The Catholic Spirit - August 28, 2014 by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co.

Safe environment website 5 • Rediscover: 9 • Unrest in Ferguson 11 August 28, 2014 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

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Street smart New director brings extensive criminal justice experience in role to help archdiocese address clergy sexual abuse

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit By Dave Hrbacek and Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit Tim O’Malley calls himself a man with “street smarts.” Now, he’s going to put decades of professional experience in the criminal justice system to work for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as the director of the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment. O’Malley will report directly to Archbishop John Nienstedt beginning Sept. 15.

The creation of this position was one of the key recommendations called for in a report from the independent Safe Environment and Ministerial Standards Task Force. Released in April, the report identified problems with the archdiocese’s safe environment organizational structure, communication, record keeping, compliance auditing and complaint-reporting system. The new office will combine the existing Office for the Protection of Children and Youth, the Promoter of Ministerial Standards program, and the

Advocacy and Victim Assistance program. O’Malley, 58, who grew up Catholic and attended Catholic schools for 16 years through college, said he is excited to use his background to help keep children safe and to make sure that past mistakes are not repeated. “I’ve dealt with a lot of criminals . . . and I’ve done a real lot of undercover work,” said O’Malley, who currently serves as the state’s deputy chief Please turn to O’MALLEY on page 4

ALSO inside

Musical genius

Back to School

Kickstarting musicians

Tony Deblois doesn’t let autism and blindness hold him back. — Page 6

Read about sports conflicting with Mass, a new education model and cultural training for teachers. — Pages 18-20

Local Catholic artists turn to crowd-funding sites to launch albums. — Page 21

Page Two

2 NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit

in PICTURES

Minnesota Twins host appreciation days for altar servers; deadline to register is Sept. 2 The Minnesota Twins again are offering Altar Server Appreciation Days. Three are scheduled for next month: Sept. 7 (1:10 p.m.) against the Los Angeles Angels, Sept. 20 (6:10 p.m.) against the Cleveland Indians, and Sept. 21 (1:10 p.m.), also against Cleveland. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Home Run Porch at a discounted rate of $15 per ticket. To order, call 1-800-33-TWINS. Order deadline is Sept. 2.

Registration open for Early Catholic Family Life program; event to be held Sept. 13

POPE ON A STICK For the second year in a row, Pope Francis was at the great Minnesota get-together. On Aug. 24, faculty and staff of The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity handed out “Fans of Francis” at the University of St. Thomas booth at the Minnesota State Fair. Pictured are seminarians Michael Daly, left, and Mark Pavlak. Photo courtesy of Karen Laird/The Saint Paul Seminary

The archdiocese’s Office of Marriage, Family and Life is hosting a training program that aims to help parents pass on the Catholic faith. The Early Catholic Family Life program will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, at the archdiocese’s chancery offices — Monsignor Hayden Center, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St Paul. The fee is $100, which includes training of two individuals. An additional two people may be added with no additional fee. The fee also includes leader guides and workbooks. Contact your parish about assistance to cover the fee. “ECFL has given us tools to nurture the Catholic faith in our young children,” said program facilitator Carol Longsdorf, a parishioner of St. Peter in Forest Lake. “For as parents, we cannot give to our children what we do not have ourselves.” For more information and to register, call the Office of Marriage, Family and Life at (651) 291-4489 or visit the events page at archspm.org.

IN REMEMBRANCE

St. Gerard Majella’s Father Edward Sabo dies; Franciscan remembered as a happy priest

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOTHER TERESA Girls dress up as Blessed Mother Teresa during an Aug. 26 event to commemorate her 104th birth anniversary in a school in Bhopal, India. Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu Aug. 26, 1910, to Albanian parents in Skopje, in present-day Macedonia. She died in 1997 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003. CNS/Sanjeev Gupta, EPA

WHAT’S NEW on social media This week, a post on The Catholic Spirit’s Facebook page asks, what’s the best way to spend Labor Day weekend in Minnesota? Read the latest news about the local and universal Church by following The Catholic Spirit on Twitter @CatholicSpirit. Catholic schools are starting another year. Find out why they are so vital. Watch a video at usccbmedia.blogspot.com. New priest Father Paul Shovelain helps a young angler net his first muskie. Read about it at CatholicHotdish.com.

The Catholic Spirit is published bi-weekly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 19 — No. 18 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT, Publisher ANNE STEFFENS, Associate Publisher JESSICA TRYGSTAD, Editor

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Franciscan Father Edward Sabo, 72, associate pastor of St. Gerard Majella in Brooklyn Park, died Aug. 22, less than two weeks before he had planned to retire. Ordained June 8, 1968, he served in Minnesota during the 1970s at St. Patrick in Inver Grove Heights and in Little Falls as chaplain to the Franciscan Sisters at their motherhouse. During more than 50 years as a member of the Franciscan Third Order Regular, Father Sabo also had served as a high school teacher, hospital chaplain Father and as a parish priest in West Virginia and Edward Pennsylvania. SABO “Father Ed will be remembered for his wonderful Franciscan spirit,” said St. Gerard pastor Franciscan Father Brad Baldwin. “He was a happy person in ministry and in life. He had a wonderful smile, a welcoming spirit and a warmth about him that was contagious. He was a gentle, compassionate priest.” A funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 26 at St. Gerard. Burial will be in the Franciscan Community Cemetery in Hollidaysburg, Pa. Father Sabo was to begin his retirement in September at St. Bernardine’s Monastery in Hollidaysburg. St. Gerard had planned a going-away reception for Father Sabo for Aug. 31. A native of Conway, Pa., he was born Dec. 19, 1941, the only child of Joseph and Mary (Triska) Sabo. In 1959, he entered the Franciscan Preparatory Seminary in Hollidaysburg. He completed his undergraduate and theological studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and professed solemn vows as a Franciscan July 3, 1961, before his ordination seven years later. 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 bi-weekly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 • (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. TheCatholicSpirit.com • email: catholicspirit@archspm.org • USPS #093-580

3 I was pleased to announce the appointment of Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge Timothy O’Malley to the new position of Director of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment for the Archdiocese. The creation of this position was one of the chief recommendations made by the Safe Environment and Ministerial Standards Task Force last April. I believe that Judge O’Malley is exactly the right person to take on this essential role. He will bring together the work of the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth, the Promotion of Ministerial Standards, and the Office of Victim Advocacy and Assistance. Thus, all reporting, recordkeeping, training, compliance, monitoring and communication related to safe environment and ministerial standards programs will be coordinated by one office as recommended by the Task Force and is reflective of recognized best practices across the country. Judge O’Malley has a strong background of leadership and public service in local, state and federal law enforcement, including previously serving as Superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and prior to that as an FBI agent. He currently serves as the Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Minnesota Office of THAT THEY Administrative Hearings. He will leave the bench and begin work as Director of MAY ALL BE ONE Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment on Sept. 15. You can read more about him on Archbishop the front page. John Nienstedt Just this week, we launched a new website: SafeCatholicSPM.org. This site is a public resource for information and education about sexual abuse prevention, intervention and response — in both Church ministry and in the broader society. Now at one site, you can learn about the signs of abuse, how to report it and how to help those who have been abused. It is meant to be a resource for victims who are hurting, survivors who are looking for healing and the general public seeking greater understanding of this difficult issue. Finally, I want to say a word of gratitude to Father Charles Lachowitzer, who serves as Vicar General for the Archdiocese and my chief of staff. He volunteered to attend a mediation session last week

in a lawsuit brought by a man who was sexually abused by a priest of this Archdiocese 40 years ago. This was the first time anyone could remember a representative of the Archdiocese reaching out to a victim/survivor in this way, listening to his story of struggle and acknowledging his pain. The victim/survivor and the Archdiocese came to an agreement and settled the lawsuit the next day. I regret that the Archdiocese did not respond with such a message of apology and healing much earlier. I am, however, grateful that Father Lachowitzer was able to reach out and make a first step toward helping this person to heal. I know we have a long way to go in regaining the trust of our clergy and Catholic faithful. But I do see signs that our actions are slowly setting us on the right course. It is a new day in terms of how we are doing things. I believe we are headed in the right direction. My team and I are grateful for your support and the opportunity to serve you in Christ’s name.

From the Archbishop

Task force recommendations coming to fruition

God bless you!

Shout out to Mary Mark Botzet, left, and Will Summerlin raise their voices with a group of about 100 seminarians from St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul Aug. 25 for the annual rosary walk to the Cathedral of St. Paul. The seminarians began at the University of St. Thomas and finished at the Cathedral, where they went inside to The Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary and dedicated their school year to Mary. Both Botzet and Summerlin are incoming seniors, Botzet from the Diocese of St. Cloud and Summerlin from the Diocese of Lafayette, Ind. Dave Hrbacek/ The Catholic Spirit

Culminan las recomendaciones del Comité Con satisfacción anuncio la designación del Subjefe Administrativo Juez de Leyes Timothy O’Malley al nuevo puesto de Director de los Estándares Ministeriales y Ambiente Seguro para la Arquidiócesis. La creación de este puesto fue una de las principales recomendaciones que hizo nuestro Comité para el ambiente seguro y estándares ministeriales el pasado abril. Creo que el juez O’Malley es la persona ideal para el desempeño de este importante papel. El reunirá bajo un solo equipo, el trabajo de la oficina de protección a los niños y jóvenes; la promoción de estándares ministeriales y la oficina de asistencia a las víctimas. De esta manera, todos los reportes, archivos, entrenamiento, cumplimiento, monitoreo y comunicaciones con respecto a los programas de ambiente seguro y estándares ministeriales, se coordinará por una oficina como fue recomendado por el Comité y reflejar así, las mejores prácticas de todo el país. El juez O’Malley tiene un fuerte antecedente de liderazgo y servicio público en esforzar la ley a nivel local, estatal y federal, incluyendo sus previos servicios como el Superintendente del Buró de Aprensión Criminal del Estado de Minnesota y

anteriormente como un agente del FBI. Actualmente sirve como subjefe administrativo juez de leyes para la oficina que administra las audiencias en Minnesota. Él abandonará su estrado y comenzará su trabajo como Director de los Estándares Ministeriales y Ambiente Seguro el 15 de septiembre próximo. Pueden leer más sobre él en la Página 1 del Espíritu Católico. Precisamente esta semana hemos lanzado un nuevo sitio web: SafeCatholicSPM.org. Este sitio es un recurso informativo y educacional sobre la prevención, intervención y respuesta al abuso sexual — tanto en la iglesia como en la sociedad total. Ahora, en un sitio, usted puede aprender sobre las señales de abuso, como reportar y como ayudar a aquellos que han sido abusados. Es una forma de establecer un recurso para las víctimas que están sufriendo, sobrevivientes que están buscando como sanar y el público en general que está interesado en comprender este difícil asunto. Finalmente, quiero agradecer al Padre Charles Lachowitzer, que sirve como Vicario General de la Arquidiócesis y jefe de personal. Él se ofreció a atender una sesión de mediación, la semana pasada, en un juicio, elevado por un hombre que fue

abusado sexualmente por un sacerdote de esta Arquidiócesis hace cuarenta años. Esta fue la primera vez que alguien podía recordar a un representante de esta Arquidiócesis que se acercara a una víctima/sobreviviente de esta forma, escuchando su historia de lucha y reconociendo su dolor. La víctima/sobreviviente y la Arquidiócesis llegaron a un acuerdo y resolvieron el delicado tema al día siguiente. Lamento que la Arquidiócesis no respondiera a ese mensaje de vindicación y sanación mucho antes. Estoy muy agradecido con el Padre Lachowitzer, ya que pudo extender y realizar el primer paso para ayudar en la sanación de esta persona. Yo sé que tenemos mucho por caminar en restaurar la confianza de nuestro clero y los fieles católicos. Pero veo también que nuestras acciones van lentamente poniéndonos en el debido curso. Es un nuevo día en los términos que estamos haciendo las cosas y creo que estamos yendo en la dirección correcta. Mi equipo y yo estamos agradecidos por su apoyo y la oportunidad de servirlos en el nombre de Cristo. ¡Dios los bendiga!

