The Catholic Spirit - March 29, 2012 by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co.

Poor are focus of Day on the Hill

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

The Catholic Spirit

March 29, 2012

Catholics and ‘all people of faith’ urged to pray for religious liberty Catholic News Service The U.S. bishops are urging Catholics and “all people of faith” across the nation to join them in prayer and fasting for religious freedom and conscience protection. Among current threats to religious liberty, they said, is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate that forces employers, including religious ones, Minnesotans to provide coverage of rally in contraception/sterilization in their health St. Paul plans. — Page 3 The bishops have asked Catholics and others to join them in “prayer and penance for our leaders and for the complete protection of our first freedom — religious liberty — which is not only protected in the laws and customs of our great nation, but rooted in the teachings of our great tradition.” Prayer and other resources have been posted on the USCCB website, WWW.USCCB. ORG/ISSUES-AND-ACTION/RELIGIOUSLIBERTY/CONSCIENCE-PROTECTION/RESOURCESON-CONSCIENCE-PROTECTION.CFM. “Prayer for Religious Liberty” cards are available on the site as a downloadable PDF file. The cards are in English and Spanish and feature three different images: Mary as the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the U.S.; Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn; and St. Thomas More, the patron saint of the legal profession who was martyred for standing up for his religious beliefs. “Prayer is the ultimate source of our strength — for without God, we can do nothing; but with God, all things are

News with a Catholic heart

Pope visits Mexico, Cuba

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A week to be refreshed, renewed The liturgies of Holy Week are among the most elaborate and most meaningful of the entire year. Turn to page 2 to read Archbishop John Nienstedt’s column about the drama of Holy Week. Then see pages 14 and 17 for suggestions about how to deepen your Holy Week experience as well as a meditation on the Holy Land places associated with Jesus’ death and Easter resurrection.

PLEASE TURN TO RALLIES ON PAGE 9

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Father James Perkl processes down the aisle with the Easter Candle during last year’s Easter Vigil at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings.

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Drawn into the drama of Holy Week

That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt

We are invited, in short, to walk with Jesus as he shows us the way of love, the path to our salvation

I am not one to watch much television with the exception of the evening news. Yet, even I am aware of the tremendous popularity that reality TV is experiencing in our society today. Viewers are being drawn into live experiences with shows like “Dancing with the Stars” or “Survivor,” “The Apprentice” or “American Idol.” In today’s liturgy and those that follow during this Holy Week, we are called to participate in the church’s liturgy in a way that is every bit as intense as our commitment to reality TV, and every bit as “real” as the participants in these popular shows. We need to be drawn into this drama, the drama of our salvation. We must consider ourselves active participants in the drama of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection. We enter into the Passion of Jesus in such a way as to be moved toward genuine conversion and transformation.

Being there On Palm Sunday, for example, we should not be merely listening passively to the account of Jesus’ triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Rather, we should see ourselves standing on the Mount of Olives, waving a palm branch in our hand as we watch Jesus pass by. On Thursday of next week, we should find ourselves seated next to Judas at the Last Supper, watching intently as Jesus takes bread, blesses

The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit’s mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It seeks to inform, educate, evangelize and foster a spirit of community within the Catholic Church by disseminating news in a professional manner and serving as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues.

Archbishop Nienstedt’s schedule ■ Saturday, March 31: 8 a.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Mass and Archdiocesan Men’s Conference. ■ Sunday, April 1: 9 a.m., Northfield, Church of the Annunciation: Palm Sunday Liturgy. ■ Monday, April 2: 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 with seminarians. ■ Tuesday, April 3: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff. 1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Cabinet meeting. 3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with archdiocesan Office of Parish Services. ■ Wednesday, April 4: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Planning for “lectio divina” at the University of St. Thomas. ■ Thursday, April 5: 7 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Mass of the Lord’s Supper. ■ Friday, April 6: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Midway area next to Planned Parenthood’s new facility: Annual Good Friday vigil. 3:00 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Solemn celebration of the Lord’s Passion. ■ Saturday, April 7: 8 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Easter Vigil. ■ Sunday, April 8: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of st. Paul: Easter Liturgy.

and distributes it saying, “Take and eat, this is my Body.” And then the cup, “Take and drink, this is my Blood.” Or later on Holy Thursday night before the Altar of Repose, we should see ourselves trying to stay awake with Peter, James and John as Jesus prays, “Father, let this cup pass by

Myser Initiative on Catholic Identity Series

JOE TOWALSKI Editor

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

PLEASE TURN TO LET ON PAGE 22

SIXTH ANNUAL LECTURE AND AWARD

MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher

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

And on Good Friday, we should envision ourselves standing at the foot of the cross with St. John, our Blessed Lady and the holy women, listening to Jesus cry, “My God, my

Living our Catholic Values

Vol. 17 — No. 7

BOB ZYSKOWSKI Associate publisher

me. Still, let it be as you would have it, not as I.”

CAROLYN WOO, Ph.D. President and CEO, Catholic Relief Services

Common Good, Uncommon Excellence President and CEO of a leading international relief service, former dean of the business school at Notre Dame and a prominent Catholic lay leader, Dr. Woo will discuss the global challenges encountered in the faith-based humanitarian work of Catholic Relief Services.

Obituaries Father Joseph Kivel served area parishes Father Joseph Kivel, 77, died March 11. He was born May 20, 1934, and ordained a priest Feb. 19, 1961. Father Kivel retired from active ministry Nov. 28, 2003. He most recently served as chaplain of Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis and last served as pastor of Ss. Cyril and Methodius and St. Anthony of Padua, both in Minneapolis. He also served at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, St. Richard and St. Peter in Richfield, St. Michael in West St. Paul, Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis and St. Mary in Waverly. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 19 at St. Anthony of Padua with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.

Father Leo Dolan served archdiocese nearly 60 years Father Leo Dolan, 85, died March 22. He was born Jan. 26, 1927, in St. Paul and ordained a priest June 7, 1952. He retired from active ministry Jan. 1, 1994, after helping revive St. John parish in St. Paul, where he served as pastor from 1985 until his retirement. During his nearly 60 years as a priest, Father Dolan taught at Catholic high schools and St. Thomas College (now University of St. Thomas), where he served as a counselor, and in parish ministry. A funeral Mass was celebrated March 27 at St. John, with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.

Correction ■ On the March 15 Arts & Culture page, the cutline should have said: Left, Mary Blackman (sixth-grader) watches as “Guys and Dolls” director Peg Pavek adjusts the costume on Anders Gulbrandson (fifth-grader). ■ In a March 15 article about Latino ministry initiatives in the archdiocese, the leadership program referred to is an adaptation of “Called by Name: Latino Leaders for Church and Society,” a program created by the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry and implemented by the Mexican American Catholic College.

Thursday, April 19 | 7 p.m. The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul campus Free and open to the public Tickets are required | 651-690-6700 www.stkate.edu

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“It’s not about contraception, it’s about our religious rights and religious liberty.” Kathy Nelson of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina, explaining her opposition to the Health and Human Services mandate

Local MARCH 29, 2012

News from around the archdiocese

The Catholic Spirit

2,000 stand up for religious freedom at rally By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

Kathy Nelson of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina is not a teacher. Yet, she felt compelled to act like one at the Federal Building in downtown St. Paul March 23. She joined an estimated crowd of 2,000 to stand up for religious freedom. Nelson came with her friend, Sue Wagener of St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth, to protest the Obama administration’s Health and Human Services mandate, which forces all employers, including most religious employers, to offer no-cost contraceptive coverage and sterilizations through their health plans even if it violates their beliefs. “I want to educate people that it’s not about contraception, it’s about our religious rights and religious liberty,” said Nelson, who sat in the plaza holding a sign as people filed in for the noon rally. “We’ve got to educate the world. It’s happening right under our feet. We’ve got to stand up now.”

Powerful sign Nelson’s latter comment echoed the banner that hung at the rear of a platform from which featured speakers delivered remarks designed both to educate those in attendance and inspire them to action. It read: “Stand Up For Religious Freedom.” One of the guest speakers was Bishop John Quinn of Winona. He led prayer at the start of the rally and spoke on behalf of the state’s bishops. Clearly, he was pleased by the size of the crowd gathered in the plaza of the federal building. “How powerful a sign it is to see you all here. This is great. This says to the world that we care about religious freedom,” he said. “It’s time to take back our freedom, to be able to say we are faithful citizens, we are defending the constitution and we want our religious rights.” The local gathering was part of a national effort, with rallies taking place in 143 cities across the country, according to Catholic News Service. The national “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” initiative was organized by PLEASE TURN TO BISHOP ON ON PAGE 13

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Those attending a rally for religious freedom at the Warren E. Burger Federal Building in downtown St. Paul March 23 express their displeasure with President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services mandate. The rally, organized by Pro-Life Action Ministries, was part of a joint effort held in 143 cities across the United States, and included speakers representing a variety of organizations and faith traditions.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

People of faith unite at Capitol to advocate for poor By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

“Today I’m looking at the face of God, for you are here to do God’s work. You are here to proclaim justice and the common good in the public square,” Rev. Alika Galloway, co-pastor of Kwanzaa Community Church in Minneapolis, told 750 people attending the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s “Day on the Hill” March 20. Members of Minnesota’s Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and Muslim communities gathered at the RiverCentre in St. Paul for the annual event to learn about current legislative issues and engage in discussion before yellow school buses transported them to the Capitol to meet with legislators. JRLC leaders briefed participants on several issues, including poverty initiatives, affordable housing, an impartial judiciary and protecting the social safety net, then gave them tips for presenting the JRLC’s positions to legislators. The issues were selected and agreed upon by the coalition’s board, which includes members of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Minnesota Council of Churches, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Islamic Center of Minnesota.

tradition are represented by the JRLC, he said. “We show our love for God by showing our love for one another, by loving the stranger even if we do not know her, by demanding justice for the orphan and the widow and providing them with food and clothing,” he said. “And that’s exactly what JRLC is all about. That’s why we’re here today.” Rubinyi asked those present to remain active during the entire legislative session. “Our work does not end today,” he said. Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, agreed. “Faithful citizenship is not just voting; it’s becoming an active participant in the grand experiment of self-government,” he said in an interview during the event. It’s a “powerful witness” when faith communities unite to demand justice and advocate for policies that promote human dignity and the common good, said Adkins, one of four Catholics serving on JRLC’s 16-member board. To stay informed during the legislative session, Adkins suggested that Catholics visit the JRLC website, JRLC.ORG, and join the Minnesota Catholic Advocacy Network, CAPWIZ.COM/MNCC/HOME.

”

REV. ALIKA GALLOWAY

Real-life classroom

Co-pastor of Kwanzaa Community Church in Minneapolis

Faith groups united At the convention center, priests and ministers in white collars mixed with women in hijabs, men in yarmulkes and others in plain clothes at circular tables representing Minnesota’s legislative districts. “Today we are patriotic strangers trying to connect around issues of poverty and the issues surrounding the safety net; homelessness; justice systems that are broken; and the insidious, insensitive assumption that only certain people in this nation have the right to eat and sleep in their own bed and send their children to day care and not have to trade sex for a loaf of bread or a diaper,” Galloway trumpeted,

Photo courtesy of Alison Bents Photorgaphy

Rev. Alika Galloway, co-pastor of Kwanzaa Community Church in Minneapolis, gave the keynote speech at JRLC’s annual “Day on the Hill” March 20.

her keynote speech punctuated by shouts of “amen” and cheers from the crowd. She encouraged audience members to stand up for their beliefs, even though it may be difficult. “There are three kinds of patriots: two bad, one good,” she said. “The bad ones are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. Good patriots carry out a lovers’ quarrel with their country. . . . So today on the hill we are all here to have a lovers’ quarrel with our legislators.

WEEKEND DISCERNMENT RETREAT Friday, April 20, 5:00 p.m. to Sunday April 22, 1:00 p.m. St. Scholastica Monastery, Duluth, MN 55811 Single Catholic women ages 18-45 are invited to an informative weekend retreat that will include sessions on prayer, discernment, the meaning of a religious vocation, opportunities available, a chance to experience life in a Benedictine monastery and to visit with Sisters and women currently in formation.

“We love this nation and our city and our state enough to practice a type of tough love that demands a reciprocal justice for the nation’s poor, for the least, for the left behind, for the locked out, and for the lonely.” Many groups descend on the Capitol to advocate for issues, but only one group — JRLC — represents Minnesota’s faith communities united, JRLC board member Bob Rubinyi said in a speech. Some 80 percent of Minnesotans who identify with a faith

Matthew Goldammer, a senior at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, got a taste of government in action at Day on the Hill along with about 30 of his classmates, who stood out in the crowd dressed in their military-style school uniforms. Goldammer said he had been learning about the legislative process and discussing the issues of the day in his Advanced Placement government class to prepare for the event. During the 18-year-old’s first visit to the Capitol, he met with Sen. Richard Cohen (DFL-St. Paul) and witnessed a Senate session and Finance Committee meeting. PLEASE TURN TO CATHOLICS ON PAGE 13

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Local New communications director to tap all media for the church

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Radio host broadcasts national show from Holy Angels

By Pat Norby The Catholic Spirit

Sarah Mealey, the newly named communications director for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said she is “convinced that this is what I’m being called to do.” “I view it as an honor to be able to come in the position and work with a great team,” said Mealey, who will start working part time April 9 and full time April 16. She brings years of experience in strategizing, communications, marketing and finance, most recently with Ameriprise Financial, where she is the vice president of Ameriprise MEALEY Franchise Group strategy and field execution. “My job is — as the right hand to the president of the franchise business — to help think through the business strategy of the franchise operation and to think through the best ways to help it grow and succeed in order to serve the 1.5 million clients that we serve across the country,” Mealey said. Dealing with 7,500 franchisees across the country requires a lot of communication, she added. As the director of archdiocesan communications, Mealey is charged with pulling together all the communications efforts for the archdiocese “so we have a more cohesive and consistent and compelling message for parishioners across the archdiocese, and for the larger public and our cohorts in the media.” The ultimate vision and goal, she said, is to make Christ and his church known and loved.

