February 2023 Serra Calendar (PDF)

**REVISED 2023 Special Collections (PDF)



Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass

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

January 29-February 4 ♦ Catholic Schools Week

February 5 ♦ Farewell Mass with Bishop Kettler — All are invited to a farewell Mass with the bishop at the Cathedral of St. Mary. The bishop will celebrate the cathedral’s 9:30 a.m. Mass. A reception will follow in the lower church. Come and say thank you for his faithful service to the diocese

and wish him well on his retirement.

February 13 ♦ Vespers on the eve of Bishop-elect Patrick M. Neary's episcopal ordination. Vespers will be prayed at 5:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary. A reception will follow in the lower church. This event is open to the public. For livestream information, visit www.stcdio.org/new-bishop.

February 14 ♦ Episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C. The ordination Mass is at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary. Due to space limitations, this is an invitation-only event. A reception will follow at the Park Event Center in Waite Park. For livestream information for the ordination, visit www.stcdio.org/new-bishop.

February 22 ♦  Ash Wednesday 

February 22-April 2 ♦ 40 Days For Life-St Cloud – The prayer vigil takes place on the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood at 451 East St Germain in St. Cloud daily  Mon.-Fri. from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. The Opening Rally begins on Sat., Feb. 25 from 10 a.m.-noon and the Ending Rally is on Sat., April 1 from 10 a.m.-noon. Both rallies will start on the Planned Parenthood sidewalk and proceed to St.Augustine’s for a program, pizza & sharing..

February 25 ♦ Honoring Latino Marriage Day – This event will be held at Our Lady of the Angels in Sauk Centre at 1:00 p.m. This event is for all Latino couples who have received the sacrament of marriage. Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., will celebrate Mass with the couples and their guests and offer a blessing to the couples. Invitations are being distributed to parishes. RSVPs requested by February 1 to Mayuli Bales at [email protected] or at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LatinoHonrandoMatrimonios. 

February 25-26 ♦ Announcement weekend for the Bishop's Annual Appeal. Commitment weekend is March 4-5.

February 26 ♦ Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. For more information, see the Worship Office section below.



NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

Eucharistic Revival Update



Thank you to all who came out Jan. 5 for the first of five BREAD Talks! To read more about it, visit: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/first-of-five-bread-talks-provides-spiritual-nourishment-for-multitude-gathered/. Please mark your calendars for the next one Feb. 19 at Sunken Ship Brewing in Princeton. 

The Revival events team also kicked off a series of Cor Jesu events Jan. 6 in Eden Valley. Our gratitude to all who attended. These are happening around the diocese throughout the next several months. Visit: https://stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival/ for dates and locations. 

NEW LENTEN RESOURCE PLANNED! The Revival prayer team is presenting a Lenten Prayer Journal which will focus on interior revival. Using quotes from Scripture, saints and Catholic resources, this journal will provide 40 days of reflections and questions to help deepen understanding and love for the Eucharist. Watch the website stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival for a free pdf!

SAVE THE DATE! As part of the Eucharistic Revival, the Diocese of St. Cloud will be hosting a Eucharistic Congress Sept. 7-9, 2023. More details will be coming soon!

Hosting Eucharistic events or talks in your parish? We'd love to hear about them! Need a speaker to come and talk about the Eucharistic Revival? We can help you out! Contact us at [email protected]!



David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111

Catholic School Updates

Our Catholic schools offer a warm and heartfelt welcome to Bishop-elect Patrick Neary! We are excited to celebrate the service of our shepherd, Bishop Donald Kettler, as we gather and pray this month for God to bless our leaders, and to inspire us all to live the Gospel more deeply in our ministry of education.

As we continue in this school year, we also look forward to the year ahead. We pray for parents as they explore and discern joining our Catholic school communities in open houses, visits and conversations with principals, teachers and staff. We pray for new students to bring life and energy and new gifts to our classrooms and hallways and playgrounds. And we pray for successful transitioning of staff who are departing or coming into our schools in the coming year. Let us celebrate all who make possible our work, together.

