New Earth February 2019

New February 2019 | Vol. 40 | No. 2

Earth The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo

In the steps of St. Joseph Witnessing our faith in the workplace

PLUS

From Bishop Folda: Safe Haven Sunday

Respect Life Director marches with youth one last time before retirement

Desire for motherhood fulfilled in consecrated life 1 NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

ON TH A statu (Paul B

TAB

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Conferees gather during parish breakout sessions.

(Kristina Lahr | New Earth)

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ON THE COVER: A statue of St. Joseph at Sts. Anne and Joachim Church in Fargo.

(Paul Braun | New Earth)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(ISSN# 10676406) Our mission is to serve Catholic parishes in Eastern N.D. as the official monthly publication of the Diocese of Fargo.

Publisher

Most Rev. John T. Folda Bishop of Fargo

Editor Paul Braun Assistant editor Kristina Lahr

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Designer Stephanie Drietz - Drietz Designs Subscriptions

FROM BISHOP FOLDA 4 Safe Haven Sunday

ASK A PRIEST

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7 How do you let kids be a part of the world but not of the world?

AROUND THE DIOCESE 9 Respect Life Director marches with youth one last time before retirement

COVER STORY 12 In the steps of St. Joseph: Witnessing our faith in the workplace

NEXT GEN

15 24 29

15 Count your blessings on Giving Hearts Day

FAITH AND CULTURE 17 Catholic Culture in the Home How to engage small children during Mass

US/WORLD NEWS 29 At pro-life Mass, Naumann calls for mercy

SIDEWALK STORIES 31 Plants for post-abortive a poor proposition

Parish contributions make it possible for each registered Catholic household in the diocese to receive 11 issues per year. For those living outside the Diocese wanting a subscription, an annual $9/year rate is requested.

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Send address changes or subscription requests to: New Earth 5201 Bishops Blvd S., Suite A Fargo, ND 58104

Contact Information

Use the following contact information to contact the New Earth staff: news@fargodiocese.org (701) 356-7900 Deadline to submit articles, story ideas, advertisements and announcements for the March issue is Feb. 13, 2019.

All submissions are subject to editing and placement.

New Earth is published by the Catholic Diocese of Fargo, a nonprofit North Dakota corporation, 5201 Bishops Blvd. S, Suite A Fargo, ND 58104.

(701) 356-7900.

Periodical Postage Paid at Fargo, ND and at additional mailing offices.

Member of the Catholic Press Association

FROM BISHOP FOLDA

Safe Haven Sunday

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wo years ago, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a formal statement called “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.” In that document, my brother bishops and I explain: “The use of pornography by anyone in the home deprives the home of its role as a safe haven and has negative effects throughout a family’s life and across generations.”

You might recall that I promised an initiative from the Diocese of Fargo to assist families in their own efforts to address the crisis of pornography. To that end, on the weekend of March 2–3, our parishes have been invited to observe “Safe Haven Sunday.”

The Office of Marriage and Family Life and many of our local pastors are offering teaching and resources that help individuals and families to make their homes safe havens.

I use the word “crisis” deliberately, because the infiltration of pornography into daily life has become widespread. Here are a few facts. In recent studies 68% of men and 18% of women said they used pornography at least once every week. Another 17% of men and 30% of women said they used pornography 1–2 times per month. Most alarmingly, the effects of pornography are not limited to adults. Studies also indicate that 93% of boys and 62% of girls were exposed to pornography before the age of 18.

Most experts say that first exposure now comes at a much earlier age, between 8 and 10, and can leave a long-lasting imprint on the developing brain of a child. Finally, 56% of divorces now involve one party having an obsessive interest in pornographic websites. These are just a few of the statistics that should wake us up to a growing problem in our highly networked world.

While pornography once was restricted to the seedy underworld

of our society, it has now gone mainstream. It is readily available on nearly all personal computers, tablets, phones, and even regular television. Pornography is winked at as a harmless diversion, but nothing could be further from the truth. It undermines our view of human love and sexuality, and seduces us to look at other persons as objects rather than as sons and daughters created and loved by God. Honest social scientists are increasingly concerned about the effects of pornography, especially on young people, but also on marriage and family life.

Why is the Church so involved in this issue? Some might suggest that we have problems and failings of our own to address, and that is certainly true. However, the pastors of the Church, from the Pope on down, have a grave responsibility for the spiritual and moral lives of the faithful and for the integrity of our homes and families. The rapid spread of pornography is causing a serious moral crisis in our families, and it is our responsibility to address it. As your bishop, and as a spiritual father, I want every home to be safe and every family to be free from the sinful encroachment of pornography. The family is the domestic church, and the home is that sanctuary where Christ abides in our midst as a member of every family. It is my hope that the observance of Safe Haven Sunday will bring some concrete assistance to families as they try to secure their own homes from the corrupting influence of pornography.

If we learned that our homes were affected by a hazardous substance, like natural gas, carbon monoxide, black mold, or something that could cause serious health risks and even death to ourselves and our children, would we not immediately do everything necessary to address the problem? Of course we would. I would suggest that the presence of pornography in our homes is even more dangerous, because it can cause moral sickness and even spiritual death in those who use it. Pornography is contrary to God’s law, and we should do all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from its effects.

There are many practical steps we can take to avoid or eliminate the presence of pornography, but we should not forget the spiritual side of this battle. Attending Mass as a family is one sure way to place ourselves and our homes under God’s protection. Receiving the Holy Eucharist and even participating in Eucharistic adoration can shield us from the attraction of pornography. Regular and unashamed participation in the sacrament of Reconciliation—as

As your bishop, and as a spiritual father, I want every home to be safe and every family to be free from the sinful encroachment of pornography.

The family is the domestic church, and the home is that sanctuary where Christ abides in our midst as a member of every family.”

– Bishop John Folda 4

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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a family if possible—is also a beautiful way to bring our sins to Christ for healing, and to eliminate the poison of pornography from our lives. Prayer to our Blessed Mother Mary, for instance praying the Rosary as a family, will also help us to grow in purity and freedom from the snares of pornography.

The good news is that we do not fight this battle alone. We can always turn to the mercy and tender love of Jesus in this struggle. We have the solidarity of our Church family to assist us along the way. I sincerely hope that the faithful of our diocese will take advantage of the materials made available for the upcoming Safe Haven Sunday. Inquire in your own parish or through the Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Diocese of Fargo. Let us not take the safety of our homes and loved ones for granted. Let us do everything possible to create a safe haven where all can enjoy wholesome happiness and spiritual well-being.

Bishop Folda’s Calendar Feb. 10

| 5:30 p.m.

Operation Andrew Dinner, Bishop’s Residence, Fargo

Feb. 17

| 11 a.m.

Mass at Vianney Discernment Weekend, Maryvale

Feb. 18

| 11:30 a.m.

Pro-Life Luncheon with Johnnette Benkovic, Sts. Anne and Joachim, Fargo

Mar. 6

| 12:10 p.m.

Ash Wednesday Mass, Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo

Mar. 10

| 3:30 p.m.

Rite of Election, Cathedral of St. Mary, Fargo

Mar. 12

| 11:30 a.m.

Catholic Charities Caritas Award Luncheon, Sts. Anne & Joachim, Fargo

6 p.m.

Real Presence Radio Banquet, Delta by Marriott, Fargo

| 10 a.m.

Confirmation and First Eucharist, Holy Cross, West Fargo

Feb. 21–22

6 p.m.

St. John Paul II Schools Gathering, Phoenix, Ariz.

Feb. 27

| 3 p.m.

St. John Paul II School Board Meeting, Pastoral Center, Fargo

Mar. 16

Confirmation and First Eucharist, Basilica of St. James, Jamestown

Mar. 19–20

Catholic Rural Life Retreat, St. Paul, Minn.

Mar. 1

| 8:30 a.m.

School Mass at Holy Spirit Church, Fargo NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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FOCUS ON FAITH

Diocese of Fargo Official Appointments/Announcements February 2019

Prayer for priests

Most Rev. John T. Folda, Bishop of Fargo, has made the following appointments, announcements, and/or decrees: Rev. Timothy D. Johnson was declared impeded from the exercise of orders received according to canons 1044 §2, 2° and 1041, 1° of the Code of Canon Law on June 22, 2018. He thus is precluded from exercising ordained ministry.

A declaration of impediment to exercise orders is an internal judgment by the competent authority in the Catholic Church that a clergyman is incapable of carrying out his ordained ministry. In the case of a priest, it ordinarily means he may not preach, provide the sacraments, or exercise pastoral governance. Such a declaration does not indicate that a person has committed any crime or misbehavior against adults or minors, and is not a punishment.

Rev. Robert J. Pecotte has resigned as pastor of St. Brigid’s in Cavalier and St. Patrick’s in Crystal and requested a leave of absence from active ministry for personal reasons. Bishop John Folda has granted that request. This leave is effective January 16, 2019. Until Rev. Pecotte returns to active ministry, he will not exercise the faculties of a priest of the Diocese of Fargo. His status is at his request, it is not punitive, and it involves no allegations of misconduct of any kind.

Very Rev. Phillip J. Ackerman is appointed as administrator of St. Brigid’s in Cavalier and St. Patrick’s in Crystal, effective January 16, 2019, and continuing ad nutum episcopi.

