The Catholic Spirit - June 7, 2013

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Getting ready for Rural Life Sunday June 6, 2013

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The Catholic Spirit

Creed plays key role in teen’s journey to Church

Rediscover section

News with a Catholic heart

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Fortnight for Freedom As threats to religious liberty mount, local forum seeks to help Catholics respond

The Catholic Spirit As part of this year’s national Fortnight for Freedom observance, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is sponsoring a Freedom Forum where Catholics can learn more about ongoing threats to religious liberty in the United States and how they can respond effectively to these challenges.

The free event is set for June 22 at St. Peter in Mendota. It begins with Mass at 8 a.m., followed by a slate of nationally recognized speakers until PLEASE TURN TO SPEAKERS ON PAGE 8

Two-week initiative of prayer, fasting to start on June 21 Catholic News Service The U.S. bishops’ second annual Fortnight for Freedom — a period of prayer and fasting to raise awareness of challenges to religious liberty, both nationally and internationally — is planned for June 21 to July 4.

PLEASE TURN TO FORUM ON PAGE 19

Archbishop Nienstedt writes on Fortnight observance — Page 2

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JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Fortnight observance needed this year more than ever

That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt

There are numerous examples of religious liberty at risk

For a second year in a row, the U.S. bishops have called for a “Fortnight for Freedom” from June 21 until July 4. This is a focused time of prayer, education and action in support of religious freedom. To my mind, this observance is needed this year more than ever.

Having settled into its second term, the present administration appears to be determined to impose its secular, godless ideology on the nation.

From Tea Party organizations to conservative journalists to the Catholic Church, no opponent is to be spared.

Range of concerns Here are some examples of religious liberty at risk: 1) The HHS mandate that forces for-profit (with more than 50 employees) and non-profit employers to provide health care coverage that includes free contraception, sterilization and abortifacients (i.e., morning-after pills) irrespective of said employer’s beliefs that such services are immoral.

Clearly, the Catholic Church teaches that making these services available to employees involves the employer in moral cooperation with evil, and such cooperation, done knowingly and willfully, is sinful. A very narrow conscience exemption is provided for churches with religious objections, but other religious organizations, such as universities and hospitals, as well as private busi-

Archbishop’s schedule ■ Saturday, June 8: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: World Marriage Day Mass and reception.

■ Sunday-Friday, June 9-14: San Diego, Calif., USCCB committee meetings and general assembly.

■ Sunday, June 16: 10:30 a.m., North Branch, Church of St. Gregory the Great: Sunday Liturgy.

■ Monday, June 17: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Development Planning Committee meeting.

11:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Presbyteral Council meeting.

■ Monday-Thursday, June 17-20: Rochester, Minn., Presbyteral Assembly.

3 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: The Catholic Cemeteries corporate board meeting.

■ Friday, June 21: 4 p.m., Duluth, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary: Priestly ordination Mass and reception of Deacon Nicholas Nelson.

The Catholic Spirit

3) After years of widely acknowledged excellent performance by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services (MRS) in administering contract services for victims of human trafficking, the federal government changed its contract specifications to require MRS to provide or refer for contraceptive and abortion services, in violation of Catholic teaching. This was a clear case of religious discrimination with the message: Cooperate with evil or go out of business.

On a state level, one could also cite the New York City ban on allowing

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Vol. 18 — No. 13 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher SARAH MEALEY Associate publisher JOE TOWALSKI Editor Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by Catholic Spirit Publishing Company.a

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Principle wrongly applied

■ Thursday, June 20: 2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery-Hayden Building: Teachers on Summer Institute.

ness owners, are not exempt.

Stiff fines, assessed by the IRS, will be leveled against those who do not comply. The message is clear: Either cooperate with evil or go out of business.

2) Catholic Charities in Boston, San Francisco, the District of Columbia and in the state of Illinois have had to shut down their adoption and foster care services because they refused to place children with samesex couples or unmarried oppositesex couples who cohabit. Again, the message is clear: Cooperate with evil or go out of business.

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churches to rent public schools on weekends or the University of California’s denial of student organization status to the Christian Legal Society because it requires its leaders to be Christian and to abstain from sexual activity outside of marriage.

Clearly, this is ideological warfare against those who hold solid Christian beliefs. It is difficult for me to conceive of such intolerance in a democratic society. But, unfortunately, the evidence is in plain sight for those who are able to see.

Critics may appeal to a principle of “separation of church and state,” but the U.S. Constitution never envisioned denying people of faith a voice in the public square.

The right of religious liberty, the first freedom guaranteed in the Bill of Rights, permits the free exercise of religious belief. Religious liberty is more than freedom to worship; it includes the ability of persons of religious belief to contribute to the common good without having to compromise those beliefs.

I urge our Catholic clergy and lay faithful to become knowledgeable of the threats to religious liberty and join in our archdiocesan events to commemorate this year’s Fortnight for Freedom. (For more information, go to WWW.FORTNIGHT4FREEDOM.ORG.) God bless you!

Official His Excellency, the Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Effective June 14, 2013 Rev. Nicholas VanDenBroeke, appointed chaplain to Totino-Grace High School.

Effective July 1, 2013 Rev. Paul Feela, appointed to a second term as pastor of The Church of Lumen Christi (Saint Paul).

This appointment will extend until June 30, 2019.

Rev. Patrick Hipwell, appointed to a second term as pastor of The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord (Saint Paul). This appointment will extend until June 30, 2019.

Rev. Mark Huberty, appointed to a second term as pastor of The Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Saint Paul (Maplewood). This appointment will extend until June 30, 2019.

Rev. Michael Kueber, appointed parochial vicar of St. Olaf's Catholic Church of Minneapolis and of The Church of St. Stephen of Minneapolis.

Deacon James Meyer, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Holy Family of St. Louis Park.

Deacon Michael Nevin, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at The Church of St. Thomas, of Corcoran and to the Church of SS. Peter and Paul of Medina.

Rev. Hoang Nguyen, appointed to a second term as pastor of The Church of Saint Columba of St. Paul.

This appointment will extend until June 30, 2019.

Rev. Timothy Norris, appointed pastor of The Church of Saint Paul (Ham Lake).

Rev. Phillip Rask, appointed to a second term as pastor of The Church of St. Odilia, of Shoreview. This appointment will extend until June 30, 2019.

Rev. Timothy Yanta, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint John the Baptist of Jordan. This appointment will extend until June 30, 2018.

Effective August 1, 2013 Deacon Sean Curtan, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Annunciation of Minneapolis.

“The world looks to the priest because it looks to Jesus!

No one can see Christ; but everyone sees the priest, and through him they wish to catch a glimpse of the Lord!”

Pope John Paul II

Local News from around the archdiocese

JUNE 6, 2013

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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10 men ordained priests for archdiocese Susan Klemond The Catholic Spirit

Addressing the 10 men he was about to ordain priests May 25 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Archbishop John Nienstedt told them to spend time with Christ so they would be well-prepared to serve his people.

“You will not be able to bring Christ to others unless you have first discovered him in your most personal prayer encounters and in your attentiveness [to him] in the Blessed Sacrament,” the archbishop told the men, who ranged in age from 26 to 40. “You will not be able to serve all people unless you spend time with him who came not to be served but to serve.”

Making up the largest class since 2005, the ordinands filled the sanctuary as they stood side by side facing the altar at the start of the ordination rite.

“We haven’t seen double digits like this since 2005 when Archbishop Flynn ordained 15 priests,” Archbishop Nienstedt told the standing-room-only congregation during the nearly three-hour liturgy.

Archbishop John Nienstedt ordained 10 men to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on May 25 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Above, the archbishop addresses the men during his homily.

On fire with the Spirit

From left, Deacons Leonard Andrie, John Drees, Spencer Howe, Luke Marquard, James Peterson, Andrew Brinkman, Joah Ellis, Andrew Jaspers, Brian Park and Andrew Stueve listen to Archbishop Nienstedt during his homily.

During the ordination rite after the homily, about 160 priests from the archdiocese and other dioceses came to the altar and prayed as they placed their hands on each ordinand’s head. The last to pray was Msgr. Stanley Srnec, who held on to a walker for balance as he placed one hand on the head of each of the 10 men Ordained in 1942, Msgr. Srnec said this year’s class is about the same size as his

Photos by Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

PLEASE TURN TO NEW ON PAGE 4

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

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

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

Call 1-877-328-9161 THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM

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Serving the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Congratulations Fr. James Peterson

We rejoice with you in your ordination to the holy priesthood and we wish you many blessings as you continue your journey with Our Lord.

St. Hubert Catholic Community

Chanhassen, MN

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Local

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

New priests ‘are great sign of hope’ for Church

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Newly-ordained Father Spencer Howe greets Sister Rose Vu, a member of the Religious of the Good Shepherd, after the ordination Mass.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Archbishop John Nienstedt lays hands on Leonard Andrie during the priest ordination Mass May 25 at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

NOTICE Look for The Catholic Spirit advertising insert from

Catholic Charities in all copies of this issue.

own. Having offered spiritual direction to one of the new priests, he said he is confident they are well prepared, eager and on fire with the Holy Spirit. “If they’re all the quality of the one I directed, I look forward to the work they’re going to do,” he said.

Nashville Dominican Sister Mary Juliana Cox said the new priests have a strong example in Pope Francis of what it means to be a priest.

“I think this is a great sign of hope for the Church,” said Sister Mary Juliana, who got to know newly ordained Father Brian Park because both attended Texas A&M University.

Theresa Diederichs of St. Augustine in St. Cloud was excited and happy for her newly ordained grandson, Father Joah Ellis, but not surprised.

“I never doubted he would be a priest; it is his calling,” said Diederichs, who added that she prayed to the Holy Spirit daily to guide Father Ellis in his vocation. “I could just hug the daylights out of him. I’m so happy for him.”

Newly ordained Father Andrew Stueve said he was awed by the experience of the Mass. “During the laying on of hands I felt a great sense of the presbyterate connected,” he said. Being in a class of 10 is humbling, he added. “Each of them have great gifts and will be serving in the Church.”

The joy of the Lord and gratitude were

on Father Park’s heart, he said, as he bestowed a blessing on family, friends and others who greeted him after the ordination. Looking ahead to his priesthood he said, “I want to be a holy, humble, faithful, fruitful, joyful priest.”

‘Love for the Lord’ Don and Sue Malafa got to know Fathers Andrew Brinkman and Spencer Howe when they served as seminarians at the couple’s parish, St. Stephen in Anoka.

The new priests should just keep doing what they’ve been doing, Don said.

“They are such vibrant Christians,” Sue added. “Their love for the Lord shows a love of people.”

After the ordination, Father Michael Miller, pastor of St. Michael in Stillwater, said it had been a “great day, a powerful day.” In addition to the ordination itself, he appreciated the music of the liturgy, which included Gregorian chant and a piece by Father Francis Missia, a professor of music and Gregorian chant at the St. Paul Seminary during the first half of the 20th century.

“Every time you can see the Church is alive and young, it renews everyone’s hope to see that God continues to follow the line of the apostles,” he said.

Before that line was continued through Archbishop Nienstedt’s ordination of the 10 men, he gave them one last instruction: “Trust Jesus, love Jesus, cling ever to Jesus.”

Local Catholics thanked for supporting retired religious The Catholic Spirit The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis contributed $419,717 to the annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection for 2012.

The Retirement Fund for Religious is the annual appeal coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office.

“On behalf of all retired religious, may

God reward and bless you for your generosity,” Sister Midge Breiter, archdiocesan coordinator, said in a message to Catholics of the archdiocese.

In addition to the annual appeal, the National Religious Retirement Office distributes funds to help religious institutes meet current and future retirement needs.

According to a recent Retirement Fund for Religious newsletter, the unfunded

retirement liability continues to be one of the most critical challenges to religious communities, but the gap is narrowing.

The continued generosity of Catholics to the Retirement Fund for Religious has made possible grants that with careful fiscal planning have enabled numerous communities to transform their retirement crises into manageable concerns.

Local

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Students create ads to bring peers back to Church

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit

As a final project for their theology class, sophomores at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park created print, television and radio ads aimed at bringing teens who are struggling in their faith back to Mass.

“With all the conversation right now on the New Evangelization and the Rediscover: efforts here in our archdiocese, we thought it was a perfect way to end the class,” said Alison Frank, one of the teachers who developed the project last year.

Getting the message out in an enticing way and conveying the deeper meaning of the Eucharist proved to be a challenge.

The students had to integrate what they learned over the course of the semester into the ad campaign.

“They realized that it is difficult to contain a real message while still being appealing and catchy,” Frank said.

In all, about 50 groups worked to create a print, radio and TV ad. The students in the group that produced the best ad in each category were able to skip the final exam for the semester.

“They invested themselves with increased dedication, which led to greater

thought in what the product would look like and accomplish,” Frank said.

Charlie Jones and his group developed the slogan, “Open Your Eyes to the Lord.”

“Our concept was that God will always find you and bring you back into his family, even if you are not looking for him,” Jones said.

Some of the other creative slogans the students came up with included:

Jason Alexander and Hugo Lindsay created the winning print ad for the final project in their theology class.