These are wonderful days to learn about how we all can support Catholic education. In addition to inviting new families, we invite our community members to learn about the great things taking place in our schools–and to consider sharing in our mission through their gifts of time and treasure. We pray also for success in our fundraising and friend-raising efforts this Spring.

As we prepare for the season of Lent, the Church’s “springtime,” we are reminded of how God calls us to new life and transformation in our lives, as we celebrate the Passion of Christ. May we respond to God’s call for renewal with great love and openness to the people in our school communities. And may we go forth into the world with that love, and show God’s goodness in our care for one another.

February 9 – Well Gathering – Our next Well Gathering is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Richmond. Before you begin planning for next year, this gathering will have helpful tips and considerations answering the questions of the who, what, how and why in ministry. If you are in your first month or twenty-first year, this gathering will help you focus your energy and plan your ministry for success. Register by Monday, February 6 at https://forms.gle/zB1uHfMDUVRU4juF6.

March 24-26 – Castaway Retreat and Planning – All parishes planning to participate in the Castaway retreat have been enrolled. Electronic permission forms, shirt orders and deposits are due to CEM on Thursday, February 9. Planning groups are meeting individually and will come together on Monday, March 13 from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Seven Dolors in Albany to finalize plans. If your parish is not enrolled and wants to participate, please reach out to Kent Schmitz at [email protected] ASAP. 

Emmaus Institute – Emmaus Institute students are currently in the middle of a practicum. They are developing and leading Small Christian Communities for Lent. The groups will be held in several parishes across the diocese. Some students will be leading book studies, others Scripture studies or lectio divina groups. Creative activities such as quilting and painting will be used to explore prayer and Scripture. Some groups will explore different types of prayer along with many other ways of praying and reflecting together.

August 8-12 – A Call to Service (ACTS) – ACTS is a 5-day service-learning retreat for youth who have finished grades 6, 7 or 8. The retreat includes: daily prayer, daily service experiences, large group activities, small group learning, Mass, reconciliation, and much more. Our home site will be at the Central Minnesota TEC Center near Little Falls. More details and registration info can be found at https://stcdio.org/event/a-call-to-service-acts-2/. Feel free to reach out to Kent Schmitz at: [email protected] with any questions.  

November 15-19 – National Catholic Youth Conference 2023 (NCYC) – The diocese of Saint Cloud will be bringing a group to Indianapolis. NCYC is a time for high school youth from around the nation to gather and celebrate being Catholic. For more details and information, please visit https://stcdio.org/event/ncyc-2023-fully-alive/. Feel free to reach out to Kent Schmitz at [email protected] with any questions.  

Lent Resources for parishes and/or families

• Busted Halo has a variety of Lent resources that will be available at the start of Lent. A fan favorite for busy adults is the Digital Lent Calendar that has “a special Lent-themed Daily Jolt and MicroChallenge that will help you stay in touch with the true meaning of the season.” They also have a short 2-minute video on what Lent is all about, a Lent Virtual Retreat, and even an InstaLent Photo Challenge—all for free!

• Lent Resources for Kids – Free Homeschool Deals offers a variety of free (and families). They have a list of resources that include activities, crafts, ideas, and more.

• Lenten Adventure – Holy Heroes has free Catholic activities for kids for each day in Lent. This website provides kids with activities to celebrate Lent and help them prepare for the real meaning of Christmas.

• Jesuit Institute has resources for Lent on their website. From resources for Ash Wednesday, to explanations about Catholic Lent traditions, short films and PowerPoint presentations, craft activities for kids to short, animated films teaching about Lent this website has it all. Use for your own spiritual journey or share with others.

• Bless the Lent We Actually Have is a forty-day Lenten devotional by Kate Bowler. This free resource has daily Scripture readings, reflections, and discussion questions for the dinner table, small groups, or individual reflection.

• Dynamic Catholic has a daily Lenten program for adults looking to “awaken the greatness within you” during this Lent. Sign up for free daily emails that will encourage reflection and growth this Lent.

Joe Towalski ♦ (320) 258-7624

 Bishop's Annual Appeal 2022 — Thanks to the support of Catholics throughout the diocese, the Appeal exceeded its goal of $1.4 million by raising just over $1.5 million to help fund essential diocesan ministries. The staff of the diocese thanks you and your parishioners for your generosity!

