OND Jan B, Vol. 69, No. 2

VOL. 69, NO. 2

WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG

JANUARY 28, 2015

Catholic Schools Week: Celebrating our rich history Religious have greatly contributed to education in the diocese By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND CROOKSTON, MINN. — This year, Catholic Schools Week runs from Jan. 25 to Jan. 31. The theme for the week, selected by the National Catholic Educational Association, is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” This theme fits perfectly with one of Pope Francis’ goals for this Year of Consecrated Life. Part of his three-pronged focus for the Year of Consecrated Life is giving thanks for the service of consecrated sisters, brothers, priests and nuns. One of the most impactful ways consecrated people have served our diocese, nation, and world throughout history is the founding of Catholic schools that have had a lasting impact on the world by creating communities of faith, knowledge and service. “Saints like Elizabeth Ann

On a sunny winter day, a sister serving as a teacher at St. Mary’s Mission School in Red Lake, Minn. went sledding with her students as pictured above in this photo from 1956. (OND Archives)

Seton gave great effort to make sure Catholic communities and others had wonderful Catholic schools to take care of the young people,” said Bishop Michael Hoeppner. “It’s always seen as a primary and paramount way that people are

brought into the faith family of the church and formed to be faithful citizens. It builds the Church and society. It’s a unique contribution to both the Church and the country. It’s absolutely important that we have our Catholic schools.”

Catholic education is one contribution that was made by consecrated people in the Diocese of Crookston, even before it became a diocese. The first schools in the area were at the SCHOOLS : Continued on Page 8

A plaque depicting St. Katharine Drexel hangs in the parish hall at St. Mary’s, Red Lake. It commemorates the Drexel family’s generosity to St. Mary’s Mission. The saint-to-be and her sister visited the missions at Red Lake and White Earth during the summer of 1888. (OND File photo)

Pro-lifers take their cause to the snowy streets of Bemidji

St. Philip’s parishioners lead local March in hopes of affecting change By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND BEMIDJI, MINN. — On a day more suited for curling up with a blanket by a fireplace than being outside, 85 pro-lifers marched through the streets of Bemidji in support of life. This year’s March for Life took place amidst falling snow on Saturday, Jan. 17. The group gathered at noon in front of the Beltrami County Courthouse and began with a prayer. They proceeded to march down Beltrami Avenue through the downtown area and took Bemidji Avenue back to St. Philip’s Catholic Church in a route that

INSIDE VOL. 69, NO. 2:

covered nearly a mile. Angel and Hank Krigbaum head the committee that plans the yearly march. “We’ve been doing it for a long time, at least ten years,” Angel said. This year, the March for Life Committee debuted two large signs that led the way for the marchers. Luke Alexander, a sophomore at Bemidji State University helped carry one of them. “The march is a great thing,” he said. “Everyone has a right to live.” Lisa Freise, a parishioner at St. Philip’s said this was her first year attending the local March for Life. “It’s a good cause and I pray for it,” she said, explain-

ing her reason for coming out in the snow. Freise hopes that having people gather in public to support life will help affect change. “I just want to be involved in it,” said Chris Hanevold of Bemidji. “It is something I feel strongly about.” Joan Ditty has come to the Bemidji March for Life for four or five years. “It is important for me to come here because every individual is important to this world and to God,” she said. “We talk about the Nazis and how horrible they were, but we’ve killed 50 million babies MARCH: Continued on Page 9

Pg. 3 - 2015 DAA Kickoff Dinner Pg. 6 - MN Bill Would Support Expectant Parents Pg. 7 - Catechetical Sunday Confession Series

Eighty-five people marched through the streets of Bemidji carrying pro-life signs during the local March for Life on Jan. 17. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux, OND)

Pg. 10 - Word to Life Faith Sharing Commentary Pg. 11 - Benedictines to Host YCL Open House Pg. 15 - Feb. Prayer Calendar and Scriptures

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January 28, 2015

A

COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Voice from the Valley BY BISHOP MICHAEL J. HOEPPNER

PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY Once again, as we moved through the first month of our new year, we joined the Church throughout the world — from Sunday, Jan. 18, through Saturday, Jan. 24 — in offering special prayer for the unity of all Christians. Jesus has blessed his Bride, the Church, with the gift of unity. “It is Christ who, through the Holy Spirit, makes his Church one, holy, catholic and apostolic, and it is he who calls her to realize each of these qualities.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #811) In the Church, we find a diverse people of different races, nations, cultures, languages and traditions. We are all joined together and held in a wonderful communion of love by the presence of the Holy Spirit. This communion is something that we can never lose. However, throughout the ages, divisions have developed among Christians which offend against the unity of the Church. Our week of Prayer for Christian Unity is one way we work for reconciliation of all Christians in the unity of the one Church of Christ. It is a unity he himself prayed for (Jn. 17). We use the word ecumenical – which means “world-wide” – to describe our efforts for greater visibility of the reality of our unity. Ecumenism includes praying together, study-

ing Scripture and one another’s traditions together, taking common action for social justice and participating in dialogue for greater mutual understanding. Progress is possible. For example, in 1999, the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church signed a joint agreement acknowledging a common understanding was reached through dialogue on justification and good works in the lives of Christians. May God continue to help us live the life we are gifted with through baptism, “that those whom one Baptism has consecrated may be joined together by integrity of faith and united in the bond of charity.” (Roman Missal, Mass For the Unity of Christians) MARCH FOR LIFE As I substituted Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, at St. Joseph Parish, Moorhead, I was delighted to hear that Julia Johnson has been invited to speak at this year’s March For Life on Jan. 22. She is a member of St. Joseph’s and a senior at Shanley Catholic High School in Fargo. Julia will address the huge crowd gathered in support of the life and dignity of every human person, along with national civic and religious leaders and health professionals who will speak at the rally at noon. She won’t be alone as almost the entire student body of Shanley – which includes

many young people from our diocese – is making the trip to Washington, D.C. for this year’s rally and march. They will get “up front and personal” as the March for Life Committee has invited them to carry the lead banner for this year’s March For Life. What a wonderful witness these young people are giving to the truth that human life begins at conception and all human life, from conception to natural death, is sacred and must be protected, not killed! We congratulate them — as well as all who will join in the rally at our State Capitol on Jan. 22 — and thank them for this wonderful witness. They are providing a great service to the whole country, and we pray with them for an end to abortion. CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK As some of the young people from the Diocese of Crookston attend Shanely Catholic High School in the Diocese of Fargo, some high schoolers from the Fargo Diocese attend school in the Diocese of Crookston at Sacred Heart Catholic School in East Grand Forks. In addition to Sacred Heart School, we have seven other Catholic elementary schools in our diocese: St. Joseph, in Moorhead; Cathedral Catholic Elementary School, in Crookston; St. Bernard’s, in Thief River Falls; St. Michael’s, in Mahnomen; Holy Rosary,

BISHOP’S CALENDAR February 2-4 February 8 February 10 February 12 February 13

NCBC, Dallas, Texas

9:30 a.m.

Rite of Confirmation, Sts. Peter & Paul, Warren

7:45 a.m.

Mass, Cathedral, Crookston

11 a.m.

8:35 a.m.

Assignments Committee Meeting, Chancery, Crookston Mass and Classroom visits, St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls

in Detroit Lakes; St. Mary’s, at Red Lake and St. Philip’s, in Bemidji. The last week of January, we celebrate the hard work and sacrifice parents, teachers, students, staff and parish communities make to give our young people “an advantage for life.” That’s what I call Catholic School education, “an advantage for life.” This year’s Catholic Schools Week is January 25 to 31, and the theme chosen is “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” In an interesting article entitled: “Do Catholic Schools Matter?,” researcher Mark Gray of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Georgetown University, answers in the affirmative for a number of reasons. According to him, the top three reasons parents choose Catholic schools, CARA polls indicate, are first, “quality religious education,” followed by

“safe environment” and then “quality academic instruction.” Does this “quality religious education” pay off ? “Yes,” he says: “Most Millennials did not attend a Catholic school and few of those in this group attend Mass every week (5 percent). A third or more of those who did attend Catholic schools are weekly attenders.” He also notes that the statistics show that Catholic schools are important for vocations. Half or more new priests attended Catholic primary schools. “Without Catholic schools, the next generation of Church leaders would be more difficult to recruit and form in the numbers that will be needed for a growing Catholic population,” he says. Thank you to all who make our “Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service” possible in order to enrich our young people and, through them, the Church.

(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

VICTIMS’ 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.

