The Courier - November 2017

The

COURIER

All Saints' Day November 1

November 2017

Blessed

www.dowcourier.org

Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona, MN

and

Beautiful

FDLC Meets in MN, Discusses Care of Sick Submitted by RITA THIRON

By PETER MARTIN

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omen from all over the diocese and beyond gathered at St. John the Baptist Church in Mankato on Saturday, October 28, for our annual Women's Conference.

The title of this year's conference, Blessed and Beautiful, was also the name of the talk given by keynote speaker Danielle Bean, an author, television host, and mother of eight. Danielle reminded the women of their beauty and their dignity by using humor and personal testimony.

Janette Howe, foundress of the Seven Sisters Apostolate, inspired the women to be a blessing for their pastors and for their diocese by introducing a beautiful apostolate that includes seven women who each commit to a different day of the week on which to offer one Holy Hour for the same priest, thus offering a seamless week of Holy Hours.

Theresa Martin, an author and mother of seven, inspired the women to have hope with her talk, Believing in Miracles. Her personal testimony of a powerful year brought everyone to tears. From the tragedy of her Women's Conference, cont'd on pg. 4

BLOOMINGTON--Nearly 150 leaders from 85 dioceses gathered in Bloomington October 3-5, for the 48th annual national meeting of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC).

Their focus was Touching the Hem of His Garment: The Pastoral Care of the Sick. Specifically, they examined the rites of the Pastoral Care of the Sick, their proper celebration, and the pastoral activities which surround them.

The members of the FDLC were greeted by Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “The faithful of this diocese are very proud that the State of Minnesota and her liturgists have been on the forefront of liturgical renewal within the Catholic Church for decades," Archbishop Hebda said. "One need only recall the pioneering work of Meeting, cont'd on pg. 4

INSIDE this issue

Our Adoption Journey page 10

Overdoses, God-Talk

Violence

and

page 15

...Justice, Peace & Integrity Award page 17

Pope Francis Watch

The Courier Insider

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Pope Francis waves during the Oct. 25 general audience. Credit: Daniel Ibanez, CNA

Pope: Heaven Isn't a 'Fairy Tale'

By HANNAH BROCKHAUS

VATICAN CITY, Oct 25, 2017 (CNA/EWTN News) - Pope Francis on October 25 spoke about the hope Christians have at the end of life, which is found in God’s promise to be with us at the moment of our death and to give us eternal life with him in heaven.

“Paradise is not a fairy tale, nor is it an enchanted garden. Paradise is an embrace with God, (who is) infinite Love, and we enter thanks to Jesus, who died on the cross for us,” the Pope said Oct. 25.

“Where there is Jesus, there is mercy and happiness; without Him there is the cold and darkness,” he said, explaining that at the hour of death, “the Christian repeats to Jesus: ‘Remember me.’ And even if there is no one who remembers us, Jesus is there, beside us.”

Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims during his general audience, which he announced would conclude his year-long catechesis on Christian hope. He dedicated his address to a reflection on heaven, which is the ultimate “goal of our hope.”

He recalled, for example, the scene at Calvary, when Jesus was hanging on the cross between two criminals, and one, whom we call the “good thief,” had the courage to make the most humble request: “Remember me when you enter into your kingdom.”

The thief didn’t have good deeds to bring before the Lord, but he relied on the mercy of Jesus, recognizing that Jesus was “innocent, good, and so different from him,” the Pope said.

“That word of humble repentance was enough to touch the heart of Jesus,” the Pope said, noting that Jesus’ response – “today you will be with me in paradise” – is the only time the word “paradise” appears in the Gospels.

In this episode, “the good thief reminds us of our true condition before God: that we are His children, that He has compassion for us, that He is disarmed every time we show him the nostalgia of his love.”

Pope Francis said that Jesus’ words of hope to the good thief also give us hope for the end of our own lives.

November, 2017 w The Courier

Even when someone is on their deathbed and makes a final examination of conscience only to realize how many opportunities for good works they have missed, “they must not be discouraged, but trust in the mercy of God,” he said.

There is no person, no matter how bad, that cannot receive the grace of God, he said, adding that Jesus “wants to bring us to the most beautiful place that exists. He wants to bring us there with the little or great good that has been in our lives, because nothing is lost” that has been redeemed by him.

Jesus will carry everything still in need of redemption to his father, Pope Francis said, including the faults and mistakes of an entire life, because “this is the goal of our existence: that everything is done and transformed into love.”

If we believe this, we don’t have to fear death, but can instead repeat the words of Simeon, who finally meets Jesus after a lifetime of waiting, and says: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation.”

“And at that moment, at last, we will no longer need anything, we will not see in a vague way,” he said. “We will no longer weep unnecessarily, because everything has passed; even prophecies, even knowledge. But love no, that remains. Because ‘love has no end’.”

At the end of the audience, the Pope reminded those present that the month of October is also the month of the Rosary, and offered a special reflection in this regard to young people, the sick, and newly married couples.

Speaking to youth in particular, Francis said “you know this Marian prayer is an occasion for you, dear young people, to penetrate more deeply the mysteries of Christ working in your life.”

And to the sick, he said: “Love the Rosary… because it gives consolation and meaning to your suffering.” To spouses, he noted that the rosary “becomes for you, dear new spouses, an occasion to experience that spiritual intimacy with God who establishes a new family.”

Articles of Interest

Living as Missionary Disciples_______________5 The Catechism Turns 25_____________________6 Catholic Schools Updates___________________8 Our Adoption Journey______________________10 A Message of Hope_______________________12 Offering Ourselves________________________13 Our Valuable Volunteers___________________14 Overdoses, Violence and God-Talk__________15 Global Headlines__________________________16 Diocesan Headlines_______________________17 Diocesan Calendar________________________20 Officials The Most Rev. John M. Quinn, Bishop of the Diocese of Winona, announces the following appointments: College of Consultors Rev. Timothy Reker: appointed to the College of Consultors for a five-year term, effective September 27, 2017.

Pastoral Council Mr. Kevin Aaker: appointed to the Diocese of Winona Pastoral Council, effective September 28, 2017.

Mr. Steven Landsteiner: appointed to the Diocese of Winona Pastoral Council, effective September 28, 2017.

Catholic Schools Mr. Carter Wagner: appointed to the Pacelli Catholic Schools Board of Trustees for a two-year term, effective October 5, 2017.

The Holy Father's Intention for

November 2017

Christians in Asia That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.

Great!

Vist www.dow.org for online access to: The Courier TV Mass Diocesan News Our Events Calendar and more!

Child Abuse Policy Information The Diocese of Winona will provide a prompt, appropriate and compassionate response to reporters of sexual abuse of a child by any diocesan agent (employees, volunteers, vendors, religious or clergy). Anyone wishing to make a report of an allegation of sexual abuse should call the Victim Assistance Coordinator at 507454-2270, Extension 255. A caller will be asked to provide his or her name and telephone number. Individuals are also encouraged to take their reports directly to civil authorities. The Diocese of Winona is committed to protecting children, young people and other vulnerable people in our schools, parishes and ministries.

The diocesan policy is available on the diocesan web site at www.dow.org under the Safe Environment Program. If you have any questions about the Diocese of Winona’s implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, please contact Mary Hamann at 507-858-1244, or mhamann@dow.org.

The Courier is the Official Publication of the Diocese of Winona 55 West Sanborn, P.O. Box 588, Winona, MN 55987 Vol 108 - 11

Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Publisher Nick Reller, Associate Editor Telephone: 507-858-1257 Fax:507-454-8106 E-mail: nreller@dow.org Subscription Rates: $5 per year in the U.S. Parishioners in the Winona

Diocese subscribe through their parish. Periodicals postage paid at Madelia, MN Postmaster.

Publishing Schedule: Monthly - Deadline for advertising & articles is the 10th of the month prior.

(ISSN 0744-5490)

Male and Female He Created Them Month of the Holy Souls

The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls, and during this month the Church especially reminds us to pray for our beloved dead. Those who die in a state of grace but are still in need of final purgation from earthly attachments “undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030).

These souls, however, long to be with our Triune God, and so it is important that we remember to pray for the dead, just as we hope that others will pray for us after our death. Praying for the dead (as well as the living) is one of the spiritual works of mercy, and I encourage you, especially during the month of November, to pray for those who have died.

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Being Good Stewards of Our Bodies Among the more disturbing trends in society today is the advance of gender ideology, which Pope Francis has repeatedly condemned as “the exact opposite of God’s creation.”

Gender ideology is, essentially, the view that gender is unrelated to biological sex and can be chosen at will.

But gender ideology has no credible scientific basis, and it is contrary to the reality of our creation by God as male and female. Confronting gender ideology and those individuals and families who are wounded by its effects requires both pastoral sensitivity and firmness in principle.

As much as our society tells us that gender can be separated from biological sex, and that we can simply choose our gender, our bodies are a physical sign of who we are, and the basis for our relationships with others and all of creation. The biological facts of our existence are a gift of which we are stewards, and cannot be separated from our identity.

Bad Medicine

Rejoice in Hope Bishop John M. Quinn Bishop's Calendar

Until five years ago, the American Psychiatric Association used the term “gender identity disorder” for anyone who believed he or she was the opposite of his or her biological sex. Then, in 2013, the organization made an ideological decision, rather than a medical or scientific one, to rename the condition “gender dysphoria,” and it was recommended that instead of treatment, a person should instead be “affirmed” in his or her new gender.

Those who are psychologically alienated from their biological sex are thus encouraged to present themselves as the opposite of

November 1, Wednesday 12:10 p.m. - Mass - Solemnity of All Saints Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona

November 2, Thursday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University 1 p.m. - Holy Hour 2 p.m. - Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting 5 p.m. - 40 Days for Life Prayer Service Sidewalk outside of Planned Parenthood, Rochester November 3, Friday 7 p.m. - Cor Jesu - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona November 5, Sunday 10 a.m. - Confirmation - St. Columba Church, Iona; with St. Ann Church, Slayton; and St. Mary Parish, Lake Wilson 3:30 p.m. - Confirmation - St. Casimir Church, Wells; with St. John the Baptist Church, Minnesota Lake; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Easton; St. Teresa Church, Mapleton; St. Joseph Church, Good Thunder; and St. Matthew Church, Vernon Center.

their biological sex; some even decide to take the drastic step of undergoing hormone treatment and “sex-reassignment surgery,” even though those with clinical experience in this area have noted that counseling people to undergo sex transitions to alleviate depression and other psychoses is not supported by the existing scientific research or studies of patients who have undergone such treatments.

