The Prairie Catholic April-May 2024

Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 38 No. 6 April/May 2024

Congratulations Donna Sanders!

GLENCOE, Minn. – Donna Sanders is pictured with Bishop Chad W. Zielinski of the Diocese of New Ulm after receiving the 2024 NUDCCW Woman of the Year award at the Church of St. Pius X in Glencoe. Sanders is a member of the Church of St. Mary in Cottonwood. Woman of the Year candidates are judged based on family commitment, participation in church activities and committees, involvement in community activities, commitment to the Council of Catholic Women on all levels, and years of active service. (Read more about this year’s award recipient, page 9.)

(Photo by Christy Baker)

Minnesota’s

Dr. Sri shows the Real Presence in scriptures and sacrifice of the Mass

by Deacon Ryan Pope Prairie Catholic correspondent

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn.

Radermacher Hall at the Church of St. Catherine in Redwood Falls was filled to capacity as educators, catechists, lay faithful, and numerous clergy and religious gathered for a first-of-its-kind Bishop Lucker Lecture daytime workshop by Dr. Edward Sri, a sacred scripture scholar with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) and the Augustine Institute. The Friday, March 15, 2024, workshop on “Bringing the Liturgy into Our Daily Lives,” was a prelude to that evening’s shortened presentation. The Bishop Lucker Lecture is an annual event sponsored by the Diocese of New Ulm.

Dr. Sri’s presentation on the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist demonstrated scriptural foundations that help draw us closer to the source and summit of

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New clergy assignments

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Blessed Carlo Acutis stained-glass window installed

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New leadership in two diocesan offices.

our Catholic faith. And for those who may find they are not getting anything out of Mass, he said, “We can get more out of Mass if we can give more to it.”

Using anecdotes and shared experiences, Dr. Sri captivated his audience by drawing them into Biblical experiences. Whether it be with Mary at the Annunciation or Moses being commissioned to liberate God’s chosen, Dr. Sri showed that even seemingly rote words like, “The Lord be with you,” elicit a call to the Sacred, the promise of God’s closeness and support, and preparation for an encounter with the Real Presence of Christ who is love and mercy himself.

Dr. Sri noted, “With the call of the Priest to ‘Lift up our hearts,’ he is summoning us to give God everything at this moment, knowing God is coming in our midst.” Quoting St. Cyril of Jerusalem, he continued, “‘Our

A jammed-pack crowd gathered March 15 at St. Catherine’s, Redwood Falls to hear presentations by theologian Dr. Edward Sri, this year’s Bishop Lucker Lecture presenter. (photo by Christine Clancy)

hearts are to be lifted up to God and not descend to the worries of earth. . . but direct our hearts to God in Heaven,’ to where we ascend to share in the unending praises of all the angels and saints

during Mass.”

Dr. Sri noted that nowhere in Scripture does it ever tell of a lamb at the Last Supper, which was known by Jesus and his

apostles to be the Passover meal, “and for centuries, they would have had this memorial meal every year, reenacting the Passover with the lamb.” So, in using the same words as the Passover memorial but presenting himself as the meal of Passover, Jesus, who is also known as the Lamb of God, was instituting a new memorial sacrifice, the Mass.

Following a Holy Hour with the Blessed Sacrament, Dr. Sri continued his presentation by reminding those in attendance that the God of the universe dwells among us in the tabernacle and longs to be near us. To help us understand the change in substance of bread and wine, he turned to the saints and the Eucharistic miracles of the Church to show why we believe Jesus and his Word; that the Eucharist is not merely a symbol, but Jesus himself, “For I am with you always.”

(Continued on page 11.)

Vatican reinforces opposition to gender transition and surrogacy

by Catholic News Agency

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Vatican’s top doctrinal office issued a declaration on the theme of human dignity on April 8, 2024, that addresses growing concerns such as gender theory, sex changes, surrogacy, and euthanasia in addition to abortion, poverty, human trafficking, and war.

“In the face of so many violations of human dignity that seriously threaten the future of the human family, the Church encourages the promotion of the dignity of every

human person, regardless of their physical, mental, cultural, social, and religious characteristics,” reads the Vatican declaration issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The declaration, titled Dignitas infinita, which means “infinite dignity,” states that the Church highlights these concerns “with hope, confident of the power that flows from the risen Christ, who has fully revealed the integral dignity of every man and woman.”

Abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy In the declaration, the dicastery

cautions against threats to human dignity that begin at the moment of conception, that exist in the process of procreation, and that threaten humanity toward the end of life. It cites St. John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae on abortion, noting that the pontiff taught that “procured abortion is the deliberate and direct killing, by whatever means it is carried out, of a human being in the initial phase of his or her existence, extending from conception to birth.”

Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium,

also cited in the declaration, states preborn children are “the most defenseless and innocent among us” and in the present day, “efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this.”

The declaration also warns that euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide are “swiftly gaining ground” in some parts of the world, which it says is “unique

(Continued on page 8.)

MINNEOTA - “Upper Crust” pie maker Kathy Wyffels prepares a customer favorite soon to be sold as a St. Edward’s Catholic School fundraiser. (Read more on page 11.)

The Mission of the Risen Christ:

Saving the World through Friendship

by Bishop Chad W. Zielinski

As I write to you during this Easter Season which ends on Pentecost (May 19), I see a world filled with massive broken relationships: one nation against another, terrorist groups inflicting violence on the innocent, canceling out the person who disagrees with me, neighbor against another, and the list goes on.

Our world is saturated with a broken ideology of friendship that can only be healed through a friendship with the Risen Christ.

Some years ago, I was given a prayer card commemorating the election of Pope Benedict XVI on April 19, 2005. Five days later, on April 24, the Holy Father offered his first public Mass. A few words of his homily were adapted to a prayer card, which I have kept in my priest’s breviary for years, reading it periodically. Pope Benedict shared:

“And only where God is seen does life truly begin. Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution. Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter

PTHERA 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: Bishop Chad W. Zielinski

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.

diocesan church

That they may have life

with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.”

Something about these words pierced me to the depths of my heart, soul, and mind. A natural attraction to these words makes me want to hold onto them and not let go. The last sentence echoes in my mind: “There is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him.”

Josef Cardinal Ratzinger was a brilliant theologian who could present lofty theological concepts as deeply attractive and understandable. He was a master at integrating theory and praxis and worked closely with St. John Paul II for over a quarter century as the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.

Benedict XVI lived his life fully aware of his friendship with the Lord. He had a genuine encounter with the Risen Christ, one that consumes the entire person and rockets them into the world to meet others, create friendships with them, and introduce the one Jesus of Nazareth, whom God sent on a rescue mission to become our friend and lead us to Eternal Life. This is great news and the most beautiful story of all of history. And it includes you and me! Yeah, it is the real deal!

Jesus means what he says . . . John 15:12-17:

“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

What is most interesting is that this scripture text is part of the Last Supper Discourse of the words of Jesus. The context of his words is most important because it is Jesus’ farewell speech to the twelve gathered in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. Not knowing what is yet to come, their friendship with Christ will

NEW ULM - Nearly 200 people joined Bishop Zielinski on Good Friday at the Way of the Cross shrine in New Ulm as he led them in prayer of the Stations of the Cross. The Diocese of New Ulm shrine is open all year round; the chapel daily from April to October. (Photo by Christine Clancy)

be tested. And Peter, who swears an oath of friendship to Jesus, will deny him.

So, what about us and our friendships, present and past? I will be the first to thank God for the awesome and incredible friends in my life. However, like Peter, I will confess that I have not always been the greatest friend God has called me to be. Through my words and actions, at times, I have failed God and my friends. However, our confession of any failure in friendship is met with the power of the Resurrected Christ, who triumphed over sin and death. He did this to heal our friendship with him and others and breathe hope of peace into us –“Be Not Afraid!”

One of my favorite postresurrection scenes is Jesus and Peter at the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21). Peter and the other disciples encounter the Risen Christ but do not quite understand it all and return to fishing. After not catching anything and listening to Jesus’ command to cast the net on the other side of the boat, they haul in an abundance of fish. Friendship with the Lord produces great abundance when we listen to his command.

The next scene says it all. Peter is about to have his “one-on-one” with the Lord. They have the staredown at a fire by themselves. Jesus does not scold Peter but asks three times, “Do you love me?” As we hear in the Lord’s Passion, Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to declare his love for him, affirming the bond of their friendship, and three times, Peter denies him. Each time Jesus questions Peter, he drives deeper into his heart and soul, and by the end, Peter is weeping and tells the

you know everything about me, everything, the good, bad, and ugly, and you know I love you.”

Lord, “You know everything; you know I love you.”

It is not merely coincidental that John’s Gospel ends with Peter and Jesus at the seashore, sealing the deal of friendship. Peter confesses that his friendship is based on a most profound and intimate relationship with the Resurrected Christ, who knows absolutely everything about him and us.

What is reflected in this interchange is that Jesus helps Peter realize that he has been created for greatness by God and has an enormous ability to love. With this newly healed friendship, Jesus sends Peter on a mission to join him in saving the world through friendship with the Risen Savior, helping others see that God has wired each of us with an enormous capacity to love.

