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New Earth Archives - December 2007 Features
It’s still about
togetherness Columns
Take time during Advent to dance to the music of god’s
love NEWS briefs
Events across the Diocese of
Fargo youth news
'Welcome to Columbus Ohio'
from the bishop's office Bishop's Column In Christ, we are daughters and sons of the Father My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, This month brings to a close another year and the celebration of Christmas, the miracle of the incarnation, God’s Word made flesh. The angels announced the good news to the shepherds and announce the good news to us. “‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!’” (Lk 2:10-14). The good news is that the long awaited savior of the world has become man; born as an infant in Bethlehem. God has always loved us, and he now gives to us the gift of his only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we may share in his divine life. In the death and resurrection of Christ the Lord we are saved. Yet, he had to first be born as a human being so that we might share in his divinity. As the Word became flesh and shared in our humanity so we in baptism, sharing in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, are born anew to share in the divine life of the Trinity. Both St. Paul and St. John speak of this great truth in their epistles. “In love he [the Father] destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved” (Eph 1:5-6). “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are”(1 Jn 3:1). Our truest identity as disciples of Jesus Christ is that in him we truly become the sons and daughters of the Father. We share in the divine life that Jesus made possible in his birth, death and resurrection. We are called then to live in the “love the Father has given us.” This has many implications for us who are believers in Jesus Christ. We are called to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ by making ourselves a total self-gift to the Father. As faithful sons and daughters of the Father we place ourselves at his disposal, just as Mary, Joseph and Jesus did. At the invitation of an angel, Mary became the Mother of God and Joseph became his foster father. Jesus’ food was to do the will of the Father (Jn 4:34). They placed themselves at the total service of the Father, even if his particular plan was not their original desire. We must do the same. As sons and daughters of the Father, we are truly brothers and sisters with Jesus Christ and one another. We are called to live in relationship with one another in the Church, the Body of Christ, and to receive each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to love one another as Christ has loved us (Jn 15:12). As sons and daughters of the Father we are to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. Before Jesus ascends into heaven he commands his disciples to go into the world to teach all nations everything he has commanded and to make them disciples through baptism (Mt 28:19-20). We are called to hand on the gift of our faith to our children, to others in our communities, and to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. As sons and daughters of the Father we are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and welcome the stranger (Mt 25:31-46). We are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Mt 5:44), and forgive as our Father has forgiven us (Mt 6:14-15). We are to transform the world in which we live by the example we give in living as faithful sons and daughters of God. As sons and daughters of the Father we are called to live the sacramental life of the Church. The only way that all of the above is possible is if we are faithful to the reading of Sacred Scripture and, most especially, the four Gospels, to attending Sunday Eucharist, and committing ourselves to the regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. True sons and daughters of God run to the Father to seek his forgiveness as the prodigal son ran to his father (Lk 15:11ss). Out of true love for the Father and Jesus they long to feed each Sunday on true food from heaven: the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ (Jn 6). As your bishop, I invite you in this Christmas season to mediate upon the good news given to us by the angels in the birth of Christ the Lord. The Son of God entered into human history and has changed it forever. As the Son of God, he has transformed us through baptism to truly become the sons and daughters of the eternal Father. Our true home is in heaven, not here on earth. Yet we are to love the world as God loved the world (Jn 3:16), seeing all through the eyes of the Father as his beloved children. I pray that, as you meditate upon the birth of Jesus, you will come to discover your dignity as the beloved sons and daughters of the Father and that you will live that dignity more faithfully each day in the world which still hungers for, and often does not know, its Savior. May you and your families have a most blessed Christmas and New Year! <signed>
December 2007
January 2008
DIOCESE OF FARGO OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, has made the following appointments and/or decrees: Deacon James Hunt was hired by SMP Health System on Dec. 3, 2007, to provide pastoral care at both Villa Maria and Rosewood on Broadway in Fargo, ND.