Their ad was chosen best in their class and then chosen

by The Catholic Spirit staff as best among class winners.

■ “It’s All About Perspective.” The students in this group wanted to convey that Mass changes your perspective and orients it to what will make you happy in the long run, Frank said.

■ “Live in Your World, Pray in Ours.”

This touched on some of the duality teenagers face, she said. “I think it begins to demonstrate that you can still be someone of this world, and be a believer.”

The winning print ad (shown), was produced by Jason Alexander and Hugo Lindsay and chosen by the staff at The Catholic Spirit. The ad features the slogan, “Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Christian Faith. Jesus’ Words Change Reality.”

The winning radio ad, “No one Leaves Unchanged,” was chosen by staff at Relevant Radio and produced by Natalie Chevalier and Maggie Houtz.

Photo courtesy of Benilde-St. Margaret’s School

The Benilde-St. Margaret’s School marketing deprtment chose the best TV ad.

“Come Alive, Find Yourself,” was produced by Caty O’Connor, Bailey Howard, Allie Coughlin, Molly Flannery, Mary Kate Paulison and Hanna Anderson.

“They know what catches their eye and attention,” Frank said, “and so why not

Congratulations,

Graduates!

Catholic high schools have a 99.4% graduation rate We’re celebrating another year of successes big and small at Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Find out how your child can AIM HIGHER with Catholic schools!

Visit AimHigher.org Today!

take these completely media-and-imagesoaked young people who dwell in the world of sound bites, tweets and vines, and have them apply that to something productive — evangelization?”

To hear the winning radio ad and view the TV winner, visit this story at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

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Local

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

Jill Reilly named acting superintendent of Catholic schools The Catholic Spirit Jill Reilly, president of Education, Leadership and Management (ELM) Consultants and former president of Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, has been named as acting superintendent of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

She began the position June 1.

The archdiocese said in a statement the search process for a permanent replacement that began in January, following the departure last fall of former superintendent Marty Frauenheim, remains active as the archdiocese “continues its commitment to find the best leader and best fit for the specific needs of the 12-county archdiocesan school system.”

“We are deeply grateful to Dr. Reilly for her support and leadership during this interim period,” Archbishop John Nienstedt said in a statement. “The 93 Catholic schools of our archdiocese are an important priority for us. While we continue our search process, we are indeed blessed to have someone as experienced and talented as Dr. Reilly at the helm.”

Reilly served as president of Academy of Holy Angels from 1995 until her retirement in 2011 when she was given the honorary title of president emeritus. She continues to serve Catholic schools in an advisory capacity through her consulting practice.

“I am honored that the archbishop asked me to assist him in this important work.” Reilly said. “My passion is Catholic education, and I have a deep love for and commitment to the Church. I’m looking forward to working with the archdiocesan staff, pastors and school leaders to create a meaningful and fruitful plan for the 20132014 school year.”

Formulating goals Among Reilly’s immediate priorities will be evaluating and formulating manageable goals for the Catholic elementary schools of the archdiocese for the upcoming school year in consultation with pastors and Catholic school leaders.

“What those next steps will be is what my job will focus on,” she said. “It’s also to consider the realities in-

Jill Reilly is now serving as the acting superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

She is the former president of the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

volved with those goals — what support the schools might need.”

Reilly and her husband Patrick, members of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, have three adult children — daughters Liz and Heather and son Joe. The Reillys have six grandchildren.

Reilly holds advanced education degrees from both the University of Minnesota and University of St. Thomas. She also served on the archdiocesan Catholic Schools Commission as part of the long-term strategic planning process during 2009-2010.

In 2008, she was a recipient of The Catholic Spirit’s “Leading with Faith” award, which honors individuals

for workplace practices that reflect the teachings of Jesus and his Church. She also is active in many Catholic organizations around the Twin Cities.

“Jill brings a combination of a deep faith in the Catholic Church and the importance of faith-based teaching as demonstrated by her entire career,” said Jeff Ogden, chair of the Academy of Holy Angels board of directors, a body on which he has served for the last nine years.

“She has excellent organizational skills and has provided vision to improve the educational outcomes for students at all levels and with all backgrounds,” said Ogden, chief administrative officer at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis. “Jill will do a great job for the archdiocese in this position.”

Families at closed St. Paul school receive help for transition Other Catholic schools, Aim Higher Foundation provide support The Catholic Spirit While students and staff at St. FrancisSt. James United School in the West Seventh neighborhood of St. Paul faced the sadness of the school’s closure this week, Principal Gail Rappé was trying to be upbeat.

She was grateful that many families found a new Catholic school home for the next school year.

“It’s been tough,” she acknowledged in an interview with The Catholic Spirit June 3, two days before the last day of school.

But, she added, “we had a lot of time to find new schools for our kids.”

“We knew about this in November,” said Rappé, noting the announcement last fall that the K-8 school would close at the end of the academic year due to declining enrollment and financial sustainability challenges.

Soon after families learned about the news, the school met with parents “to reassure them that we would do everything we can to make this the best year ever and that we would help all of them find other schools for their kids,” Rappé said.

As part of that effort, principals at nearby Catholic schools — including Holy Spirit and Highland Catholic in St. Paul — attended a school fair last December at

St. Francis-St. James United, where those neighboring school leaders talked with families, answered questions and provided informational materials, Rappé said. Students also had opportunities to shadow students at the neighboring Catholic schools to experience a typical day there.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how the principals in those Catholic schools have tried to help us,” she said.

St. Francis-St. James United School had 79 students at the end of the year, including eight eighth-graders, Rappé said. Of the remaining students, about half will be attending Catholic schools this fall.

Helping students Among the financial assistance many of the students continuing at neighboring Catholic schools will receive are tuition assistance grants from the Aim Higher Foundation. The foundation recently announced a total of $750,000 in grants for the 2013-2014 academic year for students with financial need at 76 Catholic schools in the archdiocese — a nearly $300,000 increase over grant monies awarded for the academic year now ending.

The foundation is continuing support to all students who received Aim Higher Foundation tuition assistance in 20122013 if they remain in a Catholic elementary school and have continued financial need — a total of 648 students, said Karen Rauenhorst, chair of the foundation and member of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina.

The increase in grant monies will assist

additional students in the coming year.

The grants are offered in increments not larger than $1,000 per student per year or 50 percent of yearly tuition paid, whichever is less, according to the foundation.

About 26 students from St. Francis-St. James United will attend Holy Spirit School in the fall and at least 18 will benefit from Aim Higher Foundation grants, said Mary Adrian, Holy Spirit’s principal.

“I think it’s an opportunity for us to certainly enroll students that otherwise might not be able to be enrolled,” she said of the grants. “It really has been a big boost for elementary schools in terms of providing some additional resources that together with parish resources are really making a difference for kids.”

Other funds also help Catholic school families with financial need, such as the 2009 Pohlad Family Foundation grant and 2008 Legacy Grant that aid urban Catholic schools.

Reaching out Holy Spirit School continues to reach out to its new families from St. Francis-St. James United, most recently by inviting them to an ice cream social.

“It was an opportunity for parents to connect and to get to meet some of their children’s classmates. It was also an opportunity for them to ask questions,” Adrian said.

St. Francis-St. James United hosted a reunion and auction last month, and it

raised about $6,000 for scholarships for students, Rappé said. Several hundred people attended the event, which also featured an open house, food, games and a “memory lane” room. The school also hosted a reunion basketball tournament that drew many former students now in high school and college.

Rappé said she has been helping her staff of 11 to find new employment for the fall. Reflecting during the last few days of the school year, she said she was “feeling proud that these last few months we’ve done things with the children that have been memorable.”

One of the last events of the school year was kindergarten graduation June 4.

Throughout the year, the school’s eighth-graders, who graduated May 31, served as “buddies” for the kindergartners, she said. All of the older students were planning to attend the kindergarten graduation.

“They were their big buddies and they didn’t want to let them down,” she said.

Save the date: The first Aim Higher Foundation fundraising gala is set for Nov. 1, at a location yet to be determined. The event, with its theme “A Promise for the Future,” will feature dinner and entertainment by children from area Catholic schools. Visit the Aim Higher Foundation website at AIMHIGHERFOUN DATION.ORG for more details as they become available.

Local

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Rural Life Sunday:

“Living in the

Couple wants to share blessings of farm life

country to me has always been living in God’s country.

”

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit

Don and Bonnie Quigley say they feel blessed to have had the opportunity to live and raise their four children on a farm, and they want to share that blessing with others.

That’s why they are opening their farm June 23 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ annual Rural Life Sunday Celebration. The Quigleys want people to come and experience what farm life is like.

The event — which begins with Mass at 1:30 p.m. with Bishop Lee Piché — is hosted by the parishes of St. Joseph in Taylors Falls and St. Francis Xavier in Shafer.

Lunch — which will include pulled pork sandwiches with homemade barbeque sauce and hot dogs — and entertainment will follow the Mass. There will also be a rodeo roping demonstration, music and a petting zoo.

The archdiocese has celebrated Rural Life Sunday for more than 50 years “as a way to celebrate and enliven the spirituality and life experienced by parishioners in our rural communities,” said Dale Hennen, a member of the Archdiocesan Parish Services Team.

The celebration is moved to a different part of the archdiocese each year.

“People who live in urban areas don’t have many opportunities to celebrate with our sisters and brothers in rural communities,” said Jim Ennis, executive director of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. “It’s an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gifts of the earth and the important contribution of those who are involved in agricultural production.”

Living in ‘God’s country’ The Quigleys moved to what is now their 40-acre farm in 1974. They had beef cattle until 1995 and now grow corn and soybeans. Don, who grew up on a dairy farm not far away, worked in construction and ran the farm until he retired in 2004. Now he helps neighbors, and he said the best thing about being a farmer is that “you get to be your own boss.”

“Living in the country to me has always been living in

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BONNIE QUIGLEY

Don and Bonnie Quigley will host the annual Rural Life Sunday Celebration at their farm near Lindstrom.

Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit

Want to go?

■ What: Archdiocesan Rural Life Sunday Celebration ■ When: 1:30 p.m., June 23 ■ Where: The Don and Bonnie Quigley farm, 25051 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom ■ Directions: From I 35 exit at Highway 97, go east 15 miles to County Road 3/Olinda Trail, go north 4 miles on Olinda Trail (County Road 3 turns into County Road 25 when you cross Country Road 86/Panola Drive).

From Highway 8 in Lindstrom, go south 6 miles on County Road 25/Olinda Trail.

From Highway 95, go west 3 miles on County Road 86/Panola Drive to Olinda Trail; farm is just north of Panola Drive on Olinda Trail.

God’s country,” Bonnie added. “I remember looking out the window here not too long ago and I said to my youngest daughter, ‘Amanda, look at the orioles. . . . This is how I know there’s a God. The beauty of these birds didn’t just happen. They were created.’”

Planning the event is a time-consuming undertaking for the host family as well as the parishes involved.

Arrangements must be made for the food, entertainment and other details, from finding parking space to setting

up an outdoor altar.

But there is help. “Everybody in the parishes is just so excited about this,” Bonnie said. Women from both parishes have volunteered to provide homemade cookies for the lunch, and someone has donated the barbeque sauce, which Bonnie describes as “to die for.”

Recently, Don said, someone who hosted the Rural Life Sunday Celebration a few years ago called to tell them they had several signs they could use.

Sharing their blessings The Quigleys agree that the biggest challenge of farming is the weather. But Bonnie isn’t worried.

“Weather-wise, I’m having a lot of conversations [with God] and praying for good weather,” she said. “And even if the weather isn’t good, it will still be a good day. I’m not going to worry about it, I’ll just leave it in his hands.”

“Rural Life Sunday serves to celebrate the importance of rural life — the people, the culture, and the land — to the Church and to all people,” Ennis said. “Rural communities have much to teach all who live in urban areas, and the Church recognizes and celebrates all the gifts and blessings rural communities give to us.”

“We’re really blessed for the opportunity to be able to do this,” Bonnie added. “We don’t have a big farm, but we’re out in the country and it’s been a blessing to live here all these years, and we just want to share that blessing with others.”

75-year marriage builds on daily habit of love and respect

By Jennifer Janikula For The Catholic Spirit

On June 8, Archbishop John Nienstedt will honor married couples, especially those celebrating silver and golden anniversaries, during the annual Marriage Day Celebration at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Archdiocesan Marriage Day celebrates the sacrament of marriage and the Catholic Church’s teaching that the love of marriage is a gift “given by gentle affection and by deed, which by its busy generosity, grows better and grows greater.” (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Second Vatican Council, 1965).

Like many of the couples who will be honored on Marriage Day, Ambrose and Leona Yantes from St. Peter’s Church in Delano embrace the “busy generosity” of their successful marriage.

Their story begins at the base of a Ferris wheel at the 1937 Fourth of July carnival in Delano. “He saw me on the Ferris wheel with my two nieces,” Leona recalls.

“When I got off he asked me to walk around the fair with him. I said ‘yes’ and I’ve been walking with him ever since.”

Ambrose and Leona married on May 2, 1938. “We were so young then,” Leona remembered. “When people ask how old

Joe McDonald, McDonald Studios, Delano, MN

Ambrose and Leona Yantes celebrated their 75th anniversary in May with 300 family members and friends at the Delano American Legion.

we were, I tell them I was married in the sandbox.”

