The Catholic Spirit - July 17, 2015

Supporting abuse survivors 5 • Lay movements 8 • Natural family planning 19 July 16, 2015 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

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Catholics fill Cathedral to welcome new leader At first public Mass in archdiocese, Archbishop Hebda says Jesus summons and sends everyone on mission of love and mercy

By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit

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rchbishop Bernard Hebda found a fitting and “powerful” message in the Gospel reading July 12 as he celebrated his first public Mass in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis as its apostolic administrator.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda is all smiles as he gets ready to celebrate his first public Mass July 12 as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Among the concelebrants were Father John Ubel, rector of the Cathedral, Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, rector of the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, and Father Paul LaFontaine, a retired priest serving at the seminary. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

In relating the events of the Gospel, Archbishop Hebda said St. Mark “makes sure Read more that he tells us that Jesus did two things: On page 4, Archbishop He summoned and Hebda gives his first sent.” impressions of the “The readings archdiocese as its certainly remind us of who we are as apostolic administrator. followers of Jesus and what it is that we must do,” Archbishop Hebda said in his homily at See more the Cathedral of Visit www.

St. Paul in St. Paul. “So many people have thecatholicspirit.com asked me what are my to view a photo gallery plans for the of Archbishop Hebda’s archdiocese. Just look July 12 Mass. at today’s Gospel, and that will give you a sense for what it is we must do.

“My brothers and sisters, all of us are called and sent,” he continued, adding that as a Please turn to ARCHBISHOP on page 7

ALSO inside

‘Divine Comedy’ at the Fringe

Green parishes

Celebrating service

Local playwright puts a contemporary twist on Dante at annual theater festival.

— Page 11

Catholics throughout the archdiocese embrace “Laudato Si’” in parish ministry.

— Pages 12-13

Among jubilarians, Sister Phyllis Tousignant reflects on her 60 years as a religious sister.

— Pages 14-16

Page Two

2 in PICTURES “It was a moment of happiness, of emotion, a moment that was like a surprise from Jesus, [who] was a prisoner once.”

Maria Lorenza Vasquez, an inmate and chorus member at Good Shepherd women’s prison in Asuncion, Paraguay, where Pope Francis stopped to listen to 50 women prison inmates sing a welcoming song as he traveled from the airport to the papal nuncio’s residence upon arriving in Paraguay July 10.

NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit

Archdiocese to honor NFP providers with special Mass

ROCK ON Archbishop Bernard Hebda chats with 2015 Convent of the Visitation graduates Grace Brombach, left, and Elizabeth Wollan at the Basilica Block Party July 10 while visiting the Year of Consecrated Life booth run by members of local religious communities.

Looking on, from left, are Visitation Sisters Karen Mohan and Katherine Mullin, and Father John Bauer, pastor of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. The annual event has raised millions for the Basilica’s preservation. Maria Wiering/The Catholic Spirit

The Office of Marriage, Family and Life in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will host a Mass July 21 at the Cathedral of St. Paul to honor providers, teachers, nurses, physicians and life care centers that promote natural family planning.

Cathedral rector Father John Ubel will celebrate the noon Mass, which will be followed by a dessert reception at the Cathedral, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. RSVP by July 19 at surveymonkey.com/r/NFP_Mass_2015 or call (651) 291-4489.

Latino Family Day slated for Aug. 1 The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will sponsor the fourth annual Latino Family Day from 3-8 p.m. Aug. 1 at St. Thomas Academy, 949 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights.

The event will include 4 p.m. Mass with Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who will bless quinceañeras; a soccer tournament and games for all ages; music and entertainment; empanadas, tamales and salsas; and parish piñata competitions. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.

Minnesota Twins host Altar Server Appreciation Days

MARRIAGE TALK Former NFL player and St. Paul native Matt Birk, center, greets Brian Gibson, left, executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, and Rich Chapman of St. John Neumann in Eagan at St. Paul’s Outreach Men on a Mission event July 10 at Embassy Suites in Bloomington. Birk and Chapman co-authored the book “All-Pro Wisdom: The Seven Choices That Lead to Greatness” that was published in 2014.

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit Read more at www.thecatholicspirit.com.

WHAT’S NEW on social media “From the Pew,” the new blog at www.CatholicHotdish.com that shares the voices of local Catholics, features a variety of commentary, from a convert finding solace in the confessional to a young farm family living tenets of Pope Francis’ “Laudato Si.’” Want to know how you’re able to hold The Catholic Spirit in your hands every other week?

See photos and a video of newspaper production at our printer, ECM Publishers in Princeton, @TheCatholicSpirit. (Fun fact: It takes about three hours to print The Catholic Spirit.)

Recent live tweets included Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s homily at his July 12 welcome Mass. Read the latest news about the local and universal Church by following The Catholic Spirit on Twitter @CatholicSpirit.

The Catholic Spirit is published bi-weekly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 20 — No. 14 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher United in Faith, Hope and Love

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

MARIA WIERING, Editor

The Minnesota Twins again are offering Altar Server Appreciation Days at Target Field. One is scheduled for Sept. 20 (1:10 p.m.) against the Los Angeles Angels, and two are scheduled for October: Oct. 3 (6:10 p.m.) and Oct. 4 (2:10 p.m.), both against the Kansas City Royals.

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the Home Run Porch at a discounted rate of $15 per ticket. To order, call 1-800-33-TWINS. Order deadline is Sept. 15 for the Angels game and Sept. 22 for the Royals games.

Teenagers invited to vocation days The archdiocesan Office of Vocations is sponsoring Totus Tuus — Vocation Day for Young Men/Daughter of God Retreat from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 15.

Catholic boys and girls, ages 12-17, are invited to these events to deepen their faith and better discern God’s calling in their lives. $10 per person; $20 family maximum. Lunch will be provided. Parents are invited to coffee from 9:15-10:30 a.m.

The event for boys will be at St. John Vianney College Seminary, and the event for girls will be at the St. Paul Seminary.

For more information and to register, visit www.archspm.org/archspm_ events/ and click on the “Totus Tuus” listing.

A note to Catholic Spirit subscribers The next issue of The Catholic Spirit will publish Aug. 13. Visit www.thecatholicspirit.com for the latest news about the local and universal Church. Thank you for your support.

Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service.

All other materials copyrighted by The Catholic Spirit Newspaper.

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3 Let me share a story.

There was once a man hurrying down a crowded street. The more the people pushed him out of their way, the more he pushed them out of his way. It was early winter, windy and freezing cold. He glanced at a family standing off to the side. He quickly formed a negative first impression of this family. He was already stressed out and angry with the slow-moving crowd. He blamed them for being poor and faulted the parents for subjecting their young child to the cold weather. It did not take much for him to see them as an example of all that is wrong with the world.

A moment later, he tripped — a reeling stumble that threw the man into the arms of the husband and wife.

Their immediate FROM THE MODERATOR concern was for his OF THE CURIA health and whether he was injured. He saw Father Charles Lachowitzer their compassion, and in that moment his

heart changed. His eyes were opened to meet Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus — a perfect example of all that is right with the world.

I share this to remind us that our first impressions are often flawed and all too human. It is in that first look that we hate ourselves or others, or see only an overstuffed dumpster while vacationing in a national forest. However, human beings are uniquely gifted with the ability to take a second look.

The eyes of faith move the heart to love, and hope springs forth from a spiritual vision of self, others and the providential beauty of the world around us.

To demonize, we have to dehumanize — whether we find fault or blame for the world’s wrongs in people, corporations, governments or religions. Nothing gives us reason to deny another child of God his or her goodness and dignity.

We are all created in the image and likeness of God. To look at ourselves or any other person as anything less is to give sin too much power and deny the very cross of Jesus Christ that we are called to carry as his disciples.

For Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and for citizens of the broader local communities, the swirl of reactions, opinions and judgments over this terrible chapter of clergy sexual abuse are understandable. I share the grief, sorrow, disappointment, anger and heartache.

I also share the burden of moving our

Church forward through the tragedy of this Good Friday to the joy of a new Easter. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, calls us to be joyful witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This means taking a second look at all the people involved in the leadership of the Church, particularly in this archdiocese.

It is a matter of critical judgment and opinion concerning the events of the past. It is the moral obligation of all members of the Church to be part of the solution for moving forward into the future.

In our witness to the Gospel, we profess. It is the difference between drawing others to Jesus Christ or driving them away.

With the pain of awareness — by the grace of God — comes the wisdom for right judgment.

Judgment is not the issue. It is the conclusions we believe and the decisions we make that demonstrate whether or not we are taking that second look through the eyes of faith. It is the all-too-human first look that takes threads of truth and weaves them into tapestries of fiction solely for the benefit of demonizing any human being.

I invite us to pray together for a vision that is through the eyes of faith. Let us work together so that our Church can be an instrument of healing and reconciliation, building one another up rather than tearing anyone down.

Let us take that second look with the virtues of charity and hope. The Church calls us to make saints, not demons.

From the Moderator of the Curia

To move forward, take second look with ‘eyes of faith’

Para seguir adelante, den una segunda mirada con ojos de fe Permítanme compartir con ustedes una historia.

Había una vez un hombre caminando rápidamente por una calle llena de gente.

Cuanto la gente más lo empujaba fuera de su camino, él a su vez los empujaba fuera del suyo. Fue a principios de invierno, con mucho viento y un frío que helaba. El echó un vistazo a una familia que estaba al lado del camino.

Rápidamente formó una primera impresión negativa de esta familia. Ya estresado y enojado con la multitud que se movía lentamente. Él los culpó por ser pobres y criticó a los padres por someter a sus hijos pequeños a un clima tan frío.

No pasó mucho para que él los viera como un ejemplo de todo lo que está mal con el mundo.

Un momento después, se tropezó — un tropiezo que arrojó al hombre en los brazos del marido y la mujer. Su preocupación inmediata fue por ver si él se había hecho daño y por su salud. El vio la compasión de ellos y en ese momento su corazón cambió. Sus ojos se abrieron para conocer a José, María y el

Niño Jesús — un ejemplo perfecto de todo lo que está bien con el mundo.

Comparto esto para recordarnos que nuestras primeras impresiones son a menudo imperfectas y demasiadohumanas. Es en esa primer mirada en la cual, nos odiamos a nosotros mismos u a otros, o sólo vemos el bote sobrecargado de basura mientras vacacionamos en un parque nacional. Sin embargo, los seres humanos están singularmente dotados con la capacidad de dar una segunda mirada. Los ojos de la fe mueven el corazón al amor; y la esperanza florece hacia una visión espiritual de uno mismo y de los demás y de la belleza providencial del mundo que nos rodea.

Para ser diabólicos, tenemos que deshumanizarnos — ya sea que encontremos la culpa o los culpables de los males del mundo en las personas, empresas, gobiernos o religiones. Nada nos da la razón para quitar a otro hijo de Dios de su bondad y de su dignidad.

Todos estamos creados a imagen y semejanza de Dios. Mirarnos a nosotros mismos o a cualquier otra persona como

algo menos, es darle al pecado demasiado poder y negar la cruz de Jesucristo, que estamos llamados a llevar a cuestas como sus discípulos.

Para los católicos en la Arquidiócesis de St. Paul y Minneapolis y para los ciudadanos de las comunidades locales, el remolino de reacciones, opiniones y juicios sobre éste terrible capítulo de los abusos sexuales del clero, son comprensibles. Comparto el dolor, la tristeza, la decepción, la ira y la angustia.

También comparto la carga de llevar nuestra Iglesia hacia adelante a través de la tragedia de este Viernes Santo a la alegría de una nueva Pascua. El Santo Padre, el Papa Francisco, nos llama a ser testigos gozosos del Evangelio de Jesucristo. Esto significa dar un segundo vistazo de todas las personas involucradas en el liderazgo de la Iglesia, particularmente en esta arquidiócesis.

Es una cuestión de juicio crítico y de opinión con respecto a los acontecimientos del pasado. Es una obligación moral de todos los miembros de la Iglesia a ser parte de la solución para

avanzar hacia el futuro. Es nuestro testimonio del Evangelio que profesamos.

Es la diferencia entre llevar las personas a Jesucristo o alejarlas de Él.

• Reverend Thomas O’Brien, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis. This is a transfer from his appointment at Saint Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights.

CMC, who has been assigned outside the Archdiocese by the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix.

Providence Academy in Plymouth. Father Treco is a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.

Effective July 13, 2015

Effective July 25, 2015

Effective July 11, 2015

• Reverend James Devorak, granted faculties of the Archdiocese and assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Bernard in Saint Paul. Father Devorak is a priest in residence from the Diocese of New Ulm.

• Reverend Augustine M. Ky Truong, CMC, granted faculties of the Archdiocese and assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Anne-Saint Joseph Hien in Minneapolis. He succeeds Reverend Peter Chrysologus Tuyen Quang Dinh, CMC, who has been assigned outside the Archdiocese by the Congregation of the Mother Co-Redemptrix.

Con el dolor de la conciencia — por la gracia de Dios — viene la sabiduría hacia el juicio correcto. Aquí, el asunto no es el juicio, sino las conclusiones que creemos y las decisiones que tomamos las que demuestran si estamos dando esa segunda mirada a través de los ojos de la fe. Es la primer mirada-demasiada humana en la cual tomamos los hilos de la verdad, y los tejemos creando un tapiz de fantasía, con el único beneficio de hacer parecer al ser humano, diabólico.

