The Catholic Spirit - January 26, 2017 by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co.

Bankruptcy plans up for vote 5 • Crucifix in art 13 • JRLC leader 14 January 26, 2017 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29–Feb. 4

Picturing

Catholic education

Patriotic first-graders. Hallway reading. Testing a classroom turtle. These are just a few of the moments The Catholic Spirit captured while visiting Catholic schools across the archdiocese Jan. 18. Pages 10-11. Father Spencer Howe, associate pastor at Holy Name of Jesus in Medina, talks to sixth-graders Jan. 18 at Holy Name of Jesus School, including Rachel Heinz, right. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

ALSO inside

Oldest priest dies

A new venture

Marching to a different beat

Msgr. Stanley Srnec’s ministry spanned 74 years, including 26 years at St. Raphael in Crystal. — Page 5

Three urban Catholic schools form Ascension Catholic Academy to better serve students and prepare for the future. — Page 6

Pro-life groups participate in national Women’s March on Washington despite removal from list of partner organizations. — Page 8

2 • The Catholic Spirit

PAGE TWO

January 26, 2017 NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit

in PICTURES

Theology on Tap underway in St. Paul Wednesdays are Theology on Tap nights at O’Gara’s Bar and Grill in St. Paul through Feb. 22. Upcoming talks in the six-week series include “Conversion to Christ” Feb. 1 by Deacon Gregg Sroder, “Grill the Archbishop” Feb. 8 with Archbishop Bernard Hebda, “Sex and the City of God” Feb. 15 by Anne Maloney and Stephen Heaney, and “Changing Hearts, Saving Lives” Feb. 22 by Brendan O’Morchoe. For more information, visit www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/cya-theology-on-tap.

Annual Well-Read Mom conference Jan. 28 The fifth annual Well-Read Mom conference returns to the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul 1-5 p.m. Jan. 28. Speakers include Well-Read Mom founder Marcie Stokman, Annemarie Bacich, Colleen Hutt, Marcia Otto, Philip Rolnick and Claire Vaidyanathan on topics ranging from J.R.R. Tolkien to the art of Ernesto Gutierrez. The event is sponsored by St. Thomas’ Department of Catholic Studies. Tickets are $30 at the door; $15 for high-school and college-aged women. For more information, visit www.wellreadmom.com/events. ECUMENICAL PRAYER Archbishop Bernard Hebda, second from right, leads an ecumenical prayer service Jan. 22 with, from left, Lutheran Bishop Ann Svennungsen of the Minneapolis Area Synod, the Rev. Dr. Bradley Schmeling of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in St. Paul and Lutheran Bishop Patricia Lull of the St. Paul Area Synod. Hundreds joined the clergy at Central Lutheran in Minneapolis for evening prayer in recognition of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. Archbishop Hebda gave the sermon and spoke of the importance of continuing to strive for Christian unity. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis along with the Minneapolis Area Synod and St. Paul Area Synod, the event took place during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Jan. 18-25. Read the full story at www.TheCatholicSpirit.com. Courtesy Susan Masters

World Day for Consecrated Life Mass Feb. 5 Archbishop Bernard Hebda will celebrate the annual World Day for Consecrated Life Mass 3 p.m. Feb. 5 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Religious women and men celebrating jubilees will be recognized. For more information, visit www.archspm.org.

CCF investment conference Feb. 8 The Catholic Community Foundation will host its annual Investment Conference 7:15 to 10:15 a.m. Feb. 8 at the University of St. Thomas Woulfe Alumni Hall in St. Paul. Speakers will address projections for the 2017 economy, how Catholic investing continues to evolve and how CCF works with clients to steward their charitable contributions. The event is free, and breakfast is provided. For more information and to register, visit www.ccf-mn.org.

World Day of the Sick Mass Feb. 11 A World Day of the Sick Mass will be 10 a.m. Feb. 11 at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony with Archbishop Bernard Hebda. Special prayers, a blessing with water from Lourdes, France, a presentation by University of St. Thomas professor Elizabeth Schiltz on the dignity of the human person and a reception will follow Mass. Commemorating its 25th year, the World Day of the Sick is set aside by the pope to pray for the sick and to honor health care professionals and caregivers. The event is sponsored by CURATIO: Apostolate of Catholic Health Care Professionals and the Order of Malta. For more information, call 612-840-7066 or visit www.curatioapostolate.com.

Stewardship coffee is Feb. 11 in Burnsville HOPE, HEALING, MERCY From left, Samantha Kisrow of Epiphany in Coon Rapids, Kevin Stanton of St. Joseph in Lino Lakes and Samantha Herrlin of Epiphany pray at Mass Jan. 21 at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul during the All Night Prayer Vigil for Hope, Healing and Mercy. The event included eucharistic adoration, confession and the Divine Mercy chaplet. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Risen Savior in Burnsville will host a stewardship event 8:30 a.m. Feb. 11. Presentations, panels and discussions are from 9 to 11 a.m. Members of the stewardship teams at Our Lady of Grace in Edina and Divine Mercy Catholic Community in Faribault will speak about their best practices. All parish leadership, staff and volunteers are invited. The event is free. RSVP to Shannon Conroy at conroys@archspm.org.

Widow, widower group lunch Feb. 18 WHAT’S NEW on social media Tweeting @ArchbishopHebda, Archbishop Bernard Hebda responded Jan. 18 to news of a bomb threat targeting Sabes Jewish Community Center in St. Louis Park. “Saddened to hear of today’s bomb threat at the @SabesJCC. Let’s pray and work together to eradicate prejudice in our community.” The threat was one of 18 made that day to Jewish community centers in the U.S. Police reported finding nothing suspicious at Sabes JCC. Course construction is well underway for the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships, which returns to the front steps of the Cathedral of St. Paul Feb. 3-4. Follow The Catholic Spirit on Facebook and Instagram for video and photos of this year’s ice cross downhill athletes in action.

The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 22 — No. 2 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher United in Faith, Hope and Love

MARIA C. WIERING, Editor

An Agape dinner (communal meal) will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 18 at St. Peter in Forest Lake for widows and widowers. Father Donald DeGrood will present, “How to Deal with Loneliness as a Widow or Widower.” Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by Mass, Father DeGrood’s presentation and lunch. Cost is $10. RSVP to Deacon Terry Moravec at 651-295-4444 by Feb. 10.

WINE conference Feb. 25 in Burnsville The third annual WINE: Catholic Women’s Conference “Small Things, Great Love: It’s What We Do” will be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville. Keynote speakers are author and CatholicMom.com founder Lisa Hendey and Sister Clare Matthiass of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. Registration is $65. For more information, visit www.womeninthenewevangelization.com. Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by The Catholic Spirit Newspaper. Subscriptions: $29.95 per year: Senior 1-year: $24.95: To subscribe: (651) 291-4444: Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444; Classified Advertising: (651) 290-1631. Published semi-monthly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 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: tcssubscriptions@archspm.org • USPS #093-580

January 26, 2017

FROM THE ARCHBISHOP

The Catholic Spirit • 3

Continue to trust God as bankruptcy resolution comes into sight

ishop Andrew Cozzens and I just returned from the annual weeklong retreat of the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. We were blessed to have as our retreat master Father Scott Traynor, who did a phenomenal job of giving a diverse group of bishops lots of food for meditation and growth. While Father Traynor is a priest of the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, we took pride in the fact that he grew up in our archdiocese and still has a great affection for the local Church that formed him. I was particularly grateful for his reminder that the Lord often desires that we leave the heavy lifting to him. Father Traynor provided us with lots of reminders that nothing is impossible with God; that he can do the unexpected, especially when even our best efforts seem to be coming up short. How important it is that we always turn to the Lord in prayer and trust that he can bring good out of even the most difficult situations. That was just the message I needed as I returned home and found the hallways of the chancery filled with boxes in preparation for our move from Cathedral Hill to St. Paul’s East Side. While I’m refreshed from the retreat, I can’t help but note that there’s a certain sobriety in the air. It’s not just the logistical challenges of a move of this proportion, but the felt consequences of a collective commitment to justice and restitution. With the hope of maximizing the compensation that the archdiocese can offer to those who have been hurt by the Church, we’ve sold my residence and our three office buildings (as well as some real estate that the archdiocese owned in Northfield) and will begin the next phase of our history as tenants on the East Side of St. Paul. There’s a cost to doing what is right. The move not only coincides with the second anniversary of our filing for bankruptcy, but also with a decision on the part of the bankruptcy court to place two competing plans before our creditors for a vote. While the issues are by no means resolved, ONLY JESUS my brother bishops, who have gone through this process before in other dioceses, tell me that we’re probably entering the last Archbishop act (even if not the last scene) of this tragedy. Bernard Hebda I pray that is true. In a recent informal conversation with one

Sigamos confiando en Dios a medida que la resolución de bancarrota sale a la vista El Obispo Andrew Cozzens y yo acabamos de regresar del retiro anual de una semana de duración de los obispos de Minnesota, Dakota del Norte y Dakota del Sur. Fuimos bendecidos de tener como maestro de retiro al Padre Scott Traynor, quien hizo un trabajo fenomenal al dar a un grupo diverso de obispos, porciones de alimento para la meditación y el crecimiento. El padre Traynor es un sacerdote de la Diócesis de Sioux Falls, South Dakota, pero nos enorgullecemos de que él haya crecido en nuestra arquidiócesis y todavía tenga un gran afecto por la Iglesia local que lo formó. Yo estuve particularmente agradecido por recordarnos de que el Señor a menudo desea que le dejemos el trabajo pesado a Él. El Padre Traynor nos dio muchos recordatorios de que nada es imposible para Dios; que Él puede hacer lo inesperado, sobre todo cuando incluso nuestros mejores esfuerzos parecen estar quedándose cortos. Cuán importante es que siempre nos volvamos al Señor en la oración y confiemos en que Él puede sacar lo bueno de las situaciones más difíciles. Ese fue el mensaje que necesitaba cuando volví a casa y encontré los pasillos de la cancillería llenos de cajas en preparación para nuestra mudanza de la colina de la catedral al lado Este de St. Paul. Mientras vengo renovado del retiro,

no puedo dejar de notar que hay una cierta sobriedad en el aire. No se trata sólo de los retos logísticos de una mudanza de esta proporción, sino de las consecuencias sentidas de un compromiso colectivo para la justicia y la restitución. Con la esperanza de maximizar la compensación que la arquidiócesis puede ofrecer a los que han sido dañados por la Iglesia, hemos vendido la residencia donde vivo y nuestros tres edificios de oficinas (así como algunos bienes inmuebles que la arquidiócesis poseía en Northfield) y estaremos comenzando la siguiente fase de nuestra historia como inquilinos en el lado este de St. Paul. Hay un costo al hacer lo que es correcto. La mudanza no sólo coincide con el segundo aniversario de nuestra declaración de quiebra, sino también con una decisión por parte del tribunal de bancarrota de poner dos planes en competencia ante nuestros acreedores para un voto. Aunque los problemas no están resueltos, mis hermanos obispos que han pasado por este proceso en otras diócesis, me dicen que estamos probablemente entrando en el último acto (aunque no sea la última escena) de esta tragedia. Yo, oro para que sea verdad. En una reciente conversación informal con uno de los demandantes, ambos nos sentimos deseando ver el día en el cual la bancarrota este detrás de nosotros, cuando será más fácil tratarnos unos a otros como familia y no como adversarios y cuando podamos juntos trabajar para asegurarnos que hemos hecho todo lo posible para evitar que cualquier otra persona joven o adulto vulnerable sufra el flagelo del abuso en esta parte de la Viña del Señor. Dado que, tristemente, hemos socavado nuestra posición de confianza a

