The Catholic Spirit - September 26, 2013

Financial transparency 3 • Vocation Day 8 • Colleges & Careers 20 September 26, 2013 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

thecatholicspirit.com

Faith on fire

Elijah Flanders of Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata and a junior at Providence Academy in Plymouth prays during Mass at Archdiocesan Youth Day Sept. 21 at Holy Family High School in Victoria. The day featured guest speaker Sean Forrest, activities, Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Nienstedt and eucharistic adoration. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Archdiocesan Youth Day draws 1,600

By Jennifer Janikula For The Catholic Spirit The field house at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria received a rock concert-style makeover on Saturday, Sept. 21, including a giant stage, spotlights, sound boards, projection screens, and at least one smoke machine.

Complementing the awesome transformation was a full slate of speakers, performers and participants

focused on one thing during the seven-hour celebration: Jesus Christ.

About 1,600 high school-aged Catholics from across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gathered to celebrate Jesus and the life of the Church at the second annual Archdiocesan Youth Day. Hosted by Archbishop John Nienstedt, the event encouraged the youth to be faithful living witnesses of Christ.

This year’s theme, “Believe and Speak!” from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians, served as

the inspiration for the day’s events. Attendees enjoyed music performed by Sonar, Mass with the archbishop, opportunities for the sacrament of reconciliation and eucharistic adoration, and several Catholic speakers including Super Bowl champ Matt Birk via Skype, and Laura Sobiech, mother of Zach Sobiech, who wrote the hit song “Clouds” before dying from cancer last May. Keynoter Sean Forrest urged the youth to live out Please turn to YOUTH on pages 14-15

ALSO inside

Champions for life

Putting their faith on the line

Rediscover: the saints

Minnesota native brings pro-life themed music to Champions for Life award lunch.

— page 5

Five members of the Delano High School football team share a passion for the sport and their faith.

— page 6

Local artist creates images of holy men and women — Center section

Page Two

2 OVERHEARD

in PICTURES

“The confessional is not a torture chamber, but the place in which the Lord’s mercy motivates us to do better.”

Pope Francis, in his interview with Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro published in America magazine

Pope FRANCIS

MOURNING THE VICTIMS: A woman pauses in front of a pole decorated with flowers, flags and a child’s drawing Sept. 18 outside the Navy Yard in Washington, two days after a gunman went on a shooting spree. Authorities said 13 people were killed, including the gunman, and at least eight were injured at the facility, which is the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters. CNS photo / Jonathan Ernst, Reuters

“Christianity started here and it won’t disappear from there. We have to encourage our Christians to be strong.”

Bishop Boutros Melki, Syriac Catholic patriarchal vicar, on the challenges facing Christians in war-torn Syria, where churches have been attacked and clergy and lay people targeted with violence

NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit

Win tickets to sold out Rediscover: event

SWEET JOB: Papal beekeeper Marco Tullio Cicero, right, shows off the honeycomb covered with worker bees making honey for the winter and Pope Francis at the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome. Sept. 12. CNS photo/ Carol Glatz

WHAT’S NEW on social media This week’s Rediscover: story in the center section of this issues features an art teacher at Providence Academy in Plymouth who draws images of saints — many of which were completed for St. Paul Seminary and NET Ministries. A Catholic Spirit Facebook post this week asks: “Who is your favorite saint and why?” Write your answer in the post’s comments section.

Follow the latest news about the local and universal Church by following The Catholic Spirit on Twitter @CatholicSpirit.

Watch of video story about this year’s Archdiocesan Youth Day, held Sept. 21 at Holy Family Catholic High School in Victoria and attended by some 1,600 youths. Visit www.YouTube.com/thecatholicspirit.

Read blogger Susan Klemond’s latest post about the complementary roles of men and women and the important role women play in the life of the Church at CatholicHotdish.com.

The Catholic Spirit is published bi-weekly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 18 — No. 21 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT, Publisher SARAH MEALEY, Associate publisher JOE TOWALSKI, Editor

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

The 2013 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration is now sold out and registration is closed. A total of 5,000 tickets were sold for the event set for Oct. 12 at the St. Paul RiverCentre.

Two tickets to the event, however, will be given away during “The Rediscover: Hour” on Relevant Radio 1330 AM on Sept. 27 at 9 a.m.

Tune in to find out how to win.

The winner will receive two tickets to the event, two box lunches for the day of the event, two copies of the book, “Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic” by Matthew Kelly, and two copies of the CD, “The Seven Pillars of Catholic Spirituality” by Matthew Kelly.

For those unable to attend the event, Relevant Radio will broadcast live from the RiverCentre from noon to 4 p.m.

There also will be audio and video of most of the day’s speakers available on the Rediscover: website, www.rediscover-faith.org, by Nov. 1.

Save the date for the 2014 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration, set for Oct. 3-4 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Information will be available in early 2014 on the Rediscover: website and on “The Rediscover: Hour” on Relevant Radio.

Candlelight Rosary Procession is Oct. 4 The 11th annual Candlelight Rosary Procession will take place Oct. 4, beginning at the State Capitol and continuing to the Cathedral of St. Paul.

People are asked to gather at the Capitol at 6:30 p.m., with the procession beginning at 7. The event will conclude inside the Cathedral with a brief service, and is scheduled to end at 8:30 p.m.

Father John Paul Erickson, director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship, will lead the procession.

He will lead prayers to invoke the Blessed Mother’s intercession as participants pray for the intentions of Pope Francis, for priests, for holiness and peace in families and in the world.

For more information, visit www.familyrosaryprocession.org.

Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service.

All other materials copyrighted by Catholic Spirit Publishing Company.

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 Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, a non-profit Minnesota Corporation, 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. www.TheCatholicSpirit.com • e-mail: catholicspirit@archspm.org • USPS #093-580

3

Last week, I invited all the priests in the archdiocese to review and discuss archdiocesan finances, parish and school finances, pension plans, assessments, stewardship and our uniform accounting software selection initiative — all with the ultimate goal of improving communication, increasing transparency and re-confirming our accountability to you, the lay faithful of the archdiocese.

The meeting with priests on Sept. 16 was just one more example of how we are living out the vision set forth in the archdiocese’s 2010 Strategic Plan. Today, I’d like to share with you highlights of what was shared at that meeting.

Many of you may not know that all the parishes in the archdiocese are separate corporations. This was the vision for the archdiocese established more than a century ago by Archbishop John Ireland. Each parish is governed by a board made up of the pastor, two lay trustees, and myself and the vicar general.

For the past three years, we have had annual regional meetings for lay trustees to impart much of the same information I shared with priests last week.

In addition, for the past two years, we have held a Standards in Church Ministry conference aimed at sharing information, communicating best practices and hearing input from parish business administrators and other parish and Catholic school staff.

The financial position of the Archdiocesan THAT THEY Did you know that Corporation is MAY ALL BE ONE the archdiocese strong thanks to discloses its financial your generosity Archbishop position annually and and our prudent since 2010 has been John C. Nienstedt fiscal manageworking with parishes ment. This past around the archdiocese fiscal year, we reto share the status of ceived approximately $25 million in revetheir finances to nues from five sources: assessments, Cathoparishioners regularly lic Services Appeal contributions, and in a format that is investment income, gifts to the archdiocese, easy to read and and archdiocesan program revenues. understand?

Nearly 60 percent of the income the archdiocese receives goes directly back to people in the archdiocese in support of ministries throughout this local Church: from tuition assistance for families at Catholic schools to seminarian formation, and from support for Latino ministry to help for our neighbors in need through Catholic Charities. We work each year to budget strategically with a focus on our mission.

In the last several years, we have been able to reduce our archdiocesan guarantees of parish and school loans from $110 million to $48 million

due to an improving marketplace, but also because of the hard work of many. We have also been addressing a number of past obligations that the parishes owe and which, when they are not paid, have to be spread out over other parishes, left unfunded or be paid by the Archdiocesan Corporation. We continue to take steps to strengthen our internal controls and implement procedures as recommended so that we maintain our operations at the highest standards.

Our continued success at strengthening our financial position is due in large measure to the nine lay professionals on our Did you know that Archdiocesan Finance Council, which the archdiocese has an meets 10 times a year to offer recommendaArchdiocesan Finance tions on financial and administrative poliCouncil — and nine of cies established by the archdiocese. The the 11 current members council also approves an annual budget are lay Catholics? and oversees an independent annual audit of archdiocesan finances.

If you want to know more about archdiocesan finances, you can find extensive information on The Catholic Spirit’s website. You can see the Annual Financial Report for the archdiocese for the last two years at http://thecatholicspirit.com/category/archdiocese/annual-report. (You can find earlier annual financial reports in The Catholic Spirit online archives. Go to TheCatholicSpirit.com and click on “print archives.”)

As many of you know, each parish is also required by canon law to have an active finance council.

In this archdiocese we have additional, complementary ARCHBISHOP’S schedule policies to help make those very important councils as ef• Friday, Sept. 27: 5 p.m., St. Paul, fective as possible. You can see Cathedral of St. Paul: Private wedding. all of our current local policies on our archdiocesan website, in • Saturday, Sept. 28: 8 a.m., St. Paul, the reference section. We have The St. Paul Seminary: Mass with had policies and other related seminarians and CSA Circle Morning of documents posted for several Retreat. years on our website as we con7 p.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas – tinue to provide essential govPalmer Athletic Field: Annual Rector’s Bowl. erning documents in a more • Sunday - Saturday, Sept. 29-Oct. 5: accessible electronic format.

Rome, North American College: Diaconate As I shared with the priests, it ordination. is when you “roll up” data from • Sunday – Thursday, Oct. 6-10: all parishes within the archdioPoland, Krakow University: Preached retreat cese that the financial picture for university students. becomes more challenging.

• Saturday, Oct. 12: 8 a.m., St. Paul, The reasons for this are several: St. Paul RiverCentre: Rediscover: first, in the past, we at the arch— Mass for the 2013: Rediscover Catholic diocese may have not always Celebration. provided the best resources to parishes nor had the policies in place to ensure the best strategic decision making and accountability; second, parishes routinely struggle to be as operationally sound as they can be while making critical decisions about limited resources; and third, when it comes to difficult choices in tight budgets, sometimes parishes will forgo their obligations to the archdiocese for centrally administered benefits, pension payments or assessments

Archbishop Nienstedt’s statement on Pope Francis’ America magazine interview

Statement regarding Catholic Coalition for Church Reform

We are delighted and inspired by Pope Francis’ extraordinary efforts to reach out and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. We reaffirm our allegiance to the Holy Father and extend our hands in service to all who are in need, without condition.

Building on the core teachings of the Church, which remain clear and unaltered, the Pope’s call to embolden all Christian disciples to proclaim with great joy the Gospel throughout the world is deeply welcomed. In new and bold ways, Pope Francis continues to build on the legacy of his predecessors in calling for the faithful to awaken and live out the Gospel message.

In this spirit, we invite Catholics and all people of good will to join us through our ongoing Rediscover: initiative to experience anew a life-changing encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is aware that the group calling itself the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform (CCCR), will soon be holding its Synod of the Baptized 2013 in Minneapolis. The CCCR is not supported or endorsed by this archdiocese, the Roman Catholic Church, or any entity or organization affiliated with either this archdiocese or the Church. Decisions regarding the issues that may be raised at this non-sanctioned event are made by the Catholic Bishops in communion with the Holy Father, and are done so in a way that reflects the mind of Christ and the Church.

From the Archbishop

Financial transparency, accountability are key priorities for the archdiocese

Please turn to ARCHDIOCESE on page 26

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Effective September 23, 2013 Very Rev. Peter Laird appointed parochial administrator of the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Paul (Maplewood).

Departures Rev. Dr. Sebastien Adichilathu,

CMI, has received a new assignment from his religious order outside of the Archdiocese, effective September 3, 2013.

Rev. Vincechan Kochuparambil, CMI, has received a new assignment from his religious order outside of the Archdiocese, effective September 4, 2013.

Rev. Frederick Sserugga has returned to his home diocese of Kampala, Uganda, effective August 30, 2013.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Local

4

Updated policy reaffirms commitment to safe environments The Catholic Spirit Greta Sawyer wants victims of ministry-related sexual misconduct in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to know something very important: She is ready to respond to their complaint and concerns and offer a variety of assistance.

“I’m here for them,” said Sawyer, victim assistance coordinator and director of advocacy for the archdiocese. “Abuse is unacceptable to us.

We want you to report this.”

Sawyer’s comments echo those of Father Peter Laird, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese.

“Sexual abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult is a crime and is morally repugnant,” he said. “We will not tolerate it. We urge anyone who has information about abuse to report it immediately.”

Sawyer’s office offers support ranging from meeting with victims and helping them to make a report to the archdiocese and/or civil authorities to obtaining independent counseling for them at no cost, as well as spiritual direction and access to facilitated support groups if desired. All services are confidential.

“I think what most people want is to be acknowledged, and they need it to come from someone working in the Church,” said Sawyer, a former coordinator with the Hennepin County witness assistance program who has served in her current position since 2005.

“We’re working to build trust here so that people can see that we are sincere in wanting to help.”

Working with others Building trust is also the work of parish lay trustees whose role, among other things, is to work with the pastor and other parish leaders to ensure that parishes and their schools are safe environments for all. In addition to providing a comprehensive policy and procedure manual as a resource tool for trustees, the archdiocese invites all trustees to meet annually to ensure they are fully aware and acting in alignment with their responsibilities.

Among their responsibilities is the requirement to see that the necessary programs are undertaken at the parish level to ensure compliance with the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“Strengthening Trust” is the name of the archdiocese’s recently updated policy on ministry-related sexual misconduct. In the making for more than a year with input from a working group of lay and clergy leaders, it is an update of the previous version, “Restoring Trust,” issued in 2007.

The original policy dates back two decades, when Archbishop John Roach issued the first comprehensive Church policy in the nation aimed at protecting children and young people and preventing a broad range of ministry-related sexual misconduct. The policies have

Archdiocese in compliance with national charter Independent auditors with StoneBridge Business Partners have found the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has complied with the data collection requirements of the audit process mandated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”

This finding is based upon an analysis of audit data — on such matters as background checks and safe environment training for employees and volunteers and training for children — collected from parishes and schools across the archdiocese last spring.

been in line with the U.S. bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” since it was issued in 2002.

In addition to a section devoted to explaining the services offered to victims of clergy sexual misconduct, “Strengthening Trust” aims to clearly lay out safe environment requirements related to criminal background checks, codes of conduct and safe environment training.

Strengthening trust and related policy documents issued last week

also more clearly define roles for groups which review clergy misconduct and firmly establish that acquiring, possessing or disseminating child pornography constitutes sexual abuse of a minor.

The policy also addresses how the archdiocese responds to allegations, and how it responds, in the document’s words, to parishes “experiencing the pain” of clergy sexual misconduct.

“We do everything we can, with the information we have, to prevent abuse — it is against everything we stand for in the Church,” Father Laird said. “Our first priority is to create and maintain safe environments where the Gospel of Jesus can flourish.”

Reporting misconduct The archdiocese encourages anyone who is a victim of ministry-related sexual misconduct to call Sawyer at (651) 291-4497. She also can be emailed by visiting www.arch spm.org, clicking on the “Advocacy and Victim Assistance” box on the right side of the home page, and then clicking on “send an email.”

Or a person may call the archdiocese’s chancery offices at (651) 2914400 and ask to speak with the vicar general or chancellor for civil affairs.

Also, as has been its practice for years, the archdiocese urges anyone who believes they or someone they know is the victim of sexual abuse in Church ministry to call the police or other civil authorities immediately.

Statement regarding Wehmeyer case

A parishioner lights candles that spell out the word Peace in English and Arabic in preparation for a candlelight vigil for peace in Syria at St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in Minneapolis Sept. 7. Pope Francis called for that day to be one of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world. Photo courtesy of Msgr. Sharbel Maroun

Local Syrians find support at St. Maron

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit Fadel Sakkal worries every day about his family in Syria.

Civil war has gripped the country since early 2011, but in recent months the situation in his hometown of Aleppo in the northern part of the country has deteriorated.

“For the last year it has been under siege, and definitely for the last three or four

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

months,” he said. “No one can get in or out, except from Turkey, and they have to be a supporter of the other side, the revolution.”

Sakkal came to the U.S. with his parents — who now have dual citizenship — in 1982.

The Fridley pediatrician gets emotional when talking about his family there. His parents, who were living in the U.S., returned to Please turn to SYRIAN on page 10

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis deeply regrets the harm Curtis Wehmeyer caused his two young victims, their family and others in our community.

We did act swiftly when the allegations of sexual abuse of a minor by Wehmeyer were made in June 2012. In hindsight and in light of what we now know, we also recognize that our handling of past concerns could have been better addressed.

Over the past year, a working group of lay and clergy leaders has been reviewing archdiocesan policy regarding clergy sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults, as well as other misconduct in Church ministry. The archdiocese has been taking these steps to ensure that our policies continue to build on best practices, such as clearly defined roles for groups which review clergy misconduct and firmly establishing that acquiring, possessing or disseminating child pornography constitutes sexual abuse of a minor.

Our first priority is to create and maintain safe environments where the Gospel of Jesus Christ can flourish.

