VOL. 69, NO. 7
WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG
April 8, 2015
Alleluia! He has been raised!
May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.
For more photos of the Sacred Triduum celebration at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, turn to the back page of Our Northland Diocese. The 2015 Paschal Candle is lifted high after being processed to the front of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception during the Easter Vigil Mass April 4. (Photo credit: Janelle C. Gergen/OND)
INSIDE
VOL. 69, NO. 7:
Pg. 3 - Year of Consecrated Life Supplement Pg. 11 - Bishop Hoeppner at Cathedral School Pg. 6 - Bishop Hoeppner’s Visit to Holy Rosary School Pg. 15 - Word to Life Faith Sharing Commentary Pg. 8 - Chrism Mass Photo Spread Pg. 16 - Holy Thursday & Good Friday Coverage
2 April 8, 2015
A
COMMENTARY
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
Voice from the Valley BY BISHOP MICHAEL J. HOEPPNER
EASTER 2015 A blessed and joyous Easter to all. May God bless you abundantly this Easter and throughout the Easter Season as we, like those first witnesses, marvel at the presence of our crucified, yet risen Lord and revel in the joy and peace of the new life Jesus has won for us. Yes, we are indeed deeply aware this Easter, as St. Paul reminds us that, thanks be to God’s grace, we have been baptized into Christ. We have been baptized into his death, buried with him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too might rise to a glorious new life. With Christ’s faithful throughout the whole world, we rejoice for we have “put on Christ.” We feel the “perfect fit.” We’re “lookin’ good” in our “new outfit” of redeemed life. At the Easter Vigil this year, we hear from the Gospel of St. Mark. In Mark, Jesus’ mission is clear: “The Son of Man did not come to be served but rather to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk 10:45) Jesus comes to us bringing God’s mercy and compassion. He heals and casts out devils. He forgives sins. He has come to liberate us from the power and reign of evil, from death. He comes to establish God’s reign in the world. The healing power of Jesus that
“Let happy voices sing and glad exultant church bells ring. Let flowers waft perfume on high and people’s praises rend the sky. For hope has sprung from empty tomb which sealed for sin and death their doom; And man, estranged from God, restored because He bore our sins, my Lord. A fruitful life He offered me when he made death so glorious be. His love, His work, His power, His way, He gave on Resurrection Day.” -Merle Marquis Frank
enables him to confront the power of evil that overwhelms people through illness and death will find its ultimate expression on the cross where Jesus gives his life for the sake of others. In stark terms, Mark describes the moment of Jesus’ death. Jesus’ last words are the lament prayer of Ps. 22: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me,” and then, Mark says, Jesus “let out a loud cry and died,” literally he breathed out or expired. (Mk 15:37) At the most fundamental level, the final anguished cry of Jesus and the unadorned description of his final breath give to Mark’s account a sobriety and completeness. As he promised, Jesus gives his all. He gives his life for the many. The crucifixion is God’s power, God’s powerful love, revealed in weakness.
“Whoever loses his life in selfless service will save it and others.” (c.f. Why the Cross? Donald Senior, Abingdon Press, 2014) As we hear the account of the empty tomb, we share in the amazement and excitement of the three women of Mark’s account. “Very early when the sun had risen on the first day of the week they came to the tomb.” These three women, Mark says, had “served him [Jesus]” and had “come to Jerusalem with him” and had witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion. (Mk 15:14) The heavenly messenger makes the Easter proclamation: “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised …” What Jesus proclaimed in word and deed has happened. The one who lost his life has saved it. The power of
BISHOP’S CALENDAR April 14 April 17 April 18 April 19 April 19 April 20-22 April 22
7:45 a.m.
Mass, Cathedral, Crookston
5:00 p.m.
Mass with Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Worthington, Minn.
5:00 p.m.
Confirmation, Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes
9:00 a.m.
Confirmation, St. Peter the Apostle, Park Rapids
2:00 p.m.
Confirmation, St. Philip’s, Bemidji Spring Priests’ Days, Bemidji
6:30 p.m. Family Faith Night, St. Philip’s, Bemidji
VICTIM ASSISTANCE STATEMENT: If you or someone you know has been sexually abused, your first call should be to law enforcement. If you have been abused by a Catholic priest or another person in Church ministry, the Diocese of Crookston Victim’s Assistance Coordinator is also available to offer you help and healing. Please contact Louann McGlynn at 218281-7895 (24-hour confidential number) or Lmcglynn@crookston.org.
sin and death has been broken. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead lifts his act of service and love to a unique level, affirming that God is not a vindictive or an arbitrary, death-dealing potentate but a God who is life-giving and whose love for humanity knows no bounds. Through the cross and resurrection, new life is offered to all. (c.f. Why the Cross?) My friends, Easter invites us to live as Jesus lived. Easter chal-
lenges us to make love more visible in our world, God’s love for all people and our love too. We are challenged to give our all for love as did our loving Savior. If we are willing to do this, love will triumph in our world. Love will overcome evil, even in spite of our own weaknesses and imperfections. Easter celebrates the wonderful transformations for good that can happen when people “give their all” and follow the model Jesus gave in loving others. Even suffering can be transformed when we give our love and support to those who suffer. Yes, hope has indeed sprung from the empty tomb. The whole world rejoices, for a fruitful life is offered to all. Christ does indeed give us “His love, His work, His power, His way” this Resurrection Day. May God bless you all and fill you with Easter joy and peace, now and forever.
(USPS 414-940)
Our Northland Diocese is a semi-monthly newspaper committed to publishing Good News for the purpose of strengthening and furthering the Reign of God in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Crookston.
Subscriptions: $13.65 per year in the diocese, $14.90 per year outside the diocese. Publisher:
The Most Reverend Michael J. Hoeppner Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston
Editor:
Rev. Robert Schreiner Office of the New Evangelization, Director
Associate Editor:
Mrs. Janelle C. Gergen jgergen@crookston.org
Editorial Assistant: Mrs. Katrina Genereux kgenereux@crookston.org Proofreader:
Deacon Dan Hannig
For questions about subscriptions or address changes, please contact: Renee Tate at rtate@crookston.org Periodical postage paid in Crookston, MN and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send address changes to: Our Northland Diocese PO Box 610, Crookston, MN 56716-0610 Phone: 218-281-4533 Publishing dates and submission deadlines for news and advertisements can be found online: http://www.crookston.org/ond/
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Devotion to Holy Eucharist closely related to vocations by Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J.
THE EUCHARIST AND VOCATIONS It is impossible to exaggerate the close relation between the Holy Eucharist and vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This is only to be expected once we realize that every vocation is a special grace from God, and the greatest source of grace we have is the Eucharist as Presence, Sacrifice, and Communion. Faith tells us that Christ is really present on our altars, that He really offers Himself in the Mass, and that we really receive Him in Holy Communion. In each case, the Living Christ is now inspiring men and women to give themselves to Him with all their hearts and follow Him in the extension of His Kingdom. The Eucharist, therefore, is the best way to foster vocations. This means that persons who attend Mass, receive Commu-
nion and invoke Christ in the Blessed Sacrament obtain light and strength that no one else has a claim to. The Eucharist is also the best way to recognize vocations. Show me a man or woman devoted to the Eucharist and I will show you a person who is an apt subject for the priesthood or the religious life. The Eucharist is finally the infallible way of preserving one’s vocation. This is especially true of devotion to the Real Presence. Is it any wonder that saintly priests and religious over the centuries have been uncommonly devoted to the Blessed Sacrament? They know where to obtain the help they need to remain faithful to their
vocations. It is from the same Christ who called them and who continues to sustain them in his consecrated service. Vocations begin with the Eucharist; they are developed through the Eucharist; and they are preserved by the Eucharist. All of this is true because the Eucharist is Jesus Christ, still on earth, working through men and women whom he calls to share his plan for salvation. Servant of God Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., founded the Institute on Religious Life in 1974. These meditations written by him were taken from the Institute on Religious Life at http://irl.solutciosoftware.com.
