June 2021
MONTHLY DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER
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Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass
June 9 ♦ Regional Ministry Gathering – This is the first of three All-Diocese Virtual
Gatherings. These free gatherings are for all members of the Diocese of Saint Cloud interested in learning more about their faith through the lens of gathered, nourished and sent. This event will be held online at 6:30 p.m. The speaker is Dawn Carrillo. Topic: "On the individual: How do we bring ourselves to the community, prepare our own spiritual lives and nurture our own vocations?" For more information and to register, visit https://stcdio.org/event/regional-ministry-gathering-one-body-gathered-large-group-session.
June 23 ♦ Regional Ministry Gathering – This is the first of six virtual Leadership
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2021 Diocesan Ministry Day (DMD)
October 23 ♦ DMD 2021 will be held on Saturday, October 23 at Saint John's Abbey and University. The day will gather the people from across the Diocese of Saint Cloud to celebrate who we are as a diocese and to share with one another the gifts each of our Area Catholic Communities offers. We will be joining Catholics from around the diocese for a presenter, rally and Mass with the Bishop.
Please consider publishing this bulletin announcement:
SAVE THE DATE: OCTOBER 23 – Diocesan Ministry Day 2021– One Body: Gathered, Nourished, Sent
We’ve got Spirit! Yes, we do! We’ve got Spirit. How about you? This year, Diocesan Ministry Day will be a rousing celebration of all that we are as a diocese. This rally-themed day, to be held at Saint John’s Abbey and University, will honor the gifts of each of our parishes and ACCs. Save the date to come and cheer on the whole diocese and be filled with the love of community and the spiritual gifts of our faith. All are welcome to attend this event. Stay tuned for more details.
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Regional Ministry Gatherings 2021
Nine Regional Ministry Gatherings are being planned for this spring, summer and fall under the theme “One Body: Gathered, Nourished, Sent.” The first set of gatherings focused on "Gathered" are listed in the "Calendar at a Glance" above. There will be three All-Diocese gatherings for those interested in learning more about their faith and six Leadership Gatherings geared toward parish and school leaders. They will focus on relevant issues facing our Church and Area Catholic Communities. These events will be offered virtually online in the lead-up to Diocesan Ministry Day on Saturday, October 23. Watch for more information about the Regional Ministry Gatherings or visit www.stcdio.org/RMG2021.
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NOTES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICES |
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David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111
Celebrate Catholic Schools – As the school year comes to a close we want to thank the families, students, administration, pastors, staff and faculty at all of the Catholic schools in our diocese. We are blessed to have amazing educators bringing faith to life for our children and youth. May you all stay safe and healthy this summer.
Emmaus Institute – The Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation is looking for people who feel called to be a witness in their parish and community. This program’s purpose is to create well-formed ministers who will serve the mission of the Gospel in their families, parishes and the wider communities throughout the diocese. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/TKYkH2t01bU to hear from a current instructor. Do you know someone who could benefit from theological and ministerial formation? Would you? Check out this reflection video from two current students at https://youtu.be/kb5ama97vVc. More information about the Emmaus Institute for Ministry Formation is available at www.stcdio.org/Emmaus-Instititute.
There is one Emmaus Institute open house remaining in Spanish. Please use the link below to register.
Becoming Eucharist: Mealtime Table Talk for Families – The June edition of Becoming Eucharist is now available. These printables can be accessed at http://familytogether.stcdio.org. All resources are available in English and Spanish!
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Joe Towalski ♦ (320) 258-7624
Bishop’s Annual Appeal Update – As of May 24, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for 2021 has raised total cash and pledges of $983,619 toward our goal of $1,400,000 (70.26%). This was made possible through the generous donations of 6,533 people throughout the 16 counties of our diocese. Thank you!
Catholic Education Annual Distribution in June – Each year, proceeds from the Bishop's Annual Appeal are gifted to parishes to assist with youth faith formation, and to help abate parish costs for Catholic school subsidies. The gifts come from a withdrawal of roughly 20% of the Appeal earnings from July 1 to June 30, meted out to all parishes according to their census counts. Checks will be distributed to pastors in June. Please keep an eye out for them. They will be in an envelope from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and addressed to pastors.
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The HR office is currently closed until the middle of July; July through August the office will be staff very limited hours while Bailey is out on maternity leave. All questions regarding benefits and payroll can go to Joe Spaniol in finance at (320) 251-2340, other employment concerns should go to the office of the Vicar General at (320)251-2340.
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Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 252-4721
June & July – Natural Family Planning Instruction
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, June 1 & July 6 at 7:30 p.m.
· Long Prairie: Monday, June 28 & July 23 at 7:00 p.m.
· Rice: Monday, June 7 & July 5 at 6:30 p.m.
