April 4, 2019 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
thecatholicspirit.com
Vandalism and faith After religious-related vandalism at St. Thomas, students seek reparation, but some disappointed in university’s response. — Page 5B
Holy Church Priest known for spiritual writing, retreats reflects on the Church in midst of scandal. — Page 6B
Sister honored Sister Alice Zachmann’s human rights advocacy recognized by national women’s organization. — Page 7B
Veronica Orellana of Worthington addresses a Feb. 21 news conference at the State Capitol in St. Paul about ways a legislative proposal to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses would help her family. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Discerning vocations St. John Vianney College Seminary celebrates 50 years. — Pages 10B-11B
Breaking silence Book of poetry helps survivors heal from abuse. — Page 14B
Slime time Students at Roseville school win chance to “slime” priest and principal by meeting fundraising goal.
Immigration quandary Driver’s license arguments in Minnesota raise questions about morality, justice By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit
A
complex swirl of emotions, moral and legal questions drive the nation’s debate on immigration and the presence of more than 10 million undocumented people in the United States. More than 90,000 of those undocumented immigrants live in Minnesota.
Some people argue law-and-order: strong border control and immediate deportation of anyone in the country without the proper papers. Others, including Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and bishops around the country, insist the nation’s immigration system is broken and needs to be reformed. The nation’s borders need to be secure, the bishops argue, but immigrants who have entered the country illegally and have lived here for years, sometimes decades, need to be given a way forward that respects their dignity and does not separate families. Not every Catholic agrees with the bishops. Some wonder why the bishops would enter this legal debate at all.
Others argue that abortion is a far more important issue, and that is where the U.S. bishops should place their energy, rather than divert attention to immigration. Still others have been hurt by an undocumented immigrant’s crime or traffic violation, and feel strongly that the offender should not have been in this country in the first place. Strong emotions fuel impressions about immigrants and crime, although studies indicate that per capita, significantly fewer undocumented and legal immigrants commit crimes ending in incarceration than people born in the United States. PLEASE TURN TO IMMIGRATION ON PAGE 12B
Honoring Catholic business leaders whose faith shapes their work.
— Page 20 B
Nominations open through March APRIL29 12 at TheCatholicSpirit.com. DEADLINE EXTENDED!
Awardee luncheon with Archbishop Bernard Hebda Aug. 1.
Good Work • In Christ
2B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
PAGETWO
“
My health is good and I’m recovering from my emotions.
Father Claude Grou, 77, the rector of St. Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, who was stabbed during a morning Mass March 22. A priest of the Holy Cross Congregation, he was released from the hospital and plans to return to his ministry at the Montreal church. Vlad Cristian Eremia, the 26-year-old suspect in the attack, which was caught on film, is accused of attempted murder. Prosecutors and the defense agreed he should have a psychiatric evaluation.
NEWS notes
7
The number of state high school boys basketball championships DeLaSalle has won in the past eight years. The Minneapolis Catholic high school returned to the Class 3A throne March 23 with a 63-56 victory over Waseca. Jamison Battle scored 26 points for DeLaSalle and Tyrell Terry added 19 points. The Islanders captured their 12th title in program history with the win.
1
The place Paige Goehner claimed after 10 rounds in Food Network’s Kids Baking Championship Jan. 7 through March 12. The sixth-grader at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood competed against a dozen other students in the contest that showcased the baking skills of young people ages 9 to 13. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
ENCOURAGING MEN Catholic apologist and Relevant Radio host Patrick Madrid speaks to an audience of more than 1,000 men at the annual Archdiocesan Men’s Conference March 23 at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. He spoke on this year’s theme: Arming Men of Integrity. Confession and eucharistic adoration were available throughout the day, with Mass at the end celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Hebda.
15
The number of Knights of Columbus councils out of 275 in Minnesota that won Star Council awards last year. Among them is Marian Council 3827 in Bloomington, which for the first time in more than 20 years is celebrating being awarded the highest honor a council can receive. The award is based on programs, activities, contributions to charities and membership. Among other achievements last year, the Marian Council points to having helped remodel a convent in Bloomington for the Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta, as well as the council making donations to food banks and hosting its annual spaghetti dinner for seminarians.
8
The number of people — two students and three family members each — the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence in Minneapolis will award with a weekend trip to the Vatican Observatory in Tucson, Arizona, as part of its second annual Big Bang C-STEM Fair for Catholic grade schools April 6. One winner from competitions for students in grades three to five and one from grades six to eight will experience a special behind-thescenes tour and see the stars through the observatory’s astronomical telescope. More than 160 students are expected at the Big Bang event at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley.
87
The number of years, including 2019, that the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women has held an annual conference. This year’s gathering is May 3-4 at St. John Neumann in Eagan and includes speakers, educational sessions, networking opportunities, meals and Masses with Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Father Charles Lachowitzer. Two-day registration is $75. archspm.org/87th-accw-convention.
COURTESY STORYLINE PHOTOGRAPHY LLC
RISE UP Middle school youth touch the cloth coming down from the altar during eucharistic adoration at a Rise Up Twin Cities rally that drew more than 650 students and chaperones to the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington March 23. Bloomington-based Partnership for Youth organized the conference.
online EXCLUSIVES The laicization of former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick has stirred questions about the loss of the clerical state, and some Catholics are questioning the validity of sacraments they’ve received from a priest who was later laicized. “For all ... people who received sacraments from priests or bishops who were laicized, apostasized (gone over to another faith) or embraced a schismatic faith, such as the Polish National Catholic Church, take comfort and know that you do not need to be rebaptized, re-confirmed, re-ordained or exchange your marriage promises again,” writes Father Glenn Comandini of Metuchen, New Jersey, in a column “Are sacraments conferred by laicized priests valid?” To learn why, read the whole column at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 24 — No. 7 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher United in Faith, Hope and Love
TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor-in-Chief
5
The weekend box office ranking achieved by the movie “Unplanned,” the story of Abby Johnson, a Planned Parenthood director who became a pro-life advocate. In its opening weekend, the film grossed $6.1 million, tripling its expected box office dollars, according to industry experts. Some parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, including St. Joseph in Waconia, St. Nicholas in Elko New Market and St. Stephen in Anoka, organized groups to attend viewings in local theaters. Learn more about the film at unplannedfilm.com.
1179
The death year of St. Hildegard of Bingen, a German Benedictine abbess, writer, composer and mystic. Several of her Latin chants were showcased March 22-23 by the all-women vocal ensemble ModernMedieval as part of “The Living Word” hosted by the Walker Art Center at the Summit Center for Arts and Innovation in St. Paul. The event also included contemporary artists who wove their music into the 12th-century hymns.
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 4, 2019
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3B
FROMTHEMODERATOROFTHECURIA ONLY JESUS | FATHER CHARLES LACHOWITZER
The touch of the Master’s hand
I
recently was rummaging through some old books, re-examining the value of a personal library since the internet has the library of the world. Shelves of books are now but a pebble on the mountain of information available on my phone.
One book was marked with a laminated card, one of many bookmarks I’ve received over the years. On it was a poem written by Myra Brooks Welch in 1921. The wording is tinged with a previous era, yet for me, its message called to mind the experience of going to confession. Like the old violin in the poem, we too get covered with the dust of the world. We ourselves get out of tune. With the caring touch of the Master’s hand — the presence of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of reconciliation –— we are dusted off and, with strings tuned, sent forth to play the melody of Easter joy. “… a melody, pure and sweet, as sweet as the angel sings.”
El toque de la mano del maestro Recientemente revisé algunos libros antiguos y que revise el valor de una biblioteca personal, ya que Internet tiene la biblioteca del mundo. Los estantes de libros ahora son solo un guijarro en la montaña de información disponible en mi teléfono. Un libro se marcó con una tarjeta laminada, uno de los muchos marcadores que he recibido a lo largo de los años. En él había un poema escrito por Myra Brooks Welch en 1921. La redacción está teñida con una era anterior, pero para mí, su mensaje recordaba la experiencia de confesión. Como el viejo violín en el poema, nosotros también nos cubrimos con el polvo del mundo. Nosotros mismos nos desafinamos. Con el cariñoso toque de la mano del Maestro, la presencia de Jesucristo en el sacramento de la reconciliación, somos despedidos y, con cuerdas afinadas, enviados a tocar la melodía de la alegría de Pascua. “... una melodía, pura y dulce, tan dulce como canta el ángel”.
“The Old Violin” by Myra Brooks Welch ‘Twas battered and scarred, And the auctioneer thought it hardly worth his while To waste his time on the old violin, but he held it up with a smile.
Jesus does not view sinners as transgressors who must be punished according to the law, but as people in need of hope and freedom from sin, Pope Francis said. “It is Jesus who, with the power of the Holy Spirit, frees us from the evil we have within us, from the sin which the law could impede but not remove,” the pope said in his homily March 29 during the annual Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. After the homily and several minutes of silent reflection and prayer, the pope removed his liturgical vestments and walked toward one of the wooden confessionals; he kneeled before a priest to confess.
The audience cheered, But some of them cried, “We just don’t understand. “What changed its worth?”
“What am I bid, good people,” he cried, “Who starts the bidding for me?” “One dollar, one dollar. Do I hear two?” “Two dollars, who makes it three?” “Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three.”
Swift came the reply: “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.” And many a man with life out of tune All battered and bruised with hardship Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd Much like that old violin.
But no. From the room far back a gray bearded man came forward and picked up the bow, Then wiping the dust from the old violin And tightening up the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet As sweet as the angel sings.
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game and he travels on. He’s going once, he is going twice, He is going and almost gone.
The music ceased and the auctioneer With a voice that was quiet and low, Said, “What now am I bid for this old violin?”
But the Master comes, And the foolish crowd never can quite understand, The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought By the Touch of the Master’s Hand.
“El violín viejo” por Myra Brooks Welch
Mientras lo sostenía en alto con su arco, “Mil, mil. ¿Oigo dos? “Dos mil, ¿quién lo hace tres?” Tres mil una vez, tres mil dos veces Va y saliendo “, dijo él.
“Fue maltratado y marcado, Y el subastador lo pensó. apenas vale la pena Para perder su tiempo en el viejo violín, pero lo sostuvo con una sonrisa.
El público aplaudió, Pero algunos de ellos lloraron, “Simplemente no entendemos. “¿Qué cambió su valor?”
“¿Qué es lo que digo, buena gente”, gritó, “¿Quién empieza a pujar por mí?” “Un dólar, un dólar. ¿Oigo dos? “Dos dólares, ¿quién lo hace tres?” “Tres dólares una vez, tres dólares dos veces, Yendo por tres”.
Swift vino la respuesta: “El toque de la mano del maestro”.
Pero no. Desde la habitación de atrás un hombre barbudo gris. se adelantó y recogió el arco, Luego limpiando el polvo del viejo violín Y apretando las cuerdas, Tocó una melodía, pura y dulce. Tan dulce como el ángel canta. La música cesó y el subastador. Con una voz tranquila y baja. Dijo: “¿Ahora qué ofrezco por este viejo violín?”
Pope: In Jesus’ heart, the sinner is more important than the sin By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service
As he held it aloft with its bow, “One thousand, one thousand. Do I hear two?” “Two thousand, who makes it three?” Three thousand once, three thousand twice, Going and gone,” said he.
The sound of sacred music, interspersed with moments of Scripture reading and quiet reflection, filled the basilica while Pope Francis and dozens of priests and bishops listened to confessions. In his homily, the pope reflected on the Gospel reading, in which the Pharisees brought a woman accused of adultery, and they attempted to trap Jesus by asking him whether she should be stoned according to the law of Moses. “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her,” Jesus replied. Citing St. Augustine, the pope said once those who sought to stone the woman left, only Jesus and the woman remained, “mercy with misery,” because in his eyes, “that woman, that person” was what was of value.”
Y muchos hombres con la vida fuera de tono Todos maltratados y magullados con dificultades. Es subastado barato a una multitud sin pensamientos. Al igual que ese viejo violín. Un lío de potaje, una copa de vino, Un juego y él viaja adelante. él va una vez, él va dos veces. Se va y casi se va. Pero el Maestro viene, Y la muchedumbre insensata nunca puede entender del todo. El valor de un alma y el cambio que se produce. Por el toque de la mano del maestro.
OFFICIAL Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:
Effective March 28, 2019 Reverend Daniel Haugan, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Stanislaus in Saint Paul. This is in addition to his current assignment as pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Saint Paul.
Effective April 1, 2019 Reverend John Clay, who has served as pastor of the Church of Saint Stanislaus in Saint Paul since 1975, has been granted the status of a retired priest. Father Clay has served the Archdiocese since his ordination in 1951.
SLICEof LIFE
4B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LOCAL
APRIL 4, 2019
Honoring founding Father Marc Peters, left, state deputy of the Knights of Columbus and member of St. Joseph of the Lakes in Lino Lakes, reads a prayer at the end of Mass March 30 at St. Bridget in Minneapolis for the canonization of Father Michael McGivney, who founded the Knights in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut. Joining Peters are his wife, Sharon, and Father Paul Jarvis, senior associate pastor of St. Bridget. Father McGivney’s sainthood cause opened in 1997; in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI declared him “venerable.” The Mass, which featured a Knights honor guard and choir, was celebrated by Archbishop Bernard Hebda. It recognized the canonization cause of Father McGivney and the Knights’ official start date of March 29, 1882. Bill Moore, a St. Bridget parishioner and grand knight of Minneapolis Northside Council 4451, said the Mass has been celebrated the last three years. “I just know in my heart that this Mass is going to grow,” he said.
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LOCAL
APRIL 4, 2019
After Mary statue vandalized, some St. Thomas students criticize administration response By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit About 200 University of St. Thomas students and staff prayerfully processed across the St. Paul campus March 21 as an act of reparation for a vandalized Mary statue in a men’s residence hall. “I think the best way to respond to an act of hatred or violence of any sort is to pray as Catholics,” said senior Catherine Wessel, 22, a peer minister with campus ministry who engages fellow students in the Catholic faith. “I think to come together as a community, to pray a rosary especially, is really beautiful.” But the procession was organized by students, not the administration, Wessel and others said, reflecting what they perceived as a lack of support for students concerned about respect for the Catholic faith at a Catholic university. “The way it was handled reflects a lot of other issues regarding Catholic identity and how other intolerances are handled,” Wessel said. Several students in Ireland Hall destroyed the statue March 3, university officials said. Senior John Lucke, a Catholic and Ireland Hall resident, said he saw another sign of disrespect to Catholicism 3 a.m. March 19 when he found a stale piece of bread with the words “Body of Christ” written across in black marker. He reported it to campus security. St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan and Richard Plumb, executive vice president and provost, condemned the destruction of the statue in a March 12 letter and offered a listening session March 20 for students. “This was a grave act of disrespect, which has deeply hurt many in our community,” they wrote. According to students who attended the listening session, Sullivan said she received an apology letter from a student who claimed responsibility for destroying the statue. She said the students were drunk at the time. Sophomore Peter Thompson, 19, said he felt Sullivan’s mention of the students’ drunkenness downplayed the seriousness of the offense. St. Thomas students and staff at the procession focused on peace in response to the vandalism. Student members of St. Thomas campus ministry organized the procession, although it wasn’t an official campus ministry event. “This is a time for us to come together as community with love in our hearts,” Tony Preston, a senior and a peer minister majoring in social work and philosophy, said at the procession. “Our great pope, Pope John Paul II, told us ‘overcome evil with weapons of love.’” Preston first led five minutes of silence for those suffering religious persecution, including the 50 Muslims shot and killed in two mosque attacks in New Zealand March 15. Those gathered then prayed a rosary while processing from the Anderson Student Center to the Mary statue behind the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. Thompson, who is Catholic, said hearing the news of the statue disturbed him, but the procession was “both healing and inspiring.” Fellow sophomore Derrick Diedrich, a Catholic and peer minister, said many people had varying viewpoints about the cause and intention of the destruction. “It still hurts to know that something that’s so important to me — I love the Blessed Mother — is just another thing that other students don’t care anything
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5B
Catholic groups respond to rapid thaw By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit
MATTHEW DAVIS | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
About 200 University of St. Thomas students and staff participate in a rosary procession on the St. Paul campus March 21 in response to the destruction of a Mary statue in Ireland Hall March 3. for,” said Diedrich, 20, a leadership and management major who lived in Ireland Hall as a freshman. When Lucke spotted the stale bread with its reference to the Eucharist, he considered it a “heinous act of hatred.” He expressed doubt that an intoxicated person could have written the letters so neatly. “You’re not drunkenly writing four letters and two letters and (then) five letters, propping it nicely so that people can read it,” Lucke said. “This was intentional.” Father Larry Snyder, St. Thomas vice president for mission, said the bread incident is being investigated. “We are a strong Catholic community and hold our Catholic beliefs as central to all we do,” he said. “Students of Catholic faith are welcomed and supported on campus, and we will continue to hear their concerns and help them grow in their faith.” Lucke compiled a list of 12 examples from students who said they didn’t feel supported in their Catholic faith. Wessel, who is majoring in neuroscience and Catholic Studies, read the list to university officials at the listening session. She mentioned examples such as a friend being insulted for wearing a pro-life T-shirt. Thompson said he has been insulted for wearing a scapular, having pro-life stickers on his laptop and attending Sunday Mass. Thompson and Wessel said some students mentioned seeing professors disrespecting the Church. Students interviewed by The Catholic Spirit also talked about what they saw as a discrepancy in the university’s response to the religious vandalism compared with its response to a racist graffiti incident last fall. University officials canceled classes Oct. 31 so students could attend a campus-wide meeting regarding racism after a racial slur written in red letters was found on an African-American freshman’s door in another residence hall Oct. 19. Father Snyder explained the distinction he saw between the two incidents:“The racist incident that occurred on campus was directed at an individual because of the color of his skin,” he said. “This vandalism incident also had an impact on students and was a grave act of disrespect. It was not, however, an act motivated by bias or directed at any individual.”
