September 10, 2020 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis SPECIAL REPORT
Black Lives Matter Catholics in the archdiocese and across the country, including Justina Kopp (above), work to understand and engage in the Black Lives Matter movement, which has gained momentum since the death of George Floyd in south Minneapolis May 25. A special report examines the history and complexity of BLM-affiliated organizations and offers perspectives on how Catholics can support and take part in the fight for racial equality and justice.
thecatholicspirit.com
TEEN CROSSING
— Pages 9-11
Prayer power Archbishop Hebda and Bishop Cozzens to launch virtual, five-part ‘Praying with Scripture’ series Sept. 13 aimed at helping Catholics forge a ‘deeper union with God.’ — Page 5
Boxes of Joy
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
University of St. Thomas freshman leads push to pack 5,000 boxes of goods for impoverished children around the world. — Page 6
Resist the devil New guide offers in-depth look at the ministry of exorcism, opening the topic to the general public. — Page 14
‘Fatima’ hits the screen Movie ‘that everybody can embrace’ inspires devotion to the rosary, deeper dive into Marian apparitions in Portugal. — Page 20
Dominic Romportl carries a 5-foot wooden cross while on a pilgrimage with 17 other teens from St. Michael and St. Mary parishes in Stillwater Aug. 29. The group, which also included Father Austin Barnes, at left next to Romportl, walked 22 miles from Stillwater to the Cathedral of St. Paul, ending the journey with Mass celebrated by Father John Ubel, Cathedral rector, and dinner in the Cathedral courtyard afterward. “The idea of pilgrimage is a reflection on our journey to heaven,” said Father Barnes, who was ordained a priest in May at the Cathedral and serves as parochial vicar at the two parishes. “And so, the Cathedral is representing heaven and our journey towards it. Even though the route is difficult at times and we get tired, we just keep going.” For more on the pilgrimage, see story on page 12.
COVID update: Priests can distribute Communion at usual time in Mass By Barb Umberger The Catholic Spirit
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s of Sept. 5, priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have a third — and familiar — option for distributing Communion at Mass during the novel coronavirus pandemic. They can now offer Communion in the usual manner — at the usual time during Mass to parishioners in Communion lines at the altar or other stations in the church, said Father Tom Margevicius, director of the Office of Worship, in a Sept. 4 memo to parishes and other institutions in the archdiocese. Since public indoor Masses resumed in late May after a mid-March suspension to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, Mass attendees have either received Communion after the final blessing as they exited the church, or they remained in their pews as ministers walked to them with the Eucharist. Each of these two methods has benefits and drawbacks, but for theological, liturgical and pastoral reasons, neither is ideal, Father Margevicius said. Most priests at a meeting following the archdiocese’s July 30 Chrism Mass expressed their desire to return to distributing Communion in the usual manner, he said. And because parishes have been
faithfully cooperating with pandemic protocols such as wearing facial coverings, washing hands and social distancing, with churches by and large not becoming “COVID hotspots,” parishes can return to the usual practice, he said. “People are behaving,” Father Margevicius told The Catholic Spirit. “They’re keeping their masks on for the most part, they’re using hand sanitizer, keeping social distance, so they’re able to engage in public activity in an interior space in a safe manner.” But priests who are not comfortable with having parishioners return to the usual practice of Communion distribution are not required to offer it, Father Margevicius said. The other options remain legitimate, at the discretion of the pastor, he said. All other hygiene practices to prevent spread of the virus remain in effect, including ministers and communicants wearing masks, using hand sanitizer and keeping 6 feet of distance between people not of the same household. The usual obligation to attend Sunday Mass also remains suspended, to help protect people 65 or older and those with underlying health conditions, as well as those who care for them. Public health officials and Gov. Tim Walz have been monitoring the pandemic in Minnesota, at some points shutting down businesses and incrementally
allowing them to reopen. The archdiocese also has been taking incremental steps toward pre-pandemic norms since public Masses were suspended March 18. Archbishop Bernard Hebda issued a directive April 1 that celebrating Mass outdoors was a possibility if the faithful continued to practice social distancing, but such Masses could not include public distribution of Communion. Indoor Masses returned with up to 10 people in the church May 18, but not all parishes participated. By May 27, public Masses could be held for up to 25% church capacity, or up to 250 people, and by June 10, attendance could reach 50% capacity, up to 250 people. On July 27, Archbishop Hebda said that parishioners, when at church and other church gatherings, should take into consideration Walz’s July 24 mask mandate for indoor public places. In addition to guidance for distribution of Communion, the Sept. 4 memo from Father Margevicius covered four other topics: uEffective Aug. 29, per the Minnesota Department of Health, long-term health care facilities with no active COVID-19 cases in the past 28 days can allow non-essential personnel to visit. Each facility decides if it will allow nonessential personnel, and if so, who that would be. Some facilities meeting PLEASE TURN TO COMMUNION ON PAGE 13