Bishop's Annual Appeal 2023 — Just a reminder that announcement weekend is Feb. 25-26, and commitment weekend is March 4-5. Materials will be arriving soon to parishes. If you have questions, please contact Anna Kampa at [email protected] or (320) 258-7654.

Address changes, updates — If you have address changes or updates for The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine, please email those to [email protected]. (If you still have our old email address — [email protected] — in your address book, please delete it. It is no longer in use.) 

March edition of The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine — The March edition will arrive in mailboxes a few days later than usual so that we can include photos and stories from Bishop-elect Neary's ordination on Feb. 14. If you have any questions, please contact me at [email protected].

Deacon Richard Scheierl ♦ (320) 203-0554

Diaconate Discernment – IIf you know of any men who are interested in learning more about the permanent diaconate — or you are interested yourself — please contact Deacon Richard Scheierl at [email protected] or (320) 203-0554. 

2023 Diaconate Events

·     Permanent Diaconate Ordination: Saturday, June 10 at the Cathedral of St. Mary at 10:30 a.m.

Bethany Tollefsen ♦ (320) 251-2700 Ext. 51637

February 14 – PTSD: Awareness. Resources. Recovery.

9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

CentraCare Plaza - Matthew Hughs Room

View the flyer with more information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFVUzBG0VI/nAd3pw33djvLZHMaDWYOwg/view?utm_content=DAFVUzBG0VI&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

Mental Health First Aid for Faith Communities Virtual Classes

March 17, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

June 2, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS…

Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support.

Contact: [email protected] to register.

Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 251-4721

Natural Family Planning Instruction for February & March 2023

A First Instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in:

• Alexandria: Monday, February 20 & March 20 at 6:30 p.m.

• Little Falls: Tuesday, February 7 & March 7 at 7:30 p.m.

• Long Prairie: Monday, February 27 & March 27 at 7:00 p.m. 

• Rice: Monday, February 6 & March 6 at 6:30 p.m.

• Sauk Centre: Thursday, February 16 & March 16 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Cloud: Monday, February 20 & Thursday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Michael: Tuesday, February 7 & March 7 at 6:00 p.m.

• Wadena: Friday, February 24 & March 24 at 5:30 p.m.

For additional sites, information or to register, visit www.stcdio.org/omf/nfp or contact Sheila Reineke [email protected] at (320) 252-4721 ext. 308.

February 3-5 – Retrouvaille weekend – This event will be held in the Twin Cities area. Retrouvaille Marriage Help: Thinking about Separation or Divorce? Hurting? Angry? Feel helpless? Retrouvaille is a lifeline for troubled marriages. Couples learn the tools to rediscover each other and heal their marriage. 100% confidential. Contact [email protected] with questions. Find out more information and register at http://www.helpourmarriage.org.

February 10-12 – Worldwide Marriage Encounter – This event will be held at Christ the King Retreat Center, Buffalo, MN. For more than 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has helped over 3.5 million couples in almost 100 countries unlock the power of their relationships with new ways to do the “I do.” The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply. There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be. Nine in ten couples who attend a Marriage Encounter recognize a long-lasting positive effect on their lives. Apply at https://wwme.org/.

February 11 – Engaged Couples Retreat – This event will be held at Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Rockville. For more information, visit the website at https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/ or call the Office of Marriage and Family with questions at (320) 258-7615. 

February 17-19 – Worldwide Marriage Encounter – This event will be held at Shalom Hill Farm, Windom, MN. For more than 50 years, Worldwide Marriage Encounter has helped over 3.5 million couples in almost 100 countries unlock the power of their relationships with new ways to do the “I do.” The Marriage Encounter experience helps you listen, share, and connect more deeply. There’s no group discussion. It’s just about the two of you learning to be the best, most loving and thriving couple you can be. Nine in ten couples who attend a Marriage Encounter recognize a long-lasting positive effect on their lives. Apply at https://wwme.org/.