Like Peter, our Easter proclamation is the same, “Lord,

I want to conclude my thoughts with what I refer to as one of the many great blessings of friendship I have encountered throughout my 28 years of priestly ministry. There have been various times in different parishes while greeting people coming into or leaving the church that I met a person with Down syndrome who happily extended a hand or an embrace with the greeting, “My friend.” Their face exhudes joy and holiness, seeming to flow from the pure heart of a child of God. At that moment, I can not help but feel true friendship. There is a simplicity, an innocence, and an unexplainable purity and holiness that pierces to the depths of one’s soul. These various encounters leave me with an overwhelming sense that I now know what it means to have a friend of the Risen Christ.

Friends in Christ, God created all of us with an enormous capacity to love and sends us as fearless witnesses of the Risen Christ. “Be Not Afraid” to build friendships in His name, making our world a better place to live.

Easter blessings to you and your family.

Editor’s note: To read Pope Benedict XVI’s homily visit www. vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/ en/homilies/2005/documents/ hf_ben-xvi_hom_20050424_iniziopontificato.html.

Bishop’s calendar

May 4-5: Minnesota State Knights of Columbus Convention, Breezy Point.

May 5: Shepherd of Souls AFC Confirmation – Church of St. Anthony, Watkins.

May 7-8: Clergy Days.

May 10: May Crowning & Grandparents Day Mass, St. Mary’s School, Sleepy Eye.

May 11: Holy Cross AFC Confirmation – Church of St. Mary, New Ulm.

May 12: Holy Rosary Confirmation – Church of the Holy Rosary, North Mankato.

May 17-19: Star of the North in Bemidji, Eucharistic Congress National Pilgrimage Kickoff in Lake Itasca, and Ignite in Watkins.

May 20-21: Installation of Bishop Gerald Battersby in LaCrosse, WI.

May 26: St. Mary, Sleepy Eye High School Graduation.

May 30: Deanery 1 Priest Gathering, New Ulm.

June 10-14: USCCB Spring General Meeting and Committee Meetings.

Note: Calendar respresents the bishop’s schedule at the time the newspaper went to press.Visit dnu. org/bishop for schedule updates.

diocesan church

New clergy assignments bring changes to parishes

NEW ULM – Bishop Chad W. Zielinski, after consultation with the Priest Personnel Board, has announced new clergy assignments effect July 2, 2024.

Rev. John Hayes to serve as the parochial administrator of the Holy Family AFC which includes the Churches of St. James in Dawson, St. Andrew in Granite Falls and St. Joseph in Montevideo.

Rev. Christian Adike to serve as the parochial vicar of the St. John Paul II AFC which includes the Churches of Holy Family in Silver Lake and Holy Trinity in Winsted.

Msgr. Douglas Grams to serve as the pastor of the Apostles Peter and Paul AFC, which includes the Churches of St. Peter in St. Peter and St. Paul in Nicollet.

Rev. Nathan Hansen to serve as a parochial vicar in the Divine Mercy AFC which includes the Churches of St. Paul in Comfrey, St. Michael in Morgan, and St. Mary in Sleepy Eye.

Rev. Mark Steffl to serve as the pastor of the Holy Cross AFC which includes the Churches of St.

Mary in New Ulm, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, St. John the Baptist in Searles, and St. George in West Newton Township. He will serve as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, in addition to his current role as Judicial Vicar.

Rev. Brendan Rolling to serve as the parochial administrator of the Christ the King AFC which includes the Churches of St. Peter in Canby, St. Leo in St. Leo, Ss. Peter and Paul in Ivanhoe, St. Genevieve in Lake Benton, St. Dionysius in Tyler, and St. John Cantius in Wilno, in addition to his current role as Vocations director.

Rev. Steven Verhelst to serve as the pastor in solidum and moderator of pastoral care of the Bread of Life and Our Lady of the Prairie AFCs which include the Churches of Holy Redeemer in Marshall, St. Mary in Cottonwood, St. Michael in Milroy, and St. Mary in Tracy. He will also serve as the Bishop’s Delegate in Matters Pertaining to Sexual Misconduct, in addition to his current role as Vicar for Clergy.

Rev. Paul Timmerman to serve

as the pastor of the Corpus Christi AFC which includes the Churches of St. Michael in Gaylord, St. Pius X in Glencoe, and St. Mary in Arlington.

Msgr. Eugene Lozinski to serve as a senior associate of the Holy Cross AFC which includes the Churches of St. Mary in New Ulm, Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, St. John the Baptist in Searles, and St. George in West Newton Township, in addition to his current role as the diocesan Chancellor.

Fr. Tanner Thooft to serve as the parochial vicar of the Holy Cross AFC which includes the Churches of St. Mary in New Ulm,

Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm, St. John the Baptist in Searles, and St. George in West Newton Township, in addition to his current role as the assistant Vocations director.

Rev. Shawn Polman to serve as the parochial administrator of the Spirit of Life AFC which includes the Churches of St. Michael in Madison, St. John in Ortonville, and Holy Rosary in Graceville.

Rev. Joshua Bot to serve as the parochial vicar in the Jesus Our Living Water AFC which includes the Churches of Our Lady of the Lakes in Spicer, St. Mary in Willmar, and St. Clara in Clara City.

Have you heard the news? You may be getting a new priest!

by Rev. Steve Verhelst

It begins with the goodbyes –hard and beautiful.

Then, a priest packs up his belongings and makes whatever arrangements are necessary to transport them to a new rectory. Everything gets unloaded, and he sits among the boxes in a new place, in a new town, among new parishes, and somehow begins to get his head around what is happening.

Then there is the first weekend. He stands at the back of the church, unsure of the intricacies of how the Eucharist is celebrated here. He takes a deep breath as people in the pews begin to turn to take a look at him; both parishioners and priest are hoping for a good first impression.

What does he feel while standing back there, slightly hidden by the servers? Well, he is feeling nervous but also excited at the opportunity; the smiles calm him that those subtly turned

parishioners are offering, and he has a renewed feeling of creativity. It is another step on the long journey of his priesthood but also a chance to start again. There is an Easter feeling of not knowing but also of wonder and awe.

What are you feeling in the pews?

Probably the same as the new priest waiting for the opening hymn to begin. You may be anxious simply because this priest is new. You wonder what sort of personality he has.

Believe me, priests understand the anxiousness – we really do! Every priest is different. We have differing spiritualties and ways of leading, our personalities are widely varied, and we each have our own wounds, weaknesses, strengths, and skills. Because of that, we will have to earn the trust of each person in each parish we serve.

Yet, there is a commonality in our vocation that can and should be the foundation of that trust.

It is simply this why each of us discerned the vocation of priesthood in the first place: we love the Lord, we want to grow in holiness, and through the ordained ministry of the Church, we desire to lead others to holiness as well.

If you remember that this new priest desires to help you grow in holiness and love, no matter how he may make that a reality, you likely will be more open to the Holy Spirit at work, even in the changes that may come.

This openness will bring forth an excitement to share with the new priest the things that make your parish a gift to you and to the community in which it shines.

Every parish has a history. One of the most memorable moments of those first Masses in a new parish for most priests is standing at the pulpit/ambo and at the altar for the first time because they also have a history. One cannot help but think of the litany of priests who have stood at this ambo and altar– leading, guiding,

preaching, and loving this parish.

Each new priest stands and builds upon the legacies of where previous priests have stood and pastored, deceased and living, who have labored with the people to bequeath to the next new priest and you, this parish.

We are humbled, mindful, and thankful for the priests and people who have made great sacrifices throughout history to make each parish vibrant, living stones built upon Christ, the cornerstone. Each parish is a gracious mystery, with a past, a present, and a future, and there have been so many steps along the way to this day, including this moment with a new priest. Together we are all taking a step into the future, but with an awareness and respect of our past.

In a few weeks, many parishes will have new priests and new pastors (half of our active priests are moving in July), and this is our chance to share our uniqueness and joy, our history, and our hopes with each other.

Rev. Ron Huberty to serve as the pastor of the Jesus Our Living Water AFC which includes the Churches of Our Lady of the Lakes in Spicer, St. Mary’s in Willmar, and St. Clara in Clara City.

Fr. Brian Oestreich to serve as the pastor of the All Saints AFC which includes the Churches of St. Andrew in Fairfax, St. Francis de Sales in Winthrop, and St. Willibrord in Gibbon.

Fr. Craig Timmerman to serve as the pastor of the Divine Mercy AFC which includes the Churches of St. Paul in Comfrey, St. Michael in Morgan, and St. Mary in Sleepy Eye.

How can you welcome your new priest?

Pray for him. He will be praying for you. Smile when you turn to look at him standing in the back of the church during that first Mass. And participate in the liturgy, which means praying and saying the responses at Mass with meaning and singing with joy. It makes a huge difference!

Yes, he is nervous and suspects you are as well, but he is also excited and happy to be a part of your parish family and walk with you as you take these first steps into a new future together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Learn to trust him and love him, be patient with him, and simply be grateful for him because he will love you and is grateful for all of you.

And, I almost forgot, dessert; most priests love a good dessert.

Fr. Steve Verhelst serves as the Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of New Ulm.

Hayes

P. Timmerman

Adike Lozinski

Grams Thooft Hansen Polman Steffl Bot Rolling Huberty Verhelst Oestreich

C. Timmerman

por Bishop Chad W. Zielinski

Mientras les escribo durante la Semana Santa de 2024, veo un mundo lleno de grandes relaciones rotas: una nación contra otra, grupos terroristas infligiendo violencia en los inocentes, cancelando a quien no está de acuerdo conmigo, vecino contra vecino, y la lista continúa.

