The Catholic Spirit - September 9, 2010

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

Standing up for the truth about marriage

2 September 9, 2010

Pope Benedict to highlight relevance of Newman in visit to Great Britain

The Catholic Spirit News with a Catholic heart

Challenging youth to embrace faith

3 TheCatholicSpirit.com

Growing by leaps and baptisms

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to travel to Great Britain to personally beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman will give him an opportunity to highlight Cardinal Newman’s teaching about the relation between faith and reason, the role of conscience and the place of religion in society.

CARDINAL During his NEWMAN Sept. 16-19 trip, the pope will visit the Scottish cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow before traveling to London and Birmingham for the beatification.

Cardinal Newman was a 19thcentury theologian and intellectual who was a leader in the Anglican reform effort known as the Oxford Movement before becoming a Catholic.

The pope will celebrate openair Masses, meet Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister David Cameron and make a major address to leaders of British society. His visit includes a meeting with leaders of other religions, an ecumenical prayer service and a visit to a home for the aged.

But the Vatican has billed the trip as a pastoral visit “on the PLEASE TURN TO A FIRST ON PAGE 7

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Martha Rodriguez, left, and Vidal Cardenas watch as their 14-month-old daughter, Zitlaly Cardenas, is baptized by Deacon Carl Valdez at Incarnation/Sagrado Corazón de Jesús parish in Minneapolis. Holding the infant is godmother Gabriel Hernandez. Next to her is godfather Jossy Rodriguez.

Six hundred Latinos christened yearly at Minneapolis parish

By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

Extended families greet one another with hearty handshakes and pecks on the cheek as they file in to Incarnation church in Minneapolis on a recent Saturday morning.

Professional photographers and videographers scope out ideal vantage points while moms and dads snap photos of their kids in front of flowery side altars. Toddlers dressed in white gowns and three-piece suits squirm in their parents’ arms.

About 15 minutes after the ceremony is scheduled to begin, Deacon Carl Valdez leads the congregation in an opening hymn, explains in Spanish the importance of what is about to occur, then invites families to line up in front of the altar.

Time after time, Deacon Valdez says a blessing as he carefully pours water over each child’s head. By the end of the hourand-a-half ceremony, he has baptized 28 children.

about the sacraments and the symbols involved. If the child to be baptized is old enough, he or It was a hot day. I walked in she also receives instruction. and there were 54 kids to Deacon Valdez realizes that many of the families whose chilbaptize. dren he baptizes are not regular church goers. And, some parents DEACON CARL VALDEZ aren’t married. But he uses the opportunity to gently inform them of their responsibilities as 600 baptisms Catholics. Then he invites them into full It was a typical Saturday for Incarna- communion with the church. tion’s Spanish-speaking Sagrado Corazón “At least we can say in an inviting way, de Jesús community, which celebrates not in a chastising way: ‘You are saying you approximately 600 baptisms per year — want to live your Catholic faith because more than any other parish community in you’re baptizing your child. How are you the archdiocese. living your faith?’” Deacon Valdez said.

An estimated 3,000 families belong to Deacon Valdez remembers the first time Sagrado Corazón, which the archdiocese he was called to do baptisms at Incarnation three years ago, just before he was assigned classifies as a chaplaincy rather than a septo the Minneapolis parish. “It was a hot arate parish.

The Sagrado Corazón community origiday,” he recalled. “I walked in and there nates from St. Stephen in Minneapolis, were 54 kids to baptize.” which began offering weekly Masses in Since then, Deacon Valdez has reduced Spanish in 1992. Five years ago, the comthe number of baptisms he’s willing to permunity moved to Incarnation after it had form at one time in an effort to better preoutgrown St. Stephen.

On a typical weekpare families for the sacrament. Parents end, about 1,400 people attend one of the and godparents are required to attend a three-to-four-hour class, where they learn PLEASE TURN TO PARISHES ON PAGE 19

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SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Standing up for the truth about marriage

That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt

Marriage, as a union between one man and one woman, has been and continues to be an essential good for our society

Sept. 19 is Catechetical Sunday.

Each year a new theme is chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to reflect the most pressing and urgent topics relative to catechetical instruction.

The theme this year is “Matrimony: Sacrament of Enduring Love.” I firmly believe this is a most timely topic as many, both in society and even in our church, misunderstand the essential reality of both the natural elements of marriage and its divinely revealed nature as a sacrament.

Fundamental institution Today within our culture and throughout the world, contemporary societies do not always support marriage as the fundamental social institution that it is. Being seriously affected by difficult social and economic trends, many couples are forced to struggle in balancing their home and working responsibilities.

In their 2009 pastoral, “Marriage Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” the U.S. bishops’ conference lists four contemporary challenges that threaten the very meaning and purposes of marriage: contraception, same-sex unions, divorce and cohabitation. These are areas of great concern for marriage that are not only foundational to our faith but also to the society in which we live.

As a citizen, it is important to understand how marriage, as a union between one man and one woman, has been and continues to be an essential good for our society.

In a previous newspaper editorial (StarTribune, April 27, 2010), I

The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit’s mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

It seeks to inform, educate, evangelize and foster a spirit of community within the Catholic Church by disseminating news in a professional manner and serving as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues.

Vol. 15 — No. 19 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher BOB ZYSKOWSKI Associate publisher

JOE TOWALSKI Editor

Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by Catholic Spirit Publishing Company.

Subscriptions: $29.95 per year Senior 1-year: $24.95 To subscribe: (651) 291-4444 Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444 Classified advertising: (651) 290-1631 Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, a non-profit Minnesota Corporation, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. www.TheCatholicSpirit.com e-mail: catholicspirit@archspm.org USPS #093-580

The Catholic Spirit

“Today within our culture and throughout the world, contemporary societies do not always support marriage as the fundamental social institution that it is.

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ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT

addressed the urgent need to protect marriage in our society, and I suggested how this can be best accomplished through a constitutional amendment here in Minnesota.

(See: HTTP://WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG/NEWSEVENTS/NEWS-DETAIL.PHP?INTRESOURCE ID=2512.)

However, I now wish to focus precisely on what the Catholic Church teaches us about the truth of marriage, and to address some catechetical points on this topic that may be helpful to us all. In doing so, I hope that our priests and deacons will also reflect on this issue in their homilies on Catechetical Sunday.

Two essential facts In the Nuptial Blessing of the wedding liturgy of the Catholic Church, we read these moving words: “Father, to reveal the plan of your love, you made the union of husband and

Archdiocese hires development director

wife an image of the covenant between you and your people.

In the fulfillment of this sacrament, the marriage of a Christian man and woman is a sign of the marriage between Christ and the Church.”

These words beautifully express two fundamental facts about the sacrament of marriage: 1) God is the author of marriage, and 2) that it is a sign of his love.

Defining marriage as an exclusive relationship between one man and one woman does not in any way deny the inviolable dignity of the human person made in the image and likeness of God. Treating different things differently is not unjust discrimination. Marriage is unique for a reason. From the beginning, God designed it to be so, as a sign of his love for us. Later, St. Paul exPLEASE TURN TO IN ON PAGE 23

Michael F. Halloran, executive director of The Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Sacramento, Calif., has been chosen by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to serve as its director of development and stewardship as of Nov. 1.

Halloran will be in charge of HALLORAN all fundraising, including the annual Catholic Services Appeal, which supports a variety of parish, education and social justice ministries.

A graduate of St. John’s University in Collegeville, Halloran has more than 20 years of experience in management, strategic planning and development for non-profit religious and educational organizations as well as for-profit organizations.

At the Diocese of Sacramento, he developed and implemented an Annual Catholic Appeal that resulted in a 200 percent increase in dollars raised and a 300 percent participation increase over a two-year period, according to a news release.

From 2000 to 2006, he served The University of Minnesota as associate athletics director of development. In that capacity, he secured $65 million in support for the university and led the athletic department’s development efforts for a new on-campus football stadium.

“I think we’ve helped the church, in some way, recapture its evangelistic impulse.”

Mark Berchem

Local News from around the archdiocese

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

The Catholic Spirit

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Ten teams train to challenge youth to embrace their faith

By Pat Norby

How to schedule a NET retreat

The Catholic Spirit

Cate Bunnell and Maggie Vettel are among 110 members of National Evangelization Teams Ministries who are completing training as retreat leaders.

Team members will be serving Catholic parishes throughout the country this year — including two in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Bunnell, 26, began attending Lifeline youth BUNNELL Masses and retreats at the NET Center in West St. Paul when she was a teenager.

“NET has always been such a great part of my life,” said Bunnell, a member of St. Nicholas in New Market and graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

“This past year, I felt the Lord calling me to grow closer to him and to give my life over in a concrete way as a missionary and to spread that joy and love.”

Vettel, 21, signed on for a second season with NET, after interrupting her pursuit of an education degree at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan., to serve at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings beginning last fall.

“My experience at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton last year, as a part of their

■ Call: (651) 450-6833 ■ Visit: WWW.NETUSA .ORG Select retreat dates are still available between Sept. 25 and Dec. 16 for parishes in the archdiocese.

Photo courtesy of NET Ministries

From left, Nick Redd of Alton, Ill.; Katy Blythe of North Huntingdon, Pa.; Dan Driver of Reading, England; Josh Gamiao of Modesto, Calif.; and Kristen Miranda of West Covina, Calif., jump for joy as part of their training to serve with NET Ministries during this school year.

first NET parish team, was very blessed,” said Vettel, a member of Spirit of Christ in Arvada, Colo. “It was a strengthening experience to be a consistent face in young people’s lives, to be a witness of the Lord to them and to watch personal conversion take place throughout the year.”

Continuing a tradition Mark Berchem, founder and executive director of NET Ministries, said NET teams, comprised of young adults from 18 to 30 years old, have

FESTIVAL & BOOYA

been presenting retreats to junior and senior high youth since 1981.

“We weren’t trying to start anything,” Berchem said. But after Berchem took a team to the Winona diocese in 1980 to do 16 retreats, like those that were being done at the St. Paul Catholic Youth Center, it took off. Bishop Paul Dudley, the late bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D., asked for a team to visit. Then a priest in Fargo, N.D., called.

“NET was off and running from there,” Berchem said.

Five years ago, NET placed its first

dedicated parish team with Divine Mercy in Faribault, where a team served three years. St. Michael in St. Michael had a parish team for two years. Hastings will host a team again this year, as will All Saints in Lakeville. “[Home teams are] still relatively new for us,” Berchem said. “We can only do one or two parishes at a time.”

NET will have 10 teams this year: seven will travel throughout the PLEASE TURN TO HASTINGS ON PAGE 11

Marian Eucharistic Congress “Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord.”

Lk. 1:38

October 1, 2, 3, 2010

Sunday, Sept. 19th

Fargo Civic Auditorium

ST. JEROME CHURCH

SPEAKERS: Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Diocese of Fargo • Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR • Fr. Joseph Christensen • Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR • Msgr. Robert Laliberte Fr. Clement Machado, SOLT • Mother Adela, SCTJM • Sr. M.Timothea Elliott • Dr. Ray Guarendi • Dr. Edward (Ted) Sri • Al Barbarino • Michael O’Brien

380 E Roselawn Ave. (at 35E) stjerome-church.org

10:30 a.m. Outdoor Mass Followed by Afternoon Entertainment:

The Hillbilly Mafia Booya, Grilled Food, Car Show, Kids Games, Bingo, Cherry Tree, Silent Auction, Pull Tabs

CASH PRIZES 200 gallons of “Carry Out” Booya will be ready at 7 a.m.

“World Finest” Booya TheCatholicSpirit.com

Registration Duplicate this form as needed • Your pre-registration is greatly appreciated.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY YOUR COMPLETE NAME AS IT SHOULD APPEAR ON YOUR NAME BADGE. Name(s) _________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________________________________ YOUR NAME BADGE WILL BE MAILED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 20th (U.S.); SEPTEMBER 7th (Canada) We strongly encourage that you register as early as possible. Seating is limited. If your registration is received after September 20th (U.S.), September 7th (Canada), your NAME BADGE must be picked up at the Registration Table the day you arrive.Your cancelled check is your receipt.

Your NAME BADGE is the Only OFFICIAL CONGRESS ENTRY!

• No Assigned Seating • ■ I require special needs seating Adult ___ @ $50 before Sept. 20th ($55 at the door) Children (under 18 Yrs.) ___ @ $15 College Student ___ @ $20 Priests and Religious (Registration is Required)

$__________ $__________ $__________ N/C $__________

Please be advised that no food or beverages brought in from outside the Civic Memorial Auditorium will be allowed. Food concessions will be available for your lunches, snacks and beverages throughout the Congress weekend.

Total (Payable only in U.S. Funds): $__________ Make checks payable to: MARIAN EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS Mail to: MARIAN EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

P.O. Box 1163, Fargo, ND 58107

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Local

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Universities welcome record first-year enrollments

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

At first, Elizabeth Murphy wanted to go away to college, but she didn’t think the five miles from her St. Paul home to the University of St. Thomas constituted “going away.”

Murphy’s parents, however, encouraged her to consider closer schools, and in the end, St. Thomas’ location played a key role in her decision to enroll there, said Murphy, who with her family, belongs to Lumen Christi Catholic Community.

Both University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University administrators believe many freshmen like Murphy and their families have chosen schools closer to home because of the economy this year, which is one reason both universities are welcoming record freshmen classes this fall.

This week, 1,509 U.S. freshmen are starting classes at St. Thomas, compared to 1,346 last year, making it the school’s largest freshman class ever, said Kris Roach, admissions and financial aid director.

Final enrollment figures won’t be confirmed until later this month, she added.

At St. Catherine University, 422 new first-year students are enrolled this year — an increase of 14 students over last year and the largest freshman class in 30 years, said Brian Bruess, St. Catherine’s vice president for enrollment and dean of student

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Graphic by James Graham / The Catholic Spirit

affairs.

Both schools’ reputations for educational excellence, along with good meritand need-based financial aid packages are other possible reasons for the surge, administrators say. In addition, Roach cited St. Thomas’ construction of new student-focused buildings, and Bruess highlighted St. Catherine’s strategic plan, which includes innovation and new programs.

On both campuses, the additional first-

year students are seen as an opportunity but also a challenge as school administrators have had to find ways to meet their needs, especially for academics and housing.

