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DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT ROSARY INDOORS Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens crowns a statue of Mary May 3 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul during the Family Rosary Devotion. Normally held outdoors as a procession from the State Capitol to the Cathedral, this year’s event was held inside the Cathedral due to restrictions for large gatherings by Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order. Bishop Cozzens was joined by Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Father John Ubel, right, rector of the Cathedral. Among the prayers was one renewing the consecration of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to Mary.

CNS COVID-19 AMERICA A man wearing a mask to protect against spread of the coronavirus rides his bicycle along the Saucon Rail Trail near Hellertown, Pennsylvania, May 3. Scenes like this are playing out across America in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic.

REDISCOVER:Hour

On the show that aired May 1, Rediscover:Hour host Patrick Conley interviewed Daniel McClure and Krista Masek from Novare Counseling Center in St. Paul about the effect of COVID-19 on mental health and relationships; Father Joseph Johnson, pastor of Holy Family in St. Louis Park, spoke about the feast of St. Joseph the Worker; and Kari Younes and Sharon McCartney from St. Bartholomew in Wayzata shared about their women’s program, Devoted Life. Listen each week on Fridays at 9 a.m., Saturdays at noon, and Sundays at 2 p.m. on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. Find past shows at rediscover.archspm.org.

CORRECTION

A story in the April 23 edition incorrectly reported that Father Jerome Fehn, hospital chaplain, is involved in the Anointing Corps team of priests preparing to offer anointing of the sick to Catholics with COVID-19. He is not involved with the team or its training. Read more about his ministry on page 6.

Contemplating the face of Christ with the heart of Mary, our mother, will make us even more united as a spiritual family and will help us overcome this time of trial. “

Pope Francis in a letter addressed to all Catholics and released by the Vatican April 25. He asked Catholics to make a special effort in May to pray the rosary, knowing that by doing so they will be united with believers around the world asking for Mary’s intercession in stopping the coronavirus pandemic. The month of May is traditionally devoted to Mary, and many Catholics already are in the habit of praying the rosary at home during the month, he noted. Pope Francis wrote two prayers to Mary that can be recited at the end of the rosary. Find the prayers at TheCatholi Spirit. om.

NEWS notes

14.4

The percentage of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota who are health care workers, according to the state’s Department of Health. The archdiocese has resources available for health care workers seeking prayers, or people who want to pray for health care workers and priest chaplains. Additionally, people can text “archspm-anointing” to 55321 to sign up for alerts to pray each time an Anointing Corps priest is dispatched to give last rites. (See related story on page 6.) For more information, visit archspm.org/covid19prayers.

12-18

The ages of students Minnesota Catholic Conference is inviting to participate in a remote learning opportunity from 10-11:30 a.m. May 12. Middle and high school students attending the “Lessons in Advocacy: Students Standing for Life and Dignity” webinar can learn more about the Catholic faith and applying Church teaching to issues in the public arena. Topics will include why Catholic students’ voices matter in the political process, what the Church teaches about defending the life and dignity of every person, how their ideas can become laws, and how to stand up for life and dignity by effectively interacting with legislators. The webinar will give students a chance to hear from and pray with Bishop Andrew Cozzens, and to participate in a Q&A session with a member of the Minnesota Legislature. A student’s parent or guardian must register students for the secure webinar at mncatholic.org/lessonsinadvocacy.

50

The percentage of people — about half — who have been safely moved out of Higher Ground homeless shelters in the Twin Cities run by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis to help prevent any spread of the coronavirus. With help from Hennepin and Ramsey counties and other officials, the nonprofit agency has been moving people who are homeless and particularly vulnerable to the virus to hotels across the Twin Cities. That effort also gives the agency more room to adopt social distancing policies within its shelters. In another development, Catholic Charities’ annual Dorothy Day Community Breakfast May 7 was canceled, but Gov. Tim Walz and others expected to commemorate the day with a 15-minute virtual gathering for Catholic Charities supporters. The nonprofit organization also offered virtual tours May 4, 5 and 6 of its facilities at Higher Ground and Dorothy Day Residence in St. Paul and Northside Child Development in Center in Minneapolis.

11

The number of parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis receiving help from $120,000 distributed in the first round of grants from a coronavirus-prompted relief effort set up by the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota. Thus far, the St. Paulbased foundation has raised nearly $1.3 million in cooperation with archdiocesan officials through its Minnesota Catholic Relief Fund, and it is developing the next round of grants. In a separate but related effort, the foundation is distributing an additional $210,000 to 22 parishes to help immigrants and refugees who contact parishes because they are struggling with layoffs in the midst of the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic.

3

The number of letters Minnesota Catholic Conference and other advocacy groups recently wrote to Gov. Tim Walz urging him to take steps to protect prison workers and inmates from the spread of COVID-19, prevent debt collectors from garnishing people’s federal stimulus payments, and advocating for nonpublic schools to be included in Minnesota’s application for COVID-19-related federal assistance to schools. The conference represents the public policy interests of the state’s Catholic bishops. The letters were signed by Jason Adkins, MCC executive director, and representatives of more than a dozen different organizations.

The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 25 — No. 9 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor-in-Chief JOE RUFF, News Editor

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