The
COURIER
Ascension of Our Lord May 13
May 2018
Vessels of Grace
Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester, MN
"Complete Success" IHM Seminary Hosts 15th Bishops and Rector Dinner By SUSAN FISER
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his year’s Bishops and Rector Dinner was a joyful gathering for members and supporters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona. The dinner, held on April 22, celebrated IHM’s 70th anniversary and marked the completion of extensive renovations to the seminary. Organized by the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota, the dinner was also a recognition of the work of Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. At the event, Archbishop Hebda was awarded the Immaculate Heart of Mary Award by Most Rev. John M. Quinn and IHM Rector Fr. Robert Horihan.
MANKATO--On April 25, the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, in the chapel of Loyola High School in Mankato, Bishop John M. Quinn celebrated a Baccalaureate Mass with graduating seniors from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester's four Catholic high schools: Loyola in Mankato, Pacelli in Austin, Lourdes in Rochester, and Cotter in Winona. Concelebrants
included Fr. James Berning, Fr. Peter Schuster, Msgr. Thomas Cook, Fr. Raul Silva, Fr. Robert Schneider, Fr. Timothy Reker, Fr. John Kunz, Fr. Javier Ibarra and Fr. Paul van de Crommert, representing all four school communities. In his homily, Bishop Quinn recalled a realization he had one morning while microwaving a bowl of oatmeal.
Vessels, cont'd on pg. 9
(L to R) Bishop John Quinn, Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Fr. Robert Horihan
Dinner, cont'd on pg. 5
INSIDE this issue
...The Church Needs to Hear Your Voice page 2
Bringing Men Closer to Christ page 6
We Are All Responsible for Helping the Poor page 12
Articles of Interest
Pope Francis Watch
Bringing Men Closer to Christ_____________6
2
Sent on Mission by the Holy Spirit__________7 Catholic Schools Updates__________________8
The Courier Insider
On Annulments___________________________10 Now Is the Time to Live for Christ____________11 We Are All Responsible for Helping the Poor_12 ...Leave the Money on the Table_____________13 Hope for Your Future...___________________14 Diocesan Headlines_______________________15 Diocesan Calendar_________________________16
Pope to Youth: The Church Needs to Hear Your Voice
By ELISE HARRIS
ROME, Apr. 8, 2017 (CNA/EWTN News)-Pope Francis held a special prayer vigil in anticipation of World Youth Day and the 2018 Synod of Bishops, telling youth that they are the voice of the future, and, as such, have something to say to the entire Church, including to himself and the bishops. In his April 8 speech, the Pope noted how the prayer vigil marked the “doublebeginning” of the 2018 Synod of Bishops on “Faith, Young People and the Discernment
of Vocation,” as well as the upcoming 2019 global World Youth Day encounter in Panama. The journey of WYD is being taken from “Krakow to Panama, and in the middle the synod,” he said, explaining that the synod is an event “from which no young person should feel excluded.” “We are holding this synod for Catholic youth, but also youth who come from Catholic associations, so then it’s stronger?
The Holy Father's Intention for
May 2018
The Mission of Laity That the lay faithful may fulfill their specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.
Vist www.dow.org for online access to:
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The Courier TV Mass Diocesan News Our Events Calendar and more!
Youth, cont'd on pg. 4
Child Abuse Policy Information The Diocese of Winona-Rochester will provide a prompt, appropriate and compassionate response to reporters of sexual abuse of a child by any diocesan agent (employees, volunteers, vendors, religious or clergy). Anyone wishing to make a report of an allegation of sexual abuse should call the Victim Assistance Coordinator at 507-4542270, 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-Rochester 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 WinonaRochester’s implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please contact Mary Hamann at 507-858-1244, or mhamann@dow.org. The Courier is the official publication of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester 55 West Sanborn, P.O. Box 588, Winona, MN 55987 Vol 109 - 5
Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Publisher Nick Reller, Associate Editor
Telephone: 507-858-1257 Fax:507-454-8106 E-mail: nreller@dow.org Subscription Rates: $5 per year in the U.S. Parishioners in the diocese subscribe through their parish. Periodicals postage paid at Slayton, MN Postmaster.
Publishing Schedule: Monthly - Deadline for advertising & articles is the 10th of the month prior. (ISSN 0744-5490)
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May is for Our Mother ear Friends in Christ,
Mary, Our Mother and Mother of the Church
In our Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. When Jesus Christ was on the cross, He gave us His mother to be our mother as well, and she is always interceding for us and ready to come to our aid. This month is a wonderful time to show our love and devotion to her, and ask her to bring us closer to Our Lord, her Son Jesus Christ. From May crownings to praying the rosary, there are many ways to honor Mary this month and beyond. The Blessed Virgin is not only the mother of all individual Christians, but she is also mother
Rejoice in Hope Bishop John M. Quinn Bishop's Calendar
of the entire Church, the Body of Christ. This is why one of Mary’s many titles is “Mother of the Church.” In order to highlight this maternal dimension of our Blessed Mother’s role in the Church, and foster devotion to her under this title, Pope Francis recently added the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church to the general Church calendar. This feast day will be celebrated the Monday after Pentecost, this year May 21. This new memorial reminds us of our Blessed Mother’s central role in the life of the Church, and how she is a mother who desires to lead all people to Christ and His Church. First Communions
During this Easter Season, we rejoice with all those in our parishes who will be receiving Our Lord for the first time in the Most Holy Eucharist, at their First Communion. This is always a special and joyful occasion for children and their families, as they celebrate receiving Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, for the first time. For those of us who received our First Communion many years ago, this is a wonderful opportunity to renew our faith in the Holy Eucharist, and to come to more deeply appreciate how Christ gives Himself to us at every Mass under the form of bread and wine. Let us not take this precious gift for granted! May we who are privileged to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion always be mindful of the great love Christ has for us, and may we always desire and seek to receive Him worthily and reverently.
May 1, Tuesday 3:30-7:15 p.m. - Final Exams, IHM Seminary
May 2, Wednesday 9:45-11:45 a.m. - Final Exams, IHM Seminary 7 p.m. - Confirmation at St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Charles; with St. Aloysius Church, Elba; and Holy Redeemer Church, Eyota May 3, Thursday 1 p.m. - Holy Hour 2 p.m. - Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting May 4, Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. - Final Exams, SMU Campus 7 p.m. - Confirmation at Sacred Heart Church, Owatonna, with Holy Trinity Church, Litomysl May 5, Saturday 10 a.m. - Confirmation at St. Joseph Church, Owatonna, with Christ the King Church, Medford 6 p.m. - Dinner & End of Semester Skits - IHM Seminary, Winona May 6, Sunday 10 a.m. - Confirmation at Sacred Heart Church, Waseca 1 p.m. - Mass with Inmates at Waseca Federal Correctional Facility May 7, Monday 5-8:45 p.m. - Final Exams, IHM Seminary May 9, Wednesday 7 p.m. - Confirmation at St. Felix Church, Wabasha, with St. Agnes Church, Kellogg
Placuit Deo: On Christian Salvation On February 22, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued Placuit Deo (It Pleases God), a letter to all bishops on certain aspects of Christian salvation. The letter outlines some of the common modern misconceptions regarding salvation, and goes on to clarify the proper understanding of salvation, particularly the necessity and absolute centrality of Jesus Christ and His Church. Placuit Deo first identifies two ancient heresies, Pelagianism and Gnosticism, which arose in the early centuries of the Church, and which have appeared in new forms in our modern world. These tendencies of “neo-Pelagianism” and “neo-Gnosticism” distort the truth about salvation and lead people to seek salvation outside of Jesus Christ and His Church. Neo-Pelagianism ignores the existence of original sin and our need for God’s grace. Instead, the human person is seen as capable of attaining salvation on his own. In this worldview, Christ might be a wise teacher, but ultimately each individual is thought to be able to save himself through his own good works. Thus, neoPelagianism leads us to trust in ourselves and our human structures and organizations, relying on our human strength rather than on the grace offered to us through Christ and His Church Neo-Gnosticism, on the other hand, sees the material world, including the body, as evil and, “presumes to liberate the human person from the body and from the material universe” (Placuit Deo 3). It ignores the fact that
May 10, Thursday 9:30 a.m. - Holy Half Hour 10 a.m. - Priest Pension Plan Board Meeting 6 p.m. - End of Year Faculty & Staff Dinner SMU, Winona May 11, Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. - Presbyteral Gathering Resurrection Church, Rochester 3 p.m. - Clergy Personnel Board Meeting Resurrection Church, Rochester
May 12, Saturday 8:30 a.m. - SMU Baccalaureate Mass - St. Thomas More Chapel, Winona Campus 11 a.m. - SMU Commencement Ceremony Toner Center Gym May 13, Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Confirmation at Christ the King Church, Byron, with Holy Family Church, Kasson May 15, Tuesday 11 a.m. - Holy Hour & Presbyteral Council Meeting - St. Theodore, Albert Lea May 16, Wednesday 11 a.m. - Mass - IHM Seminary Formation Workshop Week - Winona 7 p.m. - Confirmation at St. Ann Church, Janesville; with St. Joseph Church, Waldorf; All Saints Church, New Richland; Immaculate Conception Church, St. Clair; and All Saints Church, Madison Lake
“salvation… consists in our incorporation into [Christ’s] life” (11), who came to save us in our entire humanity, both body and soul. To counter these two erroneous understandings of salvation, Placuit Deo re-presents the timeless truth that salvation only comes through Jesus Christ and, far from being an individual, subjective, and intellectual experience, “consists in our union with Christ” (4). Furthermore, it is through the Church and her Sacraments that we are incorporated into this life of communion with Christ and the Triune God. This salvation, “contrary to being a liberation from the body, also includes its sanctification” (14), and is a, “total salvation… the final destiny to which God calls all of humanity” (15). This salvation offered by Christ is more glorious than anything we can imagine, and gives us hope beyond the limited confines of this world. In this Easter season, may we share the joyful news of His salvation to all we meet. Ordinations
This June, our diocese has reason for great rejoicing as we celebrate ordinations both to the transitional diaconate and to the presbyterate. On Sunday, June 3, the Feast of Corpus Christi, I will ordain seminarian Matt Wagner to the transitional diaconate, one of the final steps on the path to ordination to the priesthood. Later that same week, on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, this year June 8, I will ordain two new priests for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.
