^{September 2023}

^{MONTHLY DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER}

LINKS

September 2023 Serra Calendar (PDF)

**REVISED 2023 Special Colle c tions Chart (PDF)

2024 Special Collections Chart (PDF)

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass

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

September 7 ♦ Eucharistic Congress clergy retreat – This day is designed specifically to revive and inspire our diocesan clergy. It includes a virtual address by Dr. Tim O’Malley, author of “Becoming Eucharistic People,” Mass, personal and communal reflection time, a shared meal and fellowship. This event is by invitation only. Please pray for our clergy on this day.

September 8-9 ♦ Eucharistic Congress retreat day and family day – POSTPONED – Dr. Timothy O’Malley is unable to join us for the Eucharistic Congress events slated for Sept. 8-9. The diocese will work with Dr. O’Malley to reschedule. Stay tuned for more information.

September 10 ♦ World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the transfer of the celebration of World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in the U.S. from the fourth Sunday in July, to the first weekend after Labor Day in September to coincide with National Grandparents (and the Elderly) Day that many local communities, schools and parishes have been celebrating for some time.

September 17 ♦ Catechetical Sunday – On this day, in parishes across the nation, those designated by their community to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role each person plays in witnessing the Gospel and handing on the faith to others. The theme this year is "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened" Matthew 11:28. A multitude of free parish resources can be found at https://www.usccb.org/committees/evangelization-catechesis/come-me-all-you-who-labor-and-are-burdened.

September 27 ♦ 40 Days for Life Fall Campaign – Begins September 27 and ends November 5. More details can be found at https://stcdio.org/respect-life/forty-days-life/.

EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

September 8 & 9 Eucharistic Congress Events are postponed

Dr. Timothy O’Malley is unable to join us for the Eucharistic Congress events slated for Sept. 8-9. The diocese will work with Dr. O’Malley to reschedule. Stay tuned for more information. The Sept. 7 clergy retreat day will go on as planned.

October 28-30 – As we enter the parish year of the Eucharistic Revival, there are three diocesan events Catholic Education Ministries is offering with Catholic composer/musician and national speaker Steve Angrisano. View the event below under Catholic Education Ministries.

Fr. Tom Knoblach ♦ Vicar for Clergy and Vicar for Health Care Ethics ♦ (320) 251-2340

Last month, a survey and questionnaire were sent to all the clergy of the diocese to help inform the planning process and the work of the Personnel Board. Thanks to those who have responded with your sincere and creative perspectives. If you have not yet had the time to reply, please do so by September 15. If you have misplaced the survey and questionnaire, please contact Brenda at Brenda.Kresky@gw.stcdio.org. Thank you for your assistance.

Joe Towalski ♦ Chancellor ♦ (320) 251-2340

October 5 – Parish Secretaries Day – All parish secretaries and interested staff are invited to a day of learning and enrichment from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Seven Dolors in Albany. The day will include prayer, presentations on sacramental record-keeping and parish cemetery guidelines, updates from Catholic Mutual Group, networking opportunities, lunch, and takeaway resources for practical use in parishes and ACCs. Cost $15. Register by Sept. 27 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SecretariesDay23. Questions? Contact Barb Simon-Johnson at Barb.Simon-Johnson@gw.stcdio.org.

NOTES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICES

David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111

Catholic School Updates – We are blessed with the start of another school year and the opportunity to journey with students and families again! May we all be inspired by the encouraging words of Saint John Baptiste De La Salle, “to touch the hearts of your students is the greatest miracle you can perform.”

Miracles are fascinating in that they do not take place according to our expectations or assumptions in everyday life. It’s easy to think about them as we read in the Gospels, as things performed by Jesus and his disciples. The saints of the Church are no less vivid examples of how God is present in our lives and work, and is made known in countless ways in our relationships with others. For educators, this is most prominent in our engagement with students. Miracles are abundant in our work, but sometimes we need to take a step back and pray for the eyes and grace to see them. May these first few days of the school year be filled with such abundance!

