple’s marriage covenant; and it manufactures life in a laboratory as if it were a commodity, when it should be the result of human love.

because I like my breakfast withtout carcinogens July, 2015 w The Courier

In NFP both spouses are taught to understand the nature of fertility and work with it, either to plan a pregnancy or to avoid a pregnancy. Couples who use NFP soon learn that they have a shared responsibility for family planning. Husbands are encouraged to "tune into" their wives' cycles and both spouses are encouraged to speak openly and frankly about their sexual desires and their ideas on family size.

Other benefits include • Low cost • No harmful side effects • Effectiveness for achieving, spacing, or limiting pregnancy • Can be used throughout the reproductive life cycle • Marriage enrichment and mutual understanding • Appreciation for the value of children • Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person • Moral acceptability

The best way to learn NFP is from a qualified instructor-- that is, one who is certified from an NFP teacher training program. Although medical professionals are gradually learning more about NFP and becoming more supportive of patients who wish to use it, they are not often trained to teach NFP. Visit http:// www.dow.org/Departments/Life-MarriageFamily/Natural-Family-Planning for a listing of instructors in the Diocese.

Does the Church expect us to have as many children as we possibly can?

No, the Church encourages people to be "responsible" stewards over their fertility. In this view of "responsible parenthood" married couples carefully weigh their responsibilities to God, each other, the children they already have, and the world in which they live when making decisions about the number and spacing of children.

because my body is not broken.

Isn't NFP just Catholic Birth Control?

No, NFP methods are different from and better than contraception because they: - cooperate with, rather than suppress, a couple's fertility; - can be used both to achieve and avoid pregnancy; - call for shared responsibility and cooperation by husband and wife; - require spousal communication; - foster respect for and acceptance of the total person; - have no harmful side effects; - are virtually cost free.

NFP is unique because it enables its users to work with the body rather than against it. Fertility is viewed as a beautiful part of life, not a problem to be solved.

7 NFP Awareness Week

Great for the Soul!

What are the Where can I Benefits of NFP? learn NFP?

#iuseNFP

Has Society Benefited from Birth Control? Some Would Say Yes, but Let's Look at the Facts.

(Tambien les dejo la versión en español)

Let’s open a few eyes with facts. Hormonal contraceptives are listed by the World Health Organization as Class 1 carcinogen for breast, liver, and cervical cancers.

[1] It is listed right alongside arsenic, asbestos, silica dust, and tobacco. Another chemical in Depo Provera (the shot) is depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) which has been linked with a 2.2 increase in breast cancer.[2] It also causes weight gain, deep vein thromboses (blood clots), hepatocellular adenomas (liver tumors), and strokes. It can quite literally kill you by just taking the prescribed dose. All while lowering woman’s libido![3] The pill ages the cervix. This is one reason why pill use can lead to infertility (and why the contraceptive industry fuels the multi-billion dollar infertility industry).[4] The pill also changes her chemistry& cellular function as to make a woman more susceptible to getting HIV/AIDS and other STDs.[5] Divorce is down and family life is elevated when a woman uses a natural method (Natural Family Planning (NFP), 99.5% effective) rather than hormonal contraception.

This is not the rhythm method, but scientifically designed to naturally understand woman’s fertility.[6] How can we say woman is equal when we first force her to rid herself of her fertility (medicinally and surgically) before she is allowed to participate in society? Women have “come so far”, but at what cost? It is not woman, but a genderless creature, femininity and fertility subdued. Is it feminism to say women ought to be like men? Taking hormonal contraceptives can actually make women’s brains like men’s – more compartmentalized, less relational.[7] That’s not elevating woman; that is turning her into a man.

In short, enough is enough. Women don’t want to have to become men to play the game in society. We want a society that truly elevates woman in all her glorious femininity. We don’t want to play the game; we want to change the rules. We need a NEW FEMINISM. by: Theresa Martin

Vamos a abrir algunos ojos con hechos. Los anticonceptivos hormonales son listados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud como agente cancerígeno de clase 1 para la mama, el hígado y el cáncer de cuello uterino. [1] Se enumera justo al lado del arsénico, asbestos, polvo de sílice, y el tabaco.

Otro producto químico que forma parte del Depo Provera (la inyección) es acetato de depo-medroxiprogesterona (DMPA) que es relacionado con un aumento del 2,2 en el cáncer de mama. [2]

También causa aumento de peso, la trombosis venosa profunda (coágulos de sangre), adenomas hepatocelulares (tumores hepáticos) y derrames cerebrales. Literalmente, puede matar con sólo tomar una dosis prescrita. Todo al mismo tiempo que reduce el libido de la mujer! [3] La píldora envejece el cuello uterino. Esta es una razón por la cual el uso de la píldora puede causar infertilidad (y el por qué la industria anticonceptiva alimenta la multi billonaria industria de la infertilidad). [4] La píldora también cambia su función química y celular haciendo que la mujer sea más susceptible a contraer el VIH / SIDA y otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual. [5] Los rangos de divorcio bajan y la vida familiar es elevada cuando una mujer usa un método natural (Planificación Familiar Natural (PFN), que tiene un 99,5% de efectividad) en lugar de la anticoncepción hormonal. Este no es el método del ritmo, más bien es un método científicamente diseñado para comprender de forma natural la fertilidad de la mujer. [6] ¿Cómo podemos hablar de la igualdad de la mujer cuando primero la obligamos a librarse de su fertilidad (medicinalmente y quirúrgicamente) antes de que se le permitiera participar en la sociedad? Las mujeres “han llegado tan lejos", pero ¿a qué costo?

Ya no es mujer, sino una criatura sin género, con una feminidad y fertilidad sometida. ¿Es feminista decir que las mujeres deberían ser como los hombres?. Tomar anticonceptivos hormonales puede realmente hacer que los cerebros de las mujeres sean como la de los hombres - más compartimentada, menos relacional [7] Esta no es la manera de elevar a una mujer; por el contrario esto es convertirla en un hombre.

Resumiendo, ya es suficiente!, Las mujeres no quieren convertirse en hombres para jugar un papel en la sociedad. Nosotras queremos una sociedad que realmente eleve a la mujer en toda su gloriosa femineidad. No queremos participar en ese juego, queremos cambiar las reglas. NECESITAMOS UN NUEVO FEMINISMO. [1] http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/topics/ageing/cocs_hrt_statement.pdf [2] http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/382847341.html [3] http://www.drnorthup.com/womenshealth/healthcenter/topic_details.php?topic_id=128 [4] http://www.myfemininemind.com/2012/07/things-your-doctor-may-not-have-told_25.html [5] http://journals.lww.com/jaids/Fulltext/2005/03001/Effect_of_Contraceptive_Methods_on_ Natural_History.13.aspx [6] http://www.familyplanning.net/en/recent-studies [7] http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/birth-control-pills-shown-alter-structurewomens-brains July, 2015 w The Courier

2015 Catholic Schools Graduates

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1st Annual Diocese of Winona Catholic

Marsha Stenzel Superintendent mstenzel@dow.org

Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary

July, 2015 w The Courier

High School Baccalaureate Mass

9 2015 Catholic School Graduates

Cotter

schools

PACELLI Catholic Schools

LOYOLA CATHOLIC SCHOOL July, 2015 w The Courier

Catholic Schools

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Catholic Education Has Helped Me Grow Spiritually submitted by: Kate Duellman, Cotter High School, 2015 Graduate

Catholic education has been a part of my life since preschool. In this way, I have been very blessed. It is a gift from my parents that I cherish. To have an education and learn is a wonderful thing. However, Catholic education takes this one step further and will continue to help me grow in my faith. To take a life journey with God evident in my every subject has been a blessing.