PLEASE pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life
April 8, 2015
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4 April 8, 2015
COMMENTARY
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
“Libby, I will catch you … I promise!” Friends came for a visit recently and stayed at one of the local motels which has a small pool and water park. It was a family affair. Mom and Dad with their three daughters: Sally, age six; Libby, age three; and Emma, just a babe. Much of the time we visited near the pool while Mom and Dad took turns with the girls. While one parent leisurely wrinkled in the pool with Sally and Libby, the other took care of the baby in the motel room. Sally, the six-year-old is a fish. She loved the water and would have stayed there the entire three days of the visit if she could have. She was fun to watch as her goggles fogged up, but she still emphatically claimed to be seeing perfectly. Libby, on the other hand, was not so sure. She would watch her older sister jump, swim and get tossed through the air by Mom or Dad. Libby would stand with her toes over the edge of the pool, wanting to take the plunge but her courage
LIFE FIRST
By Father Don Braukmann Parochial Vicar - St. Philip’s Parish, Bemidji and St. Charles Parish, Pennington
fainted. A few minutes later, Dad swam over to Libby and stood in the pool just a foot away from her with his hands outstretched. They both had a smile although Libby’s had a tinge of anxiousness mixed in. As Dad reached out to her he said, “Libby, I will catch you … I promise!” Libby jumped. Dad made the catch. And the whole pool area was filled with the squeal of delight, from Dad more than Libby! Of course, Libby had to try her daring leap again, and again, and again. With each shuffle up to the edge of the pool with toes dangling over the edge,
she waited for those words of her Dad, “I will catch you … I promise.” The jump would be made; Dad would delight in his daughter as she clung to her hero. It was safe. There was no fear. It was okay. Dad was there. He never failed in catching Libby. The next day Mom was in the pool and there was Libby swimming away on her own with her floaties attached to each shoulder. I thought that was the end of the jumping into Dad’s arms; Libby was now a pro in the pool. Yet, not so fast! I had to chuckle as Mom and Dad switched shifts in the pool.
When Mom went up to their room to be with Emma, Dad took her place in the pool. Suddenly Libby was back out of the pool, toes dangling on the edge, back to her old self. She was going to milk Dad’s ignorance of her new found deep water courage for all it was worth! Sure enough, there swam Dad, reaching up out of the pool toward Libby just a foot away saying, “Libby, I’ll catch you, I promise.” And the daredevil jumping resumed! When I told Mom and Dad of Libby’s little game, they rolled their eyes and grinned. They both find great delight in their children. “Delight” in their children; Psalm 149, verse four says, “The Lord takes delight in his children.” For three days, nothing was more important to those girls than having Mom and Dad playing with them, laughing with them and kissing them between dives. There was nothing more important on those days,
in those moments, in that pool, than the Father saying to his child, “I will catch you, I promise.” What the girls did not fully understand was that in the midst of all the joy they knew that weekend was the fact Dad had been laid off just a few days before. Their home was a oneincome household. Their minivacation had been planned in advance and Mom and Dad refused to disappoint their girls. What a weekend: God delighting in his five children as they delighted in each other. Family, marriage, faith, hope and love, all poured into a miniature pool in Bemidji. All because a faithful couple dares to stand on the edge of the pool with toes dangling over the edge, convinced God is daring them to jump into the mystery of life saying “I will catch you … I promise!”
MERCY: The privileged place of encounter I want to place before you in this edition of CREDO some of the words of Pope Francis spoken to a gathering of members of the Ecclesial Movement “Communion and Liberation.” I think they are powerful New Evangelization thoughts, of their own right. But in the double context of our celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday and the announcement of the Jubilee Year of Mercy to come, I really want you to read for yourselves the message the Holy Father gave on March 7, 2015. “Speaking about the encounter brings to mind ‘The calling of St Matthew’, the Caravaggio [painting] in the Church of St Louis of the French, which I used to spend much time in front of every time I came to Rome. None of them who were there, including Matthew, greedy for money, could believe the message in that finger pointing at him, the message in those eyes that looked at him with mercy and chose him for the sequela (i.e., following/ school). He felt this astonishment of the encounter. The encounter with Christ who comes
CREDO
A NEW EVANGELIZATION WITNESS
By Father Robert Schreiner, S.T.L. Director of the Office of the New Evangelization
“Only one who has been caressed by the tenderness of mercy truly knows the Lord. The privileged place of encounter is the caress of Jesus’ mercy regarding my sin.” -Pope Francis
and invites us is like this. “Everything in our life, today as in the time of Jesus, begins with an encounter. An encounter with this Man, the carpenter from Nazareth, a man like all men and at the same time different. Let us consider the Gospel of John, there where it tells of the disciples’ first encounter with Jesus [Jn. 1:3542]. Andrew, John, Simon: they feel themselves being looked at to their very core, intimately known, and this generates
surprise in them, an astonishment which immediately makes them feel bonded to Him. ... Or when, after the Resurrection, Jesus asks Peter: ‘Do you love me?’ [Jn 21:15], and Peter responds: ‘Yes’; this yes was not the result of a power of will, it did not come only by decision of the man Simon: it came even before from Grace, it was that [“going before”], that preceding of Grace. This was the decisive discovery for St Paul, for St Augustine, and so many oth-
er saints: Jesus Christ is always first, He [goes before] us, awaits us, Jesus Christ always precedes us; and when we arrive, He has already been waiting. He is like the almond blossom: the one that blooms first, and announces the arrival of spring. “One cannot understand this dynamic of the encounter if astonishment and adherence are inspired without mercy. Only one who has been caressed by the tenderness of mercy truly knows the Lord. The privileged place of encounter is the caress of Jesus’ mercy regarding my sin. This is why you may have heard me say, several times, that the place for this, the privileged place of the encounter with Jesus Christ is my sin. The will to respond and to change, which can give rise to a different life, comes thanks to this merciful embrace. Christian morality is not a titanic, voluntary effort, of one who decides to be coherent and who manages to do so, a sort of isolated challenge before the world. No. This is not Christian morality, it is something else. Christian morality is a response, it is the heartfelt
response before the surprising, unforeseeable — even ‘unfair’ according to human criteria — mercy of One who knows me, knows my betrayals and loves me just the same, appreciates me, embraces me, calls me anew, hopes in me, has expectations of me. Christian morality is not a never falling down, but an always getting up, thanks to his hand which catches us. This too is the way of the Church: to let the great mercy of God become manifest. I said in recent days to the new Cardinals: ‘The way of the Church is not to condemn anyone for eternity; [but] to pour out the balm of God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart. The way of the Church is precisely to leave her four walls behind and to go out in search of those who are distant, those essentially on the “outskirts” of life. It is to adopt fully God’s own approach’, which is that of mercy (Homily, 15 February 2015). The Church, too, must feel the joyous impetus to become an almond blossom, i.e. spring, like Jesus, for all of humanity.”