· Sauk Centre: Monday, June 21 & July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
· St. Cloud: Thursday, June 24 & Monday, July 19 at 6:30 p.m.
· St. Michael: Tuesday, June 1 & July 6 at 6:00 p.m.
· Wadena: Friday, June 25 & July 23 at 5:30 p.m.
June 4-6 – Retrouvaille weekend
Held at the Best Western Dakota Ridge Hotel in Eagan, MN. 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. Find out more information and register at http://www.helpourmarriage.org.
June 22-29 – Religious Freedom week begins – Religious freedom gives us the space to carry out the mission that Jesus has entrusted to the Church. Religious freedom means that Catholics, and all people of goodwill, are free to seek the truth and to live in accordance with that truth, and so to strengthen our common life as a nation. Beginning June 22, we will take time to pray, reflect and take action on religious liberty, both here in this country and abroad. Find resources from the USCCB at https://www.usccb.org/committees/religious-liberty/religious-freedom-week.
July 25-31 – Celebrate Natural Family Planning (NFP) Awareness Week
September 18 – Sponsor Couple Training – Held at the Pastoral Center in St. Cloud from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Registration for couples (names, address, phone number, parish and email address) should be made at least two weeks (September 3) before training. Call Janet at (320) 258-7616 or email [email protected] to register. The parish will be billed $110 per couple for the cost of training (which includes Fully Engaged supplies).
October 2 – Honoring Marriage Day, RESCHEDULED – Held at St. Mary’s in Melrose. This event is for couples celebrating their 5th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 60 plus anniversaries in 2021.
Parishes are asked to send names and addresses of parishioners celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60 & 60 plus years of marriage in 2021 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.
October 8-10 – World Wide Marriage Encounter – Held in Buffalo, MN at Christ the King Retreat Center. Looking for a way to increase the love and romance in your marriage? Do you need time just for the two of you? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend Experience may be the answer! Instead of simply listening to lectures about how to improve your marriage, you will actually learn a practical communication technique and have an opportunity to rediscover your hopes and dreams for your marriage. Find more information at www.wwme.org or call Brent and Tracy Chessen at (612) 756-8720.
October 9 – 2nd Marriage Course, Saturday – 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 (for more information visit 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/.
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Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251-2340
June is the end of the year for Safe Environment training. Now it is time to begin working on the audit for the USCCB. Fall of 2022, the Diocese will have an onsite audit. I encourage each parish and school to keep accurate data to share if your parish or school would have an onsite audit. Summer is a good time to look at your site on the CMGConnect platform. The Diocese would appreciate an accurate list of your site administrators.
Let us keep parishes and schools safe places for children and youth!! Make sure everyone who works with children and youth has up-to-date training and a background check.
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Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020
Catholic Century Farm Awards
Catholic Charities Social Concerns is now taking applications for the diocese’s third annual Catholic Century Farm Awards for Catholic families who have nurtured the same land for 100 years or more. If your family or members of your parish have been farming the same land for 100 years or more, please visit the social concerns website (https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns) and look under “Rural Life” for the application form, which includes requirements and deadlines for application. Recipients will be honored by the bishop at a special celebration Mass on August 1. Application deadline has been extended to June 15.
Honoring Farmers and Rural Life – Catholic Charities Social Concerns invites you to consider ways to affirm and celebrate agriculture and rural life in your local communities and throughout the diocese. Farmers and agricultural workers are essential to our way of life by providing food security, protecting the environment and being stewards of God’s creation. There are many ways of supporting farm families and rural communities through prayer, celebration and fellowship. Consider a special parish celebration for the Blessing of the Land or hosting a community Farm-To-Table supper. Other ideas include Mass on a local farm, blessing of equipment and farm sites, or taking up a special collection for our diocese’s Rural Life Fund, which helps rural individuals and families with emergency funds in their time of need. Contact JoAnn Braegelman at [email protected] for more ideas and information (including Blessing of the Land liturgy service).
Juneteenth – Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the anniversary of the official end of slavery in the United States in June of 1865. This holiday, which originated in Texas, is celebrated annually on the 19th of June throughout the United States. A fun community event is being planned to celebrate Juneteenth, locally. The celebration will be held on June 12 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Lake George in St. Cloud. The event will include presentations and activities of all sorts. This event is open to the public.
Rural Life Fund – The Rural Life Fund available through Catholic Charities Social Concerns Department is available to provide emergency financial help to individuals and families facing hardship in the Diocese of St. Cloud. All requests are considered on an individual basis. Aside from utilities, rent, mortgages or loans, all requests will be considered. Requests must be made through a pastor or pastoral leader of a faith community on behalf of the individual in need. If you know of someone in need, please do not hesitate to reach out. We would love to help! Contact JoAnn Braegelman at [email protected] for more information.
