The Catholic Spirit - December 19, 2019

December 19, 2019 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

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Santa is real A member of Epiphany in Coon Rapids brings his own “ho, ho, ho” and the real meaning of Christmas to children and adults across the archdiocese. — Pages 10-11

Deacons ordained Ten men answer Jesus’ call to serve the Church as they are ordained to the permanent diaconate. — Page 5

Exodus 2.0 Catholic Charities is expanding help for homeless near downtown Minneapolis with new site for its Exodus Residence. — Page 6

Bishop laid to rest

Oh joy, for Christ is born!

Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth, once a priest of the archdiocese, is mourned at funeral; one of his brothers, a priest of the Duluth diocese, delivers the homily. — Page 12

This stained glass window of Mary holding Jesus is located at St. Peter Claver in St. Paul. It was created by St. Paul artist Seitu Kenneth Jones and installed in 2009.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis presents its 2019 financial report.

Father DeGrood in Savage named bishop of Sioux Falls

Financial look

— Pages 17-18

We are taking a Christmas break! Look for our next issue Jan. 16.

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‘Farm boy at heart’ looks forward to rural ministry in S.D. Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood talks with parishioners of St. John the Baptist in Savage after celebrating the 9 a.m. Mass and informing them of his new assignment as Bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D.

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

I

mmediately after getting the call from the U.S. apostolic nuncio asking him to be bishop of Sioux Falls, Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood went to the adoration chapel to pray. He felt unsure about what was going on, but, he said, “God gave me a very particular grace to say, ‘I want you to say yes, and I will give you everything you need.’ And it was that grace that brought tremendous peace and joy that has continued to resonate in my heart.” Because of that grace, he feels confident that his appointment is God’s will, Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood, 54, said at a press conference Dec. 12 in Sioux Falls following the 5 a.m. announcement that Pope Francis named him the ninth bishop of that diocese. He succeeds Bishop Paul Swain, who

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last year turned 75, the traditional age at which bishops retire. “My desire has been as a priest to do God’s will,” said Bishop-elect DeGrood, who is currently pastor of St. John the Baptist in Savage. “My primary desire in my heart is to be holy and to help everyone experience the love of God, and that’s going to be certainly a very strong,

prominent focus of my time in the diocese.” That the announcement was made on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe was significant for him because Mary “has a special place in my heart,” he said. PLEASE TURN TO BISHOP-ELECT ON PAGE 8

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DECEMBER 19, 2019

PAGETWO LOOKING back The following 10 stories were among the most read local news stories in 2019 at TheCatholicSpirit.com.

1

Father Donald DeGrood, pastor of St. John the Baptist in Savage, is appointed bishop of the Diocese of Soux Falls, South Dakota. A native of Faribault, Bishop-elect DeGrood said after receiving the Dec. 12 call from the U.S. apostolic nuncio he went to the adoration chapel to pray, and he received from God the grace to say yes. His ordination will be Feb. 13.

2

Officials at St. Mark in St. Paul restructure the parish school. Because of a sharp decline in attendance and rising costs, school officials said April 26 they would open only their preschool in fall 2019, closing the kindergarten through eighth-grade classrooms. School leaders expressed hope that they might eventually rebuild the school grade by grade.

3

Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth dies Dec. 1 after a heart attack at age 59. A native of Minneapolis who was raised in Bloomington, he served 10 years as bishop. Archbishop Bernard Hebda was the principal celebrant at his Dec. 6 funeral in Duluth. One of his brothers, Father Joseph Sirba, also of the Duluth diocese, gave the homily, recalling the bishop as a “good shepherd” who knew his sheep.

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BLESSED ‘HERMANO SANTIAGO’ A clergyman distributes Communion during the beatification Mass of Blessed James Miller in Huehuetenango, Guatemala. A Christian Brother and former teacher at Cretin High School in St. Paul, Brother Miller was beatified Dec. 7 with a celebration on the soccer fields of the school he once served in Huehuetenango. Blessed Miller was remembered as a martyr for education, whose commitment to teaching, mentoring and protecting the young Mayan men in his care — amid the atrocities of Guatemala’s civil war — cost him his life. On Feb. 13, 1982, while many of the young men in the Casa Indigena were attending a Valentine’s Day picnic, Blessed Miller was shot in broad daylight by three assailants while he was up on a ladder, fixing the boarding home’s exterior wall. The Lasallian Christian Brothers and Diocese of Huehuetenango sought the beatification of Blessed Miller, along with other Catholic martyrs from Guatemala’s 1960-1996 civil war. The Casa Indigena school continues to educate students from across Guatemala’s western highlands, a mountainous region of Mayan villages rife with outward migration and suffering high rates of poverty and child malnutrition. For more stories of Brother Miller’s life, death and beatification, visit TheCatholicSpirit.com.

The Catholic Spirit takes a close look at keeping the faith in the new Northeast. That part of Minneapolis includes fifth-generation residents but also trendy restaurants, a thriving arts scene, hip bars and breweries. The area’s 13 Catholic churches and chapels reach out to an emerging demographic of newly-arrived immigrants and people under 30.

5

Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn dies Sept. 22 at age 86 in St. Paul. More than 2,000 people attended his Sept. 30 funeral at the Cathedral of St. Paul, including hundreds of laypeople, a U.S. cardinal, a dozen bishops, priests, seminarians, and religious brothers and sisters. “Archbishop Flynn was a wonderful, wonderful human being,” Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, a former seminary student of Archbishop Flynn’s, said in his homily.

6

Archbishop Bernard Hebda joins his voice to a call for Minnesota to issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants. Calling it a “moral imperative” as families seek stable lives in the state, the archbishop spoke along with business and farm groups, law enforcement and immigration advocates at a February news conference at the State Capitol. Minnesota Catholic Conference also lobbied for the change. The House, controlled by Democrats, approved the plan, but the Republican-controlled Senate didn’t vote on it.

7

A statue of Mary is vandalized at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Several students criticized the administration for what they perceived as an inadequate response to the March 3 incident, and nearly 200 university students and staff held a prayer procession March 21 as an act of reparation for the vandalism. St. Thomas President Julie Sullivan and Richard Plumb, executive vice president and provost, condemned the vandalism in a letter March 12 and held a listening session for students March 20.

8

An April 17 bomb threat at the University of St. Thomas prompts university officials to close the St. Paul campus. Three buildings also were evacuated. No suspicious objects were discovered and the university issued an “all clear” by late that afternoon. Similar threats were made Aug. 20 and Sept. 17, prompting more action on the part of the university. A student later was arrested in the case.

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A priest who served 42 years in northeast Minneapolis dies June 11 and is remembered fondly as the “Pope of Nordeast.” Father Earl Simonson was 89. He was pastor of St. Clement from 1977 to 2012, then pastor emeritus of Holy Cross until his death; 2019 marked his 50th anniversary in the priesthood.

10 COURTESY BISHOP-ELECT DONALD DEGROOD

MITRE MISCHIEF Members of Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood’s family surprised him at a family Christmas celebration at his mother’s home near Faribault Dec. 15 wearing homemade mitres to commemorate his Dec. 12 appointment as the ninth bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D. They even handed him a special “croiser”: his grandfather’s cane. His reaction: “Oh my gosh,” he told The Catholic Spirit. Read more on pages 1 and 8.

The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 24 — No. 24 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor-in-Chief JOE RUFF, News Editor

Ben Hoffman, the oldest of three brothers sexually abused by former priest Curtis Wehmeyer, shares his story with The Catholic Spirit. In an article published May 2, Hoffman talked about the pain he endured and his path back to the Catholic Church. He credits now Bishop-elect DeGrood as having an important role in his healing. Hoffman said he shares his story at retreats and other opportunities, and he wants to dedicate his life to ministry. He hopes his story inspires his siblings’ faith, too, and he prays for Wehmeyer, that the former priest might receive God’s mercy and salvation.

Materials credited to CNS copy­righted by Catholic News Service. All other materials copyrighted by The Cath­olic Spirit Newspaper. Subscriptions: $29.95 per year: Senior 1-year: $24.95: To subscribe: (651) 291-4444: Display Advertising: (651) 291-4444; Classified Advertising: (651) 290-1631. Published semi-monthly by the Office of Communications, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857 • (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, 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106-3857. TheCatholicSpirit.com • email: tcssubscriptions@archspm.org • USPS #093-580

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3

FROMTHEBISHOP ONLY JESUS | BISHOP ANDREW COZZENS

The Incarnation changes everything “T

he Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). With these words, St. John invites us into the mystery of the Incarnation. The eternal God, who is the source and creator of all things, who is completely holy, who is all-powerful, entered the mess of our world and became one of us, taking our human flesh. The depth of this mystery which we celebrate at Christmas beckons us to see how we must allow the incarnation of the Son of God to transform everything. We know well the problems of our world. We are so inundated with the distressing reality around us that we become numb to the pain. How many shootings and terrorist attacks this year? How much have abuse and suicide grown in our culture of death? How much vitriol and division in our politics? How many natural disasters? How many refugees fleeing war and violence are living in desperate situations? We could make a long list of the disaster wrought by sin in our world and even in our Church. The world we live in is a fallen place, far from the truth of its creation when God saw that it was very good (Gn 1:31). However, Christmas reminds us that God did not leave us orphans. Rather, he entered into the brokenness of our world in order to save us from the destruction and death wrought by sin. He came to set things right and to heal all creation. As the Scriptures proclaimed the Messiah would do: “Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips. Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the

La Encarnación cambia todo “El Verbo se hizo carne e hizo su morada entre nosotros, y vimos su gloria, la gloria como del Hijo único del Padre, llena de gracia y de verdad” (Jn 1, 14). Con estas palabras, San Juan nos invita al misterio de la encarnación. El Dios eterno, que es la fuente y creador de todas las cosas, que es completamente santo, que es todopoderoso, entró en el lío de nuestro mundo y se convirtió en uno de nosotros, tomando nuestra carne humana. La profundidad de este misterio que celebramos en Navidad nos invita a ver cómo debemos permitir que la encarnación del Hijo de Dios lo transforme todo. Conocemos bien los problemas de nuestro mundo. Estamos tan inundados de la angustiosa realidad que nos rodea que nos entumecemos ante el dolor. ¿Cuántos tiroteos y ataques terroristas este año? ¿Cuánto han crecido el abuso y el suicidio en nuestra cultura de la muerte? ¿Cuánto vitriolo y división en nuestra política? ¿Cuántos desastres naturales? ¿Cuántos refugiados que huyen de la guerra y la violencia viven en situaciones desesperadas? Podríamos hacer una larga lista del desastre causado por el pecado en nuestro mundo e incluso en nuestra Iglesia. El mundo en el que vivimos es un lugar caído, lejos de la verdad de su creación cuando Dios vio que era muy bueno (Gn 1, 31). Sin embargo, la Navidad nos recuerda que Dios no nos dejó huérfanos. Más bien, entró en la quebrantamiento de nuestro mundo para salvarnos de la destrucción y muerte causada por el pecado. Vino a preparar las cosas y a sanar toda la creación. Como proclamaron las Escrituras, el Mesías haría: “La justicia será la banda alrededor de su cintura, y la fidelidad un cinturón sobre sus caderas. Entonces el lobo será un invitado del cordero, y el leopardo se acostará con el niño; el ternero y el león joven navegarán juntos, con un

young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them” (Is 11:5-6). He came to begin a new kingdom, “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace” an eternal and universal kingdom where all can live in holiness as his children,” as the preface for the Mass of Christ the King states. But he is not like the kings of this world. The poverty of his birth and death reveal that his kingdom and the transformation he brings will be very different from the leaders of this world. Rather, his kingdom grows hidden and slow like the seed that is sown. Jesus does not overthrow the evil of this world or end its suffering. Rather, he enters into suffering to transform it with his love. This is why the Word becomes flesh, and it is what we, his followers, are called to imitate. Its transformation comes from within the human heart as we begin to understand and share Jesus’ life. As we allow our lives to be transformed by his grace through the sacraments and grow in love and imitation of him through his Word, we become the Body of Christ. The Church is meant to continue the Incarnation in the world throughout all time. He fills us with his divine life so that we can be transformed and begin to transform our world. Understanding two central aspects of this transformation which he showed us is critical: No. 1: The fullness of life will only come when he returns to fully establish his kingdom; until then it will remain hidden and poor. No. 2: The transformation will come from our following his path, as we embrace our cross and transform evil with love. We expect not to see success in worldly terms, and we expect that the path will involve suffering.

niño pequeño para guiarlos” (Is 11:5-6). Vino a comenzar un nuevo reino, “un reino de verdad y vida, un reino de santidad y gracia, un reino de justicia, amor y paz” y reino eterno y universal donde todos pueden vivir en santidad como sus hijos”, como dice el prefacio de la Misa de Cristo Rey. Pero no es como los reyes de este mundo. La pobreza de su nacimiento y muerte revela que su reino y la transformación que trae serán muy diferentes a los líderes de este mundo. Más bien su reino se vuelve oculto y lento como la semilla que se siembra. Jesús no derroca el mal de esta palabra ni acaba con su sufrimiento. Más bien, entra en el sufrimiento para transformarlo con su amor. Su transformación viene del corazón humano a medida que comenzamos a entender y compartir la vida de Jesús. Al permitir que nuestra vida sea transformada por su gracia a través de los sacramentos y crecer en amor e imitación de él a través de su Palabra, nos convertimos en el Cuerpo de Cristo. La Iglesia está destinada a continuar la Encarnación en el mundo a lo largo de todo tiempo. Nos llena de su vida divina para que podamos ser transformados y comenzar a transformar nuestro mundo. Comprender dos aspectos centrales de esta transformación que nos mostró es fundamental: el No. 1. La plenitud de la vida sólo llegará cuando regrese a establecer plenamente su reino, hasta entonces permanecerá oculto y pobre. No. 2. La transformación vendrá de seguir su camino, a medida que abrazamos nuestra cruz y transformamos el mal con amor. Esperamos no ver el éxito en términos mundanos y esperamos que el camino implique sufrimiento. La Navidad nos da una misión. Jesucristo entra en la humanidad para compartir su vida divina para que permitamos que esa vida divina nos llene a nosotros y todo lo que nos rodea, permitiendo que nuestros corazones sean transformados por su amor y nuestra mente para ser conformados a su verdad, buscamos compartir su gloria con nuestro mundo.

