August 9, 2018 • Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Faith Hope in heartache
& work: Honoring the 2018 Leading With Faith Award winners — Pages 16-23
After their children were hit by a man fleeing police in a car chase, a Minneapolis family is relying on faith and friends from St. Bridget as they try to heal. — Pages 14-15
Stranded in Haiti Riots related to a fuel-price spike in Haiti force a mission trip to extend its stay. — Page 5
Deconsecrated churches What happens to church buildings when they go from sacred to secular use? — Page 6
FEW PLACES TO GO
‘The Jacked Priest’ Father Floeder explains how weight-lifting has pumped up evangelization opportunities. — Page 8
Death penalty doctrine Pope Francis revises Catechism to say capital punishment “inadmissible” because it attacks human dignity. — Page 10
After Archbishop McCarrick As U.S. Church reels from allegations against disgraced prelate, USCCB president addresses bishops’ accountability. — Page 12
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Hope LaDuke lives on the streets of south Minneapolis after becoming homeless in February. The 31-year-old is six months pregnant and unable to afford housing. She sleeps on a stretch of grass that runs along Hiawatha Avenue, joining other homeless people who have pitched tents.
Housing gap to remain a key poverty factor past 2020 By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit
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ope LaDuke stood in the wind near a concrete sound barrier along Hiawatha Avenue in south Minneapolis Aug. 1. All of her belongings were stacked under a plastic tarp that measured roughly 5 feet square, and she pulled out a blanket that she would sleep under that night. Homeless since February, the 31-yearold Native American woman sleeps in a makeshift shelter against the barrier, with a handful of other tents set up on either side, not far from Holy Rosary church. Six months pregnant and with a 1-year-old daughter in foster care, she’s not sure when her homelessness will end. “Some of us have no choice,” said LaDuke, saying a death in the family, plus bills exceeding her means, put her on the
streets. “There can be various reasons why bills couldn’t get paid. … Overall, it’s a tough period for some of us, and a lot of us can’t afford it. “They say, ‘Save it for a rainy day.’ Well, sometimes for us, it rains every day.” Activists, experts and legislators believe that permanent housing is a key factor for helping people like LaDuke, as the state nears the deadline for a lofty goal created by a 2009 Minnesota State Legislature commission: to end poverty by 2020. Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, said that poverty in Minnesota must be addressed by “the two feet of charity and justice” as Catholic social teaching describes. He explained that Catholic citizens need to encourage elected officials to enact laws that aid the poor, and Catholics have a
responsibility to serve the poor directly, too. The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, sponsored by the Minnesota Catholic Conference and other religious public interest groups, released a report in March evaluating the progress of the 2009 legislative commission’s goals. JRLC Executive Director Anne Krisnik said it provides an overview of how the poverty landscape has improved, and the considerable work that remains. In 2009, the bipartisan Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020 identified three benchmarks in addressing poverty in Minnesota: “reducing poverty rates among racial minority groups to the national average by 2012, reducing poverty rates among children by half by 2014, and eliminating poverty by 2020.” PLEASE TURN TO POVERTY ON PAGE 7
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What I say is that he lived life in sanctity. ... The Church says he’s a saint because of a miracle [after his death] but his sainthood was rooted in the way he lived, and my joy is in having watched that sanctity in life.” Marcelo Perdomo, a Catholic in Washington, D.C., who worked as a sacristan for Blessed Oscar Romero in his native San Miguel, El Salvador, in the early 1960s. The Salvadoran martyr was assassinated during the country’s civil war in 1980 and is set to become El Salvador’s first saint Oct. 14.
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GOING CLASSICAL Douglas Ballinger, principal of St. Raphael Catholic School in Crystal, speaks July 26 during the National Catholic Classical Schools Conference at The Catholic University of America in Washington. The July 23-26 conference, hosted by the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education, presented a vision of education as an all-encompassing field incorporating all aspects of human existence. Father Michael Rudolph, St. Raphael’s pastor, announced in May that the parish school plans to incorporate classical education elements into its curriculum over the next couple of years. St. Raphael is among several schools in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that are adopting a classical education model.
The length in minutes of a new podcast by the Minnesota Catholic Conference called “Bridge Builder: Connecting Faith & Politics.” In the first episode, MCC staff members Jason Adkins and Rachel Herbeck interview Chris Thompson of the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity about integral ecology as it relates to the encyclicals “Humanae Vitae” and “Laudato Si’.” The episode ends with a musical performance by the National Catholic Youth Choir at St. John’s University in Collegeville. Listen to it at mncatholic.org.
$500,000
The cost of tuck-pointing work underway at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis that began in May and is anticipated to be complete in September. The dome is the latest part of the Basilica to have its mortar joints repaired as a comprehensive exterior tuck-pointing project continues. The Basilica Landmark, a separate nonprofit foundation from the parish, is funding the project, in part, with proceeds from the annual Basilica Block Party.
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The years of experience in parish work Joan Gecik will bring when she becomes the fourth executive director of The Catholic Cemeteries Oct. 1. Gecik, who currently serves as the pastoral administrator at St. Thomas the Apostle in Minneapolis, has worked in church administration, program development, human resources, worship, parish life, grief ministry and pastoral ministry. She has served on TCC’s natural burial advisory committee. “I especially excel in accompanying individuals and families on their grief journey from death through follow-up care,” she said in an Aug. 7 statement announcing the position. She will succeed John Cherek, who is retiring after 28 years. Based in Mendota Heights, The Catholic Cemeteries manages five Catholic cemeteries and consults for parish-owned cemeteries in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
CNS
EARTHQUAKE AFTERMATH A woman walks past debris from a collapsed wall Aug. 6 following an earthquake on Lombok, Indonesia’s popular tourist island. At least 105 people have been confirmed dead after the magnitude 7 earthquake Aug. 5, a week after another powerful quake killed more than a dozen people. Catholic hospitals in Indonesia have sent medical teams to treat hundreds of people injured. “Many volunteers have contacted me and asked if we need any help. I told them that medical teams are what I need the most. I need orthopedics and neurologists,” said a member of the Congregation of Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit who is the spokeswoman at St. Anthony Catholic Hospital in the provincial capital of Mataram.
in REMEMBRANCE Deacon Murphy, 86, ministered at St. Matthew in St. Paul Deacon John Murphy died Aug. 3 at age 86. Born in Millarton, North Dakota, in 1931, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1984 and ministered at St. Matthew in St. Paul until his retirement in March. Before the diaconate, he served with the Army during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955 after graduating from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa. He worked in the meat packing industry after the military and ran a lawn service. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Carol, and two sons, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A visitation will be 3–6 p.m. Aug. 12 at Klecatsky & Sons West Chapel in West St. Paul, and 9–10 a.m. Aug. 13 at St. Matthew. A funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Aug. 13 at St. Matthew. Burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
The Catholic Spirit is published semi-monthly for The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Vol. 23 — No. 15 MOST REVEREND BERNARD A. HEBDA, Publisher TOM HALDEN, Associate Publisher MARIA C. WIERING, Editor
8:40 a.m.
The start time of a pro-life rosary led by the Ancient Order of Hibernians during the Irish Fair Aug. 12 at Harriet Island in downtown St. Paul. Following the rosary, Archbishop Bernard Hebda will celebrate 9 a.m. Mass. The Hibernians are offering the rosary for unborn babies in both Ireland and the U.S., and for the pro-life movement in both countries. Irish citizens voted to repeal the country’s abortion ban in May.
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The age of the old St. John the Baptist Catholic School building in Jordan, which the parish demolished Aug. 7. The school moved into a new building in 2004. For 14 years, the parish tried to find a new purpose for the old building, but to no avail, according to pastor Father Neil Bakker. A time capsule was discovered in the cornerstone, and the school is planning to open it during a party in November.
CORRECTION The story “Local parishes can celebrate Blessed Solanus Casey’s feast day” in the July 26 edition contained incorrect information about the ministry restrictions of a simplex priest. Simplex priests were not permitted to hear confessions or preach homilies on matters of doctrine. The Catholic Spirit apologizes for the error.
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
AUGUST 9, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 3
FROMTHEARCHBISHOP ONLY JESUS | ARCHBISHOP BERNARD HEBDA
Archbishop McCarrick and accountability
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very time Mass is celebrated, the priest prays that Jesus will “look not on our sins but on the faith of [his] Church… .” That’s been an important prayer for me in the time that I have been serving this archdiocese, well aware of our sins but equally aware of the strong and vibrant faith of this local Church. I’ve been praying that prayer even more earnestly in these past weeks as the Church in the United States has once again come face-to-face with its sins, with reports that former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, one of the most prominent Churchmen in the United States in the last quarter century, has been accused of abusing two minors and sexually harassing or assaulting a number of seminarians and young priests. To make matters worse (if that is even possible), evidence has surfaced that indicates that a bishop, as well as some priests and laity, had brought the allegations about misconduct with seminarians to the attention of Church authorities but to no avail: Archbishop McCarrick was nonetheless “promoted” to become the archbishop in our nation’s capital, and elevated to the College of Cardinals. While I realize that it is not always easy to evaluate the credibility of those bringing allegations, and that there’s often a tendency to believe those we know over those we don’t, I don’t think that the Church in the United States will rest — and confidence will be restored — until the matter is independently investigated and explained, and assurances are given that there are safeguards in place to make sure that something like this couldn’t happen again. The matter has been particularly troubling to me personally due to the fact that I had served in the Archdiocese of Newark as coadjutor archbishop from November 4, 2013, to March 25, 2016, when I was named archbishop here. It was while I was in Newark that I was introduced to then-Cardinal McCarrick.
Arzobispo McCarrick y responsabilidad
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ada vez que se celebra la Misa, el sacerdote ora para que Jesús “no observe nuestros pecados sino la fe de [su] Iglesia ...”. Esa ha sido una oración importante para mí en el tiempo que he estado prestando servicio a esta arquidiócesis, muy consciente de nuestros pecados, pero igualmente conscientes de la fuerte y vibrante fe de esta Iglesia local. He estado orando esa oración aún más fervientemente en estas últimas semanas cuando la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos se ha enfrentado una vez más con sus pecados, con informes del ex cardenal Theodore McCarrick, uno de los eclesiásticos más prominentes de los Estados Unidos. en el último cuarto de siglo, ha sido acusado de abusar de dos menores y de acosar o agredir sexualmente a varios seminaristas y sacerdotes jóvenes. Para empeorar las cosas (si eso es posible), ha surgido evidencia que indica que un obispo, así como algunos sacerdotes y laicos, habían llevado las acusaciones de mala conducta con seminaristas a la atención de las autoridades de la Iglesia pero no sirvieron el propósito: el Arzobispo McCarrick Sin embargo, fue “promovido” para convertirse en el arzobispo en la capital de nuestra nación y elevado al Colegio de Cardenales. Si bien me doy cuenta de que no siempre es fácil evaluar la credibilidad de los que presentan denuncias, y que a menudo existe una tendencia a creer a aquellos que conocemos sobre aquellos más que no conocemos, no creo que la Iglesia en los Estados Unidos descanse — y se restablecerá la confianza — hasta que el asunto sea investigado y explicado de manera independiente, y se den garantías de que existen salvaguardas para garantizar que algo como esto no vuelva a suceder.
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A number of good Catholics have written to ask for a personal accounting on my part, inquiring whether I was made aware in my time in Newark of the 2005 and 2007 settlements involving Archbishop McCarrick, or if I knew of any allegations against him. I can state unequivocally that I learned of those settlements only in June of this year, as news broke about the unrelated claim that had been filed in the Archdiocese of New York. What I know of the settlements I know from the newspapers. When serving in Newark, I was regularly briefed on current legal matters of all sorts, but not on past legal matters (unless they were still being discussed in the press). By the time I arrived in Newark in November 2013, the 2005 and 2007 settlements were apparently considered ancient history. It would be untrue to state that I had never heard any allegations about Cardinal McCarrick. Years before I ever lived in Newark, and never imagining that I would be assigned there, I had indeed read — as a somewhat geeky ex-lawyer — an allegation about Cardinal McCarrick in the context of a 2005 lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Archbishop Myers, Cardinal Eagan, Bishop Hubbard and the Irish Christian Brothers. While the complaint didn’t supply any details, the plaintiff was reported to have said to a journalist that “Archbishop McCarrick would share a
bed with seminarians but not engage in any activity with them.” The complaint would later be formally amended to include that allegation. Knowing, however, that this lawsuit was completely dismissed by the state and federal courts, I never gave the particular allegation about Cardinal McCarrick any credence. I can also state without exception that no one in my years in Newark ever told me that they were improperly touched by Archbishop McCarrick, and no one ever told me that they had to share a bed with him or that they had seen anyone share a bed with him. I heard lots of gut-wrenching stories in my twoand-a-half years there, but none of them involved Archbishop McCarrick. With St. John Paul II’s 1995 visit, he was remembered for “bringing a saint to Newark,” not as an abuser of seminarians, minors or priests. When I was installed here in St. Paul, he joined me at lunch along with my father, sister, godmother and then 12-year-old nephew. I can assure you that I would never have allowed that to happen if I had any reason to know or even suspect the things that have been reported in the newspapers this past month. While the letters and emails of recent days are sober reminders that there’s still a long way to go in restoring trust, I nonetheless welcome the efforts to hold me accountable to you, the faithful of this archdiocese. The events of these past weeks have shown that no one can be above the law, regardless of rank or privilege. I was grateful for the opportunity to reinforce that with our seminarians this past weekend, and I look forward to continuing my work with the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, and our Archdiocesan Review Board, in creating a culture in which no one need be afraid or reluctant to bring forth an allegation of misconduct. Our heavenly patron, St. Paul, reminds us that “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more.” May these difficult days be days of great grace for this local Church.
El asunto ha sido particularmente preocupante para mí personalmente debido al hecho de que había servido en la Arquidiócesis de Newark como arzobispo coadjutor desde el 4 de noviembre de 2013 hasta el 25 de marzo de 2016, cuando fui nombrado arzobispo aquí. Fue mientras estaba en Newark que me presentaron al entonces Cardenal McCarrick. Varios buenos católicos han escrito para pedir una contabilidad personal de mi parte, preguntando si me enteré en mi tiempo en Newark de los acuerdos de 2005 y 2007 que involucraron al arzobispo McCarrick, o si sabía de alguna acusación contra él. Puedo afirmar inequívocamente que me enteré de esos acuerdos solo en junio de este año, cuando surgieron las noticias sobre el reclamo no relacionado que se había presentado en la Arquidiócesis de Nueva York. Lo que sé de los asentamientos que sé de los periódicos. Cuando prestaba servicios en Newark, regularmente recibía información sobre asuntos legales de todo tipo, pero no sobre cuestiones legales pasadas (a menos que todavía se estuvieran discutiendo en la prensa). Cuando llegué a Newark en noviembre de 2013, los asentamientos de 2005 y 2007 aparentemente se consideraban historia antigua. Sería falso afirmar que nunca escuché ninguna acusación sobre el Cardenal McCarrick. Años antes de que yo viviera en Newark, y sin imaginar que sería asignado allí, había leído, como un ex abogado algo geek, una acusación sobre el Cardenal McCarrick en el contexto de una demanda en el Distrito Sur de Nueva York en 2005 contra el Arzobispo Myers, el Cardenal Eagan, el Obispo Hubbard y los Hermanos Cristianos Irlandeses. Si bien la demanda no proporcionó ningún detalle, se informó que el demandante le dijo a un periodista que “el arzobispo McCarrick compartiría una cama con seminaristas pero no se involucraría en ninguna actividad con ellos”. La Queja sería formalmente enmendada posteriormente para incluirla
alegación. Sabiendo, sin embargo, que esta demanda fue completamente desestimada por los tribunales estatales y federales, nunca dicté ninguna afirmación particular sobre el cardenal McCarrick. También puedo decir sin excepción que nadie en mis años en Newark me dijo alguna vez que el Arzobispo McCarrick los había maltratado, y nadie me dijo que tenían que compartir una cama con él o que habían visto a alguien compartir una cama con él. Escuché muchas historias desgarradoras en mis dos años y medio allí, pero ninguna de ellas involucró al Arzobispo McCarrick. Con la visita de San Juan Pablo II en 1995, fue recordado por “llevar un santo a Newark” y no por ser un abusador de seminaristas, menores o sacerdotes. Cuando me instalé aquí en St. Paul, se unió a mí en el almuerzo junto con mi padre, mi hermana, mi madrina y luego mi sobrino de 12 años. Puedo asegurarle que nunca hubiera permitido que eso sucediera si tuviera alguna razón para saber o incluso sospechar de las cosas que se han informado en los periódicos el mes pasado. Si bien las cartas y correos electrónicos de los últimos días son recordatorios sobrios de que todavía queda un largo camino por recorrer para restaurar la confianza, no obstante, me alegro de los esfuerzos por hacerme responsable ante ustedes, los fieles de esta arquidiócesis. Los eventos de estas últimas semanas han demostrado que nadie puede estar por encima de la ley, independientemente de su rango o privilegio. Agradecí la oportunidad de reforzar eso con nuestros seminaristas el pasado fin de semana, y espero continuar mi trabajo con la Oficina de Estándares Ministeriales y Ambiente Seguro, y nuestra Junta de Revisión Arquidiocesana, para crear una cultura en la que nadie necesite temeroso o reacio a presentar una acusación de mala conducta. Nuestro patrón celestial, San Pablo, nos recuerda que “donde abunda el pecado, la gracia abunda aún más”. Que estos días difíciles sean días de gran gracia para esta Iglesia local.
... I don’t think that the Church in the United States will rest — and confidence will be restored — until the matter is independently investigated and explained, and assurances are given that there are safeguards in place to make sure that something like this couldn’t happen again.
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LOCAL
SLICEof LIFE
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Big blessing
Teens pray a blessing over Matt Shafer, center, of Solon, Iowa, as he prepares to speak about his faith journey July 29 on the final day of the Steubenville St. Paul conference, held on the campus of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The annual three-day event, an outreach of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, and organized locally by Bloomington-based Partnership for Youth, draws teens from throughout the Midwest for prayer, speakers, Mass, DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT confession and eucharistic adoration. Shafer was part of a group called Franciscan LEAD, a five-day program for Catholic teens to learn more about leadership, evangelization and discipleship ahead of the Steubenville St. Paul conference. The program drew 32 teens this year.
