The Catholic Spirit - September 12, 2013

Welcome to the new

Fresh look New sections Redesigned website Same commitment to excellence Read more about The Catholic Spirit’s redesign in this 4-page wrap

Welcome to the new-look Catholic Spirit!

For the last several months, the publications team of the archdiocesan Office of Communications has been working to redesign the newspaper to better serve our readers.

Why redesign? There are several reasons.

It’s been seven years since the last restyling of The Catholic Spirit. Newspapers, like all other media, need to make adjustments periodically to better serve their audiences and more effectively fulfill their missions in a rapidly changing media landscape.

We wanted to make the newspaper easier to read and navigate, so you’ll notice a crisper, cleaner look to the section headings and story layout. We’ll also be including more of what readers repeatedly have told us they want to see in the paper: inspirational stories of our Catholic faith being lived out here in our archdiocese and clear, accurate information about what our Church teaches and why.

Also, we wanted to add new content that appeals to youth and young adults. The redesign includes a page geared specifically to young readers and topics of interest to them.

And, we wanted to better integrate what we do in the newspaper with our online presence at TheCatholicSpirit.com, CatholicHotdish.com blog and our social media sites. This also will assist us to be more successful in reaching younger audiences — and the rapidly growing number of older adults — who receive nearly all of their news and information online.

To that end, we also have redesigned the TheCatholicSpirit.com for easier navigation and so that the website and newspaper align more closely from a visual and content perspective. (Read more about the website redesign on the inside front cover of this wraparound section.)

What’s new?

You will see new sections and new content throughout the newspaper: • Page 1: The first change you likely will notice is at the top of the page. The Catholic Spirit’s name flag has been modernized and includes our website address. In addition to a lead news or feature story, the page also highlights six other stories in that edition — three in the top bar, and three more at the bottom of the page. This gives readers a quick look at the top articles appearing in each edition.

• Page Two: Aptly found on page 2 of each issue, this section features photos, newsmaker quotes and brief local news items as well as what’s new on our social media sites. Archbishop John Nienstedt’s column, which previously appeared on page 2, can now be found on page 3.

• From the Archbishop: By moving Archbishop Nienstedt’s column to page 3, we are able to provide more space for messages from him and include related information, such as his schedule, changes in priest assignments, and other important archdiocesan news items.

• Local: We continue to place an emphasis on local news — something our readers tell us they like, and would like to see even more of from us.

Each edition will include several pages of news and feature stories highlighting the faith as it’s lived in this local Church.

• What Works: This section highlights “best practices” in parishes and schools — projects and programs currently showing successful results. The goal is to give parishes and schools an opportunity to share ideas for being more effective or efficient in the ministries they provide.

• Next Gen: Short for “Next Generation,” this section gives local youth and young adults an opportunity to write about how their Catholic faith

FROM THE EDITOR Joe Towalski

Local Spanish-language newspaper to begin redesign In addition to the redesign of The Catholic Spirit, plans are underway to begin a redesign of Espíritu Católico, the Spanish-language newspaper of the archdiocese.

Editor María Capouch said she wants to create a “fresh look” that improves the newspaper’s readability. Additional goals include making the best use of space and ensuring that the newspaper is reaching out and appealing to Latinos from every background and nationality.

The monthly newspaper prints about 3,000 copies that are distributed to more than a dozen parishes in the archdiocese. Currently, 23 parishes in the archdiocese offer Mass in Spanish.

Espíritu Católico began as the idea of Father Lawrence Hubbard while he was pastor at Sagrado Corazón de Jesús in Minneapolis, Capouch said. He wanted a forum in which the growing Catholic Spanish-speaking community could learn about the faith, communicate about events and share its religious and cultural traditions. Work on the paper began in late 2001 and the first edition was published in April 2002.

Capouch and members of the archdiocesan Communications Office meet regularly to share story ideas and resources to assist Espíritu Católico with its mission and to help The Catholic Spirit to better inform non-Latino Catholics about issues and events important to the Latino community.

The redesign work for Espíritu Católico should be completed by the end of the year, with a new look to launch in January 2014. inspires them and how they are helping to make the name of Jesus Christ known and loved in the world today. Although we always strive to ensure

that all of the content of The Catholic Spirit will be of value to readers of all ages, this new section also features stories on topics of particular interest to young Catholics.

• Calendar: Because the number of items submitted for the Calendar section continues to increase and exceed what we are able to print in each edition, the redesigned Calendar section focuses on events and opportunities of interest to the widest number of Catholics in the archdiocese.

Individual parish-focused items are listed online in an expanded Calendar section of TheCatholicSpirit. com, where we have virtually unlimited space to highlight events. This change allows us to do a much better job of meeting the requests of our 188 parishes, 91 schools and nearly 100 different Catholic organizations and apostolates that regularly request promotion of events and meetings. We appreciate your support as we make a change that will ultimately serve our Catholic community much better! A Calendar section QR code in each print edition will take mobile phone users directly to the page.

• Seeking Answers: Part of the new Focus on Faith section devoted to catechesis and faith formation, “Seeking Answers” features a Q&A column about the faith written by two priests, who will alternately appear. The writers are Father Michael Schmitz, director of youth and young adult ministry in the Diocese of Duluth, and Father Kenneth Doyle, a columnist for Catholic News Service.

• Commentary: New to the This Catholic Life commentary section is the “Social Concerns” column focusing on the full spectrum of Catholic social teaching. Once a month, this column will feature a writer addressing a key topic of Catholic social teaching: from pro-life and poverty issues, for example, to family life and responsible stewardship of God’s creation.

• Faith & Culture: Much like The Catholic Spirit’s old Arts & Culture section, this part of the newspaper will feature book and movie reviews and stories about art and music. But the Faith & Culture section also will include stories about how the Church is transforming and enriching the culture in areas such as science, business and family life, as well as how Catholics are putting the New Evangelization into practice to engage and change the culture for the better.

• The Last Word: Located on the back page of every issue, this section features a column, news story or feature article on a timely and substantive faithrelated topic.

Commitment to excellence The Catholic Spirit’s redesigned print edition and website continue the history of excellence to Catholic journalism and service to the archdiocese that began in 1911 with the Catholic Bulletin, the predecessor of The Catholic Spirit.

At times, during the last century, the look and content of the newspaper has been changed and updated to improve the ways in which it conveys the Gospel message. This new, cleaner look will help advance that message today.

Our Rediscover: center section, launched last January, will continue. And we will maintain our focus on helping Catholics of this archdiocese to understand the faith more deeply while inspiring them to share it with others. We’re excited about the improvements and enhancements we’ve made with those goals in mind, and we hope you are, too.

Website refresh In addition to redesigning the print edition of The Catholic Spirit, we also have given TheCatholicSpirit.com a facelift. You’ll notice a cleaner look that allows for easier navigation and better alignment with the print edition from a visual and content perspective.

The new site is easier to view on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, and it features a faster loading time than the previous site.

Take a tour of the homepage, below, and a sample of an inside page, right, to learn more about what the site has to offer. Then try it out yourself at TheCatholicSpirit.com.

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1. Top navigation menu: Quick access to key site utilities 2. Primary navigation menu: Click on LOCAL EVENTS to find the newly expanded calendar listings, a clearinghouse for individual parishfocused events throughout the archdiocese 3. Featured articles & stories in our slider 4. • Easy search functionality • Quick sign-up for the weekly e-newsletter • Follow The Catholic Spirit on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube • Latest column from Archbishop Nienstedt • Read the latest print issue on your computer 5. Top sections at a glance 6. Top picks you won’t want to miss 7. Latest Rediscover: articles 8. See what’s popular on the site and view the newest content at a glance 9. Advertising spaces

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Inside Page(s) 1. Share our articles on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more 2. Short bio on the author of the article 3. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Google +, Twitter, Pinterest and YouTube 4. Leave your article comments here

INFORMATION . . .

Page 2 Local U.S. & World Faith & Culture

and INSPIRATION. . .

From the Archbishop Focus on Faith Seeking Answers This Catholic Life

In every print edition of . . . and online 24/7 at TheCatholicSpirit.com

Immigration reform 3 • Praying for Syria 10 • Evangelizing on the road 19 July 6, 2013 September 12, 2013

Newspaper Archdiocese Newspaper of of thethe Archdiocese Saint Paul Minneapolis ofofSaint Paul andand Minneapolis

thecatholicspirit.com

Minnesota Vikings chaplain Father Michael Van Sloun, center, watches the last preseason game from the sideline at the Metrodome in Minneapolis Aug. 29. Father Van Sloun has been one of two chaplains to the team since 2002.

Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit

Walking the sidelines Vikings chaplain brings faith to the field

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit For Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh, the daily schedule is packed.

Each week of the football season is filled with team meetings, practices, workouts and weight training.

Even meals with teammates are scheduled for appointed times.

For players serious about their spiritual life — like Walsh, who grew up Catholic and attended Mass regularly with his family — it can be hard to find time to

pray and nurture a spiritual life.

So, when he was drafted by the Vikings last season, he didn’t expect to see a guy wearing a Roman collar on the sidelines with the team during games.

For the past 11 years, Father Michael Van Sloun, pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata, has been helping Catholic players, like Walsh, as well as coaches and other team staff members to keep their lives focused despite the pressures of the NFL. He helps them, he says, to “be men of God.” One of two chaplains, Father Van Sloun’s primary jobs is to preside at Mass on Saturdays before

Sunday games.

“I didn’t expect this to be the case in the NFL,” Walsh said. “The fact that they basically bring Mass to you is just awesome.”

Time to focus Even though their time is at a premium, several players and coaches gather for Mass on Saturday evenings. The arrangement is ideal, not only because of the time constraints, but because players and coaches Please turn to CHAPLAIN on page 27

ALSO inside

Making the right choice

In God’s image

Rediscover: How to Pray

Prior Lake teen chooses to give the gift of life to an adoptive family — Page 5

Bishop Lee Piché celebrates the annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities — Page 7

St. Agnes students learn iconic prayers of the Church — Center section

Page Two

2 in PICTURES

OVERHEARD “Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconciliation.”

Pope Francis during a prayer vigil for peace in Syria Sept. 7 attended by an estimated 100,000 people in St. Peter’s Square.

PRAYING FOR PEACE: Syrian women light candles before attending a prayer service at the Melkite Catholic patriarchate in Damascus, Syria, Sept. 7. People worldwide heeded Pope Francis’ call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Syria. For more about the day of prayer, see page 10. CNS photo/Khaled al Hariri, Reuters

“To receive the Lord Jesus means to open my heart with generous love. Anyone, young or old, who meets Jesus is inevitably destined to change and to be led to the service of others.”

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services in his homily at the Mass for sainthood candidate Father Vincent Capodanno, who was killed in 1967 in Vietnam as he went to help a wounded soldier only yards from an enemy machine gun.

NEWS notes • The Catholic Spirit

Collection will help Cathedral to retire debt from emergency restorations

SOUVENIR SNAPSHOT: Pope Francis poses with youths during a meeting with young people from the northern Italian diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Aug. 28. CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano

WHAT’S NEW on social media Pope Francis asked Catholics and others of good will around the world to participate in a day of prayer and fasting Sept. 7 for peace in Syria and the Middle East. A Catholic Spirit Facebook post this week asks: “What is one thing the Church can do to promote peace in the world?” Write your answer in the post’s comments section.

Thousands of youth are getting ready for Archdiocesan Youth Day, set for Sept. 21 at Holy Family High School in Victoria. The Catholic Spirit will be tweeting live from the event featuring a full day with Archbishop John Nienstedt, Mass, music and more. Follow us at @CatholicSpirit.

Watch Archbishop John Nienstedt’s remarks at a Sept. 4 panel discussion on faith and federal immigration reform at the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Visit www.YouTube.com/thecatholicspirit.

What are “First Friday” devotions, and how can it nurture my faith? Read blogger Susan Klemond’s post on the topic at CatholicHotdish.com.

The Catholic Spirit is published by-weekly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 18 — No. 20 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT, Publisher SARAH MEALEY, Associate publisher United in Faith, Hope and Love

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

JOE TOWALSKI, Editor

Parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will take up a special collection at Masses Sept. 21-22 to help the Cathedral of St. Paul pay down the debt remaining from emergency exterior restorations made a decade ago.

The work from 2000 to 2002, which included replacing the Cathedral’s leaking copper dome, cost approximately $30 million.

Capital campaigns, several archdiocesan collections and other fundraising efforts have helped to repay much of that cost. Today, the remaining debt stands at $5.3 million.

Reducing the principal of the debt is necessary so the Cathedral can sustain its ministries and continue the work of ongoing restoration, said Father John Ubel, Cathedral rector. The Cathedral’s monthly interest payment on the debt is about $20,000.

The Cathedral is home to the archbishop’s chair — the “cathedra” — and it is considered his official church. In 2009, it was designated as the National Shrine of the Apostle Paul by the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Catholics from throughout the archdiocese come to the Cathedral each year to celebrate confirmations and other events important in the life of the local Church, including ordinations to the priesthood and the Rite of Election for catechumens being initiated into the church.

“I have found that not a week goes by without me meeting someone from another parish in the archdiocese visiting the Cathedral,” Father Ubel said. “Perhaps they have a relative visiting from out of town, or are catching the late Sunday afternoon Mass following a busy weekend. They love their parishes, but also their Cathedral. I thoroughly enjoy this aspect of my ministry and it reminds me that we truly serve people from all over this great archdiocese.”

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The Catholic Church in Minnesota and, indeed, around the United States, is deeply concerned about our nation’s immigration policy. It is inconsistent, ineffective and does not promote the common good.

For more than two decades, this country has simultaneously had both a “keep out” and a “help wanted” sign at our borders. Our national policy has been to encourage (and permit) illegal immigration in order to create a new and inexpensive labor source.

We have sent mixed messages to migrant workers and their families. Businesses, farmers, homeowners and communities rely on immigrants for labor; yet, we simultaneously attack them for being here illegally and treat them as scapegoats for various social ills.

Our unjust system risks trampling the dignity of millions of persons simply because they lack the requisite papers. But we cannot and should not tolerate the creation of a permanent underclass forced to live in the shadows of society.

And, we must respect all persons, regardless of legal status, because they are made in the image and likeness of God — whether or not others find their presence inconvenient.

Therefore, the U.S. Catholic bishops, and millions of Catholics around the country, are calling on Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. We have a moral obligaTHAT THEY tion to provide those who have come here MAY ALL BE ONE with an opportunity for full citizenship. The time is now.

Archbishop Catholics see the consequences of a broken John C. Nienstedt system regularly in our parishes, schools, health care institutions and charitable services. Families are divided; people are detained indefinitely in our jails without due process; More inside children wake up without their parents; those Turn to page 6 to read looking for a better life and a way out of dire about a Sept. 4 panel poverty are exploited, their wages are stolen discussion on faith and or they are sold into slavery. federal immigration The U.S. Catholic bishops have highlighted reform hosted by five key principles to assist our nation in movArchbishop John ing forward with an acceptable solution that Nienstedt. does not undermine national sovereignty or perpetuate injustices to migrant workers.

First, new legislation should reaffirm federal authority and responsibility to enact and implement the nation’s immigration laws.

Second, it must protect and recognize the central importance of fam• Sunday - Saturday, Sept. 8-14: Washington, D.C., USCCB Administrative Committee Meetings: Religious Liberty; Respect Life; Doctrine Committee and New Evangelization Symposium.

• Sunday, Sept. 15: 10 a.m., Minneapolis, Church of St. Olaf: Sunday Liturgy.

7:30 p.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: “Lectio divina.”

• Monday, Sept. 16: 9 a.m., Eden Prairie, Church of Pax Christi: Archdiocesan Priests Finance Day. 5 p.m., Roseville, Midland Hills Country Club: Vianney Cup Golf Tourney-Social and Dinner.

• Tuesday, Sept. 17: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Council meeting.

1 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Presbyteral Council meeting.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting of College of Consultors.

• Wednesday, Sept. 18: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Carondelet Village: Minnesota Catholic Conference board meeting.

• Thursday, Sept. 19: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Catholic Community Foundation members’ meeting.

• Saturday, Sept. 21: 11:30 a.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: Tailgating at Tommies vs. Johnnies football game

ARCHBISHOP’S schedule

ily unity as the cornerstone of our immigration system.

Third, it should establish more functional legal mechanisms for the entry of immigrant workers.

Fourth, it must create a sound, equitable process toward citizenship for currently undocumented immigrants who desire to embrace the responsibilities and privileges of becoming a U.S. citizen.

And, finally, it should ensure that our laws are enforced in ways that recognize the importance of due process of the law, the sanctity of the human person, the incomparable value of family and the integrity of our borders.

The bill that passed in the U.S. Senate, though flawed in a number of respects, is an important step forward in achieving these goals.