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Fr. Virgil Helmin ♦ (320) 251-6557
ANNULMENT PROCEDURE
The Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud has established a policy that the annulment process will not be started until six months after issuance of the final divorce decree.
No wedding date must be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered.
The annulment process requires the following:
A) The petitioner contacts his/her parish priest or a Tribunal staff member in order to petition and begin the annulment procedure.
1. The petitioner needs to present the following documents at the time of the application:
a) Baptismal certificate and/or Profession of Faith of self and of former spouse.
b) Certificate of marriage and/or Validation and/or Dispensation
c) Divorce decree (Final Judgment).
d) Current address of former spouse.
2. The petitioner has a recorded preliminary interview (conducted by a parish
priest, deacon, parish minister or a Tribunal Staff Member) -OR- writes a
narrative that covers in depth the following factual information about the
petitioner and his/her former spouse:
a) Description of childhood and home life of self and former spouse. Alcoholism
or chemical addiction in family background?
b) Description of dating process and maturity of self and former spouse.
c) Description of how the decision to marry was reached.
d) Description of ability to communicate and resolve conflicts.
e) Description of problems that developed in the marriage and when they
began.
f) Description of attempted solutions to the problems.
g) Description of performance of roles of husband/wife, father/mother.
h) Description of how the decision to divorce was reached.
B) When there are ground(s) for a declaration of nullity, the Tribunal will contact both, the petitioner and the respondent.
C) Prior to the formal hearing, the petitioner must complete and return the witness list. Witnesses include 2-3 adult people who knew them prior to and during their marriage and can give us information about the marriage. At the time of the formal hearing, the petitioner must bring these witnesses in with them. A witness can be a brother, sister, parent, friend, co-worker, neighbor or a member of the wedding party. Witnesses should not all be relatives. We do not interview children of the marriage. At the formal hearing the petitioner and the witnesses will be questioned privately.
D) If the petition comes to formal hearing the following will occur:
- All testimony is gathered and sent to the Court Members.
- The defender of the bond presents its brief to the Judge.
- Judge(s) renders a decision. Petitioner and respondent are notified.
- Both the petitioner and the respondent have the right to appeal the decision of the Court of First Instance. Also, both are notified of the decision and given 15 working days to review that decision and/or to appeal the decision.
- If the decision is not appealed by either person, the defender of the bond signs off on the waiver. Once that is returned to the Tribunal office the process is complete and the petitioner and the respondent are notified along with the parish of baptism and parish of marriage.
- A vetitum (prohibition) may be attached to the decision, requiring that either or both spouses must attend professional counseling with a counselor approved by the Tribunal before being allowed to marry in the Catholic Church.
The average length for the Tribunal to process a petition is 12 months. If the process is appealed by either parties, the process may take longer than 18 months. No wedding date can be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered. The Court could require that the person participate in an evaluation or counseling with their intended spouse. This requirement is made so that the future marriage may be happy and fulfilling.
As of July 1, 2016, the Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud no longer charges a set fee for annulments. If you wish to make a donation to help defray the cost(s) of the work of the Tribunal, it would be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Or, you may go to: www.stcdio.org/pay to make an online donation, under “Tribunal – Annulments”. Thank you for your kind donation.
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Fr. Scott Pogatchnik ♦ (320) 251-5001
• July 31: Paschal Challenge, Sauk Centre (9th – 12th grade)
Totus Tuus – Below is the schedule and locations for Totus Tuus this summer:
- June 5 – 11: Little Falls & Foley
- June 12 – 18: St. Michael, St. Cloud & Perham
- June 19 – 25: St. Augustine, St. Cloud & Fergus Falls
- June 26 – July 2: Bluffton/Wadena & Sauk Centre
- July 10 – 16: Elk River & Milaca
- July 17 – 23: Belgrade/Brooten/Elrosa & Holdingford/Upsala
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Aaron Carpenter ♦ (320) 255-9068
2021 TV Mass Schedule Now Online – 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. The 2021 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. Sign up at https://stcdio.org/worship/tv-mass/tv-mass-volunteer-musicians-information/. If you have questions, contact the Office of Worship.
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Happy Birthday to our Retired Priests
Reverend Gregory Lieser will celebrate his 84th birthday on June 1.
308 Third Street S, Apt. 103
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Telephone: (320) 654-8846
Reverend Anthony Kroll will celebrate his 87th birthday on June 17.
308 Third Street S, Apt. 203
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Telephone: (320) 493-7873
Reverend Robert Kieffer will celebrate his 78th birthday on June 23.
509 12th Avenue East, P.O. Box 11
Alexandria, MN 56308
Telephone: (320) 241-1589
Reverend Stanley Wieser will celebrate his 79th birthday on June 25.
909 1st Avenue South
Wheaton, MN 56296
Telephone: (320) 815-9696
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