Web, social media, print, all vital “To do that we have to pull together all the various ways to communicate, the audiences, and the content,” she said. “In 2012, we have an unprecedented number of media for us to use, whether it’s the biweekly Catholic Spirit newspaper or various news sites to blogging to Facebook and other social media.” “Social media is — and will continue to grow as — a critical means of reaching people both within the church and outside the church,” Mealey said. “We want to dive in and be a part of it. . . . Christ always shines his light into the darkness. And we need to be that light and we need to use social media to accomplish that.” The archdiocesan websites are an integral part of the communication strategy, not only as a portal into news and information, but as a reliable resource for education and formation, she said. But, diving into the Internet and social media does not mean abandoning print media. “Many Catholics find that the biweekly print newspaper — and I’m one of them — is an integral part of their interaction with the church,” Mealey said. “I think The Catholic Spirit is doing a lot of really good work, whether it’s the print version of the newspaper, the push strategy with email getting the online version out, the website, Catholic Hotdish [blogs] — all of it is on the right track.” One of her major challenges and goals as communications director is to reach out to young people and help them see the truth and the beauty of the Catholic faith. It is also a personal goal for Mealey and her husband of 22 years, Patrick. The couple has four children: Thomas, 21, a junior at Notre Dame; Kevin, 18, a freshman at the University of St. Thomas; Claire, 15, a sophomore at Trinity School in Eagan; and Kate, 9, a fourth-grader at Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park, where they are parishioners. “I am enormously blessed by the gift of my husband — Patrick — he’s a wonderful guy,” she said. “The more we can play a role in helping them ignite their passion for the faith, the more that all of us play a role in helping secure the future of the church.”

By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

What’s the biggest challenge priests face? Why do Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest? Would it be wrong for a Catholic to vote “no” on the marriage amendment? These are just a few of the questions students at Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield asked Father Francis Hoffman, aka “Father Rocky,” during a live broadcast of Relevant Radio’s “Go Ask Your Father” show March 22 at the school. About once a month, the Chicago priest takes his show on the road to Catholic high schools, and sometimes even to bars, to give teens and young adults an opportunity to ask their faith-related questions. Previous shows have been broadcast from Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria and Saint Agnes School in St. Paul. The value of the question-and-answer program, Father Hoffman told The Catholic Spirit, is “it shows that as a church we are willing and able to engage in forthright and honest discussion. “This is part of evangelization,” he said as his crew packed up its equipment in Holy Angels’ gymnasium after the broadcast. Some of the questions asked during the show deal with controversial subjects, and not everyone will agree with the church’s positions, Father Hoffman acknowledged. But it’s important for the church to explain its teachings as clearly as possible and engage people in dialogue, he said. “When Jesus taught, he answered questions — and not everybody always agreed with what he had to say,” Father Hoffman pointed out. Father Mike Tix, chaplain at Holy Angels, agreed that asking questions in an honest attempt to understand the church’s teachings is healthy for both teens and adults. “I think it’s always good for kids to ask questions,” Father Tix said. “Some of the same questions that they’re asking are on the minds of . . . adults as well.”

From politics to chastity Just before noon, Father Hoffman put on his headphones to begin the hour-long show. About 150 juniors and seniors wearing navy blue uniforms sat quietly in long lines of folding chairs as students stepped up to the podium to pose their questions to the priest. Father Hoffman bantered with several students as they took the microphone, asking them if they played sports or if they had their driver’s license yet. A few times he turned the students’ questions back to them, asking what they thought before giving his own answer.

Above, senior Emily Ciabbatoni, center, directs a question to Father Francis Hoffman, known as “Father Rocky,” during a radio broadcast from the school gym March 22. Junior Madeline Esterl, left, and senior David Knutson await their turn. Left, Father Rocky answers students’ questions on the air. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Many of the students’ questions centered on current issues, like same-sex marriage and politics, as well as timeless topics relevant to teenagers, such as chastity. One student asked if it would be wrong for a Catholic to vote against the proposed state constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman, which will appear on the ballot in Minnesota and has received the backing of the archdiocese. When Father Hoffman asked the girl her opinion, she said she didn’t see a problem with voting against the amendment. After a brief explanation of the church’s teaching on marriage, Father Hoffman turned to the student and said, “You’ve got a good heart, I can see that.” Then he encouraged her to continue thinking about the church’s position on the issue. Another student asked: “How can we follow church teachings but still live modern lives?” Father Hoffman gave the example of an avid skier he knows who uses high-tech goggles. He also attends daily Mass, the priest pointed out. “Don’t be afraid of technology, inventions,” Father Hoffman said, “. . . but always they have to be at the service of the human person.” After each break in the show, Father Hoffman extolled the benefits of Catholic education. He praised Holy Angels’ average ACT score of 25, the fact that 97 percent of Holy Angels graduates go on to college, and the students’ commitment to community service. After the show, several students approached Father Hoffman to express their gratitude and to ask additional questions. “Go Ask Your Father” reaches an estimated 50,000 listeners daily on Relevant Radio’s affiliate stations across the country, according to Father Hoffman. “Go Ask Your Father” airs weekdays from noon to 1 p.m. CST on AM 1330. The broadcast from Holy Angels is available for streaming or downloading from Relevant Radio’s website. Go to HTTP://RELEVANTRADIO.COM/AUDIOS/GO-ASK-YOURFATHER.

Local

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT â&#x20AC;˘ MARCH 29, 2012

Timely tips to build great families through faith, integrity, respect By Jennifer Janikula

The power of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

The Catholic Spirit

As a parent, no matter what the age of your children, you regularly question your approach. Am I too strict? Do I model honesty and integrity? Can I teach my children to love each other? For the wildest of the bunch, you may even question if they will end up on the right side of the law. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s difficult to gauge your progress. It may take 20 or 30 years before you know whether or not you STENSON did a good job. But according to Jim Stenson, education consultant and international speaker, parents can lead families to greatness. Stenson, who has spent much of his career studying â&#x20AC;&#x153;great families,â&#x20AC;? shared his findings March 24 at the annual archdiocesan Family Forum, sponsored by the Office of Marriage, Family and Life. About 70 people gathered at St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Church in Mendota Heights to learn how to build families filled with faith, integrity and respect. According to Stenson, parents in great families look forward. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the beginning, they see themselves raising adults not children. They consider what it will take to get children to adulthood â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to develop self-control, faith, hope, charity and tough-minded-

ASK. EXPLORE.

The following rules from â&#x20AC;&#x153;healthy familiesâ&#x20AC;? were gathered by education consultant Jim Stenson. The rules fall under five general categories defined by Stenson: We respect the rights and sensibilities of others. â&#x2013; We never lie to each other. â&#x2013; We respect each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s property and right to privacy. We all contribute to making our home a clean, orderly, civilized place to live. â&#x2013; We do our house chores promptly and to the best of our ability. We give people information they need to carry out their responsibilities. â&#x2013; We always inform where we are going, with whom, and when we will return. We use electronic media only to promote family welfare. â&#x2013; We use TV and video-gadgets sparingly and discerningly. We love and honor our creator above all things. â&#x2013; We thank the Lord by worshipping him together as a family. â&#x2013; We serve the Lord by serving others. See the entire list of rules at WWW.PARENTLEADERSHIP.COM. ness,â&#x20AC;? he said. More specifically, Stenson challenges parents to think about their children as someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spouse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You must prepare your children for a permanent and stable marriage,â&#x20AC;? he said. He asked forum participants if their children are considerate, if they know the value of hard work, and if they pick up after themselves.

Building a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; family Over the years, Stenson has collected a list of rules that seem to be common to many successful families. The most inter-

The big questions.

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esting finding â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the rules begin with the word â&#x20AC;&#x153;weâ&#x20AC;? not â&#x20AC;&#x153;you.â&#x20AC;? This means that all members of the family, including the parents, strive to follow the rules. Stenson calls this the â&#x20AC;&#x153;power of we,â&#x20AC;? explaining that active family rules form the framework for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character. The rules encourage families to love and honor God, to care for each other, to serve and respect others and to work together to maintain the home, he said. Stenson said that God gave parents the right and duty to lead their families. Parents shape the habits of their chil-

dren and guide them from dependence to interdependence and thoughtfulness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;By age 5, the children need to know that mom and dad are in charge,â&#x20AC;? Stenson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Parents need to help their children develop good habits.â&#x20AC;? Simple words can help create good habits and build character, he said. The most important words are: â&#x20AC;&#x153;no,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;please,â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank youâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;I give my word.â&#x20AC;? Learning to say no can be difficult for parents, but Stenson said that saying no will help children develop self-control.

No is a loving word â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Noâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; is a loving word and children need to hear it from time to time. If they hear it from their parents, then they might be able to say no when their parents are not present. It might save their lives,â&#x20AC;? he said. The words â&#x20AC;&#x153;pleaseâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;thank youâ&#x20AC;? create a habit of respect and gratitude, he said. Parents instill those habits when speaking to each other and to their children. Saying â&#x20AC;&#x153;I give my wordâ&#x20AC;? encourages integrity, which Stenson defines as â&#x20AC;&#x153;oneness of intention of word and actionâ&#x20AC;? and is the foundation of the family. A mother of seven children, all under the age of 9, asked Stenson how she was supposed to get beyond the day-to-day madness and focus on building character. Stenson encouraged her to focus on the two oldest children because values and good habits trickle down. He also consoled her, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Don't try to stay on top of every detail. You will go crazy. . . . Ask God to change you and to help you lead them.â&#x20AC;?

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

Know a good Catholic boss? Nominate an owner, manager or supervisor for Leading With Faith Awards

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Nominating is easy

Nominations are open for The Catholic Spirit’s 2012 Leading With Faith Awards, presented each year to Catholic managers, owners — anyone with supervisory responsibility who lives or works in the 12-county Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and brings their faith into the marketplace and their community. The awards recognize those with management responsibilities who influence the workplace through business practices that reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ and his church and who share of themselves in their parish and/or wider community. Over the past 10 years The Catholic Spirit has honored more than 100 people who bring their Catholic faith to the workplace and who generously share the gifts God has given them. In past years honorees have included people like Sara Gavin of Weber Shandwick, Jim Oricchio of Coordinated Business Systems, Ron Rygwalski of Ron’s Towing and Service, Jerry Wind of Home Traditions, Jean Delaney Nelson of Securian Financial and Ed and Kathy Gorman

All it takes to nominate someone is filling out a one-page nomination form and the willingness to talk with a Catholic Spirit staff person about your nominee. ■ Go to THE C ATHOLIC S PIRIT. COM and click on the Leading With Faith logo or story on the webpage and print a copy of the nomination form; ■ Call (651) 251-7709 or email GIBBSM@ARCHSPM.ORG to request a nomination form, and one will be mailed to you. A panel of judges will choose awardees in three categories — large business (50 or more employees), small business and nonprofit organizations. Archbishop John Nienstedt will present the awards at a luncheon in late summer. Add the name of a worthy Catholic leader you know, won’t you? Deadline for nominations is Tuesday, May 1. The Catholic Spirit’s Leading with Faith Awards have been made possible by the sponsorship of Nuveen Asset Management (affiliated with US Bank), Catholic United Financial, the Catholic Community Foundation and the local chapter of Legatus.

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Center for Catholic Studies

Minnesota Catholic Directory available The Catholic Spirit The 2012 Official Minnesota Catholic Directory — 368 pages of information to help you connect with people and get to churches and institutions across the state — is on sale now. The official state Catholic directory is a resource for everything Catholic in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, website URLs for parishes, ministries, schools and dioceses all across Minnesota are in one handy, spiral-bound book. Complete parish listings include Mass times, ministry personnel, contact points and driving directions for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Dioceses of Crookston, Duluth, New Ulm, St. Cloud and Winona. Priests, deacons and men and women religious who serve in Minnesota are all listed by name. The directory lets readers know who to contact and how to reach them at every Catholic school, institution and ministry, and dozens of organizations and associations that operate under Catholic auspices across the state. The Official Minnesota Catholic Directory has been published since 1962 by

The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co. and its predecessor, the Catholic Bulletin Publishing Co. This year, once again, the directory is published with the assistance and sponsorship of Catholic Finance Corporation, which furthers the mission and the ministry of the Catholic Church by assisting parishes, schools and religious institutions and Catholic organizations with temporal matters.

Buy book, online access, or both For the past two years, the Minnesota Catholic Directory has been available online, too. Online subscriptions are always on sale at WWW.MNCATHOLICDIRECTORY.COM, including plans that combine both a print copy of the book plus online access. Want to check out the web directory? You can for free with the available onehour demo plan. To purchase the print 2012 Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, call (651) 291-4444, or order online at THECATHOLIC SPIRIT.COM. The directory retails for $44.95 (plus $3 postage and handling). To order by mail, send a check for $47.95 to: Minnesota Catholic Directory, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

“The church cannot separate the praise of God from service to others.” Pope Benedict XVI, speaking March 25 in Mexico

Nation/World 8

The Catholic Spirit

News from around the U.S. and the globe

MARCH 29, 2012

In Mexico, pope says social change will come with revival of faith By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

Visiting Latin America for the second time in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI offered a message of hope for social progress rooted in a revival of Catholic faith. The overriding message of the pope’s public statements during his three days in Mexico, March 23-26, was that this troubled country, and the region in general, cannot solve its problems — which include poverty, inequality, corruption and violence — by following the prescriptions of secular ideologies. Instead, the pope said, peace and justice in this world require a divinely inspired change in the human heart. “When addressing the deeper dimension of personal and community life, human strategies will not suffice to save us,” the pope said in his homily during an outdoor Mass at Guanajuato Bicentennial Park March 25. “We must have recourse to the one who alone can give life in its fullness, because he is the essence of life and its author.” Echoing his earlier critiques of liberation theology, a Marxist-influenced movement that found prominent supporters among Latin American Catholics during the 1970s and ‘80s, Pope Benedict told reporters accompanying him on the plane from Rome that the “church is not a political power, it is not a party . . . it is a moral reality, a moral power.”