Prayer Intention of Pope Francis

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Dear Lord, we pray that the Blessed Mother wrap her mantle around your priests and through her intercession strengthen them for their ministry.

We pray that Mary will guide your priests to follow her own words, “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). May your priests have the heart of St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse. May the Blessed Mother’s own pierced heart inspire them to embrace all who suffer at the foot of the cross.

May your priests be holy, filled with the fire of your love seeking nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls. Amen.

St. John Vianney, pray for us.

February Universal – Victims

For a generous welcome to the victims of human trafficking, enforced prostitution, and violence.

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FOCUS ON FAITH

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How do you let kids be a part of the world but not of the world?

ne questioner writes: “I want to raise my kids in the faith and help them navigate the world to make good decisions.

Obviously, I cannot shelter them from everything or they will grow up being naïve. However, I cannot just let them be completely influenced by the world either. Any thoughts on how to let kids be a part of the world but not of the world?”

In Romans 12:2, St. Paul writes, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” While all of us want to live this for ourselves and help our children do so, how does that happen? How can we do it in a joyful way in our families, rejecting fear and a mentality of separation from the world we live in? I suggest three ways.

First, prayer is essential. If we want to help our children stand fast as Christians in a fallen world, so often hostile to faith, we must help them to discover themselves as beloved children of the Father. God is not an abstract grandpa-figure, who only gives us an occasional pat on the back. He enters our lives as a Father, and wants to be at the center of every aspect of our lives. If the home becomes an environment of prayer, where faith rests at the very center of the warmth that children experience in the home, then we help our children know themselves in God. Young people face great pressure to “fit in” with those around them. Prayer helps them realize that they belong to God, that they “have been purchased at a price” (1 Cor. 6:20), by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Only through a relationship with God in prayer will they discover their identity as children of God and not children of the world. Parents also need to exemplify this in their lives, by seeking communion with God in prayer for themselves, and talking with their children about what God is doing in their own prayer. Dads especially have a profound impact in this way. This helps the Father become “real” in the lived experience of children. Discovering our identity in God is the great adventure of our lives!

Secondly, communication. Parents should have a real interest in what their children are up to. This does not have to become detective work that oppresses the child or instills a lack of both trust and independence, but parents should feel no guilt in asking their children where they go, who they hang out with, and what they did. My mother would often tell me before I left home for a sports trip, “Remember who you are and whose you are.” I would often roll my eyes at this, but I remembered her voice when I had to make moral choices with my friends.

Part of this communication is laying consistent ground rules and boundaries such as curfews and what kinds of activities are and are not allowed with friends. It means consistent punishment

when a child fails to keep the standards, all with the goal of forming virtue. God parents us all in this way. It Ask A Priest also means letting children know that Father Jayson Miller they are immensely loved, even if they fall into sin, and that reconciliation with the family and with God always remains a possibility. A parent who consistently experiences God’s mercy in the Sacrament of Reconciliation will have a greater ability to respond well to a child who fails to live God’s commandments.

Finally, teach children the importance of evangelization. We often look at the sinfulness of the world as a threat, rather than as an opportunity to bring the light of Christ into it. I recently heard a good explanation of this. Two kinds of people exist in the world, thermometers and thermostats. A thermometer reacts to the temperature of the environment; a thermostat changes it.

As Catholics, we must aim at becoming thermostats. We have the gifts necessary to change our environment.

So, it could become a useful practice to speak with our children about ways in which they can bring the love they experience from God to their friends. Parents can pray with their children for their friends who don’t yet know Christ, and talk about ways they can bear witness to those around them. This makes it imperative that parents model evangelization for their children. Do our children see us spreading the Gospel through word and example? Does our family look for ways to become an evangelizing community?

While no method will work infallibly, I believe these three suggestions (prayer, communication, and evangelization) will help our children become fully alive as Catholics in a world so in need of the light of faith. If parents can model these for their children (for none of us can give what we ourselves lack), children will breathe the faith in at home, and breathe it out onto the world. The world waits for us to live like this.

Father Miller serves as the parochial vicar of Sts. Anne and JoachimChurch in Fargo.

Editor’s Note: If you would like to submit a question for consideration in a future column, please send to news@fargodiocese.org or mail to New Earth, 5201 Bishops Blvd. S, Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104.

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Safe Haven Sunday: Combatting pornography in the home

By Brad Gray | Director of Office of Marriage and Family Life

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ith the ever-expanding reach the sacramental life of the Church. of technology in our times, In his January 2017 New Earth we parents have access to a article addressing the crisis surrounding wealth of resources to assist in living pornography, Bishop Folda mentioned out our lives. Whether it be having Equipping the Family, Safeguarding Children that the Office of Marriage and Family our calendar at our fingertips, being was working on initiatives to assist famable to order dinner at the push of a ilies. Part of that response is the upcombutton, or helping your teen identify ing observance of Safe Haven Sunday the difference between sedimentary on March 2–3. Many parishes in the and metamorphic rocks for a school Fargo Diocese will provide teaching and project, the wonders of technology are resources that will support and protect ever at hand. individuals, marriages, and families in However, most acknowledge that the making all homes a safe haven. always-available nature of technology’s This awareness day is inspired by limitless exploration can bring with it the United States Conference of Catholic some real dangers. Perhaps chief among Bishops’ formal statement, “Create in these is the easy access to pornography.

Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response Pornography is not a topic most to Pornography,” where our bishops adults are comfortable speaking about. explain, “The use of pornography by Take a step to create This is especially the case when it comes anyone in the home deprives the home a safe haven in your home. to parents addressing it with their of its role as a safe haven and has negchildren. Regrettably, it’s something ative effects throughout a family’s life that’s becoming more and more necand across generations.”

Join The Equipped 7-Day Challenge: essary to address. Too many parents, By observing this awareness day A Digital Crash Course by texting grandparents, and guardians think that with the theme “Equipping the Family, SECURE to 66866 and receive internet-based pornography is beyond Safeguarding Children,” we as a comthe interest of their children. Statistics seven days of emailed digital tips! munity are saying we want holy, healthy, tell us another story. and safe homes, free of pornography First exposure to internet pornography and other online threats. Each home is often during the elementary school will be given Covenant Eyes’ book, years. This often occurs by accident.

Equipped: Smart Catholic Parenting in a Picture this: your child typed in the Sexualized Culture. This book includes wrong word on social media, your nephew clicked on the a unique seven-day text-to-opt-in program: The Equipped wrong YouTube video, or your godchild’s friend showed him 7-Day E-mail Challenge. This challenge provides practical tips his first sexually explicit image on Instagram. When parents any caring adult can take to create safer digital environments and guardians haven’t created an environment where it’s safe for themselves and young people. We encourage you to take and welcome to talk about uncomfortable topics, children will advantage of these resources and ask that you be intentional often hide these experiences out of shame and embarrassment. taking the steps suggested to ensure safety and joy for you, your Sadly, these experiences often reverberate into their adult lives, loved ones, and the greater community. causing harm to their own marriages and families.

Pornography doesn’t need to be fought alone. It is our hope This assault launched by the corrosive influence of pornography that the resources provided on Safe Haven Sunday will both is not a matter of indifference, and the Church has a key role encourage and teach all individuals and families dealing with to play in assisting parents in forming their children to live the effects of pornography that loving support is available. virtuous and holy lives online and offline. Pornography is an Additional resources can also be found at www.fargodiocese. impediment to obtaining a deep and lasting relationship with org/breakingfree. our Lord Jesus Christ, who is to be the center of our lives, homes, It’s worth battling pornography for wholeness and purity for and vocations. Pornography is a bondage and a fake. It is a you, your spouse, your children, and the future of everyone in mockery of true and holy intimacy that is celebrated through our diocese.

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Safe Haven Sunday

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AROUND THE DIOCESE

When a lamp is lit, it is not put under a bushel basket

Respect Life Director marches with youth one last time before retirement

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By Mary Thoelke

achelle Savageau has Diocese of Fargo youth gather at worked for 25 years in the capitol in Washington D.C. the Respect Life Office on Jan. 16 before the March for for the Diocese of Fargo, proLife on Jan. 18. (submitted photo) moting the sanctity of human life, working always to heal, mend, and restore broken hearts and souls. She has traveled the country taking courses in post-abortion counseling and spiritual direction. On Jan. 31, she retired from her position with the diocese.

Over the past 21 years, Rachelle has also gathered thousands of students, chaperones, and priests to attend the March for Life in Washington D.C. The 2019 March for Life, held on January 17, was the last she would lead for the diocese. In those years they’ve attended the March with as many as 800,000 other participants in any given year and experienced a movement bigger than anyone would ever be able to tell them about. be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a While in D.C., she has led pilgrims to the Holocaust museum, bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to the grounds and museum at Gettysburg, Mother Seton’s Shrine all in the house.” We honor Rachelle this year on her last trip in Emmitsburg, Md., the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes at the to Washington D.C. with students from the Fargo Diocese. May Seminary in Emmitsburg, and Friendly’s restaurant and ice her retirement move her into many other rooms so that her light cream parlor with seminarians from the Fargo Diocese. will continue to shine, according to her Lord’s perfect will.

