The Catholic Spirit - March 31, 2011

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

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The Catholic Spirit

March 31, 2011

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‘Netters’ pull in Hastings, Lakeville youth Young people at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, All Saints reaping rewards

By Julie Pfitzinger For The Catholic Spirit

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

From left, NET Ministries supervisor Katie Rohan and NET team member Renée Trznadel play a game of Apples to Apples at All Saints in Lakeville with Duncan Ince and Samson Baker, sixth-graders at All Saints School. A NET team has been assigned to work with youth in the parish.

As is the case for all members of National Evangelization Teams, the mission of “Netters” at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Hastings is to bring teens closer to Christ and embrace the life of the Catholic Church.

For Dylan Heiman, a senior at Hastings High School, that mission has changed his life.

After participating in the RCIA program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton this year, Heiman will be baptized April 23 at the Easter Vigil, surrounded by the NET team leaders and other new friends from the parish youth group who have made a profound impression on his life and his faith, which he said “really wasn’t there” in the past.

“The people from NET are amazing. I love them,” he said. “The way they live their lives so faithfully is such a great example.”

This is the second year that a NET team has been in place at St. ElizaPLEASE TURN TO HIGH ON PAGE 4A

Read about the new Minnesota Catholic Conference executive director — page 2A MCC advocates for school choice legislation at State Capitol — page 5A

Pope calls for halt to fighting in Libya Pope Benedict XVI appealed for a suspension of fighting in Libya and the immediate start of a serious dialogue aimed at restoring peace to the North African country.

Speaking at his weekly blessing March 27, the pope said he was increasingly concerned at the news from Libya, where Read about rebels supported by U.S. and European airstrikes have battled the forces of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

U.S. bishops’ “My fear for the safety and well-being of the civilian statement on population is growing, as is my apprehension over how the Libya — 12A situation is developing with the use of arms,” the pope said.

“To international agencies and to those with political and military responsibility, I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate start of a dialogue that will suspend the use of arms,” he said.

PLEASE TURN TO PRAYER ON PAGE 12A

CNS photo / Goran Tomasevic, Reuters

Catholic News Service

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MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Welcoming our new MN Catholic Conference director

That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt

He will help us respond to the many important moral concerns in our civil society today

I am pleased to announce that the Minnesota Catholic Conference, made up of the bishops from all six dioceses in the state, has hired a new executive director of the office, Jason A. Adkins.

Jason is a native of St. Paul who obtained his law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2006. He also has a master of arts degree in Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas.

While studying in Rome for this degree, he served as a reporter for the Zenit News Agency on stories of international interest. He has written and spoken widely on topics about constitutional law. He has also donated volunteer time to community activities, even serving as a baseball coach for youth.

The other bishops and I are delighted with his rich background and experience and look forward to his assistance as we respond to so many important moral concerns in our civil society today.

Grateful for service At the same time, I wish publically to thank Father David McCauley, a priest of this archdiocese, who has served as interim director these past few months. Father McCauley had previously served as MCC director and came out of retirement to help us during our search for a new director. The bishops and I, indeed all

The Catholic Spirit

Catholics in the state, are grateful for his service.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference monitors the legislative process of our state government, raising issues that have moral/ethical ramifications.

For example, the “Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act” was introduced last week in the House of RepreADKINS sentatives. The MCC provided a priest to speak to Read more the issue at the public hearings about the on the bill.

MCC’s work, Some might page 5A ask why churches (we are not the only church to be so involved) should be actively engaged with governmental legislation. The best answer I have heard comes from a column by Father Tad Pacholczyk on staff at the National Catholic Bioethics Center, which I reprint here with his permission.

God bless you!

Imposing our beliefs on others

By Father Tad Pacholczyk (Sept. 1, 2005) — A lot of hot-but-

ton topics are being debated in our state legislatures these days, topics of great ethical and bioethical importance, ranging from emergency contraception to gay marriage. These debates address important issues for the future of our society. Lawmakers face the daunting task of making decisions about what should or should not be permitted by law within a reasonable society.

Recently, I was asked to speak in Virginia at legislative hearings about embryonic stem-cell research. After I gave my testimony, one of the senators asked a pointed question: “Father Tad, by arguing against embryonic stem-cell research, don’t you see how you are trying to impose your beliefs on others, and shouldn’t we as elected lawmakers avoid imposing a narrow religious view on the rest of society?”

The senator’s question was an example of the fuzzy thinking that has become commonplace in recent years within many state legislatures and among many lawmakers.

Error in thinking Two major errors were incorporated into the senator’s question.

First, the senator failed to recognize the fact that law is fundamenPLEASE TURN TO TOO MANY ON PAGE 12A

The New Generation of Appliance Specialists

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. 16 — No. 7 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.

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Archbishop’s schedule ■ Sunday, April 3: 2 p.m., Faribault, Minnesota Correctional Facility: Sunday liturgy and confirmation.

■ Monday, April 4: 5:30 p.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Bio-Medical Ethics Commission meeting.

■ Tuesday, April 5: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Comprehensive Assignment Board meeting.

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

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

7 p.m., Faribault, Church of Divine Mercy: Confirmation.

■ Wednesday, April 6: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Planning for “lectio divina” at the University of St. Thomas.

2:30 p.m., New Brighton, Church of St. John the Baptist: Deanery 12 retreat.

■ Thursday, April 7: 9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Church of St. Pascal Baylon: School Lenten reconciliation services.

PLEASE TURN TO ARCHBISHOP’S ON PAGE 12A

School Sisters of Notre Dame elect leaders for new province The School Sisters of Notre Dame, a Catholic congregation of women religious, are forming a new province in North America.

In June, the sisters of the current provinces in Mankato, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Dallas will become a new province called School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Central Pacific Province.

At an election assembly March 14-18 in St. Louis, Sister Mary Anne Owens, SSND, of Dallas, was elected provincial leader of the new province. She is currently the executive director for Catholic Charities in Dallas. The eight provincial councilors who were elected are: From Mankato: Sister Helen Jane Jaeb, Sister Marjorie Klein and Sister Dianne Perry, who is presently the director of development and communications.

From St. Louis: Sister Joan DiProspere, Sister Susan Jordan and Sister Carol Ann Prenger, who serves as pastoral associate for Hispanic ministry at St. Cecilia Parish in Kennett, Mo. From Dallas: Sister Marie Elena FerrerLopez. Also: Sister Kathryn Frank, who works as health care program director of St. Ann Place in West Palm Beach, Fla. Installation of the new leadership team will be Pentecost Sunday, June 12, at Notre Dame of Elm Grove in Elm Grove, Wis. More than 1,200 sisters will be united in this new Central Pacific Province, which is a reference to the central United States geographic location of the current campuses, the SSND ministries in the western and Pacific coast areas, and the sisters in Japan and Guam.

“In today’s global environment, our kids need to be aware of different languages [and] different cultures.”

Cecilia Laube, Mother of a Guardian Angels student

Local News from around the archdiocese

MARCH 31, 2011

The Catholic Spirit

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From Chaska to Chile Students at Guardian Angels School connect with South American peers as part of new language program

By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

About 20 fidgety second-graders lined up in a hallway at Guardian Angels School in Chaska March 17. Their teacher, Annette Hritz, instructed them to practice in their minds what they were going to say when it was their turn to enter the narrow room beside the technology lab.

At 12:15 p.m., Greg Blaufuss, technology coordinator, glanced up from the Mac monitor in front of him to announce: “We have a connection.”

Moments later, several quizzical little faces appeared on a television screen.

With a chorus of excited “hellos” and “holas” exchanged via webcam, Guardian Angels launched an international language program to connect its students with students at a Christian school in Chile.

Global education Cecilia Laube, whose daughter, Taylor, is a secondgrader at Guardian Angels, looked on as the children introduced themselves and named their favorite foods in Spanish.

Laube, who is president of the parent-teacher organization, said she came up with the idea for the international language program, using technology like Skype and email, as a way to differentiate Guardian Angels from other schools in the district.

Students at Guardian Angels begin learning Spanish in kindergarten.

“In today’s global environment, our kids need to be aware of different languages as well as different cultures,” Laube said.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Second-graders at Guardian Angels School in Chaska exchange greetings with students in Chile via webcam as part of the school’s international language program.

Earlier in the school year, Laube discussed the idea of a culture and language exchange with her brother, Omar Alvarez, who is principal at Almondale School in Concepción, Chile. A partnership was born.

“I think it’s a great use of technology, language and the kids’ spirit to connect with others,” Laube said.

In the coming months, students will be matched up with “pen pals” in Chile, who they’ll correspond with through email to develop their writing skills, said principal Amy Gallus. They’ll also produce and swap videos so the students can compare their school days with those of their counterparts in Chile.

By the end of the school year, students in all grade levels will be participating in the program, Gallus said.

Looking to the future Longer-term, Guardian Angels plans to partner with schools in other countries and equip technology labs so that students can converse one-on-one.

“I would love to see it evolve into a foreign exchange program where some of our students go down there and they come up here, or a teacher exchange program,” Gallus said. “I think it has a lot of potential.”

After the children in Chile finished their introductions in English, they performed their school song. A group of Guardian Angels students reciprocated with a song about St. Patrick’s Day. Then all of the students crammed into the tiny room to wave “adios” to their new friends across the globe.

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Men living in former convent grow in faith, friendship Emmer said. “I wouldn’t say it was painful, I would say it was challenging for a month or two as we figured out the ropes.”

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

Last summer as Ed Working’s St. Paul condominium was becoming too small for his steady stream of houseguests, the Nativity of Our Lord parishioner considered buying a house to share with other Catholic single men.

Paul Cernohous, who belongs to St. Joseph in West St. Paul, was thinking the same thing and found plenty of guys who were interested. The two house hunted separately until a mutual friend suggested they rent the top floor of a former convent near St. Matthew’s church in St. Paul.

Since moving into two adjoining convent apartments in September, Working, Cernohous and five other men, mostly in their 30s and 40s, have created something they admit is rather countercultural: an informal community of single men seeking to live out their faith and support each other in Christian friendship. They say their eighth “roommate” — Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament in the convent’s chapel — guides them in their life together and in discerning their vocations.

Unique experience The men share faith and occasionally fellowship with four single women friends living downstairs who tipped them off about the open apartments.

St. Matthew’s pastor, Father Stephen Adrian, said he hadn’t expected men to move into the convent but wasn’t surprised by it. About 20 years ago, the parish converted to apartments the convent’s two upper floors, which had previously been occupied by School Sisters of Notre Dame, he said. Two nuns still live in the building and single women also have shared an apartment since 2003.

St. Matthew’s first offered the apartments to religious communities, Father Adrian said. “There really weren’t any

Chance to grow Different temperaments — and even different temperature preferences — have meant opportunities for growth in virtue, Cernohous said. “It amazes me at different times how each one of them in their example in some aspect or some area of virtue or some way of being strikes me, this is how I should be.”

Learning to live together helps with preparation for a vocation, the men said. Some are discerning religious life and priesthood while others are considering the vocation of marriage.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

From left, Steve Kautzman, Kyle Woodworth and Paul Cernohous prepare to share dinner as part of their life together in the convent at St. Matthew in St. Paul where they live with four other men.

takers and all of a sudden these gentlemen showed up and indicated they were looking for an opportunity to have a community life in a community space and we rented it to them.”

None of the guys thought they would live in a convent. “I’d never been in a convent before,” said Clayton Emmer, a parishioner at St. Louis King of France.

“My image of that was maybe something from the ‘40s or ‘50s, which is probably a very different kind of space than what we live in.”

Also living in the household are St. Agnes parishioner Hank Jandrich; Steve Kautzman and Lars Nelson, both Cathedral of St. Paul parishioners; and Kyle Woodworth, who attends St. Joseph in West St. Paul.

More than roommates but not an official community in any way, Kautzman said, “the question often would come up do we want to function

as a community or are we a bunch of Catholic guys just living together doing our own thing? I don’t know if that’s really been answered in a lot of ways.”

It’s more like brothers living together who have their own commitments with central connections and a bond in their relationship with Christ, Working said.

Beside sharing food and the rosary, the Blessed Sacrament brings them together.

“Really we have an eighth man on this team who is really the first man,” he said. “We have Christ. He’s the one who put us all here.”

Living with Christian men is better than living alone, Working said. “To try and live out one’s faith and try to go out in the world and face the junk that’s out there. . . . It’s good to have people that act as the Body of Christ.”

Forming a household with men from different places was challenging,

As they wait on the Lord, there’s also time for fun, such as when the men and women shoveled out each other’s cars after a snowstorm, attended Sunday Mass and shared brunch.

“We’re all friends here and we’re roommates second,” said Mary Gibson, a St. Agnes parishioner who lives downstairs from the men and initially told them about the convent space. “That is what makes all the difference, especially in the Christian life.”

Gibson’s roommate, Cathedral of St. Paul parishioner Anne Braam, also was positive about the men’s household.

“Overall, I’m excited for them that they have the opportunity to not have to live alone but to experience brotherhood and friendship in that way,” she said. “They’re good friends and they’re good brothers.”

Working said he isn’t sure how long he’ll stay in the household, but he knows who really moved in first — Christ.

“Regardless of what day it is, regardless of the time of day, I have the same housemate that greets me at the door,” he said. “He was here first.”

High school students dive into their faith with NET team guidance CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A beth Ann Seton (with the exception of one of the leaders, Dan Driver, all were new to the parish group this year), and it is the first year that All Saints in Lakeville has had a NET team. Both have been working a the parishes since September and will end their service in May. NET team member Renée Trznadel (pronounced Sch-nadel) said small groups at All Saints have been particularly successful this year, including one called “Beloved” that she and fellow Netter Charlotte Michels led for girls in ninth through 12th grades.

“We talked to the girls about looking at Mary as a true example of femininity and what it means to be God’s beloved,” said Trznadel, adding that another focus of this group was on the role the media plays in society regarding relationships and self-esteem.

“It’s something you have to stop and show them,” she said. “They don’t realize the ideals of beauty that are being shown to them are not about true beauty.”

There are co-ed groups as well as a group for young men at All Saints called “The Man Cave” led by Netter Dalton Gonzalez, where the teen boys “can just hang out and spend time in fellow-

ship,” said Trznadel, who adds that parishioners have often donated snacks for this and other NET gatherings.

NET teams at both parishes also host a Friday afternoon club where kids can come in after school and relax or play games with leaders and with one another.

There are discipleship training groups available throughout the week as well as one-on-one meeting and faith sharing opportunities. Another popular activity is the Open Team Prayer, to which the youth and all members of each parish are invited on Saturday mornings.

Making a connection Amber Rose (A.R.) Yakkel is one of the 11 team members, all between the ages of 18 to 28, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She thinks the proximity of their ages to those of the middle- and highschoolers they work with as part of their ministry is a definite plus.

“Young people are able to relate to other young people. It has been really amazing to see how welcoming and accepting they are of us,” Yakkel said.

“A lot of our one-on-one relationships that started as discipleship have truly developed into friendships.”

Nina Buss, a senior at Farmington High School,

has been actively involved with the NET program at All Saints this year. She views the Netters as “role models” and has appreciated how they have helped her cultivate leadership and faith-sharing skills.

“We had a ‘Just the Way You Are’ retreat for eighth-grade girls and Jenna, one of the NET leaders and the other NET girls, invited me to lead a small group,” she said. “It was a life-changing experience for me to be able to do that and to lead the girls in prayer. It was very emotional.”

Ryan Lauer has also been very involved at All Saints this year. A junior at Lakeville North High School, he said the influence of the NET leaders in his life “has been really monumental.”

While he admits that he wasn’t very involved in his faith prior to the arrival of NET at the parish, he said his experiences with the leaders and with other kids in the parish youth group — many of whom also attend Lakeville North and have become his close friends — have given him a new perspective on the church and his relationship with Jesus.

“At the beginning of the year, there’s no way I would have been thinking about my faith as much as I do now,” Lauer said. “I’m really starting to dive into my faith, and I’m going in headfirst.”

Find out more For more information about NET Ministries, visit WWW.NETUSA. ORG.

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How does archdiocese handle reports of sexual misconduct?

Chancellor for civil affairs outlines the policies and procedures

For more information ■ Read more about the archdiocese’s Protection of Children and Youth Initiative at HTTP://WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG/DEPARTMENTS/PCYI.

The Catholic Spirit What happens after an allegation of clergy sexual misconduct is brought to the attention of the archdiocese?

What policies and procedures does the archdiocese follow if the allegation is deemed credible?

Can a clergy member who has committed misconduct that doesn’t involve the abuse of a minor ever be returned to ministry? If so, how is that determination made?

During the last five months, two cases of alleged clergy sexual misconduct involving adults in the archdiocese have been the subject of local media reports.

More recently, national reports have focused on the clergy abuse crisis in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

The reports have led some to question how the archdiocese handles misconduct cases, particularly if the alleged incident involves another adult.