“May we be in this world a ray of light that shines forth, bringing joy and peace to the hearts of all...” Pope Francis
Congratulations Leading With Faith Honorees! Thank You For Your Leadership and Example. From Your Friends at
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 5
in BRIEF Minneapolis attorney representing two alleged abuse victims of Archbishop McCarrick
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
BREAKING FREE Roberto Roblas of St. Stephen in Anoka portrays a father trapped by the chains of sin during a skit that took place at “Encuentro Familiar,” or Family Encounter: The Family in the Plan of God, Aug. 4 at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights. In the skit, the father battles sins and addiction such as drugs, alcohol and adultery, with Jesus breaking the chains and reuniting him with his wife and children. The skit was part of a day for Latino Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis that included prayer, discussion, speakers and Mass celebrated by Bishop Andrew Cozzens.
Mission trip travelers dodge Haiti riots By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit Dave Berg can rest a little easier these days. He — and 16 other adults he led on a mission trip to Haiti — are home after protests over a spike in fuel prices closed airports, stranding them in the Caribbean nation. “I certainly felt a real sense of responsibility relative to the team members and making sure that everything went well and that I was doing everything I could to get us all home safely,” said Berg, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Rosemount. The parish mission trip began July 1 and was scheduled to end July 7. On the day of the group’s departure, July 7, they encountered roads to Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, blocked with beat-up cars, trees and rocks while protesters burned tires over the hike in fuel prices approved by Haiti’s government July 6. Port-au-Prince’s airport closed. “Friday, which was supposed to be our last night there, we knew nothing about the fact that there was going to potentially be protests the next day,” Berg said. “We learned late Friday night that there was probably going to be protests because the new gas prices were supposed to be instituted that Saturday. At that point, we were trying to go to the airport very early on Saturday morning, maybe try to get there before things started to happen, but as it turns out, that plan didn’t work out for us.” The group of 17 adults, ages 19-70, spent the night of July 7 at a compound an hour outside Portau-Prince operated by Mission of Hope, the Texas-based nonprofit through which Berg had organized the trip.
“Everybody just took it in stride. When you’re in Haiti, you’re on Haiti time and you just have to go with it,” said Judy Schramer, 58, a parishioner of St. Joseph who was making her fifth trip. According to CNN, the U.S. embassy in Haiti warned U.S. citizens to shelter in place and avoid being outside in large groups during the protests. Haitian officials suspended the fuel price decision July 7, but the protests continued several days. At least two people were killed in the violence, which included flaming roadblocks, arson and looting. “We never felt that we were at any risk,” Berg said. “Mission of Hope is very well connected down there with the villages.” The members of St. Joseph’s group had limited cell phone reception and could connect with family and friends in Minnesota. Berg also submitted updates to the parish website. Schramer and her husband, Tom, 57, who also made the trip, wanted to keep their two daughters back in the Twin Cities informed. Judy Schramer said there was a period of time when cell phone service was down. “That was a little tough then for the family because all they could see was what was being shown on TV,” Schramer said. Berg said people prayed for the group’s safety and return, and those stuck in Haiti felt a sense of being prayed for. “There were groups that we were hearing from that they were having significant prayer chains,” Berg said. Due to the unrest, Berg’s group moved July 8 along with 170 Mission of Hope workers and interns to the organization’s main campus. He estimated about 300
volunteers from North America were at the compound. While there, the group worked on renovation projects and teaching vacation Bible schools, building on the work they had done earlier in the week. “The children are just amazing,” Berg said of the children they served. “Some of the kids will adopt you for the week.” Berg began organizing mission trips to Haiti with St. Joseph six years ago, and he has led five trips. This was the first time he’s had to navigate a major change in plans, but he said that the feedback about the trip has been positive, and that people didn’t lose their morale while waiting to get home. After the airport reopened July 9, some members of the group left as Berg worked with American Airlines to find them seats on four new flights. The group’s remaining nine members flew home July 11 and could see the aftermath of the protests on the way to the Port-au-Prince airport. “We could see where stuff had been drug to the side of the road [and] we could see the black marks on the road where tires had been burned,” Berg said. Despite the riots, the Schramers plan to go back to Haiti next year with Berg. For Judy Schramer, the experience reframed the plight of the Haitian people. She said “it hurts my heart to watch” as the government tried to “take more of” what little the Haitians have. “I think they’re just very, very desperate people,” Schramer said of the Haitians. “It’s sad.”
MINNEAPOLIS — Patrick Noaker, a Minneapolisbased attorney, is among attorneys representing two men who have accused the former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of sexual abuse. One is a former altar boy whose credible abuse accusation resulted in Archbishop McCarrick’s removal from public ministry June 20. The other is a man whom Archbishop McCarrick, a family friend, allegedly sexually abused for decades. The New York Times published his story July 19 using only his first name, James. Noaker’s law firm focuses on representing survivors of sexual abuse and assault. Archbishop McCarrick retired as archbishop of Washington in 2006. Pope Francis accepted his resignation from the College of Cardinals July 28 after multiple allegations of sexual abuse, harassment and misconduct with minors, seminarians and priests. (Read more on page 12.)
Local women profess vows with Sisters of Life in Connecticut STAMFORD, Conn. — Four women with local ties, including three alumna of the Catholic Studies program at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, professed vows with the Sisters of Life at two separate liturgies. The sisters are: uSister Fidelity Grace (baptized Paula Thelen), 28, professed first vows Aug. 4 at Villa Maria Guadalupe in Stamford. She was a member of St. Peter in North St. Paul and studied Catholic Studies and secondary education at St. Thomas. She is the daughter of Ken and Mary Ann Thelen. uSister Zélie Maria Louis (baptized Elizabeth Schmitt), 26, professed first vows Aug. 4. A native of Waterloo, Iowa, she studied Catholic Studies and political science at St. Thomas. She is the daughter of Steven and Jana Schmitt and a triplet. uSister Ann Immaculée (baptized Caroline Stiles), 25, professed first vows Aug. 4. She studied Catholic Studies, business and philosophy at St. Thomas. An Owatonna native, she is the daughter of Joseph and Sharon Stiles and sister of Father James Stiles, a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. uSister Cecilia Rose (baptized Julie Carleton), 37, professed final vows Aug. 6 at the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist in Stamford. Prior to entering the Sisters of Life in 2009, the California native worked for the National Evangelization Teams (NET) Ministries in West St. Paul. She is the daughter of Jim and Janice Carleton.
Twin Cities native professes vows as Benedictine in Pennsylvania LATROBE, Pa. — Benedictine Brother David Klecker of St. Vincent Archabbey professed solemn, or lifelong, vows July 11. Brother Klecker is the son of Robert Klecker of Eagan and Barbara Weiss of Hopkins and was raised in the Twin Cities. He previously professed vows as a Cistercian monk in 2005 and was ordained a deacon. He transferred to St. Vincent Archabbey in 2015 and anticipates being ordained a priest Sept. 22.
Totino-Grace alumnus professes vows as Dominican in Illinois ST. LOUIS — Brother Christopher Damien Johnson (baptized Christopher Alan Johnson) was to profess final vows as a Dominican Aug. 8 at the Chapel of the Rosary at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. He was raised in Andover, where he was a member of St. Stephen parish in Anoka and attended St. Stephen’s Catholic School. He graduated from Totino-Grace High School in Fridley in 2004. He took simple, or first, vows in 2014. He is the son of Dr. Alan Johnson of Champlin and Peggy Johnson of Andover. His province, the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, is based in St. Louis.
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AUGUST 9, 2018
Schools, theaters, tourist sites: Deconsecrated church use varies By Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit Pinocchio’s story makes no mention of baptism when he became a real boy, but he’ll take center stage this month in the former sanctuary of All Saints Catholic Church in Lakeville, now the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Theater productions have been the norm in the space since All Saints parish built and moved to a larger church in 1997, selling its previous church, which the parish had outgrown. As part of the process, the older church, built in 1932, was “deconsecrated,” or decreed no longer a sacred space, making it available for non-sacred uses. The Lakeville Area Arts Center is among many Twin Cities organizations using deconsecrated Catholic church buildings. Former Catholic church buildings are also being used for worship by other Christians and religions, as schools and even as a tourist attraction. Church buildings become available as parishes close, merge or build elsewhere to accommodate changing demographics or urban planning. Six churches have been deconsecrated in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since 2013. Susan Mulheron, chancellor of canonical affairs for the archdiocese, explained that churches and Catholic cemeteries are set aside for sacred use according to canon 1205 in the Code of Canon Law. The canon states that “sacred places are those which are assigned to divine worship or to the burial of faithful by the dedication or
blessing which the liturgical books prescribe for this purpose.” Churches and cemeteries are consecrated in a liturgical rite, marking them as sacred spaces. When a Catholic church building is no longer used by Catholics for sacred use, a bishop must decree that it can be used for “profane” — non-sacred — use, but with the stipulation that it cannot be used for “sordid” purposes. The increasing numbers of deconsecrated churches in Europe, Canada and elsewhere — and questions about their use — has inspired a Nov. 29-30 conference in Rome on the topic. Organized by the Pontifical Council for Culture, in partnership with the Italian bishops’ conference and the Pontifical Gregorian University, the conference — “Doesn’t God Dwell Here Anymore? Decommissioning Places of Worship and Integrated Management of Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage” — will explore the positive uses of deconsecrated churches worldwide. Its organizers have invited the public to participate by submitting Instagram photos by Oct. 15 with the hashtags #NoLongerChurches, #unigre (the Gregorian’s hashtag) and the former church name and city. Mulheron said that type of conference serves as a means for leadership to discuss ideas rather than make new guidelines. In 2013, the Congregation for the Clergy at the Vatican provided a circular letter to offer guidance on the issue, including a list of the most preferred to least preferred uses of closed churches: for Mass, for other Catholic organizations,
for secular use that keeps “with the dignity of the edifice as a former church,” or demolition. The document also specifies that churches can’t be used for something “sordid” or directly contrary to the Catholic faith. Mulheron said a former church could never house a Planned Parenthood, for example, because the organization performs abortions and distributes artificial contraception. The 2013 letter states, “contractual agreements are to be put in place to safeguard this point in civil law as well as canonically.” Many former Catholic churches remain worship sites for other Christian denominations. When St. Philip in north Minneapolis merged with nearby Ascension in 2001, its former church building became the site of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. When Holy Redeemer in Maplewood merged with St. Peter in North St. Paul in 2007, its former church became the new home of Twin Cities Bible Church. Likewise, the former church of St. James in St. Paul — which merged with St. Francis de Sales in 2011 — is now Awaken Covenant Community Church. Deconsecrated churches are also being used by other religions. When St. John on St. Paul’s East Side merged with nearby St. Pascal Baylon in 2013, its former church building became the Darul-Uloom Islamic Center. Other former churches are not used for worship. Some are schools, such as the former church building of Immaculate Heart of Mary on Summit Avenue in
St. Paul, which is now Laura Jeffery Academy, a public charter school. In Minneapolis, the site of the former Visitation church and school is now home to the Stonebridge World School. Like in Lakeville, the Hastings Arts Center is housed in a former Catholic church, once home to Guardian Angels, which merged in 1987 with nearby St. Boniface to become St. Elizabeth Ann Seton parish, which built a new church. The decommissioned St. Boniface, meanwhile, was moved and reassembled in 1997 as a historic attraction at the Little Log House Pioneer Village south of Hastings. It also is available as a private wedding chapel. Mulheron said this situation illustrates the importance of clear distinctions in the deconsecration process. Because the building, which its owners still call “St. Boniface,” is being used for weddings, it’s at risk of being mistaken for still being a Catholic church. Not all former church buildings transition well for secular use or withstand cultural trends. The board of the Twin Cities German Immersion School in St. Paul, whose Como Park campus includes the former St. Andrew church, voted July 30 to tear down its former church building to expand classroom space, despite the protests of preservation-minded neighbors. School leaders cited the expense of upkeep and space inefficiency for its decision. — CNS contributed to this story
AUGUST 9, 2018
POVERTY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 JRLC’s report shows that those goals haven’t been reached and that Minnesota faces a daunting task in just reducing poverty rates. It states that 533,276 Minnesotans live below the federal poverty threshold. That includes 160,626 children, meaning 12.7 percent of Minnesota children are poor. Ten percent of Minnesota households “are impacted by hunger,” according to the report. Meanwhile, 18.3 percent of people with disabilities live in poverty. “As we approach 2020, Minnesota needs to renew its commitment to meeting these benchmarks and to implementing recommendations of the Commissions,” the JRLC document stated. The JRLC noted some signs of improvement, including lower housing and homelessness rates. Homelessness and affordable housing, however, continue to persist as major problems, as leaders of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis and CommonBond have observed in their work. Tim Marx, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, has been on a mission for years to improve opportunities for the homeless. The Twin Cities nonprofit has been expanding its services in downtown St. Paul in recent years to replace an overcrowded Dorothy Day Center, which has long served as an overnight homeless shelter. Last year, Catholic Charities replaced the Dorothy Day Center with a larger homeless shelter, Higher Ground St. Paul, and is finishing the adjacent Opportunity Center, which will provide services to help the homeless. CommonBond Communities, a Catholic-founded nonprofit in St. Paul, has expanded the number of its lowincome properties around Minnesota and western Wisconsin. But Derek Madsen, CommonBond’s executive vice president of resource development, said they “can’t build our way out of the problem.” Adkins observed that the housing problem trickles down from the state to city level, as many communities have regulations that lead to raising home and rental prices. Krisnik said rental property developers have added to the problem by upgrading properties and pricing out low-income renters. The JRLC report noted some improvements in the housing situation.
LOCAL The 0.2 percent foreclosure rate in 2017 was the lowest in the past 10 years. Veterans’ homelessness also declined 14 percent from 2012 to 2015, and the graduation rate of homeless students increased 10 percent. Meanwhile, renter demographics have been on the radar of both CommonBond and Catholic Charities. Madsen noted high percentages of people of color renting in comparison to whites. “We have to recognize that racism, the racial divide, ... is a significant subtext to poverty and homelessness,” Marx said. Marx also said that facing the housing gap will help alleviate poverty significantly, as housing persists as a central issue of poverty around which the other issues revolve. A safe place to live helps people’s mental and physical health, as well as the ability to get an education and employment, he said. Krisnik said that not all organizations addressing poverty agree that housing is the core issue. The complexity of the needs and solutions is part of what makes poverty challenging to tackle, she said. Marx said mental health and substance abuse play a big role in people remaining homeless, and Catholic Charities works to address this need with counseling services. Adkins said mental health and substance abuse need more attention from elected officials. Education is a major issue surrounding poverty, Adkins said, as the achievement gap between white and minority students, and high-income and low-income students, remains wide. In 2017, MCC advocated for school choice policy that would help low-income families afford the best school for their child. He said that school choice has been perceived as a “middle-class virtue,” but that it benefits students of all social classes. The legislative commission identified education as a major area of concern, and the JRLC reported some progress, such as a 7 percent increase in students receiving free and reduced lunch at schools. The report also noted improvements in access to early childhood education, such as more funding for in-home Pre-K programs, in which an educator visits the home to teach the children and follow up with observation of the family. Krisnik said suitable childcare remains a big obstacle for many single working
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 7
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Homeless people have tents set up at the base of a concrete wall near Hiawatha Avenue in south Minneapolis. parents, especially in rural areas. It makes it harder for some people to find adequate work, or the cost of childcare is too high in comparison to their wages, she said. Rural poverty has been a less-talkedabout problem around Minnesota, Adkins said, but some Catholic parishes have outreaches addressing it. Joyce Hackworth, a volunteer with the St. Vincent de Paul Society in St. Michael, sees poverty regularly in Wright County, west of the Twin Cities. St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteers meet with the poor and provide material and financial need on a case-by-case basis. Hackworth also has seen people holding signs outside of the Catholic parishes in the area, requesting help. “It’s sad to see people in that state,” she said, adding that many can’t afford a place to live. On the outskirts of the metro area, St. Genevieve in Centerville recently worked with St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi to open a homeless shelter in Hugo at the former St. John the Baptist rectory. The shelter can house up to 16 people per night. “Homelessness in the more rural areas just looks different, too,” said Julie McCarthy, a parishioner of St. Genevieve who volunteers with the shelter. “Families might get by camping or sleeping at a rest stop. There are laundromats that are open 24 hours and it’s not uncommon to see a motor home parked overnight in a Walmart.” Rural or urban, job creation remains a key to alleviating poverty, as the 2009 legislative coalition indicated. Catholic Studies professor Robert Kennedy of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, an expert on Catholic social teaching, said improved work opportunities help
alleviate poverty, but helping people become qualified employees instead of increasing job availability helps much more. He also noted that increasing the minimum wage, a topic addressed in the 2009 legislative commission’s final report, has not been shown to effectively resolve poverty. Instead, it leads to many employers cutting jobs to boost employee pay. However, the Church teaches that employers have an obligation to pay employees a livable wage. Jessica Webster, an attorney with Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, a Minneapolis nonprofit law firm that helps vulnerable citizens, said hunger and food insecurity can’t be overlooked in addressing poverty. She said if the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program receives the federal cuts anticipated in President Donald Trump’s 2019 budget proposal, it would affect tens of thousands of Minnesotans, and food shelves wouldn’t be able to make up the difference. She added that food insecurity feeds into the housing problem, as people in poverty get caught between buying food or paying rent. Poverty wasn’t clearly defined by the 2009 legislative coalition, Kennedy said, noting a discrepancy between the Federal income threshold for poverty and the National Academy of Sciences’ measures for poverty. He also said that poverty really is understood in relation to a country’s wealth, and through that lens, the U.S. experiences relatively little poverty when compared to other countries. Kennedy said that the Church calls individuals to do what they can to meet the immediate needs of the poor people they encounter. Adkins offered Pope Francis’ vision as a solution: fostering encounter in a segregated and isolated society. Going to the voting booth and engaging legislators also make a difference, Krisnik said, as leaders on both sides of the aisle care about poverty. However, a bipartisan consensus on how to address it needs to grow, she said. “We want to make sure that people across the state have information on challenges people in poverty face, and some possible ideas, so they can have good, meaningful conversations with candidates for office,” Krisnik said.
51st Annual
Ho-Down
Most Holy Trinity Church, Veseli, MN Between New Prague and Lonsdale, Hwy 19W off I35
SUNDAY AUGUST 19, 2018 Polka mass at 11 a.m., Featuring the Veseli Choir and Band Grilled Pork & Dumplng Dinner, 11 a.m. until sold out Continuous Music Noon to 6:15 p.m. ALSO: Prizes & Cash Drawings • BINGO • Home-Baked goods Kid’s Games • Country Store • Silent Auction Pull Tabs • Food & Refreshments Shuttle Service starting at 9 a.m.
