Samuel Aquila's Denver Return Marred by Tragedy

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The new archbishop of Denver is dealing with the aftermath of the Aurora theater tragedy just two days after his installation.

by TIM DRAKE 07/24/2012 

Archbishop Samuel Aquila was installed July 18 as the fifth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Denver. The appointment brings Archbishop Aquila home to the archdiocese where he was first ordained 36 years ago.

His first week has been a difficult one, given the tragedy at the Century Aurora 16 theater just two days after his installation. He spoke July 24 with Register senior writer Tim Drake about his installation and the Aurora tragedy.


How is the Church responding to the Aurora tragedy?
The Church has reached out to the victims and the wounded. The priests and deacons in Aurora have visited the hospitals and been present to the families who were impacted in different ways.
On Friday afternoon, I celebrated Mass at Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Aurora. There were well over 1,000 people there. One young girl had been in the theater, and another had five friends who were injured. The Church has continued to reach out amidst the sadness, the tragedy and the evil of it.
There will be three Catholic funerals. We’re visiting with the families and trying to respect everything they are going through. Catholic Charities has made counseling available for those who desire it.
There has been a real outreach to the families who have lost loved ones and those who have been wounded. There’s been great compassion and charity shown toward them in carrying out the corporal works of mercy to those who have been impacted by this.
Anytime where there is such a violent act that is so unexpected there is the shock and horror and questioning that goes on. We’re trying to help people with those questions and help them to bring it all to the Lord, whether they are experiencing vengeance, anger, emptiness.
There’s a tremendous hole when one loses a spouse, a child, a friend. That unique individual will never be replaced on this earth. There’s a tremendous sense of loss there.
In addition, dying a violent death is quite different from an accident. All those who went to the movie theater went to enjoy a film. Suddenly, that’s been shattered by the power of evil and sin, and it’s so unexpected.
In some of the conversations I’ve had with some of the people impacted, I’ve tried to help them to see how they can bring their suffering to the cross and see how the Father permitted his only Son to suffer a violent death — and to remember that that death and the evil that was present did not conquer the love of God.
Rather, God conquered death and evil with the Resurrection and the gift of eternal life. I let them know that they stand at the cross with Mary and John. They experienced the death of Jesus Christ, and so Mary and John intercede and are with them.
The questions they are asking are likely the same questions Mary and John asked. So, I encourage them to remember their humanity in it all and their deep faith and love to stand with the Lord.
The Church is very much in solidarity with those who have been wounded and hurt and lost their lives.


Is there any indication of how many of the victims were Catholic?
Of those who were killed, we know of three. I’ve met with one of the families and will be meeting with the other two.  Bishop [James] Conley or I will be present for the funerals. I would ask all people of good will to continue to pray for those impacted.
What many of these people experienced will take time to heal. After the funerals will be the greatest part of the adjustment, when they need our continued prayer.


This tragedy has occurred just days after your installation. You were ordained a priest here. Does it feel like you’ve come home?
In many ways, it does. I served as a priest here for 25 years, so I know a lot of the people. Even though I was away for almost 11 years, there were a lot of friends and contacts that I had here.
In that way, it is very much like a homecoming. There’s been a lot that has changed. When I looked out at the clergy, there were a number of younger men who have been ordained over the last seven or eight years who I did not recognize. Archbishop [Charles] Chaput also brought in some new religious communities.
I look forward to reconnecting with people and look forward to meeting the new clergy and all those in seminary, the staff at the pastoral center and the diocese.


What was the highlight of your installation?
The installation Mass itself was filled with meaning and tremendous joy. Never in your imagination do you think you’ll ever be in the diocese where you were ordained a priest. As we celebrated Mass, there were a flood of memories of being ordained at the cathedral. I was in residence at the cathedral for almost eight years and celebrated Mass there.
There were also memories from World Youth Day in 1993 and being an assistant emcee for Pope John Paul II. There is a stained-glass window of the Council of Ephesus that has always spoken to me of Mary’s love and protection, and that was very much present. There was also the strong face of the people and the reception I was given as I entered into the cathedral. To see so many of the clergy present who I hadn’t seen for 11 years and so many of the faithful — my heart was filled with a great love for the Father for his providential love for me.


In what ways is the Archdiocese of Denver different or similar to the Diocese of Fargo, N.D.?
They are very, very different. The Diocese of Fargo is a rural diocese. It has 130 parishes, and about half of those have about 75 households or less. It’s a much smaller community.
Denver is a huge metro area, and there are more than 550,000 Catholics there. In Fargo, there were about 75,000 Catholics and about 100 priests. Here, there are over 380 priests. The differences are quite great, in terms of size and territory. The Archdiocese of Denver is about 40,000 square miles. Eastern North Dakota was about 35,000 square miles.


What are the major challenges that you face in Denver?
I think, certainly, part of it is the size of the diocese. It’s much more complex than Fargo. Denver is much more secular, in terms of belief and in terms of political views than Fargo, and in that way it will be a new challenge, because the people of North Dakota were primarily a people of faith.
About 90% of the people of North Dakota had some type of faith. Here, in Colorado, they told me, it’s about 30%. That itself will be a challenge.
How do you keep God in the public square and engage in conversation with society to promote the common good?


