Why I am Catholic

By Xander Broeffle

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

I am a Catholic because God has called me to be one from the very beginning. All my internal values and beliefs align incredibly well with this Church.

In addition to the above, here are some other reasons I am a Catholic:

I believe in the importance of tradition. The Catholic Church has a rich history and tradition that I find deeply meaningful.

I believe in the importance of community. The Catholic Church is a global community. I feel a strong sense of belonging when I am part of this community.

I believe in the importance of social justice. The Catholic Church has a long history of working for social justice. I am inspired by the Church’s commitment to helping the poor and those in need.

I am grateful for the gift of my faith, and I am excited to see where God leads me in the future. I believe that the Catholic Church is the best place for me to grow in my relationship with God and to serve others.

Broeffle, 36, is a member of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. He is the father of Frances, 2, and has been married to Emily for eight years. He enjoys spending quality time with his family and playing and collecting video games. Broeffle works from home as a revenue operations consultant and podcast host for CS2, an agency that helps companies optimize marketing and sales. He says he is blessed in more ways than he could ever imagine and tries to give back whenever possible.

“Why I am Catholic” is an ongoing series in The Catholic Spirit. Want to share why you are Catholic? Submit your story in 300-500 words to CatholiCSpirit@arChSpm org with subject line “Why I am Catholic.”

Rummage Sale — Aug. 10-11: 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Aug. 10; 7 a.m.–2 p.m. Aug. 11, (Bag Day); at St. Victoria, 8828 Victoria Drive, Victoria. Clothing, shoes, toys, household goods, collectibles, garden, tools, furniture and more. StviCtoria net

Spirit and Fire — Aug. 11: 6:30–8:30 p.m. at St. Rose of Lima, 2048 Hamline Ave. N., Roseville. Praise and adoration, teaching and testimonies, with prayer for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Prayer teams and confession available. Worship music by Alex Schindler. SaintroSeoflima net/newS/Spirit-and-fire

Grief to Grace MN: Healing the Wounds of Abuse

— Aug. 15-20. Five-day, overnight program for anyone who has suffered degradation or violation from physical, emotional, spiritual, clerical or sexual abuse. A traumainformed model of care that is a safe and hopeful path to restoring dignity — a therapy for the soul. This is a confidential Twin Cities location due to the nature of the event. Address provided directly to registrants. For additional information visit grieftograCemn org

Blessed Is She: Burn Revival — Aug. 18: 7–9 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace, 5426 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis.

Women invited to join in prayer with the Blessed is She community, to worship and listen to a talk by Beth Davis. Enter into a Holy Hour with confession available. bleSSediSShe net/produCtS/burn-revival-for-CatholiC-womenminneapoliS-mn

Catholic Social Difference Speaker Series — Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 14, 21: 7–8:15 p.m. at Assumption, 51 7th St. W., St. Paul. A four-week series of conversations with local Catholic leaders (see website for speakers) introducing Catholic social teaching and imagining how to practice it in real life. Talks are free and open to the public. For more information and to register, visit CatholiCSoCialthought org/2023-CatholiC-SoCial-differenCe-Conf

Walk for Life — Aug. 12: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Eastview

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 desire common between married men and women — and the conflicts that can result — was neither a problem to be ignored nor a glitch in need of a technological fix. Instead, Wollstonecraft argued, it was an opportunity for spouses to grow in virtue — and in particular for men to grow in chastity and continence.

High School (athletic field), 6200 140th St. W., Apple Valley. Fun, food and fellowship to raise funds for Pregnancy Choices life care center and educational materials. Visit knightSforlifemn org for additional information or to donate online.