In the next month, Catholic Education Ministries will reach out with information about an expanded data collection effort for Catholic schools. In the past, we have primarily gathered information for the NCEA national data bank. Starting this year, we will also gather data on compensation, tuition, assessment practices and workforce to build a more comprehensive picture of the opportunities and challenges in our Catholic schools. The needs of today and tomorrow must be met with more informed, adaptive and targeted efforts in outreach to families and supporters. This includes funding sources and partners, but more critically it must focus on educating and forming our communities about what our schools do, and what is needed for us to do it. This data collection will involve analysis and representation of issues that can be used at both a local school and diocesan level. What is gathered will be shared in useful ways to support principals, boards, pastors and all those who are working to strengthen the excellence and vitality of our Catholic schools.

Saint John Baptiste De La Salle, pray for us.

New Catechetical Leaders – Welcome new catechetical leaders! If you haven’t already met with Christine Pinto, please email her at Christine.Pinto@gw.stcdio.org to set up a time for her to come to your parish. These individual meetings are in place of the event previously known as New Catechetical Leader Day.

Catechist Gatherings – We are offering five catechist gatherings this fall for any catechist in the diocese. These gatherings are free, but please register beforehand (individually or as a group) at https://forms.gle/ZJi1CCjwLzHStNfB9.

Locations and times are as follows:

September 6 - St. Mary Help of Christians, St. Augusta (7:00-8:30 p.m.)
September 12 - Holy Trinity, Royalton (6:30-8:00 p.m.)
September 13 - St. Mary, Alexandria (7:00-8:30 p.m.)
September 14 - St. Henry, Perham (6:30-7:30 p.m.)

There are two themes to choose from:

Busy Bees: Planning for a Successful Year (Freeport, Alexandria, Royalton) Practical tips to a successful faith formation year: classroom management, addressing needs of students, preparing lesson plans, and much more.
Embracing God’s Gifts (St. Augusta, Perham) Discern the gifts God has given you to share the good news with others. We will also talk about recognizing the gifts of your students and helping them to embrace who God wants them to be.

Pathways for Family Formation Videos – Recordings from the event we held in May featuring Fr. Tim Donovan and Pam Hurwitz from Faith and Family Life Catholic Ministries are now available online. To watch the videos, click on the following links:

Morning Session: https://youtu.be/2yPV2_oSdvE

Afternoon Session: https://youtu.be/mN-tTmm5kv8

For more information about family formation, contact Christine Pinto at Christine.Pinto@gw.stcdio.org.

Diocesan Confirmation Retreats – Are you looking for a retreat for your Confirmation candidates as they prepare to receive the sacrament? Diocesan Confirmation Retreats are a great option for parish leaders who would like to have someone else prepare materials and lead the youth through the retreat. Retreats are planned for this school year and will be held at Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids from 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on the following Saturdays:

October 14
November 11
January 13
February 10

We are also willing to come to individual parishes or ACCs to lead retreats. Each retreat can host between 40-50 youth, so sign up early at: https://signup.com/go/imaCbbQ. This link is for confirmation coordinators. Please do not share with parents or students. We are happy to accept as many students as we have room to accommodate at parishes. Each parish is requested to bring at least one adult leader per eight students. Cost for the retreat is $45.00 per student and $20.00 per adult. Contact Kent at kent.schmitz@gw.stcdio.org for more information or to schedule a retreat.

October 28 – High School Youth Day: Chosen Vessels The youth day will be held at Lake Geneva Convention Center in Alexandria from 11:30 a.m. - 7:45 p.m. Packets were mailed to youth ministry leaders in each parish. If you have not received a packet for your parish, please contact Laura Gorder at laura.gorder@gw.stcdio.org. More information about the event and registration materials can be downloaded from https://stcdio.org/event/chosen-vessels-high-school-youth-day/.

October 29 – Young Adults: Vessels of Hope Steve Angrisano, Catholic musician and speaker will lead our Diocesan Young Adult Day on Saturday, October 28 from 10:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at St. Cloud Newman Center and St. Cloud State University.For more information and to register, please visit https://stcdio.org/vessels-of-hope/.