Los invito a que oremos juntos, por una visión que sea a través de los ojos de la fe. Trabajemos juntos para que nuestra Iglesia pueda ser un instrumento de sanación y reconciliación — construyéndola unos con otros en vez de derrumbarla. Demos esa segunda mirada con las virtudes de la caridad y la esperanza. La Iglesia nos llama a hacer santos, no demonios.

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend Bernard Hebda, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Effective July 1, 2015 • Reverend Michael Malain, FSSP, granted faculties of the Archdiocese and assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of All Saints in Minneapolis. He succeeds Reverend Simon Harkins, FSSP, who has been reassigned outside the Archdiocese by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.

• Reverend Vincent Thanh Au, CMC, granted faculties of the Archdiocese and assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Anne-Saint Joseph Hien in Minneapolis. He succeeds Reverend Ignatius M. Kinh Dai Nguyen,

• Reverend Vaughn Treco, appointed chaplain to

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

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The road ahead: Q&A with Archbishop Hebda The apostolic administrator speaks on current challenges and his hopes for the future Interview by Jessica Trygstad and Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit sat down for a wide-ranging interview July 9 with Archbishop Bernard Hebda in his first full week working in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Pope Francis appointed him the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator after Archbishop John Nienstedt’s June 15 resignation. Archbishop Hebda, 55, is also coadjutor archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

The following is edited for length and clarity. Read the full version at www.TheCatholicSpirit.com.

Q. You became the apostolic administrator during unusual circumstances, with the resignations of Archbishop Nienstedt and Bishop Lee Piché.

How do those circumstances affect how you plan to lead with the challenges we’re facing?

“I really hope that the people of the archdiocese will come to see in the appointment of an apostolic administrator a real sense of concern on the part of the Holy Father for this local Church.”

A. Certainly, the

two realities — one, the history that is dealing with the problem of sexual abuse, and, two, the twin problem of dealing also with Reorganization — make this diocese unlike any other in the country for the moment. All over the country and all over the world people are struggling with how it is that we as a Church address the fact that sometimes our priests, sometimes Archbishop Bernard Hebda our employees, sometimes those who are involved in ministry in different ways have committed acts of abuse. Certainly, we’re trying to make sure that as best we possibly can we minimize the probability that that would happen in the future. All over the country and now, with the initiatives Pope Francis has started, all over the globe, we’re trying to be attentive to child protection, and also provide outreach to those who have been victims of persons ministering in the Did you know that Church.

Archbishop Hebda has an I’ve personally been impressed in the short affection for Italian time I’ve been here by cooking, Cardinal John the resources that have Henry Newman and the been committed by the Missionaries of Charity? archdiocese to dealing Read 11 fun facts about with those challenges. I our new apostolic think bishops and people administrator at in the Church and CatholicHotdish.com. around the country will be learning from St. Paul

More online

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

Archbishop Bernard Hebda spent his first full week in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis July 7-14 following his appointment as its apostolic administrator in June.

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit and Minneapolis best practices that move us forward. [There are] great human resources here — people who are committing a lot of thought, a lot of time, a lot of energy to how it is that we can maintain high standards, how it is that we can protect our children throughout society, and how it is that we can be a source of healing for those who have experienced the tragedy of sexual abuse in their lives.

To be sure, that’s a huge challenge here. In a practical way, that speaks to the huge challenge of Reorganization. It’s a humbling experience for our local Church, but it’s also a moment for us to really regroup and reconsider our priorities and then to have that opportunity for a rebirth. I wouldn’t have anticipated being thrust into a situation like this, but it’s certainly one of extreme importance, and I feel privileged to be part of the whole process of helping the archdiocese emerge from this situation.

Q. Many Catholics — including the Basilica of St. Mary’s rector Father John Bauer in a recent open letter — have called for the release of the reports related to Archbishop Nienstedt’s investigation and associated costs.

What do you think of these requests?

A. I think they’re very reasonable requests. The situation is complex enough that it requires a well thought-out response. I was certainly happy to see that Father Bauer had mentioned the balance of interests that would go into something like that as well. Being able to recognize that those who might have been involved in the investigation and might have provided testimony might have done that with the presumption or the promise that they were speaking confidentially. Those sorts of things we would have to work out.

Q. Who have you been meeting

with in the chancery and what has been the breadth of what you’ve discussed? Where do you begin when you take this job?

A. There are obviously some structures that you find in every diocese — the finance council, the college of consultors. Here in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, [there’s also] the corporate board. I’ve also had the chance to meet with the staff briefly and had a great meeting with the department heads in which I went way over the time allotted to me — not for me to speak, but to hear what’s going on. As I listened to the great things that are being done in Hispanic ministry, for example, I was greatly encouraged.

It really balanced out what we’ve been hearing in terms of bankruptcy — to hear about the great things being done in Hispanic ministry, the groundbreaking things being done in our Catholic schools and in the area of evangelization. It really excited me and gave me a sense of how important it is, even in my small part, that I help the archdiocese to move through this difficult time because the potential is so great here. The desire to build the Church is so great here. It saddens me that we’re not able to do so many of those things because of those difficult challenges that we spoke about before.

Q. We know you don’t know how long you’ll be here, but what can local Catholics expect from your time here?

A. I hope that I’ll have that opportunity to experience pastoral life here in the archdiocese. For most Catholics, the parish is the place where they really experience the life of the Church. Unless we have vibrant parishes, it’s difficult for us to have a healthy Church. I want to be able to encourage that in

this interim period so that parishes don’t lose momentum or feel that somehow they’ve been cut off from the rest of the Church.

I really hope that the people of the archdiocese will come to see in the appointment of an apostolic administrator a real sense of concern on the part of the Holy Father for this local Church. Not that I’m such a great contribution to the life here, but the fact that the Holy Father would want there to be an apostolic administrator, and that he would give it the kind of priority to take a coadjutor archbishop from important work somewhere else to bring him here, should be telling the local Church that the Holy Father cares and that he’s very much part of our future and desires the best for the Church.

Q. What else do you want Catholics to know about the place where the archdiocese finds itself in 2015?

A. Throughout history, the Church has often faced great challenges. Nonetheless, because the Church was instituted by Christ, we know the Church is going to survive, and Christ is going to triumph. Even in those dark times and those difficult moments, we have to have confidence that when we stand with Christ the victory is ours. [We want] to be able to look forward to those times when we’re able to embrace some of those more joyful moments of ecclesial life. Not that dealing with sexual abuse isn’t an important part of the life of the Church — it’s something that we’re always going to have to be attentive to, making sure that we do all that we can to prevent child abuse and protect our children. That’s always going to be part of our life as the Church; that’s one of the good things that we’ve learned from this difficult experience. But there are so many other parts of what we need to be doing as the Church.

Pope Francis has certainly laid out a very powerful vision for us in his “Joy of the Gospel.” I find it so significant there that he calls all of us — whether we’re bishops, priests or lay faithful — to be missionary disciples, to have that sense of going beyond the doors of the Church and reaching out to a community, and helping people to experience God’s love and God’s mercy.

I think [the Year of Mercy, which begins Dec. 8, 2015] is going to be an exciting time not only here in the archdiocese, but also throughout the world as we really try to make ourselves more aware of God’s mercy in our own lives and find ways to bring others to that same kind of experience. It’s for us to focus on where forgiveness comes from in the life of a Christian, and I think that’s going to be huge here in the archdiocese.

5 Organizers hope specifically to reach men harmed by clergy

By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit For many victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse, the pain doesn’t end with therapy sessions. That’s what leaders of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have learned in speaking with victims/ survivors and what prompted a pilot support group that organizers hope will bring victims/survivors closer to healing.

Beginning in September, the archdiocese plans to sponsor a series of eight weekly sessions for male victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Jane Braun, a victims assistance consultant for the archdiocese, said that by first offering the group for men, a large population of victims from a 30-year span could receive the help they need.

“In huge numbers, males do not come forward,” explained Braun, who worked in child protection for 38 years in Ramsey County.

Deacon Rip Riordan, survivor assistance director for the

archdiocese, said male victims have specifically asked for a single-gender support group.

Aside from receiving mental health services, Braun said victims benefit from knowing others share similar experiences. That’s where the support group comes in.

Group sharing “shows a lot of positives because, hopefully, people in this group will have some things that really worked for them that are very different from one another,” Braun said.

Braun described the group’s purpose as psycho-educational — some time will be spent addressing a certain topic, such as anger, fear or resentment, which are common emotions victims have. Then, the group will discuss it together: “What happened to you when you had these feelings? What did you do?

What worked for you?” Braun said.

Independent professionals experienced in working with victims/survivors of sexual abuse will facilitate the groups, and information shared in the sessions will be kept confidential, Braun said.

After each session, facilitators will

survey the group to gauge efficacy.

To recruit participants, Tim O’Malley, the archdiocese’s director of ministerial standards and safe environment, has contacted victims directly and asked St. Paul attorney Jeff Anderson, who represents some abuse victims/survivors, to share information about the support group with clients. Information also will be advertised in parishes. People who sign up for the support group will remain anonymous.

Because facilitators want to limit the size to 16 people, anyone interested who isn’t part of the initial group will be added to a waiting list.

Braun hopes to keep cycling the group so that it’s offered three times a year. If the initial group is successful, organizers will share information and resources with parishes.

To participate, people should contact Canvas Health, the archdiocese’s third-party provider of assistance for victims/survivors, at (651) 291-4497. Before signing up for the support group, victims/ survivors will have the opportunity

Local

Archdiocese to sponsor support group for victims/survivors

to meet with the facilitators where the sessions will take place.

Organizers hope this will decrease any potential anxiety.

Braun noted that Canvas Health serves as the “common entry point” for victims/ survivors in the archdiocese.

“All change begins with “It’s victims first — how can listening. And when you they best be served,” she listen, you have to said. respond. Most of A ninth, voluntary ministry is ministry session will be offered with of presence, not Deacon Riordan for anyone who avoidance.” wants to converse more Deacon Rip Riordan, about faith survivor assistance director matters.

“All change begins with listening,” Deacon Riordan said.

“And when you listen, you have to respond. Most of ministry is ministry of presence, not avoidance.”

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6 Seminary seeks parish chalices for vocations prayers

By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit

Jude, a Maple Lake native who died earlier this year.

Used as the main chalice at Gleaming and colorful, the the parish for years, it has a ornate chalice that’s been used for rich filigree overlay on the cup liturgies at St. Mary’s Chapel at and the base, both of which the St. Paul Seminary School of are decorated with fine, handDivinity since mid-April doesn’t painted enamel medallions. belong to the seminary.

The artwork depicts the Sterling silver with a 24-karatimages of the 12 Apostles that gold-plated finish, the chalice and grace the wall behind its accompanying paten belong to St. Timothy’s altar.

St. Timothy parish in Maple Lake.

Father Meyer said he wrote They are on loan to the major about the chalice sharing in seminary of the Archdiocese of the parish bulletin, and St. Paul and Minneapolis as the information was included in Father Jeffrey Huard, director of spiritual seminary initiates a chalice pulpit announcements as well. formation at the St. Paul Seminary School of sharing program that’s the The benefit to his parish, he Divinity in St. Paul, celebrates Mass April 14 with brainchild of its rector, Msgr. said, is that the chalice sharing a chalice from St. Timothy in Maple Lake used to Aloysius Callaghan. “raises awareness of vocations pray for vocations as part of the seminary’s new The idea came to him as he and the need to pray for initiative. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit pondered ways the seminary vocations. That’s the main could support priestly vocations, purpose. It also helps us to be he said. united to our seminary and to grow in understanding “I remembered the ‘traveling Madonna’ (a statue of that we are a part of a larger Church.”

Mary shared from home to home for families to pray Now the seminary is requesting other parishes to before), and I thought it would be a great thing to do a take part by sharing a chalice. Msgr. Callaghan said he lending program,” Msgr. Callaghan said. hopes to have a schedule of chalices from various “The idea is to use a parish’s chalice at every public parishes lined up for use at the seminary when its Mass at the seminary and to pray for vocations from academic year begins in September. that parish. The people of the parish would know their While the main goal is to encourage prayer for chalice is here, and they would pray for us,” he said. vocations, Msgr. Callaghan appreciates that the chalice The first chalice in the program from St. Timothy sharing also connects parishioners to the St. Paul originally was donated to the parish by the family of Seminary, and connects seminarians to the people and Victor and Ruth Mary Jude in memory of their faithful parishes of the archdiocese. “It’s a reminder to all the parents, according to St. Timothy pastor Father John seminarians that the parishes that share their chalices Meyer. The Jude family was related to Father Robert with us are places where they will serve,” he said.

7 Oblates who served locally known abusers The names of seven Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate priests credibly accused of sexual abuse were publicized July 7 by St. Paulbased law firm Jeff Anderson & Associates. The priests are Fathers Michael Charland, James Vincent Fitzgerald, Paul Kabat, Thomas Meyer, Orville Munie, Robert Reitmeier and Emil Twardochleb. All served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul of Minneapolis for at least two years.

Anderson named Father Charland as having abused at least one minor in St. Paul; he did not indicate whether the others have been accused of abuse while serving locally.

Archdiocese not forced to show victims’ video The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis should not be compelled to post to its website or request parishes to show a video commissioned by sexual abuse claimants, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled July 9, calling it a work of advocacy. The video features victims/survivors of clergy sex abuse encouraging others to come forward ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline for filing claims against the archdiocese.

