The Prairie Catholic - June 2021

Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 35 No. 7 June 2021

(Photo by Jeanine McMahon Photography)

Seminarians ordained deacons

NEW ULM – Three seminarians were ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity on June 5. The ordination of Nathan Hansen, left, Joshua Bot, and Tanner Thooft was livestreamed from the cathedral. A recording of the ordination is available for viewing on the Diocese of New Ulm website, www.dnu.org/live-stream.

(Turn to SPECIAL REPORT on pages 6–7.)

On May 30, people gathered at the Church of St. Brendan in Green Isle for the church’s last Sunday Mass. A combination of a shortage of priests and the decreasing size of parish membership played a part in the decision.

(Photo by Kurt Menk) (Read more on page 5.)

Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese

Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 35 No. 7 June 2021

Religious Freedom Week to be observed nationwide June 22 to 29

by Christine Clancy The Prairie Catholic

in public and to serve the good of all.”

Each year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) observes Religious Freedom Week. Beginning with the feast day of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, and including the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the weeklong commemoration ends with the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

Religious Freedom Week will be observed this year from June 22 to June 29 and the theme chosen is Solidarity in Freedom.

To assist the faithful, the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty offers resources, one for each day of this special week on different religious liberty topics. These resources represent the breadth of religious liberty issues of concern for the U.S. bishops.

The materials are meant to help people learn about religious liberty from a Catholic perspective, pray about particular issues, and act on what they learn by advocating for policies that promote religious freedom. Resources can be found at www.usccb.org/ ReligiousFreedomWeek.

welfare service providers, to carry out their missions with integrity.

Domestically, a significant area of concern for the U.S. bishops continues to be freedom for Catholic institutions, such as schools, hospitals, and child

“The institutions that we, as a Church support have the capability to form us and confirm us in our Catholic faith, just as surely as the services we provide from those

“Solidarity means much more than engaging in sporadic acts of generosity. It means thinking and acting in terms of community” (Fratelli tutti, 116),” announced the USCCB on their website.

“Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith

inside Page 2-3

While the United States has suffered the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholics have stepped in to serve. Here in the Diocese of New Ulm, Catholic schools showed how to reopen schools safely for both students and staff. Catholic Charities of the diocese have organized food distributions in various parish communities and have helped renters and homeowners access government relief programs.

institutions form our society,” said Sr. Candace Fier, director of Family Life for the Diocese of New Ulm. “By our work, we can be formed more and more into the image of Christ and at the same time form our world into Christ’s kingdom on earth,” she said.

However, religious organizations’ ability to partner with the government in its relief efforts and receive needed government aid is continually threatened by legislative provisions that exclude some faiths but not others.

(Continued on page 9.)

July 3 marks end of dispensation in Minnesota

Bishops and diocesan administrators release statement inviting Catholics back to Mass

by Christine Clancy The Prairie Catholic

The celebration of the Eucharist truly is the source and summit of our faith,” the statement said.

Welcoming Hispanic immigrants

The bishops and diocesan administrators of Minnesota announced June 3 that they would lift the dispensation of the Sunday and holy day Mass obligation granted at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. The reinstatement will go into effect the weekend of July 3-4, 2021.

Visit us online! www.dnu.org

A joint statement from Most Rev. Bernard A. Hebda, archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the bishops and administrators of the

The bishops and administrators acknowledged how the COVID-19 pandemic had been a painful time of separation, which required the dispensation from the Sunday obligation to attend Mass. “Parishes have done an amazing job creating safe spaces for worship and the Sacraments during the past year,” the statement said.

Annual diocesan financial Report

Page 8

Financial grants help those struggling

Page 9

The public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Minnesota you are returning to your home parish or seeking a local parish on vacation, your participation in the Mass unites you with the Church – the Body of Christ. This Communion transforms us as persons and enables us to manifest the Kingdom of God in our world.

dioceses of New Ulm, St. Cloud, Winona-Rochester, Crookston, and Duluth, said “Attending the in-person celebration of Sunday Mass and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist is vital to our lives as Catholic Christians. We were created for Communion. Whether

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 1

l

June 2021

It also said the obligation to return to Mass does not apply to: (Continued on page 10.)

diocesan church

On good ground Catholic schools, or other Catholic organizations located within the geographic area of the diocese because those entities are separately incorporated under state law.

by Msgr. Douglas Grams Diocesan Administrator Each year, the June issue of The Prairie Catholic traditionally contains the financial report of the diocese. I continue that tradition with the following summary.

The summary presented on the facing page reflects the Diocese of New Ulm’s Statement of Activities for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2019 (FY19) and 2020 (FY20). Numbers are rounded to the nearest dollar.

This financial summary covers the revenues, expenses, and net assets of the diocesan corporation only. It does not include financial information from parishes,

p

The

ra rie

catholic

The Prairie Catholic, the official newspaper for the Diocese of New Ulm since May 1972, is published every six weeks, Sept.-June.

Publisher: Msgr. Douglas Grams Editor: Christine E. Clancy Submission deadline is the 1st of each month prior to publication.

Publication office: Diocesan Pastoral Center, 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; phone: 507-359-2966, Email: dnu@dnu.org Website: www.dnu.org Postmaster: Send notice on Form 3579, “The Prairie Catholic,” 1421 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073-2071.

Periodical postage paid at New Ulm and additional mailing offices.

USPS 926-760.

The Prairie Catholic is available online at www.dnu.org

The “Diocesan United Fund” is the amount contributed by the parishes to fund the operations of the diocese. I am most grateful for the contributions of the parishes. The diocese could not operate without the parishes’ contributions. “Contributions and bequests” of $1.2M for FY20 increased from FY19.

Donations to the “Diocesan Ministries Appeal” (DMA) were restricted solely for the ministries designated for FY19-20: Catholic Charities (25%), Vocations (20%), Youth Ministry (12%), Family Life (8%), Catholic Schools (7%), Social Concerns (6%), Hispanic Ministry (2%). In addition, 20% of all DMA dollars were returned to the donor’s parish.

For FY19 to FY20, total expenses have remained stable at $2.7M per year. The “Special issues expense” for FY20 of $7.8M includes the $7M contribution to the bankruptcy settlement.

In gratitude Tom Holzer, the director of Finance for the Diocese of New Ulm, will retire on June 30, 2021.

Welcome back to Mass!

For the past year, many faithful have been a part of Sunday Mass through live streaming. But on May 28, 2021, the capacity limits for churches were lifted which means we can all once again experience the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, together and in-person!

Tom began his employment for the diocese on July 1, 2001. He has served as the director of Finance under Bishop John C. Nienstedt and Bishop John M. LeVoir.

On June 3, 2021, the Catholic bishops and administrators of all six dioceses in Minnesota issued a joint statement lifting the dispensation for the obligation to attend Sunday Mass effective the weekend of July 3-4. If you have underlying health issues or are not feeling well, you are encouraged to stay home until you have reached a full level of health. To read the statement in its entirety visit the Diocese of New Ulm website, www.dnu.org.

In addition to his duties as finance director, in 2016, he was appointed by Bishop LeVoir to serve as diocesan Director

of Operations and also serve as a member of the diocesan Leadership Team, which assists the bishop in managing the dayto-day operations of the diocesan staff.

As the finance director, Tom played a significant role in helping the diocese prepare for and see us through the recent bankruptcy.

On behalf of the diocese, I would like to thank Tom for his 20 years of service to the Diocese of New Ulm.

Prayer for a new bishop Almighty God, Who by the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of Your people, Direct the counsels of those who are appointed to choose a bishop for the Diocese of New Ulm, that we may be given a pastor who in faithfulness and wisdom shall lead Your people in the way of holiness.

