Communicating more effectively and efficiently
2 July 5, 2012
Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
Widows invited to reflection day
The Catholic Spirit
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News with a Catholic heart
TheCatholicSpirit.com
Dealing with a deluge; recovery afloat Flooding in Duluth, Superior dioceses worst seen in more than 40 years By Joe Winter Catholic News Service
In adjoining port cities where rivers flow into the western tip of Lake Superior, Catholic officials continued to help people who were displaced and had their homes damaged by 10 inches of rain that fell in just a few hours. The June 20 torrential rains that hit areas of the Diocese of Superior, Wis., and the Diocese of Duluth caused the worst flooding that those places have experienced in more than 40 years. The high waters created sinkholes, washed out roads, and damaged houses and other buildings in several neighborhoods. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency visited the area for the first time June 28 to assess the damage. It could take up to three months for storm victims to receive federal disaster aid.
Assessing the damage Many people hit hard by the storm are not used to asking for help, said Patrice Critchley-Menor, Duluth’s diocesan social apostolate director. “They are used to giving, not getting,” Critchley-Menor said, adding that she and others working with relief efforts have heard many times that “others have it worse, or this could have been even worse.” Officials in many agencies were working to assess the damage, expecting the full extent of emergency needs wouldn’t be known for a couple of weeks. Longterm assessments won’t be completed for months. PLEASE TURN TO STORM ON PAGE 16
Catholic Youth Camp works to salvage season; sessions still planned for summer Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit
Among the many businesses and organizations affected by the recent flooding in northeastern Minnesota is one near and dear to the hearts of many Catholic families. Catholic Youth Camp, the only Catholic resident camp in the state, is located on Big Sandy Lake in McGregor, where flooding has made it inaccessible by car. The camp is closed and has can-
celled three sessions, but camp officials hope to re-open for the scheduled July 15 to 20 session. “The board of directors and I have worked hard to keep Catholic Youth Camp in operation even though the economy has made it difficult, and I’m worried about the long-term effects of losing so much of our camp season,” said Natalie King, the camp’s executive director. PLEASE TURN TO YOUTH ON PAGE 16
CNS photo / Joe Cadotte, Reuters
Above: A car sits submerged in a sinkhole after flooding in Duluth June 20. Photo courtesy of Natalie King
Top: A staff person uses a kayak to get to a building near the swim beach at Catholic Youth Camp in McGregor June 27.
Rosary to the rescue
Ham Lake couple gets extra help during roadside birth By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit
Nikki Mickelson was getting anxious with her pregnancy. She had been to the hospital three times — and was sent back home three times with false labor. By Sunday, June 24, her baby was a week overdue. “I was praying my rosary, ‘Please, Blessed Mother, make this go quick and soon,’” admitted the 32-year-old parish-
ioner of St. Paul, Ham Lake. “Maybe I was praying too hard.” Baby Veyda Nicole Mickelson did come quick — and a bit too soon. She was born in her parents’ car on the way to St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul.
In God’s plan The couple wasn’t interested in their story being shared with the media, but when asked by a fellow parishioner if they PLEASE TURN TO BABY ON PAGE 19
Jim Bovin / For The Catholic Spirit
Nikki and Toby Mickelson with their daughter Veyda and the rosary that Toby used to tie off the umbilical cord.
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JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Thriving in the new world of communications
That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Restructuring enables us to more effectively and efficiently coordinate our efforts throughout the local church
Archbishop Charles Chaput of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia recently announced some sweeping operational changes, including the elimination of his archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard & Times. Citing significant financial challenges, Archbishop Chaput stated that the plan will stabilize central office operations, ensure long-term financial stability and put the archdiocese in position for future growth (see story, page 16). Some of the same reasons that have led Philadelphia to eliminate its newspaper and put its monthly magazine on hold have led the board of directors at our own publication, The Catholic Spirit, to recommend, after two years of careful study and discussion, the changes that are under way this summer.
New world of media Like secular print newspapers, Catholic newspapers have also been dramatically affected by increasing costs and an online world that has revolutionized the way people receive and share news and information. This is especially true of young people, who rarely pick up any sort of print publication. It is also true even for my own generation for whom the Internet has become an increasingly regular means to stay connected to
The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit’s mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It seeks to inform, educate, evangelize and foster a spirit of community within the Catholic Church by disseminating news in a professional manner and serving as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues.
“In the coming year, you will begin to see positive changes in the way we communicate, including a more integrated approach to print and digital media.
�
ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT
family, do research for hobbies and interests, find information, and get work done faster and more efficiently than ever. We’re in a new world, as they say. It is something that the board of directors at The Catholic Spirit was very wise to recognize and prepare for over the past several years. Because our mission as Christian disciples remains the spreading of the Good News and truth of Jesus Christ and his church with joy and charity, we do not want simply to react to this new world, we want to thrive in it. And so, at the recommendation of the board and after nearly two years of a strategic planning process, analysis and consideration of multiple options, we are implementing the board’s plan to combine the personnel and resources of The Catholic Spirit with
SARAH MEALEY Associate publisher
JOE TOWALSKI Editor
Materials credited to CNS copyrighted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by Catholic Spirit Publishing Company. Subscriptions: $29.95 per year Senior 1-year: $24.95 To subscribe: (651) 291-4444 Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444 Classified advertising: (651) 290-1631 Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, a non-profit Minnesota Corporation, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. www.TheCatholicSpirit.com e-mail: catholicspirit@archspm.org USPS #093-580
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our archdiocesan Office of Communications. This integration joins the considerable communications talent, expertise and experience of both organizations in a way that will enable us more effectively and efficiently to coordinate our communications throughout our local church. These changes will also allow us to expand all of our print, electronic, online and video communications efforts, including increased utilization of social and emerging media. While we are committed to continuing our biweekly print publication, we also need to expand thoughtfully and assertively our reach in the world of communications online. In the coming year, you will begin to see positive changes in the way we
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Official His Excellency, the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Effective June 4, 2012 Reverend Peter Yakubu Ali, incardinated into the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Father Yakubu Ali’s original diocese of incardination was the Archdiocese of Kaduna. Effective June 11, 2012 Reverend Sebastian Adichilath, CMI, granted the faculties of the Archdiocese and appointed associate priest of the Church of Saint Patrick of Shieldsville, Minnesota, and the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer of Montgomery, Minnesota. Effective June 15, 2012 Reverend Jules Omba Omalanga, appointed associate priest of the Church of Saint Boniface (Minneapolis) and the Church of All Saints of Minneapolis. Effective June 20, 2012 Very Reverend Timothy Cloutier, appointed parochial administrator of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament of Saint Paul. This is in addition to his assignment as Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal. Effective July 1, 2012 Reverend Michael Kueber, appointed associate priest of the Church of Pax Christi in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Reverend Abraham George Kochupurackal, CMI, appointed associate priest of the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Reverend Patrick Tobin, OP, granted the faculties of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Father Tobin will be teaching Chemistry at the University of Saint Thomas and serving in Campus Ministry. Reverend Douglas Dandurand, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint Therese of Deephaven. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend David Blume, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint Patrick of Cedar Creek, Minnesota. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend Charles Brambilla, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint Timothy of Blaine. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend James Himmelsbach, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of the Annunciation of Minneapolis. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend David Kohner, appointed to a second term as pastor of Saint John’s Church of Little Canada, Minnesota. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend Mark Pavlik, appointed to a second term as pastor of Saint Olaf’s Catholic Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend Michael Skluzacek, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint John Baptist (New Brighton). This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Reverend Michael Sullivan, appointed to a second term as pastor of the Church of Saint Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove, Minnesota. This appointment will extend until July 1, 2018. Effective July 15, 2012 Reverend Norman Volk, OMI, granted the faculties of the Archdiocese for the duration of his residence at the Oblate Residence in Saint Paul. Departures Reverend Joseph Bidwell, OP, reassigned by the Dominican Order to residence in Chicago. Father Bidwell had been in residence at the Saint Albert the Great Priory in Minneapolis. The following will also take effect on July 1, 2012: The canonical merger of the Church of the Visitation in Minneapolis and the Church of the Annunciation of Minneapolis. The canonical merger of the Church of Saint John Baptist and the Church of Saint Genevieve of Centerville. The canonical merger of the Church of Saint Canice of Kilkenny and the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer of Montgomery.
“People share the earth with other creatures. But humans, made in the image and likeness of God, are called in a special way to ‘cultivate and care for it.’” ‘Renewing the Earth,’ by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Local News from around the archdiocese
JULY 5, 2012
Faith and fun down on the farm
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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St. Anne, Le Sueur, hosts the annual Rural Life Sunday People from across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gathered at the Don and Judy Pfarr farm in Le Sueur June 24 for the Archdiocesan Rural Life Sunday celebration. The annual event, which featured Mass, lunch, entertainment and a petting zoo, is a way to help people better understand the life of farmers and their relationship to the land. Members of Sibley County’s Rush River Rushers 4-H club helped run horse-drawn wagon rides during the celebration, which was sponsored by St. Anne parish in Le Sueur.
Photos by Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit
Zack Klaers, a member of the Rush River Rushers 4-H club, shows off his llama, Morris.
Jim Reeder of the Downtown Sound Variety Band challenges bandmate Jay Minar to use all the concertina keys in one song. The band, based in New Prague, provided the afternoon entertainment.
Bishop Lee Piché celebrates the outdoor Mass on a flat-bed trailer; worshipers sat on hay bales.
Hearing Tests Set for Senior Citizens Announcement — Free electronic hearing tests will be given all next week Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. The tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are not hearing clearly. People who generally feel they can hear, but cannot understand words clearly are encouraged to come in for the test, which uses the latest electronic equipment. Everyone, especially those over age 55 should have an electronic hearing test once
a year. Demonstrations of the latest devices to improve clarity of speech will be programmed using a computer to your particular needs — on the spot — after the tests. See (and HEAR) for yourself if newlydeveloped methods of correction will help you understand words better. Tests will be performed at one of 20 convenient Greater Twin Cities Avada Hearing Care locations.
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www.avada.com ©2012 HHM, Inc. 304
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Local
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JULY 5, 2012
Communications Office restructuring will improve effectiveness The Catholic Spirit A restructured archdiocesan Office of Communications will help the local church to better coordinate its messages and spread the Good News more effectively and efficiently in light of rapid changes happening in the world of print and digital media, Archbishop John Nienstedt said. “I am optimistic and excited about these new possibilities and the promise they hold for us to live out, in a more dynamic way, our mission of Christian discipleship in this local Church,” he wrote in his column in this week’s edition of The Catholic Spirit (see page 2). The restructuring, which was effective July 1, includes combining the resources and personnel of the Communications Office and The Catholic Spirit, which will continue to publish on a biweekly schedule. The changes will strengthen and expand the archdiocese’s print, electronic, online and video communications efforts, including use of social and emerging media, the archdiocese said in a statement last month announcing the new organization.
Office of Communications
Media and External Relations Manager Jim Accurso
New roles Archbishop Nienstedt has asked the director of communications, Sarah Mealey, to assume the additional role of associate publisher of the newspaper as part of the integrated office. Bob Zyskowski, who had served as associate publisher since 1998, is taking on new responsibilities as the office’s client products manager, overseeing publication-related services the archdiocese provides to the dioceses of Fargo, St. Cloud and Duluth (see related story on this page). Joe Towalski, editor of the newspaper since 2005, is continuing in that position and also serving as publications manager with responsibilities to oversee all membership publications produced by the office, including newsletters, brochures and the official Minnesota Catholic Directory. Towalski is assisted by a publications team within the Office of Communications that includes former employees of The Catholic Spirit who will produce stories, photos, videos and other content for member publications as well as provide design, advertising and development support. Other members of the Office of Communications, headed by Mealey, include: ■ Craig Berry, who serves as social and new media manager. Berry will head a team of three people dediPLEASE TURN TO CHANGES ON PAGE 20
Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Client Products Manager Bob Zyskowski
Vicar General Fr. Peter Laird
Publications Manager Joe Towalski
Communications Manager Rita Beatty
Social and New Media Manager Craig Berry
Social and New Media Team
Zyskowski to serve in new role in Communications Office The Catholic Spirit Bob Zyskowski has witnessed many transitions during his nearly four decades working for Catholic newspapers as a reporter, editor and — for the last 14 years — associate publisher and general manager of The Catholic Spirit. Now he is ready for another transition that, he said, gets him back to the kind of work he loves best. On July 1, Zyskowski began serving as client products manager in the restructured archdiocesan Office of Communications (see related story on this page).