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

DIOCESAN

January 28, 2015

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Bishop Hoeppner and his brother priests lead those gathered in singing “We Will Drink the Cup” as the evening’s entertainment. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux, OND)

DAA kickoff: A fiesta of fundraising preparation By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND FOSSTON, MINN. — The 36th Diocesan Annual Appeal (DAA) kickoff dinner was held at St. Mary’s, Fosston on Jan. 15. Pastors and DAA Chairpeople from every parish in the diocese were invited, as well as anyone the pastors thought would be comfortable contacting fellow parishioners to discuss donating to the DAA. Vicar General, Msgr. David Baumgartner was the emcee for the evening. He welcomed the guests from across the diocese, and introduced the evening’s speaker, Ron Schatz. Schatz is the director of the Office of Stewardship and Resource Development for the Diocese of Bismarck in North Dakota. He has held this position for the past 23 years and is very passionate about his work. He is also on the board of the International Catholic Stewardship Council as the representative for Region VIII, which includes all the dioceses of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. “I heard him speak at a conference in Orlando and thought it would resonate with our DAA chairpeople,” said Giannonatti. “It was interesting to see how a sister diocese handles their appeal.” Because of Schatz’s leadership and the work of his department, the Diocese of Bismarck has consistently experienced above 50 percent participation in their annual appeal. Schatz shared his strategies with all those gathered for the DAA kickoff dinner. According to Schatz, the Diocese of Bismarck takes a unified approach to their appeal process. The appeal is promoted in parish bulletins and the diocesan paper in advance. The weekend before the appeal, a video message from the bishop is played in all the parishes. The weekend of the appeal, envelopes are placed in the pew and the priest in each parish walks everyone through the process. Letters are also sent to everyone in the diocese and they are made as personalized as possible. They send special letters and information for people who

have never donated to the appeal. After the initial phase of the appeal, parishes do their own follow-up work with the people who have not yet responded. One month from the start of the appeal, everything is turned over to the diocese for further follow-up. The Diocese of Bismarck employs a telemarketing firm to contact those people from across the diocese who have not yet responded to the appeal. “It’s not about the money. It’s the donors, that’s what you want,” Schatz said. In summary, the more people who participate, the better and stronger the base will be for future appeals. He also said that an important aspect of the appeal in Bismarck is a focus on their seminarians. The Diocese of Bismarck currently has 25 men in the seminary. “It was interesting to hear someone else’s perspective from another diocese,” said Msgr. Timothy McGee, pastor of Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes. “They probably have the same trouble we do and they’re willing to share some tips with us.” “I thought the speaker had some excellent ideas of how to reach those who have not donated before,” said Lanny Sweeney. She is a first time parish representative from Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes. “This was a really nice evening to share … to prepare to go out,” said Sharon Houdek of St. Michael’s, Mahnomen. “It’s [the DAA] really important for the Church and the people. … People are really generous, they just want to know that you know that. What’s more important than the church?” The evening had a fiesta-like atmosphere in contrast with the snowy chill outside. A feast of enchiladas and tamales was served with sides of salad, beans, salsa and guacamole. The meal was prepared by Lucina Mello of Crookston. Laure Williamson, who works in hospitality and environment at the Chancery, assited. Bishop Michael Hoeppner led the prayer before dinner, which was served by diocesan staff, St. Mary’s Guild, and Mello’s friends, Augustina and Juanita. Following dinner, Bishop Hoeppner

Jim Clausen, Safe Environment Coordinator, prepares to serve a drink to a table of dinner guests. The brightly-colored Jarritos sodas were a festive addition to the dinner. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux, OND)

spoke to the guests; he began with a reflection on a recent retreat he made, saying: “There’s a quality of the heart in every person, there’s a quality of the heart that God wants to affect. … God wants to touch; God wants to change. You and I, in this work of stewardship, are helping God affect the heart of people. That’s what we’re doing.” “I really sincerely thank you for what you are doing,” said Bishop Hoeppner. “There’s nothing more important.” The evening’s entertainment was provided by the priests in attendance. They were unaware of the role they would play until Msgr. Baumgartner invited them and Bishop Hoeppner to the front of the room to lead the group in the song “We Will Drink the Cup”. Giannonatti shared some parting remarks. “I would like to thank our pastors who patiently and with general good humor support our many, many requests,” she said. “This year we’ll try harder to listen to our presbyterate, and listen to all of you talking to the people in your parishes.” The 2015 DAA begins on Feb. 1 with an announcement in all the parishes of the diocese. Feb. 8 is commitment Sun-

day, when the people of the diocese will be asked to make a commitment to contributing to the appeal. The goal for the 2015 DAA is $880,000, which is an increase of 4 percent over last year’s target. “[The goal] is divided between the 66 parishes of the diocese according to a formula based on the overall offertory received throughout the year,” said Giannonatti. This year’s appeal will not have a specific theme, but will focus on the seminarians studying for the Diocese of Crookston. “We want to keep people interested and involved in the discernment of these young men,” she added. Every household in the diocese will receive a DAA mailing. “It will contain a beautiful brochure featuring our seminarians,” said Giannonatti. Lisa Hatlestad, Stewardship Manager, designed the brochure and other materials included in the mailing. Part of the design includes a tear-off with information about each of the seminarians that is intended to be used as a reminder to pray for them. “Even if people are unable to give, we want them to pray for our seminarians,” said Giannonatti.

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COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

“Father, that will never ever happen!” In the last two columns, I shared some pretty extreme news stories covering events placing the rights of animals over human beings. If I did not have the original news clips in hand when telling people about them they would have certainly said, “Father, that will never ever happen!” If I had lived in the 50’s and told people at the time that television would be what it is today, they would have said, “Father, that will never ever happen!” I am encouraged to hear the number of people who have tossed out their television sets and have not missed them. Allowing such uncensored vile to stream into our homes day after day and hour after hour reminds me of the cleaning of the cattle barns when growing up on the farm. The smell is the same. Thirty years ago, parents would never have imagined their 13-year-old child would suffer from addiction to internet pornography. Just two clicks and there you are. Ask

LIFE FIRST

By Father Don Braukmann Parochial Vicar - St. Philip’s Parish, Bemidji and St. Charles Parish, Pennington

any priest hearing confessions of our teens these days, it will break your heart. Just 15 years ago, who would have guessed the definition of marriage would be what it is today? The very foundation of our culture, the family, is crumbling beneath the pressure of those who claim anything and everything as a “right” they must have. God is told to shut up and sit down. And so, given all that “will never happen” it should be no surprise that in the state of New York, an appeals court (made up of five judges) heard a case where Tommy, a 26 year

old chimpanzee living alone in a shed in upstate New York, was promoted as an autonomous creature deserving to be granted “legal personhood.” The animal rights advocates promoting Tommy’s case managed to work the case that deep into the legal system. Thankfully, for now, the court ruled against Tommy and the advocacy group but the precedence has been set; we are now discussing in our court system the “personhood” of chimpanzees. Who can honestly say, “Father, that will never ever happen”? The cat seems to be out of the bag, as they say.

Attempts by pro-lifers to even be heard by our political leaders when trying to grant “personhood” to a human being in the womb have been repeatedly thwarted … yet the same cause for chimps gets a hearing in the courts! Pope Paul VI, as I have repeatedly written, was a very wise man in 1968 when he wrote about the dignity of every human life in Humane Vitae. Many said he was out of touch with reality and said of his predictions in the document, “Holy Father, that will never ever happen.” He predicted the contraceptive mentality the world had embraced with full force would lead to abortion on demand, the decimation of marriage and the horrific abuse of women especially through pornography. Place a check mark by each of his predictions for we are now living in that reality. It seems that if humanity can “think it,” we are hell bent to “do it.” The moral consequences either do not matter, or are camouflaged

by a warped understanding of personal freedom. It doesn’t matter who gets hurt or dies. “Personhood” for a chimpanzee while over 4,000 children die from abortion each day in America alone because of the twisted definition of freedom we have espoused. “Personhood” for a chimpanzee while mothers weep clenching the skin and bones of their starving children. In our world, over 18,000 children die from hunger each day. “Personhood” for a chimpanzee when women and men are lined up on death row in the barbaric practice of capital punishment; killing people to show people it is wrong to kill people. The only way we get through winter is by trusting that spring is on the way. Sometimes I cannot help but wonder if nature will follow humanity’s insistence on darkness and hide in the shadows of winter out of sheer shame.

A preview of the 8th World Meeting of Families Have you viewed video clips of a World Youth Day on the TV or computer? Maybe you’ve seen a few dynamic photos of St. John Paul II during one of his seven visits to the United States. Or, even more recently, were you able to participate in one of the Masses Pope (Emeritus) Benedict XVI celebrated at Nationals Park or Yankee Stadium during his Apostolic Visit to the United States in 2008? Think back on those images, or on that really special opportunity you experienced first-hand. It was pretty powerful and possibly even a bit formative, huh? We have another opportunity in a little less than nine months from now that will prove to be as full of the Holy Spirit and just as historic. It’s called the World Meeting of Families and it is going to be held in Philadelphia, Pa., in September of 2015. Have you heard of it? Bishop Michael Hoeppner has written about the gathering in his column, and Twitter hasn’t stopped “tweeting” about it since Pope Francis confirmed this past November that he will participate in the closing events. The World Meeting of Families is a gathering of people similar to something you have indeed experienced. This forth-