Opportunities, challenges A comparable number of students applied this year as in previous years, but more students who were accepted PLEASE TURN TO LARGE ON PAGE 22

St. Paul Seminary is home to 33 new seminarians The Catholic Spirit The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity this fall welcomes its largest enrollment in almost three decades.

Thirty-three new seminarians are joining the seminary, bringing the total number of men studying for the priesthood to 92.

The residence hall there is at full capacity, according to the MSGR. CALLAGHAN seminary.

The seminarians come from 14 dioceses in the U.S., and from Ghana, Uganda and Peru. Forty are preparing to serve as priests of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

“Our strong enrollment reflects the growing number of men who are answering God’s call to the priesthood,” said Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, rector of the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity.

In addition, 62 lay people and members of religious communities are studying in the School of Divinity for their master’s degrees in theology.

Fair trade coffee like ‘cup of solidarity,’ says CRS ambassador

By Julie Pfitzinger For The Catholic Spirit

Bob Walz appreciates a good cup of coffee when he tastes one, but a rich, full-bodied taste is only part of what Walz is looking for when he pours his first cup every morning. In his role as a Catholic Relief Services Fair Trade Ambassador, Walz is a fervent supporter of certified fair trade coffee.

“I like to refer to certified fair WALZ trade coffee as a cup of solidarity,” said Walz, pastoral minister and coordinator for justice and outreach at Guardian Angels in Oakdale. “It’s a way to help promote economic development with dignity for the coffee growers. It’s not giving them a handout; it’s giving them a hand-up.

To be designated as certified fair trade, the producing company must provide workers with a fair wage, opportunities for advancement, equal opportunities for all workers, a healthy and safe working environment and also employ environmentally sustainable practices.

Guardian Angels regularly serves Peace Coffee, a certified fair trade organic coffee, at all church events.

They also sell one-pound bags of the company’s Nicaraguan label coffee at the Thursday afternoon Farmers Market in the parish parking lot.

Guardian Angels sells the coffee for $10 a pound, and its wholesale

cost is $7; profits from the Peace Coffee sales are donated to its sister parish, the Church of St. Rita, located in Teustepe, Nicaragua.

‘Mission driven’ coffee Peace Coffee is part of the Minneapolis-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy, a non-profit dedicated to fostering sustainable regions and communities. Along with another certified fair trade coffee producer, the Faribault-based Providence Coffee, these are what Walz refers to as “mission driven” companies, since each donates 1.5 percent of the sales of a bag of their certified fair trade coffee directly to CRS. Both companies regularly donate to other Catholic organizations as well, said Walz.

With the proceeds raised, CRS helps support Central America coffee producing companies by funding needs such as health care and literacy programs, further economic development and agricultural training to help farmers improve the quality of their product.

About relationships During a trip to Central America in 2004, Walz had the opportunity to visit several coffee farms and observe the entire production process; he even served as a taster and tried more than 100 varieties of coffee.

“CRS has done a remarkable job of working with the farmers, teaching them about organic farming and helping to create a market for their coffee in the United States,” he explained.

Walz and Shelby Vaske, director of faith formation at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville, both attended a CRS training session last May in Traverse City, Michigan where they learned all about fair trade practices.

So far, the two are the only Minnesotans who have participated in this training.

“Fair trade is all about relationships,” said Vaske. “Raising awareness about fair trade and about how all of our purchases as consumers affect the market is a big part of what we learned and what we do now in our roles with CRS.” Since Vaske’s parish community is located in an agricultural area, the concept of making sure farmers are treated fairly in the marketplace and allowed to get a price for their product that enables them to support their families really resonates, she added.

Other fair trade items include tea (sold by both Peace Coffee and Providence Coffee), chocolate, soap and handcrafted goods. Many local parishes sponsor annual events where these items are sold.

St. John Neumann in Eagan hosts a “Fair Trade” sale every October, which is national Fair Trade Month.

St. Thomas the Apostle in Minneapolis hosts a “Just Giving Fair” the first weekend of December; the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis plans a similar event during Advent.

Every year, Guardian Angels sets up a CRS “Work of Human Sales” table during the parish’s annual Christmas boutique.

While there are many churches in both the Archdiocese of Saint Paul

and Minneapolis and the Diocese of St. Cloud that regularly serve or sell fair trade coffee for fundraisers — another popular fair trade coffee is from San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala, the coffee served at St. Louis Catholic Church in Paynesville — Walz would like to see 100 percent of the churches choose fair trade or certified fair trade coffee.

Seeking bishops’ support To that end, he will be meeting with Minnesota bishops in December to ask them to “come up with an action plan” surrounding this goal.

“I want to communicate to all the priests and administrators about certified fair trade products and help them understand the connection between CRS and the work of the Catholic Church throughout the world,” said Walz. “It’s about the dignity of the individual, the dignity of work, and solidarity — all principles of Catholic social teaching.”

Vaske believes the practice of fair trade is “going to grow exponentially” as people become more aware of how their purchases can make a difference in the lives of workers and their families across the world.

“If every household would commit to using even one fair trade product on a regular basis, it would make such a difference,” she said.

“To be honest, most people buy stuff and don’t even think about where it comes from. But once you have that awareness piece, you just can’t go back.”

Want to know more?

More information about fairtrade practices and assistance for incorporating them into your church, school or other organizations is available by contacting Bob Walz at (651) 789-3181 or BWALZ@GUARDIA N-ANGELS.ORG and online at CRSFAIRTRADE

.ORG.

Local

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Are church closures coming?

Forthcoming plan may call for closing some church buildings, but leaders seek to avoid past mistakes

“A merger is a merger of people that also involves closing or repurposing a building in many cases.

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

On Saturday, May 24, 2008, parishioners at Holy Redeemer in Maplewood celebrated their final liturgy in the building that had housed their weddings, meetings and Masses since 1970.

At the end of the Mass, Larry McCarthy, 64, and another longtime parishioner John Miller, 74, pushed the altar into a cubby designed for its storage, and they shut the door.

“It was like closing the lid on a coffin,” McCarthy said.

The parish was merging with St. Peter in North St. Paul in an effort to use the area’s Catholic resources more efficiently.

But most Holy Redeemer parishioners felt their parish was closing. Under the merger, Holy Redeemer’s church building would not be used.

In this case, Holy Redeemer parishioners had little warning and little time to grieve. Many felt as if the transition was imposed on them and that they had no voice in the matter, said Larry’s wife, Peggy, 61.

Today, the McCarthys are involved in St. Peter’s parish life, but they still struggle with the heartbreak of losing their church and former parish community, they said.

Learning from mistakes Throughout the archdiocesan Strategic Planning Process for Parishes and

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JIM LUNDHOLM-EADES

Schools, church leaders have been deliberate in avoiding the mistakes made in the Holy Redeemer-St. Peter merger, said Jim Lundholm-Eades, a strategic planning task force member.

In that case, he admitted, things could have been done better.

The process was insufficient in hindsight, he said.

In contrast, engaging local Catholics has been central to the current archdiocesan planning process, which began in March 2009.

With the help of the archdiocesan Parish Services Team, a 16-member task force collected data and input from Catholics from every part of the archdiocese regarding how better to serve local Catholics and use parish resources.

The task force presented their recommendations to Archbishop John Nienstedt in July.

The long process has allowed the task force to hear from all who wanted to share their hopes or concerns and to craft

a comprehensive plan, Lundholm-Eades said.

When the Strategic Plan for Parishes is announced on Oct. 16-17, Catholics should have had time to prepare for the announcement. Adequate time will also be given to implement all changes the plan proposes, Lundholm-Eades added.

Parishes and ‘suppression’ Canon law requires that a diocese be divided into distinct parts known as parishes. This community is entrusted to a pastor’s care. Only a bishop of a diocese, or archbishop of an archdiocese, can decide to change a parish in any way — including the closing of a parish, which canon law calls “suppression.”

Suppression, however, is less common than other parish reconfigurations. A parish is suppressed when there is no longer any Catholic community in its territory, or when no pastoral activity has

‘Strategic planning’ and ‘downsizing’ are different The Catholic Spirit The archdiocese’s plan is a strategic plan, not a downsizing plan like some other U.S. dioceses have implemented.

The difference is important, said Jim Lundholm-Eades, strategic planning task force member ARCHDIOCESAN and archdiocesan PLANNING PROCESS Parish Services Team’s director.

“The number of Catholics in the archdiocese is growing,” said Rita Beatty, planning process communications manager.

“The challenge that we’re facing is that many church and school buildings are concentrated in areas where the general population is not growing substantially,” she added.

Despite the growth, overcapacity is a problem throughout the archdiocese. In Catholic schools in the archdiocese, there are 20 percent more seats overall than there are students. And 32 percent of weekend Masses are less than one-third full.

This strategic plan should also allow priests to focus more on being pastors, Lundholm-Eades said.

“At the moment, many of our priests spend a lot of time attending to the temporal management of our churches, and they have to put in that time because of the fragile . . . financial nature of the parishes,” he said.

“By building strong, sustainable parish communities, it frees pastors to visit the sick, comfort the dying, teach the people.”

PLEASE TURN TO THREE ON PAGE 21

Communicate, admit mistakes and 32 other merging lessons learned The following includes seven of 32 lessons Strategic Task Force co-chair Father John Bauer learned as he pastored the merger of St. Leo, St. Therese and St. Gregory into Lumen Christi in St. Paul. He shared this with other pastors facing parish mergers and reconfigurations. Read all 32 lessons at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

better or worse, but certainly different). These parishes are now part of a new reality. Part of the job of those in leadership positions is to help clustered or twinned parishes live into the new reality they have become. I began to refer to the parishes as “site” — for example, our St. Therese site, our St. Gregory site, our St. Leo site.

In dioceses across the country the phenomena of merging, twinning, clustering and closing parishes has been occurring for several years. The indications are that this will continue at least for the immediate future.

Given this, it would be useful, I think, for those who have been involved in these endeavors to share information about what was helpful in this process.

This information may not make the challenge of these endeavors any easier, but perhaps it will make it less frightening. Having merged three parishes in St. Paul and lived to tell the tale, I would like to share 32 things I

By Father John Bauer learned in the process.

In the process of clustering/twinning/merging parishes and closing churches, you cannot communicate too much. You can never presume that because something has been mentioned once, that everyone knows about it. In this regard, I once heard that people need to hear things seven times before they actually hear it. As important, even if people don’t agree with something, they will usually appreciate the fact that you communicated the rationale and reason for it.

While it seems obvious, it needs to be acknowledged right at the start that a clustered/twinned parish is very different from a single parish. It is a new reality. Given this, you need to learn to lead and communicate in new and different ways. The things that succeeded in a single parish may not work in a clustered or twinned parish.

By the same token, parishes that have been clustered or twinned are now different than they were before (not

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Never be embarrassed or afraid to say, “I don’t know.” This sounds so simple, but it is so important.

It is better to admit ignorance than to give inaccurate or misleading information.

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Continually inform parishioners of the individuals who are serving on the various committees and task forces. People may feel more comfortable sharing their concerns or questions with someone they know. We continually published the names of people on various committees. This gave parishioners the opportunity to “talk with someone they knew” about their issues or concerns. The diversity of membership on these various committees also forced people to communicate with each other.

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It should go without saying, but let me say it anyway, admit when you’ve made a mistake or taken the wrong course of action. In our situation this happened when I decided unilaterally that we should hold open forums, so that people could share their thoughts and feelings directly with me. I almost had WWIII on my hands. In those situations it is easy for a “vocal” person to say something offensive or inappropriate. Conversely, some people may be too shy to share their thoughts and concerns.

After that experience, my communication committee never ceased to remind me that that was not my brightest move.

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Don’t just ask people to work together, ask them to pray and socialize together, at events such as holiday gatherings and end-of-year celebrations. This is a great way to build trust and acceptance. Also, as I said earlier, a great deal of communication occurs informally in these settings.

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Remember that not everything is worth fighting about. Sometimes benign neglect is the best way to deal with certain people or situations — for example, parish life committees, funeral luncheon committees, introductions to the readings.

You don’t have to have an immediate answer or response to every issue or concern that arises. In fact sometimes things resolve themselves.

You do need to be careful, though, in that sometimes situations can get out of hand if you don’t intervene. If you’re not sure what to do, ask people you trust.

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Read the other 25 lessons at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Spirit of Giving

Catholic faith shapes St. Paul police chief’s leadership style

S

t. Paul Police SWAT Team Commander Tom Smith had to rely on his Catholic faith when he found his good friend, St. Paul Police Sgt. Jerry Vick, shot and killed in May 2005. “I had to make sure my mind was in the right place,” he said in an interview with Pat Norby, The Catholic Spirit news editor. “It was my Catholic faith that allowed me to get through that difficult situation that night, to find those suspects, and do the right thing.”

Thomas Smith Smith was sworn in June 15 as St. Paul Police Chief St. Paul’s chief of police. He said he has always turned to his Member of St. Matthew, Catholic faith to support his work St. Paul as a civil servant, which officially began in 1989 as an officer with the St. Paul Police Department. Smith and his wife, Catalina, are members of St. Matthew in St. Paul, where they raised three children: Thomas, 30; DeAna, 25; and Cassandra, 19. The Smiths live in the St. Paul home they purchased from his parents, the late Walter and Jean Smith.

How did you develop such a strong connection to St. Paul and St. Matthew parish and school?

I love the things I learned at school and have worked on St. Matthew’s scholarship committee so they can give out scholarships and not turn anybody away. . . . I think the education students get there is second to none.

There is a picture in St. Matthew’s newsletter, The Good News, of many alums who are involved with law enforcement. My administrative aide, Julia, and I were in the same grade at St. Matthew.

There were a lot of people that went to St. Matthew’s that became police officers.

Five of us are cops in the St. Paul Police Department.

The parish school has produced quite a number of civil servants. Why is that?

I think it’s because of the moral values that we learned there.

In my neighborhood, there were cops and firefighters that lived with their families near our house. We all went to St. Matthew’s. You’d see each other in church and in school and you thought, “Our dads do this job. That’s probably a pretty cool profession.”

What we learned at school helped us to understand that there is a greater good, and you have to give back to others.

How has your Catholic faith shaped you as a civil servant?

It gives me a strong moral compass.

The moral values I learned — doing the

right thing and helping others — have shaped my core values for how I operate as a police officer.

