June 2020 Monthly Diocesan Newsletter

June 2020

^{MONTHLY DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER}

LINKS

June Serra Calendar (PDF)

2020 Special Collections revised April 2020 (PDF)

2021 Special Collections (PDF)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Calendar

Notes from Diocesan Offices

Birthdays of Retired Priests

C ALENDAR AT A GLANCE

Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass

in your parish bulletins at www.stcdio.org/tvmass .

______________________________________

The following events are subject to change pending status of state

and federal health mandates/guidelines.

June 22 ♦ Religious Freedom week – Beginning June 22, the Feast of Saints Thomas More and John Fisher, through June 29, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops celebrates Religious Freedom Week. Religious freedom gives us the space to carry out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to the Church. Religious freedom means that Catholics and all people of goodwill are free to seek the truth, to live in accordance with that truth and to strengthen our common life as a nation. In the midst of our current challenges, join us as we seek the kingdom and find "Strength in Hope." See the following website for more details at http://omf.stcdio.org/th_event/religious-freedom-week-2020/ .

Future Dates

Priest ordinations : Livestreamed on June 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary, St. Cloud

Diaconate ordination : Postponed to a later date.

2020 JUBILARIANS

65 YEARS

Reverend Edwin Kraemer (Ordained June 4, 1955)
Reverend Kenneth Thielman (Ordained June 4, 1955)

60 YEARS

Reverend Roger Botz, OSB (Ordained June 4, 1960)

55 YEARS

Reverend Frank Tomasiewicz (Ordained June 5, 1965)
Reverend Paul Folsom (Ordained June 5, 1965)

50 YEARS

Most Reverend Donald J. Kettler (Ordained May 29, 1970)

40 YEARS

Reverend Thomas Becker (Ordained June 6, 1980)
Reverend David Maciej (Ordained June 13, 1980)

25 YEARS

Reverend Gregory Mastey (Ordained June 3, 1995)
Reverend George Michael, VC (Ordained December 30, 1995)
Reverend Oswaldo Roche Gerdel (Ordained October 14, 1995)

Bishop Kettler has asked all of the diocesan staff to be involved with Regional Ministry Gatherings for 2020-2021. Staff members have been partnered together into two-person ACC Care Teams. Each team will focus on getting to know the needs of the ACC to which they are assigned. The team assigned to your particular ACC will be calling the ACC’s chairperson soon (if they haven’t already) to offer support, resources or assistance as you are growing together in your ACC. This could include assisting your ACC to organize a Regional Ministry Gathering sometime in the future as a way of addressing your local priorities. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Bailey Ziegler at [email protected] .

NOTES FROM THE CHANCERY

Office of the Vicar General ♦ Fr. Robert Rolfes ♦ (320) 251-2340

As you know, diocesan staff has been working remotely since mid-March to help mitigate the potential spread of the coronavirus. The diocese continues to monitor the situation, particularly in light of guidelines offered by the CDC, Minnesota Department of Health and the governor’s office. We are currently developing a plan to bring staff safely back into our offices starting this month. This will be a gradual transition, and I anticipate that many staff will continue to work from home for the time being. Please continue to reach out to them for your needs by phone, email or video conferencing. I will keep you updated as we move forward.

NOTES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICES

David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111

Catholic Schools – Our Catholic schools endured and shined throughout this school year. We thank everyone in our school communities: pastors, principals, staff, teachers, students, parents, boards and friends for your prayers and support of our continuing educational mission. We are preparing for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, with emphasis on safety, instructional flexibility and maximizing our ability to move forward amidst potential changes to the format of the school year. Catholic schools are committed to lead with excellence! For questions about particular schools and programs, please reach out to your school’s principal. For questions about our diocesan Catholic schools, contact David Fremo at [email protected] or 320-251-0111.

Class of 2020 – The high school graduating classes of 2020 are being honored in an unique way, with blessing cards. They are still available, upon request. Contact Laura Gorder, [email protected] or 320-251-0111 for more information.

Emmaus Institute – We have entered an unprecedented time in our world and in our Church. Is God calling you to something during this time? Maybe it is to expand your own formation in order to lead better when times are uncertain. We are still taking applications for new participants for the Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation. Classes in English and Spanish will begin in September. You can find the course calendar, applications and other information at http://stcdio.org/emmaus-institute/ . If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Bivens at [email protected] or 320-251-0111.

Family Together Resource – Take some time to check out:

http://familytogether.stcdio.org/. This is a resource to help families continue to pray, be formed in the faith, and have a little fun together. Each week we post a lesson based on Sunday’s Gospel reading. Share this website with your families to help them grow as the Domestic Church.