CREDO

A NEW EVANGELIZATION WITNESS

By Ms. Amanda Zurface, J.C.L Coordinator of Justice, Marriage & Family Life for the Office of the New Evangelization

coming week-long event from Sept. 22 to 27, is a universal gathering that will draw an international audience. Families are very much encouraged to attend together, as well as individuals and single people. The gathering really has a unique identity and mission! It was launched in 1994 under Saint John Paul II’s pontificate, and is sponsored by the Holy See’s Pontifical Council for the Family. The gathering itself is a joyfilled, celebratory event which exudes and focuses solely on faith and family. The theme of the week will be “Love Is Our Mission – The Family Fully Alive.” The Preliminary Congress from Sept. 22 to 25 will consist of two tracks: an Adult Congress, and a Youth Congress that will complement the topics presented to the adults. As a bonus, daycare will be provided for ages 6

months to 6 years! Throughout these days, there will be daily Mass, devotions, keynote addresses and multiple breakout sessions that will all focus on explaining and proclaiming that love is indeed our mission and is the only way we can be fully alive and become who we were each created to be (A Preparatory Catechesis for the World Meeting of Families). According to the official World Meeting of Families website, the young people (ages 6-17) attending the Youth Congress will experience programming where they can build, create, listen, serve and be playful while learning to embrace “the Mission of Love that brings Families Fully Alive.” Those attending the Adult Congress will hear keynote addresses and presentations by some of the most dynamic leaders and dynamite speakers in the Catholic Church

today! Some of these include: “Living as the Image of God: Created for Joy and Love” by Fr. Robert Barron; “The Light of the Family in a Dark World” by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. and “The School of the Heart: Parents as Primary Catechists” by Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB. Also, it’s too exciting to leave out some of the titles of the breakout sessions! These will include: “Can Society Exist without the Family?”, “Where is This Relationship Going? Dating as Discernment” and “Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor…”! While Pope Francis will not be attending the Congress, he will participate in the closing events of the 8th World Meeting of Families on Sept. 26 and 27. These two days will include what’s called the “Festival of Families,” a celebration of cultures and family life around the world, which will be held on Saturday and a Papal Mass to be held on Sunday. Both of these events will be open to the public and will take place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Holy Mass is expected to draw as many as 1 million people. While not everyone can attend the actual event itself, there are ways to be involved right here in the Diocese of Crookston.

You can participate through your parish and at home! The hosting dioceses of the World Meeting of Families have written a preparatory catechism. Like the World Meeting, this catechism is for everyone and is “…a collection of what Catholics believe about human purpose, marriage, and the family.” It’s not new teaching, but it’s a way to help each of us understand more fully what it is we believe and profess as Catholics regarding marriage and family life. I invite you to order a copy of the preparatory catechism online at http://www.worldmeeting2015.org. It’s a tool to use for study and prayer with those in both your family and parish community. Also, please keep an eye out for additional articles in the OND on the topics included in this catechesis and watch your parish bulletins for inserts and blurbs explaining the vision of love in more detail. For those who are able and interested in joining the Diocese of Crookston’s Pilgrimage to the 8th World Meeting of Families, please contact the Office of the New Evangelization at 218-281-4533, ext. 425 or visit http://www.crookston. org/wmf.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

COMMENTARY

January 28, 2015

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Living “life” in a throw-away culture There is an increase today in the demand for convenience, and a growing disdain for anything that causes us any sort of burden or pain. Where once our culture valued and even celebrated someone facing obstacles and admired someone who endured suffering: we now find every means imaginable to avoid these at all costs, even by choosing death that masquerades as “compassion” or “love.” Pope Francis has often referred to this as our “throwaway culture.” In a December 2013 speech, he pointed out who is in danger: “the weakest and most fragile human beings — the unborn, the poorest, the sick and elderly, the seriously handicapped, etc. — who are in danger of being ‘thrown away,’ expelled from a system that must be efficient at all costs.” A CONSISTENT ETHIC OF LIFE Contrary to the throw-away culture, Catholics embrace a consistent ethic of life. Bishop Thomas Paprocki, of the Diocese of Springfield, Ill., has explained that at the heart of the consistent ethic of life is “its insistence on the interconnectedness of life issues across the span of life from conception to natural death. … The denial of respect or even the diminish-

FAITH

IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

By Mr. Shawn Peterson Associate Policy Director Minnesota Catholic Conference

ment of respect for any one aspect of life would lead adversely to a denial or diminishment of respect for life in other aspects of life due to the fact that they are all related.” This “denial of respect,” for so many aspects of life characterizes the throw-away culture. This attitude pervades everything from our treatment of consumer goods to even human relationships and our own lives. The days have passed when, if something was broken, people attempted to fix it. Today almost everything is tossed away with little thought and replaced by a new, better “object.” Our attitude is: if something or someone is not perfect or wanted, it has no value and can be discarded. As Catholics we must reject the throw-away culture which is not compatible with the consistent ethic of life, and we must

remind ourselves that to truly respect God’s great creation — especially human life — we must oppose anything that threatens that life in any situation, be that abortion, euthanasia, environmental degradation, unjust treatment of laborers, among other things. THE RISING TIDE OF ASSISTED SUICIDE The most recent example of the throw-away culture gaining in popularity may be the case of Brittany Maynard, the terminally-ill, 29-year-old woman who publicly promised to kill herself and later followed through on it. Her story, which played out in the national media on the cover of People Magazine and the daytime talk shows, returned the issue of assisted suicide and the so-called “death with dignity” movement to the forefront of this danger-

ous trend. Euthanasia advocates are using Maynard’s story to fuel a new push for physician-assisted suicide, even here in Minnesota, which is one of four states being targeted for legalization. Fortunately, those engaged in building a culture of life are finding creative ways to tell their own stories. A Catholic seminarian from the Diocese of Raleigh, who has inoperable brain cancer, shared his story with the world in the hope of convincing Maynard and others that living life in difficult circumstances is beautiful and that dying a natural death has dignity. Another person, Liz, a mother of four with incurable cancer, made a deeply moving video response to the Brittany Maynard tragedy that declared “my life isn’t mine to take, it’s mine to give,” and that “love is dignity.” (Check out “Death with Dignity” on YouTube, a video by Christopher Stefanick.) Closer to home, one local woman, Elizabeth Bakewicz, has been giving presentations about her struggles with cancer and the dignity that comes with suffering in and with the Lord. These and other stories are true witnesses against the throw-away culture, and compel us to reconsider what truly

constitutes human dignity— one that will hopefully help us find our way through difficult public policy concerns such as assisted suicide legislation. RENEWING A CULTURE OF LIFE Pope Francis has asked us to “raise awareness and form the lay faithful, in whatever state, especially those engaged in the field of politics, so that they may think in accord with the Gospel and the social doctrine of the church and act consistently by dialoguing and collaborating with those who, in sincerity and intellectual honesty, share — if not the faith — at least a similar vision of mankind and society and its ethical consequences.” MCC will be working at the Legislature and in the public arena to address legislation that emerges from the throw-away culture. But pushing back on the throw-away culture also requires that each of us, in our own way, witness to authentic dignity by telling our own stories about the beauty of life in difficult circumstances—and many are already doing just that. In doing so, we will help foster an authentic culture of life that may, in turn, be reflected in wise public policy.

JANUARY 27 – SCHOOL CHOICE IN MINNESOTA ADVOCACY LEARNING EVENT 9:00 a.m. to Noon, St. Croix Lutheran School, 1200 Oakdale Avenue, West Saint Paul Hear nationally-recognized school choice leaders Tim Keller, Institute for Justice and Terry Brown, formerly with St. Anthony School in Milwaukee, discuss the critical roles of parents and educators in advocating for and successfully passing parental choice legislation in Minnesota. RSVP to Shawn Peterson: speterson@mncc.org / 651-227-8777. Event is sponsored by OAK (Opportunity for all Kids). JANUARY 29 – SECOND CHANCE COALITION DAY ON THE HILL 10:00 a.m., Christ Lutheran Church, 105 University Avenue West, Saint Paul Catholic teaching on criminal justice consists of three “R’s”: Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration. Learn more about, and advocate for criminal justice reform, specifically restoring voting rights for ex-offenders who are living and working in Minnesota communities. Meet with your state lawmakers and rally support for criminal justice reform at the Capitol. More information can be found at: www.mnsecondchancecoalition.org. MARCH 10 – JOINT RELIGIOUS LEGISLATIVE COALITION (JRLC) DAY ON THE HILL 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., St. Paul RiverCentre, 175 West Kellogg Blvd, Saint Paul Hear Joan Rosenhauer of Catholic Relief Services speak about faith-based action around the globe, and join hundreds of people of faith at the Minnesota Capitol to meet with your state lawmakers. Register at: http://www.jrlc.org/register-day-on-the-hill. Information about these and other Catholic advocacy opportunities can be found at www.mncc.org. The Catholic Advocacy Network is an initiative of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota.