Analysis

CNS photo / Paul Haring

A crowd packs Antonio Maceo Revolution Square as Pope Benedict XVI arrives in the popemobile to celebrate Mass in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, March 26.

Pope recognizes Cubans’ struggles By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

Celebrating an outdoor Mass on his first day in Cuba, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the struggles of the country’s Catholics after half a century of communism and described human freedom as a necessity for both salvation and social justice. The pope spoke March 26 in Antonio Maceo Revolution Square in Santiago de Cuba, the country’s second-largest city. He had arrived in the country a few hours earlier, after spending three days in Mexico. The Vatican had said the square would hold 200,000 people, and it was full; several thousand also filled the streets leading to the square. Cuban President Raul Castro, who welcomed the pope at the airport, sat in the front row for Mass.

‘Pilgrim of charity’ Tens of thousands of those at the Mass were wearing white T-shirts welcoming the pope as the “pilgrim of charity”; many wore baseball caps to protect them from the hot sun. Before the pope arrived in the popemobile, the original statue of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, Cuba’s patroness, was driven atop a white truck through the cheering crowd. The statue then was enthroned near the papal altar. In his homily, Pope Benedict recognized

More online For the latest news and additional stories about Pope Benedict XVI's March 23-28 pastoral visit to Mexico and Cuba, visit THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

the “effort, daring and self-sacrifice” required of Cuban Catholics “in the concrete circumstances of your country and at this moment in history.” Though now more tolerant of religious practice than in earlier decades, the communist state continues to prevent the construction of new churches and strictly limits Catholic access to state media. In a possible allusion to reports that the regime had prevented political opponents from attending the Mass, Pope Benedict extended his customary mention of those absent for reasons of age or health to include people who, “for other motives, are not able to join us.” Before the pope arrived, a man in the crowd shouted an anti-communist slogan and was immediately taken away. The pope painted a dire picture of a society without faith. “When God is set aside, the world be-

comes an inhospitable place for man,” he said. “Apart from God, we are alienated from ourselves and are hurled into the void. “Obedience to God is what opens the doors of the world to the truth, to salvation,” the pope said. “Redemption is always this process of the lifting up of the human will to full communion with the divine will.” Taking his theme from the day’s liturgical feast of the Annunciation, when Mary learned that she would conceive and bear the Son of God, the pope emphasized that fulfillment of the divine plan involved Mary’s free acceptance of her role. “Our God, coming into the world, wished to depend on the free consent of one of his creatures,” Pope Benedict said. “It is touching to see how God not only respects human freedom, he almost seems to require it.”

Sanctity of the family The most specific advice in the pope’s homily regarded a topic familiar to his listeners in the prosperous capitalist countries of Western Europe and North America: the sanctity of the “family founded on matrimony” as the “fundamental cell of society and an authentic domestic church.” After the Mass, the pope paid homage to Our Lady of Charity by placing at the statue a gold rose weighing more than a pound and standing almost a foot tall.

Call to justice and charity Yet the pope made it clear that he was not encouraging believers to withdraw into a private kind of piety uninvolved with worldly affairs. “The first job of the church is to educate consciences,” he said, “both in individual ethics and public ethics.” Christian hope, the pope told an audience that included Mexican President Felipe Calderon, does not merely console the faithful with the promise of personal immortality. The theological virtue of hope, he said, inspires Catholics to “transform the present structures and events that are less than satisfactory and seem immovable or insurmountable, while also helping those who do not see meaning or a future in life.” The practical expression of this inspiration, the pope said, is the church’s extensive charitable activities, which help “those who suffer from hunger, lack shelter, or are in need in some way in their life.”

Nation/World

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Rallies held in 143 cities to protest federal contraceptive mandate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 possible,” the bishops said in a March 14 statement titled “United for Religious Freedom.”

Rallies around U.S. Meanwhile, crowds of people gathered March 23 in front of U.S. courthouses, state capitols and historic sites to support religious freedom and protest a federal mandate they say violates that freedom by requiring most religious employers to provide no-cost contraceptive coverage even it is contrary to their beliefs. All of the events, held at noon local time in 143 cities, were part of a nationwide “Stand Up for Religious Freedom” rally organized by the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and Citizens for a ProLife Society, based in Michigan. About 55,000 people participated. In Washington, a rally was held in front of the Washington headquarters of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Rev. Patrick Mahoney, a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church who is director of the Christian Defense Coalition, opened it with a prayer. “We are here not with clenched fists but in humility before God,” he said, urging the crowd of about 2,000 to kneel on the paved area in front of the HHS building. “We are here because the faith community cannot be silent when it comes to human rights and we will never comply with an unjust order that violates our faith.” In Philadelphia, the rally took place outside of Independence Hall, the birthplace of American liberty. A large percentage of the 2,300 participants were

women, which seemed to contradict the prevailing view that a majority of U.S. women support the contraceptive mandate. Michelle Griffin, a registered nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of Holy Cross Parish in Mount Airy, Pa., was passing out literature at the rally, sponsored the Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in conjunction with organizations connected with the pro-life movement. “It is important to me as a health care provider to have those conscience clauses that will protect me as an individual in accordance with my conscience and not having to go against my conscience,” she told The Catholic Standard & Times, Philadelphia’s archdiocesan newspaper. Across the country in San Francisco, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone of Oakland, Calif., led the lineup of speakers who addressed close to 500 people outside the federal courthouse; the final crowd tally was 1,200. Tina Pallini, one of the organizers of the rally in the rotunda of the Brown County Courthouse in Green Bay, told The Compass, Green Bay’s diocesan newspaper: “Citizens are standing in prayer and public witness to affirm our religious freedom and to oppose the governmental mandate, an unprecedented and direct attack on our constitutional rights and our religious freedom.” The former diocesan respect life coordinator added: “We are here to stand up, to speak out, to pray and to say ‘no thank you’ to the mandate that infringes on our constitutional rights which our country was founded on.”

Briefly Bishop Lori named to Baltimore; new bishops named in Illinois, Florida Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., to be the new archbishop of Baltimore, and he also named new bishops for the dioceses of Rockford, Ill., and Pensacola-Tallahassee, Fla. The appointments and the resignation of 76-year-old Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford were announced in Washington March 20. ARCHBISHOP LORI Archbishop Lori, 60, has been the bishop of Bridgeport since March 2001. He is chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty. Msgr. David Malloy, 56, who was general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2006 to 2011, has been named bishop of Rockford. He is currently pastor of St. Francis de Sales Church in Lake Geneva, Wis. Father Gregory Parkes, vicar general of the Diocese of Orlando, Fla., and pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Celebration, Fla., was named bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee. He will turn 48 April 2.

Boys Town founder’s saint cause advances Father Edward Flanagan was declared a “servant of God” during a Mass March

17 at Immaculate Conception Church at Boys Town as the Archdiocese of Omaha formally opened the cause for sainthood for the founder of the home for troubled youths. In other developments: The Vatican is reviewing documents that would allow the cause of sainthood to go forward for Cora Evans, a wife, mother, and possible mystic who was baptized Catholic in 1935 after becoming disillusioned with the Mormon faith. The Diocese of Allentown, Pa., reported that the Vatican has given its formal approval for the canonization process to begin for Jesuit Father Walter Ciszek, a U.S.born priest who spent many years in Soviet labor camps and ministered clandestinely among the Siberian population after his release. The Diocese of Raleigh, N.C., opened the diocesan phase of the canonization cause of Maryknoll co-founder Father Thomas Frederick Price March 9.

Irish church is fighting abuse, Vatican says A Vatican-appointed investigation of the church in Ireland recognized serious shortcomings in the handling of accusations of the sexual abuse of minors, yet found that bishops, clergy and lay faithful are doing an “excellent” job in creating safe environments for children today. The investigators found that Irish bishops need to update their child protection guidelines, establish “more consistent admission criteria” for seminarians, and formulate policies on how best to deal with clergy and religious accused of abuse.

SUPERINTENDENT OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

THE CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OF BISMARCK, ND The five Catholic parishes of Bismarck, North Dakota are seeking a well qualified Catholic school administrator to lead and develop their newly formed Catholic school system. The well qualified candidate will be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church and meet the following BFOQs: ✓ Masters degree in educational administration or related educational field; PhD or EdD preferred. ✓ A minimum of 10 years current and successful experience in Catholic school administration which includes central office experience. ✓ A current ND superintendent credential or the ability to qualify. ✓ Expertise in school finance, marketing and development, public relations and the ability to implement and give vision to the strategic plan. The five parishes of Bismarck recently agreed to jointly operate their day care/preschool center, three elementary (PK-8) and one secondary school as the Light of Christ Catholic Schools of Excellence system. Under the leadership and vision of the superintendent the schools will form a system that exhibits a strong Catholic spirit, academic excellence and a sustainable funding model. Candidates should send a letter of interest, resume and salary requirements to: Catholic Education Consulting Services 13862 E. Grand Ave. Aurora, CO 80015; ATT: Bismarck Superintendent Search or bhboyle@me.com

It’s a taste of Catholic Minnesota!

CATHOLICHOTDISH.COM

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“Never do anything against conscience even if the state demands it.” Albert Einstein

This Catholic Life 10

Opinion, feedback and points to ponder

The Catholic Spirit

MARCH 29, 2012

What have you been giving up this Lent? The following column was written by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and first printed in The Catholic New World, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago. It is reprinted with permission. The Lenten rules about fasting from food and abstaining from meat have been considerably reduced in the last 40 years, but reminders of them remain in the fast days on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and in the abstinence from meat on all the Fridays of Lent. Beyond these common sacrifices that unite us spiritually to the passion of Christ, Catholics were and are encouraged to “give up” something voluntarily for the sake of others. Often this is money that could have been used for personal purposes and instead is given to help others, especially the poor. This year, the Catholic Church in the United States is being told she must “give up” her health care institutions, her universities and many of her social service organizations. This is not a voluntary sacrifice. It is the consequence of the already much discussed Department of Health and Human Services regulations now filed and promulgated for implementation beginning Aug. 1 of this year. Why does a governmental administrative decision now mean the end of institutions that have been built up over several generations from small donations, often from immigrants, and through the services of religious women and men and others who wanted to be part of the church’s mission in healing and education? Catholic hospitals, universities and social services have an institutional conscience, a conscience shaped by Catholic moral and social teaching. The HHS regulations now before our society will make it impossible for Catholic institutions to follow their conscience. So far in American history, our government has respected the freedom of individual conscience and of institutional integrity for all the many religious groups that shape our society. The government has not compelled them to perform or pay for what their faith tells them is immoral. That’s what we’ve meant by freedom of religion. That’s what we had believed was protected by the U.S. Constitution. Maybe we were foolish to believe so.

“The HHS regulations now before our society will make it impossible for Catholic institutions to follow their conscience.

”

CARDINAL FRANCIS GEORGE CNS photo / Mike Crupi, Catholic Courier

Practically, we’re told that the majority of Catholics use artificial contraception. There are properly medical reasons, in some circumstances, for the use of contraceptive pills, as everyone knows. But even if contraceptives were used by a majority of couples only and exclusively to suppress a possible pregnancy, behavior doesn’t determine morality. If it can be shown that a majority of Catholic students cheat on their exams, it is still wrong to cheat on exams. Trimming morality to how we behave guts the Gospel call to conversion of life and rejection of Unacceptable consequences sin. What will happen if the HHS regulations are not reTheoretically, it is argued that there are Catholic voices scinded? A Catholic institution, so far as I can see right that disagree with the teaching of the church and therenow, will have one of four choices: 1) secularize itself, fore with the bishops. There have breaking its connection to the always been those whose personal church, her moral and social teachfaith is not adequate to the faith ings and the oversight of its minof the church. Perhaps this is the The provision of istry by the local bishop. This is a time for everyone to re-read the form of theft. It means the church health care should Acts of the Apostles. Bishops are will not be permitted to have an the successors of the apostles; they institutional voice in public life. 2) not demand ‘giving collectively receive the authority Pay exorbitant annual fines to to teach and govern that Christ beup’ religious liberty. avoid paying for insurance policies stowed upon the apostles. Bishops that cover abortifacient drugs, ardon’t claim to speak for every baptificial contraception and sterilizatized Catholic. Bishops speak, rather, for the Catholic tion. This is not economically sustainable. 3) Sell the institution to a non-Catholic group or to a local and apostolic faith. Those who hold that faith gather with them; others go their own way. They are and should government. 4) Close down. In the public discussion thus far, efforts have been be free to do so, but they deceive themselves and others made to isolate the bishops from the Catholic faithful in calling their organizations Catholic. by focusing attention exclusively on “reproductive” isSince 1915, the Catholic bishops of the United States sues. But the acrimony could as easily focus next year or have taught that basic health care should be accessible the year after on assisted suicide or any other moral issue to all in a just society. Two years ago, we asked that whatthat can be used to distract attention from the attack on ever instruments were crafted to care for all, the Hyde religious liberty. Many will recognize in these moves a and Weldon and Church amendments restricting funding tactic now familiar in our public life: Those who cannot for abortion and respecting institutional conscience conbe co-opted are isolated and then destroyed. The argu- tinue to be incorporated into law. They were excluded. ments used are both practical and theoretical. As well, the present health care reform act doesn’t cover

“

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entire sections of the U.S. population. It is not universal. The provision of health care should not demand “giving up” religious liberty. Liberty of religion is more than freedom of worship. Freedom of worship was guaranteed in the Constitution of the former Soviet Union. You could go to church, if you could find one. The church, however, could do nothing except conduct religious rites in places of worship — no schools, religious publications, health care institutions, organized charity, ministry for justice and the works of mercy that flow naturally from a living faith. All of these were co-opted by the government. We fought a long cold war to defeat that vision of society.