From the Archbishop

Now is the time to fix our broken immigration system

I recognize that this is a complex debate, and many have legitimate concerns about border security, crime, the assimilation of millions of new immigrants and the rule of law. Yet, we must always make sure that we are not exaggerating these concerns in ways that deny the basic humanitarian needs of good people seeking refuge in our country.

Further, many concerns are shrouded in myths, and it is important that, as we continue this public debate, the conversation is grounded in fact.

For example, few, if any, deny that it is one of the foremost duties of any sovereign nation to defend its borders and to determine its immigration policy.

Further, we can all agree that most criminal offenses committed once an individual is in “Much of the fear the United States should impede, if not disand apprehension qualify, one for citizenship.

Additionally, the legislation that passed in the Senate is hardly a blanket “amnesty,” as even its opponents have acknowledged. One must pay multiple fines and fees, obtain provisional residential status for 10 years, followed by waiting three additional years on green-card status.

After proving good moral character, learning English, staying employed, and accomplishing a whole host of other requirements, one is finally eligible for citizenship.

Much of the fear and apprehension surrounding this issue points to the fact that finding solutions to the plight of immigrants today will sometimes necessitate the overcoming of boundaries in the heart, not just on the land.

surrounding this issue points to the fact that finding solutions to the plight of immigrants today will sometimes necessitate the overcoming of boundaries in the heart, not just on the land.”

Archbishop John Nienstedt

Let us open our hearts, arms and communities in this century as we have in centuries past to those who seek a better life and the blessing of the bountiful gifts given to all Americans.

May God bless you!

2 p.m., Victoria, Holy Family Catholic High School: Archdiocesan Youth Day. • Sunday, Sept. 22: 11:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: CSA benefactor Mass and brunch.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Vespers and blessing of Cathedral organ.

• Monday, Sept. 23: 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., New Brighton, Church of St. John the Baptist: Catholic Defense League Annual Dinner for Catholic Defender of the Year Award.

• Tuesday, Sept. 24: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

11:30 a.m., Minneapolis, Catholic Charities: Higher Ground donor appreciation.

• Wednesday, Sept. 25: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Caleb meeting.

11:30 a.m., St. Paul, St. Catherine University: Sponsorship Council meeting.

• Thursday, Sept. 26: 12:10 p.m., St. Paul, St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel: Opening Mass for University of St. Thomas Catholic Studies 6:30 p.m., Edina, Church of Our Lady of Grace: Rediscover: fall kick-off.

• Friday, Sept. 27: 5 p.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Private wedding.

OFFICIAL His Excellency, the Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Effective August 27, 2013 • Reverend Eduardo Mendoza, P.E.S., appointed “ad nutum episcopi” as spiritual director for Saint John Vianney College Seminary.

Effective September 9, 2013 • Ms. Susan Mulheron, JCL, named to the office of Chancellor for Canonical Affairs. This is a continuation of an interim appointment made on May 9, 2013.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Local

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Q&A with 40 Days for Life co-founder Sharon Wilson, respect life director for the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life, recently interviewed David Bereit, cofounder of 40 Days for Life, an international pro-life campaign that encourages prayer, fasting and peaceful vigils to end abortion. The following is an edited version of the interview.

Total LifeCare Centers now TLC Options for Women

Q. How did you get involved in prolife ministry?

A. My wife and I were heavily involved in marriage preparation, marriage enrichment and chastity education with youth. We started to realize how that was all connected to the pro-life movement. In 1998, Planned Parenthood announced that it was going to build the first abortion clinic in [Bryan-College Station, Texas], and by 1999 it opened. During that time we felt convicted that we had to do something about this, and we became part of a community Get involved group that formed a The next 40 Days for Life local group called campaign is set for Sept.

Coalition for Life.

25 to Nov. 3. To find out more about the campaign Q. How has your and how you can get personal faith life involved, visit entered into it? How 40daysforlife.com/ has it changed or twincities.html. developed?

A. When I first got

started in the pro-life movement I thought, “Yeah we’ve got to pray, and faith is a part of

Pregnancy resource center gets new name

By Kristi Anderson For The Catholic Spirit

David Bereit, co-founder of the 40 Days for Life campaign, is pictured in Washington, D.C., in this 2009 photo. CNS photo / Bob Roller it. But first we have to get the right people elected, we have to get marketing strategies — first we have to do all these things.” What I finally came to recognize by being involved in this is that it has to start and end with God because he is the one who will ultimately bring about these victories, save these lives and bring an end to abortion in cities and states across the nation and in our entire world.

Q. How did 40 Days for Life come about?

Almost 40 years ago, Sister Jeanne Therese Condon began the work of educating women about abortion alternatives through the first Total LifeCare Center — University LifeCare Center — near the University of Minnesota.

When she died in 1992, there were 15 affiliate centers. Now there are 32 in Minnesota and Wisconsin serving and educating women about their pregnancy options.

“Times have changed,” said Will Cossairt, executive director for the centers. “But the mission of saving mothers and babies from the horror of abortion has not.”

Cossairt said TLC began an effort about four years ago to determine if it was branding itself correctly.

A group of colleagues came together to explore the question.

“One of the first things we agreed on was that our name, Total LifeCare Centers, described who we are — people who care for life in total, from beginning to end — but it didn’t describe well what we do or who we serve,” explained Cossairt.

“We also believed, and several other pro-life

Please turn to 40 on page 15

Please turn to NAME on page 15

THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PAUL A Visible Symbol of Christ's Presence With your generous sacrifices, the debt for the Cathedral has been greatly reduced.

“There should be no one who, entering the Cathedral, is not able to say — it is mine.”

Archbishop John Ireland, 1905

$5.3 million remaining debt from the $30 million emergency exterior restoration of the Cathedral in 2002.

Founders’ Memorial Volume People from every parish contributed to the building of our Cathedral. A treasured memorial volume in the Founders’ Chapel contains the names of those individuals. Mass is offered each Thursday for all Cathedral benefactors.

PLEASE BE GENEROUS TO OUR MOTHER CHURCH IN THE SPECIAL SECOND COLLECTION ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

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Local

Making the right choice Teen pregnancy brings gift of life to adoptive family

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit Clearly, Natalia Shupe made a big mistake last fall. Weeks into her senior year at Prior Lake High School, she got the news no teenager wants to hear: She was pregnant.

It couldn’t have come at a worse time. After a rough junior year in which her grades had slipped, she was working to turn her report card around and make the honor roll during her final year.

Now, she was facing a choice thousands of other pregnant teens across the country confront every day — what to do about the child growing inside of her.

In the words of her mother Laura, it came down to this: “Do you make a poor decision worse, or do you make a poor decision life affirming?”

This story has a happy ending.

Natalia made the courageous choice to carry her baby to term and give up the infant girl for adoption. The choice was made easier by the fact that she herself is adopted, with the Shupes traveling to her native Peru in 2000 to adopt her and her younger sister Yovana.

Peer support While Natalia was pregnant, she received lots of support, especially from her parents, Laura and Deacon Russ Shupe, both of whom had to overcome initial shock, anger and disappointment. She fulfilled her goal of making the honor roll and graduating from high school.

She was nine months pregnant when she graduated on June 7, and gave birth to her daughter, Ainsley Veronica, two weeks later.

On top of that, she received a much-needed boost from a pro-life club at school that was started by nine girls from her parish, St. Michael in Prior Lake. Shortly after the group formed, riding the momentum of a trip to Washington, D.C., in January for the annual March for Life, youth minister Gina Tupy brought Natalia in front of the group and, in the words of one member, “put a face” on the issue of teenage pregnancy.

“Natalia sat down and talked to the girls and told her story,” said Tupy, who co-leads youth ministry at the parish with Pat Millea. “It was very heartwarming. These girls definitely supported her and sat with her at lunch. If she was having a bad day, she could go to any of them. If anybody was making a negative remark, she definitely could go to them.”

Natalia’s case is somewhat unusual. Often, pregnant teens suffer their fate alone, telling almost no one and often going quietly to an abortion clinic to end their preg-

Natalia Shupe of St. Michael in Prior Lake made the courageous choice of delivering a baby girl in June, then giving her up for adoption. She credits support from her parents and the Lakers 4 Life group at her school. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit nancy. Natalia chose to tell others she was pregnant — starting with a staff member at Pregnancy Choices in Apple Valley, who helped her get an ultrasound right away.

Then, about a month or so later, she told her parents, who pushed aside their negative feelings and embraced their daughter. After that, she told Tupy, and eventually, the girls in the pro-life club at school, Lakers 4 Life.

The end result was loads of support for Natalia, which bolstered her resolve to continue her pregnancy and go through with the adoption. Kristin Wermus, the staff member at Pregnancy Choices who worked with Natalia, said girls who consider adoption often change their minds and keep their babies.

Others, unfortunately, make a very bad choice: abortion.

At first, Natalia’s boyfriend Chris was pressuring her to get an abortion. And, Wermus said, Natalia was tempted to follow his directive because she was concerned about how being pregnant would affect her parents, both of whom work for the Church, her father as a deacon and her mother as director of adult and family ministries at St. Michael.

But, in the end, unlike so many other teen girls, Natalia chose to go against the wishes of her boyfriend, who later changed his mind and stood by her during the pregnancy.

“I knew I couldn’t do it [get an abortion], so we argued for a couple days,” said Shupe, 19. “We went online. I was looking for a place that could do ultrasounds for free to show him that this is a life, this is not just cells. I took him to Preg-

nancy Choices.”

A hard road The path in front of her would get rough. On a practical level, there was the fact that her stomach was getting bigger, and it eventually got hard to sit in desks at school that are not at all designed for pregnant students.

But, that wasn’t the worst part. As she began to show, other students and teachers took notice. There were stares, snickers and even bullying. One student made it her mission to torment Natalia whenever she could, sometimes before she even entered the school building.

She would stand out in front of the building and wait for Natalia to come, then yell insults to her in front of all students passing by.

That’s where the Lakers 4 Life came in. They rallied to her side and helped her through the nasty episodes.

“I went and sat with her for lunch,” said Alicia Curti, one of the Lakers 4 Life who graduated with Natalia in June. “She was a friend of mine and I knew she needed help. I knew there were some people who were picking on her and giving her a hard time.”

Curti was one of nine girls who helped start the pro-life club. They approached a teacher at the school, Victoria Wright, and got permission to use her classroom for meetings — she is a St. Michael parishioner.

Natalia’s father is glad the club started when it did, and that all of the girls embraced his daughter.

“I would say that they were God’s special angels for Natalia last year,”

Deacon Shupe said. “I can only imagine that being pregnant, unmarried and in high school must feel about the loneliest place to be for a young woman. And to have those friends who seek you out, knowing all about your situation, and include you in their lives, has to provide relief from that feeling of being all on your own.”

Helping others Today, Natalia is paying it forward. She has joined a pro-life club at the Catholic college she now attends. And, she went on a mission trip in July to Peru to visit St. Michael’s sister parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. This parish was the start of her own journey into the Shupe family, as her parents decided to adopt a child from Peru after going on mission trips there.

“Natalia took a maternity dress that she wore for graduation and gave it to a young woman who was 14 and [pregnant],” Laura said.

“She shared with her the struggles of being young and pregnant, and wanted to make sure [the pregnant girl] had a dress that was special.”

Pregnancy Choices has asked Natalia to speak at its annual fundraising gala on Sept. 26.

“I think Natalia embodies how this right choice can look,” Wermus said. “I’m so proud of her and her family and her boyfriend for doing the hard thing in a society that really doesn’t honor hard things.”

For more information about the Pregnancy Choices fundraising gala or to register, visit www.mypregnancy choices.com, or call (952) 997-2229.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Local

6

Archbishop, panel urge support for immigration reform

By Joe Towalski The Catholic Spirit Father Joseph Williams remembers taking a tough stance on illegal immigration in 1990 when he was a high school student participating in a classroom discussion on the topic. Those who crossed the border without documentation, he argued at the time, should be deported.

The pastor of St. Stephen in Minneapolis, a mostly Latino parish, now says he was on the wrong side of the debate back then. He had a change of heart when he began ministering as a priest to Latino immigrants.

“I met the Latino people, and I fell in love with them,” Father Williams said. “By the mystery of God’s providence, I was called to serve them and I discovered a very humble, hard-working and lovable people.”

“Nobody wants to leave their homeland,” he said. “If you leave your homeland, it’s because there are desperate social or economic or political situations where you came from.”

Father Williams was part of a panel discussion on faith and federal immigration reform Sept. 4 hosted by Archbishop John Nienstedt at the University of St. Thomas

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Archbishop John Nienstedt, right, hosted a forum on immigration Sept. 4 at the University of St. Thomas Law School. Panelists included, from left to right, Father Joseph Williams, pastor of St. Stephen in Minneapolis; Brian Murray, chief financial officer, The Ryan Companies; Robert Strachota, president of the Shenehon Company; Kevin Appleby, director of migration policy and public affairs for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Lisa Kremer, director of Abuelos y Nietos Juntos, a non-profit organization that allows children of immigrants to meet family members still in Guatemala, and Jacobo Gabriel-Tomas, not pictured, an undocumented immigrant involved with the group. Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit

Watch online Watch Archbishop Nienstedt’s opening remarks at the forum on The Catholic Spirit YouTube page at www.youtube.com/thecatholicspirit.

Learn more To learn more about the Catholic Church’s stance on immigration reform, visit the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s website at mncc.org.

School of Law in Minneapolis. Other participants at the event, organized by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, included business leaders and public policy advocates advocating for comprehensive reform of an immigration system widely acknowledged to be broken.

Archbishop Nienstedt reiterated the Church’s longstanding support for reform that includes a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, keeps families together, restores immigrants’ due process rights, and addresses the root causes of migration.

“The Catholic bishops of Minnesota and around the United States have long been concerned about the nation’s immigration policy,” he said. “It is inconsistent, ineffective and fails to promote the common good.

“Each day in our parishes, social service programs, hospitals and schools, we witness the human consequences of a broken immigration system: families are separated, workers are exploited and our fellow human beings perish in the desert,” he said. “Every immigrant is a person, a daughter, a son, a mother, a father. Each of those persons possesses fundamental, Please turn to PANEL’S on page 7

7

Local

In God’s image

18 confirmed at Mass for Persons with Disabilities Bishop Lee Piché confirmed 18 people during the annual Mass for Persons with Disabilities Sept. 8 at St. Paul Seminary. “You reflect God’s light in a very special way,” he told the candidates during his homily. “When we look at you and your parents and your caregivers, we see reflected in you, in a way that’s not common, the very youth and the dignity of our humanity, made in the image and likeness of God.” The event was sponsored by the Archdiocesan Outreach to Persons with Disabilities of the Office of Marriage, Family and Life.

Hercules France, 19, a member of St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center, shakes hands with Bishop Piché after his confirmation.

Brian Clifford, a member of St. Gabriel the Archangel in Hopkins, holds a candle as Deacon Sean Curtan, director of the archdiocean outreach to persons with disabilitites, reads the Gospel.

Photos by Dianne Towalski

Above, Craig Berry, a member of Holy Family in St. Louis Park hugs his son Joshua during the Mass.

Left, Robert Ginther, 16, a member of Risen Savior in Burnsville, bows his head during the final blessing.

Panel’s business leaders say they rely on immigrant workers Continued from page 6 inalienable rights that must be respected.”

Christians have a responsibility to welcome the foreigner out of charity and respect for that person’s dignity, Archbishop Nienstedt said. Supporting legislation that helps repair the immigration system is part of that responsibility.

Prophetic voices “The bishops have not pulled any punches on immigration,” said panelist Kevin Appleby, director of migration policy and public affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “They have been a prophetic

voice in this debate — not just this year, but over the last 10 years.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar highlighted a Senate bill passed in June that contains many of the provisions supported by the bishops, including a path to citizenship for many of the nation’s estimated 11 million immigrants who are here illegally. The House could take up that bill this fall or attempt to pass a series of piecemeal bills dealing with immigration.

Other panelists included Brian Murray, chief financial officer of Ryan Companies, and Robert Strachota, president of Shenehon Company, both of whom addressed the business community’s reliance on immigrant workers and the need for reform to ensure a legal, dependable work force.

“Our industry is one that relies heavily on immigrant workers and laborers that have a great work ethic,” said Murray, who noted that the real estate and construction business is finally improving after the recent economic downturn. “We pay fair wages . . . and we need and want immigrants to come here to help us.”

Archbishop Nienstedt asked attendees to contact their congressional representatives and ask them to pass a comprehensive immigration reform law.

“Like the Good Samaritan, we should see all people, including immigrants and undocumented workers as children made in the image and likeness of God,” he said. “These are indeed our brothers and sisters.”

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Local • What Works

8

Purchasing program helps parishes, schools stretch dollars

By Jennifer Janikula The Catholic Spirit A penny doesn’t buy much these days. But, the sentiment of Ben Franklin’s wise words, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” still rings true, especially for the 188 parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Parish administrators regularly shake up their budgets looking for loose change. They renegotiate contracts, get multiple bids, compare prices, look for sales, accept donations and use coupons. Every penny saved helps to support other needs in the parish community.