Each year they spend hours in the Basilica of the Immaculate Mary Thoelke lives in Crystal and chaperoned for the March for Life Conception holding spaces for one another while small groups for many years. take turns touring the shrines and gift shops before the magnificent Mass for the March for Life. The gathering of bishops, priests, deacons, seminarians, lectors, and musicians there is unrivaled anywhere in the United States.

After a week of intense walking, adoration hours, rosaries, Masses, and small group gatherings each day, each student Climbing the carries home the special gift of having prayed in a Franciscan monastery, whose mission is to guard and maintain the sacred heights of Carmel places in the Holy Land. This monastery has shrines that replicate (in more ways than one). these sights of the Holy Land.

Come and join in One particular monk, the esteemed Brother Max, has been the experience! there to greet, welcome, and help Rachelle keep the students and chaperones fed, housed, and welcomed with gifts made in the Holy Land for each student, chaperone, and priest.

CARMEL OF MARY 17765 78TH ST. S.E., This experience has been carved out over the years by our WAHPETON, ND 58075 dear Rachelle so that young people from the Diocese of Fargo 701-642-2360 would experience—spirit, soul, and body—what it means to CARMELOFMARY@GMAIL.COM be pro-life and a Catholic. In Matthew 5:14–15, the Lord says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot Rachelle Savageau

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Father Leo Stelten, 93, passes away Dec. 30

ev. Leo F. Stelten, 93, was born in Minneapolis on Aug. 11, 1925 to Theodore and Esther (Martens) Stelten. He graduated from high school at Nazareth Hall, St. Paul in 1943. He attended St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul and graduated in June 1950. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Fargo on June 3, 1950 at St. John’s Church, Wahpeton.

He served as an associate pastor at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo following his ordination. In 1956, Father Stelten attended the University of St. Louis in St. Louis, Mo. He returned in 1957 to become the Dean of Men at Shanley High School, Fargo. He was assigned to the faculty of Cardinal Muench Seminary, Fargo from 1962–77 and was associate pastor at St. Paul’s Newman Center, Fargo in 1977. Father Stelten joined the faculty of Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio in 1978. He retired from teaching in 1995.

Father Stelten was a natural born teacher and a true scholar.

He translated old Latin documents and published a book about

Bishop John Folda sprinkles holy water on the faithful gathered at the CHI Riverview Chapel in Fargo during Mass on Jan. 13. Although Bishop Folda’s visit at Riverview was pre-scheduled, it couldn’t have come at a better time for residents. Earlier in January, a fire in the furnace room of building “C” slightly injured one person and forced the relocation of all the residents of that part of the complex due to smoke and water damage to the building. Many who live at Riverview said that having Bishop Folda celebrate Mass and hearing his words of comfort was a welcome and calming relief in the aftermath of the fire.

(Paul Bran | New Earth)

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military procedures. He also wrote and published a Latin dictionary. He spent many hours as a hockey referee for games at the Fargo Coliseum. Assisting Father Ed Arth, rector of Cardinal Muench Seminary, he was involved in building and maintenance projects. He also was a strong supporter and lifelong friend of the Presentation Sisters, Fargo.

He loved his time away at “Dendroda,” his lake home on Wymer Lake in Frazee, Minn. During his retirement, Father Stelten spent time working in the library at Cardinal Muench Seminary. He indexed articles from our diocesan newspaper and the St. Paul archdiocesan newspaper.

He is survived by his sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Worner, Grand Forks (formerly of Fargo); Estherann (Dode) Olsen, Woodbury, Minn. and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Theodore Stelten; and his sister, Kathleen Volker.

Father Stelton’s funeral was held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo on Jan. 2.

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Ed Schwind, CEO of QED Embedded of Fargo, works on an electrical component for a client. (Paul Braun | New Earth)

“Y job eve

In the steps of St. Joseph the Worker… witnessing our faith in the workplace Evangelization doesn’t stop at the doors of the church

By Paul Braun

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e spend a great deal of our lives, eight hours a day or more, at our workplace, whether in an office setting, a jobsite, on the farm, or behind the wheel. That’s a lot of time spent interacting with others. What if we as Catholics made a conscious effort in that time to try to be a witness for others to our faith?

At the Convocation of Parish Leaders held in Fargo Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 2018, the message was clear that evangelization doesn’t end at the door of the church. We must be missionary disciples in our homes and in our daily lives, living our faith to all we come across. Does that also include at work?

“Absolutely,” said Father Patrick Parks, Parochial Vicar at St. James Basilica in Jamestown. Before entering seminary, Father Parks worked in the corporate world. He says there are many opportunities to be a witness to your faith in the workplace regardless of your postion.

“If your company allows, consider putting a crucifix or a picture of Jesus on your desk,” said Father Parks. “Maybe that will invite others to speak with you about God. If not, pray on your way into work, ‘Lord use me as an instrument of your grace,’ or say a prayer while at your desk or workplace. You can carry yourself in a positive way by doing your job the best 12

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

you can, smiling at people and treating everybody with love.”

Ed Schwind is Catholic and a business owner in Fargo. His company, QED Embedded, is an electronics design and consulting firm with several major clients. Although he doesn’t go out of his way to evangelize on the job, Schwind says being a good person on the job can be witness enough.

“I don’t speak to my employees specifically about my faith,” said Schwind. “I think all of my employees know that I’m a man of faith. I talk about my kids in Catholic school and what I heard in church on Sunday, but it’s really never preaching.

If I do any preaching I try to do it more in my actions than anything else. I’m not afraid to talk about my faith, but I don’t put it in peoples’ faces. Like at home I try to witness my faith to my children by putting a good example out there for what a man of faith looks like and how I treat my wife. It’s the same thing at work with my employees. I try to treat them the way they should be treated as a human being.”

Father Parks agrees. “This is especially true for supervisors,” he said. “Letting your people know you care about them and what’s happening in their lives as a servant-leader really makes a big difference. As a servant-leader, God is with you. God is working with you to allow people to see him in you in the way

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“You can carry yourself in a positive way by doing your job the best you can, smiling at people and treating everybody with love.” Father Patrick Parks you manage. That could really open the door to a conversion or a reconversion to the faith.”

The “servant-leader” is a relatively new concept in the business world for those who manage employees, as well as for those who are supervised. Robert K. Greenleaf, the foundFather Patrick Parks, Parochial Vicar er of the modern serat St. James Basilica in Jamestown. vant-leadership movement and the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, defines servant leadership as a philosophy in which the main goal of the leader is to serve. A servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of the employees first and helps others develop and perform as highly as possible.

The concept of servant leadership is also based in scripture.

It’s been around since Christ humbled himself and washed the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper. Sister Thomas Welder, the former president of the University of Mary in Bismarck, describes servant leadership’s spiritual concept as “a pattern of living marked by competence in one’s chosen profession, courage in making ethical decisions based on Benedictine values, and compassion in serving the needs of others. In a context of relationship to God, to one another, and to self, we believe that leadership is making a difference for good.”

Father Parks says supervisors and business owners have a unique opportunity to evangelize by practicing servant leadership.

“So many people get wrapped up in themselves and concerned about their own life,” he said. “It creates an atmosphere of being superficial and not caring about anyone else, but by your actions you can show that you care about your employees, and that could open the door. I had a reconversion to the faith back in the 90s when I was in management at a corporation in Minnesota.

I was open about it, and it was like the Holy Spirit takes over and fans the flame a little bit. People would be asking me about God and then they would open up about their own lives. It was just amazing to see how people responded, to have someone who was willing to hold their hand and pray with them. As they were speaking, I called on the Holy Spirit in my heart to be a part of the conversation. It was amazing to see the door open in a place where really nobody would speak about God.” “I really do take it seriously that my employees are my responsibility,” said Ed Schwind. “I’m responsible for their welfare, so I do everything I can to keep that promise to them.

I think that when you’re responsible to keep the business going, it’s easy to get too focused on the numbers, the dollars and cents.

When that happens, you could start treating people like a revenue stream or a fixed amount of labor. I try not to lose sight of the

fact that the people who work for me or with me are people that are created in the image and likeness of God the same as I am, and I always try to keep their human dignity in mind.”

As we go about our business day, we can hope that our actions serve as a reflection of our faith. Treating those we are responsible for with dignity and respect, or doing our jobs the best we can with a cheerful attitude gives something for others to observe and emultate. Making a “work-altar” at you jobsite is also a wonderful way to remind yourself of who has given you the gift of employment, while being an outward symbol of your faith and an instrument of invitation to declare your faith to others. Make each workday count by calling upon the intercession of St. Joseph the Worker, offering up a simple prayer before starting the day: Father, thank you for all the ways you’ve blessed me, specifically with this job that pays my bills and puts food on my table. Thank you that all work has significance because work is good. Help me bring you glory today, through my actions, my words, through the good work I do to bring order to my little corner of the world. Help me view my work as a blessing and not a curse. Give me grace and strength for the hardest aspects of my job. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

give childhood

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give family By choosing Catholic Charities North Dakota on February 14th YOU GIVE hope, independence, childhood, and family to thousands of North Dakotans.

More comfortable with a check?

