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New Earth Archives - February 2008
Features
Msgr. Brian
Donahue to return to active duty in Iraq Columns
The Wonderful “Mouse” that Leads Us to New Stewardship Opportunities NEWS briefs
Events across the Diocese of
Fargo youth news
Local man attends White House breakfast during March for
Life
from the bishop's office Bishop's Column To grow in holiness we must be reconciled with God My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Each year the Church invites us to celebrate the great season of Lent emphasizing both baptism and conversion. Catechumens are preparing for baptism, while we who are baptized recall our baptism and recognize our own need for ongoing conversion. The Second Vatican Council reminded all the faithful, clergy, religious and laity that we are called to holiness. Holiness is not an option just for a few! Every baptized person is called to holiness, which means to be a saint! “The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and every one of His disciples, regardless of their situation: ‘You therefore are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect’ (Mt. 5:48). He Himself stands as the Author and Finisher of this holiness of life. He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might inspire them from within to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and strength (cf. Mk. 12:30) and that they might love one another as Christ loved them (cf. Jn. 13:34; 15:12)” (Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church 40). The Lord himself commands us to “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” While this is impossible if we depend on ourselves, it is possible if we depend on the grace that God desires to bestow upon us. Holiness is the work of the Trinity and our work is to receive the gifts the Spirit desires to pour out on us. Growth in holiness means to become like Jesus – to know our true identity as the beloved daughters and sons of God, to live the virtues, to choose the good and avoid the evil, to love as Jesus loved. “To be perfect” means to be perfect in charity, loving God above all things and loving our neighbor as ourselves. The parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk. 15:11-24) helps us to understand the call to conversion and holiness (See Catechism of the Catholic Church 1439). At the heart of the parable is the merciful and loving father. The son rejects his true identity as a beloved son of his father, and the father lets him depart. The son fails to live the virtues and chooses all sorts of evils, squandering his money on loose living and with prostitutes. He ends up destitute, lost and tending pigs – one of the worst jobs a Jew could have. The son comes to his senses, recognizing his sin and the evil he has chosen. He understands that, through his sin, he has offended both God and his father. He does not deny his sin but fully accepts what he has done. He acknowledges the depth of his poverty and feels that he is worthless. The son does not think that he can return to his father as a son but hopes that he will accept him as a hired worker. He returns to the father, and the mercy and love of the father is revealed. It is important to note how the father receives his son. He does not wait for the son to come all the way to him but rather the father runs out to meet his son and embraces and kisses him. As the son admits his sin before his father, the father restores the signs of sonship to the son with the robe, the ring, the sandals and the banquet. Just as the father in this parable forgives the repentant son, our Father in heaven, through his action, mercy and love, forgives and welcomes home with joy the repentant sinner.. Our interactions with the Father and our acceptance of his love and forgiveness help us to grow in holiness. The more we turn to the Father and receive his love for us, the more we become like Jesus. We must have a true desire to grow in holiness, to receive the virtues, to surrender our lives as Jesus surrendered his life to the Father. We must have a true desire to grow in charity. Like the prodigal son, we too must come to our senses. Too often today we justify sin, deny sin, or think of an evil as a good. We see this in the abuse of drugs and alcohol, in the lack of respect for others, in the gossip and talking behind another person’s back, in cheating to get ahead, in the holding of grudges, in the refusal to forgive, in the objectification of women, in the misuse of our sexuality, and in the taking of innocent human life. The sacrament of reconciliation is essential for growth in holiness. One of the reasons today for a lack of holiness is that we do not celebrate regularly the sacrament. If we are truly serious about coming to our senses and receiving the Father’s love for us then we will go to Confession not just during Lent, but at least every month. The sacrament of reconciliation helps us to see our sins, to seek God’s mercy, and to experience his tender love for us. Lent is a time for us to examine our lives in the light of the Father’s love for us. The prodigal son comes to his senses as he remembers all that he had at his home, most especially the love of his father. Our true home is in the heart of the Father, and only in remembering that truth will we be able to recognize our sin, seek God’s forgiveness, and grow in holiness. As we grow in holiness we grow in charity. In receiving the Father’s love for us we will learn to love our neighbor as God loves our neighbor. We will desire to exercise charity in our homes, workplaces, society and world. We will grow in the fruits, virtues, of the Holy Spirit, “charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity” (Gal. 5:22-23). We will be willing to forgive as our Father forgives us (Mt. 6:14-15), and we will be merciful as the Father is merciful with us (Lk. 6:36). We will keep the commandments, live the beatitudes, and “feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit those who are sick and in prison, welcome the stranger” (Mt. 25:31-46). Conversion and growth in holiness do not happen overnight. We can become overwhelmed and discouraged if we think we must have all of these signs of holiness. We must remember that every saint, save the Blessed Mother, was a sinner. Some were great sinners and others less. For most saints it took many years to become holy, it was not achieved overnight nor without trials and failures. Perseverance was a must. And what every saint realized was that they were loved unconditionally by the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit – that God was truly for them and desired only the good for them. Today we too must recognize the same if we are to become saints. My prayer for every Catholic is that each one of us will respond to the call of Jesus and grow in holiness during this Lenten season. Sincerely yours in Christ, <signed>
March 2008
DIOCESE OF FARGO OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, has made the following appointments and/or decrees: Rev.