Fast forward 75 years, four children, 10 grandchildren, 20-some great grandchildren, and seven or so great-greats, and their marriage remains as beautiful and romantic as that Ferris wheel image.

Sweet messages Their 75-year walk has been marked by

a daily habit of love and respect.

Ambrose shows affection with generous consistency. He leaves love notes around the house and traces sweet words in the bottom of greasy pans. He even etches messages like “Sure love my valentine” or “Merry Christmas my darling” in the snow on the garage rooftop Leona can see from her window.

He brings Leona flowers all the time.

She cherishes every thoughtful flower, even if it’s just a dandelion from the yard.

“I love you is 100 times a day,” Ambrose said.

Leona has earned Ambrose’s affection with daily baking. She jokes that if you asked for the secret ingredient of a good marriage, she would say “love” and he would say “good food!”

Leona still bakes every day. Over the course of one week, Leona might bake six batches of cookies, a loaf of banana bread and a rhubarb pie. When pressed to choose his favorite, Ambrose said diplomatically, “Everything!”

Ambrose and Leona rely on each other.

“There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for me and me for him as well,” Leona said.

Over the years, they have enjoyed polka dancing, designing bird houses and building garden benches. “We work together,”

Celebrate marriage What: Archdiocesan Marriage Day Celebration with Archbishop John Nienstedt When: 10 a.m., Saturday, June 8 Where: Cathedral of St. Paul, St.Paul Couples celebrating 25 or 50 years of marriage in 2013 will be honored in a special way.

Ambrose said. “She is the designer and the painter. I am the builder. There isn't anything we can't do together.”

Even after 75 years together, when Ambrose sits down at the table next to Leona, he gently places his hand on top of hers.

She smiles at him. He pats her hand. He wiggles his fingers between hers. You can still picture them as teenagers walking away from the base of that Ferris wheel, together.

Ambrose and Leona live in the Delano home they purchased a few years after they were married.

In April, they celebrated their 75th anniversary with 300 family members and friends at the Delano American Legion.

8

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Area clergy gather for pilot program on religious freedom

Speakers to address religious liberty

By Barb Ernster

noon. The Fortnight for Freedom runs from June 21 to July 4.

“There is a lot of misunderstanding about what religious freedom is, and there are a lot of myths out there about what the separation of church and state really means,” said Jean Stolpestad, director of the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life, which is sponsoring the event in collaboration with the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

Religious liberty is a right granted by God and protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, she said. It extends beyond the simple freedom to worship in a church building; rather, it gives Catholics and other people of faith “the freedom to bring our values, our beliefs and our philosophy to bear in the public square.”

Today, however, this right “is seriously under attack,” Stolpestad said.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate, which requires most employers — including religious employers — to provide contraceptive coverage for employees, would force many people of faith to violate their deeply held beliefs, she said.

Also, opponents of Minnesota’s new law redefining marriage have indicated that it falls short in protecting the religious liberty of many Minnesotans who believe marriage is a union between one man and one woman, and courts will have to adjudicate the conflicts that will arise as a result.

Religious liberty concerns have also surfaced on issues related to the provision of immigration and humanitarian services in light of new state laws and federal regulations.

For The Catholic Spirit

A select group of clergy from nine dioceses in the province encompassing Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota gathered for the first Freedom Academy, hosted by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, June 2 and 3 at the Nicollet Island Inn. Participants came to explore and discuss the importance of religious freedom and the challenges facing the Church, and to help them identify the relevant issues from legal, philosophical, ecclesial/theological and social ministry standpoints.

Presenters included Helen Alvaré of George Mason University School of Law, James R. Stoner, Jr. from Louisiana State University, Father Raymond de Souza of the Diocese of Kingston, Ont., and Deacon Kevin Sartorius, executive director of Catholic Charities in Tulsa, Okla.

Jason Adkins, executive director of the MCC who co-organized the event with Father Dan Griffith, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, said this was a pilot program and hopefully the first in a number of educational initiatives aimed at fostering greater knowledge of the issue of religious liberty, Catholic social teaching and the Church’s role in the public arena.

“The purpose of the event was to help them identify the issues so they can deepen their study and provide some context to help form the laity on

”

these issues.

JASON ADKINS Minnesota Catholic Conference

“The purpose of the event was to help them identify the issues so they can deepen their study and provide some context to help form the laity on these issues,” Adkins said. “If we can train advocates in the various dioceses, that’s a real value-add for those local churches to have experts on this issue. To help people even spot the issues and know what to look for is an important first step.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Offering insight

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Note: The May 23 listing included an incorrect job opening for a faith formation and youth ministry director at St. Joseph Church in Red Wing. There is no opening for that position.

For more information on these and other job openings, or to apply online, please visit www.archspm.org/careers.

The Freedom Forum features three speakers: ■ Seana Sugrue, associate professor of American studies at Ave Maria University, will speak about religious freedom and the importance of the Catholic Church as a defender of rights and liberties.

The separation of church and state seeks to ensure that government and religion don’t encroach on each other’s territory, Sugrue said in a May 28 interview with The Catholic Spirit. The HHS mandate is an example of government exceeding its authority.

“This is perhaps the most significant direct threat to religious liberty that we’ve seen,” she said.

“Those who value liberty need to un-

derstand what a service the Church is in fact doing in taking these issues seriously,” Sugrue said. “It’s important to remember that the Church doesn’t really have political power; it’s the state that has political power. The only power that the Church has is the power to operate upon the conscience of individuals — to speak truth and to help them to see that government is overstepping its proper bounds.”

■ J. Brian Benestad, professor of theology and director of the Catholic studies program at the University of Scranton, will address religious freedom and obstacles to its exercise.

Pope John Paul II, in his 1988 document titled “Christifideles Laici,” on the vocation and mission of the laity, identified one of those obstacles, Benestad said.

The pope said “one serious temptation that Catholics have is to separate their faith from their life,” Benestad said.

“What makes it worse is that you have a number of political theorists who really don’t want the Church to discuss controversial issues like euthanasia and abortion, for example, in the public square.

They want to confine the practice of faith to the private realm, and they don’t want Catholics trying to apply their faith in the public arena.”

Some Catholic politicians have contributed to the problem by separating their faith life from their public service, he said.

“We have the separation of church and state, but we don’t have the separation of church and society,” Benestad said.

■ Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, will speak about local concerns related to religious liberty and offer attendees ideas for taking action on the issue, Stolpestad said. Staff from the Office of Marriage, Family and Life will provide participants with resources they can use in their parishes.

Strength in unity Protecting religious freedom isn’t a political issue, Stolpestad stressed. It’s a human right — one that is essential to human dignity and the common good.

She said she is hoping for a large turnout for the Freedom Forum and hopes people of all ages, including young adults, will take advantage of this educational opportunity.

“There is great strength in unity,” she said. “If we work together, we can make a difference.”

“Each day, we all face the choice to be Good Samaritans or to be indifferent travelers passing by.”

Pope Francis

Nation/World JUNE 6, 2013

News from around the U.S. and the globe

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

9

Boy Scouts vote to allow youths with same-sex attraction as members From staff and wire reports

Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican May 29.

CNS photo/ Paul Haring

Pope Francis: What have you done to make the Church holy, welcoming?

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

All Catholics must ask themselves what they personally have done lately to build up the holiness of the Church and ensure people feel welcomed and loved in it, Pope Francis said.

“Some people today say, ‘Christ, yes; the Church, no,’ like they say, ‘I believe in God, but not in priests,’” the pope said. Such a position does not make sense because “it is the Church that brings us Christ and brings us to God. The Church is the great family of God’s children.”

During his weekly general audience May 29, an audience that began with the pope getting drenched by a cloudburst as he rode through St. Peter’s Square in an open popemobile, Pope Francis announced he would begin a series of audience talks about the Church.

God always forgives “The Church is the great family of the children of God,” he said. “Certainly it has human aspects from the members who comprise it, pastors and faithful. They have defects, imperfections, sins. Even the pope has them — and he has many — but what is beautiful is that when we become aware that we are sinners, we find the mercy of God. God always forgives. Don’t forget this. God always forgives.”

“Sin is an offense against God, but it’s also an opportunity,” he told the estimated 90,000 people gathered in the square and the avenue beyond. “Humiliation can lead one to see there is something beautiful awaiting you: the mercy of God. Think about this.”

God’s plan, the pope said, is to unite all humanity into one family where everyone recognizes he or she is a child of God and loved by him: “The Church is born from God’s desire to call all people into communion with him” and “to participate in his divine life,” he said.

During the Year of Faith, he said, Catholics should pray that their parishes and the entire Church would increasingly be a family that lives and shares God’s love and mercy.

Noting that many people today complain about the Church, Pope Francis urged Catholics to ask themselves several questions: “How much do I love the Church? Do I pray for it? Do I feel part of the Church family? What

do I do to make the Church a community where everyone feels welcomed and understood, everyone feels the mercy and love of God who renews life?”

In his morning Mass homilies in the days leading up to the audience, the pope had been speaking about the Church’s identity and the attitude that Catholics should have toward those who come to their parishes and the attitude Catholics should have toward the world.

Celebrating Mass with Vatican employees in the Domus Sanctae Marthae where he lives, Pope Francis spoke on May 29 of the danger, even the temptation, for the Church and its members of forgetting that salvation comes from the cross of Christ.

A humble Church “The triumphalism of the Church stops the Church,” he said. It becomes a Church that journeys only halfway to its goal of salvation because people become satisfied with everything being “well-organized — all the offices, everything in its place, everything beautiful, efficient.”

Martyrdom is part of the life and journey of the Church, he said, as he urged those at Mass to pray for “a humble Church.”

During his morning homily May 25, the pope spoke about the importance of priests, parish workers and parishioners being open and welcoming to those who come to the parish asking for something. He used several examples, including that of a couple who goes to a parish to arrange their wedding, but before being congratulated, are told how much it will cost and asked for their baptismal certificates.

Too many times, the pope said, “we are faith-checkers instead of facilitators of the people’s faith.”

Pope Francis also used the example of an unmarried mother who goes to a parish asking that her baby be baptized only to hear, “No, you aren’t married.”

“This young woman had the courage” to carry her baby to term and not have an abortion, he said, and “what does she find? A closed door. And this happens to a lot of people. This is not good pastoral zeal. This pushes people away from the Lord.”

“Jesus instituted seven sacraments and we, with this kind of attitude, institute an eighth: the sacrament of pastoral control,” he said, using the term in Italian for the customs control at an international airport.

The Boy Scouts of America’s National Council voted May 23 to allow openly homosexual youths admittance as members into the 103-year-old organization, effective Jan. 1, 2014.

The announcement was made at the Boy Scouts of America’s annual national meeting, held at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. The organization said it did not reconsider its ban on homosexual adults as Scout leaders and that the policy remains in place.

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting said that since the policy change does not take effect until next January, it will have “adequate time to study its effects.”

“The NCCS will determine how it may impact Catholic chartered Scout units and activities. In doing so, we will work within the teachings of our Catholic faith and with the various local bishops and their diocesan Scouting committees,” the Catholic organization said in a statement.

The Catholic Church teaches that people “who experience a homosexual inclination or a same-sex attraction are to be treated with respect recognizing the dignity of all persons,” the statement said.

“The church’s teaching is clear that engaging in sexual activity outside of marriage is immoral,” it continued. “Individuals who are open and avowed homosexuals promoting and engaging in homosexual conduct are not living lives consistent with Catholic teaching.”

Local reaction In a statement released May 28, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said the Boy Scouts’ decision merits close examination regarding its implications for local charters.

“Every person has infinite worth, and a person’s sexual orientation neither adds to nor detracts from that worth,” the statement said.

“But the endorsement of ‘openly gay’ members is different,” it added, “because it implies acceptance not of the person or his experience of sexual attraction, but of specific sexual actions. This effectively goes beyond acceptance and over the line into advocacy and promotion of actions that the Church has always and will always deem to be sinful.”

The archdiocese said it will continue to examine the decision’s implications before Jan. 1 and make recommendations to Catholic chartered groups “once all information and potential consequences are considered fully.”

“We will do so in consultation with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops so that the most prudent and thoughtful policy decisions are made in the best interest of scouting and the many Catholic boys who benefit from scouting programs locally,” the statement said.

There are more than 2.6 million youths and 1 million adult members in the Boy Scouts of America.

Catholic parishes and organizations across the country operate more than 8,300 Scouting units, including the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Varsity Scouts.

This story contains information from Catholic News Service.

10

Nation/World

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

Briefly New Franciscan leader hails from Indianapolis The new minister general of the Order of Friars Minor said the Franciscans are united, energized and challenged by the ministry of the new pope, whose name honors their founder, St. Francis of Assisi.

Pope Francis “has energized us, but he also has challenged us just by who he is,” said U.S. Franciscan Father Michael Perry, who was elected May 22.

The pope’s “authenticity is challengFATHER PERRY ing us to rediscover our own authenticity, and calling us to simplify our lives and to speak less and demonstrate more who we are,” he said.