It is available to view on YouTube.

Read longer versions of these stories at TheCatholicSpirit.com.

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July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

7 Continued from page 1

Ecce Quam Bonum ps 133:1

community Church, Pope Francis says Catholics are to be “missionary disciples,” taking the joy of the Gospel outside of church walls. “My thought is that if we remember that we are summoned and sent, that changes everything.”

Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Hebda, coadjutor of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, to temporarily lead the archdiocese after Archbishop John Nienstedt resigned June 15 “to give the archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face,” Archbishop Nienstedt said in a June 15 statement. Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché also resigned June 15.

Citing the first reading as an example of how missionaries are called, Archbishop Hebda described Amos as an “unlikely and reluctant prophet” who “isn’t from New Jersey, but from a faraway place” and embarked on a mission he didn’t choose. But, Archbishop Hebda explained, “Amos had the confidence that comes from knowing that he was called and entrusted with a mission. When we, my brothers and sisters, know Christ, know the one who sends us, and know that the mission we have been given is the source of him, we know how the story ends.

“Our struggles are not in vain, and Christ and his Church will triumph,” he added.

Because the work of the Church will always be communal, Archbishop Hebda said, “when doing the Lord’s work, we can never be lone rangers. There’s no opportunity for . . . pride when it’s always ‘us’ and never ‘me.’ When we go out two by two, we have to share the praise, and also share the blame at times.”

Archbishop Hebda also said the

Local

Archbishop Hebda: ‘Our struggles are not in vain’

Archbishop Hebda poses for a selfie with Debbie Luna, a parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul. Luna said she went to Mass there earlier and then “raced over” to the Cathedral. “I can’t believe I got a selfie with the archbishop.”

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Missionaries of Charity sisters greet Archbishop Bernard Hebda outside the Cathedral of St. Paul July 12 after he celebrated his first public Mass in the archdiocese. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit Gospel reading reflected the complementarity that God has created everyone with distinct gifts that people need to be mindful of.

Whether laity and priests, women and men, young and old, or nativeborn and immigrant, “it’s important to recognize that God has blessed all of us with gifts that are absolutely essential to the life of the Church,” Archbishop Hebda said.

“Ultimately, we who are called and sent, we who strive to embrace the mystery, who go forth two by two, who, like Jesus, pitch our tent in this local Church, will be judged not by how quickly we resolve court cases, on how astute we are in finances, on how much we live up to our credentials or reputation, but on how effectively we make the love

and mercy of Jesus — and only Jesus — present in our day.”

Denise Kozojed, a parishioner of St. Hubert in Chanhassen, attended the welcome Mass to hear Archbishop Hebda’s message to the local faithful.

“I thought it was perfect. It was exactly what we need,” she said. “It isn’t a one-person thing. Everyone needs to take in the love of Christ and reflect back in our daily life.

“His message was wonderful about not measuring success by won court cases,” Kozojed continued. “I certainly pray for those who’ve been victims. Unfortunately, no one is immune to sin. We just have to be stronger in our faith and hold everyone up . . . just pass [along] the love of Christ, and keep it simple.”

John Mansfield, his wife, Edita, and their six children have been Cathedral parishioners since 2007.

John called Archbishop Hebda’s homily powerful and hopeful, while Edita said his procession brought tears to her eyes.

“He was speaking about becoming that movement in the world that we need to see of forgiveness and compassion, as well as going out, like Jesus said in the Gospel today, and picking up your staff and moving on,” John said. “I look forward to his leadership here in the archdiocese.”

Cathedral rector Father John Ubel, who was among the concelebrants, estimates that Mass attendance nearly tripled July 12.

“In my three years at the Cathedral, I have never witnessed so many people come forward to greet a celebrant after Mass,” Father Ubel said. “It was truly a joy to concelebrate Mass with Archbishop Hebda, whose gentle demeanor made even the most fidgety of rectors feel at ease.”

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July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

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8

‘Where two or three are gathered’ The what and why behind lay ecclesial movements

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

At Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s first public Mass in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis July 12, a group of Catholics held a banner reading “Welcome, Archbishop Hebda” and played music and danced on the Cathedral of St. Paul steps. The Catholics were members of the Neocatechuminal Way, one of approximately 15 lay ecclesial movements in the archdiocese.

Catholics who aren’t familiar with lay ecclesial movements might recognize what some of their members do: provide faith formation, reach out to the poor and marginalized, and seek holiness through regular gatherings and daily disciplines.

“In the world of today, you need to be able to be a Catholic in different ways, much more than “It becomes the two options, lay or ordained,” increasingly important said Massimo that people find ways of Faggioli, an associate theology professor at the living their Christian life University of St. Thomas in St. Paul within the context of who has others in which they’re researched the movements. “In loved and supported and the Church of today there are so encouraged by other many different charisms and Christians who have that needs, and the movements have same desire and the filled these gaps.”

Lay Catholics same vision.” have historically found different Jim Kolar ways of living and supporting each other in the Catholic faith through focused movements and structured communities. Often started by a single founder, a large

Bunny Vouk of St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul, right, leads discussion at a Communion and Liberation gathering July 10 at St. Ambrose in Woodbury. Joining in the discussion are, from left, Anna Knier of Maternity of Mary in St. Paul, Carmela Parisi of Annunciation in Minneapolis, Lorraine Schlueter of St. Ambrose, Judd Moorhouse of St. Ambrose and Dan Stokman of St. Joseph in West St. Paul.

Dave Hrbacek/ The Catholic Spirit number of lay movements worldwide serve the Church in many apostolates independent of, but often working with, parishes.

Well known international movements include Communion and Liberation, Focolare and the Community of Sant’Egidio, all of which have local members who may be active in their own parishes but also committed to the movement’s work.

Like many members of lay ecclesial movements, Sant’Egidio member Dale Schmidt feels that his community meets a need beyond the scope of his parish. That, however, doesn’t preclude the international community from integrating into parish life locally.

About 10 core members and other occasional members serve the elderly and meet weekly for prayer at St. Richard in Richfield. Founded in Italy in 1968, Sant’Egidio members seek to pray, communicate the Gospel and befriend the poor.

St. Richard parishioners are receptive to Sant’Egidio’s presence, and some participate in its outreach projects, said pastor Father Mark Pavlik.

“People know the group prays on a

regular basis for peace, the sick,” he said. “It benefits the parish to know an organization at the parish is not just praying for the prayer chain, but are getting together regularly to pray for the good of the Church.”

A sign of the Holy Spirit Movements fill roles that they discern Jesus calls them to, said Jeff Cavins, archdiocesan director of evangelization and catechesis, whose office has contact with some of the movements. The number of lay movements in the archdiocese is stable, he said, adding that about half the movements in the archdiocese are national or international.

Encouraged by its teaching on the laity, many movements formed after the Second Vatican Council and now have gained official Church status.

The movements are evidence of the laity’s growing role in the Church’s mission and have been encouraged by recent popes.

The variety of lay movement recognizes this role and the work of the Holy Spirit, said Faggioli, director of the Institute for Catholicism and Citizenship at the

University of St. Thomas and author of “Sorting Out Catholicism: A Brief History of the New Ecclesial Movements” (Liturgical Press, 2014).

Waves of new movements have risen periodically in Church history, Faggioli said. The most recent one began early in the 20th century and peaked around Vatican II in the 1960s, he said.

St. John Paul II and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI encouraged development of the movements, while the Church continues to consider their role, Faggioli said.

Pope Francis has continued to offer support, but cautioned them against becoming a Church of movements.

It’s unclear if the number of movements are growing today, Faggioli said. Some have drafted statutes that the Vatican has approved and are recognized by the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Seeking holiness Despite some outside criticism that members should focus energies on parishes, movement members Please turn to MEMBERS on page 22

In a category all its own, Opus Dei offers spiritual support

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit Local Opus Dei members commemorated the 40th anniversary of the death of their founder, St. Josemaria Escriva, June 26 with a memorial Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul celebrated by Bishop Andrew Cozzens.

Better known than many lay movements, Opus Dei isn’t actually one of them. Defined under Canon Law as a personal prelature, Opus Dei has its own bishop whose jurisdiction isn’t geographical, but rather covers members wherever they are.

Opus Dei is so far the only

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

organization to be granted personal prelature status, which it gained from St. John Paul II in 1982.

The pastoral mission of Opus Dei, Latin for “work of God,” is to promote the universal call to holiness outlined by the Second Vatican Council by providing spiritual support for lay men and women and priests to grow closer to God in their work and everyday lives, and share the faith with others, said Brian Finnerty, Opus Dei’s U.S. communications director based in Washington, D.C. Founded in Spain in 1928, Opus Dei has members in more than 90

countries. St. Josemaria is considered the saint of everyday life and his work anticipated Vatican II’s recognition of the role of the laity, Finnerty said.

Like some movements, Opus Dei offers retreats, spiritual direction and courses and a monthly evening of recollection. Members have devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Finnerty said.

Its members, however, respond to a call to be part of Opus Dei, he said.

“It’s something that shapes entire lives and gives new meaning,” he said.

The work of Opus Dei complements what members receive

St. Josemaria ESCRIVA in their own parishes, Finnerty added. “It’s something that you can get in the parish, but at the same time it’s not something that you might always find easily.”

9

Pope says he’ll read critiques of his economic thought before U.S. trip

Catholic News Service

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

The Holy See welcomed Iran’s historic nuclear deal and expressed hopes that more future breakthroughs will be on the horizon on other issues.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said “the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program is viewed in a positive light by the Holy See. “It constitutes an important outcome of the negotiations carried out so far, although continued efforts and commitment on the part of all involved will be necessary in order for it to bear fruit,” he said in a written statement July 14.

“It is hoped that those fruits will not be limited to the field of nuclear program, but may indeed extend further,” he said.

Under the new deal, decades-long sanctions by the United States, European Union and the United Nations eventually would be lifted in exchange for an agreement by Iran to restrict its nuclear program to peaceful purposes.

The negotiations involved Iran and what is often referred to as the “P5+1,” or the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — plus Germany.

The U.S. Congress and Iranian authorities would still need to review the agreement.

In January and in April, Pope Francis had expressed hopes that negotiations would end in an agreement.

Before arriving in the United States in September, Pope Francis said he will study American criticisms of his critiques of the global economy and finance.

“I have heard that some criticisms were made in the United States — I’ve heard that Pope — but I have not read them FRANCIS and have not had time to study them well,” the pope told reporters traveling with him from Paraguay back to Rome July 12.

“If I have not dialogued with the person who made the criticism,” he said, “I don’t have the right” to comment on what the person is saying.

Pope Francis said his assertion in Bolivia July 9 that “this economy kills” is something he believes and has explained in his exhortation “The Joy of the Gospel” and more recently in his encyclical on the environment.

In the Bolivia speech to grassroots activists, many of whom work with desperately poor people, the pope described the predominant global economic system as having “the mentality of profit at any price with no concern for social exclusion or the

destruction of nature.”

Asked if he planned to make similar comments in the United States despite the negative reaction his comments have drawn from some U.S. pundits, politicians and economists, Pope Francis said that now that his trip to South America has concluded, he must begin “studying” for his September trip to Cuba and the United States; the preparation, he said, will include careful reading of criticisms of his remarks about economic life.

Spending almost an hour answering questions from journalists who traveled with him July 5-12 to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, Pope Francis also declared that he had not tried coca leaves — a traditional remedy — to deal with the high altitude in Bolivia, and he admitted that being asked to pose for selfies makes him feel “like a great-grandfather — it’s such a different culture.”

The pope’s trip to Cuba and the United States Sept. 19-27 was mentioned frequently in questions during the onboard news conference. U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro publicly thanked Pope Francis and the Vatican last December for helping them reach an agreement to begin normalizing relations.

Pope Francis insisted his role was not “mediation.” In January 2014, he said, he was asked if there was some way he could help. “To tell you the truth, I spent three months praying about it, thinking what can I do with these two after 50 years like this.” He decided to send a

cardinal — whom he did not name — to speak to both leaders.

“I didn’t hear any more,” he said.

“Months went by” and then one day, out of the blue, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, told him representatives of the two countries would be having their second meeting at the Vatican the next day, he said.

The new Cuba-U.S. relationship was the result of “the good will of both countries. It’s their merit. We did almost nothing,” the pope said.

Asked why he talks so much about the rich and the poor and so rarely about middle-class people who work and pay taxes, Pope Francis thanked the journalist for pointing out his omission and said, “I do need to delve further into this magisterium.”

However, he said he speaks about the poor so often “because they are at the heart of the Gospel. And, I always speak from the Gospel on poverty — it’s not that it’s sociological.”

Pope Francis was asked about his reaction to the crucifix on top of a hammer and sickle — the communist symbol — that Bolivian President Evo Morales gave him July 8. The crucifix was designed by Jesuit Father Luis Espinal, who was kidnapped, tortured and killed in Bolivia in 1980.

The pope said the crucifix surprised him. “I hadn’t known that Father Espinal was a sculptor and a poet, too. I just learned that these past few days,” he said.

Father Espinal, he said, “was a special man with a great deal of geniality.”

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Vatican welcomes Iran’s historic nuclear deal

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10

Twelve years in, sex abuse charter faces ongoing challenges nationwide

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service

Because the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” is a “living document” open to differing interpretations, those in charge of implementing the charter at the diocesan level face a variety of challenges, according to the head of the bishops’ national office.

