April 26, 2018 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Festival-goers admire a chicken sporting a bow tie at St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown Aug. 20, 2017. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
2018 Parish Festival Guide Your calendar for fun
across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Festival Guide Festival
2A • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
2A • The Catholic Spirit
April
St. Joseph of the Lakes, Lino Lakes — St. Joe’s Summer Festival: Aug. 11-12. Aug. 11: 8 a.m. 5K race, 5 p.m. outdoor Mass in the big tent followed by pig roast, beer garden, games, live band, fireworks. Aug. 12: food booths, bingo, silent auction, games, inflatables, live music, beer garden, cakewalk, raffles. Chicken dinner $11 adults, $5 children. 171 Elm St. mystjoes.org
St. John Vianney, South St. Paul — SJV Spring Festival: April 28 following 4 p.m. Mass. Taste of St. John Vianney, face painting, balloon animals, raffles, pull tabs, bingo, bake sale, children’s games. 789 17th Ave. N. sjvssp.org St. Michael, Prior Lake — Aprilfest: April 28-29. April 28, 9 a.m.–11 p.m.: 5K race, arts and crafts, bake sale, children’s games, food, bingo, raffle, silent auction, beer tent, live auction, barbecue dinner, children’s dance party, Euchre tournament, 5 p.m. blue grass Mass, live music. April 29, 8:30 a.m.–noon: Mass, pancake breakfast, silent auction and bake sale, cash raffle. 16400 Duluth Ave. SE. stmichael-pl.org/aprilfest
May
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — Spring Festival: May 5-6. Kiddie Land, theme baskets, raffle tickets, bingo, silent auction, food booths, beer, pull tabs, concessions, outdoor games, live music. May 5: 9 a.m. 5K walk/ run, 6 p.m. Mexican dinner by Acapulco. May 6: All booths open. Car show and live bands 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Sumo Eggroll Truck and all concessions open. 1725 Kennard St. presentationofmary.org St. Stephen, Anoka — Spring Raffle Fiesta: May 12, 5–9 p.m. 5 p.m. bilingual Mass in church, continues in the Faith Community Center with mariachi music, authentic Mexican food, folkloric dancing, cash raffle, beverages and more. An optional child care fiesta will take place in the school with dinner, crafts and games. 525 Jackson St. ststephenchurch.org St. Mark, St. Paul — St. Mark’s Festival: May 18-19, 5–10 p.m. May 18; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. May 19. Rides, food, beer, live music, games and more. 5 p.m. outdoor Mass May 19. 2001 Dayton Ave. markerspride.com/index.php/home-festival St. Boniface, Minneapolis — MaiFest: May 19, 4:30 p.m. Mass, live music, food, drinks and festivities until 10 p.m. At 10 p.m. live music and performance in church. May 19-20, hosting artists during NEMAA Art-a-Whirl: noon–8 p.m. May 19 and noon–5 p.m. May 20. stbonifacempls.org St. Mary, St. Paul — Taste of St. Mary’s, May 20, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Ethnic food booths, bake sale, bingo, crafts and flea market. 261 Eighth St. E. stmarystpaul.org St. Michael, Stillwater — Fun Fest: May 20, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Inflatables, petting zoo, pony rides, crafts, silent auction, cakewalk, bake sale, book and media booth, concessions, raffles, chance tickets, DJ, talent show. 611 Third St. S. stmichaelstillwater.org
June
St. Bridget, Minneapolis — Heart of the Northside Festival: June 3, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Craft tables, children’s games, food concessions, silent auction, marketplace, raffle. 3811 Emerson Ave. N. stbridgetnorthside.com Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Summer Festival: June 8–9, 6:30–11 p.m. June 8; 9 a.m.– 10 p.m. June 9. Children’s games, food vendors, live entertainment, dancers, music groups, book store. 401 Concord St. olgcatholic.org St. Anne-St. Joseph Hien, Minneapolis — Summer Festival: June 22-24. 5–10 p.m. June 22; 2–10 p.m. June 23; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. June 24. Vietnamese food, children’s games, live music, raffle. 2627 Queen Ave. N. gxannagiusehien.net St. Gregory the Great, North Branch — Summer Festival: June 23-24, 6–9 p.m. June 23 following 5 p.m. Mass; 11 a.m.–3 p.m. June 24, Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Games, prizes and barbecue cookout with pork sandwiches and sides. 38725 Forest Blvd. stgregorynb.org
APRIL 26, 2018
April 26, 2017
St. Wenceslaus, New Prague — Parish Festival: Aug. 11-12. 4:30–7 p.m. Aug. 11; 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Aug. 12. Children’s games, raffles, beer garden, live music, bingo, country store, baking sweet shop. Chicken dinner 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Aug. 12. Polka Masses 5 p.m. Aug. 11 and 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Aug. 12. 215 Main St. npcatholic.org
Feeling festive?
Epiphany, Coon Rapids — EFest: Aug. 18, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Games for all ages, bingo, live music, food trucks, adult beverages. Admission at the gate. 11001 Hanson Blvd. NW. epiphanymn.org
The Catholic Spirit reached out to each parish in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to bring you this 2018 Festival Guide, a comprehensive listing of carnivals, picnics and family-friendly fun hosted by our parishes. Find the list online at TheCatholicSpirit.com/festivals. Please note: The information available by press time varied from parish to parish, and some parishes had not yet finalized dates. Some listings were edited for length and clarity.
ABOVE Girls laugh together during Most Holy Trinity’s “Ho-Down” in Veseli Aug. 20, 2017. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
St. Mary, Le Center — Parish Festival: June 24, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Cash raffle, meat raffle, silent auction, bucket raffles, country store, children’s games, bingo, live music, beer garden, wall of wine, roast beef dinner served family style, outdoor food court and more. 10 a.m. polka Mass with music by the Wendinger Band. 165 N. Waterville Ave. stmarysthenry.org
July
St. Columba, St. Paul — Funfest: July 13-15. 5–10 p.m. July 13; 5–10 p.m. July 14; 11 a.m.– 5 p.m. July 15. Live music, cash raffle, children’s games and inflatables. Traditional Vietnamese food and drink, American favorites and beer. 10 a.m. outdoor Mass July 15. 1327 Lafond Ave. stcolumba.org St. Mary of Czestochowa, Delano — Country Festival: July 15, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Pork chop and roast beef dinner, raffle, silent auction, bingo, pull tabs, children’s games, country store, polka band. 1867 95th St. SE. stboniface-stmary.org Our Lady of Lourdes, Minneapolis — Lourdes Block Party: July 21, 5 p.m. Mass followed by live music, food, raffle, children’s activities, Minneapolis Aquatennial fireworks viewing. One Lourdes Place. lourdesmpls.org St. Patrick, Cedar Lake — Parish Festival: July 22, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Silent auction, beer garden, live music, antique tractor display, bingo, raffles, country store, children’s games, snack bar, pull tabs. Grilled chicken dinner $12 adults, $6 ages 4-12, free 3 and under. 24425 Old Highway 13. stpandc.mn.org St. Adalbert, St. Paul — Parish Summer Festival: July 27-29; 4–10 p.m. July 27; noon–10 p.m. July 28; 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m. July 29. Traditional Vietnamese food, live Vietnamese music, raffles. Mass 4:30 p.m. July 28 and 10 a.m. July 29. 265 Charles Ave. stadalbertchurch.org Sts. Joachim and Anne, Shakopee — Julifest: July 28; 9 a.m. 5K run/walk, all-day American, German and Hispanic concessions, entertainment, adult and children’s games, polka and Hispanic music. 5 p.m. outdoor polka Mass (bring lawn chair) followed by 7 p.m. free street dance with American music. St. Mark campus, 350 Atwood St. S. ssjacs.org
August
Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — IC Summer Jam: Aug. 2-5. 5–10 p.m. Aug. 2; 5–10:30 p.m. Aug. 3; 4:30–10:30 p.m. Aug. 4; 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Aug. 5. Aug. 2: Tom Petty tribute band Free Fallin ($5 cover). Aug. 3: Jonah and the Whales, MSMA car show, Elvis tribute show. Aug. 4: Beatles tribute band Rubber Soul with emcee Ed Sullivan, Beatles trivia contest. Aug. 5: Classic rock and country band Vinyl Revival. Each day: food, raffle, beer and wine tent. Aug. 3-5: bingo, children’s games, inflatables, bake shop, silent auction, pull tabs, books, media booth. Aug. 4-5: Outdoor craft and vendor market. 4030 Jackson St. NE. iccsonline.org St. Raphael, Crystal — Parish Festival: Aug. 3-4. 6:30–10 p.m. Aug. 3; noon–10 p.m. Aug. 4. Faster than the Pastor race, softball tournament, roast beef dinner, food concessions, live entertainment, raffles, games, silent auction, bingo, pull tabs. 7301 Bass Lake Road. straphaelcrystal.org St. John Neumann, Eagan — Parish Festival: Aug. 4-5. 5–9 p.m. Aug. 4; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Aug. 5. Mass, food, beer, wine, raffle, silent auction, bingo, live entertainment, children’s games and inflatables. 4030 Pilot Knob Road. sjn.org Immaculate Conception, Lonsdale — Parish Bazaar: Aug. 5, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 10 a.m. Mass followed by concessions, children’s games, bake sale featuring Czech specialties, country store, live entertainment. 116 Alabama St. SE. churchoftheimmaculateconception.net Nativity, Cleveland — Chicken Dinner and Parish Festival: Aug. 5, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Antique car show, polka band, silent auction, beer garden, cash raffle, games. Chicken dinner $12 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free 5 and under. 200 W. Main St. maryschurches.com St. John the Baptist, Dayton — Parish Festival: Aug. 5, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Chicken dinner served from 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., raffles, silent auction, wall of wine. 18380 Columbus St. sjbdayton.org St. Gerard Majella, Brooklyn Park — Corn Fest: Aug. 10-11, 6–11 p.m. Inflatables, carnival games, bingo, basket auction, grand raffle, pull tabs, live entertainment, food booths, beer. 5 p.m. outdoor Mass Aug. 11. 9600 Regent Ave. N. st-gerard.org
Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul — Fun Fest: Aug. 18-19. Aug. 18: 5–7 p.m. Deacon Fred’s Famous Spaghetti Dinner, 6–9 p.m. polka dance under the big tent. Aug. 19: 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mariachi band, ethnic food, pulled pork, silent auction, pie. 2119 Stillwater Ave. blessedsacramentsp.org Most Holy Trinity, Veseli — “Ho-Down:” Aug. 19, noon–6 p.m. Pork and dumpling dinner, live music, children’s games, bingo, food, wine stand, pull tabs, spin-the-wheel game. 4939 N. Washington St. mhtveseli.com St. Genevieve, Centerville — Parish Festival and Chicken Dinner: Aug. 19, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Silent auction, raffles, pull tabs, children’s games, bingo, country store, cake walk; chicken dinner includes corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, dressing, cucumbers, tomatoes, rolls and homemade pie. 6995 Centerville Road. stgens.org Sts. Joachim and Anne, Shakopee — Marystown Festival: Aug. 19. 9 a.m. Mass, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. food, Czech concertina band, silent and live auction, raffles, bingo, pull tabs, wall of wine, adult and children’s games, trolley rides, “chicken plop” game. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. country buffet. St. Mary of the Purification campus, 15850 Marystown Road. ssjacs.org St. Joseph, West St. Paul — Old Time Picnic and Corn Feed, Aug. 19, noon–4 p.m. Free roasted sweet corn, games, music and fun for all ages. 1154 Seminole Ave. churchofstjoseph.org St. Thomas the Apostle, Corcoran — Parish Festival: Aug. 19, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Turkey dinner, bingo, farmers market, children’s games, bake sale. 20000 County Road 10. saintsppta.org St. Victoria, Victoria — Sunset Fest: Aug. 25. Great fun, food and guaranteed sunshine. 8228 Victoria Drive. stvictoria.net St. Henry, Monticello — Parish Festival: Aug. 25-26. Aug. 25: 6 p.m. live performance by Sonar. Aug. 26: 9 a.m.–noon all-you-can-eat waffles; 10:30 a.m. polka Mass; 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. food, children’s games, drawings, grand raffle, bingo and live music. 1001 E. Seventh St. sthenrycatholic.info St. Michael, Pine Island — Fall Festival: Aug. 25-26. Aug. 25: tractor pull, arts and crafts vendors, country store, raffle, concessions. Aug. 26: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. roast beef dinner $11 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free 5 and under. 451 Fifth St. SW. stpaulstmichael.com St. Anne, Hamel — Parish Festival: Aug. 26, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Chicken dinner, silent auction, grand raffle, bingo, Matt the Magician, children’s games. 200 Hamel Road. saintannehamel.org
APRIL 26, 2018
4A • The Catholic Spirit
Festival Guide Festival
St. Peter, Forest Lake — Fall Festival: Aug. 26, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. silent auction, raffles, food, music, games. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. turkey dinner, $10 adults, $6 ages 5-10, free 4 and under. 1250 S. Shore Drive. stpeterfl.org/pages/st__peter_parish
Wild Rice Festival with silent action, children’s and teen games, raffles, bingo, Lucky Seven, quilts, crafts, books, cotton candy, second-hand treasures, country fair, beer booth. Chicken and wild rice dinner $10 adults, $5 children. 423 Fifth St. S. stmarystillwater.org
St. Luke, Clearwater — Parish Festival: Aug. 26, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Pork chop dinner, games, quilt raffle, bingo. 17545 Huber Ave. NW. churchofstlukes.com
Holy Family Catholic Church-St. Louis Park — Fall Festival: Sept. 8 noon until 10 pm. Food, chicken dinner, beer garden, live band, outdoor games, dancing, silent auction… fun day for families. 5900 West Lake St. hfcmn.org
St. Mathias, Hampton — Fun Fest: Aug. 26, 10 a.m. polka Mass; 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. food, children’s games, country store, silent auction, bingo, pot of gold, rip tickets, pork chop and brat meals. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. live entertainment, raffle, live auction. 23315 Northfield Blvd. stmathias.com
September
Immaculate Conception of Marysburg, Madison Lake — Fall Festival: Date TBD. 10:30 a.m. outdoor Mass followed by live music, beer garden, silent auction, games until 2 p.m. Dinner menu and cost TBD. maryschurches.com St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindstrom — St. Bridget’s Block Party: Sept. 1, 6–11 p.m. Turkey dinner, concessions, beer tent, children’s games, silent auction, live music and dance. 13060 Lake Blvd. stbridgetofsweden.org St. Bonaventure, Bloomington — St. Boni’s Fall Festival, Sept. 7-8, Sept. 7, 4:30–7 p.m. hot broasted chicken dinner. Sept. 8, 10 a.m. parade followed by free entertainment all day, food including premier pork chops and State Fair Pronto Pups. Other activities include children’s games and rides, bingo, raffles, craft booth, plenty of beverages and a car show with over 200 cars. 901 E. 90th St. www.saintbonvaventure.org
Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine — Fall Festival: Sept. 8, 2–11 p.m. Chicken dinner, raffle, food, children’s games, live music with the Ernie Stumpf Band and The Shaw Brothers. 200 E. Church St. ourladyoftheprairie.com St. Jude of the Lake, Mahtomedi — Cornfest: Sept. 8, 3–10 p.m. 7 p.m. headliner band Louie’s Groove, sweet corn, food tent, bingo, brown bag auctions, bake sale, raffles, inflatables, adult and children’s games, Gaga Ball Pit. 700 Mahtomedi Ave. stjudeofthelake.org Transfiguration, Oakdale — Fall Festival: Sept. 8. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. 10 a.m. family friendly 5K walk/run, live music, bingo, cake walk, beer garden, games, food, market, inflatables. Spaghetti dinner $6 adults, $4 children, free 4 and under, $30 households. 6133 15th St. N. transfigurationmn.org Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — Fall Fun Fest: Sept. 8-9. Sept. 8: 5–11 p.m. with pulled pork dinner. Sept. 9: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. with chicken dinner. Both days: live music, food concessions, bingo, beer tent, children and adult games, silent auction. 4087 W. Broadway Ave. shrmn.org
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — Septemberfest: Sept. 7-9. 6–10 p.m. Sept. 7; 5–10 p.m. Sept. 8; Live entertainment, games, food and raffles. 9:30 a.m. polka Mass followed by a ticketed dinner Sept. 9. 1621 University Ave. NE. ourholycross.org
St. Mary, Waverly — Fall Festival: Sept. 8-9. 4–10 p.m. Sept. 8; 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sept. 9. Sept. 8: 4 p.m. polka Mass, pork chop dinner, Rob Cerar polka band. Sept. 9: 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Mass, brunch, food tent. Both days: raffles, booths. stmaryswaverly.net
Holy Family Maronite, Mendota Heights — Fall Festival and 100th Anniversary: Sept. 7-9. Sept. 7: 5–6:30 p.m. buffet, 6:30–10 p.m. bingo. Sept. 8: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. craft and bake sale, 4–5 p.m. Liturgy, 5–8 p.m. Messa Plate Evening: Lebanese cuisine, coffee, desserts, games, music. Sept. 9: 10–11 a.m. Liturgy, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Fall Festival with Lebanese sandwiches, kebobs, desserts, beverages, games for all ages, silent auction, raffle drawing, music. 1960 Lexington Ave. S. holyfamilymaronitechurch.org
St. Michael, St. Michael — Fall Festival: Sept. 8-9. Sept. 8, 5 p.m. dinner in big-top tent. Sept. 9: 11 a.m. chicken dinner, raffles, games, silent auction, bingo, children’s inflatables, toy store. 11300 Frankfort Parkway NE. stmcatholicchurch.or
St. Gabriel, Hopkins — Fall Festival, Sept. 7-9. Sept. 7, 5–10 p.m. at St. John’s campus, 6 Interlachen Road: concessions, Hispanic food, children’s games, inflatables, live music. Sept. 8, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. at St. John’s campus: garage sale, concessions, Hispanic food, children’s games, inflatables, live music, 4:30 p.m. Mass. Sept. 9, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. at St. Joseph campus, 1310 Mainstreet: 10:30 a.m. Mass, chicken dinner, bingo, silent auction, games, country store, bake shop, concessions, raffle, wine and beer garden with football game on big screen at noon. stgabrielhopkins.org
St. Odilia, Shoreview — Fall Festival: Sept. 8-9. Games, food, quilt raffle, silent auction, live music all weekend. Sept. 8: 3–10 p.m. farmers market, book sales, games, live auction 6 p.m. Sept. 9: noon–4 p.m. bingo, 5 p.m. Mass with Festival Choir. Additional Masses 9 and 11 a.m. 3459 Victoria St. N. stodilia.org