There is no better time than now for us to become even more passionate in our practice of our faith, especially when it comes to the celebration of the Mass. I invite you to return to church and take part in the Lord’s heavenly banquet. Be sure to share this invitation with your family members and neighbors.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us.

To download a prayer card in English or Spanish visit www.dnu.org/diocesan-administrator.

Diocesan Pastoral Center chapel dedicated to Mary

by Christine Clancy The Prairie Catholic NEW ULM – Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir returned to the Diocesan Pastoral Center in New Ulm on Friday, May 21, to dedicate the Center’s chapel to Mary, Mother of the Church.

The bishop gathered with his former diocesan staff for a brief dedication followed by a Mass.

The dedication was initially planned for May of 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

The dedication coincided with the 40th anniversary of Bishop LeVoir’s priestly ordination and was also an opportunity to express thanksgiving for his 12 years of episcopal ministry to the Christian faithful of the Diocese of New Ulm. On Nov. 21, 1964, during the Second Vatican Council, Pope St.

Paul VI solemnly conferred the title, Mother of the Church, on Our Lord’s Mother. The title has been invoked from the earliest centuries of the Church, and henceforth, the chapel at the Diocesan Pastoral Center will be called the Chapel of Mary, Mother of the Church.

In 1957, the first bishop of New Ulm, Alphonse J. Schladweiler, entrusted the newly formed Diocese of New Ulm to Our Lady, invoking her as Our Patroness. She has been an ever-watchful mother to us. By conferring her name on the chapel at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, we commend our spiritual and missionary work to her maternal intercession.

In the spirit of this dedication, the faithful of the diocese are encouraged to re-consecrate themselves, as parishes, families and individuals, to Mary’s maternal care.

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 2

l

On Friday, May 21, 2021, Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir dedicated the Diocesan Pastoral Center chapel to Mary, Mother of the Church. Assisting the bishop during the chapel blessing is Deacon Mike McKeown, left, diocesan director of the offices of Development and Adult Faith Formation. Also pictured is Monsignor Douglas Grams, diocesan administrator.

(Photo by Christine Clancy)

June 2021

diocesan church

Diocese of New Ulm

Statement of Activities (July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020)

Revenues

Temporarily Restricted

Unrestricted

$ 1,558,123 Diocesan United Fund

Diocesan Ministries Appeal (applied to designated ministries only)

776,723 Contributions and bequests

34,000 Contributed services

Grants 25,484 Interest and dividend income Net unrealized and realized gains (losses) on investments

163,182 Program income

198 Rent income

21,463 Other income Net assets released from restrictions:

1,352,829 Satisfaction of program restrictions Total Revenues (see pie chart below) $ 3,932,002

$

Permanently Restricted

901,170 428,630

$

206,155

149,810

50

(1,352,829)

$

332,936

2020 $ 1,558,123

901,170 1,205,403

34,000

206,155

25,484

149,810

163,182 198

21,463

-

Totals

2019

$ 1,542,093

846,551

272,388

34,000

156,106

21,539

430,657

177,620 5,368

10,622

-

$

4,264,988

$

3,496,944

$

1,011,035 510,713 79,482 625,359 559,579 2,786,168

$

1,007,932 497,790 85,128 608,877 538,039 2,737,766

$ 1,478,820 300,416

(7,846,068)

$

50 5,257,016

$ (6,066,832) 20,751,254

$

5,257,066

$ 14,684,422

$ 20,751,254

50

$

Expenses Administration

Evangelization and Catechesis Worship and Spiritual Life Social Ministries Personnel Total Expenses (see pie chart below)

Change in Net Assets Before Other Items Gain on sale of property and equipment Loss on uncollectible bequest Special issues expense Change in Net Assets Assets at beginning of year

Net Assets at End of Year

$ 1,011,035

510,713

79,482

625,359

559,579 $ 2,786,168 $

$ 332,936

1,145,834 300,416

50

(6,399,818) 11,408,596

332,936 4,085,642

$

$ 4,418,578

$

$

5,008,778

2019-2020 Revenues $4.2 Million Grants and Other Income 42%

$

(7,846,068)

$

$

-

-

$

759,178 1,405,542 (18,092) (829,131)

1,317,497 19,433,757

2019-2020 Expenses $2.8 Million Personnel 20%

Diocesan United Fund 37%

Administration 36%

Social Ministries 23% Worship and Spiritual Life 3%

Diocesan Ministries Appeal 21%

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 3

l

June 2021

Evangelization and Catechesis 18%

diocesan church

En tierra buena

por Monseñor Douglas Grams Administrador Diocesano En Junio tradicionalmente The Prairie Catholic contiene el informe financiero de la diócesis.

Quisiera continuar con esta tradición con el siguiente resumen.

El resumen refleja la declaración de actividades de la Diócesis de New Ulm de los años fiscales que terminó el 30 de junio 2019 (FY19) y 2020 (FY20).

Este resumen cubre los ingresos y gastos de la coorporación diocesana exclusivamente. No incluye información sobre las finanzas de las parroquias, escuelas católicas u otras organizaciones católicas dentro del área geográfica de la diócesis ya que ante la ley estatal aquellas entidades están incorporadas por separado.

El “Fondo Diocesano” es la cantidad que las parroquias aportan para financiar las operaciones de la diócesis. Agradezco a todas las parroquias por sus contribuciones.

Las “contribuciones y herencias” aumentó a $1.2M en el FY20 más que en el FY19.

Las donaciones a los Ministerios Diocesanos (DMA) se limitan

únicamente para los ministerios designados para el FY19-20: Caridades Católicas (25%), Vocaciones (20%), Ministerio Juvenil (12%), Vida Familiar (8%), Escuelas Católicas (7%), Ministerio sobre Asuntos Sociales (6%), Ministerio Hispano (2%).

Cabe recalcar que el 20% que se recauda, regresa a la parroquia de los contribuyentes.

Los gastos de operación para el FY19 al FY20 permaneció estable de $2.7 millones por año. El “gasto de emisiones especiales” para el FY20 fue de $7.8 millones que incluye la contribución de $7 millones al acuerdo de bancarrota. ¡Bienvenidos de vuelta a la Misa!

El año pasado muchos feligreses vieron la Misa através de la transmission en vivo. A partir del 28 de Mayo se levantó el límite de capacidad de feligreses en las Iglesias, lo que significa que todos podemos vivir una vez más la presencia de Jesús en la Eucaristía, juntos y en persona. Los animo a cada uno de ustedes a leer el texto completo de la declaración en español o Ingles en nuestra página www.dnu.org.

El 4 de junio los obispos católicos de las seis Diócesis de Minnesota emitierón una declaración que la obligación de asistir a la Misa dominical, comenzará nuevamente el fin de semana del 3 al 4 de julio.

Si tiene problemas de salud o no se siente bien, le recomendamos que

se quede en casa hasta que se haya recuperado.

Fr. Bruno Santiago celebrates 25 years as Benedictine monk After his ordination, he served the Monastery in various capacities, including as superior of St. Benedict’s Monastery, Sivagangai (2006-2009), and Subprior of the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery, Bangalore (20092015). During that time, he was also in charge of various departments of the Monastery, serving as the Director of St. Benedict’s school. Fr. Bruno speaks four Indian languages.

No hay major momento para tener mayor fervor en la práctica de nuestra fe, especialmente cuando se habla de la celebración de la Santa Misa. Los invite a regresar a la Iglesia y participar del banquete celestial del Señor. Por favor, compartir esta invitación con su familia, amigos y vecinos.

Agradecimiento Tom Holzer, director de Finanzas en la Diócesis de New Ulm se jubilará el 30 de Junio, 2021.

