OND Apr. A Vol. 71 No. 7

VOL. 71, NO. 7

WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG

APRIL 5, 2017

2017 Ignite Middle School Youth Rally

Above: Chris Kostelc, keynote speaker for the 2017 Ignite Middle School Youth Rally, leads students in a game at the beginning of the rally. Kostelc was brought in by Partnership for Youth, an organization that specializes in coordinating Catholic youth events. St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls, hosted the rally on March 19. (Photos credit: Katrina Genereux/OND)

Left: Blake Biermaier and Ashleigh Kruse, students from St. Bernard’s, serve as candle bearers as Father Rick Lambert, Pastor of St. Bernard’s, processes the Eucharist toward the altar. During Eucharistic Adoration, youth rally attendees had the opportunity to go to Confession. Five priests of the diocese came to St. Bernard’s to hear the students’ Confessions.

TURN TO PAGE 3 TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE 2017 IGNITE MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH RALLY. VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/OURNORTHLANDDIOCESE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM THE 2017 IGNITE MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH RALLY.

INSIDE VOL. 71. NO. 7:

Pg. 7 - Things You Should Know About Planned Giving Pg. 8 - Divine Mercy Sunday Celebrations Pg. 9 - Information for Child Abuse Awareness Month

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April 5, 2017

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COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Voice from the Valley

BY BISHOP MICHAEL J. HOEPPNER

EASTER TRIDUUM Before Mass the other day, I was encouraging the lector to do a good job proclaiming the Word of God. I reminded her that “salvation is not in the book” but in the encounter with Jesus, the Risen Lord.

That’s why, for example, we don’t read from the missalette or hymnal while the Word of God is being proclaimed. We Catholics don’t “take the Word” just as we don’t “take Holy Communion.” We receive Holy Communion and we receive God’s Word at Mass in a person-to-person exchange. Why?

Because salvation is found in a person-to-person encounter with Jesus Christ. That’s why Jesus has sent us into the world, to proclaim in word and deed the good news of Jesus Christ our Savior so that in the encounter with us, the world can encounter Jesus. It’s not always easy. It has never been easy to convey to the world the depth of the beauty and joy we experience by knowing Jesus and the gift of salvation he brings us.

Those who are parents know it is not always easy to convey to children the joy and beauty of your faith relationship with Jesus Christ.

With this in mind, I, as your bishop, hope that you will find the time to participate in the three special days leading up to Easter – the Triduum. I hope you will bring your children.

All sacraments are personal encounters with Jesus. However, the three days leading up to Easter are unique in the whole liturgical year and, as it is written in the Ceremonial of Bishops, “their celebration is of utmost importance in the spiritual and pastoral life of the Church.”

We need to set before our eyes and the eyes of our children the Lord’s passion because

BISHOP’S CALENDAR April 9

9:00 a.m.

Palm Sunday Mass, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 10

6:30 p.m.

Chrism Mass, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 13

7:00 p.m.

Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 14

3:00 p.m.

Good Friday Lenten Service, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 15

8:30 p.m.

Easter Vigil, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 18

7:45 a.m.

Mass, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 18

11:30 a.m.

Deans’ Meeting, Chancery

April 19

10:00 a.m.

OND Board Meeting, Chancery

April 20

10:00 a.m.

Catholic/Lutheran Theological Day, Moorhead

April 21

5:00 p.m.

Mass and Banquet, Catholic Daughters of the Americas State Convention, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 22

6:00 p.m.

Rite of Confirmation, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

April 23

11:00 a.m.

Rite of Confirmation, Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes

NATIONAL COLLECTION UPDATE The faithful of the Diocese of Crookston generously supported the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Collection with a total donation of $25,677.10. Of that total, 75 percent, or $19,257.83, has been sent to the USCCB. The remaining 25 percent, or $6,419.27, will be used at the local level.

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 218-281-7895 (24-hour confidential number) or Lmcglynn@ crookston.org.

salvation consists in our personal response to Christ Crucified, the Extreme Divine Giver of love! Christ Jesus did not have to be embraced to save us; we need to learn to embrace him to be saved. Our participation in the three-fold liturgy of the Triduum is a unique opportunity for that embrace.

The Triduum is the highpoint, the culmination of our entire liturgical year. Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday fit together to form one solemn celebration.

Holy Thursday is the celebration of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper during which we recall how Jesus, on the night before he died, gave us the great gift of the Eucharist so that his sacrifice might be made present for all generations. In this celebration, we also give thanks for the gift of the priesthood and the great commandment to love one another.

On Good Friday, we celebrate the Lord’s Passion. In contemplating the cross of the Lord

and Bridegroom, the Church commemorates its own origin and its mission to extend to all peoples the blessed effects of Christ’s Passion.

On Holy Saturday, we celebrate the Easter Vigil. This vigil is a memorial of the holy night of the Lord’s resurrection. This night we await the Lord’s resurrection and celebrate it with the sacraments of Christian initiation. This vigil is the supreme and most exalted of all solemnities in our liturgical year.

Please remember to pray for those who will join the Catholic Church during the Easter Vigil.

Pray for our elect as they get ready for Baptism and those candidates already baptized, but preparing for full communion with us as Catholics. Let us celebrate the Triduum, each in our own parish church. Blessed will we be, for it will certainly lead us to the joys of Easter Sunday and to the risen Lord with upVOICE/VALLEY: Continued on Page 4

(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: $16.34 per year in the diocese, $17.88 per year outside the diocese.

Publisher:

The Most Reverend Michael J. Hoeppner Bishop of the Diocese of Crookston

Editor:

Dr. Mark Krejci

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: Mrs. 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: www.crookston.org/ond/

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

LOCAL

April 5, 2017

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Rally aims to draw students closer to Christ Ignite Middle School Youth Rally’s condensed format focuses on sacraments

By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND THIEF RIVER FALLS – Although the format of this year’s Middle School youth rally was new, the goal was still the same: help students draw closer to Christ.

240 people from 35 parishes around the Diocese of Crookston attended the 2017 Ignite Middle School Youth Rally at St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls, on March 19.

The rally for sixth through eighth grade students lasted five hours and ended with dinner.

Even with the condensed time frame, participants heard from an inspirational speaker, experienced Eucharistic Adoration, had an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and celebrated Mass.

The diocesan Office of Youth Ministry and Catechesis worked with youth ministry staff of St. Bernard’s and the organization Partnership for Youth to coordinate the rally.

Tony Lavorata, Director of the diocesan Office of Youth Ministry and Catechesis said working with Partnership for Youth was a great experience.

“They do this professionally, so, in moving forward with Partnership for Youth … regardless of the people involved, the program can remain consistent,” he said. “Now we have a foundation, we can add, take away, or do different things based on location, but it’s not going to be completely dependent on one person.”

Partnership for Youth runs Steubenville Conferences in St. Paul, Rochester and Kenosha, Wis., as well as smaller-scale events for high school and middle school youth throughout the region.

“We’re just excited to be here in the Diocese of Crookston,” said Sarah Prudhom, Operations and Events Coordinator with Partnership for Youth.

“We’re just extremely impressed by all of the volunteers, parish staff, and those that are here to support these teens beyond just today.”

Margaret Rasmussen, Director of Religious Education at St. Bernard’s, thought the day was wonderful, and was glad to see so many students receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

“I hope the youth were reminded that Christ wants to

Participants begin the Ignite Middle School Youth Rally in song at St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls, on March 19. Kory LaCroix and Gretchen Sonnen led praise and worship throughout the event. (Photos credit: Katrina Genereux/OND)

have a personal relationship with each of them and that he is there for them, for guidance, for comfort and strength in whatever is going on in their lives,” she said.

Rasmussen said working with Partnership for Youth made the experience of planning and coordinating the large event easier.

“They did all the planning work, we filled in the volunteers where they needed them,” she said.

Jayne Miller, the Youth Minister at St. Bernard’s, said preparation for the rally was smooth.

She thought the speaker and time spent in Adoration was powerful based on reactions of her students.