October 30 – Retreat: Vessels of Faith All are invited to attend a day of renewal and reflection with Catholic musician and national speaker Steve Angrisano. This day will provide an opportunity for you to be renewed in your love of the Eucharist and reflect on your mission to be the Body of Christ in the world. This event will be held at St. Mary Help of Christians in St. Augusta. The day will start with hospitality at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 2:00 p.m.. Cost for the day is $15 per person. Please register by October 23 at https://stcdio.org/event/vessels-of-faith/.

First Things in Ministry Training: If you are new to parish ministry, Catholic Education Ministries has a newer endeavor to train you and your parish/ACC team(s), primarily in the areas of youth ministry and faith formation. Feel free to visit https://nfcym.org/first-things/ for more details. Please note we will currently have 1 diocesan group. You may also contact Kent Schmitz at (320) 251-0111 x4 or kent.schmitz@gw.stcdio.org for more information.

Joe Towalski ♦ Director of Communication ♦ (320) 251-2340

Social media and branding guidelines • The diocese recently adopted new social media and communications branding guidelines for diocesan offices and staff. Parishes and ACCs may wish to use these to assist in creating their own social media and branding policies. The social media policy can be downloaded at Social Media Policy (PDF). The guidelines can be accessed at Branding Guidelines (PDF). If you would like to consult the Communications Office staff regarding the formation of your own parish/ACC social media or branding guidelines, please email communications@gw.stcdio.org to set up a time for a visit in person or via Zoom.

Deacon Richard Scheierl ♦ (320) 203-0554

God bless You on your birthday

September 5 – Deacon Lorenzo Rodriguez

September 17 – Deacon Bruce Geyer

September 22 – Deacon Frank Ringsmuth

September 25 – Deacon Jeff Winkelman

September 26 – Deacon Randy Altstadt

September 27 – Deacon Mick Froslee

Prayer Requests especially for those who are ill:

Deacon Jerry Schwarzbauer who is retired and lives in Mora.
Deacon Vern Schmitz who is recovering from a stroke.
Deacon Jesus Hernandez’s brother who has died.
For all those needing prayers.

Welcome to New Aspirants

Aaron and Zulema Korkowski who live in Alexandria,
Adrian and Pamela Panther who live in Alexandria,
Rogaciano and Rigoberta Pacheco who live in Otsego (Elk River),
Josh and Cheryl Ricard who live in Albany,
Gary and Merrilee Stang who live in Cold Spring,
Ruben and Lorena Uribe Mejia who live in Cold Spring.

Please pray for all men in diaconate formation as they begin studies this fall.

Upcoming Diaconate Events

October 1-5 – Clergy Conference
October 26 – Deacon Formation Session, Pastoral Center Lounge, St. Cloud from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
October 26 – Institution of Acolyte, Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Cloud at 7 p.m.
October 27-29 – MEG Retreat, Camp Onomia, Onamia
November 2 – Admission to Candidacy, Cathedral of Saint Mary, St. Cloud at 7 p.m.

Joe Spaniol ♦ (320) 251-2340

This is a reminder, the June 30, 2023 Annual Parish Report was due. Please finish and submit the Excel file as soon as possible to brittany.prigge@gw.stcdio.org or joe.spaniol@gw.stcdio.org.

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

Are you interested in health and healing? Health Ministries of Central MN is an interfaith group who are passionate about the health of people in Central MN, the gaps in health ministries, sharing of knowledge and best practices across faith traditions, and opportunities for education/connection/improvement. Health Ministries of Central MN ceased to meet during COVID and is now being re-invigorated and re-imagined. Come partake in this initiative. Here is information regarding our initial meeting:

Health Ministries of Central MN

Thursday, September 7

CentraCare Plaza – Hughes Matthews

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

In you are interested, contact Bethany Tollefson (bethany.tollefson@centracare.com) for more information. Even if you cannot attend the meeting in September, we will plan to meet again in about 3 months (4x/year) - let me know about your interest. Please share with others who you think would be interested in this event.

