June 16, 2022 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
thecatholicspirit.com
Spirit-filled Archdiocesan Synod Assembly: shaping the future of the local Church — Pages 1A-8A
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‘To say the things we need to say, and to hear the things we need to hear’ Holy Spirit at work in Synod Assembly discussions, Archbishop Hebda says By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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s Archbishop Bernard Hebda stepped into a procession of priests at the beginning of the 7 p.m. Synod Opening Mass in St. Paul June 3, emotion washed over his face, and his eyes welled with tears. “It was just beautiful, really. Seeing all of those people and hearing them sing, I realized that the Lord indeed has a plan for our Church and that they’re part of it. Their presence reminded me that God never abandons us,” he said of that moment later that evening. What he saw that Friday evening was Holy Spirit Church in St. Paul filled to standing-room only with Synod Assembly delegates. Most represented their parishes — each parish could send two parishioners — but participants also included priests and consecrated women and men, and representatives from different Catholic institutions in the archdiocese, as well as members of several archdiocesan boards. The delegates included people of varied ages, races and life experiences, but as they sang the opening song, “All Creatures of Our God and King,” they seemed united in their purpose that evening and the weekend’s work before them. Two days later, on the final day of the Synod Assembly that completed a three-year Synod preparation process, that moment remained one of the event’s most poignant, Archbishop Hebda said. “Having that sense for how God had called such a diverse group to be part of this, and looking around and recognizing that they’re all true leaders, I was both excited and moved,” he said. The opening Mass kicked off a three-day event that had been years in the making. In June 2015, Pope Francis named Archbishop Hebda apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis after the resignation of the previous archbishop and an auxiliary bishop. Just 10 days earlier, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office had filed criminal and civil charges against the archdiocese for failing to protect children in a case of clergy sexual abuse. And in January of that year, the archdiocese had filed for bankruptcy to address mounting clergy sexual abuse claims. As Archbishop Hebda took what he believed then to be temporary leadership of the archdiocese, he convened a series of listening sessions with the aim of gathering information and ideas for the next archbishop because he would assume the role in a difficult time. Archbishop Hebda thought the local Church could benefit from convoking a synod — a gathering of the faithful in a diocese to assist the bishop in his governance — and the suggestion topped a list he drafted for whomever Pope Francis would name as the archdiocese’s next archbishop. When that leader was unexpectedly him — the pope announced in March 2016 that the interim appointment would become permanent — the idea stuck as a way to discern pastoral priorities for the archdiocese’s immediate future. On the afternoon of June 5, standing on a balcony overlooking the Joe Mauer Fieldhouse at CretinDerham Hall high school, which hosted the Synod Assembly, Archbishop Hebda looked out over the roughly 500 participants as they were deeply engaged in table discussions. “It’s hard to believe it’s really day three,” he said. “There’s so much going on. On one hand, it seems like we’ve accomplished so much. But on the other, I know there’s still a lot to be done. I can’t help but feel blessed that God has brought together these wonderful people who are willing to share their very diverse views, and to really commit this kind of time to discussing what needs to be done so that our Church can be stronger.”
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Delegate Nataleigh Waters-Lang, left, a parishioner of St. Mary in Lowertown St. Paul speaks with Archbishop Bernard Hebda June 4 during the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly at Cretin-Derham Hall high school in St. Paul.
‘Ready to roll up your sleeves’ In 2018, Archbishop Hebda asked a small group of Catholics to begin praying and discerning whether the time was right for an Archdiocesan Synod. In 2019, he announced the beginning of a synod process, with plans at that time for it to culminate in a Synod Assembly in 2021. It was the first synod the archdiocese was to convene in 83 years. “We are blessed here with a particularly well-educated and articulate laity with a strong tradition of service to the Church, who along with their clergy and consecrated brothers and sisters, want to be involved in shaping her future, seeing that appropriately as both their right and their responsibility,” he wrote in The Catholic Spirit in June 2019. “After the pastoral pause necessitated by the bankruptcy and related issues, I have sensed that many of you seem to be ready to roll up your sleeves to address some of the pastoral needs that had been placed on the back burner.” Backed by a Synod Executive Committee led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, then the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishop, and Therese Coons, a parishioner of St. Anne in Hamel who had previously led part of the archdiocese’s Rediscover: initiative, Archbishop Hebda launched a series of Prayer and Listening Events across the archdiocese to hear from as many Catholics as possible, from daily Massgoers to those no longer practicing the faith, what strengths, challenges and opportunities they saw in the local Church. During those three-hour Prayer and Listening Events, participants spent time in lectio divina, listened to remarks from Archbishop Hebda, and then discussed ideas in small groups before some were randomly selected to share feedback aloud to the archbishop. All participants were invited to share written feedback. Ultimately, 8,173 people shared 35,026 comments. In March 2020, the final of the 30 general Prayer and Listening Events was canceled due to the arrival of COVID-19 in Minnesota, and the pandemic extended the Synod’s initial timeline. The Synod Assembly was rescheduled for 2022, and the process’ next step — the Parish Consultation with Small Groups — was also pushed off a year. To continue momentum, Synod leaders launched four virtual series that addressed some of the common challenges people expressed in the Prayer and Listening Events. The series, still available online, included “Praying with Scripture,” with talks from Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens; the virtual retreat “Healing and Hope”; a four-part “Faith and Culture Series” on hot-button issues, and “Synod at Home” about intentionally living the faith. Meanwhile, Archbishop Hebda announced that with feedback from the Prayer and Listening Events, he had discerned the Synod’s three focus areas: 1. Forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization, 2.
Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call, and 3. Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young. In fall 2021, almost all parishes in the archdiocese participated in a six-week Parish Consultation with Small Groups, where all Catholics were invited to meet to learn, discuss and pray about the Synod’s focus areas. The six small group sessions resulted in about 68,000 feedback forms. With the upcoming Synod Assembly in mind, Synod leaders synthesized that feedback and crafted a set of propositions, or action items, related to each focus area. Those propositions were refined by participants in a daylong Parish Leadership Team Consultation in February and March 2022, resulting in 40 propositions that were discussed, discerned and voted on at the Synod Assembly. The results of that voting will inform a pastoral letter Archbishop Hebda plans to write and release Nov. 21, the feast of Christ the King. That letter will be followed by an action plan to help parishes and Catholics implement those priorities.
‘God is not afraid’ The June 3-5 Synod Assembly opened with Mass at Holy Spirit parish in St. Paul, where Bishop Cozzens — since appointed bishop of Crookston — gave the homily. He spoke about the fears that people express about the world and the Church. “God is not afraid,” he said. He encouraged delegates to respond to God’s call, assuring them God always has a plan, even in the darkest moments of history, and today, “It’s you. You are his plan. I am his plan.” In addition to Mass, the Synod Assembly’s first evening included a eucharistic procession and adoration, with a reflection from Archbishop Hebda. He said he realized that some of the participants may have felt as if their pastor — or even the archbishop — had twisted their arms to get them to attend, but in reality, they were there by the Holy Spirit’s invitation. “I’m moved to see how much the Holy Spirit loves our Church — that he would place that kind of generosity in your hearts to say, ‘Yes,’” he said. “We’re blessed to have you here this evening, and indeed, throughout this weekend.” The Church describes a synod as being a help for a bishop, Archbishop Hebda said. “I must need an awful lot of help, with all of you here,” he quipped. “But I do,” he continued, turning serious. “We’ve been trying throughout these years of preparation to involve all of you, to hear those voices that need to be heard, as we strive to model in our archdiocese the unity that Christ desires.” Later Friday evening, after most of the delegates had left and volunteers were preparing the fieldhouse for PLEASE TURN TO SYNOD OVERVIEW ON PAGE 5A
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From top left, Madeline Olson, Archdiocesan Synod volunteer, and Jill Fink, a member of the Synod Executive Team, assist assembly delegates during a table discussion June 4.
PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Susan Bestgen of St. Michael in Pine Island and a member of the Lay Advisory Board (Deanery 6) gives feedback to Archbishop Bernard Hebda June 4 during the Synod Assembly at Cretin-Derham Hall high school in St. Paul. Assisting is volunteer Estela Villagran Manancero, who works for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Mark Vences Garcia of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul listens during a table discussion June 4.
Speakers: Seek sainthood, be a parish family, reach youth with best the Church offers By Joe Ruff and Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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ichael Naughton remembers being roughed up near his home outside of Chicago at age 16 right at his curfew, about 11 p.m., by four guys from a local Catholic school. “One guy said, ‘Hey, Naughton,’ and not suspecting anything I said, ‘Yeah.’ And a fist hit me so hard it knocked me to the ground. I never saw it coming. And I got a kick or two. And then they ran off,” Naughton, director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, told about 500 delegates to the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly June 5. Being innocent (they had mistaken him for his brother, who had tussled with one of them) and seeing one of his assailants the next day at Mass infuriated Naughton. He told his parents that he was “never, ever entering that Catholic Church or any other Catholic Church ever again because there’s so many hypocrites in it.” His mother calmly replied: “Michael, there’s always room for one more hypocrite.” It was an important lesson, Naughton said, in humility and understanding other people, and seeing the world broadly, rather than narrowly in his own “ego-drama.” His mother saw a much deeper reality, the “theo-drama” of a world — and everyone in it — created and redeemed by God, Naughton said. The vision that each and every person needs redemption can help the faithful in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, even in their own brokenness, reach out to young people, who might present themselves as aloof or uncaring, to share the love of Christ and his saving grace, Naughton said. One of three speakers on three focus areas for the
June 3-5 Synod Assembly, Naughton addressed the theme: Forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young. Liz Kelly, an author, retreat leader, speaker and parishioner of St. Pius X in White Bear Lake and St. Mary in St. Paul’s Lowertown, reflected June 4 on: Forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call. And Doug Bushman, director of faith formation and mission at St. Joseph in West St. Paul, spoke the same day on Forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization. All three had previously written a theological orientation paper on their topics and presented their ideas in daylong Parish Synod Leadership Consultation events in February and March that were part of the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod process.
Seeking holiness Kelly said she had her first inkling of the importance of offering people time and space to reflect on becoming missionary disciples and striving to become saints at age 11, while her sixth-grade class experienced a day retreat at Schoenstatt On the Lake near Sleepy Eye in southern Minnesota. “And even though I might not have been able to articulate it at 11 years old, I understood that retreat, prayer, seeking the face of the Lord, was lifegiving, that this authentic encounter, this invitation to encounter the Lord in a real way, was exceptionally important to the life of God’s children,” Kelly told the assembly delegates. “Of course, this is the primary theme for our efforts this weekend: to ask how well we — as a Church and as individuals, how well we in our small groups, in our service to the poor, in our adult formation program or large-scale events — how well are we carrying on the sacred task of creating opportunities, experiences and environments that
will foster a living and authentic encounter with the Lord, and opportunity for deeper conversion?” she asked. “And then, how well are these encounters feeding and affecting real change in us?” For many, “holiness” may feel like an intimidating word, an ideal reserved for saints, or at least other people, with demands that seem unattractive or out of reach, Kelly said. “I want to invite you instead to consider that you were actually created for holiness,” she said. “You are flourishing, you are at your best when you are working toward and cooperating with the holiness of God.” Bushman and Naughton also noted the call by God for everyone to seek holiness, and to work alongside others in faith-filled communities to share Christ’s love with — evangelize — the wider culture. Bushman referred to that effort taking place in a parish as building a “family of families,” strengthened by the Eucharist and expanding into the community to love and serve in Jesus’ name. “The bridge to this ideal is missionary conversion” of individuals and families, Bushman said.
Challenges to sharing the faith In his presentation, Naughton, a longtime teacher, said young people need humble adults to teach life’s deepest realities and present the best the Church has to offer, while not allowing youth to shirk responsibility. “Without such an education formation, youth who bounce from one slogan and trend of being told they can be whatever they want to be, become anxious, depressed, fragile, risk averse and eventually intolerant,” Naughton said. “A Catholic education in the formation of youth has never been more needed today than in the history of humanity.” PLEASE TURN TO SYNOD SPEAKERS ON PAGE 7A
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Archbishop: ‘Renewal of the Church, based on the promptings of the Holy Spirit’ Interview by Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit On June 9, Archbishop Hebda sat down with The Catholic Spirit to reflect on the prior weekend’s Archdiocesan Synod Assembly, explain the pastoral letter and implementation plan to come, and express his hope that they help the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis move toward what “Jesus wants for his Church.” The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Q You’ve had a few days now to
reflect on the Synod Assembly, which ended June 5. What are your main takeaways?
A My heart continues to be filled with
gratitude for the ways which God seemed to bless our time together. For me, the Holy Spirit was palpable in the discussions and in the liturgies, and I’m very grateful for that. I continue to hear very positive comments from those who participated, speaking about the depth of the conversations at their tables. And I think that for many people, it was a moment for reaffirming their connection to our archdiocese in addition to their parish. And in my mind, that’s something that’s very positive.
Q A huge focus of the preparation
for the assembly and the weekend itself was asking for the intercession of the Holy Spirit. What gives you confidence that the Holy Spirit was truly present in the weekend as you had hoped?
A I think it’s a deep internal sense. It
began in the first moments, as I walked into Holy Spirit Church for our opening liturgy and listened to the congregation sing. As I looked around and saw people that I already knew were Church leaders, I thought about how they had been moved to give us a whole weekend of their time. I just knew that this was something bigger than just my effort or their efforts, but that this was something that the Holy Spirit was motivating, but particularly in the singing, for example, and in the depth of the comments that I heard, and then also the fact that there was so much agreement as to what were the most important items for us moving forward. So almost that sense of consensus that I think has to be the work of the Holy Spirit, especially in a very diverse Church.
Q You spent much of this weekend
listening — in fact, there were three Masses, and you only preached once! Did you hear anything that surprised you?
A I was really grateful to Bishop
Cozzens and to Bishop Williams for two really extraordinary homilies. I think that there were some common themes in the two. Bishop Williams and I had the opportunity to build on what Bishop Cozzens had set forward in his opening homily, but I think that resonated in all of our hearts. Some people have spoken about the fact that there was a real call to conversion, not just of the Synod delegates, but for all of us.
Q What about what you heard when people shared feedback from their table discussions?
A You realize how broad our archdiocese
is. You realize that there’s a great deal of hope. Obviously, there were a few comments that shared some pain, but in my mind it was positive that there was a comfort level where people were able to share those experiences that they had that were troubling for them. And you could also hear in the voices of some that great desire they have for the Church to move forward and to address these matters that are really important to them.
Q As you mentioned, one of the
themes throughout the weekend was the importance of conversion and growing in personal and collective holiness. Can you reflect on that?
PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
ABOVE Archbishop Bernard Hebda blesses those attending the vigil of Pentecost Mass June 4 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. Many who participated in the Synod Assembly June 3-5 came to the Mass, with some staying afterward for an extended time of praise and worship.
A That’s in general just the fundamental
Christian message, right? So that would not be surprising. I think particularly in a time when the Church is gathered in Synod like that, that has to be one of our focus areas, in the sense that we all want to make sure that we’re striving for that holiness, and that that’s the context in which we’re making proposals and critiquing what’s going on. We also used our three intercessors, the three blesseds, and for each one of them it’s a different path to holiness. But they reminded us that holiness is something that can be lived in the 20th and 21st centuries and even in the context of life in the Upper Midwest. I think that in some ways they were there to not only help us with their intercession, but also to remind us that we’re all called to be saints, and that what we were doing is helping the Church to really assist our brothers and sisters in living lives of true holiness. ... When you thought about that, where we were meeting is actually where Blessed James Miller taught, that made that very concrete.
Q You began thinking about the Synod when the local Church was in a very difficult time, addressing clergy sexual abuse and loss of trust in its leadership. When you look back on the Church seven years ago and see the Church now, what difference do you see?
A I’m hoping that there’s greater trust,
and I think that our experience of the Synod Assembly would confirm that, and that people were willing to share their ideas, certainly with an expectation that they would be heard and that they would be contributing to this plan for moving forward. When I first arrived here, there would have been, I think, much less trust of any bishop or anybody at the archdiocese. And I think that we’re at a point where we know we can work together to try to make things better, even though there’s a long way to go. There always will be.
Q You’ve spent so much time
preparing for the Synod Assembly, and yet, you’ve also been reminding our archdiocese that this is just a beginning. Tell us what’s next.
A Obviously there is a lot of work that
has got to be done. We’re still trying to go through the data that we received in the course of the weekend, so we
LEFT Lynette Graham of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul takes part in praise and worship following the Mass at the Cathedral. have the voting, but we haven’t had a chance to look at all the comments that were given, and we’re trying to see some patterns in the voting. I’m hoping to invite our prayer team to join me in taking a look at what we received as well. It seems like there’s consensus on some points that should really be guideposts for the pastoral letter. We met yesterday for about three hours just going through some of that with the directors of the Synod as well as Bishop Williams. We know that we’re going to be meeting with the priests and with the lay ecclesial ministers later in the month to speak a little bit about our initial findings and to get some more input from them. And I think after we’ve completed that, that will have a pretty good sense of which areas should be discussed in the pastoral letter.
Q And the plan will follow the
letter. They will not be released simultaneously. Why is that important? Why would it be helpful for the faithful to have a letter first and then a plan that follows later?
A In part, it’s a way of recognizing
that the pastoral letter can be a quicker response than putting together a pastoral plan. And it’s also a way then of engaging more people to think about how it is we put together the pastoral plan. So, we get reactions from the pastoral letter that will assist us in putting together a pastoral plan.
Q Do you have any idea of when that plan might be released?
A I’m not sure yet. Q How do you plan to use the
data from the delegates’ voting on propositions as you prepare your pastoral letter?
A We had those 40 propositions, all 40 of them have significance for the life of this local Church. Being able to see how it is that people prioritize among
those propositions would give me a place to put my emphasis. And as I said, we haven’t had a chance yet really to look at the comments that people wrote in, in addition to their voting. In the past experiences that we’ve had, we got really valuable comments. Another thing to keep in mind is that this isn’t the only data that we have, either. So, we got some really concrete data from the Parish Synod Leadership Team consultation at the end of February and beginning of March that provides some context ... So, to be able to look at what we just received in the light of the consultation (at the) end of February, beginning of March, and then the work that was done in the Synod Small Groups in the fall.
Q So you are taking this data set and looking at it in the context of what you previously heard?
A Yes, I would think especially the very
concrete suggestions that we received at the end of February.
Q The letter and the subsequent
plan are meant to help parishes and individual Catholics truly implement the priorities that emerge from the Synod Assembly. What does success look like in this implementation?
A It’s really not about the
implementation of the Synod. It’s how do we move our Church forward in really radiating Christ and reflecting what Jesus wants for his Church. And so, it’s really about the renewal of the Church based on the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We certainly want to be able to show how it ties into the work that we’ve done. But much more significant will be whether or not we’re able to bring new life to our parishes, to really help them to be the locus of evangelization, whether we’re really able to help people to be missionary disciples, and whether we’re more effective in our outreach to youth and young adults.
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SYNOD OVERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A the following day, Archbishop Hebda told The Catholic Spirit that the opening events had been energizing. “I’m pretty fired up,” he said. “It’s been a powerful evening. After all of these years of preparation, to see how the pieces fall into place, to see who the people are that the Lord’s brought to do this incredible work.”
