The Catholic Spirit - February 3, 2011

March opens eyes

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Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis

The Catholic Spirit

February 3, 2011

CelebratingCatholic CatholicSchools SchoolsWeek Week

Primer on Eucharist

News with a Catholic heart

17 TheCatholicSpirit.com

Catholic Schools Commission begins work to strengthen local education The Catholic Spirit

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

From left, kindergartners Britany Lugardo Lopez, Elianan Sileshe and Frank Arth sing a song that helps them learn the alphabet at Blessed Trinity School in Richfield. Due to the high number of students who are studying English as a second language, the school employs learning programs to ensure that all students are proficient in English. See story, page 23.

■ Archbishop John Nienstedt says Catholic Schools Week highlights all the good accomplished through Catholic education. — Page 2

JAN. 30 — FEB. 5

■ Family Circles program connects St. Joseph School students with Rosemount community. — Page 21 ■ Business executives meet and teach Risen Christ middleschool students about best practices. — Page 22

A Catholic Schools Commission named by Archbishop John Nienstedt has been charged with bringing a set of recommendations to him by June to help ensure the Strategic Planning strength and sustainability of Catholic elementary schools throughout the archdiocese.

The 16-member commission UPDATE includes educators, priests and business leaders among its membership. It is building on the work that was done over the past two years by the archdiocesan Strategic Planning Task Force and a national Catholic education consulting group hired last fall by the archdiocese to bring a broader perspective to the local conversation about Catholic schools.

Four areas of focus The Commission will make recommendations in four strategic areas: academic quality, financial management, governance and advancement.

It also will lay the groundwork for an Archdiocesan Schools Advisory Board, to be formed this summer.

This advisory board will build upon the work of the commission and provide ongoing evaluation and PLEASE TURN TO CHANGING ON PAGE 12

Local Catholic Physicians Guild seeks to be moral guide

By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

Dr. Peter Daly of Lumen Christi in St. Paul wasn’t looking for another professional organization to join. So, what did he do?

He became the president of one.

Two years ago, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Catholic Physicians Guild was formed. It’s a local affiliate of the national Catholic Medical Association. Despite a full schedule as an orthopedic surgeon, Daly felt called to help launch and lead the guild, which now has about 90 members.

“I know that we’re all busy and we don’t need another meeting to go to,” he said. “But the gatherings with the Catholic Medical Association are meant to feed us from a spiritual and educational standpoint. That’s what we need. And, we’re not PLEASE TURN TO CATHOLIC ON PAGE 13

World Day of the Sick Mass ■ When: Friday Feb. 11. Begins with 5:15 p.m. Mass with Bishop Lee Piché.

Followed at 6 p.m. with prayer and blessing with water from Lourdes for the sick, caregivers and health care workers and a 6:30 p.m. reception in the Ryan Room.

■ Where: Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

■ Details: The Cathedral is handicapped-accessible and all the sick able to come to Mass are welcome.

■ Sponsors: Curatio and the Order of Malta

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FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Much to celebrate during Catholic Schools Week

That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt

It is one opportunity to give thanks for all the good our Catholic schools accomplish

Catholic Schools Week 2011 began on Jan. 30 and will run through Feb. 6. This annual celebration is scheduled to include the feast of St. John Bosco (Jan. 31) who, in the mid-19th century, responded to the plight of homeless and abandoned children living in Turin, Italy, by founding orphanages and schools to care for them.

With the same dedicated concern for the wellbeing of our young people, Catholic administrators and teachers sacrifice their time, talent and, yes, even treasure to respond to their students’ educational and formational needs.

Catholic Schools Week is one opportunity to highlight and give thanks for all the good that is accomplished through our Catholic schools.

“

Catholic administrators and teachers sacrifice their time, talent and, yes, even treasure to respond to their students’ educational and formational needs.

”

ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT

Blue ribbon group Here in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, this annual celebration will also draw special attention to a process of strengthening our educational and formational programs that has begun with our Strategic Plan for Parishes and Schools announced last October as well as with the more recent urgent reviews of 10 schools which ended in January.

In addition, I have recently named a “blue ribbon” Catholic Schools Commission of educators, business persons and people with other expertise who will build upon the work of the Archdiocesan Strategic Plan Task Force and the Alliance for Catholic Education Consultants from the University of Notre Dame.

I have given this commission the mandate to develop a system of ongoing evaluation for our schools in four strategic areas, namely: academic quality, financial management, governance, and advancement. It is my hope that regular and systematic evaluations will result in greater accountability by all of our Catholic schools to their various

The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit’s mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It seeks to inform, educate, evangelize and foster a spirit of community within the Catholic Church by disseminating news in a professional manner and serving as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues.

constituents.

I see the work of the commission developing into the establishment of an Archdiocesan Schools Advisory Board in the summer of 2011. This board will then expand upon and begin to implement the recommendations that the commission makes and after they have been approved. I wish to hear from parents, teachers, principals and other school community members. I will, in turn, report publicly about these input opportunities. More information about the “Blue Ribbon” Commission is available at WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG.

Religion standards K-8 religion standards were approved for our archdiocesan Catholic elementary schools in 2005.

Similarly, a new Doctrinal Curriculum Framework was approved by the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference in 2007 for Catholic high school programs.

More recently, an adaptation of this framework PLEASE TURN TO CATHOLIC ON PAGE 9

The New Generation of Appliance Specialists

JOE TOWALSKI Editor

Materials credited to CNS copyrighted

by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by Catholic Spirit Publishing Company.

Published bi-weekly by the Catholic Spirit Publishing Company, a non-profit Minnesota Corporation, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102 (651) 291-4444, FAX (651) 291-4460. Periodicals postage paid at St. Paul, MN, and additional post offices.

Postmaster: Send address changes to The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. www.TheCatholicSpirit.com e-mail: catholicspirit@archspm.org USPS #093-580

Father Kevin Magner was appointed parochial administrator of Immaculate Conception in Lonsdale, effective Jan. 17. Since he was ordained in May 2003, he has served at Our Lady of Grace in Edina, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony, St. John the Evangelist in Hopkins and St. Anne in Hamel.

FATHER MAGNER

OFFICIAL Archbishop John C. Nienstedt has made the following appointment in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis: Effective Jan. 17, 2011: Rev. Kevin P. Magner, parochial administrator, Immaculate Conception Church, Lonsdale.

Pope says online social networks can spread Gospel Catholic News Service Pope Benedict XVI invited Christians to join online social networks in order to spread the Gospel through digital media and discover “an entirely new world of potential friendships.”

At the same time, the pope warned of the limits and the dangers of digital communication, including the risks of constructing a false online image and of replacing direct human contact with virtual relationships.

The theme of this year’s World Communications Day, which will be celebrated June 5, is “Truth, proclamation and authenticity of life in the digital age.” In his message, released Jan 24, the pope acknowledged that the Internet has fundamentally changed the way people communicate today.

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Father Kevin Magner to serve in Lonsdale

“Entering cyberspace can be a sign of an authentic search for personal encounters with others, provided that attention is paid to avoiding dangers such as enclosing oneself in a sort of parallel existence, or excessive exposure to the virtual world,” the pope said in his message for the 2011 celebration of World Communications Day.

Vol. 16 — No. 3

BOB ZYSKOWSKI Associate publisher

Appointment

Angela Warner

Joe Warner

Third-Generation Appliance Specialists St. Paul s Edina s Woodbury Maple Grove s Apple Valley Rochester s Mpls. Outlet

In the digital world, he said, information is increasingly transmitted through social networks as a form of sharing between persons. He said this dynamic has favored dialogue, exchange, a sense of solidarity and the creation of positive relations.

“The new technologies allow people to meet each other beyond the confines of space and of their own culture, creating in this way an entirely new world of potential friendships,” he said.

Pope Benedict’s message, while underlining the risks of the Internet, was generally positive about online opportunities, saying they had opened new “spiritual horizons.”

ww

.com w.Warn ersStellian

He said proclaiming the Gospel through new media was not simply a matter of inserting religious content into online platforms, but also of witnessing the Gospel consistently when communicating choices, preferences and judgments.

“A great poverty reigns in a country that allows taking the life of an unborn child.”

Blessed Mother Teresa

Local The Catholic Spirit

News from around the archdiocese

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

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Former housing commissioner to lead Catholic Charities

Praying, marching for life From left, Nicole Bettini, Tessa Portuese, Luke Schroeder, Joe Tierney, Jillian Niles, Sean O’Brien, Alec Johnson, Jordan Scott and Abby Niles of Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in St. Paul carry signs as they march from the Cathedral of St. Paul to the State Capitol Jan. 22 for a rally sponsored

by Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life. Bettini is the coordinator of faith formation, sacramental preparation and youth at Maternity of Mary and St. Andrew of St. Paul.

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

From left, Duane, Eric, Kathryn, Anne and Emilia Fredrickson of St. Dominic in Northfield sing during a prayer service for life at the Cathedral of St. Paul on Jan. 22, the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v.

Wade that legalized abortion in the U.S. Archbishop John Nienstedt led the prayer service, with Bishops Lee Piché and Paul Sirba also attending. Thousands braved single-digit temperatures to come to the Cathedral and march to the State Capitol.

Tim Marx, a former Minnesota State Housing commissioner, deputy mayor and city attorney for the City of St. Paul and attorney for Catholic Charities and other nonprofits and foundations, has been named CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Archbishop John Nienstedt announced the appointment Jan. 19, to be effective April 4.

Marx replaces Paul Martodam, who became Catholic Charities CEO in January 2010. After Martodam learned he had cancer in August, the board appointed Robert Spinner as MARX co-CEO. Spinner previously served as interim CEO and on Catholic Charities’ board. Martodam will become chief strategy officer for the agency.

“I know Charities pretty well from my previous background, both in working with them when I was at the state on homelessness efforts and when I was at the City of St. Paul on Dorothy Day [Center]-related matters,” he said.

Marx was born in Detroit Lakes and grew up in Rochester. Except for the past few years, he attended St. Cecilia parish in St. Paul, where he lived. He said he will spend time with the Catholic Charities staff, board and stakeholders until he begins working full time.

Most recently, Marx served as executive director for New York City Common Ground, a nonprofit housing, community development and social services agency.

Prior to his tenure as state housing commissioner, Marx was a shareholder at the law firm of Briggs and Morgan.

“It is super-critical for Minnesota and for the Twin Cities that we maintain and try to enhance that basic safety net, because across the country, across Minnesota and across the Twin Cities, poverty has increased during this great recession,” Marx said. “It’s just very important that we all step up to serve those most in need . . . and looking at strategies to bring people out of poverty.”

Read the full story at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

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“Breakfast with the Pope” Under the hot Italian sun Susan Vigilante wrestles with the great questions: the meaning of love in the face of betrayal, the agony of childlessness, and how a God of love can answer prayers with heartbreak.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

A ‘new’ home Dorothy Day Center expands to building next door

Above, after moving his things into the new space, John Dulin relaxes with a copy of CityPages.

Photos by Dianne Towalski The Catholic Spirit Below, Frederick Roberts, right, and Frank Hamann unpack blankets and and make up their beds in the new space.

Caldwell Waguk adjusts cushions around his mattress to prepare for the first night in his ‘new’ home.

T

Gerry Lauer shows the new mattresses to volunteers Phil Schiller and Steve Hawkins, members of the Men of Emmaus group at St. John Neumann in Eagan who would be staying the night to help out.

he economy and the recent below-zero temperatures have pushed the Dorothy Day Center, a homeless shelter in downtown St. Paul, over capacity.

The shelter served more than 200 homeless nightly during one week in January, according to Gerry Lauer, senior program director at the center. Being over capacity prompted the center to open a temporary “satellite location” for the first time Jan. 24 in a former Catholic Charities office building next door.

A group of men, mostly clients who also volunteer at the shelter, were asked to try out the new space, which is outfitted with 18 hospital bed mattresses that were donated to the center. “Its nice and quiet here,” said Mike Calteaux. “It’s sad that there’s an overflow in the shelter system, but for us right now, we’re benefiting.”

The expansion will help with the overflow during the winter months. But because of the high costs that would be involved in renovation and other issues, the building’s future is uncertain.

“The overflow shelter is testament to the fact that we have failed to address the lack of affordable housing, living wage jobs and funding for social services,” Lauer said.

Hearing Tests Set for Senior Citizens Announcement — Free electronic hearing tests will be given all next week Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.

The tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are not hearing clearly.

People who generally feel they can hear, but cannot understand words clearly are encouraged to come in for the test, which uses the latest electronic equipment.

Everyone, especially those over age 55 should have an electronic hearing test once

a year. Demonstrations of the latest devices to improve clarity of speech will be programmed using a computer to your particular needs — on the spot — after the tests.

See (and HEAR) for yourself if newlydeveloped methods of correction will help you understand words better.

Tests will be performed at one of 20 convenient Greater Twin Cities Avada Hearing Care locations.

Call 1-800-435-5189

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Food for the poor in all copies of this issue.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Stewardship reflects our relationships Coming up ■ What: 2011 Archdiocesan Stewardship Conference.

■ When: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 26.

■ Where: Pax Christi parish, 12100 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie.

■ Registration: Cost is $15 per person and includes a light lunch.

Call the Development and Stewardship Office at (651) 290-1610 for a registration form or visit THECATHOLIC SPIRIT.COM and type “stewardship conference” in the search box to download a pdf of the brochure.

Father Daniel Mahan, who will speak at the Feb. 26 archdiocesan stewardship conference, talked with The Catholic Spirit news editor Pat Norby about his stewardship ministry. He is executive director of the Marian University Center for Catholic Stewardship in Indianapolis, an author and FATHER MAHAN well-known speaker who writes a stewardship blog at WWW. MORETHANSILVERORGOLD . COM .

Following is the edited version of the conversation.

You have been speaking about stewardship worldwide since 1996.

Tell us how and why you got started doing this.

I got started with stewardship when I became a pastor of a parish in 1992, which coincidently or providentially is the year the [U.S.] bishops wrote their pastoral on stewardship. . . . This is a message that is universal and this is a message that has the power to change hearts.

How do you keep your talks and blog posts fresh and interesting?

It’s been said that every time the Gospel is preached, it’s being

preached for the first time. This is why we have a cycle of readings. We don’t go looking for something else.

In the same way, every time the Gospel is lived, it is lived for the first time.

Your emphasis is on stewardship as a way of life, not money. How does that evolve into physical, spiritual and financial support of our local and worldwide church?

I follow the lead of our bishops and their pastoral letter on stewardship on emphasizing stewardship as a way to holiness. When we have our relationship with the Lord in order, when our following the Lord is the most important thing in our life, that is going to have implications for us temporally.

What has been one of the most inspiring stories about stewardship that you have heard?

I had a parishioner who finally got his dream job. It meant he and his family had to move away. As soon as they got settled, his employer told him the job involved a lot of travel. He called me about six months after starting the job and said, “The one word that’s been going through my mind since I started having these difficulties with my job has been the word stewardship.” After our conversation, he asked his boss for a demotion so he

could return home, where his family was, where his kids had friends and he had a parish he loved.

When I think of stewardship and that individual, I’m not thinking about how much money he’s given the parish or how much time he’s spending in work around the parish, I’m thinking of how he has ordered his life around the most important things — his relationship with God, his relationship with his wife and kids — things that are more precious than silver or gold.

What are the key elements to molding better stewards in our faith communities?

The holy Eucharist. Parishes and individuals who center their lives around the Eucharist are going to be stewardship parishes and good and faithful stewards. It’s in the Eucharist, where we receive all the Lord can give to us, his body and blood, his soul and divinity and that gift of his very self is given to us to change us, to make us holy, to make us his living presence, his living body and blood out in the world.

How can families nurture good stewardship?

Families make dozens of decisions every day about priorities. How are we going to spend our time? How are we going to spend our money?

That’s the fertile ground for formation in stewardship.

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2011 Minnesota Catholic Directory available in print and online The Catholic Spirit Rays of the setting sun at Dead Lake near Perham in the Diocese of St. Cloud are captured in the cover of the 2011 Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, which is now available for purchase.

