Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
The Catholic Spirit
In the quiet stillness of suffering, Mary resides
News with a Catholic heart
May 9, 2013
Rediscover Section TheCatholicSpirit.com
Bills to redefine marriage raise concerns about religious liberty protections By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
Proposed religious liberty exemptions to Minnesota same-sex marriage legislation don’t provide adequate conscience protection, according to a panel of legal experts, faith and business leaders and others speaking Read more at a May 6 press conference at the about the State Capitol. legislation If the legislaon page 12A tion becomes law many individuals and businesses with conscience objections could face some of the legal and personal consequences experienced by residents of New York and other states that have legalized same-sex marriage, they said. Bills in the House and Senate, which would strike down the state’s current definition of marriage as between one man and one woman, is likely to reach the floor of both chambers before the session ends later this month. The legislation offers exemptions for non-profit religious associations, religious corporations, or religious societies but not businesses with more than five employees, religious schools or other organizations, such as charities, which aren’t operated or supervised by religious associations, corporations or societies. “We were told that the marriage PLEASE TURN TO NEW ON PAGE 7A
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Finding better ways to address homelessness
‘Be the voice of Catholic women’ New ACCW president talks about her vision for the organization’s future. — Page 3A
Dorothy Day Center Task Force to examine how to better serve those most in need in St. Paul. — Page 5A
Deacons ordained Five men from the archdiocese were ordained transitional deacons May 4. — Page 9A
Keynoter: Reach out to disabled Director of National Catholic Partnership on Disability says hospitality, providing access is key. — Page 6A
‘Mercy Unrelenting’ Open Window Theatre drama highlights themes of forgiveness, redemption. — Page 17A
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MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Helping youth to know Christ, know their faith
That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Matthew Kelly states that within eight years after their confirmation, 85 percent of our Catholic young people have given up the practice of their faith
With the beginning of the second week of Easter, the Liturgy of the Hours in the Office of Readings presents us appropriately enough with the Book of Revelation, in which St. John the Evangelist receives a vision from God concerning the seven churches in the province of Asia. The beloved disciple hears the voice of the Lord dictating both God’s praise and his concern for each of those faith communities. In almost every message, there is a clear call for repentance and conversion. As I meditated on those passages this year, I found myself asking what message God would have for the Church of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2013. What would be the strengths that he would affirm? What would be the concerns that he would express? What would constitute his call to repentance and conversion? Well, since for Archbishop Flynn, Bishop PichÊ and myself, the Easter season is a key time for celebrating the sacrament of confirmation, I naturally thought of it as one of the topics the Lord would surely address.
Voice your support for traditional definition of marriage The bill to redefine marriage sits on the floor of both chambers of the Legislature. It could be voted on at any time. Its sponsors want this action to be bi-partisan, which is why pressure is being placed on the Republicans. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support the traditional definition of marriage. You may go online to the Minnesota Catholic Conference website (WWW.MNCC.ORG) and click on the MN Catholic Advocacy Network icon. There you will find easy directions for emailing your own specific legislators. Marriage needs to be supported, not used as a human experiment. Children need to be raised in a home with a mother and a father. Again, please contact your legislator today! — Archbishop John Nienstedt
Special moment I have for the last 16 years loved presiding over confirmation, and I believe the Lord would positively affirm its celebration as a special moment when families and extended families come together to mark their special candidate’s reception of profound graces, and to rejoice in the consummation of that most special gift, the new life of baptism. The Second Vatican Council teaches that: “. . . by the sacrament of Confirmation, [the baptized] are more perfectly bound to the Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they are, as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed� (“Lumen Gentium,� #11). On the other hand, I have to wonder what the overall, long-term impact of the sacrament may be.
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.
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Australian-born author and Catholic evangelist Matthew Kelly claims that empirical evidence and data he has gathered over the years from across the United States indicate that, within eight years after their confirmation, 85 percent of our Catholic young people have given up the practice of their faith. 85 percent! That is a staggering number! And, for me, it calls into question how we are catechizing our youth for this sacramental encounter.
Knowing Christ From the earliest days of the Church, the Pentecost experience given to the apostles and the Blessed Mother was subsequently shared sacramentally with the people PLEASE TURN TO LET’S ON PAGE 8A
The big questions.
Vol. 18 — No. 10 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher 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.
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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 15, 2013 Father Paul Basil Kubista was named pastor of Church of the Holy Trinity, Goodhue, the Church of St. Mary of Belvidere, and the Church of St. Columbkille of Belle Creek. He has most recently served at the Church of St. Hubert of Chanhassen. Father Kubista was ordained in 2010 and has also served at the Church of St. Mathias of Hampton, the Church of St. John of Vermillion, and the Church of St. Mary of New Trier. Effective July 1, 2013 Father James Adams was named associate priest of Parroquia Jesucristo Resucitado, Puerto Ordaz, Estado Bolivar, Venezuela. He has most recently served at St. Nickolaus Church of New Market. Father Adams was ordained in 2004 and has also served in Hmong ministry at the Church of St. Vincent of St. Paul, Hispanic ministry at the Church of St. Odilia, the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Charles Borromeo of Minneapolis, and the Church of Saint Ambrose of Woodbury. Father Patrick Thomas Barnes was named pastor of St. Nickolaus Church of New Market. Father Barnes was ordained in 2010 and has been serving at St. Charles Borromeo of Minneapolis and DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis. Father Alex Bernard Carlson was named pastor of Church of St. John the Baptist of Excelsior. Father Carlson was ordained in 2010 and has served at the Church of Saint Ambrose of Woodbury and the Church of the Epiphany of Coon Rapids. Father John Michael Long was named pastor of the Church of St. Stephen of Anoka. He has most recently served at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul of Osseo. Father Long was ordained in 1978 and has served at the Church of St. Joseph of Hopkins, the John Ireland School, St. Thomas Academy, the Church of the Guardian Angels of Oakdale, and the Church of St. Peter of North St. Paul. Father Michael Allen Reding was named pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle in Minneapolis. He has most recently served at the Church of Saint Bartholomew of Wayzata. Father Reding was ordained in 1997 and has also served at Transfiguration Church of Oakdale. Father Michael A. Van Sloun was named pastor of the Church of Saint Bartholomew of Wayzata. He was ordained in 1995 and has also served at the Church of St. Stephen of Anoka. Father Paul Culligan Treacy was named pastor of the Church of St. Vincent de Paul of Osseo. He has most recently served at the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis. Since his ordination in 2006 he has served at the Chaplaincy of Gitchitwaa Kateri in Minneapolis and the Church of St. Stephen of Anoka.
“More than ever, we need to use our voices together.” Lucy Johnson, ACCW president
Local News from around the archdiocese
MAY 9, 2013
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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New president wants women to rediscover value of ACCW By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit
As people across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis participate in the Rediscover: initiative, Lucy Johnson wants to help members of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women also to rediscover the value of the ACCW. Johnson was installed as president during the organization’s 81st annual convention at Guardian Angels in Oakdale May 1 and 2. She will serve until 2015. The theme of the convention was, “Be the Voice of Catholic Women.” “We can and we need to be a voice of Catholic women addressing the issues of society today,” Johnson said. “We need to reach out across deaneries, across the archdiocese and connect with one another to nurture, educate and support.” Johnson would like to revitalize the organization at the grassroots level, she said. “Council of Catholic Women used to be a social outlet for people to come together,” she said. “What the council was before is not the need right now, but there is definitely a need.”
Evangelization Johnson cited the four steps to evangelization promoted by Matthew Kelly, author of the book “Rediscover Catholicism” and founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute. They are nurture friendships, pray for each other, tell your story, and invite others to join. To incorporate the first two steps — friendship and prayer — the ACCW announced a new program during the convention called the Naomi-Ruth Prayer Partnership Program. Participants sign up for a prayer partner and the only requirement is that they pray for each other. The program will begin on ACCW Sunday in October. She also encouraged those in attendance to tell their stories to others they know and invite those women to
Above, past president of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, Rose Anne Hallgren, hugs new president Lucy Johnson during the installation of new officers at the organization’s convention May 2 at Guardian Angels in Oakdale.
Above, Chrissy Klocker from St. Peter in North St. Paul participates in the Mass. Right, Sharon Balk, a member of St. Paul in Ham Lake prays during the Mass with Archbishop Nienstedt.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
What does the HHS mandate really mean for Catholics? By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
Catholics who work at for-profit companies might not feel morally challenged by the fact that abortifacients, elective sterilization and contraceptives are now 100 percent covered under their health plans because they’re not obligated to use them. But most Catholic for-profit employers, now forced by the HHS mandate to provide and pay for this coverage for their workforce, are struggling to understand and follow Church teaching on the issue while continuing to operate their businesses. And, unless the requirement is changed — which isn’t very likely — starting this August non-profits also will face stiff fines for not complying. (The HHS mandate is named for the Department of Health and Human Services which is enforcing it as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) Catholic teaching has led the U.S. bishops, theologians and many employers to conclude that the mandate is not acceptable because it obliges Catholic employers to cooperate — substantially, directly and indispensably — in very gravely wrong actions. Currently more than 190 individuals representing hospitals, universities, businesses and schools have filed 59 lawsuits against the mandate, according to the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty — a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, public-interest legal and educational institute protecting religious freedom — which has represented a number of organizations opposing the HHS mandate. In the two Minnesota cases, federal courts have granted business owners temporary relief from the mandate as they await final decisions. How and why does complying with the mandate go against Church teaching? Have the government’s actions violated the constitutional right to free exercise of religion? Theologians writing in two court briefs offer answers to these questions. St. Louis abbot and theologian Benedictine Father Thomas Frerking along with the non-profit Missouri Roundtable for Life contributed to a friend-ofthe-court brief filed with several lawsuits opposing the
Analysis
mandate, including one in Minnesota. Also, a group of theologians contributed to another brief filed as part of an appeal in a Michigan court. Here, in question-and-answer format, are some of their arguments. Why is the mandate so bad for Catholic employers? The HHS mandate fits the legal definition of a “substantial burden” on the practice of faith because it forces participation in practices considered immoral by the Catholic faith. Through the mandate, the government creates and imposes coercive pressure on employers to pay for and provide products and services that require Catholics to either change or violate their beliefs. In establishing the mandate, the government is setting up a structure through which it could easily require employers to pay for coverage of other immoral practices such as surgical abortion and euthanasia. Employers don’t force their employees to use abortifacients, elective sterilization or contraceptives. Why is it wrong just to offer the coverage? By providing the mandated coverage, employers knowingly facilitate another person’s objectionable action and this makes them morally complicit with that action. The more serious the forbidden action, the greater the responsibility. This link is also found in American tort law: a person has increased responsibility for an effect they substantially and directly cause. The mandate requires that employers have very substantial and direct participation because the forbidden action wouldn’t happen without their contribution, which they know is earmarked for that purpose. The fact that employers pay the whole cost also makes it likely that usage will increase. Providing and paying for the coverage also violates Church teaching because it sends a message that the employer endorses the actions. I oppose the death penalty and I’m forced to pay for it through my taxes. How is that different than com-
plying with the mandate? The difference has to do with how directly a person participates in the action. If they share in the intention by physically cooperating or knowingly giving moral assistance, they more seriously violate Church teaching than if they facilitate but don’t share in the intention. It’s necessary to weigh how closely a person contributes to a bad action. The Church teaches that the cooperator’s moral distance from the bad action needs to be proportionate to the gravity of the action. Taxpayers don’t directly pay the cost of administering the death penalty — their tax money passes through different channels first. The more causally removed they are, the more acceptable is their cooperation. But an employer who is paying directly for forbidden products and services needs a more serious justification for doing so. Is this current Catholic teaching? The Church’s theological tradition contains well developed concepts used to assess how believers cooperate licitly or illicitly in actions considered objectionable. Several objective criteria are commonly used. In addition, the Catholic bishops have frequently spoken out against the mandate and before it was issued they openly forbid close cooperation in abortion and sterilization procedures. Also the Church has consistently taught that use of contraceptives is immoral. Haven’t some courts ruled that the mandate doesn’t impose a substantial burden on employers’ ability to practice their faith? The government doesn’t have the authority to interpret the dictates of someone’s religion. Several courts overstepped their bounds when they substituted their own judgment on the Catholic faith in cases related to the mandate. Under a 1993 law, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), courts can’t judge the adequacy of someone’s beliefs and they are instructed to defer to believers’ PLEASE TURN TO OPPOSITION ON PAGE 7A
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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Task force to identify better ways to address homelessness The Catholic Spirit Near the end of the annual Dorothy Day Center Community Breakfast May 2, keynote speaker Matt Kramer asked the attendees to glance down at their shoes. “Just about two hours ago, there were 100 people sleeping on this floor,” Kramer, president of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, reminded those sitting around tables at the center. “Today, one of the central characteristics of Catholic Charities — and I say this with sorrow as a board member — is not being met: dignity,” he said. “It’s the dignity of individuals who two hours ago were sleeping on these floors — on very thin mats, on a concrete floor, six inches from person to person. That isn’t dignity.” The changing landscape of poverty and homelessness in the city of St. Paul has led to the creation of the Dorothy Day Center Task Force, which was announced during the breakfast by Mayor Chris Coleman. The task force is a partnership between the city, Catholic Charities, businesses, philanthropic organizations and other community members. It will be led by Coleman, Kramer and Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation.
Needs are increasing The Dorothy Day Center, run by Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, has been located in downtown St. Paul for 32 years. It is now struggling to meet the growing needs of the community. “We know that we can do better as a community,” Coleman said. “The face of
ing to Catholic Charities. Of the 6,300 people served at Dorothy Day in 2012, nearly 400 were young adults and about one-fourth were 55 or older. In 2011, for the first time ever, the number of people needing shelter at the center surpassed its capacity. As the number of people experiencing homelessness increases, so does the complexity of their needs. People coming to the Dorothy Day Center need more than the coffee and rolls that were served when it opened in 1981, according to Catholic Charities. Some are fleeing domestic violence; many are in need of mental health services and job training. Others come to the center for assistance during the day as a way to avoid long- and short-term homelessness.
Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
Kathy Cook, a member of Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood, serves the evening meal to a client at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul May 1. Cook’s uncle, Vic Baller, and his late wife Lee started the parish’s Loaves and Fishes ministry 33 years ago serving meals to the homeless. Lee passed away six months ago, and Vic and all of their children, as a tribute to Lee and her commitment to the ministry, paid for the cost of the meal and were on hand to serve it. The changing landscape of poverty and homelessness in the city of St. Paul has led to the creation of the Dorothy Day Center Task Force, announced May 2 by Mayor Chris Coleman.
homelessness has changed very dramatically in those 32 years. “The number of homeless in our population has changed dramatically.” The task force will examine how the circumstances and extent of homelessness have changed over the years, he said, as well as what kind of facilities and ap-
Officers installed, award winners honored at ACCW convention CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A
participate in the organization. “The Catholic Church is universal and it is through CCW that we can be connected to the world,” she said. “When you are a member of your parish chapter, you are a member of the World Union of Catholic Womens Organizations. Now that’s a voice.”
Convention events The convention offered women a chance to connect with one another and take care of ACCW business, as well as learn from a variety of speakers. Caroline Brennan, a senior communications officer with Catholic Relief Services, spoke at the Wednesday evening banquet about her experiences visiting with Syrian refugees, mostly women and children, who are victims of an ongoing civil war. The National Council of Catholic Women has had a partnership with Catholic Relief Services since 1946, and ACCW members help support CRS programs, like the Madonna Plan, which funds health projects for mothers and children. Other speakers included Jason Adkins,
executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference; Catholic Spirit writer/photographer Dave Hrbacek; Father Tom McQuaid from Catholic Relief Services’ regional office in Chicago; Father Greg Mastey, former vocations director and a priest of the Diocese of St. Cloud; and musician Father Jan Michael Joncas, artist in residence and research fellow in Catholic Studies at the University of St.Thomas. Election of new officers was held May 1, and two officers were installed May 2. Marcia Simon from St. Dominic in Northfield will serve as second vice president and Cathy Evans, a member of St. Peter in North St. Paul will be the organization’s secretary. Four women were honored for their outstanding contributions to family, church and the community. Archbishop John Nienstedt presented them with the awards after a Mass May 2. The winners of the Lay Women Award were Fran Barton, a member of St. John the Evangelist in New Prague; LaVerne Beaudry of St. Albert in Albertville; Margaret Dillon of St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center and Marlys McNamara of St. Columbkill in Goodhue.
proaches are needed today to properly care for those most in need and provide pathways out of poverty. The Dorothy Day Center sleeps up to 250 people every night, cares for 81 percent of the homeless men in Ramsey County and is the only shelter in the county available to single women, accord-
“The needs in St. Paul have far surpassed what the current Dorothy Day Center is capable of providing,” said Tim Marx, Catholic Charities’ CEO. “The St. Paul community has not only recognized this challenge, but made a concrete commitment to develop a new approach that will improve the lives of every person who calls St. Paul home.” “We cannot continue to have hundreds of people sleeping on the floors in a space that was never designed to have that happen,” Coleman said. “We, as a community, need to take on that challenge and do better.” Addressing the breakfast attendees, he added, “I want to thank all of you because we will be calling on you to not only support this effort but to help pay for it, too. At the end of the day, this is going to take resources.”