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Deacon Thé Hoang and Deacon Brian Mulligan recently completed their final year of seminary at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and we are blessed that they will soon be ministering as priests here in southern Minnesota. Both of these ordinations will be at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, and all are welcome to attend these celebrations. Please join me and our whole diocesan family in rejoicing at the ordination of a new deacon and two new priests! The Lord continues to call men to the priesthood, and it is important for us to pray for an increase of men who are willing to say yes to the Lord’s call. If you know of any men who you think the Lord may be calling to the priesthood, don’t be afraid to encourage them to consider that vocation and to follow the Lord’s plan for their lives. Let us pray that the Lord will provide an abundance of good, holy priests for the Diocese of WinonaRochester, who are filled with love for the Lord and His people!
From the Bishop
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Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona-Rochester
May 17, Thursday 11 a.m. - Mass for Consecrated Life and Luncheon - Alverna Center, Winona
May 24, Thursday 1 p.m. - Holy Hour 2 p.m. - Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting
May 18, Friday 6 p.m. - Confirmation at Ss. Peter & Paul Church, Mankato; with St. Joseph the Worker Church, Mankato; and Holy Family Church, Lake Crystal
May 31, Thursday 11 a.m. - Mass & Lunch with Poor Clare Sisters - Assisi Heights, Rochester
May 19, Saturday 7 p.m. - Pentecost Vigil Mass - Pax Christi, Rochester May 20, Sunday 2 p.m. - Confirmation at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona; with St. Casimir Church, Winona; Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka, Winona; St. John Nepomucene Church, Winona; St. Mary Church, Winona; Holy Trinity Church, Rollingstone; St. Paul Church, Minnesota City; and St. Mary Church, Minneiska 7 p.m. - Loyola Schools Graduation Ceremony, Mankato May 22, Tuesday 11 a.m. - Mass - DOW-R Priest Retreat - Alverna Center, Winona 1 p.m. - IHM Seminary Faculty Meeting 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. - St. John’s Bible Blessing & Gathering - St. Anne’s Health Care, Winona May 23, Wednesday 11:30 a.m. - Holy Hour & DOW-R Finance Council Meeting, Winona
June 1, Friday 7:30 p.m. - Lourdes High School Commencement Ceremony - Lourdes Gym, Rochester June 2, Saturday 1 p.m. - Blessing of Convent and Lunch with the Servants of the Lord & Virgin of Matara Mother Theodor Convent, Mankato June 3, Sunday 3 p.m. - Ordination of Deacon - Matthew Wagner - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona June 4, Monday 5:30 p.m. - Premier Bank Golf Day Dinner Owatonna Country Club, Owatonna June 6, Wednesday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Minnesota Catholic Conference Meeting - St. Paul June 7, Thursday DOW-R Ministry Days - SMU, Winona June 8, Friday DOW-R Ministry Days - SMU, Winona 2 p.m. - Presbyteral Ordinations of Deacon Thé Hoang and Deacon Brian Mulligan - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona
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Youth,
4 cont'd from pg. 2 No. This synod is a synod for all youth!” “Young people are the protagonists,” he said, explaining that this includes agnostics, those who are far from the Church or struggle with their faith, and even those who consider themselves to be atheists. The synod, he stressed, “is a synod for youth, and we all want to hear you. Every young person has something to say to others, has something to say to adults, to priests, to sisters, to bishops and to the Pope! We all need to listen to you.” Coming on the heels of the 2014-2015 Synod on the Family, the next Synod of Bishops will be held in 2018 and is dedicated primarily to themes surrounding the youth and the struggles they face in contemporary society. Held at the Roman basilica of Saint Mary Major, the Pope’s prayer vigil takes place ahead of tomorrow’s World Youth Day, titled “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name,” and which is the first step in preparing for the global 2019 encounter in Panama. Hosted by the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops and the Vatican office for Laity, Family and Life, the vigil included songs and scripture readings, as well as the testimonies of some youth from the Rome and Lazio regions. After hearing the testimonies of Alcantarine Franciscan nun Sr. Marialisa, 30, who shared the story of finding her vocation, and of 23-year-old Pompeo Barbieri, who was paralyzed at the age of 8 after surviving an earthquake in Puglia in 2002, the Pope stressed the need for youth to be active players in the process. Recalling what he told youth during the 2016 International WYD in Krakow, Francis said that “it’s terrible to see a young person ready to go into retirement at the age of 20. It’s terrible. And it’s terrible to see young people who spend their lives on their couch.” What is needed instead are young people
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who walk, who go out on the street and “move forward beside others, but looking toward the future.” He pointed to the Gospel read during the encounter, which recounted how Mary “went in haste” to her cousin Elizabeth after learning that she was pregnant in her old age. Like Mary, “the world today needs young people that go with haste, who don’t get tired of going with haste. Of young people who have that vocation of feeling that for them, life offers a mission,” he said. As he frequently has in the past, the Pope emphasized the importance of experiencing life as a journey, saying that the world and the Church need youth who participate in this journey and who are engaged in the process. “But what drama there is in the world today,” he said, noting that unfortunately, today “young people are often discarded; they don’t have work, they aren’t given an ideal for their lives, they don’t have education, they lack integration. Many are forced to flee and live as refugees in other lands.” “It’s hard to say this, but often times young people are treated as garbage,” he said, explaining that the goal of the synod is to show the world that “young people are here. We are going to Panama to say that we are here, on a journey, we don’t want to be garbage, we have value to give." However, participating in the journey involves risks and the possibility of making mistakes, he said, but cautioned that if a young person doesn’t take risks, “they have grown old. We must take risks.” Pointing to how Sr. Marialisa in her testimony said that she had quit going to church after receiving the sacrament of Confirmation, Pope Francis noted that in Italy the sacrament is frequently called the sacrament of “Arrivederci,” meaning “goodbye,” since youth typically stop attending church after. Part of the reason for this, Francis said, is because many youth don’t know what to do after Confirmation. However, he noted that in her testimony, Sr. Marialisa, during journey to discovering her vocation, never stopped, even
when she went astray, and wasn’t afraid to take risks in trying new things. “You must prepare the future, the future is in your hands,” he told the youth, explaining that not only those who are organizing the synod, but “the entire Church wants to hear from youth what they think, what they want, what they feel, what they criticize and what they are most drawn to. Everything.” “The Church still needs a spring, and spring is the season of youth,” he said, and invited the youth to begin the journey without fear or shame, but with courage. Francis noted that many times in life we spend a lot of time asking the question “who am I?” and in the end, we can “spend a lifetime” contemplating the answer. However, the real question we have to ask ourselves, he said, is “for whom am I?” Just as Mary was able to ask that question, discern that in that moment she was asked to go to her cousin and went, youth today must also ask this question, the Pope said, explaining that this is a task that will give them work for their entire lives. It’s a task “that makes you think, makes you feel, makes you work,” he said, and stressed the importance of knowing how to speak the “three languages: the language of the head, of the heart and of the hands. And to go forward.” The synod, he said, is not just a “parlor” to hang out at, and it’s not “just a circus or party for people to come together to speak,” but is rather a place to find “concreteness,” because “in this liquid society, concreteness is needed. And concreteness is your vocation.” Pope Francis closed his speech by emphasizing to youth, as he often has, the importance of speaking with the grandparents, saying this “bridge of dialogue” between elderly and youth is needed today “more than ever,” because even the elderly still have dreams. He closed saying that while he doesn’t know if he will be the Pope to meet them in Panama in 2019, “there will be a Pope there and he will ask you if you took time to speak to the elderly, to listen to their dreams, so you can concretely act as prophets in the world today!”