September 8-10 – National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, and Life – The Central MN Suicide Prevention Coalition is reaching out to you and your faith community to provide information about this event. The weekend event was created to encourage faith communities to say prayers focused on mental health and suicide prevention. Research shows that 1 in 4 individuals in your faith community are dealing with symptoms related to a treatable mental health condition right now. We pray for physical conditions, and we encourage you to do the same when it is a mental health condition. Here is a brief video: National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life Video - YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjuufyADQms.

During the National Weekend of Prayer you’re encouraged to say prayers that include each of these three messages:

an acknowledgement that the pain felt by the struggling individual is real,
reassurance that they are not alone, and
expressions of hope: that through faith and with the support of others in the community, there is a path toward a better life in the future.

For prayer guidelines, worship & spiritual resources, and communication aids such as flyers, bulletin inserts and posters, please visit: National Weekend of Prayer for Faith, Hope, & Life | National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention at https://theactionalliance.org/faith-hope-life/national-weekend-of-prayer.

For additional information to support your mental health ministry, please visit The Caring Clergy Project at https://inmi.us/for-clergy/. Questions - Feel free to email: centralmnspcoalition@gmail.com or visit The Central MN Suicide Prevention Coalition's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CentralMNSuicidePreventionCoalition.

September 22 – Mental Health First Aid for Faith Communities Virtual Class from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS…

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. You’ll build skills and the 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. Please contact bethany.tollefson@centracare.com or use the following link to register: https://forms.gle/wxxxdvn89GkBnWFK7.

For more resources on mental health, take a look at the Diocese of St. Cloud - Mental Health Ministry Website st https://stcdio.org/mental-health-ministry/.

Bailey Ziegler ♦ (320) 258-7655

New Minnesota Laws – The 2023 Minnesota state legislature passed a number of new laws that will affect your parishes, schools, and employees. Please look over the information and keep watching for more information following in the next few months/ years to help guide your policies to remain in compliance.

• Recreational Marijuana Legalization: August 2023

The new law amends Minnesota's Consumable Products Act (CPA), which prohibits employers from disciplining or discharging employees (or refusing to hire applicants) who use lawful consumable products outside of work. However, nothing in the newly amended CPA prohibits employers from taking action against employees who use, possess, sell, transfer, or are impaired while working, while on work premises, or while operating an employer's vehicles, machines, or equipment.

*Your current drug and alcohol policy will likely be sufficient to be in compliance with these new laws—but you may want to go back and read through your policies to be sure. Please consult your legal counsel if you have any questions.

• Earned Sick and Safe Leave (ESSL): January 1, 2024

Sick and safe time is paid leave employers must provide to employees in Minnesota that can be used for certain reasons, including when an employee is sick, to care for a sick family member or to seek assistance if an employee or their family member has experienced domestic abuse.

An employee is eligible for sick and safe time if they:

work at least 80 hours in a year for an employer in Minnesota; and
are not an independent contractor.

Temporary and part-time employees are eligible for sick and safe time.

*We are waiting on further guidance from the state regarding the application of these laws. Once issued we will sent out a sample policy. You should begin looking at your current paid time off policies and thinking about how you will implement changes to bring your policies into compliance by January.

• Paid Family and Medical Leave: January 1, 2026

Paid Family and Medical Leave is a new program launching for Minnesotans in 2026. It provides paid time off when a serious health condition prevents employees from working, when they need time to care for a family member or a new child, for certain military-related events or for certain personal safety issues.

Family Leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition, or if you're bonding with a new baby or child in your family.
Medical Leave when your own serious health condition prevents you from working.
Additionally, employees will be able to take leave to support a family member in the military deploying overseas, or if they or a family member are facing a significant personal safety issue.

For Employers: Paid Family and Medical Leave premiums will be 0.7% of an employee’s taxable wages. Employers may charge a maximum of half this premium (or 0.35%) to their employees through a wage deduction.