This means ensuring that clergy, employees, volunteers, and the young are aware of healthy boundaries and the societal problem of sexual abuse. It also means creating an environment for and implementing productive steps to promote a healthy clergy.

If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual abuse in Church ministry, you are urged to call the police or other civil authorities.

You are also invited to call the Archdiocese’s Director of Advocacy and Victim Assistance at (651) 291-4497.

Local

5

Minnesota native brings pro-life music to Champions for Life

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit Danielle Rose calls herself a music missionary.

She has traveled the world sharing her Catholic music since graduating from college in 2002, and she calls her current album a musical reflection on what’s necessary to build an authentic culture of life.

“The goal of the album is for people to be able to meditate on, and also be able to teach about, the dignity of the person from conception to death,” she said. “So it’s trying to bridge together a lot of different topics.”

Some of the topics she talks about on the 15-song album, titled “Culture of Life,” Danielle include openness to life according to God’s ROSE plan (natural family planning), the gift of chastity and post-abortive grief and healing.

Rose will bring the gift of her pro-life music to the archdiocese Oct. 10 for a special performance and keynote address at the fifth annual Champions for Life luncheon and awards ceremony at St. Peter in Mendota.

“I’m so excited,” Rose said. “It’s such a tremendous blessing to be asked to participate in Champions for Life.”

Champions for Life honors people who work in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to promote life. Three individuals and a couple will receive awards this year. (See box on page 27 for more on the winners.)

The Duluth native has been interested in the pro-life cause since high school, when she spent a summer in India volunteering with Blessed Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity.

But she really started getting involved and dedicating her Please turn to MUSICIAN on page 27

Archbishop Nienstedt’s Column “That They All May Be One”

Congratulations

Every issue of The Catholic Spirit

to Brad & Barb Mayer on receiving the ‘Champions for Life Award.’

The parishioners and staff of the Church of the Risen Savior.

The Church of St. Joseph of West St. Paul

Congratulates Will Cossairt in being named among the 2013 recipients of the Archdiocese’s Champions for

Life Awards!

2013 Champions for Life Award Recipient

Congratulations Cathy Loch Johnson

Champions for Life award winners named Since 2008, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been honoring those who have worked tirelessly for life.

From the parishioners and staff of St. Hubert Catholic Community

Facilitating a change in culture takes many gifts, and the Champions for Life awards luncheon recognizes those who may be working behind the scenes, such as those who organize, speak for life and pray for change.

The 2013 Champions for Life honorees include people from all walks of life and work; they are: Please turn to CHAMPIONS on page 27

Priest on leave while allegation investigated An accusation has recently been made against Father Mark Huberty by a woman alleging inappropriate touching, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis said in a statement Sept. 22.

Father Huberty, pastor of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, denies the allegation, which has been reported to the police, said the statement posted online at www.archspm.org.

The police and the archdiocese have opened an investigation, which is ongoing, it said, and the archdiocese is cooperating fully with all civil authorities.

Father Huberty is taking a temporary leave of absence until the matter is resolved, the archdiocese said. He is not being removed as pastor or being suspended; however, he will not be living at the Presentation rectory or exercising parish ministry during this time.

In the interim, the archdiocese is appointing an administrator to oversee pastoral responsibilities for the parish and arranging for priests to celebrate Masses and attend to all other sacramental needs of the community.

The archdiocese has been working with the parish trustees from the beginning to ensure they are informed and involved. Parishioners were informed of the situation at all Masses on the weekend of Sept. 21-22.

Father Huberty will remain on leave for as long as is necessary to investigate the situation thoroughly and with justice to all involved, the statement said.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

The Cretin-Derham Hall community salutes high school senior Laura Bearth for her work and dedication as she is recognized as a

Champion for Life!

Cretin-Derham Hall 550 S. Albert St. Saint Paul, MN 55116 651-690-2443 • www.c-dh.org

Become Part of the Legacy TheCatholicSpirit.com

Local

6

Putting their faith on the line

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit When five members of the Delano High School football team take the field on a Friday night, their task is simple: move people across from them so each of the team’s three star running backs can whisk by on his way to the end zone.

At a combined weight of nearly 1,300 pounds, these starters on the offensive line present a formidable obstacle for opposing defenders who hope to bring down Delano ball carriers.

In fact, the quintet of blockers — three seniors, a sophomore and a ninth-grader — are a big reason why the Tigers are undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the state in Class 4A. Delano has aspirations to not only get to the state tournament, but win it all.

Yet, the center of these linemen’s lives is not football, even though they are in the thick of a regular season that includes a conference game against defending Class 4A Hutchinson. As fun as the game is for them, and as much as they enjoy playing together, what binds them together is faith — specifically, their Catholic faith.

All five starting linemen — seniors Ben Jacobs, left guard; Wyatt Russek, right guard; and C h r i s t i a n Three of the Triplett, right tackle; sophoplayers are more Kevin Kneisl, left tacklooking ahead le; and ninthgrader Walker to next summer, Russek, center are members when they will — of Delano CathCommunitravel together olic ty. They pray together before to a small every game, see each other at village in the Mass on SunAfrican country day, and their spiritual presence is felt as far of Uganda to away as Africa.

help build a science lab for Helping those in a Catholic need Chemistry is school near the said to be an important part of capital city of the effectiveness of any offensive Kampala.

line — at every level all the way up to the pros — and these five players have forged a bond that carries from the football field to the church building of St. Peter, one of two worship sites in the parish.

And, this bond will last far beyond the end of this season, which they hope will extend all the way to Thanksgiving weekend, when state championship games are played.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

From left, Christian Triplett, Kevin Kneisl, Wyatt Russek, Ben Jacobs and Walker Russek all bring their Catholic faith to the offensive line at Delano High School. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit Even now, three of the players are looking ahead to next summer, when they will travel together to a small village in the African country of Uganda to help build a science lab for the school at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in Bethany, not far from the capital city of Kampala.

For one of the three players, Wyatt Russek, it will be his second trip to the village. He went in the summer of 2012, and he intends to go back, this time with his brother, Walker, and Kneisl.

It all began in 2010 when the Russeks reached out to a family in need a half mile from their house.

Jeff Reither and his wife Laura, who belong to St. Anne in Hamel where Laura works, have a son, Isaiah, who has Down syndrome and serious heart problems.

Jeff and Laura, who have seven children and No. 8 on the way, were spending a lot of time driving their son to Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul and couldn’t do ordinary things like mow the lawn.

“We did not expect him to live,” Jeff said. “He’s had five open heart surgeries. We’ve been in the hospital 29 times now — 29 different times over 200-and-some nights.”

In the midst of going back and forth to the hospital, Jeff opened an email from Stephanie Russek, mother of Wyatt and Walker, and wife of Eric, who was an offensive lineman for Delano and now is a varsity assistant coach.

“I don’t know how they got my email,” Jeff said. “That was when [Stephanie] said, ‘I know you will not ask for help, but we are going to do your lawn for the year.’ And, that’s how I met the boys. They would come down every week, they’d bike down and mow the lawn and do the weeds.”

Eventually, the conversations went beyond football to faith.

When Wyatt was confirmed last

year, Jeff was his sponsor. And, Jeff saw evidence of Wyatt’s strong faith even before the mission trip a year ago.

As he got to know the boys, Jeff brought up the mission trip and said he was going with a group from his hometown parish of St. Mary in Neillsville, Wis. Wyatt expressed interest, but his parents were reluctant to let him go, as he had never traveled overseas before.

Then, he did something that surprised everyone.

“Wyatt led a novena for his family,” Jeff said of the boy’s intent to show that he was serious about going. “Wyatt leading that novena was impressive to me.”

What’s more, Jeff considers Wyatt one of the quieter members of the offensive line, and figures it would be harder for him to speak up about his desire to go on a mission trip.

On the field, the five starters prefer to let their running backs get the accolades, while they quietly open rushing lanes. And, make no mistake — the backs have had huge holes to run through. Delano’s runfirst offense has amassed nearly 1,000 rushing yards in its first three games, with individual backs getting as many as 250 a game.

“Our offensive line coach told us that he wants 350 a game and we’ve been close [to that amount],” said Wyatt, one of two team captains, along with Triplett. “We like the pressure. We’ve all trained for this all summer. We’ve been playing since fifth grade together, us three [seniors]. We’ve all had different positions, and Christian just got moved to the line this year. He was tight end before.”

Perhaps the most surprising addition to the line this year was Walker, who was happy to just make varsity. But, his size, strength and maturity convinced long-time head

coach Merrill Pavlovich to give him a try as a starter.

It couldn’t be a better fit for Walker, who, literally, has become the center of it all. He knows he shares the same faith as his fellow offensive linemen, and that means he will get more help than criticism, even when he makes mistakes.

“We all know each other very well from church,” said Triplett, who is the largest member of the line at 6-foot-4, 290 pounds, and is being recruited by several Division I schools, including the University of Minnesota. “I think we just are able to guide ourselves with each other to make blocks and do the right things on the line.”

Faith champions The truth is, these five do the right things on the line and off the line. That’s one reason Eric Russek enjoys watching them and coaching them. It has been a treat to see his two oldest boys play side by side, following in the tradition of Delano football started by Eric’s father, Jim, who played for the Tigers in the 1960s.

“It’s very special,” Eric said. “I never expected it to happen — very, very cool. All of these guys, I’m proud of every one of them. I’ve worked with them and been on retreats with these guys.

“None of these guys has any bad baggage. They’re all good, clean kids. They all get good grades. I don’t see them getting in trouble at school, ever. They are leaders in the classroom and on the football team, too. They all could be captains in one way or another because of the way they lead.”

And, as they make a strong push to become state champions, they already have become, in the eyes of family, friends and coaches, faith champions.

7

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit Five kindergartners at St. Peter’s School in Delano gaze intently upward toward their teacher, Lauren Hallau. They are eager to learn Spanish.

But, Hallau won’t be giving today’s lesson. Rather, she will direct their attention to the Smart Board on the north wall of the classroom.

With the press of a button on her laptop, Hallau will bring in a video produced from Spanish students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park.

This day’s lesson features the first in what is planned to be a series of videos done by BSM students. They produced it last year under the direction of their teacher, Maggie Masica. She is now on maternity leave, so the program is on hold until she gets back. But, thanks to the work of her students last spring, students in grades K-6 at St. Peter’s are on the road to becoming bilingual.

“I’m excited about the partnership and collaboration with Benilde-St. Margaret’s to bring this into our school,” Hallau said. “If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have a Spanish curriculum school wide.”

Because Hallau minored in Spanish in college and spent some time in Spain after graduating, she is able

“I just love the connection, that Catholic school kids are doing this and sharing their gifts and their knowledge with the younger kids.

That’s what means the most to me, that they’ve reached out and helped us, because we are a very small school, so it’s really nice to have a bigger school helping us out.”

So far, the videos have been shown in every classroom, starting last spring. With a growing Latino population, learning Spanish is becoming more important. And, Hallau likes that her students are getting an early start.

Kindergarten teacher Lauren Hallau and her students at St. Peter School in Delano watch a Spanish video produced by students at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit to offer her students some limited lessons in the language.

But, that’s it. No one else on the faculty can do so, and Principal Shannon Calice said her school can’t afford to hire a Spanish teacher, either full time or part time. As it is, grades K-6 have just one teacher each, and the fourth- and fifthgraders have to share a teacher.

The idea came from a discussion BSM teachers had about how they and their students could reach out and serve their communities. One of the teachers happened to be Alisa May, who lives in Delano and has a fifth-grade son at St. Peter’s.

She approached Calice and asked what she thought of the idea. The principal shot back a quick reply.

“The fact that they are doing this for us gives us something we wouldn’t have at all,” said Calice, whose school currently has 67 students, plus 12 more in preschool.

“Yes, let’s do it,” Calice recalled saying. “If they [BSM students] are willing to do it, that would be great.

It gives their kids a wonderful experience to share their knowledge.

Local • What Works

Delano students learn Spanish via BSM video series

What Works

Share your thoughts The Catholic Spirit is looking for story ideas for its “What Works” series. We want to hear from parishes and schools about an idea, plan, project or program that is currently showing successful results.

• E-mail your story idea to: WhatWorks@archspm.org Please include your name, parish and daytime telephone number.

Myser Initiative on Catholic Identity Series

Catholic Mutual is proud to be a sponsor of the 2013 Rediscover Catholic Celebration

Catholics in the Public Square: Prophecy, Civility and Truth M. Cathleen Kaveny, J.D., Ph.D. Scholar and Author

Seventh Annual Lecture and Award John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law and Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and a noted speaker and author, Dr. Kaveny will share her insights on religious liberty in a pluralistic society. The Hon. Kathleen Gearin will lead a post-lecture discussion.

Thursday, October 10 | 7 p.m.

The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul campus Free and open to the public | Tickets required | 651-690-6700 (Rescheduled from April; previous tickets honored.)

stkate.edu

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit St. Catherine University — Myser Initiative 2013 Catholic Spirit — September 12 and 26 5 x 6.75” 4c

Local • Next Gen

8

Vocation Day: Helping young men hear God More than 80 young men ages 12 to 17 gathered at the St. Paul Seminary Aug. 17 for the first Vocation Day hosted by the Vocation Office of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.The Catholic Spirit asked Matthew Goldammer, a current seminarian who helped during the day, and Joey Hughes, a participant, to write about their experiences.

Keeping in mind where God is leading you

By Joey Hughes For The Catholic Spirit On Aug. 17, some other young men from my parish and I attended an archdiocesan Vocation Day event at the University of St. Thomas.

Walking into the St. Paul Seminary building, we were greeted by a roomful of joyful priests, seminarians and discerning young men.

From there, the day consisted of the celebration of Mass, socializing, lunch, time to play games like ultimate Frisbee, talks from a few priests and seminarians on finding their vocations, and adoring Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. I’m grateful to those who put on the event.

Discerning God’s will

By Matthew Goldammer For The Catholic Spirit As part of an archdiocesan-wide Vocation Day event, more than 80 young men, ages 12 to 17, came to the University of St. Thomas for a day of activities at the St. Paul Seminary and St. John Vianney College Seminary.

The young men entered the event with a specific goal in mind: to be able to better discern God’s will in their lives and meet others from across the archdiocese who feel the same desire within them.

In a world that is increasingly secular and relativistic, it is quite a challenge not only to discern God’s will, but to discern it well. Many young people today wonder about what the word “discernment” really means for them — not necessarily in the philosophical and academic sense, but in their lives directly.

To discern means for people to allow the Lord to guide them so that His will might enlighten their

In our world today, the question might come to mind, “Why were a bunch of teenage boys going to church at a seminary on a Saturday afternoon?”

As Catholics, we are told to do the will of God. It is central to life in Christ, leading the faithful where they are meant to be. I, and many others from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, attended the Vocations Day trying to keep that in mind. The Lord is calling all of us somewhere, and we are to keep ourselves open to hearing where that may be.

Attending the event was a nice reminder that priests and seminarians are normal human beings who were called in a spectacular way, and that the seminary has been overflowing with them.

It was also encouraging to see the great number of young men keeping their hearts open to God’s call, whatever it may be, and remembering the many more throughout the archdiocese.

I hope all Catholics will be encouraged by the next generation’s openness to God’s call, and that we would all pray for the young men and women of the archdiocese trying to discern their vocations.

Hughes, 16, is a member of All Saints in Lakeville.

mind and enflame their heart. In order to do this most efficaciously, it is important to remember that we are not the ones to “do” anything in this process, but rather allow the Lord to move.

An individual discerning God’s will is called to have a sense of passivity in prayer, allowing God to work. To discern well is to have a time of receiving from the Lord — not only knowledge of his will but, most important, his love. God’s love is the point of origin in prayer and the final cause of our existence.

Having an interior disposition of passivity in prayer during a time of discernment, allowing oneself to rest in the silence and stillness of God, is undoubtedly countercultural. The culture in which we live is noisy and busy, making it feel painful to be removed from this norm for a period of time.

Silence and stillness, especially in today’s society, is not only hard to find but even more challenging to maintain. To discern well means sacrificing what the culture would deem “normal, everyday activities or items” (i.e. technology) for the sake of entering more deeply into the interior disposition necessary for discernment.

Father Troy Przybilla, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, talks with participants during Vocation Day, Aug. 17. Photo courtesy of the Office of Vocations

Is this a difficult sacrifice? Yes, without a doubt.

But it is so important.

It should be noted that one does not need to let go of everything “cold turkey” while discerning, for indeed one can lead a normal life in the eyes of the world during this process. In the eyes of God, however, by spending more time with him, the individual has arrived at a deeper union with him, a reality of profound joy.

It was such an incredible sight to see all the young men last month so excited to learn more about the priesthood and to discern God’s will more intentionally in their lives. Their fervor in faith would not be possible without the sustenance they received from the faithful around them.

Every person enters into a period of discernment in his or her life. Let us all pray without ceasing that each may respond with generosity to the will of God our Father, so that the world may more fully see his light shining in the Church.

Goldammer is a sophomore seminarian at St. John Vianney College Seminary.

Hearing Tests Set for Senior Citizens Announcement — Free electronic hearing tests will be given all next week Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

The tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are not hearing clearly.

