OF
FARGO
June 2013 • Vol. 34 • No. 6
Keepsake Issue
CATHOLIC DIOCESE
New Earth
Bishop!
We Have A
Photos by Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
Ordained to the Episcopacy and installed as the 8th Bishop of Fargo, Bishop John T. Folda greets wellwishers on the steps of St. Mary’s Cathedral
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ST. GREGORY THE GREAT SEMINARY
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And it begins
The Faculty, Staff and Seminarians offer their prayers and congratulations to Most Reverend John T. Folda on his ordination and installation as the Bishop of Fargo
Photo by Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
As people enter Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo June 18 for Solemn Vespers the evening before he is to be ordained a bishop and installed as Bishop of Fargo, then Bishop-elect John Folda looks into the sanctuary.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.” Revelation 21:1
NewEarth (ISSN # 10676406)
SERVING CATHOLIC PARISHES AS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE DIOCESE OF FARGO, N.D. Member of the Catholic Press Association Bishop John Folda Bishop of Fargo Publisher Tanya Watterud Interim Editor news@fargodiocese.org Published monthly by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, a non-profit Minnesota corporation, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. (651) 291-4444. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Earth, 5201 Bishops Boulevard, Suite A, Fargo ND 58104-7605. (701) 356-7900. Personal subscription rate for 11 issues of New Earth per year: $9.
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On the eve of ordination: Solemn Vespers By Tanya Watterud
The two-day celebration of the ordination of Bishop John Folda began with Solemn Vespers on Tuesday, June 18, at Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo. Bishop David Kagan, bishop of the Bismarck Diocese and apostolic administrator for the Fargo Diocese, presided at the liturgy. Archbishop Samuel Aquila, the former bishop of the Fargo Diocese who was named Archbishop of Denver last summer, gave the homily. He began by thanking Bishop Kagan for serving as apostolic administrator while the people of the diocese waited for a new bishop. “Thank you for your ‘yes’ and thank you for these 11 months of ministry for the Diocese of Fargo,” he said, words which were followed by a hearty applause from those present. Archbishop Aquila spoke of Mary, the mother of Jesus. “Just as she gathered
with the apostles in the upper room, so too do we gather this evening in prayer, and Mary is here with us interceding.” He spoke of Jesus. “He who is the one who commissioned the apostles to go forth and proclaim to all the nations . . . giving us the promise: ‘I am with you always’ . . . He is the mystery that every bishop is called to proclaim.” And he spoke of his love for the Diocese of Fargo. “This evening I pray for you, Bishop Folda, especially. You will be my predecessor and you are receiving wonderful and beautiful people . . . I was truly blessed. I learned how to be a bishop. I fell in love with the mission and with the people” he was called to serve, Archbishop Aquila said. A reception was held in the church’s Holy Family Social Hall following Vespers and people were given the opportunity to greet, talk, and take pictures with their new bishop on the eve of his ordination.
Archbishop Samuel Aquila, who was the Bishop of Fargo until he was named Archbishop of Denver last summer, said, in his homily during the Vespers Service before Bishop Folda’s ordination and installation, that he fell in love with the mission and the people when he served as Bishop of Fargo.
Representatives of civic, religious, cultural and ecumenical communities greeted Bishop Folda during the Vespers.
Bishop Folda signed the Oath of Fidelity, pledging his fidelity to God, the Catholic Church, and the people of the Diocese of Fargo. At his side is Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, who served as the Fargo Diocese’s apostolic administrator.
During the reception, Bishop Folda was able to greet the children and adults who participated in the Solemn Vespers. Countless photographs captured images of the new bishop, a man who was chosen by God and appointed by Pope Francis to serve the people of the Diocese of Fargo. Photos by Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
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Fargo Diocese welcomes Bishop Folda Mass of ordination and installation seen and heard by many near and far By Tanya Watterud
W
ith joy and prayers of thanksgiving, the people of the Diocese of Fargo welcomed Bishop John Thomas Folda as the eighth Bishop of Fargo June 19. His Mass of ordination and installation was celebrated by Archbishop John Nienstedt of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Archbishop Samuel Aquila, former Bishop of Fargo, and Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Neb., Bishop Folda’s home diocese, were the co-consecrators. In his homily, Archbishop Nienstedt shared some of Bishop Folda’s history of service. “From the very first assignment you received after ordination, Your Excellency has served God’s people, striving, I am quite sure, to love as Christ would love them. First, at the Cathedral parish of the Risen Christ, while also teaching religion to the high school students at Pius X High School in Lincoln. After graduate studies, you became pastor of St. Paulinus Church in Syracuse and Holy Trinity Church in Avoca. And as if being pastor of two parishes wasn’t enough to fill your day, you also taught religion and served as guidance counselor at Lourdes Central Catholic Schools, while at the same time being an assistant to the diocesan Vicar General. Please turn to MASS on page 5A
Dave Arntson, Milestones Photograhy
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt of St. Paul and Minneapolis places a miter on the head of Bishop John T. Folda during his June 19 episcopal ordination and installation Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo. Through the ceremony Bishop Folda, 51, became the 8th Bishop of Fargo.