Nuestro mundo está saturado con una ideología de amistad rota que solo puede ser sanada a través de una amistad con el Cristo Resucitado.

Hace algunos años, me dieron una tarjeta de oración conmemorando la elección del Papa Benedicto XVI el 19 de abril de 2005. Cinco días después, el Santo Padre ofreció su primera Misa pública. Algunas palabras de su homilía fueron adaptadas a una tarjeta de oración, que he mantenido en mi breviario sacerdotal durante años, leyéndola periódicamente. El Papa Benedicto compartió:

“Y sólo donde se ve a Dios comienza realmente la vida. Solo cuando encontramos al Dios vivo en Cristo sabemos qué es la vida. No somos un producto casual y sin sentido de la evolución. Cada uno de nosotros es el resultado de un pensamiento de Dios. Cada uno de nosotros es querido, cada uno de nosotros es amado, cada uno de nosotros es necesario. No hay nada más hermoso que sorprenderse con el Evangelio, con el encuentro con Cristo. No hay nada más hermoso que conocerlo y hablar a otros de nuestra amistad con Él.”

Algo sobre estas palabras me llegó hasta lo más profundo de mi corazón, alma y mente. Una atracción natural hacia estas palabras me hace querer aferrarme a ellas y no soltarlas. La última frase resuena en mi mente: “No hay nada más hermoso que conocerlo y hablar a otros de nuestra amistad con Él.”

Josef Cardenal Ratzinger fue un brillante teólogo que podía presentar conceptos teológicos

diocesan church

Para que tengan vida

La Misión del Cristo Resucitado: Salvar al Mundo a través de la Amistad

elevados como profundamente atractivos y comprensibles. Era un maestro en integrar teoría y práctica y trabajó estrechamente con San Juan Pablo II durante más de un cuarto de siglo como jefe de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe.

Benedicto XVI vivió su vida plenamente consciente de su amistad con el Señor. Tuvo un encuentro genuino con el Cristo Resucitado, uno que consume a la persona entera y los lanza al mundo para encontrarse con otros, crear amistades con ellos e introducir al Jesús de Nazaret, a quien Dios envió en una misión de rescate para convertirse en nuestro amigo y llevarnos a la Vida Eterna. Esta es una gran noticia y la historia más hermosa de toda la historia. ¡Y nos incluye a ti y a mí!

Sí, ¡es la verdadera historia!

Jesús sabe lo que dice... Juan 15:12-17:

“Este es mi mandamiento: que se amen los unos a los otros como yo los he amado. Nadie tiene amor más grande que el dar la vida por sus amigos. Ustedes son mis amigos si hacen lo que yo les mando. Ya no los llamo siervos, porque el siervo no sabe lo que hace su señor. Los he llamado amigos, porque les he dado a conocer todo lo que he oído de mi Padre. No me han elegido ustedes a mí, sino que yo los he elegido a ustedes y los he destinado para que vayan y den fruto, un fruto que permanezca. Así el Padre les dará todo lo que le pidan en mi nombre. Esto es lo que les mando: que se amen los unos a los otros.”

Lo más interesante es que este texto de las Escrituras forma parte del Discurso de la Última Cena de las palabras de Jesús. El contexto de sus palabras es muy importante porque es el discurso de despedida de Jesús a los doce reunidos en el Aposento Alto para la Última Cena. Sin saber lo que está por venir, su amistad con Cristo será puesta a prueba. Y Pedro, que jura un juramento de amistad a Jesús, lo negará.

Amigos en Cristo - ¿qué pasa con nosotros y nuestras amistades, presentes y pasadas? Seré el primero en agradecer a Dios por los increíbles y maravillosos amigos en mi vida. Sin embargo,

como Pedro, confesaré que no siempre he sido el mejor amigo que Dios me ha llamado a ser. A través de mis palabras y acciones, a veces, he fallado a Dios y a mis amigos.

Sin embargo, nuestra confesión de cualquier falla en la amistad es recibida con el poder del Cristo Resucitado, quien triunfó sobre el pecado y la muerte. Él hizo esto para sanar nuestra amistad con él y con otros y darnos esperanza de paz al decir - “¡No teman!”

Una de mis escenas favoritas después de la resurrección es Jesús y Pedro en la orilla del Mar de Galilea (Juan 21). Pedro y los otros discípulos encuentran al Cristo Resucitado pero no comprenden del todo y vuelven a pescar. Después de no pescar nada y escuchar el mandato de Jesús de echar la red al otro lado del barco, sacan una abundancia de peces. La amistad con el Señor produce abundancia cuando escuchamos su mandato.

La siguiente escena lo dice todo. Pedro está a punto de tener su “uno a uno” con el Señor. Tienen el enfrentamiento frente al fuego solos. Jesús no reprende a Pedro, sino que le pregunta tres veces: “¿Me amas?” Como escuchamos en la Pasión del Señor, Jesús le da a Pedro la oportunidad de declarar su amor por él, afirmando el vínculo de su amistad, y tres veces, Pedro lo niega. Cada vez que Jesús cuestiona a Pedro, profundiza en su corazón y alma, y al final, Pedro está llorando y le dice al Señor: “Tú lo sabes todo; sabes que te quiero”.

No es meramente coincidencia que el Evangelio de Juan termine con Pedro y Jesús en la orilla del mar, sellando el trato de amistad. Pedro confiesa que su amistad se basa en una relación más profunda e íntima con el Cristo Resucitado, quien lo conoce absolutamente todo sobre él y sobre nosotros.

Lo que se refleja en este intercambio es que Jesús ayuda a Pedro a darse cuenta de que ha sido creado para la grandeza por Dios y tiene una enorme capacidad para amar. Con esta amistad recién sanada, Jesús envía a Pedro en una misión para unirse a Él en salvar al mundo a través de la amistad, ayudando a otros

a ver que Dios ha dotado a cada uno de nosotros con una capacidad enorme para amar.

Al igual que Pedro, nuestra proclamación de Pascua es la misma: “Señor, tú conoces todo sobre mí, todo, lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo, y sabes que te amo”.

Quiero concluir mis pensamientos con lo que yo llamo una de las muchas grandes bendiciones de la amistad que he encontrado a lo largo de mis 28 años de ministerio sacerdotal.

Ha habido varias veces en diferentes parroquias, mientras saludo a las personas que entran o salen de la iglesia, que me encuentro con una persona con síndrome de Down que extiende gustosamente una mano o un abrazo. Su rostro irradia alegría y santidad, como si fluyera del corazón puro de un hijo de Dios. En ese momento, no puedo evitar sentir una verdadera amistad. Hay una simplicidad, una

inocencia y una pureza y santidad inexplicables que penetran hasta lo más profundo del alma. Estos diversos encuentros me dejan con un sentido abrumador de que ahora sé lo que significa tener un amigo del Cristo Resucitado.

Amigos en Cristo. Dios nos creó a todos con una capacidad enorme para amar y nos envía como testigos intrépidos del Cristo Resucitado. “No Teman” construir amistades en Su nombre, haciendo de nuestro mundo un lugar mejor para vivir.

Bendiciones de Pascua para ti y tu familia.

Para aquellos que deseen leer toda la homilía del Papa Benedicto XVI, vayan al siguiente sitio web: https://www.vatican.va/content/ benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2005/ documents/hf_ben-xvi_ hom_20050424_inizio-pontificato. html

GoD loves a cheerful G iver! by Bishop Chad W. Zielinski

Over the years, I have visited Mexico to brush up on my Spanish language skills and learn more about the culture. I vividly recall being invited to a family home for a midday meal during one of my visits. As I neared the neighborhood, it was evident that these people lived in extreme poverty. The homes were crudely constructed of cement blocks, pieces of wood, and metal. The family’s home I visited had only one room and a dirt floor. A single light bulb hanging from the ceiling provided light for the entire house. I was stunned by the simplicity. The kids were home from school for lunch. They were dressed very nicely and had clean clothes. The mother of the house was so gracious and said she was honored to have a priest in her home. She spoke proudly of her home, her voice filled with hope for a better future; most of all, her husband had a job.

We shared rice, beans, and tortillas, the mainstay of most of Mexico. I blessed some holy water and offered a blessing over their home. The mother extended a muchas gracias (much thanks) numerous times. I would later find out that the family shared the little food they had with me. I was stunned by the abundant generosity amidst extreme poverty.

We live in a nation of abundance. The memory of this family’s home, their generosity and hope for a better future continues to resonate with me. I carry it with me as a constant reminder of the urgent need to give generously to those in need.

“Go to the poor: you will find God.” – St. Vincent de Paul.

For information about the Diocesan Ministries appeal visit www.dnu.org/dma

Eucharistic revival

Rare Blessed Carlo Acutis stained-glass window installed in adoration chapel in small Minnesota parish community in Diocese of St. Cloud

by Dianne Towalski

The Central Minnesota Catholic

FORESTON, Minn. – During the parish year of the National Eucharistic Revival, one of the oldest adoration chapels in the Diocese of St. Cloud is getting a very special facelift.