People who generally feel they can hear, but cannot understand words clearly are encouraged to come in for the test, which uses the latest electronic equipment.

Everyone, especially those over age 55 should have an electronic hearing test once

a year. Demonstrations of the latest devices to improve clarity of speech will be programmed using a computer to your particular needs — on the spot — after the tests.

See (and HEAR) for yourself if newlydeveloped methods of correction will help you understand words better.

Tests will be performed at one of 20 convenient Greater Twin Cities Avada Hearing Care locations.

Call 1-877-328-9161

www.avada.com ©2013 HHM, Inc. 304

NOTICE Look for The Catholic Spirit advertising insert from

SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND in some issues.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

9

Congolese nun honored for work with refugees

What did the pope really say in his interview?

CNA/EWTN News A lengthy interview with Pope Francis published recently by several Jesuit publications, including America magazine in the United States, has sparked a flood of news reports as well as in-depth commentary from Catholic analysts.

Vatican analyst John Allen, Jr., said the pope’s recent comments are “not breaking with traditional doctrine but trying to shift the church’s emphasis from condemnation to mercy.”

He noted that when the pope was asked if he “approves” of homosexuality, he responded with another question: “Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?”

This focus on the person is key to understanding what the Holy Father is doing, Allen suggested. “In saying these things, Francis argues, he’s doing no more than rephrasing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which denounces homosexual acts but says homosexual persons are to be treated with ‘respect, compassion and sensitivity.’”

“In general, Francis seems to suggest he wants the church to come off as less judgmental and more pastoral, though without becoming morally ‘lax,’” he explained.

Fullness of Gospel

Sister Angelique Namaika, a member of the Augustine Sisters of Dungu and Doruma, embraces a Congolese child at a site for internally displaced people Aug. 1 in Congo. Sister Angelique received the 2013 Nansen Refugee Award from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Sept. 17 for her work with women forced to leave their homes in northeastern Congo because of longterm civil strife. CNS photo/Brian Sokol, courtesy UNHR

BRIEFLY WASHINGTON, D.C.

Bishops still analyzing HHS mandate impacts In a Sept. 17 letter to U.S. bishops, New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops continues to study the legal and moral implications of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ contraceptive mandate in the Affordable Care Act. The USCCB also continues to “develop avenues of response that would both preserve our strong unity and protect our consciences,” he said.

The letter from Cardinal Dolan, president of the USCCB, was a followup from the bishops’ Sept. 10-11 Administrative Committee meeting where they discussed the HHS mandate, among other topics.

The HHS contraceptive mandate, part of the Affordable Care Act, will require most employers, including religious employers, to provide coverage of contraceptives, sterilization and some abortion-inducing drugs free of charge, even if the employer is morally opposed to such services. It includes an exemption for some religious employers that fit its criteria.

The bishops’ “efforts are proceeding apace, and, as you know, include a careful legal and moral analysis of the final rule,” Cardinal Dolan wrote.

“We are united in our resolve to continue to defend our right to live by our faith, and our duty to serve the poor, heal the sick, keep our apostolates strong and faithful, and insure our people.”

The interview with Pope Francis was conducted by the Jesuit-run Italian newspaper La Civiltà Cattolica and translated into English

by America.

In the article, released Sept. 19, the Holy Father explained that “the proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives,” highlighting the need to proclaim moral truths in the full context of the Church’s Gospel message rather than as isolated requirements to be imposed.

“We cannot insist only on issues related to abortion, gay marriage and the use of contraceptive methods. This is not possible,” he said, explaining that this would not be the fullness of the Gospel, but a “disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.”

While clarifying that he is a “son of the Church” and agrees with its teaching on these topics, he added that “when we speak about these issues, we have to talk about them in a context.”

“The proposal of the Gospel must be more simple, profound, radiant.

It is from this proposition that the moral consequences then flow,” he explained. Otherwise, the moral teachings of the Church will lose “the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”

Noted Catholic author and scholar George Weigel said that those

who were shocked by the content of the papal interview “haven’t been paying sufficient attention.”

Writing for National Review online, he explained that long before his election to the papacy, Francis emphasized the Church’s fundamental role of evangelization.

Now, he said, the Holy Father is “redirecting the Church’s attention” to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel.

“The 21st-century proclamation of Christ must take place in a deeply wounded and not infrequently hostile world,” Weigel observed.

“The moral law is important, and there should be no doubt that Francis believes and professes all that the Catholic Church believes and professes to be true about the moral life, the life that leads to happiness and beatitude,” he said.

“But he also understands that men and women are far more likely to embrace those moral truths — about the inalienable right to life from conception until natural death; about human sexuality and how it should be lived — when they have first embraced Jesus Christ as Lord.”

U.S. & World

in the SPOTLIGHT

Broad range of topics Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor-atlarge of National Review Online and director of Catholic Voices USA, suggested that the pope’s call to “heal wounds” in the world is about opening doors and the renewal to which the Church is constantly called.

Writing pieces for both Fox News and National Review Online, she noted that while many media reports focused on the few paragraphs dealing with abortion and homosexuality, the lengthy interview covered a broad range of topics, including the importance of discernment, the pope’s vocation and need for community, and his own sinfulness.

Lopez said the pope’s words on homosexuality and abortion must be read in the context of his entire interview, as well as his actions. She pointed to the numerous instances in which the Holy Father has made headlines by making unexpected phone calls to individuals throughout the world — a single mother, a man struggling with the murder of his brother, a rape victim.

The pope’s message on homosexuality was “very consistent and most urgently needed,” Lopez said.

“Christianity is about telling the truth and always with love and mercy and justice.

“Whatever your politics, be careful what you read into this. He’s talking to you. He’s talking to me.

He’s reminding himself.”

Read the full interview with Pope Francis at americamagazine.org.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

U.S. & World

10

Syrian Christians caught in the middle Continued from page 4 Syria not long ago when his brother passed away, leaving behind a wife and three children. The parents went there to help and are not able to return.

Sakkal is part of a small population — 10 to 20 households — of Syrians who are members of St. Maron Maronite Catholic Church in Minneapolis, an Eastern-rite church established in the late 1800s when many Lebanese Maronites immigrated here.

“This increases the level of anxiety in people’s lives,” said Msgr. Sharbel Maroun, pastor of St. Maron. “They hear that cities are being bombed, churches [are] being destroyed, they hear that war is going on their own neighborhoods and places that they know. Then, they see tragedies happen where whole cities are destroyed and Christians are displaced.”

According to the UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the overall number of Syrian refugees passed the 2 million mark in early September.

Lebanon, where Msgr. Maroun and many of his parishioners at St. Maron are from, has a population of about 3.5 million, and has taken in more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees, the most of any country in the region. Before the crisis began in Syria, which borders Lebanon, there were already more than 50,000 Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon.

St. Maron recently held a candlelight vigil for peace in Syria, and also joined with Holy Family Maronite Catholic Church in Mendota Heights and St. George Greek Orthodox Church in St. Paul to hold a bake sale to raise funds for displaced people.

But, there’s not much more people here can do.

Some family members of Syrian parishioners have come to Minneapolis to escape the violence,

but most are only “visiting” and can’t stay in the U.S., Msgr. Maroun said.

Sakkal said there are things about the Syrian government that Christians don’t like — the fact that it is a dictatorship and doesn’t treat people with fairness and dignity — but Christians don’t want to take part in the civil war. What started as a revolution asking for human rights and economic reform has become a war between differing extreme Muslim groups, he said.

The Christians don’t like what the government is doing, but they are also afraid that an Islamic government might oppress Christians.

“Christians who are innocent, and who are not part of this side or that side, they end up being the victims that are caught in the middle of the fight,” Msgr. Maroun said.

He is afraid that if things continue, Christians will flee and there will be no more Christians in the Middle East.

What will solve the problem, Msgr. Maroun says, is communication. “The two sides need to come together and say, ‘What can we do to save our country, save our people and live again?’”

“It’s very important that we save the Christian minorities [in the Middle East],” he said. “You need to forgive and you need to love and that comes through Christianity. That’s why the Christian presence is so important there, in Syria and in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East.”

Sakkal worries about the future of his home country, but his family is first on his mind.

“I can’t get them much help, I can’t send them money, there’s no way,” Sakkal said. “So I am worried sick about them. Nobody can help them. It’s hard.”

KARACHI, Pakistan

Pakistan bishop calls church attack a ‘shameful act of cowardice’ The president of the Pakistan Catholic Bishops’ Conference called the suicide bomb attack Sept. 22 at All Saints’ Church in Peshawar a “shameful act of cowardice,” adding that all Christian educational institutions in the country would be closed Sept. 23-25 in mourning and protest.

Archbishop Joseph Coutts of Karachi also demanded that the Pakistani government take immediate steps to apprehend those responsible for the attack and to take measures to protect the worship sites of all religious minorities in Pakistan.

“We condemn this act in strongest terms,” Archbishop Coutts said in a Sept. 22 statement.

The death toll in the bombing had reached 85 by early Sept. 23. Authorities expected it to increase because many of the 150 who were injured were in critical condition.

Police said two suicide bombers, each wearing more than 13 pounds of explosives, detonated themselves following a Sunday service as 600 members of the Protestant church gathered on the church lawn for food distribution.

— Catholic News Service

Alaska bishop named to head St. Cloud Diocese Catholic News Service Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop John F. Kinney of St. Cloud and named Bishop Donald J. Kettler of Fairbanks, Alaska, to succeed him.

Bishop Kinney, who has headed the St. Cloud Diocese since 1995, is 76. Canon law requires bishops to turn in their resignation at age 75. Bishop Kettler, 69, has been the bishop of Fairbanks since 2002.

The changes were announced in Washington Sept. 20 by in Washington by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the Bishop Donald United States.

KETTLER During a Sept. 20 news conference in St. Cloud, Bishop Kettler, whose installation Mass is scheduled for Nov. 7, said he was pleased to be appointed to the diocese and believed he would be up to the task, because he already sensed “so much support.”

Bishop John The bishop, who was KINNEY born in Minneapolis and graduated from St. John’s University and St. John’s School of Theology in Collegeville, said he had a sense of “coming

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

home” with this appointment.

At the news conference, a statement from Bishop Kinney was read by Father Robert Rolfes, diocesan vicar general.

The bishop was hospitalized for what diocesan officials described as an “existing medical condition” but they reported he was “doing well.”

Bishop Kinney in the statement wrote that he had been “anxiously awaiting” news of his successor but had also “been on edge about this day” because of his love for the St. Cloud Diocese.

He said described Bishop Kettler as a “true pastor and a bishop who loves and serves the poor.”

Bishop Kettler, ordained in 1970 as a priest in his home diocese of Sioux Falls, S.D., served there for 31 years before he was appointed bishop of Fairbanks in 2002.

Bishop Kinney, a native of Iowa, was ordained to the priesthood on Feb. 2, 1963 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

He was named an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1976. He was appointed bishop of Bismarck on June 30, 1982. In 1995, he was named to head the St. Cloud Diocese.

Church / Ministry Jobs Assistant to College Counselors Location: Providence Academy; Plymouth, MN Providence Academy is seeking a full time, year-around assistant to the College Counselors with a friendly voice to serve as the primary telephone greeter.

Qualifications: Experienced college graduate with the ability to multitask in a fast paced environment. Pleasant demeanor and phone voice a welcome gift.

Computer Teacher Location: All Saints School; Lakeville, MN All Saints Catholic School in Lakeville is looking for a part time computer teacher, two days a week, to teach computer class to first through fifth grade students.

Students learn basic computer skills as well as Microsoft Office Suite, research skills and computer safety. Qualifications: Ability to work with young children and present information in a variety of ways to meet the learning styles of the students in the class. Proficient computer skills in the Microsoft Suite, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Publisher.

Middle School Math Teacher Location: Highland Catholic School; St. Paul, MN This is a two month (Nov/Dec.) long-term substitute teaching position in a middle school classroom. Classes include two session of 8th grade Algebra, two sessions of 7th grade Algebra and two sessions of 7th grade Life Science.

The students are involved in a one-to-one ipad program. The instructor has access to online textbook, resources and a smart board. Duties would include: some homeroom responsibilities, one lunch supervision a week and some availability before and after school for meeting with students. The teacher is part of a strong middle school team.

For more information on these and other job openings, or to apply online, please visit www.archspm.org/careers.

11

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service Pope Francis gave pilgrims attending his weekly public audience Sept. 11 what he called a “homework assignment” to find out the date they were baptized and celebrate it every year.

“How many of you remember the date of your baptism?” the pope asked the crowd in St. Peter’s Square, and then acknowledged a relatively small show of hands.

“Our baptismal date is the date of our birth in the Church,” he said. “When you go home today, look hard for the date of your baptism, so you can celebrate it and thank the Lord for this gift.”

The pope’s remarks came during a talk on the subject of the Church as mother, for which he mostly used the informal Italian term “mamma.”

“One doesn’t belong to the Church as [one belongs] to a company, a party or any other organization,” he said.

“The link is vital — like that one has with one’s own mom, because the Church is really the mother of Christians,” the pope said.

“A good mom helps her children come out of themselves, and not stay comfortably under the maternal wings, like a brood of

Focus on Faith

Pope Francis celebrates the Church as loving ‘mamma’

Pope Francis shakes hands with a girl as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 11.

CNS photo/Paul Haring chicks stays under the wings of the hen,” he said. “The Church, like a good mother, does the same thing: accompanies our growth, transmitting the word of God, which is a light that shows us the path of the Christian life; administering the sacraments.”

“Do we love the Church as one

loves one’s own mom, knowing also how to understand her faults?” the pope asked. “All moms have faults, we all do.

“The church has its faults, too,” he said. “Do I love it that way, like my mom? Do we help it to be more beautiful, more authentic, more like the Lord?”

“Sometimes I hear, ‘I believe in God but not in the Church,’” he said. “But the Church is not only priests: we are all the Church. And if you say you believe in God and don’t believe in the Church, you are saying you don’t believe in yourself, and this is a contradiction.”

Bannon Associates, Inc. Parish and Diocesan Stewardship and Fund Raising Visit our web site at: www.Bannonassociates.com Or contact Bill Bannon at 1-800-837-7757

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Focus on Faith • Scripture Readings

12 SUNDAY SCRIPTURES Deacon Mitchell Bechtold

What we can learn from Lazarus and the rich man God is giving us a chance to love, without exception, each day of our lives. He not only gives us the time but the opportunity to do so. Yet, if your experience has been anything like mine, attitudes and habits can stand in the way of loving as we should.

So, what are we to do? Live our lives “business as usual”? Surely not. Love demands more, the Lord deserves more, and our world needs more.

faith is this: Love!

Threefold approach Jesus tells his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

Aiding us in our response of faith, I propose a threefold criterion to guide us, namely: Know the good, do the good and do the good for the right reasons.

• Know the good Continued growth in our This Sunday we hear the Gospel knowledge of the faith is not only story of “Lazarus and the Rich our privilege, it is our duty as Man.” We hear of Lazarus who, baptized Christians. The rich man afflicted in his lifetime with bodily seems to have known it was his sores and material poverty, is duty to heed the commandments carried away by angels to the of God, for when he begs of bosom of Abraham that he Abraham, where might return to he will be the house of his Readings eternally father and his consoled. brothers to warn Sunday, Sept. 29 We also hear of them, Abraham 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time the rich man reminds him that • Amos 6:1a, 4-7 who, blessed in they had Moses • 1 Timothy 6:11-16 his lifetime with and the prophets, • Luke 16: 19-31 bodily health and just as the rich material wealth, man did.

For reflection is consigned to • Do the good the netherworld, What is one thing you can do Faith is a lived where he will be today to aid our brothers and reality, and love eternally sisters who are most in need? will always choose tormented. He what is truly good who was helpless for another is now helped, person. In word and he who was helped is now and deed, thought and sentiment, helpless. faith is to pervade our whole life, to There is a pity which ought to the Glory of God in Heaven. The well up in each of our hearts for rich man might have done the both Lazarus and the rich man: good, if indeed he had living faith Lazarus in his suffering and the in the commandments of God. rich man in his. Yet, it is Lazarus who is our model. For whether rich • The right reasons or poor, healthy or ill, Lazarus God has commanded us and we shows us that our response in life believe. He does not give us must be one of faith, and the commands to punish us, but to greatest commandment of our free us! The rich man never got to

DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Sept. 29 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 6:1a, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31 Monday, Sept. 30 St. Jerome, priest, doctor of the Church Zechariah 8: 1-8 Luke 9:46-50 Tuesday, Oct. 1 St. Therese of the Child Jesus, virgin, doctor Zechariah 8: 20-23 Luke 9:51-56

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Wednesday, Oct. 2 The Holy Guardian Angels Nehemiah 2:1-8 Matthew 18:1-5, 10

Blessed Mother Teresa is pictured comforting an ailing man in this undated file photo.

CNS photo courtesy Catholic Press Photo

“It is Lazarus who is our model. For whether rich or poor, healthy or ill, Lazarus shows us that our response in life must be one of faith, and the greatest commandment of our faith is this: Love!”

Deacon Mitchell Bechtold

this criterion, for though he knew the good in his lifetime, he did not do it. And this last point is most crucial because we all know that the right things can be done for the wrong reasons.