“Ni Shledanou Ve Veseli ”
LOCAL
8 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
Weight-lifting priest builds muscle and relationships By Jessica Weinberger For The Catholic Spirit In the pristine University of St. Thomas weight room in St. Paul, Father John Floeder, 36, walks purposefully among the students fitting in circuit training over summer break to a set of tall, metal power racks to start a routine he repeats up to four times per week. He’s replaced his clerics and collar with an unassuming gray T-shirt and knee-high white tube socks. A small logo depicting the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity on his black gym shorts is one of the only clues to his role as the dean of seminarians across Summit Avenue on the southwestern corner of campus. Methodically, he steps into the rack to start his warmup, raising and lowering the barbell below his scapular as he bends his knees for a series of low bar squats. “You have to know anatomy,” Father Floeder quips as he explains his form and wipes a few beads of sweat off his shaved head. He gradually works up to three sets of five squats at 350 pounds — an impressive feat that’s still 150 pounds less than the personal record he set last fall at his first weight-lifting competition. Moving on from squats, he adjusts his rack for bench presses, deadlifts and chin-ups during his hour-long training session. It’s the mental game that keeps Father Floeder coming back to the weight room, a commitment he never misses. “Every time I go, it’s a mental battle,” he said. “It gets you used to doing hard things. And when you’re doing hard things in this controlled environment, it’s way easier to do hard things elsewhere in your life.” The weight room has also led to new connections among curious students who watch the undercover clergyman nicknamed the “The Jacked Priest” lifting hundreds of pounds at a time. Through conversation and relationship building, this unlikely location has become a catalyst for evangelization, with Father Floeder’s weight-lifting prowess as the gateway.
Bonding with barbells Father Floeder, who has taught at the St. Paul Seminary for six of the 11 years since his ordination, started weight training nearly three years ago at the recommendation of his priest friend Father Nels Gjengdahl, 37, then-chaplain of St. Thomas Academy, the Catholic all-male middle and high school in Mendota Heights. Father Floeder began by watching online videos and eventually paired up with Matt Reynolds from Starting Strength Online Coaching to fine-tune his form and develop a training program. Now Father Floeder sets up a tripod in the weight room to record video footage of his lifts on his iPhone, which he uploads to an app with a few clicks for his coach in Springfield, Missouri, to review and provide feedback. The online coaching has elevated his skill level, providing the accountability that keeps the priest going despite a crammed schedule. “After a month or two, I was just hooked. I was lifting pain free because of his coaching, other than the normal aches and pains of being a normal 36-year-old man,” he said. “And I just love it.” Now that he’s a familiar presence in the weight room, several students regularly yell out, “Father John!” when they walk through the door. While he usually trains by himself, Father Floeder often asks for a spotter or strikes up conversation with the athletes who routinely work out around him, forging friendships that spur an array of questions about his work on campus, training program or gear like his custom weight belt. The black belt has his name inscribed on the inside and “padre” emblazoned in gold letters on the back. Smaller letters in the front spell out “esto vir,” Latin for “be a man,” a line from one of his favorite books, “The Way” by St. Josemaria Escriva. Most students are blown away by the super strong priest who can analyze weight lifting form and offer spiritual advice. With many of the students discerning the call to marriage, career direction and the role of
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
faith through it all, Father Floeder has become a trusted resource for students, Catholic or not. He often prays for them and has met several students privately for spiritual direction. Father Floeder is quick to note that he doesn’t set out to evangelize — rather, he tries to be himself and use his interests to spur conversation and relationships. He referred to St. John Bosco, who is known for developing strong relationships with young people by first immersing himself in their interests. “For me, I’m just into what I’m into, and when I talk to people, it will turn into other things,” he said. “When I’m in the weight room, guys who are into lifting and know who I am and find out I’m a priest say, ‘Who’s this guy?’” His impact in the weight room is directly related to his ability to make comparisons between weight lifting and the spiritual life by using familiar language, said Father Gjengdahl, now pastor of Nativity of Mary in Bloomington. “They know that if you take even a few weeks off of weight lifting, you can quickly lose muscle,” Father Gjengdahl said. “The same can be true with the spiritual life. You skip one or two weekends of going to Mass, and then it becomes harder to get back into the routine of going to Mass again. But once you get that routine down, just like weight lifting, you almost feel weaker if you miss something.” It can be tempting to see evangelization as the responsibility of priests and religious, along with seeing locations like the weight room as places where you shouldn’t discuss faith. But meaningful conversation can stem from established relationships that can help Catholics bridge gaps in our politically divided culture or approach topics like natural family planning, according to Father Floeder. “People won’t care what I think about Jesus or how I think they should live their life until they know that I care about them,” he said. “What I try to do is be true to what ought to be the basis of my life as a man, as a Christian and as a priest, which is to be rooted in Jesus Christ. The better I can live my own relationship with Jesus Christ, the more people will want to talk to me about it.”
Theology on tap Father Floeder is just as comfortable talking about craft beer as he is weight lifting. Well-versed in the vernacular of hops, IBUs and malt, just like reps, sets and loading, he and Father Gjengdahl frequent the Twin Cities’ vibrant brewery scene. They’re also on a mission to visit every National Hockey League arena. So far, they’ve been to nearly 25. These two young priests who drink craft beer and pull up stools at hotel bars around the U.S. defy common stereotypes of the priesthood. That creates an opportunity for conversation with a variety of people, many of whom have never talked to a priest outside of church. Both priests have fielded questions about Pope Francis, their vow of celibacy and the Church’s moral teachings. Father Floeder remembers a particular conversation with a pro-choice man over a pint. While the man didn’t personally support abortion, he felt like he couldn’t take away that option from someone else.
Father John Floeder, dean of seminarians at the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity, smiles and flexes during a break in his weight-lifting routine July 11 at the University of St. Thomas’ weight room in St. Paul.
That conversation helped Father Floeder understand an opposing view in a new way. The most common question they field: Are you really a priest? “I learn a lot about people if you just listen and ask good questions,” Father Floeder said. “When I go, they do most of the talking. I think a priest needs to be a student of humanity to be able to preach well and to be a good confessor.” At Norse-themed Hammerheart Brewing Company in Lino Lakes, their favorite brewery, the priests enjoy unique brews such as smoked beers with elderwood or beechwood, or an intensely flavored peet-smoked scotch ale. With no TV, it’s the ideal location for casual conversation with the bartenders and regulars that can evolve into the deeper, faith-based connections — just like in the weight room. “Evangelization rarely is a single meeting or a single interaction that turns a person around,” Father Gjengdahl said. “It’s how the Holy Spirit uses a whole, beautiful spectrum of different interactions where one person meets Father John in the weight room, a week later they talk to somebody else about it and then they talk to their parents about it and then Grandma mentions it. That all adds up to the person’s conscience being awakened to the need to reach out to Christ.”
The end game Back at the University of St. Thomas weight room, Father Floeder is seeing the benefits of his much-loved hobby. His hereditary high blood pressure is in check, and day-to-day, he’s feeling stronger and more equipped to handle any challenge, like carrying his backpack, carry-on and two suitcases down five sets of stairs on a recent trip to Venezuela. He points to weight training for strengthening his prayer life and role as formator at the seminary, and it’s also helped him manage fear, anxiety and anger in a healthy way. It’s all part of a journey of interior and exterior growth that Father Floeder said makes a person hungry for growth in other areas. “It’s helped me be a better leader and formator to the men. They’re able to see my own vulnerability, and that actually makes me a stronger leader and formator. Being vulnerable makes you stronger,” he said. He recommends weight training to anyone, especially men who are in formation for the priesthood. His training team recently visited the seminary to run a free strength clinic for 18 men, helping future leaders of the Church learn key lifts and nutrition over the course of two days. Weight lifting is at the core of Father Floeder’s growth and evangelization, but it’s not the ultimate goal, according to his good friend. “The end game is trying to grow in every facet of his life through the weight lifting — the idea of perseverance, doing the tough things, recovering from failure — and then using that to both make himself better and make those better around him,” Father Gjengdahl said. “The Holy Spirit can work with just about anybody’s interest to bring about people knowing the love that he has for each and every one of us.” Editor’s note: This story is published in partnership with Family Foundations, Couple to Couple League’s magazine.
LOCAL
AUGUST 9, 2018
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 9
Katie Gebhard was the director of faith formation at St. Stephen in Anoka.
Retiring faith formation director reflects on 50 years as catechist Interview by Matthew Davis The Catholic Spirit As the faith formation classes at St. Stephen in Anoka wrapped up in May, its director of faith formation, Katie Gebhard, completed her 50th year in lay ministry. She retired this summer after a half-century serving in faith formation at the parish and diocesan level, as well as at a Catholic college and in a religious order. The Catholic Spirit recently interviewed Gebhard, 69, to learn about developments, challenges and blessings she’s seen in faith formation over the past 50 years. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity.
Q. When did you feel called to work in faith formation?
A. Probably as a teenager. I felt a call to
really be involved in ministry and teaching, and 50 years ago, the only thing that was available for a woman was to enter religious life, so I was a Dominican sister for a while and I taught. And then, when I left the community, I still felt called to Church ministry. Even though I had left religious life, there was a beginning in the Church to see more lay leaders, and so I stayed in faith formation.
Q. What kind of changes have you
seen in religious education over five decades?
A. I think some of the changes I’ve seen [include] more Scripture within the curriculum. I see very intentional teaching of the faith. But a lot more discipleship, specifically in religious ed. I think a big thing in religious ed is the lay leadership and more parishes [having lay leaders in general].
Q. Why has there been more use of the term “discipleship” in faith formation?
A. You have the situation of
apologetics: Do the kids and teens and adults know their faith? And you also have the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not just knowing facts about the faith. It’s living the faith out, having the relationship with Jesus.
Q. You began working in faith
formation right after the Second Vatican Council. How did that affect faith formation, and how did you help young people understand and engage in the Mass?
A. Whether they’re in a Catholic school or they’re in faith formation, we only have a certain amount of time with the kids and teenagers. We have to do more with adults, and I think for Mass, one of the biggest challenges is [forming] families who are very dedicated. They bring their kids to faith formation or Catholic school, but they don’t worship on Sunday. So we’re spending more and more time trying to teach about the Mass, different parts, and encouraging the families to participate in the Mass.
TheCatholicSpirit.com
Q. How has family involvement in faith formation changed over 50 years?
A. I see it going from “I always drop my
kid off … and then I pick them up” to the parish [involvement] now. The catechists are more involved, the staff sends families materials they can do at home, both in prayer and practice. So we’re trying to involve the parents more because it’s their primary job to raise their child in the faith. We are here to support them.
Q. How have you worked with the
increased cultural diversity in faith formation?
A. It’s the two communities [English-
speaking and Latino] trying to say “we’re all one community.” It’s trying to blend more. You see parishes that have a wide variety of cultures, so I think that the Church is trying to really prayerfully be very respectful of different traditions and how they celebrate the Mass or formation and involve parents.
Q. What challenges have you seen
Congratulations, Dr. Mary Paquette
young people face over the years?
O N REC E I V I N G T HE 201 8 LEA D ING WITH FA ITH AWA RD !
A. I think one of the biggest things is
The first things must be the very fountains of life, love and birth and babyhood.
the disconnect for teens. It’s how do you help them navigate, help the families navigate that the Church guidelines are “this,” and society is saying “this” [instead]?
Q. What’s kept you going in lay ministry for 50 years?
A. Oh, the good Lord. I’ve been very
blessed and humbled. I have worked for some wonderful priests … and bishops. And of course, the obvious major support from my husband [Bob] and our three kids who are now grown.
- G.K. CHESTERTON
From your friends at The American Chesterton Society & Chesterton Academy
10 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
NATION+WORLD Pope revises catechism to say death penalty is ‘inadmissible’ Archbishop: Change shows ‘true dogmatic progress’
CNS
By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Building on the development of Catholic Church teaching against capital punishment, Pope Francis has ordered a revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to assert “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person” and to commit the Church to working toward its abolition worldwide. The catechism’s paragraph on capital punishment, 2267, already had been updated by St. John Paul II in 1997 to strengthen its skepticism about the need to use the death penalty in the modern world and, particularly, to affirm the importance of protecting all human life. Announcing the change Aug. 2, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said, “The new text, following in the footsteps of the teaching of John Paul II in ‘Evangelium Vitae,’ affirms that ending the life of a criminal as punishment for a crime is inadmissible because it attacks the dignity of the person, a dignity that is not lost even after having committed the most serious crimes.” “Evangelium Vitae” (“The Gospel of Life”) was St. John Paul’s 1995 encyclical on the dignity and sacredness of all human life. The encyclical led to an updating of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which he originally promulgated in 1992 and which recognized “the right and duty of legitimate public authority to punish malefactors by means of penalties commensurate with the gravity of the crime, not excluding, in cases of extreme gravity, the death penalty.” At the same time, the original version of the catechism still urged the use of “bloodless means” when possible to punish criminals and protect citizens. The catechism now will read: “Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good. “Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption,” the new section continues. Pope Francis’ change to the text concludes: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of
Pope Francis prays in the crypt of the Basilica of St. Nicholas during a meeting with the heads of Christian churches in the Middle East in Bari, Italy, July 7. The pope has ordered a revision to the catechism to state that the death penalty is inadmissible, and he committed the Church to its abolition.
the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.” In his statement, Cardinal Ladaria noted how St. John Paul, retired Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had all spoken out against capital punishment and appealed for clemency for death-row inmates on numerous occasions. The development of Church doctrine away from seeing the death penalty as a possibly legitimate punishment for the most serious crimes, the cardinal said, “centers principally on the clearer awareness of the Church for the respect due to every human life. Along this line, John Paul II affirmed: ‘Not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this.’” Pope Francis specifically requested the change to the catechism in October 2017 during a speech at the Vatican commemorating the 25th anniversary of the text’s promulgation. The death penalty, no matter how it is carried out, he had said, “is, in itself, contrary to the Gospel, because a decision is voluntarily made to suppress a human life, which is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator and of whom, in the last analysis, only God can be the true judge and guarantor.” Cardinal Ladaria also noted that the popes were not the only Catholics to become increasingly aware of how the modern use of the death penalty conflicted with Church teaching on the dignity of human life; the same position, he said, has been “expressed ever more widely in the teaching of pastors and in the sensibility of the people of God.” In particular, he said, Catholic opposition to the death penalty is based on an “understanding that the dignity of a person is not lost even after committing the most serious crimes,” a deeper understanding that criminal penalties should aim at the rehabilitation of the criminal and a recognition that governments have the ability to detain criminals effectively, thereby protecting their citizens. The cardinal’s note also cited a letter Pope Francis wrote in 2015 to the International Commission Against the Death Penalty. In the letter, the pope called capital punishment “cruel, inhumane and degrading” and said it “does not bring justice to the victims, but only foments revenge.” Furthermore, in a modern “state of law, the death penalty represents a failure” because it obliges the state to kill in the name of justice, the pope had written. On the other hand, he said, it is a method frequently used by “totalitarian regimes and fanatical groups” to do away with “political dissidents, minorities” and any other person deemed a threat to their power and to their goals. In addition, Pope Francis noted that “human
Pope Francis’ revision of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to assert that capital punishment is morally inadmissible shows how the Church can grow in its understanding of the implications of basic tenets of faith, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. “To guard the sacred deposit of faith does not mean to mummify it,” the archbishop wrote in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. Safeguarding the Church’s long-standing teachings means allowing them to respond to the new questions of each new generation, the archbishop said in the article published Aug. 2, the same day the Vatican released the revised text of the catechism’s section on the death penalty. Announcing the revision, Cardinal Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, said, “The new text, following in the footsteps of the teaching of John Paul II in ‘Evangelium Vitae,’ affirms that ending the life of a criminal as punishment for a crime is inadmissible because it attacks the dignity of the person, a dignity that is not lost even after having committed the most serious crimes.” The revised text acknowledged the Church’s previous acceptance of capital punishment when imposed by a “legitimate authority, following a fair trial,” but said that “there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes” and that governments do not have to execute murderers to prevent them from killing again. Both Cardinal Ladaria and Archbishop Fisichella noted how the revised text is based on the development, especially under St. John Paul II and retired Pope Benedict XVI, of Church teaching on the death penalty. “A careful reading allows us to verify how the Church in recent decades has made real progress in understanding her teaching on the dignity of the person and, consequently, in the reassessment of her thinking on the death penalty,” the archbishop wrote. With the revised text, he said, “the Church takes a decisive step in promoting the dignity of every person, whatever crime he or she may have committed, and explicitly condemns the death sentence.” “This move,” the archbishop wrote, “highlights that one is dealing with a true dogmatic progress with which a content of the faith is clarified, one that has steadily matured to the point of making one understand the unsustainability of the death penalty in our time.” At the same time, he said, the Church “does not forget the suffering of the victims involved, nor the injustice that has been perpetrated.” But it insists that “justice take its own decisive step, not out of rancor and vengeance, but from a sense of responsibility beyond the present moment,” Archbishop Fisichella wrote. Affirming that the death penalty is morally inadmissible, he said, “recognizes that conversion, repentance and the desire to start life afresh cannot be taken away from anyone, not even from those who have been guilty of very serious crimes.” — Cindy Wooden
justice is imperfect” and said the death penalty loses all legitimacy in penal systems where judicial error is possible. “The new formulation of No. 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church,” Cardinal Ladaria said, “desires to give energy to a movement toward a decisive commitment to favor a mentality that recognizes the dignity of every human life and, in respectful dialogue with civil authorities, to encourage the creation of conditions that allow for the elimination of the death penalty where it is still in effect.”