Andy Eisenzimmer, chancellor for civil affairs, outlined the scope of the archdiocese’s sexual misconduct policies and explained how they are implemented during a March 24 interview with The Catholic Spirit.

The archdiocese’s current policies regarding sexual misconduct are rooted in the provisions outlined in the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and “Essential Norms,” approved by the U.S. bishops in

■ To contact Greta Sawyer, director of advocacy and victim assistance, call (651) 291-4497.

2002, as well as its own policies that date back to the late 1980s and were among the first of their kind in the nation.

The local policy was updated most recently in 2007, Eisenzimmer said, to incorporate the requirements of the “Essential Norms.” However, unlike many dioceses and archdioceses, the St. Paul and Minneapolis policy also covers sexual exploitation — defined as sexual contact between a church leader and an adult who is receiving pastoral care from the church leader — and sexual harassment, defined as unwanted sexualized conduct or language between co-workers in the church work setting.

When an allegation is made When a report of sexual misconduct is brought to the archdiocese, the archbishop initiates an investigation as required by canon law. Should circumstances warrant, the priest or deacon may be temporarily restricted from ministry while the investigation is taking place, Eisenzimmer said.

Under the provisions of the charter, a report involving the abuse of a minor who is still a minor at the time the report is made must be forwarded to law enforcement authorities, Eisenzimmer

said.

Minnesota law also has a mandatory reporting requirement. Under the statute, mandated reporters — including teachers, counselors and medical professionals — must report to authorities within 24 hours any knowledge of child abuse or neglect that has occurred within the prior three years.

Clergy members also are mandated reporters unless they receive the information under certain privileged and confidential settings, such as during sacramental confession.

The charter also states that if a diocese receives a report of abuse of a minor, but the person is no longer a minor, the diocese is required to cooperate with authorities if there is an investigation, Eisenzimmer said. These adults choose themselves whether or not they want to report an alleged incident to law enforcement.

“People [may] want to report something to us for a variety of reasons: They may want to get it off their chests, so to speak, because it’s been bothering them for a long time,” he said. “They may be concerned that the person is still in ministry, so sometimes they want to tell you they were abused by someone to make

sure that person isn’t in a position to abuse others. . . . They oftentimes don’t want to go to authorities. They don’t want to be part of a police investigation.

“The way the policy is crafted,” he added, “is to try to honor their desire to not, in some instances, report it. But we make sure they understand they are free to report. We also make clear that if they want us to help them in some fashion, we’ll assist them to the extent they would like us to assist them.”

Next steps What happens after a report of sexual misconduct is made and deemed credible? A variety of factors come into play, Eisenzimmer said.

It may trigger a canonical investigation required by church law, he noted. Certain cases that involve the sexual abuse of minors or other misconduct — such as solicitation in the context of the sacrament of reconciliation — might require a report to the Vatican.

If the alleged perpetrator is still in ministry, the archdiocese typically removes the person from the post — at least temporarily — while it continues to investigate the allegation. The investigation determines if it is necessary to have a trial or other canonical process to determine guilt, at which time disciplinary action can be imposed. If the allegation can’t be substantiated, some effort might be required to restore the good name of the person accused.

When an investigation is initiated, the archdiocese often turns to outside investigators for assistance, he said. But the PLEASE TURN TO ARCHDIOCESE ON PAGE 23A

Conference happy to see two scholarship bills move in Legislature The following is a legislative update provided by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which advocates on behalf of the state’s bishops for public policies and programs that support the life and dignity of every human person.

Last week was active at the Minnesota Legislature with the deadline for bills to be heard in finance committees.

To add to the excitement, school choice advocates saw two private school choice bills make it Peter Noll into omnibus bills.

Not since the Carlson administration has private school choice legislation been passed by a finance committee, let alone by two finance committees.

As it stands now, a scholarship program is incorporated into the House Omnibus Education Bill, and a tuition tax credit expansion program is included in the Senate Omnibus Taxes Bill. Both omnibus bills appear headed for a floor debate in the respective bodies in the near future.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference testified in support of these measures with the caveat that government mandates should not be imposed on participating private schools. Rather than the imposition of government mandates, MCC has suggested that participating private schools be accredited with a staterecognized accrediting agency. This compromise would provide accountability

Faith in the Public Arena

Get involved Join the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s action alert network, MNCAN, to receive timely information regarding legislative activity. To subscribe to MNCAN, visit MCC’s website at WWW.MNCC.ORG.

without government intrusion into private schools.

The MCC has partnered with the Minnesota Business Partnership on both the scholarship and tax credit legislation in order to add programs designed to help close the yawning achievement gap in Minnesota. The achievement gap is the gauge by which children of color achieve compared to the overall population. Minnesota has the second-largest discrepancy between minority and majority students in the nation.

Promoting justice Catholic social teaching recognizes the family as the central social institution and that parents are primarily responsible for equipping their children with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in life. The Minnesota Catholic bishops believe political institutions should craft just and fair legislation, providing access to basic necessities, such as a quality education of the parents’ choosing.

While not a panacea, these school choice bills move in the direction of promoting social and economic justice.

Representative Kelby Woodard (R-Belle Plaine), the sponsor of the scholarship

bill — House File 273 — describes his legislation as a “limited scholarship program for low-income families.” To qualify, a low-income family must be enrolled in a persistently low-performing public school in a city of the first class (i.e., Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Duluth).

Under this program, scholarship awards could be the average general education per pupil revenue or the private school tuition, whichever is the lesser amount. A student’s parent or guardian would receive the scholarship check and endorse it to a participating private school. Private school participation in the program would be voluntary.

Sen. Sean Nienow (R-Cambridge) sponsored a companion bill, SF 388, that was laid over by the Senate Education Committee, but was not included in the omnibus education bill in that body.

There is hope that the Nienow bill language could be added during conference committee if the omnibus education bills in the two bodies need to be reconciled.

has rallied strong support for his education tax credit bill (SF 764), which would add tuition to private school as an eligible credit to the Minnesota K-12 Education Tax Credit and Subtraction program.

Under this measure, low-income families would receive a 75 percent tax credit or refund up to $1,000 per child for tuition paid to a private K-12 school.

Kruse described this bill as an expansion of opportunities for needy families.

Woodard sees targeted scholarships as a free-market tool expanding parents’ school choices that could improve educational outcomes for at-risk students. The program would take effect only in cities of the first class. Those eligible would be families earning a maximum of 175 percent of the federal poverty level with a child who has spent at least one year in a school ranked as low-performing according to federal guidelines for at least three years.

“These are the kids who are part of the achievement gap,” Woodard said. “We need to educate, not perpetuate.”

Let your state representative and senator know how you feel about these measures by contacting them today and asking them to support parental choice in education.

Expanding opportunities Regarding the second bill, freshman Sen. Benjamin Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park)

Peter Noll is education director for the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Crossing in faith

Seeking the impossible dream

Immigrant couple describes life in the shadows Miguel, 37, and Gabriela, 40, crossed the U.S.-Mexico border unauthorized 10 years ago in search of work and a better future for themselves and their two children, now ages 16 and 10. The couple, whose names have been changed to protect their identities, agreed to share their story for the second installment in a Second three-part series examining the impact of U.S. immigration policy on undocumentin a three-part ed immigrants at Sacred Heart parish in St. Paul. series Franciscan Father Eugene Michel, pastor, suggested we feature Miguel and Gabriela’s story to help readers understand what it’s like to walk in the shoes of his parishioners, many of whom share similar challenges because of their immigration status.

On a recent Friday evening, Miguel and Gabriela greeted two reporters from The Catholic Spirit and Spanish-language Catholic newspaper Espíritu Católico at their apartment in St. Paul. The couple’s wedding portrait, a picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and a giant wood-carved rosary with beads the size of oranges adorned their living room walls.

Here is their story, in their words.

By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

“We came to the U.S. to work,

to search for a better future for ourselves and for our family and our children. We didn’t come to be criminals, simply to work and be one more person living here with all of the responsibilities that that entails.

”

Life in Mexico Gabriela: In Mexico it was difficult because we were living with Miguel’s father and the house was very small. There were a lot of family members living in the house and not much space.

Miguel had to work all day, and there was little money. He worked at a gas station, and after that he worked at a brewery. He earned about 1,000 pesos [$84 at the current exchange rate] a month, 250 pesos [$21] a week, working 10 to 12 hours a day.

Miguel: The family began to grow, and our situation became more difficult. Gabriela wasn’t working because there was no one to take care of the children. We didn’t have money to pay rent or for the children’s education.

Gabriela: People always say that in the U.S. there is better work, a better life and better everything. That was what made us think about coming here, because we didn’t even have a place of our own to live.

Perilous journey Miguel: I came here first. Things seemed to be going well because they hadn’t yet diagnosed my illness [lupus]. The truth is, because the illness has severely affected my memory, I don’t remember how I came here, but they say that it was difficult.

Gabriela: When Miguel crossed, it was difficult for him — the language and so many things. But you come to live a better life, you come for everything that you can’t have in your country because there it’s even more difficult.

I remember that my children and I crossed the [Rio Grande] river on tires. You’re exposed to danger, and the children are exposed, too. You can die because the current can carry you away, and it scares the children. I remember that my youngest child was crying. Yes, it was very, very dangerous.

Once you cross, there are people waiting for you, and they take you by car to a place where you can wash up and eat. In my case, they took me to a terminal in San Antonio, and there I boarded a bus with my two sons.

The youngest was 2 years old, and the other was 8.

I think now, someone could have taken one of my sons. I was alone. What could I have done? I didn’t know anyone. Sometimes I think about it, and I don’t think I would do it again. But thank God it all turned out well for us.

Miguel’s illness Gabriela: It’s difficult being an immigrant, and even more so when you’re sick. My husband was diagnosed with lupus after we had been here for three years.

Medically, it’s been really difficult for us, and it’s more difficult for him because his illness has affected his nerv-

“GABRIELA” Undocumented immigrant

ous system, so he has forgotten a lot of things. It’s very difficult, but we keep going.

Miguel: One time, when things were really bad, I had to go to Mexico because here we didn’t have medical assistance. Gabriela has an uncle who is a doctor in Mexico, and her aunt told me to go there so her uncle could give me a hand. So I went. But I only remember that I went to Mexico because of some photographs that they sent me. If not, I wouldn’t have remembered. I was there for about two months. I went because Gabriela insisted.

Gabriela: It became very difficult for me to take care of Miguel. He was getting worse, and I felt so desperate.

In Mexico they were able to get it under control more or less, but they didn’t diagnose what he had.

When Miguel was in Mexico, his test results came back and they told me he had lupus. That’s when we decided that he would return to the U.S. because it was becoming so difficult for me here. I also thought it was going to be even worse for him in Mexico because a medical specialist would be very expensive. Here we had the opportunity to get low-cost medical insurance offered through a local nonprofit organization, and that has helped us a lot.

We’ve had good things and bad things happen, but there are very good doctors that have helped Miguel a lot because he’s receiving a treatment that’s extremely expensive.

Miguel: Thank God I’m taking medications, though I pray to God that one day I won’t have to take them. But it’s been seven years now. I really don’t have a choice.

I have to fight to survive with this disease. But here we are, battling with my health.

Making ends meet Gabriela: We came to the U.S. to work, to search for a better future for ourselves and for our family and our children. We didn’t come to be criminals, simply to work and be one more person living here with all of the responsibilities that that entails. We have to eat and clothe ourselves by working for it, of course. We pay for everything, like any citizen does.

We’ve been here for 10 difficult years. You come to this country and you suffer because without papers it’s difficult. But you have to get past that and do your best.

You try to give your best effort at work — not to make a good impression, but because, as Latinos, we like to work. That’s what we’re taught to do in our country.

PLEASE TURN TO FAITH ON PAGE 7A

Why don’t they just come here legally?

It’s a fair question reasonable Americans might ask about undocumented immigrants.

Simply put, many immigrants who enter the country without permission have no other way to come here.

An estimated 10.8 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Family unification, safety concerns and persecution all draw people here from other countries. But most who risk their lives crossing the border do it for one reason: the promise of work and a better future.

In their pastoral letter “Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope,” the Catholic bishops of the United States and Mexico have said that, regardless of their legal status, immigrants possess human dignity and deserve respect.

Legal options There are three general ways an immigrant can obtain lawful permanent residency, according to the U.S. Department of State: 1. A U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident can petition to bring a foreign-born family member to the country. To do so, sponsors must prove they have an income above the poverty line and must commit to financially support the foreign-born family members.

2. Immigrants fleeing from persecution may seek political asylum in the U.S. or qualify for refugee status. There is an annual cap on the number of refugee admissions to the U.S., typically between 70,000 and 80,000.

3. There are various immigration categories for workers to be sponsored by a U.S.-based employer to come to the U.S. to work and live lawfully. These categories are limited to multi-national executives, individuals with advanced degrees and narrowly-defined specialized workers. There are only 5,000 slots available annually for unskilled workers.

Most immigrants who are waiting in line to enter the U.S. legally have a family member living in the U.S. who has sponsored them. For immediate relatives — spouse, minor children or parents — of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, there are no limits on the number of visas available. For everyone else, the U.S. government has set annual quotas.

People can expect to wait up to 20 years for familybased petitions, according to Susana De León, an immigration attorney in Minneapolis. At 1,381,896, Mexico has the longest waiting list, most of them family-sponsored petitions.

The U.S. government assigns each country an annual limit on the number of immigrants it will accept. The total number of family-sponsored visas issued annually for all countries combined is 226,000. For employment-sponsored visas, the total is 140,000.

Immigrants seeking to enter through employmentbased channels can apply for what is commonly referred to as a “green card” for permanent residency, or there are temporary visas. In both cases, the employer has to sponsor the employee.

The U.S. allows only 66,000 non-agricultural workers to enter the country on a temporary basis for industries that have seasonal needs, such as hotels and ski resorts. But for the rest of the workforce, no temporary visas are available.

‘No other choice’ The largest demand to immigrate to the U.S. comes from “unskilled workers,” a category that includes busboys, nannies and landscapers, for example. With only 5,000 visas for a worldwide market of unskilled laborers estimated at 60 to 100 times that number, PLEASE TURN TO UNSKILLED ON PAGE 22A

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Faith helps immigrant couple cope with hardships CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6A Miguel: When I arrived here, I worked in roofing, with people that painted apartments — whatever work there was for me. The roofing was dangerous because, you know, without papers and a fall. Of course, I was very careful.

Later, I found a job at a car wash, but I began to get sick and little by little they were decreasing my hours. Then they didn’t give me any work. Sometimes we went to the temporary agency and they gave us work at night, but I couldn’t do it. Because of my health, it was too hard to work nights.

Gabriela was working, but because she was taking care of me she missed work sometimes. So, me being without work, and then sometimes her being unable to work, and with the economy, it was going very badly for us.

I used to leave the house and get lost because the lupus affected my memory. It was more difficult for Gabriela because she would worry. Foolishly, I would leave to look for work because I saw how hard it was paying the bills, for food and the doctor, and you have to pay for everything because if you don’t pay you have a bad record.

Now, I work in another car wash, but it’s quieter. Rain or thunder, I’m there.

Sometimes in the summer people ask me to take care of their lawns.

Gabriela: Even though it’s hard here, I think that we’re living better than we could have been living in our country.

Also, because of our situation in our country, it’s easier here to give our kids an education. Maybe if we had had a more stable and more lucrative job, at best we would have been able to give them an education, but with what we were earning and having to pay school fees, supplies, a uniform, all of that, and on a low salary, you hardly have enough left over to pay for food.

Uncertain future Gabriela: The U.S. is like a coin with two sides because it has meant something good in terms of being able to better ourselves — all in all, I believe we’re living better than in our country — although we’re finding that we’re suffering a lot of discrimination and encountering a lot of obstacles for not having documents. This is a country of a lot of opportunity, but it doesn’t give opportunity to everyone. There are positives and a lot of negatives, but maybe there are more positives.

My children were born in Mexico. One is 16 years old, and the other is going to be 11. I brought them with me to this country when they were little. I think a lot about my older son because he’s about to finish high school and he wants to go to college, but I feel it’s going to be very difficult for my kids to study. When kids have that desire to study, you have to search for a way to help them and encourage them. I have to make it possible.

We’re always thinking that it’s going to be very difficult to fix our immigration

Part One To read the first article in the series, which ran in the March 17 issue, go to The Catholic Spirit website, WWW.THE CATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

situation. But returning to our country would be even more difficult because of Miguel’s illness. Here, in one way or another, he’s receiving treatment. His doctor says that if he returned to Mexico he wouldn’t do well because there isn’t the same support, even more so because of how aggressive his illness is.

All of the immigration laws that have been added through the years do scare us because we don’t know what can happen. We could be separated, and that scares us because of Miguel’s illness. Yes, it does scare us. But that’s the reality that we’re living.

Miguel: The truth is that we entrust ourselves to God because we know he will keep us safe. But when we leave the house, we don’t know if we’re going to return. And, we have a lot of fear when we’re driving and the police are behind us.