Pre-ordered copies are being mailed to those who ordered them.

The official state Catholic directory is a resource for everything Catholic in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

Names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, website URLs for parishes, ministries, schools and dioceses all across the state — all are in one handy, spiral-bound book.

Complete parish listings include Mass times, ministry personnel, contact points and directions to churches in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Dioceses of Crookston, Duluth, PLEASE TURN TO 2011 ON PAGE 27

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FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT PAID ADVERTISEMENT

Suffering continues to plague Haiti Fritznel walked outside the tent to talk. Nearby was a large container of water and bleach for visitors to wash their hands. “Everything I had I sold to take care of my children and my wife.

I’m responsible for everyone. I’m so worried about my wife. She hasn’t been eating. I don’t know what to do.

What can I do?”

Suddenly, he covered his face and broke into tears.

A baby’s life hanging in the balance

Frantic with worry about his pregnant wife and two children afflicted by cholera, Fritznel Dieujuste broke down into tears. “I don’t know what to do,” he said. “What can I do?”

HAITI – The images of rubble and destruction may have faded in recent months, but they have been replaced by the white quarantine tents treating thousands of cholera patients. Vibrio cholerae has stricken more than 90,000 Haitians and killed over 2,000.

Malnourished Haitians have no immunity to the bacterium, which causes life-threatening dehydration through diarrhea and vomiting. Without treatment, an infected person can die in four hours. Because of the long distances many Haitians must travel to health centers, some victims die before they are able to receive treatment. Health officials predict that 200,000 people will fall sick in the coming months. The disease, which is transmitted through contaminated water and food, can quickly spread among the tent cities.

Fritznel Dieujuste, 32, knows just how quickly. With a pregnant wife ready to deliver at any moment in one cholera clinic, and two sick children in another, he was at the end of his rope. Fritznel lives in a tent city near the slum of Cité Soleil. His house was destroyed by the

earthquake. He had no job and little food. Relatives who had helped him previously were all killed during the earthquake. His entire support system was gone.

But at least Fritznel’s remaining family had their health, and they looked forward to the birth of a new baby. Then the cholera came.

“When I got home, neighbors had taken my wife to the hospital, but they left the children,” he said. “I saw two of the children were just as sick, so I brought them myself to the closest hospital.”

Across town, Roslyn lay listlessly, her body wracked by pain. An intravenous tube fed lifesaving liquids into her dehydrated body. By the cot was a small bucket. Roslyn was still vomiting.

Fritznel tenderly helped her sit up and moved her away from the sun to make her more comfortable. “I was crying a lot because my body hurt so much,” Roslyn said. The effort to speak became overwhelming, and she sank back onto the cot.

His brow furrowed with worry, Fritznel hovered near his wife. A physician said the baby had a faint heartbeat. But the long length of time Roslyn was on an IV drip was concerning.

Nine months pregnant, Roslyn, 32, was transported to a cholera clinic far from the family’s tent. Her life and the life of her unborn child hung in the balance.

Fritznel divided his time between the two cholera centers and two older children at home. Wearing a sterile gown, he squatted by his children’s cot, coaxing a crying Stanley, 4, to drink a lifesaving serum while Francesca, 1, looked on.

Nine months pregnant, Roslyn was seriously ill with cholera, and her baby’s life was endangered.

“She can’t keep down liquids and can’t drink the serum, which is why she’s on an IV. She’s been on the IV longer than she should be,” said Dr. Fabiola Jean Michel. “The baby is due any moment, and we’ll have to move her to another hospital because we’re not equipped for delivery.”

The rapidly spreading cholera outbreak greatly concerns Dr. Michel.

“Yesterday we had only four new patients. Today we have nine.”

Outside the cholera tent, Fritznel told us how scared he was. “I’m crazy out of my mind. I have no money. Before the earthquake, we were able to eat, and if you are able to eat, you have clean clothes and a place to sleep, you were doing okay. Now? I have nothing.”

Fritznel left Roslyn and returned to be with his children. By then Stanley and Francesca had been released from the hospital. Only Roslyn remained in critical care.

A few days later, Food For The Poor received news about her condition.

Roslyn was finally released from the hospital. But despite all attempts to save him, her baby died.

The infant boy became yet another victim of Haiti’s cholera epidemic.

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Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the United States, has had offices and a warehouse in operation in Haiti since 1986. Following the earthquake, we sent food and other emergency supplies. We distribute hot meals daily from our feeding center; we also build homes, install water wells and sanitation, and help ease the suffering of Haitian families. We strive to be good stewards of the gifts we receive. More than 96% of all donations go directly to programs that help the poor.

As of December 2010, Food For The Poor had sent 1,390 tractor-trailer loads of food, water, medicines and other lifesaving relief aid valued at $185 million to Haiti.

Following the earthquake, donors’ gifts provided: • 110 artesian water wells and 25 solar-powered water purification systems that each produce 10,000 gallons of chlorinated water per day • 815 shipping containers of water, food and essential goods Food For The Poor has built more than 1,500 permanent two-room houses with sanitation units in Haiti since the earthquake.

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Cholera struck Stanley, 4, and Francesca, 1, at the same time Fritznel’s wife fell ill.

More than 2,000 people have died in Haiti’s cholera epidemic. Health officials predict the deadly disease will sicken more than 200,000 Haitians in the coming months.

Food For The Poor, Dept. 077725 6401 Lyons Road Coconut Creek, FL 33073 (954) 427-2222 www.foodforthepoor.org/haitirelief

“Ordinary people cannot tolerate anymore the appalling conditions of human degradation in which they live. They say, ‘Enough is enough’ and believe that they have nothing to lose.”

Father Justo Lacunza Balda, former rector of Rome’s Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, commenting about the demonstrations in Egypt

Nation/World FEBRUARY 3, 2011

News from around the U.S. and the globe

Church leaders follow Egyptian unrest with interest and concern

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

Church leaders were watching the unfolding political drama in Egypt with a mixture of hope for reform and concern over potential violence, said the head of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land.

Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa told Vatican Radio Jan. 30 that the widespread unrest that has weakened the 30-year rule Catholic of President Hosni Spirit staffer Mubarak came as a surprise to Catholics remains in in the region.

Egypt “We all sense that — page 28 these are epochal changes. None of us would have imagined these kinds of developments a few months ago,” he said.

“This means that there are currents, especially in the Arab world, that now have found visible expression. This is certainly a positive sign, but it’s also worrying because we don’t know how all this will end — we hope with the least possible amount of violence and bloodshed,” he said.

Father Pizzaballa said he hoped that “respect for religious minorities will be preserved” in Egypt. His concern appeared to reflect the fact that Mubarak’s opponents include both radical and moderate Muslim groups, and it was unclear who might assume power if the president resigns.

Praying for peace Father Pizzaballa spoke on a churchsponsored day of prayer for peace in the Holy Land. At the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI marked the day with a prayer to “lead minds and hearts toward concrete projects of peace.” He did not specifically

Two initiatives in February focus attention on the need to strengthen marriage, in line with the U.S. bishops’ priority interest in that area, Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., told his fellow bishops.

Bishop Rhoades, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, expressed support for World Marriage Day Feb. 13 and National Marriage Week USA Feb. 7-14 in a Jan. 13 letter to bishops.

World Marriage Day, promoted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, has as its theme this year, “Love One Another.”

The observance received Pope John Paul II’s apostolic blessing in 1993, and “has continued to grow and spread

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CHA president affirms bishop’s role in interpreting health directives

By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service

CNS photo/Goran To masevic, Reuters

A crowd gathers around Egyptian Army soldiers standing on top of a tank in Cairo Jan. 30. Anti-government demonstrations in Egypt continued for a seventh day and showed no signs of waning, with protesters planning even larger rallies.

mention the unrest in Egypt.

The pope, joined by two Italian youths, then released two doves from his apartment window as a sign of peace.

In his comments to Vatican Radio, Father Pizzaballa said the search for peace and freedom involves “not allowing oneself to be dominated by passions.”

“We all see how in the Middle East, in the Holy Land and in Jerusalem, passions can blind people. Instead, to have real freedom, we need a certain distance from things in order to see them more clearly,” he said.

He said real freedom in the Middle East needs to include religious freedom, access to places of worship and holy places, and freedom of religious expression.

Francesco Zannini, who teaches at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Rome, said the situation in Egypt reflected the weakening political

power of Arab leaders who have ruled as “monarchs” but who are threatened by changes brought by globalization.

In Egypt, it was unclear whether the momentum of the unrest was great enough to bring lasting reforms, Zannini told the Rome-based agency AsiaNews. One big question, he said, was whether Mohamed ElBaradei, an opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner, is able to govern Egypt.

Zannini said that although Islamic extremists had begun to join the protests in Egypt, he doubted whether they would ever present a governing alternative there. He said he thought radical Islam was losing influence among the populations of the Middle East, and had shown itself too inflexible to have success on a political level, where consensusbuilding is needed.

Bishop promotes marriage day, resources Catholic News Service

The Catholic Spirit

among many countries and faith expressions ever since,” Bishop Rhoades said.

National Marriage Week USA is sponsored by the Let’s Strengthen Marriage Campaign. First observed in the United Kingdom in 1996, it has since spread to other countries.

“This project — now in its second year (in the United States) — is a collaborative effort to influence the culture by faith communities, business, media, education and nonprofit groups,” Bishop Rhoades said. He said it involves “new efforts for marriage education and crisis intervention,” as well as promoting “a message about the benefits of marriage.”

He also urged use of the online resources on marriage at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website,

WWW.FORYOURMARRIAGE.ORG, and its Spanish-language counterpart, WWW.PORTU MATRIMONIO.ORG; advocacy resources at WWW.MARRIAGEUNIQUEFORAREASON.ORG on why marriage should be promoted as the union of a man and a woman; and the bishops’ pastoral letter on marriage, “Love and Life in the Divine Plan,” available online at WWW.USCCB.ORG/LOVEANDLIFE.

The For Your Marriage website received nearly half a million visits in 2010, a 23 percent increase over 2009, according to a report from Google Analytics.

The report found that articles on preparing for a Catholic wedding were especially popular. The site offers information about wedding readings, music, ceremony options, interchurch marriages and tips for planning a memorable wedding.

In an exchange of letters with the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the head of the Catholic Health Association has affirmed that the local bishop is the “authoritative interpreter” of the ethical and religious directives that guide Catholic health care.

Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity who is CHA president and CEO, said her organization “has a sincere desire to work with the church and individual bishops to understand as clearly as possible clinical issues and bring the majesty of the church’s teaching to that.”

ARCHBISHOP In response to DOLAN the letter, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, USCCB president, said the church must “speak with one voice” against the “increasing political and social pressures that are trying to force the church to compromise her principles,” including “the problem of illegitimate government intrusion in our health care ministries.”

The letters followed telephone conversations SISTER CAROL among Sister Carol, Archbishop Dolan and Bishop Robert N. Lynch of St. Petersburg, Fla., who serves on the CHA board. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth, Texas, the bishops’ liaison to CHA, “was also part of the consultation,” the USCCB said.

CHA and the USCCB took opposing stands on whether the health reform bill passed last March would adequately protect against the possibility of federal funding of abortion and guard the conscience rights of health care providers and institutions.

Sister Carol said in her letter that CHA has always told sponsors, board members and clinicians that “a bishop has a right to interpret the ERDs and also to develop his own ethical and religious directives if he chooses.”

“We are absolutely convinced that the teaching of the church, in combination with a clear understanding of the clinical situation, serves the people of God very well,” she added.

“Take all of this Book that you can by reason and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man.”

Abraham Lincoln

This Catholic Life 8

The Catholic Spirit

Opinion, feedback and points to ponder

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Let’s not squander sacred stories given to us went to a Catholic school where everyone went to daily Mass. As the priest read the appointed Scriptures in Latin, we did our best to follow the English translation in the “Saint Joseph Daily Missal.”

Back then, we did not read the Bible in class or at home, since the Second Vatican Council’s “Dei verbum,” the “Dogmatic Father William Constitution on Graham Divine Revelation,” had not yet been written. We were at the end of a long period during which the church hesitated to make Scripture available to the faithful in their own language for fear they might misinterpret what they read.

But we did talk about the stories we heard in the readings at Mass, stories retold to us in the textbook “Salvation History.” We knew about Abraham and saw illustrations of poor Isaac all bound up on the altar of sacrifice. We knew about Babel and about the ark, too, and we sang the Grail translation of the psalms. We knew what happened at Cana and why Jesus was a better-than-ideal party guest. We knew what made the good Samaritan good and the difference between the wise and foolish maidens.

Such a knowledge of Scripture was our cultural patrimony. Knowing the stories helped us understand God’s work in our own lives. Discussing the stories helped us understand truth, myth and metaphor.

Scripture gave us a common vocabulary and shared points of reference.

I

Commentary

Formation concerned The college students I teach today are no less bright than we were, but they are largely ignorant of Scripture. At the beginning of a recent semester, a student told me there were five Gospels, though he couldn’t name one. When I asked one of my classes what happened at Cana, only two of the 24 students had heard of the story — and even those two couldn’t say anything about it.

Many of these students have grown up as Catholics. They have gone to Mass, heard the readings, and received some kind of religious instruction. Some people blame Catholic colleges for their students’ lack of religious formation, but when an 18-year-old freshman doesn’t know the difference between a Bible and a basilica, that’s either a familial or a parochial problem. Never before has it been so easy for lay Catholics to read and study Scripture, and yet Catholic children are now less familiar with the Bible than Catholic children were before Vatican II. I tell my students the story of the wedding feast at Cana the way the nuns told it to me. We all struggle with Jesus’ response to his mother’s request:

“Woman, how does your concern affect me?” Hard to imagine speaking to one’s own mother that way, we agree. But Mary, overlooking the apparent impertinence, tells the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”

I tell my students about the six stone water jugs and Jesus’ command to fill them, about his instruction to draw some out and take it to the headwaiter.

“And what did the headwaiter say?” I ask. “Why are you giving me dishwater to drink?” a student guesses. No one else speaks.

More than teaching tool All books teach us, but the Bible does more than that. Its sacred stories bind us together as a people. The psalms cheer us; the lamentations give us words for our griefs; the songs lift our hearts. What happens when young Catholics lose touch with this shared cultural and spiritual tradition?

I put this question to some of my students recently. They acknowledged the loss but did not mourn it.

One of them even suggested that they are drawn together precisely by having no shared roots and stories. Bound together by not having much in common? How can that be?

This is about more than cultural literacy and religious awareness.

This is about our selfunderstanding as Catholic Christians. If we do not know these stories and claim them as our own, if they are not as familiar to us as the air we breathe, we may become like the prodigal who “squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation” (Luke 15:13).

The good news of the Gospel is a story, one whose significance depends on all the stories that come before it, beginning with Adam and Eve. It is Scripture that makes many of the church’s rites and rules intelligible and compelling. If we forget the Bible, how will we recognize ourselves as Christians?

Father William Graham, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, directs the Braegelman Program in Catholic Studies at the College of St. Scholastica. © 2011 Commonweal Foundation, reprinted with permission.

What do you think?

■ E-mail your thoughts about this commentary to CATHOLICSPIRIT@ARCHSPM.ORG. ■ Or mail: The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

This Catholic Life / Opinion-Letters

FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

9

Four reasons our Catholic schools matter ccording to a Catholic school principal, restructuring of parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has forced an important evaluation: Why do Catholic Schools matter?

Brian Ragatz, principal at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary School, offered four reasons at the Catholic Schools Week Mass at the Maplewood parish. Here’s the executive summary:

A Editorial Bob Zyskowski

Local principal summed it up at Catholic Schools Week Mass

■ Learning matters.

There is statistical evidence of the value of a Catholic education, but it is not about statistics. It is about learning.

“We do not simply deliver information to children; we teach children, and we teach them how to learn. We teach to the child, not to the book, not to the class, and certainly, not to the standardized test.