Similarly, children and families are now led by schools and the wider culture to believe that people can choose their gender and “transition” to a gender that does not conform to their biological sex, if they so desire. Gender is merely an “identity.”

More and more people in our society deny that there are any real differences between men and women at all. They ignore what humans in all cultures have acknowledged from the beginning of time: that we are created as male or female and that being a man or woman affects everything from selfunderstanding to procreation and parenting to ideas and insights into the world around us.

In the face of such radical changes, it is vital that we are not afraid to speak the truth about how God made us male and female, and the complementary strengths and gifts of each sex.

Male and Female He Created Them

Surgery or artificial hormones will never alter someone’s created nature as male or female. In other words, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI puts it, human beings have a nature that we “must respect and that [we] cannot manipulate at will.”

November 7, Tuesday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University 11 a.m. - Mass and Lunch at DOW Priest Retreat - Winona November 8, Wednesday 1:45 p.m. - St. Paul Street Evangelization Corner of Main and Huff Streets - Winona 4:45 p.m. - Vespers and Mass at IHM Seminary November 9, Thursday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University November 9-15, Thursday - Wednesday USCCB November Assembly - Baltimore, MD November 16, Thursday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University 1 p.m. - Holy Hour 2 p.m. - Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting 6:30 p.m. - DOW Christmas TV Mass Taping Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona

When the Lord created human beings in His own image, He made us as a union of body and soul, not simply a soul trapped in a body. The Catechism states that “the human person, created in the image of God, is a being at once corporeal and spiritual” (CCC 362). Because our body is an essential part of who we are, our sex—male or female—affects how we see and relate to the world around us.

In a particular way, it is either as a man or as a woman that we discover our own identity in relationship to other persons.

Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’ writes that, “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different” (155).

Men and women, while equal in dignity, have differences that allow them to complement and be of service to each other. The gift of being male or female, then, is integral to who we are as persons created for relationship, and to our identity as beloved sons or daughters of the Father.

Made for Relationship, Made for Happiness

Opposition to gender theory is not, as some would suggest, the Church’s unenlightened opposition to something it does not understand. Rather, it speaks to the core Christian belief that human persons are beings made for complementary relationships with one another.

Christ came to show us the way to true happiness and fulfillment, but oftentimes the way that leads to human flourishing is very much at odds with the world around us. While it is important to acknowledge those who struggle with gender dysphoria, and accompany them

November 17, Friday 12:10 p.m. - Mass for Deceased Clergy - St. John the Evangelist Church, Rochester November 17-19, Friday - Sunday Beatification of Fr. Solanus Casey - Detroit November 20, Monday 4 p.m. - Sacred Heart Major Seminary Board Meeting - Detroit November 21, Tuesday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University November 28, Tuesday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University November 29, Wednesday 9:30 a.m. - Holy Hour 10:30 a.m. - College of Consultors Meeting November 30, Thursday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University 1 p.m. - Holy Hour 2 p.m. - Bishop’s Cabinet Meeting

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as they strive to live out their Godgiven identity as a beloved son or daughter of God, we must be courageous in affirming the beauty of the two sexes and human sexuality.

Our world is full of brokenness, and we are all wounded by sin, but the only way we will know lasting peace and joy is by following the way Christ laid out for us. Our world desperately needs to hear the truth, and it is our responsibility to speak the truth with compassion, that everyone may learn to accept and joyfully live out being a man or woman as God created them.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NRSV).

For those who would like to learn more about gender dysphoria and a Catholic response to gender theory, resources can be found through the Minnesota Catholic Conference at https://www.mncatholic.org/ advocacyarea/gender-theory/ or 651-227-8777. Another helpful resource is an article from the organization LifeTeen, which can be viewed at http://lifeteen. c o m / b l o g / c a t h o l i c - c h u rc h wants-transgender-communityknow/.

From the Bishop

�ear Friends in Christ,

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona

December 1, Friday 6:30 a.m. - Lauds and Mass at IHM Seminary 7 p.m. - Confessions at Cor Jesu - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona December 2, Saturday 5:15 p.m. - Confirmation - St. John the Baptist Church, Mankato December 3, Sunday 10:30 a.m. - Mass and Installation of Pastor, Fr. John Lasuba - Christ the King Church, Byron 5 p.m. - Christmas Dinner with the Christian Brothers of the Midwest and Winona Area Priests - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona December 5, Tuesday 7:45 a.m. - Teach at St. Mary’s University 7 p.m. - Teach RCIA - Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona December 6, Wednesday 11 a.m. - Minnesota Catholic Conference - St. Paul Chancery, St. Paul November, 2017 w The Courier

Women's Conference, 4 cont'd from pg. 1

baby son's death and the darkness that nearly engulfed her, to the power of God's love through the miraculous healing of her daughter, Theresa's story inspired all to hold fast to the Creator of miracles and never lose hope in His great love for us!

Sr. Marie Faustina, RSM, did a marvelous job as our emcee for the day, and everyone left inspired and truly feeling blessed and beautiful!

We hope you will join us next year!

Peter Martin is Director of Faith Formation and Life, Marriage & Family for the Diocese of Winona.

Meeting, cont'd from pg. 1 Benedictine Monks like Virgil Michael and Godfrey Diekmann; or the beloved hymnody of Joncas, Haugen, and Haas; or the worldwide impact of the Liturgical Press, to recognize that Minnesotans have consistently shown a commitment to that full, conscious, and active participation in the sacred liturgy that is the right of the people of God.” FDLC Executive Director Rita Thiron brought the meeting’s theme into focus: “When illness strikes, life as we know it, stops. Doctor appointments become more important than our usual daily schedules.

The care of a loved one becomes our only concern. We realize our helplessness in the face of something we cannot control. So we rely on our faith to make sense of suffering. We rely on the power of Christ and his sacramental grace. We rely on the power of our communal prayer. And we become more acutely aware of those who cannot be with us as we gather around our Eucharistic Table.”

Perhaps the most powerful reminder of the helplessness caused by illness came during the Opening Prayer when Minneapolis native Rev. J. Michael Joncas recalled his own near-death experience with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a fast-moving virus which attacks the body’s muscles and neurological systems.

Within days, only his eyelids could blink answers, but he still recalled the power of a priest’s anointing and the symbol of the cross on his forehead. His captivating reflections were interspersed with Scripture and song.

An impressive group of presenters aided the discussions in Bloomington. Bishop John M. Quinn, of the Diocese of Winona, spoke of the power of presence to those who are ailing and how visits to the sick have been part of his priestly and episcopal ministry for decades.

“The sick are an integral part of the parish community," Bishop Quinn said. "They are visible signs of the Paschal Mystery. Let them evangelize the community, for they November, 2017 w The Courier

Danielle Bean

Janette Howe

have much to teach us.”

He was followed on Wednesday by two equally-eloquent keynoters - Msgr. John Kasza, of the Archdiocese of Detroit, who spoke on the richness of the rites found in the liturgical text, and Sr. Esther Mary Nickel, RSM, who spoke of her experiences with patients in her work as an emergency-room respiratory therapist. Both related their work to the healing work of Jesus Christ, the Great Physician.

On Wednesday, the “Study Day” was opened to local participants. Healthcare professionals, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and pastoral care staffs were present to hear the plenary sessions as well as six workshops sessions. Father James Bessert, of the Diocese of Saginaw, spoke on the continuum of care as found in the Pastoral Care of the Sick and the Order of Christian Funerals. Father Andrew Menke, of the USCCB Secretariat for Divine Worship, and Mrs. Jan Benton, of the National Catholic Partnership for Disabilities, examined the new USCCB Guideline for the Celebration of the Sacraments with Persons with Disabilities.

Father Thomas Knoblach, a renowned expert on medical ethics, spoke on end of life issues in light of Catholic teachings. Dr. Johan Van Parys shared his experience with Healing and the Arts, a very successful parish program at the Basilica of St. Mary. Sr. Sandy DeMasi, SSJ, of the Diocese of Newark, spoke on the RCIA, specifically on the rites of initiation for those in exceptional circumstances and for those in danger of death. Finally, Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a world-renowned cardiologist from the Mayo Clinic, shared his own experiences with the rites for the sick - both as a doctor and as a cancer patient.

Since its founding, the FDLC National Meeting has been co-sponsored annually by the FDLC and the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship. On Thursday, diocesan leaders heard updates on the progress of the translation of liturgical texts, on the status of liturgical books currently under review at the Vatican, and on other liturgical initia-

Theresa Martin

Sr. Marie Faustina, RSM

tives. They were especially interested in next year’s implementation of the third edition of the Misal Romano and the Federation’s plans for liturgical catechesis.

The celebrations of daily Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours were integral to the meeting. The attendees also participated in a Eucharistic liturgy at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, where Archbishop Hebda served as principal celebrant. Twenty-eight people received the anointing of sick during the Mass.

The three-day event closed with a banquet at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel.

Mr. Christopher Ferraro was awarded certification as a director of worship. Rev. Leon Strieder, of the Diocese of Austin, was honored with the fourth annual Alleluia Award, which recognizes a member for distinguished service to the mission of the Federation.

The FDLC’s highest honor, the prestigious Frederick R. McManus Award, was presented to the Liturgical Press of Collegeville in recognition of its 90 years of outstanding contributions to liturgical scholarship and ministerial formation. Publisher Peter Dwyer accepted the award on behalf of the staff and monks of the Abbey.

The business sessions also contributed to the mission of the Federation. The members passed a resolution to produce information on proper practices for rites as found in Pastoral Care of the Sick. Various committees met to plan liturgical formation, to anticipate the reception of the revised Misal Romano, to review current projects regarding pastoral liturgy, to improve technology related to member services, and to plan the Federations’ 50th anniversary celebration!

The FDLC was founded in 1969 by the Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy. At that time, members of diocesan liturgical commissions from across the country were called together by the bishops in order to provide formation on the liturgical books, newly revised after the Second Vatican Council.

Rita Thiron is the executive director of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions.

Living as Missionary Disciples

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Todd Graff

Director of Lay Formation & RCIA tgraff@dow.org

Lay Formation

The task of evangelization is ongoing and sustained by the Holy Spirit who leads a person to a life of passion and holiness culminating in a world transformed by Jesus Christ.

