The Courier - October 2023

The COURIER

InsIde, OutsIde: Synod to

on the church and ItS role In the World

By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When Pope Francis was introduced to the world from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, he spoke to the crowd about taking up a journey, "bishop and people," a "journey of fraternity, of love, of trust among us."

He did not mention the Synod of Bishops in that greeting March 13, 2013, nor did he issue one of his now-frequent appeals to ensure a more "synodal church."

But the inspiration behind the assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which opens Oct. 4, can be seen in his very first words as pope and in his course-setting exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel"), which emphasized the responsibility of all the baptized for the life of the church and, especially, its evangelizing mission.

Unlike earlier meetings of the Synod of Bishops, which focused on a specific issue or a specific region of the world, the "synod on synodality" is focused on the church itself: Who belongs? How are leadership and authority exercised? How does the church discern God's call? How can it fulfill its mandate to share the Gospel with a changing world?

Members of the synod assembly are being asked to reflect on the characteristics they believe are essential for building a "synodal church" by starting from what they heard from people who participated in the local, diocesan, national and continental listening sessions.

It's not a synod on whether and how Catholic parishes can be more welcoming of LGBT Catholics, how it can recognize and encourage the leadership of

women or how it can foster the involvement of young people -- but those questions are part of the discussion about how to increase a sense of unity or communion, promote participation and strengthen the missionary outreach of the church.

The questions, and dozens more, have come up repeatedly in the synod process, which began in October 2021 with parish and other local listening sessions and is scheduled to go through October 2024 with a second assembly at the Vatican.

Dedication Day for Holy Redeemer, Eyota

By FR. PATRICK ARENS

�he 14th of August was a beautiful, late-summer day in the town of Eyota, and the faithful gathered as usual for their participation in Mass for the Vigil of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into heaven. But this was no ordinary day for this faith community.

Synod, cont'd on pg. 3

Bishop Barron anoints the new altar at Holy Redeemer Church in Eyota on August 14.

Pope Francis participates in morning prayer during a session of the Synod of Bishops on young people in this file photo from 2018. The October assembly of the "synod on synodality" has been designed to include more times for shared prayer - both publicly and among synod members only. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Dedication Day, cont'd on pg. 13

Pope Urges Young Russians to Sow Seeds of Peace

Articles

By CINDY WOODEN, Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Although Russia's continuing war on Ukraine may make peace seem an impossible dream, Pope Francis urged young Russian Catholics to sow seeds of reconciliation and peace however they can.

"I wish you, young Russians, the vocation to be artisans of peace in the midst of so many conflicts, in the midst of so many polarization

Officials

The Most Rev. Robert Barron, Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, announces the following:

Judicial Vicar

Very Rev. William Thompson: appointed to a three-year term as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, effective September 1, 2023.

Diocesan Curia

Mr. John Meyers: appointed to the Diocesan Curia, effective September 5, 2023.

Pastor

Rev. Timothy Biren: appointed Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Worthington, effective October 16, 2023.

on all sides, which plague our world," the pope said during an hourlong video call Aug. 25 with 400 participants in a Russian Catholic youth festival.

"I invite you to be sowers, to sow seeds of reconciliation, little seeds that in this winter of war will not sprout in the frozen ground for the time being, but will blossom in a future spring," he told them.

Young Russians, cont'd on pg. 7

Rev. Russell Scepaniak: appointed Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Winona, effective October 16, 2023.

Parochial Administrator

Rev. Msgr. Richard Colletti: appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Worthington, effective September 1, 2023.

Very Rev. William Thompson: appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Parish in Winona, effective August 24, 2023.

Canonical Administrator

Rev. Msgr. Thomas Cook: appointed Canonical Administrator of Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Owatonna, effective August 30, 2023.

We pray for the Church, that she may adopt listening and dialogue as a lifestyle at every level, and allow herself to be guided by the Holy Spirit towards the peripheries of the world.

of the month prior.

(ISSN 0744-5490)

Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon: appointed Canonical Administrator of Calvary Cemetery in Rochester, effective August 30, 2023.

Diaconal Ministry

Rev. Mr. Brian Klein: appointed to Diaconal Ministry at St. Augustine Parish and St. Edward Parish in Austin, effective August 30, 2023, through the coming school year.

Social Concerns Committee

Rev. Shawn Haremza: appointed to a three-year term on the Diocese of WinonaRochester Social Concerns Committee, effective October 1, 2023.

Catholic Schools

Rev. Andrew Beerman: appointed to a two-year term on the United Catholic Schools Foundation of Austin Board, effective September 7, 2023.

Mr. Scott Morgan: appointed to a three-year term on the Loyola Catholic Schools Board of Trustees, ending June 30, 2026.

Minnesota Catholic Conference

Mr. Isaac Landsteiner: appointed to a three-year term on the Minnesota Catholic Conference Social Concerns Committee, effective August 30, 2023.

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 507-454-2270, Extension 255. A caller will be asked to provide his or her name and telephone number. Individuals are also encouraged to take their reports directly to civil authorities. The Diocese of Winona-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 Winona-Rochester’s implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please contact Mary Hamann at 507-858-1244, or mhamann@dowr.org.

Ms. Mary Spring: appointed to a three-year term on the Minnesota Catholic Conference Education Committee, effective August 30, 2023.

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Where to Find The Courier

Pope Francis smiles at visitors at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Aug. 23, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)

As I Leave for the Synod on Synodality

participating in a high-level discussion regarding some important matters in the life of the Church. But I don’t like the prospect of being away from the diocese for such a long stretch of time. That said, I’m leaving our local church in good hands. Fr. Will Thompson, my vicar general, will keep a steady hand on the tiller, as will Fr. Mark McNea, my vicar for clergy, and through my faithful assistant Leandra Hubka, I will stay in close contact in case of any emergencies.

3

� would like to begin with an apology, for I am going to be absent from our diocese for the next roughly five weeks. Last November, along with four other of my brother bishops, I was elected as a delegate to the international Synod on Synodality, which will take up the entire month of October.

The Pope has asked all of the delegates to be present for an ecumenical prayer service in Rome in late September and then for a three day retreat to be conducted just prior to the opening of the Synod - so five weeks in total. I will confess to having some mixed feelings about all this. I love Rome, and October is a beautiful month to be in the Eternal City, and I’m certainly excited about

I was a delegate to the Synod on Young People five years ago, so I have a feel for what to expect at this monthlong meeting. We will work six days a week - Monday through Saturday - deliberating in plenary sessions and in small language groups. The work day will last from 8:30 in the morning until 7:30 in the evening, with a couple hour break in the afternoon for a siesta in the Roman manner. There will be delegates from all over the world, this time including a large contingent of lay people. Our discussions will be based on what they call an instrumentum laboris or “working document,” which for this Synod represents the culmination of two years of listening sessions with Catholics from across the globe. At the last Synod I attended, we produced and voted on a final document, expressive of our convictions. This won’t happen at the October Synod, since there

Synod, cont'd from pg. 1

Almost every time someone mentions the synod within earshot of the pope, Pope Francis insists "it's not a parliament."

And the pope, the synod secretariat and the synod preparatory commission have spent months working on ways to ensure the 378 full members of the synod, the eight special guests and 75 experts, facilitators and staff have an experience of "spiritual conversation," which the synod office describes as intense, prayerful listening that pays attention at the same time to spiritual movements in oneself and in the other person.

Creating and protecting an environment where such conversations can take place - and where people truly are open to changing their minds - has been a matter of strategizing, planning and intense debate as advisers to the pope and the synod office also try to help the entire Catholic Church understand how the process is working and whether the hopes and

will be a follow-up session this time next year. Only when that has played out will, presumably, a final statement be prepared. If this Synod is like the last one I attended, the Pope will be personally present at practically every session, but he won’t say very much, since he will want all the delegates to feel free to express their opinions. The proceedings will close with a festive Mass in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Francis. So that’s the form and structure of the Synod, but what about the substance? As the Pope and his representatives have stressed, over and again, the Synod on Synodality will be about involving the entire Church, the whole people of God, in the fulfillment of Christ’s commission to announce the Gospel to all nations. It will be about all of us - clergy and laity - walking together (syn-hodos, “on the way with” in Greek) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In this measure, the Synod will be very much in continuity with Vatican II’s universal call to holiness and the consistent post-conciliar emphasis on a “new” evangelization. It will embody Pope Francis’ oftstated desire for a Church that goes out from itself all the way to the margins in order to bring Christ to everyone. There is plenty of material in the Instrumentum laboris along these lines, and I am eager to participate in conversations that will give

rise to ever more effective strategies to accomplish the Church’s evangelical purpose. As I have often said, the Church should be deeply interested in sending great Catholic lawyers, physicians, business leaders, investors, educators, writers, and entertainers into the world as leaven.

