OND Oct. B Vol. 70 No. 19

VOL. 70, NO. 19

WWW.CROOKSTON.ORG

OCTOBER 19, 2016

Studying lessons of mercy TURN TO PAGE 6 TO READ ABOUT THE LESSONS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES IN THE DIOCESE OF CROOKSTON ARE LEARNING ABOUT MERCY AND HOW TO SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD AS THE JUBILEE YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE.

Above: Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner delivers his final Year of Mercy deanery presentation at Assumption, Callaway, on Oct. 5. (Photos credit: Katrina Genereux/OND) Left: Tamara Kraft, the sixth grade teacher at Cathedral School in Crookston, leads fifth and sixth graders through an activity illustrating the percentage of people in the world who lack sufficient food during “Fridays with the Father” on Oct. 14.

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH RALLY The diocesan High School Youth Rally will be held Oct. 20 at Ada-Borup High School in Ada. Approximately 350 youth from across the Diocese of Crookston are expected to attend. The theme for the rally is Rooted in Christ.

WATCH FOR COVERAGE IN THE NOV. 2 ISSUE OF OND.

A novena to prepare for Election Day 2016 begins Oct. 30.

Turn to Page 3 for more information about praying for our state and nation.

INSIDE

VOL. 70, NO. 19:

Pg. 7 - 2016 Vocations Awareness Week Pg. 8 - Celebrating Fatima Centenary Pg. 15 - Prayer and Scripture Calendars

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October 19, 2016

A

COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Voice from the Valley

BY BISHOP MICHAEL J. HOEPPNER

RESPECT LIFE MONTH A bishop’s mailbag always gets interesting around election time. The first bit of mail I opened this morning was a packet of fliers asking that I see to their distribution. The cover letter asked me to urge “the flock to vote only for those politicians who profess the Culture of Life,” and to vote “against those who would promote the Culture of Death which is called ‘choice’ as to whether an unborn child should be killed or not.” Sounding the alarm, the sender noted: “It’s one minute to midnight, folks!” and, “Next will be the elderly and infirm.”

I thought, “I know the sheep here, as good Catholics, know about respect life, treasure life, know and follow the Church’s teaching on life.” Just recently, I received an urgent request from a couple to pray for a young mother, pregnant with their first child, whose contractions have started too early. The couple wants so much to be a family and live their vocation as God intends them to. I thought, “I know the faithful here work hard to fulfill their responsibility as Catholic Christians. They work hard to promote the respect for all life in our culture

and society.”

We just celebrated our Diocesan Marriage Day and once again held up marriage and family as God has given it to us. Pope Francis articulates well the truth of the dogma of the Church regarding life. In “Amoris Laetitia” or “The Joy of Love,” he wrote, “I feel it urgent to state that, if the family is the sanctuary of life, the place where life is conceived and cared for, it is a horrendous contradiction when it becomes a place where life is rejected and destroyed. So great is the value of a human life, and so inalienable the right to life of an innocent child growing in the mother’s womb, that no alleged right to one’s own body can justify a decision to terminate that life, which is an end in itself and can never be considered the ‘property’ of another human being.”

I thought, “certainly good Catholics see through the duplicity and error of those who say they are ‘Pro-choice Catholics’ or ‘Catholics for Abortion’ or those who say ‘I am personally pro-life, but not for imposing my views on society.’”

Our responsibility is just that: To bring our Catholic Chris-

tian views of truth and what is right into our lives, private and public, and by doing so to help God’s plan for all life flourish.

Jesus told us he is with us as we do just that: “Go out to the whole world and teach them everything that I have commanded. And know that I am with you till the end of time.”

And, after all, in paragraph 2089 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church heresy is defined as: “the obstinate postbaptismal denial of some truth which must be believed with divine and catholic faith, or it is likewise an obstinate doubt concerning the same.”

Having just read: “It’s one minute to midnight, folks!” and “Next will be the elderly and infirm”, wasn’t I surprised when the next item in the mailbag was this month’s edition of the newsletter from the National Catholic Bioethics Center on Health Care and Life Sciences: Ethics & Medics. The very first column in the newsletter was entitled: “AMA Reconsiders Opposition To Physician-Assisted Suicide.”

It seems that after 169 years of opposition to physician involvement in directly causing patients’ death, the American

Medical Association is considering changing its position.

The issue is to be studied and brought back to the 2017 annual meeting. Opposition to physician-assisted suicide has roots in the ancient Hippocratic Oath: “I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked, nor will I advise such a plan.”

Currently, the American Medical Association’s standard states that “physician-assisted suicide is fundamentally incompatible with the physician’s role as healer, would be difficult or impossible to control, and would pose serious societal risks.”

Again, I thought, “Good Catholics respect life from conception to natural death and know and follow the Church’s teaching on life and end of life issues.”

As did his predecessors, Pope Francis clearly articulates the truth and Church dogma about end of life issues. In “Amoris Laetitia” he states the “family

VOICE: Cont. on Page 4

(USPS 414-940)

BISHOP’S CALENDAR October 18-19

protects human life in all its stages including the last.” And, “Care and concern for the final stages of life is all the more necessary today, when contemporary society attempts to remove every trace of death and dying … Euthanasia and assisted suicide are serious threats to families worldwide; in many countries they have been legalized. The Church, while firmly opposing these practices, feels the need to assist families who take care of their elderly and infirm members.”

And then, wouldn’t you know it, and you can imagine how delighted I was, when I heard from my first cousin, Trudy, who lives near Chicago with her husband, that they are planning a 100th birthday party for my mother’s last living sister, my Aunt Julita.

Julita made the trip to Crookston for my episcopal

Our Northland Diocese is a semi-monthly newspaper committed to publishing Good News for the purpose of strengthening and furthering the Reign of God in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Crookston.

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

USCCB Pastoral Symposium, University of Notre Dame

October 20

4:00 p.m.

Mass, High School Youth Rally, Ada-Borup High School, Ada

Publisher:

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

October 30

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Rite of Confirmation, Holy Trinity, Tabor

Editor:

Dr. Mark Krejci

November 1

7:00 a.m.

All Saints Day Mass, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston

Associate Editor: Mrs. Janelle C. Gergen

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November 3

12:00 p.m.

Diocesan Finance Council Meeting, Chancery, Crookston

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November 8-11

VICTIM ASSISTANCE STATEMENT

Rite of Confirmation, St. Joseph’s, Oslo Rite of Confirmation, St. William’s, Twin Valley Good Leaders, Good Shepherds Workshop, Crookston

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.

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OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

LOCAL

October 19, 2016

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Nine Days for Our State and Nation: Preparing for Election Day 2016 As we approach Election Day, we ask for God’s guidance. By prayerfully turning to our Father, we are reminded that our nation is dependent upon his continued blessing, and acknowledge his sovereignty over all things, our political action included. After all, our vote isn’t to be frivolously cast; rather, it is to be used to build up a more just society where all can flourish.

This novena includes reflections adapted from the USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, and daily prayers of supplication. Use it to humbly prepare your heart for Election Day. Visit www.mncatholic.org/novena for a list of daily discernment questions, more reflection resources and a video featuring the bishops of Minnesota.

DAILY NOVENA PRAYER (Begin each day with this prayer) Virgin Mary, patroness of America. Please prepare our hearts as we take part in this year’s elections. Help us to humbly receive the wisdom of the Church, and to accept the importance of Her teachings in our lives and voting decisions. Guide us as we choose leaders who will best uphold the common good and the dignity of all. In your Son’s name, Amen.

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OCTOBER 30: RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Religious liberty is our first and most cherished freedom. It is rooted in the very dignity of the human person, a fundamental human right that knows no geographical boundaries.

But religious liberty is threatened in America. Individuals and faith-based organizations face increasing legal pressure to abandon their convictions as a requirement for full participation in society; the poor and vulnerable, whom they serve, suffer as a result.

Now more than ever, we need leaders who recognize the importance of religious liberty and will take steps to protect it.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you created us to love and serve you in everything we do. Please help

us support candidates who will protect the rights of citizens to worship and fully practice their faith. Through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

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OCTOBER 31: LIFE AND BIOETHICS

Life is the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others.

Each human life is willed by the Father, and therefore deserves protection from conception until natural death.

But it is no secret that our nation is pervaded by a culture of death. Human life, from the unborn to the elderly and disabled, is devalued, and treated as a disposable commodity when it is deemed “inconvenient” or ceases to be “useful.” A society free from abortion and other forms of violence is a goal towards which elected officials must strive.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you created every human life with unrepeatable and inestimable

value. May we elect candidates who have a profound reverence for the sanctity of human life, and seek to protect all lives from the moment of conception to a natural death. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 1: THE POOR AND VULNERABLE

Life is the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others.

Each human life is willed by the Father, and therefore deserves protection from conception until natural death.

But it is no secret that our nation is pervaded by a culture of death. Human life, from the unborn to the elderly and disabled, is devalued, and treated as a disposable commodity when it is deemed “inconvenient” or ceases to be “useful.” A society free from abortion and other forms of violence is a goal towards which elected officials must strive.