Clinging to faith Gabriela: It’s our faith that has given us the strength to endure the things that have come to us, like illness and the scarcities we’ve had over the years. Only by means of our faith have we been able to go forward.

One time when we were walking, we saw a church and there was a bilingual

Mass. That’s how we arrived at Sagrado Corazón [Sacred Heart]. In time, we began to go to Mass in Spanish on Sundays. They’ve supported us a lot — the priest, the staff. When Miguel was sickest, the church drew closer to us.

We’re in the hospitality ministry. It makes us very happy. We like that we’re giving something back. And it’s a time when we feel more peaceful, a time when we forget our problems and offer God something of ourselves in thanksgiving for all he gives us.

Julie Carroll and María Capouch conducted this interview and translated it from Spanish. It has been edited for space and clarity.

JERICO CHRISTIAN JOURNEYS Pilgrimage to Portugal Our Lady of Fatima +Santiago de Compostela July 7-14, 2001 Fr. Randal Kasel, Spiritual Director For further information/brochures, call:

Toll-free 1-877-453-7426 19091 Island View Drive, Mora, MN 55051-7304 www.jericochristianjourneys.com

“Rome is ready to welcome every pilgrim who wants to come.”

Msgr. Liberio Andreatta, head of a Vatican-related pilgrimage agency, speaking about Pope John Paul II’s beatification Mass May 1 in St. Peter’s Square

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The Catholic Spirit

News from around the U.S. and the globe

MARCH 31, 2011

Dolan: Bishops’ commitment to address clergy sex abuse remains firm

Still missing

Catholic News Service The U.S. bishops’ procedures for addressing child sex abuse remain “strongly in place” and the bishops remain “especially firm” in their commitment “to remove permanently from public ministry any priest who committed such an intolerable offense,” said the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference.

“This painful issue continues to receive our careful attention,” said Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York.

“The protection of our children and young people is of highest priority,” the archbishop said in a statement released March 24. He added that the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” approved by the bishops in 2002 “remains strongly in place.”

He said the bishops who met in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Administrative Committee meeting March 22-23 asked him to offer reassurances about the church’s resolve to address sexual abuse and deal firmly with clergy who abuse children.

Abuse is ‘appalling sin’ CNS photo / Damir Sagolj, Reuters

Owada Yuna carries her 3-year-old sister, Yumeka, as she searches for names of her 20 missing high school friends at a shelter in Rikuzentakat, Japan. Some 11,000 people are confirmed dead and more than 17,000 people were still missing nearly three weeks following Japan’s earthquake-tsunami disaster. Aid donations can be made to Catholic Relief Services at HTTP://CRS.ORG/JAPAN. In addition, any monies collected at parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for CRS’ work will be forwarded to the agency.

USCCB: Don’t change housing discrimination rules

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service

Proposed changes in federal housing regulations to forbid discrimination based on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” could violate existing federal law and force faith-based organizations to end their “long and successful track record in meeting housing needs,” according to comments filed by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Anthony Picarello Jr. and Michael Moses, USCCB general counsel and associate general counsel, respectively, said the proposal by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to add to the list of protected categories for which discrimination in HUD programs is prohibited “appears at odds” with the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which says mar-

riage is the union of one man and one woman.

“HUD should not create a new protected classification where there is no statutory policy undergirding it and where the new classification flies in the face of a policy expressly adopted by Congress,” they said.

The two attorneys filed the comments on behalf of the USCCB late March 25, the final day of a 60-day comment period on the proposed changes.

Principles at stake When HUD first proposed the addition of the two new protected categories Jan. 20, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan called it “a fundamental issue of fairness” and said the agency’s aim was to clarify that “a person’s eligibility for federal housing programs is, and should be, based on their need and not on their sexual orientation or

gender identity.”

The proposed rule would clarify that the term “family,” as used to describe eligible beneficiaries of public housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs, would apply to any combination of adults and children regardless of marital status, sexual orientation or gender. HUD rules already prohibit discrimination based on marital status.

Picarello and Moses noted in their comments that faith-based organizations “fulfill a vital role as partners in implementing HUD and other government housing programs.”

Last year, for example, Catholic Charities agencies assisted nearly half a million people with housing services, and in 2007 they PLEASE TURN TO HOUSING ON PAGE 20A

“We bishops recommit ourselves to the rigorous mandates of the charter, and renew our confidence in its effectiveness,” Archbishop Dolan said in his statement. “We repeat what we have said in the charter: ‘We make our own the words of His Holiness, Pope John Paul II: that the sexual abuse of young people is by every standard wrong and rightly considered a crime by society; it is also an appalling sin in the eyes of God.’” Both the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” and norms the U.S. bishops approved for dioceses to adhere to the charter’s mandates have Vatican approval. The charter, which also established the bishops’ Office for Child and Youth Protection, was updated in 2005, the norms in 2006.

The charter mandates that safe environment programs be set up in dioceses and parishes. It also requires an annual audit on how dioceses and religious orders are complying with provisions in the charter.

He said the bishops are to take up a “long-planned review” of the charter during their June meeting.

“History is the short trudge from Adam to atom.”

Leonard L. Levinson

This Catholic Life Opinion, feedback and points to ponder

MARCH 31, 2011

The Catholic Spirit

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Japan disaster raises ethical questions about energy he ongoing nuclear plant disaster in Japan raises compared to $3.1 billion for fossil fuels and $1.4 billion not only environmental and health issues, but for renewable energy, especially solar. ethical questions about energy use and the future If subsidies are not counted, electricity from natural of nuclear power, according to Catholic scholars gas is cheapest, followed by hydroelectricity, convenand other ethicists. tional coal technology, wind, geothermal, biomass, The accident could be a “huge wake-up call” that nuclear and solar energy, according to the U.S. Departwould “give impetus to jump starting massive research” ment of Energy. in other energy technologies, such as solar and wind Some experts say that if renewable energy sources power, according to William French, director of the received the same subsidies as nuclear power, they Center for Ethics at Loyola University in Chicago. would quickly become more competitive. Although As Japanese technicians struggled to control damage wind turbines and solar panels are made of materials at Fukushima Dai-ichi’s reactors, Switzerland said it was that cause pollution during mining and manufacturing, halting plans for new reactors, while proponents say they do not raise long-term safety conother countries, including the Unitcerns like those surrounding nuclear waste storage or ed States, announced reviews of reactor safety.

Barbara Fraser plants.

Still others, however, said they Safety paramount would forge ahead with nuclear energy plans. On March Nevertheless, Edward McAssey, professor emeritus of 18, just before U.S. President Barack Obama arrived for mechanical engineering at Villanova University in a one-day visit, Chile signed an agreement with the Pennsylvania, told CNS he believes nuclear energy is an United States to promote nuclear energy in the South option for reducing fossil fuel use.

CNS photo / Petr Josek, Reuters American country.

A chapel is seen in front of the cooling towers of a nuclear Public reaction to the accident in Japan “is going to be Questions about the safety, cost-effectiveness and power plant in Dukovany, Czech Republic, March 15. a big hurdle to get over — it’s an emotional reaction,” long-term prospects for nuclear power are familiar to he said, but he believes plants can operate safely as long Bob McKeon, associate director of the Office for Social as countries take proper precautions.

Justice of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, Alberta.

More online The Japanese plant was crippled not by direct damage Less than two years ago, the bishops of Alberta wrote ■ Visit the “Eye on Faith from the earthquake or tsunami, but from of loss of eleca pastoral letter urging “serious discussion and ethical and Science” blog at tricity for the system that cooled fuel rods in the six reflection” about a nuclear power plant that Bruce THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM to read about reactors and seven pools holding spent fuel. Diesel fuel Power proposed building beside the Peace River in a proposal in the Minnesota for backup generators was stored in above-ground tanks northern Alberta.

Legislature that would end a state that were swept away by the tsunami — a design flaw The bishops asked if there was enough water available moratorium on building new nuclear plants. not repeated in the United States, where tanks are for the plant, if nuclear energy was the best way to ■ What do you think? Is the expansion of underground, McAssey said. decrease Alberta’s greenhouse gas emissions, if the safenuclear power an acceptable option — morally But a second, battery-powered backup system was ty of future generations was being considered, if the and ethically — to meet today’s energy needs? designed to operate for only eight hours — not long plant should be built before Canada had a nuclear waste Comment on the online version of this story at enough to restore electricity to the plant. And the backstorage plan, and if subsidizing nuclear energy was the THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. up systems did not power the spent fuel pools, where best use of government funds. They also called for honfuel rods overheated and may have partly melted. est consultation of people living near the proposed site.

The disaster in Japan shows that “the questions are from mining through processing, is considered, nuclear Increasingly complicated technology can multiply energy’s carbon footprint increases significantly. still there,” McKeon told Catholic News Service. risks, said Adam Briggle, assistant professor of philosoAccidents at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania in So does the cost. A single plant can cost more than $5 phy at the University of North Texas.

1979 and Chernobyl, in what is now Ukraine, in 1986 billion. Since the commercial nuclear energy industry “The danger is to pretend that we can tame this comtriggered “deep fear” about nuclear energy in many rose from the ashes of the atom bomb in the 1950s, plex technical beast by making it even more complex,” countries, French said. research and development and plant construction have he told CNS. In recent years, however, concern One solution is to reduce energy about climate change and calls to consumption, he said, which means reduce the use of fossil fuels like oil recognizing that “our individual and coal, which emit greenhouse Our individual It’s not a black lifestyle choices have public ramifigases that contribute to global cations.” lifestyle choices and-white issue. warming, led some policy makers to French and Father Reese called for take another look at nuclear energy. have public . . . There are lots taxes or restructuring of energy prices to reflect all costs — including Greenhouse gases ramifications. of uncertainties. environmental damage and the cost “It’s not a black-and-white issue,” of military operations to protect forJesuit Father Thomas Reese, a senior JESUIT FATHER THOMAS REESE ADAM BRIGGLE eign oil fields — instead of only profellow at the Woodstock Theological Woodstock Theological Center University of North Texas duction costs.

Center at Georgetown University,

T

Analysis

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“

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Washington, told CNS. “Like most really tough ethical [issues], you’ve got lots of questions to consider, and there are lots of uncertainties.”

While nuclear energy could be “part of the solution” to climate change because radioactive fuel does not release greenhouse gases, “if something goes wrong, thousands of people could be killed and land could be unusable for centuries,” Father Reese said.

Critics, however, say that painting nuclear power as free of greenhouse gas emissions is misleading, because it considers only plant operation. If the entire fuel cycle,

“

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received hefty government subsidies.

Nuclear energy companies receive tax breaks, loan guarantees, limits on liability and other subsidies that sometimes add up to more than the power the plants produce, said a 2011 report by the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office reports that between 2002 and 2007, nuclear programs in the United States received $6.2 billion in government funding for electricity-related research and development,

”

To broaden the debate, Briggle suggested forming a national energy task force of scientists, ethicists and citizens, which would operate like the president’s National Bioethics Advisory Commission.

French said it is time to take a hard look at energy use.

The global population quadrupled in the past century “and is consuming at a much, much higher level” than ever before, he said. “We have a rising global expectation of consumption that the planet cannot sustain.”

Barbara Fraser writes for Catholic News Service.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Opinion-Letters

/ This Catholic Life

Extra gift can go long way to help your parish n our weekly parish bulletin, we used to run a drawing of a little man alongside the report of the previous week’s collection and the amount needed each week to meet the parish budget.

When our collection reached or surpassed the budget amount, the little man had a smile on his face; when the collection fell short, he wore a pout.

After a while, it was suggested that we drop the little drawing — it was too depressing each week to open the bulletin and see that little man’s sad face.

I’m afraid too many parishes are presently facing similar circumstances.

Parish bulletins I’ve checked are showing some depressing if not scary numbers. By mid-fiscal year one parish was more than $16,000 behind budget, another was $26,000-plus in the red, and at a third, expenses were running more than $4,000 ahead of offerings.

And the weather didn’t help a bit.

I

Opinion Bob Zyskowski

Just thinking about all that you and I have should spur each of us to be more generous

Storms struck two ways A number of parishes need to recoup the dollars that weren’t put into the collection basket on several weekends when our shovel-busting snowstorms kept people from getting to Mass.

While a few parishes reported that parishioners have since “caught up” by giving more on subsequent Sundays, the massive amounts of snow that fell this season put a dent in the expense side of parish ledgers, too.

Even in a rather well-to-do suburb a note in the parish bulletin shared that the cost of snow removal from the parking lot was double “the $18,000 we had budgeted. That’s $18,000 we don’t have,” and the parish asked if parishioners might put a little extra in the collection basket in the coming weeks to help

defray the cost of Mother Nature’s white bounty.

Does it ever stop?

When they address their parish financial issues, most pastors are quick to note the generosity of their people. In parish bulletin after parish bulletin there are thank you messages for giving, and not only giving to the parish but to this second collection and that, to that special purpose and this charity.

Parish after parish has announcements, too, about additional “opportunities” to help fund special projects, school tuition, the parish endowment and good causes outside the realm of the parish.

I remember fellow parishioners asking, “When does it ever stop?” — and thinking the same question myself.

Then I thought about all that God has given me, and what came to mind was Sister Marion Welter’s radiant face describing how good God is to us, and, no matter how hard we try, we can never match God’s generosity.

A School Sister of Notre Dame, Sister Marion can, at the drop of a hat, express a vision of stewardship that will help anyone reflect on their own giving — and realize that so many of us offer so little back to the Lord for all that he has graced us with and continues to grace us with.

God never stops giving.

“Parish bulletins I’ve checked are showing some depressing if not scary numbers.

”

BOB ZYSKOWSKI

It could be ‘catch up’ time Just thinking about all you and I have, not just the stuff, but the things we take for granted — shelter, clothing, jobs, access to education and information, experiences that enrich our lives, opportunities for entertainment, even snow blowers!

— ought to spur each of us to be more generous in our efforts to show gratitude for all that God

shares with us.

Increasing the amount we put into the collection basket — or contribute monthly online so that snowstorms don’t get in the way of parish cash flow — is a good way to help your parish “catch up” to its budget.

Can you write your check for $10 more each week? I’ll bet if you do

you won’t even miss that $10.

And, if you haven’t pledged to the annual Catholic Services Appeal yet, that’s another great opportunity to let your sharing of God’s gifts do wonderful things across the archdiocese.

Bob Zyskowski is The Catholic Spirit’s associate publisher.

Letters Electrician’s story made me cry

Immigration story shows humanity

I read the article about the electrician who turned down the abortion clinic job in the March 17 paper. I cried through the entire article.

This man has made a decision that many of us Christians would like to believe we would also. His wife and children must be so proud of him. I’m a complete stranger and couldn’t be prouder of this family man.

What a true example of faith that God will provide.

I hope others will join me in searching for work for this man, and praying for both him and his family. Not to mention the person who chose to take the job he passed up, and for all others who put their religious beliefs aside when choosing career paths.

I am a 35-year-old single mom who has worked/volunteered at a Christian crisis pregnancy center located across from an abortion clinic for years. Being near this clinic pulls on my heart strings. I can see why this would have caused him pain and tested his spirit. I applaud him and know he will be greatly blessed because of his decision.

I’d like him to know that fellow Christians support his decision and are proud of the Christian man/leader he has chosen to be for his family and community. I hope others do the same.

Thank you for the article on the church’s position on immigration (March 17). I appreciated the human face that Father Eugene Michel of Sacred Heart in St. Paul put on the issue of undocumented immigrants.

I’m pleased that the church is supportive of individuals who come here seeking a means of survival for their families. Too often the critics of undocumented immigrants do not look at the desperate conditions that caused people to leave their homelands and often their families. Few would willingly leave what they know and love unless driven to do so out of necessity.

There is much to appreciate in the contributions that both documented and undocumented immigrants make to our communities. I believe the church gets it right in its perspective on immigration.

On an Immigration Sunday in 2009, I recall staffing an information table on immigration and a parishioner angrily commenting as she walked by, “I don’t know why the church is involved in this.” Your article answers that question well.

COLLEEN DADY St. Mary of the Lake, Plymouth

KATHLEEN BURKE-SCHEFFLER St. Olaf, Minneapolis Material printed on the Opinion and Letters page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the archdiocese or The Catholic Spirit.

Priest clarifies remarks, MCC position on tax plan On Feb. 18, I delivered the keynote address at the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s Day on the Hill.

I was invited to deliver that address and accepted the invitation several weeks prior to my assuming the role of interim executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference until such time as a nationwide search identified a permanent director. I was speaking as a long-time member and supporter of the JRLC. The March 3 issue of The Catholic Spirit printed a lengthy article on the day. I was more than disappointed in the headline that actually suggested it was an MCC event, and that the tax issue was the dominant theme of my presentation. It was not. I said very little of taxes. The text of my remarks is available on the website of the JRLC (WWW.JRLC.ORG).