Fr. Bruno Santiago, OSB GIBBON – On Sunday, June 20, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., Fr. Bruno Santiago will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Church of St. Willibrord in Gibbon in recognition of his Silver Jubilee as a Benedictine monk. A reception will follow in the Church Social Hall.

Tom comenzó a trabajar en la diócesis el 1 de Julio del 2001.

El ha trabajado bajo el mando de los obispos John Nienstedt y John LeVoir.

Además de sus funciones como director de Finanzas, en el 2016 el Obispo LeVoir lo nombrá director de operaciones y tambien miembro del equipo de liderazgo diocesano (ayuda al Obispo es las gestiones de las operaciones diarias del personal diocesano.)

Fr. Bruno made his first vows as a Benedictine monk 25 years ago for the Asirvanam Benedictine Monastery in the Archdiocese of Bangalore, India.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Sivagangai, India, on Jan. 5, 2006, by Bishop Jebalamai Susaimanickam.

Como Director de Finanzas, Tom jugó un papel muy importante en ayudar a la diócesis a preparar y ayudarnos a superar la reciente bancarrota.

retire on June 30, 2021.

Hired by the diocese in 2001, Holzer has served two bishops: Bishop John C. Nienstedt (20012008) and Bishop John M. LeVoir (2008-2020).

Employment opportunities St. Anthony in Watkins (New Ulm diocese) and Assumption in Eden Valley (St. Cloud diocese) has several open positions. Positions include part-time Youth Minister (experience preferred, but not required) and Director of Religious Education (Theology degree is preferred, but not required). To apply, contact: Interview Committee, PO Box 9, Eden Valley, MN 55329, (320) 764–2755, assumptionev@meltel.net.

St. Catherine in Redwood Falls and St. Anne in Wabasso have two immediate positions open within their Area Faith Community. Positions are full-time Director of Religious Education and part-time (10-12 hours per week) Director of Religious Education. To inquire or apply, send a letter with resume to Kris Tetrick, PO Box 383, Redwood Falls, MN, 56283, (507) 644–2278 kris@mystcatherines.org.

Tom Holzer

Holy Redeemer in Marshall currently has positions open for both the church and school. They are Assistant Director of Faith Formation, Cafeteria Cook, Maintenance Custodian, and Faith Formation Administrative Assistant. To apply, visit http://www.holy-redeemer.com/job-posting.html, or call (507) 532-5711.

After 20 years as the Office of Finance director for the Diocese of New Ulm, Tom Holzer will

The School of St. Philip in Litchfield seeks a part-time (approximately 6 hours per week) Elementary Music Teacher. The candidate would not need to be licensed. A position description is available at www. shepherdofsouls.org. Email resume and cover letter to Fr. Jeff Horejsi at frjeff@shepherdofsouls.org or mail to 821 East 5th St., Litchfield, MN 55355. The deadline is Aug. 16, 2021.

Page 4

In addition to his finance director duties, in 2016, Holzer was appointed diocesan Director of Operations and as a member of the diocesan Leadership Team, which assisted the bishop in managing the diocesan staff.

Following retirement, Holzer said he plans to be more involved in volunteer work and travel with his wife, Sharon.

It’s time for

Parish Festivals!

St. Peter Catholic School in Canby seeks a full-time 1st and 2nd grade combined classroom teacher and a full-time kindergarten and preschool teacher in a combined classroom setting for the 2021–2022 school year.

Catholic religion is preferred but not required. Application is available at www.schoolofstpeter.com. Send a letter of intent, resume, and letters of recommendation to Lori Rangaard, principal; St. Peter’s School; 410 Ring Avenue North, Canby, MN 56220; or email lori.rangaard@schoolofstpeter.com.

l

Since 2018 Fr. Bruno has served as parochial administrator of the All Saints Area Faith Community (St. Andrew in Fairfax, St. Willibrord in Gibbon, St. Francis de Sales in Winthrop, and Sacred Heart in Franklin-closed June 2020).

Holzer retiring after 20 years of service to diocese

En nombre de la Diócesis, me gustaría agradecer a Tom por sus 20 años en servicio de la Diócesis de New Ulm.

The Prairie Catholic

Fr. Bruno first came to the Diocese of New Ulm in 2017 where he was appointed by Bishop John M. LeVoir to serve as parochial vicar at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm and to assist in the Holy Cross Area Faith Community (St. Gregory the Great, Lafayette, St. John the Baptist, Searles, St. Mary, New Ulm, and St. George, West Newton Township).

www.dnu.org/local-events/ Be sure to check back often for new announcements. l

June 2021

parish life

Parishioners attend last Sunday Mass at St. Brendan, Green Isle

by Katie Ballalatak Prairie Catholic correspondent Easily described as the “crown jewel” of Green Isle, the Church of St. Brendan held its last Sunday Mass at 8 a.m. on May 30 after 158 years since the first church was built. The Mass was celebrated

by Msgr. Eugene Lozinski, the parish parochial administrator and concelebrated by Fr. John Berger, a Green Isle native and retired diocesan priest. Assisting with the Mass was Deacon Tim Dolan. The liturgy was followed by a breakfast reception in the basement hall.

Located on the eastern edge of the Diocese of New Ulm, St. Brendan’s closure is similar to that of other rural churches that have closed in recent years – the shortage of priests and the decreasing size of parish membership played a part in the decision.

Diana Kroells, a longtime member of St. Brendan’s, shares that they had always hoped the Green Isle community would grow as more people moved west from the Twin Cities, but the population remains under 600. “It's disappointing,” said Kroells, but she confesses that the closure doesn’t come as a shock. “We’ve known for quite some time that we were in one of these plans, and it’s because our parish is so small.” With a membership of 125 people as of 2020, the Church of St. Brendan stands as one of the smallest parishes in the diocese.

A brief history In the late 1850s and early 1860s missionary priests occasionally visited the settlers of Green Isle, offering Mass in different homes.

In 1863 the original church was constructed under the guidance of Fr. Theodore Venn. It was built approximately 100 feet east of the present church and was also the first building in Green Isle. As the town grew, so did the need for a larger church. The construction for the new church began in 1881, and the first Mass was offered on Christmas Day in 1882. The building could hold up to 450 people and cost $25,000 to build.

Over the years, the church’s original structure has remained intact, although a few aspects have undergone renovations, including,

The last Sunday Mass at St. Brendan’s in Green Isle was held on May 30. Pictured, altar servers Matthew and Thomas Ziegler lead the opening procession to the altar followed by Deacon Tim Dolan, Fr. John Berger, and Monsignor Eugene Lozinski.

(Photo by Christine Clancy)

Following the Mass, Fr. John Berger greets former St. Brendan parishioners (l-r) Sharon (Vos) Hartung of Chaska and her sister, Cathy (Vos) Smith of Victoria. Fr. Berger is a native son of the parish graduating from Arlington-Green Isle High School before entering the seminary.

(Photo by Kurt Menk)

most recently, the interior paint job and décor. A new steeple was erected in 1996 after a windstorm toppled the original and the stained-glass windows were restored in 2013.

St. Brendan’s is the only church in Minnesota dedicated to St. Brendan, a 5th-century Irish abbot. The choice made sense for the parish of Irish immigrants, as St. Brendan was known for his legendary voyage to the Isle of the Blessed.

A complete history of the Church of St. Brendan was published in 1966 by Fr. Berger. “A History of St. Brendan’s Parish, The Village of Green Isle and Minnesota’s First Irish Settlement” can be purchased from the Sibley County Historical Society.

A welcoming parish community When Kroells joined St. Brendan’s in 1974, it was mostly for its proximity to the Green Isle school across the street, which allowed its students to run over to the church during the day for religion class.

However, it was the community and kindness of the parishioners that made her feel at home: “When I first started going to church there, I had these three little kids, and the people were always so nice,” Kroells said. “They always gravitated toward my little boys and made me feel so welcome there.”