PRAYER: Christ Jesus, you told us that You are present in the “least of these.” Please help us elect officials who will support policies that complement our own individual efforts to care for the poor and vulnerable. In your name, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 2: CARE FOR CREATION

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NOVEMBER 3: LABOR AND ECONOMY

Economic decisions and institutions should be assessed according to whether they protect or undermine the dignity of the human person. Workers, owners, employers, and unions have a corresponding responsibility to work together to create decent jobs, build a more just economy, and advance the common good.

Economic policy should promote the flourishing of all, not the interests of a few.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you created man to work, glorifying you in our everyday labors. Help us to elect officials who recognize the dignity of work, and are committed to just economic policies. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 4: MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

The family founded upon marriage is the basic cell of human society. The role, responsibilities, and needs of families should be central priorities.

Marriage must be promoted and protected as the lifelong exclusive commitment between a man and a woman, which serves as the source of the next generation and a protective haven for children. Social and economic policies should uphold the God-given meaning and value of marriage and family, help families stay together, and reward responsibility and sacrifice for children. We must also continue to affirm the complementarity of the sexes, and prevent the spread of harmful and false gender ideologies.

PRAYER: Lord God, you willed that all children be conceived, born, and raised by a loving moth-

er and father. Help us to discern and support elected officials who respect your plan for the family and will support its integrity through public policy. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 5: IMMIGRATION

The Gospel mandate to “welcome the stranger” requires Catholics to care for and stand with newcomers, authorized and unauthorized.

Comprehensive reform is urgently necessary to fix a broken immigration system.

Reform should provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants and prioritize family reunification, while addressing the root causes of migration and maintaining the right and responsibility of nations to control their borders.

PRAYER: Christ Jesus, you call upon us to welcome the stranger in our midst. May we elect officials who pursue policies that recognize the dignity of all migrants. In your name, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 6: EDUCATION

Parents—the first and most important educators—have a fundamental right to choose the education best suited to the needs of their children.

Government policy should help provide options for parents, especially those of modest means, to exercise this right.

All persons have the right to receive a quality education. Young people, including those who are poor and those with disabilities, need the opportunity to develop intellectually, morally, spiritually, and physically, allowing them to become responsible citizens.

PRAYER: Christ Jesus, you call upon us to welcome the stranger in our midst. May we elect officials who pursue policies that recognize the dignity of all migrants. In your name, Amen.

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NOVEMBER 7: HEALTH CARE

Care for creation is a moral issue. Protecting the land, water, and air we share is a religious duty of stewardship. It reflects our responsibility to the poor and weak among us, who are most vulnerable to environmental harm, and also to generations to come.

Effective initiatives are required for energy conservation, sustainable agriculture, and the development of alternate, renewable and clean-energy resources. These policies must be pursued while maintaining proper respect for human life.

Affordable and accessible health care is an essential safeguard of human life and a fundamental human right, yet millions of Americans still lack health care coverage.

The nation’s health care system needs to be rooted in values that respect human dignity, protect human life, respect the principle of subsidiarity, and meet the needs of the poor and the vulnerable. Employers should be able to provide health care without compromising their convictions, and individuals should be able to purchase health care that accords to their faith.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you gave us this earth to till and to keep. May we elect leaders who pursue policies that respect the gift of creation and ensure its bounty is available to all, now and in the future. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, you desire that all your children are adequately cared for. Guide our election day decisions so that we might choose leaders who are committed to ethical care for all. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen.

NOVEMBER 8: PRAYER FOR ELECTION DAY Heavenly Father, I have prepared for this day by praying for your guidance and reflecting on the social teachings of your Church. As I enter the voting booth, please fill me with your spirit, so that I might make principled, prudent decisions. I ask for your continued blessing and protection upon our nation and our state. Through Christ, our Lord, Amen

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October 19, 2016

COMMENTARY

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Make voting ‘down ballot’ a top priority Over the past several months, many faithful Catholics have expressed deep dissatisfaction with this year’s presidential election, and understandably so: neither major party candidate seems personally guided by a consistent ethic of life, and there are deep, concerning questions about the character of both.

In fact, many Minnesotans are so frustrated and disgusted with the presidential race that they have declared they will not be voting at all.

But staying home on Election Day will not change the lack of qualified national candidates, nor will it do anything to address the serious threats to life and dignity that are being advanced in our state and nation. On the contrary, it will make these problems worse.

Moreover, refusing to vote out of frustration with national politics prevents us from making a difference where it matters most: in our own backyard.

‘ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL’ With the media’s non-stop fixation on national politics, it might be easy to forget the wise words of Catholic congressman and former Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill: “All politics is local.”

While what happens in national politics does matter, O’Neill’s maxim is an important reminder to make sure we’re paying at least as much attention to St. Paul (and our local communities) as we are to Washington, D.C. Most decisions that affect citizens everyday – from property tax rates

FAITH

IN THE PUBLIC ARENA

By Shawn Peterson

Associate Director for Public Policy Minnesota Catholic Conference

ACTION ALERT: STUDY, PRAY, VOTE! Faithfully form your conscience, identify the candidates and their positions, and prayerfully prepare for Election Day with resources from the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

Our Election Resource Center includes:

to community development projects to school curricula – are determined by local officials who are chosen in local elections.

The perceived importance of state and local government may be diminished, as the concentration of power has increased at the federal level. But if we are truly to embrace subsidiarity – the Catholic principle that emphasizes that social roles and responsibilities should be carried out by those most naturally suited to fulfill them – then we must take seriously our duty to be good stewards of our corner of the vineyard. One important way we practice subsidiarity is by voting in local elections.

Additionally, voting locally today is an important way of vetting the national candidates of tomorrow. After all, many well-known politicians get their start at the local level. For example, Vice President Hubert Humphrey didn’t begin his career in the White House— he first made his mark as the mayor of Minneapolis, before going on to the U.S. Senate and the vice presidency.

An election year video message from the Catholic bishops of Minnesota (also available as a text document).

YOUR VOTE MATTERS Our ability to impact national politics is limited. Minnesotans know this well: during caucusing this past March, we collectively picked two major party nominees for president who won’t even be on the ballot in November.

But our vote has a much greater impact locally. Consider this: in the 2014 elections, Republicans picked up 11 seats in the Minnesota House, giving them control with a ten-seat majority. But if the six closest House elections, which were all won by the Republican candidate by an average of only 433 votes, had gone the other way, the DFL would have retained control of the House.

2016 is shaping up to be another close election cycle, and the contours of our state legislature could be shaped by a handful of votes. One of them could be yours.

MUCH AT STAKE Voting locally is especially crucial this year. The entire state legislature (67 senate seats and 134 house seats) is up for

“Nine Days for Our State & Nation,” a novena for election day with video reflections from Minnesota’s bishops and quad-fold brochures that can be printed out or ordered.

“Discerning Your Vote,” a one-page distillation of the USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.

Candidate questionnaires that can be used to find out where candidates for the state legislature stand on the issues.

And many other resources for faithfully forming your conscience!

These resources can be accessed online at: www.mncatholic.org/election, or by calling 651-227-8777. election in November. Control of both the Minnesota House and Senate is in the balance, with issues like the legalization of assisted suicide, the legitimization of commercial surrogacy, funding levels for social safety net programs, protection of water and other natural resources, and parental choice in education set to be decided in St. Paul.

Disgust with presidential

politics, while understandable, should not prevent us from casting our vote in “down ballot” races. If we stay on the sidelines and fail to exercise our duties of faithful citizenship, we won’t be making a symbolic statement about our government – we’ll be allowing others to shape society in ways contrary to God’s providential care for all of creation.

VOICE: Continued from Page 2 ordination nine years ago. My family and a whole bunch of families of first cousins will gather in Milwaukee in the middle of this month to celebrate God’s gift of life for Julita and God’s gift of life for all of us.

Just this week, Trudy let us all know, “the party is still on because mom says she’ll enjoy all the conversation.”

October is Respect Life Month. Let us celebrate life and resolve again, with renewed energy, to work to foster respect for life, from conception to natural death. Let us remember as we approach election day, that, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “it is

a grave duty of civil authority to acknowledge the true nature of marriage and the family, to protect and foster them, to safeguard public morality and promote domestic prosperity”, the prosperity of all children, including those yet unborn, and the elderly as well.

STRENGTHENING OUR FUTURE HONORING OUR PAST Some years ago, faithful throughout the Diocese of Crookston were generous in contributing to the formation of a Seminarian Education Fund held in trust with the Diocese of Crookston Catholic Community Foundation. Mon-

ies from this fund have been helping us meet the costs of seminarian formation and education.

This fund is currently endowed in the amount of $1.9 million. Costs for seminarian education have risen significantly in past years and it is time for us to work to increase this fund to bring it to a place where it can sustain the number of seminarians we have today. And so, I am happy to tell you about our new effort to invite parishes, individuals, and families to support seminarian formation and education by either contributing to an existing burse or beginning a burse

in their name or the name of a loved one.