“They’re hungry and they’re thirsty and they want the truth,” she said. “Their lives are occupied and busy with things outside of Church and sadly, Church isn’t always on their radar, so when they do come to an event like this, I see a few hearts being transformed. Not all of them, but the Lord is working on them in mighty and powerful ways … anytime you’re in the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, something’s happening whether you know it or not.”

“We had a great turnout of junior high youth,” said Father Rick Lambert, Pastor of St.

Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner greets Ignite Middle School Youth Rally participants at the beginning of Mass. Father Don Braukmann, Parochial Vicar of St. Philip’s Bemidji; Father Rick Lambert, Pastor of St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls; and Msgr. Michael Foltz, Vicar General of the Diocese of Crookston, were concelebrants.

Bernard’s. “They were a tremendous group of kids and we had a wonderful opportunity for them to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and just had a lot of fun in the name of the Lord Jesus and grew in the Spirit. It was great to have all our chaperones and everyone involved.”

Chris Kostelc, the Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation for Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Community in Medina, Minn., was the keynote speaker for the youth rally. He hoped the students were able to encounter Christ in the sacraments throughout the day.

“Our job is to … break down

some barriers and give kids the opportunity to really say ‘yes’ to the sacraments and meet Christ there,” he said. Kostelc worked in youth ministry for more than a decade and said events like these sometimes serve as a launch pad for students’ faith.

IGNITE: Continued on Page 6

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April 5, 2017

COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Pier Giorgio: An example of holiness in daily life In my last column, I spoke briefly of the need for an extraordinary faith lived in an ordinary life. We relish the examples of the extraordinary saints whose miracles inspire us to live the divine life, but we also must remember that these men and women were decidedly human. It was their ordinary actions, strengthened by the love of God that should inspire us to live a life that is vivid, warm, and beautiful.

There is one young man that comes to mind when considering such a life: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Born into the Italian upper class in 1901, Pier Giorgio fell in love with Christ and devoted his life in the service of charity. Pope St. John Paul II spoke of Pier Giorgio often, saying “He lived the Gospel Beatitudes,” and later beatified him on May 20, 1990. Pier Giorgio’s sister and biographer Luciana described her brother’s drive for action in the world: “So, for him, living in society meant struggling for the Spirit to return, reactivating it where it was feeble and kindling it where it did not exist.”

However, Pier Giorgio did so whilst remaining an ordinary young man. We regularly see pictures of him surrounded by friends at a mountaintop picnic.

YOUNG SAINTS IN OUR MIDST

By Anthony Lavorata

Director of the Office of Youth Ministry and Catechesis

He was an active man of sport, especially mountaineering. He collected rocks and plants on these trips to bring home. He smoked cigars, suffered teenage heartbreak, struggled in his studies and looked forward to an engineering degree. During this time, he also went to daily Communion, consistently prayed the Rosary, regularly attended Adoration, offered fasts for spiritual discipline, and continually cared for the poor.

He also actively sought out opportunities to discuss faith and politics during the rise of Mussolini while Italy was under threat of Marxism and Positivist Liberalism. To oppose these extremes, Pier Giorgio encouraged a living and solid faith in his classmates, saying: “But you bold and good young people should not be afraid of this

small thing; remember that the Church is a divine institution and cannot come to an end.”

He had tremendous confidence in the young Catholics of Italy to be a voice for Christ and defenders of truth.

Pier Giorgio died on July 4, 1925, from poliomyelitis following his final exams. His love and service to all of God’s people, especially the poor, was still at the forefront of his mind: One of his last writings included a message to deliver medicine as he was unable to do so.

Ubaldo Leva, a journalist, described Pier Giorgio’s funeral just as one may describe his entire life: “not the most solemn, not official, but the most vivid, the warmest, and most human – I mean the most beautiful.”

Dare I say that our goal as Catholics is to have our lives de-

Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati. (Image credit: Joseph Bailham, OP/The Dominican Friars GodzDogz)

scribed with these exact words?

We should live our beautiful faith vividly and warmly with one another in a spirit of charity.

What does this look like? It looks just like our daily lives, but lived completely for Christ.

Make each moment of your day

a blessed one, joyfully facing difficulties and being living examples of the Beatitudes. Know and defend the truth with clarity and conviction. Most importantly, practice charity in action and in prayer. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us!

VOICE/VALLEY: Continued from Page 2 lifted and welcoming hearts.

HELP FOR THE NEEDY Lent is a special time to help the poor. Someone asked me the other day what the Diocese of Crookston does to help the poor. I immediately thought of the many collections we take up each year and the wonderful generosity of the faithful in this local Church. We participate in the Rice Bowl project each Lent. The weekend of March 25-26 was the weekend for this year’s Catholic Relief Services Collection. Last month, I received a nice letter from Archbishop Rodi of Mobile, Alabama, who is chairman of the Board of Catholic Relief Services. He wrote, “With your dioceses’ contribution of $32,201.69 last year, six Catholic organizations received funding to serve the suffering Christ in disguise here at home and around the world.”

Coming up on Good Friday, we will join our brothers and sisters in the Catholic Church in the United States by taking up

a collection for the upkeep of holy places in the Holy Land.

Your generosity is also clearly seen in the more than $100,000 we give each year to help Father Jerry Rogers and the ministry at St. Mary’s Mission Parish and School in Red Lake. These are just some of the collections and opportunities we avail ourselves of as we reach out and help the poor. Thank you for doing so, and remember, Jesus told us what we do for one of the least brothers and sisters,

we do for him.

free public event entitled: “Can Lutherans and Catholics Be ENCOUNTERING Friends?” This evening event is CHRIST TOGETHER open to the public. It will folWe Catholics and our Lu- low the Joint Theological Day theran brothers and sisters are gathering for Catholic priests commemorating the 500th an- and deacons, Lutheran pastors niversary of the Reformation. and staff members of Catholic We do so with a prayer for parishes and Lutheran congregreater unity among ourselves gations earlier in the day. This and all Christians. You are invit- dialogue on Christian unity is ed to join with area Lutherans occasioned by the joint publicaon the evening of Thursday, tion “Declaration on the Way: April 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ministry, and EuchaChurch in Moorhead, for a rist” put together by Catholic

and Lutheran leaders in commemoration of this anniversary and in hopes of fostering closer unity. I invite all our pastors, deacons and parish staff members to attend the day event and I invite everybody to come to the evening event. Whether you can attend or not, please pray for Christian unity.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

COMMENTARY

April 5, 2017

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Dare to use the ‘S’ word about yourself in your marriage In the previous issue of OND, I wrote about the importance of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, what most Catholics refer to as Confession. I noted that every member of every family makes mistakes or messes things up within their family. I have had couples tell me about all sorts of hurtful things that they do to each other. You can probably imagine the list: name calling, the silent treatment, shouting, doing something behind their spouse’s back, being judgmental, being a bully, feeling hatred or jealousy or anger, and the list could go on. When I have asked the spouses in these marriages what they are going to do about their “sin” in the marriage I have heard some interesting reactions. “Oh, I wouldn’t call it that,” “what right do you have to judge?” or “well, who made you God!” While we may do hurtful things in our families, we often do not label what we do as “sinful.”

By calling their behavior sinful I am not placing myself in the role of God and I understand why they are reluctant to accept the word. We do not want anyone to use the “S” word. Many people, perhaps most, avoid using the word sin

PRAYING WITH THE FAMILY

By Dr. Mark Krejci

Director of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life

“For those in happy marriages that are able to find reconciliation in God’s love, take a moment right now to pray for couples who are struggling to find that love.”

or describing their behavior as sinful because we live in a culture that wants to shy away from making any kind of judgement about what is right and wrong.

Now, I am not advocating that we begin to go around town telling everyone “you are a sinner”, let alone using the word with your spouse about his or her behavior! But are we willing to talk about our sins with God during our prayer and through

the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation?

You may still be thinking that I had no right to label the hurt and harm couples do to each other as sin, but we all know what sin is if we are honest with ourselves. Not only did Jesus teach us about sin, but the Church seeks to guide us toward the love of God and away from the seduction of sin. In paragraph 1849,

the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sin as “… an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as ‘an utterance, a deed or a desire contrary to the eternal law.’”