Mail or drop off a check of $10+ to us on or before February 14 dated 2/14/2019 when it will be deposited towards our Giving Hearts Day total.

(Catholic Charities North Dakota 5201 Bishops Blvd, Ste B, Fargo, ND 58104)

Your donation can be matched up to $4,000 by giving $10 or more!

Visit GivingHeartsDay.org on February 14th to give!

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BE A PART OF THE TRADITION ENROLL NOW 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR

Providing exceptional faith-based education while inspiring excellence.

Every morning during the month of December, the fourth graders at Holy Family-St. Mary’s School in Grand Forks wrote Advent letters to bring joy to others. Stanley was receiving treatment at the Cancer Center when he received a letter from Hayden Mercil.

He stopped by the school on Dec. 20 to thank Hayden for the letter, which was a spiritual blessing for him. A big shout out to these students for spreading Christ’s love and joy this Christmas season! (submitted photo)

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The Priest All-Star volleyball team goes up for a block against the Lidgerwood/Wyndmere Varsity Girls team at an exhibition game held in Lidgerwood in November. The priest team consisted of Father Troy Simonsen of St. John’s in Wyndmere, Father Kurtis Gunwall of St. Anthony’s in Mooreton, Father Chris Markman of St. Patrick’s in Enderlin, Father Peter Anderl of St. Boniface in Lidgerwood, and Concordia College volleyball coach Tim Mosser. They put up a valiant fight against the girls before the Lidgerwood/Wyndmere team won 26 to 24. Teens and parents representing five area school districts attended the game. After the game, Coach Mosher gave an inspirational talk to the students and their parents. This is hoped to become an annual event around the diocese. (submitted photo)

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Count your blessings on Giving Hearts Day

By Emilee Hansen | Development Assistant at St. Paul’s Newman Center

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iving Hearts Day is North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota’s largest 24-hour giving event. On Feb. 14, thousands of individuals rally around hundreds of nonprofits in our community saying, “count me” as a Giving Heart for charity.

St. Paul’s Newman Center is a nonprofit serving the thousands of college students attending NDSU. It provides a “home away from home” for students making the transition into adulthood, preparing them to receive the gift of their vocation and equipping them to live a dynamic Catholic life.

This year, we are asking you to #CountYourBlessings by sharing how the Newman Center has blessed you and by supporting current students with your gift. Our goal this year is to raise $100,000 in 24 hours with the help of a generous matching gift to provide needed funding for our annual ministry needs.

Ashley Stoppleworth, NDSU senior, says the Newman Center has blessed her while attending college. “In a pivotal time for me when I had a lot of big questions about life and where I fit in, St. Paul’s Newman Center blessed me with a place and community to grow with other students who were seeking and pursuing truth.”

Other students, like Dan Kramer, an NDSU senior, have also been blessed from the support of the Newman Center. “Since my first day of class at NDSU, St. Paul’s Newman Center has been the one constant in my college experience,” said Kramer.

“Amongst the ever changing class schedules, changes in housing, and challenges in my faith, I have been blessed abundantly by the work that the Newman Center does. Their support has been what has given me the ability to grow and support others today.”

Please support students like Ashley and Dan by giving to St. Paul’s Newman Center on Giving Hearts Day, February 14. #countme #CountYourBlessings #MoveNewmanForward

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Caring for You! NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

15

FAITH AND CULTURE

A love story highlighting Christianity’s influence on society

By Father Kyle Metzger

and violence. Lygia teaches Vinicius about the Jewish carpenter who rose from the dead. She relates the miracles he performed and the new way of living he offers. She introduces Vinicius to his closest followers, Peter and Paul, who are both in hiding in Rome. Surely, his physical attraction to Lygia provides the initial motive to listen, but once planted, the Christian message takes deep root. The Christian doctrine resounds within him.

The new world Lygia envisions breaks all assumptions he has known. Rome is ruled by fiat decree, while Christ offers A review of Catholic books, movies, music the invitation of grace. Rome executes its criminals, while Jesus avoid wading into the debate whether America can be considered offers his sinners forgiveness. Rome divides the world into slave a Christian nation. I do believe, however, it is founded on and citizen, while Jesus offers salvation to all who believe.

He finds Lygia’s faith makes her more attractive, not less. He’s Christian principles, which is not exactly the same thing.

For example, we educate every child, even those requiring confounded that she’s uninterested in the excesses of Rome yet the most costly and demanding accommodations, because we happier than himself. Vinicius muses on what the empire would believe every person has dignity. That is not the case in every look like should all of Rome believe as Lygia. He concludes country. We also exalt due process under the law, not allowing that the world would look entirely different than the one he the powerful to subvert the weak. This too flows from our robust currently knew. We know he’s correct. view of the dignity of the human person. The whole legal theory These are the earliest days of evangelization, a topic repeatedly of equality traces its origin to the principle that one person does discussed in the pages of this magazine the past months. Whether it is the “New Evangelization” of St. John Paul II or the “old not have less dignity than another.

Too often we take this reality for granted. We assume that any evangelization” of ancient Rome, the faith has always been people would form their society with this principle—and others transferred best person-to-person. like it—in view. That’s not the case. Other cultures, particularly What would have become of Vinicius had Lygia kept her ancient ones, looked very different. It is not due to advances faith to herself so as to not offend? What would have become in technology or science that have made us a better people. of him had she hid herself away in only comfortable, Christian circles? What would have become of him had she expected only It’s Christianity.

Peter, not herself, to talk to him about Jesus? What would have The transformative influence of Christianity is seen more become of him and their relationship had she not held firm to transparently by looking at pagan cultures prior to their adoption of her Christian moral convictions? Vinicius would have remained Christianity. After painstaking research into the pagan Roman a pagan.

Empire, Henryk Sienkiewicz penned the fascinating novel Quo Vadis, which has been translated into more than 50 languages Quo Vadis would not have become a love story. and earned him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905. He crafts Sure, it is becoming harder to live one’s Catholic faith as our a love story between a young Christian woman, Lygia, and world slowly slinks back into pagan Rome. So perhaps now Vinicius, a pagan patrician. The romance between the couple, we have to recapture our ancient apostolic instincts. The New however, serves a deeper, far more pressing concern: the reli- Evangelization may bear most fruit by acting a lot more like gious conversion of Vinicius. the Old Evangelization. That means all Catholic faithful live Vinicius is all Roman, through and through. He loves the the faith vibrantly and transparently, particularly around those uncontested might of Rome, its aqueducts and poetry, its orgies who are furthest from the gospel. Your own Vinicius is likely and banquets. As a patrician, he lives with unhindered access sitting in the cubicle next to you. to all of Rome’s delights.

Father Kyle Metzger is the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Fargo.

Then he spies Lygia, a woman of unparalleled beauty who is shockingly uninterested in all of Rome’s fleeting pleasures. What will fascinate readers most is the internal turmoil of Vinicius.

He struggles to reconcile his pagan upbringing to the beauty, “Quo Vadis” grandeur, and nobility of the emergent Christian doctrine, which his beloved lives out vibrantly without compromise.

by Henryk Sienkiewicz, Their relationship develops as Lygia nurses Vinicius back to originally printed in 1897. health from an attack that would surely have resulted in his murder had she not stopped it herself. Lygia’s faith honors forgiveness and reconciliation, not Rome’s rampant murder

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Catholic Culture e m o H e h in t

How to engage small children during Mass

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By Timothy Olson

aving small children at Mass is a challenge. My oldest child is five, my middle is about a year and a half, and my youngest will be born any day now. Every child is different, and their ages have a lot to do with how much of the Mass they are capable of engaging in. Over the last several years, I’ve learned a few things that I find useful.

First, no matter how old your kids are, being extra affectionate at Mass helps set the stage. I want my children to recognize that God’s house is the place where you come to be loved.

My family tries to sit where the kids can see what’s going on.

This means sitting close to the front. Many parents are nervous to do this, but it pays off. My kids are better behaved when they can watch what is happening. Yes, we still have to take kids to the back if they get too fussy, but this seems to happen less when they can see. Moving a bit to the side lessens any embarrassment of having to go to the back.

Speaking of going to the back, I try to deal with a fussy kid in the pew. If they are acting up too much to stay, my next step is to take them to the back of the Church, but still inside the doors. Often this is enough to calm my kids (your mileage may vary). As a last resort, I’ll take them out the door, but only for a few moments. Keeping your kids in Mass probably bothers and distracts a few folks. Most people, though, give me a smile that says, “I get it. I remember what that was like.” I want my kids to realize that Mass is for them. The kids are as much a part of the parish as we adults are. When Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me” he didn’t add, “but only if they are perfectly behaved.”

Before I had kids, Mass was a time to sit quietly in the presence of God. Now that I’m a parent, I’m talking constantly to whichever kid will listen to me. During Mass I explain things and ask the kids questions. We talk about the stories in the artwork and windows, “That’s a picture of St. Nicholas. He was a bishop.

Some people call him ‘Santa Claus.’” During the entrance procession, “Oh, look! Today there is a deacon. Do you see the deacon? How can you tell that’s a deacon and not a priest?”

“Who are those kids sitting up there? What do you think they are there for?” During the readings, “Oh, this reading is from the Gospel of Luke! That’s your name!”