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January 28, 2015

AROUND THE DIOCESE

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

MN Bill would help families of babies with chromosomal disorders By Jessica Trygstad Assistant Editor, The Catholic Spirit

As difficult as it was for Kelly and Justin Hodges to learn that their baby would be born with Trisomy 21, the information and support they received upon diagnosis and throughout the pregnancy was crucial. Without it, Kelly says, their family would have been unprepared to deal with the stress of the diagnosis in addition to the birth of their baby. “The emotions you have when you find out, you don’t want to have right after you have the baby,” said Kelly, who gave birth to Madeline Oct. 16. The Hodges family found out early in the pregnancy that Madeline would have Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, a genetic chromosomal disorder that causes intellectual disability and developmental delays, and in some people, health problems. Following Kelly’s first appointment at 10 weeks of pregnancy, a series of concerns prompted her doctor to order a specialized ultrasound. It showed a hole in Madeline’s heart, no nasal bridge and undeveloped lymph nodes — meaning there was a one in 70 chance she had Down syndrome. The Hodgeses then met with a genetic counselor, who provided information about Down syndrome and shared the experiences of other parents who considered having a child with the condition a blessing. “Everyone was positive,” said Kelly, who with her family attends St. John the Baptist in New Brighton. “The informa-

tion helped get past the diagnosis and have her arrive healthy. It gave us a lot of hope for her and what her abilities could be.” That same support is what Janelle and Ben Gergen sought upon the Trisomy 18 diagnosis of their son, JohnPaul. But rather than being equipped with information, the Gergens, who also have a 7-year-old son and live in the Diocese of Crookston, spent most of the pregnancy advocating for their son when the health system pushed back. Because Trisomy 18 is a severe chromosomal condition, the Gergens weren’t expecting a long life for JohnPaul. However, they still needed resources to help them prepare for his birth and life, no matter how short it would be. In her research, Janelle learned that delivering JohnPaul by cesarean section would be the best option for them both. When Janelle approached her doctor with a birth plan that included comfort care measures, she was shocked by his response. “The doctor said, ‘I’m not going to cut you open for a baby who’s going to die.’ I was just mortified. I felt so defeated,” Janelle said. Subsequent meetings with their priest and outside doctors motivated the Gergens to persist in preparing to rightfully celebrate JohnPaul’s life. Eventually, her doctor conceded. On April 12, 2013, JohnPaul was born via cesarean section. His heart rate dropped immediately, and he lived for one hour. “It was me keeping him alive the whole time,” Janelle said, adding that JohnPaul opened

his eyes and “squeaked a couple times” upon baptism. “Our goal in raising our children is to help instill virtue and value so that they become holy men and women and go to heaven,” Janelle said. “So in our experience with JohnPaul, we know his life had purpose and meaning. But he’s in heaven. And we did everything we could to be his voice while he was here.” SUPPORTING FAMILIES For this state legislative session, a number of organizations have partnered to introduce a bill that would provide expectant parents — upon receiving a diagnosis of Trisomy 13, 18 or 21 — with supportive and educational information from national and local organizations. According to the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state’s bishops, many states have passed similar legislation in recent years with bipartisan support. Heather Bradley, president of the Stillwater-based Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network, has witnessed and experienced the impact of support systems for parents who receive adverse prenatal diagnoses. Her organization’s online network connects parents searching for information and encourages them to write to their medical providers about their experience and suggest improvements. “There isn’t a better time to have a child with Down syndrome — from the care they receive to societal acceptance,” said Bradley, who has a daughter with Down syndrome. “Phy-

Kelly and Justin Hodges hold their 3-month-old daughter, Madeline, who was born with Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome, on Oct. 16. The Hodgeses are parishioners of St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, Minn. (Photo credit: Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit)

sicians need to support families at a critical time with updated and accurate information.” Dr. Steven Koop, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul and permanent deacon at St. Rita in Cottage Grove, said accurate information comes from multiple sources and can be boiled down to two: the health care community, and the individuals who have a trisomy condition or live with someone who does. The latter especially is important “so you’re not completely reliant on the health care community, because that’s only part of the picture,” he said. “Expectant mothers deserve accurate information about their developing child,” Dr. Koop continued. “They also need to know how to care for their child properly, because sometimes there are challenges in caring for children with disabilities.” Kelly Hodges is hopeful the legislation will pass. “I think it will help get rid of some of the stereotypes of babies and people with Down syndrome, and have them see the potential and that it’s not a life sentence of misery,” she said.

After her experience with JohnPaul, Janelle Gergen, due on Jan. 22 with a girl, wants to see doctor-patient communication improve . She is optimistic about what the legislation could accomplish given its diverse support. “This legislation brings sides together to advocate on behalf of special needs children and their families,” she said. While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in a 2012 statement said that no current, comprehensive estimate exists of the number of pregnancy terminations following prenatal diagnosis of trisomy conditions, some studies have reported the termination rate is as high as 90 percent. The Catholic Spirit is the newspaper for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. EDITOR’S NOTE: The hospital system that served the Gergen family has made several advancements in how they equip parents to handle a fatal prenatal diagnosis. Standard protocol now includes a care team that assists parents in preparing a birth plan and more formalized methods of perinatal hospice.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

COMMENTARY

January 28, 2015

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The Catholic family prepares to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation By Joseph D. White, PhD

THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION For some adults, discussion of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, also sometimes called “confession,” evokes feelings of anxiety. They may picture dark, foreboding confessionals, or remember feelings of shame or guilt associated with incorrect catechesis surrounding the sacrament. First and foremost, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a powerful experience of God’s forgiveness and mercy. It is a tangible sign of God’s desire to reach out to us throughout our lives, even in our sinfulness, and help us reconcile ourselves with him and with our brothers and sisters, repair the damage done by sin and grow in our relationship with God. Sin disrupts our relationship with God and with the community. Jesus illustrated the communal aspect of forgiveness of sins when he forgave those who had alienated themselves from others, such as Zacchaeus the tax collector and Mary the prostitute, and helped them rejoin the community (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], no. 1443). In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest represents both Christ and the Christian community, a sign of the restoration of our relationship with God and our fellowship with one another. The Catechism (no. 1448) describes two major elements of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: our actions and God’s actions. Our actions consist of contrition, or feeling truly sorry for our sin; confession of our sin to the priest; and satisfaction, intending to do what we can to repair the damage we have done through sin. God’s actions in the sacrament include restoring us to his grace and reconciling us to himself and to the Church. There are three forms of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (CCC, nos. 1480-1483). Most often, the penitent (the person confessing) meets with the priest individually. The priest welcomes and blesses the penitent and may read from Scripture. The penitent then confesses his or her sins to the priest. The priest gives the penitent a penance (a special job to help repair the damage done by the sins confessed) and then says the words of absolution. The rite ends with a prayer of thanksgiving and praise and a blessing by the priest. When the sacrament is celebrated in a communal context, the people gather together to listen to God’s Word and make an examination of conscience. The assembly may sing songs and pray the Act of Contrition together. Individual confessions are then celebrated. In a third form of the rite, communal celebration with general confession and

general absolution, sins are not confessed individually to the priest, but the priest grants absolution to the whole assembly. Baptism imparts to us God’s free gift of forgiveness. But each of us continues to make unloving choices at times. God desires to be close to us and to help us in loving him and others. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is like a gift that can be opened again and again. God’s mercy and forgiveness are ever present and ever new. CHILDREN’S UNDERSTANDNG OF SIN AND GOD’S FORGIVENESS As children reach the age of reason (usually around age seven), developmental changes in their thinking make them more aware of the fact that the world works according to rules. They understand the laws of cause and effect, and they learn that rules and guidelines bring order to our lives and communities. As they learn about God’s rules, they will simultaneously realize that they haven’t always followed them. This can cause some children guilt and shame. We can help them feel good about who they are but also realize the need to keep growing in goodness by saying the following: “Everyone has sinned, but when we sin, we are being less than we were made to be. God is merciful and forgives us when we are truly sorry. Through God’s grace and our cooperation with it, we can grow in goodness.” Children might sometimes need help understanding the difference between a sin and an accident. They need reassurance that sin involves an intentional act and that spilling a glass of milk, for example, is not a sin. It’s important also that we be patient with their unintentional mishaps. We can confuse them if we treat an accident as a purposeful act. PREPARING FOR THE SACRAMENT There are several ways families can

prepare for a child’s first celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: Parents, be sure to model forgiveness for your children — both inside and outside the home. Let them see you working things out with others. You have a unique opportunity to model mercy, grace, and forgiveness as you say you are sorry, ask forgiveness of one another, and forgive each other. Don’t argue in front of your kids about rules for their behavior, adult-oriented issues, or very emotional issues that are likely to lead to a heated exchange. However, with smaller issues, let them see you express different points of view and arrive at a compromise. Practice “penance” in the home. When hurts have occurred between family members, encourage them to do something to help repair the relationship. For example, the big brother who let playful teasing progress to bullying may be required to do something extra nice for the sibling he offended. Be a good example. It’s critical that, as children learn about God’s laws, they see their parents working to follow them faithfully. For example, when children learn that the third Commandment (to keep the Sabbath day holy) means, for Catholics, going to Mass every Sunday, children can become confused if their parents are choosing not to go to Mass. This puts children in a very difficult dilemma, in which they have to choose between believing their parents are in sin or that God’s laws do not really matter. Children this age are very concrete thinkers. They need to see us practicing what we preach. Help children see connections between God’s Commandments and their everyday actions. For example, point out when they are honoring their mother and father and when they are not. Challenge them to see the connection between the tenth Commandment (not coveting neighbor’s goods) and showing gratitude, rather than jealousy, towards a sibling. Have a family “examination of conscience,” in which, as a family, you discuss ways in which you have shown love to God and other people and ways in which you need to grow. Using a childfriendly explanation of the Ten Commandments and Beatitudes can be helpful for this activity. As a family, pray the Act of Contrition and other traditional Catholic prayers (some of which might be given as a penance in the sacrament). Choose a different prayer each night, and pray just before bedtime, or pray a prayer in the car on the way to or from school or errands. Let kids see you (and other family members, such as older siblings) going to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. One particularly