If I might, I would also like to share a concern about the Synod. Based upon the hundreds of interventions I read when I was monitoring the pre-Synodal process in my pastoral region in California, upon the findings of the Continental stage, and upon the Instrumentum laboris itself, I would say that the dominant concern of those who participated is to provide a greater sense of welcome to those who feel alienated from the life of the Church. The people they have in mind include especially women and those in the LGBT community. Now addressing feelings of alienation and trying to make the Church as welcoming as possible is always a legitimate pastoral concern. Always.

But some have been suggesting that the Synod ought to consider a change in the Church’s moral teaching and sacramental discipline in order to make alienated Catholics feel more included. And here I hesitate, precisely because feelings, however intense, do not in themselves constitute a theological argument. There is a variety of reasons - some good, some

concerns they shared early in the synod process were heard.

A regular rhythm of shared prayer - both publicly and among synod members only - is planned throughout the Oct. 4-Oct. 29 synod assembly.

After an ecumenical prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square Sept. 30, all the members of the synod - which include lay women and men for the first time - will spend three days together on retreat outside Rome. They will return to the Vatican for the opening Mass of the synod Oct. 4 and will celebrate Mass together before beginning work on each main synod theme: synodality, communion, mission and participation.

Pope Francis told reporters in early September the synod would be "very open" with regular updates from the synod's communication commission, but "it is necessary to safeguard the religiosity and safeguard the freedom of those who speak," so apparently synod members will be asked not to share with reporters the contents of their own or other members' remarks to the synod.

The notoriously stuffy atmosphere characterized by hours of speeches in the Vatican Synod Hall

bad - why a person might feel unwelcome in the Church. If that alienation is the product of hatred or stupid prejudice, then the situation must be addressed immediately and directly. But if the estrangement is caused by a deep disconnect between what the Church legitimately demands and the manner in which someone is living, then the needful thing is for that person to change his attitude. The point is that we cannot adjudicate the matter by remaining at the level of feelings. We have to move to the level of real argument based on the Bible, the theological tradition, and the natural moral law. My very real hope is that the engagement of both the pastoral and properly theological dimensions of this issue of inclusivity will be a key work of the Synod.

From the Bishop

Could I ask you please to pray for me and for all of the delegates to the Synod as we commence our work? And might I ask that your prayer take the form of a simple invocation of the Holy Spirit? Veni Sancte Spiritus!

-Most Rev. Robert Barron, Bishop of Winona-Rochester

will disappear. The synod assembly will be held in the much larger Vatican audience hall with its rows of seats removed to make way for round tables to promote constant interactions.

More of the work will be conducted in small groups, organized by language and by the themes of interest to participants. The plenary sessions are designed for a general introduction of the various themes and for reporting the results of the small group discussions. Members will not stay in the same small groups throughout the assembly but change when the themes they are working on change.

According to the working document, "the last segment of the work of the assembly will be dedicated to gathering the fruits of the process, that is, discerning the paths we will continue to walk together. The assembly will consider ways to continue reading the experience of the people of God, including through promoting the necessary in-depth theological and canonical studies in preparation for the second session of the synodal assembly in October 2024."

Non Nisi Te Domine

Bishop Robert Barron

A Daily Examen for Missionary Disciples

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

-Matthew 6:22-23

�ow do we better see the opportunities God places before us to share his

hope and good news? We learn to see them through an examen.

A daily general examen is a beloved prayer from Ignatian spirituality. It is meant to be 15-20 minutes of your day, usually in the evening: you place your day before God and look for where he was especially close, and how you responded to his presence. It is meant to draw one to awareness of sin but it is also meant to draw one to the goodness of God–the graces of the day. Many consider praying the general examen daily, or even two or three

Susan Windley-Daoust Director of Missionary Discipleship swindley@dowr.org

times a day, to be one of the most life-changing prayer practices you can embrace. In the end, you gain a beautiful, new awareness of God’s mercy and presence in your life.

This examen for disciples on mission is a “particular examen” - a deliberate focus on one aspect of your life and discipleship. It is meant to help a person grow in awareness of “divine appointments” scattered throughout the day, as opportunities to express God’s love and share the good news. If you wish to grow in this area, consider praying through these questions slowly and deliberately on a daily basis.

Crea�e a s�len� space for ��e Lord, and begin with asking the Holy Spirit to help illumine your day.

Then ask yourself:

• Did I begin the day with prayer? Did I invite the Holy Spirit into my life today?

• Where did I encounter Jesus Christ...

• this morning?

• this afternoon?

• this evening?

• Did I sense God’s hand in a particular manner today–a conversation, a sight?

• Was there an opportunity, a “divine appointment,” to share God’s love and message of hope that I caught? If so, I give God thanks for the opportunity to share his love.

• Was there a "divine appointment" that I missed? If so, I ask God for eyes to see tomorrow’s opportunity.

• Did I have an opportunity to accompany someone in their walk of faith?

• Was I able to join my love for Jesus Christ with the people of God through participation in the the mass? Or a “spiritual communion”? In family prayer, or communal prayer?

• Did I seek a person with whom to share Jesus’ love and compassion today, especially someone in need?

• Did I fall from God’s moral will for me?

• Where did I say yes to the Lord today?

End with a closing prayer: of repentance if needed, of gratitude for the Lord’s love, and a recommitment to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Blessings on your prayer and growth in discipleship!

'May the Angels Lead You into Paradise'

Diane died three days later, and my wife, Laurie, and I traveled back to Nebraska for her funeral on September 13. It was the first time that all of my siblings and I (11 of us, with Diane) were together since before COVID. We were joined by many other family members as Father Jorge celebrated the funeral liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Grand Island.

First, I am so grateful for the gift of my family:

• For Dan, Diane’s husband, and his faithful love and care for her over their 40 years of marriage, and especially during the challenges of her final years. Truly love in action!

In the Eucharist, we in fact encounter the living Jesus and His strength, and through Him we enter into communion with our brothers and sisters in the faith: those who live with us here on earth and those who have gone before us into the next life, the unending life. This reality fills us with joy: it is beautiful to have so many brothers and sisters in the faith who walk beside us, supporting us with their help, and together we travel the same road toward heaven. And it is comforting to know that there are other brothers and sisters who have already reached heaven, who await us and pray for us, so that together in eternity we can contemplate the glorious and merciful face of the Father.

-Pope Francis, Angelus Address Nov. 1, 2014

reetings of Peace in these early fall days!

On a day late this summer, I received a text from my sister, Susan. Before reading it, I was thinking that she was either letting me know that she would be coming to town for a visit or sharing news about our older sister, Diane. The latter was the case as she texted that Diane had just gone on hospice care and would likely be dying soon. Diane had suffered from serious, chronic lung disease for the past few years, and her health had not been good.

I headed out two days later for her home in Grand Island, Nebraska. Joined by my daughter, Hannah, I was able to visit Diane a final time, and to thank her for all that she had done for me and to tell her goodbye. She loved to call me her “baby brother,” and I had lived with her and her son, Brady, for three summers during high school. Those were good days, and I treasure those summer times with her and Brady, who is also my godson.

While I was there with other members of our family, her pastor stopped by to pray with us and to offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. It was a powerful moment for us to stand together with Father Jorge, representing our Church, and to pray for our sister/wife/mother as she lay dying. To see her receive “the living Jesus” in the Eucharist touched my heart in a special way.

I had the special privilege and grace to read at her funeral. The texts chosen were beautiful – from the Book of Revelation and the Second Letter of St. Paul to Timothy. Both captured the faith of Diane, who had suffered much in her life, and the faith we’d received from our parents, in a profound way.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more… I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them [as their God]. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.”

-Revelation 21:1, 3-4

For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance.

What a blessing it was to be surrounded by so many family and friends I have known and loved throughout my life to pray for Diane as she had passed from her earthly life into eternal life. And, to do so by celebrating the Eucharist together where earth and heaven are united by the presence of Christ in His Word, in His people, in His priest, and most fully and truly in His Body and Blood.

There was a very special moment during the Closing Rites when Fr. Jorge invited Diane’s family – Dan, her husband, Brady and his family, and all of us, her siblings – to come forward around the casket. We extended our hands in a gesture of blessing as he prayed the prayer of commendation and final blessing. And, then, we processed out together with the casket – the family who had loved and walked with Diane throughout her life, and now in her death.

There are so many reflections I could share from this experience, and I will offer just a few that are especially close to my heart.

• For Brady, her son and my godson. I am so blessed to be his godfather, and to have watched him grow up to become such a wonderful man, caring son, faithful husband to Kathy, and devoted father to Kierney and Kaydence.

