Rediscover: ticket contest 9 • ‘The Amazing Parish’ 11 • Retirement planning 16-20 September 11, 2014 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
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‘The Church is a hospital for sinners’ Retired priest to receive lifetime achievement award for helping people with addiction By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit Tim Murray came to the doorstep of Father Martin Fleming in 2009 looking for a way to stay sober. But, this retired priest and full-blooded Irishman gave Murray much more than just an alcohol-free environment. First, Father Fleming offered full acceptance. Then, friendship. And finally, a path back to the Catholic faith of Murray’s upbringing, a religious practice that got drowned by alcohol and a series of bad choices. It all started with something both now call a “God shot,” a term used for a remarkable coincidence that they feel can only be explained as the work of the Lord. “I showed up on Father’s doorstep as a guy who had one year in recovery, had a successful one-year stay in a sober house, but really wasn’t ready yet to go live on my own,” said Murray, who now belongs to the Cathedral of St. Paul. “I needed an in-between, graduate level sober house. I must have looked at about 15 different places and talked to about 20 different guys trying to cobble [something] together.” Then, he saw an ad that changed his life. It was on Craig’s List, offering a room for rent at an affordable price of $385 per month. Murray was skeptical, thinking “this must be a dump.” But he decided to check it out. That brought him to the doorstep of Bethany Village, a cluster of four houses Father Fleming bought in 1977 with the goal of helping Please turn to PLANS on page 8 Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit
ALSO inside
‘Thank you’
Sister schools
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Bishop and priest from Dominica visit local parishioners who helped rebuild church.
Chesterton Academy welcomes Italian counterpart. — Page 8
Pope Francis tells a story from his youth to highlight respect. — Page 10
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“So, given that the United Nations has run its course, what we need is an organization of United Religions [as] the best way to counteract these terrorists who kill in the name of their faith. What we need is an unquestionable moral authority who says out loud, ‘No. God doesn’t want this and doesn’t allow it.’ ” Former Israeli president Shimon Peres in asking Pope Francis to head a parallel United Nations called the “United Religions” in a meeting Sept. 4.
NFL PLAYER REVISITS ROOTS Students at Strathmore School in Nairobi, Kenya, jostle each other to have their photo taken with Daniel Adongo, a graduate of the school who is a linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts. Adongo, a lifelong Catholic, visited the school earlier this year for the first time after coming to Indianapolis to play in the National Football League. CNS photo courtesy of Strathmore School/ The Criterion
“I encourage and urge all those eligible to vote to do so with complete freedom of choice and in accordance with their prayerful judgment of what is best for the future.” Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, in a pastoral letter to Catholics before a ballot to decide if Scotland will break away from union with England and Wales after more than 300 years.
NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit
Local brother to celebrate 80 years Brother Basil Rothweiler, FSC, will celebrate 80 years of ministry with a reception from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 21, at Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Residence, 330 Exchange St. in St. Paul. In the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Brother Basil, 97, served as principal of Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul and DeLaSalle in Minneapolis. He also was president of St. Mary’s University in Winona. He retired from the Christian Brothers Midwest District Development Office in 2008.
Cathedral Festival of Lights slated for Sept. 26 GROUND BREAKING AT ST. AGNES Archbishop John Nienstedt, left, greets students at St. Agnes School in St. Paul Sept. 2 shortly before a ground-breaking ceremony for a new building project at the school. Students lining up to say hello to the archbishop are senior Bridget Hobbs, second from left, eighth-grader Angie Nguyen, third-grader Benedict Berthiaume, third-grader Malani Sandifer and fifth-grader Mikael Dahlstrom. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit
WHAT’S NEW on social media This week, a post on The Catholic Spirit’s Facebook page asks, who has been your favorite priest and why? Read the latest news about the local and universal Church by following The Catholic Spirit on Twitter @CatholicSpirit. Catholics in the archdiocese are gearing up for the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration Oct. 3-4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Watch a preview of what’s in store at youtube.com. Type “Rediscover promo” in the search box. Looking for a good read? Book reviews abound at CatholicHotdish.com.
The Catholic Spirit is published bi-weekly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 19 — No. 19 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT, Publisher ANNE STEFFENS, Associate Publisher JESSICA TRYGSTAD, Editor
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Ahead of the Cathedral of St. Paul’s centennial in 2015, the Cathedral Heritage Foundation will host the fourth annual Cathedral Festival of Lights gala to raise money to restore the Cathedral’s marble floors. The public is invited to the gala, slated for 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26, at the St. Paul Hotel, 350 Market St. in downtown St. Paul. The evening will feature signature cocktails, a sit-down dinner, live and silent auctions and local celebrities, with all proceeds directly benefiting the Cathedral’s restoration projects. Tickets are $150 per person, a portion of which is tax deductible. Purchase online at www. cathedralheritagefoundation.org or email cwill@cathedralsaintpaul.org.
Briel appointed at North Dakota university Don Briel, who recently retired from his position as director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, has been appointed the Blessed John Henry Newman chair of liberal arts at the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. The announcement was made at a conference Aug. 30-31, where 200 scholars and seven bishops gathered at the university to discuss the renewal and revitalization of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Briel also was given an honorary doctorate recognizing his “enduring legacy as the pioneer of Catholic studies programs across America.” Bishop Andrew Cozzens celebrated Mass with nearly 600 people in attendance. Father Bill Baer, pastor of Transfiguration in Oakdale, was among the presenters at the conference. The Bishop Paul A. Zipfel Catholic Studies Program at the University of Mary is the second largest Catholic studies program in the U.S. 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 bi-weekly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 • (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. TheCatholicSpirit.com • email: catholicspirit@archspm.org • USPS #093-580
3 This Archdiocese has been very blessed with the number of priestly vocations we have had of late. Last year, I was privileged to ordain 10 new priests; this year, six new priests and, God willing, seven new priests for next year. I do not know how many dioceses or archdioceses can make such a boast! We also begin this academic year with 62 seminarians studying for the Archdiocese, 12 of whom are entering first-year college! God has truly been good to us! A recent national survey by the U.S. Center for Applied Research (CARA) revealed that there really should be no shortage of Catholics who are seriously considering a religious vocation. In a national Catholic poll of never-married Catholics, ages 14 and older, CARA asked if each respondent had ever considered becoming a Catholic priest, brother or sister. Among nevermarried male Catholics, 13 percent reported that they had considered becoming a priest or brother. The response among women was similar at 10 percent. Of these, 4 percent of both men and women had “somewhat considered” becoming a priest, brother or sister, and another 3 percent of men and 2 percent of women said THAT THEY MAY they had “seriously considered” such a life. While this percentage may at first appear small, ALL BE ONE the actual number of individuals represented is quite large, especially in comparison to the Archbishop current number of priests, brothers and sisters. John Nienstedt For example, there are about 43,000 priests and brothers in the U.S. today, but there are 350,000 never-married Catholic men who have given serious consideration to becoming a priest or brother. Of that number, only 1,000 men enter the seminary or religious life each year, which is only a fraction of the total number of
Catholic men seriously considering priesthood or religious life. Of the 250,000 never-married Catholic women who have given serious consideration to becoming a sister, about 200 enter a religious institute each year, which again is only a fraction of 1 percent of those who say they are seriously interested. This research tells us that there is great potential here for a dramatic increase in the number of candidates entering seminaries and novitiates. Perhaps all they need is to be asked or have the suggestion made in order for them to act on their impulse. In a 2012 survey of seminarians and recently ordained priests, CARA learned that college friends and professors who were priests, sisters or brothers had the greatest influence on an individual’s positive discernment. Campus ministries at both Catholic and non-Catholic colleges also were a significant influence. In addition, a CARA survey in 2013 indicated that Catholic men and women who volunteer after college with a service group, such as the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, Maryknoll Lay Missionaries or Lasallian Volunteers, are more likely to experience an encouraging environment for considering a religious vocation. When asked if they had considered such a calling, 37 percent of volunteer alumni from these service groups replied in the affirmative. Thus, the research suggests that volunteering for a year of service in a faith-based volunteer service may often be the next step in a young adult’s discernment process. I find this data to be both exciting and challenging. The excitement stems from the fact that there is so much potential here for future religious vocations. We know that God does not fail to provide the vocations needed for the Church. At the same time, the challenge lies in our being evermore intentional in encouraging young adults to consider a religious vocation. This is the responsibility of everyone in the Church community: bishop and pastor, consecrated religious and parents, aunts, uncles and neighbors. We need to look for the signs and then act when those signs appear. Indeed, we must never fail in our prayer, as well, to ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his vineyard. God bless you!
From the Archbishop
Numbers talk: great potential for religious vocations
Los números hablan: un gran potencial para las vocaciones religiosas Esta Arquidiócesis ha sido muy bendecida con el número de vocaciones sacerdotales que hemos tenido en los últimos tiempos. El año pasado, tuve el privilegio de ordenar diez nuevos sacerdotes, este año seis, y si Dios quiere, siete nuevos sacerdotes para el próximo año. No sé cuántas diócesis o arquidiócesis tienen tal orgullo. También iniciamos este año académico con 62 seminaristas estudiando para la Arquidiócesis, ¡12 de los cuales están entrando en el primer año de universidad! ¡Dios ha sido realmente bueno con nosotros! En una reciente encuesta nacional realizada por el Centro para la Investigación Aplicada (CARA), se reveló que en realidad debería haber escasez de católicos que están considerando seriamente la vocación religiosa. En una encuesta nacional católica a los católicos que nunca se han casado, de 14 años o mayores, CARA les pregunto si alguna vez habían considerado convertirse en un sacerdote católico, un hermano o hermana. Entre los varones, 13% reportaron que si han considerado convertirse en sacerdote o hermano. La respuesta entre las mujeres fue similar con un 10%. De éstos, el 4% de los hombres y las mujeres “de alguna manera han considerado” convertirse en sacerdote, hermano o hermana y otro 3% de los hombres y el 2% de las mujeres dijeron que habían “considerado seriamente” una vida así. Aunque este porcentaje puede parecer pequeño a primera vista, el número real de individuos representados es bastante grande, especialmente en
comparación con el número actual de sacerdotes, hermanos y hermanas religiosos. Por ejemplo, hay cerca de 43,000 sacerdotes y hermanos religiosos en los EE.UU. hoy en día, pero hay 350,000 hombres católicos nunca casados que han considerado seriamente ser sacerdote o hermano religioso. De esa cifra, sólo 1,000 hombres entran en la vida del seminario o religioso cada año, que es sólo una fracción del número total de hombres católicos que consideran seriamente el sacerdocio o la vida religiosa. De las 250,000 mujeres católicas que nunca se han casado y que han dado considerado seriamente a convertirse en una hermana religiosa, aproximadamente 200 entran a un instituto religioso cada año, que a su vez es sólo una fracción de 1% de las que dicen que están Esta investigación nos dice que hay un gran potencial aquí para un aumento dramático en el número de candidatos que entran en seminarios y noviciados. Tal vez todo lo que necesitan es que se les pida o que se les haga la sugerencia con el fin de que actúen en su impulso. En una encuesta del 2012 de seminaristas y sacerdotes recién ordenados, CARA aprendió que amigos de la universidad y profesores que eran sacerdotes, hermanas o hermanos tuvieron una mayor influencia sobre el discernimiento de un individuo. Los ministerios universitarios, tanto católicos y no católicos, también fueron de influencia significativa.
Además, una encuesta de CARA en el 2013 indicó que los hombres y las mujeres católicas que trabajan como voluntarios después de la universidad con un grupo de servicio, como el Cuerpo de Voluntarios Jesuitas, Misioneros Maryknoll Laicos o voluntarios Lasallian, tienen más probabilidades de experimentar un entorno favorable para la consideración de la vocación religiosa. Cuando se les preguntó si habían considerado tal llamado, el 37% de alumnos voluntarios de estos grupos de servicios respondió afirmativamente. Por lo tanto, la investigación sugiere que el voluntariado de un año de servicio religioso, a menudo puede ser el siguiente paso en el proceso de discernimiento de un adulto joven. Yo encuentro estos datos emocionantes y desafiantes a la vez. La emoción se deriva del hecho de que hay mucho potencial aquí para futuras vocaciones religiosas. Sabemos que Dios no deja de ofrecer las vocaciones necesarias para la Iglesia. Al mismo tiempo, el desafío consiste en que tenemos que hacer el propósito de alentar a los jóvenes a considerar la vocación religiosa. Esta es la responsabilidad de todos en la comunidad de la Iglesia: obispo y pastor, religiosos consagrados, padres, tías, tíos y vecinos. Tenemos que buscar las señales y luego actuar cuando estas aparezcan. De hecho, no debemos fallar en nuestra oración, también, pedir al Señor de la mies que envíe obreros a su viña. ¡Que Dios los Bendiga!
OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Rev. John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
Effective September 2, 2014
Effective September 4, 2014
Retirements
• Deacon Lawrence Lawinger, appointed to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Golden Valley.
• Reverend Benjamin Little, appointed canonical administrator of Pope John Paul II Catholic School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is in addition to his current appointment as parochial vicar at the Church of Saint Olaf in Minneapolis.
• Reverend Stephen O’Gara, released from his assignment at the Church of the Assumption in Saint Paul and granted the status of a retired priest. Father O’Gara has served the Archdiocese as a priest since his ordination in 1971.
• Reverend Robert Schwartz, released from his assignment at the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Edina and granted the status of a retired priest. Father Schwartz has served the Archdiocese as a priest since his ordination in 1967.
• Reverend James Zappa, released from his assignment at the Church of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville and granted the status of a retired priest. Father Zappa has served the Archdiocese as a priest since his ordination in 1976.
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
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Maronite Catholic patriarch to visit Twin Cities Cardinal Beshara Peter Rahi expected to call for action to help Christians in the Middle East By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit When Maronite Catholic Patriarch Beshara Peter Rahi is in Minnesota Sept. 13 and 14, the Lebanese cardinal is likely to speak about the threat to Christians across the Middle East, in his homeland and elsewhere. As Patriarch of Antioch and the Whole East, he has been a fearless voice about the danger that militant Islamists present to non-Muslims, according to Msgr. Sharbel Maroun, pastor of St. Maron in Minneapolis. When the patriarch pays a pastoral visit to his flock in Minnesota, he can be expected to “ring the bell of danger for Christians across the Middle East so that the world will do something before it’s too late,” Msgr. Maroun said. The Maronite community will welcome Patriarch Rahi first at Holy Family in Mendota Heights, where he will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. A banquet will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the Cedars Hall at St. Maron in northeast Minneapolis. The following day, Sunday, Sept. 14, the patriarch will celebrate the 10:15 a.m. Divine Liturgy at St. Maron.
‘He speaks with no fear’ “It is our privilege and our honor to have the patriarch visit his flock here,” Msgr. Maroun said. “We’re very excited. “The role of the patriarch is different than Church leadership in the West. Here, there is separation of church and state; there, the Church is the voice of the innocent, the
Maronite Catholic Patriarch Beshara Peter Rahi will visit two local parishes Sept. 13 and 14 — Holy Family in Mendota Heights and St. Maron in northeast Minneapolis. The Twin Cities is one of only three stops on the patriarch’s U.S. itinerary. CNS voiceless, the weak. People wait to hear what he says in his homily every Sunday because he speaks with no fear.” Guests are expected to come to Minnesota from several cities around the United States to attend the Sept. 13-14 activities. Archbishop John Nienstedt and Bishop Lee Piché are expected to take part in a portion of the weekend’s events, Msgr. Maroun said. The Twin Cities is one of only three stops on the patriarch’s U.S. itinerary. He’ll also visit Maronite communities in Birmingham, Ala.,
and Cleveland, Ohio. In Minneapolis, St. Maron parish includes primarily those with an ethnic Lebanese background among its 800 to 1,000 members, Msgr. Maroun said. Holy Family parish is about half that size, he said. “We are a magnet for people from every part of the Middle East — Syria, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq,” the Lebanon-born priest noted. “It’s a unique community, many nonMaronites, many Orthodox Catholics. It’s a mosaic of many beautiful colors who come to worship here.” The Maronite patriarch was one of several patriarchs of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches who recently traveled to Irbil, in Iraq, to show solidarity with Christians who have been displaced by Islamic extremists. Msgr. Maroun said the Maronite patriarch traditionally plays a strong role among his peers in the Eastern Rite churches, and is always a target in Lebanon and Syria; Patriarch Rahi’s predecessor, Patriarch Nasrallha Boutros Sfeir, certainly was. “Osama bin Laden issued a fatwah (assassination order) to kill the patriarch in 2000,” Msgr. Maroun recalled. As The Catholic Spirit goes to press, Patriarch Rahi is expected to urge the United States to act quickly to protect Maronites and others when he participates in the first summit “In Defense of Christians” Sept. 9-11 in Washington, D.C. The summit will feature human rights experts, public officials and representatives from across the Middle Eastern Christian diaspora. According to www. indefenseofchristians.org, “Through greater awareness and advocacy, IDC hopes to influence the U.S. and foreign governments to adopt policies that will safeguard and empower minority religious communities in the Middle East, especially those vulnerable to violence, marginalization, and persecution.”
Special collection to help pay down restoration debt The Catholic Spirit Parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will take up a special collection at Masses Sept. 20-21 to help the Cathedral of St. Paul pay down the debt remaining from emergency exterior restorations made a decade ago. The work from 2000 to 2002, which included replacing the Cathedral’s leaking copper dome, cost approximately $30 million. Capital campaigns, several archdiocesan collections and other fundraising efforts have helped to repay much of that cost. Today, the
remaining debt stands at $4.7 million. Reducing the principal of the debt is necessary so the Cathedral can sustain its ministries and continue the work of ongoing restoration, said Father John Ubel, Cathedral rector. The Cathedral’s monthly interest payment on the debt is about $20,000. The Cathedral is home to the archbishop’s chair — the “cathedra.” In 2009, the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops designated the Cathedral as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul. Catholics from throughout the archdiocese come to the Cathedral each year to celebrate confirmations
and other events important in the life of the local Church, including ordinations to the priesthood and the Rite of Election for catechumens being initiated into the Church. “On Labor Day weekend, I gave tours to two visiting groups, one from Italy and the other from Lonsdale,” Father Ubel said. “Though my Italian is a bit rusty, I managed the basics and let the beauty of the building speak for itself. Truly, our Church is universal. I hope that we can continue to welcome all who enter these doors — the curious, the devout and those searching for God’s loving presence in their lives.”
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5 Ryan Bomberger’s ministry exposes effect of abortion on the black community By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit Ryan Bomberger was 13 when he learned that he was conceived during a rape. Even with the love of his adoptive parents, he said the revelation “was extremely painful to understand.” A few weeks after finding out, the eighthgrader told his story in class during a speech he gave opposing abortion and saw that it made an impression on his classmates and teachers. Bomberger said the speech was cathartic and helped him understand both the devastation of abortion and his own story, which he continues to tell 30 years later in his ministry affirming life. “My sense of purpose was solidified when I realized the story of my life — as painful as it may be for me and as painful as it had to be for my birth mom — could be really redemptive for a lot of people,” Bomberger said. “That moment of finding out about my story and being able to use it certainly was powerful in the sense that it gave me this wild sense of destiny and possibility that others at that age wouldn’t really embrace or fully understand.” Bomberger will be the featured speaker at the TLC Options for Women Pregnancy Resource Centers’ 40th anniversary banquet on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Bomberger has searched for his birth mother and hopes someday to contact her. “I really believe God will orchestrate all that,” he said. “He’s orchestrated so many phenomenal moments throughout my life. That would just be another one.” As one of 10 adopted children in a family of 15, Bomberger said his parents gave him a foundation of love — one reason he is a strong proponent of adoption. Two of his four children are adopted. After college, he began a career as a creative director, eventually winning an Emmy and other awards for his work on broadcast design. In 2006, he went into ministry full-time, founding The Radiance Foundation (theradiancefoundation.org) with his wife, Bethany. Through advertising campaigns, multi-media presentations and community CathSpDolly-Sept11-2014_Layout 1 8/28/14 1:47 PM outreach in areas related to abortion, adoption,
Pro-life advocate Ryan Bomberger, who at age 13 learned he was conceived during a rape, will speak at the TLC Options for Women Pregnancy Resource Centers’ 40th anniversary banquet Sept. 27. Submitted photo poverty, family stability, fatherhood, character development and self-image, the ministry seeks to affirm and educate people in the belief that God has given them purpose from the moment of conception, he said. Bomberger and The Radiance Foundation have taken a different look at historical trends and exposed the disproportionately high number of abortions in the black community — a rate that’s five times higher than that of whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control. On the foundation’s site, toomanyaborted. com, Bomberger tells that story in a series of unconventional videos. “They are visual, they are sonic,” he said. “They really get across truths sometimes people haven’t heard before.” Bomberger, who is of mixed race, said he was the first to develop a public ad campaign dealing with the impact of abortion on the
black community. The ministry launched billboards in Atlanta in 2010. Partnering with local organizations, The Radiance Foundation has placed 500 billboards in cities around the country. “It was a huge wake-up call because so many of the leaders of this [black] community support an industry birthed in eugenic racism and elitism and that has destroyed 56 million since Roe [v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision legalizing abortion], but 1,000 black babies each day [taken from 2008 Guttmacher Institute statistics],” he said. The Radiance Foundation will resume the billboard campaign this fall. Along with the work he does for his own outreaches, Bomberger creates edgy, free content for pro-life and other organizations. By early next year, the foundation will make available to the pro-life movement and the public content to respond to advocacy and activism supporting abortion. The video and other content will be available to download from a website. “It just allows the pro-life movement to respond immediately and cohesively to things that are going on,” he said. As healing is part of Bomberger’s own story, it is also in his presentations on abortion. “There’s no way to talk about abortion and not talk about the fact that there is wholeness, there’s healing, and there’s forgiveness,” he said. “We’re forever relentless about closing the industry, yet forever compassionate to the individual who may be contemplating it, who may have already made the irreversible decision. But we believe firmly that God is the God of restorations.”
Register for the event To hear Ryan Bomberger speak at the TLC Options for Women 40th anniversary banquet, visit TLCOptions.org or call (651) 291-9473. Proceeds from the event will go toward 33 pregnancy resource centers in Minnesota and Wisconsin that offer pro-life support to mothers, babies and families.
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Sony Pictures “When the Game Stands Tall” September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
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No ice bucket needed to donate to worthy causes By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit “Absolutely bone-chilling” is how Jimmy Dunn described the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. But it’s his own fault. Dunn, who is director of youth ministry at Annunciation in south Minneapolis, challenged his fellow staff members to join in the phenomenon. More than 30 people who work at the parish and Annunciation School — including pastor Father James Himmelsbach — took part Sept. 3, raising some $300 and awareness in the parish community about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, Dunn said. “It was an opportunity to show our support for the family of Dan Weides, a parishioner who is
suffering from ALS,” he noted. Dunn put the hysteria of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in just the right perspective. In a letter to co-workers, Dunn wrote: “Amidst the heavy news stories that have filled our airwaves of late, hasn’t it been refreshing and fun to see how the response to the Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral?” While some people may have already had their Facebook and YouTube fill of waterlogged friends and soaked celebrities, Dunn pointed out that “TV and device screen images of so many cold water dousings have warmed our hearts to and awakened our awareness of the sufferings that challenge our brothers and sisters with ALS and their families.” That’s just the way we ought to think about this summer’s
Consider this There are concerns that the ALS Foundation supports research that uses fetal embryonic tissue from abortions. Father John Floeder, who teaches bioethics at the St. Paul Seminary and who chairs the Archbishop’s Commission on Bio/Medical Ethics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, offered the following statement to help people gain a better understanding of the moral and ethical issues involved: “Many human sufferings call out to us for help, and Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) is certainly among them. Jesus Christ and the demands of love must lead us, as Catholics, to give our time, energy and resources to those who suffer. The awareness and contributions that have been raised because of the “bucket challenge” are a testament to that love in so many. That said, authentic Christ-like love never can accept the deliberate taking of one life for the sake of another, which the use of embryonic stem cells does. To really help the suffering of ALS in a loving way, Catholics should not only support only those organizations that do not use embryonic stem cells, but also express to organizations the need to cease support and funding of practices that use embryonic stem cells that destroys human life.”
The U.S. Catholic Conference suggests donating to ALS research at the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City, Iowa, which does not support embryonic stem cell research. For more information, visit www.jp2mri.org.
Father James Himmelsbach of Annunciation in Minneapolis is doused in his parish’s ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Sept. 2. Thirty staff members from the church and school lined up on the lawn to have a bucket of ice water dumped on them to raise money and awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Photo courtesy of Chris Frank sensation. It’s amazing that socialmedia-on-steroids like this could be responsible for raising more than $100 million for research on this one disease. The parish staff at both Annunciation and Our Lady of Grace in Edina noted that the money they collected from their ice-water soaking is headed to the John Paul II Medical Research Institute in Iowa City, Iowa, which is seeking a cure for ALS and other afflictions without using embryonic stem cells. (See “Consider this” box.)