For more information, visit https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/paid-family/employers/.

*Reporting to begin this program on-time is set to begin midyear 2024. As more information becomes available through the state, we will continue to keep you updated.

I-9 Form Change – Please note that there is a new I-9 form out. All employees hired after 8/1/23 need to have the new I-9 form on file. If you have the I-9 printed in a new hire packet, please replace with this new copy. It is a more condensed version of the previous form. (You do not need to fill out a new form for previous employees.)

Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 251-4721

Natural Family Planning Instruction for September & October 2023

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

• Alexandria: Monday, September 18 & October 16 at 6:30 p.m.

• Little Falls: Tuesday, September 5 & October 3 at 7:30 p.m.

• Long Prairie: Monday, September 25 & October 23 at 7:00 p.m.

• Rice: Monday, September 11 & October 2 at 6:30 p.m.

• Sauk Centre: Thursday, September 21 & October 19 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Cloud: Monday, September 18 & Thursday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.

• St. Michael: Tuesday, September 5 & October 3 at 6:00 p.m.

• Wadena: Friday, September 22 & October 27at 5:30 p.m.

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

September 16 – Virtual Fully Engaged Sponsor Couple Training in Spanish – This event will be held via Zoom from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register at least 10 days prior to the class. The cost of the webinar is $25.00 per couple. You will also need a Pre-Marital Preview Package which is $45 plus shipping and handling. Register at https://getfullyengaged.com/new-mentor-training/ or contact Jill Svihel at jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org or (320) 258-7611.

September 23 – Engaged Couples Retreat – This event will be held at Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/ for more details or call the office with questions at (320) 258-7615.

September 30 – Sponsor Couple Training – This event will be held at the Pastoral Center in St. Cloud from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Register couples at this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SCTraining2023, or contact Jan Zylla at jan.zylla@gw.stcdio.org or call (320) 258-7615 with couple’s names, address, phone numbers, email addresses and parish. Please register couples at least two weeks before the training session. The parish will be billed $125 per couple for the cost of training and all supplies.

October 1 – Respect Life – A link to the USCCB Respect Life Month materials is currently available on our website at https://stcdio.org/respect-life/. You will find an Action Guide, Homily Helps and many other resources to use at your parish. If you have any questions, please contact Janet Dusek at (320) 258-7616.

October 5 – Mass of Hope & Healing – This event will be held at St. Mary of Mount Carmel, Long Prairie, at 7:00 p.m. This special Mass is for couples who have suffered from infertility or the loss of a child through miscarriage, SIDS, illness, accident or abortion. It Includes a candle-lighting ceremony remembering those who have died. Refreshments will be served after Mass. For the latest details, visit https://stcdio.org/event/mass-of-hope-healing-2023/.

October 5 & 12 – Virtual Fully Engaged Sponsor Couple Training in English – This event will be held via Zoom from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Register at least 10 days prior to the class. The cost of the webinar is $25.00 per couple. You will also need a Pre-Marital Preview Package which is $45 plus shipping and handling. Register at https://getfullyengaged.com/new-mentor-training/ or contact Jill Svihel at jill.svihel@gw.stcdio.org or call (320) 258-7611.

October 6-8 – Beginning Experience of Central MN – This event, held at Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria, is a weekend program for separated, divorced, or widowed adults designed to facilitate the grief resolution process and thereby free people to live and love themselves, others and God. Participants 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.

October 6-8 – Retrouvaille weekend – This event will be held at the Best Western Hotel, Eagan, MN. 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 TCRRegistration@tcr-mn.org with questions. Find out more information and register at http://www.helpourmarriage.org.

October 7 – 2nd 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. Marriage preparation must be completed at least three months before the date of the wedding celebration. It is recommended that 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/.

October 13-14 – Messy Family Project – This event will be held at the Church of St. Mary, Alexandria. Empowering moms and dads to embrace their calling. More info to come. Visit the parish's website for future postings at https://www.stmaryalexandria.org/event/messy-family-retreat-weekend-save-the-date/.