Congratulations Bishop John Folda and welcome to the Diocese of Fargo from the Number 1 Deanery Rev. John Aerts Serving St. Patrick’s in Enderlin, Our Lady of the Scapular in Sheldon and Holy Trinity in Fingal
Rev. Peter Anderl Serving St. Anthony’s in Mooreton and Sts. Peter and Paul in Mantador
Rev. Armand Brooks Serving St. Francis Convent in Hankinson
Rev. Jerald Finnestad Serving St. Aloysius in Lisbon and St. Vincent in Gwinner
Rev. William Gerlach Serving St. Charles Borromeo in Oakes and St. Mary’s in Forman
Rev. Loenard Loegering Serving St. John the Baptist in Wyndmere and St. Arnold’s in Milnor
Rev. Scott Sautner Serving St. Philip’s in Hankinson and St. Anthony’s in Fairmount
Rev. Bob Smith Serving St. Boniface in Lidgerwood, Sts. Peter and Paul in Cayuga and St. Martin’s in Geneseo
Rev. Jim Tiu Serving the Carmel of Mary
Very Rev. Dale Lagodinski and Rev. Greg Haman Serving St. John the Evangelist in Wahpeton
Msgr. Joseph Huebsch Retired
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Mass for new bishop draws overflow crowd Continued from page 4A “In 1995, while continuing with your diocesan duties, you were appointed to two different, presumably larger parishes — St. Leo in Palmyra and St. Martin in Douglas. In 1997, you became diocesan director of Religious Education, Co-Vicar for Religious, the bishop’s Master of Ceremonies and diocesan Censor Librorum. And in addition to these duties, you also served as a member of the Presbyteral Council, the College of Consultors, the Finance Council, the Priests’ Continuing Education Committee, and the Nebraska Catholic Conference. In 1999, you were named rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward and eventually were elected president of the National Association of College Seminaries. I am not sure how you did all this, but you must have had a marvelous day planner! “But my point here is that in all these many and varied ministries, concerned as they were in one way or another with the spiritual and sacramental needs of the Lord’s flock, I have to believe that you have grown in your love for the Lord Jesus. How could you not?” Present at the ordination Mass were 23 bishops, including Bishop Folda, five of whom were archbishops. With more than 180 priests, 38 seminarians and 57 deacons, the procession of clergy from First Lutheran Church across the street, where the priests and deacons put on their vestments, to the Cathedral before Mass was an historic sight. Those in attendance were seated in the sanctuary and Cathedral basement, with
a few watching the Mass on a large screen at First Lutheran. The Mass, and 30 minutes of commentary before it began, was broadcast on Valley News Live’s KXJB-TV 4 and live streamed on their website. EWTN-TV and CatholicTV picked up the satellite feed, and local news crews recorded the day and shared its excitement through multiple interviews. Real Presence Live played the audio as it happened. Msgr. James Shea, president of University of Mary, Bismarck, served as the commentator for the broadcast. The broadcast of the Mass was sponsored in part by Bell State Bank and Trust, with Catholic United Financial also contributing. Following the Mass, Bishop Folda greeted people through a receiving line on the lawn of the bishop’s residence, next door to the Cathedral. As Bishop Folda begins his episcopacy, the words of Archbishop Nienstedt will offer inspiration and hope. “It is the Lord who has called you, by his own design, to this holy life. My dear brother, never, ever allow the busyness of your schedule with all its demands to interfere with your daily life of prayer. For without Christ, we are nothing,” he said. “Moreover, never be ashamed of the truth of the Gospel, no matter how compelling the secular world might pressure you through its ridicule, scorn or outright disdain to make accommodations to that truth. You know the one in whom you believe, be confident that he will guard you until the end.”
Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
Priests, deacons, bishops and archbishops walk in procession to St. Mary’s Cathedral, Fargo, for the ordination and installation of Bishop John T. Folda.
The parishes of Deanery 2 express our sincere congratulations and a warm welcome to
Bishop John T. Folda upon your ordination as the 8th Bishop for the Diocese of Fargo. We wish you God’s special blessings as you minister to the people of our Diocese. Be assured of our prayers and support as you serve Jesus Christ through your work in His Church. Cathedral of St. Mary
St. Anthony of Padua
Nativity
Fargo
Fargo
Fargo
Holy Spirit
Sts. Anne & Joachim
St. Paul’s Newman Center
Fargo
Fargo
Fargo
St. Leo
St. Maurice
St. Benedict
Casselton
Kindred
Wild Rice
St. Thomas
Blessed Sacrament
Holy Cross
Buffalo
West Fargo
West Fargo
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Interview: Bishop Folda “The Sower went out to Sow” aims to help faith flourish The parish families of
St. Paulinus, Syracuse & Holy Trinity, Avoca wish our former pastor many blessings and graces.
May the seeds you now plant in the good soil of Fargo bear fruit a hundredfold. With our love and prayers.