A burse is like a purse. It is a monetary gift to our endowment fund. A number of our parishes already have a burse for seminarian education and we are inviting those who do not yet have one, to begin one.

In addition, we are inviting individuals and families to consider starting a named burse, a gift given in the name of the family, or in honor of someone, living or deceased. What a wonderful way to help strengthen our future.

In addition, we are also in need of bolstering our Priests’ Pension Trust. Currently this

trust, which provides funds for the monthly pension checks of our senior priests, has assets of $2.62 million. This fund is actuarially underfunded and we need to work now to grow this fund. Assuring that we can continue to provide for our senior priests’ retirement needs is an important way we can honor our past. You will read more about Strengthening Our Future, Honoring Our Past in the insert included in the center of this issue of Our Northland Diocese. For more information, please contact Joe Noel at 218280-6858 or Reathel Giannonatti at 218-281-4533.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

COMMENTARY

October 19, 2016

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Growing closer to God, growing closer to each other through God’s love I turned on the TV one recent evening to find something to watch while I walked on the treadmill and the first show to come on was one of those popular shows where the cameras are following people around every day. These shows have a common format in which the cameras are there to record nearly every action, conversation, joy, trial, etc. that the “stars” of the show encounter.

The action is often interrupted by scenes of the “stars” being interviewed during which you hear their reflections on what is happening in their lives.

This particular show was focused on a number of couples and one was being interviewed as I started my treadmill journey. The couple was reporting that their relationship was nearing its end because they “grew apart from each other.”

Oh how I wish I could have been the interviewer because I would have had a great set of follow-up questions.

Me: Would you like to grow closer together and save your relationship?

Couple: Yes.

PRAYING WITH THE FAMILY

By Dr. Mark Krejci

Director of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life

Me: Are you both willing to do what it will take?

Couple: Yes? (They will sound hesitant at this point to increase the dramatic tension for the show) Me: I have a perfect, tried and true way for you to grow closer to each other.

Couple: What is it? (With mounting anticipation in their voices no doubt.)

Me: If you want to grow closer to each other grow closer to God. At this point, the couple may say “Huh????” but for the sake of this column let’s just agree that they ask “How do we do

this?”

In my previous column I shared with you a title from one of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s books, “It Takes Three to be Married,” in which he writes that a marriage is made up of wife, husband and God. God is meant to be the center of every sacramental marriage and these marriages should all reflect the love of God. At times, couples do feel less of a bond or a greater distance from each other. This may occur because they are angry or upset with each other but it can also be caused by children taking up more time, work-related pres-

sures, lack of attention or affection, etc. If the husband and wife in a marriage are sensing they are more distant from each other, they need to remember that God is there to bring them together.

I recently saw a nice way to diagram this truth on the internet. I could replicate it here without violating copyright but I thought you might find this column more interesting, and a bit of a challenge, to diagram it yourself. Start by drawing a triangle on a sheet of paper. At the top of the triangle write God and then write the word “wife” on one of the bottom corners and the word “husband” at the other bottom corner. At this point the husband and wife are separated by the line between them and the words do not touch each other (unless you have very big handwriting). If you could slide the words husband and wife up the sides of the triangle so that they come closer to God notice how the words husband and wife would also grow closer to each other.

Let me apologize for bringing any frustration into your

life if you find my explanation confusing. If you were unable to draw the triangle, I suggest you Google: “Husband wife God triangle” and click on images to see what I was trying to describe.

What this image represents is a perfect, tried and true way of bringing wife and husband closer to each other. As couples grow closer to God they will grow closer to each other. We are all invited by God to be in relationship with him. And as we become closer to God we more fully experience God’s love. This love becomes part of us and is something husbands and wives are meant to share with each other. When both spouses are doing this – experiencing God’s love and sharing that love with each other – they will not “grow apart” but grow together in the eternal love of God. This is why marriage is a holy act that takes not just our emotions, thoughts and behaviors but also, and more importantly, it takes faith to achieve a great marriage.

Election 2016: God bless America; America bless God My plan for this issue of OND was to write a column quoting a passage from the Bible followed by a quote from each of our presidential candidates. It would have clearly shown just how far down the slope into the manure pit our nation has slid.

But, after a little over two hours of collecting quotes, I realized I could never print them because this is a family-friendly publication.

In our Catholic school here in Bemidji, I thought it would be a good idea for our middle school kids to watch the debates. But a wise teacher questioned the idea given the fact presidential debates are now rated “R” …

“R” stands for ridiculous.

Earlier this summer, I used my column to remind us of some of our great political leaders of the past and the wisdom they shared. They were leaders who inspired us to strive to be the best we could be as individuals and as Americans.

In 2016, our two leading contenders for the White House are in a competition to dumb us down and to numb us up so we might miss their bold face lying and their obsession with the

LIFE

FIRST

By Father Don Braukmann

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

personal destruction of their opponent at any cost.

So, I have decided to share quotes which led previous generations to believe in and strive for greater things. To avoid squabbling over the author’s political background, I will leave the names out.

For me, these quotes are like a long, deep, refreshing psychological drink of cool water while living in the desert of all deserts called “Election 2016.”

“Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.”

“Each child is an adventure into a better life – an opportunity to change the old pattern

and make it new.”

“Leadership in today’s world requires far more than a large stock of gunboats and a hard fist at the conference table.”

“It was once said the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

“This, then, is the test we must set for ourselves; not to march alone but to march in such a way others will wish to join us.”

“The impersonal hand of

government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.”

“We should live our lives as though Christ were coming this afternoon.”

“War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.”

“America did not invent human rights. In a very real sense, it is the other way round. Human rights invented America.”

“In order for us human beings to commit ourselves personally to the inhumanity of war, we find it necessary first to dehumanize our opponents, which is in itself a violation of the beliefs of all religions.

Once we characterize our adversaries as beyond the scope of God’s mercy and grace, their lives lose all value. We deny personal responsibility when we plant landmines and, days or years later, a stranger to us – often a child – is crippled or killed. From a great distance, we launch bombs or missiles with almost total impunity, and

never want to know the number or identity of the victims.”

“We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into complacency and dependence.”

“I don’t consult polls to tell me what my principles are or what our policies should be.”

“Those who seek a pro-life culture must accept that we will never persuade all 300 million Americans to agree with us.

A pro-life culture can be built only from the ground up, person by person. For too long we have viewed the battle as purely political, but no political victory can change a degraded society. No Supreme Court ruling by itself can instill greater respect for life. And no Supreme Court justice can save our freedoms if we don’t fight for them ourselves.”

Although there will be one more issue of OND before Election Day, this will be my final column commenting about it. I think we have all had enough. God bless America.

America bless God.

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October 19, 2016

LOCAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Lessons of mercy will carry far beyond Holy Year

By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND

On Oct. 5, Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner gave a Year of Mercy presentation for the South Central Deanery at Assumption, Callaway. It was part of a series of presentations he did in deaneries throughout the diocese during the Year of Mercy.

Although the Jubilee of Mercy is winding down, it is not over yet. Cathedral school’s fifth and sixth grade classes have started a program focused on the works of mercy and the Holy Door at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will remain open for pilgrims through Nov. 12.

FINAL DEANERY PRESENTATION Bishop Hoeppner’s presentation delivered throughout the Diocese of Crookston for the Year of Mercy had a two-part focus. He emphasized the importance of being aware of the presence of God’s mercy and then sharing it with others.

“Receiving God’s mercy ignites in us the drive to become instruments of mercy. We should be feeling that drive.

The more we receive, the more we are called to share with others,” Bishop Hoeppner said paraphrasing remarks Pope Francis made on Divine Mercy Sunday. “It cannot be kept hidden or kept only for ourselves.

It’s something that burns within our hearts.”

Bishop Hoeppner spoke about the pope’s decision to proclaim the Jubilee Year of Mercy, giving the world time to focus more attentively on the Father’s mercy and become more effective signs of that mercy at work in the world.

“So how are we going to be aware of God’s mercy in our lives? We start with our understanding of who God is,” Bishop Hoeppner said. He shared passages from the Old Testament in which God reveals himself by revealing his name to the Israelites.

“Mercy is of the essence of God; it’s part of who God is,” he said. “God’s mercy is for everyone … open ultimately for all. Everyone has access to God, not just a few righteous people, but everyone.”

Bishop Hoeppner also shared some parables from the New Testament and especially focused on Mark 5 where Jesus heals a possessed man dwelling among the tombs. The man was confused and in his wrong mind, but Jesus restores his

on Sept. 23, the feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, Father Augie Gothman, the Parochial Vicar at Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, celebrated Mass with the students in their classroom. During his homily, he spoke about the saint’s reception of the stigmata and the many, many hours he spent in the confessional as a conduit of the Father’s mercy.

“The Year of Mercy is why I wanted to do the corporal works of mercy,” Kraft said.

She is using Life Teen materials to form lessons about the corporal works of mercy.