Stopping the attack The strangest accusation in this manipulated public discussion has the bishops not respecting the separation between church and state. The bishops would love to have the separation between church and state we thought we enjoyed just a few months ago, when we were free to run Catholic institutions in conformity with the demands of the Catholic faith, when the government couldn’t tell us which of our ministries are Catholic and which not, when the law protected rather than crushed conscience. The state is making itself into a church. The bishops didn’t begin this dismaying conflict nor choose its timing. We would love to have it ended as quickly as possible. It’s up to the government to stop the attack. . . . The observance of Lent reminds us that, in the end, we all stand before Christ and give an accounting of our lives. From that perspective, I ask lay Catholics and others of good will to step back and understand what is happening to our country as the church is despoiled of her institutions and as freedom of conscience and of religion become a memory from a happier past. The suffering being imposed on the church and on society now is not a voluntary penance. We should both work and pray to be delivered from it.

This Catholic Life / Commentary

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Holy Land Christians need your help during Holy Week atholics of the archdiocese should use the opportunity to help those in need by contributing to the annual collection taken on Good Friday in parishes on behalf of Christians in the Holy Land. Archbishop John Nienstedt, writing recently to priests and deacons in support of the collection, noted how important it is that “we, as fellow Christians, show our solidarity with those who are suffering for their faith, especially for those living in the Holy Land.” The funds are used for pastoral work and social services — including education, medical assistance and housing — in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt and Syria.

power. And the world saw what happened to Christians in Iraq after years of sectarian conflict and economic troubles: Once home to more than a million Christians, fewer than half that number now live there. A similar exodus has been happening for decades in the Palestinian territories, and the concern about Christians disappearing from the Holy Land was one of the main themes of a 2010 synod of bishops held at the Vatican.

C Editorial Joe Towalski

Threats to religious liberty, declining numbers mean an uncertain future

Preserving ‘living stones’

Suffering continues The Christians of Syria — where St. Paul evangelized and the church dates back to the first century of Christianity — have been among those suffering the greatest in recent months. Hundreds of Syrian Christians were among a wave of refugees entering Jordan to escape the ongoing violence between government and rebel forces, according to a Catholic News Service report earlier this month. About 200 more Christians had been killed in the Syrian city of Homs. Those who remain in the country face an uncertain future and risk religious persecution. In many ways, Syria would be a better place without

CNS photo / Goran Tomasevic, Reuters

A boy eats bread as others wait in front of a bakery shop during snowfall in Al Qusayr, western Syria, about three miles outside Homs, in early March.

President Bashar al-Assad, a tyrant willing to kill his own people to stay in power. But, up to now, minorities like Christians have enjoyed a degree of religious freedom that could disappear under a new government, particularly if it is influenced by extremist Islamic elements.

Such threats are apparent in other parts of the Middle East. Attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt and the potential loss of religious freedoms for them and other minorities continue to be a concern in the wake of the Arab Spring movement that swept President Hosni Mubarak from

Christians in the Holy Land are sometimes referred to as “living stones” because they worship, work and raise their families — despite the ongoing conflicts and other struggles — in the place where the apostles laid the foundations of the church. They connect us to our spiritual heritage in a special way. We can help solidify the foundation for these “living stones” by contributing to the annual Good Friday collection. And we can also foster solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land by learning more about the social and religious challenges they face. This Holy Week — when we hear the places associated with Jesus’ Passion and resurrection proclaimed at liturgies — is an opportune time to educate ourselves about the situation and lend a small, but important, helping hand.

Understanding the economic justice of marriage he Catholic Church is sometimes unfairly reproached because of an inaccurate perception that her defense of marriage and family diminishes her efforts to address economic problems such as poverty and the rights of workers. For example, during a recent conversation I was asked when “the Catholic Church [will] stop involving herself in social issues like abortion and marriage and begin solving real problems like economic injustice.”

Faith in the Public Arena Richard Aleman

Creating false dichotomies

The question sets up a false dichotomy pitting two complementary and necessarily interdependent aspects of human life against each other. This view assumes that issues that intersect with human sexuality are simply “private issues” as opposed to social questions. Marriage, however, is a profoundly social institution. The civil institution of marriage primarily serves the wellbeing of children and affirms the optimal setting for their development. This, in turn, helps protect and nurture the next generation and the good of society. Those who suggest that marriage is simply the emotional union of two adults, or that the government should not be in the marriage business at all, advocate for what we may call a “social free market,” that is, an individualist theory that reduces government functions to facilitating “choice,” and which conceives its purpose almost entirely in terms of limiting the harm individuals do to each other as they pursue their various lifestyle choices. Rather than unite individuals in service of the common good, this unbridling of man’s thirst for his own self-interest atomizes society and isolates individuals from community. As Pope Leo XIII wrote in the encyclical “Libertas Praestantissimum,” the proponents of a social free market would “. . . adopt as their own [the] rebellious cry, ‘I will not serve’ and consequently substitute for true liberty

“As the Social Trends Institute recently concluded, the wellbeing of a nation’s economy is closely connected to the well-being of the nuclear family.

”

RICHARD ALEMAN

what is sheer and most foolish license.” The lust for freedom ignores the moral values and legal structures needed to defend and support the family. Just as it is an error to let economic relationships be governed solely by the logic of unbridled market forces, it is also a similar mistake to relegate marriage to the private sphere, as if it were just another private contract between consenting parties.

The premium paid for individualism According to research, children of divorce and singleparent homes are three times more likely to drop out of school or have babies in their teenage years, are five times more likely to end up poor, and are 12 times more likely to be incarcerated. Our society is also steadily becoming fatherless. Today, roughly 40 percent of our children are raised in homes without fathers, a statistic we cannot attribute only partially to economic conditions, but largely to the combination of no-fault divorce, fragmented or “alternative” parenting, abortion and contraception, which are disrupting our human ecosystem and fueling a culture of hyper-sexualized individualism.

The effects of rampant individualism are not confined to the private sphere, but have profound costs, especially economic ones. When children do well and are formed as virtuous citizens, they will grow up to be productive economic actors. When they do not do well, especially in school, it has profound consequences for not only their own long-term well-being but also for whole economies. Stable marriages produce children who have higher educational attainment. As the Social Trends Institute recently concluded, the well-being of a nation’s economy is closely connected to the well-being of the nuclear family.

Healthy marriages, healthy economies Here we get back to the original question about why the church spends so much time defending marriage. The church speaks to both marriage and the economy because they are both related to human happiness and social prosperity, and the church wishes to support and contribute to both. If structural problems require structural solutions, as proponents of economic justice correctly observe, then we ought to pay closer attention to the integral relationship between economics and the social order, and promote what Pope Benedict calls a healthy human ecology. The author G.K. Chesterton once wrote, “What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism.” In this vein, those of us with social concerns can no longer afford to play the socio-economic “which came first, the chicken or the egg?” debate over whether economic or cultural forces fragment the family. It isn’t an either/or dilemma. It’s both. Ignoring social justice in the family or in the economy only encourages individualist social and economic policies that come at the expense of human dignity. Richard Aleman is coordinating marriage amendment outreach for the Minnesota Catholic Conference. He can be reached at raleman@mncc.org.

Commentary

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

/ This Catholic Life

Fasting can help us develop better spiritual muscles s I write this column, I am sitting in a hotel room in Santiago, Chile. I’ve been up all night because my flight was delayed and I missed a connection in Panama City. The airline also lost my bag, so I am without a change of clothes, my toothbrush and my computer. Under these circumstances, it seems somewhat natural to think about the long-honored custom Catholics have of giving things up for Lent. In my family, we try to follow the church’s rules about Lenten fasting. They are at least an inconvenience for the faithful, even if they are not nearly as severe as in ages past. At one time, nearly all Lenten days were designated for fasting (not just two of them), and the rules of each day’s fast were much stricter — one meal, to be taken in the afternoon or evening. At one time, no dairy or wine was allowed on days of fast. But even our lax modern rules present the average layman with enough privation that most of us look forward to Lent with just a little bit of dread.

A Intellect and Virtue John Garvey

Voluntary sacrifices prepare us to bear the deprivations we will inevitably suffer in life

Why fast? To supplement the church’s prescribed mortifications, most Catholics give something up voluntarily — sweets, smoking and alcohol are

sufferings — when they are imposed upon rather than chosen by us.

“By making

Checking our desires

sacrifices, we develop some spiritual muscles, which should lead to a better spiritual performance.

”

JOHN GARVEY

typical choices. But I have also heard people say, “This year I’m not giving something up. Instead of focusing on all that negativity, I’m going to do something positive every day.” And it’s gotten me thinking about why we engage as a church in “negative” activities like fasting and other mortifications. The simple and scripturally correct answer is that Jesus did it himself during his 40 days in the desert. The Gospels also record his rejoinder to the followers of John the Baptist — that his followers would fast “when the bridegroom is taken away from them.” It also doesn’t hurt that, by mak-

ing sacrifices, we develop some spiritual muscles, which should lead to a better spiritual performance, the way weightlifting leads to better performance on the football field. But as I sit here in this hotel room, writing out this draft by hand, I’ve been thinking that there is a much more targeted role in our spiritual lives to the concepts of fasting and of giving things up for Lent. Namely, voluntary sacrifices prepare us to bear, with a Christian spirit and without whining, the deprivations we will inevitably suffer in life without our own choosing. And really, that is where we benefit most in life from offering God our

I really loved the suitcase that went missing. It held three days’ belongings. It was leather, and beautiful. I bought it in Milan for a good price. Maybe I loved it a little too much. Come to think of it, don’t 90 percent of our sins begin with such attachments to earthly goods? The seven deadly sins feature prominently the inordinate desire for things our flesh wants (lust, gluttony, sloth) and the desire to indulge ourselves more (covetousness, envy). That leaves only pride and anger, two forms of a more-elevated and dangerous self-indulgence. The appeal of anger is the way it lets you feel. Pride conveniently lets us indulge in irrational excuses for all of our other shortcomings and in an unjustified feeling of moral superiority that lets us stand in judgment of others. This Lent, we should be fasting from a lot more than just food. But if we at least start with food, maybe it will prepare us for the other sacrifices we must make. John Garvey is president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Catholics missing from Italian shipwreck still inspire his month we mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and the luxury liner buried two and a half miles below the Atlantic bobs to the surface once again. But I keep circling back to the shipwreck of 2012, the cruise liner Costa Concordia that struck a reef off the Italian island Giglio one Friday night in January. Of the 32 casualties, only two Americans remain missing, a retired couple from Minnesota: Barb Heil, 70, and her husband, Jerry, 69, parents of four and devout Catholics. They had waited their whole lives to take a cruise like this one, having paid for years of Catholic school tuition and medical bills from a bout with cancer. Finally, their chance had come — time to see Vatican City and Tuscany’s rolling hills. Four days after the shipwreck, a reporting assignment brought me to Barb and Jerry’s parish, St. Pius X in White Bear Lake, a mile and a half from their blue Ranch-style home. Their fingerprints were everywhere. As I pulled up to the church, the maintenance guy, Randy, was changing the marquee sign on the front lawn, removing the words “school book fair” and loading the message “Barb Jerry prayer service.” In the front entrance I passed boxes of raffle tickets for the parish festival three weeks away. Barb and Jerry’s envelope was not there. They must have retrieved it before leaving on their trip. A little farther in, sign-ups for volunteer positions were taped on a table. On the second sheet, Barb had written her name in loopy cursive, committing to a kitchen duty to be

T Twenty Something Christina Capecchi

For the Heils, Catholicism was a way of life

Jerry and Barb Heil

“When I reviewed all my reporting notes, it was hard to find anything unrelated to Catholicism. As a 20-something imagining what the rest of my life will look like, that inspired me.

”

CHRISTINA CAPECCHI

fulfilled Sunday, Feb. 12: “hot dogs 10:45 a.m.-1:45 p.m.”

Praying for peace The small eucharistic adoration chapel tucked behind the sacristy was occupied by four parishioners. Jerry and Barb attended daily Mass and weekly adoration, and now that chapel was being filled in their honor. I flipped through the register, a three-

ringe binder marked with arrivals and departures at every hour, overlapping five or 10 minutes. Outside the chapel door, a turquoise Mead notebook held petitions for Barb and Jerry scrawled in black ink. “Peace,” someone wrote, “closure for their family.” One of the parishioners in adoration was Dennis Bechel, 71, who belonged to the same Knights of

Columbus council Jerry had served on. “It’s a shock,” Dennis told me. “You become almost like a second family when you’re involved in a church community like St. Pius.” I learned that Jerry taught adult faith formation and had helped set up the church’s first website. Barb, meanwhile, was an active volunteer at the Dorothy Day homeless shelter. One month later I was back at St. Pius attending the memorial Mass for Barb and Jerry. We sang “Be Not Afraid,” and during his homily the priest addressed the scenario playing out in all our minds. He gave us the words we want to believe: “I can imagine them very calmly allowing others to get ahead, not pushing others, probably figuring it was going to be OK.” Surely, he said, Barb and Jerry were praying as they waited their turn. When I reviewed all my reporting notes, it was hard to find anything unrelated to Catholicism. As a 20something imagining what the rest of my life will look like, that inspired me. For me that’s the takeaway, that’s the testimony: to be so wholly Catholic that there is nothing outside your faith, nothing untouched, nothing walled off, nothing hidden. It’s where you begin and end and where you dwell all day. It’s not showy or pious, it’s just who you are — Catholic, through and through. Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights. She can be contacted at WWW.READ CHRISTINA.COM.

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

Catholics, Jews, Protestants, Muslims attend ‘Day on the Hill’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 “To see that firsthand was an incredible opportunity,” he said. “. . . I really think [‘Day on the Hill’] is a good opportunity for all students . . . to really see how the legislative process works.” Although Goldammer is interested in politics, he aspires not to be a politician, but a priest. In the fall he plans to attend St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul. But, to Goldammer, politics and the priesthood are not mutually exclusive. “All of us have the opportunity — and in a lot of ways the responsibility — to be active in the political spectrum and to voice what we believe is right,” he said. Mike Harley, a member of the social justice committee at Lumen Christi Catholic Community in St. Paul, attended “Day on the Hill” for the first time last year. He was so impressed that he recruited 13 other members of the parish to join him at this year’s event. “People are there to speak for the poor and the under-represented,” Harley said after the gathering. “It’s amazing that people take time off from work, they pay money, and they do something that’s inherently uncomfortable — and maybe even risky for them — and it’s for somebody else. . . . That makes me proud to be a person of faith and proud to be a Catholic.” Harley, who visited Sen. Cohen and Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL-St. Paul), said he wanted to express his concern for the poor, particularly at a time when funding for programs that serve them has been cut. “Our voices as individuals are small. Our voices as a parish are still small. Our voices as Catholics are a lot bigger. But our voices with these [faith] traditions together,” he said, “. . . that’s powerful.”