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

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Clergy sex abuse victim finds healing in Christ By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit Growing up in the small southwestern North Dakota town of Elgin in the 1960s, Fred Schilling understood that adults expected children to be quiet, and that priests were often placed in an exalted position. For these reasons, after his pastor began sexually abusing him when he was a pre-teen, Schilling didn’t tell his parents. His first-generation, Germanimmigrant parents and their six children were active at St. John the Baptist parish in New Leipzig in the Bismarck Diocese, often helping their pastor, then-Father James Pommier. Schilling’s parents sometimes brought the youth to the parish to do work. When Pommier wanted him to do more projects the following day, Schilling would spend the night at the rectory, where the abuse occurred. Now a dentist, Schilling is a parishioner at Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis. More than 50 years after suffering the trauma of abuse, he has found healing through his faith and in learning to move past the painful incidents. “My faith is such that we’re all sinners,” Schilling said. “And if St. Peter in front of Jesus can deny him three times, and he’s going to be our first pope, we also have to look at the people that administer our faith to us — our clergy, the deacons, the bishops — they’re all

vulnerable to sin, too. I feel that we as a laity sometimes put the priest up on too big of a pedestal, and that’s maybe the reason as a young kid, you don’t tell your parents about the abuse because you don’t feel that you would be believed.” Schilling didn’t know at the time of his abuse whether other children in the parish were affected. But he met a victim from another town when he was in college. According to a Bismarck Tribune article, abuse allegations against Pommier have emerged from other communities where he served in the Bismarck Diocese. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI decreed that Pommier was dismissed from the clerical state because of “ecclesiastical crimes against youth.” Pommier died in 2012. Ten years after his abuse, Schilling told his parents. They were supportive, but didn’t react with pity, he said. They saw that because of his faith in Christ, he was trying to work through it and was not dwelling on the injury. Part of the healing process has been his effort to forgive the former priest. “I never lost faith,” he said. “My faith was stronger than the trespasses.” The sacraments, especially of marriage and the Eucharist, have helped Schilling. “The Mass is the Eucharist, and you get strength from the Eucharist,” he said.

Schilling said it’s important that the Church is open about suspected abuse. However, he’s never sought to file a civil lawsuit. “Yes, I can hold people accountable and point fingers,” he said. “But I haven’t been at the point of saying it stirs me” to file a lawsuit. What has brought back memories of being abused is the

“My faith was stronger than the trespasses.” Fred Schilling, survivor of clergy sex abuse

recent extensive media coverage of the issue. Schilling said, “My mind doesn’t think right away about that event. The only time it comes back up again is when this media stuff keeps coming. . . . I’ve found healing, but not when it comes back in the media over and over and over again. It makes me hurt inside, [and] I hurt for the Church itself for what it has to go through.” Schilling is sympathetic toward other victims and said he prays every heart will experience healing through Christ, as he has. He

hopes they’re finding release from hurtful feelings and memories of abuse. Drawing an analogy from his dental background about healing, he said, “It’s like a patient who is under stress. The more stress they have, the more the rest of their body has increased illnesses. So you think you’re under control, but then other things happen. You maybe have increased heart issues and TMJ [a jaw condition] from clenching [your teeth]. The more you fester and you have stress that you put on your body, you have to just get rid of it.” More than anyone, Christ on the cross has helped Schilling heal and carry his own cross. “Christ had the biggest cross you can ever have,” Schilling said. “He knew what he was going to get himself into, but he accepted it, and he could have easily gone the other way and said ‘I don’t need [this].’ He got tempted by the devil. My cross was just to move on in life.” Forgiving grievous wrongs such as clergy sexual abuse is possible with God’s help, and forgiveness can eventually lead to peace, Schilling said. “I would love for us as lay people to accept those who have sinned in this world, that the judgment will come for them in front of God,” he said. “And all I can offer is forgiveness. I can’t offer correcting other people’s problems. All I can say is, I can live with my forgiveness.”

O’Malley: We must do everything we can to prevent abuse Continued from page 1 administrative law judge in the Office of Administrative Hearings. “I think I can bring some street smarts [to the archdiocese].” In O’Malley, the archdiocese believes it has someone who is able to communicate effectively with law enforcement personnel and other key stakeholders in the important work of child protection. He has made it clear that he plans to be a man of action. “We owe it to both the victims and those being accused to have some integrity in the investigation and to get to the truth and then provide care for victims and hold people accountable if they’ve done something wrong,” he said. “And if they haven’t, then we owe it to them to clear their name. “One of the key pieces for success of not just this position, but this whole effort, is that the archbishop — and he has indicated to me this is what he wants — and I develop a relationship of trust, and one in which he wants me to come into his office and have the responsibility to close the door and make recommendations to him that are very blunt. And disagree with him if I disagree with him. And explain the reasons why, and that he would then

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

really consider that as he makes his decisions.” In other words, O’Malley fully intends his new position to be one of substance, one that faces — and resolves — the hard questions. “We do this by ripping the Band-Aid off and dealing with the stuff in the past, things that are coming out now [in lawsuits being filed],” he said. “But [then] turn the focus to the future. From this point forward, we’re going to make sure we do this right and give people hope.” Leading the way in the selection process was Kinsale Management Consulting, the firm hired by the archdiocese in November 2013 to review all of its clergy files. Kathleen McChesney, the former No. 3 official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and former head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Office of Child and Youth Protection, leads the firm and was part of the selection panel, which included Father Reginald Whitt. Last fall, Archbishop Nienstedt appointed Father Whitt to convene the task force and help implement its recommendations. “Each member of the panel concluded that Tim O’Malley was the superior candidate in light of his

leadership skills and his ability to work with various constituencies to achieve consensus and goals in matters of public safety and ethical conduct,” McChesney said. “The board was also impressed with his extensive experience in working compassionately with victims of crime and their families, and [with] his sensitivity to their emotions and needs.” A strong supporter of the choice to bring O’Malley on board is Patty Wetterling, whose son Jacob was abducted in 1989. She met O’Malley shortly after Jacob’s abduction, and expressed appreciation for how he worked with the family. “I can tell you, he is greatly respected in both the law enforcement and victim services communities, and has proven his commitment to building a world without sexual violence,” she said. “He is smart and tough, yet practical and compassionate. He is a man of action who follows through and gets things done. I commend the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in taking this vital step to address the serious problems in the past and hold great hope for a better future.” Archbishop Nienstedt, likewise, is hopeful about what O’Malley, a husband and father, will accomplish in

his new role. “We are honored that Judge O’Malley has offered to share his experience and insights with the Church to help protect the young and vulnerable, and hold accountable those who have caused harm,” he said. “He brings with him a high level of intellect, an impressive background of experience and leadership with local law enforcement, the FBI, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the judicial system, and he has a compassionate heart for victims and survivors [of abuse].” O’Malley thinks there might be people who question his decision to leave a job he loves to try to sort through lawsuits and mistakes of the past. But, now that he has made the move, he is all in. And, like so many others, he, too, has reacted strongly to the continual news reports about clergy sexual abuse in the archdiocese. “I have been profoundly troubled and disappointed by how the Church has addressed reports of abuse,” he said. “I want to help change that. The archdiocese must do everything possible to prevent the kind of abuse that Pope Francis has accurately and pointedly described as ‘despicable.’ Protecting children must be our highest priority.”

5 New website to serve as resource for protection, outreach and advocacy The Catholic Spirit There is a new home on the Internet for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ efforts to protect children, provide victim outreach and advocacy, and ensure accountability for abusers. The new website, SafeCatholicSPM.org, pulls together new and existing content to provide a more user-friendly experience for parents, educators, parish and Catholic school leaders and other site visitors, said Nicole Mamura, web content manager in the archdiocese’s Office of Communications. It also shares an important message of healing for victims/survivors of abuse and their friends, families and faith communities. “We want victims to know: We believe you and acknowledge your story,” Mamura said. “It takes tremendous courage to come forward to report abuse, so we want to make this process as clear as possible, and also let victims know about the resources we offer to help them in the healing process.” In addition, site visitors can learn about the steps that are taken at the archdiocese and at local parishes and Catholic schools to help establish safe environments for children, youth and vulnerable adults. “This website addresses one of the biggest priorities that you have as a parent: keeping your child safe,” Mamura explained. “Along with offering details about local safe environment efforts, the site provides resources to empower parents and anyone who is interested in learning more about protecting minors. This includes ways to identify possible precursors to abuse, helpful websites and even a smart phone app.” The new Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment is responsible for ensuring archdiocesan, as well as local parish and Catholic school,

compliance with civil law, archdiocesan policy, and with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” to protect children, hold abusers accountable and help victims heal. The office encompasses the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth, the Promotion of Ministerial Standards program, and the Office of Victim Advocacy and Assistance. A few of the new website’s key features are: • An easier-to-navigate layout and more welcoming language and look;

• A clear message about reporting all abuse allegations to law enforcement or child protection officials first and how to do so, as well as up-to-date contact information; • Information about the warning signs for potential sex abuse of a minor, including behavioral warning signs of potential abusers; • Screening requirements that clergy, employees and volunteers in local parishes, Catholic schools, and archdiocesan offices and agencies must meet before working or volunteering with children; • How to get assistance and pastoral support for victims/ survivors of abuse, and how to

locate other resources about protecting children and youth.

Local

Archdiocese launches SafeCatholicSPM.org In launching the new website, the archdiocese sought another way to enhance its child protection efforts, ensuring accountability for abusers and offering help in healing to victims, Mamura said. “We hope local Catholics and others in our community visit the site and find its content helpful,” she said. “We welcome comments and other input to this important resource.” Visitors can provide input via the Contact Us page on the site or by emailing SafeCatholic@ archspm.org.

At SafeCatholicSPM.org, the new safe environment and child protection website for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, visitors will find a more user-friendly format and access to more resources for keeping children safe.

Victim, archdiocese reach settlement in clergy sex abuse case The Catholic Spirit The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Aug. 20 reached a settlement in a clergy sex abuse case, the first settlement filed under Minnesota’s Child Victims Act. The victim in the Doe 100 case was abused by Thomas Stitts in 1971. Stitts was assigned as a priest at local parishes from 1962 until his death in 1985. Last December, the archdiocese disclosed Stitts’ name and assignment

history on its website and in The Catholic Spirit. According to a statement from Bishop Andrew Cozzens, the settlement mediation involved attorneys for the victim and for the archdiocese, as well as the archdiocese’s vicar general, Father Charles Lachowitzer, who serves as Archbishop John Nienstedt’s chief of staff. “We regret that the victim’s pleas for help were not heard earlier by the archdiocese,” Bishop Cozzens said in the Aug. 20 statement posted on

archspm.org. “We are grateful now that we were able to listen to Doe 100.” Since the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” was issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002, dioceses have not engaged in confidential settlements. However, the archdiocese isn’t disclosing the terms of the settlement out of deference to the victim. Under Minnesota’s Child Victims Act, passed in 2013, lawmakers eliminated the civil statute of limitations for cases of past child sexual abuse, allowing

anyone with a claim of abuse to file lawsuits for a three-year period regardless of how far back their claims date and regardless of whether the alleged abuser is deceased. The Doe 100 case was slated to go to trial Dec. 15. “The archdiocese apologizes for the harm suffered by abuse victim/survivors and their families and friends, and asks for forgiveness for the Church’s shameful failures of the past,” Bishop Cozzens said.

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

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Musical genius doesn’t let autism, blindness hold him back By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit How does a teenage boy learn to comb his hair by playing the violin? Ask Tony Deblois. The simple movement of this basic grooming function baffled him during his childhood years. Yet, as early as age 4, he was able to memorize a musical score by hearing it just once, then turn around and play it perfectly on, first the piano, and later the violin. He then adapted the movements of playing this stringed instrument to hair combing. Such is the unusual life of an autistic savant, who also happens to be blind. The simplest tasks in life — like combing hair — can be a grueling challenge for him to learn. Yet, something as daunting as performing a concert in front of an audience full of strangers — which he has done since age 9 — doesn’t faze him in the least. But, the most remarkable thing about his life is not his musical ability. Rather, it’s the fact that he is alive at all. When his mother went into the delivery room of a hospital in El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 22, 1974, exactly one year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion, she faced not only complications from premature labor, but also a tragic history with previous pregnancies. Tony was her ninth pregnancy. Only two of the children made it to full term, and both died from medical complications during their first year of life.

Tony Deblois concert at St. Albert the Great 7-9 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 13 St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis Corner of E. 29th St. and 32nd Ave. S. Register Tickets are $10 per person and $25 per family For reserved seating, contact the St. Albert Rosary Altar Society at ras@ saintalbertthegreat.org, and for more about Deblois, visit Tonydeblois.com.

Needless to say, there was little reason for Janice to be optimistic when she went into labor with Tony. And, what she saw the day of his birth and for months afterward seemed to indicate that Tony would be lost child No. 9. He weighed only 1 3/4 pounds when he was born, making it to only the 26th week of her pregnancy (full term is 40 weeks). In those days, babies born this

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

premature often died.