Spirit-driven discussion The Synod Assembly work began Saturday, with the morning dedicated to the first focus area (forming parishes that are in the service of evangelization), and the afternoon dedicated to the second focus area (forming missionary disciples who know Jesus’ love and respond to his call). Sunday afternoon was dedicated to the third area, forming youth and young adults in and for a Church that is always young. Synod delegates sat with different tablemates for each focus area, which included a presentation from a theological expert and then two periods of table discussion, both followed by attendees being randomly selected to share feedback with the archbishop at a microphone. After a period of quiet discernment, participants voted via mobile devices on the three propositions they “believe the Holy Spirit is inviting the archdiocese to prioritize.” They were presented with the early results from each vote. The weekend was steeped in prayer, with a sincere belief that the Holy Spirit could — and would — work through the Synod delegates. Volunteers took shifts in the adoration chapel. Before each focus discussion, delegates listened and reflected on Scripture through lectio divina. Saturday afternoon included a sung litany of saints. The rosary was prayed a couple decades at a time, led by Synod delegates, in English, Hmong, Igbo, Ojibwe, Polish and Vietnamese. A key liturgy was the Pentecost vigil Mass June 4 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, which was followed by praise music and charismatic worship until 10 p.m. Archbishop Hebda and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams prayed with hands raised to heaven, as did many in the pews. Pentecost, when Jesus’ disciples received the Holy Spirit, was the prominent theme throughout the weekend. The Synod was scheduled for the liturgical celebration of Pentecost, which closes the Easter season, and the Holy Spirit was frequently invoked throughout the Synod Assembly, with the request that his will for the Church would be expressed through the Synod’s work. Participants said they felt the presence of the Holy Spirit in their table conversations. At the Pentecost vigil Mass at the Cathedral, Archbishop Hebda juxtaposed Pentecost and Babel. Instead of using different languages to scatter the people, as God did to squelch their arrogance at Babel, God used language at Pentecost to unite and bring people to Christ, he said. “It’s the Holy Spirit who enables us to converse, to say the things we need to say and to hear the things we need to hear, to accompany one another in even the most difficult of circumstances,” he said. “The Lord does that, not through the proud and the powerful, but through the lowly and the humble.” Asked at the Pentecost vigil Mass what stood out during the first full day of the Synod Assembly, delegate Mary Kennedy, a parishioner of Ascension in Minneapolis, said she sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence. “It was palpable,” said Kennedy, 63. “You could feel the Holy Spirit’s presence in our work today. And such a positive outpouring of faith in the archdiocese. It was really just exhilarating.” Chris Kostelc, director of faith formation at Holy Name of Jesus in Medina and a Synod Executive Team member, said he was moved by the Synod leadership team’s shift from planning and logistics to trusting the Holy Spirit will lead the rest of the effort. “To see the delegates, the leadership, the bishops hand over the future of this archdiocese to the Holy Spirit and say, ‘This is yours, Lord, how can we do what you want?’ I think it’s been inspiring to everybody who’s been here,” he said.
Just the beginning On the afternoon of June 5, Archbishop Hebda said the Synod Assembly had exceeded his expectations. “It’s far in excess of anything I could have imagined.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Bishop Joseph Williams blesses 8-month-old Sadie Aspholm, daughter of Jim, left, and Maddie Aspholm of St. Stephen in Minneapolis after the Closing Synod Assembly Mass June 5. Bishop Williams baptized Sadie.
DELEGATES’ PROFESSION OF FAITH Voting delegates to the Synod Assembly — about 500 participants from across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis — signed a profession of faith required for a synod by canon law that goes deep into the heart of unity with the Church, its pope and bishops. “They’re here and they’re ready to help, but always from the perspective that they are fully embracing the heart of our Catholic faith,” said Susan Mulheron, the archdiocese’s chancellor for canonical affairs, on the bustling floor of CretinDerham Hall high school’s fieldhouse in St. Paul, where the June 3-5 assembly’s work took place. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Bishops Joseph Williams, left, and Andrew Cozzens join the processional during the Opening Mass of the Synod Assembly June 3 at Holy Spirit in St. Paul. The positive discussions that are being held, the willingness of people to give up their time, but also to share their opinions in such a respectful way, is really more than I would have ever anticipated,” he said. “I feel really blessed this day.” The assembly ended as it had begun, with Mass at Holy Spirit. Bishop Williams, who had assumed the role of the Synod Executive Committee chairman after his January ordination, gave the homily and asked the Synod delegates to be witnesses to Christ, connecting Pentecost to Jesus’ words to his disciples as recorded in Acts 1:8, before his Ascension: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Being Christian is primarily about bearing witness to Jesus, which is what the Apostles did, Bishop Williams said. “And this is why Christianity spread throughout the world,” he said. “It’s not about money. It’s not political influence. It was a group of humble people convinced that Jesus was raised from the dead, who received the fire of the Spirit. And they converted one of the greatest empires in the history of the world.” He added: “That’s why our archbishop brought us to this place, this upper room,” referring to the Upper Room in Scripture, the place where the Apostles celebrated the Last Supper and received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Because of what they had experienced at the assembly, Bishop Williams said he hoped delegates were ready to implement the pastoral priorities their work will help Archbishop Hebda discern. While the Synod Assembly marked the culmination of a three-year process, the work was at the service of the pastoral plan to come, Archbishop Hebda said. That pastoral letter is expected to shape the focus of
The document begins with the Nicene Creed, those tenets recited at Mass that express a belief in “one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible;” in the Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son, by the Holy Spirit incarnate of the Virgin Mary; and in the Holy Spirit, the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son. The profession goes beyond the Creed to state that “With firm faith, I also believe everything contained in the word of God, whether written or handed down in Tradition, which the Church, either by a solemn judgment or by the ordinary and universal Magisterium, sets forth to be believed as divinely revealed.” The document affirms acceptance of everything definitively proposed by the Church on faith and morals, and adherence with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings of the Roman Pontiff or the College of Bishops when they are exercising their authentic magisterium. “Each of those words has a very specific meaning,” Mulheron said. As an instrument of governance assisting the bishop in leading the local Church, a synod springs from unity in faith “relative to those things that define us as Catholics,” she said. — Joe Ruff and Maria Wiering parish ministry as well as individual Catholics. “We want people to continue to pray,” he said. “That was one of the really positive aspects of this gathering, is that people prayed so deeply and recognize how important that is for our discernment, especially for me as I work with my team to figure out what’s the best way for moving forward with our pastoral letter.” And, like everything with the Synod, that will be handed over to the Holy Spirit. “We’ve had a prayer team that’s been supporting this work even before the Synod was announced,” Archbishop Hebda said, “and I’m going to put them to work again, to help me to really process what we’ve heard here. I think that’ll be a next step.” — Barb Umberger contributed to this story.
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JUNE 16, 2022
‘Blesseds’ with archdiocesan ties invoked at Synod Assembly
Festus Ejifor
Parish: St. Peter Claver, St. Paul Age: 63 Profession: Business portrait management
By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit
“My hope for the Synod is to correct some of the errors we have in the diocese or in the Catholic Church … so that our community will grow, our parishes will grow, and individuals will grow as Catholics and good Christians,” said Ejifor, who led a decade of the rosary in Igbo June 4. “So, my hope is that there will be a fruitful Synod … policies that will give people more hope, more faith, more solidarity and then bring more life and love to the world, so that, as more people are disconnected because of the world happenings today, things will be easier and so many souls will be won for Christ, so that our world will be an easier place for us to live and find heaven when we die.
Julia Weir
Parish: Holy Cross, Minneapolis Age: 29 Profession: Finance and accounting “My hope is to represent my parish. I’ve been a parishioner there for about 25 years. … Polish immigrants built the church in the late 19th century, and there’s still a very vibrant, rich Polish immigrant community and Slavic immigrant community in our parish, and so, what I’m hoping to do is represent my parish and represent that multicultural, multilingual perspective,” said Weir, who led a decade of the rosary in Polish June 5.
Chris Schneeman
Parish: St. Joseph, West St. Paul Age: 66 Profession: Employee benefit insurance business “My hope is that there’s a reconnect to what our core missions are of engaging people and learning better about how to do that … (to) improve our own confidence as parishioners, that the Church has a lot to give and we have a lot to give to it. So many of us have stepped aside and expected somebody else to do it. That may have been because we didn’t really feel like it was our job, or it was easy for it not to be our job. I think this is a return to a commitment for certainly the people in this room. If we can bring that out into regular parish life, then that would be really wonderful.”
Maredith Toweh
Parish: St. Stephen, Anoka Age: 46 Profession: Director of Faith for Life at St. Stephen “I have hope. I have hope for the Church. I have hope in the whole (Synod) process, and I hope that amazing things are going to come out of this Synod. … In my prayer and discernment over the last couple weeks, I am praying that we have a radical Pentecost. … I can’t wait for the Church to be on fire.”
Peter Kuracheck
Parish: Immaculate Heart of Mary, Minnetonka Age: 37 Profession: Auto parts warehouse
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earing a volunteer lanyard and a blue shirt emblazoned with “Blessed Stanley Rother” was Pat Rother of St. John the Baptist in New Brighton, a third cousin of the martyred priest from Oklahoma, helping at the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly June 5 in St. Paul. “It’s quite an honor to be a member of that family,” Rother said, adding he did not personally know his cousin. “I am an ambassador for his cause for canonization” (which will benefit by the assembly’s recognition because it shows Blessed Rother’s impact beyond Oklahoma) and an advocate for his intercession, Rother said. Blessed Rother’s intercession was sought throughout the June 3-5 Synod Assembly, along with two other men on paths to sainthood who had ties to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis: Blesseds James Miller and Solanus Casey. Their images were prominently displayed at each of three Masses and during Synod Assembly presentations and discussions at Cretin-Derham Hall high school. Blessed Miller, a Lasallian Christian Brother, walked the halls of Cretin-Derham, teaching
Prayer fundamental to Archdiocesan Synod By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
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hink Synod, think prayer. Prayer has been foundational to planning the Archdiocesan Synod since the process began more than three years ago. And it continued throughout the June 3-5 Synod Assembly. Father Joseph Bambenek, assistant director of the Archdiocesan Synod and leader of the Synod prayer team said earlier this year that “without prayer, the work of the Synod would be pointless.” “Archbishop (Bernard) Hebda recognized this when the first action he took was to establish a prayer team nearly a half year before any logistical steps to start the process,” Father Bambenek said. The team typically spent time in prayer and adoration of the Eucharist, Scripture reading, and sharing thoughts and reflections. “The Holy Spirit gives many gifts,” said School Sister of Notre Dame Mary Anne Schaenzer, a member of the prayer team. “We need to be open to them and willing to receive them.” Delegates at the Synod Assembly were invited to spend time in eucharistic adoration at the Blessed James Miller Chapel at Cretin-Derham Hall in COURTESY FATHER JIM PERKL St. Paul, where the assembly was held. The schedule filled before the assembly opened. Inside the chapel were two icons created by Father Jim This Holy Fiat + Family icon Perkl, pastor of Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville. One is an image by Father Jim Perkl, pastor of of a pregnant Mary visiting Adam and Eve, and one is an image of the Holy Mary, Mother of the Church in Family. Both have been blessed by Archbishop Hebda and are going to be Burnsville, was one of two icons used over the next five months at parishes in the archdiocese in a Knights of he created that were on display at Columbus Icon Prayer Initiative for the Synod. the Synod Assembly. The Synod is the work of God, and he desires people’s happiness, said Jean Stolpestad, director of Marriage, Family and Life for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and a member of the Synod Executive Committee. He speaks softly “and he waits for us” to discern his will, his direction, she said. Prayer helped when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the Synod’s final of more than two dozen Prayer and Listening Events and God inspired organizers to use the pandemic slowdown to create online prayer and reflection opportunities, Stolpestad said. The Holy Spirit’s inspiration also helped organizers categorize 38,000 comments gathered in the process and prepare for parish-level gatherings before the assembly, she said.
Two Protestant clergy were observers in assembly By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
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“I think the (proposition) responses should aid Archbishop Hebda and give him some direction, and I’m sure he’s looking for that. I hope I get to meet the people down the road somewhere that I met today. It’s nice getting to know them, and we’re part of something. (With) some of the propositions, people made comments that I hadn’t thought about, and I can see the value in those propositions from their responses.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
Spanish, founding the soccer team and supervising maintenance at then-Cretin High School from 1966-1971 and again from 19791980. He was martyred while serving in Guatemala, as was Blessed Rother, who was a friend of Archbishop Harry Flynn. Blessed Casey, a Capuchin Franciscan friar, was born in Wisconsin in 1870 and as a young man worked in Stillwater, at a lumber mill, brick kiln PAT ROTHER and penitentiary. Ordained to the priesthood and serving in New York City and Detroit, he was revered for his great faith, humility, compassion and spiritual counsel. Two of his brothers were priests who ministered in the archdiocese. At the opening Mass of the Synod Assembly, intercession of the three was sought for evangelization, missionary discipleship, and reaching youth and young adults. On the last day of the assembly, Archbishop Bernard Hebda noted that Blessed Miller was a great inspiration who “would have walked in the same hallways that we were, sat in the same dining area where we sat for meals.”
he Archdiocesan Synod Assembly is expected to shape the immediate future of the local Catholic Church, but not everyone who attended was Catholic. A Lutheran and a Methodist participated as observers June 3-5 as 500 Catholic delegates gathered from parishes and Catholic institutions across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Participating in every way except for voting were the Rev. Jerad Morey, director of strategic relationships for the Minnesota Council of Churches and pastor of Northfield United Methodist Church in Northfield, and the Rev. Ann Svennungsen, bishop of the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
Canon law allows for non-Catholic observers at Church synods and councils. Two hundred nonCatholic observers attended the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who initiated the Archdiocesan Synod process in 2019, invited Revs. Morey and Svennungsen. “I thought it was significant that we would invite representatives from our separated brothers and sisters from our other Christian communities here in the Twin Cities, to ask for their prayers for this effort and also to keep them abreast of what’s going on in our archdiocese, but also to be able to hear their perspective on the questions that they’re facing in their polities, too,” he said. Rev. Svennungsen said she appreciates Archbishop Hebda’s ecumenical spirit. “In my 42 years of leadership in our Church as a pastor and bishop, I really haven’t met someone as ecumenically gracious and collegial,” she said.
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The Second Synod of the Archdioces Brandy Wentzler
Parish: St. John the Baptist, Vermillion Age: 47 Profession: Dakota County Public Library system
Year Three Consultations (202
DOUGLAS BUSHMAN
SYNOD 2019-2022
LIZ KELLY
MICHAEL NAUGHTON
SYNOD SPEAKERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A Parents are the primary educators of their children, particularly when it comes to handing down the faith, Naughton said. “What the Synod process also pointed out is that parents want and need help in this role” from the archdiocese, their parishes and schools, he said. It’s a joint project, he said, with parents and the Church working together.
Parish Consultation with Small Groups
Fall 2021 YEAR 1
2019-20 The Church Pastors invited all LISTENS
Parish Synod Leadership Team Consultation
February/March 2022
As the Church faces disaffiliation by youths, “it must discern whether the mission and culture of our institutions and programs are passing on the best of the Church and drawing out the best in our youth,” Naughton said. “We need greater honesty and more light on what is working, and we also need to face and critique those things that have resulted in mission drift, that are not working.” to parishioners
“Discerning these realities is not easy, which is why it takes the participate in the Parish Consultation discussion and discernment that this Synod process has given us,” Naughton said. “So, God bless you as you move into this Archbishop Hebda with Small Groups. important work of the Synod on this most important ministry, attends 30 Prayer and forming and education of our youth.” Listening Events and Where from here? discerns three focus Delegates considered each speakers’ words, engaged in prayer areas with Scripture, and had two table discussions on each focus area as they sifted through a total of 40 propositions for action in the archdiocese, such as education for the Mass, inviting others to the faith, welcome and hospitality, adult faith formation, the importance of small groups and serving others.
YEAR 2 2020-21 The Church PREPARES Four series offered online on Praying with Scripture, Healing and Hope, Faith and Culture, and Synod at Home
“My hope is that coming from this (Synod), the archdiocese is able to really understand what resources that all of the parishes are going to need to pull off their ‘wish lists,’ as well as helping the parishes figure out where best they’re going to continue to serve their specific community needs, and how to hone into what their community needs are, and then having the archdiocese be able to provide the kind of resources that they’re going to need to do the best kind of disciple work that they need to do.”
Brother Dominic Michael Hart
Archdioc Cretin-
Ju
Franciscan Brothers of Peace, St. Paul Age: 61
“I think (the Synod) is great. The hunger for our people in the parishes, to have that ongoing formation, to take away from the 2 Memb sacraments, to keep their faith alive, their zeal for our Church. … People in the parishes, pastor, f they want that training, they want that formation.”
Father James Stiles
Pastor: St. Mary, Le Center; St. Henry, Le Sueur; Immaculate Conception, Marysburg; Nativity, Cleveland Age: 34
from the Synod A
NOTE: “My hope is that we would Alternat have a unified vision and renewed nominat love for Jesus Christ. That’s the vision. … That’s what I’m actually attend. experiencing here at the Synod. I’ve been very edified by
the intense love I’m seeing in people that they have for Before digitally voting on their own top three among the the Lord and the Church, and how much they actually propositions offered under each focus area, delegates were want to see a renewal here in this local archdiocese. It’s Archbis invited to share some of their thoughts June 4 with Archbishop Each pastor with 5-10 parish leaders easy to buy into the lie that people have just let go of Bernard Hebda, and June 5 with Archbishop Hebda and Bishop gathered and discussed topics in 3 God, or they’ve just let go of the Church and the faith. than 10 Joseph Williams. The archbishop will take into account all that There’sSynod a certain sense in which that’s true in certain Focus toAreas happened and was shared at the Synod Assembly write a at the Parish parts of our society. But when you’re here, it’s very clear lay lead pastoral letter in November, and later craft a Synod action plan for Leadership Team Consultation. that they want more: They want more of Jesus, they implementation. Synod A want the Church to be continually supporting them and “I was inspired by education of the Mass,” one delegate said of continuing with helping to form them, and I’m deeply, canon la one proposition after Bushman’s talk on forming parishes in the deeply gratified. Truthfully.” service of evangelization. “Plenty of people don’t understand all that is offered in the Mass.” Ian Handrigan “The Mass is our source and summit,” another delegate said. “That’s Jesus, that’s where he is. If people don’t understand his presence in the Mass, that’s harder to share with others.”
One delegate suggested helping people feel welcome in the Church as a way to evangelize. “A long time ago, a nonparishioner told me, ‘I’ve been coming to your church. You sing the song ‘All Are Welcome’ and that’s not true,’” he said.
Parish: Gichitwaa Kateri, Minneapolis Age: 17 High School: DeLaSalle High School, Minneapolis
Appr
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Me “I’m definitely just trying to do this in prayer, and just let it flow through me. ... It’s definitely been Offering coffee and donuts after Mass is not enough to interesting, and it’s so good to welcome people, the delegate said. “If we don’tApproximately invite people in hear everyone’s perspective. It worries me that there’s not an intentional way, we are missing something. We are missing going to be enough radical change. I’m going tomembers continue Synod will opportunities that are there for us.” to pray. But I feel that we need radical change. The issue Parish Leaders provided for the youth stems from the culture.discuss, The Church isand vote o After Kelly’s talk, a delegate told Archbishop Hebda that “a definitely partially responsible but it’s the culture and the small group initiative would have the potential tofeedback cover so 40 propositions they formsmodern with American lifestyle that is really what’s driving many” of the challenges people have observed and shared. that. And if we can't find a way to address that is invitin “Through small groups, you can go deeper and grow in your faith. Holyit from Spirit recommendations Feedback Forms and part of the root cause, there’s only so much that we can Meanwhile, you’re able to connect and relate to one another and Archdiocese to prio to prioritize and do.” refine increase the sense of belonging.”
68,000+
1,500 4,500+
YEAR 3 2021-22 48,000+ “My Best A delegate hearing Naughton’s talk on forming youth in the Fredy Perez received, 50 Synod while spoke inread, tears about needing to tell youth their draft lives are propositions The Church Ideas” Church Parish: Incarnation, Minneapolis worth more than they know. Age: 35 categorized, and ENGAGES creating plans Profession: to bring theand remodeling Painting “We need to go back to what the disciples did,” sheaction said. “They Parish small group meetings and leadership team consultations. Synod Assembly June 3-5.
reported were just 12,to not 500.” propositions to life at will get something “Parishes Bishop Williams said her comments were the perfect segue to Archbishop Hebda new out of this. (They’ve had) their lay parishes. one area the archdiocese will begin working on this summer: apostles chosen by pastors at every parish to help evangelize. They also will be asked to help make certain that plans coming out of the Synod are enacted. “There is an abundant harvest,” Bishop Williams said. “What did Jesus do?” He prayed, and then he appointed 12 to be his followers and evangelize, the bishop said.
order to build unity an vigorously proclaim t News of Jesus Chris invited to give written propositions.
a lot of questions, and a lot of concerns and probably doubts, too, but now they can see there’s not only one parish struggling, but every single parish needs something. They all have something to give and something to share. … We just need a little more support from the archdiocese so we can move forward.”