Imagine a couple explaining how angry they are with each other, how one called the other stupid and the other came back and called their spouse crazy.

How the one spouse would not talk with the other for days and so in that time the second spouse kept hiding the other’s car keys. Imagine a couple where they will not say “I love you” in order to hurt the other person and a couple where neither back down from an argument, never admit they are wrong and never give up their goals or desires for the sake of their spouse. You do not need to be the pope to see that this couple is acting in a sinful way.

If we are never willing to admit our errors in marriage, we have “a perverse attachment” to being right, to being in control, to having power in marriage.

Praise God for the many

spouses who have the ability to realize that they have sinned against their spouse and against God. They take the steps to right the wrong, to say “I am sorry” or do an act of “penance” in their marriage such as doing a kindness for their spouse without expecting anything in return. They work to restore love in their marriage by opening their heart to the love of God and sharing that love with their spouse.

If you live in a marriage where you experience more hurt than love, you are in a marriage where there is more sin than love. Often people in such marriages wonder if there is any love remaining, but remember that God is in the midst of every sacramental marriage.

God is love, and so realize that when you sin in your marriage, you are removing yourself from that love. Use the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation to help you open yourself to love in marriage. For those in happy marriages that are able to find reconciliation in God’s love, take a moment right now to pray for couples who are struggling to find that love. Let us all pray for those in marriages where God’s love is not the center of their union.

The word ‘inappropriate’ is being used inappropriately!

In our politically correct world which lectures us on what can and cannot be said, I would like to propose the utterance of the word “inappropriate” be banned.

I believe there was a time when what was inappropriate in our speech and behavior was clear. We had a consensus of understanding, it seemed to me, as to who we were as Americans and as human beings.

Are those days gone?

It isn’t only in America. Just before Christmas the French government banned a two minute video produced by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation titled “Dear Future Mom.” The video was deemed “inappropriate” for French television because it featured Down syndrome children explaining how they can hug, speak, go to school, say “I love you” and “can be happy, just like I am – and you’ll be happy, too.”

The foundation produced the video in response to the fact that 90 percent of Down syndrome babies are aborted in

LIFE FIRST

By Father Don Braukmann

Parochial Vicar - St. Philip’s Parish, Bemidji and St. Charles Parish, Pennington

France. In the United States it is over 80 percent.

A French judge blocked the showing of the video saying, “the video’s depiction of happy Down syndrome children is inappropriate and likely to disturb the conscience of women who had lawfully made different personal life choices.”

That was France. On our side of the pond, it is inappropriate to challenge federal funding for Planned Parenthood because of the “critical medical care” it provides. Remember, Planned Parenthood refuses to use technology to show a pregnant

woman the living child within her womb. They turn the monitor away from the mother when the physician uses ultrasound to locate the baby to remove it piece by piece. Funny how the truth is hidden from women at Planned Parenthood abortion mills, yet if that same woman went in for a knee replacement, she would be overwhelmed with reading material and pictures showing every incision and procedure used in the surgery. It is inappropriate to tell the truth at Planned Parenthood and so the lies continue as its bank account grows.

And then there is the National Endowment for the Arts and how it, with $5,000 in taxpayer money, sponsored the creation of Andres Serrano who put a crucifix in a large jar of his own urine. I cannot print the title of the work in OND. It sold for $15,000 just a few years ago along with another artist’s can of his own feces. The outrage of Christians was called “inappropriate” as defenders claimed the works were a “personal expression of artistic value.”

It is inappropriate to reject the actions of professional athletes who refuse to stand during the playing of the national anthem. The anthem honors the nation and the men and women who died defending that athlete’s right to become rich playing a game ... a game!

It is inappropriate, according to some United States Senators, to confirm Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court because his views are not in accord with “mainstream America.” This is the same man who was approved by the United States Senate several years ago 98-0

for his current position. It is all about Roe v. Wade and it is inappropriate to support someone who may see that verdict differently.

And so, as this issue arrives in your mailbox, we begin Holy Week 2017. Of course, we should not be surprised how inappropriate it is to be a Christian, a Catholic, on this side of heaven. Jesus was inappropriate in nearly everything he did and said. From the time he cured the sick on the Sabbath to his challenge of the leaders of his time who were more interested in being served than serving.

He was inappropriate when he held the children in his arms inviting us to become like children once again.

Christ was inappropriate every time he lifted up the poor and lowered himself to wash the feet of us all. God ... down on all fours washing feet! How inappropriate!

May we celebrate the coming days totally “inappropriately” by rejoicing in the profound and simple fact: Jesus Christ is still Lord ... appropriate or not.

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April 5, 2017

LOCAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

IGNITE: Continued from Page 3

“It really starts them on their journey, but then it’s their parents, youth leaders and priests back at their parishes where they can really have that … closeness to Christ awaken in their lives, and they can put into practice this thing they’ve been called to at an event like this,” he said.

Kory LaCroix is the Coordinator of Senior High Youth Ministry at the same parish as Kostelc. He and Gretchen Sonnen, the Director of Parish Life and Sacramental Coordinator for Transfiguration Catholic Church in Oakdale, Minn., provided music for the rally.

“One of my favorite parts of praying with teens, especially middle school teens, is helping them discover that relationship with Christ that’s ultimately found in prayer,” LaCroix said.

Sonnen said music she prayed with at retreats growing up was powerful for her.

“Prayerful worship music can be the first step to a youth opening his or her heart to the Lord.

The Ignite event at St. Bernard’s was a great opportunity for kids,

away from their normal Sunday activities, to come together for a day of renewal, growth, and perhaps for some, an initial experience of the Lord and his great love for them,” she said.

The rally began with music and a game to engage the students and get them moving.

Kostelc then delivered his keynote presentation, which focused on the dignity of every person as a son or daughter of God, and God’s love and desire for relationship with each individual.

While speaking about what it means to be made in God’s image, he said, “God is a relationship, he is a community of people and so you and I ... were made for community. You and I were made to be in relationship, and the most important relationship of all is a personal, living relationship with God.” He spoke about the gift of the Eucharist and the role of Confession and forgiveness in building up a relationship with God. He encouraged students to go to Confession and to con-

Participants from Sacred Heart, Roseau, spend time in small group discussion during the 2017 Ignite Middle School Youth Rally held at St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls, on March 19. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux/OND)

tinue to seek the Lord.

“In an effort to save us and bring us back into relationship with him, to bridge the divide created by our sin, created by the sin of humans, our God died on a cross for you and for me because God could not imagine living one moment of eternity without you.”

Following Kostelc’s presentation, Adoration with praise and worship began, and students had the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Confession.

Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner traveled to Thief River Falls to celebrate Mass with the youth near the end of the rally. Msgr.

Michael Foltz, Vicar General of

the Diocese of Crookston, Father Lambert and Father Don Braukmann, Parochial Vicar of St. Philip’s, Bemidji, concelebrated.

During the homily, Bishop Hoeppner reflected on the day’s Gospel, the story of Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well and his desire to know her. He encouraged the youth to seek to know Jesus.

“Take some time before Easter comes to sit at the well with Jesus who knows everything you ever did, but desires for you to know him and be filled with the Spirit that unites us to the Trinity,” Bishop Hoeppner said.

Bishop Hoeppner encouraged students to examine their relationship with Jesus and consider whether they give Jesus an opportunity to converse with them. He said making time for these conversations will draw their faith along and help them know Christ better.

Next year’s Middle School Youth Rally will be held in the southeast deanery.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

LOCAL

April 5, 2017

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Financial adviser: Don’t wait to put a plan in place

By Jessica Trygstad The Catholic Spirit

John Tetzloff has served many people in his 20 years at St. Paul-based Catholic United Financial. As an advanced case specialist and trainer, he meets with about 100 families every year about estate planning and charitable giving. But one particular couple stands out in his mind.

“I met with a married couple in their 70s at their place.

They had a rundown farm and house,” said Tetzloff, 52, who works out of Nicollet, Minn.

“I got to know them well and found out they were worth a couple million dollars. Never assume.”