Throughout the year, deacons and other community members will speak to the class about ways they encounter and share the works of mercy described in the lessons. Kraft said these lessons are extending beyond Cathedral School teacher, Tamara Kraft, writes a student’s petition on the classroom “prayer door” during the classroom into students’ families. She has had several “Fridays with the Father” Oct. 14. (Photos credit: Katrina Genereux/OND) parents tell her that the kids dignity and gives him peace. He talk about “Fridays with the Facompared the world to the man ther” at home. possessed by evil spirits.

“It offers an opportunity to “Humanity has been in its evangelize,” said Patricia Jones, wrong mind. We’ve been under Principal of Cathedral School. the domain of sin. Jesus has “The evangelization starts here, taken care of it. We do not have but it really goes home very to be confused about marriage. easily.” She noted that the enWe do not have to be confused tire school has been impacted about abortion … Jesus is takby the program. ing care of the confusion,” “One of the parts of our Bishop Hoeppner said. mission and philosophy is talkUnlike the other parables of ing about our faith lives and healing in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus this puts it in action, so I think sends this man back to his peoit is important,” Jones said. ple to share what the Lord has “We’re hoping in doing this, done for him. it will just help the children to “The man becomes the first be good witnesses for others,” New Testament evangelist, to Kraft said. go to his own family to anThis witness of mercy is nounce what God, in his mercy, something Pope Francis has has done for him,” Bishop Hobeen calling for since he proeppner said. “His personal exclaimed the Jubilee Year of perience of God’s mercy in his Mercy. life, through the encounter with LAST CHANCE FOR PILGRIMS Jesus, is the only credential he A Cathedral School student receives Holy Communion from Father While opportunities to perAugie Gothman, Parochial Vicar of Cathedral of the Immaculate needs to be an evangelist.”

Bishop Hoeppner ended his Conception, during Mass in the sixth grade classroom Sept. 23. The form works of mercy will alpresentation encouraging those Mass was part of a new weekly program for fifth and sixth grade ways be present, the chance to make a pilgrimage to the Holy present to be evangelists and to students focusing on the corporal works of mercy.

Door at Cathedral is coming to go out and share what God’s corporal works of mercy and a close. mercy has accomplished in they started this year.

Tamara Kraft, the sixth grade will hear from various speakers, The Holy Door will be open their lives.

“We are the Church, the seed teacher at Cathedral School, has do activities and take field trips to pilgrims until Bishop Hoeppner closes it during 5 p.m. and beginning of the Kingdom instituted “Fridays with the Fa- to accompany the lessons.

In October, they toured the ther,” a program she witnessed Mass on Nov. 12. To schedule of God, Christ’s chosen instruCare and Share, learning about while visiting St. Philip’s School a pilgrimage to the Holy Door ment helping people to come in how it started, the needs of in Bemidji. before it is closed and to ensure contact with God who is love people in the area and differEach Friday, her class joins the availability of the Sacra… whose name is mercy,” Bishwith the fifth grade. One of the ent services available there. The ment of Confession during the op Hoeppner said. students’ favorite parts is start- students will also do several visit, contact the Cathedral of MERCY IN THE CLASSROOM ing with praise and worship. service projects including filling the Immaculate Conception at Fifth and sixth grade stu- They sing along with music vid- backpacks at North Country 218-281-1735. dents at Cathedral School in eos of contemporary Christian Food Bank and making cards Pope Francis will conclude Crookston are sharing God’s music. Then, they learn about to be delivered to the sick and the Jubilee Year of Mercy on mercy with their families, fel- and do activities that focus on homebound receiving Commu- Nov. 20 when he closes the nion. low students and the wider mercy.

Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica During their Friday session in Vatican City.

The students are studying the community through a program

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LOCAL

October 19, 2016

7

2016 Vocations Awareness Week: Nov. National Vocations Awareness Week: Nov.6-12 1-7 ABOUT VOCATIONS AWARENESS WEEK National Vocations Awareness Week is an annual week-long celebration of the Catholic Church in the United States.

It is dedicated to promote vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life through prayer and education, and to renew our prayers and support for those who are considering one of these particular vocations.

The U.S. Bishops started National Vocations Awareness Week in 1976.

A PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS God our Father, you made each of us to use our gifts in the Body of Christ.

We ask that you inspire young people whom you call to priesthood and consecrated life to courageously follow your will.

Send workers into your great harvest so that the Gospel is preached, the poor are served with love, the suffering are comforted, and your people are strengthened by the sacraments.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer courtesy of Vianney Vocations.

Please personally encourage young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life.

Diocese of Crookston Seminarians 2016-2017 Deacon Matthew Schmitz LOCATION: St. Meinrad School of Theology St. Meinrad, Ind. HOME PARISH: St. Joseph’s, Brooks

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SEMINARY OR VOCATIONAL DISCERNMENT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Fr. Xavier Ilango

Director of Vocations xavier.ilango@gmail.com (218) 773-0877

Nate Brunn LOCATION: St. Meinrad School of Theology St. Meinrad, Ind. HOME PARISH: St. Joseph’s, Moorhead

- or -

Fr. Craig Vasek

Associate Director of Vocations crookstonvocations@gmail.com (701) 314-4DOC

Michael Arey LOCATION: St. Paul Seminary St. Paul, Minn.

Mark Miller LOCATION: St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minn.

or visit:

www.crookston.org/vocations/doc

HOME PARISH: St. Francis de Sales, Moorhead

HOME PARISH: St. Francis de Sales, Moorhead

Samuel Hurst

Solomon Liebl

LOCATION: St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minn.

LOCATION: St. Mary’s University, Winona, Minn.

HOME PARISH: St. Joseph’s, Moorhead

HOME PARISH: St. Joseph’s, Fertile

PRAY FOR OUR SEMINARIANS!

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October 19, 2016

LOCAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Planning underway to celebrate centenary of Fatima apparitions

By Katrina Genereux Staff Writer, OND

Oct. 13 was the 99th anniversary of the sixth, and final apparition of Mary to three children near Fatima, Portugal.

Our Lady appeared to Lucia, Francisco and Jacinta, from May through October 1917.

She brought them a message of penance and prayer, particularly the daily rosary, for the conversion of the world. Thousands of people gathered in a field around the children for the final apparition and witnessed a miracle when the sun appeared to dance in the sky.

Planning is underway to celebrate the centenary of the Fatima apparitions in the Diocese of Crookston, beginning with the 2017 Rosary Convocation which will be held on the anniversary of the first apparition.

Each month, on the same date Our Lady appeared, a gathering will be held, concluding with a closing celebration Oct. 13, 2017.

“It [the 2010 Rosary Congress] was so well received, that we originally planned to spend four years going through the meditations on the four sets of the mysteries of the rosary, but, because there is a following, it has continued,” Father Robert Schreiner said. “Now we’ll yoke that heritage up with the centennial of the Fatima apparitions where Our Lady urged the children to teach the people to pray the rosary for the conversion of the world.” Father Schreiner is Pastor of St. Joseph’s, Red Lake Falls and St. Joseph’s, Brooks.

The 2017 Rosary Convocation will be held at St. Joseph’s, Red Lake Falls, on May 13, 2017, and will include Mass, exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, recitation of the holy rosary, a presentation, benediction and lunch.

He is also working with a planning committee to hold

events that will walk with the children of Fatima through each of the six apparitions.

From June through September, gatherings will be held at the Marian Shrine in Huot Park.

These will begin at 7 p.m. and include a Eucharistic procession to the shrine, a brief presentation about the apparition that occurred that day a century before, and Benediction. A potluck style meal will follow. With the exception of August, these events will be held on the 13th of the month.

In August the gathering will occur on the 19th and begin at 7 a.m. On August 13, 1917, the children were imprisoned and unable to be at the location the apparition was to occur. Our Lady appeared to them on August 19 after their release.

The final anniversary celebration will be held Oct. 13, 2017, at St. Joseph’s, Red Lake Falls, and will be similar to the May convocation.

The message of Fatima is important in today’s world and everyone is invited to attend any or all of these events.

“If you have followed the papacy of John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, there is a consistency of the message of Fatima being found in their preaching and teaching and with that, the urgency,” said Father Schreiner. “When you think of a centenary and talk about the urgency of the 100th anniversary, it sounds counterintuitive, but if you plumb the depths of the message and its effects and the implication of that in our modern day, then it makes perfect sense that there is an urgency today about what Fatima was about in way of application to the Church.”

Terry Dusek of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is part of the planning committee. Her devotion to Our Lady of Fatima was passed on to her by her mother.

“I’m looking forward to see-

Attendees of the Rosary Convocation pray the rosary before celebrating Mass at the Marian Shrine in Huot Park near Red Lake Falls May 13, 2014. (Photo credit: Katrina Genereux/OND)

ing people who aren’t familiar with Fatima, and for those who are, to come for the Rosary Convocation to be inspired after hearing what Our Lady’s message is and what she is asking of all of us,” Dusek said. “I wish for all to bring back her message of penance, reparation and praying the rosary to their families and parishes.”