Congratulations Bishop John T. Folda
We are grateful and proud to have you serve the people of the Diocese of Fargo.
Editor’s note: Among Bishop Folda’s many pre-ordination interviewers was Carl Bunderson of Catholic News Agency. This excerpted telephone interview took place two days before he was ordained Bishop of Fargo. By Carl Bunderson
Monsignor John T. Folda, the bishopelect of the Fargo Diocese, looks forward to promoting the Catholic faith in eastern North Dakota following his episcopal consecration June 19. “My challenge will really be how to implement the new evangelization here in the Diocese of Fargo, and to help the faith to flourish,” Msgr. Folda said. “I hope I can . . . positively promote and share the faith with others,” he said, noting the example of his own longtime bishop, Fabian W. Bruskewitz of the Lincoln Diocese. “I just look forward to meeting the people of the diocese,” he said. “I’ve had an opportunity to meet quite a few of the priests already, and I want to get to know them better as soon as possible . . . they’re the people I’ll work with most closely, so that’s a priority.” “Visiting as many parishes as I can, and different institutions of the diocese, really just getting to know the Diocese of Fargo — that’s going to be my first priority, and that’s what I’m looking forward to.” “I think that’s always really enjoyable for a bishop, to first just travel around a little bit” and get to meet the people of his diocese, Msgr. Folda added. “I'm kind of in my learning, my homework stage; I have to do my research and meet people.” He said that the new evangelization “is certainly on everyone’s mind right now, and on mine,” and that it will be an emphasis of his episcopacy. As a seminary rector for so many years, Msgr. Folda said that Catholic education and priestly vocations will be particular
“areas of interest” to him, but that “those are just two of the facets of a very big project.” His years as rector of St. Gregory's has “helped me to understand the priesthood better,” he reported. “I think I have a much better understanding of the needs not just of seminarians, but of priests themselves,” having seen many seminarians move towards priestly life. “Certainly I think I have a better understanding of priestly vocations now, and that is something that any bishop has to be not just interested in, but directly involved with.” “I think I'll be able to hit the ground running when it comes to the preparation of our future priests,” Msgr. Folda said, and in “inviting men to consider the priesthood.” Msgr. Folda served as a priest under Bishop Bruskewitz for 20 years, and said that he admired his example of energy and joy in teaching the faith. “He certainly wasn’t afraid to defend the faith or respond to challenges to the faith, but he always did so with great good humor and with a good spirit, a real positive spirit.” “I hope I can imitate that in my own time as bishop, just to positively promote and share the faith with others.” “I hope I can also have an opportunity to meet with young people and just spend some time with them, get to know them and be a part of their lives,” he added. “They are the future of the Church . . . so really to work with them closely and to get to know them, what’s on their minds, where their lives are headed — that’s going to be very important for me.” Msgr. Folda wants to emphasize “the presence of Christ among us,” both in the sacraments and in “the people in the Church.” His motto, a Latin phrase Please turn to BISHOP on page 7A
Welcome
BISHOP JOHN FOLDA
May God Bless You
May God Bless Your Work
The parishes of Grand Forks: St. Michael St. Mary Holy Family St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center www.normanfuneral.com
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Bishop Folda in his ‘learning phase’
“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment, and to thank God for what He is sending us every day in His goodness.”
Continued from page 6A from the Gospel of John meaning “The Word was made flesh,” is meant to remind us “clearly of the dignity of every human being” since Christ took on “our human nature.” “We need to look reverently on our brothers and sisters and appreciate their innate dignity, and realize they share this same humanity with Christ our Lord, and that I think hopefully imbues our relationships with a higher level of respect and mutual support,” he reflected. He noted appreciatively that North Dakotans already have a culture of life, which he said he hopes to support and be involved with. Furthermore, those of his flock he has already met have “a real down to earth quality” with a “clear understanding of what's important, what matters.” “That’s similar to the people I’ve known in Nebraska as well, and so I feel a real affinity for the folks I’ve met up here.” “I’m very happy to be here,” Msgr. Folda concluded. “I was very happy to be given this call to serve, and you can’t help but be nervous about the challenges of such a large responsibility, but at the same time, I put my faith in God.” “I trust his grace is always there. For whatever calling he gives, he gives the grace to carry it out — I put my trust in that.”
Diocese of Fargo BENEDICTINE SISTERS OF ANNUNCIATION MONASTERY
JUNE 2013 ■ 7A
— Saint Gianna Beretta Molla
We are grateful to God for sending us
BISHOP JOHN T. FOLDA With our warmest welcome and prayers for you,
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The Staff, Board of Directors, and the Mothers and children of
Saint Gianna’s Maternity Home
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DVDs of Bishop Folda’s ordination Mass will be available • For more information go to www.fargodiocese.org • More will be communicated in parish bulletins as soon as it is available To purchase a DVD, email news@fargodiocese.org or write to: DVD Order, Diocese of Fargo, 5201 Bishops Blvd. S., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104-7605.