Rose Parade, Palm Springs & San Diego Tour
In his new role, he will oversee publication-related services the archdiocese provides to the dioceses of Fargo, St. Cloud and Duluth. For about 25 years, The Catholic Spirit has assisted the Diocese of Fargo to produce its official monthly publication, New Earth, by providing editing and design expertise. It also has assisted the Diocese of Duluth for the last seven years to produce its monthly publication, The Northern Cross, and the Diocese of St. Cloud for the last six years to publish The Visitor, its biweekly publication. ZYSKOWSKI
PLEASE TURN TO ZYSKOWSKI ON PAGE 20
A Spiritual Journey to
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+PTIVB/BUJPOBM1BSLt5FNFDVMB8JOF5BTUJOH Departing December 29, 2012
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Local
JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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The Catholic Spirit wins journalism awards for writing, photos The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit was honored with 13 awards for writing and photography at the Catholic Media Convention June 20 to 22 in Indianapolis. The awards, for work completed in 2011, are given by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. 1st place awards ■ Best coverage of a routine sacramental event, The Catholic Spirit staff for “2011 Priest Ordinations,” a special section that profiled five men ordained priests. ■ Best regular special supplement, the staff for “Leading With Faith,” an annual section honoring men and women busi-
ness leaders who live their faith in the workplace. ■ Best feature writing, Dave Hrbacek for “Tragedy Transformed,” about a local Catholic couple working to educate other families about teen suicide following the suicide of their daughter. ■ Best sports journalism feature, Dave Hrbacek for “Former NFL QB hands off skills, faith to Pioneer team,” about HillMurray football coach and former professional quarterback Brooks Bollinger. 2nd place awards ■ Best editorial section, for “This Catholic Life” by the staff. ■ Best editorial on a national or international issue, Joe Towalski for “John Paul
If it’s Catholic and in Minnesota, we wrote the book on it.
II’s words offer guidance for budget debates.” ■ Best news writing, Pat Norby for “Job market: Good news, bad news,” about how some local parishes offer practical and spiritual help to the unemployed. ■ Best reporting on children, the staff for “Catholic Schools Week” section. ■ Best reporting on teenagers, Pat Norby for “Cristo Rey students step out and up,” about the Minneapolis Jesuit high school’s first graduates. 3rd place awards ■ Best editorial on a local issue, Joe Towalski for “Extreme sports, good times and the new evangelization,” about last winter’s Crashed Ice skating competition at the Cathedral and how it was an opportunity for evangelization. ■ Best personality profile, Julie Carroll for “To hell and back,” about military chaplain Father Jerome Fehn, whose tours of duty have included Bosnia and Iraq. Honorable mentions ■ Best photo story originating with a newspaper, Dave Hrbacek for “Journey through the Easter Triduum.” ■ Best freestanding online/multimedia presentation of photo slideshow, Jim Bovin, Dianne Towalski and Dave Hrbacek
Among The Catholic Spirit’s 13 awards from the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada was a first place award for “best regular special supplement” for its “Leading With Faith” section honoring local business leaders.
for “WWII Vet,” about the remains of a World War II soldier coming home after more than 60 years for a funeral at St. John the Baptist in Dayton.
Priest seeks to foster healing at parish in wake of misconduct allegations The Catholic Spirit
Mass times at every church, contact points for every parish, every school and ministry, and much, much more. Call 651-291-4444 • Order online at WWW.THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM
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Father Timothy Cloutier hopes his new assignment at Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul will foster healing and renewal for parishioners in the wake of allegations that their former pastor engaged in misconduct involving a minor. Father Curtis Wehmeyer, who had been pastor of Blessed Sacrament since 2009, was removed from all ministerial duties by Archbishop John Nienstedt after the archdiocese learned about the allegations, according to a June 24 statement from the archdiocese. “While promoting healing for the good people at the Blessed Sacrament and St. Thomas the Apostle sites of the parish will certainly be present in my mind and heart, helping them and myself to move forward in discipleship will be the principal focus of my attention and ministry, as it’s always been,” said Father Cloutier, who has been assigned as parochial administrator of the parish. St. Thomas the Apostle and Blessed Sacrament merged in July 2011, with Blessed Sacrament as the receiving parish. Father Cloutier will continue to serve as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and
Minneapolis. Previous to his appointment as judicial vicar in July 2011, he served as pastor of St. Mary in Waverly from 2003 to 2011.
Investigation initiated Following archdiocesan policy, the archdiocese said it immediately reported the allegations against Father Wehmeyer to the police and an investigation was begun. The archdiocese is cooperating fully with police, the statement added. Pending the outcome of the investigation, Father Wehmeyer is prohibited from exercising any ministry in the archdiocese. He is no longer in residence at Blessed Sacrament. Parishioners were informed about the allegations during weekend Masses June 23-24 and were provided a written copy of the archdiocese’s statement. The archdiocese’s statement added that anyone having knowledge of misconduct within a parish should call the proper authorities and is encouraged to notify the archdiocese at (651) 291-4497. “The Archdiocese deeply regrets the pain caused by clergy misconduct or by others within the Church. The Archdiocese is offering its support and assistance to all concerned,” the statement said.
The Catholic Spirit: News with a Catholic heart. No matter what’s going on in this changing world, it’s nice to know you can always return to a place where inspiration lives. Where you’ll find in-depth stories about people making a difference in the world. And where you can reconnect with your faith as you learn about the Catholic Church’s viewpoint on some of the difficult issues we face.
The Catholic Spirit 651-291-4444
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JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Archbishop urges Mass-goers to defend religious liberty By Sara Kovach
gion is not the enemy “of dignity, rights and right reason,” but is rather the wellordered life that the very virtues flow from, and the founders of America knew this when drawing up the Constitution.
The Catholic Spirit
Angela Muttonen of St. Peter in Forest Lake braved the front pew at the Cathedral of St. Paul with three of her young children for a Mass June 28. Taking place on the eve of the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, it also was a Mass to mark the “Fortnight for Freedom.” The mother of four was there to stand in solidarity with the U.S. bishops and Archbishop John Nienstedt, who celebrated the Mass, along with Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché and about 10 other priests of the archdiocese. Muttonen and others who attended the Mass left hopeful for the future of the archdiocese after Archbishop Nienstedt concluded his homily.
Marking anniversaries
A ‘cherished heritage’ During the Mass, Archbishop Nienstedt invoked the intercession of Sts. Peter and Paul, martyrs of the church in Rome, to help worshippers be vigilant, pray and advocate in defense of religious liberty and conscience rights. “Let us turn to our heavenly patrons for the graces we need to defend not only our rights but the cherished heritage of this country — a country in which religion and statecraft are allies and partners in building up the common good,” he said. The Fortnight for Freedom began June 21 and ended July 4. The purpose of the observance, as explained by Archbishop Nienstedt, was to bear witness in both private and public ways to our commitment to religious liberty.
Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
Angela Muttonen, left, of St. Peter in Forest Lake prays with her children Roxanne, second from left, Bridget and Sophia during Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul June 28. Archbishop John Nienstedt was the principal celebrant at the Mass, which both marked the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul and the Fortnight of Freedom, instituted by the U.S. bishops to emphasize and pray for religious freedom in America during the two-week period from June 21 to July 4.
Archbishop Nienstedt said that now more than ever it is important to accept “our own essential need to evangelize,” and through “communion and mission,” a greater solidarity with the one holy Catholic Church will be formed. “Our struggle to ensure that Catholics
and Christians are allowed to continue to follow the dictates of their conscience and their faith is not for us alone. It is for the generations to come,” he said. “We did not choose this fight but it has come and we must be ready.” Archbishop Nienstedt noted that reli-
The Mass also marked the five-year anniversary of Archbishop Nienstedt’s arrival to the archdiocese as coadjutor archbishop and the three-year anniversary of Bishop Piché’s episcopal ordination. Muttonen and children Roxanne, Bridget and Sophia wore buttons supporting the efforts of the nationwide movement to protect religious freedom. She agreed with Archbishop Nienstedt’s point that education about religious freedom starts at home, as she plans to educate her children first about the beauty of sexuality rooted in the Catholic faith. “I want to teach my children that sexuality is a treasured religious gift because it is given to us by God,” she said. “Then, I hope they will share that knowledge with others.” She expressed hope that Catholics would pray and fast throughout the Fortnight as an offering to God of thanksgiving for religious freedom. Donna Zroka, a parishioner of St. Paul in Ham Lake, attended the Mass to show the citizens in her community how important religious freedom is to Catholics. “We shouldn’t have to be here defending our faith,” she said. “But we need to in order to show our support for the efforts of [church leaders], especially Archbishop Nienstedt.”
Class acts: Standouts lead teams to prep baseball titles Turch brings quiet leadership, strong faith to St. Agnes squad By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
Mike Streitz was having another sleepless night on June 15. His slumber cut short by a late quarterfinal win in the state Class A baseball tournament, the St. Agnes High School coach chose to work on his lineup card for the next night’s semifinal game rather than lay his head on the pillow. The job was easy except for one thing — should he play senior Charlie Turch at shortstop, or put him TURCH on the mound to face Blackduck High School for the right to play in the finals at Target Field June 18? The answer was announced the following morning: “Nine [a.m.] at Perkins,” said Turch, a senior righthander who was chosen to take the hill that day.” We were just eating breakfast at Perkins and I had an idea that I might be pitching, but he was still deciding. We had talked the whole night before. And then, over scrambled eggs, he told me I was going to be pitching that game.” Streitz was proved right in his decision. Turch turned the Blackduck lineup into scrambled eggs, throwing a four-hit shutout in a 7-0 win that propelled his team to the championship game. It was the second consecutive shutout
for the Aggies, and they would add a third in the finals, becoming the first team since Richfield in 1971 to not allow a run in the state tournament. They defeated Lac Qui Parle Valley 6-0 for their first state baseball title since 2001, finishing the season with a record of 23-6. In addition, Turch was named the Class A Player of the Year.
Strong skills, strong faith In 34 years of coaching high school baseball players, Streitz has held his share of hardware and developed his share of all-stars. But, not many players like Turch have come along in three-plus decades. “He’s in the top 10,” said Streitz, 54, who came to St. Agnes seven years ago and also serves as the school’s athletic director. “Charlie is one of a handful of kids that I hope I have a lifelong friendship with.” Sharing those sentiments is the outgoing pastor of St. Agnes, Father John Ubel, who at the moment is making a transition to his new job as rector of the Cathedral of St. Paul. A passionate baseball fan, he will take with him to the Cathedral a baseball signed by all 18 members of the St. Agnes varsity squad. “It’s going to go right on my desk for everyone to see at the Cathedral,” Father Ubel said. “It [championship] was a great way to end my time at St. Agnes.” Father Ubel could be seen throughout his six years at St. Agnes in the front row of the bleachers at baseball games wearing
a St. Agnes baseball cap. He felt a particular connection to this year’s team, as he took some of the players, including Turch, to Italy for a vocations trip in November. “We took 16 boys . . . and eight of them were baseball players,” said Father Ubel, noting that a similar trip for girls will be offered during the upcoming school year. “When you’re with a group for 10 days, morning, noon and night, you really do get to know them a lot better.” Father Ubel discovered one thing first hand — Turch is fast. When the group visited San Giovanni Rotundo, Father Ubel climbed a long set of stairs and staged a race to the top among the boys. Turch got there first. “He really is a solid, solid athlete all the way through,” Father Ubel said, of Turch. “That was no surprise that he won the race.” Yet, Father Ubel is far more impressed by Turch’s faith. A frequent visitor to the confessional, the baseball captain made quite an impression on the St. Agnes pastor. “I would say he’s very humble,” Father Ubel said. “He is, I think, the antithesis of what you see in some quarters today where people are out there, especially at the pro level, showing everyone just how good they are. He’s very quiet and reserved. But he’s clearly very serious about his faith.” That is precisely why Turch was so glad that Father Ubel celebrated Mass for the PLEASE TURN TO ST. AGNES ON PAGE 19
Holy Family ace throws two shutouts in state tourney By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
When first baseman Connor Herd of Holy Family High School in Victoria scooped up a grounder and touched first base for the final out of the game, senior pitcher Kasey Ralston’s childhood dream finally had come true. Since the fifth grade, his sights were set on winRALSTON ning a state baseball championship, and he put his hands on the trophy at last after throwing a complete game, two-hit shutout as his team defeated St. Cloud Cathedral 5-0 on June 18 at Target Field in Minneapolis. But, there’s more to this story than hoisting hardware. In the stands was his mother Chris, a breast cancer survivor who has been in Kasey’s thoughts ever since her diagnosis during his eighth-grade year. She had surgery, went through chemotherapy and was declared cancer free when he was a ninth-grader. Yet, the specter of cancer PLEASE TURN TO RALSTON ON PAGE 19
“It is a vast migration into the heart of London, and it would be quite wrong if the church did not reach out to support those who are coming here.” Father Christopher Jamison, who will serve later this summer as one of 16 official Catholic chaplains during the 2012 Olympic Games in London
Nation/World JULY 5, 2012
News from around the U.S. and the globe
Bishops urge Congress to fix health reform law By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service
The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 28 decision upholding the health reform law makes it even more urgent for Congress to act to fix the law’s “fundamental flaws” on abortion funding, conscience For more on protection and immigrants’ access to the court’s health care, the U.S. decision see bishops said. page 10 The court found that although the individual mandate in the 2010 health reform law does not pass constitutional muster under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, it can be upheld as an acceptable exercise of Congress’ taxing powers.