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
COMMENTARY
April 8, 2015
5
Inside a week at the Minnesota Capitol
FAITH
IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE
By Mr. Jason Adkins Executive Director Minnesota Catholic Conference
Minnesota Catholic Conference staff is often asked to describe a typical day at the office. Though every day is different, we are blessed that it is only the rare occasion on which MCC’s policy team spends the whole day behind a desk. This is how it should be, because public policy advocacy requires an entrepreneurial spirit and lots of relationship building — which is not much different than the dynamics of those who work in sales. Fortunately, we get to pitch a good product that we truly believe in: public policy guided by the perennial principles of Catholic Social Teaching. This makes every day a blessing and an adventure. And though our proposals can sometimes meet strong (and not necessarily rational or kind) resistance, we press on with hopeful spirits, knowing that today’s opponent might be tomorrow’s ally. It requires constant reminders to be civil, a great deal of patience and prayer, and, admittedly, the occasional stiff drink. Here is a brief look at highlights from the week of March 16 – 20: Monday: An interview with Relevant
Radio St. Cloud affiliate KYES; testify on religious liberty bill; work with legislative committee administrator to secure bill hearing; draft revised bill language; prepare with bill author for meetings with the legislation’s potential opponents; update Catholic Advocacy Network bill tracker with latest bills we support or oppose. Tuesday: Restore the Vote MN legislative subcommittee meeting; secure committee hearing for Prenatal Trisomy Diagnosis Awareness Act; send out Catholic Advocacy Network communication encouraging members to attend a legislator’s town hall gathering; create legislation fact sheets necessary for upcoming committee hearings; correspond with national and global surrogacy awareness partners on recent United Nations discussions surrounding need to study surrogacy. Wednesday: Emcee Restore the Vote MN coalition press conference; meet with emerging surrogacy awareness partners; correspond with coalition of churches and educational organizations opposing the imposition of property taxes on private schools and houses of
Jason Adkins speaks at the Restore the Vote press conference on March 18. (Submitted photo)
worship (bill defeated!); interview with Catholic Spirit about Governor Dayton’s supplemental budget proposal; arrange editorial board meeting with major media outlet on voter restoration legislation. Thursday: Host Minnesota Non-public Education Day on the Hill to inform and train private school leaders to advocate for public policies that offer families more educational options; prepare with bill author for upcoming committee hearing; meet with Legislative Revisor’s office to discuss new bill language; prepare for upcoming hearing on surrogacy study commission bill with legislative allies. Friday: Opportunity for All Kids education coalition weekly conference call; testify in support of surrogacy study commission in House Government Operations Committee; Minnesotans for Surrogacy Awareness coalition strategy meeting; meet with diocesan communications directors and newspaper editors to coordinate media opportunities; distribute Catholic Advocacy Network monthly E-update; meet with
legislative allies to coordinate outreach and messaging for physician-assisted suicide committee hearing; correspond with policymakers about marriage and family legislation. Saturday: Host a table at the Archdiocesan Men’s Conference. This past week, MCC’s team had 50 meetings with legislators, not including meetings with their assistants or other legislative staff. Some days we feel like we are selling encyclopedias. I have not listed the meeting preparation, scheduling, and follow-up correspondence, or the day-to-day business duties necessary to keep our wheels rolling. And while our small staff of five is busy, the work of witnessing our faith individually and in solidarity as Catholics never ends. Ultimately, the success or failure of our efforts in many instances depends on your witness, your prayers, and your personal follow-up with your legislator after we leave his or her office. Please join us in living your “faith in the public arena.” As Pope Francis says, “a good Catholic meddles in politics.”
Contact your legislators today and urge them to support the following bills by sharing the messages below: SF 348/HF 437: SUPPORT A LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON SURROGACY “Please support SF 348/HF 437, which would establish a legislative commission for surrogacy. Our state has already identified the need to take a more serious, in-depth look at the many concerns associated with gestational agreements like surrogacy contracts. A legislative commission to study surrogacy is the right next step to help ensure Minnesota is protecting potentially vulnerable women, children, and families from the unintended consequences of some surrogacy arrangements.” For Catholic teaching and public policy details on these bills, or for instructions on how to contact your legislators, visit the “Advocacy” tab in the MCC Action Center (www.mncc.org/actioncenter).
6 April 8, 2015
AROUND THE DIOCESE
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
Holy Rosary School welcomes Bishop Hoeppner
Students learn about the meaning of processions in Mass during visit
Students and staff of Holy Rosary School process forward to receive Holy Communion and blessings from Father Todd Arends, Associate Pastor, Holy Rosary, and Bishop Hoeppner. The March 18 Mass was held in the Holy Family room because of construction in the sanctuary. (Photos by: Katrina Genereux/OND)
Above: Following school Mass, Principal Mike Connell and Father Todd Arends serve orange juice and muffins to students in the school gymnasium.
Msgr. Timothy McGee shows Bishop Hoeppner the progress of the ongoing construction. The parish hopes to resume celebrating Mass in the newly renovated church on May 3.
Right: Bishop Hoeppner spends a few moments answering questions from three young men in the gymnasium while snacks are served. Bishop Hoeppner greeted the students while they ate their muffins before heading back to class.
Bishop Hoeppner calls on a student to name one of the seven sacraments. The kindergarten through third grade students gathered to hear about the sacraments, and the signs of a bishop. After meeting with the younger grades, Bishop Hoeppner spoke with the fourth and fifth grade classes about the symbolism of the Mass parts, and the importance of viewing the Mass through the lens of faith. He pointed out that every procession at Mass begins on earth and ends in heaven, and that rather than just seeing candles, the students should envision the lights of heaven. To end the visit, Bishop Hoeppner spoke with the sixth through eighth graders about vocations and the Church’s teaching on marriage.
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
AROUND THE DIOCESE
April 8, 2015
7
Sister Helen Margaret Obermiller, OSB, dies
Sister Helen Margaret Obermiller died peacefully at Villa St. Vincent on Saturday, March 21. Helen Margaret was born in Faith, Minn. on Nov. 21, 1918, to Francis and Josephine (Rubash) Obermiller, the youngest of 27 children. Her father had eleven previous children and her mother brought fourteen to the union which concluded with another brother, Stan, and lastly Helen Margaret. Stan once said that “it was standing room only in the playpen”. Helen Margaret had a happy childhood with much praying, singing, dancing, skating, reading, and teasing! Since either her mom or an older brother was always on the country school board, she remembered that they had “the magic key [that] could always open our way to good library books”. In school, and later in the convent, she was known as the giggler. She began thinking of religious life as an eighth grader because of the love of liturgy she acquired from Father Charles Cannon, her pastor: the Benedictine sisters who taught at St.
Michael’s, Mahnomen; and her mother who took Helen Margaret with her to daily Mass. She entered the Benedictine community in January of 1936 and made her final profession on July 10, 1940. Sister Helen Margaret’s early years of ministry included teaching elementary education in many schools including: Thief River Falls, Crookston, East Grand Forks, Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, and Mahtomedi in Minnesota; as well as Lefor, North Dakota. She received a threeyear normal diploma for this ministry at Viterbo College. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education at the same school before going on to graduate studies in the teaching of English at North Dakota State University. Sister Helen Margaret’s ministry then included teaching high school English at Sacred Heart High School, Lefor Public School, and Mount Saint Benedict High School. Sister Helen Margaret seemed to have a passion for classic literature, including Shakespeare.