NATION+WORLD
AUGUST 9, 2018
U.S. Church groups race to help reunite families By Rhina Guidos Catholic News Service In public and behind the scenes of a court order that immigrant families separated by the U.S. government be reunited by July 26, the Catholic Church, from its leadership to its charitable and advocacy organizations, worked around the clock to speed up the effort, while also calling for a stop to the policy that led to the ordeal. Catholic humanitarian organizations rushed to collect material help, bishops loudly denounced the separation policy, and groups such as Catholic Extension established a fund to shelter, feed and defend some of the separated immigrant families. By the end of deadline day, when the more than 2,500 children separated were supposed to have been reunited with family members, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said 1,442 of them had found their way to a loved one and said the rest did not have an “eligible” family member with whom to go. The number of families the government reported reuniting by the following morning increased to 1,800 by some counts, but many say it’s too early to paint a clear picture of who’s been reunited. Away from Washington, where the crisis began with a “zero tolerance” memo implemented in April, at places dealing head-on with the crisis the memo created — such as Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in McAllen, Texas — staff and volunteers were still seeing affected families trickle in July 27, said Ashley Feasley, director of policy for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Migration and Refugee Services. The Texas facility served as a safe place for families to be reunited following their release. In a July 27 telephone briefing organized by the National Immigration Forum, Feasley said about 500 separated families passed
through Catholic-affiliated centers, such as Catholic Charities, in places such as McAllen, San Antonio and Phoenix. Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, also helped. Though there were joyous reunions, “they are very traumatized people,” said Feasley. Once immigration officials deemed the children could be reunited with the adults, they were taken to the “staging facilities,” such as Catholic Charities, where they were given temporary shelter ASHLEY FEASLEY a hot meal if they needed it, a change of clothes, access to a shower, and assistance to continue their travels toward the home of family or friends, Feasley said. But the weight of what had happened left many of the affected family members visibly exhausted by the time authorities handed them over to Catholic aid organizations, she said. About a third of those who were separated remain apart, with the government saying they are “ineligible” for reunification. “And it’s unclear what that means,” said Cathleen Farrell, director of communications for the National Immigration Forum. Some 400 to 500 adults apprehended when the separation policy began being strictly enforced have been deported, making it unclear what will happen to their children. While Catholic aid groups, along with other faith-based entities were busy tending to the needs of the families following their ordeal, other Church groups were calling for answers, pressing the government for action in reuniting the remainder. “The administration alone started this problem and has a
A GIFT OF
comfort.
moral obligation to reunite all the families they separated, not just the ones they deem acceptable or can currently locate,” said Kevin Appleby, senior director of international migration policy for the Center for Migration Studies and the Scalabrini International Migration Network. Groups such as the Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team called on people of faith and others to contact members of Congress urging them to stop policies “criminalizing immigrants,” such as the “zero tolerance” policy. Though family separation had been practiced before, immigration authorities, following orders by the Trump administration, began taking children away from parents or relatives in greater numbers as they were caught trying to cross the U.S.Mexico border in June, even if they were entering seeking asylum. “At the end of the day, the ‘zero tolerance’ policy should be stopped altogether, as these families are not a threat, first, and should not be subject to long-term detention, second. They are bona fide asylum seekers, not criminals, and should be treated accordingly,” Appleby said. Now many families have to figure out a way to grapple with the emotional toll of what’s happened and prepare for court dates to address their undefined immigration situation. Chief among the uncertainties surrounding the crisis, which continues despite the deadline, is what will happen to families who will continue to cross over. The administration has said it wants to practice family detention for illegal border crossers. “[U.S.] bishops remain extremely concerned,” said Feasley, adding that for the moment, the main concern is for the well-being of those affected, and to try to do what’s possible “to make these families whole again.”
A DUTY OF
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 11
Pittsburgh bishop: Report will be ‘sad, tragic description’ of events Catholic News Service Once it is released, a grand jury report on a months-long investigation into abuse claims in six Pennsylvania dioceses covering a 70-year span “will be a sad and tragic description of events that occurred within the church,” Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik said Aug. 4 in a letter to Catholics in his diocese. Nearly 90 percent of all reported incidents of abuse in the Pittsburgh Diocese covered by the report occurred before 1990, Bishop Zubik said, but he added: “Every act of child sexual abuse is horrific, no matter how long ago it occurred.” The report is expected to be released as early as Aug. 8 and no later than Aug. 14. Bishop Zubik said on the day the report is released, the diocese will also release to the public the names of its clergy who have been accused of abuse. Besides the Pittsburgh Diocese, the other five dioceses that are the subject of the grand jury report are Harrisburg, Greensburg, Allentown, Scranton and Erie. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled July 27 that a redacted version of the report should be released. In June, the court had put a hold on the full report being released because it said it needed to review challenges filed by “many individuals” named in the report. In its new ruling, the court said the report will be edited to protect the identities of those challenging its release. Bishop Zubik in his letter reviewed the procedures the diocese has in place for addressing allegations of abuse. By releasing the diocese’s list of clergy accused of abuse, “it is my hope that doing so will further strengthen the trust that you, the faithful, have placed in our diocese and in the ministry of our priests and deacons,” Bishop Zubik said. “In the past I truly believed that turning these names over to local law enforcement was appropriate and sufficient action. However, the conclusion of the grand jury investigation requires a higher level of transparency on our part,” he said. “I am also concerned that your faith may be tested,” he continued. “I ask, as you reflect on this report, that you stay close to God in prayer. And finally, I am concerned about the well-being of the vast majority of dedicated priests and deacons who bear the shame and the pain of the worst deeds of their peers. I ask that you pray for them, as well.”
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NATION+WORLD
12 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
Church urged to address its leaders’ ‘moral failures of judgment’ Catholic News Service Theodore McCarrick “will rightly face” a Vatican canonical process regarding sexual abuse allegations against him, but the U.S. Catholic Church must take steps to respond to Church leaders’ “moral failures of judgment,” said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The accusations against Archbishop McCarrick, a former cardinal and retired archbishop of Washington, “reveal a grievous moral failure within the Church,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston. “They cause bishops anger, sadness and shame; I know they do in me,” he said in an Aug. 1 statement. “They compel bishops to ask, as I do, what more could have been done to protect the people of God. Both the abuses themselves, and the fact that they have remained undisclosed for decades, have caused great harm to people’s lives and represent grave moral failures of judgment on the part of Church leaders.” To determine a course of action for the USCCB to take, Cardinal DiNardo said he convened the bishops’ Executive Committee. “This meeting was the first of many among bishops that will extend into our Administrative Committee meeting in September and our general assembly in November,” he explained. “All of these discussions will be oriented toward discerning the right course of action for the USCCB.” Such work will “take some time,” but he laid out four points to be acted upon immediately:
uHe encouraged each bishop in his own diocese “to respond with compassion and justice to anyone who has been sexually abused or harassed by anyone in the Church. We should do whatever we can to accompany them.” uHe urged anyone who has experienced sexual assault or harassment by anyone in the Church to come forward. “Where the incident may rise to the level of a crime, please also contact ARCHBISHOP local law enforcement,” he said. MCCARRICK uThe USCCB “will pursue the many questions surrounding Archbishop McCarrick’s conduct to the full extent of its authority; and where that authority finds its limits, the conference will advocate with those who do have the authority. One way or the other, we are determined to find the truth in this matter.” u“Finally, we bishops recognize that a spiritual conversion is needed as we seek to restore the right relationship among us and with the Lord. Our Church is suffering from a crisis of sexual morality. The way forward must involve learning from past sins.” Cardinal DiNardo said the failures of judgment by Church leaders in the case of Archbishop McCarrick “raise serious questions.” “Why weren’t these allegations of sins against chastity and human dignity disclosed when they were first brought to Church officials?” he asked. “Why wasn’t this egregious situation addressed decades sooner and with justice? What must our
HEADLINES uBrazil church leaders speak against decriminalization of abortion. Reiterating Aug. 6 the Catholic Church’s teaching “in the defense of life from its conception until its natural death,” Bishop Ricardo Hoerpes of Rio Grande, Brazil, said that the issue was not for the country’s Supreme Court to decide. Brazil has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the world, permitting abortion only when the fetus is encephalitic, in a pregnancy that occurred because of rape, or if the mother’s life is at risk. Its Supreme Court is expected to make a decision about the legality of abortion this month. uCARA study: U.S. men and women religious superiors favor women deacons. According to a new study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, 73 percent of religious superiors believed ordaining women was theoretically possible and 72 percent thought that the Catholic Church should ordain women to the diaconate. However, only 45 percent believed that the Church would authorize female deacons, and, if it were authorized, 58 percent believe that their bishop would implement it. The survey was taken in response to a papal commission organized by Pope Francis to study the question of ordaining women to the permanent diaconate.
seminaries do to protect the freedom to discern a priestly vocation without being subject to misuse of power?” In conclusion, he asked all to “pray for God’s wisdom and strength for renewal as we follow St. Paul’s instruction: ‘Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.’” On July 28, Pope Francis accepted the resignation from the College of Cardinals of then-Cardinal McCarrick and ordered him to maintain “a life of prayer and penance” until a canonical trial examines accusations that he sexually abused minors. In late June, the 88-year-old prelate said he would no longer exercise any public ministry “in obedience” to the Vatican after an allegation he abused a teenager 47 years ago in the Archdiocese of New York was found credible. The cardinal has said he is innocent. In the weeks that followed the announcement, another man came forward claiming he was abused as a child by Archbishop McCarrick, and several former seminarians have spoken out about being sexually harassed by the former cardinal at a beach house he had. In other developments, two New Jersey dioceses where he served in the 1980s and 1990s said settlements had been reached in 2005 and 2007 in cases of abuse claims against him that dated to his years of service in those dioceses. He was the founding bishop of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey, in 1981, then headed the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, before being named to Washington in 2001. He retired in 2006.
uXavier University of Louisiana to be a hub for causes of African-American Catholics. According to university President Reynold Verret, its Institute for Black Catholic Studies will focus on the canonization of Father Tolton and Pierre Toussaint, Mother Henriette Delille, Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange and Julia Greeley, with the hope of adding to its efforts the cause of Sister Thea Bowman, who taught at the institute. The announcement was made July 31 during a joint conference of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus, the National Black Sisters Conference, the National Black Catholic Seminarians Association and the National Association of Black Catholic Deacons held in New Orleans. uBishop: U.K. Supreme Court ruling on withdrawing hydration morally wrong. Britain’s highest court has ruled that doctors can withdraw food and fluid from patients who are in a vegetative state or minimally conscious without seeking permission from judges. Auxiliary Bishop John Wilson of Westminster said it was morally wrong to withdraw food and fluids from anyone. “Artificial nutrition and hydration ... are not treatment,” he said in a July 31 statement published on the website of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. uStruggle against virus isn’t over, say Catholics at global AIDS meeting. Churches
must continue to play a critical role in combating the disease, Catholic leaders were told July 24 at an international gathering of more than 15,000 AIDS researchers and activists in Amsterdam. While progress has been made in testing, treatment and prevention of HIV in many settings, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, known as UNAIDS, warns that new infections are on the rise in some regions and among several key populations, and drug-resistant forms of the virus are beginning to appear. In addition, a population boom of children and adolescents, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, will be particularly susceptible to infection following years of overly optimistic messaging about the end of AIDS as a public health threat. uSt. Katharine Drexel’s tomb will be moved to Philadelphia cathedral. The founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament is expected to be transferred soon from the crypt under the chapel of St. Elizabeth Convent, the congregation’s Bensalem, Pennsylvania, motherhouse, to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. The transfer is precipitated by the decision of the sisters to sell the property because of declining numbers in the order. – Catholic News Service
Read the stories at TheCatholicSpirit.com.
NATION+WORLD
AUGUST 9, 2018
Pew study: Why Americans go to church By Steve Larkin Catholic News Service A Pew Research Center survey found that the main reason Americans attend worship services is to feel closer to God, but those who do not regularly attend worship services have a wider variety of motivations. Of those who attend religious services at least once or twice a month, 81 percent said becoming closer to God is a very important reason they do so, according to survey results released Aug. 1. Other reasons given by over 65 percent of respondents include: so that their children will have a moral foundation, to make them better people, and for comfort in times of trouble and sorrow. Other reasons are less common. Only 37 percent said continuing their family’s religious traditions is a very important reason. Feeling a religious obligation is cited as a very important reason by 31 percent, meeting new people and socializing by 19 percent, and pleasing family by 16 percent. Fifty-nine percent of people who attend religious services at least once or twice a month said that finding the sermons valuable was a very important reason they attended, but Protestants were more likely to cite this as a reason than Catholics. For 71 percent of Protestants, the value of the sermons was very important, but only 36 percent of Catholics said the same. When at religious services, 80 percent said they always or often feel a sense of God’s presence, 73 percent said the same about a sense of community, and 60 percent said the same about a
connection to a tradition. Women were more likely than men to have these feelings, and older people were more likely than younger people to feel this way. Among those who attend religious services a few times a year or less, 37 percent cited practicing their faith in other ways as a very important reason for sparse attendance at formal services, and 23 percent said they have found a house of worship they like. Interestingly, the survey found that those who do not attend religious services because they practice their faith in other ways were less likely to be part of various community, charitable and social groups than those who attend religious services regularly. Fifty percent of those who said they practiced their faith in other ways were active in at least one organization of this type, compared to 63 percent of regular attenders. Twenty-eight percent said that their lack of belief is a very important reason they do not attend more often. Those Americans who gave reasons other than a lack of belief for not attending worship services are still rather religious. About seven in 10 identified with a religion and most said that religion is either very or somewhat important to them. The report also indicated that Americans who do not attend religious services due to a lack of belief are more likely to be male and younger, highly educated, and more Democrat-leaning than the average American. The full report on this survey — “Why Americans Go (and Don’t Go) to Religious Services” — can be found at pewrsr.ch/2KmGbhK.
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Chapter 11 Reorganization Proceeding (Case No. 15-30125) NOTICE OF HEARINGS AND OBJECTION DEADLINES FOR MOTIONS TO APPROVE SETTLEMENTS WITH INSURERS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (the “Archdiocese”) and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Committee”) have filed, in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota, case number 15-30125, motions to approve settlement, release and policy and certificate buyback agreements (the “Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements”) pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 105(a), 363, & 365 and Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2002(l), 6004(c), and 9019(a) with the following entities (the “Settling Insurers”): The Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America (including certificates issued to certain parishes); The Home Insurance Company and Liquidation; State Farm Fire & Casualty Company; Employers Liability Assurance Corporation and its successors Lamorak Ins. Co, f/k/a OneBeacon America Ins. Co., and Belvedere Insurance Company; The Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York, National Fire Insurance Company of Hartford, American Casualty Company of Reading, Pa., and Continental Casualty Company; Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company, as successor to Fireman’s Fund Indemnity Company, and Interstate Fire & Casualty Company; TIG Insurance Company, as successor to International Insurance Company; Hartford Accident and Indemnity Company; American Home Assurance Company; Travelers Casualty and Surety Company (formerly known as Aetna Casualty and Surety Company), Northfield Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, and St. Katherine Insurance Company PLC (now known as St. Paul International Insurance Company); Travelers Indemnity Company; St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company; United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company; and Phoenix Insurance Company; and 21st Century Centennial Insurance Company f/k/a Colonial Penn Insurance Company and Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London subscribing to Policies SL3721, SL3722, SL3723, ISL3115, ISL3116, ISL3117, ISL3675, ISL3613, ISL3614, and ISL3615; Catalina
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 13
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Worthing Insurance Ltd f/k/a HFPI (as Part VII transferee of (Excess Insurance Company Ltd and/or London & Edinburgh Insurance Company Ltd as successor to London & Edinburgh General Insurance Company Ltd)), Riverstone Insurance (UK) Limited (as successor in interest to Sphere Drake Insurance Ltd.), Riverstone Management Limited for and on behalf of Markel International Insurance Company Limited (formerly known as Terra Nova Insurance Company Limited), CX Reinsurance Company Ltd. (formerly known as CNA Reinsurance of London Ltd.), Dominion Insurance Company Ltd., Stronghold Insurance Company Limited, Tenecom Ltd. (formerly known as The Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company of Europe Ltd. and also known as Yasuda Fire & Marine Insurance Company (U.K.)), and those insurers subscribing to Insurance Policy Nos. SLC5743, ICO4076, ICO5200, and ICO5402. If approved, the Archdiocese will (a) sell, and certain of the Settling Insurers will purchase, all of the insurance policies and certain certificates issued or allegedly issued to or owned by the Archdiocese as described more particularly in the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements, free and clear of all liens, claims, encumbrances, and other interests, and/or (b) fully release any all claims against the Settling Insurers and their related entities. IN ADDITION, THE MOTIONS SEEK A RULING THAT SETTLING INSURERS ARE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFIT OF INJUNCTIONS, AS PART OF THE ARCHDIOCESE’S AND COMMITTEE’S CONTEMPLATED JOINT PLAN OF REORGANIZATION, PERMANENTLY BARRING ALL CLAIMS BY ANY PERSON OR ENTITY AGAINST SETTLING INSURERS AND CERTAIN RELATED ENTITIES (THE “SETTLING INSURER ENTITIES,” AS SPECIFICALLY DEFINED IN THE JOINT PLAN) RELATING TO (A) ALL INSURANCE POLICIES AND CERTIFICATES ISSUED OR ALLEGEDLY ISSUED TO THE ARCHDIOCESE OR (B) TORT CLAIMS RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART FROM SEXUAL ABUSE OR MISCONDUCT. Copies of the Joint Plan and the motions to approve the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements are on file with the Court, 200 Warren E. Burger Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 316 North Robert Street, St. Paul, MN 55101. Copies of the Joint Plan, Amended Disclosure Statement, and motions to approve the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements may be obtained by (a) contacting J. Zahler at the Archdiocese at 777 Forest Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106, email: zahlerj@archspm.org, phone: (651) 291-4408, fax: (651) 290-1629 during normal business hours; (b) visiting the
Archdiocese’s website at: http://information.archspm.org/; or (c) visiting the website of United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota at http://www.mnb.uscourts.gov/. A PACER login and password are required to access documents on the Bankruptcy Court’s website and these can be obtained through the PACER Service Center at www.pacer.psc.uscourts.gov. PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the hearing on motions to approve the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements will occur on Thursday, August 30, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 8 West, United States Courthouse, 300 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55415. Any response or objection to motions to approve the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements must be filed and served by Friday, August 24, 2018. IF YOU HAVE A CLAIM AGAINST THE ARCHDIOCESE AS TO WHICH INSURANCE COVERAGE IS OR MAY BE AVAILABLE OR HAVE AN INTEREST IN ANY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE’S INSURANCE POLICIES OR CERTIFICATES, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED. If you wish to object to any aspect of the motions to approve the Insurance Settlement and Buyback Agreements, you must file your response with the Clerk of the Court at: Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court 200 Warren E. Burger Federal Building and United States Courthouse 316 North Robert Street St. Paul, MN 55101 Any written response must reference case number 15-30125, state the specific facts upon which the objection is based, and provide proof of service that a copy of the response was served on: Richard D. Anderson, 2200 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55402; Robert Kugler, 50 South Sixth Street, Suite 2600, Minneapolis, MN 55402; and Office of The United States Trustee, 300 South Fourth Street, Suite 1015 Minneapolis, MN 55415. Any written response must also conform and be served in accordance with the Local Rules for the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota.