After working with the couple on an estate plan, he connected them with an attorney and attended meetings with them.

“After we left the attorney’s

office, the wife gave me a big hug and said, ‘We could never have done this without you,’” Tetzloff recalled. “It’s so fun to work with so many different kinds of people.”

Tetzloff said he helps everyone from farm families in succession planning to people wanting to leave a gift to their church to seniors entering a nursing home wanting to protect their assets.

Formerly the Catholic Aid Association until 2010, Catholic United Financial is a nonprofit fraternal benefit company that works with people on retirement savings options while providing opportunities to impact their Catholic parishes, schools and community.

Tetzloff ’s best advice to people wanting to increase their wealth and philanthropy is to know what they have – the assets and what they’re worth – how they feel and what they want to see happen. He asks clients how their objectives and feelings fit into the big picture and then brings in other specialists such as attorneys and certified public accountants.

“It’s like we’re the captain of the football team, and we have all these assistant coaches,” Tetzloff said.

When he meets with clients, he asks them questions to get an overall view of their goals, helps them understand their options

based on their goals and then together, they implement a plan.

Tetzloff said that although the process takes courage and time, it’s important to meet with a financial adviser at some point.

Otherwise, people lose options.

“In life, we have to rely on people who know things we don’t,” he said. “Once they sit down with us and get over that initial fear, it’s usually an easy process. I stress, too, doing nothing is a plan as well, but do we want to leave things up to chance?”

“We need to have a vision for the future,” he continued. “By planning ahead, it gives us a lot of options to work with. People save money in taxes, and communicating to our heirs ahead of time prevents leaving decisions to grieving family members.”

Tetzloff typically meets with a client two to three times and then follows up annually to ensure plans are on track. He said that even after people have a plan in place, they’re able to change it.

In addition to meeting individually with clients, he presents approximately 50 seminars each year at Catholic parishes across Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Read Tetzloff ’s blog at www. catholicunitedfinancial.org.

Parishes to host seminars addressing end-of-life issues and planned giving Representatives from Catholic United Financial will be conducting a series of seminars throughout the diocese addressing end of life issues from the Catholic perspective and offering expertise in personal charitable giving plans.

Pastors from host parishes will speak about the many issues related to death, dying, and pain management in the final hours of life. They will also discuss health care directives and pre-planning methods to ensure a person’s wishes are carried out at the time of death or incapacitation.

Medical professionals can provide a high degree of pain management to help ease our passing, but sometimes medical practices at this stage of life need to be balanced with Church teaching and respect for life. The priests will provide guidance for navigating common problems encountered near the end of life.

Part of the presentation also deals with appropriate Catholic practices in cremation, burial and disposition of our bodies after death.

Following the pastor’s instruction, an agent from Catholic United Financial will give a tutorial on planned giving, outlining options to provide for descendants and for charitable interests as if they were part of the family. This is not a sales presentation however, the two-hour meeting focuses on education.

Catholic United Financial agents work for Catholics and support Catholic teaching in all their sales processes. They also give generously to each of our seminarians every year.

Speak to your pastor or watch your bulletin for the opportunity to attend one of these presentations.

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April 5, 2017

Diocesan priest nominated for national Lumen Christi award The Diocese of Crookston has nominated Father Jerry Rogers for the Catholic Extension Society’s Lumen Christi Award. He has been the pastor of St. Mary’s Mission, Red Lake, since 2009.

Father Rogers was born in Springfield, Ill., on March 12, 1951. He was friends with Father John Kleinwachter in seminary, and learned that the Diocese of Crookston was in need of priests. He was ordained in 1976 and served at diocesan parishes, including lengthy pastorates at Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes; and Sacred Heart, East Grand Forks. Father Rogers also spent three years as a missionary priest in Zambia, Africa.

During his time at St. Mary’s Mission, the elementary school enrollment has climbed to 100 kids. According to Father Rogers, students have shown enormous gains in math and reading skills. Nearly all of the children are able to read at grade-level, something previously unheard of. He said the teaching staff at the school is stronger than it has been in many years. The school receives frequent requests to expand to seventh and eighth grade, and they would like to add a toddler care center to the Mission.

“Our bishop’s resolve to keep the school open and remain a presence on the reservation has often been tested,” said Reathel Giannonatti, the Director of Stewardship and Development for the Diocese of Crookston.

Giannonatti worked to complete the nomination materials.

“Father Jerry’s impact on our administrative community here at the Chancery has been profound. We run an appeal for the Mission, we advertise, we have over 1,000 dedicated supporters in the diocese.”

St. Mary’s Mission also runs a food shelf and thrift store and offers micro loans to help people with gas and utilities.

“The Mission has become a refuge, a safe place where the people come when they are sick and grieving,” Giannonatti said.

“He [Father Rogers] is present and available and he fights for the well-being of the people.”

“I believe that with faith comes insight,” Father Rogers said. “I’m at peace that Red Lake is where God wants me to be. The Ojibwe people, their humor and respect for the sacred, their closeness to the Creator, especially in crisis, inspires me.”

In an endorsement letter written to Catholic Extension, Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner said, “The flickering Light of Christ that could have gone out is readily evident in the laughter and joy of the children of the school, in the hope of the parents and in the faith of St. Mary’s parishioners.”

To see a video detailing Father Rogers’ work at St. Mary’s Mission, or to make a donation to the St. Mary’s Mission Appeal, visit www.crookston.org/ smma.

According to their website, every year, Catholic Extension’s Lumen Christi Award honors an individual or group working in one of America’s mission dioceses who demonstrates how the power of faith can transform lives and communities.

Catholic Extension calls Lumen Christi recipients “hidden heroes”. They are chosen because they bring light and hope to the forgotten corners of the country, and inspire those around them to be the “Light of Christ” as well.

Past recipients of the Lumen Christi Award, Latin for “Light of Christ,” have included priests, women religious, and lay leaders from across the nation.

The Lumen Christi Award is accompanied by a $50,000 grant to support the recipient’s ministry.

For more information about the award, visit: www.catholicextension.org/lumen-christiaward.

LOCAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Divine Mercy Sunday to be celebrated throughout the Diocese of Crookston The Second Sunday of Easter is also known as Divine Mercy Sunday. It is the final day of the Octave of Easter, and ranks as a solemnity.

Divine Mercy Sunday was established by Pope St. John Paul II on April 30, 2000. To encourage the faithful to partake in Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope St. John Paul II instituted a plenary indulgence. On Aug. 3, 2002, Pope John Paul II announced that a plenary indulgence – the remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven – is available to those who observe the Divine Mercy feast with a sacramental confession, the reception of Holy Communion, a prayer for the pope and his intentions, the Lord’s Prayer, the Creed and a devout prayer to the Lord Jesus such as, “Merciful Jesus, I trust in you.”

Some of the parishes in the Diocese of Crookston and nearby areas who will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday on April 23 with a special observance are as follows: St. Joseph’s, Bagley: Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3 p.m.

St. Philip’s, Bemidji: Divine Mercy Celebration including Sacrament of Reconciliation beginning at 3 p.m.

ing with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3 p.m.

St. Michael’s, Grand Forks: Divine Mercy Celebration beginning at 2 p.m. with Exposition, a guest speaker, Stations of the Cross, and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song beginning at 3 p.m. The event concludes with Benediction at 3:20 p.m.

St. Clement’s, Grygla: Holy Hour beginning at 3:30 p.m., with Eucharistic Adoration, Vespers and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. It will conclude with Benediction.

St. Joseph’s, Moorhead: Divine Mercy Sunday Service 1 – 3:30 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with a sung Divine Mercy Chaplet beginning at 3 p.m. The service will close with Benediction.

St. Joseph’s, Red Lake Falls: 2 p.m. hour of prayer including Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Praises of Divine Mercy and Benediction. Refreshments will be served afterward.

Sacred Heart, Roseau: Divine

Mercy Program starts at 2 p.m. with the film “Time for Mercy”, followed by Exposition, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Confessions. The program will conclude with Benediction.

St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls:

Divine Mercy Celebration begins at 3 p.m.

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston: Holy

wants your news and advertisements!