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Thank you to all who participated in the Archdiocesan Synod process, culminating with the Synod Assembly June 3-5.
Thank you
We are so grateful to you, the lay faithful, parish staff, ambassadors, delegates, clergy and all others for your involvement over the past three years in the Prayer and Listening events, Synod at Home, Hope and Healing retreat, Faith and Culture series, Parish Consultation with Small Groups and Parish Synod Leadership Teams. A special thank you to the staff and students at Cretin-Derham Hall High School and the teams at Holy Spirit Church and the Cathedral of Saint Paul for your incredible work and warm hospitality. We look forward to your collaboration in the coming months and years as we work together to move this local Church forward. May God bless you and your families!
June 16, 2022 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Cathedral procession begins local participation in Eucharistic Revival By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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n Sunday, June 19, a eucharistic procession will follow 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul. The procession marks the feast of Corpus Christi, but it also marks the launch of the National Eucharistic Revival, a threeyear initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston — who was, until December, an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The Eucharistic Revival will include three main phases, with year one focusing on the diocesan level. Coordinating the effort for the archdiocese is Father Tim Tran, parochial vicar of St. Odilia in Shoreview until July 1, when he will be parochial vicar of St. Stephen in Anoka. He is working to convene a steering committee to focus on what form the Revival will take locally, he said, but his hopes for the procession at the Cathedral is that Catholics from across the archdiocese will join it to show solidarity and eucharistic devotion. Appointed by Archbishop Bernard Hebda, Father Tran said his role is to implement the archbishop’s vision for the Revival locally, and to “discern the movement of the Spirit within our local Church, too.” “I was very grateful to be asked to be part of this great movement,” said Father Tran, who was ordained a priest in 2020. “It’s very near to my heart, and I could go on and on about my own eucharistic devotion and my participation in a specific youth movement dedicated to the Eucharist as a young child. … As a young priest, it’s really the reason for my being. The
Father Tim Tran, parochial vicar at St. Odilia in Shoreview, elevates the host as he prays the Eucharistic Prayer during Mass June 8 at St. Odilia. DAVE HRBACEK THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
only reason why I’m a priest is not only to celebrate the sacraments but to feed God’s people. I think (the Revival) is very much called for.” In 2019, a Pew Research Center study found that 31% of Catholics said they believed that “during Catholic Mass, the bread and wine actually become the body and blood of Jesus,” which is the Church’s teaching, while 69% said “the bread and wine used in Communion” are “symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.” That reality was something the USCCB wanted to address. Later that year, when Bishop Cozzens was elected chairman of the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, he
inherited from his successor, Bishop Robert Barron of Los Angeles (recently appointed to the Diocese of WinonaRochester), an effort still in its infancy to address evidence of Catholics’ lack of belief in the True Presence. By the time the Eucharistic Revival was publicly announced in June 2021, planning had already been underway for a year. “The Eucharistic Revival was born of a desire from the bishops to increase the faith and understanding and devotion and love of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church in the United States,” Bishop Cozzens said in a PLEASE TURN TO EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL ON PAGE 6B
ENTERING THE REVIVAL Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston said he encourages Catholics to sign up at eucharisticrevival.org to receive a weekly Eucharistic Revival newsletter with inspiration, resources and event information. The website includes a course to train laypeople to become “eucharistic missionaries” by increasing their own understanding of and devotion to the Eucharist. And, he encouraged Catholics to spend time in eucharistic adoration. Visit archspm.org/locations to find a searchable map for adoration chapels in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Archbishop Hebda greets Bishop Barron’s Minnesota appointment with ‘deep joy’ By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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rchbishop Bernard Hebda welcomed “with deep joy, and gratitude to Pope Francis” the June 2 announcement that the pope had appointed Bishop Robert Barron to lead the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. “I have long admired his ministry and am delighted that he will now be bringing his rich experience and considerable gifts as a teacher and preacher to the people of southern Minnesota, building on the firm foundation that is Bishop John Quinn’s legacy after 13 years of faithful ministry as Bishop of Winona-Rochester,” Archbishop Hebda said in a June 2 statement. “I very much look forward to collaborating with Bishop Barron as he joins the bishops of our state in striving to provide pastoral leadership after the heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd.” Bishop Barron, 62, is founder of Catholic media apostolate Word on Fire and a well-known author and apologist on radio and social media. He is the host of the documentary film series “Catholicism.” A native of Chicago, he was ordained a priest in 1986. After doctoral studies in Paris, he taught systematic theology at University of St. Mary of the
Lake/Mundelein Seminary near Chicago from 1992 to 2015, and served as its president-rector from 2012 to 2015. In 2015, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, the largest U.S. archdiocese by population, where he focused his pastoral ministry on the Santa Barbara region. Bishop Barron succeeds Bishop Quinn, 76, who was appointed to the then-Diocese of Winona BISHOP in 2009. In 2018, the Holy See ROBERT BARRON modified the diocese’s name to Winona-Rochester. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, announced June 2 that Pope Francis had accepted Bishop Quinn’s resignation and Bishop Barron had been named as his successor. It is customary for bishops to submit their resignation to Pope Francis at age 75. The Mass of installation for Bishop Barron will be celebrated July 29. Established in 1889, the Diocese of WinonaRochester includes Minnesota’s 20 southernmost counties, stretching the width of the state. According to its website, it includes 107 parishes; four high schools; 30 junior high, elementary and
preschools; and Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona. It is also home to the internationally renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester. It has a Catholic population of about 134,000 with 90 priests. It is one of six dioceses in the state. The Diocese of Winona-Rochester is a suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, which Archbishop Hebda has led since 2015. “As the Church prepares for the Solemnity of Pentecost,” Archbishop Hebda said in the statement, “please join me in praying for a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon Bishop Barron, Bishop Quinn and the faithful of the Diocese of WinonaRochester and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, particularly in this time of transition.” In a statement shared through Word on Fire, Bishop Barron said he is “overjoyed and humbled” by the appointment. “The bishop of a diocese is, first and foremost, a spiritual father to the priests and people who have been entrusted to his care,” he wrote. “My prayer this morning is that the Lord will give me the grace always to be a good father. The bishop is also, as
PLEASE TURN TO BISHOP BARRON ON PAGE 6B
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PAGETWO The scourge of pornography, now distributed everywhere over the internet, must be denounced as a permanent attack on the dignity of men and women. It is not only a matter of protecting children, which is an urgent task for authorities and all of us, but also of declaring pornography a threat to public health. Pope Francis, speaking to members of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe during a June 10 audience held in the Vatican’s Clementine Hall. The pope added that networks of families, cooperating with schools and local communities, are key to preventing and combating pornography and healing the wounds of people caught in such an addiction.
NEWS notes
CNS | LISA JOHNSTON
UKRAINIAN REFUGEES Svetlana Starovytska comforts her son, Stanislav, 5, May 21 at the home of Olga and Mariusz Sulkowski in Otwock, Poland. During February and March, Warsaw train stations were overflowing with women and children, refugees from the war in Ukraine. It was as packed as it would be for a “futbol match” said Olga Sulkowski, a 36-year-old mother of three and emergency response coordinator with Caritas in Poland. “It broke my heart,” she said. Sulkowski and other Polish families have opened their homes or assisted in some way the estimated 3.6 million Ukrainians who fled the war in their homeland. While about 1.5 million Ukrainians have returned home, large numbers remained in Poland and nearby countries as the war reached the 100-day mark June 4.
A national Marian Blue Wave of pro-life prayers is washing over Minnesota this month, as Virginia-based American Life League seeks to end abortion across the nation. The Catholic nonprofit urges prayers for a different state each month as it promotes life and seeks through prayer to close all abortion facilities, particularly targeting Planned Parenthood, which is the largest provider of abortions in America, said Katie Brown, director of the organization’s Blue Wave effort. Planned Parenthood abortion centers in St. Paul and Minneapolis are among the abortion giant’s 34 largest facilities in the country, Brown said in a news release. To learn more about the Marian Blue Wave, join the movement and find resources for participation, go to marianbluewave.com. American Life League’s website is all.org. Catholic Athletic Association athletic director Mark Courtney is retiring June 30 after serving the organization for nearly 45 years. According to the nonprofit CAA, Courtney represented the association to more than 250,000 student athletes, 35,000 volunteer coaches and thousands of officials. He scheduled more than 125,000 interscholastic contests, implemented its swimming program, welcomed new athletic directors and helped plan an annual golf tournament fundraiser. Courtney was named to the CAA Hall of Fame in 2016. Originally serving St. Paul-area grade schools, the CCA now includes schools in Wisconsin and in Minneapolis and the western suburbs. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul-Twin Cities is acknowledging suppliers and partners, volunteers and employees as it closes its Vinnie’s Hope food distribution after seven years of assisting food pantries, shelters and encampments. Since launching the program, the society has distributed more than 31 million pounds of surplus food to those in need, much of it supplied by United Natural Foods, formerly SuperValu, of Eden Prairie. The society also developed relationships with food manufacturers, wholesalers and club stores to collect fresh produce, dairy, protein and nonperishable groceries. In April, United Natural Foods notified the society’s executive director, Ed Koerner, of its plans to move its food donation program to Second Harvest Heartland. “The success of Vinnie’s Hope far exceeded our expectations,” Koerner said in a May 31 news release. “The credit goes to an entire supply chain of good people … all serving those who don’t have enough to eat.” Koerner said the change will not result in any layoffs, and the society will begin searching for new projects and opportunities to fulfill its mission to serve the poor.
PRACTICING Catholic CNS | DEBBIE HILL
ANCIENT COLUMNS Workers secure an ancient column from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for transport to the archeology wing of the Franciscan Terra Santa Museum in Jerusalem’s Old City June 9. The piece is one of several segments from two pillars in addition to two ornate decorative column tops — known as Corinthian capitals — that have been kept at the garden on the Mount of Olives since 1969 following renovations at the church. Moving them has been a year in planning. Restorers used a special forklift strong enough to carry the massive segments yet small enough to maneuver inside the narrow streets of the Old City. The museum is located on the grounds of the Church of the Flagellation on the eastern side of the Via Dolorosa near the Lions’ Gate, also known as St. Stephen’s Gate.
As people prepare for vacations, enjoy family barbecues, jump on bicycles and spend time at the beach, The Catholic Spirit asks readers: “How do you stay engaged with your faith during the summer?” Send responses of 200 words or less to TheCatholicSpirit@archspm.org with “Readers Respond” in the subject line. Your reflection may be included in a future edition of The Catholic Spirit.
The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 27 — No. 11 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor-in-Chief JOE RUFF, News Editor
On the June 10 “Practicing Catholic” show, Maria Wiering, editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, interviews Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Joseph Williams of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and Father Joseph Bambenek, assistant director of the Archdiocesan Synod, who share reflections on the recent Synod. “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley interviews Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston, who describes the National Eucharistic Revival he is leading for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Jen Messing, founder and executive director of Into the Deep, who describes outdoor adventures she offers that can connect participants with the beauty of God’s creation. Find interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show with links to podcasting platforms.
ON THE COVER: Bishop Joseph Williams carries the Eucharist in a monstrance June 3 during a procession after Mass from Holy Spirit church in St. Paul to Cretin-Derham Hall high school next door. The Mass and procession marked the beginning of the Archdiocesan Synod Assembly, which took place June 3-5 at Cretin-Derham Hall. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3B
FROMTHEARCHBISHOP ONLY JESUS | ARCHBISHOP BERNARD HEBDA
Gratitude, prayers after Synod Assembly
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s I reflect on our recent Synod Assembly, the words that our patron, St. Paul, addressed to the Philippians come to mind: “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (Phil. 1:3). I have been overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude each time I think of how God has blessed this local Church through the willingness of so many to be part of our Archdiocesan Synod. The liturgies, presentations, discussions and voting were all manifestations for me of the presence of the Holy Spirit and of the rich blessings that God has bestowed upon us. While I have been reading with great interest Pope Francis’ theoretical and theological insights into synodality, and have had positive experiences at our Prayer and Listening Events and Parish Consultations, it was still a great blessing to see the way in which synodality would be concretely expressed in this archdiocese. With two representatives from almost every parish in the archdiocese, and with the participation of the members of our presbyteral council, Lay Advisory Board, and Commission for Consecrated Life, the respectful listening to the Holy Spirit and to each other that took place at the Assembly as a prelude to voting was truly a manifestation of both the breadth of this local Church and the openness to seeking and doing God’s will. The diversity among the delegates was breathtaking: there were a number of high school students who ably represented our youth, while a few of the delegates were senior enough to have lived through the last Archdiocesan Synod, more than 80 years ago. I will always be grateful to the delegates, to the architects of the process, and to the hundreds of volunteers who have supported the work of the Synod over these past three years. I have deep gratitude as well to those of you who have been including the Archdiocesan Synod in your prayer intentions. You were ably represented throughout the weekend by a small prayer team in our makeshift adoration chapel at Cretin-Derham Hall, beseeching our eucharistic Lord at each moment of the Assembly to send out his Spirit upon our
Gratitud, oraciones después de la Asamblea del Sínodo
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l reflexionar sobre nuestra reciente Asamblea sinodal, me vienen a la mente las palabras que nuestro patrón, San Pablo, dirigió a los filipenses: “Cada vez que pienso en vosotros, doy gracias a mi Dios” (Filipenses 1:3). Me siento abrumado por un sentimiento de gratitud cada vez que pienso en cómo Dios ha bendecido a esta Iglesia local a través de la voluntad de tantos de ser parte de nuestro Sínodo Arquidiocesano. Las liturgias, presentaciones, debates y votaciones fueron para mí manifestaciones de la presencia del Espíritu Santo y de las ricas bendiciones que Dios nos ha otorgado. Si bien he estado leyendo con gran interés las ideas teóricas y teológicas del Papa Francisco sobre la sinodalidad, y he tenido experiencias positivas en nuestros Eventos de Oración y Escucha y Consultas Parroquiales, fue una gran bendición ver la forma en que la sinodalidad se expresaría concretamente en esta archidiócesis.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Archbishop Bernard Hebda prepares to give the final blessing at the closing Mass for the Synod Assembly June 5 at Holy Spirit in St. Paul. Church. I heard from a number of the adorers that they felt that it was a singular blessing to be able to pray before the Blessed Sacrament in the presence of the relics of our three “Blessed” intercessors: Capuchin Franciscan Father Solanus Casey, Father Stanley Rother and Christian Brother James Miller. I am sure hoping that those prayers will continue as we now begin the process of mining the results that we received at the Synod. While it is fairly easy to verify the voting, it will still take us some time to gather and weigh the many written comments that accompanied the votes, placing them in the context of the observations that were randomly shared at the Assembly, as representatives chosen by lot were invited to comment on their perceptions of our three focus areas. Your prayers will be particularly needed to support
Con dos representantes de casi todas las parroquias de la arquidiócesis, y con la participación de los miembros de nuestro consejo presbiteral, Consejo Asesor Laico y Comisión de Vida Consagrada, la escucha respetuosa del Espíritu Santo y de unos a otros que tuvo lugar en la Asamblea como preludio de la votación fue verdaderamente una manifestación tanto de la amplitud de esta Iglesia local como de la apertura a buscar y hacer la voluntad de Dios. La diversidad entre los delegados fue impresionante: hubo un número de estudiantes de secundaria que representaron hábilmente a nuestra juventud, mientras que algunos de los delegados eran lo suficientemente mayores como para haber vivido el último Sínodo Arquidiocesano, hace más de 80 años. Siempre estaré agradecido a los delegados, a los arquitectos del proceso ya los cientos de voluntarios que han apoyado el trabajo del Sínodo durante los últimos tres años. También tengo una profunda gratitud hacia aquellos de ustedes que han incluido el Sínodo Arquidiocesano en sus intenciones de oración. Estuvieron hábilmente representados durante todo el fin de semana por un pequeño
my efforts to capture the Synod experience in a pastoral letter that is scheduled to be released on the feast of Christ the King, Nov. 22, 2022. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will now guide my efforts, much as he guided the involvement of our Synod participants. To learn more about what transpired at the Assembly and to facilitate your prayer, please be sure to consult The Catholic Spirit and our archdiocesan website for updates in the weeks to come. In the meantime, I hope that you will join me in thanksgiving at the 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral June 19, the solemnity of the Lord’s Body and Blood, as we kick off locally the National Eucharistic Revival. Weather permitting, Mass will be concluded with a short eucharistic procession and the traditional Corpus Domini Benediction.
equipo de oración en nuestra capilla de adoración improvisada en CretinDerham Hall, suplicando a nuestro Señor eucarístico en cada momento de la Asamblea que envíe su Espíritu sobre nuestra Iglesia. Escuché de algunos de los adoradores que sentían que era una bendición singular poder rezar ante el Santísimo Sacramento en presencia de las reliquias de nuestros tres “benditos” intercesores: el padre franciscano capuchino Solanus Casey, el padre Stanley Rather y Hermano cristiano James Miller. Estoy seguro de que espero que esas oraciones continúen ahora que comenzamos el proceso de extracción de los resultados que recibimos en el Sínodo. Si bien es bastante fácil verificar la votación, aún nos llevará algún tiempo recopilar y sopesar los muchos comentarios escritos que acompañaron a los votos, ubicándolos en el contexto de las observaciones que se compartieron al azar en la Asamblea, como representantes elegidos por muchos fueron invitados a comentar sobre sus percepciones de nuestras tres áreas de enfoque. Sus oraciones serán particularmente necesarias para apoyar mis esfuerzos por
capturar la experiencia del Sínodo en una carta pastoral que se publicará en la fiesta de Cristo Rey, el 22 de noviembre de 2022. Estoy orando para que el Espíritu Santo ahora guíe mi esfuerzos, al igual que guió la participación de nuestros participantes del Sínodo. Para obtener más información sobre lo que sucedió en la Asamblea y para facilitar su oración, asegúrese de consultar The Catholic Spirit y nuestro sitio web arquidiocesano para obtener actualizaciones en las próximas semanas. Mientras tanto, espero que se unan a mí en acción de gracias en la Misa a 10 a. m. en la Catedral el 19 de junio, la solemnidad del Cuerpo y la Sangre del Señor, cuando comencemos localmente el Avivamiento Eucarístico Nacional. Si el tiempo lo permite, la misa concluirá con una breve procesión eucarística y la tradicional bendición del Corpus Domini.
OFFICIAL Priest and permanent deacon appointments. — Page 7B
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4 • The Catholic Spirit 4B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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SLICEof LIFE
‘Carrie’ on
SLICEof LIFE
Sister Carrie Link, left, gives a blessing to 2-month-old Carrie Kolako during her baptism June 12 at St. Henry in Monticello. The baby’s parents, Johnny (holding her) and Sonnie, right, named their daughter after Sister Carrie, 81, who is retiring from St. Henry after 32 years of ministry there. It also marks the end of 81 years of service to the parish by her order, Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sister Carrie, who also was selected as the baby’s godmother, has known the couple, originally from Liberia, since 2019. As the director of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults for the parish, she helped prepare Johnny for joining the Church in 2020. “It is pure gift for me to have a namesake here in the parish as I leave — it’s very powerful,” said Sister Carrie, who will move to Dubuque, Iowa, to live with other sisters in her community there. She added that she is “blessed and privileged to have been here at St. Henry’s.” Father Patrick Barnes, pastor of St. Henry, baptized Carrie Kolako.