St. Patrick, Oak Grove — CountryFest: Sept. 7-9. Sept. 7: 8–11 p.m. youth block party. Sept. 8: 5K, games, inflatables, food and drinks, pull tabs, barbecue RibFest contest, live band, fireworks. Sept. 9: classic car show, food and drinks, games, quilt auction, silent auction, raffle drawing. 19921 Nightingale St. NW. st-patricks.org/about/countryfest St. Timothy, Blaine — Fall Carnival: Sept. 7-9. Raffle, food, children’s games, carnival rides, bingo, silent auction, live music. churchofsttimothy.com St. Mary, Stillwater — German Fest and Wild Rice Festival: Sept. 7 and 9. Sept. 7: 5–10 p.m. German Fest with live polka music, dancing, German food and beer, hammer schlagen. Sept. 9: 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
St. Nicholas, Carver — Fall Festival: Sept. 8-9. Food, beer garden, bingo, games and silent auction each day. Sept. 8: Steamer 5K race. Sept. 9: pancake and French toast breakfast. 412 Fourth St. W. stnicholascarver.org
Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Sept. 9 following 9:30 a.m. Mass. Food and games for all ages. Additional Masses 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. mary.org St. Maximilian Kolbe, Delano — Harvest Festival: Sept. 9, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. $5 raffle for cash prizes, children’s games, inflatables, bingo, cake walk, wine wheel, country store, silent auction, DJ, burgers, brats, hot dogs, ice cream, cheese curds, popcorn, beer, wine, soda and water. Turkey dinner: $10 12 and older, $5 children 5-11, free 4 and under. Includes turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, corn, roll, homemade bars, coffee, milk and water in the cafeteria. Held at St. Peter Church, Delano, 217 S. Second St. delanocatholic.com St. Stanislaus, St. Paul — Fall Festival: Sept. 9, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Bingo, wheel of fortune, mini golf, Miss Ringy Dingy the clown, children’s store, games, live music, beer, hot dogs, slide, white elephant garage sale, variety booth, silent auction, jar bar, bakery, lottery tickets. Turkey dinner with all the
trimmings $10 adults, $4 12 and under. 398 Superior St. ststans.org St. Thomas Becket, Eagan — Fall Festival, Sept. 9, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., 11 a.m. Mass. Giant slide, petting zoo and dinner. 4455 S. Robert Trail. stbeagan.org St. Canice, Kilkenny — Fall Festival: Sept. 10, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Games, live music, country store, jar bar, crafts, bingo, raffle. 10 a.m. Mass, chicken and ham dinner $12 adults, $5 ages 5-12, free 4 and under. 183 Maple St. St. Bartholomew, Wayzata — The Gathering: Sept. 14, 5–10 p.m. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sides, mini doughnuts, children’s games and prizes, inflatables, music, beer and wine. 630 E. Wayzata Blvd. st-bartsschool.org Annunciation, Minneapolis — September Fest: Sept. 14-16. 6–9 p.m. Sept.14; noon–9 p.m. Sept. 15; 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sept. 16. Pie and ice cream shop, Candyland, food tent, wine booth, beer garden, carnival rides, games, whiffle ball tournament, raffle, silent auction. www.annunciationmsp.org/church All Saints, Lakeville — Fall Festival: Sept. 14-16. Sept. 14: Catered bingo. Sept. 15: Free community meal and talent show. Sept. 16: 9 a.m. outdoor Mass followed by food, children’s games, free teen games, scarecrow making, petting zoo, pony rides, collision crash course and raffle. allsaintschurch.com/festival Guardian Angels, Oakdale — Fall Festival: Sept. 14-16. Games, fun run/walk, dinners, raffles, book and craft sale, silent auction, bingo, inflatables, fireworks. 8260 Fourth St. N. guardian-angels.org Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul — Nativity County Fair: Sept. 14-16. 5–10 p.m. Sept. 14; 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. Sept. 15; noon –5 p.m. Sept. 16. Carnival rides, music, food, beverages, raffles, entertainment. Sept. 15: 5:30–11 p.m. auction dinner $50. Sept. 16: 10:30 a.m. outdoor Mass. 1900 Stanford Ave. nativitycountyfair.org St. Helena, Minneapolis — Autumn Days: Sept. 14-16: 6–10 p.m. Sept. 14; 10:30 a.m.– 10 p.m. Sept. 15; 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sept. 16. Food, cash and quilt bingo (50 handmade quilts), rides, games, silent auction, garage sale, book sale. Sept. 14: fish fry and 10 p.m. fireworks. Sept. 15: 10 a.m. parade, pig roast, Asian food. Sept. 16: car show. 3204 E. 43rd St. sainthelena.us St. Joseph, Rosemount — 150th Anniversary Celebration and Harvest Festival: Sept. 14-16. Sept.14 and 15: 6–10 p.m. beer, brats and sauerkraut, polka bands, bingo, crafters, general store, children’s games, raffles. Sept. 15: 5 p.m. 150th Anniversary Mass with Archbishop Bernard Hebda presiding, followed by chicken dinner. Sept. 16: Irish band, continental breakfast after each Mass, new timeline unveiling and DVD of parish history. 13900 Biscayne Ave. W. stjosephcommunity.org St. Rita, Cottage Grove — Fall Festival: Sept. 14-16. Sept. 14: flea market and farmers market. Sept. 15: 4K run/walk, pet costume contest, police dog demonstration, silent auction, 5 p.m. polka Mass followed by chicken dinner and bingo, children’s games, open talent competition, open photography competition. Sept. 16: food, big raffle, bucket raffle, meat raffle, wine raffle, silent auction, bingo. 8694 80th St. S. saintritas.org Holy Name of Jesus, Medina — Fall Fest: Sept. 15, 10 a.m. Turtle Trot, 4 p.m. Mass under the tent followed by wings, cheese curds, roasted corn, entertainment, all-school reunion, sweepstakes, bonfire, inflatables, games, prizes. 155 Country Road 24. hnoj.org/fallfest
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3A
April 26, 2017
St. Hubert, Chanhassen — Taste of St. Hubert Harvest Festival: Sept. 15, 4–10 p.m. 4 p.m. Mass followed by food trucks, beer, wine, live entertainment, children’s activities, bingo, raffle, ministry. 8201 Main St. sthubert.org/event-listings/ taste-of-st-hubert-harvest-festival St. Anne, Le Sueur — Applefest: Sept. 15-16. 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Sept. 15; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sept. 16. Silent auction, toy booth, holiday decor tent, farmers market, beer garden, children’s games. Sept. 15: hog roast and 5:15 p.m. outdoor Mass. Sept. 16: grilled chicken dinner. 511 N. Fourth St. stanneslesueur.org St. Patrick, Inver Grove Heights — St. Patrick Fall Festival: Sept. 15-16. 5–8 p.m. Sept. 15; 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sept. 16. Food, silent auction, bingo, pull tabs. Sept.15: $7 taco dinner. Sept.16: $10 pork dinner, $5 pasta dinner; children’s games, games of chance, beer tent, margaritas, pizza, crafts, car show, cash raffle. 3535 72nd St. E. churchofstpatrick.com St. Pius V, Cannon Falls — Hometown Market and Fall Festival: Sept. 15-16. Sept. 15: 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Hometown Market. 4 p.m. Mass, 5–7 p.m. $7 chili feed. Sept. 16: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Fall Festival: chicken dinner $11, $5 5 and under, live and silent auction, children’s games, concessions, raffle, bingo, country store. 410 Colvill St. W. stpiusvcf.org Immaculate Conception, Watertown — Fall Festival: Sept. 16, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Home-style turkey dinner $11 adults, $6 12 and under, $11 take-out. Concessions, silent auction, games, bingo, cash/quilt raffle, country store, polka band. 109 Angel Ave. NW. iccwatertown.org Sacred Heart, Rush City — Fall Festival: Sept. 16. Children’s games, booths, silent auction, broasted chicken dinner. 425 S. Frandsen Ave. (Note street name change). sacredheartrcmn.org St. Albert, Albertville — Fall Festival: Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Chicken dinner, live music, children’s games, inflatables, cake walk, country store, raffle, bingo, theme baskets, silent auction, split the pot, wall of wine. 11400 57th St. NE. churchofstalbert.org St. Jerome, Maplewood — Fall Festival, Booya and Car Show: Sept. 16, 10:30 a.m.– 5 p.m. Bingo, children’s games, cherry tree, talent tent, silent auction, cake walk, face painting, live music, car show. Booya carry-out prior to 10:30 a.m. outdoor tent Mass. Following Mass: booya by the bowl, brats, hot dogs, French fries, cheese curds, ice cream. 380 Roselawn Ave. E. stjerome-church.org St. Margaret Mary, Golden Valley — Fall Festival: Sept. 16, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 10 a.m. outdoor Mass, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. pork chop dinner, entertainment, food, games, silent auction, raffle. 2323 Zenith Ave. N. smm-gv.org St. Mary, St. Paul — Fiesta Dinner and Dance: Sept. 16, noon–3 p.m. Authentic Mexican dinner, $25 couple, $15 adult, $7 ages 6-12. 261 Eighth St. E. stmarystpaul.org St. Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake — Fall Festival: Sept. 16, 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Silent and live auction, boutique, bakery, general store, jewelry sale, games, raffles, bingo. Turkey dinner noon–2:30 p.m., $10 adults, $5 children. 4690 Bald Eagle Ave. stmarys-wbl.org St. Ambrose, Woodbury — SAWFEST: Sept. 21-22. 5:30–10 p.m. Sept. 21; 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 22. Live entertainment: 6–10 p.m. Sept. 21 with Buck Tucker; 6–10 p.m. Sept 22 with Dan Ristrom and the Throwdowns. Rides, games, food, live entertainment, silent auction, raffle. 4125 Woodbury Drive. saintambroseofwoodbury.org
Festival Guide Festival
4A • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
4A • The Catholic Spirit
Our Lady of the Lake, Mound — Incredible Festival: Sept. 21-23. 5–10 p.m. Sept. 21; 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sept. 22; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 23. Dave Waller band “Higher Call,” carnival, concessions, cash raffle silent auction. 2385 Commerce Blvd. incrediblefestival.com and ourladyofthelake.com
St. Peter, North St. Paul — Fall Festival and 130th Anniversary: Sept. 28-30. Sept. 28: 6–9 p.m. bingo. Sept. 29: 5–9 p.m. chicken dinner, silent auction, games, craft boutique, bake sale, concessions, raffles, and Dueling Guitars. Sept. 30: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Pancake Man, games, inflatables. 2600 N. Margaret St. churchofstpeternsp.org
October
Divine Mercy, Faribault — Spirit Fest: Sept. 22-23. Children’s games, raffles, beer garden, mariachi band, authentic Mexican food, outdoor entertainment. Open-pit grilled chicken and ham dinner, $12. 139 Mercy Drive. divinemercy.cc/spiritfest
Most Holy Redeemer, Montgomery — Fall Festival: Sept. 30, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. 10 a.m. polka Mass featuring The Wendinger Band. Home-style chicken and ham dinner (dine in or take out), $12 over 13, $5 age 5-12, free 4 and under. Farmers market, homemade quilts and crafts, silent auction, beer garden, bingo, raffle, children’s games, cake walk, homemade candy. Afternoon entertainment by The Czech Lites and The Wendinger Band. 206 W. Vine Ave. hredeemerparish.org
St. Thomas More, St. Paul — MoreFest: Oct. 6, noon–4 p.m. Carnival with food, games, beer, cornhole tournament. 5:30–6:30 p.m. spaghetti dinner $5 person, $20 family. 1065 Summit Ave. morecommunity.org
Mary Queen of Peace, Rogers — Fall Festival: Sept. 23, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Bingo, children’s activities, food, farmers market, beer garden. 21304 Church Ave. mqpcatholic.org St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — Fall Festival: Sept. 23, 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. following 10:30 a.m. Mass. Sweepstakes with $1,500 first prize, food, beverages, raffle for theme baskets, pie room, bingo, craft fair, children’s games. Spaghetti dinner $9 large, $6 small. 1757 Conway St. stpascals.org St. Timothy, Maple Lake — Festival: Sept. 23, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. $10 chicken dinner, bingo, raffle, games, meat raffle, cake walk, children’s pedal pull, concessions. 8 Oak Ave. N. churchofsttimothy.org St. Alphonsus, Brooklyn Center — Fall Fest – A Celebration of Community and Culture: Sept. 28-30. Sept. 28: 5–10 p.m. entertainment, games for all ages, cultural food, evening Taizé prayer. Sept. 29: 2–10 p.m. Sept. 30: noon–3 p.m. with 11 a.m. multilingual-multicultural Mass. 7025 Halifax Ave N. stalsmn.org/fallfest St. John the Baptist, New Brighton — Fall Fest and Booya: Sept. 28-30. Inflatables for all ages, raffles, food, bingo, designer purse bingo, market fair, car show, polka Mass. Sept. 28: 5–10 p.m. pig roast, 7 p.m. The Good, The Bad and The Funky. Sept. 29: 2–10 p.m. with GB Leighton at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks. Sept. 30: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. booya. 835 Second Ave. NW. stjohnnb.com
Guardian Angels, Chaska — Guardian Angels Fall Festival: Sept. 29, 2–8 p.m. Concessions, music, dance, bingo, raffle. 215 W. Second St. gachaska.org Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Minneapolis — Walk with Our Lady Fall Festival: Sept. 30, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 10 a.m. Mass; 11:15 a.m. neighborhood Marian procession with rosary for the intercession and protection for Church and community; noon–3 p.m. spaghetti and meatball dinner $10 adults, $5 over 10, free 9 and under. Adult take-out available noon-3:30 p.m. Silent auction, root beer garden, ice cream sundae bar, children’s games, raffles, wine grab, live entertainment. 701 Fillmore St. NE. olmcmpls.org St. John the Baptist, Vermillion — Festival: Sept. 30, 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Food, children’s games, silent auction, bingo, pull tabs, pot of gold, beer garden, bake sale, raffle, live entertainment. Cafeteria-style meals featuring pork chop on a stick, sloppy joes, brats, hot dogs, pizza. 10 a.m. children’s Mass. 111 Main St. W. stjohns-vermillion.com
St. John the Evangelist, Little Canada — Fall Festival: Oct. 6, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beer and wine, margaritas, snack shack, children’s games, magician, music, drawings, wine toss, silent auction, fire truck. 380 Little Canada Road. stjohnoflc.org
St. Peter, Mendota — Fall Festival: Oct. 6-7. Oct. 6: 4 p.m. Mass followed by music and a pork dinner. Oct. 7: 10 a.m. Mass, 11 a.m. concessions, music, bingo, silent auction, children’s games, country store and raffle. 1405 Highway 13. stpetersmendota.org St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Oct. 7, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. bingo, bottle bonanza, coin toss, children’s games, pull tabs, wheel and special raffles, $1,000 cash grand prize raffle, bake sale, ethnic foods, 9:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy. 2201 NE Third St. stjohnsminneapolis.webs.com St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul — Booya and Fall Fiesta: Oct. 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Games, live music, food including booya, beef sandwiches, hot dogs, tacos, pazole, atole. 10 a.m. bilingual Mass. Highland Park Pavilion, 1200 Montreal Ave. sf-sj.org St. Mary, St. Paul — Fall Booya Festival: Oct. 7, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Raffle, games and silent auction. Booya $6 bowl, $15 quart. 261 Eighth St. E. stmarystpaul.org St. Patrick, Shieldsville — Fall Festival: Oct. 7, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 10 a.m. polka Mass with St. Wenceslaus Polka Music Group followed by pork dinner with all the trimmings, raffle, silent auction, bingo, meat raffle, beer garden, polka music, doughnuts, country store, sanctioned children’s
APRIL 26, 2018
April 26, 2017
pedal tractor pull, free children’s activities. Parking with shuttles, handicap accessible. 7525 Dodd Road, Faribault. spshieldsville.org Holy Name, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Oct. 14, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 9 a.m.–noon pancake breakfast, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Eat Street, beer garden, pull tabs, raffle, silent auction, bingo, children’s carnival games, art activities, prizes, live music. 3637 11th Ave. S. churchoftheholyname.org St. Agnes, St. Paul — Festival: Oct. 21, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Games, country store, beer garden, raffles, food including booya to eat in or take out: $6 for 16 oz. Masses at 6:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. 530 Lafond Ave. churchofsaintagnes.org Transfiguration, Oakdale — Taste of Transfiguration: Oct. 26. Cost is $35. Wine, beer, food tastings, music, silent auction. Free on-site child care with sign-up. 6133 15th St. transfigurationmn.org
November
St. Richard, Richfield — Fall Festival, Nov. 10-11. Nov. 10, 9 a.m -9 p.m. includes spaghetti dinner and bingo. Nov. 11, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. pancake breakfast. 7540 Penn Ave. S. strichards.com/fallfestival St. Leonard of Port Maurice, Minneapolis — Breakfast and Christmas Faire: Nov. 18, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. egg bake breakfast $9, silent auction, raffle, craft tables and bake sales. 10 a.m. Mass. 3953 Clinton Ave. S. stleonardmn.org
February St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — Winterfest: Feb. 9-10, 2019. 5-9 p.m. Feb. 9; 11 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Feb. 10. Feb. 9, 5 p.m. Mass followed by catered dinner, cash bar, silent auction, wine toss, raffle, music, live auction. Feb. 10, 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Mass followed by food, children’s games, pull tabs, wine toss, silent auction, cake walk, sweet tooth booth, bottle lotto, bingo, raffle. 3878 Highland Ave. churchofstpiusx.org/events
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April 26, 2018 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Handmaids leaving archdiocese for now
ENCUENTRO
After encountering roadblocks in renovating an anticipated convent in St. Paul, the New Ulm-based religious community has discerned to wait to establish a permanent presence in the Twin Cities. — Page 6B
Putting sports in rightful place With the help of former Viking Matt Birk, CSCOE launches initiative to help elementary schools promote students’ healthy relationship to sports competition. — Page 7B
Abuse victims welcome pope’s letter Victims of clergy sexual abuse accept Pope Francis’ letter in which he apologized for underestimating the seriousness of the crisis in Chile. — Page 8B
Humanity in focus New York-born Catholic filmmaker reflects on documentaries’ efforts to connect people’s joy and suffering with timeless truths. — Pages 10B-11B
St. Matt’s fire Parishioners of St. Paul parish recall the day they watched their church burn down 50 years ago. — Page 12B
At regional gathering, Latino Catholics consider needs in local Church and their role in meeting them — Page 5B DIANNE TOWALSKI | THE VISITOR
Pedro Narez from St. Gabriel in Hopkins prays April 13 during the regional Encuentro at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was represented by 94 people from eight parishes, the Office of Latino Ministry, NET Ministries and the University of St. Thomas. “It’s very important to come together,” said Estela Villagran Manancero, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Latino Ministry and a longtime Latino ministry leader both locally and nationally. “There is spirit when we are together, when we are sharing. There is a sense of community and a sense of ‘We are not alone.’”