Standing up for life Aided by a team of doctors and nurses, Tony fought for his life in the hospital. And Janice stood up for her son when doctors began losing hope and stated that it might be best to “pull the plug.” Against the backdrop of a newly created abortion mentality, this Catholic mom stood up for life. On Sept. 13, Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will get a chance to see the fruits of that courageous decision. Tony, who today lives with his mother in Randolph, Mass., will perform at St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis, with the proceeds going to Our Lady of Peace cancer home in St. Paul. Those who come will see a man who plays 23 instruments and who draws from a repertoire of several thousand melodies, ranging from children’s tunes to classical scores like the “William Tell Overture.” And, he will interact with the audience while doing it. In terms of his communications skills, he has advanced farther than some believe possible for an autistic person. He is not shy when it comes to expressing his passion for music — and for life. He has a simple, succinct summary of how he views his circumstances and how he encourages people to live their lives. “I think it’s from God,” said Tony, now 40, of his musical talent. “The message we want to bring to parents is it’s OK to be different. Believe in yourself. Don’t give up on your dreams. Always have high hopes. And, the two most important words [in life] are: Thank you.” And there’s one more thing, he added: “The three Ps are: practice, practice, practice.”

Trying to hang on When Tony was born, Janice had no idea that he quickly would develop into a remarkable musician. At that time, all she wanted to do was keep his fragile life going. “He was so premature that his eyes were fused shut like a little baby kitten,” she said. “He technically died 12 times his first day of life. With all the tubes going into him, a blood clot formed on the end of the tube and broke off and went into his intestines. He had to have a colostomy at a couple days of age. The doctors said it was like operating on a drowned rat.” It took a while for Tony’s health problems to get better. He was in the neonatal intensive care unit at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso for five months

Tony Deblois first played a musical instrument at age 2, when his mother Janice bought him a Magnus Chord Organ. He now plays 23 instruments and will perform at St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis on Sept. 13. Photo courtesy of Janice Deblois before finally going home. Then, shortly after he went home, Janice’s mother came to help out, and saw that Tony had quit breathing. “My husband, myself and my mom were taking care of him in eight-hour shifts ’round the clock,” Janice said. “My mom came to me one morning and said, ‘Jan, I don’t know what to do. He’s turned black.’ I grabbed him out of her hands and swept [off] the kitchen table, laid him down and started doing CPR on him.” She called the ambulance, and back to the hospital he went. Eventually, he came back home again, but had the colostomy until he was 2. A few months later, she decided it was time for him to learn to sit up. She wanted to give him a reason to do it, so she came up with an idea. “I went to a garage sale and bought a little $10 Magnus Chord Organ,” she said, hoping the chance to play it would provide her son with an incentive to sit up. “The first six weeks were absolutely horrible. He put every combination of notes together that there was. Then, I heard him put the first three notes of ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ together. And, I ran in there and showed him the rest of it. He picked it right up. All of his stuffed animals had music boxes in them. Pretty soon, he was playing all the songs from the music boxes on his animals.” It grew from there. He has left the organ behind and now focuses

on the two dozen instruments he has learned since he got started. And, even though it often is difficult for those with autism to speak, he has learned to add the words to his melodies — and not just in English. “I sing in 11 different languages,” he said. “I’ve been doing this since the age of 2. I started taking piano lessons at 5, I started going out and playing professionally at nursing homes at 9.” He is making his first appearance in the Twin Cities thanks to Marge Sehnert, president of St. Albert’s Rosary Altar Society. She happened to hear Tony perform in 1997 at a Marian Congress in Alexandria, S.D. At the time, she was living in Owatonna and invited Tony to perform there. He has done numerous performances in Owatonna, and now does a 30-day tour every year in the Midwest. The key stop — and the reason he comes to Minnesota — is Pierre, S.D., where Janice’s mother lives. This year, in addition to the Twin Cities, he will perform in Pipestone, Fairmont and Fergus Falls. “I never knew an autistic person could be so talented,” said Sehnert, who has developed a friendship with Tony and Janice, and even has ridden with them in their van while Tony is on tour. “He is just fantastic. I saw him perform at somebody’s home. She didn’t believe it. She had written a song, and she sat down and played this Please turn to DEBLOIS on page 22

7 By Bridget Ryder For The Catholic Spirit The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ first retreat for young women drew 65 girls ages 12 to 17 for a day of eucharistic adoration, Mass, confession, small-group discussions and camaraderie Aug. 16 at the St. Paul Seminary. “The retreats are meant to help the young people to begin the thought process on their individual vocation — whether that is married life, single, or a religious order, discerning who God is calling them to be, helping them to recognize and begin thinking about their vocation at a young age, as well as exposing them to the clergy, seminarians and religious orders,” said Nancy Schulte, family and laity outreach coordinator with the archdiocese’s Office of Marriage, Family and Life, which sponsored the Daughter of God: Retreat for Young Women. As a follow-up to the Totus Tuus Summer Catechetical Program with emphasis on vocation, the retreat talks focused on the love of God the father and responding to that love. Sisters from Pro Eccelsia Santa and the Dominicans of St. Cecilia, who are stationed at parishes in CathSpDolly-Aug28-2014_Layout 1 8/14/14 the archdiocese, assisted with the

Helen Casselius (from left), Aviv Stella and Grace Aho were three of the 65 girls at Daughter of God: Retreat for Young Women Aug. 16 at the St. Paul Seminary. Bridget Ryder/For The Catholic Spirit retreat. The girls’ event was held simultaneously with the Office of Vocations’ retreat for young men at St. John Vianney College Seminary, also in St. Paul. The retreat did get the young women thinking. Aviv Stella, 14, who attends Transfiguration in Oakdale, said she has thought about the religious life as a vocation, and knowing that religious women would be helping with the retreat piqued her interest in attending. “I don’t have a preference about my vocation, and I think that is a good place to be; I can let God lead the way,” Stella said. “But seeing 3:16 PM P the sisters, it seems such a beautiful

way to live that I’d want that, too.” “It was eye opening,” Helen Casselius, 15, of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, said about getting a glimpse of the lives of the sisters at the retreat. The times of prayer and fellowship added to participants’ day. “It’s really nice to be in an environment where you know everyone is going to help [you] grow in your faith,” Casselius said. For 14-year-old Grace Aho, a parishioner at Epiphany in Coon Rapids, that support made it easier to pray. “I came to get closer to God because it’s so hard to find peace,” she said. “You can go to adoration, but it’s easier, in a way, with girls your age. It’s given me lots more peace.” Stella said the retreat also provided a place where she could grow closer to God and listen to what he might have to say about her vocation. None of the three has made a definitive decision about their vocation, but they are ready to share what they learned. “Today has been a good reminder that all of us are princesses of God and that God is our loving Father, but also our king. We can help other girls know they are princesses, too,”

Casselius said. “We have to help other girls know about Jesus and know that they are appreciated,” Aho agreed. “We are meant for great things.”

Local

Young women, men gather for a closer look at vocations

“In a world that seems to be becoming increasingly secular, I find encouragement in attending events like [Vocation Day for Young Men]. It’s very refreshing for me, as a teen, to see dozens of young men from this archdiocese step up and express an openness to something so much higher than themselves.” Joseph Hughes of All Saints in Lakeville

To read more reflections from young men who attended Vocation Day, visit TheCatholic Spirit.com.

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Youth participating in E-Rhapsody Catholic Youth Theatre perform a scene from the play, “Pilgrim’s Progress” at Open Window Theatre in Minneapolis earlier this summer. The program, now in its ninth year and directed by Jeremy Stanbary, helps youth learn acting and theater skills in a faith-based environment. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stanbary

Theater director has a place for kids who love drama By Dianne Towalski For The Catholic Spirit When Jeremy Stanbary was a kid, he was so drawn to performing that he would act out movies in his living room. But it wasn’t until seventh grade that he got a chance to perform in front of an audience. Now, at age 36, he’s giving kids in fourth through 12th grades the opportunity to learn acting and theater skills in a faith-based environment with E-Rhapsody Catholic Youth Theatre. The program, which is now going into its ninth year, is run through Stanbary’s company, Epiphany Studio Productions, which is also the parent company of Open Window Theatre. It began at St. Charles Borromeo School in St. Anthony and expanded to three locations. When Open Window Theatre

opened in 2011, the whole operation was moved to the theater’s location in Minneapolis, near the Basilica of St. Mary. “There was nothing else out there that was a professional youth theater program that had an authentically Catholic component to it, and so I wanted to put that out there,” Stanbary said. His students are enthusiastic and embrace the faith aspect of the theater. “I have benefited greatly from participating in a theater program that not only taught me the basic skills every actor must learn, but also taught me how to remain in love with God,” said Jade Grutsch, a junior at Chesterton Academy in Edina who has been involved in the program since the beginning. The name E-Rhapsody comes from a combination of Epiphany and the Rhapsodic Theatre, which

The cast of the play, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” pose for a photo in 2011. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Stanbary

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

was the vision of Pope John Paul II for a Catholic theater, Stanbary said. “[Pope John Paul II] helped found a theater called The Rhapsodic Theatre in Nazi occupied Poland, and that vision is something that we’re very much taking up today, their philosophical and artistic vision, his vision for theater and the arts,” Stanbary said. Students meet for classes once a month during the school year for about an hour-and-a-half. “We start off with a prayer that just reminds us that our gifts and talents have come from God, and we want to use them for him, and try to avoid the vain glory that can often get worked into being a performer and entertainer,” Stanbary said. “It’s good to take enjoyment in the entertainment component, but we strive to show the kids that there’s a greater purpose to theater and the arts and what they’re doing as well, and that they can use their gifts and talents to also serve the Lord.” Most of the class is theater games and fun activities that teach the kids fundamental skills in the performing arts. The program aims to develop memorization, public speaking, creativity and quick thinking, character development and teamwork. “It’s life enriching, and they’re going to learn and pick up skills that will truly benefit them for the rest of their lives,” Stanbary said. All the practice and drills pay off in June, when the students get to show off what they’ve learned in a full theater production. “The June performance is my favorite part,” Grutsch said. “It’s when I really begin to apply all that

E-Rhapsody Catholic Youth Theatre Registration www.openwindowtheatre.org

Registration deadline Saturday, Sept. 20

Location 1313 Chestnut Ave., Minneapolis

Class options Monday night, Tuesday night, Saturday morning, and a Tuesday afternoon option for home-school families

Cost $35 per month and a $20 fee for materials Jeremy has taught me to my role in the play.” Grutsch says what make the performance a special part of the program are the friendships and bonds that are formed. “In all eight years, I’ve never felt unwelcome by any of my cast members,” she said. Through the E-Rhapsody Catholic Youth Theatre program, Grutsch says her faith has grown, as well as her love for the theater. “Jeremy, through his love for the faith and theatrical drama, gave me a love for both as well,” she said, “seeing that it was indeed possible to shine on the stage for the glory of God.”

Praying fully, even when we’re lost in the clouds When I was quite young, one of my brothers told me that there was a little bit of cloud left on the wing of a plane; he put it in a box for me, but had forgotten to bring it home. I was crestfallen. I was so close to having had my own cloud! I begged him, “What was it like? How did it GUEST feel? Tell me all about it.” COLUMN Now it is Alyssa common to have your own BORMES cloud — of the electronic sort. But where is this cloud? How does it contain my whole address book, or my calendar? Today’s electronic cloud seems more mysterious than real clouds. Of course, the mystery of clouds is nothing new. In the Old Testament, God’s presence is made manifest in a pillar of cloud. Moses climbs a cloud-covered Mount Sinai, staying there 40 days and nights. The Transfiguration and the Ascension include clouds. Scripture speaks of the Cloud of Witnesses who stand before the throne of God. Which means, we really do

have our own cloud in the communion of saints. We can constantly ask for their intercession. There is also “The Cloud of Unknowing.” This book is a mystical classic of the Church, written by an anonymous author in the 14th century. When first reading this book, I was attracted to the section on short prayers. The example used was a person in distress who can only cry, “Help!” In that one word, the person has summoned the full depth of need. Prayer has always been mysterious. It seems that others do it so well, so often, and it is more efficacious. Their prayers seem elegant, and mine seem klutzy. With prayer I feel like the little girl begging, “What is it like? How does it feel? Tell me about it.” The answer may be that prayer is cloudy. The 40 days and nights of Moses indicate that at times the cloud may be light, and at other times dark. It can be all encompassing, yet utterly lonely. Moses must rely on trust in the seemingly endless blur, attentive to the nothing, until finally hearing the voice of God. Our lives can be filled with these clouds; the struggle is to have trust in the midst of them. We, like Moses, may tell God that others

Stock photo would be better for the job. Moses stuttered, I can’t be quiet, and you might not say a word. There just have to be better people than us to pray! But entering the cloud is an invitation from God. Turn to Moses in his brokenness; emulate his trust and fortitude, his faith, hope and love. In the midst of the cloud, there are moments of clarity. Like Moses, listen to God,

and then act. Don’t worry that you have not risen to the heights of contemplation. Instead, pray your prayers fully, even if they are just short prayers that groan within us: “Help!” “Jesus.” “Come, Holy Spirit.” Some seven centuries ago, the anonymous author of “The Cloud of Unknowing” had it right when he said, “A short prayer pierces the heavens.”