Know a good Catholic boss? Nominations open for 2013 Leading With Faith awards The Catholic Spirit Nominations are now being accepted for The Catholic Spirit’s 2013 Leading With Faith awards, presented by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Each year, the awards recognize Catholic business owners, managers and supervisors who work in the 12-county archdiocese and bring their Catholic faith into the marketplace. Award honorees are men and women who influence their workplaces through business practices that reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church and who share their time and talent with parishes and the wider community. During the past 12 years, The Catholic Spirit has honored more than 100 people with a Leading With Faith award. Honorees represent a range of professions. In past years, for example, they have included a gas station owner, social work supervisor, bus company president, restaurant owners and advertising agency vice president. Last year’s winners included people like Yvonne Houle-Gillard, I.T. manager for 3M; Kenneth Schaefer, senior vice president and chief lending officer at University National Bank; Angela MannellaHoffman, owner and artistic director of the Moore Than Dance studio; and Charlotte (Cappy) Moore, social justice coordinator at St. Patrick in Edina.
Nominate someone today All it takes to nominate someone is filling out a one-page nomination form and talking about your nominee with a staff person in the archdiocese’s Office of Communications. ■ Go to THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM, click on the Leading With Faith box, and then download a copy of the nomination form to print. ■ Or call (651) 251-7709 or email to request a nomination form, and one will be mailed to you. A panel of judges will choose winners in three categories: large business (50 or more employees), small business and non-profit organizations. Archbishop John Nienstedt will present the awards at a luncheon Aug. 14 at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. The deadline for nominations is June 21. Interested in being a sponsor for the 2013 Leading With Faith awards? For more information, contact Dick Martens at MARTENSR@ARCHSPM.ORG or (651) 2517717.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Church must ensure participation of disabled, keynoter says By Dianne Towalski
to participate? How are you going to serve as [an extraordinary minister of holy Communion]? How are you going to be priest with a disability and get up to the altar?’” Providing access is very important to make people with disabilities feel welcome at their parish and events at other parishes. Calling attention to the fact that there are accessible features in the building goes a long way. Benton said it tells those with disabilities, “We’re thinking of you and we want to make sure you know that we want you here.”
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A photo of Pope Francis embracing an 8-year-old boy with cerebral palsy that went viral on the Internet has brought new attention to an issue that the U.S. bishops have been talking about for years. “[The photo] talks about the value of every person and the dignity of every single person,” said Jan Benton, director of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, an office established to foster implementation of the “Pastoral Statement of U.S. Catholic Bishops on Persons with Disabilities.” “We have loved those photos and shared them because he’s recognizing the beauty of that person and that they have worth and they have value,” she said. Benton was the keynote speaker at an all-day workshop focusing on providing catechesis for children and adults with special needs April 25 at Guardian Angels in Oakdale. The event was sponsored by the Association of Coordinators and Religious Educators (A.C.R.E.) and included breakout sessions and other speakers.
Real-life training Benton first worked with people with special needs as a catechist for children with intellectual disabilities in her home parish in Michigan. She also helped create a faith formation program for adults with disabilities. Benton was studying for a degree in human development at the time and was able to enroll in special education classes. While in college, she also worked at a nursing home. “I met a wonderful young woman in the nursing home with cerebral palsy who was in her 20s and I wondered why she was there,” she said. “I also had several family members with disabilities and this was all very formational for me, so I decided to move to Washington, D.C., to look at the policy end of the issue.” Benton worked for a secular group for three years that was fighting for civil rights for people with disabilities. “It was perfect training,” she said, because she ended up serving on the U.S. Bishops’ Advisory
Giving encouragement
Gregorio Borgia, AP via CNS
This photo by AP photographer Gregorio Borgia of Pope Francis embracing 8-year-old Dominic Gondreau, who has cerebral palsy, captured the attention of people around the world. The moment took place after the new pontiff celebrated his first Easter Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 31. At right, Jan Benton
Committee on People with Disabilities. The National Catholic Partnership on Disability office opened in 1982 and Benton was hired as assistant director, moving up to executive director in 2004. “It was perfect because it was the blending of my faith with the disability issues I was so interested in,” she said. Rooted in Gospel values that affirm the dignity of every person, the National Catholic Partnership on Disability works collaboratively to ensure the meaningful participation of people with disabilities in all aspects of the life of the Church and society. Even after 30 years, her office still gets calls from frantic parents who have been
told there is no program for their disabled child to make their first Communion or confirmation, or they are having a problem with their Catholic school. “That’s just heartbreaking,” she said. “We shouldn’t still be asking why; we should just be asking how. We should be saying, ‘You belong here, what do we need to do to make sure that your child can participate meaningfully?’ ” “There are still parishes that don’t have sufficient access, like access to the sanctuary,” Benton said. “That’s something we still really push for because people think about getting in the door and maybe the bathroom, but they don’t take that next step to say, ‘How are you going to be able
Terri Hunt, director of faith formation at St. Richard in Richfield and A.C.R.E. chair, attended Benton’s breakout session on resources for serving children with disabilities. “She gave us a great tour of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability website” (WWW.NCPD.ORG), Hunt said. “She really encouraged DREs, educators and parents to share ideas and resources to find what works for their students and children.” In their letter, the bishops said: “If people with disabilities are to become equal partners in the Christian community, injustices must be eliminated and ignorance and apathy replaced by increased sensitivity and warm acceptance.” “The leaders and the general membership of the Church must educate themselves to appreciate fully the contribution people with disabilities can make to the Church's spiritual life,” they said. “They bring with them a special insight into the meaning of life; for they live, more than the rest of us perhaps, in the shadow of the cross. And out of their experience they forge virtues like courage, patience, perseverance, compassion and sensitivity that should serve as an inspiration to all Christians.” A.C.R.E. was the first lay ministry organization in the archdiocese, established in 1973. With the support of the archdiocese, it strives to provide opportunities for spiritual, professional and personal growth and development.
Prior Lake woman receiving Franciscan International Award By Kristi Anderson For The Catholic Spirit
Gina Tupy, director of confirmation and senior high youth ministry at St. Michael in Prior Lake, is receiving the Franciscan International Award May 9 at the Wilds Golf Club for inspiring, motivating and evangelizing young people. The award, now in its 55th year, honors individuals or organizations that demonstrate the values and ideals of St. Francis of Assisi. TuPY Thirty-two years ago, Tupy was working at a hair salon she still owns, but Father Rick Banker said God had other plans for her. “Father Rick decided I should become a youth minister,” she said. “He told me, ‘Gina, God placed love in your heart for young people and you must use it.’ I told him that I was glad that God called him
to the priesthood but he also could have been a lawyer because he would never have lost a case!” Tupy feels her spiritual life changed and she became motivated to share her faith after attending a Cursillo retreat. “My life was really touched that weekend,” she shared. “God seemed far away, but that weekend I came to know him in a personal way.” Her four sons attended TEC retreats and had similar experiences. She wanted others to have the same opportunities to know Christ. “I saw something good happening and wanted to bring retreat experiences like these to St. Michael’s,” she said. “Now we have built a huge program here.” Tupy and her partner in ministry, Pat Millea, provide a variety of opportunities for the young people in their parish, including participation in the National Catholic Youth Conference, Catholic HEART Work Camps, QUEST retreats and, at the request of the youth, parent retreats that mimic the QUEST experience. “It is so hard for kids to set aside time
for faith in busy lives,” she said. “Everyone wants the best of them — their coaches, their teachers, parents, employers. That is why retreat settings work well. It is time set aside with no other requests but to be in the presence of Christ.”
Holy Grounds An important part of Tupy’s accomplishments includes the creation of a coffee house where young people can “hang out.” “I knew that we needed a youth room,” she explained. “We were allowed some space in the parish office where we created a coffee house called Holy Grounds.” It opened in 2000 and has continued to run thanks to generous donors. Renovations are currently under way. “It has been a fantastic place for the youth to meet,” she said. “The kids want to share what they learn with their friends, and Holy Grounds provides the time and space to do that. They gather ideas here and take them into their schools. I am so proud of them.” Another unique experience Tupy and Millea designed is an annual event called,
“Respect your Elders.” “At this event, the confirmation students are paired up for an afternoon and meal with the ‘golden agers’ of the parish,” she said. “It is a special thank you to those who pass the faith down to the young people — a nice way to share amazing stories with each other.”
Following the Gospel The award ceremony will seat about 400 guests to honor past and present recipients and also bring awareness to the Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, who developed this award. Franciscan Father Camillus Scott, who worked with Tupy over the years, will travel from Mishawaka, Ind., to present the award. “I have such great respect for what Gina has done,” he said. “Her interaction with the youth and the excitement for life that she communicates with them shows them how to be a living example of what it means to follow the Gospel. She incorporates all kinds of activities that help all of society, not just the Catholic Church.”
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MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
New York residents talk about consequences of redefining marriage CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A debate was about expanding freedom, but we can see today by the conscience exemption in this proposal it’s about restricting freedom,” said Teresa Collett, a University of St. Thomas law professor. “Restricting freedom for all the Minnesotans who continue to believe that children need a mom and a dad and that marriage should remain defined as the union of one man and one woman.” Gay rights activists “told Minnesotans of faith not to worry, that the gay ‘marriage’ bill had aggressive religious protections,’ though the facts clearly don’t support this claim, as our guests today testified,” said Autumn Leva, Minnesota for Marriage director of governmental affairs and communications.
Consequences felt in New York At the press conference, New York State business owners and municipal employees told how they felt forced to quit their jobs, were charged with human rights violations and were harassed for refusing to be involved in same-sex weddings after their state’s legislature enacted same-sex marriage in 2011. “In New York we were promised that the religious freedom amendment to our samesex ‘marriage’ legislation would do the job,” said the Rev. Jason McGuire, president of New York’s Family Research Foundation. “There is no protection in New York law that did not already exist prior to the bill’s passage,” he said. “But after gay ‘marriage’ was enacted, clerks are out of work and business owners are facing human rights complaints. That’s the reality we are living today.” Laura Fotusky of Barker, N.Y., said she resigned as town clerk because the job required that she sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples, which went against her Christian faith. “For all the talk of tolerance, there was none for my deeply held religious beliefs” she said. “I’m hopeful that Minnesota leg-
businesses like mine cannot afford the lie that the state can redefine marriage and also protect religious liberties.
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PAUL GAVIC Co-owner of a Minnesota plumbing company
islators will consider my story as they consider their position regarding gay marriage in the remaining days of the legislative session.” Paul Gavic, co-owner of the Minneapolis plumbing company Noah Acquisitions is concerned that if the bill passes, he’ll be required to go against his Christian faith and pay same-sex domestic partner benefits for his 48 employees. A proposed exemption covers only employers with five or fewer employees, he said. “My business and businesses like mine cannot afford the lie that the state can redefine marriage and also protect religious liberties.”
Impromptu rally
assessment of what their religion requires. If a believer’s claim is not bizarre or nonreligious it merits coverage under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment and RFRA. Do the government’s objectives with the mandate justify forcing employers to violate their consciences? Attorneys defending employers have concluded that the mandate doesn’t further a compelling government interest because contraceptives are easily and inexpensively available through other sources. The government is responsible for specifically identifying an actual problem that needs solving and for showing that substantially burdening employers is necessary for the solution. According to the writers of the briefs, the mandate would only marginally increase access to contraceptives and abortifacients, and so the mandate violates RFRA. Is there really a place for religion in
Looking for a career in the Church? You might just find what you’re looking for here. Each issue of The Catholic Spirit will feature an advertisement highlighting jobs available throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. (The first ad appears below.) For many people, a part-time job or career in a parish, school, archdiocesan office or other church-affiliated organizations is a good opportunity to assist the Church in its mission and enrich their own faith in the process. Eileen Bock recently accepted a position as marketing and communications project manager in the archdiocesan Office of Communications. “My main duty is to help other departments in the archdiocese with the marketing and communications portion of their projects and events,” Bock said. Previously, she has worked in marketing and sales, most recently as an independent consultant. She was looking for something more permanent when she applied. “One of the biggest benefits of working for the archdiocese is [that] I didn’t have to learn the ‘business.’ As a con-
sultant, I had to learn about each company’s widgets they sell or services they provide,” she said. “As a lifelong, active Catholic, I already know about the Church. I really enjoy the people I work with and my new responsibilities. I can honestly say all of the projects I work on are for a great cause.”
Bringing faith to work Marie Maki works as an administrative assistant at St. Ambrose in Woodbury. After college she worked for an advertising agency, and then worked as a full-time mom for 13 years. She wanted to get back to work when her youngest son finished fifth grade, but working full-time didn’t work with the family’s busy schedule. “I have a bachelor’s degree in business and wondered what I could do after being out of the work force for so long,” Maki said. After an ad appeared in the parish bulletin, she applied and was hired in April 2010. “I love working at St. Ambrose,” she said. “I grew up in a very strong Catholic family, going to a Catholic elementary and high school. It is wonderful when I am thinking of someone that I know needs a prayer, I can stop by our chapel for a few minutes and light a candle, right here at my job.”
Along with the speakers, about 75 individuals and families, many of them from three Twin Cities Hispanic evangelical churches, staged an impromptu rally outside the meeting room. Lilian Romero, a member of Maranatha Asamblea de Dios in Minneapolis came with her daughter. “It’s easy to pass a law and say, well everybody do whatever they want,” she said. “We don’t [realize] that there might be a consequence.”
Opposition to HHS mandate explained CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4A
Church-related job, career a good way to contribute talents, enrich own faith The Catholic Spirit
“My business and
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business? No legal cases stipulate that religious exercise should be confined to a believer’s church, home or mind. Religion isn’t an isolated category of activity, nor is business excluded, writers of the briefs noted. There is no precedent for saying religious exercise must be excluded when corporate status and profit motive are brought together. They conclude: “Corporations are no more purely ‘secular’ or purely religious than are the people that run them.” Can’t employers avoid the mandate by not offering health insurance? The Minnesota Catholic employers opposing the mandate each have fewer than 50 employees and could avoid it by dropping health coverage altogether. But they believe that Catholic social teaching instructs them to provide this benefit for their employees. If they don’t offer health insurance, business owners have said they place themselves at a competitive disadvantage because they may not be able to hire or keep skilled, experienced workers.
Church / Ministry Jobs Web, Social & New Media Manager Location: Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis; St. Paul, MN
The Social and New Media Manager manages the development and production/ implementation of all new media: internet, audio, video (external and internal) for the Archdiocese, including all social media, such as but not limited to Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. Oversees the development and execution of Web strategy for all web sites of the Archdiocese. Required qualifications include a B.A. in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Marketing or related field and at least 4 years of related experience.
Director of Faith Formation Location: Holy Name Catholic Church; Minneapolis, MN
The Director of Faith Formation is responsible for the Preschool-Eighth Grade Faith Formation, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, Confirmation, Growing In Faith Together, Lenten Faith Sharing Small Groups, Coordination of RCIA with Pastor, Training and empowering leaders for all of the above, and Protection of Children and Youth Initiative (PCYI) Liaison for parish. Required qualifications include a B.A. in theology or equivalent experience.
Principal Location: St. Odilia School; Shoreview, MN
The Principal is the educational leader of the parish school (PreK-8), developing and implementing policies, programs, curriculum, and budgets which promote a strong Catholic Identity and academic excellence, fostering the spiritual, academic, emotional, social, and physical development of our students. The Principal is responsible for the development and evaluation of the professional teaching staff, marketing and advancement initiatives and facility planning to support the school’s goals, employing good financial management and sound governance practices. Required qualifications include a Master’s degree and/or Educational Specialist degree (or work towards degree) and MN Principal licensure (or work towards licensure). For more information on these and other job openings, or to apply online, please visit www.archspm.org/careers.
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MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Let’s evaluate how we prepare our youth for confirmation CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A of God by the laying on of hands and the anointing with sacred chrism (Acts 2:38). As the catechism teaches in paragraph 1289: “[The] anointing highlights the name ‘Christian,’ which means ‘anointed’ and derives from that of Christ himself whom God ‘anointed with the Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 10:38). So how, I ask myself, can the powerful grace of this sacrament not have a lasting effect on 85 percent of those who receive it? There are several reasons, two of which I wish to highlight here. First, I believe that many candidates preparing for confirmation have never had a personal experience with Jesus Christ. They have known “about” him, but they have not known him! This indicates a collective failure to teach candidates how to pray, that is, to enter into a deep and intimate interpersonal relationship with Christ, who should be “our life and our all” (cc. 2697). Again, the catechism teaches: “The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him” (cc: 2560).
Knowing the faith Secondly, I believe that while the need to know the content of our Catholic faith is even more pressing than it was in the ‘60s and ‘70s, we simply do not challenge our candidates enough to know and, yes, to memorize the “facts” about the content of their faith.
Archbishop’s schedule ■ Saturday, May 11: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Confirmation. 6 p.m., Bloomington, Radisson Blu, Mall of America: Archbishop’s dinner with the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Knights and Ladies. ■ Sunday, May 12: 9 a.m., Minneapolis, Church of St. Clement: Sunday Liturgy. 8 p.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: “Lectio divina.” ■ Monday, May 13: 6 a.m., St. Paul, St. John Vianney College Seminary: Holy hour and Holy Eucharist, followed by breakfast. 10:30 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Meeting with administration. 11:35 a.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Holy Eucharist, followed by lunch with seminarians. 7 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Confirmation. ■ Tuesday, May 14: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff. 10:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with Catholic Charities. 1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Cabinet meeting. 6 p.m., St. Paul, St. Mary’s Chapel at The St. Paul Seminary: Mass and graduation for the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute. ■ Wednesday, May 15: 11 a.m., Minneapolis, DeLaSalle High School: Mass and lunch with DeLaSalle boys and girls state basketball champions.