This year, churches and schools might find more loose change — maybe even a few dollar bills — if they take advantage of a new purchasing program sponsored by the archdiocese.

The program, referred to as the Strategic Procurement Initiative, harnesses the potential buying power of all 188 archdiocesan parishes to obtain discounts on office supplies, computers and asphalt services.

The initiative started more than two years ago as a discussion between Father Peter Laird, vicar general of the archdiocese, and John Povolny, a

pating in the procurement initiative, underbid the other contractors by a whopping 25 percent and provided excellent service, he said.

“We decided to move forward in June, but wanted the playground complete before Bible school in August,” Fox said. “I wasn’t hopeful they would be able to complete the work so quickly, but they agreed to put us first on their list. The project went extremely well. They even offered to paint hopscotch and four square lines near the playground at no additional cost.”

More than 50 parishes across the archdiocese explored asphalt services offered through the procurement initiative this summer. Fox noted the process saved time and money: “It’s really nice to know that they will come in and give you their best bid.”

Better interest rates Fourth-grader Alexa Wilgenbusch plays hopscotch on the new parking lot at St. John the Baptist School in Savage. Parish administrators saved more than $20,000 on the new surface by taking advantage of a strategic purchasing program sponsored by the archdiocese.

Photo submitted

What Works

parishioner at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bloomington and retired Ernst and Young partner.

“We wanted to bring procurement and sourcing best practices from the business world to the The Catholic Spirit is looking for story parishes and schools in the archdiocese,” Povolideas for its “What Works” series. ny explained. “We wanted to save time and We want to hear from parishes and money by providing a place to go where you schools about an idea, plan, project know you will get a reasonable price.” or program that is currently showing With the help of a grant from the GHR Founsuccessful results. dation, and support from Catholic Finance CorSubmitters should explain the purpose poration and Target Corporation, Povolny began of the initiative and outline the steps that to build a framework to provide quality products led to success. and services to parishes at a reduced cost.

Our goal is to give parishes and To date, the program includes free parking lot schools an opportunity to share ideas for assessments and opportunities to save up to 25 doing ministry more effectively and/or percent on office supplies from OfficeMax, commore efficiently. puters from Dell and Apple, and asphalt repair • E-mail your story idea to: services from Bituminous Roadways.

WhatWorks@archspm.org Fred Fox, the business administrator at St. • Or mail your idea to: “What Works,” John the Baptist church and school in Savage, needed a new parking lot. c/o The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton He had been watching the growth of cracks Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. and potholes and knew the time for patching Please include your name, parish and was over, so he started getting bids to resurface. daytime telephoneCathSpFiddler-Sep12-2013_Layout number.

1 9/5/13 1:13 PM Bituminous Roadways, the contractor partici-

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Nearly 40 parishes have utilized the procurement program to purchase computers this year.

The program offers discounts on Apple and Dell products. Parishes also have the option to finance large purchases through Catholic Finance Corporation.

Deacon Bob Durham, business administrator at Our Lady of Grace parish and school in Edina, used the procurement program for a $300,000 technology upgrade this summer. The program provided a slight product discount from Apple and significant savings on financing.

“Our biggest savings came in the financing,” said Deacon Durham. “We got a much better interest rate and lower loan processing fees using Catholic Finance Corporation.”

Al Erickson, managing director at Catholic Finance Corporation, explained that financing is part of the business model for some large companies. “Some companies make more money on financing or leasing than they do on their products,” Erickson said.

The archdiocese intends to add approximately 20 additional services/products to the procurement program, Pavolny said. Within the next few months, parishes will be able to explore options for payroll services, copiers, printers, telecommunications, waste management and cleaning services and supplies.

For more information about how your parish or school could take advantage of the procurement program and reduce common expenses, contact John Povolny at jdpovolny02@gmail.com, or Catholic Finance Corporation at (651) 389-1070.

9

Next Gen

Getting out of the way and letting Jesus do his work

Learn more

By Sarah Spangenberg For The Catholic Spirit During the summers of 2011 and 2012, I served with the Totus Tuus program in the Diocese of Duluth.

As part of the program, teams of four young missionaries commit to traveling around the diocese to lead a catechetical program at eight different parishes for both elementary students and teenagers.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to serve alongside such holy men and women.

When I think back on my time with Totus Tuus, one teammate of mine stands out as having a particular gift for proclaiming the Gospel. It seemed that whenever he spoke to give a teaching or a testimony, the Holy Spirit would move in a powerful way. Students were captivated by his words. Some would break into tears, or they would head to the confessional or fall to their knees to worship Jesus in the Eucharist.

I have known few people who illustrate the words of Isaiah so beautifully: “He has made my mouth like a sharp-edged sword. . .

He has made me a sharpened arrow” (Isaiah 49:2).

Seeing what an effective evangelist he was made my heart burn with a desire to be a better missionary as well. Whatever he was doing to bring about so many conversions, I was determined to do it, too. So I redoubled my efforts at being charitable toward

For more information about St. Paul’s Outreach, visit its website at www.spoweb.org.

Sarah Spangenberg gave a testimony during the St. Paul’s Outreach Benefit Banquet last February at the Crowne Plaza in St. Paul.

Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit others, speaking with all the eloquence I could muster about Jesus and the Church, and joyfully demonstrating my faith.

But my heart was restless and discouraged when I saw how uninspiring I actually was. It seemed that my increased attempt to win others over to the Gospel was met with little more than blank stares and bored yawns. I felt like an agitated, resounding gong.

Trusting in God Scripture is saturated with reminders that we need to get over ourselves. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence do not rely” (Proverbs 3:5); “Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build” (Psalms 127:1); “Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

In other words, there was one underlying problem with my missionary efforts, namely that I called them “mine.”

I began to understand my error on Totus Tuus and continue to learn as a student serving on mission with St. Paul’s Outreach at the University of St. Thomas. Every

day, I am surrounded by prophets and — most of all — witnesses, who transform the lives of everyone they touch. I see the power of their ministry and want to match it, but the more I try to persuade, convince and coax, the more unimpressive is the result.

If I refuse to get out of the way, Jesus cannot work. If I shout so my voice will be heard, I drown out the Holy Spirit. If I try to sell the “gospel of Sarah,” the superawesome-profound-and-totallyrelatable gal (who also happens to be Catholic), I steal from God the love that belongs to him alone.

Why this foolishness?

Reflecting on my time in ministry and allowing the Lord to sift through my heart, I often hear the reply, “O you of little faith!

Why do you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31). Indeed, I do not believe as I should. I forget that Jesus is who he says he is. I forget that I have tasted his goodness.

We must know and believe in the power of God’s love.

Ultimately, exactly that which we believe Jesus can do in our lives and the lives of others is what he will do. God forbid the feebleness

of my belief to be an obstacle to others hearing the Gospel. I must learn to let God be God. A particularly effective way that I remind myself of this is to offer a short prayer whenever I know I will be encountering others in conversation: before class, an outreach event, or a meeting.

Saying to Jesus, “I do not know how to speak to these people, but You do, so please speak through me,” takes the pressure off of what I say and do, and it gives me freedom to be imperfect. In this little prayer, I remember that God’s action is not a result of my extraordinary talent or virtue, but of his desire for each human heart.

As the Church nears the end of this Year of Faith, I resolve to pray for a stronger faith and a deeper knowledge of God’s Heart for His people, that Jesus would use my unshakable trust in His love to set this world on fire.

Spangenberg is a senior at the University of St. Thomas and serves as co-president of the university’s St. Paul’s Outreach chapter. Her home parish is St. Michael in Duluth.

Pope Francis recalls World Youth Day as a great ‘party of faith’

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service Pope Francis recalled his July 22-28 visit to Rio de Janeiro, thanking his Brazilian hosts for their warm welcome, and describing World Youth Day celebrations there as a great party of faith.

The pope made his remarks Sept. 4 during his weekly public audience in St. Peter’s Square.

“WYD [World Youth Day] is always a party,” the pope said, “because when a city fills up with boys and girls who roam the streets with flags from all over the world, greeting each other, embracing each other, this is a true party.”

“But then there is the greater party,” he said, “which is the party of faith,

when together everyone praises the Lord, sings, listens to the word of God, remains in silent adoration.”

“All this is the culmination of WYD,” he said.

Hospitality shined The pope thanked all those responsible for planning and executing the event, especially ordinary people who brought foreign pilgrims into their homes.

“The welcome by Brazilian families and parishes was one of the most beautiful characteristics of this WYD,” he said. “Good people, these Brazilians.

Good people! They truly have a great heart.”

Pope Francis said such a welcome is vital to the success of any pilgrimage,

transforming the inconveniences of travel into “occasions for acquaintance and friendship.”

“Bonds are formed that then last, above all in prayer,” he said. “In that way, too, the Church grows all over the world, like a network of true friendships in Jesus Christ, a network that frees you even as it catches you.”

The pope stressed the missionary nature of World Youth Day, and insisted that “even a boy, a girl, who in the eyes of the world counts for little or nothing, in the eyes of God is an apostle of the kingdom, a hope for God.” “Do you want to be a hope for God?” he asked young people in the crowd, repeating the question in various forms and urging them to shout more loudly in response.

“Bonds are formed that then last, above all in prayer. In that way, too, the Church grows all over the world, like a network of true friendships in Jesus Christ, a network that frees you even as it catches you.”

Pope Francis

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

U.S. & World

10

Pope Francis leads a vigil to pray for peace in Syria Sept. 7 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. CNS photo/Paul Haring

Praying for peace in Syria, pope calls selfishness the cause of war Catholic News Service Leading a crowd in prayer for peace in Syria, Pope Francis said that war is ultimately caused by selfishness, which can be overcome only though expressions of fraternity and never with violence.

“Leave behind the self-interest that hardens your heart, overcome the indifference that makes your heart insensitive towards others, conquer “In the silence your deadly reasoning, and open yourself to dialogue and reconof the cross, the ciliation,” the pope said Sept. 7 an estimated 100,000 peouproar of weapons before ple in St. Peter’s Square.

The pope had called the prayer ceases and the vigil less than a week earlier as the central event of a worldwide language of day of fasting and prayer for reconciliation, peace in Syria, the Middle East and the world. forgiveness, The Vatican called the vigil an unprecedented papal gesture for dialogue and peace, by virtue of its scale and peace is spoken.” prominence of location. It took place the same day that U.S. SecPope Francis retary of State John Kerry met with European leaders to make President Barack Obama’s case for a military strike on the government of Syria President Bashar Assad as punishment for the alleged use of chemical weapons in the ongoing civil war there.

The pope’s homily, which took up about 15 minutes of the four-hour liturgy, did not refer to contemporary events but spoke in biblical terms about the nature of war, whose origins he traced to the fall of Adam and the first murder by Cain of his brother Abel.

Answering Cain’s famous question to God — “Am I my brother’s keeper?” — the pope replied:

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

“Yes, you are your brother’s keeper! To be human means to care for one another.”

“We bring about the rebirth of Cain in every act of violence and in every war,” the pope said.

“All of us!”

War’s ultimate source, Pope Francis said, is the original sin of disobedience.

“When man thinks only of himself, his own interests, and places himself in the center, when he permits himself to be captivated by the idols of dominion and power, when he puts himself in God’s place, then all relationships are broken and everything is ruined,” the pope said. “Then the door opens to violence, indifference and conflict.”

Look to the cross The pope concluded on a hopeful note, asking the crowd: “Can we get out of this spiral of sorrow and death? Can we learn once again to walk and live in the ways of peace?”

“Yes, it is possible for everyone!” he said, drawing applause, and he then invoked the image of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice as the ultimate symbol of peace.

“How I wish that all men and women of good will would look to the cross, if only for a moment,” he said. “There, we can see God’s reply: violence is not answered with violence, death is not answered with the language of death. In the silence of the cross, the uproar of weapons ceases and the language of reconciliation, forgiveness, dialogue and peace is spoken.”

The pope’s homily was followed by a period of eucharistic adoration, including several stretches when all present stood or knelt in silence, without any musical accompaniment.

At other times, as during the praying of the rosary in the first half of the vigil, prayers and readings alternated with music or performances on the organ, the harp and other string instruments.

During the adoration, people representing five different countries or regions with direct or indirect links to the Syrian conflict — Egypt, the Holy Land, Russia, the United States and Syria itself — brought up incense to burn in a brazier beside the altar. Ten students from the North American College, the U.S. seminary in Rome, served as attendants.

The ancient icon of Mary known as “Salus Populi Romani” (health of the Roman people), which had been transported for the occasion from Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, stood on an easel beside the altar. The icon has special importance for Pope Francis, who went to pray before it on the first morning of his pontificate in March.

Reverent crowd The atmosphere in the square was solemn, with none of the festivity of a Sunday Angelus or Wednesday public audience. Security guards confiscated flags and placards, though some Syrian flags and signs criticizing Obama could be seen on the periphery of the square.

For more than an hour prior to the vigil, and then for the duration of the event, priests heard confessions in the square, sitting face to face with penitents on simple wooden chairs.

Many in the congregation clapped and cheered when Pope Francis came out of the basilica at 7 p.m., but soon fell silent when they noticed his serious demeanor and his failure to wave or smile.

At the end of the liturgy, just before 11 p.m., after the pope had returned to the basilica, the crowd applauded again. Pope Francis came out to offer a few final words, thanking the congregation for their company and asking them to continue praying for peace.

“Good night and have a good rest,” he said.

11

Pope names veteran diplomat as Vatican’s No. 2

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service

Pope Francis met with Vatican officials Sept. 10 to hear their questions and suggestions about his ongoing reform of the Vatican bureaucracy.

The Vatican spokesman, Jesuit Father

U.S. & World

Pope hears input on Vatican bureaucracy

in the SPOTLIGHT

Federico Lombardi, declined to comment on the content of the discussions, but described the meeting as an opportunity

Father LOMBARDI

for the pope to hear the “considerations and advice” of his closest collaborators in Rome, as part of the reform process recommended by the cardinals who elected Pope Francis.

That reform process “will soon have another important The pope appointed Archbishop Pietro Parolin, 58, a longtime official in the Vatican secretariat of state and nuncio to Venezuela since 2009, to be his secretary of state. On Oct. 15, Archbishop Parolin will succeed Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, 78, who came to the post in 2006 after serving as archbishop of Genoa, Italy. The secretary of state is the pope’s highestranking collaborator, coordinating the work of the entire Roman Curia, overseeing the operation of the Vatican press office and newspaper, coordinating the preparation and publication of papal documents, and supervising the work of Vatican nuncios, in their relations with Catholic communities in individual countries and with national governments. CNS photo/Paul Haring

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moment with the reunion of the Group of Eight cardinals” Oct. 1-3, Father Lombardi noted. Pope Francis established the so-called G-8, which includes Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, in April, giving it a mandate to advise him in the “government of the universal church” and his reform of the Roman Curia, the church’s central administration at the Vatican.

BUCHAREST, Romania

Romanians flock to beatification of ‘major apostolic vagabond’ A pavilion designed for trade fairs became Eastern Europe’s biggest church when more than 10,000 people participated in the beatification of Msgr. Vladimir Ghika, tortured to death at age 80 in 1954.

The Aug. 31 ceremony, broadcast live on Romanian TV, brought together the country’s two major Catholic rites: Latin and Byzantine, whose members use an Blessed Orthodox-style GHIKA liturgy.

Blessed Ghika had the unusual authority, approved

by Pope Pius XI, to celebrate liturgies in both rites.

Msgr. Ghika was born Dec. 25, 1873, in Istanbul. His father was Romania’s representative at the Ottoman court.

Having rejected advice to leave the country after the communists seized power, he was arrested Nov. 18, 1952, for refusing to break ties with the Vatican.

He survived more than 80 violent interrogations before being sentenced to three years’ incarceration at Romania’s infamous Jilava prison, where he died, emaciated, May 16, 1954.

May 16 will be celebrated as his feast day.

QUEBEC CITY

Construction begins on cathedral holy door The Archdiocese of Quebec has begun construction on a holy door for its Basilica-Cathedral Notre Dame de Quebec, the first Catholic parish in French-speaking North America.

The holy door will be the first holy door in the Americas, and only the seventh in the world.

It will open Dec. 8 and remain open until Dec. 28, 2014, for the jubilee year marking the 350th anniversary of the cathedral.

The door, which will be in the wall of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart on the north side of the basilica, was authorized by the Vatican and is a symbol of communion with the universal church.

It also reminds North Americans of a landmark of faith on the continent, said a statement from the archdiocese.

Quebec artist Jules Lasalle sculpted the door. The exterior will include a welcoming Christ with an illuminated cross that reaches from side to side. On the inside, the door depicts Mary.

Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a holy door, as do the cathedrals in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and Ars-surFormans, France.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Focus on Faith

12

Matthew’s Gospel is excellent ‘textbook’ on Jesus’ teachings

By Father Michael Van Sloun For The Catholic Spirit St. Matthew was an apostle and an evangelist.

Matthew was also known as Levi, the son of Alphaeus (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27). He was born in Capernaum, a fishing village on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee, and he worked at a nearby border crossing as a customs agent where it was his job to collect a toll or duty on all of the people, animals and goods.

These “toll collectors” or “tax collectors” were very unpopular with average Jewish citizens because they were viewed as greedy and corrupt, and they regularly overcharged and pocketed the difference for themselves. They were also viewed as traitors because they consorted with the Romans, who were despised as pagans and an unwelcome foreign presence in their homeland.

‘Follow me’ On one occasion when Jesus was walking along the north shore of the lake, he came to the toll booth where Matthew was stationed.

Jesus paused, looked at him, and said, “Follow me” (Matthew 9:9).

It was shocking that Jesus would call someone so scorned by so

Then Jesus shared a dinner with him in his home (Matthew 9:10).

Matthew is mentioned only four other times in the New Testament, always on a list of the apostles (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).

After the Ascension, Matthew receives no further attention in the New Testament. According to tradition, after Pentecost Matthew began his missionary work in Judea, but accounts of his other destinations vary. Some say “the East,” including Syria and Persia; others Europe, maybe Macedonia, possibly as far as Ireland. His final destination most likely was Ethiopia, where tradition says he was martyred, first crucified on a T-shaped cross and then beheaded with an ax.

St. Matthew is depicted in a stainedglass window. As author of the first Gospel, Matthew is often depicted with a tablet. His feast day is Sept. 21. CNS photo/Crosiers many to be one of his apostles, and equally shocking that Matthew would accept the invitation — leaving his family, friends, job, income, and security, all to follow Jesus without a moment’s delay.

Matthew also was an evangelist, or the author of a Gospel. His Gospel was composed around A.D. 85 and intended for a JewishChristian audience. One of his major literary purposes was to present Jesus as the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures. His book has 28 chapters, which makes it the longest of the four Gospels, and for centuries it has been considered the best textbook or catechism for teaching about Jesus and the Christian faith.

Various symbols Matthew is represented by a number of symbols in Christian art. As a money collector, he is represented by a coin purse, a treasure chest, one or three money bags, or a scale which was used to weigh gold; as a Gospel writer, he is represented by a quill pen, a scroll, or a book; as an author guided by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, there may be a dove or rays of light; and as a martyr, he is sometimes represented by a spear or a sword, but more often by a battle ax, the weapon used to behead him Ethiopia.

The symbol for Matthew’s Gospel is a human being with wings, “the divine man,” because his Gospel includes Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1:1-17) and gives special attention to Jesus’ human nature. The image is also drawn from Ezekiel’s vision of the four living creatures (Ezekiel 1:910).

Matthew is the patron saint of tax collectors, customs officers, security guards, accountants, bookkeepers, bankers, financial officers, money managers, stock brokers and money changers.

Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata.

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BETHLEHEM ACADEMY (507) 334-3948 www.bacards.org October 15 at 5:30 p.m.

CRISTO REY JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL (612) 545-9700 www.cristoreytc.org Every first and third Tuesday, September through April at 7 p.m.

CRETIN-DERHAM HALL HIGH SCHOOL (651) 690-2443 www.c-dh.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 9 at 6:30 p.m.

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TOTINO-GRACE HIGH SCHOOL (763) 571-9116 www.totinograce.org October 14 at 6:30 p.m.

January 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Maplewood HILL-MURRAY SCHOOL (651) 777-1376 www.hill-murray.org November 4 at 6 p.m.

January 6 at 6 p.m.

Mendota Heights

SAINT THOMAS ACADEMY (651) 454-4570 www.cadets.com November 3 at 1 p.m.

January 12 at 1 p.m.

CONVENT OF THE VISITATION SCHOOL (651) 683-1700 www.vischool.org October 29 at 7 p.m.

January 7 at 7 p.m.

DELASALLE HIGH SCHOOL (612) 676-7600 www.delasalle.com October 28 at 7 p.m.

January 9 at 7 p.m.

Plymouth PROVIDENCE ACADEMY 763-258-2500 www.providenceacademy.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 7 at 6:30 p.m.

Richfield ACADEMY OF HOLY ANGELS (612) 798-2600 www.academyofholyangels.org November 6 at 6 p.m.

January 16 at 6 p.m.

April 24 at 6 p.m.

St. Louis Park BENILDE-ST. MARGARET’S SCHOOL (952) 915-4345 www.bsmschool.org November 12 at 6 p.m.

January 6 at 6 p.m.

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SAINT AGNES SCHOOL (651) 925-8700 www.saintagnesschool.org November 14 at 6:30 p.m.

January 15 at 6:30 p.m.

March 2 at 1 p.m.

Victoria HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL (952) 443-4659 www.hfchs.org November 7 at 6:30 p.m.

January 23 at 6:30 p.m.

13 Deacon Bruce Anderson

Lost but found: Parables reveal depth of God’s love On Saturday, we celebrate the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross.

At first glance, it might be hard to see the cross as a triumph. But, together with our readings from this Sunday, we can see the real triumph: the expansive love of God for his people.

In the Gospel for the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross, we hear the words of John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

But often this love is not fully

understood by people. Christ came into the world for our salvation. St. Paul speaks about being the foremost in need of salvation. He tells of the mercy and love that he received. This is the same mercy and love that each of us needs to seek. And it is always mercy for the sake of love.

In the Gospel of Luke this Sunday, the Pharisees question Jesus’ interaction with the sinners and tax collectors. In response, Jesus tells a series of parables that tell of rejoicing upon the return of one — one lost sheep, a lost coin, a

Returning to the Father The parable of the lost sheep stresses the search for the one sheep that has been led astray and how much rejoicing there will be when the lost sheep, the sinner, returns to the flock.

The parable of the lost coin tells of great searching for a single coin.

Why would one search for a single coin? What worth would this coin have? The seeking of one sheep and searching for one coin can seem like foolishness, but it shows the extensiveness of God’s love for all. Each person has such great worth to the Father that when he can welcome us into his love, our Father rejoices.

In the final parable of the Gospel, we hear of the prodigal son. The son wanted to live his life

on his own terms, but he came to realize that he was foolish. He returned to seek his father’s forgiveness, and the father rejoiced in his return. No matter how lost we are, we will never be rejected by the Father if we seek his forgiveness and mercy. The love that the father gives to the son shows us the depth of the love that God has for each one of us.

Therefore, we can say that the cross is a “triumph” because it conquers sin and death — that which keeps us from real union with God. The cross is a triumph of the never-failing love of God: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”

Deacon Anderson is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. His teaching parish is St. Gabriel the Archangel in Hopkins.

Focus on Faith • Scripture Readings

SUNDAY SCRIPTURES

lost son.

Why would we rejoice with the return of one? The rejoicing exhibited in these parables shows the depth of the love that God has for all of his children.

Readings Sunday, Sept. 15 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time • Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 • 1 Timothy 1:12-17 • Luke 15:1-32

For reflection How have you experienced God’s forgiveness and mercy in your life? Consider receiving the sacrament of reconciliation today.

A painting titled “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” by an unknown artist, is pictured at the Museum of Biblical Art in New York in this 2009 photo. CNS photo/Bob Roller

DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Sept. 15 24 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-32 Monday, Sept. 16 Saints Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishop, martyrs 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 7:1-10 Tuesday, Sept. 17 Saint Robert Bellarmine, bishop, doctor 1 Timothy 3:1-13 Luke 7:11-17

Wednesday, Sept. 18 1 Timothy 3:14-16 Luke 7:31-35 Thursday, Sept. 19 Saint Januarius, bishop, martyr 1 Timothy 4:12-16 Luke 7:36-50 Friday, Sept. 20 Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gon, priest, and Paul Chong Ha-sang and companions, martyrs 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 Luke 8:1-3 Saturday, Sept. 21 Saint Matthew, apostle and evangelist Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Matthew 9:9-13

Sunday, Sept. 22 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 Monday, Sept. 23 Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest Ezra 1:1-6 Luke 8:16-18 Tuesday, Sept. 24 Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 Luke 8:19-21 Wednesday, Sept. 25 Ezra 9:5-9 Luke 9:1-6 Thursday, Sept. 26 Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs

Haggai 1:1-8 Luke 9:7-9 Friday, Sept. 27 Saint Vincent de Paul, priest Haggai 2:1-9 Luke 9:18-22 Saturday, Sept. 28 Saint Wenceslaus, martyr; Saint Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs Zechariah 2:5-9, 14-15a Luke 9:43b-45 Sunday, Sept. 29 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 6:1a, 4-7 1 Timothy 6:11-16 Luke 16:19-31

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Focus on Faith • Seeking Answers

14 human being.

Therefore, I can (and possibly must) accept differences in cultural and personal norms of behavior when they do not violate a moral ideal, even if I don’t like those customs. But, I do not have to accept bad behavior.

While it may be common or customary for many people to get fallFather Michael Schmitz down drunk and behave poorly at wedding receptions, no one has to accept that kind of behavior as being morally good.

Another distinction that acceptance fails to make is the difference between acknowledgment and approval. If my adult children choose to Q. Am I called to accept everyone? What does that mean? leave the Church and no longer practice the faith, I may have to “face How can I be accepting if someone chooses to act in a way that facts” and acknowledge that reality. But, I do not have to approve of that I find, well, unacceptable? choice.

I may have to tolerate some bad choices or behavior on the part of my A. We are more and more exposed to different ways of neighbor, but that is not the same as believing that there is no difference thinking and behaving, and many people are also between good and evil choices. It also does not mean that becoming more uncertain of their own convictions. In there is no moment when those choices ought not to be light of this, wouldn’t the best possible route be to make tolerated.

“I can (and acceptance our basic approach to all people and cultures?

For example, a husband may tolerate his wife’s drinking. possibly On the surface this seems to make sense. It was the He may put up with her choices, but that tolerance has a general approach of the crew of the Starship Enterprise. limit. If her choices reached the point where they were must) accept Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock could never interfere with the disastrous to her or to their family, he may cease to development of another culture, even at the cost of their tolerate this particular choice and stage an intervention. differences in own lives. They were not to introduce knowledge, Note: we only tolerate beliefs and behaviors we dislike technology or strength to any society they encountered in or see as wrong. We don’t “tolerate” someone’s honesty or cultural and their voyages. generosity, but we may have to tolerate a certain degree of This “prime directive” seems to be the most respectful personal norms manipulation or selfishness in our companions. way to treat a culture, philosophy or person different from Tolerance merely means that we may patiently endure of behavior one’s own. another’s choice of the wrong for the sake of a greater One of the problems with “acceptance” as the universal right. For example, one may allow a child to use money when they do rule, however, is that it makes no distinctions. Yes, there foolishly in order for the child to learn its value. But, we are differences between cultures that I ought to accept. For don’t have to tolerate the violation of a greater good for not violate a example, I may travel to a country where I don’t like the the sake of a lesser good; it would be wrong to tolerate style of food, but there is nothing inherently wrong with abortion, which violates the right to life, for the sake of an moral ideal. . . . the spices, cooking procedure or style of the meal. individual’s right to privacy.

But, there are also differences between cultures that I But, I do not ought not to accept. For example, I might meet a group of A greater good have to accept cannibals; that particular kind of food is not merely “not We accept differences in customs, cultures and my taste,” but one that ought not to be accepted. individuals provided that they do not violate moral bad behavior.” norms. We tolerate some beliefs and actions that are Morality or custom?

Father Michael Schmitz wrong or bothersome to the degree that this tolerance is What is the difference? needed to preserve the common good.

In many cases, it has to do with a distinction between But when it comes to people, we are called to something morality and custom. Morals are based on reality, on what is true. They more than acceptance or tolerance. I don’t have to accept a person’s are not invented but discovered. behavior or lifestyle, but if I belong to Jesus, then I am called to more, not less. I am not called to merely accept them, I am called to love them.

For example, it is true that human life has intrinsic value, therefore I Christians are not called to avoid having enemies; we will always have may never take an innocent human life. Customs, on the other hand, are enemies if we are real Christians. We are called to love those enemies. the result of varying social circumstances. They are not necessarily based on what is true; they are based on what the community prefers.

This is more difficult than accepting or tolerating our enemies because it means that Christians have to walk the difficult road of looking If it is only our “custom” to consider human life to have inherent value, then there is nothing intrinsically wrong with murder or genocide; through beliefs or behaviors and seeing the person. we merely happen not to prefer it.

It may be customary to tip your waitress no less than 10 percent of Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the your dinner bill, but it is moral for her to earn a living wage. One is based Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of on our societal norms, and the other is based on what is good for a Minnesota Duluth. Reach him at fathermikeschmitz@gmail.com.

SEEKING ANSWERS

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15

40 Days volunteers deepen faith

Name change followed much study

Continued from page 4

Continued from page 4

A. The group Coalition for Life

formed in 1998. A significant event happened in 2004 when we saw people getting weary of prolife efforts, so involvement was dropping off in that community and we did not know what to do.

We had to ask God to show us what to do. We really felt convicted to do something in the 40-day time frame that God has used throughout history for transformation. The things we decided to do were prayer and fasting, a peaceful vigil at the abortion facility around the clock and grassroots outreach spreading the word to others to involve them.

Q. What were the greatest surprises?

A. The biggest surprise was, yes, there is transformation around us in the abortion industry, but also what was being transformed was us. We always survey participants after 40 Days campaigns, and we have consistently found 90 percent of the volunteers who have participated identified that they had spiritual growth as a direct result of being involved with 40 Days for Life. When I think about

St. Kate’s

40 Days founder to speak locally David Bereit will be talking at two upcoming events in the Twin Cities area.

On Sept. 20, he will speak at the annual banquet benefiting the Highland and University LifeCare Centers. Social Hour with appetizers and silent auction begins at 6 p.m and program and dinner are from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas, James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall.

Tickets are $50 per person with proceeds going to the Highland and University LifeCare Centers.

RSVP to (651) 695-0111 Bereit also will speak at ProLife Action Ministries’ Annual Life Banquet Oct. 7 at the Earle Brown Center in Brooklyn Center. See Pro-Life Action Ministries’ website for more information: www.plam.org. all the other ministries I have been involved in, I don’t know that any of them could say that 90 percent of the people involved had experienced a personal deepening of faith. It has been a beautiful gift.

leaders around the country confirmed, that the words ‘life’ and ‘care’ were not effective in attracting the clients who might be in need of our services,� he continued. “Another complication with the Life Care name,� he said, “was evident to anyone who answered the phone for us. We were often mistaken for fitness centers or nursing homes.�

Cossairt and his colleagues noticed that other pregnancy care centers around the country and even some of their own affiliates were way ahead of them in figuring this out. “While at one time, virtually all of our affiliates used the words ‘Life Care’ in their name,� he said, “at the time of our branding group, we already had affiliates who had chosen more strategic names for themselves, names like Pregnancy Choices, Pregnancy Options, First Choice Pregnancy Services, WomenSource and Pregnancy Helpline.� “But the problem of branding remained,� he added. “We needed a name study.�

Over the next two years, TLC worked with Dan Zimmerman, a

Banquet is Sept. 28 TLC Options for Women will hold its 39th Anniversary Banquet on Sept. 28 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center. Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner is at 7 p.m.

Julia Holcomb, author of the memoir “The Light of the World: the Steven Tyler and Julia Holcomb Story,� credits her faith in Jesus Christ as the lifeline that helped her rebuild her life after undergoing an abortion.

For more information about the banquet, visit www.totallifecare. org. marketing consultant, and gathered input and counsel from other affiliates. “A master’s level marketing class at the University of St. Thomas provided valuable data,� Cossairt explained. “Dan conducted two focus groups and also developed a survey that went to mostly young single women.�

More than 700 surveys were completed. The result? A new name: “TLC Options for Women� and the tagline: Pregnancy Resource Centers.

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September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

This Catholic Life

16

Beyond the three ‘Rs: Catholic teachers have special calling A student waited after class to talk. It was day one of my senior course, “Reason and Revelation.” He said, “I want to believe what the Church teaches, but I don’t want to be fooled by anything that’s not true!” I said, “Good for you! The only reason to believe anything is because you’re convinced of its truth.”

In that class, COMMENTARY students learn there are some things knowable by faith alone, many by reason alone and often, especially in moral matters, by both faith and reason. In a world increasingly confused about truth, it’s important that Catholic educators see “faith and reason as two wings on which

By Todd the human spirit rises FLANDERS to the contemplation of truth” (Blessed John Paul II). To achieve this, Catholic educators should make a special commitment, and undergo special formation.