Mike Vos, a life-long Green Isle native, can’t remember a time he wasn’t involved at St. Brendan’s.

He was baptized there as an infant

Mary Ann and James (Jim) Kreger of Green Isle, respectfully age 89 and 91, are the longest-lived members of the parish family.

(Photo by Christine Clancy)

The faithful were invited to a breakfast reception in the church basement hall after Mass. With a membership of 125, the parish is considered one of the smallest in the diocese.

(Photo by Kurt Menk)

and served as an altar boy through high school. He continues to live in Green Isle with his wife, Sue and serves the church by being a lector and Eucharistic minister while also helping with restoration and maintenance projects. He particularly remembers helping the church make the necessary changes after Vatican II, including remodeling the confessional to allow for face-to-face reconciliation. “I’ve always taken pride in the building,” said Vos.

there. There’s a lot of history up there,” Vos said.

In years to come, many people in the community will fondly remember St. Brendan's primary annual fundraiser, the St. Patrick's Day Bingo Party, complete with food, live music, and of course, bingo. “That was the highlight of the year,” exclaims Vos. “It used to be so big; they’d host two sessions to make room for everyone.”

In his last Sunday Mass homily, Msgr. Lozinski spoke of the inspiring history and strength of the parish and its congregation: “We move forward with a hole in our hearts but a largeness of spirit, with gratitude to God for having given us the opportunity for over 150 years to incarnate, implant his love in the hearts of

“The whole beauty of the church, the mysteriousness of it, the old style and so on. As kids, we were always infatuated with the bell tower and the steeple. And not that we were supposed to go up there but there’ve been many a people that have snuck up into the bell tower and carved their names up

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 5

l

June 2021

the men and women who lived in this area. You have never shirked your responsibility; you sacrificed and gave your all. This is a reason to be proud and hold your heads high.”

Moving forward, parishioners for now will be able to attend weekday Mass offered by Fr. Berger, who lives in the parish rectory. However, the parishioners are still faced with the hard decision of choosing which parish to join next while also mourning the loss of their spiritual home.

“I’m sad, but I understand,” admits Vos. “We’re really feeling like lost sheep right now. We don’t know what’s going to happen . . . but I know it will be okay. It’s going to take a while to adjust to something different.”

special

Holy occasion: New Ulm trio ordained deacons June 5 at cathedral

by Christine Clancy The Prairie Catholic NEW ULM – They lined up near the altar, fervent to take the next step in committing their lives to serving the Church.

Applause broke out inside the cathedral after the men presented themselves to the bishop to be ordained a deacon.

On Saturday, June 5, seminarians Joshua Bot and Tanner Thooft, both native sons of St. Edward parish in Minneota, and Nathan Hansen, a native son of St. John parish in Darwin, moved one step closer to becoming priests for the Diocese of New Ulm when they were ordained transitional deacons by Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir (2008-2020) at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Concelebrating the liturgy with Bishop LeVoir were approximately 45 priests.

“It has been a journey for you through the seminary, and now you are here, presenting yourself for the ordinate of the diaconate,” Bishop LeVoir said. “. . . It has been my privilege to walk with you during these seven years.”

The bishop expressed his appreciation for those who have played a part in the formation of the new deacons – the seminaries, the diocesan vocation directors, the parents and families of the men, and the lay people of the diocese.

His homily talked about the importance of prayer in the lives of the new deacons. “The personal relationship with Jesus Christ is so critical,” he told the men. “Unless we spend time in prayer, that relationship will wither and fade.”

The bishop continued, “We should never be satisfied with our relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said. “We should always strive, with the help of God’s Grace, to strengthen that bond that we have with Our Lord. It’s critical . . . Nothing good is going to happen without prayer.”

The bishop addressed the ministry that the men will carry

Litany of Supplication

Promise of respect and obedience

Candidate Nathan Hansen kneels before Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir during the Promise of the Elect. Assisting is Fr. Aaron Johanneck, director of the Office of Worship.

(Photo(s) by Jeanine McMahon Photography) out as a deacon - proclaiming the Gospel, delivering Holy Communion, presiding over baptisms and marriages, visiting the sick, and presiding at funerals.

“Let the Holy Spirit work in you and let your way of life touch the people,” the bishop advised.

“Take every opportunity you can to teach and preach the Gospel.”

In his closing remarks, the bishop said, “Today is a great day, a day in which the Lord blesses you in a special way. He comes to meet you – it’s a personal meeting with Jesus Christ. Jesus is leading you today, and he is saying your name and is giving you the Holy Spirit to develop the gifts and the talents that God has given you – don’t be afraid. God always takes care of you, the Blessed Mother always takes care of you, they are always watching over you.”

All three ordinands lie prostrate in front of the altar as a sign of their unworthiness and need for divine assistance while a cantor leads the assembly in the Litany of Saints.

supplication, which is asking God for the grace to live his life for God and his Church.

the Book of the Gospels. “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach,” the bishop instructed.

The men then individually came forward for the most sacred part of the ceremony, where the bishop imposed his hands on each man and recited the prayer of ordination.

After being vested with a stole and dalmatic, each deacon individually approached the bishop to receive

After the homily, the ordinands approached the bishop one at a time, knelt, and promised to respect and obey the bishop and his successors. Next, the men laid face down in front of the altar as a cantor led the assembly in the Litany of Saints. This act of prostration is an ancient posture showing both the donation by the candidate of their life to God and his Church, as well as

The Prairie Catholic

Fr. Garrett Ahlers, the diocese’s Office of Vocations director, first came to know the three new deacons when they all were in seminary formation together. “It is exciting to see how they have grown –not only in maturity with age but in their spiritual awareness

and their fatherly hearts,” he said.

“There is no man who comes out of the seminary “perfect,” we all have our own flaws and limitations,” Fr. Ahlers said. “But these three ordinandi [candidates for ordination] are truly remarkable young men: they are rooted in prayer; they are sincere in their interactions with others; (Continued on page 7.)

Transitional diaconate vs. permanent diaconate: What’s the difference?

In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks of ordained ministry.

From the fifth century until the Second Vatican Council the term “deacon”was used in the Latin rite almost exclusively to describe the final stage in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. The council decreed that the diaconate also could be restored as a permanent and separate rank in the Latin rite and that married men may be ordained to this rank. Pope Paul VI restored the permanent diaconate in 1967.

Those in the final stage of formation for the priesthood are “transitional” deacons. Those not planning to be ordained priests are called “permanent” deacons.

Since not all permanent deacons are married, married deacons is not a synonym for permanent deacons.

The role of the transitional deacon includes assisting priests in proclaiming the Gospel, preaching, baptizing, assisting at and blessing marriages, presiding at funerals, administering to parishes, and dedicating themselves to any of a variety of ministries of charity.

l

Page 6

l

June 2021

l report

Fraternal Kiss

Handing on the Book of Gospels

Vested as a deacon, Joshua Bot kneels before the bishop as he places the Book of Gospels in Bot’s hands and recites “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach.”

Laying on of Hands

Bishop LeVoir and newly ordained Deacon Tanner Thooft are all smiles as they embrace prior to the preparation of the liturgy of the Eucharist.

(Photo by Christine Clancy)

Tanner Thooft receives the strength of the Holy Spirit as the bishop silently imposes his hands upon him and prays the Prayer of Ordination.

Deacon Bruce Bot gives his newly ordained son Joshua a hug during the ordination liturgy. Deacon Bot is a permanent deacon serving the Good Teacher Area Faith Community (Ghent and Minneota). Deacon Nathan Hansen’s father, John Hansen is also a permanent deacon serving in the All Souls Area Faith Community (Darwin, Litchfield, Manannah, and the merged parish of St. Gertrude, Forest City).