good opportunity would be at a parishwide penance service with individual confession. Many parishes have these services in Advent and Lent. Of course, celebrating the sacraments year-round as a family practice is the ultimate goal for each family. In these services, children can often see the sacrament being celebrated (though, of course, they don’t hear what is being said). It’s also important for kids to see that their parents need God’s forgiveness too, and celebrating the sacrament also allows us to partake of God’s grace as we build a home of love and reconciliation. A child’s first celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation can be a powerful family experience of God’s mercy and love. It is an important milestone for your child as he or she continues on the path to all the good things God has planned for his or her life — a means of experiencing, in a very particular and powerful way, God’s love and mercy. STEPS IN THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION 1. Examination of conscience 2. Welcome and blessing 3. Confession of sin 4. Assignment of penance 5. Act of Contrition 6. Absolution FAMILY EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE 1. Have I put God first in my life? Does he have priority in our home? 2. Do I use God’s name with care? 3. Do I attend and participate in Mass on Sunday? Do I keep Sunday as a day of worship and rest? 4. (For children) Do I honor my mother and father? (For parents) Am I patient and kind so that my children can easily respect me? 5. Have I been hurtful to others, either in words or actions? 6. Have I treated my body and the bodies of others with respect? 7. Have I respected the belongings of others? 8. Have I told the truth? Have I been open and honest with others? 9. Have I kept my mind and thoughts pure? 10. Have I been happy with what I have instead of being jealous of others?

Copyright © 2014, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non-commercial use.

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January 28, 2015

AROUND THE DIOCESE

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

SCHOOLS: Continued from Page 1 missions on the Red Lake and White Earth reservations. In 1878, Benedictine Sisters Philomene Ketten and Lioba Braun joined Benedictine priest Aloysius Hermanutz and started a school with 40 students at White Earth. In 1884, the Benedictines began a school at Red Lake. Their first classes were held in an old logging warehouse until a better building could be constructed. The humble beginnings of the pioneer schools in northwestern Minnesota were greatly impacted by the work of Saint Katharine Drexel and her family. They visited the missions at White Earth and Red Lake in the summer of 1888 and made great contributions to both schools. Benedictine sisters from Duluth also established schools in Moorhead, in 1879; Barnesville, in 1889 and Red Lake Falls, in 1902. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg (Medaille) arrived in Argyle in 1903 in response to the request of the pastor to run the school. “The Sisters of St. Joseph in the diocese have always been involved in education,” said Sister Pat Murphy, a current member of the Congregation of St. Joseph in Crookston. The primary reason the order came to the diocese was to staff schools, she said. Sister Pat said the sisters were promised a place to live in Argyle if they could get there, but when they arrived, they had one broken bed, no heat, and no furniture. The sisters experienced great hardship and for a while — according to community legend — ate acorns just to survive. The people in Argyle assumed that the sisters were wealthy because they came from France. The priest at St. Rose of Lima explained to his parishioners that the sisters were poor and requested that they plant an extra row in their gardens for the sisters. As long as sisters lived in Argyle, people continued the tradition of bringing them fresh vegetables. In 1905, the Sisters of St. Joseph began a school in

Crookston located near St. Anne’s Parish. Their first classroom was in a house in the Woods Addition. Sister Pat said there was one student when they opened in March, but by May they had 17 students, and the school kept growing. Eventually St. Joseph’s Academy was built and by 1911, included a high school. “St. Joseph’s Academy [STA] included a co-ed grade school of eight grades, a high school for girls, and provided boarding facilities for girls in Grades one through 12,” said Sister Pat. “In addition, SJA was the convent for the sisters. After World War II, it also housed the novitiate or formation program for new members.” In 1909, the Diocese of Crookston was formed from the 14 western counties of the Diocese of Duluth. Bishop Timothy Corbett became the first bishop of the Diocese of Crookston. Bishop Corbett placed great emphasis on education. One of the first buildings he helped construct in the diocese was a school. In a letter written in 1928, he stated: “We need an increasing number of outspoken and educated lay leaders … men who uphold the truth and insist on the truth amidst sarcasm, socialism, bolshevism and anarchism.” He also wrote that a parish was not complete without a school and he encouraged parishes without schools to hold bible schools during the summer months. In 1912, Sacred Heart School, East Grand Forks, was opened by the Duluth Benedictine sisters. Sisters had attempted to open a school in the basement of the church in 1900, but it was closed after only a few years. This time, seven sisters taught elementary classes in a new building. The sisters set aside a portion of their convent as a dormitory so that girls living in rural areas could board there and attend school. In 1919, the first freshmen entered the newly organized high school. The sisters in the Diocese of Crookston continued their work building communities of faith, knowledge and service

Above: During Catholic Schools week in 1979, at St. Francis de Sales school, lunch is served to parents, children and faculty as part of an open house. Right: The first grade class at Holy Rosary School, Detroit Lakes, is pictured in their classroom during the 1949 to 1950 school year. (Photo credit: OND archives)

through Catholic education from the early 1900s onward. “Many schools in the early years were entirely staffed by sisters, including in the administrative roles,” said Sister Kathy Kuchar, Subprioress at Mount St. Benedict. Sister Denise Schonhardt is the Director of Development and Communication for the sisters at Mount St. Benedict; she started teaching in 1970. “The salary of all the sisters [at the school], regardless of position or education, was $1,000 per year,” she said. Housing and a car were provided for the sisters who were teachers, but they covered their utilities, gas, healthcare and education. “All of this was possible because of pooling resources,” said Sister Anita Whalen, Acting Archivist for the Sisters of Mount St. Benedict. “Generally, the community went without to help fund their ministry,” said Sister Jennifer Kehrwald. Sister Jennifer is the Administrator for the Sisters of Mount St. Benedict. Sister Shawn Carruth is a Benedictine Sister at Mount St. Benedict, and has experienced both sides of the classroom from a Benedictine perspective. She was a graduate of the acad-

emy run by the Benedictines in Crookston and has been a teacher at different levels throughout her time as a sister. “It was the culture of education that I ate and drank with the sisters from sixth grade on,” she said. According to Sister Shawn, the sisters’ goal was to educate the total person. “That’s the sense of learning I got here,” she said. “The breadth of interest that we had here and the learning our students had was astounding,” said Sister Anita. “There was such a diversity of characters and interests that gave the broadness.” Sister Anita remembers teaching at the grade school level. Another sister, Sister Ida, asked her if she wanted to teach her students how to paint with watercolors. Sister Anita replied she would like to, but did not know how. On a Saturday, Sister Ida taught her the best way to teach her students watercolor painting. “The best part of teacher training was … living with the masters,” said Sister Shawn. “There was an investment of everyone on the whole part.” “Education is about relationships. It is focused on the person to help that person grow

and learn,” said Sister Jennifer. The Catholic schools in the diocese were, and continue to be, aimed at helping the whole person grow and learn. “It wasn’t just that we had religion classes, it was throughout the school,” said Sister Denise. “It was included in every moment and breath of the day,” added Sister Kathy. “Most religious communities were invited by bishops to serve a particular group of people and evangelization was at the core of that,” said Sister Jennifer. “There was no reason to have a school if it didn’t have religion classes.” Catholic schools are a form of evangelization that continues to be present in the Diocese of Crookston. “To this day, the Church says to bishops that they are to foster Catholic schools in their diocese. Bishops are charged to do that,” said Bishop Hoeppner. “With the way things are going in our world, with so many people opting for a lifestyle that in so many ways stands in stark contrast to the lifestyle Jesus lived and taught his disciples to live, parents continue to see the advantage for real life that Catholic schools hold out.”

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

AROUND THE DIOCESE

January 28, 2015

9

MARCH: Continued from Page 1 and it’s ongoing all the time.” Marchers were welcomed in from the snowy conditions by the local Knights of Columbus who prepared a soup and sandwich lunch in St. Philip’s school cafeteria. Mark Studer of Bemidji has been involved with pro-life marches for about 21 years. “It’s a calling for us to show our faith and belief that life begins at conception,” he said. “No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It’s a black and white issue.” Dr. Ted Will was a practicing physician for many years until he retired in 1997. He became involved in the pro-life movement in 1969 while living in Michigan. “Michigan was one of the first states pushing for abortion,” he said. “During the time I was in training, the AMA [American Medical Association] was strong against abortion. Any physician who did abortions would have their license rejected.” “The profession is a healing profession and I can’t imagine how any physician can partake in abortion,” he added. “My mother had me four months after she was married; she could have aborted me,” said Dan Voss, a member of the St. Philip’s Knights of Columbus. Voss cited this as one of the reasons he decided to get involved with the march. This year was his first on the planning committee, and he was instrumental in creating the large banners carried at the front of the march. Voss’ son works for the Capitol Police in Washington, D.C. Voss has enjoyed hearing him speak about the preparations for the National March for Life, held on Jan. 22, as he helped prepare for this local event. Voss hopes that next year, the March for Life committee will be able to develop more of an online presence in order to reach more people, spread the pro-life message and to draw more people to the march. Dave Hancock, the representative in the Minnesota House of Representatives for District 2B, spoke about some upcoming legislation and life issues being discussed in state government. He said he was asked by an interviewer from Minnesota Public Radio about when he first became involved in the pro-life movement. He answered, “… it

Hank Krigbaum, one of the organizers of the event, and a young marcher carry a large pro-life sign through the snow to the Beltrami County Courthouse in preparation for the March for Life.