St. James Basilica Jamestown, ND the first Cathedral when the Diocese was first established as the Diocese of Jamestown,
welcomes Bishop John T. Folda A warm welcome and heartfelt congratulations to you Most Reverend John T. Folda. We are very excited for your fatherly leadership and presence. May Our Lady protect and guide you as our Bishop! Third Order Franciscans of Mary Immaculate Fr. Joseph Christensen, FMI Warsaw, North Dakota
Congratulations, Bishop Folda! “The Funeral Home Family & Friends Recommend.”
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Doing double duty as a bishop By Tanya Watterud
For 11 months, Bishop David Kagan oversaw both of the Catholic dioceses in North Dakota. As bishop of the Bismarck Diocese, Bishop Kagan also took on the role of apostolic administrator for the Fargo Diocese when it was without a bishop. “What I would usually do is set aside Fridays each week and make that my day to be in Fargo, weather permitting,” Bishop Kagan said. He remembers only one day in December when he couldn’t travel due to ice. “It has been a very good experience,” he said. “I’ve enjoyed it. It was kind of a nice way of learning a little bit more about the state of North Dakota.” Suzanne Nelson, assistant to the bishop, would usually have a full calendar of meetings scheduled for him. Once in a while, Bishop Kagan would forego driving and ask Father James Cheney, pastor at St. Paul’s Newman Center in Fargo, to fly him to events for the diocese. Bishop Kagan said, “It’s a lot faster than driving, I’ll tell you that.” Serving as apostolic administrator helped Bishop Kagan see the similarities in the dioceses of Bismarck and Fargo. “A lot of people are related to each other,
either by birth or by marriage,” he said. “That’s refreshing. It makes for more of a tight knit Catholic community in the whole of North Dakota.” Msgr. Joseph Goering worked closely with Bishop Kagan during his time as apostolic administrator. “He’s very clear. He’s easy to talk to and very quick to understand what the issue is and provide direction,” Msgr. Goering said of Bishop Kagan. Even when he was not in Fargo, Bishop Kagan “made himself present to us at a distance” by telephone and email, he added. Now that he no longer travels to Fargo on Fridays, Bishop Kagan finds his calendar is still full that day each week, but with Diocese of Bismarck meetings and events. Bishop Kagan said he told Bishop Folda, “Don’t worry what you’re going to do from day to day. Your schedule fills up,” and “Don’t think that after the first six or nine months it lightens up. It just keeps going.” Bishop Kagan knew Bishop Folda before he was appointed as Bishop of Fargo. “He’s a great fellow, a superb priest and an excellent choice,” Bishop Kagan said. “I’ve known him for several years from my time as vicar general in the Rockford Diocese.” “Just like with priests, bishops build up a great fraternity,” Bishop Kagan said.
With thanks and prayers to Bishop Folda! — The members of the Lincoln Chapter of Legatus
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Words alone cannot express my thanks For my first column as Bishop of Fargo, I share with you the message of gratitude I expressed at the end of my Mass of ordination and installation.
for over 10 years, and we are all thankful for the blessing of your time in Fargo. I am personally grateful for your kindness and support over these last weeks as I prepared to begin my own service as raised be Jesus Christ! Now and bishop here. And thank you in particular forever! Your Excellency, Archfor your beautiful homily last night at bishop Nienstedt, Archbishop the Vespers service. I am touched by Aquila, Bishop Kagan, and dear brother your brotherly encouragement for a very bishops, dear brother new brother bishop! priests, deacons, semiBishop Kagan, you narians, consecrated rehave also served the ligious, and dear friends Diocese of Fargo as adin Christ: ministrator for the last I am overwhelmed 11 months, generously by the many blessings sharing your time after that have come to me only recently becoming this day. I must first Bishop of Bismarck. give thanks to God for Thank you for the care the gift of faith and his you have given this dioloving invitation to cese and for the many share in his divine life. ways you have assisted And not only did he see me in these last weeks. fit to bless me with this And to all my new faith, but he also called brother bishops who me to the sacred priestare here today, all the hood, and now inexpliway from Pennsylvania Bishop John T. Folda cably to the office of to Alaska and New Bishop. For such a gift, Mexico, and many I can only bow in humble gratitude. points in between, thank you for being Archbishop Nienstedt, thank you for here and honoring us with your presbeing with us today and celebrating this ence. Please keep me in your prayers. beautiful liturgy of ordination. Your I must offer a special word of thanks words will always remain with me as I to Msgr. Jean Francois Lantheaume, reflect on this day and on the awesome the chargé d’affaires of the Apostolic responsibility of being a successor of the Nunciature. Monsignor, we are honored apostles. to have you with us representing Archbishop Aquila, you served the Please turn to BISHOP’S on page 10A Diocese of Fargo faithfully and zealously
P
Bishop’s Message
We are Pleased to Welcome Bishop John T. Folda The Faithful of the Diocese of Fargo are honored to have Bishop Folda, the first priest in the U.S. to be appointed Bishop by Pope Francis.