You made the restoration of the order of the sacraments of initiation a primary focus during your time in Fargo. Do you anticipate looking at that issue in the Archdiocese of Denver?
It has already surfaced, and it’s certainly something we’ll look at, especially after the encouragement I received from Pope Benedict XVI during the ad limina visit. He encouraged me to continue in that direction.
I will continue to speak to that and reflect on it with the priests and lay faithful of the archdiocese.


Denver is home to a rich diversity of apostolic efforts. I understand there are a couple of new efforts under way (Lighthouse Crisis Pregnancy Center and Christ in the City). What can you tell me about those?
Lighthouse is certainly something I’ve been aware of. The founders came up to see what we had put together in Fargo. They visited the St. Gianna Maternity Home and First Choice Clinic, an ecumenical response to crisis pregnancies and helping women choose life.
Given my own work in the pro-life movement and concerns in that area, I’m very supportive of it and look forward to meeting those involved. It falls under the auspices of Catholic Charities, so will now be a part of the ministry of the archdiocese.
Christ in the City is a movement of young people in the inner city bringing Christ to those who are homeless and poor and in need. Christ in the City combines solid Catholic intellectual and spiritual formation with service to the poor. I encourage young people to look into it.


What do you see as Denver’s greatest strengths?
It’s a young, vibrant, zealous Church. I think it’s a Church that has taken the New Evangelization seriously.
When I see things like the Augustine Institute, Focus [Fellowship of Catholic University Students], the Catholic Biblical School, movements like the Neocatechumenal Way and Communion and Liberation and the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and the seminaries, they are tremendous signs of light in the archdiocese.
There is a tremendous amount of life and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ and carrying out the mission of Christ in the archdiocese.


What kinds of things do you enjoy doing when you’re not “on duty?”
I enjoy golf, fishing, and I enjoy sitting quietly in prayer, reflection or reading. I also enjoy going out and being out and about.
When I lived here, I would go out and hike on trails in the mountains. I used to ski, but gave that up. My knees are not what they used to be.


Do you have a favorite saint?
There are a lot that I go to. There are two that stand out the most.
Our Lady of Guadalupe: I have a deep devotion to her, just in terms of her deep desire to share her Son with the world and give us the gift of the tilma. I’ll never forget the first time I saw the tilma and realized it was almost 500 years old. What a great gift it is.
Also, St. Joseph, in terms of his fatherhood, his manhood and his deep love for Jesus and Mary — in protecting them and being the one who formed the humanity of Jesus as a father.
It demonstrates the great confidence of God the Father to trust to Joseph the care of Mary and Jesus. I seek his intercession often for being a spiritual father to the faithful and seek his help in that.
When we talk about the saints, something I’ve discovered throughout the years in my own walk of faith is that they are really our friends. The more I read them, the more I see their sanctity and their cooperation with God. They are each unique, and all of us are called to be saints.
Each one of us has a particular relationship with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and we’re called to live that out in the life of the Church.

Bishop Samuel Aqula of Fargo to Become Next Archbishop of Denver

It was only a matter of time for Bishop Samuel Aquila to move to a larger diocese than Fargo. Many thought he would have become the Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis when Archbishop Harry Flynn retired. But that wasn't to be.

Archbishop Aquila will have big shoes to fill when he moves to the Mile High city, those of Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M.-Cap., himself a former Bishop of Rapid City, now the Archbishop of Philadelphia, most probably soon to be a Cardinal, making the Dakotas a wonderful incubator of Good Shepherds for the Catholic Church.

Archbishop Aquila is returning "home", after a fashon, having attended Denver's St. Thomas seminary on his way to ordination as a priest of the Archdiocese of Denver..

But Archbishp Aquila has been no slouch from the viewpoint of his Shepherd's See at the top of North America (except Alaska, of course):