First, a commitment. Catholic faith is not something we fashion for ourselves, but rather “the faith of your Church.” Because much truth is revealed in Christ, anyone serving in Catholic school leadership, or teaching faith and morals, should freely pledge fidelity to the teachings of the Church. These are reliably found in the big green catechism. If we don’t believe parts of it are true, we shouldn’t present ourselves for service. Pledging fidelity isn’t a claim we know everything, never encounter difficulties or are holier than thou. It means that we commit to learn, live and teach the faith faithfully to the best of our ability, given our limitations.

Second, a special formation. Our schools are often called “faith-based” institutions. Nicesounding, but this subtly implies that we are irrational. We need to be able to say more than, “It’s what the Church says, so I teach it.” That can never persuade, nor refute, any who say our moral principles are crazy and perhaps bigoted.

Catholic teachers need to understand that most of our positions are knowable by reason as well as by faith. Put differently, most Catholic moral teachings aren’t true because the Church says so. She says so because they are true.

Our schools, flying with the two wings of faith and reason, are actually “reality-based.” To better appreciate this, we Catholic educators need renewed formation in natural law. At our school, the renewal begins at a yearly summer workshop for new faculty, pre-K through grade 12. Natural law is a fancy term for a

straightforward idea: There are treating young persons as objective, knowable principles of bundles of desires with a “Catholic right and wrong. People’s ability calculator on top. Think of the to know them is, in St. Paul’s widespread replacement today of educators words, “written on their hearts.” public school abstinence programs with “comprehensive A key part of education has should be sex ed” that takes unchastity for customarily been to help committed and granted. children develop those principles and to make a habit of Or, think of the cheating equipped to applying them in all kinds of epidemic. “Once upon a time, offer reasons for being an honorable person situations. the notion that your All education is something the hope that is included word was your bond,” reports the like this. We teach piano scales Los Angeles Times. But “lying so children will eventually make within us.” and cheating are seen by a lot of music. We run football drills so Todd Flanders kids today as a crucial part of any players are ready for the game. path to success. The only shame Sure, there are principles of is in getting caught.” If education music and rules of football. really is about our own purposes or wishes, to Nobody doubts that kids should commit these use Dewey’s words, young people can take the to heart, because there’s no possibility of hint. playing well otherwise. Natural law is like rules of the game of life to know and live by heart.

In the end, we either accept that there is a moral law, or else someone or something — The threat of relativism ”society,” celebrity fashion, my autonomous self — makes values up.

What if educators started pretending there The principled approach to moral education aren’t real rules in the game of life? offers an alternative. In it, teacher and student Yet, that’s what’s been going on for a long alike see themselves as governed by a moral law, time, according to C.S. Lewis in his masterpiece which stands outside and above. It humanizes on education, “The Abolition of Man” — the and, yes, judges, our thoughts and actions. It book we study in our faculty workshop. Lewis “deals with its pupils as grown birds deal with defends natural moral principles, with young birds when they teach them to fly,” says illustrations from many historical cultures, and Lewis. Through history, literature and the arts, identifies a disturbing tendency in modern education to “debunk” these principles. The old it prepares young people to love what they ought, so they can think and act accordingly. values may have been fine in times past, so the The goal is wisdom. Wisdom then guides the new thinking goes, but newer times demand young’s use of all the important practical different, “progressive” values. knowledge they also get at school.

To be fair, the movement called progressive We Catholic educators must embrace and education, still dominant in the West, brought hand on this approach. Through it, we can be real improvements in pedagogy and more. But, “progressive” in the true sense. It alone enables Lewis argues, when applied to morality, it personal and social improvement “that squares results in relativism and the consequences with the moral law or the law of God,” as the following from it. Here’s John Dewey, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. put it. movement’s great philosopher, in 1897: How can a child become a better friend? How “Through education society can formulate its can he prepare to be faithful in the vocation own purposes, can organize its own means and he’s called to? How can she be more honest in resources, and thus shape itself in the direction her work and dealings with others? It’s no good in which it wishes to move.” pretending that friendship, fidelity, honesty or “Society” becomes its own standard in this any other objective moral values are just view, and educators become agents and preferences. indoctrinators of whatever contemporary My student was right. No one should be society happens to value. “Progress” comes fooled into believing something that’s not true. through pursuing our “own purposes,” our That’s why, with gentleness and respect, collective “wishes.” Dewey and most Catholic educators should be committed and progressive educators after him, thankfully, equipped to offer reasons for the hope that is prefer democratic society. But why? Without within us. natural principles or standards to guide judgment, why should one kind of society be valued over another?

Flanders is headmaster of Providence Academy Lewis saw prophetically where moral in Plymouth and an instructor in the Archbishop relativism in education leads. It ends up Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute.

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September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

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TheCatholicSpirit.com

17 The following is an excerpt of a column by Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, a theologian and award-winning author.

Fifty years ago, Kay Cronin wrote a book entitled “Cross in the Wilderness,” chronicling how in 1847 a small band of Oblate missionaries came from France to the American Pacific Northwest. After some bitter setbacks in Washington State and Oregon, they moved up the coast into Canada and helped found the Roman Catholic Church in Vancouver and in significant parts of British Columbia’s mainland.

She describes these men, no doubt with some over-idealization and hagiography, as tough, totally dedicated and completely without concern for their own comfort and health.

They left their beloved France while still young, knew they would probably never see their loved ones again, and accepted lives that were constantly in danger both from the harsh elements of their frontier environment and from the threat of death from various Native tribes and various government forces and mercenary soldiers who distrusted them, for opposite reasons.

Moreover, they had next to nothing in terms of creature comforts. They lived in log and mud hovels, ate bad food, and sometimes no food. They had virtually no access to doctors, little access to what might make for good hygiene, and often, while traveling, had to sleep outside without proper shelter from rain and cold, causing many of them to develop rheumatism and other such illnesses at an early age.

But they were able to take all of this in stride, without undue selfpity or complaint.

Looking at myself As an Oblate missionary myself, I read all of this, of course, with pride. I am proud of what these men did, and rightly so. They were selfless to the point of death.

But, that being said, reading their story is also very humbling.

Looking at their radical sacrifice of all comfort, for me, is a mirror that I peer into with considerable trepidation and shame. I look at my own life and see far too much in the way of an addiction to comfort and safety. I don’t want what they had: I want healthy food, clean water, proper hygiene, access to good doctors and regular contact with family and friends. I want to be a good missionary, but I want to be comfortable and safe.

I take some consolation in the fact that times today are much different than they were when these French missionaries landed in the Pacific Northwest.

Still, it’s easy to rationalize and become addicted to comfort and safety. St. Paul, reflecting upon his own missionary life, once wrote that he was comfortable with whatever was dealt to him — much or little. I like to believe that, too, for my own life, but, and this is true for most of us, the more we live with much, the more we tend to protect ourselves inside that plenty.

Thomas Merton once said that what he feared in his own life was not so much a massive betrayal of his vocation, but a series of “minitreasons” that lead to a different kind of death. And that’s the peril that I fear too, for myself and for our culture.

As children of our culture, I believe, we easily become addicted to comfort and safety. Once we have grown used to safety, good food, clean water, proper hygiene, access to good doctors and proper medicine, access to constant entertainment, access to instant information, regular connection with our loved ones, boundless educational and recreational opportunities, and wonderful creature comforts of all sorts, the danger looms large that we will not easily, or at all, be able to let go of any of these. Consequently we will end up as good persons, no big betrayals, but no big self-sacrifice either; not only unable to give up our lives for our friends, but unable to give up even our comfort.

The following are a selection of reader comments posted with their screen names to recent stories featured on TheCatholicSpirit.com.

on the WEB

“To all of us who served in Viet Nam, the value of our priests cannot ever be overstated. They we there when needed most and we will be ever grateful.”

— WRBaker, commenting on the story “Military archdiocese remembers sainthood candidate killed in Vietnam,” about Father Vincent Capodanno, who was killed in 1967 as he went to help a wounded soldier only yards from an enemy machine gun.

“Beautiful to see this centuries-old tradition of evangelization and service continuing, and even expanding!”

— crayfellow, responding to the story “Beauty and beer: Monks’ outreach is part of new evangelization,” about a group of monks in Italy who brew beer to contribute to the monastery’s self-sufficiency and reach out to people who are otherwise “turned off by religion.”

EDITORIAL Joe Towalski

Another conversion needed on the road The war in Syria and how the United States should respond in the wake of a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 1,400 Syrians last month has dominated much of the news in the last few weeks.

Pope Francis and other Church leaders have steadily and persistently cautioned against military intervention of any sort at this time by the United States and other concerned nations, with the pope even calling for a special day of prayer and fasting last weekend for peace in Syria and throughout the Middle East.

Indeed, the time is not right for a military strike, and the world would be wise to heed the words of Church leaders who understand that military intervention stands a good chance of doing more harm than good, despite the best intentions of the United States and other nations horrified by the use of chemical weapons.

Diplomacy and other forms of non-violent international pressure deserve more time and effort in light of the serious risks — including to innocent and vulnerable civilians — posed by a military strike. As this issue of The Catholic Spirit went to press, Russia proposed that Syria surrender all of its chemical weapons to international authorities. It’s a proposition that deserves serious discussion.

Syria’s civil war has so far “The world would be wise to killed 100,000 people and displaced some 6 million others, heed the words of Church leaders many of whom have fled to who understand that military neighboring countries such as Jordan and Turkey. Those who intervention stands a good work with refugees in the rechance of doing more harm than gion fear that an attack could worsen the problem. The aposgood, despite the best intentions tolic vicar of Istanbul told CNS recently that the nation “can’t of the United States and other even cope with the amount of nations horrified by the use of [Syrian] refugees here already.”

Clearly, more violence isn’t chemical weapons.” the answer.

Joe Towalski Syria is in desperate need of a political solution that prevents the regime of President Bashar Assad from ever using chemical weapons again, protects Syrian civilians from further harm and helps bring an end to a protracted war. Such a solution might also be a first step to helping broker peace negotiations in other Middle East hot-spots like Egypt and the Holy Land. That would be good news for the region and ultimately for U.S. interests as well.

This Catholic Life • Commentary

An addiction to comfort

Time for reflection How to achieve this goal in cooperation with the international community should be the focus of discussions within the Obama administration and Congress.

A limited military strike may disrupt and even weaken Assad’s military machine for a time, but the approach stands little chance of protecting the civilian population from further harm at the hands of its own government and achieving the ultimate goal of a lasting and just peace. In fact, military intervention stands a better chance of escalating Syria’s civil war and spilling over into other parts of the region.

What is needed is a conversion of mind — both inside and outside Syria — about the use of force and violence to achieve political objectives.

One can’t help but think of the conversion that happened some 2,000 years ago in Syria on the road to Damascus. St. Paul, who once persecuted Christians, saw the light and became a great evangelist and preacher of the Gospel.

Pope Francis is asking the world for the same conversion of heart and mind. He is asking all Catholics and others of good will to work for the Gospel values of reconciliation and peace. We need to reflect in prayer on what he is asking and then help our elected leaders make decisions that steer clear of more violence and have a real chance of facilitating peace in Syria and throughout the Middle East.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

This Catholic Life • Commentary

18 or.’ And then we go to prayer before we commit ourselves. That’s when we ask, ‘What does God really want me to do right now? What is the priority?’ It’s a way to pause and say, ‘Now if I commit to this, I cannot do that.’”

This, I think, is key — and it’s where I get into trouble. Rarely is an immediate answer needed. (If it is, that’s not your fault.) So, take your time. Use a variation of Brother Javier’s line: “I have to check with my husband.” “I’d like to consult my

with next year’s fundraiser.

spiritual director.” “I want to pray about it.” Or simply, “Let me sleep on it.”

That reflects an underlying thoughtfulness, a respect for whatever cause or committee is seeking your time, a desire to do it justice.

Just because a project appeals to you and taps into your skills doesn’t mean the timing is right. Maybe you’d be better equipped to help

In doing so, we rediscover the basics, the richness of love right at home, where no resume-building is needed, where you are always enough, where there is a sufficiency, a completeness, an abundance of good.

believe it.”

Hopefully his prophecy comes to fruition with the intended effect of reducing the daunting achievement gap between Minnesota’s white and minority student populations that has afflicted Minnesota for decades.

get bill with references to academic standards, benchmarks, “World’s Best Workforce,” assessments and required reporting procedures. In terms of accountability, this is an upgrade from most education budget bills over the past few decades.

Yet, there are pragmatic questions to be addressed regarding the metrics by which student learning and achievement will be measured, the consequences for falling short of intended learning goals, and alternative options for students if schools do not deliver on their promises. Those are multi-billiondollar questions. True accountability looks at outputs rather than inputs; test results and graduation rates versus revenue.

Educational accountability

Allowing children to thrive

The Minnesota Catholic Conference applauds lawmakers’ attempts to close the achievement gap through the expansion of early learning opportunities for disadvantaged, low-income children.

Some empirical evidence supports the notion that early-learning programs for disadvantaged children pay dividends down the road.

Along with an infusion of revenue to support the aforementioned programs, MCC also proposes additional accountability measures to assess a program’s long-term effectiveness. Accountability language does permeate the education bud-

Parents, citizens, and taxpayers deserve a minimal level of accountability to ensure they receive the quality services they were promised. Moreover, there ought to be consequences for programs that fall short of expectations. A proven method of verifying effectiveness of educational programs is to gather baseline data, establish tangible learner outcomes, collect new data after program implementation and compare the new results with baseline data.

Unfortunately, Minnesota has a track record of actually rewarding schools when they fall short of ex-

pectation. Rather than rewarding schools for underachieving, MCC proposes to improve accountability mechanisms and empower families with additional educational opportunities. In other words, families should have the opportunity to choose a school in which their child has a better chance to succeed.

If schools do not deliver on their promises, families should not be the ones to pay the consequences.

Families ought to be accorded alternative options if schools cannot deliver on expectations.

One solution spreading across the nation provides families trapped in failing schools with a government-funded scholarship to attend a private school of their choice. Economically disadvantaged families benefit the most from this alternative solution since they are often left without quality options. In many cases, they cannot afford to move to a neighborhood with better public schools and do not have disposable income to afford private school tuition.

A compassionate society does not force families to accept an inferior education for their children. Rather, a compassionate society permits these families to attend a school in which their children can thrive and develop their God-given abilities.

TWENTY SOMETHING Christina Capecchi

When we set our calendar, more might not be better Somewhere along the line, as college-admission rates plunged and smartphones proliferated, “busy” became code for “important.” We got the sense that doing more means doing better. We fed into the flattery, the idea that a busy person is in demand — qualified, experienced, needed, loved. The person with the fullest calendar wins.

Even our social lives got blocked up and assigned out, so now a group of three friends requires a dozen emails to uncover an available date, maybe a month out.

The root of the problem is a 21stcentury phobia afflicting many talented, well-intentioned Catholics: the fear of saying no.

This time of year is fraught with invitations, as councils and committees grind into gear after a summer hiatus, each with a major fundraiser in need of stronger marketing muscle. Be wary.

While the inability to say no can have financial and physical consequences, from loss of income to

lack of sleep, ultimately it is a spiritual issue.

I was reminded of this during a conversation with Dr. Javier Diaz, a 39-year-old Jesuit brother who is preparing to become a priest while working as the only full-time family doctor at a Washington, D.C. clinic. He wears a white lab coat over his Roman collar and speaks with a thick Costa Rican accent.

“The inability to say no to proposals, to me, is the biggest challenge,” Brother Javier said. “I think in religious life it can be even worse because there are so many expectations for the religious.”

Finding the conviction to say no, he told me, begins with humility.

“In some ways, it’s to forgive yourself about things you cannot cope with. Many times I have to say to my patients, ‘Look, I’m not God. I’m human.’”

In replying to many worthy requests, Brother Javier has learned not to be hasty. “My first response is, ‘I have to check with my superi-

FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA Peter Noll

Education policy must focus on results versus revenue What a difference a session makes. The 2013 legislative session was very favorable for Minnesota public schools. Infusion of new revenue streams for preschool, all-day kindergarten and special education programs were met with much enthusiasm by public school boards, administrators and teachers. Overall, E-12 funding was increased by $485 million.

In fact, Gov. Mark Dayton described the K-12 omnibus budget bill as the capstone of a historic session for education in Minnesota.

“This year, the DFL legislature has made the investments necessary to give our kids the quality education they deserve — and the quality education our future depends on,” Dayton said. “All-day kindergarten should have happened years ago; we’re catching up and we’re moving ahead. This is money well spent, and I think Minnesotans will know that and

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

By taking on something new, consider what is being compromised. Your prayer life? Your family life? Your sleep schedule? Your exercise routine? A “yes” to one commitment requires a “no” to another.

Brother Javier relates to lay people whose big hearts lead to stuffed calendars. “Breathe deeply,” he advises. “In Jesuit spirituality, it’s important to count our blessings at the end of the day.”

Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights. She can be reached at www.ReadChristina.com.

Noll is education director at the Minnesota Catholic Conference.