Edward Sherman was granted retirement from active ministry, effective Jan.
16, 2008.
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
A look at the God's Child Project from its founder, Patrick Atkinson The GOD'S CHILD Project, which was founded in Bismarck by Patrick Atkinson in 1991, is the Upper Midwest's largest international charity, focusing on health care and education as the means for breaking the bitter chains of poverty. The Project currently cares for and educates 4,000 orphaned and poverty-stricken boys and girls. While it is best known for the educational work that it does with children, the Project also provides health care, educational services, and community development for 8,700 widowed, abandoned, and single mothers and their dependents. In 2005, North Dakota First Lady Mikey Hoeven, while keynoting a dinner group, said that, "The greatest contribution of Patrick Atkinson and The GOD'S CHILD Project has perhaps been right here at home. They have taught North Dakotans about the existence and reality of Third World poverty, and given us the means to be part of the solution." Every year between 30 and 45 community, church, school, and business-sponsored employee groups come to volunteer with The GOD'S CHILD Project in Guatemala, Central America. Most of these groups build homes for the poor, but others provide health and dental care and distribute donated clothing. Sometime in November of this year, one of these volunteer groups will construct the Project's 1,000th home for a homeless family in Guatemala. Most of the families that these groups build homes for have absolutely nothing. They are living under pieces of cardboard held together with chicken wire. If they are lucky, they tore up a used garbage bag and used that plastic to cover their roof so that the rainwaters don't pour in when it is raining. In just one day, these volunteers also pour a new concrete floor in the homes they are building for these very poor families. As compared to living and sleeping on a dirt floor, which Atkinson compares to a "bacteriological soup", one of these new concrete slab floors, that cost between $70 and $200 per floor, depending on size, immediately cut down on respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin diseases by 70 percent. Nearly 1,000 volunteers a year come to volunteer at one of The GOD'S CHILD Project's sites in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Malawi, Africa. Somehow they know that the work is really about getting to know themselves, their God, and the poor better. Anything that they actually accomplish while they are at a GOD'S CHILD Project volunteer site, which can be a lot, is frosting on the cake. Last summer, former Bismarck-native Mary Brown left the Project a $360,000 bequest in her will. This bequest was placed into The GOD'S CHILD Project's permanent foundation, and now forms an endowment basis which the Project hopes to build by future major gifts and bequests. While the Project has a professional volunteer management team, Atkinson says that one of his greatest fears is that the funding will slow down or stop after he is gone, "when he gets hit by the big school bus from the sky." There are now nearly 15,000 orphaned, abandoned, and poverty-stricken children and mothers depending on the Project now, on three different continents. When Atkinson was applying to the Internal Revenue Service for recognition for The GOD'S CHILD Project as a tax-exempt charity, he was asked to describe the Project's business plan. Atkinson wrote, "We work hard and do the best we can. We pray that people help us. We then go back to work." The IRS approved his application without any further questions. Information provided by Patrick Atkinson
Columns
The Wonderful “Mouse” that Leads Us to New Stewardship Opportunities The past 40+ years have been unique. Many people have come to love a mouse in their house. They yearn for the friendly mouse in their office, too! They love the mouse while it’s on their desk, kitchen table, or countertop. Can you imagine that? In fact, most people don’t even fear their pet mouse anymore. The mouse we’re talking about is that wonderful technological invention – initially invented in 1963 by Douglas Engelbart of the Stanford research Institute - known as none other than the computer mouse. Now you’ll love your computer mouse even more. Why? The Diocese of Fargo and the Catholic Development Foundation has enhanced the diocesan Web site and you can use your mouse to help your charitable dreams come true. The first enhancement is the Planned Giving Web pages. To get there, simply go to www.fargodiocese.org then click on Stewardship/Donate and then click on Planned Giving. What you’ll find is a wealth of estate planning topics and articles for people of all ages. This Planned Giving site offers up-to-date issues involving charitable gift planning, estate planning, memorials, endowments, trusts, and many other information