May 10, 2018 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Restorative justice Parishes consider healing circles as a way to reach out to victims/ survivors of clergy sex abuse. — Page 6
Congrats, grads u Catholic high school leaders share their best life advice with graduating seniors. uBaccalaureate Masses and commencement ceremonies. — Page 9 uStudents gain hands-on experience, global perspective during gap year. — Pages 10-11 u Three high school seniors share how Catholic education has helped shape them. — Page 12
ROBERT CUNNINGHAM | FOR THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
From left, Father Erich Rutten, parochial administrator of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul; Everlyn Wentzlaff, Lynette Graham, Cynthia Bailey Manns and Hazel Waterman visit before a meeting of the Black Catholic Leadership Initiative at St. Raphael in Crystal May 5. Father Rutten serves as a liaison with the group.
Art-A-Whirl Northeast Minneapolis parishes see opportunity in area’s annual art festival. — Page 14
Mother’s Day Columnist Laura Fanucci proposes ways parishes can better honor mothers. — Page 18
A voice at the table Black Catholic Leadership Initiative aims to broaden roles, presence across archdiocese By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit
L
ynette Graham, 61, is a lifelong Catholic, but she admits that she hasn’t always understood the Eucharist’s meaning and significance. But responding to a prompt of what gives her joy as a black Catholic, she said, “What I can say gives me joy now is the Eucharist.” Graham, a parishioner of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul, was among about 20 people who met at St. Raphael in Crystal May 5 to share their joys and struggles as black Catholics. She recalled growing up in Los Angeles attending Catholic school — not the Catholic school in her neighborhood, which was for white students, but a Catholic school farther away for black students that required her to take a bus with public school students. With her uniform making her a target for harassment, she and others from her school sat behind the bus driver. She said a lot of lifelong Catholics take their faith for granted because it’s all they’ve ever known, but without really knowing it. In the absence of that knowledge about her faith, Graham left
the Church for a while. But now, “I will never leave, and I defend it everywhere I go,” she told the group. Other attendees also reminisced about their Catholic school days and nuns who taught them — some in Jamaica — while others shared about missing the Latin Mass and how praying the rosary gives them peace. One woman spoke about admiring the faith from afar when she lived a few blocks away from a Catholic church in a small South Carolina town. She described converting to Catholicism upon marriage as a “childhood wish come true.” Each person’s story pointed to how experiences of being black enrich his or her Catholicity, an important common thread given the group’s objectives — to bring forth multicultural expressions of Catholicism and increase black leadership throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. On the heels of last summer’s National Black Catholic Congress in Orlando, Florida, local participants organized the Black Catholic Leadership Initiative to put the congress’ themes into play with three focuses: prayer, youths and justice. The meeting at St. Raphael provided an update of the group’s ongoing work as well as a spiritual retreat, which was led by Cynthia Bailey Manns, a parishioner and the adult learning director at St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis. “[The Black Catholic Leadership Initiative] is a very broad brush intentionally because prayer encompasses
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To us, this is just another layer of the tapestry, if you will, of who this archdiocese is, and to celebrate it is to learn and to deepen our faith as Catholics. Carole Burton so much. Justice isn’t just about social justice; it’s about justice overall. So, it’s a macro perspective,” said Carole Burton, 50, a parishioner of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis and one of the group’s organizers. “So, how do we engage people? How do we engage conversation? How do we act and walk in that within our faith? That’s why the three [focuses], and that’s what came out of that work.” Organized as an “initiative,” the goal is for everyone to provide input “because everyone’s experience is different,” said Burton, who is completing a graduate leadership program at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. Immediately following the “Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America” in Orlando July 1-4, the National Black Catholic Congress met in the same place to celebrate and affirm PLEASE TURN TO BLACK CATHOLICS ON PAGE 5
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My gladiator lay down his shield and gained his wings at 02:30 ... absolutely heartbroken ... I love you my guy. Tom Evans, a Catholic, announcing the death of his son, Alfie Evans, on Facebook April 28. The 23-month-old boy, who had a degenerative brain condition, died four days after being removed from life support at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, England. Pope Francis, who had met Tom Evans at the Vatican April 18, tweeted: “I am deeply moved by the death of little Alfie.” The Italian government had granted Alfie citizenship in an effort to bring him to the Vatican’s Bambino Gesu hospital for treatment. The toddler’s care had been contested in British courts, and Alfie’s parents’ inability to remove him from the hospital drew worldwide criticism.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
ROSARY PROCESSION Madeline Favorite, center, of Holy Cross in northeast Minneapolis carries a crown for Mary during the annual Family Rosary Procession May 6. After an opening prayer by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, hundreds of people made their way from the Minnesota State Capitol to the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Members of the Knights of Columbus’ San Juan Assembly in St. Paul, foreground, carried a statue of Mary to the Cathedral on a platform covered with flowers and placed the statue in the sanctuary. Then, Favorite, a fourthgrade student at St. John Paul II Catholic Preparatory School in northeast Minneapolis, crowned the statue.
NEWS notes
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The number of volunteers a group of rural parishes has enlisted for the biannual All Saints Music Festival 6 p.m. May 18. Churches involved are St. John the Baptist in Vermillion, St. Joseph in Miesville, St. Mary in New Trier, St. Mathias in Hampton and St. Pius V in Cannon Falls. Two St. Joseph parishioners, Steve and Sylvia Bauer, host the event at their Little Log House Pioneer Village south of Hastings. Proceeds support youth ministries and mission trips, homebound ministries, adult faith formation, vacation Bible schools and Catholic education. In 2016, the last year the event was held, it raised nearly $19,000 for each parish, with more than 3,700 attendees. Headlining this year’s festival is the band Hairball.
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The date in May that will mark the Church’s first celebration of Mary, Mother of the Church, a new memorial Pope Francis instituted March 3. Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville will celebrate with a rosary at 8:30 a.m. that day followed by 9 a.m. Mass and hospitality.
35 COURTESY JENNIFER GANSLER
17 ACTS OF KINDNESS From left, Annie O’Brien, Ella McDevitt, Erika Gansler, Sabrina Pilney, Francesca Keating, Maci Karels and Marin Stavseth of the ninth-grade confirmation class at St. John Neumann in Eagan donate baby supplies to Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley as part of Pay It Forward Day April 28 to honor the 17 people who died in the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The students completed 17 random acts of kindness that day, including at two schools some of the girls attend, St. Agnes School in St. Paul and Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield. Other acts included serving lunch at a women’s shelter; offering treats to librarians, police officers and fire fighters; donating books to libraries; and delivering flowers to local clinics. “I learned that [by] asking nothing in return, you still can receive happiness and peace,” McDevitt said. “It makes you want to do more for your community.”
ONLINE exclusives In his “Word on Fire” commentary, Bishop Robert Barron of Los Angeles addresses comedian Michelle Wolf’s abortion comments at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner April 28, saying, “And while the killing of children was being joked about — especially, mind you, the children of the poor, who are disproportionately represented among the victims of abortion — most in this wealthy, overwhelmingly white, elite audience guffawed and applauded.” Read the commentary at TheCatholicSpirit.com. “Pope Francis: A Man of His Word” opens in theaters May 18. A documentary by director Wim Wenders, the film is “intended to be a personal journey with Pope Francis, rather than a biographical documentary about him,” according to Focus Films, which collaborated with the Vatican for the film’s making. Local showtimes were not available at press time. Read Catholic News Service’s review and watch the trailer at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 23 — No. 9 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor
The number of scouts, American Heritage girls and adult leaders who were recognized at the annual Emblem Mass and recognition ceremony at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis April 21 by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Catholic Committee on Scouting. Boy Scout recognitions included the Ad Altare Dei and Pope Pius XII emblems. Girl Scouts and American Heritage girls were recognized for earning Mary, the First Disciple and Missio award. Catholic units were awarded the Pope Paul VI Catholic Quality Unit. The Catholic Committee on Scouting promotes “Duty to God” for scouts.
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The number of saints whose relics will be on display at 10 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in May as part of the traveling relic exposition “Treasures of the Church.” Each exposition event includes a presentation on relics by Father Carlos Martins of the Companions of the Cross. Host parishes include: St. Michael, Pine Island, May 18; St. Therese, Deephaven, May 19; St. Paul, Ham Lake, May 20; St. John the Baptist, New Brighton, May 21; St. Maximilian Kolbe, Delano, May 22; St. Francis Xavier, Buffalo, May 23; St. Timothy, Maple Lake, May 24; Nativity of Mary, Bloomington, May 29; St. John the Baptist, Excelsior, May 30; and Holy Family, St. Louis Park, May 31. For more information, contact host parishes or visit treasuresofthechurch.com.
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The number of members of the Neocatechumenal Way from the Twin Cities who attended a May 5 gathering in Rome celebrating the movement’s 50th anniversary with Pope Francis. The local delegation included parishioners of St. Bernard in St. Paul and Holy Family in St. Louis Park, the two parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis where the movement is established. Archbishop Bernard Hebda blessed the delegation April 30 at the Cathedral of St. Paul before they left. About 100,000 people from more than 130 countries attended the Rome event, where Pope Francis spoke about evangelization. Read more at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by The Catholic Spirit Newspaper. Subscriptions: $29.95 per year: Senior 1-year: $24.95: To subscribe: (651) 291-4444: Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444; Classified Advertising: (651) 290-1631. Published semi-monthly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857 • (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857. TheCatholicSpirit.com • email: tcssubscriptions@archspm.org • USPS #093-580
MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3
FROMTHEBISHOP ONLY JESUS | BISHOP ANDREW COZZENS
Spring shows signs of the divine life
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n the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we read at Sunday Mass one of my favorite passages of Scripture — the image of the vine and branches from John 15:1-10. I love to meditate on this passage, and it is particularly appropriate for spring. This passage forms the heart of Jesus’ Last Supper discourse. The vine and the branches is an image for the Church and helps us understand that the Church is so much more than a club. St. John uses one word 10 times in this passage. In Greek, the word here is usually translated in English as “remain” or sometimes “abide,” and it means to participate in or share in. Thus, to belong to the Church is to be invited to share in, participate in, the very life of God. This is what the vine and the branches have in common — the sap, the life force, which we know by analogy is the life of grace that is shared with us through the sacraments, through prayer and through the Holy Spirit, which fills us in the body of Christ. Of course, we know that this is a eucharistic image, as St. John says in chapter six of his Gospel: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
La primavera muestra signos de la vida divina
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n el quinto domingo de Pascua, leemos en la misa dominical uno de mis pasajes favoritos de las Escrituras: la imagen de la vid y las ramas de Juan 15: 1-10. Me encanta meditar en este pasaje, y es particularmente apropiado para la primavera. Este pasaje forma el corazón del discurso de la Ultima Cena de Jesús. La vid y las ramas son una imagen para la Iglesia y nos ayudan a entender que la Iglesia es mucho más que un club. San Juan usa una palabra 10 veces en este pasaje. En griego, la palabra aquí se traduce generalmente en inglés como “permanecer” o “acatar”, y significa participar o compartir. Por lo tanto, pertenecer a la Iglesia es ser invitado a compartir, participar, la vida de Dios Esto es lo que la vid y las ramas tienen en común-la savia- la fuerza vital que conocemos por analogía es la vida de
remains in me and I in him” (Jn 6:58). For me, spring is filled with signs of this divine life growing in our Church, especially our young people. Archbishop Bernard Hebda and I get to encounter thousands of young people through the sacrament of confirmation each year (about 7,000 will be confirmed this spring). It is always so encouraging to see the faith with which many young people receive this sacrament. I can see many of them have been well prepared, and they are longing for this gift of the Holy Spirit to help lead them to the fullness of life in Christ. During this season, we also see the young hearts who receive their first Communion. We see in these important moments how much this life of Christ can bring us true peace and deep joy. The Lord says that when we remain in him, we will produce fruit. Our lives are filled with many important matters that we spend our time working on and thinking about. As spring finally arrives in the great white north, do we think enough about the divine life of God that he wants to share with us in ever deeper ways? He shares it with us not only through the sacraments, but also through our lives of prayer and fellowship with other Christians. The whole reason
gracia que se comparte con nosotros a través de los sacramentos, mediante la oración y el Espíritu Santo, que nos llena de el cuerpo de Cristo Por supuesto, sabemos que esta es una imagen eucarística, como dice San Juan en el capítulo 6 de su Evangelio: “El que come mi carne y bebe mi sangre, permanece en mí y yo en él” (Jn 6:58). Para mí, la primavera está llena de señales de que esta vida divina está creciendo en nuestra Iglesia, especialmente en nuestros jóvenes. El Arzobispo Bernard Hebda y yo podemos encontrar miles de jóvenes a través del sacramento de la confirmación cada año (aproximadamente 7,000 serán confirmados esta primavera). Siempre es muy alentador ver la fe con la que muchos jóvenes reciben este sacramento. Puedo ver que muchos de ellos han estado bien preparados, y anhelan este don del Espíritu Santo para ayudarlos a llevarlos a la plenitud de la vida en Cristo. Durante esta temporada, también vemos los corazones jóvenes que reciben su primera Comunión. Vemos en estos momentos importantes cuánto puede
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As spring finally arrives in the great white north, do we think enough about the divine life of God that he wants to share with us in ever deeper ways?
Jesus came was to share with us this divine life. “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full” (Jn 10:10). “I am the way the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). Ultimately, this is the only reason the Church exists — to bring people into this divine life and to connect them to Christ the vine, for only this life is powerful enough to overcome death, as Christ showed us in his resurrection. Jesus warns us that we need this divine life; it is not an added extra: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Let us take advantage of all the opportunities Christ gives us to grow in this divine life.
esta vida de Cristo traernos la paz verdadera y la alegría profunda. El Señor dice que cuando permanezcamos en él, produciremos fruto. Nuestras vidas están llenas de muchos asuntos importantes en los que nos pasamos el tiempo trabajando y pensando. Cuando finalmente llega la primavera en el gran norte blanco, ¿pensamos lo suficiente acerca de la vida divina de Dios que él quiere compartir con nosotros de maneras cada vez más profundas? Él lo comparte con nosotros a través de los sacramentos, pero también a través de nuestras vidas de oración y compañerismo con otros cristianos. La razón por la cual Jesús vino fue para compartir con nosotros esta vida divina. “He venido para que tengas vida y la tengas en abundancia” (Jn 10:10). “Yo soy el camino, la verdad y la vida” (Jn 14: 6). En última instancia, esta es la única razón por la que la Iglesia existe: atraer a las personas a esta vida divina y conectarlas con Cristo la vid, porque solo esta vida es lo suficientemente poderosa como para vencer a la muerte,
como Cristo nos mostró en su resurrección. Jesús nos advierte que necesitamos esta vida divina; no es un extra adicional: “Yo soy la vid, ustedes son las ramas. El que permanece en mí y yo en él dará mucho fruto, porque sin mí no puedes hacer nada “(Jn 15: 5). Aprovechemos todas las oportunidades que Cristo nos da para crecer en esta vida divina.