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JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5B
Panelists: Diverse members bring gifts and experience to parish life By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit Catholics of various nationalities and ethnicities want to feel they belong in local parishes — and when they are welcomed and accepted, the parish benefits from the gifts they bring, panelists said at a forum last month at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis titled, “Building an Intercultural Church.” “We’re looking for ways to truly build something new, create a new tapestry, weaving together the richness of one community and the richness perhaps of the community that is already there and create a new vibrant tapestry,” said panelist Anne Attea, formation and social justice director at Ascension in Minneapolis, who previously served as the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ director for Hispanic/ Latino Ministry. The May 24 forum was part of St. Paul-based Catholic Community Foundation’s “Giving Insights” series exploring philanthropy’s impact. The 128 attendees — about half viewing by livestream — consisted mostly of parishioners in the archdiocese, along with parish staff members, priests and women religious. Attea was joined by fellow panelists Akiko Maeker, principal partner and coaching director of Interculturalist LLC in the Twin Cities, which works with organizations on leadership and management performance, and Mar Muñoz-Visoso, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church. The panelists considered the meaning and practices of intercultural competence and ways Catholic parishes and other institutions can advance
from people of different backgrounds and to find commonalities. An important, though not necessarily defining, intercultural competence is language, Attea said, noting that of the archdiocese’ 188 parishes, 40 (or 20 percent) of them offer Masses in a different language. Welcoming new Catholics is another intercultural competence, as is a parish’s approach, whether a given parish wants them to assimilate or invites them to help build something new, Attea said. Parishes that seek to welcome new parishioners can be intentional about praying together, inviting different groups to share meals with a bilingual parishioner at each table and facilitating parish work projects, she said.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Anne Attea, center, formation and social justice director at Ascension in Minneapolis, makes a point during the “Giving Insights” series May 24 at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. At left is Father Dale Korogi, pastor of Ascension, and at right is Akiko Maeker, principal partner and coaching director of Interculturalist LLC in the Twin Cities. goals of evangelization by welcoming and helping new populations integrate into Catholic life. Founded in 1992, CCF financially supports the spiritual, educational and social needs of the state’s Catholic community. The foundation helps steward financial resources of Catholic individuals, families, parishes and institutions, and over the years it has distributed $207 million in grants to client-requested causes. Hosted by Chris Nelson, CCF vice president of development and donor engagement, the forum was moderated by Father Dale Korogi, pastor of Ascension and executive director of Ascension Catholic School,
both located in a culturally diverse Minneapolis community. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams, known for his support of building intercultural parishes by making them bases for evangelization on the streets and in people’s homes, had been scheduled to moderate the forum but was unable to attend. Father Korogi began the panel discussion by asking what evangelization looks like in a multicultural community, and why intercultural competencies are vital for the new evangelization. Maecker said intercultural competence is the capacity to shift perspective and adapt behavior to learn
Liturgical celebrations, such as the patronal feast day of a parish, are also opportunities to bring together a number of parish groups, said MuñozVisoso, who has experience in both Latino ministry and communications. The goal should be full integration with welcoming, belonging and ultimately ownership, instead of assimilation, which doesn’t encourage members to value their roots, she said. Intercultural competence does not require parishes to know everything about new members, but it’s an opportunity to recognize that together they are a family, Muñoz-Visoso said. “If we don’t welcome people, how in the world are they going to develop a sense that they belong there?” she said. “That ‘this is my parish,’ that ‘this is my community, that I can grow and thrive here and bring my assets.’ And the sense of ownership is (when) one has the sense of belonging and feels responsible for the well-being of that community.”
Healing a wounded community: Build trust, compassion, understanding By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit Two years after the police-involved killing of George Floyd, an African-American, in Minneapolis, and three days after 10 Black people were killed while grocery shopping in Buffalo, New York, allegedly by a heavily armed white teenager motivated by racist hate, a four-person panel of faith and community leaders last month discussed “Justice and Healing for a Wounded Community” in downtown Minneapolis. “Today, my heart is heavy,” said Gaye Massey, CEO of YWCA St. Paul, “having watched too much coverage of what happened in Buffalo. I am burdened by the hate and ugliness we have seen play out in our country.” Joining Massey on the panel May 17 at the University of St. Thomas School of Law were John Harrington, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman of Temple Israel in Minneapolis, and Jesuit Father Christopher Collins, the university’s vice president for mission. Despite varied backgrounds and experiences — Massey an attorney, Harrington in law enforcement and faith leaders Rabbi Zimmerman and Father Collins — all four cited similar challenges and solutions in building healthy communities. Challenges include distrust, fear, and a lack of empathy and sincere listening to seek understanding. There can be a reluctance to break down barriers, correct inequities and face difficult moments among varied communities, the panelists said. Solutions are the direct opposite of the challenges, they said. “Fear and trust,” Harrington said of challenges facing
police and the broader community. “I have people operating out of fear and trauma every day. And some of the ways they are operating are making them more unsafe.” The panel discussion, which also was livestreamed, was moderated by Father Daniel Griffith, director of the Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing at UST’s School of Law, where he also is a Wenger Family Faculty Fellow, and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, all in Minneapolis. The initiative and the Basilica of St. Mary, also in Minneapolis, where Father Griffith will be pastor starting in July, co-sponsored the event, which was held on UST’s law school campus. Launched last September, the initiative at UST seeks to name and help heal harm from institutional and leadership failures, racial injustice and polarization, Father Griffith said. It has hosted a variety of programs and webinars based on those themes. It also includes a law school course and a coming practicum experience for students rooted in the principles of restorative justice, he said. Illustrating one aspect of fear, Harrington asked rhetorically whether it is safer to be in a locked room, with guns and dogs for protection, than it is to get to know neighbors and mingle in the community. A patrol officer in St. Paul early in his career, Harrington said the streets were safest when large groups of people were enjoying an event, such as a Minnesota Wild hockey game in St. Paul. “Unless you are in relationship with your neighbor, you are an island,” Harrington said. “That makes you more vulnerable. The more good people on the streets together the safer it is.”
But to gather, people need to trust one another, Harrington said. “I’ve got to trust that my car won’t be carjacked. I’ve got to trust that the cops are going to do the right thing. There is a dramatic shortage of trust” right now, he said. “How do I build trust? It’s proximity.” Rabbi Zimmerman said she is concerned that awareness of racial inequities and a willingness to face that challenge in Minnesota and the country have waned since Floyd’s death. There also has arisen a fear and distrust of government and other institutions, she said. “A society can’t survive if there is no trust in institutions,” she said. “That’s the crisis we’re in as a nation.” Massey and Harrington noted a need to connect with people who are affected by inequities in society. “They bring solutions,” Massey said. “They bring understanding to issues most people don’t even see. And to hear it, it is (still) easy to dismiss, not recognize it, so not really credit it. We need to listen to and believe other people’s experiences.” Harrington said he grew up on Chicago’s south side, statistically one of the least safe places to be, and he has seen a lot of pain and heartache. “But I’ve never had to sleep on the bus” for shelter, he said. For people who want to grow in understanding, build trust and heal a wounded community, it is helpful to remember how Jesus entered the world in order to save it, Father Collins said. He came “not in great power to fix things but … in humility and in vulnerability,” as an infant without defenses, Father Collins said. Jesus began “to build relationships from there,” he said.
6B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL
people who are connected to the Church — they’ve made their first Communion, perhaps they may even go to Mass somewhat regularly, but they don’t fully understand the Eucharist or they’d be there every Sunday,” Bishop Cozzens said.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B
June 1 interview for the archdiocese's radio show “Practicing Catholic.” “Our desire is really to renew the Church by inviting people to encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, and we want to do that by affecting every level of the Church.” The first year is the “year of diocesan revival,” with an aim to invite “diocesan staff, bishops, and priests to respond to the Lord’s personal invitation and equip them to share this love with the faithful through Eucharistic congresses and events,” according to the Revival’s website, eucharisticrevival.org. The second year, the “year of parish renewal,” begins in June 2023 with the goal of fostering “Eucharistic devotion at the parish level, strengthening our liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit.” That year culminates in a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 17-21, 2024. This event kicks off the final phase, the “year of going out on mission” “to share the gift of our Eucharistic Lord.” Next year, the effort is expected to include parish small groups. “We want to invite especially those
BISHOP BARRON
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B Pope Francis often teaches, a shepherd with the smell of the sheep — out in front of the flock in one sense, leading the way, but also with the flock, giving encouragement, and in back of the flock in order to gather in those who have fallen behind. I pray also for the grace to be just that kind of shepherd to the Catholics of southern Minnesota.” He said “it is with real sadness in my heart that I take leave of the good people of the Santa Barbara pastoral region. Together, we made our way through fire, flood, mudslides, and COVID, and I will never forget your kindness to me and never cease to
JUNE 16, 2022
After the Pew study, the USCCB commissioned a similar study from the Georgetown-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, or CARA, with results expected to be published soon. “Our own study has shown that there is a high percentage of people who are sitting in the pew most Sundays that don't fully understand who Jesus is in the Eucharist and the power of the Eucharist to transform a life,” Bishop Cozzens said. Through the Revival, “I don't expect that we're going to turn around completely the numbers of the Church, and that all of a sudden, the 70% of Catholics who don't go to Church are going to start coming to Church,” Bishop Cozzens said. “I don't expect that, but I do expect that as people are strengthened in their eucharistic love and devotion, it becomes a fire that drives them and makes them missionaries. And that that's going to impact and strengthen families, and that's going to prevent future disaffiliation. And that's also going to help our Catholics draw the strength they need to witness to the love of Christ in our culture, which, as we know,
draw strength from your faith.” He confirmed that his work with Word on Fire will continue with his new role. “Through our gifted staff, we will keep bringing you regular videos, interviews, articles, sermons, and daily reflections,” he said. “We will press forward with the Word on Fire Institute, the Word on Fire Bible series, the Liturgy of the Hours initiative, our many books and YouTube shows, and more exciting things coming down the pipeline.” Bishop Barron thanked Word on Fire supporters and asked for prayers for himself “as I begin this new adventure under the Lord’s providence” and for the people of the Diocese of WinonaRochester.
is becoming more and more secular and even hostile to our Catholic faith.” The Eucharist is “the heart of our faith,” he continued. “And if we can strengthen that, then, in fact, the Church will find ways to be equipped to handle the other problems of the day. So, it's a little bit like in the time of crisis, you go to focus on who you are and your heart. And this is what the Eucharist is to us. It tells us who we are. It makes us the Church. It makes us the body of Christ. And so we need to focus on our identity, so that we're ready then to be sent on mission.” He noted that the Diocese of Crookston is kicking off the Revival with a eucharistic procession along Lake Bemidji in Bemidji. “Pope Benedict has a beautiful homily that he preached at an ordination where he said the Eucharist makes certain demands upon us as priests, but also as laypeople,” Bishop Cozzens said. “And if we're open and we continue to approach the Eucharist regularly, even daily for a priest, then we can't help but be changed by it, he says. We might lag behind, but either we shake off the Eucharist with all its demands, or we allow our lives to be transformed by it, which is what happens for those who fall in love with the Eucharist.”
Who is CCF? The Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) helps Catholics like you create meaningful charitable giving plans. Individuals and families set up charitable funds to give through CCF to support their favorite parishes, schools, and organizations. CCF ensures their charitable giving is taxefficient and aligns with our Catholic faith.
‘PHENOMENAL NEWS’ Area Catholics were excited to hear about the appointment of Bishop Robert Barron to the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. Michael Naughton, director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, said Bishop Barron has helped that ministry since the bishop’s days as a priest, and as a bishop in 2018 gave the keynote speech at Catholic Studies’ 25th anniversary celebration. “I think this is phenomenal news for us in Minnesota and certainly for our archdiocese,” Naughton told The Catholic Spirit. The founder of Catholic media apostolate Word on Fire and auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles is “an international figure who has evangelized all sectors of our society in such a powerful way.” Dr. Tod Worner, a member of St. Bartholomew in Wayzata who also is a fellow of the Word on Fire Institute and managing editor of the institute’s journal “Evangelization and Culture,” said in the three years he has been with the apostolate he has not made it out to Santa Barbara, where Bishop Barron focused his pastoral ministry. “For the (Holy) Spirit to lead him to Winona-Rochester, that’s even better,” Worner said. “I think he’s going to bring a profound enthusiasm for the new evangelization,” Worner said.
Contact CCF to learn how we can help you.
Bishop Barron’s connections to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis include speaking when he was a priest in 2013 at a daylong Rediscover: Catholic Celebration that drew 5,000 people to the RiverCentre in St. Paul. Among his comments was expressing the need for a missionary Church, “not a Church bickering with itself, but a Church full of missionary zeal.”
651.389.0300 ccf-mn.org
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Many local parishes have used his documentary film series “Catholicism,” which premiered on PBS in 2011, and its sequel series, “Catholicism: The Pivotal Players,” as part of faith formation. Father Joseph Taphorn, rector of The St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, welcomed Bishop Barron in true Minnesota fashion. “It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Bishop Barron to the vibrant Catholic community here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Father Taphorn said in a June 2 statement. “The Church has been blessed by his work in seminary formation, diocesan leadership, and ministry via Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. Similarly, our community has been blessed by the presence of our seminarians from the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. We look forward to partnering with Bishop Barron in his mission to cultivate healthy vocations in his new diocese.” — Joe Ruff, The Catholic Spirit
N O T I C E
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JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7B
OFFICIAL Reverend John Utecht, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Edina. Father Utecht was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 2022.
Effective July 1, 2022 Reverend Andrew Brinkman, assigned as moderator and priest-in-solidum of the Church of the Maternity of Mary and the Church of the Holy Childhood in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment as pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul. Reverend Joseph Connelly, assigned as pastor of the Church of Guardian Angels in Oakdale. Father Connelly has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parish.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointments in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:
Effective May 24, 2022 Reverend William Murtaugh, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Pax Christi in Eden Prairie. This is in addition to his current assignment as pastor of the Church of Christ the King in Minneapolis.
Effective June 6, 2022 Reverend Marcel Okwara, CSsR, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Bridget in Minneapolis. Father Okwara is a priest of the Redemptorists of the Denver Province.
Effective June 15, 2022 Reverend Samuel Gilbertson, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Michael and the Church of Saint Mary in Stillwater until returning to Rome in September to continue graduate studies. Father Gilbertson was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 2022. Reverend Connor McGinnis, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Michael in Saint Michael. Father McGinnis was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 2022. Reverend Joseph Nguyen, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint John the Baptist in New Brighton. Father Nguyen was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 2022. Reverend Michael Selenski, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park. Father Selenski was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 2022.
Reverend José Maria Cortes, FSCB, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Peter in North Saint Paul. Father Cortes is a priest of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Charles Borromeo. Reverend Ettore Ferrario, FSCB, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Peter in North Saint Paul. Father Ferrario has been serving as pastor of the same parish. Reverend Louis Floeder, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Dominic in Northfield, and as Assistant Director of the Office of Vocations for the Archdiocese. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of the Divine Mercy in Faribault and the Church of Saint Michael in Kenyon. Reverend Clayton Forner, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of the Divine Mercy in Faribault. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Stephen and Holy Rosary Parish in Minneapolis. Deacon Ramon Garcia DeGollado, assigned as permanent deacon of the Church of Saint Odilia in Shoreview. This is a transfer from his current assignment at the Church of Saint Dominic in Northfield and to the Office of Latino Ministry for the Archdiocese. Reverend Joseph Gifford, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Peter Claver in Saint Paul and to part-time licentiate studies in canon law at Catholic University of America. Father Gifford has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parish. Reverend Nicholas Hagen, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Raphael in Crystal. Father Hagen has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parish.
Reverend Nathan Hastings, assigned as parochial administrator of The Church of the Holy Spirit in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Edina.
Bishop Joseph Williams, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment as pastor of the Church of Saint StephenHoly Rosary in Minneapolis.
Reverend Daniel Haugan, assigned as pastor of the Church of Lumen Christi in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment as pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Saint Paul.
Reverend Brian Zuelke, OP, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Odilia in Shoreview. Father Zuelke is a priest of the Dominican Friars, and was previously serving at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul.
Reverend Jude McPeak, OP, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Albert the Great in Minneapolis. Father McPeak is a priest of the Dominican Friars, Province of Saint Albert the Great. Reverend Marcus Milless, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Helena in Minneapolis. This is a transfer from his current assignment as chaplain for Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and as sacramental minister to the Hmong community of Saint Vincent de Paul Campus in Saint Paul. Reverend John Powers, assigned as pastor of the Churches of Saint Andrew in Elysian and Holy Trinity in Waterville. Father Powers has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parishes. Reverend Antony Skaria, CFIC, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Matthew in Saint Paul. This is in addition to his current assignment as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint John Vianney in South Saint Paul. Reverend Matthew Shireman, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Gregory in North Branch and the Church of Sacred Heart in Rush City. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings. Reverend Mark Shane Stoppel-Wasinger, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint George in Long Lake. This is a transfer from his current assignment as pastor of the Church of Saint Gregory in North Branch and the Church of Sacred Heart in Rush City. Reverend Brandon Theisen, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Joseph in Red Wing. Father Theisen has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parish. Reverend Timothy Tran, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Stephen in Anoka. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Odilia in Shoreview. Reverend Philippe Vigneron, assigned as priest-insolidum of the Church of the Maternity of Mary and the Church of the Holy Childhood in Saint Paul. Father Vigneron is a priest of the Archdiocese of Paris and member of the Emmanuel Community.
Reverend Andrew Zipp, assigned as parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Mary of the Lake of Medicine Lake (Plymouth). This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park.
Effective July 5, 2022 Reverend David Shaw, assigned as parochial vicar of the Church of the Assumption, the Church of Saint Peter, and the Church of Saint Richard in Richfield. Father Shaw is a priest from the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon.
Effective July 15, 2022 Reverend Dwight Hoeberechts, OMI, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Casimir and the Church of Saint Patrick in Saint Paul. Father Hoeberechts is a priest of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Reverend Joseph Hurtuk, SM, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Louis, King of France. Father Hurtuk is a priest of the Society of Mary, USA Province.
Effective September 8, 2022 Reverend James Bernard, assigned as priestin-solidum of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul. This is a transfer from his current assignment as parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Stephen in Anoka. Reverend Thomas Margevicius, assigned as pastor of the Churches of Saint Mary of Le Center, Saint Henry in Sharon (Saint Henry), The Nativity in Cleveland, and Immaculate Conception in Marysburg. This is in addition to his assignment as Director of the Office of Worship. Reverend James Stiles, assigned as pastor of the Church of Saint Stephen-Holy Rosary in Minneapolis. This is a transfer from his current assignment as pastor of Churches of Saint Mary of Le Center, Saint Henry in Sharon (Saint Henry), The Nativity in Cleveland, and Immaculate Conception in Marysburg. Bishop Joseph Williams, assigned as moderator and priest-in-solidum of the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Saint Paul. Bishop Williams has been serving as parochial administrator of the same parish.