I know that my kids are too young to get much out of the homily, so I try to find one point that I can put into words they understand. “Today’s homily is about tithing. That’s when you

give something back to God to say ‘thanks’ for all the good things he’s given you.” Later, I ask, “Do you remember what today’s homily was about?” I try to do it at least once more while we are at Mass and again after we leave.

When the offertory comes around, the kids put something in the basket. It might be their money, it might be Mom and Dad’s money, or it might be a picture they colored. I also explain what’s going on up front. “See that bread and wine? In a little bit the priest is going to change that into Jesus.” “Father is using incense. The incense is a sign of honor and of our prayers going up to God.” Throughout most of the Mass, I’m pretty loose with whether my kids sit, stand, kneel, or lie down on the floor. Around the time of the consecration, that changes. I tell my son, “You need to kneel or stand now. No sitting. No coloring. Something important is about to happen.” This emphasizes that the consecration is a big deal. He might not understand why yet, but he knows it’s a big deal. During the elevations, I have my son repeat, “Hello Jesus, thank you for coming. Thank you for loving me. Help me to be more like you.” I also ask him to teach this to his little sister.

Every kid is different, and some of the things I mentioned might not work for your children. Mass is important to me, and I want my kids to know why. Hopefully these tips will help you to develop some ways to teach your own kids why Mass is important to you.

Timothy Olson is a father and canon lawyer in the Diocese of Fargo.

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NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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OUR CATHOLIC LIFE

How do we use our time and money?

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he common good of all, especially Catholic families, is at the of our mis Charities heart sion at Catholic North Dakota Charities North Dakota. It is part Chad Prososki of our heritage and embodied in our former name as “Catholic Family Service.” So what can we do to promote healthy families?

Last year I wrote about our use of time, and it is worth reflecting on again. We have 24 hours in a day but still just 168 hours a week. If we spend 70 hours on sleep and personal care, work at least 40, and eat, cook, and clean roughly 20 hours, this leaves us about 40 hours for everything else. For those who work longer or drive farther, this easily drops to 35 or fewer. Whatever our personal amount of time is—albeit, not necessarily “free” time—what do we do with it? If we have so little of our time available, then isn’t it even more important to prioritize faith, family, friends, and helping others?

Do we wisely invest the remaining hours? Are they spent with the people and things that give us joy and make the lives of others better? Do we make time for our children or our parents?

As Matthew Kelly says, do we allow for “carefree timelessness” with enough free time to make real memories and share our love for each other? Do we volunteer in our churches, charities, and communities, or do we spend too much time on distractions like TV and the internet? Americans spend hours and hours on average every day on electronics. If you wonder about yourself, chart out or download one an app that monitors how much time you use other apps on your smartphone.

While some online activities are clearly harmful and should be avoided at all costs, what about apps and games that are fun and entertaining? What about tools that help us connect to others and learn or overcome challenges and disabilities? These can be good or at least harmless in moderation. A tougher question to ask ourselves is this: are these activities the best use of our time? If not, is this hurting someone—ourselves, our spouses, or our children? Instead, could we be making the world a better place for the ones we love and for the neighbors we’re too busy to meet? In our Catholic Charities adoption, counseling, and guardianship programs, we are blessed to see what an impact the generous gifts of time and love can make in the lives of others!

Another question is this: where does all our money go? According to Consumer Expenditure Surveys from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at www.bls.gov, Americans spend about 1/3 of their

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income on housing. Transportation and food are at about 1/6 each. Healthcare costs, insurance, and pension costs follow. Other categories included clothing, charitable spending, education, and entertainment. Notably housing, food, and transportation all rose, but interestingly the greatest increases in spending were for education and entertainment—both with double-digit changes!

Does this information match our own spending? Are we spending our money where our hearts are? What are our needs versus luxuries? Do we really need everything we might think we need? Also, what can this tell us about protecting families and the poor? For instance, the relative share of housing costs can be much higher for those with lower incomes. By examining our personal finances, we can ensure that we are using the money and time we are blessed with wisely as good stewards to provide for and protect our families and neighbors.

Chad Prososki is the Director of Development and Community Relations for Catholic Charities North Dakota.

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Serving our faith community Since 1951

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OUR CATHOLIC LIFE

Desire for motherhood fulfilled in consecrated life Pilgrimage to World Youth Day Krakow in 2016. (submitted photo)

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t the Convocation of Parish Leaders in Fargo this past November, I made friends with an awesome little baby.

I held him every once in a while to give his beautiful mother a rest. A good priest friend asked me there, “doesn’t your heart ever break sometimes to have a baby too?” I was able to respond that, honestly, I feel so much that the people around me are my spiritual children. The need I have as a woman to be a mother is fulfilled tangibly in my consecration.

“The children I teach at St. Ann’s school, the people I visit in the hospitals and nursing homes, priests and seminarians, the people that ask, ‘Sister will you pray for me?’ —in them, I find the children God

has given me.” – Sister Mary Rachel, SOLT In light of the recent World Youth Day (WYD) in Panama, I would like to share my story of the evolution of my spiritual motherhood from my experiences at two past World Youth Days: Madrid 2011 and Krakow 2016.

When I went to WYD in Madrid, I had just finished high school. I traveled with three siblings, one of our SOLT priests, two of our Hispanic SOLT Sisters, and other SOLT laity and friends. We walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostella for five days (about 100 miles) and visited Fatima before the actual WYD. I was strengthened and edified by the experience of the universal Church there. The Church, our Mother, really nourished me during this time and helped strengthen and urge forward the call I already held to consecrated life.

Our group was in the front lines of the crowd four times when Pope Benedict drove by, and I’ll never forget him leading us all in the Our Father in Latin, the universal language of the Church.

I was chosen by our group to also go in the front reserved section the night of the vigil (we had gotten three tickets) when Pope

Benedict consecrated all the youth of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (in

Sister’s Spanish). That night, after singing, chant- Perspective ing, and praying at Sister Mary the top of my lungs Rachel, SOLT all day, I slept in the open field surrounded by religious, laity, and priests, keeping vigil together under the beautiful stars. My heart was so happy and content in this experience of the universal Church. Seven months later, I entered Aspirancy in the Society, thanks in part to the graces I received at this WYD. Fast-forward to 2016 and WYD in Krakow! I had then just completed one year in vows as a sister and was able to join our SOLT pilgrimage group from our mission in Belize City. We had one priest (the same priest who was our Madrid chaplain), teens and chaperones, and four of us SOLT sisters. That was a whole different story, one where I wished that the super energized teens around me would stop engaging in chanting battles (haha) and where I recognized deeply the role I was being asked to play as spiritual mother. This time, I was helping lead the teens in retreat and pilgrimage. On our visit to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a shrine frequented by St. John Paul II, we gave talks and led our teens in small group discussions. Outside St. Maximilian’s starvation bunker in Auschwitz, we led them in a Chaplet of Divine Mercy. We were always engaged in meaningful conversations during our long train rides. Again, it was a beautiful and extraordinary experience of Mother Church, but this time, in my own person as a consecrated bride of Christ, I was helping the teens touch their spiritual mother.

John Paul II wrote in Vita Consecrata, “By virtue of their dedication lived in fullness and in joy, consecrated women are called in a very special way to be signs of God’s tender love towards the human race and to be special witnesses to the mystery of the Church, Virgin, Bride and Mother” (#57, emphasis in original).

What I experienced in being a spiritual mother to the teens at WYD was only one encounter of many that God has graced me with. The children I teach at St. Ann’s school, the people I visit in the hospitals and nursing homes, priests and seminarians, the people that ask, “Sister will you pray for me?” —in them, I find the children God has given me.

By prayer, frequent feedings of teaching, intercession and friendship, and sometimes even changing a spiritual poopy diaper in a difficult situation, spiritual motherhood is present daily. It is my prayer that in each encounter, Our Lady of Guadalupe intercede for all women and all spiritual mothers, that we may receive her heart to love with. In this way, our spiritual motherhood will bear abundant fruit. Amen!

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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STORIES OF FAITH

Love is patient, love is kind, and the right shoes help

By Father Bert Miller

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ometimes simple words make all the difference.

A family lived in a little town in rural Montana — a mother, father, two sons, and a daughter. Everything in their lives seemed fine and had been for a long time. However, the middle child, a girl of about eight years, had started to disobey the family rules. She would not do her chores or her homework. She did not want to go to school or come home after school. She was loud in bullying her little brother.

The father and mother tried everything they could think to get their daughter to conform. Nothing worked. They thought they would just wait it out. It had to change eventually. For the better, they hoped and prayed.

The mother, father, and the boys were devout and faithful church attenders. Of course, they had been praying for their daughter and sister (who never seemed to be with them on Sundays) for what seemed to be forever.

Then, one day after church, they decided to take the minister up on his offer to visit with their daughter. What could it hurt?

The parents agreed to bring their daughter to the minister’s office after school on Monday.

When they got home from church, they told their daughter that on Monday after school, they would take her to the church to visit the minister. The girl screamed at her parents and through her tears, said she would not be going and they could not make her go. She raved all night. She was scared.

The daughter did not want to go to school the next morning, but she went almost silently. After school, she was ready to be picked up and taken to the minister’s office. The only sign of 20

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distress was her constantly flowing tears.

