November 2021
MONTHLY DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER
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Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass
November 13 ♦ Permanent Diaconate Ordination – Vincent Charles will be ordained to the permanent diaconate at 4:00 p.m. at the Church of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Isanti.
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Diocesan Ministry Day 2021
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Diocesan Ministry Day Oct. 23 at St. John's Abbey and University. It was a wonderful time of praying together, celebrating our faith and learning more about the diocesan phase of the 2023 world Synod of Bishops. To view photos from the day, please visit https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/photos-diocesan-ministry-day-2021.
Regional Ministry Gatherings 2021
This fall's Regional Ministry Gatherings around the theme "One Body: Gathered. Nourished. Sent" concluded last month. Video recordings of the 3 All-Diocese Gatherings (in English and Spanish), as well as recordings of the 6 Leadership Gatherings (English, with one in Spanish), are available on the diocese's YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/3jBEQIk.
These educational presentations (ranging from 30-60 minutes in length) focus on relevant issues facing our Church today. They are suitable for viewing and discussion in group settings, such as the following:
• ACC council meetings
• Adult faith formation gatherings
• Parish staff meetings
• Parish men's or women's groups
• Deanery meetings
Please consider using these videos as a continuing education resource. If you have any questions, please contact the communications office at (320) 258-7624.
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NOTES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICES |
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David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111
Catholic School Updates – Thank you to our Catholic school teachers, staff and principals for your steady commitment to our students and families! We are blessed by the love and care you model for all of us. Parents, we are grateful for your partnership with schools as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Let us all pray for our school communities to continue to be joy-filled, positive and productive places of prayer and learning.
Diocesan Confirmation Retreats are planned for this school year. One retreat remains at Sacred Heart Parish in Sauk Rapids from 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 13. This retreat is close to capacity but has a few spots remaining. The February 5 confirmation retreat will be held at the Central Minnesota TEC Center in Belle Prairie and has several spaces available. Each retreat can host between 40-50 people, so sign up early at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0D4CACA729A2F49-september. This link is for confirmation coordinators. Please do not share with parents or students. We are happy to accept one or forty students or as many as we have room for to accommodate parishes. Each parish is requested to bring at least 1 adult leader per 8 students. Cost for the retreat is $40.00 per student and $15.00 per adult. As always, we are very willing to come to individual parishes or ACCs to lead retreats. Contact Kent to schedule.
First Things in Ministry Training – If you are new to parish ministry, CEM has a new endeavor to train you and your parish/ACC team(s), primarily in the areas of youth ministry and faith formation. We hope to have a few cohorts begin training in the next few months to begin in December or at the best timing for your ACC. Feel free to visit: https://nfcym.org/first-things/ for more details. Please note we will have at least 1 diocesan group, rather than the national group. You may also contact Kent Schmitz at 320-251-0111 x4 or email [email protected].
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Joe Towalski ♦ (320) 258-7624
Bishop’s Annual Appeal – As of October 25, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for 2021 has raised total cash and pledges of $1,217,656 toward our goal of $1,400,000 (86.98%). This was made possible through the generous donations of 8,115 people throughout the 16 counties of our diocese.
Stewardship Resources – These are available on the diocesan website at https://stcdio.org/stewardship/. This site is a work in progress, so if you have comments or would like to see something added, please contact Anna Kampa at [email protected] or (320) 258-7654.
Virtual Stewardship Conference – The International Catholic Stewardship Council is offering a virtual conference on selected dates in November and December. These include:
- November 5: a full day of stewardship-related sessions designed for Spanish-speaking conference attendees.
- December 1-2: Sessions for pastors, parish pastoral teams, parish stewardship and evangelization leaders and those interested in learning more about Christian stewardship as a way of life.
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We apologize for not posting this notice earlier.
On August 25, 2021, one-legged plant stands and flowerpots were removed from Calvary and Sacred Heart Cemeteries in accordance with current cemetery rules. This removal allows for more efficient and complete Fall and Spring grounds cleanup.
These items have NOT been disposed of. Arrangements can be made to have these items returned to you by contacting the Cemetery Office at (320) 251-5511. Prearrangement for pickup is necessary.
You may obtain a current copy of the Cemetery Rules and Regulations at the following website: https://stcdio.org/diocesan_cemeteries_office/, or you may pick up a copy at the Cemetery Office. As a future reminder, please mark your calendars to remove your plant stands and flowerpots on or before August 25.
Thank you for your understanding.
— Board of Directors, Assumption-Calvary-Sacred Heart Cemeteries
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Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 252-4721
Natural Family Planning Instruction for November & December 2021
Instruction will be by personal appointment following COVID precautions or virtual by Zoom or Google Meetings.
A First Instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in:
- Little Falls: Tuesday, November 2 & December 7 at 7:30 p.m.
- Long Prairie: Monday, November 22 & December 27 at 7:00 p.m.
- Rice: Monday, November 1 & December 6 at 6:30 p.m.
- Sauk Centre: Monday, November 15 & December 20 at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Cloud: Monday, November 22 & December 20 at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Michael: Tuesday, November 2 & December 7 at 6:00 p.m.