(Photo by Christine Clancy)

Gathering for a group photo on the front steps of the cathedral in New Ulm after the ordination are: front, l-r, Rev. Mr. Nathan Hansen, Rev. Mr. Joshua Bot, and Rev. Mr. Tanner Thooft. Back row, Fr. Garrett Ahlers, diocesan director of Vocations, Fr. Joseph Taphorn, rector at the Saint Paul Seminary, Bishop LeVoir, Fr. Michael Skluzacek, director of Spiritual Formation at the Saint Paul Seminary, and Monsignor Douglas Grams, diocesan administrator.

Diaconate ordination (Continued from page 6.) they are honest and humble; they are incredibly eager to enter into service of our local Church by their ministry. I am already excited for their priestly ordination next summer!”

Prayer and preparation Each candidate had two weeks to prepare for their diaconate ordination. Deacon Thooft used this opportunity to spend part of the time with family, helping

out on the farm. “I thought it was important to spend some time getting back to the roots of who I am and where God first began his work in my life and my formation to serve Him,” he said. The remaining four days he spent at the seminary for a time of rest and prayer with the Lord.

“The seminary is a special place of formation where the Lord has done so much work,” Thooft said.

“I found it important to return for a time to thank the Lord for the work he has done and the

Official appointments

confidence I have in him moving forward.”

Monsignor Douglas Grams, administrator for the Diocese of New Ulm, has made the following assignments of the newly ordained transitional deacons for the summer of 2021.

Following their summer parish assignments, the deacons will continue their final year of studies at the Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul in the fall. The men will be ordained to the priesthood tentatively set for 2022.

Effective June 7 through August 18.

Rev. Mr. Joshua Bot is assigned to the St. John Paul II Area Faith Community which includes the parishes in Glencoe, Winsted, and Silver Lake.

Rev. Mr. Nathan Hansen is assigned to the Apostles Peter and Paul Area Faith Community which includes the parishes in St. Peter and Nicollet.

Editor’s note: A recording of the June 5 diaconate ordination can be viewed at www.dnu.org/live-stream.

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 7

Rev. Mr. Tanner Thooft is assigned to the Light of the World Area Faith Community which includes the parishes in Redwood Falls and Wabasso.

l

June 2021

education

Ask a Canon Lawyer This month’s question:

observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

What are the requirements for fasting before receiving Holy Communion? Why does the Church no longer require us to not eat meat on Fridays outside of Lent?

T

by Fr. Mark Steffl, STL, JCL

o the first question, “What is required to receive Holy Communion?” the Code of Canon Law states: Can. 919 §1 Whoever is to receive the blessed Eucharist is to abstain for at least one hour before Holy Communion from all food and drink, with the sole exception of water and medicine.

There may be some who remember more rigorous fasting requirements prior to the current one, in force since 1973. Before that, there was an expectation of a three-hour fast, and before that, for many centuries, the fast required was from midnight until the time of reception of Holy Communion.

Important to this is understanding the “why” of this requirement.

We are asked to abstain from food or drink as a reminder of what, or more properly, Who it is that we are receiving. As I like to mention to the students each

year who are preparing for their First Holy Communion, fasting reminds us that we are getting ready to do something unlike anything else in preparing to receive Holy Communion. Just as we might prepare to exercise by stretching or playing an instrument by “warming up,” our preparation for receiving Holy Communion includes a spiritual preparation and a physical preparation in abstaining from food and drink.

The specific exceptions of water and medicine are mentioned to benefit those who might require something to maintain their health, as preparation for Holy Communion should not endanger our health. Examples might be a diabetic needing something to maintain a consistent sugar level or medicine that needs to be taken at a specific time each day.

One question that is sometimes posed is, “does chewing gum break the required fast?” The answer, I believe, is yes. Even though we might not intend to swallow a piece of gum, naturally, some of the chewing gum will be absorbed or ingested.

First, it is important to note that the Church is commending to us penitential practices, not only in Lent but throughout the year. Particularly important as a day to do penance each week is Friday, the day that the Lord Jesus suffered and died for us.

The answer to the second question, on abstaining from meat on Fridays, is found in Canon Law in the section titled “Days of Penance.”

Can. 1249 The divine law binds all the Christian faithful to do penance each in his or her own way. In order for all to be united among themselves by some common observance of penance, however, penitential days are prescribed on which the Christian faithful devote themselves in a special way to prayer, perform works of piety and charity, and deny themselves by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing fast and abstinence, according to the norm of the following canons.

Can. 1250 The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

Canon 1251 notes that all Fridays should be observed with abstaining from meat unless determined otherwise by a particular country’s conference of bishops. (Fridays during Lent are still required to be meatless

by Catholics everywhere in the world.) This provision was offered in the late 1960s by Pope Paul VI, prior to which it was a universal requirement that all Catholics do not eat meat on all Fridays, and not only Lent. The bishops of the United States opted to permit all Catholics to choose to continue to abstain from meat every Friday of the year or, outside of Lent, to choose another penance in place of not eating meat.

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday.

Abstinence and fasting are to be

Unfortunately, many people heard the message that they no longer were required to abstain from meat without hearing

the obligation of some other penitential act being required on Fridays outside of Lent. So in practice, it seemingly just got dropped. But many people have continued the meatless Fridays throughout the year as well. In some places in the world, especially predominantly Catholic countries, the practice never changed, so they continue to maintain meatless Fridays. In 2011, the bishops in England and Wales reversed themselves after allowing Catholics in those places to choose a Friday penance instead of asking all Catholics to once again observe meatless Fridays as a shared penance and witness to the greater society.

Next issue: Should Catholics use a specific translation of the Bible? How do changes to the words of the Mass come about?

Fr. Mark Steffl serves as judicial vicar of the Office of the Tribunal for the Diocese of New Ulm and is a canon lawyer, msteffl@dnu. org, (507) 233-5316.

Financial grants help those struggling to meet rent or mortgage payments Editor’s note: The Diocese of New Ulm received a $10,000 grant from Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) in January, 2021. The sole purpose of this grant was to help people avoid homelessness.

by Deacon Tim Dolan NEW ULM – During this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic year and all the rules and sequestration it has brought with it, I have reminisced about challenging times in my life and life in general; in particular when I was living in another country as a Peace Corps volunteer. Our training had several components.

The one I remember most was cross-cultural enrichment. In that segment, we talked about things we would experience differently from the culture we would soon encounter. There were several discussions around poverty, social programs, and begging. For me, this was no easy discussion. I had not experienced this sort of thing in small-town Minnesota.

Soon enough, my time came to meet a person begging for a small sum to buy something to eat.

Over the years there, I remember being with religious groups of people when this would happen.

Some would never give anything; others would give them the shirt off their back. I budgeted for these encounters and when the till was empty, it meant waiting until next month.

Throughout the pandemic, many have faced an empty till long before the end of the month.

In early January, the Diocese of New Ulm was the recipient of a Catholic Charities USA grant. This grant money was to be used from mid-January to mid-April and was designated specifically for those who rented or owned their home and were facing eviction or foreclosure. All parishes throughout the diocese were invited to make referrals.

The grant money was used up in a flash!

Although there is currently a

federal government eviction moratorium in place, that will soon end and many will face homelessness. These are the families the grant money sought to help.

commented that the families he referred to the diocese for grant money were very grateful to have this opportunity. “The families were very deserving, and most had either had COVID-19 or one of their family members had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and they needed to quarantine.”

I had the privilege to interview each family, which averaged five people per household. Most of the children in the families were of school age. A very large percentage were renting either a house or apartment, and each family’s story was unique.