19

The Catholic Spirit

Father Ignacio Llorente, pastor of St. Patrick Church in Portland, Ore., and Father Lucas Laborde, a former campus minister and former pastor at St. Patrick’s, pose for a photo at the Grand Canyon in Arizona in late July. CNS photo/courtesy St. John Society

Oregon priests’ trip to Grand Canyon becomes journey to human hearts

By Ed Langlois Catholic News Service Four young priests serving in Oregon set out this summer for an adventure. It turned out to be an exploit, for sure, but not the one they expected.

The men left Portland by car in mid-summer, their backpacks and themselves jammed into the vehicle, pretty much like any group of 20- and 30-somethings on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, 1,200 miles away. Their Roman collars were neatly stowed away with their gear.

Father Lucas Laborde, a former campus minister and former pastor at St. Patrick Parish in Portland, is pursuing higher studies. Father Ignacio Llorente is now pastor of St. Patrick. Father Federico Pinto serves as campus minister in Corvallis, home of Oregon State University. Father Maximo Stock is campus minister at Portland State University.

All are native Argentines and members of the St. John Society, a Catholic religious community founded in Argentina in the mid-1990s and dedicated to the New Evangelization, especially through campus ministry.

In the desert of northern Nevada, with temperatures soaring, the priests’ car broke down. The prognosis was bad. The auto could not be fixed quickly.

Instead of scuttling their trip, the determined priests decided to hitchhike. They said it was for the sake of adventure.

“Wearing our collars helped a bit, and most surely kept us out of trouble,” said Father Laborde, the senior priest of the group at age 38.

Over the next five days, they made the round trip and arrived at the Grand Canyon. But when all was done, it’s the stories they will remember about the 17 people who picked them up along the long journey: miners from Nevada, a Catholic priest, fallen away Catholics, Mormons, families on vacation and people going to work.

Road stories “Since you travel many miles together, you get to listen to a lot of real life stories, and we got to share profound conversations,” Father Laborde said. “Our goal was the Grand Canyon, but our adventure led us to discover also the landscape of many people’s hearts in a variety of circumstances: unexpected acts of kindness and trust, stories of suffering, experiences of faith, profound conversations, moments of prayer, possibly the beginning of more than one friendship.”

In Salt Lake City, the driver of an 18-wheeler pulled over to pick them up. His name was John and he was an Irish-American whose faith life had sputtered. But he was a thinker and hungry for spirituality. At one point, John asked the priests about Pope John Paul’s 1998 encyclical “Fides et Ratio” (“Faith and Reason”).

“How can you make sense of that?” the truck driver asked.

The surprised priests looked at each other, shrugged and started talking from their hearts. They told John that if he understands reason only from the scientific model, he will be missing a lot of truths. They suggested that he embrace a broader concept of reason, a philosophical idea. That way, he could build a bridge with faith. John was elated. “That is so awesome!” he said as the miles ticked by. “You guys made my day.”

To the priests, it seemed surreal to be talking about papal encyclicals with a long haul truck driver, but they are men open to the Holy Spirit. Before he let them off, John shared some of his life’s difficulties and prayed with the quartet of young clergymen.

Time to pray The trip confirmed the priests’ contention that the Catholic Church is “amazing.” Many local pastors extended hospitality.

At a gas station in Salt Lake City, the men met a young couple. They were not headed the same direction as the priests, but a conversation began. The woman had fallen away from her Catholic faith and lost a 3-month-old baby. She seemed to be suffering.

Suddenly, she asked Father Pinto: “Do you have a Bible?” He gave her his own as a gift. The priests then asked if she would like them to pray for her. She agreed and amid gas pumps, a Slurpee machine and candy bars for sale, the priests encircled the woman and her husband, asking God to shower blessings upon them.

When the men returned to Nevada, their car was fixed and they headed back to Portland. The importance of the trip then became clear.

“God put along our way people who needed something from him,” Father Laborde said. “Had we continued on a traditional road trip, we wouldn’t have met all these people, we wouldn’t have shared faith stories and moments of prayer as we did. The fact of being dependent on God’s providence and on other people’s compassion allowed us to reach the hearts of many.”

“CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization,” the second installment of Word On Fire’s new documentary and multimedia formation program, is now available for purchase.

Hosted by Father Robert Barron, founder of the global media ministry Word On Fire, the documentary focuses on challenges the Church faces today, such as the emergence of “the new atheism” and relativistic attitudes toward questions of faith and morality.

“I think that the call for a new apologetics has been an important one,” Father Barron said in an interview with The Catholic Spirit.

“I’ve done kind of a steady study of the new atheism, and their disciples are thick on the ground,” he said. “If you go on the Internet, the disciples of Hitchens and Dawkins are really numerous. I think we as a faith community . . . have to know what their objections are, what’s blocking people and how to respond to them. So that’s a big part of the video.”

Father Barron’s previous documentary, “CATHOLICISM,” illustrated what the Church believes and why. “CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization” demonstrates how to put faith into action in today’s increasingly secular world. It examines the factors that have created this secularized culture, and outlines steps for Catholics who want to share the Faith with others.

“While the content of the Apostolic Faith remains the same, all Catholics are called to share it with new ardor, new expressions and new methods,” said Father Barron, who will be one of the keynote speakers at the 2013 Rediscover: Catholic Celebration Oct. 12 in St. Paul.

Presented in classic documentary style, Father Barron is joined by young, active Catholics as well as notable Catholic leaders and thinkers.

Many leading commentators on faith and culture are interviewed, such as Brad Gregory, author of “The Unintended Reformation,” Ross Douthat, author of “Bad Religion,” and George Weigel, papal biographer and author of the recently released “Evangelical Catholicism.”

“CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization” is accompanied by a study program for adult faith formation, that was written by Brandon Vogt, author of “The Church and the New Media” and a well-known Catholic blogger.

Faith & Culture

Documentary on the New Evangelization now available for purchase

To order “CATHOLICISM: The New Evangelization,” visit www.

WordOnFire.org.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Calendar

20 Bible Study

Retreats

‘A Biblical Walk through the Mass’ with Jeff Cavins at St. Hubert, Chanhassen — Begins September 12: 10-week Bible study meets 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday evenings. Cost is $70 and includes 10 lectures by Jeff Cavins, the study book and small group discussion. For information, visit www.sthubert.org.

Health care professionals retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo — September 13 to 15: The retreat, “By His Mercy, with His Mercy and for His Mercy,” features Mother Olga of the Sacred Heart, founder and mother servant of Daughters of Mary of Nazareth. For registration information, visit curatioapostolate.com.

Prayer / Liturgy Vespers at Lourdes at Our Lady of Lourdes, Minneapolis — September 12: 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at 1 Lourdes Place. Features chanted evening prayer, a lecture on seeking holiness in today’s world, and genuine community with other young professionals.

Dr. John F. Boyle, PhD. will speak on the priestly, prophetic, and kingly roles of every Christian as applied in the concrete situations of our daily lives. $5 suggested donation. Visit www.ourladyoflourdesmn.com.

Blessing of animals at St. Joseph, Rosemount — October 5: 11 a.m. at 13889 Biscayne Ave. W. All creatures are welcome.

Features a petting zoo, the Dakota County Mounted Patrol and music by the children’s choir.

Candlelight vigil for victims and survivors of domestic abuse at St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove — October 10: 7 p.m. at 7180 Hemlock Lane N. One-hour service is open to the community and will include reflection, music, Scripture, stories from survivors and a message of hope.

Don’t miss: More events online Additional parish and school events in the archdiocese can be found in the Calendar section of TheCatholicSpirit.com.

Men’s silent weekend retreat at Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo — September 20 to 22: Theme is Blessed are the Peacemakers, presented by King’s House preching team. Suggested offering is $150 per person, $30 non-refundable deposit. To register, visit www.kingshouse.com.

Music Composer and concert pianist Eric Genuis in concert at St. Raphael, Crystal — October 9: Performances at 2 and 7 p.m. at 7301 Bass Lake Road. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students and are available at the door or online at www.srsmn.org.

Children under 5 are free.

Speakers Catholic speaker and apologist Steve

Ray to speak at St. John the Baptist, New Brighton — October 2: 6:30 p.m. at 825 Second Ave. N.W. Free and open to the public.

Meetings

Secular Franciscans regional fall gathering at Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — September 21: Begins with adoration at 8 a.m. and includes breakfast, Mass, talks and lunch at 4030 Jackson St. N.E. Featured speaker is Father Dave Pivonka, TOR. Cost is $25. For information, call (763) 553-1343.

Minneapolis Deaneries Council of Catholic Women fall meeting at St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — September 23: Registration begins at 9 a.m. at 2836 33rd Ave. S. Father Charles McCarthy will present, “Immigration – Question of Faith, Question of Policy.” Cost is $13 and includes lunch. Register by September 18 at (763) 536-0553.

Kick-off meeting of non-partisan group to protect religious freedom at St.Paul, Ham Lake — October 6: 12:30 p.m. at 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd. N.E. Group’s mission is to educate and empower people of faith and goodwill to defend First Amendment rights. All are welcome. For information, call (763) 438-6560.

Vocations Vocation pizza supper with the Redemptorists at St. Alphonsus Rectory Residence, Brooklyn Center — September 21: 6 p.m. at 7025 Halifax Ave. N. Young men ages 15 to 35 are invited for food and fellowship. For information, call (763) 561-5100.

The CSJ Way: Community, Spirituality and Justice, a half-day retreat at the Sisters of St. Joseph Administration Center, St. Paul — September 21: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1884 Randolph Ave. Includes prayer and stories focusing on the community’s mission and spirituality. For information, call (651) 690-7082.

Other events 14th annual Rector’s Bowl at University of St. Thomas football field, St. Paul — September 28: 7 p.m. at 2115 Summit Ave. The St. Paul Seminary Sons of Thunder vs. the St. John Vianney JAXX. Ecumenical conference on Worship, Music and Homiletics at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — October 4 and 5: Features lectures and presentations and breakout sessions. The conference fee is $125 or $75 for one day. Visit www.conferenceon worship.org Gala to benefit Historic St. Paul Cathedral at the St. Paul Hotel, St.Paul — October 4: 6 to 9 p.m. at 350 Market St. Proceeds benefit the Cathedral’s restoration projects. Cost is $150 per person. Visit www. cathedralheritagefoundation.org.

Director of Parish Planning & Strategy

Church / Ministry Jobs CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur.

LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hoted by Catholic institutions of interest to a wide audience.

ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event.

• Full street address of event.

• Description of event.

• Contact information in case of questions.

• E-MAIL: spiritcalendar@archspm. org. (No attachments, please.)

MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit • 244 Dayton Ave., • St. Paul, MN 55102.

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

Pastoral Care Director Location: St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church; Lino Lakes, MN Pastoral Care Director, in collaboration with the Pastor and Pastoral Care Commission provides a caring presence to parish members in times of need. Major responsibilities include, but are not limited to: training and overseeing volunteer Pastoral Care Ministers and Communion to the Homebound, Hospital and Home Visits to parishioners, assisting families with funeral preparations and during funeral Masses, oversee Prayer Network, Coordinate Senior Ministries. Up to 35 hours a week Sept - May; up to 30 hours a week June - August.

skills. Compassionate presence in stressful situations.

Office Coordinator Location: St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church; Minneapolis, MN Coordinate regular activities of the parish and serve as the primary contact with parishioners generally accepted secretarial and receptionist duties, prepare the weekly bulletin, maintain all

Part-time position.

Assistant Editor: Location: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Chancery Corporation; St. Paul, MN

position include, but are not limited to: news writing and photography, and editing the work of editorial staff members, columnists and regular contributors to make it publication ready.

For more information on these and other job openings, or to apply online, please visit www.archspm.org/careers.

Location: Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Chancery Corporation; St. Paul, MN The Director provides long range planning processes and facilitation for the parishes of the Archdiocese, as well as the Chancery Corporation of the Archdiocese, and its various divisions and departments.

Included in its long range planning for parishes is the Archdiocesan response and implementation of the Strategic Plan.

divinity, pastoral studies, business resources and a minimum of 10

21

From Age to Age

Estate plans aren’t just for the wealthy

By John Tetzloff For The Catholic Spirit When people think of an “estate plan,” the common misconception is to think big houses and nice cars. What surprises most people is that it doesn’t matter if you’re scraping by paycheck to paycheck or running a thriving family business, we all have an “estate.”

The question you have to ask yourself is: Do you want to decide how those assets are distributed when you’re gone? Or, do you want to let someone who has

never met you make those decisions?

I’ve been helping people understand and pass down their assets for more than 20 years now, through my work with Catholic United Financial, over the air with my show on Relevant Radio and in print in my regular column in Our Catholic Journey magazine.

Estate plans aren’t just for the wealthy. It’s even more important for people of average means to protect their estates from unnecessary taxation and family drama. The less you have, the

more important it is to make sure it ends up with the people and causes you love the most. There also is the issue of providing for yourself in the interval between leaving the workforce and leaving this earth.

The overall picture When I meet with a client, one of the first things we discuss are the different types of assets that the person has, the tax rules of each asset, and how these assets will ultimately pass to his or her loved ones upon death.

Ask yourself: What assets do I have in my estate? This may seem simple, but many people don’t have a good understanding of the makeup of their estate assets. For that matter, many people haven’t taken the time to get a “big picture” view of their estate to fully realize what they have and the effect each asset has in their planning.

The first things you probably think of are your savings and checking accounts. These are Please turn to GETTING on page 22

life is good

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

From Age to Age

22 Getting a handle on assets is key first step in estate planning

Myser Initiative on Catholic Identity Series

Continued from page 21 liquid form, you ought to consider a longer-term solution that pays a better interest rate.

Catholics in the Public Square: Prophecy, Civility and Truth

The other thing immediately associated with estates is property. This includes real estate, of course, but also covers stocks and mutual funds.

When you make your plan, you need to consider the “risk vs. reward� of holding these types of assets. The tax implications of inheriting large acreages of arable land can drive grieving families from generational farmsteads. But there are several ways laid out by the government for people to avoid this situation.

M. Cathleen Kaveny, J.D., Ph.D. Scholar and Author

Then there are retirement accounts like IRAs, Roth IRAs, pensions and 401(k)s. Each of these help to provide income in retirement, but the way they handle taxes now and when they distribute is very different. It’s extremely important to balance taxed and non-taxed assets when planning your retirement.

Seventh Annual Lecture and Award John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law and Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and a noted speaker and author, Dr. Kaveny will share her insights on religious liberty in a pluralistic society. The Hon. Kathleen Gearin will lead a post-lecture discussion.

Other assets Finally, there are annuities and life insurance contracts. They make up a special class of assets that can provide for both retirement and estate planning needs. They are inheritable by your heirs, so they provide for the next generation, but they can also provide income in retirement. Not only can annuities pay out a steady income, they also typically have higher interest rates than bank products, and can be inherited by your heirs.

Thursday, October 10 | 7 p.m.

The O’Shaughnessy, St. Paul campus

Life insurance can also be a vital piece of a person’s asset mix.

We know that life insurance provides the protection for our loved ones by replacing lost income, paying debts (including estate taxes) and maintaining a family’s lifestyle when a death occurs. But there are also many living benefits to life insurance.

Tax-advantaged cash values, potential dividends and long-termcare/accelerated benefits can make a huge difference in the way we plan and live out our retirements.

Free and open to the public | Tickets required | 651-690-6700 (Rescheduled from April; previous tickets honored.)

stkate.edu

One of the most valuable services a financial partner like Catholic United Financial can provide is a comprehensive overview of a person’s estate to help them create a plan that will provide for themselves and their family. In other words, we can help that person understand “what they’ve got� and how it all fits together for a prosperous future.

Tetzloff is the advanced case specialist and trainer at Catholic United Financial. He leads free estate planning seminars throughout the year and is the host of the show “Creating Wealth Beyond Money� on Relevant Radio. Follow him on Twitter @CWBMradio, or email him at jtetzloff@catholicunited.org.

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September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

23

By Abby Dehmer For The Catholic Spirit Falling is not a normal part of aging.

Yet, one in three adults 65 and older fall each year.

In 2005 alone more than 1.8 million seniors were treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries. The United States spends an estimated $20.2 billion annually for the treatment of fall-related injuries. The majority of the cost is for the treatment of hip fractures, which averages $35,000 per patient.

So, although falling is not “normal,” it’s happening often and it’s expensive.

The good news is that falls can be prevented. Simple adjustments to daily activities can greatly reduce the risk of a fall.

From Age to Age

Better awareness can help prevent debilitating falls

What is balance?

Saint Therese Rehab offers the Better Balance for a Better Life program that aims at to prevent falls through education, exercise programming and treatment. STR uses the NeuroCom SMART Equitest Balance system, above, to develop treatment plans for balance-related issues. Photo submitted

Balance is the body’s awareness of where it is in space. We rely on our eyesight, inner-ear functions and our joint and muscle awareness to maintain balance. If even one of those systems is slightly impaired, our balance is at risk.