of the claimants, we both found ourselves longing for that day when the bankruptcy is behind us, when it will be easier to treat each other as family rather than as adversaries, and when we can together work to make sure that we have done all that we can to prevent any other young person or vulnerable adult from suffering the scourge of abuse in this part of God’s vineyard. Given that we have sadly undermined our position of trust in the eyes of so many of those who have suffered abuse, I’m grateful that the court will be the guarantor of honesty and fairness. The judge has been scrutinizing our expenses and holding our feet to the fire as we have worked with the mediator that he appointed to pull together all of our available assets. While our legal expenses have been significant, the court’s review and approval give us the confidence that we were indeed making a reasonable investment in a just resolution. I was delighted that with the help of our lawyers working with our insurers, we have recently been able to increase the pool of assets that we could offer from approximately $65 million to more than $155 million. A portion of this pool will be required to pay costs of administration of the case (including professional fees for the victim and parish committees, as well as for the archdiocese). We are hopeful, however, that the vast majority of the funds will go directly to a trust for the benefit of the victims. I would ask you to join me in praying that the Lord will soon remove any remaining obstacles to the achievement of a fair resolution. Now that our pool of available assets has been maximized, any further legal controversies can be expected to result in the whittling away of the available resources while postponing recovery for those who have been waiting for compensation. It seems to me that we’re certainly at one of those junctures in life where we have to ask God to “do the heavy lifting.” We need not only an outpouring of his wisdom to facilitate a conclusion to the bankruptcy, but also the salve of his love to bring the healing of hearts and restoration of trust that are so essential if we are to find good in the present circumstances. Above all, let’s pledge to create a space in our hearts for the Lord’s grace to creep in so that we might be his instruments as he restores and rebuilds this local Church according to his loving design.

los ojos de tantos de los que han sufrido abusos, estoy agradecido de que será el tribunal el que será el garante de la honestidad y la justicia. El juez ha estado investigando nuestros gastos y manteniéndonos en línea, ya que hemos trabajado con el mediador que nombró para reunir todos nuestros activos disponibles. Si bien nuestros gastos legales han sido significativos, la revisión y aprobación del tribunal nos da la confianza de que estábamos haciendo una inversión razonable para una resolución justa. Me encantó que con la ayuda de nuestros abogados que trabajan con nuestros aseguradores recientemente hemos podido aumentar la reserva de activos que podríamos ofrecer de aproximadamente $65 millones a más de $155 millones. Una parte de este grupo

estará obligado a pagar los costos de administración del caso (incluyendo honorarios profesionales para los comités de víctimas y parroquias, así como para la arquidiócesis). Sin embargo, tenemos la esperanza de que la gran mayoría de los fondos se destinará directamente a un mandato en beneficio de las víctimas. Les pido que se unan a mí en oración para que el Señor elimine pronto los obstáculos restantes para el logro de una solución justa. Ahora que se ha maximizado nuestro grupo de activos disponibles, se puede esperar que cualquier otra controversia legal resulte en la eliminación de los recursos disponibles, a la vez que se pospone la recuperación para aquellos que han estado esperando una compensación.

OFFICIAL Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Effective January 30, 2017 Reverend Vaughn Treco, appointed as chaplain at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Father Treco is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter and also serves as chaplain at Providence Academy in Plymouth. Effective February 1, 2017 Deacon Michael DeWitte, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Guardian Angels in Chaska. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Maximilian Kolbe in Delano. Effective February 15, 2017 Deacon James Bauhs, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Joseph in Waconia. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Guardian Angels in Chaska.

4 • The Catholic Spirit

LOCAL

January 26, 2017

SLICEof LIFE Purgatory explored Sophia Rybarczyk, a junior at Chesterton Academy in Edina, practices her role as St. Catherine of Genoa during a Jan. 11 dress rehearsal of the play, “The Fiery Love of God,” written by school co-founder Dale Alhquist and directed by his wife, Laura, who teaches fine arts. St. Catherine was an Italian mystic who experienced a dramatic conversion during confession after 10 years in a troubled marriage. Her husband later converted, and both spent their lives serving the sick and the poor. She died in 1510. She is known for her thoughts on purgatory, which are explored in the play. Students at Chesterton Academy performed the play Jan. 13 and 14. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

is proud to present

Deepening Our Spirituality Series Prayers & Practices

Join us as we explore the richness and diversity of prayer forms and spiritual practices in the Christain tradition. Sessions include educational presentations, Q&A periods, small group discussions and personal reflection. Susan Stabile Spiritual Director Adjunct Professor of Theology

Choose a single event or all four! All sessions will be held from 6:30pm - 8:30pm in Coeur de Catherine, Room 370 on St. Catherine University’s St. Paul Campus.

Christine Luna Munger Spiritual Director Professor of Theology

February 13

Fasting & Humility

March 13

Pilgrimage & Reconciliation

April 10

Lectio Divina & Unknowing

May 8

Developing a Rule of Life

Cost per session: $15.00; $10.00 after two completed registrations. All are welcome. Register today! Contact Gloria Blaha at 651-690-6017 or grblaha@stkate.edu for questions or to register.

Happy

Catholic Schools Week

Ave Maria Academy • Maple Grove Frassati Catholic Academy • White Bear Lake Mary Queen of Peace Catholic School • Rogers Our Lady of Grace• Edina St. Mark’s Catholic School • St. Paul St. Rose of Lima • Roseville St. Thomas More • St. Paul St. Wenceslaus School • New Prague Way of the Shepherd Catholic Montessori • Blaine Archdiocesan Catholic High Schools

Thank you!

Celebrating students, families, parishes, teachers, and staff.

January 26, 2017

LOCAL

The Catholic Spirit • 5

Oldest priest, Msgr. Srnec, dies at 98 By Maria Wiering and Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit Msgr. Stanley Srnec, the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, died Jan. 21. He was 98 years old and a priest for 74 years. He retired in 1996 after 54 years in ministry. Almost half — 26 years — were spent as pastor of St. Raphael in Crystal, where he expanded ecumenical outreach, initiated an endowment fund for St. Raphael Catholic School, oversaw the building of a new parish center and watched parish membership grow by nearly a third. Msgr. The parish honored him in Stanley SRNEC 2002 during its school’s 50th anniversary, which coincided with his 60th jubilee. Annie Sparrow, who served as a cook for Msgr. Srnec at St. Raphael, said he made decisions for the parish “with clarity and charity.” Prior to serving at St. Raphael, Msgr. Srnec ministered at St. Wenceslaus, New Prague; St. Stanislaus, St. Paul; Most Holy Trinity, Veseli; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Minneapolis, which merged with St. Albert in Minneapolis in 1990. He was also a spiritual director at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, a role he continued into

his 90s. “He could read people wonderfully,” said Father Patrick Ryan, a retired priest who served with Msgr. Srnec at the seminary. Msgr. Srnec lived during his retirement at the Leo C. Byrne Residence in St. Paul, but he spent the final few years of his life at Mala Strana Assisted Living in New Prague, where he died. He was born Oct. 11, 1918, in Montgomery. He entered seminary in 1937 during the Great Depression, but World War II interrupted his studies. He was eventually ordained Sept. 26, 1942. His parents gave him a chalice set with his mother’s wedding diamond. Inscribed on the bottom with the date was, “Our share in your sacrifice, Mother and Dad.” Msgr. Srnec was preceded in death by his parents, John and Mary; his brother-in-law, Edwin Jirak; and a grandniece, Stacy. He is survived by his sister, Rosemary Jirak; niece, Kathleen (Steve) Kalina; nephews, Kevin (Laure) Jirak, John (Tammy) Jirak, Robert (ReNae) Jirak and Richard (Lynda) Jirak; and 11 grandnieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be offered 11 a.m. Jan. 27 at St. Raphael, 7301 Bass Lake Road, Crystal. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to St. Raphael. The oldest priests in the archdiocese are now Jesuit Edward Sthokal, 95, and Msgr. William Baumgaertner, 94.

The St. Paul headquarters of Pro-Life Action Ministries was vandalized Jan. 22. In this photo submitted by the organization, it obscured two expletives directed at unborn babies and President Donald Trump. Courtesy Pro-Life Action Ministries

Pro-Life Action Ministries headquarters vandalized on rally day By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit The St. Paul building that contains the headquarters of Pro-Life Action Ministries was vandalized sometime after 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22. It was discovered the morning of Jan. 23, said Executive Director Brian Gibson. Someone painted an upside down cross on an outside wall, plus derogatory messages about unborn children and President Donald Trump. Gibson said a security camera installed nearby may have captured the crime, and that this was the first act of vandalism aimed at the ministry’s building “in a very, very long time.” On Jan. 22, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in all 50 states, Pro-Life Action Ministries held a rally in front of Planned Parenthood in St. Paul that drew 180 people.

At bankruptcy’s two-year mark, creditors will soon vote on plan The Catholic Spirit As the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis marks the two-year anniversary of entering Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it anticipates that two different plans for Reorganization will be put before creditors for a vote in February. A court order is expected to establish a 30-day timeline for ballots to be mailed to creditors, including more than 450 sexual abuse claimants. The archdiocese’s bankruptcy proceedings are the first among more than a dozen bankruptcies of U.S. dioceses that involve competing plans for Reorganization. After receiving ballots and the plans, creditors — which also include trade vendors and parishes — will have a court-determined window during which to vote. The non-binding vote is intended to inform the court’s decision about which — if either — plan to confirm, said Charles Rogers, an attorney representing the archdiocese. As The Catholic Spirit previously reported, the archdiocesan plan, filed in May 2016 and amended in November, would provide more than $155 million in compensation for abuse claimants. Under the archdiocesan plan, the funds would be placed in a trust for prompt distribution to creditors. The alternative plan filed by attorneys for the Unsecured Creditors Committee, which represents creditors including sexual abuse claimants, seeks $80 million in victim compensation. The UCC’s plan rejects as inadequate most of the more than $115 million in insurance settlements that are included in the archdiocesan plan, preferring that creditors be free to pursue insurance settlements following the Reorganization. Almost half of the funding for the UCC’s $80 million proposed plan is premised on the idea that the archdiocese could take out a loan, which would be secured by the Cathedral of St. Paul and several Catholic school sites. The loan would then be repaid through future collections. According to Rogers, the archdiocese, in its present financial condition, is not positioned to secure such a loan. After completed ballots are returned, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Robert Kressel, who has been overseeing the case, is expected to hear arguments from attorneys on the merits of both plans before accepting one or rejecting both. If both are rejected, the archdiocese would have to start the process over, a scenario that would significantly delay resolution of the bankruptcy

and, in turn, payments to creditors, Rogers said. Archdiocesan leaders and others hope the case will achieve a just resolution soon. Tom Abood, chairman of the Archdiocesan Finance Council and an advisor who helped negotiate the settlement of the civil lawsuit and the dismissal of criminal charges brought by the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, expressed a desire to resolve the bankruptcy in the coming months “so that victims and all creditors can be fairly compensated sooner rather than later.” Amid the ongoing costs of litigation, he would prefer that “money be used to compensate victims and not attorneys,” he said. His goal is to get “this archdiocese back to a position where it can better serve Catholics and our communities, as well as those harmed, through a just resolution,” he said. He noted that some sexual abuse claimants have died in the past two years without benefiting from compensation, and he doesn’t want to see others excluded as a result of further delays. “With at least $155 million now available, we’re hoping to see those harmed receive fair compensation very soon,” he said.