Sister Helen Margaret Obermiller
She sent a postcard from England to the monastery in 1979 with this message: “Greetings from Shakespeare! Like Simeon of old, ‘I am ready to die’, I have seen Stratford.” In addition to teaching, another of Sister Helen Margaret’s talents was as a gifted writer. she was a member of The Crookston Benedictine staff and also wrote much poetry. She wrote poems in honor of her mom, her brother, Stan, members of her monastic community. Other subjects of her poems included nature
Memorial Mass, celebrations to be held for Sister Marie Schwan, CSJ A memorial Mass to celebrate the life, death and eternal life of Sister Marie Schwan, CSJ, will take place on May 1 at 4:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston, Minn. Bishop Victor Balke will preside at the liturgy for Sister Marie Schwan who died at St. Joseph Center in Cleveland, Ohio, on Dec. 30, 2014. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Crookston want everyone who knew Sister Marie through personal encounters, through her retreats and books or through her ministry in the Diocese of Crookston to join them for the memorial Mass and
supper in the parish dining room following Mass. An opportunity for storytelling and sharing of memories will be offered during this time. A Funeral Mass for Sister Marie Schwan will be celebrated June 18, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Church in Somerset, Wis., her home parish. Father Andy Anderson, pastor of St. Anne’s Parish, will preside. Following the liturgy, Sister Marie’s cremated remains will be inurned in the Schwan family plot at St. Anne’s Cemetery. Family members, friends and acquaintances of Sister Marie are in-
vited to participate in these final rites and to stay for a meal at St. Anne’s Church following the inurnment. Because a meal will be served at these two events, a separate RSVP is requested for each. Persons planning to attend the May 1 celebration in Crookston are asked to RSVP by April 11 to Sister Pat Murphy at 218-2800742 or pmurphy@csjoseph.org. Persons planning to attend the June 18 celebration in Somerset, Wis. are asked to RSVP by June 1 to Sister Pat Murphy at 218-2800742 or pmurphy@csjoseph.org.
and everyday things such as her “Ode to an Onion” below: Ode to An Onion O pungent white-faced bulb, Filmy, smooth and moist, Your outer coat peels easily And layers slip away, Revealing yet more richness Of inner onion life. Mid trickling tears I ponder My many-layered self Of pompous pride and “smugful whims” Too clingy to let go. Unless each layer strips away, Can the depth be ever reached? When asked about her greatest recognition or honor, she replied, “I have always received recognition for my greatest talent, namely that of cleaning.” She remembered her contributions to community as “teaching and scrubbing”. Sister Helen Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers and sisters: Paul
Obermiller, Albert Obermiller, Edward Obermiller, Benedict Obermiller, Mary Obermiller, Agnes Obermiller, Alvina Obermiller, Theresa Obermiller, Cecilia Obermiller, Leona Obermiller, Vera Obermiller, John Rubash, Fred Rubash, William Rubash, Bill Rubash, Harry Rubash, George Rubash, Lambert Rubash, Lawrence Rubash, Raymond Rubash, Mary Rubash, Margaret Rubash, Anne Rubash, Evelina Rubash, Ida Rubash, and Stan Obermiller. She is survived by family members, friends, and the members of her monastic community. Visitation was held from 5-7 p.m., March 25, at Sacred Heart Chapel at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery followed by a wake service at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on March 26 at Sacred Heart Chapel.
8 April 8, 2015
DIOCESAN
Preparing th
Priests and people of the Diocese of Crookston celebrate priesth
By Katrina Genereux, Sta
The priests of the Diocese of Crookston stand as Bishop Hoeppner asks them to renew their priestly commitments during the Chrism Mass. (Photos by: Janelle C. Gergen/OND)
CROOKSTON, MINN. — People packed the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on March 30 to celebrate the fourth degree Knights of Columbus in full regalia, the presence of Bishop-emeritus Victor Balke and the attendan this evening. “What a beautiful tradition our Church has. ... Tonight we will hear our priests recommit themselves to the holi secrated them,” Bishop Hoeppner said as he welcomed everyone. Each year, the priests of the Diocese of Crooks During the Mass, the sacred oils to be used in the sacraments throughout the year were consecrated and distribut prayed, “Let us pray that God our Almighty Father will bless this oil so that all who are anointed with it may be in
Renewal of priestly commitment BISHOP: Beloved sons, on the anniversary of that day when Christ our Lord conferred his priesthood on his Apostles and on us, are you resolved to renew, in the presence of your bishop and God’s holy people, the promises you once made? PRIESTS: I am BISHOP: Are you resolved to be more united with the Lord Jesus and more closely conformed to him, denying yourselves and confirming those promises about sacred duties towards Christ’s Church which, prompted by love of him, you willingly and joyfully pledged on the day of your priestly ordination? PRIESTS: I am BISHOP: Are you resolved to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God in the Holy Eucharist and the other liturgical rites and to discharge faithfully the sacred office of teaching, following Christ the Head and Shepherd, not seeking any gain, but moved by zeal for souls? PRIESTS: I am Following the questions and responses above, Bishop Hoeppner asked all present to pray for the priests, that they would be faithful ministers of Christ and for him that he would be faithful to his apostolic office.
Bishop Hoeppner breathes over the Sacred Chrism, a mixture of olive oil and balsam, which will be used for the Sa
A transitional deacon and priests of the Diocese of Crookston share their thoughts ab
“It just makes me excited. ... I think about how in a few months from now, I’ll be making these promises by myself, and in a year from now, I’ll be renewing them in community.” -Deacon Bryan Kujawa
“It is the case that I have not been perfect in my promises, so it is a time to reflect on that, and to ask for the Lord’s grace to make me more faithful now than I have been in the past. So too it is a special moment, and a necessary one.” -Father Craig Vasek
Deacon Bryan Kujawa is not yet a priest, but is in his last semester of study at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. The sacred Chrism that was consecrated at the Chrism Mass this year will be used to anoint Deacon Kujawa and Deacon John Christianson at their ordaination on May 23.
Father Craig Vasek is in his fourth year of priesthood. He is the pastor of St. Patrick’s, Hallock and Holy Rosary, Lancaster.
“ the Ca an lov I an ch ma T ch
Father Chuck Huck has been a priest serving as pastor of St. Philip’s, Bemidj
DIOCESAN
the holy oils
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
9
riesthood, prepare oil for the year’s sacraments at Chrism Mass
nereux, Staff Writer, OND
brate the annual Chrism Mass. A large diocesan choir, joined by a brass quartet, an honor guard of more than 50 e attendance of many of the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Crookston helped illustrate the importance of
o the holiness of life and to the marvelous service of the ministerial priesthood to which God has called and conof Crookston recall their ordination and renew their priestly commitments during the Chrism Mass. distributed to representatives of each parish in the diocese. As he consecrated the Holy Chrism, Bishop Hoeppner may be inwardly transformed and come to share in eternal salvation.”
for the Sacraments of Initiation and Holy Orders, as well as special dedications throughout the coming year.
Bishop Hoeppner shakes Nevin Lubarski’s hand as he and Kallie Lubarski come forward to receive the blessed oils on behalf of St. Rose of Lima, Argyle.