For six years now, I have asked only one question in every confirmation homily: “What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?” This is not a throw-away inquiry. For if confirmation is the dispensation of the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, then how will the newly confirmed know how to use these gifts if they don’t know what they are? In the past six years, after confirming literally thousands of young men and
2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Development planning meeting. ■ Thursday, May 16: 9:30 a.m., Minneapolis, Minneapolis Club: Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Advisory Council meeting. 3 p.m., St. Paul, Harriet Island Pavilion: 2013 Catholic Charities Employee Recognition Celebration. ■ Saturday, May 18: 10 a.m., Joliet, Illinois, Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus: Priestly ordination. ■ Monday, May 20: 3 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Catholic Community Foundation board of directors meeting. ■ Tuesday, May 21: 7 a.m., La Crosse, Wis., Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Archdiocesan pilgrimage. ■ Wednesday, May 22: Noon, St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Luncheon for ordinands. 4 p.m. St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with Franciscan University of Steubenville. ■ Thursday, May 23: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Mass and blessing of ordinands’ chalices. 2 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with leaders of the Emmanuel Community. 3 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Finance Council meeting. 6 p.m., Minneapolis, Church of St. Olaf: Welcome dinner for ordinands. ■ Friday, May 24: Noon, St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: St. John Vianney senior banquet. 5 p.m, St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Holy Hour for priesthood ordination.
women, only three were able to name those seven-fold gifts: wisdom and understanding, right judgment and courage, knowledge, reverence, wonder and awe. How does one live one’s faith if one does not know the content of that faith? One of our pastors, Father Ken O’Hotto, shared with me a list of requirements he expects his confirmation candidates to know before he approves them for receiving the sacrament.
Some of those requirements are: to know by heart their prayers (Act of Contrition, Apostles Creed, Grace before and after meals, etc.), to be able to name the seven sacraments, the Twelve Apostles, the four Gospels, the marks of the Church, the mysteries of the rosary, as well as to be able to recite the Ten Commandments, the Precepts of the Church, the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. I applaud such an important pastoral initiative. I am sure that Father’s candidates have the confidence of knowing what it means to be a believing Catholic.
Belonging to Christ With the anointing of confirmation, the confirmand is “sealed” with the Holy Spirit. As we would seal a document of great importance, this “seal” marks the newly confirmed as belonging to Christ Jesus. As St. Paul told the Corinthians, “It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us; he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). “To be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit” implies a deep adherence to the person of Jesus and to his Body, the Church. It is a public assertion that one will follow the teachings of Christ and his Church, by practicing the faith, by defending the truths of that faith and by exercising charity in service to that faith. All of the above convinces me of the importance of this sacrament in the life of every Catholic believer. I ask our pastors, our DREs and our catechists, both in our Catholic schools and in our programs of religious education, to evaluate how we are preparing our youth for confirmation, affirming what we are doing well and improving what may not be working so well. God bless you!
JERICO
POLAND Pilgrimage INFORMATION MEETING
Congratulations Deacon Paul Shovelain “CHRIST BESIDE ME, CHRIST BEFORE ME, CHRIST BEHIND ME. CHRIST WITHIN ME, CHRIST BENEATH ME, CHRIST ABOVE ME.” ST. PATRICK
Date of Pilgrimage: Sept 16-26, 2013
Kevin Manthey Congratulations from the good people of St. John Neumann
“...stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” (2 Tm 1:6)
Congratulations to Deacon Paul Shovelain From the parishioners of
St. Michael Catholic Church Thank you for answering God’s call to the ordained ministry.
Fr. Fitz
with Fr. Robert Fitzpatrick (Fr. Fitz)
May God Bless you as you continue your preparation for ordination to the priesthood. From your teaching parish St. Patrick Catholic Church in Oak Grove
CHRISTIAN JOURNEYS
Informational Meeting: Tuesday, May 28, 6:30 p.m. St. Rose of Lima Parish Center (Downstairs) 2048 Hamline Ave. (Enter on Skillman Ave.) For further information/brochures, call:
Toll-free 1-877-453-7426
19091 Island View Drive, Mora, MN 55051-7304 www.jericochristianjourneys.com colleen@jericochristianjourneys.com
NOTICE Look for The Catholic Spirit advertising insert from
Catholic Charities in all copies of this issue.
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MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
One step closer Archbishop John Nienstedt ordained seven men to the transitional diaconate May 4 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Michael Barsness, Kevin Manthey, Marcus Milless, Marc Paveglio and Paul Shovelain were ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Joseph Mukasa Kavuma and Joseph Kirembwe were ordained for the Archdiocese of Kampala, Uganda. The transitional diaconate is comprised of deacons who seek to advance to the priesthood. In this archdiocese, they are usually ordained priests a year later. Far right, Michael Barsness congratulates Paul Shovelain after the Rite of Ordination. Right, Archbishop Nienstedt ordains Kevin Manthey with the laying on of hands. Below, the men being ordained prostrate themselves as the Litany of Saints is sung.
RE N GIS OW TR OP ATI EN ON !
Photos by Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
October 12, 2013 • 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 a.m. • Saint Paul RiverCentre Featuring: Archbishop John C. Nienstedt • Matthew Kelly • Father Robert Barron George Weigel • and more dynamic speakers! Emceed by Jeff Cavins For more information or to register go to
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“Sacred music is an extremely powerful means to awaken souls to the truth of spiritual realities.” Mother Cecilia, prioress of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles in Gower, Mo., who recently released their fifth album of sacred music, "Angels and Saints at Ephesus"
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Nation/World THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
News from around the U.S. and the globe
Changing of the guard
MAY 9, 2013
Briefly FDA ‘acted irresponsibly’ with decision to lower age for emergency contraceptives The Food and Drug Administration “acted irresponsibly” with its decision to lower the age limit from 17 to 15 for purchasing an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive, said an official of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “No public health consideration justifies the unsupervised sale of such drugs to young teens,” said Deirdre McQuade, spokeswoman for the USCCB’s Secretariat for Pro Life Activities. Plan B One-Step now will be sold openly on pharmacy shelves while the generic brands will still be sold under pharmacy counters and only for those 17years of age. Those who purchase the drugs will have to show identification to prove their age. A ruling by a federal judge in early April said the Food and Drug Administration must make emergency contraceptives available to all ages by May 6.
Pope Francis welcomes retired Pope Benedict back to Vatican CNS photo / Paul Haring
A Swiss Guard recruit takes his oath during the swearing-in ceremony for 35 recruits in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 6. New recruits are sworn in every May 6 to commemorate the day 147 Swiss Guards died saving Pope Clement VII's life during the 1527 sack of Rome.
Bishops hail repeal of death penalty in Maryland Catholic News Service One U.S. Catholic bishop hailed the repeal of the death penalty in Maryland as “a courageous step toward a culture of life.” The comment, by Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, was issued May 2, the day Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, signed the bill that repeals capital punishment. In Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, the interior and exterior lights of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary were lit at dusk that evening, and remained illuminated overnight, in honor of the repeal.
Archbishop’s support Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore had testified in support of the legislation to repeal the death penalty at hearings in the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, the legislature’s lower chamber. In 2008, Auxiliary Bishop Denis Madden of Baltimore had served on the Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment, which examined the use of capital punishment in the state. “We must lift up the dignity of all human life — even for those convicted of the worst crimes — and work to transform our culture so that it respects the inherent dignity and value of all people,” said Bishop Blaire in his statement. “Americans are beginning to realize that we can do better than the death penalty both to punish crime and keep our society safe,” Bishop Blaire added. “We welcome
the decision by the Maryland legislature and Gov. O’Malley to abolish the use of the death penalty in Maryland. This is a courageous step toward a culture of life.” “This is a very exciting day. We have been waiting for it literally for decades,” Mary Ellen Russell, executive director of the Maryland Catholic Conference, told the Catholic Standard, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington. “This has been a priority for years. The church has been a leading voice for life in all its stages. And this [repeal] is consistent with our pro-life message.”
Not retroactive Maryland became the 18th state, and the first south of the Mason-Dixon Line, to abolish the death penalty. The others are Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The District of Columbia also bans capital punishment. Six states have banished the use of the death penalty in the 21st century. Maryland joins Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York with that distinction. The last state to legalize capital punishment was New York in 1995. As with New Mexico and Connecticut, the Maryland abolition is not retroactive. Five prisoners with death sentences are in Maryland jails. O’Malley has said he will review them on a case-by-case basis. The state’s last execution was in 2005. The bill replaces capital punishment with a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
For the first time in history, the Vatican is home to a pope and a retired pope. Pope Francis welcomed his predecessor, retired Pope Benedict XVI, to the Vatican May 2 outside the convent remodeled for the 86-year-old retired pontiff and five aides. Pope Francis and Pope Benedict entered the convent’s chapel together “for a brief moment of prayer,” said Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman. Pope Benedict had been staying at the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo since retiring Feb. 28. While the Vatican is now home to a pope and his predecessor, neither lives in the papal apartments of the Apostolic Palace. Pope Francis continues to live in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the Vatican guesthouse located just south of St. Peter’s Basilica where the cardinals stayed during the conclave; the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery where Pope Benedict is living is located just to the north of the basilica.
Daniels hired as spokeswoman for USCCB president Kim Daniels has been hired by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to serve as the spokeswoman for New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, USCCB president. Daniels most recently served as one of two directors of Catholic Voices USA, started last year. The group’s website said its mission was “to put the church’s case in the public square” by offering “an authoritative — but not official — group of articulate speakers who make the Catholic case in interviews and debates.” Daniels, an attorney, worked as counsel for the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Mich. She specialized in conscience-rights issues, testifying in opposing legislation that would place regulations on pro-life pregnancy crisis centers and bills that would force pharmacists to dispense morning-after pills. — Catholic News Service
“Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.” William Shakespeare
This Catholic Life Opinion, feedback and points to ponder
MAY 9, 2013
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Higher education and ‘breaking good’
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Intellect and Virtue John Garvey
Aristotle argued that we constantly choose what sort of people we become by our actions, virtuous or vicious
reaking Bad” is a television series on AMC about a high school chemistry teacher who becomes a drug kingpin. It has quickly become a favorite of mine. Educator Walter White puts his chemistry skills to work in his own meth lab after he learns he has advanced-stage lung cancer and just two years to live. His teaching job, he reasons, will not provide nearly enough for his pregnant wife and his son, who has cerebral palsy. White enters the drug trade for reasons that are understandable, even sympathetic. But his first poor decision leads to others that rapidly drag him into worse and worse behavior. Several hours into the first season, he murders a pair of rival dealers. As he expands his enterprise, he adopts the thuggish business methods that drug dealers typically employ.
Choosing a path White’s story is a brilliant illustration of virtue ethics. Aristotle argued that we constantly choose what sort of people we become by our actions, virtuous or vicious. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts. And we
“Higher education took a wrong turn when it embraced the teaching of intellectual virtues to the exclusion of moral ones.
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JOHN GARVEY
become unjust, intemperate and cowardly by repeatedly doing vicious acts of those kinds. Once we’ve worn a path in either direction, it becomes easier to travel the next time. A person “breaks bad” by making bad choices and developing bad habits. As he gives in to increasingly bad habits again and again, his vices gradually disorient his moral compass until he has completely lost his way. White’s story is a bit out of the ordinary because his criminal turn arises out of a real midlife crisis. Most of us form our most deeply ingrained habits — good and bad — at a younger age, and they become more difficult (though never impossible) to change later on. This is why college, often the first opportunity for young adults to exercise moral freedom, is such a critical
time in the formation of character. Those four years can leave students well formed in habits of patience, faith, industry and continence. Or they can become the opposite kind of people — wrathful, impious, lazy and excessively fond of drink. In 1988, the late James Q. Wilson gave the commencement address at his alma mater, the University of Redlands. He said that students who form good habits can mostly thank their parents; that it’s not the business of colleges to instill virtue. At best, he asserted, moral virtue and higher education are “uneasy allies.” Wilson was right about the importance of families. But as the president of The Catholic University of America and a longtime academic, I disagree strongly with his latter point. Higher education took a wrong turn
when it embraced the teaching of intellectual virtues to the exclusion of moral ones. The life of the mind is not a game or a series of brainteasers. There are right and wrong answers; good and bad art; true and false ideas; better and worse ways of acting and living. Good teachers inspire their students not just to think for themselves, but to act on those judgments as well. In past generations, students at Catholic colleges and universities were inspired by Jesuits, Dominicans and Sisters of Mercy. These priests and nuns not only taught them but lived alongside them in residence halls and prayed alongside them in chapels. They had a lasting effect on the kind of people their students became. Today, fewer of our teachers have taken religious vows. But lay teachers can, and should, see their jobs as the founders of our Catholic colleges and universities did — not just to tell their students about virtue, but to show them how to live it. Garvey is president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Commentary
/ This Catholic Life
No compromise between same-sex ‘marriage,’ religious liberty The House of Representatives will vote on same-sex marriage legislation on Thursday, May 9. If marriage is redefined in Minnesota, it will be in no small part because proponents were able to convince legislators and the people of Minnesota into concluding that the legislation adequately respects and protects the religious liberty of those who firmly believe marriage is between a man and a woman. It does not. Scholars on both sides of the marriage debate Jason Adkins have written to legislators informing them of the significant deficiencies in the bill.
Faith in the Public Arena
Protecting people in the pew The legislation to redefine marriage, H.F. 1054/S.F. 925, does not require clergy to solemnize same-sex marriages. The legislation also allows some churches and religiously affiliated organizations to carry out their ministries and allow use of their facilities without recognizing or affirming same-sex relationships as marriages. These small concessions by proponents were expected because the First Amendment and the Minnesota Constitution would prohibit such an imposition on clergy and churches anyway. Yet these accommodations for religious institutions are woefully deficient. Legislators learned last week, after receiving an analysis of the legislation from five law professors who are on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate, that religious organizations could still be punished by municipalities, or be denied public grants or funds for their beliefs. Even more troubling is the bill authors’ explicit refusal to provide any religious liberty or conscience protections to organizations, groups or individuals who are not clergy or churches. They have refused to do so because they have falsely claimed that Minnesota law already prohibits such “discrimination.” How could it be the case that it is illegal to act consistently with Minnesota law defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman? It is not, and there are no instances where people have been punished in Minnesota for asserting such a belief and acting accordingly. If the law is changed, the state’s antidiscrimination law, known as the Human Rights Act, will be extended and newly applied to what the state’s policy now considers to be “discrimination.” This is why accommodations are needed. Defending religious liberty means more than protecting clergy and churches. It’s also about the people in the pew — you — having the right to step outside the four walls of our Church to live out our faith in everyday life.
Religious liberty impact To offer Minnesotans a cautionary tale about the potential conflicts between same-sex marriage and religious liberty, Minnesota for Marriage, the broad coalition defending the traditional definition of marriage in Minnesota, invited some New Yorkers who have suffered personally and professionally for holding fast to their values since marriage was redefined in
“In New York, legislators and the public were told that the bill had strong
protections for religious liberty. The reality, however, was far different, and Minnesotans should not take similar bait.
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JASON ADKINS
their state. Their message to Minnesotans was simple: In New York, legislators and the public were told that the bill had strong protections for religious liberty. The reality, however, was far different, and Minnesotans should not take similar bait. Among the group were two farmers, Robert and Cynthia Gifford, who told the story of how after marriage was redefined in New York, their Liberty Ridge Farm, which they also make available for weddings and agri-tourism to add income, was targeted by lesbian activists because of their refusal to allow same-sex wedding ceremonies and receptions to be held on the property. A complaint was filed against the Giffords in New York State’s Human Rights Commission, and is currently pending. The Giffords face significant fines and penalties should they be found in violation of the state’s anti-discrimination laws. The Giffords spoke of how, for small business owners, there was no separation between their values at home and in their business. They have been married themselves for 29 years and have put their heart and soul into running Liberty Ridge Farm, the farm itself being an expression of their values.
What lesson would it teach their children, they asked, were they to buckle under the pressure to host such ceremonies, simply to avoid conflict and take the money? The very same types of scenarios will likely occur in Minnesota if the bill is passed.
No ‘grand bargain’ Despite what some well-meaning folks may claim, there is no “grand bargain” or compromise between same-sex marriage and religious liberty. If proponents of same-sex marriage were serious about crafting legislation that tried to respect a genuine pluralism on a matter of which there is strong disagreement, they would craft generous religious liberty accommodations. In no jurisdiction where marriage redefinition has passed have they done so. Instead, they have offered the barest of fig leaves necessary to pass the bill, as they have done in Minnesota. When conflicts between same-sex marriage and religious liberty have emerged, such as those described above, or when organizations such as Catholic Charities must choose to stop providing services so as to not violate their deeply held beliefs, there has been no attempt by same-sex marriage proponents in the various leg-
islative chambers to fix the problem by crafting more expansive accommodations. The reason for such a refusal is simple. As the Colorado Catholic bishops said so well: “The truth is the movement for recognition of ‘same-sex marriage’ and ‘civil unions’ is less about benefits and rights and more about societal acceptance and approval of homosexual relationships.” Proponents of same-sex marriage really seek to use government power to silence those who refuse to embrace the sexual and gender anarchy embodied in marriage redefinition legislation. As author and same-sex marriage activist Marsha Gessen frankly declared recently, “Fighting for gay marriage generally involves lying about what we are going to do with marriage when we get there — because we lie that the institution of marriage is not going to change.” Gessen’s quote is not unique. One could fill a room with academic articles and media stories that confirm her very point. Time is running out. Please make your voice heard. Contact your legislators today by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (800) 657-3550. Adkins is executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
This Catholic Life / Commentary
MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Youth’s story shows need for immigration reform
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Faith and Justice Kathy Tomlin
A good student with hopes of going to college, Helen had her dreams sidetracked due to a situation that wasn’t of her making
t 2 years old, Helen was brought to the United States from Mexico as her family struggled to provide food for the table and hope for a better life. They were poor urban workers in Mexico, where there was a long line for day labor but no line for legal immigration to the United States. Like many people, Helen’s parents began a dangerous journey north, seeking a better life for their children. Helen’s parents found work in the fields of California but soon migrated to the fields of Minnesota, where they searched for the means to support their children away from the violence of gangs and drug wars. They pursued the American dream knowing that their children would do better than they had and would have a chance for a good education, resulting in greater economic and housing stability.