OFFICIAL Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointment in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:
Effective April 26, 2018 Reverend Michael Sullivan, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Patrick in Edina, while the current pastor, Reverend Glen Jenson, is on a leave of absence.
Father Robert Hamel, grandfather to a priest, dies in Virginia April 21 By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit Few Roman Catholic priests could say they share a vocation with their grandson, but that was the case for Father Robert Hamel, who was married before becoming a priest, and whose grandson followed in his footsteps to ordination. Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1983, Father Hamel died in Front Royal, Virginia, April 21. He was 91. He served at St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul, Sacred Heart in Robbinsdale, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, St. Michael in St. Michael
and St. Luke in Clearwater. After retiring in 1991, Father Hamel moved to Venice, Florida, where he joined the Knights of Columbus. He also battled brain cancer for several decades. Father Hamel’s path to the priesthood began in the 1970s. He was married for 35 years but divorced in 1972 and received an annulment in 1979. He has a daughter, Theresa Bergida, whose oldest son, Joseph Bergida, was ordained a priest in 2012 for the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. The two priests concelebrated Mass on Father’s Day that year at St. Peter in Mendota, where, just months after his ordination to the priesthood, Father Hamel had baptized Father Bergida as an infant. Father Hamel also baptized Father
Bergida’s six siblings, all at St. Peter. The relationship between the priests deepened over the past three years, while Father Hamel lived near his daughter in Front Royal as his health declined. Father Bergida is assigned about an hour away at St. Andrew the Apostle in Centreville, Virginia. “I had incredible sacramental moments with him,” Father Bergida said of his grandfather. “A number of times, we celebrated Mass together, he in bed and I’m there in a little makeshift altar at the side. … I felt like we really grew, not only as grandson-grandpa, but as brother priests, too. It was really incredible.” Father Hamel’s daughter recalled the importance of his faith, something he
passed down to her. “I love my faith, too,” Theresa Bergida said. “And, I think that’s probably the thing I’m most grateful to my dad for.” Father Paul Shovelain, who serves at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, was baptized by Father Hamel at St. Michael in 1987 and said he continued to be an inspiration. “He was a great mentor, and he was a witness of priestly joy,” said Father Shovelain, 30, who was ordained in 2014 and invited Father Hamel to be present for his first Mass as a priest, which took place at St. Michael. A funeral Mass was May 7 at St. Michael in St. Michael with interment in St. Michael Cemetery.
4 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
MAY 10, 2018
SLICEof LIFE
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Preaching fundamentals
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Father Dan Haugan, right, pastor of Holy Spirit in St. Paul, helps get the Holy Spirit School’s seventh-grade baseball team ready for a game May 3 at Ford Little League Field in St. Paul. He has coached baseball at the school for five years, and this year’s players won the Catholic to castles, Athletic Association championship From last year.condos “I love baseball,” said Father Haugan, who played the game growing up and now plays in an adult league. “They always were looking for coaches at the Catholic schools. In fact, I coached right out of the chute when I was just performance exceeds promise starting out as a priest [in 2003].” That year, he coached at St. Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School.
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Appeals court rules in favor of archdiocese Judges affirm Catholic institutions’ assets separate from archdiocese The Catholic Spirit The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld April 26 two lower courts’ rulings that the assets of several Catholic institutions, including parishes, are separate from those of the archdiocese, and that they cannot be consolidated with the archdiocese’s assets in its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Thomas Abood, chairman of the archdiocese’s Reorganization Task Force, welcomed the ruling in a statement April 30. “We are pleased that the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected a meritless legal argument by claimants’ counsel that has been directly responsible for delaying the resolution of the archdiocesan bankruptcy and has given rise to the erroneous claim — now rejected for the third time in this litigation — that the archdiocese has undisclosed assets which it has not made available to its creditors in its bankruptcy,” he said. “I hope all abuse survivors, reassured by the court’s decision, will soon be able to choose the path of settlement and closure on this aspect of their quest for justice and healing.” In 2016, the Unsecured Creditors Committee, which
BLACK CATHOLICS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 attendees’ faith, and to address hopes and wishes, as well as challenges and concerns of black Catholics from across the country. Following the congress, which occurs every five years, delegates devised a pastoral plan of action to guide their priorities in their respective dioceses. Among their tangible goals are committing to dismantle racism; addressing mental illness, mass incarceration, domestic violence and other issues that “challenge the sanctity of life”; promoting the canonization causes of five men and women; and listening and responding to the needs of youths and young adults. Delegates plan to align these priorities with those of the Convocation of Catholic Leaders. Mary Noble, 70, one of the local group’s organizers, said attending July’s congress has energized her to reach out to other black Catholics to engage their faith. “We have all these folks who are Catholic, but they’re spread around. It’s good to know there are other black Catholics in the archdiocese; we just don’t see each other,” said Noble, a Basilica parishioner and retired Minneapolis public school principal. In Cincinnati, where she’s from, black Catholics were prominent in many parishes, but that’s not the case here, she said. Manns told the group that there are 3 million African-American Catholics in the United States, more than membership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. According to the Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study, about 1 percent of Catholics in Minnesota are black. Data for the archdiocese isn’t available. Attendees of the May 5 meeting, which included non-blacks, highlighted the importance of welcoming everyone in their parishes and accurately reflecting the universality of the Church. They listed both as challenges, especially being “black Catholics in a white culture.” Skin color, one man noted, shouldn’t matter, but race plays a role because of cultural barriers. Even among black people, Americans need to welcome African immigrants, he noted, saying, “We can’t call ourselves African-American and not welcome AfricanAmericans.” Noble said the group is meant to unify, but in doing so, it has to acknowledge some of those cultural barriers.“Any time blacks have asked to do something, we are always looked at with suspicion. That’s historical,” she said, citing slavery and segregation. “Any time we look to put forth an issue, we’re looked at with that suspicion. [But] nobody questions me when I’m out marching for life. But we forget when
represents more than 400 sexual abuse claimants, filed a motion for the assets of 187 parishes in the archdiocese’s boundaries, three Catholic high schools and the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota to be merged with the archdiocese’s assets in a Plan for Reorganization. Judge Robert Kressel, who is overseeing the archdiocese’s bankruptcy in U.S. bankruptcy court, denied the motion in July 2016. The UCC appealed Kressel’s decision to a U.S. District Court, which, in December 2016 upheld the ruling. The UCC then appealed that decision to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard the case in December 2017. The appeals court’s April 26 decision said that the UCC had “failed to plausibly allege sufficient facts to negate the nonprofit non-debtor status of the targeted entities” and, therefore, they are entitled to legal protections and “cannot be involuntarily substantively consolidated with [the archdiocese].” “We understand the committee’s sincere attempts at recovery for a class of creditors who have suffered greatly by clergy abuse,” the ruling said. “However, global consolidation of all entities in the archdiocese is not authorized by the bankruptcy code. There are remedies available in the bankruptcy code to address specific abuses by [the archdiocese] or other entities, if they exist. Substantive consolidation of all related entities, however, is not one of those remedies.” we’re talking about life that life includes black people. But life is not just at birth. Life goes on throughout, and some of the things that happen to us may not necessarily happen to majority people.” Burton sees the group’s work as an opportunity to educate people about the cultural “vibrancy” of the archdiocese, alongside other Catholic ethnic groups such as the Irish, Germans, Latinos and Native Americans. “To us, this is just another layer of the tapestry, if you will, of who this archdiocese is,” Burton said, “and to celebrate it is to learn and to deepen our faith as Catholics.” Father Erich Rutten, parochial administrator of St. Peter Claver and liaison for the group, said in addition to discerning the needs of black Catholics and developing leaders in the archdiocese, the initiative is part of Pope Francis’ call to all Catholics to encounter others different from themselves and to share their gifts. “It’s really about pastoral needs and about growing leadership,” he said. “It’s not meant to be political or confrontational; it’s meant to be about being Church.” Citing a “critical need” for youths to have a sense of their roots and identity, the Black Catholic Leadership Initiative is working to revive Kujenga, a national leadership retreat for black youths that was last held in the archdiocese in the early 2000s. The name is derived from a Swahili word that means “to build (together).” With the archdiocesan Commission of Black Catholics inactive for some years, members of the Black Catholic Leadership Initiative hope their grassroots work will eventually pave the way for the commission’s renewal. Funds for Kujenga retreats formerly came from the commission, which Archbishop John Roach established in 1986. Leaders anticipate knowing what form and structure the initiative will take after an archdiocesan synod that Archbishop Bernard Hebda announced plans for in fall 2016. Details have yet to be determined. Burton said they hope the initiative will be an improved version of the commission, especially given issues such as social and economic disparities, and, citing police killings of black men, the treatment of black men and women. Right now, the group, which has about 50 members, meets quarterly. They plan to attend deanery meetings and visit Catholic churches to invite others to participate. The group also plans to host events in the fall, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ National Day of Prayer for Peace in Our Communities on the feast of St. Peter Claver Sept. 9, and a St. Luke Productions play about the United States’ first black diocesan priest Father Augustus Tolton Oct. 23 at the Basilica.
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5
in BRIEF Former St. Bridget pastor sentenced to probation in Pennsylvania HOLLIDAYSBURG, Pa. — Father Anthony Criscitelli, a Franciscan Friar of the Third Order Regular who served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis from 1982 to 2016, was sentenced May 4 along with another friar to five years probation after each pleaded no contest to child endangerment charges. Father Criscitelli was charged in 2016 with two other friars for conspiracy for endangering the welfare of children and for endangering the welfare of children in connection to a two-year investigation into sexual abuse in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, where the friars’ province is based. At the time he was charged, Father Criscitelli was pastor of St. Bridget and St. Austin in Minneapolis. Archbishop Bernard Hebda removed him from ministry in the archdiocese at that time. Father Criscitelli’s criminal charges were related to the supervision of Brother Stephen Baker, who is accused of abusing dozens of children in several states, including Minnesota. Brother Baker served at St. Patrick in Inver Grove Heights from 1977 to 1981. He committed suicide in 2013.
Catholic Charities partners with county to boost child protection MINNEAPOLIS — After a yearlong review of services to children and families, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced May 2 a decision to develop and implement new models for key elements of the child protection system in Hennepin County. In consulting with the county, the Residential Treatment Program will be closed, but Catholic Charities will continue to advocate for a mental health system that can treat children’s more acute needs. The organization also decided to discontinue refugee resettlement services while renewing its commitment to housing stability for those in need, supporting the increasing population of vulnerable older and disabled adults. “As it has for nearly 150 years, Catholic Charities will continue to evolve in response to the needs of the people we serve,” Catholic Charities President and CEO Tim Marx said in a statement.
Former Oakdale pastor ‘laicized’ ST. PAUL — Father James Smith, who served as pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale from 1994 to 2002, “has been granted a dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state,” commonly called “laicization,” Archbishop Bernard Hebda announced April 30. Smith was ordained May 30, 1987, and served as parochial vicar of St. Mark and as a spiritual director at St. John Vianney College Seminary, both in St. Paul, before his appointment to Transfiguration. He has not been in public ministry in the archdiocese since 2006. “I would be grateful if you would remember Jim in your prayers,” Archbishop Hebda said in the statement.
Priest named new president of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota WINONA — Father James Burns, who was ordained in 1993 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has been named the 14th president of St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, effective July 9. He succeeds Lasallian Christian Brother William Mann. The son of John Burns of Falcon Heights and the late Anita Burns, Father Burns is an alumnus of the University of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, both in St. Paul, and Northeastern University in Boston. With permission from the archdiocese in 2008, he affiliated with Voluntas Dei, a secular institute in the Church. After serving in parishes for a number of years, as well as at the University of St. Thomas, Father Burns took a post as dean of the Woods College of Advancing Studies and Summer Session at Boston College in 2010. While he was dean at Woods College, the school experienced significant growth in revenue, enrollment and its endowment.