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Bishop’s message, cont’d. W Continued from page 9A
Prayerful Best Wishes, Bishop Folda, on your installation as Bishop Villa Regina Motherhouse
Lincoln, NE
cksisters.org
Bishop John Folda The Sisters of Mercy West Midwest Community offers our congratulations and prayers for many blessings as you begin your role as Bishop for the Diocese of Fargo
www.mercywestmidwest.org
Archbishop Vigano, and by joining us today, you unite us in a special way with our Holy Father, Pope Francis. Thank you, and please convey our greetings and assurance of prayers to the Archbishop and to the Holy Father. I cannot neglect to offer thanks for those who have joined us in such great numbers today from my own Diocese of Lincoln. It has been my privilege to serve as a priest for 24 years in the Diocese of Lincoln, and they have been wonderful years. To my brother priests, my religious sisters, my beloved seminarians, and to so many dear friends who are here, you have been a family to me. Thank you for all you have done for me through these years, and know that you will always have a special place in my heart. In particular I thank the bishops who have been our shepherds in Lincoln, Bishop Bruskewitz, who for 20 years was a wonderful bishop and teacher, and Bishop Conley, who for many years was a friend before he became my bishop last November. I will always owe a great debt to so many who have taught me how to be a priest, and who in some mysterious way have prepared me now to be a bishop. And even more profoundly, I must also thank my own family, where I first received the gifts of life and faith. To my dear mother who is with us here today; my father, James, who has already gone to the Lord and for whom I pray in a special way today; my brother, Jim, and sister, Mary, and their families; and for my aunts, uncles, and cousins who made the trip to support me on this day, I thank you and I assure you of my love.
ords alone cannot express my thanks to the people of the Diocese of Fargo for their welcome and their loving embrace of me, their new bishop. From the first moment of my arrival, I was touched by your kindness, your promises of prayers — keep those up please — and for your deep faith. I am truly looking forward to our journey together, as we make our way through the joys and challenges of this still new century and millennium and strive to draw always closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. As I said on the day of my appointment, I am all yours, and I promise to give all that I have and all that I am in your service. No one can know how many hours of work it takes to prepare and bring about an event like this, and I especially want to thank the many people — priests, deacons, seminarians, diocesan staff, Cathedral parishioners, musicians, servers, volunteers, and anyone at all who contributed to this beautiful occasion. You have truly given glory to God through your efforts and your love for the Church. Perhaps you noticed the beautiful hymn sung by our choir today, “The Glory of the Father,” which is actually a musical setting of the Prologue from the Gospel of John, and it includes the words we know so well and which are part of my episcopal coat of arms: “The Word was made flesh and dwelled among us.” These words remind us of the simple truth: It’s all about Jesus Christ. He must be the center of our lives. All that we do and all that we are as Christians, as Catholics, must have its origin from him, and return to him. On the day after his election, just a few short days before my own appointment here, Pope Francis addressed the Cardinals gathered at Mass, and I can do no better than to draw upon his wisdom. He said that we as disciples must walk with Christ, we must build with Christ, and we must proclaim Christ. We must walk with Christ in a relationship of love, accepting the cross, but also drawing from him the joy and the hope and the life that he came to share with us. He calls us to walk with him and to be his friends. We must build with Christ and never try to build apart from him, for without him, we can do nothing, and with him, all things are possible. And finally, we must proclaim Christ. In season and out of season, by our words, whether vocal or written or blogged or tweeted or in any other medium available to us, we must share Christ with our brothers and sisters around us. And not only with our words, but with our actions, indeed by our very lives, we must be a living proclamation of the good news that Jesus is our Savior, he loves us, and he continues to dwell among us. This I think is what the New Evangelization calls us to. The message is as ancient and as new as it has ever been, but we are each called, whatever our state in life might be, to live it more vividly in our own day, so that all might share in the treasure that we have, the treasure of Christ, who is the Word made flesh, dwelling among us. As your bishop, I look forward to joining everyone here in walking with Christ, building with Christ, and proclaiming Christ to all. I cannot think of a more wonderful privilege, or a more joyful adventure. May the Lord be always among us, and may he bless us with his grace and his peace.
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With bishop’s arrival, we can finally exhale By Roxane B. Salonen
Sheet music shuffled and cameras rustled in the choir loft at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo the afternoon of June 19. It was an historic moment, and I, with the rest of the media and musicians, sat attentive, wide-eyed and readied heart, to wait it out one last time. Finally, after a succession of processions, angelic melodies, prayers and a solitary vow of obedience, the spiritual world aligned. It was around 3 p.m., one of the other reporters said. “Fittingly, the hour of grace and mercy,” I noted. With the laying on of hands, the nature of a man named John was changed forever. And soon after, our shepherd, Bishop John T. Folda, walked among us for the first time as bishop, greeting us like a groom turning to his new bride. Our joy overflowed into exuberant applause. And as he made his way through the audience — crozier in hand, golden episcopal garments in place — his joy, too, was palpable.