Christmas gives us a mission. Jesus Christ enters into humanity to share his divine life so that we will allow that divine life to fill us and everything around us, allowing our hearts to be transformed by his love and our minds to be conformed to his truth as we seek to share his glory with our world. We must heal our families by making them places of his love. We must heal our neighbors by sharing his mercy. We must make our businesses right by leading them with his Christian principles of truth and integrity. We must make art and architecture right by inspiring them with the truth and beauty of the Gospel. Whatever we do, we must do for him and in him, so that the world can be transformed by the Incarnation. This Christmas, as we kneel before the crib in adoration, let us ask ourselves how we are doing in this mission of transforming the world with his divine life. It’s not asking what is the state of the world, but what is the state of my heart. Just as Jesus transformed his corner of the world through his love, how am I transforming my world with his truth, beauty and goodness? How can my life be more filled with his life so that I can be more free from sin and share his love with others? How can I embrace the suffering in my life with love and offer it for the salvation of the world? How can I seek to transform my work place, my family and my relationships based on his love? None of us is doing this perfectly, and so the Church gives us Christmas to meditate more on our need for his divine life. God did not leave us orphans. He was born in our world to reveal his glory. What practical thing can I do in 2020 to let his life fill my life more and then affect the world around me with the truth of the Incarnation?

OFFICIAL Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

Effective December 5, 2019 Reverend Christopher Pelster, FSSP, appointed pastor of the Church of All Saints in Minneapolis. Father Pelster is a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter.

Effective January 3, 2020 Deacon John Allgaier, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Therese in Deephaven and at Catholic Charities. Deacon Allgaier was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon John Bauch, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis and in hospital ministry. Deacon Bauch was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Eric Cooley, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Peter in North Saint Paul and in hospital ministry. Deacon Cooley was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Michael Daly, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Our Lady of the Prairie in Belle Plaine and in corrections ministry. Deacon Daly was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Matthew Damiani, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Peter in Forest Lake and in corrections ministry. Deacon Damiani was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Eric Evander, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of the Holy Cross in Minneapolis and in corrections ministry. Deacon Evander was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Joel Neisen, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in Savage and in corrections ministry. Deacon Neisen was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon William Schroeder, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake and with the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment for the Archdiocese. Deacon Schroeder was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Joseph Utecht, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Saint Paul Park and in youth ministry in the Archdiocese. Deacon Utecht was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019. Deacon Rodney Walker, assigned to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings and in corrections ministry. Deacon Walker was ordained to the diaconate on December 7, 2019.

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DECEMBER 19, 2019

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Ann and Adam Dollar of St. Joseph in Miesville dress as Mary and Joseph at the parish’s annual Live Nativity Dec. 15, with their 8-month-old daughter, Abigail, portraying Jesus. They were selected to play the Holy Family this year, using extra blankets to bundle Abigail against cold temperatures that day. The event also featured the three Wise Men, angels and live farm animals including sheep, donkeys and cows. Two performances were held, and a man dressed as St. Nicholas handed out treats afterward.

LOCAL

DECEMBER 19, 2019

Parish now shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Chesterton school planned for Stillwater seeks Church recognition

By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit Minnesota’s first national Mexican parish, the first place in the state to offer Masses in Spanish and a place first-generation immigrants from Mexico gravitate toward, is now a diocesan shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The designation for Our Lady of Guadalupe parish in St. Paul was requested by the pastor, Father Andrew Brinkman, and granted by Archbishop Bernard Hebda. It is the first and only diocesan shrine in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The announcement was made by Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens, who presided at the parish’s 11 p.m. Dec. 11 anticipatory Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father Brinkman also read the decree at the 5:30 p.m. feast day Mass Dec. 12. “We’re so excited,” said Deacon Gregg Sroder, the parish’s business manager. “It’s just awesome.” The anticipatory Mass was preceded by the parish’s annual one-mile procession for the feast day and included a reception with food and entertainment afterward, Deacon Sroder said. The announcement

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Our Lady of Guadalupe at 401 Concord St., St. Paul. was a surprise for all 700 people there, he said. “People clapped and cheered,” he said. Founded in 1931, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a religious and cultural touchstone, said Deacon Sroder. The decree states that shrines are called to play a role in the new evangelization and that the parish is a center of pilgrimage and devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The apparation of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico in 1531 has brought the conversion of countless numbers to the Catholic faith, the decree signed by Archbishop Hebda notes, adding “may this Shrine in Saint Paul at the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe continue to be a place of conversion and renewal in this local Church.”

Ten new permanent deacons respond to call By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit John Utecht, 24, participated in his father Joe Utecht’s ordination to the permanent diaconate in a special way: He was one of the seminarians serving at the liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, and he helped vest his father. “I’m very grateful to have a dad who’s going to be a deacon,” said Utecht, who is in his second year of theology at The St. Paul Seminary. Utecht said he also looks forward to his father putting his vestment on him when he is ordained a transitional deacon in 2021. Archbishop Bernard Hebda ordained Deacon Utecht and nine other men as permanent deacons Dec. 7, telling them and about 2,500 others at the Mass that Jesus, who is Emmanuel, inspires people to respond to his love. “That’s the space in which we find the liberty to say ‘yes,’ when God asks the unthinkable, asking us to be deacons, for example, or asking us to be husbands or wives, asking us to be priests or consecrated men or women,” the archbishop said. “It’s always out of that love that we find the strength to say ‘yes.’” Deacons will serve the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in many ways, but they will always be a reminder of Jesus’ love, making the Lord present in the Church, Archbishop Hebda said. As he received friends and family after his ordination, Deacon Joel Neisen, 59, described the day as “glorious.” “I thought the day would never come,” he said. “I first applied (for the diaconate) 20 years ago, but sickness in my family with my children prevented me from following through, and so I had to defer it for many years and here I am today. Thanks be to God. I am

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Newly ordained Deacon Joe Utecht, right, exchanges a greeting of peace with Deacon Joseph Michalak during the ordination Mass Dec. 7 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. very happy.” Deacon Neisen said he will continue serving in prison ministry and will be assigned to his home parish, St. John the Baptist in Savage. “I’m just looking for whatever God has for me,” he said. John Hengemuhle, 37, and his family came by bus with a number of other young families from St. Peter in North St. Paul to support fellow parishioner Eric Cooley at his ordination. “We’ve been connected to (Deacon Cooley) and his wife and his kids since he started,” Hengemuhle said. “It’s been fun to walk, very distant from them, but still with them on this. And now we get to see it come together and see him give his ministry to our community. We’re excited.” For Maureen Daly, 52, the liturgy was overwhelming and beautiful. She said her husband, Deacon Michael Daly, will be a great servant in his home parish, Our Lady of the Prairie in Belle Plaine. “He’s born and raised there,” she said. “He’s the third generation so it’s good for our town and good for

our parish.” Lisa Damiani, 37, said ordination day for her husband, Deacon Matt Damiani, was a gift from God. She acknowledged that his five years of diaconate preparation was a commitment that affected her and their eight children. But it was worth it, she said. “We’ve grown so much closer to the Lord,” she said. “It helps our family. For the kids to see him make that commitment is so beautiful. I think it will really open up their hearts to think about serving the Church.” The newly ordained men and their home parishes are: Deacons John Allgaier, Holy Name of Jesus, Medina; John Bauch, St. Bonaventure, Bloomington; Eric Cooley, St. Peter, North St. Paul; Michael Daly, Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine; Matt Damiani, St. Peter, Forest Lake; Eric Evander and William Schroeder, both Holy Family, St. Louis Park; Joel Neisen, St. John the Baptist, Savage; and Joe Utecht and Rodney Walker, both St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hastings.

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit A new high school plans to open in Stillwater in August 2020, and its leaders are working with the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to be recognized as a Catholic school. Called Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley, the school has connections to Chesterton Academy in Hopkins, which was founded in 2008 as an independent private high school. The school earned recognition from the archdiocese as a Catholic school in 2016. Since its founding, 18 other schools based on its model have opened across the United States and Canada, with another in Italy. Others are slated to open in 2020, including schools in Detroit, Michigan; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Spokane, Washington. Together they are known as the Chesterton Schools Network. The idea for Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley grew from a second campus Chesterton Academy opened in 2017 at Blessed Sacrament parish in St. Paul. Chesterton Academy’s Hopkins campus has an enrollment of about 150, with 27 others at the St. Paul campus. Chesterton Academy’s agreement to house its east campus at Blessed Sacrament is set to expire next year. Dale Ahlquist, a local Catholic, writer G.K. Chesterton scholar and a Chesterton Schools Network leader, said archdiocesan officials encouraged the school to relocate the campus farther east than its current site, and the distance between the east metro area and its Hopkins campus prompted Chesterton Academy leaders to explore closing the east campus and instead opening a separately incorporated school. The proposed school hopes to move into a building at 1835 Northwestern Ave., Stillwater. As a new school, Chesterton Academy of the St. Croix Valley is following the archdiocese’s recognition policy process, said Jason Slattery, director of the archdiocese’s Office for the Mission of Catholic Education. “As the policy states, the archdiocese wants to ensure that a proposed new Catholic school can thrive on its own as a Catholic school, and that the proposed Catholic school is committed through a relationship with the local Church to partnering with mothers and fathers in handing on the Catholic faith,” the OMCE staff told The Catholic Spirit in a Dec. 11 email. The Chesterton Schools Network is an initiative of the Society of Gilbert Keith Chesterton, which grew out of the American Chesterton Society Ahlquist founded in 1996. The Society, which is an association of the faithful within the Church, is headquartered at Chesterton Academy in Hopkins. Ahlquist was also one of the founders of Chesterton Academy. “The plan is to operate as a Catholic school, and to have the exact same arrangement that Chesterton Academy on the west side has right now,” he said of the new school.

in BRIEF Former employee pleads guilty to theft at Mendota parish MENDOTA HEIGHTS — A New Brighton man has pleaded guilty to stealing from St. Peter in Mendota. Christopher Seiple, 48, a former director of operations at the parish, pleaded guilty Dec. 11 to three counts of theft by swindle. Sentencing is set for March 5. Seiple was charged in August after an audit at the parish indicated several checks he issued to vendors were for invoices already paid, and the checks, worth more than $33,000, were deposited in his personal account. Seiple told investigators he was behind on his mortage and he had been spending up to $400 a day on scratch off tickets, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a news release.

6 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

LOCAL

DECEMBER 19, 2019

Catholic Charities to expand housing for homeless in Minneapolis Plans call for acquiring nursing home

including $3.5 million from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Early buy-in from Hennepin County helped Catholic Charities secure city and state funding, the nonprofit organization said.

By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit On the heels of finishing its $100 million Dorothy Day Place renovation and expansion of homeless shelter, apartments, meals and social services in St. Paul, Catholic Charities is expanding housing for the homeless in Minneapolis. In a $65 million plan announced Dec. 2, Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis will acquire and renovate Augustana Health Care Center, a nursing home near downtown Minneapolis. Catholic Charities will reopen the building sometime in 2021, when its nearby Exodus Residence closes. Dubbed Exodus 2.0, the new project will provide housing and support services for 203 people, 108 more than Exodus Residence. Efforts to help the homeless have increased in recent years as more than 10,000 people in Minnesota — a record number for the state — search for a permanent place to live. Those efforts include Dorothy Day Place, which fully opened in late October. “Exodus 2.0 comes at a critical time as Minnesota faces a housing and homelessness crisis,” Tim Marx, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, said in a statement. “A crisis this complex demands broad, diverse

“Housing is the most basic need,” Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat said in a statement. “I am proud that we committed to this project early and will maximize the impact we have in the lives of our most vulnerable residents.” Exodus 2.0 will serve single adults, veterans and people with complex medical conditions, Catholic Charities officials said. It will include a medical respite program for the homeless and a storefront clinic for the broader community operated by Hennepin County’s Healthcare for the Homeless.

DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis plans to acquire and renovate Augustana Health Care Center in Minneapolis. partnerships and innovative solutions. The Exodus 2.0 project is a perfect example of public, private, new and old partnerships in pursuit of one common goal: to better the lives of the most vulnerable.” Catholic Charities is buying the nursing home from Cassia, formerly Augustana Care and Elim Care, where

Catholic Charities has provided case management assistance to low-income older adults for the last 10 years. About 80% of the project will be publicly funded, with help from Hennepin County, the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency and the city of Minneapolis. Catholic Charities will contribute about $12.5 million,

Veterans will have priority for 154 apartments, and 19 more homes will be guaranteed for veterans, supporting the state’s goal of ending veteran homelessness, Catholic Charities said. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey expressed his support for the project, including its many partners and the effort to help a wide range of people, from seniors to veterans. “Addressing the affordable housing and homelessness crisis is an all-handson-deck effort that demands collaboration,” the mayor said in a statement. “The Exodus project is built on collaboration.”

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LOCAL

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7

Vis students part of global summit for change Father Svobodny’s By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit Traveling to Rome and joining 3,500 other students for a global summit on ways to make the world a better place were just two exciting things that happened last month for sixth-grader Claire Macedo. Then there was Pope Francis’ address to the group at the end of the Nov. 27-30 Design for Change: Children’s Global Summit. “It was amazing to actually see the pope,” said Macedo of Visitation School in Mendota Heights. “It was awesome that we made it to Rome and were able to participate and listen to different projects.” Macedo and a former classmate, Alaia Ahmad, were the only Minnesota students and one of 15 U.S. teams chosen by Design for Change to present their projects at the summit. Founded in 2009 in India by educator Kiran Bir Sethi, Design for Change stresses student-driven learning and developing empathy for others as the primary way to motivate and promote change. The summit is Design for Change’s annual all-faith, international gathering of children ages 6 to 16 who use the organization’s approach. This year, the summit drew groups from more

than 40 countries. Tara Schletz, curriculum enrichment specialist at Visitation, and Sarah CLAIRE MACEDO Ritzenthaler, a third-grade teacher, learned about Design for Change as they sought ways to create a “Genius Hour” for students, encouraging them ALAIA AHMAD to learn by pursuing their passions. The teachers developed and last year led the effort to create projects with third- through fifth-graders. Design for Change projects are expected to line up with global goals chosen by the United Nations. Schletz and Ritzenthaler also incorporate Catholic social teaching; Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’;” and aspects of the school’s Salesian spirituality including kindness, gentleness, patience and optimism. Design for Change asked the pope to address its 10th anniversary summit.