Dusek also hopes that the convocation and events will help draw more people to the

First Saturday Devotion and the Brown Scapular.

“Our Lady always said to pray the Rosary every day and it continues to be my favorite prayer,” she said.

Brent Evenson of Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Crookston, is also helping plan the events. He is excited for the opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of each of the Fatima apparitions.

“It definitely has a pilgrimage

type feel having several events a month apart, so I think it will be a wonderful journey for those who wish to partake in it,” Evenson said.

From Nov. 6-12, 2017, Father Schreiner will lead a pilgrimage to Fatima to visit the site of the apparitions and the shrine that has been built there. Contact Father Schreiner at 218-2897236 or frbs@reagan.com for more information.

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LOCAL

CSJ Sister Irene Lemire, 93, dies Sister Irene Lemire of the Sisters of St. Joseph died peacefully at Villa St. Vincent in Crookston, Minn., on Sept.

12, 2016.

Irene Louise Lemire was born on January 16, 1923 in Somerset, Wis., to Gasper and Rosa Lemire. She was the sixth child in a family of nine all of whom had a lively spirit and filled their FrenchCanadian home with laughter and fun. After finishing eighth grade in Somerset, Irene attended St. Joseph’s Academy in Crookston. During that time she requested to enter the Sisters of St. Joseph of Bourg, France, and was accepted in 1938.

Having been given the religious name of Sister Rose Marie, Irene and three companions traveled to Bourg, France in 1939 for their religious training. Due to the outbreak of World War II, all four sisters were “stranded” there for seven years.

Sister Irene returned to the United States in February 1946 and served as homemaker in Minnesota communities of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Crookston, Kilkenny, Stewart and Minneapolis. She also performed these duties at com-

Sister Irene Lemire, CSJ

munities in Superior, Wis., and Rainy River, Ontario, Canada.

Between 1962 and 1970, Sister Irene was the receptionist at St. Joseph’s Academy and also served as house mother to the Spanish-speaking girls from Mexico who attended St. Joseph’s Academy to learn English.

Care for the sick and elderly became Sister Irene’s next mission after she completed a nursing course in New Richmond, Wis. She ministered as a nurse aide at San Haven State Sanatorium in Dunseith,

N.D.; St. Joseph’s Hospital in Park Rapids and for Hubbard County, Minn., until 2004.

Sister Irene became a resident of the Summit Assisted Living Apartments in Crookston in 2004. In May 2015 she moved to the Villa St. Vincent due to declining health.

Surviving relatives of Sister Irene include her sister-in-law Marlyn Lemire of Somerset, Wis. and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Sister Irene is also survived by the members of her community, the Congregation of St. Joseph.

Those preceding her in death include: her parents Gasper and Rosa (Campeau) Lemire; brothers Edward, Andy, Maurice, Ben and Duane; sisters Doris (Campeau), Ella (Frandson) and Betty Ann (Neumann).

Services for Sister Irene Lemire were held on Sept. 16 at the Villa St. Vincent Chapel in Crookston. A Wake Service was held at 1 p.m. and the Mass of Resurrection was celebrated at 2 p.m.

Interment will be in the Lemire family plot in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Somerset at a later date.

October 19, 2016

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New crucifix at Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Bejou

On Sept. 14, the Feast of the Holy Cross, there was a gathering at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Bejou for the blessing of a newly constructed and installed cross and corpus. Father Dave Super, pastor of St. Michael’s, Mahnomen, and St. Joseph’s, Beaulieu, led the blessing. (Submitted photo)

Benedictine Sister Mary Fay, 93, dies after 75 years of monastic life Sister Mary Fay, 93, died October 11, 2016, at Villa Saint Vincent in Crookston, Minn.

Sister Mary was born February 27, 1923, in Moorhead where her family was among the early settlers in the area. Mary was the second of four children of James and Emma (Thedens) Fay. She attended Saint Joseph’s School in Moorhead where she was taught by the Benedictine Sisters from Crookston. In the second grade, she set her heart on being a sister like her teachers. Sister Mary said that as she “grew in age and foolishness”

she decided she did not want to be a sister. Her eighth grade teacher said to her, “Well, I think you have a religious vocation.” Sister Mary was not entirely convinced, and she said that she was dismayed and she told Jesus, “If you want me to become a sister, I will – someday. But for now, I’m going to have all the fun I can.”

Before long she began to feel excited about the prospect of becoming a sister. When she mentioned to her parents that she was leaning toward entering the monastery they allowed her

to attend Mount Saint Benedict Academy. While in high school she became excited and looked forward to giving herself completely to God as a sister of Saint Benedict.

When she was invested as a novice she received the name, Sister Pius (she later resumed her baptismal name – Mary).

She made her first profession of obedience, stability in the community and fidelity to the monastic way of life in 1941 and her final profession in 1944. Her first assignment was to the teaching ministry which ended in critical illness. By the time she recuperated, plans for building Saint Francis Hospital in Crookston were in progress and nurses were needed.

She received nurses’ training and then served for 45 years in health care institutions sponsored and staffed by the community. She worked in emergency rooms, laboratories, obstetrical floors, x-ray and medical records departments. She claims she did what she would never have done on her own initiative. Sister Mary

Sister Mary Fay, OSB

served at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Detroit Lakes, Saint John’s Hospital in Browerville, Saint Vincent’s Rest Home and Villa Saint Vincent in Crookston.

Then Sister Mary was asked to serve in the archives of Mount Saint Benedict Monastery. During this time she wrote the community history: “A Time for Remembering”, pub-

lished in 1994. She described her experience of community, living and working with Benedictine sisters, as “very ordinary women, seeking to love and serve God together through prayer and service.” In 1998, she wrote that her years as archivist at the Mount gave her the opportunity to enrich her monastic life through prayer, interpersonal relationships, and meaningful work, thereby fulfilling the dreams of her youth.

Sister Mary is preceded in death by her parents James and Emma Fay, her brothers William and James and her sister-in-law, Elizabeth. She is survived by her sister Margaret Olich from Aptos, Calif., her sister-in-law Beverly Fay of Moorhead, many nieces and nephews and the Sisters of Saint Benedict of Crookston.

Reception of the body of Sister Mary was Oct. 17 at 4:30 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The funeral was at 11 a.m. on Oct. 18. All services were held at Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, 620 Summit Ave., Crookston.

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October 19, 2016

NATIONAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Catholic Charities assesses damage, begins helping storm victims

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON – Catholic Charities agencies joined emergency response efforts in coastal communities in four Southeastern states as residents and parish staffers began returning to assess the damage Hurricane Matthew left behind.

Some evacuation orders remained in effect in South Carolina, where the storm came ashore Oct. 7, dumping up to 18 inches of rain in communities near Charleston. High water blocked some roads, preventing people from returning to their homes in South Carolina and North Carolina and others were prevented from leaving their homes as they awaited the delivery of food and water.

In Florida, churches sustained serious damage and the historic Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine in St. Augustine experienced flooding, preventing Mass from being celebrated indoors the weekend of Oct. 8-9.

One Catholic Charities official in North Carolina said that in discussions with some residents he learned that the damage and flooding caused by Matthew exceeded that of the powerful Hurricane Floyd in 1999.

Parishes and schools in the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, escaped the brunt of the storm.

Trees were reported down on some parish properties, but no major damage was reported, said Barbara King, diocesan director of communication.

She said in the Savannah area, Catholic schools were to remain closed until Oct. 17.

Catholic Charities of South Georgia was prepared to assist families and individuals who requested recovery help, King added.

Some South Carolina communities in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties faced the possibility of flood-

vated in time for the 450th anniversary of the city and cathedral parish, sustained enough flooding to render it unusable for Masses Oct. 8 and 9, Bagg said. Mass was celebrated in the west courtyard outside the church, she said.

Another church, St. Anastasia on a barrier island across from the center of St. Augustine, is believed to have sustained serious damage in the storm. As of Oct. 10, authorities were not allowing residents, many of whom belong to the parish, to return to St. Anastasia Island.

Bagg said that power remained out for much of the region, making it difficult to contact other parishes to determine how they fared.

In Miami, parishioners at Notre Dame d’Haiti Parish began collecting donations of Homes surrounded by floodwaters are seen Oct. 10 in an aerial view of a neighborhood after Hurricane food for the Caribbean nation, Matthew swept through Lumberton, N.C. The powerful storm killed at least 1,000 people in Haiti and at which took a direct hit from Hurricane Matthew. Parishleast 33 in the U.S. (Photo credit: CNS/Chris Keane, Reuters) ioners prayed Oct. 7 for the estimated 300,000 Haitians afcoming days as well.” ing, even though the storm’s in the Diocese of Raleigh.

Hurricane Matthew’s worst fected by the storm.

“The major concern right initial fury bypassed them.

In the U.S., the death toll Kelly Kaminski, a regional co- now is that rivers are increas- punch missed much of the stood at 33 as of Oct. 11.