Rapid snow melt in the Twin Cities and across Minnesota has local Catholic organizations on high alert. “It’s everywhere,” said Paula Petke-McCarty, claims/risk manager for Catholic Mutual Group, about the thaw’s impact. “There isn’t any one area that was more affected than another. It was a really bad winter. We had massive amounts of snow.” Catholic Mutual, a St. Paul-based nonprofit, administers self-insurance for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It includes property insurance for all 187 parishes and parish schools in addition to liability insurance. The Twin Cities had a record snowfall of 39 inches in February, beating the 1962 record by 12.5 inches. It also marked the fourth-highest snowfall for any month in the metro. Heavy snow also fell across the state and other parts of the country, leading to widespread Midwest flooding. Claims from parishes and schools have poured in regarding damage from ice dams on roofs and water seepage, Petke-McCarty said March 19, although confidentiality prevented her from disclosing how many. She said it’s the highest claim total she’s seen in her seven years with Catholic Mutual. The insurance company is also reminding parishes and schools about preventative measures, such as keeping exterior drains clear and attaching drainage extensions. “I’m really hoping, and I believe we aren’t going to have any flooding here that will affect our churches,” Petke-McCarty said. “We’re obviously going to have flooding from the rivers.” Catholic United Financial Foundation is gearing up its storm response efforts as forecasters expect more flooding in coming weeks. A foundation of Catholic United Financial, the St. Paul-based nonprofit supports Catholic schools, chastity education, vocations and disaster relief. Catholic United Financial is a nonprofit fraternal benefit company in St. Paul. “We figure the highest levels haven’t been seen yet,” said Robert Heuermann, CUFF’s executive director, March 19. “We’re kind of holding our breath waiting to see what actually transpires.” The Mississippi, Minnesota and Crow rivers have hit major flood levels, according to the National Weather Service. The St. Croix River has moderate flooding. Some streets near the Mississippi River in downtown St. Paul were closed and people were sandbagging to prevent more damage from rising waters. Flooding could linger into May, forecasters said.
Holy Family students use Final Four to raise awareness about human trafficking By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit Thirteen seniors at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria organized a human trafficking awareness campaign around the Final Four, the NCAA men’s basketball finals at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis April 6-8. “Someone who is sold or sexually exploited is not … receiving the dignity and the respect that they deserve,” said
Carly Hilgers, a senior and a member of the school’s Leadership Institute group that organized the campaign. “I thought it would be a good idea for our LI group to advertise the rise in number of cases during the Final Four time in Minneapolis.” News outlets from recent Final Four host sites such as San Antonio and Indianapolis reported increased attention by law enforcement to human trafficking. The Leadership Institute at Holy
Family is a four-year, required program. Seniors complete a capstone project designed to improve the school community or support a cause. Hilgers and her group launched their social media campaign for the week of the Final Four, capping efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking they began in late February. The campaign features images and messages about human trafficking on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. The hashtag
#humansarenotforsale is being used for the campaign, which runs through April 8. The students also raised $1,000 at a tamales fundraiser in February for Breaking Free, a St. Paul-based antihuman trafficking nonprofit. On March 21, LI members presented information on human trafficking to all of the students at the high school. The seniors also asked students to wear purple April 2, honoring Breaking Free’s signature color.
LOCAL
6B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
Spiritual writer addresses the holy Church in the midst of scandal By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit Despite the scandal of clergy sexual abuse and its cover-up, the Catholic Church through God’s faithfulness and mercy remains and always will be holy. That was the message of Father Jacques Philippe, a priest known for his spiritual writings and retreats, to more than 200 people gathered at a March 21 evening of reflection at St. John the Baptist in Excelsior. “The holiness of the Church is the holiness of God himself,” said Father Philippe, who is from France and a member of the Community of the Beatitudes founded in that country. “It is the holiness of Christ.” The Church remains the means of sanctification through God’s fidelity and the presence of Christ, in its sacraments and truth of the Gospel, said Father Philippe, widely known for books such as “Interior Freedom,” “In the School of the Holy Spirit” and “Searching for and Maintaining Peace.” “God’s faithfulness is bigger than man’s sin,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “As St. Paul says, where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.” Father Philippe spoke as part of a series of talks offered by the parish in its inaugural “Father Mark Dosh Speaker Series: Where Knowledge Leads to Love,” in honor of its late pastor, who died in February 2018 after 59 years as a priest, the last 16 at St. John the Baptist. The series is on the four marks of the Church: One, holy, catholic and apostolic. The first talk was in January with widely known evangelist and author Jeff Cavins of St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove. The next will be Oct. 3 on the Church as catholic, or “universal,” with Debbie Herbeck of
COURTESY KEITH THOMAS
Catherine Sy of Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata translates for Father Jacques Philippe of the Community of the Beatitudes March 21 at St. John the Baptist in Excelsior. Father Philippe, who is from France, spoke at an evening of reflection on the holiness of the Church. Ann Arbor, Michigan, a convert from Judaism to Catholicism and an author who works in youth and women’s ministry. The final talk, on the Church as apostolic, will be given Nov. 14 by Bishop Peter Christensen of Boise, Idaho, who was a priest of the archdiocese prior to his episcopal ordination. The evening with Father Philippe included a reception, eucharistic adoration and time for confession, as well as music from the Basilica of St. Mary Cathedral Choir and a Q&A session. Speaking quietly and with humor for about an hour, Father Philippe said people suffering through this time in the Church should not leave, but rather
St. Stanislaus Church proudly
congratulates S. Alice Zachmann, SSND who has been named a 2019 National Women’s History Alliance Honoree. S. Alice was an important part of St. Stanislaus Staff in the 1960’s and 70’s. S. Alice was an integral part of welcoming and assisting Father John Clay in 1975 establishing the open and accepting parish we enjoy today. Always on the side of justice, S. Alice has consistently been a visionary woman and champion of peace and nonviolence!
St. Stanislaus applauds this recognition.
Peace Brigades International-USA
congratulates
Sister Alice Zachmann for her fierce and unwavering defense of human rights. Congratulations, Alice, on being recognized as a Visionary Woman by the National Women’s History Alliance. Through your vision, courage, commitment, and love, you built an organization that continues to work cooperatively and in solidarity for a people’s right to live. You opened hearts and eyes and saved lives. May we all follow in your footsteps.
should pray still more for the Church. “One person said to me, ‘With everything happening in the Church, I think I will leave the Church,’” Father Philippe said. “I said, ‘OK, but where are you going to go?’ We cannot do this by ourselves. We cannot save ourselves.” And he warned, perfection would not be found elsewhere, either. Over time, scandal such as what the Church is facing now, “forces us to work toward a form of holiness that is not human perfection but is the holiness of Jesus, who is in fact able to take on the sins of others,” he said. Father Philippe quoted St. Catherine of Siena’s prayers for the Church when it had grown corrupt in the 14th century, and St. Therese of Lisieux’s
The Visitation Sisters of Minneapolis
congratulate
Sister Alice Zachmann for her ministry in Guatemala and stand in solidarity with her as she exemplifies the principles of social justice.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester,
a nonprofit corporation of the state of Minnesota, seeks an Executive Director in its Winona MN office. The Executive Director is responsible for the overall design, implementation, and oversight of all social service and social justice programs of Catholic Charities for the 20 southern counties of Minnesota. A key responsibility includes achieving significant positive outcomes for poor and vulnerable people throughout southern Minnesota. The successful candidate must possess a Master’s Degree in a relevant field with 8-10 years experience preferably, in nonprofit program and agency administration, program development, and fund development. Must be a practicing Catholic and understand and support the moral and social teachings of the Church, including the principles of Catholic Social Teaching. Please email a resume and cover letter to scollom@ ccsomn.org or mail to Catholic Charities, Attn: Sheila Collom, PO Box 379, Winona MN 55987 by April 30, 2019. www.ccsomn.org.
prayers for priests after she had come to realize the imperfections of several. Through it all the Church continues, and its members should pray for one another and lean on God, Father Philippe said. Everyone sins, and only with humility can people grow in grace, he said. “It is true the Church needs to reform,” he said. “It needs to be purified. We have to be careful to do all we can to show the holiness of the Church. But not in a prideful way, but being a sinner among sinners, humble but full of hope in the mercy of God and the power of grace.” “We must not have the position that others must change, but I don’t need to change,” Father Philippe said. “Mother Teresa was asked, ‘What must we change in the Church?’” and she said: “‘You and me.’” Pope Francis is working on reforms, and people should trust him, Father Philippe said. “I, personally, trust him a lot,” he said. But there is a need for personal conversion, as well, Father Philippe said. “We can’t be prideful and Catholic,” he said. “I am very happy to be a priest. It is the greatest gift that God gave me. But in humility. I’m not Superman.” “We are called to love the Church,” he said. “Not because I like the Church, but because it needs our love. It’s not because it is cool, or nice, or we laugh together but because the Church needs us.” And people need the Church, Father Philippe said, which is “an encounter between the infinite mercy of God and the misery of man.” “In the Church,” he said, “anyone who wants to love God … will always find the means necessary.”
LOCAL
APRIL 4, 2019
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7B
Lifetime of fighting for human rights earns sister a place in history By Doug Hovelson For The Catholic Spirit Sister Alice Zachmann thinks of herself as more of a peacemaker than a history maker. She is both, according to the National Women’s History Alliance, a Californiabased organization that promotes greater understanding of women’s contributions to American society. The NWHA selected Sister Zachmann as a 2019 honoree, and the 92-year-old religious sister, a Minnesota native and Mankato resident, attended the March 30 in Washington. The award, tied to this year’s theme, Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Nonviolence, honors Sister Zachmann for her lifelong commitment to peace and human rights — issues that she began publicly advocating for in the 1960s and ‘70s as a teacher at parish schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. In 1975, while serving as a pastoral minister at St. Stanislaus in St. Paul, she traveled to Guatemala to visit a friend and fellow sister in her religious order, the School Sisters of Notre Dame. The terrible poverty and suffering she witnessed in Guatemala, in contrast to the epic beauty of the landscape, left her feeling desperate to help. After returning to Minnesota, she started making care packages and sending them with people traveling to the country. She wanted to do more, but she didn’t know how to proceed. At that time, Guatemala was in the midst of a 36-year civil war in which more than 200,000 people were killed. In 1981, she called a timeout. “I felt I had to do a retreat,” she recalled. “I didn’t know what I was going to do. At the end of the retreat, I got a call from a friend in Washington. She wanted me to come to Washington after the retreat.” Her friend wanted her to start the Guatemala Human Rights Commission USA. The idea seemed absurd on the face of it. “I spoke no Spanish — none,” she said. “I had no money.” Still, she decided she wanted to do it — if her sisters in Mankato gave her their blessing. “I took a bus down to Mankato and met with the Provincial Council,” she recalled. “They said they would support me but were unable to give me any money.” She assembled a small stake of cash — about $1,000 — to get herself and the fledgling organization established. The Catholic University of America in Washington agreed to let her set up shop, but her small office, she recalled, was in a campus building slated to
COURTESY SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
School Sister of Notre Dame Alice Zachmann attends a peace vigil in Mankato in this undated photo. be torn down in the near future. By June 1982, she had obtained IRS-approved nonprofit status for the organization, which meant she could start fundraising. She began calling on members of Congress to inform them of the dire human rights situation in Guatemala and visited the Guatemalan embassy “to tell them what we knew.” The Guatemalan government officials she contacted might have thought that by ignoring her, Sister Zachmann would eventually give up and go home to Minnesota. If so, they couldn’t have been more wrong. Sister Zachmann’s character was put to the test even as a child. Her family endured grinding poverty as her parents struggled to make ends meet while operating the family farm in the 1930s and ‘40s — years marked by the Great Depression, drought and world war. “We were poor,” she said simply. But her “wonderful parents” taught her a great lesson about not giving up, no matter how hard the going. It was a lesson she would put to the test in her own work advocating on behalf of the oppressed and abused people of Guatemala. Her parents also saw to it that she attended the local Catholic school at St. Michael Catholic Church, then a cornerstone of the strong German-Catholic community that settled in and around the rural town of St. Michael
beginning in the 1800s. One day she walked up to the church choir loft for some reason, and “it just came to me” to become a nun, she recalled. Her teacher at St. Michael helped her clarify her choices. Following her heart, Sister Zachmann applied to attend high school at Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Catholic girls school run by the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato. The school accepted her, but Sister Zachmann had her studies interrupted twice, for two years at a time, because her help was needed on the family farm. In 1949, she professed her vows with the School Sisters. Sister Zachmann was neither the first nor the last girl from St. Michael to take vows with that community; 52 women from St. Michael have joined over the years, she said. After graduating from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, Sister Zachmann taught from the mid-1950s until 1971 at grade schools including St. Stanislaus, Project Discovery and Sacred Heart, all in St. Paul; St. Philip and Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Minneapolis; St. Nicholas in Elko New Market; St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo and St. Albert in Albertville. She also taught at Assumption School in Cresco, Iowa, from 1954 to 1959. After founding GHRC, she ran it for 20 years until 2002. She stayed in Washington, voluntarily working to help establish the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition. She stayed on at the TASSC until she retired in 2012. “After 30 years of hearing nothing but tragedy, I found myself becoming negative — not seeing improvement, seeing worsening conditions for human rights in many parts of the world,” she said. Letting go was not easy. “I had to really pray to the Holy Spirit,” she said. “Finally, it felt it was time to let go.” Now retired and living at her Good Counsel motherhouse in Mankato, Sister Zachmann still promotes peace and justice issues in the world. She participates in a weekly prayer vigil, held every Wednesday at noon in Mankato’s Jackson Park, and she regularly writes letters to apprise elected federal officials of their responsibilities to help victims of human rights abuses. Her life may be one for the history books, as the NWHA suggests with its award. But Sister Zachmann, who celebrates her 70th year as a School Sister this year, knows that the work to build more just societies around the world remains unfinished. “I am getting an award for what I did,” she said. “But I think of all the suffering people in Guatemala, people who have suffered and continue to suffer.”
School choice bill marked for end-of-session negotiations By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit School choice advocates hope legislation that would establish a tax credit for donations to scholarshipgranting organizations will be part of end-of-session negotiations. Introduced Feb. 28, the Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act (S.F. 1872/ H.F. 1894) would provide individuals or corporations with a state tax credit of 70 percent of a donation to a qualified scholarship-granting organization. Parents who do not earn more than twice the income eligibility for reduced priced lunch — around $90,000 a year for a family of four, according to Opportunity for All Kids — could apply to the scholarship-granting organizations to help their children attend Catholic and other private schools. The legislation would expand low- and middle-income families’ opportunity to choose the best school for their child, advocates say. The bill’s chief author in the senate is Sen. Roger Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes),
chair of the Senate’s Taxes Committee, which held a hearing on the bill March 19. The bill was amended and slated for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill. Among the Senate version’s four coauthors is Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka (R-Nisswa). Following the March 19 hearing, Chamberlain and Gazelka spoke at a news conference about the bill. Standing against a background with the OAK logo and surrounded by students wearing yellow scarves, Gazelka said the bill “is a tool we hope to use to close the disparity gap among some of the schools that we have in Minnesota.” “The Opportunity Scholarship will break down financial barriers for lowand middle-income families, allowing them to select the best schools based on the needs of their sons and daughters,” Gazelka said. Attending the hearing and news conference were students from Ascension Catholic School, Risen Christ Catholic School, St. Helena Catholic School and Torah Academy, all in Minneapolis. “What we’re really talking about is what’s best for kids,” said Ascension
Principal Benito Matias at the press conference. Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls) is the author of the companion bill in the House, where it was referred to the Education Policy Committee and has yet to be scheduled for a hearing. Opponents of the legislation say a tax credit to help students attend private schools would divert funds that could help public schools. Chas Anderson, executive director of OAK, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, said that concern is unfounded. “If they (legislators) decided not to fund this tax credit, it doesn’t mean that that money is going to go into education,” she said. Anderson added that the point of the legislation isn’t to pit public against private education, but to expand parents’ options for their children’s education. Similar legislation to the Equity and Opportunity Scholarship Act has been passed in about 20 states, and its constitutionality has been upheld in court, she said. With the exception of small changes
reflecting the modified federal tax structure, the legislation mirrors a bill introduced during the 2017 session, Anderson said. Although Gov. Tim Walz has said he will not support the legislation, Anderson said she is hopeful about its passage because Gazelka has made advancing it a priority. Federal legislation has been introduced to create similar scholarships, but Anderson is not optimistic about its passage. That legislation would also let governors decide whether to implement the program, which she said is ineffective national tax policy because it would lead to uneven application. Among OAK’s member organizations is the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the state’s Catholic bishops. In addition to faith-based communities that have traditionally supported the bill, education advocacy organizations EdAllies and Minnesota Comeback have added their backing, Anderson said, which allows OAK “to show more broad support in the community for the tax credit.”