“The decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct [the law’s] fundamental flaws.” U.S. CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Agreement with bishops Sister Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association, said she was pleased that the health care law “has been found constitutional and will remain in effect.” The Daughter of Charity noted that CHA had submitted friend-of-the-court briefs urging the court to find in favor of the individual mandate and the Medicaid expansion. “In the coming weeks and months, we will continue working closely with our members, Congress and the administration to implement the ACA as fairly and effectively as possible,” she added.
However, CHA has agreed with the bishops in urging the government to expand its definition of religious employers who are exempt from the requirement to provide contraceptives and sterilization free of charge to their employees. The decisions do not affect other lawsuits against the health reform law’s requirement that most religious employers must provide contraceptives, including some abortion-causing drugs, and sterilization to their employees at no cost. Those cases are still in lower courts and have not yet reached the Supreme Court.
Year of Faith plans include hymn By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service
With a hymn and a prayer, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella presented the Vatican’s initial calendar of events for the Year of Faith, which begins with a Mass Oct. 11 in St. Peter’s Square. During a news conference at the Vatican June 21, Archbishop Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization, unveiled the sheet music for the official hymn for the Year of Faith, “Credo, Domine, Adauge Nobis Fidem” (I believe, Lord, increase our faith). He distributed copies of the official Year of Faith logo and prayer card, which features a mosaic image of Christ from the cathedral in Cefalu, Italy. The Nicene Creed is printed on the back of the cards, with the idea that the profession of faith would become “a daily prayer, learned by heart, as it was in the first centuries of Christianity,” the archbishop said. Archbishop Fisichella also announced that the Congregation for Divine Worship
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Pope names German theologian to head doctrinal congregation Catholic News Service
Mandate upheld as tax In a 65-page opinion announced by Chief Justice John Roberts, five members of the court upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in full but limited the federal government’s right to withhold its share of Medicaid funding from states that do not expand the health program for the low-income and disabled as mandated by the law. “The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has not joined in efforts to repeal the law in its entirety, and we do not do so today,” said a USCCB news release issued shortly after the decision. “The decision of the Supreme Court neither diminishes the moral imperative to ensure decent health care for all, nor eliminates the need to correct [the law’s] fundamental flaws.”
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
and the Sacraments had approved prayer texts in Latin and Italian for a special “Mass for New Evangelization.” The archbishop’s office is translating the Latin text into English, Spanish and other languages. Pope Benedict called the Year of Faith to strengthen Catholics who go to church, reach out to those who have left but still yearn for God in their lives, offer a response to those who are searching for meaning and help those who think they do not need God, he said. He said the pope decided it was right to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church with a year dedicated to encouraging Catholics to study, profess and demonstrate their faith. The Vatican launched a website — WWW.ANNUSFIDEI.VA — containing information about the Year of Faith and the calendar of special events Pope Benedict will celebrate during the year.
Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Gerhard Muller of Regensburg, Germany, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The 64-year-old expert in dogmatic theology and ecumenism, who has co-authored a work on liberation theology, replaced U.S. Cardinal William Levada, who retired at 76. As head of the doctrinal congregation, the archbishop also assumes the roles of president of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei,” the Pontifical Biblical Commission and the International Theological Commission. The appointment automatically elevates the former bishop of Regensburg, Germany, to the rank of archbishop, according to a Vatican statement July 2. The archbishop’s academic research focuses on “ecumenism, modern age theology, the Christian understanding of revelation, theological hermeneutics and ecclesiology — the priesthood and the diaconate,” according to the website of the Diocese of Regensburg. He has authored more than 400 works with the most well-known being the 900-page “Catholic Dogmatics: For the Study and Practice of Theology.” In 2004, he co-authored a book titled “On the Side of the Poor: The Theology of Liberation” with Dominican Father Gustavo Gutierrez, who is considered the father of liberation theology. Though the doctrinal congregation, led by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, asked Father Gutierrez, to write and rewrite articles clarifying some of his theological and pastoral points during the 1990s, the doctrinal congregation expressed approval in 2004 of his latest work on ecclesial communion, which was published by a pontifical university.
Father Pavone allowed to minister outside diocese A Vatican decree allows pro-life activist Father Frank Pavone to minister outside the Diocese of Amarillo, where he was incardinated in 2005, but he still must obtain specific permission to do so from Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek. Bishop Zurek said in a June 20 statement that the congregation “has sustained Father Frank Pavone’s appeal of his suspension from ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo.” “As a gesture of good will, I will grant permission to FATHER PAVONE him in individual cases, based upon their merits, to participate in pro-life events with the provision that he and I must be in agreement beforehand as to his role and function,” the bishop added.
The priest is director of Priests for Life. A June 26 statement from the group said it was “happy to announce that the Vatican has upheld Father Frank Pavone’s appeal and has declared that Father Pavone is not now nor has ever been suspended. Father Pavone remains a priest in good standing all over the world.” Last September, Bishop Zurek suspended the priest from ministry outside the diocese, saying he was needed for work in Texas. Father Pavone has remained a priest in good standing in the Amarillo Diocese. The disagreement between him and the bishop became public last fall when Bishop Zurek sent a letter to other bishops raising questions about the finances of Priests for Life and its affiliated organizations. Although the letter announced Father Pavone would not be allowed to minister outside the Amarillo Diocese, it did not accuse him of financial impropriety. — Catholic News Service
“I’m also trying in my own way to evangelize the new social media, to make it more of Christ, more of God, more of the good.” Bishop Christopher Coyne
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This Catholic Life THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Opinion, feedback and points to ponder
JULY 5, 2012
Bishop tells communicators they serve as faithful prophets By Mary Ann Garber Catholic News Service
Catholic communicators who are filled with faith can serve as prophets by their commitment to spread the good news of Christ to the world, Bishop Christopher Coyne, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, told Catholic Media Conference participants. Explaining that prophets speak to “the truth of things,” Bishop Coyne reminded the journalists and communicators during his homily at the opening Mass for the conference that the faithful are “called by name, from within the community, and imbued with the Spirit to speak to the truth of Jesus Christ.” “The call to be heralds and prophets of the kingdom of God is one that is shared by virtue of our common baptism,” he said during the June 20 liturgy at St. John the Evangelist Church. “Today, as in the past, our community needs to hear that message of truth loud and clear,” he said. “That is the work that you all do so well. Through the various means of communications, we join in the prophetic act of speaking to the truth of Christ’s salvific mission to all men and women.”
Four pieces of advice Citing his former position as spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston and current role as bishop, Bishop Coyne offered four pieces of advice to the communicators. ■ First, “always take the high road” to effectively fulfill the prophetic role of being a good Catholic communicator, Bishop Coyne said. “By this, I mean always be polite, never respond in kind, do not make any more enemies than one already has in these matters and, most importantly, don’t send an angry email written completely in capital letters until you’ve slept on it overnight,” he said. ■ Second, effective communication requires staying
CNS photo / Nancy Wiechec
Bishop Christopher Coyne, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, addresses attendees at the Catholic Media Conference during Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis June 20.
on topic, he said, whether answering questions from the media or “in the greater scheme of life.” “In the grand scheme of things as Catholic communi-
cators, isn’t the overall topic the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and what that means for the world?” he asked. “Staying on this topic really does allow us to keep our actions and words directed toward him.” ■ Third, in the midst of any task, he suggested that individuals pause and ask, “Is what I am doing building up or tearing down?” “In asking this question, I think of St. Paul’s admonition in the Ephesians to say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them,” he said. Such an approach does not mean ignoring wrongdoing, the bishop said, because Jesus was outspoken in his challenges to hypocrisy and sin. “In that sense, we are building up by tearing down when we tear down evil and replace it with the good,” Bishop Coyne explained. “But my admonition is more to avoid at all times the ‘attack ad’ mentality that sadly permeates much of our public discourse today. One way in which this plays out positively is trying to communicate as much as we can what it is we are ‘for’ rather than what we are ‘against.’” ■ Finally, he said, the life and teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux and her philosophy of the “little way” offer a way to keep focused. He suggested that she become the patron saint of the rapidly advancing field of social communications. “In her little way, she tells us to first live out our days with confidence in God’s love and to recognize that each day is a gift in which one’s life can make a difference by the way [we] choose to live it,” he said. “Out of this comes the admonition to see every little task or moment in life as an opportunity to make concrete the love of God. Think about that in terms of what we do. Every news story, every video, every blog post, every tweet or email or response to comment boxes can become an opportunity to manifest God’s love if we commit ourselves to loving.”
Blogging cited as another way for the church to evangelize By Sean Gallagher Catholic News Service
Blogging offers the Catholic Church one more way to evangelize for the faith while reaching new audiences, especially young people, a panel of Catholic bloggers told a packed room during the Catholic Media Conference in Indianapolis. The panelists, which included Bishop Christopher Coyne, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, a frequent user of Twitter, agreed that while not all bloggers are official church representatives, the relatively new but quickly growing form of communication has influenced how the church spreads its message. They also said during the June 22 session that blogging, like any communication tool, must be used responsibly.
Long-term impact Elizabeth Scalia, managing editor of the Catholic portal at PATHEOS.COM and writer of a blog named The Anchoress, said that traditional print publications, such as diocesan newspapers, with a strong Internet presence can act quickly to clarify misperceptions about the church in the main-
stream media. She suggested that the newspaper blogs could track a story and make corrections in real time, providing an overview of an event until publication day. While the longevity of blogs may be short-lived, Scalia said that their impact can be long term. “Put your stuff on the Internet and for better or worse, it’s there forever,” she said. “In a way that gives the Holy Spirit some room to work. A thing you wrote three years ago and forgot about may come up in the Google search of someone who really needs to see it, and suddenly evangelization, tailor-made for that person, happens.” Rocco Palmo, writer of the widely followed blog of church news and rumors called “Whispers in the Loggia,” said he began blogging in 2004 “for three readers.” Today, the cumulative hit count on “Whispers” is more than 23 million. Because of the popularity of Catholic blogs, Palmo said the church has much to offer people involved in social media. In particular, he cited Pope Benedict XVI’s message for World Communications Day 2012, observed May 20, which empha-
sized the need for silence in good communications. “It was risky because it could have been read, ‘Pope to bloggers: Shut up.’ It could have been spun that way,” Palmo said. “But it wasn’t. . . . It struck a nerve in our [media] inundated society about when you should turn off [digital devices]. It’s important to unplug.” The pope’s message marked one of the first times that the church’s message about technology and society was taken up after many years of perception that the church was behind the times, he said.
Evangelizing the media Bishop Coyne said he sees himself as a missionary on the Internet. “I approach the new social media both as a means of evangelization and I’m also trying in my own way to evangelize the new social media, to make it more of Christ, more of God, more of the good,” he said. Although he frequently posted to his blog — online at WWW.THOUGHTSOFA CATHOLICBISHOP.BLOGSPOT.COM — as a priest and early on after his episcopal ordination, he said he posts items less frequently in
part because blogging is more of a passive medium that people must chose to visit. “In terms of Facebook and Twitter, it’s going out,” Bishop Coyne said. “Now, granted, people have to follow you. But there is more movement [going] out there, which I think is more in keeping with [Christ’s command to] go out to all the world and spread the good news. It’s more directive from me.” Many in the church, including panelists in the blogging discussion, see the Internet and social media as avenues through which the church can reach youth and young adults. Bishop Coyne suggested that Catholics can learn from some evangelical communities, which have brought youths together through social media networks. Deacon Greg Kandra, executive editor of One magazine and writer of the blog The Deacon’s Bench, said he started blogging in 2007 because “I really did not recognize the church that I knew in a lot of the blogs that I was reading. They were very partisan. A lot of them were angry.” “One of the things that I wanted to impart was the idea that it’s a big church and that the body of Christ is huge,” he said.
This Catholic Life / Opinion
JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Summer: Time to recharge body, mind and spirit
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Editorial Joe Towalski
Your family will appreciate vacation memories for a long time to come
or some people, family vacations conjure up images reminiscent of the popular 1980s movie starring Chevy Chase — Mom, Dad and kids riding less than comfortably in a car packed with bags and other belongings headed down the road toward one misadventure after another. These experiences come with the territory — like the time I had to pull off the highway and rush into the back seat to free the head of one of our children from a plastic kids’ meal bucket lodged firmly in place after her failed attempt at making a fast food fashion statement. We still laugh about that one. But ultimately more memorable for me are the “less panicked” times we spend together each year on summer vacations: talking in the car, seeing new sights and visiting with relatives and friends. They are an opportunity for our family to reconnect by disconnecting for a short time from work, school and the routines that keep us busy from the time we get up to the time we go to bed.