Attending class daily with other confirmed Catholics and with those who might not be devout but have Christian hearts is a great source of strength. As a child, I was always strong in faith. To see some of my teachers throughout my life live it daily, in private and in the classroom, is an example that I strive for. This has helped me form a goal – to be that example of Christ’s light to others, not just in my daily private life, but in my career as well, to be the source of others’ strength.

I have not always been strong and con-

fident in Christ’s love. At one point in my life, I was lost. I was almost suicidal, but I had a few faith-filled people that kept me from sinking that far. They were lanterns on my path, guiding me back to the light of the embrace of my Brother and Father.

I remember them still as this was not that long ago. They still help me and will continue to do so, in person, by example, and by memory. Catholic schooling was where I found these lanterns. Some were teachers and staff of my Catholic high school.

Throughout the years, faith has always been important and the center of my existence. Due to a Catholic school, I am able to do one of my favorite things, cantor at mass. I am able to freely pray at a restaurant with the knowledge that my family and I are not the only ones who do.

I have grown, and not just in age and knowledge, but in faith. My spirit has stayed alive, kindled by those around me throughout my education due to being enrolled in a Catholic school. One of my greatest blessings I have received would be recognizing how God is not just taught in my religion class, but in every moment, by my teachers and staff of all the Catholic schools that I have attended – as long as I have my eyes open to see it. I am no longer lost in the dark, but am the one who is now able to look and see and help lead others to faith.

St. Theodore Receives Accreditation

ST. THEODORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL RECEIVES FULL ACCREDITATION FROM THE MINNESOTA NONPUBLIC SCHOOL ACCREDITING ASSOCIATION ALBERT LEA, MINNESOTA. On May 18th, 2015, the Minnesota Nonpublic School Accrediting Association (“MNSAA”) Board granted the St. Theodore Catholic School with Accredited Status. As explained on the MNSAA website, this announcement, “offers outside objective validation that a school has met high standards and is actively seeking a quality educational program.”

According to St. Theodore Principal Sue Amundson, “We were overjoyed to receive this Accreditation Status. This result further amplifies St. Theodore’s Catholic School’s pursuit of excellence in providing learning opportunities for the children of our community.”

The Accreditation process requires a multiple year process starting with a comprehensive self study review and reporting process. Next, on April 9th and 10th, an on-site accreditation team visited the school to complete their on-site assessment, meeting with staff, students, parents and board members in completing their anal-

Schools Snapshots

5th Grade Win ners

Winners 6th Grade

gradThese 6th Felix St. ers from School Catholic ha in Wabas ifixion and Cruc School Catholic scent in La Cre en p n have bee e th pals for r. They chool yea meet s to Pals ol Pen were able the c Scho li m o u at th e n a s C Mu in perso t Eagle agle E l Meet A a Nation Center.

July, 2015 w The Courier

Congratulations to WACS 5th and 6th grade Religion Bee Winners! (Seen to the left.) 6th Grade winners: 1st place (center) Hannah Graff, 2nd (left) Aubrey Williams and 3rd place Grace Ping. 5th Grade winners: from the left: 1st place, Grace Quinn, 2nd place Alessia Velazquez Nitti, and 3rd place Megan Morgan. Grace Quinn and Hannah Graff crowned Mary during the schools May Crowning Mass at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka. We also extend a thank you to WACS Religion teacher Mrs. Sheila Blahnik for organizing this event.

Math Team is #1!

ysis. The final step was for the full MNSAA board to review the entire application process and vote on the results.

According to Marsha Stenzel, Superintendent for Catholic Schools “Obtaining Accreditation Status could not have been achieved without the hard work and collaborative effort of the entire St. Theodore team. This effort was led by Principal Sue Amundson and School Board Representative Elaine Dettle. These key leaders and the entire crew of teachers, staff, parents and school board members should be commended for their work. I look forward to watching the school continue to succeed in the years ahead.”

The school celebrated this wonderful accomplishment by holding an ice cream social following their last PAKET Day (Parents And Kids Eat Together) on May 22nd. Enrollment information can be found at www.sttheo.org; or calling 373-9657.

St. Theodore Catholic School promotes excellence through a well-rounded academic curriculum in a Christ-centered environment for children of all faiths.

Cotter students celebrate the Fe ast of Our Lady of Fatima

WACS 6th grade math team win 1st place!

The team competed against math teams from throughout Southeast Minnesota in Austin, MN on March 5. Math Masters 2015 team members, Morgan Arnold, Grace Ping, Hannah Graff, Aubrey Williams and Ian Modjeski, brought home FIRST place honors. Team 2, consisting of Macey Dvorak, Fiona Flanagan, Cale Beckman, Abree Dieterman, and Katie Speltz took an impressive 14th place finish. Sixth grade student Aubrey Williams took FIRST place overall out of 109 individuals for the individual portion of the meet!

Congratulations to all! Pictured with the team is Cotter /WACS Math instructor David Jewison.

Students in Mar y Hansel Parlin’s 9th grad e re lig ion class took

to the Cotter sk the Rosary on Wed yway to pray ne which is when th sday, May 13th e Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is celebr On this day in 19 ated.

17, Our Lady made her first ap pearance to three shepherd children, Ja Francisco (age 9) cinta (age 7), and Lucia (age 10), at Fatima in appeared to them on Portugal. She ce May through Octob a month from er.

CharacteristicsforDiocesanPriesthood

Rev. Will Thompson Director wthompson@dow.org

11. “A good candidate for diocesan priesthood should be joyful and have a good sense of humor.”

Pope Francis said that as Christians, we should not be a “sourpuss.” How much more for the priest! The priest, and therefore candidates for the priesthood, should be joyful and be able to take pleasure in life. The Pope has made it clear throughout his papacy, both in word and action, that the gospel gives life and fulfills us. Being dour and grumpy are not signs that scream “I’ve been saved!” If someone’s faith is not bringing them joy, then it will be difficult to live for the gospel.

12. “A good candidate for diocesan priesthood must be physically, emotionally, and psychologically stable.”

The life of a priest is rigorous and demanding.