-U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization, p. 1

In last month's column, I wrote on a recent state-

ment of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis) entitled, Living as Missionary Disciples: A Resource for Evangelization. This statement is intended to serve as a "leadership resource" offering principles that the Church's leaders (e.g., in parishes, dioceses, schools, etc.) "can apply to their efforts in evangelization and missionary discipleship within their particular pastoral context and as part of their existing planning process."

Last month, I focused on the first part of the statement's "theological summary." To recap: the bishops speak of evangelization as the proclamation of the gospel - the "good news" that we are saved from the darkness of sin and death by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And each one of us, as Jesus' disciple, is called to take on this mission of evangelization. We are to share the good news of God's eternal love for us, a love made visible and present to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

To do this faithfully and well, we are called to an ongoing renewal of our own journey of faith through our active participation in the sacraments, through reflection on the scriptures and daily prayer, and through the service of our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable. In following this path of personal renewal, we seek to become "evangelizers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God's presence" (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium #259).

But, how does this happen? How does one come to be an "evangelizer?" In this column, we will explore what the bishops propose as a "method" of "formation for missionary discipleship."

Formation for Discipleship

First is the Holy Spirit whose presence and power "permeates all of the work of evangelization." As Pope Francis has stated often, the Holy Spirit is "the soul of mission." We must first call upon the grace of the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, and empower us in the work of evangelization.

Second, the bishops state that missionary discipleship "begins with an encounter with Christ." Jesus forms us as his disciples and provides us with the model and the method for evangelization. Drawing on the gospels, they describe this method as: • • • •

Come and see (John 1:46) - Encounter Follow me (Matthew 9:9) - Accompany Remain in me (John 15:4) - Community Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) - Send

We travel this journey into a deeper relationship

and communion with Jesus, and then invite others to join us on this same path. "This method ... leads the believer to become a disciple and from there for the disciple to become a missionary."

And this Jesus whom we encounter also accompanies us in the work of evangelization. As Pope Francis reminds us, "When we proclaim Christ, it is he himself who goes before us and guides us."

In the remaining space of this column, and in next month's column, I will describe these four aspects of formation for, and methodology of, missionary discipleship.

Encounter

The purpose of evangelization is to lead people to encounter Christ.

-Living as Missionary Discples, pg. 9

The bishops describe this aspect of "encounter" as happening in several different ways: a primary encounter of Jesus Christ, an encounter of Jesus within the family, an encounter of Jesus in and through the Church, and an encounter of Jesus in others. Let's look briefly at each of these dimensions of encounter.

Encounter Jesus Christ. The personal encounter of Jesus Christ as "the way, the truth, and the life" is "the key event in the life of every disciple." This encounter brings about conversion, a change in the direction of our lives away from self concern and self absorption to a self-giving, self-sacrificing love for others. We are called and graced to follow the path of the One who "came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

But how does this encounter occur? For us, as Catholics, it can find expression in many different ways - "through prayer, the sacraments, adoration, Scripture, and the works of mercy." And this encounter happens most intimately for us in the celebration of the Eucharist, where we receive the real Body and Blood of our Risen Lord and are transformed to be his body and his presence in the world. As St. Paul describes this encounter, "Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

Encounter Jesus within the family. As persons, we

first learn of and experience God and His love for us through our family, "the first and most basic community to which we all belong." The early Church spoke of "the Church of the home," and the Second Vatican Council similarly spoke of the family as "the domestic church."

United to the broader church community (through parish, school, small groups, etc.), families grow in communion and in their vocation to be "places of prayer, love, and forgiveness" and, bonded in love for one another, to carry this same care and mutual support into the world.

Encounter Jesus in and through the Church. As the family forms one's first experiences of God, so the parish is generally the primary place where one encounters Christ in the life of the Church. The ways that the believer encounters Christ - through the sacraments, Scripture, catechesis, etc. - are essential to the life and ministry of the parish. Evangelization must be firmly "rooted in the local Church," which must ensure that its "doors are always open."

Encounter Jesus in others. By the grace of our Baptism, Confirmation, and reception of the Eucharist, we are "called to be Christ's witnesses to the world" and to invite those we encounter in our everyday lives "to experience Christ's love and mercy through the Church." The Church is the Body of Christ in our world, and to fail to proclaim and give witness to his saving, healing, reconciling mission is to fundamentally forget who we are.

In next month's column, we will explore the other three aspects of formation for missionary discipleship - accompany, community, and send - as we seek the grace of "a life transfigured by God's presence." Deo gratias!

"Do not be afraid!" When we go to proclaim Christ, it is he himself who goes before us and guides us.

When he sent his disciples on mission, he promised: "I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20). And this is also true for us! Jesus never leaves anyone alone! He always accompanies us.

-Pope Francis, Homily at World Youth Day Mass, July 28, 2013

November, 2017 w The Courier

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The Catechism Turns 25 �ast month (October 11) marked

Faith Formation

the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The occasion was the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which is where the origin of this Catechism begins.

In 1985, 20 years after the close of the Second Vatican Council, an Extraordinary Synod was called to look at how well the Church was living out the goals of Vatican II. It was this Synod that presented the Holy Father (St. John Paul II) with the request for a catechism of all Catholic doctrine regarding faith and morals.

The concept of a catechism was not a

Thanksgiving Day A Way of Life

�s we prepare for the annual celebration of Thanksgiving Day, it is fitting that we recognize the importance of being grateful for all the good things we receive. How blessed we are as Catholics to participate in the Eucharist (which means thanksgiving) on a weekly (or even daily) basis! It is important for us to keep gratitude at the center of our lives; to help us with that, here are 6 Ways to Live Gratitude, by Sr. Mariae Agnus Dei of the Sisters of Life.

1. Keep Your Eyes Fixed on God.

Nothing stifles the spirit of gratitude more than navel-gazing and self-reliance. Look to God in faith in all your needs. Lean on His strength to meet challenges that arise. Pray for the grace and patience to receive life as a gift rather than seeking to control or possess it.

2. Live the Reflective Life.

Find a quiet spot to reflect for ten minutes at the end of each day. Ask the Lord to help you see where He was present and how He was at work in your life. Reflection enables us to be more attentive to God’s presence and open ourselves to the gifts of each day.

3. Make It a Habit.

Make it a point each day to count your blessings and express your gratitude – write blessings down in a journal, recount them in your mind as you drive home from work, or share them when you are with family and friends.

4. Tap Your Memory – Especially on Rough Days.

If life is just tough, or you find yourself getting stuck in the spirit of disdain or ingratitude, recall moments in the past you were touched by the

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Peter Martin

Director of Faith Formation and Life, Marriage & Family pmartin@dow.org

new one, but the way in which this one was written truly allows the reader to "give an account of the hope that is in us" (cf. Peter

graces and wonders of God. Remember when you were sustained by grace through a difficult trial or loss. Let the gifts and graces of these memories inform the present and reestablish you in faith and thanksgiving.

5. Take Time for Prayer.

Prayer draws us into relationship with God. As we spend time with the Lord, we come to know His great love for us and His promise to be with us always. The more we come to know Him, the more we will grow to trust Him in all the circumstances of our lives and experience His Provident care in all things.

3:15). For those who are not Catholic, a clear explanation of all the Church teaches is included with relevant texts from sacred scripture and the living tradition of the Church.

Not long after its publication, the Catechism became a best seller, and, having been translated into most languages, it is on the shelves in many houses across the world. What a great opportunity we have, on the occasion of this silver anniversary, to pick up the Catechism once again (or for the first time) and draw closer to Christ as we learn more about His Church.

6. Live in the Truth:

Gratitude isn’t about being superficially positive or overlooking the difficulties in life. Rather, gratitude flows from living out the greatest truth – the reality that we are beloved children of a God, a Father who eagerly works to draw us into the fullness of life. Trusting this reality allows us to live gratitude, whatever our circumstances may be.

These six points are reprinted with permission from the winter 2015 edition of Imprint magazine by the Sisters of Life.

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The Spirit Is Moving

Catholic Schools

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• • • Fr. Kurt Farrell and St. Theodore students celebrated the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi Oct., 4 with a blessing of stuffed animals, followed by a blessing of live pets at the park that weekend.

By SUE AMUNDSON

�he spirit is moving at St. Theodore Catholic

Elementary School as our families, staff, and school board are getting out and spreading the word of the wonderful educational opportunity we are providing to our students. This is being done by word of mouth and through a promotional video that was created and posted on our St. Theodore Catholic Elementary Facebook page. Thanks to these efforts, our enrollment has increased this year.

Pacelli Students Feed the Hungry

By DONNA LEMAR

�

n Thursday, October 5, Pacelli Catholic Middle School went to Eagan to help Feed My Starving Children in their mission to feed the world’s hungriest children.

Pacelli Catholic Schools believe that learning extends beyond the classroom. It is part of our mission to serve others as part of our Catholic identity. Pacelli’s mission and the mission of Feed My Starving Children have been an integral part of the learning experience for nearly 60 students each of the past 12 years. Along with a dozen hard-working adult chaperones, we were able to pack more meals than we ever have before.

Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s starving children. They have a presence in 70 countries worldwide, where they ship nutritionally complete meals that have

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The spirit was also at work as we collected school items, clothing, and other necessities for Hurricane Harvey victims. This was a collaborative effort between the school children and the students in our religious education program. The drive was one way to put our virtues and beatitudes into action.

On September 29, we walked the lake as a part of our Marathon for Non-Public Schools. We set the goal of $10,000 to help offset the cost of our new reading curriculum and new technology that was purchased this fall. We made our goal by raising $10,850.

A few other exciting changes at St. Theodore Catholic Elementary School include:

been created for malnourished children. FMSC works from private donations using volunteers to hand-pack the meals, which are then donated to food partners around the world who distribute the food to the neediest of God’s children. Ninety percent of all donated funds are used specifically to purchase the food needed to create the meals. Ninety-nine percent of the meal shipments have been successfully distributed to the children who need them.

This year, because of the catastrophic hurricanes that battered the Caribbean, FMSC is currently concentrating their efforts on those countries. Along with their partners, FMSC is distributing food to the most needy here in the United States and to our close neighbors like Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Pacelli students do fundraising in order to help pay for some of the supplies of food used up during our packing session. While we are at FMSC, most of the students are on the packing line adding rice, soy, vegetables, and powdered vitamins into plastic pouches which are then sealed by an adult volunteer. Other students and adults work to keep the supplies on the lines full or help in the warehouse by sealing the boxes

•

The addition of Fr. Kurt Farrell to our team.