14 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
After the
crash
North Minneapolis family suffers trauma, finds hope and help from St. Bridget parish community By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
“M
ommy, Kayden’s dead!” These words horrified Nicolle Peltier the morning of June 11. They came over the phone, in a call alerting her that an SUV fleeing police had slammed into three of her seven children playing at a north Minneapolis park with her husband, Kyle. Kayden, her 2-year-old, had been run over and was fighting for his life at North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale with broken hip and pelvic bones, crushed vertebrae and a severely damaged spleen. Two of his siblings, Lillianna, 4, and Konnor, 3, were also hit, but did not suffer serious injuries. Nicolle, 25, answered her cell phone around 9:15 a.m. as she was preparing to take a test at St. Paul College in St. Paul, where she is studying to become a lab technician. As the news was delivered by an adult at the accident site, she heard her children screaming and crying in the background. It was her 7-year-old daughter, Jullianna, who blurted out that Kayden had been killed. The four children who escaped harm, as well as Kyle, all witnessed the crash. Their oldest, 8-year-old Kyle Jr., was so traumatized that he hid under a table after being taken inside to safety. Now the family, parishioners of St. Bridget in Minneapolis, are leaning on their Catholic faith and the generosity of friends and strangers to help them navigate the tragedy’s aftermath. Kayden didn’t die, as Jullianna had first thought, but his severe injuries have meant a new reality for the family. Meanwhile, all nine are still grappling in their own ways with what happened that morning at the park near their home. Kabaar Powell, the driver of the 1997 Ford Expedition that hit the family members, had led police on a six-minute chase that ended in Bohanon Park adjacent to Jenny Lind Elementary School on 49th and Dupont Avenues. Kyle had taken the children to this park, a mile from their home, around 9 a.m. to play games, a favorite family pastime. They arrived after dropping off Nicolle for her test. “I was just playing with the kids, watching them on the swings, and I was playing basketball with Lillie and Kayden,” said Kyle, 30. “I just heard sirens for the longest time, and thought nothing of it. Oh well, it’s Minneapolis, there’s going to be sirens. We were playing, I was shooting hoops. Lillie and Kayden were chasing the ball and giving it back to me. In one instant, I looked in the back of me and I saw a black SUV come towards us.” When Kayden ended up pinned beneath the tires of the SUV, it seemed inconceivable to his father — who had pushed the youngest child, 8-month-old Millianna, to safety — that something so awful could happen in a place so serene and far from the road.
Kayden Peltier does some exploring July 23 in the living room with help from his parents, Kyle and Nicolle, who were helping him find Bohanon Park in north Minneapolis June 11 by a driver who was fleeing police. Kayden had surgery to fuse two injured vertebrae in “We’re playing in a park. I thought it was safe,” Kyle said. Instead, the children appeared to be targeted by a driver who not only was making a last gasp at escape, but who also seemed determined to hurt someone in the process. The Peltiers were the only ones in the park that morning, and they were playing well away from the road. They say there was plenty of time and room for the driver to swerve away from the kids. Now, Kyle and Nicolle must deal with a son who will be permanently impaired by the tragedy. He wore a metal halo to support his head for several gut-wrenching weeks to prevent further injury to his spine and give it time to heal. They also must deal with the constant nightmares and terrors experienced by their older children, who routinely wake up crying and sometimes attempting to run away from the SUV in their dreams. There’s also their own trauma, which they say they barely have time to process. And, somewhere in the midst of a life Nicolle says looks like “a blender without the top on,” they search for God. It’s not easy. Both Kyle and Nicolle swell with anger when talking about a driver whom they think deliberately hit their children. “I have absolutely no doubt that he did it on purpose,” Nicolle said. “You can see from the
street if there’s people in that park or not. And he made that decision to go into the park where the children were. … It’s so far deep into the park where he drove. There’s no way that that could be an accident. There’s no way that … he [merely] lost control. No, he purposefully made that decision. And, our family has to live with the consequences.” The center of the aftereffects is Kayden, who rolled “four or five times” after the vehicle struck and ran over him, Kyle said. Immediately, the other children flocked to him, even Lillianna, who herself had been run over but suffered no broken bones. Meanwhile, Konnor lay motionless on the grass after being thrown from the swing Jullianna had been pushing. He was not physically injured, but went into shock. Lillianna suffered a mild brain injury that doctors continue to monitor. After Kayden arrived at North Memorial, doctors removed his spleen and put the halo on his head to keep it still and avoid further injury. Several days later, using some of his rib bones, doctors at Children’s Minnesota in Minneapolis performed fusion surgery on the top two vertebrae at the base of his skull. Once he was home, caring for him around the clock became the family’s central task. It was exhausting work, requiring not only effort to help their active toddler navigate 8 extra pounds of metal attached to his head, but acute alertness to make sure he didn’t take a fall
that could have brain. However, Nic God spared her gratitude for bei every night in b “I’m glad tha moment with m been the opposi any time with h grateful for that It is hard. Alre lifestyle involvin under, and Kyle delivery job tha 2-6 a.m. seven d navigate both th effects of a trage “can’t handle” b But, through a childlike faith and what he ha lives. “A lot of peop do you still beli your child?’” Ni that is I don’t be that. ... They say prevented it.’ I d mean or evil to been very gracio Lillie and Millie
AUGUST 9, 2018 • 15
“
I just heard sirens for the longest time, and thought nothing of it. Oh well, it’s Minneapolis, there’s going to be sirens. We were playing, I was shooting hoops. Lillie and Kayden were chasing the ball and giving it back to me. In one instant, I looked in the back of me and I saw a black SUV come towards us. Kyle Peltier
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
d ways to play while wearing a metal halo to keep his head in place. He was hit by an SUV at n his neck, and will have limited mobility for the rest of his life. The halo was removed Aug. 2.
e pushed the halo pins into his
colle holds a resolute belief that son, and her heart is filled with ing able to cuddle with him bed. at I get to spend every waking my son because there could have ite effect where I wouldn’t have him at all,” she said. “So, I’m t time, as hard as it is.” eady stressed by a challenging ng seven young children 8 and e’s modest-paying newspaper at puts him on the road from days a week, they now have to he physical and emotional edy Nicolle says they simply by themselves. it all, the Peltiers are guided by h that does not question God as allowed to happen in their
ple have actually asked, ‘Why ieve in a God that would hurt icolle said. “And my answer to elieve that it was God who did y, ‘Oh, well God could have don’t think that God has been us in any way. I think that he’s ous to let us keep Kayden and e. ... So, as far as my faith, I think
it’s stronger than it ever was.” The “why” questions are much tougher for Kyle, who battles anger every day, along with guilty feelings for not being able to move Kayden out of harm’s way. But, he channels his energy toward caring for his children, focusing lots of love and attention on Kayden. “If Kayden’s having a good day, I’m having a good day,” Kyle said. “That’s what helps.” Sadness, anger, confusion have roiled through Kyle in the weeks since the accident. Providing pastoral guidance to the family is Father Paul Jarvis, senior associate pastor of St. Bridget. He first met the Peltiers when they joined the parish in March shortly after moving to Minneapolis from St. Paul; they had previously attended Mary, Mother of the Church in Burnsville and St. Agnes after moving to Kyle’s native Twin Cities from California in June 2016. Father Jarvis has become a regular visitor to the home. “When this [accident] happened ... I knew something beautiful could come from this ugliness,” he said. “There’s always some silver lining. There’s always some ‘God opportunity’ with every tragedy.” Part of that silver lining is the response of the St. Bridget’s faith community. Even though the Peltiers are new to the parish, scores of members have responded with help, ranging from meals and babysitting to donations to the family’s GoFundMe account, which now stands
at $40,500 with no indication of how much more will be needed to cover the family’s mounting medical costs. One parishioner, Mary Majkozak, works closely with the family to coordinate outreach from the parish. She serves as the point of contact with the Peltiers, who call her a “beacon of grace.” She fields countless calls and inquiries from people wanting to help. “I think they’ve felt loved,” said Majkozak, director of faith formation for St. Bridget, Ascension in Minneapolis and Our Lady of Victory in Minneapolis, of the Peltier family. “You always feel alone when you’re going through tragedy. But, I think we’ve made them know that they aren’t. ... The parish of St. Bridget is remarkable.” Majkozak is quick to add that the outpouring of support extends well beyond the parish. People from the area, including those from other Catholic and Protestant churches, have pitched in. The Northside Knights of Columbus Council No. 4451 donated part of the proceeds from a July 30 charity golf tournament. “All the other people who have called and wanted to help amazes me,” Majkozak said. “I know God’s at work through the beauty in the hearts of all these people.” The Peltiers are bolstered by the love poured out on them by their new parish community. “They’ve been great. Just supportive,” said Kyle, who grew up in South St. Paul and belonged to St. Augustine. “A lot of prayers went out to Kayden. I’m pretty sure that helped him. We’re grateful. People actually do care.” Cooking for a large family is a challenge, so Nicolle appreciates the many meals that have given her a break from the kitchen. “My dad raised me to believe that food is love,” she said. “So when people bring you food, you never take that for granted because they had to take time to think about nourishing you.” In addition to the blessings coming from the outside are the ones sprouting from within. Kayden started sleeping in between Kyle and Nicolle every night so they could protect him from falling. That created intimate bonding time. Soon, it extended to all of the children, who joined in the new nightly routine that has become central to the family culture. They’ll come to the bedroom around 8 p.m., watch a movie together, then end with prayer about 10:30 p.m. Usually, all of the children are asleep by then, and Kyle and Nicolle carry them to their bedrooms one at a time. “I think that it’s super sweet. … a bonding experience for everybody,” Nicolle said. “It’s a very huge blessing to be able to nurture and care for your children in that way.” Sometimes, while the children are snuggled in their bed and still awake, Kyle and Nicolle are able to relax just a little and experience moments of quiet. “It’s rare,” Nicolle acknowledged. But, it happened the evening of July 23 while the kids were watching a movie about the birth of Jesus, snuggled in their parents’ bed. Kyle and Nicolle slipped away to the living room and stole a few precious moments together. Surrounded by more than a dozen large cushions the kids play on, and underneath green crepe paper vines Nicolle hung to create
a “jungle” for the kids, she and Kyle took just a minute to rekindle a romance that sparked when they met in California at a Ford dealership in 2009. She was 16, and he was serving in the Marine Corps. They got married a few months later in Las Vegas. After quickly cleaning the dining room, they turned to face each other, then held hands. They embraced, kissed and said, “I love you.” In the turbulence since June 11, they’ve relished the bright spots, like having a double first Communion at their house June 18 for Kyle Jr. and Jullianna, just a week after the incident. The children had been preparing for the sacrament, and Father Jarvis thought it only fitting to do it at the home. He also celebrated a baptism the same day. Nicolle’s father, Timothy Brinkley, was so touched by the way the parish community had been caring for the family, he asked if he could be baptized. Father Jarvis agreed. Nicolle’s mother, August Brinkley, also wants to join the Church. She and Timothy have mentioned enrolling in Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults when they get back to California. Nicolle herself became Catholic in 2016, shortly after she became pregnant with Kayden. August has been in town periodically since the accident to help out, and she is planning to stay for the month of November. That is when Nicolle is due to deliver the couple’s eighth child, a boy they have named Killian Jax. The pregnancy has caused further strain on the family, because Killian has a condition called omphalocele, in which his organs are developing outside his body. Nicolle is scheduled for a caesarian delivery Nov. 9, followed immediately by Killian’s surgery to move his organs inside his abdominal cavity. But, there’s three months worth of everyday life to get through before they can worry about child No. 8. Kayden’s condition has recently included inpatient physical therapy at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, and the removal of his halo Aug. 2, but his recovery will still be a long road. Along the way, Kyle and Nicolle will address perhaps the toughest challenge of all — attempting to forgive the driver who nearly killed their son. Powell recently pleaded guilty to two felonies and is expected to face up to three years in prison. Kyle and Nicolle were in the courtroom to hear his plea July 11, and said they felt Powell showed no remorse for his crimes. “Right when it happened, I had so much rage,” Kyle said. “I just saw red. ... I was just so angry. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad. I just screamed, kept going. As days go by, I want to forgive him. It’s hard to look at him and not get angry. I’m doing my best. I’m just caring for Kayden and not worrying about him [Powell].” “I just feel sorry for him,” Nicolle said. “I feel sorry for my son, I feel sorry for my daughter, I feel sorry for my kids, I feel sorry for my husband, I feel sorry for my family, but most of all I feel sorry for him because it takes a special kind of [angry] person to do that to somebody and not feel bad. So, I pray for forgiveness for him, and I pray for forgiveness for me for holding a grudge. I just feel really sorry in general.”
16 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
Thank you for Leading With Faith
T
his year marks my fourth Leading With Faith Awards. On the one hand, this recurrence reminds me how quickly the years go by; on the other, it calls to mind once again what a blessing it is to have so many people in our archdiocese who are intentional about living their Catholic faith even in the public forum. I hope you will take the time to read about our seven winners. I trust that you will be inspired, as I have been, by their love of our Lord and for the gift of the Eucharist. This animates and motivates them to serve with the selfless love of Jesus, trusting in the providential care of God the father. These men and women give freely of themselves and ask for nothing in return. Their backgrounds, experiences and expertise are nearly as diverse as this local Church. They serve in business, education, medicine, health care and beyond. They reach out to the young, old, poor, marginalized, underserved, sick, struggling, despairing and dying. Service to God and to their neighbors are at the core of who they are and what they do. After reading the submissions from those nominating our awardees, as well as their own responses, I’m struck by what they share in common: Besides excelling professionally and having a positive impact on those with whom they come into contact, they are each incredibly honest about their own shortcomings, articulate when it comes to explaining how they have learned from failure and difficult situations, and humbly conscious of their need for God’s love and forgiveness. How beautifully they give credit to our provident God. While the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gives the award, I cannot help but think that we are the true recipients benefiting from the fruits of the awardees’ labor and service. Please join me in a prayer of thanksgiving for this year’s Leading With Faith recipients and for the many men and women who serve so many in so many ways. — Archbishop Bernard Hebda
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This year’s seven Leading With Faith winners know that they don’t “bring God to the workplace” — he’s already there. In their various roles and responsibilities, these men and women strive to recognize God’s presence in their work, as well as in their colleagues and clients, bridging that false gap between faith and work. For the past 17 years, The Catholic Spirit has honored professionals who integrate their Catholic values with their careers, refusing to live a divided life. We are honored to recognize this year Mike Bangasser of Best Technology Inc., Luke Cahill of REAL Insight Inc., Timothy Mezzenga of Tracy Printing, Michael Naughton of the University of St. Thomas, Dr. Mary Paquette of AALFA Family Clinic, Joe Seidel of St. Thomas Academy and Joe Stanislav of Our Lady of Peace. Our winners will receive their awards from Archbishop Bernard Hebda at an Aug. 10 luncheon at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. As in years past, The Catholic Spirit asked our awardees to share how they lead with faith. Their responses appear on the following pages. Some have been edited for length. Read responses in full at TheCatholicSpirit.com. — The Catholic Spirit
LEADINGWITHFAITH
AUGUST 9, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 17
Mike Bangasser
Q. What achievement at work are you
President/owner, Best Technology Inc.
A. This award, plain and simple. Every
Age 39 Parish Holy Name of Jesus, Medina Spouse Nicole Bangasser Children Megan (4), Emily (1) Volunteer activities Career Transitions Group at Holy Name of Jesus; career, business and life mentoring Education Mechanical engineering, Marquette University, 2002; MBA, Carlson Business School, University of Minnesota, 2005
most proud of?
other achievement has been financial, a business goal or in some way a selfcentered motivation. This award really exemplifies the growth I have experienced in my faith journey over the years in understanding the real priority in my business, family and life.
Q. In what specific ways have you
experienced God’s presence in your workplace? DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Number of years with company 12
Q. What does “leading with faith”
The president and owner of Best Technology Inc. in Plymouth, Mike Bangasser always tries to look out for the interests of others. His staff members focus on doing what is right for the customer, even if that means turning away potential profit for themselves. Bangasser leads a Career Transitions Group at his parish and holds accountability group meetings at work to help people around him find the job where God is calling them. Bangasser “leads with faith” by using his own faith and experience to promote and uplift the experiences of others.
A. Leading with faith means
mean to you?
understanding that God’s calling in my professional life may not be just to be a leader in business, but to help others achieve their mission in life using the skills and gifts he has bestowed upon me. Throughout all the leadership opportunities he presents in my life, I emphasize the Christ-first focus and mission to anyone with whom I interact. As a firm believer that “everything happens for a reason,” I try to listen and learn from every situation in life and discern God’s direction for me.
Q. Describe your business. How do you concretely apply your A. Best Technology sells chemical process Q. faith and Catholic values at work? manufacturing equipment to medical device and aerospace industries. We are subject matter experts in niche applications and processes in order to help customers insource these processes to improve quality, lead time and profitability.
Q. Describe your position and role. A. As the owner and president, I help
facilitate business operations, sales and development. As the company grows, it is very important to me that we maintain the mission of a Christ-focused culture with our employees and customers.
A. While the business world can be filled with agendas other than God and his mission for us, I strive to ensure that every interaction with an employee or customer has faith-focused values so, at the end of every day, I feel that God’s mission continues to be carried out. This can be immediately witnessed in the pictures and Bible verses found throughout our office, prayers before meals at work, or simply showing God’s care and compassion in every conversation. In today’s freedom of expression society, few seem to want to express their love for Jesus Christ, and I
want to make sure those that do business with Best Technology know every one of us expresses that love.
Q. Please tell a story about a time
when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
A. One of our core values is always to do
what is right for the customer, even if it turns business away. This value is really Christ centered and faith focused because doing the right thing in many aspects of life is not always the easiest. This was most difficult to do early on when every sale was critical to our operational success, but the rewards of doing so are beginning to pay back tenfold. Businesses that we had referred away years ago have remembered us when new applications develop, and they come back without considering competitors because they know we will do what is right for them today and tomorrow, as we did for them in the past.
Q. Who or what has inspired you to
bring your faith to the marketplace?
A. My first employee, Jon Hickman,
immediately expressed his faith to me and freely shared his faith with others. From that point forward, our focus has been faith first and the rest will follow. God has shown his powers in our business, and it is our job to help spread his love to others.
A. Throughout the growth of the
company, my role has shifted from direct contributor to more management and strategy. With this change and without direct involvement in day-today operations, I have had the ability to step away and share my God-given gifts with others outside the business. Over the last four years, I have facilitated the Career Transitions Group at Holy Name of Jesus and recently established a career transitions accountability group weekly meeting at our office to coach, mentor and assist those in transition to find employment. This role has been very rewarding for me in learning how to better develop, manage and lead people. Nothing makes me happier than seeing those in transition land employment at a place where they are excited to work after diligently applying themselves during their transition.
Q. What advice do you have for
others who want to lead with faith?
A. Throughout the demands and
struggles of your own professional life development, it can be difficult to think you have enough time for anything other than your specific job role. However, if you listen to God’s further calling into your professional life, you will find the time to help develop and lead others, and the rewards in return will develop you to new levels you may have never thought possible.