Cannon Falls family to host Rural Life Sunday Mass June 26 By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit When Deb and Jack Lorentz host an anticipated 300 or more people June 26 for Rural Life Sunday at their family farm, they’ll have had plenty of practice. One of the three family reunions they’ve held at their farm about five miles north of Cannon Falls drew 250 relatives. “There’s a lot of Lorentzes in the area,” Deb Lorentz said. Their farm has been in Jack Lorentz’ family since 1884. This year marks the first Rural Life Sunday event hosted on a family farm in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since 2019, as the gathering was canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and held in the church parking lot at St. Patrick in Shieldsville last year as COVID concerns continued. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis will celebrate this year’s Mass at 1:30 p.m. on the family’s large deck overlooking the back yard. Deb Lorentz has added angel figurines to pots of flowers hanging off the deck to honor the occasion. The Lorentz family’s pastor, Father Terry Beeson of
St. Pius V in Cannon Falls, the host parish of Rural Life Sunday this year, will concelebrate, and other priests have been invited to join them. Deb, 74, and Jack, 77, have lived on their farm for 48 years. It’s where they raised four children. It was a dairy farm until about 15 years ago, Jack Lorentz said. Now the focus is beef, corn and soybeans, and some cannery crops, too: peas and sweet corn, he said. Father Beeson grew up in Fargo, now a city of about 120,000. When he was assigned to the Cannon Falls parish and to St. Joseph in Miesville eight years ago, one of the first things he noticed was the farmers’ hands when they received Communion, “a little bit hard to get the dirt off, a little bit calloused, just the hands of hard-working people,” he said. “This is rural country and many of the parishioners have a farm,” Father Beeson said, calling the Lorentzes “good folks.” “Their names came up right away” when the parish was asked to nominate a host family, he said. The Rural Life Mass recognizes the people who provide food on the table and on grocery store shelves, he said. Farmers also care a great deal about their spiritual home, Father Beeson said, making sure the
HOW TO GET THERE From downtown Cannon Falls drive to Minnesota Highway 20, then five miles north to 270th St. East. Turn right and drive two miles to 12670 270th St. East, Cannon Falls. The farm is the third place on the right.
church is cared for and needed improvements made. Dale Hennen, parish services coordinator at the archdiocese, acknowledged the generosity of the Lorentz family in hosting the event. Rural Life Sunday has been celebrated in the archdiocese for about 60 years, he said. “Rural Life Sunday brings us together to pray and remember and celebrate all the good things God has given us in our rural way of life,” Hennen said. Seating for Mass will be hay bales with wooden planks over the top but participants can bring their own lawn chairs. A box lunch and hot dogs will be offered after Mass (freewill offerings accepted). Children’s activities, games and farm animals will be on site, too.
8B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
JUNE 16, 2022
NATION+WORLD
Pope apologizes for postponing July trip to Africa By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Pope Francis apologized to the people of Congo and South Sudan for postponing his planned trip to their countries July 2-7. “Dear friends, with great regret, due to problems with my leg, I have had to postpone my visit to your countries,” the pope said June 12 after reciting the Angelus prayer with visitors in St. Peter’s Square. “I truly feel great sorrow for having had to postpone this trip, which means so much to me. I apologize for this,” he said. “Let us pray together that, with the help of God and medical attention, I will be able to be with you as soon as possible. Let us be hopeful!” The Vatican press office had announced June 10 that the visit to Congo and the ecumenical pilgrimage to South Sudan were postponed because Pope Francis continued to have problems with his knee. On June 13, the press office said Pope Francis would not lead the public celebrations June 19 for the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, a celebration that was to have included Mass, a procession and Benediction. Matteo Bruni, director of the press office, did not mention whether the pope’s planned trip to Canada in late
HEADLINES u Catholic lawmakers who voted for Colorado abortion bill asked to not take Communion. In a June 6 open letter, the Catholic bishops of Colorado asked those Catholic legislators “who live or worship in the state” and voted for Colorado’s Reproductive Health Equity Act “to voluntarily refrain from receiving holy Communion” until they publicly repent and receive sacramental absolution in confession. “The burden from their decision does not rest upon the shoulders of priests, deacons or lay extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist,” the bishops wrote. “It rests upon the consciences and souls of those politicians who have
Pope Francis grimaces in pain as he gets up from his chair during the general audience April 20 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. On his doctors’ advice because of ongoing problems with his knee, the pope will not travel to Congo and South Sudan in early July, the Vatican announced June 10. CNS | PAUL HARING
July was still set. “At the request of his doctors, and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee, the Holy Father has been forced to postpone, with regret, his apostolic journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and to South Sudan,” Bruni said June 10. The trip will be moved “to a later date to be determined.” Although Pope Francis has canceled several events since mid-January and has begun using a wheelchair or a cane, the Vatican had continued to insist that he would make the two trips in July. The Vatican press office published a detailed schedule for the Africa trip May 28 and released a list of the
journalists accredited to the papal flight to Africa June 8. The South Sudan portion of the trip had been in the works for years. Pope Francis was scheduled to fly to South Sudan with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and the Rev. Iain Greenshields, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, for an ecumenical pilgrimage of peace July 5-7. Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian leaders in South Sudan and internationally have been supporting the nation’s peace process and pushing the leaders of opposing factions to end fighting and collaborate for the good of the nation. At least 60% of South Sudan’s population, including its political leaders, are Christian.
chosen to support this evil and unjust law.” Among other things, the Reproductive Health Equity Act would permit on-demand abortion for a full 40 weeks of pregnancy and allow abortions based on discrimination of sex, race or children with disabilities such as Down syndrome. Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law April 4 just after it passed the state House and Senate.
“If you listen closely, you will hear the cry” for an end to gun violence “from our loved ones in our churches, synagogues, schools and now, our grocery stores,” Raymond Whitfield told hundreds gathered near the Washington Monument for the June 11 March for Our Lives rally. “If not now, when? When will enough be enough ... (of) hollow-point bullets tearing through the flesh of the American dream?” he said. “When will enough be enough, where law-abiding Americans demand from our public servants ... common sense gun laws? Simple background checks?” Whitfield said.
u Speaker at Washington anti-gun rally says nation must ‘replace the hate.’ The son of Ruth E. Whitfield, at 86 the oldest victim of a racially motivated mass shooting May 14 at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store, told a rally in Washington June 11 that the nation needs to “lower” its weapons and “replace the hate.”
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u Myanmar bishops demand that human life, places of worship be respected. Catholic bishops in Myanmar are demanding respect for human life and the sanctity of places of worship, hospitals and schools in the conflict-torn Southeast Asian nation. “Human dignity and the right to life can never be compromised,” the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar said in a statement June 11. Myanmar’s military junta has continued to target churches in recent months, with dozens of churches including Catholic churches in Kayah and Chin states destroyed in airstrikes and artillery shelling. Thousands of people including Christians have been displaced, some fleeing into India. u Brutal attack on worshippers in Nigeria is called attack on ‘entire Church.’ The brutal attack on people at a Catholic church in Nigeria on Pentecost Sunday is “an attack on the entire Church,” said a U.S. official of Aid to the Church in Need, an international Catholic charity. According to the Reuters news agency, gunmen fired June 5 at people inside and outside St. Francis Xavier Church in Owo, killing at least 50 people and injuring dozens more, in the southwestern state of Ondo. “We extend our prayers for the victims, the wounded, their families and the entire Catholic community of Owo,” said George
Pope Francis also was set to visit Kinshasa and Goma, Congo, July 2-5 and to meet with victims and survivors of ongoing violence in the eastern part of the nation. It is very unusual for the Vatican to announce a papal trip and publish a detailed schedule for it, then cancel the trip. In 1994, St. John Paul II was forced to cancel two planned trips: one to Beirut and one to Sarajevo. Both visits were postponed because of security concerns. But that year, he had fallen in the shower and broke his femur, which also forced the cancellation of a May visit to Belgium. The Vatican has not provided details about Pope Francis’ knee ailment or his therapy. In an interview May 3 with an Italian newspaper, the pope said, “I have a torn ligament; I will have a procedure with injections, and we will see.” For the past several months, Pope Francis has attended and given the homily at several Masses where he had been scheduled to be the main celebrant. For example, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Easter Vigil in St. Peter’s Basilica April 16, although Pope Francis himself was the chief celebrant the next day for the Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Marlin, chairman of the board of Aid to the Church in Need/USA, which is based in New York. “We stand with the Diocese of Ondo to help treat the wounded and those traumatized by this horrible tragedy,” he said in a June 6 statement. “Political and religious leaders around the world must condemn this barbarism and put pressure on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari to do what it takes finally to stop the violence and protect the Nigerian people.” u Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop Lori decry attacks on pro-life centers. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore pleaded for peace in light of increasing attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers in the United States since a draft version of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Services was leaked in May. The leaked draft suggested the Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade, the court’s 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Since then, Cardinal Dolan and Archbishop Lori said, “charities that support pregnant mothers in need have been firebombed, and pro-life organizations have been attacked almost daily and terrorized.” u Charter’s 20th anniversary calls for ‘continued vigilance,’ archbishop says. The 20th anniversary of the U.S. bishops’ passage of the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” is “not a time of celebration, but a time of continued vigilance and determination,” said Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a June 9 statement. “In these 20 years, we have greatly benefited from listening to and working with survivors of abuse. We are grateful for their courage in sharing their stories and for helping the church strive to create a culture of protection and healing,”
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 9B
FAITH+CULTURE An immigrant’s journey to healing and health, NFP ministry By Christina Capecchi For The Catholic Spirit
Q Can you give me an example of how
Maria Martinez has served Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul for nearly five years, most recently as its director of faith formation. Now she’s preparing to step down to focus on her two daughters and her natural family planning (NFP) training, a ministry that has brought great joy. “It’s been wonderful,” said Martinez, 53, who belongs to Holy Family in St. Louis Park.
A When Jesus is sleeping in the boat and
Q Back when you were 30, your
A Yes! Scripture is alive. The Lord will
you’ve experienced this?
husband got a new job and you moved from Mexico City, the most populated city in the world, to Pembina, North Dakota, population 500. What a culture shock!
A It was a peaceful place. We got to know strong Catholics. Our journey in growing in our faith started there. When we had our first baby, people were so giving: food, a baby shower through the parish, gifts from my husband’s coworkers.
the storm is coming and the Apostles are scared — whenever I have a situation in which I feel the storm coming, I keep thinking: “He is with me in the boat, he is with me in the boat. I can endure this storm because he is there with me.”
Q There have been plenty of storms the last couple of years.
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
NFP there to Spanish-speaking couples through the Couple to Couple League, a three-class program that meets once a week.
A I learned natural family planning
working really hard for a company that sells different products for the automotive industry.
because I wanted to follow the Church’s teaching. When I learned about all the health benefits, I couldn’t have that for (just) myself. I wanted others to learn it. It follows God’s plan for marriage, and it’s good for us. Every time we have a class, we hear, “Why didn’t anybody tell me about this?” It’s like the best secret in the Church.
Q Then you became a stay-at-home
Q They’re surprised and relieved?
Q What had you been doing in Mexico, before the move?
A I’m a chemical engineer, and I was
mom, which must’ve provided new opportunities to use your engineering training.
A Many of our friends are engineers, and our brains work differently. You see the big picture and then you always see the practical. You’re focused on problemsolving.
Q Did you apply that at Our Lady of Guadalupe?
A I see the process and then I say, “This
is not working! We need to fix this!” I was able to organize things better. For example, with faith formation, we need a process to register people, and we need certain documents to register the sacraments to make the process smoother — and then organizing the lessons.
Q Besides your day job, you also teach
A The majority of the couples who come
are using contraceptives, and the ladies say, “Well, I have headaches, I don’t have periods, I’m in a bad mood, I gain weight, I don’t have the desire to be with my husband.” Then we play a video of a doctor explaining the side effects of contraceptives like the pill and they right away relate to it. They want to feel better. And the men want to protect their wives. They always agree that they aren’t told of the side effects, that contraceptives are pushed in their doctor appointments and they aren’t given any alternatives. And if they say they’re using NFP, they’re mocked. We are swimming against the current.
Q You’re giving them the courage to do that.
A We accompany these ladies when they
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Q You’ll be teaching at Our Lady of
Guadalupe this summer, most likely, and again this fall. In March you had your first in-person class since COVID, this with 10 couples. How did it feel to be teaching in person again?
A I experienced such peace and joy. I had forgotten how beautiful and rewarding it is to teach. It’s a gift to know that the Lord has put me on this path of learning and teaching something that is so good for them. In our last class, a couple asked: When do we teach this to our kids? So there’s an interest in that, and CCL has a mother-daughter program. We’re also helping to develop a new app. It’s very exciting!
Q Besides NFP, what else do you do to improve your health?
A I’ve found that fasting is a great way
to regulate your cravings, but it’s also great for your spiritual life. Now it’s in fashion — this is the wisdom of our faith, showing up right now. Fasting is good for the body, absolutely, but also for the soul. I’ve also developed a love for sacred Scripture. I attended an Ignatian silent retreat as a way of learning myself better. It came to life for me, how sacred Scripture really talks to you.
Q You’ve made it a priority to attend daily Mass. Do you feel the impact?
A Absolutely! When the restriction for
no-Mass came due to the pandemic, it was so painful. It really is the food for my soul. It requires that I go to confession more if I want to receive the Lord, which has brought more things — like recognizing I’m a sinner. There’s been lots of healing from Mass and confession. I recognize my goodness, too. It’s hard — there are some things I can’t overcome, and I need to keep going to confession, but that’s the life of a Christian.
Q Eucharistic adoration plays a special role in your prayer life, too.
A I try for an hour weekly, but I go as
much as I can. I used to do 3 to 5 a.m., and that’s the best time. It’s quiet — me and the Lord. I just love the silence.
Q What are your plans for the summer, now that you’ll be working fewer hours?
A I love reading. I hope that I can do the Well-Read Mom pilgrimage. I need to prepare because it’s a lot of walking!
Q Good for the body and the soul — like NFP. It all ties together.
A Yes! Q What do you know for sure? A That I want to go to heaven.
Let your Faith Take Flight Trips • 2022-2023
Wisconsin Shrines (Fr. David Grundman & Fr. Jerry Mischke) • August 30-31, 2022 California Missions/Wineries • Oct. 22-29, 2022 (Fr. Fitzpatrick)
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leave their contraceptives. It is very scary for them, so they want somebody with them. “Will you be with me?” “Yes, we’ll help you. It’s going to be a little time of adjustment, but you’ll see it’s good.” And they do.
talk to you through Scripture and address whatever you are experiencing — either encouragement, support, even when we have to be called out.
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Branson Jesus Christmas Show • Dec. 1-4, 2022 Guadalupe (Fr. Derek, Fr. Doug) • March 3-10, 2023 Italy (Fr. Peter) • March 13-24, 2023
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FAITH+CULTURE
10B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
JUNE 16, 2022
If Roe goes, pro-life leaders warn MN could become abortion ‘destination state’ By Anna Wilgenbusch For The Catholic Spirit Nearly 200 people gathered in the courtyard of St. Odilia Catholic Church in Shoreview May 24 to discuss what could happen if Roe v. Wade is overturned and how to continue to help women and children in Minnesota. Roe v. Wade — the U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the United States nearly 50 years ago — could now be overturned by the court’s decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health. As a court opinion draft that was leaked May 2 indicates, the slim majority of conservative justices on the court could produce the most consequential decision in the abortion debate in decades. If overturned, the decision could re-write how pro-abortion and pro-life campaigns operate in Minnesota and across the nation, advocates on both sides say. The Respect Life Ministry at St. Odilia invited Teresa Collett, a law professor
at the University of St. Thomas in the Twin Cities who has served under Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis on the Pontifical Council for the Family, and Angela Franey, who directs Abria Pregnancy Resources, to shed light on this topic. Collett, who is also an elected member of the American Law Institute and TERESA COLLETT has testified before congressional committees, said that overturning Roe v. Wade would not result in a national ban on abortion. “It is simply false that if Roe v. Wade and (related Supreme Court ruling) Planned Parenthood v. Casey are overturned, then suddenly we’ll have a uniform law throughout the United States that prohibits abortion,” said Collett. Instead, the leaked draft indicates that the abortion decision will be placed
in the hands of each state. Collett said that this recognizes the founding principle of federalism, which grants the authority on health care and morals to the state, not to the federal government. “(The draft) makes the argument, ‘Return it to the states, and let every state decide,’” Collett said. “The simple fact is, the Founding Fathers left the states the most fundamental issues, things like physician-assisted suicide and abortion, because they believe that the people in the states should control the decision on this issue.” The potential for Roe v. Wade to be overturned hinges on the makeup of the current court, she said. “If any one of these (conservative) justices die, we won’t have a majority,” she said. All five justices on the draft opinion, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, must be alive for the decision to have effect, she explained, noting Chief Justice Roberts has not yet released the final decision. Considering that Justice Clarence
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Thomas was hospitalized for health reasons in March of this year while other justices seek protection from protesters outside their homes, Collett said that the outcome is anything but decided. If one of the five justices were to die, resulting in a nomination from President Joe Biden, a pro-choice Democrat, the court would become a liberal majority and would likely uphold Roe v. Wade as it stands. Collett cited data from the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion advocacy organization in New York, that says 26 states would likely ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Abortion access in Minnesota is unlikely to be restricted, no matter what the Supreme Court decides, Collett said. Given current law and the legislature in the state, Collett said that Minnesota would likely become a “destination state” for abortions in a post-Roe world. Abortion is highly protected in Minnesota, and efforts are underway to make the procedure even more widely available in the state, she said. Under the Minnesota Constitution, there is a right — independent of the Roe v. Wade decision — for a woman to have an abortion that is equal to the right to bring her pregnancy to term. Employing the Equal Protection Clause, the state has established that if the state funds prenatal care, it must also fund abortions. “In other words, the right to help pregnant women is held hostage to the right to support women ending their pregnancies,” said Collett. A Roe v. Wade reversal would not affect those policies. Moreover, in a legal battle currently underway in Ramsey County, abortion advocates are pushing for the right to abortion to encompass the right to not obtain parental consent, not to report adverse effects of abortion, not to report demographics and not to provide women with an informed consent disclosure. If abortion advocates succeed, Minnesota “will become the most radical state in the union,” Collett said. Franey, whose work as director of Abria Pregnancy Resources has helped 1,675 women in its St. Paul and Minneapolis locations in 2020 alone, offered insights into how to support pregnant women and their babies in this crucial time. Abria is one of 86 pregnancy resource centers in the state, with 30 in the metro area. They operate autonomously, most relying solely on private donations, to provide women with the support and resources they need to choose to give their baby life. Changes to how women are seeking and obtaining abortions present challenges to Abria’s work, Franey said. More than half of abortions in Minnesota are now performed via mifepristone or RU-486, also known as “the abortion pill.” However, the pill is only effective as an abortifacient in early pregnancy, and thus the window of time to reach women before they take the pill is increasingly narrow. The pill is available by mail-order in any state, meaning that a woman never has to see a provider to obtain an abortion. This greatly reduces the opportunities for pregnancy resource centers to intervene and inform a woman of her choices, Franey said. With women accessing abortions through Google searches, the need for effective digital marketing of pregnancy resource center services is becoming increasingly vital, she said.
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 11B
FOCUSONFAITH SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER MICHAEL CREAGAN
Be near to the Eucharist On Corpus Christi June 19, the bishops of the United States are kicking off a National Eucharistic Revival. It is no secret that some Catholics have lost a joyful zeal for the Eucharist. Some have even given up the practice of the faith. Visit the website eucharisticrevival.org for more information on this effort and for a virtual class offered by Crookston Bishop Andrew Cozzens. This Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a wonderful opportunity for each of us to rekindle our joy in the Eucharist. It is easy for us to take such a gift for granted. The world offers many things with the empty promise of filling us. Sometimes we turn to material goods, pleasure, honor or power to be filled. Yet no amount of time spent scrolling the internet, buying things or whatever pleasure the world offers can satisfy us. These things only leave us empty in the end. This is because we are made for God and only God can fill us. Luke’s Gospel recounting the feeding of the 5,000 makes this clear. The crowds ate, were satisfied and there were even baskets filled with leftovers. The Mass will satisfy us as well. Receiving Jesus in the Eucharist will fill us and give us the grace to radiate his love. I am reminded of the example of the late Father Alphonse Kubat (1916-2006). Father Kubat served in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis the last 36 years of his life. Many will remember
him as pastor of Most Holy Trinity, Veseli, and then as a chaplain at the Minneapolis Veterans Hospital working tirelessly just four months before he died. Prior to that he was a priest in Communist Czechoslovakia and suffered greatly. Father Kubat was imprisoned in the 1950s for the simple crime of being Catholic. The Communist government was trying to crush the Church and imprisoned many priests. Father Kubat told me how he would celebrate Mass secretly using a spoon as his chalice and giving the Eucharist to other prisoners by rolling it up in cigarette paper. Meeting Father Kubat was clearly meeting someone who knows Jesus. He was filled with joy and love. In many ways Father Kubat could have been bitter for having suffered so many years and really losing the best years of his life. After he escaped from Czechoslovakia during “Prague Spring” in 1968, he never saw his mother again and would only see his sister when the Iron Curtain collapsed in 1990. Yet, he was not bitter. Instead, he was one of the most joyful people I have ever met. He allowed himself to be near to Jesus in the Eucharist, celebrating Mass each day and spending periods of time in quiet adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. He shared that joy with many people, including the sick he visited in later years while serving as a chaplain. Let us rekindle our joy and amazement in the gift of the Eucharist. Spending time in eucharistic adoration and even attending some Masses during the week, in addition to Sunday, are wonderful ways to remain near to the Lord and be fed.