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The pope told the students, their parents and teachers that the summit’s motto of “I Can” must take into account the need to act in community. “You have understood that ‘I can’ must become ‘we can together,’” Pope Francis said. “Together it is more beautiful and more effective.” Ahmad, who has since moved with her family to Illinois, and Macedo focused their project on the need to end discrimination and racism. They created posters and a website and spoke with students at the school, including those in higher grades, the teachers said. Other Visitation projects included such themes as responsible use of water and the dangers of distracted driving. In Rome, the students met as a large group, and they broke into smaller groups to present their projects in venues throughout the city. Macedo and Ahmad presented their work along with teams from Chile, Ecuador, Italy and the United States. Visitation is competing in Design for Change again in 2020, Schletz and Ritzenthaler said. They also hope in years ahead to expand the number of grades involved. “We feel very passionate about this type of education,” Schletz said.

prayerfulness recalled The Catholic Spirit Father Al Svobodny of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, died Dec. 4. He was 96. A native of Minneapolis, he served nearly three decades at Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo. Blind since 2000, he continued to serve Christ the King, where he was public relations director for 27 years. Father Jim Deegan, director of Christ the King, gave the homily at Father Svobodny’s funeral Mass Dec. 10 at St. Francis Xavier in Buffalo. He also told The Catholic Spirit about his long-time friend and fellow Oblate. “First of all, he was very, very FATHER prayerful,” Father Deegan said. “He AL SVODOBNY never had to say to the Lord at the end of the day, ‘This day has just been too busy. I can’t pray.’ He prayed every day.” Father Deegan met Father Svobodny in 1958, when Father Deegan was an eighth-grader at Assumption School in Richfield and Father Svobodny was director of vocations for the Oblates. Father Deegan said he saw the joy in Father Svobodny and was inspired to pursue the Oblates. Father Svobodny joined the Oblates in 1943 and was ordained June 5, 1949, in St. Paul. Father Svobodney also served as a teacher in Carthage, Missouri, and as pilgrimage director at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in Belleville, Illinois. He worked at Holy Family parish in Duluth and was the editor of OMI Communications for his order’s former central province.

LOCAL

8 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

DECEMBER 19, 2019

‘Losing a great priest to become a bishop’: Friends, mother react to news By Maria Wiering and Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit

LEADERSHIP ROLES

“I was just shocked.” That’s how Joanne DeGrood described news of her son’s appointment as bishop of Sioux Falls. Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood called her Dec. 12 at 5:01 a.m., she said, immediately after the news was publicized. “I thought, what a blessing,” she added, noting that she never had expected her son to become a bishop, although even as a boy he was “very good with his prayer life.” At Bishop-elect DeGrood’s parish, St. John the Baptist in Savage, Vicky Guerrero also thought the news was a blessing, but she said she wasn’t that surprised. “My heart was just elated,” she said. “I thought we’d have him here a little bit longer, but the way he has led us and just what a blessing he has been to this parish” showed her he might be destined for responsibility in the Church. The administrative assistant at St. John the Baptist, Guerrero, 38, said that her pastor’s vision has been for his parishioners to have eternal life in heaven, and she knows that will be his vision for the Sioux Falls diocese, too. “That’s one of the greatest gifts that God has given him: He has a heart for the people and wants us all to be together in heaven,” she said. Father Troy Przybilla, who served under Bishop-elect DeGrood as a parochial vicar, and has vacationed and fished with him on the North Shore of Lake Superior, said the bishop-elect will bring a strong prayer and faith life to his new role. “I’m happy for the Church, sad for the archdiocese,” he said. “We are losing a great priest to become a bishop.” Father Przybilla served his first assignment as a priest from 2005 to 2007 with Bishop-elect DeGrood at St. Peter in Forest Lake. Their pastor-parochial vicar relationship blossomed into a friendship, said Father Przybilla, now pastor of St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony. Most striking was witnessing the bishopelect’s prayerfulness, he said. “Watching him bring things, issues into his prayer and really discerning them,” Father Przybilla said. “It helps me as a pastor to this day, bringing issues into prayer and allowing God to guide.”

BISHOP-ELECT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Mary’s “yes” to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation has been an inspiration to Bishop-elect DeGrood, including his “yes” to becoming a priest, he said. “I wrestled with my vocation because I had many other desires, worldly desires,” he said. “I desired family life, marriage. I desired to have the weekends off and all those fun things. I had to wrestle in my heart with all of those things. I really had to try to find greater freedom. I wish I could adequately describe the interior freedom I have now, because I feel that I am just so resigned, in a sense, to God’s will.” However, he said he is sad to leave behind his parishioners at St. John the Baptist in Savage and the people in the archdiocese, including family. “Calling my mother this morning was the hardest thing to do, and I know it’s hard for her, but she also wants God’s will of course,” he said. At the press conference, Bishop Swain, who has led the diocese since 2006, said that it was a pleasure to introduce Bishop-elect DeGrood “not only because I can now actually retire” — a comment that drew laughs from the crowd — “but because the diocese will have a discerning bishop who is well respected as a seasoned, prayerful, compassionate and upbeat priest who

Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood has served on numerous boards for the archdiocese and related Catholic institutions, including the Archdiocesan Ministerial Review Board (2015-2017), Clergy Review Board (2013-2015), Ministerial Standards Board (20132015), Pastors Review Board (2009-2012) and the Incardination Committee (2016-2017). He was also a trustee for The Seminaries of St. Paul (2011-2019).

COURTESY BISHOP-ELECT DONALD DEGROOD

Bishop-elect Donald DeGrood greets Emily Patterson, left, and her mother, Pollyanna, after Mass at St. John the Baptist in Savage Dec. 15. Bishop-elect DeGrood was ordained a priest alongside Bishop Andrew Cozzens, auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who said the two met the first day of seminary and have been close friends since. He said that other priests seek out Bishop-elect DeGrood for mentorship “because he is so deeply rooted and such a compassionate leader.” “Father DeGrood has proven to be one of the finest pastors in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis who brings his deep relationship with Jesus Christ to people of all ages in his parishes,” he said in a Dec. 12 statement. “He brings a healing presence to many people and has worked closely with victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse. ... Most of all, he is a man of prayer who will bring his deep relationship with Jesus Christ to all as the bishop of Sioux Falls.” Archbishop Bernard Hebda said that the archdiocese “is honored that the Holy Father would have chosen a priest of our archdiocese to become the next bishop of Sioux Falls.” “In making this selection, Pope Francis seems to have recognized the extraordinary priestly gifts that have long been apparent to Father DeGrood’s parishioners and brother priests,” he said in the archdiocese’s statement.

loves Christ and his Church.” As a native of Wisconsin used to forests, Bishop Swain said he was “taken aback” by South Dakota’s wide-open spaces, but “in my over 13 years of car time as bishop here, I’ve grown to appreciate the prairie and plains, the vistas and the sky to the extent that when I now return to Wisconsin I feel closed in by those trees and hills and all of that. This unique part of God’s creation is a treasure to be savored and preserved.” Bishop Swain assured Bishop-elect DeGrood that he would support him in whatever way he can, but “the most practical gift I can give you I think is just to get out of your way, and I will.” Describing the time in adoration after receiving the call to be bishop, Bishopelect DeGrood said he also turned to two men in his life, now deceased, who were important to him: his father, Robert, who died in 2003, and his uncle Donny. He said his uncle was disabled and suffered from spasms, but he was a great “prayer warrior,” and he would pray the rosary over and over. “He was a great inspiration for me, and he prayed that I would be a priest. But he never told me that he was going to pray that I would be a bishop,” he said with a smile. As a “farm boy at heart,” he said that as he drove to Sioux Falls Dec. 11, he felt as if he were “going to Nazareth.” “When I was a little kid, I was

He is a member of an ad hoc committee related to the archdiocese’s Clergy Support Initiative, a spiritual director for priests and a supervising pastor, who mentors recently ordained priests in their ministry. He was a “developing member” of the Institute for Ongoing Clergy Formation, an initiative The St. Paul Seminary launched in 2015 to support priests as they live out their vocation. He has also been a spiritual director for the Institute for Priestly Formation’s summer program in Omaha, Nebraska. In his role as the archdiocese’s Vicar for Clergy (2013-2017), Bishop-elect DeGrood served as a liaison between the IOCF and archdiocese, conveying clergy’s needs to the institute director so resources to meet them could be developed and implemented. He has also ministered to victim-survivors of clergy sexual abuse, and he has recently served on a committee of priests and laypeople, including victim-survivors, who are working on efforts to bring healing to the local Church from the impact of clergy sex abuse. — Maria Wiering “The faithful of the Diocese of Sioux Falls will soon be welcoming a kind, loving and caring shepherd.” At Mass at St. John the Baptist Dec. 15, Bishop-elect DeGrood began emotional goodbyes as the parish’s pastor. “We’re with you, Father,” one man called out to applause as Bishop-elect DeGrood stopped for a moment with tears in his eyes and collected himself to continue addressing the congregation he’s served since 2017. People teared up along with him, including Cheryl Bach, a parishioner for 19 years. “He’s a good priest,” Bach said after the Mass. “He made it very much his business to say ‘hi’ to me and my son and always make us feel welcome.”

1965 Born near Faribault 1983 Graduates from Bethlehem Academy, Faribault 1987 Graduates with a philosophy degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, with two years spent at St. John Vianney College Seminary; begins working in sales 1993 Enters St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul 1997 Earns master’s degree in divinity; ordained by Archbishop Harry Flynn 1997-2000 Parochial vicar of All Saints, Lakeville 2000-2004 Spiritual director at St. John Vianney 2004-2013 Pastor of St. Peter, Forest Lake 2008 Earns certificate in spiritual direction from the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska 2013-2015 Pastor of Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul 2013-2017 Archdiocese’s Vicar for Clergy 2017-2020 Pastor of St. John the Baptist, Savage 2019 Named ninth bishop of Sioux Falls supposed to be doing chores, and I would sneak out the back of the barn and down into the woods, and what did I think and pray about? Being a simple, humble country priest like my pastor, Father Francis Pouliot,” he said. Father Pouliot, now retired, was pastor of St. Lawrence in Faribault. That parish merged with others to create Divine Mercy parish in 2002.

Bishop-elect DeGrood had wanted to be a priest in a rural diocese, but he instead stayed in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He had asked for country parish assignments, but never received one. “When I go into the country, I feel there’s interior peace,” he said, “because that’s where so much of my great experience has been as a person, as a priest, being able to serve the various people I’ve been privileged to serve.” He said that he does have apprehensions and uncertainties and that he was “here really at this point to pray, to listen and to learn.” He will be consecrated and installed a bishop on Feb. 13, 2020, the day before his 55th birthday. He knows some of the priests of the Sioux Falls diocese who were seminarians while he was spiritual director and formator at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, and through his work with the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska. He’s also spent time at Broom Tree, a retreat center owned by the Sioux Falls diocese. He said he planned to head to Broom Tree later that day to pray “and let the Lord do his work.” Bishop-elect DeGrood said he has been praying for the people in the Sioux Falls diocese. “All I ask for is your prayers, that I’ll be a holy bishop,” he said.

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 9

NATION+WORLD Pope lifts secrecy obligation for those who report having been abused By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a Church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse. “The person who files the report, the person who alleges to have been harmed and the witnesses shall not be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to matters involving the case,” the pope ordered in a new “Instruction On the Confidentiality of Legal Proceedings,” published Dec. 17. In an accompanying note, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, said the change regarding the “pontifical secret” has nothing to do with the seal of the sacrament of confession. “The absolute obligation to observe the sacramental seal,” he said, “is an obligation imposed on the priest by reason of the position he holds in administering the sacrament of confession and not even the penitent can free him of it.” The Vatican published the instruction along with changes to the alreadyupdated “Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela” (“Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments”), the 2001 document issued by St. John Paul II outlining procedures for the investigation and trial of any member of the clergy accused of sexually abusing a child or vulnerable adult, or accused of acquiring, possessing or distributing child pornography. In one amendment, Pope Francis changed the definition of child pornography from anyone depicted under age 14 to anyone under age 18. In describing procedural norms for how the tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to be composed and conducted, Pope Francis removed the requirement that the legal representative of the accused be a priest. The law now reads: “The role of advocate or procurator is carried out by a member of the faithful possessing a doctorate in canon law, who is approved by the presiding judge of the college.” But the abolition of the pontifical secret over the entire Vatican process is the greatest change made. Not only are victims and witnesses free to discuss the case. The amended law also specifies that the still-in-effect obligation of Vatican officials to maintain confidentiality “shall not prevent the fulfillment of the obligations laid down in all places by civil laws, including any reporting obligations, and the execution of enforceable requests of civil judicial authorities.” In an interview with Vatican News, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, adjunct secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Vatican’s chief abuse investigator, described as an “epochal change” the pope’s decision to drop the “pontifical secret” — the highest level of confidentiality. “That means, of course, the question of transparency now is being implemented at the highest level,” he said. The new rules do not mean that

documents from Vatican abuse investigations and trials will be made public, he said, but “they are available for authorities, or people who are interested parties, and authorities who have a statutory jurisdiction over the matter.” In the past, when a government or court asked the Vatican for information on a case, the response usually was that the material was covered by “pontifical secret.” Now, Archbishop Scicluna said, once “all the formalities of international law” are fulfilled, communication with other authorities “and the sharing of information and documentation are facilitated.” In September 2017, members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors asked Pope Francis to reconsider Vatican norms maintaining the imposition of “pontifical secret” in the Church’s judicial handling of clerical sex abuse and other grave crimes. The secret ensures cases are dealt with in strict confidentiality. Vatican experts have said it was designed to protect the dignity of everyone involved, including the victim, the accused, their families and their communities. But when Pope Francis called the presidents of the world’s bishops’ conferences to the Vatican for a summit on the abuse crisis in February, victims and experts alike urged a revision of the policy. Linda Ghisoni, a canon lawyer and undersecretary for laity at the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, told the summit that removing the pontifical secret from abuse cases would reverse a situation or the impression of a situation where secrecy “is used to hide problems rather than protect the values at stake,” including the confidentiality of the victims and the right of an accused to a fair trial. Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany, told the summit that removing the pontifical secret would promote transparency in a scandal where the lack of transparency has meant “the rights of victims were effectively trampled underfoot and left to the whims of individuals.” In his commentary, Bishop Arrieta noted that already in May with the publication of “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) on procedures for handling allegations of abuse or of the cover-up of abuse, Pope Francis already banned imposing confidentiality agreements on victims. The bishop also took pains to note that the abolition of absolute secrecy — the “pontifical secret,” which is invoked with an oath — was not the same thing as removing all obligations for confidentiality. The “secrecy of the office” still applies to Vatican officials and others involved in an investigation or trial of a cleric accused of abuse or of a bishop or religious superior accused of cover-up. Except for sharing information with civil authorities, the basic professional secrecy serves, as the new law says, to protect “the good name, image and privacy of all persons involved.”