“We’re dealing with a charter that is loose in the way it is written . . . in order to respect the bishop’s right to “. . . we have to govern his own diocese,” said make sure that Deacon Bernie Nojadera, executive we pay attention director of the Secretariat for Child to the details in and Youth Protection at the the charter and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in be diligent.”

Washington.

Francesco Cesareo, “We’re 12 years into the [sex abuse] chairman of the National crisis, and we’ve Review Board, the all-lay done quite a bit to group that monitors get to where we dioceses’ performance in are,” he added, dealing with sexually referring to the first abusive priests and audit after the 2002 creating safe environments adoption of the for children throughout the charter by the Church bishops in Dallas.

“But there are always things to learn.”

In a separate interview, Francesco Cesareo, chairman of the National Review Board, echoed Deacon Nojadera’s sentiments. The board is the alllay group that monitors dioceses’ performance in dealing with sexually abusive priests and creating a safe environment for children throughout the Church.

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

“We have made significant strides in the Church to deal with questions of sexual abuse, and many aspects of the charter are now instituted in dioceses and parishes,” said Cesareo, who is president of Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. “But we have to make sure that we pay attention to the details in the charter and be diligent.”

In a June talk to the U.S. bishops in St. Louis, he outlined a number of recommendations to boost the charter’s effectiveness and clarify its requirements. Some of those recommendations might be incorporated into proposed charter changes that will come before the bishops in November; a draft of the proposed changes has not been made public.

Asked which of his recommendations he considered the most crucial for the bishops to adopt, Cesareo said he believes every allegation of sex abuse or boundary violations should be presented to the diocesan review board.

“This allows the bishop not to have to rely on a gatekeeper to determine if an allegation needs” further investigation, he said.

“Every allegation is given that same level of scrutiny. . . . In our review of cases that went wrong, what we found often is that allegations did not go before the diocesan review board.”

Another problematic area is that the charter calls for diocesan review boards to meet “regularly” but regularly is not defined, Cesareo said. “In many dioceses the board meets quarterly, others only once a year,” he said. “Some only meet when there is an actual allegation.”

But for review boards to work effectively, they “have to come to

understand their role and know how to effectively implement that role,” he added. A meeting might be scheduled just to review diocesan policies and to discuss the board’s role, he said.

Another challenge facing the bishops’ child protection efforts is budgetary concerns, Deacon Nojadera said. “Some of our colleagues are wearing four or five hats,” he said. “They are trying to do what they can with a limited budget.”

Only a few church jurisdictions have the resources that the Archdiocese of Chicago, for example, devotes to its child protection efforts. Its Office for the Protection of Children and Young People has four divisions — child abuse investigations and review, office of assistance ministry, safe environment office, and prayer and penance program — and a staff of 10.

But in some dioceses, the chancellor or school superintendent might also head up the local church’s child protection office. In others, Deacon Nojadera said, it might be “a one-person operation” or an office entirely staffed by part-time volunteers. “It runs the gamut,” he said.

In 2014, the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, and five Eastern-rite dioceses, called eparchies, did not participate in an annual audit measuring their compliance with the charter. Three of the eparchies that did not participate last year plan to take part in the audits in 2015, Cesareo told the bishops in June.

Under canon law, dioceses and eparchies cannot be required to participate in the audit, but it is strongly recommended.

Pope Francis blesses the rings of a couple as he arrives to lead a meeting with young people along the waterfront in Asuncion, Paraguay, July 12. CNS/Paul Haring

Pope tells young Paraguayans: Stir things up, then fix

By Barbara J. Fraser Catholic News Service “Stir things up, but then help organize what you have stirred up,” Pope Francis told about 220,000 young people gathered July 12 on the waterfront of Asuncion, Paraguay.

In his last major event before ending a weeklong trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, the pope spoke about service, solidarity, hope and freedom of heart.

Abandoning his prepared text, he based his remarks on the testimonials of two young people who asked him questions.

He also told the crowd that the young man who had read the Gospel, whom he identified only as Orlando, had asked him to pray “for freedom for each of us, for all of us.”

“Freedom is a gift from God, but we have to know how to receive it,” Pope Francis said. “Our hearts must be free.”

Liz Fretes, 25, told the pope how she put her life on hold to care for her mother, who had dementia, and her sick grandmother. Strained by studying in the evening and caring for her family by day, she found support among young people in her parish youth ministry.

Highlighting Fretes’ care for her mother and grandmother, Pope Francis emphasized two themes that he raised often during his trip, service and solidarity.

“Liz is fulfilling the fourth commandment, honor your father and your mother,” he said. “Liz is setting aside her own life in the service of her mother. That is an extremely high degree of solidarity, of love — a witness.”

Several times during his speech, the pope urged the young people to repeat his words.

“A free heart,” they chanted back.

“Solidarity. Work. Hope. Effort.

Knowing Jesus. Knowing God, my strength.”

The young adults’ stories to which he referred showed that hope and strength come from knowing Jesus, the pope told the crowd.

“We don’t want young people who tire easily, who are tired and have bored faces. We want young people with hope and strength,” he said. “But that means sacrifice and swimming against the tide.”

11 Interview by Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit A famous medieval poem is getting a contemporary twist at this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival, Minneapolis’ annual smorgasbord of theater, performance art and storytelling. “Tales from Café Inferno” re-imagines the first — and best known — third of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem the “Divine Comedy.” In Fringe’s version, Hell isn’t a series of nine descending circles of suffering; it’s a coffee shop.

“Honestly, I have no idea where it came from,” said Fiona Lotti, a theater student at the University of Minnesota who is directing and producing the show. “I woke up one morning, and I knew that in today’s hell, there would be an independent coffee shop. It’s such a visible part of our culture, and it’s where technology, conversation and materialist values all collide.”

The Catholic Spirit asked Lotti, 20, about the 55-minute performance and what she hopes its audience takes away from it. She said viewers need not be familiar with Dante to enjoy the show, but there are hidden gems for those who are. Answers were edited for length.

Q. For the uninitiated, what is the Fringe Festival?

A. The Fringe Festival is 10 days of glorious theater madness. Last year there were 169 shows in 17 different venues, each with five performances. Do the math — that’s a lot of theater. In theory, you could see more than 30 new shows over the course of 10 days.

Q. What’s the gist of the show?

A. The show centers around the

barista — an overworked, underpaid young woman from “up top.”

Despairing of ever paying off her college loans, she takes the first job she gets — which happens to be in hell. The show takes place during one work day in the café.

Q. Dante was Catholic, you’re

Eastern Orthodox and you’re

physical settings. The landscapes Dante describes are far too detailed and far too graphic to do on stage, so you have to come at his world from the side. Like [the works of] C.S. Lewis, Jean-Paul Sartre and Samuel Beckett, “Café Inferno” focuses on the people of hell. Hell is within us, and I’ve told my actors repeatedly that it’s not so much a place you go as it is a way of life.

Faith & Culture

A ticket to hell: Dante’s ‘Inferno’ inspires Fringe show

Q. Anything dealing with the “Divine Comedy” naturally deals with sin, which is not a popular idea in contemporary culture.

How do you expect to present the idea of sin to a secular audience?

Dante Alighieri was a Florentine poet who A. There are two ways to undermine something: lived 1265-1321 and is condemn it or laugh best known for writing the at it. Condemning sin “Divine Comedy.” almost always sparks In the poem, Dante defensiveness, and takes a pilgrimage from besides, condemnation earth through Hell, implies that we are Purgatory and Heaven to in some way above the beatific vision, whatever it is we’re exploring human nature, condemning. . . . My goal sin and redemption with with this show is to bring the help of capable guides. people together by having a good laugh at In May, Pope Francis human weakness. The called Dante “a prophet of ethos I’m going for is: hope, herald of the “Look at how ridiculous possibility of redemption, we are, clinging to our liberation and the profound lusts, our excuses and our transformation of every self-righteousness. We man and woman, of all really are idiots, aren’t humanity.” He encouraged we?”

Catholics to read the work as a spiritual guide ahead Q. What do you hope of the Year of Mercy, your audience takes which begins in December. away from the show?

This year marks the A. If even one person poet’s 750th birthday. walks away from seeing the show thinking, “That was me I just saw on stage,” the show will have been a success.

Who was Dante?

From left, Marcus Lotti, Fiona Lotti, Erin Cargill and Sandy Hitchin talk things over during a rehearsal of “Tales From Café Inferno” July 10 at Bedlam Design Center in Minneapolis. Fiona Lotti and Hitchin co-wrote the show, with Lotti serving as director and producer. The group will perform during the annual Fringe Festival in Minneapolis July 30 through Aug. 9. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

See the show The Minnesota Fringe Festival will offer five performances of “Tales from Café Inferno” Aug. 1-9 at the Minneapolis Theater Garage, 711 W. Franklin Ave., Minneapolis.

For details and tickets, visit www.fringefestival.org or follow the show on Facebook and on Twitter @cafe_inferno. aiming to attract Fringe-Festivalgoers, a largely secular audience.

What is it about the “Inferno” that transcends church denominations and even religious faith?

A. The “Inferno” satirizes the inclination we have as humans to justify ourselves and our actions.

We make excuses, we bargain, we do whatever it takes to prove to

ourselves that we’re not at fault. “I couldn’t help it.” “Everyone else was doing it.” “At least I’m better than [name]!” As human beings, we are endowed with reason, and a side effect of that is reasoning away our own imperfections. It doesn’t matter if we’re Catholic or agnostic, Orthodox or atheist: We all do it, and the “Inferno” captures that very well.

Q. What does a poem written nearly 700 years ago offer to someone living now?

A. This particular poem offers one of the most searing looks at human nature ever written.

Q. How might the themes you present your audience strike them differently in stage form, in contrast to reading the “Inferno”?

A. The thing about doing Dante on the stage is that you have to do away almost completely with the

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Parish Party & All School Reunion Saturday, September 12, 5:15-10:30 PM Join us to celebrate the 5:15 PM Mass followed by a Parish Party and All School Reunion with food, entertainment, games and fireworks!

Visit sthubert.org for more info.

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

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For the beauty of the earth

Bolstered by ‘Laudato Si’’, parishes aim to engage, protect cre

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

“T

hose that plant a garden work hand in hand with God.” So reads a sign that stands at the corner of a garden at St. Michael in St. Michael. The quote is unattributed, but it could have easily been excerpted from “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home,” Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for creation released last month.

Gardening was among the practices the pope championed, and he reminded readers that humanity’s first parents, Adam and Eve, were born in a garden and commanded to care for it.

Parishioners of St. Michael in St. Michael dug the one-acre garden six years ago as a place to grow vegetables for a community food shelf in Hanover. In the years since, it has also become a place for strengthening community and reflecting on God’s creation.

“This is what the Church is all about — helping each other, caring for each other. If we’re not doing that, we’re not being good citizens, and one of the things that we all need is food,” said Carol Blesener, 71, who works with her husband, Chuck, to oversee the garden.

St. Michael is among a swath of parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis with gardens, and an even larger segment with initiatives embracing the Church’s freshly articulated teachings on ecology.

St. Joseph in Rosemount keeps bees, an insect facing the mysterious and devastating phenomenon of colony collapse disorder. A handful of parishes, including St. Boniface in northeast Minneapolis, host weekly farmers markets. St. Mark in St. Paul sponsors a A garden sign at St. Michael in St. Michael. Dave Hrbacek/The “church-supported Catholic Spirit agriculture” program — a riff off the popular community-supported agriculture, or CSA, programs, in which participants buy an annual share of a farm and regularly receive a portion of its produce. In Waconia, St. Joseph Catholic School recently installed 96 solar panels on its roof, enough to power 25 percent of its energy use.

All connected Experts have described “Laudato Si’” — medieval Italian for “Praised be to you,” a repeated line in St. Francis of Assisi’s 13th-century “Canticle of the Creatures” — as the most comprehensive explanation of the Church’s teaching on ecology, but insist it’s not solely an encyclical about the environment. “Everything is related,” Pope Francis wrote, and noted threats to the family, culture and the nature of the human person as part of the Church’s overarching concern about right relationships within creation. For many, that includes reexamining how they use the earth’s resources.

Ahead of the encyclical’s release, a group of parishioners at St. Dominic in Northfield formed an environmental care committee to address ways the parish can be more ecofriendly. It supported the June installation of more than 600

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

energy-efficient LED lights in the parish office and school, and is backing the school’s plans to convert its heating system from steam to a 94-percent energy efficient hot water boiler system.

Both initiatives responded to a comprehensive energy audit the parish underwent last fall.

Parishioner Kathleen Doran-Norton joined the parish committee to connect her concern about global climate change to issues of faith and justice. A rural township supervisor with nine years on the township board, she’s been attentive to a rise in instances of local flooding and worldwide patterns of weather extremes scientists attribute to global warming.

“It was the experience with the hardships of the folks in my own community that led me to look at what was going on,” said Doran-Norton, 62, a retired information technology professional.

In 2013, she attended a climate summit at St. Olaf College that inspired her to take action, especially because of the way climate change affects the poor.

“The choices that we make in our lifestyle impact people negatively. That’s a moral issue,” she said.

“We may lose our loons and our pine forests, and there may be fewer lakes and the weather may be like Missouri where I grew up, but those are minor in comparison to what an awful lot of people in this world are going to experience,” she added.

“It was great to see that connection in the encyclical between the impact on the poor and climate change.”