Young Adults — Join us for a special night planned just for you! Come celebrate our faith journey to the Horizon of Hope!

Friday Evening, Oct. 3 • Young Adult Night Minneapolis Convention Center 6:30 PM – 11 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM) Tickets: Adult (age 18+): $15 Enjoy an evening of dynamic speakers and uplifting music! There will be food available for purchase and a cash-bar. This evening is geared toward young adults in their 20s & 30s, but open to all adults over 18 years old. Featuring: Father Dave Dwyer – Director of Busted Halo® Ministries and radio host Marie Miller – Catholic folk artist and singer-songwriter Father Mike Schmitz – Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth Leah Darrow – former model, now a full-time apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers . . . and more!

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Find out more at Rediscover-faith.org August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

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10 Scholarships from Catholic United Financial help hundreds each year Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit

Borrmann, president and chair of Catholic United Financial.

Back in 1955, the Catholic Aid Association began offering scholarship money to help the children of members go to college. Some $2.8 million later, the scholarship program of the 84,000-member nonprofit fraternal benefit company is still in the works, evolving just as Catholic Aid has evolved into Catholic United Financial. More than 7,000 people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota have received scholarship money over the Apply online years from what is now The application period for Catholic Catholic United Financial’s United Post-High School Tuition Financial’s Scholarship starts Oct. 1 Post-High and ends Feb. 15 annually. School Tuition Scholarship • Visit www. program. Along CatholicUnited.org with benefiting • Scroll to Member individuals, the Center in the top menu program was • Click Scholarships intended to benefit Catholic schools as well. “The feeling as an organization that we had a mission to support Catholic education goes back to our founding,” said Harald

“We have many members with school-age children and a lot of members who attended Catholic schools and feel the need to continue to support them.” Catholic United Financial has broadened its scholarships to include a wide range of post-high school institutions of learning, including accredited technical colleges and trade schools, Borrmann said. Scholarships of $300 to $500 are available. Last year, Catholic United Financial awarded some 600 scholarships. And members of any age can apply, not just those graduating from high school. The only criteria is that applicants must have been Catholic United Financial members for two years. The company made a conscious decision to include more than just the extremely bright students in its program, Borrmann added. “We want to get that learning opportunity to kids who were just B or C students,” he told The Catholic Spirit. “It’s just as important to educate them as well as the 4.0 students. “It’s not our job to say some are more deserving; everybody’s deserving. If you’re a member, it means something.”

Back to school: A missionary perspective By Katie Burke For The Catholic Spirit Just like students, campus Rutgers University campus minister Maria missionaries are packing their Allen visits with Franciscan Sister Maria Pio bags in anticipation of of Ohio at St. Paul’s Outreach’s School of the another school year. For nearly 300 young adults, New Evangelization, held at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul Aug. 2. The program their first stop was the School connects young adults with members of of the New Evangelization, religious orders from across the country. which took place at the Photo courtesy of St. Paul’s Outreach University of St. Thomas in early August. Hosted by Twin Cities-based St. Paul’s Outreach and co-sponsored by the St. Paul Seminary, the annual conference is a week packed with teaching, prayer and rich community living among peers. The School of the New Evangelization trains full- and part-time college missionaries in the art of evangelization to their peers on campus. Participants leave equipped to tackle the challenge. What makes the SPO School of the New Evangelization so effective? It is an intentional immersion into the evangelistic heart of Catholicism, from sunup to sundown. From participating in praise and worship to evangelizing on the streets near the University of Minnesota, those who have heard the Good News become heralds of the Good News; disciples become apostles. A typical day includes morning prayer, confession, convocation, a plenary session, breakout sessions, recreation, Mass and an evening activity. For the young adults who attend, it is a transformative and empowering experience that fosters freedom and fearlessness in Christ. “The big key here is commitment: commitment to others, not only to their goals,” said Gina Bauer, SPO mission director at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. “You’re afraid to commit to things because it seems like you’re constricted . . . this is a misunderstanding. The point of committing to something is because you want to do it. Commitment frees you do to things you want to do.” For more information about St. Paul’s Outreach, visit spoweb.org.

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www.TheCatholicSpirit.com August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

11 By Dave Luecking Catholic News Service With the strife and violence continuing in the aftermath of Michael Brownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shooting death by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., more than 500 St. Louis Catholics gathered for a votive Mass for peace and justice Aug. 20 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Brown, 18, was black, and Darren Wilson, the police officer who shot him Aug. 9, is white. St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson celebrated the Mass with 27 priests and, in his homily, laid out five important steps to â&#x20AC;&#x153;dismantle systemic racism,â&#x20AC;? which has become evident in Ferguson: â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am re-establishing today the Human Rights Commission in the Archdiocese of St Louis.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am asking the Charles Lwanga Center to begin a study and offer solutions to decrease violence in our communities and in our families.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pledge an ongoing commitment to provide a pathway out of poverty by providing scholarships so that young people

Lesley McSpadden is comforted during the Aug. 25 funeral service for her son, Michael Brown, inside Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis. The 18-year-old Brown died after being shot in Ferguson, Mo., by police officer Darren Wilson Aug. 9. Brown was unarmed. The shooting led to racially charged clashes in Ferguson, on the outskirts of St. Louis. CNS/Robert Cohen, pool via EPA can receive a quality education in our Catholic schools.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;I pledge my support and the support of the archdiocese to assist the churches in Ferguson to deal

with issues of poverty and racism.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finally, I am asking each priest in the Archdiocese of St. Louis to offer a Mass for Justice and Peace.â&#x20AC;?

As Archbishop Carlson noted, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a modest beginning, but begin we shall.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is more that will need to be done, and we will work to open dialogue with the churches, community leaders and people of Ferguson,â&#x20AC;? he said. Archbishop Carlson offered prayers for Brown and his family, for Wilson and his family, for first responders and their families, and for community leaders. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We ask for the wisdom and compassion and courage to address the brokenness and division that confronts us as we recognize there is an irrepressible yearning present in the heart of each person for good,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the face of brokenness and shame and heartbreak, Jesus calls us to come to him, and encourages us so that we do not walk away,â&#x20AC;? he continued. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The time has come for us to acknowledge decades of hurt and mistrust and suspicion and prejudices and, yes, even a tragic death. . . . We hear the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gentle voice as he invites us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and his invitation to each one of us to be peacemakers.â&#x20AC;?

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Archbishop outlines steps to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;dismantle systemic racismâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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AYD14 will bring together teens from around the archdiocese for a day of faith formation and fun!

Kick off the 2014 school year right by celebrating the truth and joy of our Catholic faith. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s follow Pope Francisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; message to â&#x20AC;&#x153;be blessed [by being] happy.â&#x20AC;? October 25, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ 1:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 p.m. (check-in starts at 12:30 p.m.) â&#x20AC;˘ University of St. Thomas â&#x20AC;˘ Cost: $10 Registration is by group only. Talk to your parish youth minister or campus minister to sign up! August 28, 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ The Catholic Spirit

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LCWR hopes Vatican will resolve issues, honor group’s integrity By Catholic News Service Members of the national board of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious said their “deepest hope” is to resolve the issues between them and the Vatican doctrinal congregation in a way that honors LCWR’s mission and integrity. The board issued the statement after the close of LCWR’s annual assembly Aug. 12-15 in Nashville. The leaders of orders of women religious took part in the assembly under the continuing doctrinal

“Ongoing conversation with Church leadership is key to building effective working relationships that enable both women religious and Church leaders to serve the world.” Statement from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious

assessment by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which cited “serious doctrinal problems which affect many in consecrated life.” The assessment called for the organization’s reform to ensure its fidelity to Catholic teaching in areas including abortion, euthanasia, women’s ordination and homosexuality. In Nashville, LCWR’s officers updated the members on their work with the bishops delegated by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to implement a mandate of reform. Following discussion of the update, the members offered direction to the LCWR national board and president for their work with Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, appointed in 2012 to implement the doctrinal assessment by providing “review, guidance and approval, where necessary” of LCWR’s work. After the assembly was over, LCWR’s national board of 21 members took part in a three-day meeting that began with a onehour session with Archbishop Sartain. The meeting was held in executive session and not open to press coverage.

Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle welcomes about 800 members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious to Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 12. LCWR members represent about 80 percent of the 51,600 women religious in the country. CNS/Andy Telli, Tennessee Register In the statement issued afterward, the group reiterated members’ belief that “ongoing conversation with Church leadership is key to building effective working

Our Lady of the Prairie

If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, your first call should be to law enforcement. The archdiocese’s Office of Victim Advocacy and Victims Assistance is also here to offer you help and healing if you have been abused by a Catholic priest or another person in Church ministry. You may make a confidential call to 651.291.4497.

Belle Plaine, MN

relationships that enable both women religious and Church leaders to serve the world.” “We will continue in the conversation with Archbishop Sartain as an expression of hope that new ways may be created within the Church for healthy discussion of differences,” the statement added. It also said the “ongoing conversations between CDF and LCWR may model a way of relating that only deepens and strengthens our capacity to serve a world in desperate need of our care and service.” In his remarks during the opening session, Archbishop Sartain told the 800 women in the audience he was there “to be with you as a brother and a friend.” “We come because the Lord has called us and the Lord has sent us,” he said. “That is what unites us in our faith. . . . I know this is fertile ground for us to discuss our love of God.” LCWR has about 1,400 members who are leaders of their orders in the United States. The members represent about 80 percent of the 51,600 women religious in the country.

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August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

13 By Catholic News Service

previous kidnapping in Libya in 2011. He was released after 44 days that time.

Slain journalist James Foley, who sent images and copy from different war zones, was described as living his faith through his work.

“Jim went back again that we might open our eyes,” the bishop said, “that we might indeed know how precious is this gift. May almighty God grant peace to James and to all our fragile world.”

The Associated Press reported that at a memorial Mass Aug. 24, Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester, N.H., lauded Foley for bringing important images of war and oppressive regimes to the rest of the world.

AP said Bishop Libasci urged people not to think of vengeance. “Look at what it’s done already,” he said. “Look at the heartbreak.”

Foley was kidnapped in November 2012 while covering the war in Syria. The Islamic State posted a video on the Internet Aug. 19 showing him being beheaded, saying it was in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq. Vatican Radio reported Aug. 25 that the Holy See’s secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, sent a condolence message on behalf of Pope Francis to Foley’s family. The message was read by Bishop Libasci at the end of the Mass at the family’s parish, Our Lady of the Rosary. The AP described the memorial Mass as packed, with people standing three deep in the back and sides of the church. Bishop Libasci asked the crowd to follow the words of the Prayer of

The Foleys plan a funeral for their son on Oct. 18, on what would have been his 41st birthday. Pope Francis phoned Foley’s family on Aug. 21, engaging in a conversation of longer than 20 minutes with several members of the family, through a translator, and in Spanish with one family member.

U.S. journalist James Foley is seen during a 2011 press conference in Boston. Pope Francis phoned Foley’s bereaved family after he was killed by Islamic State militants in Syria. CNS/Steven Senne, AP photo via Marquette University St. Francis: “It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

AP said Bishop Libasci observed that Foley went back to covering conflicts in the Middle East after a

Father Paul Gousse, pastor of the family’s parish, Holy Rosary Church in Rochester, New Hampshire, told Catholic News Service in an Aug. 22 phone call that the Foleys told him they were especially struck by the pope’s outreach to them at a time when he is grieving himself. The wife of the pope’s nephew and their two young children were killed in an Aug. 19 car crash in Argentina.

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Archbishop drops lawsuit after stolen consecrated host returned

The Hayden Center

A stolen consecrated host that was at the center of a lawsuit filed by Archbishop Paul Coakley and intended for use at a planned Satanic “black mass” in Oklahoma City has been returned. According to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, an attorney representing the head of the satanic group presented the host to a Catholic priest the afternoon of Aug. 21. With the return of the host and an accompanying signed statement from the Satanic group leader that the group no longer possesses a consecrated host, nor will they use a consecrated host in their rituals, the Oklahoma City archbishop agreed to dismiss the lawsuit. Archbishop Coakley filed suit Aug. 20 to get the host returned after the Satanic group’s leader made several public statements that its members planned “to defile and desecrate” it during a “black mass” Sept. 21.

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Pope thanks people for prayers for his family after deadly crash Pope Francis, in mourning for the deaths of his nephew’s wife and two small children, thanked people at his weekly general audience Aug. 20 for their prayers. After each of the priests who translate the pope’s words offered him

condolences for the tragedy that struck his family, Pope Francis explained to the people: “The pope has a family, too. We were five siblings, and I have 16 nieces and nephews. One of these nephews was in an accident. His wife died along with his two small children — one who was 2 years old and the other several months.” The pope said that after the crash in the early morning hours Aug. 19, his 35-yearold nephew, Emanuel Horacio Bergoglio, “is in critical condition right now. I thank you, I thank you very much, for your condolences and prayers.”