Catholic, other groups voice misgivings over 2018 farm bill By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
Boy asks pope if his father is in heaven Pope Francis shares emotional moment with a child during Q&A in outskirts of Rome. — Page 14B
Holy happy hour Catholic Beer Club building community among Catholic millennials, one pint at a time. — Page 20B
With the 2018 version of the farm bill having been voted out of committee for consideration by the full House, Catholic groups and other rural advocates are voicing their misgivings about many of its provisions. Conservation programs that reward farmers and ranchers were zeroed out of the bill passed April 18 by the House Agriculture Committee. “Safety net” programs were boosted only marginally to aid farmers who have been getting dwindling prices for their crops and who could be the first victims of a trade war as
tariffs are imposed on their produce. Another part of the bill rewrites the eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, or SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, which could kick out 2 million Americans from the program, according to six Catholic leaders. “Eighty percent of the farm bill is around the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It’s significant when we hear it’s going to include some dramatic cuts,” said James Ennis, executive director of Catholic Rural Life, based in St. Paul. PLEASE TURN TO FARM BILL ON PAGE 9B
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2B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
PAGETWO
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To make the sign of the cross when we wake up, before eating, when facing danger, to defend against evil and at night before going to sleep means telling ourselves and others who we belong to, who we want to become. Pope Francis, speaking April 18 at his weekly general audience at the Vatican, where he focused on baptism, the significance of naming a child and the personal vocation that baptism “ignites” in each individual. He urged parents and grandparents to teach their children to make the sign of the cross well.
NEWS notes
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BOB CUNNINGHAM | FOR THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APPLIED SCIENCE Sixth-grader Kate Celichowski of Holy Spirit Catholic School in St. Paul shows her project on mosquito population control at the Big Bang Catholic STEM Fair April 21 at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria. The Catholic Schools Center of Excellence hosted the inaugural event to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics education in Catholic schools. The event included 155 students in grades 3-8 from 36 Catholic schools. Celichowski was one of seven Holy Spirit students who participated.
The number of students who participated in the Regional Religion Bee at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School in Hastings April 19. The winner was sixth-grader Nathan Ward of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Brooklyn Park. He answered correctly the final three questions: What is the next holy day of obligation? (Feast of the Assumption, Aug. 15); What is the Sunday after Easter called? (Divine Mercy Sunday); and, Who is St. Benedict’s twin sister? (St. Scholastica). SEAS middle school religion teacher Kathy Gleich wrote all of the questions for the bee and organized the event. Sixth- to eighth-grade students from 12 Catholic schools participated. “It grew exponentially this year,” she said. “It was our second year, and we busted [at] the seams this year. ... Our ultimate goal is to have an archdiocesan-wide religion bee.”
100
The number of days Blessed Trinity Catholic School in Richfield is fundraising for a Pay it Forward Challenge, with the goal of raising $100,000 for its annual fund. The challenge kicked off April 12 with a $40,000 challenge grant from the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence. The school will receive the grant when it raises $40,000 from at least 40 new donors.
22
The number of inches of snow that fell in Maple Grove, the most received in the metro area during the April 13-15 blizzard. Some parishes canceled liturgies for the sake of parishioners’ safety, while others went to great lengths to ensure church grounds were ready for Sunday morning Mass. Paul Blume from Fox 9 News interviewed Mary Asp, parish administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis, who had stayed overnight April 14 at the parish to ensure it was ready for Mass and a new parishioner welcome event. Conveniently, the parish offices include guest rooms for traveling priests, giving Asp a comfortable place to stay. She said that Catholics expect to go to Mass on Sundays, and many of Lourdes’ parishioners walk to Mass. “So, making sure our steps were clear and our walkways were clear of snow was hugely important,” she told The Catholic Spirit, noting a team of volunteers cleared the snow before 8:30 a.m. Mass April 15. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
UNDER CONSTRUCTION Sister Mary Samuel Handwerker of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, center, takes a tour April 19 of the convent renovation project at St. Agnes in St. Paul, where four sisters in the order will be living when they arrive in August to teach at St. Agnes School. The tour was led by Dana Kelly, left, of McGough Construction. Also on the tour were Loren Wille, second from left, of McGough; Kevin Ferdinandt, headmaster of St. Agnes School; and Larry McGough, former CEO and one of McGough’s founders.
ONLINE exclusives Former first lady Barbara Bush, who died April 17 at age 92, is remembered as a woman of “tact and diplomacy.” She once visited a Catholic school in Washington, reading a book to the children and answering their questions. She even offered advice to a student who had a conflict with her older sister. A Catholic reporter who covered her on several occasions remarked, “Her kindness was genuine and not just something hustled out to craft a public image.” A Catholic woman from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who died April 17 on a Southwest Airlines flight was described as “an incredible woman who put her family and community first.” Jennifer Riordan, 43, died from injuries she suffered when one of the plane’s engines broke apart and burst into the cabin through a window. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Annunciation in Albuquerque and mother of two children at Annunciation School. Read the stories at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 23 — No. 8 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor
13
The number of years Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan has been rector of the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity. He was honored at the Rector’s Council Dinner April 18. The annual event acknowledges outgoing board members. Msgr. Callaghan got a surprise when Irish singer Dana Rosemary Scallon, who wrote his favorite song, “Lady of Knock,” sang it for him. (Visit The Catholic Spirit’s Facebook page to watch a video of Msgr. Callaghan and seminarians singing the song at the event.) Msgr. Callaghan is retiring from his post as rector in June, but will continue to serve the seminary in a supporting role as the seminary searches for a new rector after the departure of Msgr. Thomas Richter, who was called back to his home diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota, to serve in a parish.
150
The number of years since St. Louis King of France in St. Paul was founded. The parish is hosting a concert 4 p.m. April 29 to celebrate the anniversary. The concert is dedicated to philanthropist John Nasseff, a benefactor of the parish who died Feb. 21 at age 93. It is also commemorating the 20th anniversary of the installation of the Laura L’Allier and Raymond Houle Memorial organ. L’Allier and Houle are the parents of Helene Houle, Nasseff’s wife, who made the gift for the purchase of the organ. The parish’s semi-professional choir, organists Brian Carson and Benjamin Kerswell, and guest harpist Jann Stein will perform works ranging from medieval chant to modern pieces, including works by Edward Elgar and John Rutter.
Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by The Catholic Spirit Newspaper. Subscriptions: $29.95 per year: Senior 1-year: $24.95: To subscribe: (651) 291-4444: Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444; Classified Advertising: (651) 290-1631. Published semi-monthly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857 • (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857. TheCatholicSpirit.com • email: tcssubscriptions@archspm.org • USPS #093-580
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3B
FROMTHEARCHBISHOP ONLY JESUS | ARCHBISHOP BERNARD HEBDA
Gathering the ‘lost sheep’ “I bet you can’t wait until the archdiocesan bankruptcy is behind us — it must be such a distraction from the important work of the Church.” I would be a wealthy man if I had a dollar for each time I have heard these sentiments expressed since I arrived in the Twin Cities. I indeed pray for the day when the bankruptcy is settled and hope that you will do the same. I have come to recognize, however, that far from being a distraction from the “work of the Church,” our response to the more than 400 claimants in our bankruptcy, alleging abuse and betrayal stretching back more than 70 years, has to be at the very heart of who we are and what we do as we seek to be faithful to the mission that Christ has entrusted to his Church. We can’t be a Church that preaches fairness and compassion if we are not willing to put those virtues into practice, especially in responding to the needs of those who were harmed by men and women representing our Church. While the archdiocese had filed for bankruptcy precisely to avoid being in an adversarial relationship with victims/survivors, the formalities of our legal system at times sadly impede the archdiocese’s abilities to reach out pastorally and directly to individuals who have been harmed. I have benefited from personal meetings with survivors and anticipate that such encounters will likely increase once the bankruptcy is resolved. Of course until then, even a pastoral encounter has to be run by legal counsel. In these circumstances, I am particularly grateful that others in our Catholic community and in the broader community have stepped into the breach to carry on the work of dialogue and outreach that by God’s grace could lead to healing. I was delighted, for example, to read in The Catholic Spirit of both the monthly Twin Cities Peace Circle led by Dr. Jim Richter and the weekly support group led by counselor Deb Riba.
Reuniendo a las ‘ovejas erdidas’
“A
puesto a que no pueden esperar hasta que la bancarrota arquidiocesana haya quedado atrás, es posible es una distracción del importante trabajo de la Iglesia”. Sería un hombre rico si tuviera un dólar por cada vez que he escuchado estos sentimientos expresados desde que llegué a las Ciudades Gemelas. De hecho, rezo por el día en que se resuelva la quiebra y espero que usted haga lo mismo. Sin embargo, he llegado a reconocer que, lejos de ser una distracción del “trabajo de la Iglesia”, nuestra respuesta a los más de 400 demandantes en nuestra bancarrota, que alegan abuso y traición que se remonta a más de 70 años, tiene que ser a el mismo corazón de lo que somos y lo que hacemos cuando buscamos ser fieles a la misión que Cristo confió a su Iglesia. No podemos ser una Iglesia que predica la imparcialidad y la compasión si no estamos dispuestos a poner en práctica esas virtudes, especialmente al responder a las necesidades de aquellos que fueron perjudicados por hombres y mujeres que representan a nuestra Iglesia. Si bien la Arquidiócesis se declaró en bancarrota precisamente para evitar tener una relación de adversidad con las víctimas/sobrevivientes, las formalidades
Moreover, I am particularly grateful that three of our parishes are independently exploring avenues for restorative justice and healing as part of a pilot project under the direction of Mark Umbreit, director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota. An internationally recognized expert in this field, Dr. Umbreit has been working locally with a number of survivors of sexual abuse, as well as with our pastors and lay leaders, to explore ways in which restorative justice efforts that have proven to be successful in other states could be tailored and adapted to our local experience. I was happy to learn that, as part of that effort, Justice Janine Geske will be offering two informational presentations this weekend on “Restorative Justice and Healing Circles in the Wake of the Clergy Sex Abuse Scandal.” A retired justice of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin now serving at the Marquette University Law School, Dr. Geske has effectively led conversations on this topic at the Vatican and around the globe. The first conversation will take place 1–3 p.m. Sunday, April 29, at St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove, and the second will take place on that same date from 4–6 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis. Both sessions are open to the public. I hear anecdotally that many of those who have been harmed by individuals representing the Church have since found great support from our pastors and pastoral ministers, and have found hope and healing in the Church’s sacraments. For others, the relationship with the Church is much more difficult, and understandably so. This past Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, we were reminded that the Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. Rather than scattering them, he gathers them into one flock. Elsewhere in the Gospels, we learn that he is even willing to leave the 99 to seek out the one sheep who has wandered. While we most often think of the “lost sheep” as one who has chosen through sin to leave the fold, our current situation sadly reminds us
de nuestro sistema legal a veces dificultan las habilidades de la Arquidiócesis para llegar pastoral y directamente a las personas que han sido perjudicadas. Si bien la Arquidiócesis se declaró en bancarrota precisamente para evitar tener una relación de adversidad con las víctimas/sobrevivientes, las formalidades de nuestro sistema legal a veces dificultan las habilidades de la Arquidiócesis para presentar en manera de pastoral y directamente a las personas que han sido perjudicadas. En estas circunstancias, estoy particularmente agradecido de que otros en nuestra comunidad católica y en la comunidad en general hayan intervenido en la brecha para continuar el trabajo de diálogo y alcance que por la gracia de Dios podría llevar a la curación. Estuve encantada, por ejemplo, al leer El espíritu católico tanto del Círculo de Paz Twin City mensual dirigido por el Dr. Jim Richter como del grupo de apoyo semanal dirigido por la consejera Deb Riba. Además, estoy particularmente agradecido de que tres de nuestras parroquias exploren de manera independiente vías para la justicia restaurativa y la curación como parte de un proyecto piloto bajo la dirección del Mark Umbreit, director del Centro para la Justicia Restaurativa y la Construcción de Paz en la Universidad de Minnesota. Umbreit ha estado trabajando localmente con una serie de sobrevivientes de abuso sexual, así como con nuestros pastores y líderes laicos, para explorar formas en
PUBLIC DOMAIN
“The Good Shepherd” by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. Ca. 1660.
that there are some sheep who find themselves separated from the fold through no fault of their own, but rather as a result of the sins of others. As a faith community, we can never give up on our efforts to search for these sheep, to be present to those sheep and to invite them once again to an experience of the authentic love of Christ the Good Shepherd. In his famous painting of Christ the Good Shepherd, the 17th-century Spanish painter Bartolomé Murillo situates the Christ child and the recovered lamb in the midst of ancient ruins, perhaps reminding us that the search for the separated sheep requires a willingness to venture into the brokenness of the world. May our encounters with the Risen Christ this Easter season give us the conviction and courage that we need to be his instruments in bringing hope and healing into even the most challenging of circumstances.
que los esfuerzos de justicia restaurativa que han demostrado ser exitosos en otros los estados se pueden adaptar y adaptar a nuestra experiencia local. Me alegró saber que, como parte de ese esfuerzo, la Jueza Janine Geske ofrecerá dos presentaciones informativas este fin de semana sobre “Justicia Restaurativa y Círculos Curativos en el Escándalo del Abuso Sexual del Clero”. Un juez jubilado de la Corte Suprema de Wisconsin ahora Sirviendo en la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Marquette, el Dr. Geske ha liderado eficazmente las conversaciones sobre este tema en el Vaticano y en todo el mundo. La primera conversación tendrá lugar el domingo 29 de abril de 1 a 3 en la Parroquia de San José Trabajador en Maple Grove y la segunda se llevará a cabo en la misma fecha de 4 a 6 en Nuestra Parroquia de Lady of Lourdes en Minneapolis. Ambas sesiones están abiertas al público. Oigo anecdóticamente que muchos de los que han sido perjudicados por individuos que representan a la Iglesia han encontrado desde entonces un gran apoyo de nuestros pastores y ministros pastorales, y han encontrado esperanza y sanidad en los sacramentos de la Iglesia. Para otros, la relación con la Iglesia es mucho más difícil y comprensible. El domingo pasado, domingo del Buen Pastor, se nos recordó que el Buen Pastor da su vida por sus ovejas. Aunque a menudo pensamos en la “oveja perdida” como alguien que ha elegido abandonar el redil a través del pecado, nuestra
situación actual tristemente nos recuerda que hay algunas ovejas que se encuentran separadas del redil por causas ajenas a ellas, sino más bien como resultado de los pecados de otros. Como comunidad de fe, nunca podemos darnos por vencidos en nuestros esfuerzos por buscar estas ovejas, estar presentes ante esas ovejas e invitarlas una vez más a una experiencia del amor auténtico de Cristo, el Buen Pastor. Lea una versión más larga de esta columna en español en TheCatholicSpirit.com.
OFFICIAL Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:
Effective April 12, 2018 Reverend John Meyer, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Ignatius in Annandale. This is in addition to his current assignment as pastor of the Church of Saint Timothy in Maple Lake.
Effective April 16, 2018 Deacon Michael Martin, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the parish cluster of the Church of Saint Joseph in Taylors Falls and the Church of Saint Francis Xavier in Franconia. This is a transfer from his previous assignment at the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood.
4B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
LOCAL
SLICEof LIFE
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Savory Sundays
From left, Gloria Reyes, Rita Monsour and Jackie Gubash-Mueller plate food during the Lebanese dinner at Holy Family Maronite Church in Mendota Heights April 15. The annual event features authentic, homemade Lebanese food such as kibbeh, beans lubya and Lebanese chicken. St. Maron in Minneapolis also hosted a Lebanese dinner, Taste of Lebanon, the following Sunday, April 22. A friendly food competition has developed between the two churches, the only Maronite Rite Catholic parishes in the Twin Cities. Members of St. Maron, including pastor Chorbishop Sharbel Maroun, attended Holy Family’s dinner, and Holy Family parishioners attended St. Maron’s dinner.