Questioned as I was leaving the room, I was quoted as personally supporting Gov. Dayton’s proposal to tax the wealthy at a higher rate than the current one. The headline and its emphasis on the MCC led readers to assume that the MCC concurs. In fact, the MCC has taken no formal position on the governor’s plan.

FATHER DAVID MCCAULEY

This Catholic Life / Commentary

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Medical system denies dignity with puzzling roadblocks n the anniversary of the passage of federal health care reform legislation, we recognize that there is still a lot of work to do in order for that legislation to meet the principles laid out by the U.S. bishops.

As the bishops restate their position on the need for health care reform, they also urge Congress to fix what is still broken. In “Setting the Record Straight,” a statement made last May, leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops remind the American public and our political leaders of their position: “Reflecting decades of advocacy on behalf of universal access to health care, the bishops were clear in calling for health care reform as a moral imperative and urgent national priority. We called for reform that would make health coverage affordable for the poor and needy, moving our society substantially toward the goal of universal coverage. We were equally clear in stating that this must be done in accord with the dignity of each and every human person, showing full respect for the life, health and conscience of all.”

O

Faith and Justice Kathy Tomlin

We have a long way to go to fix the many things that are broken

System needs fixing In addition to working out the details of providing affordable, quality health care, the U.S. Catholic Church is currently working to ensure that abortions are not funded with tax dollars, that Catholic principles regarding end-of-life issues are attended to and that conscience protections are in place for individuals and institutional health care providers.

As the state and federal governments work out the details of health care amid deficit budgets, it will be important for us to advance the full complement of improvements that need to be made in the new law.

There is no doubt that our current system is truly broken. Just recently, I was in a conversation with someone whose unemployment situation has put her and her daughter’s health care coverage in jeopardy.

Here are the facts of the case: ■ After losing her job, Martha (not her real name) applied for Medical Assistance last Sept. 1 so that she and her daughter could access health care. She received two “deny” letters for not providing adequate information.

■ In mid-November (two months later), she was approved after providing additional information.

■ Eligibility for MA requires persons to reapply in order to continue coverage every six months. By the time she received notice of coverage, she had only three and a half months remaining.

■ She received notice in December that it was time to renew — clearly a six month miscalculation.

After calling, that calendar date was corrected to the end of February.

■ In January, she received a letter saying MA was canceled because she did not renew.

■ In February, Martha received a letter re-instating coverage effective Feb. 1, 2011. At the end of February, she was scheduled to re-apply for the next six-month period.

■ But at the end of February, she received a letter saying that her income (unemployment insurance)

had gone up $40, making her ineligible for the program. Minnesota Unemployment couldn’t give her any explanation of why unemployment had gone up; so Martha reapplied anyway.

■ On Feb. 28, she received a letter saying their applications were denied.

Many issues to confront Most of us would agree that the way the current system is working

violates human dignity.

What is even more disconcerting is that my conversation with Martha was hardly audible because she was deathly ill with a respiratory illness; her only option for health care was the emergency room.

We have a long way to go to fix the many things that are broken.

Kathy Tomlin is director of the Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice.

Stick your head in water of Christ to find God’s Spirit all around you have watched the events in North Africa unfold over the past few months with a sense of awe and wonder. People who were, only months ago, resigned to live under authoritarian rule have suddenly found the courage to transcend their fear and found their voice to call for a better future.

One young Egyptian man summed it up when he said, “At first we had a choice about seeking reform.

Now, our eyes have been opened and we can’t go back. This is our moment of truth. We can’t go back.”

During this Lenten season, we recount the biblical tales of people having their eyes opened in a moment of truth. This truth can hurt when it awakens us to a lie, like Adam and Eve or the Israelites in slavery and exile. They each have to face their vulnerability and nakedness before God.

I Mission Link Deacon Mickey Friesen

Those who are humbled can have their eyes opened to God’s mercy

Awakened to mercy Moments of truth can happen when we face up to our limitations or admit that we are not in control.

Our eyes can be opened to a false sense of security in the ability of possessions and technology to protect us, or we realize we are living beyond our means.

We only need to consider the

“We are called into God’s mission to be witnesses of the mystery of faith.”

DEACON MICKEY FRIESEN

massive earthquake and tsunami that ravaged Japan despite its stateof-the-art protective measures. We become humbled in the presence of forces beyond our control.

And, yet, there is another side to this great awakening. Those who are humbled can have their eyes opened to God’s mercy.

For example, in Psalm 51, we repeat the refrain over and over again during Lent: “Have mercy on me, O God, for I have sinned.”

It is thought that this psalm comes from the lips of King David after his eyes were opened to how he abused his power to have an affair with Bathsheba. David is transformed by confessing his sin and seeking God’s mercy.

Also, it was during the time of exile that the Israelites experienced the tender mercies of God who comforted them, and they rediscovered their religion as the sacrifice of a contrite heart.

Our Catholic faith has come to call this paradox of being humbled as the doorway into experiencing God’s mercy as the “happy fault.”

This phrase comes from the Exultet which is sung during the Easter Vigil. We hear the words, “O happy fault; O necessary sin of Adam, that gained for us so great a redeemer.”

Our eyes are opened to the mercy of God present in death and life; in darkness and light; in slavery and in freedom; in sin and in forgiveness.

We declare God’s final victory over sin and death and pray that our eyes may be opened to Christ our light.

This is our Christian moment of truth and we can’t go back.

Opening our eyes It reminds me of part of a story told by Cistercian monk, Father Thomas Keating, in which a little bear cub stumbles up to the mother bear and says, “Momma, what is this

‘air’ I hear so much about?”

The mother smiles back and says, “Oh, you silly little bear. The air is all around you and within you.” To which the little cub replied, “Momma, how can I know for sure?” And the mother responds: “Go, stick your head in the river for a while and maybe your eyes will be opened.”

In a similar way, once there was a brilliant scientist who spent a lot of time trying to understand the unknown. The scientist approached a spiritual master and asked, “What is this God I hear so much about?”

The sage responds, “Oh, you silly little human. God is all around you and within you.” And the scientist goes on, “How can you know for sure?” To which the spiritual teacher replies, “My child, all you need is to be still so you may come to know and see God.” We are called into God’s mission to be witnesses of the mystery of faith — “the happy fault” — that awakens us to Christ and makes us “ready to give, to anyone who asks, the reason for our hope” (1 Peter 3:15).

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

12A Prayer offered for peaceful solutions across Middle East CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A The pope said that in moments of great international tension, there was more urgency for diplomatic efforts that take advantage of “even the weakest sign of openness to reconciliation” among the parties in conflict. Solutions should be “peaceful and lasting,” he said.

The pope offered a prayer for “the return of harmony in Libya” and throughout North Africa.

He also expressed concern about the entire region of the Middle East, where episodes of violence and civil unrest were taking place daily.

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

U.S. bishops concerned for Libyans Catholic News Service As the United States and other nations took military action to protect the people of Libya, a U.S. bishop urged the Obama administration to stay focused on this limited goal and on the well-being of the civilian population.

Proportionate response In a letter to National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, Bishop Howard Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, urged a careful use of force in Libya balanced with the aim of protecting the civilian population and consideration of whether the use of force is “proportionate to the goal of protecting civilians.”

The letter was dated March 24 and made public the following day.

The bishop said the use of military force must be continually evaluated in light of these questions: ■ “Is it producing evils graver than the evil it hopes to address?”

■ “What are the implications of the use of force for the future welfare of the Libyan people and the stability of the region?”

“We know these are difficult questions to which there are few easy answers, but it is our moral responsibility as a nation to rigorously examine the use of military force in light of the need to protect human life and dignity,” said Bishop Hubbard.

Offering framework The bishop said the pur-

pose stated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1973 to demand “a cease-fire and a complete end to violence and all attacks against, and abuses of, civilians” appears to meet the traditional criterion of “just cause.”

But he also said the U.S. bishops joined Pope Benedict XVI in following the military action in Libya with “great apprehension.”

“Based on long-standing church teaching and experience, we have offered moral guidance and asked key moral questions,” the bishop said.

“As pastors and teachers, we have refrained from making definitive judgments because the situation on the ground remains complex and involves many prudential decisions beyond our expertise.”

Pope picks Augustinian nun to write Good Friday meditations Catholic News Service Pope Benedict XVI chose an Augustinian nun to author the texts for this year's Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday, the Vatican announced March 25.

Mother Maria Rita Piccione, a contemplative nun who leads the Federation of Augustinian Nuns, wrote the texts that will be read at each of the 14 stations, the Vatican statement said.

Each year, the pope selects a different person to author the texts that mark the steps in the solemn, candlelight ceremony that begins at Rome's Colosseum and leads toward the nearby Forum and Palatine Hill.

Mother Piccione is the third living woman to be chosen to write the meditations.

Too many lawmakers fall victim to fuzzy thinking CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A tally about imposing somebody’s views on somebody else. Imposition is the name of the game. It is the very nature of law to impose particular views on people who don’t want to have those views imposed on them. Car thieves don’t want laws imposed on them which prohibit stealing. Drug dealers don’t want laws imposed on them which make it illegal to sell drugs. Yet, our lawmakers are elected precisely to craft and impose such laws all the time.

So the question is not whether we will impose something on somebody. The question is instead whether whatever is going to be imposed by the force of law is reasonable, just and good for society and its members.

The second logical mistake the senator made was to suppose that because religion happens to hold a particular viewpoint, that implies that such a viewpoint should never be considered by lawmakers or enacted into law.

Religion teaches very clearly that stealing is immoral. Would it follow that if I support laws against stealing, I am imposing my narrow religious viewpoint on society? Clearly not. Rather, the subject of stealing is so important to the order of society that religion also feels compelled to speak about it.

Religion teaches many things that can be understood as true by people who aren’t religious at all. Atheists can understand just as well as Catholics how stealing is wrong, and most atheists are just as angry as their Catholic neighbors when their house is broken into and robbed.

What is important is not whether a proposed law happens to be taught by religion, but whether that proposal is just, right and good for society and its members.

Protecting the weak To be more coherent, of course, the senator really should have chosen to address the substance of my testimony, rather than talking about the imposition of religious views.

ARCHBISHOP’S SCHEDULE CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A Noon, St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Luncheon meeting with Episcopal bishop of Minnesota.

4 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with new Catholic Charities director.

■ Saturday, April 9: 10:00 a.m., Minneapolis, Basilica of St. Mary: Confirmation.

5 p.m., West St. Paul, St. Joseph Catholic Church: Sunday liturgy and Ninth Annual Knights for Life/Wakota LifeCare Banquet.

■ Sunday, April 10: 10 a.m., Minneapolis, Church of St. Olaf: Sunday liturgy.

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

■ Monday, April 11: 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.

■ Tuesday, April 12: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Comprehensive Assignment Board meeting.

1:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Cabinet meeting.

4:15 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Vespers.

5 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Dinner.

7 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Chrism Mass.

■ Wednesday, April 13: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Budget Review Committee meeting.

■ Thursday, April 14: 8:15 a.m., Minneapolis, Annunciation Catholic Church: School Mass.

3 p.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Board of trustees meeting, vespers and Rector’s Council Dinner.

“Religion teaches many things that can be understood as true by people who aren’t religious at all.

”

FATHER TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK National Catholic Bioethics Center

The argument I had offered, interestingly, did not depend on religious dogma at all. It depended rather on an important scientific dogma, namely, that all humans come from embryonic humans.

The statement that I was once an embryo is a statement about embryology, not theology.

Given the fact that we were all once embryonic humans, it becomes very clear why destructive embryonic research is an immoral kind of activity. Exploiting the weak and not-yet-born in the interests of the powerful and the well-heeled should not be permitted in a civilized society.

This argument, moreover, can be clearly seen by atheists, not just Catholics.

During my testimony, I pointed out how in the United States, we have stringent federal laws that protect not only the national bird, the bald eagle, but also that eagle’s eggs. If you were to chance upon some of them in a nest out in the wilderness, it would be illegal for you to destroy those eggs.

By the force of law, we recognize how the egg of the bald eagle, that is to say, the embryonic eagle inside that egg, is the same creature as the glorious bird that we witness flying high overhead. There-

fore, we pass laws to safeguard not only the adult but also the very youngest member of that species.

Even atheists can see how a bald eagle’s eggs should be protected; it’s really not a religious question at all.

What’s so troublesome is how we are able to understand the importance of protecting the earliest stages of animal life, but when it comes to our own human life, a kind of mental disconnect takes place. Our moral judgment quickly becomes murky and obtuse when we desire to do certain things that are not good, like having abortions, or destroying embryonic humans for their stem cells.

Taking a deeper look So anytime we come across a lawmaker who tries to suggest that an argument in defense of sound morals is nothing but imposing a religious viewpoint, we need to look deeper at what may really be taking place.

That lawmaker may not be so concerned about avoiding the imposition of a particular view on others — more likely, they are jockeying to simply be able to impose their view, a view which is ultimately much less tenable and defensible in terms of sound moral thinking.

Hence they seek to short-circuit the discussion by stressing religious zealotry and imposition without ever confronting the substantive ethical or bioethical argument itself. Once the religious imposition card is played, and Christian lawmakers suddenly become weak-kneed about defending human life and sound morals, the other side then feels free to do the imposing themselves, without having expended too much effort on confronting the essence of the moral debate itself.

Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D., earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia.

“God is a Father who forgives. His mercy is greater than our sin.

He will forgive our sin — but let us try not to commit the sin again.”

Blessed Mother Teresa

The Lesson Plan The Catholic Spirit

Reflections on faith and spirituality

MARCH 31, 2011

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Free yourself from bonds of guilt through reconciliation ceed with the malicious undertaking . . . since his deceits have been revealed.”

Sins kept in the secret of our heart, and temptations left ignored will continue to have power over us. But if we expose the “fruitless works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11) that have fooled us, we begin to experience true conversion and true freedom because “everything that becomes visible is light” (Ephesians 5:14).

Many of our sins can be embarrassing or extremely shameful. But simply ignoring guilt or deadening our conscience to justify sin or trying harder to be a better person will not bring the freedom Christ desires to give us.

Confession is hard because it is the act of facing ourselves with brutal honesty. It is admitting where we are weak, where we have failed.

T

he season of Lent provides us many opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation.

Parishes throughout the archdiocese plan penance services to give us ample opportunity to individually confess our sins and receive forgiveness through God’s abundant mercy present in this sacrament. These Lenten penance services give us an opportunity to make St. Paul’s directives a reality in our lives.

Paul says in this Sunday’s second reading: “Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light” Deacon Jordan Samson (Ephesians 5:11-14).

The church, in her wisdom, acknowledges the great value found in bringing to light the sins we have committed or the temptations we are experiencing. If we can courageously expose sins and temptations to a trusted spiritual guide, whether in confession for forgiveness or to a trusted friend for guidance, the evil one loses much of his power to deceive us.

Sunday Scriptures

Secrets have power St. Ignatius of Loyola speaks of this foundational principle in his famous work “Rules for Discernment.” In it, he advises, “When the enemy of human nature brings his wiles and persuasions to the just soul, he wishes and desires that they be received and kept in secret; but when one reveals them to one’s good confessor . . . he (the evil one) perceives that he will not be able to suc-

Restore your dignity

CNS photo

Readings Sunday April 3 Fourth Sunday of Lent ■ 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a ■ Ephesians 5:8-14 ■ John 9:1-41

For reflection Search your heart for any sins that are keeping you in the darkness. Then take part in the sacrament of reconciliation.

Humbly admitting sin is not for the purpose of selfabasement, but for restoring our true identity and dignity in Christ.

It is Christ who came to save sinners, and fortunately for us, we are all qualified for the salvation offered by Christ because we all fall into that category of “sinner.”

Stop allowing the evil one to maintain power over your life, and bring to light his lies and deceits.

Go to confession and receive the great mercy of God this Lent. Then, Christ, who is “the light of the world” (John 9:5), will heal us of our blindness and give us the freedom for which we so long.

Deacon Jordan Samson is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D. His home parish is Sacred Heart in Eden, S.D., and his teaching parish is St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings.

Daily Scriptures Sunday, April 3 Fourth Sunday of Lent 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41 “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

— 1 Samuel 16:7 After giving a workshop, a dear friend received a very negative evaluation that contained several nasty personal comments. I couldn’t help think what a very different opinion I hold of this woman. I have met few people who so quietly yet consistently live with such generosity and kindness. Her deep faith in a compassionate God is something she carries in her heart and not on her sleeve.

What might God see in your heart that others fail to notice?

Monday, April 4 Isidore, bishop and doctor of the church Isaiah 65:17-21 John 4:43-54 We easily overlook the presence of God in the familiar.

Tuesday, April 5 Vincent Ferrer, priest Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12 John 5:1-16 What can you do to cooperate with the Spirit in making choices that would bring greater wholeness to your life?

Wednesday, April 6 Isaiah 49:8-15 John 5:17-30 The Spirit is at work in every action rooted in faith, hope and love.