March 18 – Spanish-Speaking Marriage Course – This event will be held in St. Cloud at the Pastoral Center from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Couples should register at least two weeks before the course and include the $110 registration fee per couple. For more information, contact Patrick at [email protected] or (320) 258-7619 or register at https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.

March 18 – DCCW Lenten Retreat – This event will be held at St. Paul’s parish, St. Cloud. Details can be found at https://stcdio.org/event/dccw-womens-lenten-retreat-2/.

March 24-26 – Beginning Experience of Central MN – This event will be held at Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria. This is a weekend program for divorced, widowed, or separated adults designed to facilitate the grief resolution process for adults thereby freeing people to live and love themselves, others and God. Individuals attending the weekend should be beyond the initial feelings of anger and despair. For further information or to receive an application, please call (320) 319-8863. Visit http://www.beginningexperiencemn.com.

March 25 – Second Marriage Course – This event will be held in St. Cloud at the Pastoral Center from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Second Marriage Preparation Course is for couples preparing to marry after the death of a spouse or an annulment (https://stcdio.org/tribunal/annulments/.) Marriage preparation must be completed at least three months before the date of the wedding celebration. It is recommended you complete the course well in advance (six months or more). Many couples take the course one year before their wedding. For more information, visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.

April 12 – Made for More: A Vision of the Promised Land – This event will be held at the Sauk Centre High School Auditorium from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sponsored by Our Lady of the Angels/St. Paul Catholic churches. Ninth graders and older are invited to attend. Cost is $25/person. Where do we come from and where are we going? These questions are DECISIVE for understanding what it means to be human and how to orient our lives and our actions toward authentic fulfillment. Join Christopher West and Mike Mangione as they creatively weave together dynamic presentations with live music, movie clips, YouTube videos, and sacred art for an evening of beauty and reflection on the meaning of life, love, and human destiny. You will come away with a faith-filled vision of hope that will instill in you the sheer wonder and joy of being alive. Get more details and purchase tickets at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/made-for-more-sauk-centre-mn-tickets-449811938617?aff=ebdshpsearchautocomplete&_gl=1*nfiqs0*_up*MQ..&gclid=999cd99293f9127d0a88ba02653ef188&gclsrc=3p.ds

April 22 – Sponsor Couple Training – This event will be held at the Pastoral Center in St. Cloud from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please register couples by April 7 at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCTraining2023

Questions, contact Jan Zylla at [email protected] or (320) 258-7615. Your parish will be billed $125 per couple for the cost of training (which includes Fully Engaged supplies and Marriage & Family resources).

May 6 – Honoring Marriage Day – This event will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud at 1:00 p.m. for couples celebrating their 5th, 10th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th or 60-plus anniversaries in 2023. Parishes are asked to send names and addresses of parishioners celebrating these milestone anniversaries via mail to the Office of Marriage & Family, 305 7th Avenue North, Suite 100, Saint Cloud, MN  56303 or email to Jan at [email protected] or fax (320) 258-7658 or go online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HMD2023 as soon as possible in February. Invitations will be sent to the celebrating couples.



Elizabeth Neville Brown ♦ (320) 251-1100

February 22 – CRS Rice Bowl begins. There are some wonderful recipes representing the countries featured this year. PRAY. FAST. GIVE. Please let us know if there is anything that you may need for supplies or resources.

February 15 – There will be a Homa Bay team meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Mission Office for all past and present sister parish members and Mission Connection team members. We will be meeting with Bishop Michael and Fr. Joshua from the Homa Bay diocese about the future of the partnership.



Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251-2340

The Safe Environment Office welcomes Bishop-elect Patrick to the Diocese. As you all may know, the role of safe environment is a big responsibility of a bishop. He must ensure his diocese is in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. That being said, the best welcome you can give to Bishop-elect Patrick is to make sure your parish and school are up to date with training and background checks of all adults who work or volunteer in your parish and/or school. I am working diligently to try to get a report to each parish and school soon. If there is someone with an expired background check and training, let me know your plans. Should they be archived until they come back to serve again? Are they going to complete their training? Please make sure your parish and/or school are in compliance. No one should be working with children or youth without training and a background check. Diocesan policy requires all employees to have a background check and training.  