Monica Herman
Executive Director Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota mherman@catholicfsmn.org
cont'd from pg. 1 “The 2018 Bishops and Rector Dinner was a complete success,” said Bishop Quinn. “People were filled with enthusiasm.” This year's festivities included an open house of the newly renovated Kelly Hall, along with the social gathering and dinner at the Toner Center on the campus of St. Mary's University. The open house showcased the addition of new lounge and gathering spaces, a new entry area with an elevator to all levels, and new music and art rooms. Refurbishing the chapel was also a major part of the renovation. “The formation program is the reason for the renovation,” said Bishop Quinn, “so the seminary can concentrate on forming men of faith, generosity and virtue, who serve God’s people.” Other newly completed projects include replacing the heating and cooling units, updating plumbing throughout the building, remodeling the kitchen and removing any materials containing asbestos, among many other small-scale updating and restoration projects. “I was honestly surprised by the level of interest people had consistently throughout the day,” Fr. Horihan said, adding that he believed there would be some interest in the renovations, but was not anticipating the number of people, nearly all of the 360 dinner guests, who stopped by for a tour.
Guests received renovation tours from IHM seminarians.
The social gathering and dinner were held in St. Mary's University's Toner Center.
After open house tours, guests were directed to the Toner Center for a social hour. They were joined by the current seminarians to get to know them better, and to give the seminarians an opportunity to meet the people who had supported them in their thoughts, prayers and contributions. Because of the limited space at the Toner Center, all of the available seating was filled, adding to the atmosphere of community. Presented with exceptional food, wonderful company, and a look at how their contributions had affected the lives of IHM's 42 current seminarians (and many to come), guests found much to celebrate. “I think [the seminarians] realized how important the formation of priesthood is to the people of God,” said Vice Rector Fr. Martin Schaefer, “[and] that even if a man does not become a priest, it stays with him throughout his life.” The lifelong connection between IHM and its students shined through the music at the event, with alumnus David Zimmerman playing the piano for the social hour, and with the dinner showcasing alumni in the Sacred Heart Folk Band, which comprised both members who have discerned to priesthood and laymen. David Kruse and Matt Wagner, who headed the band, both now attend Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and Matt will be ordained a deacon this summer. The other members of the band were laymen David Zimmerman and Chad Cagle. “There were a lot of alumni,” said Fr. Schaefer, “both priests and lay people. It really showed how many people this place has affected.” Other guests included a significant number of priests from around the diocese as well as bishops from around the region, including the Most Rev. Donald Kettler from the Diocese of Saint Cloud and Bishop Emeritus Bernard Harrington of the Diocese of WinonaRochester. This year’s event drew a lot of attention from people interested in the renovation project, who had not attended in the past. This year’s event also saw a
Catholic Foundation
Dinner,
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number of parishes buying tables so that parishioners could attend. The Mankato parishes even brought a bus full of people for their two-and-a-half-hour drive. All of the festivities led up to the awarding of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Award to Archbishop Hebda. Archbishop Hebda took the stage to talk about the importance of supporting vocations in his speech, “The Importance of Nurturing Vocations,” though he acknowledged that talking about this topic to everyone there was “like talking about the importance of kale to a dietitian.” As Archbishop Hebda spoke to the packed room, filled with seminarians, alumni, friends and family, and those who wished to support the formation of good men of faith, the confirmation of what he was talking about was clear. “People love meeting the seminarians,” said Bishop Quinn. “[The seminarians] are their future priests.” The support, not only from those able to attend the dinner, but from all of the people of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and beyond, has made the creation and existence of IHM seminary possible for 70 years. The Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota invites everyone to save the date for next year’s Bishops and Rector Dinner: April 12, 2019. The dinner will be held in Rochester at the International Event Center. Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, will be the featured presenter and recipient of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Award.
Susan Fiser is a communications and development associate for the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota.
Congratulations! Since our last printing, the following parishes have met their goals for the 2018 Catholic Ministries Appeal: St. Columba Parish Iona
St. Joseph Parish Lakefield
St. John Nepomucene Parish Winona
St. Patrick Parish West Albany
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Life, Marriage & Family
6
Bringing Men
Closer to Christ
�he third annual Men’s Conference was held once again at Lourdes High School in Rochester on Saturday,
April 7. Men from all over the Diocese of WinonaRochester were blessed to hear the powerful witness of Jason Angelette who encouraged them to become the Man that God has called them to be. His witness to
Peter Martin
Director of Faith Formation and Life, Marriage & Family pmartin@dow.org
the men will not easily be forgotten. His wife, Elise, has been battling cancer for over four years, and they, along with their five young children, trust fully in the Lord to help them bear this cross. Being a Man of God in this day is not easy, and so the men in attendance were all encouraged to
strengthen each other by either joining or starting a men’s group. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester aims to have a men’s group in every parish of the diocese so that men can be inspired to fulfill their vocation to holiness by becoming disciples of Jesus Christ along with other holy men. The men who attended the conference left the campus with a great deal of gratitude for time spent growing closer to Christ through the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Adoration, as well as time spent with Bishop Quinn who was with us all day. Of course, as always, men are always appreciative of being together with other faith-filled men throughout the diocese. We are grateful to God for the success of another Men’s Conference!
Humanae Vitae Celebrating 50 Years
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his is the second installment of a series of articles to celebrate the upcoming 50th anniversary of the encyclical On Human Life (Humanae Vitae) by Blessed Pope Paul VI. Humanae Vitae will forever be known as the encyclical against contraception. George Weigel notes, “Many Catholics claim to disagree with what is in Humanae Vitae, but few have read it.” In the first article, I pointed out how Blessed Pope Paul VI had prophesied a number of negative effects that would follow if contraception were to become mainstream (an increase in marital infidelity, a general lowering of moral standards, lack of reverence due to a woman, cf. HV, 17). I will let the reader determine for him/herself as to whether or not some (or all) of these predictions have come true. Humanae Vitae, although mostly about the transmission of human life, speaks beautifully about the great dignity men and women are endowed with. The recognition of the person as a whole who is made by love and made for love is followed through to its logical conclu-
sion. If husband and wife profess their love to one another, it means that they desire to give themselves to one another. When they make of themselves a total gift to one another, they can hold nothing back. When it comes to husband and wife, this means they include even their fertility. To suppress one’s fertility (by use of contraceptives) is to diminish the gift of one’s self and reduces not only their love, but the very essence of who they are! Rene Descartes, with his “I think therefore I am," introduced the theory that essentially our mind is what makes us who we are, and so we can do with our bodies whatever we wish because it is not really the essential part of who we are. But to separate our bodies from our minds is to eliminate a major part of who we are! We have been given a gift of being embodied persons and to lessen that gift is to deny who we truly are. Far from being against sex, Humanae Vitae safeguards sexual intimacy and the spouses from being diminished to an object of use. The Catholic Church and Blessed Paul VI condemn contraception because they are for the dignity of human life and know the greatness that human love was made for: to share in and reflect the love of the God to the world.
Sent on Mission by the Holy Spirit Pentecost Vigil Mass
Todd Graff
Director of Lay Formation & RCIA tgraff@dow.org
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-Blessed Pope Paul VI, General Audience, 11/29/1972
" ome, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.” So begins a prayer that many of us learned in our childhood and hopefully continue to pray on a regular basis. For the past several columns, I have focused on the teaching of our U.S. Catholic Bishops in their recent statement, Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization. We have examined the method the bishops propose for forming “missionary disciples”: Encounter, Accompany, Community, Send on Mission. After describing this method, the bishops affirm that it is ultimately the Holy Spirit who brings this method and this mission of evangelization to life. We, as disciples and followers of Christ, are sent by him “in and through the Holy Spirit into the world as missionaries of faith, hope, and charity” (p. 18). To strengthen and guide us in this mission to bring “faith, hope, and charity” into our daily experiences and encounters, “complete trust in the work of the Holy Spirit is essential” (p. 18). In the coming weeks, our diocesan church is providing opportunities for prayer and worship, for reflection and conversation, and for education and formation centered on our Spirit-filled mission. I describe each of these below, and I invite you to consider your participation.