Thursday, April 7 John Baptist de la Salle, priest Exodus 32:7-14 John 5:31-47 How do you respond when your actions are unjustly criticized?

Friday, April 8 Day of abstinence Wisdom 2:1a, 12-22 John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30 One of the most difficult things for us to let go of is our understanding of God. Saturday, April 9 Jeremiah 11:18-20 John 7:40-53 Are we seeking certainty rather than the living God? Sunday, April 10 Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37:12-14 Romans 8:8-11 John 11:1-45 “Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to him.”

— Romans 8:9 Many people tell me how painful it is to hear the media apply the term “Christian” to someone or some group doing hateful

things in the name of God. At the same time, it seems little or no attention is given to the faithful people who by their compassion and understanding relieve physical, emotional and spiritual suffering in the world. May our hearts continue to be transformed so that others can experience the presence of the Risen Christ in our midst.

Monday, April 11 Stanislaus, bishop and martyr Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 John 8:1-11 Pray for the wisdom to know when to remain silent and when to speak.

Friday, April 15 Day of abstinence Jeremiah 20:10-13 John 10:31-42 Our image of God can blind us to how the Spirit is at work in our midst.

Saturday, April 16 Ezekiel 37:21-28 John 11:45-56 It’s easier to accuse someone of being evil than to examine our own hearts.

Wednesday, April 13 Martin I, pope and martyr Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 John 8:31-42 When we lose the capacity to be surprised by the Spirit, we have ceased to worship the living God.

Sunday, April 17 Palm Sunday Matthew 21:1-11 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Matthew 26:14 — 27:66 “He humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.”

— Philippians 2:8 If we are paying attention, we know that our life of faith is constantly asking us to let go of something or someone. It might be resentment, a destructive relationship, a self-defeating belief or a material possession. We are never asked to let go of something just for the sake of letting go; rather, it is always to gain something greater. Hope and trust are what give us the courage to make the sometimes terrifying leap of faith.

Thursday, April 14 Genesis 17:3-9 John 8:51-59 What experiences have taught you that God can only be known through love?

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.

Tuesday, April 12 Numbers 21:4-9 John 8:21-30 Recall a time when pride or fear blinded you to an authentic movement of the Spirit.

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The Lesson Plan

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Operation Rice Bowl

By Carol Jessen-Klixbull

Indonesia

For The Catholic Spirit

The following is the third in a four-part series Since 1975, Operation Rice Bowl, the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, has helped to improve people’s ability to access food in communities around the world and in the United States.

As the official international Catholic relief and development agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services works with local, national and international Catholic institutions and structures, as well as other organizations, to assist people on the basis of need, without regard to race, religion or nationality.

In each issue during Lent, The Catholic Spirit is sharing CRS’ work with an email interview and recipe from a country that agency serves. Haiti and Kenya were featured previously and Honduras will be highlighted in the next issue. See THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM to read the features on Haiti and Kenya.

CRS worker in Indonesia focuses on agriculture Yenni Suryani, a native of Indonesia, has worked with CRS there for 18 years and currently serves as the organization’s country manager for Indonesia.

Q. What are the critical needs regarding agriculture in Indonesia?

A. The majority of the poor in Indonesia live in rural areas. Most of them rely on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood. It is critical to implement a comprehensive agriculture program that would strengthen food security throughout the country.

This will only be achieved if farmers apply techniques that are most appropriate to the terrain and climate where they live (such as planting both perennial and seasonal crops, intercropping and cultivation of food and cash crops) and if farmers are able to sell their surplus products. The cash they receive from sales

support food security and family welfare by providing greater access to food and other household necessities.

Q. How do you see CRS making a difference?

A. CRS doesn’t just deliver assistance to beneficiaries — it continues to work alongside them, helping them utilize that assistance SURYANI for optimal results. For example, when CRS trained farmers on appropriate techniques for dry land agriculture, the organization followed up with intensive “coaching” to help them apply what they had learned — demonstrating how to make compost, preserve water and create land terracing.

Indonesian Sayur Asem (Sour Soup) 3 shallots, sliced 5 garlic cloves, minced 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and sliced 1 red chili pepper, seeded and sliced 3 ⁄4 cup peanuts, coarsely chopped 1 ⁄2 tsp. salt 4 cups water 1 vegetable bouillon cube 2 tbsp. brown sugar 1 zucchini, thinly sliced 1 ⁄2 cup fresh or frozen green beans 1 ⁄2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels 1 cup fresh or frozen spinach 1 ⁄2 lemon Put 2 shallots, 3 garlic cloves, ginger, red chili pepper, 1⁄4 cup peanuts, salt and 1⁄2 cup water into food processor or blender and blend well.

Sauté 1 shallot and 2 garlic cloves in a pot.

Add 31⁄2 cups water, bouillon cube, 1⁄2 cup peanuts, brown sugar and the blended ingredients. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Add zucchini, green beans, corn and spinach. Cook over high heat until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Just before serving, add juice of 1⁄2 lemon and stir.

Yield: 4 to 5 servings

TheCatholicSpirit.com

The Lesson Plan

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Holy Spirit plays great part in the conversion process The Holy Spirit helps us to have faith in the healing power of the sacrament of reconciliation.

By Father Michael Van Sloun For The Catholic Spirit

Lent is a time for us to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel, a time of conversion.

The Holy Spirit is the divine force in the conversion process. As we continue our journey through this holy season, it is most worthwhile to approach the Holy Spirit in prayer to request divine assistance.

The Holy Spirit moves a person to seek absolution for their sins.

The Holy Spirit propels the sinner to go to church to approach the sacrament.

The Holy Spirit strengthens a person to get up from their pew or chair, to take their place in line, and wait for their turn for confession.

Many gifts of the Spirit

The Holy Spirit enables a person to open the door to the confessional, to kneel down behind the screen, or take a place in the chair across from the confessor.

The Holy Spirit orients us toward goodness and truth, holiness and virtue.

The Holy Spirit helps to form our conscience, and gives us a healthy sense of right from wrong.

The Holy Spirit empowers a person to speak his or her sins out loud.

When we sin, the Holy Spirit pricks our conscience.

The Holy Spirit provides wise counsel and advice.

When we sin, the Holy Spirit gives us that troubled, unsettled, uncomfortable, queasy feeling.

The Holy Spirit enables a person to offer an Act of Contrition.

The Holy Spirit disarms our self-deception and lies.

A new beginning

The Holy Spirit moves us to face our sins.

The Holy Spirit imparts forgiveness.

The Holy Spirit grants consolation and peace.

The Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see our wrongdoing.

The Holy Spirit restores joy.

The Holy Spirit enables us to make an examination of conscience.

The Holy Spirit enables a person to start over again.

The Holy Spirit gives us the humility, the honesty and the courage to admit our sins.

The Holy Spirit guides a person in the paths of holiness and righteousness.

The Holy Spirit helps us to be remorseful.

When it comes to our sins, we are helpless and hopeless without the grace of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit enables us to have a genuine sense of sorrow, sadness and regret for the wrong we have done.

Let us turn to the Holy Spirit with faith and confidence and ask for the help that we so desperately need.

The Holy Spirit gives us the impulse to turn away from sin and quit our wrongdoing.

The Holy Spirit is the one who makes it possible for us to “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel” (Mark 1:15).

The Holy Spirit helps us to trust in God’s infinite mercy.

Seeking the sacrament The Holy Spirit moves us to humbly approach God for pardon.

CNS photo / Octavio Duran

A painting at an old Franciscan convent in Copacabana, Bolivia, shows the Holy Spirit descending upon disciples in native Bolivian dress.

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

Compassionate gaze from freshman student packs ‘spiritual wallop’ ot long ago, while grading papers, I read one that made me pause. “Once when my family was in San Francisco, I saw lots of homeless people,” wrote a freshman boy. “I felt really sorry for them. My mom told me I shouldn’t because they obviously didn’t study hard enough in school, and being homeless was their own fault.

But I still felt bad for Ginny them.”

Kubitz Moyer It’s rare that a student paper packs an emotional and spiritual wallop, but this one definitely did.

And it got me thinking about youth, about compassion, and about the relationship between the two.

On the one hand, I can understand this mother’s response. Here’s a chance to hammer home the importance of studying, she clearly thought. And yet something in her words makes me profoundly sad.

If her motive was to sharpen her son’s academic drive, it comes at the risk of eroding his instinctive compassion for others. And which quality is more impor-

N

Reflection

I sometimes wonder if this Christlike compassion comes more naturally to the young. There is something beautiful and pure in this teenager’s instinctive sympathy for the homeless, a trait that many kids have.

And what happens to it? Often it gets leached out of them, slowly, by a world that defaults to cynicism instead of love.

As parents, the question then becomes how we can stop that process from happening, and how we can keep that compassion alive, in its purest, most concentrated form.

I’m starting to believe that when Jesus told us we have to be like children to enter the kingdom of heaven, maybe this compassion is what he meant.

His words challenge us to see the world not with jaded eyes that judge, but with the eyes of the young, whose vision is often much clearer than our own.

tant? Which is more fragile? Which one is more likely to be nurtured by our society, and which is more likely to be discouraged by it?

Our world is quick to reward achievement and success. It’s not so quick to celebrate those who feel solidarity with the wounded and marginalized.

Are we in awe or judgment?

In his remarkable book “Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion,” Jesuit Father Gregory Boyle writes, “Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.”

For most of us, standing in awe is much harder than standing in judgment.

Our time and energy are short, after all. If we assume that others’ bad luck comes from their own misguided choices, then we are absolved of the responsibility of caring about them . . . or so we think, until we crack open the Gospel and learn otherwise.

The phrase “deserving poor” is often bandied about, but Jesus never actually

made that distinction. He did not run background or GPA checks before entering into others’ pain. He sat with them and touched them and showed them that they were worthy of love, regardless of what they had done or failed to do.

Ginny Kubitz Moyer is a teacher, mother, and author of the award-winning “Mary and Me: Catholic Women Reflect on the Mother of God.” You can visit her blog at BLOG.MARYANDME.ORG.

“If there was no other proof of the infinite patience of God, a very good one could be found in his toleration of the pictures that are painted of him.”

Thomas Merton

Arts & Culture 16A

The Catholic Spirit

Exploring our church and our world

MARCH 31, 2011

Author writes evenhanded religious history of Civil War “God’s Almost Chosen Peoples: A Religious History of the American Civil War” by George C. Rable. University of North Carolina Press (Chapel Hill, N.C., 2010). 397 pp., $35.

During the Civil War, priests traveled from regiment to regiment to say Mass in makeshift chapels. The simplest altar sheltered inside a small tent flanked by a few benches sufficed.

And on the eve of battle, in North and South alike, priests were typically kept busy hearing confessions — eight hours nonstop for one Indiana chaplain, just before a fight in Munfordville during Braxton Bragg’s 1862 Kentucky campaign. For wheNancy Roberts ther devout or not, a soldier’s greatest fear was dying without salvation.

“God’s Almost Chosen Peoples,” George C. Rable’s comprehensive religious history of the Civil War, brims with such details. In this deeply researched and wellwritten narrative, he aims to show “how all sorts of people used faith to interpret the course of the Civil War and its impact on their lives, families, churches, communities and ‘nations.’”

A chaired professor of Southern history at the University of Alabama, Rable mined numerous archival collections in the North and South to produce a fascinating, evenhanded treatment of religion that spans theology to church and clerical history and beyond.

He makes especially good use of denominational newspapers, including Catholic ones that have been overlooked in previous studies that focused more on Protestantism.

Book Review

Faith and patriotism By 1850, one in seven Americans belonged to a church. Perhaps not surprisingly, on both sides of the Civil War, many “turned to religious faith to help explain the war’s causes, course and consequence,” Rable writes. “Many believers took a providential view of both daily life and wartime events.” In their view, “the Lord kept track of individual and collective sins, doling out victories and defeats according to a precisely calculated evaluation of the contending sides.”

Religion undoubtedly boosted morale and lengthened the war. Its close alliance with patriotism is a recurring theme throughout the book.

A compelling example occurred on July 2, 1863, just before the Irish Brigade entered the renowned Gettysburg wheat field. Rable captures the scene: “Standing on a large rock, Father William Corby summoned the men to make a ‘sincere act of contrition’ and then sternly warned that the church would deny Christian burial to anyone who turned coward. With the soldiers kneel-

ing, heads bowed, Corby stretched out his right hand offering the ancient Latin words of absolution.”

Complexities, contradictions In the charged atmosphere of war, it was well nigh impossible for churches to advocate both abolition and pacifism.

The Quakers, one of the historic peace churches (with the Mennonites and the Church of the Brethren), often found it difficult not to enlist in the Union Army.

Complexities and contradictions confronted most religions in these days, and congregants sought to preserve church unity even in the midst of sectional conflict. Thus, for instance, Rable found that Southern Catholics remained “reticent” about the issue of secession.

Above all, “God’s Almost Chosen Peoples” demonstrates the uncommon resilience of religious faith during times of crisis. Both general reader and scholar will find much here of value.

Nancy Roberts directs the journalism program at the State University of New York at Albany. Her books include “Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker.”

Church, world need work of faithful Catholic artists

By Patricia Coll Freeman Catholic News Service

Faithful Catholics have all but disappeared from the arts in America — leaving the arts “spiritually impoverished” and undercutting the ways the church “speaks to the world,” according to Dana Gioia, Catholic poet and former chair of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Catholic artists today are virtually invisible,” Gioia observed in a lecture on “The Catholic Writer Today” he delivered at The Catholic University of America.

Gioia’s talk was part of a series of events celebrating the January inauguration of the university’s new president, John Garvey. Garvey attended the Feb. 28 lecture, along with approximately 200 students, priests, university deans, professors and visitors.

His address was the third of six in an inaugural lecture series titled “Intellect and Virtue: The Idea of a Catholic University.”

Dwindling influence Gioia told the group that the lack of Catholics in the arts is a “paradox,” given the Catholic Church’s long tradition as “patron and mentor” to the arts and the strength of the largest cultural minority in the United States. It is particularly ironic, Gioia added, in a nation where “diversity of culture and ethnicity are actively celebrated.”

But “contemporary American culture has little use for Catholicism,” said Gioia. Anti-Catholicism, he noted, remains “the one respectable form of intellectual bigotry.”

Gioia compared the dwindling numbers and influence of Catholic artists to the modern exodus of the “upwardly mobile” out of the nation’s immigrant, big-

“Catholic artists today are virtually invisible.

”

DANA GIOIA Catholic poet

city neighborhoods.

Young Catholic artists no longer see their religion as a “core identity” in spiritual or aesthetic terms — but something to be “hidden or discarded” to achieve success in a secular and “increasingly anti-religious” arts culture, he said.

In the mid-20th century, believing Catholics played a “prominent, prestigious” role in the arts, specifically literature, Gioia explained. He mentioned Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy, Hisaye Yamamoto, Tennessee Williams and Thomas Merton.

Along with British writers Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, J.R.R. Tolkien and Dorothy Sayers, Gioia said, Catholic writers became “the center of American and British letters” — and were covered and published by the best secular and Catholic journals and presses.

“Catholicism was not only seen as a worldview consistent with a literary and artistic vocation,” Gioia noted, but even “the most naturally compatible worldview for an artist, and it was never surprising to hear that some writer had converted.”

Today, most cultural critics, Gioia said, would be unable to name a single, major, living American artist

for whom Catholicism is “a central, positive force in their art and ideas.” Yet, they could identify “an antiCatholic, ex-Catholic or ex-Catholic who writes about the faith that he lost,” or a few “cultural Catholics,” he said.

‘Shallow novelty’ The schism between Christianity and the arts has resulted in two “vast impoverishments” for the arts world and the church, Gioia observed.

Losing “a refined and rigorous sense of the sacred” and 2,000 years of Christian symbolism and tradition, the American arts are spiritually bereft, Gioia said. What remains are “shallow novelty” and “lost cost nihilism.”

“Once you remove the religious as one of the possibilities of art . . . you don’t remove the hungers of either the artist or the audience,” Gioia explained. “You satisfy them more crudely with the vague, the pretentious and the sentimental. You replace Flannery O’Connor with ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer.’”

Meanwhile, the “loss of the aesthetic sensibility,” he said, has weakened the Catholic Church’s ability “to make its call heard in the world” — as it did previously through artists such as Dante, Michelangelo and El Greco.

The weakness is evident, he said, in churches with “graceless architecture, their banal and formulaic painting and sculpture, their awkward and often ill-conceived music” and in liturgies which are “often not seraphic but pedestrian.”

Gioia called Catholics to regain their place in the arts and “transform” the common cultural life — using faith, hope and ingenuity.

Arts & Culture

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Sweet sounds of music

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Basilica features icon art The Basilica of St. Mary’s Pope John XXIII gallery is currently featuring an exhibit of 21 paintings and icons by Father John Giuliani, an icon artist known for depicting Jesus and the saints in the faces and imagery of Native American peoples.

Father Giuliani had an early interest in art, but put it aside when he was ordained.