Presentation has high standards that push children to reach their potential and beyond. The only way this is possible is because teachers, principal and pastor know the children.”

■ Safety matters.

Catholic schools offer a community that looks after each other. Just about every teacher knows every student. “We know who is who and where they should be. Our teachers work as a team to make sure each child is safe.”

■ Character matters.

Education goes beyond the classroom to include integrity and providing a moral compass to make good decisions.

Catholic schools exist for 3 reasons CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 has been published for parish faith formation programs, as well as high school youth ministry programs. I have asked my staff to begin a process for integrating the Framework into our high school programs across the archdiocese.

The K-8 standards as well as the Curriculum Framework should ensure that all students, at their age appropriate level, receive a basic foundation in our Catholic faith regardless of what parish or school they attend.

Of course, as always, pastors, administrators and teachers may choose from any approved curriculum or approved resources which meet the expectations set by the Standards or Framework. It is my hope that by utilizing this methodology, students will develop a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus as well as be provided with a more cohesive appreciation and knowledge of our Catholic faith.

The three main reasons for our Catholic schools as well as our faith formation programs are: 1) the formation of saints and the salvation of souls; 2) the transmission of our Catholic faith, whole and entire, to each generation in a way that is vital and active; 3) the development in each student of the knowledge, skills, faith and moral sensitivity necessary to make a positive contribution to family, church and society at large.

Yes, there is much to celebrate during Catholic Schools Week 2011!

God bless you!

Opinions in 140 characters:

“The most important aspect, faith, is the cornerstone of life and therefore the most important aspect of a Catholic education.

”

BOB ZYSKOWSKI

■ Faith matters.

The most important aspect, faith, is the cornerstone of life and therefore the most important aspect of a Catholic education.

“Without it, personal successes and achievements have little relevance.

“With it, you realize that your successes and achievements are not only for you, but should be shared with others; with your family, friends, teachers, homeless and homebound, just as Jesus taught us.

We teach this type of stewardship in every grade.”

For the full text of Brian Ragatz’s Catholic Schools Week message, go to THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

The Twitter version of editorials What would happen if editorials could only be 140 characters long, the maximum length of a message on Twitter?

Let’s try it and see.

Congrats, Father Bernie Lovable retired Father Bernie Reiser, long-time pastor of Epiphany in Coon Rapids, was recognized as one of Eleven Who Care by KARE-TV.

Don’t know much about stewardship But U can learn & build vibrant, engaged parishes. Attend 2/26 Stewardship Conference. 651-290-1610 for details. Pax Christi, Eden Prairie.

We challenge U this Lent If we gave U $100, how wd U grow it? 300 words by 2/18. “Pay It Forward” to CatholicSpirit@archspm.org or 244 Dayton, St. Paul, MN 55102.

Inquiring minds want to know… …why U haven’t written a 100-word original prayer for The Catholic Spirit’s online Book of Prayers. Send to zyskowskiR@archspm.org.

How disappointing, Mr. President Can President Obama believe he rightly sees the way the wind is blowing by supporting Roe v Wade while hundreds of thousands March for Life?

What U shd do on behalf of life Let UR US Congress folks know UR for the Protect Life Act, the Abortion Non-Discrimination Act, & the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.

Get these youth events on UR calendar Music & rallies: “interMISSION” 3/13, Holy Name, Wayzata. 952-2240333, & “Love to the 4th Power” 5/21, St. Joe, Maple Grove, 763-4259018.

Archbishop Nienstedt’s schedule ■ Saturday, Feb. 5: 6 p.m., St. Paul, NET Ministries: NET Lifeline Mass and evening program.

■ Sunday, Feb. 6: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Church of St. Francis de Sales: Sunday liturgy to mark the beginning of parish merger of the Church of St. Francis de Sales and the Church of St. James.

1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Church of St. Pascal Baylon: Reconciliation services for confirmation candidates.

9 p.m., St. Paul, University of St. Thomas: “Lectio divina” (following the Super Bowl).

■ Monday, Feb. 7: 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.

3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with chaplain of St. Joseph’s Hospital.

7 p.m., New Brighton, Church of St. John the Baptist: Catholic Services Appeal quadrant meeting.

■ Tuesday, Feb. 8: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff.

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

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

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

■ Wednesday, Feb. 9: 1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Minnesota Catholic Conference board of directors.

■ Thursday, Feb. 10: 3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: The Catholic Spirit board of directors meeting.

■ Saturday, Feb. 12: 10 a.m., St. Paul, Cathedral of St. Paul: Confirmation.

■ Sunday, Feb. 13: 11 a.m., Minneapolis, St. Maron Church: Eastern rite Sunday liturgy for 1,600th anniversary of St. Maron ■ Monday-Wednesday, Feb. 14-16: National Catholic Bioethics Center’s 23rd Workshop for Bishops in Dallas, Texas.

■ Thursday, Feb. 17: 3 p.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: Board of trustees meeting.

■ Friday, Feb. 18: 8:30 a.m., Mendota, St. Peter Church: Archdiocesan annual staff Lenten retreat.

Letter Encourage youth to believe in Jesus Many young people believe that God does not care for them and that religion offers nothing they want.

How can we help them?

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Only faith in Jesus Christ gives young people understanding that God loves them. It is God’s unconditional love of them that caused Jesus to die on a cross and rise from the dead to give life and understanding to sinners who believe in Jesus. “And while you were dead spiritually in your sins, Jesus made you alive with him having forgiven all your sins” (Colossians 2:13).

What does God want us to do?

Jesus says: “What God wants you to do is to believe in me” (John 6:29).

May God give us the grace to encourage young people to believe in Jesus.

BOB REGAL Holy Trinity, South St. Paul Material printed on the Opinion and Letters page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the archdiocese or The Catholic Spirit.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Commentary

/ This Catholic Life

Work among sick inspired future ministry as deacon ne of the most memorable experiences I had as a young man discerning my vocation was the time I spent at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Free Cancer Home in St. Paul, now part of the Franciscan Health Community.

It is a place for those living with terminal illness to spend their final days in relative peace and comfort, surrounded by the loving support of caring brothers and sisters.

I spent most of my time washing dishes on the weekends or helping with maintenance during the summer. One year, I got to volunteer to feed some of the patients and was assigned to a woman named Gertrude. She suffered from a massive stroke that paralyzed her on one side of her body and cancer was slowly taking over her entire body.

She rarely had visits from anyone and would just helplessly lie in her bed and look out the window. Despite her broken and dying body, Gertrude glowed with joy and gratitude for her life, for chocolate pudding, for my visit, for the chance to bless the pureed food she was about to eat. I felt loved and close to God in her presence.

Gertrude had a big impact on my faith and call to ministry. My experience in the cancer home gave me a glimpse into something very holy.

O Mission Link Deacon Mickey Friesen

Experience in the cancer home gave me a glimpse into something very holy

Jesus healed the sick There is nothing more Christian than ministry with the sick. Jesus’ mission was defined by his healing of the sick, the possessed, the outcaste and the sinner. When he first sent the disciples out, the Bible says, “He gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2).

There is good evidence from the first centuries showing that one of the biggest attractions to Christianity was the way Christians cared for the sick and vulnerable. Stories are told of Christians caring for the sick, the needy and victims of widespread

Students: Tell us how to follow Jesus

CNS photo / Paul Haring

Pope Benedict XVI carries the Eucharist during Mass marking World Day of the Sick and the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 11, 2010. The relics of St. Bernadette Soubirous, right, sat in front of the altar during the service. Lourdes and St. Bernadette have been associated with the sick and healing for more than 150 years.

epidemics who were not members of their family, faith or cultural group.

They showed a respect for all people that was contrary to the brutal norms of the Roman Empire. They believed that this love and care for the sick, despite the risks, was a way to be close to Christ crucified in their midst and a foretaste of heaven.

This early movement of healthcare and hospitality was further developed in the monasteries and convents in the Middle Ages. We are all beneficiaries of this ethic of Christian charity.

Sick also provide ministry The other unique dimension of Christian mission with the sick is that the sick themselves give a special witness to Christ. We anoint the sick and the dying sacramentally because, in a profound way, they reveal the presence of Christ crucified, who is in solidarity with them.

Suffering in the Christian tradition is profoundly meaningful. In our culture of chronic doing and producing, the sick and the dying teach us something about the value of presence, living within our limits

and patience.

Pope John Paul II declared Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, as a world wide day for the sick. It highlights the essential Christian mission with the sick in our world and acknowledges the vocation of those who bear pain and suffer in body, mind and spirit.

Pope John Paul was no stranger to pain as he spent his final years in decline and suffering, on display for the world to see. Despite his profound teaching and missionary travels, it may be the way he made his final journey to God that he taught us the most about God’s mission of love. Soon he will be beatified as a saint.

Beneath the current politics of health care reform and the important debate around how to care for the sick, the elderly, the dying and the vulnerable, let us receive our baptismal call as Christians who are sent in Jesus’ name to “proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:2).

Deacon Mickey Friesen is director of the archdiocesan Center for Mission.

The Center for Mission invites students in the archdiocese to enter its 2011 Writing Contest. The theme is “Jesus is our best example of how to participate in God’s mission of bringing wholeness and goodness to those who are broken or suffering in our world. Jesus eased the suffering of others through his words and his deeds. Afterward, people felt more whole and able to become the loving and loved person that God intended. This was the mission of Jesus.”

Answer the question: “How can we follow the example of Jesus’ mission in the world today?”

■ Division I: Grades 1-3. Complete the phrase, “We can follow the example of Jesus’ mission by ___” and draw a picture on 8.5-by11-inch paper to illustrate it.

■ Division II: Grades 4-6. Essay, up to 250 words, answering the theme question. Must be typed or neatly printed.

■ Division III: Grades 7-9. Essay, up to 500 words, answering the theme question. Must be typed.

■ Division IV: Grades 10-12. Essay, up to 500 words, answering the theme question. Must be typed.

Prizes: Divisions I and II, $50 each; Divisions III and IV, $100 each.

Requirements: All entries must be on 8.5-by-11-inch paper with your name, grade, Catholic School and/ or parish name. Entries will be accepted through March 9. Submit by postal mail (postmarked no later than March 9), or e-mail with Word document attachment (received at the Center for Mission by 11:59 p.m.

March 9). Winners will be announced by Easter, April 24. All submissions become the property of the Center for Mission. Entries not in compliance may be disqualified.

Mail: Writing Contest, Center for Mission, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55102.

E-mail: MISSIONS@ARCHSPM.ORG with “Writing Contest” in the subject line.

Work still needed to create whole, healthy society, free of exclusion orty short years ago, the Office of Urban Affairs, precursor to the Catholic Charities’ Office for Social Justice, was born.

The office was a necessary response by the church to the social, economic and racial unrest of the 1960s and 1970s. But the efforts of this one office were not enough.

After forming this ministry in the archdiocese, Father Ed Flahavan, director, proposed that the Catholic, Christian and Jewish communities work together to provide leadership to make Minnesota a more just and racially inclusive place to live.

This interfaith connection evolved into the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition. Recently, its sponsorship was broadened to include members from the Islamic tradition.

There is no other statewide effort that is as large and as inclusive of all four Abrahamic faith traditions as JRLC is in the entire nation.

F Faith and Justice Kathy Tomlin

Racial disparities continue to exist in health care, education, employment and housing

Although faith groups may differ on issues over time, there is a shared set of values upon which we have agreement: inherent human dignity, justice, democratic participation, spirituality of dialogue, prophetic leadership, leadership development, action and credibility.

This group, supported by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, Minnesota Council of Churches, Jewish Community Relations Council and Islamic Center of Minnesota, decided that these values would be guideposts to inform our advocacy and unite us on the issues with which we could agree as a common agenda.

More work needed As we move further into this next decade, it strikes me that, while we have made progress over the last 40 years, there is still much work to be done. There are new problems, perhaps, but there are also new chap-

Day on the Hill Discuss legislation and meet with representatives.

■ When: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 17.

■ Where: RiverCentre for keynote talk before participants leave for lunch, meetings at the State Capitol.

Register at WWW.JRLC.ORG.

ters directly related to the issues that first brought us together.

In the 1960s, African Americans were angry at being excluded from jobs, housing and meaningful participation. Even the whites who sympathized with their sisters and brothers had a hard time knowing how to undo a system that guaranteed them privileges.

Neighborhoods were red-lined, as banks, realtors and insurance com-

panies attempted to keep racial communities separate and educational, housing and economic opportunity from being more widely enjoyed.

The consequences of that exclusion are still profoundly a part of our communities. There may be no cross burnings or neighborhoods raging in fire and anger, but the effects of our written and unwritten rules and policies keep us from being a more whole and healthy society.

Significant racial disparities continue to exist in health care, education, employment and housing, to name a few. Community leaders, such as JRLC, continue to search for new solutions, opportunities and innovative ways to close the gap.

Please join JRLC for the Day on the Hill (see the boxed notice).

Kathy Tomlin is director of the Catholic Charities Office for Social Justice.

This Catholic Life / Commentary

FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

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Mission of martyr with local ties lives on s The Catholic Spirit celebrates a century of providing news and inspiration to its readers, it recognized the significant deaths of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the four Maryknoll Missionaries in the faith history of the archdiocese (The Catholic Spirit, Jan. 7). Though these murders occurred decades ago in Central America, the purpose of their lives and mission continues today.

What follows is the story of someone with ties to our Lou Anne local church, an ordinary Tighe man who did ordinary things. Next week marks the 29th anniversary of the murder of Brother James Miller.

He was a Christian Brother who could have stayed comfortable teaching at a private Catholic school in St. Paul. Instead, his story reflects a timeless Christian obligation: to reach out to those who cannot reach, to provide services to those who cannot afford it, and to change unjust systems through giving the poor access to a human and Christian education.

Extreme tensions arose between the military and the brothers. Death threats toward the brothers, as well as all vowed religious in Guatemala, were commonplace. And, yet, such threats did not deter any religious from walking with the people who lived in fear and oppression.

A

On a Saturday afternoon, Feb. 13, 1982, while Brother James was repairing the wall of the school, men in plain clothes approached and unloaded their guns into him, killing him.

Commentary

Brother James’ mission did not die with him.

We are called to reach out to the dear neighbor, to make education accessible to all, and to call into question the systems that continue to oppress and deny the dignity of every person.

Linked to the world At Brother James’ funeral, Archbishop John Roach said: “[This violence] must stop. . . . You and I must change our course to do the will of God now in what we can do [for peace]. It is no longer possible to remain in a neutral or a detached position . . . [for] we are linked to the peoples of the world as brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, and we are linked to our government whose policy affects development, and in some instances non-development, in those countries. . . . We must alleviate the oppression of the poor, and fight for the rights of those who have no rights.”

Ministry in Guatemala Christian Brother James Miller taught at (then) Cretin High School in the late 1960s. He taught in Nicaragua through the 1970s and returned to Cretin in 1979.

At his request, Brother James began serving at the Casa Indigena in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, in 1981. There he gave young men practical training and an academic curriculum, and maintained the buildings and grounds.

As Guatemala was in the midst of a civil war, many young men were “drafted” by force, i.e., literally taken off the streets to be soldiers. (If they refused, their families would be tortured and killed.)

Today in Rome, the Congregation for Saints’ Causes is reviewing Brother James’ death. At this writing, he has been given the title “Servant of God.” Upon hearing of these “drafts,” the brothers would go and retrieve their students from the military station.

Lou Anne Tighe is vice president for mission at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul.

Is Vatican letter on abuse a ‘smoking gun’?

January 1997 letter from the papal ambassador to Ireland, communicating the opinion of the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy about a set of proposed Irish policies on priestly sexual abuse, confirms that in the late 1990s the Vatican was ambivalent about requirements that bishops report abuse to police and civil prosecutors.

In light of recent John Vatican pledges of Allen, Jr. transparency, the letter is certainly a public relations embarrassment. As a “smoking gun” proving a Vatican-orchestrated cover-up, however, the letter may fall short.