“Fully Alive” Art Show — Aug. 13: 2:30–4:30 p.m. at Dunrovin Retreat Center, 15525 St. Croix Trail N., Marine on St. Croix. Local Catholic artist Madeline Orsinger explores the line attributed to St. Irenaeus, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Open gallery with refreshments

2:30–4:30 p.m. Artist talk at 3 p.m. madelineorSinger Com/fully-alive

St. Joe’s Nickle Dickle 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament — Sept. 16: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic School, 41 E. First St., Waconia. The 30th annual outdoor three-on-three basketball tournament, features divisions from third grade to adults over 35. $72 per team. A 3-point shootout and slam dunk contest at 6:15 p.m. niCklediCkle Com

Catholic Studies Alumni Event — Sept. 21: 5–8 p.m. at O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co., 600 Malcolm Ave. SE, Minneapolis. Alumni from the classes of 2013-2023 and their guests are invited to celebrate 30 years of this life-changing program. Jonathan Liedl (2016 CSMA) will moderate a panel of special guests. Registration required. Limit two tickets per person.

CaS StthomaS edu/departmentS/areaS-of-Study/CatholiCStudieS/30th-anniverSary/index html

Catholic Softball Group: Fall Season —

Aug. 17-Oct. 19: 6–10 p.m. at Pioneer Park, 2950 Centerville Road, Little Canada. Join the email list to be notified of all events at: CatholiCSoftball Com/join Must be 18 or older to play. Come play or watch every Thursday. Make new friends and grow in faith. CatholiCSoftball Com and CatholiCSoftballgroup@gmail Com or 612-578-4446

Career Transition Group — Third Thursdays: 7:30–8:30 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Wayzata. Speakers on topics to help people look

“The two sexes mutually corrupt and improve each other,” she once wrote.

“This I believe to be an indisputable truth, extending it to every virtue.”

Wollstonecraft’s vision of men and women virtuously finding harmony in and through — not in spite of— their unique and complementary differences should sound familiar — because in many respects, it is the Church’s vision, too.

As the Catechism teaches, “God for a job, change careers or enhance job skills. Network with others, resume review. hnoj org/Career-tranSition-group

Caregivers Support Group — Third Thursdays: 6:30 p.m. at Guardian Angels, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. For those challenges of life, health, career and caring for an aging parent, grandparent, or spouse. tinyurl Com/yCxxCtxx

Healing Hope grief support — Second and fourth Thursdays: 6 p.m. at St. Timothy, 707 89th Ave. NE, Blaine. Facilitated by Bob Bartlett, licensed therapist. No fees or required registration. ChurChofSttimothy Com

Job transitions and networking group — Tuesdays: 7–8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane, Maple Grove. Contact Bob at bob Sjtw@gmail Com Sjtw net/job-tranSition-networking-group

Natural Family Planning (NFP) — Church-approved ways to achieve or postpone pregnancy while embracing the beauty of God’s gift of sexuality. For a complete list of classes visit arChSpm org/family or call 651-291-4489.

Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) Third Sundays: 2–4 p.m. at St. Leonard of Port Maurice, 3949 Clinton Ave. S., Minneapolis. Lay Catholic men and women striving to observe the Gospel of Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis. 651-724-1348 created man and woman together and willed each for the other.” Men and women “were made ‘for each other’ — not that God left them half-made and incomplete: He created them to be a communion of persons, in which each be ‘helpmate’ to the other, for they are equal as persons (‘bone of my bones…’) and complementary as masculine and feminine.”

Restorative Support for Victims-Survivors — Monthly: 6:30–8 p.m. via Zoom. Open to all victimssurvivors. Victim-survivor support group for those abused by clergy as adults — first Mondays. Support group for relatives or friends of victims of clergy sexual abuse — second Mondays. Victim-survivor support group — third Mondays. Survivor Peace Circle — third Tuesdays. Support group for men who have been sexually abused by clergy/religious — fourth Wednesdays. Support group for present and former employees of faith-based institutions who have experienced abuse in any of its many forms — second Thursdays.

Visit arChSpm org/healing or contact Paula Kaempffer, outreach coordinator for Restorative Justice and Abuse Prevention, at kaempfferp@arChSpm org or 651-291-4429.

This is the only way to resolve the battle of the sexes — not by achieving an

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TheCatholiCSpirit Com/CalendarSubmiSSionS empty “coexistence” nor by separating from the enemy — but by men and women recognizing and embracing the fact that the only way to win is to do so together, in mutual interdependence, starting with our own marriages, interactions and relationships.

Liedl, a Twin Cities resident, is a senior editor of the National Catholic Register and a graduate student in theology at The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul.

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