Beyond her grasp Helen was an eager learner and did great in school — close to the top of her class. At 16 she was ready to enter the hallmark class: driver’s education. Needing a Social Security card in order to get a driver’s permit, Helen sought this all important documentation from her parents. Only then was she told of her undocumented status; soon the realization sank in that driving was not the only thing beyond her grasp — so, too, was higher education and her chance to become a school social worker. Her dream became a dream much deferred, and Helen did a tailspin into major depression. What future could she have? Why should she continue making good grades? Why
had she tried so hard only to end up at this dead end? What would her friends think if she was the oddwoman out, not pursuing the typical high school and post high school activities? Clearly this whole mess wasn’t of her making, but it was becoming her undoing. Enter the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals rule, the temporary administrative relief offered by President Obama that would allow Helen to pursue work, a driver’s license and education at a community college. This break, while only temporary, rekindled her spirit, and she began to immediately gather all of the “proof” she needed in order to apply for DACA status. Helen, for all practical purposes, is a U.S. citizen — she knows nothing else, remembers nothing about Mexico, English is her primary language and her Spanish isn’t even that good. Without comprehensive immigration reform, however, Helen will be stuck again because this administrative relief is only a two-year reprieve.
An immigrant from Honduras reviews his documents with Catholic Charities immigration counselor Margarita Rodriguez at the North Fork Spanish Apostolate offices in Riverhead, N.Y., last September. Rodriguez was on site to facilitate the application process for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
Hope on the horizon
CNS photo / Gregory A. Shemitz
Enter the just introduced Senate Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act that would create an immigration process allowing Helen to obtain lawful permanent status after five years in a new probationary status established by the legislation (compared to 10 years for others). She also would be immediately eligible to apply for full citizenship at that time. If this legislation passes, Helen has
a future in this country as a new aspiring American and can come out of the shadows. If this legislation passes, her parents also will be eligible to pay fines, back taxes and proceed to follow a road map to citizenship. It will take 13 years for them to fulfill the requirements before they can become citizens. As people who have contributed to our culture and have a
commitment to our country, this seems like a long time. On the other hand, they have already waited 15 years to have this chance. Immigration reform is long overdue; think of the talent and gifts that will be wasted if we fail to act! Tomlin is vice president for social justice advocacy at Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Peace of Christ is the promise of his enduring presence
I
Sharing Faith Deacon Mickey Friesen
Bishop Paride Taban of South Sudan describes this peace as ‘living the resurrection’
n April, we had the pleasure of hosting Bishop Paride Taban, the retired bishop of Torit in South Sudan. Bishop Taban shared about his lifelong struggle for peace in his homeland ravaged by civil war for most of his life. His years of ministry included imprisonment, churches destroyed, living in hiding and facing constant threats to his life. And, yet, despite this tragic existence, he continued to speak of the peace of Christ and how he lived grounded in that peace while the world around him was at war. Ultimately, his efforts helped to bring about a political peace treaty, signed in 2004, and the eventual creation of South Sudan, the newest country in the world. In retirement, Bishop Taban continues to live and work for a deeper peace in Sudan as he joins in the ongoing reconciliation efforts and the building of the Kuron Peace Village, which tries to create a sanctuary for people of many tribal groups to learn how to live in peace together.
From death to life It strikes me now that this is an Easter story. It is a resurrection story of Christ’s life transforming death. The peace of Christ that inspired and sustained Bishop Taban is the same peace that Jesus offered his dis-
“It is a peace that can help us to live in this world and to face the troubling, fearful and disturbing events that come our way.
”
DEACON MICKEY FRIESEN
ciples as a parting gift: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). It was this peace that guided and sustained the young and persecuted Christian community of the early Church. And, it is this same peace of Christ that is available to each of us, especially during times of loss and turmoil. We face turmoil and loss in our own day. A sudden loss of health can make us vulnerable. Recent events like the Boston Marathon bombing or the explosion in West, Texas can rob our sense of security. We hear of the terrible collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh, killing hundreds, and wonder about the inhuman working conditions. Civil war continues in Syria and the threat of attack continues. After
the recent school shootings, many worry about our school safety and what to do about gun violence. While we must do what we can to address the causes of violence, poor working conditions, disease and conflict, we cannot avoid the reality that everything passes away. Jesus addressed this question very directly in his final days on earth with the disciples. He told them ahead of time that he was leaving them and that the world as they knew it was passing away. The peace of Christ is not the absence of conflict but rather the promise of his enduring presence, raised from the dead and always available to them in times of light and darkness. Living in the peace of Christ can become a stance in the world. It is a peace that can help us to live in this world and to face the troubling, fearful and disturbing events that come
our way. It is this peace of Christ that we wish each other at every Eucharist.
Living the resurrection In one of his Christmas letters, Bishop Taban described this peace as living the resurrection: “My life is a growing process. I can grow in every situation. Nobody on earth can block my growth, only I can become an obstacle to my growth. Religion and culture can enrich me, but the only perfect self I can obtain is the experience of the cross of Jesus Christ. . . . Therefore, I must realize that it is when things are desperate that I can expect redemption. . . . May I bring the good news of resurrection to my brothers and sisters.” The peace of Christ is available to us. The Holy Spirit, given at Pentecost, is a spirit of Christ’s peace. In the midst of our own troubles and fears, we can live in that peace which is beyond all understanding. Yes, the world is passing away, but in the spirit of Christ, we can echo his words, “I have overcome the world.” May the peace of Christ be with you always. Deacon Friesen is director of the archdiocesan Center for Mission.
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” John 17:20
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The Lesson Plan THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Reflections on faith and spirituality
“The Christ to whom we pray is the son of the living God and is a living friend. Even though removed from our sight, he remains present to us.
”
DEACON FABIÁN MONCADA
MAY 9, 2013
Daily Scriptures Sunday, May 12 The Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:17-23 Luke 24:46-53 Monday, May 13 Our Lady of Fatima Acts 19:1-8 John 16:29-33 Tuesday, May 14 St.Matthias, apostle Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 John 15:9-17 Wednesday, May 15 St. Isadore Acts 20:28-38 John 17:11b-19 Thursday, May 16 Acts 22:30, 23:6-11 John 17:20-26 Friday, May 17 Acts 25:13b-21 John 21:15-19 Saturday, May 18 Acts 28:16-20 John 21:20-25
Ascension shows Jesus as our intercessor
O
n May 12, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the entire Church acclaims Jesus Christ in his holy humanity, invited to sit at the Father’s right hand and to share his glory. This feast celebrates what the Nicene Creed, which summarizes the important doctrines and teachings of the Church, says in these words: “And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father.” In the first reading, the Acts of the Apostles describes Christ’s visible return to heaven and promises us that the One who suffered and died for us sits at the right hand Deacon of the Father. In fact, the holy sacrifice of the Mass Fabian re-presents the sacrifice Moncada of Christ on Calvary. Jesus’ death on the cross allows redemption in all ages. Then, St. Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians, mentions that until now time retains a serious dimension given light by salvation history. The temporal life that we live right now is the only life we have in which to work out our eternal destiny. We are tempted to harden our hearts, to darken our minds, and our wills can tend towards evil, debilitating our movement to God. Nevertheless, returning to God is always possible. Time is
Sunday Scriptures
Readings Sunday, May 12 The Ascension of the Lord ■ Acts 1:1-11 ■ Ephesians 1:17-23 ■ Luke 24:46-53
Reflection What is one thing you can do today to support the mission of the Church?
a precious gift of God. We know not its duration, and so our Lord invites us to use it fruitfully. The Acts of the Apostles tells us that the Ascension occurs 40 days after the Resurrection. The number 40 reminds us of the 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness and the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. These events tell us that 40 means a long preparation, waiting for God’s will and teaching us unconditional obedience. For 40 days after his resurrection, Jesus remained on earth. Filled with the glory and honor of his divinity, he appeared to his disciples at various times and places. By eating and drinking with his disciples and talking with them about God’s kingdom, Jesus guaranteed them that they were truly alive in his risen and glorified body. Then, in the Gospel, we learn that Jesus left us his Church, the Holy Spirit and a mission to proclaim his message to the ends of the earth. Our baptism requires us to support his mission, be it through our prayers,
our financial support or even our very lives.
Finding the truth In our daily life, we need to discern. For instance, if we think the Spirit is telling us one thing, but the Church says another, then we must defer to the Church. More than a few souls have strayed by pursuing what they think is an inspiration from God, when in fact it was their own capriciousness. This is precisely what the First Letter of John describes: “Do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Also John’s Gospel: It is “the Spirit of truth” who guides the Church “to all truth.” In a similar way, the Solemnity of Ascension shows us Jesus as our intercessor. Our Lord is not simply a historical figure. The Christ to whom we pray is the son of the living God and is a living friend. Even though removed from our sight, he remains present to us, supporting us through the sacraments and teaching us through the magisterium. Our belief in his real presence in the Eucharist should manifest itself in our faithfulness to the Church. Deacon Fabián Moncada Benavides is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa. His home parishes are Our Lady of Americas and Basilica of St. John in Des Moines. His teaching parish is St. Rita in Cottage Grove.
Sunday, May 19 Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-11 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7 John 20:19-23 Monday, May 20 St. Bernardine of Siena, priest Sirach 1:1-10 Mark 9:14-29 Tuesday, May 21 St. Christopher Magallanes, priest, and companions, martyrs Sirach 2:1-11 Mark 9:30-37 Wednesday, May 22 St. Rita of Cascia, religious Sirach 4:11-19 Mark 9:38-40 Thursday, May 23 Sirach 5:1-8 Mark 9:41-50 Friday, May 24 Sirach 6:5-17 Mark 10:1-12 Saturday, May 25 Sirach 17:1-15 Mark 10:13-16 Sunday, May 26 The Most Holy Trinity Proverbs 8:22-31 Romans 5:1-5 John 16:12-15
The Lesson Plan
MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Pentecost: Catch the Spirit and be bold in your faith! By Father Michael Van Sloun
“The Holy
For The Catholic Spirit
Pentecost, May 19, is a solemnity — the highest ranking liturgical feast — and it celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. It serves as the grand and glorious conclusion to the 50-day Easter Season — seven continuous weeks that celebrate the greatest mystery of the Christian faith, the resurrection. It brings the paschal mystery to completion. The vestments are red, symbolizing the Holy Spirit that descended upon the apostles in the form of a strong, driving wind and tongues of fire, which parted and came to rest on each of them. Immediately they were filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:1-4). It was an outpouring of the Spirit on each apostle individually and the Church collectively. The Spirit imbued the apostles with great love, led them to the truth, set their faith ablaze and filled them with much zeal. This immeasurable grace was the birth of the Church. Through the Spirit, the Church is sanctified or made holy. By the power of the Spirit each person is united to Christ, and the people of every nation, race and language are unified in the profession of one faith. The annual celebration of this feast makes the graces first bestowed upon the apostles available to every believer in every subsequent generation. The apostles were average performers at best, and they needed to make major upgrades. Jesus spent countless hours with
Spirit that transformed the apostles on the first Pentecost has the power to transform each of us. The Spirit poured out on the first apostles is also poured out on us.
”
FATHER MICHAEL VAN SLOUN
A scene from Pentecost is depicted in this stained-glass window. CNS photo / Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic
them. He gave them his warm friendship and personalized instruction, invited them to be his companions and performed amazing miracles before them.
In spite of this, the apostles were terrified during the storm at sea, failed to understand the parables, were unable to expel some demons, fought among them-
selves over who was most important, and abandoned and betrayed their master. They were unable to comprehend who Jesus was or what he expected of them. Even after the resurrection they remained bewildered, isolated, afraid and silent. But, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit galvanized the apostles’ faith. It was a metamorphosis of epic proportions. The apostles emerged from the cocoon of the Upper Room completely remade. They were on fire with love for Jesus! Once fearful, they became bold and courageous. Once silent, they became assertive and outspoken. Once cautious, they took tremendous risks. Once followers, they became leaders. Once weak, they performed great and mighty deeds in Jesus’ name. Once concerned with safeguarding their own lives, they became willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel.
Making Jesus known The Holy Spirit that transformed the apostles on the first Pentecost has the power to transform each of us. The Spirit poured out on the first apostles is also poured out on us in the celebration of Pentecost, the sacraments, prayer and multiple other ways. Pentecost is an invitation to be bold! Catch fire! Love! Forgive! Share! Serve! Speak the truth! Do great and mighty deeds! Make the name of Jesus known and loved! Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.
open the book. build the foundation. grow your faith.
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Calendar
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Dining out 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 $12. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations. Waffle and sausage breakfast at Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine — May 19: 8 a.m. to noon at 215 N. Chestnut St. Free will offering. Mother’s Day breakfast at Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — May 12: 8:30 a.m. to noon at 4030 Jackson Street N.E. Enjoy a delicious breakfast of sausage, eggs, French toast and more. Cost is $8 for adults and seniors, $4 for children ages 312 and free for children two and under.
Parish events Rummage sale at St. Cyril, Minneapolis — May 8 to 10: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday ($2 bag day) at 13th and Second Street N.E. Rummage sale at St. Victoria, Victoria — May 9 and 10: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday (bag and bargain day) at 8228 Victoria Drive. Rummage sale at St. John Byzantine Church, Minneapolis — May 16 to 18: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9
Don’t miss Archdiocesan Marriage Day celebration The Archdiocese of St.Paul and Minneapolis will honor all married couples — especially those celebrating silver and golden anniversaries this year — with a special Mass at 10 a.m. June 8 at the Cathedral of St.Paul. A reception will follow the Mass. For more information, visit WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG. a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday ($3 bag day). Located at 2215 Third St. N.e. Men’s club rummage sale at St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Paul — May 16 to 18: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at 2119 Stillwater Ave. Treasure Hunt sale at Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — May 16 to 18: Pre-sale event Thursday from 5-8 p.m. with $5 admission. 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday ($5 bag day). Located at the corner of 41st Avenue and West Broadway. Bishop John LeVoir to speak at An Evening Affirming Human Life and Family at St. Helena, Minneapolis — May 16: Social begins at 6 p.m. at 3204 E. 43rd St. Dinner, music and Bishop LeVoir’s talk will follow. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased by noon May 13 by calling (612) 729-0321. Parish festival at St. Mark, St. Paul — May 17 and 18: 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at 2001 Dayton Ave. Features carnival rides, CCW pie booth, beer garden, street dance and more. For information, visit HTTP://SAINTMARK-MN.ORG.
2013 Great Get Together at St. Mary, St. Paul — May 18: 4:30 p.m. Mass followed by social hour, dinner and silent auction. Entertainment and dancing from 7 to 9 p.m. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations, call (651) 222-2619.
Other events ‘Mercy Unrelenting’ at Open Window Theatre, Minneapolis — Through May 19: Times — evening shows on May 9 to 11, May 16 to 18 at 7:45 p.m. matinees on May 12, 18, 19 at 2 p.m. at 1313 Chestnut Ave. For information call (763) 732-8091 or visit WWW.OPENWINDOWTHEATRE.ORG. Exhibit of residents’ artwork at Little Sisters of the Poor Holy Family Residence, St. Paul — May 14: Wine and cheese reception from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 330 Exchange St. S. Event is part of the celebration of National Older Americans’ Month and National Nursing Home Week (May 12 to 18).
Perennial plant sale at St. Rita, Cottage Grove — May 18: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 8694 80th St. S.
Womens Silent Weekend Retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo — May 17 to 19: Theme is “We Walk By Faith” presented by the King’s House Retreat team at 621 First Ave. S. Cost is $140 per person. For information and registration, visit WWW.KINGSHOUSE.COM.
Fashion show and luncheon at St. Peter, Mendota — May 18: 11:30 a.m. at 1405 Hwy. 13. Cost is $15. For reservations, call (651) 451-6690.
Wakota Life Care Center Walk for Life at Thompson Park, West St. Paul — May 18: 10 a.m. at 360 Butler Ave. E. For information, call (651) 457-1195.
Funfest at St. Michael, Stillwater — May 19: Noon to 6 p.m. at 611 S. Third St. Features food, entertainment, special kids’ activities and more. For information, visit WWW.STMICHAELSTILLWATER.ORG.
50th anniversary celebration for Sister Brenda Rose Szegedy at Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo — May 19: 2 p.m. Mass at 621 First Ave. S. A reception will follow in the Garden Court.
Annual St. Timothy Golf Tournament at Albion ridges Golf Course, Annandale — May 19: 1 p.m. at 7771 20th St. N.W. 18 holes of golf, cart and dinner, $300/4-some. Registration deadline May 14. Visit WWW.CHURCHOFSTTIMOTHY.ORG.
Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe with Archbishop John Nienstedt — May 21: Visit WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG for information.
Perennial plant sale at St. Jerome, Maplewood — May 18: 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 380 Roselawn Ave. Most plants priced $2 to $5.
Celebrate Pentecost musical event at Lumen Christi, St.Paul — May 19: 3 p.m. at 2055 Bohland Ave. Features choral, instrumental and ensemble music by parish groups. Admission is free.
Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus 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) 4250412. 50-plus singles dinner at St. Joseph, New Hope — May 19: 5 p.m. at 8701 36th Ave. N. Social hour, dinner and dance lessons, all for $10. Call (763) 439-5940.
School events Advanced Competitive Science program open house at Benilde-St. Margaret, St. Louis Park — May 14: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the school’s ACS lab, 2501 Hwy 100 S. For information, visit www.BSM school.org/ACS All day open house at St. John the Baptist, Savage — May 16: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 12508 Lynn Ave. No R.S.V.P. required. For information, visit WWW.STJOHNS-SAVAGE.ORG.
Minnesota Catholic Home Education Conference at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul — May 31 to June 1: Event opens Friday at 4 p.m. with a curriculum fair, used book sale and many vendors. Saturday session begins with Mass at 7:15 a.m. and concludes at 5 p.m. Father Michael Schmitz, director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth will be the keynote speaker. For information, visit WWW.MNCONFERENCE.ORG. Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver plant sale in Woodbury — May 18: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 265 Century Ave. (south of I-94). Proceeds will go to the missionary needs of the Missionary Sisters of St. Peter Claver. Food will also be available for sale. Extended Pentecost Vigil Mass at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul — May 18: 7:30 p.m. at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas. For more information visit WWW.STTHOMAS.EDU/CAMPUSMINISTRY and click on the Pentecost Vigil button. The Inaugural Meeting of the Argument Club for Women at St. Michael, Stillwater — May 23: 6 to 9 p.m. at 611 S. Third St. Moderator: Dr. Deborah Savage, cofounder of the Siena Symposium. In the Affirmative: The Rev. Kelli Clement, MN Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. In the Negative: Dr. Anne Maloney, St. Catherine University. Cost is $10
Young adults Roaring Twenties Spring swing dance at the Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul — May 11: Lessons start at 8 p.m. at 239 Selby Ave. Cost is $8 per person, $22 per family. Come dressed in twenties outfits — flapper dresses, long beads, hats are encouraged. Sponsored by the Cathedral Young Adults.
“The ode lives upon the ideal, the epic upon the grandiose, the drama upon the real.” Victor Hugo
Arts & Culture Exploring our church and our world
MAY 9, 2013
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
17A
Forgiveness, redemption at heart of ‘Mercy Unrelenting’ Reviewed by Joe Towalski
Performance information
The Catholic Spirit
In his homily last month for Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Francis declared: “God always waits for us, even when we have left him behind! He is never far from us, and if we return to him, he is ready to embrace us.” Perhaps this was never truer than in the case of Alessandro Serenelli, a hired farmhand sentenced to 30 years in an Italian prison at the turn of the 20th century for the murder of a young girl, Maria Goretti, who refused to submit to his lustful advances. Stabbed 14 times, Goretti succumbed to her wounds in a hospital bed, but not before forgiving her killer — an act that led to her being declared a saint in 1950 by Pope Pius XII during a canonization ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands of the faithful who filled St. Peter’s Square. It was different story, however, for Serenelli, who showed little remorse after the killing. A troubled and lonely 19-yearold raised in a dysfunctional family, he remained bitter and unconvinced of a loving and merciful God — until his life changed forever after a vision one night in prison. This is the story skillfully told in “Mercy Unrelenting,” the latest production by The Open Window Theatre in Minneapolis. The drama opens 50 years after the murder, when Serenelli, released from prison and living quietly in a Franciscan monastery, is forced to revisit the events of his past when a reporter comes looking for a story on the eve of Goretti’s canonization. People of faith will be drawn to the
■ Dates: Through May 19 ■ Times: 7:45 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays (2 p.m. show on Saturday, May 18) ■ Where: Open Window Theatre, 1313 Chestnut Ave., #102, Minneapolis (in the Metropolis Minneapolis Building) ■ Tickets: $12 to $26, with discounts for advance tickets, students, seniors and children; available at WWW.OPENWINDOWTHEATRE.ORG or by calling (800) 838-3006. Jen Frederickson, La Cattura Photography
The young Alessandro Serenelli, played by Jeremy Stanbary, talks with Maria Goretti, portrayed by Katie Law-Gotich, in a scene from “Mercy Unrelenting.”
play’s underlying message — that redemption is possible for everyone, even someone like Serenelli. But there are other reasons not to miss this show. The acting is top-notch — from the portrayal of Goretti by Katie Law-Gotich to the performances by Jeremy Stanbary (as the volatile younger Serenelli) and Charles Numrich (as the pensive, older version of the man). Bailey Murphy as reporter Vittoria Cimarelli and Sherry Ward as Goretti’s mother, Assunta, also shine. The venue, the theater’s black box space, puts the audience within mere feet of the actors. While some may find the closeness a bit disconcerting, the intimacy immerses one in the action and drama’s emotions
in ways not always possible in larger settings.
Story of hope Stanbary — who wrote, directed and produced “Mercy Unrelenting” — has staged other religious-themed plays in the past, including a one-man drama titled “Alessandro.” It’s a story he finds very compelling. “I love stories of hope that are born of tragedy, because tragedy and suffering are inescapable aspects of the human condition,” said Stanbary, who also serves as the theater’s artistic director. “The true story of Maria Goretti and Alessandro Serenelli, while representing some of the worst dimensions of humanity, also rep-
resents some of the best. It’s a story that showcases the unexpected triumph of good over evil. Everyone, I hope, can take consolation in the fact that nobody is beyond the possibility of redemption.” As Pope Francis said, God’s mercy is available to anyone willing to return and seek his forgiveness, even those like Serenelli who have committed terrible wrongs. Part of the Open Window Theatre’s mission is to make theater a window to the Divine and celebrate religious faith. In both regards, “Mercy Unrelenting” does not disappoint. Because of the subject matter, including some intense scenes, the performance is recommended for ages 13 and up. Kudos to the theater for including information in the playbill about services available for anyone who might be suffering from sexual abuse or violence.
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18A
Arts & Culture
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Theology bookstore moves to Stillwater-area farm By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
Relocating a large theological bookstore from downtown Stillwater to a farm populated with free-range chickens might seem like an unusual business decision. Loome Theological Booksellers coowner and proprietor Christopher Hagen and his wife Christelle, however, moved the bookstore last year to a 14-acre hobby farm to give it space to grow. But, more than that, they envisioned that the new location offered a way for their family to live out and promote self-sufficiency as well as Catholic philosophies related to work, agriculture and scholarship. During the April grand opening of the bookstore located seven miles southwest of Stillwater, the couple — parishioners at St. Michael in Stillwater — talked about the role of Divine Providence in the move and their hope of creating new synergy between books, crops and life with their five children. “Bookstores do not have an easy go of keeping the doors open because of fewer people reading physical books,” Christopher said. “Tying the bookstore in with something else with its own vitality — a farm — we’re hoping will keep the bookstore’s legs going as well.”
Big move Loome Theological Booksellers features nearly 100,000 hard-to-find scholarly and classic Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant and related books purchased throughout North America and Europe. Hagen and business partner Andrew Poole purchased the bookstore in 2008. It took more than 100 trips in a minivan and trailer to move the book collection last fall from its previous location in a
Above: Christopher Hagen and his wife Christelle relax on Claret Farm outside of Stillwater April 27. The farm also is home to Loome Theological Booksellers, which Hagen relocated from its previous location in Stillwater. Right: The bookstore is divided into rooms by subject. Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
1904 former Swedish Covenant church to the farm in Lakeland Township. Employees, volunteers and the Hagen family spent many hours setting up the new bookstore in a building on the farm site which has a climate controlled retail
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area, Christopher said. Since only 10 percent of the store’s business is from the retail store — the rest is from online sales — he said he doesn’t think the new rural location will greatly affect sales. In addition to the bookstore, the couple
and their children, ages 12 and under, are planting vegetables and herbs for which they’re offering community-supported agriculture (CSA) shares. They’re renting a portion of the property to other gardeners and a beekeeper, and they plan to acquire sheep and other animals, Christopher said. Before they had a family, a farm or a bookstore, the Hagens began thinking about combining all three as a way to fulfill the call for the new evangelization. Influenced by the Stillwater Catholic Worker community, they studied the writings of French Catholic social activist Peter Maurin, who together with Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker Movement. Maurin’s writing on living closer to the land and creating an “agronomic university” inspired them, along with Blessed Pope John Paul II’s teaching that work should conform to the family and not the other way around. They have been further inspired by 19th-century archbishop St. Anthony Marie Claret’s writing on sustainable family farm life. Feeling pulled in different directions by the bookstore, homeschooling and Christelle’s doula and parenting business, the couple decided in 2012 to move to a farm to create a new focus for work and family life that would also directly involve their children. It’s a new challenge to find a balance between family and work, Christopher said. “Most workplaces don’t let the work bend to the family needs,” he said. “We’re still learning how to do that. We don’t want to bend so much that the work falls over.” Their new life is setting an example, Christelle said. “I realize in this world where people just seem to be more and more divided that seeing a family that is more and more working together gives people hope.”
‘A perilous adventure’ Leah and Derek Rieckens, also parishioners at St. Michael, both work full time at the bookstore and are pleased with the new location. “I think it’s beautiful,” Leah said. “A lot of customers have commented that it’s a peaceful location.” The single-story showroom should be easier for older patrons, she added. “I’m really excited about having a space that’s all one level with good lighting and that’s climate controlled.” Charles Puskas of Circle Pines, who works in publishing, said the bookstore is a nice destination with lots of products. “They have a good niche developed,” he said. “There’s always something here in different areas.” Larry Myer, a Minneapolis Latin and Greek teacher, also commented on the new location. “It’s great,” he said. “Very peaceful. I will come back.” The Hagens said they see God’s guidance in bringing them to the farm and fulfilling some of their long-held ideals. “The way I see this farm has impacted my faith is making me realize my utter dependence on God more than ever before,” Christelle said. Christopher agreed. “Doing this is a bit of a perilous adventure,” he said. “It’s uncharted territory. The farm and the family. It’s just relying more on Divine Providence.” For more information about the bookstore and directions, visit HTTPS://WWW.LOOME BOOKS.COM.
19A
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Aim Higher Foundation awards tuition assistance grants The Aim Higher Foundation announced April 22 that it has awarded a total of $750,000 in tuition assistance grants to 76 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
News Notes
All schools that applied were awarded tuition assistance grants for students with financial need. The foundation said it is continuing support to all students who received Aim Higher Foundation tuition assistance in 2012-2013, remain in Catholic elementary school and have continued financial need.
The Catholic Spirit
The Aim Higher Foundation exists to help provide access to a Catholic school education to more families. In addition to providing tuition assistance to Catholic school families, in the future the foundation will foster continued excellence in leadership and innovation in education through grants to educators and schools in the archdiocese, according to the foundation’s website, WWW.AIMHIGHERFOUNDATION.ORG.
Seminarian writes and directs theater drama Seminarian Kyle Kowalczyk wrote and directed the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity’s recent production of “Saved by the Guillotine,” a play based on letters written by Jacques Fesch while he was in prison in Paris. Fesch was the last person killed by guillotine in France in 1957. The play was performed April 26 to 28 at the University of St. Thomas and featured Tyler Dickinson, a seminarian for the Diocese of Madison, Wis., as Fesch. A native of Ann Arbor, Mich., Kowalczyk started acting in seventh grade and began participating in theater regularly in high school. It was then that he also began writing. “When I was in my high school drama class, I was assigned a project with some classmates to come up with a short scene,” he said. “The little play we came up with was very funny and quite a hit. The following year I decided to write a collection of short comedies and produced it at my school. This also was received very well. I realized that I had a
knack for writing and a real passion developed.” Kowalczyk became interested in the story of Jacques Fesch when he was visiting a monstery in Illinois and the monks were reading a book of his letters during lunch. “I knew nothing about him before, but the letters were clearly written by a very holy person,” he said. “Later one of the priests mentioned that this same man had committed murder and written these letters while on death row. I was instantly taken in by his story.”
Cardinal Burke keynotes tribunal provincial meeting Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signatura, presided at the opening Mass and gave the keynote address at the Tribunal Provincial meeting May 6 at the St. Paul Seminary. The annual meeting is a gathering of tribunal personnel from throughout the province — the 10 dioceses of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota — and was hosted this
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Feasibility study update The Steier Group, which is conducting a comprehensive feasibility study to test the level of support for a proposed archdiocesan capital campaign, will continue gathering feedback from clergy and lay people through Friday, May 24. Individuals interested in participating in the study are encouraged to visit the feasibility study web site at HTTP://STUDY. ARCHSPM.ORG. The study may also be accessed on the home page of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’s website: WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG.
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20A
Overheard THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Quotes from this week’s newsmakers
MAY 9, 2013 “This is a courageous step toward a culture of life.” — Bishop Stephen Blaire of Stockton, Calif., chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, after Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed a bill May 2 repealing the state’s death penalty
Honoring Our Lady and Mother
“No public health consideration justifies the unsupervised sale of such drugs to young teens.” — Deirdre McQuade, spokeswoman for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Pro Life Activities, after the federal Food and Drug Administration lowered the age limit from 17 to 15 for purchasing the Plan B One-Step emergency contraceptive over the counter
Participants in the 66th annual Archdiocesan Family Rosary Procession march from the State Capitol to the Cathedral of St. Paul May 5. At the Cathedral, participants prayed with Archbishop John Nienstedt for marriage and the family. The gathering ended with adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. At left, first year seminarian Matthew Goldammer holds his rosary standing by the statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary during the procession.
“Remain steadfast in the journey of faith. Listen carefully, young people, swim against the tide; it’s good for the heart, but it takes courage.” — Pope Francis, during his homily at Mass April 28 in St. Peter’s Square, where he administered the sacrament of confirmation to 44 people, including two teenagers from the United States
“The Mass went by too fast. I just wanted to savor every moment I could.” — Anthony Merejo, a 17-year-old from Ridgewood, N.J., who was one of 44 people Pope Francis confirmed April 28
Photos by Jim Bovin
Students answer: ‘How is Christ Present in the World?’ By Eric Simon For The Catholic Spirit
Students throughout the archdiocese were asked to respond to this question in the annual Center for Mission Writing Contest. After receiving hundreds of submissions from schools and parishes throughout the archdiocese, four students in each of four grade categories have been selected and have received their awards Essays and drawings were judged for their creativity, originality, organization and effective communication. Individual returned missioners and Center for Mission staff judged the submissions. As in previous years there were many excellent entries; however these four stood out
among their peers. The winners are: ■ Greta Feist, Grade 3, St. Bernard Catholic School, Cologne. ■ Logan Cloutier, Grade 6, Faithful Shepherd Catholic School, Eagan. ■ Rachel Restrepo, Grade 7, St. Therese Catholic School, Deephaven. ■ Michelle Castaneda, Grade 12, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis. All the winning essays communicated a unique view of Christ’s presence in the world and many described experiences from the heart. For example, Logan Cloutier discovered the presence of Christ’s love in the community that supported his family during his mother’s
cancer treatments. His transformative experience gave him an appreciation for what it meant to love your neighbor and learned the importance of helping others, of being the presence of Christ for others. Third-grader Greta Feist saw the presence of Christ everywhere in nature. Her remarkably well-drawn submission showed a variety of animals living together peacefully, as in the Kingdom of God. Greta is a 5th generation student at St. Bernard. Rachel Restrepo and Michelle Castaneda experienced the presence of Christ through the good works and love that others demonstrated. Rachel saw Christ in her school among students when they treated each other with “dignity and re-
spect.” Rachel described one example, “I see Christ when I see students welcoming new students with openness.” She also mentioned instances of kindness and justice in the community and around the world through acts of charity and heroism. Michelle, encountered Christ in prayer stating, “Christ left this world physically but, through prayer, He is still present.” She also emphasized Christ’s presence in good works and service to aid the most vulnerable, as Christ would do. For more information and winning entries, go to WWW.CENTERFORMISSION.ORG. Eric Simon is mission promotions manager for the Center for Mission.
The Catholic Spirit May 9, 2013
8-page pullout section
Read reflections written by high school seniors selected by their Catholic schools and parishes — Pages 2B to 8B
Catholic high school graduation ceremonies set Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield ■ Commencement exercises: 4 p.m. Sunday, June 2, Academy of Holy Angels. John Miotti, graduating senior, speaker. 181 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, St. Peter, Richfield. Father Mike Tix, celebrant. Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, St. Louis Park ■ Commencement exercises: 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Haben Activity Center. 214 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 11 a.m. Sunday, May 19, Marriott City Center, Minneapolis. Father Tim Wozniak, celebrant. Bethlehem Academy, Faribault ■ Commencement exercises: 8 p.m. Friday, May 24, Van Orsow Auditorium, Bethlehem Academy, Faribault. 56 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, Divine Mercy, Faribault. Fathers Kevin Finnegan and Erik Lundgren, co-celebrants. Convent of the Visitation School, Mendota Heights ■ Commencement exercises: 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 2, Visitation Commers Gymnasium. Mary Brainerd, Visitation Alumna, President and CEO of Health Partners and Mara Leighton, graduating senior, speakers. ■ Senior/parent Mass: 10:30 a.m. May 19, Visitation Monastery Chapel. Very Reverend Peter Laird, Vicar General/Moderator of Curia, celebrant.