October 28 – Engaged Couples Retreat – This event will be held at Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/ for more details or call the office with questions at (320) 258-7615.

October 28-29 – Worldwide Marriage Encounter – This event will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Alexandria. 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. Apply at https://wwme.org/.

November 11 & 12 – Honoring Veterans at weekend Masses – Please remember our veterans, those currently serving in the military and their families. For the blessing during the concluding rite, visit https://stcdio.org/from-the-director-2/clergy-resources/recognition-of-veterans-during-mass/.

November 11 – Spanish-Speakers Marriage Course – This event will be held at the Pastoral Center in St. Cloud from 8 a.m. to 5 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 Flynn at pflynn@gw.stcdio.org or (320) 258-7619 or visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.

November 17-19 – Worldwide Marriage Encounter – This event will be held at Shalom Hill Farm, Windom, MN. 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. Contact Miki Schultz at (507) 227-8229 or register at https://wwme.org/.

December 2– Virtual Fully Engaged Sponsor Couple Training in English – This event will be held on Zoom from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Register at least 10 days prior to the first class. The cost of the webinar is $25.00 per couple. You will also need a Pre-Marital Preview Package which is $45 plus shipping and handling. Register at https://www.getfullyengaged.com/new-mentor-training/ or contact Jill Svihel at Jill.Svihel@gw.stcdio.org or call (320) 258-7611.

December 2 – Engaged Couples Retreat – This event will be held at Sacred Heart in Sauk Rapids, MN from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/ for more details or call the office with questions at (320) 258-7615.

February 24 – Catholic Men’s Conference – This event will be held at St. Francis Xavier in Sartell, MN. As plans come together, they will be posted on the Men's Conference event page at https://stcdio.org/event/catholic-mens-conference-2024/.

Elizabeth Brown ♦ (320) 251-1100

October is Mission Month around the globe and many resources will be coming your way soon for promotion and distribution in your parishes and schools. Please be on the lookout online and in hard copy for the World Mission Rosary resources; World Mission Sunday resources; Mission Educators Bulletin; and the October Mission Auction.

Samantha Wiechmann is our new mission educator and is eagerly looking forward to connecting with you for mission education opportunities in your parishes, schools, youth groups and faith formation programs.

The Mission Office has some wonderful Fair Trade items for decorating dorm rooms, wedding and baby gifts, chocolate and coffee addictions, and so much more. Come see us!

Brenda Kresky ♦ (320) 251-2340

Pastoral visits with Bishop Neary – Invitation letters were sent out to pastors inviting their ACC to a visit with Bishop Neary. The bishop will meet with 3-4 ACCs monthly between November 2023 and July 2024. The hopes for these visits are threefold:

1) to nurture relationships between Bishop Neary, the diocesan staff and ACC pastoral leadership

2) to provide space for ACCs to meet and learn from other ACCs

3) to strengthen the connections and build bridges for a thriving mission across parishes in an ACC. ACC Care teams will contact the ACC pastor(s) to walk through the process with their ACC.

October Mass Counts – Twice a year, in July and October, the Diocese of Saint Cloud requests parish Mass counts from parishes in the Diocese. The weekends to be counted in October this year are October 7/8, 14/15, 21/22, 28/29. Please ensure Mass count figures are taken and submitted. These numbers are important for planning purposes. A reminder and an online submission link will be sent out soon.

Did you know? There are over 180 Masses celebrated in the 131 parishes every weekend in the Diocese of St. Cloud.

Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020

Rural Life Celebration – A special thank you to Fr. Matthew Kuhn, Fr. Rick Aubol, Fr. Mark Botzet, Deacon Dan Ruprecht and committee chairs Veronica and Gary Haavig, along with all the parish volunteers from Come to the Water Area Catholic Community, for their incredible work and prayerful leadership in hosting this year’s Rural Life Celebration on August 20 at St. Nicholas Parish in Belle River! The day was an incredible success and joyful gathering to honor our rural diocese and the farms, parishes and businesses that make it up, as well as raising funds for the Rural Life Fund. Thank you to all who made it such a beautiful day!