Father Raul Perez-Cobo, Pastor of St. Patrick’s, Kelliher; St. Ann’s, Blackduck; and St. John’s, Nebish distributes Holy Communion to the faithful gathered for the Chrism Mass on March 30.
hts about the significance of the renewal of priestly commitments at the Chrism Mass: “It is a joy because I remember the first time I stood in the Cathedral and said these vows and it brings it back to me. .... I love being a priest! It’s very simlar to when my wife and I would hold hands and say ‘I choose to love you.’ I loved being married. That’s what this is tonight. I choose to love the Church.”
“This is the time I renew my promises to the Lord. Two promises I make are to humble myself and to be obedient to the will of God. This I renew on this Chrism Mass day.” -Father Manuel Sundaram
“I think it is always important that you renew your vows in regard to obedience to Bishop and for ministry in the diocese.” -Msgr. Timothy McGee
-Father Chuck Huck
a priest for eight years. He is currently s, Bemidji.
Father Manuel “Manny” Sundaram is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination this year. He is currently pastor of St. Joseph’s, Bagley and St. Mary’s, Fosston.
Msgr. Timothy McGee has been a priest for 27 years. He is currently the pastor at Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes.
10 April 8, 2015
AROUND THE DIOCESE
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
Three diocesan schools thank communities for support in annual Catholic Schools Raffle With the help of their surrounding communities, family, and friends, St. Philip’s Catholic School, Bemidji; Sacred Heart School, East Grand Forks and Holy Rosary School in Detroit Lakes were able to raise thousands of dollars to support their schools through the Catholic Schools Raffle sponsored by Catholic United Financial. St. Philip’s raised $13,210 and Sacred Heart raised $6,295 through the program. Holy Rosary received a total of $11,540 from the raffle and two grants. The three schools joined 86 others in Minnesota, South Dakota and North Dakota, raising a little more than $1 million through six weeks of ticket sales and donations. “This program can do so much for our schools,” Catholic Unit-
ed President Harald Borrmann said. “Not only can we open doors with new technology and tools in the classroom, in some cases we can literally keep doors open. For a group that cares as much about Catholic schools as we do, I can’t tell you how rewarding that is for all of us.” Catholic United Financial covers all of the costs of the Catholic Schools Raffle, so that every participating school can keep 100 percent of the proceeds from their ticket sales. Catholic United also provides some incentives for the top ticket seller and classroom at each school, and the top schools among the whole field. Based on tickets sold per student, three schools will receive a $3,000 technology grant in addition to their raffle earnings. Top classes win a pizza
party and the top seller will receive a $100 Visa gift card. Because they pay no overhead to participate, all of the money raised by Sacred Heart School, St. Philip’s, and Holy Rosary School can be used for any needs the schools have. During the March 19 grand prize drawing, winners of almost $45,000 in prizes, including a new car (or $25,000) and a $5,000 vacation package, were drawn from among nearly 200,000 tickets purchased during the six-week raffle. The event was broadcast live on the web and hosted by “WCCO This Morning” anchor Jason DeRusha. Video, photos and a list of prize winners and results are available at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle.
The first grade students of Holy Rosary School were the winning class of the raffle at their school. They took a picture with (from left to right in the back row): Mike Connell, principal; Fr. Todd Arends, Associate Pastor; Debbie Averbeck, teacher; Becky King, Catholic United representative; Nona Willett, technology teacher; Msgr. Tim McGee, Pastor; and Terri Paskey, Advancement Director. (Submitted photo)
Father Manny Sundaram to celebrate 25th anniversary By Adeline Beltz
On Sunday, May 3, Father Manuel “Manny” Sundaram, pastor of St. Joseph’s, Bagley, and St. Mary’s, Fosston, will be honored at a celebration recognizing his Silver Jubilee, or 25 years as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. The festivities will begin at St. Mary’s, Fosston, with a 5 p.m. Mass. Special guests will include Bishop Michael Hoeppner and priests and deacons of the Diocese of Crookston. All present and former parishioners are in-
vited to attend this special event. Jim Martin from St. Joseph’s will emcee a short program after Mass, and dinner will follow in the Fellowship Hall. Father Sundaram was born in Padregudi in southeast India where he went to school with his seven siblings, four brothers and three sisters. His father was a middle school principal, while his mother, now deceased, worked as the head of the Postal Department in his home town. He attended a boarding school to further his education. In college, he earned a Master’s degree
of Divinity in World Religions and was ordained into the priesthood on Sept. 30, 1990, in India by Bishop Edward Francis. In 2001, Father Sundaram came to the United States to study at Loyola University in Baltimore, Md., where he completed a Master’s Degree in counseling psychology. He worked in hospitals and nursing homes as a chaplain and also did pastoral counseling until 2009. From 2009 to 2010, as part of his mission work, he served as pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Roseau, Minn. He then
went to Orange County, California for three years to help his sister, a nurse, get established at a hospital. While there, he again worked as a chaplain. After studies to become a United States citizen, Father Sundaram received his citizenship papers in August of 2012. In 2013 Bishop Hoeppner assigned Father Sundaram to serve the parishes of St. Mary’s in Fosston and St. Joseph’s in Bagley. Father Manuel Sundaram
St. Bernard’s youth perform Living Stations of the Cross Knights of The Living Stations of the Cross was reverently presented by youth of St. Bernard’s parish, Thief River Falls, during Lent. The Living Stations of the Cross is a meaningful portrayal of Christ’s crucifixion and death. Members of the production were Isaac Olson, Lucas Moen, Marcus Steele, Devon Westerlund, Lauryn Thune, Bryce Chapin, Alyce Huot, Elissa Steele, Kathryn Kruta, Gracie Hannon, Kayleen Hoglo, Jace Maslowski, Joshua Wavra, Carsen Retka and Andrew Brang. Music was by Rebecca and Mackenzie Kruta, narrators were Jenna Tadych and Sara Fanfulik. Tanner Wellman was in charge of the lighting. (Submitted photo)
Columbus Initiation
There will be a first, second and third degree initiation into the Knights of Columbus on April 11, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The initiation will start with registration at 8:30 a.m. For more information call John Regan at 218-281-5178 (home) or 218-289-1893 (cell).
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
AROUND THE DIOCESE
April 8, 2015
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Bishop Hoeppner celebrates Annunciation with students at Cathedral School, visits classrooms By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND CROOKSTON, MINN. — On March 25, the celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord, Bishop Michael Hoeppner paid a visit to the Cathedral School. He celebrated Mass with the students and then visited each classroom with Principal Patricia Jones. It was a windy, snowy day. Bishop Hoeppner referenced the weather in his homily saying, “The wind today is very strong. It almost blew my hat off! You can’t see it, but it’s real.” He compared the wind to the angels because we cannot see them, but they are there. He spoke to those gathered to cele-
brate Mass about how, suddenly, Mary was able to see the angel Gabriel and speak to him, saying “... I want to do what God wants me to do.” Bishop Hoeppner talked about other times, especially in Mass, when people use the eyes of faith. “What we are seeing is not bread and wine, it is Jesus,” he said. Bishop Hoeppner continued explaining parts of the Mass viewed through the eyes of faith as he moved through the classrooms. He focused on the Eucharist and processions. “We have two sets of eyes,” he told the sixth grade class. “We have to learn how to see God and see life with eyes of faith.”