Minneapolis. Brother Larry Schatz, FSC, Provincial of the Midwest District of the Christian Brothers, speaker. 155 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, DeLaSalle, Minneapolis. Father Kevin Kenney ’78, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul and member of the DeLaSalle Board of Trustees, celebrant.
Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul ■ Commencement exercises: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul. 331graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 29, Lumen Christi Catholic Community, St. Paul. Father John Forliti, celebrant.
Hill-Murray School, Maplewood ■ Mass and graduation: 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul.
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis ■ Commencement exercises: 2 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Cristo Rey gymnasium. Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, speaker. 47 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, Holy Name, Minneapolis. DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis ■ Commencement exercises: 6:45 p.m. Thursday, May 23, Basilica of St. Mary,
Holy Family Catholic High School ■ Commencement exercises: 7 p.m. Friday, May 22, Holy Family Catholic High School, Victoria. Mr. Jacob Dveck, speaker. 146 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 2 p.m. Sunday, May 19, St. Victoria Catholic Church. Father Bob White, celebrant. Providence Academy, Plymouth ■ Commencement exercises: 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, Providence Academy, Plymouth. Matt Birk, speaker. 61 graduates.
■ Baccalaureate Mass: 4 p.m. Friday, May 31, Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis. Bishop Piché, celebrant. St. Agnes School, St. Paul ■ Commencement exercises: 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Bandas Hall, St. Agnes School, St. Paul. Very Reverend Peter Laird, Vicar General/Moderator of Curia, speaker. 66 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 11 a.m. Thursday, May 30, St. Agnes. Father Mark Moriarty, celebrant. St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights ■ Commencement exercises: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul. 140 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, St. Thomas Academy. Father Thomas O’Brien celebrant. Totino-Grace High School, Fridley ■ Commencement exercises: 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, Totino-Grace High School, Fridley. 206 graduates. ■ Baccalaureate Mass: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, Epiphany, Coon Rapids.
2B
Salute to Graduates
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Macy Kelly
Hannah Lisson
Red Wing High School
Annandale High School
Macy Kelly attends St. Joseph in Red Wing. Her parents are Tim and Sue Kelly. She plans to attend the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph.
Hannah Lisson attends St. Luke in Clearwater. Her parents are Greg and JoAnn Lisson. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? High school isn’t just about the education; it is about finding out who you really want to be and what path you want to take when you leave.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? That hard work does pay off.
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am proud of the way I learned how to balance my homework, sports, extra curricular activities, church activities, friends and family. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? Being a basketball player, I have had the opportunity to be a role model for a lot of young girls and have learned to treat the younger classmen as my equals. When you are in eighth and ninth grade, being treated as a teammate instead of an underclassman will open your eyes for the future and teach you how to be more of a team instead of an individual. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. I went on a mission trip to Booneville, Ark., the summer before my junior year of high school, and I believe that to be the turning point in my faith. It was such an eye-opening experience and I have felt closer to God ever since. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “Of Mice and Men,” because it was one of the most powerful books I have ever read. Life is full of tough decisions
and the right path isn’t always easy. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My second-grade teacher, Sister Bernelle Tube, prepared me for my first Communion and has always kept in touch with me even when she moved away. She always sends me notes of encouragement and reminds me that she is praying for me. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Keep opportunities available for young adults to participate in. The more involved they get at a young age, the more they will want to continue with the Church in the future. What is your favorite prayer? Act of Contrition. If you could go back in time five years, what advice would you give yourself? Always find the positives in any situation because they are much more beneficial than the negatives. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? Graduate from college, keep a strong relationship with my family, and never forget that God is always there for me.
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am proud of never losing myself and staying who I want to be. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I would say by always being willing to be there for anyone, whether they need a friend or help in a class. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. My most significant faith experience would either have been attending Steubenville North or a TEC retreat. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “The Kite Runner” by Khalid Hosseini. It really opened my eyes to how other cultures in our world are. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? One of my sister’s friends, Sister Laura Popp, is a spiritual role model for me. In January of this year, she entered the Missionaries of Charities. She is the type of person who has an aura around her that just draws you in. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church?
I feel like if the Catholic Church taught earlier how beautiful the Mass is it would keep young adults engaged. I would say throughout the past year I have begun to really learn what is happening, and how, during the Mass and it makes me that much more engaged. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? Paul McCartney because I love the music he wrote for The Beatles. What is your favorite prayer? I wouldn’t say it is a prayer but in times of trouble I prefer to read Psalm 91. If you could go back in time five years, what advice would you give yourself? I would tell myself to never hide who you are for fear of someone else’s judgment. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? ■ To always be a light of Christ’s love to everyone I know. ■ To discover my calling: married life or holy life. ■ To maintain happiness in everything I do.
Salute to Graduates Kyle Schwartz
MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Congratulations!
Hill-Murray School, Maplewood Kyle Schwartz attends St. Pius X in White Bear Lake. His parents are Jeffrey and Joanne Schwartz. He plans to attend Loyola University in Chicago, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in theater.
Class of 2013
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The only way for me to be satisfied with my life is to trust and respect myself. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I flew to Chicago to audition for a theater scholarship at my college of choice, Loyola University, and I was one of the few recipients. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I am a part of a group at Hill-Murray known as “Peer Listening.” It is an excellent program that trains students in the art and science of listening and counseling as a healing form of communication. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “Eat to Live,” by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. It caused me to think critically about nutrition and by extension gave me a profound respect for my body. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? One of my religion teachers, Mr. Ken Schaan. He is a superb mentor, and the
most honest, open-minded Catholic man that I know. He is bold and wise; I admire him immensely. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Preach Christ’s message and the potency of his love, and avoid flashy attempts to attract the new generation. Jesus Christ is infinitely more attractive than any Christian rock concert or Twitter feed. What is your favorite prayer? I have been singing since I was young, and I pray mostly through song. Gregorio Allegri’s “Miserere” is a beautiful piece that has deeply imbedded itself into my spirit. I pray with it often. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to reach a level of financial security that allows me to live simply, live healthfully, and grow at least 75 percent of what I eat.
God Calls
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s n o i t a l u t a Becoming Part r g n of the Legacy o C TO THE CLASS OF 2013!
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Salute to Graduates
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Patrick Gage
Gabby Wayland
Providence Academy, Plymouth
Bethlehem Academy, Faribault
Patrick Gage attends St. Bartholomew in Wayzata. His parents are Geoff and Kelly Gage. He plans to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Gabby Wayland attends Divine Mercy in Faribault. Her parents are Tim and Trena Wayland. She plans to attend the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? Time management, far and away, is the greatest lesson I learned in high school. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but once you’ve learned it, it’ll stick with you forever.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson I learned in high school is to never limit yourself as to what you are capable of accomplishing, because with hard work and dedication you can achieve more than you ever hoped.
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I’m proud of the way I balanced work and fun. I kept my priorities straight and focused on school first, but I also spent a lot of time with friends and family. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? As a member of student council, I’ve spent several years representing my peers and ensuring their voices are heard. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. Reading C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” and coming into contact with “rational” belief for the first time drastically strengthened my faith and showed me that Christ and his word were not only beautiful but also factual. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli’s “Handbook of Catholic Apologetics” proved to me that Catholicism was rationally defensible and gave me the information I need to defend my faith. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? Both my parents have been great role models for my Catholic faith. While encouraging me to have a free mind and think for myself, they instilled in me fervor for Catholicism and a desire to follow Christ’s Church to the ends of
Paul Wollersheim Rosemount High School Paul Wollersheim attends St. Joseph in Rosemount. His parents are Mary Beth and John Wollersheim. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? You never know how someone will affect your life. The people you don’t notice one day will change your life the next. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. Being named a National Merit Scholar. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I helped organize a peer tutoring network that will begin its work in earnest next year. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had in
the world. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Introducing young people to apologists like Kreeft and Tacelli is the best way to keep them engaged in the life of the Church. In a modern world that puts great emphasis on proof, it’s easy for young people to assume that Christianity is mere faith and thus fall away. Introducing these young people to the rational side of Christ’s Church will keep them interested and, most importantly, believing. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would have a conversation with St. Jerome, an early doctor of the Church. Having studied Latin for many years and translated parts of the Vulgate, I would enjoy discussing his translation of the Bible from Hebrew and Latin and learning more about his life. What is your favorite prayer? My favorite prayer is the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? First, I hope to serve my country in public service, as a representative, senator, or if God so chooses, a president. Second, I hope to raise a wonderful, faithful family. Third, I hope to be an active philanthropist.
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am proud of being named allconference in soccer my junior and senior years because it was awesome to see my hard work pay off.
Catholic faith? My sister Jillian is a role model for my Catholic faith because she has always shared the joy and love of Christ with everyone she meets. She has completely given her life over to the Lord and trusted him to be her guide.
What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? Through tutoring as a part of National Honor Society, it is really rewarding to see the students understand something or get a good grade on a test after working with them. Tutoring was one of the things that helped me decide I want to be a teacher.
What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? I believe the Catholic Church should have confidence in young adults that they can understand the truth and go deeper in their faith. Having deep discussions regarding the teachings of the Church makes the faith more rich and tangible.
Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. The most significant faith experience for me during high school occurred on the Search Retreat we put on at our church for high school students. Adoration was so powerful and moving on the retreat, and God really brought peace and joy to my heart.
If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would like to have a conversation with Blessed Mother Teresa so I could ask her how she was able to endure spiritual darkness internally while being a magnificent spiritual light to the whole world.
What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? I just recently finished the book “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, about the lives of two women in Afghanistan. It changed the way I viewed happiness and the meaning of sacrifice and perseverance. Who is a spiritual role model for your
What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? If I am called, I hope to be a good mother, wife, and teacher someday.
Dickinson, North Dakota Invites applications for the positions of: President, Primary and Secondary Principals to assume duties July 1, 2013
What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “The Catcher in the Rye” showed me that life continues through all our hardships. Wasting time feeling sorry for your circumstances will bring no benefit to your life.
What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? The more the Church emphasizes its mission of social justice and its pursuit of global solidarity, the more it will employ the hands of those called to serve.
If you could go back in time five years, what advice would you give yourself? I would tell myself to spend less time worrying and more time trusting God.
Dickinson Catholic Schools
high school. Being a catechist for eighth-graders for the last two years has been a joy. Not only has it kept my mind on faith, but I’ve learned so much from the thoughts and prayers of the kids I’ve worked with.
Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My mother is dedicated to prayer. Her dependence on the Lord has been a shining example for me and my faith.
What is your favorite prayer? St. Michael the Archangel prayer.
What is your favorite prayer? The prayer of St. Francis. It is a blueprint to the true identity of Catholicism, calling upon the virtues of stewardship, serenity and humility. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to work in a foreign country, save a life and be a loving father.
Position: President Dickinson Catholic Schools Position: Principal Dickinson Catholic Schools Primary System K-6 Position: Principal Dickinson Catholic Schools Secondary System Grades 7-12 President Qualifications Candidates must show evidence of a strong commitment to and practice of the Catholic faith and a desire to promote deep Catholic identity within the school based on the teachings of the Magisterium. A Master’s Degree in School Administration and Supervision, Curriculum and Instruction, or a similar field is preferred. A minimum of three years’ experience required. Minimum Principal Qualifications • Practicing Catholic who believes, professes, and, follows the teaching of the Magisterium • Master’s degree in education. • North Dakota Teaching Certificate. Three year provisional in offered by ND. • Minimum of three years’ experience. Salaries for all three positions are based on qualifications and experience but will be very competitive. Applicants are requested to submit a letter of interest, résumé, and three references to the president of the board of directors of Dickinson Catholic schools at: FRWALTZ@ME.COM
Salute to Graduates Alexis Gannon Holy Family Catholic High School, Victoria Alexis Gannon attends St. Hubert in Chanhassen. Her parents are Shelley and Rich Gannon. She plans to attend Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa. What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson I learned in high school is to trust God’s plan for my life. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am proud to have been voted a captain of my high school soccer team. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? The Holy Family Campus Ministry Program has provided me with an incredible opportunity to act as a servant leader to my fellow students. Through this program, I have helped lead our daily convocation, planned school Masses and celebrations, and have deepened my understanding of what it means to act as
the face and hands of Jesus Christ. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. My most significant faith experience in high school was on a mission trip with my family. We traveled to Guatemala to serve the community and visit a child we sponsor. It was a life-changing trip, and I was touched by the strength of faith I encountered in the families we visited and the experience of service in a community unlike any I had previously known. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? I read “Left to Tell” by Immaculée Ilibagiza. This opened my eyes to the horrible events that have taken place and continue to occur around the world. Immaculée impressed me with her faith as she endured a multitude of hardships and by her incredible compassion and forgiveness. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My parents are great role models for
MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT my faith. They encourage me to integrate faith into all aspects of my life, including friends, family, athletics and academics. They have provided incredible examples of love and faith and have taught me through word and example the importance of having strong Christian values. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? The Church can continue to stay relevant with young adults through social media and also by emphasizing the importance of living a life based in both faith and service. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? If I could have a conversation with a historical figure, I would like to speak with Pope John Paul II. He was a visionary leader of the Church who had the ability to reach out to those in need. He was a true servant who was courageous and took on the challenges of the Catholic Church around the world. What is your favorite prayer?
John Miotti
Jackie Scherer
Academy of Holy Angels, Richfield
Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, St. Louis Park
John Miotti attends St. Peter in Mendota. His parents are Lisa and Tim Miotti. He plans to attend Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass.
What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? As a student government leader, I’ve represented my class and worked in planning various events, community service projects and fundraising opportunities. This year I was a member of a senior group that advocated against cyber bullying. Through all of these activities I helped to create a positive school environment. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. Serving on two different mission trips has expanded my perspective on the significance of helping others. I have learned the importance of putting my faith into action. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak changed my way of thinking by portraying the extremes of the human condition and showing that despite the most deplorable of situations, there are always good people trying to do the right thing. Who is a spiritual role model for your
I enjoy praying the serenity prayer because it reminds me to put my trust and confidence in God. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to pursue a career that I enjoy and that allows me to serve others, possibly in the medical field. I hope to continue to grow in my faith and share my faith with others. Finally, I hope to become a leader in my community.
Jackie Scherer attends Holy Name of Jesus in Medina and St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park. Her parents are Mark and Heather Scherer. She plans to attend Boston College.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? One of the most valuable lessons I learned in high school is that the most difficult decision is usually the right decision. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I entered Holy Angels as a shy 14year-old and, through the opportunities I was offered, I managed to grow into a leader with the companionship of many close friends.
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Catholic faith? My dad is a spiritual role model for my Catholic faith because of his devoutness and ability to give without any want of reciprocation. He consistently embodies Christian values and understands the importance of humility. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? One of the best ways the Church can keep young people engaged is best stated through one of the values of my high school: “Communicate you matter.” If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would want to have a conversation with Oskar Schindler. Despite being a member of the Nazi party, Oskar used his wealth to protect his workers and is credited with saving the lives of over 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? Believe in yourself –– always. You can accomplish so much more when you focus on what you need to accomplish, not what others want you to accomplish. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I’m proud of taking so many risks and succeeding. Whether I tried new activities or tackled a rigorous course schedule, knowing I pushed myself these past four years is my proudest achievement. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I’ve been a tutor at my school for two years and continue to meet with some of the students in the summer. I like being able to help others with their studies.
What is your favorite prayer? “As you go on your way, may Christ go with you. May he go before you to show you the way; may he go behind you to encourage you; beside you to befriend you; above you to watch over; within you to give you peace.”
Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. This spring break, I went on a trip to Rome with other BSM students and two of our religion teachers. Aside from visiting all the major churches in Rome and witnessing Holy Saturday Mass with Pope Francis, we went up the Holy Stairs. That experience –– being surrounded by friends while praying on the stairs on which Christ was condemned –– helped me to deepen and appreciate my faith.
What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to graduate from medical school and become a physician, write and publish a book and do mission work in a foreign country.
What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “Bias” by Bernard Goldberg gave me a stronger perspective that the world we live in isn’t what we perceive.
Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My mom is definitely a role model; she converted to Catholicism before she and my dad got married. She is constantly setting a good example of what it means to be Catholic, both in values and actions. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Personally, I appreciate it when I’m consulted about how to cooperate with other generations. The best way to engage young adults is to talk to them and get their perspective. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would have a conversation with Herb Brooks because of his involvement with the 1980 Olympic Hockey team. Being a hockey fan, I would want to ask him about his feelings during the game as well as the importance of determination and taking risks. What is your favorite prayer? God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? Live overseas, raise a family, and learn as much as I can with the time I’ve been given.