6 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LOCAL
MAY 10, 2018
Parishes explore healing circles’ potential in restorative justice efforts By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit The woman in the film said she was 12 when a priest began to abuse her, which was complicated by feelings of being in love with him. Confused about the situation, she eventually reached out to a religious sister at her school and then met with her parish pastor. That pastor, who was not the perpetrator, told her that, although she was young, she was “old enough to seduce a priest.” Then her parents found love letters the priest had written. Her father accused her of sexual immorality and her mother asked, “How could you do this to us?” Identified only as Mary, the now middle-aged woman said she lived for decades believing the abuse was her fault, even when a therapist she visited in her 40s insisted it wasn’t. She shared her story as part of a 2016 healing circle in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, documented by its leader, Janine Geske, a law professor at Marquette University in Milwaukee, and founder and former director of Marquette’s Restorative Justice Initiative. Geske, who also sat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1993-1998, showed the documentary April 29 at St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove and Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis. Both two-hour events included brief remarks from Geske, “The Healing Circle” video and then
the opportunity for attendees to participate with small groups in the healing circle process. Healing circles originated with a Native American tradition, Geske explained, and she has used them as tools for effective restorative justice, or efforts to repair harm caused by a crime — in this context, clergy sexual abuse. Participants sit in a circle around a lit candle and then take turns speaking while holding a stone. Only the person holding the stone is allowed to speak. “It’s small groups, and it’s people connecting with each other and hearing each other and reaching out,” she told The Catholic Spirit. Healing circles might be an avenue for helping abuse victims/survivors feel acknowledged and welcome in their parishes, she said. Many survivors feel ostracized by their parishes, or by parishioners who wouldn’t believe them and defended the offending priest. In many cases, parish leaders and fellow parishioners have never apologized and welcomed them back, perpetuating the rift between the survivor and the Church. “A lot of survivors who still want to be part of the Church ... feel that there’s no welcoming in our community,” Geske said in her presentation. The healing circle excerpted in the film included clergy sexual abuse victims/survivors, a victim’s parent, church employees, a priest offender and Catholics who haven’t been
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Janine Geske speaks about healing circles for victims/survivors of clergy sexual abuse April 29 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Minneapolis. abused, but who have experienced an erosion of faith or trust in the Church because of the clergy sexual abuse scandal. Healing circles could be part of restorative justice efforts implemented in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for Catholics to seek healing — from individual abuse situations and as a community — as the local Church responds to the clergy sexual abuse allegations that compelled the archdiocese into bankruptcy. Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Joseph the Worker and the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis are independently working with Geske and Mark Umbreit, director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities,
on ways parishes can initiate healing and restorative justice in the area of clergy sex abuse. Deb Polchow, a Basilica parishioner, was among the more than 50 attendees at Our Lady of Lourdes. She described the event as “a start” and said it made her feel hopeful. “I have been waiting for something to happen regarding healing and ... for anybody to start talking about this whole issue,” she said. She added: “Before we can move on ... we have to talk about what’s going on and how did we get this way and why, and what’s happening and how it’s eroded the trust, before we can start to heal and move on.” Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Our Lady of Lourdes pastor Father Dan Griffith also attended the Lourdes event. “People are very moved, and they’re looking at what are the next steps,” Father Griffith said, noting that parishioners who attended told him they want to ensure their parish welcomes victims/survivors. He said he thought healing circles could be an effective tool. A Lourdes committee has already been tasked with continuing to explore avenues for restorative justice. A parishioner suggested the archdiocese also hold an annual event, such as a Mass for healing. More immediately, Father Griffith plans to add a petition for victims/survivors to Masses’ prayer of the faithful. “That is something we can do next Sunday,” he said.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7
NATION+WORLD
Pope asks German bishops to try to find unanimity on Communion question Pope Francis asked the bishops of Germany to continue working together to find broader consensus on guidelines for allowing a Protestant married to a Catholic to receive the Eucharist. “Pope Francis appreciates the ecumenical commitment of the German bishops and asks them to find, in a spirit of ecclesial communion, a result as unanimously as possible,” the German bishops were told, according to a Vatican statement. The pope had invited six German bishops and the general secretary of the bishops’ conference to Rome for a May 3 meeting with top officials from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts. In February, the Vatican statement said, “more than threequarters of the members” of the German bishops’ conference approved a “pastoral handbook titled, ‘Walking with Christ — In the Footsteps of Unity: Mixed Marriages and Common Participation in the Eucharist.’” However, the Vatican said, “a not insignificant number” of bishops, including seven who head dioceses, could not give their assent to the document. “These seven turned to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.” Pope Francis invited leaders of the bishops’ conference and some of the bishops opposed to the guidelines to come to the
Iowa Legislature sends fetal heartbeat bill to governor By Barb Arland-Fye Catholic News Service A bill described by some observers as the most restrictive abortion legislation in the nation has been sent to the desk of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor has not said whether she will sign the bill, which the Iowa Legislature passed in the middle of the night May 2. Depending on when the Legislature adjourns, Reynolds will have three days or 30 days to sign it. The so-called fetal heartbeat bill would prohibit abortions after a baby’s heartbeat can be detected. The legislation began as an amendment to an Iowa Senate bill that would stop trafficking of fetal body parts that remain following an elective abortion. The bill spells out specific steps that must be followed when a woman seeks an abortion. Specifically, it requires a physician to perform an abdominal ultrasound when testing for a detectable fetal heartbeat and to inform the pregnant woman in writing whether a fetal heartbeat was detected, and if so, that an abortion is prohibited. The bill also requires the pregnant woman to sign a form acknowledging that she has received the written information provided by the physician. Language in the bill explicitly prohibits an abortion if a fetal heartbeat was detected unless a physician determines that a medical emergency exists or that the procedure is medically necessary. A medical emergency would apply to an abortion performed to preserve the life of the woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, illness or injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy. It would not apply to abortions sought because of psychological, emotional and familial conditions, or the woman’s age. Opponents of the bill blasted Iowa Republicans — who hold the majority in both houses — for its passage. State Rep. Shannon Lundgren, an Iowa Republican, responded. “It dumbfounds me when the opposition states that abortions are safe, legal and rare,” she said. “Who are they safe for? Certainly not the unborn baby. If the argument is because they are legal, [and] they are rare, that can be debunked with the fact that over 60 million babies have been aborted since 1973 when Roe v. Wade made abortion legal.”
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Vatican for a discussion with officials from the three offices. “Various points of view were discussed; for example, how the question relates to the faith and to pastoral care, its relevance for the universal Church and its juridical dimension,” the Vatican statement said, without providing further details. Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, one of the seven German bishops who objected to the conference guidelines, participated in the meeting at the Vatican May 3. In his letter to the Vatican, which prompted the meeting, he had asked whether the guidelines were not simply pastoral, but went to the heart of Catholic faith and practice, and whether the German guidelines could have a wider impact on the question of eucharistic hospitality in countries around the world. The text of the German guidelines has not been made public, but it is widely assumed to foresee situations in which a Lutheran married to a Roman Catholic and regularly attending Mass with the Catholic spouse could receive the Eucharist and not only on special occasions like the baptism or first Communion of their child. The council for Christian unity’s 1993 “Directory for the Application of Principles and Norms on Ecumenism” said the Catholic Church “recognizes that in certain circumstances, by way of exception, and under certain conditions, access to these sacraments may be permitted, or even commended, for Christians of other churches and ecclesial communities.” At the urging of the council, many bishops’ conferences around the world have published pastoral guidelines that list the occasions on which such eucharistic sharing would be acceptable.
in BRIEF Cardinal Pell ordered to stand trial on abuse charges MELBOURNE, Australia — After a monthlong pre-trial hearing, an Australian judge ordered Cardinal George Pell to stand trial on multiple charges of sexual abuse of minors, charges the cardinal consistently has denied. While dropping some of the charges, including what Cardinal Pell’s lawyer described as the most “vile,” Magistrate Belinda Wallington announced May 1 that she believed there was enough evidence presented in connection with about half the original charges to warrant a full trial. The Melbourne court did not publish a complete list of the allegations, but news reports indicated they involved alleged sexual offenses committed in the 1970s at a pool in Ballarat, where then-Father Pell was a priest, and at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne in the 1990s when he was Archbishop of Melbourne. The 76-year-old Cardinal Pell, head of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy, took a leave of absence from his position in the summer of 2017 to face the charges. His lawyer told the court May 1 that he had already surrendered his passport.
LEADING
FAITH
with
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
LAST CHANC E TO NOMIN ATE!
Each year, The Catholic Spirit recognizes local business and nonprofit leaders who approach their work with a sense of vocation rooted in their Catholic faith and expressed through their values. Nominate a deserving candidate today for the 2018 Leading With Faith Awards. Join the winners at an awards luncheon Aug. 10.
Survivors hope pope will act against ‘epidemic’ of abuse in the Church ROME — Three Chilean abuse survivors who met with Pope Francis said his apology to them must be accompanied by concrete actions, not only against those who commit sexual abuse, but also against those who cover it up. “I have never seen someone be so contrite about what he was telling me,” Juan Carlos Cruz told journalists May 2. “I also felt that he was hurting, which for me was very solemn. I don’t know what word to use because it’s not often the pope really says sorry to you and apologizes to you. He said, ‘I was part of the problem, I caused this, and I’m sorry.’” Jose Andres Murillo, another of the Chilean survivors, said, “All of us had different experiences with the pope, and even if we saw the forgiveness the pope asked, we’re waiting for actions. We always said that we’re not here to do public relations but for actions. That’s what I’m waiting for.” Pope Francis had invited Cruz, Murillo and James Hamilton to stay at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican residence where he lives, and to meet with him individually April 27-29. They met him again as a group April 30.
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8 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
MAY 10, 2018
More Americans believe in higher power than in God, study says By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service A new Pew Research Center survey has some interesting takeaways. While the majority of Americans say they believe in a higher power, what they are talking about isn’t necessarily God “as described in the Bible.” Pew’s studies in recent years have shown a decline in the number of Americans who believe in God with absolute certainty and a growing number conversely having doubts about God’s existence. This led researchers to question what exactly people are rejecting: a higher power or spiritual force or the Christian idea of God. Here’s what they found from a survey last December of more than 4,700 U.S. adults: The vast majority — 90 percent — believe in some kind of higher power. Fifty-six percent profess faith in God as described in the Bible, and 33 percent say they believe in another type of higher power or spiritual force. One in 10 Americans say they don’t believe in God or a higher power of any kind. How these numbers break down by religious traditions gets even more interesting. Overall, 80 percent of Christians said they believed in God as described in Bible. This number went up for historically black Protestant traditions, 92 percent, and evangelical traditions, 91 percent, but only 69 percent of Catholics and 72 percent of mainline Protestants had this view.
HEADLINES at thecatholicspirit.com uPope praises retired Pope Benedict’s
writings on faith and politics. The future pope’s “direct experience of Nazi totalitarianism led him from the time he was a young academic to reflect on the limits of obedience to the state in favor of the freedom of obedience to God,” Pope Francis commented in the preface to a new book, “Liberating Freedom: Faith and Politics in the Third Millennium,” to be published May 11.
28 percent of Catholics said they believe in a higher power or spiritual force, but not in God as described in the Bible. Looked at another way, 28 percent of Catholics and 26 percent of mainline Protestants said they believe in a higher power or spiritual force, but not in God as described in the Bible. On the question of the belief that God is allloving, all-knowing and all-powerful, 61 percent of Catholics and 62 percent of mainline Protestants agreed, and in line with the trend in this survey, the numbers were up for black Protestant traditions and evangelicals, 91 percent and 87 percent, respectively. These two faith groups also were more likely than members of other major U.S. Christian traditions to say that God has personally protected, rewarded and punished them. When asked about specific views on God, Catholics tended to skew slightly lower than other Christian faiths. Eighty-eight percent believe God loves all people. Seventy-eight percent believe God knows everything, and 67 percent believe God has the power to change everything. Among demographic groups, more women than men see God at work in all or most of what happens in their lives.
uTheologians call for regular consultation of
laity in Church decisions. The Catholic Church needs to seek the input, commitment and talents of all of its members if it is to be truly catholic and to evangelize effectively, said a new document from the International Theological Commission.
uPriest: Few at Mexico-U.S. border will have asylum claims
accepted. Some 20 members of the caravan, which traveled across Mexico and arrived in Tijuana on the U.S. border in late April, were forced to wait overnight by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which said it lacked the capacity to process them.
uCanadian House passes motion calling on Pope Francis to issue
apology. The House of Commons overwhelmingly supported a motion to call on Pope Francis to apologize on Canadian soil for abuses that occurred at Church-run residential schools.
uPittsburgh diocese plan will see number of parishes drop from 188
to 57. Bishop David Zubik announced the plan April 28, saying the effort was designed to promote vibrant faith and revitalize parishes.