- Wadena: Friday, November 26 & December 17 at 5:30 p.m.
November 6 – Sponsor Couple Training, Saturday NEWLY ADDED – This event will be held at the Pastoral Center in St. Cloud from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Please register couples by sending names and contact information to Janet Dusek at [email protected] or calling (320) 258-7616. Your parish will be billed $110 per couple for the cost of training (which includes Fully Engaged supplies).
November 13 – 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 as soon as possible and include the $110 registration fee per couple. For more information, contact the Office of Marriage & Family at (320) 252-4721 or visit https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.
November 19 – Natural Family Planning Witness Couple Gathering – We are blessed to have 10 NFP “Witness Couples” in our diocese. We would like to add a few more to this amazing group! Many couples tell us that NFP brought joy and blessings to their marriage & family life. If you know of a couple willing to speak for 10-15 minutes about their experience using NFP, please invite them to consider witnessing. Ask them to call Sheila Reineke or forward their names and contact information to: Sheila Reineke, NFP Program Coordinator, (320) 258-7609 or [email protected]. Thank you!
January 16 – Vespers For Life – This event will be held at Church of St. Anthony, 2405 1st St N, St Cloud. Rosary at 3:30 p.m. and Vespers at 4:00 p.m. Bishop Donald Kettler will preside at the Vespers service. The service includes music, prayer, Scripture and reflection for the over 62 million children who have been aborted since 1973. Monetary donations accepted to Mother Mary’s Fund to assist crisis pregnancy centers in the Diocese of St. Cloud.
January 22 – March For Life – The Diocese of St. Cloud will be coordinating buses to St. Paul. More details will be given next month.
January 14 – Retrouvaille – As a peer ministry of couples helping other couples who are living in hurting marriages, the Retrouvaille program focuses on teaching couples communication skills that can help them work on their differences. For more information, visit www.helpourmarriage.org.
January 29 – Latino Honoring Marriage Day – This event will be held at St. Mary’s in Melrose from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. This event is for all Latino couples who have received the Sacrament of Marriage. Bishop will celebrate Mass with the couples and their guests and offer a blessing to the couples. Parishes are asked to send names and addresses of married Latino parishioners to the Office of Marriage & Family, 305 7th 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.
January 29 – 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 with names and contact information to Janet Dusek at [email protected] or calling (320) 258-7616. Your parish will be billed $125 per couple for the cost of training (which includes Fully Engaged supplies).
February 26 – Catholic Men’s Conference – This event will be held at St. Francis Xavier, Sartell. This year’s theme is Men of St. Joseph. Our keynote speaker will be Monsignor Thomas Richter, pastor of Queen of Peace Church in Dickinson, ND. Cost is $35. Registration and more details coming soon.
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Elizabeth Neville Brown ♦ (320) 251-1100
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to all who did such a wonderful job in the promotion of World Mission Sunday 2021! We so appreciate your sharing your and others' stories of mission with your parish/es during this month of mission.
November 2 – Mission Connections Team Meeting – This event will be held at 4:00 p.m. at the Mission Office. Come and join us as we share, plan, create and educate ourselves and our fellow missioners throughout the diocese in leading a life of mission, connecting with our partners around the world and strengthening our mission relationships.
November 18 – Give to the Max – Please remember to support the ministry of the Mission Office/Society for the Propagation of the Faith!
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Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251-2340
Safe environment training is going well throughout the diocese. I have been watching many parishes and schools put the data of the children’s training on either the CMG Connect platform or the Virtus platform. The numbers are used to complete the annual audit which I begin to work on in July 2022. It is important that all children and youth receive annual training. Adult training is linked to the background check and must be completed every five years.
This is a good time for all site administrators to take some time to look over the list of employees, staff and volunteers to be sure all training is up to date. If someone no longer is active, they can be archived until they decide to return to ministry again. Call me at (320) 251-2340 or email me at [email protected] if you have any questions. When you look at your staff etc., make sure they have the correct category for their USCCB role. Only Catholic school teachers and principals are considered Catholic educators for the audit. Religious education teachers are considered volunteers unless they are employed by the parish. Then they would be considered an employee.
Again, I am so impressed with the due diligence being paid to safe environment by all parishes and schools. Keeping children and youth and vulnerable adults safe is a high priority in the Diocese of St. Cloud. Much gratitude during this month of Thanksgiving!
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Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020
Catholic Campaign for Human Development reminders – Thank you to all the priests and deacons who visited with me at the Clergy Conference about the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD)! As was shared at the conference, pastoral staff plays a critical role in helping our office identify organizations or groups within our diocese who are doing community development and institutional change work to help fight poverty in ways that align with the Church’s moral teachings, and our social teachings around dignity of the human person and option for the poor and vulnerable in particular. If you know of a group that you believe to be doing this work, please contact me at [email protected] to discuss the possibilities. Or encourage the group to visit CCHD’s website to learn more about possible funding and grant timelines: https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-campaign-human-development/cchd-grant-process-and-timeline. Organizations can also apply for local (smaller) grants through the Diocese of St. Cloud; that application form is available under the “Catholic Campaign for Human Development” box on the Social Concerns website at: www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns.