• For my sister, Susan, and her husband, Tom, who were by Diane’s side in her final days, to help care for her and be with her. A corporal and spiritual work of mercy!

• For all of my sisters and brothers, and their families, who inspire me with their commitments of love and care for their families, for their neighbors, and for their communities. Mom and Dad taught us well!

Second, I am deeply grateful for our Catholic Faith, and for our Church. Father Jorge was a most caring pastor to Diane and our family in her final days. He brought the presence of Christ to her, and to us, in his ministry and in the Eucharist. We were blessed to know Christ’s mercy and love in the Sacraments of the Church as we gathered at her bedside for the Anointing, and in her parish church for the funeral Mass. And, it is truly consoling to know that we continue to be united with her in the Communion of Saints whenever we gather to celebrate the Eucharist.

And, finally, I am grateful for the gift of knowing that Diane’s journey continues from her earthly life with us into her eternal life with all of the saints gazing on “the glorious and merciful face of the Father.” Her life lived here on earth and into eternity, she remains my sister. To know that our God is Divine Love and Mercy allows me to entrust Diane to His eternal embrace. “May she rest in peace!” Deo Gratias!

May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. May the choir of Angels greet you and like Lazarus, who once was a poor man, may you have eternal rest. Amen.

-"In Paradisum"

-2 Timothy 4:6-8

Todd Graff Director of Lay Formation & RCIA tgraff@dowr.org

Lay Formation & RCIA

U.S. Bishops Release Statement on Respect for Life Month

The following statement, entitled "Living Radical Solidarity," by the MOST REV. MICHAEL BURBIDGE, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was released by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on September 18, 2023.

since 1973, the year the Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in Roe v. Wade, the month of October has been set aside by the U.S. bishops as a time to focus on protecting God’s precious gift of human life. While we thank God that the terrible reign of Roe has ended, we also recognize that abortion still continues in most states and is aggressively promoted at the federal level. A great many prayers, sacrifices, and good works are still desperately needed to transform a culture of death into a culture of life. Our public witness, our marching, and our advocacy must continue, yet laws alone will not end the tragedy of abortion.

While ending legalized abortion remains our preeminent priority, the most immediate way to save babies and mothers from abortion is to thoroughly surround mothers in need with life-giving support and personal accompaniment. This is radical solidarity.

St. John Paul II first defined “radical solidarity” in this way: “In firmly rejecting ‘pro-choice’ it is necessary to become courageously ‘pro woman,’ promoting a choice that is truly in favor of women. … The only honest stance, in these cases, is that of radical solidarity with the woman. It is not right to leave her alone.”

Being in radical solidarity with women who are pregnant or raising children in difficult circumstances means putting our love for them into action and putting their needs before our own. Pope Francis reminds us that solidarity “refers to something more than a few sporadic acts of generosity. It presumes the creation of a new mindset,” a transformation within our own hearts.

This new mindset requires that we come alongside vulnerable mothers in profound friendship, compassion, and support for both them and their preborn children. It means addressing the fundamental challenges that lead an expectant mother to believe she is unable to welcome the child God has entrusted to her.

This includes collective efforts within our dioceses, parishes, schools and local communities, engagement in the public square, and pursuit of policies that help support both women and their preborn babies. It all the more so requires our individual, personal commitment to helping mothers in our own communities secure material, emotional, and spiritual support for embracing the gift of life. Radical solidarity means moving beyond the status quo and out of our comfort zones.

Our parish-based and nationwide initiative, Walking with Moms in Need, for example, provides easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions to help transform our parishes into places of welcome, support, and assistance for pregnant and parenting mothers facing difficulties. Melissa, a North Carolina mom with young children and a busy job, attended a parish informational session for Walking with Moms in Need, thinking she might help out here and there. But she felt the Lord’s call and “by the end of the session she had volunteered to be the ministry’s coordinator.” Her parish now holds “Hand Up Days” once a month during which families can “shop” free of charge for baby and toddler items they need that have been donated by parishioners.

Melissa shared some powerful words of encouragement: “I think for too long we have been comfortable leaving the work of accompanying women in crisis situations - pregnant or parenting - to others in the nonprofit and government sectors. It is very clear in the Gospel that this is our job - all of us! A woman in a pregnancy center once told me that most women considering abortion are wrestling with a financial matter less than $250 and that has really stuck with me. If we can lighten the burden just a little, what a difference we can make - it is literally life or death.”

Peter Martin Director of Life, Marriage & Family and Communications pmartin@dowr.org

God has given each of us particular gifts, and with those gifts He entrusts us with a role and duty within the Body of Christ. Embracing an attitude of radical solidarity calls us to honestly reflect on some challenging questions and to consider specific actions we can take to foster an authentic culture of life. Some questions we might ask ourselves could include: Do I know what efforts are happening in my area to help women who are pregnant or parenting in difficult circumstances? What are the needs? What are my gifts and talents? How can I adjust my schedule or budget to assist efforts to help moms in need and their children? Radical solidarity can be lived out in countless ways, including volunteering at your local pregnancy center; helping an expectant mother find stable housing; babysitting so a mom can work or take classes; providing encouragement and a listening ear to a mom without a support system; or speaking to your pastor about beginning Walking with Moms in Need at your parish.

In addition to enshrining pro-life laws and policies, the transformation of our culture also requires continual conversion of our own hearts, so that we can recognize in every person the face of Christ and place their needs before our own.

And so, this October, I invite all Catholics to think about building a culture of life in terms of radical solidarity. We are the Church. Our prayers, witness, sacrifices, advocacy, and good works are needed now, more than ever. We are the hands and feet of Christ in the world today and we each have a personal responsibility to care for one another.

For more information on how to celebrate Respect Life Month and stand in radical solidarity with moms in need, please visit respectlife.org/celebrate.

Camp Summit Through the Eyes of a Fiat 7

Dana Thirstrup Director of Youth Ministry and Faith Formation dpetricka@dowr.org

By ABBY MOSES

camp Summit is a four-day Catholic adventure camp where 6-8 graders encounter Christ and have adventures. Campers are put in a group with their church and other parishes. During their days at camp, they will listen to talks about the theme at camp. This year’s theme was “Do this in memory of me” from Matthew (22:14-20), and in our morning prayer sessions we learned about Eucharistic Miracles. We do activities like high ropes courses, archery, and many more exciting challenges. There are diocesan activities, like rosary making, listening to guest speakers talk about Vocations and Theology of the Body, and hiking. In the evenings, we have Mass, Adoration and time with Jesus, following a camp activity like "Find the Fiat."

The campers are with the high school Fiat leaders and chaperones during the day. There is a Fiat team and a Dream team; the latter is made of ninth+ -graders who work and serve in the background. The Fiat team is made up of 10-12th graders who lead the groups in faith, and bunk with the campers at night.

Young Russians, cont'd from pg. 2

"Have the courage to replace fears with dreams. Replace fears with dreams. Replace fears with dreams," Pope Francis repeated. "Do not be stewards of fears but entrepreneurs of dreams. Allow yourself the luxury of dreaming big!"

The Vatican press office published the pope's prepared remarks to the gathering in St. Petersburg Aug. 26, but he also responded to questions from some participants, including a young woman who asked how diplomacy could end the war in Ukraine. His response was reported by Fides, the news agency of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Diplomacy does not ignore conflict, but it strives to foster dialogue and unity, Pope Francis told her. "Diplomacy advances following a path where unity is superior to conflict. Real diplomacy is not afraid of conflicts, but it does not underline them: it takes conflicts, and, with conflicts, it moves forward through dialogue and prayer."

"Diplomacy is not easy. Diplomats do so much good for humanity. It is not easy work, but it is very fruitful," the pope said. "And this, both with regard to the Ukrainian situation and with other countries. Diplomacy always builds, it does not destroy."

I was a Fiat member this year, and it was beautiful. Everyone there was there to love and serve Jesus! I came to camp excited to get to know the campers and watch them grow in their faith and man, I was blown away. Anyone there to serve was radiating with the Holy Spirt, and you knew they wanted to be there. Then the campers came and everyone was so loving and excited for camp. During the day everyone was so busy with activities but then evening would come and we would just sit in Jesus’ presence in Eucharistic Adoration, and it was astonishing seeing all the campers connecting with Jesus, meeting him for the first time or the hundredth. You could see their life changing before your eyes.

On the last night of camp, we have Eucharistic Adoration before the dance party. All the Fiat Leaders are at a station that anyone is welcome to come up to and be prayed for, whether you have prayer intentions or not. I as a Fiat was blessed to pray over anyone who desired it, and that is just one of the many beauties of Camp Summit.