Vatican says laicized nuncio could stand trial The Vatican denied covering up for a former papal ambassador accused of sexually abusing boys and suggested he might have to stand trial on the charges in the Dominican Republic. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, released a statement Aug. 25 in response to journalists’ questions about former Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, a Pole who served as nuncio to the Dominican Republic until August 2013. According to an Aug. 23 article in the New York Times, the Vatican “secretly recalled (Wesolowski) to Rome last year before he could be investigated, and then invoked diplomatic immunity for Mr. Wesolowski so that he could not face trial in the Dominican Republic.” Father Lombardi responded that the Vatican, by recalling the diplomat from his post last summer, “moved without delay and correctly in light of the fact that former nuncio Wesolowski held the position of a diplomatic representative of the Holy See.” — Catholic News Service

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Focus on Faith • Scripture Readings

14 world’s amazement, God’s saving plan was not and continues not to be accomplished through sheer power, but through the sacrifice of love. Jesus says in the Gospel, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). We deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow Jesus when we say no to our own selfish desires and say yes to our determination to fulfill the will of God. This is our sacrifice of love.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES Deacon James Stiles

From rock to Satan, the Christian mind must be transformed In the Gospel for Aug. 31, Jesus addresses strong words to Peter: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me” (Matthew 16:23, NAB). Just a few verses earlier in the same Gospel, Jesus calls Peter blessed and the rock upon which he will build his Church (c.f. 16:17-18). What a contrast — Peter went from rock to Satan! Peter believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but he did not understand how the Messiah was

going to accomplish his saving work. Jesus informs his disciples that he is going to do so by suffering greatly, dying and then being raised on the third day. Peter could not understand at that time how the Messiah could undergo such a fate. Like all of us, what Peter needed was a transformation of his mind. This transformation comes from understanding how God’s saving plan is accomplished. To the

St. Paul in the second reading urges us to love as Christ loves. He writes, “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1). This offering of our bodies as a living sacrifice means to make concrete decisions every day to love. This often means doing ordinary things with great love: e.g., working hard at your job in order to earn the money needed to support your family, changing the diapers of your children, volunteering your time at a food

shelter, visiting the sick or imprisoned, remaining faithful to your daily prayers, etc. These daily choices to love, to deny ourselves and pick up our crosses, are, as St. Paul writes, our “spiritual worship.” This is the Christian way to offer worship to God because it is inspired by and united to Christ’s perfect worship of God when he offered himself on the cross out of love for God the father and for us. This perfect worship of God is made present to us in the Eucharist, and we participate in it by uniting all of our sacrifices of love to his in the Eucharist. I encourage you to take time to reflect on the ways in which your mind still needs to be transformed into the mind of Christ. Deacon Stiles is in formation for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. His teaching parish is St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. His home parish is St. Mark in St. Paul.

Sunday, Aug. 31 Twenty-second Sunday in ordinary time

Readings

• Jeremiah 20:7-9 • Romans 12:1-2 • Matthew 16:21-27

Reflection

Do we, like Peter, resist God’s sacrificial love? How can we better make concrete decisions to love God and the people in our lives?

DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Aug. 31 Twenty-second Sunday in ordinary time Jeremiah 20:7-9 Romans 12:1-2 Matthew 16:21-27 Monday, Sept. 1 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Luke 4:16-30 Tuesday, Sept. 2 1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 Luke 4:31-37

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Wednesday, Sept. 3 St. Gregory the Great, pope, doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Luke 4:38-44

Sunday, Sept. 7 Twenty-third Sunday in ordinary time Ezekiel 33:7-9 Romans 13:8-10 Matthew 18:15-20

Thursday, Sept. 4 1 Corinthians 3:18-23 Luke 5:1-11

Monday, Sept. 8 The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Micah 5:1-4a Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Friday, Sept. 5 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Luke 5:33-39 Saturday, Sept. 6 1 Corinthians 4:6b-15 Luke 6:1-5

Tuesday, Sept. 9 St. Peter Claver, priest 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 Luke 6:12-19 Wednesday, Sept. 10 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 Luke 6:20-26

Thursday, Sept. 11 1 Corinthians 8:1b-7, 11-13 Luke 6:27-38 Friday, Sept. 12 The Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22b-27 Luke 6:39-42 Saturday, Sept. 13 St. John Chrysostom, bishop, doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 Luke 6:43-49 Sunday, Sept. 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Numbers 21:4b-9 Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17

Father Michael Schmitz

What did Jesus look like, and does it matter? Q. This might be a silly

question, but do we know what Jesus looked like? Does it matter?

A. There is a depth to this question that one might not immediately notice. After all, Jesus Christ is the “image of the unseen God” (Colossians 1:15). He himself also said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). When the Word became flesh, he did it so that we could see and know him. Apparently, it is a good thing to be able to see Jesus. In fact, there is something incredible about the Incarnation that reveals the very identity of God himself. The fullness of revelation is most importantly connected to the words and actions of Jesus while he was on this earth. The Gospel writers never said, “Jesus stretched out his long finger and wrote in the dirt on the

ground” or “Jesus looked through his piercing, dark eyes at the rich young man. . . .” St. John does kind of describe Jesus in figurative language in the beginning of the Book of Revelation, and Isaiah describes something of Christ’s appearance in his prophecy about the Suffering Servant, but these are less about the actual visage of Jesus and more about the nature of how he looked. We can deduce that it is a good deal less important to know what Jesus looked like than it is to know his identity. His identity is revealed through what he said and what he did. There is an incredible variety of depictions of Christ through art. Some are good art, some are bad art. Some are good theology, and some are bad theology. The images are meant to teach or reveal something. What they reveal ought to be

accurate. Still, regardless of the talent and objectivity of the artist, almost all images of Jesus are essentially caricatures; one thing is emphasized at the cost of the whole. The same is true when it comes to images of Jesus in art. They are products of their time and of the aspect of Christ that the artist is trying to convey. They are essentially bound by the limitations of the artist. We have all heard the critique of the “blond haired and blue-eyed Jesus” of Hollywood. That’s fine, but it is no more limited than the “African Jesus” or the “Asian Jesus.” In fact, this may be an asset, if it helps to remind us that Jesus identifies with all human beings, regardless of race or ethnicity. Yes, Jesus was Semitic. As such, he would have most likely looked like any other Jewish man of his time and region. He would have most likely been dark-complected with dark eyes. He was likely around five and a half feet tall and well under 200 pounds. Jesus got 100 percent of his DNA from one woman: Mary. He would have looked like her in many ways. For something of an accurate “photo” of Jesus, the Shroud of Turin seems to be genuine. Of course, it might not be, but it is my understanding that the latest scholarship has supported its

authenticity. No matter how well done a piece of art of Jesus is, it will always be limited. Some will leave us unmoved. So what are we to do? Is there no “face” of Jesus? Well, we have at least two. First, Jesus identifies himself with the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized, the widow and the orphan. If you want to know what Jesus looks like, we have only to look at those whom the world rejects. We are obsessed with goodlooking people and with fit and healthy people. Beauty and strength are goods, and they reflect something of God. But Jesus identifies himself more with the weak and rejected than with the strong and the popular. The other image of Jesus is just as incredible and mysterious. While all images of Jesus in the world are approximations of what Jesus might have looked like, the Eucharist is Jesus. We look at art. We look through icons. We behold the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. His face is both seen and unseen in the Eucharist.

Focus on Faith • Seeking Answers

SEEKING ANSWERS

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.

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August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

From Age to Age

The depth in finality By Erick Rommel Catholic News Service We all look to others for insight and guidance. Sometimes we find it through the words of our family and friends. And sometimes, we seek meaning from the words of those we only know from a distance. Over time, I’ve come to realize that I find deep meaning in moments of significant challenge. Sometimes, those words come from real life. At other times, they come from books or television or theater. No matter where they originate, the words that stay with me come from a place of truth. Knowing how I feel about words and their meaning, it probably comes as no surprise that I immediately purchased the book “Famous Last Words” as soon as I found it at a local bookstore. Thumbing through it, I saw a wide range of sentiments from optimistic (“I’ve never felt better,” Douglas Fairbanks) to fearful (“God, don’t let me die. I have so much to do,” Huey Long) to amazingly self-aware (“Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something,” Pancho Villa). In each instance, the words expressed more about the person who said them than I thought possible. In reading the book, I realized those words have importance, not because they were final but because, in many cases, they provided a better life summary than any biography. Ida Straus stayed on the Titanic rather than leave her husband behind. Her words, “We have been together 40 years, and we will not separate now,” speak eloquently of their love and devotion. We don’t know when we’ll speak our last words. But if our words in the days, weeks, months and years leading up to that final statement aren’t indicative of how we wish to be remembered, those last words will make little impact. We remember people because the way they lived is worth remembering.

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

life is good

TheCatholicSpirit.com

Denise Bossert

Women feel same ache as salvation’s matriarchs My oldest daughter sat across the table from me and shook her head no. The gesture was full of sadness and quiet acceptance. She tapped into an inner strength that she had discovered over the past few years. This was the first time she had said the words. That ship has sailed. There will be no babies for us, Mom. She didn’t go into details. I knew the back story. And I grieved for my daughter and son-in-law who had accepted infertility with marital resolve and met it with reordered plans. My daughter had cried plenty of tears, she said, and then smiled softly when she saw the tears forming in my eyes. Her strength, her calm acceptance, had not come easily or quickly. It had come with each passing month. Each time her younger sister announced another pregnancy — and again when her brother’s wife became pregnant — the wanting returned. And then the wanting was processed and quietly set aside. She was working on her master’s degree, she said. They were planning a trip to Costa Rica for their anniversary. I wanted to change things for her. I wanted to make life fair as I had during my children’s youth. When

one of my children played with a toy for a while, another one had a turn. When one child had a birthday, the other celebrated because his birthday would come in time. The longing for a child is central to the vocation of married life. Love presses on to this great event. So why does pregnancy come so easily to some, yet not for all? I had no answers. The next morning, we worshiped at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in New Brighton. As I genuflected and knelt to pray, I thought of Sarah, and Rebekah and Hannah. These women symbolized Israel. Daughter Zion. The barren one. The tears of each woman — the tears of a nation — accompanied each supplication. When, oh Lord? When will the promised one come to us? This ache for God’s blessing had touched the matriarchs of salvation history and reached its summit in the lives of Mary and Elizabeth in the hills of Judea. As I waited for Mass to begin, I thought of Elizabeth. Was there a moment when she sat across from her own mother and said these words? There will be no baby for Zechariah and me. We are focusing

on other things now. Had Elizabeth cried? Had those tears dried up as the years passed? Had she watched as siblings welcomed babies into their own little families? Had she rested in her husband’s arms with reluctant acceptance hanging heavy in the air around them? There I was, praying, offering up a petition as I went forward to receive the Eucharist that Sunday morning. For months I had been working on a book proposal called “Gifts of the Visitation,” but this was the first time I truly felt Elizabeth’s pain. Elizabeth’s longing. Israel’s longing. It seemed as though some kind of spiritual pilgrimage had ended at the feet of Elizabeth, her son’s name on the bulletin, the signpost, the priest’s lips. St. John the Baptist Church. I had a glimpse into the matriarchs of salvation’s history that I had never had. They had no reason to believe they would ever hear their own child’s first cry. They would not know what it was like to push that final push — the one that instantly transforms pain into joy.

GUEST COLUMN Ginny Kubitz Moyer

Back to school and starting over Recently my husband and I took our two young boys shopping for school supplies. Pencils, crayons, Elmer’s glue, pink erasers: it all went into the basket. Then came the excitement of choosing a new backpack, a decision which caused great deliberation on the part of my kids (they finally settled on basic black and on Spiderman). And it took me back, as it always does, to my own memories of the start of the school year. I always loved buying school supplies. The pocket folders were pristine, not yet creased and torn. The crayons still had pointed tips, not yet blunted by constant use. And everything seemed to say “It’s time for a new start!” If you are a teacher or a parent (or in

my case, both), the beginning of the school year is a very definite milestone. And while it’s hard to say goodbye to my family’s more relaxed summertime state of being, I love the implicit promise of the new school year. It’s a reminder that there are always fresh beginnings in life, that we don’t have to stay fixed in one place. I don’t know about you, but that’s a lesson I always need to re-learn. I remember when I was studentteaching many years ago. We were reading the second scene of Macbeth, a scene that features some of Shakespeare’s most vivid descriptions of gruesome battle injuries. You’d think a teenage audience would go for the gore, but my students were bored and unresponsive. I

They had no reason to believe — except a faint hope that remained in the deepest, most hidden part of their hearts. Where God listens. Where each tear is saved and returns to earth full of divine grace. Last January, my daughter called to say that she is expecting a baby. Her little girl is due this month. Soon, I will travel to Minnesota and hold my granddaughter for the first time. And I will return to St. John the Baptist parish to say thank you. Thank you, oh Lord, for hearing the supplications of women throughout sacred Scripture, for giving life where new life is least expected, for raising up sons and daughters — and grandsons and granddaughters — who will learn to hear your voice and take their own places in this Christ-bearing mission.