sources. You’ll read about tax and income benefits for various planned gifts. You’ll learn about certain trusts and annuities that pay you an income for life. You can build your own sample gift and compare gifts and their tax advantages. The site is like a virtual encyclopedia on how and what to give. It also offers an easy way to request e-brochures at no cost to you. You can even take an on-line quiz regarding estates and planned giving topics. It’s a great site! So go ahead and check it out. I’m convinced that when you’re done navigating through the site, you’ll love your mouse even more. The second Web site enhancement is on-line giving. You can now make a contribution to Cardinal Muench Seminary, Catholic Development Foundation endowments including your parish endowments, and to the annual God’s Gift Appeal using your computer. This has been requested by various people throughout the diocese and we’re very happy to offer you this service. To donate on-line go to www.fargodiocese.org then click on Stewardship/Donate and then using your beloved mouse select the blue highlighted Donate Now button. You’ll be taken to a secure on-line donation page. There, you can make your contribution via a credit card, debit card or an automatic withdrawal from your bank account. You can pick the terms of your gift such as a monthly or a one-time gift. You can also select the gift’s start and end dates, amount, etc. It’s very user friendly. Give it a try. It should be noted that if you choose not to give on-line, you can still give via debit or credit card or by automatic withdrawal by calling us, or providing the needed information on your annual God’s Gift Appeal card. On-line giving has grown exponentially the past decade. Thus, it is important that your diocese accommodate your wants and needs and provide you with the modern methods of giving. Corinthians 9:7 states “Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”. The Lord wants you to enjoy your giving experience and we want to help your charitable intentions come true. Wishing you, your family, your friends and your computer mouse a blessed time until we connect again in next month’s New Earth column. And remember, when you click for the Lord’s causes you’re helping build his heavenly kingdom here on earth. “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world; an idea whose hour has come”. Victor Hugo, French poet, statesman & artist (1802-1885) Leier is director of stewardship and development for the Diocese of Fargo and can be reached at (701) 356-7926 or at paul.leier@fargodiocese.org.
A fair and
just Farm Bill would preserve family farming The key to a fair and just new Farm Bill may rest with policies about which the federal government has little say. Interestingly, the Catholic bishops have talked about it for years – the need to preserve family farming. To much of the public, the debate over the new Farm Bill comes down to whether we continue with the current subsidy-based system or radically reform agriculture policy by seriously reducing or eliminating the subsidy system. As is often the case, the best policy is something in the middle. Proponents of radical reform are right in their contention that the current policy needs reform. People who do not farm or have just minimal connections with actual farming get large subsidy payments. The payments are not targeted to small and medium size farms. Also, for some commodities, the subsidy system may make it harder for developing nations to develop an economically self-sustaining agricultural system. However, apparently under the belief that all farmers are actually millionaires in Manhattan living off subsidy checks, the reformers pushed for too much. An odd partnership consisting of economic conservative think-tanks, certain environmentalists, and some international aid groups, backed by metropolis newspapers like the Washington Post, argued for reforms that would have eventually hurt true family farmers. These reformers fail to realize that the current agricultural economy is both unjust and subject to forces – like weather – beyond our ability to control. So long as an unjust system exists, some kind of safety net for farmers must also exist. Recognizing the need for some reform, but not one that cut the legs out from under family farms, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference joined voices for a more moderate approach. For example, they supported amendments to reduce “trade distorting” subsidies that hurt small scale farmers in developing nations. They also supported the Dorgan-Grassley Amendment to cap commodity payments at $250,000 per household. Implicit in their position was also support for the payment limitations and reforms that made it into the Senate version of the bill. However, even from the perspective of this moderate approach, the reforms do not go far enough. What is blocking significant, even moderate reform? The culprit could be the large corporate