Find 2017 publishing dates and submission deadlines on the web: www.crookston.org/ond

p.m.

Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes: Ado-

The next OND submission deadline is: Wednesday, April 12 by 12:00 p.m.

E-mail: Janelle C. Gergen, Associate Editor jgergen@crookston.org

Hour with Eucharistic Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Confession beginning at 3 ration from 1-3 p.m., conclud-

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April 5, 2017

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Important things to know when receiving disclosures of abuse April is Child Abuse Awareness Month. In light of that, the Diocese of Crookston’s Office of Safe Environment is providing the following information: From Minnesota Statutes Chapter 625.556, Subdivision 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. 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, unless the appropriate agency has informed the reporter that the oral information does not constitute a report under subdivision 10. 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.

EN ESPAÑOL Guia para informarle a las autoridades civiles y eclesiasticas sobre

la sospecha de abuso de menores from Minnesota Statutes Chapter 625.556 Subdivision 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, subdivisión 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. 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, que dicha información verbal de conformidad con la subdivisión 10 no constituye informe. 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.

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April 5, 2017

COMMENTARY

WORD to LIFE April 9

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66

Philippians 2:6-11

By Deacon Mike Ellerbrock Catholic News Service What is the difference between Peter and Judas, both of whom denied Jesus?

One becomes the rock upon which the church is founded, our first pope and a great saint. The other becomes synonymous with personal betrayal by a kiss and famous as history’s ultimate traitor.

When someone is mad at me, I don’t like it. Why? Truth be told: I don’t like the guilt of being “guilty” ... busted, exposed, vulnerable, sinful.

For me to practice unconditional love, I must delve deeper for the grace and courage to empty my conscience of ego, to get to “It’s not about me!”

Simon Peter, Jesus’ close friend and confidant, boldly declares to Jesus that “though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be” and, “even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” Yet, Peter cowers three times when confronted by two girls and some bystanders: “I do not know the man.” The cock crows, signaling his betrayal.

Among the Twelve, Judas apparently held some rank, as he was appointed treasurer by Jesus.

After betraying Jesus, both Judas and Peter deeply regret their actions. Peter “weeps bitterly.”

“Flinging the money into the temple,” Judas attempts to return the “blood” bribe to the chief priests and elders and then commits suicide. What’s the difference?

In our own relationships today, when we speak those sacred words, “I am sorry,” to someone we have hurt, what is

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

FOR FAITH-SHARING GROUPS

April 16

THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Gospel: John 20:1-9

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23;

Colossians 3:1-4

By Jean Denton Catholic News Service

our motivation?

Judas is sorry because he knows that he is in trouble with God. The consequences are terrifying.

Peter is sorry because he knows he has hurt his dear friend’s feelings. The regret is genuine.

The difference is that Peter trusted in Jesus’ forgiveness, while Judas lost all hope and fell to despair.

When we gossip or bad mouth others, do we owe them a private or public apology, and likewise when we have been hurt? Private apologies are often easier and less embarrassing, but do not fully repair the harm done.

True reconciliation requires “kenosis” or “emptying” ourselves, “taking the form of a slave” to “humble” ourselves for the sake of others, no matter how painful.

Questions: How well do we know ourselves?

Do we truly listen to the face in the mirror?

"MORNING AFTER MORNING HE OPENS MY EAR THAT I MAY HEAR." – ISAIAH 50:4

I’ve long wondered why “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad,” was the responsorial psalm chosen for Easter, the most important celebration of the year for Christians.

Not that there’s anything inappropriate in it, but I’ve always taken it to mean each day is a gift from God, so appreciate it.

The verse just never seems momentous enough.

However, considered in the context of the incredible event of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, these simple words in Psalm 118 speak the powerful truth: This is The Day. This is it – the ultimate outcome of God’s plan.

Indeed, we use that phrase, “This is it!” to signify a culmination, a moment of truth.

I remember once driving home from work on an interstate highway, going the 65 mph speed limit, and being hit from behind (!) by another vehicle. As I struggled in vain to gain control of my car, that vehicle actually hit me again! Sure enough, my life flashed before my eyes and confused thoughts flew through my mind as I began careening and spinning off the road, but I distinctly recall saying to myself, “I guess this is it.”

I knew intrinsically what “it” was: the end of my life, something I fully understood and always knew would come.

(Amazingly, that wasn’t “it.” I was unhurt.)

In today’s reading from Acts, Peter excitedly recalls for his fellow witnesses “what has happened” since Jesus arrived: He was baptized, anointed by God with

his Spirit and went among the people ministering and teaching; he was put to death and now he has been resurrected.

In effect, this is it!

As we celebrate Easter, Christ’s life flashes before our eyes and we see as a single “event” his message, ministry, example, death and resurrection -- something we always knew would come.

This is The day the Lord has made, the eternal day that fulfills God’s desire for his beloved.

By believing in Jesus Christ the savior, we are drawn into this day and it becomes our truth.

Let us rejoice and be glad!

Questions: How would you summarize the meaning and significance for your own life of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection?

How will you respond?

"THE RIGHT HAND OF THE LORD IS EXALTED. I SHALL NOT DIE, BUT LIVE, AND DECLARE THE WORKS OF THE LORD." – PSALM 118:16-17

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

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April 5, 2017

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Four-year ‘encuentro’ process begins in the U.S.

By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY – In Spanish, the word “encuentro” means encounter and in the modern church in the U.S., it refers to a series of meetings that will take place over the next four years aimed at getting to know Latinos and producing more involvement in the church of its second largest and fastest growing community.

“The intent is for Latinos to have an encounter with the entire church and for the church to have an encounter with Latinos, understanding who they are, how they think, how they live their faith, so we can work together and move together and build a church together,” said Mar Munoz-Visoso, executive director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

A recent report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University commissioned by the U.S. bishops shows that more than half of millennial-generation Catholics born in 1982 or later are Hispanic or Latino.

Those numbers alone call for the church to have a plan of how it will bring Latinos in the U.S. into the church’s leadership roles, its vocations and their role in society, Munoz-Visoso said.

“You cannot plan the future of the church without having an important conversation about this population,” she told Catholic News Service. “This effort is very important.”

While the numbers of Lati-

Leaders in ministry to U.S. Hispanic Catholics stand in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in 2016 with the Encuentro cross. They are from left: Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, national coordinator of the Fifth Encuentro; Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church; Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles; and Mar Munoz-Visoso, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church. (Photo credit: Robert Duncan/ CNS)

nos in the church are growing, “there is a gap between the numbers of Latinos in the pews, and the numbers of Latinos in leadership, and the numbers of vocations, or (Latino students) in Catholic schools,” MunozVisoso said.

The first part of encuentro, as the process is called, started in early 2017 and it’s the fifth such process of its kind. Encuentros in the U.S. church took place in

1972, 1977, 1985 and 2000, but the Fifth National Encuentro, also known as “V Encuentro,” is expected to be the biggest one of its kind in terms of attendance.

Participants first meet in small Christian communities at the local level to discern, dialogue, reflect about faith and the baptismal call, Munoz-Visoso said.

Later in the year, parishes will hold parish encuentros of their own, which will later lead to diocesan, regional and finally a nationwide encuentro, set for Sept. 20-23, 2018, in Grapevine, Texas, in the Diocese of Fort Worth. The final part is a “postnational encuentro” that will include publishing a national

working document about ways to implement what was learned during the process.

Encuentro organizers hope the process will yield an increase in vocations of Latinos to the priesthood, religious life, permanent diaconate, an increase in the percentage of Latino students enrolling at Catholic schools, and create a group of Latino leaders for the church, as well as an increase Latinos’ sense of belonging and stewardship in the U.S. church.

At the fall 2016 meeting of U.S. bishops in Baltimore, Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley expressed concern that the younger generations of Latinos “is a demographic that is slipping away from the church and I think we have a window of opportunity and the window of opportunity is closing.”

Many Latinos are “joining the ranks of ‘nones,’” said Cardinal O’Malley, referring to the growing number of Americans who are choosing to be unaffiliated with any organized religion.