This Catholic Life • Commentary

GUEST COLUMN

Bossert is a convert and a syndicated columnist. Her column has been published in 60 diocesan newspapers. She attends Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Mo.

didn’t need Macbeth’s three witches to predict the future: This play would be a tough sell indeed. Later that evening, I told an experienced teacher about my lack of success. I’d have to change my approach, and significantly. She smiled encouragingly. “That’s the good thing about teaching,” she said. “Every day is a chance to start again.”

“We can change anytime we realize that something we’re doing, or failing to do, is keeping us from the life that God desires for us.” Ginny Kubitz Moyer

She was right, and her insight applies to family life as well. Every day is an opportunity to press the “reset” button, if we choose to do so. Resolving to complain less, being more present for our

kids, unplugging from the Internet to pray or read a book — these are positive changes that we can make not just at the end of summer, but anytime we feel the need. We can change anytime we realize that something we’re doing, or failing to do, is keeping us from the life that God desires for us. The older I get, the more I realize that, as Socrates said, the unexamined life is not worth living. Knowing what to change is an ongoing process of discernment. It involves paying attention to our own lives, to the promptings of our souls, to the spoken and unspoken feedback we gather from the people closest to us. And I can usually tell when a habit or routine needs to change, for my benefit and my family’s. As we settle back into the school year, as the kids and I tote our shiny new notebooks and pencils to our respective classrooms, I know it’ll take some time to settle into our new reality. I know there will be things I do that need tweaking, parts of our routine that just don’t work anymore. It’s good to know that I don’t have to have it all figured out on the first day of school. Kubitz Moyer is the author of “Random MOMents of Grace: Experiencing God in the Adventures of Motherhood.” She blogs at RandomActsOfMomness.com.

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Back to School

Cultural training to help teachers relate better to students Grant money brings diversity experts to two St. Paul schools By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit Teachers and staff of two Catholic elementary schools that serve St. Paul’s east side and adjoining suburbs have started on the road to better work with the increasingly diverse families that have been changing the neighborhoods they serve. A grant from an anonymous donor has enabled the staffs of St. Pascal Baylon School in St. Paul and Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School in Maplewood to begin training in cultural proficiency, a concept explained by trainer Brenda CampbellJones: “Cultural proficiency is a mindset that esteems the culture of others as one esteems his/her own culture, while positively engaging and responding,” CampbellJones said. “The goal is to increase awareness of personal culture, as

well as the culture of others that lead to student success and better services to the community.”

Personal growth opportunity Mary Jo Gilbert, who teaches fourth graders at Presentation, said the training made her aware that how she looks at the world was shaped by her upbringing and experiences. “I need to expand that framework to include the experiences and upbringing of others, so all will feel welcome,” Gilbert noted. This school year, she plans to work on having more conversations with students and their families in both informal and regular parent-teacher conference settings, as well as through student essays and journal entries. “If we can understand each other’s viewpoints and reason,” Gilbert said, “we can understand each other better.” Mike Kelleher, coach, athletic director and teacher of social studies, religion and physical education at St. Pascal, claimed there was nothing in the training

“. . . all students, even those who are popular, successful and high achievers, are likely to have some factor which makes them feel uncomfortable at some point at school.” Mike Kelleher, educator at St. Pascal Baylon School in St. Paul

he didn’t find interesting and latch onto. “The material has made me more aware of the fact that all students, even those who are popular, successful and high achievers, are likely to have some factor which makes them feel uncomfortable at some point at school,” Kelleher noted. Since the four-day workshop was the beginning of training for which St. Pascal and Presentation have contracted for with CampbellJones and another national expert in the field, Kelleher said he’s looking forward to additional sessions to learn more about how to recognize and address cultural factors affecting students because he wants to

incorporate examples and information from various cultures in his classes even more than he already does. St. Pascal art and language arts teacher Maureen Peterson commented, “The training raised my awareness and brought home to me the fact that not everyone looks at the issue of cultural similarities and differences in the same way that I do.” Thanks to the initial training, Peterson said she intends to learn more about the cultures of her students and their parents this school year, “and to be less hesitant about asking students and parents to share their stories.” Please turn to SCHOOLS on page 24

When sports clash with Sunday Mass: What’s a parent to do? By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit Ann Bergmann senses that sports are becoming a “false idol” in American society. In the next breath she admits that she, her husband, Brian, and their twins are a part of that culture. Daughter Lauren and son Alex, fraternal twins entering the ninth grade at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, both played for school teams before they graduated this spring from St. Vincent de Paul School. A parishioner of St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park, Bergmann said both Lauren and Alex also have been on traveling sports teams for five years, so she knows all too well the drill of tournaments that begin Friday evening, run all day Saturday and begin again Sunday — often at 8 a.m. — and continuing until Sunday evening. Is there any time for Mass? “We will not miss Mass for a game, and in five years we haven’t,” Bergmann said. “I should add that the children have never had to miss a game, either. We’ve had to utilize the 5:30 Sunday evening Mass at St. Joseph the Worker [in Maple Grove, where Bergmann works as a bookkeeper part time] or sometimes be brushing baseball dirt off my son as we drive to church, but we make it work.” Barbara Castagna, principal of Nativity of Mary School in Bloomington, said parents who are regular churchgoers “make it work” just as

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Ann Bergmann works hard to ensure that her two children, Alex, left, and Lauren, are able to attend Mass every Sunday even as they spend many weekends competing in sports tournaments. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

• Read about Sunday sports guidelines of a few Catholic schools in the archdiocese on page 19. the Bergmanns do. “We have a few Sunday night Masses close by,” Castagna said, “so I know they attend those if need be.” That’s not the case for every family. “I do think a lot are not regular churchgoers,” Castagna surmised, “so they just don’t go if there is a game.” Father William Deziel sees tournaments as the main challenge keeping families from Mass on the weekends. “There are volleyball and soccer and softball and baseball and basketball tournaments, et cetera,” the pastor of St. Peter in North St. Paul

said. “Often times, these are traveling tournaments that take people out of town where they are not familiar with where to find a Catholic Church and the Mass times.” Church locations and Mass times are easily found with Google and GPS nowadays, of course. The real problem, Father Deziel noted, is being unable to plan because of the way tournaments are set up. “Some families get caught because games are scheduled both on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, and even as late as Sunday Please turn to SKIPPING on page 23

19 By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit Athletic directors at several Catholic elementary schools told The Catholic Spirit that, while their schools and parishes have no written policy about when sports teams may play or practice, many tend to allow no sports activity before noon on Sundays. That’s the case at Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, where Dan Couillard has been the athletic director for 27 years. No games or practices are scheduled until Masses are over Sunday mornings, Couillard said. Rob Peterson, who has been athletic director at Highland Catholic in St. Paul for nine years, said the only policy in the handbook is that sports activities are at the discretion of the principal and athletic director, so with that authority he tries to steer coaches away from Sunday practices. Faithful Shepherd Catholic School in Eagan has put the policy in writing. Athletic Director Tamra Paschall reported, “Our activities handbook states, ‘Sunday is reserved for family and faith time. Faithful Shepherd Catholic School makes every effort to not schedule

practices or games on Sundays.’” Faithful Shepherd is one of the many schools whose teams participate in sports through the Catholic Athletic Association. The 65-year-old organization that includes both Catholic and non-Catholic elementary schools, primarily in the east metro area, has no policy about Sunday games, “but I try to make it a policy,” said CAA Director Mark Courtney. “At the CAA, we’re big on going to church,” Courtney said, “so about the only things we schedule on Sundays are some soccer and our [championship] finals.” West of the Mississippi, the South Side Youth Organization, which has 15 Catholic elementary schools among its 22 members, schedules no games on Sunday. It’s an informal policy, according to Wanda Hagerty of the SSYO. And the Msgr. Coates Youth Organization — Minneapolis’ MCYO — has no official policy against Sunday games. Mark Kenney, veteran athletic director at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony, said the MCYO’s informal policy is not to schedule games on Sundays. “Field availability can sometimes be a factor in fall and spring sports being played Sundays,” Kenney

said, “but it’s something we try to avoid.”

Balancing act The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has no formal policy with regard to school sports on Sunday, said Gary Wilmer, assistant superintendent for governance and human relations. Wilmer, former principal of St. Charles Borromeo School, said when the topic has come up in the past, people have expressed concerns about preserving the faith tradition and keeping Sunday relaxed and enjoyable. Wilmer said he could reason from the other side that the games are fun, family times. Both Couillard at Immaculate Conception and Peterson at Highland Catholic pointed to issues they deal with in scheduling games and practices for multiple teams — having only one gym and coordinating the schedules of volunteer coaches. But, Peterson said, “One thing I try to do is to tell coaches that, if they have a Sunday practice, not to make it mandatory.” That’s echoed by Kathleen O’Hara, principal of St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park. “At St. Vincent’s we make a

special effort to encourage families to prioritize Sunday Mass. We don’t have sporting events on Sunday mornings (or holy days of obligation). If time or facility availabilities make Sunday the best option for the team, we will allow tryouts or practices on a Sunday afternoon or early evening; however, these practices are optional and students are not penalized for their excused absence.” Tournaments at Catholic schools are often played Friday, Saturday and Sunday, but that’s not the case at Transfiguration in Oakdale. “We don’t have a written policy, but it is more of an unwritten policy that we hold to,” explained athletic director Matt Weingartz. “We host volleyball and basketball tournaments throughout the year, and as the athletic director, I’m in charge of running these tournaments. I specifically stay away from Sundays for games and make sure that all games are concluded by Saturday.” Weingartz said he has heard a lot of positive feedback from parents who liked that Sundays were not used for tournament games. “With all the busy schedules,” he added, “it allows one day a week to be with family.”

Back to School

Local Catholic schools opt to limit Sunday sports

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Back to School

Students to receive individualized instruction with new learning model By Bridget Ryder For the Catholic Spirit

vocabulary but struggle with reading comprehension.

two grade levels in a single school year.

Three Catholic elementary schools are adding educational innovation to the classroom this fall. Immaculate Conception School in Columbia Heights, Our Lady of the Lake School in Mound and St. Therese School in Deephaven are partnering with the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Office of Catholic Schools to become the first blended learning Catholic schools in the Twin Cities. “We think about individualized instruction as educators, and that is like the dream,” said Constance Krocak, principal of Our Lady of the Lake School. “But the [school] day is only six or seven hours long, and sometimes we don’t get to that. But this allows that to happen. It takes it from hope to reality.” In blended learning, students spend part of the day working through lessons on computers with software that tracks their

According to Jane Bona, principle of Immaculate Conception School, the individualized learning puts the instruction “just at [the student’s] right level where it’s enough to challenge, but not enough to frustrate.”

Students at St. Paul School in Seattle — the first school to partner with ACE in blended learning, and a school with a diverse student population — made the same strides.

In each school, blended learning will take students in a given class period through centers with computer work and face-to-face instruction with a teacher. The computer software gives teachers more precise and up-to-date data on student progress, allowing teachers to easily and accurately group students and adjust instruction. The schools are using the model with reading and math. If it’s successful, it could expand into other subjects. However, Jill Reilly, superintendent of the archdiocese’s Office of Catholic Schools, emphasized that digital curriculum will not replace face-to-face teacher instruction. Computer

“We think about individualized instruction as educators, and that is like the dream.” Constance Krocak, principal of Our Lady of the Lake School in Mound

progress and adjusts the lesson as the student masters skills. It allows students to move ahead or have more instruction and practice on specific areas. Each student’s progress is then stored in his or her personal dashboard and available to both student and teacher. The assessment is detailed, showing, for example, that a student might have a strong

learning time would cap at 50 percent. Blended learning has proven successful in other Catholic schools across the country. Reilly visited Divine Providence Academy in the Diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich. She was impressed not only by the students’ concentration in the classroom, but also their learning gains of one-and-a-half to

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According to Reilly and Laura Ackerman, director of urban education, blended learning is particularly suitable for small schools. All three schools have approximately 100 students. As immigrant groups moved into the parish boundaries, and the demographics of Columbia Heights trend toward a non-white majority, Immaculate Conception School has seen an increase in the diversity of its students in recent years, including new students with limited English skills. Now, approximately half of the school’s students are non-Catholics. Father John Mitchell, pastor at Immaculate Conception, sees blended learning as a way the school can continue to attract and welcome new students. Along those lines, Bona said she had to do a lot of praying, “because we have to never lose sight of our Catholic identity. As long as we hang onto our Catholic identity and high academic rigor, we will continue to fulfill our mission.” Throughout the school year, ACE will work with the schools to implement blended learning as part of a boarder effort to enhance professional development and new enrollment strategies, and strengthen school culture in its identity and mission. The archdiocese started working with ACE last fall to strategize ways to meet the needs of the schools in the western region of the archdiocese. ACE’s recommendations included adding innovative educational models.