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Fr. Virgil Helmin ♦ (320) 251-6557
The work of the Tribunal has continued throughout these months – but with the inability to meet in person with clients we have made several adjustments to meet the needs of the people. In this process the staff has chosen to make some adjustments to the annulment process.
The adjustments are as follows:
- The documents required are the same for each annulment process and are:
- baptismal certificates for both principals;
- marriage certificate
- divorce decree.
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For the formal annulment process, the petitioner can submit the completed form (Formal Petition (PDF) or Formal Petition (DOC)) and a narrative –or– participate in a telephone interview –or– appear in person at the Tribunal Office for a scheduled appointment.
- In the formal process, hearing the witnesses will not have to 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.
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Fr. Doug Liebsch ♦ (320) 251-5001
NOVEMBER 7-13 – National Vocation Awareness Week – Please consider doing one of the following:
- Saying the vocation prayer at the conclusion of the petitions.
- Preaching on vocations.
- Offering your vocation story. People love to hear them!
Seminary Visits – If you know of young men interested in visiting a seminary, please let Fr. Doug know. Thanks!
Totus Tuus Leaders – We are looking for college students who are willing to be a Totus Tuus team member. Totus Tuus offers them an intense summer of growing in their faith and sharing it with the younger generation. Application deadline is February 1. There’s more information at https://stcdio.org/vocations/totus-tuus/leaders/. PLEASE reach out to potential candidates in your parishes.
February 10 – Andrew Dinner – We are tentatively planning an Andrew Dinner at the Marmion House. Do you have young men in your parish grades 8-12 who have potential for a priestly calling? Fr. Doug would love to hear from you! This simple and powerful evening consists of evening prayer and dinner with Bishop Kettler while priests share their vocation story. Young men find it very meaningful and special to have a night with the bishop and priests! Pastors are encouraged to join their young men. Fr. Doug can be reach at [email protected] or call at (320) 533-0291.
Speaking Events – Fr. Doug is available some Wednesday evenings to talk with your faith formation students. If you would like him to do this, please contact him at [email protected] or call at (320) 533-0291.
Seminarian Poster & Trifolds – By now hopefully the new 2021-22 seminarian posters and trifolds are visible to your parishioners. If you would like more, please contact Julie at [email protected] or call (320) 251-5001.
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Bethany Tollefson ♦ (320) 251-2700 Ext. 54621
Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Virtual Course
Interested in becoming a Faith Community (Parish) Nurse or know someone who is? Save the dates for the November 2021 course. Please do not hesitate to email Bethany ([email protected]) with any questions. Scholarships are available.
- November 11: 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
- November 12: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
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November 18: 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.
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November 19: 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Being a Faith Community Nurse can be an extension of the work of cergy and staff in faith communities. A Registered Nurse who adds FCN to their practice, has specialized education in spiritual care and nursing ministry. FCNs provide care at all stages of life and its many transitions from adjustments at birth through midlife to end-of-life, using education, community resources, and church resources. A current RN license is required.
Are you a nurse and want to find out more about Faith Community Nursing? Attend our Faith Community Nurse Partnership of Central MN meeting. Contact Bethany about the date and additional details at [email protected] or (218) 289-2380.
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(funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc’s Thriving Congregations Grant)
God is always near us. Save time this Advent to prepare to encounter God in and through the gift of differences in other people. Join the Bridge-Builders for a Thriving Mission Initiative for a 4-week discussion group “A Culture of Encounter: Advent(ures).” Through sharing our Catholic faith, exploring our own culture, and praying with Scripture, we will foster our cultural humility to engage with differences in our community as a disciple of Christ. The group will meet Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom starting November 23. Visit https://www.thrivingmission.org for more information and to register.
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Catholic Charities ♦ (320) 650-1641
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud serves people in need across Central Minnesota. We are a nonprofit organization with programs that provide a wide range of services that focus on five main areas: Behavioral Health Services, Community Services, Affordable and Transitional Housing Services, Supportive Living Services and Social Concerns.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic, Catholic Charities has continued to provide essential services to individuals and families in need. Make God’s Love Visible, our single most important funding request of the year, begins the weekend of October 30-31 across Central Minnesota. Our ability to help our community next year depends on the success of this campaign.
Last year, Catholic Charities served more than 44,000 Central Minnesotans. Over 1,700 volunteers provided more than 174,000 hours of service. We provided 990 individuals with housing and shelter, and over 1.3 million pounds of food was distributed. With each interaction, we worked to advance our mission of serving and enhancing human dignity for people of all faiths and beliefs.
Thank you to the parishes across the Diocese of St. Cloud that have already joined our campaign. If your parish community would like to join or if you need additional resources, please email [email protected]. Visit ccstcloud.org/mglv for more information.
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Minnesota Catholic Conference
The Minnesota Alliance for Ethical Healthcare, a partner organization of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, is a coalition of nearly 80 organizations that advocate for compassionate alternatives to the legalization of assisted suicide. Pastors can complete a brief online form at ethicalcaremn.org/join-us to become an Alliance Partner and the parish name will be listed. There's no cost or obligation and the parish will receive updates on how to take action to ensure real care throughout life’s journey.
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