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MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 9
GRADUATION
Catholic school leaders share best life advice with graduates The Catholic Spirit
Rely on the Catholic faith. See miracles every day. Express gratitude to someone in a handwritten note. Maintain a prayer routine. The Catholic Spirit asked leaders from each Catholic high school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to share their best life advice with this year’s graduating seniors. Their responses have been edited for length and clarity. “You are graduating in interesting times. Work hard and study hard. Know where you want to go and keep your eyes on your goal. Our world has complicated issues to solve, and your mind and heart are needed to participate in the process to improve and grow our world and our human culture.” — Principal Heidi Foley, Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield “Albert Einstein wrote, ‘There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.’ Be the kind of person who chooses to see miracles every day. I believe that God intends us to live this way, to see everything through the eyes of faith and take in the joy, peace and love that surrounds us.” — Principal Susan Skinner, Benilde-St. Margaret’s in St. Louis Park “For 31 years, I have been reminding high school seniors of the value of a handwritten note. If they develop the habit after graduation, they might be the one person who is sharing their gratitude and appreciation in this way. Each one takes time, each is one of a kind, you will see them displayed, and they might be kept in shoe boxes for a lifetime. All you need is stationary, note cards, a pen and some stamps to get started.” — President and Principal Chuck Briscoe, Bethlehem Academy in Faribault “Find the extraordinary in the ordinary so that you don’t grow hard and brittle. Draw close to the Lord of life daily by spending time in prayer, never tiring of listening for the small, quiet voice
described by Elijah. Be like Samuel and report for duty by boldly saying, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” — Superintendent and Headmaster David Beskar, Chesterton Academy of the Twin Cities (Edina and St. Paul) “Our Catholic high schools have prepared you for so much more than academics. Our Catholic tradition certainly honors intellect, but at the core of our faith tradition is Jesus’ teaching to care for those among us, particularly the marginalized. To live an authentic life, let the dear neighbor lead the way.” — Principal Mona Passman, Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul “My advice is not to worry too much about making perfect choices, and don’t expect to have it all figured out just yet. Take a deep breath and open yourself to all the possibilities and choices that await you. I encourage you to use this time to explore whatever ignites your many possible interests.” — Interim Principal Erin Healy, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Minneapolis “At DeLaSalle High School, the class of 2018 has prayed at least 3,500 times since they walked into our doors as ninthgraders nearly four years ago. This is a routine at our school — at the start of every class, meeting and assembly. It is our hope that this year’s graduating seniors take this prayer routine with them in their daily lives beyond high school.” — Principal Jim Benson, DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis “Rely on your Catholic faith, values and moral compass to guide you in times of indecision or difficulty.” — Principal Erin Herman, Hill-Murray School in Maplewood “Live Jesus in your heart. Then follow your heart.” — Principal Kathleen Brown, Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria
“Friends, have courage to avoid becoming a statistic. A Gallup poll says only 25 percent of you will continue to go to Mass. Beat the odds, knowing that faith is the path to true understanding. Today’s fashion says you must create yourself, according to your feelings, attitudes and desires. The truth is, God created you according to his desire. And he desires your genuine happiness — with him and with others in him. He gave his son to be your way, your truth and your life. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and always.” — Headmaster Todd Flanders, Providence Academy in Plymouth “Hold onto the truths of the Catholic faith (they can bear all critical scrutiny), and love each and every person you meet as Christ loves you.” — Headmaster Kevin Ferdinandt, St. Agnes School in St. Paul “I encourage the members of the class of 2018 to remember three key lessons as they move onto their next stages of life: No. 1. Kindness is not a form of weakness; it is a sign of true strength of character. No. 2. Seek deep and meaningful relationships with others and actively work to break down barriers. No. 3. Find the courage to remain true to yourself, to keep your faith alive and to act in congruence with what you hold most dear.” — Headmaster Matt Mohs, St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights “A former graduate’s advice was to open every email you receive while in college. Because she did this herself, she traveled the world through internships and volunteer experiences, many of which were free.” — Principal Cheri Broadhead, Totino-Grace High School in Fridley “Most of the following advice was handed down to me: Find reasons to be grateful each day; have the humility to admit when you are wrong, and, more importantly, have the grace to forgive yourself and the mistakes of others; and when you feel lonely, remember that God is always with you.” — Director of Upper School Anna Barter, Visitation School in Mendota Heights
Catholic high schools to celebrate Baccalaureate Masses, commencements Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis
• Baccalaureate Mass — 6:30 p.m. May 30 at Academy of Holy Angels, 6600 Nicollet Ave., Richfield, with celebrant Father Mike Tix. • Commencement — 4 p.m. June 3 at Academy of Holy Angels with speaker student Jacob Werle. • 175 graduates
• Baccalaureate Mass — 6:30 p.m. June 8 at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, 2924 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, with celebrant Father John Paul, S.J. • Commencement — 2 p.m. June 9 at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School with a senior student speaker. • 80 graduates
Benilde-St. Margaret’s, St. Louis Park • Baccalaureate Mass — 11 a.m. May 20 at Marriott Hotel City Center, 30 S. Seventh St., Minneapolis, with celebrant Father Tim Wozniak. • Commencement — 7 p.m. June 1 at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 2501 Hwy. 100 S., St. Louis Park. • 226 graduates
Bethlehem Academy, Faribault • Baccalaureate Mass — 7:30 p.m. May 23 at Divine Mercy, 139 Mercy Drive, Faribault, with celebrants Bishop Andrew Cozzens and Father Kevin Kenney. • Commencement — 8 p.m. May 25 at Bethlehem Academy-Van Orsow Auditorium, 105 Third Ave. SW, Faribault. • 43 graduates
Chesterton Academy, Edina • Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement — 6:30–9 p.m. June 1 at Holy Family, 5900 W. Lake St., St. Louis Park, with celebrant Father Joseph Johnson. • 40 graduates
Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul • Baccalaureate Mass — 9 a.m. May 30 at Lumen Christi, 2055 Bohland Ave., St. Paul, with celebrant Father Pat Kennedy, class of 1969. • Commencement — 7:30 p.m. May 30 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. • 306 graduates
DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis • Baccalaureate Mass — 6:30 p.m. May 23 at DeLaSalle, 1 DeLaSalle Drive, Minneapolis, with celebrant Father Joe Kuharski, school chaplain. • Commencement — 6:45 p.m. May 24 at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, with speaker Jeff Cavins, Catholic evangelist, author and scholar. • 175 graduates
Hill Murray \School, Maplewood • Commencement — 7:30 p.m. June 1 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, with speakers President Jim Hansen and Principal Erin Herman. • 171 graduates
Holy Family Catholic High School, Victoria • Baccalaureate Mass — 2 p.m. May 13 at St. Victoria, 8228 Victoria Drive, Victoria, with celebrant Father Bob White. • Commencement — 7 p.m. May 16 at Holy Family Catholic High School, 8101 Kochia Lane, Victoria, with speaker Peter Westerhaus. • 106 graduates
Providence Academy, Plymouth • Baccalaureate Mass — 4 p.m. June 1 at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis, with celebrant Bishop Andrew Cozzens.
• Commencement — 8 p.m. June 1 at Providence Academy Performing Arts Center, 15100 Schmidt Lake Road, Plymouth, with speaker Jeff Cavins. • 73 graduates
St. Agnes School, St. Paul • Baccalaureate Mass — 11 a.m. May 30 at St. Agnes Church, 535 Thomas Ave. W., St. Paul, with celebrant Father Mark Moriarty. • Commencement — 7 p.m. June 1 at St. Agnes School Bandas Hall (gymnasium), 530 Lafond Ave., St. Paul, with speaker Fred Blonigen. • 64 graduates
St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights • Baccalaureate Mass — 7:30 p.m. June 4 at St. Thomas Academy, 949 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights, with celebrant Father Nels Gjengdahl. • Commencement — 7:30 p.m. June 6 at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. • 117 graduates
Totino-Grace, Fridley • Baccalaureate Mass — 7 p.m. May 30 at St. Odilia, 3495 Victoria St. N., Shoreview, with celebrants Father James Stiles and Father Paul Shovelain. • Commencement — 7 p.m. June 1 at Totino-Grace High School Gym, 1350 Gardena Ave. NE, Fridley. • 172 graduates
Visitation School, Mendota Heights • Parent-Senior Mass with the Sisters — 10:30 a.m. May 20 at Convent of the Visitation Chapel, 2455 Visitation Drive, Mendota Heights, with celebrant Father Mark Pavlak, school chaplain. • Commencement — 3 p.m. June 3 at Visitation School, 2455 Visitation Drive, Mendota Heights, with speakers Connie Colon, Upper School science teacher, and senior Audrey Gorman. • 87 graduates
GRADU
10 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
iSTOCK | AGUIRRE_MAR, JUNCE
UATION
MAY 10, 2018 • 11
No problem filling the gap High school grads embrace real-world experiences before college
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By Jessica Weinberger For The Catholic Spirit As a high school senior, Hannah Wolney knew she needed a break. Attending Chesterton Academy in Edina, she was recovering from multiple concussions on the soccer field and had other mental health concerns. While she loved learning, Wolney realized she needed time after graduation to heal and rejuvenate. Her mother had spent a year in Norway after high school, and her parents were open to her experiencing a new culture and language before pursuing traditional college. She reached out to a contact at Chesterton’s sister school in Italy, where she had visited the previous year, and soon found herself teaching English at Scuola Libera Chesterton, located in San Benedetto del Tronto, about two hours northeast of Rome on the Adriatic Coast. “It allowed me to look at my life objectively and not just to follow the [normal] ways,” Wolney, 21, said about delaying college. “It taught me to have a lot of patience on a day-to-day basis on just being OK with where I was … I had my own timing, and everyone has their own time with things.” Wolney, a Burnsville native whose home parish is St. John Neumann in Eagan, now attends Metropolitan State University in St. Paul and plans to transfer to Concordia University in St. Paul this fall to pursue a degree in mathematics while living in a St. Paul’s Outreach household. Wolney’s post-graduation path is becoming more common as interest and participation in gap year programs are growing, according to the Gap Year Association. Referred to as “gappers,” these students have an opportunity to travel, serve or work after tossing their high school graduation caps but before starting their post-secondary education. The Portland, Oregonbased nonprofit notes academic and personal benefits to a gap year experience, such as building a sense of curiosity for learning and developing cross-cultural understanding. Wolney’s fellow Chesterton alumna Abigail Niemann, 21, also spent time working at the Italian Chesterton school, but after completing her freshman year at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. “I had been studying nursing at Benedictine, but I always had a deep love for the arts and literature,” said Niemann, a St. Paul native and parishioner of All Saints in Minneapolis. “Being able to take a break from all studying really helped me to discern what I missed studying and what I really desired to learn more about.” Two days after returning from Italy, she started fresh at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a major in English and a minor in Italian studies. Niemann noted that it was easier for her to start at a new school, versus reentering the same college with peers who were a year ahead. She encourages prospective “gappers” to make plans for their return date and post-secondary education prior to traveling to curb time zone and paperwork issues. It’s also key to approach the year off by putting others first, Niemann said. “If you have the chance to instead serve and work for other people, that’s an opportunity that will teach you a lot about your faith and about yourself,” she said. Julie Michels, the director of college and career planning at Totino-Grace High School in Fridley, works with interested students to identify their goals for a gap year, whether it’s learning a specific skill on the job or growing personally through volunteer work. However, only a small percentage of Totino-Grace seniors explore gap year experiences, she said, noting that the school has a college-bound culture. Michels recommends that students go through the full college planning process during their senior year to take advantage of
Minding the gap • According to the Gap Year Association’s 2015 National Alumni Survey, 81 percent of all survey participants said they were very likely to recommend taking a gap year to someone considering it. • Those who participated in a gap year had, on average, shorter times to graduation and higher GPAs as compared to national norms. • “Gappers” currently experience higher levels of job satisfaction and civic participation as compared to national norms. — Gap Year Association
professionals who can guide them through it. “We want them to do college visits and talk to colleges,” she explained. “Universities are really open to working with students about deferring for a year. If they’re traveling during their gap year or working full-time, that’s really difficult for them to do a college search. That’s why we like to work with them through the process while they’re still seniors in high school.” It has to be the right student who can take a gap year, Michels said, noting the challenges of taking a year off from academics and the new life experiences that separate gap-year students from traditional college freshmen. She recalled several students who thrived in school and in their future careers because of gap year experiences, including TotinoGrace alumnus Dmitri Knoll. Knoll, 20, traveled for seven months post-graduation with the gap year program Thinking Beyond Borders. He worked in a healthcare setting focused on AIDS and tuberculosis in South Africa, taught preschool-age children in India and planted trees in Ecuador, among other experiences. Now studying at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Knoll is considering a psychology major after his time in the health field. He said beyond the language barrier and some safety concerns while traveling, returning from his gap year program was unexpectedly the most challenging aspect. “[I] have all of these experiences under [my] belt from when I went to see the Taj Mahal, or I did something that none of my friends have done,” said Knoll, a parishioner of St. Katharine Drexel in Ramsey. “It’s difficult to keep your friendships like they were before, because you’ve seen a whole new perspective on the world, and it’s tough for some of them to understand.” Those new perspectives, however, bolstered Knoll’s faith, as he encountered for the first time religions such as Hinduism in India, which helped him to understand more about being Catholic. His time abroad also enhanced his academics at Georgetown. In a recent philosophy class discussion on how different cultures handle death, he contributed heavily based on what he saw firsthand. Knoll calls his gap year experience eye-opening and enlightening, and it allowed him to gain a newfound level of independence as he managed projects, money and more. He encourages other high school students to consider the opportunity. “A simple answer is just do it. Once you take this trip, you’ll know why you did it,” Knoll said. Anna Laughery, 20, served with NET Ministries from 2016-2017 at a parish in Plano, Texas, ministering to middle and high school students after graduating from Providence Academy in Plymouth. Her time working as a missionary helped her gain valuable life skills that she says better prepared her for school at Benedictine College than her freshman peers. “You’re better at managing your time. You’re more mature and used to be[ing] away from home,” said Laughery, whose home parish is St. Michael in Prior Lake. “You’re just able to live as an adult more when you’ve taken time off.” The chance to become fully immersed in parish life solidified her desire to work in a parish or diocese after college. Laughery is pursuing theology and catechesis-new evangelization studies. She said NET helped her to establish a strong personal prayer life and to see the world through a different lens. “It’s so good to live life a little bit outside of the academic world — outside the world of teenagers — that helps you realize there’s more to life than just us,” she said.
12 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT GRADUATION
‘Filled with Christ’ to serve others
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achel Morgan was at a crossroads during her junior year at Chesterton Academy in Edina. She was enjoying her time there, but it looked like she might have to switch schools. Her dad got a job in St. Louis, and the family was deciding whether to take her there and finish at another school, or leave her at Chesterton. “That was a hard, hard decision,” said Morgan, now a senior and a member of Holy Family in St. Louis Park. She wanted to stay, but important details would need to be worked out, like where to live. Then one day, Chesterton teacher Alyssa Bormes overheard Morgan’s mother discussing the predicament and offered to house her for the year. Morgan now is nearing graduation, and she cherishes the experiences she’s had, including living with Bormes this school year and part of the last. “She’s just so joyful, she’s just so awesome,” Morgan said of Bormes, who teaches humanities and speech, and has been at the school since it opened in 2008. “It’s just been amazing. ... A few times, I’ve been known to have a problem and cry, and she always would tell me, ‘Crying is good. You need to get that out. You need to let yourself cry, but set a time period because you can only have so long and then God is calling you back to do his work.’” Another source of support for her has been the arrival of members of the Pro Ecclesia Sancta religious community during her junior year. Father Adam Tokashiki and Sister Emy Ychikawa both serve at the school. Sister Ychikawa is Morgan’s spiritual director. Their conversations have included the idea of a religious vocation, and Morgan is going to spend her first year after graduation discerning, researching and visiting religious orders, including Pro Ecclesia Sancta. One of the important parts of her education at Chesterton has been working with the school’s pro-life club. She became the president, and she has helped organize and run many events, including a baby bottle fundraiser that garnered more than $2,000 for Pro-Life Across America. This school year, the pro-life club merged with the service club to become the Life of Service Club. Morgan also went to both national and local pro-life marches in January, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in America. Connected to the marches were efforts she led to distribute bags to the homeless. “It was amazing,” Morgan said. “That’s the type of influence Chesterton [Academy] has. It’s not the building. It’s what they give to their students, and what they teach us to do of our own means and our independence, and how we bring that to the world, how we are being filled with Christ and to bring him out.”