Fr. Kurt is seizing the opportunity to work with the youth of our school and parish to help them grow in their faith through time spent in classrooms. He is actively working with the school as well as our religious education program.

Our school lunchroom has a new look thanks to a parent from our school. During the summer, she took the time to paint our lunchroom.

Our students are happy with the new change.

We have a new reading curriculum.

We have added new technology which includes chromebooks and iPads to our desktops.

We have completed the first phase of our new security system to our school and parish. We want to make sure we have a safe environment for all.

If you want to come see some of the changes, you are invited to come to our pancake breakfast on November 12. [See details on the diocesan calendar, pg. 20.]

Sue Amundson is the principal of St. Theodore Elementary School in Albert Lea and the director of St. Theodore's pre-kindergarten program.

Marsha Stenzel

Superintendent of Catholic Schools mstenzel@dow.org

of food and organizing the pallets for shipment.

Pacelli students, with the help of a small group of adults from a local business, were able to pack 144 boxes of pouched food. That adds up to 5,184 pouches or 31,104 meals. That is enough food to feed 83 children for an entire year. At the end of the packing session this year, we heard stories from children who are grateful for the meals. Many of those children were on the brink of starvation when Feed My Starving Children arrived.

The success stories help our students understand just how important the food is to real children who have the same dreams as they do. It helps our students appreciate the food, clothing, and shelter they have here in Austin. We look forward to serving others with FMSC for many years to come.

Donna Lemar teaches middle school science for Pacelli Catholic Schools in Austin.

Off to a Great Start

By SARAH STRIEMER

every day. New adventures await every time we walk through our school doors.

Our Knights of Columbus are very generous supporters of SJV. Each year, the KCs sell $100 raffle tickets for the school, and the drawing is held at our Dinner Dance, which kicks off Catholic Schools Week. Last January, the school was given a large amount of money from this raffle, $10,000 of which was used to purchase iPads, a recharging cart, and covers. The students have enjoyed using these in the classrooms. Our plan is to purchase another set of iPads, cart, and covers this coming year, so that we will have a set of iPads on each floor of the school, giving students and teachers easy access to this new form of technology! Thank you to our Knights of Columbus!

Crusaders in the Community

By SR. MARY BETH SCHRAML

�long-standing oyola's Homecoming Week 2017 included many traditions: Mass, class competitions,

dress-up days, homecoming royalty, a football game, a dance, a bonfire, and welcoming alumni back to campus.

This year we also resumed a tradition from years ago: Crusaders in the Community. High school students gave an afternoon of service in the broader Mankato area, interacting with community organizations, giving witness to Loyola’s values, and demonstrating Loyola’s hallmarks of leadership and service. Whether it was preparing crafts and painting building blocks at the children’s museum, picking up litter along the highway, sizing and sorting donations at the thrift store, getting a nearby farm ready for its harvest festival, or visiting elders in local health care facilities, students had an opportunity to make

The rain kept us inside for our marathon. There were many laps walked and run by our students. Our goal was to raise $11,500, and we will be finding out soon if we made that goal.

We had our annual Harvest Mass at the end of October. During this school Mass, the students bring in food that will stock our Hope Shop shelves for the upcoming holidays. They are always very generous. This is a great time to teach the children about compassion, love, and understanding.

SJV participated in the Baby Bottle Campaign during one week of October. The students brought in donations which will be used to help mothers and children who are in need. This campaign is a great way to teach children and the community about respecting all life, from the unborn to the elderly.

If you are interested in contacting SJV School, please feel free. We are always willing to answer any questions you may have.

The best way to reach us is by phone or email: 507-235-5304 or sstriemer@sjvschool.net.

We are so very thankful for all of the prayers and support shown to SJV each and every day. We hope that you are each able to spend time with loved ones over the Thanksgiving holiday and remember all the blessings that God has given to all of us.

Blessings on your day!

Catholic Schools

� e are off to a great year here at St. John Vianney!

There are many exciting things happening each and

This year, we started a new program for our preschool students. The 4/5-year-olds are with us every day, all day. This program is exciting and fun for everyone involved. Our 3-year-olds come for three mornings a week. While they are here, they join the 4/5-year-old class for great learning and much fun!

Our students have already attended field trips in these first few weeks of school. Preschoolers enjoyed a fun morning at Center Creek Orchard. Fourth graders headed out to Safety Day Camp at Heritage Acres and to History Fest in Mankato. Our fifth graders enjoyed Environmental Days at Heritage Acres and joined the sixth graders for Rendezvous Days in Albert Lea. On Sept. 29, we had about 130 grandparents join us for Grandparents Day, and many great memories were made. The students showed their special guests their classrooms, and we all had a great lunch together, played Bingo, and ended our day with Mass. It was truly a wonderful day.

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Sarah Striemer is the principal of St. John Vianney School in Fairmont.

a difference.

Science teacher Sue Goebel expressed it well when she said, “Crusaders in the Community allowed students to get out and see first-hand what a huge impact individuals joined together can make on society by giving service.”

Freshman Sadie Blace commented, “It was just enough time to get things done. My class thinks we should incorporate this into more events at school.”

Sophomore Cyemone Nusser who helped at Again Thrift Store remarked, “Helping the community made me feel like I made a difference in the lives of others.”

Addison Fraze reflected on how “doing these things puts everything into a new perspective that many of us don’t get to see. It makes me happy to know that I made a small impact on my community.”

And a Loyola Key Club member, Molly Hodapp, said, “It was awesome. We helped clean up the environment and had fun at the same time.”

Younger students participated in Crusaders on Campus, giving an afternoon of service at the School Sisters of Notre Dame residence and at school.

Students in grade 8 worked on landscaping and gardening projects, washed windows, swept garages, polished chairs, and cleaned the gym at SSND. One Sister, speaking for many, commented, “We are most appreciative of the work done today!

Students worked hard and well and with great enthusiasm!” Students in grade 7 spruced up the grounds around school, dusted and swept our Chapel, and helped clean hallways and classrooms.

Eighth grader Grant Wangsness remarked, “I wish we could do this every day!”

Shawn Pierce, senior high theology teacher, saw deeper meaning in the service, saying, “It was good to see the students and staff of Loyola giving the public the message: we are willing to get our hands dirty and sacrifice our comfort for the good of others.”

Sister Mary Beth Schraml is the principal of Loyola Catholic School's primary unit in Mankato.

Crafted with Love Submitted by LYNSEY HULLOPETER

�

or more than 10 years, students at St. Mary’s School in Owatonna have been making Caring Cards for local infusion therapy patients. St. Mary’s students practice the virtues of charity and service, while the recipients know they’re in the prayers of St. Mary’s students.

It is a school-wide project, with all students making at least one card. The cards are mostly seasonal and/or tied to the holidays, so the ones focusing on holidays like Christmas or seasons like spring will be delivered at a later time. Each card contains a sticker noting it was “made for you with love by the children of St. Mary’s School.”

After completing the cards last month, the students took them to Rev. John Sauer, who blessed them at a school Mass.

Then, they were delivered to the infusion therapy department at the local clinic, where staff read each one, and will pick out the one that seems to represent each patient the most.

The registered nurses in the Infusion Therapy Department of Mayo Clinic Health System in Owatonna say they are a highlight for their patients; some are so touched they cry, while others laugh or smile.

St. Mary’s School believes in instilling the value of meaningful service to inspire students to put God and the needs of others first. This project has done just that – touching the hearts of both the students and the patients.

Lynsey Hullopeter is the enrollment and marketing coordinator for St. Mary's School in Owatonna.

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Our Adoption Journey

Catholic Charities

By MIKE and MANDY

� doption was an easy choice for us, several years ago when we learned we

wouldn’t likely get pregnant on our own.

Why would we use medical intervention to get pregnant when we know there are already babies out there who need parents like us? We have a home filled with love, laughter, family and friends.

We would be a good match for any birthmom who loves her baby enough to make an adoption plan.

We are planning for an open adoption, which we hope the birth family will want as well. We learned about open adoption - the practice of sharing information openly between birth parents and adopted parents - from our social worker at Catholic Charities. This was also an easy choice for us. We want to become parents for so many reasons: we want to help a child grow, to guide them as they learn, to help them develop faith in God, to teach them to love as they have been loved, and to share that love with the world. To fully support our chosen child, we need to acknowledge that his or her story started before he or she joined our family. A birth family can answer questions, provide support and, most importantly, have their own opportunity to shower the child with love and acceptance.

We have been (mostly) patiently waiting to adopt for more than four years. We were very close to adopting a baby girl; the birthmom picked us as her match, we developed a relationship, and we supported her through the pregnancy and delivery. We were there for baby’s birth and the first 30 hours of her life in the hospital. Then we got the heartbreaking call from our social worker, telling us birthmom changed her mind. Although she had made plans for the adoption with conviction and confidence, in the end, she wasn’t adequately supported in her decision by her family and friends.

Our faith in God, support from family and friends, and our care for each other helped us heal from that loss gradually. We take solace in the knowledge that our prayers and words of encouragement helped baby girl make it to the world safely. We continue to pray for birthmom and baby girl as they take their separate journey in life, away from our family.

Our journey to adopt has already had some highs and lows but we try to remember that we’re not the

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first - and we won’t be the last - to take this journey.

Thanks to Catholic Charities, we are often reminded we’re not on this path alone. We attend informational meetings with other couples waiting to adopt and we’ve developed friendships with these other special people. We talk about our plans to adopt openly with friends and strangers, which inevitably has led to people sharing their stories of adoption with us. This advocacy is very important work. We believe families come in all shapes and sizes. A strong family is not tied together by blood and genetics; it’s tied by people who love and support each other.

Our decision to adopt was short but our wait has been long. We have faith that our turn will come and we’ll be matched with a birthmom who will change our lives forever.

Want to know more about Mike, Mandy, and other approved adoptive couples? Go to www.ccsomn.org and search “Families Ready to Adopt”.

Catholic Charities’ Pregnancy, Parenting and Adoption Program provides supportive, professional, and compassionate pregnancy counseling to women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy so that they can thoughtfully decide between either parenting or adoption and confidently pursue the best plan for themselves and their babies. In addition to counseling and adoption services, we offer parenting education, baby items and financial assistance to new and expectant parents.