8B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
NATION+WORLD
Papal exhortation: Nurture, respect young people By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service The life of a young person and the vocation to which God calls each one are “holy ground” that pastors and parents must respect, nurture and encourage, Pope Francis wrote in a new apostolic exhortation. “Christus Vivit” (“Christ Lives”), the pope’s reflections on the 2018 Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, is a combination letter to young people about their place in the Church and a plea to older members of the Church not to stifle the enthusiasm of the young, but rather to offer gentle guidance when needed. In the document, released April 2, Pope Francis talked about how the sex abuse crisis, a history of sexism and an overly narrow focus on just a handful of moral issues can keep young people away from the Church. But he also said many young people want to know and understand the teachings of the Church, and, despite what many people think, they long for and need times of silent reflection and opportunities to serve their communities. “A Church always on the defensive, which loses her humility and stops listening to others, which leaves no room for questions, loses her youth and turns into a museum,” Pope Francis wrote. “How, then, will she be able to respond to the dreams of young people?” Young people have a natural desire to improve the life of the Church and the world around them, the pope said. If older people in the Church will let the young people try, it will keep the Church youthful, too. “Let us ask the Lord to free the Church from those who would make her grow old, encase her in the past, hold her back or keep her at a standstill,” Pope Francis wrote. “But let us also ask him to free her from another temptation: that of thinking she is young because she accepts everything the world offers her, thinking that
CNS
Bishop Pierre Jubinville of San Pedro, Paraguay, talks with synod observer Jonathan Lewis from the Archdiocese of Washington on a pilgrimage hike in Rome during an Oct. 3-28 synod on young people.
she is renewed because she sets her message aside and acts like everybody else.” The core of the pope’s message to young people was that they remember they are loved by God and saved by Jesus, who continues to live and act in the world and in their lives. “His love is so real, so true, so concrete, that it invites us to a relationship of openness and fruitful dialogue,” even when one is angry with God, the pope said. “He does not get upset if you share your questions with him. He is concerned when you don’t talk to him, when you are not open to dialogue with him.” Drawing on the final documents from the synod and from a presynod gathering of young people in Rome, Pope Francis urged parishes and dioceses to rethink
Perfect fit: pope on vocations By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Within the universal Christian vocation of serving God and serving others, God handcrafts a specific calling for each person, a vocation that fits his or her personality and abilities, Pope Francis said. “To discern our personal vocation, we have to realize that it is a calling from a friend, who is Jesus. When we give something to our friends, we give them the best we have. It will not necessarily be what is most expensive or hard to obtain, but what we know will make them happy,” the pope wrote in “Christus Vivit” (“Christ Lives”). The document, his apostolic exhortation reflecting on the Synod of Bishops on young people, the faith and vocational discernment, was released at the Vatican April 2. The most original part of the 35,000word document is its explanation of what a vocation is. Discovering one’s vocation, he said, “has to do with finding our true selves in the light of God and letting our lives flourish and bear fruit.” For most young people, that will mean marrying, forming a family and working, the pope said.
“Within the vocation to marriage we should acknowledge and appreciate that ‘sexuality, sex, is a gift from God. It is not taboo. It is a gift from God, a gift the Lord gives us,’” he wrote. Sexuality “has two purposes: to love and to generate life. It is passion, passionate love. True love is passionate. Love between a man and a woman, when it is passionate, always leads to giving life. Always. To give life with body and soul.” Pope Francis also encouraged young people not to dismiss out of hand the fact that God may be calling them to priesthood or religious life. God’s call to each person is individual, made-to-measure just for him or her, the pope said, so discovering that call can be done only with calm, silence, prayer and the wise help of someone who truly knows how to listen and ask the right questions. A vocation, he said, is a gift that “will help you live to the full and become someone who benefits others, someone who leaves a mark in life; it will surely be a gift that will bring you more joy and excitement than anything else in this world. Not because that gift will be rare or extraordinary, but because it will perfectly fit you. It will be a perfect fit for your entire life.”
Fish Fry and Lenten Meal Guide
thecatholicspirit.com/nomeat
their youth and young adult programs and to make changes based on what young people themselves say they want and need. “Young people need to be approached with the grammar of love, not by being preached at,” he said. “The language that young people understand is spoken by those who radiate life, by those who are there for them and with them. And those who, for all their limitations and weaknesses, try to live their faith with integrity.” Directly addressing young people, he said, “Take risks, even if it means making mistakes. Don’t go through life anaesthetized or approach the world like tourists. Make a ruckus!” And, he told them, reach out to other young people; do not be afraid to mention Jesus and to invite friends to church or a Church-sponsored activity. “With the same love that Christ pours out on us,” the pope said, “we can love him in turn and share his love with others in the hope that they too will take their place in the community of friendship he established.” Youth ministry cannot be elitist or focused only on the teens and young adults already active in the Church’s life, he said. It must be “a process that is gradual, respectful, patient, hopeful, tireless and compassionate,” as Jesus was when he walked with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. Parents, pastors and spiritual guides must have “the ability to discern pathways where others only see walls, to recognize potential where others see only peril. That is how God the Father sees things; he knows how to cherish and nurture the seeds of goodness sown in the hearts of the young,” the pope said. “Each young person’s heart should thus be considered ‘holy ground,’ a bearer of seeds of divine life, before which we must ‘take off our shoes’ in order to draw near and enter more deeply into the mystery.”
10B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
I
t’s Thursday afternoon, and Joe Wappes is playing pool at St. John Vianney College Seminary. He pauses from the game, leaning against the table and holding his pool stick, to reflect on his prospective vocation to priesthood. “It’s got me so pumped up,” he says, his blue eyes sparkling. “It’s a daunting call, a huge responsibility. But what would I rather give myself to? Salvation is on the line.” With that he resumes the game, sinking the No. 7 ball into a corner pocket. “There we go!” he says. He laughs with a fellow seminarian and considers his next shot. The fraternity Wappes has found among the 97 other young men now attending SJV has buoyed the 21-year-old, a junior from St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. “This is a place of great joy,” he says. “To be built up by this intentional Christian community has been amazing.” The fraternity spurs the piety, he explains — beginning with 6:30 a.m. Holy Hour and expected throughout the course of a rigorous day. And so, Wappes breaks from billiards at 4:50 p.m. to meet up for evening prayer. He slips into the fourth row of the chapel, kneels and closes his eyes. “God, come to my assistance,” he prays alongside the other seminarians. “Lord, make haste to help me.” He gazes at the mosaic behind the altar depicting the miracle of the loaves and fishes, an image that has resonated with him recently. “I’ve been thinking a lot about being like the boy who gives his all to Jesus,” Wappes says after prayer. “Even though it’s not much, it’s all he has, yet he gives it. That takes a lot of trust and surrender. Jesus does way more with it than what the boy had planned. And so, like the boy, I hope to be able to surrender my meager, humble gifts, trusting that Jesus can multiply them to reach thousands of people with his love.” A multiplication of epic proportions has unfolded at SJV over the past half a century, beginning in 1968 when 119 seminarians moved into Loras Hall on the south campus of what was then the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Father
John Roach, the future archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, became its first rector. It has since moved to the north campus and become one of the nation’s largest college seminaries, drawing over the years from a total of 68 dioceses ranging from Alaska to Alabama, and proving to be a magnet among Midwesterners. Since its founding, some 1,525 men have attended SJV. More than 500 alumni are currently serving as ordained priests, including three bishops and a cardinal. Hundreds more, meanwhile, are faith-filled laymen building the kingdom of God as doctors, lawyers, teachers and mentors. SJV trained them all for fatherhood, as the late rector Father Bill Baer put it: some as spiritual fathers, some as actual dads. In the words of Father Michael Becker, the current rector, SJV is “raising up an army for the Lord.” As a college seminary, it guides men during the most pivotal juncture of their lives — a time at once thrilling and terrifying when they attempt to discern and then answer God’s call, which can vary in clarity day to day. For Archbishop Paul Etienne of Anchorage, the intensity of his SJV experience in the mid ’80s remains vivid. “The invitation of Jesus to consider priesthood was disturbing,” he said. “It was something he was asking of me that I had serious reservations about. I had another plan for my future. There was a lot at stake, so I went [to SJV] to very intentionally listen more, to really learn about who the Lord is and what was his call. It was attractive and yet frightening at the same time.” To see current seminarians face that fear and surrender to God is moving, said Archbishop Etienne, who encourages young men in his archdiocese to attend SJV, where one of his locals is now enrolled. “These guys are alive with faith. Their love for the Lord and his Church and their desire to serve the Lord is contagious. That leaves people, when they walk away from their experience, hopeful and inspired.”
A winning recipe Nineteen dioceses outside the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
1968-1971
Father John Roach serves as first rector of SJV (later appointed Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis).
Reflecting on St. John Vianney Co
By Christina Capecchi • currently have young men at SJV. A number of factors set it apart from other college seminaries, according to sending bishops. Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, a former SJV rector who currently has two local men at SJV, begins by identifying its presence at the University of St. Thomas, where the seminarians are deeply immersed in campus life and are the recipients of a stellar education. “It is a very well-rounded seminary with tremendous resources,” Bishop Pates said. “It’s well respected and highly valued. The bishops that I speak to are grateful for it.” That gratitude is echoed by Julie Sullivan, St. Thomas president. “We really enjoy the enthusiasm and the presence that the young men bring to the campus,” she said. “Their passion for life and God also translates into their passion for this university. They have such a positive impact on our community.” The impact may be most evident at “Last Chance Mass.” As the bell tolls 9 p.m. on Sunday, hundreds of students and alumni flock to the SJV chapel for what is considered the latest weekend Mass in the archdiocese, a liturgy that is hosted by the seminarians and includes confession beforehand and refreshments afterwards. SJV’s connection to the broader Church is amplified by being housed in The Seminaries of Saint Paul, which include a major seminary, a diaconate program, graduate programs for lay students, ongoing clergy formation and world-class catechetical institutes. As rector, Father Becker points to three traits that distinguish SJV. “Everything begins with Holy Hour and Mass and flows out of that encounter with God. Secondly, the strength of fraternity and the
1971-1981
Father Ken Pierre, rector.
Archbishop John Roach and Rector Msgr. Richard Pates break ground on the new SJV building.
1987-1990
Father Kevin McDonough, rector.
1990-1992 1981-1987
Father Richard Pates, rector (later appointed Bishop of Des Moines).
accountability that comes with it. And third is the gift of our association with the Catholic Studies and philosophy departments [at St. Thomas] and the opportunity to study in Rome.” Combined, those factors make for a unique SJV experience, forming young men who are grounded in faith and reason, who have experienced the universal Church and who long to serve it. The ritual of Liturgy of the Hour runs deep in alumni — especially, they say, the seminarians’ Sunday-night gathering, a touch point that marked the ending of one week and the beginning of another. “It was the best way to start a new week with the brothers, to get back together,” said Father Spencer Howe, who graduated from SJV 10 years ago and now serves as the parochial administrator of Holy Cross in northeast Minneapolis. “Almost every seminarian I know from those days can still chant Sunday night prayer from memory,” Father Howe said. “I can still hear those voices coming together for the Canticle of Simeon: ‘Protect us, Lord, as we stay awake, watch over us as we sleep, that awake, we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep, rest in his peace.’” Mitch Milless, 33, an SJV alumnus who works as a financial planner and belongs to Holy Family in St. Louis Park, has fostered the tradition of Sunday night prayer with his three young sons. “They think it’s really cool,” he said.
Having fun Along with the foundation of prayer, SJV staff focus on human formation: preparing future priests who are well-adjusted, wellrounded men. “Bishops are concerned about human formation today in light of the state of the
1999-2010
1982
1968
St. John Vianney College Seminary is founded.
Raising up an
1984
Father Dale Korogi, rector.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, visits SJV.
Father William Baer, rector.
1992-1999
Father Peter Christensen, rector (later appointed Bishop of Superior, Wisconsin, and currently Bishop of Boise, Idaho).
1998
For the first time, SJV sends a group of seminarians to study at the Dominican Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.
2002
Virtuous Business Leaders (formerly Pastores 21) begins.
2000
The SJV JAXX face The St. Paul Seminary Sons of Thunder in the first Rectors’ Bowl.
2004
The first Vianney Cup is held.
APRIL 4, 2019 • 11B
army for God
ollege Seminary’s 50th anniversary
• For The Catholic Spirit Church and priesthood,” Father Becker said. “Is a man socially gifted? Does he possess an integration of emotions, a peace and a certain self-possession with regard to sexuality and chastity? We know grace builds on nature, so it’s important to have a good nature. What I hear from [sending] bishops is that they’re happy our men come through with self-knowledge, discipline and a certain amount of affective maturity.” Those virtues are developed at SJV, in part, through one-on-one spiritual direction, Father Becker said. “The duty of a rector is to create an atmosphere where charity imbues the house and trust is fostered among the men, where they can share their struggles and know they’re going to be loved and affirmed by spiritual fathers and brothers. We have that environment.” Indeed, Church leaders note, the SJV seminarians are well integrated: a lively bunch of young men who, according to wholesome standards, work hard and play hard. SJV seminarians are competitive athletes, excelling at intramural sports, and talented musicians, including a jazz band that plays on Sunday afternoons. They have a sense of humor, Sullivan said, performing skits and comedy sketches for campus variety and talent shows. The seminarians come together once a week for dinner and “Tuesday Night Entertainment,” a tradition that nurtures their robust sense of fraternity. “They have a lot of fun in the midst of their disciplined lives,” Father Becker said. “Joy is a fruition of love. Those who are in love possess joy, and the men here are definitely in love with God, and then they share that love with each other and those
they encounter.” It prods the seminarians to become students of humanity, to listen better and, hence, to evangelize more effectively. That love extends to the poor and marginalized in their midst and those they meet on mission trips. The men have a can-do spirit, said Bishop Peter Christensen of Boise, who attended SJV in the late ’70s and served as its rector from 1992-1999. Once, he recalled, the seminarians decided to perform a living Stations of the Cross with one-week lead time. “That was no problem,” he said. “They can do things. They don’t spend a lot of time in deliberation. As a priest, what a nice shot in the arm, to be getting doses of that from time to time.” Father Howe fondly recalls how that can-do spirit fueled his class at SJV — whether they were serving in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina or embarking on a walking pilgrimage from Viterbo, Italy, to Rome. “We were on an adventure together, in pursuit of the Lord,” he said.
‘The heart of a lion’ The seminarians’ spirit is energizing, calling forth the best from everyone who visits, say SJV donors. “It’s this hidden gem,” said Ann Fleming, a grandmother who belongs to Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata and participates in the seminary’s “Spiritual Mothers” prayer group. “When you go to SJV, the Holy Spirit is palpable. You meet these young kids, and you feel such hope for the Church. I wish every doubting Catholic out there — and there are many — could see this.” Ann’s husband, Tim, speaks to the seminarians as part of the Virtuous
Business Leaders group, sharing wisdom gleaned from his work as CEO of the Upper Midwest Region of Marsh & McLennan Agency. A visit to the seminary never ceases to impress him, Tim said. “It’s an unbelievable treasure.” SJV compels the couple to be better Catholics, he said — to pray and study their faith and share it more passionately. Milless said his SJV formation prompts him to challenge his sons. “I try to encourage them: ‘You can do this! I believe in you. You’re called to do great things; you’re called to be a saint.’” He takes special care with his firstborn, a 7-year-old who is the smallest kid in his class. “I try to boost him up and tell him: ‘You have the heart of a lion, but you serve people like a lamb.’” The call to greatness is a hallmark of SJV, said Father Howe. Father Baer would quote Daniel Burnham, the architect who helped rebuild Chicago after the infamous 1871 fire: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir man’s blood.” The boldness infused in Father Howe as an SJV seminarian informs his priesthood. “I hear it in my voice, that instinct to go beyond the conventional, the easy nugget. I hear it in the confessional and in my preaching. We never want to make the Gospel palatable but keep it radical and dangerous and alive.” For Archbishop Bernard Hebda, every visit to SJV inspires him to embrace his vocation. “It’s so reaffirming for me, when I realize that the Lord continues to call such fine young men to serve his Church,” he said. “It’s a concrete reminder of God’s love for this Church, even in a difficult time. It is the source of our renewal.” The occasion of SJV’s 50th anniversary is cause for celebration, Archbishop Hebda said. “It’s an opportunity for us to give thanks for the many blessings that he’s (God’s) brought to his Church through the work that goes on at SJV. At the same time, it’s an opportunity for us to recommit ourselves to continuing that work and being intentional about the work of formation.” Father Becker has a similar view of the milestone. “I rejoice in all the successes of past community members and what
they’re doing now,” he said. “At this juncture, I know the Church needs evangelists for the future. We can’t just rely on a base of Catholic culture to sustain us. We need to go out in fresh ways to the fringes, to invite others to the Church rather than expect them to just show up.” Developing a bond among future priests is part of that equation, he added. “We need them to become stronger together, to have a certain strength together so they can build community fabric in their parishes, knowing what it’s like to live in community here. A community is a beacon.”