Florida coast.

The most serious ordinator for Catholic Charities ingly rising. The flooding is not The number of deaths in of Charleston, said Oct. 10 that expected to peak in some areas damage occurred in the Dioauthorities were keeping an eye until Friday (Oct. 14) and may cese of St. Augustine, where Haiti reached 1,000 on Oct. on rivers that continued to rise not begin to subside until the church properties were seri- 9, five days after the storm’s ously damaged or flooded and 145-mile-an-hour winds and from runoff from Matthew’s 15th,” he told CNS. torrential rains slammed into Catholic Charities planned to homes were destroyed. torrential rains.

Kathleen Bagg, director the country, according to a tally Many of the same people af- begin distributing food cards to fected by the storm or worried families by Oct. 11 as people ei- of communications for the by Reuters based on conversaabout potential flooding con- ther returned home or could be diocese, said downed trees lit- tions with local officials.

However, Haiti’s Civil Protinue to recover from the his- reached by some of the 55 to tered the property of the Mistorical floods that swamped the 60 agency staff members work- sion Nombre de Dios and the tection Agency reported that ing in the affected communi- Shrine of Our Lady of Le 336 people had died. The agenstate a year ago, she said.

Leche. A tree fell onto the roof cy’s accounting of casualties is “We’re working with over ties, Altenau said.

“Many of our own staff have of the Our Lady of Le Leche lower because of a policy that 2,000 clients just on the flood stuff. Now in addition we have been affected, which has limit- Chapel, she said, but did not requires emergency workers to handle everything from Hur- ed the ability to be in the com- cause damage to the interior of visit each village to confirm the number of deaths and injuries. the structure. ricane Matthew,” Kaminski told munity,” he explained.

The Cathedral Basilica of Up and down the North Catholic News Service.

Kaminski had no word on Carolina coast, churches and St. Augustine, which was renodamage to churches and schools schools sustained damaged. Albecause evacuation orders in tenau said he had reports from some communities remained in “at least a dozen parishes” reporting damage. “The major effect.

New flooding also was a con- problem is roofing issues,” he cern in North Carolina, said said. “But a lot, because of Daniel Altenau, director of power being out, we aren’t able communication and disaster to communicate with them. services for Catholic Charities We expect more reports in the

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

INTERNATIONAL

October 19, 2016

11

Pope announces 17 new cardinals, including three from U.S.

By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis will conclude the Year of Mercy by creating 17 new cardinals, including three from the United States: Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago; Bishop Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the new Vatican office for laity, family and life; and Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin of Indianapolis.

Announcing the names of the new cardinals Oct. 9, Pope Francis said, “Their coming from 11 nations expresses the universality of the Church that proclaims and witnesses the good news of God’s mercy in every corner of the earth.”

The new cardinals – 13 of whom are under the age of 80 and therefore eligible to vote in a conclave to elect a new pope and four over 80 being honored for their “clear Christian witness” – will be inducted into the College of Cardinals Nov. 19, the eve of the close of the Year of Mercy.

The next day, Nov. 20, they will join Pope Francis and other cardinals in celebrating the feast of Christ the King and closing the Year of Mercy, the pope said.

Shortly after the pope’s announcement, Archbishop Tobin tweeted: “I am shocked beyond words by the decision of the Holy Father. Please pray for me.”

The first of the new cardinals announced by the pope was Archbishop Mario Zenari, who, the pope explained, “will remain apostolic nuncio to the beloved and martyred Syria.”

The last of the cardinals he named was Albanian Father Ernest Simoni, a priest of the Archdiocese of Shkoder, who will turn 88 Oct. 18. He moved

“Their coming from 11 nations expresses the universality of the Church that proclaims and witnesses the good news of God’s mercy in every corner of the earth.”

– Pope Francis

Cardinal-designate Blase J. Cupich of Chicago, one of 17 new cardinals, is pictured in a 2015 photo at the Vatican.

(Photo credit: CNS/Paul Haring)

Pope Francis to tears in 2014 when he spoke about his 30 years in prison or forced labor under Albania’s militant atheistic regime.

Ordained in 1956, he was arrested on Christmas Eve 1963 while celebrating Mass and was sentenced to death by firing squad. He was beaten, placed for three months in solitary confinement, and then tortured because he refused to denounce the Church.

He was eventually freed, but later arrested again and sent to a prison camp, where he was forced to work in a mine for 18 years and then 10 more years in sewage canals.

In creating 13 cardinal-electors –

those under the age of 80 – Pope Francis will exceed by one the 120 cardinalelector limit set by Blessed Paul VI. The number of potential electors will return to 120 Nov. 28 when Cardinal Theodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar, Senegal, celebrates his 80th birthday.

The youngest of the new cardinals – who will be the youngest member of the College of Cardinals – is 49-year-old Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, Central African Republic.

When violence broke out in his country, the archbishop along with a Protestant leader and a local imam began working together to build peace and counter efforts to turn the conflict into a religious war. Archbishop Nzapalainga hosted Pope Francis during a visit to Central African Republic in November 2015.

Seven of the 11 nations represented by the new cardinals did not have a cardinal at the time of the pope’s announcement: Central African Republic,

Bangladesh, Mauritius and Papua New Guinea will now have cardinal-electors.

Malayasia, Lesotho and Albania will be represented in the College of Cardinals, although their cardinals will be too old to vote in a conclave.

Here is the list of new cardinals in the order in which Pope Francis announced them: • Archbishop Zenari, an Italian who is 70 years old.

• Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, Central African Republic, 49.

• Archbishop Carlos Osoro Sierra of Madrid, 71.

• Archbishop Sergio da Rocha of Brasilia, Brazil, who will be 57 Oct. 21.

• Archbishop Cupich, 67.

• Archbishop Patrick D’Rozario of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 73.

• Archbishop Baltazar Porras Cardozo of Merida, Venezuela, who turns 72 Oct. 10.

• Archbishop Jozef De Kesel of Malines-Brussels, Belgium, 69.

• Archbishop Maurice Piat of PortLouis, Mauritius, 75.

• Bishop Farrell, 69.

• Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes of Tlalnepantla, Mexico, 66.

• Archbishop John Ribat of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 59.

• Archbishop Tobin, 64.

• Retired Archbishop Anthony Soter Fernandez of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 84.

• Retired Bishop Renato Corti of Novara, Italy, 80.

• Retired Bishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai of Mohale’s Hoek, Lesotho, 87.

• Father Simoni, 87.

wants your news and advertisements!

Find 2016-17 publishing dates and submission deadlines on the web: www.crookston.org/ond The next OND submission deadline is: Wednesday, October 26 by 12:00 p.m.

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

12

October 19, 2016

INTERNATIONAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

Mary’s life is a lesson in trusting God, pope says

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – Imitating Mary’s life of humility and gratitude, men and women in the church must place complete trust in God’s will and not in material possessions or intellectual prowess, Pope Francis said.

In choosing Mary to bear his son, God chose “a simple young woman of Nazareth, who did not dwell in the palaces of power and wealth, who did not do extraordinary things” yet placed complete trust in him, the pope said Oct. 9 during a Holy Year Mass with pilgrims who have a special devotion to Mary.

“Let us ask ourselves – it will do us good – if we are prepared to accept God’s gifts, or prefer instead to shut ourselves up within our forms of material security, intellectual security, the security of our plans,” the pope said during his homily.

The Mass capped off a weekend of events dedicated to Mary, including a concert and a prayer vigil presided over by the pope Oct. 8.

The vigil began with testimonies on the importance of the mother of Christ and a procession of delegations from Marian shrines around the world bearing local representations of Mary, including Italy’s Our Lady of Pompeii and Mexico’s Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The final image in the procession was an icon of Mary and the child Jesus beloved by Romans as well as by Pope Francis, the “Salus Populi Romani” (“health of the Roman people”). Rosary in hand, the pope

“In her faith, we learn to open our hearts to obey God; in her self-denial, we see the importance of tending to the needs of others; in her tears, we find the strength to console those experiencing pain.”

– Pope Francis

Pope Francis touches the Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani,” (health of the Roman people), during a Marian vigil in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Oct. 8. (Photo credit: CNS/Paul Haring)

didn’t wait for the image to be brought up to the stage, but went down the steps, reverently bowing before the icon before it was placed on a red pedestal adorned with flowers.

Seated facing the famed icon, the pope joined thousands of pilgrims in prayer and delivered

a meditation in which he described the prayer of the rosary as “the synthesis of the history of God’s mercy.”

In contemplating the life of Jesus through the mysteries of the rosary, he said, Christians

also are reminded of Mary’s presence and her acceptance of God’s will, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

“Praying the rosary does not remove us from the problems of life. On the contrary, it demands that we immerse ourselves in the history of each day, so as to grasp the signs of Christ’s presence in our midst,” the pope said.

Mary, he continued, shows what it means to be a disciple of Christ, first by listening to him and becoming a “living memory of the signs worked by God’s son to awaken our faith.”

However, like Mary, a true disciple does not only listen but also puts God’s word into “concrete action,” he said.