The Catechetical Survey for 2019-2020 is available for each parish/cluster or ACC to complete. This survey helps the diocesan offices to have a clearer picture of what is going on in our catechetical programs across the diocese. This year, you will find the survey pared down to ten essential questions to help us help you. The survey link can be found on the Catholic Education Ministries home page or at this link https://forms.gle/RFXbRzEYbaUkY8Pv6 . Please complete the survey before June 12.

Joe Towalski ♦ (320) 258-7624

Bishop’s Annual Appeal Update – As of May 25, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for 2020 raised total cash and pledges of $930,929 toward our goal of $1,300,000 (71.61%). This was made possible through the donations of 6,277 people throughout the 16 counties of our diocese.

We are currently collecting survey information from Catholic Schools for the annual Parish/School Distribution from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. Each year, approximately 20% of appeal proceeds are distributed to parishes and schools to support the cost of Catholic school education and religious education. With the exception of St. John’s Prep and Cathedral High School, checks are sent directly to pastors. We expect to mail these checks by the end of June. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Anna Kampa at [email protected] or 320-258-7654.

If you haven’t seen the full press release announcing a framework for a resolution of all clergy sexual abuse claims against the diocese and area parishes, you can read it at https://bit.ly/3eoKzvW .

Fr. Joe Herzing ♦ (320) 258-7624

Wednesday, July 15 – Clergy day for priests (including Jubilarian celebration) is at St Paul's (St Cloud) starting at 1 p.m. Bishop Quinn of Winona-Rochester will talk on issues facing clergy. 4:00 p.m. Mass, after Mass a reception time, at 5:30 p.m. we will have a meal honoring our Jubilarians.

Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 252-4721

Celebrate Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week July 19-25 – Plan now to celebrate NFP Week. This year’s theme from the USCCB is, “Live the truth and beauty of God’s plan for married love!” Visit http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/natural-family-planning/awareness-week/index.cfm for this year’s USCCB resources. Please provide your parishioners this opportunity to learn about NFP and God's plan for married love. If you would like an NFP Week display table, an NFP witness couple, or additional information contact Sheila Reineke at 320-258-7609 or [email protected]

Humanae Vitae Mass & Award Reception on Friday, July 24 – This event will be h eld at St. Mary's Cathedral in Saint Cloud. Bishop Donald Kettler will celebrate Mass at 7:00 p.m. The award reception honoring Dr. Thomas Newton will follow. See our website for more details http://omf.stcdio.org/th_event/humanae-vitae-mass-award-reception-4/

Catholic Women’s Conference, Saturday, September 19 – This event will be held at St. Peter’s Church in St. Cloud from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Bishop Donald Kettler will be celebrating Mass. This event will feature many local speakers as well as keynote talks from international Catholic speaker Sarah Swafford.

Honoring Marriage Day, POSTPONED to Saturday, September 26 – This event will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in Saint Cloud at 1:30 p.m. for couples celebrating their 5 ^th , 25 ^th , 40 ^th, 50 ^th, 60 ^th or 60 plus anniversaries in 2020. Parishes are asked to send names and addresses of parishioners celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60 & 60 plus years of marriage in 2020 to the Office of Marriage & Family, 305 7 ^th Avenue North, Suite 100, Saint Cloud, MN 56303 or via email to Jan at [email protected] or fax 320-258-7658 as soon as possible. Invitations will be sent to the celebrating couples.

Elizabeth Neville ♦ (320) 251-1100

Thank you to all who have contributed to the CRS and Rice Bowl collections throughout Lent. We have been receiving MANY large requests for the Local Rice Bowl grants due to the coronavirus as food shelves, homeless programs, student meal security programs as well as other emergency food assistance needs are being stressed in this time of great need. PLEASE consider contributing to the Mission Office to assist with Catholic Relief Services as well as our other ministries throughout the world.

For all those who have been scheduled for Missionary Appeals this year, whether as a voluntary or on the 3 year cycle, please consider rescheduling your appeals for a later date in the summer and throughout the fall by contacting your organization/diocese. Mission is still active and alive in spite of this virus and it is valuable to share with your community/ies how we 'are the church together'.

We have had some changes in the Mission Office these past few months besides cleaning and organizing! Lena Coe will be leaving us the end of May as her family is relocating to the Mankato area. We will miss Lena and all the gifts she has shared with the office. Please welcome Carolina Walz as our new Office Manager and Teresa Trout as our new Coordinator of Mission Education! Please check out the Mission Office page on the website as well as our summer newsletter as we are excited for you to meet them!

Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251 -2340

Safe Environment – This is the second year that all parishes and schools no longer have to submit a compliance report to the diocese. The new CMG Connect platform has provided the ability to complete the audit without having each parish submit a report. Almost every parish and school has submitted the children’s data. Thank you! I encourage you to put this information on CMG Connect once you complete the training. It would be a good time to start thinking about the children and youth training for next year. Try to plan to complete it in the fall. I have always advocated for parishes and schools to do the training in October which is Respect Life Month. My goal is to have the curriculum material to schools and parishes by August 1.

Background checks have not been processed since the “stay at home” order. Most courts across the United States are not open. Once they reopen, background checks will be processed quickly. Please take some time to look at your parish or school site to be sure that all volunteers and staff are up-to-date on training and background checks.

Please be sure your school and parish website links to the diocesan safe environment page. What do your handbooks say about background checks and training for staff and volunteers?

God bless you and keep you safe.

Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020

Rural Life Fund – Just a reminder of the Rural Life Fund available to provide small emergency funds for rural individuals and families in financial hardship in the Diocese of St. Cloud. Requests are determined on an individual case by case basis, but generally all requests aside from utilities, rent, mortgages or loans will be considered. Requests must be made by a pastor or pastoral leader of a faith community on behalf of the community member in need. While funds are limited, we know that during this difficult time for so many of our families, the needs are there and we would love to help if we can! Please reach out to me with questions or if you have a parishioner or family in need and want to talk about whether or not the Rural Life Fund can help.

Save the Date: Rural Life Celebration, August 2 – Mark your calendars for the annual Rural Life Celebration on Sunday 2020 at the Ries and Haag farms in Eden Valley. Hosted by Christ Our Hope ACC, this year’s event will focus on the theme of “Care for God’s Creation: the Spirit is Growing .” The event will begin with an outdoor Mass with Bishop Kettler at 10:00 a.m., followed by a free meal and family-friendly entertainment. It also includes a second collection to support the diocesan Rural Life Fund, and will once again recognize Catholic Century Farm Award recipients from around the diocese.

Parish Social Ministry Team Virtual Meetings?

If your parish’s Social Concerns team is continuing to meet virtually during the COVID-19 Pandemic, please let us know. We would love to join you in one of your virtual meetings to hear more about how you have continued to, or adapted, the important work you do in your parish community during this time. Contact Kateri

or JoAnn to let us know the date/time of your next meeting.

Fr. Virgil Helmin ♦ (320) 251-6557

ANNULMENT PROCEDURE

The Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud has established a policy that the annulment process will not be started until six months after issuance of the final divorce decree.

No wedding date must be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered.

The annulment process requires the following:

A) The petitioner contacts his/her parish priest or a Tribunal staff member in order to petition and begin the annulment procedure.

1. The petitioner needs to present the following documents at the time of the application:

a) Baptismal certificate and/or Profession of Faith of self and of former spouse.

b) Certificate of marriage and/or Validation and/or Dispensation

c) Divorce decree (Final Judgment).

d) Current address of former spouse.

2. The petitioner has a recorded preliminary interview (conducted by a parish

priest, deacon, parish minister or a Tribunal Staff Member) - OR - writes a

narrative that covers in depth the following factual information about the

petitioner and his/her former spouse:

a) Description of childhood and home life of self and former spouse. Alcoholism

or chemical addiction in family background?

b) Description of dating process and maturity of self and former spouse.

c) Description of how the decision to marry was reached.

d) Description of ability to communicate and resolve conflicts.

e) Description of problems that developed in the marriage and when they

began.

f) Description of attempted solutions to the problems.

g) Description of performance of roles of husband/wife, father/mother.

h) Description of how the decision to divorce was reached.

B) When there are ground(s) for a declaration of nullity, the Tribunal will contact both, the petitioner and the respondent.

C) Prior to the formal hearing, the petitioner must complete and return the witness list. Witnesses include 2-3 adult people who knew them prior to and during their marriage and can give us information about the marriage. At the time of the formal hearing, the petitioner must bring these witnesses in with them. A witness can be a brother, sister, parent, friend, co-worker, neighbor or a member of the wedding party. Witnesses should not all be relatives. We do not interview children of the marriage. At the formal hearing the petitioner and the witnesses will be questioned privately.