Father Perry, 58, who had served as the order’s vicar general since 2009, was elected minister general by the order’s general council and 27 Franciscans representing different parts of the world. A native of Indianapolis, he was chosen to serve until 2015, completing the six-year term of Spanish-born Archbishop Jose Rodriguez Carballo, who in April was appointed secretary of the Vatican's Congre-

for the second section of Pope Benedict’s “Deus Caritas Est.”

gation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Pope to complete encyclical on faith

Catholic schools in Gaza face closure

Continuing a papal tradition of finishing a predecessor’s work in progress, Pope Francis intends to complete an encyclical — on the virtue of faith — begun during the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI. “I can confirm that the plan for an encyclical on faith, begun by Benedict XVI, has been taken up by the new pope,” Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said in a May 24 email response to questions.

He said it would “be premature” to guess when the encyclical would be completed.

In December, Father Lombardi had said Pope Benedict’s encyclical on faith would be released in the first half of 2013. The encyclical would complete a trilogy on the three “theological virtues,” following “Deus Caritas Est” (2005) on charity, and “Spe Salvi” (2007) on hope.

A pope picking up work begun under his predecessor, adding his own thoughts and style to it, is common practice.

For example, a document about the Church's charitable activity begun under Pope John Paul II became the framework

Five schools in Gaza — two Catholic and three Christian — face closure if the Hamas government follows through on an order forbidding coeducational institutions, said the director general of Latin Patriarchate Schools in Palestine and Israel.

“This will be a big problem,” Father Faysal Hijazin told Catholic News Service by telephone June 3.

“We hope they will not go through with it, but if they do, we will be in big trouble.

We don’t have the space and we don’t have the money to divide our schools,” he said.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal of Jerusalem hoped to speak with Gaza’s prime minister, Ismail Haniya, to discuss the church’s concerns, Father Hijazin added.

The patriarchate administers the Latin Patriarchate School, with 370 students, and the Holy Family School, with 650 students. In addition, the Rosary Sisters operate their own school. The majority of the students enrolled in the schools are Muslim.

Father Greeley, author and sociologist, dies Father Andrew Greeley, a Chicago archdiocesan priest and well-known novelist, journalist and sociologist, died May 29 at his home in Chicago’s John Hancock Center. He was 85.

Father Greeley was perhaps most widely recognized for the more than 60 novels he wrote, some considered scandalous with their portraits of hypocritical and sinful clerics.

But he also wrote more than 70 works of nonfiction, often on the sociology of religion, including 2004’s “Priests: A Calling in Crisis.” The title notwithstanding, the research he presented in that book found that priests are among the happiest men in the United States.

Chicago Cardinal Francis George described Father Greeley as “an often-controversial priest, with deep convictions and a ready wit.”

“He dedicated his life to research, writing and speaking,” the cardinal said in a statement. “In his last years, the words he could still respond to were prayers, especially the Eucharist. We should keep him in our prayers now.”

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“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald, “The Great Gatsby”

This Catholic Life JUNE 6, 2013

Opinion, feedback and points to ponder

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

11

Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan star in a scene from the recently released movie “The Great Gatsby.”

CNS photo / Warner Bros.

The preachings of F. Scott Fitzgerald The appearance of yet another film version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” provides the occasion for reflecting on what many consider the great American novel.

Those who are looking for a thorough review of the movie itself will have to look elsewhere, I’m afraid. I will say only this about the movie: I think that Baz Luhrmann’s version is better than the sleepy 1974 incarnation, and I would say that Leonardo DiCaprio makes a more convincing Gatsby than Robert Redford. But I want to focus, not so much on the techniques of the filmmaker, as on the genius of the writer who gave us the story.

F. Scott Fitzgerald belonged to that Father famously “lost” generation of artists Robert Barron and writers, which included Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Ford Madox Ford, and others. Having come of age during the First World War, these figures saw, in some cases at close quarters, the worst that human beings can do to one another, and they witnessed as well the complete ineffectuality of the political and religious institutions of the time to deal with the horrific crisis into which the world had stumbled.

Consequently, they felt themselves adrift, without a clear moral compass — lost. Hemingway’s novels — and his own personal choices — showed one way to deal with this problem, namely, to place oneself purposely in dangerous situations so as to stir up a sense of being alive. This explains Hemingway’s interests in deep-sea fishing, big game hunting, battling Nazis, and above all, bull-fighting. Fitzgerald explored another way that people coped with the spiritual emptiness of his time, and his deftest act of reportage was “The Great Gatsby.”

As the novel commences, we meet Tom and Daisy Buchanan, two denizens of East Egg, a town on Long Island where “old money” resides. Ensconced in a glorious mansion, wearing the most fashionable clothes, surrounded by servants, and in the company of the most “beautiful” people, Tom and Daisy are, nevertheless, ut-

Commentary

terly bored, both with themselves and their relationship. sponsibility, and the cultivation of a spiritual life were While Daisy languishes and frets, Tom is carrying on a seen as, at best, holdovers from the Victorian age, and at number of illicit love affairs with women from both the worst, the enemies of progress and pleasure. Gatsby’s upper and lower echelons of the social order. One of the parties were, we might say, the liturgies of the new relimore affecting scenes in the Baz Luhrmann film depicts gion of sensuality and materiality, frenzied dances around Tom and a gaggle of his hangers-on whiling away an af- the golden calf. ternoon and evening in a rented Manhattan apartment.

And despite his reputation as a hard-drinking sensualIn the aftermath, they are all drunk, sexually sated, and ist, Fitzgerald, in “The Great Gatsby,” was as uncomproobviously miserable. mising and morally clear-eyed as an Meanwhile, across the bay from the evangelical preacher. He tells us that Buchanans in West Egg, is the hero of the displacement of God by wealth the story, ensconced in his even more and pleasure leads, by a short route, Though he has glorious mansion. Gatsby wears pink to the corroding of the soul. been pushed to suits, drives a yellow roadster, and asThere is a burnt-out and economisociates with the leading politicians, cally depressed city that lies on Long the side and culture mavens, and gangsters of the Island in between West Egg and Mantime. But the most intriguing thing hattan, and the main characters of treated with about him is that, week after week, “The Great Gatsby” pass through it disrespect, God every Saturday night, he opens his spafrequently. In fact, one of Tom cious home for a wild party, attended Buchanan’s mistresses lives there. still watches, by all of the glitterati of New York.

Fitzgerald is undoubtedly using it to and his moral Fitzgerald’s description of these parsymbolize the dark under-belly of the ties — all wild dancing, jazz music, Roaring Twenties, the economic detrijudgment is still cloche hats, sexual innuendo, and flaptus of all of that conspicuous conper dresses — is certainly one of the sumption. operative. highlights of the book. We discover But he also uses it to make a religious that the sole purpose of these astropoint, for just off the main road there FATHER ROBERT BARRON nomically expensive parties is to lure are the remains of a billboard advertisDaisy, with whom Gatsby had had a ing a local opthalmologist. All we can romantic relationship some years before. see are two bespectacled eyes, but they hover over the Though Daisy is a married woman, Gatsby wants to comings and goings of all the lost souls in the story. steal her from her husband. When Nick Carraway, the Like all symbols in great literary works, this one is mulnarrator, chides Gatsby that no one can repeat the past, tivalent, but I think it’s fairly clear that Fitzgerald wanted the hero of the novel responds curtly, “What do you it, at least in part, to stand for the providential gaze of mean you can’t repeat the past? Of course you can.”

God. Without going into any more plot details, I will simply Though he has been pushed to the side and treated say that this set of circumstances led to disappointment, with disrespect, God still watches, and his moral judgment hatred, betrayal, and finally, Gatsby’s death at the hand is still operative. of a gunman.

It’s a sermon still worth hearing.

Fitzgerald saw that, given the breakdown of traditional morality and the marginalization of God, many people Father Barron is the founder of the global ministry, in the postwar West simply surrendered themselves to Word on Fire, and the rector/president of Mundelein wealth and pleasure. Commitment, marriage, sexual re- Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

“

”

12

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

Commentary

/ This Catholic Life

Society in need of flavoring with Catholic salt

P

Editorial Joe Towalski

Research on word usage reveals need for new evangelization

olitical commentator David Brooks recently wrote a thoughtprovoking column in The New York Times — one that should give Americans pause about where our country and culture are headed.

But it also serves as a confirmation that the Catholic Church is headed in the right direction with its call for a new evangelization, one that challenges us to witness to Gospel values in a world in need of more hope, more virtue and more focus on the common good.

Window on the culture A few years ago, Brooks wrote, Google released a database of more than 5 million books published between the years 1500 and 2008. A number of researchers have examined that database to see how frequently different words were used at different times in history. Such use, the researchers speculated, might reveal trends within the culture.

One research team’s analysis, Brooks said, points to a “rising individualism.” Between 1960 and 2008, he said, “words and phrases like ‘personalized,’ ‘self,’ ‘standout,’ ‘unique,’ ‘I come first’ and ‘I can do it myself’ were used more frequently. Communal words and phrases like ‘community,’ ‘collective,’ ‘tribe,’ ‘share,’ ‘united,’ ‘band together’ and ‘com-

mon good’ receded.”

Another study found that “general moral terms like ‘virtue,’ ‘decency’ and ‘conscience’ were used less frequently over the course of the 20th century. Words associated with moral excellence, like ‘honesty,’ ‘patience’ and ‘compassion’ were used much less frequently.”

Fifty words associated with “moral virtue” faced a similar depressing fate: Some three-quarters were used less frequently over the course of the 20th century — words like “bravery,” “thankfulness,” “modesty,” “humbleness,” “kindness” and “helpfulness.”

So were words like “faith,” “evil” and “prudence.”

It’s possible, as Brooks admits, that drawing the conclusion from this research that Western culture is more focused than it once was on individualism and less on time-tested virtues and moral values might be reading too much into the data, which show how often certain words have been used but not the context in which they appear.

But there is plenty of other evidence to suggest that the studies are, indeed, revealing a cultural transformation that is happening around us.

The gap between the “haves” — striving to have more and more in the false hope that it can bring hap-

“We need to be

the salt for a society that is turning into itself and losing its ability to add the kind of flavor that enriches the culture.

”

JOE TOWALSKI

piness — and the “have nots,” who struggle every day in the face of poverty, continues to widen in our country and around the world.

The happiness of individual adults is now supplanting what’s best for children and the common good in

more and more states, including Minnesota, where traditional marriage is being redefined rather than strengthened.

Words like “truth,” “right” and “wrong” that once shared a broad understanding, are quickly dismissed today in public debates and arguments as subjective and unhelpful.

In a world of moral relativism, the argument goes, who’s to say what’s true, right and wrong?

Call to engagement This is why we Catholics — who believe in the values inherent and long-understood in words and phrases like “faith,” “truth” “hope,” “love” “virtue” “community” and “the common good” — need to engage the larger culture around us. We need to be the salt for a society that is turning into itself and losing its ability to add the kind of flavor that enriches the culture.

As Catholics, we shouldn’t view the researchers’ findings as bad news.

We should view it rather as a challenge — one that requires us to live out our values and beliefs in our communities and in the broader public square. The world is in need of some evangelization, and we need to be at the forefront of the effort to change the direction in which our culture is heading.

Same-sex marriage: Why the French protest and Americans shrug

M

Faith in the Public Arena Jason Adkins

The politics of individualism is to blame

innesota and France redefined marriage in the same week, yet the differences in public reaction to this decision in both places could hardly be starker.

In France, multiple protests were held in Paris and other major cities both before and after the decision, some of which had hundreds of thousands of participants. The “Manif Pour Tous” (“Protest for All”) movement, made up primarily of young people across the social and ideological spectrum, shows no sign of abating. In Minnesota, it was a small feat to get even 1,000 to the Capitol to oppose this legislation.

Strangely, however, there is broader support for same-sex marriage in France than in the United States.

And, despite the obsession of the media and cultural tastemakers to make it seem that a passion for same-sex marriage is sweeping America, there has not, nor has there ever been, a broad grassroots push for same-sex marriage anywhere in the United States.

People may “not oppose” same-sex marriage in increasing numbers, but few are actively demanding it. Still, Americans are not out marching in the streets as marriage gets redefined in one state after another. The national “March for Marriage” in Washington, D.C., drew only 10,000.

Why a difference?

What may account for the difference between the United States and France? It could be reasonably described as the dominance in American life of the politics of individualism.

Individualism in politics can be summarized by the oft-heard question, “How does this affect me?” It is the tendency to view all public policy through a personal lens (and ignore politics altogether when no direct impact is perceptible).

In today’s political landscape, both Democrats and Republicans are essentially liberal individualists and, in seeking to exploit this individualism to gain political power, feed the phenomenon.

Politics generally is framed in terms of an individual’s relationship to the state. The individual is either trying to gain independence from the regulatory apparatus of the state or trying to obtain some benefit from it, whether in the form of a direct subsidy or economic policy that fosters individual financial well-being.

The parties promote one view or the other, depending on the issue.

Rarely are policy debates framed in terms of how they promote or harm the common good of a community or society, as Catholic social teaching does. Even rarer are discussions of how policies affect vital social and cultural institutions, or how they will affect future generations.