Camp Summit is a time to grow closer to Christ and see his love for you. It is called Camp Summit because it is a high point in your faith. You are face to face with Jesus and surrounded with community. It is important to know that your faith journey won’t always be easy, but there are always people that want to help you, and Jesus is always right there waiting for you.

In his prepared remarks, Pope Francis focused on some of the themes he had spoken about in Lisbon, Portugal, earlier in the month during World Youth Day, including his insistence that in the church there is room for everyone.

"How many wounds, how much despair can be healed where we feel welcomed. And the church welcomes us," he said. "That is why I dream of a church where no one is superfluous, where no one is extra."

He pleaded with people not to treat the church as some kind of "customs office" where some are allowed in, and others are not.

"Entrance is free," he said. "And then, let everyone hear Jesus' invitation to follow him, to see how he stands before God; for this journey there are the teachings and the sacraments."

Abby Moses is a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Mankato.

Vocations

Meet Our New Seminarians!

�his year, Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary welcomes four new seminarians for the Diocese of WinonaRochester, and one seminarian returning after some time away. All five will introduce themselves in coming issues of The Courier. This month, please welcome PHILIPS JOHN PAUL, ISAIAH LIPPERT and TIMOTHY ZAPPA. Pray for these men as each discerns God's call for him!

Philips John Paul

Hello, readers! I hail from Pondicherry (also known as Puducherry), a city located in the southern part of India, with a population of around 898,000 people. Yes, you heard that right - I am from the distant land of India!

As you read this, you might be wondering, "What is this guy doing in The Courier?" Fair enough! Allow me to introduce myself. I am Philips John Paul, and I’m 23 years old. My family consists of three members: my dad, my mum, and myself. While I am originally from Pondicherry, I received my schooling in another state adjacent to it, called Andhra Pradesh. In case you didn't know, India has about 36 territories, each with its own language. So yes, I am a bilingual. Oh wait; it’s trilingual, actually! I speak Tamil, Telugu, and English. I began my education at a private school where my parents taught. Later, for my high school, I attended a Jesuit Institution, where I also had the privilege of serving as the senior sacristan for about two years, which played a significant role in shaping my faith life. Our family is devout; we regularly attend Mass and pray together as a family. I served at the altar almost every day since my First Holy Communion. All these factors instilled in me a desire to follow the heart of Christ and become His priest.

I entered the diocesan seminary back in India right after high school. The first two years of my formation were known as Initiation Years (I & II), followed by a Propaedeutic Year. Afterward, I began my college seminary, where I studied philosophy and graduated earlier this year.

A bit of backstory: My grandfather was a catechist who closely collaborated with Italian and American missionaries back in his day. The stories of their hard work and dedication have been passed down to me by my family. To this day, we pray for each of them during our family prayers. Despite being in the seminary discerning my vocation, the thought of how sacrificial these missionaries were never really left me. I began sharing my desire to serve elsewhere with my spiritual director, who advised me to resist making hasty decisions and to discern if the Lord truly desired this path for me. Fast forward four years later, in June 2022, after truly journeying with my spiritual director, as I grappled with which diocese to apply for, the Holy Father announced that Bishop Barron was appointed the bishop of Winona-Rochester! I greatly admired Bishop Barron and had grown up watching him. To me that seemed like a cue. After a few weeks of prayer following that announcement, I felt compelled to contact the Vocations Director of WinonaRochester, Father Jason Kern.

Fast forward ten months and a series of conversations later, here I am in Winona - from the distant East to the Midwest - beginning my discernment journey here as a seminarian for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. This time last year, I wouldn't have believed it if any of you had told me that I'd be 8,220 miles away from home this year. Yet, here I am! The Lord's thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are our ways the Lord's ways (cf. Is 55:8-9).

As I embark on this new journey, I humbly request your prayers for me, that I may draw closer to the Lord, and petition our beloved Mother to safeguard me, her child, under her mantle. Please be assured of my prayers for you as well! On a side note, I'm looking forward to becoming a Midwesterner in all possible ways as well!

Isaiah Lippert

My name is Isaiah Lippert, and I am one of the seminarians involved in the propaedeutic stage of seminary formation in St Paul this year. I’m 24 years old, and I was raised in a large Catholic family about 30 miles south of Mankato. My family’s faithful practice provided the first and most influential formation for my early faith, but this was complemented by the fact that my siblings and I were homeschooled, so Catholicism was made a subject of study, just as important as any other school subject. Catholic textbooks, assignments, discussion, and daily prayer were all part of my home's dynamics, so (thanks be to God) that meant I never had the chance to divorce the faith from my daily life. The faith was not something in my life; my life was something inside the story of our faith, and that foundation was probably the most fundamental reason why I entered IHM Seminary right after high school.

I spent three years in seminary initially, learning much and growing much, but also stricken by a lot of confusion. The faith I had (or thought I had) known was promptly challenged in both healthy and unhealthy ways, and, especially after having been trained to make sense of intense philosophical writings, my sharpened mind met the newfound depth in the paradoxical, counter-cultural, suprarational, and somewhat eerie mysteries of Catholicism, and the result both fried my brain and totally wrecked my heart. I found some degree of solace in the knowledge that I could simply take things a day at a time and let God reveal as I was ready to receive, but by the

Rev. Jason Kern Director of Vocations jkern@dowr.org

end of junior year my formators rightly intuited and declared that I should leave seminary formation to discern and grow in a different sort of environment.

Far from being a secondary or accidental lot, I see now that where I landed after discerning out was entirely guided by the hand of the Almighty. With a further-developed understanding of Catholicism, an overwhelming delight in its beauty, a newfound gift for teaching it, a resurgence of interest in learning more about it, and a gentle sense of being called to pastoral ministry, I am now back in seminary formation three years later, having finished my degree in philosophy and having worked two years as a faithformation coordinator in a local Catholic tri-parish. Very few of my own words seem adequate to describe the good God has done for me, so I feel led to close instead with the words of one of my favorite hymns:

Be still my soul the Lord is on thy side

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Leave to thy God to order and provide

In every change He faithful will remain

Timothy Zappa

Hi, my name is Timothy Zappa. I am originally from Saint Paul, but I consider Hastings, MN, my hometown. I graduated from Hastings High School back in 2012. My hobbies include hiking, painting, weightlifting, camping, botany and board games of all kinds.

After high school I attended a couple different colleges before getting a degree in wildlife ecology and management with a minor in biology. College gave me many great opportunities to grow closer to God, from standing in front of Victoria Falls in Zambia, to the small personal relationships with people seeking Him. Along the way God has helped me become more aware of His love for the beauty of creation and the people who live in it.

Philips John Paul

Isaiah Lippert

I have felt a gentle tug towards seminary since I was young. However, both internally and externally, there has been a need for growth, and in God's time. As I grew after college I helped to coordinate small groups and online meet-ups during COVID, taught faith formation from third to tenth grade (not all at once, thankfully), was a mission coordinator and then president for the Rochester Catholic Young Adult Group, and I put together murder mysteries, canoe trips, game nights, book studies, and Catechism studies. None of these things would have been possible without the support of God and the help of many other Catholics and Christians in the area, to whom I am forever grateful.

My journey to enter this propaedeutic year has not been a straight line. It has spanned multiple dioceses and two continents! It has had hills and valleys all along the way, and, looking back, I can only thank God for it going the way He wanted. I look forward to this next stage in the journey, and I look forward to seeing where He takes me next.

�ary received a very special birthday present on September 8 - a new deacon. Joshua Miller was ordained to the transitional diaconate for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester at Sacred Heart Church in Waseca, Joshua’s home parish. The beautiful Sacred Heart Church was filled with some 40 priests, 20 deacons, numerous religious and seminarians, while the faithful from Waseca and around the Diocese filled up the rest of the pews. Bishop Barron was joined by Archbishop Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and Bishop Chad Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm. With the grand sound of the church organ, an excellent quartet of singers, candles, incense and flowers, all glory and thanksgiving to God was given for the gift of his son and for the gift of this new vocation.

With God’s grace we will have three young deacons ordained to priesthood next spring. Please keep Deacon Joshua Miller, his diaconal brothers, and all our seminarians in your prayers, and join us in a prayer of thanks for this most excellent day. Photos and caption by PAULA HARRIGAN, administrative assistant for the offices of the Diaconate and Vocations in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

Implementing the Program of Priestly Formation, Sixth Edition

By FR. ROBERT HORIHAN

changes have come to IHMS this year thanks to the sixth edition of the Program of Priestly Formation (PPF), which sets forth the norms of priestly formation in seminaries throughout the United States. The latest edition of the PPF, which went into effect on August 4 of this year, does not use the familiar academic jargon of freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes but instead employs language of “stages.” The work of formation that has heretofore been understand as unfolding through those four aforementioned classes will henceforth be seen as occurring through two distinct stages, namely, the propaedeutic and the discipleship stages. A man enters the propaedeutic stage when he first begins formation, and this stage will usually last one year. Once the propaedeutic stage is completed, a man will enter the discipleship stage, which will span several years. The propaedeutic stage is thus not unlike the more familiar “freshman year,” with the discipleship stage extending throughout the remaining years here at IHMS.