Compliance with the Charter also means that all children and youth training must be completed by May 15. There are not many more faith formation classes left in the year to complete this training. Please make sure it is on your calendar to complete soon. There are no excuses for the auditors. You must have children and youth trained and recorded on either the CMGConnect site or Virtus. Just choose one so numbers are not duplicated.

Need help? Contact: [email protected] or call (320) 251-2340 Ext. 106.

Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020

Food and Farm Worker Relief Grants – Our Catholic Charities has been chosen as one of the sub-grantee organizations around the country that will help Catholic Charities USA distribute Covid relief dollars specified for food and farmworkers who were impacted by their need to work onsite throughout the pandemic; these dollars are specifically for “hired workers in farming activities, meatpacking or grocery store work; beneficiaries across these worker types [are expected to be] frontline workers, and not those working in management positions.” We are finalizing the application process for workers in our diocese to request these funds. An online and printable version of the application form will be available in English and Spanish on our Social Concerns website beginning this month. If you or someone you know believe you qualify, please encourage them to reach out to our Community Organizer: [email protected] or check our website for information and to apply: https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns

Catholic Century Farm Awards and Rural Business Award – Please share the below information in parish bulletins and announcements: 

Catholic Charities Social Concerns is now taking applications for the diocese’s fifth annual Catholic Century Farm Awards. We are also accepting nominations for the Catholic Charities’ Rural Business Award, which was begun last year. If your family, neighbors or members of your parish have been working the same land for 100 years or more, or if you know of a Catholic business owner in the diocese who lives out their Catholic faith in how they run their business and treat their employees and customers, please visit the Rural Life section of the Social Concerns website for requirements and application/nomination forms: https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns Or reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] with questions.  

Recipients will be honored at the Rural Life Celebration Mass with the bishop on August 20.

Fr. Doug Liebsch ♦ (320) 251-5001



Totus Tuus Leaders Needed: We are looking for college students who are ready to take their faith to the next level. How about inviting them to apply to be a Totus Tuus team member? There is a specific need for young women. Totus Tuus offers them an intense summer of growing in their faith and sharing it with the younger generation. Application deadline is March 15. There’s more information at https://stcdio.org/vocations/totus-tuus/leaders/.

Seminary Visits – Our next “Vianney Visit” to Saint John Vianney Seminary will be February 16-18. The Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary is March 18 – 20. Do you have men seriously thinking about priesthood? Men ages 16 and up are invited to join these impactful days with seminarians to engage in daily Mass, adoration, discernment talks, visits to a classroom, listening to seminarians, open gym, and a night out with the seminarians of St. Cloud! When men meet real seminarians all the stereotypes break down! It is a game-changer for their ongoing discernment. Please contact Fr. Doug through cell or text at (320) 533-0291.

2023 Vocation Events:

• April 30 – Shepherd is Calling in Burtrum. Please come and invite families from your parishes. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023ShepherdisCalling
• June 20–22 – Vocation Camp in Avon for young men in grades 7th – 12th. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023VocationCamp
• August 19 – Paschal Challenge in Sauk Centre for young men in grades 9th – 12th. Register at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2023PaschalChallenge



Sr. Jeanne Wiest, O.P. ♦ (320) 255-9068

2023 TV Mass Openings – Thank you to the many people who support the ministry of the TV Mass for the Diocese of Saint Cloud. I’m sure you can imagine how important this has been over the past several months. Our viewership and requests for Living Liturgy guides has seen a substantial increase with over 400 viewers watching consistently. The 2023 recording schedule is now live. All priests and musicians (along with lectors) are encouraged to take a look to see how you might be able to serve. More information for ministers and the sign up can be found at https://stcdio.org/worship/tv-mass/tv-mass-volunteer-musicians-information/.

Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion – All catechumens, as a part of their faith journey to the Easter Sacraments at the Easter Vigil in 2023, must be present at the Rite of Election. The Church has gifted us with this rite, and we are called to celebrate it to its fullest. If for a serious pastoral reason, a catechumen is unable to participate in this liturgy you must contact the Office of Worship to discuss the options available. Those candidates, already one with us in baptism, are strongly encouraged to participate in this liturgy. Please complete the registration found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/riteofelection. Please complete the registration by February 17.