After years of teaching and nurturing his faith community, he returned to his love of art and studied icon painting under a master in the Russian Orthodox style in New York.

Father Giuliani is the 2007 recipient of the Mother Teresa Award for Religious Art. In 2001, he was asked to create the banner for the annual Pallio in Sienna, Italy.

His work has been exhibited at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the New Britain Museum of

American Art, the Marian Institute in Dayton, Ohio, the Basilica of St. Mary and at the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, Conn. Several dozen of his works are in private collections throughout the country.

“My intent in depicting Christian saints as Native Americans is to honor them and to acknowledge their original spiritual presence on this land,” he said.

“It is this original Native American spirituality that I attempt to celebrate in rendering the beauty and excellence of their craft as well as the dignity of their persons.”

The Pope John XXIII gallery is located in the lower level of The Basilica’s undercroft.

The gallery is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sundays from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and other times by appointment. The exhibit runs through Sunday, May 8.

Film about life of Opus Dei founder helps actor overcome his addiction Catholic News Service

If you go Students from St. John School in Hopkins will perform “The Sound of Music.”

■ When: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 9; and 2 p.m. April 10 ■ Where: Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet.

For tickets, call (952) 979-1111.

Dianne Towalski/The Catholic Spirit

Talia Simonett, a sixth-grader, and fifth-grader Christian Sanderson, both students at St. John’s School in Hopkins, perform the song, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” during a rehearsal for the school’s production of “The Sound of Music” March 23. All 70 students in grades three to six are in the musical, which they will perform at the Hopkins Center for the Arts in April. “I think the large venue for our elementary students has been proven to build self-confidence, pride and community, and the tradition of excellence in the fine arts has been passed down to our new young families,” said Peg Pavek, who has been directing the annual musical since 1995, when the Hopkins Center for the Arts opened. This is the fourth school production for fifthgrader Jack Feld, who plays wise-guy Max Detweiler, “I like this one because I get to be with some of my friends and I got a bigger part, so it’s fun going to rehearsals.”

See more photos at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

Actor Wes Bentley told journalists, in Madrid for the premiere of director Roland Joffe’s film “There Be Dragons,” that playing a character with no apparent redeeming qualities helped him regain sobriety after years of addiction and isolation.

The film portrays the early life of St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei, and Bentley plays the fictional character, Manolo, now 78 years old, on his deathbed and about to reveal long-held secrets to his son.

In the film, Manolo grew up with and attended the seminary with St. Josemaria but left after one year and ended up becoming a spy for fascist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Manolo’s decisions would lead him down a path of betrayal, vengeance and isolation.

Bentley said staring at himself in the mirror as an old man made him realize that he did not want to end up in the same position. “I had many things in my life I had to put right and it was scary, very frightening, and that was the turning point where I started making the right decisions,” he said.

What further helped Bentley on his road to recovery was the people working on the film.

Before arriving on the film set, Bentley had stopped using the substances he had been abusing. “But the hole in my heart was so large that some of (the cast members), when I was expressing things, they could see that. They were there for me without knowing they were,” the actor said.

One of those cast members was Charlie Cox, the British actor who portrayed St. Josemaria in the film. He came into the film not having ever heard of the saint even though he was raised Catholic.

To prepare for the role, he read biographies about St. Josemaria, visited Opus Dei centers and did a weeklong retreat with Father John Wauck, the Opus Dei priest who served as a consultant to the film.

Cox said the process of preparation not only helped him understand sanctity, but also helped him reconnect with his own faith in God. The film, which premiered in Madrid March 23, was scheduled to open in the United States May 6.

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Calendar Lenten dinners Soup supper at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — All Wednesdays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E. Soup supper at the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul — All Wednesdays of Lent: 6 to 7 p.m. at 239 Selby Ave. Enchilada dinner at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. Take-out and enchiladas by the dozen also available.

Lebanese Lenten dinner at Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at 1960 Lexington Ave. S. Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

Fish fry at Epiphany, Coon Rapids — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1900 111th Ave. N.W. Fish dinner at St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 2836 33rd Ave. S. Fish fry at St. Vianney, South St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 789 17th Ave. N. Fish fry at St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindstrom — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at 13060 Lake Blvd. Meatless spaghetti also available.

Fish fry at St. Charles, Bayport — All Fridays of Lent: 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 409 N. Third St. Fish fry at Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 4780 W. Broadway.

Fish fry at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E. Fish fry at St. John the Baptist, Hugo — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 8 p.m. at 14383 Forest Blvd. N. Fish fry at St. Peter, Forest Lake — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 South Shore Drive.

Fish fry at St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St. Fish fry at St. Bernard, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.

Fish fry at St. Matthew, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave. Fish fry at St. Timothy, Blaine — All Fridays of Lent: 7 p.m. at 707 89th Ave. N.E. Fish fry at Holy Family, St. Louis Park — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 5900 W. Lake St. Fish dinner at St. Stephen, Anoka — All Fridays of Lent: 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 525 Jackson St. Fish fry at St. Michael, Prior Lake – April 1: 5 to 8 p.m. at 16311 Duluth Ave. Menu also includes macaroni and cheese.

Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Shakopee — April 1: 5 to 8 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Fish fry at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — April 1: 4 to 7 p.m. at 1735 Kennard St. Fish fry at St. Albert, Albertville — April 1: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 11458 57th St. N.E. Fish fry at St. Peter Catholic School, North St. Paul — April 8: 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St. Fish fry at Totino-Grace High School, Fridley — April 8: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1350 Gardena Ave. N.E. Fish fry at St. Michael, Prior Lake – April 8: 5 to 8 p.m. at 16311 Duluth Ave. Menu also includes macaroni and cheese.

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Don’t Miss

Retreats

Steve Angrisano in concert Composer, musician and storyteller, Steve Angrisano will perform at St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center April 7. The concert, titled, “Meet Me At The Cross,” will be from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Suggested donation is $5 at the door. For information, visit WWW.STALSMN.ORG. For more information about Steve Angrisano, visit WWW.SPIRITANDSONG.COM/ARTISTS/STEVE ANGRISANO. St. Alphonsus is located at at 7025 Halifax Ave. N. Fish fry at St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — April 8: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 3878 Highland Ave. Fish fry at Transfiguration School, Oakdale — April 8: 5 to 7 p.m. at 6135 15th St. N. Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Shakopee — April 8: 5 to 8 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Fish fry at Most Holy Trinity, St. Louis Park — April 8: 5 to 8 p.m. at 3946 Wooddale Ave. Fish fry at St. Albert, Albertville — April 8: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 11458 57th St. N.E. Fish fry at St. Timothy, Blaine — April 8: 5 to 7 p.m. at 707 89th Ave. N.E. Fish fry at St. Patrick of Cedar Lake, Jordan — April 8: 5 to 8 p.m. at 24425 Old Hwy 13 Blvd.

Fish fry at St. Peter Catholic School, North St. Paul — April 15: 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St. Fish fry at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — April 15: 4 to 7 p.m. at 1735 Kennard St. Fish fry at St. Jerome, Maplewood — April 15: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 384 E. Roselawn.

Fish fry at St. Timothy, Blaine — April 15: 5 to 7 p.m. 707 89th Ave. N.E. Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Shakopee — April 15: 5 to 8 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Fish fry at the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul — April 15: Seatings at 6 and 7:30 p.m. at 239 Selby Ave. Fish fry at St. Jude of the Lake, Mahtomedi — April 15: 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 700 Mahtomedi Ave. Fish fry at Guardian Angels School, Chaska — April 15: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 215 W. Second St.

Parish events An evening with ‘The bravest woman in Afghanistan: Malalai Joya’ at St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis — April 1: 7 p.m. at 4537 Third Ave. S. Cost is $10. For information, visit WWW.STJOAN.COM. Humor and Harmony fundraiser with Tina and Lena at St. Michael, St. Michael — April 2: 7 p.m. in the historic church at 22 Main St. Tickets are $13 at the door.

Salad luncheon and style show at Immaculate Conception, Lonsdale — April 2: Lunch at 11:30 a.m. followed by style show at 116 Alabama St. S.E. Cost is $5. To reserve a ticket, call (507) 7442728.

Spring festival at Holy Rosary, Minneapolis — April 3: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 2424 18th Ave. S. Features a chicken dinner, Mexican food a la carte, games and baked goods.

Concert and Mass with David Haas at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — April 3: Concert

Lenten retreat at St. Odilia, Shoreview — April 2: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 3495 N. Victoria. “Jesus Heals our Darkness,” presented by Father Jim Deegan and Sister Brenda Rose from Christ the King Retreat Center. Cost is $30 and includes lunch. Register at WWW.STODILIA .ORG. Lenten retreat with David Haas at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — April 2: 9 a.m. to noon, concluding with noon Mass at 215 S. Eighth St.

prelude at 3:30 p.m. and Mass at 4 p.m. at 215 S. Eighth St. Lenten evening of reflection at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — April 5: 7 to 8:30 p.m. at 9100 93rd Ave. N. “Remain in My Love,” with Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn. To register, call (763) 425-2210.

‘Striving to Be a Good and Faithful Servant’ talk at St. Joseph, West St. Paul — April 5: 7 p.m. at 1154 Seminole Ave. Teresa Collett will speak. For information, call (651) 457-2781.

‘Love in Action is a Harsh and Dreadful Thing: The Spirituality of Dorothy Day’ at St. Michael, Stillwater — April 6: 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 611 Third St. Thomas Loome will speak. Childcare provided. Part of the First Wednesday Speaker Series.

Liturgical composer Father Michael Joncas to speak at St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — April 7: 7 to 9 p.m. at 3878 Highland Ave. He will share his personal and faith reflection on his life-threatening illness and its effect on his life, music and ministry. For information, call (651) 762-3651.

VocalEssence to perform at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — April 8 and 9: 8 p.m. at 215 S. Eighth St. Bach’s Mass in B minor with a simultaneous screening of the film The Sound of Eternity. Tickets are $13.50 to $43.50. For information, visit WWW.VOCALESSENCE.ORG. Spring craft sale at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — April 9: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 1725 Kennard St. For information, visit WWW. PRESENTATIONOFMARY.ORG. Ham bingo at Transfiguration, Oakdale — April 9: 5 to 9 p.m. at 6133 15th St. N. Ham bingo at St. Peter, Richfield — April 9: 5:30 to 9 p.m. at 6730 Nicollet Ave. S. Cost is $7 and includes a card for the whole evening, popcorn and dinner (served from 5:30 to 7 p.m.).

Dining out Pancake breakfast at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — April 3: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 6 to 12.

French toast breakfast at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — April 3: 8 a.m. to noon at Kolbe Hall, 1630 Fourth St. N.E. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 5 to 12.

Sponsored by the Holy Name societies and Men’s Clubs of Northeast Minneapolis.

KC Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — April 6 and 13: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $12. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

Prayer/ liturgies Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Columba, St. Paul — April 3: 2 p.m. at 1327 LaFond Ave. Taizé prayer service at St. Matthew, St. Paul — April 6: 7 p.m. at 490 Hall Ave. For information, call (651) 224-9793.

Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Frances de Sales, St. Paul — April 10: 2 p.m. at 1650 Palace Ave. Taizé Prayer at St. Hubert, Chanhassen — April 14: 7 p.m. at 8201 Main St.

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406.

50-plus Second Sunday Supper event at St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis — April 10: 5 p.m. at 4537 Third Ave. S. Includes social hour, supper and program at 7 p.m. Enjoy songs from the years 1900 to 1960 with Jim Shannon. Cost is $10. Call (952) 884-5165.

School events Open House at Our Lady of Peace School, Minneapolis — March 31: 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 5435 11th Ave. S. For students entering grades preschool to 8.

For information, call (612) 823-8253.

Campus Shadow Day at Blessed Trinity School, Richfield — April 7: For students entering grades 4 to 8 at 6720 Nicollet Ave. S. Call (612) 869-5200 for a reservation. To learn more about the school, visit WWW.BTCSMN.ORG. A Night of Spirit fundraising event at Holy Spirit School, St. Paul — April 9: 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Albert Street. Tickets are $35 before April 3 and $45 after. For information, visit WWW.HOLY-SPIRIT.ORG/ NIGHT-OF-SPIRIT. Celebrate America fundraising event for St. Timothy School, Maple Lake — April 9: 5 to 7 p.m. at the Maple Lake Legion Club, 220 First St. W. Prime rib and chicken dinner, plus auctions. Cost is $20 at the door.

College fair at Benilde-St. Margaret School, St. Louis Park — April 12: 7 to 9 p.m. at 2501 Highway 100 S. More than 100 college and university representatives will be available. For more information, visit WWW.BSMSCHOOL.ORG.

18A

Calendar Submissions DEADLINE: The Catholic Spirit is biweekly.

Items should be submitted

by Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication.

Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur.

LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted

by Catholic parishes and institutions.

Items are published on a space available basis.

ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event.

• Full street address of event.

• Description of event.

• Contact information in case of questions.

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Summer Activities

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

19A

Learning can be fun Summer camp choices include arts, sports, service, education In addition to numerous sports camps at area Catholic schools, other camps focus on service or the arts. The following Catholic high schools have information on their websites.

Providence Academy in Plymouth offers summer programs that cross various disciplines and are intended to provide opportunities for students K-12 to grow in their faith, knowledge and virtue. Visit WWW.PROVIDENCEACAD EMY.ORG and click on “Activities” and “Summer” for information.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park will focus on the servant leadership qualities of Jesus with its “Fun in the Son” camp. Music, drama and sports camp information is at WWW.BSMSCHOOL.ORG/CAMPS. DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis offers online registration for a variety of sports camps. See what is available at WWW.DLSHS.ORG. Bethlehem Academy in Faribault offers sports camps

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

for various ages. See WWW.BACARDS.ORG. Totino-Grace High School in Fridley has more than 25 different camps in athletics, fine arts and academic studies. Visit WWW.TOTINOGRACE.ORG. Hill-Murray School in Maplewood summer activity information is online at WWW.HILL-MURRAY.ORG. Convent of the Visitation in Mendota Heights offers summer school and camps at WWW.VISITATION.NET. St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights presents a variety of camps. Visit WWW.CADETS.COM and search for summer camps.

Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield has a variety of

camps. See WWW.ACADEMYOFHOLYANGELS.ORG and search for summer camps.

Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul summer activities can be found at WWW.C-DH.ORG. St. Agnes School in St. Paul has summer camps that can be found online at WWW.STAGNESSCHOOLS.ORG. Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria offers an extensive collection of summer programs both in and out of the classroom. visit WWW.HFCHS.ORG. Other summer programs are offered at Catholic Universities, retreat centers and youth centers. Catholic Youth Camps, Inc. is online at WWW.CYCAMP.ORG.

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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.

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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.

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20A

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Housing proposal poses threat to faith-based programs CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8A sponsored or were affiliated with programs that provided housing or housingrelated services to 662,954 clients, according to a study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate.

Catholic Charities housing programs were “especially likely to have served . . . persons with HIV/AIDS,” the CARA study said. That suggests “that not only does the church not decline services to, but actively serves, a client base that includes large numbers of homosexual clients,” the attorneys said.

Catholic dioceses and religious orders also are actively involved in housing programs, the USCCB comments noted.

“It is especially imperative, given their large role in meeting the housing needs of the poor, elderly, disabled and others, that such faith-based and other organizations not be required, as a condition of participating in such programs, to compromise or violate their religious beliefs,” Picarello and Moses said.

“To continue to participate in these programs, these organizations must retain the freedom they have always had, when meeting housing needs, to avoid

placements for shared housing that would violate their religious beliefs,” they added.

Basis for change at issue The attorneys stressed that “we are not suggesting that any person should be denied housing.”

“But neither should a recipient or subrecipient of HUD funds be required to facilitate cohabitation between unmarried persons, be in it an unmarried heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple, or facilitate shared sleeping areas or bathrooms, especially when the requirement is (a) divorced from any command of Congress, (b) reflects a policy that is opposite the one adopted by Congress, and (c) stands to affirmatively violate the recipient’s or sub-recipient’s religious beliefs,” they said.

In addition to the proposed rule change, HUD is conducting a national study about housing discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Americans. The agency conducts a study every 10 years about housing discrimination on the basis of race or color.

Father Corapi’s company says action against priest violates canon law of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in Robstown, Texas.

Catholic News Service A representative of the media company owned by Father John Corapi challenged the action to place the popular speaker on administrative leave from priestly ministry, saying that it was illicit under “several points of canon law.”

Bobbi Ruffatto, vice president of operations at Santa Cruz Media, Inc., in Kalispell, Mont., charged in a posting on Father Corapi’s Facebook page March 25 that Bishop William Mulvey of CorFATHER CORAPI pus Christi, Texas, acted improperly, according to canon lawyers consulted by the company.

The statement offered no specific citations of canon law.