operations in the South. It appears that, stuck between these powerful interests on one side and the radical reformers on the other, House and Senate members of the Midwest, many of whom favor more limits on subsidies, had to strike deals with the Southern members who oppose greater reform. The core question that seems to be ignored in this debate is -- what is the proper type of ownership for a farm? Much of the public cry for limiting payments coming from the coastal urban centers revolves around this question. The American public does not like the idea of non-farmers receiving farm subsidy payments. The problem, however, is that many agricultural operations, especially in the South and West, are large investor-owned operations where the actual owners participate little, if at all, in the farming operations. North Dakota's anti-corporate farming law prohibits these types of operations in our state. Many states, however, have never had such a law and courts have lately struck down prohibitions in some states that do. Restricting farm ownership to those who actually engage in farming is something Catholic leaders have supported for decades. These leaders, mostly bishops, have recognized that farming is a unique vocation, best left to those who have an intimate relationship with the land they steward in God's name. Some may feel that limiting who can own a farm infringes upon the free enterprise system. Economic liberty, however, should not be absolute. Indeed, there is a long tradition in Catholicism of favoring such restrictions precisely because they help, rather than hinder, the notion of private property and fair competition. (For those interested, it is called “distributism.” G.K. Chesterton was its most known advocate.) Congressional leaders could possibly enact greater reforms that still protected small to middle size family farms if the non-rural public was convinced that the subsidies would go to actual farmers. However, the states, not Congress, determine who can own farmland. So long as large investor-owned agricultural operations remain, they will want a piece of the pie, and reasonable, but substantial reforms may remain elusive. Dodson is executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. The NDCC Web site is at ndcatholic.org.
Suffering
helps us see more clearly the joy God offers to us Msgr. Brian Donahue, vicar general for the Diocese of Fargo, who will soon return to Iraq for a second time as a Catholic chaplain, shared a story with me recently. An infantry unit in Iraq had a chapel where he would celebrate Mass occasionally. On that particular day, Mass was scheduled for 3 p.m. Msgr. Donahue waited for the usual group of 20 to 25 soldiers to arrive. It was getting close to 3 p.m. and no one was there. “All of a sudden they all came rushing in,” he said. They told him they had just been ambushed and survived a firefight. One of them, disheveled and tired, said, “We were really worried we were going to miss Mass.” These men, who lived with the reality that life could be taken from them at any moment on any day, loved the Mass so much that it was at the forefront of their minds as they battled for survival. Rather than dropping onto their cots in exhaustion after their return, they rushed to the chapel to pray in the presence of Jesus and to receive Jesus in holy communion. They understood that every minute of their lives was a gift from God, no matter if it was lived in a war-torn desert in Iraq or a quiet community in the United States. And they acknowledged that gift with gratitude and prayer. How often do we rush to be in the presence of Jesus? Do we turn to him only when it’s convenient, yet expect him to respond to us immediately and forgive us completely when we call out to him as we approach death? Did the soldiers understand the gift of life and the value of the Mass so clearly because they exist in an environment where nothing is certain except for the love of God for them? If that is the case, then we know what to pray for during Lent. Pray for uncertainty. Pray for challenges. Pray for opportunities to express and live our love for God in the midst of great adversity. Pray for an increase of pain within our own hearts so that the pain of others can be relieved. Pray that God will take from us the things that seem most important so that we can see what he wants us to value the most. I didn’t pray for these things. Yet in the past several months, each has entered in its own way into my quiet, safe life. At times, the pain and the tears have caused me to turn my back on God. At other times, they’ve led me to plead for his help. I am not yet where he wants me to be. I am not yet where I need to be. My heart and mind are not yet prepared to do his will every minute of every day. I have not yet finished my journey through the war-torn desert. But I thank God for this road I am traveling, for I know he stands at the end of it ready to hold me and welcome me home.