DAILY Scriptures
Father Creagan is the pastor of St. Joseph in West St. Paul and currently the only Catholic chaplain for the Minnesota Army National Guard.
Friday, June 24 Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Ez 34:11-16 Rom 5:5b-11 Lk 15:3-7
FAITH FUNDAMENTALS | FATHER MICHAEL VAN SLOUN
Don’t just tie the knot, weave a rope
As an engaged couple prepares to celebrate the sacrament of marriage, an important part of the process is the preparation of their wedding liturgy. Many parishes encourage the couple to select the Scripture readings, and suggestions are provided by the Lectionary, the liturgical book with the readings for Mass, as well as most Catholic marriage preparation booklets. I make a special offer to couples: “If you have another Scripture text not included on the recommended list that has special meaning for you, I would be glad to consider it.” One couple requested Ecclesiastes 4:9a, 10, 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is part of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament, and it contains a short passage with some sensible, somewhat obscure, advice on companionship and cooperation between fellow workers. Several of the verses, particularly the image of the three-ply cord, can be reinterpreted to apply to marriage and the spiritual nature of the relationship between husband and wife. It begins with a statement of the obvious: “Two are better than one” (Eccl 4:9a). For those called by God to the vocation of marriage, it is better to be united to your spouse and enjoy a lifetime of companionship than to live alone. Before meeting, the man and woman were individuals, single strands of rope. When they met, the two ropes drew side-by-side, but they were not connected or pulling together. With conversation and shared experiences, kindnesses exchanged, increasing joy and a deepening friendship, their two ropes began to twist together, loosely at first and more tightly over time. This follows the principles of engineering. If one strand of rope is strong, two equal strands together are stronger, and if the ropes are intertwined their strength increases even more. Examples would be the addition of wires to a cable or strands to a rope, and the strengthening effect of weaving the strands is evident in the steel cables of a suspension bridge or the nylon ropes used for anchors or water skiing. The text goes on to explain: “If one falls, the other will help the
Spouses help each other, particularly when times are tough. Acts of assistance and charity shared day after day tighten the weave of the rope. fallen one. But woe to the solitary person!” (Eccl 4:10). Spouses help each other, particularly when times are tough. Acts of assistance and charity shared day after day tighten the weave of the rope. The goal is for their two strands to become so firmly interlocked that they will never unravel. At the outset the text mentions only two ropes and concludes with an unexpected twist and a wise observation: “A three-ply cord is not easily broken” (Eccl 4:12b). Why three? At first glance a marriage appears to be a two-party relationship between the husband and wife, but there is a third cord — God. Every marriage is a three-way relationship between God, the unseen partner, and the husband and wife, the visible partners. God is the middle cord, the spiritual center of every marriage. God is love (1 Jn 4:8, 16), and when the love of God is the bond between husband and wife, the rope becomes so strong that it can withstand hurricane-force winds and will never fray or come apart. The goal of a Christian marriage is for the three marriage partners to weave a loving relationship. When a husband or wife prays, receives the sacraments, lives uprightly and does good deeds, they draw closer to God, and mysteriously and wondrously, as they grow closer to God, they grow closer to each other. Furthermore, when a husband or wife truly loves their spouse, when they are patient, kind, trusting, modest, humble, polite, concerned, gentle, selfcontrolled, compassionate, forgiving, truthful and virtuous (see 1 Cor 13:4-6, 13), they grow closer to each other, and mysteriously and wondrously, as they grow closer to each other, they grow closer to God. Some say that marriage is about “tying the knot,” but it might be better explained spiritually as “weaving a rope” — a three-ply cord. Father Van Sloun is the interim clergy services director for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. This column is part of a series on the sacrament of marriage.
Sunday, June 19 Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Gn 14:18-20 1 Cor 11:23-26 Lk 9:11b-17 Monday, June 20 2 Kgs 17:5-8, 13-15a, 18 Mt 7:1-5 Tuesday, June 21 St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious 2 Kgs 19:9b-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36 Mt 7:6, 12-14 Wednesday, June 22 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3 Mt 7:15-20 Thursday, June 23 Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist Is 49:1-6 Acts 13:22-26 Lk 1:57-66, 80
Saturday, June 25 Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 Lk 2:41-51 Sunday, June 26 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 19:16b, 19-21 Gal 5:1, 13-18 Lk 9:51-62 Monday, June 27 Am 2:6-10, 13-16 Mt 8:18-22 Tuesday, June 28 St. Irenaeus, bishop and martyr Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12 Mt 8:23-27 Wednesday, June 29 Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles Acts 12:1-11 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 Mt 16:13-19 Thursday, June 30 Am 7:10-17 Mt 9:1-8 Friday, July 1 Am 8:4-6, 9-12 Mt 9:9-13 Saturday, July 2 Am 9:11-15 Mt 9:14-17 Sunday, July 3 Fourteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time Is 66:10-14c Gal 6:14-18 Lk 10:1-12, 17-20
KNOW the SAINTS ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA (1568–1591) Born to a noble Italian family, Aloysius served as a page in Spain and Italy. His father opposed a religious vocation, planning instead a military career for his oldest son. But Aloysius joined the Jesuits in Rome in 1585, taking his vows two years later. His health had been compromised by kidney disease, but he served in a Jesuit hospital opened in Rome when plague struck the city. He died of plague while ministering to the sick. St. Robert Bellarmine, his spiritual director, said the young Jesuit’s austere religious practices and penances were so extreme that others should not follow them. Canonized in 1726, Aloysius later was declared protector of young students and patron saint of Catholic youth. His feast is June 21. — Catholic News Service
12B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
JUNE 16, 2022
COMMENTARY TWENTY SOMETHING | CHRISTINA CAPECCHI
Feminine, modest: a better swimsuit
For years, Catherine Huss’ twin passions were evident: faith and fashion. The 30-year-old Catholic never felt that her faith was at odds with her penchant for apparel. But the career path she projected for herself did appear lonely. She wasn’t aware of any other Catholic fashion designers. “I didn’t see anyone doing it,” said Catherine, who grew up in Coon Rapids and attended Epiphany, a vibrant suburban parish. “That became a big source of motivation: ‘Alright, I guess I have to.’” Catherine shuttled between two campuses in St. Paul, studying Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas and apparel design at St. Catherine University. The acclaimed Catholic Studies program steeped her in the Church’s rich tradition of faith and reason. Meanwhile, her sense of social justice was sparked by lively classroom discussions about ethical clothing production and human dignity. Studying in Rome for a semester through the Catholic Studies program confirmed her desire to blaze a new trail. “I had this interesting takeaway about how in Rome there’s a church or two on every block and then there will be a fashion house right next to the church. They’re sharing a wall!” she said. “So, I had this phrase: ‘Chiesa to Marchesa.’ Church to Marchesa, a famous fashion designer. It was a funny juxtaposition — but also a God wink or an affirmation, God saying, ‘Catherine, I see you and I hear the desires of your heart, and I’m with you in it.’” After college, Catherine relocated to California to work in the fashion industry. The free time provided while quarantining during COVID-19 inspired her to finally make her dreams a reality and launch a
SIMPLE HOLINESS | KATE SOUCHERAY
The Holy Spirit fully alive
We just experienced Pentecost in our Catholic Christian faith, which is the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the followers of Christ. Originally, the feast day signified the coming of the Spirit as tongues of fire upon the frightened, discouraged followers of Jesus, as they huddled together unaware of what their next move should be. They were followers of Jesus and they allowed him to lead them. Now that he had ascended to the Father, they felt so alone, lost and unsure. How often do we feel like that? Becoming fully an adult, especially an adult with a mature faith life, signifies that we are prepared and ready to take the lead, to move to the front of the line and to provide guidance for those who follow after us. Rarely do we feel ready for such a position, even if we find ourselves in such a situation. We may look around and wonder who will provide direction and inspiration for us. Hopefully, as adults, we have gained the wisdom and insight to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice in our head and our heart and have a deep, accurate awareness of what that next step should be. There is a saying, “Just do the next right thing.” If we can take each day, dedicate ourselves to doing the next right thing, to making the next right choice, we can have confidence we are following the way of Jesus, who always
swimsuit line. She named it Siena and Co. “This has been a desire I’ve had since I was young, and what it really took was me taking that first step — pursuing it,” Catherine said. “You can’t move a parked car. God is everything and does everything, but he also needs our cooperation.” For her first collection, The Classics Collection, she strove for simple elegance, designing black swimsuits that neither revealed too much nor too little, honoring the female figure in a demure, stately way. A high-waisted swim skirt. A wrap top with a skirt. A classic swim dress. They’re all made with sustainable materials, sewn by workers paid a fair wage. Last fall she launched a Kickstarter campaign that functioned as pre-orders for her debut collection. Her goal for the 30-day campaign was $30,000. “God is going to keep the doors open or he’s going to close them,” she thought. “It was very affirming to reach the goal. ‘Yes, people want this!’” It would take time for those pre-orders to be processed, delayed by supply issues, but the swimsuits — about 200 orders — were shipped in May. Catherine’s day job, working on a contract basis for an apparel company, recently ended, and now she’s determining whether she can turn Siena and Co. into a full-time job — her dream. She’s eager to design new collections, introducing color and designing cover-ups. A driving force is her desire to uphold the dignity of each person. “If you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’re less worried about what you’re wearing and therefore can be more present to others around you.” As a single Catholic, Catherine knows what it’s like to feel uncomfortable in a swimsuit. There were social gatherings she skipped for that reason. “Before I made my swimsuits, I would be self-conscious: ‘There are going to be men in this hot tub and you’re very close together.’” She hopes her swimsuits can empower other women this summer. “Zoom out and remember where your identity lies,” she said. “How we look in a swimsuit doesn’t matter to the people who love us. They just want to be with you.” Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.
provided the next right step for his apostles and disciples, even when it meant going to the cross. Jesus did not compromise his message, and neither should we. We must know who we are as Catholic Christians, which is found in our Catholic identity, and then follow the Catholic doctrine, which is found in the Catholic social teachings. These teachings ideally help us develop critical thinking skills, which in turn, lead to life leadership skills, which help us to become a virtuous person. If we refuse to compromise, we will likely find ourselves on the outside of a group, due to our willingness to speak up and stand firmly for the defense of our faith. Catholic Christians have a beautiful witness in the over 10,000 saints who have been canonized. We should be able to identify someone with whom we resonate and learn more about them and their courageous acts on behalf of the faith. We are a faith that is celebrated in community. It is this communal aspect that we are encouraged to facilitate and build each day. During this first month of summer, make a commitment to attend Mass each week, even if you are on vacation. Make time for personal prayer every day. Throughout this month, read an inspirational book to contemplate the sacraments, a book about the life of your chosen saint, or take time with our Lord in the adoration chapel. We are the people who are bringing Christ into the world in which we live. We must make a concerted effort to demonstrate that the Holy Spirit is fully alive within us and to shine in our world today. Be a beacon of light wherever you go and encourage others to live their faith courageously. Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist emeritus and a member of St. Ambrose in Woodbury.
The Catholic Spirit asked readers to share a memory from their first Communion or confirmation and what that means for them now. Readers also were encouraged to share, “What does it mean to you to truly ‘create a culture of life’?” in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision expected on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. A selection of responses: I had two first Communions. My family and I were parishioners in St. Columba parish in St. Paul in the early to middle 1950s. At that time, St. Columba had two first Communions: A private Communion for the second-graders — a very low-key event for the child and his/her immediate family. The parents/ immediate family were responsible for preparing their second-grader to receive first Communion. There was no announcement made in the Sunday bulletin or from the pulpit. When the child was deemed ready, he/she went up for Communion, accompanied by the family. The public Communion was for the third-graders: boys in suits, girls in white dress/veil. I went to kindergarten through second grade at St. Columba so I had private Communion there. The next year we moved into St. Mark’s parish in St. Paul for my third grade and had my traditional Communion, wearing white dress/veil. I liked the private Communion better: My parents, both sets of grandparents and my godparents were all involved in preparing me to receive the Lord Jesus for the first time. It was intensely personal. I was so blessed to have six adults in my immediate family circle who lived and loved their Catholic faith and the sacraments and joyously shared that faith with me. Maureen O’Brien St. Louis King of France, St. Paul My family lived in the Midway area of St. Paul and we belonged to St. Columba parish, where I attended grade school. I made my first Communion in 1942, and in the fourth grade, we made our solemn Communion. It was cloudy and starting to rain as we lined up to walk in procession to the church. We went in the side entrance of the school, down steps to a tunnel that led us under the boys’ playground and into the lower church. The tunnel was dark, with only a couple of light bulbs along the way. We went up the steps to the upper main altar. The girls sat on one side of the church in white dresses and veils; the boys sat on the other side, wearing suits and ties. We knelt as we received Communion. One song I remember during the Mass was “Jesus, Jesus, Come to Me.” Afterwards, pictures were taken, and then it was over. Kathleen (McFadden) Anderson St. Joseph, West St. Paul A culture of life means we support those things that contribute to quality of life: housing, healthcare and education, just to name a few. It means paying people a living wage. It means supporting commonsense gun laws that could reduce the number of deaths by firearms, whether they are unintentional or suicides. It means shifting from a model of criminal punishment to restorative justice, working to rehabilitate people who have broken a law and not continue to punish them after they’ve served their time. It means showing mercy and rejecting the death penalty. It’s fine to defend unborn babies, but if you turn your back on them the minute they take their first breath, if you blame them for being poor, if you make them feel like the “other” vs. helping them feel a sense of belonging, then you have failed at respecting life from conception until natural death. Leah Kondes Our Lady of Peace, Minneapolis
COMMENTARY
JUNE 16, 2022
ALREADY/NOT YET | JONATHAN LIEDL
Enhancing our daily awareness of this concrete, tangible fact may be the foothold we need to experience and live SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA each moment of our lives as meaningful.
I am, therefore ARCH 9, 2017 • I am loved
eal challenges. CLifeatcan hobelidifficult. cs arItecancabelled tfor o these resprofound pondtruths . to register amid our daily toil. True as they are, they sometimes seem
OTECT LIFE & MAN DIGNITY
confusing. It can be painful. And unimpactful, preserved in a realm of ideas that lie sometimes — and maybe worst beyond how we subjectively experience life. We can of all — it can be experienced look to them for inspiration as we wade through the as something drab and dreary; mundane and the trivial, but how can we allow them insignificant, empty and without to touch us, to transform not just our knowledge and ultimate meaning — which, in turn, our destiny, but also our outlook and our attitude? makes all the various trials and Counterintuitive as it may sound, perhaps the tribulations we experience on a daily basis all the more solution is to lean more intensely into our own difficult to bear. experiences of difficulty; and in doing so, to be Not because these difficulties, the normal, routine aware not so much of the character of the difficulty I ones, are by some objective measure really all that experience, but instead of the fact that it is happening difficult. Working a dull nine-to-five, for instance, does to me. To a “me” that exists, and yet did not bring not really compare on theleaders, Richter Scaleand of difficulty itself into existence. hops, dynamic Church 1,000+ Catholics from to suffering poverty or persecution. But because the We tend to take this mystery of our being for crisis of meaning any foundation r a dayunderlying of inspiration and removes advocacy at our State Capitol. granted. But, if I am attentive to my concrete for making these little difficulties and inconveniences experience of existing — made all the more clear in ts 22-and-under FREE! issues,it hear seem anything otherthanLearn utterlythe pointless, also dynamic the midst of my suffering — I cannot help but run into makes them all the more speakers, intolerable. and There’s a reason meet your legislators. something else: the fact of God’s creative, sustaining, nch included with so many of the existentialist writers of the 20th fulfilling love for me. For to say “I am” is also to say century depicted thiskindSee of listlessness and emptiness State the newly renovated Capitol! “therefore I am loved,” since I do not create myself, as most pronounced in the tedium of office work and but am only here because God has made me for and household affairs. out of love. And if I am loved by God, a God who is Of course, our Christian faith speaks some powerful in control, then my entire life — including whatever truths into the midst of this cloud of despondency: trials or tribulations I face, however big or small — is An all-powerful, all-loving God created the universe, inherently meaningful. and everything in it — including us — is good and “I am, therefore I am loved.” Enhancing our daily meaningful; Jesus’ intervention into time and space awareness of this concrete, tangible fact may be the redeemed from futility and hopelessness not only our foothold we need to experience and live each moment human condition, but also our human pursuits and of lives asS meaningful. A R C H B I S H O P B E R N A R D H E B D A B I S H O P A N D REour W CO ZZEN GLORIA PURIVS affairs; and God has called each and every one of us Black Catholics United for Life of Saint Paul & Minneapolis to take part in a unique andArchdiocese meaningful mission in Liedl, a Twin Cities resident, is the senior editor of building his kingdom through our lives and actions. the National Catholic Register and a graduate student in theology at The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity. But even as believing Christians, it can be difficult
s is our moment. Protecting Let’s go! INSIDE THE CAPITOL | MCC
is no political will to find common ground to pass them. Therefore, to take steps to protect students now, MCC has urged Gov. Tim Walz to call a special session and pass Safe Schools legislation. This need is urgent. There were 22 shooting incidents in K-12 schools across the country so far in 2022 and 119 since 2018. The Safe Schools legislation, HF 4005 / SF 3380, has bipartisan support. It creates SPONSORS: Guns are claiming the a funding stream for all schools that can be used for security personnel, building lives of U.S. children enhancements, violence prevention at alarming rates. It programs, and mental health initiatives. is the second leading cause of death for our Virtuous people need fewer laws, but kids. We’re just halfway the reality is, this permissive society has through 2022 and become an incubator for alienation, already firearms have mental illness, spiritual poverty and claimed the lives of over other pathologies. It breeds nihilistic 700 children under age killers. Undoubtedly, people need help 19, including the 19 who were recently before they reach such a dark place. In killed by an 18-year-old in a shooting at a conjunction with the long-term project school in Uvalde, Texas. of creating a virtuous society in which families and thereby individuals flourish, The Church takes an all-of-the-above MCC is calling for more immediate safety approach to combating gun violence, reforms such as Safe Schools legislation. as there is no ultimate solution to the Go to mncatholic.org/actioncenter complex problem. Because rights come today to tell legislators they must pass with responsibilities, there are commonSafe Schools legislation. sense safety reforms that need to be part of the solution. At the state level, there are various gun safety proposals “Inside the Capitol” is an update from that the Minnesota Catholic Conference Minnesota Catholic Conference staff during supports, such as red flag laws, but there the legislative session.
children nd register at CatholicsAtTheCapitol.org
STS:
at school
N O T I C E
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13B
LETTERS Death penalty In response to death penalty positions in your May 26 issue calling for Supreme Court Justices Alito, Thomas, Roberts, Kavanaugh and Coney Barrett to be denied Communion for their stand on the death penalty, I submit that we read and follow God’s instructions rather than our personal feelings. God places such a high value on human life that he commands the death penalty for those who murder, (not to be confused with justifiable killing). In fact, the death penalty is the only commandment that is repeated in all five books of the Torah. I think that says something about God’s position on the subject. (Gen 9:5-6; Exodus 21:12-14, 28-29; Leviticus 24:17. 21; Numbers 35:16-21, 29-33; Deuteronomy 19:11-13). Lee Burker, St. Margaret Mary, Golden Valley
Abortion reality The possible overturning of Roe v. Wade, and giving the abortion decision back to the states, might help us to admit what abortion really is. It is not only torturing and killing living human babies, but also insulting them by calling their deaths health care. Honesty is needed. Death should cause, and require, grieving. Pre-born babies are too small and helpless to fight for themselves against the selfishness exhibited by our forgetting or denying where we came from. We need to thank God, and our mothers, and pass on what we have been given: life. The Silver Rule, the other side of the Golden Rule, says, “Do not do to others what you would not want done to you.” Catherine Carlson, St. Peter, Forest Lake Share your perspective by emailing TheCatholicSpirit@ Please limit your letter to the editor to 150 words and include your parish and phone number. The Commentary pages do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. archspm.org.