HEADLINES u Catholics urged to pray novena for Archbishop Sheen’s beatification. Supporters of the canonization cause for Archbishop Fulton Sheen were invited by Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Illinois, to take part in a novena starting Dec. 12 to “petition God unceasingly to remove all obstacles” for the beatification of the media pioneer, author and evangelist. A novena had been planned to lead to Archbishop Sheen’s beatification in Peoria Dec. 21. But the beatification was postponed by the Vatican, the diocese said Dec. 3. Two days later, the Diocese of Rochester, New York, acknowledged it had raised concerns over the prelate’s role in priests’ assignments. u Bishop Malone resigns; Albany bishop named apostolic administrator. Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone told Catholics in a letter Dec. 4 he asked Pope Francis to allow him to retire early so the people of the diocese “will be better served” by a new bishop who is “perhaps better able” to bring about “reconciliation, healing and renewal” in addressing the clergy sex abuse crisis. For more than a year, Bishop Malone, 73, has faced questions about how he has addressed the abuse crisis, particularly a situation involving two priests’ relationship with a seminarian that he has called “a very complex, convoluted matter.” Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Malone’s resignation and appointed Bishop Edward Scharfenberger of Albany, New York, as Buffalo’s apostolic administrator. u Michigan priest asks judge in same-sex marriage not to receive Communion. The Diocese of Grand Rapids said it supports the decision by one of its pastors to ask a Michigan judge not to present herself for Communion at Mass because she is in a same-sex marriage. Judge Sara Smolenski, the chief judge of Michigan’s 63rd District Court, told a TV station that she received a call Nov. 23 from Father Scott Nolan, pastor of St. Stephen in Grand Rapids, in late November and he asked her not to go to

Communion. The marriage was publicized not by the couple’s choice but because Smolenski is a public official. The diocese noted Father Nolan “approached Judge Smolenski privately. Subsequent media reports do not change the appropriateness of his action, which the diocese supports.” u Bishop Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, takes medical leave of absence. The Diocese of Lincoln announced Dec. 13 that Bishop James Conley is taking a medical leave of absence. Bishop Conley requested the leave from Pope Francis and the pope appointed Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha as the diocese’s temporary apostolic administrator. In a letter to the faithful, Bishop Conley said he has been diagnosed with depression, anxiety, insomnia and tinnitus. u Pope names Cardinal Tagle to lead evangelization congregation. Pope Francis has named Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. Often referred to as Propaganda Fide, the congregation is set to become part of a mega-Dicastery for Evangelization, according to a draft of the apostolic constitution on the Curia. The draft calls for combining the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization and making it the first of the dicasteries, a position now held by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. u “The Two Popes” to be released for streaming by Netflix Dec. 20. Jonathan Pryce portrays Pope Francis and Anthony Hopkins is retired Pope Benedict XVI in the film, which earlier appeared in some theaters in limited release. The movie, rated PG-13, has received mixed reviews. See Catholic News Service’s review at TheCatholicSpirit.com. — Catholic News Service

10 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

‘There is a Santa C Epiphany parishioner brings faith, fun to role he has honed for 20-plus years Story and photos by Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit

B

ob Mathewson got a celebrity’s welcome outside St. Ambrose of Woodbury Catholic School the morning of Dec. 4. All it took were three simple words: “Ho ho ho.” Well, the bright red velvet suit and white beard had a little something to do with it, too.

Not to mention the bell jingling in his hand. As he made his way across the parking lot, a group of students just outside one of the school doors caught sight of him. They erupted in cheers as they hustled toward him. Santa had arrived. In more than two decades of portraying the jolly gift giver, Mathewson, 59, appears to be a perfect replica, complete with a handmade suit, white hair and a real beard, plus a robust laugh made extra jolly from hundreds of gigs, skill building at Santa schools and

ABOVE Bob Mathewson visits a classroom in his role as Santa Claus at St. Ambrose of Woodbury’s Early Childhood Education Center. BELOW His custom-made Nativity belt buckle. a heart for bringing joy — plus the true meaning of Christmas — to children. He delivers this message intentionally to as many audiences as he can, most explicitly with a custom made belt buckle displaying the Nativity scene. He had it hand painted with bright colors so it would stand out against his red velvet suit. On this day, he traveled across the Twin Cities from his home in Coon Rapids, taking a day off from his job in cemetery operations and maintenance at Epiphany in Coon Rapids. The pastor of Epiphany, Father Thomas Dufner, is happy to provide the flexibility in Mathewson’s schedule so he can go out into the community and bring Christmas cheer. “Bob was born to be Santa Claus,” Father Dufner said. “He’s got the build for it, he’s got the beard

for it, he’s got the joy for it. And, he loves the Lord and he loves the little kids.” And, they love him. Smiles and looks of awe and wonder lit up the faces of around 80 preschoolers at St. Ambrose’s Early Childhood Education Center as they gathered to meet him and bring up toys they had brought in to donate to St. Joseph’s Home for Children in Minneapolis. ECEC Director Anne Huber wants the children, ranging from infants to 5-year-olds, to understand the importance of giving. She could think of no better person to deliver that message than Mathewson, whom she discovered five years ago and instantly knew he was a great fit for her school. “We did have a Santa prior to this,” said Huber, who has been the director since the center opened in 2000. “It was wonderful, it was fun, but we didn’t feel like it was always as strong of a connection for doing what we do with the toys and with what we’re trying to teach the kids.” Huber said Mathewson comes in “ready to engage the kids on their level” and teach the kids “that it’s not about getting gifts, but giving gifts.” That can be a hard lesson for kids this young, she said, but Mathewson is effective at getting the point across. It’s one reason she keeps inviting him back. Before she met Mathewson, a parent of one of her preschoolers had seen him, liked him and recommended him. Huber decided to give him a try, and has invited him back every year since. “We just love him,” Huber said. “He’s so good with the kids. He’s trying to serve the same purpose we are, and that is spreading the joy in trying to help others.” Mathewson’s role as Santa began at a Davanni’s restaurant in the late 1980s. A store assistant manager at the time, he was asked to play Santa at a company party. He was “kind of shy” then, he said, but accepted the invitation. Though he did not yet have the white hair and beard, he possessed something perhaps greater. “He had the jollyness,” said his wife, Nancy, who plays Mrs. (“Nana”) Claus occasionally. His next time in a red suit didn’t come for another 10 years. He was hired at Epiphany in 1997 and was recruited to play Santa at a Christmas party for fourth-graders. “The principal was supposed to be dressed up as Santa Claus,” said Mathewson, an Epiphany parishioner. “They rented him an outfit. Well, he

decided he didn’t wa Claus. And, someone a good one.” Again, he stepped not without a protes his boss, the operatio “had work to do” an time to be St. Nick. F fourth-graders, and h children since, Math persuaded him to de halls as Santa Claus. Little did either of would lead to more t of smiles and candy throughout the Twin the kids’ faces, and t inside, led him to de something that I wa do more of.” Mathewson built h reputation over the n decades, and now bo 60 appearances annu take place from the e through Christmas E Catholic audiences, A key part of his p and what people like him apart, is his pass the true meaning of birth of Christ. He ta to his audience, usin his role to make that and inviting. “We talk about ho said Mathewson, wh in 2000 and is a four of the Knights of Co little thing I do once them not only God l Santa and Mrs. Clau He connects the gi Christmas season to gave to the infant Je Jesus is to all of hum “I’m not afraid to belief is,” he said, no the response to this Mathewson has ho the years by attendin and conventions, ru shoulders with up to at a time. He rates hi eight” on his skill an playing the role, and Santa beginners, inc doing it for the first One of the keys to deep belly laugh tha outside what he feel Sometimes, the red s own mood. “I can be feeling d

DECEMBER 19, 2019 • 11

Claus’

ant to do Santa e said that I’d make

forward, though st. At first, he told ons manager, he nd wouldn’t have Fortunately for the hundreds of hewson’s boss eck the school’s . f them know that it than 20 years worth canes spread n Cities. The joy on the joy he felt ecide “this is anted to pursue and

his Santa skills and next two-plus ooks more than ually. Most of them end of October Eve. Some are for many are not. portrayal of Santa, e Huber believe sets sion for expressing Christmas — the ailors that message ng the warmth of t truth attractive

ow grateful we are,” ho became Catholic rth-degree member olumbus. “There’s a e in a while. I tell loves them, but us do, too.” ift giving of the the gifts the Magi esus, and to the gift manity. show what my oting that most of has been positive. oned his craft over ng Santa schools ubbing velvet o 100 Kris Kringles imself “a seven or nd appearance in d now mentors cluding someone time this year. o his success is a at expresses on the ls on the inside. suit transforms his

down, I can be

feeling under the weather,” he said. “And, I put on that suit, and it’s like I’m a totally different person.” His focus is on bringing joy to all who come, from age 2 to 92. He gets so engrossed in playing Santa that he doesn’t feel the sweat running down his back and soaking his outfit during appearances that can last up to four or five hours. Some of his treasured moments have taken place in nursing homes. He remembers one elderly woman jumping out of her wheelchair to dance with him. He remembers another woman, who had dementia, getting her picture taken with him and remembering him years later, even when she had trouble recognizing her own family members. “Those little moments make everything I do worthwhile,” he said. He makes sure to greet each person in the room. At St. Ambrose, he spent more than two hours, well past his allotted time, to make sure every child got the chance to come forward and meet him. And, his “ho ho hos” remained boisterous to the end. “Usually, my problem is I spend too much time with the kids,” he said. “I want to make sure each kid feels important.” Same for adults. At last year’s event at St. Ambrose, Nicole Albrecht, the ECEC’s administrative assistant, took her turn telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas: A baby. She and her husband, Dan, had been trying to have a child for nearly nine years. Mathewson handed her a doll and said he would pray for her. He did, and it worked. This year, when he walked into the school, Albrecht couldn’t wait to tell him that she is pregnant and due in February. “He’s a miracle,” Albrecht said of Mathewson. “He gave me my blessing. I should have asked him a long time ago.” For Mathewson, this is at the center of portraying Santa Claus. Underneath the red suit lies a desire to spread the joy of the Christmas season — and its Christian meaning. He has no plans to stop playing Santa, perhaps becoming more and more like the one he portrays. “It’s hard for me to describe because it’s just me,” he said of the laughs, the smiles and the high-fives he likes to give children. “I feel peaceful doing it. It’s not the best ‘ho ho ho’ every time.” But, it has a quality Mrs. Claus summed up in one word: “Heart.”

“

He’s so good with the kids. He’s trying to serve the same purpose we are, and that is spreading the joy in trying to help others. Anne Huber

12 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

DECEMBER 19, 2019

FROMAGETOAGE

Bishop Sirba ‘had desire to share Christ’s love,’ says his brother-priest

LEFT Helen Sirba, mother of Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth, sits beside her son’s body during a reviewal before his funeral Mass Dec. 6 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth. With her is one of her other two sons, John Sirba.

By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit

A

few days after the death of Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth, Minnesota, his brother, Father Joseph Sirba, spent time in the bishop’s private chapel. He said there were three books his brother was currently reading: the Bible, “In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart, The Journal of a Priest at Prayer,” and the second volume of the letters of St. Teresa of Avila. Along with the books was his brother’s journal that included some meditations on what he was reading: “Jesus said, tend the flock, feed my sheep.” “Father, all things are possible in you.” “We’re called to be another Paraclete, like another Christ so that we can console.” “My brother loved the Lord very much. Jesus Christ was the center of his life,” Father Sirba said in the homily during the funeral Mass for Bishop Sirba Dec. 6 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Duluth. The funeral was livestreamed. Bishop Sirba died Dec. 1 at age 59, 14 days short of his 10th anniversary of being ordained a bishop for the Diocese of Duluth. “I know all of us were stunned to learn that Bishop Paul had died this past Sunday. In fact, many of you told me that when you learned of his death, you said, ‘There must be some mistake,’” Father Sirba said. Bishop Sirba had just left the rectory where he lived at St. Rose Church in Proctor, just outside of Duluth, and was walking across the parking lot to celebrate an 8 a.m. Mass when he collapsed, Father Sirba said. A snowstorm the night before had slammed the Duluth area with about 20 inches of snow, and the men plowing the lot came to the bishop’s aid and attempted CPR. An ambulance was there in less than 10 minutes, and he was rushed to a hospital in Duluth, where a medical team tried to revive him. But, Father Sirba said, “it was very likely that he was dead the moment he collapsed.” Bishop Sirba had a heart condition known as thirddegree atrioventricular block, and he had a pacemaker installed about five years ago, Father Sirba said. On behalf of the Sirba family, Father Sirba thanked

BELOW Archbishop Bernard Hebda uses incense during the Prayer of Commendation at the end of the funeral Mass. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

everyone who attended the funeral. “It means a great deal to us all,” he said. Bishop Sirba was a humble man who did not desire accolades, his brother said, and he didn’t aspire to be a bishop. When the nuncio called to tell him that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed him bishop of Duluth, he double-checked to make sure the nuncio was calling the right Father Sirba. But, “Bishop Paul, above all else, had a desire to share Christ’s love,” Father Sirba said. “He was Catholic through and through,” raised in a devout Catholic home and received a strong Catholic education at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield and at the thenCollege of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Bishop Sirba was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1986. He served as a seminary spiritual director, was pastor of Maternity of Mary in St. Paul from 2000 to 2006, and a vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese, an appointment he held only a few months before he was ordained bishop of Duluth. A priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Father Sirba said he was in a unique position of having his brother as his bishop. “I know there are more than a few priests who have brothers who are bishops, but as far as we knew, we were the only two who served the same diocese,” he said. He said that as “a good shepherd,” Bishop Sirba knew his “sheep,” and that as a bishop, he bore a daunting responsibility of helping everyone in his diocese get to heaven.

“He was a channel of God’s grace,” he said. “Those who were hurting were consoled because they knew he was hurting with them. And those who were rejoicing knew he was rejoicing with them. When people met him they felt accepted. To them, he wasn’t just ‘Bishop Paul,’ he was ‘my friend, Bishop Paul.’ And if they weren’t necessarily living rightly, after they met him they were inspired to live like him.” Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis presided over the funeral Mass. About a dozen other bishops, including Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens of St. Paul and Minneapolis, also attended the funeral, along with many priests from the Diocese of Duluth and the archdiocese. Bishop Sirba was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Duluth. A memorial Mass was held Dec. 9 at Maternity of Mary.