Who Can Receive Confirmation? A little over five years have passed since our bishop, Bishop Samuel Aquila, restored the original order of the sacraments of initiation, namely, moving Confirmation back to its original location before First Eucharist. As I have traveled throughout the diocese, I have repeatedly been asked questions about why this change was made. Bishop Aquila has answered this question in his pastoral letter, Send Forth Your Spirit. If you have not yet read the document, please take the time to do so. It is available on-line at www.fargodiocese.org/bishop under “homilies and messages”. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, also explains the sacrament of Confirmation. Beginning at paragraph 1306, the question is asked, “Who can receive this sacrament of Confirmation?” Good question. What is the answer? “Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the sacrament of Confirmation….at the appropriate time.” The answer would be simple if it were not for the confusion caused by the phrase “at the appropriate time.” When is this appropriate time? Is there a particularly age? Yes. In the Roman rite, this time begins at the age of discretion or around age seven. (Unless there is a danger of death, then the child should receive any of the sacraments of initiation they have not yet received). In recent history, we have come to think of Confirmation as a “sacrament of Christian maturity.” One of my first volunteer catechist positions was teaching a ninth grade Confirmation class. I remember telling the students that “Confirmation was an opportunity for them to decide to be a Catholic, for them to decide to give their lives to Jesus Christ, to be an adult in the Church.” That’s what I remembered being taught when I was preparing for Confirmation. I had those freshmen memorize all sorts of fundamental truths and prayers, attend a retreat, meet with their sponsors, and do service projects. For some, their growth in the Faith was obvious. It was a great blessing to see the Holy Spirit work in their lives. Still, in retrospect, I see that I was not presenting the best understanding of what Confirmation is. CCC 1308 explains that “we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth.” The same paragraph cites a quote from St. Thomas Aquinas: “Age of body does not determine age of soul. Even in childhood man can attain spiritual maturity: as the book of Wisdom says: ‘For old age is not honored for length of time, or measured by number of years.’ Many children, through the strength of the Holy Spirit they have received, have bravely fought for Christ even to the shedding of their blood.” Like Baptism, Confirmation is a gift from our heavenly Father, given to us by Jesus through the Holy Spirit. There is nothing we can do to merit this gift. Our response is faith. As parents and catechists, we should enable those preparing to receive Confirmation to make this response of faith. From the explanation in CCC 1309-1310 we might prepare the following checklist. Does our catechesis for Confirmation… 1. …lead the person toward a more intimate union with Christ? 2. …lead to a more lively familiarity with the Holy Spirit - his actions, his gifts, and his biddings - in order to be more capable of assuming the apostolic responsibilities of Christian life? 3. …strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ? 4. …provide opportunities for the person to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in order to be cleansed for the gift of the Holy Spirit? 5. …assist the person in developing a more intense prayer life in order to prepare to receive the strength and graces of the Holy Spirit with docility and readiness to act? The same checklist could be used to measure the degree to which we have received this heavenly gift of Confirmation. Stella Jeffrey is director of evangelization and catechesis for the Diocese of Fargo. Look for another column on Confirmation in the next issue of New Earth.
NEWS briefs Feb. 15: The Knights of Columbus 13670 will be hosting a Lenten Fish Fry from 5 to 7 p.m. at St. Lawrence’s Jesse Hall, 105 Dewey Street, Jesse. Cost is: adults $7; ages 6-12 $5; under is free. Feb. 29-Mar. 2: The Women’s Retreat at Maryvale, 11550 River Rd., Valley City, has been a favorite for many years. This year’s retreat entitled, “Desert Wisdom,” will be offered beginning February 29 and ending March 2. Pondering the sayings of the ancient sages of our faith shows how timely their meaning is for one’s daily life. For details, contact Sister Dorothy Bunce, at (701) 845-2864 or email dorothy.bunce@fargodiocese.org. Suggested donation is $60. March 7-9: A Search for Christian Maturity weekend will be hosted at St. Cecilia Retreat Center, 413 E. Brewster St., Harvey. Search is a peer to peer ministry, youth ministering to youth, for those who are single and age 16 and older. 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 February 12. For more information, contact Colleen or Tom Musgrave at (701) 845-5358 or tnc@daktelwb.com. March 9: The men’s group of St. Lawrence, 105 Dewey Street, Jesse, will be hosting a brunch from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the church hall. The menu features eggs, French toast, sausage and beverages. A free-will offering will be collected. March 14-16: The next Rachel's Vineyard Retreat is scheduled for March 14-16, in Valley City. Rachel’s Vineyard offers a safe, non-judgmental and confidential weekend retreat for anyone; women, men, grandparents and siblings who struggle with the feelings of loss that can accompany an abortion experience. The weekend begins on a Friday night and concludes on Sunday afternoon. For more information, contact Shelly at lifecaretrf@wiktel.com or (218) 686-3368. All calls are confidential. March 15: 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 third of the four, Psalms that Jesus Prayed, 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. March 16: On Palm Sunday, the men's group at St Vincent's Church, Central Ave., Leeds, will be hosting a pancake and sausage breakfast from 