State Representative Dave Hancock speaks with people as they gather for the March for Life. Hancock updated march participants on pro-life issues coming up in the state legislature during a presentaiton following the march. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux, OND)

Following the march, people gathered in the cafeteria at St. Philip’s Catholic School for soup and sandwiches served by the St. Philip’s Knights of Columbus.

Angel Krigbaum, one of the organizers of the Bemidji March for Life speaks with Father Chuck Huck next to a table with information from 40 Days for Life, the Northwoods Pregnancy Center, and other pro-life organizations.

barring the use of public funds for abortion. “The prediction is it will pass the House. I don’t know about the Senate. … but one thing to remember, there are 30-some new people … I would say as those bills pass through the legislature, pray for God’s guidance to be upon those who cast the votes.” Representative Hancock also said he would like to see a heartbeat bill introduced, saying, “If we could pass a heartbeat bill, we could save thousands of lives.” He encouraged those present to celebrate life in all of its stages. “Every life to God is precious. Let us celebrate that life and let us live in God’s truth as we go about our daily lives,”

he said. “Nothing influences … a public servant more than a human appeal and pressure from the public,” he said. “I think if we are going to have success passing and getting the governor to sign some pro-life measures, frankly, it’s going to be you folks that are going to instigate that and promote that. I think part of the gathering here today carries a message.” He encouraged everyone to attend the MCCL March for Life at the Capitol in St. Paul that was held Jan. 22, the same day as the National March for Life. “People are coming around to the idea that … what we are doing with human life is not right, and I think public awareness is coming that we need to

was probably in late July, early August 1944, and I became a little more involved April 25, 1945, when I was born. … I’ve always been pro-life because God is pro-life and God is who created us in his image.” “In 2011, we passed two prolife bills that made it through the House and the Senate and were vetoed by Governor Dayton,” said Hancock. “One would have prohibited abortions using public funds and the other one would have prohibited abortions after the pain threshold had been reached, approximately 20 weeks.” He said that they did not pass with enough votes to override the veto. He believes that there will be an attempt to create legislation

A March for Life participant carries a sign under an alcove along the streets of downtown Bemidji on Saturday, Jan. 17.

observe the sanctity of human life and life in the womb. So again, don’t give up the fight,” he said. Marilynne Hodapp, a second grade teacher at St. Philip’s Catholic School, attended the presentation by Representative Hancock. “I think being pro-life is important because it is what God intended,” she said. “I think a majority of people are pro-life but don’t speak up.” “I would like to see more people get involved, especially with the legislature.” Hodapp believes it is important for people to let their law makers know about their pro-life views.

10 January 28, 2015

COMMENTARY

WORD to LIFE February 1

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9;

1 Corinthians 7:32-35

By Catholic News Service

Coming back home to my Christian faith was a gradual process. I had walked away from the strong faith I’d had through my late teen years as my church attendance dropped to nothing. I’m not so sure I ever rejected faith so much as I simply let it die from lack of attention. But it didn’t stay dead for long. It started to come back as a result of latenight conversations with a friend whose own faith was being rekindled. Reading Scripture nurtured the spark in my own life. Plus, I got a nudge from a neighbor down the road in rural Arkansas where we were working in the local schools as VISTA volunteers. She was a nun who had taken time away from the convent to care for her aging mother. Sister Mary Herlinda loaned me a book, “The Cross and the Switchblade,” by David Wilkerson, and invited my wife and me to take part in a little prayer meeting she had organized among three or so of our neighbors. It was a beginning. When Susan and I returned to Fort Worth, Texas, we continued our sporadic church attendance at the closest Catholic church, and in time I began to take inquiry classes. This was before the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults existed, and these classes outlining the basics of the Catholic faith took place over a period of six weeks in the parish library. As I came to know more about Catholicism, I discovered that the church spoke to all aspects of humanity — holiness, personal relationships, family life, social justice, the economy and issues of war and peace among them.

This new understanding likely played the largest role in my conversion to the Catholic faith. The Scriptures for this weekend remind me of that spiritual reawakening. Speaking about Jesus, the Gospel reading from Mark explains: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” And so I found the church. She, the successor of Jesus, the embodiment of his teaching authority on earth, taught with authority. She still does, and I’m still glad I became a Catholic.

Questions: Have you struggled with the teaching authority of the church? How have you resolved those struggles?

“I WILL RAISE UP FOR THEM A PROPHET LIKE YOU FROM AMONG THEIR KIN, AND WILL PUT MY WORDS INTO HIS MOUTH.” — DEUTERONOMY 18:18

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

FOR FAITH-SHARING GROUPS

February 8

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 By Catholic News Service Misfortune arises too often in the world for anybody to avoid being touched by trouble. A fire in the oven, your car towed, being locked out of your house -- maybe all in the same memorable week. It happens. At such times one’s thoughts often turn to the hero of today’s first reading: Job. In this passage, he laments his life is drudgery through months of misery and believes, “I shall not see happiness again.” We’ve all been there at the edge of giving up, especially for matters far worse than a car being towed. But the Gospel reminds us that even if the world continually comes at us with hardship and demands, Jesus never despairs or tires of coming to our aid. No sooner had he healed Simon’s mother-in-law then the whole town came to his door seeking his help. He cured and blessed people all day. Then when he slipped away for a respite, his disciples came calling because everyone was still looking for him. Without a second thought, he went, saying, “For this purpose have I come.” This is what God wants us to know: He never wearies of tending to our need. Yesterday, my friend Isa called to tell me she had just bought a house. It was incredible news that I would never have predicted for this single mother whose life has been punctuated by a series of adversities no less devastating than what had befallen Job. Isa’s childhood in Central America was lived amid a violent civil war that

took the life of her brother as well as the nuns who were her teachers. As an adult, she suffered through unjustified immigration woes, including deportation, jail and financial exploitation. Later, her marriage was destroyed by mental illness and abuse. Her husband died tragically, leaving her destitute and unemployed with two young children. But as each crisis arose, Isa admitted she had no answers except her unwavering belief that “God is going to provide and help me through.” Slowly, through Isa’s resourcefulness and friendships nurtured by her own innate goodness, she overcame incessant financial difficulties to achieve a stable home and recently became a U.S. citizen. The turnaround was unbelievable to her friends, but it didn’t surprise Isa, who never stopped believing in Jesus’ tireless care.

Questions: How do you pray during troubled times when you want to give up? How has Jesus carried you through a seemingly hopeless situation?

“THE WHOLE TOWN WAS GATHERED AT THE DOOR. HE CURED MANY WHO WERE SICK WITH VARIOUS DISEASES.” — MARK 1:33-34

THE OND IS NOW ONLINE!! - ARCHIVED EDITIONS -

Vol. 69, No. 1 (January 14, 2015) can be viewed here: www.crookston.org/ond/

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

AROUND THE DIOCESE

January 28, 2015

11

Crookston Benedictines to host open Staples to share story at Real Presence Radio house for Year of Consecrated Life fundraising banquet The Sisters of Mount St.

Benedict are hosting an open house to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life. The public is invited to visit Mount St. Benedict Monastery on Feb. 8, 2015 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The event will begin with an opening and welcome at Marian Hall, followed by a power point and conversation about the history of the Crookston Benedictines. Refreshments will be served from 2:30 to 3 p.m. and short tours of Marian Hall, the Chapel, and viewing of the St. John’s Bible will be offered following the refreshments. The open house will conclude at 4 p.m. Feb. 8 is the day that World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated in parishes. It is also the day during the Year of Conse-

crated Life that Pope Francis is encouraging religious orders to invite the public in to their communities. It is one of three days being suggested for religious to share their lives of prayer and service.

The Sisters of Mount St. Benedict plan to host another open house in the fall of 2015 when their new building is complete.

February and March Cursillo weekends set Cursillo weekends have been scheduled for men of the diocese on Feb. 26 to March 1, and for women on March 19 to 22 at Sand Hill Lake Bible Camp near Fosston, Minnesota. Cursillo is a three day “short course in Christianity” which began in Spain in the early 1940’s. Since then, it has grown and spread throughout the world. The weekends focus on “the true meaning of grace, the sacra-

ments, the Mass, the nature and need of prayer, and living one’s daily life in union with God”. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow in faith and meet others who also desire a closer relationship with Jesus. For those who have made a Cursillo weekend, prayerfully consider talking to others in your parish community who might be interested in making a weekend. Cursillistas are invited

to celebrate the closing of the weekends at 3 p.m. on March 1 for the men, and the same time on March 22 for the women, followed by Mass and an evening meal. For more information, or an application, please contact Carol Olsonawski at 218-689-9081 or Mary Derosier at 218-253-4623. Applications will also be available at your parish office

Real Presence Radio will hold its annual fundraising banquets in Fargo and Bismarck in February. Both banquets will feature Tim Staples, Director of Apologetics and Evangelization at Catholic Answers. Staples will share his personal conversion story. The Fargo banquet will be held Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Ramada Plaza Suites, and the Bismarck banquet will be held Friday, Feb. 20 at the Best Western Ramkota. Staples was raised Southern Baptist and later joined Assemblies of God communities. In 1988, Staples converted to the Catholic Church. He entered the seminary to pursue the priesthood, but in 1994, he left the seminary to work in Catholic apologetics and evangelization. Staples is looking forward to returning to North Dakota to speak. He hopes that by sharing his personal conversion story with banquet attendees, they will be encouraged in their faith and leave challenged to explore it more deeply. “There is no end to the depths of the riches of the Deposit of Faith we have received. I want each person present to look forward to diving deeper into the faith with a sense of excitement knowing there is so much more waiting to be discovered.”