As already mentioned, the propaedeutic stage will usually last a year, but the PPF specifies that “year” in this case means twelve months and not simply an academic year. Thus, this year’s incoming propaedeutic stage seminarians arrived at IHMS in the midst of the summer months, several weeks before the other seminarians returned and the academic semester began. This earlier arrival allowed the men to acclimate more gradually to their fraternal home and lay a firm foundation for their future formation at IHMS. And just as they arrived prior to the academic year, they will also remain for some time after the spring semester concludes and the other seminarians have departed for their summer activities.

This extra time beyond the typical eight or nine month academic year allows a more reflective first year of formation for the propaedeutic stage seminarians. It provides the space for them to pray, ponder, and discern deeply whether the Lord is calling them to continue exploring the possibility of a priestly vocation.

By definition, the propaedeutic stage is a man’s very first experience of priestly formation. Thus, a

man new to IHMS may be able to enter the discipleship stage if he has completed the propaedeutic stage in another setting. In addition to the twenty propaedeutic stage seminarians who arrived at IHMS in July, we do have another five “new men” who came in August and entered the discipleship stage, as they had already experienced the initial phase of formation elsewhere. Such cases could aptly be compared to transfer students at secular colleges who begin at one institution and continue their studies at another.

We have been introducing our twenty propaedeutic stage seminarians on our Facebook page throughout the past month and are excited to welcome them as we launch into a new venture. We pray that the Spirit will animate them, and all of the seminarians here at IHMS, with zeal, love, and ardor as they continue exploring the will of God for their lives. We ask for your prayers, as well, that the Lord will make known to them his abundant love as they grow in deeper communion with him.

Robert Horihan is the rector of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona.

Fr.

Timothy Zappa

Owatonna Native Makes Final Profession of Vows with the Sisters of Life

How has Caroline's role in the family changed as she has become Sister Ann Immaculèe? How has it stayed the same?

Vocations

on Saturday, August 5, 2023, Sister Ann Immaculèe, daughter of Joe and Sharon Stiles of Sacred Heart Parish in Owatonna, made her Final Vows to her Beloved Spouse in the Religious Order of the Sisters of Life, based in New York, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City, after eight years of formation. The Courier has asked Sr. Ann Immaculèe and her parents for their perspectives on the experience.

Tell us about the Sisters of Life.

SR. ANN: I am a part of a religious community called the Sisters of Life. We exist to proclaim the sacred dignity of every human life from conception to natural death. The glorious wonder of every human person, of you!

Every life has value and infinite worth, no matter how rich or poor, weak or strong, healthy or sick. This means you. God wanted you from all eternity. He chose to create you and loves you personally and deeply right now. In a culture that has lost the sense of the purpose and meaning of life, we live to declare the truth you are known by Him, and He has a plan for you. He loves you not because of what you can produce or achieve but simply because you exist. You don’t have to earn His love. He calls you simply to receive it. It’s freely given.

As Sisters of life, we spend about half of our day in prayer and the other half is spent in our various missions. We serve women who are pregnant and vulnerable to abortion to give them the support they need to choose life for themselves and their children. We have a home where pregnant women come and live with us during their pregnancy and up to about 8 months after the baby is born. We host retreats, have a mission of evangelization, and are on college campuses, accompanying young adults as they navigate how to live true, authentic, virtuous lives in this difficult culture; and we have a mission of hope and healing, accompanying women who are suffering after abortion and are seeking healing and renewal. This is one of our most stunning missions where Jesus relieves burdens, resurrects hearts and fills them with new life again.

Sister, when did you first feel a call to religious life?

SR. ANN: I first felt a call to religious life when I began my studies as a college student at the University of St. Thomas. I became involved with Campus Ministry as well as the Catholic Studies program where I began a steady prayer life and received a rich intellectual formation. Eucharistic Adoration and Daily Mass became essentials for me. The more I spent time with Jesus, the more I wanted to be with Him. As I grew to know Him in prayer, I began to experience a gentle tug toward religious life. I sensed that He wanted my heart to belong exclusively to Him in consecration. I had always dreamed of getting married and having a family, so you can imagine how surprised I was! Yet, I couldn’t deny the invitation God was placing on my heart.

I remember fondly a particular moment that the Lord spoke to me. I was at one of my sisters’ weddings and I was the maid-of-honor. The liturgy was gorgeous, the flowers were beautiful, and the music was stunning. It was the wedding I would have planned for myself. After receiving Holy Communion, I glanced up to glimpse the newly wedded couple, taking in the beauty of the sacrament. And in that moment, Jesus’ love rushed into my heart, and I was overcome by His presence. I sensed within my heart a silent yet undeniable invitation from Jesus: He was inviting me into a spousal love, where I would be His alone. He was calling me to be His bride and I would be the mother to all souls.

As the desire for religious life grew more and more over the months, I finally found the courage to step out of the boat in this adventure with my Divine Bridegroom, trusting in His love. I entered the Sisters of Life in 2015 after graduating from college, and it’s been the greatest gift of my life!

What is the most surprising thing you have learned during the formation process?

SHARON: The most surprising thing I have learned during Sr. Ann Immaculèe's formation process is that it has called forth great love and sacrifice on our part to watch her enter into this new chapter of her life. Her life in the Convent has required more separation from her due to the time commitment to the Religious Life she has entered into. However, even still with this new and real experience of separation, Sr. Ann Immaculèe still remains deeply part of our lives.

SHARON: Sr. Ann Immaculèe's role has changed in that she has a greater desire to spend more time in prayer, Adoration and Mass which causes her to spend time away from us, however briefly. She has stayed the same in that she is still a vital part of our family life, and we have great times together when she is home for her family visits.

What unique gifts does a Religious Sister bring her family?

SHARON: Some of the unique gifts as a Religious Sister that Sr. Ann Immaculèe has brought into our family is her love, joy and zeal for JESUS. It is so refreshing to share in her enthusiasm and watch her be so full of joy. It has helped to enrich our own faith journey with JESUS.

JOE: Having a religious Sister in the family is a unique privilege. It is indeed a gift, not something that parents or siblings can rightfully take credit for. In fact, I have a pat response to those that say to me and my wife, “Oh, you must have been the greatest, most inspiring parents; after all, you have as son who is a priest and now a daughter who is a fully-professed Sister.” My sincere response is, “You have probably heard the saying, ‘God writes straight with crooked lines.’ We know full well that we parents are the crooked lines!”

Indeed, we can’t take credit for how God has blessed not only Sr. Ann but our entire family. As family members - siblings, parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews - we observe Sr. Ann live out her vows, and we can’t help but be inspired. She is so faithful, so full of joy, so willing to follow God’s call. Those of us who have been called to the vocation of marriage are inspired by her dedication and devotion. Daily Mass for sure; daily holy hour (usually before the Blessed Sacrament); praying the Liturgy of the Hours; wearing the religious habit; and the like. And she tells us (parents and siblings) that she, in turn, is inspired by us as she takes note of how we laity strive faithfully to live out our vocations. She is well aware that, because of our daily commitments to rearing children, earning incomes, and managing our households, we cannot devote as much time to prayer and service to the Church as she does. But she marvels at the hard work and love that is demanded by marriage and family life.

In other words, there is a great, beautiful, and noble complementarity going on here, not just within our own family, but also within the wider Church family. Married couples (as well as those who are single) need the profound witness of those in vowed religious life. Likewise religious Sisters and Brothers, as well as priests, need the equally profound witness of those who are faithfully and joyfully living out their vocation as the laity in the Church.

Another thing I have observed about the impact on our family life is how we now have a built-in timeframe for family gatherings. Sr. Ann is granted permission by her religious order to spend 10 days every year with her family, usually in the summer. She loves to come back to her home in Owatonna. And naturally all of her siblings and nieces and nephews - some who

Sisters of Life, cont'd on pg. 11

Sr. Ann Immaculèe appears second from left in St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, NY, on August 5. Photography by the Sisters of Life and Jeffrey Bruno.

Let God Be God. Then Be at Peace!

Deacon John Hust Director of the Permanent Diaconate jhust@dowr.org

By DEACON ROBERT YERHOT, MSW

Church and became a Baptist. I asked her why she left. She said she had been treated unjustly and was “not being fed” in the Catholic Church. She was a dear woman, and so I invited her to further conversation, offering my help should she ever wish to come home to the Church.