Back to school tips By staff of Visitation School For The Catholic Spirit “Back to school.” Those words can create a flurry of emotions for students and parents alike. Each fall, Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota Heights welcomes students from pre-K through 12th grade, so its teachers understand how to help children of every age. The following are tips from the school’s teachers. • Have consistent routines. Consistency provides a sense of comfort at any age because it evokes feelings of safety and security. • Provide clear expectations. Discuss your school’s code of conduct and communicate your personal expectations for acceptable and unacceptable performance, both socially and academically. • Communicate often. Ask open-ended questions about how your child is feeling, rather than questions that can be answered with a yes or no. • Ask for help sooner rather than later. If your child is experiencing difficulty, reach out for help before the problem escalates by talking to a teacher, counselor, school nurse or health care provider. • Pray for each other. • Remember, you are the expert when it comes to your child. For age-specific tips that can help you and your family get back to school smoothly and successfully, visit TheCatholicSpirit.com. The mission of Convent of the Visitation School in Mendota Heights is to provide an excellent education in a Catholic environment permeated with Salesian spirituality. To learn more, go to visitation.net.

21 Like other artists hoping to broaden their reach, St. Paul man uses crowd-funding website for debut album By Jennifer Janikula For The Catholic Spirit After two and a half years of middle-of-the-night song-writing and guitar-playing sessions, Benjamin Brekke’s debut album “Be Not Afraid” is almost ready for release. Like many aspiring artists and entrepreneurs, Brekke has turned to Kickstarter to raise money to complete his project. Kickstarter, a crowd-funding website, allows entrepreneurs and artists to create public pledge campaigns to support their work. The campaigns offer rewards, like free digital downloads or free concerts, for every pledge. Brekke, a member of St. Mark in St. Paul, hopes to raise $2,000 on Kickstarter by Sept. 4 to finish mixing, mastering, packaging and distributing his CDs. He is about halfway to his goal.

Inspiration Inspired by eucharistic adoration, the lives of the saints, and the blessings and struggles of life, Brekke’s music and lyrics offer hope and inspiration. “Brokenness always leads to redemption, and I really wanted to capture this on the album,” explained Brekke, who started writing music at age 15. “We’re not called to be scared. We are called to stand up and be brave and to claim God and all his wonderful works and make our lives into masterpieces.” This “masterpiece” concept, from St. John Paul II’s “Letter to Artists,” drives Brekke’s musical creativity. Written in 1999, the letter states, “Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: In a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.” “Be Not Afraid,” with honest

Faith & Culture

Kickstarting local Catholic musicians

Support online To support Benjamin Brekke’s debut album “Be Not Afraid,” visit www. kickstarter.com and type Brekke in the search box, or email benjaminleebrekke@ gmail.com. The campaign ends at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4.

Catholic musician Benjamin Brekke, a parishioner of St. Mark in St. Paul, is using the crowd-funding website Kickstarter to help him launch his debut album, “Be Not Afraid.” Jennifer Janikula/For The Catholic Spirit lyrics and an eclectic mix of instruments including guitar, ukulele, piano, drums, tuba and trumpet, explores themes of mercy, belonging and hope. One song, “Belong to You,” addresses Brekke’s struggle with clinical depression and the sense of belonging that leaves him during low times. “Sometimes, the only place I really feel that sense of belonging is at eucharistic adoration,” Brekke said. “We are so bombarded by technology and information. We never get silence, and that’s one thing I strive for — it’s just you and Jesus. My mind clears, and there’s a deeper connection and conversation.” “Mercy,” a song featured on Brekke’s Kickstarter page, describes the struggle and then peace found in “give it to God” moments when life becomes so overwhelming that your only choice is to let go. “There are times in life when

you have everything planned out,” Brekke explained, “then it falls apart, but you keep pushing until you finally call out mercy, and let God take over.” Brekke’s wife, Joy, who despite her piano and percussion skills, prefers her “roadie” status, calls her husband’s album “a simple, genuine, humble invitation for others to see how brokenness leads to redemption during the journey of life. If you are open to it, you can find hope within it.”

Supporting local Catholic musicians Brekke also believes the strength and importance of the Catholic message encourages everyone to support local Catholic musicians. “Music from the Catholic perspective is important because people need hope — they are searching for answers,” Brekke said. “The Catholic message is

important today, as a message of hope — not to judge, but to offer a sense of belonging.” Besides Brekke, several Catholic musicians with local roots found support using crowd-funding websites. In 2013, Donny Todd raised more than $12,000 for a Catholic album with an alternative sound, and Brian Kusek raised $900 for his album “Foxholes and Crow’s Nests.” More recently, Nate Reinhardt from the local band Sonar raised nearly $6,000 for his forthcoming debut album, “Marriage of the Lamb.” Another musician with local roots, Luke Spehar, hopes to reach his $17,000 goal by Sept. 14 to support the production and tour for his album “All is Gift.” To learn more about Benjamin Brekke and “Be Not Afraid,” visit www.kickstarter.com and type Brekke in the search box, or email benjaminleebrekke@gmail.com.

Book urges Catholic grandparents to pass on the baton of faith By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit Former Minnesotan Dick Bergeson has published a little paperback of advice that he hopes will motivate parents and grandparents to get to work passing on the faith. Bergeson, long-active in the Catholic charismatic movement and now a grandfather and great-grandfather, shares Scripture-based ideas intended to help reverse what he terms “the exodus from our faith” by younger generations. He echoes the urging of St. Pope John Paul II for Christian communities to become “schools of prayer,” noting that extended families need to provide both

teaching about the faith and the supportive culture that has virtually disappeared from today’s world. While much of the advice is aimed both at parents and grandparents, Bergeson writes, “It is important for grandparents to be conscious of the extraordinary position they hold in their families.” The older generations hold a critical role in the faith formation of the whole family, not the least of which is because “they have gone through many crises in life and know how invaluable a deep faith in Jesus is,” he notes. “They have seen God act in their lives and in the problems they have faced.” Praying for family members is

About the book “Preserving Your Family: Parents and grandparents working together,” by Dick Bergeson. Self-published. 89 pp. $9.95. Available at www.preserving yourfamily.com. primary, along with practicing and teaching a variety of prayer forms, continuing to learn about the faith

one’s self, providing a sense of propriety amid shifting cultural trends and living a life of integrity. Bergeson sees grandparental involvement as handing off the baton of faith to the next generation. He notes. “Grandparents have lived through life and have experienced losses, failures, struggles, deaths and have been able to see how God has acted and been there through each one of these crises of life. Bergeson adds, “If they don’t step in, another generation will be lost.” The overriding goal for all should be to “lay the groundwork for our offspring to get to heaven.”

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Calendar

Festivals St. Nicholas Fall Festival — Sept. 6 to 7: Saturday, 12 p.m.-midnight, Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mexican food, pancake breakfast, Memphis-style pork lunch, silent auction, raffle, country store, petting zoo, beer garden, games garden, bingo, music, pull tabs, food garden, cribbage tournament. Stay for music and fireworks under the big tent after Mass. For information call (952) 448-2345 or visit www. stnicholascarver.org. Our Lady of the Lake Church — Sept. 5 to 7: A variety of food from hotdogs to home-made egg rolls, sweet treat booth, dance to live music, rides, carnival games, auctions and win a round at bingo. For information visit www. incrediblefestival.com or call (952) 472-1284. Our Lady of the Lake, 2385 Commerce Blvd, Mound. Sacred Heart School and Church Fun Fest — Sept. 6 to 7: Saturday, 4 -7:30 p.m. Roast beef dinner, kids’ games, food booths, beer tent and music. Sunday 11 a.m., family fun, kids games, inflatables, bingo, chicken dinner, silent auction and music by Rod Cerar, 4087 West Broadway Ave., Robbinsdale. Church of St. Boniface 20th Annual Country Fest and Social — Sept. 7: Sunday, 10 a.m. Polka Mass under shelter in park across from school, bring your own chairs; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., pork chop dinner. All other activities are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information visit www.stboniface-stmary.org. Church of the Holy Cross September Fest — Sept. 13 to 14: Saturday, 6 p.m.-10 p.m., music by PopBang. Sunday, 9:30 a.m. 4 p.m., Polka Mass, music, chicken dinner and fun festival. Adults $10; children $5. For information call (612) 789-7238.

CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur. LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and institutions. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your press release. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event. • Full street address of event. • Description of event. • Contact information in case of questions. E-MAIL: spiritcalendar@archspm.org. (No attachments, please.) MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit • 244 Dayton Ave., • St. Paul, MN 55102.

Guardian Angels 40th Fall Festival — Sept. 12 to 14: Friday to Sunday. Weekend begins with a community dance on Friday; Saturday, pasta dinner, variety show at 7 p.m. and fireworks. Sunday, pork dinner, games, inflatables, silent auction, petting zoo and the raffle prize winners will be announced. All events are at Guardian Angels, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale. For information visit http:// guardian-angels.org/about-us/fallfestival-2014.html. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish Festival — Sept. 14: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mass that is signed for the deaf and hard of hearing as well as voiced, followed by a Marian procession through the neighborhood led by Archbishop John Nienstedt. Spaghetti dinner, children’s games, silent auction and a grand prize raffle of $500 and two additional prizes of $100. each. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for 10 years and under. For information call, (612) 623-4019. Our Lady of the Prairie Fall Festival — Sept. 14: Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Festival Mass, chicken and ham dinner, country store, crafts, children’s games, raffle, refreshments, wood auction, bingo, Flying Cloud Musicians. Dinner: Adults $10; children, $5; children under 3 free. Take-out orders available for $10. For information call (952) 873-6564. St. Pius V Parish Fall Festival — Sept. 21: Sunday, 10 a.m. Polka Mass; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. hog roast; 12-2:30 p.m. Jim Busta Band, bingo, country store, games and silent auction. Dinner is $11 for adults and $3 for children under 6 years old. For information visit www.stpiusvcf. org. Fall Festival at St. Albert — Oct. 12: 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Albertville. Chicken dinner, live entertainment by The Fugitives, kids’ games, inflatables, cake walk, country store, raffle, bingo, theme baskets, silent auction, split the pot, and — back by popular demand — the wall of wine. For information visit www. churchofstalbert.org.

Retreats

The Joy of the Gospel Silent Retreats — Throughout Sept.: Men and women’s retreats at Christ the King Retreat Center. Call (763) 682-1394 or visit www.kingshouse.com. Women’s Mid-Week Retreats — Sept. 9 to 11 or Sept. 16 to 18: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. to Thursday afternoon. Includes four conferences on our yearly theme, Peace Be With You . . . All Will Be Well, and ample free time for reflection, prayer, journaling, hiking or rest. Opportunities for spiitual direction, confession and holy hour. Meals provided. Held at the Franciscan Retreat Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. To register call (952) 447-2182 or use online registration at www.franciscanretreats.net. Men’s Fall Silent Retreat — Oct. 17 to 19: Friday, 7:30 p.m to Sunday afternoon. Theme for

Don’t miss More events online Additional parish and school events in the archdiocese can be found at TheCatholicSpirit.com/calendar.

School events Little Angels Christian Preschool — Sept. 2: Tuesday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Preschool Enrollment Open House. Come in to visit classrooms, meet teachers, and enroll your child for preschool. Classes start Sept. 8. Guardian Angels Church, 8260 4th Street N, Oakdale. Cub Scout Registration — Sept. 8: 7 p.m.-8 p.m. Sponsored by Church of St. Michael, 335 E. Hurley St., St. Paul. Call (651) 227-6167 for more information.

Other events the October Men’s Retreat: Every Man Is a Beloved Son. The two-night retreat will explore the topics; Search for Purpose in Life; Routines: Life-Giving or Life Choking?; Mindfulness and Presence, and Re-claiming Our Inner Authority. Held at the Franciscan Retreat Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. To register, call (952) 447-2182 or register online at www. franciscanretreats.net.