Bishop Samuel J. Aquila
Born: 1950, Burbank, California
Education: B.A., Psychology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1972; M.A., Theology-Dogma, St. Thomas Seminary, Denver, CO, 1976; Licentiate of Sacramental Theology, San Anselmo University, Rome, 1990.
Vocation: Ordained to the priesthood in 1976; Bishop, The Catholic Diocese of Fargo since 2001
On Success: “When people tell me that I have been an instrument of God and have helped to bring them to encounter Jesus Christ.” “Being a spiritual father to seminarians.”
On leadership: “A leader needs to be a person of honesty, integrity, who desires truth, is compassionate and a listener.”
“One who has to make the difficult decisions that are grounded in The Truth.”
Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5). Mary’s instruction to the waiters at the wedding feast in Cana reminds Bishop Aquila to be a servant of Christ and the Church and to trust Jesus to guide him.
As he visits parishes, teaches through his homilies and speaking to Catholics and non-Catholics throughout the Diocese of Fargo, Bishop Aquila hopes to inspire all of us to give ourselves fully to our Lord, to live our lives according to our faith, and do whatever Jesus calls us to do. Bishop Aquila started his spiritual journey as a parish priest in the 70s and served in parish ministry for 11 years.
“Every priest has it in their heart to serve people,” he reminds us, and he has served the people well. Over the last 30 years, he has accepted positions of increasing responsibility in the church and has earned the honor of being named a Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II, receiving the honorary title of Monsignor in 2000.
Ordained a bishop in 2001, Bishop Aquila now oversees 139 parishes, 86 active priests, a number of retired priests, the Cardinal Meunch Seminary and 13 schools located in eastern North Dakota, which covers approximately 36,000 square miles. Bishop Aquila serves on the Bishops’ Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation.
He is also a member of several United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees. His responsibilities include teaching though preaching, writing pastoral letters and visiting with priests and parishes. He also oversees the sacramental life and governance of the Church in all churches in the diocese and he attends many monthly and quarterly meetings that are devoted to running the diocese.
Twice a year, Bishop Aquila meets with lay people and priests, who are members of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, about their concerns and pastoral outreach. A typical day also includes an hour in prayer before the Eucharist, and praying five times daily for the church and the diocese.
The admonition from John 2:5, “Do whatever He tells you,” also adds direction to Bishop Aquila’s daily life. Bishop Aquila says he was inspired by the late John Paul II’s ability to teach, preach, and visit with people. He said that John Paul II had a deep goodness about him, living The Faith, enjoying people, and engaging in banter back and forth in conversation with them. He has also worked diligently to meet controversy head-on and to stand for The Truth—especially pertaining to the dignity of human life.
He admires, remembers and applies a quote that John Paul II used often: “Be not afraid.” Much like a corporate CEO, Bishop Aquila manages a large team of people and faces the same challenges. He points out that he relies on a talented staff that does a wonderful job with the day-to-day duties of running the diocese.
Bishop Aquila has learned to set very clear expectations for his staff and to give people the freedom to do their job, allowing them to be accountable for their areas of responsibility. Bishop Aquila says that, over the years, he has learned to trust his gut feeling or intuitiveness more when dealing with staff and daily issues. Bishop Aquila stressed that his primary focus and love is the spiritual side of his calling.
His future goals include continuing to evangelize the truth of Jesus Christ and of the Catholic Church. The Bishop would like Catholics to be more familiar with the Catechism so they can truly understand the real teachings of the church and develop a deeper love of the Eucharist. All in all, Bishop Aquila is striving for them to know The Word, to develop a more contemplative heart and to be silent in order to listen to the Lord. Bishop Aquila believes that, in this day and age, silence can be uncomfortable for people. He said that we are constantly bombarded with noise and activity from Ipods to cell phones to constantly running between activities.
By pursuing regular silence in our lives, he notes, we can hear God’s plan for each one of us and enter in to a deeper relationship with Him. As for time spent in prayerful silence, Bishop Aquila said one of the most profound experiences he has experienced was a 30-day silent directed retreat. He adds that time spent in silence and prayer can offer a real renewal in our family life — the place where stability starts for children.
In addition to prayer, Bishop Aquila believes in the importance of reading and learning. He reads books of the Church Fathers from the early 600s, theological books, as well as biographies and autobiographies of the saints. Reading and reflection helps him see that conversion is an ongoing experience for all of us.
Bishop Aquila has enjoyed all of the many different ministries that he has been involved in over the years and has found real grace in all situations. However, he has enjoyed serving as a parish pastor and seminary rector the most.
This servant of God also enjoys traveling, the water, boating, playing pinochle and began golfing a few years ago. He recently played in a pinochle tournament in Napoleon, ND and commented, “It was a blast!”
I found Bishop Aquila to be a warm and approachable person with a delightful sense of humor. When you talk with him, you have his undivided attention and you can feel his deep commitment to the church and above all, to God.
As he puts it, “I believe that, in Christ Jesus are all of the words and instructions that mankind needs to live life in peace and harmony and to gain eternal salvation.” The priest said to them,”Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the Lord.” - Judges 18:6 KFGO Faith (Fargo-Moorhead)

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 The Eagle Returns:  Fargo's Aquila Headed Home to Denver 

from Whispers in the Loggia by Rocco Palmo

(The report below was formally announced by the Vatican at Roman Noon on Tuesday, May 29th.)

Much as the shop was planning to hold for Roman Noon, after a late leak to the Mile High City's ABC affiliate, we can proceed.

Earlier tonight, three Whispers sources confirmed that Pope Benedict is to name Bishop Samuel Aquila, 61 -- the Denver-bred head of North Dakota's Fargo diocese since 2001 -- as his hometown's fifth archbishop at Roman Noon (4am Mountain time) today.

As noted below, the putative appointee -- born in California to a family that emigrated West from South Philly -- is slated to appear at the traditional 10am press conference before leading an evening Mass in the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, located in the shadow of the Colorado Capitol. By virtue of his appointment alone, the archbishop-elect would be expected to receive the pallium from the Pope's hands in Rome a month from today on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, alongside the world's other new metropolitans named over the last year.

According to credible reports, Aquila's installation has already been scheduled for Wednesday, July 18th -- 365 days since his predecessor-to-be, Archbishop Charles Chaput OFM Cap., was transferred to Philadelphia, in a move widely seen in church circles as the most challenging assignment an American prelate has been given in at least the last half-century.

A sacramental theologian trained at Rome's Benedictine-run Athaneum of Sant'Anselmo, as director of Denver's Liturgy Office, Aquila served as Master of Ceremonies at Chaput's installation as Colorado's fourth archbishop in April 1997. At the Capuchin's appointment, two years later Aquila took office as founding rector of St John Vianney -- the Denver seminary reconstituted from scratch which, within a decade of its establishment, has become the largest American formation house west of Mundelein. (Just last fall, the archdiocese received 20 first-year seminarians.)

During his ad limina visit with the bishops of the upper Midwest in early March (above), Aquila was praised by the Pope for his push to restore the traditional order of the sacraments of initiation in the 90,000-member North Dakota church, where Confirmation has preceded First Communion since 2005.