Ministry Days 2018
Our diocesan Ministry Days 2018, A Church on Fire ~ A Church on Mission: ‘Living As Missionary Disciples,' is scheduled for Thursday, June 7 - Friday, June 8, at Saint Mary’s University in Winona. The theme for this year’s gathering relates to the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ statement, Living as Missionary Disciples (as referenced above), and to last summer’s U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Convocation of Catholic Leaders, with its theme, The Joy of the Gospel in America. The convocation gathered church leaders from Catholic organizations and dioceses across the country “for a strategic conversation … on forming missionary disciples to animate the Church and engage the culture.” Our speakers for this year’s Ministry Days will be from our own diocese, including some of the members of our diocesan delegation who participated in the convocation. We will seek to explore and discuss how we can live out, in our diocese, Pope Francis’ call to be “a community of missionary disciples … permanently in a state of mission.”
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As I described in last month’s column, our diocese is now recruiting the seventh class of the Institute of Lay Formation, to begin its formation this coming fall. The Institute is "a program and process of prayer, study, and reflection on the Catholic Faith, on the life of discipleship and witness in the world, and on service and ministry within the Church." In establishing this new class, the Institute continues its mission to form lay women and men for a deeper living out of their Christian vocation in the world, and to prepare them for more faithful and effective lay leadership in the Church. For more information about the Institute and/or the application process, please contact me in the diocesan Office of Lay Formation and RCIA (507-858-1270 or tgraff@dow. org). In these glorious Easter days, as we approach the celebration of Pentecost, we do well to reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in our Church – and to call on this same Spirit “to renew the face of the earth.” Deo Gratias!
Lay Formation
What do we feel is the first and last need of the blessed and beloved Church of ours? We must say it … the Holy Spirit, the animator and sanctifier of the Church, her divine breath, the wind in her sails, the principle of her unity, the inner source of her light and strength, her support and consoler, her source of charisms and songs, her peace and her joy, her pledge and prelude to blessed and eternal life. The Church needs her perennial Pentecost; she needs fire in her heart, words on her lips, prophecy in her outlook.
On the Vigil of Pentecost, Saturday, May 19, our diocesan church will gather to pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people and ministries of our diocese. Bishop John Quinn will celebrate a special Vigil Mass for the Solemnity of Pentecost at 7:00 p.m. at Pax Christi Church in Rochester. Everyone is invited, and a special invitation is extended to those involved in the various lay movements and apostolates, retreat ministries, charismatic prayer groups, etc. present in the diocese (e.g., Communion and Liberation, Neocatechumenal Way, Teams of Our Lady, TEC, Cursillo, etc.). This Mass will also be a celebration of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those women and men who will have recently entered the Church through the RCIA, along with their sponsors and everyone who has helped them on their journey. This is the second year that this special diocesan Pentecost Vigil Mass has been celebrated by Bishop Quinn. Last year, the Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona, and more than 300 people participated in the liturgy.
New Institute of Lay Formation Class
How I long to find the right words to stir up enthusiasm for a new chapter of evangelization full of fervor, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction! Yet I realize that no words of encouragement will be enough unless the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts. A spirit-filled evangelization is one guided by the Holy Spirit, for he is the soul of the Church called to proclaim the Gospel…. I once more invoke the Holy Spirit. I implore him to come and renew the Church, to stir and impel her to go forth boldly to evangelize all peoples. -Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, #261
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St. Mary's School, Owatonna
Catholic Schools
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A Tradition of Service Marsha Stenzel
Superintendent of Catholic Schools mstenzel@dow.org
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Submitted by JEN SWANSON
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t is a big year at St. Mary’s School! We are celebrating our 140th year of providing a faith-based education to the Owatonna area. We’re excited to be part of the tradition of excellence that was started 140 years ago. At St. Mary’s, we have always believed in empowering students as they grow in their faith and prepare to become productive citizens and future leaders. One of the ways we do this is through instilling the value of meaningful service. Service allows us to practice our core values of Love, Learn, Lead, Give, and Pray. We are proud to make a difference in the community and world in which we live. Here are just a few of the service projects we have participated in this year: •
All of our students made Caring Cards for local infusion therapy patients, touching the hearts of both the students and the patients.
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Pacelli Students Visit Washington, D.C. � By LAURA SHEEDY
very other school year, a group of Pacelli seniors and juniors is invited to join in a trip to our nation’s capital. On Saturday, March 24, this year’s group took off from the Rochester airport in the wee hours of the morning to fly, via Chicago, to Washington, D.C., for a four-day adventure. For almost half of the students, this was their first time traveling by plane, which was an awesome adventure in itself. Watching the sun rise over the city of Chicago as we landed was a wonderful moment to experience through the eyes of the students. Another first was to travel the Metro-rail in D.C. As we exited the subway, we were greeted by a long line of people entering the subway who had just concluded the March for Our Lives, which was organized by students from Parkland, FL. Signs and posters lay along the subway entrance for all to see. Four days is a short time to see and do all that is available in Washington, D.C. In the time that we had, we filled our days! Most days, we were out of the hotel by 8 a.m. and returned 12 hours later. In this time, we had the opportunity to visit a number of the Smithsonian
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Our 5th grade and 6th grade students turned hunger into hope by helping pack meals for Feed My Starving Children, and our staff will do the same this month (picture 4).
Our Student Council “scared hunger” by donating more than 500 pounds of food to our local food shelf (picture 1). Students made Veterans Day cards and letters for those who bravely serve our country.
Through the 7th Grade Living Saint Statue Museum, our students raised over $700 and donated it to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Feed My Starving Children. All students created more than 3,000 Hugs & Kisses treat bags for guests of the Owatonna VFW community Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, the Hospitality House, and the Hospice House (picture 2).
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Museums, visit the Holocaust Museum, and take a night walking tour of the many monuments on the National Mall. We visited Ford’s Theatre to learn firsthand what took place the night that President Lincoln was assassinated. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of the actor portraying the sheriff at the time of President Lincoln’s death. Chaperones Sally McConnell and Steve Holtorf added to the fun and learning that took place. Other highlights of the trip included participating in Palm Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, attending the play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and visiting Arlington National Cemetery. Plenty of shenanigans and dancing on the Metro-rail also made special memories for the students. Upon returning to school this week, the group presented a highlight reel of what they saw and learned during their time in Washington, D.C., to the middle and high school students. I am already looking forward to the next trip in 2020 and all that is in store for our upcoming juniors and seniors of Pacelli Catholic Schools. If you are interested in learning more about Pacelli Catholic Schools, visit our website at www.pacellischools. org, email admin@pacellischools.org or call 507-4373278. Enrollment for the 2018-19 school year is now open. Laura Sheedy is a math teacher and activities director for Pacelli Schools.
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Through the 4th Grade Business Fair, students raised over $730 and donated it to Beds for Kids, Feed My Starving Children, and Kool Kids on the Block (Advocates for Developmental Disabilities). Our 6th Grade students and families donated items for the students to make shoes for people living in Uganda.
Our Kindergarten and 3rd grade students created Valentine’s for Vets to let them know we keep them close to our hearts. Our 2nd and 6th grade Reading Buddies made and prayed over tie blankets to donate to our local Beds for Kids organization (picture 3).
Our junior high students held our annual Mardi Gras Marketplace; students donate their time, energy, and resources to create a product or service that the rest of our student body can purchase or participate in. This year over $2,100 was raised and donated to one of our own St. Mary’s families going through a challenging time with an ongoing cancer battle.
In March, more than 100 5th-8th grade students participated in Baby Ball, raising $1,219 for Birthright of Owatonna.
The variety of service opportunities we offer allows our students to develop a habit of generosity and to share their gifts and talents as disciples of Christ. We are proud to follow Mother Teresa’s advice of “Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.” As we celebrate 140 years at St. Mary’s School, we are proud of who we are and what we stand for, and we are excited as we look toward our future.
Jen Swanson is the principal of St. Mary's School in Owatonna.
Juniors and Seniors attended Palm Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
Juniors and Seniors visited the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Sixth Graders Raise Funds for Crucifixion Church Piano
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very year, the Crucifixion School 6th grade class does a service project, and this year, it was our turn. The only rule of the project was that it could not directly benefit ourselves in any way, shape, or form. We went through a lot of ideas, but we ended up deciding on getting a new grand piano for our church.