I could not help but be struck by her comment about not being fed by the Church at a time of injustice in her life. I thought how she had been fed at every Mass with the Body and Blood, the Soul and

ministers of justice to the afflicted. We bear the Servant Mysteries of Jesus into a suffering world. Wherever we are, whatever we face, God is present and provides the grace. However deep the fear, God’s love is deeper. However unfair life may seem, God’s perfect justice prevails.

�

esus told us to fear nothing (Mt 10: 31). After the resurrection, he repeatedly said, “Peace be with you” (Mt 28: 9f; Jn 20: 20f; Jn 20: 26). Do we live without fear, and in peace?

Nothing happens without God’s knowledge. He is holding us in his hands, unceasingly breathing life into us and willing us to live. We cannot escape God’s notice and his love for us. God simply is, and he continually sustains us. He does this in particularly powerful and evident ways in and through the Church.

Do you feel you are being fed by God in the Church? I say “fed” because it is a word people use to explain why they quit coming to Mass or leave the Church when they experience sin, injustice, pain, or suffering in their lives.

Indeed, the reality of disease, sin, imperfection, pain, and injustice confronts us on a daily basis and challenges our faith.

I once met a woman who spoke freely of her faith in Jesus. She was fearless in publicly praying, which I greatly admired. I approached her, commended her and asked where she had received her faith. She told me how she had been raised Catholic, but left the

Sisters of Life, cont'd from pg. 10

live in Connecticut, others in Iowa, and several in the Twin Cities - want to “come home” and spend time with her. This is such a joyful time for all of us: cooking special meals together, playing yard and board games, taking walks, squeezing into beds (and sleeping bags) at night, and attending Sunday Mass as a family unit. I always marvel how everyone sets aside at least some of their family vacation time to coincide with Sr. Ann’s 10 days every year. In sum, I would maintain, paradoxically, that we are an even closer family unit because of Sr. Ann’s absence from our family except for those 10 days!

What were the biggest challenges posed by this vocation? How did you overcome them?

SR. ANN: As I was discerning my vocation, one of the biggest challenges was trusting that God would fulfill my desires for spousal love and maternity. I feared that God would not be enough for me, and that the sacrifice of physical motherhood was too much to surrender. Yet, “perfect love casts out all fear” (Jn 4:18). God protected my vocation through a faithful

prayer life, which constantly confronted me with the power of His pursuing love, and slowly began to wash away my fears. His love began to be more than enough for me as I grew to know Him, and He began to put desires for motherhood on my heart that expanded the bounds of an earthly family. I wanted to be the mother of every soul, because every soul belongs to Him. This is the maternity God was calling me to - a spiritual maternity that carries every person within my heart. This alone has satisfied how He has created me to love and has brought me the greatest joy.

God’s invitations are always for our deepest happiness. Sometimes we don’t understand them right away nor do we know where they will lead us. But we know He is good, and that is enough for us to step out of the boat. Trust Him because He is trustworthy.

SHARON: The biggest challenge for me has been the separation from Sr. Ann Immaculèe. We do receive letters and phone calls from her, but I still miss her presence with us. However, I have learned to embrace and accept this time of separation as part of the loving sacrifice that is necessary for all of us to embrace her YES to JESUS and the Religious Vocation she is called to and our YES to her love for this Religious Vocation that she is called to. Sr. Ann Immaculèe loves JESUS deeply and we do too as a family, so we are thrilled to support her in this calling to Religious Life. It is a precious gift and great blessing to our family.

What does your family most look forward to in the future?

SHARON: As a family, we are excited to watch Sr. Ann Immaculèe share her many gifts, talents and love as a Religious Sister with others and to continue to grow deeper in her faith life.

JOE: What do we look forward to in the future? That God would bless our family - the next and ensuing generations - with additional vocations to priesthood and religious life. For it is such a gift!

Deacon Robert Yerhot serves the parishes of St. Mary in Caledonia and St. Patrick in

Photography by the Sisters of Life and Jeffrey Bruno.

Community Connector A Beacon of Hope and Support

By MICHAEL HANRATTY

�n an era when individual well-being and community health have taken center stage, Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota has emerged as a trailblazer for support. For over 30 years, the Adult Advocacy program has provided guardian and conservator services through court appointment. A new initiative is assisting individuals and entire communities in embracing healthier lifestyles and behaviors though our Community Connector. The position functions as a vital bridge, linking adults and families of all backgrounds with the resources, informa

accessing the services they need. The connector serves as a trusted source of information, offering valuable guidance on available resources spanning from healthcare and social services to education and employment opportunities. By connecting individuals with these vital lifelines, the Adult Advocacy program is not only enriching lives but also fostering a sense of self-sufficiency and community resilience. As knowledge becomes the catalyst for change, this initiative stands as a beacon of hope and progress, ensuring that no one is left in the dark when it comes to the resources essential for a brighter future.

In the realm of community-based support and advocacy, the Adult Advocacy Community Connector has distinguished itself by embracing and following the Pathways Community HUB Institute® Model. This innovative approach has become a game-changer in how we provide assistance and care to individuals and communities in need.

At the core of the Pathways Community HUB Institute® Model is a focus on identifying and addressing social determinants of health. Rather than just treating the symptoms, this model delves deeper to understand and alleviate the root causes of health disparities and challenges faced by individuals and communities. The Adult Advocacy Community Connector, by adhering to this model, has taken a holistic approach to support. It recognizes that health is influenced by a myriad of factors including socioeconomic status, access to education, employment opportunities, and housing stability.

John Meyers Named Executive Director of Catholic Charities

WINONA - Bishop Robert Barron and Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota are proud to announce the appointment of John Meyers as its new Executive Director. Meyers has served as the Interim Executive Director since May and brings an impressive array of skills and experience to the role.

"We are thrilled to have John lead us forward as our new Executive Director," said Dean Beckman, Board Chair of Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota. "John’s breadth of experience, especially in serving the most vulnerable among us, perfectly aligns with our mission. He has demonstrated unwavering commitment to our community and the work we do here."

In his new role, Meyers will be responsible for overseeing all organizational activities, program development, and financial planning for Catholic Charities. He will also focus on community outreach and continue the organization's strong relationships with its stakeholders.

Meyers has been with Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota since 2016 in the agency’s Refugee Resettlement Program. Starting as a Case

Manager working one-on-one with refugees from around the world, for the last four years, Meyers served as the Director of the Refugee Resettlement Program, supporting his team as they worked to ensure that refugees received the basic needs and services as they settled into their new lives in the United States.

Meyers has over nine years of experience with the International Assistance Mission (IAM) in Afghanistan, where he worked in various capacities, including as the Regions Support Director in Kabul. The experience and knowledge Meyers gleaned from his years with IAM were particularly helpful during the U.S. evacuation of Afghanistan, as one of the only non-native speakers of Dari, the official language spoken in Afghanistan, in Minnesota. Meyers and his team helped resettle 74 Afghani refugees in a matter of months in 2021.

Meyers holds an MBA in Nonprofit Management from Crown College, a certification in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from Hamline University, and a BA in Cross-Cultural Studies from Bethany Global University.

Reynard Director of Communications Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota

The program's dedicated connector serves as the linchpin, not only connecting individuals with essential resources but also providing ongoing support and guidance. These connectors undergo rigorous training, ensuring they are well-equipped to assess the unique needs of each person they assist. By following the Pathways Community HUB Institute® Model, they can tailor their approach to address these specific social determinants, leading to more effective outcomes and improved overall well-being.

Moreover, the program's utilization of technology and data analytics aligns seamlessly with the model's emphasis on evidence-based decision-making. This data-driven approach allows for real-time tracking and evaluation of the program's impact, enabling continuous improvement and adaptability to the evolving needs of the community. The Adult Advocacy Community Connector’s commitment to this model is a testament to its dedication to making a lasting and positive difference in the lives of those it serves. As it continues to follow the Pathways Community HUB Institute® Model, it remains at the forefront of transformative community support, fostering healthier and more resilient communities for all.

"I am humbled and honored to serve as the Executive Director," said Meyers. "I look forward to leading Catholic Charities into the next phase of its journey to make a lasting impact on our community."

For more information about this press release or to schedule an interview with John Meyers, please contact: Christi Reynard, Catholic Charities Communication Director at 507-494-8021 or creynard@ccsomn.org

Michael Hanratty is the director of the Adult Advocacy Program for Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota..

Christi

Dedication Day, cont'd from pg. 1

This was dedication day for Holy Redeemer Parish. After an ambitious and heroic restoration project, it was time to consecrate their new altar and begin celebrating Mass upon it in their newly redecorated church.