Bishop clarifies USCCB’s ‘responsible transition’ statement on Iraq The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement released Nov. 13 which calls for a responsible transition in Iraq. During their general meeting in Baltimore Nov. 12, the bishops of the United States gave their affirmation to the letter, entitled A Call for Bipartisan Cooperation on Responsible Transition in Iraq. Bishop Samuel Aquila of the Diocese of Fargo commented on the statement in an e-mail sent from Baltimore. He addressed the phrase “responsible transition” and called for continued prayer. “‘Responsible’ means political leaders must put aside their partisan views and vote-seeking agendas and work in cooperation with each other to determine how to incrementally lessen the U.S. presence in Iraq while providing for the support and safety of the people of Iraq. Definite strategies must be developed that ensure a shift from an environment of war to an existence in peace,” Bishop Aquila wrote. “‘Transition’ means a gradual, well-planned movement which focuses on the care and dignity of each human person who is involved in the war in Iraq,” he continued. “Responsible transition can be accomplished only if our politicians put others before themselves – put peace, life and the common good before their own political popularity or party agenda. They must ask those most close to the conflict – the Iraqis, the refugees, the military personnel – what they see as needs, rather than sitting behind desks, determining strategies that look good on paper but fail when implemented. “A pull-out from Iraq based on the schedules of politicians is not the answer nor is remaining in Iraq based on the interests of the U.S. alone. Responsible transition, based upon the dignity, safety and needs of the human persons whose lives are most closely affected by this war, is the only answer.” Bishop Aquila concluded with a call for continued prayer. “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that the Catholic faithful of the Diocese of Fargo continue to pray for peace in the Middle East, for our service men and women, and for wisdom for all leaders and politicians involved in resolving the present conflict.” The USCCB statement can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/bishops/index.shtml.
Diocesan reporting policy regarding sexual abuse The Diocese of Fargo is committed to the protection of youth. Please report any incidents or suspected incidents of child abuse, including sexual abuse, to civil authorities. If the situation involves a member of the clergy or a religious order, a seminarian, or an employee of a Catholic school, parish, the diocesan offices or other Catholic entity within the diocese, we ask that you also report the incident or suspected incident to Father Dennis Skonseng, Vicar General, at (701) 356-7945 or Briston Fernandes, Victims Assistance Coordinator, at (701) 356-7965 or VictimAssistance@fargodiocese.org. For additional information about victim assistance, visit www.fargodiocese.org.
Features
40 Days for Life: another
child survives Although the 40 Days for Life 24-hours-a-day prayer vigil outside the state of North Dakota’s only abortion facility officially concluded in November, volunteers requested that prayer for an end to abortion continue; thus, the North Dakota committee has established a schedule of 40 hours of prayer per week outside the abortion facility. The schedule includes the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (the typical days abortions are performed) and 8 to 10 a.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays. The abortion facility, Red River Women’s Clinic, is located at 512 1st Ave. N. in Fargo. People are encouraged to sign up for a weekly hour of prayer by contacting the Pregnancy Help Center in Park River at (701) 356-7979 in Fargo or (701) 284-6601 in Park River, or by e-mail at phc@polarcomm.com. “We presently have filled 40 percent of our time slots for the 40 hours-per-week peaceful, prayerful vigil outside the abortion facility,” said Colleen Samson, chairperson of the 40 Days for Life North Dakota committee. In addition, “we are contacting approximately 70 individuals through our telephone tree on days abortions are being performed, some who then contact their own prayer chains.” A dozen volunteers have already come forward to serve as coordinators of 40 Days for Life efforts for their churches or organizations. They represent Resurrection Free Church in Beltrami, Minn., St. John the Baptist Church in Wyndmere, St. Benedict Church in Horace, Church of the Transfiguration in Edgeley, Sts Anne & Joachim Church in Fargo, St. Stanislaus Church in Warsaw, St. Joseph’s Church in Mandan, St. Michael’s Church in Grand Forks, St. Catherine’s Church in Valley City, Calvary United Methodist in Fargo, and the Life Care Center in Thief River Falls, Minn. Their responsibilities will be to encourage participation in their parishes or organizations through prayer at the abortion facility, prayer in their local communities, and other activities. Those interested in serving as coordinators should contact the Pregnancy Help Center. This month, another child was saved from abortion as a result of prayer. Samson provided this report, “A weeping relative of an abortion-minded couple approached the people praying on the sidewalk and asked for help to save her family from the intended abortion. The 40 hours per week prayer volunteers prayed, counseled and encouraged the abortion-minded parents to let their baby live. Not only did the couple finally turn around and walk away but, shortly after, they were reported as being happy they had chosen life for their child. An ultrasound several days later revealed, to the joy of the parents, a baby’s healthy heartbeat.” Samson noted, “We are the body of Christ; we are his mouthpieces, we are his hands and feet, we are his presence in the midst of turmoil. As we respond to God in obedience to his call to be at the abortion facility or to pray exactly where we are, we give God the opportunity to move. A baby would not have been saved, and a family spared the aftermath of abortion, without the presence and prayers of God’s people that day.” Donations to assist with 40 Days for Life efforts may be sent to: Pregnancy Help Center, 40 Days for Life, P.O. Box 626, Park River, ND 58270.