Vessels,
cont'd from pg. 1 "I realized that, every morning, while I'd gone ahead and gotten the oatmeal that's supposed to help me stay healthy, I was missing something that was so obvious," he said. "I had to have a bowl that was empty in order to put the oatmeal in." Bishop Quinn encouraged the students not to fill their lives with their own concerns and egos to the extent that there was no room left for God's gifts. "How filled up are we?" he asked. "What's in that bowl? Is it the love of Jesus Christ, or is it my ego? Is it the love that I've learned in the years at a Catholic school? May the Lord continue to fill the vessel of your life and mine, not with things that come from our desires, but may He fill us with His love so we can be a gospel of good news to a waiting world." After Communion all students in attendance sang Hail Mary, Gentle Woman. Following the song, baskets of olive wood crucifixes were blessed by Bishop Quinn to be distributed to the students by their pastors. Emma Archbold, a senior from Lourdes High School, thanked Bishop Quinn on behalf of the senior classes of all four schools. "You have been visible as you cheered us on during our elementary and high school journey of Catholic education," she said. "Whether we have been altar serv-
We also needed a humidifier/dehumidifier for the piano, so the total cost was $15,300. Our class knew it was a big project, but we were up for the challenge. We each received a job such as project leader, research, marketing, treasurer, and secretary. Then our project began. We did fundraisers such as the KC breakfast and an all-school reading marathon. We created a slideshow to show our project plans to a variety of people, including Bishop Quinn. We worked hard on counting money and keeping track of minutes for the reading marathon. Our fundraising goal was $5,000, and we ended
Catholic Schools
Submitted by LORI DATTA on behalf of CRUCIFIXION SCHOOL'S SIXTH GRADE CLASS
up raising over $7,000! To fund the rest of the $15,000, we established a matching grant program through which others could make donations to our project. We are really proud of our accomplishments, and we all learned a lot! We would like to thank everyone who helped us and who donated. Your support was really appreciated, and we are glad to help our church! Lori Datta teaches 6th grade at Crucifixion School in La Crescent.
ers servers, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, gift bearers, musicians, choir members, or simply attending a Mass celebrated by you, you have always taken the time to smile at us, thank us, and let us know we're doing a great job." "I'm happy to say that, even though I'm getting up there in years, I'm still able to teach," Bishop Quinn said in his response. "And I look forward every year at the university to young people like you coming to class. You change my life when I hear what is in your heart. You're always the springtime." Bishop Quinn went on to thank Loyola's choir, who had provided music for the Mass; Superintendent of Catholic Schools Marsha Stenzel; school administrators; parents; diocesan staff who had helped with the event; and priests in attendance from the students' school and parish communities.
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Ask a Canon Lawyer
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On
Annulments Dear Jenna, I read with interest your column in April's Courier on weddings. So now I would ask you to write about annulments. Like a lot of Catholics I know, we don't understand the church's policy for getting one and why some have gotten several. I hear people say it is just a way to ok a divorce if you have money. Could you please write about this so we all understand Church policy and can answer to non-Catholic friends? -Jan Weir, St. John the Baptist Parish, Mankato
Jenna Cooper
Tribunal Coordinator & Judge jcooper@dow.org
had their freedom severely compromised. But there are also other, more common scenarios that can make true matrimonial consent impossible for one or both of the spouses. For instance, a person might have suffered from a severe mental health issue during the engagement period which prevented him or her from making a rational choice of marriage. It could also happen that one of the spouses was not fully honest when they said their wedding vows. Or, perhaps the couple never even intended to be married at all, but merely went through the motions of a wedding ceremony for some ulterior motive unrelated to marriage. The Marriage Nullity Process: A Search for Truth
Far from being a way of “okay-ing” a divorce, the marriage nullity process is actually a careful hanks, Jan, for your question! investigation as to whether or not an invalidatIn my own job at the tribunal, I also need ing problem existed in a marriage from the very to explain the marriage nullity process to nonbeginning. Practically, the way this works is: an Catholics on a somewhat regular basis, so I’m well individual who suspects his or her marriage may aware of how challenging this can be. have been invalid (the “Petitioner”) approaches Often, I find the best place to start is with a the tribunal and submits an application called a quick explanation of how the Catholic Church “libellus.” In the libellus, the Petitioner gives a speunderstands marriage. That is, how we as Catholics cific reason, called a “ground,” for the suspected believe that marriage is by its very nature an invalidity of his or her marriage, and presents a absolutely life-long commitment; and how, consenarrative supporting this assertion. quently, a valid, consummated, sacramental marEssentially, the ground allows the tribunal to riage can only be dissolved by the death of one of pose the question: “Is this marriage invalid for this the spouses. Even though a couple might obtain particular reason?” Throughout the process, a civil divorce according to the laws of the Petitioner tries to help answer that the state, Catholics believe that this Do question by submitting evidence to you que doesn’t change the true reality of hav the tribunal which backs up his s e a tio cano n the fact that they are still marn or her story about the proposed a bou you law ried in the eyes of God. t t reason for the invalidity of w h o a to s However, built into this ee u l d l i k e t their marriage. For example, her answ teaching is the presumpthe Petitioner might name j c o o e ? E m ered tion that the marriage in witnesses, meaning that peoper@ a with question is actually a valid dow i l ple who knew the couple will .o one (with the word “valid” que " C o u r i rg be invited by the tribunal to stio er basically meaning that the n share, “on the record” and in " the subj i n marriage truly “took effect”). an official way, their recollecect It should be pointed out first line tion of key events in the couple’s . of all that most marriages are relationship. Sometimes evidence indeed valid. Still, it is theoretican also take the form of documents, cally possible for there to have been such as medical records released with some problem at the time when a wedding the appropriate permission or even old letters occurred which prevented the couple from enteror diaries one of the parties might have kept. ing into an authentic marriage in the first place. The other party in the case, called the To give an extreme hypothetical example, it’s “Respondent,” also has the chance to submit eviprobably obvious to most people that a literal dence and to tell their side of the story to the “shotgun wedding,” in which someone was forced tribunal. Once all the evidence is collected, a panel of to marry under threat of violence, would not result three Judges—all of whom are trained canon lawin a binding union, as at least one of the parties
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yers—meets in private to discuss the case. Because, as canon 1060 states, “marriage enjoys the favor of the law,” every marriage is presumed valid until proven otherwise. We might think of this as being sort of similar to how, in a civil criminal court, a person is considered “innocent until proven guilty.” This means that the evidence presented has to be convincing enough to allow the Judges to determine with moral certainty (or in other words, beyond a reasonable doubt) that the marriage in question is actually invalid for the reasons stated in the libellus. If the evidence is too sparse, or murky, or otherwise less-than-convincing, the Judges are obligated to give a negative decision, or to rule that a marriage is in fact valid after all. On the other hand, if the evidence is sufficiently strong, then the Judges issue an affirmative decision. Although this is often popularly referred to as granting an “annulment,” the more correct term is a “declaration of nullity.” This is because the word “annulment” implies that the tribunal is taking an active part in making a marriage null. But, in reality, what actually happens is that the tribunal simply observes and declares, as a matter of objective fact, that the marriage in question was null from the very beginning, based on the proven existence of specific invalidating problems. Myths About Money
One especially harmful misconception about the nullity process is that an individual is sure to receive a favorable decision as long as he or she has money. But, nothing could be further from the truth! Here in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, the financial expenses of running a tribunal are covered by the generous support of the local Catholic faithful (though collections such as the Catholic Ministries Appeal). Because of this, it costs nothing for an individual to make use of the nullity process in our tribunal. And even while we do accept donations to support our work, we never accept any kind of gift from anyone who currently has an open case with us, just so we can be sure that nobody will get the wrong impression or mistakenly assume that annulments can be “bought.” While some tribunals in other dioceses do charge a nominal fee to start this process, this is never done in such a way so as to influence the Judges’ opinions. Treating everyone—whether rich or not-so-rich—with respect and fairness is not just a value of the Winona-Rochester tribunal, but it’s also a key principle in the Church’s universal law.
Rev. Jason Kern Director of Vocations jkern@dow.org
� ope Francis has a heart for the poor and those who he deems are on the "margins" of society, such as
immigrants, refugees, and others who feel abandoned and alone in life. He has consistently encouraged us to be a Church that goes out and seeks out others. While sometimes we might experience frustration that we do not get the clear definitions and teachings that we have been so accustomed to from the popes in recent decades, Pope Francis continues to point us forward to keep going outside ourselves. Pope Francis has also not failed to remind us what the basis of all of this love and service for others is about: Jesus Christ. We serve because we have first been served by Jesus’ sacrificial love perfectly demonstrated on the Cross. This past month, Pope Francis issued an apostolic exhortation called Rejoice and Be Glad (Gaudete et Exsultate) which he described as the following: What follows is not meant to be a treatise on holiness, containing definitions and distinctions helpful for understanding this important subject, or a discussion of the various means of sanctification. My modest goal is to repropose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities. For the Lord has chosen each one of us “to be holy and blameless before him in love” (Eph 1:4) (par. 2).