Doran-Norton said “Laudato Si’” challenges the consumption-driven American lifestyle, and found the pope’s call for conversion “pretty direct.”

“Each of us has something to think about [in] how we conduct our lives and the decisions that we make, and those changes won’t be easy,” she said. “We go through our lives and we’re sort of on autopilot, and this is going to make us stop and think.”

The difference a parish could make Doran-Norton spoke about the need for people to move past the feeling of being “stuck” — a description also used by Basilica of St. Mary parishioner Donna Krisch, 62, a retired public elementary school teacher and member of the Basilica’s eco-stewardship team.

It was how Krisch used to feel — overwhelmed by the enormity of change needed to reverse the harm done to the environment. Faith helped her to move past a feeling of helplessness to believing small efforts add up.

“I started thinking about if everybody who was part of a faith community thought this was a priority — reducing their carbon footprint — what a difference that would make,” she said.

After initiating widespread recycling at their Minneapolis parish years ago, the Basilica group is spearheading composting for organic waste. It received a grant from Hennepin County to obtain composting bins, and its members worked with a county representative to label and strategically place the bins throughout the parish property.

“I just really believe it’s part of our faith and we have a moral obligation to care for the earth that God gave us,” Krisch said.

She hopes fellow parishioners are inspired to incorporate the Basilica’s environmentally-friendly practices in their homes.

Because of the group’s influence, she has started composting and is mindful of shopping with reusable bags and driving less.

The eco-stewardship group encourages bike transport and backs the Basilica’s annual blessing of the bikes in the spring.

It is also proud that the Basilica Block Party — the annual fundraiser for the church’s preservation held July 10-11 this

ABOVE A cabbage grow in a garden at St. Micha in St. Micha

RIGHT Chuck and Ca Blesener of St. Micha tend the one-acre garde They work side by si nearly every day cultivate the ma vegetables and flowe planted the Dave Hrbace The Catholic Sp

year — has been called “the event in the Midwest.”

Krisch is encouraged by th the wind in our sail,” she sai because in the end it’s all abo enough and sharing the reso has indicated that he’s not ju them.”

The encyclical has promp At St. Francis Xavier in Buff Meyers made it the focus of parish’s Theology on Tap se

13

eation “Each of us has something to think about [in] how we conduct our lives and the decisions that we make, and those changes won’t be easy.

We go through our lives and we’re sort of on autopilot, and this is going to make us stop and think.”

Kathleen Doran-Norton

wn ael ael.

arol ael en. ide y to any ers ere. ek/ pirit

e most green and sustainable large

he Holy Father. “Pope Francis is like id. “I’m just so proud of him, out justice and everybody having ources. Everything he’s done so far ust saying the words, he’s doing

pted reflection in a range of forums. falo, pastor Father Nathaniel f a July 13 presentation for the eries. Several parishes, including

St. Wenceslaus in New Prague, plan to begin studying “Laudato Si’” in small groups this fall. Deacon Bob Wagner, a pastoral associate at St. Wenceslaus, also addressed it in a recent homily, he said.

Deacon Wagner, 62, emphasized that the encyclical should not be read as having a political agenda.

“It’s being true to who we think we are as Catholics and stewards of God’s creation,” he said, adding: “He [Pope Francis] doesn’t care what your politics are. This is what’s going on and we need to address it.”

Back in St. Michael, the Bleseners and other volunteers garden daily under the patronage of St. Fiacre, the Irish saint

of vegetable gardens for whom their plot is named. There, the Bleseners are often awed by the cycle of plant life and God’s providence, they said, seeing their role as being “stewards of the land.”

“It isn’t us doing this, it’s the Lord,” Chuck, 79, said of the garden, which makes fresh food possible for people in need and fosters deep conversation among its volunteers.

For Carol, it’s just a part of the overall picture.

“I think the pope is working in marvelous ways, and I think he’s changing the whole aspect of how we should live. I like him putting the emphasis on the poor and helping one another. He’s a fresh light for me.”

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

Jubilees

14

Religious women and men celebrate jubilees The Catholic Spirit congratulates the following members of women’s and men’s religious communities who are serving in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and are celebrating jubilees this year. The information is provided by the religious orders and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Women religious

55 years

Sister Sarah Voss

25 years Sister Karen Sames

Dominican Sisters, Sinsinawa, Wisconsin

70 years

50 years

60 years

Poor Clares, Bloomington

Sister Mary Ewens Sister Mary Ellen Rains

50 years

Sister Martha Alken Sister Margaret McGuirk Sister Zita Simon

80 years

70 years

Sister Mary Bernarda Sanoski

Sister Marie Rademacher

75 years

65 years

Sister Mary Maureen Blenkush Sister Mary Evangeline Stanoch

Sister Rosemary Rader

Sister Loretta Beyer Sister Loretta Denfeld Sister Bernice Ebner Sister Jan Kilian Sister Louise McKigney Sister Trudy Schommer Sister Jean Schwieters Sister Mary Hope Uphoff

Sister Marie Lee Sister Florence Miller

Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota

Benedictine Sisters, St. Paul

60 years

Sister Doretta Meier

60 years

Sister Gabriel Zwiener

Sisters of St. Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes

50 years Sister Mary Frances Reichenberger

Sisters of the Living Word

50 years

Sister Rita Worm

Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, Iowa

50 years

60 years

Sister Jennifer Rausch

Sister Lois Hauwiller Sister Mary Claire Inhofer

Rejoice with our Jubilarians The School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province honors our Jubilarians, women of hope, and are grateful to God for their faithful lives.

25 YEARS

Vicki Jean Chambers Brenda TeVogt Mary Tokunaga

50 YEARS

Joan Bartosh Elleen Marie Beelman Barbara Bitter Mary Brian Bole Susan Bunde Rosel Marie Feder Claret Feldhake Jeannette Fennewald Charlotte Flarlong Mary Kay Gosch Phyllis Marie Grzeczka Jacqueline Jost Mary Monica Katsuragawa Virginia Klesner Marie Francine Koehler Barbara Masch Nancy McNemar Karen Moore Mary Loretta Murakami Marilyn Orchard Mary Anne Owens Joan Penzenstadler

Joseph Ann Quinene Mary Anne Schaenzer Katherine Scheurer Barbara Simek Jean Marie Smith André Maureen Soeté Mary Jane Tanaka Paulette Marie Tiefenbrunn Donna Walerius Mary Ruth Wand

60 YEARS

Marie Esther Becker Susan Birk Anne Boessen Cynthia Brinkman Carla Marie Candella Patricia Caswell Eileen Daudlin Monica Marie Eilers Lenore Feider Angelee Fuchs Mary Benedette Fujimori Linda Marie Hellebusch Jane Marie Hotze Mary Jane Jansen Ellen Jean Klein Doris Jean LeBrun

Laurine Anne Luft M. Carmelle Malerich Barbara Marie McInturff Marie Andre Miszewski Maris Stella Morimoto Marie Therese Nowakowski Roger Marie Postl Mary Joseph Quichocho M. Jonelle Rein Mary Alice Reitz Sharon Roedl Miriam Cecile Ross Mary Elizabeth Runde Marie Russell Kara Ryan Kieran Sawyer Helen Settersten Patricia Thies Domenica Tocco Nadine Touhey Nancy Carol Traeger

Marylene Venvertloh Mary Ricardo Wolf Theresa Ann Zanmiller Mary Elise Zettel

Mary Tacheny Mary Alice Wald M. Paula Young

70 YEARS

M. Margareta Bertrand Mary Elsa Bren Irene Kalapinski M. René Lorentz M. Carmen Madigan Mary Regina Meyer M. Laura Schmitt

Mary Eugene Braun Clare Marie Cato Miriam Therese Gill Marie Grellinger M. Ellene Gross Mary Willene Grossaint Ingrid Hamm Ruth Hollenbach Mary Helen Hotze Margaret Cortona Hurst Maureen Murray Mary Ann Sadowski Miriam Saumweber Francis Clare Schares Mary Gilda Sturino

75 YEARS

80 YEARS

Sheila McCall Mary Elsa Metternich

Names in BOLD are sisters who were born in, entered from, served five or more years in or live today in the diocese.

View Jubilarian profiles at ssndcentralpacific.org/jubilee • Follow us on facebook.com/ssnd.centralpacific and twitter.com/ssnd_cp

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

15 70 years

Sister Maureen Murray

Sister Mary Nicholas Vincelli Sister John Christine Wolkerstorfer Sister Betty Wurm

Congregation of St. Joseph, Cleveland, Ohio 60 years Sister Mary Ellen Foster 60 years Sister Jacqueline Lawson Sister Doreen Charest Sister Anita Germain Sister Phyllis Tousignant

50 years Sister Sue Torgersen

Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet

75 years

Sister Mary Lenore McManmon Sister Florine Provencher

70 years

Sister Jane McDonald Sister Dolore Rochon Sister Marie Shaun Walter

45 years Sister Barbara Whitlow

40 years

Sister Althea Johns Sister Martha Merriman Sister Kathryn Ross Sister Tam Thi Tran

45 years

Father Xavier Goulet

Dominican Friars Province St. Albert the Great

50 years

Father James Barnett

45 years

Father Joseph Gillespie

Jesuits, Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus

50 years

Father David Haschka

25 years

Father Gregory Hyde

Sister Joan Kain Sister Grace Maertens Sister Elizabeth Schoenberger

Men religious

Maryknoll, Maryknoll, New York

65 years

Conventual Franciscans, Mount St. Francis, Indiana

Father Timothy Kilkelly

Sister Jane Arens Sister Mary Calder Sister Mary Fowler Sister Ann Michele Jadlowski Sister Elizabeth (Betty) McKenzie Sister Shirley Oeffling Sister Rose Mary Rooney Sister Margery Smith Sister Mary Thompson

65 years

Father Juniper Cummings

25 years

Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Washington, D.C.

60 years

50 years

Father Jude Rochford

Father James Deegan

50 years

45 years

Father Edmund Goldbach

Jubilees

School Sisters of Notre Dame

Father Ronald Harrer

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

Jubilees

16

A change in habit: Sister reflects on 60 years of religious life

By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit A young woman walked down the aisle on her wedding day wondering if she was making the right decision. Getting closer to the altar, she saw a statue of the Infant of Prague, its message inviting her to choose her destiny: “If you love me, come follow me.” In a silent response she prayed, “I’m going to go ahead with this, but give me a daughter who’ll be a nun.” Before saying “I do,” she amended her request: “No, make it two.”

That woman who had thought of becoming a nun, even up until marriage, ultimately became the mother of two religious sisters of the Congregation of St. Joseph — Sister Shirley Tousignant and Sister Phyllis Tousignant, who’s celebrating her 60th jubilee this year.

When both decided to join a religious community — Sister Shirley entering in 1948, nearly seven years before Sister Phyllis — their mother, although supportive, bemoaned the fact that she was less likely to have grandchildren.

“But then my brother got married and had nine [children],” Sister Phyllis said.

The sisters have lived together in

a St. Paul apartment for nearly 15 years. Both attended the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and earned a degree in education. Sister Phyllis taught elementary school for 20 years and then transitioned to pastoral ministry in parishes, spending 14 years at her parish, St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul. There, she welcomed newcomers, planned funerals and ministered to the sick and dying.

Sister Phyllis, 77, has been retired for eight years. In her 60 years as a religious sister, she said she has seen “drastic” changes for the good, such as how society views and treats women. Sister Shirley, 83, who’s been a religious sister for 67 years, said because education for women has been stressed since the 1950s, they’ve come to see religious life differently.

“You’ve got all these educated women — and I mean educated — coming together and really uniting in thought,” said Sister Shirley, who affectionately calls her sister “Phil.” “It’s just an amazing formation that’s taking place there.

It’s energizing. You feel like you’re a little old lady, but you’re not dead. You still have your education, your mind. So, we’re

Sister Phyllis Tousignant, a Congregation of St. Joseph sister, is celebrating 60 years as a religious sister. She entered a St. Joseph community in 1955 at age 16 and took her final vows at 23. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit very involved, but not as directly as we used to be” in the traditional sense.

“It hasn’t been boring,” Sister Phyllis said. “And then you had Vatican II in there.”

Sister Phyllis entered the community, a “cousin” to the larger, better known Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, at age 16

and took the name Sister Miriam Therese. The sisters wore a habit until the late 1960s.

“Not that I didn’t like the habit, but I never realized that it made some people uncomfortable. For some people, it made them comfortable. It depends,” Sister Please turn to SISTER on page 18

With Saint Jeanne Jugan, Residents and all the Little Sisters we say “Blessed Be God” people of God.

Congratulations Archbishop Flynn!

Archbishop Harry J. Flynn May God bless you as you have blessed us!

Our prayers and support are with you.

Sister Paula Hagen, OSB, Prioress, and all the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul’s Monastery.

For information visit www.stpaulsmonastery.org or call 651-777-8181.

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

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By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Even if a pastoral proposal for helping a Catholic family with problems seems scandalous at first, it is possible God could use that proposal to bring healing and holiness, Pope Francis said.

Encouraging and celebrating family life during a Mass July 6 in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Pope Francis asked people to pray for the October Synod of Bishops on the family, and he tied the synod to the Jubilee of Mercy, a yearlong celebration that will begin in December.

The synod will be a time for the Church to “deepen her spiritual discernment and consider concrete solutions to the many difficult and significant challenges facing families in our time,” the pope said.