Columns
Christmas is Everywhere “They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Matthew 2:10-11). Did you ever stop and think about all the signs of Christmas such as Santa Claus, the red and white candy canes, Christmas trees? Did you ever stop and count the holidays – including many of those recognized by our governments – that have their origins “rooted” in the birth of Christ and the traditions of Christianity? There are many signs and holidays. Truly these are rich traditions. In America it seems like St. Nicholas (or Santa Claus as we know him in our western culture) is one of several prominent figures of Christmas – that wonderful time of year celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This is great in many ways. Why? Because St. Nicholas was a great saint. How did he become a saint? He became a saint because he lived out many of the principles taught by our savior Jesus Christ. St. Nicholas exists as certain as love, devotion and generosity exist. These qualities abound to give life its highest beauty, joy and fulfillment. St. Nicholas has various names in the various world cultures. In all cases, his origin comes from a young bishop from Asia Minor who lived nearly 1800 years ago. He gave gifts and is attributed with performing over 20 miracles for children, parents and many other people. His life is a great parallel to Christ’s birth – the miracle of all miracles. Oh, how miraculous a plan God has when he “ties” all of his acts together such as St. Nicholas and Christmas. What about those beautiful candy canes? Did you know that the candy cane represents a symbol of Christmas? In the 1600s the Puritans came to power in England. They banned celebrations of Christmas. But a Christian candy maker decided to give his friends a symbol of the holy season. Thus, he made a candy shaped like a shepherd’s staff as Jesus, our Great Shepherd, carried. He added three tiny red stripes to represent the Trinity and one thick one to represent the life of Jesus and the blood he shed to forgive our sins. Ah, the candy cane - what a wonderful symbol of putting Christ in Christmas. What about the Christmas tree? Many legends exist about its origin. One states that, in 722 A.D., St. Boniface, an English monk who organized the Christian Church in France and Germany, came upon a group of pagans gathered at the base of an oak tree about to sacrifice a child to their god Thor. St. Boniface cut down the oak tree and a fir tree grew up at the oak base. He told everyone that the evergreen, which points to heaven, was a holy tree. It was the tree of the Christ child and a promise of His eternal life. The evergreen – another great tradition and Christian connection! The evergreen is not a seasonal tree but an “ever green” tree which too is a symbol of eternal life – forever green. Yes, Christmas is everywhere! During this season, while you may be hurrying and bustling with numerous tasks or while at family and company gatherings, slow down and relish the moments of Christmas all around you. Whenever you see Santa, you’re seeing the loving tradition of St. Nicholas. Whenever you see a candy cane, you’ll be reminded of the deep sacrifices others have taken to pass on the Christian faith. Whenever you see a Christmas tree, you will see an eternal life symbol that points to heaven. Smile and savor the moment. And, with a short prayer of gratitude thank God for all you’ve been given, especially the rich faith and its traditions that have been handed on to you. As we close 2007, I thank you for all of your support and your Christ-like “St. Nicholas acts of kindness”. Thank you for all of your gifts of treasure to your parishes, the Diocese of Fargo and the universal Catholic Church. Thank you for all that you will do this Christmas season, whether through charitable gifts or actions that help build a more loving world. I wish all of you a very blessed Christmas! “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life”(John 3:16) Leier is director of stewardship and development for the Diocese of Fargo. He can be reached at (701) 356-7926 or paul.leier@fargodiocese.org.