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The sausage is freshly made by the men's group from pigs donated by a parishioner. The cost is: adults $5; children $3; a maximum of $20 per family. March 16: St. Mary's Church, 216 Belmont Rd., Grand Forks, will host their annual Palm Sunday Smorgasbord Dinner on Sunday, March 16 from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The menu is ham, turkey casserole, Polish sausage and sauerkraut, lasagna, potatoes, salads, baked beans, corn, vegetables, rolls, dessert and beverage. The cost is: adults $7; ages 5-12 $4; ages 4 and under eat free. March 30: St. William's Church in Argusville will host their annual spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Argusville Community Center. There will be an Irish Auction and Bake Sale too. Cost is: adults $6; ages 5-10 $4; children 4 and under free. Tickets will be available at the door. April 3-6: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 517 Fourth St. N.E., Devils Lake, will host the dinner theater, Seven Sisters Down Under on four different dates. Performances are: Thurs., April 3 at 7 p.m.; Fri., April 4 at 7 p.m.; Sat., April 5 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sun., April 6 at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. This is the last of the ‘trilogy’. Father Wilhelm will return in a dual role: as himself and as ‘Father Will O’Malley’. All proceeds benefit the Devils Lake World Youth Day group. For more information or to purchase tickets, call St. Joseph’s at 701-662-7558. April 5: Jr. High Youth Rally will be in Oaks on Saturday, April 5 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This event is for students in grades 6 through 8. For more information, call Kathy Loney at 356-7902 or email her at kathy.loney@fargodiocese.org. April 5: The annual pro-life quilting event to make quilts for babies in need will be hosted at St. Catherine’s Church basement, 540 3rd Ave. N.E., Valley City from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, see story on page 8. April 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 March 14. For more information, contact Colleen or Tom Musgrave at (701) 845-5358 or tnc@daktelwb.com. 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 for the March New Earth is Feb. 28.
Bishop Aquila to Lead Stations of the Cross Bishop Samuel Aquila will lead the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, March 21, at the state of North Dakota’s only abortion facility, Red River Women’s Clinic at 512 1st Ave. N., Fargo beginning at 10:30 a.m. All are invited to gather in prayer for the unborn as we venerate Our Lord’s Passion and Death. For more information contact Rachelle at (701) 356-7910.
What is on “Your Catholic Radio Station” AM1370? Teresa Tomeo, hosts “Catholic Connection” that airs daily M-F from 8 to 9 a.m. Tomeo is a dynamic professional speaker and media personality. She discusses social issues, media awareness, and interviews businesses, youth, families, and community leaders in Southeastern Michigan, and across the country. Teresa reports on news throughout the Catholic community and how we can make a difference. "Fr. John Corapi" airs daily M-F from 7-8 a.m. and “Mornings with Mother Angelica” airs daily M-F from 9-10 a.m. where they take us on a journey through the teachings of the Catholic Church in a dynamic, down-to-earth explanation of the faith. "The Doctor is In" airs daily M-F from noon to 1 p.m. It is produced by Ave Maria Radio and hosted by Dr. Ray Guarendi and Dr. Colleen Mast, who bring to the program a wealth of academic credentials and personal life experience. They answer questions that deal with personal, family and professional life. These include relationships; marital situations; job-related questions; vocational discernment; and the gamut of parenting issues, from home schooling to children who won't behave, to ones who fight with their siblings. This is a favorite among mothers and parents in general. “Catholic Answers LIVE” is a daily, call-in radio program that airs live M-F from 5 to 8 p.m. According to listener surveys, it has become a runaway favorite program on the stations that carry it. Jerry Usher, the host of the show, has a degree in theology and philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville, along with 20-plus years of professional radio experience. Day by day, week by week, Jerry is joined by some of the most prominent men and women in the Catholic Church to discuss issues that are timely and relevant to us all. Jerry takes your phone calls live on the broadcast, allowing you to speak with these outstanding guests. “Kresta in the Afternoon” airs daily M-F from 4 to 5 p.m. Al Kresta explores a range of subjects well beyond what most listeners would expect to hear on Catholic Radio. Al interviews renowned experts and newsmakers, discussing the most pressing political issues, as well as educational, cultural and religious concerns - even topics on the arts and popular entertainment - all of the forces that touch our lives and either encourage or impede our growth as Christians. Kresta in the Afternoon looks at all of life through the lens of Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church, providing a daily conversation - personal, authentic, human - about the things that matter most. KWTL LIVE, the only local broadcast in the Fargo and Crookston dioceses, airs live Mondays from 9-11 a.m. with an encore presentation Saturdays from 1-3 p.m. KWTL Live features local topics that affect you, your life and your home-town and is hosted by your Catholic friends and neighbors. There’s more: Spiritual Refreshment: Daily Mass, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Rosary, and Stations of the Cross are all a part of AM1370’s daily broadcast. Catholic Event Announcements: Stay connected to your Catholic community. Tune in to hear announcements of local events. If your parish is planning an event, go to www.youram1370.com to submit your announcement information. For more programming details go to www.youram1370.com and click on the “program guide” link.