Order of Penance – The USCCB has approved a new Order of Penance. This order may be used, beginning February 22, 2023 (Ash Wednesday) and must be used by April 16, 2023 (Divine Mercy Sunday). The changes include a slightly modified Prayer of Absolution said by the priest. There are a number of options for the Prayer of the Penitent (also known as an Act of Contrition).

The Office of Worship will be in contact with priests, directors of faith formation programs (sacramental preparation and RCIA), and schools regarding this new Order of Penance. Books for the new Order of Penance can be purchased from the following publishers:

• Catholic Book Publishing - Rite Of Penance
• Magnificat The Order of Penance Magnificat
• Order of Penance - Liturgy Training Publications (ltp.org)
• The Order of Penance (theologicalforum.org)

For more information, contact Sr. Jeanne Wiest, OP, Director, Office of Worship. [email protected]

February 23-March 23 – Lenten Webinar Series on the Eucharist – The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commission (FDLC) is offering a free webinar series on the Thursdays of Lent, entitled, “The Eucharist: The Work of our Redemption.”

Beginning on Thursday, February 23, and continuing every Thursday through March 23, a 5-part Lenten series will explore the various parts of the Mass. The webinars will be offered at 12:00 p.m. (CST). You are encouraged to sign up (remember, it’s FREE) even if you’re not able to watch at 12:00 p.m. because each webinar will be recorded and emailed to registrants to watch at a later time. More information and registration are available at: https://fdlc.org/2022/12/eucharist-the-work-of-our-redemption/.

March 30 – Chrism Mass – The St. Cloud Diocese will celebrate Chrism Mass at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Mary. If there is a group from your parish who would like to attend, please contact Laura Gorder at [email protected].

Important Dates

February 22 – Ash Wednesday

February 26 – RCIA: Rite of Election

March 30 – Chrism Mass



Bridge Builders for a Thriving Mission--Monthly Newsletter

Over the last two years, the Bridge-Builders for a Thriving Mission initiative has been supporting amazing work and formation throughout the Diocese of St. Cloud. As more and more programs are forming and developing as a result of this grant, Bridge-Builders will be putting out a monthly newsletter to share the good news along with stories of those who are working hard to build bridges and advance the thriving mission of the Church in our area. 

Check out our first edition here: https://www.thrivingmission.org/_files/ugd/eeed24_65095c36042441109c1fda4fef07eca0.pdf

Emmaus Institute – Instituto Emaús

Small Christian Communities – Pequeñas Comunidades Cristianas

Lent 2023 – Cuaresma 2023

Small Christian Communities are groups of 6-10 people gathering with a facilitator to read Scripture, pray and share faith. There are several Small Christian Communities, offered in English and Spanish throughout the Diocese of Saint Cloud. Our facilitators have been prepared to lead through Emmaus Institute. The groups are typically 6 to 7 weeks in length. 

Las pequeñas comunidades cristianas son grupos de 6 a 10 personas que se reúnen con un facilitador para leer las Escrituras, orar y compartir la fe. Hay varias Pequeñas Comunidades Cristianas, que se ofrecen en inglés y español en toda la Diócesis de Saint Cloud. Nuestros facilitadores han sido preparados para liderar a través del Instituto Emaús. Los grupos suelen tener una duración de 6 a 7 semanas.

Beginning/Empezando:

FEBRUARY

Radical Hospitality

February 20-March 27, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Facilitator: Dianne Blonigen St. Stephen Catholic Church

Monday, February 20:​ Restore – A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation

6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Tri-Parish Office, 106 3rd Ave NE, Freeport 

