February 2025
The
COURIER
Official Newspaper of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester, MN | dowr.org
Trust and Surrender Mass Attendance By KAT LARSON
Going Up?
�eet Laurie Archbold. At first glance, she may be
perceived as a devout Catholic living out her faith through seemingly normal means. She has been an active parishioner within the Diocese of WinonaRochester for over 21 years. Throughout these years, Laurie has been active in parish music liturgy, OCIA sponsorship and faith formation. Based on these works, it could be easily said that Laurie has taken the gifts she has received from the Lord and given back to him in the best ways possible. But, if you were to ask Laurie if she had used her gifts in the most prudent way, most likely she would say no; there is so much more work to be done. In 2018, Laurie felt a call to enroll in the Institute of Lay Formation offered by the diocese. She had a sincere and growing desire to deepen her relationship with her Lord and Savior. Although she was already an active participant in her faith, she sensed that God was calling her to something more. Laurie attributes much of her spiritual growth to the Institute, which enriched her formation and helped her begin to navigate deeper waters in her relationship with God. Through this journey, she realized that living out her faith goes beyond participating in parish programs; it requires the courage to say “yes” to the Lord’s will, fostering a fuller integration of life in all aspects - faith, family, work, and community. Laurie also sees her timing at the Institute as part of God’s divine plan. The Class of 2018 was the only group to receive an extra year of formation due to COVID, ultimately graduating in 2022 instead of 2021 as originally scheduled. She views this additional
By VERY REV. WILLIAM THOMPSON
�very October, parishes across the United
States take part in the annual Mass attendance count. The bishops of the country decided several decades ago to set one month aside each year to learn the average Mass attendance in order to understand local trends. You will know it is October when you see the ushers moving around the church quickly, pointing pencils at people’s heads! The good news is that each year since COVID has seen an increase in Mass attendance. This year (October 2024) increased over last year by only one percent. While we have experienced small increases recently, the same cannot be said of our long-term data: from 2009 to 2024, overall Mass attendance dropped 36.1%. Over the past 15 years, our diocese, similar to other dioceses in the Midwest, has seen a decline in Mass attendance in both number and percentage of Catholics. More specifically, in 2009, 29.1% of the roughly 131,000 Catholics were attending Mass at a parish on any given Sunday. In 2024, 21.4% of the 114,000 Catholics attended Mass on Sundays. While the percentage drop in attendance may not seem like
Laurie Archbold (3rd from L) and members of the Red Couch Stories film crew met the Dalai Lama at a shoot for the Parliament of the World's Religions, where he was the keynote speaker.
time as a true blessing, allowing for further spiritual growth and strengthening of her faith. It also fostered a deeper sense of community and provided an inspiring immersion into the catechesis the class explored together. After completing her time at the Institute, she began receiving unexpected opportunities to serve the Lord, often requiring significant sacrifices. She deepened her prayer life through adoration and participation in intercessory prayer teams. Her service to God's community expanded through ministries such as St. Paul Street Evangelization, the Seven Sisters Apostolate, and Unbound Ministry, among others. Additionally, she accepted a position at a public television station. Although not unfamiliar territory, seeing as she began her career in TV news, this opportunity came as a surprise. Discerning the Lord’s will while working in a secular environment is not always clear.
Trust and Surrender, cont'd on pg. 19
Mass Attendance, cont'd on pg. 19
INSIDE this issue
Catholic Ministries Appeal page 6
Our Lady of Luxembourg page 8
Eucharistic Miracles of the World page 9