Signed by then-nuncio to Ireland Archbishop Luciano Storero, the letter was revealed [Jan. 17] by Irish broadcaster RTE, just ahead of a Vatican-sponsored Apostolic Visitation of the Irish church.

In it, Storero, who died in 2000, writes that the Congregation for the Clergy had concluded that a “mandatory reporting” policy, proposed by a draft 1996 set of policies considered by the Irish bishops, “gives rise to serious reservations of both a moral and a canonical nature.”

That line has fueled charges that the Vatican effectively tied the hands of bishops, preventing them from turning over abuse cases to civil authorities.

American attorney Jeffrey Anderson asserted in a statement that the 1997 letter “severely undermines claims of Church hierarchy that officials in Rome were not part of a conspiracy to suppress evidence of sexual assaults by Catholic priests,” and that it is “merely a foreshadowing of additional ‘smoking guns’

A

Analysis

secretly vaulted away in the bowels of the Vatican fortress in Rome.”

The Survivors’ Network of those Abused by Priests said, “A key Roman Catholic figure basically tells bishops that church policy trumps criminal laws and that church officials, not secular officials, get to quietly handle child molesters ‘in house.’”

Not what it seems There are three bits of context, however, which complicate efforts to tout the letter as a smoking gun.

First, the letter warns the Irish bishops that if they were to adopt policies that violate the church’s Code of Canon Law, cases in which they remove abusers from the priesthood could be overturned on procedural grounds. Were that to happen, the letter says, “the results could be highly embarrassing and detrimental.”

In other words, a main concern of the letter is to ensure that when a bishop takes action against an abuser, his edict should stick — suggesting a fairly tough line on abuse, rather than a drive to cover it up.

Second, the letter does not directly forbid bishops from reporting abusers to police and prosecutors. Instead, it communicates the judgment of one Vatican office that mandatory reporting policies raise concerns. It’s not a policy directive, in other words, but an expression of opinion.

Though the letter does not spell out what the “moral and canonical” concerns were, a Vatican spokesperson initially suggested the fear was that such policies might intrude on the seal of the

confessional. Yet a reference to the 1997 letter in the government-commissioned “Murphy Report” suggests the concern was the broader issue of a priest’s right to protect his “good name.”

In any event, it’s not clear that the judgment of the Congregation for Clergy by itself could be considered binding Vatican policy. When the American sex abuse norms came up for Vatican approval in 2002, several different departments were involved, and ultimately the objections voiced by the Congregation for Clergy did not prevail.

Vatican officials today insist their policy is that bishops should report abuse cases to the civil authorities.

Third, the Congregation for the Clergy at the time was under the direction of Colombian Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos, whose reservations about bishops reporting their priests to civil authorities already have been well documented. In another celebrated case that generated headlines last year, Castrillón wrote to a French bishop in September 2001 congratulating him for refusing to denounce a priest.

When that 2001 letter came to light, Vatican spokespersons conceded that it revealed a debate among senior Vatican officials about how aggressive the church ought to be in streamlining procedures for sex abuse cases — a debate, spokespersons said, which Castrillón eventually lost to then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, today Pope Benedict XVI. In that light, the 1997 letter seems less a statement of Vatican policy than an expression of what would eventually be the losing side in an internal Vatican

power struggle.

Misunderstood In a statement released late on [Jan. 18], American attorney Jeffrey Lena, who represents the Vatican in sex abuse cases in American courts, said the 1997 letter “has been deeply misunderstood.”

In fact, Lena said, its main purpose “was to help ensure that bishops who discipline their priests for sexual abuse did so in a manner that would ensure that the priest not avoid punishment based upon technical grounds.”

Further, Lena said, “the letter nowhere instructed Irish Bishops to disregard civil law reporting requirements.”

In a similar vein, the Vatican spokesperson, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, said the letter “correctly insists on the importance that canonical legislation be respected, precisely so that guilty parties not have a basis to appeal.”

The “moral and canonical concerns” mentioned in the letter, Lombardi said, concern the sacrament of confession.

Indirectly, Lombardi also said that the 1997 letter was written before the late Pope John Paul II put Ratzinger in charge of the Vatican’s response to the sexual abuse crisis in 2001, a decision that Vatican-watchers regarded as a defeat for the more ambivalent line associated with Castrillón Hoyos.

John Allen, Jr. is senior correspondent at National Catholic Reporter.

This column first appeared on NCR ONLINE.ORG.

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FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Changing times call for new ideas to maintain Catholic education CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 support to Catholic schools, as called for in the archdiocesan strategic plan announced last October.

“The purpose of [the Catholic Schools Commission] is to put the Catholic schools on a sustainable growth path for the next 20 years,” said John McMahon, a cochair of the commission who is director of federal tax services with Ernst & Young and a member of Holy Spirit in St. Paul.

“To do that, we have a consultants’ report and we need to listen to the various stakeholders to assess our issues and opportunities and to make actionable recommendations in those four principal areas,” he said.

The ultimate goal is to help schools “provide a highquality Catholic education” for students and families, added co-chair Karen Rauenhorst, a community volunteer, trustee of the archdiocese and member of Holy Name of Jesus in Medina.

The archdiocese currently has 84 Catholic elementary schools that are affiliated with a parish. In 2010, approximately 22,000 students attended those schools.

The Strategic Plan itself calls for further evaluation of the sustainability of all Catholic schools.

The first phase of a school review process was completed in January by 10 parish schools slated for “urgent review.” Two of those schools — St. Joseph School in Red Wing and St. Mathias School in Hampton — will close at the end of the 2010-2011 academic year, while the remainder will stay open. San Miguel Middle School, which is independently administered by the DeLaSalle Christian Brothers, completed its own review process and also made the decision to close.

“For this process to really have an impact, we want to hear feedback from our constituents — that’s really the whole Catholic community

”

JOHN MCMAHON, Catholic Schools Commission co-chair

The commission’s goal is to help Catholic schools adapt to those challenges, McMahon said.

Commission members will craft their recommendations based in part on information that was gathered by the Strategic Planning Task Force and recommendations made by the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) at the University of Notre Dame, McMahon said.

Among ACE’s recommendations are:

Commission’s focus is consistent with work being done in other dioceses regarding Catholic education.

“Catholic schools are really competing with other Catholic schools, with charter schools and with public schools, and we have to be on top of all the different issues out there. We really want our schools to model best practices.”

McMahon said achieving consistency in financial reporting and governance is an area that commission members will address “not from a command-and-control standpoint, but really to make all the schools stronger — taking the best governance structures and the best financial reporting so that we have tools and mechanisms to be nimble and adapt to the market and strengthen Catholic education.”

Listening to stakeholders

Helping schools adapt

■ to ensure all Catholic elementary schools develop individualized marketing and enrollment management plans;

The Catholic Schools Commission includes four committees, each with a separate focus: educational excellence, funding models, governance and advancement.

Each committee is comprised of members of the commission as well as principals, pastors and experts in those fields.

Commission and committee members plan to do a lot of listening between now and when recommendations are made to the archbishop in June, Rauenhorst said.

They have met with principals and presidents of Catholic schools and will be visiting with pastors and parish administrators as well as focus groups.

“For this process to really have an impact, we want to hear feedback from our constituents — that’s really the whole Catholic community,” McMahon said.

Those who would like to comment about the process are invited to e-mail CSCOMMISSION@ARCHSPM.ORG.

Catholic schools face a variety of challenges today, including shifts in socio-economic trends, economic pressures, the proliferation of new technology, and increasing competition from other schools.

■ to establish a framework for consistent financial management and reporting.

“We want to make sure we’re doing things right,” said Rauenhorst, who noted that the Catholic Schools

For a list of Catholic Schools Commission members, visit click on “Schools Commission” and then “Commission Members.”

■ to establish an Archdiocesan Schools Advisory board as well as advisory boards at individual schools; ■ to establish archdiocesan learning standards for prekindergarten through eighth grade; ■ to develop a centralized program to identify, recruit and develop principals;

HTTP://PLANNING.ARCHSPM.ORG,

Get ready to Pay It Forward for LENT The Catholic Spirit is kicking off its fourth annual Pay It Forward project for this year’s Lenten season. The project is based on the New Testament parable of the stewards and its lesson that good stewards don’t just maintain what is given to them — they help it grow.

Here’s how to participate: Tell us in no more than 300 words how you — individually or as a group of friends, family members or co-workers — would use your talents to “grow” $100 to help as many people as possible this Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday, March 9.

The Catholic Spirit will select up to three ideas and give $100 to the author of each winning submission to put his or her ideas into action. The winners will have the 40 days of Lent to “pay it forward” and make a positive difference. Last year’s winners are not eligible.

The Catholic Spirit will announce the winners in the March 3 issue and write about the winners’ experiences in the April 14 issue.

Submit your ideas: ■ By e-mail to CATHOLICSPIRIT@ ARCHSPM.ORG. Please write “Pay It Forward” in the subject line.

■ By postal mail to “Pay It Forward,” c/o The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

The deadline for entries is Friday, Feb. 18. Please include your name, address, parish, e-mail and daytime telephone number so that we may contact you.

13

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Catholic physicians group looks to increase its numbers CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 getting it in any other way.”

Learning opportunities On Jan. 29, the guild held one of four events it conducts annually.

Father Michael Keating from the University of St. Thomas came to celebrate Mass and give a talk on science and the sacramental, which focused on how physicians can see the humanity of their patients rather than focus on the business component of health care delivery.

In April, the guild will offer a morning of reflection, followed by a pilgrimage in August. Then, in October comes the White Mass celebrated by Archbishop John Nienstedt. The Mass honoring medical professionals takes place on or near the feast day of St. Luke, the patron saint of physicians who was one himself.

Daly is hoping events like these, plus the upcoming national meeting of the Catholic Medical Association, will bring more physicians into the guild here in the Twin Cities.

“The number of Catholic physicians in the Twin Cities is huge,” he said.

“I’ve got to believe that we have less

than 5 percent of [the total number of Catholic] physicians in our membership.

“Our goal is to really try to grow the members and use the upcoming 2012 national Catholic Medical Association meeting here in St. Paul as a way to get the word out. There will be some great speakers and some great discussions.”

Daly said he is concerned the medical field “has gotten so secularized that we forget that the healing arts have been part of religion and spirituality for centuries.”

He is hoping the organization can help guide and shape the medical profession and, ultimately, U.S. culture when it comes to ethics and morals in medicine.

“I think that’s where the Catholic Medical Association needs to have an impact,” he said. “We have to familiarize ourselves, as physicians, with Catholic moral teachings and Catholic bioethical principles. . . .

That’s what I want the Catholic Medical Association guild locally to be able to do — [be] a vehicle to remind us that we can’t get lulled into just accepting what’s going on in our nation.”

Stay connected.

Follow The Catholic Spirit on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CatholicSpirit

14

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

A March, and More 274 Catholics from archdiocese attend largest March for Life ever

By Maria Wiering Pedersen For The Catholic Spirit

It took a 26-hour bus ride, a student conference and a national march of more than 400,000 people for Nicholas Vance, 14, to realize the pro-life movement is more alive than he previously thought — much more alive.

“Before this, I thought, ‘Oh, wow, there’s only a couple of people I know who are pro-life,’” he said. “But when I see today, and see the hundreds of thousands of people who were walking with us and supporting life, I was just amazed that there are that many people who feel the same way — that abortion is wrong.”

Vance was sitting in the grass near the Library of Congress, the late afternoon sun backlighting the Capitol dome behind him. His coat was unzipped, despite the below-freezing temperatures. A parishioner from St. Joseph in West St. Paul, he was one of the 274 Catholics from the archdiocese who participated in the national March for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 24.

The annual march commemorates the Jan. 22 anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in all 50 states.

The march began with a noon rally on the National Mall where speakers, including members of Congress, urged marchers to support pro-life legislation.

Marchers then walked along Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court building holding signs while praying, singing and chanting pro-life slogans.

The March For Life organization estimates the 2011 event was the largest march ever, exceeding the estimated 400,000 participants who attended in 2010, said its president Nellie Gray.

The archdiocesan group included marchers from 17 parishes, four Catholic high schools, and Community of Christ the Redeemer, a Catholic lay group whose members attend various parishes. The archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life sponsored the trip. Archbishop John Nienstedt joined the group for the rally on the Mall.

The first March for Life began in 1974, one year after Roe v. Wade. It fashioned itself after the marches on Washington that united civil rights activists in the previous decade.

As the annual march’s crowd has grown in number, it has also grown younger.

Bryan Kemper, the founder and president of the pro-life organization Stand True Ministries, estimates that 70 percent of the marchers are young people today. Most of the participants from the archdiocese were high school students and their chaperones. Others included first-year theology seminarians from St. Paul Seminary and archdiocesan priests.

“Young people have a light in their soul that can be ignited in this kind of atmosphere,” said Mary Ann Porter, a parishioner at St. Henry in Monticello who accompanied her 16-year-old son, Luke. “This is about activism, which is in the heart of every young person.”

Pro-life preparation

Andrea Gibbs, 29, youth minister at St. Wenceslaus in New Prague, holds a “stop abortion now” sign while standing with members of her parish during the rally. She is excited to see her youth passionate about protecting life, she said.

The day before the march, students attended a daylong student conference hosted

by Students for Life of America, a national organization that supports campus prolife groups. Although most of the attendees were college-aged, Afua Paintsil, 16, a junior at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park, was glad she was there.

“I’ve learned so much,” she said over lunch on Sunday, after hearing the first four speakers.

“I’m someone who learns well from being shocked, and I’ve been shocked a lot,” said Paintsil, who attends St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth. “That’s how you have to teach our generation.”

She added: “We have a mindset that things aren’t a big deal; that it doesn’t concern me so I don’t have to worry about it. We are a pretty selfish generation.”

Yet, the conference drew 1,800 high school and college students, which may be the world’s largest pro-life student rally, SFLA executive director Kristan Hawkins told the crowd. Throughout the conference, speakers asked participants to stand up for the unborn children and mothers who have been affected by abortion. Students heard speakers who described the horror of abortion, the power of adoption, and what students can do to help save unborn children’s lives.

“We’ve been told that abortion is a complex question — it’s not,” Scott Klusendorf, president of the Colorado-based Life Training Institute, told the crowd.

The only question that matters is, what is the unborn? If the answer is human — and science says it is — it’s wrong, he said.

Women do not undergo abortion by choice, Mike Schwartz, chief of staff to U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said in one of the afternoon breakout sessions.

“Abortion is what happens when women run out of choices.”

Pro-life U.S. congressmen Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) also spoke at the conference.

“You will make a great impression on the Mall. It makes a difference to

legislators,” Lipinski told the students, speaking about the next day’s march. “The pro-life movement is not going away; it’s only getting stronger.”

Friends having abortions

On Sunday evening, Hawkins presented the annual SFLA Defender of Life Award to Abby Johnson, a former clinic director of Planned Parenthood in BryanCollege Station, Texas.

Johnson left the abortionproviding organization in 2009, a year after receiving its employee of the year award. Johnson’s book describing her turn-of-heart, “Unplanned,” shot to the No. 8 bestseller on AMAZON.COM within 24 hours of its Jan. 15 release.

More than 4,000 abortions happen daily in the United States, Johnson, 30, told the students. “Who are we missing? Who’s not here because of abortion? Siblings? Cousins? Aunts?

Uncles? Scientists? The first female president?” she asked.

Johnson urged students to speak o unpopular.

“Guess what — your friends are h they can reach out to you if you don In Minnesota, 44 percent of abort between the ages of 18 and 24, acco The statistics for 2010 have not yet b “Keep going. Keep fighting. We ar country,” Johnson said.

Attending Sunday’s conference ins Steve Bohlke, 50, to make the decisi to women entering a clinic for an ab “It got my blood stirred up,” said day, he had heard speakers explain h what to say and what not to say, he The conference also motivated St. more passionate about the pro-life c

‘You will be the voice’

On Monday morning, the youth a for Life before heading to the march locations — the Verizon Center and 27,000 thousand youth and adults, m

Respect Life 15 Archbishop John Nienstedt stands with Nancy Schulte, left, and Genevieve McCarthy, a senior at Providence Academy in Plymouth, during the rally on the National Mall before the march.