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The first and lone US city to host World Youth Day, in August 1993 -- an event termed the "second founding" of the Mile High church -- Denver is viewed by no shortage of key churchfolk both at home and abroad as the de facto seat of the New Evangelization on these shores, a distinction born from the encouragement given to and success experienced by creative apostolates ranging from the celebrated NewAdvent web portal and rapidly-growing college missionary effort FOCUS to the archdiocese's lay-led Augustine Institute and ENDOW, a mission to affirm and amplify the charisms of women in the church. Demographically speaking, meanwhile, a mass influx of Hispanic immigration coupled with the community's birth-rates over the last two decades has now given Latinos a slight but growing majority share of the archdiocese's Catholic population.

The Denver church stretches across some 40,000 square miles of Colorado's Northern third from the Mile High City to the state's Western Slope.

Notably, the last two Denver archbishops have subsequently been named to positions traditionally held by cardinals. While Chaput's Philadelphia predecessors have been given the red hat for the last century, Aquila's predecessor-to-be was returned to the Rockies (where Chaput had already spent a decade as a parish priest and Capuchin provincial) after the 1996 appointment of then-Archbishop J. Francis Stafford to Rome as president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Stafford's transfer ostensibly owed itself to the unexpected success of WYD Denver, which was felt in Rome to have "redefined" the concept and scope of the triennial event.

Elevated to the "Pope's Senate" in 1998, Stafford -- still a member of several Vatican offices, including the Congregation for Bishops -- is expected to retire in Denver on reaching his 80th birthday in late July, at which point his Curial memberships cease. Much as the Baltimore-born cardinal has maintained a vigor far younger than his years, the scholar-prince has reportedly kept his wish to be buried with the archdiocese's prior heads in the Bishops' Mausoleum at the local Mount Olivet Cemetery.

On 16 August, the Denver church marks the 125th anniversary of its founding as a diocese under the leadership of Joseph Projectus Machebeuf, the French-born cleric who would lay the groundwork for a sprawling, pioneering and evangelical Colorado Catholicism over the following three decades.

As ever, more to come.

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo to WYD: Ditch Evil Music

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Shut Evil Music Off Because
It Can Play Constantly
In Your Head

Bishop Samuel Aquila used one of his World Youth Day catecheses to urge young people to scrub “evil” music from their iPods.

“You need to look at the music you listen to and the words. Don’t fool yourself. It impacts upon you,” said the Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, at his World Youth Day catechesis session on Aug. 19.

“There is good music out there that you can listen to, but there is also a lot of trash. And it is simply evil. It is the evil because it distorts the gift of human sexuality, the gift of sexual intimacy, the gift of human life.”

Bishop Aquila was talking to several hundred English-speaking pilgrims in the parish church of Virgen del Mar in the Madrid suburb of San Blas.

He told the youngsters how he was recently visiting a friend with two teenage sons who wanted to show him the music they had downloaded onto their cell phones. The title of one particular song grabbed the bishop’s attention.

“A few days later I read the lyrics of that song, and very honestly I was horrified,” he said. “The words used objectified women” and the woman the featured in the song “was very simply a toy for men and their sexual pleasure.”

Bishop Aquila said he’d then asked the two boys if they “would want your sisters’ boyfriends to treat them as the woman is being treated in that song?” That question “stopped the conversation completely, as these boys would defend their sisters to the hilt.”

He concluded by explaining to the young pilgrims that while the witness of a bishop can be effective, it was more important for young people to witness to each other when it comes to ditching “evil” music.

“Be not afraid to get rid of that sort of music from your iPods or your iPads or your iPhones or wherever you put that kind of music. And don’t be afraid to shut it off because it can play constantly in your head. Give witness to that.”

This morning’s catechesis session was only one of 220 being given in 27 languages all around Madrid.

The reaction to Bishop Aquila’s talk seemed overwhelmingly positive.

“I think that it’s important for the youth to hear what he said about music, because that sort of music is all over the place, it’s infected many levels, even young kids are listening to this stuff,” said 17-year-old Sean Palmer from Philadelphia.

“So it’s important that Catholics lead the charge and show the world what music is right and what music should be avoided because it affects our subconscious in ways we sometimes don’t realize,” Palmer said.

His friend, 17-year-old Andrew Parrish also from Philadelphia, agreed, saying that “music is really language and it can be used to express beautiful things or things that aren’t so beautiful.” He added, “it was important to hear that message from Bishop Aquila because you don’t hear it that often.” Courageous Priest

Cowboy Catholic Clerics Cash in their (Cow) Chips

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City Slicker Cowboys Chuck Cattle Craft in College

RICHARDTON, N.D. — A Roman Catholic monastery in western North Dakota is ending a century-old practice of raising cattle because of a lack of monks with cowboy skills.

The Assumption Abbey in Richardton intends to sell its herd of about 260 cows and rent pastures to other ranchers, monastery officials told the Dickinson Press.

Brother Placid Gross, 76, has tended cattle at the monastery for 51 years. He and another monk look after the cows, but Abbot Brian Wangler said the monk helping Gross is a greenhorn and can't operate independently.

I'd betcha Rowdy Yates didn't have any 76 year old cow punchers on his crew! Not even Wishbone was that old.

"There is a lot to know if you are going to raise cattle," Wangler said. "It is not a simple thing and it takes years and years of learning."

Gross said he won't miss the hard work but will miss the cows.

