OCTOBER 2012 ■ 9
NEWEARTH
Seminarian asks Jesus to ‘take the wheel’ By John Miller
I
t’s hard to believe my second year of seminary has already begun. Was it really already 365 days ago that I was fresh off the farm and learning how to do my own laundry? Although I still don’t know how to tie a tie, it’s amazing how much a guy can learn in one year. My parents were gracious enough to drive with me to Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and as I was driving with them down an expressway, my mom commented, “Johnny, you’re sure good at driving in the big city.” Although being a good city driver has certainly never been on my bucket list, I guess it’s not a bad skill to have. After a year of driving in Detroit, I’ve learned how to change lanes without swearing. My next goal is to learn how to change lanes without making other drivers swear, but one step at a time. I remember well, as do my three passengers, my first time driving in Detroit. Somehow I ended up going the wrong way down a one-way. Luckily there were four lanes and it wasn’t rush hour, so I was able to find an open lane so my passengers and I were safe. I figured they must have made that many lanes just in case someone from North Dakota drives through and needs an extra lane. Obviously, I’ve survived my first year of driving in Detroit. This is yet another reason I know that God has a plan for my life.
A
ll joking aside, the year really has started out wonderfully for me. It amazes me how many different personSUNDAY
Northern Red River Valley’s first Ultreya slated for Oct. 27
“After a year of driving in Detroit, I’ve learned how to change lanes without swearing. My next goal is to learn how to change lanes without making other drivers swear, but one step at a time.
After many years of active evangelization by the Cursillo movement throughout the Diocese of Fargo, the fire of Cursillo has spread to many living in the northeast corner of North Dakota. As a result, a group of “Cursillistas” have organized the first Ultreya in the northern Red River Valley, to take place on Saturday, Oct. 27.
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An Ultreya is a large gathering of Cursillistas, spouses and anyone interested in learning more about the Cursillo movement. The upcoming event is intended for those who live in the Fargo Diocese and surrounding areas.
John Miller alities there are in the seminary. God really does call all sorts of young men to his altar. For example, the mother of one young man just had her 14th child this summer. Another converted to Catholicism just two years ago after reading “Theology of the Body” by Pope John Paul II. He gave up his career as a family doctor to come to seminary to seek God’s call in his life. It is very obvious here that God has a great plan for his Church. You can see it and sense it in the hearts of his future priests. Jesus is calling great men who already have the mission of the Gospel engraved into their hearts. It is certainly not a time to be discouraged as Catholics. Coming back to seminary, I’ve had to dust off my philosophy books. Somehow they didn’t get read over the sum-
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Miller
mer. Philosophy is certainly not a major geared for an extroverted personality such as me, but as with many things in life, you can’t turn back to the shore just because the sand turns to mud. So whether you’re studying philosophy, or driving down a one-way the wrong way, Jesus is always ready to take the wheel, as long as we’re willing to let go. For Jesus tells us in John 14:18, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” John Miller, Lawton, is a College III seminarian for the diocese, studying at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit.
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THURSDAY
The evening will begin with Mass at 5 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Minto, followed by a potluck meal, speaker and small group discussions. The history of the event began with a vibrant and enthusiastic group of “Cursillistas” who began meeting monthly in the Minto area in April of 2011 after several of them attended a weekend retreat earlier that year. Since then, more attended a Cursillo in early 2012 and the reunions have grown to nearly 20 people. All are invited to this time of prayer and fellowship.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
October 2012
Fr. Gary Luiten Park River - Veseleyville St. Giles
2
Fr. Timothy Johnson
1
Fr. Richard Fineo
2
Fr. Raymond Courtright
3
Fr. Leo Kinney
4
Dillingen Franciscan Sisters OSF
5
Msgr. Wendelyn Vetter
6
Fr. Donald Leiphon
Oriska - Hope - Sanborn
Holy Apostles Seminary
Fargo - St. Anthony
Larimore
Hankinson
Retired
Retired
(Martyrs of September)
St. Therese of Lisieux
Guardian Angels
St. Theodore Guerin
St. Francis of Assisi
St. Faustina Kowalska
Bl. Marie Rose Durocher
7
Strong Marriages and Families
8
(Our Lady of the Rosary)
14
21
Fr. Joseph Barrett
15
Fr. John Cavanaugh
9
Fr. Bert Miller
10
Fr. Neil Pfeifer
11
Fr. Jack Davis
12
Fr. William McDermott
13
Fr. Scott Sautner
Reynolds - Thompson
West Fargo - Blessed Sacrament
Grand Forks - St. Michael
Retired
Langdon - Nekoma - Wales
Hankinson - Fairmount
St. John Leonardi
St. Denis
St. Francis Borgia
Bl. John XXIII
Our Lady of the Pillar
St. Edward the Confessor
Fr. Philip Chacko
16
Fr. Gerard Braun
17
Fr. William Gerlach
18
Fr. Luke Meyer
19
Fr. Brian Moen
20
Fr. Richard LaCorte
Jamestown - Buchanan Pingree - Windsor
Rolette - Bisbee - Willow City
Grand Forks - St. Michael
Oakes - Forman
Chancellor
St. Michael Indian Mission
Retired
(St. Callistus I)
St. Teresa of Avila
St. Gerard Majella
St. Ignatius of Antioch
St. Luke
Sts. Isaac Jogues & Comps.
St. Paul of the Cross
Fr. James Goodwin
22
Fr. Kevin Boucher
23
Fr. James Ermer
24
Fr. Anthony Hession
25
26 Riley Durkin
Fr. Frank Miller
27
Fr. Jake Miller
Fargo - Marriage Tribunal
Fargo - Nativity
Casselton - Buffalo
St. Michael Indian Mission
Seminarian - College II
Harvey - Selz
Rolla - Rock Lake
(Bl. Carlo of Austria)
Bl. John Paul II
St. John of Capistrano
St. Anthony Mary Claret
40 Martyrs of England/Wales
St. Evaristus
Bl. Emilina
28
Fr. Jude Okafor
29
Fr. Gerald McCarthy
30
Fr. Jim Tiu
Walhalla - Neche
Retired
Wahpeton Carmel of Mary Chplain
(Sts. Simon & Jude)
St. Gaetano Errico
St. Alonso Rodriguez
31
Fr. Louden-Hans Flisk Retired St. Wolfgang
Pray for Vocations “Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart?” — St. Gerard Majella