MOVIE REVIEWS TheCatholicSpirit.com

DECEMBER 19, 2019

FROMAGETOAGE

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13

St. Therese of Woodbury residents give back through Kuddles for Kids By Debbie Musser For The Catholic Spirit

T

he activities calendar at St. Therese of Woodbury can make your head spin. There’s bingo, movie night, stretch and flex, knitting club, Mass, manicures, pet therapy, coloring, Bible study, sundaes on Sunday and dozens of additional offerings for residents of the long-term, transitional and memory care communities as well as independent and assisted living neighborhoods. One special activity has a growing following: Kuddles for Kids. Inspired by the St. Therese community’s mission — do ordinary things with extraordinary love — residents throughout the Advent season make fleece blankets for children at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. “When I came into my role as a community life director here, one of the first things I did was to see what was missing ... what did residents want that we didn’t offer?” said Katie Leonard. “They wanted a purpose. A reason to give back.” Patients at Gillette need comfort just as much as medical treatment. Having something warm and cuddly to snuggle can make their hospital stay more pleasant and comfortable. “When I discovered this need, I thought a fleece blanket was a good

idea,” Leonard said. “It’s simple and it’s easy to tie. And our residents love the fact that they are making something that will go to the kids at Gillette.” Kuddles for Kids began last year, and about a dozen St. Therese of Woodbury residents prepared and donated 50 tie fleece blankets to Gillette. Leonard said they’ll easily surpass that number this year as the project draws about 20 participants from throughout the campus. “A majority of the donations of fleece fabric comes from our residents as well,” Leonard said. “They’ll go to JoAnn (fabric and craft stores) with all the measurements when it’s 80%, come in and rock out 10 blankets.” For Mary Paulson, 73, Kuddles for Kids has special meaning. “I had polio in 1946 and was in and out of Gillette for surgeries until age 18,” Paulson said. “Having been there and done that as a kid, it’s important that children know people care.” Gillette has special size requirements for the blankets and strict washing instructions prior to delivery. “We have five volunteers who’ll take the blankets and wash them for us; they’re very serious about it,” Leonard said. “One told me, ‘My hands hurt so I can’t do the tying, but I can wash them.’” There’s another important benefit from Kuddles for Kids: the camaraderie of the residents who come together each week to undertake the blanket tying.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

COURTESY EMILY DYSON, ST. THERESE OF WOODBURY

Mary McAlpine, left, and Audrey Betz of St. Therese of Woodbury tie one of more than 50 fleece blankets Nov. 14 that will be given to patients at Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul. The two are among about 20 residents of the senior care center who are working on the Christmas project. “There’s a lot of conversation while we’re working, and everyone is so satisfied to be doing something so worthwhile,” said Gretchen Helkamp, 84. “And it’s fun seeing all the cute fleece fabrics with all the fun patterns like Star Wars and geese, and knowing how much the young people are going to enjoy these blankets,” Helkamp said. Leonard plans to take interested St. Therese residents to Gillette to drop off the blankets Dec. 20.

“Kuddles for Kids has been a fantastic project,” Leonard said. “It’s a great way for our residents to come together and give back.”

WANT TO HELP? Interested in donating new fleece fabric or craft store gift cards to Kuddles for Kids? Contact Katie Leonard, St. Therese of Woodbury, at 651-209-9176.

14 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

DECEMBER 19, 2019

FOCUSONFAITH SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER DAN HAUGAN

Embracing God’s promise The Thanksgiving week snowstorm caused me to do something I had planned to do for months: set up all the bells and whistles on my TV. Being a Neo-Luddite, I had resisted, or more truthfully was scared, of all that went into getting my Netflix account to play through my TV. I asked a very techno-savvy parishioner of mine to help so I could binge-watch “The Crown” during the imminent snow-nami. After a few episodes, I began to reflect on many of the other kings and queens in history, especially the kings and queens found in the Bible. Ahaz, mentioned in the first reading for this fourth Sunday of Advent, was a king. His small kingdom of Judah was smaller than the present State of Israel. He was being attacked on all sides and was trying to buy protection from his stronger neighbors. The prophet Isaiah instructed Ahaz that this plan would never work. He told Ahaz that his trust in a military alliance would fail and he should rather put his trust in the providence of God. Isaiah told Ahaz that God would give him a sign that trusting in him was the right policy.

The sign was that a young woman, likely Ahaz’s wife, would bear a son with the symbolic name Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” King Ahaz wanted nothing to do with Isaiah’s plan to trust in God alone. He rejected it by saying, “I will not put the Lord to the test asking for a sign.” In reality, Ahaz considered the prophet’s advice to trust in God alone greatly impractical, just the kind of nonsense you would expect to hear from a preacher. In reality, King Ahaz was the type of person who retains the outward forms of belief in God, but is very careful to keep the Lord at arm’s length. Many people throughout the world report that they have had a “personal experience of God.” Their lives have been permanently altered by such an experience in such a way that they give themselves over completely to faith in God. However, there seem to be just as many people for whom their encounter with God elicits no change in their lives, because they are unwilling to face up to the radical demand that belief in God would make on them. They continue living as before, with their experience of God soon becoming for them a faded memory. As Isaiah’s prophecy was translated into Greek for circulation among the Jews in the Mediterranean countries outside of Palestine, the Hebrew word for “young woman” became in Greek “a virgin.” By the time the Gospels were written, Christians saw in Isaiah‘s promise a sign of something more wonderful than the prophet had ever imagined, the birth of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. The text is cited by Matthew in this sense in this week’s Gospel.

FAITH FUNDAMENTALS | FATHER MICHAEL VAN SLOUN

Jesus’ gift to us at Christmas and always Gifts are a big part of Christmas. We shop for gifts, give gifts and look forward to receiving gifts. The practice of gift giving at Christmastime finds its origins in the Magi who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus (Mt 2:11); and in St. Nicholas, who gave his wealth to the poor, food to the hungry, encouragement to prisoners and three separate gifts of gold to a father to pay the dowry for his three daughters. The single greatest gift of Christmas is Jesus himself, the gift of the Father to the human race. Jesus is also a giver of gifts, but he did not give his gifts at Christmastime. Jesus gave his most important gifts on Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The gift was not wrapped in a package, but was on a table, bread and wine, his Body and Blood, the Eucharist. The gift was not put under the tree but was nailed to a tree, the cross, where he gave his life for us. Jesus gave his parting gift at the Last Supper. He told his disciples that night, “I will not leave you orphans” (Jn 14:18), and before he ascended to heaven he reassured them, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). Jesus would never forget or abandon us. His presence is constant, everywhere and reliable. Jesus comes to us and remains with us in the Eucharist. Jesus wanted no confusion about his farewell gift. In fact, he wanted to reemphasize the supreme value of his gift so he gave it twice more, not at Christmastime but at Eastertime. The first occasion was on the day of his Resurrection when two disciples were on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35). Suddenly Jesus appeared. The ensuing encounter had two parts. First, Jesus cited Scripture and explained it to them. Then, Jesus sat with them at the table, took

bread, said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to them. The encounter followed the same format as the Mass: the Liturgy of the Word, the proclamation of Scripture followed by an explanation in the homily, and the Liturgy of the Eucharist, when bread is blessed, broken and shared. Jesus gives us the gift of his word, the Gospel, and the gift of his Body and Blood, the Eucharist. The second occasion has striking parallels. A number of days after the Resurrection the disciples were fishing on the Sea of Galilee (Jn 21:1-14). Suddenly Jesus appeared. There was a charcoal fire with bread and fish on it. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish. Jesus used bread and fish before when he fed a crowd of 5,000 in the same locality (Jn 6:113). The miraculous feeding prefigured the gift that Jesus would give at the Last Supper, and the feeding at the charcoal fire renewed the gift he instituted on Holy Thursday. It may be customary to give gifts at Christmastime, but Jesus gave these gifts at Eastertime. The early Christian community understood the value of the gift that Jesus had given to them, and following his instruction, “Do this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19), they gathered each week and devoted themselves “to the breaking of the bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). The gift that Jesus gave at the Last Supper, and gave again at Emmaus and on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, is given again every time the community gathers for the breaking of the bread. Jesus has a gift for us this Christmas at Mass: the Eucharist. The Eucharist is Jesus’ farewell gift to us, and he gives it over and over again all year long. Father Van Sloun is pastor of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata. This column is part of an ongoing series on the Eucharist. Read more of his writing at CatholicHotdish.com.

Jesus was born of a virgin, not because normal conception and birth are second rate, but rather, as a sign that he comes not from within humanity (like us), but from outside of humanity, from God. Jesus is the true Emmanuel. He is God made human, he is God’s personal pledge that he is with us. Jesus is the one who even now is longing and yearning for our souls. He came that we might have life, and have it superabundantly, a new life in him. For us to encounter Christ, we must open our souls to him. God’s purpose will be accomplished regardless of our decisions, but our decisions are crucial nontheless. To refuse to open the door of our souls by keeping God at arm’s length like King Ahaz is to shut out of our lives the one who alone can give our lives real meaning, give us strength to surmount every suffering, and ultimately give us fulfillment and peace. Keeping God at a distance means missing out on the best chance for happiness we will ever be offered. It means failing to appear for that personal rendezvous with our destiny to truly become the person God made us to be. For the remainder of Advent and into this Christmas season, let’s let God into our lives and embark on life’s greatest adventure. Saying yes to him places us by the side of the virgin of whom Isaiah wrote, without knowing it, and whom we encounter in today’s Gospel, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Two thousand years after Mary opened the door to God by saying yes to becoming the mother of his Son, she continues to inspire us to say YES to God. Father Haugan is pastor of Holy Spirit in St. Paul.

DAILY Scriptures Sunday, December 22 Fourth Sunday of Advent Is 7:10-14 Rom 1:1-7 Mt 1:18-24 Monday, December 23 Mal 3:1-4, 23-24 Lk 1:57-66 Tuesday, December 24 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 Lk 1:67-79 Wednesday, December 25 Nativity of the Lord Is 52:7-10 Heb 1:1-6 Jn 1:1-18 Thursday, December 26 St. Stephen, first martyr Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59 Mt 10:17-22 Friday, December 27 St. John, Apostle and evangelist 1 Jn 1:1-4 Jn 20:1a, 2-8 Saturday, December 28 Holy Innocents 1 Jn 1:5–2:2 Mt 2:13-18 Sunday, December 29 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Sir 3:2-6, 12-14 Col 3:12-21 Mt 2:13-15, 19-23 Monday, December 30 1 Jn 2:12-17 Lk 2:36-40 Tuesday, December 31 1 Jn 2:18-21 Jn 1:1-18 Wednesday, January 1 Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God Nm 6:22-27 Gal 4:4-7 Lk 2:16-21 Thursday, January 2 Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors of the Church 1 Jn 2:22-28 Jn 1:19-28 Friday, January 3 1 Jn 2:29–3:6 Jn 1:29-34

Saturday, January 4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious 1 Jn 3:7-10 Jn 1:35-42 Sunday, January 5 Epiphany of the Lord Is 60:1-6 Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6 Mt 2:1-12 Monday, January 6 1 Jn 3:22–4:6 Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 Tuesday, January 7 1 Jn 4:7-10 Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday, January 8 1 Jn 4:11-18 Mk 6:45-52 Thursday, January 9 1 Jn 4:19–5:4 Lk 4:14-22 Friday, January 10 1 Jn 5:5-13 Lk 5:12-16 Saturday, January 11 1 Jn 5:14-21 Jn 3:22-30 Sunday, January 12 Baptism of the Lord Is 42:1-4, 6-7 Acts 10:34-38 Mt 3:13-17 Monday, January 13 1 Sm 1:1-8 Mk 1:14-20 Tuesday, January 14 1 Sm 1:9-20 Mk 1:21-28 Wednesday, January 15 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 Mk 1:29-39 Thursday, January 16 1 Sm 4:1-11 Mk 1:40-45 Friday, January 17 St. Anthony, abbot 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a Mk 2:1-12 Saturday, January 18 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1 Mk 2:13-17 Sunday, January 19 Is 49:3, 5-6 1 Cor 1:1-3 Jn 1:29-34

DECEMBER 19, 2019

COMMENTARY YOUR HEART, HIS HOME | LIZ KELLY

Never taken for a ride

When I was about 10, my father — bless his generous heart — bought me something I had wanted my entire young life: a Pinto, a particular breed of horse with large patches of white, black and brown. This Pinto was named Windy. We spotted her ad in the paper that spring; she was in foal, trained to ride and drive. This last bit was important because the horse who usually pulled our sleigh had died. Windy was a bargain with a foal to boot. Two horses for the price of one. Dad got on the phone and bought her “sight unseen.” And she didn’t disappoint. When the trailer arrived to deliver her and they led her down the ramp, she tossed her head and pawed her hoof, lively and curious, snorting with the new scents of her new home. She was beautiful. A month or so later, she delivered a handsome foal that my father and I would train. She had a comfortable gait and was a delight to ride. I loved that horse. Then winter came, late December, a nice fluffy foot of snow. Perfect conditions for a nighttime jaunt

FAITH IN THE PUBLIC ARENA | KATHERINE CROSS

Feast of Epiphany: Seeking safety and freedom to live out God’s call

Each year across Minnesota, on the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, Catholics mark Immigration Sunday (this year Jan. 5). In sacred art we see the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt in search of safe haven from King Herod, who wanted to kill the infant Jesus in an effort to prevent his reign as our eternal King. Many of us can barely fathom the fear and terror felt by these new parents, entrusted by God to raise his son so that in the not-so-distant future Christ could fulfill his vocation as the savior of all mankind. On Immigration Sunday, we are reminded that many of our neighbors can fathom the terror felt by the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph. They have lived it. Let’s be in solidarity with them on Jan. 5 and throughout the year.

Welcome Christ in the stranger Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas and at the end of time. It also challenges us to welcome him when he comes to us in other ways, particularly through the people we encounter every day. Every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore imbued with a sacred dignity we must respect and protect. This is especially true when it comes to the poor and vulnerable. This is why the decision by the current federal administration to set a new 40-year low on the number of refugees allowed into the United States (just 18,000 refugees in 2020) is so concerning. This is happening even as globally we are experiencing the largest displacement of people in human history. It can be difficult to welcome the stranger in our midst. It can also be difficult to be the stranger who is

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 15

through the countryside in our sleigh. It was red, every bit as much of a Kris Kringlelooking operation as you might imagine. My sister Anne volunteered to sit in the sleigh and hold the reins as we fastened the harness and got Windy strapped in. The horse took the harness without the slightest problem and my little heart raced with excitement. I could barely stand the wait until we were trotting through the snowy countryside, looking like something out of a Christmas card. But then, the sleigh bumped Windy’s rump. Now, a horse that was actually trained to drive would have thought very little of this contact. But Windy, it turns out, was probably not as well-trained as advertised. She bolted. I’ll never forget the cries of my sister as she and Windy and that red sleigh took off at breakneck speed into the starry night. To Windy, there was a wild snarling beast about to consume her from behind and she was determined to outrun it. Down our long driveway she went, galloping full speed. Across the large field that sat in front of our country house, she made a huge loop, and coming back toward the barn, my sister made a daring decision and bailed out into a snowdrift, thankfully unharmed. On Windy went, now passenger-less, with only the sleigh following her no matter how fast she ran. She took off down a utility road along the edge of our property and disappeared behind the heavy groves of our back pasture. We took off after her.

not welcomed by those in their midst. Many individuals and communities might feel unsure about how to even begin to welcome people who have different habits, cultural practices, modes of living, languages and religions. These uncertainties can lead to a natural fear of the unknown. However, we must also not forget that these fears of the unknown are shared by our refugee and migrant neighbors. As Catholics it is our duty to welcome the stranger in our midst. That challenge extends to all people of good will, including migrants and refugees, and people who have lived here their entire lives. A challenge to our migrant and refugee community members: Be patient with those for whom your presence may be challenging. Rather than condemn them as racist or xenophobic, extend a hand of friendship. Help them get to know you by showing your mutual respect, gratitude and commitment to the common good. A challenge to citizens in our congregations: Seek out conversation with your newly arrived neighbors. Get to know their stories and hopes for their lives in their new home. Extend a hand of friendship.