‘Complex insurance issues’ Archdiocesan insurance coverage has been extensive and complicated, the archdiocese’s attorneys said. The archdiocese has had more insurance carriers than any other diocese that has filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization. Some policies reach back many decades and involve tens of millions of dollars in potential coverage. These complexities have made mediation to resolve coverage disputes challenging at times. Mediation with the many carriers began shortly after the archdiocese filed bankruptcy Jan. 16, 2015. Initially, progress through mediation was slow. However, in the time since Archbishop Bernard Hebda was installed archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis in May 2016, “we’ve made substantial progress,” Rogers said. All insurance companies have now settled with the archdiocese, providing more than $115 million in coverage to settle claims. Those settlements are predicated on court approval of a bankruptcy plan. With additional insurance settlements, the archdiocese has been able to increase the amount for victim compensation from the $65 million it offered when it first filed a plan in May to more than $155

million in its present plan. Included are funds from the sale of four properties, including the archbishop’s residence and chancery buildings that housed its longtime offices on Cathedral Hill in St. Paul. According to Archbishop Hebda, the archdiocese still hopes for a consensual plan with the UCC. “We are committed to a fair and just resolution of claims,” he said. “Of course, our commitment to victims of clergy abuse must go well beyond the financial compensation achieved through bankruptcy. We have tried to demonstrate that commitment in many ways, including through the child protection measures that have been embraced under the settlement agreement with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.”

Separate assets In May 2016, attorneys for the UCC filed a motion in bankruptcy court for “substantive consolidation,” seeking to include assets from Catholic charities and schools to pay for claims against the archdiocese. In July 2016, Kressel denied that motion. The judge said that the assets of parishes and other independent Catholic entities were separate from those of the archdiocese and could not be included in the archdiocese’s compensation for creditors. UCC attorneys appealed that decision to the U.S. District Court, and that was denied as well. The UCC is now appealing that decision to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. In December 2016, attorneys for the UCC filed another motion in bankruptcy court seeking to bring actions against Catholic charities and schools that had received payments from the archdiocese in the two years prior to the bankruptcy. Kressel denied that motion Jan. 12. Archbishop Hebda is encouraged by the recent movement toward a fair resolution. In light of the increased funding in the archdiocesan plan and the judge’s clarification of legal issues, he said he is “hopeful that sexual abuse claimants can be compensated as quickly as possible without the unnecessary expenditure of further legal fees that should instead be used to promote healing and reconciliation.” Abood agreed. “It is time to move beyond endless litigation,” he said. “In some dioceses the legal process lasted over five years and, in the end, creditors received very little. We are doing our best to achieve a fair result for all.”

6 • The Catholic Spirit

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January 26, 2017

Three urban Catholic schools partner for long-term success By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit Three urban Catholic elementary schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have combined their governance and operations in hopes of increasing their long-term viability and improving academic outcomes for around 480 students. The kindergarten through eighthgrade schools — Ascension Catholic School in north Minneapolis, St. John Paul II Catholic Preparatory School in northeast Minneapolis and St. Peter Claver Catholic School in St. Paul — comprise Ascension Catholic Academy. With Ascension serving as the anchor school, its staff is responsible for managing daily operations of all three. Patricia Stromen, president of Ascension Catholic Academy, said that in the past several decades, Ascension has successfully served racially diverse low-income families while building community engagement. All three schools serve a high percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. “Our hope is that we can really build on the strengths of all three schools to move into the future and find ways to — in a faith-based setting — build academic excellence and care for the whole child in our inner-city Catholic schools,” said Stromen, who has served as Ascension Church’s parish administrator since 2001. The three schools benefit from developing best practices and sharing resources, allowing each school to maintain its own culture and identity, Stromen explained. The academy has an advancement department, finance department, human resources department and a board of directors to help govern its work. It plans to hire a chief academic officer. Father Dale Korogi, Ascension’s pastor, is the academy’s executive director. Father

Kindergarten teacher Christina Robb works with student Samira Crews at St. Peter Claver Catholic School in St. Paul Jan. 19. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit Kevin Finnegan, St. John Paul II school chaplain, and Father Erich Rutten, pastor of St. Peter Claver, serve as exofficio members of the board. With financial support from the GHR Foundation, the academy launched in August after discussions among the three schools. The GHR Foundation brought in national models and practices that could inform the schools’ leaders as they developed a system that would work for all three, Stromen said. All three schools depend on philanthropic gifts to operate, and they intend to continue development efforts in order to rely less on GHR funding and better engage their communities. “It’s really a time of beginning and of planning for growth,” Stromen said. Ascension Catholic Academy also worked with the archdiocesan Office for the Mission of Catholic Education. Director Jason Slattery said combining

three Catholic grade schools under one governance model is a new venture in the archdiocese. “What really made this project appealing was the reliance on the hard work and best practice of Ascension Catholic School and that ability to apply those base principles and infuse them into two other Catholic schools that are serving families in need,” he said. “There’s a real efficiency to that effort.” Slattery gave a nod to longtime Ascension Principal Dorwatha Woods, who retired in 2016, for her leadership and for demonstrating what is possible with urban Catholic schools. “Without Dorwatha’s tremendous contribution, we wouldn’t have any best practices to farm out,” he said. Slattery noted it’s too early to determine whether the academy’s model will work for other Catholic

schools in the archdiocese. “I think [the academy] really has the opportunity to show us what’s possible,” he said. “And after some years of results, then we’ll understand what possibilities might exist.” The academy has allowed St. Peter Claver Principal Terese Shimshock to focus her time and expertise on the students since academy staff members now work on the school’s budgeting, marketing and development. “Knowing the academy has our backs on that, I can use my gifts to help the scholars, and that’s what we’re here for,” said Shimshock, who’s serving in her first year at the school. She noted how the school, which first opened in 1950, has had an unstable past; it closed in 1989 and reopened in 2001, slowly making strides to boost funding and enrollment. Now that she has the support of two other schools, her goal is to achieve 100 percent retention. The school is down about 30 students from last year. She said having the partnership, and especially meeting weekly with the other principals and academy leadership, has been a great experience. “What they’ve done in a short amount of time is phenomenal,” she said. “[The academy] brings hope for the future, and giving the students that safe place is very important.” Stromen said inner-city Catholic schools have an important place in the fabric of Catholic education, given their location in neighborhoods with numerous disparities. “Our Catholic inner-city schools have the opportunity through the experience of faith to lessen the achievement gap while also strengthening the whole child,” she said. “And if our inner cities are going to continue to move toward vitality, schools such as ours are going to be integral to that.”

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January 26, 2017

The Catholic Spirit • 7

Speaker: Catholic schools must cultivate identity to keep students in the faith By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

strengthens Catholic schools to be that bulwark, he said.

The vision for Catholic education outlined in many Church documents hasn’t changed, but some Catholic schools need to regain this vision and develop a traditional Catholic identity in order to raise future Church and societal leaders in the faith, said Jamie Arthur, director of the Cardinal Newman Society’s Catholic Education Honor Roll who spoke at an event for parents Jan. 19 at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton. “I think we’re in a critical time, and if we’re not forming the next generation of Catholics, I don’t know who will be sitting in the pews or leaving the Church,” said Arthur, who outlined the nonprofit’s principles for Catholic identity based on Church teaching on education. The Virginia-based organization uses the principles to determine which Catholic high schools are recognized on its honor roll for strong Catholic identity and academic excellence. Three high schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have received this distinction: Providence Academy in Plymouth, Chesterton Academy in Edina and St. Agnes School in St. Paul. About 150 people, including parents and priests, attended the event titled, “Choosing a Catholic High School Education: Preserving Your Child’s Faith in a Secular Society,” which was sponsored by the Cardinal Newman Society and the Catholic Defense League, a national nonprofit organization with a chapter in St. Paul. Following Arthur’s talk, she and the headmasters of the three local Catholic high schools on the honor roll — David Beskar of Chesterton Academy, Todd Flanders of Providence and Kevin Ferdinandt of St. Agnes — answered audience members’ questions. Father Bill Baer, pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale, emceed the event. “This meeting tonight came about as a number of us in communication with Bishop [Andrew] Cozzens and Archbishop [Bernard] Hebda saw the value of bringing the Cardinal Newman Society and their wonderful focus to the archdiocese and to the Twin Cities. Their work extends throughout the United States with many, many schools,” he said. In his remarks before Arthur’s talk, Bishop Cozzens, the archdiocese’s vicar of education, said Catholic schools need to be a bulwark of people and structures to strengthen young people for a culture hostile to values and beliefs about human life and the gift of faith. Then, the Church can withstand an approaching “spiritual tsunami” seeking to destroy the country’s culture. The Cardinal Newman Society

Church documents assert that the mission of Catholic high schools is not only to prepare students for college and future success, but also their eternal salvation. The principles the Cardinal Newman Society developed point to that end — including being true to the purpose of Catholic education, engaging with parents and providing opportunities for encounters with Christ, Arthur said. The Society, which seeks to promote and defend faithful Catholic education, lists 71 Catholic high schools on its 2014 honor roll, with another nine receiving honorable mention. Parents and others can view the honor roll online. It will release a new honor roll in the next several months and plans to introduce an honor roll for elementary schools in the next year. It also offers schools resources such as Catholic curriculum standards and a recommended colleges guide. Providence has been included in the honor roll since the list was first created in 2004. Chesterton and St. Agnes were recognized in 2012 and 2014, the two most recent years the honor roll was issued. Schools must apply for honor roll consideration. Arthur emphasized that both learning and formation kindle a love for truth, and that Catholic intellectual tradition should be integrated in the curriculum to give students tools to fight individualism and relativism. Also, teachers should model the faith for students, she said. Jill Fink, 45, wasn’t looking for a high school for her three children but wanted to learn about what makes a high school Catholic. Fink, who attends Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights, said she was impressed by Cardinal Newman Society’s research in creating a tool to evaluate schools. “I think the principles are very solid,” said Fink, who serves as director of faith formation at Epiphany in Coon Rapids. Greg and Laura Peichel of Epiphany attended to learn about options for their five children, especially their oldest, a sixth-grader. “We are very committed to Catholic education for our kids, and we just want to know what the best option is and [how] we can make that happen,” said Laura, 41. Greg, 42, said he was struck by the importance of faith-filled school leadership and teachers’ dedication to the faith and to a school’s Catholic identity. “Not only do they practice faith privately, but they [also] practice it as a model for the students,” he said.