LOCAL
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5B
Regional V Encuentro affirms archdiocesan pastoral priorities By Kristi Anderson For The Catholic Spirit The contagious energy of the 200-plus people who gathered in Alexandria April 13 and 14 for the regional V Encuentro stirred the heart of Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who attended the event. “I’m so impressed with the spirit of the people here and their enthusiasm, especially for ‘going out.’ … To see the enthusiasm and their fire for that is so encouraging,” Bishop Cozzens said of the participants’ interest in evangelization. The V Encuentro (“Fifth Encounter”) is an initiative of the U.S. bishops, calling Catholic leaders to “listen with profound attention to the needs, challenges and aspirations that the growing Hispanic/Latino population faces in daily life.” And it seeks to prepare Catholics “to better recognize, embrace and promote the many gifts and talents that the Hispanic community shares in the life and mission of the Church.” The regional V Encuentro was the next step in the process, following on the heels of the archdiocesan V Encuentro, held last August, and is a precursor to the national V Encuentro planned for September in Grapevine, Texas. The April event in Alexandria included people from across the U.S. Catholic Church’s Region VIII, which covers all of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Participants at the regional Encuentro discussed seven areas of pastoral concern: • l eadership development and pastoral training; • families; • youths and young adults; • evangelization and mission; • faith formation and catechesis; • liturgy and spirituality; and • immigration. Bishop Cozzens said several of these areas overlap with what he heard at the archdiocesan Encuentro and what he views as priorities of the archdiocese. “We want to focus on several things based on our own diocesan Encuentro,” he said. “One is strengthening families. We are really trying to develop programs in our parishes, where, once people come back to the Church, we can strengthen their marriages, and in turn, families. “The second is our young people,” he said. “A lot of times the adults don’t know how the culture is affecting the young people. They are living in two different cultures because the parents are living in the Hispanic/Latino culture, and the young people are living in our American culture. It can affect their faith in dramatic ways. So, really finding ways to strengthen families so that we can strengthen our young people is an important goal for us. “The third is evangelization,” he
FATHER EUGENE BROWN | FOR THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
DIANNE TOWALSKI | THE VISITOR
Bishop Andrew Cozzens speaks to participants April 14 during the Region VIII Encuentro at Arrowwood Resort and Conference Center in Alexandria. added. “The Encuentro process has taught us the beauty of what happens when people go out. Everyone who was part of the process was invited to go out and evangelize. That strengthens their faith and then strengthens the faith of others. So, our goal is to keep finding ways to encourage this process of evangelization.” Attendees at the regional gathering heard from bishops and other representatives who presented plenary sessions, as well as testimonies from leaders. Bishop Cozzens shared the Gospel story about Jesus meeting two disciples after the Resurrection on the road to Emmaus. “In this Gospel story, we hear what happens when you have a true meeting with Jesus. It changes us. When we meet Jesus, our hearts, our vision, our lives change,” said Bishop Cozzens, who spoke in Spanish; an interpreter translated his words into English. “We convert ourselves into missionary disciples in which we understand that after this gathering, we have to go out and share what we know. This is always the message from the Bible.” He encouraged people to get out of their comfort zones. “Sending out missionary disciples is not just changing the lives of others. It is changing our own lives, the lives of our fellow parishioners and also the lives of the people we meet,” he said. “When we have these types of experiences, we feel that Christ is with us, and these moments are so important because we can experience exactly what the disciples experienced. We can be, in these important moments, prophets of hope that the world desperately needs.” The event included time for small and large group sharing. Together, the groups identified multiple strategies that could address these concerns in what they called a regional working document. Information gathered at the April conference will be passed on for use at the national V Encuentro. Encuentro participant Sandra Vargas attends St. Gabriel in
Hopkins with her husband and four children. She volunteers as a catechist, sings in the choir and is also a lector. Her family previously attended an English-speaking church but moved to St. Gabriel because they wanted their children to attend Spanish-language programs. Now the whole family has become involved in the community. Since the V Encuentro process began, Vargas has seen changes in the way they do catechesis in the parish. “We integrate the whole family,” she said. “We separate by ages, and we teach the youth and the children and the adults. We have found that this also provides a good way to talk about faith at home.” Vargas said participating in the regional Encuentro helped her to realize there is more work to be done. “After this experience, I feel more humble. I want to be more patient, communicate, talk and be a good listener,” she said. “Being here with my husband, I realize we have something more to share with others, whether that is going outside of our community or even helping our friends. “I think we have had an ‘encounter’ with each other and with God. We see we can become stronger in our faith. Being with God is not easy … but when we follow him, we find that there is nothing better than being in love with him.” The event included music and dance, a procession with the regional V Encuentro cross representing all 10 dioceses of the region, a talent show with cultural flair, a Holy Hour and Mass. A commissioning ceremony for all the delegates traveling to the national V Encuentro concluded the celebration. “This is not the end,” Bishop Cozzens said. “We are still just beginning. Let us all be thinking about what God is telling us so that we can reach the goal of being true missionary disciples.”
Joan McGrath, a parishioner of St. Pius X in White Bear Lake, introduces the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women’s 2018 lay volunteer award winners April 21 at the organization’s annual convention, held this year at St. Michael in Stillwater. The two-day event included speakers, meals, entertainment and Mass celebrated by Bishop Andrew Cozzens. Read about the award winners at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
in BRIEF SPO founder honored with Relevant Radio’s ‘Christ Brings Hope Award’ BLOOMINGTON — St. Paul’s Outreach president and founder Gordy DeMarais received Relevant Radio 1330’s 2018 Christ Brings Hope Award for his work to foster evangelization on college campuses. He received the honor April 20 at Relevant Radio’s annual Christ Brings Hope benefit banquet at the JW Marriott at the Mall of America. A parishioner of St. Louis King of France in St. Paul, DeMarais founded SPO 33 years ago. The Inver Grove Heights-based organization has mission centers in eight states.
Local Catholic scouting leader receives national honor PLYMOUTH — The National Catholic Committee on Scouting granted its Brother Barnabas Founder’s Award April 19 to William Davies, chairman of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Catholic Committee on Scouting. Named for a Brother of Christian Schools who founded in New York one of the nation’s earliest Catholic scouting troops, the award recognizes “long and meritorious service that has significantly affected the course of Catholic Scouting.” A parishioner of St. Gabriel in Hopkins, Davies was recognized for 25 years of service to scouting, which has included membership on the national executive board. Edward Martin, a past NCCS chairman, read a citation announcing the award at the organization’s annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza hotel. He said, “[Davies’] passion for promoting the opportunity of Catholic scouting and dedication to building relationships both inside and outside of the NCCS have directly and positively affected the organization’s reputation and well-being for a quarter century.”
Winona seminary grants Archbishop Hebda annual award WINONA — Archbishop Bernard Hebda received the 2018 Immaculate Heart of Mary Award April 22 from the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary at its 15th annual Bishops and Rector Dinner at the St. Mary’s University of Minnesota campus. IHM Seminary is the college seminary of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. It was established in 1948 under Bishop Leo Binz, who was then coadjutor bishop of Winona and later became archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis. IHM Seminary is celebrating its 70th anniversary.
6B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LOCAL
APRIL 26, 2018
Handmaids halt plans to serve and live in archdiocese By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit A series of delays and red tape in trying to convert a 1922 St. Paul building into a convent has led the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus to pause their establishment in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “As much as we were so sad about it, we’ve come to follow the Lord, and we know that his ways are actually better than our ways,” said Mother Mary Clare Roufs, who formed the order in 2007 with three other women. “So, there’s a real peace, even though there’s a sadness, but also hope, insofar as we hope to be back soon.” The New Ulm-based order announced last May their plans for a convent that would house four sisters to primarily serve at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. A few months later, they began transforming a former chancery building next to the Cathedral that served as the longtime offices of The Catholic Spirit. But coming up on a year of work with no real progress, the sisters saw the obstacles as a sign from God that the timing isn’t right. Mother Mary Clare said the sisters had completed significant work with help from many volunteers and professionals: They removed all carpeting and restored hardwood floors; scraped, patched and painted walls; refinished window sills and installed donated wooden blinds; installed new lights and ceiling fans; installed tile in a kitchenette; removed wires; and cleaned the attic, which they had hoped to use for bedrooms. “Truth be told, everything we do, we do for God, and we know that God will use it, and hopefully it will be for the good of the Church,” Mother Mary Clare said of the work. “It was a labor of love, and hopefully it won’t go wasted.” They hadn’t yet received a construction permit from the City of St. Paul to proceed with larger renovation
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
From left, Sisters Mary Elizabeth Plante and Magdalena Marie Marschall, and Mother Mary Clare Roufs of the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus in New Ulm take a break from doing work at what was to be the sisters’ convent in St. Paul July 31, 2017.
plans. Mother Mary Clare noted the difficulty in trying to transform the former office building into a residence, citing city codes, high costs and a complicated process. They had hoped to complete the work by this summer. Father John Ubel, Cathedral rector, announced the change in the parish’s April 22 bulletin. He later told The Catholic Spirit that the Cathedral Heritage Foundation didn’t purchase the building for an intended use, so when the opportunity arose to try to convert it into a convent, they faced a lot of city rules, given its location in the historic Cathedral Hill district. “It’s hard to do construction when you’re trying to get permissions and figure out buildings with huge, thick walls that aren’t easily renovated,” he said. “These things are very time consuming and expensive to renovate when they’re not built as living quarters.” Father Ubel said there are no immediate plans for the building, but stakeholders will meet to discuss
possibilities. The Cathedral Heritage Foundation, which purchased the property in July 2016 after the archdiocese listed it for sale as a result of its bankruptcy, is a nonprofit that provides support for and education about the restoration and preservation of the Cathedral and its campus. Despite the challenges, Father Ubel said the parish is “most appreciative” of the sisters’ spirit and ministry. “It’s great to see a young and growing community, and my hope is that they will end up serving in many dioceses in the future,” he added. In addition to working on construction projects, the sisters were serving at the Cathedral and the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota campus, and working with the archdiocesan Office of Vocations at events and at Bethany House, a discernment house for women in northeast Minneapolis. They had been living at a former convent at St. Michael in West St. Paul. Mother Mary Clare said ultimately, the roadblocks were delaying their apostolic work. The Handmaids now have plans to expand to another Minnesota diocese, which will have accommodations and work available immediately. The sisters who were going to serve in the archdiocese will move to the other diocese, which plans to make a formal announcement in the coming weeks. With strong ties to the archdiocese, Mother Mary Clare said the community is laying the foundation now and will likely open a house here in a few years. Many of the sisters are from the Twin Cities. The community has 21 sisters, including seven postulants, five novices, five who have made simple vows and four who have made perpetual vows. “Although it’s kind of sorrowful, there’s actually a lot of hope in our heart, because we trust that the Lord is actually doing something beautiful here,” Mother Mary Clare said. “It’s not a leaving; it’s just a delay in trying to find a place that is really going to be the best place for us, even though we thought this was it.”
On Earth Day, St. Joan of Arc celebrates zero waste efforts By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit A group of St. Joan of Arc parishioners in Minneapolis is seeking to make trash bags lose weight. They shared their success story on Earth Day April 22 with a video about how they helped the parish’s annual cabaret net only 38 pounds of garbage last fall. They hope their efforts attract interest and are helpful beyond the parish. “My interest in doing it was to make it a ... training thing for other people who could see what we do and know that it’s accessible to them,” said Jeff Grosscup, a Zero Waste committee member and leader in making the video. Part of the EcoSpirits environmental justice group at St. Joan of Arc, Zero Waste group members worked with the parish’s October cabaret committee to provide renewable resources for the three-night fundraising event, which draws up to 1,600 people. Zero Waste volunteers also assisted at the cabaret to help ensure objects such as compostable plates would be disposed of in the proper bin instead of a garbage can. Grosscup said the group aims for no waste, but it still typically gets 2 to 3 percent. That 38 pounds of garbage from the 2017 cabaret comprised 3 percent of the material Zero Waste processed, Grosscup said. Renewable resources at the event included compostable plates, utensils, cups and napkins. The meal was served family style to cut down on wasted food
and the number of serving dishes. The parish also used tablecloths that could be washed, and the table centerpieces came from flattened maple leafs with a water soluble paste covering. Grosscup credits St. Joan of Arc’s success to the availability of commercial composting in Minneapolis. He acknowledged that the process wouldn’t work as easily in communities without similar composting services. He has been working with Excelsior United Methodist Church in Excelsior on its process. By making a video of St. Joan of Arc’s efforts, Grosscup hopes the parish will inspire other groups and individuals. It’s available on YouTube. The St. Joan of Arc Cabaret began 25 years ago, and Zero Waste has been helping it go green since 2008. “It’s always been recycling beer bottles and cans and plastic, and that’s the effort that most people make, but you won’t get to zero waste if you limit it to that,” Grosscup said. Zero Waste’s influence has spread around the parish. Funeral luncheons and soup suppers have become more eco-friendly by using ceramics, and the funeral luncheons use the washable tablecloths. Coffee after Mass has veered from foam cups to compostable ones. Southside Family Charter School, which uses St. Joan of Arc’s property, has joined the cause. Its students have been encouraged to use their own water bottles and avoid plastic ones. “Those are all those little things that you just keep plugging away at,” Grosscup said.
LOCAL
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7B
CSCOE initiative encourages purpose in Catholic school sports By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit Could the intensity of traveling teams be taking the “sport” out of “sports,” especially for young athletes? Former Minnesota Viking Matt Birk thinks so. Speaking to nearly 140 Catholic elementary school coaches, athletic directors and staff, Birk said there’s another approach to facing growing demands of youth athletics where parents can “relax” and “let your kids be kids,” instead of buying into the year-round commitments to traveling teams and clubs. That approach, he said, can be found in a new program, 4 His Glory, an initiative of the Minneapolisbased nonprofit Catholic Schools Center of Excellence designed to help K-8 Catholic schools better fulfill their mission in the area of youth athletics with a faith-filled, positive culture. “There is just not enough of those opportunities out there anymore,” Birk, an alumnus of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, said of playing sports for fun and learning. “I think everybody recognizes the problem.” Birk worked with CSCOE to develop 4 His Glory, a sports program that aims to reclaim K-8 youth sports for the family, providing “an alternative for Catholic elementary schools to the secular sports-obsessed culture,” according to CSCOE. Abbreviated “4HG,” the initiative is expected to roll out in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in August. Speaking April 13 at a six-hour CSCOE event at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony introducing the project to Catholic schools, Birk stressed the values that sports can teach participants, but he also emphasized that they need to be kept in perspective for a studentathlete’s well-being. In his opening presentation, Birk said sports can help children face societal challenges such as increased narcissism, fatherless homes and child obesity. He also noted that MIT researchers have found that teamwork and communication skills remain top skills sought by employers. Attendees also heard from a panel of former professional athletes and a college coach, all Catholic, about the challenges of modern athletics and what Catholic schools can offer. Panelists included 1996 Hobey Baker Award winner and former NHL player Brian Bonin, 2002 NFL MVP and former Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon, 2000 Rose Bowl champion and one-time Vikings quarterback Brooks Bollinger, and 2016 NCAA Division III national champion men’s basketball coach John Tauer of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Birk, who led the discussion, played for the Vikings and then the Baltimore Ravens from 1998-2012, winning a Super Bowl in his final Ravens season.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
CSCOE’s mission is to enhance excellence and increase enrollment at grade schools in the archdiocese. Its president, Gail Dorn, said the idea of 4 His Glory “came from the schools themselves, who told us that they really noticed a big change in youth athletics.” “They felt that it was eating into family time, particularly on Sundays, but also dominating family time on evenings and weekends,” she said. Traveling and club teams often win out for students’ time as sports participation has dropped at Catholic schools, participants observed. The quality of competition, latest equipment and vision for future success with traveling programs have made it hard for Catholic schools to keep up. Holy Trinity Catholic School in South St. Paul, which had conference attendees, needed fifth-and sixth-graders to fill a roster for its seventh-grade boys basketball team last winter. However, Aric Elsner, who coaches its seventh-grade boys, recalled that the nature of the school program made it possible for a student who had never made a basket to finally make one during a game at the end of the season. Fans erupted in applause. Participants shared concerns about competing with traveling teams. Gerald Rehder, a physical education teacher from St. Stephen Catholic School in Anoka, noted that student-athletes at his school have complained that the school’s sports equipment is of lower quality than that of their traveling teams. For Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park, participation numbers in sports have varied widely based on class interest.
Matt Birk, right, moderates a panel discussion about youth sports during an event at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony April 13 promoting CSCOE’s new youth sports program 4 His Glory. Panelists are, from left, John Tauer, men’s basketball coach at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; former Vikings quarterback Brooks Bollinger; former Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon; and former NHL player Brian Bonin.
“It was encouraging to ... come together as a group to support Catholic schools for the right reason and to really recapture what sports are about and what they teach,” said Lisa Counts, Holy Family Academy athletics director. 4 His Glory includes training and promotional materials, as well as sports clinics to enhance Catholic identity, participation and success for Catholic school teams. The program targets both youths and coaches. Teams can pray an athlete prayer focused on glorifying God before competition and practice. Coaches have access to an app with a practice builder program with videos of drills from successful coaches such as Duke University men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. Schools can also use posters, bracelets and apparel to promote the initiative. Posters include images of athletes such as Birk and Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer, also a Cretin-Derham Hall alumnus, in addition to faith-related quotes. Much of the April 13 conference explored what Catholic schools can offer that traveling programs typically can’t. It came down to faith, character building and community. “I think the biggest thing to take away from the day is that we as Catholic schools need to have … a clear statement about what our Catholic school programs provide that is unique and special to Catholic schools,” said Sheila Hendricks, principal of Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan. “This is a great opportunity to help our children through sports.”
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8B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
NATION+WORLD
Toronto cardinal calls for prayers after van kills at least 10
in BRIEF Mexican bishops call for culture of peace after second priest murdered
Catholic News Service Toronto Cardinal Thomas Collins called for special prayers after a van jumped a curb and killed at least 10 people on a busy Toronto street. Although officials said the April 23 incident did not appear to be terrorism, they said it did appear to be deliberate. Cabinet members from leading industrialized nations were meeting in Toronto in preparation for a G-7 summit in Quebec in June. “I invite the Catholic community across the Archdiocese of Toronto to join me in offering our prayers for all those who were killed and injured in the violent incident earlier today,” the cardinal said in a statement. “I will be asking all 225 Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Toronto to offer special prayer intentions this week for all those who have suffered. Let us all unite in our efforts to bring comfort and care to those who are hurting today.” Authorities identified the driver as Alek Minassian, who was charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. The Associated Press reported witnesses said he appeared to intentionally jump a curb in the North York neighborhood as people filled the sidewalks on a warm afternoon. He continued for more than a mile, knocking out a fire hydrant and leaving bodies strewn in his wake. Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, CEO of the Toronto-
CNS | CARLO ALLEGRI, REUTERS
A police officer stands next to a victim at the site where a van struck multiple people at a major intersection in Toronto’s northern suburbs April 23. At least 10 people were dead and 15 were injured, authorities said.
based Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation, tweeted: “Death toll of today’s horrific accident is now at 10 with many more in critical condition. Tonight we celebrated Mass for all who have died. Such senseless, horrible killing of many innocent people who were outside enjoying our first taste of spring. God bless Toronto tonight.”
Chilean abuse victims welcome pope’s letter By Jane Chambers Catholic News Service Victims of clergy sexual abuse welcomed Pope Francis’ letter in which he apologized for underestimating the seriousness of the crisis in Chile. James Hamilton, Jose Andres Murillo and Juan Carlos Cruz, victims of Father Fernando Karadima, released a statement April 11 saying they appreciated the pope’s letter and were “evaluating the possibilities” for meeting with the pope. “The damage committed by the hierarchy of the Chilean Church, to which the pope refers, has affected many people, not just us,” the victims said. “The purpose of all our actions has always been about recognition, forgiveness and reparation for what has been suffered, and will continue to be so, until zero tolerance against abuse and concealment in the Church becomes a reality,” they said. Pope Francis’ letter, released by the Vatican April 11, asked “forgiveness of all those I have offended” and said he hoped to “be able to do it personally in the coming weeks.” The Associated Press reported April 13 that the three survivors will meet with Pope Francis April 28-29 and will stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican residence where the pope lives. In an interview with CNN Chile, Cruz said he was grateful for the pope’s “unprecedented” apology and expression of shame, and he hoped to have a frank discussion with Pope Francis about the pain suffered by victims of abuse. “We want to talk with him and humbly speak to him about forgiveness and tell him not only everything we have experienced, but also to speak with him about the situation that many people have suffered, what we have suffered. It happened not only in Chile, but also in the United States, in Italy, in the whole world,” he said. Abuse victims alleged that Bishop Juan Barros of Osorno — then a priest — had witnessed their abuse by his mentor, Father Karadima. In 2011, Father Karadima was sentenced to a life of prayer and penance by the Vatican after he was found guilty of sexually abusing boys. Father Karadima denied the charges; he was not prosecuted civilly because the statute of limitations had expired.