Your Byline Here. The Catholic Spirit is seeking experienced, professional freelance journalists to report on Catholic life in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Interested? Email CatholicSpirit@archspm.org
18 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LEADINGWITHFAITH
AUGUST 9, 2018
Luke Cahill
difficult findings was the right thing to do and thanked us for taking an ethical stand. My team was grateful they did not have to do something against their conscience.
Age 35 Parish St. John the Baptist, Savage Spouse Angela Cahill Children Lachlan (9), Torin (7), Callum (5), Beccan (3), Tressa (2 months) Volunteer activities Catholic Services Appeal Foundation board member, St. John the Baptist strategic planning team member, Christians in Commerce board member, Imagine the Possibilities mentor at Risen Christ Catholic School in Minneapolis, soccer coach Education University of Minnesota-Morris, 2005; MBA, University of St. Thomas, 2007 Number of years with company 11 years
Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your
Managing principal, REAL Insight Inc.
For Luke Cahill, “leading with faith” means always acting with integrity in the workplace. The managing principal at REAL Insight Inc. in Minneapolis, Cahill strives to integrate his faith into every aspect of his work, big or small. He has learned to trust his team and rely on the gifts of the Holy Spirit to guide him. As a result, he has found an overwhelming sense of peace in the workplace.
Q. Describe your business. A. We are a marketing research company that does qualitative research for large consumer goods companies and retailers.
Q. Describe your position and role. A. My title is managing principal. At this point, my
role is largely setting strategic direction, managing business development and supporting my team behind the scenes as they field projects.
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. My goal is to embody Christ to my coworkers,
clients and partners, and by doing so, to inspire and motivate them to do the same. Too often Christians separate their faith lives from their work lives. Work can be stressful and difficult, which presents many opportunities to fall into the temptations of ingratitude, anger, gossip or complacency. To live out our faith through our actions means to let our behavior exemplify the fruits of the Holy Spirit: peace, patience, love, etc. If we integrate our work and nonwork lives, exemplifying these virtues, we will influence and impact those around us.
faith to the marketplace?
A. I am blessed to be connected with an organization
called Christians in Commerce. I got involved two years ago when I was asked to help them with a research project. In doing that pro bono work for them, I was exposed to their mission of bringing Christ to the workplace and became aware of what it meant to live out my faith at work. They have a half-day workshop called Working for My Father that was especially helpful in changing my perspective on work and my career.
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?
A. Earlier on in my career, as our company started to DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and Catholic values at work?
A. Applying my faith in the workplace often takes
place through the little decisions I make each day. Occasionally there will be big, visible situations that require a bold decision, but every day presents little opportunities to be Christ to others. Being patient when most would be impatient, striving for excellence, finding the good in frustrating people and situations, being generous with time and mentorship, etc. are examples of what I focus on every day.
Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
A. One of our teams did a study that exposed some
results that, if reported, would have caused concern from the client’s legal department and ultimately thrown a wrench in the plans for the client’s marketing team. As a result, my team was asked to omit specific information from the reports. However, when my project lead asked me what they should do, I told him to report the findings accurately. Meanwhile, I called one of the client team members who was involved with the project to talk through our plan to accurately report the findings and recommendations. Ultimately, the client acknowledged that including the
We
grow, I thought too highly of myself as the expert for all aspects of the business. As a result, I became the bottleneck for everything and quickly got burnt out. In response, I have learned to take good advice and to define our company core values, hire and train the right people, and then trust them and get out of the way. Now we have a team of diversely talented individuals who help us be successful in all aspects of the business, and our business and our team have thrived as a result of this transition.
Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?
A. The biggest way I have experienced his presence is
through my feelings of peace and love. For example, I have always been a fairly judgmental person and often too critical of others. However, through being baptized in the Holy Spirit and incorporating a morning prayer routine, God’s love has been able to shine through, and I have been able to more consistently view those around me for the good they possess versus their deficiencies.
Q. What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?
A. Start each day in prayer and ask the Holy Spirit to
fill you, asking for help to consistently make the right choices, to be full of peace, and to stand out as exceptional and different because of how you live your life at work; this is only possible through Christ’s love flowing through you.
Congratulate
the individuals honored with the 2018 Leading With Faith Award from THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT. For your daily Gospel-based servant leadership, we thank you.
AUGUST 9, 2018
LEADINGWITHFAITH
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 19
Timothy Mezzenga
experiences difficult events in their lives where they need gentle, caring support. Many of my employees know that 10 a.m. Wednesday is my chapel hour, and I let them know that I’m praying for them.
Age 60 Parish St. Charles Borromeo, St. Anthony Spouse Cyndy Mezzenga Children Daniel (35), James (33), Robert (31), Cory (26), Eliana (19) Volunteer activities Extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, St. Charles Borromeo finance committee, knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Meals on Wheels, Ramsey County Service Center, St. Anthony Kiwanis Club, adoration chapel committed adorer Number of years with company 47
Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your
President, Tracy Printing Inc.
Starting out as a floor sweeper in his father’s printing shop, Timothy Mezzenga has been dedicated to Tracy Printing Inc. in Minneapolis for nearly half a century. Now the president, Mezzenga has followed his father’s example and devoted his work to Christ. Instead of focusing on making a profit, Mezzenga focuses on the people with whom he works, striving to serve everyone with gentle, caring support. Beginning each workday in prayer, keeping a crucifix on his desk and making sure that his employees know that he’s praying for them are ways Mezzenga leads his employees with faith.
Q. Describe your business. A. Tracy Printing is a commercial printer producing a
wide variety of printed products specializing in medical device manuals and related printed materials.
Q. Describe your position and role. A. I began working in the business for my father at age 13 and was an accomplished floor sweeper and bathroom cleaner. When he retired in 1993, my primary role became president, although in a small company I continue to be a very hands-on owner.
faith to the marketplace?
A. My father was a great example. During Lent we
would go to early daily Mass, and it was such a wonderful way to start the day. I love my faith and have always believed that I was called to serve, not only in my personal life but in our company as well.
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?
A. During the recession of 2008-2010, many printers
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. I begin my day by thanking our Heavenly Father
went out of business, but we were able to survive by reduction in work hours, and I am proud to say we did not lay anyone off. We continue today to provide decent wages and working conditions for our employees, and I am also proud that all of our employees have been part of our team for more than 10 years.
Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?
for the many gifts he has blessed me with. With the love and support of my wife and children, I try to live my life every day by the Golden Rule and remember the verse from the Bible, “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.”
A. When making my decisions, I find myself praying
Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and
to lead with faith?
Catholic values at work?
A. On my desk is a crucifix that serves as a constant
reminder of our Savior who died for our sins. Our ultimate goal is heaven. We provide a flexible and understanding work environment, knowing everyone
that what I do is best for everyone involved whether with vendors, customers or employees.
Q. What advice do you have for others who want A. Don’t be afraid to live as an example. I think it’s
important to show people that you have a strong Catholic faith that helps to guide your decisions. Place positive importance on people, both customers and employees.
20 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LEADINGWITHFAITH
Michael Naughton
Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
Director, University of St. Thomas’ Center for Catholic Studies
A. What our faith helps us to see is that those we work
Age 57 Parish Holy Spirit, St. Paul Spouse Teresa Children Clare Gooding (29), Noel (26), Mary (23), Eamon (21), Annie (18) Volunteer activities RCIA Education PhD, Marquette University, 1991; MBA, University of St. Thomas, 1995. Number of years with organization 27 For Michael Naughton, the idea of leading with faith is rooted in following: that he is led by God’s will and not his own. The director of the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Naughton has written extensively on the relationship between faith and work, and he strives to live out his vocation in his own workplace by prioritizing prayer, keeping Sundays holy and valuing his colleagues’ diverse gifts.
Q. Describe your organization. A. Established 25 years ago, the Center for Catholic
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
academic work more applied. More recently, I have been working with Dr. John Boyle, developing materials and courses in the importance of mission and culture in Catholic education, specifically the Mission and Culture Two-Course Study for Catholic School Educators.
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. At the heart of “leading with faith” is that I am led
Studies at the University of St. Thomas is the oldest and largest of its kind. I work with a group of talented and joyful faculty and staff who educate and form Catholic leaders for the Church and world. Informed by a belief in the unity of knowledge, Catholic Studies brings together multiple academic disciplines — theology, philosophy, history, literature, law, business — to explore how “Christ is all, and in all” (Col 3:11). The academic department and the Center, through its institutes, explores how the reality of Christ’s self-gift, the incarnation, holds profound meaning in every aspect of human experience, including the professional and private life.
by God’s will and not my own. The first point of leadership is “followership.” The foundational question is not how I lead but what I follow. Faith is a gift that I do not own or dictate, but it owns me. It guides me, corrects me, as well as comforts me, especially in moments of failure and difficulty. Faith helps me to see that I do not bring God to work, but rather God is already at work. Faith gives me the eyes to see his presence.
Q. Describe your position and role. A. I am the director of the Center. I oversee three
obeying the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. My wife, Teresa, and I find that keeping the Lord’s Day bears great fruit for the week. Second, with the Lord’s Day in place, I need to ask what is the good I must do at work. I find at work three goods of particular importance. The first good is defined in terms of mission, especially in terms of how I educate and form my students. The second good is in terms of culture, especially in terms of the kind of life I form with staff and faculty. And the third good is in terms of stewardship, of how we utilize the resources we have available to us.
institutes, the journal “Logos,” and a wide variety of activities and programs. A major part of my work has been the integration of faith and business through the courses I teach in both the Department of Catholic Studies and the business school, as well as the Ryan Institute for Catholic Social Thought, of which I was the director before assuming the role as Center director in 2014. I have been blessed to serve as the board chair of Reell Precision Manufacturing, which makes my
AUGUST 9, 2018
Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and Catholic values at work?
A. First, I apply my faith to work by not working and
with are not mere eight-hour units — cogs in a machine — but persons who have gifts to offer. Sometimes it is a negative experience that helps one live one’s faith at work. My personal lesson went like this. I mentioned to my wife one day my appreciation of the gifts of some of my colleagues at St. Thomas. What I thought was a nice and benign thought soon led us into a rather heated exchange. My wife called me out on my apparent “gift recognition,” which was not as noble a sentiment as I had thought. She explained that I overvalued certain gifts, while seriously discounting others. In the academy, we value intelligence and high IQ, analytical skills, a sharp wit, and the ability to “think critically” and to debate with rhetorical flair. But my wife saw something that I did not. My appreciation for these people clouded my vision and inhibited the recognition of the gifts of other men and women at the university. I was discounting people who were less articulate but more intuitive, and whose intuition was in tune to realities that could see things as a whole; whose IQ may not have been as high as certain colleagues, but whose EQ (emotional intelligence) was off the charts. It was this experience that helped me to better live out my faith at work.
Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your faith to the marketplace?
A. The what: Several readings have inspired my
relationship between faith and work. Three in particular stick out: St. John Paul II’s encyclical letter “Laborem Exercens,” Josef Pieper’s “Leisure, the Basis of Culture” and Dorothy Day’s writings on English Distributism and French Personalism. The who: While there are many colleagues at St. Thomas who have influenced me, along with friends and family, my wife of 30 years has been most influential in helping me see both more deeply and more broadly not only what I am to do, but also who am I to be. Her wisdom and counsel has helped me to see more clearly the reality in front of me.
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of? A. While I have published a lot of material on faith and work, I was blessed to work with an international group of scholars and practitioners to produce the “Vocation of the Business Leader” which was issued by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development. The document has been translated in over 18 different languages and its fifth edition will be published this fall.
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LEADINGWITHFAITH
AUGUST 9, 2018
Dr. Mary Paquette
A. A young woman in a crisis pregnancy came in
needing help. She was one of many at that time seeking abortion for financial reasons. I was able to connect her with the resources she needed through pregnancy centers and Cradle of Hope to be able to carry her child and still care for her other children. After the birth of her child, her mother gave me a statue of an angel holding up a baby, and this statue still sits on my desk as a reminder that we are the hands of God.
Physician, AALFA Family Clinic Age 52 Parish St. Joseph, West St. Paul Spouse Dr. Matt Paquette Children: Mary Therese (19), Katie (18), Teresa (16), Jane (15) Volunteer activities Pro-life volunteer training for Options for Women, speaker on natural family planning for Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis marriage preparation and seminarians and deacon candidates, abstinence speaker for teens, varsity girls soccer coach at Chesterton Academy in Edina Education Biology and English, University of St. Thomas, 1988; MD, University of Minnesota Medical School, 1993; United Family medicine residency, 1996; Pope Paul VI Institute Medical Consultant in Naprotechnology, 1996 Number of years with clinic 18
Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your faith to the marketplace?
A. I have been most inspired by my parents. They
lived a life dedicated to their 10 children and the Church. My father was known for giving money for lunch or bus fare to a person in need. He was a man of great honesty and integrity. My mother cared for others in many capacities as well. I grew up knowing that service to others is essential to a life well lived.
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?
In her work at AALFA Family Clinic in White Bear Lake, Dr. Mary Paquette strives to be Christ’s hands and feet to her patients. Paquette co-founded a clinic that is committed to life and is natural-family-planning only — meaning that its physicians and practitioners do not prescribe artificial contraception, but rather support their NFP-using patients. By showing a sincere love and concern for her patients, Paquette endeavors to heal the wounds that life brings. She keeps a statue of St. Francis of Assisi kissing the wounds of Jesus in her exam room to remind her to “lead with faith” in every aspect of her life.
Q. Describe your clinic. A. We are a pro-life Christian clinic providing care for all ages. Our group includes three family medicine physicians who also do obstetrics, one internal medicine doctor and an obstetrician-gynecologist. We also employ one nurse practitioner and two physician assistants.
Q. Describe your position and role. A. I joined Dr. Paul Spencer in forming an NFP-only clinic where we do not prescribe contraception or refer for sterilization or abortion. I help lead the organization and care for patients.
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. Leading with faith primarily means living out my
A. The building of a successful practice that draws patients from all over Minnesota, as well as from other states. We have a reputation for providing quality care with compassion and respect.
Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?
A. I keep a picture of St. Francis kissing the wounds DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
faith and its values in all aspects of my life. In the workplace, this has involved being committed to following Catholic teaching on life issues, which has compelled me to learn how to care for patients effectively without contraceptives. My career has been formed by my desire to provide quality and successful options for women who are struggling with using NFP, infertility or recurrent miscarriages, as well as the multitude of gynecological diseases that are frequently treated with the Pill. Another level of living my faith is having an attitude of truly trying to be Christ’s hands and feet, ears and mouth, mind and heart to those who need him most. We minister to the “Church militant” in the many wounds that life brings.
Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
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of Jesus in my exam room. It reminds me that we minister to the wounds of Christ in our patients. In doing this work, I experience great joy in knowing I have a sincere love and concern for my patients. Many of them minister to me and my family as well through their prayers for our needs and the success of our work.
Q. What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?
A. Seek out God’s plan through prayer and study, as
well as the advice of others in the faith community. Trust that in following his will, God will provide for your needs. There were some lean years when we were building the practice, yet we always had more than enough. Remember God’s way is blessed with joy and hope that are lacking in so much of the world today. His way is narrow and winding but ultimately fruitful and life giving. You will never regret giving more for Jesus; he will not be outdone in generosity.
22 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
LEADINGWITHFAITH
Joe Seidel
the first week of August, and some thought we would only get 50 boys to attend with their Class A uniforms. However, 200 Cadets came to honor Scott Patrick that day. It was amazing. Given the opportunity to serve, to love and respect, young people today will choose to follow Christ if we lead them to moments of truth.
Teacher, St. Thomas Academy Age 58 Parish St. Thomas More, St. Paul Children Isabella (16) Volunteer activities Linwood Park and Recreation Center volunteer, Joe Finnegan Memorial Golf Tournament planning committee, Bush Thanksgiving Food Baskets coordinator, Neighborhood House Children’s Christmas Party coordinator, Teens Encounter Christ retreat leader, St. Paul Police chaplain, Community Campaign for Housing Now committee member Education Speech/communication, University of Minnesota, 1987; M.A. in human development, St. Mary’s University, 1992; M.A. in education learning technology, University of St. Thomas, 1994; law enforcement certificate program, Metropolitan State University, 2005 Number of years with organization 29 A theology teacher at St. Thomas Academy, the all-male middle and high school in Mendota Heights, Joe Seidel has dedicated his life to forming young men by word and example. Striving to give his students an example of servant leadership to follow, Seidel exhibits faith, grace, love and humility in the classroom. He also moderates the Senior Project program, encouraging students to give back in service to their community. Inspired by the witness of his students and fellow teachers, Seidel endeavors to “lead with faith” by being a genuine person.
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. As a theology instructor, I am fortunate to be able to experience my faith each day and share it with my students and coworkers. To me, leading with faith means trying to be a servant leader. In the Gospel of John, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples during the Last Supper. What a deeply profound example of servant leadership! Leaders are called to be examples of
AUGUST 9, 2018
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?
A. In 1994, two seniors helped us initiate a Senior
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
faith and integrity, and hopefully inspire others through their actions. Living your faith at work also means being your most genuine self without worrying about how you measure up.
Projects program. The Senior Project allows our graduating seniors an opportunity to serve 50 hours in the community in the last two weeks of May. They often work in nursing homes, schools, community programs and agencies, and for nonprofit organizations. Today we have 30 agencies that participate, and the senior Cadets have a great time living their faith while saying “thank you” to the community that helped nurture them during their first 18 years of life. One other thing I am very excited about is that I will be helping to chaperone a pilgrimage to the Holy Land next June. It will truly be the experience of a lifetime.
Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s
Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and
presence in your workplace?
A. The workplace provides a wonderful place to
coworkers and in the smiles and moments of laughter with the students. I also experience Christ’s presence in our chapel, especially during adoration and reconciliation. As a theology teacher and parent, it melts my heart when the students take time to pray in the chapel or experience reconciliation with our chaplain or visiting priest.
Catholic values at work?
evangelize by example. At STA, the students expect the faculty and staff to instruct with kindness and teach by example. Students are always watching how we handle adversity, doubt, despair and sadness. If they see us respond to difficulty with faith, grace, love and humility, then they have an example of servant leadership to follow.
Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
A. When Scott Patrick, a Mendota Heights police
officer, was murdered in 2014, we organized the students and asked them to line Mendota Heights Road and salute as the funeral procession went past. It was
A. I experience Christ in the dedication of my
Q. What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?
A. My advice to others would be to trust in God’s love for you. Seek his grace. Never be afraid to ask for help. Listen to your heart and his promptings for opportunities to make someone’s life a little better. Always express your faith with your actions first, then your lips.
AUGUST 9, 2018
LEADINGWITHFAITH
Joe Stanislav
cut and run in the face of adversity, his staff will believe that all will end well.