The pope reminds us that summer is also a time to be refreshed spiritually. Maybe that involves reading a faith-enriching book you haven’t had time to get to. Or an excursion to a rural church. Or even a mini-pilgrimage to the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis or Cathedral of St. Paul, which a few years ago was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul by the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Unplugging ourselves Time for rest Pope Benedict XVI has spoken about the importance of summer vacations as a time to “rest from our daily labors.” Done right, he said, they can refresh everyone in body, mind and spirit. We Minnesotans live in a state with a lot of natural beauty, but we still need an occasional reminder to take a break and recharge our batteries. Those of us who are not part of
the boat-and-cabin culture have other opportunities available, especially in light of high gas prices and tight family budgets. State parks, for example, offer affordable camping and hiking options. The Twin Cities are home to myriad museums, sights and cultural events that cater to parents and children. And, the summer Calendar section of The Catholic Spirit features parish festivals and other family friendly activities.
Just going to Mass? No, it’s more than that
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ormer Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista Gingrich, recently showed up at 11 a.m. Mass at St. Richard Church in Richfield. They arrived without fanfare, deliberately (I’m guessing) showing up a few minutes after Mass had started so they could quietly take a seat without attracting attention. They left with the crowd Deacon Robert Schnell after the closing song, joining everyone else on the way out — no press, no speeches, no photo-ops, a non-event. When I mention that the formerspeaker and his wife were at St. Richard’s, people say: “Why were they there?” “Just going to Mass,” I say, and they look puzzled, like that isn’t a sufficient explanation. Although their celebrity brings their attendance at Mass into focus, the Gingriches weren’t the only visitors on Sunday. There was another visiting couple at that same Mass, middle-aged and from Cicero, Ill., as they proudly told me on their way into Mass. I’m sure there were probably others visiting as well who had found a Catholic Church to attend Sunday Mass in the middle of their travels. Last month, it was a group of Girl Scouts who were staying at the WaterPark of America who were brought to the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass by their leaders — a dozen or so well-scrubbed kids from Iowa with three women as leaders. They were “just” going to Mass. It made me ask the question: “Why?” Why take the time and energy out of a busy day, in the middle of probably hectic travel, hundreds of miles from home, to find a church, determine the Mass schedule, get properly dressed and show up on a Saturday evening or Sunday morning, “just” to go to Mass.
Opinion
The Catholic way When I ask my friends who are Protestant or Jewish if they would find a church or synagogue at which to wor-
“I think people go
out of their way to attend Mass because, on the whole, we Catholics do an excellent job with the liturgy.
”
DEACON ROBERT SCHNELL Material printed on the Opinion and Letters page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the archdiocese or The Catholic Spirit.
ship on a weekend while they are traveling, the answer almost universally is “no.” Certainly people of other faith traditions can and do pray alone or in a group while travelling on the Sabbath. But we Catholics seem to be the only ones who have a tradition of finding a church and worshipping with other believers, even in a strange city. The fact that Catholics do this — the ex-congressman and his wife, the couple from Cicero, the waterpark kids — tells me that we must be doing something very, very right in the church. Of course, the cynics among us will attribute this behavior to “Catholic guilt,” or a slavish following of the hierarchy or simple habit. Maybe — but from everything I’ve read and heard about former-Speaker Gingrich and Callista Gingrich, I don’t think they are weak-minded pushovers who simply do what they’re told. The couple from Cicero didn’t strike me that way either. And, anyone who’s got the fortitude to take a dozen 10to 12-year-old girls to a waterpark for a weekend can stand up to anyone
if need be. No, there’s something more going on, something positive that we’re doing right, something that gets us to search the Internet for a church and schedule our time, even our vacation time, around attending Mass.
Getting it right Let me suggest that the first answer to the question of why we have this unique desire to worship in community is simply the Eucharist. The Eucharist is fundamentally a community celebration. You can’t experience it fully on your own and, despite the most robust interior prayer life, there is something missing when Sunday goes by and you have not been part of a eucharistic celebration. But I think there is something more going on here than “just” the sacrament. I think people go out of their way to attend Mass because, on the whole, we Catholics do an excellent job with the liturgy. I know that some reading this will say that’s not so — that they have been to Masses that were poorly prepared and terribly executed. Yes, that does happen. Most of the time, though, as was the case at St. Richard’s on that Sunday, we get it right. There is a mix of reverence and joy, singing and silence, proclamation and reflection. The fact that throughout the church the same readings are used, the same prayers are said, and the same sacrament is celebrated gives the Mass a familiarity of feel and rhythm that is both engaging and comforting. We feel welcome, even if we’re one-time visitors. I didn’t get a chance to ask the couple from Cicero, or the waterpark kids, or the Gingriches about their time at St. Richard’s. But I’ll bet they didn’t feel like strangers. I’ll bet they felt like members of the universal body of Christ. And that’s a big part of the reason that we “just” go to Mass. Deacon Robert Schnell serves at St. Richard in Richfield.
Spending extra time together as a family this summer doesn’t require a trip to an expensive amusement park or distant car rides to far-flung tourist attractions. It does require us, however, to unplug as much as possible from our daily stresses, work schedules and smartphones. Summertime is a good time to plan some downtime and create memories — some funny, like the bucket incident; others more heartwarming — that you and your family will appreciate for a long time to come.
Staff members take on new roles CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 communicate, including a more integrated approach to print and digital media. As part of the restructuring, most former Catholic Spirit employees were offered and have accepted positions in the new, integrated archdiocesan Office of Communications. Persons you have come to know through the years at The Catholic Spirit, such as Bob Zyskowski, will be taking on some new and important roles in the communications office. You’ll read more about that in two related stories in this edition (see page 4). As we have welcomed our new employees to the archdiocese, they have already found that the employment agreement, salary and benefits offered here are generous and just. In addition, we provide employment that fully reflects the Catholic Church’s longstanding advocacy for the dignity of work and workers’ rights. In addition to these safeguards, the archdiocese provides an Office of Conciliation to assist employees in protecting their rights. In short, everyone can rest assured that the new employees who have joined the archdiocese from The Catholic Spirit, like all of our current employees, are treated with dignity and justice, in keeping with Catholic teachings and tradition.
New roles Our new communications organization became effective July 1, and with these changes I have asked our new director of communications, Sarah Mealey, to take on the additional role of associate publisher of The Catholic Spirit. In this role, Sarah will assist me and work closely with Joe Towalski, our continuing editor and new publications manager, to ensure that all publications of the archdiocese help us to thrive in this new world of communications. I am optimistic and excited about these new possibilities and the promise they hold for us to live out, in a more dynamic way, our mission of Christian discipleship in this local church. As we move forward, I ask for your prayerful support for our newly integrated team of communications professionals and the good work they do. God bless you!
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JULY 5, 2012
Commentary
/ This Catholic Life
Road-trip reflections on faith and mobility
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Twenty Something Christina Capecchi
A road trip provides welcome reprieve from the formidable charge of discovering your place and your purpose
write this from the road, winding through pines and rolling by silos as Highway 94 cuts across Wisconsin. This is my third road trip in less than a month — a vacation, a wedding, a conference. I would be highway weary except these hills are so green and the sky, a marble band of periwinkle and white; the day is stretching out as wide as the road. Time to “dwell in possibility,” as Emily Dickinson wrote, to untether from deadlines and landlines and float in the space between Point A and Point B. The highway remains a hallmark of the pre-parenthood 20s: We are exceedingly mobile. Researchers call us “transient,” which sounds like we sleep under bridges. We church hop, we couch surf, we can’t be counted on to donate or subscribe or even show up, they say. We go through an average of seven jobs over the course of our 20s. One third of us move to a new residence every year. We live out of car trunks and cardboard boxes, suitcases and laundry baskets, packing and unpacking, hauling and hoping. It’s not that we don’t long for roots, but it takes some time for all the pieces to fit together. My cousin finally found a job that allowed her to buy a house, complete with front
porch, peony bush and tire swing, and she is reveling in her first summer there.
Time to take in the view That is the formidable charge of the 20s: to discover your place and your purpose. A road trip provides welcome reprieve from that quest. This morning I’m letting my mind zig zag through the white dotted line. I’m taking in the other drivers, imagining who’s going where and why. I’m gazing at fences and farm homes and envisioning the narratives unfolding inside. Road trips now come with Internet, so I can hop on Wikipedia to satisfy the impulse to brush up on state populations and presidential
history: 44 presidencies, 43 men, four assassinations, four natural deaths while in office. These summer trips have been filled with a hundred little discoveries. Like Ogallala, Neb., a town Dr. Seuss could have named, where the Dairy Queen serves food without a single company logo — blank white paper cups, plain silver foil wrappers. Then there’s the bridge contractor from Kansas I met at a fly fishing lesson. He protested the rushed pace of high-profile construction, saying, “Quality takes time.” Two days later we white water rafted with a 46-year-old Illinois woman who had traveled to Colorado to meet her biological father, a wiry 72-year-old who had known
of her existence but not her gender. Coming home we discovered a 99year-old antique carousel in Story City, Iowa, an impulsive stop triggered by a highway billboard. In a merry-go-round tucked between the high school and the ball field, painted ponies frolic among handcarved roosters and pigs. We arrived an hour before opening and were offered a free ride by three men testing the band organ. Last week Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the traveler’s life in an address to airport chaplains, cautioning that “continuous mobility and constant technological development . . . tend to obscure the centrality of the human person.” He urged the priests to “make sure that every person, of whatever nationality or social background, can find in you a welcoming heart, able to listen and understand.” That sounds like the mission of any Christian wherever you are, permanent home or six-month lease: to cultivate a welcoming heart. The 20somethings I know do that well, and road trips help, greasing the hinges of the door to the heart. Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights. She can be reached at WWW.READ CHRISTINA.COM.
Health care reform must be guided by moral truth, sound principles
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Faith in the Public Arena Jason Adkins
Three serious problems in the law remain in place and require Congress’s immediate attention
ast week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld as constitutional the most controversial element of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA): the mandate that all individuals must purchase private health insurance. The court held that the mandate was essentially a tax that Congress could compel citizens to pay. The ruling also leaves in place another mandate opposed by a majority of Americans: the HHS mandate that private employers, including religious ones, must include socalled “preventive services”— abortifacient drugs, sterilizations, and contraception — in health insurance plans offered to employees. For various reasons, including the presence of the two mandates already mentioned, many are calling for the ACA’s repeal. Others are celebrating the court’s ruling as protecting needed health care reform legislation. So, what is next? The bishops of Minnesota, along with their brethren around the U.S., were not involved in the ACA litigation, nor did they take a position on the legal questions presented to the Supreme Court. They have not advocated for the repeal of the ACA altogether, and they do not do so now. Rather, the bishops have called and continue to call on Congress to amend the ACA so that it protects the unborn, the rights of conscience, and the health care needs of immigrant families. Access to basic, affordable health care is a human right Before unpacking the bishops’ position concerning federal health care
reform, it’s worth recalling how they arrived at it. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and other magisterial documents make clear that access to basic medical care is a human right. Society has a responsibility, as a matter of justice, to ensure that each person has the health care they need for their growth and flourishing (CCC 2288). When society fails to ensure that people have access to basic, affordable care, government has a duty to offer assistance, particularly for families and the elderly (CCC 2211). Guided by this teaching, a pastoral concern for the lay faithful and the common good of all of society, and the church’s experience as the largest single health care provider in the country, the bishops of the United States have, since 1919, advocated for comprehensive health care reform that provides universal access to basic care for all citizens. In a 1981 statement, the American bishops said the following: “It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to establish a comprehensive health care system that will insure a basic level of health care for all Americans. . . . The Federal Government should also insure adequate funding for this basic level of care through a national health insurance program.” Guiding principles for health care reform When advocating for health care reform at the federal level, the bishops have laid out the following guidelines for sound policy: ■ Genuine health care reform
must protect human life and dignity, not threaten them, especially for the most voiceless and vulnerable. ■ Health care legislation must respect the consciences of providers, taxpayers and others, and not violate them. ■ Coverage should be truly universal and should not be denied to those in need because of their condition, age, where they come from or when they arrive here. ■ Costs must be restrained and applied equitably across the spectrum of payers. Providing affordable and accessible health care that clearly reflects these fundamental principles is a public good, a moral imperative, and remains an urgent national priority. ACA needs to be amended by Congress and the president immediately Although the ACA is designed to give all Americans access to health care, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops did not support its final passage in Congress. Three serious problems in the law remain in place and require Congress’s immediate attention. First, the ACA allows use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions and for plans that cover such abortions, contradicting longstanding federal policy. Second, the ACA fails to include necessary language to provide essential conscience protection, both within and beyond the abortion context. The HHS mandate forcing religious and other employers to
cover sterilization and contraception, including abortifacient drugs, illustrates this problem in dramatic fashion. Third, the ACA fails to treat immigrant workers and their families fairly, leaving them worse off by not allowing them to purchase health coverage in the new exchanges created under the law, even if they use their own money. These problems are of grave concern and must be fixed immediately. Otherwise, their continued existence could signal the misuse of the ACA as a government bludgeon to impose an ideology inconsistent with the duty to ensure access to life-affirming health care for all. The ACA represents an important opportunity to advance social justice and ensure that the health care needs of all Americans are met. But health care policy, like health care itself, must be guided by sound principles and moral truth. If it isn’t, health care policy no longer promotes a culture of life and human dignity, but instead endangers the well-being of persons and the health of society. The Catholic Church will continue to be a staunch advocate — in the community, in the legislative arena, and even in the courts, if necessary — for health care reform that protects the sanctity of human life and the rights of conscience, as well as promotes both healthy citizens and the common good. Jason Adkins is executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
This Catholic Life / Commentary
JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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The question of conscience The following is the second article in the series “Catholics Care - Catholics Vote.” The series, which will run until Election Day, Nov. 6, unpacks and explores the themes addressed by the U.S. bishops in “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” their document on political responsibility. By Don Clemmer U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
“We don’t tell them who to vote for. We don’t want to tell them who to vote for!” That’s what one Midwestern bishop said following the USCCB’s November 2007 meeting in Baltimore, where the bishops had overwhelmingly approved the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” on political responsibility. His comment reflected the fact that the document, at its heart, is a call for Catholics to get involved in the political process, not a voting guide. It also reflected the church’s practice of not endorsing political parties or candidates. Of course, this doesn’t remove the church from the political arena entirely. A person would have to live in a concrete bunker to miss the fact that the bishops have plenty of positions on political issues and public policy — from battles over religious freedom and the definition of marriage to the perennial advocacy against abortion and for immigration reform and peace in the Middle East. Surely the bishops must have some inkling of what issues should be important to Catholics when they vote. They do. But they also recognize that voting is a moral choice. And, the responsibility for that choice ultimately
“Forming one’s conscience is
an ongoing process aided by reading Scripture, reflecting on church teaching, studying the issues and, of course, praying.