Wait was lengthy The wait has been long for the Catholic faithful of the Fargo Diocese, and not without some consternation. We first faced the uncertainty of an unknown future while waving goodbye to our former bishop. Afterward, the inevitable speculation began over when our new shepherd might come. Would it be six months, two years? And just as most of us began to find our bearings, a one-two punch came with the news our worldwide shepherd, the Vicar of Christ, had been unexpect-
edly called to new pastures, too. For a time, we were like orphans, existing only on grace and the abiding assurance God alone can give through faith. But now, finally, the time of exhale has come. So much more than what met the eye took place during both the episcopal ordination and installation at the cathedral and the preceding solemn vespers service at Sts. Anne & Joachim Church the prior evening. This time in history carries not only significance for Catholics of the prairie but those throughout the world. It’s been our great honor to usher in the first United States bishop to be appointed by our new pontiff. Sometimes when you’re inside history it’s easy to lose your place, but seeing the television cameras and the satellite truck beaming the broadcast out for the world to see helped jolt me awake to the largeness of it all. Whether seated in the church that day, receiving it through media or tending to God’s work in other ways, we were all spiritually connected through this glorious moment in time.
Connected anew It seems now an invisible, indelible line runs not only from Nebraska to North Dakota, but from Rome to the Red River Valley. Archbishop Nienstedt referenced the connection when encouraging the new bishop to “always be attentive to the needs of the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the stranger in our midst,” and
Congratulate Bishop John Folda
Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
Bishop John Folda, eighth bishop for the Diocese of Fargo, poses with his mother, Mabel Folda, on the steps of St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fargo after his June 19 ordination Mass.
to “allow the tremendous witness of our new Holy Father to serve as a model for you . . . these are the lambs you are called to feed.” I met our shepherd-to-be in a receiving line post-vespers and found his response gracious, telling. I’d come at the long line’s end, and yet he’d somehow sustained his warmth and calm energy. After a few moments of conversation, however, he stopped me. “Tell me your name,” he asked. In my eagerness I’d missed it, and in his question, I learned
that the small things matter to our new bishop. If first impressions are any indication, we are in exceptionally tender and attentive hands. There seemed, however, one element of bittersweet emotion in the welcoming. Having zeroed in on the bishop’s mother with the help of a reporter from Nebraska, I wondered how it must be, pride aside, to watch your son step Please turn to WAIT on page 15A
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Connections to bishops of the past and present
Bishop Folda’s calendar June 30
9 a.m.
July 6
10:30 a.m. Mass for 25th anniversary of Sister Elaine Lang, SMP, Valley City
July 8
5 p.m.
July 17
11:30 a.m. Mass at Presentation Center, Fargo, followed by lunch
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Mass at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Fargo
Catholic United Financial Clergy Golf Dinner, Rose Creek, Fargo Bishop Folda
Michelle Branson of Baker, Mont., contacted the Diocese of Fargo via email to share this news about the first bishop and the eighth bishop of the diocese. It has been edited for New Earth. “I have always wanted to stop and visit the old St. James Cathedral [Basilica of St. James] in Jamestown, knowing my grandfather’s aunt’s husband’s brother was the very first Bishop of Jamestown (Bishop John Shanley). I was finally able to do so today on a return trip from the Schoenstatt Monastery in Delafield, Wis. “It is a beautiful old [church], but the biggest surprise was reading the bulletin and knowing you have a new bishop, Bishop John Folda! He is my late father’s halfcousin. “It is an amazing God-incidence that the first Bishop of Jamestown (later Fargo) was related to my father’s paternal side and the newest Bishop of Fargo is related to my father’s maternal side. Bishop Folda’s late father was my grandmother’s younger half-brother. “I just thought I would let you know this as I am not sure Bishop Folda is aware of this connection. God bless you!” Editor’s note: The first and eighth bishops of Fargo also have the same first name: John. The second and seventh bishops of Fargo had the same first name, too — Bishop James O’Reilly and Bishop James Sullivan.
Congratulations, Your Excellency! Your former flocks thank God for your Episcopacy and pray that Our Mother Mary, Queen of Apostles, will be your constant companion in your role as the shepherd of the Diocese of Fargo.
Congratulations Bishop John Folda on your appointment to the Diocese of Fargo from our seminarians, priests, faculty, staff and graduate students
St. Leo
St. Martin
The Parishioners of St. Leo in Palmyra and St. Martin in Douglas, Nebraska
Thank you to Valley News Live for doing the broadcast production work for the ordination and installation of Bishop John Folda. Your expertise and attention to detail helped us share the joy of this special day with people in the diocese and throughout the world. Thank you also to Msgr. James Shea, University of Mary President, for your insightful commentary before and during the Mass. May God bless you! Diocese of Fargo Communications Office Photo by Dave Arnston / Milestones Photography
We Have A Bishop!
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JUNE 2013 ■ 13A
DIOCESE OF FARGO
Most Rev. John T. Folda, Bishop of Fargo has made the following appointments, announcements, and/or decrees:
Congratulations
Very Reverend Phillip Ackerman has been reappointed as dean of Deanery III, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi.
Bishop John Thomas Folda!