Schulte works in the archdiocesan Office for Marriage, Family and Life, which organized the trip from the archdiocese.

Photos by Maria Wiering Pederson

inarians Jon Freidhof, left, Colin Easton Blake Rozier walk with a pro-life sign ng the annual March for Life. Friedhof es for the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., on for the Diocese of Rockford, Ill., and er for the Diocese of Duluth. They attendhe march with other first-year theology ents from St. Paul Seminary.

nst abortion even though it can be bortions,” she said. “They’ll never know h out to them first.”

2009 were performed on women o the Minnesota Department of Health. ported. to be the ones who end abortion in this t. Wenceslaus in New Prague parishioner egin “sidewalk counseling,” or speaking , who was a chaperone. Earlier in the sidewalk counsel successfully, including slaus parishioner Mitch Gareis, 18, to be nd to be a leader, he said. d the annual Youth Concert and Mass nizers split the event between two C. Armory — because it drew more than whom were Catholic. Members of the

archdiocesan group worshiped at both sites.

Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston presided at the Masses. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, four archbishops — including Archbishop Nienstedt — 16 bishops and more than 200 priests were among those who concelebrated Mass at the Verizon Center.

“We will be the voice of those who were never allowed to speak, we will cast the vote that they were never able to make, and in about two hours we will march for those who were never allowed to take their first step,” said the homilist, Father Mark Ivany, parochial vicar at the Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, Md. He reminded those gathered that it Aly May, 14, and her mother, Maren, wasn’t enough to just overturn Roe v. head toward the annual March for Life Wade, but that “our mission is to after attending Mass at the Verizon change the whole culture of our Center. A member of St. Jude of the Lake country.” in Mahtomedi, Aly is confined to a After the Mass, marchers made their wheelchair because of a condition way to the National Mall, picking up called spinal muscular atrophy. The Mays prepared posters dropped in stacks went to the march to remind others that along the blocked streets. In the sea of being pro-life extends beyond protecting people, marchers from the archdiocese the unborn. recognized each other by their dark green knit hats embroidered with “March 4 Life, Jan. 2011” as they followed a blue flag with the archdiocesan crest.

Others held homemade signs, including some that pointed to adoption as an alternative to abortion.

“Thanks Mommy 4 Choosing Adoption,” declared the sign held by Divine Mercy of Faribault parishioner Tricia Anderson, 15.

St. John the Baptist in New Brighton youth minister Libby Dupont held a sign with a picture of her own 5-month-old adopted daughter, Magdalene, next to the words “Adoption is the answer.”

Seminarian David Gockowski, 24, described the march as “beautiful chaos.” It was the second time he had attended the national march. “Everyone is here representing their community, their church,” he said. “You realize that this is a great cause, and it’s bigger than we are.”

Attending the march and accompanying pro-life events made St. Joseph parishioner Micah Zimmerman, 14, think of abortion as a “holocaust,” he said. “I knew it was killing, but not like that,” he said. “Now I feel like doing something about it.”

Catholic News Service contributed to this story.

Voices in the crowd

“Abortion is something that I feel really strong about, and I wanted to come and meet people who felt the same way about it.”

— Anna Cron, 17, Pax Christi, Eden Prairie, junior at Benilde-St. Margaret’s School, St. Louis Park

“I didn’t know how worldwide the issue is. You hear about it mainly in America, but [I’ve learned] how bad it is in China as well.”

— Jack Vondrachek, 18, St. Peter, North St. Paul, freshman, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul

“I didn’t know people were fighting so hard [to end abortion], especially in schools.”

— Morgan Moore, 17, St. Pius X, White Bear Lake

“As much as we can say, ‘No more abortion,’ the way to go about it is . . . funding pregnancy centers. If we can’t stop abortions, we can at least start funding prevention.”

— Tim Lange, first-year seminarian at St. Paul Seminary, from Diocese of Duluth

“O Lord, our Lord, how awesome is your name through all the earth!”

Psalms 8:10

The Lesson Plan 16

The Catholic Spirit

Reflections on faith and spirituality

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Fear of the Lord leads us to wisdom and ultimate love reetings in Christ from Italy! I am sending you this reflection from the medieval town of Assisi. St. Francis of Assisi is buried here in the Basilica of St. Francis. I am here on a spiritual retreat with my 11 classmates from the St. Paul Seminary.

If you have never been to Assisi, please go book a flight today for your next vacation. You will not be disappointed. This is one of the most amazing and holiest places in the world.

It is a place that inspires awe, and it is Deacon James Lannan where St. Francis experienced a healthy fear of the Lord.

I am reminded of Psalm 111, in which we hear about the tremendous things the Lord has done for Israel in the Mosaic Covenant. In particular, verse 10 is a capstone to the psalmist’s praises, remembering what initially brought about his conversion: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; prudent are all who live by it.”

As I pray during our canonical retreat in preparation for, God willing, the priesthood, I am struck by this verse and its relevance for any person reflecting on their own spiritual conversion, which

G

Sunday Scriptures

develops and continues throughout our entire life.

In the fifth Sunday in ordinary time, we should recognize that, as Jesus promises to continually nourish us with his grace and love, our faithful response should always be initially characterized by our fear of the Lord.

Readings

For reflection

Sunday, Feb. 6 Fifth Sunday in ordinary time

When and where have you experienced that awesome, fearful reverence for God? Did you share that experience with anyone? If not, tell someone this week.

■ Isaiah 58:7-10 ■ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 ■ Matthew 5:13-16

The gift of fear In our baptism, one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit we receive is “fear of the Lord.”

Now, this is not like a fear that, for example, one may have of snakes (I am absolutely terrified of snakes, by the way). Rather, fear of God is what we experience when we are in a state of total reverence and wonder at his awesome holiness. In this state, we feel a sense of humility and smallness.

We cannot fully comprehend both the significance of God’s divine law, nor the mystery of Jesus Christ. It is something that comes out of both our faith in God, and love for God. Now this type of fear is necessary for God to accomplish our continued conversion.

See how verse 10 describes such a life as “prudent.” This is because genuine fear orders and directs the deepest desires of our hearts to choose a repentant life that avoids sin and responds to grace. Yet, this kind of attentiveness in faith prepares the way for receiving Jesus’ love.

In this way, our fear of God and receiving Jesus’ love are not opposed. Rather, they are inseparable and enable us to live as confident witnesses to Christ. Here we see how we are invited in Matthew 5:16 to confidently let the “light [of our faith] shine before others.”

Yet, if “fear of the Lord is [only] the ‘beginning’ of wisdom,” and the spiritual growth we experience is not accomplished on our own, then we need to be nourished along the way. Psalm 111 assures us of this sustenance in verse 5: “You gave food to those who fear you, mindful of your covenant forever.”

This food is Jesus in the Eucharist — the living manna that sustains us. So as a result of our initial fear of God and our ongoing conversion, our interior life is now directed and ordered in a way that is prepared to

experience fulfillment in Christ. This fulfillment is found in participation in the sacramental life of Christ’s church, as well as in our life of prayer and work.

Perhaps, one of the most important things any of us may realize years down the road is that our time in prayer, and intensive work in pursuit of holiness, instills in our hearts a deep and sustained fear of God. In this regard, we can pray that Jesus will bring to fulfillment the good work that he began in each of us, initially characterized by our fear of the Lord.

hall seconds later, I was deeply touched to see tears in her eyes. I saw the compassion of God in that young woman’s tears. How do you envision the eyes of God looking on the suffering of the world?

Friday, Feb. 18 Genesis 11:1-9 Mark 8:34 — 9:1 What we refuse to surrender becomes a burden.

Monday, Feb. 14 Cyril, monk, and Methodius, bishop Genesis 4:1-15, 25 Mark 8:11-13 When we are preoccupied with looking for signs, we don’t notice how God is present within and around us.

Saturday, Feb. 19 Hebrews 11:1-7 Mark 9:2-13 When we are lost and confused, it is good to recall moments of consolation and clarity.

Deacon James Lannan is in formation for the priesthood at the St. Paul Seminary. His home parish is Our Lady of Grace in Edina and his teaching parish is St. John Neumann in Eagan.

Daily Scriptures Sunday, Feb. 6 Fifth Sunday in ordinary time Isaiah 58:7-10 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the light of the world.”

— Matthew 5:14 Like a warm sunny climate, people of light naturally draw others to themselves.

They help people see the good that God sees within them. As one young man reported after meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu: “I knew he was a holy man because after my encounter with him I liked myself better and wanted to be a better person.” Today is a good day to ask ourselves how people feel after an encounter with us.

Monday, Feb. 7 Genesis 1:1-19 Mark 6:53-56 The indwelling spirit inspires us to follow our desire to be open hearted.

Tuesday, Feb. 8 Jerome Emiliani, priest; Josephine Bakhita, virgin Genesis 1:20 — 2:4a Mark 7:1-13 What habitually distracts you from examining your own heart and mind?

Wednesday, Feb. 9 Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17 Mark 7:14-23 Looking within our own hearts is often humbling.

Thursday, Feb. 10 Scholastica, virgin Genesis 2:18-25 Mark 7:24-30 Our love reflects God’s when it propels us beyond our fears.

Friday, Feb. 11 Our Lady of Lourdes Genesis 3:1-8 Mark 7:31-37 Would you be willing to leave behind what is familiar and comfortable for greater healing and wholeness?

Saturday, Feb. 12 Genesis 3:9-24 Mark 8:1-10 Without faith, hope and love, no matter how much we have to offer, it will not be enough to satisfy people’s deepest need.

Sunday, Feb. 13 Sixth Sunday in ordinary time Sirach 15:15-20 1 Corinthians 2:6-10 Matthew 5:17-37 “The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man’s every deed.”

— Sirach 15:19 Although my mother passed away many years ago, one moment during that difficult time stands out in my memory.

Mom had been in the hospital for several weeks when the doctors announced that nothing else could be done for her. I noticed that her young nurse quickly left the room, and, when I passed her in the

Tuesday, Feb. 15 Genesis 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10 Mark 8:14-21 Focusing entirely on externals keeps us from understanding the deeper meaning of our experiences.

Wednesday, Feb. 16 Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 Mark 8:22-26 Healing our spiritual blindness is a process that will take us to unknown parts of our heart.

Thursday, Feb. 17 Seven Founders of the Order of Servites, religious Genesis 9:1-13 Mark 8:27-33 Which life experiences have deepened and widened your understanding of Jesus?

Sunday, Feb. 20 Seventh Sunday in ordinary time Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

— Leviticus 19:18 We might feel a pang of guilt as the faces of the people we dislike cross our mind, but chances are we don’t consider that, often, the person we have the most difficult time accepting is our poor wounded selves. We mistakenly assume that our judgments of ourselves and others reflect God’s judgment, and we dwell so much on our flaws that we cannot see the good that God sees.

The daily reflections are written by Terri Mifek, a member of St. Edward in Bloomington and a certified spiritual director at the Franciscan Retreat House in Prior Lake.

The Lesson Plan

FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

By Father Michael Van Sloun

Core belief about the Eucharist. We believe in the Real Presence. The Eucharist is not a symbol or a reminder. The Eucharist is Christ truly present, his Body under the form of bread, the Blessed Sacrament, and his Blood under the form of wine, the Precious Blood.

Frequency of reception. It is best to receive the Eucharist at least once a week. God asks us to keep holy the Sabbath, and as Catholics we regard Sunday as our Sabbath, and we believe that part of our Sabbath observance is our obligation to attend Mass, and when we attend Mass, full participation is the ideal, especially the culmination of the Eucharistic Prayer and the Communion Rite, the reception of holy

life

The Eucharist, a sacrament with a solid biblical foundation. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus on Holy Thursday night, and the biblical basis for the sacrament is found in the four accounts of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:1420; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25). When Jesus said, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24,25), he asked his followers to reenact the Last Supper, to share his Body and Blood, because, as Jesus explained, “My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink” (John 6:55), and “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life” (John 6:54). The Eucharist was Jesus’ parting gift to us, his continuing presence among us. The early church complied with Jesus’ request when it gathered each week for the breaking of the bread and the prayers (Acts 2:42).

be so debilitating that it can cause untold harm to the spiritual life. Jesus wants us to pay careful attention to our spiritual diets, to eat richly, to receive his Body and Blood often.

summit of C d hr n a is e rc

n tia

The Eucharist, the sacrament. The Eucharist is one of the seven sacraments, and it stands above the others. While baptism is the gateway sacrament, the beginning of belief in Jesus as Lord, and incorporation into the Body of Christ, the church; it is the Eucharist that is the source and summit of the Christian life. Baptism is celebrated once; Eucharist is celebrated over and over again. Baptism is the beginning of the life of grace; Eucharist is a rich source of grace throughout life, spiritual sustenance for our pilgrimage on earth, and at the time of death Eucharist is received as viaticum, bread for the journey, so Christ might escort the believer to heaven and eternal life.

Th es ou

For The Catholic Spirit

17

Primer on the sacrament

Communion. While the standard is weekly, it is possible to receive the Eucharist more often at daily Mass, an extraordinary blessing that is highly recommended. The minimum is once a year, the Easter duty.

Food for life. People are very diet conscious these days. It is important to receive proper nutrition and eat a well-balanced diet. To go without food for a day would result in hunger pains. If a person goes without the necessary proteins, vitamins and minerals, malnutrition begins, deficiency diseases eventually set in, and the body begins to break down. Spiritually, it is much the same. To go without the Eucharist for a week is the beginning of spiritual hunger and pain; and to go without the Eucharist for a prolonged time, spiritual malnutrition begins to set in, faith weakens, the spiritual immune system is compromised, spiritual deficiency disease, sin, takes hold, and spiritual health breaks down. Extended absence from the Eucharist can

Spiritual preparation for Communion. The communicant should be in the state of grace, free of mortal sin. Paul explains, “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27). If a person is in the state of serious sin, it is necessary to approach the sacrament of reconciliation first (Canon 916). It is important for all communicants to do remote and immediate preparation, to pray before coming to Mass and observe the one-hour fast, and then when at Mass, to fully, actively and consciously participate in the liturgy: to sing the hymns, respond to the acclamations, listen attentively to the readings and the homily, and pray along with the priest during the Eucharistic Prayer.

The effect of the Eucharist after Mass. We are to become what we receive. If we allow the Eucharist to have its full transformative effect, we are to become more and more like Jesus. The apostle Paul puts this eloquently, “The life I live now is not my own; Christ is living within me” (Galatians 2:20). If God is love, and if Jesus is the personification of God, and if Jesus who is all-loving is dwelling within us, when we leave Mass and resume our daily activities, his love should well up and spill over to others. Jesus helps us to be more patient and kind, humble and polite, concerned and generous, forgiving and truthful (1 Corinthians 13).

The Mass and eucharistic adoration. The Mass enjoys a privileged place: it is the Christian community at its worshiping best. At Mass, Christ is present in a fourfold way: in the Eucharist, the Word, the priest and the congregation. Therefore, the Mass has precedence over eucharistic adoration, and when a choice is available, the Mass is preferred. Eucharistic adoration extends the Mass, and at times, outside of the Mass, it is a beautiful way to pray in the presence of Christ and worship him in the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.

Bread and wine for the Body and Blood must be uncorrupted The Catholic Spirit recently asked Father John Paul Erickson, director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship, to explain the church’s teaching regarding the elements of the Eucharist.

Q: What does the church require regarding the bread and wine used at Mass?