Social Workers are available 24/7/365 on our pregnancy line at 800-222-5859. All services to expectant parents are free and confidential.

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A Message of Hope

Youth & Young Adults

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By MARIA XIMENA RONDON

OAXACA, MEXICO, Oct. 5, 2017 (ACI Prensa)--A team of pilgrims representing World Youth Day 2019 offered a message of hope and consolation to Mexicans impacted by a devastating Sept. 7 earthquake.

On Oct. 2, the team visited areas affected by the earthquake with the official World Youth Day Pilgrim Cross and a Marian icon, as a sign of solidarity.

The team is touring Mexico as part of an international pilgrimage promoting the 2019 World Youth Day, to be held in Panama City, Panama. They had been scheduled to stop in Oaxaca, in the south of Mexico, during their tour, but local churches cancelled their visits after the earthquake, due to the extensive damage in that area.

The group decided to “make a visit anyway as a sign of solidarity, as a sign of the presence of Christ

Pope: Let Christ Lead You in the Adventure of Life

By HANNAH BROCKHAUS

VATICAN CITY, Oct 23, 2017 (CNA/EWTN News) - In a video message to participants in a youth forum in Canada, Pope Francis told young people to meet Jesus in prayer, letting Christ direct their lives – thus leading them on an incredible adventure.

“Young people, let Christ reach you,” the Pope said.

“Let Him speak to you, embrace you, console you, heal your wounds, dissolve your doubts and fears – and you shall be ready for the fascinating adventure of life, that precious and inestimable gift that God places every day in your hands.”

Continuing, the Pope encouraged young people to go “meet Jesus, be with Him in prayer.”

“Entrust yourselves to Him, give your whole life over to His merciful love, and your faith…will be the luminous witness of generosity and of the joy there is in following Him, wherever He should lead you.”

Pope Francis sent the 8-minute video message to youth participating in the Canadian National Youth Forum, which was held Oct. 22 on the theme of the November, 2017 w The Courier

through the cross and the Blessed Mother with the icon,” Fr. José de la Luz López, national adviser to the Mexican bishops' youth ministry, told CNA. They received permission to bring the World Youth Day symbols to the cathedral and two shelters in Tehuantepec, an area heavily impacted by the earthquake. Young people from the Tehuantepec diocesan team also participated in organizing the reception of the cross and icon.

Fr. José de la Luz said that the symbols were transported to Oaxaca in a pickup truck from Acapulco, a distance of 400 miles that typically takes more than 12 hours by car.

The priest said he would “sum up in two ways” the reaction of the earthquake victims when they received the cross and icon.

“First, these symbols gave a lot of hope. The young people were very enthusiastic, they were very hopeful in the midst of all their bewilderment

upcoming 2018 Synod of Bishops, “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment.”

The nationally televised forum was hosted by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, head of the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, and by Fr. Thomas Rosica, founder and CEO of Salt and Light Catholic Television Network.

In his message, Francis told the youth not to let people destroy and exploit the world – a world that reveals its beauty when people work together, looking for the good of each person.

“I invite you to flood the places where you live with the joy and enthusiasm typical of your youthful age, to irrigate the world and history with the joy that comes from the Gospel, from having met a Person: Jesus, who has enthralled you and has drawn you to be with Him,” he said.

He also said he wanted to remind them of Jesus’ words when his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, where do you live?” and he answered, “Come and see.”

Jesus says the same thing to us, inviting us to come to him, he said, asking: Have you heard his voice? Encountered his gaze? Though “din and dizziness seem to reign in the world, this call continues to resonate in your soul, to open it to full joy,” he stated.

In order to respond to this call, you must discern God’s plan for your life, the Pope continued, a plan he has for each and every one of you. Even in difficulty or failure, God, “rich in mercy,” is always giving you

and pain, and they were committed to rebuild their homes,” he said.

“The second thing I take away is that we Mexicans are going to have a lot to learn from the young people from these hard hit places. The people of Oaxaca have shown us a great deal of fortitude and faith,” he continued.

At the cathedral in Tehuantepec, the World Youth Day cross was displayed during a service drawing more than 120 people.

From the cathedral, the cross was taken to a nearby shelter, where nearly 100 people gathered to pray. Most of them were elderly, the priest said, because the young people and adults were out removing the debris from their homes in order to rescue their belongings.

The team then transported the cross through devastated areas, displayed in the bed of their pickup truck. “We passed through the most affected areas and we prayed from the pickup truck. Then we went to the town of Ixtepec, where the situation is somewhat different – the shelters are very small because most of the people have set up tents next to their homes,” Lopez said.

Besides visiting one of the shelters in Ixtepec, the cross and icon were also present at a Holy Hour that a local parish held for the victims.

The pilgrimage continued in Mexico until Oct. 13, before travelling through Central America and the Caribbean, and concluding August 2018 in Panama.

The 8.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the southern coast of Mexico on Sept. 7 resulted in widespread damage and nearly 100 deaths. It was followed less than two weeks later by a 7.1-magnitude earthquake 400 miles away, which killed more than 300 people and injured 6,000.

Ben Frost

Director of Youth & Young Adults, Communications and Public Relations bfrost@dow.org

his hand to help pick you back up again.

The Pope noted that some of these words were part of the letter he wrote to young people in January when he presented the theme of the upcoming Synod.

He emphasized that the world and the Church are in need of courageous young people, who don’t run away from difficulty, but face trials with “hearts open” to others.

He asked that they would not ignore their peers’ cries for help. “I count on your willingness, your commitment, your ability to face important challenges and dare to make the future, to take decisive steps along the path of change,” he said.

Concluding, Francis voiced his hope that the meeting between young people of Canada would be like the meeting of the first disciples, and that it would open them up to the beauty of a life spent following the Lord.

“For this reason I entrust you to Mary of Nazareth, a young person like you, to whom God turned His loving gaze,” he said.

“Let yourselves be taken by Mary’s, and let her guide you to the joy of saying a full and generous, ‘Here I am!’ Jesus watches you and awaits a ‘Here I am!’ from each of you.”

Offering Ourselves

13

Rev. Jason Kern

Vocations

Director of Vocations jkern@dow.org

�

s we already embrace the month of November, we are reminded that this month invites a sacrificial offering. The spirituality of November is to remember to pray for the deceased souls in purgatory with All Souls Day and to remember those who have modeled the faith for us in all the saints who have lived on this earth. However, our spirituality for this month is not to be simply one of nostalgia and memories; we are called to participate in the sacrificial offering ourselves by readying our souls for our own death and passing from this world to the next. We ought to strive to face our own mortality by placing our hope in God’s mercy by utilizing the Sacrament of Confession regularly and offering sacrifices for our past sins. God’s mercy wipes away our sin, and we can more fully participate in this gift by offering our sacrifices in union with Jesus.

As cool weather sets in and the days shorten, we turn up our heat and add on layers of clothing. I am reminded how many comforts we are afforded and how quickly we can change the environment around us when the discomforts we face in life present themselves. We must not allow all of the creature comforts that surround us to promote a spirit of entitlement or a spirit of complaint when we aren’t fully satisfied. November is a season of gratitude for all we are given, and it is a season of sacrifice and remembering our mortality.

As regards promoting vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, please offer some prayers for the following: Pray for priests and religious to have the continued courage and conviction to offer their lives as a sacrifice for God and the Church. We are called

The Communion of Saints, Ira Thomas

to give of ourselves, and if we too quickly retreat into comfort, we can fail to live with the generosity we are called to have and even turn selfish. Pray that this spirit of entitlement or complaint will be rooted out of those called to serve the Church. The most impactful witness for more religious vocations is priests and religious who live generous and sacrificial lives.

As you pray for holy vocations, please also unite the sacrifices in your life for the grace of a deep courage in our young people to overcome the many obstacles that prevent them from generously submitting their lives to the will of God. The sufferings, small and large, that happen in our lives are great opportunities to pray for vocations to the priesthood. We can recite a prayer like the following: Lord, I offer this suffering to you for more holy priests to serve the Church.

Dominican Sister, Mankato Native Professes Perpetual Vows NASHVILLE--Fourteen young women professed perpetual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience as Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, TN, on July 25, 2017. Among those who made their Perpetual Profession was Sister Josemaria Pence, O.P., a former parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul in Mankato.

Sister Josemaria is the daughter of David Pence and the late Mary Pence. Her father and stepmother, Candice Pence, are parishioners at Saints Peter and Paul. Sister is a graduate of Saint Agnes High School in Saint Paul; Boston College, where she earned a BA in philosophy;

and Aquinas College in Nashville, TN, where she earned a M.A. in teaching. She is currently teaching theology at Saint Theodore Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, IN. The Mass for the Rite of Perpetual Religious Profession was celebrated at the Cathedral of

This type of prayer is heard by God and will bear great fruit. Thank you for offering sacrifice for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.

Finally, may each of us never fail to make a daily offering of our lives to God. All we have is gift and grace, and all we are is sustained by His love. At each Mass we attend and each morning we arise, we have an opportunity to renew our daily offering of generously giving our hearts to God and submitting ourselves to His mercy and grace. This November, as we remember to pray for the souls of the departed and are reminded of our own mortality, might we remember to offer to God our very selves. I am convinced that the more we pray and depend on God with offering our selves and uniting our sacrifices to Jesus, the more God can pour out His gift of grace on the Church.

the Incarnation in Nashville. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City was the main celebrant. The homilist was Father James Sullivan, O.P. In addition to the sisters making perpetual profession of vows, nine young women professed their first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience with the Nashville Dominicans on July 28, 2017.

In 1860, the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia was established in Nashville, where its Motherhouse is located. The Sisters of St. Cecilia are dedicated to the apostolate of Catholic education. The community of 300 sisters serves in 41 schools throughout the United States, with mission houses also in Sydney, Australia; Vancouver, British Columbia; Rome and Bracciano, Italy; Elgin, Scotland; Sittard, The Netherlands; and Limerick, Ireland. In 2018, the community will be opening a house in Melbourne, Australia. For more information on the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, please visit their website at www.nashvilledominican.org.

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Our Valuable Volunteers 14 �e have always known that the

Catholic Foundation

many parishioners who volunteer to serve in our various parish organizations and ministries are most valuable. Now we have confirmation. Based on the average hourly wage, experts currently estimate that one hour of volunteer time is worth $17.55. However, to us your volunteer time is invaluable.