Founded on a personal relationship with Christ, let us make our faith known! In word and deed we must aid our brothers and sisters who are most in need.

Sunday, Oct. 6 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Hebrews 1:2-3; 2:2-4 2 Timothy 1:6-8; 13-14 Luke 17:5-10

Thursday, Oct. 3 Nehemiah 8: 1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 Luke 10:1-12

Monday, Oct. 7 Our Lady of the Rosary Jonah 1:1-2:2, 11 Luke 10:25-37

Friday, Oct. 4 St. Francis of Assisi Baruch 1:15-22 Luke 10:13-16

Tuesday, Oct. 8 Jonah 3:1-10 Luke 10: 38-42

Saturday, Oct. 5 Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 Luke 10:17-24

Wednesday, Oct. 9 Sts. Denis. bishop, and companions, martyrs; St. John Leonardi, priest Jonah 4: 1-11 Luke 11: 1-4

Let us be people of faith. Let us be men and women of love.

Deacon Bechtold is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of St. Cloud. His teaching parish is the “Bowlus Cluster,” comprising St. Stanislaus-Kostka, Bowlus; St. Edward, Elmdale; St. Mary, Upsala; and St. Francis, St. Francis.

Thursday, Oct. 10 Malachi 3:13-20b Luke 11:5-13 Friday, Oct. 11 Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2 Luke 11:15-26 Saturday, Oct. 12 Joel 4:12-21 Luke 11:27-28 Sunday, Oct. 13 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2 Kings 5:14-17 2 Timothy 2:8-13 Luke 17:11-19

13

Father Kenneth Doyle Q. Over the years, I have

visited a considerable number of Catholic churches, and most of them have a crucifix on the wall of the sanctuary behind the altar as well as one which is carried in the entrance procession when Mass is celebrated. Occasionally, though, I have been in a church that had no crucifix at all — neither on the wall of the sanctuary nor in the entrance procession.

What is the rule? Where should the crucifix be in a Catholic church? (And also, why do Protestant churches have only a bare cross, while Catholic churches show Christ’s body on the cross?)

A. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, a cross bearing the figure of Christ crucified should be affixed on or close to the altar in a Catholic church. (Usually it is mounted on a wall; rarely would it be placed on the altar table itself, lest it obstruct the congregation’s view of the eucharistic sacrifice.)

One option permitted liturgically and used in some churches is to have a processional crucifix, which is carried into the sanctuary at the beginning of Mass and then placed near the altar. When Mass is not taking place, that cross remains in a stand near the altar as a reminder of the “saving passion of the Lord” (GIRM, 308).

As to your “cross vs. crucifix” question, the Catholic Church has always given preference to the crucifix because it sees the death of Christ as redemptive. In the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Jesus is re-presented, its merits applied to those who participate in the Mass, and the crucifix stands as a visible sign of what is taking place on the altar.

Q. In Matthew 18:21-22, we are given a standard of forgiveness which I interpret to mean that we are to forgive always (“not seven times, but seventy seven”). I’m at a loss, though, as to how to apply that in my case. For a long time, I’ve had a terrible relationship with

Despite this, I am forever being asked by friends and family to give my mother another chance by allowing her some controlled interaction so that she’ll know the blessing of grandchildren.

What I’m struggling with is this: Is it enough that God knows I’ve forgiven my mother, or must I show it by giving her another chance with my children?

forgiveness, because it reminds us that all of us are flawed and in need of God’s help.)

I hope that your mother knows you’ve forgiven her, and I imagine you’ve been able to communicate that to her.

Forgiveness, though, does not demand that you put your children in peril, and you, as their parent, are in the best position to know what would cause them harm.

It is difficult for me to make a clear call here with limited information: I have no idea what your mother’s original missteps were that caused her to lose custody, nor what damage you perceived when you tried giving her the chance to be an active grandmother, nor what sort of “controlled interaction” your friends and family are now suggesting.

In situations like this, you are probably best advised to have a face-to-face discussion with a priest or other trusted counselor where all of the circumstances can be reviewed.

A. You are correct in thinking that the mandate for a Christian is to strive to forgive always. From the facts as you’ve explained them, I believe that you’ve done that.

(Bringing the person before the Lord in prayer is a good first step to

Father Doyle writes for Catholic News Service. A priest of the Diocese of Albany, N.Y., he previously served as Rome bureau chief for CNS and as director of media relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I’ve never had a problem feeling compassion for my mother and I often pray for her.

But I decided a long time ago that when I had children of my own, I would love my mother from a distance and not give her the chance to hurt or influence my children. A few times since then, I’ve tried giving her opportunities to redeem herself only to find out that I was wrong — to the detriment of my children’s well-being.

Focus on Faith • Seeking Answers

SEEKING ANSWERS

my mother, who lost custody of two of her three children (including myself) for continually putting us in unsafe and inappropriate situations.

The entrance/placement testing is January 18, 2014 from 8:15 - 11:45 a.m. at your first choice school.

Faribault

Minneapolis

St. Paul

BETHLEHEM ACADEMY (507) 334-3948 www.bacards.org October 15 at 5:30 p.m.

CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL (612) 545-9700 www.cristoreytc.org Every first and third Tuesday, September through April at 7 p.m.

CRETIN-DERHAM HALL HIGH SCHOOL (651) 690-2443 www.c-dh.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Fridley

Attend an open house at a Catholic high school . . . and find out how you can AIM HIGHER in your education and in life! www.aimhigher.org

TOTINO-GRACE HIGH SCHOOL (763) 571-9116 www.totinograce.org October 14 at 6:30 p.m.

January 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Maplewood HILL-MURRAY SCHOOL (651) 777-1376 www.hill-murray.org November 4 at 6 p.m.

January 6 at 6 p.m.

Mendota Heights

SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY (651) 454-4570 www.cadets.com November 3 at 1 p.m.

January 12 at 1 p.m.

CONVENT OF THE VISITATION SCHOOL (651) 683-1700 www.vischool.org October 29 at 7 p.m.

January 7 at 7 p.m.

DELASALLE HIGH SCHOOL (612) 676-7600 www.delasalle.com October 28 at 7 p.m.

January 9 at 7 p.m.

Plymouth PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 763-258-2500 www.providenceacademy.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Richfield ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS (612) 798-2600 www.academyofholyangels.org November 6 at 6 p.m.

January 16 at 6 p.m.

April 24 at 6 p.m.

SAINT AGNES SCHOOL (651) 925-8700 www.saintagnesschool.org November 14 at 6:30 p.m.

January 15 at 6:30 p.m.

March 2 at 1 p.m.

Victoria HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (952) 443-4659 www.hfchs.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 23 at 6:30 p.m.

St. Louis Park BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL (952) 915-4345 www.bsmschool.org November 12 at 6 p.m.

January 6 at 6 p.m.

Check website for daytime open houses

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

AYD 2013

14

Youth enjoy chance ‘to worship together’ Continued from page 1 their faith in public and stay close to the Church and the sacraments.

Like last year, event organizers created a Twitter hashtag (#ayd13) to generate real-time discussion of the day’s events.

And youth were also encouraged to text questions to Archbishop Nienstedt for a question-and-answer session moderated by Father Erik Lundgren, associate priest at Divine Mercy in Faribault. Archbishop Nienstedt responded to questions ranging from his vocation, Pope Francis and sin to football, Halloween and being a bishop.

Celebrating together Fellowship was the highlight of the event for many who attended. They said they enjoyed celebrating their faith with their peers and that the solidarity Read the reassures them and gives Archbishop’s them courage to live their faith daily. homily to “Archdiocesan Youth youth at Day is a great opportunity to worship TheCatholic together,” said Isaiah Spirit.com Schick from Epiphany in Coon Rapids. “We share faith in Christ so you almost know the other kids even though you have never met them.”

Adriana Leal from St. Stephen in Minneapolis agreed: “I love going to Mass with so many. We are the arms and feet of Christ. I feel super-empowered and love the energy of young people enthusiastic about the Lord.”

The schedule for this year’s AYD included a new element called the “Catholic Smorgasbord.” The 40-minute break between the afternoon and evening sessions offered attendees a buffet of activities including “Grill the Priest,” kickball, soccer, volleyball, small group discussions and a service project.

Father Brian Park, assistant priest at St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony, skillfullyfielded questions from the youth. They didn’t give him any softballs either: Can you offer indulgences to help the souls in purgatory?

How do we know God exists? How do we have discussions with irrational people? And, why does the God of the Old Testament seem so different from the God of the New Testament?

Jack Laird and Archie Page from Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul participated in the service project. They wrote personal letters to children who benefit from the Haiti180 mission — an initiative founded by Forrest to give Haitian children access to food, health care and educational resources.

Both young men used their letters to share

Archdiocesan Youth Day made possible by these sponsors: September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

the message of God’s love.

“I want to remind the child that God’s love comes in many ways, shapes and forms,” Laird said. “All human life is respected because each person has a spiritual fire within that can’t be burnt out.”

Volunteer help

More than 125 volunteers joined forces to make Archdiocesan Youth Day a success: seminarians guided cars into parking spaces, NET Ministry Teams welcomed attendees with cheering, dancing and high-fives. One group of volunteers, the prayer team, will continue its work every day until next fall’s Archdiocesan Youth Day. “We pray for them before. We pray for them after. They’re in our hearts — always,” explained Debbie Biegler, prayer team leader.

Despite their bright yellow shirts, the prayer team maintained a quiet, but strong presence.

They participated in the events with the youth — always on the lookout for those who needed prayer, friendship or conversation.

During adoration near the end of the event, as the monstrance containing the Eucharist was processed through the gym, prayer team members positioned themselves strategically among the youth.

Armed with pockets and fanny packs full of tissues, Watch the video they watched the View a video story about power of the Eucharist wash over Archdiocesan Youth Day at the attendees. They TheCatholicSpirit.com. gently offered tissues to many who were overcome with emotion.

Prayer team members explained that being close to Jesus during adoration can stir many thoughts and feelings.

“When Jesus enters the room, He moves your heart and your heart moves your emotions,” Biegler said.

The event sponsors were also critical to the success of the celebration. Their financial support allowed the youth to attend this spiritual celebration free of charge.

This year’s presenting sponsor was the University of St. Thomas. Other sponsors were the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, St. John Vianney College Seminary, University of Mary, St. Catherine University, College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University and St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

Other partners for the day included TEC Twin Cities, NET Ministries, Partnership for Youth, St. George Catholic Books and Gifts, Benedictine College of Atchison, Kan., and Cristy Goerdt, right, enjoys a quiet moment during eucharis EideCom Media & Events. with Mikayla Kelly. Both are from St. John the Baptist in Sa The next Archdiocesan Youth Day 2014 will take place Oct. 25, 2014 at the University of St. Thomas.

Left, Ally Dudley, left, of St. Patrick in Oak Grove greets Archbishop John Nienstedt during Archdiocesan Youth Day Sept. 21 at Holy Family High School in Victoria. With her is Mady Banken, second from left, also of St. Patrick. Walking with the archbishop is Bill Dill of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life, which sponsored the event.

AYD 2013

stic adoration avage.

15

Left, Becky Hess of Incarnation in Minneapolis prays during Mass.

Below, Franciscan Father David Pavonka of Steubenville, Ohio carries the Eucharist in a monstrance through the crowd, with Archbishop John Nienstedt accompanying him.

Featured speaker Sean Forrest pumps some energy into his presentation to the youth.

Photos by Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

AYD 2013

16 What are they thinking?

The following are comments from youth attending AYD 2013: • ON OPENNESS “At last year’s AYD, I learned that faith isn’t just something I do on Sunday. I live out the faith by doing small things in a more visible way instead of keeping it to myself. I’m more open to evangelizing even with the people at my school.”

— Isaiah Schick from Totino Grace High School in Fridley

“I should open up my heart to God even more because of what he can teach me and how much He loves me.”

— Giselle Centen from St. Francis de Sales in St. Paul

• ON THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION “I need His forgiveness in order to lead a good life. Confession helps me set my determination to change my ways and start anew.”

— Joseph Wappes from St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony

• ON THE ARCHBISHOP’S HOMILY “I am going to take the archbishop’s suggestion and get a 3-minute speech and a 10-minute speech ready in case I ever need to defend my faith.”

A Joyful Life

— Michael Maloney from St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony

• ON THE POWER OF ADORATION “He never looks away no matter what problems you have.”

— John Paul Curry from Immaculate Conception Church, Watertown

“Adoration helps me grow closer to God and feel more connected to my faith.”

— Allie Bodine from Holy Family High School in Victoria

“When the struggles of being a teenager come to the surface, you realize you can bring all of your problems to God.”

— Victoria Yapel from Transfiguration in Oakdale

“Coming before the presence of God is the best. He is the only one who knows me. He accepts me as I am.” -

— Maddy Stella from Transfiguration in Oakdale

Always Christ, always faithful Benedictine Priests and Brothers of Assumption Abbey

A Jesuit Vocation Life as a Jesuit is joyful. And it is one certain way to make a difference in the world.

Have you ever thought about becoming a Jesuit?

Or, do you know someone – a friend, a sibling, a relative, a son – who you think could be a Jesuit?

Encourage them and find out more at:

AJoyfulLife ad2013_CathSpirit.indd 1

CathSpFiddler-Sep12-2013_Layout 1 9/5/13 1:13 PM

Opens Sept 27!

Relive the Tradition!

9/4/13 11:47 AM

Remember that story you read in The Catholic Spirit last month?

Last year?

Have total recall.

Search “PRINT ARCHIVES” at TheCatholicSpirit.com

For For more more information, information, contact: contact: Br. Br. Michael Michael Taffe, Taffe, OSB OSB Vocation Vocation Director Director vocations@assumptionabbey.com vocations@assumptionabbey.com www.assumptionabbey.com www.assumptionabbey.com 701-974-3315 701-974-3315

Men"in Christ. Men"of the Church. Men"for Others.

Returning for the first time in 20 years!

952-934-1525

C H A N H A S S E N D T. C O M TheCatholicSpirit.com September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Make a weekend Vianney Visit:

Check out a Team Vianney evening:

October October 31 31 –– November November 22 For For high high school school and and college college men ages 16-25

October October 3, 3, 5-8 5-8 p.m. p.m.

For For high high school school men men 9th 9th -12th -12th grades grades

Saint John Vianney College Seminary www.vianney.net

17 Family law expert Helen Alvare says assistance lacking in many areas

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Many doors have opened the past several decades for women in education and employment, but very little has been done to support women as mothers and wives, said a U.S. expert in family law.

Western Europe is advanced, “but is not joined by many, many countries in the degree of its policies that allow women to work and to take care of their children,” said Helen Alvare, professor of law at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Alvare and others spoke at a Vatican news conference Sept. 20, highlighting some of the issues being discussed at a Sept. 19-21 international congress sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Nearly 200 jurists also attended the gathering, which focused on family rights and today’s challenges.

“There has been great focus on policies that essentially allow the woman to enter into the world on the terms of a man without children,” Alvare said.

The cultural, social and political realms basically say to women, “We will be very strong on guaranteeing your right not to have a child through either contraception or abortion. But we will do comparatively little to assist you if you do have a child,” she said.

Alvare cited the lack of paid maternity leave, maternity leave that is of adequate length and affordable child care as some examples in which assistance is lacking.

The little support for women when they have kids is coupled with the “obsessive promotion” of contraception and abortion, which are meant “to assure the woman that she can enter into . . . education or the labor force without children, and abortion is the backup for this,” Alvare said.

Easily available contraception and abortion help lawmakers “get off the hook and not be held responsible for providing a package

of policies” that are family friendly, but harder to pass, she said.

Church’s opportunity The Church has a great opportunity to promote its teaching, she explained, because it offers a balanced view of “women’s dignity and her proper place in the family and the public sphere. The Church also demands respect for the child before birth as well as after.”

The Church also has a balanced approach “to the male-female relationship and to the family and to the child,” she said.

Alvare said women want to be in “good, healthy relationships with men, they wish to marry, to have children, to prioritize their family and to take care of their children, to do justice at home” and to make contributions outside the home.

She said women who are poor or minorities are hurt the most by child-free propaganda and policies,

The cultural, social and political realms basically say to women, “We will be very strong on guaranteeing your right not to have a child through either contraception or abortion. But we will do comparatively little to assist you if you do have a child.”

Helen Alvare

This Catholic Life

Seeking more support for women to embrace work, kids

explaining that healthy families provide the stability and economic and emotional support that is often lacking in their lives.

“I think the world’s economies are in part deeply affected by the falling apart of the family,” she said.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family, told journalists the council is re-releasing its “Charter of the Rights of the Family,” which was published in 1983.

The principles have not changed, he said, but they need to be remembered and promoted in new ways given the radical changes that have taken place in the past 30 years.

Many of the principles have been neglected, like the right to decent work that pays enough to support a family, the right to a home and the right to assistance during sickness, infirmity or unemployment, he said.

NOW - THE TRUTH OF THE EUCHARIST REVEALED AS...

"Science Tests Faith" This DVD presents the findings from the investigation of a Eucharistic miracle commissioned by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1999. This Cardinal is now known to the world as Pope Francis!