Thus, Americans are largely incapable of thinking in terms of institutions, culture or society. Everything seems to come back to “me,” and politics is mediated through the vocabulary of “rights” and entitlements.

Many people want freedom, “choice,” and subsidies all at once.

In the context of the marriage debate, same-sex marriage proponents have learned to skillfully exploit the politics of individualism. First, they

argue that no one should be denied the right or “freedom to marry.”

Same-sex marriage proponents then employ the Golden Rule to garner sympathy for their rights-based claim and ask Americans how they would feel if they were denied their “right to marry.” And third, they claim that no one will be harmed by this change. “What could it hurt?

Same-sex marriage does not affect you, so what is there to worry about?”

Many Americans may not like same-sex marriage, or even be comfortable with it, but we are often incapable of escaping this line of argument. Therefore, when marriage is redefined, people may not like it, but they are more likely to shrug and change the channel.

By contrast, the communitarian arguments of those defending traditional marriage are falling on deaf ears. Civil marriage is described and defended primarily as an institution ordered toward protecting and promoting the well-being of others outside of the spousal relationship: children and society. Sadly, today both marriage and politics are largely understood as vehicles to obtain individual happiness, and communitarian arguments no longer make sense to many people.

Respect for tradition France, of course, is a very secular society, and one in which the implications of the false individualism and anti-social dimensions of the French Revolution — including same-sex marriage — are still working themselves out.

But France’s Catholic cultural roots run deep, and therefore it has maintained both a communitarian political tradition on the political right and left, as well as a deep respect for the wisdom of tradition as the democracy of the dead.

The respect for tradition is seen in things as seemingly insignificant as the maintenance of linguistic standards and the regulations on the cheese and wine for which they are famous. So it’s not that surprising that any untested social change that runs counter to tradition, and that will irrevocably alter the shape of the family in French culture, would matter to them, too.

The Catholic Church has ably stirred the embers of this French character in the fight against marriage redefinition, and the “Protest for All” will likely be an important social movement contesting the new Jacobins of French society for the foreseeable future.

If we are to salvage the American experiment in ordered liberty, maybe it is time to look to the French — the “Manif” movement of today, for sure, but more importantly to the great 19th-century French observer of American life, Alexis de Tocqueville, who understood that the genius of America was the citizenry’s creation and protection of associations and institutions that rooted liberty in the exercise of virtue and maintenance of the common good.

Adkins is executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

This Catholic Life / Commentary

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

13

Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel!

Time was, I shrank from what was right From fear of what was wrong; I would not brave the sacred fight, Because the foe was strong.

Commentary Sharon Wilson

Like many acts of bravery, it just required taking the first step

These words, written by Blessed John Henry Newman more than 150 years ago, speak of courage and fear.

As Catholics, we are called to stand up for what we believe in, and our current culture certainly is a strong foe. But a few high school students have taken up the challenge to brave the sacred fight.

Students from St. Michael in Prior Lake are attempting to bring their values into the public square in an unprecedented and courageous way.

After a handful of students attended the March for Life in Washington, D.C., it spurred a core group of about a half-dozen youth to start a pro-life club at their local public high school. Pro-life clubs are fairly common in our Catholic schools, but a club professing a pro-life stance is rarely seen in a public school.

How did they do it?

Like many acts of bravery, it just required taking the first step. “We went to the activities director and asked to start the club,” said Leah Preslicka, one of the club’s leaders.

The youth filled out the necessary forms and set up a meeting. “I was surprised by how easy it was,” said another leader, Miranda Kroyer. Both are juniors at Prior Lake High School.

Leah and Miranda are also student Respect Life Ambassadors for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Taking a stand The Prior Lake High School prolife club meets to share ideas, enthusiasm and learn more about being pro-life. Meeting twice a month, the club has attracted more than 30 students for its meetings.

One of the ideas the group is putting into action is making signs with the students’ ultrasound pictures on them and a picture of themselves

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

From left, Miranda Kroyer, Hailey Zweber, Leah Preslicka, Alicia Curti, Kara Steichen and Jayme Jones of Lakers4Life pose in front of their school, Prior Lake High School. Curti and Jones are seniors, Kroyer, Zweber and Preslicka are juniors, and Steichen is a sophomore.

now with a caption that says: “I am pro-life.” Hosting speakers and screening pro-life movies are also part of the meetings as well as taking a political stand by writing to their legislators.

It is a way for the students to share their values with others, although they have to steer clear of advancing religion at the public school.

Getting parish support Jesus told his disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”

Club members are fueled by their faith, the impetus to do good works and the support they receive from their youth group leader, Pat Millea, director of high school faith forma-

tion and confirmation at St. Michael.

“It really is a great effort; they’ve done such an impressive job getting this thing off the ground,” Millea said.

“We wouldn’t have had the enthusiasm to start the group had it not been for the kids who came back from the March for Life excited to do something,” said Preslicka. “They wouldn’t have had the opportunity to go if it wasn’t for the youth group at St. Michael.”

Added Kroyer: “We can’t bring religion into it, which is kind of sad.

But having the club has given me the opportunity to express my beliefs to others. Now that people know that I am pro-life because of being part of

the club, it gives me the opportunity to share my beliefs one on one.”

In their own way, this group is braving the sacred fight.

Blessed Newman certainly dealt with his own foes and fears, but courage to follow our faith runs true today.

So when my Saviour calls I rise, And calmly do my best; Leaving to Him, with silent eyes Of hope and fear, the rest.

— “Sensitiveness” by Blessed John Henry Newman

Wilson is the Respect Life coordinator for the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life.

Graduation is a meaningful beginning of adulthood

Faith and the Workplace Tom Bengtson

Don’t get so focused on the future that you forget the here and now

Thirty-four years ago, on June 3, I delivered the commencement address for the class of 1979 at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield.

I challenged my classmates and myself to go out and change the world for the better. We aren’t called to blend into the secular world, I said; we are called to make a positive difference. I summarized my message by saying: We can make the most of life by exchanging love for evil wherever possible.

So I ask myself whether I have done that during my adult life, and I give myself a mixed grade. In three and a half decades, there have been ups and downs, positives and negatives. I trust that most of my classmates were more successful than I was.

Many changes On the one hand, a lot has changed since 1979, but on the other

hand we continue to face many of the same challenges: attacks on human dignity, growing secularism, and threats to family. If I were to address a high school graduating class today, I would deliver largely the same message I delivered 34 years ago. But I might add a few things, such as: ■ Continue to learn about your faith. Don’t assume that because you have graduated from high school you now know all you need to know about God. Take advantage of parish, archdiocesan and Church-wide programs to dig deeper into an understanding of the faith.

■ Constantly seek the grace of the sacraments. As an adult, you will need God’s grace even more than you did during your teen years. Adult challenges require adult responses.

Preparation will be the key. The best preparation starts with regular confession and Eucharist.

■ Be not afraid. John Paul the

Great gave us this motto, which serves us in so many situations. The world will always tell you that you can’t do something. There will always be people putting up road blocks, discouraging you, and trying to prevent you from doing anything out of the ordinary. Don’t listen to them. Fearlessly serve God with your life. You have tremendous potential, and God wants you to live up to it.

Many high school graduates will enter college in the fall; others will get a job; some will do both. People often tell graduates to think about the future, plan a career, start putting money away for retirement. That advice has some merit, but it should not be heeded at the expense of living in the present. Don’t get so focused on the future that you forget the here and now. Really listen to those around you; be there for them; don’t miss an opportunity to connect with family members, friends, class-

mate, co-workers and others. Don’t take the people around you for granted.

If you are looking for a job, remember that one of the key benefits of youth employment is the references you develop. Far more valuable than the money you will earn on a parttime job are the professional relationships you develop with people who one day may vouch for your earnestness, diligence and other qualities that career-job employers seek in new hires.

They call the graduation ceremony a “commencement exercise” for a reason; the conclusion of a high school education marks a great beginning to adulthood. Blessings to all graduates in the Class of 2013!

A small business owner and writer, Bengtson can be reached at WWW.TOMBENGTSON.COM.

“When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”

Luke 7:13

14

The Lesson Plan THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Reflections on faith and spirituality

JUNE 6, 2013

Daily Scriptures Sunday, June 9 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 17:17-24 Galatians 1:11-19 Luke 7:11-17 Monday, June 10 2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Matthew 5:1-12 Tuesday, June 11 Acts 11:21b-26; 13:1-3 Matthew 5:13-16 Wednesday, June 12 2 Corinthians 3:4-11 Matthew 5:17-19 Thursday, June 13 St. Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the Church 2 Corinthians 3:15 – 4:1, 3-6 Matthew 5:20-26

CNS

A woman receives the sacrament of the anointing of the sick in this file photo.

Why does God choose to heal some but not others?

W

hy does God heal some but not others? This is a perturbing question that many might ask when considering the readings for this weekend. Many do not receive the miracles they are looking for; yet, some do.

I recently heard of a man who went to Lourdes with a debilitating illness. When asked about his desire to be healed, he said he had mixed feelings about whether he wanted to be cured of his illness.

It was such an important part of his conversion and had brought him into an intimate reDeacon lationship to Jesus. If Michael being healed would Barsness hinder his relationship with Jesus, then he didn’t want to be healed.

It was this man the Lord chose to heal at Lourdes of all the many hundreds of people who went on the pilgrimage there. Why was this person healed and not all others who wanted to be healed? This is a great question and must be addressed through a correct understanding of the Gospel.

Sunday Scriptures

Recognizing God’s presence In the readings for this week, we find two stories in which the miracle of life is restored.

Through the prayers of Elijah, the boy of the widow is raised. The widow recognizes the Lord’s work in the prophet and testifies

the Messiah who would make all things new. Jesus raises the widow’s son by his own power, showing that we can say truly: “God has visited his people!” The widows in both passages are able to recognize that God is present with them.

Readings Sunday, June 9 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time ■ 1 Kings 17:17-24 ■ Galatians 1:11-19 ■ Luke 7:11-17

No easy answer

Reflection How have you felt God’s presence during an illness, whether yours or someone else’s?

“If being healed would hinder [this man’s] relationship with Jesus, then he didn’t want to be healed.

”

DEACON MICHAEL BARSNESS

to his being a true prophet. “Now indeed I know that you are a man of God. The word of the Lord comes truly from your mouth.”

Of all the people to come, Elijah visited her and the Lord raised her son. In this great miracle the widow was able to recognize the Lord at work.

The Gospel passage is a similar story but with a big difference: Jesus on his own authority raises up the boy. We see that Elijah is a type of Jesus and a foreshadowing of

So the question remains: Why does Jesus heal some and not others?

God visits everyone in his good time and desires that we all be saved, provided we desire to be saved. We simply have no definitive answer as to why some are healed in this life and others are not.

This question is especially mysterious in our sinful world, where God can at times feel distant. Yet, the reality is this: We are not alone; God visits us! Jesus is present now in our hearts, he knows our needs, he knows our desires and has remedied the path of sin to which we are accustomed.

He has outfitted the Church with his healing presence in his sacraments. Yet, we must recognize his presence. To do this we must let go of sin. The man at Lourdes and the widows were open and attuned to God’s presence. Let Jesus heal the wounds of sin that have accumulated and prevented you from experiencing his love.

Deacon Barsness is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

His home parish is Annunciation in Hazelwood, and his teaching parish is Holy Family in St. Louis Park.

Friday, June 14 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Matthew 5:27-32 Saturday, June 15 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 Matthew 5:33-37 Sunday, June 16 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13 Galatians 2:16, 19-21 Luke 7:36 – 8:3 Monday, June 17 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 Matthew 5:38-42 Tuesday, June 18 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Matthew 5:43-48 Wednesday, June 19 St. Romuald, abbot 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Thursday, June 20 2 Corinthians 11:1-11 Matthew 6:7-15 Friday, June 21 St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious 2 Corinthians 11:18, 21-40 Matthew 6:19-23 Saturday, June 22 St. Paulinus of Nola, bishop; Sts. John Fisher, bishop, and Thomas More, martyrs 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Matthew 6:24-34 Sunday, June 23 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zechariah 12:10-11; 13:1 Galatians 3:26-29 Luke 9:18-24

“You cannot open a book without learning something.”

Confucius

Arts & Culture JUNE 6, 2013

Exploring our church and our world

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

15

Dialogues between rabbi, pope tell much about church’s future “On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family and the Church in the Twenty-First Century” by Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Abraham Skorka. Image Books (New York, 2013). 256 pp., $22.

Reviewed by Eugene J. Fisher Catholic News Service

CNS photo/Lisa Rose, courtesy GSN

Sisters Evangeline, Peter Joseph and Maria Suso participate in "The American Bible Challenge." The three Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist made it into the final round of the Bible trivia program on cable TV's Game Show Network.

Competing on game show ‘good witness’ of joy of giving life to Christ Catholic News Service “The right earlobe, right thumb and right big toe,” answered Sister Peter Joseph.

The crowd cheered as host Jeff Foxworthy affirmed her answer to the question of what parts of the body God instructed Moses to anoint.

Sister Peter Joseph, along with Sister Mary Suso and Sister Evangeline — from the Ann Arbor, Mich., community of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist — competed in the cable TV show “The American Bible Challenge.”