Celebrating Mass with as many as 1 million people gathered under the hot sun in Los Samanes Park, Pope Francis asked them “to pray fervently for this intention, so that Christ can take even what might seem to us impure, scandalous or threatening, and turn it — by making it part of his ‘hour’ — into a miracle. Families today need this miracle!”

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, told reporters Pope Francis was not referring to any specific proposal discussed in anticipation of the synod; one of the most common — and most debated pastoral suggestions — was to develop a process or “penitential path” for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics who want to receive Communion but have not received an annulment.

The pope, Father Lombardi said,

A man holds an image of Pope Francis as he waits for the start of the pope’s Mass in Los Samanes Park in Guayaquil, Ecuador, July 6. CNS/Paul Haring hopes the synod “will find a way to help people move from a situation of sin to a situation of grace.”

Pope Francis acknowledged the suffering and hope of young people who do not experience happiness and love at home, the “many women, sad and lonely,” who wonder how their love “slipped away,” and the elderly who feel cast aside.

In a family, “no one is rejected; all have the same value,” he said, telling the crowd that when he asked his own mother which of her five children she loved best, she would say that they were like her five fingers: all were important and if one finger was hurt, the pain would be the same as if another finger was hurt.

The Gospel reading at the Mass recounted the story of the wedding feast at Cana where the wine ran out and Mary asked Jesus to do something about it. Jesus turned

water into wine.

Despite the 90-degree heat, the 78-year-old pope was upbeat during the Mass and confident — even cheerful and playful — in his homily about the family.

The joy of the wedding feast at Cana, he said, began when Mary was attentive to the needs of others “and acted sensibly and courageously.”

“Mary is not a ‘demanding’ mother, a mother-in-law who revels in our lack of experience, our mistakes and the things we forget to do,” he said. “Mary is a mother! She is there, attentive and concerned.”

As with the guests at the Cana wedding, who were offered the finest wine at the end of the celebration, Pope Francis insisted, so, too, for families today “the richest, deepest and most beautiful things are yet to come.”

“The time is coming when we will taste love daily, when our children

will come to appreciate the home we share and our elderly will be present each day in the joys of life,” he said. “The finest of wines will come for every person who stakes everything on love.”

Pope Francis said he knows “all the variables and statistics which say otherwise,” but “the best wine is yet to come for those who today feel hopelessly lost.”

Speeding up his delivery and increasing his volume, the pope made “the best wine is yet to come” into a litany. “Say it until you are convinced of it,” he told the crowd.

“The best wine is yet to come.”

“Whisper it to the hopeless and the loveless,” the pope urged.

The whole story of God’s involvement with humanity, he said, demonstrates that he always seeks out those on the margins of society, “those who have run out of wine, those who drink only of discouragement.”

Jesus, he said, will provide flasks of the finest wine “for those who, for whatever reason, feel that all their jars have been broken.”

Strong families, he said, help build strong individuals and strong societies. They are the place where “our hearts find rest in strong, fruitful and joyful love.” Families teach people to be attentive to the needs of others and to place those needs ahead of one’s own.

“Service is the sign of true love,” he said.

When the Church asks governments to assist families, he said, it is not asking for “alms,” but rather payment of the “social debt” societies owe to families.

From Age to Age

Families need prayers, courage, including from synod, pope says

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Chris Pierskalla (651) 251-7714 pierskallac@archspm.org July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

18

From Age to Age

Sister lives with mantra: presence and availability Continued from page 16 Phyllis said, adding that she feels like she can better relate to and be with people because she no longer wears the habit. “I’m a community person. I don’t stand out.”

Inspired by the sisters who taught them as youth near Detroit, Michigan, and their mother, a “woman of great faith,” Sister Phyllis and Sister Shirley trust they’ve spent all these years where they needed to be. Initially, Sister Shirley was attracted to the simple lifestyle of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

When Sister Phyllis felt the same call to religious life, she entered the community in Crookston to be with her older sister. Following her order’s charism of “love of neighbor,” “presence and availability” has been Sister Phyllis’ theme.

“I like to get up in the morning and say, ‘Let me go where I’m needed. Let me be of service to the people around me, no matter what that means,’” she said.

Being open to God’s will in her day means she can volunteer in the community when she’s asked to help, or learn more about becoming involved in efforts to combat human trafficking.

“When I look back on some of this, we had the choice time to be religious sisters because we know the old and the structured, and we’re very embedded in that,” said Sister Shirley.

“But we’ve come so far. The changes have pulled [us] into a more natural setting to relate to people.”

LEFT Sister Phyllis Tousignant (left), who took the name Sister Miriam Therese, and her sister, Sister Shirley Tousignant, who took the name Sister Elizabeth Marie, are pictured in the late 1950s, after Sister Phyllis took her first vows as a Sister of St. Joseph.

BELOW Sister Phyllis (left) and Sister Shirley reminisce about their vocation on the balcony of the St. Paul apartment they share.

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Sister Phyllis said she’s humbled by how people she serves are so comfortable with her and welcome her into their families.

“I look back and I think, I’m so grateful for all these years.”

GREEN LINE

GREEN LINE

Sister Phyllis has this advice for women discerning a religious vocation: “Take your time, pray about it and trust in God. Have faith that he’s there with you,” she said. “It’s his call, not yours.”

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thegreenhouseproject.org

19

Rachel Lu

The lowdown on NFP from a working mom I decided to live contraceptive-free for a very simple reason: I wanted to be Catholic, and as I understood it, those were the rules. Not having grown up in the Church, I naively assumed that this was simply The Done Thing among Catholic women.

As a single woman, contraceptives weren’t hugely relevant to my life at that time. But for the sake of due diligence, I read a book called “Love and Responsibility” by Karol Wojtyla [aka St. Pope John Paul II].

It sounded reasonable, so with no experience at all of sex or marriage or children, I signed my name on the dotted line. That was it: contraceptive-free for life.

A decade later, I’m married with four boys under 6. People gawk when I parade my menagerie through public places. I have a Ph.D., but I squeak out a secondary income by freelance writing (in between pulling children off of bookshelves, bandaging cuts and sweeping up glass). How do I feel about the Church teaching now?

My prognosis: that Karol Wojtyla

was a wise, wise man.

Many people, I find, are astounded to meet an educated woman who chose this, under no compulsion whatsoever. Here are some questions I’m frequently asked.

Does natural family planning work?

A lot depends on what you mean by “work.” Does NFP allow you to do whatever you want with no consequences? Does it enable you to avoid pregnancy exactly up to the minute you’re ready to have a baby?

No. In that sense it does not “work.” Then again, neither does any other method.

Isn’t it stressful to be constantly guessing as to whether or not you might be pregnant?

The general principles of natural fertility management are pretty simple. While male fertility is relatively constant, women are able to conceive only at particular points in their monthly cycles. By learning to identify those times, couples can exercise some degree of prudent control over the growth of their

Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is July 19-25 The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the July 25 anniversary of the papal encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also mark the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother.

– U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops families. So, no, it’s not just a guessing game. But then again, the practice really is a little messier than the theory. There are challenges.

Still, let’s not fool ourselves. We can’t actually turn our bodies on and off with the flick of a switch. I would rather make rational, informed decisions about my fertility than submit blindly to the ministrations of “97 percent effective” modern medicine.

This sounds like a lot of hassle.

Are there upsides here that I don’t immediately see?

There are innumerable upsides. It can be a huge relief to stop running away from the realities of our own bodies.

Have you seen that Dove commercial about being “comfortable in my own skin”?

Think about it like that. Is it good to spend years of your life using drugs and devices to suppress a natural, God-given capacity? Or would you

FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA Jason Adkins

Read the whole encyclical, not just your favorite part Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’” is a great gift to the Church and the world, calling everyone to an ecological conversion that embraces an ethic of right relationships with God, our bodies, our neighbors and all of creation.

Recognizing, with St. Francis of Assisi, that the sun is a “brother” and the water a “sister” requires first embracing God as father.

It will take some time for this profound moral and spiritual teaching document to be fully digested and disseminated so that its countercultural implications may serve as rich fertilizer for the life of faith.

In the meantime, however, there are many who, despite their best intentions, are minimizing the depth and breadth of the encyclical by focusing on short-term politics instead of on the long-term need for an ethical revolution.

Because of political polarization, the prevalence of ideology and people’s aversion to politics generally, an approach to explaining the encyclical

that is rooted in right/left political debates risks letting the abundant seeds present within its message fall on rocky ground instead of fertile soil.

More than climate change For many, “Laudato Si’” is known as the “climate change encyclical.” The mainstream media, political activists and others have relentlessly trumpeted Pope Francis’ exhortation that steps must be taken in the political arena to reduce the effects of greenhouse gases by, among other ways, limiting carbon emissions and using more renewable sources of energy.

On the other hand, in more politically conservative circles, including religious ones, the conversation about “Laudato Si’” has focused almost exclusively on personal stewardship, and the importance of cutting down on paper and plastic usage. In this view, the pope has essentially given us an extended

rather learn to live as the woman you really are?

Natural fertility “works” the best when you combine the methods with a different kind of mindset.

That doesn’t mean that everyone needs to plan for a dozen children.

It means we need to understand that fertility is a capacity, not a disease. It’s a feature of womanhood, not a bug. Learning to live your life within those natural rhythms can be beautiful and empowering.

How did you talk your husband into this?

My husband is a fellow convert, so he was already on board. Some of our older friends and relations might think we’re a little crazy. But in my completely, 100 percent unbiased opinion, we make awfully beautiful children. It’s hard to look down at an adorable, grinning baby and say, “I sure wish you didn’t exist.”

Sometimes we need to stop for a moment and think: What really makes my life meaningful? What will bring me the most joy 20 years from now? Very few of us, I suspect, will retroactively wish we could trade in a child or two for an extra bedroom or another line on the resume.

Then again, as perfect strangers remind me almost hourly, I “have my hands full” right now and don’t have much time to worry about it.

Ask me again in a decade or two, and I’ll let you know if I’ve got regrets.

This Catholic Life • Commentary

GUEST COMMENTARY

Lu, a parishioner of St. Agnes in St. Paul, is an adjunct philosophy instructor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

theological meditation on taking shorter showers and raising the thermostat in the summer.

Both approaches highlight important aspects of the encyclical, but both create a climate in which this rich, though admittedly lengthy, text will go unread.

Filtered through political lenses, and with heavy demands on their time, people will assume “they have heard all about it,” because they saw a feature on television news or maybe even read a story online that supposedly boiled it all down in a nutshell.

The challenge, however, is to look at the whole message of “Laudato Si’”, not just the parts that speak to us or those consistent with our political views.

Seeing the whole Pope Francis notes that though the technological advances of modernity have allowed us to see the entire earth from space within a single glance, we lack a vision of the whole, a comprehensive understanding of creation and our mission within it. His reflections, therefore, do not merely raise questions of the preservation of material resources; they ponder the vocation of the human person within a world that we have been created to steward.

Taken as a whole, the encyclical is about creation — more precisely, each creature — drawing our attention to God’s extraordinary care for each creature and its place within an ordered world of relationships.

Pope Francis asks us to meditate on creation and to observe the way God has

created and providentially ordered his handiwork. Special attention is given in the encyclical to that most unique of creatures, the human person, but the overall message is that everything in creation is interconnected. The pope calls this “integral ecology” — an ethic that sees the relationship between human well-being and the well-being of the environment, and seeks to protect both in a way that does justice to each.

Pope Francis challenges the dominant orthodoxy, particularly of the modern West, that all of creation is just “raw material” that can be manipulated for personal gain, often at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. He refers to this mentality as the throwaway culture.

Instead, we must embrace new models of growth, development and progress that are rooted in the perspective of integral ecology, and which nurture healthy communities, protect natural resources, and foster human flourishing.

This message undoubtedly has important personal and political implications, as many of the commentators have noted. But until we undergo this deep conversion and embrace the God-given vocation to foster right relationships throughout creation, the encyclical will have only a marginal impact in saving us from our own destruction.

Clearly, the stakes are high, and, as Catholics, the pope’s encyclical merits our careful, prayerful attention.

Adkins is executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

Focus on Faith

20 DAILY Scriptures

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

Sunday, July 19 Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34

Deacon Michael McClellan

To do Christ’s work, seek him in prayer

Monday, July 20 Exodus 14:5-18 Matthew 12:38-42

Jesus knows our needs, and because he is our one true shepherd, his heart is moved with pity for us. He desires all of us to gather to him as his sheep.

In the July 19 Gospel reading, the disciples have just returned from mission after having been sent out. They want to tell Jesus about the work they have accomplished in his name. They were so busy that they didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus invites them to come away with him to a “deserted place.”

Sunday, July 19 Jesus has given each of us a mission; he has work for each of us to do. All of our work and actions must be rooted in Christ. Our Sixteenth Sunday in service to neighbor must be focused on Christ. No matter what it is Ordinary Time that the Lord has called each of us to do, it has to find its beginning and end in prayer. Jesus calls us just as he called his disciples to Readings “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” • Jeremiah 23:1-6 (Mark 6:31).