The next chapter For all its storied history, SJV is oriented, by its very nature, to the future. It is a place where you can glimpse the Church of tomorrow. “We get a front-row seat to the future of the Church, and the future looks bright,” said Tizoc Rosales, director of advancement at The Seminaries of Saint Paul. After 50 remarkable years, in many ways, the best is yet to come. “I feel like the stories are just being written,” Milless said. “It’s just hitting its stride.” Ann and Tim Fleming also have high hopes. “I can only imagine what the fruits of its incredible leadership will be,” Tim said. For his part, Wappes will continue the work of a seminarian: to listen to God’s voice. Tuning out distractions has helped the bright-eyed junior. “It’s so freeing to live in the present moment,” he said. “St. Therese of Lisieux — her simplicity, abandoning to the Lord’s mercy — has been a powerful theme for me.” Reflecting on the seminary’s 50-year history fills him with awe and propels him forward, he said. “I think of the hundreds of priests who have walked these halls, and now they’re out there saving souls for the Church.” A version of this story is expected to appear in the Spring 2019 edition of Vianney News, biannual publication of St. John Vianney College Seminary.
2018
2005
The first annual Borromeo Weekend is held to increase fraternity among the SJV men and their brother seminarians at The St. Paul Seminary.
2013
2008 UST Head Football
More than 500 SJV alumni are serving today as ordained priests, including three bishops and one cardinal. Many others are serving as lay leaders and faith-filled witnesses building up the Catholic Church throughout the world.
Coach Glen Caruso and the SJV seminarians establish “Caruso’s Crew” to cheer on the Tommies at home games.
2016
2006
Father Bill Baer celebrates the first Last Chance Mass.
2018
The First Spring Mass and May Crowning is celebrated.
2010-present
Father Michael Becker, eighth rector of SJV.
SJV’s new brand unites its shared mission of priestly discernment and formation with The St. Paul Seminary.
SAINT JOHN VIANNEY COLLEGE SEMINARY The Seminaries of Saint Paul
April 25, 2019
SJV seminarians reside at the Pontifical Irish College, their new home in Rome during a semester abroad.
SJV celebrates 50 years of faith, formation, fraternity, discernment and fidelity.
2016
Annual mission trips to Honduras, India and the Dominican Republic begin.
GRAPHIC COURTESY THE SEMINARIES OF SAINT PAUL
12B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
FAITH+CULTURE
Religious sister thanked by pope to be on immigration panel By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit A sister from Texas who was publicly thanked by Pope Francis in 2015 for her immigration work will appear on a panel discussing immigration April 9 at Pax Christi in Eden Prairie. Missionaries of Jesus Sister Norma Pimentel, director of Catholic Charities for the Rio Grande Valley since 2008 and founder in 2014 of its Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas, will give a keynote address at the 6 p.m. forum organized by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota. The Giving Insights panel also will include Archbishop Bernard Hebda; Lesly Gonzalez-Barragan, a Latino outreach coordinator in Youth in Theology and Ministry at St. John’s University School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville; and Robyn MeyerThompson, an attorney at the St. Paul-based Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Jesuit Father Warren Sazama, pastor of St. Thomas More in St. Paul, will moderate the discussion. The evening will focus on a Catholic response to immigrants and refugees, and the impact shifts in U.S. immigration policy have on those involved, said Angela Dimler, the foundation’s communications director.
IMMIGRATION CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B Such arguments came to the forefront in some of the reaction posted to The Catholic Spirit website and social media about Archbishop Hebda’s Feb. 21 advocacy at a State Capitol news conference in St. Paul for a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. Applications without proof of legal U.S. residency or citizenship had been allowed in Minnesota until state law changed in 2003. The archbishop called the issue a “moral imperative” and an “important human rights test” because without driver’s licenses, unauthorized immigrants struggle to get to work, school, church and grocery stores. Everyday activities can be enormously difficult without a car, particularly in rural areas, the archbishop said, and undocumented immigrants who drive without a license fear being pulled over, separated from their families and deported. “It is a terrible fear to impose on people and families in our community, and we must do something about it for our brothers and sisters,” the archbishop said. He was joined at the news conference by dozens of immigrants, members of law enforcement, agriculture and hospitality industries and lawmakers who back the proposed legislation. Many argue that allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses will help keep the roads safe because licensed drivers need to be insured and know the rules of the road. Absent federal reforms in Washington, they argue, it is something Minnesotans can do to help people take care of their families and keep them out of the shadows of society.
Costs and benefits After seeing the story in The Catholic Spirit, Maria Boecker, a member of Guardian Angels in Chaska, posted a letter to the archbishop on the newspaper’s website expressing her disappointment. U.S. laws need to be respected, she wrote, and undocumented immigrants and the businesses that hire them in Minnesota and elsewhere break those laws. Undocumented immigrants cost society in welfare, public schooling, higher taxes and the correctional system, she said. Boecker also brought personal experience to the debate: A friend and neighbor, 90-year-old Earl Olander, was beaten to death in his home near Carver by two undocumented immigrants in 2015. “Now you, as the leader of our Catholic diocese, come out and say it is a ‘moral’ imperative to give driver’s licenses to illegal aliens,” she wrote. “Why
Gonzalez-Barragan will discuss Catholic social teaching, and Meyer-Thompson will address the complex legal system immigrants navigate to remain in the U.S. Archbishop Hebda said he hopes to reflect on the U.S. bishops’ teaching on immigration. Father Sazama said the foundation asked him to moderate and share his experience with setting up a sanctuary parish for immigrants. After President Donald Trump was elected in 2016, parishioners looked for ways to respond to a growing SISTER anti-immigrant environment and NORMA PIMENTEL decided to make available a small apartment in the parish center for families finding their feet, Father Sazama said. So far, the parish has helped at least three families, he said. Sister Pimentel will share her experience of immigrants crossing the border, families being separated and reunification efforts, Dimler said. Four years ago during a virtual papal audience, Pope Francis thanked Sister Pimentel and all religious sisters for their work helping immigrants and refugees. Last year, Sister Pimentel received the
BISHOPS EMPHASIZE SUPPORT Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens and Minnesota’s five other Catholic bishops wrote a letter March 25 that was submitted to the Minnesota House of Representatives supporting H.F. 1500, which would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses. “This legislation does not ‘reward’ those who have broken the law,” the letter states. “Providing driver’s licenses is a concrete measure of solidarity that takes into account the complexity of the immigration issue. It seeks to protect the well-being of undocumented persons considering the reality of their situation and actual prospects for immigration reform and enforcement.” Read it at the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s website: mncatholic.org/category/news. The bill is scheduled for House floor debate April 5. aren’t you preaching to those same illegal aliens, that you know are in our churches, of the ‘moral’ imperative of coming to our country legally?” Archbishop Hebda said he read the post, and he acknowledged that emotions are great in these areas. But the actions of some cannot be attributed to everyone in a given group, he said. “That’s why it is so painful when all our priests are painted with the same brush stroke (in the Church’s clergy sexual abuse crisis) when you know most of them are great, generous priests. And you’d hate for them all to be penalized because of the bad actions of one priest or bishop,” he said. The same can be said for the millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States, the archbishop said. And the reality is that people are living here illegally, many hold jobs and go to school and take care of their families. And people have a responsibility to treat everyone with dignity and compassion, including those who commit crimes, the archbishop said. “That’s why the Church is involved in ministry in our prisons and jails,” he said. “Because we know that all people bear the image of God within them; they are created in the image and likeness of God.” Many immigrants, undocumented and otherwise, add great life, strong faith and needed labor to society and to the Church, and to businesses, farms and ranches, often taking jobs that Americans don’t want to do, the archbishop said. Those comments were echoed in separate interviews with The Catholic Spirit by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, and Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which advocates for the Church in public policy.
University of Notre Dame’s Laetare Medal for her work with immigrants. Sister Pimentel wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post early this year inviting Trump during his January stumping for a border wall to the respite center she runs in McAllen. Trump did not visit the respite center. And at a roundtable discussion about immigration and the border, Sister Pimentel was not among those invited to comment. She said she had hoped to tell Trump not only about the need for border security but also the need to help families fleeing violence in their home countries. The Catholic Community Foundation, which manages investments of Catholic parishes, institutions, families and individuals and makes grants to Catholic and nonprofit causes, started its Giving Insights series in late 2017. The forums are held about every three or four months at sites around the archdiocese and are based on the foundation’s three mission areas: spiritual, educational and social. The next forum, on education, will be June 25 at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul. The gatherings help the foundation share some of what it has learned about needs in the community and resources to meet those needs, Dimler said. One fact to note is that undocumented immigrants with jobs pay Social Security taxes but will not reap those benefits, the archbishop said. And the business and agriculture industries favor immigration because they rely on those workers, Bishop Cozzens and Adkins said. “We have a job market that depends on immigrants,” Bishop Cozzens said. “But we haven’t been writing our laws to allow people to come here legally. This is the irony of the whole situation. They are not generally taking jobs from Americans. They are taking jobs many Americans don’t want, but that need to be done.” “There are a lot of reasons people are here,” Adkins said, but many are compelled by desperate need, such as fleeing violence in their home countries and finding work to take care of their families. At the same time, U.S. businesses, the agriculture industry and others want cheap labor, Adkins said. Better border security that was supposed to be part of a 1986 immigration reform bill signed by then-President Ronald Reagan never happened, Adkins said, “and with a wink and a nod, we welcomed more immigrants into this country.”
Immigration reform The Catholic Church is not encouraging individuals and businesses to break the law, Archbishop Hebda said. It is seeking to have laws changed that will make them more just and acknowledge the presence of millions of undocumented immigrants in the country by granting them access to driver’s licenses in Minnesota and forging broader, national immigration reform. National reforms could require undocumented immigrants to pay fines for having broken immigration laws, take civics lessons and learn the English language, Adkins said. “Proposals like this have passed,” he said. “There was one that passed under the U.S. Senate a few years ago, but was stalled in the House. “So we believe in comprehensive reform at the federal level. But, as we well know, as Congress keeps kicking this can down the road, the immigration crisis deepens, and the immigration debate gets harder, and the challenges become more acute. “The reality, though, is that beyond the debate and beyond the rhetoric there are real people who experience real challenges, and our immigrant brothers and sisters living in our midst need a solution,” Adkins said. IMMIGRATION CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
APRIL 4, 2019
FAITH+CULTURE
DACA uncertainty troubles immigrant mom By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit
A
lejandra Chavez Rivas, 29, knows the ups and downs of immigration rules. Safely under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program instituted through executive order by then-President Barack Obama in 2012, Rivas was studying at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul when President Donald Trump announced plans in the fall of 2017 to phase out the DACA program. Rivas, who came to the United States from Mexico with her undocumented mother and two brothers when she was 5 years old, found she was unable to renew her DACA protection from deportation, which had been granted every two years. Nor could she renew her driver’s license, which required proof of legal residency. She lost the parttime jobs she had held because they required proper paperwork. A single mother living in Monticello with her parents (her father joined the family later) and commuting to school while taking her daughter to St. Agnes School in St. Paul, Rivas also had to worry about being pulled over for any minor driving infraction and possibly deported, or whether she should avoid driving altogether. “I always said a prayer for the Lord to guard my front, my back, my sides,” she said. She spent about half her time in friends’ homes or hotels in St. Paul, to cut down on driving and the risk of an accident. Legal limbo ended after about six months for Rivas as litigation in several courts put Trump’s
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Alejandra Chavez Rivas gets ready to drive her daughter, Daniela, home to Monticello March 26 after picking her up at St. Agnes School in St. Paul. phase-out order on hold. With her DACA status now renewed until October 2020, she is able to breathe easier when going to work, running errands and taking her 9-year-old daughter, Daniela, to school. Rivas graduated from St. Thomas last May with bachelor’s degrees in Catholic Studies and business. She works in the property and casualty department of an insurance company in downtown Minneapolis. A regular churchgoer at St. Henry in Montecillo and St. Stephen in south Minneapolis, she relies on her faith in all things. But uncertainty still hangs like a cloud, she said, because of the way U.S. rules on immigration can change. She said she already feels apprehensive about her next DACA renewal. “Hopefully, it will renew,” she said. Rivas said she also hopes Minnesota lawmakers pass a bill this legislative session that would allow undocumented immigrants
to apply for driver’s licenses. Having that ability would have relieved some of her DACA-related tension, she said. And it would allow her parents to apply for licenses, she said. Father Joseph Williams, pastor of St. Stephen and the archdiocese’s vicar for Latino Ministry, said up to 90 percent of his congregation is Latino, and half of the adults are undocumented. “I would say the greatest fear is driving” without a license, Father Williams said. “Of all the immigration issues, none touches their lives as directly as not having a driver’s license.” And the cloud hanging over undocumented immigrants has darkened in recent years, he said, in part because the bar for infractions that can lead to deportation has been lowered. “More minor infractions can mean you’re in the back of a squad car,” Father Williams said. “And being sent to a detention center almost invariably means you’ll be deported.”
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13B
IMMIGRATION CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Allowing undocumented immigrants to apply for driver’s licenses is a matter of prudence, or right judgment, Adkins said. Catholics can disagree with such proposals, but the bishops’ teachings should not be ignored, he said. “Catholics should not simply set aside the prudential judgments of bishops,” he said. “Those policy judgments should be given appropriate consideration and deference.” Bishop Cozzens said the bishops feel there is little doubt about the right thing to do when it comes to the driver’s license issue. “We believe it is very clear where Catholic principles take you in this decision,” he said. In addition, more than prudence undergirds the policy proposal, the bishop said. “It is an intrinsic, moral obligation to provide safety and refuge and a stable way of life for people who don’t have those, if you can.”
Life and human dignity The U.S. bishops cannot ignore the pain and suffering of people in foreign lands who seek jobs, safety and security in the United States, Adkins said. Nor can they ignore immigrants’ needs in their own dioceses. “For a bishop to see the challenges and struggles and, in some cases, injustices that the immigrant population in our communities face and to not speak about it would undermine the moral authority of the bishops as credible witnesses of the Gospel, just like it would if they didn’t speak out against threats to the sanctity of life,” Adkins said. Justice and care for the immigrant is part of seeking recognition of everyone’s right to life and human dignity, Bishop Cozzens and Archbishop Hebda said. “The right to life is the highest of all goods, and the Church will speak most strongly around the right to life,” such as opposing abortion, Bishop Cozzens said. “But many times immigration is also a life issue, particularly where people are fleeing for their lives, especially when their home country is so dangerous. We must speak strongly about that because it is a life issue.” Archbishop Hebda said advocating for the rights of immigrants is consistent with arguing for the right to life of the unborn. “We see that it’s so closely related to the question of dignity of human life and the importance of the family,” he said. “We realize all those issues are related one to the other. Part of our strong defense of life and in protesting and fighting abortion has to be that same sense of the dignity of human life that would lead us to advocate for those undocumented neighbors of ours who are already here.”
14B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
FAITH+CULTURE
Poetry book takes sexual abuse ‘out from the shadow’ Two Catholic women team up to give voice to their own, others’ experiences By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
T
he abuse started when Laura Lanik was between 6 and 9 years old. An older man at the end of the St. Paul block where she grew up made her feel “special.” “All the little kids went to his house,” said Lanik, 51, who belongs to Blessed Sacrament in St. Paul. “He was a nice old man, in my definition. I’d come over, we’d play games, we’d have ice cream, we’d go to the store, we’d go to the movies, he’d give me $5, I’d get presents.” Mixed in with the gifts and attention was inappropriate sexual touching. As time went on, the abuser pressured her into wearing a dress and carrying a purse whenever she came. Over time, she felt more and more shame, and she grew her bangs so long they covered her face. The abuse lasted until she was 13. The pain, she said, will never end. What is ending — now — is the silence. She is speaking up in the form of poems she has written in a book to be released April 6. It’s called “Upon Waking: 58 Voices Speaking Out From the Shadow of Abuse” and published by Bookmobile in Minneapolis. Lanik met the creator of the project, Annette Gagliardi of Annunciation in Minneapolis, in 2017 at a fall conference for the League of Minnesota Poets. Gagliardi, too, had been abused as a child, and the two talked at the conference about their experiences. Gagliardi had written verses since high school and said she felt God calling her to do something more with poetry. Lanik responded enthusiastically to the suggestion of working together to collect poems from victims/survivors of sexual and physical abuse. In so doing, the women found healing. For both, there are lots of
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
wounds. “I think it really changed my entire life,” Lanik said of the abuse. “I didn’t even feel comfortable carrying a purse until I was 30. I didn’t wear dresses (after the abuse ended), which I had to wear when I went to his house.” It wasn’t until her late 40s that she finally desired to wear a dress. At that time, she started writing poems. One of them, “A Child’s Prayer,” won an award in 2017 from the League of Minnesota Poets. It’s on pages 40 and 41 of the book and incorporates the Hail Mary. “I’ve always prayed the Hail Mary,” said Lanik, who is married with two adult children. “It gives me strength, and it takes me away from whatever pain I’m having. I remember my grandma always prayed the rosary. I always wanted to do a poem with (the) Hail Mary in it. For me, it’s powerful. I actually collect rosaries from where I travel.” Gagliardi’s abuse started when she was invited to spend a summer at her grandparents’ resort in South Dakota at age 12. She spent summers there until she was 17. During that time, her family moved from Lead, South Dakota, near the Black Hills, to South St. Paul. Sleeping in a room alone, Gagliardi remembers regularly being awakened in the morning by her grandfather, who sexually abused her. In later years, the abuse took place in the afternoons when her grandfather invited her to play cards with him. Like Lanik, she felt shame, but was reluctant to offer any opposition because she was earning money working as a waitress at the resort’s restaurant. “I bought all of my school clothes every year,” said Gagliardi, 69, who is married with four adult daughters. “What I was doing was saving my tips to
APRIL 4, 2019
From left, Annette Gagliardi and Laura Lanik include their own poems about experiences of childhood sexual abuse in the book “Upon Waking: 58 Voices Speaking Out From the Shadow of Abuse.”