Bishop Quinn speaks at religious liberty rally CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and Citizens for a Pro-Life Society based in Michigan. In St. Paul, the rally was organized by Pro-Life Action Ministries, with executive director Brian Gibson also offering remarks. Also speaking were Teresa Collett, professor of law at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; the Rev. Maria Mitchell, associate pastor of Evangelist Crusaders; and Pastor Brad Brandon of Berean Bible Baptist Church in Hastings. Also representing the bishops was Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the state’s bishops. He encouraged those in attendance to take concrete steps to oppose the mandate, outlined in a flyer that was distributed during the rally. “This issue is not about contraception, it’s not about the church banning contraception, it’s not a war on women,” he said. “It’s not about access to health care, which the church has always supported. No, this issue is about government defining what constitutes religious freedom and religion, and that is wrong. It is about government denying basic civil rights, and that is wrong. And, it’s about government forcing us to buy a product that violates our conscience. “For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal government is requiring people of faith to buy a product that violates their conscience, and that is wrong. It’s time for us to stand up right now and act.” Feeling that sense of urgency were people like Robin and Brian Taaffe and Steve

and Diane Kokesh, all of St. Stephen in Anoka. They held signs during the rally and sang the National Anthem along with the rest of the crowd at the start of the rally. “We had to be here,” Robin Taaffe said. “We don’t feel that we have a choice. This is too critical.” Added Steve: “We need to stop this assault on freedom, especially religious freedom. I think it is [also] an assault on the Catholic Church. I think this coming [presidential] election in November is going to be one of the most important and critical elections in the history of our republic.”

Watch it online Watch a video of the rally produced by The Catholic Spirit at HTTP://TINYURL.COM/DXM473P.

For more information Visit HTTP://MNCC.ORG and click on the box on the right side of the page that says “Join MNCAN” to access the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s advocacy network. Check “Life and Bio Ethics” under interests to receive HHS mandate-related updates. Also visit HTTP://MNCC.ORG/ISSUES/LIFE-BIO-ETHICS for more information.

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Moved by faith Attorney Theresa Murray Hughes, a member of the social justice committee at St. Ambrose in Woodbury and the archdiocesan Sowers of Justice group, has attended “Day on the Hill” for the past seven years. She said her faith is what motivates her to participate. “I take very literally the mandate from both the Old Testament and the New Testament that ‘whatever you do for the least of those, . . . you do for me,’ and to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, visit those in prison, and welcome the stranger,” she said. No matter where people of faith stand on the issues, it’s vital that they make their voices heard, said Murray Hughes. “Part of living out the Christian faith is active participation. . . . I think that’s the call that Jesus gave all of us.” Murray Hughes said preserving Minnesota’s safety net is her biggest concern. “I work with low-income people in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis, and I see every day how crucial that safety net is for low-income Minnesotans.” “What happens in North Minneapolis affects me in Woodbury; what happens on the Iron Range affects the people in Rochester,” she said. “So we all have to be in this dialogue together.”

Photo by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Bishop John Quinn of the Diocese of Winona addresses a crowd gathered for a rally to defend religious freedom and oppose President Barack Obama’s Health and Human Services mandate.

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Holy Week / Easter

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

Don’t miss chance to be refreshed, renewed in faith Holy Week liturgies are most elaborate and most meaningful of entire year By Johan van Parys For The Catholic Spirit

Growing up in Belgium, I remember that everything slowed down during Holy Week. It seemed like the whole country came to a halt. Children were off from school. There were no festivities in the city. And many people were off from work starting the evening of Holy Thursday. For some reason the people working in my grandmother’s factory did not get Good Friday off from work, but I remember that my grandmother would gather all the workers at 3 p.m. on Good Friday and lead them in prayer before the large crucifix that hung in the main hall of the factory. In one way or another, everyone was very much aware of the liturgical time of the year and was focused on participating in the celebration of Holy Week. It was almost as if the whole country went on a grand retreat: bars were closed; only fish was served in restaurants; Stations of the Cross were set up throughout the cities and people would walk these stations either alone or in groups. Today, like in the United States, celebrating Holy Week in Belgium has becoming countercultural. Carnival no longer ends on Mardi Gras but rather is celebrated throughout February and March. The knowledge of what Holy week is about has been lost for many people. A Belgian friend recently asked if participating in an Easter egg toss was allowed for non-Catholics. Somehow she equated celebrating Easter with tossing colorful eggs.

Recommitting ourselves It is against this background that we Catholics are invited to celebrate Holy Week and especially the Sacred Triduum as best as we can, both for ourselves and as a witness to society. I always wonder what people think when, driving on the highway next to the Basilica of St. Mary, they see hundreds of people dressed in red and waving palms on Palm Sunday or standing around a huge fire on Holy Saturday. Surely, they must wonder what we Catholics are all about. This may be better advertisement than any billboard could offer. Celebrating the holiest week of the year is done best by making a renewed commitment to the great three disciplines of Lent. We may have started Lent on Ash Wednesday with great vigor but, as the weeks went by, our commitment to these disciplines may have slacked a bit. Holy Week is the time to recommit ourselves — maybe even on a more intense level.

HOLY THURSDAY ■ Washing of the feet This symbolic gesture that is only used once a year emphasizes our call to service. Just as Jesus bent down to wash the feet of his disciples, we are to bend down and serve anyone and everyone in need. ■ Collection of the gifts for the poor Though we are to care for the poor every day of our Christian lives, on Holy Thursday this profoundly Christian calling is emphasized by the collection for the poor, which is part of the Mass. ■ Celebration of the Eucharist On this night, when we commemorate Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist and his command to do this in memory of him, we take great care in celebrating the Eucharist particularly well. ■ Procession with the Blessed Sacrament Because we do not celebrate the Eucharist on Good Friday we reserve the precious Body of Christ for the celebration of our Lord’s Passion the next day. At the end of Mass on Holy Thursday, we bring the Blessed Sacrament to a place of repose where vigil is kept till midnight.

GOOD FRIDAY ■ Proclamation of the Passion The center of our faith story is the passion narrative. The life of Jesus led to his condemnation, his torture and

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Dylan Heiman venerates the corpus of Christ at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings during the 2011 Good Friday service — the second day of the Triduum — which is rich with symbolism leading Christians into Easter.

Here are some suggestions for a fruitful celebration of the Paschal Mystery: ■ If possible, take Holy Week or at least take the Triduum off from work. This is a great way to slow down and make the celebration of the Paschal Mystery the center of these days. It may also help to turn off all electronic devices to avoid continual distractions. In order to help you slow down, you may want to carve out intentional quiet time; some people do this best in their home, others in a church or chapel or during a quiet walk. ■ Make time for personal prayer. Since not everyone is comfortable with this, you may want to get a prayer book for Lent and Holy Week to assist you in your prayer. Or you may elect to pray morning prayer, midday prayer and/or evening prayer during Holy week. ■ Make it a point to participate in all the liturgies of Holy Week. These liturgies are the most elaborate and most meaningful of the entire liturgical year. They are filled with beautifully rich symbols. Some of them are only used during this week — the commemoration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the washing of the feet on Holy Thursday and the veneration of the cross on Good Friday. ■ When you participate in the liturgies, do so with full heart, mind and soul. This is not the time to schedule something after the liturgy or even to be concerned with

Symbols of Holy Week ultimately his death on the cross. On this day, when we commemorate the death of Jesus, we meditate on the last moments in Jesus’ life as they have been recounted in the Gospel of St. John. ■ Prayers for the needs of the world On Good Friday, we take our time to pray for the needs of the entire world. Where on Sundays and during weekday Masses we offer certain petitions, today we pray for everyone, ranging from the Holy Father to those who reject Christ. ■ Veneration of the cross The cross, which is a tool of humiliation, torture and death, is the instrument of salvation for us. By his death on the cross and his resurrection, Jesus forged the path of salvation for all of us. Because of this, we venerate the wood of the cross on Good Friday. By kissing the cross, we not only honor Jesus’ self-sacrifice but we also commit ourselves to live by that cross.

HOLY SATURDAY ■ Easter fire The lighting of fires at the time of the summer and winter solstice as well as on the spring and fall equinox was a pre-Christian ritual celebrating the light that conquers the darkness. For Christians, Jesus is the Light of the World, who once and for all conquers the

time. As a matter of fact, you should probably remove your watch once the liturgy begins because, as you know, the liturgy lasts as long as its needs to last. ■ Bring your family to the liturgies. There are so many beautiful symbolic actions that they can speak to the symbolic and liturgical imagination even of the youngest among us. ■ In all your prayers this week, make special mention of all those who will be joining the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil as they are baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion for the first time. They are our Easter gift to the church. The beautiful liturgies of Holy Week are prepared with great care throughout our archdiocese. Pastors, liturgists, musicians and so many others work very hard to make sure everyone who participates has a profound experience of the mystery of our salvation as it was attained through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Be sure to participate fully in these liturgies and let yourself be refreshed and renewed in your faith. Johan van Parys is director of liturgy and sacred arts at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. For more suggestions on observing Holy Week, read “What more can I do to deepen my Holy Week observance?” on THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. darkness. During the Easter Vigil, when we celebrate the resurrection, we begin with this great symbol of light conquering darkness. ■ Easter candle The Easter candle or the Christ candle is the symbol of Christ the Light. It is lit from the Easter fire and burns throughout the Easter season. This candle is also used during baptisms and during funerals. In both instances, it symbolizes the Resurrection in which we have a part by virtue of our baptism. During the Easter Vigil, all who are present light their individual candles from the Easter candle, symbolizing that we are to share the light of Christ with the whole world. ■ Baptismal waters Water is used for the sacrament of baptism because it symbolizes the three main aspects of baptism: water cleanses, water destroys, water gives life. Indeed, in baptism we are cleansed from all sins including original sin; in baptism, we die with Christ in order to rise with him; in baptism, we are birthed into the church as we become new Christians. ■ Sacred Chrism The one characteristic of oil is that it penetrates our skin and makes our skin glow. Because of this, oil has been used to symbolize the fact that, in confirmation, the Holy Spirit penetrates our whole being and makes us luminous with his gifts. — Johan van Parys

Holy Week / Easter

MARCH 29, 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Vatican asks Catholics to help Christians in Holy Land Catholic News Service Tension, hostility and even violence are the â&#x20AC;&#x153;daily breadâ&#x20AC;? of many of the Christian communities living in the biblical lands of the Middle East, said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches. In a letter to bishops around the world, Cardinal Sandri asked for widespread participation in the annual collection on behalf of Christians in the Holy Land. The collection, coordinated by the Congregation for Eastern Churches, is taken up during Good Friday services in many dioceses.

Franciscans and pilgrims pass wooden crosses on the roof of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher while walking the Via Dolorosa in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Helping the church Cardinal Sandri said Good Friday is a special time to remember Mideast Christiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs, which â&#x20AC;&#x153;are bound up with the sufferings of the entire Middle East. For the disciples of

CNS photo / Debbie Hill

The Catholic Church of St. Albert the Great Rich tradition. Open minds. Warm hearts.

Christ, hostility is often the daily bread that nourishes the faith.â&#x20AC;? Proceeds of the collection are distributed to Latin and Eastern Catholic bishops, parishes, schools and projects in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus and Egypt. While the focus is on Catholic pastoral work in the region, he said, the church also offers social services to the needy, whether or not they are Catholic. Cardinal Sandri noted the ongoing high rates of Christian emigration from the Holy Land as families seek futures free from the threat of violence. At the same time, those who stay need help not only in maintaining their families, but also in preparing for a better future, he said. The regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christians need â&#x20AC;&#x153;support now for schools, medical assistance, critical housing [and] meeting places.â&#x20AC;?

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Holy Thursday, April 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Potluck dinner 5:30 p.m. Mass of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supper 7 p.m. (With washing of feet and collection of new socks for the homeless.) Good Friday, April 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Stations of the Cross, 3 p.m. Communion Service of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Passion, 7 p.m. Saturday, April 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. (Bring water from home to help our community refresh its Baptismal font â&#x20AC;Ś and bells to ring the glad alleluia!) Easter Sunday, April 8 -â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Masses at 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. (Child care available at 9:30 a.m. Mass)

Located one block north of E. Lake St. at 32nd Ave. S. in Minneapolis 612-724-3643 Email: info@ SaintAlbertThe Great.org. Visit us at www.SaintAlbert TheGreat.org or on Facebook

Church of the Holy Spirit 515 S. Albert Street, Saint Paul Holy Thursday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mass at 7:00 p.m. Good Friday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stations of the Cross at 3:00 p.m.; Mass at 7:00 p.m. Holy Night of Easter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m. Easter Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mass at 8:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Please join us

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12100 Pioneer Trail â&#x20AC;˘ Eden Prairie â&#x20AC;˘ Fr. Patrick Kennedy â&#x20AC;˘ www.paxchristi.com H W 7:00pm

W Holy Saturday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 7 Mass of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supper 12:00noon Blessing of Easter Food 8:00pm Easter Vigil Mass Good Friday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 6 3:00pm & 5:00pm Living Stations Easter Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; April 8 7:00pm Celebration of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Passion 7:00am, 9:00am, and 11:00am Easter Mass NOTE: No 5:00pm Mass on Easter Sunday

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Easter Triduum Holy Thursday, Mass of the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supper

April 5â&#x20AC;&#x201D;7:30 p.m. Good Friday, The Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Passion

April 6â&#x20AC;&#x201D;7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil, The Holy Night of Easter

April 7â&#x20AC;&#x201D;8:30 p.m.