What science discovers will confront the mind and heart of every person. See and hear the story unfold as flesh and blood, heart muscle tissue and human DNA are discovered in this miracle!

To order DVD, visit our Web Site at: or send $16 plus $4

to: ,

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

This Catholic Life • Commentary

18 EDITORIAL Sarah Mealey Joe Towalski

Pope challenges us to keep gaze on Christ “And now . . . the rest of the story.”

This was the iconic line spoken by the late radio broadcaster Paul Harvey, who would pause in the middle of telling a story as he prepared to reveal a key element that he always held back until the end.

Eventually, the listener would get all the facts and learn the often-surprising “rest of the story.”

Harvey’s tag line comes to mind in light of the secular media’s coverage of Pope Francis’ recent interview with a Jesuit journalist. Most media outlets focused on small portions of the 12,000-word English version of the article published last week by America magazine. It made fodder for provocative headlines like “Pope bluntly faults church’s focus on gays and abortion” in The New York Times. It was typical of stories circulating in print and online in the days after the interview was published.

What was — and still is — missing, however, from much of the media coverage is the rest of the story of what the pope actually said during the interview.

To be sure, he said much that challenges us on many levels: the need to be more merciful and compassionate in our approach with others and to walk more closely

with people who are wounded and in need of healing.

While the teachings of the Church are clear and aren’t changing, the pope also reminded us that the Church must ultimately keep its focus on the most important aspect of its mission on earth: proclaiming the love and saving power of Jesus Christ to a world that is in desperate need of the Good News.

and through all of its manifestations, is the dignity and inestimable worth of every human being.

At any given time, because of pressing matters in our culture, the Church may focus on particular issues over others in the pew and in the public square, but it never sweeps the other ones aside as unimportant to its mission. To represent the pope’s comments as putting the Church on the road to changing longstanding Church teaching is a misreading of what he said. Nothing the pope said is inconsistent with what you will find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Rooted in the Gospel Pope Francis is not asking us to change 2,000 years of Church teaching on core moral issues such as abortion, marriage and contraception when he says “it is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time.” But when you look at the whole text of the interview, what he is indeed saying is that when we do talk about these topics — and any of the teachings of the Church — we must always ground our conversations and efforts in the Good News of the Gospel. He is calling us to keep our gaze on Christ.

The work of the Church and its foundation of Catholic social teachings are broad and encompass issues ranging from pro-life concerns and poverty to family life, immigration and global solidarity. Church teaching is a full-service banquet, not an a la carte menu. At its heart,

from READERS

But it is getting people talking.

When you take a few moments to reflect, however, it is very similar to the way Christ got people talking wherever he went. He was countercultural. People said, “No one has spoken like this before,” and they were forced to reflect on the meaning of his words. The Gospel message is as challenging to us today as it was to those during the time of

Christ.

Responding to God’s love One topic Pope Francis mentioned in his interview that didn’t get much press coverage — and therefore hasn’t been talked about much — is prayer. Near the conclusion of the article, he said this: “Prayer for me is always a prayer full of memory, of recollection, even the memory of my own history or what the Lord has done in his Church or in a particular parish.

For me it is the memory of which St. Ignatius speaks in the First Week of the Exercises in the encounter with the merciful Christ crucified.

And I ask myself: ‘What have I done for Christ?

What am I doing for Christ?

What should I do for Christ?’ It is the memory of which Ignatius speaks in the ‘Contemplation for Experiencing Divine Love,’ when he asks us to recall the gifts we have received.

But above all, I also know that the Lord remembers me. I can forget about him, but I know that he never, ever forgets me.”

The Lord never forgets anyone, no matter what his or her situation or status is in life. And each of us is called to respond to that love.

“What am I doing for Christ?”

“Are we keeping our gaze on Christ?” Those are the questions Pope Francis wants us to ask ourselves each and every day. That is the real message of his interview.

And now you know the rest of the story.

Read Archbishop John Nienstedt’s statement regarding Pope Francis’ interview in America magazine on page 3.

other VIEWS

Be careful how you use adoption terminology

Being grateful stewards and grateful believers

Thank you for highlighting the brave choice of Natalia Shupe in your last issue [Sept 12]. As an adoptive parent I know intimately the joys of creating a family through adoption, and am happy to see the adoption option getting more press.

I read with some disappointment the colloquial use of “… give up the infant girl for adoption” and in the photo caption, “… then giving her up for adoption” and wish the more positive “… and make an adoption plan for the infant girl,” and “…then making an adoption plan” had been used.

The more positive spin of the current usage helps squelch some outdated images about confidential or closed adoptions. Most domestic infant adoptions these days involve ongoing contact with the birthmother and her family. I think it might help those experiencing an unplanned pregnancy to know that.

And while the focus of the article is very appropriately on the brave birthmother herself, unless there are difficult circumstances of which the reader need not be aware, it was a missed opportunity to say something of the adoptive parents and the relationship between them and this beautiful birthmother. Anything to demystify and de-stigmafy adoption and educate the public is great.

Thank you again for this wonderful story.

The following is an excerpt from a commentary in the Sept. 13 issue of The Criterion, archdiocesan newspaper of Indianapolis. It was written by Daniel Conway.

Meg Payne Nelson Minneapolis

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

In their pastoral letter “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” the American bishops teach that authentic Christian stewardship is a disciple’s response in faith to all the gifts we have been given by a loving and generous God. When somebody gives us a gift or does us a favor, we spontaneously say “thank you.” That’s the expected response our parents taught us to make at a very early age.

But just saying thanks isn’t really enough. Yes, we are expected to acknowledge in words the gift or benefit we have received, but we are expected to acknowledge it in action, too. This acknowledgment in action is not supposed to be a “payback” in which we calculate the value of what we have received and give exactly that much back to the giver.

Rather, it’s intended to be a more intense expression of grateful acknowledgment, a more emphatic way of showing that we are aware of what we have received and that we want to express our sincere appreciation by giving something in return.

Gratitude in action is more demanding than just expressing thanks with words. It’s more substantive. It costs more. It’s more complicated.

But it is also more expressive, and the more we have been given, the more we are expected to give in return. Unless there is a willingness to give in return, the gratitude we express with words can easily become a mere formality.

19

Sharon Wilson

A ‘game-changer’ for the pro-life movement Eleven years ago, I would have called myself a pro-choice Catholic.

At the time, I didn’t know the meaning of either word. People are amazed when I say that, especially since I have been the respect life coordinator for the archdiocese for almost five years.

I like to think that my transformation is a result of the New Evangelization. So how does one go from pro-choice to pro-life?

No one argued me into it. It wasn’t statistics on abortion that changed my mind. It wasn’t even the knowledge of the Church’s moral teaching that moved me.

I didn’t know it then, but I didn’t know God. It was the encounter with Christ, through the sacrament of reconciliation, that brought me to recognize my own worth in God’s eyes. Then, it hit me. I realized, if I have worth, if I am known and loved by God, then so is everyone else! If I am made in the image and likeness of God, so is everyone!

Once you realize that, your life

can never be the same.

The New Evangelization is the game-changer for the pro-life movement. Though statistics are staggering when we speak of abortions (some 3,000 a day), it is the stories of people’s lives, encounters with others and prayer that most often change people’s hearts and minds.

Prayer, service and activism are key in today’s pro-life movement, and they require a loving encounter with Christ to be sustained.

A key task of the New Evangelization is to reintroduce non-believers to the message of the gospel of life.

In his 1995 encyclical “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”), Blessed John Paul II described our culture as the culture of death. These are grim words when we think of the abundance of material goods we have at our disposal. Our material goods, however, cannot satisfy us.

Only Christ can, and that is the crux of the New Evangelization.

My own activism for the pro-life cause came when I was doing work

INTELLECT AND VIRTUE John Garvey

Different generation brings different way of parenting We took a vacation recently with all of our children and grandchildren. We stayed at a cottage my parents bought 50 years ago. There were quite a few aunts, uncles and cousins nearby.

My wife and I talked with my brothers and sisters about how unconcerned our parents had seemed during the summers we spent there.

Mother would turn us out of the house when the fog was still rising off the bay, and we’d be gone for hours. She had a bell she would ring when it was time for lunch or dinner. We were usually within its range but sometimes not. The only strict rule was no swimming without an adult.

You may not be surprised to learn that our children don’t do this with their little ones. Like many in their generation, they worry about their children being out of sight. Supervision of children’s play has become an additional weighty item on the list of parental duties.

Why? Is the world more dangerous than it was two generations ago? Do our children love their children more than our parents loved us? Are there more bad people out there or greater environmental hazards?

I’m inclined to think none of these things is true. But how else do you explain the shift in parental attitudes and the rise of “helicopter parents” hovering over their broods?

Parents today leave little to chance. Four-year-olds have play dates arranged, and they are strictly supervised. Children must wear bicycle helmets and (by law) ride in car seats until grade school.

Gone are the informal pickup games of baseball and soccer where children gathered and chose sides.

Children play in organized leagues, with coaches and uniforms on wellkept fields with referees.

Perhaps the change is related to the decline in family size. I was one

of eight children, and many of my childhood friends came from big families. In the summer, when our parents sent us outdoors, we played in groups large enough for a baseball game.

When my brothers went crayfish hunting in the creek, they would go together. If someone got into trouble, others were nearby to help or sound the alarm.

Maybe there aren’t enough children around for us to turn them loose in groups. The National Center for Health Statistics reported this summer that the fertility rate in the United States is 1.89 children per woman.

With their choices to marry later and hover over their children, I sometimes wonder whether young adults today aren’t reacting (perhaps overreacting) to the older generation’s bad habits. Even those Gen-Xers who had happy childhoods are reminded often by movies and television and popular literature of the career-driven or selfish family neglect in which some baby boomers indulged.

It’s good that parents are more involved in their children’s lives.

Children are probably safer, but surely there are drawbacks. Overwatched children may develop an even longer-lasting sense of selfimportance from being doted on so long. Will they grow up to be big 2-year-olds? Are we setting them up for an adulthood filled with the

This Catholic Life • Commentary

SOCIAL CONCERNS

for youth. I would meet young peo- ception to natural death. . . . ple from difficult family situations.

“To open our hearts to life, howThey were broken. It was the same ever, we must first overcome every brokenness I saw in the women I tendency to reject people and the knew who had had an abortion. It demands they make in our daily was the same brokenness I knew in lives. The culture of death begins my own life. My encounter with and flourishes in a culture of rejecChrist brought me healing and joy, tion. It begins with seeing oneself and I wanted to as the person whose bring that same joy ideas, interests and to others. wishes should prePope Francis, in vail over those of “An important an interview pubothers, even when it task of the New will cause them lastlished last week in America magazine, Evangelization is ing harm.” said: “The thing the I hope to see an church needs most to reintroduce end to legalized today is the ability in my lifenon-believers to abortion to heal wounds and time. I hope to see to warm the hearts better protection of the message of of the faithful; it the weak, elderly the gospel of needs nearness, and disabled. I hope proximity. I see the all those who are life.”

Church as a field hurt by abortion hospital after batcome to see God’s Sharon Wilson tle.” great love and merThe New Evangecy. I am certain the lization calls us all work of the New to be doctors and nurses on that Evangelization will shift the culture battlefield. of death to that of life.

As people encounter Christ in us, The work of being pro-life is our they may need to change their lives baptismal call, and it all starts with — their beliefs, habits and actions. an encounter. Plan to get involved It is here that the culture of death with one of the many pro-life opshifts to the culture of life. portunities in our archdiocese and The 2013 theme for October Re- in your parish during Respect Life spect Life month is “Open Your Month. Open your heart to life!

Hearts to Life.” The program materials state: Wilson is the respect life coordina“Opening our hearts to life means tor for the Office of Marriage, Family that we reject the killing of human and Life in the Archdiocese of St. beings from the moment of con- Paul and Minneapolis. characteristic vices of the overpampered — the self-pitying tantrums and drug addictions of today’s celebrities? Overparenting may just leave children less prepared to meet the responsibilities of adulthood on

their own.

It’s a tough balance to find: providing the necessary parental care and giving children room to breathe and grow. I’m not sure our parents had it right. I’m not sure our children do either. I’d like to say that we ourselves did, but I have become more open-minded with age.

Garvey is president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

20

Colleges & Careers

Plan to reduce student loan debt needs improvement Some Catholic college leaders wary of ‘pay for performance’ approach

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service This summer — when college campuses were virtually empty — the subject of out-of-control college loans was a hot topic.

Now that students are back in school, the price tag on their loans — set to greet many of them when they graduate — looms larger than their dorm room bunk beds and is getting close scrutiny by students, parents, college leaders and government officials.

To review: 37 million Americans have college loan debt and the federal student loan debt tops the $1 trillion mark.

In an attempt to reel this in, members of Congress went back and forth on the issue this summer. In early July, lawmakers failed to prevent interest rates on federally subsidized Stafford student loans from doubling to a 6.8 percent interest rate, but then weeks later they turned around and brought the rate back to 3.86 percent.

This agreement — the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013 — ties the interest rate on student loans to the 10-year U.S. Treasury note and locks in individual rates for the life of each loan. President Barack Obama signed the legislation in early August and then ran further with it announcing a major White House plan to trim college loans.

The plan, announced last month, aims to rank colleges by access, affordability, graduation rates

rolling admission

now through Jan 14

masters degrees

graduate certificates

lifelong learning youth in theology + ministry

daytime evening weekend + web courses

Students chat on the campus of Jesuit-run Marquette University in 2012 in Milwaukee. A plan to reduce student debt, announced by President Barack Obama last month, aims to rank colleges by access, affordability, graduation rates and earnings and link student aid to these ratings. CNS photo/courtesy Marquette University and earnings and then link student aid to these ratings. Under the plan, students attending higher-ranked colleges or universities could obtain larger Pell Grants and more affordable loans.

Please turn to CONCERNS on page 21

scholarships available apply online

www.csbsju.edu/sot 1-800-361-8318 September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

The White House calls the proposal a “pay for performance” plan but doesn’t provide the fine

TheCatholicSpirit.com • Anywhere, anytime, 24/7

21 Continued from page 20 print on how it will be carried out.

A fact sheet on the proposal says the new ratings — to be available by 2015 and linked to student aid by 2018 — will offer students and their families a “datapalooza” of information that would ultimately pressure colleges to keep costs down.

Much of this information is already available, but the White House aims to put it all in one place and make it easily accessible.

Some concerns Although the plan was well received in editorial pages, many leaders in the higher education community, Catholic college leaders included, are a bit wary of it and looking at it cautiously.

Michael Galligan-Stierle, president of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, said in a statement that the president’s proposals “are complex and require serious study, but we welcome the opportunity to discuss college affordability with the administration.”

Jesuit Father Michael Sheeran, president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, said the plan’s goal — to improve quality and cut costs — is laudable.

But he hopes the Obama administration consults with higher education leaders in working out the details.

He said he is concerned about the plan’s emphasis on school rankings — a process that he said is often criticized and “still full of holes” — but will now be used to measure or punish schools with aid distribution.

The graduate earnings’ ranking doesn’t sit well with Jesuit schools, said Father Sheeran.

He noted that these graduates often pursue careers in public service and “know from the beginning that their salaries will be lower.”

He said this ranking will make these lower salaries a “negative discriminator” going against what these schools are about.

By simply linking future salaries to student aid, he said the administration “could change the goal of college education without even trying to” because it would put more emphasis on skills training than liberal arts study or public service.

Not the answer Patricia McGuire, president of Trinity Washington University, and a longtime advocate for lowering college costs and interest rates on college loans, says the White House

proposal is not the answer.

ford.

She said it will “not help consumers” because the rankings will involve more regulations that will cost colleges money and the costs will be passed on to students.

She said paying for the average student loan — in a 10-year period — is reasonable, especially if the student has a degree.

She also does not believe that a ranking system will put colleges to shame and force them to lower costs.

Instead of relying on government rankings to solve the debt problem, McGuire said colleges should take a close look at their own operating costs.

“Big institutions are motivated At Trinity, for example, she said by markets, not regulations. They employee salaries are modest and pay more attention to Moody’s they “don’t have a lot of perks” or (credit ratings) than big travel budgets. the Department of With every exEducation,” she told pense the universiCatholic News Ser“Big institutions ty faces, she said vice. school officials deare motivated by McGuire similarly termine if it’s really markets, not takes issue with necessary. ranking colleges by regulations.”

And that goes graduate earnings, right down to the saying the idea “is Patricia McGuire, president of cookies at faculty just wrong” because Trinity Washington University meetings. it “goes against the value of service and When professors justice and underask about them, she cuts the self-satisfacsays if having food trays at meettion and esteem students get from ings means that some student had being in college.” to pay more tuition, then they just She said the issue of spiraling stu- aren’t worth it. dent loans — those higher than the McGuire wishes the bigger $26,000 average — are a problem schools “would go on a diet that for middle class families who really way” — trimming their own costs need to choose colleges they can afto save students money.

Colleges & Careers

Concerns persist over plan to remedy spiraling student loans

Students participate in science labs on Gilmore Creek, which runs through the 400-acre Winona campus.