get enough money to have clothes for the next year.” She also was told she was the “favorite grandchild” of the couple’s 48. That honor, and healthy attention from her grandmother, kept her coming back until she was 17. That’s when she finally told her parents about the abuse. They did not allow her to return to the resort after that. The impact, however, remains. “I don’t know if I can describe the pain,” she said of the way her grandfather, now deceased, treated her. “There was a lot of pain from his touch. He was not gentle. And, it’s hard (now) because I have a problem with my husband touching me and breathing on my neck. If my husband breathes on my neck, I just want to slug him. He knows that. He’s such a kind, sensitive man, but he’s had to put up with a lot.” Gagliardi started writing poetry about her abuse when she was in college. During an English class, she decided to compose a poem about it. The emotions bubbled to the surface, leading to a suicide attempt “just before I was 30,” she said. She tried to overdose on over-thecounter medications but didn’t take enough. Instead, she spent the night wide awake and finally told her husband about the abuse. She eventually told her daughters and circled back with them when it came time to publish the poetry book. “I went to my girls, my four daughters, when I started this project in 2017,” Gagliardi said. “I said to them, ‘I’m going to do this, and I want you to be OK with it, and I want you to tell me it’s OK because if you don’t, I won’t do it because I don’t want to hurt you.’” All four of her daughters had the same response, Gagliardi said. “They were all like, ‘Mom, do it. We’re
behind you 100 percent. Do it,’” she said. Gagliardi and Lanik began collecting poems last summer with help from the League of Minnesota Poets. Most of them — about 250 — were submitted for consideration by people in Minnesota, and most were written by women. The league helped narrow down the list, and 83 made it into the book, including five by Lanik and four by Gagliardi. They have met some of the book’s other 56 authors and have read all of their poems. Authors’ names appear below their poems, and brief biographies appear in the back of the book. “It was hard to read” the poems, said Gagliardi, who authored the first and last poem in the book. But, it also led to a deepening of her faith and reliance on God and her “spiritual sisters” at Annunciation. “I have had somebody praying with me about this book from the beginning because when we decided to do it, I said, ‘I can’t do this by myself; I need God’s help,’” she said. “This is my guts being pulled out of me.” Along the way, the two women found healing, especially as they saw their own voices go into print. “I definitely feel that writing these poems has helped me heal,” Lanik said. “After I wrote that Hail Mary poem, I couldn’t say the Hail Mary without crying — for a long time. It was really hard. It’s almost like I would say it and then I would cry myself to sleep. So, it brought me back to that little girl that was still here and hurt inside of me. It basically healed her.” In publishing the book now, the women acknowledge its relevance to the clergy sexual abuse crisis in the Church, though they are not aware of any of the writers having been abused by a priest. “I’m Catholic, so I feel the angst and the pain that the Catholic Church is going through right now,” Gagliardi said. “I think that it’s an ongoing problem. The thing with the Church is one example of how prevalent sexual abuse is. ... But, the fact that people can actually speak out about it — that’s new..” As the stories in their book come out in print, the two women want it to bring healing both to writers and readers. “One of the prayers that I’ve been praying for the last two years,” said Gagliardi, who plans to donate books to women’s shelters in Minnesota and beyond, “is, ‘Lord, I want this to be hope; I want there to be hope in this book, that it isn’t just grief and anger and trauma, that I want it to have a ray of hope.’”
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APRIL 4, 2019
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 15B
FOCUSONFAITH SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER ERICH RUTTEN
‘Go and sin no more’ In the face of sin, there seem to be two opposite reactions. First, we might react with anger and condemnation. We might have a tendency to become outraged. This certainly could be appropriate. We should hate sin. On the other hand, as Christians, we also know that we should be merciful. Sometimes this might mean that we hold our tongue or tell ourselves that whatever sin it was is not so bad after all. These reactions play out in our everyday lives and in our culture. There are some who sense that we are in the midst of a culture war. They are quick to use social media to express outrage and condemnation of all the ills of our society. There are others who react against what they feel is judgmentalism and prefer to take the attitude of “live and let live.” Jesus gives us a powerful example of a good way to react in the Gospel story of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:1-11). In the story, which we hear the Fifth Sunday of Lent, the authorities are trying to trap Jesus. If Jesus affirms the call to stone the woman, he would be challenging Roman law, which did not allow vigilante capital punishment, and he would be going against his own teachings. On the other hand, if he denied the call to stone the woman, he would be going against the law of Moses. Jesus doesn’t take either bait. He doesn’t deny that adultery is a sin for this woman and for whomever she was with. He doesn’t deny that adultery, like all sin, has negative consequences. In a
ASK FATHER MIKE | FATHER MICHAEL SCHMITZ
Do I always have to obey my conscience? Q. I have heard that people are obliged to
follow their consciences, even if it goes against the Bible or the Church’s teaching. Is this true?
A. This is a good question. In order to get to
the answer, it could be helpful to note first a couple of things about human nature. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to avoid meat on Fridays during Lent? Or how difficult it is to fast on the only two fast days that the Church requires (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday)? Honestly, it shouldn’t be a burden in any way whatsoever. When we consider that the Church considers a “fast” to be only eating two small meals and one regular-sized meal that isn’t larger than the two smaller meals combined, is that even really a sacrifice? In the developed world, our “fast” can involve more food than the majority of the world eats on a feast day! But it is still tough for many people to abstain from meat or to fast. Why? I think that the only truly hard part about fasting is the fact that someone else has told us that we have to. The fast itself is of such little difficulty; the challenge is submitting one’s will and desires to the will of the Church. Again, let’s be truthful with ourselves here. We want what we want, and the fact that the Church gets to tell us what to do in this area grates on our ego and self-will. Because of this, if there is an “escape clause” regarding the Church’s teaching, most of us are sorely tempted to take it. This is where the teaching on conscience comes in. If a person must “always obey their conscience,” then I can always “do what I want,” right? If the Church taught that conscience is the “aboriginal vicar of Christ” (as Blessed John Henry Newman maintained), does it mean that it must always be followed? The Second Vatican Council stated that “conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man. There he is alone with God, whose voice echoes in his depths.” This means that one’s conscience has weight; it has a certain amount of binding force. But what is conscience — and what is it not? First, we need to note that conscience is not a person’s personal preferences. Conscience is not a person’s own desires, opinions or attitudes. In fact, a well-formed conscience will more often convict a person of where he or she needs to repent and
brilliant move of divine wisdom, Jesus provides that the one without sin may throw the first stone. Of course, no one meets that qualification. They all leave. Neither does Jesus condemn her. Notice that Jesus did not condone the sin, but he was not interested in condemnation either. In John 3:17, we are told that God did not send Jesus into the world to condemn the world. But neither does Jesus leave us in our dysfunction and sin. He comes to show us the way out. He is “the way, the truth and the life”(Jn 14:6). He comes to save us from ourselves and our sin. He does not wish to condemn us, but he clearly urges us to go and sin no more that we might have true life. The Church, carrying on the mission of Christ, has a solemn responsibility to preach a very high standard — Jesus’ standard — of morality. To name sin clearly can help us to avoid it. If we don’t proclaim this high standard, who will? This is true even when members and ministers of the Church sin. We should not back off from hard teachings because they are hard. But, the Church also has an equally solemn responsibility to serve as ambassadors of healing and reconciliation, as Paul reminded us last week (2 Cor 5:17-21). We have a responsibility to proclaim the great mercy of God. We know that we are all sinners, and we have no right to throw stones. Instead, we are called to confess our sins and to encourage each other to go and sin no more. As we prepare for Holy Week and Easter, we give thanks for Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Let us receive the Lord’s forgiveness. Let us firmly recommit to go and sin no more. Father Rutten is pastor of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul.
reform his or her life rather than affirm and validate his or her choices. Conscience can be understood as the “voice” that comes from a living and active relationship with God. If someone does not find himself or herself investing deeply in spending time with God in prayer and feeding his or her mind on Scripture, it is likely that he or she does not have a well-formed conscience. Let’s stay there for a moment: Due to our fallen human nature, we automatically are out of relationship with ourselves and God. A conversion (real change) must happen that brings us under the dominion (lordship) of Jesus Christ. The Bible talks about this in an extreme way: Our old self must be “put to death.” In addition, almost every serious spiritual writer in the Christian tradition states that one of the critical attitudes of those pursuing Christ is “distrust of self.” This isn’t being cynical; it’s merely being realistic. We are often our own worst enemy. Our fallen human nature gets us into more trouble than any outside force. Therefore, to imagine that one’s conscience is “naturally trustworthy” or that it doesn’t need formation would be the height of self-deception and hubris. Conscience more often “binds” a person to action rather than “releases” them. In other words, conscience is often more concerned with “duties” than it is with “rights.” A well-formed conscience comes from a living prayer life and intentional seeking after God’s will more than one’s own will. A healthy conscience is therefore more preoccupied with “what does God want?” than “what do I want?” To try to quantify it, a person who does not spend significant time in prayer and study of Scripture and Church teaching (as well as find themselves convicted on a regular basis of his or her sin) ought not to imagine that he or she has a healthy and well-formed conscience. Lastly, the Church does not teach that we must obey our conscience, but that we must not disobey our conscience. The difference might seem subtle, but it is crucial. If my conscience and a Church teaching collide, I must obey the Church. The only time I would follow my conscience over and against a Church teaching would be if I was absolutely convinced that it would be evil for me to not follow my conscience. A scenario could be something along these lines: I am convinced that it would be evil for me to not eat meat on a Friday in Lent. In order to choose God, I have to eat meat on that day. This is vastly different than, “I just don’t think there is anything wrong with eating meat today.” Nonetheless, conscience is not independent of others or of the Church. It is a gift, but it can be wrong. And in the words of G.K. Chesterton: “We do not really want a religion that is right where we are right. What we want is a religion that is right where we are wrong.” Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Reach him at fathermikeschmitz@ gmail.com.
DAILY Scriptures Sunday, April 7 Fifth Sunday of Lent Is 43:16-21 Phil 3:8-14 Jn 8:1-11 Monday, April 8 Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 Jn 8:12-20 Tuesday, April 9 Nm 21:4-9 Jn 8:21-30 Wednesday, April 10 Dn 3:14-20, 91-92, 95 Jn 8:31-42 Thursday, April 11 Gn 17:3-9 Jn 8:51-59 Friday, April 12 Jer 20:10-13 Jn 10:31-42 Saturday, April 13 Ez 37:21-28 Jn 11:45-56 Sunday, April 14 Palm Sunday Lk 19:28-40 Is 50:4-7 Phil 2:6-11 Lk 22:14–23:56 Monday, April 15 Is 42:1-7 Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday, April 16 Is 49:1-6 Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday, April 17 Is 50:4-9a Mt 26:14-25 Thursday, April 18 Holy Thursday Ex 12:1-8, 11-14 1 Cor 11:23-26 Jn 13:1-15 Friday, April 19 Good Friday Is 52:13–53:12 Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9 Jn 18:1–19:42 Saturday, April 20 Easter Vigil Gn 1:1–2:2 Gn 22:1-18 Ex 14:15–15:1 Is 54:5-14 Is 55:1-11 Bar 3:9-15, 32c, 4:4 Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28 Rom 6:3-11 Lk 24:1-12 Sunday, April 21 Easter Sunday Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Col 3:1-4 Jn 20:1-9
16B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
COMMENTARY FAITH AT HOME | LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
This is our night for telling stories “This is our night for telling stories.” The priest moved slowly through the shivering crowd, huddled around a roaring fire on the steps of the church, was we braced ourselves against the biting wind. “This is our night for telling stories. For remembering who we are.” His voice boomed as he made his way to the fire, altar servers trailing behind, ready to start the Easter Vigil. But even before the Mass began, the pastor spoke to us of the power of the stories we were about to hear. Ancient stories of our faith: creation and covenant. Mysterious stories of our hope: resurrection and salvation. I shivered again, not from the cold but from the truth of his words. Since I was a child, clutching a small candle in the dark church, listening to familiar Scripture turned strange and new, I loved this night of telling our most sacred stories. Every year when Holy Saturday dawns, this priest’s words echo in my head. This is our night for telling stories. But what if we entered every night with Easter in our hearts, hungry for stories that would shape us and save us? What if we told stories like this tonight? My children love stories. Our youngest has learned their power: how he can toddle to the nearest adult, board book clutched in his fist, and demand to “read.” He delights in the rhythm and the repetition, flipping pages to see what’s next, pulling another book off the shelf to keep going. Our older kids sprawl across the floor each night, begging for one more chapter as we read aloud. Though they spend hours each day wrapped in their own worlds of reading, this ritual of coming together to share stories in the darkness has become their favorite moment of bedtime. We understand by instinct what we deepen with
TWENTY SOMETHING | CHRISTINA CAPECCHI
Giving joyful witness: how the Holy Spirit stirs the restless
When Pope Francis talks about evangelization, his poster child may well be an immigrant in North Dakota. Sister Brenda Hernandez Valdes, a 34-year-old Daughter of Immaculate Mary of Guadalupe, lives more than 1,500 miles from her home in Coahuila, Mexico, serving the sprawling Diocese of Bismarck and ministering to the Hispanics working in its oil industry. Sister Brenda’s smile embodies the pope’s call for joyful missionary disciples: Her eyes disappear, and dimples appear at each upturned corner of her mouth. There is something magnetic about the small woman in the gray habit. She is Exhibit A for Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“The Joy of the Gospel”) and a reminder for all Catholics of how to evangelize effectively.
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Stories have the power to shape us. For better or for worse, we are influenced by the stories we hear, read and share.
iSTOCK | EVGENY ATAMANENKO
practice. Stories matter. Stories define us. But what if we remembered — each time we picked up a book to read, to another or for ourselves — the sacred power of stories? What if every night held a memory of Easter Vigil? From its earliest days, the Christian liturgy has understood what anthropology, sociology and psychology came to discover: Humans need stories. Stories have the power to shape us. For better or for worse, we are influenced by the stories we hear, read and share. This is why our Catholic Mass, rich in Scripture and stories of faith, has a deeply formative power. Over time, as we encounter the real presence of God in the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we become what we receive. But just as the Eucharist is meant to change every meal we share outside of church, our stories of faith are meant to transform the way we hear and read every story we encounter. So what if each night, as darkness settles and we
prepare for a new day, we turned to stories that remind us of who — and whose — we are? What if we let our rituals of reading echo with the power of hearing God’s word? I look at our toddler learning the delight and wonder of reading with another. I listen to our kids ask for one more chapter as we close the day with stories. I remember the power of this simple, sacred act: sharing a story that helps us understand ourselves, our world and our God. What if reading every night, to others or ourselves, could glimmer with the memory of Easter Vigil? This is our night for telling stories. A night for remembering who we are.
Most of the Hispanics who relocated to North Dakota to work at an oil field are young. Some are only 18. Many are single; others are new parents. All are yearning for a sense of home. Among the makeshift homes and temporary work, the early mornings and the English lessons, they are seeking something stable, something familiar. It is a more extreme version of a search we all undertake: the quest for something more. Sister Brenda recognizes their quest, and Pope Francis names it. “The world of our time,” he writes in “Evangelii Gaudium,” is “searching, sometimes with anguish, sometimes with hope.” The “desolation and anguish” of a secular life, he writes, offers an entryway for evangelists — for “the Holy Spirit works on restlessness.” When the restless meet Sister Brenda, her joy is irresistible. They can’t help but wonder, “How do I get that? Where does that come from?” These encounters are only possible because Sister Brenda has ventured “out on the streets,” as Pope Francis put it, unafraid to get “bruised” and “dirty.” For her, that means the Walmart parking lot, where she carries grocery bags and distributes fliers, extending a personal invitation to each shopper to join her for Mass. She approaches with humility. She is not there to dispense wisdom. She believes she can learn even more than she’ll teach. That begins by listening, according to “Evangelii”: “We need to practice the art of listening, which is more than simply hearing. Listening, in communication, is an openness of heart which makes possible that closeness without which genuine
spiritual encounter cannot occur.” And “an evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives,” Pope Francis writes. For Sister Brenda, that begins by fielding questions about warmer jackets and better cell-phone plans. “They approach the Church for different needs,” she said. “Our people sacrifice a lot by living in small spaces, leaving their family or bringing it to live in extreme weather conditions.” She takes her time with each encounter, heeding one of the most practical tips in “Evangelii”: “Evangelization consists mostly of patience and disregard for constraints of time.” The teenagers ask about her habit, and she talks freely, happily about religious life. Her message is bold: “Do not be afraid to open the doors to Christ!” She encourages their moms and dads, too. “It is very important to strengthen the vocational culture in parents,” she said. Sister Brenda lives with two other Daughters of Immaculate Mary of Guadalupe. This spring they hosted a gathering for Hispanic youth at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dickinson, North Dakota, to share their stories and perform a concert. Together they made beautiful music. Whether standing in the Walmart parking lot or greeting them at church, Sister Brenda is a guidepost for the lost and lonely. “In the Church,” she said, “they find family.”
Fanucci, a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove, is a mother, writer and director of a project on vocations at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville. She is the author of several books, including “Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting,” and blogs at motheringspirit.com.
Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.