Several stained-glass windows were installed Dec. 13, 2023, in St. Anne’s Chapel at the St. Louis parish in Foreston, including a depiction of Blessed Carlo Acutis, one of the patrons of the revival.

Terhaar Stained Glass Studio in Cold Spring created the windows, including the Blessed Carlo window – the first known window of the future saint in the Diocese of St. Cloud and possibly the first in the country.

“I instantly had to look him up on the computer, because I had never heard of him before,” stained-glass artist Christi Becker told The Central Minnesota Catholic, magazine of the Diocese of St. Cloud.

The window is one of seven created for the 24-hour adoration chapel. The other windows are of traditional saints, so it was a challenge to create a realistic depiction of Blessed Carlo that also would fit in with the rest of the design of the chapel.

“This window is going to have a little bit of a different feel from the rest of them because my reference was a photograph, not a painting,” Becker said.

In the reference photographs, Blessed Carlo wears modern clothes, not like other saints. He also carries a backpack and uses a computer.

“I think the challenge for this window was, how do you make it work within the context of all the other saints? And that was probably the biggest challenge,” said David Orton, operations manager of the studio. “I think that Christi came to that conclusion really well.”

Some of the funds to pay for the windows came from a parishioner who passed away and left money to the parish specifically for a beautification project. Rita Olson, who coordinates the adoration schedule for the chapel, was among those that suggested the money be used for stained-glass windows in the chapel.

The chapel is near and dear to Olson’s heart. Her husband Randy built it in 2001 and she has coordinated the adoration schedule ever since.

“I think it will inspire people when they are in the chapel surrounded by the saints,” she said. “We’re hoping it will even draw more people.”

The approximate cost of each window is $9,000 and once they put the word out about the project, more donors came forward.

“I would say that within three months the money was raised,” said Fr. Derek Wiechmann, former pastor of St. Louis Parish, which is part of the Four Pillars in Faith Area Catholic Community. Father Wiechmann was transferred to the parishes of Holy Spirit, St. Anthony and Christ Church Newman Center in St. Cloud last June.

The parish council chose the subjects of the additional windows – St. Anne, St. Isidore the Farmer, St. Joseph, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Heart of Mary, and the Divine Mercy. There are also two small windows behind the altar of the Holy Spirit. Father Wiechmann, who serves as co-chair of the Eucharistic Revival for the Diocese of St. Cloud, specifically requested that one window be of Blessed Carlo.

He said that during his time as pastor of the Four Pillars in Faith ACC, much of his focus was on reaching out to youth. Blessed Carlo is the namesake and patron of the youth group there.

“To have a young saint featured was important,” he said. “And he wasn’t really featured anywhere else in that context, in a stained-glass window.”

Often, we think that we have to go to a far-off place or do something really big to have an impact, Father Wiechmann said. Blessed Carlo used what he had available –technology.

“As I have been helping out with the Eucharistic Revival, and just in my own time of prayer and learning about Blessed Carlo Acutis, I think we need his example

now more than ever,” he said.

“He took what he had and really ran with it. And I think that’s such a model for us, technology was right there for him and even in the midst of his own suffering with the illness that he had, he never let that fire go out. I think that’s what is so exciting about him.”

Orton and Becker went together on the first interview with the parish and visited the chapel to get a feel for the space.

“That’s one of the key things that, on jobs like this, it’s important that we do,” Orton said.

The visit helped Becker choose the right glass and paints for the intended finished project.

“They’ve really done everything they can to make that little chapel as special as possible,” Orton said.

“I love being able to share the light, literally, sharing divine light,” Becker says of her work creating stained-glass windows. “And it’s all a gift from God, so you’ve got to trust it. You’ve got to have faith. I can’t imagine doing this without believing. It’s beautiful in so many different ways. And I feel honored to be able to do this work.”

“It feels really good to be a part of creating this special window of Blessed Carlo,” Becker said.

“I love being a part of sharing his light.”

Stained-glass artist Christi Becker works on a window in her studio. (photos by Dianne Towalski)

A stained-glass window featuring Blessed Carlo Acutis was installed in St. Anne’s Chapel in Foreston Dec. 13, 2023.

David Orton, operations manager at Terhaar Stained Glass Studio in Cold Spring, Minn., works on the installation of the Blessed Carlo Acutis window at St. Anne’s Chapel in Foreston, Minn.

Jubilarian priests celebrate years of service

Reflect on long and fruitful ministry of helping to bring people closer to Christ through the Church

by Elli Burmis Prairie Catholic correspondent

Four priests of the Diocese of New Ulm reflect on their ministry following 50 and 60 years priests.

60 years as a priest. “Every assignment was a gift.”

In February, Monsignor John Richter marked a significant milestone in his life, celebrating 60 years as a diocesan priest. The occasion was marked with a Mass of Thanksgiving on Feb. 18, at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye, followed by a reception. Reflecting on the event, he shared, “It was a truly beautiful experience – the Mass and the presence of all those people.” Monsignor Richter expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for everyone who attended, making the celebration even more memorable.

From a young age, Msgr. Richter “always wanted to be a priest.” He entered seminary as a freshman in high school and was later ordained on Feb. 22, 1964, at the Church of St. Mary in Bird Island by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler. Pope Benedict XVI conferred upon him Papal Honors with the title of “Monsignor” in 2006. Reflecting on his discernment, Msgr. Richter explains, “I always wanted to be a priest, but I never felt worthy.” However, God gifted him with an experience that changed his heart.

The night before his priestly ordination, Msgr. Richter received the sacrament of Reconciliation, revealing his feelings of unworthiness. In response, the priest reminded him of the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, who had prayed to God for a blanket of snow on the day she took her vows as a Carmelite nun. Despite it being May, God answered her prayer. The next day, as Monsignor Richter was ordained, a fresh blanket of snow covered the ground as he exited the church. This was a transformative moment for him, as he felt accepted by God and affirmed in his calling.

Looking back on 60 years of ministry, Msgr. Richter

details how, above all, he loved celebrating Holy Mass, saying, “I celebrated Mass every day, often many times a day. It was always new and rewarding.” Similarly, Msgr. Richter describes how he especially enjoyed ministering to the sick and helping people. Some of his favorite memories include being assigned to various parishes. Recalling those moments, he shares, “Each parish was such a blessing, such good people, people who really wanted to be holy.” Every assignment was a gift.

Prior to his retirement from active ministry, Msgr. Richter served in the parish communities of New Ulm, Hutchinson, Montevideo, Madison, Canby, Sleepy Eye, Wabasso, Seaforth, Lucan, Wanda, and Searles. Today, he serves as chaplain at Divine Providence Community Home/Lake Villa Maria in Sleepy Eye.

50 years of priesthood proves to be a life of gratitude and service

Rev. Gerald Meidl

Celebrating 50 years of the priesthood, Fr. Gerald “Jerry” Meidl reflects on his early journey of discernment and how God led him to become a priest.

Fr. Meidl attended Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minn, during his freshman year of high school. That year, there were approximately 80 freshmen, six of whom came from New Ulm along with Fr. Meidl. “I’ve never felt called to anything more than priesthood,” said Fr. Meidl who decided to give it a try after the 8th grade. “By going to Crosier seminary after 8th grade, I put myself in an atmosphere where if I had a vocation to the priesthood, it could grow.”

Fr. Meidl was ordained a priest on June 2, 1974, by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. As a priest, he especially values celebrating the sacraments - the Holy Eucharist, Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick. “There is nothing more humbling than to be Christ’s instrument of forgiveness in Confession,” Fr. Meidl said.

Traveling to the Holy Land in 1983 and celebrating Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem are among some of

Fr. Meidl’s favorite memories as a priest. And he is especially thankful to have been granted the opportunity for a sabbatical in 1996 at Sangre de Cristo Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico for renewal. He shares, “It was a wonderful time after 22 years of priesthood to be revived and refreshed.” Fr. Meidl also recalls how special it was to have traveled to Oberammergau, Germany, for the live Passion Play, which is only reenacted every ten years.

Furthermore, in 2008, when the diocese was for a time an empty See and waiting for the appointment of a new bishop, Fr. Meidl was tasked with Confirming students at ten different parishes in the diocese, something he felt very honored to do.

Although Fr. Meidl has never considered leaving a legacy, he shared, “I don’t have to know what I’ve accomplished in each parish I have served. Only God knows. All I really know is that my being there made a difference. After all these years, I still enjoy

not enter until his sophomore year. He continued at Crosier through junior college and eventually attended Saint John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul. “The call from God to be a priest grew stronger each year in the seminary,” he said. On May 25, 1974, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at the Church of St. Clotilde in Green Valley.

Throughout his years of service, Fr. Labat shares that his “greatest privilege [has been] the celebration of Mass and the sacraments.” He feels honored and blessed to have participated in the sacrament of Anointing the Sick because it “offers special opportunities for deep spiritual encounters,” he said. Similarly, he feels blessed to have been part of so many important moments in peoples’ lives through baptisms, weddings, and funerals.

the ministry I am doing. It’s a great life,” he said.

The parish communities Fr. Meidl has served include Willmar, North Mankato, Tracy, Walnut Grove, Sleepy Eye, Marshall, Green Valley, Hutchinson, Lafayette, and Stewart. He currently serves the Holy Cross Area Faith Community (New Ulm, Searles, and West Newton Township.)