"It is sad to see it happening," he said. "It was nice to look out the window and see our own cattle grazing."

Gross said the abbey once had one of the biggest ranching operations in the region and he remembers the days of raking hay with a team of horses. He said it's been difficult for the abbey to keep up with new ranching technology and there isn't enough help.

Wangler said ranching has been part of the monastery since 1893 when it was located in Devil's Lake, and raising cattle helped the monastery remain self-sufficient.

"It was a living," Wangler said. "You could milk a cow and drink it, slaughter a cow and eat it."

The monastery also raised pigs and chickens, but those animals were phased out over the years.

Business Manager Odo Muggli said the abbey kept its cattle for 30 years longer than most monasteries.

"In some ways that is a source of pride," he said. Greenfield (IN) Daily Reporter

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo and Seven Other US bishops chosen to teach at World Youth Day in Spain

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The Pontifical Council for the Laity chose eight bishops from around the U.S. to host English-speaking catechesis sessions for the upcoming World Youth Day in Madrid.

Over 28,000 U.S. pilgrims and 62 bishops have registered so far to participate in the global young adult event. The catechetical sessions will be held Aug. 17-19 in multiple sites around the Spanish capital’s metropolitan area.

The group of American catechists includes Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York – president of the U.S. bishops' conference – and Archbishop Charles Chaput, newly appointed as archbishop of Philadelphia.

Other bishops speaking at the event are: Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago; Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota; Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau, Alaska; Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, and Frank Caggiano, auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn.

The group will be among 250 bishop-catechists from all over the world, drawn from different countries and language groups.

Each U.S. bishop has been asked to prepare three catechetical sessions, one for each day, based on the theme for WYD Madrid 2011: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith.”

On Wed. Aug. 17, these bishops will center their talks on the theme “Firm in the Faith,” which will invite young people to examine the gift of faith.

Thursday’s theme, “Established in Jesus Christ,” will touch on the importance of young people establishing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and building their lives with Him.

Friday’s catechesis will address the topic, “Witnesses to Christ in the World,” and will emphasize the need for all young people to be missionaries to the world around them, particularly among their peers.

The World Youth Day gathering in Madrid will be the twelfth meeting to take place at the international level since Bl. Pope John Paul II founded the event in 1985. The Madrid event is expected to draw over 1 million people. Catholic News Agency

Grand Forks businessman gives up wealth to join religious order in North Dakota

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Dennis Narlock has cooked for Hollywood stars and built a well-known local catering business throughout the past three decades. But Narlock plans to walk away from his business and his cooking career at the end of the year. He says he will also give up his personal wealth and all his worldly possessions after joining a recently-established Catholic religious order in the Diocese of Fargo.

Dennis Narlock, owner of “A Taste of Magic,” in his lavishly furnished home that he is selling as part of his transition of moving into a Franciscan monastery.

Dennis Narlock has cooked for Hollywood stars and built a well-known local catering business throughout the past three decades.

But Narlock plans to walk away from his business and his cooking career at the end of the year. He says he will also give up his personal wealth and all his worldly possessions after joining a recently-established Catholic religious order in the Diocese of Fargo.

“We all have a calling in life to do something,” he said. “Sometimes, the call changes. You may be called to this at this point in your life, then things change in your life where you’re called to do something else.”

Narlock, who has also gone by the moniker Chef NarDane, will close his business, A Touch of Magic, once his lease in the Boardwalk building in downtown East Grand Forks expires at the end of the year.

A Touch of Magic will stay open for the rest of the year honoring all its booked events, but will not book any new events for next year.

Dan Stauss, who co-owns the building, said the space will continue to be used for banquets. Stauss said he has a new tenant lined up and improvements planned for the space. The downstairs Boardwalk Bar & Grill has opened a bar on the patio that it is operating Sundays through Thursdays and other times the catering business is not using the space.

Narlock, 46, is known in the community for his colorful personality and his expensive tastes in addition to his cooking prowess and successful catering business. He says members of the local business community and even some members of his own family have been surprised by his choice to give up everything he owns and the business he built in favor of a more simple life filled with prayer and religious service.

Narlock has moved into the former rectory at the St. Stanislaus Church near Warsaw, N.D., with two other candidates of the Third Order Franciscans of Mary Immaculate religious community and Father Joseph Christensen, who will lead the new order.

It is a bit more cramped than his former residence — a posh 2,432-square-foot, three-bedroom, four-bathroom townhome in south Grand Forks complete with an outdoor spa, waterfall and an outdoor kitchen that he has put on the market for $499,900, including expensive furnishings.

“I used to just love (my home and personal possessions),” he said as he stood in his gourmet kitchen overlooking a sunken living room featuring an ornate fireplace and dueling 300-gallon aquariums. “I still like nice things, but it’s different. This is all I used to think about, but when I experienced the joy of Christ and a deepening of my faith into religious life, everything else just falls aside and I don’t think of it in the same way. I’ve done the money and the fame and it doesn’t make me any happier.”

A year ago Narlock sold his boat and burgundy Hummer. He is beginning the process of giving up all his assets and possessions. Narlock will eventually take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.

He said he doesn’t expect to have second thoughts about his drastic lifestyle change.

“When you become a friar, these are things you don’t get back,” Narlock said. “You go on faith. You don’t get a business back. You don’t wake up two years from now and decide, ‘Maybe this isn’t my calling.’”