We are called to help all in need, regardless of the cause of their need How should we respond to those in need, such as those who are hungry, homeless, without healthcare, or struggling with addiction? Do we address their needs, without inquiring as to why they are in need? Do we inquire and then decide whether they are truly deserving of help? Many people feel that we should not help those who have brought their problems on themselves through laziness, drug or alcohol use, self-centeredness, illegal entry into the country, or other undesirable behaviors. Providing assistance in those cases, it is thought, only encourages more bad behavior. The Church's teachers, however, have long cautioned against judging a person's worthiness as a condition for providing assistance. One Church Father was particularly eloquent on this point. His eloquence should not come as a surprise considering he is known as Saint John Chrysostom (the “Golden Mouth”.) Saint John Chrysostom lived about 350 to 407 A.D. in what is present day Turkey, mostly in Antioch. Throughout his life as a deacon, priest, and bishop, Saint John preached about the needs of the poor and the obligation of everyone to fill those needs. As bishop, his denunciations of the lifestyles of the rich eventually drew the wrath of the Empress. She arranged to have him exiled, where he died of exhaustion after soldiers forced him to march in oppressive heat. While a priest in Antioch, Saint John gave a series of homilies on the parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man. In one of these homilies, Saint John urged his parishioners to give to those in need without judging a person's worthiness, citing Abraham, Paul, and Christ himself. Chrysostom's words are worth quoting. “For if you wish to show kindness, you must not require an accounting of a person's life, but merely correct his poverty and fill his need.” “The poor man has one plea, his want and his standing in need: do not require anything else from him; but even if he is the most wicked of all men and is at a loss for his necessary sustenance, let us free him from hunger.” “When you see on earth the man who has encountered the shipwreck of poverty, do not judge him, do not seek an account of his life, but free him from his misfortune.” “Charity is so called because we give it even to the unworthy.” “Need alone is the poor man's worthiness . . .” “We do not provide for the manners, but for the man.” “We show mercy on him not because of his virtue but because of his misfortune, in order that we ourselves may receive from the Master His great mercy . . .” Saint John Chrysostom emphasized that helping the needy is not just about the needy. It is also – if not mostly – about our relationship with God. God calls us to serve, not judge worthiness. “God has excused you from all officiousness and meddlesomeness,” said the Saint. Saint John also hints that, in the end, none of us are truly worthy. Asking why a person is homeless, poor, addicted, sick, or otherwise in need has its value, but not for the purpose of determining whether the person deserves help. The person deserves help because he or she needs it. Instead of using the information to determine worthiness, discovering why a person is homeless helps us to address the systemic problems that might have contributed to the person's plight. Addressing those problems is a matter of achieving justice, which, like charity, is also a Christian obligation. Dodson is executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. The NDCC Web site is at ndcatholic.org.
NEWS briefs Jan. 11: Busy person’s retreat at Maryvale in Valley City. Persons wishing to make a retreat while maintaining their busy schedules will want to participate in this 4-day retreat which offers an experience of directed prayer, praying alone and with others, using scripture, and meeting daily with a director. The retreat will begin on Monday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Please call for more information; register by Jan. 5. Suggested donation is $20. Contact Sister Dorothy Bunce, (701) 845-2864 or email at dorothy.bunce@fargodiocese.org. Jan. 11-13: Search for Christian Maturity weekend. Search is a peer to peer ministry, youth ministering to youth, for those who are single and age 16 and older. Hosted at Maryvale Convent, 11550 River Road, Valley City, the weekend helps participants grow in their faith and in their relationship with Christ. The cost for team members is $30. For the new Searcher, the fee is $50. Application deadline is December 15. For more information, contact Colleen or Tom Musgrave at (701) 845-5358 or tnc@daktelwb.com. Jan. 18-20: A Life in the Spirit seminar will be held at St. Therese the Little Flower Catholic Church, 218 Third Street S.E., Rugby. The seminar begins Friday at 7 p.m. and closes on Sunday afternoon. The weekend helps participants deepen their appreciation for the sacraments and become more aware of God's great love and activity in their lives. A free will offering will be collected at the meals. For more information call Sister Genevieve at (701) 776-6866 or Charlotte Blessum at (701) 776-5312, or email: sr.merrick@sendit.nodak.edu. Jan. 19: The Sisters of St. Francis are hosting four related retreat days entitled Getting in Touch With God: Praying and Living the Psalms beginning Nov. 17 and ending May 3. The second of the four, Psalms of Intercession, Praise and Thanksgiving, begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Holy Mass and the sacrament of reconciliation are offered at each retreat. Space is limited, register early. Deadline to register is the Wednesday before. Contact: Sister Mary Lousie Jundt or Sister Susan Marie Loeffen at 