One family talked about how the main breadwinner was sick for weeks with the coronavirus, while another family told me about how they had to find other work because their employer’s company closed due to the pandemic and may or may not reopen. In another family, the main breadwinner was injured and needed time off to recuperate.

Fr. Steve Verhelst, pastor of the Church of St. Mary in Willmar,

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 8

Over the years, I have come to understand that love grows when we share. Each day God gives us is an opportunity to do as Jesus has commanded us. And, perhaps there is no better time than now to remember the words Jesus once spoke: “This I command you: love one another.”

As the federal government’s moratorium on evictions nears the end, anyone facing eviction can get help through Rent Help MN, a program created to help Minnesotans who have fallen behind on their rent or fear that could happen. If you find yourself in this position, visit www. renthelpmn.org to determine if you qualify.

Deacon Tim Dolan is director for the Office of Social Concerns for the Diocese of New Ulm, tdolan@ dnu.org, (507) 233-5326.

Catholic Charities

Hutchinson, Marshall, New Ulm, and Willmar Providing: Individual, Marriage, and Family Counseling; Pregnancy Counseling, Adoption, Project Rachel, and Respect Life Resources; Parish and Community Response; Transition and Grief Services.

Referred Services include: Immigration, Financial Counseling, and Guardianship Resources.

(866) 670-5163 | pkral@dnu.org l

June 2021

Catholic life

Embracing Hispanic immigrants through the language of love

by Deacon Mike McKeown NEW ULM – Being involved in any parish ministry is a multi-faceted work of service.

Parish leaders are required to communicate with people of varying age groups, education levels, and ethnic backgrounds – all with unique spiritual needs.

In an effort to better equip parish leaders with ideas and resources, the Diocese of New Ulm Evangelization and Catechesis team (Kevin Losleben, Dr. Michelle Kramer, and Deacon Mike McKeown) have organized a Parish Leadership Series to provide timely presentations on topics relevant to all who work in parish ministry.

This series consists of monthly interactive virtual meetings with other parish leaders across the diocese.

On May 18, Lisa Kremer, a parish social ministry coordinator from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, presented on how to embrace our Hispanic immigrants and express

to them the language of love. Her presentation, entitled A Ministry of Accompaniment – Walking with our Hispanic Brothers and Sisters, provided insights into the particular challenges many immigrant families face in our parishes.

One of the participants in the session was Anisabel Palma, a parish leader from Willmar, who provided the introduction and opening prayer. Palma is an immigrant from Mexico.

When she came to the United States in 1999, Kremer was one of the first people that she met. “She welcomed me,” said Palma. “We’ve been friends for all of these years, and we’re also Secular Franciscans.” The two worked together in parish ministry, which eventually led to Palma’s role as director of Hispanic Ministry at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.

In her 60-minute presentation, Kremer shared her journey into ministering to Hispanic immigrants. In 1999 she began

active Youth and Campus Ministry at Holy Redeemer in Marshall, and in 2002 organized a mission trip with college students to the Diocese of New Ulm’s mission parish of San Lucas Toliman in Guatemala. “That experience was life-changing for me in so many ways,” Kremer said.

A few years later, while working for the Church of St. Gabriel in Fulda, Minn., Kremer organized her second mission trip to San Lucas. She found she learned some important lessons on these trips about dealing with people from other cultures.

The Equality Act On Feb. 25, 2021, the House passed the Equality Act, a bill that the U.S. bishops have warned would trample religious freedom protections while codifying gender ideology in federal law.

The legislation recognizes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes under civil rights law and forbids discrimination on the basis of those classes in a number of areas.

The U.S. bishops’ conference has opposed the legislation, saying it upholds gender ideology and the redefinition of marriage and frames gender as simply a “social construct.” Furthermore, it would “punish” religious groups opposed to these beliefs, stated the conference.

The bishops warned that the bill could force church halls to “host functions that violate their beliefs.” Women would have to share shelters, sports, and locker rooms with biological males identifying as transgender females. Religious adoption agencies would have to match children with same-sex couples or possibly face closure. Learn more

She also reminded participants that we need to check ourselves for attitudes of superiority.

“Sometimes, we as Americans have this mindset that we have the answer for everyone’s problems, and we don’t. The way we truly love people is to listen to their needs and work together with them instead of doing things for them. Especially when we don’t understand where they are coming from.”

Equipped with a new appreciation for the gifts and struggles of Hispanic people, Kremer began ministering to Hispanic immigrants. Her experiences eventually led to her current position with Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota in the Winona-Rochester diocese as a parish social ministry coordinator.

Kremer beautifully summed up her presentation with a scripture verse that her grandmother shared with her from Hebrews 13:2, which says, “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers for thereby

Kremer had many insights to share with parish leaders, which she has gained from nearly two

Religious solidarity (Continued from page 1.)

decades of of working with Hispanic immigrants. “Sometimes people are not aware that the phrases or the terms that we’re using are not positive but have negative responses and negative ways that they affect society,” she said. “Using terms such as ‘illegal alien’ can be very hurtful when referring to undocumented workers or non-citizens.”

about the Equality Act at www. usccb.org/equality-act.

Editor’s note: Keep up-to-date about threats to religious liberty in Minnesota. Visit the Minnesota Catholic Conference website and sign up for email action alerts, www.mncatholic.org/ religiousfreedomweek/.

The Prairie Catholic

“I think of that [verse] often with the people that come into our communities and into our churches,” she said. “Maybe they’re angels that God has sent to us. We never know.”

“We must remember that God is sending people in poverty to our doors, and we cannot turn away and not do something to respond to their needs. To be welcoming is probably the most important thing we can do,” she said.

Upcoming presentations On June 15, Susan WindleyDaoust will present on 101 Ways to Evangelize During COVID and Beyond: How to Reach Those Who Have Become Disconnected From Parish Life During the Pandemic. To register visit www. dnu.org/parish-leadership-series Deacon McKeown is diocesan director of Adult Faith Formation dmmckeown@dnu.org, (507) 2335310.

NUDCCW planning moves forward as COVID-related restrictions loosen been charged with brainstorming ways to increase communication within the NUDCCW from the diocesan level down to the parish and to also provide a way for the parishes to share their information with the diocese.

The Church Internationally The USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty has collaborated with the Office of International Justice and Peace to emphasize that Catholics need to be in solidarity with people throughout the world who suffer for their faith.

Through prayer, education, and public action during Religious Freedom Week, we give witness to living out our faith and our Catholic principles in the public square. That witness may come in the form of a small personal action that may more or less remain hidden, or it may take the form of a decision that very publically affects our lives and the lives of others. If prayer is the focus that guides our decisions about religious freedom, we will be prepared for either.

some have entertained angels unaware.”

The second special committee will identify the objectives for a NUDCCW task force that will be delving into who the DCCW is as an organization and how we want to proceed with our over-all mission of supporting, empowering, and educating all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership, and service with programs that respond with Gospel values to the needs of the Church and society. This committee will also be identifying who should be on the DCCW task force to ensure there is representation from all levels: parish, deanery, and diocese.

by Barb Mathiowetz NUDCCW president The New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NUDCCW) board met on May 20, 2021. This was the first in-person meeting as an entire board since early 2020 due to the pandemic. It was so wonderful to see everyone face to face. We continued with our planning of events and meetings for the summer and into the fall, feeling confident for the first time in over a year that these would indeed take place in-person.

Fall Gatherings Each of the three CCW deaneries are in the process of firming up the annual Fall Gathering dates and locations that are scheduled to take place in

DCCW special committees During the February and May board meetings, two special committees were formed. One has l

Page 9

l

June 2021

September. Information will be forthcoming through your parish or the NUDCCW website, www. nudccw.org.

A year of leadership It has been just over a year since I took on the leadership role as NUDCCW president. This has been a year like no other. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the Council of Catholic Women.