“We have very few, relatively, Hispanics in our Catholic schools. They’re underrepresented in our religious education programs, and I’m hoping that the outreach that is going to be done as part of the prepa-

ration for this ‘encuentro’ will make a difference,” he said.

Munoz-Visoso said Latinos are being courted by all kinds of groups, not just other church denominations.

“And we are at this juncture in history where we have this dilemma, where the majority of the Catholic Church in the country is becoming Latino, but at the same time, more Latinos than ever are leaving the church,” she said. “So, we have to address this situation because we have to really engage them, re-enamor them, their faith and make sure they’re committed to their faith.”

For those wanting to become involved, they can contact their local parish to see if the parish is involved in the process. More than 5,000 parishes have signed up to participate, said MunozVisoso.

Parish-level encuentros take place this May and June. Diocesan encuentros will take place in the fall in more than 150 dioceses with a total of 200,000 participants. The regional encuentros are slated for March-June 2018, with 10,000 delegates expected to attend. The regions conform to the U.S. bishops’ 14 episcopal regions. Then comes the Fifth National Encuentro in Texas, which will have as its theme “Missionary Disciples: Witnesses of God’s Love.” This is then followed by the post-encuentro working document.

Alejandro Aquilera-Ttitus, assistant director of Hispanic affairs in the diversity secretariat, is national coordinator of the Fifth National Encuentro.

The materials for the encuentro meetings were designed so they could be used by small and large groups, Munoz-Visoso told CNS, and there are dioceses that plan to use them with migrant workers in the fields, among prison populations, on university campuses, in prison ministry and in military services so that U.S. service men and women who want to participate can do so anywhere in the world.

“The intent is for Latinos ... but we’re inviting everybody (to participate), if they want to have it in their community,” Munoz-Visoso said, adding that the website www.vencuentro. org has information about getting started.

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April 5, 2017

U.S. Bishops encourage Catholics ‘to accompany’ migrants, refugees

In talk with top diplomat, bishop stresses Church concern for common good

WASHINGTON (CNS) – The U.S. bishops in a pastoral reflection released March 22 called all Catholics to do what each of them can “to accompany migrants and refugees who seek a better life in the United States.”

Titled “Living as a People of God in Unsettled Times,” the reflection was issued “in solidarity with those who have been forced to flee their homes due to violence, conflict or fear in their native lands,” said a news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“To live as a people of God is to live in the hope of the Resurrection,” said the reflection, which was approved by the USCCB Administrative Committee on the first day of a two-day meeting in Washington. The 37-member committee is made up of the executive officers of the USCCB, elected committee chairmen and elected regional representatives. It acts on behalf of the nation’s bishops between their spring and fall general meetings. “To live in Christ is to draw upon the limitless love of Jesus to fortify us against the temptation of fear,” it continued.

WASHINGTON (CNS) – The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace met with the country’s top diplomat, Rex Tillerson, March 23, for a policypacked 35-minute conversation about immigration, the Middle East, Africa and the role of the Catholic Church’s efforts toward building “the common good. After some small talk about Texas,” the two spoke about the Middle East, about Iraq and Syria, reaching out to Central America and Mexico, and the situation in Africa, said Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, New Mexico, explaining his initial meeting in Washington with Tillerson, the U.S. secretary of state, who, like Bishop Cantu, hails from Texas. Bishop Cantu said the meeting was about letting Tillerson know “that our only motive is to help build the common good, that we don’t have ulterior motives,” and explaining the bishops’ peace and justice committee’s work in the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Far East. Bishop Cantu, as the chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace, has spoken for a two-state solution in the IsraelPalestine conflict, against the construction of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories, for reducing the United States’ nuclear arsenal, and raised concerns about an executive order that targets refugees from some countries with predominantly Muslim populations, which are at odds with stances taken early by the Donald Trump administration.

“To live in Christ is to draw upon the limitless love of Jesus to fortify us against the temptation of fear.”

– “Living as a People of God in Unsettled Times”

NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS

Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore embraces St. John Paul II at Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the pope’s historic 1995 visit to Baltimore. Cardinal Keeler, who retired in 2007, died March 23 at age 86. (CNS/The Catholic Review)

Cardinal Keeler, retired archbishop of Baltimore, dies at age 86 WASHINGTON (CNS) – Cardinal William H. Keeler, Baltimore’s 14th archbishop, who was an international leader in CatholicJewish relations and the driving force behind the restoration of America’s first cathedral, died March 23 at his residence at St. Martin’s Home for the Aged in Catonsville. He was 86.

The archdiocese said the cardi-

nal will lie in repose March 27 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption in Baltimore. His funeral will be celebrated March 28 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, also in Baltimore. Pope Francis, in a papal telegram March 24, sent condolences to Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori and the archdiocese, expressing gratitude for “Cardinal Keeler’s years of devoted episcopal ministry” and his “long-standing commitment to ecumenical and interreligious understanding.

He called the cardinal a “wise and gentle pastor.” “One of the great blessings in my life was coming to know Cardinal Keeler,” Archbishop Lori said in a statement March 23. “Cardinal Keeler will be greatly missed.

I am grateful to the Little Sisters for their devoted care for the cardinal.” Cardinal Keeler was the bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, when he was appointed the 14th archbishop of Baltimore in 1989. Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in 1994. He retired in 2007. As president of the U.S. bishops’ conference from 1992 to 1995, he participated in a wide range of national and international issues.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Pay close attention to pope’s words and actions, papal nuncio says WASHINGTON (CNS) – Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the papal nuncio to the United States, gets plenty of questions about Pope Francis. A March 27 discussion at Georgetown University, sponsored by the university’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, was no exception. The nuncio, who sat on stage with John Carr, the initiative’s director, was asked about the pope’s key issues and his impact in the four years since his election. Instead of emphasizing the pope’s special qualities or accomplishments, Archbishop Pierre, who has been in the Vatican diplomatic corps for almost 40 years, stressed how Catholics are called to view the pope and essentially work with him in the mission of spreading the Gospel. He told the audience, nearly filling a campus auditorium, that it is not a question of whether the pope is good or bad or if one agrees with him or not. The issue, for Catholics, is to discern what the Holy Spirit is saying through the pope.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

INTERNATIONAL

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Pope: World needs those who can bring God’s hope, consolation

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY – Christian hope is built on patiently enduring everything life brings and knowing how to see God’s presence and love everywhere, Pope Francis said.

God “never tires of loving us” as he “takes care of us, dressing our wounds with the caress of his goodness and his mercy, meaning, he consoles us and he never tires of consoling us,” the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 22.

The pope also invited all Catholics to “rediscover the sacrament of reconciliation” during the Lenten season by taking part in the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, being held March 23-24 in many dioceses and parishes worldwide. The pope asked people to make time for confession to “experience the joyful encounter with the mercy of the father,” who welcomes and forgives everyone.

During his main audience talk, the pope continued a series of reflections on how the Apostle Paul describes the nature of Christian hope. In the apostle’s

An elderly woman reacts as she meets Pope Francis during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 22.

(Photo credit: Paul Haring/CNS)

Letter to the Romans (15:1-5), he said that it is “by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.”

This endurance or perseverance, the pope said, is the patient ability to remain faithful and steadfast even when dealing with the most unbearable burdens. It is persevering even when “we would be tempted to judge unfavorably and give up on everything and everyone.”

The encouragement or consolation St. Paul talks about, the pope said, is “the grace to know how to grasp and show the presence and compassionate action of God in every situation, even in one greatly marked by disappointment and suffering.”

When St. Paul says, “We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak,” he isn’t separating the Christian community into a special class of those who are “strong” and

a group of “second-class citizens” who are weak, the pope said.

In actuality, the strong are those who experience and understand their fragility and know they need the support and comfort of others, he said. And when people are experiencing their fragility and vulnerability, they “can always offer a smile or hand to a brother or sister in need,” showing them strength.

It’s about people offering one another what they can and knowing that the truly strong one is Christ, who takes care of everyone. “In fact, we all need to be carried on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd and to feel surrounded by his tender and caring gaze,” Pope Francis said.