I’ve always had some sensitive, crazy assignments. Besides being a SWAT commander, I was in the narcotics and gang unit. I’ve been exposed to a lot of bad things, not just locally, but on a national and international level.

I think my faith grounds me, like when police officers in our department were killed, including very close friends and my first partner on the job, Jerry Vick. It’s my faith that helps me get through those tough times. . . .

I tell young officers there is a lot of times you are involved in this toxic environment. You have to have a balance.

I believe my faith helps me understand there is a greater good. Bad things are going to happen, but how you respond to those things shapes you as a person.

Some people in our profession end up being cynics because there are so many bad things they see. I’m an eternal optimist. No matter how bad the situation, I always try to take something good from it. That is how my faith comes into play.

How is your Catholic faith reflected in your leadership style?

I think my Catholic faith has taught me to be compassionate and to show empathy toward others.

PLEASE TURN TO SMITH ON PAGE 18

“The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his ‘imprint.’”

Pope Benedict XVI, World Youth Day 2011 message

Nation/World SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

News from around the U.S. and the globe

The Catholic Spirit

7

Pope to youth: Following Christ requires others’ support

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

The decision to follow Christ is not an easy one to make, so young people should look for support from the Christian community and the church, Pope Benedict XVI said in his message for World Youth Day 2011.

“Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the church,” the pope wrote in his message, released Sept. 3.

Pope Benedict called on all young people, even those who are no longer active members of the church as well as nonbelievers, to attend the World Youth Day celebrations in Madrid Aug. 16-21, 2011.

He said the international gathering offers people a powerful experience of Jesus Christ and his love for everyone.

“The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us toward easier paths,” he said.

“The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us toward easier paths.

”

POPE BENEDICT XVI

The pope urged youths to not be discouraged and to look for the support of the Christian community and the church.

The theme of World Youth Day 2011 is: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.”

Personal message The pope struck a very personal tone in his written message, relaying some of his own dreams and worries from his youth.

When they were young, he said he and his friends “were not willing to settle for a conventional middle-class life.”

Growing up during the Nazi dictator-

ship and the Second World War definitely contributed to their youthful ambitions of breaking free from the reigning power structures and to “experience the whole range of human possibilities,” he said.

But it is also true that a love for life and the urge to experience and achieve something great are present in every generation, he said.

Pope Benedict said “the desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear his ‘imprint.’”

He urged young people to strengthen

their faith in God, who is the source of life, love, joy and peace.

Many young people today lack solid values and stable points of reference upon which they can build their lives, establish a strong sense of security and make the right choices in life, he said.

As St. Paul urged the Colossians, people need to be rooted in Jesus, “built upon him, and established in the faith as you were taught,” the pope said.

Putting down roots means to trust in God and building upon him means accepting God’s call and putting his words into practice, he said.

Being a Christian is building a relationship with Christ every day through prayer, reading the Gospels and participating in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist where Christ “is present and close to us, and even becomes food for our journey.”

He asked young people to spend the next year before World Youth Day 2011 in spiritual preparation for the event through prayer and mutual support.

A first: Pope Benedict to preside over beatification publicly with Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, primate of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 occasion of the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman.”

Since his election more than five years ago, Pope Benedict has presided over several canonization ceremonies, but he always has delegated the task of presiding over beatifications to highlight the different importance of the two ceremonies.

Bridge building

Personal admiration The pope’s decision to make an exception for Cardinal Newman demonstrates his personal admiration for the British churchman, an admiration he once said went back to his first semester of seminary theology studies in 1946.

“For us at that time, Newman’s teaching on conscience became an important foundation” for theological reflection, the then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said at a conference in 1990 marking the centenary of Cardinal Newman’s death.

World War II had just ended, he said, and the German seminarians who had grown up under Adolf Hitler witnessed the “appalling devastation of humanity” that resulted from a totalitarian ruler who “negated the conscience of the individual.”

While most of the world’s totalitarian regimes have fallen, Pope Benedict often has warned that the individual conscience — which must seek and try to act on truth — is being threatened today by a culture of moral relativism, which asserts that nothing is always right or always wrong and almost anything is permissible.

Pope Benedict also often speaks of the

CNS photo / David Moir, Reuters

Katherine Milby from Abbotsford House looks at two vestments while posing for photographers during a media viewing in Abbotsford, Scotland, Sept. 7. The two vestments, once owned by Cardinal John Henry Newman, will become holy relics after Cardinal Newman’s beatification by Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 19.

essential interplay of faith and reason, a point Cardinal Newman emphasized.

While embracing faith and knowing there were no scientific proofs for God’s existence, the cardinal was convinced that believing in God was reasonable, an idea that frequently is challenged by modern British schools of philosophical atheism.

Cardinal Newman’s commitment to the search for truth, his concern for fidelity to doctrine and his conviction that faith must be lived publicly all are key concepts in the teachings of Pope Benedict as well.

In his celebrations with Catholics in Great Britain and his addresses to British leaders, the pope is expected to emphasize his conviction that religious belief is not a hindrance to social progress and

peaceful coexistence.

Over the past year, news of the trip led to anti-visit petition drives and promises of protests, primarily over the use of taxpayer money to fund the visit of a religious leader, but also because of Catholic Church positions on moral issues such as contraception and homosexuality.

Groups representing victims of clerical sex abuse also have threatened to protest the papal visit, while officials at the Vatican and in England have said it is possible the pope would meet privately with some victims as he did in the United States, Australia and Malta.

Pope Benedict will be welcomed to Great Britain by Queen Elizabeth, who is the supreme governor of the Church of England.

He also will meet privately and pray

The fact that Cardinal Newman’s Christian faith and theology initially was formed within the Church of England will require particular sensitivity at a difficult time in the Roman CatholicAnglican search for full unity.

The Rev. David Richardson, director of the Anglican Center in Rome and the archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Vatican, said that while some people may see Cardinal Newman’s beatification as another point of contention, “it’s much more likely that the beatification will be bridge building.”

The liturgical calendar of the Church of England already commemorates Newman, whom many Anglicans honor as an eminent theologian, a person of prayer and a force of renewal for the church, he said.

At a time when many saw a danger of the Church of England being treated almost as a department of the English government, Newman was a leader in the Anglican Oxford Movement’s effort to return to the teachings of the early Christian theologians in order to recover a sense of the church as a sacred institution with a divine mandate.

As he continued his search for the truth, he was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, was ordained a Catholic priest in 1847 and was named a cardinal in 1879.

“Stripping away the religious hiring rights of religious service providers violates the principle of religious freedom, and represents bad practice in the delivery of social services.”

Anthony Picarello, general counsel of the U.S. bishops

This Catholic Life 8

The Catholic Spirit

Opinion, feedback and points to ponder

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Congress urged to keep religious hiring rights intact he general counsel of the U.S. bishops was one of more than 100 leaders from varying religious organizations asking Congress to turn back legislation that would deny religious charities the right to hire only people of the same faith if those charities receive federal grants.

Anthony Picarello added his name to the Aug. 25 letter, Mark Pattison sent to each member of the House and Senate, asking lawmakers to reject any legislation that would “dilute the right of faith-based social service organizations to stay faith-based through their hiring.”

The religious leaders say the religious hiring rights can be traced to the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and even to the First Amendment of the Constitution.

A unanimous 1987 Supreme Court decision also upheld the right of religious organizations to hire people of the same faith, ruling that the practice does not violate the constitutional principle of separation of church and state.

“The law has long protected the religious freedom of both the people who receive government-funded services, and the groups that provide the services — long before President [Barack] Obama, and long before President [George W.] Bush,” said an Aug. 25 statement from Picarello that accompanied the release of the letter by World Vision, which also had signatories.

“Stripping away the religious hiring rights of religious service providers violates the principle of religious freedom, and represents bad practice in the delivery of social services,” Picarello said.

of faith,” the letter said.

“We want to continue to serve the poor and victims of injustice — those suffering from famine, the homeless, people trapped in gang-infested communities, chemically dependent citizens, victims of malaria, earthquake victims in Haiti, those widowed and orphaned by AIDS, among many others,” it added.

The bill, the SAMHSA Modernization Act of 2010, was introduced by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.). SAMHSA is an acronym for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Tucked into the bill is a provision that would eliminate the exemption granted in the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, said Rhett Butler, government liaison for the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions.

“With respect to any activity to be funded — in whole or in part — through an award of a grant, cooperative agreement, or contract under this title or any other statutory authority of the administration, the administrator, or the director of the center involved, as the case may be, may not make such an award unless the applicant agrees to refrain from considering religion or any profession of faith when making any employment decision regarding an individual who is or will be assigned to carry out any portion of the activity,” the bill says.

The bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, when it was introduced May 28.

T

Analysis

Sticking to their mission

Adhering to the law The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was the only explicitly Catholic organization to have a leader sign the letter. Most of the other signers came from Christian aid organizations or colleges.

The Aug. 25 letter took note of a Justice Department opinion that said the Religious Freedom Restoration Act can “sometimes” provide an exemption to a faith-based recipient of federal grant money, permitting it to consider religion when hiring.

The letter acknowledged that the exemption was not a “blanket” exemption, and that grant recipients cannot discriminate against the people who could be served by the grant.

“These groups adhere strictly to the law, forbid the use of public funds to proselytize or for any religious activities, and serve all people in need, regardless

CNS photo / Peter Finney Jr., Clarion Herald

Catholic Charities volunteer Phyllis Diecidue, center, helps register a fishing family for supplemental food assistance last May in St. Bernard Parish, a civil entity east of New Orleans. The volunteers were helping people affected by the oil leaking from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead in the Gulf of Mexico.

What do you think?

Should religious charities have the right to hire only people of the same faith if those charities receive federal grants?

Send us your responses in one of the following ways: ■ By e-mail to: cATHOLICSPIRIT@ARCHSPM.ORG. Please write “Charities” in the subject line.

■ By postal mail to: Reader Response, c/o The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Please include your name, parish and a daytime telephone number we can reach you at if we have questions. A selection of responses will be printed in the newspaper and online at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

The religious groups’ letter said, “We intend to continue working effectively with government in a constitutionally sound and proven manner, but only if we can stay faith-based in mission, which means remaining faith-based in those we hire. The law has upheld this balance for nearly half a century.”

The organizations, at the same time, sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder outlining the justification for maintaining religious preferences in hiring for faith-based organizations receiving federal grants.

Among the organizations whose officials signed the letters were World Vision, Sojourners, Focus on the Family, the Salvation Army, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the National Association of Evangelicals, Evangelicals for Social Action, the American Alliance of Christian Schools, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Mark Pattison is a writer for Catholic News Service.

This Catholic Life / Opinion & Letters

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

9

Our words say something about ourselves as well as others ords have a lot of power. We can use words to offer hope, mend wounds and respectfully challenge others to reassess their views and opinions. Or we can use words — as we too often do — as weapons to hurt and demean others.

I was reminded of that recently as I was exiting Target Field with a crowd of fans after a recent Twins game. Three women on a street corner along my route were garnering more than a little attention. They were provocatively dressed and trying to entice the men walking by with coupons for a local strip club.

As I passed by, a woman behind me yelled out: “Whores! That’s what you are, you know, taking off your clothes for men! You disgust me!”

The group of women waved her off and continued to hand out more coupons. The yeller kept walking.

Then she said to no one in particular, “I bet they didn’t like hearing that.”

I bet they didn’t. But I didn’t either.

vehemently, with other people or their actions.

W Editorial Joe Towalski

Our Christian faith calls us to speak the truth with love and compassion, not to resort to epithets

Not the right approach While I was also offended by the business these women were peddling, especially with so many families with children walking by, hurling derogatory remarks at them was

“Too often, we don’t choose our words as carefully as we should, especially when we’re angry, hurt or offended.

”

JOE TOWALSKI

istockphoto

clearly the wrong thing to do. The words, spoken in the heat of anger, further demeaned their human dignity and ostensibly did little to change their minds about what they were doing.

As I continued walking, I wondered if other words — perhaps delivered at a different time and in a different place — could have had a positive impact, or at least planted a seed: Words that conveyed hope

instead of disdain. Words that reminded these women they are created in God’s image and are loved by him. Words that pointed out better options for making a living and that offered information about organizations with resources to help them transition to a better life.

The encounter outside Target Field left me reflecting on the words we use in our daily lives — particularly when we disagree, sometimes

“I

Opinion

”

It’s also about being church the rest of the week.

FATHER PAUL JARVIS

Loving loneliness?

We’ve morphed into a society in which we tend to avoid that which gives us greatest fulfillment in life.

We’re just too used to being alone.

Doing things on our own terms. Minimizing inconvenience. Maximizing pleasure.

Avoiding the messiness of a life as “we.”

And then we wonder why we feel something is missing!

I choose to be “spiritual-plus.” That is, spiritual plus community. Spiritual plus communion with God — and his children.

“Relationship-ing” — and the community that it both comes from and creates — is the essence of Christ’s wisdom and way. Love, care and attend to God, others and yourself.

It’s hard to live such loving spirituality divorced from a community. When attempted, such love is reduced to mere

And what about the ordinary encounters we have with family members, co-workers and the people we meet each day?

Too often, we don’t choose our words as carefully as we should, especially when we’re angry, hurt or offended. Most of us would do well to take a little extra time with our responses to ensure we’re communicating our feelings clearly, of course, but respectfully as well.

That advice particularly holds true in this age of e-mail, texting and other forms of instant communication, when sending a message in the heat of anger has never been easier.

Words are powerful. We need to wield them carefully, lest we do more harm than good to ourselves and others.

Illegal immigrants aren’t ‘law-abiding’

“It’s not just about going to church on Sundays.

try to best them in an argument. I simply explain that, for me and many others, it’s all about being church. And when they say “organized religion,” perhaps they reject spirituality within a community.

With others.

In my mind, simply going to church is never enough. It’s possible to drag a kid to, or shame a spouse into going to, church. But if not engaged with others, they remain simply surrounded by hundreds of strangers.

Our Christian faith calls us to speak the truth with love and compassion, not resort to epithets like “whore” — or “baby-killers” and “ragheads,” words I’ve heard a few people use in conversation lately or that were sent to me in unpublished letters to the editor.