A: In the Code of Canon Law, the following is prescribed as the matter of the Eucharist: “The Most Sacred Eucharistic Sacrifice must be celebrated with bread and wine, with which a small quantity of water is to be mixed. The bread must be made of wheat alone and recently made so that there is no danger of corruption. The wine must be natural wine of the grape and not corrupt” (Canon 924). This description was further clarified in 2004 in a Vatican document entitled “Redemptionis Sacramentum: On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist.” From paragraphs 48 and 50 we read: “The bread used in the celebration of the Most Holy Eucharistic Sacrifice must be unleavened, purely of wheat, and recently made so that there is no danger of decomposition. It follows therefore that bread made from another substance, even if it is grain, or if it is mixed with another substance different from wheat to such an extent that it would not commonly be considered wheat bread, does not constitute valid matter for confecting the Sacrifice and the Eucharistic Sacrament. It is a grave abuse to introduce other substances, such as fruit or sugar or honey, into the bread for confecting the Eucharist. Hosts should obviously be

made by those who are not only distinguished by their integrity, but also skilled in making them and furnished with suitable tools . . .” “ . . . The wine that is used in the most sacred celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice must be natural, from the fruit of the grape, pure and incorrupt, not mixed with other substances. During the celebration itself, a small quantity of water is to be mixed with it.

Great care should be taken so that the wine intended for the celebration of the Eucharist is well conserved and has not soured. It is altogether forbidden to use wine of doubtful authenticity or provenance, for the Church requires certainty regarding the conditions necessary for the validity of the sacraments. Nor are other drinks of any kind to be admitted for any reason, as they do not constitute valid matter.”

The church provides guidelines on this matter due to the connection of the eucharistic sacrifice to the actions of Christ at the Last Supper who himself took bread and wine on the night he was betrayed, as well as the Mass’ fundamental connection to the Passover meal described in Exodus.

Q: What is mustum? Can it ever be used at Mass?

A: “Mustum” has been defined by the church as “grape juice that is either fresh or — preserved by methods that — suspend its fermentation without altering its nature (for example, freezing).” It is indeed valid matter for the Eucharist, which is to say that when it is used during Mass it truly becomes the blood of Jesus Christ. In several letters, the Vatican has clarified that

when a priest celebrant suffers from alcoholism or is otherwise impeded from ingesting alcohol, it is in fact permissible to use mustum, once that priest has received requested permission from his local ordinary.

When this situation occurs, wine is to be provided for concelebrants and, in those cases where both Sacred Species (bread and wine) is offered to all, the congregation as well.

Q: What about a situation in which a person has celiac disease or is gluten-intolerant? What Communion options exist for them?

A: In the very same correspondence outlining the regulations concerning the use of mustum at Mass, the Vatican also clarified that low-gluten hosts are in fact valid matter for the eucharistic sacrifice and may be consecrated for distribution to those members of the faithful afflicted by celiac disease. Completely glutenfree hosts, however, are not permitted, due to the necessity of wheat for the valid confection of the Eucharist, as outlined above. Another option for those unable to receive a wheat host is the reception of the Precious Blood.

It is important to point out that Jesus Christ is present, body, blood, soul and divinity in both forms, that is, the appearance of bread and the appearance of wine, and thus, it is not necessary for both Species to be received by a communicant in order to receive the abundant graces of Holy Communion, even as it is clearly the ideal that both forms be offered and received by all.

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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

The Lesson Plan

Will real St. Valentine please step up?

By Father Michael Van Sloun

Marriage events

For The Catholic Spirit

Feb. 14 is St. Valentine’s Day, but which St. Valentine is commemorated on that day?

Various authorities list as many as 10 different saints all with the name “Valentine,” including a fifth century missionary bishop who died in 440 AD, and a ninth century pope whose pontificate lasted only 40 days before he died in 827 AD. Most believe that the original St. Valentine lived during the third century.

Though historical records are sketchy, there are three popular explanations.

The first is that St. Valentine was a priest in Rome, and that during a persecution under the Roman emperor Claudius II, Valentine was beaten with clubs, beheaded and buried on Feb. 14, 269, along the Flaminian Way two miles outside of Rome.

According to another account, St. Valentine was a bishop of Interamna or Terni which is located about 60 miles from Rome, and that the prefect of Terni ordered that he be tortured by scourging, after which he may have been sent to Rome where he was beheaded along the Flaminian Way on Feb. 14, 270.

This is an amazing coincidence: both had the same name, died in the same manner, in the same area, and on the same day, only one year apart.

Marriage enrichment: Feb. 12, 5:30 p.m., Oak Marsh Country Club, Oakdale. Sponsored by St Ambrose Church, Woodbury. Register before Feb. 7 at STAMBROSEOFWOODBURY.ORG.

Charity is etched onto a heart with flames at Holy Spirit in Two Harbors.

Photo by Father Michael VanSloun

Did the priest in Rome become the bishop of Terni? This has led a number of scholars to conclude that these two St. Valentines are one and the same.

The ‘love connection’ The date of St. Valentine’s feast, Feb. 14, is associated with a number of things that have a “love connection.” St. Valentine had a deep love for God and neighbor, which serves as a reminder of how important it is to show kindness and love to others.

During medieval times, it was thought

that Feb. 14 was the beginning of the time of year when birds begin to pair off and choose their mates. That made people think about how young people meet and fall in love, which is the origin of the term “love birds.”

This also made Feb. 14 a special day to write notes, cards and letters or send gifts to the person who is so dearly loved, one’s “Valentine.”

Feb. 14 is also associated with the ancient pagan festival of Lupercalia, the festival of lovers, which dates back to the fourth century B.C. Lupercalia was held

Cana dinner: Feb. 19, Delano Catholic Community, 401 River St. N., Delano.

Call (763) 972-2077 before Feb. 5 to register.

in mid-February to honor the Roman god Lupercus, a fertility god.

As part of the celebration, the names of young women were placed in a box and drawn by young men, who then paired off as dance partners and oftentimes as sexual partners.

Centuries later, Christians tried to correct this morally offensive practice with the introduction of a purity rite. As a substitute, a box was passed with the names of saints, and the person was supposed to love the saint that was drawn.

The symbols for St. Valentine are a heart, birds and roses. St. Valentine is the patron saint of greetings, love, lovers, young people, engaged couples and happy marriages.

Father Michael Van Sloun is pastor of St. Stephen in Anoka.

"Oh, if only everyone realized how great the Lord’s mercy is and how much we all need that mercy, especially at that crucial hour [of death]!”

St. Faustina

Arts & Culture The Catholic Spirit

Exploring our church and our world

FEBRUARY 3, 2011

19

Divine Mercy devotion promotes renewed faith in troubled times Following is an edited version of an e-mail interview by Catholic Spirit news editor Pat Norby with Father Seraphim Michalenko, who has been involved in promoting the Divine Mercy message and devotion for more than 60 years. The devotion and the feast of Divine Mercy — which is celebrated the Sunday after Easter — is associated with Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun to whom Christ appeared, instructing her to proclaim God's mercy. She died in 1938, was beatified in 1993 and canonized a saint in 2000.

Father Michalenko, a member of the Congregation of Marians of the FATHER MICHALENKO Immaculate Conception who was ordained in 1956, was responsible for the verification of miracles attributed to her intercession.

Father Michalenko and Paul Regan, founder of the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Sick and Dying, will present conferences in Minnesota and Wisconsin Feb. 19 through Feb. 23.

How and why did you get involved in the effort to canonize Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska?

The postulator for St. Faustina’s canonization cause asked for a vice postulator for North America because our American Province was the first to promote the Divine Mercy message and devotion in the Western Hemisphere. A vice postulator helps spread knowledge of the cause, gather information about graces received through the candidate’s intercession, and raise funds to cover the costs. Since I had done my studies for the priesthood in Rome and had an adequate command of the Polish language, my superiors offered my services.

Tell me about the miracles you verified, which led to her being declared a saint. How did that research affect your faith?

My involvement . . . began when the husband of the

greater miracle than his wife’s. . . . As for the miracle accepted for Sister Faustina’s canonization, heaven alone could have come up with a scenario like the one I witnessed concerning the verification of the healing of Father [Ronald] Pytel’s heart condition, attributed to Blessed Faustina’s intercession.

Conference schedule Marian Father Seraphim Michalenko and Paul Regan will discuss the Divine Mercy message and praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet during conferences in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

■ St. Cloud: Feb. 19, 12:30-2:45 p.m. St. Anthony Church, 2405 First St. N. Confessions at 3, Mass at 4:30 p.m. with Father Michalenko.

■ New Ulm: Feb. 20, after 9:30 a.m. Mass, Holy Trinity Cathedral, 605 N. State St. ■ Hastings: Feb. 20, after 6 p.m. Mass, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 2035 W. 15th St. ■ Bloomington: Feb. 21, after 8:45 a.m. Mass with Father Michalenko, St. Bonaventure, 901 E. 90th St. ■ La Crosse, Wis.: 9:30 a.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine, 5250 Justin Road. Mass at 12:15 p.m.

■ West St. Paul: Feb. 23, after 7:30 a.m. Mass, St. Joseph, 1138 Seminole Ave. No registration or cost, but a free-will offering will be taken.

Why is the Divine Mercy message and devotion so important to the church and the world, today?

Our Lord stated twice to St. Faustina: “Mankind will have no peace [that is, total well-being; and, according to the Polish word he used, that was translated as ‘peace,’ it should rather carry the meaning “will have no security”] so long as it does not turn with trust to the fount of my mercy” (Diary 300, 699).

lady, whose healing was declared a miracle through the intercession of Sister Faustina, requested that I accompany his family on a pilgrimage to the tomb. [Maureen Digan, who suffered from Milroy’s Disease, a rare and incurable disease of the lymphatic system] was angry with God . . . not a believer in miracles. Their almost 8year-old son was suffering from a severe syndrome of seizures that required careful administration. [Bob] Digan wasn’t asking for my services as translator, but that I would be a witness to the miracle he expected.

How did that affect my faith? Mr. Digan returned home with two miracles. In my estimation, knowing all the circumstances involved, his son’s healing, which occurred at the same time as the mother’s, was by far a

PRESENTED

BY THE JOHN

There seems to be a resurgence in Catholic devotional practices such as this one. What do you believe is the reason for that?

If the flame of an oil lamp can stand for our love toward God, the lamp’s burning wick can stand for devotion and the oil it feeds on are devotions. In the wake of Vatican II’s interpretations and “reforms,” devotions were discouraged and were even being suppressed, as detracting from the eminence of the eucharistic sacrifice. The wick was deprived of oil, the flame waned, and the love of God grew increasingly cold, until another “sensible object,” Marian apparitions, brought attention back to God. What is the significance of praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet for the Sick and Dying?

By our Lord’s revelations through St. Faustina we are made aware of his great concern for the sick and dying. . . . The Lord urged Sister Faustina: “Encourage souls to say the chaplet which I have given you (Diary 1541).

Whoever will recite it will receive great mercy at the hour of death (Diary 687).”

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In “A Biblical Walk Though the Mass,” Jeff Cavins provides a unique tour of the timeless Liturgy.

He explores the biblical roots of the words and gestures we experience in Mass and explains their profound significance.

Participants in this study will come to know and understand the Mass like never before. They will see, perhaps for the first time, why we say what we say and do what we do every week at Mass. The words and gestures will be seen in a new light, leading them to a richer, more fruitful worship experience.

This study will also prepare you for the upcoming 2011 changes in the Mass

Church of St. Paul, Ham Lake Live Study: Tuesday Evenings Feb 1st, 7:00PM to 9:00PM DVD study: Tuesday Mornings Feb 8th 10:00AM to noon Contact person: Cathie Durham, 763-258-9110 cathie.durham@gmail.com Web Site: www.churchofsaintpaul.com

Church of St. John the Baptist, Savage Order The Catholic Spirit newspaper online at TheCatholicSpirit.com

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Live Study: Tuesday Morning 10AM-12 noon Begins February 1, 2011 DVD Study: Thursday Evening 7PM-9:00PM Begins Feb 10th, 2011 Contact person: Brenda Schroll, 952-890-9464 ext 254 bschroll@stjohns-savage.org Web Site: stjohns-savage.org

Nativity of Mary, Bloomington Live Study: Wednesday Evenings 6:30PM to 8:30PM Begins February 2, 2011 Contact person: Connie, 952-881-8671, ext. 321 Web Site: www.nativitybloomington.org

Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata Begins Feb 3, 2011 Live Study: Thursday mornings 10AM -12:00 noon DVD Study Thursday evenings 7PM to 9PM Contact person: Jean Roozendaal, 763-745-3481 jroozendaal@hnoj.org Web Site: www.hnoj.org

4 convenient locations by Jeff Cavins, Catholic bible teacher and author Each parish has posted a registration form on their individual parish web site.

20

Calendar

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Dining out Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Feb. 4 and 11: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

Pancake breakfast at St. Clement, Minneapolis — Feb. 5: 8 a.m. to noon at 911 24th Ave. N.E. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children.

Pancake breakfast at St. Richard, Richfield — Feb. 6: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 7540 Penn Ave. S. Cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under.

KC Pancake breakfast at St. Michael, Farmington — Feb. 6: 9 to 11:30 a.m. at 22120 Denmark Ave. KC annual pro-life breakfast at St. Augustine, South St. Paul — Feb. 6: 7:30 a.m. to noon at Fourth Avenue and Third Street N. Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children under 12.

KC Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Feb. 9 and 16: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $12. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations.

KC shrimp and steak dinner at Knights of Columbus Events Center, Shakopee — Feb. 11: 5 to 8 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Cost is $10 for shrimp or steak and $13 for both.

Children’s meal available for $2.

Pancake breakfast at St. Catherine, Spring Lake Township — Feb. 13: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 4500 220th St. E., Prior Lake. Cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children 5 to 12.

KC spaghetti dinner at Knights of Columbus Events Center, Shakopee — Feb. 13: 4 to 7 p.m. at 1760 Fourth Ave. E. Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children ages 5 to 12.

KC French toast breakfast at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Feb. 20: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. W.

Parish events ‘Reiser’s Ramblings’ by Father Bernard Reiser book signing at St. Michael, St. Michael — Feb. 5: Noon to 2 p.m. in the old parish center at 22 Main St. N. For information, visit WWW.REISERRELIEF.ORG. ‘Baptized for Action: A Call to Lay Responsibility in a Vatican II Church’

requested. Proceeds go to the Heifer Project.

Don’t miss Day of recollection for caregivers The Archdiocesan Outreach to Persons with Disabilities will offer a day of recollection for those who care for persons with serious illnesses or disabilities.

This quiet day of spiritual renewal will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 26 at Annunciation in Minneapolis.

The event includes Mass, prayer, conferences and the presentation, “Intimacy of God’s Love: Father, Son & Holy Spirit.”

Cost is $15 and includes lunch. For information, call (651) 291-4543.

at Mary, Mother of the Church, Burnsville — Feb. 7: 6:30 to 8 p.m. at 3333 Cliff Road. Father Mike Byron will speak.

Two-part series on upcoming changes in the Mass at St. Helena, Minneapolis — Feb. 11 and 18: 7:30 p.m. at 3204 E. 43rd St. Father John Paul Erickson, director of the Office of Worship for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, will speak.

‘Reiser’s Ramblings’ by Father Bernard Reiser book signing at Epiphany, Coon Rapids — Feb. 13: Noon to 1:30 p.m. at 1900 111th Ave. N.W. For information, visit WWW.REISER RELIEF.ORG. ‘Sunday Night Live’ at the Basilica of St. Mary, Minneapolis — Feb. 13: Following the 6:30 p.m. Mass at 88 N. 17th St. Topic is, “Love of Neighbor: Local Stewardship.”

Minneapolis — Feb. 17: 7 to 8:30 a.m.at 215 S. Eighth St. Deborah Savage from the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity of the University of St. Thomas will speak.

Wine tasting and silent auction at St. Peter, North St. Paul — Feb. 19: 5 to 9 p.m. at 2600 N. Margaret St. Sample hundreds of wines from around the world. Cost is $20.

Morning of reflection at Guardian Angels, Oakdale — Feb. 19: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 8260 Fourth St. Given by Mary Treacy O’Keefe, founder of Well Within non-profit wellness center.

Cost is $20 and includes lunch. To register, visit WWW.GUARDIAN-ANGELS.ORG.