Seeking who God wants him to be
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en Richards recently gave a talk about the importance of the Eucharist in his life. The senior at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria was asked by someone at his parish, St. Joseph in Waconia, to speak to adults in the parish at a retreat. He was nervous. What could he say that the adults would find meaningful? As it turns out, plenty. The principal of Holy Family, Kathie Brown, wasn’t worried. One act spoke volumes — he asked her if he could spend his study hall in the chapel to prepare his remarks. This practice is nothing new for a young man who has come to appreciate the value of a Catholic education after spending his younger years in public school. “Sometimes, I’ll use this study hall period to go and just pray in the chapel and see if God can give me any words of wisdom in that time period,” he said. In his talk on the Eucharist, he said he “focused on ... trying to express the truth that Christ is present in the Eucharist, and how he can be represented, and how you can know that he is present in the Eucharist by bringing up Gospel stories that explain Christ being present in the Eucharist.” He recounted for his audience the story of a eucharistic miracle in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1996, in which a priest placed a consecrated host into a glass of water, and later found that it had become a piece of bloodied flesh. It was examined by thenCardinal Jorge Bergoglio (now Pope Francis). Later, scientists in New York studied the host and concluded that it contained a fragment of heart muscle. “There’s so many things that point you towards having Christ present in the Eucharist,” he said. “And, I wanted to be able to spread that to all those adults that may or may not have been struggling to find Christ’s true presence.” Richards’ conviction of this truth has led him to become an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He also serves in the school’s music ministry. He plans to attend St. John’s University in Collegeville to study computer science and global business. He feels called to raise a family “and try and spread God’s love through different methods,” he said. “If I can become a businessman, and I can become a different type of businessman with high ethics and morals that is able to spread God’s love through that, I think I could make a huge impact.” Attending Holy Family has provided an opportunity “to receive a good education while being able to stay closely connected to Christ,” he said. “And, I think this school is very good at giving you these opportunities to develop into who you’re supposed to be in the eyes of God.”
CARISSA QUINTANILLA
BEN RICHARDS
To honor graduating high school seniors in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, The Catholic Spirit asked Catholic high schools to nominate a student to be considered for this feature. The three students selected credit their Catholic education with deepening their faith and commitment to living out its principles. Congratulations and best wishes to all of our graduates!
RACHEL MORGAN
PROFILES
MAY 10, 2018
Finding faith and lasting community
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arissa Quintanilla was feeling like a number while attending a public high school during her freshman year. She wanted a change and to feel more connected to others. “I thought about coming to a private school,” she said, “because it would be much smaller.” She decided to visit St. Agnes School in St. Paul. She spent a day shadowing a student and visited classrooms to taste the atmosphere. “I felt at peace being here,” she said. “It was more like a community, rather than just being a big place where I didn’t know anybody, and nobody really knew me. I felt like I had a spot here. It’s very communal here, and it’s like a family, and they include you right away as soon as you come through the doors.” On her shadowing day, she had met the student’s friends. When she arrived at the start of sophomore year, those students became her friends. Their faith also became her faith. Although she had been baptized Catholic and received first Communion, her family did not attend Mass regularly, and she “didn’t have a faith.” “I remember coming here, and I felt very nervous, thinking, ‘This is the first time I ever had any religion class,’” she said. “Before every religion class, we would pray a decade of the rosary. Everybody was praying a Hail Mary and I was, like, ‘Oh, I don’t know this prayer.’ It was all very, very new to me. It was kind of overwhelming, but at the same time it was ... cool.” She absorbed the classroom discussions about the faith and especially enjoyed reading works by philosophers such as Plato and Socrates. She hopes to continue to study philosophy in college, with plans to attend Bethel University in St. Paul in the fall and eventually go to law school. As she continued to learn more about Catholicism, her faith grew to the point where she desired to receive the sacrament of confirmation. She did so April 19, less than two months before graduation. “I think the most meaningful part is that I know now this is a community I’m always going to be part of, and it’s more of a family rather than just people that teach me and I go to school with,” she said. “These are people I’ll probably have relationships with for the rest of my life.” She’s had her share of extracurricular activities, but it’s the faith element that she finds the most meaningful — and plans to keep as a permanent part of her life. “I think my faith is going to be a strong part in wherever I go and end up in the world,” she said. “One of the best things that could have happened to me is coming here. So, I think I’ll be able to take my strong faith with me and spread that [to] other people.”
— Stories and photos by Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit
MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13
FAITH+CULTURE
Ecumenical ‘Pulse’ hopes to draw Catholics May 18 By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit
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n ecumenical movement supported by Pope Francis is coming to U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis May 18. Pulse Twin Cities, a large-scale ecumenical evangelization event, will bring together Christians from around the metro. Although it’s geared toward millenials, all ages are welcome to attend. In 2016, Pope Francis encouraged attendance via video for Together, a Pulse event in Washington, D.C. “Jesus is waiting for you,” Pope Francis said in Spanish in the video with English captions. “He is the one who planted seeds of restlessness in your heart. Give it a try! You don’t have anything to lose!” Pulse founder Nick Hall met Pope Francis before the 2016 event and gave him a Together T-shirt, which the pontiff held up in the video. While Pulse Twin Cities won’t include a message from Pope Francis, the Minneapolis-based nonprofit hopes to have a Catholic presence at U.S. Bank Stadium. “We really just believe that we’re stronger together,” said Hall, an evangelical Christian. “We’re on the same team.” Hall founded the Pulse movement while attending North Dakota State University in 2006. Its first event drew 5,000 at the Bison Sports Arena in Fargo. Three years later, Pulse opened a national office to spread its events beyond the upper Midwest. Brotherhood of Hope Brother Ken Apuzzo, campus minister for St. Lawrence Catholic Church and Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, has
COURTESY PULSE
Evangelical Christian Nick Hall met Pope Francis ahead of Together 2016, an ecumenical Pulse event in Washington, D.C. A similar event will be May 18 in Minneapolis. attended a Pulse event at Mariucci Arena. The venue hosted Pulse in 2015 and 2016. “I could see that they were really trying to pray together and encourage each other and build bridges across our different Christian traditions,” Brother Apuzzo said. He sees Pulse Twin Cities as an opportunity that the local Church should seize. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Office of Evangelization is also
encouraging Catholics to participate. “We’re the mother church of Christianity, and this is going to be a major spiritual moment of God working in the Twin Cities,” said Brother Apuzzo, who was featured in a video promoting Pulse Twin Cities. The lead-up to Pulse began with pastors’ summits in September and February. Those drew leaders from almost 2,000 churches in the Twin Cities area. Pulse also held evangelization training at Protestant churches around the metro to equip people to share the Gospel and invite people to the May 18 event. St. Lawrence collaborated with the Office of Evangelization to hold a training session April 7. The May 18 event will include music from Grammy award-winning artist Lecrae, Hillsong Young and Free, and a presentation from Hall. “We just think it’s an opportunity to come together around what unites us and again, just looking at the Gospel and who Jesus is and looking at the hope we have and being able to pray together,” Hall said. “I love the road to Emmaus picture of Jesus just meeting us on our way, and I think that’s what we hope to happen on May 18.” Pulse provides follow-up resources to connect people with churches via digital media and phone calls. That includes connecting Catholics to Catholic parishes. Brother Apuzzo said the Pulse movement doesn’t “try to pull Catholics away from the Catholic Church. In fact, what they’re really trying to do [is for] anybody who comes to this event, they just want them to have a deeper encounter with the love of God and then actually bring that love back to their home church.”
Spring Formation Day to spotlight evangelization, community By Melenie Soucheray For The Catholic Spirit
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wo years ago, Father Joseph Williams directed all staff members at St. Stephen in Minneapolis to stop what they were doing for a time in the summer and during Lent. In the spirit of the Gospel of St. Matthew in which Jesus commissions his apostles to go out and make disciples, St. Stephen staff members were to leave their desks and go to the streets. The pastor encouraged them to chat with people in parks, in shops and on sidewalks. By getting to know their neighbors and sharing their own stories, parish leaders could be empathetic and explain how their relationship with Jesus has helped them in their daily lives. This form of evangelization was new to Viviana Sotro, and it was scary. “I wasn’t prepared for that,” said Sotro, 46, the parish’s mission director. “I went out to be obedient to our priest, [and] just going out changed my life.” With a new objective in her outreach, no longer does she simply answer the phone and set appointments. Fruits of her efforts are VIVIANA SOTRO evident in the parish. Families, some broken and others estranged from the Church, have begun attending Mass. They have enrolled their children in Sunday classes to prepare for first Communion and confirmation. Parents have used that same time to build community and their own faith. They have formed “cells” — small groups that encourage faith formation and a relationship with Christ — that have helped families heal. They have also strengthened social and secular networks built on the foundation of parish life. Sotro will share St. Stephen’s approach to evangelization with other parish leaders in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis May 24 at Spring Formation Day. Held at Pax Christi in Eden Prairie, the daylong program “Growing a Church of Unity and Diversity” will include a look at small Christian communities and how they promote individual faith development and
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We also know there is internal work that we should all be doing around developing that personal relationship with Jesus. I see the job of mission as being both internal and external. Samantha Hagel ultimately, the growth of the Church. Featured presenters are author Chris Lowney, chairman of the board of directors for Catholic Health Initiatives and a former Jesuit seminarian; and Dominican Sister Theresa Rickard, president and executive director of RENEW International. They will discuss how evangelization is not a one-size-fits-all proposition.
Forming disciples When Father Williams arrived as pastor at St. Stephen 10 years ago, the neighborhood was changing, the parish roster was shrinking and closure was a possibility. Sotro, a native of Argentina, joined the parish staff six years ago to help provide resources and services to families who walked through their doors. Then in 2016, with Father Michael White’s and Tom Corcoran’s book “Rebuilt” in hand, Father Williams reorganized the parish operations into four functions that reflect the main responsibilities of a pastor: teaching (catechesis), sanctifying (sacraments), governing (daily business management) and mission, which he added later to handle a variety of functions, including social services and outreach. “This is a very diverse neighborhood,” Sotro said of the parish, located just south of downtown Minneapolis. “We have many Latinos, many Somalis and English-speaking people, too. Many of the apartment buildings where Latino families were living were bought by companies and then remodeled. Many young singles and couples were moving into those apartments.”
Samantha Hagel, director of mission at St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake, will also share her parish’s evangelization activities at Spring Formation Day. Hagel, 51, joined St. Mary of the Lake’s staff last December and said the new position’s job description is still a work in progress. In 2016, under Father Ralph Talbot’s leadership, parishioners began exploring how they could be more intentional disciples of Christ. Hagel, who attends the parish with her husband and four children, has been a parishioner for close to 20 years. She was a social worker and has been involved in community engagement efforts. St. Mary of the Lake is using Be My Witness, the twopart RENEW International model of forming disciples. A 30-year-old ministry based out of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, RENEW encourages individuals and communities to encounter God in their daily lives and thus, help revitalize parish life. St. Mary of the Lake’s early goal was to engage 100 parishioners, but Hagel increased that target to 203. “Traditionally, all parishes have outreach ministries. We have 39,” Hagel said, noting that St. Mary of the Lake has 2,080 active households with 6,000 individuals. “They are an indication of who we are as a parish. We are welcoming, we are hospitable. That’s what drives our parishioners to be out there doing all kinds of work. Yet, we also know there is internal work that we should all be doing around developing that personal relationship with Jesus. I see the job of mission as being both internal and external.” In the first phase of the initiative, parish staff identified the areas of parish life that contribute to nurturing a relationship with Christ. Phase two brought 240 parishioners to weekly meetings of 26 small faithsharing groups where they read and reflected on selected Gospel passages and shared how the messages resonate in their lives. Hagel said that’s when they began to understand what it means to love Christ and to be comfortable sharing that love story with others. The parish is continuing phase two while developing the next phase. Participants want to encourage fellow parishioners to use their newfound skills for outreach through evangelization, which is a work in progress, Hagel said.
FAITH+CULTURE
14 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
MAY 10, 2018
St. Clement, St. Boniface host Christian artists for Art-A-Whirl By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit
If you go
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hat started as a hobby for Renee Hickman will help make St. Clement in northeast Minneapolis an Art-A-Whirl stop May 18-20. A parishioner of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina, Hickman has been creating stained-glass style art on paper since 2013. She will be among Christian artists displaying work at St. Clement, which is joining ArtA-Whirl for the first time. “I really like the opportunity at Art-A-Whirl because it’s really focused on the artist,” Hickman said. The event offers the “largest open art studio tour in the country,” according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association, which organizes the annual event. It draws around 100,000 people to various art studios and exhibitions in northeast Minneapolis. “It seemed obvious to me to connect one of our churches with Art-A-Whirl,” said Father Spencer Howe, parochial administrator of Holy Cross in Minneapolis, which, in addition to Holy Cross, includes campuses at St. Clement, St. Hedwig and St. Anthony of Padua. “We wanted to involve local artists, but also bring intentionally Christian artists together to have a forum to participate within the broader Art-A-Whirl scene.” Catholic musician Luke Spehar will perform May 19. Father Howe knew Hickman and her husband, Jon, from his previous assignment at Holy Name of Jesus. Father Howe leveraged that contact to gather a group of artists for St. Clement. “The Church has always been in the business of beauty and art and music and visual arts,” Father
uSt. Boniface — Art exhibit 5–10 p.m. May 18, noon–8 p.m.
May 19, noon–5 p.m. May 20. Chris Strouth and his band will perform 10:15 p.m. May 19. The parish also hosts the Northeast Farmers Market 9 a.m.–1 p.m. May 19 followed by its MaiFest event, which begins with the 4:30 p.m. Mass. 629 Second St. NE, Minneapolis. stbonifacempls.org.
uSt. Clement — FaithFul Art exhibition 5–10 p.m. May 18,
noon–8 p.m. May 19, noon–5 p.m. May 20. Luke Spehar will perform 7–8 p.m. May 19. 901 24th Ave. NE, Minneapolis. ourholycross.org. For more information, visit nemaa.org/art-a-whirl.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Signs like this one can be found along Broadway Avenue in northeast Minneapolis. Howe said. “One of the things we’re doing is reminding the world — and the neighborhood around us — that the Church has always been interested in this.” Nearby St. Boniface has participated in Art-A-Whirl for the past three years, and it will be on the map again this year. It is featuring neoclassical musician
Chris Strouth and his band May 19, and visual artists May 18-20. “I do believe that the awareness of the neighborhood is definitely at a higher level than it was before,” said Patty Griffin, 65, a parish council member who organizes the Art-A-Whirl events at St. Boniface. “The idea is kind of like, get somebody in the door for something like Art-A-Whirl, and they may say, ‘Well, I’m going to come back for Mass.’” “It’s a time where a lot of people are on their feet, willing to check places out,” Father Howe said of ArtA-Whirl. “It just seems like the Church can have a place in that whole event, and I think it’s great that we’re looking forward to offering hospitality to people from throughout the neighborhood and beyond.”