Letter

Why I have chosen to be ‘spiritual-plus’ don’t need organized religion.”nnnn nI hear that now and again. Or, “I’m not religious. I’m spiritual.”

Sometimes the individual will add that he or she doesn’t see the need of going to church: “I can be spiritual all on my own.”

It’s hard to argue against being spiritual. But in our increasingly isolated society — where individuals largely communicate with others through electronic devices and spend more time with Father video images of peoPaul Jarvis ple than with fleshand-blood people — I do wonder what sort of spirit the individual is receiving and celebrating and letting direct his or her life.

The spirit of self-orientation? The spirit of self-seeking?

When I was a kid back in the 1960s, I played Freeze Tag and Kick the Can with neighborhood kids. Today, I have to explain to younger folks that these are not video games or cell phone apps.

Many of us go to work alone. We work in cubicles alone. When we get home, we surf the Internet alone. We watch movies alone. Decked out with iPods, we work out on treadmills alone. We find virtual friends on chatlines.

We even read books on personal success or personal enlightenment — all by and for oneself.

Many wonder why they’re spiritual, successful or independent and yet unfulfilled — even lonely.

I never try to guilt these individuals into going to church, of course. Nor do I

Choosing carefully

sentiment. Or an abstract idea.

Gathering as community That’s why we Catholic Christians come together at Guardian Angels in Chaska and other parishes — not only on Sunday, but in all sorts of ways throughout the week: At AngelFest this Sept. 25, for example. At our school’s rake-a-thon this fall. In Loaves and Fishes ministry. In parishioners’ prison ministry visits. In leading visitors on tours of our 1868 friary. In Guardian Angels’ famous beef and sausage dinner. In volunteer-tutoring at our school.

It’s frankly why we created a new Sunday evening Mass at 6:15 p.m. — the 6.1.5 Mass — as a refuge for those tired of being “spiritual” all by themselves.

It’s not just about going to church on Sundays. It’s also about being church the rest of the week.

I know we’re not alone as a parish in believing this. Our sister parishes in the southwest metro area are also refuges for “spirituality-plus.”

If you know of someone trapped in a world of one, invite them into a much larger world. A larger spirituality. Invite them into your church and its ministries.

Father Paul Jarvis is pastor of Guardian Angels in Chaska.

My intention was to read Laura Stierman’s “My Turn” reflection, “A Catholic response to immigration and Arizona law” [Aug. 12], with an open mind. I found that difficult because it did not seem to have been written with an open mind.

The article states: “Skin color, birthplace, gender and place of residence have no bearing on a person’s dignity.” I would like to know how illegally crossing a sovereign border in order to secure employment for a lower wage than that sovereign country’s citizens need to support their families is in any way dignified. Further, the article states: “Lawabiding immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, should be protected from injustice and treated with the dignity they deserve.”

I wholeheartedly and absolutely agree with that. However, I suspect my definition of “law-abiding immigrants” may not pass muster with Ms. Stierman’s. I cannot include illegal immigrants in my definition of “law-abiding immigrants.”

DAVID BURKE St. Joseph, New Hope

Where to write ■ E-mail: CATHOLICSPIRIT@ARCHSPM.ORG ■ Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 Material printed on the Opinion and Letters page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the archdiocese or The Catholic Spirit.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Commentary

/ This Catholic Life

We are bound to Good Shepherd through pain and healing had relegated shepherds to the unicorn file, somewhere near the hunch-backed blacksmith and the whistling milkman. They were the stuff of Mother Goose lore.

So, it was surprising to discover actual shepherds when I visited the Holy Land.

I was riveted by the sloping landscape of Jesus’ ministry. Two tones checkered our vistas: crusty white limestone and fluttering blue-green olive trees. And there, among the jagged hills, was a man tending sheep. He was dressed in brown and his head was covered. He appeared hot and lonely.

I asked our guide, Wisam, a Catholic Palestinian, about that line of work. It looked undesirable. But Wisam said shepherds cherish their lifestyle and their work, which is often passed on for generations. The meager wages don’t deter them.

I

Twenty Something Christina Capecchi

If brokenness sends us onto our knees and into the shepherd’s arms, we can consider them an abiding blessing

“We live in a culture that produces lost sheep — Heidi Montags, Levi Johnstons, Lindsay Lohans.

”

CHRISTINA CAPECCHI

Going astray Wisam then shared a fascinating element of shepherding. If a sheep persistently wanders, he said, “a good shepherd” will break its leg and carry it until it heals. That physical closeness creates a strong, lasting bond, and the sheep may go on to be a leader among the flock.

What a powerful insight for us wandering humans, whose self-sufficiency so easily leads us astray. We bemoan the times we are broken, but if they send us onto our knees and into the shepherd’s arms, we can consider them an abiding blessing.

We live in a culture that produces lost sheep — Heidi Montags, Levi Johnstons, Lindsay Lohans. It confuses attention with respect, wealth with success, and pleasure with contentment. The ravenous reality-TV circuit spotlights the weird and the

weepy, the loony and the loopy, seeking characters, not character, making “good TV” out of bad people.

Their 15 minutes come at a great personal cost: severed engagements and marriages, ruptured friendships and families. They clamor for the camera and play the game, and, in doing so, lose faith — in self, in neighbor and in God.

Renewed perspective This month, St. Luke reminds us that our Good Shepherd would leave 99 sheep to seek out one missing sheep and rejoice when it is found.

The same Gospel reading chronicles the prodigal son’s return. For years, when I heard this passage

from the pulpit, I identified with the faithful older son. I was the girl showing up every day, sitting in the front row, raising my hand. What a raw deal the older son got!

Then one day in my late teens or early 20s, a light bulb flashed: What if I was the younger prodigal daughter? Suddenly, I was recalling the times I’d received undue credit. It was a jarring paradigm shift, a revelation that redrew all the lines of my comfortable theology.

Of course, each of us needs the unfailing devotion of a good shepherd — to be singled out, chased after and cared for.

When I look back on the year, I think of the people who have been broken and carried: The widow who

has continued her husband’s nightly prayer ritual with their three young children. The dad trying to hold on to his house who is still quick to tickle and tease his kids.

The mom who lost her job the same month she rushed her asthmatic toddler to the ER. The latest post on her blog is a request for others’ prayer petitions, an offer to return the good graces that had been shown her.

Their pain produced a stronger bond with the Good Shepherd, and now the rest of us are drawing closer, too.

Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights. She can be reached at WWW.READCHRISTINA.COM.

Time to count and celebrate 40-year harvest of Venezuelan Mission arvest time is around the corner. For farmers and gardeners, this is an exciting and satisfying time to enjoy the fruits of that labor.

Jesus often compared the kingdom to a field in need of laborers for a great harvest. The church continues and shares Jesus’ mission by taking its place in the mission field by lending our seeds of faith, our labor of love and our nurturing support of what God is growing. Every so often, it is good to stop and give thanks for the fruit God’s mission is harvesting among us.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the archdiocesan mission in Venezuela. It is good to stop and give thanks for the fruit of this joining of two churches, separated by distance, language and culture, but united in faith and a common desire to share faith, hope and love in Christ.

In 1968, this archdiocese responded to the call of Pope John XXIII for local dioceses in North America to share their resources of faith with the emerging Church in the South.

This openness to mission eventually led us to the young church of

H Mission Link Deacon Mickey Friesen

It is good to stop and give thanks for the fruit of this joining of two churches

“We have received many gifts in return for our sharing with the church in Venezuela.

”

DEACON MICKEY FRIESEN

Ciudad Guayana in Venezuela. The young, urban diocese of twin cities separated by two rivers seemed like a natural sister for us who share a similar situation.

The Venezuelan Mission began in 1970 as a sharing of our priests to serve in Venezuelan parishes and to build communities of faith. They were joined by several members of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and some lay missioners. Eventually, the story of the mission began to touch the hearts of others.

Today, the mission is joined by seminarians, college and high school

students, parish partners and medical professionals who share many gifts with their Venezuelan sisters and brothers.

Exchanging gifts The Venezuelan Mission demonstrates well the reality that mission is a mutual enterprise. We have received many gifts in return for our sharing with the church in Venezuela. For example, many of the priests, sisters and lay people who served in Venezuela have become important leaders in the ministry to the growing Hispanic population joining our Catholic parishes.

Those returned missioners have been at the forefront of welcoming the strangers among us who cross our borders as new immigrants.

Today, we are also blessed to receive delegations of Venezuelans who come to our parishes and schools to share their life, faith, music and struggles in their land.

Sept. 18, there will be a special celebration of 40 years of mission in Venezuela at St. Pascal Church in St. Paul, including Mass and dinner for all who attend. It will be a time to remember, to celebrate and give thanks for the harvest of Good News we have shared. The celebration will be followed with a similar one in Venezuela in October.

One of the lessons from the mission in Venezuela is that when we are willing to plant the seed of faith and offer laborers to work in the mission field, God will provide an abundant harvest that bears good fruit. Let us taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Deacon Mickey Friesen is director of the archdiocesan Center for Mission.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Hastings, Lakeville welcome NET members into homes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 country and one will be based at the NET Center in addition to the two at archdiocesan parishes, he said.

“Most parishes see a tremendous dropoff [in youth participation] after confirmation,” Berchem said. Parish team members meet young people at parish, school and sports events and people’s homes.

They try to develop relationships with the youth and invite them back into church participation.

The parish team also works with kids that are very active and tries to help them to become leaders,” he added.

Building relationships Bunnell, who was named a leader on a traveling team, said she was open to serving on a traveling team or in a parish. The benefit of a parish team, she said, is that you can build lasting relationships.

The challenge of being on a parish team is that she would be close to family and friends. “I wouldn’t want that to be a distraction,” said Bunnell, who served the past three years as youth minister and religious education director at St. John the Baptist in Jordan.

“At St. John, I had the NET team come in a few times throughout the year for the seventh-, eighth-, ninth- and 10thgraders,” she said. After the retreats, the teens would talk about how much they got out of the prayer time, she said. “It was beautiful to witness that.”

Vettel said, “Our team walked into [St. Elizabeth Ann Seton] big-eyed, as we were beginning this new, exciting and, at times, nerve-racking mission of serving on a parish team with NET ministries.”

Many of the youth they met that first weekend became people with whom they developed wonderful, life-giving relation-

Hearing Tests Set for Senior Citizens Announcement — Free electronic hearing tests will be given all next week Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

The tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are not hearing clearly.

People who generally feel they can hear, but cannot understand words clearly are encouraged to come in for the test, which uses the latest electronic equipment.

Everyone, especially those over age 55 should have an electronic hearing test once

a year. Demonstrations of the latest devices to improve clarity of speech will be programmed using a computer to your particular needs — on the spot — after the tests.

See (and HEAR) for yourself if newlydeveloped methods of correction will help you understand words better.

Tests will be performed at one of 20 convenient Greater Twin Cities Avada Hearing Care locations.

Call 1-800-435-5189

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Stewardship A Way of Life Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, February 26 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Pax Christi Catholic Community, Eden Prairie

2011 ARCHDIOCESAN STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE Stewardship a Way of Life: Building Vibrant, Engaged Communities Featuring 3 highly regarded national experts: Father Daniel Mahan, executive director of the Marian University Center for Catholic Stewardship in Indianapolis, author of More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest.

Mr. Jim Kelley, president and chairman of the board of the International Catholic Stewardship Conference and director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte, NC. Author of The Stewardship Manual: A Guide for Individuals and Parishes Developing Stewardship as a Way of Life, plus Sustaining and Strengthening Stewardship.

Ms. Leisa Anslinger, nationally recognized speaker and author of Forming Generous Hearts: Stewardship Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation.

JUST FOR PRIESTS A Roundtable discussion and boxed lunch

Stewardship is an Integral Part of your Parish’s Mission Presented by Fr. Daniel Mahan

Friday, February 25, 2011 • 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Hayden Center • 328 Kellogg Blvd W. • Saint Paul, MN 55102

ships, she said.

“It was a gift to be able to share my faith and how the Lord has worked in my life with the youth in Hastings,” Vettel said. “I learned even more about what it meant to be a constant witness of Christ.”

Berchem said NET presented 96 retreats last year in 54 parishes for about 5,000 youth in the archdiocese, and about 50,000 youth nationwide in 90 dioceses.

Since 1981, about 1.5 million young people have attended a NET retreat.

Among team alums, 51 have been ordained priests, about a dozen are in the seminary, 40 are religious sisters and many more are serving as youth ministers or religious education teachers.

“For a lot of them, NET is a training ground for their future service to the church,” Berchem said. “I think we’ve helped the church, in some way, recapture its evangelistic impulse.” nson len Je Fr. G and s ioner Parish you to invite e: th

Obituary Msgr. John Sankovitz was longtime teacher Msgr. John Sankovitz, 87, died Aug. 29.

He was born Nov. 8, 1922, in Wisconsin and ordained a priest for the archdiocese on May 31, 1947. Msgr.

Sankovitz was the only diocesan priest to teach at the St. Paul Seminary, University of St. Thomas and Nazareth Hall, where he was rector.

He also served as assistant pastor at Cathedral of St. Paul and pastor of St. Dominic in Northfield. He retired from active ministry Dec. 1, 1992.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 2 at the University of St. Thomas Chapel, in St. Paul, with interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.

HOLY CROSS CHURCH FALL FESTIVAL At the corner of 17th Ave & 4th St. NE, Mpls. • (612) 789-7238

e Comn joi us!

September 18 & 19, 2010 Saturday — Music by “Dr. Kielbasa” Fun & Polish Food “Under the Tent” 5:30-9 PM

Sunday — Polka Mass at 10:00 AM Music by John Filipczak and the Classics Chicken Dinner served from 11 AM to 2 PM Adults $9; Children (under 12) $4.00 Fun & Polish Food “Under the Tent” 11 AM-5 PM

Refreshments, Games, Entertainment, Raffles!

The Center for Catholic Studies invites you to attend our fall lecture series: Sept. 20 Anthony Esolen, Providence College “Culture, What Culture?”

Oct. 4 George Weigel, Ethics and Public Policy Center “Pope John Paul II: An Assessment and Appreciation” Oct. 26 Peter Cardinal Turkson Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace “Caritas in Veritate: Good News for Society” All lectures will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center auditorium on the University of St. Thomas St. Paul campus.

All are free and open to the public. For more information, call (651) 962-5700.

“Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Lesson Plan 12

The Catholic Spirit

Reflections on faith and spirituality

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Patience: The virtue we would like to possess immediately ften we speak of Christ’s mercy and perhaps slightly less often of his justice. But, how often do we speak of Christ’s patience?

In a letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul wrote: “I was mercifully treated, so that in me, as the foremost, Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life.”

Jesus Christ is the Deacon exemplar of all the Matthew virtues, of course, but his patience is likely Crane of particular interest to many Catholics. My priest friends tell me that, in their ministry, many people ask for help in overcoming the vice of impatience.

The English word “patience” comes from a Latin verb, which means “to suffer.” So, being patient means, at bottom, suffering. To me, that makes some sense.

Part of the difficulty in being patient means tolerating or, at least, living through less than ideal circumstances

O

Sunday Scriptures

such as: putting on a pleasant face, even when that masks my true feelings; giving someone as many chances as they need to get it right, deciding that only a little progress is enough for today. The appeal of impatience is evading all that suffering.

God, perfect in himself, higher than the heavens, eternal, may not leap into our imaginations as someone who has to be patient or suffer in any way. There are hints, though, as he laments the fickle hearts of the Israelites to Moses.

Through his human nature, Jesus Christ reveals that God knows suffering intimately, and not just at the cross. By emptying himself and being born as a man, Jesus subjected himself to the difficulties of the human experience. Besides the physical challenges he had to deal with, such as fatigue and hunger, he also had to mold 12 men from different trades into apostles, who could spread the Gospel, reveal to sinners the depth of their personal peril and explain to massive, wonder-hungry crowds that the real miracle is the forgiveness of sins.

Parables proclaim patience In all Jesus’ parables of the kingdom of God there is a note of this patience, a deep and gentle tolerance for a fickle-

Readings

For reflection

Sunday, Sept. 12 24th Sunday in ordinary time ■ Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 ■ 1 Timothy 1:12-17 ■ Luke 15:1-32

When have you practiced patience and what lessons have you learned?

hearted people. The shepherd intently, without complaint, goes after the lost sheep, The woman methodically turns over a whole house for one coin. A father waits patiently for his son to come up the road.

In each case, the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, waits patiently, immediately present, suffering. Whatever pain the lost, the wayward or the prodigal might cause him, Jesus remains present, the exemplar of patience, waiting for the return.

To imitate the patience of the eternal, it

may be best to start by recalling some moment in one’s own continuing conversion. When did I turn to the Lord after having been away? How much, now, do I appreciate that Jesus was there all along?

What fruit, then, would come of my own practice of patience with another?

Deacon Matthew Crane is in formation for the priesthood at The Saint Paul Seminary for the Diocese of St. Cloud.

His home parish is St. Andrew in Elk River and his teaching parish is the Five Parish Catholic Community in the Holdingford area.

Daily Scriptures Sunday, Sept. 12 24th Sunday in ordinary time Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 “So he got up and went back to his father.”

— Luke 15:20 Most of us have heard stories of a parent who rejected a son or daughter after he or she made a choice they objected to as immoral. Sadly, sometimes the estrangement lasts a lifetime and causes heartbreak for all. Today’s story of the prodigal son tells a different tale. After completely blowing it, the son apparently believes in his father’s generosity enough to admit his error and return home. Do we only approach God when we feel good about ourselves and have it all together, or are we like that youngest son and trust that we will always be welcomed home?

Monday, Sept. 13 John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the church 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33 Luke 7:1-10 Faith is not a collection of thoughts but a way of seeing life that changes our choices.

Tuesday, Sept. 14 Exaltation of the Holy Cross Numbers 21:4b-9 Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17 We experience new life when we face and accept our wounds and weaknesses.

Wednesday, Sept. 15 Our Lady of Sorrows 1 Corinthians 12:31 — 13:13 John 19:25-27 When we are able to recognize Christ in one another, we won’t feel abandoned.

Thursday, Sept. 16 Cornelius, pope and martyr, and Cyprian, bishop and martyr 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 7:36-50 It is only when we experience ourselves as both imperfect and forgiven that we are free to love.

Friday, Sept. 17 Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the church 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 8:1-3 Pray for all those who have supported you spiritually, emotionally and financially.

Saturday, Sept. 18 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 Luke 8:4-15 Faith, hope and love are destroyed as much by anxiety as greed.

Sunday, Sept. 19 25th Sunday in ordinary time Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions and thanksgivings be offered for everyone.”

— 1 Timothy 2:1 This sounds simple enough until we actually try to put it into practice. To pray

without judgment for someone who has hurt us or to pray without demanding that our opponents see things our way requires us to die to the self that wants to be right. Letting go of our agendas in favor of God’s is never easy. However, when we simply allow the indwelling spirit to pray through us we will find intercessory prayer both healing and liberating.

Friday, Sept. 24

Monday, Sept. 20 Andrew Kim Taegon, priest and martyr, Paul Chong Hasang, martyr, and their companions, martyrs Proverbs 3:27-34 Luke 8:16-18 We aren’t expected to be flawless but we are called to be honest about it.

Is there some truth you don’t want to hear?

Tuesday, Sept. 21 Matthew, apostle and evangelist Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Matthew 9:9-13 The most difficult person for many of us be compassionate toward is ourselves.

Wednesday, Sept. 22 Proverbs 30:5-9 Luke 9:1-6 We have to be willing to be vulnerable enough to receive from others as well as to give.

Thursday, Sept. 23 Pio of Pietrelcina, priest Ecclesiates 1:2-11 Luke 9:7-9 Pray for all those who distort the Gospel by invoking the name of Jesus to spread bigotry, intolerance and hatred.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 Luke 9:18-22 Looking to the past can blind us to what God is doing in the present.

Saturday, Sept. 25 Ecclesiastes 11:9 — 12:8 Luke 9:43b-45

Sunday, Sept. 26 26th Sunday in ordinary time Amos 6:1a, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 “Woe to the complacent in Zion!”

— Amos 6:1 An older woman recently commented to me that she never gave much thought to people who were on crutches until she broke her foot. She suddenly became very aware of the restrictions it put on her life as well as the pain. Whose suffering are we called to be more deeply aware of today? Perhaps, it is the despondent teenager, the overwhelmed parents of young children or those who cannot afford health care. Pray that the compassion of Christ stirs your heart.

The daily reflections are written by Terri Mifek, a member of St. Edward in Bloomington and a certified spiritual director at the Franciscan Retreat House in Prior Lake.

The Lesson Plan

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Doctors of the church are special class of saints

By Father Michael Van Sloun

Doctors added after the original four

he feasts of the four original doctors of the church are celebrated during the second half of the year: St. Augustine on Aug. 28, St. Gregory the Great on Sept.

3, St. Jerome on Sept. 30, and St. Ambrose on Dec. 7.

Why the title “doctor”? A doctor is a top-ranking expert in a chosen field. The title is most common in medicine. There is an M.D. or a D.O., a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy, a physician or a surgeon — the best trained and highest qualified medical professionals. The title is also used academically; a Ph.D. is a doctor of philosophy, the terminal degree in a subject area. In spiritual studies there is the S.T.D., a doctor of sacred theology, or the S.S.D., a doctor of sacred Scripture.

The doctors of the church, in Latin “doctores ecclesiae,” are a special class of canonized saints who have distinguished themselves with lives of particular virtue and holiness. As theologians, they possess extraordinary intellect and insight, which has enabled them to make monumental contributions to the understanding of the faith through their preaching or writing. They have been designated as such by a pope or an ecumenical council.

The four great doctors of the West are Augustine, Gregory the Great, Jerome and Ambrose. The four great doctors of the East are John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and Athanasius.

T

■ St. Hilary (Jan. 13) ■ St. Francis de Sales (Jan. 24) ■ St. Thomas Aquinas (Jan. 28) ■ St. Peter Damian (Feb. 21) ■ St. Cyril of Jerusalem (March 18) ■ St. Isidore (April 4) ■ St. Anselm (April 21) ■ St. Athanasius (May 2) ■ St. Venerable Bede (May 25) ■ St. Ephrem (June 9) ■ St. Anthony of Padua (June 13) ■ St. Cyril of Alexandria (June 27) ■ St. Bonaventure (July 15) ■ St. Lawrence of Brindisi (July 21) ■ St. Peter Chrysologus (July 30) ■ St. Alphonsus Liguori (Aug. 1) ■ St. Bernard (Aug. 20)

Doctors par excellence

■ St. John Chrysostom (Sept. 13)

The original Latin doctors are considered the doctors par excellence.

St. Augustine, the doctor of grace, wrote “Confessions,” “The City of God,” a rule of life, Scripture commentaries and numerous books on theological topics.

St. Gregory the Great was a fierce defender of the papacy and a liturgical reformer. He wrote “Pastoral Care,” a guidebook for bishops, “The Dialogue,” “Moralia” and volumes of homilies and commentaries.

St. Jerome is the father of biblical studies, the translator of the Bible from Hebrew and Greek to Latin, the Vulgate.

St. Ambrose was a fierce defender of the faith against the Arian heresy, a charismatic preacher, a prolific writer and the inspiration behind the Ambrosian liturgy.

Over the past 450 years, 24 additional saints have been declared doctors, and they are celebrated throughout the liturgical year.

Recently three women have been named doctors. In

■ St. Robert Bellarmine (Sept. 17) ■ St. Leo the Great (Nov. 10) ■ St. Albert the Great (Nov. 15) ■ St. John Damascene (Dec. 4) ■ St. John of the Cross (Dec. 14) St. Jerome, a doctor of the church, is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Clement in Minneapolis.

1970, recognition was given to St. Catherine of Siena (April 29) and St. Teresa of Avila (Oct. 15), and, in 1998, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Oct. 1) was added.

Christians can still be inspired by their holy lives, follow their good example, be guided by their wise teaching, and be protected by their prayers of intercession.

Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.

Master of Arts degree in Catholic Studies Learn more about our full-time and part-time programs that will enhance your personal and professional life.

Evening and summer classes available, as well as opportunities to study in Rome.

INFORMATION SESSION Sept. 23, 2010 • 6:30-8 p.m.

Sitzmann Hall, St. Paul campus (corner of Cleveland and Summit Ave.) For more information or directions, contact: (651) 962-5704 • gradcath@stthomas.edu www.stthomas.edu/cathstudies/spirit

SPRING 2011 APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOV. 1

College of Arts and Sciences

■ St. Peter Canisius (Dec. 21)

Recently added women doctors ■ St. Catherine of Siena (April 29) ■ St. Thérèse of Lisieux (Oct. 1) ■ St. Teresa of Avila (Oct. 15)

13

The Lesson Plan

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Fall Festival St. Joseph’s, 1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins (952) 935-0111

Sunday, September 19, 2010

CHICKEN DINNER Served 11 a.m.-3:40 p.m. $4,000 in Raffle Prizes — Vikings Game on Big Screen Classic Big Band and Nostalgics Vocal Group under the tent Bingo — Kid’s Games — Cake Walk — Craft and Bake Sale

SILENT AUCTION! Hot Dogs and Burgers Outside

Pope says St. Hildegard of Bingen is model for today Catholic News Service St. Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th-century German mystic, used her gifts to build up the church at a time of trouble similar to today, Pope Benedict XVI said.

St. Hildegard is relevant today because of “her love for Christ and his church, which was suffering in her time, too, and was wounded also then by the sins of priests and laypeople,” the pope said.

She also is a good model for today because of her “love for creation, her medicine, her poetry and music that is being recreated today,” the pope said Sept. 1 at his weekly general audience in Castel Gandolfo.

Holding his general audience for the first time in the town square outside the papal summer villa, Pope Benedict began by thanking women for the important role they “have played and still play in the church.”

At the end of the audience, attended by an estimated 5,000 people, Pope Benedict walked down into the square to bless and shake hands with people in the front row, including newlyweds dressed in their wedding gowns and suits.

In his main audience talk, the pope gave a brief biography of St. Hildegard, saying that he would speak more about her at his next general audience.

From the Vatican

F “O Fu ashi ld wh n” on ole for ed fam the ily !

14

Want to know more?

Visit this story at WWW.THECATHOLIC SPIRIT.COM for a link to more information about St. Hildegard of Bingen.

Even in the Middle Ages, he said, “various feminine figures stand out for their holiness of life and the richness of their teaching.”

St. Hildegard recounted her visions to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, the pope said.

“As always happens in the life of true mystics, Hildegard wanted to place herself under the authority of wise people in order to discern the origin of her visions, fearing that they were the fruit of an illusion and did not come from God,” he said.

St. Bernard reassured St. Hildegard that the visions were authentic and encouraged her to continue to write them down.

Authentic experience In 1147, Pope Eugene III read a text of Hildegard’s visions, and he authorized her to publish them and to speak about them publicly, Pope Benedict said.

“The guarantee of an authentic experience of the Holy Spirit” is that the person who receives the spiritual gift never takes advantage of it, but places herself at the service of the church, Pope Benedict said.

“Every gift given by the Holy Spirit is destined for the edification of the church, and the church must be the pastor in determining its authenticity,” he said.

FALL FESTIVAL Sunday, September 19

Home-Style Turkey Dinner with all the fixins’ Serving from 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Raffle (cash prizes), Silent Auction, Country Store, Games of Skill, Pie and Cake Walk, and more!

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH 109 Angel Ave. NW, Watertown, MN

Regional, National & International religious news weekly in The Catholic Spirit and 24/7 at

TheCatholicSpirit.com

“One of the most striking features of today’s world, and one due in no small measure to modern technical progress, is the very great increase in mutual interdependence between people.”

From “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World”

Arts & Culture SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Exploring our church and our world

The Catholic Spirit

15

Venezuela fundraiser to celebrate 4 decades of ministry What: Celebration marking the 40th anniversary of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Venezuelan mission.

When: Sept. 18.

4:30 p.m. Mass with Archbishop John Nienstedt.

5:30 p.m. Social hour and silent auction.

6:30 p.m. Dinner, followed by games, raffle and program with Father Greg Schaffer and Venezuelan youth.

Where: St. Pascal Baylon, 1757 Conway St., St. Paul.

Background: Since 1970, the archdiocese has staffed the Venezuela mission, which is located in the Diocese of Ciudad Guayana in the east-central part of the country.