Pope meets his advisory commission on child protection Catholic News Service In its efforts to help advise the pope, the Roman Curia, bishops’ conferences and local churches on protecting minors from abuse, a Vatican commission listened to abuse survivors from Great Britain and discussed the results of Australia’s public inquiry into its country’s institutional responses to abuse. The plenary assembly of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) April 20-22 was the first gathering with a group of new members appointed in February, which includes Teresa Kettelkamp, a former colonel in the Illinois State Police and former director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection. Pope Francis met with the commission members in a private audience April 21 and had met the day before with Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, who is president of the 17-member commission. The commission secretary is U.S. Msgr. Robert Oliver, a Boston priest, canon lawyer and former promotor of justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The pope said he wanted to confirm the commission’s statutes, which were issued April 21, 2015, “ad experimentum” for a period of three years, according to a press statement by the commission April 22.
During his visit to Chile in January, the pope sparked controversy when he pledged his support for Bishop Barros and said: “The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, I will speak. There is not one piece of evidence against him. It is calumny.” He later apologized to the victims and admitted that his choice of words wounded many. A short time later, the Vatican announced Pope Francis was sending Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta and his aide, Father Jordi Bertomeu Farnos, to Chile to listen to people with information about Bishop Barros.
MEXICO CITY — Yet another Mexican Catholic priest has been murdered in his parish — the second such lethal attack against clergy in the country in less than a week. Father Juan Miguel Contreras Garcia was shot dead April 20 in the St. Pius of Pietrelcina parish in a Guadalajara suburb. An April 20 statement from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office said Father Contreras was confronted and shot in the sacristy. Two assailants subsequently fled in a compact car. No motive for the attack was offered. The attack on Father Contreras followed the April 18 murder of Father Ruben Alcantara Diaz in a northern Mexico City suburb. Father Alcantara was attacked April 18, just prior to the 7 p.m. Mass at Our Lady of Carmen, the Diocese of Izcalli said in a short statement. The Mexican bishops’ conference issued a call for action on the violence consuming the country and impacting the Church. “We are making an urgent call to construct a culture of peace and reconciliation. These regrettable occurrences call all of us to a much deeper and more sincere conversion. It’s time to look honestly at our culture and society in order to ask ourselves how we lost respect for life and the sacred,” the conference said in an April 20 statement.
Italy grants citizenship to Alfie Evans in attempt to guarantee his care VATICAN CITY — The Italian government granted citizenship to Alfie Evans, a seriously ill British toddler, in a last-minute effort to prevent doctors in England from withdrawing life-support. The Italian foreign ministry, in a brief note April 23, said Angelino Alfano, the foreign minister, and Marco Minniti, the interior minister, “granted Italian citizenship to little Alfie. The Italian government hopes that being an Italian citizen would allow the immediate transfer of the baby to Italy.” The baby’s parents, Tom Evans and Kate James, lost their latest legal battle April 23 to prevent doctors from removing Alfie’s life-support when the European Court of Human Rights refused to intervene. Doctors in the U.K. have not been able to make a definitive diagnosis of the 23-month-old child’s degenerative neurological condition, but they have said keeping him on lifesupport would be “futile.” A high court judge backed a lower court’s ruling that the hospital can go against the wishes of the family and withdraw life-support.
In ‘historic’ move, pope names three laywomen to doctrinal congregation VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis appointed three women as consultors to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. It marks the first time women and laypersons were named as active contributors, not support staff. The Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, called the decision to appoint the women “historic.” The Vatican announced the appointments April 21. The new female consultors are: Linda Ghisoni, born in Italy in 1965, one of two women Pope Francis named to be undersecretaries of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life in 2017; Michelina Tenace, born in Italy in 1954, a professor and head of the department of fundamental theology at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University; and Laetitia Calmeyn, born in Belgium in 1975, a consecrated virgin who teaches theology at the College des Bernardins in Paris. She is a nurse specializing in palliative care and received her doctorate from the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute. — Catholic News Service
NATION+WORLD
APRIL 26, 2018
FARM BILL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B About $1 billion would be cut from the Conservation Stewardship Program, according to Ennis. “Farmers need incentives,” he said. “They have a safety net, but they need incentives to protect soil and environmental resources. ... It ultimately discourages conservation efforts. We’re really concerned about that.” Dominican Sister Quincy Howard was also critical of the bill, calling it “sneaky.” “It is sneaky in the sense that they’ve crafted this bill that you make it sound positive at face value: Why couldn’t people who get food assistance work 20 hours a week, or they can do workforce development or skills training instead of working 20 hours? What could be the problem? As always, the devil is in the details,” said Sister Howard, a government relations fellow at Network, the nun-run Catholic social justice lobby. “More than 90 percent of SNAP benefits goes to actual nutrition assistance. It’s known [as] being highly functional. What the bill is doing is pulling $23 billion out of what it does best, and they propose investing $15 billion into workforce development programs,” Sister Howard said. “The problem is $15 billion going toward a program like this is woefully inadequate to provide any kind of adequate workforce training. I think it comes out to $30 per person per month. And they have problems beyond a skills gap.” Moreover, Sister Howard said, the 2014 farm bill allocated money for a series of experimental workforce training
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The bill could cause as many as 2 million individuals to lose their benefits, and potentially remove state flexibility in 42 states. Catholic leaders
programs, and a report on their effectiveness is not due until next year. “So they won’t know what will work for the money they’re spending,” she added. Other nonfarm aspects of the farm bill — long considered a necessity to get Congress’ urban and suburban members on board — include international food aid. Here, “things have fared a lot better than on the domestic side,” said Eric Garduno, Catholic Relief Services’ Washington-based senior policy and legislative specialist. CRS, the U.S. bishops’ overseas relief and development agency, and Mercy Corps were two of 25 international relief agencies that signed on to an April 17 statement on the farm bill. The House version of the farm bill “advances key reforms that our community supports, such as removing the requirement to monetize commodities in Title II of the Food for Peace Program and recognizing the role of the Community Development Fund in Title II Development Food Security Activities,” the statement said. “These are important changes that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Food for Peace Program.”
Other signers included Bread for the World, CARE, Church World Service, Feed the Children, Food for the Hungry, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision. Six top Catholic clergy, religious and lay leaders sent an April 18 letter to House Agriculture Committee Chairman Rep. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minnesota, the ranking member. In it, they lauded a set-aside to benefit beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers, the reauthorization of funds for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program and the Rural Business Investment Program, and a funding increase for the Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative. “The bill makes modest improvements to SNAP by updating its asset and vehicle limits and fixing the adjusted limits to inflation over time. Continued improvements to the asset limits should provide working families both the incentive and the ability to build savings,” the letter said. But “the bill could cause as many as 2 million individuals to lose their benefits, and potentially remove state flexibility in 42 states. These changes particularly hurt working families making between 130 percent and 200 percent of the federal poverty line. State options for broad-based categorical eligibility should be maintained,” it added. And while penalties exist for SNAP recipients not complying with work requirements, “the new bill, however,
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 9B would increase the penalty for the first violation to one full year, and to three full years for the second violation,” the letter said. “Rural communities may find compliance especially challenging given that job training programs are often located far away, and there is insufficient access to transportation.” Signing the letter were Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, who is chair of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace; Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, chair of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; CRS president Sean Callahan; Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA; Catholic Rural Life’s Ennis; and Ralph Middlecamp, president of the National Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Farmers and ranchers have the highest suicide rate of any U.S. occupation, said Matt Perdue, a lobbyist for the National Farmers Union, which opposes the bill. Counselors and therapists are hard to come by in sparsely populated rural areas, he added. Perdue pointed to the Farmers First Act, introduced April 19 in the Senate, which would authorize $50 million over the next five years for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, which hasn’t been funded since it was established in the 2008 farm bill. “It doesn’t guarantee that this program will be funded in the long term,” Perdue said, since the House farm bill allocates no money for it. He added, “We are cognizant that we are setting up a longterm campaign on this issue.”
10B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Catholic filmmaker tells stories of faith and the heart
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t the St. Francis House in Brooklyn, New York, Cliff Azize learned an important lesson from the Franciscan Friars of Renewal who had opened their doors to young men like him who needed a second chance at life. “The friars drilled into us that everyone has at least one talent to offer this world,” recalled Azize, 38. That simple affirmation was enough to convince a dozen residents in 2001 to pick up a VHS hand-held video camera and capture life at the home to raise awareness and financial support for the nonprofit’s mission of providing a safe place and guidance to young men out of options. Since that first film, Azize has seen international success as a documentary filmmaker with widely recognized films like “The Human Experience” and “Outcasts.” Now a parishioner of All Saints in Lakeville, Azize says his Catholic faith underscores many of his story lines, and he frequently works with Catholic organizations to share their stories, all with the intention of affecting the human heart. “I find so much meaning in these projects,” Azize said. “With making projects for the Church, I feel like there’s no better purpose for me in life.”
A glimmer of faith in the darkness Azize’s overt New York accent conveys he is from Queens, but what’s not apparent is that he grew up with an alcoholic father, his mother and two brothers in a one-bedroom apartment. It was a rough and unstable home life, wrought with physical abuse, but he’s quick to say that his story was no different from anyone else’s in his neighborhood. Drugs, alcohol and robbery became his outlet. They didn’t attend church as a family, yet his parents made him attend Catholic parish-based religious education classes. It was at a weekend Youth 2000 confirmation retreat that he remembers encountering Christ — and the Franciscan Friars — for the first time at age 14 following eucharistic adoration. “That’s really where my faith started to grow,” he said. “Something happened, and I can’t explain what it was, but I know I wanted more of it.” Soon after the retreat, Azize ran away from home, but he remembered a conversation with one of the Friars at the retreat, encouraging him to call if he ever needed help. That’s when he found himself at the St. Francis House for the first time. After a year of living in the home, he drifted back into his old toxic environment, only to find himself worse off at age 21. He remembered how he felt living at the St. Francis House, and the staff welcomed him back with open arms. Azize was able to complete his GED shortly before he helped produce the organization’s first film. Buoyed by the success, a group of four residents decided to form a filmmaking company in 2006. “Father Glenn Sudano [one of the order’s founders] called the company ‘Grassroots’ because it was a grassroots effort, where we dropped the seeds and watched them grow,” Azize said. Grassroots Films quickly grew with every project and the group’s expanding skill set,
By Jessica Weinberger • For The Catholic Spirit including Azize’s expertise in directing, producing and editing. He described Grassroots’ style as gritty and real, recalling their experience filming a young boy with no arms who used one leg to eat and to draw. “These are documentaries, not a storyboard we’re filming one day. We have to be there in the moment,” he said. “We’re trying to pitch the hard truth underhand and have people experience this world that exists outside of our own.” One of Azize’s earliest projects with Grassroots Films is one with the largest reach. Commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Fishers of Men” serves as a powerful film on the vocation to the priesthood. According to Grassroots Films, eight out of 10 seminarians in the United States own a copy of the film. Father Marcus Milless, a chaplain at Hennepin County Medical Center and associate pastor of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, remembers seeing “Fishers of Men” as a college freshman visiting St. John Vianney College Seminary in 2006, the same year the film was released. Years later as associate pastor at All Saints, Father Milless connected with Azize after Mass and learned about his latest film, “Outcasts.” Released in 2016, the documentary invites viewers to prisons in Central America, dark city streets of New York and rough neighborhoods in Ireland for a view into the lives of society’s outcasts. Father Milless described the film as raw but inspiring, and he arranged a screening at All Saints last June. “When watching his films, you can tell he’s not afraid to look away from suffering humanity, but rather embrace it through his art and call others to do the same in faith,” Father Milless said of Azize. “His films inspire one to deeper practice of the corporal works of mercy.”
Global reach Azize’s quest to show life as it happens has taken him all over the world. When filming one of their most well-known documentaries, “The Human Experience” in 2008, he traveled with his brother, Jeffrey, and a small crew to more than 30 countries to ask simple yet profound questions about the meaning of life. Jeffrey Azize, 31, now a writer and producer for Kinnane Brothers, an improv comedy company in Rhode Island, said that meaningful storytelling aligns with Jesus’ own use of analogies and parables to create a greater understanding of who he is and who his Father’s creations are as human beings. Venturing into the unknown with his brother and a camera crew was often daunting, but the trust the pair have in each other is unparalleled, Jeffrey said. “Sharing a vision with someone can be difficult, but having Cliff, my brother, be on the same page throughout the process of making a film is always a huge success in the end,” he said. Charles Kinnane, 34, one of the founding members of Grassroots Films, also traveled with the group to shoot “The Human Experience,” along with the 2013 documentary, “Child 31,” which features the Scottish charity Mary’s Meals’ work to provide one meal a day to chronically hungry children. He said that Cliff brings “the soul” to each project with an innate sense of what’s authentic
and a gift of empathy that stems from his trials early in life. “For a lot of the projects we worked on, there’s no greater gift than being able to empathize to the people we’re telling their stories,” Kinnane said. Now working with Jeffrey at Kinnane Films as a director, he admires their ability to share meaningful stories without a hidden agenda that so often plagues Hollywood films. “They really strive to just tell authentic stories with no strings attached,” Kinnane said. “When shared with other people, there’s the common acknowledgment that there’s an intangible faith aspect to life that you can’t always put your finger on.” Those faith elements stem from Azize’s devotion to Mary and other elements of his faith life, like praying novenas or attending a silent retreat. He also seeks inspiration from figures like St. Teresa of Kolkata, whose famous quote about changing the world by loving your family first inspired a subplot in his film “Outcasts.” The universal themes and storylines make Azize’s films appropriate for anyone, but when editing, he pays special attention to the needs of fallen-away Catholics or people who, he says, are on the fence in terms of faith. It’s those viewers who need to see the faith explained and lived out on the screen, in addition to “on-fire” Catholics. “I want them to be for anyone and everyone who will lend an ear or an eye,” Azize said.
‘Superman’ in the suburbs When not on the road, Azize is at home in Lakeville, networking and conceptualizing future projects. But even more important, he’s dubbed “Superman” by his wife, Chelsey, 33, as he cares full time for their two children, Eloise, 4, and Rocco, 2, while she works as a fashion designer. The couple met on a kickball team in Brooklyn and moved to Chelsey’s hometown of Lakeville six months after their June 2012 wedding. One of the reasons Chelsey fell in love with Cliff was because of his work, where his view of humanity and genuine love for people and life shines through. She admires how faith is the cornerstone of his work and how he uses imagery, music and unifying content to bring people closer to the Church and to God. “Since I was raised Lutheran, I had a lot of questions regarding the Catholic faith that were answered through his films, and the relationships he made through his work,” Chelsey said. “Witnessing his positive experience with the faith through film has definitely shaped our family for the better.” Azize’s next adventure is not tied to any one project or storyline — he’s in the process of starting his own company, Azize Films (azizefilms. com). Looking for talent locally and remotely, he aims to have as many irons in the fire as possible. As an experienced filmmaker, he feels a sense of urgency to capitalize on the limitless story opportunities, especially on social media. But he doesn’t want to lose touch with the people and stories yet to be told right in front of him. “There are so many interesting people we sit next to at church each week who we don’t know much about,” Azize said. “But there’s beautiful stories there. That’s the kind of approach I want to take.”
Cliff Azize of All Saints in L stands in the basement stu home in Lakeville, where h production and editing.
Azize prays in the euchars
APRIL 26, 2018 • 11B
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These are documentaries, not a storyboard we’re filming one day. We have to be there in the moment. We’re trying to pitch the hard truth underhand and have people experience this world that exists outside of our own.
Lakeville udio of his he does video
stic adoration chapel at All Saints in Lakeville.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
COURTESY CLIFF AZIZE
From left, Azize poses for a photo with his children, Rocco and Eloise, and his wife, Chelsey.
12B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
FAITH+CULTURE
Up
in flames St. Matthew parishioners recall fire that destroyed church 50 years ago By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit
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assive plumes of smoke. That’s what lifelong St. Matthew parishioner Karen Thompson recalls seeing, in disbelief, as the city bus she road home from work turned a corner by St. Matthew School in St. Paul. The church was on fire. “In shock. I mean, it’s like it went so quickly,” said Thompson, 72, about seeing the fire that burned down St. Matthew Church on Easter Monday, April 15, 1968. After arriving home, she hurried to the burning church, where a crowd of fellow parishioners looked on in sadness and disbelief. “It was overwhelming just to see the history that is in a building go up in flames,” she said. Although the fire destroyed the church, the parish survived, but the incident has become a pivotal point in its history. St. Matthew planned to observe the 50th anniversary of the fire and celebrate the parish’s perseverance April 15, but the event was rescheduled for April 28-29 due to the weekend blizzard and 15-inch snowfall. “Think what that’s fostered for us in terms of our faith, and also the fact that we want to continue going forward,” Thompson said of the parish rebuilding after the fire.
‘Covered in smoke’ Founded as a German national parish in 1886, St. Matthew is located on St. Paul’s West Side, where the Mississippi River loops north, just south of downtown. The parish first constructed a building at the intersection of Hall Avenue and West Robie Street to hold its church, school, convent and rectory. It later built a separate school and remodeled and enlarged its church in 1908. The church’s centerpiece was a fourstoried Romanesque bell tower, crowned with a cupola and cross, that rose above the front entrance. St. Matthew held what would be its final Sunday Masses in that church Easter Sunday, April 14, 1968. The next day, alleged arson caused the fire shortly after 4 p.m. The priests serving the parish had the day off. Like Thompson, lifelong parishioner Catherine Lang Fee, 73, was on her way home from work when she saw the fire. She retrieved her camera to get pictures. “It [was] just covered in smoke,” Fee recalled of the church. The first firefighters on the scene were James Fee and Jack Dalton. While they tried to hose down the fire inside the church, Dalton had a heart attack, so Fee had to attend to him before more firefighters arrived. Dalton was taken to St. Paul Ramsey Hospital and Medical Center, now Regions Hospital, and survived. Other firefighters, some of whom were parishioners, put the fire out that evening. While the fire never made it to the bell tower, extensive fire and water damage decimated the church. Parishioners gathered as many things as they could salvage from the sacristy and took them to the school, where they strung clotheslines to hang the vestments, which weren’t damaged, but smelled bad, Catherine Lang Fee said. Parish life after the fire presented many difficulties and uncertainties, such as where to celebrate Mass. St. Matthew held Mass in the basement of the destroyed church, the school gym and at neighboring St. Michael’s old church on Concord Avenue, which was razed
COURTESY CATHERINE LANG FEE
CLOCKWISE The old St. Matthew Church in St. Paul served the parish from 1908 to 1968. Fire destroyed it Easter Monday, April 15, 1968. The church suffered extensive interior damage due to the fire. Only the sanctuary lamp, tabernacle and objects in the sacristy survived. Firefighters had to break the church’s windows in order to spray the blaze inside. in the 1970s. Building a new church brought challenges for St. Matthew parishioners, including tight finances. Some parishioners wanted to built a modern-style church, while others wanted a traditional church like the previous one. “People sometimes get hung up on what a building looks like or … if you’re going to have pews or chairs, but the reality is, how do we keep our parish together?” Thompson said of the debate. Eventually, the parish constructed a modern brick church, which was completed in 1970. The interior was sparse at first, but parishioners eventually added stained glass windows. Among the weddings held in the new church is that of Catherine Lang Fee and James Fee, who met years after the fire while working at St. Paul Ramsey Hospital and discovered they had both been at St. Matthew the day it burned. James died in 1999. Despite the fire, many families stayed with St. Matthew through the transition, Thompson observed. The draw of the school helped, she said, and the parish didn’t experience a large dip in membership. “You’d have two or three generations attending that went to school there, made their sacraments, and that was important for family to keep that tradition,” Thompson said. In 2012, the school joined three other nearby parish schools to form Community of Saints Regional Catholic School. The new church, which had chairs instead of pews, was built to serve purposes beyond Mass. The Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra has performed there over the years. “And they’re always standing-room [only] concerts, free concerts, that they give, and they’re just wonderful,” Fee said.
