The Catholic Spirit - July 11, 2024

PAGETWO

NEWS notes

As part of the implementation of his pastoral letter “You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent from the Upper Room,” Archbishop Bernard Hebda has convoked the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Third Synod, which began June 29 and culminates in a Synod Assembly to be held on the vigil of Pentecost, June 7, 2025. In his decree, the archbishop stated he has called for the constitution of a Preparatory Commission, which will oversee the Synod Assembly process and will prepare the needed materials. Those who participated in the 2022 Synod Assembly — including members of the clergy, laity and other religious — will be invited to participate in the 2025 assembly as will others recommended by the Preparatory Commission.

ZACH JANSEN | OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

RURAL THANKSGIVING The congregation celebrates Mass with Bishop Joseph Williams during this year’s Rural Life Sunday celebration June 23 on Father Michael Miller’s “Taste of Heaven” farm in New Prague. In addition to Mass, the day included lunch, farm activities and music. Polka music, children’s activities, games and a petting zoo were also part of the day. The celebration was sponsored by Catholic Rural Life, a national organization that supports farmers and rural pastors. Bishop Williams, coadjutor bishop of Camden, New Jersey, was most recently auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

ULTRASOUND BLESSING Archbishop Bernard Hebda, right, stands with Nurse Sonographer Ann O’Toole, left, and Nurse Manager Katie Nesser at Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley June 26. Archbishop Hebda came to bless the pregnancy resource center’s new ultrasound machine, made possible by the Knights of Columbus. Members of the Knights presented a check for $56,000 that day for the machine. Six individual councils, the Fourth Degree Assembly, and one Ladies Auxiliary to the Knights of Columbus in Lakeville worked together over several months to raise money.

ON THE COVER From left, Helen Yang and her sister Charlotte listen to Archbishop Bernard Hebda during the closing Mass June 23 for the Hmong Catholic community at St. Vincent de Paul in St. Paul. The congregation is joining Presentation of Mary in Maplewood, which has a Hmong pastor, Father Toulee Peter Ly, who grew up attending St. Vincent de Paul. Yang said her family plans to become part of Presentation, though it will be difficult leaving the St. Vincent de Paul campus. “I can feel the sadness,” said Yang, 18, who recently graduated from high school and plans to attend college in Georgia this fall. “But we’re still happy that we’re going to have our (Hmong) community.”

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

PRACTICING Catholic

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the July 7 “Practicing Catholic” radio show included discussions with Jim Weiland, a parishioner of Sts. Joachim and Anne in Shakopee, about founding a youth summer sports camp known as 4HG (For His Glory), and Leah Heselton, the operations coordinator for the archdiocese’s Office of Communications, and her summer reading recommendations. The program also included a classic “Practicing Catholic” conversation with Sara and Paul Fried, farm managers at Lake City Catholic Worker Farm, and how their produce connects them with God and the land. Listen to interviews after they have aired at archspm org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.

The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 29 — No. 13

MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher

TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher

JOE RUFF, Editor-in-Chief

REBECCA OMASTIAK, News Editor

Work on a new church for the St. Katharine Drexel parish in Ramsey is continuing to move forward; a groundbreaking ceremony took place June 21. After the parish sold 18 of over 33 acres it had acquired through a donation, 15 acres were left for a church construction site. “Thank you to everyone who came to the ceremonial groundbreaking,” a post to the parish’s social media stated, in part. “It was a wonderful celebration and milestone for our St. Katharine Drexel community.” Next steps in the building process include water and sewer main work, excavation for footings, concrete footings, pond excavation and precast installation, according to the parish.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis warmly welcomed Pope Francis’ June 25 appointment of Father Scott Bullock as bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota. “I have admired him since our time as seminarians together, more than 35 years ago. I know that he brings to our Province great priestly zeal and a wealth of ministerial experience, gained over his decades of selfless service in the Archdiocese of Dubuque,” Archbishop Hebda said, in part. “I know that the new bishop will find the Diocese of Rapid City to be a vibrant faith community, and I look forward to collaborating with him in the years to come.” Bishopdesignate Bullock, 60, succeeds the late Bishop Peter Muhich, who died Feb. 17 at age 62 shortly after entering hospice care, according to OSV News. Bishop-designate Bullock’s episcopal ordination and installation is set for Sept. 23.

On June 15, the Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys’ lacrosse team defeated Lakeville North 18-10 to win the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class A State title, making it the third state championship for the St. Louis Park school in four years. “Congratulations to our Red Knights on an amazing season,” a post to Benilde-St. Margaret’s social media said. “We are #BSMproud of their achievements on and off the field.” Named to the All-Tournament team were seniors Gus Bell, Sky Rold, Axel Esco and Riley Murphy. Additionally, Bell won the #9 Leadership Award and was named Mr. Lacrosse for the state of Minnesota.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s boys’ golf team won the school’s first boys’ golf state title by one shot over Waconia. Patrick Hastings, a sophomore at BSM, sank a 20-foot putt in the MSHSL Class 3AAA tournament, securing the title for the school. “The highlight of winning the state title was celebrating with my team on the last green,” Hastings said on the BSM website. “The main catalyst for our team was perseverance and overcoming the struggles we had earlier this season. For our team, no matter how bad anyone plays, they’re always willing to support you and cheer you on.” Additionally, the team won its section’s academic conference award with a combined GPA of 3.866.

On June 29, the Totino-Grace High School baseball team in Fridley won the MSHSL Class AAA state championship for the first time in school history by defeating Mahtomedi 2-1 at Target Field. “The amount of love, support, and kind words about these hard-working coaches and men has been astounding,” a post to the high school’s social media said. “We aren’t surprised but so grateful everyone else recognizes it too. Amazing job, Eagles.”

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is nearly ready to celebrate its 175th anniversary. The archdiocese is preparing plans to honor the anniversary publicly with a special commemorative history and photobook, graphic novel and a calendar spotlighting the people, parishes, Catholic schools and Catholic entities since 1850. The calendar will be ready in the fall and will be available through parishes. The illustrated history book and graphic novel are currently in production. The book will be over 400 pages and will be available through parishes in early 2025.

As Minnesota faced heavy rains and flooding in areas across the state, the Dunrovin Christian Retreat Center on the St. Croix River averted severe damage because the center’s dike held back the high waters. According to Rae Wood, the director of mission advancement at Dunrovin, prior to the rainfall that caused the flooding, members of the retreat center’s youth program were tasked with a service project to reinforce the dike. Wood said the damage to the center would have been worse without this project. “It’s something that they knew needed to be done earlier in the summer and it really was a providential experience because it was prior to any of the water rising,” Wood said. “They regularly will do projects like this either with our youth programming or we have a pretty robust, dedicated group of volunteers that will do service stays alongside with our staff ... That’s kind of a goal to keep it (the property) well maintained and to think ahead, knowing that you never know what life might throw at you.” Some trails at the retreat center were flooded and the lake on the 50-acre property effectively merged with the St. Croix River, disrupting some outdoor activities planned for summer guests.

COURTESY PREGNANCY CHOICES

FROMTHEVICARGENERAL

ONLY JESUS | FATHER CHARLES LACHOWITZER

Anything about everything

In my hands is a tool that I can use to look up anything about everything.

This unprecedented access to a whole world of information has indisputably changed the whole world. The Greeks of B.C. — no not British Columbia, but rather before 0 A.D. — knew that our greatest attributes are our tragic flaws. In other words, dump the separate lists of strengths and weaknesses. In the list of our strengths will be our weaknesses. And in the list of our weaknesses, by the grace of God, will be our strengths.

I was a speech class dropout in high school. In college, the professor for the mandatory public speaking class told me not to go into a profession that required public speaking. I don’t know whether my trembling knees or facial tics confirmed his opinion. That I would be today a good preacher and publicly proclaim the mysteries of faith in a variety of sacramental celebrations for hundreds and even thousands of people, is my example of finding strength in my weakness, by the grace of God.

The same is true with today’s technological achievements. They are truly among the greatest attributes of the world and tragic flaws in the

Cualquier cosa sobre todo

En mis manos hay una herramienta que puedo usar para buscar cualquier cosa sobre todo. Este acceso sin precedentes a todo un mundo de información ha cambiado indiscutiblemente el mundo entero. Los griegos de B.C. (no, no en Columbia Británica, pero antes del año 0 d.C.) sabíamos que nuestros mayores atributos son nuestros trágicos defectos. En otras palabras, deseche el separado listas de fortalezas y debilidades. En la lista de nuestras fortalezas estarán nuestras debilidades. Y en la lista de nuestras debilidades, por la gracia de Dios, estarán nuestras fortalezas. Yo abandoné la clase de oratoria en la escuela secundaria. En la universidad, el profesor de la clase obligatoria de oratoria me dijo que no dedicara una profesión que requiriera hablar en público. No sé si mis rodillas temblorosas o mis tics faciales confirmaron su opinión. Que hoy sea un buen predicador y proclame públicamente los misterios de la fe en una variedad de celebraciones sacramentales para cientos e incluso miles de personas, es mi ejemplo de encontrar fuerza en mi debilidad, por la gracia de Dios. Lo mismo ocurre con los logros tecnológicos actuales. Se encuentran verdaderamente entre los mayores

world. Over a century ago, our world was changed dramatically with inventions such as trains, planes and automobiles; the telegraph, the telephone and television. Today, the life-changing inventions are the internet, cellphones and artificial intelligence. We are figuratively the astronauts of cyberspace. There are many ways this has changed our lives for the better. Yet the flaw is a growing isolation, misinformation and a vulnerability to predatory manipulation. The internet may be the window to the world, but the eyes are still the window to the soul. We need face time even more than we need Facebook.

As part of the great gift of technology, the internet can be a tool for evangelization, devotion and social outreach to those most in need. Fortunately, we have a wonderful example of using technology for the good of our faith and Church. Recently, many in the world welcomed the news that Blessed Carlo Acutis was on the path to sainthood. Nicknamed “God’s influencer,” the young Blessed Carlo used the internet to create a website that documented Eucharistic miracles and the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to Mary inspired people throughout his home country of Italy and far beyond.

Nevertheless, we do need to balance our face time

atributos del mundo y entre los defectos trágicos del mundo. Hace más de un siglo, nuestro mundo cambió drásticamente con inventos como los trenes, los aviones y los automóviles; el telégrafo, el teléfono y la televisión. Hoy en día, los inventos que cambian vidas son Internet, los teléfonos móviles y la inteligencia artificial. En sentido figurado somos los astronautas del ciberespacio. Hay muchas maneras en que esto ha cambiado nuestras vidas para mejor. Sin embargo, el defecto es un creciente aislamiento, desinformación y vulnerabilidad a la manipulación depredadora. Puede que Internet sea la ventana al mundo, pero los ojos siguen siendo la ventana al alma. Necesitamos tiempo cara a cara incluso más que Facebook.

Como parte del gran don de la tecnología, Internet puede ser una herramienta de evangelización, devoción y acercamiento social a los más necesitados. Afortunadamente, tenemos un ejemplo maravilloso del uso de la tecnología para el bien de nuestra fe y de la Iglesia. Recientemente, muchos en el mundo acogieron con agrado la noticia de que el Beato Carlo Acutis estaba en camino a la santidad. Apodado “el influenciador de Dios”, el joven Beato Carlo utilizó Internet para crear un sitio web que documentaba los milagros eucarísticos y las apariciones de la Santísima Virgen María. Su adoración al Santísimo Sacramento y su devoción a María inspiraron a personas en todo su país de origen, Italia, y mucho más allá.

Sin embargo, necesitamos equilibrar nuestro tiempo

with screen time in our families and parishes. To be in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, whether in adoration or at Mass, is still to be strengthened by the grace of the person and real presence of Jesus Christ. To be in the presence of one another is still to be supported by a family of faith in which we are all sisters and brothers in Christ.

At the same time, we have an incredible opportunity to benefit from today’s ability to access reliable information from around the world. If we are reading this article on the digital version online, we can, in the example of Blessed Carlo, share the inspiring stories of our faith. Perhaps in this edition of The Catholic Spirit, it is one of the jubilarians that influenced our faith or one of the other featured stories. We can post it, forward it or provide a link. If you are reading this in the printed newspaper form, you can always cut an article out of the newspaper and thumb tack it to a bulletin board or tape it onto the door of your refrigerator.