Overcoming fear of the unknown To help individuals, families, parishes and communities create a welcoming environment that can bring healing to the fear and division in our society, Minnesota Catholic Conference is providing a wealth of resources for observing Immigration Sunday. Visit mncatholic.org/immigrationsunday for a scriptural rosary, prayers of the faithful, event planning and other resources. Everyone is also encouraged to contact Minnesota’s senators to thank them for their support of DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients and ask for their support of the Dream Act of 2019. Visit mncatholic.org/actioncenter or call U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar 202-224-3244 and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith 202-224-5641. At a time when our nation is reeling from the side effects of increasingly divisive political rhetoric and an immigration system in desperate need of comprehensive reform, let us begin by reforming our own hearts and communities. Let Immigration Sunday and the feast of our Lord’s Epiphany be a catalyst for Minnesota Catholics to show their commitment to welcoming migrants and refugees in our communities. By accompanying our immigrant neighbors in person and in prayer, we can

Maybe half a mile or so later, we found the sleigh, overturned, bent, and battered. Windy had tried to take a sharp corner in order to lose her “predator,” and it must have tipped the whole operation on its side. Beyond the sleigh a hundred feet or so was poor Windy, huffing and puffing, up to her shoulder in snow, bleeding from a few minor cuts, straps and harness dangling from her still-trembling body. Lesson learned. After the angel appeared to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, “good news of great joy for all the people,” they raced through the night to Bethlehem. They trusted that they were not being taken for a ride. Indeed, the Good News is not an exaggeration meant to get us to buy into something false. Though it may seem too good to be true, that little babe in Bethlehem, he keeps his promises. Do you know what they are? Mercy for those who fear him, rescue from the hands of our enemies, the light of revelation. He is the dawn from on high, a light to those in darkness, the Prince of Peace, our Savior King. Jesus, your kingdom will never end, your word will never fail, nothing is impossible for you. Your promises are true. Kelly is the author of seven books, including the award-winning “Jesus Approaches ”(2017) and the “Your Heart, His Home Prayer Companion” (2019). Visit her website at lizk.org.

Minnesota Catholic Conference staff are hearing more reports of people whose religious liberty — that is, the living expression of their faith in school, in the workplace and in ministry, among other places — is being challenged. If you are being attacked for your faith or coerced into violating its tenets, please contact MCC at 651-227-8777 or info@mncatholic. org. There are attorneys who may be able to assist you. There are three areas, in particular, where conflicts between religious faith and secular norms are coming into conflict: 1) challenges to businesses and counselors related to same-sex unions; 2) the imposition of gender identity ideology in schools and workplaces; and 3) ministries that serve migrants and refugees. If you believe that your rights as a parent, professional, student or minister are being violated because you wish to live by the integrated sexual identity and Christian anthropology proposed by the Church, or because you wish to serve undocumented immigrants, please contact MCC. Many attorneys will take on these cases pro bono (that is, for free) or at a minimal cost. Sadly, some have already spoken with attorneys and have incurred significant costs without seeking assistance. You don’t need to endanger your financial security to protect your rights. We may not be able to connect you with a pro bono attorney in every instance, but it is worth asking. Furthermore, your case may help others by setting an important precedent in the courts. Right now, the federal courts in Minnesota are favorable to religious liberty claims, and these cases should be brought whenever possible to clarify that religious freedom cannot be burdened absent a compelling governmental interest. Please pray for all those who bravely work to secure religious freedom for themselves and others. help them integrate into the communities they call home and show that we welcome Christ in them. Cross is Minnesota Catholic Conference communications manager.

COMMENTARY

16 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

TO HOME FROM ROME | JONATHAN LIEDL

Viewing the gift of Christmas with fresh eyes

A few summers ago, Andy Grammer’s “Fresh Eyes” was a popular hit on Twin Cities radio stations. With lyrics like “It’s human nature / to miss what’s under your nose,” the catchy pop tune was an ode to looking at what one already has with “fresh eyes,” transforming the routine and mundane into a gift to be cherished and appreciated. Grammer wrote the song specifically about his wife, but I think we can apply its insight to other persons in our lives. Perhaps there’s a co-worker or a sibling who a change in perspective would help us to appreciate more. In my own case, being abroad in Rome has helped me to see friends and family back in Minnesota with a newfound gratitude. But one person we can always hope to see with “fresh eyes” is Jesus Christ. Precisely because who Jesus is and what he’s done and does for us is so unfathomably good, so beyond the pale of anything we could have ever expected, he is probably the easiest person to underappreciate. Because of our creaturely limitations, we often reduce his message and mission to our own human logic and expectations, instead of accepting him on his own terms. Often unintentionally, we tend to treat the reality of Jesus Christ as something “too good to be true,” and settle for a lesser, more manageable version of him. The forces of secularity, which want to tell us that Jesus was merely a wise teacher or a social reformer instead of God-mademan, certainly contribute to our failure to appreciate him in our lives. But even if we’re practicing our Catholic faith, there is always the danger of taking Jesus for granted. The crucifixes that commonly adorn our Catholic spaces can be visual reminders of God’s incredible sacrifice for us, but they can also render the wondrous love of the Cross as something expected and

CATHOLIC WATCHMEN | DEACON GORDON BIRD

Pray, prepare and live as priest, prophet and king

Keep those lamps trimmed and burning, as the hymn goes — reminding us as Jesus taught so often to be on watch and stay prepared. Early on in this Advent season, I recall hearing the robust, titleleading verse that has more breadth and depth in its action than one probably realizes. To stay alert and well prepared for the polyvalent, timeless meaning of Advent — the coming of Christ: 1) in prayer, anticipation of and the joy of celebrating his birth; 2) in preparation of the promise of his glorious Second Coming; and yet, 3) to help us focus on the importance of the here and now — how he lives actively in our hearts in the present moment — all the year through. Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Taking a global perspective, we indeed hope and pray all is calm and bright for all people — especially the young whose lives are compromised and challenged. And here is a reminder of Pope Francis’ prayer intention for December — the somewhat mellow season of Advent that leads to the joy of Christmastide: “That every country takes the measures necessary to prioritize the future of the very young, especially those who are suffering.” While our thoughts, prayers and outreach activities can take a world view, we can harbor this as an action

DECEMBER 19, 2019

innocuous, incapable of moving us if we lack the right perspective. Therefore, it’s not merely enough to profess our love for and belief in Jesus. We also regularly need to remind ourselves of just who exactly this Jesus is whom we love and believe in. Advent is the perfect time for this kind of renewal. Just as married couples in need of a spark are encouraged to go back to the origins of their love, Advent is an annual opportunity to break the spell of complacency by returning to man’s original encounter with Christ. By changing our perspective in this way, we can rescue the radicality of Christ and the Gospel from our tendencies to make them commonplace, viewed as they are after 2,000 years of Christianity. Similar to how the Jewish faith’s insistence that man was made “in the image and likeness of God” went completely beyond the accounts of other ancient Near East religions, which largely viewed human beings as slaves to the gods, the coming of Christ wildly exceeded man’s greatest expectations. True, the Jewish people were waiting for a Messiah. But he was commonly expected to be a kind of worldly savior, expelling the Romans from Jerusalem and reestablishing the Davidic monarchy. Who he was instead — the God of all the universe humbly coming in human form to live among, serve, and even die for his creatures so that they could become divinized and enjoy eternal unity with him in the Father’s house — could never have been fully anticipated by mankind. Though Jesus fulfills the longings of the human heart, until he came and revealed himself to us, we weren’t even sure what we were longing for. ‘Tis the season to rediscover this truth with wonder and gratitude. Through holy Scripture, the Lord has provided us with several sets of “fresh eyes” that we can adopt to see it all more clearly: the Blessed Mother, whose “fiat” at the Annunciation is all the more extraordinary precisely because the Lord’s proposal was so unexpected; St. John the Baptist, whose encounter with Christ in utero led him to spend his life joyfully in ascetic solitude and preparation for Christ’s coming; and St. Joseph, who, according to St. Jerome and others, sought to divorce Mary quietly because he knew she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit and knew himself to be unworthy. In these last few days of Advent, let’s ask Jesus to remind us who he truly is, so that we may more fully and faithfully appreciate him on Christmas Day and beyond. Liedl is a seminarian in formation for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

locally within and beyond the Christmas season — all year long. Parishes in which I minister, it’s such a blessing to see how thoughtful families and individuals seize ministerial initiatives to support the less fortunate or mobile through the giving of gifts, providing of food, visiting the lonely. Especially when it involves teaching the younger family members works of mercy via the experience of helping others in need. And the impact it makes when they reach out to someone close to their own age. Teach your children well. Even when it comes to the Second Coming. Yes, we need to educate our young in reading, writing and arithmetic, etc. It’s imperative that we also help them early on in life come to embrace the virtues of faith, hope and charity. Families harbor the young, and Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s intention for the Catholic Watchmen movement this month directs us to the importance of being imitators of Mary and Joseph: “To pray for the blessings of this holy Christmas season to be upon the families of our archdiocese and the child Jesus to be more deeply encountered by all, especially by the example of the first holy, domestic church.” Through the theological virtues, the family, by word and deed, can teach their very young how to encounter Jesus. Mom and Dad are the first and are to be the best of teachers. When the time is right, their formidable duty is to help the young grasp what it means going forward as a baptized child of God. A three-fold duty we all took on in our new birth of baptism by water and the Holy Spirit is to be priest, prophet and king so we may live always as members of Christ’s body, sharing everlasting life. Essentially, it’s being Jesus to others — through holiness, through truth, through serving others. How better to prepare for the Second Coming than to live this munera — function, office, duty — dayin and day-out? This is not only for clergy!

LETTER Seeking blue-collar deacons The Dec. 5, 2019, Catholic Spirit brought news of the ordination of a new class of permanent deacons, men who with their wives were called to serve us for years to come. When we once again began to ordain permanent deacons in the mid 70s, the men came from a wide array of occupations. They were not just from white-collar professions, but they were milk truck drivers, operating engineers, custodians, and other guys who had calloused hands and got dirt under their fingernails while putting bread on their families’ tables. Could it be that the Lord is no longer calling such men to be ordained? Pete Barrett St. Casimir, St. Paul

ADD YOUR VOICE Share your perspective by emailing CatholicSpirit@archspm.org. Please limit your letter to the editor to 150 words and include your parish and phone number. The Commentary page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. Letters may be edited for length or clarity.

“

Through the theological virtues, the family, by word and deed, can teach their very young how to encounter Jesus.

Here we are at the “hic et nunc” — the here and now — the present moment. In an excellent introduction to the recent Catholc Watchmen video series, encompassing what each munus of priest, prophet and king means for a Catholic man, Bishop Andrew Cozzens also advised that it is good to know some Latin. No worries — that’s as heavy a learning as it gets here. Kidding aside, the seven-part series elaborates on how embracing spiritual leadership — the thrust of the Catholic Watchmen in their accountability to family, parish and community as priest, prophet and king — keeps hearts alive in the presence of Christ, the highest Priest, the highest Prophet, the King of the Universe. This “alive in Christ” is all about self-gift. Our Lord and Savior came to us as a child, which we celebrate this Christmas, and he died to save us. We are alive to seek holiness through the cooperation of the grace of the sacraments — to sanctify and reconcile family, friends and others. Alive to know and teach his truth, which sets us free. Alive to establish through the gift of ourselves a kingdom of love and mercy for families, the Church, community and the world. Check out the series at thecatholicwatchmen.com. Have yourself a very Merry Christmas! Deacon Bird ministers at St. Joseph in Rosemount and All Saints in Lakeville, and assists the Catholic Watchmen movement of the archdiocese’s Office of Evangelization. Reach him at gordonbird@rocketmail. com. Learn about the archdiocese’s Catholic Watchmen initiative thecatholicwatchmen.com.

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 17

ARCHDIOCESAN CHANCERY CORPORATION ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT • 2019 Grateful for funds, time and expertise

Financial Officer Report

Published this year in the middle of Advent, the 2019 Annual Archdiocesan Financial Report is infused with the hope of the season. It serves as a reminder of the many ways in which Jesus continues to provide for this local Church through the extraordinary generosity of her faithful. I am deeply ARCHBISHOP thankful to all who BERNARD HEBDA have supported the Archdiocese this year. While Archdiocesan staffing and programming remain at the low level once necessitated by our bankruptcy, I am grateful that the good work of the Church nevertheless continues. This year’s report clearly reflects our awareness of the five-year commitment we made to provide $1 million annually to survivors of abuse. We take seriously our commitment to them and will continue to look for ways to set aside resources to ensure that the obligation will be met in each of the next four years. I continue to be grateful for the generous collaboration of those who share their professional expertise and assist the Archdiocese in charting a course forward. I have been assisted not only by a competent professional staff at the Archdiocese, but also by the extraordinarily well prepared laity and clerics who serve on the Archdiocesan Finance Council and Corporate Board. Working in tandem with the priests serving on the College of Consultors and Presbyteral Council, they have been valued collaborators in restoring stability to the Archdiocese. When I had arrived here as Diocesan Administrator in 2015, I asked the Archdiocesan Finance Council (required by canon law) and Corporate Board (required by Minnesota civil law) to meet jointly until we would emerge from bankruptcy, with the hope of making sure that key leaders would all be on the same page. I also asked them to stay on beyond the conclusion of their terms so that there would be continuity in decision-making, and they graciously agreed. I believe that the greater stability reflected in the 2019 Report reflects the generosity of those board members and their careful review of our financial data, as well as their invaluable input into the other decisions that fall to me as archbishop, matters that often have financial consequences. I will always be grateful to them, not only for their collaboration in navigating through particularly rough waters but also for their creativity in both institutionalizing the closest of collaborations between the Finance Council and the Corporate Board and identifying worthy successors to ensure that this good work continues. As you review this report, I hope that you share my assessment that the Archdiocese has indeed been blessed.