Even though we went through a period where we no longer had our “normal,” we still continued our mission. Some of us had to learn new ways of connecting through virtual environments and persevered through them.

NCCW Convention The National Council of Catholic Women Convention will take place Aug. 25-28, 2021, in Arlington, Va. Registration opened June 1. Several women from the diocese are planning to attend.

More information about the national convention can be found at www.nccw.org.

faith life

Should suffering shake our faith or draw us into deeper mystery of God’s love?

by Bishop Robert Barron Premier Christian Radio in the UK just sponsored a survey that investigated how the COVID crisis has affected religious beliefs and attitudes. There were three major findings – namely, that 67% of those who characterize themselves as “religious” found their belief in God challenged, that almost a quarter of all those questioned said that the pandemic made them more fearful of death, and that around a third of those surveyed said that their prayer life had been affected by the crisis. Justin Brierley, who hosts the popular program Unbelievable?, commented that he was especially impressed by the substantial number of those who, due to COVID, have experienced difficulty believing in a loving God. I should like to focus on this finding as well.

Of course, in one sense, I understand the problem. An altogether standard objection to belief in God is human suffering, especially when it is visited upon the innocent. The apologist for atheism or naturalism quite readily asks the believer, “How could you possibly assert the existence of a loving God given the Holocaust, school shootings, tsunamis that kill hundreds of thousands of people, pandemics, etc.?” But I must confess that, in another sense, I find this argument from evil utterly unconvincing, and I

say this precisely as a Catholic bishop – that is, as someone who holds and teaches the doctrine of God that comes from the Bible.

For I don’t think that anyone who reads the Scriptures carefully could ever conclude that belief in a loving God is somehow incompatible with suffering.

There is no question that God loves Noah, and yet he puts Noah through the unspeakably trying ordeal of a flood that wipes out almost all of life on the earth. It is without doubt that God loves Abraham, and yet he asks that patriarch to sacrifice, with his own hand, his beloved son Isaac.

More than almost anyone else in the biblical tradition, God loves Moses, and yet he prevents the great liberator from entering into the Promised Land. David is a man after the Lord’s own heart, the sweet singer of the house of Israel, and yet God punishes David for his adultery and his conspiracy to murder. Jeremiah is specially chosen by God to speak the divine word, and yet the prophet ends up rejected and sent into exile. The people Israel is God’s uniquely chosen race, his royal priesthood, and yet God permits Israel to be enslaved, exiled, and brutalized by her enemies. And bringing this dynamic to full expression, God delivers his only-begotten Son to be tortured to death on a cross.

Once again, the point, anomalous indeed to both believers and

Mass obligation (Continued from page 1.)

– Those who are ill or have reason to believe their health would be significantly compromised if they were to contract a communicable illness; – Those who exhibit flu-like symptoms; – Those who believe they were exposed to the coronavirus or another serious or contagious illness; – Those who care for the sick, homebound, or infirmed; – Those who are pregnant or are 65 years of age or older (per the CDC’s recommendation for high risk individuals); – Those who cannot attend Mass through no fault of their own; or – Those who have significant fear or anxiety of becoming ill by being at Mass.

The statement said: “Those within these categories must

and complaint was none other than the God who, they firmly believed, loved them. I don’t for a moment doubt that many feel today that suffering poses an insurmountable obstacle to belief in God, but I remain convinced that this feeling is a function of the fact that religious leaders have been rather inept at teaching the biblical doctrine of God. For if human suffering undermines your belief in God, then, quite simply, you were not believing in the God presented by the Bible.

nonbelievers today, is that the biblical authors saw no contradiction whatsoever between affirming the existence of a loving God and the fact of human suffering, even unmerited human suffering. Rather, they appreciated it as, mysteriously enough, an ingredient in the plan of God, and they proposed various schemata for understanding this.

minds could not, even in principle, comprehend the intentions and purposes of an infinite mind, which is concerned with the whole of space and time.

Practically the entire burden of the book of Job is to show this. When Job protests against what he takes to be the massive injustice of his sufferings, God responds with a lengthy speech, reminding Job of how much of God’s purposes his humble human servant does not know: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth . . .?”

For instance, sometimes, they speculated, suffering is visited upon us as punishment for sin.

Other times, it might be a means by which God effects a spiritual purification in his people. Still other times, it might be the only way that, given the conditions of a finite universe, God could bring about certain goods. But they also acknowledged that, more often than not, we just don’t know how suffering fits into God’s designs, and this is precisely because our finite and historically conditioned

Once again, whether they halfunderstood the purpose of human suffering or understood it not at all, no biblical author was tempted to say that said evil is incompatible with the existence of a loving God. To be sure, they lamented and complained, but the recipient of the lamentation

I want to be clear that none of the above is meant to make light of the awful experience of suffering or cavalierly to dismiss the intellectual tensions that it produces. But it is indeed my intention to invite people into a deeper encounter with the mystery of God. Like Jacob who wrestled all night with the angel, we must not give up on God but rather struggle with him. Our suffering shouldn’t lead us to dismiss the divine love, but rather to appreciate it as stranger than we ever imagined. It is perfectly understandable that, like Job, we might shout our protest against God, but then, like that great spiritual hero, we must be willing to hear the Voice that answers us from the whirlwind.

Editor’s note: Bishop Barron is auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and founder of Word on Fire, www.wordonfire.org.

Works of Mercy show God’s love in action

still observe the Lord’s Day and are encouraged to spend time in prayer on Sunday, meditating on the Lord’s passion, death, and resurrection; an excellent way to do this is by praying the Liturgy of the Hours and participating in a broadcast/livestream of the Sunday Mass.”

GRACEVILLE – After a lesson on the Works of Mercy, Julie Hendricks’ 5th and 6th grade religion class at the Church of the Holy Rosary in Graceville were excited to help others.The students chose several projects that would assist others with basic needs.

Referring to the return of the faith family to Mass as a “joyous occasion,” the bishops and administrators encouraged the faithful to post on social media about their return-to-Mass worship experiences using the hashtag #backtomassmn.

The projects included helping out on a frigid December morning with a food distribution for those in need, making fleece blankets and care packages for the homeless in the Fargo/ Moorhead area, and assembling Christmas care packages for the area retirement home residents.

The students also made “window” visits to the residents due to COVID restrictions.

One of several Works of Mercy projects accomplished by Julie Hendricks’ 5th and 6th grade religion class students this past academic year was making fleece blankets for the homeless in the Fargo/Moorhead area.

(Photo submitted)

“In today’s world, we often get too busy to give the Works of Mercy much thought,” said Hendricks. “God has blessed us

with an abundant world and many of us with a blessed life. We all need to take the example of these young people and look for ways

Editor’s note: Answers to frequently asked questions and a portal to each Minnesota diocese’s protocols can be found at www. backtomassmn.org. To read the Statement in its entirety, visit the Diocese of New Ulm website, www.dnu.org.

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 10

l

June 2021

to stretch our souls and open our hearts to charity.”

around the diocese

Chastity ministry helps young women explore Christ’s divine love for them

by Katie Roiger Prairie Catholic correspondent MURDOCK – Two sisters-in-law are encouraging young women like themselves to embrace chastity by showing them their dignity and worth as beloved daughters of God. Samantha Johnson, a member of Sacred Heart parish in Murdock, first experienced that message about chastity as a ninth grader.

She was invited to attend Young Christian Women’s Group, a weekly non-denominational group for young women facilitated by fellow parishioner Jess Collins.

The group discussed the idea of holy human love as drawn from St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” which explores chastity, marriage, and celibacy.

After attending the meetings for a month, Samantha was blown away by the realization of God’s love for her and his perfect plan for her life.