APRIL 4, 2019
SIMPLE HOLINESS | KATE SOUCHERAY
Hope, even in the shadow of the cross We are called in this Lenten season to grow in our faith and to be in the shadow of the cross, overcome neither by its threat of death nor the fear it intends to evoke. As people who stand firmly in the face of such intimidation, we know death is vanquished by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. Easter Sunday must be preceded by the horrors of Good Friday, and as my mother-in-law always said, “There can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.” In her wisdom, she meant there will be difficult, and perhaps discouraging, times for all of us as we move through the phases of our lives. Like the season of Lent, we must embrace the aspects each phase presents to us, trusting we will manage whatever happens. As we do so, we know we will be resurrected with Jesus, as we are brought into a new way of experiencing life, despite whatever troubling times we face. This new way of living reminds us we do not move through adulthood without trials and hardships. These difficulties may include the illness of a spouse or family member, and some days you may feel stretched beyond your capability and wonder how you will go on. They may include a struggling child, and in your loving commitment to provide the best life possible for them, you forego your own well-being to provide for theirs. Or these difficulties may include financial struggles, as you honor your decision to be an at-home parent and live within the limitations of one income, in addition to the loneliness and isolation this situation can create. In so many ways, our culture tells us these decisions are foolish or unwise, because none of them is self-serving, a quality
THE LOCAL CHURCH | DEACON MICKEY FRIESEN
Walking with ‘a Good Friday people’ “We are a Good Friday people!” That was the way Archbishop Samir Nassar described the faith of Christians living in Damascus, Syria, when he visited the archdiocese last November for the first time, as part of our deepening partnership relationship. He came so that we might become better acquainted and explore ways to be in solidarity with one another. He said, “For us, the holiest time of the year is Good Friday. It is the day that we carry the cross with Jesus and remember that he walks with us as we carry our many crosses. We are a Good Friday people because ours is a history of martyrs and persecutions for living our Catholic faith. The cross is never far from our experience in the Middle East.” Today, Christians in Damascus face the cross of the aftermath of eight years of civil war. People feel trapped in a kind of limbo brought on by the continuing sanctions and blockade surrounding Syria. Christian families continue their exodus from Damascus and all of Syria. Those who remain are too old, too poor or too sick to leave. This makes Church life difficult to continue. “This situation, where there is neither peace nor war in Syria, has become intolerable,” Archbishop Nassar said. “Reconstruction of damaged areas has not begun. Shortages of basic necessities have made life unbearable for the vulnerable, the children, the elderly and the homeless.” In spite of this heavy cross, “The Church in Syria rests on the sacrifices of its martyrs, strengthened and encouraged by the fire of the Spirit and the light of the Gospel,” he said. “We will continue to guard the faith of Peter and hold to the route which allows us to progress further along the road of salvation.” For our brothers and sisters in Damascus, Good Friday faith means living in solidarity with Christians around the world. Archbishop Nassar told me that during Christmas last year, the youth of the parish prepared the Nativity scene for the cathedral
COMMENTARY
ACTION CHALLENGE Make a commitment to pick up your Lenten sacrifice and see it through to the Triduum. Make prayer, fasting and almsgiving your focus in the waning days of Lent.
the western world increasingly values. As we complete our Lenten journey, let us think about how we may use the waning days of this season to bring ourselves ever closer to the holiness and wholeness to which we are called. If you have lost track of your Lenten commitment, make time this week to think of a few simple ways you could bring it to fruition and let go of any guilt you may feel about not fulfilling it completely. Keep in mind that Lent calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Perhaps you could take time to dedicate a few moments to prayer each day, perhaps through a website that brings you peace and solace. Or you may think of something from which you could fast, which may be a stop at your favorite coffee shop for the $3 latte you purchase each day, and instead, set that money aside for the collection basket when you attend Mass on Holy Thursday. You may consider reaching out to a neighbor with whom you have not connected over these long, winter months, and renew your friendship and support of each other. Through acts of kindness and generosity, we dedicate ourselves to a renewed focus on Lent, as we give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to transform us into Easter people. By picking up our Lenten commitment and completing our Lenten journey, we will humbly celebrate the Triduum and enter into the holiness of the three holiest days of our Church with Christ. Through the completion of our Lenten sacrifice, we will walk with Jesus and share in his passion, death and resurrection. Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a member of Guardian Angels in Oakdale. She holds a master’s degree in theology from the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul.
HELP CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND The annual Pontifical Good Friday Collection is taken up in parishes around the world to support the holy sites and ministry to Christians living in the Holy Land. Learn more about the collection at myfranciscan.org/good-friday. church, but they chose not to put a roof on the manger. When the adults asked the young people why they did not include a roof, they said it represented the 13 million Syrian refugees who are now homeless and have no roof of their own. The child Jesus is with them, and they wanted to show their solidarity by keeping their manger without a roof, too. The faith of Good Friday is the faith of hope and solidarity. Jesus entered into solidarity with our humanity and gave himself in love for us. His way of the cross gives meaning to those who suffer in our world. They do not walk alone. The Stations of the Cross invite the Church to walk in solidarity with Jesus and all those who carry the cross in our day. Archbishop Nassar sent me his meditations on the stations for this Lent. They are truly reflections on Jesus’ walking with the people of Damascus. One station that reaches out to us is the fifth station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. “Suffering welcomed in faith traces the way of salvation,” Archbishop Nassar wrote. “Lord, our families are left alone in their suffering and distress. They wait for a helping hand, a loving heart, a ‘Simon of Cyrene’ who you will put on their desert road of suffering. Amen.” Like Simon, we can help Jesus carry the cross. During this season we can walk the way of the cross with Jesus who walks with those who carry a heavy cross daily. We can join in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Damascus who live Good Friday every day. On Good Friday, we join to offer support to Christians living in the Holy Land, including Damascus. The crucified Jesus is with them, and we can be with them also. Let us remember and support Christians in the Holy Land, like those in Damascus, on this Good Friday. This is the faith of a Good Friday people. Deacon Friesen is director of the Center for Mission in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 17B
LETTERS Licenses for all ‘a moral imperative’? Re: “Archbishop Hebda: Driver’s licenses for all is a ‘moral imperative,’” March 7. One time (as) we were driving Mom to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital, we passed through on a solid green light. An uninsured driver blew her red light and bashed our borrowed van with my three, young children inside. The van was drivable enough to get us to St. Joseph’s emergency, where my wife and kids were evaluated. No compassion was given us by insurance companies but to collect deductibles even if an indigent, undocumented driver of the other vehicle shouldn’t have been there in the first place. It is not in the interest of public safety to have risked our family we love as this happened. An alternative to those who are here “not to hurt us” is the billion dollar trolley system and buses in place to get to work. A better solution would be to build economies in the border countries so people would not have to leave and come here at all. For all who have come legally or not and used educational or other entitlements, a two-year stipulation (like Peace Corps) could be made for them to go back to their native country with what they have learned and help the people there, then return to the USA. Roger Zarembinski St. Pius X, White Bear Lake
Play ‘catalyst for respectful discussion’ Our hope and prayer are that Minnesota’s History Theatre’s play, “Sisters of Peace,” referenced in Matthew Davis’ article “History Theatre to perform ‘Sisters of Peace’” (online headline; also appeared in print as “History Theatre showcases peace activist sisters,” March 21) will be a catalyst for respectful discussion, yielding compassion and understanding for all regardless of race, gender, orientation or belief. The Sisters of St. Joseph are called to move always “toward profound love of God and love of neighbor without distinction.” This profound love is, we believe, much needed in today’s world. With this in mind, we hope people can see in this play how differences are explored and respected. We acknowledge our tremendous love, support and respect for all of our Sisters, including the McDonalds. Susan Hames, CSJ; Suzanne Herder, CSJ; Cathy Steffens, CSJ The Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province Share your perspective by emailing CatholicSpirit@archspm.org. Please limit your letter to the editor to 150 words and include your parish and phone number. The Commentary page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.
COMMENTARY
18B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
GUEST COMMENTARY | FATHER DANIEL GRIFFITH
the Catholic Church at this critical time.
Where do we go from here? Restorative justice a path to healing
uRestorative justice is survivor centered. Restorative justice and healing circles are not a factfinding exercise nor are they perpetrator-focused; rather, they provide a safe place where survivors are able to tell their stories about the harm they have experienced and how this harm affected them. Many survivors express that their enduring hope was that someone would listen to their story. Many experience the telling of their story as a type of catharsis. The organizers of the clergy abuse summit in Rome specifically asked bishops who were planning to attend to meet with survivors prior to making the trip. The intent was to increase awareness among Church leaders of the significant and long-lasting harm caused by clergy abuse. As Pope Francis often says, reality is more important than ideas, and the experience of clergy abuse and its significant effects must become more widely known if true change is to occur. Some Church leaders have come to understand that the only proper response to the current Church crisis must be survivor centered, which has now emerged as a long overdue best practice. An institutionalcentered response has not, and will not, work. This is what Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane meant when he called for a “Copernican revolution” during the closing liturgy of the summit — namely, a needed discovery that those who have been abused don’t “revolve around the Church, but the Church around them.”
Many Catholics hope that the unprecedented anti-abuse summit held in Rome will usher in a sea change for the Church in its handling of clergy abuse and the attendant cover-up. Many have asked what’s next, and where do we go from here? It is widely acknowledged by laity and bishops alike that words at this point are of little importance if they are not backed up by concrete actions and consistent policies, implemented with due urgency and enforced for the good of the Church. Time will tell whether the Feb. 21-24 gathering in Rome marks a serious shift in the areas of responsibility, accountability and transparency — a shift critical for the protection of children, for the healing of victims/ survivors and for the credible proclamation of the Gospel. While the presidents of the world’s episcopal conferences were meeting in Rome, several gatherings took place in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that focused on restorative justiceinspired healing in the wake of the Church crisis. These gatherings were led by Janine Geske, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice and a retired Marquette law professor. Justice Geske has traveled the world conducting restorative justice training sessions and healing circles, which gather those who have experienced harm, either directly or indirectly. Her travels have taken her to Ireland, Rome, Turkey and beyond, as her unique style blends faith, storytelling, common sense, humility and charm. Admittedly, when I first heard about restorative justice I was skeptical. I am a trained lawyer, and lawyers like things that are concrete. To me, restorative justice sounded ethereal and a bit New Age. Then I met Justice Geske. A few years ago, a mutual friend and colleague introduced us over dinner, and I sat spellbound as I listened to Justice Geske’s stories about how restorative justice and restorative practices have been a source of healing and transformation for many. At its core, restorative justice is survivor centered and employs a method of dialogue that involves listening intently to those who have experienced harm. It is a gift from the indigenous peoples of North America, who were close to nature and found this practice to be an authentically human way to address and repair harm in their community. To achieve healing, restorative justice asks three questions: Who was harmed, what was the nature of the harm, and how can the harm be addressed? For two years Justice Geske has worked closely with local survivors, Church leaders, parishioners, law students and seminarians in an effort to move our wounded Church to a place of greater healing. Five years ago, the archdiocese was in full-blown crisis — on the verge of bankruptcy, soon to be criminally charged for failure to protect children and led by an archbishop under investigation for misconduct. Five years later, the archdiocese, while still in need of much healing and continued vigilance, is in a very different place. The fruitful collaboration between lay leaders, clergy and Archbishop Bernard Hebda has paved the way for a constructive and collaborative relationship among abuse survivors and Church leaders. Restorative justice, while in its beginning stages, has been an integral part of this transformation. Having seen firsthand the power of restorative justice in the parish setting and in a new law school course I teach with a colleague, I offer below five reasons why restorative justice provides a positive path forward for
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Restorative justice, while not a panacea, provides a path forward for the Church that puts survivors at the center, promotes accountability, addresses the broader harm to Catholics, is consistent with our biblical and Catholic theology, and is effective. uRestorative justice promotes accountability for those who have perpetrated harm. Without a full understanding of restorative justice, it may be viewed as a path around the harm and away from accountability. The opposite is true. Restorative justice as applied to the present Church crisis would seek to name the harm that has been caused — both the sources of the harm and its effects. It would also seek to address the harm with an eye toward reform. As we know, the harm from our present crisis is manifold and deep. Additionally, restorative justice invites perpetrators, when appropriate, to hear about the nature and effect of the harm they have caused — from the survivor’s perspective. In this powerful dynamic, all are moved from abstraction to reality as perpetrators hear how their particular behavior wounded another. One would hope that bishops of good will and humility come away from meetings with survivors feeling more accountable for their actions and more resolute in their determination to ensure safe environments and the healing of survivors. As a pastor, I have emerged from the experience of personally hearing the stories of survivors more determined to work for justice and healing. uRestorative justice includes those who have been peripherally harmed. Restorative justice practitioners refer to this as the “ripple effect,” which can include family members, friends, parishioners and members of the broader community. Harm casts a wide net. Thus, by including those who have been indirectly harmed in restorative practices, the positive experience of restorative justice can be more broadly experienced. This has been the case in the various restorative justice forums that have been held in local parishes. After an introduction about restorative justice and healing circles, those present are invited to express how they have been harmed by the clergy
APRIL 4, 2019 abuse crisis — either directly or peripherally. Many parishioners have found this to be a deeply moving experience as they may recount their own story of being abused or that of a family member. Others may express how the Church crisis has affected them. Yet others contribute to the healing process by simply listening compassionately to the survivors and expressing their solidarity with them. As these safe dialogues unfold, those present often feel affirmed and accompanied in their experience. uRestorative justice is consistent with and enlightened by biblical and Catholic theology. Restoration is God’s work and can be seen in both the Hebrew Scripture as well as the Gospel accounts of Jesus. The classic philosophical definition of justice is to give each their due. The biblical understanding of justice is richer and more relational. Biblical justice is understood as right relationship and living faithfully to the demands of the covenant. In Scripture, we see that God manifests three dimensions of justice: retributive, distributive and restorative. God’s restorative work is seen in the liberation and restoration of Israel, which, for Christians, also prefigures the restorative mission of Christ. With restorative justice very much on my mind this past Christmas, I was struck by the theme of restoration that was clearly present in the collect, preface to the Eucharistic Prayer and the readings for Christmas day. As we celebrate Easter in the coming weeks, we will again recognize the prominent theme of restoration in the Easter readings and prayers. Restorative justice is also consistent with and informed by Catholic social teaching. Catholic social teaching seeks the attainment of justice, opposes unjust social structures and promotes human flourishing. Restorative justice has the same goal as it seeks to confront sin and harm, and promote human flourishing and healing. The principles of Catholic social teaching offer a sharp rebuke to the past conduct of Church leaders when applied to the Church crisis, but also a path forward as the principles promote greater solidarity with survivors and a preferential choice for their healing. uFinally, restorative justice works. The effectiveness of restorative justice is the reason why it has been employed throughout the world and for several years as a way of addressing harm. In postsummit interviews, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago and Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta stated that the testimony of the survivors “made the meeting” and that the powerful witness of survivors must be the path forward. Restorative practices are effective, and I have witnessed this firsthand on numerous occasions and in a variety of settings. When Justice Geske first described her work to me in the area of restorative justice, I had a “road to Emmaus” moment. As she spoke about her experience, this work struck me as good and true and vital. All people seek healing and restoration from the wounds they have experienced. All people are affirmed and accompanied when one actively listens to their story. In the weeks and months ahead, Catholics will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a path forward to greater light and healing. Restorative justice, while not a panacea, provides a path forward for the Church that puts survivors at the center, promotes accountability, addresses the broader harm to Catholics, is consistent with our biblical and Catholic theology, and is effective. Given the potential of restorative justice as a source of accountability and healing, my hope is that these practices will be used in various Catholic settings throughout the United States. Additionally, the bishops of the United States would be well served to learn more about restorative justice and its positive potential. They could be aided in this regard by experts in the field and by bishops like Archbishop Hebda and others, who have gained important experience and perspective from these vital practices. Father Griffith is pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis, one of three parishes in the archdiocese asked to pilot a parish program in restorative justice. He also serves as the Wenger Family Fellow of Law at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he teaches courses in Catholic social teaching, jurisprudence and restorative justice. He was ordained in 2002.
APRIL 4, 2019
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 19B
CALENDAR FEATURED EVENTS Man the Sub-Creator: Christianity and the Arts — April 9: 6–9 p.m. at St. Clement, 911 24th Ave. NE, Minneapolis. Third in a Lenten series by the Northeast Minneapolis Collective, this event focuses on song and is called “He Who Sings Prays Twice: the Place of Music in Divine Worship.” Presenters are Father Byron Hagan and Christopher Ganza. facebook.com/ events/843265749371382. Behold the Man exhibition — Through April 28 at the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N. 17th St., Minneapolis. “Ecce Homo: Behold the Man” is on display in the Pope John XXIII Gallery and Teresa of Calcutta Hall. On loan from the Sandra Bowden Collection, it includes images from the early 17th century to the present depicting the scene in Matthew 27 in which Jesus is condemned by the crowd gathered before Pilate. mary.org/news-events/events/ behold-man-exhibition. “What is the role of law in addressing the clergy sexual abuse crisis?” — April 8: 12:30–1:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis School of Law atrium at the University of St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus, 1000 LaSalle Ave. The free event includes lunch and features panelists discussing the application of civil law to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Panelists are: Thomas Johnson, partner at Gray Plant Mooty law firm, ombudsman for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis; Kathleen McChesney, CEO of Kinsale Management Consulting; and Tim O’Malley, archdiocesan director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment. For more information and to register, visit stthomas.edu/murphyinstitute/events/ 20190408-role-of-law.html. “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” — April 12, 13 and 14: 7:30 p.m. April 12 and 13, and 2 p.m. April 14 at the Brady Educational Center at the University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul. The free event features St. Paul Seminary Theatre’s rendition of the classic musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. spstheatre.org.