Father Christensen, who has known Narlock for years, says he doesn’t doubt Narlock’s sincerity and believes he has the right attributes to help him get through the approximately five-year process to be fully accepted into the order and take his perpetual vows.

“Dennis is very spiritual, prayerful and talented,” Father Christensen said. “He is energetic, cooperative and has been very helpful in setting up the friary. I’m glad he’s with us. He is not a brother yet, but he has a fraternal spirit. He is very giving and I believe he will touch many hearts through his prayer and apostolic works.”

Narlock has moved into the new friary in the former rectory at St. Stanislaus, the church he attended while growing up on a farm near Oslo, Minn. He attends daily mass and prays together with the other members of the order. Until the end of the year he will continue working when necessary during the day, stopping a number of times throughout the day to pray before returning to the friary later in the day.

He says he is looking forward to next year when he will be able to be part of the order full time. The candidates and eventual brothers will spend four or more hours a day together praying and will become more familiar with the Catholic faith. While they will live together in the friary, they will also be active in the community, hosting a summer camp and teaching religious education at the parish.

Narlock, who started Denny’s Catering when he was 17, grew up helping his mother decorate and deliver cakes. He built a successful local catering business before branching out and cooking for Hollywood celebrities while running his local business.

Narlock’s office at A Touch of Magic and his home office are covered with framed photos featuring autographed messages to him from Hollywood stars he has cooked for like Elizabeth Taylor, Henry Winkler and Debbie Reynolds.

He says he wasn’t prepared for how to handle all the attention and notoriety he was receiving back home.

“I got a big head and became probably very arrogant at the time, not being used to the success,” Narlock said. “Being in the public eye it kind of got the best of me and I developed this attitude or arrogance.”

Narlock says he changed his professional name to Chef NarDane —a combination of the first three letters of his last name and his middle name Duane — to help shield himself from his public persona.

“I never got the sense that I was liked for me or my talents, I was liked for who I was cooking for,” he said. “That never sat well with me because that’s not the way I am.”

Although Narlock was living a glamorous life, rubbing elbows with famous people and accumulating personal wealth, he says something was missing.

A 2000 trip to Rome to present a designer cheesecake to Pope John Paul II caused Narlock to reflect more deeply upon his own faith. He says his mother’s death in 2006 also had a profound impact on his life.

“Him and mom were very close,” said Narlock’s sister, Janine Trowbridge. “They were like best friends. We all wanted to continue that connection. We all spent more time on our faith. We do believe that we will meet her again.”

Narlock began traveling internationally, visiting Catholic shrines and witnessing missionary work. He stopped working in Los Angeles and began teaching Sunday school.

Narlock says he also sought out Father Christensen and Father Gerard Braun of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, where he has been a parishioner, for advice.

He said he has been thinking of joining a religious order for some time. Narlock said the timing is right now with his lease expiring at the end of the year and hip problems that have played a smaller role in his decision to leave the rigors of his daily life.

By returning to St. Stanislaus, his childhood church, Narlock will also be surrounded with reminders of his mother, who developed a religious education program and restored statues and nativity scenes at the church.

After making the decision, Narlock says he has experienced “a deep inner peace.”

“I’ve noticed a change in Dennis,” Trowbridge said of her brother. “He doesn’t need the things he needed before. He doesn’t need the approval of others. He is confident in himself and he is happy.” Grand Forks Herald

More on Fargo Bishop Aquila's message on pro-abortion politicians receiving Holy Communion

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Last Tuesday, I published excerpts of and links to Stella Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo's great talk on the reception of Holy Communion by pro-abortion politicians in the U.S.

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo: How long will pro-abort politicians be able to receive Communion?

Since then it has received much further nation-wide coverage. Canon Lawyer Dr. Ed Peters of Detroit, formerly of the Diocese of Duluth, on Sunday published his comments on the same talk from the perspective of a canon lawyer.

A remarkable essay by the Eagle of Fargo .

One of the most important essays by a bishop on Canon 392 (the norm setting forth a bishop’s fundamental duty to supervise the enforcement of ecclesiastical discipline in his diocese) never mentions Canon 392; one of the most important essays by a bishop on Canon 915 (requiring ministers to withhold holy Communion from certain public sinners) never mentions Canon 915; and in fact, one of the most important essays on canon law generally by a bishop since the 1983 Code came out, was not written by a canonist bishop and scarcely even mentions the Code.

Instead, Fargo ND Bp. Samuel Aquila’s remarkable essay “Good Shepherd: Living Christ’s Own Pastoral Authority” shows how a bishop who thinks with the Church can’t help getting the canonical big picture right at the same time. This should surprise no one, for canon law, in its turn, is all about getting the pastoral picture right.

Any bishop who thinks with the Church, who understands that lessons in ecclesiastical leadership are woven throughout the Scriptures, and who believes, in short, that “p. c.” stands for genuine “pastoral care”, and not for “politically correct”, is going to find solid guidance for his pastoral decision-making in canon law and objective defenses of his pastoral actions under the Code. Even if he doesn’t use canonical jargon.

I loved the way Bp. Aquila, for example, drawing on the model for graduated confrontation of wrong-doing in the Church cited in Matthew 18, didn’t mention that Canon 1341, among others, sets out the same approach in canonical language. Or again, he asks, and not rhetorically, how many votes against basic Church values, performed over how many years, does it take to convince the minister of holy Communion that this Catholic politician or that is obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin, without ever using Canon 915's precise language?