Alternative charities If you’re still planning to join the crowd of the wet and cold, consider the worthy charities in our own back yard: • Holy Rosary in Minneapolis created Centro Guadalupano in 2000 in response to the needs of the large influx of immigrants into south Minneapolis. Centro has evolved to provide adult education, health care that overcomes language barriers, and an especially important program called Andale! — an after-school program for Latino children and youth aimed at increasing academic performance and closing the achievement gap. To donate,
visit www.guadcenter.org. • Catholic elementary and secondary schools are constantly striving to keep up with changing technologies in the education field. Any one of them would welcome your “Ice Bucket Challenge” gift. • Your parish or school endowment fund might be your choice for a donation. The Catholic Community Foundation specializes in helping people leave a legacy that benefits the churches and schools they love. If your parish or school doesn’t already have an endowment fund with CCF, the folks at the foundation will help get one started. For endowments and other charitable giving opportunities, visit www.ccf-mn.org. • Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis on its website (www. catholiccharitiesmn.org) carries a “Wish List for People in Need.” Catholic Charities will get the items to those who can use them. But do your soul a favor and visit www.DorothyDayrevision.org to watch the video “Dorothy Day Center: A Place to Lay Your Head.” You’ll want to hit the “donate” button before Karl’s story is even finished.
Earthquake levels church, All Saints parish helps rebuild it By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit It all started on a plane ride back from the Caribbean island country of Dominica. Deacon George Nugent of All Saints in Lakeville was flying back with a handful of other parishioners during the winter of 2005. They had gone to Dominica on a parish mission trip to serve the poor. What they saw while there made a lasting impression, one that remains vivid to this day. “We went down to build houses,” said Deacon Nugent, who had gone to the region individually before that trip. “Our group goes down to build three simple little homes for the people in Dominica. We happened to be there shortly after — just within three
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
“There are people who are willing to sponsor the outreach. They understand the significance of being able to reach out to people that are poor, people that are in need of housing, in need of a church.” Deacon George Nugent of All Saints in Lakeville
months after — the earthquake [in 2004]. And, we drove by [the areas devastated by it]. Things start to roll around in your head about what can we do about this.” The earthquake leveled the church of St. Andrew in the Diocese of Roseau.
Knowing that the poor of that region would never be able to come up with the funds to build a new church, Deacon Nugent wondered if it was time for All Saints to act. “We said, ‘What are we going to do about this? What is God asking us to
do?’” Deacon Nugent recalled. “So, we kicked around lots of ideas and suggestions.” They came up with one simple idea — money. Shortly after returning home, they got a special collection authorized for every other month. Then, when then-Father Lee Piché became pastor, he bumped it up to every month. A steady stream of monthly collections ranging from $2,000 to $4,000 added up to a grand total of about $275,000, which covered almost half of the cost of the new building. Deacon Nugent and other parish volunteers, who kept going to Dominica every year, went down for the church dedication on Jan. 30, 2013. On the weekend of Sept. 6 and 7, it Please turn to BISHOP on page 22
7 By Sharon Wilson For The Catholic Spirit When Leah Jacobson entered the adoration chapel in 2006, she was only asking for God’s blessing to further her education in nursing. But God had other plans. As a campus minister at the University of Minnesota Duluth, Jacobson witnessed the needs of young women caught in the uncertainty of an unplanned pregnancy. “That day, God gave a very clear vision to me about all the wonderful pro-life resources that are already out there and all the ways, that by working together, to make a stronger movement to make a more cohesive response to the culture of death,” Jacobson said. She envisioned a center that would provide not only pregnancy resources, but also a prenatal care and birthing center, natural family planning, counseling, child care and a community conference space. In 2009, she founded the Guiding Star Women’s Center, a nonprofit organization focused on uniting the pro-life movement in Duluth. This effort has seen its fruits in the Culture of Life educational series, as well as a yearly banquet. The vision has expanded to the Guiding Star Project, which seeks to create greater unity and collaboration of pro-life groups across the country. Its mission is “to establish comprehensive centers nationwide for women and families that uphold Natural Law and promote a New Feminism through a complementary view of humanity that places women, men, and children in loving family circles of trust, stability, and of mutual giving
Leah Jacobson, founder of the Guiding Star Women’s Center and the Guiding Star Project, will host the organization’s “Together for Life” banquet Wednesday, Sept. 17, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Photo courtesy of Leah Jacobson and acceptance.” Ideally, Jacobson would like to see a Guiding Star Center across from every Planned Parenthood. Guiding Star will host its “Together for Life” fundraising banquet Sept. 17 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. In trying to be relevant to all women, whether a 17-year-old looking to take a pregnancy test or a mother meeting with a lactation specialist, the centers seek to encourage them to embrace their dignity through their uniquely feminine gifts and talents. Since expanding the vision, people wanting to bring this concept to their cities have approached Jacobson. So far, a new center is in
the works in Brazos Valley, Texas, with Abby Johnson as the board chair. Johnson is the former director of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in Bryan, Texas. After witnessing an ultrasound-guided abortion, Johnson converted to the pro-life cause. She is now a leading defender of the unborn. Jacobson lives out a great trust and faith in God throughout the ups and downs of initiating this movement. “I didn’t start out with some grand plan,” Jacobson said about trusting in that first vision. “The basic concepts were there, but it has been a really long journey. As each step has been revealed, the vision has become more crystallized. We don’t know where we will be five years from now. It has been an honor and joy to be part of it, but it is definitely not something I would have ever dreamed up on my own. “We will be unveiling some big news at our annual banquet,” Jacobson continued. “Abby Johnson will be joining us as our speaker and will share an update about her involvement with our Guiding Star Brazos Valley organization.” Individual tickets for the event are free, but table sponsorships are being sought. Proceeds will go toward the Guiding Star Project and local pro-life organizations. Registration is required; visit www.together forlife.eventbrite.com, or theguidingstarproject. com. The exhibits, dinner and program will start at 6 p.m. at the Anderson Student Center – Woulfe Alumni Hall on the University of St. Thomas campus.
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Guiding Star seeks to bring pro-life resources under one roof
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September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
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G.K. Chesterton connects Minnesota and Italy Delegation visits local counterpart of school named after 20th century writer By Jennifer Janikula For The Catholic Spirit For more than 20 years, Dale Ahlquist and Marco Sermarini, without knowledge of each other’s existence, had been walking identical paths, synchronized step-by-step on opposite sides of the globe: one in Edina, and the other on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy. Unknowingly, they shared a vision that inspired them (with the help of their co-founders and many families) to establish two classical schools named after prolific English writer G.K. Chesterton, within the same year (2008), independently. With Father Spencer Howe of St. John Neumann in Eagan as their Please turn to SCHOOLS on page 23
Chesterton Academy student Adrian Ahlquist (left) gets an impromptu Italian language lesson from Marco Sermarini (second from right), president of the Italian Chesterton Society and co-founder of the Chesterton School of Italy. Also pictured are Cameron Thompson (second from left), Chesterton Academy teacher, and Dale Ahlquist, president of the American Chesterton Society and co-founder of Chesterton Academy in Edina. Jennifer Janikula/For The Catholic Spirit
Plans for a third sober house are under way Continued from page 1 people just like Murray — those beaten down by addiction who want to try to make a fresh start in a safe, clean place. Though never a problem drinker himself, Father Fleming, 87, saw plenty of it during the years right after he was ordained a priest in 1952. In fact, he said he was often chided for letting people know how many drinks they had consumed at social get-togethers. He even saw a few priests tip the bottle too much. “In 1952 when I was ordained, there was a lot of excessive drinking in the Catholic community,” said Father Fleming, who retired from priestly ministry in the archdiocese in 1997 and now spends his retirement at Bethany Village (two of his older brothers also were priests, Fathers John and Francis Fleming, both deceased). “Nowadays, when you go to people’s homes, they give you beer or wine. Back in those days, it was martinis and margaritas and highballs and scotch and soda. People took great pride in having the best bar in the neighborhood, and there was excessive drinking.” Father Fleming had no part of it. And now, more than six decades later, nary a drop of alcohol can be found at Bethany Village. He is far too considerate of the 29 residents who live there to do anything to threaten their sobriety. During the nicer months of the year, Father will take a stroll around the grounds and greet the residents as he tries to get valuable exercise that is hampered by Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. But, just like he will never touch a drink, he will not accept sympathy for his nagging maladies. Far from counting his woes, he maintains a hearty sense of humor in conversations, and even pokes fun at himself. “I haven’t done my shaking act for you,” he joked, in reference to the classic symptoms of Parkinson’s. “Just give me time. It comes and goes.” It’s remarks such as these that have endeared many people, including
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Murray, to the gruff-sounding, but compassionate priest who will receive a lifetime achievement award Sept. 18 from Trinity Sober Homes, a pair of Catholic sober houses Father Fleming and Murray started in 2012, both in St. Paul. The event will be at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul, with proceeds going to Trinity Sober Homes. It quickly sold out. “Trinity is just another example of Father’s lifetime commitment of helping other people,” said Murray, 55. “Father has touched so many of our lives and changed our lives. He saved my life. There’s no question. It’s that simple. The man saved my life. “For me, he’s become sort of a surrogate dad. My dad died 23 years ago, and so he’s the closest thing I have to a father. I love him. He’s very encouraging.” It didn’t take long for Murray and his clerical mentor to come up with the idea of a Catholic sober home. In their many conversations, they bemoaned the fact that nearly half of all men who come out of treatment call themselves “recovering Catholics,” meaning they no longer practice their faith. Murray was once one of them, and it took very little discussion for him and Father Fleming to agree to start working on, back in 2011, what they believe is the only overtly Catholic sober home in the country. The first one, called St. Michael House, filled to capacity (12 men) so fast that they instantly recognized the need for a second one, which they opened last fall — St. Gabriel House (11 men). The homes are for men 40 and older, and offer a faith-filled environment, including prayer, spiritual counseling and even Masses held on site. But, no one is required to embrace Catholicism. The two men don’t think they’re finished yet. Plans for a third sober house are under way, and Father Fleming, for one, has no doubts that Murray, who has a business background that includes sales and executive positions all the way up to CEO, will be
able to solicit enough cash donations to make it happen. Once again, Father’s wry sense of humor emerged when he was asked to assess Murray’s fund-raising acumen. “He’s the best moocher in captivity,” Father Fleming joked. “Put your hand in your wallet when he comes in the door.” But, without hesitation, Father Fleming was quick to offset the lighthearted razzing with some serious praise for the man he mentored for two years at Bethany Village. “He’s got boundless energy, and he’s gifted and he’s sincere,” Father Fleming said. “He’s really the brains of this place. And, he’s a good CEO.” As much as Father Fleming downplays his own role, his spiritual guidance and pastoral strength form the backbone of Trinity Sober Homes. Three decades of work as a military chaplain, including a tour in Vietnam, plus just as many years helping those struggling with substance abuse, well qualify him to lead an effort to extend the Church’s social justice mission to the lives of those who have lost their way. And, on top of all that, he was the first archdiocesan director of evangelization back in the early 1990s. He was appointed by Archbishop John Roach shortly after he retired from his military service. How does he think evangelization should work? “You have to be careful that you don’t mess up the centrality of the Jesus event,” he said. “You have to put that first.” What does that look like? Murray has the answer. It’s a simple slogan he has seen his mentor put into practice every day at Bethany Village, and taught him to do at Trinity Sober Homes. The succinct summary of Father Fleming’s heartfelt ministry to those trying to break free from addiction fell on Murray’s ears one day not long after he arrived at Father’s doorstep. Father Fleming was trying to draw his new resident back to the Church, but Murray was reluctant.
“Well before the Church was on this theme of trying to bring Catholics back home, he really encouraged me to reconnect with the Church,” Murray said. “And frankly, I said, ‘Father, I’ve committed probably every sin that’s out there. I don’t feel worthy, and I certainly don’t feel like I would be accepted back into the Church.’ Without blinking an eye, he just leaned over and gently touched my forearm and said, ‘Tim, the Church is a hospital for sinners, it’s not a museum for saints.’” That won him over. Similarly captivated by Father Fleming’s genuine faith and charm was a key Trinity fundraiser, Marty Dehen, whose first name was chosen in honor of Father Fleming. Leon Dehen, Marty’s father, roomed with Father Fleming at Nazareth Hall, a former Catholic boarding school in Roseville, and the two developed a strong friendship. Though Marty Dehen had seen Father Fleming’s picture on his father’s dresser during his childhood, he did not meet Father Fleming until recently when Murray called to ask if Dehen would help with fundraising for Trinity Sober Homes. Dehen agreed, provided he could finally meet the man he was named after. That meeting took place, and Dehen has been raising money for Trinity ever since. He has come to realize that, with Father Fleming’s encouragement and presence, many men who have let alcohol destroy their Catholic faith can reclaim it at Trinity Sober Homes. “You talk to people who are living in a car. Tim Murray lived in a car,” said Dehen, 61 and a parishioner at Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata. “You talk to people who’ve lost everything, all because of alcohol. But, the one thing they didn’t lose, they were still Catholic, even though they’re broke, even though they’re living in a car. There’s still something there. And, it’s a treasure — it’s buried treasure. Father helps these guys discover their treasure . . . and helps them build up the cathedral that each of us can be if we really embrace Catholicism.”