In a world where our greatest attributes are also our tragic flaws, the internet can be a gifted tool to share inspiring and trusted information about our Church. Through social media, we can share the good news of our faith on anything about everything.

frente a la pantalla con el tiempo frente a la cara en nuestras familias y parroquias. Estar en presencia del Santísimo Sacramento, ya sea en la adoración o en la Misa, aún debe ser fortalecido por la gracia de la persona y presencia real de Jesucristo. Estar en presencia unos de otros significa seguir siendo apoyados por una familia de fe en la que todos somos hermanas y hermanos en Cristo. Al mismo tiempo, tenemos una oportunidad increíble de beneficiarnos de la capacidad actual de acceder a información confiable de todo el mundo. Si leemos este artículo en la versión digital en línea, podemos, en el ejemplo del Beato Carlo, compartir las historias inspiradoras de nuestra fe. Quizás en esta edición de El Espíritu Católico, sea uno de los jubilados que influyeron en nuestra fe o alguna de las otras historias destacadas. Podemos publicarlo, reenviarlo o proporcionar un enlace. Si está leyendo esto en forma de periódico impreso, siempre puede recortar un artículo del periódico y pegarlo con chinchetas en un tablón de anuncios o pegarlo con cinta adhesiva en la puerta de su refrigerador. En un mundo donde nuestros mayores atributos son también nuestros trágicos defectos, Internet puede ser una excelente herramienta para compartir información inspiradora y confiable sobre nuestra Iglesia. A través de las redes sociales, podemos compartir las buenas nuevas de nuestra fe sobre cualquier tema.s

PLEASE SEE OFFICIALS ON PAGE 8

Pope Francis: Do not be afraid to seek God where life is degraded, discarded

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service

God is present in the “dark corners” of local communities and in people’s lives, Pope Francis said.

“His presence reveals itself precisely in the faces marked by suffering and where degradation seems to triumph,” the pope said in his homily at Mass in the northern Italian city of Trieste July 7.

“God’s infinity is concealed in human misery, the Lord stirs and becomes present, he becomes a friendly presence precisely in the wounded flesh of the least, the forgotten and the discarded,” he said.

The pope reflected on the day’s Gospel reading (Mk 6:1-6) that described people’s reaction to hearing Jesus teach in the synagogue: Many were shocked and offended that a simple man — the son of a carpenter — could possess such wisdom and perform miracles.

In a world where people face so many challenges, struggles and social and political issues, there needs to be “a faith that awakens consciences from lethargy, that puts its finger in the wounds, in the wounds of society, and there are many,” he said.

This kind of faith is “restless,” it moves “from heart to heart” and it is moved by concrete problems in society, he said. It is a faith “that becomes a thorn in the flesh of a society often anesthetized and dazed by consumerism.”

“Consumerism is a plague, a cancer, it makes your heart become ill, it makes you selfish,” he said.

“We need a faith that disrupts the calculations of human selfishness, that denounces evil, that points out injustices, that disturbs the schemes of those who, in the shadow of power, play with the lives of the weak,” he said, underlining that there are many people who “use faith to exploit people. This is not faith.”

Instead of being “scandalized unnecessarily by so

many little things,” he said, “let us be indignant at all those situations where life is degraded, wounded and killed.”

“Why are we not scandalized in the face of rampant evil, life being humiliated, labor issues, the sufferings of migrants? Why do we remain apathetic and indifferent to the injustices of the world? Why do we not take to heart the situation of prisoners” and all those in pain or discarded living in one’s city, he asked.

It is because “we are afraid, afraid of finding Christ there,” the pope said. “God is hidden in the dark corners of life and of our cities.”

“Let us bring the prophecy of the Gospel into our flesh, with our choices even before our words,” he said, asking the faithful to “be on the front line of spreading the Gospel of hope,” especially toward migrants and “those who, in body or spirit, need to be encouraged and comforted.”

SLICEof LIFE

Deacon Joe Kittok of St. Maximilian Kolbe in Delano, dressed as Uncle Sam, waves to the crowd during the city’s annual Fourth of July parade. In the background is the parish’s St. Joseph church, with people lining up in front of it and calling out to Deacon Kittok, who sits on a float sponsored by the Delano Sportsmen’s Club. “I’ve been building a float for the Sportsmen’s Club for about 14 years, and I usually ride along,” the deacon said. “I saw this really neat outfit (four years ago and bought it on Amazon). It’s kind of silky, so it’s not very hot. And I grow my own beard.” His finishing touch is a medal with the image of Mary called the Miraculous Medal, which he received from the pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Father Kyle Kowalczyk, several weeks ago. Deacon Kittok also helped build a pro-life float for the parade.

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

St. Paul parish celebrates priestly ordination of a parishioner in the Jesuits

By Josh McGovern

The Catholic Spirit

On June 16, parishioners packed the second morning Mass at St. Adalbert to celebrate the priesthood of Father Minh Le, who grew up in the parish in St. Paul and was ordained just eight days prior in Milwaukee.

Following the Mass of thanksgiving, parishioners lined the aisles, waiting patiently to have a moment to pray with and receive a priestly blessing from Father Le.

Born in Lagi, Binh Thuan, Vietnam, the 34-year-old Jesuit priest came to the United States when he was 2 years old as part of a U.S. State Department program that allowed for the resettlement of Vietnamese applicants who had spent three or more years in a reeducation center. Le said his faith and ministry can be traced to his family heritage leading back to Vietnam.

In his homily during the Mass, Father Le told the story of his father, Nguyen Le, who had been a South Vietnamese soldier during the Vietnam War. Following the collapse of Saigon, Nguyen Le was held in a Communist re-education camp for seven years.

“Expressions of faith were not allowed,” Father Le said of the conditions in the prison.

A prisoner caught praying would be punished. Despite this, Nguyen prayed every night and said that his faith helped him survive those dark days.

“Having a father who has gone through the experience of the war and to see that his faith sustained him through that difficult time, even after the war, showed me the power of our faith and how it can help us through the most difficult times,” Father Le said. “Seeing the faith in my father and how he treasures his faith had an impact on me. Our faith is precious.”

Father Le credits his call to become a Jesuit priest to a series of experiences that stirred in him a desire to serve God’s people. In his homily, Father Le mentioned Matthew 13:31. In the Gospel, Jesus states that, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

“I love that image of the Gospel, the one who sows,” Father Le said in a conversation about his homily after the Mass. “That makes me think about what God has sown in my life. The people who are close to me, the people I’ve met. I think about my father, his time in the Vietnam War.”

Father Le said several other people in his life also helped him discern his vocation and faith, including his older brother, a Redemptorist priest who entered religious life when Father Le was 10 years old.

“Seeing that he wanted to live out his faith as a priest opened me to the possibility that maybe I can respond to God in this way or maybe God is inviting me,” Father Le said.

Father Le laughed as he noted that the feast days

for St. Ignatius and St. Alphonsus Liguori — the Jesuit and Redemptorist founders respectively — are just one day apart.

Father Le said the idea of pursuing the priesthood waned over his young adult life. But family, mentors, teachers and Jesuit brothers helped show him the importance of faith, how it gives and sustains life, he said. These experiences led Father Le to join the Society of Jesus in 2013.

“In sharing their faith with me — I think that’s how the faith is passed on,” Father Le said. “That’s how the faith is lived out. In a way I’m trying to do the same here, now.”

Father Le said his mission is rooted in Christ’s ministry for God’s people. He pointed to the Book of Isaiah in which God brings good tidings to the poor, liberty to captives and healing to the oppressed.

In two months, Father Le will attend San Jose State University in California to study for a master’s degree in fine arts.

“So then again, you see this dimension of being a Jesuit priest, where we also engage different disciplines, finding God in all things,” Father Le said. “Our history is rich in the arts. There are many Jesuits who have contributed to the arts. Many have been artists of high caliber.”

Father Le discussed after Mass how he grew up

as an artist, following in the footsteps of his family members, who liked to draw. As a Jesuit, Father Le has gotten into photography. The word photography means “drawing with light,” Father Le said, and “minh” means light in Vietnamese. In many ways, Father Le said he feels his vocation as a priest is interwoven with his vocation as an artist.

“I think that speaks to finding God in all things, which is one part of our spirituality as Jesuits,” Father Le said. “There’s this sense of receiving light, understanding light, and how fitting, right? Jesus (said): ‘I am the light of the world.’ In a lot of art, there is this activity of receiving light.”

When asked what it was like to be at the altar of his home parish, Father Le said it felt special to see people who were part of his journey to the priesthood.

“I have fond memories of St. Adalbert,” Father Le said. “To come back to give thanks for the community, for the memories, for the ways that God has worked through this community, it felt fitting.”

Father Le explained that his thanksgiving Mass wasn’t just for him. He said it offered the parishioners of St. Adalbert the opportunity to “rejoice in what God has done” not only for Father Le, but for the community, “so as to be strengthened to go forward and live our faith and pass it on to (the) next generation.”

Communications, The Catholic Spirit honored with 9 CMA awards

The Catholic Spirit

The Catholic Spirit received eight awards and the Office of Communications received one award for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the 2024 Catholic Media Conference’s awards ceremony June 21 in Atlanta, which celebrated the 2023 work of Catholic Media Association members.

Among the newspaper’s awards was first place for best news coverage of a regional event and second place for best front page of a diocesan newspaper for its reporting and photography of the 84th annual Tekakwitha Conference in the Twin Cities last summer, which appeared in the July 27, 2023, edition. The Office of Communications

took home an honorable mention for “Together on the Journey,” a monthly video and weekly newsletter featuring Archbishop Bernard Hebda.

The Catholic Spirit staff won second place for best print special supplement with the newspaper’s April 27, 2023, multi-story and photo package about Auxiliary Bishop Michael Izen’s April 11 ordination and installation in the archdiocese.

The newspaper won second for best story and photo package by an individual — and second place for best feature photo — with Dave Hrbacek’s June 29, 2023, feature, “A prayer runs through it” about Father Jake Anderson’s annual men’s fly-fishing retreat.

The paper took third place for

reporting on a special age group — senior citizens — for Hrbacek’s Oct. 26 story about longtime nurse Tom Cassidy at Our Lady of Peace Residential Hospice facility in St. Paul.

Honorable mentions went to The Catholic Spirit for best newspaper spot news photo and best multiple picture package with Hrbacek’s “Relishing Relics,” consisting of three prominent photographs and accompanying story in the Oct. 12, 2023, edition. The package was about opportunities that month in the archdiocese to venerate the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and her parents Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin. Prayers and processions helped mark the 150th anniversary of St. Thérèse’s birth and the 100th anniversary of her beatification.

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Father Minh Le receives the gift of bread from his mother, Tran Thi Van, during Mass June 16 at St. Adalbert in St. Paul. Next to his mother is his father, Nguyen Le, who brought up the gift of wine. Father Le, who grew up attending St. Adalbert, was ordained a priest for the Society of Jesus June 8 in Milwaukee and came to St. Adalbert to celebrate his Mass of Thanksgiving. He is serving at St. Thomas More in St. Paul, which is staffed by Jesuit priests, this summer before pursuing graduate studies this fall at San Jose State University in California.

Religious sister brings Christ’s compassion to others

COURTESYSISTERROSEMAURA

By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit

Sister Rose Maura Okongwu said she bases her life on Jesus as she celebrates 25 years of ministry in the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ.

“One thing in religious life I want to point out is that we are called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ,” she said. “To do that, we have to be open to the Holy Spirit through prayer.”

With Christ, her life has joy and purpose, she said. Her congregation also honors Mary. “That is Our Lady,” Sister Rose Maura said. “I was drawn to her heart.”

“It’s been a flurry. It seems just like

Congratulations and thank you!

To celebrate the ministry of all those in consecrated life, the Catholic Spirit interviewed two members of religious communities who are marking significant anniversaries this year; their stories are below. More men and women and their milestone anniversaries are listed on the adjoining page.

yesterday,” she said of the quarter century since she took her first vows in the religious institute of pontifical right, a missionary group founded in Nigeria in 1937 by Irish-born missionary Archbishop Charles Heerey.

Sister Rose Maura, 50, a native of Umueze Village, Amawbia, Anambra state in Nigeria, attended a high school that included the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, whose charism is compassion. Now, she works in Minneapolis as a licensed alcohol and drug abuse counselor, and she is seeking a license as a mental health counselor.

“We work with humanity,” she said. “We see people’s suffering. We see the struggle people go through; individuals who are addicted struggle with quitting the use of illicit substances, and they struggle equally with mental health disorders.”

“All I can do is walk with them and lift them up in prayer,” she said. “Some ask questions about God, and sometimes I pray with them. You talk about God when they request it. It is evangelization.”

CSJ St. Paul Sister & Consociate Jubilarians

These Sisters’ and Consociates’ anniversaries add up to over 1,500 years of “Moving always toward the profound love of God and love of neighbor without distinction.”

2024 Sister Anniversaries

Brigida Cassady, CSJ

Joan K Groschen, CSJ

Mary Elizabeth Harroun, CSJ

Anna Marie DeVos, CSJ

Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ

Bernadette Newton, CSJ

Carol Podlasek, CSJ

elementary education at a school run by the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, or Redemptorists.

Now celebrating 50 years with the community founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Father Colunga, 71, said he is blessed. He studied Scripture for nearly 10 years in Rome but has spent most of his ministry in Mexico, he said.

Even if clients don’t ask about faith or God, or openly seek prayers, they see Sister Rose Maura in her bold, blue religious habit, which she said is a symbol of evangelization.

“My habit is enough Gospel,” she said. “They respect my choice of vocation and the love and care I bring to my work.”

Sister Rose Maura said she grew up in a Catholic household and first felt a call to religious life in eighth grade. She dismissed the idea, but another prompting came when she was a junior in high school. After graduating from high school, she responded by applying to the congregation she is with now.