There will be a 50th anniversary celebration for Fr. Meidl on Sunday, June 9, at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at noon, followed by a reception until 3 p.m.

Rev. Dennis Labat Reflecting on his journey to the priesthood, Fr. Dennis “Denny” Labat had been thinking about becoming a priest since junior high. “I remember reading a book Sister had for summer school CCD about the life of a parish priest,” Fr. Labat said. He decided to attend Crosier Seminary that July, but he did

Reflecting on his impactful memories as the Coordinator for Riverbend TEC (Together Encountering Christ) retreats from 1980 to 2017 and also the Spiritual Advisor for 15 of those years, he details, “During these years, I witnessed and participated in strong spiritual encounters [that] young people and adults had with Jesus. The TEC experience helped me and others grow spiritually and develop many deep, lifelong friendships.” In 1990, Fr. Labat received the Diocesan Distinguished Service Award for his involvement in TEC and, in 1999, the National TEC Conference Heritage Award.

Looking back on 50 years of the priesthood, Fr. Labat expresses his gratitude: “I am deeply grateful to the Lord for this privilege of serving as a priest in the Diocese of New Ulm. I grew up north of Marshall on a farm and always wanted to serve as a priest in this rural diocese.”

As Fr. Labat celebrates his 50th anniversary, he hopes his years of service have led others closer to Christ, sharing, “I have always sought to do my best for the Lord, for his Church and for the people. Helping people follow Jesus carrying their cross and being a witness for the Catholic faith is the example I want to leave for others.”

(Continued on page 7.)

This year, Fr. Gerald Meidl (l), Fr. Dennis Labat, and Fr. Robert Mraz celebrate 50 years serving as a priest of the Diocese of New Ulm.

Fr. Mraz, (far-left), Fr. Labat, and Fr. Meidl are pictured as transitional deacons with Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler, the first bishop of New Ulm who ordained the men priests in 1974.

Msgr. Richter

How did Jesus teach his disciples to pray? Five ways to hear God’s voice

by Fr. Tanner Thooft

As we journey through this period of Eucharistic revival, we are called to delve deeper into the heart of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, nurturing our devotion to this most Blessed Sacrament. This is a noble aspiration, reflecting a commendable desire.

However, in our practical efforts, we may find ourselves overwhelmed, merely adding more busy work to our spiritual lives. In essence, we end up with an extensive checklist of devotionals, prayers, and practices to complete each day, justifying our progress by checking off our spiritual ToDo List.

In the 6th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says, “In praying,

Priestly jubilees

(Continued from page 6.)

The parish communities Fr. Labat has served include New Ulm; Sleepy Eye, Leavenworth, Bechyn, Franklin, Fairfax, Manannah, Silver Lake, Morton, Kandiyohi, Lake Lillian, Green Isle, Faxon Township, Lamberton, Springfield, Sanborn, Olivia, Renville, Hector, Bird Island, St. Peter, Green Valley, and Nicollet. Fr. Labat currently serves the Bread of Life Area Faith Community (Cottonwood and Marshall) and the Our Lady of the Prairie Area Faith Community (Tracy and Milroy.)

There will be a 50th anniversary celebration for Fr. Labat on Sunday, May 26, at the Church of the Holy Redeemer in Marshall. There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at 2:30 p.m., followed by an open house reception at Carlin Hall (the church basement) from 3:30-6 p.m.

Rev. Robert Mraz

As Fr. Mraz looks back on his 50 years as a priest, he recalls his early discernment process. He says the impact of his upbringing in a faithful, practicing Catholic family and attending seventh

preoccupied with her own serving. Practically speaking, we are reminded that our devotional life and prayer are meant to lead us to contemplate the Divine Mystery of God himself.

do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.”

Therefore, if we want this time of Eucharistic revival to be fruitful personally, we ought to pause and ask ourselves the question: How did Jesus teach his disciples to pray?

In response to this question, Jesus doesn’t burden us with a lengthy checklist or an overwhelming schedule of holiness. Instead, he invites us to a simple, childlike response of heart-to-heart communication.

We recall the scene of Mary and Martha, where Jesus commends Mary for choosing the better partto sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his word, whereas Martha is

Following is a list of five devotionals that can help us to engage in this act of contemplation.

The Rosary: Many of us already pray the Rosary as a regular habit. However, we are reminded that in order to enter into this act of contemplation, we are not simply trying to get through the “Our Fathers” and “Hail Marys,” but rather, this rhythmic prayer is meant to draw our minds into the mysteries that go along with the Rosary.

How do we see ourselves in those mysteries? How do we share in Jesus’s passion today? How are the glorious mysteries meant to give us hope?

The Stations of the Cross: Although Lent is over, the Stations of the Cross are still a beneficial

practice that can be regularly integrated into our spiritual lives. These Stations invite us into the Passion of Jesus Christ and beckon us to walk with him.

We should ask ourselves: Where am I in each of these Stations? How am I called to bear my cross with Christ? When I stumble and fall, do I embrace the Passion or want to lay it aside?

Reading Sacred Scripture: Taking time each day to sit with sacred scripture is, in reality, to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his word. Where we can feel the pressure, like Martha, to “catch up,” we sometimes miss the reality of the gift which is simply to sit and be still at his feet.

Spiritual Reading:

While spiritual books written by saints, influential religious figures, or spiritual writers may not hold the same prominence as sacred scripture, they can serve as practical guides to applying the truths of our faith in our daily lives. Therefore, these writings can inspire us to identify tangible growth opportunities for our

spiritual journey.

Praying with Images:

When we visit our Catholic churches, adoration chapels, and even as we pass through the halls of our homes, we come across sacred reminders of our faith and the life of Christ. These images, statues, and other sacramentals are meant to be constant reminders to draw us into the life of prayer and meditation on the sacred. However, they so easily become a passing part of our lives.

When we walk by we should pause for a moment and ask for the grace to increase our desire to see the realities these images signify.

Through the act of contemplation, we can silence our mind and heart in order to listen deeply and be fully present to God who makes himself fully present to us.

Editor’s note: Fr. Tanner Thooft serves as assistant to the Office of Worship for the Diocese of New Ulm, tthooft@dnu.org.

and eighth grade at St. Pius X Catholic School in Glencoe “gave me an interest in the priesthood.”

After graduating from Glencoe High School in 1966, Fr. Mraz entered Nazareth Hall Seminary and was ordained a priest on June 1, 1974, by Bishop Alphonse J. Schladweiler at the Church of St. George in Glencoe.

Among his most treasured aspects of the priesthood, Fr. Mraz said he cherishes the opportunity to celebrate daily Mass and be with Jesus in personal prayer. He especially enjoys sharing God’s word and presence with the people through the sacraments - preparing couples for marriage, celebrating First Communion with young children, visiting the sick and shut-ins, and supporting families in times of loss.

Fr. Mraz once had the opportunity to serve as the diocesan representative for Pope John Paul II’s trip to Des Moines, Iowa, an honor and memory he still greatly values today.

Although officially retired, Fr. Mraz serves as the Chaplain for the Third Degree Knights of

Columbus Councils and the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Assemblies. He also serves as Spiritual Director for the Diocese of New Ulm’s Healing and Deliverance Ministry team.

After 50 years as a priest, Fr. Mraz said, “I hope that I have gotten people through trying times of challenges and transitions as a loving pastor who gave them hope for the future and their eternal future with a love for the faith that they can pass on to their children and grandchildren.”

The parish communities Fr. Mraz has served include Olivia, New Ulm, Ivanhoe, Canby, St. Leo, Kandiyohi, Lake Lillian, Silver Lake, Tracy, Milroy, Walnut Grove, Wabasso, Seaforth, Wanda, Lucan, Redwood Falls and Morton. He has been retired from active priestly ministry since 2018.

There will be a 50th anniversary celebration for Fr. Mraz on Saturday, June 1, at the Church of the Holy Family in Silver Lake, Minn. There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at 4 p.m., followed by a reception in the Church Hall from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Living

In The

Real” is

a pastoral guidance for clergy and parishioners to prevent “more of our brothers and sisters from falling into the trap of recreational and immoral drug misuse.”

In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature legalized recreational marijuana use and established a retail industry for the drug. In response, the Minnesota Catholic bishops have created and published a pastoral document on marijuana usage. The bishops offer this guidance in the hope of correcting the misperception that merely because something is legally permissible, it is safe or morally acceptable.

To read the pastoral document in its entirety visit https:// www.mncatholic.org/LivingInTheReal.

Political voice of the Minnesota Catholic bishops

respect life

It’s not your life, it’s not your death, it’s

by Bishop Robert Barron

WhenI was an auxiliary bishop in the Los Angeles archdiocese some years ago, the state of California was militating in favor of physician-assisted suicide. During the campaign, while driving through my pastoral region, I saw a pro-euthanasia billboard with the following message: “My Life, my Death, my Choice.” Immediately, I thought of St. Paul’s diametrically opposite remark in his Letter to the Romans: “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” I do believe that in regard to the issue of assisted suicide, it comes down to this: Did the billboard get it right, or did St. Paul? Does my life belong to me, or is it a gift from God? Is my death a matter of my personal choice, or is it under God’s providence and at his disposal?