As I read through this document, I was struck by the practicality and encouragement to live holiness for all Catholics in every state of life. We live holiness where we are planted. We do not wait for a future time when it will be easier or when it will be simpler to live for Jesus. Now is the time to live for Christ, in our current circumstances and surroundings. Pope Francis put it this way: We need a spirit of holiness capable of filling both our solitude and our service, our personal life and our evangelizing efforts, so that every moment can be an expression of self-sacrificing love in the Lord’s eyes. In this way, every minute of our lives can be a step along the path to growth in holiness (par. 31).
Without this grounding in holiness, our vocations can feel like chores, and relationships can dry up and become relationships of convenience or proximity rather than nourishing and loving. The last chapter of the letter (5) particularly impressed me as it was titled, "Spiritual Combat, Vigilance & Discernment." Pope Francis spoke of the need to recognize that we are in a spiritual battle against the devil and how, without vigilance, our lives can become “spiritually corrupt,” a process he described as follows: [T]hose who think they commit no grievous sins against God’s law can fall into a state of dull lethargy. Since they see nothing serious to reproach themselves with, they fail to realize that their spiritual life has gradually turned lukewarm. They end up weakened and corrupted (par. 164).
After reminding us to keep vigilant and ready to engage in battle, Pope Francis goes on to ask and answer his own question about how we know if something is from God or not: How can we know if something comes from the Holy Spirit or if it stems from the spirit of the world or the spirit of the devil? The only way is through discernment, which calls for something more than intelligence or common sense. It is a gift which we must implore. If we ask with confidence that the Holy Spirit grant us this gift, and then seek to develop it through prayer, reflection, reading and good counsel, then surely we will grow in this spiritual endowment (par. 166).
Pope Francis goes on to say that discernment which seeks to determine where God is leading us in our lives has become “all the more necessary today” with the contemporary world having so much activity and distraction. These next two paragraphs really spoke to me regarding the topic of discernment:
Certainly, spiritual discernment does not exclude existential, psychological, sociological or moral insights drawn from the human sciences. At the same time, it transcends them. Nor are the Church’s sound norms sufficient. We should always remember that discernment is a grace. Even though it
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Vocations
Now Is the Time to Live for Christ
includes reason and prudence, it goes beyond them, for it seeks a glimpse of that unique and mysterious plan that God has for each of us, which takes shape amid so many varied situations and limitations. It involves more than my temporal well-being, my satisfaction at having accomplished something useful, or even my desire for peace of mind. It has to do with the meaning of my life before the Father who knows and loves me, with the real purpose of my life, which nobody knows better than he. Ultimately, discernment leads to the wellspring of undying life: to know the Father, the only true God, and the one whom he has sent, Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 17:3). It requires no special abilities, nor is it only for the more intelligent or better educated. The Father readily reveals himself to the lowly (cf. Mt 11:25). The Lord speaks to us in a variety of ways, at work, through others and at every moment. Yet we simply cannot do without the silence of prolonged prayer, which enables us better to perceive God’s language, to interpret the real meaning of the inspirations we believe we have received, to calm our anxieties and to see the whole of our existence afresh in his own light. In this way, we allow the birth of a new synthesis that springs from a life inspired by the Spirit (par. 170-171).
Pope Francis is calling all the faithful to reengage a life of holiness by living in Jesus and taking seriously the call to invite Him deeply into our day-to-day lives. God desires this kind of intimacy with us, where we reveal our lives before Him each day and invite Him to lead, inspire, and animate our activity. God is leading you! He desires to lead you! You can trust Him to lead you to a life of happiness and peace even though not always comfortable and convenient. Pope Francis concludes with this statement: Let us ask the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us a fervent longing to be saints for God’s greater glory, and let us encourage one another in this effort. In this way, we will share a happiness that the world will not be able to take from us (par. 177).
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Faith in the Public Arena
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We Are All Responsible for Helping the Poor �innesota is ranked the second-best
state in the nation (after Iowa). This is according to new overall state rankings by US News and World Report. That ranking is based on more than 75 metrics including economy, education, opportunities, and quality of life. However, it’s not great for every Minnesotan. Not all Minnesotans have the same opportunities or quality of life. In 2009, Minnesota released the bi-partisan Legislative Report from the Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020. The report set forth specific goals and contained numerous recommendations. As we approach 2020, Minnesotans of faith need to take a hard look at our progress in addressing poverty and the commission’s recommendations. The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition—comprised of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims from across the state—has just issued Poverty in Minnesota: A Progress Report. Addressing the Opportunity Gap
More than half a million Minnesotans (including over 160,000 children) live in households below the federal poverty threshold—$20,780 for a fam-
ily of three. 10 percent of Minnesota households are impacted by hunger. Many communities have a severe shortage of affordable housing. The rate of homelessness for adults over age 55 increased by eight percent over the past five years. Many Minnesotans face barriers when looking for work: lack of education, mental health issues, addiction, or a criminal conviction. The disparities between white Minnesotans and Minnesotans of color are substantial—in income, home ownership rates and academic success. We can do better. The Poverty Progress Report addresses areas in which public policy directly impacts poverty. Our laws are a blueprint for our state. There are many approaches to addressing these issues, and elected officials may have different ideas about how to address them. But all elected officials care about Minnesotans living in poverty and want them to be successful. Each of us can directly impact policies. Call and email your elected officials. Attend town hall meetings and ask your representatives how they are helping Minnesotans in poverty. Come to the Capitol and meet with them personally. Tell them what you see in your congregation and community. Our Call
As Catholics, we are called to help the poor and vulnerable. St. James reminds us:
If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm and eat plenty,’ without giving them the bare necessities of life, then what good is that?
Anne Krisnik
Executive Director Joint Religious Legislative Coalition
We know the Lord hears the cry of the poor. We too need to listen. Many of you are responding to God’s call for help by serving families experiencing homelessness or persons in need of food or clothing. These are all worthy acts of charity. But can we do more? In a daily homily Pope Francis said that politics “is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.” In the public arena, we can complement our charitable and philanthropic efforts by also working to promote distributive and social justice. Our faith challenges us to be advocates for those struggling and on the margins. The first step is to become informed. Talk to your neighbors about poverty. Visit a food shelf or emergency shelter and listen to the stories of the people there. Then call your senators, and representatives, and county commissioners. Ask candidates for office what legislation they are pursuing to address poverty. This Easter season, as we live out our baptism, let us show gratitude for the gifts we have received and remember to use them to help our brothers and sisters.
(James 2:15-16)
Many Minnesotans continue to struggle with poverty, food insecurity, obtaining a quality education, and securing affordable housing. Review the Poverty Progress Report at jrlc.org. Consult your elected officials about what they are proposing to combat poverty and economic insecurity. You can find your legislators at mncatholic.org by clicking “Take Action” and “Find Your Legislator” or by going to www.leg.state. mn.us and clicking on the tab “Who Represents Me?”
May, 2018 w The Courier
Sports Gambling: Sarah Spangenberg
Communications Associate Minnesota Catholic Conference
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n the coming weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court may loosen federal restrictions on sports gambling. As a result, many states have proactively drafted bills that would create regulated sports gambling industries at the state level—Minnesota included. The changes could greatly expand legal gambling in Minnesota, for example, by making online gambling accessible 24 hours a day from any computer or smart phone. Proponents argue that legalized sports gambling would create a safer and more regulated environment for those who already gamble. But gambling expansion would also carve out space for an industry that preys on addictive personalities and irresponsible players—often those who can least afford to gamble. Others hope to bring in tax dollars by regulating the gambling industry. However, increased revenue streams in one area may lead to significant costs in other areas, such as court costs related to bankruptcies, and the need for increased safety net funding for people losing their livelihoods. The expansion of our state’s gambling laws could be disastrous for families and the common good. A Predatory Industry
Sports gambling is inherently predatory. Daily fantasy sports, for example, rely heavily on a large base of unskilled players who gamble (and lose) against experts or those who use algorithms and other tools to rig the outcomes. As reported in news outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post, for every skilled player, there must be many unskilled ones to compensate the winners and provide the profit margins—so sports betting companies must constantly lure in new players with the promise of big rewards. Gambling companies also bank on the addictiveness of the game. The more players return— and lose—the better the industry does; it feeds on the destructive behavior of compulsive gamblers. Choices and habits that destroy lives and tear families apart are also precisely the behaviors that line the gambling industry’s pockets the most. Professional sports leagues, too, are eyeing gambling expansion to increase their revenues and to keep increasingly bored and distracted fans entertained. In transformed stadiums more closely resembling racetracks or casinos, fans could bet on practically anything at any point throughout the game—whether Tom Brady will score a touchdown in the third quarter, or how many strikeouts Santana will throw against Cleveland, for example. Obviously, this could easily become an addictive and troublesome social phenomenon.