Priests of the archdiocese and others have served several different parishes there over the years.

Currently, Father Schaffer and Father Thomas McCabe assist with the spiritual, social and physical needs of the people of Jesucristo

Resucitado (Risen Christ), a very large parish in a poor urban area.

Every year, the archdiocese hosts a fundraising event for the mission.

Coming up: A local delegation will be heading to the mission in Venezuela from Sept. 28 to Oct. 7 for 40th anniversary celebrations.

Among those traveling to Venezuela will be Bishop Lee Piché, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Bob Zyskowski, associate publisher of The Catholic Spirit.

Watch for stories about the celebration in upcoming issues of the newspaper and online at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. More info and tickets: For more information about the Sept. 18 fundraiser and how you can help or to register to attend (tickets are $50 per person), call (651) 291-4531 or visit WWW.MISSION40TH.COM. For more about the mission, visit the Mission Venezuela blog at COMMUNITY.THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

Children play last year in one of the poor neighborhoods, called barrios, in San Felix, Venezuela, home of Jesucristo Resucitado, the mission parish of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit.

16

Calendar

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Dining out

Don’t Miss

Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Sept. 10 and 17: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95.

Children’s menu available. Call (952) 8881492 for reservations.

Pancake, sausage and French toast breakfast at St. Joseph, Waconia — Sept. 10: 7 to 11 a.m. at the corner of E. First Street and Elm Street.

KC shrimp and steak dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Shakopee — Sept. 10: 5 to 8 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Cost is $10 for shrimp or steak and $13 for both. Children’s meal available for $2.

Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Sept. 15 and 22: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $12. Children’s menu available. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

Pancake and French toast breakfast at St. Joseph, Waconia — Sept. 18: 7 to 11 a.m. at the corner of E. First Street and Elm Street.

KC pancake breakfast at Applebee’s, Eagan — Sept. 18: 8 to 10 a.m. at 1335 Centre Town Drive. Cost is $5.

KC benefit breakfast at Knights of Columbus Hall, Stillwater — Sept. 19: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1910 S. Greeley St. Cost is $6 for adults and $3.50 for children. Proceeds benefit St. Croix Catholic School. Please bring an item for the food shelf.

Parish events The Gathering at St. Bartholomew, Wayzata — Sept. 10: 5 to 10:30 p.m. at 630 E. Lake St. Event features carnival games, food, raffles and live music starting at 8 p.m.

“Taste of Como” at Holy Childhood, St. Paul — Sept. 10: “Taste of Como,” from 5 to 9 p.m. at 1435 Midway Parkway. Tickets are $15 in advance by calling (651) 489-2428 or $20 at the gate. Sample foods, beers and wines.

There will also be German food and dancing.

Fall festival at St. Bonaventure, Bloomington — Sept. 10 and 11: Begins Friday with a chicken dinner from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 901 E. 90th St. Parade Saturday at 10 a.m. followed by live entertainment all day, games, food, and a classic car show.

Lebanese fall festival at Holy Family Maronite, Mendota Heights — Sept. 10 and 12: Begins with bingo Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.

GB Leighton in concert in White Bear Lake St. Mary of the Lake parish in White Bear Lake presents an end of summer concert featuring Minnesota-based rockers GB Leighton on Sept. 12.

The concert will be from 5 to 8 p.m. at the St. Mary of the Lake School ballfield at 4690 Bald Eagle Ave. Admission is $5 per person, children 14 and under are free. Food, beer and other beverages will be available for purchase.

at 1960 Lexington Ave. S. Food available all evening. Outdoor festival Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. features Lebanese food, music and dancing and games. Visit WWW.HOLYFAMILYMARONITE.ORG. Fall festival at St. John the Evangelist, Hopkins — Sept. 10 and 11: Begins Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at 6 Interlachen Road with music, food, games and more. Continues Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m with food, music, games and a garage sale.

Fall carnival at St. Timothy, Blaine — Sept. 10 to 12: 5 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at 707 89th Ave. Features live music, a roast beef dinner, a 5K walk/run on Saturday, a flag raising ceremony at noon Sunday.

Festival at St. Patrick, Edina — Sept. 11: Jazzercise at 8:30 a.m. and family Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. at 6820 St. Patrick’s Lane. Carnival games and lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and BBQ dinner at 6:30 p.m. Fresh roasted corn all day. Visit WWW.STPATRICK-EDINA.ORG. Spirit Fest at Holy Spirit, St. Paul — Sept. 11: After the 4:30 p.m. Mass at 515 S. Albert St. Features a dinner of pork sandwiches or hot dogs. Live music, children’s games and fireworks follow. Purchase tickets in advance by calling (651) 698-3353.

Countryfest at St. Patrick, Oak Grove — Sept.

11 and 12: Begins at noon both days at 19921 Nightingale St. N.W. Saturday features live music, games, Mass at 5 p.m. and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Sunday Mass at 9 and 11 a.m., classic car show until 4 p.m.

Annual Steamboat Days at St. Nicholas, Carver — Sept. 11 and 12: Begins Saturday with a chicken dinner and live music from 4 p.m. to midnight at 412 Fourth St. W. Continues Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a Memphis-style pork lunch, games and a petting zoo.

St. Jude of the Lake, Mahtomedi — Sept. 11: Cornfest from 1 to 10 p.m. at 700 Mahtomedi Ave. Features corn-on-the-cob, Kidz and teen zones, classic cars, wine tasting, live music and more. Visit WWW.STJUDEOFTHELAKE .ORG.

40th St. Boni s Fall Festival Back again in 2010

First WEEKEND AFTER Labor Day

Chicken Dinner Adults: $9; Children 5-9: $4 4 and Under: Free

Singing and Performing as

TAKE OUTS AVAILABLE Broasted Chicken, Au Gratin Potatoes, Cole Slaw, Dinner Roll, Dessert, Hot and Cold Beverages

ELVIS at noon

St. Bonaventure

Countryfest at St. Boniface, St. Bonifacius — Sept. 12: Polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. followed by roast pork dinner until 2 p.m. and festival fun, games and raffles until 4 p.m.

Fall festival at Sacred Heart, St. Paul — Sept.

12: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 840 E. Sixth St. Authentic Mexican food, games and raffles.

Fall festival at All Saints, Minneapolis — Sept.

12: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 435 Fourth St. N.E. Features food, live music flea market/bargain boutique and raffles.

Fall festival at Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — Sept. 11 and 12: Begins Saturday with Mass at 4 p.m. followed by a roast beef sandwich dinner, live music and games at 4087 W. Broadway Ave. Continues Sunday with games, food and a raffle.

Fall festival at Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine — Sept. 12: Praise and worship at 10 a.m. followed by a chicken and ham dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Features a country store, games, live music, raffles and refreshments.

Fall festival at St. Odilia, Shoreview — Sept.

11 and 12: Saturday noon to 10:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m. at 3495 N. Victoria.

Features food, games and Fall Jam featuring local talent all weekend. Visit WWW.STODIL IA.ORG.

Salad luncheon at Holy Trinity, South St. Paul — Sept. 16: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 749 Sixth Ave. S. Features salads, rolls and dessert. Cost is $6. Sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women.

Fall festival at St. Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake — Sept. 11 and 12: Begins Saturday with a 5K run/walk at 4 p.m. and outdoor Mass at 5 p.m. at 4690 Bald Eagle Ave. Spaghetti dinner from 6 to 7:30 p.m., music, dancing, general store, beer garden and more. Continues with a turkey dinner Sunday from noon to 3 p.m., kids games, inflatables and a cake walk.

Festival at St. Michael, St. Michael — Sept. 11 and 12: Begins Saturday with polka Mass at 4:30 p.m. in the historic church on Main Street followed by a German dinner in the new church, 11300 Frankfort Parkway N.E. Continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with chicken dinner available until 2 p.m.

Also features crafts, games, raffles and more. Visit WWW.STMCATHOLICCHURCH.ORG. Block party at St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindstrom — Sept. 11 and 12: Features pig roast catered by George’s Smokin’ BBQ, live polka music and bingo. 13060 Lake Blvd.

Festival at Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata — Sept. 11and 12: 5 p.m. Mass Saturday followed by dinner, music and dancing, as well as kids games and bingo; 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday with entertainment, food, kids games, bingo and more at 155 County Road 24.

Annual parish picnic and ministry fair at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — Sept. 12: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 88 N. 17th St. Features food, entertainment, games and a cake walk.

Consignment auction at St. Joseph, Miesville — Sept. 12: 10:30 a.m. at 23955 Nicolai Ave. Items include farm, lawn and business equip-

“Glory Days” at St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo — Sept. 17 and 18: begins at 5 p.m. Friday with live music and fireworks at 223 19th St. N.W. Continues Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with more music, carnival rides, games, crafters sale and more. Visit WWW.STFXB.ORG. Festival at St. Patrick, Inver Grove Heights — Sept. 17 to 19: Wine tasting Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at 3535 72nd St. E. Continues Saturday with a taco dinner after the 4 p.m. Mass.

Sunday features a pork dinner, games, car show and silent auction.

‘Autumn Daze’ at St. Helena, Minneapolis — Sept. 17 to 19: 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday at 3204 E. 43rd St. Fireworks Friday night, parade with marching bands Saturday, live entertainment, rides and more.

Fall festival at Guardian Angels, Oakdale — Sept. 17 to 19: Features pasta and chicken dinners catered by Lake Elmo Inn, 50-plus dance, fireworks Saturday night and more.

8260 Fourth St. N. For information, visit WWW.GUARDIAN-ANGELS.ORG. Nativity County Fair at Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul — Sept. 17 to 19: Begins Friday 5 to 10 p.m. and continues Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1900 Wellesley Ave. Weekend features live and silent auctions, food, games, rides and more. Outdoor Mass at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Visit WWW.NATIVITYCOUNTYFAIR.ORG. Fun Fest at St. Richard, Richfield — Sept. 18: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 7540 Penn Ave. S. PLEASE TURN TO CALENDAR ON PAGE 17

Fall Festival Our Lady of the Prairie Belle Plaine

TONY REDMOND

4:30-7 p.m.

Fall festival and turkey dinner at St. Stanislaus, St. Paul — Sept. 12: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1087 S. Western Ave. Also features Bingo, variety booths and games for kids.

For information, visit WWW.STMARYS-WBL.ORG.

Pancake breakfast at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — Sept. 12: 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 215 S. Eighth St. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 7 to 13.

FRI., SEPT. 10

ment and antiques. Lunch stand provided.

For information, call (651) 437-3526.

SAT., SEPT. 11

Sunday Sept. 12, 2010

10 a.m. . . . . . . . . . Parade 6:30 p.m. . . . . . . . . Raffle 7:15 p.m. . . . . . . . . Mass Free Entertainment all day with

Praise and Worship Mass 10:00 a.m.

Dakota Ramblers starting at 2 p.m.

200+ Classic Cars • Bingo • Yo-Yo Man • Rides • Talent Show • Crafts • Silent Auction • Magic • Quality Foods Galore

901 East 90th St., Bloomington (Between 10th and Chicago) Phone: 952-854-4733; Fax 952-851-9690 E-mail: office@saintbonaventure.org • Web: www.saintbonaventure.org

Chicken & Ham Dinner Serving 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Center for Oral Implantology General Dentistry

$9 Adults, $5 Children (3-10), Under 3 Free Take-out Orders Available $9

Offering Sedation Dentistry

Country Store, Crafts, Children’s Games, Raffle and Refreshments

Implants from start to finish

Wood Auction at 2 p.m.

Bingo!

Ernie Stumpf Band 11:30-2 p.m.

Dr. Michael Mallinger 651.209.0262 www.centerfororalimplants.com

Calendar

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16 Features craft vendors until 4 p.m., silent auction, bingo and live music from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Kiddie carnival from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and food available all day.

Second annual Pro-life 5K race/walk at St. Bonaventure, Bloomington —Sept. 18: 8 a.m. at 901 E. 90th St. Participant check-in from 7 to 7:45 a.m. Cost is $10. For information or to register, e-mail JIM_KOEPKE@YAHOO.COM. Festival at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hastings — Sept. 18 and 19: Event begins at 9 a.m.

Saturday with Golf Fun Day at the Hastings Country Club. Continues Sunday with 11:30 a.m. Mass followed by games, food and more on the parish grounds, 2035 15th St. W. Visit WWW.SEASPARISH.ORG. Festival at St. Matthew, St. Paul — Sept. 18 and 19: Begins Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. at 490 Hall Ave. Tacos, Gorzitos and refreshments will be available. Continues Sunday with a chicken dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both days feature jewelry, baked goods, root beer floats and more.

Festival at Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul — Sept. 18 and 19: Begins Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. at 1801 LaCrosse Ave. Features a spaghetti dinner, and refreshments. Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with food, games and silent auction.

Festival at St. Michael, Farmington — Sept. 18 and 19: Saturday Mass at 4:30 p.m. followed by hayrides, campfire and a free concert by

One Day Closer at 22120 Denmark Ave. Continues Sunday with games, food vendors and motorcycle ride.

Saturday at 1621 University Ave. N.E. Polka Mass Sunday at 10 a.m. followed by a chicken dinner and festival fun until 5:30 p.m.

Hilltop Autumn Fest at All Saints, Lakeville — Sept. 18 and 19: Begins Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 19795 Holyoke Ave. Includes a farmers’ market, craft fair, games and more.

Continues Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a chicken dinner, raffle and more. Visit WWW.ALLSAINTSCHURCH.COM.

Festival at St. Joseph, Hopkins — Sept. 18 and 19: 5:30 p.m. Saturday food tent and bingo at 1310 Mainstreet. Continues Sunday at 11 a.m. with a bake sale, food tent, games, chicken dinner and NFL football on the big screen.

Festival at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Sept. 18 and 19: 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at 401 Concord St. Food, music, dancing and games.

Applefest at St. Anne, Le Sueur — Sept. 18 and 19: Outdoor Mass at 5:15 p.m. Saturday followed by a hog roast and a movie.

Continues Sunday with a chicken dinner, games and more at 511 N. Fourth St.

Festival at St. Peter, Forest Lake — Sept. 18 and 19: Begins Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. with games, inflatables, live entertainment and more. Band and classic car show from 6 to 10 p.m. Continues Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a pork and turkey dinner, golf tournament, talent show and Circus Manduhai.

Festival at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — Sept.