A reminder that nominations are now open for next year’s Rural Business Award at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ruralbusinessaward. The application forms for Catholic Century Farm Awards can be found on Social Concerns’ webpage at https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns.

September 16/17 – Annual Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Collection – You should have already received the CCHD promotional materials at your parish and the contribution envelopes in your parishioners’ packets. If you have not received them or need additional envelopes, please contact Kateri.Mancini@ccstcloud.org. Thank you in advance for your support of this collection that makes it possible for us to offer grants to local groups and organizations fighting against poverty and lifting up the voices of under-served and marginalized members of our diocesan community!

Please share the following information in your parish bulletin/announcements:

Propelled Forth to Transform the World: Fall Social Ministry Gathering

All parishioners, pastoral leaders and faith-based groups are invited to join us for our annual fall gathering, “Propelled Forth to Transform the World: Eucharistic Love Lived Out,” taking place on Saturday, October 14 at St. Louis Parish in Paynesville. Join us for Mass, along with keynote speaker Scott Hurd, vice president for leadership development at Catholic Charities USA, as he helps us explore what Eucharistic Love looks like when lived out through service and social justice both as individuals and parish communities. Vendors will be available from various service and advocacy organizations in central Minnesota, along with our usual prayer, fellowship and networking with others from around the diocese. The event will be bilingual in English and Spanish. Cost is $20 and includes lunch; group discounts are available. Learn more or register at www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns.

Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251-2340

The audit for the USCCB was completed in August. All of the following have completed safe environment training and have up to date background checks:

• Over ten thousand students in the parishes and Catholic schools

• Over 4700 active volunteers

• 1000 employees in parishes and schools

• 540 Catholic school educators

• All priests

• All deacons

• All candidates for ordination

The Diocese of Saint Cloud should be proud of the diligence it pays to keep the children, youth and vulnerable adults in the diocese safe. Please continue to have the same diligence throughout the upcoming year. Remember to put the children and youth training on the parish and school calendars as early as possible. Blessings on the new catechetical year ahead.

Anna Kampa ♦ (320) 258-7654

Stewardship as a Eucharistic Way of Life was presented online on August 23. In this presentation Fr. Greg Paffel and Blanca Barragan delved into the Four Pillars of Stewardship (Prayer, Hospitality, Formation and Service) and how they come to life in our celebration of the Eucharist. This bilingual event has been recorded and will soon be available on the stewardship page of the diocesan website.

Bishop’s Annual Appeal – As of August 21, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for 2023 has raised total cash and pledges of $1,177,106 toward our goal of $1,400,000 (84.08%). This was made possible through the generous donations of 6,442 people throughout the 16 counties of our diocese.

The August solicitation letter was mailed on August 23 to approximately 15,000 people. Letters were also mailed in Spanish with an in-pew solicitation for the Hispanic/Latino communities.

Fr. Virgil Helmin ♦ (320) 251-6557

All Tribunal forms are located on the diocesan website under the Tribunal page at https://stcdio.org/tribunal/annulments/annulment-forms/

• A petitioner can fill out the necessary forms found on our diocesan website under the Tribunal office at: www.stcdio.org/tribunal/annulments/annulment-forms /.

The documents required are the same for each annulment process and are:

baptismal certificates for both principals
marriage certificate
divorce decree (signed by the judge)

For the formal annulment process, the petitioner can submit the completed form (the forms Formal Petition (PDF) or Formal Petition (DOC) can be found at https://stcdio.org/tribunal/annulments/annulment-forms/) and appear in person for a scheduled appointment, or complete a narrative (see the guideline on the Tribunal webpage #2, A-H) or participate in a telephone interview with the Tribunal Office. https://stcdio.org/tribunal/annulments/.

In the formal process, hearing the witnesses will no longer be in person at the Tribunal. The witnesses will be contacted by phone and the petitioner will assure the availability of the witnesses for a phone interview at a time designated by the Tribunal.