It involves not only long hours, but the ability to be present to whoever you are with and in any situation. It is not uncommon to go from

11

a joyful encounter to a sad one to a meeting. A candidate for the priesthood has to have the capacity to be with parishioners in any situation. I have known many young men who struggle in this area and expect to be stronger. The reality is that we are constantly learning how to process life around us and we Cardinal Timothy Dolan is often caught on camera break down from time to time. laughing as he emanates the 11th character trait: “A In order to handle these ups and downs, the candidate must be good candidate for diocesan priesthood should be joyful and have a good sense of humor.” stable.

13. “A good candidate for diocesan priesthood should have a healthy consistency in behavior. They should not be stubborn, but neither should they psycho-sexual development and orientation.”

One part of maturity is to understand sexual be swayed easily by another’s opinion feelings and being able to process them well. about themselves. These young men Someone who represses or ignores sexual feelings should be aware of their shortcomings will not do well as a celibate priest. The Church has and have the resolve to become better, made it clear that anyone who has deep-seated more virtuous and holier men.

15.

“A good candidate for same-sex attraction or pedophile tendencies (not to say that these are related or the same) diocesan priesthood is able to accept is not a good candidate for priesthood. To be both success and failure peacefully.”

You win some, you lose some. And “deep-seated,” these tendencies persist and are acted upon even after serious attempts to resist that’s okay! We won’t always get to have things temptation. The good candidate may or may our way, and often it is better that way. This is not have had sexual experiences, and either way one area that seems to be particularly difficult in is able to embrace his sexuality as a gift. It is the today’s world: to realize that I will fail, I will have to way he is able to give of himself in a chaste way. accede to others, and I will not always be liked. If 14. “A good candidate for diocesan a young man can accept this and live and thrive under those conditions, he will be able to thrive priesthood has self-possession and self-mastery.”

Those considering the priesthood should hold as a priest. in balance both openness to suggestion and

In the Diocese

This month’s column is Part 3 of the 20 character traits of a candidate for the diocesan priesthood as listed in Fr. Brett Brannen's book To Save a Thousand Souls. To see traits one through ten, see the May and June issues of The Courier or go to dowcourier.org.

Rejoice with our Jubilarians The School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province honor our Jubilarians, women of hope, and are grateful to God for their faithful lives.

25 YEARS

Vicki Jean Chambers Brenda TeVogt Mary Tokunaga

50 YEARS

Joan Bartosh Elleen Marie Beelman Barbara Bitter Mary Brian Bole Susan Bunde Rosel Marie Feder Claret Feldhake Jeannette Fennewald Charlotte Flarlong Mary Kay Gosch Phyllis Marie Grzeczka Jacqueline Jost Mary Monica Katsuragawa Virginia Klesner Marie Francine Koehler Barbara Masch Nancy McNemar Karen Moore Mary Loretta Murakami Marilyn Orchard

Mary Anne Owens Joan Penzenstadler Joseph Ann Quinene Mary Anne Schaenzer Katherine Scheurer Barbara Simek Jean Marie Smith André Maureen Soeté Mary Jane Tanaka Paulette Marie Tiefenbrunn Donna Walerius Mary Ruth Wand

60 YEARS

Marie Esther Becker Susan Birk Anne Boessen Cynthia Brinkman Carla Marie Candella Patricia Caswell Eileen Daudlin Monica Marie Eilers Lenore Feider Angelee Fuchs Mary Benedette Fujimori Linda Marie Hellebusch

Jane Marie Hotze Mary Jane Jansen Ellen Jean Klein Doris Jean LeBrun Laurine Anne Luft M. Carmelle Malerich Barbara Marie McInturff Marie Andre Miszewski Maris Stella Morimoto Marie Therese Nowakowski Roger Marie Postl Mary Joseph Quichocho M. Jonelle Rein Mary Alice Reitz Sharon Roedl Miriam Cecile Ross Mary Elizabeth Runde Marie Russell Kara Ryan Kieran Sawyer Helen Settersten Patricia Thies Domenica Tocco Nadine Touhey Nancy Carol Traeger Marylene Venvertloh

Mary Ricardo Wolf Theresa Ann Zanmiller Mary Elise Zettel

Mary Tacheny Mary Alice Wald M. Paula Young

70 YEARS

75 YEARS

Mary Eugene Braun Clare Marie Cato Miriam Therese Gill Marie Grellinger M. Ellene Gross Mary Willene Grossaint Ingrid Hamm Ruth Hollenbach Mary Helen Hotze Margaret Cortona Hurst Maureen Murray Mary Ann Sadowski Miriam Saumweber Francis Clare Schares Mary Gilda Sturino

M. Margareta Bertrand Mary Elsa Bren Irene Kalapinski M. René Lorentz M. Carmen Madigan Mary Regina Meyer M. Laura Schmitt

80 YEARS

Sheila McCall Mary Elsa Metternich Names in BOLD are sisters who were born in, entered from, served five or more years in or live today in the diocese.

View Jubilarian profiles at ssndcentralpacific.org/jubilee • Follow us on facebook.com/ssnd.centralpacific and twitter.com/ssnd_cp July, 2015 w The Courier

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Ministry Days: "The Joy of the Gospel" A Vision for Personal and Parish Renewal Bishop John Quinn joined with the over 200 participants at Ministry Days for a time of learning, prayer, and community. In his homily at Mass on the first day, he called those gathered to be the face of Christ to the people they served, and to allow the many daily encounters of their ministry to be occasions to share with others the love, the joy, and the compassion of Christ.

Dr. Edward Sri, from the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO, served as the keynote presenter for the event. Dr. Sri is a theologian and nationally known speaker and author. Drawing on Pope Francis’ recent apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium), he challenged the clergy and lay leaders present to give a more authentic witness to the gospel both in their personal faith lives and in their ecclesial service and ministry.

Jessica Scully from Pax Christi Parish, Rochester, led a workshop session on the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for faith formation leaders. Participants attended workshops on a variety of topics, including marriage preparation, vocations, parish finances and human resources, pastoral care, evangelization, and the Year of Consecrated Life.

Endowment Funds Faith Formation Initiatives In launching the Seeds of Faith capital campaign in the diocese in 2002, Bishop Bernard Harrington stated his vision that the campaign would strengthen each parish in being “focused and involved in evangelization, adult faith formation, catechumenate, and stewardship.”

A key component to making this happen was the establishment and funding of a “Faith Formation Endowment” for the diocese as part of the campaign. The rationale for establishing this endowment was stated in the campaign’s case statement: The bishop, as teacher of the faith, has the responsibility to assure that lifelong formation is a priority in the parishes and that the faithful are afforded opportunities to grow in the life of Christ through prayer and by experiences, reflections and studies.

It was envisioned that earnings from the Endowment would be utilized in a variety of ways, including: “formation and mentoring opportunities” for parish ministers (i.e., directors of faith formation, youth ministers, liturgists and catechists); “leadership training … focused on Hispanic ministries”; “development of leaders for small faith communities”; education and formation of leaders in the areas of faith sharing, scripture studies, and pastoral care; etc.