School events

‘Adolescent Depression: I’m bored, leave me alone, and so what if my grades aren’t great?’ at St. Pius X, White Bear Lake — Feb. 17: 7 to 9 p.m. at 3878 Highland Ave. Clinical social worker Linda Cherek will speak.

‘All School, Almost, Reunion’ at St. Peter School, North St. Paul — Feb. 5: Mass at 4 p.m. followed by a taco dinner, music, tours and more. Those who graduated before 2007 are invited. Cost is $9 in advance or $13 at the door. Call (651) 777-3091.

‘Nunsense II: The Second Coming’ presented at St. Bonaventure, Bloomington — Feb. 17 to 20 and 25 and 27: 7 p.m. all nights except Feb. 20 and 27, 2 p.m. Feb. 20 and 27 at 901 E. 90th St. Show is a collaboration between St. Bonaventure and Nativity of Mary in Bloomington. Cost is $10 for adults and $8 for kids, students and seniors. For information, call (952) 881-8671.

Spaghetti dinner at Pope John Paul II School, Minneapolis — Feb. 5: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 1630 Fourth St. N.E. Cost is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $30 for families.

‘Faith and Work’ breakfast at St. Olaf,

9th annual Empty Bowls benefit at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, St. Paul — Feb. 9: 4 to 7 p.m. at 550 Albert St. S. Purchase a bowl made by a local artisan or CDH student and enjoy a soup and bread meal.

Free will donations of $5 to $10 are

VISTA Improv Show at Visitation School, Mendota Heights — Feb. 11 and 12: 7:30 p.m. at 2455 Visitation Drive. $5 admission.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Cretin-Derham Hall High School, St. Paul — Feb. 11 to 13 and 18 to 20: 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays at 550 Albert St. S. Cabin Fever Bingo Night at St. Vincent de Paul School, Brooklyn Park — Feb. 19: 6 to 9 p.m. at 9050 93rd Ave. N. Food and beverages will be available for sale. Sponsored by Boy Scout troop 52.

Prayer/ liturgies Legion of Mary prayers in front of Planned Parenthood, St. Paul — Feb. 4 and 11: 3 p.m. at 1965 Ford Parkway. For information, call (651) 4399098.

World Apostolate of Fatima vigil of reparation at St. Jerome, Maplewood — Feb. 4 and 5: Begins Friday with rosary at 7 p.m., Mass at 7:30 p.m.

Concludes after a Mass at midnight Saturday at 380 Roselawn Ave. E. For information, call (651) 772-2221.

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406.

50-plus Second Sunday Supper event at St. Joan of Arc, Minneapolis — Feb. 13: 5 p.m. at 4537 Third Ave. S. Includes social hour, supper and show featuring familiar songs from Broadway performed by piano and vocal duo Bob Clark and Mary Kopet. at 7 p.m. Cost is $10. Call (952) 884-5165.

Other events ‘Come and See’ weekend with the Visitation Sisters, Minneapolis — Feb. 11 and 12: 6 p.m. Friday to 7 p.m. Saturday at 1527 Fremont Ave. N. For young women ages 18 to 45. For information, e-mail MULLINKF@AOL.COM.

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.

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: CATHOLICSPIRIT@ ARCHSPM.ORG.

(No attachments, please.)

FAX: (651) 291-4460.

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

“Historically, Catholic schools are known for their high level of academic achievement, moral values and high graduation rates.”

Karen Ristau, president of the National Catholic Educational Association

Catholic Schools Week FEBRUARY 3, 2011

A Catholic Spirit special section

ily Circle m Fa connect s

mmunity

By Julie Pfitzinger

For The Catholic Spirit

With a student population of 207, St. Joseph School in Rosemount is already a close-knit community. But the regularly scheduled all-class sessions known as Family Circles have served to further strengthen connections among students of all ages at the kindergarten through eighth-grade school.

There are 14 Family Circles, with one or two students from every grade per group, which meet on seven Friday afternoons throughout the school year. There is a staff moderator for each Family Circle, but it is the eighthgraders who serve as the group leaders.

“We really wanted to foster leadership among the eighth-graders,” said Tom Joseph, principal. “It’s an opportunity to build bonds between the older kids and the younger kids. I tell the eighth-grade students that the younger ones really look up to them, so this gives them a chance to set an example.”

Reinforcing values Each session is not only based on a social justice teaching, but also incorporates one of the monthly “community values” promoted by the city of Rosemount. In addition, a different name of Jesus is introduced and discussed during each session. Stories

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21

Eighth-grader Rachel Collins, center, helps kindergartner Clara Donahue, left, and firstgrader Jenna Wood of St. Joseph School in Rosemount put the finishing touch on a fleece baby blanket that will be donated to the Rosemount Community Center, as part of the school’s Family Circles program.

St. Joseph students with

co

The Catholic Spirit

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

and activities help to reinforce the lessons and at the end of the day, there is a little recreation time outdoors or in the school gym.

In January, the social justice theme was solidarity, paired with the community value of acceptance and tolerance; the featured name of Jesus was Messiah.

In the Family Circle groups, students read and discussed a story called “A Different Rite” about two young girls, one Roman Catholic and one Eastern Catholic, and their experiences visiting the other’s church.

Every student had the opportunity to write a short prayer about unity — each Family Circle has its own prayer jar. While some students colored icon pictures of St. Attracta, others gathered in a small circle on the floor, tying colorful fleece baby blankets scheduled to be dropped off at the Rosemount Community Center.

Family Circles have been a fixture at the school for the past five years and are somewhat similar to a Lenten program that Joseph observed at St. Peter’s in North St. Paul when he was part of a school site visit team.

“We did a parent survey last spring and we learned that the Family Circles are one of the things parents said was the best part of our school,” he said.

It is Joseph, known as “Mr. J.” to the students, who assembles the groups every August, taking care to mix not only ages and genders (while keeping siblings apart), but to also balance personality types.

“By the time kids are in first or second grade, I know who the introverts and extroverts are, so I keep that in mind,” he said. The same group remains together all year, but the groups are switched at the beginning of PLEASE TURN TO PROGRAM ON PAGE 26

22

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Catholic Schools Week

Executives teach Risen Christ students business, character

By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit

She didn’t know it at the time, but Samayah Donaby was already learning good business practices more than four years ago when she and her two business partners each took a percentage of their lemonade stand earnings to buy more cups instead of making one person pay.

“It wasn’t like running an insurance company but it was kind of similar because we had to put our own ideas into it and decide where it was going to be and make all the business decisions with each other,” said Donaby, an eighth-grader at Risen Christ School in Minneapolis.

Donaby, along with her classmates, is learning about working collaboratively in business as part of a program that pairs them with local business executives.

Risen Christ launched the Imagine the Possibilities program this fall to encourage at-risk middle school-age students to succeed academically and explore careers, said Fran Rusciano Murnane, program manager and the school’s advancement director. The K-8 Catholic school, located in the Powderhorn Park community, has 317 students, more than 90 percent of whom live at or below the poverty line.

“They come to us with a huge academic gap from the get-go,” she said. “Our job is to address that. They come to us with great deficits that don’t have to do with intelligence or values, but lack of resources.”

Finding a good mix Risen Christ invited leaders of 10 Twin Cities companies representing a variety of fields to meet regularly with 40 eighthgraders and several seventh-graders dur-

Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Al Alexander, center, retired executive vice president of Alquest in Golden Valley, talks with eighth-graders Isaiah Essenburg, left, Arturo Diaz-Martinez, Imelda Arellano and Samayah Donaby at Risen Christ School in Minneapolis as part of the school's Imagine the Possibilities program, which pairs students with local business executives.

ing the school year. The businesses include construction, electrical, packaging, food production, landscape architecture, civil engineering and a clinical research organization.

“Each one is unique,” Murnane said.

“There’s overlap in terms of how you run a business and how you lead and what makes a good leader and what makes good employees, but they’re all different kinds of careers.”

Paired with executives whose businesses most match their interests, students are gaining knowledge and experience, including developing bids for electrical work, creating concepts for summer jobs

and helping design an interactive landscape for their neighborhood, she said.

The business leaders, many of whom have a deep faith life, have developed their own curriculum for their six meetings with students which often include field trips to their businesses, Murnane said.

“They are faith-filled people,” she said.

“They want to help others. They live their lives helping others. It’s not difficult for students to ask questions and feel comfortable.”

Faith inspires volunteers At times, using Scripture, Al Alexander

said he seeks to teach Donaby and her classmates about education, character and passion as the keys to business success, while showing them what they have to offer. The retired executive vice president of Alquest, a Golden Valley-based clinical research organization and medical device regulatory consulting company, said he’s worked with youth at his church, Christ Community Church in Excelsior, and wants to give back to the community by helping kids from poor backgrounds.

Eighth-grader Arturo Diaz-Martinez is learning to set up a business as he and his group meet with Juan Ramirez, president of Grupo Avance and Marcelita’s Cookies.

He said he’s been surprised at the time and preparation involved. “It helps me a lot because someday I’ll probably want to run my own business and all the stuff I learned will help,” Diaz-Martinez said.

The program is helping students to see that beyond education and planning, success in business involves treating others well, Murnane said. “They’re analyzing what it takes in our everyday lives to make things go, to look like they do, to be progressive, to be successful. They feel very strongly that the leaders listen to them and show respect.”

Alexander also has been impressed by his students. “They have very good social skills,” he said. “They listen well. They’re really learning those principles” of character and discipline.

Helping Donaby and her peers develop character is as important as showing them business practices, Alexander said.

“I think the same principles you need to be successful in business are the same principles you need to be successful in life,” he said. “I hope these kids grow up to be all God made them to be.”

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Catholic Schools Week

FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

23

Schools get creative to integrate English language learners

By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit

Karen Peterson holds up an alphabet book in front of her kindergarten class at Blessed Trinity School in Richfield, then presses “play” on the CD player. On cue, about 20 excited children jump to their feet.

As Peterson turns pages, the children belt out: “A is for apple, a, a, a. B is for bounce, b, b, b . . .” to the “Jeopardy” theme song while pretending to eat an apple, bounce a ball and perform other actions illustrated in Peterson’s book.

The children don’t realize it, but Peterson is using sheltered instruction — a teaching method designed for students who don’t speak fluent English.

About half of Peterson’s students speak a language other than English at home.

With five foreign languages represented, this kindergarten class is particularly diverse, said principal Sue Kerr. “We call it our little United Nations.”

In recent years, Blessed Trinity, like many Catholic schools in the archdiocese, has enrolled a growing number of students whose first language is not English. Lacking the budgets to hire full-time language teachers, Catholic schools have had to find other ways to meet the challenges of mixed-language classrooms.

For the past two years, the archdiocese has provided training and resources for Blessed Trinity and a handful of other urban schools with a high number of English language learners, including St. Matthew in St. Paul and Ascension, Pope

Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit

Kindergarten teacher Karen Peterson uses a special teaching method to help her students, many of whom speak a language other than English at home, learn the alphabet at Blessed Trinity School in Richfield.

John Paul II and Risen Christ in Minneapolis.

With funds from the archdiocese’s Legacy Grant, the archdiocese has contracted professors from Hamline University in St. Paul to conduct teacher workshops in sheltered instruction, provide classroom observation and coaching, and assess students’ language skills. Many of these schools also have formed faculty groups that meet regularly to share best practices.

Every teacher’s job At Blessed Trinity, a preK-8 school

where 36 percent of the student body speaks English as a second language, language instruction is not the job of one teacher, but every teacher, the principal said.

“The things that the teachers do are subtle, things like just slowing down when you’re talking to the kids, . . . using real-life examples, pictorial examples,” Kerr said.

Rather than using a watered-down curriculum for students learning English, sheltered instruction allows for the content to be equal to that of native English

speakers while improving their grasp of the language.

For example, Peterson often asks her kindergartners to repeat what she says to make sure they understand. Or, sometimes she pairs up students to talk about what they did over the weekend before writing in their journals.

“The techniques that you use with English language learners are good for all students,” the 28-year teaching veteran said.

Differentiating instruction, or grouping children according to their ability, is another technique many teachers use for classes with students working on English proficiency.

“If all you do is teach one way to the whole group the whole time, then that would slow down the native English speakers,” said Helen Dahlman, principal at Risen Christ.

But differences among students go beyond language ability, Dahlman pointed out.

“What education as a whole has discovered in the last 20 years is that there are so many different varieties of learners in any particular classroom,” she said. “[Teachers] really have to have multiple groups and multiple ways of teaching so they can challenge those kids who are on the high end . . . as well as giving supports to those children who need it on the other end.

“It makes teaching, as a profession and PLEASE TURN TO CATHOLIC ON PAGE 26

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Catholic Schools Week

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Highland principal wins award The Catholic Spirit Jane Schmidt, principal of Highland Catholic School in St. Paul, will be honored April 26, during the National Catholic Educational Association convention in New Orleans.

Up to 12 principals among nearly 6,000 from across the United States are chosen each year to receive the NCEA Dr. Robert J. Kealey Distinguished Principal Award from the NCEA Department SCHMIDT of Elementary Schools. The award honors distinguished educational leaders from the 12 NCEA geographic regions.

Christian Brother Robert Bimonte, NCEA DES director, said all awardees have served as principals for at least five years in a Catholic elementary school.

“Each of these outstanding educators embodies the very best of Catholic education,” Brother Robert said.

Schmidt began her career in Catholic education in 1978 and has been at High-

land Catholic School for 23 years. She received a Van Lunan Fellowship, was published in “Daily Prayer in the Classroom” by Liturgical Press and has served on several local committees for Catholic school principals.

In the essay letter that Schmidt submitted, she noted that she has a sign in the school office that reads, “‘Tell the kids I love them.’ — God,” which captures the essence of her philosophy of Catholic education. “It could also appropriately read ‘Show the Children I Love Them,’ since that is what we do at Highland Catholic,” she added.

A letter from her superintendent said that Schmidt “models our faith and has an intrinsic desire to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone she meets.”

A description of Schmidt from Brian Bruess, a parent and former school committee chair said, “Jane gets stuff done!” and that “stuff” was an entire slate of policies — Internet use policy, code of conduct, uniform policy, human resources policy, curriculum development review process, faculty development, and the list goes on.

Hill-Murray principal named president Susan Paul was appointed president of Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, effective immediately.

Dan Steichen, chair of the Hill-Murray trustees board announced the appointment Jan. 28.

Paul, who has served nearly 20 years as Hill-Murray principal, has been serving as interim president.

PAUL She holds bachelor degrees in religious studies and religious education from St. Mary’s College,

TheCatholicSpirit.com

as well as a master’s in private secondary school administration and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of St. Thomas. She spent 10 years at Totino-Grace High School as a religious studies teacher and campus ministry director before joining Hill-Murray in 1991 as principal.

Over the past 20 years, Paul has focused on accelerating Hill-Murray’s academic standards with a rigorous Catholic college-preparatory curriculum that begins in middle school, inspired by the Benedictine values of spirituality, stability and service to the community, according to Steichen.

Catholic Schools Week Visit a Catholic school near you Open house and kindergarten night at Pope John Paul II School, Minneapolis — Feb. 3: 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 1630 Fourth St. N.E. For information, call (612) 7898851.

Open house at St. Thomas More School, St. Paul — Feb. 3: 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 106 Summit Ave. Open house at St. Pascal Baylon School, St. Paul — Feb. 3: 5 and 6 p.m. at 1757 Conway St. For students entering grades K-8. For information, visit WWW.STPASCALS.ORG or call (651) 776-0092.

Learning fair and open house at Blessed Trinity School, Richfield — Feb. 3: Fair at 6:30 p.m. and tours at 7 p.m.

at 6730 Nicollet Ave. S. For information, call (612) 869-6906.

Kindergarten information night at St. Jerome School, Maplewood — Feb. 7: 7 p.m. at 384 Roselawn Ave. E. For children entering kindergarten in the fall.

For information, call (651) 771-8494.

Kindergarten information session at St. Joseph School, West St. Paul — Feb. 7: 7 p.m. at 1138 Seminole Ave. For information, call (651) 457-8550.