Parish events Alpha Course — Sept. 23: This 10-week course will meet on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. and includes a weekly dinner plus a variety of topics about the Christian faith. Want to try it out? Come to the Taste of Alpha dinner on Tues., Sept. 9. Tickets are $10 and can be reserved by calling (651) 633-3333. For information, call Neil at (612) 817-8818. St. John the Baptist Church, 835 2nd Ave. NW in New Brighton. Legacy of Faith Fair — Sept. 13: Saturday, 5 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Provides information on funeral planning, estate, planning, the Catholic Health Care Directive, charitable tax incentives, legal wills, life insurance and heritage gifts. A free BBQ dinner will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but you must reserve space for the meal by Wed., Sept. 10. Mary Mother of the Church, 3333 Cliff Rd., Burnsville. For information call (952) 8900045. Let Your Light Shine — Sept. 27: Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon. Mass celebated by Bishop Andrew Cozzens at St. Albert The Great Church, 3200 E. 29th St., Minneapolis. Sponsored by New Life Renewal Ministry. Refreshment served. Register by calling (612) 243-9411. Tour of a Historic St. Paul Church — Sept. 14: Sunday from 2-3:30 p.m. Join us for the third event, “Ark of Faith: Salvation History Set in Stone,” featuring a guided tour of the external architectural features of John Comès’ Monumental Church, lead by Father Joseph Weiss, S.J. Church of St. Thomas More, 1079 Summit Ave, St. Paul. Free and open to the public. For information call (651) 227-7669 or visit www.morecommunity.org.

The World Apostolate of Fatima Vigil — Sept. 5-6: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.-1 a.m. A Vigil of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Church of St. Paul, 749 Main St. S., Zumbrota. For information contact Kathleen O’Hern at (651) 426-9401, or visit www.fatimaonline.org. Working with Clay as Spiritual Practice — Sept. 15: Mondays, 6:30-8:15 p.m.is offering six sessions taught by Virginia Matter. Register online at www.stpaulsmonastery.org. For more information call (651) 777-7251 or email: benedictinecenter@stpaulsmonastery.org. The Benedictine Center, 2675 Benet Rd., Maplewood. Nurturing Peace on Your Spiritual Journey — Sept. 16: Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. Participants will learn how to cultivate deep inner peace, taught by Paula Hagen. Register online at www. stpaulsmonastery.org. For information call (651) 777-7251 or email: benedictinecenter@ stpaulsmonastery.org. The Benedictine Center, 2675 Benet Rd., Maplewood. Great Conversations — Sept. 18: Thursday, 7-9 p.m. “How Do We Remain Steadfast in the Messiness of Life?” Hosted by Carol Rennie and Mary Janssen. Register online at www. stpaulsmonastery.org. For information call (651) 777-7251 or email: benedictinecenter@ stpaulsmonastery.org. The Benedictine Center, 2675 Benet Rd., Maplewood. A Gathering for Adults 25-40 — Sept. 19: Tuesday, 6-7 p.m. For 30-somethings, discussions, Taize prayer with the monastic community. Refreshments and conversation. Free will offering. Register online at www. stpaulsmonastery.org. For information call (651) 777-7251 or email: benedictinecenter@ stpaulsmonastery.org. The Benedictine Center, 2675 Benet Rd., Maplewood. TLC Option For Women’s 40th Anniversary Banquet — Sept. 27: 6-9 p.m. at the Earle Brown Center (6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center). Tickets are $50. For information call Christy at (651) 291-9473 (Christy@tlcoptions.org) or register online at www.TLCoptions.org.

Deblois can play 23 instruments, and he’s not done learning Continued from page 6 song at her baby grand piano. She got up, he sat down and played [the same song] note for note.” According to Sehnert, he is nowhere near done adding to the list of things he has learned how to do. “When he learns one thing, he has that drive to learn something more,” Sehnert said. “He got to

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

pilot a pontoon [boat] and he wants someday to be able to drive a car. He’s got the thirst to try anything. A lot of people don’t have that.” Sehnert is convinced that faith drives both Tony and his mother. Janice converted to Catholicism in 1990 and has a devotion to the Blessed Mother. Along with Tony, who sings in his church choir and is a member of the Knights of

Columbus, she prays the rosary every day. She knows the hand of God has touched her son. Tony knows it, too. Driven by new, outgoing nature that he has worked hard to develop, he burst into a song written by a friend when asked to talk about the importance of God in his life. This time, he did not try to imitate some of the great vocalists

of the 20th century, like Frank Sinatra or Elvis Presley, as is his custom. Rather, he uttered these words using his own vocal signature: “People great and small, God created us one and all. The beauty of the earth resounds with every awakening sound. Thank God for life, thank God for life, thank God, thank God for life.”

Skipping sports for Mass: an opportunity to evangelize Continued from page 18 evenings,” Father Deziel said. “They usually don’t know what the schedule will be like for the weekend because it is based on whether they win or lose games. So a family has to be very conscientious about fulfilling their Sunday obligation to participate fully in the sacrifice of the Mass.” Bergmann can attest to that. She said that when one of her children’s teams has lost on Saturday, she’s heard other parents say, “Well, I guess we get to go to church tomorrow.”

A chance to witness Families truly value their faith, Father Deziel acknowledged, but they feel caught between the demands of the tournament and coming to Mass. Some families make the tough choice of putting their faith first and having their athletes skip tournament games in order to attend Mass.

“Taking the time to attend Mass in the midst of a tournament is a great way to witness to the rest of the team and to other parents the importance of our faith,” Father Deziel said. “It’s actually a great opportunity to witness and evangelize. We often think we need to say something to evangelize, but sometimes our actions are what can powerfully speak to people, and skipping a game in order to go to Mass is a powerful witness.” He called it understandable that there is a high desire to participate in all of the tournament games because the games are fun, and everyone wants to do their best in competition and to win if possible. But he added, “Our faith often calls us to set aside the joys of this world to focus on transcendent joys that go beyond our life here and now.” Other pressures on both players and parents can be a factor in some missing Mass to participate in a sports event.

Players want to compete whenever they can, of course, and they don’t want to “let down” their teammates and coaches by not playing.

Read more online For more commentary from youth directors about Sunday sports, visit TheCatholicSpirit.com.

Fees factor in Parents also want their youngsters to play for those reasons and one more: money, Ann Bergmann noted. Parents pay a lot of money for their children to play on traveling teams, with some even taking second jobs, she said. Fees can run from the mere expensive — for one Twin Cities area volleyball club, $375 for a two-month spring season of traveling volleyball and $580 for the regular November-to-March season — to some eye-opening fees: For a traveling basketball season, $950 for one local team; $2,000 for another; and more than $4,000 for a teenager to play on an elite team that travels to tournaments out of state.

And, Bergmann noted, that doesn’t include the families’ expenses for gas, food and lodging when they travel to watch the games. It’s no wonder parents don’t want their child to miss games. Bergmann looks at her family always attending Mass as a way to stand up to the tide of the idolization of sports and say that church is their priority. “We’ve talked about it with the kids,” she said. “We’ve always said it’s great to win national tournaments and to play the games, but the main reason we are here is to help one another get to heaven.”

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August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

The Last Word

Poster aims to show border crossers ‘are real people’ By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service A human rights center in Tucson, Ariz., has released a poster with the hope that it will bring a human face to those who cross the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The poster, titled “The Things They Carried: A Memorial to Lives Lost on the Border” and sold by the Colibri Center for Human Rights, features more than 100 of the most common — and some not-so-common — items found on or near the bodies of men, women and children who died when they attempted a border crossing near Arizona from 2000 to 2009. The poster features some “special” or unusual items found on the dead bodies of the migrants, said John Stobbe, who drew the poster. They include a dead hummingbird, a Barney the dinosaur stuffed toy, 28 sets of dentures and many religious items that some Catholics tend to carry. Stobbe, a graphic artist, worked on the poster with his wife, Robin Reineke, who co-founded Colibri. Reineke keeps a spreadsheet of the items, based on photos of objects recovered by the Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner. In some cases, they’ll be the only clues to help families identify the Purchase remains of loved ones who made the trek north and a poster were never heard from again. Proceeds will go “We’re constantly on the toward the center’s phone with the families” mission of helping trying to find the bodies of missing family members, identify the human Reineke told Catholic News remains of migrants. Service in a phone interview. “We get as much detail as possible to help us Visit colibricenter. distinguish remains.” org/things-carried. When families call the Cost is $20, including center asking for help, staff members ask when they last shipping and spoke to the family member, handling. what the person was

Graphic designer John Stobbe of Tucson, Ariz., stands in front of a poster he designed for the Colibri Center for Human Rights using images of possessions found on the bodies of border crossers who have died in the Arizona desert. CNS/Gary O’Brien carrying and if the person was wearing an unusual item. That’s when objects, such as the ones on the poster, come in handy. Not many will be carrying a Barney stuffed animal when they cross the border, so perhaps it belonged to a child, or perhaps the missing person was last seen wearing an unusual belt buckle now documented by the medical examiner’s office. The poster also says a lot about the difficulties faced by those making the trip. The medical examiner’s office found 250 water jugs, 53 sticks

of lip balm, asthma inhalers, feminine pads. It also says a lot about their religious identity. “There’s a lot of religious items,” Reineke said. “That speaks to the Catholic and highly religious nature of migrant population.” Among some of the objects the medical examiner’s office recovered are 51 crosses, 73 “religious necklaces,” 10 Bibles, 206 prayer cards, 43 rosaries, 54 scapulars and four images of Jesus. “They’re carrying a lot of protection in the form of Bibles, some of them heavy, amulets, prayer cards — quite a few,” Reineke said. Popular saints depicted on the medals or figurines include Mary under her various titles, such as Our Lady of Juquila (from Mexico), or the Holy Child of Atocha, an image of the child Jesus. And then there’s the mundane: Some carried Scrunchies, used to keep the hair tied, a photograph of a dog, foot powder and playing cards. “There are items that any of us will travel with,” Reineke said. Stobbe said he usually uses a computer to work on projects, but the intimate nature of the items that belonged to those who had died, probably under distress, called for something different. “I made a choice to hand-draw them,” he said. “It crossed my mind to do a modern graphic. I did, but I realized it doesn’t convey the human aspect of what we’re talking about. I realized hand-drawings were really working to give respect to the human part of this.” About 400 posters have been printed so far and sold through colibricenter.org/thingscarried. Each costs $20, including shipping and handling. Proceeds will to go help the center’s mission of helping identify the human remains of migrants. “I hope anyone who sees it, regardless, whatever their stance on immigration is . . . that it will help these people take a minute and acknowledge that [those crossing the border] are real people and not just something they call illegal,” Stobbe said.

Schools serving students from more cultures Continued from page 18

More to the grant The grant that is providing the cultural proficiency training includes two additional provisions, one to work with World Savvy, a nonprofit organization that educates and engages youth in community and world affairs to enable them to better learn, work and thrive as responsible global citizens. The other will provide funds to contract with a private busing company to transport students who live in a designated area on the east side of St. Paul between the two schools. The grant is an example of the collaboration and sharing of resources St. Pascal and Presentation have been engaged in for the past three years, according to the school principals, Daniel Bell of St. Pascal and Michael Rogers of Presentation. Presentation of the Blessed

August 28, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit

Virgin Mary School Principal Michael Rogers answered questions about the cultural proficiency training:

Q. What were some of the things you took away from the training sessions? A. I was struck by the level of diversity that existed among the people in the training. We often look at each other and think that we have similar cultural backgrounds, and we base this on skin color. In reality, we are an incredibly diverse staff, and we each have a rich cultural background. We learned a lot about one another, which will help us to grow closer as a faculty. Q. Will the training be readily applicable at your school? A. Yes, the training is really the beginning of a journey in which we are all looking inside ourselves and becoming more aware of how our cultural background affects our

work as educators. We are also beginning to see the many connections that exist between the training and the social justice teachings of the Catholic Church. It is wonderful to be able to talk about this as a faculty and connect it to our shared faith.

Q. Are there already a significant number of cultures represented in your student body, or is this an effort to look ahead as the surrounding community undergoes change? A. For us, this is a look ahead. We have started to see an increasing variety of cultures represented among our student population and anticipate that this will continue into the foreseeable future. This is not just a trend in our neighborhood but statewide. We want to ensure that our student population is representative of the people that live in this neighborhood, and this training will assist us with that.

Q. Will cultural understanding be a challenge for your staff, or is there a good sense of acceptance of the need to grow in this direction? A. There is absolutely a sense that we will grow in this area. As educators, it is essential to know more information about our students so that we can help them learn. In addition to having a school full of students with varying cultural backgrounds, we also have a wide variety of learning styles. Since we all have student learning and whole-child development in mind, I found that my staff had a tremendous enthusiasm for what we are learning, and I look forward to learning more with them throughout the coming years. This is not just a one-time training but a road that we will continue to travel together for the benefit of our students.