”
DON CLEMMER
falls with the individual. To help Catholic voters in this task, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” emphasizes two principles: a well-formed conscience and the virtue of prudence. The bishops are quick to point out that conscience is not the freebie it might initially seem to be. It’s not “something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’ about what we should or should not do.” They call conscience “the voice of God resounding in the human heart” (nothing intimidating about that), something that “always requires serious attempts to make sound moral judgments.” Being a faithful citizen requires a well-formed conscience. This concept is so central to church teaching that the bishops made it the title of their document. Forming one’s conscience is an ongoing process aided by reading Scripture, reflecting on church teaching, studying the issues and, of course, praying.
and then act. Like a well-formed conscience, this comes with some caveats. For instance, Catholics must recognize that there are morally unacceptable ways of pursuing moral goals (i.e. the ends don’t justify the means). The bishops readily acknowledge that there are different ways to respond to various social concerns, but they also say no one is excused from helping to build a more just, peaceful world. The bishops also strongly note that certain intrinsically evil acts — such as abortion and racism — must always be opposed. And then there’s the fact that voting is essentially the most morally imperfect act one can ever engage in within the political process. The moral certainty of principle gets boiled down into these messy, unreliable things called candidates, who are prone to contradictions and swayed by public opinion. Nor does the voter have the luxury of saying, “I’ll take Candidate A’s positions regarding human life, but Candidate B’s positions on human dignity.”
Recognizing responsibility
Making the right decision
In the face of this, it would be difficult to blame the bishops for throwing up their hands and saying to lay Catholics, “You figure it out!” However, the truth is not a surrender of responsibility, but rather a recognition of it. Holding up conscience and prudence in the political process sends the message that the bishops take the U.S. Catholic faithful seriously by giving them this challenge. It recognizes that they play a unique role in the ongoing interplay between church and society and that no one, not even the bishops, can do it for them. For more on “Faithful Citizenship,” visit WWW. USCCB.ORG/ISSUES-AND-ACTION/FAITHFUL-CITIZENSHIP.
Prudence is the virtue that enables people to discern the right thing to do in specific, everyday circumstances
Next issue: “Conscience formation by the numbers”
‘You’re not the boss of me!’
Resisting the temptation to tune out guidance in forming our consciences
A
conscience is an ongoing process that requires work. It requires prayer, study and reflection on church teachings. For some, any reliance on the church feels like someone telling us what to do, and that independence flag rises up with our own “you’re not the boss of me” instinct. Although the church does not tell us who to vote for, she does tell us what to look for when applying our freedoms. Certain acts such as abortion and racism are intrinsically evil and must always be opposed, while discerning how we might solve certain societal problems may be up for debate. Our choices are not easy, but voting is ultimately a moral choice and it is up to us to exercise that choice wisely.
few years ago my husband was outside when the 8year-old neighbor girl, Aubrey, walked by our house with a skateboard tucked under her arm. As she looked down the very steep hill in front of our home, my husband called out to her, “You can’t go down that hill on a skateboard!” Aubrey replied, “You’re not the boss of me!” as she proceeded to go down the hill and break her Sharon Wilson arm! The story illustrates our great desire to exercise our freedom, yet the foolish actions we take when we don’t look to the wisdom of others or rely on good judgment. When it comes to having someone tell us what to do or what is good for us, we want to respond like Aubrey: “You’re not the boss of me!” In the U.S. bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” two principles are emphasized as we exercise our civic responsibilities during elections: a well-formed conscience and prudential judgment. We rely on our conscience when we discern things such as how to vote, how to make end-of-life decisions, whether to pass along that juicy piece of gossip and myriad other choices we face on a daily basis.
Commentary
Taking action
Getting direction
Resources online
Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn has gifted us with a guide in the form of a pastoral letter, “The Moral Conscience.” This topic has never been more significant. According to the pastoral letter, which was written in 2008, conscience is, “an act of judgment about the morality of an action one is considering doing.” As humans, we always need to follow our conscience. But what is a well-formed conscience and how do we know if we have one? I would venture to say that Adolf Hitler followed his conscience — not a morally wellformed conscience, but in his mind he was following his own set of truths.
Download Archbishop Flynn’s pastoral letter on “The Moral Conscience” and the companion “Moral Conscience Study Guide” at WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG (search for “moral conscience”).
Left to our own wills, we may not make decisions that are good for us or others and, just like Aubrey, sometimes we need to listen to someone else’s advice. With the advances in technology, living in a “do whatever feels good” culture and the muddy political waters we must dredge through, we are blessed to have the 2,000-year-old wisdom of the Catholic Church to rely on. Forming our
Here are a few action steps you can take as we approach the elections this fall: ■ Download and read Archbishop Flynn’s pastoral letter on “The Moral Conscience” and the companion “Moral Conscience Study Guide” to dig deeper into the issues we are faced with today. Both are available on the archdiocesan website at WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG (search for “moral conscience”). If you would like to order printed copies of the letter and study guide, contact me at WILSONS@ARCHSPM.ORG or (651) 291-4506. ■ Share the resources with a study group, a coffee clutch or your prayer group. Go through the discussion questions together. I assure you the conversation could get lively! ■ Know the issues and the candidates. We can’t make prudential judgments unless we are informed. It is our responsibility to know and apply the Catholic Church’s teachings and not rely on popular media to sway our judgment. Sharon Wilson is the respect life coordinator for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.” Psalms 118:1
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HE
From Age to Age CATHOLIC SPIRIT
A Catholic Spirit special section
JULY 5, 2012
Day of Reflection offers support for widows Gathering will feature Mass, inspiration and fellowship
Want to attend? For more information about “Widows’ Day of Reflection: Hope Rekindled” on July 14 at Our Lady of Grace in Edina, email Cheryl Broich at WIDOWSDAY@HOTMAIL.COM or call (952) 831-2656. Cost is $20; the day begins at 8 a.m. and includes a light breakfast, lunch and three inspiring reflections. Registration forms are available at OLGPARISH.ORG.
By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
After Nancy Villwock lost her husband in 2003, she sometimes felt like she was leaving the house with only one glove. “You’re alone and you can’t quite get a grasp on it,” she said. “You feel like you’re incomplete, totally incomplete because [together] you were one and you were a pair, and now you’re just one forever and ever.” Through faith, prayer, good friends and Catholic media, Villwock, who attends St. Joseph the Worker, found the support that has helped her heal. She is hoping other widows also will find encouragement at the second annual “Widows’ Day of Reflection” on Saturday, July 14 at Our Lady of Grace in Edina, an event she attended last year. The goal of the gathering, which is supported by the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life, is to offer widows who may feel alone a place to gather together spiritually and find support, said organizer Cheryl Broich, also a widow and Our Lady of Grace parishioner. The “Day of Reflection” will include Mass celebrated by the archdiocese’s vicar general, Father Peter Laird; reflections by former Relevant Radio anchor Sally Robb; and time for fellowship.
Finding inspiration Widows often feel like they don’t fit anywhere, since they’re no longer part of a couple, said Broich, whose husband Deacon Dick Broich died three years ago. PLEASE TURN TO CHRIST’S ON PAGE 13
Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
Nancy Villwock, a member of St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove, looks at an album of old family photos June 30. Villwock, who lost her husband in 2003, attended the first Widow's Day of Reflection last year.
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Christ’s love can transform wounds, says speaker at upcoming ‘Widows’ Day of Reflection’ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 Inspiration for the event came while she was on retreat, she said. “I felt the Lord speaking to my heart that he wanted to call his widows unto himself,” she said. Last year 200 widows of a variety of ages and stages of widowhood from six states attended the event. This year, Broich hopes widows will find “a feeling of community [and know] that the archdiocese does care about them, that they’re not alone,” she said. “That they are treasures of the church.” Because her husband was a deacon and New Testament deacons cared for widows, Broich has sent a special invitation to deacons and deacons’ widows. Also, a Knights of Columbus Marian Council will welcome the widows and be present at Mass.
Turning to Jesus Taking small steps to understand Christ’s love and allowing him to transform wounds to make us more beautiful are two of the day’s themes, according to Robb, who in addition to hosting two Catholic radio programs also has experience in hospice and grief counseling. “[By] accepting sorrow and asking Jesus to really come and penetrate that sorrow in you, he can change that wound into a
door from which his mercy rushes,” she said. “When his mercy rushes into the deepest part of our heart, he transforms us and we can become so merciful as he is.” In her talk on being blessed and discovering what it means to be a blessing for others, Robb will speak on how together widows can support each other and oppose the belief that tragedy ruins lives. Villwock said she went to the “Day of Reflection” last year to help others more than to receive support. She also found consolation in the Scripture verse, “Behold I make all things new.” “God knows what’s going to happen,” she said. “He knows you’re going to be a widow and he has a new life for you if you would meet him and accept it. That was huge to me.” The “Day of Reflection” rejuvenates women, said Nancy Schulte, archdiocesan family and laity outreach coordinator. “Catholic widows need love and support by our church, someplace to feel that love and support in community with other women,” said Schulte, also a widow. That widows are close to God’s heart is clear by the fact they come up more than 70 times in the New Testament, Broich said. “He really takes care of his widows,” she said. “It’s remarkable.”
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From Age to Age
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JULY 5, 2012
Illinois Catholics rejoice over ‘venerable’ decree for Archbishop Fulton Sheen Catholic News Service The Vatican’s June 28 decree that U.S. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen lived a life of heroic virtues and should be considered venerable — advancing his sainthood cause —prompted much rejoicing in his home state of Illinois. “This is a great day for the Catholic Diocese of Peoria and the Catholic Church in America,” said Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, who added that the “heroic virtues of a son from central Illinois and a priest of Peoria have been recognized by the Catholic Church.” “Fulton Sheen’s zeal, wisdom, and holiness should help us build our faith,” he said.
Priest of prayer Msgr. Stanley Deptula, executive director of the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation in Peoria, said it was “not a coincidence that the church would render its decision on the heroic virtue of Archbishop Sheen on the same day as the Supreme Court issues its decision on the health care plan.” He said the timing of the announcement shows how the church in the United States “needs heroes” and that Archbishop Sheen can “be an inspiration and a consolation to our bishops and other church leaders” since he was “a man of courage, and priest of prayer.” The decree issued by the Congregation
CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz
Above: A woman prays at the tomb of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in the crypt of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York in this Dec. 9, 2009, file photo. Archbishop Sheen is pictured preaching in an undated photo. CNS photo
for Saints’ Causes and signed by Pope Benedict XVI said Archbishop Sheen
quality
should be considered venerable because he heroically lived Christian virtues. In general, the church must then confirm two miracles before sainthood is declared. The first miracle is needed for beatification and the second for canonization. The decree came just more than 13 months after Bishop Jenky, as head of Archbishop Sheen’s home diocese, presented Pope Benedict with two thick volumes about the life of the prelate. Archbishop Sheen, who was born in El Paso, Ill., in 1895 and died in New York in 1979, was an Emmy-winning televangelist. His program, “Life is Worth Living,” aired in the United States from 1951 to 1957. Last September, a tribunal of inquiry was sworn in to investigate the allegedly miraculous healing of a newborn whose parents had prayed to the archbishop’s intercession.