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With finishing touches remaining on Catholic Charities’ Higher Ground homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul, residents began moving in Jan. 11. The five-story residence houses 437 people. Higher Ground is one of two new buildings that will take the place of Catholic Charities’ Dorothy Day Center, which sits across the street on Old Sixth Street. Dorothy Day opened in 1981 as a place to serve meals to the poor, but became a place for the homeless to stay. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

in BRIEF ST. PAUL

MCCL march draws thousands; national March for Life Jan. 27 Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life’s 44th annual March for Life Jan. 22 drew an estimated 5,000 people to the State Capitol, where state lawmakers expressed optimism that the Senate’s pro-life majority can help advance items in MCCL’s 2017 legislative agenda. The annual march marks the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions that legalized abortion. MCCL’s agenda includes banning taxpayer-funded abortions, defunding Planned Parenthood, requiring the licensing and inspection of abortion facilities, and ending abortions at 20 weeks of development, when unborn babies can feel pain. On Jan. 27, 83 youths and 35 adult volunteers from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will join the anticipated tens of thousands from around the U.S. for the 44th annual national March for Life in Washington, D.C. While the march normally falls on Jan. 22, it moved to Jan. 27 due to the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration.

CSJ sister dies on 106th birthday Sister Mary Mark Mahoney, who became known for her prison ministry, died Jan. 11 at the age of 106. She was born Jan. 11, 1911, in South St. Paul and baptized with the name Veronica. After attending St. Joseph’s Academy in St. Paul, she joined the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1932 and made her final vows in 1937. She graduated from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and taught middle school and upper school for 35 years. She spent the final years of her life focusing on prison ministry by writing letters to inmates, which she began at age 87. A funeral Mass was Jan. 17 at her community’s Our Lady of the Presentation Chapel in St. Paul.

8 • The Catholic Spirit

U.S. & WORLD

Group marches for rights of ‘pre-born women’ By Julie Asher Catholic News Service As the Women’s March on Washington began to head down Independence Avenue Jan. 21, its leading banners held unexpected messages: “We don’t need Planned Parenthood” and “Abortion betrays women.” The banners led the march for only a short time; within minutes, other marchers had blocked them with their signs, chanting “my body, my choice” and even stole one of the banners. For Kristan Hawkins, however, those few minutes were enough. “We changed the media narrative,” Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America and a parishioner of St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi, told The Catholic Spirit. SFLA members positioned themselves at the front of the march hoping to grab the initial spotlight. Later, they stood along the march route with signs and a mega phone, hoping to reach marchers with their message that abortion hurts women, and that pro-life women’s voices were at the Women’s March, too. An estimated crowd of 500,000 people marched in Washington the day following the inauguration of President Donald Trump, with millions more participating in cities across the nation and world, including in Minnesota. Tens of thousands marched in front of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul and elsewhere in the state. The pro-life organization was shut out of being an official sponsoring partner for the giant march, but the group’s leaders said nothing prevented them from taking part and marching on behalf of women exploited by abortion and for the rights of “pre-born women.” Students for Life of America officials said what was billed as an inclusive march ended up having a “radical abortion agenda” once Planned Parenthood signed on as a key partner in late December and “bulldozed” over pro-life groups that wanted to be partners. “We were ignored. Our application [to be a partner] was ignored completely. Other pro-life groups were kicked out as partners,’’ said Michele Hendrickson, Eastern regional director of the Virginia-based Students for Life of America. “Pro-life is pro-woman. ... What was originally portrayed as inclusive is excluding pro-life.” Texas-based New Wave Feminists was initially accepted as a march sponsor, then rejected; its members still marched in Washington. Another group snubbed by march organizers was And Then There Were None, a nonprofit organization that helps abortion clinic workers leave the abortion industry. March organizers said the purpose of the event was “to promote women’s equality and defend other

January 26, 2017

‘We must wait and see,’ pope says of President Trump Catholic News Service

Students for Life of America begin leading the Women’s March on Washington Jan. 21. Courtesy SFLA

Perspectives on the local march In St. Paul, an estimated 90,000 people marched in front of the State Capitol Jan. 21 in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington. Among them were Catholic women who sought to show support for people often marginalized in society and to take a stand against President Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric, especially about women and immigrants. Meanwhile, other local Catholic women who believed in many of the national march’s guiding principles stayed home because of the pro-choice stance its leaders took the week before the event. Read about the local march from their views at www.thecatholicspirit.com. marginalized groups.” Among many issues highlighted were immigration, education, equal pay, women’s health care and “reproductive rights.” Hawkins told CNS that the abortion industry has “taken over any discussion of women’s rights.” “Preborn women’s rights are human rights. Their voice counts, our voice counts,” she said. New Wave Feminists leader Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa told CNS they were prepared for confrontation “and instead were supported by so many women.” “They kept coming up and telling us how glad they were that we were there and how, even though they didn’t necessarily agree on the abortion issue, they thought it was wrong that we were removed as partners,” she said. The Students for Life group did not receive the same kind of welcome. A video posted later in the day to the organization’s Facebook page shows marchers taunting some of the pro-lifers and ripping up their signs. The Catholic Spirit contributed to this story.

Pope Francis was among world and faith leaders who sent best wishes to President Donald Trump as he was sworn into office Jan. 20. “I offer you my cordial good wishes and the assurance of my prayers that almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office,” the pope’s message said. Saying that the human family faces “grave humanitarian crises” that demand “far-sighted and united political responses,” the pope said he would pray that Trump’s decisions “will be guided by the rich spiritual and ethical values that have shaped the history of the American people and your nation’s commitment to the advancement of human dignity and freedom worldwide.” President The pope also said he hoped Donald TRUMP that America’s “stature” would continue to be measured by “above all its concern for the poor, the outcast and those in need who, like Lazarus, stand before our door.” The message concluded with the pope saying he would ask God to grant the new president, his family and all Americans “peace, concord and every material and spiritual prosperity.” As Trump took his oath of office, Pope Francis told an interviewer it would be “reckless” to pass judgment on the new president before he had a chance to do anything. “We must wait and see,” the pope told two reporters from the Spanish newspaper El Pais during a 75-minute interview Jan. 20. Asked if he wasn’t worried at least about some of the things Trump said before his election, the pope responded, “I’m waiting. God waited so long for me, with all my sins.” “Being afraid or rejoicing beforehand because of something that might happen is, in my view, quite reckless,” the pope said. “We will see. We will see what he does and then we will judge — always on the concrete. Christianity either is concrete or it is not Christianity.”

January 26, 2017

U.S. & WORLD

The Catholic Spirit • 9

in BRIEF WASHINGTON

Trump reinstates ‘Mexico City Policy’ on abortion

Boys carry sandwiches Jan. 20 in Aleppo, Syria. Conveying Pope Francis’ closeness to the Syrian people, a Vatican delegation visited Aleppo Jan. 18-23 following the end of the hostilities that left thousands dead and the city in ruins. CNS/Khalil Ashawi, Reuters

Vatican officials visit war-torn Aleppo By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Conveying Pope Francis’ closeness to the Syrian people, a Vatican delegation visited Aleppo following the end of the hostilities that left thousands dead and the city in ruins. Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, secretarydelegate of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, visited the city Jan. 18-23, accompanied by Cardinal Mario Zenari, apostolic nuncio to Syria, and Msgr. Thomas Habib, an official at the nunciature, the Vatican said Jan. 24. The delegation met with “Christian communities and their pastors, who expressed gratitude to the pope for his constant concern for beloved Syria,” the statement said. They also visited several refugee camps and Catholic institutions assisting in relief efforts, including a humanitarian

assistance center run by Caritas Aleppo. According to the Vatican, during a meeting with the Church’s charitable institutions, Msgr. Dal Toso and the delegation emphasized the importance of providing relief assistance to the Syrian people. “With the support of the universal Church and thanks to the generous contribution of the international community, such help may be intensified in the future to meet the growing needs of the people,” the Vatican said. Members of the delegation also took part in an ecumenical prayer service that coincided with the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, as well as several meetings with Islamic representatives. The “responsibilities of religions in educating for peace and reconciliation” was among the issues discussed during the meetings, the Vatican noted.

President Donald Trump issued an executive memorandum Jan. 23 reinstating the “Mexico City Policy,” which bans all foreign nongovernmental organizations receiving U.S. funds from performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning in other countries. The action was hailed by prolife leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for Pro-Life Activities, and Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List. “President Trump is continuing Ronald Reagan’s legacy by taking immediate action on day one to stop the promotion of abortion through our tax dollars overseas,” said a Jan. 23 statement from Dannenfelser.

when the questions became more detailed on abortion policies, the numbers shifted.

VATICAN CITY

Vatican backs papal commission investigating Order of Malta The Vatican confirmed its trust in the papal commission investigating the forced resignation of the Order of Malta’s former grand chancellor following a letter by the order’s grand master to discredit the group. In a statement released Jan. 17, the Vatican said it “reaffirms its confidence” in the five-member group established by Pope Francis “to inform him about the present crisis of the central direction of the order.” The Vatican also rejected “any attempt to discredit these members of the group,” led by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, former Vatican representative to U.N. agencies in Geneva.

New Marist poll shows Americans strongly support Pope confirms appointment abortion restrictions of new Opus Dei prelate A few days before the annual March for Life, a new national poll indicated shifting public attitudes, crossing party labels, in favor of increased restrictions on abortion. “When you ask Americans what they think of abortion ... you get very, very strong numbers in favor of restrictions,” said Andrew Walther, vice president of communications of the Knights of Columbus, during a Jan. 23 news conference. The Marist survey of 2,729 adults was conducted in December and sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. It contains breakdowns by political affiliations and ethnicity but not religious beliefs, so there was no information on how many respondents were Catholics. Fifty-two percent of the respondents indicated that they thought of themselves as “pro-choice,” while 42 percent self-identified as pro-life. But

Pope Francis confirmed the election of Spanish Msgr. Fernando Ocariz as the new prelate of Opus Dei. The 72-yearold monsignor, who had been auxiliary vicar of Opus Dei, was elected and confirmed by the pope Jan. 23, the first day of voting by Opus Dei’s electoral congress, a gathering of priests and laymen. Opus Dei is a personal prelature, which is in some ways like a diocese without geographic boundaries. Msgr. Ocariz succeeds Bishop Javier Echevarria, who died in December. Msgr. Ocariz serves as a consultor to several Vatican offices, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Clergy and the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. — Catholic News Service

10 â&#x20AC;˘ The Catholic Spirit

East to West A day in the life of Catholic schools

8:19 a.m.

9:11 a.m.

n honor of Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29-Feb.4, The Catholic Spirit photographer Dave Hrbacek documented a day by visiting eight Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Jan. 18, starting in the east at St. Croix Catholic School in Stillwater and ending in the west at St. Timothy School in Maple Lake. View a slideshow with more photos at www.TheCatholicSpirit.com and www.instagram.com/TheCatholicSpirit.

January 26, 2017 • 11

3:05 p.m.

1:57 p.m.

1:52 p.m.

9:45 a.m.

11:45 a.m. 8:19 a.m. • St. Croix Catholic School, Stillwater: Sister Magdalena

Dudenhoeffer reacts to a remark made by Principal Sister Mary Juliana Cox during a teachers’ meeting before school.

9:11 a.m. • St. Peter Catholic School, North St. Paul: First-grader Yobel

Halefom recites the Pledge of Allegiance with his classmates at the beginning of the school day.

9:45 a.m. • St. Jerome Catholic School, Maplewood: From left, eighth-

grader Sean Smith, kindergartner Justin Knauss and eighth-grader Josh Tell sing at the start of an all-school Mass.