The minister greeted her and commented on having not seen her for a few months. The little girl and the minister sat on a couple of chairs near his desk. He left the door open so if the little girl became too uncomfortable, she could leave. The parents visited with parish office workers and read magazines down the hall.

As the little girl haltingly whispered about her attitude issues, she kept wiping away her tears. The minister thought the little girl would bolt out of the room at any time. She certainly was scared.

The minister thought, “I have to say something and this might be too trivial, but I am going to try it.”

The minister looked at the little girl’s feet and said how much he liked her shoes. He liked the red and black design. They were simple, but beautiful and clean.

The little girl said the shoes were her favorite. She clearly liked that this man, this “old, white haired” minister, liked her shoes. Her flow of tears dried up and she confidently told the rest of her story to the minister.

Their time together on that Monday afternoon ended on a happy note. She took her mom and dad by the hand and the left the parish office, returning to their happy life in rural Montana.

Father Bert Miller serves as pastor at St. Mary’s Church in Park River and St. Luke’s Church in Veseleyville.

Editor’s note: Stories of Faith is a recurring feature in New Earth.

If you have a faith story to tell, contact Father Bert Miller at bert.miller@fargodiocese.org.

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OUR CATHOLIC LIFE

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Subsidiarity – It’s not just a Catholic issue

he Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church calls it “among the most constant and characteristic directives of the Church’s social doctrine” and the “most important” principle of social philosophy. The church has taught it since the first social encyclical, Rerum Novarum, in 1892. Violation of the principle is a “grave evil and disturbance of right order.”

Nevertheless, most Catholics probably have not heard of it and the few that have often misunderstand it. Worse, some that think they understand it misuse it to fit their political agenda.

(Not surprisingly, many spell-check programs do not recognize the word.)

It is “subsidiarity.” The Catechism defines subsidiarity as the principle that “a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions, but rather should support it in case of need and help to coordinate its activity with the activities of the rest of society, always with a view to the common good” (CCC 1883). The definition is actually a good one. It is succinct and complete as much as one sentence definitions can be, but let us take a closer look.

All of the church’s social doctrine flows from the recognition that every human person has a life and dignity that society must respect, protect, and foster. Being social creatures, that is done through community, starting with the family. From the family outward, we develop groups, associations, relationships, and institutions that make it possible to achieve social growth and to function as a civil society.

Eventually, larger or “higher” orders develop, usually in the form of governmental jurisdictions, but sometimes powerful businesses and economic structures can develop. The principle of subsidiarity tells us that these higher orders should not interfere with what the “lower” order can achieve. Depriving these more local orders of their ability to function and make decisions can be a grave injustice.

Subsidiarity, however, is not mere local control. In fact, the word comes from the Latin subsidium, meaning to provide aid.

So, the principle of subsidiarity is really about the duty of the higher order to provide assistance to the lower order when appropriate. One example is when the lower order cannot provide a necessary function, such as defense, or has failed to protect the rights of persons and the common good, such as civil rights.

Subsidiarity also teaches us about how orders can function.

Higher orders, for example, often have the power of the purse.

Governments, therefore, can help fund addiction treatment while people and faith-based organizations can provide the actual treatment. The state government can fund education while parents and schools provide the actual education.

Subsidiarity, therefore, is not “make local and leave alone.”

It is “presume local and assist when needed through appropriate means.”

North Dakota politicians talk often about local control. When measured against true subsidiarity, the state’s success is actually mixed.

For example, the public school system in North Dakota is very decentralized.

Catholic The state finances a great part of ed- Action ucation and sets some basic require- Christoper Dodson ments for schools and teachers. Many decisions, such as subject content, are left to the local districts.

The respect for the lower order, however, stops at the district level. Nonpublic schools and home education are still highly regulated by the state and they receive no state funding, making North Dakota one of the most restrictive environments in the country for a parent to choose the education setting most appropriate for their children.

A perennial issue in North Dakota is whether, and to what extent, local communities should have any input on the placement and operation of a confined animal feeding operation. To a large extent, the state has opted for the “higher order” on that question, but recent opposition to proposed feeding operations indicates that some would like to restore some authority to the local communities.

How the state addresses the behavioral health crisis will raise issues of subsidiarity. People are best served in local communities with the help of families and churches. Funding, however, will have to come from the state, and the state has a legitimate role in coordinating services, ensuring professional care, and providing treatment for those who cannot be served through the local and private sectors.

Several bills this legislative session raise subsidiarity questions.

A bill recently introduced would prohibit political subdivisions from enacting their own minimum wage laws. Another bill would give more flexibility to parents who provide home education.

Yet another bill would allow “home-rule” school districts that would allow more local control for the districts but possibly remove important state protections for nonpublic schools and home educators.

Subsidiarity shows up in a variety of public policy questions.

It is an example of how Catholic social doctrine touches upon issues besides those normally identified as “Catholic issues,” like abortion and religious freedom. We should brush up on the subject. And don’t forget to teach the word to your spellcheck program.

Christopher Dodson is executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. The NDCC acts on behalf of the Catholic bishops of North Dakota to respond to public policy issues of concern to the Catholic Church and to educate Catholics and the public about Catholic social doctrine. The conference website is ndcatholic.org.

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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OUR CATHOLIC LIFE

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The smoke over medical marijuana

comprehensive 2015 scientific review found medical marijuana to be useful only for a small number of medical conditions. Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, an international team of researchers found scant evidence to support broad claims for the drug’s effectiveness.

Although clinical trials showed that chronic neuropathic pain and cancer-related pain could often be treated, other forms of pain, such as those related to rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, HIV, and multiple sclerosis did not show statistically significant improvement. Researchers also found inconclusive data for people with insomnia, anxiety disorders, depression, Tourette syndrome, psychosis, and sleep disorders. They registered concerns about medical marijuana’s significant side effects as well.

Yale University researchers, commenting on the review, noted how the approval process for medical marijuana in U.S. states and jurisdictions has often been based on “low-quality scientific evidence, anecdotal reports, individual testimonials, legislative initiatives, and public opinion.” They raised concerns around the fact that medical marijuana seems to be receiving “special status” and is being “fast-tracked” for legalization, when it should instead be subject to the standard scientific verifications of the FDA approval process to assure its efficacy and safety.

The Yale authors offered this corrective: “Imagine if other drugs were approved through a similar approach. If the goal is to make marijuana available for medical purposes, then it is unclear why the approval process should be different from that used for other medications.”

In his influential exposé Marijuana Debunked, Dr. Ed Gogek emphasizes how the idea of medical marijuana “didn’t come from doctors, or patient advocacy groups, or public health organizations, or the medical community. The ballot initiatives for medical marijuana laws were sponsored and promoted by pro-legalization groups.” These groups have used the medical marijuana trump card to grease the skids for the acceptance of recreational marijuana. This pincer movement has enabled them to control and reap the windfall from an extensive system of dispensaries that supply and distribute addictive substances. Even if recreational marijuana does not ultimately become legalized in a particular jurisdiction, it is well documented that medical marijuana dispensaries often end up supplying the drug not for rare, valid medical uses, but for substance abuse, similar to the situation with opioid pain medications.

Yet the push for marijuana continues unabated. In May 2018, the New York State Comptroller, Scott Stringer, issued a report declaring that legalized marijuana in the Empire State would be a potential $3 billion market, with taxes from its sale generating a potential $436 million annually statewide, and $336 million for New York City. With such sums at play, not only are investors coming out of the woodwork, but towns and municipalities are also issuing ordinances and changing zoning laws to bring in the dispensaries. Indeed, dollar signs beckon, much as they once did for tobacco companies and plantation owners.

Besides being addictive and profitable, tobacco and marijuana have other similarities. Marijua- Making Sense na smoke contains of Bioethics harmful chemicals, with ammonia, benFather Tad zene, toluene, and Pacholczyk naphthalene levels in marijuana exceeding those found in tobacco smoke. These chemical components may contribute to emphysema, bronchial irritation, and inflammation. Patients with medical conditions treatable by medical marijuana can avoid these toxic chemicals and other side effects by using more purified preparations containing only the active ingredients.

In 2003, the Institute of Medicine, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that evaluates medical issues, acknowledged that components of marijuana may have medicinal uses, and strongly recommended the development of prescription cannabinoid medicines based on those components: “If there is any future for marijuana as a medicine, it lies in its isolated components, the cannabinoids and their synthetic derivatives.”

Several different cannabinoid medications have been developed in recent years, and these medicines work as well as or better than marijuana, have fewer side effects, and are less likely to be abused. These drugs also tend to be effective in the body for longer periods.

Dr. Gogek notes the irony of the loud public outcry that would ensue if the FDA were to approve “a drug that had no advantage over safer alternatives, went mostly to substance abuse, increased teenage drug use, and killed people on the highways.” He concludes, “We should not be sidestepping the FDA approval process that was designed to protect us.”

In sum, the reality behind medical marijuana is far from the rosy view painted by advocates. Marijuana is not “just a plant.”