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS
Very Reverend Longinus “Al” Bitz has been reappointed as dean of Deanery VII, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend Paul C. Duchschere has been reappointed as dean of Deanery II, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend John Kleinschmidt has been reappointed as dean of Deanery IV, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend Ross Laframboise has been reappointed as dean of Deanery VIII, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend Dale Lagodinski has been reappointed as dean of Deanery I, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend Frank Miller has been reappointed as dean of Deanery VI, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Very Reverend Chad Wilhelm has been reappointed as dean of Deanery V, effective June 20, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Reverend Msgr. Joseph P. Goering has been appointed to serve as Vicar General, Vicar for Clergy, and Moderator of the Curia. The appointment to these offices is effective on June 20, 2013, and continues ad nutum episcopi. This appointment is in addition to his current appointment as rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo. Very Reverend Luke D. Meyer’s appointment as Chancellor of the Diocese of Fargo has been recognized and confirmed and will continue ad nutum episcopi. He also continues to serve as Priest-Secretary to the Bishop and Master of Ceremonies. Very Reverend James S. Goodwin’s appointment as judicial vicar for the Diocese of Fargo has been recognized and confirmed and will continue until June 26, 2015. Reverend Monsignor Jeffrey L. Wald’s appointment as Vice Chancellor for the Diocese of Fargo has been recognized and confirmed and will continue ad nutum episcopi. The mandates for Very Reverend James S. Goodwin and Very Rev. Luke D. Meyer to process marriage dispensations and permissions have been granted by Bishop Folda. Therefore, marriage files will continue to be processed as usual.
OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS / ANNOUNCEMENTS Please note the following changes to the spring assignments, which were published in the April 2013 issue of New Earth. Reverend Jerome Hunkler will continue as pastor of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Steele, St. Mary’s Parish in Medina and St. Paul’s Parish in Tappen completing his second six-year term. Reverend Arogyaiah Gadagotti has been appointed administrator of St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Oriska, St. Agatha’s Parish in Hope, and Sacred Heart Parish in Sanborn, effective June 26, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi. Reverend T. Thomas Paulraj will continue to serve as parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Fargo, continuing ad nutum episcopi. Reverend Troy Simonsen has been appointed parochial vicar at Sts. Anne & Joachim Parish in Fargo, effective June 26, 2013, and continuing ad nutum episcopi.
from all the alumni of Archbishop Ryan High School Omaha, NE
Go Knights!
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We Have A Bishop!
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Coat of Arms depicts symbolically aspects of Bishop Folda’s life and heritage In designing the shield — the central element in what is formally called the heraldic achievement — a bishop has an opportunity to depict symbolically aspects of his life and heritage, and to highlight elements of the Catholic faith that are important to him. Every coat of arms also includes external elements that identify the rank of the bearer. The formal description of a coat of arms, known as the blazon, uses a technical language, derived from French and English terms, that allows the appearance and position of each element in the achievement to be recorded precisely. A diocesan bishop shows his commitment to the flock he shepherds by combining his personal coat of arms with that of the diocese, in a technique known as impaling. The shield is divided in half along the pale or central vertical line. The arms of the diocese appear on the dexter side — that is, on the side of the shield to the viewer’s left, which would cover the right side (in Latin, dextera) of the person carrying the shield. The arms of the bishop are on the sinister side — the bearer’s left, the viewer’s right.
This is Bishop Folda’s coat of arms.
This is the coat of arms — also called the diocesan crest — of the Diocese of Fargo.
The blazon for the combined coats of arms of Bishop John Folda and the Diocese of Fargo is: Azure, a cross Or charged with a horseshoe of the field, in dexter chief a garb of the second, impaling Argent on a pale gules a Chi-Rho and from base a demi-eagle displayed Or, on a chief azure to dexter a star of six points and to sinister a dove volant argent. Central to the arms of the Diocese of Fargo is the Cross of Christ. The colors of the shield, gold and blue (Or and azure), are traditional attributes of the Virgin Mary, who is invoked as patron of the diocese under the title of her Immaculate Conception. In the center of the Cross is a horseshoe, alluding to William George Fargo (1818–81), the namesake of the See city and co-founder of Wells Fargo & Co., whose stagecoaches carried express mail, bank funds and settlers throughout the Midwest. At the top left (dexter chief) is a wheat sheaf (garb), which recalls the important agricultural product of North Dakota, as well as the bread that becomes the Body of Christ in the celebration of the Eucharist. The arms of Bishop Folda incorporate the colors and layout of the arms of the Diocese of Lincoln (Nebraska); the bishop was ordained a priest of that diocese in 1989. In the blue band at the top of the shield (the chief azure) is a star to represent Our Lady, also taken from Lincoln. Next to the star is a dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit and an attribute of St. Gregory the Great, the pope and Doctor of the Church, who is often depicted with the dove hovering at his ear as he writes. Bishop Folda served as rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb., from 1999 to 2013. On the red vertical stripe (the pale gules) is a ChiRho, the ancient monogram for Our Lord composed of the first two Greek letters in the name Christ. Rising from the base of the shield is an eagle, which has been used from ancient times to allude to St. John the Evangelist, the author of the fourth Gospel and Bishop Folda’s baptismal patron. The Bishop’s motto, on a scroll below the shield, is taken from the Prologue of this Gospel: Verbum caro factum est — “The Word was made flesh” (John 1:14). As the Chi-Rho draws the viewer’s eye to Christ at the center of the shield, so the motto draws the viewer’s heart to contemplate the Incarnation, the central mystery of the Christian faith. The shield is ensigned with external elements that identify the bearer as a Bishop. A gold processional cross appears behind the shield. The galero or “pilgrim’s hat” is used heraldically in various colors and with specific numbers of tassels to indicate the rank of a bearer of a coat of arms. A bishop uses a green galero with three rows of green tassels.