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Salute to Graduates
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Mitchell Newburg
Mary Kimlinger
St. Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights
St. Agnes School, St. Paul Mary Kimlinger attends St. Agnes in St. Paul. Her parents are Mark and Denise Kimlinger. She plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Mitchell Newburg attends All Saints in Lakeville. His parents are Kent and Stephanie Newburg. He plans to attend Grove City College in Grove City, Pa.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson I learned in high school is that a life of selfless giving will bring about the greatest joy.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson I have learned in high school is the importance of hard work to achieve your goals. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am most proud of how I have developed as a person at St. Thomas. I feel that I have grown into a man that people are willing to trust with many responsibilities. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? When I first came to St. Thomas, I was nervous transferring into a new school in which I knew no one. Therefore, I think the most meaningful way I have helped other students has been through my school’s Freshmen Buddy program. I know from experience how important it is having someone to help you adjust to a new atmosphere, so I was glad I have been able to help a young student adjust. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. The most significant faith experience of mine in high school occurred during my confirmation. My cousin was my sponsor, and she had written me a letter in which she shared a story with me that struck me as miraculous because it described an experience of hers in which God may have saved her life. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? I recently read “Season of Life” by Jeffrey Marx. This book changed the way I think about how I act and who I strive to be because it was written to show what being a man truly is. I discovered
Leah Kunkel Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul Leah Kunkel attends St. Joseph in West St. Paul. Her parents are Pam and Rick Kunkel. She plans to attend St. Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? I learned the lesson of unconditional acceptance through People Finding People, CDH’s peer mentoring program. Although you may not agree with everyone, you must accept them for who they are. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. In my junior year, I was one of two students to receive the ExCel Award from CDH. It stands for Excellence in Community, Education, and Leadership. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I have been involved in People Finding People for the past two years.
manhood is about being built for others and strengthening relationships. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My Aunt Sue is the person that influences my Catholic faith the most. The fortitude of her faith after many trials is astounding to me and drives me to strengthen my own faith. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? I have found in my religion class this year that young adults enjoy discussing social issues. If the Church were to reach out to young adults and ask them what they think about various issues and why, I feel that could be a successful way to engage the Church’s younger members. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would speak with Isaac Newton because of how much he contributed to math and science. What is your favorite prayer? My favorite prayer is The Prayer of St. Thomas Aquinas. Having been exposed to this prayer for the last six years, I have found it very effective in bringing me closer to God. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to become a good husband and father later in life, become an accomplished biomedical engineer, and continue to grow in my faith. Each week, I meet one-on-one with several underclassmen to check up on them and be there for them if they are struggling with anything. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. Last summer, I went on a three-week pilgrimage to the Camino de Santiago in northern Spain. Meeting people from all different faith backgrounds on this religious journey made a huge impact on my faith. Through our fellowship with the other pilgrims, and the time for selfreflection, I learned a lot about myself and other faiths as well. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? The book “Tuesdays With Morrie” has impacted me the most of all of the books that I read this year. In the last year alone, I have read it four different times, and I have learned different life lessons each time. Morrie’s story teaches the reader how to truly live a good life, and
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am proud that I was able to take honors-level courses and consequently be named an AP scholar by College Board after my junior year. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I have been a member of the Pro-Life Club at St. Agnes during all four years of high school, and I love having the opportunity to help others become involved in the pro-life movement. By organizing events to raise awareness, educating my friends on human life issues or simply having conversations with others, I hope to encourage others to become active in the cause. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. This past fall, I was able to participate in the Vocations Club pilgrimage to Italy. Apart from my busy schedule and technology distractions, the pilgrimage allowed me to take extra time to pray and reflect on how God is calling me to live my life. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “He Leadeth Me” by Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. Father Ciszek was captured by the Russian army and spent 23 years in Soviet prisons and the labor camps in Siberia during World War II. During these years of struggle, he learned to surrender himself completely to God’s will and see suffering as a way to grow closer to God. Who is a spiritual role model for your
Catholic faith? St. Gianna Beretta Molla; she was a pediatrician, a wife and a mother who gave up her life for her unborn child, refusing to have an abortion during her last and risky pregnancy. Her everyday holiness enabled her to make the greatest sacrifice of love. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Many young Catholics are not fully educated in their faith, or the faith, through poor catechesis, has been misrepresented to them. There needs to be an emphasis on religious education, especially authentic Catholic social justice teaching and apologetics. High school students are particularly interested in social and political issues, such as the role of government, and they need answers that are relevant. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her hauntingly brilliant novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” inspired abolitionists across the nation to persevere in the fight against slavery in the years leading up to the Civil War. What is your favorite prayer? The Prayer of St. Francis. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to graduate from the University of Minnesota, pursue a career in medicine and start a family of my own.
has influenced me to appreciate those around me. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? Pope Francis is my most current spiritual role model. I love what he is doing for the Church through leading by example and emphasizing the importance of service to others. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? I have found my faith experience to be the deepest through my service activities. For this reason, I think the Church could keep young adults engaged by offering a variety of service opportunities. Emphasizing the stewardship that each person should show to others and to the earth would certainly engage young people the most. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would want to talk with Theodore Roosevelt because of all of his wonderful work for the National Park Service. He
was such a visionary in respect to conserving our wildlife, and I would love to hear more about his ideas. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I hope to have a job that makes me happy every day, create a family full of love and acceptance, surround myself with fun friends who respect and care for each other, and travel the world.
Salute to Graduates Sonja Knudson Convent of the Visitation, Mendota Heights Sonja Knudson attends St. Thomas More in St. Paul. Her parents are Scott and Lisa Knudson. She plans to attend Tufts University in Medford, Mass. What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? To “be who you are and be that well!” In other words, the only way to grow spiritually, intellectually and personally, is to follow your own passions and not conform to others. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. Being a part of the hockey team and being able to lead the team as a captain this year. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? Over the last two years, I’ve helped in
coordinating our middle school’s STEM day for girls. This experience has empowered my own interests in the science and math fields, in addition to hopefully empowering young girls in the same fields. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. At our senior class retreat in the fall, we were given time to go off and reflect on our own. I found a spot by a beautiful marsh and meditated over our school’s motto for this year, “Marvel at God’s Goodness.” Throughout the year, I have found that to wonder and be in awe at the work of the Lord is both difficult and rewarding. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? We just recently read “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin which incited several conversations in class about social boundaries and personal happiness. I had never read such a bold
MAY 9, 2013 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT social critique before, so it really expanded my view on the power of literature. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? Both of my parents, because they have been great moral guides for me growing up. What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? Expanding volunteer programs where kids and young adults can work within their community would keep them more engaged in the life of the Church and would offer an opportunity to meet kids who share the same faith. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would love to have a conversation with Dorothy Day so I could thank her for her work in launching the social justice movement of the Church. What is your favorite prayer? The Direction of Intention.
Austin Peters
Luke Scott
Totino-Grace High School, Fridley
DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis
Austin Peters attends the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. His parents are Maureen and Phil Peters. He plans to attend the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Luke Scott attends St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. His parents are Kelly and Mary Scott. He plans to attend the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? I am involved in many extracurricular activities like math team, science team, and intramural basketball, to name a few, and have carried a rigorous class schedule all four years that challenges me daily. I had to learn to manage my time and prioritize extremely well to be successful. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am most proud of my grades. I challenged myself with an Honors/AP schedule and worked very hard in and out of the classroom each day to maintain a straight-A report card for four years. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I have been tutoring for four years — it is my way of giving back. I have been very blessed and love to help share my knowledge with other students who might not catch on as easily or struggle in the classroom. On a daily basis, I get asked to help and knowing I’ve made a difference can be the best part of my day. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. The most significant faith experience I have had in high school was during my senior all-day overnight retreat, where I really had a chance to look back on my life and reflect on what I have done well and what I have struggled with. These activities, prayers and moments of meditation really connected me to God and helped me improve how I live my daily life. What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think?
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If you could go back in time five years, what advice would you give yourself? Keep an open mind and forgive others. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? Go to medical school, have a job where I can travel and own a boat.
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson I learned in high school is that perseverance is the best way to reach my goals.
“The Holy Longing” by Father Ronald Rolheiser really changed the way I think. We read this book in my spirituality religion class, and it really shed some light on religious questions that puzzled me — why God doesn’t answer prayers sometimes, why we should forgive others, and how God truly is active in our everyday lives. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My grandmother, who is also my confirmation Sponsor, is a very important spiritual role model in my life. Whenever I visit her, we attend Sunday Mass together and she and I usually have some conversations about God and Jesus and their roles in our lives. She also is very involved in her parish, helping out with community service, being an extraordinary minister of holy Communion and attending daily Mass.
Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. My greatest achievement in high school is winning two basketball state championships. What is the most meaningful way you have helped another student or students in your school? I try to help others through everyday interaction. If one is feeling down, I try to brighten their day with a smile and positive attitude. We are called to serve others to the best of our ability, and DeLaSalle has taught me to do that. Describe the most significant faith experience you have had during high school. My faith transformed in the adoration chapel at St. Charles. I learned to really appreciate Jesus Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. His presence has given me peace over the years that has helped me persevere through many challenges during high school.
If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? I would want to talk to Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook. I would ask him questions like what caused him to create it in the first place, why he believed in it, and how he plans to live out the rest of his life.
Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My mom is my spiritual role model because she is always there for me no matter what trials I am going through. I see her praying every day. She has truly helped shape my faith to what it is today through her beautiful example.
What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? Land a job with a pharmaceuticals company using my chemical engineering degree to make a difference in the lives of others, have a family, and live a balanced life spiritually, professionally and socially.
What can the Catholic Church do to keep you and other young adults engaged in the life of the Church? We could have groups that talk about the enjoyment of being a Catholic while doing active things like sports. This is actually happening right now as my dad has combined spirituality and
athletics with a non-profit organization called Spirit and Sport. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be and why? I would like to have a conversation with Blessed John Paul II because he seemed to be the holiest man that I have seen in person. If you could go back in time five years, what advice would you give yourself? Trials are only there to make you stronger. Trust in God fully, and do not believe what people may say to bring you down. Be courageous in thought, prayer, action. Do not be afraid to pray in public places (before meals, etc.), because even if others judge you, God is the final judge. Love others no matter what challenges you must face. As my brother said, “Let go, and let God.” What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? My ultimate goal is to help others enter the gates of heaven, and to do that involves multiple things. I hope to be doing something with my faith in my professional career. I hope to make a huge impact on others, guiding them to believe through example that being a Catholic is not only the best thing to do for one’s soul, it also brings joy that is not obtained through worldly pleasures. Even though I am only 18, I can truly say that my faith has brought me more peace and happiness than all of the worldly experiences combined.
8B
Salute to Graduates
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • MAY 9, 2013
Victor Mendoza
Eric Warnemunde
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Minneapolis
New Prague High School Eric Warnemunde attends St. Wenceslaus in New Prague. His parents are Tim and Patty Warnemunde. He plans to attend the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.
Victor Mendoza attends the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. His parents are Jose and Radhika Mendoza. He plans to attend Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? The greatest lesson that I have learned in high school is to always keep going. That no matter how hard a task is, the only way to finish is through hard work and dedication. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am very proud of graduating and getting accepted to a great college. It shows that my hard work is finally paying off.
If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be? Martin Luther King Jr. because he was a faith-filled man who had a powerful understanding of right and wrong. His way of showing that everybody should be equal is what Jesus wanted to show all of us.
What book did you read in high school that most changed the way you think? “Tattoos on the Heart” was a book that showed me that there is good in everybody no matter what they look like. Everybody deserves a chance at a good life because once they are given that chance they will keep making good choices.
What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? I want to open a business for kids who have nowhere to go. Also, I would like to be able to expand my business throughout the nation so that I can help everybody who needs it. Lastly, I would like to graduate college to make my parents proud.
Tell us about a really good Catholic business owner, manager, supervisor, boss, and we’ll tell everybody else.
The Catholic Spirit News W ith a Catholic Heart
What is the greatest lesson you learned in high school? In high school, I learned everyone is different. I found out that some individuals struggle with certain aspects of school, and that each situation is unique. I learned to try to help students in need to the best of my ability. Name one thing you are proud of accomplishing in high school. I am glad I joined an anti-bullying group in my school. I then became vice president of the club and helped to try to stop bullying in my school. Who is a spiritual role model for your Catholic faith? My spiritual role models are my youth faith group leaders, Tom and Rose Scaramuzza. They got me to think about faith in different terms and to care for the community. If you could have a conversation with a historical figure, who would it be?
I would like to have a conversation with St. Thomas Aquinas because he had incredible insight into faith. Throwing aside the language barrier, I would hope to better understand what faith is. What is your favorite prayer? My favorite prayer is the Hail Mary because it allows me to admit I am a sinner and beg for forgiveness. It is also the prayer I pray the most frequently. What are the top three things that you hope to accomplish in your life? The number one goal I hope to accomplish is salvation. For my second goal, I hope to become a better person. For my third goal, I would like to earn a doctorate-level degree.
Every year for the past 12 years, The Catholic Spirit has honored people in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis for bringing their faith to the marketplace. More than 100 people — from bankers to gas station owners to social work supervisors — have received The Catholic Spirit’s Leading With Faith Award. Nominating is easy. Contact Mary Gibbs – 651-251-7709 or gibbsm@archspm.org — and we’ll send you a nomination form.The form is available online, too. Click on the Leading With Faith logo on TheCatholicSpirit.com or www.Archspm.org and print one for yourself. Fill out the nomination form as completely as you can, and we’ll take it from there. DO IT NOW: DEADLINE is June 21st
Give a GOOD Catholic boss a pat on the back!
Mary Learning more about our faith The Catholic Spirit’s 4-page Rediscover: pullout section in each issue of 2013 highlights a new Rediscover: theme for you to reflect on and discuss with others. Coming up May 23: Who started the Catholic Church and why?
Blessed Mother in Scripture: a model of faith
M
HEART OF THE MATTER Father MICHAEL VAN SLOUN
uch of the basis for our devotion to the Blessed Mother Mary is found in Sacred Scripture, and her example has much to teach and inspire us in the way that we practice our Christian faith. The Annunciation: The archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). Mary was full of grace because she was immaculately conceived. She grew in holiness because of her strong spiritual upbringing by her parents, her many trips to the Temple, and the time she spent in prayer with Scripture. When Gabriel announced her vocation to be the mother of Jesus, she was ready to make her fiat, “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). All of us are “full of grace” to a greater or lesser degree. God wants us to grow in holiness, to practice our faith at home, to go to church and pray, and to pray with Scripture. Then, when we are called to our special vocation in life, we will have such a strong spiritual foundation that we will be ready to say yes to God as Mary did. Mary’s conception: Mary was found to be with
The Catholic Spirit • May 9, 2013
child before she lived with Joseph (Matthew 1:18). The situation surrounding her pregnancy was confusing and troubling, yet Mary welcomed her child. Mary is the champion of the Gospel of life, and her example shows us the supreme importance of the protection of new life in the womb. The Visitation: Once Mary conceived, she traveled to a small town outside of Jerusalem to visit Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-45). Elizabeth needed help because she was advanced in years. With Jesus within her, Mary’s first inclination was to serve. Mary demonstrates how the presence of Jesus within can change a person’s disposition. Mary was able to recognize someone in need and respond generously. Jesus dwells within each of us, particularly through our reception of the Eucharist. His indwelling presence should move us from selfish preoccupation to a keener awareness of others and their difficulties, and predispose us to offer our assistance. Please turn to WE on back page of section
Rediscover-faith.org
“Jesus dwells within each of us, particularly through our reception of the Eucharist. His indwelling presence should move us from selfish preoccupation to a keener awareness of others and their difficulties, and predispose us to offer our assistance.” Father Michael Van Sloun
Do Catholics worship Mary?
In the quiet stillness of sufferi By Dave Hrbacek
Do Catholics worship Mary and the saints? No. We pray to them, but not in the same way we pray to God. Think of it in this way: If you got sick and asked me to pray for you, I would. This does not make me uniquely Catholic, or even uniquely Christian. There are many nonChristians who believe in the power of prayer. If I ask my non-Catholic Christian friends whether they pray for their spouse or their children, they will say yes. If I ask them to pray for me, they will say yes. This is the same principle. We believe that Mary and the saints are dead to this world, but we also believe they live on in the next world. we believe that their prayers are just as CELEBRATING And powerful — even more powerful. We are CATHOLICISM essentially saying to them, “We have problems down here. You know what it is like because you Matthew have been here; pray for us!” Our non-Catholic Christian friends don’t KELLY believe people can still pray in the afterlife. We do. Our spiritual universe is just bigger. In fact, one of the most incredible things about our Catholic faith is the vastness of our spiritual universe. Mary is the most famous woman in history. She leads all prominent women who have earned their fame by living a life of virtue. She has inspired more art and music than any other woman in history and, even in the modern age, she “One of the fascinates the imaginations of men and of all faiths. In our own age, Mary great challenges women has appeared on the cover of Time that we face as magazine more often than any other person. modern I suspect that if we are to reconcile the great disharmony that exists between the Catholics is to role of men and the role of women in find a genuine modern society we will need the insight of great feminine role model. Is it place for Mary in this possible for us to understand the dignity, our spirituality.” value, mystery and wonder of women, without first understanding this woman? Matthew Kelly But beyond her fame and her historical importance is her centrality to Christian life. The first Christians gathered around her for comfort and guidance, yet some modern Catholics treat her like she has some contagious disease. One of the great challenges that we face as modern Catholics is to find a genuine place for Mary in our spirituality.
The Catholic Spirit
A unique perspective
Solace in the rosary
My wife recently gave birth to our first child, a son. Being a father has filled me with many new spiritual insights. I love this little boy so much, and if I can love him so much in all my brokenness and with all my limitations, how much more God must love me. Through my son I have experienced the love of God in a whole new way. I also just yearn to be with him. When I am on the road, or even at the office for the day, I yearn to get home and hold him, play with him, be with him. It strikes me that perhaps above everything else God just yearns to be with us. The birth of our son has also renewed my relationship with Mary. It has occurred to me that no matter how much I love my son, my wife will always have a unique perspective on his life. It doesn’t mean that she loves him more or that I love him less. It just means that a mother sees her child’s life in a way that nobody else can. If I don’t take time occasionally to ask her about this motherly perspective I unnecessarily miss a part of my son’s life. A mother has a unique perspective. Nobody sees the life of a child the way the child’s mother does — not even the father. It seems to me that every genuine Christian, not just Catholics, should be interested in that perspective — and not just interested, but fascinated. In the rosary we ponder the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother. This is an incredibly powerful experience if we enter into it fully. Kelly is an international best-selling author, speaker and founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute.