It is an addictive drug abused in epidemic proportions, inflicting a serious individual and societal toll. Its use as a medicine needs to be carefully regulated through standard scientific oversight and the FDA approval process, not handed over to recreational enthusiasts and opportunistic businessmen. The current practice of encouraging states and municipalities to legalize medical, and then recreational, marijuana, is, in the final analysis, neither reasonable nor ethical.

Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. See www. ncbcenter.org.

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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WHAT’S HAPPENING

Events across the diocese Human Sexuality: Love and Responsibility event in Jamestown

On Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., the Basilica of St. James Tabernacle Society will be hosting the program Human Sexuality: Love and Responsibility in a Modern World at the Basilica of St. James in Jamestown. Published over 50 years ago, the Apostolic Letter, Humanae Vitae, remains a pivotal and prophetic document that offers a hopeful vision for human sexuality and many responses to the challenges we face. Father William Slattery will be the speaker.

Help young parents on Valentine’s Day

Join Dakota Hope Clinic in Minot for Giving Hearts Day! All donations given on Feb. 14 will be matched by previously raised funds.

Dakota Hope is a safe place for those facing unintended pregnancies to talk, learn their options, and receive emotional and material support. Everyone is invited to an Open House at the Dakota Hope Clinic in Minot, 315 Main St. S., Suite 205, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, go to www.givingheartsday.org or call (701) 852-4675.

Join Johnette Benkovic for lunch on Feb. 18

Dinner and Dessert Dash Mardi Gras celebration in West Fargo

Join Blessed Sacrament Church in West Fargo on March 1 for an authentic New Orleans style dinner. Social begins at 6 p.m.

Dinner at 6:30 p.m. with dessert dash to follow. Tables will work as a team to place cash bids, winning the chance to “dash” to their tables’ dessert choice first. Bright colors, beads, and masks optional. Adults $10, kids 5-12 $5, under 5 free. Proceeds benefit the parish’s 2019 Peru mission trip. RSVP by Feb. 25. Contact Blessed Sacrament Church at (701) 282-3321.

Safe Haven Sunday

On March 2–3, the Diocese of Fargo will be joining with dioceses across the country in observing Safe Haven Sunday to raise awareness of the damage that pornography does to individuals and families. Bishop Folda encourages priests and parishes to participate in this effort through homilies, intercession, and various resources that will be supplied through the Office of Marriage and Family Life.

Join F pilgri

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Celebrate Mardi Gras at St. John’s Church, Wahpeton

Join St. John’s in Wahpeton for their Mardi Gras celebration on March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event will provide a wonderful dinner, theme basket silent auction, carnival games, and bake sale. All are welcome. Contact St. John’s Church in Wahpeton at (701) 642-6982.

Johnette Benkovic will be the guest speaker at a pro-life luncheon on Feb. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sts. Anne and Joachim Church in Fargo. Johnette is the founder and president of Women of Grace, a Catholic apostolate Join Presentation Prayer Center in Fargo on March 9 from 9 a.m. for women featuring conferences, media, to noon for a presentation on becoming and being the living and study groups. She has been a consistent presence of God. Within each one of us is the power and grace presence on Catholic radio and television. She to transform and be transformed into the image of God and will be speaking on Missionary Discipleship for the Gospel of to become like Jesus. Workshop leader Briston Fernandes is a Life. Cost is $15. Sponsored by the Diocese of Fargo Respect Life native of India with graduate degrees in Philosophy, Religion, Office. Register by Feb. 10 at www.fargodiocese.org/respectlife Theology, and Counseling Psychology. He served as Director of Catholic Charities North Dakota in Fargo from 2002–10. Cost or call (701) 356-7900. is $20. Register by March 4. Contact Scott at (701) 237-4857 or presentationprayercenter@gmail.com.

Learning to be the presence of God

Mark your calendar for the Real Presence Radio fundraising banquet

Real Presence Radio is excited to welcome Johnnette Benkovic-Williams as keynote speaker for their annual fundraising banquet in Fargo on Feb. 18. Johnnette is host of EWTN’s “Women of Grace,” and founder and president of the organization by the same name.

After years as a non-practicing Catholic, Johnnette experienced a deep conversion back to her Catholic faith. Through this conversion, she found a vocation to share the Gospel message through media, including radio, television, and writing. To become a sponsor, host a table, or register to attend as a guest, visit yourcatholicradiostation.com, call (877) 795-0122, or email jessica@yourcatholicradiostation.com.

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Catholic Charities annual luncheon on March 12

All are invited to join Catholic Charities March 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sts. Anne and Joachim in Fargo for lunch and a short program with special guest Bishop John Folda as Catholic Charities North Dakota honors Agnes Harrington for her work serving those in need and advocating for the common good. Lunch is a free will offering, but please RSVP

by March 4 with your contact information by emailing dinner@ catholiccharitiesnd.org or calling (701) 235-4457.

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Join Father Damien on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Father Damien Schill will be leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Dec. 1–10 as well as an optional post tour to Rome and Assisi from Dec. 10–16. For full itinerary and prices, go to www.pilgrimages.com/frdamien.

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Margaret Fuglestad Gunderson, a life-long parishioner of St. Agatha’s Church in Hope, celebrated her 93rd birthday on Dec. 2. Margaret and her deceased husband, Reynold, raised 12 children and have 35 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Floyd Richard celebrated his 90th birthday on Jan. 4. He is a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Rolette. He and Carmen have six children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. He retired from farming five years ago.

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John and Delores (Kuhn) Becker celebrated their 60th anniversary on Jan. 4. They were married at St. Boniface Church in Kintyre by Father John Bacevicius. They reside in Napoleon and are parishioners of St. Philip Neri Church. They have 31 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

Diocesan policy: Reporting child abuse The Diocese of Fargo is committed to the protection of youth.

Please report any incidents or suspected incidents of child abuse, including sexual abuse, to civil authorities. If the situation involves a member of the clergy or a religious order, a seminarian or anemployee of a Catholic school, parish, the diocesan offices or other Catholic entity within the diocese, we ask that you also report the incident or suspected incident to Monsignor Joseph P. Goering at (701) 356-7945 or Larry Bernhardt at (701) 356-7965 or VictimAssistance@fargodiocese.org.

For additional information about victim assistance, visit www. fargodiocese.org/victimassistance.

Don Wold celebrated his 93rd birthday on Dec. 18.

He is a parishioner of Assumption of Mary Church in Starkweather. Don was married to Rosemary Griggs on Dec. 18, 1962, which was also his birthday. They celebrated 50 years of marriage before Rosemary passed away in 2012. Don has three children and two grandchildren.

Share life’s milestones

As a way to celebrate life and love, we encourage parishioners throughout the Diocese of Fargo to send a photo and news brief about golden anniversaries and anniversaries of 60 or more years or birthdays of 80 or more years to: New Earth, Diocese of Fargo, 5201 Bishops Blvd. S., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104 or news@fargodiocese.org.

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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Connecting families to sacramental ministries

By Kathy Loney | Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry presenter to the area for the last few years.

Angel Barrera, Project Coordinator for Youth Ministry Services for the Center, will be giving workshops about connecting parents and their children to sacramental ministries. We all need help engaging our children in the sacraments, especially our adolescents and teens. Angel will lead us through the best practices to engage teens in the sacraments.

All leaders whose ministry works with teens and families are invited to attend a workshop on March 8 at St. Catherine’s in he Center for Ministry Development promotes the deValley City or March 9 at St. John the Evangelist in New Rockford. velopment of ministry and catechesis with youth and Cost is $30 per person and includes continental breakfast, lunch, families through leadership formation, service learning, and materials. and resources rooted in Catholic tradition and scripture. The Center provides its programs, services, and resources to par- The workshops will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at approximately ishes, dioceses, Catholic schools and universities, and national 2:30 p.m. For the complete schedule of the day or to register, organizations. The Fargo Diocese has been bringing a workshop go to www.fargodiocese.org/cmdregistration. For questions, contact Kathy Loney at (701) 356-7902.

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– St. Faustina

A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

These news items, compiled by Danielle Thomas, were found in New Earth and its predecessor, Catholic Action News.

75 years ago — 1944

Congratulations to the following locations that are now on the growing list of debt-free parishes. St. Margaret’s in Buchanan, St. Helena’s in Ellendale, Sacred Heart in Fried, St. James in Jamestown, St. John’s in Kensal, St. James in Minnewaukan, and St. Catherine’s properties in Valley City.

50 years ago — 1969

Major interior renovations are underway at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo. Changes include a new main altar, two sacramental areas for the Blessed Sacrament and baptisms,

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NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

repositioning of the organ, the construction of an acoustical shell for St. Mary’s School and new paint throughout. The old main altar and hand-carved woodwork will be utilized in other areas of the Cathedral.

20 years ago — 1999

A visit to St. Louis by Pope John Paul II drew many diocesan pilgrims. One group of local priests shared a few of the more fatherly instructions from the pontiff and a glimpse into his lighter side. Saying, “His vigor was evident and his love for the people was palpable. His appeal to the nation’s Catholics was focused on the need for a strong family unit and continued pro-life efforts. He also exhorted Americans to take their fundamental call to conversion seriously and to respond to an urgent need for a new evangelization.”