The Game Show Network’s most successful show to date, now in its second season, has three teams of three participate in games and trivia to win money for their favorite charity.

“It’s a great show,” Sister Peter Joseph told Catholic News service in a telephone interview. While she hopes it encourages people to go read the Bible, “at the very least they’re learning something from the questions, and it’s a very positive game show, which is something exciting nowadays.”

Sister Maria Suso explained, “It’s lighthearted, and through it people realize the things they don’t know about the Bible.

There’s so much beauty and humor in the details of the text.”

The three sisters made it to the finale of the show May 23, but were bested there by the Wagner Warriors, a team of three brothers from Oklahoma.

Still, the sisters won a total of $55,000 for their charity, $10,000 of which they received by being voted the show’s fan favorite. The money won will go into a

fund to provide for the medical expenses of the aging sisters in their religious community. As one of the youngest and fastgrowing communities in the country, the elder Dominican sisters are especially busy with facilitating the entrance of these newcomers, so these three were excited to be able to provide for them for a change.

“They aren’t focused on themselves,” said Sister Maria Suso. “They’re busy with fundraising and building new housing; the older sisters are really pouring themselves out for us.”

The three competing sisters are representative of a community where the average age is 28; all are young and relatively new to the community. Sisters Evangeline and Peter Joseph are novices and Sister Maria Suso is a temporary professed member. In several more years, the sisters will be able to take final vows.

The team of three assembled after their mother superior learned about the show.

“Mother Mary Assumpta asked any Bible experts to come forward,” said Sister Maria Suso. Though she wasn’t originally thrilled about the possibility of the publicity and limelight, she felt obligated by her vow of obedience to let Mother Mary Assumpta know of her prowess.

Out of those who were biblically knowledgeable, three were chosen.

For Sister Maria Suso, the call to her vocation began with regular prayer and reading of the Bible.

She is optimistic about the impression they gave to the viewers and those they met. “I hope that it was a good witness of the joy of giving yourself to Christ.”

The publication of a book of informal yet profoundly thoughtful dialogues between a cardinal and a rabbi was a rare event when this book was first published in Buenos Aires in 1995. When the cardinal became Pope Francis, “On Heaven and Earth” became a historic document, the first such open-ended dialogue between a pope and a rabbi in the history of Judaism and Catholicism.

Both then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio and Rabbi Abraham Skorka are scholars, not only in theology and rabbinic studies, respectively, but in science. It is natural that their discussion revolves around the classic issues of faith and reason, religious truth and scientific inquiry.

The authors take a pastoral view, concerned with the day-to-day problems and dilemmas, hopes and fears shared by all of us as ordinary human beings.

The result is a book rich in insight into both Judaism and Catholicism, and about how our two ancient traditions have and continue to deal with the essential issues of living a moral life of faith in a complex world. It is a book that will be of interest to the normal, active parishioners and congregants to whom the authors have dedicated their lives.

The world with which these two religious leaders grapple is that of Argentina, a large, originally Catholic country that is now, much like the United States, a pluralist democracy. Like the United

States, Argentina has over the course of its history had a wide range of social and religious problems that have led to political crises and, at times, internal violence.

An intriguing difference, however, is that the founding culture and dynamics of Argentinian life were, and to a great extent still are, formed by Catholicism, whereas in the U.S. Jews and Catholics were both minorities in a Protestant society.

The 29 chapters of this book cover a wide range of topics. They deal with traditional theological issues such as God and the devil, being atheist and being religious, the duties of religious leaders and the responsibilities of discipleship.

There are chapters on prayer, guilt and death. The views of Jews and Catholics on medical and moral issues, same-sex marriage, globalization, wealth and poverty are presented and analyzed from the perspective of two living, evolving religious traditions.

The histories of Catholic Argentina and the Jewish state of Israel, and the moral/social challenges each has faced over the course of time, are discussed frankly. Deep questions central to the dialogue between the church and the Jewish people, such as the Holocaust, the present state of Catholic teaching about Jews and Judaism, the future of relations between Jews and Christians, and of religion in general, are probed.

This is a book through which both Jews and Catholics will come to newer, deeper understandings of their own faiths. It is a book that tells us much about Pope Francis and how he will help to shape the future course of the Catholic Church internationally and on the local, parish level.

Fisher is a professor of Catholic-Jewish studies at St. Leo University in Florida.

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Calendar

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

Dining out Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Friday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Wednesday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd.

Cost is $12. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

KC pancake breakfast at St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Paul — June 9: 8 a.m. to noon at 2119 Stillwater Ave. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 12.

Parish events Rummage sale at St. George, Long Lake — June 6 and 7: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday ($4 bag day) at 133 N. Brown Road.

Spring fundraiser at St. Stanislaus, St. Paul — June 8: Begins at 4 p.m. with a polka Mass followed by a roast beef dinner at 398 Superior St. Cost for the dinner is $9 for adults.

For information, visit WWW.STSTANS.ORG. Annual summer festival at St. Gregory the Great, North Branch — June 8 and 9: 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sunday at 38725 Forest Blvd. Features a pork roast, entertainment, games and more.

Author Wayne Weible to speak at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Isanti — June 13: 6:30 p.m.

Rosary, followed by presentation and refreshments. For information, call (763) 4444035.

Rummage sale at St. Richard, Richfield — June 14 and 15: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday ($5 bag day) at 7540 Penn Ave. S. There will also be a café with bakery items for sale.

44th annual chicken cookout at St. Nicholas, New Market — June 16: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost is $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12. Take-out available. Also features music, children’s games, crafts, refreshments and more. Located 2½ miles west of I-35 on County Road 2, exit 76.

Garage sale at St. John the Baptist, Savage — June 19 to 22: Wednesday is preview night from 5 to 8 p.m. with admission at 12508 Lynn Ave. Sale continues 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday (bag day).

Summerfest at St. Stephen, Anoka — June 22: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 525 Jackson St. Features crafts, food, a 5K Sun run/walk, inflatable games, bingo and raffles. For information, visit WWW.STSTEPHENCHURCH.ORG. Rummage sale at Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata —June 27 to 29: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday (bag day) at 155 County Rd 24.

Prayer/ liturgies Sant’Egidio Community Evening Prayer at St. Richard, Richfield — Every Thursday: 7 p.m. at 7540 Penn Ave. S. Legion of Mary prayers in front of Planned Parenthood, St. Paul — Every Friday: 3 p.m. at the corner of Vandalia and Charles. For information, call (651) 439-9098.

Taizé prayer service at St. Richard, Richfield — June 7: 7:30 p.m. at 7540 Penn Ave. S. Taizé Prayer (an ecumenical prayer service that focuses on simple meditative songs,

June 8: 9 a.m. to noon at the Como Park picnic pavilion at 1199 Midway Parkway.

Don’t miss

KC Walk for Life to support WomenSource at Elm Creek Park, Maple Grove — June 15: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 12400 James Deane Parkway. Family friendly event also features games, prizes, face painting and refreshments.

Summerfest in Anoka

Archdiocesan Rural Life Sunday Celebration at the Don and Bonnie Quigley farm, Lindstrom — June 23: 1:30 p.m. Mass celebrated by Bishop Lee Piché followed by lunch and entertainment. (See story page 7.)

St. Stephen parish in Anoka will celebrate its 34th annual Summerfest, celebration of faith, community, family and fun, on June 22 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The event features crafts, food, a 5K Sun run/walk, inflatable games, bingo and raffles. A watermelon seed spitting contest and a balloon toss contest are also planned.

St. Stephen is located at 525 Jackson St. For information, visit WWW.ST STEPHENCHURCH.ORG. scripture, and contemplative silence) is held the first Friday of each month except July.

9th annual Northeast Minneapolis Eucharistic Procession beginning at Holy Cross, Minneapolis — June 9: 3 p.m. at 1621 university Ave. N.E. The procession will move to Sts. Cyril and Methodius, St. Anthony, St. Boniface and St. Maron, and close with Benediction at All Saints, 435 fourth St. N.E. A social will follow at St. Maron, 602 University Ave. N.E. For information, call (612) 379-2324.

Memorial Mass for the unborn at St. Mary of Czestochowa, Delano — June 23: 1 p.m. at 1867 95th St. S.E. A procession to the memorial site in the cemetery follows Mass.

Healing Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Joseph campus, Hopkins — June 25: Rosary at 7 p.m. followed by Mass at 1310 Mainstreet. Father Jim Livingston will be the celebrant.

SSND Golf Outing and Card Party at Daytona Golf Club, Dayton — June 25: 14730 North Lawndale Lane. Proceeds benefit active ministries and retirement needs of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. For information, call (507) 389-4231.

Calendar Submissions

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends.

The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406.

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) 4250412.

Other events Highland, University and Life-Care Center East Walk for Life at Como Park, St. Paul —

DEADLINE: 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. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your press release.

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.)

Travel

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

17

Spring cleaning reveals forgotten gems at Vatican

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

The Vatican Museums’ director thinks what restorers found under soot and successive coats of color in the Borgia Apartments are the very first painted depictions of Native Americans.

A little bit of spring cleaning or a much needed renovation can turn up the most unexpected things — especially if you’re sprucing up or digging through the Vatican.

Home of hundreds of thousands of artifacts, archived documents, ornate frescoes, plaster niches and underground tombs, it can be heavenly for a treasure hunt.

The latest precious find came after restorers tackled the Borgia Apartments, which were decorated by the Renaissance master, Bernardino di Betto, better known as Pintoricchio.

The Vatican Museums’ director thinks what restorers found under soot and successive coats of color are the very first painted depictions of Native Americans.

Antonio Paolucci told the Vatican newspaper the recently unveiled portion of the fresco shows a cluster of “nude men, ornate with feathers, in the act of what seems to be dancing.”

The mysterious men appear in the background under a Risen Christ in Pintoricchio’s fresco of “The Resurrection” in the Room of the Mysteries of Faith in the Borgia Apartments.

Paolucci said it wasn’t inconceivable that the Renaissance painter included the then-recently discovered inhabitants of the New World.

Spanish Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, whose country of origin was funding the voyages, was elected Pope Alexander VI in 1492, just a month before Christopher Columbus sighted land in the Americas.

“The Borgia pope was interested in the New World,” Paolucci said. The process of decorating the apartments

finished in 1494 and it is unlikely the pope “was in the dark about what Columbus saw when he arrived to the ends of the earth.”

Unexpected gifts Fresco restoration seems to be a lot like unwrapping a grab-bag gift: You never know what you’ll find by peeling away layers of centuries-old grime, water damage or botched painting repairs.

Experts working on the Vatican’s catacombs of St. Thecla uncovered what’s believed to be the oldest known depiction of St. Paul and announced the find just a week before the apostle’s feast day on the tail end of the Pauline year in 2009.

Blasting off limestone encrusting the painted ceiling with a laser revealed a fourth-century portrait that was so detailed and stunning “it took the restorers’ breath away,” the Vatican newspaper had reported.

The image of a bald man with a stern expression, a

high forehead, large eyes, distinctive nose and a dark tapered beard matched images of St. Paul from later centuries, experts said.

Continued cleanings in the burial chamber in 2010 exposed what experts claimed were the oldest existing paintings of Sts. Peter, Paul, Andrew and John.

If just scrubbing and scraping can lead to surprises, imagine what happens when advanced technology lets you snoop in places that had been inaccessible for centuries.

Archeologists had always been curious to find out what was inside an enormous marble sarcophagus — the presumed tomb of St. Paul in Rome’s Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

Because part of the sarcophagus is wedged beneath building material, and opening it would have meant demolishing the papal altar above it, it had never been opened in the 20 or 19 centuries it was there, Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, the basilica’s former archpriest, said in 2009.

Vatican engineers tried using an X-ray, but the 10inch-thick marble was impenetrable. Finally a very small perforation was drilled into the marble to insert a small probe and withdraw fragments of what was inside. Experts said they found traces of purple linen, a blue fabric with linen threads, grains of red incense and bone fragments that date from the time of the apostle’s death.

Pope Benedict XVI announced the historic findings to the world on the eve of the saint’s feast day saying “This seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul.”

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18

JUNE 6, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Tell us about a really good Catholic

Every year for the past 12 years,

business

The Catholic Spirit has honored people in the

owner,

their faith to the marketplace.

manager,

More than 100 people — from bankers to gas station

supervisor,

The Catholic Spirit’s Leading With Faith Award.

boss,

Nominating is easy.

and we’ll tell everybody else.

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for bringing

owners to social work supervisors — have received

Contact Mary Gibbs – 651-251-7709 or gibbsm@archspm.org – and we’ll send you a nomination form.

The form is available online, too. Click on the Leading With Faith logo on TheCatholicSpirit.com or www.Archspm.org and print one for yourself.

Fill out the nomination form as completely as you can, and we’ll take it from there.

DO IT NOW: DEADLINE is June 21st

Give a GOOD Catholic boss a pat on the back!

The Catholic Spirit News W ith a Catholic Heart

19

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JUNE 6, 2013

Forum speakers to address religious freedom concerns CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The observance kicks off with Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore celebrating an evening Mass June 21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Baltimore. It will conclude with a noon Mass July 4 to be celebrated by Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in the nation’s capital.