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Masses of ‘healing, reconciliation and hope’ offered in archdiocese First opportunity is Sept. 22 The Catholic Spirit We all need healing in our lives, especially when we’ve been hurt by the Church or we’re struggling with issues that challenge our faith. To help in healing, Archbishop John Nienstedt is inviting people in the archdiocese to come together as a community of faith to pray for healing, reconciliation and hope. “Whether due to the wounds inflicted by a shepherd of the Church, or the loss of a loved one, or the violation of human dignity through domestic abuse or abortion, we all stand in need of the healing power of Christ,” Archbishop Nienstedt said. “During these difficult days of confusion, anger and pain within our local Church, it is especially important to turn to God for help.” The first such Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 22, at St. Patrick in Inver Grove Heights. All are welcome.
Several parishes in the archdiocese have offered healing Masses and prayer services for years. Other dioceses around the country have held similar Masses. Information about Catholic and local resources for healing will be available after the Masses, including post-abortion resources, information about obtaining an annulment, and a message to those who have been abused by a member of the clergy or other person representing the Church. Ordained and lay professionals will be present to talk and pray with participants following Mass. The sacrament of reconciliation will also be offered.
Win tickets to the celebration The Catholic Spirit Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are gearing up for the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration at the Minneapolis Convention Center. For a chance to win a pair of tickets to your choice of either the Young Adult Night on Friday, Oct. 3, or the full-day event on Saturday, Oct. 4, email your answer to the question, “What are you looking forward to at the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration?” to Rediscover@archspm.org. Please include “R: ticket contest” in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by random drawing and announced in the Sept. 25 edition. Please provide your name and mailing address with your email entry. Entries must be received by Monday, Sept. 22. Participants must be 18 or older.
More ways to win
The Mass will be the first opportunity of many within the coming months to join others in praying for healing, reconciliation and hope.
• Watch for a special image to be posted on both The Catholic Spirit Facebook page and the Rediscover: Facebook page. Like and Share these images each week through Sept. 25 to be entered in a drawing for free tickets.
Upcoming dates will be included in future editions of The Catholic Spirit, posted at www. archspm.org and shared through parish bulletins.
• In the Rediscover: section at TheCatholicSpirit.com, see how you can win tickets. Winners will be selected weekly through Sept. 25. To learn more about the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration, visit Rediscover-faith.org.
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St. John Paul II Champions for Life winners named The Catholic Spirit
Gospel calling, not just talking about it.
Since 2008, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been honoring those who have worked tirelessly for life. The St. John Paul II Champions for Life Awards Luncheon recognizes those who organize, speak for life and pray for change. Winners of the 2014 St. John Paul II Champions for Life Awards are:
Pro-life professional
Youth/young adult Madison Schulte, St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi As a student at Mahtomedi High School, Schulte headed up the “Students for Life Club,” persevering despite obstacles. Her leadership skills and passion for the pro-life cause are evident. Schulte’s advisor at Mahtomedi High School said, “The verse that best describes Maddie’s leadership in our club comes from Timothy 4:12, ‘Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.’”
Pro-life couple, family or catholic-affiliated group Dr. Peter and Lulu Daly, Lumen Christi in St. Paul Dr. Peter and Lulu Daly have devoted their lives to living out the Gospel of life. Not only do they radiate Christ’s love in their respective work as an orthopedic surgeon and hospice nurse, but they also have sought ways to serve others through their medical relief works in Honduras and Haiti. They have raised countless dollars and helped countless lives with their personal commitment to those they serve. The Dalys believe in living out their
Mary Ball, St. Agnes in St. Paul Mary Ball is the executive director and founder of Holy Family Adoption Agency. Through her work and the work of the agency, she fills a need in matching Catholic adoptive couples to expectant mothers considering abortion. By coordinating would-be adoptive parents to pray outside of abortion centers and to hold signs saying they would be willing to take care of their child, many babies have been saved from abortion and placed into caring families.
Pro-life volunteer Kathleen Esh, St. Gabriel the Archangel in Hopkins Esh is a dedicated pro-life volunteer at her parish and beyond. Her leadership abilities are evident in her initiatives as the promotion manager for the pro-life movie, “This is My Body,” and producing a series of videos of priests doing pro-life homilies. She has been essential in coordinating the merger of the parish pro-life groups to form St. Gabriel’s Community Caring for Life group and is active in all aspects of pro-life and parish ministry.
Tickets available Bishop Andrew Cozzens will honor the winners at the luncheon, which is 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 16 at St. Peter in Mendota. Tickets are $35 each or $280 per table. To register, visit archspm.org or call (651) 291-4506.
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
U.S. & World
10 CRS looks at programs to help fight push factors
Diocese asks Court to hear case involving confessional seal By Catholic News Service
By David Agren Catholic News Service At an immigration center for receiving busloads of deportees returning to El Salvador, Catholic Relief Services’ Executive Vice President Joan Rosenhauer spoke with a widowed mother of six who was awaiting her son. Rosenhauer said she asked the mother why she had sent her son on the journey through Mexico in an attempt to reach the U.S. “There is no hope for him here,” the mother said, noting her inability to feed her family and gangs pushing kids into crime. “It gave me pause,” Rosenhauer said after returning from a trip to Central America. “Any parent can understand doing whatever you can to protect the lives of your children and make sure that they have food to eat and a decent life.” The boy being returned home was but one of thousands of children attempting to escape pervasive poverty and violence. Many also try to reunite with parents working in the United States. Catholic communities in Central America “. . . it’s clear to are responding to the crisis. me that the Scalabrini nuns run repatriation causes are programs in Honduras, severe enough priests try to keep kids out of . . . that we will gangs in El Salvador, and never address religious operate shelters the problem we for have on our side undocumented migrants of the border traveling through unless we Mexico. Rosenhauer said address the root Catholic Relief Services is causes. . . .” focusing on supporting these Joan Rosenhauer, communities as Catholic Relief Services’ best it can. executive vice president “We know that there are successful programs that can address the issue of poverty and can address the issue of gang violence and the issue of domestic violence, too,” she said. “We just need to be able to scale them up.” “It’s a complex intersection of causes, but it’s clear to me that the causes are severe enough . . . that we will never address the problem we have on our side of the border unless we address the root causes that are leading these children to come to the United States,” she said.
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Pope Francis video chats with a Salvadoran student in the gang-infested neighborhood of La Campanera, San Salvador, Sept. 4. CNS/Jose Cabezas, Reuters
In Google Hangout, pope helps launch network By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service The wisdom of “It takes a village to raise a child” has been lost as kids are either overprotected by permissive parents or neglected, Pope Francis said. “The educational partnership has been broken” as families, schools and society are “no longer united together for the child,” he said Sept. 4 after holding his first Google Hangout — a live video conversation — across five continents with teenagers who belong to the international network of “Scholas occurentes,” uniting students of all faiths and cultures. Parents and teachers used to stick together to teach kids important values, the pope said, recalling when he got into trouble in the fourth grade. “I wasn’t respectful toward the teacher, and the teacher called my mother. My mother came, I stayed in class and the teacher stepped out, then they called for me,” he told a group of educators and experts involved with the worldwide Scholas network. “My mom was really calm. I feared the worst,” he said. After getting him to admit to his wrongdoing, his mother told him to apologize to the teacher. The pope said he apologized and remembered “it was easy, and I was happy. But there was an Act 2 when I got home,” insinuating stiffer punishment had followed. However, today, “at least in lots of schools in my country,” if a teacher notes a problem with a student, “the next day, the mother and father denounce the teacher,” he said. The family, schools and culture have to work together for the
well-being of the child, he said. People have to “rebuild this village in order to educate a child.” All of society also needs to help children and young people who are homeless, exploited, victims of violence or without any prospects, he said. The pope pointed the blame on today’s “culture of disposal” and “the cult of money” for creating and perpetuating adults’ apathy to or complicity in the mistreatment of kids. This is why “it’s very important to strengthen bonds: social, family and personal ties” with kids and young adults, and create an environment that helps them approach the world with “trust and serenity.” Otherwise, kids will be “left only with the path of delinquency and addiction,” he said. The pope’s comments came at the end of an encounter to launch scholas.social, a new social network for students from all over the world to cooperate on environmental and social causes, sport and art initiatives, and charitable activities. The Scholas initiative was begun in Buenos Aires and supported by its then-Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, who also taught high school when he was a young Jesuit priest. When he became pope, he asked fellow Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sanchez Sorondo, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, to expand the network’s reach and impact. With a small digital camera and studio lights aimed at him in the Vatican synod hall, the pope took questions from five Scholas members, who were linked in from Australia, Israel, Turkey, South Africa and El Salvador.
The Diocese of Baton Rouge has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Louisiana Supreme Court decision that a priest may be compelled to testify as to what he heard in the confessional in 2008 concerning an abuse case. The legal step is the latest in a case involving Father Jeffrey Bayhi, pastor of St. John the Baptist in Zachary, La., and the sanctity of the seal of confession. The petition to the U.S. Supreme Court comes after a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling in May outlining arguments that priests are subject to mandatory reporting laws regarding abuse of minors if the person who made the confession waives confidentiality. The state Supreme Court opened the door for a hearing in which the priest would testify about what he heard in the confessional. Under canon law, the seal of confession is sacred under the penalty of excommunication. In the case, a girl who was 14 in 2008 said she told her parish priest, Father Bayhi, in the confessional that she was abused by a now-dead lay member of the parish. The girl’s parents sued Father Bayhi and the Diocese of Baton Rouge for failing to report the abuse. The parents won at the district court level about compelling the priest to testify, but they lost in Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeals, before the state’s highest court reversed and vacated the appellate court’s decision. NOLA.com reported that the young woman was identified as Rebecca Mayeux, now 20, in an interview with WBRZ, a Baton Rouge television station. She told the station that Father Bayhi told her to “take care of it” after she told him of the abuse when participating in the sacrament of reconciliation. In a document filed with the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 21, the diocese said the state Supreme Court ruling threatens “church autonomy.” The diocese cited case law from a court decision involving the Serbian Eastern Orthodox Diocese that found that “religious controversies are not the proper subject of civil court inquiry.” The hearing proposed by Louisiana Supreme Court would violate the Church’s constitutional protection afforded by the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution to abide by its own laws, the diocese claimed. In a statement released Sept. 4, the diocese said the state Supreme Court’s decision “strikes a very hard blow against religious freedom, and one which the diocese and Father Bayhi feel compelled to vigorously contest.”
11 Bishop Cozzens: Real zeal can happen when we invite the Lord By Nissa LaPoint Catholic News Service Catholic heavyweights behind a Denver-launched parish revitalization movement shared with evangelizers ideas on how to convert the unchurched into frontpew regulars. Some 140 parishes and organizations from as far as New York and Canada gathered for the invitation-only Amazing Parish Conference Aug. 27-28 in Denver to help churches become more vibrant centers for an encounter with Christ. Funded by the Denver-based VINE Foundation, the conference drew Catholic leaders such as speaker and author Jeff Cavins, the director of evangelization and catechesis for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis; Curtis Martin, president and founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students; Chris Stefanick, president of Real Life Catholic; and businessman Patrick Lencioni to discuss seven identified traits of an “amazing parish” — a reliance on prayer, a real leadership team, clear vision, the Sunday
experience, compelling formation, small group discipleship and missionary zeal. What is missing is not the sacraments, according to conference organizers, but what is needed is a Church filled with hearts on fire for Christ and parishioners helpful to fallen-away Catholics navigating their way back. “Yes, the Eucharist is enough, but so many people need more to understand that,” Lencioni, an author and leadership consultant, told a packed conference room. “Those people out there who are former Catholics or Catholics going other places, they’re hungry for what you have. We know the most important part. This conference is about all the other things.” Founders are calling it a Holy Spirit-inspired movement that began on the day Pope Francis was selected pontiff in March 2013. Co-founder John Martin of Our Lady of Lourdes in Denver said the group wants attendees to have “a zeal to take their parish to a level where parishioners are active disciples for Christ.” This personal zeal is necessary for a transformation, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said during a talk on evangelization. “If we don’t have the fire in us,
it’s because we’re living a lukewarm and superficial existence,” he told the gathering. Bishop Cozzens suggested the best incentive for sharing the Gospel message comes from inside and contemplating Christ in love. “The fire begins to grow as I spend time with the one I love, and when that fire grows, then the Holy Spirit can use me,” he explained. Parish representatives were asked to brainstorm ideas and ways to put them into action. The bishop added that true zeal begins where natural enthusiasm ends. “When you reach the end of natural enthusiasm and spiritual failure and weakness and you can’t go on, invite the Lord, then a real transformation can happen and then real zeal begins,” he said. Other conference talks were built on the idea that a parish is where most people come to know Christ. An alarming number of Americans are missing such an opportunity, according to the Pew Research Center. “Nones” or those with no religious identity are a growing 19 percent or one-fifth of the population — and one-third of adults younger than 30 — researchers found in a 2012 poll. Father Michael White, pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Md., and associate Tom
Corcoran shared how they shifted focus to these unchurched people. Instead of adding more programs and ministries, the parish prioritized the Sunday experience and mobilized the help of regular parishioners. People in the pews were no longer approached as customers, he said. “We were not leading people and we were not making disciples, but we were creating religious consumers in our parish,” Father White said about the programs and activities his parish labored to provide. “So much of it was a waste of time.” Together, Father White and Corcoran authored two books — “Rebuilt” and “Tools for Rebuilding” — about the lessons they learned. They asked attendees to brainstorm on ways to reach the unchurched by reevaluating their worship music, the message given during homilies and how ministers affect the Sunday experience.
U.S. & World
‘The Amazing Parish’ seeks to revitalize communities
Resources online The Amazing Parish movement provides free resources for Catholic leaders, clergy and laity at www.amazingparish.org.
Pope mourns murder of missionary sisters in Burundi By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Pope Francis mourned the deaths of three Xaverian Missionary Sisters of Mary, who were murdered in two separate attacks in their residence in Burundi. Sister Lucia Pulici, 75, and Sister Olga Raschietti, 82, were found dead Sept. 7 in their mission residence in the capital of Bujumbura. Sister Bernadetta Bogianni, 79, who had found the bodies, was killed
the next night. In telegrams sent to Archbishop Evariste Ngoyagoye of Bujumbura and Sister Ines Frizza, superior general of the Xaverian Missionary Sister of Mary, the pope expressed his sadness concerning the “tragic deaths” of these “faithful and devout nuns.” The messages, sent on behalf of the pope by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said the pope hoped that “the blood they have shed may
become the seed of hope to build true fraternity between peoples.” Xaverian Missionary Father Mario Pulcini, superior of the Xaverian Missionaries in Burundi, told MISNA, the missionary news service, that he went to the mission house Sept. 7 after he and Sister Boggiani were unable to reach Sisters Pulici and Raschietti by telephone all of that day. “I was in front of the main door with the idea of forcing it open when it
opened, and I saw Bernadetta there very upset. She had found a side service entrance open and, once she entered, found the lifeless bodies of Sisters Olga and Lucia,” he said. They alerted government, military, judicial and religious authorities, the priest said, and an investigation was begun. There was no word yet on possible suspects or motives of the killings.
To advertise in The Catholic Spirit, call 651.291.4444 Ask for Dick or Chris September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Focus on Faith • Scripture Readings
12 SUNDAY SCRIPTURES Jean Denton
Display the cross, the true symbol of God’s saving grace A common sight on televised sporting events is the “John 3:16” sign. You see it held aloft in the crowd behind home plate or waving beside the “Go Big Red” placard in the end zone. Practicing Christians know it refers to the Bible passage in the Gospel of John that says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” One can only assume that the people displaying the sign are wellmeaning, would-be evangelists who want to give witness to this tenet of Christian faith before millions of television viewers. Good idea, as far as it goes. But nonbelievers and marginal believers, while they may know
that “John 3:16” is a verse in the Bible, don’t know its meaning. So just holding up this combination of letters and numbers for the cameras isn’t a very effective way to call people to faith. So why don’t they just hold up a cross? After all, it’s a universally recognized symbol of death and resurrection. Believers and nonbelievers, atheists and agnostics, all know what it means. The Scriptures for Sept. 13 and 14 call us to the “Exaltation of the Holy Cross.” In fact, the Gospel reading includes John 3:16, which describes the saving grace of this symbol. Its message is that the son of God paid with his death the price to free humankind from its sinfulness. One look at the cross says it all. It reminds us of our sin and Jesus’ sacrificial act of love. It does call us
to faith. In the Old Testament, God similarly called people to faith through a powerful symbol. He told Moses to lift up an image of a serpent to remind the people of the serpents that were sent to punish them for their complaints against God. If they looked upon the serpent, recognizing the consequences of their sin, they would be saved. Although we rarely see the cross held up at sporting events for the TV cameras, Christians aren’t shy about displaying it. It calls us to place faith in a God who is good and loves us mightily. One look at the cross says it all. This Catholic News Service column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.
Sunday, Sept. 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Readings
• Numbers 21:4b-9 • Philippians 2:6-11 • John 3:13-17
Reflection
What do you think of and feel when you look upon the cross? How does it call you to faith?
DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Sept. 14 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross Numbers 21:4b-9 Philippians 2:6-11 John 3:13-17 Monday, Sept. 15 Our Lady of Sorrows 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33 John 19:25-27 Tuesday, Sept. 16 St. Cornelius, pope, and St. Cyprian, bishop, martyrs 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27-31a Luke 7:11-17
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Wednesday, Sept. 17 St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop, doctor of the Church 1 Corinthians 12:31 – 13:13 Luke 7:31-35
Sunday, Sept. 21 Twenty-fifth Sunday in ordinary time Isaiah 55:6-9 Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a Matthew 20:1-16a
Thursday, Sept. 18 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 7:36-50
Monday, Sept. 22 Proverbs 3:27-34 Luke 8:16-18
Friday, Sept. 19 St. Januarius, bishop, martyr 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Luke 8:1-3
Tuesday, Sept. 23 St. Pius of Pietrelcina, priest Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 Luke 8:19-21
Saturday, Sept. 20 St. Andrew Kim, Tae-gon, priest; St. Paul Chong Ha-sang and Companions, martyrs 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49 Luke 8:4-15
Wednesday, Sept. 24 Proverbs 30:5-9 Luke 9:1-6
Thursday, Sept. 25 Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 Luke 9:7-9 Friday, Sept. 26 St. Cosmas and St. Damian, martyrs Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 Luke 9:18-22 Saturday, Sept. 27 St. Vincent de Paul, priest Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:8 Luke 9:43b-45 Sunday, Sept. 28 Twenty-sixth Sunday in ordinary time Ezekiel 18:25-28 Philippians 2:1-11 Matthew 21:28-32
13
Father Kenneth Doyle
Adam, Eve and original sin Q. I believe in the evolutionary theory of creation and have never given much thought to its impact on Christianity until recently. While talking to a priest, he mentioned that Adam and Eve were fictional characters who have provided generations with lessons on good and evil and who also provided the foundation for redemption. I agreed, but later it made me wonder about all that follows in the Bible: the concept of original sin, the promise of a savior, etc. My question is this: Without the fall of Eve in Eden, where, when and why does the promise of a savior originate? A. The virtually universal view of contemporary Catholic biblical scholars is that the Genesis
account of creation is not a textbook of history and scientific fact, but is meant to convey religious truths. The theory of evolution is widely accepted by natural scientists, and in a message delivered in 1996 to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, St. John Paul II said that evolution should be viewed as “more than an hypothesis.” In that same allocution, St. John Paul went on to say that theories of physical evolution of the human species do not contradict Catholic teaching so long as they allow for the spiritual dimension of the human person. In other words, one is free to believe that while the human species evolved physically over millions of years, that entire process was presided over and
Focus on Faith • Seeking Answers
SEEKING ANSWERS
guided by God, and God directly created the human soul. As for original sin, I certainly would not call Adam and Eve “fictional characters.” Many scholars do theorize, though, that they were most likely not two specific individuals, but instead represented an entire early generation of men and women. As the Second Vatican Council says in No. 13 of “Gaudium et Spes”: “Although he was made by God in a state of holiness, from the very onset of his history man abused his liberty at the urging of the Evil One.” In their view of original sin, the Greek fathers of the Church held that the sinfulness of our earliest ancestors is carried forward by the choices of every generation — so that each of us arrives in the world, if not with a genetic predisposition to sin, then at least surrounded by a society in which selfishness seems to abound. Thus, we have a need for the redeemer promised throughout the Old Testament: to balance out that early failure, to open the path to heaven and to enable us to overcome self-interest and to direct our lives outward.
Father Doyle writes for Catholic News Service. A priest of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., he previously served as director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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This Catholic Life • Commentary
14 GUEST COLUMN Deacon Jim Marschall
The marginalized include those with mental illness It is our human inclination, even among the disciples of Jesus, to focus on division and to pick and choose based on our own judgment of who is worthy or unworthy. As Europeans preached the Gospel to indigenous peoples during the age of imperialism, many treated them as second-class or less than human. Throughout history, the Gospel has been misused as an excuse to exclude and persecute those who were deemed unworthy. Even in this third millennium of Christianity — supposedly a more enlightened and advanced time — we continue to encounter division, exclusion and marginalizing of people. One example that is not often considered, but is no less real, is the marginalization experienced by people suffering with mental illness and those who have lost loved ones to suicide. The recent death of actor Robin Williams has drawn attention to the tragedy of mental illness and suicide, but I fear that as weeks pass, it is slipping quietly from our consciousness.
Seek to understand There are many reasons why mental illness marginalizes people
— shame and self deprecation, misunderstanding and fear, among others. If it is our mission as disciples of Jesus to reach out to those who are marginalized — those who are poor in any way — then it is important that we face the fears and overcome the misunderstandings about mental illness. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feelings, moods, ability to relate to others and daily functioning. Just as diabetes is a disorder of the pancreas, mental illnesses are medical conditions. (Can you imagine saying to a person with diabetes, “Why can’t you just get over it?”) Mental illnesses can affect people of any age, race, religion or income. They are not the result of choice, personal weakness, lack of character, lack of faith or poor upbringing. The good news about mental illness is that recovery is possible with the proper support and medical treatment. Theologically, we understand that mental illness (and all illness) is an affect of the broken and sinful nature of humanity and the world that affects the whole of creation
MAKING SENSE OF BIOETHICS Father Tad Pacholczyk
Renegade researchers and the future of biomedicine Producing human embryos in the laboratory for research purposes makes most people uneasy. Even those who tolerate the creation of embryos in test tubes so that infertile couples might have children will often have reservations about the creation of embryos to serve as experimental research material or to destroy them for their cellular parts. Twenty years ago, when a deeply divided government panel recommended allowing such research experiments on human embryos for the first time, even President Bill Clinton summarily rejected the idea. Two years later, Rep. Nancy Pelosi concurred in the Congressional Record: “We should not be involved in the creation of embryos for research. I completely agree with my colleagues on that score.” The proposal to engender
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
human embryos by cloning has similarly drawn strong opposition from Americans for many years. Yet society’s views are shifting. Clinton, Pelosi and many others have reversed their views in recent years. Scientists and politicians now seem ready to draw ethical lines — and then erase them — as expediency demands. [Recently], with little fanfare, the journal “Nature” published a paper from a major research laboratory describing a study that would have been largely unthinkable when the embryo research debates first began in the early 1990s. Dr. Shoukhrat Mitalipov and his colleagues at Oregon Health and Science University described the creation of multiple human embryos in the laboratory for research purposes. Two of the embryos were
— the fall of man, the sin of Adam. Suicide is one of the greatest tragedies imaginable. Each year, suicide claims approximately 30,000 lives in the United States. More than 90 percent of people who commit suicide have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors need to be treated as a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. Like mental illness, suicide is not a choice made by someone who is of sound mind. It is certainly not an issue of selfishness. Consider the power of the human survival instinct, all that is ingrained in us — even genetically — to stay alive, to fight for life. Now, consider the darkness and pain that a person would have to be experiencing in order for that instinct to be overwhelmed.
Go further and act By understanding the issue and having the right information, we, as disciples of Jesus, are called to reach out to the marginalized. How do we do that for people who are suffering with mental illness or who might have suicidal thoughts? We pray with persistence and tenacity. We turn to Christ, seeking help and healing. We let them know of our love, care and concern for them. We are to be light in the darkness and healing of pain. We must go further, though. We must be assertive in our compassion. Encourage them to seek treatment. Offer to take them for help. Bringing up the subject of someone’s mental health is not going to make it worse. If someone’s words or behaviors lead you to believe that they are a danger to themselves or others, call 911 — intervene. Recent therapies and
produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF), and four more were generated by nuclear transfer or cloning, the same technique used to produce Dolly the sheep. All six of the human embryos were engendered for the purpose of “disaggregating” them for their embryonic stem cells to enable further study and detailed comparisons of their genetic and epigenetic patterns. If those human embryos derived by IVF or by cloning had not been destroyed, but instead implanted into their mothers, pregnancies could reasonably have been expected to ensue. Human embryos, our own progeny, surely deserve better than being reduced to a kind of raw material, a commodity to be used for research and commercial purposes. Embryos, of course, are strikingly unfamiliar to us. They lack hands and feet and voices. Even their brains have not yet developed. They look nothing like what we expect when we imagine a human being. But they are as human as you and I; they’re simply younger, smaller and more vulnerable. Embryos may not register with us on first glance; we may need to make a concerted effort to avoid disconnecting them from what we once were ourselves, given that each of us is precisely an embryo who has grown up. Human embryos ought to be accorded the same respect that every human being
Did you know? September is National Suicide Prevention Month. For more information about mental illness and suicide prevention, contact: National Alliance for Mental Illness: www.nami.org or 1-800-950-6264 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 treatments are a gift to us from our Creator to help us overcome the brokenness of mental illness. Beyond immediate crises, and as a person is receiving diagnosis and treatment, continue to reach out. Engage these dear ones in the activities of life and family. Show them the love and acceptance of God’s people. Studies show that involvement in family, community and religious organizations might decrease the risk of suicide, and is an important part of treatment and recovery from most mental illnesses. In the end, it is not up to us to “save” anyone. It is not our place to “fix” the problem. And, just as we cannot blame the victim of mental illness or suicide, we cannot blame ourselves if tragedy strikes. God’s love and his gifts of grace and redemption are for everyone, even those who might not be able to see or experience them at a given time. Deacon Marschall serves at All Saints in Lakeville, where he also is coordinator of pastoral care, justice and service.
deserves, as a matter of basic human rights. Human dignity demands nothing less. Respect for our own progeny, then, will have the obvious consequence that human embryos should not be generated in the laboratory for premeditated destruction, nor for cellular cannibalization by scientists. [But] one might argue that the biomedical sciences have not yet lost their ethical footing, concluding instead that a few renegade and influential scientists have managed to hold sway over a silent majority of other researchers who actually harbor substantive ethical objections to human embryo research. In that case, we can hope that papers like the one published may trigger the research community to begin drawing some long overdue ethical lines, and to reign in some of their own rogue investigators. We can hope for a new measure of courage in taking the important step of joining science to ethics, and working to protect the youngest and most voiceless members of the human family from research exploitation. Father Pacholczyk is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the director of education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. Visit www.ncbcenter.org.
15
Christina Capecchi
The 20-something decorator: creating beauty at home When my cousin Emily moved into a one-bedroom apartment in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood this June, it marked her 10th home in five years, a residential whiplash involving sweat, tears and 11 roommates. But it was also a notable first: Emily’s first time living alone. Six hundred square feet, all hers. Where to begin, what to do with that exclusive space? The prospect was overwhelming, so Emily mapped out the apartment, breaking it down foot by foot, complete with 3-foot-1-inch windows and markers for the kitchen sink. At 23, Emily is one year out of college, working in marketing and development at a Catholic primary school. Her future, like her apartment, remains a work in
progress. She gave me a Skype tour Monday night, wearing a white tank top, a messy bun and a broad smile. She was sunburned and hot, perched between a box fan and her MacBook, planning to lug the patio table she had inherited from the previous owners into the kitchen later that night. Settling in has been a slow process, she said. “I think I might still be searching for that feeling of being home.” I spotted familiar elements amid the cherry hardwood floor: the big blue reading chair Emily purchased with babysitting money back in sixth grade, the Ikea curtains splattered with pink rosebuds, the quilted headboard she scored through a One Kings Lane megasale. But most of all, Emily’s new
COMMENTARY Father Robert Barron
‘The Giver’ and the fading memory of Christianity Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel “The Giver” has garnered a very wide audience over the past two decades, since it has become a standard text in middle schools and high schools across the English-speaking world. With the enormous success of the “Harry Potter,” “Twilight,” and “Hunger Games” films, Hollywood has been busy adapting books written for the young adult audience. The most recent example is the movie version of “The Giver,” which was produced by Jeff Bridges and stars Bridges and Meryl Streep. Having never even heard of the novel, I came at the film with no expectations, and I confess I was quite surprised both by the power of its societal critique and by its implicit Christian themes. The story is set in the near future, in a seemingly utopian city, where there is no conflict, no inequality and no stress. The streets are laid out in a perfectly symmetrical grid, the domiciles and public buildings are clean, even antiseptic, and the people dress in matching outfits and ride bicycles so as not to pollute the environment. The “elders,” the leadership of the community, artificially arrange families and carefully assign vocations, all for the sake of the common good. In order to
eliminate any volatile emotions that might stir up resentment or compromise the perfect equilibrium of the society, each citizen is obligated to take a daily injection of a kind of sedative. If someone’s speech veers even mildly in the direction of suggesting self-assertion or individuality, he is corrected with a gentle but firm admonition: “precision of language, please.” Most chillingly, the elderly and unacceptable children are eliminated, though the people have been conditioned not to think of this as killing but only as a peaceful transition to “Elsewhere.” The calm “sameness” of the city is maintained, above all, through the erasing of memory: no one is permitted to remember the colorful but conflictual world that preceded the present utopia. No one, that is, except the Giver, an elder who retains memories of the previous world for the sole purpose of consulting them in case an emergency arises and specialized knowledge is called for. Utopian societies, maintained through totalitarian control, have been dreamed about at least since the time of Plato, and many attempts have been made over the centuries to realize the dream. The 20th century witnessed quite a few of them: Mao’s China, Stalin’s Soviet Union,
Instagram picture, like the bustling street scene she recently snapped while walking home from work, a way to pause and soak in the moment. I have far to go in my spiritual journey, but my ability to recognize the beauty around me feels like a sacred one. I can’t help but marvel over the nearby Aspens, fluttering in the late-summer sun. They look just like the impressionistic leaves painted by the late children’s-book illustrator Gyo Fujikawa, sage and lime-green circles filling the page, spiraling toward the heavens. “You were born to make art,” writes Emily Freeman in her latest book, “A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live.” “You were also made to live art.” Indeed, we were fashioned in the image and likeness of the Creator, and so we are called to create — with our sunburns and our one-year leases, with the borrowed and the broken, the reupholstered, the rearranged and the reimagined, with our feet planted in the here and now and our eyes looking up.
This Catholic Life • Commentary
TWENTY SOMETHING
apartment is becoming familiar through the estrogen-laced act of decorating by tip toe — breathlessly, experimentally, Pinterest-ly, the kind that is done with a tilted head and a searching soul. Is this who I am? Who I want to be? Among the young women I know — both the renters and the mortgage-bound — decorating is not just an exercise in aesthetics, but in awareness and gratitude, an attempt to create a little beauty in the place where you hang your key, lay your head and stack your dishes. It’s not just an HGTV habit but a world view. “I think it has to do with Catholic social teaching,” Emily said, “that we believe there’s value and dignity in everything, there’s beauty everywhere. Taking a second to appreciate that goes a long way in valuing your own daily life and appreciating what you have.” For Emily that means arranging souvenirs that make a small space feel as vast as her passport: masks from Venice, a starfish from China, a 5-inch Eiffel Tower and a wooden necklace from Brazil. They’re piled on her dresserturned-hutch right now, awaiting proper display. It means buying herself flowers just because. It means posting the occasional
Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights and editor of SisterStory.org, the official website of National Catholic Sisters Week.
Hitler’s Third Reich, Pol Pot’s Cambodia. Indeed, there are echoes of all of these social arrangements in “The Giver’s” version of utopia, but I think what “The Giver’s” city most readily calls to mind is modern liberalism, especially in its European incarnation. We find the fierce enforcement of politically correct speech, the manic attempt to control the environment, coldly modernist architecture, the prizing of equality as the supreme value, the rampant use of drugs, the denial of death, and the wanton exercise of both euthanasia and abortion. Will all of this produce a balanced and peaceful society? Well, it might bring about a kind of equilibrium, but at a terrible cost. The plot of “The Giver” centers on a young man named Jonas who was chosen by the elders to become the sole recipient of the suppressed memory of the previous world. Through a sort of telepathy, the Giver communicates to Jonas all of the richness, color, drama, and joy of the pre-utopian society. The most beguiling image he receives is of himself sledding down a snowy hill and coming upon a cottage from which he hears emerging the strains of a song he had never heard before (in fact, both snow and music had been excluded from his world). In time, the Giver fills out the picture, communicating to the young man the pain and conflict of the previous world as well. Though at first he is horrified by that experience, Jonas realizes that the colorful world, even with its suffering, would be preferable to the bloodless and inhuman dystopia in which he had been raised. As the story moves to its climax, Jonas escapes from the city and ventures out into the forbidden wilderness. The weather turns fiercely cold and he wanders through the
snow until he comes to a clearing where he spies the sled that he had previously seen in memory. Following the prompts of the recollection, he rides the sled down a snowy hill, comes to the quaint cottage, and listens to the song. It is only then that we hear that they are singing the best-known and best-loved Christmas hymn, “Silent Night.” And now we see that what makes the society in “The Giver” most like contemporary Europe is precisely the forgetfulness of Christianity. What the story suggests, quite rightly, is that suppression of the good news of the Incarnation is in fact what conduces to dysfunctional and dangerous totalitarianism. The source of the greatest suffering throughout human history is the attempt to deal with original sin on our own, through our political, economic, military or cultural efforts. When we try to eliminate conflict and sin through social reform, we inevitably make matters worse. As Pascal said long ago, “He who would turn himself into an angel, turns himself into a beast.” The key to joy at the personal level and justice at the societal level is in fact the conviction that God has dealt with original sin by taking it on himself and suffering with us and for us. This belief allows us to embrace the world in both its beauty and its tragedy, for we see salvation as God’s project, not our own. It is the Incarnation — the event celebrated by the singing of “Silent Night”— that frees us from our selfimportance and gives the lie to our programs of perfectibility. Father Barron is the founder of the global ministry Word on Fire, and the rector/ president of Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
16
From Age to Age • Retirement Planning
Retirement takes financial, spiritual preparation By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service The seemingly carefree days of retirement with no set schedules, commutes or bosses do not just magically arrive at one’s doorstep upon reaching a certain age. The new routine with its perks and downfalls requires a fair amount of preparation to determine financial needs and roughly plan how to use all the newfound extra time. It also takes some thought about how to prepare mentally and spiritually for this transition. Fortunately, there is no shortage of advice out there for anyone planning to retire — whether it be decades from now or months from now. Books, online sites and even smartphone apps offer tips on how to get ready for, and embrace, this new stage of life. CNS
It’s all about saving Most retirement advice starts with the jumping-off point of how to financially prepare for life after work without receiving one’s usual paycheck. There are a range of tools and calculators available to determine monthly and yearly costs of retirement and how to best prepare for this.
The U.S. Department of Labor offers multiple resources about the best ways to save and plan for the future. Its website — www.dol.gov/ ebsa/publications/savingsfitness. html — gives advice for those newly saving, longtime savers, women and the self-employed, or those contributing to an employer-
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By Winston Pierre Catholic News Service Scams targeting the elderly are not only prevalent, but they also often go unreported. These scams are devastating to the victims and can leave them more vulnerable and with little time to recoup their losses. In 2011, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that some 25.6 million adults were victims of financial scams, and some have been victims more than once. Nearly 50 percent of those who said they had been scammed were older than 50 and reported $1.6 billion in losses, with a median payment of $400 per complaint. And the number of those scammed is likely higher since many victims do not report it or talk about it for fear of being ridiculed or judged as naive. “The scammers target everybody, but they’re more likely to get older people to respond because they answer the phone and they are not used to being tricked,” said Abigail Kuzma, director of consumer
CNS protection for the Indiana Attorney General’s office. Ken Stewart, a trained volunteer who does community outreach in Chicago on how to avoid being scammed, said there are three key ways to escape this crime. “Protect. Detect. Report,” Stewart stressed in an interview with Catholic News Service. “Never give your personal information, Medicare and Medicaid numbers to people you
From Age to Age • Retirement Planning
LEGACY-BUILDING through Retirement
Scam alert: Don’t let this happen to you
Please turn to REVIEW on page 19
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
From Age to Age • Retirement Planning
18
Devote time to the faith Continued from page 16
Use free time wisely Those in the know say it’s also important to mentally prepare for life without a preset daily routine. Above all, retirees should be careful not to fall into the trap of watching too much television, warns Bob Lowry, who retired in 2001 from radio work and writes about retired life on his blog “Satisfying Retirement.” Lowry gives advice on simplifying life, places to go, things to do and how to keep up with mortgage payments. Richard Johnson, a Catholic psychological clinician and counselor who has been writing and teaching about retirement for more than 30 years, also said it’s important to limit TV viewing. He said research shows that retirees spend twice as much time watching television as do working people — about four hours a day. Part of this stems from a lack of preparation for this life transition, he said, noting that Catholic parishes in particular should be helping older members adjust to life after
work in the same way they focus on youth and young families. He noted that about 4,000 Catholics retire every day in the United States and that the group is in desperate need of adult faith formation since for so many years they have identified themselves with their working roles and often find it hard to describe, or even figure out, their new roles. “We in the Church need to see retirement, and aging in general, not as a joke,” he told Catholic News Service, noting that when people joke about something, it usually means they are afraid of it. Johnson, who has devoted much of his life to helping people adjust to retirement, said this stage of life is a “phenomenal opportunity” for the Church to address, and could have ripple effects. For example, given the right tools and perspective, he said retired Catholics could be having different conversations with their adult children and grandchildren about the faith instead of just bemoaning that younger family members no longer go to church.