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THE GLENN HOPKINS
14B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
’ I
JUNE 16, 2022
Why I am Catholic Catholic By Paul Esch
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
m Catholic because, as Francis Thompson once wrote, the
my life who have made a significant impact on me. One
“Hound of Heaven” keeps finding me. And I keep finding
such person gave me a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic
him. Like a great fisherman, he keeps catching me and
Church when I wasn’t feeling too close to our Church. What
putting me in his ark. I keep catching him, too. Like a good
a treasure St. John Paul II left for us!
shepherd, he keeps calling me and I keep calling back to him.
He showers me with graces at daily Mass, the source and
He keeps showering me with blessings, too many to recount
summit of our lives, especially when times are tough. Jesus’
here in this small space, but let me try to explain.
words in the Gospels are like guardrails to keep me rolling
He put me into a loving Catholic family, and my parents
down the middle of the lane. He gave me a devotion to his
made sure I was baptized and took me to Corpus Christi
mother, Mary. I’ve been praying the mysteries of the rosary
church in Roseville for my first Communion. I found him at
since I was a youth. Studying the Bible with other Catholic
the Communion rail as Father Roy Lepak presided.
men from my parish over the years has called me to deepen
They provided me with a K-12 Catholic education. After
receiving a new name and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in confirmation, I strayed as a teenager. But with the help of a dear friend, a senior high school retreat at Dunrovin Retreat Center and faithful people at the St. Paul Catholic Youth Center, I came to my senses. He found me in the sacrament of confession, and he gave me the opportunity to work in youth ministry during a key period of my life with one of the first Blitz teams, now called the National Evangelization Teams (NET Ministries of West St. Paul). At the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, I had the privilege of studying with Father Lepak and many other professors of theology, philosophy and English. These brilliant scholars and priests helped me recover my Catholic faith and rescued me from what Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger called the “dictatorship of relativism … the greatest problem of our time.” Studying Catholic encyclicals and the New and Old Testaments helped me appreciate the gold mine that is our faith. Studying the writings of great doctors of the Church, such as St. Thomas Aquinas, helped me think more clearly and appreciate the goodness, beauty and truth of our faith, and prevented me from falling into a dark pit. He keeps sending gifted people and fellow Catholics into
my Catholic faith. He caught me in awe with eucharistic adoration at the beautiful Demontreville Jesuit Retreat House in Lake Elmo. The retreats really do have a cumulative effect. Through the sacrament of marriage, my loving spouse and our beautiful son, he blessed us with a mission to raise a Catholic family and many opportunities to serve him. We enjoy the rich heritage of our Church, which is one, holy, Catholic and apostolic, despite occasional signs to the contrary. What a joyful and meaningful gift our Catholic faith is to help us along our way. Esch, 61, and his wife, Debbie, are active members of Transfiguration in Oakdale. They have an adult son living in Boston. A graduate of the University of St. Thomas, Esch is a human resources manager and musician. His performance schedule can be found at pauleschmusic.com and on social media. Esch is also a member of the national American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers” and St. Joseph Business Guild based in North St. Paul. “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 “Why I am Catholic” in the subject line.
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 15B
CALENDAR NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL Eucharistic Revival Procession – June 19: 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. The U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced a three-year Eucharistic Revival with the kick off on Corpus Christi Sunday and concluding with a National Eucharistic Congress in 2024. To mark the beginning of the Revival locally, join in a eucharistic procession around the Cathedral following the 10 a.m. Mass. Ice cream social afterward in the Cathedral courtyard.
PARISH EVENTS St. Peter’s Big Garage Sale — June 16-18: St. Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake. Find treasures galore. 8 a.m.–7 p.m. June 16-17; 8 a.m.–noon June 18. $5 “bag sale” June 18. Proceeds benefit St. Peter’s Faith Formation and Youth Ministry programs. More information at stpeterfl.org/garage-sale.
Center, 16385 St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. Theme: “Hope Rising; Revisioning Our Dream.” Scheduled time and open time, confession, anointing, Mass, Holy Hour and prayer sessions. franciscanretreats.net
1900 111th Ave. NW, Coon Rapids. Meet in Charity Room. Contact: Teresa Walker, OFS 763-553-1343 or Patti Urick, OFS 763-754-3062. queenofpeaceregion.org/coon-rapids-st-alphonsa
Healing Mass with Fr. Jim Livingston — June 24: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul, 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd. NE, Ham Lake. Find physical, spiritual or emotional healing. Mass followed by prayer. churchofsaintpaul.com/healing-mass
The Blessed Solanus Casey Pilgrimage — July 30: 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m. A walking pilgrimage, for the Feast of Blessed Solanus Casey, to St. Michael, 611 Third St. S., Stillwater, where he was confirmed. Full beginning at St. Peter, 2600 N. Margaret St., North St. Paul, or an afternoon option beginning in Stillwater. More details: moderncatholicpilgrim.com/bl-solanus.
Rural Life Mass — June 26: 1:30 p.m. Jack and Deb Lorentz family farm, 12670 270th St. E., Cannon Falls. Host parish: St. Pius V, Cannon Falls. Celebrant: Archbishop Bernard Hebda. Enjoy a box lunch and hotdogs following Mass (free will offering), plus music, children’s activities and games. More details and directions: archspm.org/rural-life-sunday-2. Women’s Silent Midweek Retreat — July 12-14: Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. Focus on a God who loves unconditionally. Suggested donation: $210, includes $50 deposit. kingshouse.com Healing Retreat for Men and Women — July 15-17: Christ the King Retreat Center, 621 First Ave. S., Buffalo. “Healing Through the Great Parables of Jesus” with Fr. Matt Linn. Suggested donation: $175. kingshouse.com
IHM 75th Anniversary Block Party — June 25: 10 a.m.–8:00 p.m. at IHM, 13505 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka. Multiple events: 5K Run/Walk, inflatables, food trucks, Teddy Bear Band, bingo, classic car show, adult Corn Hole tournament, beer garden, Rich and the Resistors (MN Viking House Band). ihm-cc.org
Taize prayer — Third Fridays: 7–9 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. Simple chants based on Scripture and periods of silence. Refreshments follow. benedictinecenter.org Order Franciscans Secular (OFS) Third Sundays: 2–4 p.m. at St. Leonard of Port Maurice, 3949 Clinton Ave. S., Minneapolis. Follow the example of St. Francis. 651-724-1348
ONGOING GROUPS Natural Family Planning (NFP) — Church approved methods on achieving or postponing pregnancy while embracing the beauty of God’s gift of sexuality. Complete list of classes offered throughout the archdiocese at archspm.org/family or call 651-291-4489.
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. 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 CathSpFL-C-2022.qxp_Layout 1 1/25/22 12:31 PM Pa
Restorative Support for Victim/Survivor — Monthly: 6:30–8 p.m. via Zoom. Victim/Survivor Support Group for those Abused by Clergy as Adults — First Mondays; Support Group for Relatives or Friends of Victims of Clergy Sexual Abuse — Second Mondays; Victim/Survivor Support Group — Third Mondays; Survivor Peace Circle — Third Tuesdays; Support Group for Men who have been Sexually Abused by Clergy/ Religious — Fourth Wednesdays. More information at archspm.org/healing. Questions? Contact Paula Kaempffer, Outreach Coordinator for Restorative Justice and Abuse Prevention, 651-291-4429.
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Terra Nostra/Our Earth Art Exhibit — Now-July 4: 6–8:30 p.m. at The Basilica of St. Mary, 88 North 17th Street, Minneapolis. Join Catholic Artists for Environmental Justice for an art exhibit with 44 works, in a wide variety of media, cherishing the earth as common home. mary.org
Monthly Online Evening Prayer — June 28: 7–8 p.m. School Sisters of Notre Dame (SSND) invite young adults age 18 and older to online evening prayer, based on the Liturgy of the Hours. More information (and registration for the Zoom links) at ssnd.org/events.
Silent Retreat (Men and Women) — June 23-26: Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality
“Come and See” exploring life as a Secular Franciscan — June 26: 2–4 p.m. at Epiphany,
Monstrance photo credit: SIDNEY DE ALMEIDA | iSTOCK PHOTO
Summer VBS - Living Water — July 25-28: 9 a.m -noon at St. William, 6120 5th St. NE, Fridley. Four fun and faith-filled days for children. Crafts, music, snack, Bible stories and games. Ages 3-11. Call 763-571-5600 with questions. chofstwilliams.com
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16B • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
JUNE 16, 2022
THELASTWORD
‘The highest honor’ Twin Cities Ojibwe artist’s work selected for display at U.S. Embassy to Holy See By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
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ith a needle and thread and painstaking attention, Jessica Gokey “paints” images of flora and fauna, two tiny beads at a time. As she’s developed her art over the past decade, her elaborate work has earned her a Minnesota Historical Society fellowship and attracted private collectors. Now it’s garnered its highest accolade yet: a place in the U.S. Embassy to Vatican City. “It’s the highest honor,” said Gokey, 36, who lives and works in Inver Grove Heights. “It’s so awesome. … The pope as a leader, he might actually lay eyes on my artwork.” The piece that will be displayed at the embassy is called “A Dance with Florals,” and it features a blue waterlily surrounded by other blooms and juniper. She created it specifically for the embassy, after Ambassador to the Holy See Joe Donnelly, who was confirmed to the role in January, expressed interest in a similar piece on her website that she had already sold, she said. Gokey, who is from the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe near Hayward, Wisconsin, roots her art in traditional Ojibwe beadwork. A lifelong artist, she began working with beads a decade ago. A 2013 fellowship at the Minnesota Historical Society was pivotal for her art, she said. For six months, she studied traditional beadwork in the MHS collection. “I’m a selftaught beader,” she said. “Everything was research: online, museum collections, studying photos, studying historic photos, talking to elders, talking to mentors, to try to figure out how to bead, how to do the traditional designs.” The fellowship’s deep dive into traditional beadwork inspired new techniques in her own work, she said, as she shifted from simple, “flat” images to more realistic designs with color gradation and iridescence. She moved to the Twin Cities following the fellowship. A former game warden in Hayward for the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Gokey draws on her knowledge of plants and animals and behavior she’s observed. One of her works, “Companions,” was inspired by a male and female otter she once watched play. She began beading when she was a game warden as a “creative outlet,” she said. “I was protecting nature and I’ve always had an interest in florals and plants.” Now it’s her full-time work. She wakes at 3 a.m. to begin beading, often for 10 hours a day. One piece takes weeks to months to complete. She uses Czech seed beads and, for most of her works, a high-quality wool from Teton Trade Cloth, a company that specializes in Native American textiles. She first draws the design on stitch-and-tear paper, which guides her beading and is removed when the piece is finished. When she began beading, most of her work was for
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Jessica Gokey creates images of flowers and wildlife with small beads, and will have one of her pieces on display at the U.S. Embassy to Vatican City.
COURTESY JESSICA GOKEY
AB0VE “A Dance with Florals,” will be on display at the embassy; a closeup of her beadwork on that piece of art (inset). RIGHT An example of Gokey’s wildlife art is called “Winter Maker Stag.” Ojibwe regalia, bags or other utilitarian items people could wear, she said. Now she works on pieces that are meant to be framed for the wall. She’s sold most of her work to private collectors. Her piece “Native Food Table Accent” is on exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society, and is part of its permanent collection. She’s also exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Among the Ojibwe people, “there’s a lot of beaders,” Gokey said, “but not a lot of beaders do what I do. I consider my beadwork a fine art.” One of her works in progress, “Generational Memories,” aims to express her belief that her talent has been handed down through her ancestors through DNA. Gokey announced May 23 on her website, jessicaleighgokey.com, that “A Dance with Florals” had been selected for display at the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See through Art in the Embassies, a cultural program of the U.S. State Department. “US Ambassador Joe Donnelly and Mrs. Donnelly chose Jessica’s work to be displayed in the Embassy in Rome for the duration of
his tenure as US Ambassador to the Vatican,” the news release stated. The artwork shipped in late May and is expected to be on display in an embassy reception room. It will be on loan for two to three years, Gokey said. She plans to visit the Vatican to see it, and she said it’s especially meaningful that her art was chosen for the Vatican embassy because of its proximity to the Vatican Museums’ world-renowned art collection. “I strive to show the world that traditional Ojibwe beadwork or just traditional Native American beadwork should be held as high as any other type of art today. Most people look at it as a craft or folk art, but I consider it a fine art,” she said. “To have it in a place like the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican, to actually be there and have world leaders and everyone see my art is just amazing — not to mention all the history of art in the Vatican. I just want to cry. I can’t wait to go see it.”
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 1C
ORDINATION
PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Archbishop Bernard Hebda addresses the five ordinands — Fathers John Utecht, left, Michael Selenski, Joseph Nguyen, Connor McGinnis and Samuel Gilbertson — during the priest ordination Mass May 28 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
Five men respond to God’s invitation to priesthood
I
n every generation, Jesus calls “very ordinary men” to serve as his priests, to hold his treasure in earthen vessels, and to dispense that treasure with the magnanimity and mercy “that we see time and time again” in Jesus’ ministry, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said in his ordination Mass homily May 28.
In his gentleness, the Lord invites, but never compels, he said. “Today we celebrate the free response to that invitation of five sons of this archdiocese, five men who have been inspired to generosity by your witness, the witness given day after day and week after week in the parishes and schools of this local Church,” he said. In a two-hour liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Archbishop Hebda ordained Father Samuel
Father Samuel Gilbertson, left, smiles at Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates of Des Moines after blessing him at the conclusion of the ordination Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul May 28. Looking on, from left, are newly ordained Fathers Connor McGinnis, Joseph Nguyen, Michael Selenski and John Utecht.
Gilbertson, Father Connor McGinnis, Father Joseph Nguyen, Father Michael Selenski and Father John Utecht the newest priests of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, before a full congregation of their family, friends, parishioners and other well-wishers. In the following pages, the men — in their 20s and 30s — share how they recognized the call to priesthood, how seminary formation has shaped them, and what they most look forward to in their ministry. — The Catholic Spirit
Father John Utecht pledges respect and obedience to Archbishop Bernard Hebda during the ordination Mass in what is known as the Promise of the Elect.
2C • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
ORDINATION
JUNE 16, 2022
JUNE 16, 2022
ORDINATION
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3C
Father McGinnis’ vocation roots stretch back to Catholic grade school By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
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ather Connor McGinnis knows exactly where his path to the priesthood began — at All Saints in Lakeville. “That’s been my home parish from baptism up until today,” said Father McGinnis, who at age 25 is the youngest priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He also attended All Saints Catholic School from kindergarten through eighth grade, which he called “one of the great blessings of my life.” “I just loved it there,” he said. “It was a wonderful place to be. I was able to form some solid friendships. There’s a group of about 10 of us that still get together every now and then. Out of those 10, eight of us have known each other since kindergarten. … Being able to form lifelong friendships there was really wonderful.” The son of Karl Zgoda and Sharon McGinnis, Father McGinnis said none of his friends are surprised that he decided to become a priest, as he had talked about it throughout his time in grade school. The first time he remembers feeling the call was in third or fourth grade. At that time, Bishop Lee Piché was the pastor of All Saints, and Father Robert Pish also was assigned there. Father McGinnis and Father Pish share the same birthday, Sept. 21, which helped forge a bond between the two. “By the time Father Pish moved on
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
to his next assignment (at The St. Paul Seminary), I just had this really strong conviction that I was called to priesthood,” Father McGinnis said. “I don’t think I could have even articulated why. But, it was just like, ‘I think this is what I’m supposed to be doing.’ And, that (conviction) has stayed constant since then. There really wasn’t much wavering.” In 2008, Father Thomas Wilson became pastor of All Saints after serving seven years as vocations director for the archdiocese. Father McGinnis got
to know his new pastor better over the years, and the connection grew strong when Father McGinnis had a summer internship at All Saints a few years ago. “He’s been a very constant, very supportive presence throughout,” Father McGinnis said of Father Wilson, who continues to minister as pastor at All Saints. “He’s been very good to me. … I’ve been immensely grateful to have him as my pastor.” After grade school at All Saints, Father McGinnis went on to Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, another
strong formative experience. That was a period when “I started owning my faith and appropriating it to myself,” he said. He started to become “intentionally Catholic.” After he graduated from Holy Angels in 2015, he enrolled at the University of St. Thomas and St. John Vianney College Seminary in the fall. One of the things he has enjoyed — and hopes to carry into his priestly ministry — is the Church’s appeal to the intellect. “I love the intellectual life and the intellectual life the Church has given to us over these past 2,000 years,” he said. “So, I think there’s going to be a strong emphasis on both preaching and teaching in my ministry, and just being able to communicate the basic Gospel message to people in a way that’s convicting, in a way that’s applicable, but then helping them to dive deeper.” He knows that a lot of ideology in contemporary culture runs counter to the Catholic faith, and he hopes to draw on the faith to provide answers to today’s tough questions and issues. For him, it will involve “just digging in to seek out answers, so I can give them to people, edify their faith, strengthen them and then, in effect, provide a foundation to send them out on mission.” As a priest, Father McGinnis is looking forward to having a parish — and parishioners — to serve. He also looks forward to having “people that I can care for, that I can try to cultivate a relationship with God with.”
Restless spirit leads Father Gilbertson to discern priesthood By Joe Ruff The Catholic Spirit
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ife seemed to be falling into place for Father Samuel Gilbertson in the first months after he graduated in May 2015 from Franciscan University in Steubenville with a major in finance and a minor in economics. The Faribault native was living in the Twin Cities and dating a wonderful Catholic woman from Colorado, with an eye toward marriage and family. He was working full time as a product specialist in the life insurance division of an insurance and financial services firm. He enjoyed putting to work what he had learned and the opportunities it presented to help others. There was a lot to look forward to. But as Father Gilbertson prepared for ordination to the priesthood, he described having experienced a growing restlessness he could not brush aside. Home-schooled at Sacred Heart in Faribault (which later joined with Immaculate Conception and St. Lawrence parishes to form Divine Mercy), he greatly enjoyed being involved with the parish and in such ministries as a youth group that assisted younger students with confirmation and an annual retreat. The family’s home school group of more than 40 students held weekly Masses, formed a choir and shared outings. “I remember people saying, ‘Sam, you should be a priest.’ It was quite a compliment.” But his reply was, “Thanks, but no thanks,” he recalled. “There was fear, a barrier in me. I was
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
very Type A, ‘This is my vision, what I want to get out of life.’ So, I wasn’t really open to discovering anything else, because I didn’t really like how that sounded.” Still, the days he spent volunteering at his parish lived strong in his memory. “It drew a lot out of me, it gave me a lot of life,” Father Gilbertson said. He was conflicted. “I was in love. This is what I wanted. But, deep down, there was a restlessness,” he said. Father Gilbertson’s parents, Darrin and Karen Gilbertson, and his five siblings supported him, and several suggested he undertake a 33-day
consecration to Jesus through Mary. With that came the beginning of clarity. “It was after my consecration that I was able to say, ‘I’m really serious. I want to follow your Son,” he said. As he continued dating, he asked: What did Jesus want? “The restlessness came up a lot more,” Father Gilbertson said. “I remember distinctly one day, restlessness bubbling up, I cried out, ‘Lord, what the hell is going on?’” The Lord seemed to reply: “‘Maybe that’s not what I want for you.’ That feeling was very real. It hit me like
a ton of bricks, really. I put on my running shoes, just to blow off some steam. I realized I was not free to make this decision to marry. There was a lot of conversion and grace then,” he said. “I realized I needed time, to step away and give the Lord a little window. That’s really all he needed.” Not long after, he attended a retreat led by Archbishop Bernard Hebda for men discerning the priesthood. He shared his situation with then-Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens, now leader of the Diocese of Crookston, who suggested the Lord was trying to tell him something. The bishop encouraged Father Gilbertson to attend daily Mass to better hear Jesus’ voice. “My prayer was really simple,” Father Gilbertson said. “I just kind of surrendered.” Not feeling a strong desire for the priesthood, he prayed, “But I give you permission to change my desire. I want what you want.” Slowly, Father Gilbertson’s desire changed. “I could see myself being a priest and being really happy, really feeling fulfilled.” He applied for The St. Paul Seminary, was accepted in fall 2016 and now is studying in Rome, where he will spend one more year after ordination to wrap up studies in dogmatic theology with an emphasis on the sacraments. He looks forward to sharing the Lord’s goodness with others, he said. He could do that teaching or taking on other ministries, and only time will tell. “It’s been six years now,” he said of his seminary formation. “But my sense of peace has just grown.”