Saint Mary’s is an outstanding educational experience. With small class sizes, ours is a deeply personalized education in a supportive setting on a stunning campus overflowing with opportunity. A top-tier national university, Saint Mary’s provides innovative, relevant education experiences on campus and across the globe led by exceptional professors.

A liberal arts education from Saint Mary’s is also about spiritual growth. Our focus on faith, service, and ethical leadership defines us — a Lasallian Catholic community forming leaders of exceptional character. www.smumn.edu

Serving this Archdiocese since 1911 One Faith, Many Stories, more than 100 years The Catholic Spirit September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Colleges & Careers

22 Benedictine University offers minor in Chinese language

community,” the university announced it’s offering a minor in Chinese language (Mandarin) with an option for a Chinese culture track, beginning with this fall semester.

Loyola Marymount’s film school among top 10 in country

China has the second-largest economy in the world and is one of the United States’ largest trading partners, and one-fifth of the world’s population speaks Chinese.

Students who hope to prosper in such an environment must have more than just a passing familiarity with Chinese language and culture, say officials at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. To help students prepare for “an increasingly China-centric global

“Our students are wonderfully prepared in the sciences, education and the arts, but now they will have a very distinct advantage when they enter the workforce,” said William Carroll, Benedictine University’s president.

Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television has landed in the ninth spot on The Hollywood Reporter’s recently released list of “Top 25 Film Schools of 2013.”

It was the editors’ third annual film school rankings, based on ratings from “industry insiders.”

The university in announcing its film school’s ranking said that it earned inclusion on the list because of its growing animation program,

The university has formed 14 partnerships with Chinese universities and offers master’s degrees in business administration and management information systems in China.

Affordable | Serious | Catholic

internship and post-graduate programs, as well as for its alumni, who include James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli.

The school’s faculty specializes in topics including ethics and social issues in film, video gaming, animation, documentaries and comedy screenwriting.

College to foster entrepreneurship in urban schools The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.2 million grant to a team of Boston College faculty and community-based organizations to foster entrepreneurship in urban high school students by using various technologies to grow produce to sell at neighborhood farmers’ markets.

Boston Public School students will use hydroponics, aquaponics, solar panels, windmills and other technologies to power and cultivate indoor fruit and vegetable gardens, then sell their produce at neighborhood markets, according to G. Michael Barnett, associate professor of education.

Called “Seeding the Future: Creating a Green Collar Workforce,” the project will work with approximately 1,000 students and 40 to 60 teachers at 20 schools.

It is being funded through the foundation’s Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers program.

“Students and teachers will learn how to conduct scientific investigations while developing small businesses’ initiatives to sell fresh produce in their communities,” said Barnett, a specialist in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, known as STEM. He is the principal investigator on the project.

University, company partner to increase diversity in science

As the most affordable, serious Catholic university in the nation, U-Mary offers a unique experience for students who want to prepare for a future that is grounded in faith and marked by service to others.

Rooted in its Benedictine heritage and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, U-Mary is taking its place in the New Evangelization. U-Mary prepares students to be leaders in their faith, their profession and the world.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

U-Mary’s annual tuition of $14,280 and free room and board for eligible graduates of Catholic high schools make it a serious Catholic education at an exceptional value.

www.cometomary.com 800-288-6279

St. Louis University and Jost Chemical Co., in St. Louis have created a joint partnership to address the need for increasing diversity of the scientific workforce.

Such diversity is an important issue for the U.S. “as global competition necessitates that countries take advantage of all the natural talent in their populations,” said an announcement.

The partnership will provide local high school students internship and training opportunities at the university and Jost, a manufacturer of specialty chemicals, such as high purity citrate salts, for the pharmaceutical, nutritional, food and other specialty markets.

In the program, high school students from the St. Louis City school district are recruited to work on research projects under the direction of faculty members in St. Louis University’s department of chemistry.

— Catholic News Service

23 West Metro Young Adults hosts Theology on Tap series The newly formed young adult group, West Metro Young Adults, is hosting a new Theology on Tap series beginning Oct. 1.

The events will be held Tuesdays through November 5 at 7 p.m. at Mozza Mia in Edina.

The series is sponsored by four parishes, Holy Family in St. Louis Park, Our Lady of Grace in Edina, Good Shepherd in Golden Valley and St. Hubert in Chanhassen.

The topics and speakers are: • “How to Date Right So You Don’t Get Left” — Nic Davidson

The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity

2013

• “Is Bilbo Catholic? Tolkien, The Hobbit and the Church” — Deacon Nathan Allen • “The Gospel According to Pope Francis” — Father John Paul Erickson • “Femininity: Men and Women in a Gender-free Culture” — Leah Jacobson • “Get Out of the Boat! Discover the Meaning of Your Life” — Deacon Thomas Winninger • “Grill the Priest: Your Questions, Father’s Answers” — Father Joseph Johnson For more information, visit www.facebook.com/westmetroya or email westmetroya@gmail.com.

God Calls We Respond

Mark Your Calendars and Join Us for a FREE Event Series!

Rogers and Hammerstein

October 14, 2013 2:00 pm presented by Full Bloom

Full Bloom Presents: Portugal

October 29, 2013 2:00 pm

The Towers · 1011 Feltl Court · Hopkins, MN 55343 To RSVP, please call: 952-960-5558 952-933-3333 · www.StThereseSouthwest.com www.saintpaulseminary.org

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Faith & Culture

24

Sacred art exhibit spans seven centuries Many of the works on display at the University of St. Thomas are from a collection donated by the school’s former president

What you can see Here’s a sample of what visitors to “The Face of Faith” exhibition will see: • Late 15th-century wooden crucifixion scene, from southern Germany, that stands more than 5 feet tall.

The Catholic Spirit A collection of sacred art spanning seven centuries, 21 countries and a range of media is on display through Jan. 4 at the University of St. Thomas.

“The Face of Faith: Sacred Images From the St. Thomas Collection” is being exhibited at the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center’s lobby gallery on the school’s St. Paul campus.

Admission is free.

The exhibition’s 58 pieces are organized in glass cases containing crucifixes, non-Western art, icons, and art pertaining to Mary and the life of Jesus.

“Many of the works are traditional Western depictions, while others represent the Orthodox tradition, and yet others are from non-Western cultures,” said Shelly Nordtorp-Madson, chief curator and clinical faculty member for the university’s art history department. “Made of metal, stone, glass, paper, wood and a variety of other materials, these works express both individual and cultural interpretations of Christianity over

The 19th-century work from Russia pictured above is made of enameled brass and depicts the Virgin Mary.

• Collection of Russian icons, all painted on wood, from the 17th and 18th centuries.

• 1652 Rembrandt etching, “Adoration of Shepherds.”

• 19th-century French crucifix with a clock and chimes in it.

• Madonna carved from a tusk.

• 19th-century illustrated genealogical Bible from Sweden.

• Wood carvings by the Asmat people from Papua Indonesia.

• Crucifixes from Cuba and East Africa.

• Triptych of the Madonna from Egypt.

This Greek or Russian Orthodox icon, dating from the late 19th or early 20th century, is made of gilded brass with enamel. Photos courtesy of the University of St. Thomas time and space.”

Global flavor In addition to the United States, the exhibition has art from Russia, Mongolia, Romania, Armenia, Germany, England, Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Flanders (a former country that is now a region mostly in Belgium), Greece, Italy, Cuba, Guatemala, Indonesia, Uganda, Egypt, South Africa, Congo and Botswana.

Of the items on display, 39 are crucifixes or images of crucifixes.

Thirty-eight of the items are from a 47-piece collection recently donated to St. Thomas by Father Dennis Dease, who retired earlier this year after serving 22 years as the university’s president.

Father Dease has been collecting

art for about 30 years.

“When I travel, I pick up stuff,” he said. “Some of the collection came from my journeys, and some came as gifts from friends.”

“The extraordinary meaning that the crucifix holds for people of faith has been expressed in countless ways over time,” he said.

“It shows the limitless nature of human imagination when applied to a single form or object, in this case the image of Christ on the cross.”

Unusual pieces Lauren Greer, an art history graduate student, said one piece her fellow students thought was especially interesting is a large contemporary image of Jesus created by Mitchell Scherer of

• A French, 19th-century wooden house altar that has a crucifix adorned with a rooster, ladder, lantern, sword and tools used to both nail and remove Jesus from the cross. The rooster refers to Jesus’ prediction to Peter that before the rooster crows Peter would deny him three times.

Bloomington. He made the work from hundreds of variously shaded, wood veneer tiles, each about the size of a pencil eraser. All the tiles came from Minnesota trees.

While Father Dease said the Scherer piece is among his favorites, his vote for “probably most unusual” goes to the French crucifix that has a clock and chimes in it. The clock takes the form of a revolving globe.

“I think the artist was expressing to us that Jesus’ death bridges time and eternity. However, I can’t recall ever seeing another crucifix with a clock in it.”

If you have been abused or victimized by someone representing the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, we want to hear from you.

We are here to offer you help and healing. We will also help you make a formal complaint of abuse to this Archdiocese or assist you in contacting another archdiocese/diocese/eparchy.

Please call me, Greta Sawyer on my confidential phone line, 651.291.4497, or email me at sawyerg@archspm.org.

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

www.TheCatholicSpirit.com

25 FallFest and booya at St. John the Baptist, New Brighton — September 27 to 29: Friday features a market fair, pig roast and a dance at 835 Second Ave. N.W. Saturday market fair continues, GB Leighton will be in the main tent, and fireworks at dusk. 10:30 a.m. polka Mass Sunday and booya. Rides and food concessions all three days.

Fall festival at St. Michael, Pine Island — September 29: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 451 Fifth St. S.W. Features a roast beef dinner, silent auction, games and more.

St. Francis de Sales, St. Paul booya and parish fiesta at Highland Park Pavilion, St. Paul — September 29: Bilingual Mass at 10:30 a.m. Food served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. includes booya, hot beef sandwiches, tacos and more. St. Paul Police band plays at 1 p.m.

Spiritfest at Divine Mercy, Faribault — September 29: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 139 Mercy Drive. Food available includes a turkey and ham dinner, Mexican food, burgers, brats and desserts. Also includes entertainment, games, an auction and more. Visit http:// divinemercy.cc.

Parish festival at St. John the Baptist, Vermillion — September 29: Mass at 9:30 a.m. followed by festival from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 106 W. Main St. Features kids’ games, pot of gold, food, silent auction and more.

Rediscover: faith 2013 Speakers Series Talks from Spring are being offered this fall at four new locations. For a complete schedule, see the back page of the Rediscover: center section.

MoreFest at St. Thomas More School, St. Paul — October 5: Noon to 7:30 p.m. at 1065 Summit Ave. For information, visit http://www.morecommunity.org.

St. Mary’s 32nd annual Harvest Bazaar at Bellechester Community Center, Bellechester — October 5: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 101 1st St. Features a bake sale and lunch, raffle, door prizes, fish pond and more.

Oktoberfest at St. Therese, Deephaven — October 5: 3 to 11 p.m. at 18323 Minnetonka Blvd. with music from Boogie Wonderland, beer and wine garden with German fare, kids’ carnival and more.

Fall festival at St. Peter, North St. Paul — October 5 and 6: Mass at 4 p.m.

Saturday at 2600 N. Margaret St. followed by entertainment, homemade pizza and bingo.

Family Fun Day Sunday starting at 11:30 a.m. with games and a broasted chicken dinner.

For information, visit http://www. churchofstpeternsp.org.

Parish festival at St. John Byzantine Church, Minneapolis — October 6: 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 2201 Third St. N.E. Features ethnic food, raffles, handicrafts and a bake sale.

Fall festival at St. Peter, Mendota — October 6: Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at 1405 Hwy 13.

Fall festival at St. Casimir, St. Paul

— October 6: Polka experts from the Alliance Mass at 10 a.m. at 930 E. Defending Freedom. For Don’t miss: Geranium Ave. followed more information and to More events online by a turkey dinner served register, visit Additional parish and until 2:30 p.m. Also mnreligiousfreedom.org. school events in the features a silent auction, Co-sponsored by the archdiocese can be found raffle, games and more Minnesota Catholic in the Calendar section of until 3:30 p.m.

Conference.

TheCatholicSpirit.com.

Fall festival and Music booya at St. Mary, St. Paul — October 6: Composer and Marian Mass at 10:30 concert pianist Eric a.m. followed by food and Genuis in concert at St. fun from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Raphael, Crystal — at 261 E. Eighth St. Booya, October 9: Performances bake sale, crafts, games at 2 and 7 p.m. at 7301 and more.

Bass Lake Road. Tickets Fall festival at Holy Rosary/Santo are $18 for adults and $15 for students and Rosario, Minneapolis — October 6: 10:30 are available at the door or online at http:// a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 2424 18th Ave. S. www.srsmn.org. Children under 5 are free.

Includes a chicken dinner, Ecuadoran pork, David Haas, Marty Haugen and Father Mexican foods, raffles, games and grannie’s J. Michael Joncas in concert to benefit attic.

Southside Family Nurturing Center at Fall festival at St. Albert, Albertville Pax Christi, Eden Prairie — October 13: — October 13: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at 11400 7:15 p.m. at 12100 Pioneer Trail. Tickets 57th St. N.E. Features a chicken dinner, live available online at martyhaugen. entertainment by the Chmielewksi Funtime brownpapertickets.com.

Band, raffle, bingo, wall of wine and more.

Fall festival at Holy Name, Prayer/ liturgy Minneapolis — October 13: 8:30 a.m. to 4 Lawyers’ Guild of St. Thomas More p.m. at 3637 11th Ave. S. Features a pancake 63rd annual Red Mass at the University breakfast, beer garden, games, raffles and of St. Thomas chapel, St. Paul — more.

September 29: Mass at 9 a.m. at 2115

Bible Study ‘A Biblical Walk Through the Mass’ Bible study at Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights – 5 part series beginning October 7 and 11: Two sessions offered each week – Mondays 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays 1 to 2:30 p.m. (both weekly sessions cover the same material) at 4030 Jackson St. NE. Cost is $20 and includes book and workbook. Visit ICCSonline.org for information or call ( 763) 788-9062 ext. 210.

Meetings Minneapolis Deaneries Council of Catholic Women fall meeting at St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — September 23: Registration begins at 9 a.m. at 2836 33rd Ave. S. Father Charles McCarthy will present, “Immigration – Question of Faith, Question of Policy.” Cost is $13 and includes lunch. Register by September 18 at (763) 536-0553.

Kick-off meeting of non-partisan group to protect religious freedom at St. Paul, Ham Lake — October 6: 12:30 p.m. at 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd. N.E. Group’s mission is to educate and empower people of faith and goodwill to defend First Amendment rights. All are welcome. For information, call (763) 438-6560.

Social justice forum at St. Patrick, Edina — October 13: 6 to 9 p.m. at 6820 St. Patrick’s Lane. Father Larry Snyder, CEO of Catholic Charities, USA will be the keynoter.

Dinner, question and answer time and breakout sesssions follow speaker. Cost is $10.

Register at www.stpatrick-edina.org.

Minnesota Religious Freedom Forum at the RiverCentre, St.Paul — October 24: 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. A one-day training providing practical legal information for protecting your religious freedom. Workshops covering a range of religious liberty concerns will be provided by attorneys and legal

p.m. at the St. Joseph campus, 1310 Mainstreet. Father Jim Livingston will be the celebrant.

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406.

Calendar

Parish festivals

Speakers Talk on human trafficking at St. Joseph, Rosemount — September 30: Light meal served at 6:30 p.m. with talk to follow at 13900 Biscayne Ave. W. Hemlal Kafle from Catholic Charities’ Trafficking Victims Services will speak. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.

Catholic speaker and apologist Steve Ray to speak at St. John the Baptist, New Brighton — October 2: 6:30 p.m. at 825 Second Ave. N.W. Free and open to the public.

Other events 14th annual Rector’s Bowl at University of St. Thomas football field, St. Paul — September 28: 7 p.m. at 2115 Summit Ave. The St. Paul Seminary Sons of Thunder vs. the St. John Vianney JAXX.

Summit Ave. followed by brunch at Woulfe Hall. Bishop Lee Piché will be the celebrant.

Gather4Good community service Cost is $50 (up to 5 people, includes dues and event at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, brunch). For information, visit http://www.

Hastings — September 29: Mass at 9:30 thomasmoremn.org or call (651) 470-9294. a.m. at 2035 15th St. W. Volunteer event from 11th annual Candlelight Rosary 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. includes assembling care Procession: For Peace in the world and peace in families at the State Capitol, St. kits for the needy, lunch from Green Mill, entertainment and more. Visit www.

Paul — October 4: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Father gather4good.org.

John Paul Erickson will lead the procession from the Minnesota State Capitol to the The Gathering for Catholic Youth Cathedral of St. Paul. For more information, Ministry Leaders and Volunteers at NET visit http://www.familyrosaryprocession.org.

Ministries, West St. Paul — October 10: Blessing of animals at St. Joseph, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 110 Crusader Ave W. Rosemount — October 5: 11 a.m. at 13889 “The Secret to Success in Youth Ministry, Biscayne Ave. W. All creatures are welcome. with Ryan O’Hara” Event is free, but Features a petting zoo, the Dakota County registration is required at http://www.netusa.

Mounted Patrol and music by the children’s org/thegathering. choir.