Losing balance can be caused by a variety of factors.

An ear infection, poor lighting, clutter in the house or a chronic disease can all cause a fall.

Sometimes, the loss of balance can be a symptom of another issue the body is experiencing. For instance, an individual may trip on a rug while rushing to get to a restroom, fall and twist an ankle. In this case, a doctor or a therapist may be more concerned as to why the person was rushing to the restroom, rather than the fall itself.

If a person is unable to balance standing on one leg Please turn to EXERCISE on page 24

We Invite You to

Calvary Cemetery OPEN HOUSE To view the Newly Constructed Columbarium (a free standing bank of cremation niches)

Where: Calvary Cemetery: 753 Front Ave., St. Paul (Victoria St. Entrance) When: Fri. Sept. 27 • Sat. Sept. 28 • Sun. Sept. 29 Time: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Special discounts and extended financing available to open house attendees.

For More Info Call 651-488-8866 www.catholic-cemeteries.org

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

From Age to Age

24

Exercise programs can improve leg strength, balance

Respect For The Human Person

Estate Planning From A Catholic Perspective

YOU CAN PROTECT your child’s inheritance from: • Illness & Substance Abuse Situations • Child’s Divorcing Spouse • Estate & Gift Taxes • Reckless Spending

Continued from page 23 for five seconds, they are at risk for a fall with injury.

The issue of balance can be complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Individuals can be proactive about their general health and wellness to prevent a fall from occurring in the first place.

John E. Trojack, Attorney at Law

C ALL FOR A COMPLIMENTARY ESTATE PLANNING OFFICE CONSULTATION ASK ABOUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE C ATHOLIC HEALTH C ARE DIRECTIVE

Joseph E. Trojack, Attorney at Law

Trojack Law Office, P.A. TRUSTS • WILLS • PROBATE PROCEEDINGS

Preventing falls One of the best ways to prevent a fall is to simply be aware of what the body is trying to communicate and what factors may increase the risk of a fall.

The following are four simple techniques to reduce the risk of a fall: 1. Begin an exercise program to improve leg strength and balance.

2. Ask a doctor or pharmacist to review all medications.

Learn about the medications you are taking and understand the side effects.

3. Get an annual eye exam and update the prescriptions.

4. Review your home environment Saint Therese Rehab’s regularly to check for clutter and Better Balance for a tripping hazards. Consider installing Better Life program extra railings or grab bars. focuses on reducing falls in older adults. Learn Balance education more about the program by visiting www.

Fall prevention programming is a sttheresemn.org/ growing trend among many health care saintthereserehab and organizations. downloading the Balance programs are available to not brochure. only treat the effects of a fall, but also to prevent a fall from recurring.

If you have a fear of falling or recognize you may be at risk for a fall, contact your physician and ask for a full balance assessment.

Falls are not a normal part of aging. Don’t let the risk of a fall slow you down. Be aware, and be proactive with your health.

Learn more

(651) 451-9696 • E-mail: John.Trojack@TrojackLaw.com • www.TrojackLaw.com 1549 Livingston Ave., Suite 101, West St. Paul, MN 55118-3420

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• Senior Housing • Memory Care • Skilled Nursing Care • Assisted Living • Short-term Rehab • Home Care • Crest View Senior Community at Blaine (under development and taking reservations) 4444 Reservoir Blvd NE • Columbia Heights, MN 763-782-1601 • www.crestviewcares.org

Faith, Community, Compassion

Dehmer is a communications director at Saint Therese, which provides senior care and housing at locations in New Hope, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview. This month’s Catholic Senior Services article is provided as a service of Saint Therese, an affiliate of CSS. Visit http://www.catholicseniorservices.org or call the Catholic Senior Services Help Line at (877) 420-6461.

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St. Benedict’s Senior Community in Monticello is convenient to I-94 and local restaurants, shopping, places of worship, cultural activities, golf courses and other attractions.

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Call 763-295-4051 for a complimentary lunch, tour and DVD. Celebrating 35 years!

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

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Empowering Seniors:

An information series to help seniors and their family members make good choices

Take Steps to Prevent Falls Mon., Sept. 16, 1 to 2 p.m

Managing Your Medications Mon., Sept. 30, 1 to 2 p.m.

Palliative Care versus Hospice Care Mon., Oct. 14, 1 to 2 p.m.

Cerenity Senior Care – Marian of Saint Paul is a Catholic-based continuum of care community located across from Mounds Park in St. Paul.

Cerenity Senior Care - Marian of Saint Paul 200 Earl St., St. Paul, MN 55106 651-793-2100 www.CerenitySeniorCare.org

25

From Age to Age

Empowering Seniors series set for St. Paul Cerenity Senior Care - Marian of St. Paul will host Empowering Seniors, a three-part information series to help seniors and their families make good choices about their care.

All sessions will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Parkview Room at Cerenity Senior Care - Marian of St. Paul. It is located at 200 Earl St., St. Paul.

• “Take Steps to Prevent Falls” will be presented on Sept. 16.

• “Managing Your Medications” will be presented Sept. 30.

• “Palliative Care vs. Hospice Care” will be presented Oct. 14.

For information, visit www.CerenitySeniorCare.org.

Lunch and Learn series at Our Lady of Grace Series talks are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at Our Lady of Grace in Edina.

Schedule for the series is: • Sept. 10, “Caregiving 101” • Oct. 8, “Funeral Planning 101” • Nov. 12, “Health Directives” Beryl Schewe, board certified chaplain and director of pastoral care at Our Lady of Grace, is the presenter.

Cost is $5, and pre-registration is required by calling (952) 9293317. A light lunch will be provided.

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Offering the convenience of an entire health care campus including hospital, clinics, pharmacy and therapy September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

26

PBS to air ‘Latino Americans’ documentary

By John Mulderig Catholic News Service Each year since 1988, the period between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 has seen the observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The rich, but long neglected, history that this annual celebration salutes is skillfully chronicled in the six-part documentary, “Latino Americans.”

Narrated by actor Benjamin To watch Bratt, the The miniseries miniseries premieres with backpremieres with to-back episodes on back-to-back PBS stations episodes on PBS Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7-9 stations Tuesday, p.m. Central time.

Sept. 17, 7-9 p.m.

Central time (check local listings).

The series continues with double installments Tuesdays, Sept. 24 and Oct. 1, 7-9 p.m. Central time each night (again, check local listings).

Covering a span of five centuries, the program examines the widely varying fortunes showered upon the Latino community since the first Spanish explorers arrived in North America.

It also highlights the landmark contributions Hispanics have made to American life in fields as divergent as politics, business and pop culture.

Early 20th century Titled “Empire of Dreams,” the second episode, which was made available for screening, focuses on the era between the 1880s and the outbreak of the Second World War. Through the use of archival images, interviews with historians and other experts, as well as reenactments, Cuban-born series producer Adriana Bosch offers insights into the major events that shaped the Hispanic experience during these decades, including the Spanish-American War and the Mexican Revolution.

Viewers also learn about the role Hispanic immigrants played in the building of modern Los Angeles — and about the mass deportations to which some of these same workers were subjected when the Depression of the 1930s made the competition for jobs fierce.

Role of faith Though the influence of the Church in shaping Hispanic

culture is not treated directly, personal religious faith is emphasized in the on-screen reminiscences of writer Victor Villasenor.

He recounts how trust in God sustained his grandmother through an arduous, potentially lifethreatening journey from Mexico to the United States.

He also recalls how his equally devout mother helped to steer his father away from bootlegging and into a more legitimate line of work.

When their subsequent success enabled his parents to build a lavish home, thus fulfilling the American dream, his mother dedicated the undertaking, he tells us, to “the glory of God and the Blessed Mother.”

“Latino Americans” will be broadcast nationally in Spanish on Vme-TV over six consecutive Fridays beginning Sept. 20.

The first two episodes in the series are rated TV-14 — parents strongly cautioned. The remainder are rated TV-PG — parental guidance suggested.

Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service. More reviews are available online at www.usccb.org/ movies.

Workshop offers help with adult faith formation Those wishing to learn more about adult faith formation are invited to attend a workshop on the topic presented by the Association of Coordinators and Religious Educators (ACRE).

It will take place Sept. 19 at Holy Name of Jesus in Wayzata.

The cost is $20 for ACRE members and $30 for non-members.

The workshop begins with checkin and breakfast at 8:30 a.m., and ends at 2:30 p.m.

The featured speaker is Jane Regan, an associate professor of theology and religious education at Boston College.

The focus of her teaching and research is adult faith formation.

She has been involved in religious education for more than 20 years at the parish and diocesan levels, most recently as a consultant to parishes working to enhance adult faith formation.

She has written a book on the subject, entitled “Toward an Adult Church: A Vision of Faith Formation,” which was published in 2002

by Loyola Press.

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27 Chaplain serves valuable role Continued from page 1

Back by popular demand!

These talks drew 12,000 attendees in early 2013. If you missed the talks then, or just want to experience them all over again, make plans to attend this fall — and bring a friend or family member with you.

New sites, including University of St. Thomas All talks begin at 7:00 p.m.

Talks are free and no registration is required.

Finding God’s Purpose for My Life Presented by Father Peter Laird Monday, September 16 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, September 17 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, September 18 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, September 19 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

Living in Communion with God Presented by Father Michael Keating Monday, September 30 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, October 1 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, October 2 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, October 3 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

Overcoming Life’s Challenges Through God’s Grace Presented by Father Andrew Cozzens Monday, October 21 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, October 22 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, October 23 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, October 24 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

the way

Keeping God at the Center of My Life Presented by Deacon Joseph Michalak Monday, November 4 – Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Tuesday, November 5 – Epiphany, Coon Rapids Wednesday, November 6 – Woulfe Hall, University of St. Thomas Thursday, November 7 – Pax Christi, Eden Prairie

For more information, please visit

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Rediscover is a trade mark of the Archdioces of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

don’t have to worry about being recognized by autograph seekers in the pews. “This allows them to worship without distraction,” Father Van Sloun said.

He also knows that players and coaches have a lot on their minds when there’s a game coming up.

He said he tries to keep hold of their attention by talking about things relevant to their lives, but he doesn’t talk too much about football.

“They’re getting sports every minute,” Father Van Sloun said. “I want to let the Scriptures speak their full power.

And Scripture speaks to every facet of life all the time anyway, so it doesn’t end up being a problem.”

Walsh said Father Van Sloun is very good at relating the Gospel to the lives of the players.

“In his homily last week, Father Mike talked about not making rash decisions and not keeping promises that are evil,” said Walsh, who like other professional athletes faces numerous temptations that come with the high-profile lifestyle.

“What I can offer to them is prayer and helping them to be good people,” Father Van Sloun said. “Everybody needs that, but pro athletes really need it, and one of the things that I talk to them about is that they live in this world swirling with temptation. When you have money, fame and opportunity, the chances to misstep are tremendous and the scrutiny on that is tremendous as well. If I can help people stay on the right track, that’s a great blessing.”

Father Van Sloun is also available for anyone in the organization — players, coaches or staff — who might need someone to talk to.

“Father Mike is more than a priest to our players — he’s a friend to them as well, and that means a lot,” said head coach Leslie Frazier. “Sometimes, things can be overwhelming in this business, with the pressure to succeed and perform, and to have Father Mike available for our players to sit down and talk to him about very intimate subjects and things that pertain to them . . . it helps our football team.”

It’s important to the team’s management to have the services of a chaplain as part of its program.

“We are very fortunate to have a priest that is accessible, especially with the time constraints that we have,” said Rick Spielman, the team’s general manager. “People in this organization know that if they have

issues, we really try to have the support staff around.”

That support staff also includes player programs staff members, the legal department and medical staff.

Game day During games, Father Van Sloun takes his place on the sideline, standing inside a white line between the 30- and 31-yard lines. From there, he sees what happens on the field and on the bench. But, he also hopes that people see him.

“The fact that the Vikings would have a priest stand with the team on the sideline is a remarkable thing,” he said. “Most people don’t know who I am, but everybody recognizes the Roman collar. When people see the priest and wonder what he’s doing there, they are immediately led to see that spiritual values are important to the organization. So, it’s the witness value of me standing on the sideline.”

He gets to enjoy the game, too. He hangs out with “the doctors,” the team medical staff who are there in case of an injury. And, occasionally, he’ll get a text from a parishioner in the stands. He tells them that if they text, he’ll wave from the field.

Father Van Sloun has been into sports his whole life. He was a runner and played basketball in high school and went on to coach basketball and cross country at Crosier Seminary in Onamia, Minn.

His career as a chaplain began in 2002, when Breck Spinner, then Vikings head of onfield operations, got married.

Spinner’s fiancé Laurie played basketball in college and is in the University of St. Thomas Hall of Fame. They went to Father Van Sloun for marriage preparation, and the conversations often moved to basketball.

Then, when former coach Mike Tice took over the team, he asked Spinner if he knew a priest who liked sports who could serve as team chaplain.

Spinner knew that Father Van Sloun would jump at the chance.

Father Van Sloun said he likes that his job allows him to be with the team and make a difference in the players’ lives.

“If these guys can live good and holy lives and give a good example, the amount of people that they’re able to touch is remarkable,” he said. “So being able to offer something to people that are in that public of a venue and help them in that venue when they’re under that kind of scrutiny, that’s a blessing for them, and for all of us, really.”

September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

The Last Word

28

The Catholic difference: Living inside the Bible The village of Pasierbiec is in the south of Poland, about 30 miles from the old royal capital of Kracow. Its church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation, is full of votum gifts testifying to favors received through the intercession of the basilica’s namesake. (The church itself reminds me of a comment Pope John Paul II’s secretary, now-Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, once made when we were looking COMMENTARY at a photo album of new churches in Nowa Huta, the mill-town built by Polish communists outside Cracow: “Troppo [Too much] Corbusier...”)

Outside the church, the priests and people of Pasierbiec have done something quite remarkable, however: George they’ve recently constructed a stunning, WEIGEL contemporary Via Crucis, in which figures from modern Polish Catholic history are “inserted” into the traditional Stations of the Cross.

The bronzes themselves are well-done, but what is particularly striking about the Pasierbiec Via Crucis is the idea that animates these sculptures — the idea that we can, and should, imagine ourselves living inside the biblical story. Or, if you prefer, the Pasierbiec Via Crucis is a powerful invitation to look at the world around us, including recent history, through lenses ground by biblical faith.

The stations Some examples of this optic at work at Pasierbiec: In the depiction of the fifth station, it is Blessed John Paul II, not Simon of Cyrene, who helps Jesus carry the cross.

At the sixth station, Blessed Jerzy Popieluszko, the martyr-priest of Solidarity, relieves Jesus of some of the weight of the Cross while Veronica wipes the Holy Face; the message Father Jerzy

communist rule, holds the clothes being stripped from Jesus — an image that evokes memories of the cardinal being stripped of his freedom and his dignity during three years of house arrest.

Viewed close-up, the soldiers nailing Jesus to the Cross are obviously Roman; from a distance, their helmets are eerily reminiscent of the familiar SS helmets of World War II. And at the 14th station, two contemporary Polish martyrs witness the entombment of the Crucified One: Father Jan Czuba, martyred in the Congo, and Father Zbigniew Strzalkowski, martyred in Peru.

The post-modern world

In the depiction of the fifth station, Blessed John Paul II helps Jesus carry the cross. preached during martial law in Poland — “Overcome evil with good”— is inscribed on the Cross.

At the seventh station, the second fall, the Lord is supported by Father Franciszek Blachnicki, founder of the Oasis youth movement in which tens of thousands of young Poles were catechized during holiday camping trips.

At the eighth station, where Jesus traditionally meets the women of Jerusalem, he now meets Stanislawa Leszczynska and Stefania Lacka, prisoners who rescued children born in the Auschwitz concentration camp.

At the ninth station, the third fall, the priest comforting the Lord is Blessed Roman Sitka, rector of the local seminary in Tarnow and a concentration camp prisoner (like several thousand Polish priests).

At the 10th station, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, primate of Poland during the first 33 years of

Touch of Lebanon Festival St. Maron Catholic Church 602 University Avenue, NE – Minneapolis

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Dancing by The Cedars Dabke Group September 12, 2013 • The Catholic Spirit

The dedication of this shrine, which reflects a thoroughly contemporary biblical faith, was led by the archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, who once told me that German martyrs, not German theologians, would be the foundation on which Christianity in 21st-century Germany would be rebuilt after the horrors of the 20th century.

Cardinal Meisner’s presence at the dedication was a powerful sign of the German-Polish reconciliation sought by Wyszynski and Karol Wojtyla, the future John Paul II, at the end of the Second Vatican Council; it also embodied the German prelate’s conviction that Tertullian’s second-century insight remains true 18 centuries later: “sanguis martyrum semen christianorum” [the blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church].