This great question has come to the forefront of my mind once again, since my current home state of Minnesota is considering legislation very similar to the one that California did indeed adopt. The proposal is couched in language designed to assuage moral anxieties: it will be offered only to those who have a terminal diagnosis and who are making the decision in complete autonomy. In regard to the first point, color me

Vatican:

very skeptical. In many countries in Europe and in Canada, where physician-assisted suicide was approved in a similarly limited way, the restrictions on who can access it and the safeguards in place to prevent elder abuse, among other things, have been gradually lifted. In many of those places, the elderly, those with dementia, those experiencing depression or severe anxiety can all be candidates for this form of “treatment.” Though the advocates of medically assisted suicide will deny it until the cows come home, this law places the entire state directly on the slipperiest of slopes.

True freedom is ordered toward moral value and ultimately to the supreme value who is God.

And in regard to the second point, we’re back to the California billboard. Though we place a huge premium on it in our culture, I don’t consider autonomy the supreme value. Authentic freedom is not radical self-determination; rather, it is ordered to certain goods that the mind has discerned. I become free, for instance, to play golf, not inasmuch as I swing the club any way I want, but instead in the measure that I have interiorized the rules that properly govern the swing. A purely “autonomous” golfer will be a failure on the course. In precisely the same way, a sheerly autonomous moral agent will wreak havoc all around him and lose his ethical bearings. If I speak

“Abortion,

(Continued from page 1.)

in how it utilizes a mistaken understanding of human dignity to turn the concept of dignity against life itself.” The practice of surrogacy is another concern noted by the document, noting that “the immensely worthy child becomes a mere object” in the process.

Gender theory and sex changes

The Vatican states that the gender ideology “intends to deny the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings: sexual difference.” It emphasizes that “all attempts to obscure reference to the ineliminable sexual difference between man and woman are to be rejected” and that “only by acknowledging and accepting this difference in reciprocity can each person fully discover themselves, their dignity, and their identity.”

not your choice

The physician-assisted suicide (PAS) bill (H.F. 1930/S.F. 1813) has garnered significant attention this year in the Minnesota legislature marking the most progress it has seen in the past decade. But despite passing through four different House committees, thanks to amazing citizen engagement and thousands of calls and emails, it failed to secure a hearing in the Senate before policy deadlines, significantly dimming its prospects of becoming law this session. While this outcome brings relief, it underscores the need for continued vigilance to prevent the passage of physician-assisted suicide in subsequent years. To stay informed visit the Diocese of New Ulm Office of Family Life webpage, www. dnu.org/faithful-citizenship or call (507) 233-5328.

obsessively of “choice” but never even raise a question regarding the good or evil being chosen, I find myself in a moral and intellectual wasteland. True freedom is ordered toward moral value and ultimately to the supreme value who is God.

Some advocates of physicianassisted suicide will argue that autonomy over one’s body is of utmost importance for those who face the prospect of a dreadfully painful demise. But this consideration is largely beside the point, for palliative care is so advanced that in practically all cases, pain can be successfully managed. I say this with special emphasis in the state of Minnesota, which is justly famous for the high quality of its

hospitals, including and especially the Mayo Clinic. The deeper point is this: even if a dying person found himself in great pain, actively killing himself would not be morally justifiable. The reason is that the direct killing of the innocent is, in the language of the Church, “intrinsically evil”— which is to say, incapable of being morally sanctioned, no matter how extenuating the circumstances or how beneficial the consequences. I have argued before that when this category is lost sight of, a dangerous relativism holds sway. And when even the direct taking of innocent life is a matter of personal choice, the entire moral enterprise has in fact collapsed into incoherence.

And so, could I ask all of my

fellow citizens of Minnesota, especially those who are Catholic, to oppose this legislation (SF 1813/HF 1930) in any way you can: call your representative or senator, write to the governor, talk to your friends and neighbors, circulate a petition. And to those in other parts of the country, I would urge vigilance. If this legislation hasn’t come to your state yet, it probably will soon enough. If you stand for the culture of life, fight it!

Editor’s note: Bishop Robert Barron is the founder of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, www. WordOnFire.org and bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota.

surrogacy, war, poverty are attacks on human dignity”

A human body, the Vatican notes, also shares in the dignity of the image of God, and people are called to accept and respect the body as it was created: “The body participates in that dignity as it is endowed with personal meanings, particularly in its sexed condition.”

“Any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception,” the Vatican adds.

To respect human dignity, the declaration also condemns unjust discrimination, aggression, and violence directed toward individuals based on sexual orientation.

War and poverty

As war rages on in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and elsewhere in the

world, the declaration confirms that self-defense is permissible but that “war is always a ‘defeat of humanity,’” citing Pope Francis’ address to the United Nations in December. “No war is worth the tears of a mother who has seen her child mutilated or killed; no war is worth the loss of the life of even one human being, a sacred being created in the image and likeness of the Creator.”

Human trafficking, sexual abuse, and violence against women

The declaration states that human trafficking is “among the grave violations of human dignity.” It includes the marketing of human organs and tissues, the sexual exploitation of boys and girls, slave labor, prostitution, the drug and weapons trade, terrorism, and organized crime.

Sexual abuse, as explained by the

declaration, “leaves deep scars in the hearts of those who suffer it.” It adds that “those who suffer sexual abuse experience real wounds in their human dignity” and that the problem of such abuse plagues society and has also affected the Church. “From this stems the Church’s ceaseless efforts to put an end to all kinds of abuse, starting from within,” the dicastery states.

Dignity of the marginalized

“Migrants are among the first victims of multiple forms of poverty,” the Vatican says. “Not only is their dignity denied in their home countries, but also their lives are put at risk because they no longer have the means to start a family, to work, or to feed themselves.”

The declaration quotes Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti,

in which he says: “No one will ever openly deny that [migrants] are human beings; yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we can show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human.”

Human dignity is infinite

In his introduction to the declaration, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández emphasizes that the list is not comprehensive, but the subjects were selected to “illuminate different facets of human dignity that might be obscured in many people’s consciousness.”

You can find the full text of the Declaration Dignitas infinita on the Holy See website, https://press. vatican.va

CCW National Province Conference returns to diocese; June 25 at St. Mary’s, Sleepy Eye

by Jackie Finstad NUDCCW President

Good news! The 2024 National CCW Province Conference will be held right here in the Diocese of New Ulm.

This year’s theme is “Lift Up Your Hearts.” With a lineup of outstanding speakers, the conference will be held on Tuesday, June 25 at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye.

The Diocese of New Ulm Council of Catholic Women (NUDCCW) hosted the 2014 conference. That year’s keynote was Immaculée Ilibagiza, a Rwandan American author and motivational speaker who presented to a packed house about her experience of the 1994 Rwandan genocide and how her faith guided her through those dark times and allowed her to forgive. Due to money raised

2024 ‘Woman

by Barb Mathiowetz

NUDCCW Woman of the Year Committee Coordinator

In a well-deserved recognition of her contributions, Donna Sanders, a parishioner at the Church St. Mary in Cottonwood, was named the 2024 New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women “Woman of the Year.” Bishop Chad W. Zielinski presented the award at the annual New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention held April 27 at St. Pius X in Glencoe. This prestigious honor is a testament to Sanders’ unwavering commitment to her faith and her community.

Sanders carries on Christ’s mission, living out her Catholic faith daily. She values passing on her faith to her children and grandchildren. Through her involvement in the parish faith formation program, she has been instrumental in instilling the Catholic faith and virtues in the young parishioners.

A beacon of dedication, Sanders held her first leadership position in 1980, serving as St. Mary’s in Cottonwood CCW parish president, a role from which she just recently stepped down from. Throughout the years, she served with unwavering commitment as NUDCCW president (1986-

through CCW fundraisers and an anonymous donation, the Council presented a $53,000 check to Ilibagiz to help build a dormitory for teachers in Kibeho, Rwanda.

This year, NUDCCW hopes to fund Cross Catholic Outreach, a ministry that reaches out to the poor worldwide, to build a sturdy home in Guatemala.

Speaker line-up.

- Fr. Tim Tran, Eucharistic Revival

- Angela Copenhaver

Human from Day One

- Melissa Kaufenberg

Cross Catholic Outreach

- Deacon Mike McKeown

Deliverance Ministry

- Katie Braulick

Embrace Miscarriage Ministry

Conference agenda.

8 a.m. Mass – Bishop Zielinski

8:45 a.m. Registration

9:15 a.m. Welcome

9:20 a.m. Province report

9:30 a.m. Fr. Tim Tran

10:45 a.m. Angela Copenhaver

Noon – Lunch break

1 p.m. Melissa Kaufenberg

2 p.m. Deacon Mike McKeown

2:30 p.m. Katie Braulick

3 p.m. Closing

Register soon.

The deadline to register for the conference is June 17. Send your name, parish/diocese, address, and phone number to Barb Mathiowetz, 77916 US Hwy 71, Olivia, MN 56277. Please include your registration fee of $55, payable to the Province of St. Paul/Mpls. For questions contact Chris Heiderscheidt, chrisheiderscheidt@gmail.com. For information about the speakers visit nudccw.org.

of the Year’ announced

1988), St. Paul – Minneapolis province director (1991-1993), president of the Associates of NCCW (2003), and NCCW Region 1 vice president in 2007. She recently resigned as the New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (NUDCCW) Resource and Development committee member after many years in that role.