The fiscal year 2019 of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis began July 1, 2018, and ended June 30, 2019. The Archdiocese’s bankruptcy case officially closed during this fiscal year on Dec. 21, 2018. Starting that day, the more than 400 victim-survivors who filed abuse claims against the Archdiocese began receiving compensation from the bankruptcy trust established by the Archdiocese. The majority of the $210 million settlement reached in June of 2018 was distributed to claimants by the court appointed trustee as part of the bankruptcy process. The trustee determined the amount received by each claimant. In this report, you will see distributions from our cash account to the trust and a reduction in our Bankruptcy Settlement Liability for the payment of our obligations reached in the bankruptcy settlement. The first of five $1 million annual payments to the trust was made this October and will be reflected in the fiscal year 2020 report as a reduction to the Note Payable – Bankruptcy Settlement. You have heard previously from Archbishop Hebda and others regarding the new day for abuse survivors and the Church, enabled by the bankruptcy resolution. The resolution of the bankruptcy also affects the Archdiocese financially in a number of ways. First and foremost, those who were harmed over the past 70 years have been compensated and their cases settled. Second, our Special Issues Expense, which reflected the expenses associated with the bankruptcy, is behind us, which is significant. In fiscal year 2018, our Special Issues Expense totaled nearly $21 million. Third, the resolution of the bankruptcy allows for the Archdiocese and its parishes to move forward with some financial certainty. Many parishes and priests contributed generously to the settlement fund. Fourth and final, the resolution allows the Archdiocese to resume having an audit of our financials completed and published, something not possible during bankruptcy. For the past four years, the Archdiocese had asked our CPA firm to perform Agreed Upon Procedures on our financial statements. The Agreed Upon Procedures were developed by Archdiocesan staff and the Archdiocesan Finance Council in consultation with our CPA firm, and they assisted us in governance of the Archdiocese and stewardship of its resources by requiring attestation procedures on key balance sheet accounts and review of the statement of activities and internal controls. Accounting best practices dictate that our fiscal year 2019 audit consist of an audit of our balance sheet, dated June 30, 2019. Because our balance sheet as of June 30, 2018, was not audited, an audit cannot be performed on our Statement of Activities for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019. We will return to the standard practice of annual independent audits for the fiscal year ending 2020 and will continue our practice of releasing the information promptly after completion of our financial statements and auditor’s report. While we provide administrative and pastoral support to parishes, Catholic schools, and other Catholic entities within the 12 counties that make up the Archdiocese, this annual fiscal report does not contain their financial information. That is because, under Minnesota law, they are all separate corporations with completely separate finances, and they are required to prepare and publish their own financial reports. We owe financial transparency and accountability to you, the Catholic faithful, because nearly 75% of our operating revenue comes from what you give at your parish each Sunday. Solidifying trust as we move forward is vital. Next year’s full audit will assist with that.

The archdiocese’s fiscal year 2019 Financial Statements along with the Independent Auditor’s Report will be posted at archspm.org at the Finance and Accounting page prior to Dec. 31.

By Thomas Mertens, CFO

Introduction

Financial condition For the year ended June 30, 2019, we generated a surplus from operations before Special Issues Expense of nearly $900,000. It is similar to the surplus from operations in FY 2018 before Special Issue Expense, which totaled nearly $1 million. Generating a surplus from operations is critical to our operation, as it will provide cash to meet our $1 million annual obligation for the remaining four years related to the bankruptcy settlement. As we have done in the past, we will continue to closely monitor and analyze our expenses. In fiscal year 2019, we generated an overall surplus of almost $1.7 million because of an operating surplus of $900,000 and a favorable non-cash adjustment to our Bankruptcy Settlement Liability of approximately $800,000. The adjustment was related to the assignment to the Bankruptcy Trust of a potential refund from the workers’ compensation investment account of excess funds not required by the Minnesota Department of Commerce for self-funded plans. The refund to the Bankruptcy Trust did not materialize. In fiscal year 2018, we had a loss from operations of $20 million due to Special Issues Expense of nearly $21 million, which represented the Archdiocesan payment of its obligations agreed to in the Plan of Reorganization that became effective in October 2018.

Revenue Total Operating Revenue in fiscal year 2019 was $20.2 million, down slightly from fiscal year 2018 of $20.6 million. The decrease was primarily due to the down market’s impact on Investment Income, a decrease in Contributions, and a decrease in Other Income as a result of lower imputed rental income required by accounting standards due to the land sale to the Catholic high schools in September of 2018 as part of the bankruptcy settlement. Parish Assessments, our primary source of revenue, increased slightly from 2018, up $40,000, while Fees and Program Revenues increased more than $300,000. Parish Assessments are generated from the 186 parishes within the Archdiocese and are calculated and billed on a two-year lag, which means the parish financial results for the years ending June 30, 2017, and 2016 formed the basis for the Parish Assessment revenue for the years ended June 30, 2019, and 2018, respectively. Under the Plan of Reorganization, the Archdiocese agreed not to change the assessment methodology or rates to the parishes for a two-year period.

Operating expense Our Operating Expense Before Special Issues Expense in 2019 totaled $19.3 million, as compared to $19.6 million in 2018, a decrease of 1.6 %. The decrease is due to an intentional and continued focus aimed at generating a surplus to meet our annual $1 million dollar obligation to the bankruptcy trust over the next four years. The Archdiocese closely monitors expenses through monthly financial meetings with each Archdiocesan department director.

Non-operating activity: Gain on sale of assets The Archdiocese sold three parcels of land in October of 2018 as agreed to under the Plan of Reorganization for an aggregate price of $4 million. The proceeds from the sale of the land went directly into the Bankruptcy Trust. Each parcel of land was part of the campus of each of three Catholic high schools; BenildeSt. Margaret, DeLaSalle, and Totino-Grace. The land was purchased by the Archdiocese decades prior and a gain on the sale of $3.4 million was recognized in the year ending June 30, 2019.

Non-operating activity: General Insurance Program The General Insurance Program of the

Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis provides comprehensive, uniform insurance coverage to all of the parishes, Catholic schools, and certain other Catholic entities within the Archdiocese, as well as the Chancery Corporation. The coverage provided by the General Insurance Program includes commercial property, casualty, general liability, and workers’ compensation. The General Insurance Program is maintained for the benefit of the participants who have contributed funds in exchange for obtaining insurance coverage. The General Insurance Program had a surplus from operations of $1.6 million in 2019, as compared to $2.8 million in 2018, due to higher claims in the most recent fiscal year. These higher claims were the result of the extremely cold weather this past winter, higher than normal precipitation, and hail damage in the spring. In 2018, the General Insurance Program contributed $6 million to the Plan of Reorganization. The expense of this contribution is included in Special Issues Expense.

Non-operating activity: Priest Benefits The Archdiocese coordinates a self-insured health and dental benefit fund for active priests and seminarians within the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese invoices parishes, Catholic schools and other Catholic entities based on clergy assignments and pays benefit providers directly for any claims. Priest Benefits generated a loss of nearly $100,000 in 2019 and income of $487,000 in 2018. The loss in the current year was the result of higher claims per participant as compared to the prior year. The results of the Priest Benefits program fluctuates annually based on the claims and over time has historically been a break-even program.

Financial position Net Assets of the Archdiocese were approximately $17.1 million as of June 30, 2019 as compared to $10.5 million on June 30, 2018. The increase was due to the $1.7 million surplus from operations during the fiscal year, the non-cash gain on the sale of land of $3.4 million and the combined net income from the General Insurance Program and Priest Benefits of $1.7 million. The total cash balance as of June 30, 2018 was nearly $28 million and decreased to $6.6 million on June 30, 2019, due to the cash used to fund the Bankruptcy Trust. Our current cash balance consists of $4.4 million of Unrestricted Cash, $1 million of Board Designated Cash and Donor Restricted Cash of $1.2 million. The Board Designated Cash represents funds set aside for the payment of the first of five annual payments of $1 million to repay the $5 million Note Payable – Bankruptcy Settlement. Accounts Receivable – Net of Allowances decreased from $4.8 million in 2018 to $3.5 million as a result of continued efforts to collect past due assessments from parishes and offsetting Parish Demand Deposits of $495,000 (amounts owed to parishes) with Accounts Receivable. The decrease in Land, Property & Equipment is the result of the sale of the three parcels of land during the year.

Looking forward The majority of our financial obligations related to the bankruptcy are now in our rearview mirror. We all know and understand that our work is never complete as it relates to the protection of children, and we continue to do all that we can to keep all people safe in this Archdiocese, regardless of the financial cost. We are fully aware of our future financial obligations to fund the Bankruptcy Trust over the next four years, and we are committed to making the difficult decisions required to provide the resources to meet those obligations. Thank you for your on-going support as we work together towards our mission of making Jesus Christ known and loved in our local Church.

FINANCIAL REPORT

18 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS Chancery Corporation • Statement of Activities Years Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (Unaudited) OPERATING REVENUE Contributions Parish Assessments Fees and Program Revenues Investment Income, Net Other Income Operating Revenue OPERATING EXPENSE Program Services: Catholic Education Central Services Clergy Services Communications Community Services Evangelization and Catechesis Marriage, Family and Life Parish Services and Outreach Latino Ministries Total Program Services Support Services: General and Administrative Stewardship and Development Total Support Services

THE ARCHDIOCESE OF SAINT PAUL AND MINNEAPOLIS Chancery Corporation • Statement of Financial Position As of June 30, 2019 and 2018 2019 (Audited) • 2018 (Unaudited)

2019 $2,528,413 14,599,007 2,710,682 107,900 241,000 20,187,002

2018 $2,727,981 14,561,156 2,365,234 291,356 641,001 20,586,728

933,375 4,876,621 5,007,836 1,881,250 83,261 317,139 958,789 1,835,614 495,503 16,389,388

1,313,560 5,109,558 4,739,194 1,875,894 75,050 267,180 856,950 1,517,428 475,989 16,230,803

2,648,180 255,386 2,903,566

2,905,425 468,100 3,373,525

Total Operating Expense before Special Issues Expense 19,292,954 Change in Net Assets from Operations before Special Issues Expense 894,048 Special Issues Expense (801,123) Change in Net Assets from Operations 1,695,171

19,604,328 982,400 20,991,488 (20,009,088)

NON-OPERATING ACTIVITY Gain on Sale of Assets General Insurance Program Revenues General Insurance Program Expenses Priest Benefits Revenues Priest Benefits Expenses Change in Net Assets from Non-Operating Activities

3,395,470 10,101,680 (8,506,485) 3,056,286 (3,156,011) 4,890,940

9,479,187 (6,720,347) 3,101,557 (2,614,366) 3,246,031

CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

$ 6,586,111

$(16,763,057)

Supporting the Church’s mission The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis serves Catholics and the greater 12-county Twin Cities community. The following narrative briefly explains the function of each department and the funding level for FY 2019. Total department expenses below include allocations of depreciation, occupancy, and archbishop expenses. u Catholic Education — $933,375 The Office for the Mission of Catholic Education (OMCE) provides vision, support, and direction to those who teach in the name of the Church within the Archdiocese so they can achieve their mission to proclaim Christ and form authentic disciples of Jesus Christ. The Office primarily serves Catholic schools and parish catechetical programs. By establishing a shared vision for quality and excellence in Catholic education under the leadership of the Archbishop, the OMCE is focused on assisting parishes and Catholic schools partner with parents in forming a new generation of Catholic students. u Central Services — $4,876,621 The Department of Central Services provides support and services to the Archdiocesan staff and the parishes. The department includes the offices of the chancellors for civil and canonical affairs, information technology services, the metropolitan tribunal, human resources and benefits, records and archives, the office of financial standards and parish accounting. Also covered in this category are assessments to the Minnesota Catholic Conference and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. uClergy Services — $5,007,836 The role of this office is to provide support and formation for priests and deacons in all aspects of ministry and pastoral care. Services provided by this office include the following: Seminary Formation: There are currently 51 men in formation for the priesthood for service of our Archdiocese. While the number changes throughout the discernment process, our Archdiocese has one of the largest enrollments of seminarians of any diocese in the country. The Archdiocese funds the medical and dental coverage of the seminarians at The St. Paul Seminary, as well as tuition, room and board of those attending the North American College in Rome. Center for Clergy Formation: Institute of Ongoing Formation for Clergy and the Institute of Diaconate Formation comprise the Center for Clergy Formation. Each entity of the center provides an integrated approach to priestly and diaconate formation, including gatherings and support for newly ordained priests and deacons,

DECEMBER 19, 2019

ASSETS Cash - Without Donor Restriction and Board Designated Cash - Restricted for Bankruptcy Cash - With Donor Restriction Contributions Receivable, Net of Allowances Accounts Receivables, Net of Allowances Loans Receivable Investments with Donor Restrictions Beneficial Interest in Perpetual Trusts General Insurance Program Assets Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets Land, Property and Equipment, Net Total Assets

2019 $ 5,422,915 - 1,196,721 212,263 3,481,624 675,066 1,123,737 1,490,207 12,881,854 185,006 3,371,001 $30,040,394

2018 $2,698,445 23,475,000 1,880,642 535,156 4,784,148 697,604 1,143,414 1,519,426 10,773,364 315,003 4,244,390 $ 52,066,592

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Liabilities Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Pre-Petition - Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities, Post-Petition 1,810,479 Bankruptcy Settlement Liability - General Insurance Program Claims Payable and Other Liabilities 5,349,348 Amounts Held for Others Under Agency Transactions 182,129 Parish Demand Deposits - Deferred Revenue 199,011 Other Liabilities 212,733 Lease Payable 50,171 Deferred Rent 165,762 Note Payable - Bankruptcy Settlement 5,000,000 Total Liabilities 12,969,633

$242,332 1,577,658 28,694,031 4,836,053 175,232 495,028 144,176 175,000 65,469 176,963 5,000,000 41,581,942

NET ASSETS Without Donor Restrictions - Undesignated Without Donor Restrictions - Designated With Donor Restrictions Restricted by Time or Purpose Restricted in Perpetuity

Total Net Assets Total Liabilities and Net Assets

programs to assist new pastors in their role and ongoing formation opportunities for priests and deacons throughout the Archdiocese. Continuing Education: This includes continuing education opportunities, a sabbatical program, international enculturation, and a biennial presbyteral assembly. Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment: The mission of the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment is to work with our community to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults through a number of initiatives including implementing abuse prevention programs, immediately reporting allegations of abuse to law enforcement and/or child/adult protection officials and cooperating fully with their investigations, and helping those affected by abuse in their healing journey. Priest Support: This includes support for priests who are not in ministry due to personal health issues or a disciplinary leave of absence and those who have been permanently removed from ministry. Chaplaincies: There are several priests and deacons in full or part time ministry at hospitals and correctional facilities throughout the Archdiocese who are supported by the Archdiocese. There are many other priests and deacons throughout the Archdiocese who provide pastoral care at healthcare, correctional facilities or schools, either as a ministry of their parish or through their outreach work. They offer the sacraments and spiritual support during some of the most difficult times in peoples’ lives. Last year, thousands of people throughout our community were served by chaplains. Specialized Ministries: This includes the Office of Vocations, support for international clergy, and retired clergy, which includes the operation of the Leo C. Byrne Residence for retired priests. uCommunications — $1,881,250 The Office of Communications helps convey the teachings of the Church and fosters communications between the Archdiocese and the faithful, parish and school leaders and staff, and others in our community. It does this through The Catholic Spirit, multiple websites, social media, e-newsletters, printing services, and other communications. The office also conducts media consultation and training for clergy, parishes and other representatives of the Archdiocese, and works with secular TV and radio stations, as well as print and online publications. u Community Services — $83,261 The Archdiocese helps men, women and children most in need within our local community, including the poor, hungry, and homeless. u Evangelization and Catechesis — $317,139 The Office of Evangelization seeks to bring each person into a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, equip them as a missionary disciple and help them more fully participate in the mission of the Church, to “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” The office is