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U.S. AND WORLD NEWS

Catholic Schools Week celebrated Jan. 27–Feb. 2

By Tyler Orsburn | Catholic News Service

A teacher at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in Henderson, Ky., helps third-grade students with a reading lesson. National Catholic Schools Week was celebrated across the country Jan. 27–Feb. 2 with the theme: “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

(Tyler Orsburn CNS)

N

ational Catholic Schools Week was celebrated across the country Jan. 27–Feb. 2 this year with the theme: “Catholic Schools: Learn. Serve. Lead. Succeed.”

“Young people today need Catholic education more than

ever,” said Bishop Michael C. Barber of Oakland, California, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Catholic Education. He stressed that “being rooted in faith does not endanger the academic quality of Catholic schools, but in fact is their very motivation for excellence in all things.”

In a statement released for the observance, he said, “Following Christ’s example of loving and serving all people, Catholic schools proudly provide a well-rounded education to disadvantaged families, new arrivals to America and to all who seek a seat in our schools. Since the inception of Catholic schools in our country, we have always sought to welcome families of all backgrounds while maintaining our principles and teaching in a spirit of charity.”

Nearly 1.8 million students are currently educated in 6,352 Catholic schools in the United States.

Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week has been the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States, sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association and the USCCB’s Secretariat of Catholic Education. Schools typically observe the annual weeklong celebration with Masses, open houses and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members.

Pope Francis: “God loves you, even if you forget Him”

By Courtney Grogan | Catholic News Agency (Catholic News Agency)

G

od the Father will always be there for his beloved children, Pope Francis said Jan. 16, with a reminder that the unconditional love of God is not limited by our own sense of guilt or unworthiness.

“God is looking for you, even if you do not seek him. God loves you, even if you forget him. God sees beauty in you, even if you think you have squandered all your talents in vain,” Pope Francis said in his general audience.

The pope reflected on the first two words of the “Our Father,” focusing on the depth of personal love for each person found

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within God’s fatherhood.

“It may be that we too happen to walk on paths far from God, as happened to the prodigal son; or fall into a loneliness that makes us feel abandoned in the world; or, again, do wrong and are paralyzed by a sense of guilt,” Pope Francis explained.

In those moments, one’s prayer should simply start by saying the word, “Father,” with the tenderness of a child who calls out “Papa” or “Abbà,” in the original Aramaic, Francis said.

“You have a father who loves you!” Pope Francis said. Call out to God as “Father,” and God will answer you, he said.

If you respond to God by saying, “But, Father, I have done this...” God will answer, “I never lost sight of you. I saw everything. But I was always there, close to you, faithful to my love for you,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis described the intimacy of the Aramaic expression “Abbà” used twice in the letters of St. Paul. In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul wrote, “As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”

“We continue to say ‘Our Father,’ but with the heart we are invited to say ‘Papa,’ to have a relationship with God like that of a child with his father,” he said.

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“Anyone whose life is threatened and anyone whose human dignity is disrespected have a claim on our hearts.”

Mercy is a force that permeates the entirety of the pro-life movement, said Naumann. Pro-lifers should have mercy not only for an unborn child or for a frightened expectant mother, but also for post-abortive parents who “deeply regret authorizing the killing of their own child,” for abortion advocates “who verbally attack (pro-lifers) and label us extremists,” and for those who work in the abortion industry.

It was this mercy that led to “amazing Paul-like conversions of abortion advocates,” who have gone on to “become the powerful pro-life apologists,” said Naumann. he pro-life movement must be one of mercy, said Arch Naumann highlighted the examples of Norma McCorvey, bishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City Jan. 17 at the who was the “Jane Roe” plaintiff in the Roe v. Wade Supreme opening Mass of the National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Court case that legalized abortion, NARAL co-founder and Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception former abortionist Dr. Bernard Nathanson, and former Planned in Washington, D.C. Parenthood employee of the year Abby Johnson. All three had “The pro-life ethic challenges us to care about the sacredness been staunch defenders of abortion until they experienced a of every human being throughout the life spectrum. We are change of heart, discovered Jesus’ love, and re-dedicated their called always and everywhere to promote the dignity of the lives to ending abortion. human person,” Naumann said in his homily at the Mass, which “Pray that through God’s grace there will be many more preceded the nation’s annual March for Life on Jan. 18.

Norma McCorveys, Bernard Nathansons, Beverly McMillans, Attending the Mass were pro-life supporters, seminarians, Carroll Everetts, Ramona Trevinos, and Abby Johnsons, who priests and bishops from across the country ahead of the March will come to know they are made in the Divine Image and that for Life, which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands from they are of such worth that Jesus died for them,” said Naumann. across the country.

“May our advocacy awaken the hearts of others to know The archbishop said the idea that pro-lifers care only about Jesus’ desire for them to experience abundant life in this world the unborn is “simply not true.” He pointed to the care and and to share with him eternal life in paradise.” work of volunteers who give their time and money to support Among the bishops concelebrating the Mass were Cardinal pregnancy centers and other programs to support pregnant Séan O’Malley of Boston, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of women in difficult circumstances. the U.S. bishops’ conference and Archbishop of Galveston-Hous “We are concerned about the life and dignity of the human ton, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the person wherever it is threatened or diminished,” said Naumann, United States. who is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ conference pro-life committee.

Archbishop Joseph Naumann, joined by Cardinals DiNardo and O’Malley, along with several bishops, including Bishop John Folda of Fargo, at the vigil Mass ahead of the March for Life. (Catholic News Agency)

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Sidewalk Stories

By Roxane B. Salonen

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Plants for post-abortive a poor proposition

ong before the local news stories about the topic came out, we sidewalk advocates had been noticing some post-abortive women emerging from North Dakota’s only abortion-facility holding small potted plants.

We assumed these must be gifts from the facility or someone associated with them.

A recent article revealed that the plants, made by a non-profit that calls itself “Plants for Patients,” are meant to “soothe” the women who’ve had an abortion, and be a neutral gesture.

It sounds so nice, offering hurting women a little live plant made in a cute clay pot by someone who really cares, right?

Well, maybe to those who haven’t yet thought through what abortion really is.

When I first discovered that women who’d lost their live baby by consent were given live plants for consolation, I immediately felt the emotional gut-punch that often follows the discovery of our culture’s deranged sense of things.

I’ve tried thinking about how this gift’s reception might play out in the days following the abortion. Given what we’ve learned from those who’ve shared about the real trauma that happens in abortion, we know the after-effects can be brutal.

Even if the woman doesn’t feel the repercussions immediately, and even forces a smile at the gift initially, imagine her bringing the plant to her residence and looking at it, day after day, always faced with a reminder of the life cut short.

I think that if it were me, I might be angry at the plant; that rather than it being a happy reminder, it would be like a hot poker stick jabbing at the wound that is still fresh.

I wonder if each time I would go to water the plant, I might realize in some guarded place inside that instead of holding my baby and feeling the joy of new life, I was holding only an inanimate object unable to hug me back.

What happens if the plants are ignored and die? Does that trigger the grief roiling around inside? Either way, wouldn’t that plant be a daily reminder of the life of a dead child?

The plants seem to go hand-in-hand with some of the other abortion promotions I’ve noticed lately. There are the billboards in Iowa and other places touting, “I had an abortion, and it was

just healthcare,” and, “I had an abortion, and I am not apologizing.”

We’re also hearing from more women, from actresses to comedians, joining the “Shout Your Abortion” campaign to try and convince the public that the act of abortion is honorable, or no worse than a trip to the dentist’s office to have a tooth extracted. Lies. Just ask the women who’ve lived through and faced their abortions.

Even the local story is a deception. While claiming the nonprofit is seeking neutrality, partway through the piece, a name appears of one of the “neutral” sources, who also just happens to be a “pro-choice escort” for the facility, and complains of sidewalk advocates sometimes yelling at the women going in.

Nowhere does it state that voices are sometimes raised because the escorts try to drown them out, so the women can’t hear the truth and receive real help.

It may be helpful to know that this escort is also a physics professor at NDSU, who leaves his classroom responsibilities almost weekly to help eliminate a classroom-size full of little ones. He also organizes sessions for those wishing to write messages of compassion to the women to be included with the plants.

The article quotes him as saying, “We try to focus on the strength of the individual… that they can feel love and support from the community.” In other words, to help them feel good about their abortion.

I’m glad the reporter also interviewed the prayer advocates, including Tom Regan, a pastor from rural Abercrombie, who commented, “There’s nothing they’re going to be able to say in that note to comfort her in the loss of her child.”

And Ken Koehler of West Fargo, who remarked plainly, “My thoughts always go to what has just happened, for which that plant is being given. And what just happened is an innocent human life has been taken with every abortion.”

Lord, giver of all life—of both plants and people—have mercy on us all.

Roxane B. Salonen, a wife and mother of five, is a local writer, and a speaker and radio host for Real Presence Radio. Roxane writes for The Forum newspaper and for CatholicMom.com. Reach her at roxanebsalonen@gmail.com.

NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

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NEW

EARTH

Catholic Diocese of Fargo 5201 Bishops Blvd, Ste. A Fargo, ND 58104

Do you know where we are?

The answer will be revealed in the March New Earth.

Where in the diocese are we?

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NEW EARTH FEBRUARY 2019

Last month’s photo is from outside St. Anne’s Guest Home in Grand Forks.