Easter Sunday April 8â&#x20AC;&#x201D;10:30 a.m. Our Lady of Victory Chapel 2004 Randolph Avenue, St. Paul r TULBUF FEV

Holy Week / Easter

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

Pope asks married couple to compose Via Crucis meditations

Palm Sunday — 9 & 11 a.m. Liturgy Holy Thursday — 7:15 p.m. Liturgy Good Friday — 7:15 p.m. Liturgy Easter Sunday — 9 & 11 a.m. Liturgy

Celebrate the Sacred Paschal Triduum

Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Church Ramsey Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper - 7 p.m. Good Friday: Stations - 3 p.m.; Passion Service - 7 p.m. Holy Saturday: Food Blessing - Noon; Vigil - 8:30 p.m. Easter Sunday: Masses - 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.

www.stkdcc.org - 763-323-4424

CNS photo / Alessia Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo

Catholic News Service

Visit the Cathedral website, Facebook, or Twitter for details about our many Holy Week and Triduum liturgies and other spiritual enrichment opportunities throughout the year. Easter Sunday Masses: 8 & 10 a.m., noon, & 5 p.m. 239 Selby Ave, Saint Paul | 651.228.1766 | cathedralsaintpaul.org facebook.com/cathedralsaintpaul | twitter.com/cathedralstpaul

Holy Week/Easter Mass Times Holy Thursday: 7 p.m. Good Friday: Celebration of The Lord’s Passion 7 p.m. Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil 8 p.m. Easter Sunday: 8:30, 10:30 a.m.

The Church of Saint Paul 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd. NE, Ham Lake, MN

Pope Benedict XVI has asked an Italian married couple, founders of the Focolare Movement’s New Families initiative, to write the meditations for his Way of the Cross service at Rome’s Colosseum April 6. The Vatican announced March 15 that the pope had asked Danilo and Annamaria Zanzucchi to write the meditations, which are read over loudspeakers as a cross is carried through and around the Colosseum on Good Friday. The Zanzucchis are the first married couple to be asked to compose the texts.

Along with Chiara Lubich, the late founder of the Focolare Movement, the Zanzucchis launched the New Families project in 1967 to strengthen families and encourage their spiritual growth and social commitment. New Families now claims some 300,000 members around the world. The Zanzucchis’ meditations will offer commentary and prayers on the 14 traditional Stations of the Cross, the Vatican said. In some years, the Vatican has gone with strictly biblical stations marking steps in Jesus’ passion and death. The traditional stations, for example, include Veronica wiping Jesus’ face, which is not mentioned in the Bible.

Please join us in Prayer Holy Thursday, April 5, 7 p.m. — Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Church open for quiet prayer until 9 p.m. Good Friday, April 6, noon-3 p.m. — Church open for quiet prayer. 3 p.m. Stations of the Cross — 7 p.m. Good Friday service with Communion Holy Saturday, April 7, 7 p.m. — Easter Vigil. Parish Office Closed. Easter Sunday, April 8, 9 & 11 a.m. Masses. No 7 pm Mass or Sacrament of Reconciliation Easter Weekend

Our Lady of Lourdes Church www.ourladyoflourdesmn.com

Come celebrate the Easter season with us at

St. Casimir Jessamine at Forest, St. Paul • 651-774-0365 Holy Thursday, April 5, Mass at 7 pm Good Friday, April 6, Communion Service at 3 pm Holy Saturday, April 7, Blessing of Food Baskets at 2 pm and Mass at 7:30 pm Easter Sunday, April 8, Masses at 8 am & 10 am

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Holy Week / Easter

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Take a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy Land Jerusalem sites related to death and resurrection of Jesus offer much to contemplate during Holy Week

pray for at least one hour, and his request serves as the biblical basis for making a “holy hour.” Accept Jesus’ invitation yourself. Set aside an entire hour for solitary prayer, either on a single day like Holy ThursBy Father Michael Van Sloun day, or three separate hours For The Catholic Spirit on each of the three days The Sacred Triduum is the solemn celebration of the of the Triduum. Then, Photo by Father Michael Van Sloun Paschal Mystery, the suffering and death of the Lord promise yourself to make a Church of All Nations, Gethsemane in Jerusalem. Jesus followed by his resurrection and glorification. The holy hour every week Triduum is celebrated over three days: Holy Thursday, throughout the year, posGood Friday and Easter. The events that took place over sibly before the Blessed Sacrament at eucharistic adora- Cyrene. Holy Week suggestions: Make the Stations of the these most holy days are remembered at a number of tion, in a quiet garden or in some other secluded place. Cross, either at church or by yourself. Help someone major pilgrimage sites in Jerusalem. Judas and the Temple guard who has fallen on hard times. Assist someone who is The following is a short explanation of events and Only a stone’s throw away is the place where Judas Is- carrying a particularly heavy load. Come to the aid of places associated with the Triduum and suggested activcariot kissed Jesus and the soldiers apprehended him. someone who is mistreated. ities for individuals and families. The church that commemorates this tragic event is the The crucifixion Grotto of the Betrayal and Arrest at the northernmost The Last Supper The holiest place in all of Christendom is the Basilica The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper end of the Kidron Valley. of the Holy Sepulchre, the place of Jesus’ death and reson Holy Thursday, the night when Jesus washed his dis- Jesus’ trial and Peter’s denial urrection. The basilica that presently stands over Calvary ciples’ feet, instituted the Eucharist, and gave his Last After Jesus was bound, he was led away, back across was built by the crusaders in the 12th century. The origSupper discourses (John 13:31-17:26), his final words of the Kidron Valley, back up Mount inal church was built at the direction of Queen St. Helena instruction before his death. These Zion, to the palace of Caiaphas, and her son, the emperor Constantine, in the late 320s events are remembered at two sites just below and to the east of the and early 330s, but it was set on fire in 614 by the Persians on Mount Zion: the Coenaculum, Upper Room. It was in Caiaphas’ and later destroyed by the caliph Hakim the Mad in a two-story structure built by the chambers that Jesus was placed on 1009. crusaders in the 12th century and The most sacred places in the crusader church are the trial before the high priest and the later converted to a Moslem Sanhedrin, the Jewish high coun- Chapel of the Franks on the outside south wall, which mosque, and the Franciscan Cecil, while outside in the courtyard commemorates where Jesus was stripped of his garments; nacle, only a short distance away, Peter denied Jesus three times. Je- Latin Calvary or the Chapel of the Nailing inside the built in 1936. sus was held overnight in a prison church on the southeast corner on the second level, Holy Week suggestions: Foot cell beneath the palace. These where Jesus was nailed to the cross; Greek Calvary or the washing is about service, someevents are remembered at the Chapel of the Crucifixion, immediately above the rock thing Jesus did for his disciples, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, of Calvary, where Jesus was crucified; downstairs in the his closest associates. This is an the church of the cock crow, built front entryway is the Stone Unction, a traditional place ideal time to perform an act of on the foundations of Caiaphas’ to venerate the anointing of Jesus’ body; and on the far service for someone close to us, a west end of the basilica is the Tomb of Christ, where palace and dedicated in 1931. family member or friend, who Holy Week suggestions: The Jesus was buried and then rose from the dead. would appreciate our help. When Holy Week suggestions: Celebrate the Passion of the Temple guard abused their power. Jesus gave us his body and blood, Lord by attending the special liturgy at church on Good Pray for police and soldiers that he said, “Do this in memory of they will use their authority in a Friday. Read one of the four Passion narratives and medme” (Luke 22:19), and we honor responsible manner. Jesus’ trial itate on Jesus’s suffering and death. Say the Sorrowful his memory when we receive was a sham. Pray for judges, Mysteries of the rosary. Pray in front of a crucifix. Abstain Communion regularly, beginning lawyers and juries, that they will from meat on Good Friday, and observe a strict fast day. with all three days of the Triduum, uphold truth and justice in court Watch the movie “The Passion of the Christ” or another and then every Sunday throughproceedings. Jesus was incarcer- epic film on the life of Christ like “Jesus of Nazareth,” out the year. Jesus established the ated overnight. Pray for those who “The Greatest Story Ever Told” or “King of Kings.” Make Photo by Father Michael Van Sloun priesthood when he asked his disare held in prisons and jails, and plans to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land someday ciples to reenact the Last Supper. Cross over the Rock of Calvary at Church if we know someone who is an in- to venerate these sacred sites and deepen your faith in Holy Thursday is an important of Holy Sepulchre. mate, we could visit, call or write. Jesus, our redeemer and savior. day to pray for priests, that they be good and holy men who serve with exceptional faith, Jesus and Pilate Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in generosity, zeal and humility. Next, Jesus was led before Pilate, who interrogated him Anoka. and ordered that he be flogged. The scourging Agony in the garden at the pillar and the crowning of thorns are After the Last Supper, Jesus and his disciples left the remembered at the Chapel of the Flagellation. Upper Room, descended Mount Zion, crossed the Kidron Next, Pilate presented Jesus to the crowd, sayValley and arrived at Gethsemane and an olive grove lo- ing, “Behold, your king!” (John 19:14), somecated at the bottom of the Mount of Olives. Jesus prayed times rendered, “Behold, the man!” honored on a rock, and his agony was so great that his sweat be- at the Ecce Homo Basilica. Finally, Pilate came like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Jesus asked his handed Jesus over to be crucified, observed at disciples to pray with him, and when he found them the Church of the Condemnation. sleeping he said in disappointment, “So you could not The Via Dolorosa, keep watch with me for one hour?” (Matthew 26:40). These events are commemorated at the Church of All The Way of Sorrow Nations, one of the most magnificent churches in the The Roman soldiers then gave Jesus his cross entire Holy Land, built from 1919 to 1924. It is called which he carried through the streets of “All Nations” because so many different countries con- Jerusalem (John 19:17). There are nine differtributed money to the building fund. The most sacred ent events or “stations,” Stations of the Cross, site is the Rock of Agony in front of the main altar, the which commemorate his laborious journey: place traditionally regarded as the place where Jesus his three falls; his encounters with his mother prayed. Photo by Father Michael Van Sloun Mary, Veronica, and the women of Jerusalem; Holy Week suggestions: Jesus wanted his disciples to and the help that he received from Simon of Franciscan Cenacle, wood sculpture of Last Supper on Mount Zion.

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!’” John 12:13

The Lesson Plan 18

Reflections on faith and spirituality

The Catholic Spirit

MARCH 29, 2012

Eavesdrop on conversation between Jesus and a disciple on Palm Sunday magine you are the beloved disciple walking next to Jesus as he rides into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. (We are all beloved in the eyes of Jesus and we are all called to be disciples).

You have been blessed to see much, but have understood so very little of what Jesus has said, especially of late. To the people on the side of the road you are some person with Jesus; you decide to take this opportunity to seek greater understanding of what will happen this week.

Sunday Scriptures Deacon Gerard Christianson

Certain that Jesus had said he was coming to Jerusalem to die, you ask.

“Why are you entering Jerusalem like a king?” Jesus tells you that he is fulfilling prophesy and that he is the greatest king who ever lived. Every king before and after derive their kingship from him.

“Why not ride a powerful horse?” “I am a king unlike any other, with my father I can raise the dead, heal the sick and feed the hungry. Yet the greatest service I will render the world is to humbly obey the will of my Father for the world’s salvation. The only greater act of love will occur one week from today.” Confused, you seek clarification. “I cannot at this time make things more clear,” replies Jesus. “I need you to stand with me all this week as others betray, deny and abandon me.”

Monday, April 2 Isaiah 42:1-7 John 12:1-11 Tuesday, April 3 Isaiah 49:1-6 John 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday, April 4 Isaiah 50:4-9a Matthew 26:14-25 Holy Thursday, April 5 Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 John 13:1-15 Good Friday, April 6 The Lord’s Passion Day of fast and abstinence Isaiah 52:13 — 53:12 Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 John 18:1 — 19:42 Holy Saturday, April 7 Easter Vigil Genesis 1:1 — 2:2; Genesis 22:118; Exodus 14:15 — 15:1; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9-15, 32 — 4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-

Sunday, April 1 Palm Sunday ■ Mark 11:1-10 ■ Isaiah 50:4-7 ■ Philippians 2:6-11 ■ Mark 14:1 — 15:47

For reflection What mission is Jesus asking you to fulfill, and are you willing to accept it?

Why me? “Why choose me?” “I have chosen you to witness all I will endure and in time you will gain understanding so that you can share what you see with the world.” “I am a simple, uneducated person. What do I have to give the world?” “Trust me. I will give you what you need to fulfill the mission I have given you.” “I am so afraid, so small, so insignificant. Why can’t you tell them?” Jesus smiles at you. “I have been telling them and even showing them how much I love them. Now I must show my great love by dying a humiliating, public

Daily Scriptures Sunday, April 1 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord Mark 11:1-10 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 14:1 — 15:47

Readings

death.” “Why must you die to save us? There must be another way.” “I have preached that my followers must do the will of my heavenly father. His will is that I drink this cup and endure this suffering. I will also ask many to die in my name. I must first show them how, and that they have nothing to fear. Suffering and even death will not have the last word. My father’s love, my love will conquer even death. Finally, my father created man in his image so that he could love them. The only response man can make to that gift is to love my father in

return with humility and obedience. Over the next few days I will show the world what it means to be humble and obedient.” “I am afraid I will fail, I fear I will let you down.” “Just be faithful, humble and obedient. My father and I will do the rest.” Deacon Gerard Christianson is in formation for the priesthood at The St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of Rockford, Ill. His home parish is St. Paul of the Cross in Park Ridge, Ill., and his teaching parish is Our Lady of Grace in Edina.