701-242-7195, or email smloe@rrt.net to register or for more information. An offering of $25 per retreat is suggested which includes all supplies and dinner with the Sisters. Note that you may attend any or all four retreats. Jan. 26-27: Discernment is a retreat for single women, 18 years and older, to look at what it means to discern God's call in a person's life, not just to religious life but to other areas of life as well. Sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation, Fargo, the retreat begins on Saturday, Jan. 26 at 1 p.m. and ends on Sunday, Jan. 27 around 12:30 or 1 p.m. at Presentation Center, 1101 32nd Ave S, Fargo. Included are opportunities for prayer, reflection, Eucharist with the Sisters, and sharing with other women. For more information, please contact Sr. Shawna Foley or Sr. Andrea Arendt at 701-235-8246. Feb. 7-10: A three day men's Cursillo will be held at St. Cecilia's in Harvey. This retreat begins Thursday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. A Cursillo is a time of getting to know yourself so you can grow to know God more. For more information, call Doran Chandler at 701-845-5950, or e-mail: chandler@csicable.net Feb. 8-10: Search for Christian Maturity weekend. Search is a peer to peer ministry, youth ministering to youth, for those who are single and age 16 and older. Hosted at Maryvale Convent, 11550 River Road, Valley City, the weekend helps participants grow in their faith and in their relationship with Christ. The cost for team members is $30. For the new Searcher, the fee is $50. Application deadline is January 14. For more information, contact Colleen or Tom Musgrave at (701) 845-5358 or tnc@daktelwb.com. Feb. 10-12: Dr. Ray Guarendi will be speaking in the Grand Forks area during a shared Lenten Parish Mission. He will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, East Grand Forks, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., and present “Back to the Family”; he will be at Holy Family Parish, 1018 18th Ave. S., Grand Forks, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m., presenting “You’re a Better Parent Than You Think”; he will be at St. Michael’s, 520 6th St. N., Grand Forks, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m., talking on “Why be Catholic”. Each session is open to all; a free will offering will be taken. Dr. Guarendi is a clinical psychologist specializing in families, parenting and children. He has authored five books relating to his specialty, and is a radio talk-show host. Listen to him live on Real Presence Radio, KWTL AM 1370 at noon Tuesday through Thursday, and check out his website at www.drray.com. For more information, contact Sue at St. Michael’s, (701) 772-2624. Feb. 21-24: A three day women’s Cursillo will be held at St. Cecilia’s in Harvey. This retreat begins Thursday evening and ends Sunday afternoon. A Cursillo is a time of getting to know yourself so you can grow to know God more. For more information, call Sandy Horsager at 701-493-2077 or e-mail: shors@drtel.net To submit events for New Earth and the diocesan Web site, mail them to New Earth, 5201 Bishops Blvd., Suite A, Fargo, ND 58104-7605 or e-mail cheryl.fausel@fargodiocese.org. Events offered by the diocese, diocesan parishes and religious communities, and other diocesan Catholic entities, will be considered for publication. Events offered by non-diocesan entities may be submitted for consideration as separate stories. The deadline is Dec. 27.
KWTL expands and offers
weekly live broadcast Equipment changes to facilitate KWTL’s daytime power upgrade from 1,000 watts to 12,000 watts will soon be completed, said Steve Splonskowski, executive director of AM 1370 KWTL, the Catholic radio station in Grand Forks. The new antenna tuning unit has already arrived in Grand Forks and the transmitter is expected by Dec. 19. If all goes well with installation, all equipment should be in place and the power upgrade finalized by Christmas. To celebrate the upgrade, the station is launching KWTL LIVE, a weekly two-hour broadcast scheduled for Monday from 9 to 11 a.m. beginning in January. “KWTL LIVE will present everyday discussions about issues happening right here in the Red River Valley,” an announcement from KWTL stated. “Hosts from around the area will present topics that affect you, your family and your everyday life.” Businesses and individuals will have the opportunity to sponsor the programming “to spread the word about your business, celebrate a birthday, name day, anniversary, in memory of a loved one, or just to say, ‘I love my Catholic Radio Station!’” the announcement noted. The suggested donation is $100 for one hour or $200 for both hours. For more information, contact Real Presence Radio at 1-877-795-0122 or e-mail steve@youram1370.com.
Shared Lenten Mission in Grand Forks Area A shared Lenten Parish Mission in the Greater Grand Forks area will feature Dr. Ray Guarendi on Feb. 10-12. The schedule is:
Dr. Guarendi is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in families, parenting and children. He has authored five books relating to his specialty, and is a radio talk-show host. Listen to him live on KWTL AM 1370 at noon Tuesday through Thursday, and check out his Web site at www.drray.com. Each session is open to all; a free will offering will be taken. For more information, contact Sue at St. Michael’s, (701) 772-2624.
North Dakota priest authors book The book “Tekakwitha: Holy Native, Mohawk Virgin 1656-1680”, written by Father Edward Sherman of Grand Forks, has recently been published. It is available through Hurley’s Religious Goods at 1714 S. University Dr., Fargo, and will soon be available at Holy Family Bookstore, 1336 25th Ave. S., Fargo.