The Eagle of Fargo delivered his remarks to seminarians, but they are well worth reading by priests and, need I say it?, by bishops who know that, someday, they will have to render an accounting of their office to Someone in a considerably more demanding setting than that of a pope during a quinquennial visit. + + +

And today, Father Z added his comments here on Dr. Peters' post.

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo: How long will pro-abort politicians be able to receive Communion?

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Bishop Samuel Aquila

PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 23, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - “One must honestly ask, how many times and years may a Catholic politician vote for the so called right to abortion, - “murder” in the words of John Paul II in Evangelium Vitae (58), and still be able to receive Holy Communion?” The remark came as part of a keynote address delivered by Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Fargo on March 18.

“The continual reception of Holy Communion by those who so visibly contradict and promote a grave evil, even more than simply dissent, only creates grave scandal, undermines the teaching and governing authority of the Church and can be interpreted by the faithful as indifference to the teaching of Christ and the Church on the part of those who have the responsibility to govern,” Bishop Aquila told over 150 participants at the 10th Annual Symposium on the Spirituality and Identity of the Diocesan Priest in Philadelphia, PA .

Concentrating his remarks on the exercise of authority in the Church, Bishop Aquila noted that in Matthew 18 Christ lays out a plan for correction of a wayward believer. First correct him personally, then with another believer or two, then with the Church and if there is still not a change shun them.

“The steps in this passage are clear and Jesus is teaching us, but do we listen and follow his example?, said the Bishop. “If this criteria had been followed with dissenting theologians, priests, religious and faithful in 1968 with the encyclical, Humanae Vitae, would we still be dealing with the problem today of those who dissent on contraception, abortion, same sex unions, euthanasia and so many other teachings of the Church? “

The Bishop of Fargo excoriates the notion of “faithful dissent, when this phrase describes a refusal to adhere to the deposit of faith”, as the “work of ?the father of lies.”

Bishop Aquila noted finally “Correction can be difficult and painful, as parents know, yet as a shepherd I am willing to suffer the rejection and anger of another when I speak the truth for the good of the person and the Bride of Christ. To correct and/or to punish someone who has gravely sinned against real love is an act of servant love and is found in the truth!”

The Bishop concluded his talk saying: “We must come to accept the fact that the exercise of true authority will be divisive as it was in the time of Jesus. Ultimately living the pastoral authority of Jesus in loving obedience will lead us to the Cross as it led him to the Cross, for we will love the Father with the heart of Jesus.”

See LSN Special Report
Best Quotable Quotes from Bishop Samuel Aquila Talk

Also, the full talk is available here

Bismarck Diocese Welcomes Back Lapsed Catholics

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The Bismarck Catholic Diocese will unveil a multi-faceted welcome mat soon for those who have drifted away from the church.

The “Catholics Come Home” TV commercials will air statewide from Dec. 17 to Jan. 30 for both the Bismarck and Fargo dioceses; they are financed separately by each diocese.

Other parts of the project take it to a more personal level. Priests and congregations are trained how to welcome those who have returned or want to.

On Nov. 18, several volunteers spent the day stuffing informational packets and DVDs for those who left and church members who want to deepen their faith. The packets include material about confessions, the rosary, and a DVD.

The local ad effort is an offshoot of the national Catholics Come Home program, started by ad executive Tom Peterson, based in Roswell, Ga.

“He wanted to promote the faith,” said Mary Tarver, canon lawyer for the Bismarck Catholic Diocese. “It’s been run successfully in 20 dioceses. Phoenix saw a 15 percent increase in Mass attendance. It is just advertisements.”

Tarver said the ads give examples of why people leave the Catholic Church and what happened when they returned. “Each of the commercials ... says, ‘If you’ve been away from the church, give us another chance, take another look at the Catholic church.’” Tarver said.

The Rev. Tom Richter said most of the ads are testimonies. He said they are true stories from people who share why they left the church and why they came back. Another two-minute ad shows people who watch the story of their lives. “They’re meant to inspire the heart to be close to Christ again with the church.”

Tarver said most who left said they just wanted an invitation to return after they drifted away. “That’s all we wanted to do — invite them back.”

She said specific dioceses are doing the television commercials, but they will go national in 2011.

Richter, who is a member of the Catholics Come Home Committee , said the ads typically target the Advent and the Christmas-New Year’s and Lent-Easter seasons, “when people’s sentiments and desires come back to church are the highest ”

The Three Affiliated Tribes radio station, KMHA 91.3 in New Town, will not charge for air time to air the messages, Richter said.

The project in western North Dakota Catholic parishes will cost $160,000. Priests and deacons in the western part of the state have collectively contributed $60,000 to help pay for it. Bishop Paul Zifpfel has urged each priest to pledge $1,000.

Special collections will be done throughout the state’s western parishes to make up the difference.

Richter said TV air time will cost about $120,000; some $40,000 more will be spent on materials.

More information on the project is given at catholicscomehome.org.

“It’s really a part of the new evangalization that John Paul II wrote about when he was pope,” Tarver said. “... We just want them to take another look and ‘see what you’re missing and see what we can help you with.”

Richter said a big part of the project is to make existing church members more hospitable to those returning.

“The bishop has sent a team around to prepare the parishes. ... First the priests had a training session, then your parish staff had a training session. Then each priest is supposed to be preparing their congregation at the Sunday Mass, primarily through the homily.”

