Why I am Catholic

By Terry Pontious

work with so many strong, beautiful souls from so many different parishes within our Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and beyond. It is an inspiration to me to follow these laywomen role models and to engage in all their service activities. We are giving back to our communities and sharing in God’s graces and acting as Jesus’ hands here on earth.

Finally, my favorite time of year is Lent, and I especially love the Triduum each year. I wish everyone could know how beautiful our Catholic tradition is and how comforting it is deep in my heart to be part of a Church that Jesus himself founded so many years ago. When I smell the incense and hear the “Ave Maria” it takes me back and my soul remembers … what a gift it truly is to be Catholic!

An active member of St. Timothy in Blaine since 1972, Pontious, 72, retired last year after teaching biology to 10th graders for 15 years at Aquinas Roman Catholic Home Education Services in Lino Lakes. She and her late husband, Bob, raised six children, one of whom died in 2007, and they have 10 grandchildren. Pontious drives for Meals on Wheels and helps facilitate a weekly grief support group for people who have lost loved ones to accidental death or overdose. She is secretary on the board for Oakwood Park Single Family Homes and is involved with the Council of Catholic Women at the parish, Minneapolis deanery and archdiocesan levels. She is an avid reader, loves to cook and appreciates music of all kinds.

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

PARISH FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE: Turn to pages 13-14 for carnivals, festivals and other parish and school special events from late summer into fall. Find updates through the fall at T he C aT holi C S piri T C om

All Saints (Lakeville) Garage Sale — Aug. 2-5 at 19795 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville. Over 35,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, clothing, garden and household goods, furniture, sports equipment, baby items, toys, and much more. Learn more about daily sale hours, early-bird day, half-price day, by visiting all S aint SC hur C h C om / garage S ale

Silent Weekend Retreat for Men and Women — Aug. 4-6 at Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo.

Presenter: Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI.

Theme: A Theology and Spirituality of Sexuality

— Understanding the Complex Fire Within. Register online at king S hou S e C om

Help for Struggling Couples — Aug. 4-6 at Best Western Dakota Ridge Hotel, 3450 Washington Drive, Eagan. Retrouvaille is a lifeline for troubled marriages. Learn the tools to heal marriage. 100% confidential. helpourmarriage org

Special Mass for People with Memory Loss

— Aug. 10: 1:30–3 p.m. at St. Odilia, 3495 Victoria St. N., Shoreview. All are welcome, especially anyone who may be experiencing memory loss and their caregivers. Hospitality after Mass, with community resource information available. Call for additional information: 651-484-6681. S todilia org

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 necessarily hypocritical. I pay taxes although I do not like paying them. I will go where my bishop asks me to go solely because he has asked me to go there. When I was younger, I went to school and church because my parents told me to. I did my homework not because I always had a great love of learning but

Grief to Grace MN: Healing The Wounds of Abuse — Aug. 15-20: A five-day overnight healing program for anyone who has suffered degradation or violation from physical, emotional, spiritual, clerical or sexual abuse. A trauma-informed model of care that is a safe and hopeful path to restoring dignity — a therapy for the soul. Confidential Twin Cities location due to nature of event. Address provided directly to registrants. For additional information visit grieftogra C emn org

Blessed Is She: Burn Revival — Aug. 18: 7–9 p.m. at Our Lady of Peace, 5426 12th Ave. S., Minneapolis. Women invited to join in prayer with the Blessed is She community, to worship and listen to a talk by Beth Davis. Enter into a Holy Hour with confession available. ble SS edi SS he net / produ C t S / burn - revivalfor - C atholi C - women - minneapoli S - mn

Shopping and Supper — Aug. 3: 5–8 p.m. at Holy Cross School, 6100 37th St. W., Webster. Eat while shopping. Over 30 art and craft vendors. Food trucks: Pizzeria 201, Robert’s BBQ, El Mexicano Grill, Game Day Grub. And, while not a food truck, a definite plus is Kona Ice. holy C ro SSSC hool net

Catholic Social Difference Speaker Series — Aug. 31, Sept. 7, 14, 21: 7–8:15 p.m. at Assumption, 51 7th St. W., St. Paul. Four-week series of conversations with local Catholic leaders introducing Catholic social teaching and imagining how to practice it in real life. Talks are free and open to the public. More information and registration at because the people who had authority over me told me to.

One way to know if you or I have fallen into modern-day hypocrisy and virtue signaling is to ask ourselves these questions: Have I ever found myself saying something simply because it was expected of me … even if I didn’t believe it? Or: Have I ever found myself not saying something that I believed simply because it was unpopular?

Blessed Solanus Casey Pilgrimage — July 29: 7 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Join Franciscan Brothers of Peace at the Blessed Solanus Casey Friary, 1101 Desoto St., St. Paul, as a starting point for an 18-mile walking pilgrimage for the intercession and canonization of Blessed Solanus. End at St. Michael in Stillwater. Also, a 3-mile walking pilgrimage option. modern C atholi C pilgrim C om / bl - S olanu S

Elevate Life Golf Classic — July 31: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. at Crystal Lake Golf Course, 16725 Innsbrook Drive, Lakeville. Support “Elevate Life” and its 38 pregnancy centers and clinics in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Individual golfers and foursomes. Cost per golfer: $150. Not a golfer? Be a sponsor or donor. elevatelifeuSa org/golf

Walk for Life — Aug. 12: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Eastview High School (athletic field), 6200 140th St. W., Apple Valley. Raise funds for Pregnancy Choices life care center and educational materials. Fun, food and fellowship. knight S forlifemn org

“Fully Alive” Art Show — Aug. 13: 2:30–4:30 p.m. at Dunrovin Retreat Center, 15525 St. Croix Trail N., Marine On Saint Croix. Local Catholic artist, Madeline Orsinger explores the line attributed to St. Irenaeus, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” Open gallery, refreshments. Artist talk at 3 p.m. dunrovin org

Have I found myself only doing or saying a thing so that others would notice? If I have, then I need to take another look at my motivations to make sure I am not merely pretending, to make sure that I am not a hypocrite.

Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth.

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 issue date.

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.

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