Sanders and the late Mary Ann Kramer were instrumental in starting the NUDCCW newsletter. For 25 years, she served as the newsletter editor. Sanders regularly attends and promotes CCW deanery spring and fall gatherings as well as the annual NUDCCW conventions.

Over the years, she has provided training and presentations at many of these events and serves as a mentor to those who are new to their deanery or diocesan roles. Attending the National CCW Convention is a yearly priority for her. Sander’s late husband, Jerry, was very supportive in her many Council of Catholic Women roles.

Sanders continues to be very active in her parish, serving as a Eucharistic minister, lector, choir member, DRE, and faith formation teacher, and served on the parish council as the CCW representative. She was the project leader for

her parish’s kitchen remodel project, researching, contacting contractors, purchasing the appliances and flooring, and other necessities for the renovation. She has organized CCW Recognition Sunday, CCW Mother's and Father’s Day recognition, Mission of Love Project, and May crowning, and is currently in charge of organizing parish funeral luncheons.

Sanders’ influence extends far beyond the church walls. She is a pillar of the Cottonwood community, actively promoting programs that address social concerns. She initiated the highly successful Cross Catholic Outreach “Boxes of Joy” program within her parish and has been a dedicated participant and organizer of programs for “Feed the Starving Children.” Her commitment to community service is further demonstrated by her regular volunteering at the community food shelf.

Donna Sanders is a true inspiration to many through her wonderful example of faith, dedication, and sharing.

Editor’s note: Be sure to watch for highlights of the 2024 NUDCCW Convention in the June edition of The Prairie Catholic!

Encountering Jesus through the Gospel

by Leonard Gutierrez

Over the last several months, this column has focused on encountering Jesus and how we encounter him. When we recall the Gospel scenes of the woman at the well, the story of the prodigal son, the nativity of Jesus, and more, we see that these encounters lead to change. We also know that many others in the Gospels had met Jesus and left “unchanged.” As we journey with Jesus in our daily lives, are we merely walking away unchanged, or are we embracing the continuous process of transformation that discipleship entails?

In these same Gospel stories, we see men and women with dispositions similar to those of Jesus’ disciples: open to receiving, being changed, and being transformed, though maybe not perfectly or all of the time.

The disciples of Christ are able to continually be filled and changed because they understand that, like the woman at the well and the prodigal son, only Jesus can provide the true sustenance that our hearts yearn for. Perhaps there have been moments in our lives where we, too, realize that we are only able to be filled when we create space for God. What helps us encounter God and leave changed is making room to be filled.

In a time like ours, it is all the more urgent for us to reflect on how we fill our homes, minds, ears, time, and schedules. Are we leaving room to be filled so that we can be transformed by Christ into Christbearers?

We are approaching

Pentecost Sunday (May 19), where we are reminded of the early disciples encountering Christ anew, as they were filled with the Holy Spirit and sent on a mission to evangelize. When we look to those who have encountered Jesus in the Gospels, we see a process of evangelization. This process is what many recent popes, such as St. Pope Paul VI, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis, as well as many missionary apostolates, have put into everyday language. Phrases like encounter, accompany, send or connect, grow, and go describe the process of evangelization that has worked since the time of Jesus.

When you gather the narrative of how Jesus chooses to evangelize, it’s all with the perfect understanding of how relationships work. Jesus wants each of us to continually encounter, be filled, and go out. However, as the popular acronym RIM (relationship, identity, mission) reminds us, we can only go out and bear fruit if we continually live from encounters or relationships.

As we prepare for Pentecost, may we take time to reflect on where we are in our discipleship relationship with Christ. An honest reflection might tell us that either we are in need of an encounter with Christ, we are in need of being filled and transformed, or we are in need of being sent!

Leonard Gutierrez is the director of the Office of Evangelization for the Diocese of New Ulm. He can be reached at lgutierrez@dnu.org; (507) 233-5361.

by Fr. Mark Steffl, STL, JCL

This month’s question is a very good one because often (and unfortunately) concerns over this very question deter individuals whose marriages have broken up in a civil divorce from approaching the Church to seek an annulment. They somehow think that the children of their union will be labeled as “illegitimate,” either by the Church or by others, as a result of that process.

In the Code of Canon Law, canon

Ask a Canon Lawyer

This month’s question: Are children of a marriage that is declared “null” (annulment) by the Church considered “illegitimate”?

1137 reads: Children conceived or born of a valid or putative marriage are legitimate.

This canon uses the word “putative,” which is not commonly used. In this context, “putative” refers to marriages that, even though they were later declared invalid by a Tribunal process, were entered into in good faith by one or both spouses and were assumed to be valid marriages until they were proven otherwise. So this canon assures that, even in the case of a marriage that is later declared invalid, the children of such a union would still be considered “legitimate,”

for they were born within a marriage seen as valid at the time.

However, some further clarification about the concept of “legitimate” and “illegitimate” is helpful. When the Code of Canon Law was revised in 1983, the question was raised as to whether the point of legitimacy of children should even be included in Church Law moving forward.

In past centuries (and perhaps still in certain places), “legitimate” children had certain rights to things such as claims on inheritance or titles of nobility. In modern times, however, the tendency is for civil or state law

to consider all children to be equal in most countries in the world. In the past, these distinctions had more significance in Church law as well, but these distinctions have disappeared completely within the Church, too.

Although Church law is not part of our civil law system in the United States or in many places in the world, there are nations where the Church’s law still has civil implications and where this distinction would be important to have codified. So it was for this reason the matter was included in the “new” 1983 Code of Canon Law, as well as an opportunity to highlight the importance and sanctity of marriage.

Above and beyond this particular distinction, the Church would instead recognize and insist that

all life is always and in every circumstance sacred, holy, and a gift from God.

That all being considered, though, in relation to the question of this issue’s column, the decision to pursue an “annulment” should be free of any apprehensions regarding legitimacy of children: that need not be a concern that causes hesitation in approaching a Tribunal.

NEXT ISSUE: What does a vicar general do in a diocese? Is it necessary for every diocese to have one?

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.

New leadership in two diocesan offices: Catholic Charities, Social Concerns

by Christy Baker

The Prairie Catholic

NEW ULM – Bishop Chad W. Zielinski has announced three changes to the Diocese of New Ulm staff concerning the Offices of Social Concerns and Catholic Charities: two immediately and one effective June 30, 2024.

n Tami Behnke, MS, LPCC, has been appointed Director of Catholic Charities, effective March 1, 2024. In her new role, she will provide leadership and guidance to all four Catholic Charities offices in New Ulm, Willmar, Hutchinson, and Marshall. Additional duties will include directing regional counseling services, legal immigration services, Project Rachel, post-legal adoption counseling services, and ongoing assessment of counseling needs within the diocese. Behnke will also serve as director of the Office of Social Concerns, assuming that role on July 1.

A seasoned professional, Behnke brings an array of knowledge to her new role as director of Catholic Charities and the Office of Social Concerns. As a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) licensed by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy, Behnke has been a part of the Catholic Charities staff, serving as an outreach counselor since 2007 when Catholic Charities in

the diocese was formed. She holds a Master’s degree in counseling from South Dakota State University and is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). Her diverse background includes work in human services and community mental health. Behnke will continue to provide counseling services to couples, families, and individuals in the Marshall area.

She will also remain as an adjunct professor in the counseling and education department at South Dakota State University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate-level students.

Behnke is passionate about serving the people of the Diocese of New Ulm and is committed to positively impacting the lives of those served.

She will focus on “providing high-quality services to those in need, particularly those who have experienced trauma, abuse, or loss, and expanding Catholic Charities outreach efforts to more people in underserved areas.”

n The bishop thanks former director of Catholic Charities, Sr. Lois Byrne, PBVM, MSW, LICSW, who stepped away from this role, effective March 1, 2024, to focus on her new leadership position in her religious order, the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sister Lois has been a dedicated member of the Catholic Charities staff, serving as an outreach counselor since

Bishop Chad W. Zielinski has appointed Tammy Behnke, (middle) to head Catholic Charities of the diocese and to take leadership of the Office of Social Concerns. Also pictured is outgoing social concerns director Deacon Timothy Dolan and outgoing Catholic Charities director Sr. Lois Byrne. (Photo by Christy Baker.)

Catholic Charities was formed in the diocese in 2007. She was appointed as director in 2020 by Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir. Despite stepping down as director, her commitment to Catholic Charities of the diocese remains steadfast. Sr. Lois will remain an outreach counselor in the Willmar area and now offers counseling in Ortonville on Tuesdays.

n The bishop also thanks Deacon Timothy Dolan for his many years of service to the Diocese of New Ulm as director of the Office of Social Concerns. Deacon Dolan will retire from his position effective June 30, 2024.

Deacon Dolan brought a wealth of experience to the diocese when he was appointed as

director of Social Concerns in 2013 by Bishop Emeritus John M. LeVoir. Throughout these past 11 years, he has coordinated the work of the diocesan Social Concerns Committee, fostered the development of area faith communities and parish groups that focused on social concerns, and promoted legislative advocacy and faithful citizenship on social concerns, giving numerous presentations to different organizations concerning Catholic social teaching. Widely known for his concern for the poor and those in need, he has assisted with multiple social concerns and Catholic Charities outreach projects and initiatives in and beyond the Diocese of New Ulm. He served as a member of the New Ulm Ministerial Association, which secured funds and a location to start NUMAS Haus, a women’s and children’s shelter in New Ulm. He also served on the Social Concerns Committee of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the bishops of Minnesota, and has been active with the Joint Religious Legislative Committee working on legislation.