Tim Staples BANQUET DATES & LOCATIONS: Fargo Banquet: Feb. 19 Ramada Plaza Suites Bismarck Banquet: Feb. 20 Best Western Ramkota

Real Presence Radio is seeking sponsors for the banquet. Sponsorship levels are $250, $500 or $1000. Supporters of Real Presence Radio also can be table hosts. Table hosts invite eight to ten guests to join them at their tables. Those wishing to attend the banquet who are not connected to a table host may come as guests. Guests are asked to call the Real Presence office at (877)795-0122 to RSVP.

PLEASE

pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life

wants your news and advertisements! Find 2014-15 publishing dates and submission deadlines on the web: http://www.crookston.org/ond/ The next OND submission deadline is: Wednesday, February 4 by 12:00 p.m. Email: Katrina Genereux, Editorial Assistant kgenereux@crookston.org

12 January 28, 2015

NATIONAL

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It’s up to young people to ‘end the scourge of abortion,’ says Johnson By Nate Madden Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — On a chilly and cloudy morning on the National Mall in Washington, crowds gathered Jan. 22 for the annual March for Life. This year marked the 42nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion virtually on demand. Tens of thousands gathered first to hear a lineup of speakers, before marching from the Mall up Constitution Avenue to the U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill. Early in the day, Pope Francis showed his support of the prolife gathering by tweeting the theme: “Every Life is a Gift” with the hashtag #marchforlife. By late morning, the temperature had reached about 40 degrees, warmer than many a previous march, and a music group opened the rally with the songs “To Be Loved” and “You’re Not Alone.” The music was upbeat with lively mandolin licks and the powerful voice of the lead singer. Several members of Congress were in attendance, including U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, RKansas, who told Catholic News Service, “I am here to make my colleagues listen.” Huelskamp said life is a core issue in the public debate, and that Kansas was already at the forefront of human rights issues. “They were at the forefront of the slavery issue,” he said, and are now at the forefront of the life issue. Levi Fox, a volunteer and a graduate of Liberty University, said, “Half of our generation is missing. Sixty million have been killed since Roe v. Wade, which is why I am dedicating my time to the March for Life.” After the musical opening,

Students from Shanley Catholic High School in Fargo, N.D., carry the lead banner past the front of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington Jan. 22. Julia Johnson, a senior from Shanley spoke at the rally before the March for Life. (CNS photo/Jonathan Ernst, Reuters)

Patrick Kelly, the chairman of the March for Life board, told the crowd they were attending “the largest and most important human rights rally in the world,” and noted the march is becoming “bigger and younger every year.” Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference, opened the rally with prayer alongside priests, bishops and patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox, Orthodox American, Antiochean Orthodox and Serbian Orthodox churches, in a show of what the archbishop called “a sign of Christian unity.” The archbishop called on the marchers to not only “be joyful witnesses to the gospel of life,” but also to be “loving and welcoming” to those in dire circumstances.”

Jeanne Monahan-Mancini, director of the March for Life, addressed the marchers, congratulating them for making a “pilgrimage” before focusing on this year’s theme: “Every Life Is a Gift.” The theme emphasized that every life is a gift, regardless of a person’s difficulty or disability, and also was meant to emphasize that everyone has a call, a mission and a role to play in creating a culture of life. A large congressional delegation in attendance emphasized the importance of the Health Care Conscience Rights Act before yielding the floor to a passionate and energetic address by Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, who said the defense of life was “the responsibility of every single person in America.” The conscience bill would implement

a broad religious exemption and conscience protections for private employers who oppose the federal contraceptive mandate that is part of the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, who followed Scott, told the crowd, “There have never been more pro-life lawmakers in Congress than we have today.” In discussing the Knights of Columbus’ ultrasound initiative, which has just donated its 500th ultrasound machine, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson said, “Women have a right to know the truth.” In what may have been the most inspiring address of the day, Julia Johnson, a senior at Shanley Catholic High School in Fargo, North Dakota, said it was up to the youth of America to “end the scourge of abortion.”

As a member of “the pro-life generation,” she said she was proud to have come alongside “400 pro-life warriors,” referring to the school bringing its entire student body on the 1,300-mile journey to the march. “Our generation has seen through the smokescreen of lies and secrets,” she added. The president of Students for Life, Kristan Hawkins, discussed the gift of her son’s life despite a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. Hawkins said, “I have personally witnessed the push in our culture to create ‘perfect’ babies.” she said. The remarks echoed those of the other speakers and marchers in declaring that “we are the prolife generation.”

Nei Bottling Inc. P.O. Box 516 Bemidji, MN 56619 Phone: (218) 751-3847

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INTERNATIONAL

January 28, 2015

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Sri Lankan war victims feel ‘healed’ by pope’s visit By Anto Akkara Catholic News Service MADHU, SRI LANKA — Kunaratnam Sabaratnam’s legs were severed by a shell in the closing stages of Sri Lanka’s ethnic war. Shaking hands with Pope Francis at the Marian shrine in Madhu “was like meeting God, and the pope’s touch took away all my pains of these years,” Sabaratnam told Catholic News Service. Sabaratnam, a Hindu, spoke to Catholic News Service Jan. 17, at his home at the Claretian-run Vanni Rehabilitation Organization for the Differently Abled in Vavuniya, 25 miles from the Marian shrine. Three days earlier, he presented a wood carved souvenir to Pope Francis when the pontiff visited the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, 160 miles north of Colombo. The carving was signed by each of the 120 residents of the Vanni center. “The pope’s speech was touching. There should be no war in the world,” said Sabaratnam, 50. For two decades Vanni, the region between Vavuniya and Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka, was under the control of ethnic Tamil rebels known as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The shrine houses a statue of Mary venerated by Sri Lankans since the 16th century. During most of the 26-year struggle between government forces and the Tamil rebels, both sides recognized the area around the shrine as a demilitarized zone, which served as a sanctuary for thousands of war refugees. However, in 2008, the shrine came under crossfire. Sabaratnam got stranded in the war zone while visiting his younger brother in the Tamil-held areas in 2006, when the truce between the rebels and the government collapsed. Since the war ended, he said, “I had lost touch with my family and have been feeling lonely, but meeting the pope has given me a life enthusiasm,” said Sabaratnam, a cook at the rehabilitation center. Kajiendran Asha, another Hindu, also shook hands with Pope Francis. “I am blessed. I cannot forget that moment,” she said. “By coming to Madhu, the pope has recognized the suffering of the war victims. He has drawn world attention to our suffering,” said Asha, 25, whose legs were amputated after she was hit by a shell in February 2009. “I was very happy to see the pope releasing a dove,” the symbol of peace, she added. R. Tulsika, who identified herself with only her first initial, lost her left hand and left leg at the age of 16, after she was hit by a shell in 2009. Tulsika was was attending the funeral of the grandmother of her classmate at the time of the attack. She told CNS she was disappointed that she could not shake hands with the pope but described the event as “a saint coming to Madhu.” “It felt like encountering God. He

Kunaratnam Sabaratnam, who is confined to a wheelchair, poses for a photo at the Vanni Rehabilitation Organization for the Differently Abled in Vavuniya, Sri Lanka, Jan. 17. Sabaratnam, a Hindu, presented Pope Francis with a wood-carved souvenir when the pontiff visited. (CNS photo/Anto Akkara)

touched our hearts and healed us,” said Tulsika, a Hindu who is continuing her education while living at the Claretian center. Antony Constantine, who works at the Madhu shrine, was proud that his daughter, Mary, got to present Pope Francis with a bouquet of flowers. He said his sons Britto, 14, and Bruno, 12, were among 16 children from the refugee camp at the shrine who were killed in a landmine blast, along with their headmaster, on their way to school in 2008. “Both of them were altar boys, and I am happy that my daughter was chosen to present a bouquet to the Holy Father,” said Constantine, touching the cross on top of the tombs of his sons in the cemetery where the 16 children are buried. Constantine said he came to the shrine in 2006 with his family to meet his sister, Holy Cross Sister Ida Thomas, in the convent near the shrine. “Suddenly the cease-fire ended and there was war. We could not go back to Jaffna, and we decided to stay in the refugee camp,” Constantine said. “This visit has given a healing touch to the war victims,” said Marydasan Revel, who sells palmira roots. He gets around on a bicycle, steering with his left arm, because his right arm has been amputated. “I have bought the posters of the pope, and I will hang them in my house. It will be an inspiration for me,” said Revel.