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MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 15
Speaker: ‘Contraception ideology’ creates new layer of inequality By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
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he economy and upper-level decision-making in the United States are built on delayed childbearing — a consequence of the sexual revolution and widespread promotion of contraceptives, said Jennifer Roback Morse in her April 26 talk at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. As a result, power is concentrated among highly educated and disproportionately childless elites. “The decision-makers in our culture — the people who occupy the higher echelons of the professions — are selectively more likely to be people who have postponed childbearing, people who are more likely to be in favor of contraception and abortion because that’s kind of how they got it done,” said Morse, founder and president of the Ruth Institute, a Louisiana nonprofit. The event was sponsored by the Siena Symposium for Women, Family and Culture, and attended by about 200 students and other adults. After receiving the Siena Symposium’s 2018 Humanitarian Leadership Award, Morse presented “Recovering from the Sexual Revolution: ‘Humanae Vitae’ in 2018” in honor of the 50th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical letter outlining Church teaching on the regulation of birth. Morse also described other ramifications of what she called a “contraceptive ideology,” such as separating sexual intercourse from creating human life and its effects on women, children and families. The Ruth Institute focuses on the impact that family breakdown has on children. An author and speaker, Morse was a spokeswoman for California’s 2008 Proposition 8 campaign defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, introduced Morse and presented
“
If you’re going to build a society around the idea that children come from sex, that children have rights, etc., you can do that. Nature will reinforce your view that sex makes babies on a fairly regular basis.
Jennifer Roback Morse her with the award. “She is at the forefront of helping people understand the ecosystem in which children, families and the broader society flourish,” he said. The Siena Symposium was founded in 2003 as an interdisciplinary faculty group at the University of St. Thomas that seeks to develop the new feminism called for by St. John Paul II. The contraception ideology creates a new layer of inequality in U.S. society, Morse said. While the overall contraception failure rate is 8 percent, birth control pills are much less effective for poor, young and unmarried women than their wealthier counterparts, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which collaborates with Planned Parenthood on research and policy regarding “sexual and reproductive health and rights.” Morse traced the social and legal history of contraceptives, noting that contraception ideology is totalitarian because the goal has always been controlling population through widespread promotion.
The Church of Saint Louis King of France
Congratulations
congratulates
to Andrew Zipp
Louis Sebastian Floeder on his Ordination to the Diaconate Ad multos annos.
on your ordination to the transitional diaconate. May God abundantly bless your vocation.
Deacon Joseph Connelly
“Making contraceptive technology legally available has never been good enough for the true ideologues,” she said. With billions of dollars in backing from top leaders, the sexual revolution’s promotion of unlimited sexual activity as a right through contraception ideology is one way it conflicts with children’s best interests, Morse said. Julia Lindell, 17, attended the talk to learn more about what her faith teaches and how to defend it. A parishioner of St. Peter in Forest Lake, she said she is learning to recognize contraception ideology, including in her high school sex education classes. “There’s a lot about how we’re being brainwashed,” said Lindell, who’ll graduate from Forest Lake High School this spring. “We don’t realize how much this is impacting us. We don’t realize it’s changing the way we’re thinking when we view the family and marriage culture.” Friends recommended the talk to Andrew Ratelle, 30, a parishioner of Holy Family in St. Louis Park. He noted the net economic effect of contraception propaganda. “All my friends, we’re all millennials and we’re seeing this fallout, and it’s generated a lot of resentment among people of our generation that are of any background, religious or non-religious,” he said. “They’ve suffered the effects of this propaganda and ideology that’s infected our culture.” The sexual revolution — and contraception ideology — deny the human body, Morse said, adding that the false image of a society built around the idea that sex doesn’t make babies can’t naturally support and reproduce itself. But, she said, there’s hope. “If you’re going to build a society around the idea that children come from sex, that children have rights, etc., you can do that. Nature will reinforce your view that sex makes babies on a fairly regular basis.”
May God bless you as you continue to prepare for the priesthood! From the parishioners of the Cathedral of Saint Paul
CatholicHotdish.com
16 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
MAY 10, 2018
FOCUSONFAITH SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER NATHANIEL MEYERS
The empire that never fades
As a lifelong Detroit Red Wings fan, I’ve been taking a bit of a hit from Minnesota Wild fans these past couple of years as Hockeytown loses its luster and the State of Hockey looks to be building its future in an encouraging way. I freely admit that I am partially responsible for the snark I receive from Wild fans, since I unabashedly rejoiced in the Red Wings’ glow and gleefully predicted their continuation atop the NHL. In doing this, though, I forgot one of the most important truths of life: Empires will always fade. It matters not whether the empire is in athletics, business or politics. All worldly kingdoms will come to an end. Sure, Google and Amazon seem to be set to exist for as long as we and our progeny will walk the earth, but then again, didn’t that seem to be the case for such titans as Blockbuster Video and Compaq computers? While the world can offer us a great many goods, it simply does not have the capacity to offer us eternity. Only an appeal to God can grant us everlasting happiness and life, but the irony is that
ASK FATHER MIKE | FATHER MICHAEL SCHMITZ
How can we avoid a ’greenhouse faith’?
Q. It used to be easy to believe in Jesus
when I was younger, but with all the suffering in the world and in my life, I just don’t know. Why is it harder for me now than when I was younger?
A. Great question. There could be many
reasons, but what I would like to highlight is something I’ve found in many people who were raised Catholic in the developed world: Many of us were introduced to Jesus before we were introduced to real suffering, and this has shaped our view of the world and of what Christianity is supposed to be. How have many people in the Western, developed world come to be introduced to Jesus? They were likely raised in a culture that was designed to shelter them from suffering, sickness and death. Thanks to modern medicine, infant mortality is greatly reduced, diseases and pain brought under control, and when we do die, it is typically in some kind of institution far from ordinary life. You might have been presented with a Gospel that said that Jesus died for our sins, but never made the connection between his suffering and your suffering. Then, once there is some kind of sickness or suffering that is unavoidable, one might ask, “How can I continue to believe in God, who allows death?” Sometimes I want to shake the person and ask, “Were you not paying attention? God himself entered into this broken world and allowed all of its sin and suffering to overwhelm him in death! The only God in the history of gods who has anything to do with suffering is Jesus Christ, and he has demonstrated that he can be trusted … even in the face of death itself.” Reflect on the difference between that experience and that of almost every other Christian before the modern era. That person was raised in a world that was brutal and uncertain. From a young age, they would have encountered death of parents, siblings and friends. They would have always understood that this world is dangerous, and then they would be introduced to the truth that God is good, that he made this world good, but sin is what has caused all of this sickness, suffering and death. They would be presented with the truth that Jesus has the final victory, that God is on your side even in the midst of this broken world, and that he has even redeemed the meaning of suffering and death. It is no longer senseless. Coming to this kind of faith, after having experienced the reality of the harshness of life, would be powerful. It would not be a fragile faith that is merely waiting for the first moment of opposition to crack its foundations. And yet, many people in the West have not had this
this embrace of eternity requires us to undergo death — not just the actual passing from this life to the next, but more importantly, a death to attachment to material things. St. Luke’s account of the Lord’s Ascension shows that the apostles themselves needed to abandon their hopes of a material messianic kingdom. As Christ appears to them and prepares to ascend to the father, the apostles ask if he is now ready to restore Israel’s kingdom. “It is not for you to know the times or season,” the Lord replies, “that the Father has established by his own authority.” In the Ascension, we are given a clear sign that our hearts should long for the world beyond this one. However, in seeking this kingdom, we are not allowed to become indifferent to the plight of this world. Although the business and politics of this world are destined to pass into history, the people of this world are endowed with immortal souls. As we meditate on Christ’s Ascension, we should see it as hope that a path to an everlasting kingdom now clearly exists for us. Our task as disciples is not only to walk that path ourselves, but also to make sure others can join us on it. Like the apostles, we have received the missionary mandate from our Lord to preach the good news. “‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,’” the Lord says to us in St. Mark’s Gospel. The Ascension gives us confidence to carry out this command, realizing that we carry the news that truly never fades and can never be defeated. Inspired by this confidence, we now seek to serve Christ in the empire that never fades. Father Meyers is pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo.
introduction to faith in Christ. Many people are introduced to Christ in a greenhouse. The concept of the greenhouse is useful here. When one lives in an inhospitable climate, it is difficult to grow delicate and fragile plants. So, we put them in greenhouses where everything is controlled, and the plants are protected from the kinds of things that can damage them. That is a decent thing to do when a plant is fragile. But there comes a point when the plant has to be taken out of the greenhouse and has to be able to live in the real world. Too many Catholics have what we might call a “greenhouse faith”: As long as the environment is controlled and there aren’t too many points of opposition, we are spiritually “alive” and can survive. But Catholics aren’t meant to live in greenhouses. We are meant to be able to thrive in any environment. Any. Environment. To be able to stand and grow and thrive in any circumstance and not turn to blame God at the first sign of pain. We then realize that, for our faith to grow, it must be tested. It has to pass through difficult times. St. Paul, writing to a struggling church in Rome, states, “Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope … and hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:3-5). This scriptural truth is also true in other areas of life. Last year, I read a fascinating book by an economist (who is also a strong Christian) who presented the concept “anti-fragile.” He noted that the term “resilience” was being used quite a bit these days in popular parlance and that resilience is a good thing. But he wanted to ask if there was something more than mere resilience. When things (or people) are “fragile,” they encounter an obstacle, and it breaks them. When people are resilient, however, they encounter an obstacle and they are able to make it through the difficult trial. But the author asked if there was something more powerful. What if there was a quality in things or people that, when they encountered an obstacle, it didn’t break them and they didn’t simply “make it through” the trial, but the trial actually made them stronger? Since there is no word for this in any known language, he made up a word: “anti-fragile.” The concept of anti-fragility is known to most of us (even if we’ve never encountered the term). It is the principle behind inoculations. A limited amount of a particular virus is introduced to a human body, and the body responds to it in such a way that it is strengthened and is then immune to greater doses of the virus. The body is incredibly anti-fragile. Now, while it is possible to introduce too much strain on the body, without a battle or struggle, the body grows weaker and weaker — more and more fragile. The same is true for our faith. Without the trials, we become more and more fragile. But obstacles, faced with God’s grace, provide something more than resilience; they offer the chance to have an anti-fragile faith. This is the kind of faith that can thrive in any environment. Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Reach him at fathermikeschmitz@ gmail.com.
DAILY Scriptures Sunday, May 13 Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11 Eph 1:17-23 Mk 16:15-20 Monday, May 14 St. Matthias, Apostle Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Jn 15:9-17 Tuesday, May 15 Acts 20:17-27 Jn 17:1-11a Wednesday, May 16 Acts 20:28-38 Jn 17:11b-19 Thursday, May 17 Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Jn 17:20-26 Friday, May 18 Acts 25:13b-21 Jn 21:15-19 Saturday, May 19 Acts 28:16-20, 30-31 Jn 21:20-25 Sunday, May 20 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-11 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13 Jn 20:19-23 Monday, May 21 Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church Gn 3:9-15, 20 Jn 19:25-34 Tuesday, May 22 Jas 4:1-10 Mk 9:30-37 Wednesday, May 23 Jas 4:13-17 Mk 9:38-40 Thursday, May 24 Jas 5:1-6 Mk 9:41-50 Friday, May 25 Jas 5:9-12 Mk 10:1-12 Saturday, May 26 St. Philip Neri, priest Jas 5:13-20 Mk 10:13-16 Sunday, May 27 Most Holy Trinity Dt 4:32-34, 39-40 Rom 8:14-17 Mt 28:16-20
MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 17
COMMENTARY TWENTY SOMETHING | CHRISTINA CAPECCHI
Telling our stories and knowing for sure
When Oprah Winfrey was first asked the question, the talk-show queen was left tongue-tied. She was doing a live television interview with the late film critic Gene Siskel to promote her film “Beloved,” and he concluded by asking, “Tell me, what do you
know for sure?” “I got all flustered and started stuttering and couldn’t come up with an answer,” Oprah later wrote. But since that day, she’s never stopped posing that question — to others and to herself. If she can borrow the question from Siskel, so can I. In my journalism career, I have never ceased to be astounded by the generosity of strangers when I request an interview — a cold call disrupting a hot dinner, a knock on the door on a Saturday morning, a formal
SIMPLE HOLINESS | KATE SOUCHERAY
Mary, a model of holiness
May is the month of Mary, a woman revered and respected by Catholics and Christians around the world for her sacredness and leadership. Throughout the year, but especially during this month, we are reminded of Mary’s strength of character, her devotion to family, her unshakable faith in God’s promises and her simple, humble holiness. All people are called to learn from Mary, and especially those in our culture, which often does not encourage living a life of chastity, humility and an understanding of right relationships. Rather, our culture often urges us to “do whatever feels good” and to be influenced and manipulated by whatever is popular or trendy. One thing we can know for certain, this was not Mary’s response to the situation in which she found herself. Mary was a teenage girl living in Nazareth during the
sit-down or a quick conversation in the back of a church or the corner of a store or the middle of a long line outside in the wee hours of a blustery Black Friday. One minute we’ve never met, the next they’re entrusting me with their last name and age and occupation, fielding questions they can’t possibly prepare for or predict. I don’t know exactly what to make of this great goodness except to say we crave conversation and connection, and we want to be helpful. Whatever the reason, it fills me with gratitude and allows me to be — of all things — a student of the human race. What a fountain of youth, a lifelong adventure. But you don’t need a press badge to witness the storytelling. When you give someone your full attention, undergirded by genuine curiosity, it will almost always be rewarded. If you can come up with good questions, you won’t be disappointed. It is the Catholic response, the simplest and surest way to affirm the dignity of another. What’s your name? Where are you from? How long have you been here? Every now and then I encounter a kindred spirit, a fellow interviewer masquerading in scrubs, an apron or tattered gardening jeans. My sister-in-law is among them. She works in palliative care, a difficult field to which she brings a bouquet of compassion, listening with the utmost sensitivity. Just as steadily as she amasses medical knowledge, so, too, does she patch together a more complete understanding of humanity.