ORDINA
4C • JUNE 16, 2022
‘True Fathers’: New priests feel gratitude and peace foll By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
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ommy Pham brought about 30 young people to the priest ordination Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul May 28. Pham, 27, a parishioner of St. AnneSt. Joseph Hien in Minneapolis, is president of the local chapter of the Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. About 20,000 young people are part of the movement nationwide, Pham said. “Our mission is to guide youth to become better Christians and better Catholics,” he said, “and also to be contributing members of society.” Father Joseph Nguyen, 26, one of the ordinands, was a member of that youth movement growing up, Pham said. “We really wanted to be here to support him and show him our love and appreciation, to take the next steps for his calling to the priesthood,” he said. Pham, who joined the group at age 7, said he grew up with Father Nguyen and they were altar servers together. “We definitely love him and we are so very excited that he took the steps to the priesthood,” he said, calling Father Nguyen humorous and someone who really loves the Church. Father Nguyen was one of five deacons ordained to the priesthood during Mass that lasted more than two hours. Also ordained priests of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis were Father Samuel Gilbertson, Father Connor McGinnis, Father Michael Selenski and Father John Utecht. More than 2,000 people filled most of the Cathedral on a day that started with light rain but broke into sunshine and light clouds as the 10 a.m. Mass began. Archbishop Bernard Hebda opened his homily with a mention of the recent shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, “that left all of America wounded.” “It was precisely into a world of such darkness that both Christ and his Church were born,” he said. “Our heavenly patron, St. Paul, shared with the Corinthians in this morning’s reading that the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ shines in the hearts of Jesus’ disciples to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God displayed in the face of Christ.” St. Paul understood that those who are willing to preach not themselves, but Jesus, can bring his divine light and encouragement into a hurting world that carries tragedy, the archbishop said. “How wonderful that Christ would have a plan for sustaining that light throughout the centuries,” Archbishop Hebda said, “a plan that would forever remind us of the love that radiated from the face of Christ, a plan that would enable us to remain in his love so that his joy could be in us, and our joy be complete.” Of the five newly ordained priests, Archbishop Hebda said they are young but already men of considerable accomplishments and promise. “No two of them are the same,” he said. “Their interests and experiences are broad. I trust that they, as true fathers, will build up this archdiocesan Church …, touching hearts that by God’s design, they were uniquely created to touch.” During the Mass, mothers of the five priests carried sacred vessels — paten, chalice, cruet and ciboria — to the altar. Billy Utecht, 20, was thrilled for his brother, Father John Utecht. “I know he’s been waiting for this day for a long time, and it’s just so beautiful to see someone who is following the Lord’s call,” he said. “And we’re just so confident that this is what God wants him to do, and I know he is as well.” Utecht, of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, said it’s incredible to think that, through his brother, the Lord will forgive people of their sins, bring people into matrimony, and turn bread and wine into Christ’s flesh and blood. “It’s just really exciting and I’m really proud of him.”
Paul Foley, 34, and his wife, Theresa, attended the Mass with their four children, ages 2, 5, 6 and 8, to support their friend Father Michael Selenski. Paul Foley got to know Father Selenski while studying in Rome in 2008 with the University of St. Thomas’ Catholic Studies program. He also knew Father Selenski in Boston when
Father Selenski served as a FOCUS missionary. “It’s super important to support him and know that he’s got a ton of supporters behind him, and we’re proud of him,” he said of attending the ordination with his family. Foley said his friend will bring the gift of joy to the
ATION
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5C
lowing ordination May 28 at Cathedral
FIRST ASSIGNMENTS The newly ordained priests recently received their first assignments, as follows. uFather Samuel Gilbertson: St. Michael and St. Mary in Stillwater uFather Connor McGinnis: St. Michael in St. Michael uFather Joseph Nguyen: St. John the Baptist in New Brighton u Father Michael Selenski: St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park uFather John Utecht: Our Lady of Grace in Edina
TOP LEFT From left, Fathers Connor McGinnis, Joseph Nguyen, Michael Selenski and John Utecht bless the bishops at the conclusion of the Mass: Archbishop Bernard Hebda, left, Bishop Joseph Williams, Bishop Andrew Cozzens of Crookston and Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates of Des Moines. BOTTOM FAR LEFT Archbishop Hebda ordains Father Samuel Gilbertson through the laying on of hands during the ordination Mass. BOTTOM SECOND FROM LEFT Elizabeth Selenski, right, mother of Father Michael Selenski, applauds during the priest ordination Mass. BOTTOM THIRD FROM LEFT Father Joseph Nguyen, right, greets Father Connor McGinnis during the ordination Mass. PHOTOS BY DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
BOTTOM LEFT Father John Utecht blesses his parents, Margaret and Deacon Joe Utecht, after Mass. enjoy supporting our priests and would just like to show our gratitude for them saying ‘yes.’” Father Michael Reinhardt, 44, parochial vicar of All Saints in Lakeville who was himself ordained at the Cathedral one year ago, said his memory from last May is a bit of a blur but that there was “a fittingness to it.” “We’re never going to be totally prepared, but there’s something real that comes with that grace of orders that I experienced,” he said. “And I’ve been really blessed this past year to exercise that ministry. I’m really excited for these guys.” Following ordination, Father McGinnis, 25, a lifelong parishioner of All Saints in Lakeville, said it was a huge honor and he has “a lot to be grateful for.” “I’ve got a whole cast of people behind me,” he said.
priesthood. “He attracted a lot of people just by his joy and his welcoming nature,” Foley said. “I think he’ll be able to attract a lot of people to our Lord just by his outgoing personality. He was super personable in college.” Barb and Ray Truzinski, both 73, of Nativity in Cleveland, used to live in South St. Paul and then never
traveled the 4 miles to the Cathedral, but now that they live 75 miles away, they have attended about six or seven ordinations. They did not know any of the new priests personally, but, Barb Truzinski said, “We have wonderful priests, and we just love and want to support them.” “It’s important,” she said of the ordination. “We
Father Gilbertson, a Faribault native, said after the ordination that he holds a lot of gratitude in his heart for the gift of Christ’s priesthood and for the new priests to be able to share “a deep peace, a lot of peace and a lot of joy,” he said. “The tears haven’t started running yet but they will,” he said. “A lot of thanks and peace are the emotions that are in my heart right now.”
ORDINATION
6C • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
JUNE 16, 2022
St. John the Baptist factored into Father Nguyen’s path to priesthood By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
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ather Joseph Nguyen’s vocation “came in gradually,” he said, with no “aha moment.” Priesthood had been on his mind since childhood but he said he “never knew what to do with it.” Senior year of high school meant decision time, and he contemplated whether he should go to college and study engineering or something else, or start the path to priesthood. A conversation with a friend from his parish, St. Anne-St. Joseph Hien in Minneapolis, enlightened him about the seminary and what to expect, as his friend was about to enter there on his own path to the priesthood. “He said they train you, they teach you philosophy and they help you become a better man,” Father Nguyen said. If it isn’t a good fit, “you can leave,” he said. So Father Nguyen entered St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, confirming at the end of each year that it was where he should be. Through seminary education and formation, and hands-on experiences with parishioners and priests at several parishes, Father Nguyen said he built the confidence that God was calling him to the priesthood, and experienced a love for working with people at parishes and in ministry, confirming that he would be happy and fulfilled living a priestly life. St. John the Baptist has been a recurring figure since his fourth year of college seminary. For one month, during January term in 2018, he stayed at St. John the Baptist in Savage, the closest parish to his home
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
where, at the time, then-Father Donald DeGrood, served as pastor. Today he is bishop of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The experience of being at the parish for an extended period of time with the example of then-Father DeGrood helped Father Nguyen discern his vocation. “I got to understand the pastoral love, and the love of the people of the parish, and seeing the example of Father DeGrood,” he said. In Savage, he also was able to spend time in the parish school classrooms “learning how things work at a school,” he said. “Sometimes the teacher would ask me to introduce myself, maybe help out with a spelling quiz … but just to be there with the kids and kind of fully
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Congratulations from All Saints Catholic Church on your ordination to the Order of Priesthood.
Fr. Connor McGinnis
Fr. Michael Selenski
All Saints Parishioner
Teaching Seminarian
As your parish family, we are honored to have walked with you on this journey from baptism through ordination.
We have been proud to be your teaching parish these past four years.
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experience … that love of a priest being with his people,” said Father Nguyen, 26. Being at St. John the Baptist built up his desire for the priesthood, Father Nguyen said, in large part by then-Father DeGrood’s example. The seminarian observed the priest’s love for people and his prayerful and fraternal nature. “He’s been very encouraging about priesthood,” he said. One year later, he spent January 2019 at St. John the Baptist in Excelsior, learning from Father Alex Carlson. Father Nguyen said living at the parish, “working with the people, just loving them, being with them was also a very great help for me.” Halfway through Father Nguyen’s
time there, Father Carlson began a leave of absence and Father Nguyen was “the only guy with the collar on at that time.” “Father showed me the ropes the first two weeks and now these next two weeks, I’m here to serve,” he said, which he found “enjoyable” and reaffirming of the vocation. Every day he woke up at 5 a.m. full of energy, Father Nguyen said. He drove to the parish, waited for Mass and school to start, “for things to happen in the office” and he stayed until about 10 p.m. — for two weeks straight. “Usually, that would cause guys to stress out or burn out, but doing that gave me life,” he said. “I looked forward to it every day.” Immersed in parish life those two weeks, Father Nguyen said “that was a big moment for me to … realize this is probably what God is calling me to do.” Father Nguyen brought continuity for people at the parish who had gotten to know him over his first two weeks. He helped the visiting priest, talked to people after Mass, visited classes, helped with lunch, joined parish meetings. “I loved every single moment of it,” he said. And this past summer, he served at St. John the Baptist in New Brighton with Father Paul Shovelain. The son of Hue and Lang Nguyen, Father Nguyen is also grateful for the experience serving the past four years at his teaching parish, St. Vincent de Paul in Brooklyn Park, shadowing Father Dennis Zehren while preparing men and women for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, being present at Mass and, after his diaconate ordination last May, preaching.
ORDINATION
JUNE 16, 2022
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7C
Father Selenski’s road to priesthood wound through Rome, Boston and Denver By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit
F
ather Michael Selenski was a college senior on the brink of graduation with plans to join a restaurant venture when he made an abrupt about-face: He instead took a job with Fellowship of Catholic University Students, known as FOCUS. Six years with the college ministry organization included stints in Colorado, Iowa and Boston, interspersed with mission trips to China, Guyana, Ireland, Peru, Russia and the Holy Land. It also led the Coon Rapids native to seriously consider the priesthood. The youngest of four boys born to James and Elizabeth Selenski, Father Selenski, 34, grew up in a devout Catholic home. His parents were involved in the charismatic renewal and were early members of St. Paul in Ham Lake, established in 1981. “Both of my parents were examples of faithfilled people,” he said. Father Selenski’s pastor, Father Tim Nolan, was deeply influential in his life and, he’s come to realize, his vocation, he said. “He was a family friend. He would come over on St. Patrick’s Day and celebrate with us, and my parents would have him over for dinner with a group. He was my first example of a priest. … He was full of life, an extrovert, a people person, full of joy. He brought joy into a room whenever he walked in. It was palpable. I grew up thinking that’s what a priest was.” (Father Nolan died last year at age 82. One of Father Selenski’s ordination gifts is his former pastor’s chalice, which he used when celebrating his first Mass.) He attended Meadow Creek Christian School in Andover, and from kindergarten to grade 12, he was the only Catholic in his class. He loved the school and made great friends, and it instilled the importance of Christian morality. But, by the time Father Selenski was in high school, he started to feel indifferent to Catholicism or Christianity, he said, and he admittedly found Mass boring and odd, especially compared to his nonCatholic friends’ worship services. While his older brothers went to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, he chose the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul because it was close to home and friends. He entered St. Thomas in 2006
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with plans to major in English. He lived a pretty typical college life, “not pursuing anything all that virtuous or worthwhile,” he said, until the spring of his sophomore year, when he studied in Rome through UST’s Department of Catholic Studies. Connecting with the Catholic Studies program was a fluke, he said. He wanted to study abroad, and heard UST had a Rome campus. Some friends were applying for the program, so he did, too. “Having gone to Meadow Creek, I actually entered college with a lot of questions about faith, and I wasn’t adamantly pursuing them, but I was kind of curious,” he said. “All of the differences between Catholics and all
Congratulations Father Tanner Thooft!
We rejoice with you in your ordination to the Priesthood for the Diocese of New Ulm and we wish you many blessings as you continue your journey with our Lord.
my Protestant friends were kind of just confusing for me.” For four months, he lived in the shadow of the Vatican and two millennia of Church history among other Catholics who loved their faith and became friends. “The Catholic faith became attractive to me when it was lived by these other peers that were fun loving, normal, relatable,” he said. “I was studying theology, philosophy, art history in my classes. And then I was just discovering that there’s so much depth and beauty to the Church.” When Father Selenski returned to Minnesota, he was different. He was passionate about his faith and felt “plugged into” the Catholic
“Christ Christ Christ Christ Christ Christ
community. He switched majors to business entrepreneurship, where he felt he could better express his creativity. He began working as a server for a restaurant group in Blaine, loved the culture, and decided to pursue the restaurant business. He also thought of the restaurant world as a place where he could quietly evangelize. Then, out of the blue, an old friend called him and asked him to consider applying to FOCUS, which evangelizes on campuses across the U.S. He said no at first, but she was persistent. He visited the FOCUS website and was inspired by what the ministry was doing. Even though it was late in the application season, he snagged an interview, and then was offered a job. After seeking counsel from close mentors, he decided to take it. “There was something attractive in giving more of my life to God,” he said. Three of his six years with FOCUS were at Harvard University in Boston, where he was the team director — a perfect fit for his people skills and business entrepreneurship background. In his final year with FOCUS, he oversaw from Denver the ministry’s western region, including on the campuses of University of California, Berkeley; University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Southern California. Through FOCUS, he developed a love for evangelization and building relationships, and matured in prayer, and developed key habits, such as a daily Hour Hour and daily Mass, that deepened his faith. The “seed” for priesthood was planted while he was in Rome, he said, but FOCUS nurtured it and made priesthood attractive, he said. He ultimately entered seminary in 2016. The change from FOCUS’s fast pace to the slower rhythms of seminary life was a challenge, Father Selenski said, but he hasn’t looked back. His teaching parish was All Saints in Lakeville with Father Tom Wilson, and he also spent two summers at St. Therese in Deephaven with Father Leonard Andrie. “Through FOCUS, I saw this (priesthood) is the best: Doing the work of the Lord in a radical way, working for the Church, sharing the Gospel, giving my whole life in this way — it just resonates with me,” he said. “This is what God has created me for.”
beside me, before me, behind me, within me, beneath me, a b o v e m e .” Saint Patrick
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ORDINATION
JUNE 16, 2022
Service with NET Ministries ‘a powerful experience’ that led to the seminary By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
math on the number of Masses he had celebrated and the number of confessions he had heard.
B
ack in junior high, Father John Utecht had “a powerful experience of God’s love and mercy” on a day he went to adoration and confession. In response, Father Utecht said, “Lord, I want to live for you.” His faith continued to slowly grow, he said. He considered seminaries to be places where men can further deepen their prayer life and relationship with the Lord, which he found attractive. But it wasn’t until he served for a year with NET Ministries after high school that he considered priesthood, describing his time on a NET team as a powerful experience. Based in West St. Paul, NET Ministries trains and sends groups of young adults around the United States to lead retreats for middle- and high-school-age youth. During Father Utecht’s year on NET, he developed a daily prayer life on his own and learned to “walk with the Lord” every day, throughout the whole day, he said. Seeing how the Lord worked through him and the other members of his NET team in the lives of the youth they were serving helped him see how joyful it is to spend one’s life serving God’s people, he said. Through being a missionary and serving God’s people, “I really came to slowly start to hear the Lord inviting me to go to seminary,” he said. Father Utecht, 27, remembers another day in eucharistic adoration when he heard the Lord call him, saying, “I want you to go to seminary.” And in the following 24 hours, several people mentioned to him that they thought that’s where he should go. So, he entered St. John Vianney College Seminary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul the next year. After his college education and formation, he continued at The St. Paul Seminary across campus. As time went
Congratulations on your ordination Father John Utecht May God bless you abundantly in your priestly ministry.
“It was in the tens of thousands for both of those,” Father Utecht said, “and probably even the hundreds of thousands for confessions. And just hearing that, I remember just being in awe of the impact that one priest can have on so many people.” Father Utecht, the son of Deacon Joe and Margaret Utecht and a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings, said faith was always important to his family members, who are supportive of his vocation. That family includes three sisters, one brother, aunts, uncles and godparents. “I’ve really been blessed to be surrounded by people who have always been supportive,” he said, including the good fortune to have “such faithful parents.” Deacon Utecht’s father was ordained a permanent deacon for the archdiocese in 2019.
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on, “I’ve just come to really love the priesthood and become very excited to be a priest,” he said. The most impactful experience of his time at the seminary was the spiritual formation, he said, “the ways seminary teachers inform us to love the Lord and to know his love for us.” At his teaching parish of four years, St. Michael in St. Michael, Father Utecht has been immersed in getting to know the parish and parishioners, helping teach faith formation and holding other responsibilities, which he said have included greater focus on administrative and leadership roles the past two years. Father Utecht valued the chance to serve with two pastors at St. Michael,
as Father Peter Richards was assigned to a different parish after Father Utecht’s first two years there, and he then served with Father Brian Park for two years. “It was great to see how that transition between pastors worked and see … the challenges and the joys that come with that transition period,” Father Utecht said. “But it was great. Both ... are just excellent, excellent priests.” Asked during a recent interview on the “Practicing Catholic” radio show who had a significant impact on his vocation, Father Utecht cited Msgr. John Richter, a priest he spent time with in the Diocese of New Ulm. Celebrating his 50th year of priesthood, the priest one day did some quick
As he anticipates priestly ministry, Father Utecht said he most looks forward to “getting to celebrate the sacraments” and the privilege of being the instrument that the Lord uses to bring grace to people. “I’m just so excited to be a priest and feel really grateful that the Lord has called me to this life,” he said. “I hope to be a good, holy priest that is able to serve people well and bring them closer to God, bring them into heaven.” He also is grateful for the fraternity he’s shared with fellow seminarians, “and the witness of the priests and faculty” at the seminary. “There’s a lot of guys that I’ll stay in touch with and continue to be good brothers with, I’m sure, for the rest of my life,” Father Utecht said. “I’m just really grateful for those relationships and friendships,” some of which have lasted eight years so far.