However, Marty Wind, director of communications for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, disputed Ruffatto’s claim that Bishop Mulvey placed Father Corapi on leave. He said the action was taken by officials of the priest’s order, the Society

“We have been clear from the beginning that the bishop of Corpus Christi was notified by the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity that the administrative leave was imposed by the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity, not the bishop of the diocese,” Wind told Catholic News Service March 25.

Father Corapi was placed on administrative leave following an accusation of misconduct by a former Santa Cruz Media employee.

The priest denied any wrongdoing in a statement on his website March 18.

He gave little information about the accusation except to say a former employee had “sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual exploits with her and several adult women.”

Father Gerard Sheehan, regional priest servant for the society, said March 28 he had not yet seen Ruffatto’s posting and that no formal discussion within the order about it had occurred.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Canadian baby gets help from Franciscan Brothers of Peace Catholic News Service

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Bobby Schindler said he can see parallels between the case of a Canadian infant known as “Baby Joseph” and the situation of his late sister, Terri Schiavo, who died in 2005, 13 days after a court ordered her feeding tube removed.

Joseph Maraachli, a 13-month-old Canadian boy suffering from a progressive neurodegenerative disease, is getting a second chance at treatment after being transported to a Catholic hospital in St. Louis.

The baby and his father, Moe Maraachli, were taken by private plane to St. Louis where the infant was admitted to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center March 13, ending the family’s battle with a London, Ontario, hospital that sought to withdraw the breathing tube that was keeping the seriously ill boy alive.

According to court papers, a doctor treating the child had recommended the tube be removed and he be allowed to die, saying “all cranial nerve functions were absent and he has no hope for recovery.” The baby’s parents wanted doctors to give him a tracheotomy and keep him on a ventilator so they could care for him at home.

Applying pressure In an interview with Catholic News Service March 15, Schindler said all the Maraachli family wanted was to eventually be able to bring their baby home. He remembered all his family wanted was to bring Terri home.

The battle with Canada may be over, but Schindler told CNS: “We still have a sick child here. He is still in need of our prayers.”

The Franciscan Brothers of Peace in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis also got involved in the case.

Brother Paul O’Donnell found out about Baby Joseph in February and went to the hospital where he was staying.

“I visited with the family and came up with a plan of applying social pressure to the hospital and finding another hospital that would take the baby,” he said March 28. “Ultimately, it was that public pressure that the hospital yielded to.”

Priests for Life, which is based in New

York, hired the private plane for the family and will cover the medical costs.

According to The Catholic Register in Toronto, the family’s legal team in Windsor, Ontario, lawyer Claudio Martini and the Washington-based American Center for Law and Justice helped secure the transfer of Joseph to the Missouri hospital.

The child’s mother, Sana Nadar, who is Catholic, and Moe Maraachli, who is Muslim, both believe in miracles, according to Father Frank Pavone, national director of Priests for Life.

Brother Paul added a personal component to the spiritual care of Baby Joseph by giving him a white rosary given to him by Pope John Paul II in 2001. “Our community has quite a devotion to Pope John Paul II because of all his pro-life writings — the Gospel of Life,” he said

Seeking a transfer A Feb. 18 ruling by the Ontario Superior Court ordered the family to consent to the removal of the breathing tube Feb. 21. The court confirmed the recommendations of the hospital’s doctors and the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario. But Joseph’s family defied the legal order and sought the transfer to another hospital and a second opinion.

Martini said after three days of talks with the Ontario hospital, the transfer was arranged. He said Joseph was “resting well” at the St. Louis hospital. “He is on a breathing tube and his treatment is status quo.”

Hopeful but realistic Although family and friends are hopeful about his chances for survival, Brother Paul said they are also realistic about his future. Joseph had a sister who died of the same disease at 18 months, and he appears headed for the same fate.

“They cared for her at home for three months before she died,” said Brother Paul, who plans on visiting the family in St. Louis soon. “There are some people who have miracles and have lived 10 or 12 years, but most die between 18 months and two years of age.”

Catholic Spirit staff member Dave Hrbacek contributed to this story.

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MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Unskilled laborers have few options to enter U.S. legally CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6A hundreds of thousands of migrants cross the border without permission in search of jobs each year, despite stricter U.S. border enforcement and the skyrocketing costs demanded by human smugglers.

In the case of a person with no special skills and no relatives who are lawful permanent residents or U.S. citizens, if that person wants to enter the U.S. legally, it would take almost a “miracle,” De León said.

That’s why they cross the border with-

out permission, she added. “There’s no other choice.”

“It’s now taking seven, eight nine attempts to cross, and they’re paying $3,000 to $7,000 [to a smuggler],” Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan said at a conference on immigration at The Catholic University of America March 21. “Once they’re on this side, the incentives to go back home disappear.”

Risk of exploitation Without legal status, immigrant workers are vulnerable to exploitation because

they cannot protect their rights without fear of deportation.

People whose parents brought them to the U.S. without permission at a young age face the same hardships as other undocumented immigrants, De León said.

Even though they came to this country without permission through no fault of their own, currently there is no path to citizenship for them. There is also the possibility of deportation to a country they don’t know.

Entering the United States unautho-

rized is not a crime, De León said. Rather, it is a violation of civil law on the level of a speeding ticket or littering unless the person has been deported in the past.

“Immigration is not a crime; it’s more a human right, the ability to move freely and to find a job with which you can support your family,” said De León, a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Mexico in 1985.

“Being employed or having a roof over your head should be something that we all understand as basic.”

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3530 Director of Finance. The Diocese of Des Moines seeks an experienced finance management professional with very strong technical business systems skills, in addition to experience managing accounting, finance, and technology.

The Director is responsible for ensuring that adequate controls and processes are in place to ensure the accounting function remains a highly effective operation. Ensures timely and accurate dissemination of financial management reports including, but not limited to, monthly/quarterly/yearend close, forecasting and analysis, financial reporting, investments, annual budgets, monthly reports of actuals vs. budget, and oversight of annual outside audits. The Director will also lead the strategic direction, implementation and management of information technology for the diocese.

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; MBA or CPA preferred.

Minimum of 5 years of experience in progressively more responsible positions.

Hands-on, self-motivated, team player with the ability to multi-task and prioritize. Ability to develop and manage a team and to establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels in the diocese.

Ability to motivate, mentor and lead change within assigned areas of responsibility. Strong communication skills, both verbal and written. Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, with advanced Excel skills. Strong knowledge of IT systems, databases, and applications.

Qualified candidates can submit a resume and cover letter to HR@DMDIOCESE.ORG or by mail to Human Resources, Diocese of Des Moines, 601 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50309-2501. Please be sure your resume clearly shows your IT systems experience in addition to your finance and accounting management experience. Consistent with state and federal law, a preference shall be given to applicants who are Roman Catholic and who evidence an understanding of the Catholic faith and a commitment to living that faith.

5083 AWESOME JOB OPPORTUNITY FROM HOME Seeking outgoing person who enjoys helping people. Call now 612-716-1565. 12300

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Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience and education. A resumé with three references and credentials may be sent to Msgr. Timothy McGee, Holy Rosary Parish 1043 Lake Avenue, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501. Interviews will begin mid April.

23112 Occupational Therapist (OT) , PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) , PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT (PTA) NEEDED for PT/ or FT. Resume: CROWNMED@MSN.COM / fax (612) 872-4343.

WWW.CROWNMEDICALCENTER.ORG. 12554 Minot Catholic Schools in Minot, ND is seeking applicants for the position of Superintendent of Schools. Applicants must be eligible for the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction superintendent credential. If you are ready to lead a school system that prides itself on excellence, send cover letter, current resume, and contact information for three references to: Gregg Magnuson, Search Committee Chair, Minot Catholic Schools 316 11th Ave NW Minot ND 58703 For more information, contact BNUSH@BRHS.COM (701) 838-3355.

WWW.MINOTCATHOLIC.ORG Application deadline 4/15/11

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23A

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Archdiocese evaluates sexual misconduct policies on ongoing basis CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5A archdiocese is careful that its own investigation doesn’t interfere with any that law enforcement officials might be conducting.

“Each case will be handled a little bit differently.” Eisenzimmer said. “But we try to investigate quickly and determine the substance of any allegation right from the beginning and try to put some safeguards in place to make sure no further harm can be done to the alleged victim or anyone else. Then, we continue to decide what is the best course of action.”

Those making a report of sexual misconduct are referred to the archdiocesan office of advocacy and victim assistance, which can help them make a report to authorities, arrange counseling and provide financial assistance if needed for therapy.

In cases in which a pastor has been removed from a parish because of misconduct, the archdiocese works with the parishes to answer questions and offer support.

“Frequently there is some kind of meeting to help [parishioners] because we’ve recognized that even if they weren’t harmed individually by that particular member of the clergy, as a parishioner in that parish, there’s harm to everyone,” Eisenzimmer said. “It’s harm to the faith community. So you do really need to address that. There’s going to be anger and hurt. And there’s going to be a healing process.”

Return to ministry?

When sexual misconduct is substantiated or admitted on the part of clergy members, they are referred for psychological and psychiatric evaluation, treatment and aftercare, Eisenzimmer said.

If the case involves sexual abuse of a minor, the charter and the archdiocese’s policies preclude a return to ministry.

In cases of sexual misconduct that don’t involve child abuse, a return to ministry is possible in certain instances if treatment is deemed successful, Eisenzimmer said.

“Our current policy does allow for a possibility of a return to ministry in some fashion,” he said. “What ministry that might be will depend on a host of circumstances, and it’s something that’s never contemplated until there are a variety of steps taken.”

One of those steps is getting a positive evaluation from therapists, Eisenzimmer said. For many years, the archdiocese has received two clergy evaluations — one by a therapist chosen by the archdiocese to provide an objective evaluation, and another by a therapist who is working closely with the clergy member as a part of treatment.

“We try to gather information from both sources — in essence a double check on what we can do with this person following a successful conclusion of any therapeutic process,” Eisenzimmer said.

If the therapists offer a positive report, the archbishop and others he consults must decide what, if any, assignment is appropriate. Typically, before any reassignment is made, the matter goes before the Clergy Review Board, an advisory body to the archbishop that makes its own recommendations, said Eisenzimmer, who is staff liaison to the board.

“Our belief is that preventing child abuse has become a core mission of this church.

”

ANDY EISENZIMMER Chancellor for civil affairs

The “Essential Norms” require that each diocese have an independent review board to review accusations of sexual abuse of minors by clergy. However, the archdiocese has had a review board in place since 1995, and its scope is broader than the national requirement, allowing the board to also review cases involving clergy accused of sexual misconduct with adults.

Current members include two priests, a deacon who is a lawyer, another lawyer, a psychiatrist, a nurse educator at the University of Minnesota, social worker, psychologist, trauma surgeon and a retired University of Minnesota faculty member. Past members have included law enforcement officials, abuse victims and family members of victims.

Clergy Review Board members may ask for additional information or steps to be taken if they feel it is necessary before making a recommendation to the archbishop about whether a clergy member who has committed sexual misconduct can return to ministry, Eisenzimmer said.

The board may make additional recommendations for returning clergy members to ministry, such as insisting they continue to participate in an aftercare program. Board members also may recommend to what extent the misconduct should be disclosed publicly, Eisenzimmer said.

“Ultimately, it’s the archbishop’s role to make the decision,” he said. “But in virtually every case that I’ve seen, the archbishop has accepted the recommendation of the Clergy Review Board.”

Review, safe environments Eisenzimmer stresses that the archdiocese evaluates its policies and practices regarding sexual misconduct on an ongoing basis to ensure they are consistent with national best practices, the need for transparency, victims’ needs, community needs and the needs of the accused.

Over the years, policies and procedures have been changed and updated as the issue of sexual abuse has become better understood, he said.

“I will tell you from my own experience back in the 1970s that the therapeutic community said you could put priests back in ministry that had sexually abused minors,” he said. “You’re not going to find a therapeutic advocate . . . today that’s going to say that.”

In the last decade the Catholic Church has taken a lead role in addressing child sexual abuse and instituting safe environment programs to educate children and adults about the issue, which affects all segments of society, he said.

“What I’ve learned, especially this last decade, is that there’s no one doing more about it than the Catholic Church,” Eisenzimmer said. “We don’t get any credit for that, and maybe we don’t deserve any credit because of our failures in the past. But we have instituted procedures where we do criminal background checks on all clergy, all employees and any volunteers that have regular, ongoing contact with children.”

That amounts to 83,000 people, according to Rita Beatty, who helps coordinate the archdiocese’s safe environment program.

All students enrolled in Catholic elementary and secondary schools and those in parish religious education programs are educated on age-appropriate safe environment matters, Eisenzimmer added. Church employees and volunteers are also required to undergo safe environment training.

As a result of such training and the archdiocese’s misconduct policies, “We can safely say that today there’s no clergy in a ministerial position who have been credibly accused of child abuse,” Eisenzimmer said. “We know that for certain.”

As part of the national charter, the archdiocese and the other dioceses in the United States undergo an annual independent audit of their policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the charter’s provisions.

The audit is conducted on site once every three years; in the other years independent investigators gather data and a variety of other information, Eisenzimmer said.

In turn, the archdiocese audits each of its locations — including all of its parishes and schools — twice a year, he said. In the fall, the archdiocese asks for plans for the school year regarding what will be done in compliance with safe environment and charter requirements. The spring audit shows what was accomplished.

Eisenzimmer said he has no argument with the public for holding the Catholic Church to a higher level of scrutiny when it comes to sexual misconduct. But he also adds that the church should get the credit it deserves for addressing the topic in the comprehensive way it has.

“Our belief is that preventing child abuse has become a core mission of this church,” he said. “It has to be. And we see the value of that broader than just in the church. There’s a community value to that. And if we want to fulfill that core mission, we have to continue to emphasize that we are ourselves following what we’re preaching, that we’re practicing what we’re preaching. We think that’s as important of a task as we can fulfill these days.”

“I hope that women who are considering an abortion will use this three-day period to make good choices.”

S.D. Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who signed a law March 22 establishing a three-day waiting period for all abortions, a time frame that exceeds other state laws that require 24-hour waiting periods

Overheard 24A The Catholic Spirit

Quotes from this week’s newsmakers

Tommies are NCAA champs The University of St. Thomas men’s basketball team celebrated its first NCAA Division III championship March 29 with a pep fest in Schoenecker Arena in St. Paul. The team finished its 30-3 season by toppling the College of Wooster (Ohio) 78-54 in the final game of the national tournament in Salem, Va., March 19. The score tied an NCAA Division III record for the largest winning margin in a title game.

News Notes

nominated by the Board Affairs Committee and elected to five-year terms by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the trustees then in office; the president shall be a Roman Catholic priest, Roman Catholic religious brother or a sister or a Roman Catholic lay person. Previously, the bylaws required a Roman Catholic priest as president. Several Catholic universities have found it necessary to widen presidential searches because of the limited pool of available priests.

UST gets new bylaws

Interfaith award to sister

The University of St. Thomas’ Board of Trustees recently approved a number of changes in the university’s bylaws to ensure that they reflect current state laws in incorporation, account for modern methods of communication and employ best professional practices.

Changes include: The board chair, vice chair and president shall be

Scion Sister Marge Boyle recently received the 2011 Interfaith Award from the Minneapolis Reform Jewish congregation Temple Israel. The award is given to exceptional leaders who have worked to build bridges, facilitate dialogue and create interfaith understanding with the Jewish community.

MARCH 31, 2011

Islanders top Pioneers in title game Sophomore forward Claire Thomas of DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis tries to fend off junior guard Tessa Cichy of HillMurray High School in Maplewood, during the girls state Class AAA championship game at Target Center in downtown Minneapolis March 19. Thomas and the Islanders handed the Pioneers their first loss of the season, 63-43, to capture the state title.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

sp 8 ec -p ia ag ls e ec tio n

Inside ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Housing options Health care agencies Funeral planning Legal counsel

The Catholic Spirit March 31, 2011

2B

Senior Housing

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Rosoto Villa

To our readers The descriptions of senior housing and other services in this section were provided by the facilities and service agencies, which are responsible for the accuracy of the content.

— The Catholic Spirit

Footworks Footworks is a licensed home health care agency that specializes in basic foot care for seniors in the privacy of their homes. Foot-care sessions consist of soaking feet, trimming toenails, buffing down corns and calluses, and foot massage for circulation. Footworks is owned and operated by Shelly, who formerly worked in the health care field for 18 years. All employees are either nurses or nurse aides, with special training in foot care. Footworks offers complimentary foot care seminars to senior groups, community centers, etc.

For more information, call (651) 501-0624.

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We offer in-home washer/dryer, large eatin kitchen, underground parking and storage lockers, community room, guest suite, bus to shopping, activities and exercise room. Rosoto Villa is independent living at its finest.

Saturday, April 9th 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Crest View Senior Communities Crest View Senior Communities is a faithbased not-for-profit organization that has been providing services to older adults since 1952. Crest View Senior Community in Columbia Heights offers a continuum of care and service, including senior housing, assisted living, home care, memory care, rehab care and skilled nursing care.