Pope rings bell calling all to eucharistic congress 17a, 18-28; Romans 6:3-11 Mark 16:1-7 Easter Sunday, April 8 Resurrection of the Lord Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 Monday, April 9 Acts 2:14, 22-33 Matthew 28:8-15 Tuesday, April 10 Acts 2:36-41 John 20:11-18 Wednesday, April 11 Acts 3:1-10 Luke 24:13-35 Thursday, April 12 Acts 3:11-26 Luke 24:35-48 Friday, April 13 Acts 4:1-12 John 21:1-14 Saturday, April 14 Acts 4:13-21 Mark 16:9-15 Sunday, April 15 Divine Mercy Sunday Acts 4:32-35 1 John 5:1-6 John 20:19-31

Catholic News Service Pope Benedict XVI blessed and rang the official International Eucharistic Congress bell, which has been on tour across Ireland for nearly a year, in preparation for the world meeting in June. An Irish delegation, led by the 2012 congress president Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, presented the pope with the small brass bell before the start of his weekly general audience March 14. Congress organizers said a quarter of a million Irish pilgrims have rung the bell since the start of its pilgrimage last year. The bell has been brought to parishes, schools, nursing homes and hospitals throughout Ireland to raise awareness about the congress and to call people to attend the event. According to tradition, St. Patrick left a bell in every church he consecrated as a way to call people to the Eucharist. The delegation also presented the pope with a medal commemorating the congress, and a bowl of Irish shamrock to mark the March 17 feast of St. Patrick. The 50th International Eucharistic Congress is in Dublin June 10-17 with the theme: “The Eucharist: Communion With Christ and With One Another.” Pope Benedict will not attend the congress.

Continuing talks on prayer During his general audience with 10,000 pilgrims from all over the world, the pope continued his talks on prayer and started a new chapter looking at prayer depicted in the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of St. Paul. He spoke of Mary and her “privileged place

in the church, of which she is the ‘exemplar and outstanding model in faith and charity.’” He said people can learn how to pray from Mary: listening patiently and humbly, and fully accepting God’s will. Often people turn to prayer when facing great difficulty, anxiety or fear, he said, because by turning to the Lord, people can find “light, comfort and help.” Mary also invites people to experience another dimension of prayer and “to turn to God not just when in need and not only for oneself,” but to pray together as a Christian community, united in faith “with one heart and one soul,” he said. “Mary teaches us the necessity of prayer and shows us how, only with a constant and intimate bond of love with her son, can we leave ‘our home’ and step outside of ourselves with courage, in order to reach the ends of the earth and everywhere proclaim Lord Jesus, savior of the world.” At the end of his talk, the pope met with Cardinal Emmanuel-Karim Delly, Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, and Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad, who presented the pope with a wrapped gift. The pope also met with Chaldean Bishop Sarhad Yawsip Jammo, head of the Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle, of San Diego.

From the Vatican

The Lesson Plan

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Operation Rice Bowl’s next stop: India The Catholic Spirit During this Lenten season, Catholics in the archdiocese have been encouraged to enrich their spiritual journey by participating in Catholic Relief Service’s Operation Rice Bowl. The program introduces participants to countries where poor communities are being strengthened by the work of the Catholic Church through CRS. This week’s country is India. ORB annually connects nearly 13,000 faith communities across the United States with their brothers and sisters around the world. Through reading personal stories, viewing online videos and cooking simple meatless dishes that are typical daily fare in the featured countries, Catholics here are reminded that many people in the world do not

have enough to eat or clean, safe water to drink. Participants unite in a common faith when they pray for change within themselves and for those around the world. ORB provides an avenue to donate personal and family resources saved through preparing frugal meals during the six weeks of Lent. These small sacrifices collectively add up to make a significant difference for others around the globe. Seventy-five percent of the money collected is sent to CRS for overseas humanitarian programs and 25 percent of it remains in our own archdiocese for local food programs. You can learn more about the ORB at HTTP://ORB.CRS.ORG.

SPOTLIGHT ON INDIA

India: Tehri 2 tbsp. oil 1 tsp. cumin seeds 2 green chili peppers, diced 1 onion, diced 1 ⁄4 tsp. turmeric 4 cups of various vegetables of choice, chopped (peas, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, potatoes) 2 cups rice Salt to taste 4 cups water

Photo by Laura Sheahen / Catholic Relief Services

Photo by Philip Laubner / CRS

Heat the oil in a pot, add cumin seeds and cook for 2 minutes. Add the chili peppers, onion and turmeric and sauté for 2 minutes. Add chopped vegetables and sauté until slightly fried. Add rice, salt and water. Cook until rice and vegetables are done and the water is completely absorbed — about 20 minutes. Yield: 4 to 5 servings

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My name is Gulsana, and I am 13 years old. I live with my parents, four brothers and two sisters in the village of Bahadurnagar in India. My parents work hard but don’t earn much and can’t afford enough food for our family. The littlest person in our family is my 2-year-old sister Shabnam, who has always been small for her age. Mrs. Seini, a health worker who works with Catholic Relief Services in our village, visited our house with a special chart about nutrition and healthy growth for babies. She weighed Shabnam and told us that she needed more food. Mrs. Seini offered to give us a nutritious powdered food from the government every week, but my father didn’t want to try it. He thought it was strange food for a baby. Worried about my sister, I talked to Mrs. Seini again. She told me to fry the food and add sugar to make a kind of pudding. My father tasted the pudding and said it was good, so we gave some to Shabnam. Now that Shabnam is getting more food, she looks healthier and moves around and plays more. Mrs. Seini says she has improved a lot. I am so happy that I was able to help my little sister.

It’s NOT too late to make this your

BEST LENT EVER! Sign up at HTTP:// BIT.LY/LENT2012EMAIL to receive an email each day during Lent with a reflection question and occasional links to brief Lenten-themed videos produced by The Catholic Spirit.

“The Gospel Book is the main symbol of Christ’s presence because Christ, the Word of God, is contained in it, as told through the apostles.” Johan van Parys

Arts & Culture 20

The Catholic Spirit

Exploring our church and our world

MARCH 29, 2012

Here’s a refresher on church’s symbols e walk into church and the first thing we do is reach our fingers into holy water. Why? Even better questions are, what benefit are we supposed to be getting, and, what are we supposed to be thinking about when we do it? Johan van Parys has the answers to those questions and more. The director of liturgy and the sacred arts at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, he’s packaged them nicely in 150 reader-friendly pages in “Symbols That Surround Us: Faithful Reflections.” (Liguori Publications, $16.99) Folks who haven’t had any expoBob Zyskowski sure to things Catholic will find explanations for everything from church architecture to garb and from gestures to sacraments. But if it’s been a good while since learning that blessing ourselves with holy water upon entering church is a reminder of our baptismal vows, that we are members of Christ’s church, that we’re entering a holy place, a different atmosphere than the rest of the world, then you’ll get something out of reading this, too. Van Parys reminds us that those ordinary elements of water, fire, bread and wine are symbols that “enable us to communicate on a deeper level . . . to express our faith in ways that would not be possible if we were to rely exclusively on words.” He’s right on the money when he adds, “Although we may not always be aware of them, symbols surround us, connect us to sacred images found in our churches, remind us of our faith, and support us in our private and public prayer.” Like a good teacher, van Parys sets the stage for comprehension by helping readers grasp the concept that nonverbal communication and symbols touch us every

Book Review

day. Body language, for example, flowers on Mother’s Day, a hug to a grieving friend. He quickly moves from the secular to the sacred, explaining, “When it comes to our faith, we use symbols even more readily to approach that which by definition cannot be explained or captured by words: the mysteries of creation and salvation. . . . The liturgy and the sacraments of the Catholic Church use symbols to share meaning and reveal deeper meaning.” After that, the author is off and running, effectively quoting from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Instructions of the Roman Missal, the documents of Vatican II and other authoritative works. Bread, he simply writes, that becomes the body of Christ, is for Catholics “weekly nourishment on our journey of faith.” And he’s honest enough to note this about the use of wine at Mass: “Wine has been ascribed medicinal qualities: It was used to settle an upset stomach and to clean out wounds. Still, the principal quality of wine is to add festivity to a gathering and emphasize unity among those who share the cup.”

Perfect for discussion groups He’s unafraid to explain how some Catholic ritual evolved from pre-Christian peoples. And there’s a marvelous chapter on sacred architecture as symbol that tackles why our churches look the way they do and how they’ve changed through 2,000 years. The book is richer for the personal anecdotes van Parys relates: I loved the one about the choir members who tossed their coats casually on the altar only to have the pastor come by and sweep the coats off in one fell swoop! Each of the 10 chapters ends with a brief reflection

Book signing What: Johan van Parys will sign his new book, “Symbols that Surround Us: Faithful Reflections.” Where: Teresa of Calcutta Hall, Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis. When: 3:45 p.m., April 1. Signing and reception will be preceded by 2:30 p.m. concert by Basilica Schola Cantorum in church’s choir stalls and 3 p.m. vespers.

and three questions to ponder and/or discuss. After reading “Symbols That Surround Us” I could easily see it serving as the text for a small group for a number of sessions and as the focus of an adult faith formation series. Those who facilitate gatherings for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults might find it a nice supplementary resource. But let me go back to my very first thought: I wasn’t halfway through “Symbols That Surround Us” when the light bulb was turned on: I’d forgotten so many of these symbolic connections that enrich Catholic life. Reading van Parys’ little book will remind those of us in the over50 crowd of some what we used to know — or at least had studied for the religion class test! Bob Zyskowski is associate publisher of The Catholic Spirit.

Actor is antithesis of bully she plays in Chanhassen’s ‘Hairspray’ By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

When she tucks her long, dark hair under a blonde bouffant wig, Nicole Renee Chapman is just beginning her transformation for a performance of the musical “Hairspray” at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. Assuming a different appearance has helped the actor play a character whose thinking and actions are also very different from her own — those of a bully. “It’s a really big change but now it turns out that since I am playing such a mean character it’s kind of nice to not look like myself while I’m doing it,” said Chapman, who’s performed since August in the production, now extended until May 26. “It helps me to get into character and to tap into this way of thinking that’s so different from my own.” Even though her own experiences with bullying are unlike her character’s, Chapman said playing the role of Amber has been stimulating, especially because the character’s cruelty helps convey the play’s positive messages of tolerance and racial equality. In the fast-paced, campy and colorful play, set in Baltimore in 1962, Chapman plays a high school sophomore who stars

on a teen TV dance show. When another teen, Tracy, auditions for the show, Amber’s mother, a producer, rejects her because of her weight along with another girl because she is black.

A winning style Tracy, nonetheless, gets the attention of the show’s host who invites her on the program. Spurred on by her mother and jealousy, Amber mercilessly teases Tracy who organizes a protest to convince the station to allow blacks on regularly. Most of the protesters are arrested, but Tracy’s prison time is unfairly extended. She eventually arrives at the show with a racially mixed group of friends and succeeds in integrating the production and defeats Amber in a dance competition. Bullying “is a hot topic in our society today and is something that Nicole can speak to directly,” said Kris Howland, the Chanhassen’s public relations director. “Nicole is the absolute antithesis of the character she plays — which is a huge challenge for her to play. But she is awesome in the show.” A graduate of Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota Heights, Chapman said she’s experienced bullying, though not in an extreme way. She felt the effect when she made a decision to not drink

Courtesy Chanhassen Dinner Theatres

In “Hairspray” at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Velma Von Tussle, left, adjusts the tiara for her daughter, Amber Von Tussle, portrayed by Nicole Chapman.

alcohol while studying at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Ind. “I always think I know that what I’m doing is pleasing God, even if it’s going to feel lonely sometimes or even if I’m going to be left out because of it or not treated the same way as everyone else,” she said.

Holding on to values Chapman understands the importance of standing up for beliefs, even when it’s

unpopular. “Hairspray” makes that point, she said, although it’s not a Christian production. “I think the show encourages you to hold on to your convictions and your values,” she said. Children who have attended the show react to the bullying and are drawn to Tracy’s good example, Chapman said. “A show like this is good to see for kids who are being bullied to see how to deal with it in a positive way . . . and for kids who — if they ever do feel tempted to bully in any way because of what their peers are doing or what they’ve seen in movies — don’t think it’s a big deal to treat another kid or a classmate in a demeaning way,” Chapman said. Although Amber is unkind, in the end, she does have a change of heart, Chapman said. “The show is a great conversation starter because it does bring up all these issues and it has a good message in the end,” she added. “Hairspray” is suitable for audiences of all ages, though it contains mild, mature language and situations. Through April, those who purchase one adult dinner and show ticket for “Hairspray” can get one children’s ticket (ages 5-17) free. Call Chanhassen Dinner Theatres at (952) 934-1525 for reservations.

Calendar Dining out Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Wednesday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations. Palm Sunday breakfast at Guardian Angels, Oakdale — April 1: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 8260 Fourth St. N. Cost is $7 for adults and $6 for children ages 6 to 12. KC Palm Sunday brunch at Epiphany, Coon Rapids — April 1: 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 1900 111th Ave. N.W. Free will offering. Pancake breakfast at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — April 15: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 9050 93rd Ave. N. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Ages 3 and under are free. KC Pancake breakfast at Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — April 15: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 4087 W. Broadway. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children ages 10 and under.

Lenten dinners Mystery soup supper at St. Jerome, Maplewood — All Thursdays of Lent: Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. followed by soup supper at 380 E. Roselawn Ave. Lenten soup supper at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — Wednesdays of Lent through March 28: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1630 Fourth St. N.E. Soup supper at The Basilica of Saint Mary — all Fridays of Lent: 6 to 6:45 p.m. at 88 N. 17th St. Mass at 5:30 p.m. and Stations of the Cross at 7 p.m. 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. Enchiladas also available to-go by the dozen. Lenten dinner at Holy Family Maronite, 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. Fish dinner at St. Bernard, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the parish center on Rice and Geranium. Fish dinner at St. Stephen, Anoka — All Fridays of Lent: 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 525 Jackson St. Fish fry at Sacred Heart, Rush City — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at 425 Field Ave. Fish fry at St. Charles, Bayport — All Fridays of Lent: 4 to 8 p.m. at 409 N. Third St. Fish fry at St. John the Baptist, Hugo — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 8 p.m. at 14383 Forest Blvd. Fish fry at St. John, Hopkins — All Fridays of Lent: 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 6 Interlachen Road. Fish dinner at St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Fish fry at St. Matthew, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave. Fish fry at Epiphany, Coon Rapids — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1900 111th Ave. N.W.

