"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth."
Revelation 21:1

Serving Catholic parishes as the official newspaper of the Diocese of Fargo

Bishop Samuel J. Aquila, Publisher
Tanya Watterud, Editor
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God calls us to particular vocations, participation to ensure just society
Bishop Samuel Aquila

I hope that the months of June and July have been blessed for you and that you have been able to enjoy time with your family and friends. In my column for this issue of New Earth, I want to highlight three particular items.

The first is the prayer calendars on pages 12 and 13. This past June the Year for Priests was concluded. Pope Benedict in his homily at the closing Mass stated: “Together with the whole Church we wanted to make clear once again that we have to ask God for this vocation. We have to beg for workers for God’s harvest and this petition to God is, at the same time, his own way of knocking on the hearts of young people who consider themselves able to do what God considers them able to do.” 

Other stories in this New Earth

I have asked that the calendar continue in New Earth and be posted on our Web site. You will notice that the intercessory prayer for vocations is expanded to include specific prayer days for deacons, religious orders and the married and single life. The Father has a definite vocation for every human being. In faith we recognize the vocation to which we are called is bestowed by God and it helps us to become the person he desires us to be. I encourage you to continue to go before the Father, “the harvest master,” each day and beg for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. Please pray too that those with vocations to the married or single life be strong witnesses of Christ’s love for the world.  Click here to see Prayer Calendars.

Second, the last couple of months have seen much discussion on the matter of immigration because of the passage of the Arizona law. The bishops of the United States have long called for immigration laws that are just, grounded in Scripture and in the social teaching of the Church. While there are various approaches to handling current challenges with immigration, basic moral principles must be followed by Christians.

Christopher Dodson, executive director of the North Dakota Catholic Conference, has an excellent article on immigration, concerns with the Arizona law, and most importantly the fundamental principles for building a just law on immigration as outlined by the teaching of the Church. (Click here for Dodson column). On the matter of immigration we must always keep the Gospel before our eyes, the virtue of charity, and especially the words of Jesus, “as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25: 40). I encourage you to read the article and especially reflect upon the basic principles.

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