Through the gifts of time and talent that our community members so generously share, we are able to truly be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ here in the Diocese of Winona. Many thanks to all those faithful and generous stewards who volunteer in their parishes, schools or other organizations! Your time is worth everything to us!

�hrist has no body now no hands but yours; no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which yours are the hands with which He is to bless people now.

-St. Teresa of Avila

Sacred Heart, Adams and

St. Ann, Slayton have met their goals for the 2017 Catholic Ministries Appeal!

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Is Sunday Mass a priority in my life? (Recall that in a recent survey of Catholics, 47% admitted that attending Sunday Eucharist was not always among their weekly activities.)

Do I or does my family give thanks before every meal regardless of circumstances or location?

When my child attends religious activities at school or church (e.g. serving Mass or participating in a religious education event, etc.), do I find myself dropping him or her off and waiting in the car, or do I get as involved as I can?

St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Ephesians, “At every opportunity pray in the Spirit, using prayer and petitions of every sort. Pray constantly and attentively for all” (Ephesians 6:18).

-Matthew 18:19

Since our last printing,

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He is to go about doing good;

Again I tell you if two of you join your voices on earth to pray for anything whatever, it shall be granted to you by my Father in heaven.

Congratulations!

Executive Director Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota mherman@catholicfsmn.org

on earth, but yours;

Year End Reflection

As the end of the calendar year draws near, we prepare to carefully and thoughtfully reflect on our commitment to be good stewards of our time through prayer. Let us ask ourselves the following questions. The answers may help us to determine where we should focus our prayer commitment.

Monica Herman

Do I believe that everything I have is a gift from God, including the gift of time? How am I returning a portion of this gift through time spent in prayer?

Is daily prayer, whether private or in worship, simply a task on my schedule that can be easily moved, postponed or canceled?

Am I willing to make a written, tangible promise to make prayer a priority? Am I willing to share this decision with God and my pastor?

Do I believe that prayer consists of simply words and phrases, or do I understand that it impacts my spiritual well-being on deep levels?

Have I considered inviting friends or family to join me in prayer?

Am I involved in at least one prayercentered or spiritual activity in my parish?

Is my family committed to fostering Christian stewardship as a way of life?

Overdoses, Violence and God-Talk Healing the Whole of the Human Person Of course, we ought to address the difficult problems of mass shootings, substance abuse and suicide, and use all the means at our disposal to combat them. Yet, though this sort of action is necessary, it is not sufficient. It fails to speak to the whole of the human person, which is why we continue to struggle with solutions.

Despair is not like the flu; it reaches deep into the human soul. For this reason, Pope Francis calls technocratic solutions one-dimensional; they address only one aspect of the human person, and often overlook the most important human realities.

Our society is failing to get to the bottom of the

issues. We spend our energy trying to treat the symptoms of social crises, while either ignoring or remaining in denial about the deeper problems in today’s world, which exist first and foremost within the human heart.

Mass shootings, suicides, drug addiction—the litany of crises goes on. We hear about them all the time. Conferences, rallies, and awareness campaigns sprout up at every turn as we seek solutions and meaningful change.

But unless we address these problems with an eye to the whole of the human person—a union of body and soul made for relationship with God and others—that change will not come.

The Need for God Talk

“Diseases of Despair”

For example, a recent column in MinnPost’s Health section cited recent statistics from the Minnesota Department of Health showing that drug and alcohol-related mortality and suicide are on the rise.

This disturbing trend is attributed to an increase in “diseases of despair,” meaning Minnesotans are suffering from an increasing lack of hope, with grave consequences.

The author of the article identifies unemployment, income inequality, and lack of opportunity as the main sources of this hopelessness. The implied solution, therefore, is to intervene in some way to change these socioeconomic conditions, which have fomented widespread despair.

If people are more economically secure and have more opportunities, the thought goes, their sense of hopelessness will disappear.

Although unemployment or opportunity gaps certainly have some explanatory value in this case, the overall approach of the article is a striking example of what Pope Francis calls the “technocratic paradigm” in action.

The Technocratic Paradigm In his most recent encyclical, Laudato Si’, Pope Francis describes the technocratic paradigm as “the tendency, at times unconscious, to make the method and aims of science and technology an epistemological paradigm which shapes the lives of individuals and the workings of society” (LS 107).

A technocratic approach to social crises, then, is one which reduces them to considerations of science—social or hard sciences—and technology alone.

Put another way, it’s an instance of reducing a complex human problem to simple economics.

Hopelessness can allegedly be engineered out of society, if we create the right program or implement the right policy.

Even the term “diseases of despair” is telling.

Despair is now considered a disease, and a disease can be treated, for example, by the state health department.

Faith in the Public Arena

Jason Adkins

Executive Director Minnesota Catholic Conference

15

Is it any wonder that in an increasingly secular society people do not know for who or what they are made? Without such knowledge, they develop psychoses, or chase things to fill the God-sized hole in their heart, falling into behaviors that are destructive or that lead them into despair.

As Pope Francis puts it: “When human beings fail to find their true place in this world, they misunderstand themselves and end up acting against themselves” (LS 115).

Therefore, we cannot stop at the level of the specifically scientific when it comes to social crises. We must look deeper to the root causes, which lie at the heart of what it means to be human.

It is our duty as Christians to remind people—all people, regardless of belief—that they are made for loving relationships, with God and with others.

Such “God talk” is not inconsistent with a commitment to pluralism or respecting others. It’s instead a reminder to all people about the reality of who the human person is—created by God body and soul, which, as the ancients and our nation’s founders could attest, is a truth that can be known by reason outside the light of faith.

Unless we propose an integrated vision of the person, we will be unable to address fully all of the causes of the social crises around us.

November, 2017 w The Courier

Burma's Cardinal: 'The Pope Will Heal the Wounds of the Country'

16

By ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI

Around the World

YANGON, BURMA, Oct 20, 2017 (CNA) - Pope Francis’ trip to Burma will help heal the wounds of his country, especially for minorities under attack, the nation's sole cardinal maintains.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon is the first Burmese cardinal in the history of the Church.

He was made a cardinal

by Pope Francis in 2015.

Speaking with CNA about the upcoming papal trip to the country [November 27-30, 2017], Cardinal Bo stressed that the “Vatican and others need to work toward healing the wounds of our nation, by showing a future that can bring positive results for all communities.”

Burma, also known as Myanmar, has garnered increased international attention in recent years because of an escalating persecution of the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic group within the Buddhist majority state.

Pope Francis has made a number of appeals for the protection of the Rohingya, since at least May 2015.

Since late August, the United Nations estimates that 582,000 Rohingya have fled Burma's Rakhine state for Bangladesh.

Cardinal Bo told CNA he “hopes that the Pope will address the burning questions” of Rohingya persecution in a meeting scheduled with the country’s de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, during the November trip.

He also said that the Pope will likely “encourage good steps,” and said that “as a Church, we want to affirm the intensity of human suffering” experienced by the Rohingya because “this problem has been there for the last 60 years, and most intensely since 1982, when an unjust citizenship law passed.”

The cardinal also noted that “there is a new energy let loose by the global Islamophobia. The xenophobic regulations in rich countries against Muslims encourages this. Injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere. Muslims are not suffering only in Burma.”

He explained that recent government persecution of the Rohingya was a response to attacks on police stations

by Rohingya militant groups. “Yet,” he said, “nothing can justify what happened afterwards.”

Cardinal Bo also addressed controversy surrounding Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Burma’s State Councillor, the nation’s head of government. A longtime human rights activist, she has been criticized for failure to recognize or stop military atrocities against the Rohingya, and for assigning blame to both sides of the conflict.

The cardinal said that “Aung San Suu Kyi could have done better, but to stigmatize her as if she did nothing is a far fetched theory.”

The cardinal recalled that Aung San Suu Kyi formed the Kofi Annan Commission, an advisory commission on the Rakhine State chaired by the former UN General Secretary Kofi Annan and composed by six Burmese and three international members.

The commission issued a final report in August, requesting that Burma's 1982 citizenship law that classifies Rohingya as illegal immigrants be reviewed. As a short term recommen-

dation, the commission requested that Burma clarify the rights of people who are not granted full citizenship, including the Rohingya.

Cardinal Bo noted that Aung San Suu Kyi “agreed to implement the recommendations” of the Annan Commission.

Cardinal Bo noted that, unfortunately “the very day the Commission report was released, there was a militant attack and the reprisal started.”

This, he explained, prevented implementation of recommendations.

But, he said, “by attacking Aung San Suu Kyi, nobody wins. She is still a hope for democracy.”

Cardinal Bo underscored that “Burma is one of the poorest countries in the world, and Rakhine State is the poorest: 70 percent of its people live in extreme poverty.”

In the end, Myanmar “has so many resources, but these do not go to the poor. The Pope is a great prophet of economic justice and environmental justice. He should raise his voice against these two injustices.”

The Archbishop of Yangon also emphasized that the Pope needs to “shed light on other unresolved conflict and displacements.”

The cardinal mentioned the situations in the states of Karen, Kachin, and Shan. Anti-Christian persecutions in Myanmar were highlighted in a 2016 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

The report said that in three Burmeses states, Christians are subjected to forced relocation, attacks on their places of worship, and an ongoing campaign of forced conversion and brainwashing in schools funded by the government.

According to the 2016 Report on Religious Freedom by Aid to the Church

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo

in Need, minorities are often targeted in Burma in a sort of continuous conflict that takes place in ethnic states.

The report refers in particular to Kachin, where at least 66 churches have been destroyed in ethnic conflicts ongoing since 2011.

The report also underscored that “in the prevalent Christian states of Chin and Kachin, the Burmese army has promoted a policy that forces Christians to remove crosses from the hills and the top of the mountains, sometimes forcing them to build Buddhist pagodas to replace them.”

This practice, the report stressed, has “diminished since 2012, but never ceased.” In the state of Chin, a Christian was jailed for the crime of building a cross.

Cardinal Bo stressed that the “Rohingya situation is a great tragedy,” but added that “the country needs healing on various fronts.”

“The Holy Father,” he concluded, “has stood against the winds of criticism and mourned the suffering of Muslims and Rohingyas. With unflinching courage we need to stand against global Islamophobia. What happens here is a spill-over, and to see this tragedy detached from other human tragedies would be a fragmented truth.”

China's President Seeks More Control Over Religion BEIJING, CHINA, Oct. 25, 2017 (CNA/EWTN News) - President Xi Jinping of China announced this week that he wants to tighten Beijing’s strict government controls on religion in the communist country.