Bishop Barron was present to celebrate the dedication Mass and consecrate the new altar. Appropriately, he then led the first solemn Episcopal celebration of the Eucharist on the newly dedicated altar.

Our liturgical rituals in the Church are very rich and teach us about many heavenly things using earthly materials, but the Rite of Dedication of a new altar stands out as one of the shining gems of our liturgical practice as Catholics. What is also interesting is that this ritual closely mirrors the rituals of the

Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.

As the liturgy of dedicating an altar begins, the new altar is sprinkled with Holy Water. This ritual sanctifies the altar and prepares it to be consecrated. It blesses the altar and signifies that it will no longer be used for ordinary purposes. After the Liturgy of the Word, the bishop continues the consecration of the altar by placing relics beneath the table of the altar, offering a prayer of dedication, and then anointing the altar with Sacred Chrism. As the altar is being anointed, the fragrance of Sacred Chrism fills the Church and the altar becomes a symbol of Christ, “the Anointed One.”

After the altar is anointed, incense is burned upon the table of the altar, reminding all in attendance that

the altar is a place of sacrifice. Finally, the altar is clothed with white linens and its candles are lit. The white linens placed symbolize both the linen of a festive banquet table and the linen that our Lord’s body was wrapped in after He was taken down from the cross. The lit candles represent the bright light of Christ. The celebration of the Eucharist then follows and the consecration of the new altar is complete as it receives the Body of Christ for the first time (St. John Chrysostom).

When we look at the rituals for Christian Initiation, we see several beautiful parallels. When we receive the Sacrament of Baptism, we are washed with water and sanctified, being freed from sin and dedicated permanently to Christ. At some point after we are baptized, we are anointed with Sacred Chrism as we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation and are further consecrated and dedicated to the Lord. In the Sacraments of Initiation, we are also clothed with a white linen garment and we receive a lit candle, symbolic that we have not only received the garment of grace but also the light of faith. Having been sanctified and filled with grace, we receive the Body of Christ.

Like the altar, our lives are to be places of sacrifice. During Mass, the faithful are also incensed, reminding us of the sacrificial character of the Christian life we have undertaken.

The Rite of Consecration of an altar is a joyful occasion and is not only a significant ritual of dedication and consecration but is also a reminder of our own dedication and consecration to Christ through the sacraments. Congratulations to Holy Redeemer parish on the occasion of their beautiful restoration and construction of a new altar. May this church truly be a place where people experience the beauty of God’s presence, give Him fitting worship, and are filled with grace to live out the Catholic faith.

Fr. Patrick Arens is the Director of Divine Worship for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.

The Televised Mass Is Offered Every Sunday

Sioux Falls - KTTW Channel 7 at 7 a.m.

Sioux City - KPTH Channel 44 at 8:30 a.m.

Mankato - KEYC Channel 12 at 7:30 a.m.

Digital Channel 12.2 or Charter Channel 19 NEYC at 9:30 a.m.

Digital Channel 7 (DirecTV) or Channel 11 (DISH) KMNF at 9 a.m.

Rochester/Austin/Mason City

KIMT Channel 3 at 7:30 a.m.

MyTV 3.2 at 9 a.m.

Twin Cities - WFTC Digital Channel 29 or Channel 9.2 at 11:30 a.m.

Southeastern MN - HBC Channel 20 at 3 p.m. (repeated Wed. at 3:30 p.m.)

Winona/La Crosse/Eau Claire - WLAX/WEUX Channel 25/48 at 7:30 a.m.

and on our website, dowr.org (click "Weekly Mass")

Obituaries 14

In the Diocese

Sister Veronica Horvat, SSND, (also known as Sister Anthony Marie), 89, died September 1, 2023, at Benedictine Living CommunityWindermere, in Shakopee. Funeral services were held September 8 at Windermere Chapel, Shakopee, with Father John Kunz as presider.

Sister Veronica was born in Mankato in 1934. She attended SS. Peter & Paul Grade School and Loyola High School. After graduating from Loyola in 1952, she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame that same year. She professed first vows in 1954. In 1955 she began a ministry in Catholic schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and Washington State, which included teaching at all grade levels and administration. She also served in parish ministry and as a director of religious education. Her final service before retirement was a ministry to the elderly through Sisters Care and the West 7th Street Community Center in St. Paul. She retired to Good Counsel in Mankato in 2019 and moved to Benedictine Living Community in the fall of 2022. She was an artist who was known for her intricately designed Ukrainian eggs and for her painted greeting cards that were sold at the Good Counsel Craft Fair.

Sister Veronica is survived by nieces and nephews, and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Magdalene (Mozanich) Horvat; her sisters, Mary Ritter, Katie Pufahl and Anne Anderson; and her brothers, Joseph, George, John, Stephen, Martin and two named Stephen who died in infancy. A longer obituary is available at www.ssndcp. org/obituaries.

Sister Marie Russell, SSND, (also known as Sister Magdaleen), 87, died September 6, 2023, at Benedictine Living Community - Windermere, in Shakopee. Funeral services were held September 11 at Windermere Chapel, Shakopee, with her brother, Father Jim Russell, as presider.

Sister Marie was born in Madelia in 1935. She attended Mater Dolorosa School through grade 9 and then completed her high school education at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato. She entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1953 and professed first vows in 1955. Initially a teacher of

primary grades in Iowa and Minnesota Catholic Schools, she became a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1985. From 1987 through 1990, she used her nursing skills to care for her mother in the family home, while also teaching part-time at St. Mary School in Madelia. She then turned her attention to her SSND family, first at Good Counsel, and then at the SSND motherhouse and health care center in Wilton, CT. Beginning in 1999, for two years she assisted retired Bishop Paul Dudley with in-home care of his sisters and brother in Northfield, and then returned to Good Counsel’s heath care center. Her final health care service was that of nurse companion for sisters on Good Counsel Hill, providing an extra set of ears for medical appointments.

Sister Marie is survived by a brother, Father Jim Russell; a sister-in-law, Dolores Russell; nieces and nephews; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dollard and Lillian (Ullrich) Russell; her sisters Therese Lynard, Margaret Fling and Rosemary Russell; and her brother Richard. A longer obituary is available at www.ssndcp.org/obituaries.

Sister Mary Alene Kuhn, SSND, died September 7, 2023, at Benedictine Living CommunityWindermere, in Shakopee. Funeral services were held September 15 at Windermere Chapel, Shakopee, with Father Joe Fogal as presider.

Sister Mary Alene was born in Hague, ND. She attended North Dakota country schools through eighth grade and received her high school education at Good Counsel Academy in Mankato.

Following her graduation in 1943, she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame candidature. She professed first vows in 1946 and began a long ministry in Catholic Schools both as a teacher and administrator in Minnesota, Iowa and North Dakota schools, including St. Anthony, Lismore (1971-73) and St. Casimir, Wells (1977-79). From 1993 until her move to Shakopee in 2022, she provided service in a variety of areas on Good Counsel Hill including

receptionist, care of sisters, and coordinator of the Sister-Friend program.

Sister Alene is survived by nieces and nephews, and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Frances (Stroh) Kuhn; her three SSND sisters, Mary George, Dora and Daniella; Magdalina Nolz; Benita Mitzel; Sister Mary Ann Welder, OSB; and Lucille Richter Schaible; and her brothers, Pius, Gabe and Al. A longer obituary is available at www.ssndcp.org/obituaries.

Sister M. Severina Caron, 98, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester, died at Assisi Heights on Friday, September 15, 2023.

Adeline Donata Caron was born on December 31, 1924, in Marshall to George and Rosa (Pommier) Caron. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1943, received the name of Sister Mary Severina, and made perpetual vows in 1948. She received her master’s degree in mathematical education from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, in 1974.

Sister M. Severina dedicated 39 years of her life to teaching in various schools, including St. Juliana’s in Chicago, IL (1945-49, 1968-70); St. Augustine in Austin (1949-52); St. Kilian in St. Kilian (1952-53); primary education at St. Mary School in Portsmouth, OH (1953-57); St. Joseph in Ironton, OH (1957-58, 1961-63); St. Gabriel in Fulda (1958-61); St. Mary’s & Marian High School in Owatonna (1963-64); St. Peter in North St. Paul (1964-66); St. John Elementary in Rochester (1966-68); and St. Mary’s in Sleepy Eye (1970-75).