Dining out
Retreats
Waffle and ham breakfast — April 7: 8:30 a.m.–noon at Our Lady of the Prairie, 200 E. Church St., Belle Plaine. school.ourladyoftheprairie.com. Italian night — April 14: 3–6 p.m. at St. Mary, 8433 239th St. E., Hampton. A Catholic United Financial matching grant event. stmarysnewtrier.com.
“Disturb Me, O Lord” Lenten retreat — April 8-10: 6:30–8:15 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament, 2119 Stillwater Ave., St. Paul. blessedsacramentsp.org. Men and women’s silent Lenten midweek retreat — April 9-11 at Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. “Be Patient in Affliction” presented by King’s House preaching team. kingshouse.com. Women’s silent weekend retreat — April 12-14 at Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. “Be Patient in Affliction” presented by King’s House preaching team. kingshouse.com. Women’s silent Palm Sunday retreat — April 12-14 at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. franciscanretreats.net.
Music “Upon This Rock: The Passion, the Question, the Call” — April 17: 6:30–7:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Prairie, 200 Church St., Belle Plaine. ourladyoftheprairie.com.
Parish events Ham and cash bingo — April 7: 2–5 p.m. at St. John Paul II Catholic School, Kolbe Center, 1630 Fourth St. NE, Minneapolis. Sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women Holy Cross Rosary Guild. johnpaulschoolmn.org. St. Helena women’s high tea — April 7: 2–4 p.m. at 3204 E. 43rd St., Minneapolis. Music by The Resistors. RSVP 612-729-9445. sainthelena.us. St. Michael parish mission — April 8-11: 7 p.m. (6:30 p.m. April 9) at 11300 Frankfort Parkway NE, St. Michael. Featuring Father Larry Richards. 763-497-2745. stmcatholicchurch.org. Ham bingo — April 13: 7–10 p.m. at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1725 Kennard St., Maplewood. Food sales begin at 6 p.m. 651-777-8116. presentationofmary.org.
Prayer/worship First Friday Day of Prayer — April 5: 8 a.m.–8 p.m. at St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. Mass followed by eucharistic adoration. Benediction with Deacon Bob at 4:45 p.m. Stations of the Cross at 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Ecumenical Taize prayer at 7:30 p.m. strichards.com. Passion Sunday Vespers: Prayer, Reflection, Music — April 14: 5–5:45 p.m. at St. Mary, 261 Eighth St. E., St. Paul. Featuring choral music by Berthier, Byrd, Duruflé and Proulx. stmarystpaul.org. Nativity Grandparents Apostolate of Sts. Joachim and Anne — April 14: 9–10:30 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord, Steiner Hall, 1938 Stanford Ave., St. Paul. Father James Peterson, parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, will present “Divine Mercy in the Life of a 21st Century Grandparent.” nativity.mn.org/grandparents-apostolate.
Conferences/workshops “Ready, Set, Serve!” Youth gathering for grades 8-11 — April 6: 9 a.m.–noon at Immaculate Conception, 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights. Learn why God calls us to serve and what service means, with former NET Ministries missionaries Sarah Ashmore and Colby Buntin. RSVP 763-788-9062. parish.iccsonline.org.
Schools Nativity of Mary School Spirit of Spring event — April 13: 6–11 p.m. at 9901 E. Bloomington Freeway, Bloomington. school.nativitybloomington.org.
Speakers Giving Insights Forum: “The Catholic Response to Immigration” — April 9: 6–8:30 p.m. at Pax Christi, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie. Features the “pope’s favorite nun,” Sister Norma Pimentel, MJ, on her work welcoming immigrants crossing the border. A panel discussion will follow featuring Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Jesuit Father Warren Sazama and an immigration lawyer. Hosted by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota. ccf-mn.org. “Based on Vatican II Teachings, How the Holy Spirit Works In and Through the Baptized” — April 9: 7–8 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Catholic Coalition for Church and Council of the Baptized host. Catherine Michaud, CSJ, will lead the discussion. cccr-cob.org.
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: uTime and date of event uFull street address of event uDescription of event uContact information in case of questions ONLINE: thecatholicspirit.com/calendarsubmissions MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106
Other events The Passion of Jesus in Music, Word and Light — April 4, 5 and 6: 8 p.m. at St. Mark campus of Sts. Joachim and Anne, 350 Atwood St., Shakopee. April 4 in Spanish; April 5-6 in English. 612-849-3485. shakopeepassionplay.org. “Loved and Loving” art exhibit — April 6-28: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at Pax Christi, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie. Features works of Gregg Rochester, Pat Duncan and Jacqueline Syrup Bergan. “Meet the artists reception” after Masses April 7. paxchristi.com. Jericho March with Pro-Life Action Ministries — April 8-14: 3 p.m. at Planned Parenthood, 671 Vandalia St., St. Paul. Join a modern day Jericho March around the highest volume abortion facility in the Midwest. On the seventh day, participants will march around the building six times in silence. plam.org. 21st Annual Living Stations of the Cross — April 19: Servants of the Cross will re-enact the passion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday at three locations: 9 a.m. at St. Peter, 2600 N. Margaret St., North St. Paul; noon at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 1725 Kennard St., Maplewood; and 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament, 2119 Stillwater Ave. E., St. Paul. servantsofthecrossmn.com.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Executive Director (Winona, MN): Please see display ad on pg. 6B of this edition. Thank you. Open position: Coordinator, Spiritual Direction Certificate Program at St. Catherine University. Apply online by April 15: http://www.stkate.edu/jobs Telecom Technologies in Eagan, MN is seeking a Refurb Assistant. Duties include assembling, disassembling cleaning Business Telephones in a controlled environment. Pay starting at $10/hour. Full-Time and Part-Time available. Contact Claire via phone to apply, 651-456-5800, ext. 221.
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20B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
THELASTWORD
Kindergartner Oliver Larkin pours slime on Father Marc Paveglio during an event at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Roseville March 21 to acknowledge reaching the school’s $13,000 goal in Catholic United Financial’s Catholic Schools Raffle. At right is Principal Sean Slaikeu, who agreed to partner with Father Paveglio in the sliming. At left are Carrie Sandquist, financial services coordinator, and Mike Sullwold, physical education teacher.
Principal, priest go green after St. Rose of Lima students reach raffle goal Story and photos by Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
S
igns inside the gymnasium at St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Roseville told everyone what would happen next: “It’s slime time.” Energy increased as students, teachers and staff started filing in shortly after 1 p.m. March 21. With the entire student body sitting on the gym floor, the two guests of honor made a grand entrance: Sean Slaikeu, principal, and Father Marc Paveglio, pastor of St. Rose parish. In January, both had agreed to be “slimed” if the students met their goal of $13,000 in the Catholic Schools Raffle by Catholic United Financial. When it was met by the Feb. 24 deadline with $13,450, the slime fest was on. Slaikeu and Father Paveglio sat on chairs inside two plastic swimming pools, with ladders next to each of them for students to climb and dump their green payloads from above. The men wore goggles to protect their eyes. Father Paveglio chose to keep his collar on, which turned green in the process. At the time he agreed to be slimed, Slaikeu wasn’t worried. He figured he might get just a few cupfuls poured on him. No big deal. He was wrong. “When they told me I needed to buy five-gallon buckets at Menard’s for slime making, I knew I was in trouble,” Slaikeu said. His administrative assistant, Stefanie Wetzel, teamed up with Carrie Sandquist, the school’s financial services coordinator, to make the slime. They filled nearly two five-gallon buckets with the green goo. Top raffle sellers from each grade were invited to pour the slime on each of the two men. The final act featured the top seller, eighth-grader Shane Mullen, who was given the remaining two gallons of slime in a bucket to pour on both men. “It was pretty fun,” said Mullen, who sold 600 raffle tickets for $3,000. “I’ve never really touched slime before. ... It was a pretty good reward for selling the most tickets.” The priest and principal wiped off the slime afterward, but couldn’t remove everything. “I got the majority of it (slime) off, but it started to dry,” Slaikeu said the next day. “And, I was like, ‘Well, I’m just gonna go home.’ So, I drove home, but I have about a 45-minute commute. And, by the time I got home, it was pretty crusted on. Today, I still have a few speckles of green slime on me that just seemed to not want to come off, but for the most part, I don’t look like the Grinch today.” As for next year, Slaikeu said if the students reach their goal again, slime time will return. “If it takes me getting slimed to motivate students to go out and sell more raffle tickets, that’s something I’m open to doing,” he said. “It was nerve wracking to get the first bucket dumped on you, but looking out there and seeing the kids smiling and laughing and the teachers’ looks was just fun. It was just a good way to build community.”
Partners in
S L I M E
CENTER ABOVE Eighth-grader Shane Mullen, the top raffle ticket seller, pours the remaining slime onto Father Marc Paveglio. ABOVE From left, Principal Sean Slaikeu and Father Paveglio celebrate the conclusion of their sliming.
CENTER ABOVE Father Paveglio reacts after getting slimed. ABOVE From left, Paul Jannakos, Will Erlenbusch, Oliver Larkin, Sam Cain and Dominic Ebert let their voices be heard. Cain is in second grade, the others are in kindergarten.
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April 4, 2019 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Fall Festival, St. Patrick, Shieldsville DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
2019
Parish Festival Guide Your calendar for fun
across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Festival Guide Guide Festival
2A • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
2A • The Catholic Spirit
April
St. John the Baptist, Dayton — Parish Festival: Aug. 4, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Chicken dinner 10:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., raffles, silent auction, wall of wine, flea market, country store. 18380 Columbus St. sjbdayton.org.
St. John the Baptist, Vermillion — Bingo Fun Day: April 7, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Bingo, children’s games, door prize, food. St. John’s School Community Room,111 West Main St. sjb-school.org.
St. Gerard Majella, Brooklyn Park — Corn Fest: Aug. 9-10. 6–11 p.m. Aug. 9; 5–11 p.m. Aug. 10. Inflatables, carnival games, bingo, basket auction, grand raffle, pull tabs, live entertainment, food booths, wall of wine, beer. Outdoor Mass 4 p.m. Aug. 10. 9600 Regent Ave N. st-gerard.org.
St. Stephen, Anoka — Spring Festival of Flowers and Raffle: April 27, 5–9 p.m. 5 p.m. bilingual Mass followed by authentic Mexican food, folkloric dancing, Coney dogs with all the toppings, beverages, ice cream, raffle (grand prize: TORO zero-turn mower or $5,000 cash), DJ, children’s games, candy shoppe. 525 Jackson St. ststephenchurch.org.
St. Joseph of the Lakes, Lino Lakes — Summer Festival: Aug. 10-11. Aug. 10: 8 a.m. 5K race. 5 p.m. outdoor Mass under the big tent followed by 6–10 p.m. pork dinner, concessions, beer garden, games, live band, fireworks. Aug. 11: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. silent auction, bingo, games, inflatables, car show, live music, beer garden, cakewalk, raffles, chicken dinner. 171 Elm St. mystjoes.org.
St. Michael, Prior Lake — Aprilfest: April 27-28. 9 a.m.–11 p.m. April 27; 8:30 a.m.–noon April 28. April 27: 5K race, arts and crafts, bake sale, children’s games, food, bingo, raffle, silent auction, beer tent, live auction, chicken and ribs dinner, children’s dance party, Euchre tournament, live music. April 28: Mass, pancake breakfast, silent auction, bake sale, cash raffle. 16400 Duluth Ave. SE. stmichael-pl.org/aprilfest.
May Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Maplewood — Spring Festival: May 4, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. 10 a.m. 5K walk/run, 10:30 a.m. Kiddie Land, silent auction, theme baskets, food booths, beer, pull tabs, books and media booth. 4 p.m. Mass. 5–7 p.m. Mexican dinner by Acapulco with margarita bar. 7:20 p.m. raffle drawing. 7:30–9 p.m. bingo. 1725 Kennard St. presentationofmary.org. St. Mark, St. Paul — Parish Festival: May 17-18. 5–10 p.m. May 17; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. May 18. Live music and theater, street dance, children’s games and activities, country store, medallion hunt, silent auction, outdoor Mass, school gala, food, soft drinks, beer, wine. 2001 Dayton Ave. onestrongfamily.org/festival. St. Michael, Stillwater — Fun Fest: May 19, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Inflatables, petting zoo, pony rides, silent auction, cakewalk, games, bake sale, book and media booth, DJ, concessions. 611 Third St. S. stmichaelstillwater.org.
June St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — St. Pius Xtravaganza: June 1, 5–9 p.m. Mass followed by catered dinner, outdoor cash bar, music, wine toss, raffle, live auction. 3878 Highland Ave. churchofstpiusx.org/events. St. Mary, St. Paul — Taste of St. Mary’s: June 2, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Ethnic food booths, bake sale, crafts, flea market, bingo. 261 8th St. E. stmarystpaul.org. St. Mary, Le Center — Parish Festival: June 23, 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. 10 a.m. polka Mass with music by the Wendinger Band. 165 N. Waterville Ave. stmarysthenry.org.
July St. Columba, St. Paul — Fun Fest: July 12-14: 5–10 p.m. July 12; 3–10 p.m. July 13; 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. July 14. Traditional Vietnamese food menu, Vietnamese live music, raffles. 1327 Lafond Ave. stcolumba.org.
APRIL 4, 2019
April 26, 2017
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Feeling festive? The Catholic Spirit reached out to each parish listed in last year’s guide to bring you the 2019 Parish Festival Guide, a calendar of carnivals, picnics and family-friendly fun hosted by parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Parishes provided the information; listings were edited for length and clarity. Find the guide, including post-deadline listings, and a map at TheCatholicSpirit.com/festivals.
St. Mary of Czestochowa, Delano — Country Festival: July 21, 11 a.m.–2:30 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. St. Patrick, Cedar Lake Township — Parish Festival: July 21, 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 — Summer Festival: July 26-28: 4–10 p.m. July 26; noon–10 p.m. July 27; 11:30 a.m.– 6 p.m. July 28. Traditional Vietnamese food, live Vietnamese music, raffles. Mass 4:30 p.m. July 27; 10 a.m. July 28. 265 Charles Ave. stadalbertchurch.org. Our Lady of Lourdes, Minneapolis — Lourdes Block Party: July 2. 5 p.m. Mass followed by live music, food, raffle, children’s activities, Minneapolis Aquatennial fireworks viewing. 1 Lourdes Place. lourdesmpls.org.
August Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — IC Summer Jam: Aug. 1-4. 5–10 p.m. Aug. 1; 5–10:30 p.m. Aug. 2; 2–10:30 p.m. Aug. 3; 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Aug. 4. Aug. 1: Free Fallin (Tom Petty tribute band) and Madd Company (Bad Company tribute band). Aug. 2: SFO (Journey tribute band) and Heartless (Heart tribute band); MSMA car show. Aug. 3: The
Crown Jewels (Queen tribute band) and Rubber Soul (Beatles tribute band). Aug. 4: Transit Authority (Chicago tribute band), Show ‘n Shine car show. Daily: food, raffle, pull tabs, beer and wine tent. Aug. 2-4: bingo, children’s games, inflatables, bake shop, silent auction. 4030 Jackson St. NE. parish.iccsonline.org/summer-jam. St. Raphael, Crystal — Parish Festival: Aug. 2-3. 5–10 p.m. Aug. 2; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Aug. 3. 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 — Summer Sizzle: Aug. 3-4. 5–9 p.m. Aug. 3; 11 a.m. –4 p.m. Aug. 4. Mass, food, beer, wine, raffle, silent auction, bingo, entertainment, children’s games, inflatables. 4030 Pilot Knob Road. sjn.org. Immaculate Conception, Lonsdale — Parish Bazaar: Aug. 4, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 10 a.m. Mass followed by food concessions, children’s games, bake sale featuring Czech specialties, country market, live entertainment, bingo, book of prizes. 116 Alabama St. SE. churchoftheimmaculateconception.net. Nativity, Cleveland — Aug. 4, 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. George, Long Lake — Corn Days Festival: Aug. 10-11. 1–11 p.m. Aug. 10; noon–5 p.m. Aug. 11. Roasted corn, live music, beer tent, children/teen games and activities, inflatables, petting zoo, pony rides, climbing wall, silent auction, super raffle, food, craft and merchandise vendors. Aug. 10: fiesta dinner; Aug. 11: pancake breakfast, Long Lake Area Chamber of Commerce parade and 5K, Fun Run, FitHaus Shortcut. 133 Brown Road N. corndays.com. St. Wenceslaus, New Prague — Parish Festival: Aug. 10-11. 4:30–7 p.m. Aug. 10; 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Aug. 11. Children’s games, raffles, beer garden, live music, bingo, country store, baking sweet shop. Chicken dinner 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Aug. 11. Polka Masses: 5 p.m. Aug. 10; 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Aug. 11. 215 Main St. npcatholic.org. Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — Basilica Day: Aug. 11 following 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Ice cream social celebrating the Basilica’s solemn dedication. 88 17th St. N. mary.org. Sts. Joachim and Anne, Shakopee — Two parish festivals unite as JACS JAM: Aug. 16-18 (previously Julifest and Marystown). Aug. 16: food, drinks, Latino music. Aug. 17: 5K morning run/walk, 4 p.m. outdoor polka Mass, 5–11 p.m. live bands, food and beverage stands, raffles, silent auction, country store, bake sale, bingo, pull tabs, wall of wine, games including famous “Chicken Plop.” Aug. 18: 9 a.m. Mass, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. all festivities and Sunday-only events including smorgasbord dinner, family entertainment, afternoon Czech concertina band. St. Mary of the Purification campus, 15850 Marystown Road, Shakopee. ssjacs.org. St. Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake — Summerfest: Aug. 17, 6–10 p.m. 10th annual Summerfest concert, fresh food, soft drinks, crafts, beer, wine. Under the big top: The Elements followed by The Good, the Bad and the Funky. 4690 Bald Eagle Ave. stmarys-wbl.org. Most Holy Trinity, Veseli — Ho-Down: Aug. 18, 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.