Deacon Denny Bivens proclaims the Gospel during school Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. (Photos by: Katrina Genereux/OND) Bishop Hoeppner raises his hand to bless the students in Mrs. Webster’s class. He spoke with the sixth graders about how processions at Mass begin on earth and end in heaven.
After visiting classrooms in the morning, Bishop Hoeppner stopped by the cafeteria to talk with students as they ate lunch. Here he is speaking with some students from the kindergarten and first grade classes.
Bishop Hoeppner chats with Mrs. Kraft’s second grade class about their upcoming First Eucharist. He encouraged the children to listen very carefully for the voice of Jesus after they receive Him in the Eucharist for the first time. He also shared his memories of preparing for his own First Holy Communion.
12 April 8, 2015
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OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
Important things to know when receiving disclosures of abuse April is Child Abuse Prevention month. The diocesan office of Safe Environment wishes to share the following Safe Enviornment reminders: From Minnesota Statutes Chapter 626.556 Subd. 3: Persons mandated to report. (a) A person who knows or has reason to believe a child is being neglected or physically or sexually abused, as defined in subdivision 2[1], or has been neglected or physically or sexually abused within the preceding three years, shall immediately (as soon as possible and within 24 hours) report the information to the local welfare agency, the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, police department, or the county sheriff if the person is: (1) a professional or professional’s delegate who is engaged in the practice of the healing arts, social services, hospital administration, psychological or psychiatric treatment, child care, education, correctional supervision, probation and correctional services, or law enforcement; or (2) employed as a member of the clergy and received the information while engaged in ministerial duties, provided that a member of the clergy is not required by this subdivision to report information that is otherwise privileged under section 595.02, subdivision 1, paragraph (c)[1]. (b) Any person may voluntarily report to the local welfare agency, agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, the police department, or the county sheriff if the person knows, has reason to believe, or suspects a child is being or has been neglected or subjected to physical or sexual abuse. Subd. 7. Report: (a)An oral report shall be made immediately by telephone or otherwise. An oral report made by a person required under subdivision 3 to report shall be followed within 72 hours, exclusive of weekends and holidays, by a report in writing to the appropriate police department, the county sheriff, the agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report, or the local welfare agency. (b) Any report shall be of sufficient content to identify the child, any person believed to be responsible for the abuse or neglect of the child if the person is known, the nature and extent of the abuse or neglect and the name and address
of the reporter. Reporting to church authorities under Diocese of Crookston Safe Environment Policy 6.1.1: When clergy and diocesan and parish or school personnel and volunteers file a report with civil authorities concerning sexual abuse of a minor by a cleric or one of the diocesan, school or parish personnel or a volunteer, the Moderator of the Curia is to be notified within twenty-four (24) hours and, if possible, supplied with a copy of the written report. GUIA PARA INFORMARLE A LAS AUTORIDADES CIVILES Y ECLESIASTICAS SOBRE LA SOSPECHA DE ABUSO DE MENORES From Minnesota Statutes Chapter 625.556 Subd. 3: De las personas que por imperio de la ley están obligadas a informar. (a) Todo aquel que supiere o tuviere razón para creer que un menor de edad ha sido objeto de descuido, o de abuso físico o sexual, como lo define la subdivisión 2[1], o bien si tuviere conocimiento que un(a) menor de edad ha sido objeto de descuido o de abuso físico o sexual dentro de los tres años anteriores, deberá informarlo inmediatamente (lo más pronto posible y dentro de las 24 horas siguientes); ya sea ante la dependencia de servicio social de la localidad a la que le corresponda hacer la evaluación e investigación de dicho informe, o ante el departamento de la policía, o ante el alguacil del condado si la persona que informa: (1) Es un profesional o profesional que por delegación le representa y que ejerce la medicina, o bien si es de los servicios sociales, o de la administración de un hospital, si proporcionare tratamiento psicológico o psiquiátrico; si trabaja en una guardería infantil o entidad educativa, o en la supervisión de presidios; o es de la oficina de libertad provisional o de los servicios correccionales; o bien si perteneciere a las autoridades del orden público. (2) Si trabaja como miembro del clero y recibe información del abuso durante el ejercicio del cumplimiento de sus obligaciones ministeriales de conformidad con esta subdivisión; ya que los miembros del clero no están obligados a informar a las autoridades sobre la información que goza del privilegio de ser privada de conformidad con la sección 595.02, subdi-
What to do if a child discloses abuse: If a child or young person is attempting to disclose abuse, it is important that you communicate to the child: 1. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT! 2. I believe you. 3. I am glad that you told me. 4. I will try and help you. 5. Abuse is wrong and we take reports of abuse very seriously. It is important that you DO NOT: 1. Ask the child or young person if he or she is telling the truth. 2. Promise the child or young person that you will not tell anyone else. 3. Criticize the abuser, as it may be someone the child cares about. 4. Express shock or panic. Que hacer cuando un menor de edad le informa del abuso: Si un(a) niño(a) o un(a) joven intenta revelar el abuso es importante que usted le diga lo siguiente: 1. ¡No es tu culpa! 2. Te creo. 3. Te agradezco que me lo hayas dicho. 4. Voy a tratar de ayudarte. 5. Abusar de alguien es malo y la información sobre el abuso nosotros la tomamos muy en serio. Es importante que usted no haga lo siguiente: 1. No le pregunte al niño(a) o al(la) joven si está diciendo la verdad. 2. No le prometa al niño(a) o al(la) joven que usted no va a decírselo a nadie. 3. No critique a la persona que cometió el abuso, ya que podría ser que dicha persona sea alguien que es importante para el(la) niño. 4. No muestre sobresalto o pánico. visión 1, párrafo (c)[1]. (b) Cualquier persona que supiere o que tuviere razón para creer, o que sospechare que un menor de edad está siendo o ha sido objeto de descuido, o que se le ha causado abuso físico o sexual; puede informarlo voluntariamente a la dependencia de servicio social de la localidad, o a la dependencia responsable de la evaluación o investigación del informe, al departamento de la policía o al alguacil del condado. Subdivisión 7. (a) Del informe. Se debe dar el informe verbal de inmediato, ya sea por teléfono o por otro medio. Después del informe verbal que hubiere dado alguna de las personas enumeradas en la subdivisión 3, se deberá presentar
informe por escrito dentro de las 72 horas siguientes, quedan excluidos los fines de semana y días festivos. Dicho informe por escrito deberá presentarse ante el departamento de policía correspondiente, ante el alguacil del condado o ante la dependencia encargada de evaluar e investigar el informe; o bien ante la dependencia de servicio social de la localidad; a menos que la dependencia correspondiente le hubiere respondido a quien informó. (b) Todo informe que se hubiere presentado deberá contener suficientes elementos con los que se pueda identificar al menor de edad, si se tiene conocimiento de la persona que se cree que es el(la) responsable del abuso o abandono de dicho menor, si es que
se sabe quién es, la naturaleza y el alcance del abuso o abandono, así como el nombre y la dirección de quien lo informa. Informe ante las autoridades de la iglesia. Reglas de seguridad 6.1.1: Cuando un miembro del clero, de la diócesis de la parroquia o del personal de la escuela o voluntario presentare informe ante las autoridades civiles sobre el abuso sexual de un menor, por parte de alguien del clero o de la diócesis, o del personal, o voluntario de la escuela o de la parroquia; deberá notificársele al Moderador de la Curia dentro de las veinticuatro (24) horas siguientes; y de ser posible se le proporcionará una copia del informe escrito que se hubiere presentado.