Crest View is developing a new campus of service for older adults in the city of Blaine.

To receive information, please call (763) 782-1601 or visit us at WWW. CRESTVIEWCARES.ORG.

Senior Housing John E. Trojack Law Office, P.A. TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE PROCEEDINGS

YOU CAN PROTECT your child’s inheritance from: Lawsuit Creditors • Illness & Substance Abuse Situations • Child’s Divorcing Spouse • Estate & Gift Taxes

YOU CAN PLAN for: Child’s Special Needs & Education • Your Future Medical Needs

C ALL FOR A COMPLIMENTARY ESTATE PLANNING CONSULTATION ASK ABOUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE C ATHOLIC HEALTH C ARE DIRECTIVE (651) 451-9696 • E-mail: John.Trojack@TrojackLaw.com • www.TrojackLaw.com 1549 Lexington Ave., Suite 101, West St. Paul, MN 55118-3420

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

3B

Benedictine Health System Based in Duluth, the Benedictine Health System is a nationally recognized leader in Catholic longterm care in the upper Midwest, with 10 senior housing campuses in the Metro area, including: Benedictine Health Center at Innsbruck, New Brighton; Benedictine Health Center of Minneapolis; Benedictine Senior Living at Steeple Pointe, Osseo; Cerenity Senior Care, five campuses in St. Paul and White Bear Lake; and St. Gertrude’s Health and Rehabilitation Center, Shakopee. BHS also has more than a dozen campuses in greater Minnesota.

The culture at BHS care communities is based on a strong mission and core values, focusing on serving our residents with compassion and respect, nurturing the soul and building a positive environment where employees can focus on providing the best care possible. Our culture has been recognized repeatedly by visiting family members and national experts alike.

BHS communities provide services in skilled nursing, assisted and independent living, in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation and therapy, short-term stay (transitional care), memory care, home health and adult day.

For more information, visit WWW.BHSHEALTH.ORG.

Ecumen Lakeview Commons Ecumen Lakeview Commons invites you to experience the warmth and rewards of living in a beautiful and natural setting nestled in the trees.

Ecumen Lakeview Commons is located on the corner of McKnight and Maryland right across from Beaver Lake in Maplewood. You can be as independent as you wish or use our services to meet your needs.

We offer traditional assisted living, enhanced care suites and memory care. Our great food, spiritual socialization and fitness programs, plus regular bus outings keep residents happy and as busy as they desire. Come and tour Lakeview Commons and decide if we can be your next home.

TheCatholicSpirit.com

Call Joyce Aakre at (651) 773-7150 to set up a tour.

4B

Senior Housing

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Gianna Homes A highly-trained team of health care professionals ensure that residents at Gianna Homes receive the best care available. The RNs, CNAs and physical therapists, along with musical and massage therapists and staff members, provide nurturing stimulation, prayer, laughter and friendship around the clock.

Gianna Homes embraces a whole-life approach to care for seniors with memory loss. Come and see for yourself the spirit that permeates our home.

For more information, call Anne Marie Hansen, president and founder of Gianna Homes, at (952) 988-0953 or e-mail her at ANNE@GIANNA HOMES.ORG. Visit our website at WWW.GIANNAHOMES.ORG.

MJ Properties

Cerenity Senior Care — Marian of Saint Paul Cerenity Senior Care — Marian of Saint Paul campus offers a wide array of housing options and health care services including: DayAway — which is an adult day center — independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and short-stay rehabilitation.

Marian of Saint Paul is located adjacent to the historic Mounds Park on the majestic bluffs overlooking downtown St. Paul and the Mississippi River Valley.

Marian of Saint Paul is well-known in the community for its strong Catholic heritage.

Mass is held six days per week in Marian of Saint Paul’s own Chapel of St. Mary.

For more information, please call (651) 763-2100 or visit our website at WWW.CERENITYSENIORCARE.ORG.

Walk to daily Mass when you live at 1440 Randolph Ave. in St. Paul. Second generation family-owned and operated, these value-priced apartments offer a great savings for today’s independent senior. Located adjacent to Holy Spirit Catholic Church and School in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, this building provides a quiet and simple living atmosphere for independent seniors 55 and older.

We offer a variety of one- and two-bedroom units in a well-maintained security building. The site is located on a bus line and within blocks of Korte’s Supermarket.

Other features include: elevator, underground heated parking and outside garages, new appliances, a friendly on-site management team, mini-health clinic, tenant lounge and wonderful neighbors. Come view our beautifully remodeled units today.

For more information, call MJ Properties of St. Paul at (651) 690-4961.

Kessler & Maguire Funeral Home Kessler and Maguire Funeral Home has been a prominent fixture in St. Paul since 1926. The Tudor-style building has undergone extensive remodeling and updating over the past two years.

The staff will honor your wishes in a dignified, compassionate and caring way.

Please call (651) 224-2341 for more information on services we offer in advance of need and personalized funeral and cremation services.

Senior Housing

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

5B

Regina Medical Center in historic Hastings

New Senior Home 55+ 1 month free rent Open House April 10 — Noon-2:30 p.m.

Refreshments

Regina Medical Center offers a continuum of care that includes a continuum of Senior Living options. Our campus offers assisted living, memory care, an adult day program, care suites, nursing home and transitional care with a senior therapy center and a variety of professional services brought on-site for the convenience of our residents and their families.

Since 1965, we have been caring for seniors with love, respect and dignity, instilling a sense of purpose.

Our health care campus conveniently offers senior living options as well as a hospital, affiliated clinics, pharmacy, therapy, dining and party rooms, shopping and a chapel, all under one roof. We believe a history of quality care and the convenience of service options help residents remain independent so they can live life to the fullest.

For information, please call (651) 480-4333 or visit WWW.REGINAMEDICAL.ORG.

Epiphany Senior Housing

RiverVillage a Vital Member of the Community

providing the care, housing and services needed to continue living fully and with dignity.

RiverVillage is part of Catholic Eldercare’s full continuum-of-care featuring:

Epiphany Senior Housing is a nurturing and caring senior housing community located in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, just minutes north of the Minneapolis metro area. We are linked to the Church of the Epiphany and offer independent senior living at Epiphany Pines and Assisted Living and Memory Care as well. Whether busy with your family and new or old friends, you will enjoy living at Epiphany Senior Housing. Just like your old neighborhood, you can’t describe it. You have to feel it. Come soon to visit and feel the comfort of community again. Our health care services are tailored to meet individual needs and can be adjusted as those needs change. Epiphany Assisted Living has created a distinctive memory care neighborhood for those with memory loss and dementia.

We would love the opportunity to speak with you and learn more about your personal needs and explain our many appealing features and services. Call to schedule a tour!

Assisted Living designed to meet the needs of adults 62+ with a diverse variety of services, programs and activities.

Memory Care providing stimulating programs and activities designed specifically for memory impaired seniors.

Catholic Eldercare Community resources and programs are available to RiverVillage residents.

Community Outreach integrating the RiverVillage community with the community at large.

Contact RiverVillage for a comprehensive description of facilities and services

RiverVillage

612-605-2500

2919 Randolph Street NE Minneapolis

a member of the Catholic Eldercare Community th li ld

The Catholic Spirit Heaven knows there’s nothing like it.

For more information, call 763-772-1066 or visit, WWW.EPIPHANYSENIORHOUSING.ORG.

6B

Senior Housing

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Independent Senior Living The Perfect Place to Call Home Walking distance to St. Jerome’s Church

On Roselawn • Elevator • Controlled Access Entry • Washer and Dryer in Each Unit • Underground Parking Included • Storage Included

• Gracious, Carefree Living • Guest Suite • Exercise Room • Community Room with Full Kitchen • On-Site Management

r st ff fi t o 0 n $25 ths re mon

Catholic Eldercare Celebrate lifelong living at Catholic Eldercare in the heart of northeast Minneapolis. Enjoy the residential neighborhoods rich in culture, history and recreation, which surround comfortable senior apartments. There is quality care available at every level, and engaging, faith-filled programs that challenge and delight. Choose from independent living, adult day programming, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing care.

For more information, call (612) 379-1370 or visit WWW.CATHOLICELDERCARE.ORG.

Highway 35E to Roselawn, 1/4 Mile East on Roselawn at Desoto Street

1901 Desoto Street, Maplewood, MN 55117

Call 651-248-8624 for information and to arrange a tour www.AzureProperties.com

“Where neighbors are friends, and people really care.”

St. Benedict’s Senior Community — Monticello St. Benedict’s Senior Community’s mission is “Our actions are guided by the belief that ‘All Shall Be Treated as Christ.’”

With foundational values and beliefs rooted in the tradition of the Catholic faith, St. Benedict’s Senior Community welcomes people of all faiths.

Our campus features: ■ Retirement, assisted living and memory care apartments.

■ Amenities such as a chapel, theater, general store, fitness center, club room and enclosed outdoor courtyard.

Call (763) 295-4051 for a tour.

Epiphany Pines Independent Senior Housing 1800 111th Ave NW. Coon Rapids

Assisted Living & Memory Care 10955 Hanson Blvd., NW Coon Rapids

A senior community nestled in a beautiful wildlife setting.

Call for a tour! 763.772.1066 www.epiphanyseniorhousing.org

John E. Trojack Law Office, P.A. Using counseling-oriented estate planning, John E. Trojack and his associate attorney, Joseph E. Trojack, will work hard to help you give “what you own, to whom you want, when you want, and the way you want.”

To ensure an “estate plan that works,” they help you establish and maintain a formal updating program.

And, the office assures you of fully-disclosed and controlled costs.

For more information, call (651) 451-9696.

Ecumen Lakeview Commons offers you Assisted Living Enhanced Care Suites • Memory Care Call Joyce Aakre for a tour at (651) 773-7150 Located in Maplewood at 1200 Lakewood Drive N. (corner of McKnight and Maryland)

Senior Housing Episcopal Homes Episcopal Homes has a variety of senior housing available in St. Paul.

Following is a brief description of senior living residences.

Episcopal Church Home Nursing and short-term rehab care in a faith-based, not-for-profit.

Medicare/Medicaid certified. Our mission is to support each individual’s physical, social and spiritual needs.

One of our chaplains is from the Roman Catholic tradition.

Weekly Catholic Communion and rosary, plus monthly Catholic Mass.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 646-4061 for a tour.

Iris Park Commons

MARCH 31, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT on a continuing care campus with all the long and short-term care they may ever need. We offer 47 one or twobedroom apartments, community spaces and a lively resident council that organizes social events.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 288-3931 for a tour.

Saint Therese in New Hope, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview Experience the blessing of Saint Therese, with communities in New Hope, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview.

Saint Therese, established in 1968, is a Catholic nonprofit serving seniors at every stage. In addition to pleasant, carefree apartment living, dependable assisted living services and expert nursing care, Saint Therese has also become a leader in rehabilitative therapy for those recuperating from surgery.

New to the family is Saint Therese at St. Odilia in Shoreview, where individuals with an end-stage chronic or terminal illness are provided with palliative care services in a unique, serene setting near St. Odilia Church.

Seabury Affordable independent living, age 62-plus. Recognized as one of the finest HUD-subsidized senior housing facilities in the nation. Forty-nine onebedroom apartments with central air conditioning. Episcopal Homes believes that limited income need not mean limited quality of life.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 379-5102 for a tour.

Carty Heights

“A Community of Heart� with 59 one/two bedroom and studio apartments and a flexible menu of Assisted Living services for age 62-plus.

Catholic Communion every Sunday, plus weekly Communion, rosary and monthly Mass next door at Episcopal Church Home. Scheduled transportation for shopping and social outings.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 646-1026 for a tour.

Affordable independent living for age 62-plus at University and Lexington.

Although located away from the Episcopal Homes campus, Carty Heights residents enjoy the same priority access to our programs and services as campus residents.

Forty-nine one-bedroom airconditioned apartments.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 288-1142 for a tour.

Cornelia House

Kings Crossing

Gracious living for independent adults age 62-plus. Residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes from living

Affordable independent living for age 62-plus. Kings Crossing apartments opened March 1, 2011. They’re located

Visit WWW.STTHERESEMN.ORG or call (763) 531-5000 for detailed information.

above the shops of Frogtown Square at University & Dale.

Residents enjoy the same priority access to our programs and services as residents of our home campus. Fortynine one-bedroom air-conditioned apartments.

Visit WWW.EPISCOPALHOMES.ORG or call (651) 493-4606 for a tour.

Kessler & Maguire

Support That Fits Your Life.

Community Based Aging Services The Wilder Foundation offers a variety of aging services including: t "EVMU %BZ )FBMUI (FOFSBM .FNPSZ -PTT

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FOOT CARE In the privacy of your home Services include • Foot Bath • Trim toenails, • Remove corns, callouses • Foot massage

Call Shelly at

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact:

651-501-0624 FOOTWORKS www.wilder.org

7B

Licensed and Insured

Funeral and Cremation Services Serving Families since 1916 At Need * Preneed * Cremation

“A Life Well Lived is Worth Remembering�

Call for information and receive a free planning booklet to help you guide your family through difficult times.

(651) 224-2341

TheCatholicSpirit.com

640 West 7th St. at St. Clair St. Paul, MN 55102 E-mail: info@kesslermaguire.com

A Continuum of Services in a Caring Family Environment www.CrestViewCares.org

Since 1952 Crest View has provided Senior Services: Senior Housing Assisted Living & Memory Care Skilled Care Services: Follow The Catholic Spirit on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CatholicSpirit

• Short Term Rehab • Home Health Care

Columbia Heights Blaine (Under development)

763.782.1601

8B

Senior Housing

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 31, 2011

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels

St. Therese Southwest

Washburn-McReavy Funeral Chapels is the oldest family-owned funeral business in Minnesota.

Established in 1857, before Minnesota became a state, Washburn-McReavy is a fourth generation business.

Quality, personal service, and funeral and cremation services are available at all of our chapels.

Call (612) 377-2203 for a brochure or visit WWW.WASHBURN-MCREAVY.COM.

St. Therese Southwest is a retirement community located in Hopkins on 14 breathtaking acres of weeping willows and walking paths. The campus provides the feeling of living in the country with the benefit of being close to the city. We provide a spiritual environment in which people of all faiths are welcome. Catholic Mass is offered, as well as Protestant services weekly.

Lifestyle options include: independent living, assisted living, memory care, and adult day program.

For more information, please call (952) 9333333 or visit WWW.STTHERESESW.COM. Also, opening fall, 2011, taking reservations: A retirement community for adults 62-plus in Minnetonka’s Glen Lake neighborhood.

For more information and brochures, call (952) 607-3706 WWW.THEGLENNSENIOR HOUSING.COM.

Franciscan Health Community

Attend daily Mass within steps of your home.

Cerenity Senior Care – Marian of Saint Paul is a continuum of care campus that provides every level of care for you or your loved one.

Independent Living Short-stay Rehabilitation

Assisted Living

Memory Care

Skilled Nursing

Adult Day Center

Please call 651-793-2100 today to schedule a tour.

You’ll enjoy quality, secure living in your apartment home when you move to Riverview Highlands or Highlands on Graham in St. Paul’s beautiful Highland Park neighborhood. Move in by July 1 and your first month’s rent is free!

Many apartments have river views, and shopping amenities are moments away.

Choose from one-, two- or threebedroom apartments in a friendly, independent living environment.

Additional services are available as needed to help residents maintain their greatest level of independence.

Franciscan Health Community residents enjoy quality care and engaging programs that bring a special zest to daily living.

For more information, please call (651) 695-4100 or visit WWW.FRANCISCANCARE.ORG.

Follow us on Facebook:

www.facebook.com /TheCatholicSpirit

www.CerenitySeniorCare.org

r Seniors Since 196 o f g n i r Ca Assisted Living, Memory Care, Care Suites, Adult Day Program, 5 Nursing Home & Transitional Care • • • • • • • • • • •

1175 Nininger Road • Hastings, MN 55033 651-480-4333 • www.reginamedical.org

24-hr. nursing care services Senior Therapy Center Dental and Podiatry on-site Chapel with daily Mass and weekly ecumenical services Daily activities/social events Beauty/Barber Shop Media Center gs Openin le Country Store b Availa Paul’s Pub Community Center Beautiful gardens

651-480-4333

Offering the convenience of an entire health care campus including hospital, clinics, pharmacy and therapy

Nokomis Square Cooperative Nokomis Square Cooperative is nestled in a comfortable and quiet south Minneapolis neighborhood.

Ideally situated between Lake Nokomis and Minnehaha Park, you’ll have just a short walk to a post office, library, several banks, churches, supermarket and shops. We’re convenient to public transportation including the Hiawatha Light Rail Line.

Our solid concrete and steel construction and experienced maintenance staff provide a carefree, well-kept environment. Join a community that works to encourage independence and enhance daily living with outstanding amenities and many opportunities to enjoy life.

From the seven floor atrium to underground parking, you’ll love calling Nokomis Square Cooperative “home.”