“It is by the grace of God,” Sister Rose Maura said of being part of the community. “I cherish my vocation.”

As she was discerning whether to enter the congregation, Sister Rose Maura said she needed to take an exam for English proficiency. Knowing her own struggles with English, she prayed and pledged that if she passed the test, she would know that God was calling her to embrace the religious life. She misspelled some words, but she passed and felt reassured. She kept her part of the deal by applying to a religious institute.

Asked what advice she might offer to people discerning a call to religious life, Sister Rose Maura suggested they pray, be open-minded to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as they discern their vocation and then explore various congregations.

He came to the United States just 10 months ago, Father Colunga explained through an interpreter, and was assigned to St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center –– which has a large Spanishspeaking congregation, is served by the Redemptorists and is part of the congregation’s Denver Province.

Father Colunga’s assignment marks the beginning of an effort by the congregation to fuse the operations of its Mexico and Denver provinces. As Father Colunga came to Brooklyn Center, a Redemptorist priest serving in Whittier, California, was assigned to Mexico.

For Father Colunga, the assignment is another opportunity to preach God’s word and continue writing and teaching about Scripture. Father Colunga also presides at Masses at St. Alphonsus and other parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Asked what advice he might offer to people discerning a religious life, Father Colunga said he would encourage “a lot of reflection and thinking about God and (having) a relationship with him by reading the holy Scriptures.”

Living as a Redemptorist draws him closer to God through his studies, the congregation’s disciplines and its sense of community, Father Colunga said.

Mary Charlene O’Keeffe, CSJ

Marian Walstrom, CSJ 65

Mary Lamski, CSJ

Angela Schreiber, CSJ

Joanne Weiland, CSJ

Colleen O’Malley, CSJ

Mary Frances Allen, CSJ

Margaret Brown, CSJ

Ann Diehl, CSJ

Karen Hilgers, CSJ

30

Kama (Kay) Insley

Shirley Lieberman

Joan Wittman

Carmen Shaughnessy Johnson 80

Althea Johns, CSJ

Lillian Long, CSJ

Irene O’Neill, CSJ

Jill Underdahl, CSJ

2024 Consociate Anniversaries

Chuck Kausalik-Boe

Cindy Kennedy

Michelle Moran

Karleen Reller

“I believe the Lord will speak to their heart and guide their spiritual journey,” she said.

Redemptorist priest marks half a century of preaching the Gospel

By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit

Father Francisco (Paco) Pérez Colunga was a 10-year-old praying the rosary in Mexico when a wealthy and influential woman offered him an

Father Colunga said he grew up in a faith-filled family in Mexico. His mother taught him the rosary when he was 5 years old and asked him to pray it every day in the local church. People from town sometimes made fun of him because a young boy praying the rosary was unusual, he said. That caught the attention of the woman who –– with his parents’ permission –– helped provide him with an education, he said.

The woman also introduced him to the regional superior of the Redemptorists. He entered the seminary, but it was not a straight shot into the congregation, Father Colunga said. At age 18, he studied philosophy with some diocesan priests and that way of life looked attractive, he said. When he told his superior at the seminary about this, the superior suggested he give himself some time to discern his next move by leaving the community for a year or two, and then coming back and talking about it. Father Colunga said he decided to remain with the congregation.

Father Colunga said he is learning a great deal about the United States as he ministers at St. Alphonsus. His assignment is expected to last through 2026. His superiors among the Redemptorists will decide if he stays longer or another priest takes his place, he said.

“I have two sisters in Texas, and they talked to me about the religious life here in the U.S.A., and I had no idea,” Father Colunga said. Soaking it all in “is one of the great things that I’m very thankful for.”

Celebrating jubilarians

STOCK GIL-DESIGNPHOTO

DOMINICAN SISTERS OF SINSINAWA SINSINAWA, WISCONSIN

50 years

Sister Judith Jewison

IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY MOTHER OF CHRIST, NIGERIA CHAMPLIN

25 years

Sister Rose Maura Okongwu

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR ST. PAUL

50 years

Sister Amy Kristine Kaiser

Sister Joseph Marie Cruz

REDEMPTORISTS BROOKLYN CENTER

50 years

Father Francisco (Paco) Pérez Colunga

The Catholic Spirit is honored to highlight the members of men’s and women’s religious communities who are celebrating milestone jubilees this year and who are serving or who have served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The following information was provided by the religious communities.

25 years

Father Tuan Pham

SCHOOL SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME SHAKOPEE

75 years

Sister Alice Zachmann

70 years

Sister Anne Becker

Sister Patricia Frost

Sister Anita Kolles

Sister Edna Lanners

Sister Mary Gen Olin

Sister Doris Welter

60 years

Sister Pauline Eischens

Sister Joanne O’Connor

Sister Helen Robeck

Sister Rita Schwalbe

50 years

Sister Therese Collison

SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS OF OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS ST. PAUL

60 years

Sister Mary Antonice DeLury

SYLVANIA SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS SYLVANIA, OHIO 60 Years

Sister Nora Klewicki

SISTERS OF ST. JOSEPH OF CARONDELET ST. PAUL PROVINCE, ST. PAUL 80 years

Sister Mary Charlene O’Keeffe 75 years

Sister Brigida Cassady

Sister Joan Groschen

Sister Mary Elizabeth Harroun 70 years

Sister Anna Marie DeVos

Sister Ansgar Holmberg*

Sister Bernadette Newton

Sister Carol Podlasek

Sister Marian Walstrom

65 years

Sister Mary Lamski

Sister Angela Schreiber

Sister Joanne Weiland

Sister Colleen O’Malley 60 years

Sister Mary Frances Allen

Sister Margaret Brown

Sister Ann Diehl

Sister Karen Hilgers

50 years

Sister Althea Johns 45 years

Sister Lillian Long

Sister Irene O’Neill 25 years

Sister Jill Underdahl

Sisters of the Living Word DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS

70 Years

Sister Mary Nicholas Eiden

SISTERS OF THE ORDER OF ST. BENEDICT, ST. PAUL’S MONASTERY MAPLEWOOD

70 years

Sister Susan Bourauel

* Deceased June 28

OFFICIALS

Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

Effective July 1, 2024

Deacon John Bauch, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Bonaventure in Bloomington. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis.

Deacon Wayne Bellefeuille, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Michael in Farmington. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of All Saints in Lakeville.

Deacon Robert Burns, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Guardian Angels in Chaska. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Excelsior.

Deacon John Fischer, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Patrick in Inver Grove Heights. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Thomas More in Saint Paul.

Deacon Kim Jensen, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake. This is in addition to his current assignments at the Church of the Epiphany and as chaplain to the Archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Youth.

Deacon Patrick Kirsch, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Boniface in Saint Bonifacius and the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Watertown. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Joseph in Waconia.

Deacon Michael McGinty, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Raphael in Crystal. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park.

Deacon David Mead, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Michael and the Church of Saint Mary, both in Stillwater. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Ambrose in Woodbury.

Deacon Wilfred Pitts, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Peter Claver in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of the Guardian Angels in Oakdale.

Deacon Christopher Richards, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Our Lady of the Lake in Mound. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Joseph in Waconia.

Deacon John Rogers, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Saint

Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Joseph in West Saint Paul.

Deacon Patrick Spencer, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Epiphany in Coon Rapids. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park.

Very Reverend Michael Tix, assigned as temporary parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Saint Paul Park. This is in addition to his assignments as parochial administrator to the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Vermillion, the Church of Saint Mary in New Trier, the Church of Saint Mathias in Hampton, the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Minneapolis, as Chaplain for the Academy of the Holy Angels in Richfield, and as Vicar General for the Archdiocese.

Deacon Thomas Utecht, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Corcoran and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Loretto. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Mary Queen of Peace in Rogers.

Deacon Christopher Vance, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of the Transfiguration in Oakdale.

Effective July 15, 2024

Reverend Matthew Quail, assigned as temporary parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Pius X in White Bear Lake while the pastor, Reverend TJ McKenzie, is on sabbatical. This is in addition to his current assignment as pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights.

Rejoicing in God’s Faithful Presence

80 years

Margaret Berghold

75 years

William Ann Heidenfelder

Arline Jaeger

Anthony Marie Kasper

Dora Kipp

Mary Brigid O’Reilly

Marie Vianney Pottebaum

Herman Marie Siebenmorgen

Rosalyce Tinglof

Alice Zachmann

70 years

Janet Marie Abbacchi

Andre Aubuchon

Rose Bast

Anne Becker

Marie Cecilia Brenneisen

Mary Joan Cook

Marguerite De Mott

† Lucille Dehen

Dorothy Eggering

Patricia Frost

Sylvia Hecht

Jolene Heiden

Anita Kolles

M. Rosaleen Krebs

Edna Lanners

Marie Joseph Lazzeri

Mildred Loddeke

Virginia Meyer

Patricia Miller

Mary Gen Olin

Therese Rekowski

Jean Schmid

Rita Clare Swenarski

Doris Welter

Luetta Wolf

60 years

Susan Ann Adrians

Joelle Marie Aflague

Joanne Armatowski

Joan Backes

Vincent Marie Balajadia

Mary Beckman

Paula Marie Blouin

Mary Juan Camacho

Mary Patricia Dalton

Jean-Andrew Dickmann

Pauline Eischens

Clara Esker

Patricia Evinrude

Nancy Flamm

Margaret Mary Friesenhahn

Judith Ann Herold

Barbara Linke

Mary Pamela Moehring

Laura Northcraft

Joanne O’Connor

Louise Margaret O’Connor

Rose Miriam Phair

Joelyce Marie Popowich

Helen Robeck

Mary Jeanne Rusch

Marilyn Scheibel

Marie Celine Schumacher

Rita Schwalbe

Elise Silvestri

Mary Helen Stokes

Elizabeth Anne Swartz

Monica Wagner

Dannel Wedemeyer

Dorothy Zeller

50 years

Therese Collison

Peggy Duffy

M. Paula Iwaki

Rita Krusell

Gloria Marie Petralia

Martha Jean Solms

40 years

Ann Marie Bonvie

Helen Jones

25 years

Virginia Mary Reichard

HEADLINES

uLatin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemns an Israeli army attack on a Catholic school

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem issued a strong condemnation after the Israeli military targeted a Catholic school in Gaza that killed four people, including a senior Hamas official. In a statement published July 7, the patriarchate said it was monitoring reports of a strike on Holy Family School, which “has, since the beginning of the war, been a place of refuge for hundreds of civilians.” “The Latin Patriarchate condemns, in the strongest terms, the targeting of civilians or any belligerent actions that fall short of ensuring that civilians remain outside the combat scene,” the statement read. The patriarchate called for a cease-fire agreement “that would put an immediate end to the horrifying bloodbath and humanitarian catastrophe in the region.” Israeli military officials justified the attack on the school, arguing that the bombing struck a Hamas military building and a weaponsmaking facility “in the area of a school building.”

uVatican excommunicates Archbishop Viganò, found guilty of schism. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former nuncio to the United States, has been excommunicated after being found guilty of schism, the Vatican said. Members of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith met July 4 to complete an extrajudicial penal process against Archbishop Viganò, who was accused of “the reserved delict of schism,” the dicastery announced in a press release July 5. “His public statements manifesting his refusal to recognize and submit to the Supreme Pontiff, his rejection of communion with the members of the Church subject to him, and of the legitimacy and magisterial authority of the Second Vatican Council are well known,” the dicastery wrote. “The lifting of the censure in these cases is reserved to the Apostolic See,” it added.

uCatholic activists criticize Indiana’s move to resume using capital punishment. Catholic activists criticized a recent announcement by Indiana’s governor that his administration would seek to resume the use of the death penalty in the Hoosier state after obtaining the lethal drugs used to carry out executions. Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, a group that opposes capital punishment, told OSV News that it has been “15 years since Indiana’s last execution — a hiatus brought on in part because of the state’s struggle to purchase lethal injection drugs.” “Like many other states, Indiana has been met with difficulty in procuring lethal injection drugs after the pharmaceutical companies which provide them have opted not to have their products be used to kill,” she said. In a June 26 statement, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said they would seek the resumption of executions in Indiana prisons, starting with Joseph Corcoran, who was convicted on four counts of murder and sentenced to death in 1999. Pope Francis revised the Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 2267) in 2018 to reflect that capital punishment is morally “inadmissible” in the modern world and that the Church works with determination for its abolishment worldwide.

uLourdes bishop says Rupnik mosaics “need to be removed” from the sanctuary. The mosaics prominently featured in the Marian sanctuary in Lourdes, France, created by Father Marko Rupnik, who is accused of abusing dozens of women over his decades of ministry, must

eventually be removed from the basilica where they are currently displayed, the bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes said. “My deep, formed, intimate conviction is that they will one day need to be removed,” Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes said in an interview with French newspaper La Croix published July 2, noting that the mosaics in the sanctuary “prevent Lourdes from reaching all the people for whom the sanctuary’s message is intended.” The bishop launched a reflection group from May to October 2023 composed of victims, sacred art experts and lawyers, among others, to assist in deciding the future of the mosaics featured on the facade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes. But Bishop Micas said he has decided “not to remove them immediately, given the passions and violence the subject incites,” noting that he wants to work with victims to gather broader support for their removal in order to avoid “tearing the church further apart.” Still,

as a “first step,” the bishop said the mosaics will no longer be lit up during the evening Marian procession which pilgrims to Lourdes attend each night.