National Virgin Pilgrim Statue of Our
Lady of Fatima visiting Diocese of Fargo The National Virgin Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima, blessed by John Paul II, has come to the Diocese of Fargo. She arrived the second week of February and the World Apostolate of Fatima, Fargo Diocese Division, is inviting all parishes of the diocese an opportunity to have the Virgin Pilgrim Statue visit their parish. She will be traveling in Deanery one and two, proceeding onto Deaneries three, four, five and six, then Deaneries seven and eight and concluding her travels at the diocesan Youth Rally in Oakes on April 5. When not traveling the diocese, she will make her temporary home at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo. “The ideal format for a visit at a parish includes Mass, a Rosary, up to a half-hour talk on Our Lady of Fatima, and time for confessions. After the talk, all will be invited to venerate the statue and to enroll in the Brown Scapular Confraternity if they choose,” said Father Paul Ruge, spiritual advisor for the Fargo Diocese Division. The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to three children, Jacinta, Francisco and Lucia, in Fatima, Portugal, beginning May 13, 1917. She appeared on the 13th of each month through October 1917. Our Lady stressed the importance of praying the Rosary in each of her apparitions, asking the children to pray the Rosary every day for peace. The children were also told to pray and sacrifice themselves for sinners, in order to save them from hell. “I am grateful for this effort [to bring the statue to our diocese] and am asking you [the pastors] to consider scheduling a visitation of the statue and program to your parish. The purpose of the campaign is to inform Catholics of the Fatima Message and to renew Marian devotion,” Bishop Samuel Aquila wrote in a letter to pastors. “I pray that this visitation will strengthen Marian devotion and renew our hope in Mary’s message of peace for the world.”
The Diocese of Fargo is hosting a Seminar on Iconography and other Christian Art on Saturday, March 1, in the social hall of St. Mary’s Cathedral, 604 Broadway, Fargo. David Clayton will present “Seeing with the Church: Exploring Christian Art in Modern Culture.” In Catholic tradition, art has always played an important role in inspiring people to draw closer to God. David Clayton is trained in Byzantine iconography and western naturalistic art. He will be presenting a series of talks that will examine the appreciation and spiritual value of sacred art, explain the meaning and process of writing an icon and how numbers and space relate to art while seeing the spiritual insight of it. The cost of $15 per person includes lunch and snacks. Register by Feb. 25 by calling the Office for Catechesis at (701) 356-7909 or visit www.fargodiocese.org/seminar for more information.
Anonymous $10,000 donation supports 40
Days for Life pro-life efforts On Jan. 21, the day before the 35th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, the 40 Days for Life North Dakota effort received an anonymous $10,000 donation to continue its work toward bringing an end to abortion in North Dakota. “The $10,000 monetary gift represented to the 40 Days for Life Committee that God is indeed in charge of this campaign and definitely desires that this campaign continue,” said Colleen Samson, committee chairperson. “We are considering the possibility of putting up billboards throughout the city of Fargo and elsewhere to remind people of the dignity of life and how they can become involved in stopping the heinous crime of abortion right here in our state, right here in the city of Fargo. We are working on expanding the automated phone tree system. This alerts people in our state and elsewhere to be in prayer and to come to the abortion site on the days when our children are being killed. Usually 20 to 30 babies are killed each week, resulting in the lives of our women and families being changed forever.” Samson addressed the importance of prayer and presence at the abortion facility and noted the need for people to become involved in helping to end abortion in North Dakota. “Prayer and peaceful presence at the facility is so very important. By educating the general pubic as to what is actually occurring in Fargo, it may present an opportunity for them to become involved in one way or another. Our goal is to expose the truth via phone calls, presentations, billboards, and whatever it takes to turn the tide from the culture of death to the culture of life.” On the national front, the spring 40 Days for Life campaign began on Ash Wednesday in 59 cities and 31 states. The fall 2008 40 Days for Life campaign, which will be conducted in North Dakota and in communities across the nation, will begin on Sept. 24 and conclude on Nov. 2, Samson said. “We have not been idle since the conclusion of our 2007 fall campaign. Through much prayer, fasting and confirmation from individuals, we are presently conducting a 40 Hours per Week campaign at the Red River Women’s abortion facility at 512 1st Ave. N. in Fargo. Contact people from various churches have stepped forward to help us promote the 40 Hours per Week campaign in their churches.” In addition, the committee is encouraging Catholic churches to establish Cenacle of Life prayer groups and churches of other denominations to designate prayer times for an end to abortion. “We are inviting people to continue praying and fasting, as this spiritual battle is ongoing,” she added. Samson noted that a recent study has shown that the abortion rate in the United States has dropped from a high of 1.6 million abortions in 1990 to levels not seen since the late 1970s. “We believe that 35 years of killing our little ones and wounding our women and men is long enough. Moreover, it is especially hurtful to the heart of our loving God who created all of us in his image and likeness. Our empty classrooms, the spiritual and physical side effects of abortion, and the prevalent culture of death in our society are some of the fruits of the Supreme Court decision of 1973.” Donations for the 40 Days for Life North Dakota campaign can be sent to: The Pregnancy Help Center, Box 626, Park River, ND 58270. Please note in the memo line: 40 Days for Life. For more information, visit www.40daysforlifend.com or call (701) 284-6601.
Basketball tradition continues at CMS The seminarians of Cardinal Muench Seminary will host “The Collar Classic” on March 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the seminary gymnasium, 100 35th Ave. NE, Fargo. “The Collar Classic” is the name of the annual Priests vs. Seminarians basketball game. “The seminarians have now won for the past two years,” observed Garrett Boyer, the seminarian in charge of putting together the team of seminarians. This will be Boyer’s last game as a seminarian. “We’re going for the hat trick,” he said. Father Paul Duchschere, Vocation Director, is the game announcer who really should be working for the NBA, but is still willing to announce in the “bush league.” If any priests wish to be part of the clerical team, they should contact Father Duchschere at CMS. Father Duchschere was recently heard to say in an exasperated tone, “Can we just all get along out there (on the court)?” and “Where’s our priestly pride?” The public is invited to come and cheer for their favorite team. Confessions (that is, concessions) will be available. For more information, call the seminary at (701) 232-8969.
March conference at Hankinson convent to focus on gift of life The Hankinson Chapter Right for Life is sponsoring a Gift of Life conference on Sunday, March 2, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the St. Francis Convent Gym in Hankinson. The conference features guest speaker Wesley J. Smith. Smith is an international lecturer and public speaker, appearing frequently at political, university, medical, legal, disability rights, bioethics, religious, and community gatherings across the United States, Europe, Canada, South Africa and Australia. Smith will give three lectures addressing contemporary issues impacting the way we think about human life and health care today: • Bioethics: Creating a New Duty to Die? Bioethics examines a constellation of related issues, including assisted suicide and euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human genetic manipulation, human cloning, and the animal rights movement. • A Consumer’s Guide to a Brave New World. What is embryonic stem cell research? Why is it so controversial? What is its relationship to human cloning? This talk reveals how this lobby works and how the ideology of “scientism,” mixed with the lure of riches, threatens to dismantle ethical norms and compromise the uniqueness and importance of all human life. • A Rat is a Pig is a Dog is a Boy: The Anti-Human Values of Animal Rights. This takes a look at how an anti-human agenda like that of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is capable of causing great human harm. Smith discusses how animal rights liberationists who literally believe that animals are equal to human beings are a threat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