The post-modern world is a wilderness of mirrors in which nothing is stable: even maleness and femaleness, two “givens” throughout recorded human history, are now regarded as “cultural constructs” to be altered at will. Reason alone seems unable to offer a powerful antidote to a post-mod culture of unreality. To see the world around us from “inside” the biblical story of the human condition can be a reality-check.

It’s one our culture and society badly need these days.

Weigel is Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

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How to pray W

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 and discuss with others.

Coming up Sept. 26: What are saints?

HEART OF THE MATTER Elizabeth KELLEY

hen Jesus went into the desert to pray, he didn’t take his prayer journal and some good spiritual reading. We might guess that his prayer was steeped in recollection of the Scriptures, a perfect dialogue with the Father he knew so well.

When the disciples asked him to teach them to pray, he gave very clear, very simple instructions: In the Gospel of Matthew, he says “go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. . . .

Your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (6:4-8).

In the verses that follow, he gives us the Our Father — quite possibly the most widely recognized, most oft-repeated prayer in the world My point: There is a temptation to imagine that one must master a certain school of prayer or vein of spirituality in order to pray well when the truth is if one were to spend a lifetime praying just one clause of the Our Father alone in the quiet privacy of one’s room, that would be a life well spent indeed.

In a recent radio broadcast, Pope Francis

The Catholic Spirit • September 12, 2013

emphasized, for example, that the first word is “Father.” He goes on to say that “without feeling that word . . . you cannot pray.”

It is the disposition of heart, the intimacy of the relationship, not the originality nor the sophistication of the words, that captures heaven’s attention.

Powerful prayers An example: Some years ago, one of my brothers-in-law was killed in a plane crash.

This was a crash that my nephew, who was 13 at the time, survived., He spent 16 long hours on the side of a mountain in Alaska waiting for a rescue crew while the lifeliess body of his father — and several others — lay nearby.

At one point, he jumped from the plane’s wreckage in order to flag help and aid other survivors. His ankle was shattered practically beyond repair. Needless to say, it was an event that will mark the rest of his life with pain and the kind of courage of heart that such

“There is a temptation to imagine that one must master a certain school of prayer or vein of spirituality in order to pray well, when the truth is if one were to spend a lifetime praying just one clause of the Our Father alone in the quiet privacy of one’s room, that would be a life well spent indeed.”

Elizabeth Kelly

Please turn to WITH on next page

Rediscover-faith.org

The routine within the routine Matthew Kelly is taking a break from writing his column while he recuperates from successful cancer surgery. In the interim, this column space will feature excerpts from his other writings. The following is from his book “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic.”

If you could get every Catholic to pray in the same way for 10 minutes each day, how would you encourage them to spend that 10 minutes?

The prayer process is that one way.

If you really want to markedly improve your life and are serious about growing spiritually, this is the one prayer that I recommend to you. Commit yourself to this practice for 10 minutes daily and you will advance spiritually like never before.

CELEBRATING The prayer I am referring to is an adaption of the Daily CATHOLICISM Examination of Conscience. The idea of examining our conscience before going to confession is a long-standing part of our Catholic tradition. But too often, the concept Matthew carries with it a negative connotation. Thus, it is often KELLY approached in the negative. But, in reality, the examining of ourselves can and should be an incredibly positive experience. Far from being about self-deprecation and self-loathing, it is about peace and liberty, awareness and spiritual growth.

Paul advised the early Christians, “Let a man examine himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28). This was particularly in reference to some type of examination before receiving the Eucharist.

The hermit St. Anthony examined his conscience every night before retiring. Over “One of the real time, this became a daily practice in many monasteries, and most of the founders of treasures that [the religious orders include a daily examination of Daily Examination of conscience as a requirement for all members.

Interestingly, I read recently that in the Conscience] delivers prayer life of priests and religious the deterioration of one’s spiritual life begins with is an increased skipping the daily examination of conscience. awareness of who we They may still attend Mass and pray the Divine Office, go to holy hour and pray the are and of what is rosary, but once the daily examination is set real spiritual growth ceases and, in time, happening in us and aside spiritual decay begins.

Bernard of Clairvaux wrote, “As a searching around us. This investigator of the integrity of your own awareness heightens conduct, submit your life to a daily examination. Consider carefully what progress our ability to you have made or what ground you have lost. experience life.”

Strive to know yourself. Place all your faults before your eyes. Come face to face with Matthew Kelly yourself, as though you were another person.”

But most known for furthering the use and popularity of the daily examination is St. Ignatius of Loyola. Ignatius begins the first week of his famous Spiritual Exercises encouraging participants to engage in the daily practice of examining one’s soul and life. He believed that the daily examination, which is often referred to as the Examen, was the most important of the spiritual exercises.

Increasing our awareness Today, the practice has fallen into disuse like so many of the best practices of our faith. Marred by a negative overtone and caught in an age when people only want to think about their strengths, the practice of taking an honest look at ourselves in order to improve has fallen by the wayside.

One of the real treasures that this practice delivers is an increased awareness of who we are and of what is happening in us and around us. This awareness heightens our ability to experience life.

That’s right, it actually increases our capacity for life. And, in this way, what we are talking about is an examination of consciousness as much as an examination of conscience.

This ancient spiritual practice constantly poses the question: How conscious are you? It challenges us to become aware of everything that is happening within us and around us, so that we can live at the height of consciousness.

Kelly is an international best-selling author, speaker and founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute.

The Catholic Spirit • September 12, 2013

Teacher takes cue from Apost O’Hern says ‘daily conversation with God’ is most important part of day for her students

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit A group of 35 third-graders recently filled a hallway at St. Agnes School in St. Paul with an angelic melody.

They were singing an ancient prayer of the Church.

In Latin.

The title of the prayer in English is Angel of God. As the students made their way back from a chapel in the school to the classroom of their teacher, Kathleen O’Hern, they sounded out the words of a prayer that is believed to be at least 1,000 years old.

“The melody for that prayer was made up by myself and my students,” said O’Hern, 60, who teaches religion to students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The late Msgr. Richard Schuler would be proud. The long-time pastor of St. Agnes, who died in 2007, left a powerful legacy in music that permeates both the church and school.

People drive for miles to hear children and adults sing the iconic prayers of the Church at Masses.

It’s O’Hern’s job to teach her students these prayers, including the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Hail Holy Queen, Memorare and Angelus. In 13 years, she has led thousands of kids in prayer. Not a day goes by without the kids reciting at least one of these prayers.

“Prayer is everything; it’s our daily conversation with God,” she said. “The children are praying daily. That is the most important part of their day.

“God is calling all of us to come to know him. And, prayers are an important way to come to know God. . . . The iconic prayers of the Church are prayers that were given to us

by Jesus, angels and saints.”

Firm foundation For O’Hern, who is much closer to the end of her career than the beginning, the prayers aren’t just for her students. They are the spiritual anchor of her own life.

“I pray all these prayers daily,” she said.

“The prayers permeate my life. There’s no real

time that I’m not in prayer in some way or another. The prayers have brought me into a awareness of the presence of God.” That is exactly what she hopes will happen to her students. Occasionally, she gets word that her mission has been fulfilled.

“I just got a call from one of my [former] students, who is in pharmacy school in Philadelphia,” she said. “She told me that he understanding of the power of prayer and he faithfulness to praying each day, through the ups and downs and the challenges of being in school, has helped her to persevere in her studies.”

Sometimes, the results are more immediate Last year, she taught a student, Teedo Vang, who has eight siblings. After some family troubles, they moved in with their uncle (their story appeared in The Catholic Spirit in the April 12, 2012 edition).

Eventually, he and all of his siblings becam Catholics at the Easter Vigil Mass that year.

O’Hern was chosen to be the godmother and sponsor for the boys, and she watched them receive the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist and confirmation (band instructor Caroline Becker was godmother and sponsor for the girls).

“Every single year, we have had students enter the Church,” O’Hern said. “It’s tied to prayer. They are encountering God through prayer.”

That’s exactly what happened with the Vangs.

“It was the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glor Be that began the journey of the Vang family to the Catholic Church,” she said. “Teedo wa in my fourth-grade religion class and he would go home and ask his brothers and sisters to get together and pray the prayers that he was learning at school. . . . After a couple months, his brother and sisters who were attending St. Agnes School came to me and told me that they wanted to become Catholic.”

In O’Hern’s classroom, the first thing students learn is the Sign of the Cross. Then, one by one, they study the other iconic prayers of the Church. The culmination — and the heart of it all — is the Eucharist and Mass, which the students attend once a week as a class and once a week with the entire student body, kindergarten through 12th grade.

With prayer, disposition of heart is wh Continued from first page of section trials invoke in good men.

Since then, he has had numerous surgeries to repair various injuries, and he had another not too long ago. My sister told the surgeon that she needed to be in the recovery room when her son woke up because coming out of anesthesia, he always relived the crash. He would wake up crying for his father and saying, “Dad, please don’t be dead!”

My parents were very aware of this, and the week before my nephew’s surgery decided between just the two of them to offer up their time in adoration for him, that he would wake up from this surgery thinking of something really happy, that he would wake up laughing

and singing.

My parents, now 80 and 85, take their praye lives very seriously, and they have been prayin together for as long as I can remember, morning, noon and night. Their prayers are very simple, the iconic prayers of the Church, the rosary, various novenas, the rote devotions so favored and embraced by their generation — and they are powerful. I have learned from them the wisdom, influence and strength of very traditional prayer.

This time, when the surgery was completed, the surgeon entered the recovery room and tol my sister, “Boy, he’s a happy kid. Coming out of surgery laughing and singing.”

Laughing and singing.

My parents had a private chuckle between

tles: ‘Lord, teach us to pray’

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Joseph Hintgen, front left, and Roman Osberg, third-graders at St. Agnes School in St. Paul, pray in the school chapel during religion class. Behind them is their teacher, Kathleen O’Hern. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Our Father, Hail Mary are key prayers Religion teacher Kathleen O’Hern at St. Agnes she teaches her students, the Our Father and Hail Our Father

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Hail Mary — Dave Hrbacek “I always teach prayers and hymns in honor of the Eucharist,” she said. “The Eucharist is our greatest gift. Once a student begins to know that the Eucharist is truly the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, they want to know more about their Catholic faith.

It is like a magnet.”

For O’Hern, there is no better thing she could do than teach her students these prayers. In her view, she is following in the

footsteps of the Twelve Apostles, who are quoted in the Gospel (Luke 11:1) as saying, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

“It makes me feel humble and joyful at the same time,” she said. “The thing that is so beautiful is Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me. Do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ We are leading each other to heaven through these prayers.”

hat captures heaven’s attention

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themselves and heaven, and only much later conveyed that story to me.

Spoken by heaven In the mysterious design of God’s creation, our prayers do not sway an unchangeable God, but we are given some share in, some way to participate in, the ebb and flow of the created order around us. What an extraordinary gift.

The iconic prayers of the Church — the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, for starters, those that grow straight from Scripture — are more than enough to enter into that gift, the mystery of prayer, this conversation with the Holy One because they have been spoken by heaven itself, set into the eternal word of God. What better author could we consult when

asking how to pray?

If you are struggling for an entry point to improving your prayer, start with a clause or two of the Our Father, “your kingdom come, your will be done.” Simple, slow repetition in a quiet place can be launching pad enough for true spiritual transformation and conversion.

Note bene: They have also been known to produce laughter and singing and joy in the most unlikely, most dire of circumstances.

Kelly is an award-winning author of five books, including “A Book of Grace-Filled Days,” 2014. She is managing editor of Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, published under the auspices of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Ancient words for speechless moments Thy will be done.

Those four words have challenged and comforted Barb Tess, a petite baby boomer from Sheboygan, Wis., who lost her firstborn and her husband in the span of 28 months.

As she choked on waves of sorrow, she turned to the Our Father and imagined a future of service. “I prayed that God’s will be done and that my grief experiences could be used to educate and embrace others in their time of sorrow,” Tess told me.

She began blogging about life as a widow — the new house she moved into, the new puppy she bought, the new exercise regime she began — and her reflections became solace for other widowed Catholics.

REFERENCE When she began dating a widower she met POINTS online, a soft-spoken dad from Illinois, Tess made a habit of praying the rosary with him. The ancient words provided a steady rhythm for their fragile Christina relationship, knotted by fear and affection and CAPECCHI complicated family dynamics.

On her darkest days, when Tess felt short on air and out of words, these two prayers were the way forward: Our Father, Hail Mary.

Indeed, they are the most central prayers in Catholic devotion and the subject of Mark Shea’s fascinating 2012 book “The Heart of Catholic Prayer: Rediscovering the Our Father and the Hail For Mary.” In 144 pages, Shea unpacks every phrase in these two prayers. The reader reflection comes away with awe for their intricacy, What iconic prayer is neatly summarizing the Gospels and your favorite? Why? gently calling us to holiness.

“I was trying to help people see these prayers again and hear how extraordinary they are,” Shea said. “You can look at the same thing 100 times and not see it and then, suddenly, on the 101st time, you see it.”

I had never considered the interconnection between the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary before my conversation with Shea. The Lord’s Prayer was composed for disciples; the Hail Mary was composed by disciples. The Lord’s Prayer was handed from the top down, presented

by Jesus himself, who says in the Gospel of Matthew, “This is how you are to pray.” The Hail Mary, meanwhile, grew from the bottom up, emerging out of popular piety with touchstones from both Gabriel and Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke.

“It’s a prayer that in many ways is a mirror reflection of the Lord’s Prayer, which makes sense because Mary is sort of a mirror reflection to Jesus,” Shea said.

Protestants may question the function of memorized prayer, but in the wake of tragedy, some days Tess didn’t have words of her own. She found comfort in praying the same words her ancestors had uttered.

She even used the same rosary her grandmother had clung to, caressing the beads and recalling a woman who had outlived three of her children.

“My grandmother never once lost faith or blamed God for her misfortune in life but instead found strength through prayer to the Virgin Mary,” Tess said.

Reciting prayer is a natural way of learning, said Shea, who described how his 2-year-old niece was repeating words like “please” and “thank you.” “That’s how we always teach our children. The whole point is not that she will grow up to be a parrot but to be a civilized human being. It starts with parrot talk. So what do we do? We start by saying, ‘Hallowed be thy name,’ which we aren’t thinking at all when we get up in the morning. I’m thinking about me, me, me! What do I want?”

Praise precedes petition, when we ask the Lord to give us our daily bread. And our plea for forgiveness comes with the promise to show others mercy, to keep cobwebs out of our hearts, no matter how gravely we’ve been wronged.

This is how you pray and this is how you live.

Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.

Rediscover-faith.org

‘Redescubre’

‘Redescubre’ lyrics

Latino community gets a song of its own

(literal translation) I want to live fully in God To rediscover my faith today To receive your grace And your spirit in a profound way

By Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit Visit Rediscover-faith.org to see The Archdiocese of St. Paul a video of César Cruz and Minneapolis recently deperforming his song, buted a song, titled “Rediscov‘Redescubre’ er” written specially for the Rediscover: initiative. But, while musician Eliot Morris was working on that song, César Cruz, director of youth ministry at those who we are planning to bring back together to Holy Rosary / Santo Rosario parish in Minneapolis, was pray to the Lord.”

He used his home studio to record the song, which working on a song for Redecubre: — the Spanish-lanhe will perform at the 2013 Rediscover: Catholic Celeguage counterpart to the archdiocesan initiative.

Cruz, a native of Guatemala, saw the posters for Re- bration Oct. 12 in St. Paul.

“I’m waiting for the day when I can share my music discover: and Redescubre: and read about the accompanying book clubs and speakers series on the Redis- with the people,” he said. “I hope that it can do somecover: website. He didn’t get involved, however, until thing in the hearts of the people.”

Cruz plays several instruments, including piano, guihe was asked to help with music for a series of Redescutar, marimba, flute and accordion. He is a self-taught bre: Spanish-language talks.

While working on music for the presentations, he musician and shared his music with his church in Guastarted thinking about how the initiative was bringing temala. people back to the Church. “The idea is to bring the Shortly after he came to the United States with his people together,” he said. “We are talking about the wife in 1997, he performed in a singing contest at Holy people who are here at Church all the time, but also Rosary parish. The pastor at the time asked him if he

I want to go where my brothers and sisters are To invite them to celebrate in community To be the strength with more hearts And together, to discover how wonderful you are To rediscover our faith God is the strength that helps us live To feel your peace, your freedom And the beauty of your love Reflected in us. would consider doing music for the parish. “I was so happy,” he said. He immediately said yes.

That became his first job in the U.S and led to a career working in parishes across the archdiocese. Cruz has served as music director at Ascension and St. Cyril in Minneapolis and Risen Savior in Burnsville. He is currently music director at St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center in addition to his position as youth director at Holy Rosary.

re Alm gis os te t f r t ull od ay !

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