uWomen religious empower and educate exploited tea plantation workers in Sri Lanka. Behind every cup of world-famous Ceylon tea is a story of exploitation and bonded labor, said Apostolic Carmel Sister Maria Amali, whose congregation has worked among Sri Lanka’s tea plantation workers for almost 100 years. Sri Lanka (which was known earlier as Ceylon) ranks third behind China and Kenya as the largest tea exporters in the world. “Tea brings revenue and fame for Sri Lanka, but the authorities have conveniently ignored the workers who produce it and they remain the most marginalized community in the country,” the 60-year-old religious sister, who has served for 10 years among these

workers, told Global Sisters Report. Women religious from Salvatorian, Holy Cross, Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary and Good Shepherd congregations also serve the workers. Sri Lanka’s 169,000 plantation workers live in 10-square-foot rooms that lack basic needs and its occupants have limited access to education and essential services, Sister Maria said.

uPope Francis praises the release of two Ukrainian priests from Russian captivity. Pope Francis prayed in thanksgiving for the release of two Ukrainian Catholic priests who were held in Russian captivity for more than 19 months, calling on Christians to pray for the release of all prisoners of war. “I give thanks to God for the freeing of the two Greek Catholic priests,” he said after praying the Angelus June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. “May all the prisoners of this war soon return home.” — CNS and OSV News

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Archdiocesan Catholics recall 1941 National Eucharistic Congress, anticipate Indianapolis congress

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

When Sue Taylor started on a Eucharistic procession from Como Regional Park in St. Paul to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds with her seventh-grade classmates and 80,000 others on a hot June day during the 1941 National Eucharistic Congress, she thought that Pope Pius XII himself was under the processional canopy, carrying the Blessed Sacrament in a silver monstrance.

“I now know it was St. Paul-Minneapolis Archbishop (John Gregory) Murray processing in with all these priests and all the pomp and circumstance,” said Taylor, 95, a parishioner at St. Peter in Mendota.

Archbishop Murray undoubtedly was grateful for the canopy when, early in the procession, an unexpected downpour drenched Taylor, the other procession participants, and the roughly 170,000 spectators who lined the route on June 26, the final day of the congress.

The day “wasn’t stormy but (the shower) was a gulley washer and it didn’t last long,” Taylor said. “I think even (with us) getting all wet, we didn’t care because it cooled us off.”

Although Taylor and her classmates from the nowclosed St. Bernard grade school in St. Paul didn’t know all the details about the ninth National Eucharistic Congress — which drew about 475,000 people to the fairgrounds and other Twin Cities locations over four days — they knew it was a remarkable event.

“I don’t want to compare it to a president of the United States coming in, but it was something very important, a very important event,” Taylor said. The congress also included religious ceremonies, civic events, clerical and lay conferences, historical and educational exhibits, youth rallies, and literary and musical programs.

More than 80 years later, as Catholics around the country gear up for the 2024 National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21, Taylor and several other archdiocesan Catholics shared memories of the 1941 congress, whose theme was Our Eucharistic Lord Glorified by Sacrifice. (The last Eucharistic Congress in the United States was an international congress held in Philadelphia in 1976.)

In talking about their childhood experiences of attending the congress held in the archdiocese before the U.S.’s entry into World War II, the local Catholics saw a connection with this year’s National Eucharistic Congress.

While they won’t be attending the congress in Indianapolis, they participated this May when the Marian Route, one of four Eucharistic pilgrimages passing through the country on their way to the Indianapolis congress, made stops in the archdiocese for prayer, adoration and processions.

After the sudden downpour during the 1941 procession, Taylor remembered seeing “a sea of white” from the Minnesota State Fair grandstand bleachers during Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. She and other attendees had worn white to the congress, including many nurses in uniform.

Christian Brother Paul Grass — of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, known also as the De La Salle Brothers — likely also was in the bleachers that final day of the 1941 congress.

A 6-year-old who had just finished kindergarten, Brother Grass, now 89 and a resident at the Little Sisters of the Poor’s Holy Family Residence in St. Paul, said he doesn’t remember the procession because, “I was a little too old to be carried the whole time, but too young to be walking that whole distance.”

He did recall being at the Benediction with his parents who were active in their parish, Sacred Heart in St. Paul. The family, except Brother Grass’ baby brother who was at home in the care of his aunts, probably sat with their parish group. The parish had a “vivid collection of badges, flags and banners that parish organizations wore or carried in processions and on major feast days,” he said, adding that the congress would have been an occasion to display those items.

Rosemary Hayes, 88, who was a year younger than Brother Grass when she attended the 1941 congress with her parents and older sister, does have a vivid memory of it.

Hayes — who requested dispensation from her vows as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet 12 years ago and is now a non-vowed consociate who participates in the community’s mission, ministry and prayer — remembers that soon after arriving at the congress, her parents left her and her 7-year-old sister for a moment to seek information. Her sister, charged with looking after Hayes, was distracted by something and left the 5-year-old alone in a large crowd of congress-goers.

“I’ll never forget it, my sister had a checkered coat and a matching checkered hat, and she was supposed to watch me for the minute that my mom and dad had to go find out more information about what and where things were,” said Hayes, who attends Maternity of Mary in St. Paul and lives in a New Hope assisted living facility. “My sister meandered away and so I got panicky, and I started to cry.”

A police officer spotted the scared little girl with

blonde curls and bought her an ice cream cone. She ate the ice cream while sitting on the officer’s lap near a large window visible to many congress-goers and her sister saw her.

“I had my pretty pink coat on, and I was so proud of that.”

Avenue St. Paul, the Cathedral

The girls’ parents soon arrived and from then on, Hayes’ mother kept a close eye on her. “I was with her for the rest of the procession,” she said. “Whatever went on, I’m not aware because I was with my mom. I think ... that’s all that mattered.”

The family had traveled from Jamestown, North Dakota, because Hayes’ mother decided that she and her husband should take the two youngest of their nine children. Since Hayes’ father and several of her brothers worked for the Northern Pacific railroad, they had free passes for the trip, which was eight hours one-way. The family likely joined parishioners from St. James Catholic Church, (now St. James Basilica) in Jamestown, she said. Hayes’ mother told her family, “We have no excuse, we have free passage on the railroad train. We could make it down to Minneapolis to be there for the Eucharistic congress … this was an opportunity because it was probably as close as it would get.”

The trip remains in Hayes’ memory because of her mother’s determination. “Even at 5 years old, I knew that was the Eucharist.”

She is especially excited as she watches preparations for the 2024 congress on EWTN Catholic television network. Hayes couldn’t walk far during this year’s Source and Summit Eucharistic procession on May 27 along Summit

“It’s together,” congress not going over, and Like the procession when, Blessed Sisters the residents Brother connection upcoming

“The have notable Remembering said she’s for this Hour she’s Eucharistic also plans

“I’m Eucharistic know to get just the

A candlelit crowd at midnight Mass during the 1941 National Eucharistic Congress at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul.

COURTESY ARCHIVES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

LEFT Sue Taylor within a year or two of the 1941 National Eucharistic Congress.

COURTESY SUE TAYLOR

CENTER A school photo of Brother Paul Grass the year after the 1941 National Eucharistic Congress.

COURTESY BROTHER GRASS

RIGHT Rosemary Hayes, having made her first Communion.

COURTESY ROSEMARY HAYES

Avenue from The St. Paul Seminary to the Cathedral of Paul, both in St. Paul, but she was in the front pew at Cathedral for the prayer service afterward.

kind of exciting, then, to see this coming together,” she said, adding that she also may watch the congress on EWTN. “It’s all very much a big deal. I’m going to ever see it again. I mean, my life is nearly and we look at it that way.”

Hayes, Brother Grass wasn’t able to participate in procession on Summit Avenue and he was happy on May 28, the perpetual pilgrims brought the Blessed Sacrament and the procession to the Little of the Poor where they prayed the rosary with residents during an adoration hour.

Brother Grass told The Catholic Spirit he sees a connection between the 1941 congress and the upcoming Indianapolis congress.

“The Mass is the key and the one in Indianapolis will notable (bishop and cardinal) celebrants.”

Remembering the 1941 event as spectacular, Taylor she’s also seen a connection with the preparations this year’s congress, including at a monthly Holy she’s attended at her parish this year as part of the Eucharistic Revival. Like Hayes and Brother Grass, she plans to watch the congress on TV.

“I’m anticipating great things coming out of the 2024 Eucharistic Revival and congress,” she said. “I don’t if it’s going to be a mass conversion but it’s going people to think ... maybe it’ll wake them up to the power there, the power of God.”

Archdiocesan parishioners highlight their excitement for the National Eucharistic Congress

By Josh McGovern

The Catholic Spirit

Catholics from around the nation — including the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis — are preparing to travel to Indianapolis for the first National Eucharistic Congress since 1941.

Father Seraphim Wirth of the Franciscan Brothers of Peace said he is taking around 70 parishioners from the Karen community of St. Casimir in St. Paul to the Eucharistic Congress. In June, Father Seraphim attended the fifth annual Karen American Catholic Community Conference (KACC) in Milwaukee. He said the conference — with the holy Eucharist as its theme — was for him a “preparation for the congress in Indianapolis” July 17-21.

“We were motivated by the historical event to express our Catholic faith with the universal Church,” Father Seraphim said. “Regardless of our language, culture and background, the one thing that holds us all together is the holy Mass: Jesus in the holy Eucharist given to us in its humblest form.”

The 70 parishioners include children, their parents and young adults, Father Seraphim said. Additionally, four brothers from the Franciscan Brothers of Peace and religious sisters and a priest from Myanmar will attend, he said. Many members of the Karen Catholic community are refugees from Myanmar, Father Seraphim said.

“Not everyone in the group can understand much English but they still wanted to go to be a part of this historical event in some way,” Father Seraphim said. The community’s young adult leaders generously helped organize the trip, he said. “Nay Paw and Ka Pa Law are some really gifted individuals who organized the registration and host families and all the details,” he said. “We also received some free passes from the congress and raised the rest of the money through fundraising efforts. We wanted to make the event free to anyone who wanted to go, and God provided.”

Father Seraphim’s pilgrimage will consist of 10 cars. The group will stop in Peoria, Illinois, to visit the tomb of Archbishop Fulton Sheen and might visit different churches along the way, Father Seraphim said.

“We will also be praying for peace in Myanmar as one of the intentions,”

Father Seraphim said. “During the planning process we reached out to the local Myanmar Catholic community in Indianapolis, and they were eager to host our group at their homes for accommodations during the conference. We will also celebrate Mass together with them in various Myanmar dialects on Sunday afternoon after the Eucharistic Congress, followed by some recreation, food and fellowship.”

For Kathy Trinh of St. Hubert in Chanhassen, it was an easy decision to attend the National Eucharistic Congress — a friend offered her an extra ticket. Trinh said she will travel with other members of her parish.

Trinh said she has great confidence that the Eucharistic Congress will be thorough and intentional.

“Whether it’s Mass, breakout sessions, adoration, or meeting new people, I’m really excited to encounter Jesus in all of these moments,” Trinh said.

Though her husband is unable to attend, Trinh said her five-year wedding anniversary is July 20, the second-to-last day of the congress. Trinh believes the congress can positively impact her marriage.

“Regardless of whether we are physically together or apart, we are always united in the Eucharist,” Trinh said. “Our love for Jesus in the Eucharist deeply influences how we live out our vocation in the sacrament of marriage … Being at the congress on our anniversary will definitely give me a unique perspective. We have so much to be thankful for and none would be possible without Jesus.”

The historic moment isn’t lost on either Trinh or fellow parishioner Peter Nguyen. They both recognized the significance of attending the congress,

an event that doesn’t happen often. Nguyen said he was inspired to go because he attended a similar event in Annapolis, Maryland, called the National Catholic Conference. He noted that the congress is on a much bigger scale.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Nguyen said.

In addition to fellow parishioners, Nguyen will attend the congress with members of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. It’s vital for the Youth Movement to see the importance of living in the Eucharist each day, he said. All Saints in Lakeville has 55 parishioners ready to attend the congress. All Saints’ Director of Mission Nadine Friederichs said the parish had 90 tickets to the congress and wound up giving 38 extra tickets to members of eight other parishes in the archdiocese. The eight parishes include St. Michael in Farmington; St. Joseph in Rosemount; St. John Neumann in Eagan; St. Joseph in West St. Paul; St. Peter in North St. Paul; St. Dominic in Northfield; and Risen Savior and Mary, Mother of the Church, both in Burnsville.

Friederichs said she looks forward to seeing the speakers, artists, leaders and others in the Catholic Church from around the country.