With this vision at its foundation, the Seeds of Faith • Faith Formation Endowment provides funds for the evangelization and catechesis of the Catholic faith community within the Diocese of Winona. It also provides funds for the training, mentoring, and development of: directors of faith formation; catechists; adult faith formation leaders; Catholic school educators; youth ministers; pastoral ministers; liturgical ministers; parish pastoral council members; Hispanic and multi-cultural ministers; leaders of small faith communities, etc.

Faith Formation Endowment funds are utilized and targeted to support faith formation at three distinct levels of church life and ministry in the diocese. The funds support: u Diocesan-based initiatives and partnerships designed to enhance and strengthen broad-based faith formation efforts (e.g., diocesan ministry days, evangelization events, lay formation programs and initiatives, etc.). u Deanery, multi-parish, and parish-based efforts in support of evangelization, faith formation, and leadership development. u Parish staffs and individual ministers in graduate theological education and continuing formation in ministry.

Since its establishment, the Endowment has funded a number of July, 2015 w The Courier

catechetical and evangelization efforts, initiatives, and projects in the diocese. These have included: l The Symbolon formation program which provided a year-long program of “doctrinal, spiritual, and pastoral formation” for our diocesan clergy and parish leaders in the areas of adult faith formation, the RCIA, and youth ministry. l The “Endow” program of the diocese which forms and supports small groups of women who meet together to grow in knowledge of and love for their Catholic faith. l The “interMISSION” youth gatherings in the diocese which bring together high school students for an evening of formation, Adoration, and fellowship. l Training of parish teams through the “Amazing Parish” conferences which are building “a movement of parishes who want to provide amazing ministry to those they serve.” l Support for continuing formation and graduate education in theology and ministry for women and men seeking to strengthen their knowledge and skills for service in the Church.

The Seeds of Faith • Faith Formation Endowment is administered by the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota. The Endowment accepts, reviews, and funds grant proposals on a continuing basis.

If you are interested in learning more about the Endowment and/or would like to discuss a possible grant proposal, please contact: Todd Graff at the diocesan Office of Lay Formation (tgraff@dow.org / 507858-1270) or Melissa Schmid at the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota (mschmid@catholicfsmn.org / 507-858-1276).

Lessons Learned While

on

Pilgrimage

- Vatican “Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy” In the middle of May, a small group of students, alumni, and friends of our diocesan Institute of Lay Formation, and I traveled together on a local pilgrimage. The theme of our pilgrimage was, “Consecrated Life and the Call to Holiness.”

Pope Francis proclaimed this a “Year of Consecrated Life,” starting on the First Sunday of Advent in 2014, and ending on February 2, 2016, the World Day of Consecrated Life. During this year, the Church marks the fiftieth anniversary of two significant documents of the Second Vatican Council which relate to consecrated life: the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), which speaks of religious life in its sixth chapter; and the Decree on the Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis).

Todd Graff Director tgraff@dow.org

Our Holy Father directs that this year offer ways of “instructing the People of God in the value of consecrated life, so that its beauty and holiness may shine forth in the Church.” He asks all of us to experience this year as “a moment of thanksgiving” for the great gifts brought to the Church by its consecrated religious, and to “draw close to these men and women, to rejoice with

them, to share their difficulties and to assist them … in their ministries and works.”

Seeking to honor this year and its aims, our group set off. Our Institute Pilgrimage featured visits to four communities of consecrated life in our area: the School Sisters of Notre Dame at Good Counsel (Mankato, MN); the Schoenstatt Shrine of Minnesota (Sleepy Eye, MN); the Benedictine Sisters at Saint Benedict’s Monastery (St. Joseph, MN); and the Benedictine Monastic Community at Saint John’s Abbey (Collegeville, MN).

During our visits… We talked to the community’s members and heard about the history and particular charisms of their community. We viewed their chapels and shrine, and joined them in Morning and Evening Prayer and in the celebration of the Eucharist. We entered briefly into their lives and shared an experience of their calling and their deep commitment to follow Christ by embracing his path of poverty, chastity, and obedience. It was a holy and privileged time for each of us. Three brief “lessons” from our pilgrimage: We are called as disciples to welcome one another in love. At every community we visited, we were warmly greeted and treated with great care and affection.

We felt right at home in the beautiful chapel at Good Counsel celebrating the Eucharist with the School Sisters of Notre Dame. And, after

As we walked amidst several different communities of consecrated life, we were given the beautiful gift from God to look in the window of consecrated life. With my face planted eagerly and firmly to the window pane, I saw the most beautiful images inside with the eyes of my heart.

I thank God for the opportunity to pray with the Brothers and Sisters in consecrated life for morning & evening prayer, celebrate Mass with them, share a meal with them and have conversations with them. I saw in them and heard in their voices such joy, peace, obedience, humility and faithfulness. They showed me love and discipleship and I felt very welcomed.

Now that I’ve returned home, I hold them in my heart.

Their witness helps and encourages me to give myself totally to the Lord’s Will within my vocation and where I’m planted.

- Pilgrimage participant

Lay Formation

“Pilgrimage is essentially an act of worship: a pilgrim goes to a shrine to encounter God, to be in His presence, and to offer Him adoration in worship, and to open his heart to Him.”

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worshiping together, we shared a wonderful lunch together in a dining hall filled with lively conversation and with laughter and joy.

At Saint Benedict’s Monastery, Sister Cecelia greeted us upon our arrival and led us to Evening Prayer, and then patiently helped to guide us through the pages of our prayer books.

After the prayer, she showed us around and told us about her Benedictine community, and she asked about our lives and our families. She was a person of genuine hospitality. We encountered this same spirit at each of the communities we visited.

We need to take our time in prayer. The Monks of Saint John’s Abbey gave us a great lesson in prayer. Be patient!

We had the great privilege to pray both Evening and Morning Prayer with their community, and to celebrate the Eucharist, in the magnificent Abbey Church. Each of these liturgies was celebrated with a great attentiveness to what we were about – praise and worship of God. This was reflected in the rhythm of our prayer – a gentle pace with frequent pauses, leaving time to ponder the words of our prayer and to let them enter into our hearts. What a grace it was for our group to pray in this way!

We are blessed to be sisters and brothers in Christ. This final lesson was one I learned from my fellow pilgrimage participants. It is a lesson I have learned many other times over the years in my work with the students and alumni of our Institute of Lay Formation community.

In our brief time together, we formed a small community of faith, hope, and charity. We prayed together. We listened to each other and shared a bit of our lives and of our experiences.

We found a simple joy and communion in our meals together, in watching and then discussing a movie about a woman’s choice to enter a cloistered Carmelite convent, in hiking and walking outside together on the sunny, warm spring days, and in just being together on this holy journey.

We are deeply blessed to be members of Christ’s Body, the Church, and to be bound together in this great Communion of Saints. It’s a lesson I learned anew on pilgrimage. Deo Gratias!

July, 2015 w The Courier

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School’s Out for Summer…

That means no Religion classes or Faith Formation, right? No, not exactly. Now is the time for the most influential of all faith formation to begin!

Faith Formation

You as parents are the primary educators of your children, a fact which is highlighted four times in the Catechism and in at least seven different documents of the Church. What does this mean? It means a very holy obligation has been entrusted to you—one that doesn’t stop just because it is summer.

During the school year, you possibly have the help of a solid Catholic school or parish faith formation program to assist you in your child’s religious formation, but during the summer that assistance may not be there in the same way. So what can you do? Here are a few ideas of ways to incorporate the faith into your summer: 1. Pray! One of the most important things you can do for your children is to pray for them, pray with them, and let them see you pray. Your personal relationship with the Lord will impact their relationship with Him more than anything else. If you want your children to be holy…strive for holiness yourself!

2. Service – Pick a service project that you could do as a family. It could be large or small, but help your children see the importance of Jesus’ words, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40).

3. Adoration – Visit Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration. The feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who had a great devotion to the Eucharist, falls on July 14th, so this would be a great opportunity for a visit to Our Lord in the Eucharist. You could also introduce your little ones to Adoration today, and pray through the intercession of St. Kateri for their understanding of this great gift.

4. Chaplet of the Precious Blood – July is the month in the Church which is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. Consider learning about and praying the Chaplet of the Precious Blood. Younger ones might not be able to pray it in its entirety at one time, so you could pray parts each day throughout the month of July.

5. Visit Grandparents – The feast day of Sts. Anne and Joachim, Mary’s parents, also falls during the summer... Make a special call or visit to see grandparents on (or near) July 26th to celebrate their feast day! If grandparents have already passed away, say a special

prayer as a family for the repose of their souls.

6. Scripture – Choose a Bible verse to memorize as a family each week. Set aside time to read the Bible together – perhaps a few chapters before dinner each night.

7. Celebrate! – Help your children to realize the treasure they have in the Communion of Saints! There are numerous feast days throughout the summer. Learn a little more about the lives of some of your favorite saints and then celebrate their lives by finding a connection to things your family likes to do. Here are a few Saints and some suggestions about how you could celebrate them: • July 1st – Blessed Junipero Serra is the patron of the Serra Club, which prays for vocations. Thank a priest or religious sister today for his or her “Yes!” to God, and pray for vocations.

• July 6th – St. Maria Goretti – Have you been avoiding “that” conversation? Learn about St. Maria Goretti and take this opportunity to have an age-appropriate conversation about the gift of sexuality and the importance of the virtue of chastity.

• July 18th – St. Camillus de Lellis – In celebration of this patron of the sick, hospitals, nurses, and physicians, visit a nursing home, the elderly, or someone you know who is homebound. Caring for the sick and visiting the imprisoned (the homebound, by extension) are corporal works of mercy—wonderful practices to introduce early to your children.

• July 25th – St. James the Greater – Go fishing (or play a game of “Go Fish!”) in honor of this apostle who was first a fisherman.

• July 29th – St. Martha – prepare a meal for someone emphasizing St. Martha’s hospitality.

• August 4th – St. John Vianney – Say a chaplet of Divine Mercy together as a family for your parish priest, in honor of this patron of parish priests.

• August 10th – St. Lawrence - Have a cookout for family and friends in honor of this patron of cooks, who was condemned to death tied atop an iron grill. St. Lawrence instead burned with so much love of God that he almost did not feel the flames. In fact, God gave him so much strength and joy that he even joked, "Turn me over; I'm done on this side!"

• August 14th – St. Maximillian Kolbe – After learning about St. Maximillian Kolbe (who was a martyr in the Auschwitz concentration camp), discuss the concept and importance of sacrificial love with your children. Then, talk about ways in which your kids could make a sacrifice this month that benefits another person.

• August 15th – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Go to Mass as a family on this day to honor our Blessed Mother!

• August 21st – St. Pius X – Did you know that until St. Pius X lowered the age of reception in 1905, children could not receive the Eucharist until they were at least 12-14 years old? Attend daily Mass as a family in honor of Saint Pius X and say special prayers of gratitude for the great gift we have in being able to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

• August 27th – St. Monica – Celebrate this Saint who, through her many years of prayer, obtained the conversion of her son, St. Augustine (whose feast day is the 28th), by praying a rosary together as a family for people you know who have left the practice of their faith.

There are many other Saints to celebrate over the summer and also many other ways that you can nourish the faith of your children – not only during the summer but throughout the entire year. While religion classes and faith formation programs are important components of a child’s catechesis, nothing is more essential than having parents who know and love the faith and practice it at home.

As Pope Paul VI said, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” Be that witness for your child this summer!

July, 2015 w The Courier

Finding Faith in the ‘Busy-ness’ of Life: a Conversation with a Catholic Mother

Faith Formation

Q: Before getting married and having kids, I had time to pray the Rosary and spend time in Adoration. Do you have any advice on how to make time for my faith in the “busy-ness” of everyday activities?

A: Let me first tell you that you are not alone. The number of Saints who have commented on topics such as this is many. Although you may not feel that you are spending as much time with the Lord, find comfort in knowing that your time is truly being spent living out the vocation that Sr. Paul Mary has been given to you Rittgers, R.S.M.

by God. St. Frances of Director Rome said, “A married faithformation@dow.org woman must often leave God at the altar to find Him in her household cares.”

I’m sure, however, that you were probably looking for something more practical than that! One thing that Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley (foundress of the Religious Sisters of Mercy) emphasized was the perfection of ordinary actions. She said that even the most trivial actions, when accompanied by a pure and upright intention, become valuable and meritorious of everlasting life. This is one reason I would recommend praying the Morning Offering each day. (Cut out this prayer on the adjacent page!)

In this prayer, you consecrate your entire day – everything you say, do, pray, all the good, the bad, the sufferings – everything – to the Lord. From there, even the smallest parts of your day can be used for the glory of God. Also, take tiny moments in your day to unite yourself to the Lord. As you change your little one’s diaper, offer it up for the sanctification of her soul.

As you pick up your son’s toys that are creating a mess in the playroom, say a quick prayer for those that do not have the resources to provide toys for their children, or a prayer of gratitude that you are able to provide these playthings for your son. After you hear “Mommy, mommy, mommy!” for what seems like the twelfth time, consider how often we run to the Lord in need, and thank Him for His inability to tire of us. These tiny little moments soon become openings for the Holy Spirit to enter into your entire day.

Another idea comes from one of my Sisters who heard Michaelann

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Ever feel like you're having one of these days? Sr. Paul Mary has advice for bringing peace and prayer into the busy life of motherhood.

Martin (wife of FOCUS founder Curtin Martin and mother of 6) speaking at a conference a few years back. Michaelann was talking about how she sets aside 10 minutes for prayer each day. This is a time that her children have come to know is very important to her; unless something is a true emergency (and there are really very few true emergencies), they are not to interrupt her. The beauty of this practice is that not only is mom having some “alone time” with the Lord, but her children are also seeing modeled how important it is to set aside daily times of personal prayer. That is certainly a win-win!

Your vocation as a wife and a mother is one of infinite value, for you have the opportunity to assist and support your husband on his journey toward heaven and lead your little ones on their journey as well. In your daily efforts, however trivial or insignificant they may seem, remember that those little things make up part of that journey, and these seemingly tiny acts of love you perform – which are often unnoticed by everyone else around you - are actually huge in God’s eyes.

Religious Life: The Apostolate By: Sister Edith Mary Hart, R.S.M., D.O. When many people in the Church or in the world think of a religious institute, they typically think of the work performed by the institute. For instance, certain communities teach in schools, some administer hospitals or run health care clinics. This is what most people think of when they think of a religious order…the work that religious do. However, the apostolate is really a sharing in the Church’s apostolate and for it to be effective and fruitful, it must be an extension of the institute’s fraternal life and mission (Redemptionis Donum 15).

Saint John Paul II in his document Redemptionis Donum states: “The Church expresses to you, dear brothers and sisters, her gratitude for your consecration and for your profession of the evangelical counsels, which are a special witness of love. She also expresses anew her great confidence in you who have chosen a state of life that is a special gift of God to the Church. She counts upon your complete and generous collaboration in order that, as faithful stewards of this precious gift, you may "think with the Church" and always act in union with her, in conformity with the teachings and directives of the Magisterium of Peter and of the pastors in communion with him, fostering, at the personal and community level, a renewed ecclesial awareness.”

The Holy Father stresses that the primary “work” of religious is the witness of their consecration to Christ and this is realized to the extent that the members strive together in building their common and fraternal life.

As the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of

Apostolic Life states in its document Fraternal Life in Community: “Religious community is a visible manifestation of the communion which is the foundation of the Church and, at the same time, a prophecy of that unity towards which she tends as her final goal. As ‘experts in communion, religious are, therefore, called to be an ecclesial community in the Church and in the world, witnesses and architects of the plan for unity which is the crowning point of human history in God's design.’”

It is the vibrancy of an institute’s fraternal life which nourishes the mission and enables the apostolate to be effective and fruitful. Once again, Saint John Paul II states, “The world needs authentic ‘contradiction’ provided by religious consecration, as an unceasing stimulus of salvific renewal…Your witness is therefore of inestimable value” (RD14).

The “contradiction” of Religious Life consists in its witness proclaiming to the world that it is possible to love the Lord with all of one’s heart and one’s neighbor for love of Him; that this love is a source of genuine love and freedom; that the material world, though good, is not the highest good, nor will it ultimately satisfy; that true freedom of soul is achieved through obedience to the Father’s will and that true relationship comes not through the often emptiness of social media, but through silence, through creation, through meals in common and the building together of authentic fraternal life. This is the fundamental work of religious life and one that the world is hungry to see and experience.

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Youth and Young Adults

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Totus Tuus: A Life Changing Experience Totus Tuus is a lifechanging opportunity. by: Mike Ottman The mission and vision that Totus Tuus conveys is this surrender to Jesus through the hands of Mary. It is an experience to live a summer in total trust in the Lord with a team of four, going from parish to parish sharing our Catholic faith.

A t first, I was hesitant, and had anxiety g o i n g into the summer.

It Totus Tuus Team 1 includes Spenser Kubista, Lisa didn’t take Nguyen, Maggie Ogram, and Shawn Polman. too long to realize the bigger picture of why I was doing Totus Tuus. Once meeting Ben Frost the kids and young adults, Director I realized I am not the one bfrost@dow.org giving, but receiving. The joy of the kids, their smiles and laughter, make the

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whole summer worth it. It is a blessing to be able to teach and be a part of their lives during the summer.

It is always amazing to me to discover how wellcatechized and willing the kids are to learn about the faith.

I will always Totus Tuus Team 2 includes Rachel Storey, Thomas remember my Ripplinger, Catie Deysach and Zach Clark. first hosted dinner our team went to. It was eyeopening having a family open up their doors and invite complete strangers into their lives. They were incredibly welcoming and generous. After dinner we had the opportunity to deepen friendships and faith with them, sharing laughs and memories. By the end of the night, I could only see God’s love in their eyes. They showed me what a true act of love and self-giving really is. One dinner after another, it was the same way.

I have served Totus Tuus for the past two summers in the Diocese of Winona. Each year is a different experience packed with joy, memories, struggles and faith. It was not the easiest summer, but fulfilling. I am not from the Diocese of Winona, but it has become a second home. My life has been blessed to be able to be a part of this welcoming Diocese.

Each year Totus Tuus sends teams to parishes all over the US. The Diocese of Winona has been blessed with energetic youth, and vibrant parishes. This year, Winona has sent two teams to travel across the Diocese as they teach about the Sorrowful Mysteries and Virtues. The Totus Tuus teams would not be able to function if it wasn’t for the generosity of the parishes and parishioners. Totus Tuus thanks all those who help make the summer possible for the teams.

Chris Stefanick is Bishop Quinn Bringing Reboot! continued from page 3 Live! to Mankato reconciling love.

We welcomed back Dr. Edward Sri as our keynote speaker and he did a wonderful job helping us understand how to rediscover the heart of discipleship through Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation. It was a blessed time of learning, prayer, collaborating and celebrating the Eucharist. I thank Todd Graff, our Director of the Office of Lay Formation, for orchestrating the event and all those who so willingly gave of their time and energy.

In the Diocese

gender matter very much indeed. In fact, God thought our bodies so good, that He deemed to sanctify it further by taking on that flesh Himself.

As Pope Francis reminds us, only together – male and female – can we image God. The sanctity of Marriage, between one man and one woman, is holy for the very fact that this covenant reflects God’s love to the world! It is not surprising that it is under such attack. When marriages are holy, set apart for God, the whole of society will be transformed for they will see the love of God in a profound way. Let us accept the gift of life that God has given to each one of us with a heart full of gratitude, whether woman or man. And let us continue to pray for the renewal of hearts and minds to the truth of God.

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Nationally known speaker Chris Stefanick is scheduled to bring Reboot! Live!, a multigenerational life-changing event to Mankato at Fitzgerald Middle School, 110 North 5th Street, September 30th, Most Rev. John M. Quinn 2015. Are you longing for more? And who isn't looking for something Bishop of Winona more? Do you want to experience your faith - and live your life more deeply? Then don't miss YOUR Reboot! Live! event. Draw closer to God, deepen your understanding of His plan for your life and gain a new passion to live the life God created for you. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of the Philadelphia Archdiocese has called Chris Stefanick "one of the most engaging young defenders of the Christian faith on the scene today."