The website WWW.FORTNIGHT4FREEDOM. has details of fortnight events and

ORG

suggested activities for parishes and families, as well as fact sheets, educational resources and suggested prayers for the observance.

The site includes a study guide on the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Freedom, “Dignitatis Humanae,” and quotes about religious freedom from the nation’s Founding Fathers and the writings of Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, noted the fortnight occurs just weeks before Aug.

1, the date final rules take effect for implementing the federal contraceptive mandate requiring most employers to provide contraceptive coverage for employees.

The Catholic Church and other faith groups object to the requirement “coercing us to violate our deeply held beliefs,” the archbishop said in a statement.

During the fortnight, the Supreme Court’s decisions on the definition of marriage “will likely be handed down as well,” he added, referring to rulings the court is expected to issue in late June on two samesex marriage cases. One is a challenge to the constitutionality of California’s Propo-

sition 8, a voter-approved initiative banning same-sex marriage, and the other is a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act. “Those decisions could have a profound impact on religious freedom for generations to come,” Archbishop Lori said.

14 ways to celebrate the Fortnight for Freedom 1. Celebrate a memorial Mass for SS. Thomas More and John Fisher on June 21 (vigil) or June 22 (their feast day) to open the Fortnight for Freedom.

2. Present a Catholic movie night for members of your parish, such as “A Man for All Seasons” about the martyrdom of St. Thomas More or “For Greater Glory” about the struggle for religious freedom in Mexico.

3. Encourage parishioners to read “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty,” a document of the US. bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

4. Host a concert with religious music and/or performing artists.

5. Plan a “Pancakes for Patriotism” or

“Fish Fry for Freedom” event to raise awareness about the Fortnight and feature information about the plans within the parish and diocese for the Fortnight.

6. Organize day-long (or multi-day) eucharistic adoration.

7. Sponsor a presentation on the history of Catholicism in the United States.

8. Host a study group on “Dignitatis Humanae,” the groundbreaking document from the Second Vatican Council on religious liberty, using the 14day reflection piece found at Fortnight4Freedom.org.

9. Lead a eucharistic procession through your community.

10. Host a panel discussion on important public policy issues to individuals of faith.

11. Sponsor a day of service within the community, perhaps at a town or city park, to help clean up trash or conduct routine maintenance.

12. Pray a daily rosary in your parish for the cause of religious liberty each day of the Fortnight.

13. Host a patriotic sing-a-long for the children of the parish and community.

14. Organize an Independence Day family picnic with a special Mass to close the Fortnight for Freedom.

Source: Fortnight4Freedom.org

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20

Overheard THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Quotes from this week’s newsmakers

Walking with Jesus on streets of St. Paul

JUNE 6, 2013 “Jesus speaks in the silence of the mystery of the Eucharist and reminds us each time that following him means going out of ourselves and making our lives not something we ‘possess,’ but a gift to him and to others.”

— Pope Francis, in his homily at Mass May 30

“Killing people to show that killing is wrong is a piercing contradiction and one that touches our very souls.

Executions coarsen us. We daily condemn the glorification of violence, but what example is set when our state legitimizes killing? What results can we expect?”

— Florida’s seven Catholic bishops, in a letter asking Gov. Rick Scott to commute the death sentences of three men set to be executed over a span of 26 days starting May 29

Jim Bovin / For The Catholic Spirit

Participants in the 17th annual Archdiocesan Corpus Christi Procession walk behind the Blessed Sacrament into the Cathedral of St. Paul June 2, the feast of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). The procession, led by Bishop Lee Piché, began at the Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Residence on Exchange Street in St. Paul and ended with a Year of Faith holy hour at the Cathedral. The event coincided with a Vatican request that Catholics gather in churches on that day for a worldwide hour of eucharistic adoration.

“We’ve reached the point in this country that bashing people because of their faith is accepted, it is tolerated. You can get re-elected doing it. You can have big ratings on your television show doing it.”

— Oklahoma State Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, a self-described Catholic pro-life Democrat, speaking May 30 at 2013 National Religious Freedom Conference in Washington, D.C.

Catholic United Financial organizes event to help victims of disasters Catholic United Financial in Arden Hills is sponsoring an event to help the homeless and victims of natural disasters. Called Gather4Good, it will take place at CUF headquarters, 3499 Lexington Ave. N. in St. Paul, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 15.

The Volunteers, both Catholic Spirit individuals and families, will assemble care kits using items provided by CUF. Lunch will be provided, along with musical entertainment, face painting and an inflatable jumper for children, all free of charge.

“We’ve been doing these events for a few years now and we wanted to give the community around us a chance to participate,” Catholic United President Harald Borrmann said. “To gather as neighbors and spend a few hours doing something to benefit others, that’s the epitome of who we are and what we do.”

The goal of this event is to assemble 4,000 care kits for those in need. Some of the kits will go to Catholic United Response, a disaster response cleanup team that will take the kits to the sites of

News Notes

natural disasters. Those wishing to volunteer are encouraged to register ahead of time by visiting WWW.CATHOLICUNITED.ORG/ LINKS/GATHER4GOOD, or by calling (888) 346-7183.

CCF hires new officer, names finance director The Catholic Community Foundation in St. Paul filled two positions recently.

Chris Suedbeck joined CCF as investment officer, and Helen Twomey was promoted from controller to director of finance.

Suedbeck will oversee the investment and management of the foundation’s $222 million in charitable assets. Before joining CCF, he spent 12 years as director of the Office of Investments and Banking at the University of Minnesota.

He earned his M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and his B.S. in finance from St. Cloud State University.

He and his wife Jennifer and their two sons belong to St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake.

Twomey, who joined CCF in 2012,

will manage the foundation’s overall financial plan, policies and performance.

Order of Malta exhibit at Basilica An exhibit highlighting the origins of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta is on display at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis through July 7.

The exhibit, entitled, “900 Years of Faith in Action: 1113-2013, The Bull of Pascal II,” includes a full-size reproduction of the original papal bull with an adjacent English translation.

The order began in 1048 as a Benedictine infirmary in Jerusalem that cared for pilgrims to the Holy Land.

Those in the order became known as the Hospitallers after the First Crusade conquered Jerusalem in 1095.

Today, the order — known as the Order of Malta — has 13,500 members (knights and dames) and do humanitarian and relief work in more than 120 countries around the world.

“The origins of the Order of the Hospital have been the stuff of myth,”

said Theresa Vann, the Joseph S. Micallef curator of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library’s Malta Study Center.

“This exhibit explains what we know today about the history of the Hospitallers, particularly the reasons why Pope Pascal issued the bull in 1113.

Pascal issued similar bulls to other religious charities, but none of them have lasted as long as the Hospitallers.”

Local Catholic author publishes new book Deacon Scott Wright, who currently serves at St. John Vianney in South St. Paul, recently released a fictional account of childhood in the 1940s and early ‘50s entitled, “Of Snapping Turtles and Packing Plants.”

The book chronicles the early life of the fictional character George Peterson in South St. Paul. He struggles with his father, who had recently returned from military service in World War II. For more information on the book or to order, visit HTTP://WWW.SCOTTWRIGHT MINDFULNESSPRESS.COM.

The creed Learning more about our faith The Catholic Spirit’s 4-page Rediscover: pullout section in each issue of 2013 highlights a new Rediscover: theme for you to reflect on and discuss with others.

Coming up June 20: What is a priest? A deacon? A sister?

More than checklist, creed is God’s story in miniature

T

HEART OF THE MATTER JEFF CAVINS

he Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that we recite during Mass on Sunday.

It is called Nicene because its original form was adopted in the city of Nicaea during the First Ecumenical Council in A.D. 335.

The creed was used by the early Church as a rule or standard for Christian belief. The creed acted as a summary statement of the early Church.

The Creed is more than a checklist of doctrines that we must believe and then continue to reaffirm Sunday after Sunday. Contained in this marvelous string of statements is God’s overarching plan of salvation history for humanity. As Edward Sri says in his book “A Biblical Walk Through the Mass,” “The creed presumes that there is a narrative framework to human history. In other words, the creed assumes that there is a plot to life, and that we are here for a reason.”

The creed is God’s story in miniature, or as one theologian stated: “What the Scriptures say at length, the creed says briefly.”

The creed affirms the truth from creation to

The Catholic Spirit • June 6, 2013

Christ’s birth, death and resurrection, to the sending of the Holy Spirit, to the acts of the Church and finally the second coming of Christ.

For those who are rediscovering Catholicism, the creed is more than a checklist, more than a declaration of what we believe and continue to believe. The creed is a weekly reminder that our lives are part of a much larger cosmic drama. We are participants in the greatest story the world has ever known.

Why ‘I believe’?

So, why do we recite the creed every week starting with, “I believe?” The creed doesn’t change, and the likelihood that we have changed our minds concerning the creed, week after month after year, is slim.

So why repeatedly say, “I believe?”

Christ reveals through his Church that there are two aspects of belief.

First, belief is something intellectual. It is “a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed” (Catechism of the Catholic Church,

Rediscover-faith.org

Please turn to back page of section

“This next week during Mass, when you recite the creed, be aware that you are not simply agreeing with a checklist of beliefs.You are entrusting more and more of your life to God.” Jeff Cavins

What do you believe?

We all believe in something. Even those who don’t believe in something, believe that they don’t believe. An atheist believes that there is no God. Disbelief is not the absence of belief but the presence of an opposing belief. An agnostic believes that he does not know if there is a God. The object of our beliefs may vary significantly, but we all believe. We cannot help but believe. It is part of who we are. The ability to believe is part of what makes us human.

You cannot choose to believe or not to believe; you can only choose what you believe.

Our lives are directed by belief. You cross the street and you believe that the people driving cars from the other direction will stop at the red light. When you are driving you have faith that the drivers coming from the other direction will stay on the other side of the road. You may not have complete faith in this, but you believe it to some extent. Without belief we would be so paralyzed by fear of everything and everyone that we would be reduced to a mass of CELEBRATING paranoia and would simply be unable to function in the world.

We all believe in something. But some beliefs are more important CATHOLICISM than others, and any belief that is disconnected from eternal truth is a recipe for misery.

Matthew We all have the capacity to believe and what we believe affects the way we live our lives. We are not born with beliefs. They are KELLY developed along the way — taken on and discarded, lived and tested, abandoned and betrayed. Belief is at the essence of being human, so we cannot earnestly seek to become perfectly ourselves and ignore the role belief plays in our lives.

Why are beliefs so central? The reason is because there is no faster way to create enduring unhappiness than to act against your beliefs. When we act contrary to our beliefs we create unhappiness for ourselves and for others. You cannot be perfectly yourself by betraying yourself. Beliefs play an enormous role in our happiness and unhappiness.

The bottom line is that when we act against our beliefs we begin to create a division within ourselves. When we lie, for example, we create an artificial division between our beliefs and our actions, and this division creates an inner conflict and a feeling of being divided.

Are you living out your beliefs? Do you ever feel divided? Are you ever aware of your own inner-conflicts? Do you feel drawn in two different directions?

The corresponding reality is that we live in a world where people seem to be acting contrary to their beliefs with an ever-increasing frequency. The result is that we are living divided lives. A divided life always has its roots in the betrayal of self. We abandon our beliefs and we justify it to ourselves and abdicate responsibility with a thousand excuses: ■ “I was unfaithful to my wife because she wasn’t attentive enough to me.”

■ “ I lied about my income because taxes are too high. Besides, everyone lies about their income. The only people who don’t are those who can’t, and if they could they would.”

■ “All my friends were doing it, so I figured I might as well give it a try.”

In these acts, large or small, what is really taking place is a betrayal of self. When we abandon our beliefs, we abandon God, our true selves, and thus is born the divided life.

The problem is not that we do not believe, but rather, that we do not live what we believe. Most people have a set of values and beliefs that would greatly benefit the common good if they actually lived what they believed. But we often become so busy that we allow fatigue and stress to settle into our lives. This inevitably leads to a betrayal of self in ways small or large. Maintaining character requires constant vigilance and great strength; it is all but impossible if we allow fatigue and stress to settle into our lives permanently.

What we believe affects everything: how we live, how we work, how we feel about ourselves and how we feel about others. And, in some ways, it is impossible to hide our beliefs. Your life is a readout of what you believe. Sooner or later, every internal reality seeks an external expression.

Spending time with your family is an external expression of the internal belief that spending time with your family is important. Being aggressive and rude to people is an external expression of an internal belief that other people have less value or dignity than yourself, or a fear that they have more value than you.

Church guides believers It is one thing not to believe something, it is something completely different and debilitating to believe and not live in that belief. Old-fashioned as it may seem to people, there is a lot of restlessness and dis-ease in our lives that could be quickly cured by a clear conscience.

For 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been guiding men and woman of good will to believe in all that is good, true, beautiful and noble. I have watched a lot of people stray from what the Church teaches, but I don’t know any who have found enduring happiness in that path.

Let us start to live all the good things we believe.

Next Sunday when we pray the creed together at Mass, reflect on how you can bring your beliefs to life during the week.

Kelly is an international best-selling author, speaker and founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute.

The Catholic Spirit • June 6, 2013

Teen’s road to Church inc

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

On a Friday in May, most high school seniors are thinking about the upcoming weekend and planning their social calendars.