12,269,424 1,000,000

6,291,163 -

2,073,980 1,727,357

2,436,912 1,756,575

17,070,761 $30,040,394

10,484,650 $52,066,592

dedicated to assisting and serving the evangelization efforts of the parish, with a particular focus on young adults while also reaching those who do not yet know the love of Jesus. It also provides ministries for men, women, grandparents and young adults. uLatino Ministries — $495,503 The Office of Latino Ministry serves the Spanish speaking faithful and leadership at 24 parishes across the Archdiocese through outreach and diverse programs. Areas of emphasis include evangelization and formation, with programs and events like International Women’s Day, biblical, catechetical and pastoral leadership institutes. The office focuses much of its outreach on families and youth by providing and supporting prolife activities, marriage retreats and local and national youth conferences. Special days of celebration of the faith and family, and the annual Mass of Solidarity are also overseen by the staff to provide opportunities of encounter for people of all ethnicities/nationalities. uMarriage, Family and Life — $958,789 This Office of Marriage, Family and Life assists the laity and parishes through programs supporting marriage preparation, family education programming, respect life, pro-life groups, biomedical ethics, and outreach for people with disabilities. The office also sponsors the annual Archdiocesan Youth Day that brings together hundreds of local high school aged teens to praise God, grow in the faith and find fellowship. In addition, this office helps coordinate local representatives attending World Youth Day, the National Catholic Youth Conference, the March for Life and other youth events. uParish Services and Outreach — $1,835,614 The Office of Parish Services provides consultation, planning, and leadership development opportunities to parishes throughout the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese supports outreach ministry to various groups and members of the Archdiocesan community, including Indian ministry, the Venezuelan mission, the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, and other groups and coalitions. uGeneral and Administrative (Support Services) — $2,648,180 The offices of the retired archbishops, auxiliary bishop, vicar general, accounting, finance, and general administration are included in the General and Administrative category. Over half of this category of expense supports salaries and benefits of staff. Also included are expenses incurred for legal fees and bad debt expense. uStewardship and Development (Support Services) — $255,386 This office works with parishes and Catholic schools to help grow a culture of stewardship in local communities and to support parish and school development efforts. The office also engages in outreach to benefactors who wish to support specific ministries or programs of the Chancery Corporation.

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 19

CALENDAR Music

FEATURED EVENTS As part of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ preparations for a Synod in 2021, its leaders are hosting a series of Prayer and Listening Events to better understand the local Church’s blessings and challenges. The winter events are: Sunday, Jan. 5, 1–4 p.m. Holy Cross, Minneapolis ASL interpreted Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m.–noon St. Peter Claver, St. Paul Tuesday, Jan. 28, 6–9 p.m. Pax Christi, Eden Prairie Saturday, Feb. 1, 9 a.m.–noon St. Stephen, Minneapolis Bilingual (English and Spanish) Tuesday, Feb. 11, 6–9 p.m. Providence Academy, Plymouth Saturday, Feb. 15, 9 a.m.–noon Lumen Christi, St. Paul Tuesday, Feb. 18, 6–9 p.m. St. Stephen, Anoka Thursday, Feb. 27, 6–9 p.m. Our Lady of Grace, Edina Saturday, Feb. 29, 9 a.m.–noon St. Pius V, Cannon Falls Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.–noon Transfiguration, Oakdale Saturday, March 14, 9 a.m.–noon St. Alphonsus, Brooklyn Center Bilingual (English and Spanish)

The O Antiphons: An Advent-Themed Organ Recital and Meditation — Dec. 22: 5:30–6:15 p.m. at Holy Cross, 1621 University Ave., Minneapolis. Organist Samuel Backman. Free admission. ourholycross.org. St. Richard Organ Premiere — Dec. 24: 4:30 p.m. at St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. Following the concert is Christmas Eve Mass. strichards.com. Epiphany Concert at Lumen Christi — Jan. 5: 2 p.m. at 2055 Bohland Ave., St. Paul. Performances by the adult, youth and handbell choirs. lumenchristicc.org.

Dining Out Holy Name Society Feast of the Holy Name — Jan. 3: 5:45–9 p.m. at St. Clement, 901 24th Ave. NE, Minneapolis. Chicken dinner and Mass for Catholic men sponsored by Holy Name Society of northeast Minneapolis. RSVP to Greg Boeser at 612-499-1971 or boeser5714@msn.com.

Bridge club — Last Saturdays: 7–8:30 p.m. at St. Joseph, 13015 Rockford Road, Plymouth. Mike or Janet Malinowski 952-525-8708. stjosephparish.com.

CALENDAR submissions DEADLINE: Noon Thursday, 14 days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. We cannot guarantee a submitted event will appear in the calendar. Priority is given to events occurring before the next issue date.

Prayer/worship Taize prayer — Third Fridays: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. Simple chants based on Scriptures and periods of silence. Refreshments following. benedictinecenter.org. Taize prayer — First Fridays: 7:30 p.m. at St. Richard, 7540 Penn Ave. S., Richfield. Moving prayer centering on sung psalms and periods of holy silence. strichards.com. Come Together: ecumenical prayer service for peace with Taize chant — Dec. 29: 3–5 p.m. at St. Bridget, 3811 Emerson Ave. N., Minneapolis. cometogethertc.org.

LISTINGS: Accepted are brief no­tices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and organizations. If the Catholic connection is not clear, please emphasize it in your submission. Included in our listings are local events submitted by public sources that could be of interest to the larger Catholic community. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication: uTime and date of event uFull street address of event uDescription of event uContact information in case of questions ONLINE: THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM/CALENDARSUBMISSIONS MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106

Retreats

Ongoing groups Calix Society — First and third Sundays: 9–10:30 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. A group of men, women, family and friends supporting the spiritual needs of recovering Catholic alcoholics. Kathy at 651-330-3387. calixsociety.com. Job transitions and networking group — Tuesdays: 7–8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane, Maple Grove. Bob at bob.sjtw@gmail.com. sjtw.net. Dementia support group — Second Tuesdays: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. RSVP to sarnold@benedictinecenter.org. Grieving with Hope — Second and fourth Tuesdays: 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at St. Ambrose, 4125 Woodbury Drive, Woodbury. LeAnn at 651-768-3009. saintambroseofwoodbury.org. CARITAS cancer support group — Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.–noon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, second floor, maternity classroom 2500, 45 W. 10th St., St. Paul. Career transition group — Third Thursdays: 7:30–8:30 a.m. at Holy Name of Jesus, 155 County Road 24, Wayzata. hnoj.org. Healing Hope grief support — Second and fourth Thursdays: 6 p.m. at St. Timothy, 707 89th Ave. NE, Blaine. Facilitator Bob Bartlett, licensed therapist. No fees or required registration. churchofsttimothy.com.

Advent Day of Prayer — Dec. 19: 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. franciscanretreats.net. Soul Collage Retreat — Jan. 10-12 at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org.

Conferences/workshops Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) — Third Sundays: 1 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 1200 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. Learn about this lay group of Catholic men and women following the example of St. Francis. 952-922-5523. Finding My Yeses for This Year — Jan. 9: 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org. Discovering Beauty: Well-Read Mom Conference 2020 — Jan. 11: 12:30–4 p.m. at St. Peter, 2600 Margaret St. N., North St. Paul. wellreadmom.com. Homelessness: How Did We Get Here, and How Do We Solve It? — Jan. 14: 6–8:30 p.m. at University of St. Thomas School of Law, 1101 Harmon Place, Minneapolis. Panel includes experts working to address homelessness in Minnesota. Part of the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota’s 2020 Giving Insights forum series. Register at ccf-mn.org/events.

Schools Christmas movie matinee — Dec. 30: 9–11:30 a.m. at St. Agnes School, 530 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Showing of

“The Star.” Informal tours of St. Agnes School available. saintagnesschool.org. St. Agnes 7-12 Upper School Showcase — Jan. 7: 6:30–8:30 p.m. at St. Agnes School, 530 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. saintagnesschool.org. St. Agnes PreK-6 Grade Lower School Showcase — Jan. 14: 4:30–7 p.m. at St. Agnes School, 530 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. saintagnesschool.org.

Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — Sundays. Usually meets in St. Paul. Kay at 651-426-3103 or Al at 651-439-1203. Singles group —Second Saturdays: 6:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 9100 93rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. Potluck supper, conversation and games. 763-425-0412. Catholic Single Adults Club Christmas Dinner and Dance — Jan. 4: 5:30 p.m.–midnight at Gulden’s Restaurant, 2999 N. U.S. Highway 61, Maplewood. Carl at 651-603-1412.

Other events

Knights of Columbus bingo — Wednesdays: 6–9 p.m. at Solanus Casey Council Hall, 1910 S. Greeley St., Stillwater.

Marketplace • Message Center Classified Ads Email: classifiedads@archspm.org • Phone: 651-290-1631 • Fax: 651-291-4460 Next issue: 1-16-20 • Deadline: 3 p.m. 1-9-20 • Rates: $8 per line (35-40 characters per line) • Add a photo/logo for $25

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Immaculate Heart Church in Crosslake, Minnesota, has immediate opening for Music Director. The Music director schedules music choices, plays the organ or piano at each Mass, prepares and directs the choir and cantors, writes and arranges music to suit the capabilities of the musicians, and other music-related duties as directed by pastor. Employment application is available at crosslake catholic.com or by calling Mary Hagen 218-692-3731. VAN DRIVER $750 HIRING BONUS Industry leader now hiring school van drivers. Company van to take home. Up to $18/hr, paid holidays, no experience necessary, we offer paid training. Clean record and regular driver’s license needed. DOT physical provided. Bonus, summer paid-time off programs, and summer work available. Full- and part-time jobs available. Aide positions available. Call 651-203-8149 or go to TCTINC.ORG/APPLY.

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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

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PRAYERS NOTICE: Prayers must be submitted in advance. Payment of $8 per line must be received before publication. VACATION/FAMILY GETAWAY Knotty Pines Resort, Park Rapids, MN. 1, 2 & 3 bdrm cabins starting at $565/week. www.knottypinesresort.com (800) 392-2410. Mention this ad for a discount! VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY HOUSEHOLD MANAGER The Stillwater Catholic Worker Community is seeking an energetic and compassionate woman to manage and live at Our Lady Queen of Peace House, a home for women and their children in transition. Room and board included with this volunteer position. Details available at STMICHAELSTILLWATER.ORG or by calling Marlay Smith 651-324-3115. WANTED TO BUY Estate & Downsizing: I buy Van Loads and Bicycles. Steve (651) 778-0571.

Looking for Catholic JOBS? careers.archspm.org

20 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

DECEMBER 19, 2019

THELASTWORD LEFT From left, eighth-graders Isaac Garcia, Marly Rodriguez, Francisco Hernandez and Adri Silva assemble Isaac’s Blessing Bags at Community of Saints Regional Catholic School in West St. Paul Dec. 13. Garcia came up with the idea, and the other three students have been helping to get the items and assemble the bags. BELOW Finished bags are placed into carrying bags Garcia uses to make deliveries. PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

‘Jesus was my main motivation’ Youth’s compassion for the homeless leads to annual outreach By Debbie Musser For The Catholic Spirit

T

hree years ago, Isaac Garcia moved from Inver Grove Heights with his parents and brother to St. Paul’s Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood. Each day on the way to school, the 10-year-old boy noticed something he had never seen before: homeless people waiting in the cold to get into the public library. “Isaac had so many questions ... how could this I thought happen, how can God let these people live on the Isaac’s Blessing Bags streets, how can I help?” said Tara Perron, Isaac’s mother. would be a ‘one “He asked if the homeless and done’ Christmas could use the extra room in our house and our RV in the deal, but no, Isaac driveway,” she said. “Isaac is so committed to would watch them, and he would get emotional, this each year. especially when he saw homeless families.” Tara Perron Perron suggested that her son write down how he felt and what he wanted to do. Garcia related what he saw and how sad it made him. And he had a plan. “I choose to do my best to feed and warm the poor ... to work at getting donations and making sure the poor

“

people will at least have one night of warmth and some food this Christmas. I will not stop until I have succeeded. ... This is my Christmas wish.” Garcia shared his letter with his Native American community; his school, Community of Saints Regional Catholic School in West St. Paul; his church, St. Matthew in St. Paul, and his new neighborhood. Soon after, donations were pouring in for Isaac’s Blessing Bags, full of items for distribution at Christmastime to those in need at Dayton’s Bluff First Lutheran Church. In 2018, Garcia’s project was highlighted by the Aim Higher Foundation, which provides need-based scholarships for Catholic school students in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, during its annual Night of Light fundraising dinner. “Jesus was my main motivation,” said Garcia, now 13 and an eighth grader. “He sacrificed himself for us to go to heaven. So, I thought, how can I return that by helping others?” First Lutheran Church’s outreach includes its Love Grows Here Wellness Center, which helps the homeless and disadvantaged, in partnership with nearby Metropolitan State University. “Each Wednesday evening, Metro State nursing students provide free foot care, blood pressure checks and hand massage; we make a meal together and provide other things like haircuts and clothing,” said Pastor Chris Olson Bingea. On Dec. 18, Garcia planned to lead the effort at the wellness center for the third

straight year, distributing Isaac’s Blessing Bags filled with basic necessities such as socks, handwarmers, soap, shampoo, Kleenex, bottled water and granola bars. “Isaac is a remarkable young man,” Olson Bingea said. “He insists on being the person who directly gives his bags to people struggling in poverty, I think, because he’s already discovered how important it is to be in a relationship with people.” Each Advent season, Community of Saints supports Isaac’s Blessing Bags as an all-school servant leadership project. “That first year, Isaac provided a list of items that would be helpful for his bags, and we published it in our school newsletter,” said Bridget Kramer, the principal. “Our student leadership team helped Isaac sort and fill the bags. Word has gotten around, and the greater community is now contributing to Isaac’s amazing initiative as well.” Kramer notes that Garcia’s leadership in helping the homeless has made an impact at the school. “Our students, and staff as well, look to Isaac as a staple of faith and love in our community,” Kramer said. “He is truly an example of Christ’s love.” Garcia also solicits donations from his church each year, speaking to St. Matthew’s congregation at weekend Masses. “I thought Isaac’s Blessing Bags would be a ‘one and done’ Christmas deal, but no, Isaac is so committed to this each year,” Perron said. “He writes thank you cards to tell people how appreciative he is for donations,” she said. “I’m so proud of Isaac. He’s truly an inspiration to me.”

The Official 2020 Minnesota Catholic Directory visit TheCatholicSpirit.com/mn-catholic-directory to order today.

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