“I am trying to (prepare) my heart and my mind for what it will be like in a stadium with thousands of other people at the same time worshipping and praying together,” Friederichs said.

“I personally get very emotional when just smaller groups get together for intense prayer … The presence of so many people in one place at one time focused on our Lord is just going to be one of the best experiences that I will have.”

Friederichs added that the gathering of all the faithful together by hope will bring hope to her and to others that the Church is strong, bold and courageous.

“I’m looking forward to just opening my eyes a little bit wider,” Friederichs said.

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Archbishop Bernard Hebda kneels before the Eucharist in a monstrance at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul May 27, during the closing of the Source and Summit Eucharistic Procession on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.

FAITH+CULTURE

Finding peace on an island, justice in the city

By Christina Capecchi For The Catholic Spirit

Jane Laurence, 67, a retired police officer and member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, works as an investigator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment. She investigates reports of misconduct from clergy or archdiocesan officials to prepare reports for the Ministerial Review Board. “It’s not happening much,” she said. “We definitely see some stuff that needs to be corrected or shouldn’t be happening. But there’s a huge amount of transparency. Things aren’t being hidden or swept away. And administrators and office personnel have been empowered so that now, if something doesn’t seem right, they’re encouraged to make the call.”

Laurence, a grandma to 10, offsets this serious work with a wide array of hobbies, including knitting, woodworking and timber framing.

Q At age 11, you helped your dad build a family cabin using only hand tools.

A He was a civil engineer, a really talented hobby guy. Hand saws and hammer and nails was how we did most of it. (He taught) me how to use the angles of your elbow and shoulder to line up the saw and to saw a straight line and use your eye — I was so lucky to have that training, helping me to set the habits. Your eye and hand need to work together to do any kind of making of stuff. That’s what I really love to do now. I’m a timber-framer and woodworker and knitter. It all goes back to what I learned from my dad.

Q Back then, some dads wouldn’t have taught those skills to their daughters.

A Dad never made an issue out of gender and what was OK for girls to do, and I definitely grew up in that age where that was a message a lot of daughters got. When I became a cop, there were not that many women on the job, but I never thought any differently about what was open to me. If I wanted to do something, I just did it. On the job, I wasn’t the biggest or strongest, but there are plenty of

skills you need to be a good cop and they’re open to anybody to develop — and mostly it’s communication and thinking.

Q You still find refuge in a cabin. Tell me about your current place.

A We’ve had this spot for about 40 years. It’s a frame cabin on a border lake — half in Minnesota, half in Canada. The Minnesota part is in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It’s on an island — we have to get here by a boat or ski in the winter. There’s no electricity or plumbing. I have a generator going now, and I have a dish for satellite internet.

A lot of people here have their own island. But the one we’re on has nine different cabins, so my dog can just get on the path and walk over to see neighbors. It’s called Sitch Island, on Saganaga Lake. It’s a little community that pops up here in the summer. We

Q After 9/11, you were moved to intelligence analysis. It sounds like that work suited you well.

A I was part of a little group of cops that they called “The Nerd Herd.” My gifts were in organization, which turned into analysis. Once you get somebody’s phone records, what do you do with (them)? You’ve got to be able to take a lot of information and figure out what you’re looking for and drill down to the little bits that are going to help you solve a crime or support a prosecution.

Q That must’ve been stressful. How did you lean on your faith?

A I always had the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi over my desk. When I’d get stuck on something, I always looked at that: “Make me an instrument of your peace.” And I’d just kind of let go of the controls. It happened over and over that I definitely was given guidance: “OK, let’s look at this! Let’s ask about this. Let’s check this out.” When I’d be stumped, I’d ask for that guidance, to be an instrument, and that’s what worked.

And you know police officers are actually peace officers. That’s what the title is. In the state laws, it says “licensed peace officer.”

run around in little boats and visit each other. It’s very sociable: you’re going over to people’s houses for dinner or playing volleyball or hiking. And then to be surrounded by water — looking out both sides of the cabin, I can see the water and the wildlife. It’s paradise.

Q It sounds like a spiritual place.

A Most definitely. The renewal. I have a mandolin up here, so I practice once a day. I have a guitar. And we brought an old church organ up here that my grandpa got in 1925. It’s a pump organ that was in grandpa and grandma’s cabin. You pump it with your feet. It belongs in a cabin. I’ve got an old hymnal here. The music fills the space. A couple grandkids would come and play, “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater,” so I taught them to play “Amazing Grace.”

Q Your primary residence is in St. Paul — another place you know and love well.

A St. Paul is the coolest city. We (officers) called it St. Small, and we loved how you’d ask someone where they lived and they’d tell you the parish — and they still do! It’s a great city. It’s small enough but big enough.

Q Initially you planned to be a conservation officer, but during your final training, the police captain invited you for a ride along. He must’ve seen something in you — and you were hooked. Isn’t it amazing how one person can change your life?

A That’s for sure! I was married with two little kids when I finished the training. To be a conservation officer would not have really worked for our family.

Q You have many hobbies. Is there anything else you’d like to try?

A We don’t have enough time! I’m constantly having to stop, “Hold on, Jane, you don’t need another thing!” I just took a blacksmithing class with one of my grandkids on Friday. It’s all I can do not to run out and buy a forge! I know I would love it. And I know I’d love weaving, to have a big floor loom in my house.

Q You’re also fascinated by the history of knot baskets and recently recorded a documentary on the last knot basket maker in Sweden. Then there’s timber framing, which you enjoy doing — and you spent time in Paris observing the timber framing done to rebuild the Notre Dame Cathedral after the 2019 fire.

A The joinery yard was amazing. They use an old method. It was all man powered, all simple engineering, so it was done with plumb bobs. It was just incredible.

Q How do you account for your curiosity?

A I have always been this way. It’s how I’m wired. I surround myself with people who are lifelong learners and passionate about trying new things. Those are the people I’m inspired by.

Q What do you know for sure?

A Well, I know for sure that I am loved as a child of God, and when I leave this life, I’ll be moving on to heaven, and I’m excited about that. And I’ll find my mom and dad there and grandma and grandpa. I guess that’s the most important thing I know for sure.

COURTESY JANE LAURENCE

‘I

“Works of Mercy” by Sally Thomas. Wiseblood Books. (Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, 2022). 270 pp., $15.

Catholics like a good morality play.

I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with this instinct; in a world where sin is so often called by anything other than its name, it’s sometimes a relief to see a story where a character’s vices are so apparent that the character himself comes to embody his favored sin and the damage it can cause. For the record, secular novels are often morality plays, too, even if their morals frequently differ from those in Catholic works. Everyone likes to see the good guys win and the bad guys get their comeuppance, whatever their definitions of “good” and “bad” may be.

The challenge with a morality play is that it tends to flatten the characters. They become symbols, ciphers for narrative meaning, and thereby lose some of their realism. This isn’t always a bad thing; sometimes, a good story requires a character to be more symbolic than flesh-and-blood to move the plot along. Nevertheless, a reader finds oneself gratified upon encountering characters that feel particularly lifelike — people one could meet off the street,

or in the pew at Sunday Mass. Thus, it requires a particularly deft hand to create characters who both pulse with realism as well as serve a moral narrative.

Sally Thomas, in her novel “Works of Mercy,” creates a cast of such individuals — first sketching them out with one or two details, luring the reader toward the temptation of rendering an easy judgment, and then filling in the figures, layering shades of personality like watercolor.

The viewpoint character of the story, Kirsty Sain, is an excellent example of this. We are introduced to her first as a housekeeper, then as a widow, a Scottish American immigrant, a former daughter, a former student, a former wife, and possibly a future neighbor and friend. She is both a character in her own right and the reader’s narrative conscience. One of the most compelling quotes in the story, “I am not going to love that thing,” are spoken by her about a blind stray kitten given to her by the local handyman, Wylie, but the words can just as easily be applied to her attitude toward others. A good Catholic and a pious woman, Kirsty nonetheless has the same flaw that so many of us possess: a quickness to judge others, and judge them unworthy of our mercy — including, sometimes, ourselves.

Mercy is certainly the operative word of the novel. As Thomas’ characters unfold themselves to the reader, one is struck by the great compassion

that the author shows to them. From Kirsty herself, a widow who prefers loneliness to other people’s company; to Wylie, the handyman, well-intentioned and sometimes gratingly not self-aware; to Maricruz, Wylie’s undocumented neighbor, and her son, Miguel, who is disabled; to the Malkins, the chaotic but loving family hurtling comet-like toward tragedy; to Father Schuyler, the radically traditional young priest who swiftly makes enemies in the town — the reader is invited to consider each of them in their full humanity, neither wicked nor saintly, but complex people who need, and have a right to, the reader’s love. Nobody, the work seems to insist, is a mere stereotype; we all contain infinite worlds. If one is the kind of reader to categorize characters into symbols of vice and virtue, as this reviewer admittedly is, then “Works of Mercy” serves as a sorely needed, but gentle, chiding. Given how much Catholic and secular readers alike love a good morality play, Thomas has done the nearimpossible: created a story with the moral of not treating real people like characters in a moral story. Thankfully, she delivers her message with just as much mercy to the reader as she shows her cast.

Reichert is publications administrative coordinator at The Catholic Spirit. She can be reached at reichertm@archspm org

The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) helps Catholics like you create meaningful charitable giving plans.

Individuals and families set up charitable funds to give through CCF to support their favorite parishes, schools, and organizations. CCF ensures their charitable giving is taxefficient and aligns with our Catholic faith. Contact CCF to learn how we can help you.

‘Inside Out 2’ approach to emotions resonates with Catholic understanding of human person

By Benjamin Heidgerken For The Catholic Spirit

Viewers are invited to continue exploring Riley Anderson’s internal and external worlds in Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2,” and Catholic and Christian audiences will find the movie to be a valuable and age-appropriate introduction to the changing adolescent brain.

After moving from Minnesota to California in the original 2015 film, the sequel follows Riley’s efforts to make friends and cope with various social pressures as she transitions from middle school to high school.

The conceit of the original film — the personification of Riley’s mind as a group of five emotions like Sadness and Joy — expands as new mental characters are added to the cast (such as Ennui and Anxiety).

Because the film spends so much time inside Riley’s mind, the external-world plot is relatively simple: Riley attends a three-day hockey camp with her established friends from middle school. However, the drama of the film rises out of her desire to make friends with older and “cooler” high schoolers at the camp. Riley struggles to find a balance between her past, present and future while learning more about her identity and sense of self.

The film seeks to offer a portrayal of Riley’s journey that is consonant with modern psychology, especially a school of psychology known as Basic Emotions Theory. By personifying emotions, it also shares characteristics of Internal Family Systems (IFS). In IFS theory, mental health is conceptualized as the proper balancing of

OSV NEWS | DISNEY/PIXAR

A scene from the animated movie “Inside Out 2.” The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

components of our minds as if they were the members of a family. Like real-world families, some members can act out, retreat or take over. Because the goal is familial harmony, feelings — even those acting out — should never be repressed since repression only exacerbates the tensions between the members of the family. Rather, the members that are acting out need to be welcomed into the family so that they can find a balance among the parts of the human mind.

Catholic audiences will wonder whether, or how, the film’s modern psychological model can be reconciled with Christian convictions about the human person. Any thoughtful response must recognize the value of the questions raised by the film: What is the soul? What makes me a person? Am I a slave to my emotions? What does it mean to make a choice? What are the disordered

desires that our faith teaches are present even in the faithful? How do other people’s souls or spirits interact with mine?

The film’s most prominent reverberations with the Judeo-Christian tradition arise from the fact that our faith also has a long history of personifying our inner world. From Aristotle to St. Thomas Aquinas, the parts of the human soul were often seen as analogous to citizens in a human society. Before and during the time of Jesus, the Jewish community at Qumran (the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls) developed the different idea that the human person’s mental life could be explained as the pull between two angels, one good and one that seeks to pull us from God.

This latter tradition continued in the fourth century as Christian monks sought to imitate Jesus’ confrontation with the demons. Monastic thinkers like Evagrius of Pontus and St. John Cassian developed lists of thoughts — like envy, vainglory and gluttony — that they believed originated through the interference of malicious spirits. The attentive reader will notice that the idea of a demonic thought seems to point to a different psychological resolution than that proposed by Internal Family Systems. Would not the proper response to a demonic temptation be to reject the thought — not to embrace it and welcome it back into the family? Aren’t there some desires that must be repressed?

Further clarification can be found in the writings of the seventh century ascetic, St. Maximus the Confessor. PLEASE TURN TO ‘INSIDE OUT 2’ ON PAGE 19

President of St. Paul’s Outreach steps down for new role at Angel Studios

By Josh McGovern

The Catholic Spirit

After a June 17 prayer meeting during St. Paul’s Outreach (SPO) missionary training, SPO’s founder Gordy DeMarais made an announcement: President David Fischer would be stepping down to accept a role with Angel Studios.

Fischer has been president of the Mendota Heights-based organization for two years. He has been with SPO since 2015. As of July 4, Fischer is the head of all acquisitions for Angel Studios, based in Provo, Utah. His role is to curate all content that comes through the studio so that it can “make a difference in the world,” he said.