But Claire Hoverson had the Nicene Creed on her mind when she sat down for homeroom at Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota on the last day of a school week.

On May 10, with only a few days of classroom time left before her graduation, she calmly walked to the school chapel and got ready to make a Profession of Faith in front of her 78 classmates and the school chaplain, Father Tony O’Neill. Also present were campus minister Kathy Daniewicz, faculty and staff members, and, of course, a handful of Visitation Sisters.

It was her next step on a faith journey that led her to join the Catholic Church. On May 20, it became official when she received the sacraments of confirmation and Communion at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

“I was excited because I have been definitely thinking about becoming Catholic for all my four years in high school,” she said. “It was exciting to finally be going through the whole process.”

Role models of faith As she moved through her teenage years, she was exposed to Catholic beliefs and practices at Visitation, where she enrolled in ninth grade. More and more, she felt called to join the Church, and leave the congregational church of her upbringing in Minneapolis, where her family worships. She liked what she saw in the way classmates at Vis and others in the school community lived their faith.

“I watched and observed all of my friends in their strong faith, and also the sisters,” she said. “It just really amazed me how devoted they were to their faith, and I really wanted that same kind of experience.”

In December Daniewicz abo rare at the sch the year before erson with the “I’ve been who’s joined year,” Daniew She thinks th Claire to com knew it [was mind that sh wouldn’t ma deep thinkin As she wor Church teach to any of it Mass both a Mary Under sor.

“There we really felt li was at the fo Academy]. cause it was with the wh Eventual ents, Kerry that conve father, who miliar with “He was you’re goi thought t

cludes public profession of creed

r, shortly before Christmas, she approached out beginning the formal process. Though hool, a student had done the same thing e, so Daniewicz was prepared to help Hove necessary preparation. here 21 years; Claire is the third student the Catholic Church during her senior wicz said. “Claire’s a pretty quiet person. hings through a lot. And that’s why, for me and say, ’This is what I want to do,’ I s authentic]. There was no doubt in my he had really given it a lot of thought. She ake a choice like that without some real ng about it.” rked her way through the creed and other hings, she found that she had no objections . In addition, she had a chance to go to at school and with a classmate, Margaret rwood, who eventually became her spon-

ere definitely a couple Masses where I just ike that was my place,” Claire said. “One ootball banquet for the boys [at St. Thomas They had a Mass before [the banquet] bes a Sunday morning. I really felt connected hole spirit of it. I felt like I belonged there.” lly, Claire decided it was time tell her pary and Doug. She started with her mom, and ersation went well. Then, she went to her o teaches at St. Thomas Academy and is fah the Catholic faith. s like, ‘Yeah, I understand, and I get where ing on your faith journey,’” she said. “I hey were going to be more shocked than

How the Kardashians keep up A new season of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” began this week, again demonstrating the L.A. family’s peculiar cultural dominion.

The Kardashians’ vast and ever-expanding empire includes a hit reality TV show, clothing lines, perfume lines, sneakers and swimwear, liquor and lipstick. Their endorsements are wide ranging, from twosecond signage shots worked into their show to sponsored tweets. It’s been reported that Kim can command $25,000 for a 140-character plug sent out to her 17 million Twitter followers.

But the most telling mark of their influence is the fact that the Kardashian clan invented and shared their own little language, and it has stuck. Many of the Valley-Girl terms are abbreviated adjectives like “amaze” for amazing and “ridic” for ridiculous.

(That last syllable can be so pesky.)

They refer to their friends and fans as “dolls,” express praise for their favorite accessories by calling them “to die” — as in, to die for — and vow honesty by backing up a statement with the word “Bible.”

REFERENCE The sisters codify these phrases, which young adults POINTS employ tongue in cheek, in a glossary in their bestselling book, “Kardashian Konfidential.” (The Christina use of Ks in place of Cs is part of the stylized CAPECCHI linguistics.)

It’s one thing to get people to buy your perfume and entirely another to get them to speak your language — a sign that your brand has become a movement. If they’ve got the lipstick and the lingo, they’re card-carrying dolls, not just fans but part of the club. The ability to make consumers feel like insiders is the Kardashians’ real genius — even if their empire appears to be based on no actual talent.

For

Communion with the Church

they were. I think they were ready for it after these years.

They saw it coming.”

‘A little choked up’ What Claire wasn’t quite ready for was the enthusiastic support of her senior class on the day of her profession. Despite taking place on the last day of homeroom before graduation, the 78 other seniors sacrificed 10 minutes of that time to come to the chapel and witness Claire taking perhaps the biggest faith step of her life.

“It was a little shocking when they all trickled in,” she said. “Father Tony introduced my whole journey and read part of the letter that I was assigned to write him. . . . Midway through Father Tony reading my letter, I was a little choked up.”

She wasn’t alone.

“I was touched, and I think a number of faculty members who were there said, ‘I was all choked up.’” Daniewicz said.

“I think it really touched people a lot. It was a neat witness.

“Any time a student makes a choice to be actively involved in their faith, it’s just exciting. It’s what we’re here for, what we as a community are here for. Yes, we’re here to provide an excellent education, but the foundation of who we are is faith, and Catholic faith.”

By doing this publicly at the end of her senior year, Hoverson has made it clear that she plans to continue her Catholic journey in college. She will attend Illinois Wesleyan University in the fall.

“According to someone I was talking to, 75 percent of the student body is Catholic, even though it’s a Methodist school,” she said. “There’s a [Catholic] church three blocks from campus that most of the students go to weekly. So, that’s a good outlet. And then, they also have student groups for faith.”

reflection

From an early age we understand the power of Select a phrase or language to unite cultures, clubs and clans. sentence from the Admission into the tree house or backyard fort is creed and granted by whispering the secret password prayerfully unknown to adults. Somehow that utterance meditate over the allows kids to play by their own rules, in their words. What does own world.

God want you to We are united as Catholics by an ancient creed. know today?

Based on fourth-century councils of early Church leaders, the Nicene Creed achieves an ambitious undertaking: to summarize our entire belief system. It does so in just 224 words, less than half the length of this column.

I love that the Church puts it out there and stands by it: Here’s what we are all about. The language is plain and the order is chronological, beginning with the most crucial affirmation, our belief in God. Everything else depends on this.

“To say the Credo with faith is to enter into communion with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and also with the whole Church,” the catechism tells us.

There are some who don’t appreciate communal prayer, who suspect the creed becomes rote when recited week after week. They feel that spontaneous, individual prayer is always better. But something profound happens when, as a community of believers, we utter the same words together, the same words Catholics have spoken for nearly two millennia. They are an anchor — an expression of belonging and a source of steadfastness in frenetic modern life.

And yet, for all their familiarity, new life is breathed into each utterance. The same words can sound different week after week, striking in new ways when you need them most, when you’re alone or wedged among family, when a sunbeam pierces the altar or on a day when everything feels gray.

I once read a blog post written by a North Dakota mom battling breast cancer who one morning was comforted by the assertion that God is “maker of heaven and earth.” It made her worries seem smaller.

St. Ambrose recognized the function of this straightforward summation of faith. “This Creed is the spiritual seal, our heart’s meditation and an ever-present guardian,” he once said. “It is, unquestionably, the treasure of our soul.”

Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.

Rediscover-faith.org

Youth tracks to be featured at Oct. 12 celebration “They can go back to their parishes, schools and friends and have a little bit more confidence now to say, ‘I had this really great experience and I can talk about who Jesus is and how he works in my life.’”

Eric Pederson

Assistant superintendent for religious education

The Catholic Spirit Families are invited to attend this fall’s Rediscover: Catholic Celebration with their children, who will benefit from the event’s special tracks for youth in kindergarten through 10th grade.

About 5,000 Catholics around the archdiocese are expected to attend the event, set for Oct. 12 at the St. Paul RiverCentre, and the youth tracks are part of a daylong agenda that includes a slate of internationally known speakers, as well as opportunities for prayer, education, and fellowship with other Catholics.

“Families are where our Catholic faith is lived and passed on,” said Eric Pederson, assistant superintendent for religious education in the archdiocesan Office of Catholic Schools. “This is an opportunity for families to come together for an experience that can lead to deeper conversations about faith and moving forward in relationship with Jesus Christ.”

“The whole idea of coming together, of seeing other people alive with the faith no matter what their age, is a great gift to everyone,” added Kathy Laird, a co-chair of the event.

Growing, sharing faith Youth will be divided into two tracks: one for kindergarten through grade 6, and the other for students in grades 7 through 10. High school juniors and

seniors will be included in the program for adults.

Everyone will worship together at an 8:30 a.m. Mass, after which the K-6 youth will attend their own morning and afternoon sessions, Pederson said.

Youth in grades 7-10 will remain with their parents during morning breakout sessions, but have their own gathering in the afternoon. Families will come together for both lunch and an end-ofthe-day recap with Bishop Lee Piché.

Youth in the K-6 track will be further divided into groups — grades K-2, 3-4 and 5-6 — for age-appropriate sessions in the morning focused on “growing your faith,” said Heidi Gallus, one of the coordinators of the track and a firstgrade teacher at Providence Academy in Plymouth.

Teachers from Catholic schools in the archdiocese will help the children learn about different ways they can pray; the sacraments, with a particular focus on baptism and Eucharist; and the saints, “looking at who we can model our lives after in order to grow in our faith,” Gallus said.

At “sharing your faith” sessions in the afternoon, the focus will be on performing “everyday acts of kindness” by practicing the virtues. “One specific virtue that they’ll all get to practice right there is the virtue of charity by creating cards for others,” Gallus said, perhaps for area nursing home residents or soldiers

in the military.

There will also be a K-6 track in Spanish focusing on the theme of “faith in Jesus” and the call to share the faith, said Marta Pereira, one of the coordinators. “We are hoping to [address] these topics through activities that include songs, Gospel stories, drama and crafts,” she said, although the program is still in the planning stages.

Strengthening the foundation Youth in grades 7-10 will gather together for a small-group session following a presentation by Matthew Kelly, one of the Rediscover: Catholic Celebration speakers and the author of “Rediscover Catholicism.”

“It’s going to give them a chance to break down those themes in ways that are age-appropriate and more personal to their own teen experience,” said Pat Millea, one of the track’s organizers who serves as director of the confirmation program and high school youth ministry at St. Michael in Prior Lake.

The youth will also hear from author and chastity speaker Jason Evert, who will talk on themes related to Pope John Paul II’s “theology of the body.”

Evert will also speak about “rediscovering faith in the culture we have and how to do that in energetic and exciting ways, but also ways that might be countercultural and challenging — which is really at the

heart of what theology of the body is all about,” Millea said. “It’s countercultural and challenging for sure, but it’s also freeing, energetic and enlivening when it’s embraced fully.”

The session will end with time for worship, music and prayer, including eucharistic adoration, “just being in the presence of Jesus,” Millea said. “That will serve as a really good base to send them forward from the event and use that strength that they’ve gotten.”

Both youth tracks connect with the “big picture” of the Rediscover: initiative, which encourages people to learn more about their faith and then share it with others, Pederson said.

“Sometimes, in our current culture, it’s not always comfortable to speak about Jesus or about your relationship with him and where he has led you in your life,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for youth to see that there are others like them. They can go back to their parishes, schools and friends and have a little bit more confidence now to say, ‘I had this really great experience and I can talk about who Jesus is and how he works in my life.’”

Online registration for the 2013 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration is available at HTTPS://EVENTS.ARCHSPM.ORG/REDISCOVER. A form to register by mail can also be downloaded from the site.

Reciting creed is both personal statement and theological declaration Continued from first page of section No. 150). In other words, we agree with all that the Church officially teaches.

Second, and what will prove to be more life transforming, is “a personal adherence . . . to God.” The word that we say many times in the Mass, “Amen,” comes from the Hebrew word for belief. Before becoming Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger taught how the word “Amen” can be understood as meaning to take one’s stand on something else (“Introduction to Christianity,” San

Francisco: Ignatius press, 1990, p. 39).

When we recite the creed, we are not simply stating that we intellectually believe something the Church has taught us. It goes beyond this; it involves both reason and will by acknowledging both what the Church has taught concerning salvation history and the act of personally entrusting our life to God. In short, by reciting the creed, we are affirming in the statements that we make that we are totally entrusting our lives to Christ.

Entrusting our lives to God For example, when we say, “I believe

in one God . . .” we are making a personal statement and not simply a theological declaration. We do believe that God exists, but we are also saying that our entire life is entrusted to God, who created us and has a plan for our lives.

Both elements of “believe” are realized in the relationship between a husband and wife. The husband certainly believes that his wife exists. But his relationship with his wife goes beyond believing in her existence when he says, “I believe in you.” There is a certain fullness to our faith when we go from believing that

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Rediscover-faith.org

God exists to entrusting ourselves to him on a daily basis.

This next week during Mass, when you recite the creed, be aware that you are not simply agreeing with a checklist of beliefs. You are entrusting more and more of your life to God. Entrusting ourselves to God is the admittance that God’s story is the true story of the universe and that we will follow his will by doing all that he has commanded.

Cavins is founder of the Great Adventure Bible Study Series and director of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute.