Diocesan Headlines

University of Wyoming. Harris is looking forward to life in Minnesota and making her home in Winona.

Catholic Charities serves the 20 southernmost counties of Minnesota, spanning the territory from the Mississippi River to the South Dakota border. With a mission to serve the poor and vulnerable, the marginalized, the alienated, and the stranger, Catholic Charities’ staff and volunteers serve people without regard to religion, race, gender, or ability to pay. Offices are located in Winona, Rochester, Mankato, Worthington, Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna. For more information, please visit its website - www.ccsomnorg. Sheila Collom is the director of administration services for Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. In the Diocese Director, cont'd from pg. 1

Marta Portillo to Speak on St. Oscar Romero

By LISA KREMER �uring the season of Lent, and as we approach the 40th anniversary of the death of St. Oscar Romero on March 24, the Diocesan Social Concerns Committee and Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota are pleased to host special opportunities to learn more about St. Romero from a person who knew him and worked with him.

Marta Portillo, a resident of our diocese, was a catechist with Oscar Romero in El Salvador in the late 1970s until his death in 1980. She will share with the audience her experiences and how she interacted with Romero and the people of El Salvador during very turbulent times.

All are invited to attend any of the following presentations throughout the diocese:

Wednesday, March 4 - 6:15 p.m. - The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Rochester Monday, March 9 - 7 p.m. - Our Lady of Good Counsel in Mankato Wednesday, March 11 - 7 p.m. - The Church of St. Leo in Pipestone Sunday, March 15 - 2 p.m. - The Church of St. Joseph in Owatonna Friday, March 20 - 7 p.m. - The Church of St. John Vianney in Fairmont

Saturday, March 21 - 10 a.m. - The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona Please contact the individual churches or Parish Social Ministry Director Tom Parlin at Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota for detailed information. Tom can be reached at tparlin@ccsomn.org or 507-454-2270 ext. 246. Lisa Kremer is a parish social ministry coordinator for Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota.

Thank You!

Atthe conclusion of the 2019 Cath olic Ministries Appeal, the following parishes had met their goals:

All Saints New Richland Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka Winona Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Winona Christ the King Byron Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Rochester Good Shepherd Jackson Holy Family Kasson Holy Family Lake Crystal Holy Redeemer Eyota Holy Spirit Rochester Holy Trinity Rollingstone Immaculate Conception Kellogg Immaculate Conception St. Clair Pax Christi Rochester Queen of Angels Austin Resurrection Rochester Sacred Heart Adams Sacred Heart Heron Lake Sacred Heart Waseca Ss. Peter & Paul Blue Earth Ss. Peter & Paul Mazeppa St. Agnes Kellogg St. Ann Janesville St. Ann Slayton St. Anthony Lismore St. Anthony Westbrook St. Casimir Winona St. Charles Borromeo St. Charles St. Columba Iona St. Columban Preston St. Finbarr Grand Meadow St. Francis of Assisi Rochester St. Ignatius Spring Valley St. Joachim Plainview St. John Baptist de La Salle Dodge Center St. Joseph Lakefield St. Joseph Waldorf St. Leo Pipestone St. Luke Sherburn

St. Mary Chatfield St. Mary Lake Wilson St. Patrick Brownsville St. Patrick LeRoy St. Patrick West Albany St. Peter Hokah St. Pius X Rochester St. Rose of Lima Lewiston

Do You See the Gifts Around You?

By JEANETTE FORTIER

n December 12, 2019, I was honored to be one of 13 people to receive Rochester Mayor Kim Norton’s Medal of Honor Award. I was nominated by staff from Madonna Towers for services to the elderly.

When I saw the video of the event, my first thought was maybe the award was meant for an old person who shares with other old people! I was greatly humbled to receive it... to get an award for something you love to do... singing brings such joy to my life! When I heard what the other 12 recipients have done, I didn’t think I was a worthy nominee. The medal and certificate sit on a shelf in my living room. When I look at it, I reflect on the people God has put in my life who encouraged and supported me not only in music but in my work with the Council of Catholic Women. Go back and look at the phrase, “the people God has put in my life.”

A few days later, while attending Mass at Assisi Heights, Fr. Steven, who presided, told us he had asked a group of college students who they admired, who was an influence in their life. The members of the class who were Christian spoke of many people: athletes, actors, singers. Several of the Muslim students said Mohamed. So what do you think it is that makes us baptized people of faith not respond with “God” to that question? It happened to me! After the award ceremony, an interviewer from KIMT TV asked why I volunteer to sing. Caught off guard, I responded that I wondered who will sing for me when I am old and in nursing care. I want to take those words back.

What I really wanted to say was, “God has given me a special talent, and I want to share it with others and bring them joy.”

I’d like to extend an invitation to you to join the Council of Catholic Women for their spring meeting on Saturday, April 25, at Sacred Heart Church in Brewster. The day begins with a light breakfast at 8 a.m., and the meeting starts at 9. We will conclude by 2:30 p.m. Come because you want to see and be surrounded by the gifted people God will put in your life that day. And who knows what person God has chosen for you to be a gift to!

I practice singing in the shower most mornings. If these interviews are going to keep happening, I’ll have to practice my interview skills there too. For being prompted by the Holy Spirit to read this article, I thank you. God has given you as a gift to me. Jeanette Fortier is the president of the WinonaRochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

The Courier Crossword

By W.R. CHESTER Across 4. First Gospel 6. Following prin- ciples of valid reasoning 8. Ecclesiastical coat of arms 9. Object which rested on top of the Ark of the Covenant 10. Verbal index of the Bible 16. March 25 17. Great pope 18. King's Men 21. First man standing 24. Gave up a fortune to save the mar- ginalized 25. Latin for lamb 28. First part of a Holy Land under- standing 29. DOW-R Ordinary 30. Ego ___. 31. Struck a decisive blow against Druidism 32. St. Cyril was ban- ished three times from this see. 5. Holy Spirit symbol 7. Daughter of the first Count of Luxembourg 9. A distinct syllable for each note 11. Friday fish fry origins 12. Theology for the care of souls 13. __ to Joseph... 14. Shares a feast day with Felicity 15. Color of penance 19. Tolkien's liter- ary discussion group 20. Brief lenten celebration 22. Corporal con- tainer 23. Form of a candle 24. DenzingerSch �nmetzer 26. A defect Nathanael was without 27. Outer vestment

^^^ Last Month's Answers ^^^

Sister Francis Clare Schares, SSND, 94, professed in 1945, died January 20, 2020, in Notre Dame Health Care, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mankato.

A native of Gilbertville, IA, she graduated from Good Counsel Academy in Mankato in 1942. She entered the SSND Candidature that same year and professed first vows in 1945. She was first an elementary and secondary grade teacher in several Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota Catholic schools. In the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, she taught at St. Felix, Wabasha (1945-48); St. Anthony, Lismore (1951- 59); Mankato Loyola (1967-71); and St. Casimir, Wells (1976-77). She then began full-time ministry in the charismatic renewal movement, first in the Diocese of New Ulm, and then in a free-lance position based at St. Rita Convent, West Allis, WI. She returned to Mankato in 2003.

Sister Francis Clare is survived by her nieces and nephews and their families; her friends, colleagues and former students; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Clara (Mangrich) Schares; her sisters, Delores Frost, Adeline Gibbons and Mary Frost; and her brothers, Gene, Ray, Vince, Leo and Alvin.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated January 27 at Good Counsel, with Fr. Gene Stenzel as presider. Obituaries 15 In the Diocese

Down 1. Color of Our Lady 2. El Greco 3. Chastity Project speaker 4. Your word is a lamp to __ feet...