Faith in the Public Arena
Leave the Money on the Table
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About More Than the Bottom Line As mentioned above, a popular argument in favor of legalized sports gambling is that it will bring in more revenue for the state. Yet this ignores the hidden cost associated with legalized gambling: erosion of trust and financial stability within families; an increase in divorce and family fragmentation; crippling unpaid debts; and check fraud, embezzlement and other forms of economic theft committed by problem gamblers. Gambling also increases criminal justice costs related to problem gamblers who commit crimes to finance their habit and debts. All told, we can expect a government cost of three dollars in social welfare spending for every dollar that gambling generates, according to the 2008 U.S. International Gambling Report Series. Those who say legal gambling will boost our state’s economy are only looking at part of the picture. Increased revenues will always be a strong incentive to consider new policies, but it is an incentive that must be kept in check. Let’s remember that the state exists for the good of the people in it—not the other way around. Enabling predatory business practices and destructive habits just so that the state can make a buck is a clear sign of skewed priorities. A Dangerous Cultural Shift
This isn’t bingo in your church basement, pulltabs at the bar, a March Madness bracket, or the school raffle. As Catholics, we recognize that these forms of gambling can be a legitimate form of entertainment, not inherently problematic or contrary to justice. Problems do arise, though, when gambling deprives people of what is due to them or to those under their care (CCC 2413). This can happen, for example, when players bet away their life savings or amass unmanageable debt to finance a gambling habit, or when an entire industry revolves around them doing so.
Each year, many Minnesotans choose to share their gifts with non-profits through charitable donations, but recent changes to the federal tax code could negatively impact charitable giving. Because the federal tax plan nearly doubles the standard deduction, the number of Minnesotans who will be able to itemize their charitable gifts will decrease by approximately two-thirds. Fewer people itemizing means fewer people will have a federal tax incentive to donate to nonprofits. Minnesota’s state tax code currently allows non-itemizing households to deduct only 50 percent of donations over 500 dollars. However, a proposed bill (HF 3464/SF 3777) would remove the 500-dollar floor and the 50 percent limit, thereby encouraging more giving by all Minnesotans. Therefore, urge your legislators to strengthen the state’s charitable deduction for non-itemizers by supporting HF 3464/SF 3777. To find contact information for your state senator and state representative, call 651-296-8338.
This is about more than revenue, and it’s certainly about more than sanctioning a harmless pastime. We’re talking about a major cultural shift with the potential to feed destructive cycles of greed and addiction. The potential for serious harm to Minnesotans and their families makes gambling expansion an unacceptable option. The gambling industry is motivated by greed and propped up by addiction, both evils that seriously tarnish the dignity proper to human persons. When it comes to gambling expansion, the hidden, human costs are much higher than the economic benefit.
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Hope for Your Future
Catholic Charities
Catholic Charities' Project Rachel Program Rachel mourns for her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning, wipe tears from your eyes... There is hope for your future. -Jeremiah 31:15-17
� central aspect of the pro-life perspective is
a deep compassion for both a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and the child she is carrying. That compassion does not end if the woman obtains an abortion. For that reason, the Church has consistently professed a desire to reach out to women and men who have had the experience of abortion to extend mercy and support for their healing. In 1975, just two years after the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe vs. Wade, the US Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities pledged the pastoral resources of the Church “to the specific needs of those who had or have taken part in an abortion.” In 1984, the first Project Rachel Program was created in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, choosing the name based on inspiration from the passage in the book of Jeremiah that proclaims, “Rachel mourns for her children; she refuses to be consoled because her children are no more. Thus says the Lord: Cease your cries of mourning, wipe tears from your eyes… There is hope for your future” (Jeremiah 31: 15-17). The United States Council of Catholic Bishops now coordinates and supports Project Rachel programs in dioceses throughout the country. This includes the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, where the Project Rachel Program is operated by Catholic Charities as part of our Family and Individual Counseling Program. Archbishop of Kansas City Joseph Naumann has said, “Project Rachel Ministry is at the heart of the Church, because mercy and forgiveness is at the heart
May, 2018 w The Courier
of Jesus’ mission, ministry, and message.” We have sought to live out that ministry through our Project Rachel Program. Our agency has offered trainings to interested clergy, counselors, lay ministers and others at various times since the Project Rachel Program was founded in our diocese. The most recent of these trainings brought Vicki Thorn, who founded the original Project Rachel program in Milwaukee, to our diocese in the fall of 2015. We promote Project Rachel through bulletin announcements and other means so people who need healing after an abortion know that this help is available to them. For those who would benefit from counseling services, we offer confidential outreach through a toll-free number (800-222-5859) that is staffed by Catholic Charities social workers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our social workers can facilitate scheduling a counseling appointment, if desired. Thanks to a generous donor, those who seek counseling through Project Rachel can receive up to 10 counseling sessions at no charge. Not everyone who has had the experience of abortion needs professional counseling to help them heal. Some will achieve healing through loving support from family or friends, their own prayer and reflection, and through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We hope that even those who never directly use Project Rachel services will be encouraged on their journey by our promotion of Project Rachel, and that we communicate God’s love for them and the Church’s desire for their reconciliation and healing. So when is professional counseling important for healing to occur? Some women who experience
John McGuire
Director of Family & Individual Counseling Program Catholic Charities
abortion will have symptoms that are akin to posttrauma symptoms: nightmares, intrusive memories of the experience, depression or anxiety symptoms, and avoidance of situations that trigger memories of the abortion. If these symptoms persist, counseling can help address them. More broadly, women are apt to initiate counseling after an abortion when they experience problems in one of four areas: behavioral concerns, difficult emotions, difficulty in relationships, and poor self-worth. Theresa Bonapartis, an expert on treating women experiencing post-abortion difficulties, describes the impact abortion can have on a woman’s selfworth, saying, “So many women think abortion is who they are rather than something that they did.” It is important to say that not all women who experience abortion will develop these sorts of problems, and, of course, it is also important to remember that these kinds of symptoms do not automatically mean a woman had the experience of abortion. How can counseling help? Catholic Charities counselors can provide information and tools to help a person work through the behavioral and emotional symptoms they are experiencing. The techniques we use to help people work through depression, anxiety, trauma, and grief caused by other life events can also be of help for someone healing after an abortion. Additionally, Project Rachel counseling supports the woman in personal and spiritual reconciliation with God, with her baby, and with herself. If the woman has never named her baby, she can consider doing so. Some women will choose a specific act of reconciliation, like writing a letter to her baby or planting a tree or bush to help her remember her child. These sorts of actions are always up to the woman; only she can know what will best facilitate her healing and reconciliation. Of course, we encourage the Sacrament of Reconciliation and will help facilitate that if the woman wants us to do so. This too is always her choice. We all have a role in supporting Project Rachel’s ministry of healing and reconciliation. When we pray to end abortion, we might also pray for healing for those women--and men--who have had the experience of abortion. In my experience, these are kind and decent people, blessings to their families and their communities, who are carrying the weight of the experience of abortion. As Theresa Bonapartis said, abortion is something that they did, not who they are. And, for those who need help in their journey toward healing, Catholic Charities Project Rachel counseling services can, in Pope Francis’ words, “help her look to the future with hope and make a new start in life.”
SPOF Thanks Donors By FR. CHARLIE COLLINS
�ear Friends,
15
By MONICA STEINMETZ
�
he Lenten Journey for the sixth-grade students at St. Francis of Assisi School in Rochester became an artistic and mathematical study, with students integrating their study of facial sketching and shading with the curriculum goals of understanding ratios and proportion, to create portraits of Jesus. Inspired by the works of other artists, these young people shared their talents while creating these pieces of art. Monica Steinmetz teaches sixth grade at St. Francis of Assisi School in Rochester.
In the Diocese
I want to thank everyone in the diocese for his or her continued generosity to the Propagation of the Faith. These monies are put together with gifts from all the dioceses of the world and make up the General Fund. The Vatican works in consultation with the national directors of the Propagation of the Faith from around the world. The General Fund is divided up and given to over 1,000 needy dioceses. Each gets about $40,000 to use for the spread of the Gospel through their missionary work. In addition to the donations sent to the Propagation of the Faith, $270,000 was sent to the various missionary groups who did appeals in our diocese the past two summers as part of the Missionary Cooperative Program. We are pleased that less than two (2) percent of monies collected go to expenses of administration of the diocesan Society for the Propagation of the Faith. Bequests/Legacies for the Propagation of the Faith remain one of the main sources of income for the missionaries in the needy dioceses. Please continue to pray for the missions and to help the missions financially. I would especially ask people to remember “The Society for the Propagation of the Faith” in their wills and in estate planning. In the name of missionaries all over the world:
J e su s T hr ou gh t h e Eyes of Sixth Graders
Fr. Charlie Collins Name
City
Designation
Amount
Anna Pitzl & Fred Krost
Rochester
General Fund
$31, 804.61
Anthony F. Bias
Wells
General Fund
$2,000.00
Rev. Don Leary
Rochester
Masses
$500.00
For more information about the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, visit dow.org/offices/spof/index.html.
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SUBMISSION to the calendar Please note: submission deadline is the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication. All submissions must be sent electronically to nreller@dow.org by the deadline to assure receipt and possible inclusion in the events calendar. Thank you for understanding that, due to space limitations, not all events nor story submissions will fit; however, we strive to include as many as possible. A current list of events is also available at www.dow.org.
Regular Prayer Mass for Life & Marriage is held at St. Mary Church in Winona the first Thursday each month at 8:30 a.m. Holy Hour of Prayer for Life, Marriage & Religious Liberty is held first Saturday each month 8:30-9:30 a.m. (after Mass for Life & Marriage) in the Cathedral's Adoration Chapel, 360 Main Street, Winona. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and a rosary offered. All welcome. Prayer Vigil & Public Witness Against Abortion is held 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays in front of Semcac Clinic (delegate of Planned Parenthood) at 76 W 3rd Street in Winona. Contact: Patti (507) 429-4636 Masses of Reparation for Sins in the Diocese are held daily in parishes throughout the diocese. Info: cb@wabashaemail.com Cor Jesu is held at the Cathedral in Winona, 7-9 p.m. the first Friday each month, September through May. Cor Jesu is an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, and music in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All are welcome to attend! For more details, search for Winona Cor Jesu on Facebook, visit cascwinona.org/prayer/corJesu, or call Kristopher Kaufman (859-7601619) or Steven Lehn (507-312-9041).
Traditional Latin Mass Chatfield, St. Mary, 1st & 3rd Sun. 1 pm Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul, Sundays 4:15 pm Wabasha, St. Felix, Saturdays 9 am
The Televised Mass
Other Events Calvary Cemetery, Rochester May 12, Saturday Living Rosary for the Unborn at 11 a.m. Sponsored by Knights of Columbus Bishop Edward A. Fitzgerald Assembly 548. All are invited. Info: Alan Peterson at 507-421-3205. International Event Center, Rochester May 18, Friday St. James Brew Ha Ha annual fundraiser for St. James Coffee. Wine, beer, spirits & soda pop tasting, silent & live auctions, music, dinner and more! Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Purchase tickets at www. stjamescoffee.com St. Thomas More Newman Center, Mankato May 19, Saturday Pre-Cana retreat for couples preparing for marriage 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Register at https://catholicmavs. org/pre-cana-online-registration. Pax Christi Church, Rochester May 19, Saturday Diocesan Pentecost Vigil Mass 7-8:30 p.m. We will pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the people and ministries of our diocese. Mass celebrated by Bishop Quinn. All are welcome, with a special invitation extended to members of lay movements and to those who have recently entered the Church through RCIA, and their sponsors.
Offered as a service for the homebound every Sunday on the following stations: KTTC, Channel 10 (Rochester) at 9 a.m.; KEYC, Channel 12 (Mankato) at 7:30 a.m; & KEYC-DT2, Digital Channel 12.2 or Charter Channel 19 (Mankato) at 9:30 a.m. Donations for the continuation of this program may be sent to: Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Attn: TV Mass, PO Box 588, Winona MN 55987.
Hispanic Priests / Sacerdotes Hispanos Padre José Morales Capellán en la Mayo Clinic, Rochester Tel. 507-266-7275
Padre Miguel Eduardo Proaños Vicario Parroquial de St. James, St James frmiguel2005@yahoo.com Tel. 507-375-3542
Padre Luis Alfonso Vargas Vicario Parroquial de St. Francis of Assisi, Rochester frluisvargasdw@gmail.com Tel. 507-288-7313
Padre Ubaldo Roque Vicario Parroquial de St. Mary’s, Worthington el_hermano_roque@hotmail.com Tel. 507-440-9735
Padre Javier Ibarra IVE Párroco de SS. Peter and Paul, Mankato Tel. 507-388-2995 ext. 103
Padre Raul Silva Vicario de la Pastoral Hispana en la diócesis de Winona Y Párroco de Queen of Angels, Austin PadreRaulSilva@gmail.com Tel. 507-433-1888
Spanish Mass Schedule Albert Lea, St. Theodore Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul St. Charles, St. Charles Borromeo 11 am Sun. 1 pm Sun. 7 pm Sat. Austin, Queen of Angels Owatonna, Sacred Heart St. James, St. James 11 am Sun.; 5:15 pm Fri. 11:45 am Sun. 12 pm Sun. Windom,St.FrancisXavier Lake City, St. Mary Pipestone, St. Leo 2:30 pm Sun. 6:30 pm each 3rd Sat. 2:30 pm Sun. (bilingual) Worthington, St. Mary Madelia, St. Mary Rochester, St. Francis 7 pm Sat.; 11 am Sun.; 10 am Sun. Noon Sun. & 7 pm Thurs. 6:30 pm Tues. & Fri.
May 2018
• The Courier
Twin Cities Area June 1-3, Friday-Sunday Rachel's Vineyard retreat for anyone affected by abortion - women, men, grandparents, siblings, health care professionals. Fr. Peter John Cameron said, "Mercy, like every grace, always enters through a wound." If you or someone you love is grieving the loss of a child or children to abortion, come and experience the compassionate mercy of Jesus Christ on our weekend retreat. For information, contact Nancy at rachels@ vineyardmn.org, call 763-250-9313, or visit www.rvineyardmn.org. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona June 3, Sunday Ordination of Deacon at 3 p.m. Join the celebration as Matthew Wagner becomes a deacon for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester! St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Charles June 4, Monday Sacred Relics of the Saints: Treasures of the Church. Teaching and exposition of sacred relics at 6:30 p.m. by Fr. Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross. More than 150 relics, some as old as 2,000 years! St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Faustina Kowalska, and more. See a portion of the Veil of Our Lady and one of the largest pieces of the True Cross in the world! Bring articles of devotion (rosaries, holy cards, etc.) and pictures of ill friends and family to touch to the reliquaries as a means of intercession. St. John Vianney Church, Fairmont June 5, Tuesday Sacred Relics of the Saints: Treasures of the Church at 6:30 p.m. See description above. St. Anthony Church, Lismore June 6, Wednesday Catholic Daughters of the Americas Ct. St. Bernard #886 will hold its annual salad & hot dish luncheon, served 11:30-1:00. All are welcome. Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona June 8, Friday Presbyteral Ordination at 2 p.m. Join the celebration as Deacon Thé Hoang and Deacon Brian Mulligan become priests for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester! St. Felix Church, Wabasha June 13, Wednesday The St. Felix Church Ladies and St. Mary's Court #208 National Society of Foresters will co-host their annual salad luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the St. Felix Auditorium. This year's theme is Burst of Spring. Tickets are $8 in advance, $9 at the door. St. Edward Church, Austin June 24, Sunday Come celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fr. Jim Steffes' ordination at a luncheon following 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Edward's, which will be celebrated by Fr. Steffes. Cards may be send to St. Augustine Chuch, 405 4th St NW, Austin, MN 55912. St. John Vianney Church, Fairmont June 25-26, Monday-Tuesday 20th Biennial Conference of the Province of St. Paul/Minneapolis Council of Catholic Women. Meet with CCWs from all six MN dioceses! Registration info should arrive at your parish office by April 16; ask if you don't see it!
St. John Church, Johnsburg July 8, Sunday Annual Polka Jamboree. 11 a.m. Polka Mass, followed by 2 polka bands and outside dance floor, food, bake sale, pies, beverages, games for all ages and a cake walk. St. Michael Church, Sioux Falls, SD July 26-27, Thursday-Friday A Disciples Response, 2018 ICSC Region VIII Stewardship Conference. Two-day conference provides opportunity to gather with parish and diocesan staff from the 10 Catholic dioceses of MN, ND and SD. Learn best practices in stewardship and development. For more info: Melinda North (605) 9883725. To register: www.sfcatholic. org/stewardshipconference.
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona September 15, Saturday Consecration of a Virgin. All are invited to this consecration, during which Bishop Quinn will consecrate Leandra Hubka to the life of perpetual virginity. Consecrated virginity is one of the oldest forms of consecrated life in the Church, dating to apostolic times when women would dedicate their virginity and entire lives to Christ. In this ceremony, similar to both a wedding and an ordination, the bishop prays over the virgin the prayer of consecration, setting her apart as a sacred person, espoused to Christ as His bride. A consecrated virgin lives a life of prayer, penance, and service to the Church, as a sign of the love the Church has for Christ, and a witness of the life to come.
May, 2018 w The Courier