Mary’s faith, he said, teaches Christians how to live.

“In her faith, we learn to open our hearts to obey God; in her self-denial, we see the importance of tending to the needs of others; in her tears, we find the strength to console those experiencing pain,” the pope said.

In his homily during the closing Mass of the Marian jubilee,

Pope Francis reflected on the first reading in which Naaman praises God after having been miraculously healed of his leprosy and on the Gospel story of Jesus healing 10 lepers.

Despite their miraculous healing, “all but one, a Samaritan, a foreigner living on the fringes of the chosen people, practically a pagan,” returned to give thanks to Jesus, the pope said.

“It is easy to approach the Lord to ask for something, but to return and give thanks? That is why Jesus so emphasizes the failure of the nine ungrateful lepers,” he said.

Like Naaman and the Samaritan, Mary experienced living as a foreigner in Egypt yet, through her faith, she was able to overcome the difficulties.

“How many foreigners, including persons of other religions, give us an example of values that we sometimes forget or set aside! Those living beside us, who may be scorned and sidelined because they are foreigners, can instead teach us how to walk on the path that the Lord wishes,” the pope said.

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

INTERNATIONAL

October 19, 2016

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Pope canonizes seven saints who ‘fought the good fight of faith’

By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY – The seven new saints of the church were holy not because of their own efforts but because of “the Lord who triumphs in them and with them,” Pope Francis said.

Each one “struggled to the very end with all their strength,” which they received through perseverance and prayer, the pope said Oct. 16 at a canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square.

“They remained firm in faith, with a generous and steadfast heart. Through their example and their intercession, may God also enable us to be men and women of prayer,” the pope told the estimated 80,000 people present at the Mass.

Seven large tapestries bearing the portraits of the new saints decorated the façade of St. Peter’s Basilica, some representing specific aspects of their lives that exemplified their holiness.

Argentine “gaucho priest,” St. Jose Gabriel del Rosario Brochero was portrayed sitting on a donkey, his humble means of transportation when traveling thousands of miles to minister to the poor and the sick.

St. Jose Sanchez del Rio, a 14-year-old Mexican boy martyred for refusing to renounce his faith during the Cristero War of the 1920s, was depicted holding a palm branch and rosary while a trail of blood and a single bullet were at his feet.

They remained firm in faith, with a generous and steadfast heart.

Through their example and their intercession, may God also enable us to be men and women of prayer.

– Pope Francis

Litany of the Saints, the pope “declared and defined” their sainthood which was met with applause from crowd, many waving banners and flags in approval.

In his homily, the pope said the central theme of the SunTapestries showing seven new saints hang from the façade of St. day readings was prayer, an imPeter’s Basilica before a canonization Mass celebrated by Pope portant aspect in the lives of Francis at the Vatican Oct. 16. (Photo credit: CNS/Paul Haring) the newly canonized saints and something that obtained for St. Salomone Leclerq, who also featured the images of two them “the goal of heaven.” was killed after refusing to re- new Italian saints: St. Ludovico He reflected on the day’s first nounce his faith at the height Pavoni, the founder of the Sons reading which recalled Moses of the French Revolution, was of Mary Immaculate, who dedi- raising his arms in prayer while shown with his eyes fixed to- cated his life to the vocational the Israelites fought Amaward heaven as an angel carried and spiritual education of the lek’s army. When Moses’ arms a palm, symbolizing his martyr- poor and hearing impaired, would fall from weariness, the and St. Alfonso Maria Fusco, tide would turn against Israel. dom for the faith.

The French Carmelite writer founder of the Congregation Just as Aaron and Hur held and mystic, St. Elizabeth of the of the Baptistine Sisters of Moses arms up until the IsraHoly Trinity, was shown seated the Nazarene and of the Little elites won the battle, the pope in prayer, and St. Manuel Gon- House of Providence, a home said, so should Christians “supzalez Garcia, a Spanish bishop for abandoned children. port one another” in the “comThe celebration began with mitment to prayer.” who spent his life devoted to Eucharistic adoration, smiled Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect “Weariness is inevitable,” he of the Congregation for Saints’ said. “Sometimes we simply radiantly.

Brightly colored tapestries Causes, requesting Pope Fran- cannot go on, yet, with the supcis enroll the six men and one port of our brothers and siswoman “among the saints, that ters, our prayer can persevere they may be invoked as such by until the Lord completes his all the Christian faithful.” work.”

Following the singing of the Like Moses who grew weary,

yet was sustained by Aaron and Hur, Christians must remember they are not alone in the church, the pope said.

“We are members of the body of Christ, the church, whose arms are raised day and night to heaven, thanks to the presence of the risen Christ and his Holy Spirit. Only in the church, and thanks to the church’s prayer, are we able to remain steadfast in faith and witness,” he said.

Looking at the day’s Gospel reading, the pope said Jesus’ parable of the widow who persists in seeking justice reveals “the mystery of prayer” which involves crying out persistently and not losing heart.

“To pray is not to take refuge in an ideal world, nor to escape into a false, selfish sense of calm. On the contrary, to pray is to struggle, but also to let the Holy Spirit pray within us,” the pope said.

Before the final blessing, Pope Francis led the faithful in praying the Angelus and thanked the delegations as well as the pilgrims from the various countries of the new saints for their presence. The official delegations included Argentine President Mauricio Macri and cabinet ministers from Spain, France and Italy. The official Mexican delegation was headed

by Roberto Herrera Mena, adjunct for religious affairs.

Pope Francis prayed that “the example and intercession of these luminous witnesses sustain the commitment of each one in your respective areas of work and service for the good of the church and the civil community.”

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October 19, 2016

COMMENTARY

WORD to LIFE October 23

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23;

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18;

By Deacon Mike Ellerbrock Catholic News Service

When I pointed out in a homily that not all saints are officially canonized, a woman said to me after Mass, “That may be true, but the great saints get to wear a crown in heaven, like St. Paul in today’s epistle!” It got me to thinking: Are there trophies for us in heaven, blue ribbons as eternal accessories?

The real underlying issue in today’s Scriptures is: Why is it OK for Paul to boast of his faith, but not for the Pharisee in the Gospel to declare his virtues superior to the tax collector? Actually, the distinction is clear.

Paul boasts of his unwavering trust in the Lord, not of his own earthly merits.

Conversely, the Pharisee believes that his diligent efforts obligate God’s praise and eternal reward, especially relative to the despised tax collector.

Like Paul, the humble tax collector gets it. Unable to proudly raise his face to God’s, he simply bows and begs for God’s mercy.

We cannot make deals with God, punching our ticket to paradise. Salvation is attained not by virtuous acts – adherence to the law – but by our acceptance of Jesus’ redemption on the cross, which was perfect and complete. We could never do enough good works to demand eternal residence with God. Our task is to humbly accept God’s gratuitous love and respond by living a life of gratitude. Hence, we are eucharistic people: The Greek term “eucharisteo” means to give thanks. We must do good works, not to earn salvation, but because it is the only logical response to

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

FOR FAITH-SHARING GROUPS

October 30

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Wisdom 11:22-12:2; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-2:2; Gospel: Luke 19:1-10

By Jean Denton Catholic News Service

Jesus’ free and unmerited gift to us.

Note that Paul proclaims the crown is available to all, whereas the arrogant Pharisee bases his self-righteousness relative to other sinners.

The heavenly crown, trophy or ribbons we might receive upon crossing that threshold may be the sacred privilege of seeing firsthand the wounds Christ bore for us. What greater testimony do we need of his love for us?

It has been said that the Bible can be summed up in one word: trust. Salvation history is written by the Author of Life.

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures and New Testament, God constantly promises his covenant with humanity and never fails us. Of that we can boast.

Questions: Is doing good works out of guilt or fear a help or hindrance to our spiritual growth?

How can we improve our consciences to better understand our motivations?

“OH GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER.” – LUKE 18:13

Amid last summer’s series of tragic Simply put, that’s why he sent Jesus. shootings in cities across the country, a In this week’s Gospel, Jesus embraces news story reported that the alleged gun- the reviled, sinful tax collector Zacchaeman who killed several police officers in us, who then, transformed by love, reDallas had received tactical instruction at sponds by becoming the good man God a private self-defense academy two years created him to be. Jesus explains, “The earlier.

Son of Man has come to seek and to save According to the story, an instructor at what was lost.” the school recalled that the man had atHe wants us to believe it – and to be tended training there, but said, “I don’t part of it – even today when we see our know anything about Micah … he’s gone. world rocked and riven by meanness, viHe’s old to us. I have thousands of peo- olence and hatred. ple.”

Because we ourselves are blessed and Naturally, this school spokesman want- redeemed by God, when we encounter ed to distance the academy from the a person in the throes of evil or othertragedy. But someone he’d once called wise lost from God, we need to rememby name in his class now had become to ber here is someone who was preciously him a nonperson forgotten in a faceless made by him in love. Then Jesus’ mission crowd. becomes ours: to seek and save the lost.