“It completely changed my life,” said Samantha. “It’s very genuine when I say that.”

Several years later, when Collins was no longer able to conduct the meetings due to family commitments, Samantha felt called to take over the group. She

recruited her sister-in-law and fellow Sacred Heart parishioner, Katie Johnson, to help spread the group's message to a new generation of young women.

their future husbands. “It’s one of the girls’ favorite things,” Samantha said. “The idea is that you give your husband the letters one day.”

“We thought that we should start a Catholic one (young women’s group) and essentially do the same thing,” said Samantha. “We could introduce the saints, the beauty of our Catholic faith, and the idea of receiving grace through Sacraments. The saints were in the same situation as we are; they experienced the same temptations, and we can look to them as role models.”

Called for More is offered to both parishes and schools throughout the Diocese of New Ulm, and the women are very flexible regarding scheduling. There is a range of options, including speaker nights, day-long or weekend-long retreats, and weeknight gatherings of one night per week for four to five weeks. Each talk is customizable and can even focus on different topics.

The women named their new Catholic initiative, Called for More. The ministry was approved in 2017 by then-bishop of New Ulm, Bishop John M. LeVoir.

Just like its predecessor ministry, Called for More is rooted in the idea of young women’s inherent worth.

“It’s such an important message to tell young women about their worth and dignity in Christ,” Katie said. “Jesus loves us no matter what. We don’t have to try to be the best athlete or the smartest kid at school or the prettiest to get his love. It’s sad, but I think that most young girls don’t know that.” The women tie that message to the idea of holy marital love and the benefits of chastity.

Called for More in the Diocese of New Ulm was approved by Bishop John M. LeVoir in 2017. Geared toward young women, the ministry offers talks and retreats that emphasize young women’s inherent worth and dignity in Christ.

(Photo submitted) “Many times, women go looking for love in all the wrong places,” said Samantha. “We want to be loved, and we will go to all of these measures, and it seems like love, but it’s not. If a guy is pressuring you to do things with him, then it’s not love.”

Although the two women bring a Catholic perspective to their sessions, they also emphasize the science behind the practice of chastity. Each talk or retreat discusses verified statistics and studies which show the benefits of waiting until marriage to have sex, the consequences of birth control

and sexually transmitted diseases, and much more.

“We want to show that the science [of relationships] points to the fact that God knew what he was doing," said Katie. “God doesn’t make mistakes. He gave us something that he knows will make our hearts happy. However, if we don’t follow his plan, we set ourselves up for heartache.”

If the timeline allows, there will be a fun movie night, complete with cozy blankets and snacks.

Another favorite tradition is having the girls write letters to

Financial assistance available.

Parishes and schools interested in the Called for More ministry are encouraged to apply for the Catholic United Financial Chastity Grant, which can provide up to $1,000 of financial assistance. The women are happy to work with those interested in pursuing the grant.

“We have a pretty good presence established in our local community, but there’s so many more people who need to hear this message besides our local girls,” Katie said. “Our hope is to start within the diocese of New Ulm and just spread the word.”

For more information on Called for More visit https:// calledformore.com/.

Growing in union with God as a Third Order Secular NFP Awareness Week July 25-31 In 2008, as the 40th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae approached, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched “Natural Family Planning Awareness Week,” an educational campaign that celebrates God’s vision for marriage and articulates Catholic teaching about human sexuality, marital love, and responsible parenthood.

This year the awareness week will be observed July 25-31.

SPICER – The Our Lady of Divine Mercy Chapter has been meeting at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Spicer since 2011 and has 17 members in different stages of its formation.

The Order is associated with the Order of Discalced Carmelites, whose spirituality is based on the writings of St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Therese of Lisieux, and other notable Carmelite saints.

The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites is what in past years was referred to as a “third order” or lay group of Catholics that is formally established to associate themselves with a specific religious community, and to develop their spirituality and life, as much as possible, in the model of the particular religious community. To be a Secular Carmelite involves a commitment of one day a month to come together with other group members to pray and study. It

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a general title for ethical, natural, safe, and effective methods for both achieving and avoiding pregnancy in marriage.

Through NFP, a woman learns to understand her body’s natural monthly cycle. By tracking the signs of her fertility each day, she can determine when she is fertile and infertile. The NFP methods are free from the host of side effects and health risks accompanying hormonal

Members of the Our Lady of Divine Mercy Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites who were received into the formation or made promises on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church are pictured l-r, Fr. Mark Steffl, spiritual assistant to the group, Ed Green who was received into formation, Mickey Wallin and Maggie Fletcher who made definitive promises, and Anita Hormann and Lynn Halbakken-Taffe who made temporary promises.

(Photo submitted) also involves a daily commitment of 30 minutes of mental prayer and Rosary, spiritual reading, study, daily Mass (if possible).

For more information contact Jane Gahlon at jgahlon@gahlon.com.

The Prairie Catholic

l

Page 11

l

June 2021

contraception. They don’t pollute the environment and they can even help women identify underlying health problems that may otherwise go undiagnosed.

The Diocese of New Ulm Office of Family Life joins with the U.S. bishops in highlighting the benefits of NFP as ethical methods to help married couples live God’s design for their marriages. Want to learn more about the methods of NFP offered in our diocese? Visit www.dnu. org/nfp.

The revisions, which have been more than a decade in the making, were first commissioned by Benedict XVI with the aim of making the code’s penal sanctions more effective and applied evenly across the Church.

SLEEPY EYE – Mary Gangelhoff, principal at St. Mary’s Catholic Elementary School in Sleepy Eye is the recipient of the 2021 Minnesota Independent School Forum (MISF) Leadership Award. MISF Leadership Awards recognize the hard work and dedication of school leaders who instill passion in people they work with, bring innovative ideas forward, and advocate for the importance of private and independent education in Minnesota.

The organization connects and strengthens Minnesota’s independent K-12 schools through training, resources, and advocacy. MISF also helps inform lawmakers, policy makers, and the general public about the contributions that independent education makes to our state and society.

ROME (CNA) – On Tuesday, June 8, the Vatican published major revisions to Book VI of the Code of Canon Law, which covers penal law in the Church, including sanctions related to clerical sexual abuse.

Pope Francis introduced the changes with the apostolic constitution Pascite gregem Dei (“Tend the Flock of God”).

He wrote that those who have committed a crime “need both mercy and correction on the part of the Church.”

The pope said that the revisions have improved “fundamental aspects of criminal law, such as the right of defense, the statute of limitations for criminal action, [and] a more precise determination of penalties.”

The reforms also introduced new crimes in the area of economic and financial matters to canon law and moved the canons concerning the crime of sexual abuse of minors and crimes of child pornography from the section on crimes against special obligations to that of crimes against life, dignity, and freedom of the person. Under the revised laws,

lay people, including founders of lay religious movements and parish employees, can also be sanctioned for sexual abuse.

The Vatican initiated the reform to canon law because of concerns that some parts of the Church were failing to apply penal sanctions amid the burgeoning abuse crisis. “This reform, which is presented today, . . . has the aim of making universal penal norms ever more suitable for the protection of the common good and of the individual faithful, more congruent with the demands of justice and more effective and adequate in today’s ecclesial context,” said Archbishop Filippo Iannone, the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the Vatican department that oversaw the changes.

WASHINGTON – After the Biden Administration released its federal budget proposal on May 28, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities expressed deep concerns about its proposal to eliminate the Hyde Amendment and some related pro-life provisions. The Hyde Amendment, which has been in effect since 1976 with bipartisan support, prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. The bishops called on Congress to preserve it and “to work toward a budget that truly builds up the common good of all.”

To read the full statement visit the bishop’s website, www.usccb.org.

Check out upcoming

diocesan, parish, school, and local events.

www.dnu.org