Johnson certified by FertilityCare Services Mary Johnson, an employee of the Diocese of Fargo, was recently granted certification as a FertilityCare Practitioner by the Commission on Certification of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals. The American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals is a professional organization dedicated to fostering, advancing and promoting quality natural family planning through service, education, leadership and research. For more information, contact Johnson at 1411 23rd Ave. S., Moorhead, MN 56560 or ryanmaryjohnson@hotmail.com.
Churches host free Christmas Eve party Once again, a Catholic church and a Lutheran church are jointly hosting a free Christmas Eve dinner and party for people who would otherwise be alone. The event is Monday, Dec. 24. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. and will be served until 8 p.m. The annual event runs in two places at the same time -- Nativity Catholic Church, 1825 11 St. S, Fargo, and a few blocks away at Olivet Lutheran Church, 1330 S. University Dr., Fargo. The dinner party is free and designed for the elderly, lonely and homeless. There will be music and gifts during the parties. For information, please contact either parish. To arrange for a free ride to the dinner, please call Olivet at 235-6603 by 4 p.m. on Dec. 23. To arrange for free meal delivery for shut-ins, call Nativity at 232-2414 by 4 p.m. on Dec. 23.
Families,
organizations celebrate National Adoption Day Catholic Charities North Dakota joined others in Fargo to celebrate the fifth annual National Adoption Day on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Cass County Courthouse. East Central District Judges Steven L. Marquart and John C. Irby held a special Saturday session to finalize six adoptions as part of National Adoption Day. North Dakota joined all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to promote adoption and permanency for children in the foster care system. Three families celebrated the legal finalization of six children’s adoptions during the event. The families live in Fargo, West Fargo and Hettinger. The morning was filled with a reception, court hearings and a press conference. One of the adoptive families, along with four of their seven children, shared their heartfelt experience as a family joined through adoption at a press conference held at the courthouse. Letters of support were read from Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad. The event concluded with a balloon releasing ceremony on the front lawn of the courthouse. Each color balloon released held significance: white for love and unity; green for remembering the birth families of each youth; yellow for remembering former foster families of the youth; red for honoring the three sets of adoptive parents; orange for thanking extended adoptive families and friends for their support; and blue for celebrating the lives of the newly adopted children. The event came together through the planning efforts of many community organizations, including Catholic Charities North Dakota, PATH ND, Inc., Southeast Human Service Center, Cass County Social Services, Garaas Law firm and the Cass County Clerk of Court. Community contributors to the event include the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Hornbachers-Osgood, Fargo Cash Wise, Krispy Kreme; Red River Coffee Company, and Project Linus. Johnson is AASK Director for Catholic Charities North Dakota.
Adoption program focuses on “forever families” Adults Adopting Special Kids is a special needs adoption program of Catholic Charities North Dakota, PATH ND, Inc., and the North Dakota Department of Human Services. It provides adoption services for children in the public foster care system and the families adopting these children. Through its partnership with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program, AASK provides aggressive child-focused recruitment strategies, targeted exclusively toward identifying adoptive families for children in the public welfare system who are legally freed for adoption. AASK is currently seeking adoptive families for more than 20 children across the state of North Dakota. These are two of the special children seeking a forever family: Do you live in a rural community and love animals? If you do, then you might be the perfect family for Angelia! Angie, as she likes to be called, desires to live with a family that shares her immense love of animals. This passionate 12-year-old is also a talented writer and artist who loves to read, too. She enjoys working on the computer, rap and country music, being with her friends, and watching anything on the Animal Planet channel. A seventh grader who is passionate about history, Angie loves learning about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. An Individual Education Plan is in place to assist Angie with increasing her problem-solving and organizational skills. Angie is currently doing very well in her foster home. Angie is not yet legally-free for adoption, as her child and family services team would like to identify an adoptive family before doing so. It will be important that Angie’s adoptive family have access to psychiatric, counseling, and educational supports in their community, so that they can meet her needs. Do you want someone to bowl, ride bike, swim or shoot baskets with? These are just a few of the activities Sundance enjoys. He also likes to draw, play soccer and football, read, tell stories, and go to the lake. Sundance has a ready wit and often cracks jokes. He has a caring heart and a zest for life. Initially, he is shy but once he gets to know someone his personality shines. He is a natural born leader and loves to help and guide others. Sundance will turn 12 years old in January and is in the fifth grade. Sundance would like a two-parent family with children close to him in age and strongly states his preference for an adoptive family from the Bismarck area. He has a strong interest in restoring old vehicles and thinks that an adoptive father with the same interests would be ideal. A structured environment with an established routine is important for Sundance, as well as clear rules. Sundance also has two siblings who are being adopted and continued contact with them is encouraged. Although a Native American family is preferable, all families are encouraged to inquire. To learn more about these and other adoption opportunities, call AASK at 877-551-6054.