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT uration, Oakdale — April 6: 7 p.m. at 6133 15th St. N. For information, visit WWW.SERVANTSOFTHECROSSMINISTRY.NET.

Don’t miss Seminarian/priest basketball tournament Guardian Angels in Chaska will host the fifth annual seminarian/priest basketball tournament April 13 at the Guardian Angels School gym. The event begins with a barbecue in the school parking lot at 5:30 p.m. followed by the tournament. The Saint John Vianney Seminary vs. Saint Paul Seminary game will be at 7 p.m. and winner vs. Priests of the archdiocese will be at 8 p.m. All games are free and open to the public. Guardian Angels is located at 215 W. Second St. For information, email ARCHSPMBASKETBALL@GMAIL.COM.

NOTE: Divine Mercy Sunday events will be listed in the April 12 issue. Fish fry at St. Patrick, Oak Grove — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 6:45 p.m. at 19921 Nightingale St. N.W. 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, St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St. Fish fry at St. Michael, Pine Island — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 451 Fifth St. S.W. Fish fry at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — All Fridays of Lent: 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center, 17th Avenue and Fourth Street N.E. Fish fry at St. John Vianney, South St. Paul — All Fridays of Lent: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 789 17th Ave. N. 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 fry at St. Peter School, North St. Paul — March 30: 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 Margaret St. N. Fish dinner at St. Bonaventure, Bloomington — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 901 E. 90th St. Fish fry at St. John the Evangelist, Little Canada — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 2621 McMenemy St. Fish fry at St. John the Baptist, Dayton — March 30: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 18380 Columbus St. Fish fry at Totino-Grace High School, Fridley — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1350 Gardena Ave. N.E. Fish fry at Guardian Angels School, Chaska — March 30: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 217 Second St. Fish fry at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — March 30: 4 to 8 p.m. at 1725 Kennard St. Fish and spaghetti dinner at St. Raphael, Crystal — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 7301 Bass Lake Road. Fish fry at St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 3878 Highland Ave. Fish fry at Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — March 30: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 4087 W. Broadway Ave. Fish dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Shakopee — March 30: 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E.

Lent/ Holy Week Screening of Father Robert Barron’s, “Catholicism,” at St. Mark, St. Paul —

Fridays during Lent and into the Easter season: Soup and fish dinners at 5:30 p.m., Stations of the Cross at 7:30 p.m. followed by DVD at 2001 Dayton Ave. For information, visit WWW.SAINTMARK-MN .ORG. Passion play by confirmation candidates at St. Gerard, Brooklyn Park — March 30: 8 p.m. at 9600 Regent Ave. N. Free will offering. Franz Liszt’s ‘Via Crucis’ performed at St. Mary’s Chapel at the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul — March 30: 7:30 p.m. at 2260 Summit Ave. Features the combined choirs of the University of St. Thomas Schola Cantorum and the seminary’s chorale. Organist is David Jenkins. Free admission. ‘The Seven Last Words: A Prayerful Evening of Sacred Music, Sacred Art and Sacred Word’ at St. Bridget, Minneapolis — March 30: Begins at 5:30 p.m. with a soup supper followed by the program at 7 p.m. at 3811 Emerson Ave. N. Free will offering accepted. For information, call (612) 529-7779. Passion play at St. Columba, St. Paul — April 1: 7 p.m. at 1327 Lafond Ave. Solemn Vespers for Passion Sunday at St. Mary, St. Paul — April 1: 5 p.m. at 261 Eighth St. E. Soup supper follows. Living Stations of the Cross at St. Michael, St. Michael — April 1 and April 6: 8 p.m. at the historic old church at 22 N. Main St. For information, visit WWW.CHURCHOFSAINTMICHAEL.ORG. Holy Week Mission-Evangelization and Prayer at St. Stephen, Minneapolis — April 5 to 7: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday at 2211 Clinton Ave. Includes Triduum liturgies, prayer, evangelization training and more. For information, call (612) 3922421. ‘Voices from the Passion’ a Sacred Cantata at Our Lady of Grace, Edina — April 6: 1:30 p.m. at 5071 Eden Ave. Presented by the Our Lady of Grace Schola Cantorum choir. Living Stations of the Cross at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — April 6: Noon at 1725 Kennard St. For information, visit WWW. SERVANTSOFTHECROSSMINISTRY.NET. Living Stations of the Cross at Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul — April 6: 3 p.m. at 1801 LaCrosse Ave. For information, visit WWW.SERVANTSOFTHECROSSMINISTRY. NET. Living Stations of the Cross at Transfig-

Parish events St. Anthony of Padua Women’s Guild craft and bake sale at Catholic Eldercare, Minneapolis — March 31 and April 1: 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at 817 N.E. Main St. Features hamemade baked goods and other treasures for sale. Spring festival at Holy Rosary/Santo Rosario, Minneapolis — April 1: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 2424 18th Ave. S. Features a chicken dinner, Mexican foods and an Ecuadoran meal served until 3 p.m., as well as raffles, baked goods, games and more. Euchre tournament at St. Patrick of Cedar Lake, Jordan — April 13: 6:30 p.m. registration and 7:30 p.m. start at 24425 Old Highway 13. Cash prizes awarded. Food and beverages available. Cost is $20 per team. Spring wine tasting at St. Matthew, St. Paul — April 14: 5 p.m. at 507 Hall Ave. Featuring Minnesota wines from Cannon River Winery. Cost is $15. ‘Praise with Pipes’ at St. Peter, North St. Paul — April 14: 7:30 p.m. at 2600 Margaret St. Presented by St. Paul Vocal Forum. Features Bach’s “Lobet den Herrn,” Brahms’ “Geistliches Lied,” Antonín Dvořák’s Mass in D, Britten’s “Festival Te Deum,” and Ian Hare’s “Sing Praises unto the Lord.” Admission is free.

Prayers/ liturgies All night vigil with the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — April 1 and 2: 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday at 401 Concord St. Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Columba, St. Paul — April 1: 2 p.m. at 1327 Lafond Ave. Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Bernard, St. Paul — April 8: 2 p.m. at 187 W. Geranium.

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50plus 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. Singles group at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — ongoing second Saturday each month: 6:15 p.m. at 9100 93rd Ave. N. Gather for a potluck supper, conversation and games. For information, call (763) 425-0412.

Other events Open house and panel discussion at Cerenity Senior Care-Marian of St. Paul, St. Paul — April 22: 1 to 3 p.m. at 200 Earl St. Discussion topic is “Before the Unexpected Happens-Planning Ahead for Senior Care.” For information, visit WWW.CERENITYSENIORCARE.ORG or call (651) 793-2102.

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. E-MAIL: SPIRITCALENDAR@ ARCHSPM.ORG. (No attachments, please.)

FAX: (651) 291-4460. MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

MARCH 29, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Youth group seeks shoes

Let us be drawn into Holy Week drama CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 God, why have you forsaken me?” As we hear those words ring in our ears, the mystery of the crucifixion and death of Christ ought to resonate in our hearts as well. Next comes the eerie silence of Holy Saturday until, at last, the blessing of the new fire, the lighting of the Paschal Candle and the joyful strains of the Exsultet. In the Easter Vigil, we recall from Scripture the highlights of God’s interventions with our forebearers, culminating in the baptismal call of our catechumens and the confirmation of our candidates preparing for full initiation

into the church. Here, like that holy morning some 2,000 years ago, we discover anew the mystery of new life offered in Christ’s resurrection from the dead. In Sunday’s second reading, St. Paul will tell us., “Your attitude must be that of Christ’s.” But the question we might ask ourselves is, “How can we have that attitude if we have not experienced what Christ experienced, by walking with him along the Way of the Cross?”

Invitation extended Holy Week is that invitation, extended to each of us, to know more deeply how Jesus was betrayed, beaten, denied, stripped of his clothes and placed upon a cross in order to free us from our sins

so that we might live in his love. We are invited, in short, to walk with him as he shows us the way of love, the path to our salvation. My dear brothers and sisters, as we begin this Holy Week, you and I will come forward to receive the very body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. That, too, is an invitation not only to reverence the body of Christ, but in fact, to be the body of Christ to the poor, to the sick, to the stranger, and in fact, to everyone whom we meet in our daily routines. Yes, the drama of this Holy Week is very much like reality TV. Let us allow ourselves to be drawn in and get personally involved.

St. Thomas Becket’s youth ministry group in Eagan is seeking donations of used athletic shoes through Thursday, April 5, to raise funds for a June mission trip to Jamaica. The group receives $.50 per pound of sneakers it turns in to Green Sneakers (WWW.GREENSNEAKERS.ORG). A collection bin is located in the church’s gathering space area. For information, call Eric Duffy at (651) 683-9808 or email him at EDUFFY@ST.THOMASBECKET.ORG.

Men’s conference March 31 Still haven’t registered for the Archdiocesan Men’s Conference? No problem! Walk-in registrations are welcome. The event will be held from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 31, at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Cost is $15. For information, visit WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MARCH 29, 2012

Pope to young people: Find joy in Christ, not prestige or power By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

Pope Benedict XVI called on young people to not pursue power, money and prestige, but to find true joy in Christ and live a life of generous service to others. In his message for World Youth Day 2012, he told the world’s young Catholics to start making the world a better, more just and humane place right now, even while they continue to pursue their studies, talents and interests. Do not be content in giving the minimum, he said. “The world needs men and women who are competent and generous, willing to be at the service of the common good,” the pope said. The Vatican and most dioceses around the world will mark World Youth Day on Palm Sunday, April 1. International celebrations of World Youth Day are normally held every two to three years. In the message, released by the Vatican

March 27, the pope chose the theme from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always.” “Joy is at the heart of the Christian experience,” the pope said. In a world marked by so much sorrow and anxiety, “joy is an important witness to the beauty and reliability of the Christian faith.” He told young people to recognize that the many temptations and false promises of modern-day culture veer people away from true and lasting happiness. People are often pressured “to seek immediate goals, achievements and pleasures” as the dominant culture “fosters fickleness more than perseverance, hard work and fidelity to commitments,” he said. “May your entire life be guided by a spirit of service and not by the pursuit of power, material success and money,” he said. God loves his children so much, he sent his only son to be with them, and he gave people specific directions — the Ten Com-

“If the way Christians live at times appears dull and boring, you should be the first to show the joyful and happy side of faith.

”

POPE BENEDICT XVI In his 2012 World Youth Day message

mandments — for following the right path in life, Pope Benedict said. While the commandments may seem like “a list of prohibitions and an obstacle to our freedom,” in light of Christ’s message, they are “a set of essential and valuable rules leading to a happy life,” he said. “Christianity is sometimes depicted as a

way of life that stifles our freedom and goes against our desires for happiness and joy,” he said. Rather, faith in Christ, who is truly present for everyone, brings real joy, he said, because Christians recognize they are not alone and that Christ is always near, especially during times of great difficulty. “Christian joy is not a flight from reality, but a supernatural power that helps us to deal with the challenges of daily life.” The pope told young people, “Learn to see how God is working in your lives and discover him hidden within the events of daily life,” to know that God will never abandon anyone, and know that God in his mercy always offers sinners the possibility of redemption. “If the way Christians live at times appears dull and boring, you should be the first to show the joyful and happy side of faith,” he said, as he urged young people to share the good news of Christ with everyone.

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“In the name of millions of Mexicans, thank you for a visit we will never forget.” Mexican President Felipe Calderon, at the departure ceremony for Pope Benedict XVI, who visited the country from March 23 to 26

Overheard 24

The Catholic Spirit

Quotes from this week’s newsmakers

MARCH 29, 2012 “I don’t think I’ll ever dance the way I used to dance — and that’s part of the sacrifice — but at the same time, God has opened many doors for me to use it and to use it for his kingdom.”

‘De’-lightful: Islanders take 2

— David Rider, a former professional tap dancer who is now a New York archdiocesan seminarian attending the Pontifical North American College in Rome

Providence girls win first title

“Keep the spirit alive; let others know that we will not accept a compromise. We will not be told what to teach, what to preach or what to practice. That comes from our hearts and from the religious tradition [that] we treasure.”

Right, senior guard Ross Barker of the DeLaSalle boys basketball team starts celebrating a state Class AAA boys basketball title March 24 at Target Center in Minneapolis moments after his last-second shot propelled the Islanders to a dramatic, 57-56 win in overtime over Minneapolis Washburn. “Right when it left my fingers, I knew it was going in,” Barker said. “I have been shooting that shot all year.” The win came exactly one week after the DeLaSalle girls won the Class AAA title, completing a boys-girls sweep of basketball championships for the first time in school history.

— Bishop John Quinn of Winona, speaking March 23 at the Stand Up for Religious Freedom rally in St. Paul to oppose the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate

“This hat’s gonna cost me a lot more than one in Rome did.” — Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, quipping as he donned a red hard hat and announced March 17 that St. Patrick’s Cathedral will undergo a $175 million, five-year restoration project

“The church needs to hold up people who held children up.” — Father Steven Boes, executive director of Boys Town, speaking about Father Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town, who was declared a “servant of God” — a step toward sainthood — during a Mass March 17 in Omaha, Neb.

Above, DeLaSalle High School girls basketball players, including junior guards Allina Starr, left, and Joi Jones (10) hoist the state Class AAA championship trophy following their 65-45 win over Richfield in the finals March 17 at Target Center in Minneapolis. The Islanders, who finished the season with a record of 28-3, successfully defended their state title. Left, Lions junior guard Taylor Finley of Providence Academy in Plymouth battles junior forward Jordan Gamradt of Sauk Centre during the Class AA finals March 17 at Target Center in Minneapolis. Ranked No. 1 in AA all year, the Lions capped their season with a 46-40 win over Sauk Centre in the finals.

Photos by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

“Values and fundamental rights proper to Europe, such as freedom of religion and legal recognition of churches, are far from being an established reality in some nations.” — Bishop Andras Veres of Szombathely, Hungary, in a statement following the release March 19 of a church-backed report documenting the rise of anti-Christian prejudice in Europe