In a speech during the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Xi said that religions not sufficiently conformed to Communist ideals pose a threat to the country’s government, and therefore must become more “Chinese-oriented.”

While these comments were reportedly intended particularly for Tibetan Buddhists, who have lobbied for independence from China, it could also mean a cooling of the already-rocky relations between the Vatican and China.

Diplomatic ties between the Church and China were all but cut in 1951, when the communist party took control over Beijing. Members of the Communist Party in China are technically not allowed to hold any religious views.

Recently, Benedict XVI and Pope Francis have worked to re-establish diplomatic relations with the country, though it has been a slow and arduous process.

While the Chinese government technically rec-

November, 2017 w The Courier

ognizes Catholicism as one of five religions in the country, it does not recognize many Church leaders appointed by the Vatican, driving many among the Catholic Church leadership and laity underground.

The Chinese government established the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (PA), which is a sort of alternative ecclesiastical hierarchy officially recognized by the Chinese authorities.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has called the PA “incompatible with Catholic doctrine,” since it recognizes both legitimately and illegitimately appointed bishops.

The Vatican and the Chinese government are in ongoing talks about the recognition and appointment of bishops. The most current proposal would allow the government to select possible episcopal candidates and send the names to the Pope for approval or denial.

In May, Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen said that the danger of this proposal is that the Pope could be forced to approve a “bad bishop,” or see decisions ignored by the Chinese government.

Currently, the Vatican sends a list of potential candidates to Beijing for approval or denial before

President Xi Jinping

appointing bishops. At issue is that Beijing also independently nominates bishops for leadership positions in the PA. Cardinal Zen said he hoped the Church throughout the world would “intensify their prayers” for the Church in China, which continues to be persecuted in the officially-atheist country even as relations thaw.

According to a report earlier this year by U.S.based NGO Freedom House, violent and non-violent religious persecution has seen an overall increase in China since President Jinping came to power in 2012.

Kremer Receives Justice, Peace & Integrity Award

17

By TOM PARLIN

was recognized by the National Fraternity of Secular Franciscan Order with their annual Justice, Peace & Integrity award at a ceremony in Mount St. Francis, IN, on September 27.

Lisa received the award in recognition of her advocacy and work with the immigrant and refugee population. She joins a distinguished group of honorees for this award; Cardinal Richard J. Cushing, Martin Luther King, Jr., Pope

Lisa Kremer (center)

In the Diocese

�ongratulations to Lisa Kremer, of Iona, who

Paul VI, Robert Kennedy, Mother Teresa, Anwar Sadat and Pope John Paul II have also been recipients.

Besides her 17 years of experience in faith formation in parishes in southwestern Minnesota, Lisa has a long distinguished ministry to the immigrants in the Worthington community. In 2013, Lisa and others took 14 U.S.-born children of immigrants to Guatemala to meet grandparents and family. The trip was documented in the film Abrazos (Embraces), by filmmaker Luis Argueta. The film, which has had wide distribution in the U.S. and internationally, is a powerful story of the impact of our immigration system on these families.

Lisa is project coordinator and co-found-

er of Familias Juntas, a faith-based organization that advocates for immigrant families and works to support them in family unification.

The organization began with planning trips for the children, but has grown into other areas of advocacy, which are based on the needs expressed by the immigrant families. Their latest program development has been the Dream Catcher summer youth-leadership program, which focuses on developing leadership skills, team work and self esteem among the children of immigrant parents.

their Oct. 23 meeting at Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Blue Earth. The new officers are pictured left to right: Secretary Ruth Sonnek (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Easton); President Diana Scott (St. John Vianney Parish, Fairmont); Vice President Deb Reuter (St. Theresa Parish, Mapleton); and Treasurer Diane Murphy (Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Blue Earth).

President of the St. John Vianney Parish CCW, Beth Kloeckner, said, "Thank you ladies for saying 'yes' to [the National Council of Catholic Women's mission to] '...support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service.'"

MAPLEWOOD--The Benedictine Center is issuing a call to Minnesota artists to participate in its seventh annual juried art show planned for January 31 through March 2, 2018. Submissions are due January 17. Awards totaling $375 will be distributed to the top winners.

According to Benedictine Center Director Sam Rahberg, awards will be given as follows: $150 for first place, $125 for second, $100 for third.

Winners will be announced at the official reception on January 31.

Called Seeing God, this juried art show provides a venue for artists who think deeply about their work and whose creativity helps viewers experience the divine.

According to Rahberg, “We believe art can be an interpretive lens into the mystery of God, so we are looking for works that capture that deep sense of wonder.”

Contest rules, guidelines and entry forms can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2018juriedexhibit.

Or call 651-777-7251; email: benedictinecenter@ stpaulsmonastery.org.

The Benedictine Center’s Seeing God art show has attracted more than 180 local artists in its six-year history. Its goals are to encourage artists in their ability to give form to God’s revelation in human life, nature and the cosmos; and to show how arts can expand our capacity to encounter God. The Benedictine Center is a ministry of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Paul’s Monastery, which is located at 2675 Benet Road in Maplewood.

Tom Parlin is Parish Social Ministry Program Administrator for Catholic Charities.

N i n e t y A t t e n d CCW Installs Officers Benedictine Center Medical Symposium BLUE EARTH--The Blue Earth Area Council Issues Call to Artists of Catholic Women installed new officers at WINONA--The Diocese of Winona Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, in conjunction with the Pontifical John Paul II Institute at the Catholic University of America and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, hosted the first Sr. Generose Gervais, OSF, Symposium on Meaning and Purpose in Medicine October 6-7.

The meeting was held in the new Science and Technology Center on the campus of SMUMN. All Rochester Franciscan Sisters and Religious Sisters of Mercy were recognized for their service to the church during the event. Ninety people were in attendance, including physicians, nurses, other healthcare professionals, SMUMN students, and IHM seminarians.

The conference concluded with the Most Reverend John Quinn celebrating Mass in the St. Thomas More University Chapel.

Picture left to right are: Bishop John Quinn; Sr. Agnes Mary Graves, RSM; Sr. Mary Raphael Paradis, RSM; Sr. Jean Kelly, OSF; Sr. Claudia Laliberte, OSF; Sr. Lauren Weinandt, OSF; Sr. Moira Tighe, OSF; Sr. Bernadette Novack, OSF; Sr. Mary Eliot Crowley, OSF; Sr. Kathleen Weischer, OSF; Sr. Mary Lou Connelly, OSF; and Br. Robert Smith, FSC.

November, 2017 w The Courier

18

Obituaries

In the Diocese

Sister Mary Elsa Bren, SSND, 96, professed in 1940, died October 18, 2017, at Mayo Clinic Health System Hospital, Mankato.

A native of Schefield, ND, she entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame in 1936 and served as a home service sister, a primary grade teacher, a parish visitor and a home health aide in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and Washington State.

She worked one year (1971-72) in the Winona Diocese, at St. Mary, Worthington.

She is survived by one sister, Elsie Franchuk; her nieces and nephews and their families; her friends; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates. She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mary (Stranik) Bren; her brothers (Louie, Albert, Anton, Charles, William and Jerry); and her sisters (Barbara Mehulky and Eleanore Pavlicek). Two brothers (Frank and George) and one sister (Lillian) died in infancy.

The Funeral Liturgy, with Fr. Eugene Stenzel as presider, was held Wednesday, October 25, in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, followed by burial of her cremains in Good Counsel Cemetery.

Sister Dorothy (M. Annella) Merth, SSND, 100, professed in 1938, died October 28, 2017, at Good Counsel, Mankato.

A native of St. Paul, she graduated from Good Counsel Academy in 1935 and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame that same year. A talented musician and vocalist, she served as a music educator in a number of Catholic Schools including St. Felix in Wabasha (1942-44 and 1953-56) and Ss. Peter & Paul, Mankato (1951-53) in the Diocese of Winona. In 1979 she became director of teacher placement for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and in 1983 she was named an auditor for the Archdiocesan Marriage Tribunal. She was also a Touch for Health kinesiologist, practicing in St. Paul until 2010, when she retired to Good Counsel.

She is survived by her sister, Sister Therese Marie Merth, SSND; her brother George; her nieces and nephews, including Sister Ann Marie Merth, SSND, and their families; her friends and colleagues; and her sisters in community, the School Sisters of Notre Dame and SSND Associates.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Rudolph and Anna (Hafner) Merth; and her brothers, Father Robert and William.

The Funeral Liturgy, with Fr. John Kunz as presider, will be held Friday, November 3, at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel, followed by burial in Good Counsel Cemetery.

November, 2017 w The Courier

Parishioners Observe Respect Life Sunday The 45th Respect Life Sunday ocurred in the United States on October 1, 2017. The day, observed annually on the first Sunday of October, was started by American Catholic bishops in 1972, the year before the Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide.

In Winona, members of the community honored the day by participating in the 30th National Life Chain, a ministry that began in Sacramento, CA, in 1987 and has since spread across North America.

Participant Kathy Foerster said, "It was a time of prayer for our country and for an end to the holocaust of abortion, which has taken over 60 million pre-born lives since 1973."

After the Winona event, many people gathered at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart to hear Joe Scheidler of Pro-Life Action League speak about the spiritual dimension of the pro-life movement and the privilege of being called to defend and protect God's precious gift of life.

In Fairmont, confirmation candidates from St. John Vianney Parish (Fairmont) and Holy Family Parish (East Chain) set up a pink and blue flag display on the St. John Vianney church grounds to illustrate the number of babies aborted daily. When the display was complete, the candidates joined Fairmont's section of the National Life Chain.

Fairmont

Winona

White Mass - Oct. 10, 2017 - St. Marys Hospital Chapel, Rochester

Immaculate Heart of Mary seminarians The Knights of Columbus were present. attended the White Mass and the reception that followed.

Tell Us What You Think

Many thanks to all readers who have taken a moment to weigh in on The Courier's proposed transition to a new magazine format. If you haven't yet sent us your thoughts, we encourage you to do so.

An online prototype of the proposed magazine, The Disciple, can be found at faithdigital.org/Winona/WINSpring17/ This quarterly magazine would place heavier emphasis on catechesis, evangelization, and witness stories from parishioners here in our diocese, while leaving some news and events coverage to our diocesan website (dow. org). Please keep in mind that, while the online prototype shows a lot of sample material, a real issue of The Disciple would be printed on paper (with an online version available) and would feature stories and columns from within our diocese whenever possible.