The Catholic Spirit • May 9, 2013
For Laura Sobiech, the image of Mary is clear: standing silently, helplessly at the foot of the cross, watching her son die. It’s not a picture many want to dwell on for very long. But for Catholics it’s at the heart of understanding who Mary is and why she matters to our faith. In Sobiech’s case, it doesn’t take much to conjure up the sight of the suffering Mother of God. She just needs to go to a certain bedroom in her home and sit at the foot of her son Zach’s bed. Zach is dying. A rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma is weakening his body day by day. He is now in the final stages of the disease, at home in hospice care and taking only medications to help ease the pain and make him feel comfortable in his last days. “Identifying with Mary’s suffering has been huge,” said Laura of St. Michael in Stillwater. “To meditate from her point of view, watching her son suffer, has just really brought me peace and shown me how to do it. She had quiet strength. The Way of the Cross, Mary was there for the whole thing, and there was nothing she could really do but be there.” Like Mary, Laura has resolved to be by her son’s side for whatever time he has left. She is joined faithfully by her husband of 23 years, Rob. Together, both have shared the ups and downs, joys and deep sorrows of their son’s battle with cancer, which began in the fall of 2009.
Punched in the gut Zach, the third of the Sobiechs’ four children, was out on a run trying to get in shape for the upcoming basketball season. He had played the sport at St. Croix Catholic School, and wanted to continue doing so at Stillwater High School. But he felt pain in his hip during the jog, and his parents decided to take him to the doctor. At first, the tumor went unnoticed. Finally, when the pain was getting worse, they took him in for a CT scan, thinking he had developed a hip flexor. At that point, they were expecting possible surgery followed by physical therapy. They were in the waiting room, getting ready to leave with their son and enjoy the upcoming weekend. “Before we left the waiting room, the doctor called the waiting room phone and wanted to talk to us immediately,” Laura said. “[Rob] picked up the phone and I came over and leaned my ear against it. I couldn’t hear everything, but I could hear ‘tumor’ and ‘it’s bad.’ “I just remember looking across the room at Zach and thinking, ‘What do I tell him?’ because I wasn’t prepared to hear ‘tumor.’ It was one of those experiences where your body responds before your head has a chance to catch up. Your legs go weak and your mind is busy going, ‘What? A tumor?’ It was a bad weekend.” Said Rob: “It was like someone punched you in the gut.” Not long after the diagnosis, which came on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, Laura got serious about a goal she had set several years earlier — praying the rosary. “When things started with Zach in 2009, it was pretty immediate that I needed that lifeline,” Laura said. “That’s when I decided that this was going to be part of my daily routine. So, I actually set up my work schedule to start later so that I could make sure I would get prayer in before I started my day.” Now, with Zach’s life looking like it will end soon, Laura craves her daily time with the Blessed Mother as much as ever. Though a lifelong Catholic, only recently has she developed a devotion to Mary and the rosary. “I really struggled with it years ago,” she said. “My mom is Catholic, my dad is not. I probably had more Protestant influence growing up than I did Catholic. I went to Catholic school and went to Mass every Sunday, but we also went to a lot of prayer meetings at my dad’s church. I really appreciate that side of my upbringing.” When she and Rob got married in 1989, she peppered him with a lot of questions about the Catholic faith and Mary. It was a challenge for Rob, who also grew up Catholic, because he embraced the teachings of the Church and did not have the same doubts and questions his wife had. A Familia group — a Catholic program committed to strengthening families — at St. Michael helped answer her questions and deepen her belief in the power of praying the rosary.
“Any time we have a struggle in the because I know that’s where we’re go going to get the grace — to get thro don’t have to do it on my own. It’s m
Strengthened by faith
The safety net of faith has been a cru her son’s illness. In fact, faith is what get through the dozen-plus surgeries, t tal, and the grim reports from doctor to see Zach’s illness as something mo heartbreak. “We were given our situation as an had purpose. It was part of God’s plan I’m going, ‘I don’t like it.’ But, if you c eternal [component], then the whole s sense. If you’re just dealing with what and this world is all that there is to y lem.” Though Rob and Laura have foun son’s failing health, their suffering rem Fortunately, they have been able to ments, like the day Bishop Lee Piché for family friend Matt Brown’s confir and the parish asked that Matt’s confi 22 and be held at St. Mary so that Zac The Browns are longtime family f sponsor to be there with him. Permis Piché expressed admiration for Zach’s “It was huge,” Laura said. “I think a really was there, not just for Matt, bu We had this unique opportunity for a really cool thing.” Though Zach’s condition slid down confirmation, he summoned up the thoughts. “It seemed a lot more special for him Zach, who turned 18 on May 3. “I fe confirmation and remember it more t cause he got that personal touch. An him more.”
Still looking to God As his illness progresses, Zach will
The canticle of Mary still resounds
ng, Mary resides
Left: Rob, Zach and Laura Sobiech, at home April 24. Below: Matthew Brown greets Bishop Lee Piché after being confirmed during a special Mass April 22 at St. Mary in Stillwater. His scheduled confirmation was moved up to accommodate the failing health of his sponsor, Zach Sobiech, center, who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer in 2009. (Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit)
e family, I go right to the rosary oing to get the grace — or I’m ough things,” she said. “I just y safety net.”
ucial part of her journey during t has helped the whole family the 100-plus days in the hospis. And, it has given them eyes ore than just pure misery and
n opportunity,” Rob said. “It’s n. Now, every day I look at it, can understand that there’s an suffering part makes a lot more your situation is in this world, you, then you have a big prob-
nd peace in the midst of their mains intense. o experience some joyful mocame to St. Mary in Stillwater rmation. Zach was his sponsor irmation be moved up to April ch could be there. friends, and Matt wanted his ssion was granted, and Bishop s courage during the Mass. all of us felt that the Holy Spirit ut was spilling over to all of us. all of us to be together for this
nward in the days after Matt’s e strength to offer a few brief
m, which I enjoyed a lot,” said eel like he’ll look back on his than a lot of other kids will bed, I think that will help guide
be surrounded by his family,
which includes sisters Alli, 22, Grace, 14, and brother Sam, 20. Then, there’s his longtime friend Sammy Brown, Matt’s older sister and Zach’s singing partner, plus Zach’s girlfriend Amy Adamle, who belongs to St. Ambrose in Woodbury. “He has this sense of joy, and he shares it with everyone, even when he’s down,” Adamle said. “His faith has made my faith stronger because even in dark times, he still looks to God. It helps me know that I can do that.” This journey of ups and downs is sure to feature more of both this month. Alli will be married May 31 at St. Michael. “I’ve sat down with her and had a conversation because we may have a funeral in that same church not long before the wedding,” Laura said. “So, we’ve got some things to think about. The way we’ve done it this whole time, or at least how I’ve done it, is you live in the present and we deal with what we’ve got in front of us because that’s where God’s grace is. “Alli and I talked about [that] we will laugh and we will cry, and we’ll be OK with that. . . . I have put a lot of effort into finding joy throughout the whole journey, and I plan to continue that, actively seeking joy. And, I think in order to do that and to find it, you have to actively be grateful for what’s right here.”
In the symphony of Scripture, Mary is a flute. Her solo comes early in the Gospel of Luke and is aptly titled “the Canticle of Mary.” Throughout the remainder, she adds trills and grace notes. Our first biblical insight about Mary is our most profound: how readily she offers her yes to God’s will, as delivered by the angel Gabriel. No sooner has she murmured the words we all have uttered in the face of calamity or confusion — “How can this be?” — she has oriented herself in her faith. “Behold,” she tells Gabriel moments later, “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Much as we contemplate the Annunciation, we may never fully grasp just how much courage and trust Mary demonstrated in that instant. I was fortunate to experience the site where it took REFERENCE place, touring the Church of the Annunciation in POINTS Nazareth on a windy June day. Framed by palm trees, pigeons and trumpet-shaped magenta flowers, the Christina church is located halfway up a hill. As I studied the CAPECCHI city’s sloped, sun-scorched streets, I imagined how the physical setting might have intensified the emotional impact of Gabriel’s news, how weak-kneed and woozy-headed Mary must have felt. And still, her yes to God. “May it be done.” Our second lesson about Mary is how relational she is: One verse after Gabriel departs, St. Luke shows Mary making the long trek to the country to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is also pregnant and had long been considered infertile. Mary didn’t indulge in a private For reflection pity party or a bout of pregnancy nesting. How can the Blessed Rather, she traveled far, “in haste,” and Mother’s example help you stayed an entire trimester to reap the fruits today in your faith life? of friendship. Mary didn’t see the differences between her and Elizabeth: age, presumed fertility, marital status. She saw the similarities: faith-filled women facing stunning, life-changing pregnancies. Their time together provided both women with a vital source of encouragement. Our third lesson about Mary is the breadth of emotion that parenthood brought her: her delight in raising Jesus, her pain in witnessing his death — the cruelest tragedy to befall a parent. She can fully relate to any experience we may have and waits with open arms to wrap us in motherly comfort. It is a special gift for Catholics to have Mary as our consoler and intercessor. When we model our lives after the mother of God, we put these three lessons into action: accepting God’s will, valuing relationships and dropping on bended knee in prayer. We become servants, vessels of God’s grace. Heeding the second lesson can be particularly difficult. Sometimes it seems as though modern life has presented more challenges to relationships. Social networks conducted online can distance and dry up the real deal. Facebook friendships can counterfeit true ones. We become lazy, less prone to make an effort or go the distance. And, slowly, we forget the importance of the face-to-face, how we learn from and lean on each other, the sacred exchange that can happen “where two or three are gathered together in my name” (Matthew 18:20). Mary upends our contemporary notion of status, the hamster-wheel pursuit of paychecks and promotions. She reminds us that God elevates the lowly and pure of heart, not the people in the highest tax bracket or with the most Twitter followers. There’s something about Mary that reveals the human condition. Her journey to see Elizabeth is remembered as the Visitation, a joyful mystery of the rosary. Some of life’s most profound experiences are, indeed, joyful mysteries. You cannot measure or name them, you can only embrace them, letting them remake you into someone more loving and more alive. In the cacophony of daily life, with its blaring deadlines and vibrating smartphones, it’s easy to overlook the flute that still hums Mary’s canticle. Step back today and listen to its song. Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.
Rediscover-faith.org
Thousands of Catholics to gather for day of celebration, inspiration The Catholic Spirit
speaker and former director of the Office for Evangelization in the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Texas. ■ Jason Evert, author and chastity speaker. ■ Jeff Cavins, who will serve as emcee for the day. He is the founder of the Great Adventure Bible Study Series and director of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute.
This fall, 5,000 Catholics will come together at the St. Paul RiverCentre for a daylong celebration of faith that will include a slate of internationally known speakers, Mass with Archbishop John Nienstedt, live music and an exhibit hall spotlighting faith formation, worship and service opportunities around the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Breakout groups, exhibit area Online registration is now open for the 2013 The event will include tracks for youth, including one for Rediscover: Catholic Celebration at grades 7 through 10 that will feature Evert, eucharistic HTTPS://EVENTS.ARCHSPM.ORG/REDISCOVER. A form to register by adoration and the Catholic band Sonar. Other tracks for mail can also be downloaded from the site. kindergarten through sixth grade will focus “on the idea of learning your faith and sharing your faith” and be led by “We want to continue to fan the flames of faith that local Catholic teachers, Laird said. have been reignited through the Rediscover: initiative,” said Kathy High school juniors and seniors and How to register Laird, who is co-chairing the event college students will be included in the Visit HTTPS://EVENTS.ARCHSPM.ORG/ with Therese Coons. program for adults. REDISCOVER to register or for more The track for Spanish speakers will “We hope that people who have information. feature presentations by Bishop Flores been touched by the Rediscover: talks and Fernández-Sardina. — and we had 12,000 attendees engaged earlier this year in the speakers series who wanted Time is set aside during the day for confession, lunch, to deepen their faith — will reach out and bring a friend,” live music and visiting the event’s exhibition area, which Laird said. will feature groups such as pro-life agencies, the Catechetical Institute, the St. Paul Seminary, Catholic The overall theme for the day — which runs from 8:30 bookstores and other organizations that serve the local a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — is “So the World May Believe” (John Catholic community. 17:21). “There will be an opportunity to browse and pick up The event features: some good literature — something you might need for ■ Archbishop Nienstedt, who will preach the homily at your own spiritual development — but also an the Mass. opportunity for you to consider where you could be in ■ Bishop Lee Piché, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and service to others,” Laird said. Minneapolis. “One of the themes that we really hope to call out ■ Matthew Kelly, author of “Rediscover Catholicism” during this celebration is what Archbishop Nienstedt said and founder of The Dynamic Catholic Institute. in his pastoral letter [on the new evangelization]: that ■ Father Robert Barron, founder of the global ministry we’re all called by baptism to be an evangelist, that we Word on Fire and the rector-president of Mundelein need to be part of this and really understand that this Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He also is the presents both challenges and opportunities,” Laird said. creator of the award-winning documentary series It is an opportunity for Catholics from all walks of life to “Catholicism” and an upcoming documentary on “The come together for a day of celebration and inspiration, New Evangelization.” Laird said. ■ George Weigel, Distinguished Senior Fellow at the “We want to celebrate the gift of faith that we’ve been Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., and given from the time of Christ and from his apostles,” she author of “Evangelical Catholicism: Deep Reform in the said. “As they were sent out to bear the message, we also 21st-Century Church,” which examines the current need to share Christ with others. That comes alive when challenges and opportunities confronting the Catholic you share the joy with others.” Church in the era of the “new evangelization.” The cost of the 2013 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration is ■ Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas. $15 for adults, $7 for youth in grades 7 to 10, and $5 for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. ■ Martha Fernández-Sardina, a new evangelization
Rediscover: talks to be offered again in fall at new locations The Catholic Spirit Due to popular demand, the speakers series talks from earlier this year will be offered again at new locations in the fall. All talks begin at 7 p.m. and run a total of 90 minutes, including time for hospitality. All events are free and no registration is required. Rediscover: meaning “Finding God's Purpose for My Life” Presented by Father Peter Laird Monday, Sept. 16 — Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, Sept. 17 — Epiphany, Coon Rapids Thursday, Sept. 19 — Pax Christi, Eden Prairie Rediscover: belonging “Living in Communion with God” Presented by Father Michael Keating
Monday, Sept. 30 — Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, Oct. 1 — Epiphany, Coon Rapids Thursday, Oct. 3 — Pax Christi, Eden Prairie Rediscover: strength “Overcoming Life's Challenges Through God's Grace” Presented by Father Andrew Cozzens Monday, Oct. 21 — Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, Oct. 22 — Epiphany, Coon Rapids Thursday, Oct. 24 — Pax Christi, Eden Prairie Rediscover:The Way “Keeping God at the Center of my Life” Presented by Deacon Joseph Michalak Monday, Nov. 4 — Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, Nov. 5 — Epiphany, Coon Rapids Thursday, Nov. 7 — Pax Christi, Eden Prairie
We have much to learn from Mary’s example Continued from first page of this section Mary’s canticle: Mary offered a beautiful prayer, the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). She loved God with all her heart and joyfully offered God her praise and thanks. Mary’s prayerfulness shows us the value of prayer. It is right and just that we should give praise and thanks to the Lord our God, and we can do so by reciting Mary’s prayer, praying in our own words, praying the Psalms, attending Mass, and many other ways. The Nativity: Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem (Luke 2:1-7). Mary was the “Christ bearer,” and she brought Jesus into a troubled world. Each of us is called to be a Christ bearer, to bring Jesus to the people we meet. The Presentation: Mary and Joseph brought their newborn son Jesus to the Temple to consecrate him to God (Luke 2:22-38). Mary promised to bring up her son in the faith, help him to know God and prepare him to accept God’s will when he became an adult. As Mary had Jesus consecrated to God, Christian parents should consecrate their children to God by presenting them for baptism. Then, they should train their children in the faith through prayer and religious instruction at home, faith formation at church, weekly Mass and preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation, Eucharist and confirmation. Flight to Egypt: Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to protect Jesus from King Herod who wanted to harm their child (Matthew 2:13-15). Christian parents must do all in their power to protect their children from anything that would hurt or corrupt them: mean people, the “wrong crowd,” bad television programs and movies, questionable websites and dangerous situations. Christ child in the Temple: When Mary and Joseph “lost Jesus,” they went searching for him and, once they found him they took him home where he obeyed them (Luke 2:41-52). Our children may wander off, and if they do, parents should do their best to pursue and rescue them. Christian parents should have house rules based upon the Gospel and have a right to expect that their children will observe them. Cana wedding feast: Mary made a profound statement at the Cana wedding feast. Speaking in reference to her son Jesus, she told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). Her timeless advice applies to every Christian: We must always do whatever Jesus asks of us. Foot of the cross: Mary stood by the cross when her son Jesus was crucified (John 19:25). When her adult child went through his most difficult moment, she was there. Parenting does not end when the children grow up and leave the house. When adult children fall on hard times, senior parents, like Mary, find ways to support their suffering children. Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.
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The Catholic Spirit • May 9, 2013
Rediscover-faith.org