This spring I’ve posed Gene Siskel’s question to a variety of people, seeking bread crumbs from the communion of future saints here on earth. What do you know for sure? I asked a retired bishop, who immediately spoke of service. “It empties the heart of selfishness and then fills it up with love, if you are open to that. You cannot look upon service as a drudgery; you must look upon it as a beautiful opportunity of loving, and that is all there is to it.” I asked a well-traveled, high-profile Catholic sister. “We’re called to be God’s love in the world,” she told me. When you answer that call, she added with a laugh, prepare for “surprises.” I asked my mom and her mom. “I know that once the heart has stretched, you never quite are the same person,” my mom answered. “I know for sure that through my long life, I have been guided and protected by an amazing God, who has loved and understood and forgiven me every step of my journey,” my grandma replied. I asked a 101-year-old nun, who cast her eyes aside and flashed a half-grin before she spoke. “I know for sure that I’m going to die. That’s the only thing I know for sure.” If I may add my own, it would be this: I know for sure we are here to lean on and learn from each other.
reign of King Herod the Great, under the control of the Roman Empire. She was a modest, faithful young woman who understood and followed the precepts of her Jewish faith. When she was betrothed to Joseph, the angel Gabriel was sent to tell her she had found favor with God and that she would conceive and bear a son. When Mary replied to the angel that she did not know how this could be, as she had not had relations with a man, she was told the Holy Spirit would come upon her and the power of the Most High would overshadow her. The angel also explained to Mary that her relative, Elizabeth, was expecting a baby, as, he said, “Nothing will be impossible for God.” Even with this surprising news, Mary continued to trust God and his faithfulness to her. As a wife and mother, Mary honored her commitment to her husband, Joseph, and her son, Jesus. With the difficulties facing many families today, the ability to remain committed is often challenging. For Christians living in the shadow of the cross, we know we will receive both comfort and challenge in living out the Gospel, or the good news, of Christ resurrected. There will be times we will face situations that we fear will defy our ability to handle them. When that happens, we can think of Mary and remember how she managed the news delivered by the angel, even though she was unsure how it would all unfold. As we work to become the presence of the risen Christ to our loved ones, our work associates and others in our
lives, we have the opportunity to turn to Mary as an example of faithfulness and strength. If we can do this, we will have the opportunity to listen to our deeper wisdom, which is always available to inspire and motivate us. In doing so, we have the opportunity to inspire and motivate our families, friends and work associates to listen and respond to the deeper wisdom within themselves. This will be a quiet process, in which we have turned in prayer and solitude to the Holy Spirit, asking that our hearts and minds be filled with clarity and purpose, truth and authenticity. Mary is the model of holiness, as she has been called forth to encourage and guide our hurting world, which she has done all throughout her earthly and heavenly life. In order to learn from and emulate her example, we must embrace a similar kind of holiness, simplicity and humility by committing ourselves to the betterment of the lives of others through responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds. Take time this month to say the rosary and ask Mary to help open your heart and mind to the Holy Spirit, encouraging you to become an example of holiness in whatever life situation you find yourself.
Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.
Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a member of Guardian Angels in Oakdale. She holds a master’s degree in theology from the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul.
LETTERS Learn more about immigration The response (“Immigration issue not so simple,” April 12) to my letter (“Unsustainable way of life,” March 22) was the exact response I was hoping wouldn’t come: that the overwhelming majority of immigrants are radical Muslims trying to impose sharia law above our constitution. Muslims make up less than 10 percent of immigrants here, coming from horrific circumstances of war. Why is it so hard to see the face of Jesus in these people? Please encourage your readers to go to immigration workshops led by people who have been working on the frontlines of this issue for years, and have seen firsthand the real situation, and how harmful the media have been at portraying the fear-
mongering stereotypes of our immigrants. Maryknoll lay missionary Marty Roers recently spoke at St. Albert the Great parish in south Minneapolis to our adult faith formation group about this. (There were so many questions and so many misconceptions on this topic, that he will be coming back to speak again.) Elizabeth Rosenwinkel St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis
In defense of enneagrams As professor emeritus in theology at St. Catherine University, I have long supported both The Catholic Spirit and the Loyola Spirituality Center (or Institute) for years. The latter was described in an article in your paper by Matthew Davis (“Loyola marks 40 years of
offering spiritual direction,” April 12). While I appreciated most of what I read, there was a statement in it that I thought was misleading. Davis writes that the enneagram had “occult roots that the Church cautioned against in the 2003 pontifical document ‘Jesus Christ, the Bearer of the Water of Life: A Christian reflection on the New Age.’” I am acquainted with the latter document, having read it when it was first published. I think it is important for your readers to know that not all pontifical documents are considered to be infallible, and this one in particular was put out “as a provisional report,” written by a variety of groups. While its intent was to examine “New Age” phenomenon and help Catholics discern what is authentically Christian, it was not all that helpful in its negative interpretation of not only the
enneagram, but also Jungian psychology and Celtic spirituality, two areas which I have taught and written about for decades. All three areas — the enneagram, Jungian psychology and Celtic spirituality — have been exceptionally helpful in spiritual direction as well as personal enrichment, and in no way do they detract from a primary loyalty to Christ and our rich spiritual heritage. Ed Sellner Professor emeritus, St. Catherine University, St. Paul Share your perspective by emailing CatholicSpirit@archspm.org. Please limit your letter to the editor to 150 words and include your parish and phone number. The Commentary page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.
COMMENTARY
18 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA | JASON ADKINS
The politics of language “In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of the indefensible. ... Thus, political language has to consist largely of euphemism, questionbegging and sheer cloudy vagueness.” Little has changed since 1946 when George Orwell wrote these words in his famous essay, “Politics and the English Language.” Those defending the indefensible continue to use vague words, abstraction and misleading terms to impose their will. And it can be alarmingly effective because corrupt language obscures the truth and dulls the intellect. As Orwell himself put it, “every such phrase anaesthetizes a portion of one’s brain.” Clear thinking and precise language are therefore essential in today’s world. They are an important defense against manipulation by ideologues and selfinterested persons.
Gambling and suicide, in other words Two issues that emerged recently in our state Legislature — the legalization of online sports gambling and the legalization of assisted suicide — demonstrate clearly how language can be manipulated for political ends. Those seeking to legalize online sports gambling claim it is not really gambling; instead, they call it “daily fantasy sports”
(DFS). DFS is undeniably a form of gambling — wagering money in a game of chance induced by a prize. But innocent fun is a lot easier to sell than a lucrative, shady business that preys upon inexperienced and addicted players. Similarly, proponents of assisted suicide think that by playing with words they can legislate reality. The bill to legalize assisted suicide declares that it is not “suicide” — and in fact prohibits treating it as suicide by requiring, for example, the falsification of death records. Instead, the practice is called “medical aid in dying,” as if merely putting such things in statute changes the nature of the act itself. Ironically, “medical aid in dying” is a contradiction in terms. But proponents prefer it because it subtly connotes in the mind a health care professional relieving suffering at the end of life. And that is the point. Policies that violate our innate sense of right and wrong now get a hearing because language is being misused to make us ignore the underlying nature of the acts involved. Control the language, and one can thereby control the terms of the debate.
Abuse of language, power In his book “Abuse of Language — Abuse of Power,” Catholic philosopher Josef Pieper remarks that changes in language lead to changes in selfunderstanding or in how we understand the world.
When words are used to obscure the truth, sophists and flatterers can more easily impose their will, Pieper says. Undeniably, this is our condition today as marketers and spin masters produce media and advertising that function like a drug to shape our sense of reality. Tragically, language then loses its essential purpose: to communicate truth. Rather, Pieper laments, it becomes a kind of weapon used to manipulate the behavior of others, “while less and less saying anything.” Fortunately, as Orwell notes, the process of succumbing to manipulative language is reversible: “The invasion of one’s mind by ready-made phrases can only be prevented if one is constantly on guard against them.”
Take back the language To push back on these disturbing politics of language, clear thinking and precise language are required. We must be vigilant in calling things by their true name, in words that convey clearly the reality of what is being proposed: assisted suicide, not “medical aid in dying”; gambling expansion, not “fantasy sports.” Even when the media or individuals adopt misleading terminology, we are not powerless. We can recapture the terms and employ them effectively. For example, the language of “compassion” has long been used to promote assisted suicide. Proponents have tried to argue that the best way to show compassion for a suffering person is to help end his or her life. But that platform has been crumbling because assisted suicide opponents are steadily winning the battle over the word “compassion.” We have been successful in pointing out the fact that sending people home to kill themselves with a
their children. As my husband and I are writing a book on miscarriage for Catholic couples, I’ve posed the question on social media: Has your parish’s blessing on Mother’s Day included prayers for women who long to have a child or women who have lost a child? To my surprise and delight, readers shared beautiful examples of prayers that honor the motherhood of women far and wide. Single mothers, stepmothers and godmothers. Birth mothers, adoptive mothers and foster mothers. Women suffering from infertility, miscarriage or the death of a child. Indeed, the Church counts on so many to “mother” its children — women religious, teachers, nurses and catechists. Giving thanks for this wider vision of motherhood is a rich celebration of God at work in our midst. But every year I hear from women who struggle to come to Mass on
Stand up for providing real care to Minnesotans throughout life’s journey and against efforts to legalize assisted suicide in our state. Visit ethicalcaremn.org and click on the “Take Action” and “News” buttons at the top of the page. There, you can register for email updates, read the testimonies of those who are fighting for real care in our state and stay informed on issues impacting end-of-life care. You can also stay updated and join the conversation via social media. On Facebook and Twitter, search for @EthicalCareMN. vial of pills is just the opposite of compassion (the word means “to suffer with”), and what people really want is to be accompanied on the journey at life’s end with ethical care. Take my hand, not my life, they say. Both promoting clarity of language and recapturing the terms are necessary strategies to prevail in the public debate. By using words to communicate truth and expose lies, we can restore language to its proper function in society. Adkins is the executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
By adding words of compassion to the blessings we add to Mass each Mother’s Day, we can become the Church that challenges and changes the world’s limited definition of motherhood.
How to widen our hearts on Mother’s Day Mother’s Day. They know there will be a special blessing, or mothers will be asked to stand, and their broken hearts cannot bear it. What if we could speak a loving word to their longing? I’ve heard people grumble at such suggestions. “Why do we have to make every holiday so complicated?” they ask. “Why can’t we just celebrate without worrying that we’re offending anyone?” Because we are called to love our neighbor. And our neighbor is not only the proud mom who loves Mother’s Day because she finally hears a word of blessing and support for her calling. Our neighbor is also the woman who prayed for children every night and never got pregnant. Our neighbor is the single woman raising her sister’s children. Our neighbor is the stepmother who feels forgotten or maligned. Our neighbor is the woman who lost a baby to stillbirth and feels invisible at church. A mother whose only child was killed in a car crash — can we still honor her devotion? A birth mother who did not raise her baby but gave the gift of parenthood to another couple — can we acknowledge
Join your voice with members of the Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare
“
FAITH AT HOME | LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
For mothers who have lost children. For children who have lost mothers. For women who long to be mothers. For mothers who never got to meet
MAY 10, 2018
her sacrifice? A couple who has suffered a miscarriage — can we remember their parenthood beyond what the world can see? I believe we can: through the power of prayer. By adding words of compassion to the blessings we add to Mass each Mother’s Day, we can become the Church that challenges and changes the world’s limited definition of motherhood. Mary herself was called to mother under unconventional circumstances (to put it mildly). But even when she had to give up her only child, her spiritual motherhood grew to embrace the entire world. Her song of praise in the Magnificat did not focus only on her own life, but leapt to a wider view of God’s work among the poor, the hungry and those in need of mercy. What a powerful and prophetic model
for all our hearts, called by God to grow in love. The beauty of the Church is that it is big enough for all of us: the grateful and the grieving, the beaming and the broken. God’s call to love our neighbor reminds us to care for those who mourn while others celebrate. This Mother’s Day, if your parish adds anything to Mass, let it be words of love as wide as our Lord’s. Prayers that celebrate motherhood as a calling. Blessings that comfort the sorrowful. Petitions that pray for the living and the dead. Words to remind us that Mother’s Day is not for us alone. Fanucci, a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove, is a mother, writer and director of a project on vocations at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville. She is the author of several books, including “Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting,” and blogs at motheringspirit.com.
MAY 10, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 19
CALENDAR FEATURED EVENTS
Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) — Third Sunday of each month: 1 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 1200 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. 952-922-5523.
Taize prayer — Third Friday of each month: 7 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org.
“The Dream Continues” ecumenical worship service honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. — May 11: 7:30 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. This event is rescheduled from April 3, when it was postponed due to a snowstorm. Father Erich Rutten of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul will join leaders from historically black Christian denominations to pray for an end to racism. The service marks the 50th anniversary of King’s “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon, which he delivered the night before his April 4, 1968, assassination.
Introduction to Centering Prayer with Sisters Virginia Matter and Jackie Leiter — May 19: 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org.
Retreats
Ongoing groups
Schools
Job transitions and networking group — every Tuesday 7–8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane, Maple Grove. Contact Bob at bob.sjtw@gmail.com. sjtw.net/ job-transition-networking-group.
All School Open House and Preschool and Kindergarten Play Date — May 12: 9:30 a.m.–noon at Immaculate Conception School, 4030 Jackson St. NE, Columbia Heights. 763-788-9065 or iccsonline.org.
Dementia support group — Second Tuesday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at The Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org.
Blessed Trinity Golf Tournament — May 14: 11 a.m.–7 p.m. at Minnesota Valley Country Club, 6300 Auto Club Road, Bloomington. btcsmn.org/about/GolfTournament.htm.
Priesthood ordination — May 26: 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. Four men from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will be ordained to the priesthood. The Mass will be live broadcast on Metro Cable Channel 6. For more information, visit archspm.org/archspm_events/ ordination-to-priesthood. Women’s Vietnamese Cursillo Retreat — May 31-June 3 at St. Anne-St. Joseph Hien, 2627 Queen Ave. N., Minneapolis. A team of more than 20 volunteers from various states will serve during the weekend, which includes a series of talks, calling upon the Holy Spirit for enlightenment and guidance, prayer, daily Mass and confession. Participants live as a small Christian community over the weekend. For more information, visit tc-cursillo.org. National Catholic Singles Conference — June 8-10 at the Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul-Airport Mall of America, 3800 American Blvd. E., Bloomington. The weekend includes speakers, music, social events, prayer, food and fellowship. Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Andrew Cozzens will celebrate Mass. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended. For more information and to register, visit nationalcatholicsingles.com or call 512-766-5798. Use promo code NCSCMSP to receive a special discount.