Fischer explained to the missionaries that he’s given the Lord his dreams throughout his life. He encouraged the missionaries present to do the same. When Angel Studios called, Fischer said

he and his wife, Laura, brought it to the altar.

Fischer said he asked, “Lord, what do you want me to do with this?” Fischer said he felt a confirmation saying, “Go do it and be excited about it.”

“God gives us this beautiful opportunity to say yes to him,” said Fischer, who previously worked as a producer on an Angel Studios film called “Sight” that was released in May. Starring Greg Kinnear and Terry Chen, the film follows the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, who flees Communist China to become an eye surgeon in the United States. While trying to restore the eyesight of a blind orphan, Wang faces his trauma from the Cultural Revolution in China.

Fischer told The Catholic Spirit that,

on paper, his vocations appear to have changed significantly through the years — from seminary to law school to becoming the president of SPO, all while producing movies and being a husband and father. However, Fischer said the same thread has tied it all together: the thread of his faith. “The Lord has had his hand on my life,” Fischer said.

Fischer noted that Angel Studio’s mission inspired him.

“They want to provide ... the kind of entertainment options that our culture has just completely lost,” Fischer said. “The kind of entertainment options that build up our sense of identity or a sense of belonging and becoming and being known, not just as Christians but just as human beings. Inspirational stories that move our hearts to be better people in this world; be more generous, more forgiving, more loving.”

Fischer said he believes asking God how best to be a disciple led him to this role with Angel Studios.

“It’s married together my business background, my executive experience, my fundraising, my investment seeking, my film(making), all into one place. I couldn’t be more excited.”

Fischer will remain in Minnesota for his new position with Angel Studios. He explained that when given the option to move to Provo, Utah, or stay in Minnesota, Fischer said he’d rather stay because he is deeply committed to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Fischer told the missionaries that SPO is in good hands and that he will continue praying for them and their mission. “I’m praying for you and I’m behind you,” Fischer said. “I am for you, for your mission, not just this year but for the rest of your life.”

DAVID FISCHER

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER TOULEE PETER LY

To walk with each other

“He ... began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7).

A blessing I have received during my time at Presentation of Mary is to be a part of the annual walking pilgrimage that the parish has been making every summer now for the last 16 years (minus 2020): a pilgrimage walk from Presentation of Mary in Maplewood to the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.

The walk itself isn’t overly difficult, as we make our way along paved pathways. The approach toward downtown St. Paul is a decline before the path inclines as we go through downtown to the Cathedral. Then, as we near the Cathedral, the climb becomes a little steeper, being on a hill and all.

During this pilgrimage, we are given the opportunity to walk with each other, converse with each other, pray with each other and share a meal with each other (post-walk). This opportunity is a wonderful gift that we have received as we grow in relationship with each other during this time, and with Jesus and his blessed Mother, as we share blessed stories and offer up prayer intentions for each other, our families and friends, and our parish. During our walk, we’ve seen homelessness and other issues that have separated people from their loved ones as well.

This pilgrimage reminded me a little of the Gospel reading for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, as we hear how Jesus sends out his Apostles two by two on mission with his authority, to go and cure the sick and drive out demons. Our pilgrimage’s intent was

FAITH FUNDAMENTALS | FATHER MICHAEL VAN SLOUN

The ministries of priests

Parish work. The primary work of priests is parish ministry. The parish is the spiritual center of the local Catholic community, and priests foster the faith of parishioners, visitors, and the wider community as pastors and parochial vicars or associate pastors.

Parish priests preside and preach for Sunday and weekday Masses, school Masses, funerals and weddings, and Masses at senior care facilities.

Priests also foster devotion to the Eucharist, hear confessions, officiate at baptisms, visit the homebound and hospitals, administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick, provide spiritual consultation and direction, train liturgical ministers, and promote faithful stewardship.

Priests teach the faith to children and adults in partnership with staff and catechists, and offer sacramental preparation, faith formation, study groups, Bible study, workshops and retreats. Priests are evangelizers, make the name of Jesus known and loved, and welcome new members into the Church by assisting individuals with their discernment and participation in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.

Priests also coordinate parish administration by hiring and directing pastoral staff, ensuring a safe environment, the management of finances and facilities, and oversight of school operations.

Education. Some priests specialize in education ministry. A few serve as presidents of colleges or universities or the principals or headmasters of high schools.

Pastors are the superintendents of their parish schools. Priests serve as college professors, particularly in theology, philosophy, ethics, and history, or as religion teachers in Catholic high schools, middle schools and elementary schools.

All of God’s people, all his creations, long to be loved, and we have been called to that one common mission together. Just as we had a destination in mind for our pilgrimage walk, to climb up toward our Lord’s Cathedral, we have also been called to minister to others along the journey, to bring others along with us up his mountain.

not to directly go and cure any illness or drive out demons, but to provide an opportunity for fellowship and prayer with one another. In encountering people along the way, it was a reminder that as Christians, disciples of Jesus, we have also been called to mission as the Apostles and disciples were before us, to cure the sick and drive out demons.

All of God’s people, all his creations, long to be loved, and we have been called to that one common mission together. Just as we had a destination in mind for our pilgrimage walk, to climb up toward our Lord’s Cathedral, we have also been called to minister to others along the journey, to bring others along with us up his mountain.

Lord, you placed companions in our lives and have given us your authority to minister to others in your name. Strengthen us to have the courage to walk forward in our lives, ministering to those we encounter along the road, and to remember that where you call us to go, you also provide the means to complete the task at hand. Give us strength and deepen our faith in you, in all that we do. Amen.

Father Ly is pastor of Presentation of Mary in Maplewood.

Priests also serve as chaplains or campus ministers and provide the Mass and the sacraments, retreats, spiritual direction, consultation, leadership in policy and values, and a strong Catholic presence on campus.

The formation of priests. Some priests are entrusted with the sacred responsibility of nurturing the vocations of future priests in college seminaries and graduate schools of theology.

A priest serves as the rector of the seminary, the spiritual, academic, and administrative head of the school. Priests serve as professors of Scripture, liturgy and sacraments, systematic or dogmatic theology, homiletics, canon law, Church history, Christian morality and ethics, and pastoral care. Priests also serve as the director of pastoral formation, the dean of men, formation directors and spiritual directors.

Diocesan administration. Priests assist the bishop in his care for the diocese. The vicar general is the bishop’s right-hand man and representative in spiritual and administrative matters. The judicial vicar directs the marriage tribunal. The chancellor for canonical affairs may also be a priest.

The bishop may appoint priests as vicars to coordinate other diocesan ministries such as a vicar for clergy, retired priests, worship, evangelization, education, Latino ministry or other areas. The director of vocations coordinates the promotion and recruitment of vocations to the priesthood and manages the admissions process.

Chaplain ministry. Chaplains provide for the spiritual care of a specific group of people. There are priests who serve as chaplains for Newman Centers, hospitals and health care facilities, the military, local police and fire departments, Catholic groups such as the Knights of Columbus or the Serra Club, or women’s or men’s groups. Some priests focus on prison ministry and serve as the chaplain for a federal or state penitentiary, or a county jail or workhouse.

Specialized ministries. Priests serve in other ways, such as domestic and foreign missionaries, retreat directors, authors, composers, artists and scientists.

Father Van Sloun is the director of clergy personnel for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Sunday, July 14

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Am 7:12-15

Eph 1:3-14

Mk 6:7-13

Monday, July 15

St. Bonaventure, bishop and doctor of the Church Is 1:10-17

Mt 10:34-11:1

Tuesday, July 16 Is 7:1-9

Mt 11:20-24

Wednesday, July 17 Is 10:5-7, 13b-16

Mt 11:25-27

Thursday, July 18 Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

Mt 11:28-30

Friday, July 19 Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

Mt 12:1-8

Saturday, July 20 Mi 2:1-5

Mt 12:14-21

Sunday, July 21

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 23:1-6

Eph 2:13-18

Mk 6:30-34

Monday, July 22

St. Mary Magdalene Sgs 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17 Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

Tuesday, July 23 Mi 7:14-15, 18-20

Mt 12:46-50

Wednesday, July 24

Jer 1:1, 4-10

Mt 13:1-9

Thursday, July 25

St. James, Apostle 2 Cor 4:7-15

Mt 20:20-28

Friday, July 26

Sts. Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary Jer 3:14-17

Mt 13:18-23

Saturday, July 27

Jer 7:1-11

Mt 13:24-30

Sunday, July 28

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Kgs 4:42-44

Eph 4:1-6

Jn 6:1-15

ST. BONAVENTURE (1221-1274) Franciscan doctor of the Church, Bonaventure is best known for writing on spirituality and theology. He stressed the importance of emotion in the search for God without denying human reason in examining divine revelation. He became minister general of the Franciscans and demonstrated that simplicity, poverty and imitation of Christ could be balanced with intellectual pursuits. In 1273, he was made cardinal. It is said he refused the traditional red hat and asked papal legates to leave it hanging from a tree. His feast day is July 15. — OSV News

COMMENTARY

ECHOES OF CATHOLIC MINNESOTA

REBA LUIKEN

Laying

the cornerstone of the Basilica of St. Mary included massive parade, prayers

It was Sunday, May 31, 1908, when 150,000 people gathered in Minneapolis for something local reporters called the “most imposing spectacle of its kind ever seen in Minneapolis.”

Business owners along Nicollet and Hennepin avenues draped their storefronts with flags and buntings. American flags remained across town from the recent Memorial Day celebrations. Even the city courthouse chimes played patriotic airs on the hour between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Evidently, it was a patriotic celebration in addition to a Catholic one. All were gathered to celebrate the laying of the cornerstone of the Church of the Immaculate Conception Pro-Cathedral (better known today as the Basilica of St. Mary).

The core of the event was a massive parade that organized 30,000 men to walk a 21-block route ending at the building site. After the signal gun was fired at 2 p.m., the grand marshal led the parade, followed by 500 cadets from then-St. Thomas College in St. Paul, 17 bishops, and clergy and visitors from outside the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis (including a priest from Alaska).

Next came the St. Paul and suburban parishes, marching eight across and nearly 10,000 strong. Organized by parish and fraternal societies, many flew both American flags and flags of their homelands.

TWENTY

SOMETHING

| CHRISTINA CAPECCHI

Flower crowns and Disney drama for the saints

St. Thérèse of Lisieux is getting the Disney treatment, thanks to a talented Catholic artist.

Fabiola Garza, 37, a character artist for Disney Creative Group in Orlando, Florida, brought six female saints to life in her stunning new picture book “Princesses of Heaven,” published by Word on Fire Spark.

The book was a labor of love for the night owl, who worked around her day job at Disney to research, write and illustrate it.

“I had some late nights that turned into mornings,” said Garza, a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Orlando. “It was rough.”

But the more she read about the saints — particularly their first-person writings — the more committed she became to the project.

“I feel a change within me when I spend my time reading that,” Garza said. “It inspires you to greater holiness. It makes you feel so connected across time to all the saints.”

Then came the sifting and culling, identifying

China, Japan, France, Poland, Bohemia, Scotland and Italy were all represented.

Then came those from the far corners of the archdiocese, many of whom had come into town by train. Finally, more than 15,000 men from Minneapolis and its suburbs were led by a float depicting Father Louis Hennepin discovering St. Anthony Falls in a canoe. Turning out in full force, Minneapolis parishes sent up to 600 men each, many in matching hats that might be black brimmed with gold braids or white with red, white and blue bands or even purple, depending on the group.

The only women in the parade were two girls from Our Lady of Perpetual Adoration dressed as Columbia and carrying the American flag. The papal delegate to the United States from Rome, Archbishop Diomede Falconio, brought up the rear of the parade, more than two hours after the march had begun.

After the crowd settled in around the building site, Archbishop Falconio, in his flowing purple robes, began consecrating the site. He began by sprinkling holy water on the site of the future main altar while seminarians chanted psalms in Latin. Then, he sprinkled the cornerstone with holy water and used an ordinary

little details from lengthy biographies to spark kids’ imaginations.

“I let all the information settle in me,” she said, “and then I see what stays with me.”

The drawing process is always a joy for Garza, who has done many high-profile projects for Disney. She draws digitally, creating layers in Photoshop.

There’s something striking about seeing St. Joan of Arc and St. Kateri Tekakwitha presented as Disney heroines: doe-shaped eyes, heartshaped lips, a gentle wind ever rippling through their dresses and tresses.

It’s not that these saints are diluted or dumbed down. Rather, they are elevated, given the star treatment that was once limited to the likes of Ariel and Aurora. That’s the idea, Garza said: These real women deserve a place on the loftiest rung in kids’ imaginations.

masonry trowel to trace three crosses on each side. The stone was lowered into place with masons leveling the cement before each visiting bishop tapped it with a mason’s hammer in turn. Finally, Archbishop Falconio sprinkled holy water on the foundation as he and the seminarians walked around the structure three times. With the formal blessing completed, speeches from Archbishop John Ireland, the governor, the mayor, James J. Hill and others followed, lauding the event.