Pope Francis prays at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Rosary in Madhu, Sri Lanka, Jan. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

14 January 28, 2015

INTERNATIONAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Poverty stems from unjust economic system, not big families, pope says By By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Families who have lots of children do not cause poverty, Pope Francis said. The main culprit is “an economic system that has removed the human person from its focus and has placed the god of money” as its priority instead, he said Jan. 21. The pope dedicated his general audience talk to a review of some of the highlights from his visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines Jan. 13-19. Speaking to some 7,000 people gathered in the Paul VI audience hall, the pope recalled his second apostolic journey to Asia after visiting South Korea last August. He said he wanted to encourage Catholics in their faith and missionary zeal as well as promote interreligious dialogue, peace, unity and social development by highlighting the important role families and young people should play. Meetings with families and young people in Manila were a major high point on his trip, he said, because they showed how “healthy families are essential to the life of society.” “It gives consolation and hope to see so many large families that welcome children as a true gift of God. They know that every child is a blessing,” he said. He criticized as “simplistic” claims that high birth rates caused poverty.

Rather, an economic system that creates “a culture of disposal,” where men, women and children are excluded “is the main reason for poverty, not large families,” he said to applause. He reiterated the importance of showing “the beauty of the family in God’s plan” and defending it from the many threats and new forms of “ideological colonization that attack its identity and mission.” On the flight back from Manila to Rome, the pope told journalists Jan. 19, that “for the people who are the poorest, a child is a treasure” and “God knows how to help them.” But he also underlined that being a good Catholic did not mean married couples “had to be like rabbits,” that is, have children “one after the other” without any sense of responsibility. Through dialogue with each other, their pastors and church groups, each couple can seek to discern its own “parental responsibility” and recognize there are “licit” means, through natural family planning, to be “prudent” and generous in welcoming life, he said on the papal plane. In his audience talk Jan. 21, Pope Francis said another important message he highlighted on his trip to Asia was that “taking care of the poor is an essential element of our Christian life and witness.” This entails “refusing every form of corruption because corruption steals from the poor and demands a culture of honesty,”

he said. The main motivation for his trip to the Philippines was to meet with survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban and “pay homage to the local people’s faith and ability to recover,” he said. He again prayed for an “innocent victim” of local storms -the 27-year-old Catholic Relief Services worker, Kristel Padasas of Manila. She had worked with a recovery project for victims of Typhoon Haiyan and died Jan. 17 after the papal Mass in Tacloban when high winds blew over scaffolding. Meanwhile, he said the importance of reconciliation was the focus of his trip to Sri Lanka, which is seeking to rebuild unity after its 26-year-long civil war ended in 2009. The nation’s different religions have “a significant role” to play in fostering a spirit of cooperation and helping bring healing with “the balm of forgiveness,” the pope said. Dialogue, respecting human dignity and involving everyone in seeking solutions and promoting the common good are critical, he said he told government officials. But the high point of that trip, he said, was canonizing “the great missionary,” St. Joseph Vaz. The pope said he hoped the new saint’s “holiness and love for the other would continue to inspire the church in Sri Lanka, in its apostolate of charity and

Pope Francis touches a lamb after a blessing to mark the feast of St. Agnes at the Vatican Jan. 21. The wool from two lambs blessed by the pope will be used to make the palliums the pontiff gives to new archbishops from around the world each June. (CNS photo /L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters)

education.” He said St. Vaz is a model for all Christians who are “called today to propose the saving truth of the Gospel in a multireligious context, with respect for others, with perseverance and humility.” Before the general audience, in the lobby of the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence, Pope Francis received two lambs who had been blessed earlier in the day in Rome’s Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls, where they

were placed on the altar over the martyr’s tomb. Every year on the feast of St. Agnes, the pope blesses two lambs raised by Trappist monks on the outskirts of Rome. The wool of the lambs blessed on the feast day is woven by a community of nuns and becomes the fabric for the “pallium,” a circular stole, which the pope gives to new archbishops from around the world each June.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

DIOCESAN

PRAYER CALENDAR FEB 1 - FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mario Prada (retired) FEB 2 - THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD Fr. Duane Pribula (retired) FEB 3 - ST. BLAISE, BISHOP, MARTYR; ST. ANSGAR, BISHOP Fr. Bob Pryor (retired) FEB 4 - WEEKDAY Fr. Joe Richards FEB 5 - ST. AGATHA, VIRGIN, MARTYR Fr. Jerry Rogers FEB 6 - ST. PAUL MIKI, MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS Fr. Bob Schreiner FEB 7 - BLESSED VIRGIN

MARY Fr. Luis Silva

FEB 8 - FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FEB 16 - WEEKDAY Fr. Bob Stone (retired) Michael Arey (seminarian) FEB 9 - WEEKDAY Fr. Pat Sullivan

FEB 17 - THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER FEB 10 - ST. SCHOLASTICA, Nate Brunn (seminarian) VIRGIN Fr. Manuel Sundaram FEB 18 - ASH WEDNESDAY Deacon John Christianson FEB 11 - OUR LADY OF (seminarian) LOURDES Fr. David Super FEB 19 - THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY FEB 12 - WEEKDAY Deacon Bryan Kujawa (seminarFr. Emmanuel Sylvester ian)

FEB 14 - WEEKDAY Fr. Craig Vasek

15

FEBRUARY 2015

FEB 15 - SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Fr. Larry Wieseler (retired)

FEB 13 - WEEKDAY Fr. Xavier Ilango

January 28, 2015

FEB 20 - FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY Matt Schmitz (seminarian) FEB 21 - ST. PETER DAMI-

AN, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Nathin Voeller (seminarian) FEB 22 - FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Bishop Michael Hoeppner FEB 23 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Bishop Victor Balke (retired) FEB 24 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Fr. Todd Arends FEB 25 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Msgr. David Baumgartner FEB 26 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Fr. James Bernauer (retired) FEB 27 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Fr. Don Braukmann FEB 28 - LENTEN WEEKDAY Fr. Luis Buitron

VOCATION PRAYER OF POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II: Lord Jesus, as you once called the first disciples to make them fishers of men,

let your sweet invitation continue to resound: Come follow me! Give young men and women the grace of responding quickly to your voice. Support our bishops, priests, and consecrated people in their apostolic labor. Grant perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are carrying out the ideal of a life totally consecrated to your service. Awaken in our community a missionary eagerness. Lord, send workers to your harvest and do not allow humanity to be lost for the lack of pastors, missionaries, and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel. Mary, Mother of the Church, the model of every vocation, help us to say “yes” to the Lord who calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation. Amen.

DAILY SCRIPTURE

FEBRUARY 2015

FEB 1 - Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; 1 Cor 7:32-35; Mk 1:21-28 FEB 2 - Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32 FEB 3 - Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28, 30-32; Mk 5:21-43 FEB 4 - Heb 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103:1-2, 1314, 17-18a; Mk 6:1-6 FEB 5 - Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Ps 48:2-4, 9-11; Mk 6:7-13 FEB 6 - Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9c; Mk 6:14-29 FEB 7 - Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34 FEB 8 - Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1Cor 9:1619; 22-23; Mk 1:29-39 FEB 9 - Gn 1:1-19, Ps 104:1-2a, 5-6, 10, 12, 24, 35c; Mk 6:53-56 FEB 10 - Gn 1:20-2:4a; Ps 8:4-9; Mk 7:1-13 FEB 11 - Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps 104:1-2a, 2728, 29bc-30; Mk 7:14-23 FEB 12 - Gn 2:18-25; Ps 128:1-5; Mk 7:2430 FEB 13 - Gn 3:1-8; Ps 32:1-2, 5-7; Mk 7:3137 FEB 14 - Gn 3:9-24; Ps 90:2-4c, 5-6, 12-13; Mk 8:1-10

FEB 15 - Lv 13:1-2, 44-46; Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45 FEB 16 - Gn 4:1-15, 25; Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-21; Mk 8:11-13 FEB 17 - Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; Ps 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9c-10; Mk 8:14-21 FEB 18 - Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6b, 12-14, 17; 2 Cor 5:20-6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 FEB 19 - Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4,6; Lk 9:22-25 FEB 20 - Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6b, 18-19; Mt 9:14-15 FEB 21 - Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32 FEB 22 - Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15 FEB 23 - Lv 19:1-2, 11-18; Ps 19:8-10, 15; Mt 25:31-46 FEB 24 - Is 55:10-11; Ps 34:4-7, 16-19; Mt 6:7-15 FEB 25 - Jon 3:1-10; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Lk 11:29-32 FEB 26 - Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Ps 138:1-3, 7c-8; Mt 7:7-12 FEB 27 - Ez 18:21-28; Ps 130:1-8; Mt 5:2026 FEB 28 - Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTIONS

FEBRUARY 2015

(Photo credit: CNS)

UNIVERSAL: PRISONERS That prisoners, especially the young, may be able to rebuild lives of dignity. EVANGELIZATION: SEPARATED SPOUSES That married people who are separated may find welcome and support in the Christian community.

16 January 28, 2015

DIOCESAN

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