President/CEO, Our Lady of Peace Age 61 Parish Transfiguration, Oakdale Spouse Pam Stanislav Children Amanda Lynn Rosenthal (37), Megan Marie Hume (30), Anna Jean Nordlund (28) Volunteer activities Parish and Catholic school fundraising, Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos Foundation for Children in Need, Families Moving Forward, Feed My Starving Children, hosting exchange students, SCORE, American Red Cross Education B.A., University of Minnesota, 1980; MBA, University of St. Thomas, 2001 Number of years with organization 26 For Joe Stanislav, being the president of Our Lady of Peace home and hospice care in St. Paul requires a deep devotion to compassionate caregiving. In caring for individuals at the end of their lives, Stanislav integrates mission into his work and daily life by modeling optimism and understanding. He encourages his staff to hold fast in the face of adversity and to trust in God’s plan to help them overcome challenges. For Stanislav, “leading with faith” means being an example of God’s healing work to those around him.
Q. Describe your organization. A. Our Lady of Peace is a Catholic health care
organization and private “juridic person” within the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. OLP provides hospice and home care services in its residence and in the homes of its patients, usually at no cost to families. OLP is the result of the 2009 merger of Our Lady of Good Counsel Cancer Home (founded in 1941 by the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne) and Franciscan Health Community (founded in 1938 by the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity).
Q. Describe your position and role. A. As president/CEO, I provide general active
management, planning, and leadership of the business and affairs of Our Lady of Peace, including the development of mechanisms to implement the policies established by the board of directors. I ensure that all orders and resolutions of the board are carried into effect in keeping with the mission and philosophy of OLP. I interpret the purpose and programs of OLP to outside organizations and the public, and I develop and administer standards and procedures related to quality
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 23
Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your faith to the marketplace?
A. As a young person, I longed for work that was
meaningful, and I was inspired by the mission and optimism of the Franciscan Sisters. They were my teachers through high school and were instrumental in the development of the Mayo Clinic and St. Mary’s Hospital in my hometown of Rochester. I totally bought into their insistence to integrate mission into all aspects of our health care ministry, for I know that people who work in Catholic health care answer God’s call. My wife, Pam, is a nurse, and her faith in the face of adversity inspires me daily. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
of services, human resources, budget and physical facilities. I lead OLP to meet the annual organizational goals established by the OLP board pursuant to the OLP strategic plan.
Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you? A. I have always been attracted to Jesus’ healing
mission, and I am humbled by the many staff I have worked with who continue his mission every day. I truly believe that every person is a gift from God and worthy of love. I hope that I model optimism, cooperation and the Golden Rule. Actions speak louder than words, and leadership in this sense goes both ways, manager to direct report, and direct report to manager.
Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and Catholic values at work?
A. I have always believed that compassionate caregiving is a ministry, and that my role as a manager is to support caregivers and not put obstacles in their paths. I try to keep my composure when events conspire to create challenges, and I support them in their tasks through giving them the resources they need to provide the best care possible.
Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.
A. Leading OLP for 26 years, I have a perspective on the ebb and flow of the organization. Daunting challenges viewed retrospectively reveal God’s purposes, unknowable when those challenges were first faced. I think faith in his plan has kept me on task during those times. If the leader has faith in God’s plan and does not
Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?
A. I am proud of the mostly seamless transition of Our
Lady of Peace from a senior care organization to an organization primarily caring for persons at the end of their lives. Merging two Catholic health care organizations presented unexpected challenges, but the faith and diligence displayed by our board of directors during those months still astounds me, particularly that of board chair Ed Martini. I am so grateful to our staff and volunteers for giving us the benefit of the doubt and continuing to give the wonderful care they are famous for.
Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?
A. I experience God’s presence every day at Our Lady of Peace. I see gentle, compassionate, loving care of patients and families at the most important times of their lives. I see his presence in the teamwork and mutual concern of staff members for one another. My family and I personally witnessed this compassionate care for both of my parents as they were cared for by our staff at the end of their lives.
Q. What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?
A. I believe that our faith lives are more like a marathon
than a sprint. Like the lives of the organizations we lead, our faith is stronger at some times and weaker at others. I try to realize that God is always there even when we don’t believe it. It’s easier to see his presence in retrospect, so we have to hang on during the rough times and pray that the organizations we lead will do the same.
24 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
FOCUSONFAITH SUNDAY SCRIPTURES | FATHER J. MICHAEL BYRON
God has a plan — even for the homeless
I will never forget the first time I visited Toronto on a summer vacation. It has all the sights, beauty and points of interest that you can imagine, but what struck me most was a sight that I observed repeatedly on normal city streets. Each morning, when I would take a walk around the hotel where I was staying downtown, I would see homeless people asleep on benches or in doorways or in parks. And very often right next to them would be food or a beverage — not their own food but a token of encouragement that had been left by passersby on the sidewalk, so that they’d have something to eat when they awoke. It was a sight that I have never seen in the United States, but it seems to be part of the culture there, a culture that seems to understand that poor people have a claim on the rest of us by the simple fact of their being there. I have to assume that the people who left those offerings didn’t know the names or life stories of those sleeping people, but it didn’t matter. Nobody was required to explain how they ended up on the streets, no morality examination. I suppose some of them had behaved exceedingly badly or had made very poor life choices, and some of them were simply unlucky or unwell or survivors of tragedies. It didn’t matter. There they were, and they were going to be hungry when they stirred for a new day. So here was one less thing for them to have to worry about, at least for a while.
ASK FATHER MIKE | FATHER MICHAEL SCHMITZ
Trust: Only give it to those who earn it
Q. I sometimes feel like I trust the wrong
people. I have been burned so many times that I just think that I shouldn’t ever trust anyone again. On top of that, there are people I know that I should respect, but I just don’t. What do I do?
A. It can often be difficult to discern how much a person can or should be trusted. In addition, how can we respect those who have demonstrated that they don’t deserve our respect? That comment might elicit a certain response: “Doesn’t everyone deserve respect?” Well, yes and no. It is important to clarify what “respect” means, so let’s start there. There are different levels of respect. First, there is the respect we all owe to each other based on the fact that we exist and have been made in the image and likeness of God. This is the most basic level of respect, based on essential human dignity — a dignity that we did not give to ourselves and which cannot be taken away. All human beings, because they are made in God’s image and likeness, deserve to be treated as such. This is Level One respect, and it is absolute. It is based on the simple fact “that they are.” Level Two respect is based on the role a person holds in another’s life. We have a duty to honor and respect those who are in authority over us. This is the respect that we owe to our parents, teachers, law enforcement and those to whom some part of our lives, formation or safety has been entrusted. In order for them to carry out their duties of serving us, we are given the responsibility of cooperating with all reasonable and just requests or instructions they give. We demonstrate respect for those in authority over us when we show honor to the function they are attempting to carry out. The respect we give to them is actually given to their office, not necessarily to their person. It is respect based on “what they are” to us. Level Two respect does not imply that one blindly obeys the will of the one in authority. It does not mean that one cannot critique or correct the person in authority. It is not absolute. There are times — maybe many times — when those in authority over us must be corrected, disagreed with or even disobeyed. This is not disrespectful but one of the ways we honor the role they have been obligated to carry out. For example, just because people are parents
I thought of those people in reflecting upon the story, in the first reading of the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, of Elijah, there asleep under the broom tree in Beer Sheba in the desert. He had tried to carry out the Lord’s command to prophesy, and he believed that he had failed. He was tired. He was depressed. He ran away to a lonely place and prayed for death. Then he fell asleep and awoke to find food and drink at his head, gifts which somebody had left there. We are not told who did that. The angel of the Lord was there to rouse him from sleep and to command him to eat and drink, but curiously — very curiously — the story doesn’t say that it was the angel that brought the food or the water. I wonder who did. And I wonder if that isn’t the point. Elijah believed that his life was useless, and that he no longer had any productive purpose for remaining on this earth. A lot of people today feel the same way about homeless people. And in both cases, God thought otherwise. God had a plan in mind for such a person as Elijah, and God still does have a plan for each and every one of us — including the very most down and out among us. The fact that we may not understand that plan is really not very important at all. But that hungry person still has to be able to eat if any sort of plan is to be realized, and that is a situation that most of us are in a position to do something about. I’m sure that the anonymous donors on the streets of Toronto are under no illusions that they are transforming the world by their simple gifts, but they are responding to the opportunity before them at the moment, which is more than I’ve seen in any other city, ever. We who presume to carry the name “Christian” have to care about all those people as much as God does. Father Byron is pastor of Pax Christi in Eden Prairie.
does not mean that they are good parents; a child can respect the “office” of a parent who consistently fails to parent well while acknowledging that their Mom or Dad is not deserving of personal respect. (The same is true for one’s priest!) Level Three respect is respect based on the character of that person. In these cases, the people we respect have demonstrated that they have a certain excellence of virtue we must recognize and respond to. We call this respect “honor.” People are honorable not simply because they exist or because they hold a particular office but because they have demonstrated a notable interior power (or virtue) of excellence. We respect them for “who they are,” not simply that they are or what they are. The issue of trust is intrinsically connected to respect in the following way: There is no one we should trust who has not earned our respect. There are levels of trust as well as levels of respect. I do not need to trust a person simply because “they are.” I might be more able to trust a person’s office or role, but even then, it would not be wise to blindly trust a person based on something as potentially arbitrary as “what they are” in relation to me. Trust must be most prominently based off Level Three respect — people who have demonstrated they are worth your trust. This means that you ought not to trust just anybody. Trust must be earned. It would be foolish for a person to entrust their physical, emotional or spiritual safety to someone who has not already demonstrated that they are deserving of your trust. I know that we want to be able to trust people. But to do this would be to refuse to accept the reality of life and the reality of sin that is in every human heart. Even the very best people we know and those whom we should be able to trust are going to fail us. If trust must be earned, this also means that trust can only be given incrementally, over time. One needs time to interact with someone, to see how they behave in all sorts of situations. One needs time to discover the level to which the other can be trusted. And this involves asking difficult and pointed questions. How do they treat their family members? How do they handle criticism? Are they truly virtuous, or are they only “virtuous” in certain areas? Do they consistently choose the good? This is not the same thing as demanding perfection. It is being wise when it comes to those to whom you entrust your most valuable possession: your own self and the lives of those you love. We are all flawed and fallen. Because of this, we need to be incredibly discerning regarding to whom and how fast we give trust. Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Reach him at fathermikeschmitz@gmail. com.
DAILY Scriptures Sunday, Aug. 12 Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 19:4-8 Eph 4:30–5:2 Jn 6:41-51 Monday, Aug. 13 Ez 1:2-5, 24-28c Mt 17:22-27 Tuesday, Aug. 14 St. Maximilian Kolbe, priest and martyr Ez 2:8–3:4 Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 Wednesday, Aug. 15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy day of obligation) Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab 1 Cor 15:20-27 Lk 1:39-56 Thursday, Aug. 16 Ez 12:1-12 Mt 18:21-19:1 Friday, Aug. 17 Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 Mt 19:3-12 Saturday, Aug. 18 Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 Mt 19:13-15 Sunday, Aug. 19 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Prv 9:1-6 Eph 5:15-20 Jn 6:51-58 Monday, Aug. 20 St. Bernard, abbot and doctor of the Church Ez 24:15-23 Mt 19:16-22 Tuesday, Aug. 21 St. Pius X, pope Ez 28:1-10 Mt 19:23-30 Wednesday, Aug. 22 Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ez 34:1-11 Mt 20:1-16 Thursday, Aug. 23 Ez 36:23-28 Mt 22:1-14 Friday, Aug. 24 St. Bartholomew, Apostle Rv 21:9b-14 Jn 1:45-51 Saturday, Aug. 25 Ez 43:1-7ab Mt 23:1-12 Sunday, Aug. 26 Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Eph 5:21-32 Jn 6:60-69
AUGUST 9, 2018
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 25
COMMENTARY FAITH AT HOME | LAURA KELLY FANUCCI
Keep holy the car pool and commute
Our minivan is one big silver stereotype. Granola bar wrappers on the floor. Cheerios stuck between seats. Baseball gear rolling around the back. I’ll admit our car is overlooked; I’d never let the house get this dirty. It’s also much-maligned, as I crack jokes regularly about minivan life. I know I’m not alone in feeling like we live in the car some days. The average American spends about an hour a day driving. But St. Catherine of Siena said that all the way to heaven is heaven. What if our time spent driving mattered as much as our destinations? Could our hours on the road be sacred space? If we believe God is omnipresent, there is no place where God is not. The Holy Spirit hovers over the minivan’s chaos, too. Christ can come to each of us on the road. Perhaps he shows up on our daily commute, inviting us to choose compassion over aggression. Maybe he squeezes in during the latest pickup from sports practice, nudging us to welcome the sweaty teammates piling in the back as Christ himself. But there’s not a single rush hour or road traveled where God does not go with us. St. Frances of Rome — wife, mother and servant of Rome’s sick and poor — is the patron saint of motorists. Legend holds that her guardian angel carried a lantern before her whenever she traveled to light the road and keep her safe. She is also famous for saying, “Sometimes a wife must leave God at the altar to find him in her household management.” Sometimes, then, a mom must dig through the clutter to find God in her car.
SIMPLE HOLINESS | KATE SOUCHERAY
Growing in gratitude for last summer days
No one in Minnesota wants to think about back-to-school sales, less sunlight each day, or the sumac beginning to turn red. With last winter still fresh in our minds, we want to hold on to every vestige of summer we can, tucking it away to retrieve in the coming season of snow, cold and ice that awaits us. And then when we hear we must enjoy every moment, we can feel more anxious than energized. But how else can we approach these waning, delightful days of summer? First, begin by thinking back over the past twoand-a-half months, beginning with Memorial Day, and writing down the fun events and experiences you had and with whom you had them. Take a moment now to remember and relish these experiences and the connections you shared. Next, if you have young children, you can help them create a “Summer 2018 Picture Book” by having them draw a picture of the events or experiences that were most memorable throughout the summer. Young children could narrate a paragraph you could write for them. If you have older children, you could have them talk about the experience, and then draw a picture and write about it. You and your spouse could design a similar memory book by creating a slideshow on your device with favorite summer pictures. Add music to enhance the experience of
Our van is an Odyssey. (When we bought it, I begged my husband to rename his car the Iliad so we could have a matching pair.) But the name rings true. Within the Odyssey’s walls, our family is traveling together on a long journey over years and years. Our house-on-wheels is full in this stage of life, ringing with laughter, fighting, music and even prayer. Inside our car, we’ve offered morning blessings on every drive to school. We’ve said Hail Mary for racing ambulances with sirens screaming. We’ve tackled big life questions from kids in the backseat. We’ve navigated hard-but-good conversations between spouses in the front. When I stop to see, I realize that it’s in our van (as in our home) that we are becoming the people and the family that God is calling us to be. Just as we gather around our kitchen table — which I’m quick to claim as holy space in the domestic church — we spend time together in our car each day. We share conversation, questions and the occasional snack en route to the places we are called: home, school, office, church and every stop along the way. Sometimes on a solo drive to a meeting for work, I notice the silence: sweet, rare, fleeting. As an introvert, I secretly savor the quiet without kids in the backseat: no screaming, no squabbling over songs on the radio. When the car is bursting with noise again, I’m better able to give thanks for the life I’ve been given — because I’ve felt the contrast between full and empty. The Catholic “Book of Blessings” offers a prayer for blessing a vehicle. It includes the line, “Whether they travel for business or pleasure, let them always find Christ to be the companion of their journey.” May the same be said of our families — and our cars, too. Fanucci, a parishioner of St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove, is a mother, writer and director of a project on vocations at the Collegeville Institute in Collegeville. She is the author of several books, including “Everyday Sacrament: The Messy Grace of Parenting,” and blogs at motheringspirit.com.
reliving your favorite memories, and you will have a pictorial scrapbook to send to and share with others. Involving ourselves in moments of gratitude, rather than sadness, can help sustain us in the transition from the season of summer into the season of fall. In his letters to the Thessalonians, St. Paul writes, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” On that theme of gratitude, St. Therese of Lisieux wrote: “Jesus does not ask for great achievements; only surrender and gratitude.” Ask yourself if you are willing to surrender to the feelings of being rushed and perhaps with having accomplished less this summer than you had hoped. As you surrender to these feelings, give thanks for the lovely, long days of summer; the greenery we see all around us, due to the expansive amounts of rain we’ve had; and the special moments you shared with family and friends. A special memory I have from when I was young is from a book my mother bought called “Summer” by Alice Low. I read it to my younger siblings until it was tattered and torn. I then found a copy when our children were young, and it, too, succumbed to the quickly-worn and well-loved collection. And then for Mother’s Day one year, our children gave me a fresh copy that I now read to our grandchildren. As you are picking up school supplies, new school clothes, shoes and jackets for fall, take time to look back at the weeks of this summer and remember the moments that brought you and your children happiness, creating memories that will provide the foundation of your family identity. Doing so with gratitude will help you see and remember the best of the summer. Soucheray is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a member of Guardian Angels in Oakdale. She holds a master’s degree in theology from the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul.
LETTERS Death penalty teaching As a lifelong opponent of capital punishment and a career-long professor of ethics (including at several Catholic universities), I am nevertheless compelled by experience to regret that Pope Francis’ current teaching was not more qualified. The experience is that of life in tribal communities where access to anything like effective police, honest tribunals and tolerably humane prisons is simply unimaginable. There are still many such places and they are often overlooked in social moralizing that purports to be universalistic. In such communities, criminal justice can only be local and is often more compassionate and conscientious than in our own impersonal agencies. But if such a community is injured and menaced by an intractably murderous individual, it has only two options: execution, or the morally worse alternative of expelling a killer from tribal precincts to pursue a bloody course in some other unwary community. Pope John Paul II’s teaching could accommodate this socio-anthropological reality. Pope Francis’ teaching can only be made to do so by invoking the right of self-defense to justify tribal procedure — a legitimate casuistry but a complication that might so easily have been avoided! It would also have avoided raising the stress level of those who fear (as I do not) that the pope is tampering dangerously with doctrinal tradition. James Gaffney St. Matthew, St. Paul
Do Catholic justices matter? With Scalia, we had six Catholics on the Supreme Court. Those, plus the three liberals (Ginsburg, Kagan and Breyer) could have made the death penalty illegal in this country. Though all professed respect for life, only the liberals were willing to make it law. The Catholic Spirit, in one of their columns (Father Kenneth Doyle in “Seeking Answers,” Oct. 26, 2016), even said that, if anything, the Catholics should recuse themselves from such decisions (not so with abortion decisions, though I don’t know why). In an age where innocent people are on death row for years, or worse, have been executed, why does America still have the death penalty? Yet we are supposed to take comfort that, with Kavanaugh, Catholics will still be in the majority, joining those others who have whittled down health care, defended environmental threats by big industry, dragged their feet on immigrants’ rights when legally applying for asylum, not to mention siding with big business in eliminating arbitration in hostile workplaces. What kind of life do Catholic judges respect? Elizabeth Rosenwinkel St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis
Will the abusers pay? After reading the July 12th article on how payments to the victims of sexual predator priests will be made, I realized one category of contributors is missing. What will the sexual predators contribute to their victims? They are not all deceased and not all are living in poverty. Some own more than one home. Why are they not contributing? Their contributions would show sincere remorse and go a long way to help our Church move forward in a healing manner. These priests have ruined the lives of their victims and have ruined the Catholic congregations, as many parishioners have left our Church due to this issue. Mary Kremer Manderfeld St. Dominic, Northfield Share your perspective by emailing CatholicSpirit@ Please limit your letter to the editor to 150 words and include your parish and phone number. The Commentary page does not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Catholic Spirit. Letters may be edited for length or clarity. archspm.org.