Ordained a permanent deacon in April 2012, Deacon Dolan will continue to serve the Corpus Christi Area Faith Community (Arlington and Gaylord).

around the diocese

Embracing mental health A call to compassion and understanding

by Tami Behnke, director New Ulm Catholic Charities

As May unfolds its blossoms and blessings upon us, it also brings into focus an issue of profound importance: mental health. As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, we, as Christians, are called to embrace this vital conversation, recognizing the sacred intersection of mental health and faith.

In our faith journey, we turn to prayer, sacraments, and often times community for solace and support. However, it’s important to remember that mental health struggles are not solely spiritual matters. They encompass complex biological and psychological dimensions. That’s why it’s crucial to approach mental health with compassion, understanding, and a readiness to seek professional help when needed.

Within our Catholic tradition, we find rich resources for navigating mental health challenges. The sacrament of Reconciliation offers a space for healing and forgiveness, while the Eucharist provides nourishment for both body and soul. Our church community plays a crucial role in supporting those facing mental health difficulties. Parish ministries, counseling

services, and support groups are opportunities to extend fellowship, empathy, and practical assistance to those struggling.

Despite these resources, stigma can still shroud mental health issues.

As Catholics, we are called to challenge this stigma, recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every person, regardless of their mental health status. Pope Francis reminds us that “The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.”

As we journey together through this month of mental health awareness, let us renew our commitment to accompanying one another with compassion and understanding.

Pie anyone?

“Upper

Crust” pie makers raise over $24,000 for St. Edward school

MINNEOTA, Minn. – Pie baking has a strong history at the Church of St. Edward in Minneota. Anyone from the parish community most likely has heard about the Pie Ladies or, better yet, eaten one of their delicious pies!

For over 20 years, St. Edward parish volunteers have been baking pies as a fundraiser for the parish school. The original pie ladies were known as the Grannies. The group was started by Jeannette Konold, an alumni of St. Edward School and a grandmother passionate about having a Catholic education for her grandchildren and the children of the community. Back then, the school needed a new playground, and Konold solicited a group of women of the parish to bake and sell pies to finance it.

Catholic Charities, a ministry of the Diocese of New Ulm, stands as a beacon of compassion and assistance for those navigating mental health challenges. Trained counselors are stationed in New Ulm, Hutchinson, Marshall, and Willmar, offering accessible and professional support to individuals and families in need.

Visit www.dnu.org or call 1-866670-5163.

Bishop Lucker Lecture

(Continued from page 1.)

“The same Jesus working miracles, the same Jesus helping those in need, the same Jesus of scriptures is present as the Blessed Sacrament. Someone greater than anyone is here!” Dr. Sri exclaimed.

Daily prayer.

One of Dr. Sri’s practical lessons of the day was about prayer life. “The soul needs prayer like the body needs oxygen,” he said. “Without a prayer life, the sacraments may have a limited effect,” recounting St. Theresa of Avila. “With Jesus at the center of our lives, we need to have and develop the virtue of basic daily prayer.”

Recommending 20-30 minutes of daily prayer time to start, Dr. Sri quoted a few of the saints for prayer support: “According to St. Catherine of Siena, we simply show up, do it anyway, persist in

prayer; it’s not about feelings, but an act of the will. Saint Thomas Aquinas said to give God the good intention of prayer; even if our mind wanders, the whole prayer is meritorious based on that initial good intention. And even if you feel like you have nothing to give in prayer, Saint Mother Theresa said, ‘Give God that nothing.’”

During these years of the Church’s Eucharistic Revival, Dr. Sri’s high-energy, passionate, and relatable presentations left those who attended the Bishop Lucker Lecture (daytime and evening presentation) with the scriptural basis for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as well as practical ways of prayer and meditation to grow in love with Christ and his Real Presence in the Eucharist.

Visit the Diocese of New Ulm website, www.dnu.org/bishoplucker-lecture to view Dr. Sri’s evening presentation.

After the playground was built, the Grannies continued to bake and sell pies for a number of years until Konold's health deteriorated, and she was no longer able to manage the work. After a lull in the piemaking, enter JoAnn Coover, a parishioner of St. Edward’s and Konold’s niece. Coover took the lead on “Aunt Nett’s” piemaking project.

In February 2017, a new group of women took over the pie making calling themselves the “Crusty Pie Ladies.” Today, the “Upper Crust” pie bakers are in charge of the pie making.

St. Edward parish “Upper Crust “ pie makers include: Front row (l-r), Pauline Wambeke, Barb Guttormsson, Charlene Tillemans, and Jeannette Sharp. Back row: Marlene DeSmet, Kathy Wyffels, Sue Johnson, Jo Cooke, Donna Bertamus, Janelle Laleman, and Mary Ann Saracen. (Photo submitted)

Twice a month, the group gathers and makes 50-60 pies. Pie baking is an art, and everyone has a special job; mixers, rollers, fillers, and fluters, all coming together to create delicious pies. Flavors include rhubarb, peach crumble, strawberry/rhubarb, cherry, blueberry, dark cherry, pumpkin, and apple. Strawberry/rhubarb is the top seller.

Ask any volunteer why they do this, and the overwhelming response is to support St. Edward School. “We’ve all had children or grandchildren who have attended St. Edward School. Having

“Grannies” founder Jeannette Konold passed in 2016, but her pie making fundraiser lives on.

the opportunity for a Catholic education is important to all of us,” commented one volunteer. The present-day pie ladies to date have raised over $24,000 for the school.

In addition to making pies, volunteers help in other aspects of the business such as selling the pies at the local thrift shop in Minneota. Parishioners donate ingredients for the pies; it takes many hands to make the process work.

Student handbell ensemble compete

BIRD ISLAND, Minn. – In March, the St. Mary’s Catholic School in Bird Island Handbell Choir participated in the “Shine On” Showcase of Catholic School Talent sponsored by the Catholic Schools Center of Excellence.

The Handbell Choir was instructed by St. Mary’s music teacher, Lizz Strandberg. The ensemble was one of 26 acts from around the state that performed in the competition at Benilde-St. Margaret’s Catholic School in St. Louis Park, Minn. St. Mary students did not place among the top acts, but being able to share their love of music while performing “Here, I am to Worship” for the showcase was an unforgettable experience.

Mary’s Handbell Choir members, grades 6-8 are instructed by Lizz Strandberg.

St.

Musicians include, (front row, l-r) Sadie Zuhlsdorf, Taylor Zupke, Kooper Eiler, and Emma Tersteeg. Second row, Piper O’Neill, Mara Strandberg, Erika Martinson, and Skylar Zuhlsdorf. Third row: Jackson Everson, Brecken Erickson, and Sophia Buckley. (Photo submitted.)

INDIANAPOLIS – In three weeks, the Catholic faithful will kick off four historic and unprecedented pilgrimages, each originating from one of the four compass points of the U.S. Together, they will travel more than 6,500 miles, with more than 100,000 participants, converging on the 10th Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21 – the first such congress in 83 years. The faithful will proclaim Christ the King, the giver of all gifts, fully present in the Blessed Sacrament, to the entire world. Tickets to the Congress are still

available as well as there are some seats still open on the bus. Find out more! Visit www.dnu. org/eucharistic-revival

WASHINGTON - “No employer should be forced to participate in an employee’s decision to end the life of their child,”

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee for Religious Liberty said April 19, in response to newly released regulations by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission (EEOC). The regulations implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which itself provides helpful accommodations to pregnant women in the workplace. The EEOC, however, has defied Congress’s intent and added a mandate for employers, including religious employers, to provide accommodations, such as leave time, for abortion.

Said Bishop Rhoades, “The bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, as written, is a prolife law that protects the security and physical health of pregnant mothers and their preborn children. It is indefensible for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to twist the law in a way that violates the consciences of pro-life employers by making them facilitate abortions. No employer should be forced to participate in an employee’s decision to end the life of their child.”

Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Elena Guerra, paving the way for the canonization of a new female saint known as an “apostle of the Holy Spirit.”

A friend of Pope Leo XIII and teacher of St. Gemma Galgani, Elena Guerra (1835-1914) is known for her spiritual writings and her passionate devotion to the Holy Spirit.

Guerra wrote more than a dozen letters to Pope Leo XIII between 1895 and 1903 in which she urged him to exhort all Catholics to call upon the Holy Spirit in prayer.

The pope heeded her request and published three documents on the Holy Spirit during their correspondence, including a letter asking the entire Church to pray a novena to the Holy Spirit leading up to Pentecost in 1895 and his encyclical on the Holy Spirit, Divinum Illud Munus, in 1897.

“Pentecost is not over,” Guerra wrote. “In fact, it is continually going on in every time and in every place, because the Holy Spirit desired to give himself to all men and all who want him can always receive him, so we do not have to envy the apostles and the first believers; we only have to dispose ourselves like them to receive him well, and he will come to us as he did to them.”

Blessed Elena is the foundress of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, a religious congregation recognized by the Church in 1882.

Pope John XXIII called her “a modern-day apostle of the Holy Spirit” as he beatified her in 1959.