Please send any feedback on the magazine prototype, or on your experience as a reader of The Courier, to Associate Editor Nick Reller at nreller@dow.org or 507-858-1257. In your comments, please indicate your parish, age, gender, and whether you consider yourself a regular reader of The Courier. What do you like about the magazine format? What is it missing? How does it compare to The Courier? Finally, if you belong to a parish or diocesan group that would be interested in holding a focus group (of about 20 people) regarding this prototype, please indicate that as well. Thank you!

Vicar General Msgr. Thomas Melvin and Bishop Quinn enjoyed peach pie - Sister Generose Gervais' favorite!

St. Adrian H o s t s Rosary Rally ADRIAN--St. Adrian Church hosted a rosary rally on Friday, October 13, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Our Lady's apparitions at Fatima. Many parishes all over the world were praying the rosary at the same time with intentions for the conversion of America, for our national leaders, and for world peace.

In a spirit of love and generosity, the faithful of the Diocese of Winona have raised a current total of $263,897.35 for victims of hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Those who still wish to donate may do so at the Catholic Foundation of Southern Minnesota's disaster relief webpage (catholicfsmn. org/Donate/HurricaneRelief ), where donors will be asked to select from the following relief efforts: the Mexican earthquakes, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, or Hurricane Maria, where there is currently a special need.

Approximately 60 parishioners from St. Adrian in Adrian, St. Anthony in Lismore, Our Lady of Good Counsel in

In the Diocese

Sisters of St. Francis hosted a reception in The Catholic Medical Association Diocese of Hospital Chaplain Father JosĂŠ Morales visited Winona Guild presented Bishop Quinn with with the Sisters at the reception. their residence after the White Mass. an oil painting of St. Marys Hospital Chapel at the reception.

Diocese Continues Hurricane 19 R e l i e f Efforts

Wilmont, and St. Catherine in Luverne gathered at noon to pray together and enjoy fellowship and lunch afterward.

-Courier Staff November, 2017 w The Courier

SUBMISSION to the calendar

November 2017• The Courier

Please note: submission deadline is the 10th of the month prior to the month of publication.

All submissions must be sent electronically to nreller@dow.org by the deadline to assure receipt and possible inclusion in the events calendar.

Thank you for understanding that, due to space limitations, not all events nor story submissions will fit; however, we strive to include as many as possible.

A current list of events is also available at www.dow.org.

Regular Prayer St. Mary’s Church, Winona holds Mass for Life & Marriage the first Thursday each month at 8:30 a.m.

Holy Hour of Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious Liberty is held the first Saturday of each month 8:30-9:30 a.m. (after Mass) at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, 360 Main Street, Winona. The Blessed Sacrament is exposed and a rosary offered. Gather in the Adoration Chapel. All welcome.

Prayer Vigil & Public Witness Against Abortion is held 3-4 p.m. Tuesdays in front of Semcac Clinic (delegate of Planned Parenthood) at 62 E 3rd Street in Winona. Contact: Patti (507) 429-4636 Masses of Reparation for Sins in the Diocese are held daily in parishes throughout the diocese. For times & locations: cb@wabashaemail.com

Traditional Latin Mass Chatfield, St. Mary, 1st & 3rd Sun. 1 pm Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul, Sundays 4:15 pm Wabasha, St. Felix, Saturdays 9 am

The Televised Mass

Other Events Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona November 3, Friday On the first Friday of the month, the Cathedral hosts Cor Jesu, a night of Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and Praise & Worship. Join Bishop Quinn for the November date on Friday, November 3, from 7-9 p.m. All are welcome to attend; invite your family and friends! The Cathedral is at 360 Main St. in Winona. For details, search Cor Jesu Winona on Facebook, visit winonacorjesu. gitlab.io, or call Leandra Hubka (507-990-3402) or Steven Lehn (507-312-9041).

Christ the King Church, Byron November 4, Saturday 9th Annual Fall Expo 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

30+ arts & crafts and home-based businesses. Most vendors will have cash and carry items for purchase.

Kitchen accessories, food items, fine jewelry, decorative and functional home items, holiday decorations, skin care & cosmetics, hand-crafted soaps, baskets, appliqued towels & aprons, candles, purses, toys, and more.

Offered as a service for the homebound and elderly every Sunday on the following stations: KTTC, Channel 10 (Rochester) at 9 a.m. KEYC, Channel 12 (Mankato) at 7:30 a.m & KEYC-DT2, Digital Channel 12.2 or Charter Channel 19 (Mankato) at 9:30 a.m.

Donations for the continuation of this program may be sent to: TV Mass, PO Box 588, Winona MN 55987.

Hispanic Priests / Sacerdotes Hispanos Padre José Morales Vicario Parroquial de Sacred Heart, Owatonna. jloralesr2008@yahoo.es Tel. 507-451-1588 Padre Luis Alfonso Vargas Vicario Parroquial de St. Francis of Assisi, Rochester frluisvargasdw@gmail.com Tel. 507-288-7313 Padre Javier Ibarra IVE Párroco de “SS. Peter and Paul”, Mankato. mvarela@hickorytech.net Tel. 507-388-2995 ext. 103

Padre Miguel Eduardo Proaños Vicario Parroquial de St. James, St James. frmiguel2005@yahoo.com Tel. 507-375-3542 Padre Ubaldo Roque Vicario Parroquial de St. Mary’s, Worthington. el_hermano_roque@hotmail.com Tel. 507-440-9735 Padre Raul Silva Vicario de la Pastoral Hispana en la diócesis de Winona Y Párroco de Queen of Angels, Austin.

PadreRaulSilva@gmail.com Tel. 507-433-1888

Spanish Mass Schedule Albert Lea, St. Theodore Owatonna, Sacred Heart 11 a.m. Sunday 11:45 a.m. Sunday Austin, Queen of Angels 11 a.m. Sunday; 5:15 Pipestone, St. Leo 2:30 p.m. Sunday Friday (bilingual) Lake City, St. Mary 6:30 p.m. each 3rd Saturday Rochester, St. Francis Madelia, St. Mary of Assisi 10 a.m. Sunday 12 p.m. Sunday & 7 Mankato, Ss. Peter & Paul p.m. Thursday 1 p.m. Sunday

St. Charles, St. Charles Borromeo 11:30 a.m. Sunday St. James, St. James 12 p.m. Sunday Windom,St.FrancisXavier 2:30 p.m. Sunday Worthington, St. Mary 7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. Sunday; 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Friday

Baked goods, beverages, and lunch available. First 50 customers at 9 a.m. and first 50 after noon get gift bags! 202 4th St. NW in Byron.

Church of the Crucifixion, La Crescent November 4, Saturday Annual roast beef dinner served 3:30-7:30 p.m. Home-cooked roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, coleslaw, rolls, and apple pie squares. Info: 507895-4720.

St. John the Evangelist Church, Rochester November 5, Sunday Dr. Gregory Peterson, professor of music and college organist at Luther College, will offer a concert at 4 p.m. Open to the public. Freewill offerings accepted.

St. Mary Church, Geneva November 5, Sunday Annual Soup & Pie Event 4:30-7 p.m. Homemade soups: chili, ham & bean, chicken noodle. Also a variety of homemade pies.

St. Patrick Church, LeRoy November 5, Sunday Annual Turkey & Ham Fall Dinner served 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. $10 adults. $5 students 5-10. Free 4 & under.

Bake sale and bucket raffle.

St. Bridget's Church, Simpson November 11, Saturday Catholic Charities Adoption Day Celebration 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Potluck lunch: bring a dish to share! Cookies and beverages provided. Magic show for the whole family! 2123 County Road 16 SE, Rochester. RSVP to Kat: 507-287-2047 x36 or kwinkler@ ccsomn.org.

St. Charles Borromeo Church, St. Charles November 11, Saturday Annual Catholic Daughters Fall Luncheon & Raffle 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Hot turkey meal ($12), raffle, and entertainment by Rochester Area Accordion Band.

Info: 507-932-0923.

St. Theodore School, Albert Lea November 12, Sunday Pancake breakfast served 8 a.m.

- 1 p.m. in Marian Hall. Pancakes, biscuits & gravy, scrambled eggs, sausage, milk, juice, coffee. Adults $7. Kids 4-10 $5. 3 & younger free.

Eagles Club, Rochester November 14, Tuesday The Rochester Christian Women's Connection will host their monthly luncheon at the Eagles Club (917 15th Ave. SE in Rochester) at 11:45 a.m. Cost is $13. After the luncheon, Mary McCarthy, a local author and recipient of the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval, will discuss her book, A Pilgrimage of Hope: A Story of Faith and Medicine. Reservations are required to Jan at 507-2881144 or mploetz@hbscs.net by November 10.

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona November 16, Thursday Hour-long televised Christmas Mass filming at 6:30 p.m., celebrated by Bishop Quinn and featuring the Cathedral adult and handbell choirs and the IHM seminarians. All are welcome.

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Winona December 1, Friday On the first Friday of the month, the Cathedral hosts Cor Jesu, a night of Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and Praise & Worship.

The December date is Friday, December 1, from 7-9 p.m. All are welcome to attend; invite your family and friends! The Cathedral is at 360 Main St. in Winona. For details, search Cor Jesu Winona on Facebook, visit winonacorjesu. gitlab.io, or call Leandra Hubka (507-990-3402) or Steven Lehn (507-312-9041).

Immaculate Conception Church, St. Clair December 2, Saturday Winter Festival, Celebrating St. Nicholas. Christmas cookie & holiday treat sale 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in gathering area. Cookies $5/pound. Also, pre-priced holiday treats including fudge, carmels, candies. Cutest cupcake contest - cash prize for cutest dozen cupcakes submitted AND for cupcakes bringing highest bid. (Bidding ends 10 a.m.

Sunday 12/3). Details and rules now available in parish office.

Luncheon 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in basement. Soup, sandwiches, dessert, beverage. Lunch is $6 adults. $4 students. Free 4 & under. Raffle drawing at noon in basement. Gift baskets, cash prizes, quilts, gift certificates to area businesses, and much more!

Raffle tickets available now in parish office or in the basement on the day of the festival. Info: 507-245-3447.

St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lake City December 2, Saturday Holiday Bazaar 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Crafts, bake sale, cookie walk, mission sewing, silent auction, breakfast tortillas.