Gathering to heal Those impacted by clergy sexual abuse, especially victim/survivors, are invited to attend a Jan. 23 restorative justice conference organized by the archdiocese. — Page 5
January 16, 2020 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
thecatholicspirit.com
Change of heart
Sex and surrogacy Pro-life speakers Christoper West and Jennifer Lahl will present messages explaining the “wisdom and beauty” of the Church’s teaching on Theology of the Body and reproduction. — Pages 12-13
Pitching the Catholic brand University of St. Thomas students design ad campaigns that promote the Church, impress local bishops who view the results. — Page 14
International faith group flourishes Young adults from several states and countries gathered at Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul for praying, sharing and celebrating life in the Emmanuel Community. — Page 15
More for women
She was a pro-life activist as a teen, but when she got pregnant in her 20s, she almost had an abortion.
Then God intervened.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Alonna Mertz holds her twin daughters Eve, left, and Lilly, who will turn 2 Feb. 2. Mertz became pregnant unexpectedly in 2017 and was considering abortion. She went as far as going to an abortion clinic, but what she describes as a “miracle” took place the day she went. She changed her mind and instead went for help to a pro-life center in Woodbury, where she had once volunteered. Read the story on pages 10-11.
Pope’s homily, draft document for Curia reform indicate changes may be coming to increase female leadership in the Church. — Page 20
Bishops’ meeting with pope informal, open, fraternal The Catholic Spirit
CNS
Pope Francis greets Archbishop Bernard Hebda during a meeting with U.S. bishops from North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Jan. 13. Looking on is Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens. The bishops were making their “ad limina” visits to the Vatican to report on the status of their dioceses to the pope and Vatican officials.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda called the Jan. 13 meeting of the regions’ bishops with Pope Francis “a wonderful opportunity for the local Church.” “It was magnificent. It was very informal,” he said Jan. 13. “The Holy Father was very open. We could talk about anything with him. He was very forthcoming with us and very supportive, very fraternal.” The bishops from U.S. Region VIII, which includes the dioceses in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, met with Pope Francis for their visit “ad limina apostolorum” — to the threshold of the apostles — which are formal meetings between the pope and a regions’ bishops held every five years or so. The U.S. bishops’ last “ad limina” visits were eight years ago in 2011-12 with Pope Benedict XVI. Accompanying them was Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis slated to be installed the ninth bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Feb. 13. Also with them in Rome were 25 young adult pilgrims from the region. Read more about the “ad limina” visit on page 7.