18 and 19: Live music from 5 to 9 p.m.

Fall festival at Sacred Heart, Rush City — Sept. 19: Mass at 9 a.m. with festivities to follow until 3 p.m. at 425 Field Ave. Chicken dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

50th anniversary of ordination celebration for Father Gordon Doffing at Holy Childhood, St. Paul — Sept. 19: Mass at 10 a.m. with reception to follow until 2 p.m. at 1435 Midway Parkway.

For a complete listing of events visit our website at www.TheCatholicSpirit.com

17

Fall festival at St. Pius V, Cannon Falls — Sept.

19: Polka Mass at 10 a.m. followed by dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also features music and dancing, craft and country store, games, food and more at 410 Colville St. W. Fall festival at St. Canice, Kilkenny — Sept.

19: Mass at 10 a.m. followed by a chicken and ham dinner until 2 p.m. Activities — including games, jar bar, bingo — from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 183 Maple St. W. Fall festival at St. Jerome, Maplewood — Sept. 19: Outdoor Mass at 10:30 followed by pony rides, a car show and live entertainment from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at 380 Roselawn Ave. Booya will be available for take-out at 7 a.m. Visit WWW.STJEROMECHURCH.ORG.

Prayer/ liturgies Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Mary, St. Paul — Sept. 12: 2 p.m. at 261 Eighth St. E. Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. John, St. Paul — Sept. 19: 2 p.m. at 977 Fifth St. E. Healing Mass at Lumen Christi, St. Paul — Sept. 20: Rosary at 7 p.m., Mass at 7:30 p.m. at 2055 Bohland Ave. Father Jim Livingston will be the celebrant.

One Family In Mission ALL SAINTS CHURCH

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Sunday, September 12 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Mass 10 a.m.

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Main Raffle: $2,500 in cash prizes.

Two Winners for a Jax Cafe Brunch for 2.

Two tickets to Vikings/Lions game on 9-26-10 includes Jax Brunch for 2 plus bus tickets to the game.

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(Attention teachers and parents: Visit the HCA web page for adults and educators for free downloadable mission education materials.)

For more than 160 years, children in this country have made a real difference in the lives of children in the Missions by showing them the love of Jesus through their prayers, sacrifices and financial help.

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NOTICE Look for The Catholic Spirit advertising insert from

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18

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Smith gives back to the community where he grew up and still serves CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 When people call us, they need our service, they need some help. It’s not always arresting somebody. It may be a family that had a tragedy.

I believe in giving back — my wife and I both. My wife is a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Clubs and works with a lot of disadvantaged youth.

That’s where her heart is.

I work with disadvantaged kids through a mentor program at Humboldt High School. I have 50 kids in the program, and this will be our fourth year. I help recruit the mentors. We have 32 mentors, and we work with young people throughout the city. I also serve on the Neighborhood House board of directors.

What values do you bring to your new position as St. Paul’s chief of police?

Giving back, compassion and empathy toward others — that includes tough love.

You have to do the right thing and you have to have good ethics. I think ethical integrity in our profession is important.

How does your faith help you when you return to your family after dealing with less pleasant elements of society?

I pray a lot.

I’ve put my family through a lot.

I’ve had friends that lost their life.

I’ve had people try to take my life and other officers’ lives.

Because my family grew up in a Catholic environment, we’re able to talk about different things. . . . A lot of old timers didn’t share with their family. But you have to be able to share something.

I had a bad day a couple of days ago, and I went home and I told my wife that I had a bad day, so she could understand why I wasn’t as chipper as I usually am. A long time ago I might not have done that.

I’ve learned how to balance that, and I think my faith has helped me do that.

What lessons have you learned that you hope to pass along to newer officers?

This is an honorable profession.

All sorts of people help you but, as a police officer, you are on the front line and it can make a difference in

the life of other people. . . .

Every day I ask one thing [of my officers]: Have a positive contact with someone you didn’t receive a police call for.

If you stop for a cup of coffee, say “Hi” to someone at the table next to you. If you see a group of kids playing on a street corner, stop the car and let the kids come up and look at your police car or give them a football card or baseball card. If you see a senior citizen out mowing their lawn, slowly stop and say “Hi.” That is something that builds trust relationships and I think that is important in our line of work.

What has been the most difficult tragedy you have faced as a law enforcement officer?

When Jerry Vick was killed in May 2005. I never shed a tear until after the funeral and heard a song Jerry liked. It took months. I didn’t want to let the human part of me out. My priest, Father Stephen Adrian, provided great support.

The Mass to honor all civil servants will be Sept. 11 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Do you plan to at-

Saturday, September 18 Sunday, September 19

tend? What does this Mass mean to you?

Yes, the Blue Mass. I’ve been to many. St. Matthew’s does it, and it’s at the Cathedral.

It empowers officers to attend, and that is a day where you might see a few tears shed because we talk about fallen officers. . . .

It gives me personally — and I hope other officers would tell you — strength to know that, no matter how bad the situation is, God has said he will always be there for you.

All you have to do is open up your heart and mind to that.

What advice do you have for anyone considering a career in law enforcement?

No. 1, they have to be committed to serving other people. That has a direct correlation to the Catholic faith.

Second, just as Jesus gave his life for us, I tell young people that they have to be committed to serving in harm’s way.

When we hire someone, we look at their moral compass, we look at ethics-based characteristics.

1001 7th St. E., Monticello (Next to Home Depot)

FALL FESTIVAL

Fun run Saturday 8:30 a.m.

5 p.m. Bilingual Mass 6 p.m. FREE Street Dance Kids’ Games 6-8 p.m.

Latino Food Booth/Fry Bread Enter our Chili Contest with Prizes; Wild & Mild Categories O Texas Hold ’em Tournament 7 p.m.

O Beer Tent/Pull Tabs

Touch of Lebanon Festival St. Maron Catholic Church 602 University Avenue, NE – Minneapolis

Saturday, September 25, 2010 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Authentic Lebanese Cuisine, Games, Raffle, Silent Auction, Gift Shop, And Live Music.

Dancing by The Cedars Dabke Group

■ When: 10 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 11.

■ Where: Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul.

■ Celebrant: Bishop Lee Piché; reception will follow.

■ More info: WWW.ARCHSPM. ORG.

St. Henry’s Catholic Church

Saturday • 6-11 p.m.

O O O O O O

Blue Mass to honor all civil servants

Sunday • 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

O O O O O O O O O

Weekend prizes worth over $10,000 Turkey Dinner 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. with one free bingo 5 p.m. Drawing — Grand Raffle: top prize $1,000.

Bingo O Corn Cob Golf O 50/50 Games Cake Walk and Sweet Shop O Silent Auction Watch the Vikings game on a big screen TV Inflatables: play all day with paid admission S.A.L.T. 12-2 p.m. O Latino Music 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Outdoor Food Concessions

19

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Deacon Carl Valdez addresses children, parents, godparents and family members as he prepares to baptize infants and children Aug. 21 at Incarnation in Minneapolis.

Parishes respond to burgeoning Latino population need for more is great, Villagrán said.

At Assumption in Richfield, 175 Latino children are preparing for first Communion. But the parish’s faith formation director is part time and doesn’t have enough Spanish-speaking catechists to meet the demand, Villagrán said.

There is also a critical need for priests who are proficient in Spanish, she added.

The St. Paul Seminary now requires students to study Spanish in Mexico for eight to 12 weeks, spend two weeks at the archdiocesan mission in Venezuela, complete a course in Latino ministry, and get experience in Latino ministry at a parish.

While almost all new priests are able to say Mass in Spanish, knowing the language well enough to give a homily or hear confessions in Spanish is another matter.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 parish’s four Spanish-language Masses.

Although many of the Latino immigrants who attend Spanish-language Masses at Incarnation are bilingual, Deacon Valdez said he considers it a “God-given right” for people to worship “in their own language, according to their own culture.”

One church For years, the two communities sharing a worship space at Incarnation have maintained separate identities, even separate names. However, leaders at the parish are taking steps to change that.

“We’ve made moves to say it’s ‘we,’ not ‘we and they,’” Deacon Valdez said.

The two communities now participate in joint staff meetings. “So that’s a small start,” he said. “But one day I’m sure we’ll be called Incarnation again instead of Incarnation/Sagrado Corazón.”

“We do not want parallel parishes,” said Estela Villagrán Manancero, a member of the archdiocesan Parish Services Team who specializes in Latino ministry.

The goal, according to Villagrán, is to integrate rather than assimilate. The two communities eventually would be seen as members of one parish, but with Masses in both English and Spanish.

“We can respect each other’s cultures and our native languages all under the same roof,” she said.

Villagrán said she believes the Latino community has much to offer to the archdiocese. “For example, the way we honor family,” she said. “Then there is the popular religiosity — posadas, celebrations, etc. And, our Masses are full of life and joy.”

Growing numbers Every weekend, about 16,500 people attend Spanishlanguage Masses in 23 churches throughout the archdiocese, the Parish Services Team reported in 2008.

Villagrán said she believes that number has grown considerably in the past year and a half and will continue to grow into the future.

In 2009, Latinos made up 40 percent of the U.S.

A maturing ministry

Catholic population, according to Instituto Fe y Vida, a Catholic non-profit organization. Fifty-six percent of Catholics under age 10 are Latino, and nearly half of Catholics between the ages of 10 and 29 are Latino, the organization reported last year.

Although the number of Latino Catholics in Minnesota is not as high (in 2006, 18 percent of Catholics under age 18 in the state were Latino), it is still significant, Villagrán said. And, if parishes do not make an effort to reach out to Latinos, the Catholic Church could lose them.

In Red Wing, Villagrán offered as an example, “there are five evangelical churches knocking on [Latino] people’s doors and luring them in. Since we don’t have Bible studies or anything to offer [in Spanish], not even a priest who can celebrate the Mass [in Spanish] regularly, we are losing so many people.”

St. Joseph in Red Wing recently hired a part-time Latino ministry coordinator who has started Spanish faith formation and youth ministry programs. But the

For 15 years, the archdiocese has subsidized Latino ministry in parishes. Beginning July 1, however, the subsidy was reduced by one-third. Over the next two years, archdiocesan funding for Latino ministry will be withdrawn completely as part of a plan arrived at in consultation with pastors and other parish leaders, said Jim Lundholm-Eades, director of the Parish Services Team.

“It’s clear that the leadership of the Latino Catholic communities is ready for it,” Lundholm-Eades said.

“They have the training, they have the commitment, and they’ve been doing this for a long time. It’s matured to the point where we can let go . . . and turn over the financial responsibility to the local level.”

To prepare for this change, seven years ago the archdiocese began offering a leadership development program to train lay people in the Latino community for positions in youth ministry, faith formation and other areas of parish life. To date, about 120 people have completed the 18-month program.

Archbishop John Nienstedt also has demonstrated a personal commitment to Latino ministry. Last month he spent two weeks in Mexico studying Spanish.

“Symbolically, that’s a message to his priests and to the Latino people that he’s serious about Latino ministry,” Lundholm-Eades said.

20

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

FOCUS provides a blueprint to a stronger faith for university students

By Gina Dolski The Catholic Spirit

Conferences sponsored by the Fellowship of Catholic University Students provide young adults with an opportunity to explore the Catholic Church and walk away with a stronger involvement in their faith.

Young adults will have an opportunity to attend a FOCUS conference Jan. 7-9 in St. Paul.

The organization presents conferences nationwide and provides faith programs on college campuses.

FOCUS aims to get in touch with college students and guide their faith journey through missionary work.

Nicole Birkman, a junior at the University of Minnesota Duluth who is from Sauk Centre, said that she has grown in her faith through FOCUS conferences.

“Since [the conference], I have been really open to talking more about my Catholic faith,” Birkman said.

During a conference, students attend workshops, which include speakers and musicians who teach about the Catholic faith. The organization also encourages students to bring friends who may be questioning their faith or who have questions about the Catholic faith.

Birkman said that the conference provided an oppor-

Want to FOCUS?

As for attending the upcoming conference in St. Paul?

“I definitely plan on it!” he said.

■ What: Fellowship of Catholic University Students conference.

FOCUS on campus

■ When: Jan. 7-9.

■ Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul.

Regular registration through Oct. 31. Registration continues through Dec. 17 at a higher cost. Register online at HTTP://FOCUSCONFERENCE.ORG/REGISTER.

tunity to introduce her friend to the Catholic faith.

“One of my best friends from high school is not Catholic, but she got a lot out of it and had a lot of questions about the Catholic faith; she was very open,” Birkman said.

Shane O’Brien of Hopkins, who also attends the University of Minnesota Duluth, said that a friend convinced him to attend the conference.

“It was a really moving experience for me,” said O’Brien, who now is involved with campus outreach and plans to apply to be a FOCUS missionary on a college campus after he graduates.

Aside from sponsoring conferences, FOCUS works with missionaries on college campuses nationwide.

Both the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota Mankato campuses have FOCUS missionaries.

Missionaries hired by FOCUS are sent to campuses to reach out to students and help them build a relationship with God through Bible study and mentorship, while providing tools to thrive on campus and elsewhere.

Mark Bartek, senior director of FOCUS in the northern region, said he wants to reach other Minnesota colleges.

“Our goal is to expand to as many college campuses as we are able,” he said. That campus presence is meant to strengthen the faith in Catholic young adults and reach others who are in search of faith, he added.

The upcoming conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul is part of a four-city tour, which includes Denver, Baltimore and Nashville, Tenn. (See accompanying box for registration information.)

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21

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Three years after merger, hurt still a challenge, but there’s also hope CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 taken place for 100 years.

Instead of suppression, it is more common for parishes to merge, as in the cases of Holy Redeemer and St. Peter, and with St. Gregory, St. Therese and St. Leo, which merged to form Lumen Christi in 2006. Sometimes the merged parish uses more than one physical location, worship site, or administrative center for a period of time or permanently. In other cases, the merged parish may close a building in order to use its resources effectively.

“A merger is a merger of people that also involves closing or repurposing a building in many cases,” LundholmEades said.

Closing church buildings The archdiocese is developing a resource manual to guide parishes through restructuring, including church closings.

It will contain information on creating inventories of sacred objects and artistically or architecturally significant works and options for their reuse, which includes incorporation into the new

church’s space.

Church buildings cannot be legally sold for any use that would contradict church teaching.