Learning the cause As parishioners rebuilt their church, the cause of the fire remained a mystery. Then, in the early 2000s,
St. Matthew’s then-pastor Father Stephen Adrian, who led the parish from 1978 to 2012, received a surprising phone call. The man on the line claimed to have known the man responsible for the fire. The perpetrator had admitted it before dying, nearly 35 years after the incident. “He acknowledged that the fire hurt many people, and he wanted to say that he was sorry,” Father Adrian wrote in a 2008 parish-school newsletter. “As tragic as the St. Matthew fire was, perhaps more tragic was the life of this poor adolescent — tragedy that marked his whole life.” Thompson remembers a homily in which Father Adrian disclosed the information to the parish, while protecting the man’s anonymity. “It was really an accident; it wasn’t like he set the fire [on purpose],” she said. “It sounds like, based on the story, that the fire happened and he got scared.” She added that Father Adrian emphasized forgiving the man, too. Now in the pastoral care of Dominican Father Bob Kelly, the parish plans to remember the fire April 28-29 with a display of photos and memorabilia from the old church. Items include the sanctuary lamp, baptismal font, tabernacle, vestments and chalices. St. Matthew also preserved the bell from the original bell tower after the fire. For parishioners, the new church has been a sign of the parish moving forward. Thompson noted parishioners’ social justice commitment, and their connection to ministries such as Loaves and Fishes, St. Mary’s Health Clinic for low-income patients and Casa Guadalupana for housing families in crisis. “It’s a very caring community, and that was fostered by the fact that we’ve experienced a loss of something that was important to us, the church, but that our faith took us in the direction, along with Father Steve’s involvement, to look beyond ourselves,” Thompson said.
APRIL 26, 2018
FAITH+CULTURE
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13B
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
‘Faith seeking understanding’ Anselm House helping U Christians live integrated lives By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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t was St. Anselm of Canterbury who described theology — the study of God — as “faith seeking understanding.” This 11th-century saint got a nod in 2016 with the renaming of a long-established Christian study center at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, now known as Anselm House. St. Anselm’s prayer — “lest I believe I shall not understand” — is central to Anselm House’s work, said Executive Director Bryan Bademan. The ecumenical center aims to serve Christian students and faculty at the U, helping them overcome what Bademan calls “the divided life.” “We think the most important thing about the world is that it’s creation,” said Bademan, who has been head of Anselm House since 2009, when it was known as the MacLaurin Institute. “To try to understand the world apart from God is to misunderstand the world at some fundamental level.” Anselm House is just what its name implies: a white stucco bungalow, situated near the intersection of Cleveland and Carter avenues across from the U’s St. Paul campus. A red Dogwood Coffee Company sign hangs in the front window, and an orange sign in the yard matches the house’s front door. Inside is a welcoming space where students and faculty gather for lectures, book discussions, meals, prayer and study. “We like to think of our mission, connecting faith and knowledge, as sort of moving along two parallel rails, where one of them is contending publicly for a Christian vision of reality, which has an evangelistic component, and then one nurturing a community of faithful presence and practice that really has a more discipleship component,” Bademan said. In 1982, Anselm House was founded as the MacLaurin Institute by William Monsma, a theologically-trained physicist. He was working for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship when he felt called to begin an outreach to graduate students and faculty. Over the years, what is now Anselm House has hosted small groups and lectures focused on helping students, both undergraduate and graduate, and faculty members integrate their faith and studies. “The divided life — as so many people within a university context, both students and faculty [experience] — is the consequence of hundreds and hundreds of years of the process that scholars call ‘secularization,’” Bademan said. “And one of the fallouts of that process is that our faith lives and our public lives
Students walk April 20 to Anselm House, a Christian study center at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.
Archbishop Hebda to students: The Church wants to listen to you Two of the Church’s new American blesseds weren’t known for their book smarts, but they demonstrated a different prowess: the ability to listen well, Archbishop Bernard Hebda told about 30 University of Minnesota students and faculty members at Anselm House in St. Paul April 20. In a 30-minute “Fridays @ 4” talk followed by a Q&A, Archbishop Hebda briefly sketched out the lives of Solanus Casey, a Capuchin “simplex” priest who ministered in Detroit, and Oklahoman Father Stanley Rother, who first flunked out of seminary but deeply impacted the lives of the Guatemalan people he eventually served. Despite the two priests’ apparent academic struggles, Archbishop Hebda said, they excelled at connecting with others by listening to them. Archbishop Hebda used their examples to emphasize the importance of listening, especially for the discerning Church. He drew on Pope Francis’ 2015 call to bishops for the Church to be “a listening Church.”“His sense is that it’s so crucial, and he doesn’t see that in society at large, where everybody wants to speak,” Archbishop Hebda said. Giving examples of Pope Francis’ humility and efforts to connect with regular people in everyday life, Archbishop occupy different spaces. ... And so our faith and our public lives often don’t speak to one another.” Bademan said he sees this troubling divide as especially advanced at public universities, and it wears on Christians working and studying at them. “People of faith feel a sort of exhaustion from the artificiality of the division,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is form a community and create spaces where students and faculty can ask questions about how their faith speaks into what they’re learning in the classroom, or informs their research agendas and so forth. And so, in that context, the Christian intellectual and theological traditions are hugely important, because there’s thousands of years of wisdom and intellectual reflection on the implications of the faith for all sorts of inquiries.” While some students connect with Anselm House — and each other — over book discussions or stop-in programming, such as its Fridays @ 4 lecture series, others dig in deeper through the MacLaurin Fellows Program, which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to share meals, pray and discuss texts in small cohorts. Anselm House’s programming is designed to complement, not replace, the work of fellow Christian ministries, such as St. Paul’s Outreach, Bademan emphasized. It works closely with the other ministries on campus, and it sponsors Gopher Christian, a network of the various Christian ministries at the U. “We’re the community that is working alongside the Church, and alongside campus ministries, to help students order the knowledge they’re gaining to the
Hebda said, “It’s pretty clear what he’s trying to teach us — not just as Catholics, not just as Christians, but as a world — how it is to discern God’s will in the midst of our discussions, our conversations, most especially in listening to one another.” In the Catholic Church, one of the ways listening is achieved institutionally is through consultation, especially in the synod process, he said. Since Pope Francis’ election in 2013, the pope has held two synods, both exploring marriage and the family. The Church is currently focusing on the perspectives of youths and young adults ahead of a synod on youth, faith and vocational discernment in October. “The sense is, just as a leader has to be willing to listen, that all of us have to be willing to also engage in that process of conversation,” Archbishop Hebda said. He joked that he kept on talking, even though his talk was on the “listening Church,” and then asked students to share their thoughts on young adults’ role in the Church. Students’ comments and questions included the topics of social media, adhering to Catholic tradition, Church transparency about past wrongs, and evangelization and imperialism. — Maria Wiering love of God and neighbor, a nd we do that as a community o f people from a variety of Christian traditions and denominational backgrounds,” he said. Anselm House’s ecumenical identity is important for its witness of Christian unity, Bademan said, but engaging the different traditions also allows students to appreciate and draw from each tradition’s strengths, such as Orthodoxy’s emphasis on patristics, the Catholic Church’s social teaching and Evangelicals’ passion for evangelization. Laura Rothgeb and John Hill Price, both 25, discovered Anselm House as doctoral students and joined the Fellows Program. Price, who studies applied plant sciences, said he first joined a C.S. Lewis reading group at the house and then “fell in love with the kind of discourse that happens here and the kind of community that we have.” Rothgeb, a Catholic studying English, said she felt a connection to the Anselm House community as soon as she walked in the door. “It was everything I was looking for, in terms of an intellectually engaged faith community,” she said. “I dove headfirst into all of it.” With his Fellows cohort, Price is digging into the idea of what it means to be a Christian in the plant sciences. Rothgeb, who is in the first year of the Fellows program, is exploring the narrative of Scripture. She’s appreciated Anselm House’s approach to “unity of vocation” — “that you have one ‘capital V’ vocation, which is holiness — sanctification, to be a saint — and that’s lived out in several little vocations. And what Anselm House really does is to give you the tools to follow all of those calls, and to support you in the following.”
14B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
FAITH+CULTURE
APRIL 26, 2018
‘Is my dad in heaven?’ little boy asks Pope Francis By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
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fter circling a massive, crumbling public housing complex on the outskirts of Rome, Pope Francis had an emotional encounter with the neighborhood’s children. Question-and-answer sessions with youngsters are a standard part of Pope Francis’ parish visits. And, at St. Paul of the Cross parish April 15, there were the usual questions like, “How did you feel when you were elected pope?” But then it was Emanuele’s turn. The young boy smiled at the pope as he approached the microphone. But then he froze. “I can’t do it,” Emanuele said. Msgr. Leonardo Sapienza, a papal aide, encouraged the boy, but he kept saying, “I can’t.” “Come, come to me, Emanuele,” the pope said. “Come and whisper it in my ear.” Msgr. Sapienza helped the boy up to the platform where the pope was seated. Emanuele was sobbing by that point, and Pope Francis enveloped him in a big embrace, patting his head and speaking softly to him. With their heads touching, the pope and the boy spoke privately to each other before Emanuele returned to his seat. “If only we could all cry like Emanuele when we have an ache in our hearts like he has,” the pope told the children. “He was crying for his father and had the courage to do it in front of us because in his heart there is love for his father.” Pope Francis said he had asked Emanuele if he could share the boy’s question, and the boy agreed. “‘A little while ago my father passed away. He was a nonbeliever, but he had all four of his children baptized. He was a good man. Is dad in heaven?’” “How beautiful to hear a son say of his father, ‘He was good,’” the pope told the children. “And what a beautiful witness of a son who inherited the strength of his father, who had the courage to cry in front of all of us. If that man was able to make his children like that, then it’s true, he was a good man. He was a good man. “That man did not have the gift of faith, he wasn’t a believer, but he had his children baptized. He had a good heart,” Pope Francis said.
CNS
especially, what kind of heart God has. “What do you think? A father’s heart. God has a dad’s heart. And with a dad who was not a believer, but who baptized his children and gave them that bravura, do you think God would be able to leave him far from himself?” “Does God abandon his children?” the pope asked. “Does God abandon his children when they are good?” The children shouted, “No.” “There, Emanuele, that is the answer,” the pope told the boy. “God surely was proud of your father, because it is easier as a believer to baptize your children than to baptize them when you are not a believer. Surely this pleased God very much.” Pope Francis encouraged Emanuele to “talk to your dad; pray to your dad.” Earlier, a young girl named Carlotta also asked the pope a delicate question: “When we are baptized, we become children of God. People who aren’t baptized, are they not children of God?” “What does your heart tell you?” the pope asked Carlotta. She said, they are, too. “Right, and I’ll explain,” the pope told her. “We are all children of God. Everyone. Everyone.” The nonbaptized, members of other religions, those who worship idols, “even the mafiosi,” who terrorize the neighborhood around the parish, are children of God, though “they prefer to behave like children of the devil,” he said. “God created everyone, loves everyone and put in everyone’s heart a conscience, so they would recognize what is good and distinguish it from what is bad,” the pope said. The difference, he said, is that “when you were baptized, the Holy Spirit entered into that conscience and reinforced your belonging to God and, in that sense, you became more of a daughter of God because you’re a child of God like everyone, but with the strength of the Holy Spirit.”
Pope Francis embraces Emanuele, a boy whose father died, as he visits St. Paul of the Cross parish in Rome April 15. “God is the one who says who goes to heaven,” the pope explained. The next step in answering Emanuele’s question, he said, would be to think about what God is like and,
Watch a video of Pope Francis’ encounter with Emanuele at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
Circuitous route led to director’s second film on exorcism By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service
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ometimes the best opportunities result from a mix of asking and having things fall into your lap. So it was for William Friedkin, who directed “The Exorcist” 45 years ago and thought he was through with the subgenre he helped create. Then came his 2018 documentary on exorcism, “The Devil and Father Amorth.” “It was a complete accident,” Friedkin told Catholic News Service April 16 in Washington. “I had no intention of doing this. I had no interest. ‘The Exorcist’ was a work of fiction. I had never seen a real exorcism, and neither had William Peter Blatty,” who had written the novel on which that movie was based. Friedkin said he had been in Luca, Italy, to receive the Puccini Prize for having directed four Puccini operas. He soon heard Pisa was a 35-minute drive from Luca, so he made the trip. Then he learned it was a one-hour flight from Pisa to Rome. Given that he had eight days in Italy, he wrote a priest-theologian friend, and “as a lark, I asked, ‘Do you think I could get a meeting with the pope or Father [Gabriele] Amorth?’” The reply: “The pope’s not available, but Father Amorth would be very pleased to meet you.” The desired meeting took place between Friedkin and the priest whose skills in performing exorcisms he characterized this way: “There’s exorcists and there’s exorcists, like there’s basketball players and LeBron James.” Friedkin returned to Los Angeles and was at the Vanity Fair magazine post-Oscars party when he told then-editor Graydon Carter of his meeting with the priest. Carter urged him to write an article about Father
Amorth. Before making a return trip to Rome he wrote the priest, who answered only in longhand. “I pushed my luck,” Friedkin said. “Would you ever let me witness an exorcism?” “Let me think about it,” Father Amorth said; eventually, his order, the Pauline Fathers, gave permission for Friedkin to see an exorcism on a specific date — May 1, 2016. “I pushed my luck again, and I wrote back, ‘Do you think he would allow me to film it?’ The word came back in two days, that yes, he would allow me to film it, but alone with no crew and no lights,” Friedkin said. Friedkin’s filming of Cristina, the WILLIAM FRIEDKIN first known filmed exorcism, is what makes up the core of “The Devil and Father Amorth.” “I had been told by Father Amorth this was her ninth exorcism, and she had experienced personality changes, vocal changes, and a kind of unnatural strength for a woman her size and age,” he recalled. “So I was aware from him this was going to happen — to what extent, I didn’t know.” He said he was surprised by how “disturbing the [demonic] attacks were. I went from abject terror sitting 2 feet away from her to absolute empathy for the pain she was expressing. She’s a wonderful woman. She’s an architect. You wonder how these attacks came about — why?” Father Amorth, who was 91, died several months after the filming. The priest was chief exorcist of the Diocese of Rome from 1986 until his death in 2016. Cristina continues to seek help to cast out whatever demon is inside her with the help of other exorcists. The movie also shows Friedkin talking with
neurosurgeons and psychiatrists who have seen his exorcism footage and seem at a loss to either debunk or explain it. More attention to Father Amorth “would have helped to offset the inevitable grimness of the rite at the heart of the proceedings,” said John Mulderig, CNS assistant director for media reviews, in his review of “The Devil and Father Amorth.” “At times, Friedkin appears slightly breathless with enthusiasm for his own material, and Christopher Rouse’s churning score also hints at sensationalism. But overall, the tone is respectful and sober-minded.” The film is classified A-II — adults and adolescents — for mature themes, potentially disturbing images and a rude gesture. “Father Amorth said to me the devil is metaphor,” Friedkin told CNS. “The devil is not some figurative person, although he did say that he has had conversations with Satan. But he said there is no figure as he’s been depicted. He believes that the devil is metaphor. I 100 percent believe there is evil in the world — every day, all day, constantly — but there is also a great goodness.” Friedkin, who was raised Jewish, now embraces faith in a different way. Although he is not a Catholic, “I strongly believe in the teachings of Jesus ... and I don’t necessarily require the supernatural to believe in Jesus,” he said, referring to the Resurrection. Friedkin said his aims with the documentary are modest. “Just a sharing of information, which is what any filmmaker — especially if you make a documentary — experience[s]. ‘Here. this is what I saw,’” he said. “And what I’m saying to the audience, ‘Make of this what you will, but here it is.’ We live in a very skeptical world, so I expect a lot of that.”
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 15B
FROMAGETOAGE
Should Boys Town founder be canonized? Alumnus says yes By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
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ob Stewart of Minneapolis has personal reasons for promoting the sainthood cause of Father Edward Flanagan, who founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1917 to help poor, orphaned and at-risk teenage boys. Stewart, 74, lived there for five years starting in 1958, and graduated from high school there. He believes he might not be alive today if it weren’t for Boys Town. He said that’s true of many others. His older brother spent one year there, then left shortly before Stewart arrived. His brother died at age 42 after going “on a different path,” he said. Though Father Flanagan died 10 years before his arrival, Stewart said it was clearly the priest’s legacy that rescued him from his own troubled path. Stewart’s life was rough from the start. Born in 1943 in Minneapolis, neither of his parents took an interest in him, he said. He spent much of his childhood on the streets and got into trouble for things like petty theft. He once stole a bike, and the police caught him. His first stop was Catholic Boys Home in 1953 (now St. Joseph’s Home for Children) in Minneapolis. He stayed through eighth grade, then had to return home. That summer, he witnessed what he described as many “drunken parties” at the house, and he remembered a comment made by Father Tom Maher, who ran both the Catholic Boys Home and Catholic Charities. He told Stewart to call him if he was ever in trouble. Stewart made the call, and Father Maher arranged for him to go to Boys Town. Stewart said that move changed his life. “I just remember the bus dropping me off,” Stewart said. “And boys were walking in from across the country.”
