The
COURIER
Pentecost May 31
May 2020
Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester, MN | dowr.org
Mother of the Church
Bishop Quinn Livestreams Consecration Imploring Mary's Care During Pandemic WINONA - As the world continues to face the crisis brought about by the global coronavirus pandemic, the bishops of the United States and Canada have joined to collectively implore the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary by renewing a consecration of the two nations to her maternal care under her title Mary, Mother of the Church. The act of consecration took place Friday, May 1, 2020, and followed a similar action of the bishops’ conference of Latin America and the Caribbean. "The consecration is a reminder of the Blessed Mother’s willingness to accept God’s plan, enabling her to become the vessel through which he might heal and restore humanity," said Diocese of Winona-Rochester Communications Director Matt Willkom. Bishop John M. Quinn of the Diocese of WinonaRochester said, “The renewal of this consecration acknowledges our relationship as spiritual children of Mary, who always points to her son Jesus as the answer to every human question. This consecration is particularly meaningful for our local Church, as the Diocese of Winona-Rochester has always recognized the special patronage of Mary, whose symbolism is present on our diocesan coat of arms. I pray that Mary, Mother of the Church, with her loving child, might bestow a blessing of hope and comfort to all those struggling with the effects of COVID-19.” Bishop Quinn participated in the May 1 consecration with a private liturgy at 2:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. The consecration was livestreamed on the diocesan YouTube channel and Facebook page to allow the faithful to join from afar. The
Local Catholics Open COVID-19 Prayer Line By SUSAN WINDLEY-DAOUST
video included 25 minutes of exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. A worship aid in English and Spanish was made available at dowr.org. In his homily, Bishop Quinn recalled an experience he'd had as a young priest, during which he'd witnessed a mother holding her dying child for the last time. He later said of the Blessed Virgin, "Like that mother in the hospital room, she looks lovingly upon us, caresses us, holds us in her arms, especially through this time of the COVID-19 virus. We're not alone. We're not orphans. Mary is our mother, and she always intercedes for us. And she will today, as we consecrate our Catholic life and our Catholic parishes to her. We ask that she remember she is our mother. And, most of all, we remember that she is our mother and she intercedes for us with her son."
WINONA - People across Southern Minnesota are suffering in multiple ways that would have been hard to imagine a month ago. In response to the physical, mental, economic and spiritual suffering brought by the COVID-19 crisis, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester has created a prayer support initiative called Southern Minnesota COVID-19 Prayer Response. Catholics across southern Minnesota deeply involved in pastoral prayer ministry are engaging and supporting this prayer initiative by making themselves available to listen and pray with people via phone. People of any or no religious faith who want prayer are welcome to go to the website (www.SouthernMnPrayerSupport. com) and make a request for a “prayer call.” A prayer partner will contact you at your requested time of day within 24 hours, and pray with you and for you. Most phone prayer sessions last around 10 minutes, and all that is required is a desire for prayer. Requests can be largely anonymous, by first name only. If you prefer, you are welcome to contact any Catholic parish as well with prayer requests. Let us help each other by bearing each other’s burdens and bringing them to our loving God. Susan Windley-Daoust is the director of missionary discipleship for the Diocese of Winona-Rochester.
INSIDE this issue
...Living With Hope
Offertory Gifts Are Needed... page 5
page 10
Sacraments in Extreme Situations page 12