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THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL A Visible Symbol of Christ's Presence With your generous sacrifices, the debt for the Cathedral has been greatly reduced. “There should be no one who, entering the Cathedral, is not able to say — it is mine.” Archbishop John Ireland, 1905
$4.7 million remaining debt from the $30 million emergency exterior restoration of the Cathedral in 2002.
Founders’ Memorial Volume People from every parish contributed to the building of our Cathedral. A treasured memorial volume in the Founders’ Chapel contains the names of those individuals. Mass is offered each Thursday for all Cathedral benefactors.
Parishes in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will take up a special collection at Masses on Sept. 20-21 September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
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Review information often Continued from page 17 do not know.” He also advises people not to carry their wallets or identification cards such as Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid unless they are going to the hospital, pointing out that once someone’s wallet is stolen their “information is compromised.” Stewart, who volunteers with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Senior Services, said scammers most often use the telephone to get in touch with consumers, accounting for 40 percent of all contacts, and email is used next, at 33 percent, according to a 2013 study. Older people are targeted for a variety of scams because it’s a low-risk crime that is often not reported, said Don Blandin, chief executive of the Investor Protection Trust, an investor education organization based in Washington. “It’s a great embarrassment, especially when people feel some cognitive loss and they don’t want to be seen as vulnerable.” Scammers tend to appeal to
elders’ sense of civic duties or to their emotions to trick them. In some cases, the scammers offer elders financial or medical advantage; sometimes they threaten them with fines or bad news regarding their loved ones. Another fraud — where people pose as law enforcement, government employees or relatives — also has been escalating and ranks as the fourth most common fraud across the country. “Detect is the second important word that we talk about in our outreach,” Stewart said. “We encourage everyone to always read their Medicare and Medicaid summary notice, which people receive every three months.” “It is a way to be aware of everything,” he added. “If there is a service you do not remember receiving, call your health care provider immediately.” He said this habit will save people from fraudulent charges, which could prevent someone from receiving health care services when they need it.
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Seniors find community life has perks, blessings By Julia Willis Catholic News Service After a person retires, the support and encouragement of family and friends become a crucial part of daily living. As professional relationships fade and office happenings lose their importance, seniors begin to rely on a network of their closest loved ones to add meaning and joy to their lives. Listening to grandchildren’s accomplishments and laughing with old friends, seniors feel that they still have a purpose after they stop earning a paycheck. Although interaction with others can help seniors remain engaged and excited about life, studies show that aging baby boomers will have fewer friends and family to take care of them as they move into their 80s. According to a 2013 AARP study, the ratio of potential caregivers to members of this new group of seniors is projected to decline from more than 7-to-1 in 2010 to less than 3-to-1 by 2050. With fewer caregivers to turn to, many seniors are postponing retirement. Richard Leider, a vocational psychiatrist and life coach in Minneapolis, explained that many seniors are choosing to work well past their 65th birthday to maintain social connectivity. “A lot of it has to do with social connection,” he said, noting that seniors don’t want to be “disconnected to the world, and work is one of the best places to overcome feelings of isolation.” “A job gives a person a reason to get up in the morning. It connects them with other people,
“This sense of community definitely contributes purpose and meaning to our lives.” Carmella Swann, resident in a senior living community
provides them with a schedule to follow and allows them to feel like they’re making a
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difference in the world in some way,” he added. But working long past retirement age isn’t an option for everyone. Those who don’t have family members to care for them are finding that living in retirement communities not only gives them a sense of security, but also fills a social void by providing an immediate circle of friends and activities. Carmella Swann and her husband moved into Our Lady of Life Apartments, a Cardinal Ritter independent living residence, because they felt they were getting too old to handle all of the responsibilities associated with owning a home. “Houses require a lot of personal attention that seniors may or may not be able to keep up,” Swann said. “Two weeks before moving here, our kitchen sink developed a leak, and it was very difficult for me to get a plumber to come to the house to tend to it. Living here one year later, I had a problem with one of the bathrooms, and the maintenance men came immediately and handled the situation very efficiently.” A Catholic Charities federated agency, Cardinal Ritter Senior Services has served the aging population of St. Louis since 1960 and offers personalized care for seniors at all stages of life. Swann, who loves going to daily Mass and enjoys being an integral part of the Cardinal Ritter community, described herself and the other residents of Our Lady of Life as “blessed.” “This sense of community definitely contributes purpose and meaning to our lives,” Swann said.
If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, your first call should be to law enforcement. The archdiocese’s Office of Victim Advocacy and Victims Assistance is also here to offer you help and healing if you have been abused by a Catholic priest or another person in Church ministry. You may make a confidential call to 651.291.4497.
Get connected with the Catholic Community effortlessly at TheCatholicSpirit.com September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
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Columnist combines sports and religion to awaken the spiritual By John Rosengren For The Catholic Spirit What’s God got to do with sports? Nothing, really. But faith does play a role in sports, and vice versa. Charles Honey illuminates that point in his new book “Faith On First,” a collection of his religion columns that originally appeared in the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Press. Honey’s dual passions for religion and sports converge in these columns, where he turns a benevolent eye toward both. Honey is able to find the spiritual dimension of seemingly ordinary events and normal people in daily life through a variety of lenses. They include a disabled member of parliament from Malawi who believes in miracles, a man wrongly incarcerated for a crime he didn’t commit who rediscovered his faith behind bars, a donut shop owner promoting a mentallychallenged man’s book of prayers, a Dominican sister celebrating life on her 100th birthday and a blind musician who longs for the silence of Advent. Rather than gushing with sentimentality or proselytizing with righteous fervor, Honey gently probes these people and situations to uncover their goodness. The result is easy reading, one column giving way to another, with a gradual reassurance that the Spirit moves freely through it all. Honey’s musings range from grace: “unqualified acceptance, the love that will not let you go no matter what you do,” to forgiveness.
In a column about Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers who had a perfect game nixed by umpire James Joyce’s mistake: “In Galarraga’s gracious handshake with Joyce the next day, and his teammates’ gentle pats on his shoulder, we saw forgiveness at its best.” He also moves smoothly from vacation time, “a watch on the beach is an abomination against nature,” to ordinary time in the liturgical calendar: “Just a wide expanse of plain old time, days upon days of living regular life. Give me the joy of the ordinary.” In one column, Honey stumbles upon a Holy Presence walking through a grove of pine trees alongside a bend in the river: “I felt the spiritual stirring of something greater than myself. I sensed the wonder of the world and wondered where it came from. I knew I was part of it but wasn’t sure which part. I just knew I felt at home with it.” And in another, watching a group of boys play pickup football on an early autumn evening, which prompts reflection on the Tigers’ fading season: “Soon the leaves will fall, and the crack of the bat will be just a memory for the long winter. So I watch the boys play football and remember how it felt to be 13 and going deep.” Reading these columns provide their own experience of stirring within us, awakening the reader to the deeper spiritual world. Thank you, Charles Honey, for shedding light on that. Rosengren is the author of “The Fight of Their Lives: How Juan Marichal and John Roseboro Turned Baseball’s Ugliest Brawl into a Story of Forgiveness and Redemption.”
Your
By Catholic News Service The “Francis effect” has spilled over into the Sistine Chapel, bringing a surge in visitors but also increasing risks to maintenance of what Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican Museums, calls “the world’s chapel.” Prior to a 14-year restoration, completed in 1994, visitors to the chapel numbered about 1.5 million annually. That rose to more than 5 million in 2011. Since the March 2013 election of Pope Francis, whose weekly public audiences and readings of the Angelus have boosted turnout in St. Peter’s Square, the number of chapel visitors is up to 5.5 million, or 20,000 per day and 30,000 on the last Sunday of every month, when admission is free. Every 20 minutes, a group of almost 700 people is let into the room, which measures less than 6,000 square feet. So many visitors not only make the viewing experience less pleasant, but they also bring in perspiration and bacteria that threaten the survival of masterpieces by Ghirlandaio, Botticelli, Pinturicchio, Perugino and, most famously, Michelangelo. Recent accounts in the Italian press have complained that the chapel is “as crowded as a train station,” and warned that a “wall” of human breath threatens “unimaginable disaster” for the 12,000 square feet of painted surfaces. As one headline put it, “The enemy is you.” Paolucci himself wrote in the Vatican newspaper that the chapel “risks being a victim of its own success.” One obvious remedy would be to reduce the number of visitors, but Paolucci has vigorously opposed this, insisting the faithful have a right to see the room where cardinals have elected new popes for more than five centuries.
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Calendar
Parish events Guardian Angels 40th annual Fall Festival — Sept. 12 to 14: 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. Raffle tickets are being sold with the grand prize of $10,000 to be announced Sunday evening. For more information, visit www. guardian-angels.org. Holy Cross September Fest — Sept. 13: Beginning with a Polka Mass at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Cross campus, 17th Ave. and Fourth St. NE, Minneapolis. Music, Polish food, beer gardens, pull-tabs, bingo, silent auction, a flea market and more. Tickets for adults are $10 and $5 for kids under 5. 76th annual Parish Festival at Our Lady of Mount Carmel — Sept. 14: noon to 4 p.m. at 701 Fillmore St. NE, Minneapolis. The day starts with Mass at 10 a.m. that is also signed for the deaf and hard of hearing, followed by a Marian procession led by Archbishop John
CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur. LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and institutions. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your press release. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event. • Full street address of event. • Description of event. • Contact information in case of questions. E-MAIL: spiritcalendar@archspm.org. (No attachments, please.) MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit • 244 Dayton Ave., • St. Paul, MN 55102.
Nienstedt through the neighborhood. A spaghetti dinner catered by Marino’s Deli will be served. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $5 for kids 10 and under. Additional activities include children’s games, a silent auction, and a grand prize raffle of $500 and $100. Questions: call (612) 623-4019. Tour of a Historic St. Paul Church, St. Paul — Sept. 14: 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Church of St. Thomas More, 1079 Summit Ave., St. Paul (corner of Summit and Lexington). Join us for the third event, “Ark of Faith: Salvation History Set in Stone,” featuring a guided tour of the external architectural features of John Comès’ Monumental Church. Lead by Father Joseph Weiss, S.J., Ph.D. Free and open to the public. For more information, call (651) 227-7669 or visit www.morecommunity.org. St. John the Baptist Fall Festival — Sept. 20 to 21: at 210 N. Broadway St., Jordan. Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. Polka Mass with Wendinger Band. For more information, visit stjohnthebaptistjordan.org. St. Rita’s 2014 Fall Festival — Sept. 20 to 21: Begins Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 8694 80th St., Cottage Grove. Contact (651) 459-4596. St. Anne’s Church of Le Sueur annual Applefest Parish Festival — Sept. 20 to 21: At the parish school grounds, 511 North 4th Street. Saturday features a 5K Fun Walk/Run, bean bag tournament, wine and cheese pairing/ tasting, bingo, hog roast dinner, outdoor Mass at 5:15 p.m., awarding of the Apple of our Eye Trophy and more. Sunday, there is an apple dessert baking contest; applesauce eating contest, outdoor polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. and much more. Church of St. Michael’s Annual Fall Festival — Sept. 20 to Sept. 21: 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. on Sat. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sun. at 22120 Denmark Avenue, Farmington, 55024. Saturday’s festivities include BBQ pork dinner (must buy ticket), bingo, campfire & hayrides, bake sale, silent auction & motorcycle run (Only $10, Register at the church at 10 a.m., back by
Waterville, 9 miles south of Montgomery and 1 1/2 miles off Highway 13 East.
Don’t miss More events online
Prayer/liturgy Healing Mass at St. Joseph’s — Sept. 16: Rosary at 7 p.m. followed by Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel, St. Joseph’s Church campus, 1310 Mainstreet, Hopkins. Led by Father Livingston, Chaplain at North Memorial Hospital. Please direct questions to Barb at (952) 933-8423 or visit stgabrielhopkins.org.