• Ephesians 2:13-18 This deserted place is prayer. Jesus desires for us to come away • Mark 6:30-34 with him and rest. Just as we spend time with anyone we love, we need to spend time with Jesus. Take time each day to pray, even if Editor’s note: Since it’s only for 10 minutes. If you’re able, please consider praying The Catholic Spirit isn’t before the Eucharist. We are so blessed in the Archdiocese of St. Paul publishing a July 30 and Minneapolis to have many eucharistic adoration chapels. These edition, visit www. chapels are our deserted places where Jesus waits for us in the thecatholicspirit.com Blessed Sacrament to come and simply be with him. to read a Scripture Our Lord desires to gather us around himself in the Eucharist. He reflection for Aug. 2 from wants the center of our lives to be him. If our work or outreach is a deacon studying at the not centered on the Eucharist, then it is not the work of Christ. It is St. Paul Seminary. The in the sacrifice of the Mass that we find our strength and are sent Catholic Spirit will out on mission. All our actions should come from the Eucharist and resume bi-weekly lead back to the Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian publication on Aug. 13. life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324). We encounter Jesus in a very real way in the most Blessed Sacrament. Jesus, who didn’t even have time to eat because of the crowds, feeds us with his own Body and Blood. It is in the Eucharist that Jesus, the one true shepherd, gathers all his lambs together into one flock.

Deacon McClellan is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. His teaching parish is Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul. His home parish is Divine Mercy in Faribault.

SEEKING ANSWERS Father Kenneth Doyle

How to treat a former priest; salvation not defined by birth Q. Our pastor recently left the

priesthood, and now he is advertising on the Web that he is available to perform weddings or funerals (including weddings of gay/lesbian couples.) The Catholic priest who married us has also left the priesthood and is now a Presbyterian minister.

How does a faithful Catholic treat and respond to these men? I wonder what we are doing wrong that so many men are leaving the priesthood.

A. How you should treat these two men is how you should treat everyone: with kindness. No one can pretend to July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

know the struggles they may have endured — both in their years of active ministry and in their decisions to resign.

I would say: Be nice to them and leave any judgment to God. At the same time, though, I would be wary of any religious services offered by your former pastor.

Having resigned from the Catholic priestly ministry, he no longer has faculties from the diocese, which means that he has no authorization from the Church to celebrate Mass or to officiate at Catholic weddings or funerals.

As a result, Catholics would not fulfill their Sunday obligation by attending his service. (I would even wonder whether his marriage ceremonies are valid civilly,

Tuesday, July 21 Exodus 14:21—15:1 Matthew 12:46-50 Wednesday, July 22 St. Mary Magdalene Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15 John 20:1-2, 11-18 Thursday, July 23 Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b Matthew 13:10-17 Friday, July 24 Exodus 20:1-17 Matthew 13:18-23 Saturday, July 25 St. James, Apostle 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 Matthew 20:20-28 Sunday, July 26 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Kings 4:42-44 Ephesians 4:1-6 John 6:1-15 Monday, July 27 Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 Matthew 13:31-35 Tuesday, July 28 Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28 Matthew 13:36-43 Wednesday, July 29 St. Martha Exodus 34:29-35 John 11:19-27 Thursday, July 30 Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 Matthew 13:47-53

since most jurisdictions authorize clergy to officiate at weddings only if they are in good standing with the parent religious body.)

As to the “so many men” who are leaving the Catholic priesthood, you should be comforted to know that, these days, that is a fairly rare occurrence. (The peak years were the late 1960s and early 1970s.)

Also encouraging is the fact that seminary enrollments in the United States are on the upswing. In fact, 2012 saw the highest seminary enrollment in nearly 25 years, according to figures from Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate in Washington.

Q. In the Book of Wisdom (3:17-18 and 4:3) it indicates that children born of a forbidden union will suffer a miserable fate and not amount to anything. They are illegitimate and can never lay a firm foundation with values that are deeply rooted. I was born out of wedlock. My life ever since has been full of disappointments and misfortune, and I am now incarcerated. The Scripture says that I am doomed. Am I?

Friday, July 31 St. Ignatius of Loyola, priest Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37 Matthew 13:54-58 Saturday, Aug. 1 St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the church Leviticus 25:1, 8-17 Matthew 14:1-12 Sunday, Aug. 2 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 John 6:24-35 Monday, Aug. 3 Numbers 11:4b-15 Matthew 14:13-21 Tuesday, Aug. 4 St. John Vianney, priest Numbers 12:1-13 Matthew 14:22-36 Wednesday, Aug. 5 Numbers 13:1-2, 25–14:1, 26-29a, 34-35 Matthew 15: 21-28 Thursday, Aug. 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 2 Peter 1:16-19 Mark 9:2-10 Friday, Aug. 7 Deuteronomy 4:32-40 Matthew 16:24-28 Saturday, Aug. 8 St. Dominic, priest Deuteronomy 6:4-13 Matthew 17:14-20 Sunday, Aug. 9 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kings 19:4-8 Ephesians 4:30—5:2 John 6:41-51

A. The Book of Wisdom (3:17-18) does say of children of adulterers that “should they attain long life, they will be held in no esteem” and “should they die abruptly, they have no hope nor comfort in the day of scrutiny.” Whatever those passages may have meant in their Old Testament context, I will leave for others wiser than I to determine.

What I do know is that your reading of these verses conflicts sharply with a host of New Testament passages that reflect the teaching of Jesus. Paul indicates in Ephesians 2:8-9, for example, that our salvation is based on God’s grace through faith, not on the particular circumstances of our birth. (“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; it is not from works.”)

And John 3:16 says that “God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life,” which seems to say clearly that no one is excluded from salvation based on how he was conceived.

Father Doyle writes for Catholic News Service.

21 Dining out

Music and entertainment G.A. Cabaret – A Night at the Theater — July 26: 7 p.m. at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. Free-will offerings to support the Guardian Angels Music Ministry are appreciated. For more information, visit www.guardian-angels.org.

Brave New World: War and Peace in the 20th Century — Aug. 2: 7 p.m. at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale.

Free-will offerings to support the Guardian Angels Music Ministry are appreciated.

Information: www.guardian-angels.org.

CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication.

Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur.

Young adults Theology @ the PUB — Tuesday evenings through Aug. 11: 6:30 p.m. at Stanley’s Northeast Bar Room, 2500 University Ave. NE, Minneapolis. Information: www.facebook.com/ NorthEastTheologyOnTap. Theology on Tap — Wednesday evenings through July 22: 6:30 p.m. social hour, 7:30 p.m. speakers on faith and contemporary issues. Meet at O’Gara’s, 164 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul. Sponsored by Cathedral Young Adults.

Information: www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/cya.

LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and institutions. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your press release.

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

• Full street address of event.

Parish events

• Description of event.

Speaker on elder abuse issues — July 19: 12:30 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc, 4537 Third Ave. S., Minneapolis. Iris Freeman, director of the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, specialist in area of abuse, neglect and financial exploitation of elders and vulnerable adults. Free.

bingo, pull tabs, kids’ games and craft sale.

Information: www.stbridgetnorthside.org.

“Being a Nurturing, Encouraging Grandparent” — July 27: 8:45 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start at Nativity of Our Lord, 1900 Stanford Ave., St. Paul. Presented by Father Joseph Bambeneck, pastor of St. Pius X in White Bear Lake. Refreshments will be served.

Information: Call Lilee Perera at (651) 414-9367.

St. Thomas the Apostle parish festival — Aug. 16: 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 20000 County Road 10, Corcoran (corner of County Road 10 and County Road 116). Turkey dinner, games and treats, rummage sale, baked goods, farmers market, bingo, craft sale, silent auction and raffle tickets.

St. Jerome 75th anniversary — Aug. 9: 1–4 p.m. at St. Jerome Church, 380 E. Roselawn Ave., Maplewood. Music, food, beverages.

Retreats

Parish festivals St. Mary of Czestochowa Country Festival — July 19: 10 a.m. Mass, dinner served 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (air-conditioned dining), 1 p.m. cemetery prayer service; authentic Polish pancakes, prizes, games, music, country store and silent auction at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, 1867 95th St. SE, Delano. Information: pastorboniface@mediacombb.net or (952) 446-1054 ext. 22.

Fun Fest-Summer Jam Festival — Aug. 7, 8 and 9 at Immaculate Conception Church and School, 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights.

5–10:30 p.m. Aug. 7: MSMA car show, Elvis impersonator show and Beatles tribute band “Rubber Soul”; 4:30–10:30 p.m. Aug. 8: Country bands “Chris Boyden & Mostly Water” and “The Jana Anderson Band”; 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Aug. 9: Family day with “The Teddy Bear Band and Rich & The Resistors.” Food, beverages, children’s games and inflatables, silent auction, bingo and raffles. Information: www.ICCSonline.org St. Joseph of the Lakes Summer Festival — Aug. 8-9: 8 a.m. 5K run, 5 p.m. outdoor Mass, 6-10 p.m. dance featuring Metro Jam, pig roast, beer tent, special raffles, games and fireworks on Aug. 8; 12–5 p.m. chicken dinner, swing band, classic rock band, German dancers, carnival games, inflatables, silent auction, bingo and food vendors Aug. 9, all at St. Joseph of the Lakes Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes.

St. Bridget’s Heart of the Northside Festival — Aug. 16: 10:30 a.m.– 4 p.m. at 3811 Emerson Ave. N., Minneapolis. Attend 9:30 a.m. Mass and stay for the day. Attractions include a $1,000 raffle, silent auction, brunch, snacks and treats,

• Contact information in case of questions: EMAIL: spiritcalendar@archspm.org (No attachments, please.)

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

Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend — July 17-19 at Christ the King Retreat House, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. Information: www.twincitieswwme.org or Kelly Griffin, grif0232@aol.com or (651) 306-3830.

Separated/divorced retreat — July 24-26: Sponsored by St. Michael Parish, St. Michael, at Christ the King Retreat House, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. $160. Information: Rene Blaeser (763) 497-8278 or rmblaeser@gmail.com, or Deacon Greg Steele (763) 263-2450.

Freedom to Follow Jesus summer conference — Aug. 7-8 at Trinity School, 601 River Ridge Parkway, Eagan. Conference

Calendar

Knights of Columbus all-you-can-eat breakfast — July 19: 8 a.m.– noon at St. Gabriel Church, 1300 Main St., Hopkins.

Adults, $8; seniors, $5; kids under 5, free; family pricing available.

Pizza with the Principal — Aug. 6: noon– 1 p.m., St. Rose of Lima School, 2501 Hamline Ave., N., Roseville. To RSVP or to schedule a personal tour anytime, call (651) 646-3832.

covers the Unbound model, a Catholic approach to setting people free from the bondages of sin, unforgiveness and woundedness to have a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Presented by Lloyd and Nancy Greenhaw of Renewal Ministries; sponsored by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office. Registration $40 on/before Aug. 3, $20 (under 21); $50/$25 after Aug. 3. Register by calling (763) 571-5314 or at www.ccro-msp.org/summer-conference.

Schools St. Rose of Lima School 75th anniversary — Sept. 19-20: Reunion 4–9 p.m. Sept. 19, including rosary garden prayer service, Mass, dinner, music, children’s activities, 2072 Hamline Ave., N., Roseville. Annual Booster Club golf tournament 3 p.m. Sept. 20 at Cedarholm Golf Course. Information, RSVP at www.mysaintrose.net.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s School open house — Aug. 4: 1:30–3:30 p.m., 2501 Hwy. 100, St. Louis Park. Information: (952) 915-4345 or email admissions@BSMschool.org.

Outdoor sports night — every Friday evening through September: 6 p.m. to dark, Rahn Park, Eagan. Ultimate Frisbee, volleyball, soccer and other games. Ages 18 to 39. Begin and end each night with prayer, continue fellowship at a nearby restaurant afterward.

Sponsored by Cathedral Young Adults.

Information: www.cathedralsaintpaul.org/cya.

More events online

Other events Career Transition group meeting — July 16 and third Thursday of every month: 7:30 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community, 155 County Road 24, Medina. The group is for people looking for work, changing careers, or looking to improve skills and network. Information: www.hnoj.org/career-transition-group.

The CatholicSpirit. com

Monastery open house — July 26: 2–4 p.m., St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. Meet the Benedictine sisters, learn about their ministries and the monastery. Information: (651) 777-8181 or www.stpaulsmonastery.org Run Baby Run – 5K, 10K and kids’ fun run — Aug. 8: 8:15 a.m. at Roosevelt Elementary School, 925 Parshall St., Faribault.

All proceeds to benefit Pregnancy Options Lifecare Center in Faribault. Information: www.pregnancyoptionsfbo.org.

Marian Pilgrimage Tour to Fatima, Lourdes, Paris — Sept. 7-18: Led by Father Mark Pavlik.

Information: Tony or Lisa Schmitz, (651) 2459451 or LMS.totustuus@gmail.com.

If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, your

The archdiocese’s Victim Assistance Program is also available to offer help compassionate assistance from an independent and professional local care

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Commentary/idea/opinion?

Call 651-291-4444 or email: catholicspirit@archspm.org July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

22

Members say movements help them live faith in sometimes hostile culture Continued from page 8 say they work for the same goal: holiness.

The 1983 Code of Canon Law states that new movements and associations are an authentic way to live out a dimension of Catholic life, said Gordy DeMarais, senior coordinator of the Community of Christ the Redeemer, a Catholic charismatic covenant community based in West St. Paul.

Many lay movements have an emphasis on personal prayer, conversion and living the Christian life fully in one’s state in life, said DeMarais, a parishioner of St. Louis King of France in St. Paul and founder and executive director of St. Paul’s Outreach, a Catholic ministry organization for college campuses.