Chris speaks to over 50,000 teens, young adults, and Prices starting at $2,699 ~ with Airfare Included in this price parents every year.

Prices are ALL-INCLUSIVE w/Airfare Venues he has spoken at include hundreds of high from anywhere in the continental USA school chastity assemblies and parish events, colleges (including Annapolis, Penn State and the US Air Several trips to different destinations: the Holy Land; Force Academy) and both national and international Italy; France, Portugal, & Spain; Poland; Medjugorje, events including the Steubenville Youth Conferences, National Catholic Youth Convention, FOCUS Lourdes, & Fatima; Ireland & Scotland; Austria, (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) National Germany, & Switzerland; Greece & Turkey; Camino Conference, the Knock, Ireland Youth Festival, and de Santiago; Viking Cruises; Budapest, Prague; etc... to 15,000 people at Manila's Real Love Revolution.

Chris was also invited to be a keynote speaker at We also specialize in custom trips for Bishops, World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain. Reboot! Live! is a multigenerational event for 6th grade - adults Priests, and Deacons. that is changing families and entire communities Call us 24/7 508-340-9370 throughout the nation! Don't wait! Tickets are sellwww.proximotravel.com 855-842-8001 ing fast! Limited tickets are available for sale for you, anthony@proximotravel.com Carmela Manago your family and friends at http://reallifecatholic.com/ carmela@proximotravel.com Executive Director reboot-live-participants/ Sincerely in Christ,

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week (July 19 - 25) Every year in July, we celebrate Natural Family Planning Awareness Week. The dates of this week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25), which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the general title for the scientific, natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies. NFP methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy.

Where contraception destroys God’s design by separating the unitive and procreative acts of the marital union, the methods of NFP respect the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) MADONNA TOWERS nature of the conjugal act, and • Independent Living support God's design for married • Assisted Living love. I encourage you to learn • Home Health more about this proven method.

• Memory Care • Skilled Nursing Care Center Ministry Days At the end of June, the priests, • Short-Term Rehabilitation deacons, religious, and laity of our Diocese came together at MADONNA MEADOWS our annual diocesan “Ministry • Assisted Living Days”. This year’s gathering was • Memory Care ~ available soon entitled: “The Joy of the Gospel” A Vision for Personal and Parish MADONNA TOWERS MADONNA MEADOWS Renewal. We had the opportunity 4001 19TH AVE NW 3035 SALEM MEADOWS DR to reflect upon the invitation of ROCHESTER, MN 5590 SWROCHESTER, MN 55902 Pope Francis to be “missionary PHONE (507) 288-3911 PHONE (507) 252-5400 disciples” to a world deeply www.madonnalivingcommunity.org in need of God’s healing and

mind, body and

spirit

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The Principles of Catholic Social Teaching Series: Principle 6: Solidarity

In the Diocese

by: members of the Diocese of Winona Social Concerns Committee

The sixth principle of Catholic Social Teaching is just a single word: solidarity. It seems simple enough – just one word. But think about it; what does solidarity really mean? It means recognizing that we all, every human being on earth, are one family, even though we aren't the same nationally, ethnically, economically or, especially, ideologically.

And, having recognized that, it means we will work to bring peace and justice, life and dignity, to each of our brothers and sisters on this planet. So, this one simple word carries an entire world of hope, or rather, hope for the entire world!

Like the other principles of Catholic Social Teaching, solidarity is rooted in Gospel teaching. In fact, solidarity may be the most Gospel-driven of all. After all, the incarnation, when Jesus became one of us, was the ultimate act of solidarity.

The Gospels make it clear that Jesus’ whole life was one of solidarity. The Hebrew word “anawim” means “those who are bowed down.”

They are the poor by any description you want to use – they are vulnerable, marginalized, voiceless and powerless, low on the socio-economic ladder and often invisible to the rest of us as well. The Gospels are full of stories about how Jesus related to the anawim, and in so doing he shows us how we are called to care for them ourselves. (Think

he writes in “Joy of the Gospel” that “the word ‘solidarity’ is a little worn and at times poorly understood, but it refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It presumes the creation of a new mindset which thinks of community and the priority of life of all over the appropriation of good by a few.” And, even more challenging, he says “. . . solidarity must be lived as the decision to resore to the poor what belongs to them.”

THE ITALY PILGRIMAGE Venice, Padua, Florence, Assisi, & Rome with Papal Audience & Optional visit to Pompeii $3499 per person from Mpls.

The low tour price includes airfare from Mpls, first-rate hotels, tour buses, guides, most meals, and all taxes, airline surcharges etc.

For a brochure & more information contact Fr. Steven Peterson at: (507) 583-2529 or Email: sjp4646@gmail.com

REGISTRATION CLOSES IN AUGUST 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 Mariano Varela IVE: Párroco de “SS. Peter and July, 2015 w The Courier

Paul” en Mankato. mvarela@ hickorytech.net Tel. 507-3882995 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

St. Pope John Paul II wrote often about solidarity, insisting that it isn’t just some feeling of compassion or distress at the misfortunes around us, but that it must be a “firm and perservering determination to commit oneself to the common good” - Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 1987

the Last Judgment found in Mt 25:31-46 and the Beatitudes found in Mt. 5: 3-12.) Jesus calls us to serve not those who are the most like us or those we feel deserve our care and compassion, but all who are in need.

St. Pope John Paul II wrote often about solidarity, insisting that it isn’t just some feeling of compassion or distress at the misfortunes around us, but that it must be a “firm and perservering determination to commit oneself to the common good” (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 1987). He was speaking to all of us when he told peasant farmers in Oaxaca, Mexico, that they had a right to help “which is neither a hand-out or a few crumbs of justice.”

Pope Francis calls for structural changes when

Solidarity isn’t just a personal action. Pope Paul VI called for a mutual effort to end the unequal distribution of the goods of the earth, describing a “duty of solidarity” that depends on nations as well as individuals. “World unity,” he wrote, “ever more effective, should allow all peoples to become the artisans of their destiny.”

Solidarity stands for the Church’s Gospelbased commitment to stand with the poor and to transform the structures that cause poverty. A call to conversion, it plunges us into the midst of the human community with our hands outstretched to the persons around us and our eyes opened to the ways that this must be made over, recreated by our actions.

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.

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.

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.

Action with Prayer St. Mary’s Church, Winona offers a Mass for Life and Marriage on the first Thursday of the month, at 5:15 p.m.

Regarding First Saturday Devotion, Our Lady appeared at Fatima in 1917 and requested what are now known as the First Saturday devotions to make reparation for blasphemies and offenses against her Immaculate Heart and for world peace.

“In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration…It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering.” - Pope Benedict XVI Prayer Vigil and Public Witness Against Abortion Semcac Clinic is a delegate of Planned Parenthood – the nation's leading abortion provider. Please consider joining a local group from 3-4 p.m. each Tuesday in front of Semcac at 62 E 3rd Street in Winona for an hour of prayer. Contact: Will Goodman 608-698-7443.