Blessing of animals at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — CALENDAR submissions October 6: Gather on the front lawn at 1 p.m., procession into church and a short DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, prayer service begins at 1:30 p.m. at 88 N. seven days before the 17th St. Individual blessings and a anticipated Thursday date of celebration with food and fun follows the publication. Recurring or prayer service at 2:30 p.m. For information, ongoing events must be visit www.mary.org. submitted each time they Ecumenical Taizé prayer service at St. occur.

John Neumann, Eagan — October 8: 6:30 p.m. at 4030 Pilot Knob Road. Held each LISTINGS: Accepted are brief month on the second Tuesday at a rotating notices of upcoming events of interest to a wide audience and church. For information, call (962) 890-0045, hosted by Catholic institutions. ext. 247.

Candlelight vigil for victims and survivors of domestic abuse at St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove — October 10: 7 p.m. at 7180 Hemlock Lane N. One-hour service is open to the community and will include reflection, music, Scripture, stories from survivors and a message of hope.

Healing Mass at St. Gabriel the Archangel, Hopkins — October 15: Rosary at 7 p.m. followed by Mass at 7:30

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, and contact information in case of questions.

E-MAIL: spiritcalendar@archspm.org. (No attachments, please.)

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

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

26

Archdiocese is committed to financial best-practices Continued from page 3 for several quarters hoping to sustain their mission. Often, when that happens, parishes find it difficult to make up for lost ground.

The archdiocese’s 2010 Strategic Plan acknowledged this tension. In response, we have recommitted our resources to proactively help parishes fulfill their mission through adoption of the best and most sound administrative practices.

At the Sept. 16 meeting, we also discussed the move to a different standardized accounting software system; this is a pretty dry topic, but Did you know the archdiocese, in partnership with Catholic Finance Corporation and TeamWorks International, is engaging parishes around the archdiocese in discussions aimed at developing a strategic pastoral plan for each parish in the Archdiocese? Parishes receive free analysis of demographic and financial factors at work in their parish with the goal of enhancing responsiveness to those served.

one that needs to be addressed to ensure that the Archdiocese and the 188 parishes within it are the best stewards possible of your gifts of support.

I firmly believe that strong and healthy parishes are the only way we can ensure a strong and healthy local Church.

Lay pension plan Also discussed at our meeting last week was the funding of the pension plans administered by the trusts.

Currently, our lay pension plan for archdiocesan and parish employees is funded at 77 percent. That is right in line with Minnesota’s state pension plan, but not where we want it to be.

The independent committee managing the trust has been taking proactive steps, such as freezing the plan for archdiocesan and parish employees in 2010. That means that benefits did not increase beyond that point.

This move safeguarded those already retired who rely on that pension income. When the plan was frozen in 2010, archdiocesan and parish employees moved from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan, a move made thousands of times by employers and employees across the country over the past decade

Archbishop John Nienstedt in response to shifting demographics, a changing economy and longer lifespans.

I hope this information helps to clarify in a very concrete way the archdiocese’s commitment to improving transparency, enhancing communication and focusing on our accountability to you, the lay faithful of this great archdiocese!

I firmly believe that strong and healthy parishes are the only way we can ensure a strong and healthy local Church — all in service to our shared mission to make the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ known and loved.

May God bless you!

Classified Ads Reach nearly 82,000 homes with Minnesota’s largest paid bi-weekly newspaper E-mail: CLASSIFIEDADS@ARCHSPM.ORG • Phone: (651) 290-1631 • Fax: (651) 291-4457 Next issue: 10-10 • Deadline: 4 p.m. 10-4 Rates: $8 per line (35-40 characters per line) • Add a photo for $25 !

ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTIONS

!

ANTIQUES

!

TOP CASH PAID For Older Furniture — Rugs — Pictures — Bookcases — Pottery — Beer Items — Toys & Misc. (651) 2274185 2469.

ATTORNEYS

!

Edward F. Gross Wills, Trusts, Probate, Estate Planning, Real Estate. Office at 35E & Roselawn Ave., St. Paul (651) 631-0616. 11270

!

BOILER REPAIR

!

KENNY BOILER & MFG. CO. 651-224-7471 344 E. University Ave., St. Paul 5725

CHURCH RUMMAGE SALE

!

St. Gabriel’s Church Rummage Sale 1301 Mainstreet Hopkins Th. Oct. 3 9:30 to 8, Fr Oct. 4 9:30 to 5 Sat. Oct 5 9:30 to 12:30 $1 Bag Day

!

COUNTERTOPS AND SINKS

!

Miele Concrete + Design: Specializing in artistic concrete overlays applied to your existing laminate or cultured marble countertops and vanities.: WWW.FACE BOOK.COM/MIELE.CONCRETE.DESIGN (507) 301-MELO [6356].

! !

DVD TRANSFER

!

Preserve Your Slides & Film Transfer them to DVD Today!

For quality transfers at great prices call Astound Video Duplication and Transfer at (651) 644-2412 7811

! CASKETS — HANDCRAFTED PINE !

! EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES !

Beautiful, personal, affordable alternative. Steve O'Rourke (612) 822-7320.

WWW.DUSTTODUSTPINECASKLETS.COM. C126027

Divine Mercy Catholic Church and School are seeking a fulltime Lead Steward of Administration (Business Administrator).

Divine Mercy Catholic Church is a bi-lingual parish just south of the metro area with 2300 households and 250 students in grades PreK-5. This position is responsible for the oversight, direction and implementation of the financial, human resources, physical resources, long range planning and administration aspects of the parish and school.

Successful candidate must be a practicing Catholic in good standing; have a college degree in business with emphasis in finance and/or accounting; five (5) years’ experience in church or business management role; five (5) years’ experience in supervision of personnel; experience in leadership development.

Individual should be highly organized,

!

CEILING TEXTURE

!

Michaels Painting. Popcorn & Knock down Texture, Repairs. TEXTURECEILINGS.COM (763) 757-3187.

12327

!

CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE

!

12910

FOR HOMES, CHURCHES & SCHOOLS 10105 Arrow Lift (763) 786-2780

!

CONSTRUCTION & REMODELING

www.ShowcaseRenovation.com

STAIR LIFTS - ELEVATORS WHEELCHAIR LIFTS

!

!

!

Calvary Cemetery, St. Paul MN: 2 crypts, $4000. Call (651) 636-1757.

Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights: double plot, $1500 (612) 7225094

effective communicator, experienced in computer and accounting systems, and have the ability to successfully manage volunteers. Salary is commensurate with experience and education.

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, three references and credentials by October 11, 2013 to: Search Committee, Divine Mercy Catholic Church, 4 SW 2nd Avenue, Faribault, MN 55021 or email at jmotl@divinemercy.cc.

!

FOR SALE

!

QN. Pillowtop Set In Plastic!! New $150 12972 Must Sell!! Sheila (763) 360-3829.

!

GREAT CATHOLIC SPEAKERS

!

HARDWOOD FLOORS

Fall’s arrived. Finish your home’s floors before the holidays; new or refurbished: 10% off labor. Sweeney (651) 485-8187. 10435

HANDYMAN

!

WE DO 1,162 THINGS AROUND THE HOME! Catholic Owned Handyman Business: We will fix/repair remodel almost anything around the home. Serving entire Metro. Call today. Mention this ad and receive 10% off labor. Handyman Matters (651) 784-3777, 12068 (952) 946-0088.

!

!

Experienced, conscientious cleaning for your home or office. Excellent references.

Reasonable rates. Linda (651) 324-0246.

PRAYERS

!

NOTICE: Prayers must be submitted in advance. Payment of $8 per line must be received before publication.

!

HOME/OFFICE CLEANING

!

PRAYER — STATE CAPITOL

!

Join me to pray at the front steps Fridays 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for an hour or three, or pray at home. Eugene (651) 488-0660; (952) 288-8263.

C12299

!

LANDSCAPING

!

Drainage problems? Retaining walls, paver C12558 patios, steps. Jeff (651) 436-6568.

!

OLD COINS — GOLD — SILVER

!

!

PAINTING

!

Merriam Park Painting. Professional Int./ Ext. Painting. WP Hanging. Moderate Prices, Free Estimates. Call Ed (651) 224-3660. 11269 Michaels Painting. Texture and Repair.

MICHAELSPAINTINGLLC.COM. (763) 757-3187. 12327 Dennis Heigl Painting Interior/Exterior Reasonable, Fair Pricing. Free Estimates.

(763) 543-0998 • Cell (612) 819-2438 12048

PLUMBING

ROOM FOR RENT

!

RSMT near St. Joseph’s: 10 acres, w/ kitch. & sunrm, $600/mo. Sue (651) 423-3147.

!

!

For painting & all related services. View our website: PAINTINGBYJERRYWIND.COM. Or call (651) 699-6140.

7521

!

!

ROOMMATE WANTED

!

Home of single women, secure, clean and great place to study and save money.

TMJB00@GMAIL.COM. (651) 485-5115.

C2079

Buying coins, currency, gold, silver.

We buy gold and silver jewelry.

45 yrs.experience serving individuals, banks and attorneys. BBB rated A+ Honesty, Integrity, Reliability!

Gary Adkins Assoc., Inc. (952)835-2244 Visit our website at WWW.COINBUYS.COM

!

Sweeney’s Hardwood Floors

!

!

Dental, Health, Medicare Parts A, B and D, and Long Term Care Insurance. WWW. GENWORTH.COM/JERRYBIESE (612) 38212095 4363.

!

CD of the Month Club Lighthouse Catholic Media Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins and more! $5/month includes shipping Subscribe online at WWW.LIGHTHOUSECATHOLICMEDIA.COM/CDCLUB Please Enter Code: 1195 11988

HEALTH INSURANCE

!

!

Justen Plumbing, Inc. (651) 605-5025 JUSTENPLUMBING@GMAIL.COM Call or email Mike for a free estimate. 12345

VACATION/FAMILY GETAWAY

!

Knotty Pines Resort, Park Rapids, MN. 1, 2 & 3 bdrm cabins starting at $550/week.

WWW.KNOTTYPINESRESORT.COM (800) 392-2410. 12598 Giants Ridge Golf Resort private condo on site. Disc. rates. Joanie 651 484-7173.

!

WANTED TO BUY

!

$$$ for OLD SEWING Machines, Patterns, Fabric, Hankies, Postcards, Vintage Lamps, Old Photos, Jewelry, Silver + Gold, Lighters + Collectibles (612)823-8616. C3919 Downsizing estates. I buy ?? + bicycles.

C6158 Steve (651) 778-0571.

To place your classified ad here call

(651) 290-1631

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

27

Musician helps to raise pro-life awareness Continued from page 5

Champions Continued from page 5 Youth/Young Adult Category:

music to the cause when she learned about the children of China Little Flower orphanage in Beijing, she said.

The orphanage cares for children in China who suffer from terminal illness, disabilities or abandonment.

“As I learned more about their work and their needs, I felt God inviting me to use my voice and the music ministry on behalf of them,” she said.

“I think it’s been a beautiful, unique opportunity to be able to help raise awareness for people about things that are happening in other parts of the world,” Rose said. “It helps us look at what’s happening in our own country in a totally different light.”

Because of some issues facing the U.S. now — such as concerns over the federal Health and Human Services contraceptive mandate, part of the Affordable Care Act — she said that making a pro-life-themed album was very important.

People of faith are more a part of the pro-life movement than they realize, Rose said.

“I want people to realize how much they contribute — in their faith and in their families — to bringing about that culture of life,” she said.

Making sure that each person knows that they are loved and that they matter to God is really part of being pro-life, Rose said. “It all fits together,” she said.

“Culture of Life,” Rose’s fifth album, was released Jan. 22, marking the 40th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. It is available on iTunes or www.daniellerose.com. For each copy of the album sold, a copy will be donated to support organizations that help build a culture of life.

Laura Bearth

Bearth is a senior at Cretin-Derham Hall high school in St. Paul, where she heads the school’s Respect Life Team. She has worked with the group to build a culture of life and help to influence her peers by bringing in pro-life speakers, organizing a Respect Life service day, attending the March for Life, creating displays and leading a Day of Silence for the school.

Couple, Family or Catholic Affiliated Group:

Barb and Brad Mayer

The Mayers are members of Risen Savior in Burnsville, where Barb has led and actively participated in the parish’s Respect Life Group.

They not only volunteer in pro-life work by being involved in Pregnancy Choices Life Care Center in Apple Valley, but they also witness their pro-life beliefs by telling their personal stories to young people. Their work spans more than 30 years and includes political and financial initiatives to help pregnant women.

Adult Pro-Life Professional:

Will Cossairt

Cossairt has been active in pro-life work for more than 25 years both as a volunteer and as the executive director of TLC, Options for

Women, an affiliation of more than 30 pregnancy resource centers. In the 20 years that he has been the executive director of TLC, the organization has grown from 16 to 31 affiliates. Hundreds of lives have been touched through his leadership and ongoing dedication.

Will and his family are members of St. Joseph in West St. Paul.

Adult Pro-Life Volunteer:

Cathy Loch Johnson Johnson and her family are members of St. Hubert in Chanhassen. As one of the founding members of the parish’s Community Caring for Life, she has volunteered despite working full time. She has been involved in baby showers, bake sales, memorials to the unborn, pro-life rallies, prayer services, making baptism bags and organizing a Rally for Life for teens.

Tickets available Bishop Lee Piché will honor the winners at the annual Champions for Life Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at St. Peter in Mendota.

Minnesota native Danielle Rose will be the keynote speaker. She will talk about her pro-life mission and perform songs from her 2013 album, “Culture of Life.” Tickets are $35 each or $280 per table. To register, visit www.archspm.org, click on EVENTS or call (651) 2914506.

These real estate agents can help you find your Home Sweet Home Peggy Langeslay plangeslay@cbburnet.com Now is the best time to sell your home.

For best results, call

651-335-8515

From condos to castles, performance exceeds promise

Kathy Kueppers REALTOR®, CRS • Owner/Broker Cell: (651) 470-0675 Office: (651) 365-0230 kathykueppers@realtyexecutives.com 33 E. Wentworth Ave. West St. Paul, MN 55118

Named a 2009 Super Real Estate Agent by Mpls./St. Paul Magazine and Twin Cities Business

Mobile: 651.271.1855 Email: John@JohnPiche.com

Top Producer & St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS®

2009 REALTOR of the Year Professional ! Quality ! Service

Mary & R. “Mickey” Rooney Team Mary’s Cell

763-229-1133

The Last Word

28

Rural poverty calls us to remember who feeds us The following was first published on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Media Blog. The post was written

by Bishop Paul Etienne of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyo., who serves as president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.

When many think of poverty, they imagine crumbling, boardedup buildings, unsafe streets and failing schools with metal detectors at the entryways. Movies and television shows perpetuate these images.

Meanwhile, rural life conjures up images of rolling hills, fields of grain and a simple life. Yet, when Robert Kennedy went on his “poverty tour” in 1968, he found the most extreme poverty in rural America.

Unfortunately, that reality is still true today.

Devastating consequences According to the Department of Agriculture, rural poverty is over two percentage points higher than urban poverty. This poverty is more pervasive and persistent: Of all the counties that experienced deep spells of poverty over a 20-year span, more than 88 percent are rural.

The consequences of this poverty are devastating. More than 3 million rural households are hungry.

Many of these families were recently, or still are, the agricultural backbone of our country. Sadly, this

“More than 3 million rural households are hungry. Many of these families were recently, or still are, the agricultural backbone of our country.”

Bishop Paul Etienne

means many of the very people who plant, harvest and prepare our food cannot afford to feed themselves and their families.

At the root of this problem is human labor. As Pope John Paul II pointed out, work is “probably the essential key, to the whole social question” (“Laborem Exercens,” no. 20). In the case of rural communities, the decline of agriculture has led to a lack of decent work.

Today, about 2 percent of all jobs are agricultural, a significant decline from only a few decades ago, when the bounty of thriving American farms was the envy of the world.

The jobs vacuum in rural com-

munities has been filled, in many instances, with low-paying or dangerous jobs that do not pay enough to support a family.

Some industries have taken advantage of the economic desperation of rural communities by exploiting workers. For instance, many poultry and slaughterhouse workers face unsanitary working conditions, prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals and substances, and long shifts away from their families. Circumstances like these are beneath their human dignity.

Playing a crucial role In this year’s Labor Day statement, Bishop Stephen Blaire of

Stockton, Calif., challenges everyone to work together to build a just economy that truly honors and respects all.

One of the vital ways we can do this is supporting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamps), which ensures vulnerable people and families do not go hungry.

For rural communities, the program plays a crucial economic development role as well. While ensuring that families are able to go out and buy the food they need, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program becomes a source of revenue for local businesses in time of economic strain.

Jesus calls us to feed “these least brothers of mine” (Matthew 25). Individuals and churches donate time and money to combating hunger across the country, but the need is great.

The government, through nutrition assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, has a role to play in meeting this basic need for food.

In the overall effort to combat the scandal of poverty, rural communities need to be remembered.

Not only should we help them meet their basic needs through charity and a sense of appreciation for who produces our food, but we must also demand justice and seek to rebuild our economy so that people have access to living wages and good jobs in every community.