Kindergarten round-up at Highland Catholic School, St. Paul — Feb. 10: 9 a.m. at 2017 Bohland Ave. For information, call (651) 690-2477 or visit WWW.HIGHLANDCATHOLIC.ORG.

FEBRUARY 3, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

25

Catholic schools by the numbers The following information from the National Catholic Educational Association about Catholic schools is online at www.NCEA.ORG, where full reports may be purchased.

■ 24 new schools opened; 174 consolidated or closed.

■ 1,797 schools have a waiting list for admission.

The student/teacher ratio is 14:1.

Enrollment ■ Total students for the current academic year: 2,119,341 — 1,507,618 elementary and middle school; 611,723 secondary school.

■ Minority students: 632,590, 29.8 percent of the total.

■ Non-Catholics: 307,875, 14.5 percent of the total.

Schools ■ 7,094 schools: 5,889 elementary; 1,205 secondary.

Professional staff ■ Full-time equivalent staff: 154,316 — 96.3 percent laity (75.5 percent women; 20.8 percent men) — 3.7 percent religious/clergy (2.7 percent sisters; .5 percent brothers; .5 percent clergy).

Average nationwide tuition ■ Elementary/middle: $3,383.

■ High school: $8,182.

JERICO CHRISTIAN JOURNEYS Guadalupe-Mexico City March 16-20, 2011 Guadalupe-Mexico City Sept. 19-26, 2011 Fr. Mark Willenbring, Spiritual Director

EWTN - Irondale & Hanceville, Alabama April 13-17, 2011 + Weekend Retreat at Casa Maria-Irondale

Holy Week in the Holy Land April 15-25, 2011 Holy Land and Jordan May 16-27 Optional Egypt Extension May 27-30, 2011

Green Bay Wisconsin Shrine of Our Lady of Good Hope Bishop Ricken issues formal decree.

1st Marian apparition approved by the church in USA Motorcoach from Twin City area Pending Dates June 9-10, 2011 & July 7-8, 2011 For further information/brochures, call:

Toll-free 1-877-453-7426 19091 Island View Drive, Mora, MN 55051-7304 www.jericojourneys.com

Stewardship A Way of Life Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Saturday, February 26 — 9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Pax Christi Catholic Community, Eden Prairie

2011 ARCHDIOCESAN STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE Stewardship a Way of Life: Building Vibrant, Engaged Communities To register call 651-290-1610 Featuring 3 highly regarded national experts: Father Daniel Mahan, executive director of the Marian University Center for Catholic Stewardship in Indianapolis, author of More than Silver or Gold: Homilies of a Stewardship Priest.

Mr. Jim Kelley, president and chairman of the board of the International Catholic Stewardship Conference and director of development for the Diocese of Charlotte, NC. Author of The Stewardship Manual: A Guide for Individuals and Parishes Developing Stewardship as a Way of Life, plus Sustaining and Strengthening Stewardship.

Ms. Leisa Anslinger, nationally recognized speaker and author of Forming Generous Hearts: Stewardship Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation.

JUST FOR PRIESTS A Roundtable discussion and boxed lunch

Stewardship is an Integral Part of your Parish’s Mission Presented by Fr. Daniel Mahan

Friday, February 25, 2011 • 11:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Hayden Center • 328 Kellogg Blvd W. • Saint Paul, MN 55102

26

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

Catholic Schools Week

Catholic schools continue tradition of educating immigrants CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 as a craft, much more intricate and challenging,” Dahlman added. “That’s why professional development has to be very intensive and ongoing.”

Ten years ago, the number of English language learners at Risen Christ was so low the school didn’t keep records of

them. Now, as more immigrant families have moved to the area, 64 percent of students at the K-8 school speak a language other than English at home.

Students who start school speaking little to no English spend some one-on-one time with an ESL teacher, but they also attend classes with their native-English-

speaking peers.

To better communicate with Spanishspeaking families, Risen Christ has made Spanish fluency a requirement for its secretaries. About a dozen other staff members are bilingual.

her how grateful they are that their children are getting a Catholic education.

“I have never seen this much appreciation for kids going to Catholic school,” Sister Jancy said. “I think we are doing mission work right now, right here.”

Small school, big challenge

Reaping benefits

Some rural schools also are enrolling more English language learners.

Last year, when several Latino families asked Father Thomas Joseph, who celebrates Spanish language Masses at Guardian Angels in Chaska, about enrolling their children in Catholic school, the priest brought their requests to Franciscan Sister Jancy Nedumkallel, principal at nearby St. Bernard in Cologne.

With fewer than 50 students at the preK-6 school at the time, St. Bernard was under review by the archdiocese to determine its viability. Sister Jancy saw the prospective students as an answer to her prayers. But, having learned English in school herself, the India native was well aware of the challenges she and the teachers would face to meet the students’ needs.

“First of all, I prepared the teachers to handle them,” Sister Jancy said.

Sometimes they spend extra time working with the English language learners during recess, she said.

The school also acquired Title I funding to hire a part-time ESL teacher.

The students have made great progress in their language acquisition, Sister Jancy said. And their parents have expressed to

Although Catholic schools have had to apply some creativity to meet the needs of fast-changing demographics, the efforts appear to be paying off.

At Blessed Trinity, 86 percent of the student body met its target growth for the 2009-10 school year, according to a standardized test students took in the fall and again in the spring. “When you consider our population, that’s pretty amazing,” Kerr said.

Opening their doors to a diverse range of students has paid dividends in some unexpected ways, as well.

Four years ago, when more Latino students began attending Blessed Trinity, former principal Kim Doyle told The Catholic Spirit that the children got along well, but some parents were having a more difficult time adjusting to change at the school. Today, Kerr said, that is no longer a problem.

Some of the Latina mothers at the school recently organized a cooking class for the U.S.-born parents. “We tried to communicate as best we could with one another and learned how to make tamales,” Kerr said. “Little things like that are helping the parents to get to know each other better and to get over the language barrier.”

That’s how many ways, both in print and online, The Catholic Spirit touches your life. By: 1) Providing clear Catholic teaching.

2) Enriching with facts people’s conversations about our faith.

3) Challenging Catholics to live morally and justly.

4) Inspiring noble acts.

5) Deepening spiritual and prayer life.

6) Celebrating Catholic traditions, 7) Strengthening Catholic identity.

8) Enlivening our Catholic community into action.

nows k n e Heav s nothing ’ there ke it. li

The Catholic Spirit News with a Catholic heart www.TheCatholicSpirit.com

Program promotes close interaction and responsibility CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21 each new school year.

Eighth-grader Rachael Collins worked with her group on a fleece blanket, perched on the floor right beside kindergartners, first-graders and fourth-graders.

“I like the interaction with the little kids,” said Collins, who has sisters in fifth and third grades at the school. “It’s fun to lead the lessons and have the kids answer my questions.”

Proud of the family Each week prior to a Family Circle gathering, the eighth-graders receive a copy of the stories, questions and other guidelines.

“We go over everything in class on Wednesdays, but I usually look it over one more time at home,” she said.

Ian Hubbard, who is in fourth grade, said he really likes being part of his Family Circle.

“You can learn some stuff for religion and I like the stories, too,” he said, describing his group leader, eighth-grader Isaac Adams, as “really cool.”

During the school Marathon for NonPublic Education last fall, the students walked around the school campus in their Family Circle groups. Joseph said he has also heard from parents who say their kids will point out members of their Family Circle at church on Sunday.

“I think it’s been a real plus for our school,” he said. “We have a very strong community here.”

27

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • FEBRUARY 3, 2011

2011 MN Catholic Directory for sale CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5 New Ulm, St. Cloud and Winona.

Priests, deacons and men and women religious who serve in Minnesota are all listed by name. The 360page directory lets readers know who to contact and how to reach them at every Catholic school, institution, ministry, and dozens of organizations and associations that operate under Catholic auspices.

The Official Minnesota Catholic Directory has been published since 1962 by The Catholic Spirit Publishing Co. and its predecessor, the Catholic Bulletin Publishing Co. This year, once again, the directory is published with the assistance and sponsorship of Catholic Finance Corporation, which furthers the mission and the ministry of the Catholic Church by assisting parishes, schools and religious institutions and Catholic organizations with temporal matters.

Since last June, the Minnesota Catholic Directory has been available online, too. Online subscriptions are always on sale at WWW.MNCATHOLICDIRECTORY .COM, including plans that combine both a print copy of the book plus online access. The online directory is updated 24/7, 365 days a year.

Want to check out the web directory? You can for free with the available one-hour demo plan.

To purchase the print 2011 Official Minnesota Catholic Directory, call (651) 291-4444, or order online at WWW.THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. The directory retails for $44.95 (plus $3 postage and handling). To order by mail, send a check for $47.95 to: Minnesota Catholic Directory, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.

New D.C. university president says Catholic intellectual life needs renewal Catholic News Service Calling for a rebirth in Catholic intellectual life, a pursuit that leads to virtue, John Garvey was sworn in Jan. 25 as the 15th president of The Catholic University of America in Washington.

“As Pope Benedict said at this university in 2008, ‘this is a place to encounter the living God. . . . This relationship elicits a desire to grow in the knowledge and understanding of Christ and his teaching,’” Garvey said in his inaugural address.

Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Catholic University’s chancellor, was the main celebrant and homilist for the inaugural Mass, celGARVEY ebrated at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

He was joined by Chicago Cardinal Francis George, Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley, as well as Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States, and by more than a dozen bishops from around the United States — including Archbishop John Nienstedt, one of the university’s trustees.

“The Catholic University is a university — a community of scholars united in a common effort to find goodness, truth and beauty,” said Garvey, 62, who was dean of Boston College’s Law School when he was appointed to his new post.

“The intellectual life, like the acquisition of virtue, is a communal, not a solitary, undertaking. We learn from

each other,” he continued. “The intellectual culture we create is the product of our collective effort.”

No conflict between faith, reason In his address, Garvey, who is Catholic University’s third lay president, also talked about the secular concept of a conflict between faith and reason.

“The story of this war is so familiar that we often redescribe the conflict of faith and reason as a conflict of religion and science,” he said. “And the challenge for Catholic universities is finding a place for Bibles and papal decrees between our telescopes and microscopes.”

One way to counter that notion, he said, is to examine the role of virtue in intellectual and campus life.

“A Catholic university should be concerned with the formation of its students. Campus ministry, residence life, service opportunities, athletics, and student activities are an integral part of our mission,” Garvey said.

“The measure of our success is how our graduates live their daily lives: Do they pray and receive the sacraments; do they love the poor; do they observe the rest of the beatitudes?”

These days, ethics classes are popular in secular universities, he said. But does that go far enough? he asked.

He proposed that “we do not come to understand what is right, or good, or beautiful, through mental exercises conducted from an armchair.”

He added, “We come to know virtue by seeing it, we learn from virtue by practicing it, we become virtuous when our practice makes it habitual, a part of our character.”

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“The measure of our success is how our graduates live their daily lives: Do they pray and receive the sacraments; do they love the poor; do they observe the rest of the beatitudes?”

John Garvey, new president of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Overheard 28 The Catholic Spirit Quotes from this week’s newsmakers F 3, 2011 Father Reiser named one of Eleven Who Care Catholic Spirit staffer safe EBRUARY

Father Bernard Reiser received the Eleven Who Care award for his priestly contribution and support of Haiti projects through Reiser Relief Inc., a nonprofit organization he founded to help the poor people in Haiti (WWW.REISERRELIEF.ORG).

The founding pastor emeritus of Epiphany in Coon Rapids, Father Reiser was ordained in 1949 and has devoted The his life to Catholic Spirit serving the needs of others in the parishes he has served and the poor in Haiti.

Reiser Relief Inc. supports two primary schools, Terre Promise and the Reiser Heights Primary. It also is in the FATHER REISER process of building Grace Village in Haiti, which will include Maranatha Orphanage for deaf, handicapped, orphaned and abandoned children living in severe poverty. A separate facility will be constructed to care of for the elderly.

Father Reiser’s story aired during recent Kare 11 News programs.

Read more at WWW.KARE11.COM.

News Notes

Baby blessing The Woodbury Pregnancy Options Center held a blessing ceremony Jan. 24 for its new

ultrasound machine, donated by members of the Minnesota Knights of Columbus. The Ultrasound machine was purchased with matching funds from the Knights of Columbus Culture of Life Fund. The machine was blessed and dedicated by Father Shane Campbell, associate pastor of St. Ambrose of Woodbury and one of more than 44,000 members in the Minnesota KCs. The KCs reported that up to 90 percent of women considering an abortion choose to have their baby after seeing an ultrasound image. The Knights started the Ultrasound Initiative program in 2010. Matching funds are raised at a local level to supply the machines to qualified centers at no charge.

Plans are in the works to soon donate machines in St. Paul and Stillwater, with more to follow throughout the state.

If you are interested in helping the Knights of Columbus with this or any other project, call (320) 587-0747 or visit WWW.MNKNIGHTS.ORG.

Religious educated Women entering religious orders today are highly educated and active in parish ministries, according to a new national survey.

The results of “The Profession Class of 2010: Survey of Women Religious Professing Perpetual Vows” were released in advance of World Day for Consecrated Life Feb. 2.

It was conducted by the Georgetown University-based

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate and commissioned by the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations.

Major superiors of women religious who participated in the survey reported a total of 79 women who professed perpetual vows in 2010. Of that number, 68 responded by Dec. 15, representing 52 religious congregations, provinces or monasteries, according to a news release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Eighty-four percent of the major superiors who responded to the survey reported they had no one professing perpetual vows last year. Read the complete story on the study at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

‘The Rite’ is No. 1 The movie “The Rite,” a fictionalized version of the exorcism training of Father Gary Thomas of the Diocese of San Jose, Calif., was number one at the box office last weekend, making over $15 million.

John Mulderig from Catholic News Service gave the movie — which is based on journalist Matt Baglio’s 2009 book, “The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist,” — a good review, saying, “though shaky on a few details, director Mikael Hafstrom’s conversion tale resoundingly affirms faith and the value of priestly ministry.”

The review has been a popular story on The Catholic Spirit’s website. To read the review, visit THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.

in Egypt, amid protests The Catholic Spirit

Rather than exploring the history of Egypt, John Wolszon, production supervisor at The Catholic Spirit newspaper in St. Paul, and his wife, Mary Jo, members of St. Mary in Stillwater, have been thrust into the midst of history-making events.

The couple left Jan. 20 for a month-long trip-of-a-lifetime to see and experience some of the world’s greatest treasures and to visit their daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Enal Hussein, and their three grandchildren, Maleka, 9, Daliah, 5, and Tamer, 2. Enal is an Egyptian native, and he, Angela and the children are currently living there.

At home in Stillwater, daughter Michelle Nelson said Jan. 31 that she and her brother, Brad Wolszon, “spent a tough weekend [Jan. 28-30] WOLSZON waiting to hear from them.”

Late Jan. 31, Nelson finally talked to her parents and then put this post on Facebook: “The family in Egypt is OK! They are being well protected and have plenty of food, etc. They are not in any fear. If the situation progresses they will consider leaving, but for now they are choosing to stay. They say the media is blowing it way out of proportion. Thank you for all your prayers!!!!”

In a phone interview Feb. 1, Nelson said the cell phone call with her parents was cut off, just as the Internet was reporting another shut down of Internet and cell phone service in Egypt.

Earlier Jan. 31, Nelson said that she had not talked with her parents since Jan. 27, when Egyptians began protesting the leadership of President Hosni Mubarak.

“The day it started, they were right where the demonstration was,” she said. “It was a peaceful demonstration when they were there.”

Nelson said that her parents told her late Jan. 31 that they contacted the U.S. Embassy and have a “plan in place,” if they have to leave Egypt earlier than their scheduled Feb. 16 departure. “Dad said he’s not leaving until he sees the pyramids,” Nelson said.

Now that her earlier concerns have been allayed, Nelson said she is OK with their decision.

“The people over there are good people. I think it’s a great thing that they are fighting for,” she said.