For events at Assisi Heights: www.rochesterfranciscan.org and click on “What’s Happening/ Events.” For more info, call Angie Grimm at 507280-2195 or: ahsc@rochesterfranciscan.org.

St. John the Baptist, Rural Adams will host its Annual Johnsburg Jamboree on Sunday, July 12. A Polka Mass is at 11 a.m. Food, beverages, games for all ages, brats & sauerkraut and homemade pies will be available. Two dance floors.

Free admission. Event ends at 7 p.m.

SUBMISSION for the calendar

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Please note: submission deadline is the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. All submissions must be sent electronically on our website: www.dowcourier.org or by emailing: Courier@dow.org and by the deadline in order to assure receipt and possible inclusion in the Events Calendar.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church, We thank you for understanding that due to space limitations, Litomysl not all events nor story submissions will fit; however, we strive to will host Litomysl Summer include as many as possible. Thank you! - Courier Staff Festival on Sunday, July 26. Polka Mass @ 10 a.m. Festival 11 a.m. to Job Openings 5 p.m. Fun, Food, Auction, Live M u s i c , Prizes Galore. Something for the Entire Family.

Kitchen Manager for the www.litomysl.webs.com.

Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe Crucifixion, La Crescent Father Greg Havel of Crucifixion parish in La Crescent will be celebrating 25 years of ordination on July 12. Mass at Crucifixion will be at 10:30am and followed by a reception in the Crucifixion School Auditorium.

Reboot! Live!, Mankato Reboot! Live!, a multigenerational life-changing event in Mankato at Fitzgerald Middle School, 110 North 5th Street, September 30.

Are you longing for more? And who isn't looking for something more? Do you want to experience your faith- and live your life- more deeply? Then don't miss YOUR Reboot! Live! event. Limited tickets are available for sale for you, your family and friends at http://reallifecatholic.com/reboot-live-participants/ Church of St. Michael, Pine Island Little Flowers Girls Summer Camp Many parishes across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis host Little Flowers Girls clubs. The Church of St. Michael in Pine Island will be hosting one of only three national Little Flowers Girls Summer Camps.

The cost for weekend camping, all activities and food is $50 per person. Join Little Flowers Girls and mothers from around the area to learn about saints and virtues, earn new badges, and spend time in prayer and have fun!

Who: Any Catholic girl ages 5+ and her mother. When: Check-in begins 3 p.m. on July 10.

Camp ends following 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, July 12. For more information or to register, go to Beholdpublications.com/ SummerCamps, e-mail joan@ beholdpublications.com, or call 866-305-8362

The Culina Mariana Café at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, WI, is seeking a co-manager with responsibility for managing the kitchen. Visit our website at www.guadalupeshrine.org for a full job description and application.

Events in the Diocese

Holy Hour of Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty Beginning in May, the monthly Holy Hour for Life, Marriage, and Religious Freedom in Winona will be held on the first Saturday of the month so those who take part in the Saturday Devotions can join us for the Holy Hour. Upcoming Holy Hours include July 4 and August 1 at 8:30 a.m. (after the 8 a.m. Mass) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona. The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and a beautiful rosary will be offered, along with prayer and reflection. Gather in the Adoration Chapel. Everyone is welcome.

Parish Events

Traditional Latin Mass Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul, first Saturday month, 9 a.m.

Rochester (Simpson), St. Bridget, first & 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

Please check The Courier online for access to more stories, photos, articles and events. Find them in the Only Online section of the website.

Masses of Reparation for Sins Many parishes throughout the diocese are committed to offer consolation to the Heart of Christ through a Mass of Reparation.

Please go online to dowcourier.org to see the complete Mass list.

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Laudato

Si,

cont'd from pg 2

population control, a proposed solution to problems stemming from poverty and maintaining a sustainable consumption of the earth’s resources.

“Instead of resolving the problems of the poor and thinking of how the world can be different, some can only propose a reduction in the birth rate,” Francis lamented. He denounced the fact that developing countries often receive pressure from international organizations who make economic assistance “contingent on certain policies of 'reproductive health.'”

Even though an unequal distribution of population and available resources presents obstacles to development and environmental sustainability, “it must nonetheless be recognized that demographic growth is fully compatible with an integral and shared development,” he stressed. To blame a growing population for these problems rather than the “extreme and selective consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues.” Such scapegoating “is an attempt to legitimize the present model of distribution, where a minority believes that it has the right to consume in a way which can never be universalized, since the planet could not even contain the waste products of such consumption,” the Pope said, calling for an end to food waste.

Francis also rejected some ecological movements’ discontinuity in calling for limitations to be placed on environmental scientific research, while at the same time failing to apply the same principals to human life. As an example, he noted that within science, there is “a tendency to justify transgressing all boundaries when experimentation is carried out on living human embryos.” “We forget that the inalienable worth of a human being transcends his or her degree of development,” he said, adding that once technology disregards ethical principles, “it ends up considering any practice whatsoever as licit.”

“When we fail to acknowledge as part of reality the worth of a poor person, a human embryo, a person with disabilities – to offer just a few examples – it becomes difficult to hear the cry of nature itself; everything is connected.”

Once the human being seeks absolute dominion, the foundations of our life

• The Courier

Check Out Ordination

photos on Page 4!

“begin to crumble,” the Pope said, so that instead of cooperating with God, man puts himself in God’s place “and thus ends up provoking a rebellion on the part of nature.”

In the encyclical, Pope Francis also spoke of the importance of accepting and caring for one’s body, since it is through the body that man relates to the environment and to other living things. He cautioned against seeking to exercise “absolute power” over our bodies as if they were something that we own, saying that “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Accepting and caring for our bodies in their truest nature is essential for human ecology, he said, and stressed that this acceptance includes “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity.”

In acknowledging differences, “we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment,” the Pope observed. An attitude which seeks “to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it” is unhealthy, he said. The pontiff also pointed to the important role families play in educating on a true integral human and environmental ecology since they are the place where life is welcomed and protected, and where human growth is developed.

“In the face of the so-called culture of death, the family is the heart of the culture of life,” he said. Family life is where children first learn how “to show love and respect for life; we are taught the proper use of things, order and cleanliness, respect for the local ecosystem and care for all creatures,” as well as how to be grateful for what they’ve been given and to ask for forgiveness when they’ve caused harm, he explained.

“These simple gestures of heartfelt courtesy help to create a culture of shared life and respect for our surroundings.”

Are you or a loved one experiencing same sex attraction and looking for answers?

Diocese of Winona Office of Life, Marriage & Family 55 West Sanborn Street Winona, Minnesota 55987 (507) 858- 1264 E-mail: courage@dow.org

EnCourage -- a ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions -- is also available. Chapters are active and meeting monthly. Contact us for information!