Founded in 1978, CCR members support each other in daily life rooted in Christ. The community has roughly 350 adult members,

said Jim Kolar, CCR founder and coordinator who is a Cathedral of St. Paul parishioner.

Lay ecclesial movements offer lay Catholics a way to live their faith in a mainstream western culture that rejects many Christian values, Kolar said.“It becomes increasingly important that people find ways of living their Christian life within the context of others in which they’re loved and supported and encouraged by other Christians who have that same desire and the same vision,” he said.

CCR members don’t see their life together replacing parish life, but as a way to live more fully as Catholics in their parishes and the archdiocese, DeMarais said.

Ministries whose origins are connected to CCR — youth ministries St. Paul’s Outreach and National Evangelization Teams Ministries, and the diocesan priest fraternity Companions of Christ — show the community’s gift to the

local Church, he said.

People of Praise is another charismatic covenant community that emerged from the archdiocese in the 1970s. One of 22 branches in an international ecumenical movement, locally 90 percent of its 500 adult members are Catholic, said Tom Caneff, a parishioner of St. Bonaventure in Bloomington.

Members are called by the Holy Spirit to care for each other in covenant relationships established by solemn agreement. That’s something Caneff said he hasn’t seen in parishes.

Beyond giving a joyful greeting to Archbishop Hebda, the Neocatechumenal Way offers faith formation for baptized Catholics to understand and live their faith more deeply, said Daniel Lopez, who with his wife, Alexa, oversees Minnesota NCW communities, including one at St. Bernard in St. Paul and several in southern Minnesota.

NCW was founded in 1964 in

Spain to provide adult Christian formation. The movement came to Minnesota in 1989. About 80 members meet at St. Bernard, said Lopez, adding that NCW is integrated into the parish.

Involvement in the movement Communion and Liberation has helped Bernadette Vouk, a parishioner of St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul, participate more fully in the Mass and sacraments, she said.

Started in Italy in 1954 and established in the archdiocese in 2002, CL fosters faith formation, Vouk said. About 50 members meet weekly, mostly at local parishes for prayer, song and discussion of faithrelated texts.

“Through my life in CL, I understand more of what it means actually to be a part of parish life — which is that we’re united by Christ’s presence,” Vouk said. “And that’s the whole reason we’re together.”

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23

Trials teach family to lean on God, each other

By Jean Stolpestad Recently I read an article that began “marriage is not for you!” I have to admit that line really grabbed my attention. As I continued, the premise of the article emerged: Marriage isn’t about what the individual receives but rather what a person gives.

It isn’t about you; it’s about the ones you love.

The features of God’s love are orientated to becoming self-gift.

The virtues of compassion, forgiveness, patience, humility, mercy, respect and justice are hallmarks of thriving marriages.

Do we live them perfectly?

Never! But we strive to live them better day by day. In the struggle to live as a gift to a spouse and family, our hearts expand and God becomes the source of strength, joy and love. He becomes more evident in the lives of the spouses and the single life they forge.

We are all attracted to selfless acts of love. They are beautiful.

They resonate in our hearts because they are of God. While some acts are heroic, it is more often the small expressions of selfless love that endear us to each other. Those acts can include a spouse seeking out the other to greet them with a kiss upon coming home from work, speaking only words of praise of one’s spouse in public and complimenting him or her in private, noticing when the other is tired and assisting in the daily duties, or simply enjoying a dinner for just two.

Anything that says, “You are precious to me” can become a selfless act of love.

It is through the reality of everyday life that God is at work.

He gives what we need to cast away our selfishness and lean into him. Just as marriage isn’t about the individual, so too is the family about something greater than itself. The family has a specific mission to be light and salt for the world, which is to love.

Society does not invent or found the family; rather the family is the foundation of society. When the true nature of marriage is damaged or misunderstood, the family is weakened. When the family is weak, we fall prey to our inherent selfishness and sometimes to brutal extremes. We lose the habit of gentleness and self-mastery.

When marriage is lived as a sacrament and vocation — indissoluble, faithful and open to life — the family thrives and lives the grace which vivifies the practice of self-giving love. God’s image is revealed and the family becomes a light in a dark world.

Stolpestad is director of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The Peña family — from left, Enriqueta, Jimena, Mariana, Santiago, Jose and Patricio — play a game in the living room of their home in south Minneapolis.

They belong to Sagrado Corazón de Jesus in south Minneapolis.

Dave Hrbacek/ The Catholic Spirit

By Bridget Ryder For The Catholic Spirit When Patricio Peña and Enriqueta Alfaro came to the United States 16 years ago, they didn’t expect to find a new home, a new family and a new vocation in the Church.

“We only planned to stay for two years,” Peña said, “but God had other plans. Now, he won’t let us go back.”

Through their 15 years of service and ministry to other Latinos in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Peña and Alfaro have raised not only their own family — Jimena, 13, Jose, 11, Mariana, 9, and Santiago, 4, — but also a wider family in the Church.

That family has been a source of strength during hard times, including a stretch of unemployment, for Peña and Alfaro, parishioners of Sagrado Corazón de Jesus in Minneapolis.

Shortly after their 1996 wedding, the couple left San Elias, a small town in Guanajuato, Mexico, and came to the United States with a plan: stay for two years, save enough money to build a home back in Mexico, and then return across the Rio Grande to settle down.

They went first to Atlanta, but things didn’t work out as they had hoped. After a few difficult years, they came to Minneapolis.

Peña, an accountant by training, found work in the construction industry and learned carpentry. As they settled in, the couple also realized that Rene, Peña’s younger brother who was living with them, had become involved with a cultish sect. In hindsight, Peña realizes that his brother fell in with dangerous people because he was looking for a supportive community — a desire Peña and Alfaro understood.

Fortunately, the couple had already joined St. Stephen in Minneapolis. Peña remembered hearing about a Cursillo retreat offered through the parish and decided to sign up.

“I went on this retreat to pray for him, that he would realize what he was doing. It was tremendous because it was I who encountered the Lord on this retreat. It completely changed my life,” Peña said.

The retreat left him not only confident that his brother would one day return to the Church, but also hungry to grow in his faith. Led by Peña’s eagerness, the couple joined a charismatic prayer group.

A heart for service Peña took any opportunity to learn and serve. Soon, Church activities and outreach to other families filled the couple’s free time.

Despite their shared faith, the demands on their time strained their marriage. Peña’s pastor advised him to slow down and run at a pace with his wife.

Working in harmony with his spouse, he found he

World Meeting of Families

Light in a dark world

?

had a greater capacity for ministry. He is a graduate of and current teacher at the archdiocese’s Pastoral Leadership Institute, and he is also part of the first Latino cohort for the Certificate in Lay Ministry Not going to Philadelphia for the offered through World Meeting of Families? the University Connect to resources for all of St. Thomas in Catholics ahead of time, and St. Paul. He follow Minnesota reporters for hopes to pursue stories, photos and video during the diaconate the congress and papal events at when his www.Facebook.com/MNatWMOF, children are on Twitter @CatholicSpirit and on older.

Instagram at @TheCatholicSpirit.

With Alfaro’s

Armchair pilgrimage

support, Peña said he’s able to lift up others through Eighth in a series: ministry. He also recognizes Light in a dark world that Alfaro plays her own In partnership with the important role publications of all Minnesota — she’s gentle dioceses, The Catholic Spirit and listens to is featuring an 11-part series others. on families based on the “People want World Meeting of Families’ to tell her their 10 themes. problems, and this helps them get harmful feelings out of their hearts,” he said.

Economic challenges also tested the strength of their family. In 2010, at the height of the financial crisis, Peña was laid off. The closest place he could find work was Denver.

“It was a very difficult thing,” he said of leaving his family for long periods until he found a steady job again in the Twin Cities in 2013. “As immigrants we know what it means to leave family. But I never imagined leaving my immediate family here in this country.”

Nevertheless, they felt God’s grace and a stronger love that came out of the pain of absence.

“Santiago came from this separation,” Peña said of their youngest son. “He was like a gift in our crisis.”

The couple also felt the support of the Church community during those hard years. They realized how well they had built both their own family and their extended family.

“When crisis comes, you see the strength of your family,” Peña said.

July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit

The Last Word

24

Life filled with pain becomes book filled with hope

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

2003, and her youngest daughter, Julia, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease not long after and underwent a bone marrow transplant in 2005. While all this was going on, Sullivan dealt with the daily trials of having a special needs child. Her son, Jack, now 24, was diagnosed with autism in 1993.

A

priest Caryn Sullivan met in 2010 changed her life. She met him not long after her husband of 20 years, Ted, died in December 2009.

The priest, Father Joseph Johnson, then rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul, offered her one spiritual sound bite, which she grabbed onto like a lifeline.

His words became the title of a book she recently released, “Bitter or Better: Grappling with Life on the Op-Ed Page” (RockPaperStar Press). Its 256 pages outline how she dealt with the loss of her husband and other challenging events in her life.

And, the brief — and only — encounter with Father Johnson, now pastor of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, is outlined in one of the book’s short chapters. Naturally, the chapter’s title also is “Bitter or Better.”

“I was at St. Thomas Academy [in Mendota Heights]. . . . I was there with my friend Ann McDonald, whose husband, John, had died on Feb. 28 of 2010,” said Sullivan, 56. “We went to this event [for those who are widowed] at St. Thomas and a friend introduced me to Father Johnson. I sort of poured out all my troubles onto this very kind priest on a Saturday night.

I was really struggling.”

Father Johnson listened, then leaned in to give her one lifechanging tip.

“He said, ‘Caryn, I can’t tell you why all these things have happened to you and why you’ve had so much adversity in your life,’” she recalled. “‘All I can tell you is that in the face of adversity, we all have a choice. We can be bitter, or we can be better.’

And on a Saturday night, this person who I’ve only met once and probably wouldn’t recognize if I saw him again, gave me an incredible gift that I call my North Star. It’s up there and I just watch for it, and it guides me when I’m feeling angry or frustrated.”

Sullivan’s book has some material from her eight years as a guest columnist for the Pioneer Press newspaper in the Twin Cities. It also includes chapters about people she finds inspiring, including local Catholics Mary Jo

It was Jack who inspired her writing career.

She had gotten a journalism degree in college, but turned that aside to go to law school and become an attorney, which is how she met Ted. The itch to write came back in 2006 when she decided to chronicle her experiences in an essay, which was published in an anthology written by parents of special needs children.

Then, while on a trip back home from Wisconsin for a celebration of Jack’s 16th birthday, she was inspired to take a crack at writing a newspaper column. The drive gave her time to reflect on seemingly simple things like the fact that Jack was not going to get his driver’s license like other kids his age.

“It was one of those moments of feeling the despair and the loss of having a special needs child whose life was never going to go in the direction of his siblings or his peers,” said Sullivan, who had two children with Ted, plus two stepchildren from his previous marriage.

Local author and Catholic Caryn Sullivan writes about losing her husband and raising a son with autism in a recently released book, “Bitter or Better: Grappling with Life on the Op-Ed Page.” Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit Copeland, who founded Sharing and Caring Hands to serve the poor in Minneapolis, and Vince Flynn, an author whom she met before he died of cancer in 2013 and who wrote her an email she used as the book’s foreword.

In writing the book, Sullivan reveals intimate details of her life that she had previously shared with only a few people and hadn’t detailed in her newspaper columns. She describes her early years, starting with the day her mother left her father and took 8-year-old Caryn and her siblings on what was labeled a long vacation.

The “vacation” was permanent, and her parents eventually divorced. Her dad later died when she was 13, and her mother died when Sullivan was 23, both of cancer.

Sullivan was diagnosed with breast cancer in

Congratulations

“I got home and I sat down and I wrote this essay just relating our experience about how there’s a constant state of vigilance that’s required when you have a special needs child,” she said. “And unless you’re living it, it’s really hard to appreciate it. I sent it to the Pioneer Press, heard back within a couple of hours from the editor, and he ran it. Then, we got all these emails from people saying, ‘Thank you for telling my story because I’ve been trying to explain to my loved ones and the people in my life what it’s like to have a child with autism, and you did it for me.’”

In her book, Sullivan is honest about her struggle with faith. She still hasn’t resolved some key issues, but Father Johnson helped her see that there is definitely a spiritual light in her soul.

“My dad died when I was 13, I had breast cancer when I was 44,” said Sullivan, who attends Mass at several local churches. “I’ve had all of these things, and I don’t believe I could have survived them if I didn’t have some kind of faith.”

to the 2015 Leading With Faith winners

Paul Archambault

Robert Du Fresne

William (Bill) Sonntag

Owner, Stinson Electric, Inc. St. Olaf, Minneapolis

President & CEO Du Fresne Manufacturing Company St. Genevieve, Centerville

Owner, Abbey Suburban Floor Covering St. Pius X, White Bear Lake & St. Peter, North St. Paul

Jose Angel Martinez

James (Jim) Zenk

Branch Manager, US Bank St. Charles Borromeo, St. Anthony

President & Owner, SYNERGY HomeCare Nativity of Our Lord, St. Paul

!

Cary Becker Owner, Becker Building & Remodeling LLC St. John the Baptist, New Brighton

! !

!

Mark Mischke Registered Representative Mischke – Mischke & Associates Lumen Christi, St. Paul

We will honor the winners at the Leading With Faith Award Luncheon, Thursday, Aug. 13, St. Catherine University.

For details, see www.archspm.org/leadingfaithlunch/ July 16, 2015 • The Catholic Spirit