4:30 p.m.). Sunday’s festivities include food trailers, bingo, games & challenges for all ages, entertainment stage, bake sale and silent auction. Questions/information: (651) 463-3360 or www.stmichael-farmington.org St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s Annual Harvest Festival — Sept. 21: Join us for a polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church grounds, 204 S. River St., Delano, followed by a turkey dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be concessions, farmers market/bake sale, raffle, bingo, inflatable obstacle course, face painting and games for all ages. Tickets are adults: $10, kids 5 to 12: $5, under 4: $2. Visit www. delanocatholic.com for more info. St. Jerome Church Fall Festival & Booya — Sept. 21: Outdoor Mass at 10:30 a.m. at 380 E. Roselawn Ave. (at 35E); followed by activities including pony rides, talent tent, silent auction, the Fall Festival Choir, and more entertainment for the whole family. 200 gallons of our famous Booya will be available for take-out at 6 a.m. until gone. Bring your own non-glass container. For information visit stjerome-church.org. St. Canice Fall Festival, Kilkenny — Sept. 21: Starting with 10 a.m. Mass, the day will be filled with games, refreshments and live music. A chicken and ham dinner will be served at 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:15 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets for adults are $10, for kids 5-12 $5. Take-outs are $10. Located 8 miles North of
Workshops Hope for Recovery Workshop, Minneapolis — Sept. 20: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N. 17th St. Minneapolis. Participants will learn information about: mental illnesses, treatments, recovery, coping strategies, the mental health system and local resources in a supportive environment. Offered by National Alliance on Mental Illness. Bring your own lunch. To register, visit HopeMpls9-20. eventbrite.com. Voices of Catholic Spirituality, Minneapolis — Sunday Sept. 21, 28; Oct. 5, 12: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Wagner Room of the Cowley Center of the Basilica of St. Mary, 88 N. 17th St. Minneapolis. Led by Catherine Michaud, CSJ, Ph.D., this four-part series will highlight some of the group of saints and mystics of our rich Catholic tradition. Cost is $20/series. Scholarships available. Register by Sept. 18 at www.mary.org or (612) 317-3414.
Other events Diaconate Inquiry Sessions at St. Paul Seminary — deadline to register is Sept. 26: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15 and 22 in the Brady Education Center, room 105. For men 29-59, single, or married at least five years; wives encouraged to attend. To register, contact Shellee Leif at sjleif@ stthomas.edu or (651) 962-6891.
Bishop, priest from Dominica enjoy the chance to say thanks Continued from page 6 was time for payback. Bishop Gabriel Malzaire of the Diocese of Roseau and Father Godfrey Tarimo, pastor of St. Andrew, came to Minnesota to say thanks to the people of All Saints. They were at all weekend Masses and made sure to deliver a strong message to the many people who have contributed over the last nine years. Then, the two men attended a picnic on Sunday afternoon at the home of Charlene and Duane Breid, who were part of that first All Saints group to travel to Dominica, and have been on every annual trip since. For Bishop Malzaire, it was his third trip to the Twin Cities since his assignment to the diocese 12 years ago. “I recall when I went to All Saints the first time, I think they had a debt of about $6 million from the church [construction project],” he said. “I think the question was asked, ‘We have this debt to pay, why add something else?’ And, I remember the statement was made by someone, ‘If we are able to help another person, we will be able to pay our own debts.’ I thought that was marvelous.”
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
Bishop Piché also came to the picnic and heard the full report of what the parish had accomplished in the years since his departure in 2008. “I just marvel at the wonderful response from all the parishioners and their generosity in supporting these projects and the desire to get to know the bishop and the people and the clergy from the [Roseau] diocese,” Bishop Piché said. “We don’t have a lot of our people who have gone down there, but the ones who have, they keep wanting to go [back].” The loyal All Saints parishioners who continue to serve the people of Dominica do so as part of a larger relief organization called Good News Project, started by a Catholic couple in Wausau, Wis., Peggy and Chuck MacCarthy. They also were at the picnic to greet Bishop Malzaire and Father Tarimo. “Nobody turns down George Nugent,” Peggy said with a laugh, when asked for her take on the success of All Saints’ fundraising for St. Andrew. “It’s a fantastic church, and George is a great leader.” Bishop Piché agreed. “I let Deacon George do the promoting,” Bishop Piché said. “I
From left, Bishop Lee Piché, Deacon George Nugent, Bishop Gabriel Malzaire and Father Godfrey Tarimo visit at a picnic Sept. 7 at the home of Charlene and Duane Breid of All Saints in Lakeville. Bishop Malzaire and Father Tarimo came to Minnesota to say thanks to parishioners at All Saints for the money they donated to help rebuild St. Andrew Church in Dominica after it was leveled by an earthquake in 2004. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit remember one year in particular, he put on the floor in our gathering space the dimensions of one of the houses, the size of a typical house that he would build.” Today, those plans have come to fruition, thanks not only to Deacon Nugent, but also to the hands and dollars of members of All Saints, added to the efforts of the Good News Project. “We have a great community at All
Saints church, a lot of outreach programs that go on,” Deacon Nugent said. “There are people who are willing to sponsor the outreach. They understand the significance of being able to reach out to people that are poor, people that are in need of housing, in need of a church. . . . I think that they are very, very proud of what has happened.”
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Schools plan for additional visits, exchange programs Continued from page 8 bridge, the paths of these two men finally crossed in March 2013 at St. Peter’s Square just days after Pope Francis’ papal election. During that first meeting in Rome, Ahlquist and Sermarini stood face to face and felt like they were looking in a mirror. Their identical paths and shared vision of life, faith and education reflected back. “We are like twins separated at birth,” said Ahlquist, co-founder of Chesterton Academy in Edina and president of the American Chesterton Society.
From Italy to Edina Almost immediately, Sermarini, co-founder of the Chesterton School of Italy and president of the Italian Chesterton Society, began planning a trip to visit his American sister school. “It’s not every day you find your twin on the other side of the
ocean,” Sermarini said. “We want to know what’s going on here and understand their [Chesterton Academy’s] relationship with their pupils. They are curious about us, too. It’s a necessity.” A delegation of 35 Italian faculty members, parents and students arrived in the Twin Cities on Aug. 28 and spent nearly two weeks living with Chesterton families, observing classes at Chesterton Academy and visiting historic and cultural destinations in the Twin Cities and Chicago. A picnic on Labor Day proved to be a highlight of the visit and provided an opportunity for a soccer rematch between the Americans and the Italians. The Italians won the first game in Rome back in March 2013, and the Americans hoped the home field advantage might tip the scales in their favor. But according to Ahlquist and Sermarini, the Italians were the repeat winners of the “Chesterton Cup.”
Global solidarity John Niemann, Chesterton Academy headmaster, appreciates the global solidarity provided by the ongoing relationship with the Chesterton School of Italy. “We know we are not alone,” Niemann said. “Our students are very conscious of the fact that their education is different — we take a different approach. It’s very interesting that this can bubble up on its own in another place. It gives a global perspective to what we are doing, with the same vision and the same goals.” Father Howe, who was a student at the North American Pontifical College in Rome and just months away from ordination when he introduced Ahlquist and Sermarini in 2013, embraces the promising relationship between the founders, the faculty and the students. “They have Chesterton as a common source for insight into creative ways to educate young people — a means to change lives
and draw them closer to the Church,” Father Howe explained. “We can learn from them, and they can learn from us in solidarity that bridges the ocean.” With their shared commitment to classical education rooted in the Catholic faith, Father Howe said the schools plan to “cooperate and collaborate in this very important area of education and spirituality.” The schools intend to build on their strong foundation with additional visits and exchange programs. The first exchange begins this week when Hannah Wolney, a 2014 graduate of Chesterton Academy, accompanies the Italian delegation back to Italy, where she will spend a year teaching and serving the students of the Chesterton School of Italy. For more information about Chesterton Academy and its global partnership, visit www.chesterton academy.org.
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September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
The Last Word
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Dan Heyda, front left, enjoys the spoils of victory as he takes part in the Elko Speedway tradition of posing for a photo after winning the Driving for Excellence fundraiser race for Holy Cross School in Webster. Joining him are, clockwise from upper left, his father, Chris Heyda; father-in-law, Greg Skluzacek; and daughters, Anna and Ellie, who attend Holy Cross School. Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit
Parents . . . start your engines Holy Cross school heads to the races to raise money By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit It was quite a dilemma for Anna Heyda on a rainy night near Elko New Market. The kindergartener at Holy Cross School in nearby Webster was at Elko Speedway to watch her father, Dan, and both of her grandfathers, Chris Heyda and Greg Skluzacek, climb into race cars to take a few laps around the track. The three drivers, plus 17 more, were there to “ . . . it’s a way to race against each other in think outside the a fundraiser for Holy box to get families Cross. Each involved in of the three men were supporting our placed in a different school and build heat, which presented no community at the cheering conflicts for same time.” Anna and her younger Lisa Simon, principal of Holy sister, Ellie, Cross School in Webster who is entering preschool at Holy Cross. But, as it turned out, all three men made it to the finals, along with two other drivers. So, the big question: Who was Anna going to cheer for now? Minutes after the race, she faced
September 11, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit
the question head on, and answered simply — all of them. Without hesitation, she smiled and pointed at each one of them. Any diplomat would have been proud of her. Yet, when pressed a little harder, she did reveal a slight bias toward her dad, who came through in the championship race, taking an early lead and holding it through the checkered flag. He held off a serious challenge from his fatherin-law Greg Skluzacek, who vowed before the race that he would prevail in the finals. “I’m just going to go wide open ’til these guys are in the dust,” Skluzacek had said, moments before walking onto the track for the race. Dan, however, had other ideas. “I can never let anybody [else] win,” said Dan, of Most Holy Trinity in Veseli, who married Skluzacek’s daughter, Jamie, and had the upper hand in car racing based on previous experience at the track as a driver 10 years ago. Skluzacek tried to be gracious in defeat, but couldn’t help poking a playful jab at his victorious son-inlaw when asked why his prediction of a win didn’t come true. “My conscience just wouldn’t let me [pass Dan in the race],” said Skluzacek, who belongs to Immaculate Conception in Lonsdale. “I wanted my son-in-law to have the glory. I didn’t want to steal his thunder. I backed off.” In the end, the event was not so much about winning a race as it was raising money for a school that its principal says is a “wellkept secret.” And, despite only two months of advance publicity, the fundraiser,
called Driving for Excellence, raised $3,000 for Holy Cross, which has 176 students in pre-k through eighth grade. That put a smile on the face of principal Lisa Simon, who quickly approved the idea for a race night when the school’s events committee pitched it to her back in June. “I think this is an incredibly creative fundraiser for our school,” Simon said. “And it’s a way to think outside the box to get families involved in supporting our school and build community at the same time.” A school employee, Anne Fredrickson, organized the event. Her husband, Duane, has a long background in racing and works at Elko Speedway. In his younger days, he was a driver. Not surprisingly, the two met at a racing banquet in 1993 and married two years later. “Chris Wagner is one of our dads. He approached me last spring,” said Anne, who has two children at the school. “We had talked about a go-kart fundraiser that he’d seen. And, with my husband’s connection and my connection here at Elko Speedway, we decided to step it up and go with real race cars instead of gokarts, and have it off site and make a bigger deal out of it.” And, a big deal it was. More than 100 school supporters sat through a brief rain storm and ensuing track drying process as they waited for the championship race during an intermission in the real races. There was one race fan who might have had more joy than the other spectators — fourth-grade teacher Kris Minalovsky. For the
last 25 years, she has been a fixture at the track, taking her usual spot in the second row near the flag stand. When she first heard about the event, she wondered whether the school was doing it just for her. Not a far-fetched idea, considering what Anne and Duane had cooked up for her during the last week of school this past spring. Her dream for decades had been to ride in a pace car, a vehicle used by the track at the start of each race to lead drivers around the track in preparation. Anne called Duane, and Duane pulled up in the school parking lot with the car. “The whole class stood and cheered, and they gave me a flag to wave out the window,” Minalovsky said. “It was pretty amazing for me. We drove out in the country, out on a country road. It was awesome.” On this night, Minalovsky was surrounded by new race fans, people the school hopes will want to come back again next year for a similar event. “I hope we can [do it next year],” Simon said. “We’ve got a large group of moms who are interested in doing it next year. They just were so inspired and thought it looked like so much fun.” “It’s a different kind of event than your traditional cookie dough fundraiser,” Anne Fredrickson said. “And, I think it reflects that we think outside the box and we like to approach things creatively, not just in our fundraising, but in our school and our classrooms, that we are always looking for new ways to get kids excited and to get parents excited and to bring excellence to everything that we do.”