ic Services Appeal “The children — you can see the positive change they experience. They know who they are, they know where they come from. And it is only when we know who we are and where we come from that we can share each other to the other community, to really create the cultural integration that we need in our parishes. During the year, the leaders of the Pastoral Estela Leadership Institute MANANCERO learn about different cultures and how to reach them, they learn about Catholic Church teachings, they learn how to work in collaboration, to raise money, to organize volunteers, how to run meetings, how to manage conflicts, and to do theological reflection and lectio divina for their spiritual journey. Your investments also allow us to support our families. We run marriage preparation, we have five different retreats around the [arch]diocese during the year, and we also have mentor couples, where we train couples how to deal with crisis situations. Without your support, none of these programs could run. You can see the difference you’re making in our communities. It’s truly an investment in our future leaders.” Estela Villagran Manancero Office of Parish Services/Latino ministry
eople turn to their very difficult times, urrently going and injustices, p them find peace, le come to Mass, nse of obligation, need to be there and Jesus’ body continue in their
Father Greg Schaffer, right. The generosity of the people in the archdiocese through CSA is making a difference in peoples’ lives. The mission is able to respond to the physical needs of the people through the parish soup kitchen, medical clinic, dentist office [and] medical laboratory. We also provide funds for scholarships and emergency assistance to buy food and medicine and help with funeral costs in times of unexpected tragedies and difficulties. And we work closely with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in the archdiocese that helps our parish help the poorest of the poor.”
PRISON CHAPLAINS “Our archdiocese covers 12 counties. Within those 12 counties, we have 32 correctional facilities — prisons, jails and juvenile institutions. And in those 32 correctional facilities, we have about 10,000 prisoners. My responsibility is to see that the sacraments are brought into these correctional facilities, that the Catholics receive the sacraments, and we have clergy go in to do Mass and confessions, deacons to minister to the people there, Communion services outside of Mass, and gather lay people to hopefully minister to these people as well. But part of our job’s not to just minister to the Catholic brothers and sisters, but those in the non-Catholic faith, as well. We talk about the new evangelization. It’s not about selling our Catholicism, it’s about living our Catholicism. And so what we do by our actions and deeds, people take notice of. [We need to] make ourselves aware and continue to show the love of Christ in everyone’s lives, even those incarcerated.”
Catholic Services Appeal Foundation
LATINO MINISTRY
NEZUELAN MISSION
nneapolis has been uela since 1970 . . . he archdiocese have years. ys. They cover the cesan priests nd benefits of the n. This staff of eight o, which is made up ds — with an arish boundaries. pels to serve the t seven Masses and in the barrios. ver some of the d, electricity, ve costs. This is a to complete our o many needs,
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Deacon Tim Zinda Coordinator of corrections for the archdiocese, chaplain at the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center Parish: St. Paul, Ham Lake
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINS “Our hospital chaplains are critical to the mission of the local Church. Through their ministry, Christ’s work of healing is continued for our faithful who are hospitalized. Our chaplains work tirelessly to be the presence of Christ for the infirm and members of their families. Our chaplains are on call pretty much 24/7 to the hospital that they are assigned to. We encourage them to take at least a day off. I’m here during the week and typically get called in on the weekends to check on people. I think the most meaningful part of it is being a healing presence to the people that we see. It’s intense sacramental ministry in terms of the Sacrament of the Sick and offering communion to those who request it. I have a very active team of volunteers here that come in daily to distribute Father Larry communion. That allows me to concentrate on the BLAKE critical care stations. It’s hard for me to describe the impact on patients. This happens all the time, but I had a call to the room of a patient who was dying. The family had gathered and asked for the Sacrament of the Sick and prayers for their loved one. Sometimes when we step into a situation, the patient isn’t fully cognizant of our presence, but I can tell you that for the family it’s deeply meaningful.” Father Larry Blake Chaplain, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis
Father Greg Schaffer Pastor, Venezuelan Mission
February 27, 2014 • The Catholic Spirit