Theology Day. Find out.

Distant Markets, Distant Harms: Thinking Clearly about Economic Complicity Tuesday, October 15, Saint Frances Cabrini Church, Minneapolis 6 p.m.: check in, Presentation will begin within 30 minutes There are many reasons why Christians should feel responsible to relieve the suffering of people half-way around the planet. These reasons have nothing to do with whether the believer played any role in causing that suffering. However, this presentation will ask: Is there a causal relationship between me and the Asian woman who sewed the stitches in the collar of the shirt I am wearing – even if I have no idea who she is? And if she is denied bathroom breaks or may even have been killed in a fire or the collapse of a factory, am I, along with others, in any way responsible because I bought this shirt? Economic science depicts the market as an abstract mechanism, but understanding the market as relational – as a system of relationships – is superior, both empirically and morally. Christians who want to live as responsible consumers need to think carefully about these relationships, particularly those that harm distant others.

St. Therese of Deephaven Oktoberfest Saturday, October 5th 3pm —11:30pm Live music from Boogie Wonderland and other local artists!

Beer and wine garden served with German and local fare games to win prizes or cash and a kid’s carnival polka Mass, and much, much more!

For More info Call: 952-473-4422 18323 Minnetonka Blvd, Deephaven, MN 55391

Daniel Finn is the William E. and Virginia Clemens Professor of Economics and a Professor of Moral Theology for both the Saint John’s School of Theology·Seminary and the Department of Theology at the College of Saint Benedict.

FREE but registration is required: www.csbsju.edu/sot or 320-363-3570

archspm.org • TheCatholicSpirit.com

Listen to 1330AM Relevant Radio on Friday, Sepember 27 at 9 am or catch a rebroadcast how you can win TWO TICKETS (and More!)

September 26, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

the saints Learning more about our faith The Catholic Spirit’s 4-page Rediscover: pullout section in each issue of 2013 highlights a new Rediscover: theme for you and discuss with others.

Coming up Oct. 10: How can the Church help me strengthen my marriage?

Heavenly role models inspire our faith lives

T

HEART OF THE MATTER Father Michael VAN SLOUN

here are two classifications of saints: The Communion of Saints of the Living are those who are alive, baptized, believe in God, practice their faith, and do their best to live a good and holy life.

The Communion of Saints of the Faithful Departed are those who have completed their human journey on earth and have died, fulfilled their calling, been redeemed by Jesus’ saving grace, and have taken their place in heaven to be with God and the company of angels and saints in light, happiness and peace for all eternity.

Among the saints in heaven, some are canonized while others are not. A canonized saint is officially recognized by the Church.

The selection process is coordinated by the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, which reviews a potential saint’s life. Once certain criteria have been met, the Congregation advances the person from beatification to canonization.

Most of the saints in heaven have not received official recognition. These are our deceased fellow parishioners, parents and

The Catholic Spirit • September 26, 2013

grandparents, relatives and friends — those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Although their goodness is not widely known, it is known to us and — most important — to God, and they have received the crown of righteousness.

Imitating their lives It is extremely important to identify individuals who have led exemplary Christian lives — those who have been models of virtue and holiness, exceptional witnesses, demonstrators of courage and conviction, or have made outstanding contributions to the Church.

The designation of a saint is an encouragement to the living: If they could live a holy life, you can live a holy life; and, if they have gone to heaven, you can go to heaven.

Those who reflect on the lives of the saints often urge us to imitate the saints, except Please turn to PATRON on back page of section

Rediscover-faith.org

“The designation of a saint is an encouragement to the living: If they could live a holy life, you can live a holy life; and, if they have gone to heaven, you can go to heaven.”

Father Michael Van Sloun

Saints: Thought determines action Matthew Kelly is taking a break from writing his column while he recuperates from successful cancer surgery. In the interim, this column space will feature excerpts from his other writings. The following is from his book “Rediscover Catholicism.”

CELEBRATING CATHOLICISM Matthew KELLY

To contemplate is to ponder something deeply.

As Christians, we are called to think on a deeper level and to live on a deeper level. Daily prayer makes this possible. It is in our prayer that we move beyond the fleeting thoughts of life and begin to lead meaningful lives of contemplation.

Contemplation is not just for monks and nuns. In truth, we all lead lives of contemplation, but we spend our lives contemplating very different things.

What do you contemplate?

Is it the riches of the world? Is it every woman who passes you on the street?

Do you ponder the latest fashions? The

local gossip?

Or, do you contemplate the wonders of God, the glory of his creation and the joys of the spiritual life?

It is not necessary to go away to a monastery to live a life of contemplation. We are all contemplatives because we are all thinking all the time, “The saints all spent and what you contemplate their post-conversion will play a very significant role in the life you live. . . . lives pondering the Consider the heroes of Christianity, the men and life and teachings of women we call saints.

They have lived in every Jesus Christ — the place, in every time, and in Gospel — and they every culture. Some of the were young and some simply became what saints were old. Some were rich they thought. Human and some were poor. Some were educated and others thought is creative. were uneducated. Some held positions of power and What we think authority and others did not. becomes.”

My point is that you Matthew Kelly cannot find a more diverse group of people in history than the saints. And yet, the people of their time say exactly the same thing about every single one of them. They brought Jesus to life for us.

What did they say about Francis of Assisi? He brought Jesus to life for us. They said the same about Therese of Lisieux, Ignatius of Loyola, Catherine of Siena, and Dominic.

What did they say about Mother Teresa and John Paul II? They brought Jesus to life for us in our own place and time.

For 2,000 years, men and women have been saying exactly the same thing about each and every one of the saints.

Why? Because the saints all spent their post-conversion lives pondering the life and teachings of Jesus Christ — the Gospel — and they simply became what they thought.

Human thought is creative. What we think becomes.

Some of the saints were converted from other faiths, and others were converted from incredibly wayward lives. But most of them were converted from a very common complacency toward God’s will for their lives.

Are you ready to begin your post-conversion life?

Bringing the saints to life Local artist creates images of holy men and women for seminary, NET

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit Seminarians at the St. Paul Seminary can’t help but connect with the saints.

Long before they hear their first lecture about one of them, they experience the saints coming to life first hand.

Outside the door of every dorm room at the seminary is a framed pencil drawing of a saint. All were done by Christopher Santer, an art teacher at Providence Academy in Plymouth who was commissioned to do saints drawings 11 years ago, first by NET Ministries and later by the seminary starting in 2008. He has done a total of 78 for the seminary, and 15 to 20 for NET. Though he considers architectural and landscape art his forté, he felt drawn to doing these portraits. He wanted to render them in as lifelike a manner as possible so that they would become real to the viewer.

“I always want these saints to be alive, as if we could meet them on the street,” said Santer, 46. “That’s a goal. I want them to seem like real people, like they’re going to come out and talk to you at that moment.”

He doesn’t necessarily stray from the artistic tradition that has created familiar facial features of the saints over time. Rather, he adds realism so that people can connect to the saints’ human side.

“I definitely have my favorite ones, the ones that are the most alive to me visually,” he said. “My “I always want these John the Baptist is ready to right off the page. He has saints to be alive, as if evangelize a gritty, penetrating gaze on his we could meet them face. . . . He was a man who lived outside in the wild. He had to be on the street. That’s a ragged and scraggly and intense. goal. I want them to You think of his preaching and how he transformed society with his seem like real people, mouth, with God working through He had to have this intensity like they’re going to him. to him. He was not a passive come out and talk to hermit-like creature. He was a guy who would look through you.” you at that moment.”

Santer’s most recent drawing is of St. Maria Goretti, an Italian girl who Christopher Santer was killed by a neighbor when she was 11 while resisting his attempts to rape her. While dying, she forgave her attacker, and he ended up attending her canonization in 1950.

“I think ones I’ve really been surprised by, and they’ve been some of the more recent ones that I’ve drawn, are some of these very young saints,” Santer said. “These are good saints for the youth, to know that you can live a saintly life now.”

After doing research that takes anywhere from an hour to five or six, Santer goes to work with his black pencil. The drawings take up

Kelly is an international best-selling author, speaker and founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute.

The Catholic Spirit • September 26, 2013

Christopher Santer, an art teacher at Providence

to 12 hours to complete. They all are mad frame, and both the seminary and NET ha He also has prints for sale. Those intereste visit his website, http://pacemstudio.com.

Naturally, Santer has saints images on d home. He also has done drawings of his 2 Victoria, but insists that the face of his wi on any of the drawings of female saints.

“Some people keep saying that my St. C not,” he said. “You know where she is in [ though? All the female hands are Leah’s, a most cases, are mine.”

Now, Leah can walk the halls of the sem images. She started working at the semina become an admirer of her husband’s work including Msgr. Aloysius Callaghan, recto “The seminary is blessed to have Christ throughout our residential wing,” said Ms

Saints, sinners and baby names

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

e Academy in Plymouth, works on his newest saint drawing – St. Dominic.

de to fit into an 8x10 ave originals on display. ed in any of his images can . display at his St. Paul 2-year-old daughter, ife, Leah, does not appear

Cecilia is Leah, but she’s [some of the drawings], and all the male hands, in

minary to look at the ary in June, and has k, along with many others, or of the St. Paul Seminary. topher Santer’s art sgr. Callaghan, who has a

print of one of them, Aloysius Gonzaga, in his office. “His simple but beautiful renderings of these important saints are inspirational to our seminarians.

“Religious art is meant to lift our thoughts toward the Lord, and Christopher has been able to illustrate each saint’s story in his work. As our men pray and ask for the intercession of the communion of saints throughout their formation, these visual images bring them closer to the Lord. It is as if his artwork is reminding us to pray, ‘All you holy men and women, pray for us.’”

Santer is hoping his drawings of saints someday will grace the halls of Providence Academy. He has brought in a few to show his art students, and a handful of teachers have taken them inside their classrooms.

“Eventually, I’d like to get a bunch of them scattered around this school,” he said. “I’m not sure where. I’ll have to ask [headmaster] Todd [Flanders] about that.”

Sounds like a saintly idea.

Every May, I eagerly anticipate the release of the most popular baby names issued by the Social Security Administration. Last year’s champions defended their title this spring, with Jacob in the No. 1 spot for the 14th year and Sophia on top for a second time.

The top-10 list looks mostly the same — Mia and Madison flip flopped. Mason held while Jayden rose — with the two new arrivals of Liam (ousting Daniel) and Elizabeth (kicking out Chloe). Old-fashioned names like Henry (No. 43) and Lucy (No. 66) continued their ascent, alongside modern picks like Wyatt (No. 41) and Harper (No. 24).

I find baby names a fascinating cultural statement — pairings of sounds that please the ear and ignite the imagination, somehow expressing the great REFERENCE expectations of parents in just a handful of letters. My POINTS girlfriends and I keep lists in Google documents, reconsidering childhood favorites and combing the Christina family tree.

CAPECCHI That’s why I was delighted to receive a copy of “The Catholic Baby Name Book,” written by Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur and published this year by Ave Maria Press. The 554-page paperb ack contains short biographies for more than 3,000 saints along with many more derivatives and alternative spellings.

If you’re looking to name your child after a saint — and what better inspiration is there?

— this book is your definitive guide.

For Patrice is a 38-year-old Massachusetts mom reflection who spent a year researching and writing this book, whipping out her laptop at any What saint do you opportunity — in the school lobby, in the admire most? In what car, at a Panera, in the living room once her way does he or she kids were in bed. inspire you?

“I was blown away by the different paths to sanctity,” she told me. “There are the expected popes, monks, nuns and martyrs, but there are also saints of every profession and economic background.

There are saints who led lives of holiness from day one and others who were notorious sinners before giving themselves to God, those that died young and those that lived long lives. Each of these saints has something to teach us about living a life dedicated to God. Knowing we have these friends up in heaven is a wonderful gift.”

I, too, was dazzled by Patrice’s findings, especially the religious meaning behind trendy names, which I tend to view as secular.

Aiden, for instance, is linked to the seventh-century Irish saint Aidan; Ava, meanwhile, was a Benedictine nun cured of blindness. Sophia, the winner among girls, was a saint whose three daughters — Faith, Hope and Charity — were also canonized. The catalog of saints includes sturdy picks, such as David and Michael, and delicious girl names like Faustina, Seraphina and Anastasia.

“They give an air of sophistication,” Patrice said. “I can easily imagine a member of royalty having those names.”

As for comebacks, she’s got her money on Francis, as inspired by our new pope, and Mary, which currently doesn’t crack the top 100, outranked by Savannah, Serenity, Sydney and Skylar. “[Mary] is such a beautiful name in honor of the most beautiful woman who ever lived.”

That’s the ultimate goal: to emulate the saint whose name we bear, to feel at once dignified, challenged and comforted by the commonality.

Their lives are filled with bread crumbs leading us to heaven. If one path doesn’t pan out, there’s always another saint to point the way. As for Patrice, she’s chosen St. Therese as her patron saint but calls on St. Anne for parenting wisdom and St. Gianna as a working mom.

In an era of celebrity worship, saints offer real-world inspiration.

Lodovico founded an orphanage and a publishing house; Begga built a convent after she was widowed; Eric evangelized. When we learn about their trials and triumphs, we can more easily see a place for ourselves at the table. What a raucous feast it is!

Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.

Rediscover-faith.org

Father Keating to present second talk in Rediscover: Speakers Series The Catholic Spirit The second talk of the fall Rediscover: faith Speakers Series is scheduled for Sept.

30 to Oct. 3 at four locations.

Father Michael Keating, a professor in the Catholic Studies department at the University of St. Thomas, will present, “Rediscover: belonging — Living in Communion with God” at Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata; Epiphany in Coon Rapids; University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; and Pax Christi in Eden Prairie. (See full schedule at right) Father Keating will reveal how living the life Catholics are called to lead through baptism unites them with God and to the family of faith — a family 1.2 billion strong across the globe and growing.

Gathering as a community The first talk in the series, “Rediscover: meaning — Finding God’s Purpose for My Life,” was given by Father Peter Laird, vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and attended by nearly 1,000 people at the same four locations.

“One thing that stuck with me is the need to recognize our own sin, but not fail to recognize God’s great mercy and love for us, because I think it’s really easy to just recognize our sin and not receive the love and mercy and grace,” said Andrea Dolsky, a student at the University of St. Thomas who attended Father Laird’s presentation.

“It was good to hear that again because I need to receive God’s love more and accept it into my life,” she said.

“I think it’s really important for us [as Catholics] to come together, not only to learn more about our faith, but to create a better sense of community,” said Ashley Zweber, a member of St. Michael in Prior Lake who also attended the talk at UST. “We can look to others to deepen our faith and also just listen and think about things you wouldn’t normally think about if you were just sitting at home.”

All talks are free. For more information about the Rediscover: initiative, visit the website at www.rediscover-faith.org.

Patron saints serve as our special intercessors some saints went overboard in fasting and other ascetical practices and were so severe that they jeopardized their health and well-being. An old priest friend of mine was fond of saying, “The saints are to be admired, not imitated.” It was his way of saying that the saints can inspire and motivate us, but we should be careful about how we imitate them, doing so in a balanced and reasonable way that helps us to make spiritual progress.

The liturgical calendar places saints in a number of categories: the apostles, the foundation of the Church, its first shepherds and teachers, who watch over and protect it still; the martyrs, who have died for their faith and given heroic witness; pastors, great preachers and teachers; virgins and religious, those who have consecrated their lives to Christ for the sake of the Kingdom; and holy men and women.

The saints can serve as our intercessors. Everyone is free to pray directly to God. But if a saint is already in heaven at God’s throne while we are not, and if a saint enjoys God’s special favor while we are sinners, instead of approaching God directly, it may be beneficial to ask a saint to approach God on our behalf with our prayers and concerns.

Back by popular demand!

These talks drew 12,000 attendees in early 2013. If you missed the talks then, or just want to experience them all over again, make plans to attend — and bring a friend or family member with you.

New sites, including University of St. Thomas All talks begin at 7:00 p.m.

Talks are free and no registration is required.

Living in Communion with God Presented by Father Michael Keating Monday, September 30 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, October 1 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, October 2 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, October 3 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

Overcoming Life’s Challenges Through God’s Grace Presented by Father Andrew Cozzens Monday, October 21 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, October 22 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, October 23 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, October 24 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

the way

Keeping God at the Center of My Life Presented by Deacon Joseph Michalak Monday, November 4 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, November 5 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, November 6 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, November 7 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

For more information, please visit

Special designations Many saints are honored as patron saints. A patron saint is a special intercessor before God for a special concern. The saint and the cause may be chosen by the Church, a pope, widespread popular acclaim or by an individual.

There are patron saints for dioceses, parishes, schools, hospitals, cemeteries and religious organizations, as well as individual persons, often as indicated by the saint chosen for one’s name at the time of baptism.

There are patron saints for places such as countries and regions, towns and cities; and for a wide variety of other things such as occupations and professions, diseases and medical conditions, various stages of life, and problem situations.

Rediscover-faith.org

Rediscover is a trade mark of the Archdioces of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata.

Listen for inspirational stories

Tune in 9 a.m. Friday to1330 AM on Relevant Radio

The Catholic Spirit • September 26 , 2013

Rediscover-faith.org