That gunman is an extreme example of a person lost from God. While society no longer desires to claim him, today’s Scriptures tell us that God still does.

As unbelievable as that may seem, the Book of Wisdom explains the Creator’s unconditional love: “You love all things that are and loathe nothing that you have made.”

Whether it is an extreme case or a mild case of someone turning away from God, Wisdom says God has “mercy on all” and “overlook(s) people’s sins that they may Questions: repent.”

It is unimaginable to the human mind, What are some specific examples of God’s but the depth of God’s love and mercy is love and saving grace in your life that inspire such that he forever seeks out the fallen you to more intently seek out and embrace others and failed of his children to lift them free who are lost? of evil and redeem them for a new life.

Who do you know who is lost from God? “YOU SPARE ALL THINGS, BECAUSE THEY ARE YOURS, O LORD AND LOVER OF SOULS, FOR YOUR IMPERISHABLE SPIRIT IS IN ALL THINGS!.” – WISDOM 11:26-12:1

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

PRAYER CALENDAR

NOVEMBER 2016

NOVEMBER 1 ALL SAINTS Fr. Luis Silva NOVEMBER 2 THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED Fr. Bob Stone (retired) NOVEMBER 3 ST. MARTIN DE PORRES, RELIGIOUS Fr. Pat Sullivan NOVEMBER 4 ST. CHARLES BORROMEO, BISHOP Fr. David Super NOVEMBER 5 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Fr. Johnmelkies Suvakeen NOVEMBER 6 THIRTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Fr. Emmanuel Sylvester NOVEMBER 7 WEEKDAY Fr. Craig Vasek NOVEMBER 8 WEEKDAY Fr. Dennis Wieland NOVEMBER 9 THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA Fr. Larry Wieseler (retired) NOVEMBER 10 ST. LEO THE GREAT, POPE, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Bishop Michael J. Hoeppner NOVEMBER 11 ST. MARTIN OF TOURS, BISHOP Bishop Victor H. Balke (retired) NOVEMBER 12 ST. JOSEPHAT, BISHOP, MARTYR Fr. Todd Arends NOVEMBER 13 THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Msgr. David Baumgartner NOVEMBER 14 WEEKDAY Fr. Don Braukmann NOVEMBER 15 ST. ALBERT THE GREAT, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH Fr. Luis Buitron NOVEMBER 16 ST. MARGARET OF SCOTLAND; ST. GERTRUDE, VIRGIN Fr. Tim Bushy

NOVEMBER 17 ST. ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY, RELIGIOUS Fr. John Christianson NOVEMBER 18 THE DEDICATION OF THE BASILICAS OF STS. PETER AND PAUL; ST. ROSE PHILIPPINE DUSCHNE Fr. John Cox, OMI NOVEMBER 19 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Fr. Bill DeCrans NOVEMBER 20 OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE Fr. Joe DeCrans (retired) NOVEMBER 21 THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Fr. Larry Delaney NOVEMBER 22 ST. CECILIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR Fr. Antony Fernando NOVEMBER 23 ST. CLEMENT I, POPE, MARTYR; ST. COLUMBAN, ABBOT; BLESSED MIGUEL AGUSTÍN PRO, PRIEST Msgr. Mike Foltz NOVEMBER 24 ST. ANDREW DÛNG-LAC, PRIEST, AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS Fr. Tom Friedl NOVEMBER 25 ST. CATHERINE OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGIN, MARTYR Fr. Augie Gothman NOVEMBER 26 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Msgr. Roger Grundhaus (retired) NOVEMBER 27 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT Fr. Adam Hamness NOVEMBER 28 ADVENT WEEKDAY Fr. Joseph Hitpas, OMI NOVEMBER 29 ADVENT WEEKDAY Fr. Chuck Huck NOVEMBER 30 ST. ANDREW, APOSTLE Fr. Xavier Ilango

VOCATION PRAYER OF POPE FRANCIS: God our Father, you

made each of us to use our gifts in the Body of Christ. We ask that you inspire young people whom you call to priesthood and consecrated life to courageously follow your will. Send workers into your great harvest so that the Gospel is preached, the poor are served with love, the suffering are comforted, and Your people are strengthened by the sacraments.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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October 19, 2016

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POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER INTENTIONS

NOVEMBER 2016

UNIVERSAL INTENTION: COUNTRIES RECEIVING REFUGEES That the countries which take in a great number of displaced persons and refugees may find support for their efforts which show solidarity.

EVANGELIZATION INTENTION: COLLABORATION OF PRIESTS AND LAITY That within parishes, priests and lay people may collaborate in service to the community without giving in to the temptation of discouragement.

(Photo credit: CNS)

DAILY SCRIPTURE NOVEMBER 1 - Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1bc-4b, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a NOVEMBER 2 - Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-6; Rom 5:5-11 or 6:3-9; Jn 6:37-40 NOVEMBER 3 - Phil 3:3-8a; Ps 105:2-7; Lk 5:1-10 NOVEMBER 4 - Phil 3:17-4:1; Ps 122:15; Lk 16:1-8 NOVEMBER 5 - Phil 4:10-19; Ps 112:1b2, 5-6, 8a, 9; Lk 16:9-15 NOVEMBER 6 - 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38 or 20:27, 34-38 NOVEMBER 7 - Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; Ps 37:34, 18, 23, 27, 29; Lk 17:7-10 NOVEMBER 8 - Ti 2:1-8, 11-14; Ps 37:34, 18, 23, 27, 29; Lk 17:7-10 NOVEMBER 9 - Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; Jn 2:13-22 NOVEMBER 10 - Phlm 7-20; Ps 146:710; Lk 17:20-25 NOVEMBER 11 - 2 Jn 409; Ps 119:1-2, 10-11, 17-18; Lk 17:26-37 NOVEMBER 12 - 3 Jn 5-8; Ps 112:1-6; Lk 18:1-8 NOVEMBER 13 - Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98:5-9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19 NOVEMBER 14 - Rv 1:1-4, 2:1-5; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 18:35-43 NOVEMBER 15 - Rv 3:1-6, 14-22; Ps 15:2-4b, 5; Lk 19:1-10

NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 16 - Rv 4:1-11; Ps 150:1b6; Lk 19:11-28 NOVEMBER 17 - Rv 5:1-10; Ps 149:1b6a, 9b; Lk 19:41-44 NOVEMBER 18 - Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111; Lk 19:45-48 NOVEMBER 19 - Rv 11:4-12; Ps 144:12, 9-10; Lk 20:27-40 NOVEMBER 20 - 2 Sm 5:1-3; Ps 122:15; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43 NOVEMBER 21 - Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5; Ps 24:1b-4b, 5-6; Lk 21:1-4 NOVEMBER 22 - Rv 14:14-19; Ps 96:10-13; Lk 21:5-11 NOVEMBER 23 - Rv 15:1-4; Ps 98:13b, 7-9; Lk 21:12-19 NOVEMBER 24 - Rv 18:1-2, 21-23, 19:1-2, 9a; Ps 100:1b-5; Lk 21:20-28 NOVEMBER 25 - Rv 20:1-4, 11-21:2; Ps 84:3-6a, 8a; LK 21:29-33 NOVEMBER 26 - Rv 22:1-7; Ps 95:17b; Lk 21:34-36 NOVEMBER 27 - 1 Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44 NOVEMBER 28 - Is 4:2-6; Ps 122:1-2, 3-4D, 5-9; Mt 8:5-11 NOVEMBER 29 - Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24 NOVEMBER 30 - Rom 10:9-18; Ps 19:811; Mt. 4:18-22

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October 19, 2016

NATIONAL

OUR NORTHLAND DIOCESE

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved a special triennial collection for the AMS in November 2012.

The first National Collection for the AMS was timed to coincide with Veterans Day November 2013 and raised more than $8,239,000. The second National Collection for the AMS will be taken in dioceses and parishes across the country in 2016, for most at Masses the weekend of 5-6 November, or as otherwise determined by an individual diocese or parish.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS) was established by Saint John Paul II in 1985 to provide the Catholic Church’s full range of pastoral ministries to those in the United States Armed Forces. The mission of the Archdiocese is to “serve those who serve” by providing the same pastoral care and services as any other Catholic diocese to Catholics serving in the United States Armed Forces, enrolled in U.S. Military Academies, undergoing treatment at any of the 153 Department of Veterans Affairs’ Medical Centers in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam, working in civilian jobs for the federal government beyond U.S. borders, and the families of these populations.

Programs and services vital to the unique mission and ministry of the Archdiocese include Vocations, Evangelization and Catechesis, Sacramental Records, Tribunal, and Veterans Affairs.

While the Government is reducing the size of the Armed Forces, the world situation, as we have repeatedly and dramatically witnessed both at home and abroad, continues to make the need for a strong military more evident. It is imperative that the Catholic faithful who defend our religious freedom do not have to sacrifice theirs.

To learn more about the mission and ministry of the AMS, please visit www.milarch.org/nationalcollection.com.