APRIL 4, 2019
4A • The Catholic Spirit
Festival Guide Festival Guide
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3A
April 26, 2017
St. Genevieve, Centerville — Parish Festival and Chicken Dinner: Aug. 18, 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, homemade pie. 6995 Centerville Road. stgens.org.
the trimmings: $12 adults; $6 children under 12. 398 Superior St. ststans.org
St. Joseph, West St. Paul — Old Time Picnic and Corn Feed: Aug. 18, noon–4 p.m. Free roasted sweet corn, games, music. 1154 Seminole Ave. churchofstjoseph.org.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — Fall Fun Fest: Sept. 14, noon–11 p.m. Cornhole (bags) tournament, designer purse bingo, entertainment, food concessions, beer tent, games, silent auction, 7–11 p.m. live music with Boogie Wonderland. shrmn.org.
Guardian Angels, Oakdale — Fall Festival: Sept. 13-15. Games, dinners, raffles, book and craft sale, silent auction, bingo, inflatables, fireworks. 8260 Fourth St. N. guardian-angels.org.
St. Thomas the Apostle, Corcoran — Parish Festival: Aug. 18, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Turkey dinner, music, bingo, farmers market, children’s games, bake sale. 20000 County Road 10. saintsppta.org. Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul — Fun Fest: Aug.18-19. 3–9 p.m. Aug. 18; 11:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19: Aug. 18: 3–6 p.m. classic car show, 5–7 p.m. Deacon Fred’s Famous Spaghetti Dinner, 5–9 p.m. music and dancing with Buster Phelan under the big tent. Aug. 19: Banda Poderosa Mariachi, Dominican dancers, ethnic food fair, pulled pork sandwiches, silent auction, children’s games, take-a-chance, pie. 2119 Stillwater Ave. blessedsacramentsp.org. St. Michael, Pine Island — Fall Festival: Aug. 24-25. Aug. 24: tractor pull, arts and crafts vendors, country store, raffle, concessions. Aug. 25: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. roast beef dinner: $11 adults, $5 ages 6-12, free 5 and under. Silent auction. 451 Fifth St. SW. stpaulstmichael.com. St. Anne, Hamel — Parish Festival: Aug. 25, 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Chicken dinner, silent auction, grand raffle, bingo, cribbage tournament, children’s games, outdoor food, country store. 200 Hamel Road. saintannehamel.org. St. Luke, Clearwater — Parish Festival: Aug. 25, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. pork chop dinner, games, food, beverages, quilt raffle, cash raffle, silent auction, quilt auction, bingo. 17545 Huber Ave. NW. churchofstlukes.com. St. Mathias, Hampton — Fun Fest: Aug. 25, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 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. St. Bridget of Sweden, Lindstrom — St. Bridget’s Block Party: Aug. 31, 6–11 p.m. Turkey dinner, concessions, beer tent, children’s games, silent auction, live music, dance. 13060 Lake Blvd. stbridgetofsweden.org.
September St. Bonaventure, Bloomington — St. Boni’s Fall Festival, Sept. 6-7. 4:30–7 p.m. Sept. 6: broasted chicken dinner. Sept. 7: 10 a.m. parade followed by free entertainment, food including premier pork chops and State Fair Pronto Pups. Children’s games and rides, bingo, raffles, craft booth, beverages, car show with 200+ cars. 901 E. 90th St. saintbonvaventure.org.Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Summer Festival: Sept. 6-7. 6:30–11 p.m. Sept 6; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept 7. Children’s games, food vendors, live entertainment, dancers, music groups, book store. 401 Concord St. olgcatholic.org.
St. Mary, St. Paul — Fiesta Dinner and Dance: Sept. 14, 6–9 p.m. Authentic Mexican dinner: $25 couple, $15 adult, $7 ages 6-12. 261 Eighth St. E. stmarystpaul.org.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
St. Gabriel, Hopkins — Fall Festival: Sept. 6-7. 5–10 p.m. Sept. 6; 8 a.m.–8 p.m. Sept. 7. Sept. 6: concessions, Hispanic food, hamburgers and brats, children’s games, inflatables, live music. Sept. 7: garage sale, concessions, Hispanic food, hamburgers and brats, children’s games, inflatables, live music, 4:30 p.m. Mass, 8 p.m. raffle. St. John campus, 6 Interlachen Road. stgabrielhopkins.org.
Holy Family Maronite, Mendota Heights — Fall Festival: Sept. 6-8. Sept 6: 5–6:30 p.m. food available, 6:30–10 p.m. bingo. Sept. 7: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. craft sale, bake sale, silent auction, 4 p.m. Liturgy. 5–8 p.m. Messa Plate Evening: Lebanese cuisine, coffee, desserts, games, silent auction, music. Sept. 8: 10-11 a.m. Liturgy, 11 a.m.–6 p.m. festival serving Lebanese sandwiches, kebobs, desserts, beverages. Games, silent auction, raffle drawing, music. 1960 Lexington Ave. S. holyfamilymaronitechurch.org.
St. Patrick, Oak Grove — CountryFest: Sept. 6-8. 8–11 p.m. Sept. 6; 10 a.m.–midnight Sept. 7; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 8. Sept. 6: youth block party. Sept. 7: 5K, games, inflatables, food and drinks, pull tabs, barbecue RibFest contest, live band, fireworks. Sept. 8: classic car show, food and drinks, games, quilt auction, silent auction, raffle drawing. 19921 Nightingale St. NW. st-patricks.org /countryfest.
St. Mary, Stillwater — 5th Annual GermanFest Sept. 6 and 50th Annual Wild Rice Festival Sept. 8. Sept 6: 5–10 p.m. German Fest with live polka music, dancing, German food and beer, games of skill. Sept. 8: 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Wild Rice Festival with silent auction, 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.
Holy Family, St. Louis Park — Fall Festival: Sept. 7, noon–10 p.m. Food, chicken dinner, beer garden, live band, outdoor games, dancing, silent auction. 5900 West Lake St. hfcmn.org. St. Jude of the Lake, Mahtomedi — Cornfest: Sept. 7, 3–10 p.m. Band, sweet corn, food tent, bingo, brown bag auctions, silent auctions, bake sale, raffles, inflatables, games, Gaga Ball Pit. 700 Mahtomedi Ave. stjudeofthelake.org. St. Mary, Waverly — Fall Festival: Sept. 7-8. 4–10 p.m. Sept 7; 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sept. 8. Sept. 7: 4 p.m. Polka mass, pork chop dinner, raffles, booths, Rob Cerar polka band. Sept 8: Masses 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. followed by brunch, food tent, raffles, booths. 607 Maple Ave. stmarys-waverly.net. Holy Cross, Minneapolis — Septemberfest: Sept. 7-9. 6–10 p.m. Sept. 7; 5–10 p.m. Sept. 8; Live entertainment, games, food, raffles. Sept 9: 9:30 a.m. polka Mass followed by a ticketed dinner. 1621 University Ave. NE. ourholycross.org. Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Sept. 8 following 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Masses. Food and games for all ages. 88 17th St. N. mary.org. Sacred Heart, St. Paul — Kermesse del Sagrado Corazon Fall Festival — Sept. 8, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 840 Sixth St. E. 651-776-2741. St. Maximilian Kolbe, Delano — Harvest Festival: Sept. 8, 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. Turkey dinner: $12 ages 12 and older, $6 ages 5-11, free 4 and under. Includes turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, corn, roll, homemade bars, coffee, milk. St. Peter Church, 217 S. Second St. delanocatholic.com. St. Stanislaus, St. Paul — Fall Festival: Sept. 8, 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
St. Patrick, Inver Grove Heights — Fall Festival: Sept. 14-15. 5–8 p.m. Sept. 14; 11:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sept 15. Food, silent auction, bingo, pull tabs. Sept. 14 taco dinner. Sept. 15 pork dinner, pasta dinner, children’s games, games of chance, beer tent, margaritas, pizza, crafts, car show, cash raffle. 3535 72nd St. E. churchofstpatrick.com. St. Rita, Cottage Grove — Fall Festival: Sept. 14-15. Farmers market, dinner, raffle, bingo, games, silent audition. 8694 80th St. S. saintritas.org. Immaculate Conception of Marysburg, Madison Lake — Fall Festival: Sept. 15, 10:30 a.m. Outdoor Mass followed by live music, beer garden, farmers market, silent auction, games until 2 p.m., hot dog stand, root beer floats. Ham dinner: $11 adults, $5 ages 6-12, $30 family. 27528 Patrick St. maryschurches.com. St. Albert, Albertville — Fall Festival: Sept. 15, 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. 15, 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. 15, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 10 a.m. outdoor Mass, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. sit-down dinner, entertainment, food, games, silent auction, raffle. 2323 Zenith Ave. N. smm-gv.org. St. Mary of the Lake, White Bear Lake — Fall Festival: Sept. 15. 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Live and silent auction, boutique, bakery, general store, jewelry sale, games, raffles, bingo, concessions. Turkey dinner: $10 adults, $5 children. 4690 Bald Eagle Ave. stmarys-wbl.org. St. Pius V, Cannon Falls — Hometown Market and Fall Festival: Sept. 15, 9 a.m.– 3 p.m. Mass 10 a.m. Dinner: $11 adults, $5 ages 5 and under. Live and silent auction, children’s games, concessions, raffle, bingo, country store. Artists, crafters and vendors. 410 Colvill St. W. stpiusvcf.org.
4A • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
APRIL 4, 2019
Festival Guide
St. Ambrose, Woodbury — SAWFest: Sept. 20-21. 5:30–10 p.m. Sept. 20; 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 21. Carnival, games, food, live entertainment, silent auction, raffle, country store. Live entertainment: 6–10 p.m. Sept. 20 with Buck Tucker; 6–10 p.m. Sept 21 with Boogie Wonderland. 4125 Woodbury Drive. saintambroseofwoodbury.org.
children’s games (11 a.m.–1:30 p.m.), country store, raffle. 1405 Highway 13. stpetersmendota.org St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul — Booya and Fall Fiesta: Oct. 6, 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.
Annunciation, Minneapolis — September Fest: Sept. 20-22. 6–9 p.m. Sept. 20; noon– 9 p.m. Sept. 21; 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Sept. 22. Pie and ice cream shop, Candyland, food tent, wine booth, beer garden, carnival rides, games, whiffle ball tournament, raffle, silent auction. annunciationmsp.org/church/septemberfest. Our Lady of the Lake, Mound — Incredible Festival: Sept. 20-22. 5–10 p.m. Sept. 20; 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Sept. 21; 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 22. Sept. 20-21 evenings: live cover bands. Sept. 22: Dave Waller band Higher Call. Carnival, concessions, bean bag tournament, cash raffle, silent auction. 2385 Commerce Blvd. ourladyofthelake.com. Divine Mercy, Faribault — Spirit Fest: Sept. 21-22. Children’s games, raffles, beer garden, Mass with polka music, mariachi band, authentic Mexican food, outdoor entertainment. $12 open-pit grilled chicken and ham dinner. 139 Mercy Drive. divinemercy.cc/spiritfest. St. Maron Maronite, Minneapolis — Lebanese Festival: Sept. 21-22. 1–8 p.m. Sept. 21; 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sept. 22. Authentic Lebanese cuisine, beer, wine, raffle, silent auction, country store, gift shop, games, Cedars Dabke Dance Group, live music. 602 University Ave NE. stmaron.com. St. Peter, North St. Paul — Fall Festival Sept. 21-22. 5–9 p.m. Sept. 21: Gulden’s broasted chicken dinner, silent auction, games, boutique, food truck, raffles, beer garden, SongBlast Dueling Guitar show. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept 22: pancake breakfast, bingo, games, inflatables, boutique, silent auction, cornhole tournament, food truck, beer garden, community entertainment and grand prize raffle drawing. 2600 N. Margaret St. churchofstpeternsp.org. Mary Queen of Peace, Rogers — Fall Festival: Sept. 22, 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Bingo, children’s activities, chicken dinner, farmers market, beer garden. 21304 Church Ave. mqpcatholic.org.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Most Holy Redeemer, Montgomery — Fall Festival: Sept. 22, 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. 10 a.m. Polka Mass, 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. homestyle chicken and ham dinner (dine-in or takeout). Farmers market, homemade quilts and candies, crafts and silent auction, beer garden, bingo, children’s games, cake walk, raffle, music, entertainment. 206 W. Vine Ave. hredeemerparish.org. St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — Fall Festival: Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Sweepstakes with $1,500 first prize, theme basket raffle, food, beverages, children’s games, craft room, pie and coffee room, spaghetti and meatballls dinner. stpascalbaylon.com. St. John the Baptist, New Brighton — Fall Fest and Booya: Sept. 27-29. 5–10 p.m. Sept. 27; 2–10 p.m. Sept. 28; 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Sept. 29. Sept. 27: pig roast, 7 p.m. band. Sept. 28: GB Leighton at 7 p.m. followed by fireworks. Sept. 29: Booya. Inflatables for all ages, raffles, food, bingo, designer purse bingo, market fair, car show, polka Mass. 835 Second Ave. NW. stjohnnb.com. Guardian Angels, Chaska — Fall Festival: Sept. 28, 2 p.m.–8 p.m. Concessions, car show, music, karaoke from the 1950s-70s, children’s games, bingo, raffle. 215 W. Second St. gachaska.org. St. John the Evangelist, Little Canada — Fall Festival: Sept. 28-29. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 29. $5,000 grand raffle, cash hat, pull tabs, music, marathon, grilled food and Sunday dinner, beer,
wine and margaritas, inflatables, games, tournaments. 380 Little Canada Road. sjolc.org. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Minneapolis — Walk with Our Lady Fall Festival: Sept. 29, 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: $12.50 adults, $6 ages 3-10. Takeout available. Noon–3:30 p.m. silent auction, root beer garden, ice cream sundae bar, children’s games, raffles, wine grab, entertainment. 701 Fillmore St. NE. olmcmpls.org. St. John the Baptist, Vermillion — Festival: Sept. 29, 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, brats, hot dogs, pizza. 10 a.m. children’s Mass. 111 Main St. W. stjohns-vermillion.com.
October St. Joseph, Rosemount — Harvest Festival: Oct. 4-5. Oct. 4: 6–9 p.m. homemade pretzels, beer, brats and sauerkraut, Jolly Zuks Polka Band, bingo, crafters, St. Joe’s Boutique, children’s games, raffles. Oct. 5: 5 p.m. Mass followed by annual chicken dinner. 13900 Biscayne Ave. W. stjosephcommunity.org. St. Peter, Mendota — Fall Festival: Oct. 5-6. Oct. 5: 4 p.m. Mass followed by live music and pork dinner. Oct. 6: 10 a.m. Mass, 11 a.m–3 p.m. concessions, live music, bingo, silent auction,
St. John the Baptist Byzantine, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Oct. 6, 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 Third St. NE. stjohnsminneapolis.webs.com. St. Patrick, Shieldsville — Fall Festival: Oct. 8, 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 10 a.m. polka Mass with Nathan Newman followed by pork dinner with all the trimmings, raffle, silent auction, bingo, meat raffle, beer garden, polka music, doughnuts, country store, free children’s activities. Parking with shuttles, handicap accessible. 7525 Dodd Road, Faribault. spshieldsville.org. Holy Name, Minneapolis — Fall Festival: Oct. 13, 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. Mary, St. Paul — Fall Booya Festival: Oct. 13, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Raffle, silent auction, games, flea market. Booya: $6 bowl, $15 quart. 261 8th St. E. stmarystpaul.org. 651-222-2619.
November St. Richard, Richfield — Fall Festival, Nov. 9-10. 9 a.m.–9 p.m. Nov. 9 includes spaghetti dinner and bingo. 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10, pancake breakfast. 7540 Penn Ave. S. strichards.com/fallfestival. St. Leonard of Port Maurice, Minneapolis — Breakfast and Christmas Faire: Nov. 24, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. $10 egg bake breakfast, silent auction, raffle, craft tables, bake sale. 10 a.m. Mass. 3953 Clinton Ave. S. stleonardmn.org.
Join us on pilgrimage HOLY LAND (Walk Where Jesus Walked) Father Todd Schneider - Spiritual Director August 27 – September 7, 2019
BEST OF ITALY Father Robert Fitzpatrick (Fr. Fitz), Spiritual Director Retired priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis October 20-30, 2019
Father Schneider
Father Fitzpatrick
IRELAND • September 23-October 3, 2019 • Still a few seats available OBERAMMERGAU 2020 + GERMANY AND AUSTRIA • September 8-19, 2020
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