That strength to endure and find encouragement all comes from God and his sacred Scriptures, the pope said, not from one’s own efforts.

The closer people are to God with prayer and reading the Bible, the more they will have the energy and feel the responsibility to go to those in need, “to console them and give them strength.”

The aim of serving others

then will not be to feel proud of oneself, he said, but to “please our neighbor for the good, for building up,” as the Apostle Paul says.

People will realize they are “a ‘channel for broadcasting’ the Lord’s gifts and, in that way, concretely become a sower of hope,” the pope said.

Planting seeds of hope “is needed today. It’s not easy,” Pope Francis said. But with Christ at the center of one’s life, it will be him who “gives us the strength, the patience, the hope and the consolation” needed to live in harmony.

At the end of the general audience, the pope highlighted that the day also marked World Water Day, established by the United Nations 25 years ago.

The pope greeted participants attending the conference, “Watershed: Replenishing Water Values for a Thirsty World,” sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Club of Rome March 22.

He said he was “happy this meeting is taking place” as part of continued joint efforts to raise awareness about “the need to protect water as a treasure belonging to everyone.”

Pope Francis recognizes miracle attributed to Fatima visionaries

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis has approved the recognition of a miracle attributed to the intercession of two of the shepherd children who saw Our Lady of Fatima in 1917, thus paving the way for their canonization.

Pope Francis signed the decree for the causes of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta Marto during a meeting March 23 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the Vatican said.

The recognition of the miracle makes it likely that the canonization ceremony for the two children will be scheduled soon.

The cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation must vote to recommend their canonization and then the pope would convene the cardinals resident in Rome for a consistory to approve the sainthood.

Many people are hoping Pope Francis will preside over the canonization ceremony during his visit to Fatima May 12-13.

The pilgrimage will mark the 100th anniversary of the Mar-

ian apparitions, which began May 13, 1917, when 9-year-old Francisco and 7-year-old Jacinta, along with their cousin Lucia dos Santos, reported seeing the Virgin Mary. The apparitions continued once a month until Oct. 13, 1917, and later were declared worthy of belief by the Catholic Church.

A year after the apparitions, both of the Marto children became ill during an influenza epidemic that plagued Europe.

Francisco died April 4, 1919, at the age of 10, while Jacinta succumbed to her illness Feb. 20, 1920, at the age of 9.

Francisco and Jacinta’s cause for canonization was stalled for decades due to a debate on whether non-martyred children have the capacity to understand heroic virtues at a young age.

However, in 1979, St. John Paul II allowed their cause to proceed; he declared them venerable in 1989 and beatified them in 2000.

Their cousin Lucia entered the Institute of the Sisters of St. Dorothy and, later, obtained permission to enter the Carmelite convent of St. Teresa in Coimbra, where she resided until

Jacinta and Francisco Marto are pictured with their cousin Lucia dos Santos (right) in a file photo taken around the time of the 1917 apparitions of Mary at Fatima, Portugal. (CNS file photo)

her death in 2005 at the age of 97.

Following her death, Pope Benedict XVI waived the fiveyear waiting period before her sainthood cause could open.

Bishop Virgilio Antunes of Coimbra formally closed the local

phase of investigation into her life and holiness Feb. 13, 2017, and forwarded the information to the Vatican.

Also March 23, Pope Francis signed other decrees recognizing miracles, martyrdom and heroic virtues in six other

causes, the Vatican said.

The pope also approved the bishops’ and cardinals’ vote to canonize two Brazilian priests – Blessed Andre de Soveral and Blessed Ambrosio Francisco Ferro – as well as Mateus Moreira and 27 laypeople, who were killed in 1645 as violence broke out between Portuguese Catholics and Dutch Calvinists in Brazil.

Pope Francis also approved the vote to canonize three young Mexican martyrs, known as the child martyrs of Tlaxcala, who were among the first native converts in Mexico. Known only by their first names – Cristobal, Antonio and Juan – they were killed in 1529 for rejecting idolatry and polygamy in the name of their faith.

In addition, Pope Francis signed a decree recognizing the martyrdom of Franciscan Claretian Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, who died in 1995 after being stabbed 54 times, apparently because of her work helping poor women in India organize themselves. With the signing of the decree, a date can be set for her beatification.

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Top Vatican officials attend child protection seminar

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service ROME – There is absolutely no excuse for not implementing concrete measures to protect minors and vulnerable adults from sexual abuse, said Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston.

“Let there be no doubt about it: Pope Francis is thoroughly committed to rooting out the scourge of sex abuse in the church,” he said, and “effectively making our church safe for all people demands our collaboration on all levels.”

The cardinal gave the opening prayer and address at a day-long seminar March 23 at Rome’s Pontifical Gregorian University.

The seminar was sponsored by the papal advisory body Cardinal O’Malley heads, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

A representative of every office of the Roman Curia attended, including: Cardinals Pietro Parolin, secretary of state; Kevin Farrell of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life; Joao Braz de Aviz of the Congregation for Institutes for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; Marc Ouellet of the Congregation for Bishops; and Peter Turkson of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development. Also in attendance were rectors of pontifical universities and colleges, and representatives from the Italian state police and the Vatican gendarmes.

After leading a prayer calling for a greater love for God and his creation, especially “your little ones,” Cardinal O’Malley said holding a study day was an important part of fighting complacency and knowing “we must continue to learn from our experiences, including our

U.S. Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, president of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, is pictured during a seminar on safeguarding children at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome March 23. (Photo credit: Paul Haring/CNS)

mistakes,” and to better share resources and knowledge.

“There is simply no justification in our day for failures to enact concrete safeguarding standards for our children, young men and women and vulnerable adults,” he said. The church not only needs to “reform and renew” its own institutions, but its members also must be “witnesses and strong advocates” in society.

He said he told cardinals and the pope during a consistory in Rome two years ago that the church “must address the evil of sexual abuse by priests.”

While abuse by any kind of perpetrator is a problem, when the abuser is a priest, “the damage is even more profound.”

Also, given “today’s world of in-

stantaneous communications” Catholics are much more aware, and quickly, of the problem of abuse in the church and are “demanding that we, who are their pastors, take all necessary steps” to safeguard those in their care.

The papal commission, which was founded in 2014, is guided by a “victims-first” approach, he said, because all the best protection programs and policies “will be to no avail if we fail to put the victims and survivors first.”

While the cardinal did not mention the recent resignation of Marie Collins, the last active member who is a survivor of clerical abuse, he said the commission would be discussing during its closed-door plenary meeting, “How can victim/ survivors continue to have a

powerful voice in our work and help to guide us?” Collins, who was a member of the commission since its inception, stepped down citing a chronic lack of cooperation from some in the Roman Curia in following recommendations that had the pope’s support.

“It’s not enough to say ‘We are putting victims first’” or that the church is seeking to listen to survivors, said Francis Sullivan, head of the Truth, Justice and Healing Council, which was established by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Catholic Religious Australia. The council oversees the church’s engagement with a state inquiry into clerical sexual abuse.

“Words are not going to do it. Actions do it,” he said in his presentation.

The “intense scrutiny” the church in Australia has been through shows that the entire church must confront “the miserable reality that sex abuse happened in our church.”

He urged everyone present to not “distract church leaders” by pointing attention to all the other places and people in the world guilty of abusing children.

“Sure it may happen in other places,” he said, “but the fact that it happened in the Catholic Church says something about the corruption in our church” and about how its members have “lost the plot” and are no longer being true to their beliefs.

“Somehow we’ve not only enabled abusers to exist,” Sullivan said, the church has allowed them “to continue to abuse.”

Keep the spotlight on “Why. Why did it happen in our church?” he said, and “come to

terms with that cancer.”

Otherwise, the risk remains that victims and survivors will never be fully listened to or that their experience will never truly impact people’s lives.

Don’t smother what a victim has to say, by countering with a laundry list of “Yes, but” and all the ways the church is doing the right thing, he said. “The ‘but’ part drowns out the voice of the victim.” The church needs to “be humble” recognize all the “baggage” in its past and “humbly face failures.”

Until leaders couple a genuine recognition of past wrongs with concrete action in best practices, Catholics and others will not believe any of the talk and the church won’t regain its credibility, he said.