10:32 a.m. • St. Rose of Lima School, Roseville: First-grader Braden Foley reads with fifth-grader Jackson Seebeck.

11:45 a.m. • Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis: Senior Maiya 10:32 a.m.

Ramirez, left, talks with Kris Donnelly, executive director of the school’s Corporate Work Study Program.

12:54 p.m.

12:54 p.m. • Good Shepherd School, Golden Valley: Sixth-grader Alexis Murphy plays the flute during band class.

1:52 p.m. • Holy Name of Jesus School, Medina: Librarian and sixth-grade teacher Kim Prodahl reads to second-graders in the library.

1:57 p.m. • Holy Name of Jesus School, Medina: From left, preschoolers

Mikayla Lam, George Furey, Will Sivongsay, Anders Nycholat, Kylie Warner and Claudia Glover play with “Turdy” the turtle.

3:05 p.m. • St. Timothy School, Maple Lake: Second-grader Tucker Sigler,

left, and kindergartner Akeley Christenson play with Natalie Sernett, daughter of kindergarten teacher Alyssa Sernett, in the Saints Club after-school program.

12 â&#x20AC;¢ The Catholic Spirit

January 26, 2017

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FAITH & CULTURE

January 26, 2017

Lift high the cross

The Catholic Spirit • 13

If you go

UST lecture to focus on intersection of art and theology in crucifix image

What: “Salve Sancta Crux,” or “Hail, O Holy Cross: Representations of the Crucifixion from the Father Dease Art Collection,” the 2017 Master of Arts in Catholic Studies’ Thought and Culture Lecture presented by Father Jan Michael Joncas

A 19th-century French house altar from the University of St. Thomas’ collection that includes a rooster and instruments of the crucifixion. Courtesy University of St. Thomas

When: 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 Where: Woulfe Alumni Hall, Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul The event is free but RSVP is required. For more information, visit www.stthomas.edu/catholicstudies/news/events.

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

he oldest known image of Jesus on the cross dates to approximately 200 A.D., but it isn’t an image of salvation. It’s a lampoon of the crucifixion — Roman graffiti showing a man worshiping a crucified figure with a donkey’s head. An inscription with the sketched image reads, “Alexamenos worships his God,” mocking a Christian man named Alexamenos. Despite its blasphemy, the “Alexamenos graffito” reveals the association pagans made between Jesus’ crucifixion and early Christians, said Father Jan Michael Joncas, University of St. Thomas artist in residence and research fellow for the Center for Catholic Studies since 2013. The importance of the crucifixion as an image has grown over the centuries, he said, from a time when the cross was an instrument of torture and shame to a symbol of not only Christ’s death and mankind’s salvation, but also of Catholicism itself. Father Joncas will present on the crucifix’s development as an object of art and devotion 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 in “Salve Sancta Crux,” or “Hail, O Holy Cross,” the 2017 Master of Arts in Catholic Studies Thought and Culture Lecture. The lecture, which is given annually by a member of the Catholic Studies faculty, will be presented in partnership with St. Thomas’ Department of Art History and Office for Mission. Father Joncas’ presentation will include crucifixes from a collection Father Dennis Dease donated to St. Thomas upon his 2013 retirement as the university’s president. The collection includes 47 crucifixes that Father Dease obtained in his travels or received as gifts. A composer and longtime theology instructor, Father Joncas plans to highlight three from the collection, weaving them into an overview of the evolution of the crucifix’s use and representation in Christian imagery. He hopes attendees take away a fascination with “how the representations of the crucifixion express changing understandings ofxsalvation and changing St. Rose Catholic Spirit Jan ad_5 3.75_Layout 1 1/13/17 10:41 AM understandings of culture,” he said.

From jewels to wounds By the fifth century, crucifixion was outlawed in Rome and Christians began to use the cross in art. Among its earliest forms is the “crux gemmata,” a cross embellished not with the body of Christ, but jewels. The form reached its zenith in the 10th century, Father Joncas said, with crosses made from precious materials studded with actual jewels. “This instrument of shame and torture is now being presented as this glorious portal into Father redemption,” Father Joncas said. Jan Michael The earliest Christian JONCAS representations of the crucifix — distinguished from a simple cross by the inclusion of Jesus’ body — date to the sixth or seventh century, Father Joncas said. What’s interesting, he noted, is that artists didn’t try to represent the crucifixion as a historical event, but rather aimed to convey its meaning. These early crucifixes show Christ as a high priest — alive and fully robed. After Christians went through the Great Schism in 1054, Eastern Orthodox iconography continued to focus on this triumphant representation, Father Joncas said. In the Western Church, however, Franciscan spirituality — with its emphasis on Jesus’ humanity — influenced a shift in the crucifix’s focus. Jesus’ sacrifice became central, and crucifixes began to include Jesus’ wounds, sometimes accompanied by the objects of his torture such as the crown of thorns, spear and sponge. The form reached its high point in the late Renaissance, Father Joncas said, pointing to the Page 1 crucifixion scene in the Isenheim Altarpiece in France.

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The masterpiece of Matthias Grünewald, the scene shows a dead Christ, open mouthed with pocked greenish skin, bloody wounds and hands with fingers wrenched toward heaven. Father Joncas called it “absolutely terrifying.” “For me, that’s the pinnacle of the suffering Christ,” he said.

Visual theology After the Reformation, Catholics continued to show the body of Christ on the crucifix, but Protestants turned toward an empty cross. They wanted to show that it is the Risen Lord who is available to Christians, and that it is through Scripture, not visual meditation, that man comes to know God, Father Joncas said. The crucifix then began to be recognized as a mark of Catholicism, although Anglicans, Episcopalians and Lutherans use crucifixes as well. Father Joncas plans to distinguish between crucifixes used for public worship and private devotion. Father Dease’s collection includes a detailed example of the latter, he said, pointing to a 19th-century house altar that includes tiny symbols of the crucifixion for personal meditation. Father Joncas will also explore modern and contemporary depictions of the crucifix that highlight the idea of the “cosmic Christ” St. Paul writes about in his letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, which suggests that “the implications of redemption don’t simply affect humans, but are manifestations of God’s intention for the entire universe,” Father Joncas said. In addition to deepening audience members’ historical understanding of the crucifix, Father Joncas hopes the images inspire conversion — “that they [audience members] would come to a new and deeper understanding of the mystery of the crucifixion.” He thinks that goal is entirely possible. “Art is subtle,” Father Joncas said. “It sometimes seizes the heart before the brain even knows.”

14 • The Catholic Spirit

FROM AGE TO AGE

January 26, 2017

Lawyer puts passion to work as new interfaith advocacy leader By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit As a Twin Cities lawyer for 30 years, Anne Krisnik channeled her passion for social justice issues into her volunteer activities, among them, two decades of cooking once a month at the Catholic Charities Family Service Center in Maplewood. She planned upon retirement to devote more time to fight systemic poverty, which she hasn’t been able to do with a fulltime job. That goal came sooner than she anticipated, but not because she retired. In April, the parishioner of St. Mark in St. Paul became the executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, a 45-yearold lobbying organization based in Minneapolis. “This is the Holy Spirit in action,” said Krisnik, 57, a graduate of St. Catherine University in St. Paul and the University of Minnesota Law School. The first organization of its kind in the United States, the JRLC consists of four main partners: the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Islamic Center of Minnesota, the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Minnesota Council of Churches. It lobbies for social justice issues that each faith tradition agrees on. “When we’re talking about things like equity and taking care of people living in poverty, there’s a real strength in the fact that the Islamic tradition, the Jewish tradition [and] the Christian tradition all find these values to be very important,” Krisnik said. “There’s a narrative that church and state should be separate, but ultimately, we need to have faith voices when we’re setting public policy, or we’re going to leave out a lot of people.” JRLC has members in each legislative and congressional district in the state. Part of its work is to educate people of faith about issues they care about, give them the skills to make their voices heard and mobilize them, Krisnik explained. “The faith community does an incredibly heavy lift to help people who are struggling,” she said. “They have food shelves and shelters and emergency

Joint Religious Legislative Coalition’s Day on the Hill People of faith from around the state gather to learn about social justice issues and how to share their concerns with legislators at the State Capitol. Feb. 23 at the St. Paul RiverCentre and the State Capitol with keynote address from a representative of Sojourners in Washington, D.C. For more information and to register, visit www.jrlc.org.

Anne Krisnik of St. Mark in St. Paul channels her passion for social justice into her role as executive director of the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, a 45-year-old lobbying organization based in Minneapolis. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit assistance, but that isn’t enough. And so we need to be making policy at the Capitol that recognizes these needs and advocates for these people.” JRLC’s ultimate goal, Krisnik said, is to help pass legislation that creates a better Minnesota. Its largest annual event is the Day on the Hill, this year Feb. 23 at the St. Paul RiverCentre and State Capitol (see box). The day includes reviewing JRLC’s legislative agenda; a keynote talk from Lisa Sharon Harper of Sojourners, a Christian social justice ministry based in

Washington, D.C.; meeting in respective legislative districts and a trip to the Capitol. “It’s a really unique opportunity to talk to people of those other faith traditions and learn from them and learn with them about how we can work toward social justice in Minnesota,” said Krisnik, who will attend for the first time. “It can be really isolating work, so it’s really a wonderful opportunity to talk with people Please turn to JRLC on page 19

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Your Church. Your stories. Your newspaper.

FOCUS ON FAITH

January 26, 2017

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES Jean Denton

Assurance of continuing Christ’s mission

Once a week, I help at an after-school center in my community. The long-standing program, which provides supervision and enrichment activities for disadvantaged children, is a place of pride for the community because it fills an important need for many struggling families. It has become a valuable resource in improving the prospects for their children. Local news periodically shows smiling kids from the center participating in special events such as planting a community garden or taking swimming lessons at the YMCA. But behind the feel-good images is a highly challenging environment in which staff members try

The Catholic Spirit • 15

to mentor some 200 children, most of whom have academic, social or psychological difficulties. Constant behavior problems make it hard to accomplish much on any given day, so it’s not uncommon for frustrated staffers or volunteers to give up after only a brief time. But a core group stays. They endure the frustration, work through obstacles and celebrate incremental successes. They stay because they are true believers in the center’s mission. Similarly, staying power is a challenge to the Christian faithful. Conflicts, wars, materialism, selfishness and an overarching secular culture threaten our ability to follow the ways of Christ. How can we hold fast to our beliefs against overwhelming opposition? Zephaniah’s prophecy in the Jan. 29 Scripture reading provides the assurance we seek that Jesus’ mission will continue despite forces in this world that constantly conspire to bring it down. Speaking God’s word, the prophet says, “I will leave as a remnant in your midst a people humble and lowly, who shall take refuge in the name of the Lord … they shall do no wrong and speak no lies.” God promises that a core of true believers always will carry on, committed and living the life to which he calls us. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus describes that life in the beatitudes, reiterating that the faithful will be rewarded by God’s faithfulness.

Sunday, Jan. 29 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Readings • Zep 2:3; 3:12-13 • 1 Cor 1:26-31 • Mt 5:1-12a It’s our only hope in this world, but it’s a great hope, and we can witness its truth in people such as the committed leaders at the after-school center. When I observe this small group patiently enduring because of their compassion and selflessness, I have to believe they actually are a part of that remnant maintaining God’s goodness here and now. This Catholic News Service column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.

DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Jan. 29 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Zep 2:3; 3:12-13 1 Cor 1:26-31 Mt 5:1-12a Monday, Jan. 30 Heb 11:32-40 Mk 5:1-20 Tuesday, Jan. 31 St. John Bosco, priest Heb 12:1-4 Mk 5:21-43

Wednesday, Feb. 1 Heb 12:4-7, 11-15 Mk 6:1-6

Saturday, Feb. 4 Heb 13:15-17, 20-21 Mk 6:30-34

Tuesday, Feb. 7 Gn 1:20–2:4a Mk 7:1-13

Thursday, Feb. 2 Presentation of the Lord Mal 3:1-4 Heb 2:14-18 Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

Sunday, Feb. 5 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 58:7-10 1 Cor 2:1-5 Mt 5:13-16

Wednesday, Feb. 8 Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17 Mk 7:14-23

Friday, Feb. 3 Heb13:1-8 Mk 6:14-29

Monday, Feb. 6 St. Paul Miki and companions, martyrs Gn 1:1-19 Mk 6:53-56

SEEKING ANSWERS

Father Kenneth Doyle

Posture during Our Father; CatholicJewish wedding Q. A discussion that is common between the

more “orthodox” members of the parish and the more “progressive” ones is whether the faithful should use the “orans” posture during the Our Father. I remember being instructed several years ago that we were to start stretching out our hands while praying the Lord’s Prayer at Mass. I felt odd doing this at first but decided that I needed to follow along as instructed. Years later, I noticed that our nun and our deacon did not observe this. So, are we supposed to stretch out our hands when offering this prayer or not?

A. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is

quite concise on the issue, saying in its guidelines that “no position is prescribed in the Roman Missal for an assembly gesture during the Lord’s Prayer.” There is simply no “rule” or guideline.

Thursday, Feb. 9 Gn 2:18-25 Mk 7:24-30

Friday, Feb. 10 St. Scholastica, virgin Gn 3:1-8 Mk 7:31-37 Saturday, Feb. 11 Gn 3:9-24 Mk 8:1-10 Sunday, Feb. 12 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sir 15:15-20 1 Cor 2:6-10 Mt 5:17-37

It has become common in some congregations for the faithful to adopt the “orans” posture — with hands extended to the side and facing up or out. As you say, though, it has become common in some congregations for the faithful to adopt the “orans” posture — with hands extended to the side and facing up or out. The priest, by contrast, is directed specifically in the rubrics to adopt the “orans” posture during the Our Father. Some liturgists have pointed to this as a bit of an anomaly: Generally, the celebrant extends his hands during the parts of the Mass when he is praying aloud and alone, on behalf of the congregation; during the Our Father, he is praying not on behalf of the congregation but along with them — as in the Gloria and the Creed, when his hands are joined. Perhaps future liturgical guidelines will clarify this; in the meanwhile, though, I can’t imagine that it matters a lot to God.

Q. I am a Catholic woman who is planning to marry a Jewish man. He is uncomfortable with having a Catholic priest preside at the wedding, and he says this would be awkward for his family as well. Are there ways to have a “neutral” presider celebrate the service and still have the marriage recognized by the Catholic Church? (I have told my husband-to-be that my only “requirement” is that the wedding be seen as valid in the Church’s eyes.) Is this possible, and what would I need to do to make it happen?

A. Yes, in a situation like this a diocese is able to give permission ahead of time for a marriage ceremony to take place in a nonsectarian setting, witnessed by a civil official, and have that marriage be recognized by the Catholic Church. You and your fiancé should speak with a local priest to see that the proper paperwork is completed. But how about, instead, doing a joint religious ceremony that would highlight the role of God in a marriage and seek the Lord’s blessings? I have several times done such a wedding service together with a rabbi. Only one — either the rabbi or the priest — would be designated as the responsible civil official to receive a couple’s vows, but both the rabbi and the priest could offer prayers from their own traditions and appropriate blessings. (Two or three times, we have even used the chuppah, the traditional canopy under which Jewish couples pronounce their wedding vows accompanied by both sets of parents.) Father Doyle writes for Catholic News Service. A priest of the Diocese of Albany, New York, he previously served as director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Questions may be sent to askfatherdoyle@gmail.com and 30 Columbia Circle Drive, Albany, New York 12203.

16 • The Catholic Spirit

THIS CATHOLIC LIFE • COMMENTARY

FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA

Why me?

Jason Adkins

Catholics, it’s time to come to the Capitol This year, the bishops of Minnesota are hosting an exciting event in St. Paul March 9 called Catholics at the Capitol. With critical issues such as the legalization of assisted suicide and persistent family poverty at stake, Catholics concerned with life and human dignity cannot afford to miss it.

What’s it all about? Catholics at the Capitol is much more than a typical “Day on the Hill,” which provides advocacy opportunities but can lack opportunities for deeper formation. It is also more than a seminar or study day, which offers instruction but no clear way of translating it into action. Catholics at the Capitol takes the best of both approaches, gathering Minnesota Catholics together to be informed and inspired about our Church’s social teaching, and then providing them with an immediate opportunity to live that out in a powerful and concrete way. Through dynamic speakers, informative presentations, and an opportunity to join other Catholics to visit the Capitol and share with elected officials how Gospel values translate into public policy, Catholics at the Capitol attendees will walk away with more tools in their faithful citizenship toolbox. For Catholics who say that they don’t communicate with legislators because they don’t know what to say or do, Catholics at the Capitol is an opportunity to demystify legislative advocacy and experience it firsthand.

January 26, 2017

Catholics at the Capitol Thursday, March 9 • St. Paul 7 a.m. – Doors open at the RiverCentre 8 a.m. – Mass 9 a.m. – Morning program begins 1 p.m. – Legislative visits at the Capitol 4 p.m. – Final blessing and send off • Continental breakfast and boxed lunch included. • Ages 22 and under free. • Diocesan transportation available Information will be provided upon registration. • Tour the newly renovated State Capitol. For more information and to register, visit www.catholicsatthecapitol.org or call 651-227-8777.

Why now? Catholics at the Capitol was created first and foremost to protect life and human dignity. There are many challenges facing our state. The push to legalize assisted suicide threatens the vulnerable, many kids lack true educational choices and opportunities, and too many families are trapped in a cycle of poverty. These are just a few of the many difficult policy decisions facing Minnesota. Catholics at the Capitol will give Minnesota Catholics an easy, yet effective, way to weigh in on these matters. But beyond simply influencing important legislative decisions, the bishops of Minnesota hope Catholics at the Capitol fosters a renewed commitment to missionary discipleship through faithful citizenship, where we work in service to those at the peripheries of society. It’s an investment to help Minnesota Catholics obtain the tools and build the relationships to work for the common good in our corner of the vineyard.

You are called to love your neighbor. And, as Pope Francis reminds us, politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it serves the common good. In fact, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. As the U.S. bishops state in “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” “The obligation to participate in political life is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. ... As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life” (1913-1915).

Does all this really make a difference? Your legislators are elected to serve you, their constituents. It’s their job to find out what your concerns are and do their best to represent you in St. Paul. But you can help by approaching them and identifying challenges and solutions that work to benefit all Minnesotans. Whether or not you’ve spoken to your legislators before, they’ll be happy to meet you and hear your concerns. Meeting your lawmakers in person at Catholics at the Capitol is a great way to start a relationship with them so that the next time you get in touch (for instance, in the middle of the legislative session with a critical vote on a key issue coming up), a connection has already been established. What’s more, Catholics at the Capitol will offer programming that will inform you about the key issues and equip you to influence your lawmakers. We’ll make sure you have an enjoyable and impactful visit to the Capitol. And be not afraid — unless you are a district leader or feel passionate to speak about one of our advocacy issues, you need not speak during meetings. Your presence alone speaks volumes. This is our moment. Let’s go. Adkins is executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

LETTERS

Safe place for all kids This month, a new mother, certainly experiencing despair and stress beyond imagination, chose to bring her newborn son to the Cathedral of St. Paul, hoping for a better life for her baby. As I read the news reports, I was grateful for the responses of all concerned. All things considered, many would consider this a miracle. And indeed it is, but it is also yet another sign that the Catholic Church is making progress in putting its recent horrific past behind it and regaining its place as a beacon of hope in our world. I was a member of the task force appointed in 2013 to look at policies and procedures in place in this archdiocese that generally relate to the safe environment offered to those entrusted to our care. While it now seems like ancient history, it is forever seared in my memory. Some of the facts about clergy sexual abuse were horrific and continue to be, for me, unimaginable. The task force issued a report, and the archdiocese accepted it and began the arduous task of implementation. By all accounts, the professionals monitoring the performance believe great strides have been taken. But I wonder if the action of one distraught mother on a bitterly cold winter day in Minnesota isn’t also a sign that progress is being made? As I see it, she brought the most important person in her life to what she knew was a safe place. She expressed faith and confidence in that big Cathedral, probably said a prayer to God to ask for protection for her son, and did the only thing she could do. It turned out it was a safe place because of the efforts of everyone involved. We have taken huge steps and all recognize that more work lies ahead, but I think it is also a sign that the

Catholic Church itself is making progress, and for that I am truly grateful. Brian Short Assumption, St. Paul

Explaining God as father I never like writing these kinds of criticisms, but I had an issue with the response of Father [Kenneth] Doyle in the recent Dec. 22 issue of The Catholic Spirit (“Seeking Answers” on addressing God with a masculine pronoun). It rightly quoted the Catechism on how God transcends gender, but then it neglected to provide any clarity on why we call God “Father” and thus use masculine pronouns in the liturgy. And then he even said, “It is best to stick with the responses given in the Roman Missal and hope that the liturgical translators eventually catch up with the Church’s theology.” There’s a great deal that I would like to say in response to that, but I’d just like to point out a couple of things: First, Jesus revealed God as father, and so the way we address him is based on Jesus’ own intimate relationship with the father. While the Bible ascribes feminine characteristics occasionally to God, it does so in the same way that it ascribes them to other human figures. For example, Moses asks, “Have I given birth to this people?” (Num. 11:12) and St. Paul writes, “My little children, for whom I am again in the pain of childbirth” (Gal. 4:19). But while it likewise uses motherly imagery in a metaphorical way for God, not once is he actually addressed as mother or referred to with feminine pronouns. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “Christians think that God himself has taught us how to speak of him. To say that it does not matter is to say

either that all the masculine imagery is not inspired, is merely human origin, or else that, though inspired, it is quite arbitrary and unessential. And this is surely intolerable; or, if tolerable, it is an argument not in favor of Christian priestesses but against Christianity.” Secondly, God’s fatherhood has to do with his transcendence, that he is the origin of all things. It’s no surprise that Judaism never used “she” for God, which was not uncommon in pantheistic and pagan religions, because Judaism was the first to have a word for create (“bara”), and thus the notion of a God that is utterly transcendent. While God is also immanent, it is his transcendence which is most particular to God. My main concern is that the faithful will be confused into thinking that somehow calling God “father” and “he” is just the product of male chauvinism, which couldn’t be further from the truth, especially considering that God’s fatherhood means that we, in a certain sense, come to God as his bride, just as the Holy Spirit is masculine and the soul is considered feminine (in the cosmic principles of masculinity and femininity, not in terms of maleness and femaleness). I would appreciate hearing some clarification. Father Joe Kuharski St. Stephen, Anoka Editor’s note: Father Kenneth Doyle declined to respond officially, but said in an email that he agreed with some of Father Kuharski’s points and that the letter “does broaden people’s understanding.” Share your perspective by emailing CatholicSpirit@ The Commentary page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. archspm.org.