In the coming months, construction continued, and it was six more years before the first Mass was celebrated in the new church. It was formally named the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary in 1921, but the Vatican did not officially recognize it as the co-cathedral of the archdiocese until 1966, fulfilling Archbishop Ireland’s vision. In the meantime, Pope Pius XI established the church as a minor basilica in 1926, giving it the name most of us use today and making it the first basilica in the United States.

Luiken is a Catholic and historian with a doctorate from the University of Minnesota. She loves exploring and sharing the hidden histories that touch our lives every day.

“I want to help children see the faith in the light that they would see a fairytale, with the same enchantment,” Garza said. “That’s an important concept to bring back to our faith, to retain the joyful wonder.”

When we see St. Thérèse of Lisieux riding in a horsedrawn carriage, leaning out the window with breathless anticipation, it feels like a Disney scene. A longtime dream has finally been fulfilled! This carriage is not headed for a castle, however, but a convent. St. Thérèse is entering religious life.

To see that milestone depicted with such radiance is powerful. It feels like a landmark, a first for picture books: Disney beauty paired with Catholic joy. As a reader, you want every little girl to see it, to recognize that following God’s path brings the kind of lasting peace that makes a heroine glow from the inside out.

Thankfully, many girls have. The book was published in March with an unusually big print run of 25,000. Less than a month later, it sold out.

This month, the second print run — twice as large — is available. As a separate purchase, Word on Fire is also selling a locket designed by Garza for the book.

Anecdotally, she’s hearing of its impact. One mom took her daughters to a park, and they began playing “Princesses of Heaven,” deciding what would be on their heavenly crowns and turning the playground into a convent. Another group of girls there was doing the exact same thing.

“Oh,” the mom said to the other parent, “you must have ‘Princesses of Heaven’ too.”

“Yes,” the other parent responded.

Garza couldn’t believe it. “I was an absolute puddle of gratitude to the Lord,” she said. “I couldn’t have thought of that in my wildest dreams. I can’t in any way attribute that to myself. God had something he wanted to do with this. I’m so grateful to be a part of it.”

Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.

COURTESY ARCHIVES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS

Early construction on now-Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis.

Sidewalk chalk and civility

Sidewalk chalk, that staple of summer, is easy to spot on an early morning walk. You may be tempted to start skipping over the loosely drawn squares of some little person’s hopscotch course. Or, since this chalk often comes in pastel hues, it’s hard to create a convincing Elmo, but an artist has given it her best shot.

You smile when you walk by a house with colorful sidewalks.

But what about the neighbor’s sidewalks? My granddaughter is a chalk artist, and her creations spilled over to the pathway of the lady next door. My daughter apologized to the homeowner and told her they would be more careful about boundaries.

“Oh, no,” replied her neighbor, who is old enough to be a grandma. “She can draw all she wants on my sidewalk.”

Then she recounted a tale from her youth. This woman recalled her own artwork venturing on to the pavement of her next-door neighbor. After these many years, the woman still remembers the scolding she received from that neighbor, the reprimand, the harsh instructions to clean off the sidewalk.

It made such an impression on her that, after all these years, she wants to make her sidewalks welcoming.

What memories do you want to leave with the people you encounter? What recollections would you like to remain with a child 50 years from now?

We live in angry times. The political discussions are more acrimonious than anything I can remember in my lifetime, and even within the Church the disagreements become disrespectful and rude.

When I see the bitter, insulting words slung about, the name calling, I remember the election of 2008 and a rally held for Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee for president. You can easily search for this encounter on YouTube.

McCain was making his case for why he would be a better president than the Democratic nominee, thenSen. Barack Obama of Illinois.

But during the question-and-answer period,

It made such an impression on her that, after all these years, she wants to make her sidewalks welcoming.

McCain fielded a question from a woman who said she doesn’t trust Obama. Then she referred to him as an “Arab.”

At that, McCain, who had been listening and nodding, took the microphone from her hands.

“No, ma’am, no,” he says emphatically. “He’s a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues.”

I was not in agreement with McCain on many of those issues, but I always retain that memory of him in that room that night. A good, brave man who was willing to fight for his principles, but not willing to wallow in the dirt of false accusations. His own decency insisted that he acknowledge the decency of his opponent.

When did our political discourse change?

It may seem a leap from a sidewalk chalk controversy to a presidential election. But most of us aren’t players on the national scene. We’re neighbors, family members, parishioners, and perhaps social media users, who will be remembered, maybe years from now, by how we speak to each other, how we

the plans and desires of their spouse. They can be open to the discussion of an issue, which requires a suspension of judgment and the ability to step into a space of uncertainty, while holding on to their own needs and wants. This indicates maturity.

Independence Day is celebrated on July 4 every year, and while independence is an important concept for free people, interdependence is equally important and arguably more difficult to attain.

In marriage, interdependence requires that we willingly open ourselves to the requests of our spouse. John and Julie Gottman, world-renowned marriage researchers, refer to this concept as “being open to influence.” If we are closed off and insist on only one way — our way — then there is only one way. Being open to influence means we are willing to set aside our ideas and be open to the ideas of the other, finding a new way that suits both spouses.

Whatever method spouses choose to discuss conflict in their marriage requires that both are willing to enter an interdependent relationship and accept the influence of the other without immediate dismissal. This form of interaction indicates shared leadership, as well as personal security. Marriage partners who are open to influence are secure and do not need to have their own plans asserted over

But what do people — who might fear losing the upper hand and winning edge in the relationship — do if they enter the uncertain space of discussion and perhaps negotiation? To begin, they will likely experience a happier spouse, one who feels respected and heard. They may also have more fun and adventure. Finally, they may learn that being open to influence helps them grow as a person and as a spouse.

There may seem to be some downsides to this concept, especially for the one who has more power in the relationship — because all relationships involve the concept of power. There is an inherent power differential in marriage relationships, and if one partner wants to shift a previously agreed-upon power distribution in the marriage, that can be tricky. The one who has more power may not be willing to give up power simply because of a spouse’s request. However, ignoring a spouse’s desire for a discussion of a new agreement of power allocation often leads to unhappiness and dismay for the ignored spouse, which is not good for either spouse or the children in the family.

Again, being open to influence requires security and maturity on the part of both spouses if they are to believe their needs have been received and respected by the other. They must demonstrate they are making a concerted effort to do what they can to fulfill the other’s request. This is often one of the most difficult challenges for couples: to discuss the redistribution

give each other the benefit of the doubt, and how we attempt to create meaningful dialogue. Those are things we live out in daily life. Ultimately, those are the memories and the legacy we leave.

Are we the people who respond in anger? Do we spend hours ruminating on things we see online that irritate us to the point that even our thoughts become embittered?

Or do we respond with love to our neighbors and initiate conversation? Do we sincerely listen to those with whom we disagree?

Amid the name-callers, let’s do our part to make things better. Be like my daughter’s neighbor. Be like John McCain.

Caldarola is a wife, mom and grandmother who received her master’s degree in pastoral studies from Seattle University. This is OSV News’ bimonthly “Feeling It” column.

Editor’s Note: Please watch for Jonathan Liedl’s “Already/Not Yet” column in a future issue of The Catholic Spirit.

ACTION PLAN

uIf you believe your marriage needs a change in its power differential, have the courage to address this concept with your spouse and bring it to prayer.

uYou may benefit from seeing a counselor or therapist throughout this change process. Do not hesitate to enlist the help of a Catholic or Christian mental health professional as you approach these changes in your marriage.

of power. This dynamic involves addressing the questions of how much power is there, who has it, and whether both spouses are willing to renegotiate the distribution of power for the betterment of the marriage.

It takes great courage for a spouse who has agreed to a power differential that no longer serves them to engage their spouse in the discussion of change. A respectful conversation can be held and may be best approached under the guidance of a therapist or counselor. If you attempt to do this on your own, begin with prayer, know what God is asking of you, take baby steps, and reassess after each small change. Realize it may be an enormous compromise for your spouse to even consider renegotiating the agreedupon power distribution in your marriage. Pray for him or her throughout your change process, always asking God for his hand upon your marriage.

Soucheray is

Why I am Catholic

By Mandy Meuer

My story begins like many Catholics — I was baptized as an infant and grew up in the Church. I am blessed to be part of a loving family with parents who lived in the Holy Spirit and taught me how to have a relationship with Jesus.

I started ballet classes at age 7, and I quickly fell in love with it. By senior year of high school, I was dancing 20 hours a week, sacrificing my social life for the dream God had put in my heart. It was an exciting time of life — I was given solo opportunities and chances to work alongside local professionals as I honed my craft. After graduating high school, I apprenticed with a local ballet company and then moved to Wisconsin to dance with a new ballet company opening in Madison.

Ballet is hard, and the only acceptable level of performance is perfection. As I became more serious about dance, this standard seeped into the rest of my life, even my faith. I loved Jesus and wanted to please him, but I became so unsatisfied with myself that I felt like I couldn’t trust a God who loved me the way that I was. By the time I was dancing professionally, I felt exhausted and lacking. I couldn’t keep up with my own standards, let alone the standards of the directors I danced for. I started to resent the years I’d offered to this art form that had taken so much from me and seemed to give so little in return.

My dance career ended in 2019. I took a gap year to do mission work with NET Ministries. There, I had a powerful experience in confession, where I came clean with the Lord about how unsatisfied I was with myself, and how little I trusted Jesus. After absolution, the priest invited me to pray with Psalm 139: “You formed my inward parts, you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am wondrously made.”

Four transformative years later (OK, so I did more than one year of NET), I felt healed and redeemed in so many ways. I was so glad that my dance years were over and that I wasn’t spending my days

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

focused on all the ways I was a failure. However, I unexpectedly received an opportunity to teach ballet, and I felt a tug from the Holy Spirit to give it a try. Returning to that world was something I feared a lot, but the joy of sharing dance with others ignited in my heart. I found myself able to encourage and cheer on my students in a way that I wish I had experienced as a young dancer.

I stepped back on stage after four years as an ensemble member for Missed the Boat Theatre’s “Catholic Young Adults, The Musical.” The rehearsal process and preparation for a show is demanding and intense, and to be honest, a lot of old insecurities and pain followed me back into this show. But they weren’t the end of the story. The beauty my heart was drawn to as a little girl still draws me in, and Jesus offered me something new in this experience. Instead of performing for myself and seeking my own perfection, I got to work within a community to create a beautiful piece of art. It wasn’t about me anymore. It was about something bigger.

At the end of the day, it’s not who I am — it no longer defines me. Jesus asks me over and over again to give him my whole heart, to hold nothing back. Little by little, bit by bit, I’m learning that I can trust him with my life. He’s the only one who sees me fully and will never turn his back on me. He doesn’t ask for perfection. His yoke is easy, and his burden is light, and I am freely living the life he chose for me, instead of the spotlight I had chosen for myself.

Meuer, 26, grew up in the north metro as the second of six children in a vibrant Catholic family. She works at St. Mark’s Preschool and attends St. Mark in St. Paul. She teaches ballet at NorthEast Dance Center in New Brighton. She spends her free time cooking, talking on the phone with her mom, exploring coffee shops and singing karaoke with friends.

“Why I am Catholic” is an ongoing series in The Catholic Spirit. Want to share why you are Catholic? Submit your story in 300-500 words to CatholiCSpirit@arChSpm org with subject line “Why I am Catholic.”

Sacred Heart Church of Saint Paul Congratulates Father Edison Galarza

On the 25th Anniversary of your Ordination to the Priesthood

“We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.” — Luke 17:10

CALENDAR

PARISH EVENTS

Grandparents Apostolate Feast Day Celebration — July 26: 8:45-10:30 a.m. at Nativity of Our Lord, 1938 Stanford Ave., St. Paul. Nativity of Our Lord's Grandparents Apostolate of Sts. Joachim and Anne celebrates its patrons and 13th anniversary after 8:15 a.m. Mass. Father John Rumpza of St. Odilia will present. The church is handicap-accessible on Prior Avenue. Event is downstairs. nativityStpaul org/eventS/ grandparentS-feaSt-day-Celebration-with-fr-rumpza

WORSHIP+RETREATS

“A Day Away” for Men and Women — July 13: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. Spend time away and focus on your personal relationship with the Lord. Guided by Father Hank Lemoncelli. Suggested donation: $30. Register online or call 763-682-1394. kingShouSe Com

Poetic Medicine: To Awaken Soulfulness in the Human Voice — July 14, 21, 28: 2-4:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. Over three sessions, experience the poem-making process as a roadmap toward insight and wellness.

tinyurl Com/3z7p6puC

Curatio Apostolate Mass Meet-Up — July 20: Nativity of Our Lord, 1938 Stanford Ave., St. Paul. Catholics working in healthcare are invited to gather following the 8:15 a.m. Mass to support and listen to one another.