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
NATIONAL
April 8, 2015
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Varied paths bring thousands into Catholic Church at Easter Vigil By Kristi Anderson Catholic News Service ST. CLOUD MINN. — Who was Jesus? Why do we need a pope? How were we made by God? All of these are good questions that anyone considering becoming Catholic might ask. But the questions are even more poignant when they come from a young man who grew up in a place where the government told him that God cannot mutually exist with science, where one who believes in God is considered weak, and where the only media coverage of the Catholic Church is around abuse scandals. If this is your background, it’s challenging to talk about God at all. For 18-year-old Peter Yang, who is from Beijing and is a senior at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, these were among the questions he had. But thanks to his own curiosity and the support of the school, Yang began a journey to full initiation into the Catholic Church through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) program. He will become a Catholic at the Easter Vigil, April 4, as will thousands of others across the United States. “I was taught that God did not exist,” he told The Visitor, the newspaper of the Diocese of St. Cloud. “I didn’t believe in the church’s teaching. I consid-
Peter Yang, 18, a senior at Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minn., who is going through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults to become a Catholic at the Easter Vigil, poses for a photo Feb. 8. (CNS photo: Dianne Towalski/The Catholic Spirit)
ered church a place where they were gathering people’s money and taking advantage of it.” Yang plans to return to China this summer and said he believes his parents will be supportive of his decision to become a Catholic. For him, living his faith “on the inside” will help him through the difficulties he may face “on the outside.” The Easter Vigil marks the culmination of RCIA, a process of conversion and study in the Catholic faith for catechumens, those who have never been baptized, and for candidates, who
were baptized in another Christian denomination and want to come into full communion with the Catholic Church. The catechumens receive baptism, confirmation and first Communion at the Holy Saturday services, while the candidates make a profession of faith, are confirmed, if they have not already been confirmed, and receive the Eucharist. According to the 2014 Official Catholic Directory, there were 39,654 catechumens and 66,831 candidates in 2013, the most recent year for which this data is available.
For 2015, here’s a snapshot of this year’s combined numbers of catechumens and candidates from U.S. archdioceses and dioceses: Seattle, 665; Atlanta, nearly 2,000; Brooklyn, N.Y., 1,100; Miami, 600; Oklahoma City, 900, Los Angeles close to 1,900; New York, 1,400; New Orleans, 350; St. Paul and Minneapolis, 687; Omaha, Neb., 370; Philadelphia, 700; Kansas City, Kan., 450; and Arlington, Va., more than 700. In Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio prayed for the perseverance and strength of the men and women as they entered the final stage of their journey to be members of the diocese. He told them the devil would continue to tempt them, just as he did Jesus in the desert. He said the works of Satan include the 4 “D’s”: deception, division, diversion and discouragement. Ted Musco, Brooklyn’s diocesan director of faith formation, said that many times people think that great numbers are leaving the Catholic Church and are not aware of those joining. “More and more people want to get involved,” Musco told The Tablet, the diocesan newspaper. For some individuals who will be received into the Catholic Church on Holy Saturday, the event will be a family affair – literally. In the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, Heather Badar and daughter Isabella “Bella” will receive their first Communion April 4.
Heather and her husband, Tracey, were raised by parents who had a strong faith in God and were committed to their religion – Heather as a Missouri Synod Lutheran and Tracey as a Catholic. “Over our 17 years of marriage, we have been active member of three Lutheran churches,” Heather explained. “We have also attended Mass at Catholic churches on holy days when visiting relatives, and with our large group of friends who are also Catholic.” Heather found herself drawn to the reverence of the Mass and the discussion would often surface about embracing membership in a Catholic church. “My biggest fear was the classes I knew I would need to take to convert,” she told The Catholic Globe, the diocesan newspaper. But what Heather discovered was that RCIA became the biggest faith journey of her life. “I have learned about the Catholic faith, but more so I have learned about my relationship with Jesus,” she said. “I went through confirmation and professed my faith as an eighth grader and I have always had a relationship with the Lord, but going through this process again as an adult, when it is my choice and God’s will driving me to once again profess my faith, has a much deeper meaning.”
wants your news and advertisements! Find 2015 publishing dates and submission deadlines on the web: http://www.crookston.org/ond/
The next OND submission deadline is: Wednesday, April 15 by 12:00 p.m. Email: Katrina Genereux, Editorial Assistant kgenereux@crookston.org
14 April 8, 2015
INTERNATIONAL
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
Humility is key to understanding Easter, sharing its joy, pope says By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — To enter Christ’s empty tomb like the disciples and see that he has risen, Christians today also must “bend down,” Pope Francis said in his Easter message. “Love has triumphed over hatred. Life has conquered death. Light has dispelled the darkness,” he told tens of thousands of rain-drenched pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square April 5. Rain fell and fell hard throughout most of the outdoor Mass. While most people had umbrellas, their flimsy plastic ponchos were no match for the wind and downpour. The ciboria used to distribute Communion to the crowd were covered with plastic wrap, only partially pulled back when the faithful approached. Still, they stayed for the Mass and for the pope’s solemn Easter blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world). Pope Francis did not give a homily during the morning Mass, but his Easter message before the blessing picked up a theme he had begun at the Easter vigil the night before: The mystery of Easter cannot be understood – and the Christian faith cannot be lived fully – without humility. “By his death and resurrection, Jesus shows everyone the way to life and happiness: this way is humility, which involves humiliation,” Pope Francis said. “This is the path which leads to glory. Only those who humble themselves can go toward the ‘things that are above,’ toward God.” To enter into the mystery of God’s love, he said, “we need to ‘bend down,’ to abase ourselves. Only those who abase themselves understand the glorification of Jesus and are able to follow him on his way.” Obviously, he said, that often involves being countercultural. Instead of putting ourselves first, he said, “Christians, by the
grace of Christ, dead and risen, are the seeds of another humanity, in which we seek to live in service to one another, not to be arrogant, but rather respectful and ready to help.” “This is not weakness, but true strength!” the pope said. “Those who bear within them God’s power, his love and his justice, do not need to employ violence; they speak and act with the power of truth, beauty and love.” As is traditional for the “urbi et orbi” message, Pope Francis offered prayers for an end to war and violence in specific countries, mentioning by name Syria, Iraq, the Holy Land, Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan, Congo, Yemen and Ukraine. In better news, the pope said, “in hope, we entrust to the merciful Lord the framework recently agreed to” in order to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. The pope prayed that it would be “a definitive step toward a more secure and fraternal world.” As he had at every Holy Week and Easter service, Pope Francis offered special prayers for persecuted Christians, asking that “Jesus, the victor over death,” would ease their suffering. Pope Francis’ Easter celebrations began in the dark of a rainy night April 4 in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica. Hot embers glowed until the Easter fire was lit and with it the paschal candle. As a deacon carried the candle into the church, Pope Francis followed with a large taper. Although only the pope and the deacon had candles, the basilica was aglow with smartphone and tablet displays as people tried to get photos. However, as the pope neared the front of the basilica, the congregation – mostly nuns, priests, bishops, cardinals and ambassadors close to the altar – was more disciplined and the impact of scattered lit candles grew. While the pope was busy
Pope Francis waves to the crowd during his Easter message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 5. (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)
with the Easter liturgies, he sent Archbishop Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, out to the city’s train stations, shelters and streets with Easter cards for the homeless. He handed out about 300 envelopes, each of which included an undisclosed amount of money. During the Easter vigil Mass, Pope Francis baptized, confirmed and gave first Communion to 10 people, who ranged in age from 13 to 66. Four were Italian, three were Albanian and one each came from Cambodia, Kenya and Portugal. Pope Francis rubbed the chrism oil all over their foreheads and, during the confirmation rite, tenderly gave each one a kiss on the right cheek. The youngest of the new Catholics – Champa Buceti, a 13-year-old Cambodian, and
Francesco Comegna, a 28-yearold Italian – brought up the gifts at the offertory. As with his “urbi et orbi” message, Pope Francis’ homily during the Easter vigil, which lasted just over two and a half hours, focused on the humility required of Christians. The only way to enter into the Easter mystery, he said, is with humility, “to come down from the pedestal of our ‘I’ which is so proud, of our presumption; the humility not to take ourselves so seriously, recognizing who we really are: creatures with strengths and weaknesses, sinners in need of forgiveness.” “It is good for us, on this vigil night, to reflect on the experience of the women” who went to Jesus’ tomb Easter morning to anoint his body, he said. Entering the tomb is to enter “into
Spring Dinners
in the Diocese of Crookston SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015: ST. MARY’S, BADGER Pork loin, meatballs and trimmings
11:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015: ST. ELIZABETH’S, DILWORTH Spaghetti dinner
11:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M.