A diocesan bishop shows his commitment to the flock by combining his personal coat of arms with that of the diocese.
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We Have A Bishop!
JUNE 2013 ■ 15A
Long-time photographer records another historic day By Tanya Watterud
Dave Wallis, a professional photographer since 1977, has photographed four of the eight bishops of the Fargo Diocese, making him, undoubtedly, the “official bishop photographer” for Forum Communications Company and its North Dakota newspapers. His favorite picture from the June 19 ordination Mass for Bishop John Folda, the eighth Bishop of Fargo, was the one printed on Page 1 of The Forum on June 20. It showed Bishop Folda leaving the Cathedral and blessing the people as he walked by them. Wallis also photographed the ordination Mass for Bishop Samuel Aquila, now Archbishop of Denver, who was the seventh Bishop of Fargo. “I just barely got the picture of Bishop Aquila,” Wallis said. “He took that letter from the pope, opened it up and turned to the congregation . . . He was really beaming. You could see the pride on his face.” Both Bishop Justin Driscoll, the fifth Bishop of Fargo, and Bishop James Sullivan, the sixth, were also subjects of his photographs for newspapers over the years. A photographer’s eye and skill with the camera help people see history in the making in new ways. For Bishop Folda’s ordination, photographers, other than Dave Arntson of Milestones Photography who was hired to record the Mass in photos for the diocese, were restricted to the Cathedral balcony so as not to distract people from the liturgy. Sandwiched between the choir members and the back wall of the balcony, with his line of vision impeded by the Cathedral’s pillars, Wallis had to be creative to get pictures that varied.
“I feel like I’m part historian. It’s my job to make sure I get those images for that special front page people are going to want to keep.” Dave Wallis
Dave Wallis visits with Katie Wise, diocesan communications assistant, as they wait for newly ordained Bishop John Folda to change out of his ordination Mass vestments and come outside to greet people on the bishop’s residence lawn. Photo by Dave Arntson, Milestones Photography
“I didn’t want everything to look the same,” he said. He stood atop a metal folding chair he found in the balcony and snapped photos of the action below from his perch above the heads of the singers. Technological improvements in photography have led to assurance regarding quality, Wallis said. “In film days, you never knew for sure what you had. With digital, you have that instant feedback.” So does the public. Wallis’ Canon camera has a Wi-Fi memory card. “I can tag my photos and they go
right to my iPhone,” he said. He then Tweets the photo and a message out to the world, so they can see what is happening while the Mass or event is still going on. “I got hooked on newspapers when I was in grade school,” Wallis said. “It all started with the space program. I saved all of the front pages of the space shots.” It’s always a special honor for a photographer to have a photo placed on a newspaper’s front page, he said. “Now that I’m actually part of creating those front pages, it’s even more of a thrill. I feel like I’m part historian,” he said. “It’s my job to make sure I get those
images for that special front page people are going to want to keep.” Wallis said he expects to retire in four years or so, after hitting the 40-year mark as a newspaper photographer. With that in mind, he probably won’t photograph the ninth Bishop of Fargo, whomever that might be, but his record of photographing half of the diocese’s bishops will likely stand for quite some time. Possibly forever. Wallis is a member of Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church in Fargo and works from the offices of The Forum newspaper in Fargo.
Wait is over for Fargo Diocese Catholics Continued from page 11A into a new and largely unknown mission far from home. Could she have fathomed such a thing when he was a tot being rocked to sleep at her bosom?
Stay close to Mary I took solace in noting the color of her dress — blue, like the garments associated with another mother who also had to let go, and with conflicted emotion, watch her son accept his Godgiven calling. Archbishop Nienstedt addressed this too, challenging Bishop Folda to “never forget that behind every successful man is a better woman,” and to “follow the Blessed Virgin Mary to be that source of strength in you.” He also noted the bishop had chosen to prominently display the star representing Mary’s Immaculate Conception on his Coat of Arms, and said his motto, “The Word Was Made Flesh,” “resounds with praise for the Virgin Mother who gave flesh for the Father’s Son.” “Stay close to her, seek her guidance,” he said. “She will always lead you closer to her divine son.” And as you follow where she goes, Bishop Folda, God-willing, we will be close behind. Salonen, a freelance writer, is a member of and cantor for Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo.
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We Have A Bishop!
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