Literally. He said some actually walked to Boys Town from where they were living. He even heard of one boy walking all the way from Texas, all because of the environment created by Father Flanagan, who accepted boys of all races, faiths and backgrounds. (Boys Town began accepting girls in 1979.) The priest is said to have taken heat for accepting people of color; death threats were even reported. But, he never wavered in his commitment to be accepting of everyone. With a black father and white mother, Stewart himself is biracial, but he noted there were other boys of color in his group of 20, all of whom shared living quarters. He thrived there, joining both the basketball and wrestling teams. Success came in wrestling, with him advancing to the state tournament twice. It’s not hard to spot Stewart in any of the pictures from his days at Boys Town — he’s the one with the biggest smile. He still flashes it today, until he starts talking about his desire to see Father Flanagan canonized. Then, his passion flows in the form of tears. “There’s no reason that he shouldn’t be a saint,” Stewart said, his voice choking with emotion. “He saved lives and affected everybody [who lived at Boys Town]. ... That’s why we want Father Flanagan to be a saint.” Born in Ireland, Father Flanagan immigrated to America in 1904 and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Omaha in 1912. While ministering to homeless and jobless men, he realized that few had known a loving family. Boys Town was his solution to help wayward boys find the care and consistency they didn’t have at home, and to grow into responsible citizens. The home expanded to include a school, and the rural property became incorporated as its own village, a suburb of Omaha. Before his death in 1948, he cared for more than
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6,000 youths, inspiring the 1938 film “Boys Town,” in which Spencer Tracy played Father Flanagan. The organization marked its 100th anniversary last year, and it continues to be a national leader in helping youths and families. The Archdiocese of Omaha opened a cause for Father Flanagan’s canonization in 2012; last year, the Vatican determined that the archdiocese’s initial investigation was complete and demonstrated that Father Flanagan had a reputation for holiness, allowing investigation into the cause to advance. Father Flanagan is currently known as a “servant of God,” and his cause is before the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican. If Father Flanagan does get canonized? “That would be fantastic for all of us that are really recipients of what happened because ... a lot of these guys would have been dead — all of us. [There’s] no telling where we would have been [without Boys Town],” said Stewart, a nondenominational Protestant who has attended Mass at St. Bridget in Minneapolis after befriending the senior associate pastor, Father Paul Jarvis. After leaving Boys Town, Stewart
Bob Stewart holds a keepsake of Father Edward Flanagan, who founded Boys Town in 1917. Stewart was there from 1958-63.
worked for a while, then enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving from 1964-68. After being discharged, he went back to work, but, he said, also started drinking and partying. The result was three failed marriages and the realization that he needed to get back on track. He has returned to the virtues he learned at Boys Town, and he discovered that they remained deeply rooted in him. After working in the restaurant industry for many years, he retired, but he continued working as a driver for children with special needs. For him, the children resemble the boys with whom he spent five years in a dormitory in Omaha. Those relationships have forged love, compassion and loyalty, which he directs to his passengers. He has driven for 30 years, with no plans to stop. “I do it because God must have a plan that I should be there,” he said. “Boys Town teaches us about everybody being equal, and showing empathy towards other people. ... And these are kids that need somebody in their life like that.”
16B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
FOCUSONFAITH
DAILY Scriptures
SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER TERRY BEESON
The great ‘I am’
Whenever I proclaim the Gospel of John at Mass, it is not uncommon for me to encounter an episode when Jesus makes an “I am” statement. And when I do, I really try to give the words an extra oomph, a little more emphasis: “I AM the bread of life …” “I AM the light of the world …” “I AM the Good Shepherd …” “I AM the resurrection and the life …” “I AM the way and the truth and the life …” When they came to arrest Jesus, he asked, “Whom are you looking for?” “Jesus the Nazorean,” they replied. “I am,” he said. They turned away and fell to the ground hearing the words “I AM,” the very name of the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, as told to Moses at the burning bush. With these “I AM” statements, St. John accentuates the divinity of Christ, having that intimate connection between the God of Israel with Jesus. So we come to the fifth Sunday of Easter, and we hear Jesus making two other “I AM” statements: “I AM the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. … I AM the vine, you are the branches.” That last “I AM” statement tells us that not only are we connected to Jesus, through Jesus, but we also share that connection to the Father. Jesus lived in an agrarian society. He gives his listeners an image they can easily relate to. The vine grows all over Palestine. It is a plant that needs a great deal of attention if we want the best fruit from it. Wherever it grows, careful preparation of the soil is essential. It grows splendidly, and diligent pruning is necessary. It has two kinds of branches: one that bears fruit and one that does not. The branches that do not bear fruit are drastically pruned back so that they will not be a drain on the plant’s strength. The wood of the vine characteristically is good for nothing. It is too soft for any purpose. The only thing that could be done was to prune it out and destroy it. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We need to remain in him, but we all need pruning. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist and reconciliation, prune us to be the branches that
FAITH FUNDAMENTALS | FATHER MICHAEL VAN SLOUN
The powerful effects of the Eucharist
The most holy body and blood of Christ, the Eucharist, is a rich source of abundant blessings, and it has many powerful effects. A private audience. It is almost impossible to gain access to very important people for a personal encounter. It would be extraordinary and rare to have a private audience with the pope, a personal meeting with the president or a backstage pass to visit a famous performer. But in the Eucharist, Jesus is neither remote nor protected behind layers of security. The Eucharist gives the recipient unhindered access, not to a famous person, but to the Son of God, and not just for a handshake or a few pleasantries, but for extended quality time to be with the Lord. An intimate conversation. While it is possible to speak with Jesus in prayer anytime, anywhere, the Eucharist provides a privileged and heightened opportunity to converse with him. The Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus; it is an intensified and heightened presence. It is an invitation for the communicant to have a close and intimate conversation with Jesus, who is totally available for a warm and personal exchange. Companionship. Through the Eucharist, Jesus is faithful to his promises, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20) and “I will not leave you orphans” (Jn 14:18). Life is a journey, and along the road there are many twists and turns, ups and downs. It is foolish to travel alone. The Eucharist is bread for the journey, and when Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, he remains with us and walks with us as a faithful companion, not only when the road is smooth, but also, and particularly if, we pass through a dark valley. In the worst of times when it seems that
Sunday, April 29 Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 9:26-31 1 Jn 3:18-24 Jn 15:1-8
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Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. We need to remain in him, but we all need pruning.
Monday, April 30 Acts 14:5-18 Jn 14:21-26 Tuesday, May 1 Acts 14:19-28 Jn 14:27-31a Wednesday, May 2 St. Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church Acts 15:1-6 Jn 15:1-8 Thursday, May 3 Sts. Philip and James, apostles 1 Cor 15:1-8 Jn 14:6-14
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bear fruit, to keep us connected to the vine. We lose our connection when we do not bear fruit, choosing the way of the world instead of the way of the vine, choosing our own will over the will of God. St. John says in the second reading that to remain with God, we must keep his commandments; his commandment is to believe in him and to love one another. The fruitful branches stay connected with Christ through prayer, good works and love of one another. They bring glory to God and help others to turn toward God. Father Beeson, pastor of St. Joseph in Miesville and St. Pius V in Cannon Falls, was ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2005.
one more step is beyond what we can do, Jesus sets us on his shoulders and carries us. Transformation. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist and he takes up residence within us, it enables us to become more and more like him. St. Paul aptly wrote, “I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). We are to become who we receive. If Jesus is loving, truthful, generous, merciful, selfsacrificing and obedient to his father, the recipient is supposed to become more loving, truthful, merciful, self-sacrificing and obedient to God, and the Eucharist provides the grace that facilitates this spiritual transformation. Communion with the community. The reception of the Eucharist unites the communicant with everyone else who receives holy Communion. It places a person in fellowship with other believers, those attending that Mass, the other members of the parish and Catholics throughout the diocese and the world. It keeps a person linked to an immense spiritual family, the body of Christ — the Church — and establishes and strengthens a spiritual bond that is shared with brothers and sisters in faith everywhere. Spiritual power, strength and endurance. Physical food is necessary for healthy muscles that have strength to do work over a long time. The Eucharist is spiritual food that gives the strength and power to do mighty deeds: to study and master difficult subjects; to speak and uphold the truth, even in the face of fierce opposition; to perform endless household chores cheerfully; and the capacity to take on a major task or carry a heavy load for the long haul. A spiritual defense mechanism. Physical food strengthens the immune system, so antibodies can fight off germs that can harm or kill the body, and the Eucharist is spiritual food that equips a person to fend off temptations that can harm or kill the soul. The Eucharist fortifies a person’s internal defense mechanisms, equipping the person with potent spiritual weapons that repel or neutralize the injurious and lethal attacks of the devil, and to preserve a sterile environment, a soul that is clean and pure. Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata. Read more of his writing at CatholicHotdish.com.
Friday, May 4 Acts 15:22-31 Jn 15:12-17 Saturday, May 5 Acts 16:1-10 Jn 15:18-21 Sunday, May 6 Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 1 Jn 4:7-10 Jn 15:9-17 Monday, May 7 Acts 16:11-15 Jn 15:26–16:4a Tuesday, May 8 Acts 16:22-34 Jn 16:5-11 Wednesday, May 9 Acts 17:15, 22–18:1 Jn 16:12-15 Thursday, May 10 Acts 18:1-8 Jn 16:16-20 Friday, May 11 Acts 18:9-18 Jn 16:20-23 Saturday, May 12 Acts 18:23-28 Jn 16:23b-28 Sunday, May 13 Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11 Eph 1:17-23 Mk 16:15-20
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 17B
COMMENTARY YOUR HEART, HIS HOME | LIZ KELLY
Remember Angelo
On a recent trip to Rome, I stayed, for the first time, in the Jewish quarter. I rented a little apartment not far from Teatro Marcello on a charming, crooked cobblestone street — the kind so characteristic of the Eternal City. Brilliant purple bougainvillea cascaded from terracotta planters set against the lovely earthen hues of the stucco buildings. An accordion player claimed a spot below my window, and in the evening he would mosey from restaurant to restaurant entertaining the tourists who sat down to a bowl of pasta, exhausted with the day’s exploring of so many glorious churches. It was a quintessential Roman holiday. I confess, it took me a few days to notice the engraved brass plate at my door. It was set in the cobblestone at the entrance to my building right under my feet. It read: “Qui Abitava, Angelo Sed, Nato 1905, Arrestato 1.4.44. Deportato, Auschwitz, Assassinato.” That is, a man named Angelo Sed had lived in this building. Born in 1905, he was arrested on April 1, 1944, and shipped to Auschwitz where he was murdered. It turns out, Angelo’s was not the only brass plate; if you bother to
look down while walking through the Jewish quarter, you’ll notice that many other brass plates dot the cobblestone: Rosa and Anita Sermoneta, Emma Vivanti, Pacifico Tagliacozzo ... and on they go, brothers and sisters, fathers and sons, whole families. And Angelo. I imagine Signor Sed, just 39 years old, ripped out of a simple, unseen life, sent off on a slow and terrifying train ride to who knows where, greeted by smoke stacks and an inhuman end. I want to think that evil of that magnitude is far from me, something eradicated by peace treaties and democracy, by earnest prayers and fasting, something kept at bay by the sacraments; but it is right where I stand. I once heard an exorcist remark that sin is much more dangerous to the soul than Satan and his minions. Satan cannot get to your soul without your permission; but sin, that corrosive poison, takes root in the will — that is, my will, my choices. Of course, I must be on guard for Satan and his lies. But far and away, I must be aware of my own sinfulness, my proclivity to want my own way, to do what is easy rather than what is right, to be far too swiftly convinced that “it’s not my problem.” A random sales email came into my inbox recently, the heading of which read: “The more we evolve, the less we need God.” (Think, “Delete.”) How ironic that Adam and Eve were the first proponents of this philosophy. I might ask those who follow it: Was it Satan who took Angelo to the gas chamber? Or someone far more terrifying — a person, like you or me, misguided certainly, perhaps under duress, but making
FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA | SARAH SPANGENBERG
Sports gambling: Leave the money on the table
In the coming weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court might loosen federal restrictions on sports gambling. As a result, many states have proactively drafted bills that would create regulated sports gambling industries at the state level — Minnesota included. The changes could greatly expand legal gambling in Minnesota, for example, by making online gambling accessible 24 hours a day from any computer or smart phone. Proponents argue that legalized sports gambling would create a safer and more regulated environment for those who already gamble. But gambling expansion would also carve out space for an industry that preys on addictive personalities and irresponsible players — often those who can least afford to gamble. Others hope to bring in tax dollars by regulating the gambling industry. However, increased revenue streams in one area might lead to significant costs in other areas, such as court costs related to bankruptcies, and the need for increased safety net funding for people losing their livelihoods. The expansion of our state’s gambling laws could be disastrous for families and the common good.
A predatory industry Sports gambling is inherently predatory. Daily fantasy sports, for example, rely heavily on a large base of unskilled players who gamble — and lose — against experts or those who use algorithms and other tools to rig the outcomes. As reported in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and The Washington Post, for every skilled player,
there must be many unskilled ones to compensate the winners and provide the profit margins — so sports-betting companies must constantly lure in new players with the promise of big rewards. Gambling companies also bank on the addictiveness of the game. The more players return — and lose — the better the industry does; it feeds on the destructive behavior of compulsive gamblers. Choices and habits that destroy lives and tear families apart are also precisely the behaviors that line the gambling industry’s pockets the most. Professional sports leagues, too, are eyeing gambling expansion to increase their revenues and to keep increasingly bored and distracted fans entertained. In transformed stadiums more closely resembling racetracks or casinos, fans could bet on practically anything at any point throughout the game — whether Tom Brady will score a touchdown in the third quarter, or how many strikeouts Santana will throw against Cleveland. Obviously, this could easily become an addictive and troublesome social phenomenon. As mentioned above, a popular argument in favor of legalized sports gambling is that it will bring in more revenue for the state. Yet, this ignores the hidden cost associated with legalized gambling: erosion of trust and financial stability within families, an increase in divorce and family fragmentation, crippling unpaid debts, check fraud, embezzlement and other forms of economic theft committed by problem gamblers. Gambling also increases criminal justice costs related to problem gamblers who commit crimes to finance their habit and debts. All told, we can expect a government cost of $3 in social welfare spending for every dollar that gambling generates,
A brass plate memorializing Angelo Sed, a Roman Jew who was murdered in Auschwitz. COURTESY LIZ KELLY
real and consequential choices about whom to follow, whom to obey, whom to let live and whom to eradicate? It is comfortable to imagine that evil and good are far, far from one another, far from me. But sometimes they live under the same roof, they sleep in the same bed. Evolution will not save me from the world, the flesh or the devil. I never want to forget that the churches of Rome are built on the blood of the martyrs, and the little brass monuments of the Jewish quarter are ever under my feet. Father Almighty, I bow to you and no other. Kelly is the author of six books, including “Jesus Approaches” (Loyola Press, 2017) and the “Jesus Approaches Study Supplement.” She speaks and leads retreats throughout the United States.
according to the 2008 U.S. International Gambling Report Series. Those who say legal gambling will boost our state’s economy are only looking at part of the picture. Increased revenues will always be a strong incentive to consider new policies, but it is an incentive that must be kept in check. Let’s remember that the state exists for the good of the people in it — not the other way around. Enabling predatory business practices and destructive habits just so that the state can make a buck is a clear sign of skewed priorities.
A dangerous cultural shift This isn’t bingo in your church basement, pull tabs at the bar, a March Madness bracket or the school raffle. As Catholics we recognize that these forms of gambling can be a legitimate form of entertainment, not inherently problematic or contrary to justice. Problems do arise, though, when gambling deprives people of what is due to them or to those under their care (CCC 2413) — when, for example, players bet away their life savings or amass unmanageable debt to finance a gambling habit. Or when an entire industry revolves around them doing so. This is about more than revenue, and it’s certainly about more than sanctioning a harmless pastime. We’re talking about a major cultural shift with the potential to feed destructive cycles of greed and addiction. The potential for serious harm to Minnesotans and their families makes gambling expansion an unacceptable option. The gambling industry is motivated by greed and propped up by addiction, both evils that seriously tarnish the dignity proper to human persons. When it comes to gambling expansion, the hidden, human costs are much higher than the economic benefit. Spangenberg is the communications associate for the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
Support bill incentivizing charitable giving Each year, many Minnesotans choose to share their gifts with nonprofits through charitable donations, but recent changes to the federal tax code could negatively impact charitable giving. Because the federal tax plan nearly doubles the standard deduction, the number of Minnesotans who will be able to itemize their charitable gifts will decrease by approximately two-thirds. Fewer people itemizing means fewer people will have a federal tax incentive to donate to nonprofits. Minnesota’s state tax code currently allows non-itemizing households to deduct only 50 percent of donations over $500. However, a proposed bill (HF 3464/SF 3777) would remove the $500 floor and the 50 percent limit, thereby encouraging more giving by all Minnesotans. Please urge your legislators to strengthen the state’s charitable deduction for non-itemizers by supporting HF 3464/SF 3777. To find contact information for your state senator and state representative, call 651-296-8338.
Editor’s note: The “Catholic Watchmen” column will not run this month. It is expected to return in our May 24 issue. For more information about Catholic Watchmen, including upcoming events, visit facebook.com/thecatholicwatchmen.
18B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
CALENDAR FEATURED EVENTS Restorative Justice and Healing with Janine Geske — April 29: 1–3 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane N., Maple Grove; and 4–6 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes, 1 Lourdes Place, Minneapolis. Three parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are participating in a pilot program on restorative justice and healing regarding clergy sexual abuse. Janine Geske is a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and Marquette Law School professor who has led conversations on restorative justice at the Vatican and throughout the world. Geske will be joined by Mark Umbreit, director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota. For more information, visit sjtw.net or lourdesmpls.org. Second annual Religious Brothers Day — May 1: Catholic parishes, schools and organizations are encouraged to honor religious brothers on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. For more information, including resources, visit archspm.org. May Day Family Rosary Procession — May 6: 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol in St. Paul. The procession begins at 2 p.m. and ends at the Cathedral of St. Paul. It is sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Worship in collaboration with the Family Rosary Processions Association. For more information, contact Connie Schneider at connieschneider@earthlink.net. Catholic Watchmen Rally and Marian Procession with Archbishop Bernard Hebda — May 8: 6:30–9 p.m. at All Saints, 435 Fourth St. NE, Minneapolis. Archbishop Hebda will speak on Mary, Mediatrix of All Graces. Event includes eucharistic adoration and confession. Dinner provided. For more information, contact Enzo Randazzo at 651-291-4483 or randazzov@archspm.org, or visit thecatholicwatchmen.com. Ordination to the Diaconate — May 12: 10 a.m.–noon at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. Theology III seminarians from the St. Paul Seminary will be ordained transitional deacons, the third rite on the journey toward priesthood. For more information, visit stthomas.edu/spssod.