​​​​Facilitator: Amy Hoeschen RSVP: 320-290-5088

Wednesday, February 22: God’s Quilt of Comfort: Wrapping Up in the Psalms

​​​​1:00 p.m. – 2 p.m. Freeport Senior Center

​​​​Facilitator: Jessica Goebel RSVP: 952- 847-0520

Friday, February 24: ​Praying through Lent with Lectio and Visio Divina​

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Brandon in home

Facilitator: Amy Evjen   RSVP: 320-304-4127

Sunday, February 26:​40 Days of Prayers

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Osakis

Facilitator: Jennifer Kaweesa​ RSVP: 320-859-2390 ext.1135

Sunday, February 26:​Painting the Word for people ages 17 – 21 years

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.​  Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Sauk Rapids

​​​​Facilitator: Karen Handeland   RSVP: 320-761-5155

Monday, February 27:​Grieving with Great Hope

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.​ Ann’s House, Saint Ann’s Catholic Church, Brandon

​​​​Facilitator: Rose Suchy  RSVP: 320-766-5312

Tuesday, February 28: Bible and Breakfast for Youth in Grades 9 - 12

7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.  Melrose Area High School, Media Center

​​​​Facilitator: Chrystal Sands RSVP: 320-266-5554

Tuesday, February 28:​ Return - A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, Alexandria

​​​​Facilitator: Tammy Huss RSVP:  320-763-9202 

MARCH

Domingo, Marzo 20:​ Las Bienaventuranzas

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Iglesia de Santa María del Monte Carmelo, Long Prairie

​​​​Facilitador: Horacio Aguilar

Domingo, Marzo 20:​ La Penitencia

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Iglesia de María de la Concepción Inmaculada, Rockville

​​​​Facilitador: Ruben Uribe

Domingo, Marzo 20: El Conocimiento de Nuestra Fé

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Iglesia de María de la Concepción Inmaculada, Rockville

​​​​Facilitador: Brayan Godoy Chilisna

Domingo, Marzo 20:​ La Vida y Muerte de Jesús

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Iglesia de María de la Concepción Inmaculada, Rockville

Facilitadora: Alma Coria Figueroa

Domingo, Marzo 20: La Oración

2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Iglesia de María de la Concepción Inmaculada, Rockville

Facilitador: Agustin Quetzecua Díaz

Lunes, Marzo 21:​​ La Muerte y la Resurrección

​​​​6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Iglesia de Santa María, Melrose

Facilitadora: Maria Barragan

Martes, Marzo 22:​​ La Madurez Espiritual

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Iglesia de San José, Waite Park​​

​​​​Facilitadora: Wendy de Milla

Jueves, March 24:​​ Amando a Nuestro Prójimo

​​​​5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Iglesia de la Asunción, Morris

Facilitadora: Gloria Magaña Valencia

​​​

Jueves, Marzo 24:​​ Las Bienaventuranzas y la Familia

​​​​6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Iglesia de San Andrés, Elk River

​​​​Facilitadora: Lupita Cismowski

Jueves, Marzo 24:​​ Los Jóvenes

​​​​6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Iglesia de San Andrés, Elk River

​​​​Facilitadora: Rocio Meza-Barajas

Jueves, Marzo 24:​​ Las Parábolas

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Iglesia de San José, Waite Park

​​​​Facilitadora: Maria Nunez-Rothstein

​​​​

Viernes, March 25​​: La Pasión de Jesús

​​​​6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Iglesia de San Andrés, Elk River

Facilitador: Rogaciano Pacheco Roldan y Facilitadora: Rigoberta Priego Solis

Catholic Charities ♦ (320) 650-1641

Catholic Charities Facility Tours – After a brief hiatus, Catholic Charities is offering tours of various facilities in 2023. These tours will be available for the Emergency Services Food Shelf, Domus Transitional Housing, and the Youth House.

By visiting one of these facilities, you will get a look at how we connect with people in need in addressing food insecurity and homelessness in the community, and the positive impact our programs have in Central Minnesota.

These tours will take place from March through September. Specific dates for tours of each facility will be announced in February. To sign up online for our tours, please visit www.ccstcloud.org/events.

Reverend Thomas Olson will celebrate his 76th birthday on February 22.

6221 19th Street N

St. Cloud, MN 56303

Telephone: (320) 217-5389

Email: [email protected]



Diocese of Saint Cloud Chancery and Pastoral Center

(320) 251-2340 • (320) 258-7600

www.stcdio.org

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