THIS CATHOLIC LIFE • COMMENTARY

January 26, 2017

The Catholic Spirit • 17

THE LOCAL CHURCH

While local Planned Parenthood clinics are seeing an enormous spike in monetary donations, our pregnancy resource centers are lacking.

Bridget Kelly

Help your local pregnancy center Every day I am bombarded with pro-abortion propaganda. Planned Parenthood spares no expense when it comes to advertising. However, ever since Donald Trump was elected president and defunding Planned Parenthood became a real possibility, the propaganda is increasing and coming from new sources. Celebrities, who have always been vocal about their support for Planned Parenthood, are making large donations to the organization. Some have gone so far as to organize a “Love-a-thon” that promoted donations to Planned Parenthood during the presidential inauguration (similar to any charity telethon). This month a small print shop in New Mexico created a tote bag honoring Planned Parenthood and the health care services it claims to provide to women and families. The bags sold for $15 each and 100 percent of the proceeds went directly to Planned Parenthood; $20,000 was raised in three days. In addition to the numerous monetary donations — Planned Parenthoods in Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas have seen an uptick of 300 percent in donations since the election — my social media newsfeeds have been plagued with posts, infographics, desperate pleas and angry rants. Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards leads the feminist fear mongering: “If Planned Parenthood gets defunded, women will die!” Of course, any rational individual knows this to be false, and that actual, medical, health care for women and families is hardly Planned Parenthood’s priority. If defunded, Planned Parenthood would not be immediately forced to close all 700 of its facilities, and even if it did, 13,000 federally qualified health centers would still remain. So no, women will not die if Planned Parenthood is defunded. There are other

CATHOLIC WATCHMEN Brad Parent

Forgiveness with a smile The heat in the gym was oppressive. The boiler in the building had just been fired up for the winter, but the ventilation wasn’t working properly, turning the gym into a sauna. I was hot, sweaty and annoyed. So I propped open a door. A few minutes later a security guard came in. I had seen him before working at the security desk, but had never talked to him. He walked around the gym, made sure everything was OK, and politely asked if I knew who had propped the door open. “I did,” I snipped defiantly. “I’m sorry, you can’t do that. We need to keep it secure,” he replied. “It’s too hot in here,” I said, annoyed. “I know, man, we have the HVAC guys working on it. But we need to keep the door closed.” I rolled my eyes and walked away. Needless to say this wasn’t my proudest moment. Later as I showered and changed, I realized how immature and self-centered I had been. Sure, it was a

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit clinics and centers where women can receive health care. Herein lies the problem for pro-life activists. We do not have the means to compete with Planned Parenthood’s advertisements. As it presently stands, its propaganda is already hardwired into the brains of millennials and the current youth. How can we, a minority, let our voices be heard? How could we ever hope to be heard over the shouting of Planned Parenthood and its supporters? As with all attempts at change, it starts at home. A local pregnancy resource center, Wakota Life Care Center in West St. Paul, recently announced its affiliation with The Guiding Star Project. A Guiding Star Center is the antithesis of Planned Parenthood. Where Planned Parenthood boasts of its health care for women and families, despite its emphasis and focus on abortion and contraceptives, Guiding Star centers will actually provide holistic, life-affirming health care for women and families. At Guiding Star, the health care services will curtail the overbearing influence of the abortion industry. Last year, Wakota Life Care Center saw 430 new clients and had 2,441 total visits — 2,001 of which were for material assistance, 367 for pregnancy tests, 129 for ultrasounds and 153 for prenatal checkups. However, as wonderful as The Guiding Star Project is, its centers are newly established and do not receive

Maybe it has been a little longer than you’d like to admit since you’ve been to confession. Jesus is still waiting. And he still wants nothing more than to forgive you. little warm. But that doesn’t give me the right to be rude and show a complete lack of respect for another person. Before going back to my office, I did the only thing I could think of to try to make things right. I stopped by the security desk where the man I had snapped at a few minutes ago was sitting. “Hey, man, I was a real jerk to you earlier. I’m sorry,” I said sheepishly. His face curled into a smile. I continued, “You were just doing your job, making sure everything is safe. I know it’s not your fault, but I took it out on you, and I shouldn’t have.” “Ahhh, don’t worry about it. No big deal,” he said. He reached out to shake my hand and asked what my name was. “Brad,” I replied. “Brad, I’m Ron. Thanks for stopping by.” And just like that, Ron and I were good.

anywhere near the amount of funding as Planned Parenthood’s centers. While local Planned Parenthood clinics are seeing an enormous spike in monetary donations, our pregnancy resource centers are lacking. If we truly wish for Planned Parenthood to be defunded, we need to do our part. We need to help people realize that Planned Parenthood is not the only source of health care for women. We need people to know that equivalent and federally qualified health centers do exist and can exist. Guiding Star Centers can do everything that Planned Parenthood does — without the abortion and contraceptive components. But they cannot do it alone. The Guiding Star Project and local pregnancy resource centers need our financial support. If you cannot make a financial donation, contact the center nearest you to see how else you can help. They may need volunteers, donations of your gently used baby/ maternity clothing and equipment, and they certainly need your prayers. You can personally be a part of this positive movement and help it grow. Kelly is a parishioner of St. Joseph in West St. Paul and a Wakota Life Care Center volunteer. The Local Church column features the views of Catholics across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

It’s amazing that such a small thing, simply stopping to admit I was wrong and apologize, was all Ron needed to forgive me with a smile. We now have a better relationship than we did before. Our relationship with Jesus is no different. Try as we might, we all fall short and sin, probably more often than we’d like to admit. When we do, we damage our relationship with Jesus. The good news is that he is longing to be reconciled with us. He wants nothing more than to pour out his mercy on us and wipe away our sin as if it had never happened. All we have to do is ask with sincere hearts. Jesus is literally waiting for us, acting through his priests. He is sitting in confessionals all over the archdiocese, waiting, hoping, longing for us to simply ask for his mercy. Maybe it has been a little longer than you’d like to admit since you’ve been to confession. Jesus is still waiting. And he still wants nothing more than to forgive you. Imagine if I had ignored Ron because I was ashamed of how I had acted. Every time I walked past him there would be an unspoken tension because of how I had wronged him. Even though he might have wanted to forgive me, he couldn’t do anything to change that unless I apologized. The same is true with Jesus, and when we fail to ask forgiveness we are putting a barrier between ourselves and him. Give him a chance to take down that barrier, and you might just see a smile curl across his face, just like Ron. Parent is a consulting actuary and parishioner of St. Mark in St. Paul.

18 • The Catholic Spirit

CALENDAR

Dining out

Retreats

CALENDAR submissions

Pancake and sausage breakfast for Holy Cross School — Jan. 29: 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at 6100 37th St. W., Webster. www.holycrossschool.net.

Music Free symphony concert — Jan. 29: 3 p.m. at 10 Hall Ave., St. Paul. St. Matthew hosts a free concert by the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. www.st-matts.org.

Ongoing groups Faithful Spouses support group — Third Tuesday of each month: 7–8:30 p.m. in Smith Hall of the Hayden Building, 328 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul. For those who are living apart from their spouses because of separation or divorce. 651-291-4438 or faithfulspouses@archspm.org. Career Transition group meeting — Third Thursday of each month: 7:30 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Medina. www.hnoj.org/career-transition-group. Dementia Support Group — Second Tuesday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org. CARITAS cancer support group — Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.–noon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, second floor, maternity classroom 2500, 45 W. 10th St., St. Paul.

Parish events Christian Muslim Conversation — Jan. 26: 7–9 p.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane N., Maple Grove. Farmington KC’s spaghetti bingo — Jan. 28: 5:45–9 p.m. at 22120 Denmark Ave., Farmington. Alpha at Guardian Angels — Tuesdays, Jan. 31-Apr. 4: 6:30–8:45 p.m. at 218 W. Second St., Chaska. www.gachaska.org.

Prayer/worship Taize Prayer — Third Friday of each month: 7 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery,

St. Joseph men’s retreat — Jan. 27-28 at 1154 Seminole Ave., West St. Paul. www.churchofstjoseph.org/mens-ministry.

DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur.

Ad Altare Dei Retreat for scouts — Jan. 27-29 and March 3-5 at Stearns Scout Camp. 612-819-5942, aademblemretreat@gmail.com or 2016aademblemretreat.eventbrite.com.

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.

Women’s winter retreat — Jan. 28: 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at Transfiguration Church, 6133 15th St. N., Oakdale. www.transfigurationmn.org/womensretreat. Encountering God in Everyday Life — Feb. 3-4, March 3-4, April 7-8 and May 5-6: 5–6 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. www.stpaulsmonastery.org.

ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event

Schools

• Full street address of event

Spaghetti dinner and book fair at Immaculate Conception — Jan. 27: 4–7 p.m. at 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights. www.iccsonline.org.

• Description of event • C ontact information in case of questions. (No attachments, please.)

Tour Sunday at Notre Dame Academy — Jan. 29: 9 a.m.– noon at 13505 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. 952-358-3500 or www.nda-mn.org.

FAX: 651-291-4460

A note to readers

Immaculate Conception All School Open House and Preschool/Kindergarten Welcome Night — Feb. 1: 5–7 p.m. at 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights. www.iccsonline.org.

The Catholic Spirit does not accept calendar submissions via email. Please submit events using the form at www.thecatholicspirit.com/calendarsubmissions.

Notre Dame Academy pre-K and kindergarten information night — Feb. 2: 6 p.m. at 13505 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. 952-358-3500 or www.nda-mn.org.

MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102

St. Charles Borromeo preschool open house — Feb. 16: 6:30 p.m. at 2727 Stinson Blvd., St. Anthony. 612-781-2643 or www.stchbschool.org.

More online

Singles

2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org. Pro-Life Memorial Mass — Jan. 27: 6 p.m. at St. Charles Borromeo, 2739 Stinson Blvd. NE, St. Anthony. Join Prolife Across America for a Memorial Mass commemorating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade. karidomeyer@gmail.com.

Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. Kay at 651-426-3103 or Al at 651-482-0406.

January 26, 2017 Conferences/seminars/ workshops Well-Read Mom gathering for women — Jan. 28: 1–5 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul. www.wellreadmom.com/events. CCRO Winter Teaching Conference — Feb. 4: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. at 1900 111th Ave. NW, Coon Rapids. www.ccro-msp.org. Writing Against the Wind — Feb. 6: 7–9 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org. Preaching the Gospel with our Lives — Feb. 9: 7–9 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org.

Young adults Cathedral Young Adults Theology on Tap — Wednesdays through Feb. 22: 6:30 p.m. at O’Gara’s, 164 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul. www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/cya.

Other events Discussion: How to Age with Dignity — Feb. 2: 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org. Father Gregory Welch’s 50th anniversary (Feb. 18) Mass and reception — Feb. 19: 11 a.m. at St. Patrick, 6820 St. Patrick’s Lane, Edina. Art exhibit: Seeing God — Jan. 25-March 3: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org. Women with Spirit Bible Study — Through April 4: Tuesdays, 9:30–11:30 a.m. at Pax Christi, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie. www.paxchristi.com/wws.