D) If the petition comes to formal hearing the following will occur:

All testimony is gathered and sent to the Court Members.
The defender of the bond presents its brief to the Judge.
Judge(s) renders a decision. Petitioner and respondent are notified.
Both the petitioner and the respondent have the right to appeal the decision of the Court of First Instance. Also, both are notified of the decision and given 15 working days to review that decision and/or to appeal the decision.
If the decision is not appealed by either person, the defender of the bond signs off on the waiver. Once that is returned to the Tribunal office the process is complete and the petitioner and the respondent are notified along with the parish of baptism and parish of marriage.
A vetitum (prohibition) may be attached to the decision, requiring that either or both spouses must attend professional counseling with a counselor approved by the Tribunal before being allowed to marry in the Catholic Church.

The average length for the Tribunal to process a petition is 12 months. If the process is appealed by either parties, the process may take longer than 18 months. No wedding date can be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered. The Court could require that the person participate in an evaluation or counseling with their intended spouse. This requirement is made so that the future marriage may be happy and fulfilling.

As of July 1, 2016, the Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud no longer charges a set fee for annulments. If you wish to make a donation to help defray the cost(s) of the work of the Tribunal, it would be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Or, you may go to: www.stcdio.org/pay to make an online donation, under “Tribunal – Annulments”. Thank you for your kind donation.

Fr. Scott Pogatchnik ♦ (320) 251-5001

Ordinations: Deacons Patrick Hoeft, Brady Keller and Thomas Skaja will be ordained to the Priesthood on June 6, at Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Cloud, at 10:30 a.m. The Ordination Mass will be livestreamed at www.stcdio.org/ordinations .

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for priests and parishes during this transitional time for them as new assignments are made.
Please pray for hospital chaplains during this challenging time.

The following events are subject to change pending status of state and federal health mandates/guidelines.

2020 Summer Vocation Events:

Avon Vocation Camp (7 ^th – 10 ^th grade) – tentatively something in July

Belle Prairie Vocation Camp (7 ^th – 10 ^th grade) – tentatively something in July

August 8: Paschal Challenge, Sauk Centre (9 ^th – 12 ^th grade)

More information or to register go to http://vocations.stcdio.org/events/ .

Nun Run – Fr. Scott and Fr. Doug would like to invite any young ladies (rising juniors to mid-20) who are interested in religious life to join us for a “Nun Run” June 30 – July 2. Please let us know of anyone who might be interested.

2020 Totus Tuus – This event has been cancelled.

Annette Jesh ♦ (320) 249-0280

Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Classes for 2020 Next class: November 12-13, 19-20, 2020. This class will be held on site at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Cloud or virtually if needed. $250 Scholarships are available from the Central MN FCN Committee and other financial support options are listed on our website. *This 38 hour class is required for currently licensed Registered Nurses who want to add the specialty of Faith Community Nursing and minister in churches.

June 9, 2020 CANCELLED CMFCNMC Spring Workshop, “Developing Trauma Responsive Caring Faith Communities” and will be RESCHEDULED TO OCTOBER 20.
June 10, 2020 Webex meeting of FCNs across the Diocese. Virtual Blessing of Hands for all, which usually happens in May for Nurses’ Week. Led by Chaplains from St. Cloud Hospital. Central MN FCN Committee Meeting by Webex from 9:30 a.m.–10:30 a.m.
We now have a private Facebook site for our FCNs to share news and communicate with the group. To connect or if you have information to share, contact our president, Carol Engelhart, FCN, at [email protected]
There will be no meetings in July and August.
Starting September 9, 2020 – will resume Central MN Faith Community Nurse Ministry Committee meetings with Webex and on site at CentraCare Plaza if possible.
We will have a new Parish Health Ministries Program Coordinator, possibly by June, as soon as interviewing is approved amid the Covid-19 needs.

The 2020 Health Care Mass will be held Sunday, November 8, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Chapel at St. Benedict’s Monastery with Bishop Donald Kettler presiding.

Catholic Charities CARES for Community

Last year, Catholic Charities provided services to 53,493 individuals. Though we do not know what the coming days, weeks and months may hold, we do know that our supportive community powers what we do and has kept us going during these challenging times.

Today as we navigate the current pandemic, your support of Catholic Charities is needed more than ever. Programs like Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf and Senior Health and Dining Services will continue to see an increase in demand in the months ahead.

We give thanks to our generous donors who have contributed to the Catholic Charities CARES for Community Campaign and to the Find a Way Initiative, and ask that you prayerfully consider a donation to Catholic Charities today.

With you at our side, we are able to feed more, empower more and do more for our community, and together, we can make a different tomorrow. Support Catholic Charities today and donate online at ccstcloud.org/donate .