Spreading the message
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“We are all living through this wonderful moment,” said Andrea Ambrosi, postulator of the cause for canonization of Archbishop Sheen. “As you can tell, the cause is taking a special road — and quite quickly thus far. This is due to the importance of this cause for Fulton Sheen’s sainthood to the American church and all the faithful. We hope to go on with continued momentum,” she said. Oblate Father Andrew Small, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, pointed out that Archbishop Sheen’s role as head of the Propagation of the Faith from 1950 to 1966 enabled him to spread the Gospel message “far and wide — from Peoria to Pretoria; New York to New Delhi.” “He teaches us still that the church is missionary by her very nature,” he added.
“If we get as far as this, we shall come through all right, for God fills the void.” Simone Weil
The Lesson Plan JULY 5, 2012
Reflections on faith and spirituality
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
15
Sometimes, the messenger gets in the way of the message
M
ark reports that Jesus has come back to his hometown, Nazareth, for the first time since beginning his public ministry. Nazareth was a small town, comprising no more than 200 people. So when Jesus went to the synagogue to teach it was no surprise that the villagers recognized their own Jesus. At first, they are astounded by Jesus’ wisdom and authority. Yet precisely because they knew Jesus to be one of the “fellas,” they reject the auDeacon thenticity of his Andrew teaching and Jesus, Brinkman himself. Despite the resonance of Jesus’ teaching in their hearts and minds, a man with such wisdom and authority should appear more powerful and prestigious than this common, familiar carpenter. For them, it is not possible that a simpleton like Jesus could articulate such wisdom.
Sunday Scriptures
In the end, they doubted to such a point that Jesus was amazed and marveled at their lack of faith. So what do we make of their response? Even though we don’t see and hear Jesus the same way that the Nazarenes saw and heard him, we, nonetheless, hear his voice through the sacred Scriptures, magisterium (church teaching), bishops and, according to John 18:37 — every time we hear truth, we hear his voice.
Monday, July 9 Augustine Zhao Rong, priest, and companions, martyrs Hosea 2:16, 17b-18, 21-22 Matthew 9:18-26 Tuesday, July 10 Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13 Matthew 9:32-38 Wednesday, July 11 Benedict, abbot Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Matthew 10:1-7 Thursday, July 12 Hosea 11:1-4, 8c-9 Matthew 10:7-15 Friday, July 13 Henry Hosea 14:2-10 Matthew 10:16-23 Saturday, July 14 Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin Isaiah 6:1-8 Matthew 10:24-33 Sunday, July 15 15th Sunday in ordinary time Amos 7:12-15
Sunday, July 8 14th Sunday in ordinary time ■ Ezekiel 2:2-5 ■ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ■ Mark 6:1-6a
For reflection Recall a time that you listened to a Gospel message from someone who didn’t seem to be living that message. How did you respond?
Sorting messenger from truth Despite the truth of things, we, like the Nazarenes, sometimes cannot perceive the truth because the speaker or teacher doesn’t appeal to us. This lack of appeal can arise from petty things like the teacher’s choice of adverbs or soda preference. Or it can arise from serious things like sin. Unlike Jesus, those who teach the truth don’t correspondingly embody it the way they ought, and this can lead us to reject altogether the message itself. I hope that we recognize the fallacy in this line of thinking and behaving. As Catholics, we are concerned with the truth of things, and, if a claim is indeed
Daily Scriptures Sunday, July 8 14th Sunday in ordinary time Ezekiel 2:2-5 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6a
Readings
true, then we should believe it. But sometimes it is easier to discredit the teaching because the teacher does not meet our standards. So what does all this mean? I think that as we listen to homilies and talks, as we learn more about the life of faith, sacraments, prayer and morality, we should allow the truth of our church’s teaching to reach us, even when we don’t like the teacher. It is too easy to discredit a teaching on fasting because the teacher doesn’t appear to be someone who fasts. The teacher must always live what he or she teaches, but that is not our responsibility.
For us listeners and lovers of the truth, let us pattern our way of believing and living based on what is true in itself, rather than how the teacher appears to us. For it is entirely possible that, like the Nazarenes, we could fail to see that God and the Savior of the World are speaking directly to us. Deacon Andrew Brinkman is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. His home parish, along with his teaching parish, is St. Stephen in Minneapolis.
Pope: Submission, not power, raises people to God Ephesians 1:3-14 Mark 6:7-13 Monday, July 16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel Isaiah 1:10-17 Matthew 10:34 — 11:1 Tuesday, July 17 Isaiah 7:1-9 Matthew 11:20-24 Wednesday, July 18 Camillus de Lellis, priest Isaiah 10:5-7, 13b-16 Matthew 11:25-27 Thursday, July 19 Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19 Matthew 11:28-30 Friday, July 20 Apollinaris, bishop and martyr Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8 Matthew 12:1-8 Saturday, July 21 Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor of the chuch Micah 2:1-5 Matthew 12:14-21 Sunday, July 22 16th Sunday in ordinary time Jeremiah 23:1-6 Ephesians 2:13-18 Mark 6:30-34
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
Christians find fulfillment not by using power or force to realize their own wishes, but by being submissive to God’s will and serving others, Pope Benedict XVI said. Many in the world today are surrounded by people or things that threaten to become the guiding force in their lives, therefore, “it’s necessary to have a hierarchy of values in which the top priority is God,” the pope said during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall June 27. It was his last general audience before the pope was to leave July 3 for vacation at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south of Rome. The weekly general audience was scheduled to resume Aug. 1. In his catechesis, the pope continued his series of talks on prayer in the letters of St. Paul, looking this time at the Letter to the Philippians. People often look for “self-actualization in power, domination and in powerful means,” creating a tower of Babel in a quest to be god-like, said the pope. Such pursuits reflect the sin of Adam, who sought to put himself ahead of God. Jesus, instead, showed that true exal-
From the Vatican
tation and victory come with absolute abasement and humility — being a servant to others and obeying God’s will, even to the point of being killed on the cross, the pope said. By becoming fully human and obeying God, he said, Jesus gave humanity back the dignity it had lost with Adam’s disobedience. “As Jesus exaltation took place through his abasement, so in our lives and in our prayer we discover that, by lowering ourselves in humility and love, we are lifted up to God. “The incarnation and the cross remind us that complete fulfillment comes in conforming the human will to the Father’s, in emptying oneself of egoism and in filling oneself with God’s love and charity, thereby becoming truly capable of loving others,” he said. Noting the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29, the pope asked pilgrims in Rome to visit the saints’ tombs as a way of “deepening your love for Christ’s church, founded on the apostles.” At the end of the audience, attended by an estimated 7,000 pilgrims and visitors, the pope reminded his listeners to use their summer holidays for helping others and themselves. He told young people to do something that would lead to “useful social and religious experiences,” and encouraged newlyweds to grow in their love and “deepen your mission in the church and society.”
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JULY 5, 2012 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Philadelphia to lay off 40, close Catholic Standard & Times By Matthew Gambino
to restore our church to a healthy footing.”
Catholic News Service
Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia has announced a reorganization of the archdiocesan administration that will result in the loss of 40 jobs and the closing of The Catholic Standard & Times, the 117-year-old archdiocesan newspaper. Changes include the elimination of some offices and the combination of others, with reduced staffing levels. The recent June issue of the Standard & Times, which went from a weekly to monthly publication schedule last year, was the last of the newspaper. Phaith magazine, which launched last September and published 10 issues through June, will suspend publication while options for resuming it are examined. The annual Catholic Directory will continue to publish; the 2013 edition is expected to publish by late this fall. A reduced staff will continue to publish Catholic news, commentary and information on the Catholic Standard & Times’ website, CATHOLICPHILLY.COM. A newsletter distributed via email is planned for the near future. In a column posted on the website June 21, Archbishop Chaput said the reason for the administrative changes was primarily economic. As administrators, this year, planned for the 2013 budget, the fiscal year that begins July 1, they faced a shortfall of $17 million between expected revenue and expenses, he wrote.
Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput waits offstage as he is introduced as a speaker at the Catholic Media Conference in Indianapolis June 20. He told the gathering of the deep deficits and other challenges facing his archdiocese. The following day he announced a reorganization that will result in the loss of 40 jobs. The reorganization aims to save the archdiocese from a projected deficit of $17 million in the upcoming year.
Offices most affected
CNS photo / Nancy Wiechec
Millions in deficits The figure does not include more than $11 million in legal fees over the past year. “As burdensome as those extra costs have been, the much more troubling fact is that the archdiocese has — for many years — covered the expense of its many good ministries with growing deficits,” he said. “These serious deficits have then been made whole with the sale of assets or the drawing down of investments. This is sometimes necessary in an emergency. But it can’t be justified or sustained as a normal way of operating.” Despite budget and staffing adjustments, the archdiocese will still face a budget deficit of more than $5 million for the 2013 fiscal year, the archbishop said. “This can’t continue, and it won’t continue, and I’ve asked our financial staff and Archdiocesan Finance Coun-
cil to do everything required by best business standards to balance our local church’s budget by fiscal year 2014,” he said. He thanked the laid-off employees, calling them “good men and women who have served the church well.” “Every departing employee has the respect and sincere gratitude of the archdiocese and will be treated with maximum consideration, including appropriate severance and counseling,” he said. Archbishop Chaput said he was taking the steps “with great reluctance, as one of several urgently needed steps
Storm victims still coping with damage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Days after the storm, dozens of local residents were still taking refuge at emergency shelters, and some were not being let back into their evacuated neighborhoods because of safety concerns. Only emergency workers were being allowed entry. Duluth’s chancery and some parish buildings sustained damage but it was minimal, said spokesman Kyle Eller. Many of the buildings are on large hills, away from the main flooding areas. Since the storm abated, help has been coming in quickly from many places to assist those with flooded houses, but their needs go beyond fixing wet and smelly basements, said Critchley-Menor, adding that it takes all sorts of volunteers, including mental health workers and those who can offer moral support. “We were not expecting this. It is all new to us. We have never had something like this happen before,” she added. “There is the shock and the immediate need to get things cleaned up,” said Tracy Lynn of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Superior. She said the society is like a “triage” organization to fill in gaps, after others like the Red Cross and Catholic Charities take the lead.
Cemetery flooded In the Superior Diocese, Calvary Cemetery was flooded with 2.5 feet of water.
The chancery office had a half-inch of water in the basement. That lower level houses finance offices and their equipment and documents, the staff of the Catholic Herald diocesan newspaper, and the religious formation offices. The first workday after the storm, employees were allowed back into the offices after a two-hour delay, but cleanup was still under way a week later, according to Richard Lyons, Superior’s diocesan spokesman. Superior Bishop Peter Christensen had been traveling when the storm hit and found his way to back into the city blocked by floodwaters, said his secretary. Sinkholes big enough to swallow a tractor-trailer formed in many places in the region. The boiler room of Superior’s Cathedral of Christ the King was flooded with between 6 inches and a foot of water. Parish offices and a tunnel that connects them to the parish school were flooded, said Jessica Poskozim, parish development director. The parish lost a lot of documents and books, carpet needed to be removed and paneling was damaged. “We are still sorting through what’s been damaged and writing all these things down,” she said, noting that the damage could have been worse. “The water went up fairly quickly and went down fairly quickly.”
Areas of the administration concerning evangelization and youth ministry were particularly affected by the changes. The offices for family life, respect life, deaf apostolate and formation of the laity will combine to form the Office of Life, Family and the Laity, with reduced staffing The Secretariat for Evangelization, which had been an umbrella entity for all offices related to spreading the faith, will remain as an office combined with the Office for Worship, also with reduced staffing and services. Many of the programs of the Office for Youth and Young Adults will continue within other offices. The Office of Catholic Education will now manage the programs of Catholic Youth Organization, while the annual Operation Santa Claus, which involves young people in distributing Christmas gifts to the needy, will operate at the local level through the individual Catholic high schools. The Office of Catechetical Formation will assume operation of programs including Theology on Tap and Catholic Underground, both geared to Catholic young adults. It will also take up Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Community Service Corps and Catholic scouting activities. Camp Overbrook, the longtime summer camp offered to poor children in the archdiocese at St. Charles Seminary, will be eliminated. One area of the administration is largely unchanged and, as of July 2, led by Msgr. Daniel Kutys, new moderator of the curia. That role is one of coordinating all the administration’s offices and entities. He will oversee offices dealing with finances, development and ongoing parish restructuring in the archdiocese, among other offices. In his column, Archbishop Chaput likened the financial challenges to those a family might face. “I know that few things in the church seem less fertile than talk about money. What finally matters to all of us is the welfare — including the spiritual welfare — of the people we love. Yet as every adult knows, no family can survive for long without using its resources wisely.”