Sometimes, they are sold to other Christian denominations, as was the case for Holy Redeemer’s church building. The parish sold it to the Twin Cities Bible Church in February 2008 for $2 million.

In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the parish community — not the archdiocese — receives the assets of the church building at its sale, Lundholm-Eades said.

However, the archdiocese does have to approve the alienation of property, which would include selling a church building. Each case would be treated individually, he added.

In the past 10 years, 80 percent of U.S. dioceses and archdioceses have undergone some kind of restructuring process similar to what the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is undergoing, Lundholm-Eades said. Of those, 67 percent have merged significant numbers of parishes.

Honoring a legacy Last spring, the Parish Services Team met with parish leaders to explain the planning process’ status. It urged leaders to reflect on their parishes’ strengths and the unique traditions they would want to take into the future. Vestiges of Holy Redeemer are present now at St. Peter.

In December 2006, Archbishop Harry Flynn assigned Father Daniel Griffith, St. Peter’s pastor, to Holy Redeemer as well.

The two parishes held seven Masses each weekend between them. Their merger was announced in April 2007, and they merged in July 2007.

At the time of the Holy Redeemer-St. Peter merger, St. Peter was in the midst of a church renovation. The merger was expedited partly because Father Griffith wanted parishioners from both parishes to move into the new space together, he said.

He emphasized that the church renovation and expansion was long needed, and that it would have gone forward even if St. Peter never merged with Holy Redeemer, despite rumors speculating otherwise.

As part of the renovation, the architects designed a daily Mass chapel in the nave of the original church. The parish named it Holy Redeemer Chapel to honor the parish and its former pastor, Father Austin Ward, who died in 2003.

The parish has also used Holy Redeemer’s processional cross at Mass, and it recently installed another cross from Holy Redeemer’s garden.

About 75 of the 225 families who previously attended Holy Redeemer joined St. Peter, he said. Because Holy Redeemer drew members from 27 ZIP codes, some of its parishioners went to parishes nearer to home. Others joined nearby St. Jerome in Maplewood, or St. Cecilia in St. Paul, which reminded them of Holy Redeemer. Some left the church completely, Father Griffith said.

Of those who did join St. Peter, many have taken integral roles in parish life, he said. They’ve become greeters, lectors and extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist.

Today, Father Griffith doesn’t automatically distinguish a parishioner as originating from Holy Redeemer or St. Peter, he said. Yet, he is aware of the hurt and in some cases, anger, which former Holy Redeemer parishioners still feel, and he is mindful to invite them to serve in parish ministries.

“I was . . . moved when I saw these people from Holy Redeemer take this leap of faith and come over to the new parish even though they were coming from a smaller parish,” he said. “What a great statement about their faith and the type of charity in their heart, that they’re willing to take that risk and get involved.”

22

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Large classes sign of universities’ health, administrators say CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 decided to come to St. Thomas, Roach said.

The university receives the students it has accepted, making this year’s situation a little like an airline overbooking a flight, said Aaron Macke, residence life director and men’s soccer coach.

A class of between 1,300 and 1,350 is optimal at St. Thomas, Roach said. “This is not a new benchmark for where we want to go,” she said. “We want to make sure that the students admitted have a great experience.”

Bruess said St. Catherine attracted more high-ability students this year by emphasizing the benefits it offers them.

Though its overall acceptance rate has declined because of increased standards, enrollment is up, he said.

The school’s ideal range for a freshman class is 390 to 420. St. Catherine’s stable, incremental growth during the past 12 years has been manageable, Bruess said.

“Not many people across America in higher education could say that the profile of their new class is larger, smarter and more diverse,” he said.

Though St. Thomas administrators

won’t know the exact reasons for the increase until later in the year, one visible factor may be the construction of two new buildings: Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex, which opened last week and Anderson Student Center, slated for completion in 2012.

Ensuring same experience Both universities are working to ensure that first-year students will have the same academic experience as other classes without class size increases, according to Bruess and Sue Huber, St. Thomas executive vice president and chief academic officer.

St. Thomas has added 29 classes and seven labs, along with additional faculty, Huber said. “We’re certainly not going to increase class size to accommodate 200 new students,” she said.

St. Thomas dean of student life Karen Lange agreed. “We’re very confident that this class of students will have the same experience in the classroom,” she said.

St. Catherine also added faculty and class sections for the increased number of students, Bruess said.

Housing the extra students has also required special maneuvers for both schools.

In addition to filling every dorm room,

St. Thomas has converted lounges in Dowling and Brady residence halls to accommodate four to six students, Macke said. The spaces include loft beds, and other furniture is arranged to give students privacy.

Each dorm will have 24 units of “expanded” housing, he said, adding that most years the university uses at least some expanded housing.

In addition, the former fitness center on the lower level of Koch Commons is being converted into housing for 15 firstyear men and one resident assistant, Macke said.

To make up for the lost lounge space,

St. Thomas is reconfiguring the dorm common spaces, including adding new furniture and creating meeting areas.

At St. Catherine, about six residence hall lounges and computer rooms also have been converted to housing and combined with other efforts to add 83 units, Bruess said.

It’s too soon to know if this year’s class represents a trend or an anomaly for St. Thomas, but it’s a sign that the university is healthy, Macke said.

Lange added: “We’re just very, very excited to have this large class.

“We’re offering lots of welcome activities and activities to engage students.”

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

New digs University of St. Thomas senior John Busch looked like a kid in a candy store recently when he entered a huge weight room on the St. Paul campus that is part of the new $52 million Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex. The complex opened Sept. 1 for use by students, staff and athletes.

It also includes a field house, gymnasium (which keeps the former Schoenecker Arena name), aquatic center, cardio area, aerobic rooms and locker rooms.

Busch bounced around various lifting stations, grabbing weights and pumping iron with gusto. The truth is, he’s been chomping at the bit to get his hands on the new equipment.

“It’s amazing, just beautiful,” said Busch, who formerly played football for the Tommies and now works with the team as a trainer. “This is the elite of [NCAA] Division III. There’s nothing better in Division III.” Similar praise came from athletic director Steve Fritz, who will take his men’s basketball team into Schoenecker Arena for its opening practice next month. His tenure at St. Thomas stretches back to the 1960s, when he played basketball for St. Thomas. He will begin his 31st season as head coach on Oct. 15.

“It’s just very exciting,” he said, of the new facility. “This is a great — Dave Hrbacek home for all of our varsity teams.”

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

University of St. Thomas senior John Busch pumps iron Sept. 1 in his school’s new weight room, which is part of the $52 million Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex.

In marriage, husband and wife are ‘no longer two but one flesh’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 panded the notion to reflect the relationship of Christ for the church (Ephesians 2:32).

So marriage comes from God; that much is clear. But what exactly has God revealed about the ends or purposes of marriage through the teaching office of the church?

The clear and consistent teaching of the church, which corresponds to human reason and natural law, is that God’s design, or purpose, for marriage intends that it be a life-long, mutually exclusive commitment between one man and one woman that is both unitive and procreative.

The term “unitive” expresses the relational aspect of marriage, wherein the husband and wife selflessly give themselves to each other, and by that act, which reflects their exclusive and lifelong union, they become “no longer two but one flesh” (Matthew 19:6).

This united way of life has traditionally been signified by a common residence.

It is a moment of great joy when a newly married couple, full of dreams, excitement and probably a little fear about their new life together, enter for the first time, as husband and wife, into their new home.

Unfortunately, the widespread practice of cohabitation has robbed many newly married couples of this experience. No longer is a common home synonymous with a life-long commitment of trust, love and joy. Rather, “living together” has so often been reduced to a matter of mere convenience.

Marriage is also “procreative.” Human experience confirms, over and over again, that marriage and the common life it demands are the best context into which new life is brought forth.

Marriage is not just for the couple involved. Rather, marriage provides the setting in which new life is formed and nurtured.

How regrettable it is when bringing new life into the world is seen as a burden! To combat this culture of selfishness, we must do all we can to support families who are striving to be open to

new life and to bringing children into the world.

Inseparable connection The church also teaches clearly that there is an inseparable connection between these two ends, or purposes, which arises from the very nature of conjugal love.

Like marriage itself, each and every conjugal act ought to be an act of mutual self-gift, which means that these acts ought to be open to life. To separate the ends of marriage through artificial contraception, domestic violence or the deliberate use of another for mere sexual gratification, not only violates the law of God, it also denigrates our human dignity. And, as statistics show, it is often women who suffer the most when marriage is reduced to convenience or sex is reduced to pleasure.

I applaud the fact that so many couples in our archdiocese are living their marital commitment with fidelity.

Through good times and bad, these couples proclaim the beauty, goodness and truth of marriage as lived out in everyday life.

I am grateful for the witness I see in that fidelity, which in itself reflects the marvelous gift and blessing that we have received from the hand of our Creator.

These couples truly are salt of the earth and a light for the world.

Standing up for marriage All of us, as the Body of Christ, cannot shy away from standing up for the truth about marriage. As Christians, we are confident that a defense of marriage is right and just, as there is no room for compromise with opposing positions that challenge this reality that serves as the very foundation of human society.

Therefore, I encourage all Christians to stand up for their faith and share with others the truth about marriage and the good of family life — both of which flow not only from the Scriptures, but from right reason and the natural law.

In doing so, let the world also know that God is love, and in his love, there is a special plan for husbands and wives.

God bless you!

Archbishop Nienstedt’s schedule ■ Sunday, Sept. 12: 8 a.m., Kenyon, Church of St. Michael: Sunday liturgy.

■ Monday, Sept. 13: 5 p.m., St. Paul, Town and Country Golf Club: St. Paul Seminary golf tournament dinner.

■ Tuesday, Sept. 14: 2 p.m., Philadelphia, Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul: Liturgy in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Cardinal Justin Rigali.

■ Wednesday, Sept. 15: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Planning for “lectio divina” at the University of St. Thomas.

10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting of the corporate board of the Catholic Community Foundation.

Noon, St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Auctioned item lunch for the Church of St. Vincent de Paul.

2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Catholic Services Appeal committee meeting.

5:30 p.m., Stillwater, private home: Catholic Services Appeal committee gathering.

■ Thursday, Sept. 16: 11 a.m., St. Paul, St. Mary’s Chapel at The St. Paul Seminary: Catholic Community Foundation’s Legacy Foundation Mass and lunch.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Finance Council meeting.

■ Saturday, Sept. 18: 4:30 p.m., St. Paul, St. Pascal Baylon Church: Sunday liturgy and dinner, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the archdiocesan Venezuelan mission.

■ Sunday, Sept. 19: 10 a.m., Shakopee, St. Mary of the

Purification: Sunday liturgy.

8 p.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: “Lectio divina.”

■ Monday, Sept. 20: 6 a.m., St. Paul, St. John Vianney College Seminary: Holy hour and Holy Eucharist, followed by breakfast.

10:30 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Meeting with administration.

11:35 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Holy Eucharist, followed by lunch.

5:30 p.m., Minneapolis, Church of St. Helena: Mass and dinner with the Catholic Defense League.

■ Tuesday, Sept. 21: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Council meeting.

1 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Presbyteral Council meeting.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting of College of Consultors.

5 p.m., St. Paul, Town & Country Club: Dinner celebration for Archbishop Harry J. Flynn on his 50 years of priesthood.

■ Wednesday, Sept. 22: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Carondelet Center: Minnesota Catholic Conference board of directors meeting.

5:30 p.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity of permanent diaconate candidates, evening prayer and dinner.

■ Thursday, Sept. 23: 10:30 a.m., St. Paul, St. Mary’s Chapel at The St. Paul Seminary: Videotaping for 2011 Catholic Services Appeal.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: The Catholic Spirit board of directors meeting.

“Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life!

Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the church.”

Pope Benedict XVI, in his message for World Youth Day 2011, to be held in Madrid Aug. 16-21

Overheard 24

The Catholic Spirit

Quotes from this week’s newsmakers

Common Hope to get St. John’s Dignitas Humana Award Common Hope, a St. Paul-based nonprofit organization that provides education, health care and housing to children and families in need in Guatemala, will The receive the Dignitas Catholic Spirit Humana Award Sept.

13 from St. John’s University in Collegeville.

News Notes

Common Hope — founded by the Huebsch family — began working with families in Guatemala in 1986, helping them to place their children in school and finding caring individuals in the U.S. to sponsor the cost of each child’s education. Today it serves nearly 8,000 impoverished children and adults in 17 communities outside Antigua and Guatemala City.

The Dignitas Humana Award honors those who recognize and strive to advance the human dignity of all persons and exemplify the JudeoChristian values of service, respect,

kindness and compassion.

Monastery award

School president to retire

The fourth annual Benedicta Riepp Award was given to Joan Strom Riebel of Minneapolis and Mary Jo Willette Hughes of Waite Park by the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict Aug. 20 during the monastery’s annual donor appreciation event.

Riebel, a member of St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis, has been the executive director of Family Alternatives, a private, non-profit treatment foster care agency for 26 years. She oversees the supervision of 100 foster homes and provides specialized training for foster parents. She is known for her deep sense of hospitality, which she says she learned from her Benedictine teachers at the College of St. Benedict, according to a press release about the awards. Each year she sets aside part of her yard in the Tangletown neighborhood of Minneapolis for a community garden.

The Benedicta Riepp Award recognizes women who exemplify Benedictine and Gospel values.

Jill Reilly, president of the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, will retire following the 20102011 school year.

During her 16-year tenure, the school accomplished several significant projects including a 70,000 square-foot addition; REILLY construction of StarDome, the first domed high school athletic facility in the area; the launch of a one-to-one laptop computer program for students and creation of a Faith in Action program, which incorporates faith and characterbuilding components into all areas of school life.

Reilly was a 2008 recipient of the Catholic Spirit’s Leading with Faith award for her leadership in education.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 “The spirit of God was working in me and the parish staff members that day. God used us to be the light in the darkness.”

— Father Tom Iwanowski, former pastor of Our Lady of Czestochowa church near the Hudson River in Jersey City, N.J., recounting how the parish provided comfort and care nine years ago to those fleeing the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York

“God sent them as his messengers to rescue people from the drowning waters, to care for them as they lay at the airport and convention center and Superdome.”

— New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond, marking the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina by recalling the aid provided by thousands of volunteers from around the country