Seminarians prepare for annual carnival and spaghetti dinner
Fargo Diocese has new general agent for Knights of Columbus Insurance Dan Wentz retired Oct. 31 as General Agent for the Knights of Columbus Insurance in the Fargo Diocese. Effective Nov. 1, Bob Wolf, currently the General Agent for the Bismarck Diocese, succeeded Wentz. All North Dakota Knights of Columbus councils, as well as the councils in Moorhead, Minn., will now be under the supervision of one General Agent. Wentz had a long and successful career with Knights of Columbus Insurance, serving as a Field Agent for approximately 15 years before becoming the General Agent in 1987. His agency consistently ranked as one of the top among all agencies in the country. He and his wife, Loretta, will continue to live in Fargo, but plan to do some traveling and spend more time at their lake home. Wolf lives in Minot and served as a Field Agent for approximately 14 years before becoming the General Agent for the Bismarck Diocese in 2003. His primary goals are to assist councils in promoting and increasing membership, and to redistribute field agent council assignments throughout the state to ensure efficient, quality service to all Knights of Columbus members. The Wolf Agency’s telephone number is (701) 838-3631. The mailing address is 304 18th St. SW, Minot, ND 58701. Bob Wolf can also be reached on his cell phone at (701) 721-0002.
International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Quebec In June 2008, the Church in North America will celebrate the gift of the Eucharist in Quebec, Canada. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop of Quebec, wrote in an announcement sent to bishops and the Catholic faithful, “The Holy Father has given me the privilege of leading this event, the International Eucharistic Congress, in Quebec City. And I, in turn, have invited the Holy Father to celebrate our final Mass of the Congress….The International Eucharistic Congress will be a time of renewal for worship of the Holy Eucharist and for the life of charity that flows from it. Each day, catechesis and testimonies will be offered to the thousands of participants – the present and the future leaders of the Church – and a solemn Eucharistic liturgy will be celebrated. There will also be processions of the Blessed Sacrament, as well as special religious events for young adults and families, and activities to promote brotherhood.” The Congress will be held June 15 through 22. It has not yet been announced whether Pope Benedict XVI will be able to attend the event, but an announcement is expected soon. Donations are needed to help fund the event. Donations may be sent to the U.S. address for the event: Archdiocese of Philadelphia, c/o Bishop Joseph Cistone, 222 N. 17th St., Philadelphia, Pa 19103-1299. They will be forwarded to the International Eucharistic Congress. For more information about the Congress, visit www.cei2008.ca or call 866-436-2008.
Residents Encounter Christ held at James River Correctional Center "I was in prison and you came to visit me." Mathew 25:36 by Deacon Jim McAllister On the weekend of Oct. 20-21, the Prison Ministry Committee of the Basilica of St. James sponsored a Residents Encounter Christ (REC) retreat at the James River Correctional Center. A team of 20 members served 25 resident inmates on Saturday and 27 on Sunday. Offering weekend retreats at the James River Correctional is new for us and we requested the help of some friends from Minnesota where their REC program has been on-going for over 10 years in the St. Cloud Diocese. Nine men travel to Jamestown to help and give of their time, their talent and their treasure. We are especially grateful for their assistance. REC is an adaptation of TEC (Teens Encounter Christ) and is centered in the Paschal Mystery of Christ. This core truth of our faith is not presented within the format of academic theology, but through the meshing of life with life as the Paschal Mystery is lived out in concrete human experience. During the retreat each person is invited by the Risen Christ to open his or her heart and to share in a personal way their life, death and resurrection. Reflectively, the candidates come to see Christ's mystery relived in their own daily life. The retreat is founded and unfolds within the living traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. At its core is an evangelizing process that is initiated within a community of believers, shared through a specially designed weekend, and continually renewed through shared experience within this community. REC involves prayer centered in Christ--prayer of praise, thanksgiving and petition, and most especially the prayer of sacrifice, complete self-gift of oneself to God and to the community. Through this experience, we were able to help residents come to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ in a more personal way and that they do receive grace to go forth and tell the good news; to be a beacon in the night, a light to the world. Each resident was given a Bible, a few prayer cards and a list of team members (first name) so they can communicate after the retreat is over. REC-Connect is a special mail box set to communicate through the mail after the retreat is over. We are grateful for cooperation received from the prison staff of JRCC and support from parishioners at St. James Basilica. Parishioners donated food for the REC retreat