Youth camp adds summer session CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Because the camp is on a low-level peninsula and the lake is eight feet higher than usual, several areas are flooded, including one building with 4 feet of water in the basement. It was unclear as of June 30 if that building will be useable once the water is pumped out. From June 22 to 29, the water surrounding the area rose about three feet. “Four of the lead staff and I stayed at camp, monitoring the water and watching as it spread through camp. We did our best to move things out of the way, but mostly we just watched as the camp got swallowed a little more each day,” King said. The combination of physical damage to the camp and cancellations makes the biggest issue facing the camp financial. It will rely on donations to make it through the season, according to King. “But we also need people to help us spread the word — we are still here and we are still looking for campers,” she said. A number of campers have rescheduled into later sessions, but some have cancelled because of scheduling conflicts. The camp has added another session from Aug. 19 to 24, and there
“. . . We did our best to move things out of the way, but mostly we just watched as the camp got swallowed a little more each day.
”
NATALIE KING
is room for more campers. “The CYC families have been incredibly kind, understanding and supportive. Many have offered to come to camp to help us with clean-up efforts. Many have already made financial donations and many more are praying for CYC,” King said. For information about making a donation or registering for camp, visit the Catholic Youth Camp website at WWW.CYCAMP.ORG, the camp’s Facebook page at WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ CYCMN, or call (651) 636-1645.
“If you believe that God created the universe, knowing how God created the universe is a way of getting to know God.” Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, curator of the Vatican’s meteorite collection
Arts & Culture Exploring our church and our world
JULY 5, 2012
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Sargent Shriver’s son reflects on ‘A Good Man’ By Mark Zimmermann
Faith, he said, taught Sargent Shriver to trust in God, and not in material things, after his family lost nearly everything in the Depression. That faith, his son writes, helped Sargent Shriver bravely serve his country during World War II and then devote his adult life to building peace by promoting justice and opportunity in the United States and around the world.
Catholic News Service
In the days following the death of his dad, Sargent Shriver, people from all walks of life, from the vice president to the neighborhood trash collector, told Mark Shriver, “He was a good man.” Those words inspired Mark Shriver to reflect on and research why that phrase summarized the life and work of his famous father, who died in 2011. As a result, he wrote “A Good Man,” published by Henry Holt and Company. It is subtitled, “Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver.” “I was taken aback when I heard it from the first couple of people, I thought that was something nice to say to someone who just lost his father,” said Mark Shriver in an interview at his Washington office, where he works as senior vice president of U.S. programs at Save the Children. “I realized the phrase meant something. . . . There are a lot of people hailed as great men and women who aren’t good people. . . . I realized it’s more challenging to be good when you’re in and out of the public eye,” he told the Catholic Standard, the Washington Archdiocese newspaper.
Grounded by Catholic faith Sargent Shriver, a lifelong Catholic, was revered in the public square as the founding director of the Peace Corps and the architect of antipoverty programs such as Vista, Head Start and Legal Services. He was U.S. ambassador to France and ran for president of the United States.
Desire to meet ‘Creator’
CNS photo / Chaz Muth
Mark Shriver, author of “A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver,” poses for a photo at his home in Bethesda, Md., May 31.
He was a loving husband to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died in 2009, and loving father to five children. Mark Shriver found that the source of his dad’s joy, vision and strength was his Catholic faith, “his daily relationship with God.” He started each day in prayer at early morning Mass. “He was grounded in faith, and faith demanded acts of hope and love. Those acts of hope and love were his life’s work,” Shriver said. Faith “grounded him, and he realized God is God, and you have to re-
alize you’re not. In America, we think we’re in charge, the head of everything. He realized he wasn’t (in charge).” As he rediscovered his dad, Mark Shriver said he learned lessons about finding balance in his own life. “I was trying to figure out how to balance marriage, fatherhood, a profession, a relationship to God and commitment to the community. I was trying to understand how he pulled that together. I learned it’s really hard,” he said.
Shriver opens the book with a scene describing his dad marveling at a sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay, and expressing a desire to someday meet “the Creator who made such a beautiful sunrise. . . . I can’t wait to meet God.” That faith, his son writes, was at the center of his dad’s marriage, his vocation as a Catholic husband and father. Mark Shriver’s book describes how Sargent and Eunice Shriver supported each other’s work, which was grounded in their shared faith and belief in the God-given dignity of all people, “to do our Father’s work.” Eunice was the founder of the Special Olympics and as that movement grew, Sargent Shriver not only cheered on the athletes from the sideline, but also worked behind the scenes to expand the Special Olympics to China, which later hosted games attended by 80,000 people. That faith also helped Sargent Shriver endure Alzheimer’s disease with grace and love. “He saw everything as a blessing, including the crosses he had to bear.”
CNS
This is the cover of “A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver” by Mark K. Shriver.” After the death of his dad in 2011, people from all walks of life offered this refrain to Mark Shriver: “He was a good man.”
Vatican Observatory supports rising stars in astronomy at space school By Carol Glatz
Catholic News Service
It looked like a mini-United Nations, but the attendees were wearing shorts and T-shirts and, over coffee, they talked about the birth of star clusters rather than a ban on cluster bombs. Also, the location wasn’t Manhattan or Geneva, but a refurbished monastery immersed in the papal gardens behind the pope’s summer villa south of Rome. The 25 young men and women from 23 different countries were future astronomers and astrophysicists brought together by the Vatican Observatory to spend the month of June discussing “The Formation and Evolution of Stellar Clusters,” which are groups of stars populating the galaxies. Every other year, the Jesuit-run observatory holds a month-long summer school dedicated to a different area of research in the astronomical sciences, examining everything from comets and meteorites to the nuclei of galaxies.
The students this year were chosen from 150 applicants from all over the world. The Vatican organizers make sure each group is as culturally and geographically diverse as possible, with an emphasis on accepting young people from developing nations, who receive scholarships covering 75 percent of traveling and living costs. The students listen to daily lectures by visiting scholars and participate in evening seminars with the Vatican Observatory staff, who are all Jesuits and accomplished scientists. The students also present papers on their own research or the research being done at their universities and engage in a variety of laboratory exercises.
Offering opportunities Jesuit Brother Guy Consolmagno, curator of the Vatican’s meteorite collection, which is one of the largest in the world, said that for many of the students, it’s the first opportunity to make a public presentation of their work in English, hence
“good practice” for their future careers. He said the Jesuits want to give the young scholars a chance to meet expert researchers and discover what astronomers in other countries are doing. Despite their vastly different backgrounds — coming from countries that include Madagascar, Vietnam, Nepal, Armenia and Taiwan — the students share a love for, and language about, the universe. “Astronomy is probably the most universal science because the sky is the same for everyone,” said Nikolay Kacharov, a 24-year-old Bulgarian Ph.D. candidate at the University of Heidelberg in Germany. He is studying the chemical composition of star clusters in the Milky Way. “In the past, every culture in the world has worshipped the skies, now they study them” to ponder the same eternal questions of how the world came into being and how it is evolving, he said. “We owe all the fancy things we own, like smartphones and computers, to the fundamental sciences and physics,” which
is what all future technological developments will depend on as well, he added. Pope Leo XIII formally established the Vatican Observatory in 1891 as a sign of the church’s centuries-old support for science. At that time, Brother Consolmagno said, a myth was forming that somehow the church and science were opposed. The observatory traces its origins back to the tower erected at the Vatican by Pope Gregory XIII in 1578 in preparation for reforming the Western calendar. “The church has always supported science,” he said. “You had to learn astronomy as one of the seven courses in medieval universities before you got to go on to theology or philosophy.” The first papal observatory was moved from the Tower of the Winds inside the Vatican walls to the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo in 1935. And then the Jesuit observatory staff set up a second research center in Tucson, Ariz., in 1981 after Italian skies got too bright for nighttime observation.
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Calendar
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JULY 5, 2012
Dining out Shakopee K-of-C Home Association turkey dinner — July 15: 4 to 7 p.m. at Shakopee Knights Event Center, 1760 4th Ave. E., Shakopee. Cost is $10, $4 ages 3 to 10, 2 and under free. Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Friday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations. Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Wednesday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.
Parish events “Transatlantic Swing” concert — July 8: Swing, jazz and Latin music, part of free summer concert series, 7 p.m., at Guardian Angels, 8260 4th St. N., Oakdale. Featured: saxophonist Larry Neumann and Ensemble Aventura, choir of parish singers and friends. Coming July 15: “Sentimental Journey” concert, featuring vocalist Ryan Chimzar singing Gershwin, Carmichael, Rodgers and more. Family Concert Day at the Basilica — July 8: 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., sponsored by Move and Groove, featuring Laurie Berkner. $10 adults, $5 children, 2 and under free. Basilica of St. Mary, 17th and Hennepin, Minneapolis. Tickets at all Creative Kidstuff stores and at WWW.CREATIVEKIDSTUFF.COM. St. Mark’s Summer Children’s Play — July 13-14: 7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at school gym, Marshall and Prior Aves., St. Paul. Featuring 66 children and musical director Eileen Degnan. Church festival at St. Mary, Le Center — July 15: Polka Mass at 10 a.m. Roast beef dinner 11:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m., $10 adults, $5 children 5-9. 4 and under free. 165 N. Waterville Ave., Le Center. Country Festival at St. Mary of Czestochowa, Delano — July 15: 10:30 a.m. Mass. Pork chop and roast beef dinner 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., $11 adults, $7 children under 12, preschool free. 1867 - 95th St. S.E., Delano. St. Columba Fun-Fest — July 14-15: Noon to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. 10 a.m. Mass Sunday in both English and Vietnamese. Authentic Vietnamese cuisine and American classics. 1327 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Thrift sale at Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — July 19-21: Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. with bag sale from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 4030 Jackson St. N.E. For information call (763) 788-9062 or ICCSONLINE.ORG. Summer Celebration at Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville — July 21: Following 4 p.m. Polka Mass, until 8:30 p.m. 3333 Cliff Rd, Burnsville. Visit WWW.MMOTC.ORG. Spiritfest Family Festival at Divine Mercy, Faribault — August 5: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 139 Mercy Drive. Corn Days at St. George, Long Lake — August 11 and 12: Features a Mexican fiesta from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Mass at 9:15 a.m. Sunday
Don’t Miss For birth moms, a special day of prayer, sharing and healing To recognize the pain that often lingers for birth mothers, to honor their sacrifices and to provide opportunities for healing, the Office of Marriage, Family and Life of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is hosting a retreat day Saturday, July 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at St. Peter Church, 1405 Hwy. 3 in Mendota. The day will include speakers, testimonials, Mass, opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and time for sharing personal faith journeys, plus resources for continued exploration of healing. Continental breakfast and lunch are included in the $15 registration fee. Scholarships are available to those with a financial hardship. To register, download the form at www.archspm.org/news-events, or call 651-291-4506.
followed by a pancake breakfast and parade. Festival continues until 5 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Brown and Watertown Roads. Visit WWW.CORNDAYS.COM.
Prayer/ liturgies Sant’Egidio Community Evening Prayer at St. Richard, Richfield — every Thursday: 7 p.m. at 7540 Penn Ave. S. Legion of Mary prayers in front of Planned Parenthood, St. Paul — Every Friday: 3 p.m. at the corner of Vandalia and Charles. For information, call (651) 439-9098. Taizé prayer service at St. Richard, Richfield — July 6: 7:30 p.m. on the first Friday of each month at 7540 Penn Ave. S. Taizé is an ecumenical prayer service that focuses on simple meditative songs, scripture, and contem-
plative silence. World Apostolate of Fatima Vigil of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary at St. Joseph, West St. Paul — July 6 and 7: 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 1154 Seminole Ave. For information, call (651) 457-3285 or WWW.FATIMAONLINE.ORG. All night vigil with the Blessed Sacrament at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — July 6 and 7: 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday at 401 Concord St. Widows Day of Reflection — July 14: At Our Lady of Grace, 5071 Eden Ave., Edina. Presenter: Sally Robb. 8 a.m. Mass, 9 a.m. program. Download registration form at WWW.OLGPARISH.ORG, or contact Cheryl Broich at WIDOWSDAY@HOTMAIL.COM. Healing Mass at Lumen Christi, St. Paul — July 16: With Father Jim Livingston. 7 p.m. rosary, 7:30 p.m. Mass at 2055 Bohland Ave. Healing Mass and Prayer Service in St. Michael — July 19: 7 p.m. rosary, 7:30 p.m. Mass, followed by prayer ministry
Don’t Miss Send us your festival information! The July 19 issue of The Catholic Spirit will feature a special section listing information about parish festivals. To include your festival, send information by July 12 to spiritcalendar@archspm.org.
until midnight, at St. Michael, 11300 Frankfort Parkway N.E. in St. Michael. Presider: Father Michael Becker. For more information, call Jeff or Bonnie Webb at (763) 420-9398. Healing Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata — July 26: 6:30 p.m. rosary, 7 p.m. Mass at 155 County Road 24. Father Joseph Gillespie, pastor of St. Albert the Great in Minneapolis, is the celebrant.