Between 1975 and 1976, Sister M. Severina served in the Congregational Treasurer's Office at Assisi Heights in Rochester. She then served as a teacher at St. Raphael in Springfield from 1976-84. From 1984-85, she served in alumnae records at the College of St. Teresa in Winona. She served as a secretary/typist for Winona Public Schools and the Diocese of Winona from 198586. Between 1986 and 1995, she served as an Assistant Archivist at Assisi Heights in Rochester. After retiring, Sister M. Severina served on a Marriage Tribunal and advocated for the Diocese of Winona in Rochester from 1995-2012.

Survivors of Sister M. Severina Caron include her Franciscan Sisters, with whom she shared life for 80 years, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Isaac, Victor, Edward, and William Caron; and seven sisters: Sister M. Donata, Helen, Bernadette, Genevieve, Irma, Ruth, and Rachel Caron.

A Resurrection Liturgy was held at Assisi Heights on Thursday, September 28, 2023, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.

Suggested memorials are to the Sisters of St. Francis, Office of Mission Advancement, Assisi Heights, 1001 14th St. NW, Rochester, MN 55901.

Month of the Holy Rosary Events

October 8, Sunday

The Co-Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Rochester, will host the annual benefit dinner for Seeds of Wisdom in South Sudan, a non-profit based at the Co-Cathedral. Established in 2011, Seeds of Wisdom provides Catholic education to more than 300 South Sudanese students currently living in refugee camps in Uganda due to strife in their homeland. This fundraiser will feature silent and live auctions, guest speakers, and musical performances. Ticket info: info@sowsouthsudan.org or 507-288-7372.

St. Columban Parish, Preston, will hold its annual Fall Dinner & Raffle from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Drive-thru/carry-outs only. Natural pork loin, real mashed potatoes, dressing, corn, coleslaw, applesauce, dinner roll and pie. $15/person. Raffle tickets available. Drawing after dinner. 408 Preston St. NW in Preston.

St. Patrick Parish, West Albany, will host its Fall Chicken BBQ Dinner from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Also featured will be the Bell Tower Boutique, offering a variety of handmade gifts and decorating items for purchase. Please join us for fellowship, food and this unique little shop. Proceeds will go toward restoration of the church's bell tower. St. Patrick's Church, West Albany, is located at 30932 Hwy 60, Millville, MN 55957.

October 15, Sunday

St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Mankato, will hold its Fall Festival, starting with a Bluegrass Mass at 10:30 a.m., followed by food, fun and fellowship from 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Hot beef commercial meal, silent auction, jar raffle, bingo, kids' games & activities, corn pit, live music, sports tent, bake sale and more. All welcome. 423 W 7th Street in Mankato.

October 22, Sunday

St. Agnes Parish, Kellogg, will hold a 'Drive Thru' Fall Turkey Dinner & Raffles 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. or until gone. Turkey dinner with all trimmings at the parish hall 128 E Belvidere Ave in Kellogg. Country Store and Bake Sale in parking lot behind church.

St. John Nepomucene Parish, Winona, will hold its annual Fall Festival from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. in the Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka Church Hall at 603 East 4th St. in Winona. Lunch available, along with the Big Ticket, gift card raffle, quilt/cash raffle, silent auction and kids' games. Big Ticket winners drawn at 3. Public welcome.

October 29, Sunday

St. Joseph Parish, Owatonna, will host Mary Ann Kuharski, Executive Director of Prolife Across America, to speak about "the billboard people" at 11 a.m. (following 10 a.m. Mass), in St. Joseph Hall. Free admission, Refreshments served. 512 Elm Street in Owatonna.

St. Mary Parish, Caledonia, will hold its 57th Annual Holiday Bazaar. Roast beef dinner served in Holy Family Hall from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. or until gone. $15 adults. $10 kids 12 & under. Dine in or carry-out. Also, kids' games, chance tables, sweet shop, stage raffle, junk food walk, luncheon, live & silent auctions. Live auction starts at 2 p.m. in the school gym. Big Ticket drawing at 4 p.m. $20 per ticket. 453 Pine Street in Caledonia.

November 11, Saturday

Christ the King Parish, Byron, will hold its 13th Annual Fall Expo from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Arts-Crafts & Home-Based Businesses. Baked goods, beverages and Arby’s lunch available. Get a jump start on your holiday shopping. 202 4th St NW in Byron.

By ELEANORE JONES

october is the month of the Holy Rosary. The rosary is one of the most powerful weapons the Church possesses. We are constantly exhorted by saints, popes, and Our Lord and Our Lady themselves to pray this simple yet profound prayer. Accordingly, Mother Church has set aside a whole month to the promotion of this prayer.

This is information on Our Lady of Mount Carmel Brown Scapular that Our Lady gave to St. Simon Stock. The word ‘scapular’ is a Latin word meaning shoulder blade. You are to wear it over the shoulder so that one-part hangs over your chest and the other side hangs over the back. There are three conditions which are that it be 100% wool in a rectangular shape, to be enrolled in the Scapular by a priest and to wear it continuously and observe chastity according to one’s state in life (married/single). It does not automatically get you to heaven. All should wear it even in surgery (Pope St. John Paul II did) and sleep with it on. Non-Catholics may wear the scapular and they will receive many graces and blessings with this special sign of devotion to the mother of God. The blessing by a priest at the time of investiture carries over to a new scapular. A partial indulgence is merited every time you kiss the Scapular. The Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel has promised to save those who wear the scapular from the fires of hell; she will

shorten their stay in purgatory if they should pass from this world still owing some debt of punishment. “Whoever dies clothed in this habit shall not suffer the fires of hell.” The Brown Scapular is not a good luck charm, but it is a sacramental and is a symbol of devotion and yoke of obedience to Our Lady of Mount Carmel whose feast day is July 16. To dispose of a scapular, it should be burned, and the ashes buried.

“Fasting and a Daily Rosary: The Greatest Weapons Against Satan” is the theme for the W-RDCCW Convention at Queen of Angels in Austin on Octoer 7. Hope to see you there!

Eleanore Jones is the president of the Winona-Rochester Diocesan Council of Catholic Women.

National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children Rosary March

A beau��ful Mar�an blue sky greeted the group ready to invest their time in prayer for Remembrance of Aborted Children. Owatonna Knights of Columbus Council 945 organized the September 9 rosary march at Sacred Heart Cemetery in support of the Priests for Life designated National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children. We were blessed to have our Council Chaplain Fr. Jim Starasinich lead the rosary march and also have Monsignor Thomas Cook, Fr. Gregory Parrott, and Deacon Scot Berkley support the prayers. The Msgr. Henry Speck Fourth Degree Honor Guard led the procession - it is always wonderful to have the Honor Guard support our events.

Look at all the big smiles in this group! Prayer is good! This group picture is taken at the Council 945 Memorial to Life at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Vivat Jesus!

Photo and caption submitted by LEE JARDINE, a member of Owatonna Knights of Columbus Council 945.

Relics to Visit Archdiocese

Submitted by LAURA HUNZIKER

relics of St. Thérèse of Liseux and her parents, Ss. Louis and Zélie Martin, are coming to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis October 4-15, 2023. Below are the locations and dates open to the public. Please visit the following websites for details and events:

• Oct. 4-5: St. Mary, Stillwater – www.stmichaelandstmarystillwater.org

• Oct. 6-7: Cathedral of St. Paul – www.cathedralsaintpaul.org

• Oct. 7-10: Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis – www.mary.org

• Oct. 12-15: St. Therese, Deephaven – www.st-therese.org

What is a Relic?

Relics are classified as first, second, or third class. A first class relic is part of a saint’s body (e.g., bone, blood, flesh). Second class relics are possessions that a saint owned such as clothing or something used by a saint. Third class relics are objects that have been touched to a first, second, or another third class relic of a saint. We will be receiving first class relics of the visiting Saints.

Why Venerate Relics?

There are many healing examples after exposure to relics from Sacred Scripture to online references. The healing is from God; relics are the means through which he acts. Any good that comes about through a relic is God’s doing. By venerating or honoring the saints whom God has worked through in an extraordinary way, we adore and glorify God who worked so beautifully in their lives. Our veneration of relics also reminds us that we are part of the Communion of Saints, the great cloud of witnesses who have run the race before us (Heb. 12:1).

Why Venerate St. Thérèse and her Parents, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin?

Pope Pius X referred to St. Thérèse as “the greatest saint of modern times.” Her autobiography, Story of a Soul and her “little way” of trust and love has inspired millions. Pope St. John Paul II declared St. Thérèse a Doctor of the Church in 1997. On October 18, 2015, Louis and Zélie were canonized by Pope Francis. They are the first non-martyred spouses canonized together as a couple in the history of the Church!

There will be more information on these wonderful saints at each location. For more information, reach out to Laura Hunziker (relics@st-therese.org).

Laura Hunziker is the human resources manager and community life coordinator for the Church of St. Therese in Deephaven.