the mystery which God has accomplished with his vigil of love.” “We cannot live Easter without entering into the mystery. It is not something intellectual, something we only know or read about,” he said. “It is more, much more!” Entering the mystery means being able “to wonder, to contemplate; the ability to listen to the silence and to hear the tiny whisper amid great silence by which God speaks to us.” To enter the tomb and enter the mystery takes courage, the pope said. It “demands that we not be afraid of reality, that we not be locked into ourselves, that we not flee from what we fail to understand, that we not close our eyes to problems or deny them, that we not dismiss our questions.”
OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
COMMENTARY
WORD to LIFE April 12
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER, SUNDAY OF DIVINE MERCY Acts 4:32-35; Gospel: John 20:19-31
Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24;
1 John 5:1-6
By Catholic News Service This week’s Gospel is the one in which the apostle Thomas famously doubts Jesus’ resurrection even though the latter suddenly appeared before him within a locked room. Thomas can’t quite believe his eyes. He needs to touch the wounds that would identify his master. Jesus is happy to oblige and doesn’t belittle Thomas’ doubt. But he extols the faith of those who believe in his presence even without seeing him. The faithful today believe without seeing, and for many of us it isn’t difficult as we recognize evidence of Christ working in the world among people and in the wonders of creation. However, consider how hard it would be to believe if you grew up with little information about Jesus, lived in an immoral environment, became a criminal and ended up at a young age locked away in a prison. If Jesus suddenly appeared there, would you believe it? Father Tim Drake visits one of Virginia’s high-security state prisons every week. Those facilities were built in remote places in the Appalachian Mountains, far from the state’s population centers. “What forever amazes me,” Father Tim says, “is how Christ always wants to be with us wherever we are -- even locked in a prison.” The authorities allow very little time for inmates to leave their usual confines for spiritual help, so Father Tim rarely meets them one on one for counsel or confession. But he celebrates Mass with them, and that, he explains, is what they
most desire. “The inmates really believe that Christ comes to be with them,” Father Tim says. “They know that Christ loves the poor, and they’ve read the Scriptures that say, ‘I was in prison and you visited me.’ They really believe that and it means so much to them.” The inmates speak directly to Jesus during Mass — and he responds. Father Tim explains this usually happens during the prayers of the faithful. “They like to share and they often minister to each other as it becomes more of a conversation. Their issues mostly deal with guilt and seeking forgiveness. I think they want to know that Christ forgives them.” They can only know that if they first believe. Then, as Jesus promises in the Gospel, they are blessed.
Questions: When have you had a difficult time believing Jesus is present? What can you do to bolster your faith in times of unbelief?
“JESUS CAME, ALTHOUGH THE DOORS WERE LOCKED, AND STOOD IN THEIR MIDST AND SAID, ‘PEACE BE WITH YOU.’” — JOHN 20:26
April 8, 2015
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FOR FAITH-SHARING GROUPS
April 19
THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; Gospel: Luke 24:35-48
Psalm4:2, 4, 7-9;
1 John 2:1-5a
By Catholic News Service
When I was a teen my family moved from Michigan to Texas. Before we left, my father shared with me what he called “the three-step method to solving any problem: Tell God your problem; forget about it; when you see him start to work, jump in and help him.” At the time I did not think much of it because I was 16 years old and he was my dad. I didn’t think he had any real information of value. When we got to Texas, my father said we had to go to at least one of every activity at our new parish. We did not have to go back (except for Mass), but we had to go at least once. At the first Bible study I attended, we were studying Psalm 37. Verse 5 says: “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.” I immediately thought: Hey, that’s the three-step method to solving any problem. This was the first time anything from the Bible had ever spoken directly to me. This week’s Gospel has this line: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” I really believe this is exactly what happened to me during that Bible study years ago. The Bible can be a confusing book. A lot if it is best understood with help from a good teacher or a good commentary. But what is even more necessary to seeing what is being revealed is the grace of God. This is what the Gospel is talking about when it tells us that Jesus opened the minds of the disciples to un-
derstand the Scriptures. With grace, the seemingly ordinary words on a page teem with life and have the power to penetrate the soul. This is but one fruit that flows from the resurrection of Jesus. The Christ in glory desires for us not only to read the revelation of God found in Scripture, but to understand it, embrace it and live it. Come Lord Jesus, open our minds so we, too, may understand your word.
Questions: Has a passage from the Bible ever spoken to you directly? What is your favorite Bible verse?
“THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES.” — LUKE 24:45
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16 April 8, 2015
Bishop Michael Hoeppner holds up the ciborium containing the Blessed Sacrament while processing through the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception at the close of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper celebrated Thursday, April 2. The servers, concelebrating priests and assisting deacons ended the procession in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where people were invited to keep watch in prayer until 11 p.m.
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OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE
“The transformation of the world begins at Mass. … The substantial transformation which was accomplished at the Last Supper will truly keep in motion a series of transformations leading ultimately to the transformation of the world. My friends, our blessed Lord has given us the happy task of celebrating the sacrament of his body and blood until he comes again. May our celebrations always be our best effort, for they bring praise and glory to God and the transformation of the world.” Bishop Michael Hoeppner dries Cody Klamm’s feet after washing them. Klamm is currently serving as a missionary for National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries. (Photos by: Katrina Genereux/OND)
-Bishop Michael Hoeppner, Homily
Holy Thursday & Good Friday Mass of the Lord’s Supper & Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Members of the Knights of Columbus prepare to process in with the cross during the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on April 3 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
“His cruel and painful death on the cross, and his resurrection and triumphant exultation signal that the radical defeat of the power of darkness is coming. ... The cross is not a mistake … it was the culmination of the mission of Jesus, ... to show us our creator and God loves us. … With the sign of the cross there can be no doubt, no mistaking. The cross of Jesus is the most eloquent and most unimpeachable expression of all time of God’s undying, unwavering, eternal love for all.” -Bishop Michael Hoeppner
People in attendance at the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at the Cathedral come forward from all corners of the church to venerate the cross by kneeling, touching, or kissing it.