Singles group at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — ongoing second Saturday each month: 6:15 p.m. at 9100 93rd Ave. N. Gather for a potluck supper, conversation and games. 763-425-0412.

Prices starting at $2,499 ~ with Airfare Included in this price from anywhere in the USA

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Is your mailbox missing out?

January 12, 2017

Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

ld’ : ‘I’d adopt him if I cou Cathedral custodian being Newborn safe after ral Jan. 4 abandoned at Cathed

Did you know that most of The Catholic Spirit readers receive free subscriptions through their parishes?

Nathan Leonhardt, a custodian at the Cathedral of St. Paul who found a newborn there Jan. 4, crouches in the spot where he discovered the baby in a laundry basket. Dave Hrbacek/ The Catholic Spirit

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

custodian Nathan athedral of St. Paul his typical evening Leonhardt was doing Mass Jan. 4 when he 5:15 to rounds following double door leading pushed open a tall exit. the Dayton Avenue laundry a round, green plastic The door bumped Leonhardt the foyer’s landing. homeless men basket sitting on be someone’s laundry; somebody thought it might Maybe visit the church. they prayed, he and women often and left it there while felt embarrassed of steps thought. down a short flight The 26-year-old walkedand climbed the stairs again. exit, Teenage to lock the exterior basket — a fleece-tied felt around He looked in the blanket. He gingerly in there,” and Mutant Ninja Turtles sure nothing was the blanket to “make clothes. He decided to finish just the basket was still thought it was later to make sure check and up locking a noise. gone. Then he heard he A small cry. the sound. A puppy? He paused, processing 4-year-old, he was familiar of a thought. The father But it couldn’t be ... . cry. with a newborn’s back. He pulled the blanket with A baby. face. He was naked little his saw Leonhardt first cord cut short head, his umbilical a little fuzz on his He was still a black binder clip. and clamped with from birth. blood and mucus covered with wet in the small an awkward position baby was The baby was in The t picked him up. basket, so Leonhard a purple tinge. The had feet and zero, and the warm, but his hands hovered just above interior. temperature outside as warm as the Cathedral its marble entryway wasn’t known to freeze in Holy water has been

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Watch Leonhardt describe finding the newborn at com/ www.facebook. ThecaTholicSpiriT

water.” e bound them. “It’s baptismal behind them. baby was in an ambulanc Ubel locking the door Father By 6:30 p.m., the in St. Paul, where of the baby to the sacristy, exactly what to make for Children’s Hospital They didn’t know later visited. Ubel said. newborn, and He situation, Father to be able to see the was the baby’s health. He didn’t expect and concern for The priest’s first concern the baby looked fine, but to show support that he didn’t, but wanted to connect with a social worker, told the 911 dispatcher out of his wheelhouse. He able was the baby. He was Child Protective baby, County the he made it clear he baptize Ramsey to if he should of placing who pointed him n about the process wondered for a moment he must. Services for informatio Police later told him that the and then realized Mass, he baptized with a family. and the cruet used at He named the baby With water from born slightly premature at the Leonhardt the godfather. baby may have been doing well the infant, making 5 pounds. He was weighed around him Nathan John. expecting that. hospital. he said. Leonhardt wasn’t melted my heart,” t left the “I was shocked. That sion for baby’s mother the baby while Leonhard Compas held Ubel Dayton Father to the indicate his with the baby to see if police had come Nothing was left women’s hooded sacristy check to blanket, a thin gray the the save Neither sacristy origins, socks. entrance. heavy ’s rector. fonts. Ubel opened the couple of adult-size Ubel, the Cathedral that would sweatshirt and a Three times Father Selby Avenue, Avenue has cameras He called Father John There’s a baby here,” Father police arriving on away. Cathedral nor Dayton or the identity of door to look for the cold. “Get over here right the baby was left baby cried at the indicate the time saying. and each time the you’ve got to him. Ubel recalled him for dinner, this is Minnesota, the person who left had just sat down “I’m like, ‘C’mon, on page 5 of chili. He Father Ubel, who he said with a laugh. wet. abandoning a bowl 6:02 p.m. Please turn to NEWBORN get used to this,”’ noted his head was they was bolted from the table, It came, coat. his police When the putting on said he told Chapel near dialed 911 before that,” Father Ubel t at the Sacred Heart “Well, I can explain He met Leonhard moved the and the pair quickly the Dayton entrance,

ALSO inside

Language barrier

Class act

Thomas’ first The University of St. to earn a lay Spanish-speaking class in theology graduated ministry certificate in December.

spent Christmas with A priest from Thailand community, hearing the Twin Cities’ Hmong who only speak their the confessions of those native language.

— Page 6

Call us 24/7 508-340-9370 or 855-842-8001 www.proximotravel.com anthony@proximotravel.com (Hablamos Español)

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woman An encounter with a continues to inspire her mind about abortion and sidewalk counselor. a St. Kate’s student — Page 12

— Page 5

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January 26, 2017 The Catholic Spirit • 19 JRLC continued from page 14 from across Minnesota and learn about what issues and concerns are going on in their communities and what they’re doing to raise awareness.” JRLC’s legislative priorities include increasing funding for the Minnesota Family Investment Program, which provides temporary cash assistance to low-income families; 70 percent of recipients are children. There hasn’t been an increase in 30 years. The Minnesota Catholic Conference has also made MFIP funding a priority. JRLC will also work to remove the marriage disincentive for families on MFIP. Often, marriage makes recipients ineligible for benefits because they’re likely to reach the $24,000 eligibility limit with their spouse’s income. A proposed bill would create an 18-month grace period after marriage when the spouse’s income wouldn’t count in determining eligibility, giving families time to plan ahead. “We know that marriage is good for kids, it makes stable families, [and people are] more likely to stay together. Once everyone is working, you have two incomes, and emotional and financial support,” Krisnik said.

A third priority is to provide tax relief for low-income working Minnesotans. Jason Adkins, the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s executive director, said that a Catholic executive director for JRLC is helpful because Catholic social teaching provides an ethical framework for thinking and speaking about complex policy questions. One of the most rewarding aspects of JRLC is the board’s “deliberative process in seeking to foster common ground” and where members “build friendships rooted in their shared desire to ensure the dignity of all persons and strengthen the common good,”Adkins said. As interfaith partners representing 80 percent of the faith community in Minnesota, the organization highlights particular issues and gives them a sense of urgency, Adkins noted. “Through efforts like JRLC, the faith community shows it is a resource to our state and legislature, acting as its conscience rather than like a special interest or pressure group,” he said. “When we do our job well, we elevate the debate and hopefully model what politics ought to look like: civil discourse between friends. And that is an important contribution to our public life.”

It’s coming! The 2017 Catholic Spirit Fish Fry Guide – a comprehensive list of parish Lenten meals in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Get it in our Feb. 23 issue. To advertise, contact Dick Martens at (651) 251-7717 or Chris Pierskalla at (651) 251-7714

God listens to all prayers, even angry ones, pope says Catholic News Service God “likes to argue with us,” especially when it is difficult to accept his will, Pope Francis said. “Even this is a prayer! He likes it when you get angry and tell him what you feel to his face because he is a father,” the pope said Jan. 24 during Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae. The day’s first reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews, said that Christ came in to the world saying, “Behold, I come to do your will, O God.” Jesus’ “Here I am” to God, the pope said, echoes the words of important figures — such as Moses, Abraham, Elijah and Mary — who throughout the entire

history of salvation expressed their willingness and submission to God’s will. “This is Christian life: a ‘Here I am,’ a continuous ‘Here I am’ of doing the Lord’s will, one after the other,” the pope said. “It is beautiful to read Scripture, the Bible, to look for people’s answer to the Lord, how they responded.” Some biblical figures, like Adam and Jonah, are examples that can help Christians reflect on whether they truly accept God’s will in their lives or “pretend to do the Lord’s will but only externally.” People should ask themselves, “Do I hide” like Adam did? “Do I run away? Do I pretend? Or do I look the other way?” Pope Francis said.

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20 • The Catholic Spirit

THE LAST WORD

January 26, 2017

Catholic Schools Week Jan. 29–Feb. 4

Fifth-grade teacher Becca Reinhardt helps her brother Sam during class at Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Sister act

Teacher excited to have younger brother in class By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

ifth-graders in teacher Becca Reinhardt’s class at Holy Family Academy in St. Louis Park were asked if she shows favoritism to one particular student, Sam. “Yes,” one boy loudly exclaimed. “No,” others said. “She favors all of us,” still another student said. In the end, the vote appeared split. It was an important question. Sam is Becca’s younger brother. Uncommon in any school, Becca, 24, saw it coming when she was hired three years ago as a fifth-grade teacher. Sam was in third grade at the time. “It’s definitely one of the first things that crossed my mind [after getting hired],” she said. “Like, ‘Oh man, if I stay here for three years, I could teach Sam.’” That was a definite plus for her, since Holy Family “was pretty much my dream school,” she said, noting the good experiences her other siblings had there, plus her positive impression of the way the school forms students in the Catholic faith. A 2014 graduate of Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, with a degree in elementary education, Becca applied for openings in both fifth and second grade, and she was leaning

toward second grade. Fifth grade was the position offered, and she eagerly accepted. Becca grew up attending Holy Family parish, where she is still a member. Holy Family Academy opened in 1958 but closed in 1991 after enrollment declined. It reopened in 2001. Becca was a student at Visitation School in south Minneapolis, which closed in 2008. She narrowly missed teaching her brother, Drew, who was in sixth grade when she started. That left only Sam as a possibility, as he was the youngest of Jim and Nadine Reinhardt’s 10 children. Becca is No. 4. “I was really excited for it [teaching Sam],” Becca said. “He and I have always been buddies. I think my mom can attest to this. When he was a baby, he favored me for a long time. ... So, when I was thinking about teaching him, I knew that we already had a good relationship.” She also knew that the relationship would have to change, not only for his sake, but also for the sake of the other 23 students in the class, who likely would be watching closely to see if Sam would get special treatment. “Because I had a good enough relationship with him, I wasn’t worried,” she said. “I specifically sat him down at the end of last year and said, ‘Sam, I’m really excited to be

your teacher and I’m really excited that you’re going to be in my class, but our relationship is going to need to be a little different at school than it is at home. So, be aware of that.’” Sam was good with it then, and is good with it now. “I see how she treats everyone else, and she seems to treat me the same way,” he said, explaining why he doesn’t think she favors him. “She’s a good teacher.” Principal Jim Grogan agrees. “She’s very giving, she’s very spiritual,” he said. “I didn’t have any concerns at all about her teaching her brother. I knew she was a professional and I wouldn’t have to worry about her showing favoritism. On the flip side of it, Sam is a really easygoing, low maintenance kid. He just loves learning, and he wouldn’t ever try to take advantage of the fact that his sister was the teacher.” If anything, Becca noted, she may be a little tougher on Sam than on the other students. That serves to keep him on his toes. Plus, she has an added bit of big sister leverage: “I hear a lot more about what he does at home because of my mom,” Becca said, “so I’ll know if he doesn’t do his homework.”