Sullivan said when the pope and others talk about the need for a reform of the heart, people need to realize “that the decisions our leaders made in order to facilitate and cover up actually broke the heart of what it meant to be Catholic.”

“We need to go back and confront that,” he said.

Cardinal Braz de Aviz told Catholic News Service that the meeting showed “the conscience of the church” and a “very important” shift in perspective, or in other words, “the recovery of humanity.”

While abuse is a problem throughout society, he said it took a lot of courage from the church to recognize its role in the problem.

There is no longer any place for the “old way of doing things” with abusive clergy or religious – such as moving them from one assignment to another, the cardinal said. “We have to totally change the way of doing” things.

No date yet for Blessed Romero canonization, archbishop says

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY – While documentation regarding an alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Oscar Romero is being studied at the Vatican, there is no date scheduled for his canonization, the archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador, said.

“I must say, in all sincerity, that there is no date. And we understand it well because it involves a process. Blessed Romero’s cause is at a decisive

phase that is necessary for his canonization,” Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas said March 23 during a memorial Mass for Blessed Romero in Rome.

Archbishop Escobar, along with the other bishops of El Salvador were making their “ad limina” visits to Rome and the Vatican and anticipated the 37th anniversary of Blessed Romero’s death with Mass at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Blessed Romero, the archbishop of San Salvador, was assassinated in 1980 while cel-

ebrating Mass in the chapel of a local hospital one day after calling on the government to end its violation of human rights against the population.

During the nearly two hours Pope Francis spent with the bishops of El Salvador March 20, the pontiff expressed “his warmth and affection” for Blessed Romero, Archbishop Escobar told Catholic News Service after the Mass.

During his homily, Archbishop Escobar thanked Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for

Life and the official promoter of Blessed Romero’s sainthood cause, for his work throughout canonical process.

The alleged miracle involves a pregnant woman in El Salvador who was in danger of dying, Archbishop Paglia told CNS. “Several friends of this family prayed to Blessed Oscar Romero. And in a short time, the baby was born and the mother is well.”

Archbishop Paglia also told CNS that officials at the Congregation for Saints’ Causes had opened the documentation con-

cerning the alleged miracle and would begin studying it March 24.

The congregation’s work, he added, is a delicate process, which involves looking at the alleged miracle from both a “medical and theological perspective.”

“I hope that as soon as possible the results can be given.

We cannot say how long it will take,” he said. “If the results are positive, it will be presented to the pope and he will decide on the canonization and the date.”

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Pope: Spread hope, preach Christ, don’t worry about numbers

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service ROME – Visiting Milan, the center of Italian fashion and finance, Pope Francis spent the morning with the poor and those who minister to them.

He had lunch at the city’s historic San Vittore prison, where all 893 inmates – men and women – are awaiting trial.

But Pope Francis began his visit March 25 on the outskirts of the city, at the “White Houses,” a housing development for the poor built in the 1970s. Three families welcomed the pope into their apartments: Stefano Pasquale, 59, who is ill and cared for by his 57-year-old wife, Dorotee; a Muslim couple and their three children from

Morocco; and the Onetes.

Nuccio Onete, 82, was home for the pope’s visit, but his wife, Adele, was hospitalized with pneumonia three days earlier, so the pope called her on the telephone.

The people of the neighborhood gave Pope Francis a handmade white stole, which he put on before addressing the crowd.

The fact that it was homemade, he said, “makes it much more precious and is a reminder that the Christian priest is chosen from the people and is at the service of the people. My priesthood, like that of your pastor and the other priests who work here, is a gift of Christ, but one sewn by you, by the people, with your faith, your struggles, your prayers and your tears.”

Arriving next at Milan’s massive Gothic cathedral, Pope Francis met with the archdiocese’s pastoral workers and responded to questions from a priest, a permanent deacon and a religious sister, urging them to trust in God, hold on to their joy and share the good news of Christ with everyone they meet.

“We should not fear challenges,” he said. “It is good that they exist” and Christians must “grab them, like a bull, by the horns.”

Challenges “are a sign of a living faith, of a living community that seeks the Lord.”

Asked by Father Gabriele Gioia about evangelization efforts that do not seem to result in “catching fish,” Pope Francis said the work of an evangelizer

– of all Christians – is to set out and cast the nets.

Preoccupation with numbers is never a good thing, Pope Francis said.

Responding to Ursuline Sister Paola Paganoni, who spoke of the challenge of reaching out when so many orders are experiencing an aging and declining membership, the pope spoke as a Jesuit, saying, “The majority of our founding fathers and mothers never thought they’d be a multitude.”

Rather, he said, they were moved by the Holy Spirit to respond to the real needs of their time and “to build the church like leaven in the dough, like salt and light for the world.”

Just think, he said, a dish with too much salt would be ined-

ible. And, “I’ve never seen a pizza maker who took a half kilo of yeast and 100 grams of flour to make a pizza. No, it has to be the opposite” proportion.

Christians must be concerned with being leaven in society more than with being a majority.

It is not up to the pope to tell religious orders what their focus should be, he said. They must look to their founding charisms and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But in all they do, he said, “ignite the hope that has been extinguished and weakened by a society that has become insensitive to the pain of others.

Our fragility as congregations can make us more attentive to the many forms of fragility that surround us and transform them into spaces of blessing.”

God promises the ‘impossible,’ asks people hope against all hope, says pope

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY – Hope is not built on people’s predictions, assurances or line of reasoning, Pope Francis said.

Real Christian hope “is not based on our word, but on God’s Word” and promises of salvation and eternal life, the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square March 29.

Continuing a series of reflections on how the Apostle Paul describes the nature of Christian hope, the pope looked at how Abraham’s faith is held up as a model for everyone in the apostle’s Letter to the Romans (4:16-25).

Despite all logic – Abraham was old and his wife infertile – Abraham “believed, hoping against hope that he would become ‘the father of many nations,’” which shows how faith is so closely connected to hope, the pope said.

Real hope arises “where there is no more hope, where there is nothing left to hope for,” he said.

True hope “is rooted in faith

Pope Francis greets the crowd during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 29.

(Photo credit: Paul Haring/CNS)

and, precisely for this reason, it is able to go beyond all hope” because it is built on faith in God and his promise, he said.

“This is the paradox and, at the same time, the strongest part,” he said, because from a human point of view, that promise seems “unsure and un-

foreseeable.”

Looking at the people gathered for the general audience, the pope asked them if they really believed in God’s love for them and his promise of eternal life.

“There is only one price” to be paid for this, he said. “Open-

ing your heart. Open your hearts and God’s power will carry you forward. He will do miraculous things and he will teach you what hope is.”

Just “open your heart to faith and he will do the rest,” he added.

Mary, too, believed in the

unbelievable when the angel told her she would become the mother of God, the pope said in remarks to pilgrims from Arabic-speaking countries, particularly Iraq.

Like Mary, they are called to embrace that which they do not understand God is doing, and to open their hearts and minds to him, so that his will may be done, he said.

He later launched an appeal for more to be done to protect civilians in Iraq, reaffirming his prayers for civilians trapped in parts of Mosul and those displaced by war.

The pope also greeted a delegation of Iraqi authorities representing Shiites and Sunnis, and one representing Christians and other religious minorities, who were accompanied by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

He encouraged them to continue their efforts and invited people to pray that “Iraq may find peace, unity and prosperity through reconciliation and harmony among its diverse ethnic and religious communities.”

As of March 29, the following Diocese of Crookston parishes have met their goal:

STATUS REPORT

St. Joseph, Beaulieu

St. Lawrence, Mentor

St. Cecilia, Sabin

St. John, Georgetown

St. Francis de Sales, Moorhead

St. Stephen, Stephen

St. Patrick, Hallock

St. Theodore, Ponsford

Holy Trinity, Tabor

Holy Family, Halstad

Sacred Heart, Roseau

St. Mary, Warroad

Thank you for supporting your parishes and the youth.

If you have not yet made a gift to the 2017 DAA, you may do so by visiting www.crookston.org/daa

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