CuratioapoStolate Com/2024/02/maSS-meet-munCh

Ignatian Men’s Silent Retreat — Thursday-Sunday most weeks: Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House, 8243 Demontreville Trail N., Lake Elmo. Freewill donation. demontrevilleretreat Com

CONFERENCES+WORKSHOPS

School of Healing — July 12-13: 5:30-10 p.m. at Encounter Twin Cities Campus, 110 Crusader Ave. W., West St. Paul. A two-day event to help Catholics learn and grow in physical healing ministry. Theological foundations for ministry, practical models for prayer and opportunities to gain hands-on experience praying with others. enCountertCC regfox Com/enCounter-twin-CitieSSChool-of-healing

SPEAKERS+SEMINARS

Grieving Dawn: A Morning of Reflection — July 13: 8:30-11 a.m. at St. Paul, 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd NE, Ham Lake. Abigail Jorgensen, author of "A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss," will present. No charge, RSVP requested.

ChurChofSaintpaul Com/grieving-dawn-morning-of-refleCtion

SCHOOLS

Summer Camp: Creative Writing Camp — June 29-Aug 1: 8:30-11:30 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe School, 235 S. Second St., Delano. Campers will write in a variety of genres each day, responding to literature and working on fun projects connected to different themes. Keep those writing skills sharp over the summer and stretch the imagination while having fun at camp. StmaxkolbeSChool org/SChool-CampS

OTHER EVENTS

C.S. Lewis on Stage: Further Up and Further In — July 13: 4-5:30 p.m. at The O'Shaughnessy theater at St. Catherine University, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. Actor Max McLean captures C.S. Lewis in an onstage experience venturing deep into the soul of one of the most influential thinkers of the past century. Tickets available online: tinyurl Com/veStu3Cm

Elevate Life’s Annual Golf ‘FORE’ Life Tournament — July 22: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at 16725 Innsbrook Drive, Lakeville. Elevate Life is celebrating 50 years of helping our 40-plus pregnancy centers and clinics thrive. This 18-hole flighted competition includes lunch and finishes with dinner and a short program. elevatelifeuSa org/golf

Blessed Solanus Casey Pilgrimage — July 27: 7 a.m.- 6:30 p.m. at Blessed Solanus Casey Friary, 1101 Desoto St., St. Paul. Honor and pray with Blessed Solanus Casey with a walking pilgrimage to the parish where he was confirmed, St. Michael in Stillwater, in anticipation of his feast day.

modernCatholiCpilgrim Com/bl-SolanuS

Regional Convening on Homelessness — Aug. 8-9: Aug. 8: 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; Aug. 9: 8:30 a.m.2 p.m. at Catholic Charities Twin Cities, 1007 E. 14th St., Minneapolis. A series of advocacy training forums to increase awareness surrounding the homelessness crisis and build a network of informed advocates. Members of Catholic organizations, parish members and other advocates are invited to attend. Registration is free. Email lCobbS@CatholiCCharitieSuSa org

ONGOING GROUPS

Calix Society — First and third Sundays: 9-10:30 a.m., third Sunday in person hosted by the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. In Assembly Hall, Lower Level. Potluck breakfast. Calix is a group of men, women, family and friends supporting the spiritual needs of recovering Catholics with alcohol or other addictions. For the Zoom meeting link call Jim at 612-383-8232 or Steve at 612-327-4370.

Career Transition Group — Third Thursdays: 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Wayzata. The Career Transition Group hosts speakers on various topics to help people looking for a

job or a change in career and to enhance job skills. The meetings also allow time for networking with others and opportunities for resume review. hnoj org/CareertranSition-group

Caregivers Support Group — Third Thursdays: 6:30 p.m. at Guardian Angels, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. For anyone juggling the challenges of life, health, career and caring for an aging parent, grandparent or spouse. guardian-angelS org/event/1392201-2019-09-19-CaregiverSSupport-group

Gifted and Belonging — July 28: 6-8 p.m. at Harmon Park, 230 Bernard St. W., West St. Paul. Providing Catholic fellowship for young adults with disabilities. Gather to share a time of prayer and reflection, followed by games and social activities. Invite friends and bring a caregiver as needed. For more information on monthly activities and/or volunteer opportunities, call Megan at 612-456-1572 or email giftedandbelonging@gmail Com

Natural Family Planning (NFP) — Classes teach couples Church approved methods on how to achieve or postpone pregnancy while embracing the beauty of God’s gift of sexuality. For a complete list of classes offered throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, visit arChSpm org/family or call 651-291-4489.

Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) — Third Sundays: 2-4 p.m. at St. Leonard of Port Maurice, 3949 Clinton Ave. S., Minneapolis. Learn more about this group of lay Catholic men and women striving to observe the Gospel by following the example of St. Francis. 651-724-1348

Restorative Support for Victims-Survivors — Monthly: 6:30-8 p.m. via Zoom. Open to all victimssurvivors. Victim-survivor support group for those abused by clergy as adults — first Mondays. Support group for relatives or friends of victims of clergy sexual abuse — second Mondays. Victim-survivor support group — third Mondays. Survivor Peace Circle — third Tuesdays. Support group for men who have been sexually abused by clergy/religious — fourth Wednesdays. Support group for present and former employees of faith-based institutions who have experienced abuse in any of its many forms — second Thursdays. Visit Safe-environment arChSpm org/healing or contact Paula Kaempffer, outreach coordinator for restorative justice and abuse prevention, at kaempfferp@ arChSpm org or 651-291-4429.

Secular Franciscan Meeting of St. Leonard of Port Maurice Fraternity — Third Sundays: 2:15-3:45 p.m. at St. Olaf, 215 S. Eighth St., Minneapolis. General membership meeting of Secular Franciscans who belong to the Fraternity of St. Leonard of Port Maurice. Any who are interested in living the Gospel life in the manner of St. Francis and St. Clare are welcome.

CALENDAR submissions

DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. We cannot guarantee a submitted event will appear in the calendar. Priority is given to events occurring before the issue date.

LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and organizations. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your submission. Included in our listings are local events submitted by public sources that could be of interest to the larger Catholic community.

ITEMS MUST INCLUDE:

uTime and date of event

uFull street address of event

uDescription of event

uContact information in case of questions uThe Catholic Spirit prints calendar details as submitted.

TheCatholiCSpirit Com/CalendarSubmiSSionS

‘INSIDE OUT 2’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

In St. Maximus’ work, a central pillar of his view of the human person is his commitment to the goodness of human nature. All our passions (roughly, our desires or emotions) are rooted in God’s positive will for humankind and none of them can be called evil full stop. Rather, the work of the demons is to inflame desires or fears at the wrong time or in the wrong circumstances. His ascetic pedagogy points toward a recognition of the goodness of those desires — and a contemplation of how God wishes those desires to find expression in the Christian life. In St. Maximus’ theory, we find a fully developed discernment of spirits that seeks to find harmony among our “inner voices” without crushing or rejecting our desires or thoughts as demonic whisperings. “Inside Out 2” resonates quite well with this approach.

Heidgerken is a senior adjunct faculty member of the University of St. Thomas and The St. Paul Seminary, both in St. Paul. His book “Salvation through Temptation,” now in paperback through CUA Press, explores Jesus’ experience of temptation in the writings of St. Maximus the Confessor and St. Thomas Aquinas. He teaches a range of courses in dogmatic, historical, biblical and moral theology.

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Thank you St. Jude, Holy Spirit, all the angels and saints for prayers answered.

THELASTWORD

Hmong Catholics transfer from St. Vincent de Paul to Maplewood parish

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

Choua and Khamsy Yang began a three-generation journey of faith at St. Vincent de Paul in St. Paul nearly three decades ago. In recent years, the two natives of Laos have watched three of their grandchildren receive their sacraments at St. Vincent, which became a home for the Hmong Catholic community in 1995.

Their oldest granddaughter, Ava, who is 14, will be confirmed sometime in the next year. But she won’t prepare for that sacrament at St. Vincent. After a discernment period of more than a year, parish leaders along with Archbishop Bernard Hebda have decided to transfer the Hmong community of St. Vincent to Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, where a Hmong priest, Father Toulee Peter Ly, who grew up attending St. Vincent with his family, serves as pastor. Another parish, St. Patrick in St. Paul, also serves the Hmong community and will continue its ministry to Hmong Catholics. Deacon Kou Ly, who is Hmong, was assigned to the parish after his ordination Dec. 9, 2023, and is helping with ministry to Hmong Catholics in the parish, which offers a Mass in Hmong at 12:15 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month.

A closing Mass at St. Vincent June 23 drew Hmong Catholics for their final opportunity to worship in this space as a community. Archbishop Hebda was the principal celebrant, joined by Father Ly, Father Joseph Johnson, who served at St. Vincent for eight years, Father Matthew Northenscold, who recently served as sacramental minister up until the final Mass, and Deacon Nao Kao Yang, a native of Laos who has helped at the parish since the formation of the Hmong community there and worked with Archbishop John Roach to create a home for Hmong Catholics, who previously worshipped at several parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

“It’s a mixed feeling,” said Deacon Yang, 67, about moving from St. Vincent to Presentation. “We feel sad that we have to leave (St. Vincent church),” but “we feel like this is probably God’s plan.”

Choua and Khamsy Yang came to the closing Mass and gave remarks during a reception afterward. They plan to join Presentation and, like Deacon Yang, they also have been at St. Vincent since it first welcomed the Hmong Catholic community.

“A lot of history,” said Choua Yang, 56, of the family’s years at St. Vincent. “We have four children. They all received their sacraments here.”

Like Deacon Yang, they have mixed feelings about the transition. “It’s sad, but we are very excited to go to Presentation,” Choua Yang said. “I think we will grow (in) our faith.”

MIXED FEELINGS

Father Ly will see to that. He said he is aware of the challenges of adding roughly 80 families to the parish, but he already sees positive signs that the move will benefit both incoming and existing parishioners.

“There are things you will lose, naturally, as you move from one place to another,” he said. “But the gains I see outweigh the things that will be lost.”

Father Ly has a unique perspective on this situation, having grown up at St. Vincent and now being the leader at Presentation who will help his fellow Hmong Catholics make the transition.

Father Johnson, who served at St. Vincent from 2004 to 2012 while also serving as the rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, saw leadership gifts in Father Ly during those years.

“There were a number of challenges in the community when I came here,” Father Johnson said. “And Father Ly, as a young adult, stepped up and said, ‘Can I lead the youth group and try and do something for our youth to get them more engaged in the faith?’ So, he became my partner in really bringing the young people of this parish closer to Christ. In the process of that — praying and leading them — he began to discern his own vocation.”

Before that discernment began, Father Ly had a concern for his fellow Hmong Catholics, which he brought to God.

“My prayer was, ‘Lord, we need a priest who can minister to the Hmong people,’” he said.

God’s answer: “What about you?”

Father Ly said yes to the call and was ordained in 2018. As he was preparing for

priesthood, he continued to desire that the people in his faith community would one day have a Hmong priest, not sure whether it would be him or someone else.

Turns out, Archbishop Hebda had the same desire, which led to a meeting with Father Ly in January 2023. The idea of bringing the Hmong Catholic community to Presentation was introduced by the archbishop, who asked Father Ly: “Would you be open to it?”

After taking it to prayer, Father Ly began working with Father Michael Tix, the vicar general for the archdiocese. They formed leadership committees at each of the two parishes and discussed the idea. After months of dialogue, both committees approved it and presented it to all parishioners of the two parishes.

“There were some concerns, but I think the general (feeling) of both communities was excitement,” Father Ly said. “Presentation of Mary parishioners love their parish. ... But they also know the reality that this is a beautiful and large campus — we’ve got a lot of space. And it would be good to have more family members be able to make use of our beautiful home.”

Mary Vang of St. Vincent came to the closing Mass with her husband, Peng Yang, and their four daughters. They have belonged to the parish since 2005 and live in Woodbury.

“I’m excited about what’s to come because we haven’t had an actual Hmong

HISTORY IN MINNESOTA

As previously reported in The Catholic Spirit, Hmong began to arrive in great numbers in the Twin Cities after the communist takeover of Laos in 1975. Members of the ethnic group who had fought on the side of the United States during the Vietnam War were granted refugee status in the U.S.

Deacon Nao Kao Yang left Laos in 1976 and came to the U.S. He became Catholic in 1986 and was ordained a permanent deacon in 1997. He and his wife, Mai, have three children.

priest in the parish since I’ve been here,” she said. “It’s a good transition. I’m happy about the transition.”

Father Johnson noted that St. Vincent has a history of serving immigrant communities, beginning with Irish immigrants, then Hmong immigrants for the past 29 years, and soon-to-be SyroMalabar Catholics from India (Eparchy of Chicago), who are purchasing the building for their faith community.

“It’s really a third chapter in the same story of people coming to America and living out their Catholic faith,” he said. “It’s beautiful to have that peace of knowing this (church) isn’t being shut down and closed. No, it’s just being handed on to another community that’s going to come in. It’s a win-win.”

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Ava Yang lights a candle for Andre Yang during a candle lighting ceremony in the basement of St. Vincent de Paul in St. Paul June 23 following the closing Mass. The Hmong Catholic community of St. Vincent is transferring to Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Maplewood.