team and held a prayer vigil in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament during the retreat. Truly the transformation of some of the residents was the work of the Holy Spirit. Many of the residents and also team members expressed that they had come to know Christ in a deeper manner. Since the retreat, we have seen an increase in those participating in the Mass and different programs offered at the JRCC. The weekend was a great success and we are planning to offer another REC in Jamestown in April. If you would like to know more about this retreat program or would like to serve on a team please contact: Shirley Wallace, Basilica of St. James, Jamestown, (701) 252-0119. For more information on the REC and TEC programs, you can also check out the following websites: www.tecconference.org, www.rec-connect.org
Internet Safety Plus The following is the second in a series of helpful tips devoted to keeping our homes safe for the cultivation of Christian life. We began the series by stressing the importance of placing computers and televisions in public areas and developing a family media policy. The complete article can be viewed online at http://www.fargodiocese.org/news/NewEarthArchives.htm. Safety Tip #3: Use a web filter. A web filter is a software program or a third-party service which filters out sites that may be harmful. There are basically two types: those that use key words or the suspicious heavy presence of certain colors as a sign of something dangerous; and those that scan the internet for bad sites and create a running list of new and old sites that are offensive. Some services employ both methods. In recent years, web filters have become more sophisticated in their techniques to block offensive sites. At the same time, the people who run the offensive sites have become more sophisticated in finding ways to avoid the web filters. It is important to keep in mind that no filter is going to be 100 percent effective in blocking out harmful sites. Nonetheless, web filters can be an important part of a total strategy for keeping your home and your children safe. Safety Tip #4: Check your web browser history. Sounds too simple to be effective, but you would be surprised to find out how well this easy trick works. Self-absorbed kids and absent-minded adults often fail to erase their browsing history. The “History” button is usually located on the top tool-bar for most browsers. Safety Tip #5: Consider a keystroke or web site monitoring program. These are programs or third party services that monitor either the words that have been typed on the keyboard of your computer or the sites that have been viewed. Periodically, they generate a report that can be viewed by the designated administrator of your computer. These programs are very effective in catching problems that may be developing in the home. They may not catch every bad site that has been viewed, but they will certainly discover bad habits that are taking place over a month’s time. This series will be continued in the next issue. A resource page is also being developed at the Diocese of Fargo webpage to help parents with specific resources.
Diocese in compliance with Charter The Diocese of Fargo was recently found to be in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. A Nov. 3 letter to Bishop Samuel Aquila from The Gavin Group, Inc., of Winthrop, Mass., noted the compliance “based upon the analysis of the results of the 2007 Full Audit of the Diocese of Fargo.” According to the Web site for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “The Charter is a comprehensive set of procedures established by the USCCB in June 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. The Charter also includes guidelines for reconciliation, healing, accountability, and prevention of future acts of abuse.”
These news items, compiled by Dorothy Duchschere, were found in issues of the Diocese of Fargo newspaper, New Earth, and its predecessor, Catholic Action News. 50 Years Ago - Dec. 19 marked the 23rd anniversary of Bishop James O’Reilly’s death. Bishop O’Reilly was the second bishop of the Diocese of Fargo. 20 Years Ago - Cardinal Muench Seminary celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special liturgy, a tree planting ceremony, and an open house that more than 500 people attended. Father Val Gross was seminary rector. - William Barth, son of Dr. Eric and Phyllis Barth, performed with the Choir of St. Thomas/St. Catherine at the Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Pope John Paul II celebrated this Mass. 10 Years Ago - Bishop James Sullivan suffered a mild heart attack during a Confirmation service in Grand Forks on Dec. 13. He underwent angioplasty procedures. He did not suffer major damage to his heart and did not need a bypass operation. Msgr. Wendelyn Vetter, vicar general of the Diocese of Fargo assumed Bishop Sullivan’s responsibilities while he was recuperating.
We remember those who have died The following names were missed in the “We Remember” section of the November New Earth. Please pray for the souls of our faithful departed and for their loved ones.
Lakota: St.
Mary’s parish, Daniel J. Shirek, April 25, 2006 (Note: Deaths through Oct. 15, 2007, were included in the November 2007 issue of New Earth. Deaths after that date will be included in the November 2008 New Earth.)
youth news
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