COMMENTARY
26 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
TWENTY SOMETHING | CHRISTINA CAPECCHI
Flowers for Mary: finding beauty in the backyard
Janet Easter is experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions as she arranges a bouquet in her backyard, and she is unfazed. “I’m having contractions, which is hilarious,” she says, stripping the leaves off a hydrangea in one swift stroke. It’s 80 degrees on a Friday afternoon in a Pittsburgh suburb, and Janet is glowing, her 36-week belly draped in a chambray shirt, her honey-colored hair braided across her head like Heidi. “I don’t really know how this is going to look yet,” she says, tilting her head. “I’m going to make it up as I go.” Making it up as she goes is a crucial skill for a perfectionist who will soon be tending to three kids under 3. It’s a far cry from her days as style editor of Verily magazine, when Janet coordinated slick New York City photo shoots and relished in her autonomy. Gardening has helped the 31-year-old stay-at-home mom embrace the journey. “I believe all growth comes through some pain and sacrifice, and planting a garden teaches you this in a very physical, tactile, human way.” Janet’s personal growth is evidenced by her ability to laugh at the inevitable missteps of a novice gardener. “I tried my hand at sweet peas this year,” she says, pointing to a single bloom. “It was not successful. That’s OK. The dahlias are as big as my head!” The 1-year-old toddles around wearing only a diaper as Janet arranges her bouquet at a workbench by the back door. She tucks mint in around a dahlia and inserts lime-green amaranth on opposite ends. Next up is a cream-colored cosmos with an arched stem. “I actually love flowers that are kind of kooky and droopy,” she says. “I’m going to put it on the side to hang out.” The finished product looks like the handiwork of a
“
Medieval Christendom knew flowers by their Marian meaning, standing for her spirituality, divine graces, mysteries of the rosary and life with the holy family. Baby’s breath represented Our Lady’s veil; a dandelion, Mary’s bitter sorrows; peonies, Pentecost.
iSTOCK | NATALIA VAN DONINCK
skilled florist, a soft blend of greens and creams at varied heights. Janet sets the bouquet on an antique mantel, pausing to lament the descending ants and then grabbing some water to offset her contractions. She settles into the swing on her front porch, rocking and reflecting. Her longtime love of flowers recently took on a new enthusiasm when she discovered the Marian theology behind flowers, staying up late one night to devour the University of Dayton’s International Marian Research Institute website, her heart racing. Medieval Christendom knew flowers by their Marian meaning, standing for her spirituality, divine graces, mysteries of the rosary and life with the holy family. Baby’s breath represented Our Lady’s veil; a dandelion, Mary’s bitter sorrows; peonies, Pentecost. But these symbols were largely forgotten once the printing press brought the proper classification of plants to the masses — save for a few remaining names, such as marigold, Mary’s gold. “Of course there is this connection!” Janet says now. “As Catholics, we hold a sacramental view of the world.”
She has since memorized the Marian meaning of each flower in her yard, and she’s quick to look up additional flowers that enter her home. She has written about this passion on her new website, EverEaster.com, and launched a popular Instagram hashtag #everflowerfriday to encourage other Catholic women to “listen to the sermon preached to you by the flowers,” in the words of St. Paul of the Cross. For as far as she has come — as a gardener, a mother, a believer — Janet feels she is at the beginning. That thought makes her smile as she swings on her porch, framed by the backlit leaves of a climbing rose bush. “What’s exciting to me is that learning about faith is endless,” she says. “I think I’m on the brink of something big — a lifetime of delight and discovery.” Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • 27
CALENDAR FEATURED EVENTS Prayer in Real Life: An Evening for Grandparents — Aug. 16: 6:30–8 p.m. at Good Shepherd, 145 Jersey Ave S., Golden Valley. Bishop Andrew Cozzens will speak on how to pray as grandparents for grandchildren. Free. RSVP requested. Susanna Parent at parents@archspm.org or 651-291-4411.
Prayer/worship
Grieving with Hope — every second and fourth Tuesday each month: 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at St. Ambrose, Pingatore room, 4125 Woodbury Drive, Woodbury. LeAnn at 651-768-3009. saintambroseofwoodbury.org.
Holy Hour for vocations —Aug. 14: 7–8 p.m. at Holy Spirit, 515 Albert St. S., St. Paul. Pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, consecrated life and diaconate. 10000vocations.org.
Job transitions and networking group — Every Tuesday 7–8:30 a.m. at St. Joseph the Worker, 7180 Hemlock Lane, Maple Grove. Bob at bob.sjtw@gmail.com. sjtw.net/job-transition-networking-group.
Prophetic Truths: ‘Humanae Vitae,’ Then and Now — Aug. 18: 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the University of St. Thomas, McNeely Hall, Room 100, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm will celebrate Mass at 8:15 a.m. at the Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas and offer a keynote address. Small group discussions, break-out sessions and a panel discussion. $25 admission includes continental breakfast, box lunch and a copy of “Humanae Vitae.” Sponsored by the Siena Symposium for Women, Family and Culture. stthomas.edu/sienasymposium.
Calix Society — Aug.19: 9–10:30 a.m. at Cathedral of St. Paul, 239 Selby Ave., St. Paul. A group of men, women, family and friends supporting the spiritual needs of Catholic recovering alcoholics. Kathy at 651-330-3387. calixsociety.com. Dementia support group — Second Tuesday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at the Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org. CARITAS cancer support group — Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m.–noon at St. Joseph’s Hospital, second floor, maternity classroom 2500, 45 W. 10th St., St. Paul.
FORMED training event — Aug. 28 or 29: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. at St. Peter, 1405 Sibley Memorial Highway, Mendota. Priests, deacons, catechetical leaders, youth ministry coordinators, catechists, RCIA and sacramental preparation leaders, and key parish volunteers are invited to learn how to make the most of FORMED (formed.org) as a resource for parish evangelization and faith formation. Spanish training session 6:30–9 p.m. Aug. 28. stolpestadj@archspm.org.
Parish events All Saints 10th annual garage sale — Aug. 8-11: 1–8 p.m. Aug. 8–10 a.m.–7 p.m. Aug. 9; 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Aug. 10; and 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Aug. 11 at 19795 Holyoke Ave., Lakeville. garagesale@allsaintschurch.com. St. John’s School of Little Canada picnic — Aug. 14: 5:30–8 p.m. at 2621 McMenemy St., Little Canada. sjolc.org.
Dining out Knights of Columbus benefit breakfast — Aug.19: 8 a.m.–1 p.m. at 1910 South Greeley St., Stillwater. stmichaelstillwater.org.
CALENDAR submissions
Ongoing groups
Our Lady of Guadalupe garage sale — Aug. 17-19: 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Aug. 17 and 18; 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Aug. 19 at 401 Concord St., St. Paul. olgcatholic.org.
Music
Potluck picnic for widows and widowers — Aug. 18: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at St. Peter, 1250 South Shore Drive, Forest Lake. RSVP to Cindy at 651-249-8807. stpeterfl.org.
Summer concert Ensemble Aventura — Aug.17: 7–9 p.m. at Guardian Angels, 8260 Fourth St. N., Oakdale. guardian-angels.org.
Church of St Pius X Dogs on Us — Aug. 19: 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at 3878 Highland Ave., White Bear Lake. churchofstpiusx.org.
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.
Taize prayer — Third Friday of each month: 7 p.m. at the Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. 651-777-7251 or stpaulsmonastery.org.
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.
Taize prayer — Aug. 17: 10 a.m.–8 p.m. at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org.
ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication:
Retreats Silent Retreat — Aug. 9-12 at 16385 at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center, St. Francis Lane, Prior Lake. franciscanretreats.net.
uTime and date of event
Blessed is She “Wild” Retreat — Aug. 10-11 at St. Mark, 2001 Dayton Ave., St. Paul. blessedisshe.net.
u Contact information in case of questions
uFull street address of event uDescription of event ONLINE: thecatholicspirit.com/calendarsubmissions
Centering prayer and lectio divina — Aug. 10-15 at St. Paul’s Monastery, 2675 Benet Road, Maplewood. benedictinecenter.org.
Conferences/workshops Order Franciscans Secular — Third Sunday of each month: 1 p.m. at Catholic Charities, 1200 Second Ave. S., Minneapolis. 952-922-5523.
Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50-plus Catholic singles — Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. Kay at 651-426-3103 or Al at 651-439-1203. Singles group — Second Saturday each month: 6:15 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul, 9100 93rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park. 763-425-0412.
Speakers Shining the Light of Vatican: Where are the People of God in the Church of St. Paul and Minneapolis? — Aug. 14: 7–9 p.m. at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S.
MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit 777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106
Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Lead by Jackie Graham. Sponsored by the Catholic Coalition for Church Reform and Council of the Baptized. cccr-cob.org/events.html.
Young adults Friday Night at the Friary — Third Friday of each month: 7–9 p.m. at Franciscan Brothers of Peace, 1289 Lafond Ave., St. Paul. Men ages 18-35 are invited for prayer and fellowship. facebook.com/queenofpeacefriary.
Other events Knights of Columbus bingo — Wednesdays: 6–9 p.m. at Solanus Casey Council Hall, 1910 S. Greeley St., Stillwater. “The Vegetable” by F. Scott Fitzgerald — Aug. 9, 10 and 11: 7 p.m. at 5300 France Ave. S., Edina. A Chesterton Academy alumni and faculty play. chestertonacademy.org.
Marketplace • Message Center Classified Ads Email: classifiedads@archspm.org • Phone: 651-290-1631 • Fax: 651-291-4460 Next issue: 8-23-18 • Deadline: 3 p.m. 8-16-18 • Rates: $8 per line (35-40 characters per line) • Add a photo/logo for $25 ACCESSIBILITY SOLUTIONS STAIR LIFTS - ELEVATORS WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FOR HOMES, CHURCHES & SCHOOLS Arrow Lift (763) 786-2780
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ATTORNEYS Edward F. Gross • Wills, Trusts, Probate, Estate Planning, Real Estate. Office at 35E & Roselawn Ave., St. Paul (651) 631-0616. Brian Flakne Criminal, family & business law 1701 Madison St NE, #101, Mpls 952-888-9304 bflakne@flaknelaw.com
CABINETRY CABINETS, TV stands, bookcases – large and small, vanities, kitchen cabinets: White Bear Lake (651) 429-0426.
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CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE Resurrection Cemetery, 2 flat lots (no monuments): market value $1740/ea.; price $1200/ea. (651) 644-9981. Resurrection Cemetery, mausoleum niches. One double: market $10,760; price $8500. One single: market $5075; price $4000. (651) 303-3789.
CEILING TEXTURE Michaels Painting. Popcorn Removal & Knock Down Texture: TextureCeilings.com (763) 757-3187.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Associate Editor of THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis: the “right hand” of the Editor/Publications Manager and assumes the role in the absence of the Editor/ Publications Manager. This person assists the editor in creating and executing an editorial plan for the newspaper. This includes, but is not limited to, news and feature writing, photography and editing the work of editorial staff members, columnists, freelancers and wire services. Other responsibilities include assigning stories and photo shoots to staff and freelancers, proofreading, editing TheCatholicSpirit.com, and assisting in page design and layout. For more information and to apply see: careers. archspm.org/jobs/associate-editor.
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EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Household Manager: The Stillwater CatholicWorker Community is seeking an energetic, compassionate woman to manage and live at Our Lady Queen of Peace House, a home for women and their children in transition. Hours are flexible enough to pursue employment or other interests. Room and board included with this volunteer position. Details available at STMICHAELSTILLWATER.ORG or by calling Kim (651) 270-1981. The School of Theology and Seminary (SOT/ Sem) at Saint John’s University invites applications for a full-time Associate Director of Development/Alumni Relations, assisting with all development and alumni activities. Also accepting applications for a part-time Events and Alumni Relations Assistant, implementing events on and off campus in cooperation with Director of Development to advance the development & Alumni and public relations/cultivation efforts the school. For more information, and to apply online, please visit http://employment.csbsju.edu. AA/EEO
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VACATION/FAMILY GETAWAY Knotty Pines Resort, Park Rapids, MN. 1, 2 & 3 bdrm cabins starting at $565/week. www.knottypinesresort.com (800) 392-2410. Mention this ad for a discount!
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For painting & all related services. View our website: PAINTINGBYJERRYWIND.COM or call (651) 699-6140. Merriam Park Painting. Professional Int./ Ext. Painting. WP Hanging. Moderate Prices, Free Estimates. Call Ed (651) 224-3660. Michaels Painting. Texture and Repair. MichaelsPaintingllc.coM. (763) 757-3187. Dennis Heigl Painting Interior/Exterior Serving Mpls. & suburbs. Free Estimates. (612) 819-2438
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28 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
AUGUST 9, 2018
THELASTWORD
All in the family
DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
A priest, SPO missionary and their parents reflect on vocation and effective evangelization By Anne Fredrickson For The Catholic Spirit
“E
vangelization” is a word that still makes some Catholics shrink back in their pews and bury their heads in their missals. But rather than hide from the call to spread the truth of Christ, the Ellis family has embraced it. While they are called to live the mandate to evangelize differently, Father Joah Ellis, his sister Aimee and their parents, Dan and Carrie, all see evangelization as a core element in their vocations. Evangelization, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “means bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself.” Following Jesus’ call to “go and make disciples of all nations,” members of the Ellis family share the love of Christ with others according to their different vocations — Dan and Carrie as a married couple and parents of five children, Father Ellis as a priest and pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis, and Aimee as a lay missionary with St. Paul’s Outreach. For Father Ellis, 31, evangelization is woven into all parts of his ministry as a parish priest. “Evangelization in parish work is what we do already, if we’re aware of how we do it,” he said. “Many times, people come to prepare for sacraments like funerals and weddings and they haven’t been to church for a while, or have left deliberately, and we can use those opportunities to reach out to them. A lot of it is relationship and thinking about how we can establish relationship with the community.” While Aimee’s vocation as a lay missionary working on a college campus at the University of Central Florida in Orlando is different from life in a parish, she shares Father Ellis’ mission of building relationships to spread the Gospel. Aimee, 24, a chapter leader for St. Paul’s Outreach,
supervises missionaries and ensures the vision of St. Paul’s Outreach — a national Catholic outreach to colleges that’s based in Inver Grove Heights — is being fulfilled at the university. The organization’s mission is to build communities that form college students to be lifelong, faithful Catholics. That is done by building relationships, starting with inviting students to small groups, hosting events, educating students with faith formation and providing opportunities for college students to live out their faith lives. “Seeing the way the love of the Lord transforms people and brings them to peace and fulfillment, I can’t imagine not doing missionary work,” Aimee said. Looking back, Aimee said she sees how God prepared her for her vocation. “In my junior year of college, people had been telling me to become a missionary, but I’m the kind of person if you tell me to do something, it makes me not want to do it. No way, not doing it,” she said with a laugh. But a speaker at a conference the summer before her senior year at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul compelled her to be open to the idea. She was also inspired by an experience with a coworker while she was at St. Thomas. Aimee and the coworker, who was atheist, would often discuss social issues and hard teachings of the Catholic Church. When her coworker expected Aimee to hate a certain group of people, Aimee explained that the faith teaches instead to love all people and that everyone has a place in the Church. “My coworker replied that if every Catholic responded with such love, she would convert tomorrow,” Aimee recalled. “I realized all [that] students are looking for is love. They don’t really need people to agree with them. I wanted to spread this message of love, and that was the first seeds of evangelization for me.” Father Ellis’ path to his vocation was more gradual. Inspired by experienced priests including Father Bernard Reiser, Father Bill Baer and Father Tom Wilson, he always knew the priesthood was an option, although he admits not giving it real thought until his high school years. “I first went to Team Vianney events [in St. Paul] for the pizza,” Father Ellis said, speaking of St. John
Aimee Ellis and her brother, Father Joah Ellis, are both engaged in evangelization outreach. She’s a St. Paul’s Outreach missionary working in Florida, and he’s pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Minneapolis.
Vianney College Seminary’s outreach to teenagers. “Father Baer did most of the talks, and he was dynamic. I saw these other guys and realized they’re not much older than I am, not much different than I am, and I thought I could do this. I got to see that priests are real human beings, and I needed to know that.” Through entering St. John Vianney, participating in service and outreach opportunities, and entering the St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Father Ellis felt priesthood was what God was calling him to do. “I had peace with each step,” he said. Both Father Ellis and Aimee credit their parents with creating a home life that encouraged them in their love of the faith. “Our parents really provided a solid base of loving the Lord with daily Mass, family prayer and homeschooling,” Aimee said. “My parents led me to my vocation and always showed me that the Lord has a plan for me and helped me be open to following that.” Dan and Carrie, who live in St. Cloud and worship at St. Mary’s Cathedral there, raised their family in Blaine and attended Epiphany in Coon Rapids during that time. Father Ellis and Aimee are their first and third children; the others are Jared, 28; Tia, 22; and Tobias, 17. Dan and Carrie emphasize that their family is not perfect, but they point to the importance of daily Mass as the foundation in their family’s faith life. They try to “live our faith with excitement because the kingdom of heaven is celebration,” Dan said. As the primary homeschool teacher, Carrie has been intentional about weaving the Catholic faith into every subject. “I grew up with a separation of church and home,” she said. “We went to church on Sunday and that was separate from the rest of our week. We’ve [she and Dan] tried to bring the richness of the Catholic faith into our family life, celebrating the lives of the saints, feast days and solemnities of the liturgical year.” In helping their children find their vocations, the Ellises prayed constantly. “From early on, we prayed for our kids’ vocations,” Carrie said. “We never steered them except to be open to do God’s will and encourage them to explore what God is calling them to do. We just wanted them to listen to their call and embrace it.”