APRIL 26, 2018
Ongoing groups
Retreats
Job transitions and networking group — every Tuesday 7–8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane, Maple Grove. Bob at bob.sjtw@gmail.com. sjtw.net/jobtransition-networking-group.
World Wide Marriage Encounter Weekend — May 4-6 at Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. wwme.org.
CARITAS cancer support group — Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.–noon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, second floor, maternity classroom 2500, 45 W. 10th St., St. Paul. Dementia support group — Second Tuesday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org.
Parish events A Splash of Color Spring Salad Luncheon featuring Benson Family Singers — April 28: 11:45 a.m.–2 p.m. at Guardian Angels, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. guardian-angels.org. Guardian Angels crafters’ spring sale — April 28-29 at 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. April 28 and 10 a.m.–5 p.m. April 29. guardian-angels.org. St. Bonaventure garage sale — May 1-3 at Ambrose Hall, 901 E. 90th St., Bloomington. 5:30–7:30 p.m. preview May 1, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. May 2 and 9 a.m.–4 p.m. May 3. saintbonaventure.org. St. Victoria rummage sale — May 3-4 at 8228 Victoria Drive, Victoria. 7 a.m.–7 p.m. May 3 and 7 a.m.–3 p.m. May 4 (bag and bargain day). stvictoria.net/home/rummage-sale. St. Gabriel women’s club spring rummage sale — May 3-5 at 1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins. 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m. May 3, 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. May 4 and 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. May 5. stgabrielhopkins.org. Holy Name spring rummage sale — May 3-5 at 3637 11th Ave. S., Minneapolis. 4–8 p.m. May 3 preview sale ($1), 9 a.m.–7 p.m. May 4 and 9 a.m.–noon May 5 bag day ($2 per bag). churchoftheholyname.org. Cinco de Mayo taco sale — May 5: 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 401 Concord St., St. Paul. olgspchurch.com. Pax Christi Parishioners’ Art Exhibit — Through May 13: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at 12100 Pioneer Trail (enter door 3), Eden Prairie. paxchristi.com.
Prayer/worship
Dining out
Taize Prayer — First Friday of each month: 7:30 p.m. at St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. strichards.com/first-fridays.
A Taste of Spain: 11th annual Feast of the Golden Fork — April 28: 6:30–9 p.m. at Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Parkway, St. Paul. holychildhoodparish.org.
Taize Prayer — Third Friday of each month: 7 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org.
St. Gerard crawfish and shrimp boil — May 5: 6 p.m. at 9600 Regent Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. The boil follows 5 p.m. Mass. st-gerard.org.
Come Together ecumenical prayer service at Our Lady of Grace — April 29: 3–5 p.m. at 5071 Eden Ave., Edina. olgparish.org.
Music
Conferences/workshops
Missa Gaia – Earth Mass: featuring St. Thomas Becket musicians and Father Michael Joncas — May 4: 7 p.m. at 4455 S. Robert Trail, Eagan. stbeagan.org.
Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) — Third Sunday of each month: 1 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 1200 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. 952-922-5523.
Schools Benilde-St. Margaret’s Treasure Hunt Garage Sale — May 3-5 at 2501 Highway 100 S., St. Louis Park. 4–7 p.m. May 3-4 and 8 a.m.–4 p.m. May 5 (half-price day). bsmschool. org/current-families/parent-association/bsm-garage-sale-treasurehunt. Immaculate Conception Catholic school benefit: Queen of May Dinner and Auction — May 4: 5:30 p.m. at 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights. 763-788-9065 or school.iccsonline.org. Blessed Trinity Golf Tournament — May 14: 11 a.m.– 7 p.m. at Minnesota Valley Country Club, 6300 Auto Club Road, Bloomington. Proceeds to Blessed Trinity Catholic School. btcsmn.org/about/GolfTournament.htm. 50th reunion: St. Matthew Class of 1968 Class/ Community of Saints All-school Reunion — May 19-20 at 490 Hall Ave., St. Paul. st-matts.org.
Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. Kay at 651-426-3103 or Al at 651-482-0406. Singles group — Second Saturday of each month: 6:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 9100 93rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. Gather for a potluck supper, conversation and games. 763-425-0412.
CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. We cannot guarantee a submitted event will appear in the calendar. Priority is given to events occurring before the next issue date. LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and organizations. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your submission. Included in our listings are local events submitted by public sources that could be of interest to the larger Catholic community. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication: • Time and date of event • Full street address of event • Description of event • C ontact information in case of questions ONLINE: thecatholicspirit.com/ calendarsubmissions
MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106
Speakers Kirsten Malcolm Berry: An Invitation into the Images of the New Testament — April 26: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org. Johan van Parys, Ph.D.: The Power of Sacred Art: Beauty that Saves and Shatters — April 29: 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. mary.org/news-events/events. Life Legal Minnesota Benefit Dinner with keynote speaker Ryan Wilson — May 11: 6:15–8:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus banquet hall, 1114 American Blvd. W., Bloomington. lifelegaldefensefoundation.org/2018.
Young adults Archdiocese young adult bowling — April 28: 5:30– 8:30 p.m. at Flaherty’s Arden Bowl, 1273 W. County Road E, Arden Hills. Come join young adults (ages 18-39) from across the archdiocese. tiny.cc/archdiocese. Friday Night at the Friary — Third Friday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at Franciscan Brothers of Peace, 1289 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Men ages 18-35 are invited for prayer and fellowship. facebook.com/queenofpeacefriary.
More online:
www.thecatholicspirit.com/calendar
Other events C.S. Lewis on Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert portrayed by actor Max McLean — April 27 and 28: 8–9:30 p.m. at Pantages Theater, 710 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. fpatheatre.com. Bellis Adoption Education and Support — April 28: 11 a.m. at Annunciation, 509 54th St., Minneapolis. mybellis.org. 60th Franciscan International Award Dinner honoring Risen Savior Missions — May 10: 6 p.m. at The Wilds Golf Club, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. To register, call 952-447-2182. franciscanretreats.net. Knights of Columbus bingo — Wednesdays: 6–9 p.m. at Solanus Casey Council Hall, 1920 S. Greeley St., Stillwater.
Conference looks at how to preserve religious orders’ archives By Kurt Jensen Catholic News Service For American religious orders, an upcoming conference at Jesuit-run Boston College will address a pressing need — the preservation and archiving of their history, typically of grass-roots assistance of the neediest in rural as well as urban areas. The focus is on documents going back as far as the early 18th century, as well as audio and visual records from just decades ago. Or to put it more simply, “What do you do with your stuff? What are the options?” asked Malachy McCarthy, who is province archivist of the Chicago-based Claretian Missionaries USA-Canada Province and a co-chair of the July 11-13 conference. “You normally save only 10 percent of what you create.” Organizers of “Envisioning the Future of Catholic Religious Archives” describe it as a “working conference” that will bring together leaders of religious communities, archivists and historians to discuss solutions to the challenge faced by religious communities “in preserving and providing access to their
archival legacies.” Material typically goes missing — and quickly — when orders shut down or dwindle sharply in numbers. “There are a lot of significant parts of Catholicism in the United States, particularly women religious, that don’t have full records,” said Victory Noll Sister Ginger Downey. Her order, Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters, based in Huntington, Indiana, was founded in 1922 for “a very specific ministry of catechetics” in areas of the American Southwest where there were few priests or nuns. “I would love to find someone who would like to do the thread of what catechetics were in the United States,” she said. “It will be lost if we don’t have someone write this story.” Sister Downey, who works on the archives for her order, said what’s missing from Catholic history is always “the dayto-day stuff that happened, not just from hospitals and schools.” Going through records of individual nuns, she’s found them “running free clinics, starting Catholic charities, writing catechetical texts. And this was in the
CNS
Mother Mary Joseph Rogers, foundress of the Maryknoll Sisters, center right, visits with other Maryknoll sisters in 1925 at work in their art room. 1930s. People would be amazed at the stories of how these sisters lived and worked.” Shortly after the founding of the Victory Noll sisters, a silent film, “In the Service of the Queen” was made to publicize their work. That, too, is now considered lost. “We know people who remember seeing it, but no one knew
what happened to it.” American history is usually caught up in archival records as well, said Margaret McGuinness, a professor of religion at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. “Every convent was required to keep annals, kind of a diary of what happened in any given year,” she said. “When a school or a convent closed, the annals didn’t always wind up in archives — not by a long shot — but were often thrown away.” McCarthy is finding that missing records hurt opportunities to tell the history of the Church “as the center of immigrant life.” He’s hoping to find leads on “the history of ethnic neighborhoods that we don’t have anywhere else.” Hanging onto, and archiving, recorded history is another matter, even when the documents exist. “Each of these groups works in their own little world. They never think of archives. Very few of them are professional archivists, so they’re overwhelmed,” McCarthy said. The goal of the conference, he said, “is to listen, really. To see where people are and how we address it.”
APRIL 26, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 19B
Aquinas meets bluegrass in new album
ENGLAND-SCOTLAND • 12-Day PILGRIMAGE
WITH FR. ROBERT FITZPATRICK (Fr. Fitz), Spiritual Director Pastor St. Rose of Lima and Corpus Christi – Roseville, MN September 10-21, 2018
By Kelly Sankowski Catholic News Service Bluegrass music might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of Dominicans, but for the 10 Dominican brothers and priests at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington who recently released their debut album, “The Hillbilly Thomists,” the two have a lot in common. “The life of holiness is the happiest life. It is the good life,” said Brother Jonah Teller, who plays guitar on the album. “I was drawn, and I think a lot of men are drawn, by the joy the brothers exhibit ... to be living this life, to be saving our souls, to be drawing closer to Jesus, and to do it with brothers.” Likewise, while listening to bluegrass music, “there is a real happiness that is just drawn out of you,” he said. “So, I think that we’re geared to be happy, and bluegrass lets you be happy in a really expressive way.” That happiness was tangible as six of the Hillbilly Thomists played to a standing-room-only crowd April 11 at the Catholic Information Center in Washington. “It is a true extension of our fraternal life,” Brother Jonah said of the music. Dominican Father Austin Litke, who attended St. John Vianney College Seminary and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, founded the Hillbilly Thomists with Father Thomas Joseph White in the early 2000s. They
ST. RITA’S IN ITALY • 12-Day PILGRIMAGE
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COURTESY DOMINICANA RECORDS
The Hillbilly Thomists’ album cover. Co-founded by an alumnus of St. John Vianney College Seminary, the group released its first album in December 2017.
chose the name from a quote by Catholic author Flannery O’Connor, who said: “Everybody who has read ‘Wise Blood’ thinks I’m a hillbilly nihilist, whereas … I’m a hillbilly Thomist.” The product of the brothers’ fun pastime has received a response that none anticipated. It was in the top 10 of the bluegrass Billboard charts for about 10 weeks, at one point reaching the No. 3 spot, and it also reached the top 20 of all albums on Amazon. People from around the world are listening to it, reviewing it and often learning about St. Thomas Aquinas in the process, as they Google, “What is a Thomist?”
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TheCatholicSpirit.com “The Devil and Father Amorth” “Rampage”
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CATHOLIC URNS FOR SALE
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CEILING TEXTURE Michaels Painting. Popcorn Removal & Knock Down Texture: TextureCeilings.com (763) 757-3187.
CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Mendota Heights: 2 burial plots separated by one space for sale. $2000.00 for both, each $1100.00; call Marie (651) 387-0106.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Household Manager: The Stillwater Catholic Worker Community is seeking an energetic, compassionate woman to manage and live at Our Lady Queen of Peace House, a home for women and their children in transition. Room and board included with this volunteer position. Details available at STMICHAEL STILLWATER.ORG or by calling Kim (651) 270-1981. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: The Catholic Cemeteries is seeking an active, participating Roman Catholic with a graduate degree to serve as Director of 6 cemeteries. Responsibility includes over-all management of personnel, public relations, sales, fiscal oversight and financial controls. For further information: http://careers.archspm.org/jobs/ executive-director-catholic-cemeteries/ Part-Time RN Wanted for Pregnancy Center. If you have a heart to help women and babies; 1-2 days a week in Hopkins. Perform ultrasounds, STD testing, and manage new clinic. Please contact Cyndie: cyndie@myswow.org .
www.TheCatholicSpirit.com
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES The parishes of Assumption in Eden Valley and St. Anthony’s in Watkins are hiring a full-time Director of Education and Youth Ministry. This individual will plan and direct Christ-centered programs of catechesis and evangelization for youth, ages pre-K-12 and will lead and oversee the Youth Ministry Program. They also will lead and support the process for continuing conversion and RCIA and sacramental preparation. Candidate must be practicing Catholic with a love for the Church and her teachings. A bachelor’s degree in theology, religious education or a related field, and 3-5 years of experience is desired. Send resume with cover letter to: Interview Committee; St. Anthony’s Parish; 201 Central Ave S; PO Box 409; Watkins, MN 55389. stanthony@meltel.net Wakota — A Guiding Star Center is seeking an Executive Director to lead the pro-life pregnancy and family resource center in West St. Paul. Wakota is the busiest of Minnesota’s Elevate Life centers and Minnesota’s only Guiding Star Center. Please view more information at http://careers. archspm.org/jobs/executive-director-12. We are seeking Full-Time Catholic Elementary School Principal in Staples, MN. Contact Father Joe Korf jkorf@staplesnet.com (218) 894-2296 Director of Development: The Church of St. Peter, North St. Paul is seeking resultsdriven, passionate professional to establish and lead a comprehensive development program for the Church and School. Salary to commensurate with experience. For more information, please refer to careers.archspm.org/jobs/ director-of-development-8 or email Fr. Ettore Ferrario at eferrario@stpetersnsp.org.
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PRAYERS NOTICE: Prayers must be submitted in advance. Payment of $8 per line must be received before publication.
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20B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 26, 2018
THELASTWORD
The ‘brew’ evangelization PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Catholic Beer Club responding to millennials’ thirst for community By Jonathan Liedl For The Catholic Spirit
W
eeknight visitors to a Twin Cities craft brewery might stumble upon one of the newest young adult ventures in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Although they wouldn’t necessarily know it. There will be no tell-tale signs that an organized Catholic event is taking place — no speaker giving a catechetical talk, no priest fielding questions, no special reserved seating. Just a group of young Catholics casually chatting, laughing and getting to know each other, likely with a pale ale or stout in hand. Which is exactly how the leaders of the local chapter of the Catholic Beer Club want it. “Our goal is to provide not ‘just another Catholic event,’ but a casual forum for people to connect with others from all over the archdiocese,” said Isabel Brown, a parishioner of Holy Family in St. Louis Park who coordinates the group with fellow Catholic millennials Tim Cahill and Wesley Sandholm. The group has been holding local CBC get-togethers every few weeks since November 2017. Gatherings are held at breweries like Urban Growler in St. Paul and Insight Brewing in Minneapolis. Craft breweries’ open floor plans and flavorful beer selections lend themselves to the type of free-flowing, conversationconducive gathering organizers have in mind. “There’s no program, no script, no secondary mission that we are trying to accomplish,” said Cahill, a parishioner of St. Mark in St. Paul. “The community is our agenda.” The idea of bringing Catholic Beer Club, a national brand that now has chapters in more than 20 U.S. cities, to the Twin Cities was brewed up last fall, when Brown, Cahill and Sandholm met at the Archdiocese Young Adult Cookout. The three 20-somethings, who were each involved in young adult groups in different parts of the Twin Cities, realized the need for more regular events that brought together millennial Catholics from across the metro area.
After some research, they discovered Catholic Beer Club, which was founded in Denver in 2014 by a group of then-students at Benedictine University in Atchison, Kansas. Brown, Cahill and Sandholm were attracted to the simplicity of its model: “No Agendas. Just Community and Relationship.” They also recognized the benefits of tapping into a national network with an already well-established social media presence and brand identity, important qualities for attracting a young adult audience. After going through a CBC interview process that assessed their views on community and their commitment to the Catholic faith, they got the green light to organize CBC events. Since getting started, CBC-Twin Cities events typically draw more than 60 attendees, usually an even mix of men and women. Although “beer” is in the group’s name, non-beer drinkers are more than welcome. And though most attendees are faithful Catholics, conversation typically isn’t too theological, an attractive feature for some. “It was fun to meet new people who share our faith, but we spent most of the time just talking about life and goofing around,” said Cecilia Miller, a 23-year-old
Catholic Beer Club lives up to its name at Able Seedhouse and Brewery in Minneapolis April 4.
McKaela Laxen, center, of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, talks with Nick Check of Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul during a Catholic Beer Club event at Able Seedhouse and Brewery in Minneapolis April 4. In the background at left is Father Byron Hagan of Holy Cross in Minneapolis.
parishioner of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, who attended CBC’s first event at Minneapolis’ Town Hall Brewery in November. While CBC might not be a catechetical event where deep formation is provided, the coordinators believe the “low-bar of entry for newcomers” allows the group to play an important role in deepening attendees’ faith by pointing them to other young adult ministries. “This is a platform where relationships are kindled, ideas are formed and people can dive more deeply into their faith,” said Sandholm, a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, who added that the CBC coordinators encourage attendees to check out parishes and other young adult faith communities such as West Metro Young Adults, Cathedral Young Adults and Vespers at Lourdes. This aspect of CBC is appreciated by Catholics such as Andrew Kuhrmeyer, 27, a recent convert to the faith. Kuhrmeyer, who also attends Mass at the Cathedral, said CBC has been “a big blessing,” and it has helped him connect with the Catholic young adult scene. “A good group of friends is good to have, especially when you’re growing in the faith,” he said, adding that he was invited to join a Bible study at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis through his attendance at CBC gatherings. “You want to walk the path with others.” Catholic Beer Club can also be a welcoming place for young adults who are new to the area, like Juliana Poschel. The 23-year-old moved to the Twin Cities from Colorado seven months ago for work, and she said she knew no one when she arrived. She first came across Catholic Beer Club on Facebook, and was intrigued by its simple, straightforward name. “I like all three of those words put together, so I thought maybe I should check it out,” she said. Poschel, who goes to Mass at All Saints in Minneapolis, attended her first CBC event in January, describing it as a “completely positive experience.” She is currently dating a Catholic man she first met at a CBC gathering, and she said she sees the potential for many healthy friendships coming from her involvement in its events. “When you have a bunch of people with something so fundamentally important to them in common [as their Catholic faith] and there’s beer, that’s the perfect mixture for good conversation,” she said.