Other events Twin Cities Catholic Cursillo weekend retreat for men at St. Michael, Prior Lake —July 12 to 15: The Cursillo is an encounter of self, Christ, and others (friends in Christ) with an abbreviated course in prayer, study and fellowship. WWW.TC for information, visit -CURSILLO.ORG. “Becoming Who God Intends Us to Be” —July 20: Presented by Ministry of Mothers Sharing and St. Paul’s Monastery at St. Edward, Bloomington. Reception 5:30-7 p.m., program 7-8:30 p.m. Inspiring evening of food, music and conversation with Deena Burnett-Bailey, widow of 9/11 herovictim Tom Burnett. Musical guest: Robert Robinson. St. Edward, 9401 Nesbitt Ave. S., Bloomington. Register at WWW.DEENASPEAKS2012.COM, or for tickets call Roma at (651) 777-8181. Charity golf tourney —July 21: 15th annual Burg Charity Golf Open, with live and silent auction, benefitting Catholic Charities programs in St. Cloud and the Twin Cities. At Pebble Creek Golf Club in Becker. Registration, auction donations, sponsor information at WWW.BURGGOLF.ORG. Basilica Choir Camp performances — July 27: Two performances, culmination of Basilica of St. Mary choir camp for children grades 3-8, with northside Minneapolis churches. At Ascension, 1723 Bryant Ave. N., 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. ‘Oliver!’ presented at Cretin-Derham Hall School, St. Paul — July 27 to 29 and August 3 to 5: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at 550 Albert St. S. Cost is $12 for adults, $10 for student and seniors and $8 for children under 10. Summer Charismatic Conference at Totino-Grace School, Fridley — August 10 to 11: Theme is “The Light Shines on in the Darkness.’ Begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at 1350 Gardena Ave. Speakers include Peter Herbeck and Sister Nancy Kellar. Features a Spanish track and children’s program Saturday. Free will offering. Toe register, visit WWW.MNCRO.ORG.
Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406. Singles group at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — ongoing second Saturday each month: 6 :15 p.m. at 9100 93rd Ave. N. Gather for a potluck supper, conversation and games. For information, call (763) 425-0412.
Calendar Submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur. LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and institutions. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your press release. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event. • Full street address of event. • Description of event. • Contact information in case of questions. E-MAIL: SPIRITCALENDAR@ ARCHSPM.ORG. (No attachments, please.)
FAX: (651) 291-4460. MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.
19
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • JULY 5, 2012
Baby didn’t wait for hospital delivery CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 would talk with The Catholic Spirit, Nikki agreed. Nikki and Toby Mickelson were already the parents of three boys — Landen, 6, Greer, 4, and Hollis, 18 months — when the couple learned they were expecting again — unexpectedly. “We’re a Catholic NFP (natural family planning) family,” Nikki explained. She said she had not detected any of the signs that there was the potential for pregnancy. “I guess this was God’s way of sending us our little girl.”
Day to remember Here’s the story of Veyda Nicole’s birthday: The family had just come home from Sunday Mass when Nikki started to feel contractions. A delivery nurse she phoned said to wait until the contractions were three-to-five minutes apart. Nikki called her mom — Peggy Hall — to come watch the boys. About 5 p.m. Nikki and Toby left their home in Blaine and headed to St. Joseph’s in downtown St. Paul. Contractions started coming a minute apart. “I felt the urge to push, but Toby told me not to,” Nikki recalled. “He was going down [Interstate] 35W south like 85 miles an hour.” They were still on the highway when Nikki said she felt the baby’s head engage her pelvis — and her water broke. “We could see the hospital from where we were, but with all the construction we couldn’t tell which way
to go,” Nikki said. Toby made a wrong turn and they ended up back on the highway. That was when Veyda Nicole decided to make her entrance. “Toby pulled over onto the side of the highway, took his shirt off and wrapped the baby in it,” Nikki said. They called 911, even more anxious now because the baby wasn’t breathing right away. “We were slapping the baby on the back, but the 911 dispatcher said to take a pinky finger to swab inside the baby’s mouth to open a breathing passage.” It worked. With the baby breathing and an ambulance on the way, the emergency dispatcher asked if it was a boy or girl. “We didn’t even know!” Nikki said. “Then we looked, and we went, ‘Oh my God, it’s a girl!”
Another role for the rosary The story doesn’t end there, though. The 911 dispatcher instructed the Mickelson’s to tie-off the baby’s umbilical cord. “Do you have a string?” Nikki remembered being asked. No. That’s when Toby saw the rosary hanging from the rearview mirror. He used the rosary to tie the cord off. “When the ambulance got there they fixed the umbilical cord,” Nikki said, “but in the hospital a nurse said, ‘I’m going to throw away this rosary.’ I said, ‘Oh no you’re not!’”
St. Agnes coach calls Turch top 10 player CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 team the morning of its first state-tournament game. And, why he spent seven years as an altar server at his parish, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. “It’s a cool thing being involved and seeing everything that goes on [in the Mass] and being right there by the altar,” said Turch, whose brother Nick, a sophomore, also played on the varsity baseball team this year. “You just feel closer to God when you’re up there with all the priests.” Such thoughts could get Father Ubel to hoping that Turch might one day wear the Roman collar and celebrate Mass himself. But he is keeping such tempting thoughts at bay — for now. “I will certainly leave that up to the Lord,” the priest said. “I don’t know God’s
designs. He [Turch] is very serious about his faith, but I would leave that [priesthood vocation] up to his own discernment. “He’s going to make the right choice, whatever that choice is. We are so in need of healthy, normal, well-balanced young Catholics. I am convinced that that’s what he is. He will be a great leader.” In the fall, Turch will attend the University of St. Thomas, where he plans to study mechanical engineering and play baseball. Streitz said that Turch is definitely on the radar screen of the Tommies new coach, Chris Olean. “Coach Olean is well aware of him,” Streitz said. “He’s got to earn it, but I know coach Olean likes what he sees. There’s no doubt in my mind Charlie will be successful there.”
Ralston celebrates title, mom’s good health CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 never leaves. “It’s always in the back of your mind,” said Kasey, who will attend Indiana University in the fall on a partial baseball scholarship. “It helped me really focus on baseball and try to work my hardest.” The fruits came this season, with Kasey going undefeated at 9-0 and pitching two complete-game shutouts in the state tournament. The other came in the quarterfinals, an 8-0 win over Cannon Falls. His contribution didn’t end there. He hit a two-run homer in the semifinals against Fairmont, a 3-0 win. All of those highlights added up to him being selected the Class AA Player of the Year. He’s enjoying all the rewards and
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awards, but his mother’s battle with cancer has changed what he puts at the top of his list in life. “Her being cancer free is probably the biggest thing,” he said. “But a state championship helps.” It wouldn’t be accurate to say he put the team on his shoulders — he had lots of help from his talented teammates — but his contribution to this year’s success can’t be underestimated. “Kasey was a solid leader on our team and the players look up to him,” said coach Bryan DeLorenzo, whose team finished with a record of 25-4 and had to advance through the loser’s bracket to win the Section 2AA title and the right to go to state.
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“We cannot continue to tolerate the deaths of so many mothers; we cannot think of thousands of babies as a lost generation.” Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, calling for free universal access to AIDS drugs and therapy, during a June 22 conference in Rome on preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV
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Overheard THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Quotes from this week’s newsmakers
JULY 5, 2012
Classes begin in August for confirmation for those with special needs
Pallium presentation
Confirmation preparation classes for people age 16 or older who have mental or physical disabilities or special needs will be held on two Saturdays, Aug., 18 The and 25, at the ArchCatholic Spirit diocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ Hayden Building, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul. Registration is required for the classes, which will run from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. both days. To register, contact Deacon Sean or Joan Curtan at (651) 291-4543 or CURTANS@ARCHSPM.ORG.
News Notes
Father Daniel Friberg will mark 50 years as a priest July 15
CNS photo / Christopher Gunty, Catholic Review
Pope Benedict XVI presents a pallium to Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican June 29. The pope gave 44 archbishops the woolen pallium as a sign of their communion with him and their pastoral responsibility as shepherds. Among the others who receive the pallium were Archbishops Charles Chaput of Philadelphia; Samuel Aquila of Denver; and William Skurla, who leads the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
Father Daniel Friberg will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood Sunday, July 15, with Mass at the parish where he was baptized and presided at his very first Mass. The 1 p.m. Mass at Guardian Angels, 8260 - 4th St. N. in Oakdale, will be followed by a buffet reception from 2-5 p.m. at Peter O’Neill Hall at the church. After presiding at his first liturgy in March 1962, Father Friberg served as an associate pastor at St. Augustine in South St. Paul and St. Bridget in Minneapolis. He then taught at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights for 25 years before being named pastor of St. John the Baptist in Hugo. Since retiring in 2001, he has assisted
Changes come after two years of strategic planning CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 cated to developing and managing the archdiocese’s use of new media — including the Internet, websites, audio and video — as well as social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest. He and team members also will implement multimedia, webinar and online training and communications programs. Berry joined the Office of Communications in May, after serving as webmaster of The Catholic Spirit since 2007. At the newspaper, he oversaw the design and development of THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM — which was honored with a first place award for best website in 2010 by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. In his new role, Berry will continue to oversee THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM and its affiliated blog site, CATHOLIC HOTDISH.COM. The newspaper also will maintain its presence on a variety of social media. ■ Rita Beatty, who is the communications manager. She will oversee and manage specific projects to support the communications and marketing objectives of the archdiocese. Beatty previously served the archdiocese in support roles connected to the archdiocesan strategic plan, parish services and schools. ■ Jim Accurso, who joined the staff in January as media and external relations manager. Among his duties, he serves as a spokesperson for the archdiocese with outside media and other audiences.
■ Mary Gibbs, who serves as project and administrative coordinator. Gibbs previously worked as the administrative manager at The Catholic Spirit. In her new position, she will provide administrative support to the office’s director and continue to coordinate the Leading With Faith awards program honoring area business leaders, among other communications projects of the archdiocese.
Looking ahead The changes related to The Catholic Spirit are the culmination of nearly two years of strategic planning by the newspaper and its board of directors to seek more cost-effective ways to fulfill its mission in light of decreasing readership, increasing costs of print publications and the increasing use of alternative media. “This is a time of transition in how people receive information and keep connected, and like other organizations, it’s important for the archdiocese to use its limited resources in the most effective and efficient ways,” Zyskowski said last month when the restructuring was announced. Added Mealey: “The Catholic Spirit is a wonderful asset to our local church and our Catholic community. We want to build on this firm foundation and keep getting better and better as we reach out to members of the Catholic Church throughout the archdiocese. There’s so much opportunity ahead of us.”
at various churches in White Bear Lake and Mendota Heights.
9/11 widow to address Ministry of Mothers event on July 20 Deena Burnett-Bailey will present the story of how her faith and Ministry of Mothers Sharing impacted her life after her husband, Tom Burnett, who died aboard United Airlines Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pa., Sept. 11, 2001. He was one of the passengers who led a revolt that brought down the hijacked plane. Her talk, “Becoming Who God Intends Us to Be,” is set for 7 p.m. Friday, July 20, at St. Edward in Bloomington. A reception will precede the talk, beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event, which includes musical guest Robert RobinBURNETT-BAILEY son, is sponsored by Ministry of Mothers Sharing, an outreach of the Sisters of St. Benedict of St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood. Burnett-Bailey will discuss her search for meaning after the tragedy that left her a widow with three young daughters to raise. Her book, “Fighting Back,” inspired the movie “Portrait of Courage: The Untold Story of Flight 93.” Cost is $25 per person or $15 each for groups of 10 or more. The event includes food, music and reflection. For more information or to register, call Roma at (651) 777-8181 or visit the website, WWW.DEENASPEAKS2012.COM.
Zyskowski to assume new role CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 These arrangements, which have helped the other dioceses to meet their communications goals while providing an additional source of revenue for The Catholic Spirit, will continue. “A portion of what I’ll be doing is continuing to serve more or less as a customer service representative with the leadership and the communications personnel of those dioceses we partner with,” Zyskowski said. “The greater portion, however, will be doing the hands-on reporting, writing, editing and page design work that I love,” he added. “I’ve had to let much of that go the past 14 years to concentrate on the business end of the operation, and that’s the part of journalism that I’m really looking forward to getting back to.” Zyskowski came to the Twin Cities in 1983, after working for Catholic newspapers in Peoria, Ill., Philadelphia and Chicago, to serve as managing editor of what was then the Catholic Bulletin. (It was renamed The Catholic Spirit in 1996.) He was editor for 12 years before becoming associate publisher and general manager in 1998. Zyskowski is a past president of The Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada and the 2011 recipient of the St. Francis de Sales Award, the highest honor the association presents to an individual for “outstanding contributions to Catholic journalism.”
Published on Jul 8, 2012
Duluth Floods, New Communicaions Office, Rosary to the Rescue, Widows Invited to Reflection Day, Rural Life Sunday