Dining out Our Lady of the Prairie waffle breakfast — May 20: 8:30 a.m.–noon at 200 E. Church St., Belle Plaine. school.ourladyoftheprairie.com.
Conferences/workshops Deepening Spirituality Series: Contemporary Movements — May 14: 6:30 –8:30 p.m. at St. Catherine University Couer de Catherine-Room 362, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul. bit.ly/2HQxdJa.
CARITAS cancer support group — Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.–noon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, second floor, maternity classroom 2500, 45 W. 10th St., St. Paul.
Parish events Food distribution and prayer for healing — May 12: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 651 Virginia St., St. Paul. cathedralsaintpaul.org/svdp. New Life: Pax Christi Parishioners’ Art Exhibit — Through May 13: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. at 12100 Pioneer Trail (enter door 3), Eden Prairie. paxchristi.com. St. Cyril spring rummage sale — May 16-18:1–6 p.m. May 16; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. May 17; and 10 a.m.–1 p.m. May 18 at 1315 Second St. NE, Minneapolis. Transfiguration garage sale — May 18 and 19: 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. May 18 and 8:30 a.m.–3 p.m. May 19 at Transfiguration gathering space, 6133 15th St. N., Oakdale. transfigurationmn.org. St. Peter Claver Afternoon High Tea and Silent Auction — May 20: 12:45–3:30 p.m. at The Saint Paul Hotel, 350 Market St., St. Paul. spcchurch.org. Taste of St. Mary’s — May 20: 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. at St. Mary, 261 E. Eighth S., St. Paul. stmarystpaul.org.
Prayer/worship Taize prayer — May 18: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org. Taize prayer — First Friday of each month: 7:30 p.m. at St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. strichards.com/first-fridays.
CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. We cannot guarantee a submitted event will appear in the calendar. Priority is given to events occurring before the next issue date.
Women’s midweek retreat — May 15-17 at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. franciscanretreats.net.
LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and organizations. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your submission. Included in our listings are local events submitted by public sources that could be of interest to the larger Catholic community. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication:
St. Thomas Academy Middle School Open House — May 14: 6–7:15 p.m. at 949 Mendota Heights Road, Mendota Heights. cadets.com.
• Time and date of event • Full street address of event
Epiphany School Alumni-50 years of Gratitude — May 17: 8–9 p.m. at 11001 Hanson Blvd., Coon Rapids. 763-754-1750 or alumni@epiphanymn.org.
• Description of event • C ontact information in case of questions
50th reunion: St. Matthew Class of 1968/Community of Saints All School Reunion — May 19 and 20 at 490 Hall Ave., St. Paul. st-matts.org.
ONLINE: thecatholicspirit.com/ calendarsubmissions
Singles
MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106
Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: Kay at 651-426-3103 or Al at 651-482-0406. Singles group — ongoing second Saturday each month: 6:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 9100 93rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. Gather for a potluck supper, conversation and games. 763-425-0412.
Other events
Speakers
60th Franciscan International Award Dinner to honor Risen Savior Missions — May 10: 6 p.m. at Wilds Golf Club, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. 952-447-2182 or franciscanretreats.net.
Life Legal Minnesota Dinner with keynote speaker Ryan Wilson — May 11: 6:15–8:30 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. W., Bloomington. lifelegaldefensefoundation.org/2018/04/13/life-legalminnesota-benefit-dinner.
Abria’s “Life is Wonderful” Family Fun Run/Walk and 5K — May 12: 9 a.m.–noon at Upper Landing Park, St. Paul. supporters.abria.org/2018-family-fun-run-walk-5k.
Magnificat: Artists Kelly Kruse and Kathryn Heidelberger reception — May 20: 1:30–3 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary, 1600 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. mary.org.
Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver’s plant sale — May 19: 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at 265 Century Ave., Woodbury. clavermissionarysisters.org.
Young adults
Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness Sofas and Spokes event — May 19: 9 a.m.–noon at 511 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis. 612-317-3413 or dceh.org.
Friday Night at the Friary — Third Friday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at Franciscan Brothers of Peace, 1289 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Men ages 18-35 are invited for prayer and fellowship. facebook.com/queenofpeacefriary.
Knights of Columbus bingo — Wednesdays: 6–9 p.m. at Solanus Casey Council Hall, 1920 S. Greeley St., Stillwater.
Marketplace • Message Center Classified Ads Email: classifiedads@archspm.org • Phone: 651-290-1631 • Fax: 651-291-4460 Next issue: 5-24-18 • Deadline: 3 p.m., 5-17-18 • Rates: $8 per line (35-40 characters per line) • Add a photo/logo for $25 ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTIONS
CATHOLIC URNS FOR SALE
STAIR LIFTS - ELEVATORS WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FOR HOMES, CHURCHES & SCHOOLS Arrow Lift (763) 786-2780
ANTIQUES TOP CASH PAID For Older Furniture Rugs • Pictures • Bookcases • Pottery Beer Items • Toys & Misc. (651) 227-2469
ATTORNEYS Edward F. Gross • Wills, Trusts, Probate, Estate Planning, Real Estate. Office at 35E & Roselawn Ave., St. Paul (651) 631-0616
CATHOLIC COACHING/TRAINING Live with passion and purpose: in your work, ministry, marriage, and all of life. Redivive Coaching equipping the Catholic community. Call Rick Erisman at (651) 410-7051 or email: rickerisman@redivivecoaching.com.
Made of all Black Walnut with Crucifix and picture of Mary. $350. Very Catholic and Christian. We must pray and respect our deceased. Call Don Dolan (612) 868-3019.
CEILING TEXTURE Michaels Painting. Popcorn Removal & Knock Down Texture: TextureCeilings.com (763) 757-3187.
CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE Resurrection Cemetery, 2 lots. Value $1800/ ea. Price $1600/ea. (651) 457-9385
To advertise in the classifieds, email classifiedads@archspm.org.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
HANDYMAN
Household Manager: The Stillwater Catholic Worker Community is seeking an energetic, compassionate woman to manage and live at Our Lady Queen of Peace House, a home for women and their children in transition. Room and board included with this volunteer position. Details available at STMICHAEL STILLWATER.ORG or by calling Kim (651) 270-1981.
WE DO 1,162 THINGS AROUND THE HOME! Catholic Owned Handyman Business: We will fix/repair and remodel almost anything around the home. Serving entire Metro. Call today. Mention this ad and receive 10% off labor. Handyman Matters (651) 784-3777, (952) 946-0088. www.HandymanMatters.com.
We are seeking Full-Time Catholic Elementary School Principal in Staples, MN. Contact Father Joe Korf jkorf@staplesnet.com (218) 894-2296 PCA’s Wanted: MCIL seeks PCAs to assist independent consumers in their homes. If interested, email dspstaffing@mcil-mn.org call 651-788-8424. St. Genevieve Church in Centerville/Hugo seeks parttime Confirmation-Adult Faith Formation Coordinator. Visit stgens.org for job description and application.
GREAT CATHOLIC SPEAKERS CD of the Month Club Lighthouse Catholic Media, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins and more! $5/month includes shipping. Subscribe online at http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia. org/cdclub Please Enter Code: 1195
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Sweeney’s Hardwood Floors
IT’S SPRING! Spruce up your home with new or refurbished hardwood floors: 10% off labor. Sweeney (651) 485-8187.
IN-HOME CAREGIVER Honest, compassionate senior caregiver seeking a job, southwest Mpls. live-in preferred. Margaret (952) 201-1288.
KITCHEN DESIGN SERVICES Call Melissa (952) 922-2825 KOHLER Signature Store, Edina by First Supply. kohlersignaturestoreedina.com
PAINTING For painting & all related services. View our website: PAINTINGBYJERRYWIND.COM or call (651) 699-6140. Merriam Park Painting. Professional Int./ Ext. Painting. WP Hanging. Moderate Prices, Free Estimates. Call Ed (651) 224-3660.
Ask a our 3 bout t speciaime l! PAINTING
Michaels Painting. Texture and Repair. MichaelsPaintingllc.coM. (763) 757-3187. Dennis Heigl Painting Interior/Exterior Serving Mpls. & suburbs. Free Estimates. (612) 819-2438.
PRAYERS Thank you Jesus, Blessed Virgin Mary, Ss. Theresa, Peregrine, Jude and all the angels and saints for prayers answered. T.M. NOTICE: Prayers must be submitted in advance. Payment of $8 per line must be received before publication.
RELIGIOUS ITEMS FOR SALE Redeeming Love shirts, religious items. Call for brochure: Kaye (651) 330-9744
VACATION/FAMILY GETAWAY Knotty Pines Resort, Park Rapids, MN. 1, 2 & 3 bdrm cabins starting at $565/week. www.knottyPinesresort.coM (800) 392-2410. Mention this ad for a discount!
WANTED TO BUY Estate & Downsizing: I buy Van Loads and Bicycles. Steve (651) 778-0571. Family looking for a 3 BR house in Bloomington. Mark (612) 516-1151.
20 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
MAY 10, 2018
THELASTWORD
A mother’s
Kathy Schneeman, left, and her mother, Cecelia MacDonald, continue to spend one-on-one time during their book project, which now includes going to book signings of “Running the Cobblestones,” which they selfpublished in 2017.
red ink
Daughter pens novel under maternal guidance By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
S
everal years ago, Kathy Schneeman of St. Joseph in West St. Paul was finding extra time in her life, a bit unusual for a mother of nine, including young twins. She had dabbled in writing while raising her children, and she decided to take it a step further. One night in September 2012, while her husband, Eric, and son, Jack, were outside, Kathy sat down at a keyboard after putting her then 2-year-old twins to bed. She got to work writing a Catholic-themed novel about a widow from Minnesota who moves to Ireland for a new start. In just one night, Schneeman finished the first chapter. Next was an important step — finding an editor. She didn’t have to look far. A qualified one lived only a mile away. Schneeman knew this person would say yes. It was her mother, Cecelia MacDonald. Armed with a journalism degree and years of experience, MacDonald eagerly pored over her daughter’s words. After many revisions, they completed the final manuscript in 2016 and self-published the book, “Running the Cobblestones,” in 2017 under the pen name C.K. MacDonald. In the process, they deepened a mother-daughter relationship that was overdue for attention. “Kathy and I really never did have one-on-one time until this venture,” said MacDonald, 73, a member of Assumption in downtown St. Paul. “I definitely think we’re closer now than we ever were,” said Schneeman, 52. “I’m the oldest of three children, and my sister was in and out of hospitals all the time,” which required much of MacDonald’s attention. In recent years, they’ve almost seemed joined at the hip — or rather, the keyboard. “We had so much fun writing together,” Schneeman said. “We started revision after revision after revision, and had a really good time. In fact, Eric would come home from work, and we’d be either sitting in the kitchen or at the dining table laughing, and he would say, ‘You guys are just having too much fun.’” But, the two also completed serious work during those “fun” days. They estimate the original manuscript was 125,000 words, a far cry from Schneeman’s short stories and writings in the St. Paul Pioneer Press Bulletin Board, a feature in which people write short anecdotes under a nickname. Hers was Mom of Many in Mendota Heights. As their writing and editing sessions continued, MacDonald learned about her daughter’s passion for words. “I didn’t realize how much she liked to write until she had pretty much [written] her first draft of a book,” MacDonald said. “And I was gob-smacked. ...
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
She never took writing classes when she was in school. She was an education major.” The two attended college at the same time, both graduating in 1988 from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. MacDonald double majored in journalism and geology, and has done freelance writing and editing over the years. Schneeman, meanwhile, became a teacher. Eventually, she left the classroom to raise children and channeled her passion toward them, informally giving lessons at home while they attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School in West St. Paul and, later, Convent of the Visitation School and St. Thomas Academy, both in Mendota Heights. One benefit along the way for Schneeman was meeting and becoming friends with acclaimed novelist Vince Flynn, who lived nearby and encouraged and supported her before he died of cancer in 2013. In fact, he gave her a helpful tip for creating the title: He said to use a verb, which she did. Flynn died before the manuscript was completed, but his wife, Lysa, read it, and she gave positive feedback, Schneeman said. For Schneeman, one of the intentional and rewarding parts of the book project was introducing Catholic themes such as forgiveness, and the joys of having large families and being pro-life. One of the characters in the book has Down syndrome, and the mother-daughter duo say that character has been a reader favorite. “We’ve always loved our faith and had a strong upbringing in our faith,” Schneeman said. “So ... a natural topic for us is to have a Catholic-centered book.” Although the words flowed freely, Schneeman had to charge through the tedious process of editing. MacDonald braced herself for some push-back from her daughter. But, it never came. The first-time novelist eagerly accepted changes to the manuscript.
“When I read it, I thought it needed a lot of tightening,” MacDonald said. “What surprised me was how easy it was to offer her suggestions. She is very open to being edited. And that was a pleasant surprise. ... She was a dream to edit. She had no ego about it at all.” That cooperative attitude was rooted in admiration for her mother’s talent. “I loved being able to write with my mom because I always thought she was such a good writer, and her mom before her was [too],” Schneeman said. The mutual admiration and mother-daughter bond was evident — and surprising — to some who attended their book signings. “We did a lot of book clubs that asked us to speak [after the book came out],” MacDonald continued. “So, a reader at one of those book clubs was expressing how astonished she was that we could collaborate on a project this big, and actually follow through as mother and daughter. Her comment was, ‘My daughter and I couldn’t collaborate on a grocery list.’” The signings are an enjoyable next phase in the project, as they provide more opportunities for quality time between the two. “Now, we’re having a hoot-and-a-half just going around to these book talks,” Schneeman said. “And, we’re hoping we’ll be able to do a little traveling together, too. We can go to Ireland and do some research together down the road, hopefully.” The duo already has a file with notes and ideas for a second book and are excited to bring it to fruition. “We get together and we talk about ideas. So, we’ve been spending time just throwing out scenarios, scenes [and] characters,” Schneeman said. People have been asking for a sequel, MacDonald said. “It’s surprising how many of them say, ‘Oh, I want another one. I want to read more,’” she added. “That’s been fun.”
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