If you are uncertain about the annulment process, have any other questions, or want to set up an individual appointment contact the Tribunal Office at (320) 251-6557 or email vhelmin@gw.stcdio.org, mcrane@gw.stcdio.org or kmollner@gw.stcdio.org.

Fr. Doug Liebsch ♦ (320) 251-5001

Welcome New Seminarians – Please welcome four new seminarians:

• Collin Prom, from St. Mary, Upsala. Collin will begin his propaedeutic year at Saint Paul Seminary, St. Paul,

• Thomas Dockendorf, from Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Rockville, will begin College 1 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona,

• Leonidas Miller, from St. Mary of Mount Carmel, Long Prairie, will begin College 1 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona,

• Vincent St. Marie, from Immaculate Conception, St. Anna, will begin College 1 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona,

Please pray for all seminarians as they start seminary studies this fall.

September 21 –Andrew Dinner – Do you have young men in your parish grades 9-12 who have potential for a priestly calling? This simple and powerful night consists of evening prayer and dinner with Bishop Patrick while priests share their vocation stories. Young men find it very meaningful and special to have a night with the bishop and priests! Please contact Julie at the Vocations Office at julie.jacobs@gw.stcdio.org if you have young men interested in joining this evening.

Totus Tuus – The Totus Tuus Summer Catechetical Youth Program ended August 4. This is the seventh summer Totus Tuus has been held in the diocese. Thank you for your participation in this great program. This program keeps growing. This past summer we had 20 Totus Tuus areas, three teams, and 12 team leaders! Please contact Julie at the Vocations Office at julie.jacobs@gw.stcdio.org or call (320) 251-5001 to register or questions about the 2024 summer program. The deadline is October 31.

November 5-11 – National Vocation Awareness Week – Pastors and parochial vicars please make a special effort to talk about vocations during this National Vocation Awareness Week. If we can help in any way, please contact the Vocation Office at (320) 251-5001.

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

2023 TV Mass Ministers Needed – There are multiple openings in the coming months for our TV Mass ministry. Please review the openings and sign up if you are able to serve in one of our upcoming tapings at https://signup.com/go/WPgKCFO. Please contact the Office of Worship with questions.

Ministry as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion: A workshop presented by the Diocese of St. Cloud’s Office of Worship as part of the Eucharistic Revival Year in the Parish – All present Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion as well as those interested in this ministry are encouraged to participate. History of this ministry, theology/spirituality for those who minister, and practical considerations will be covered. This event is FREE. Registration will be onsite.

Sept. 6 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. Assumption, Morris
Sept. 13 – 7:00-8:30 p.m. Sacred Heart, Sauk Rapids
Sept. 23 – 9:30-11:00 a.m. Our Lady of Victory, Fergus Falls
Sept. 30 – 9:30-11:00 a.m. St. Mary’s Alexandria
Oct. 5 – 7:00-8:30 p.m. Our Lady of Lourdes, Little Falls
Oct. 7 – 9:30-11:00 a.m. Seven Dolors, Albany
Oct. 14 – 9:30-11:00 a.m. Holy Spirit, St. Cloud
Oct. 17 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. Seven Dolors, Albany
Oct. 18 – 6:30-8:00 p.m. Holy Cross, Onamia
Oct. 21 – 9:30-11:00 a.m. Mary of the Visitation, Becker

All workshops will take place inside the church.

Questions may be directed to: Sr. Jeanne Wiest, OP, Director of Worship Jeanne.wiest@gw.stcdio.org or (320) 255-9068.

October 22 – Mass for Healthcare Professionals – This event will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral in St. Cloud. We will celebrate during the 9:30 a.m. Mass at which Bishop Patrick Neary will preside.

Catholic Charities ♦ (320) 650-1641

We’d like to give a little heads up for our annual appeal, Make God’s Love Visible, which is on October 28-29 this year. Watch your mailbox for more information to come and learn how you can contribute to a better tomorrow for central Minnesota in 2024. For more information visit, www.ccstcloud.org.