He uses the parable of the “Prodigal Son” as an example. “If the older son had shown up and met him, it might not have turned out so well,” Richter said. “We want our parishes to have the spirit and the heart of the father in the parable.”

Tarver said every person’s story is different, but the church wants to help them come back. “We’ll expect some won’t call the parish; they’ll just sneak into church. Depending on what they find, they’ll stay or they won’t.” She said that’s why it is important congregations be welcoming, but not intrusive.

Richter said there are interior obstacles that prevent people from returning to the church — fears of shame, criticism and rejection.

“We hope the priest and others do not put up any further obstacles.” He also hopes those that want to return won’t be afraid to call up a priest with questions.

Richter said Catholics Come Home aims to stir the hearts of people who left the church to return, and those who attend to “be less critical, be more open and more hospitable.” Grand Forks Herald

Bishop Samuel Aquila responds to decision regarding illegal abortions

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Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fargo, who is attending meetings of the U.S. Bishops in Baltimore this week, provided the diocese with the following response regarding the decision not to file charges against the physician who performed illegal abortions at the Red River Women’s Clinic.

“I am disappointed by Cass County state’s attorney Birch Burdick's decision to not file charges stemming from illegal abortions performed at the Red River Women’s Clinic in Fargo. The North Dakota legislature enacted laws specifically designed to protect women seeking abortions, including those that expressly require a properly licensed physician. At the same time, there is no fulfillment of the regulations of any civil law which will transform the evil of abortion into a morally acceptable act. Abortion harms children, women, and fathers in all instances, whether ‘legal’ or not.” – Bishop Samuel Aquila Diocese of Fargo

Who would have thunk it? Fargo once had a Cardinal!

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With all this talk of the creation of 24 new Cardinals, Fr. Z threw a proposal into the internet ionosphere that the Pope should now and then appoint deserving bishops from dioceses that weren't traditionally held by cardinals. The names of Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City, MO and Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver were quickly tossed up for discussion.

And then it was mentioned that Fargo, our Fargo, yes, that Fargo of the movie, once had a cardinal of its own [for a millisecond].

A priest of the Diocese of Milwaukee, he studied in Switzerland and Louvain (when it was orthodoz) and was appointed Bishop of Fargo by Pope Pius XI in 1935.

Wikipedia: "Pope Pius XII appointed Muench apostolic visitor to Germany in 1946. From 1946 to 1949, he served as military vicar delegate of the United States armed forces, and from 1949 to 1951, he was the regent of the nunciature in Germany. Muench also served as "liaison consultant for religious affairs to the military governor", appointed by Secretary of War, Robert P. Patterson.^[8] The German nunciature had been vacant since the death of Cesare Orsenigo in 1946. Muench assumed the de facto role of nuncio before he received the title on March 6, 1951.^[8]" This was in addition to his duties as Bishop of Fargo.

"Muench's role as apostolic visitor was upgraded to nuncio when the Allied High Commission permitted the Federal Republic to form an independent foreign affairs ministry in March 1951.^[31] On March 9, 1951, Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop Muench papal nuncio to Germany with the title of archbishop.^[32] Muench viewed it as no small honor to hold the nunciature formerly occupied by Pius XII himself.^[20][33] On March 12, Pius XII moved the nunciature from Eichstatt to Bad Godesberg, outside of Bonn. By April 4, 1951, Muench was named dean of the German diplomatic corps, the first diplomat accredited by the Federal Republic.^[31]"

"He was elevated cardinal on December 14, 1959 by Pope John XXIII.^[37] Muench resigned as Bishop of Fargo on December 9, 1959 just before he became Cardinal. He died in Rome on February 15, 1962 and was buried in Fargo.^[38][39]"

As he chose to be buried in Fargo, his "galero", the flat red hat that the cardinals used to wear, is now in the Cathedral of St. Mary in that city. The Fargo seminary is now named after Cardinal Muench.



Aloysius Joseph Cardinal Muench

18 Feb 1889		Born	Milwaukee
8 Jun 1913	24.3	Ordained Priest	Priest of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
10 Aug 1935	46.5	Appointed	Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, USA
15 Oct 1935	46.7	Ordained Bishop	Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, USA
6 Nov 1935	46.7	Installed	Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, USA
28 Oct 1950	61.7	Appointed	Archbishop (Personal Title) of Fargo, North Dakota, USA
9 Mar 1951	62.1	Appointed	Apostolic Nuncio to Germany
9 Dec 1959	70.8	Resigned	Bishop of Fargo, North Dakota, USA
9 Dec 1959	70.8	Appointed	Titular Archbishop of Selymbria
14 Dec 1959	70.8	Elevated to Cardinal
14 Dec 1959	70.8	Appointed	Cardinal-Priest of S. Bernardo alle Terme
15 Feb 1962	73.0	Died	Bishop Emeritus of Fargo, North Dakota, USA

A work of art of the Word to be in Crookston

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A work of art of the Word

Crookston monastery receives Saint John's Bible
The Sisters of St. Benedict here at “the Mount,” their quiet, leafy monastery overlooking the Red Lake River, are enthused over the rare and holy gift they are receiving from their Brothers Benedict from St. John’s Abbey — one of the limited Heritage Edition full-sized reproductions of the massive, seven-volume Saint John’s Bible, the first hand-made, illuminated Bible made in five centuries.

By: Stephen J. Lee, Grand Forks Herald

The Heritage Edition of the Saint John's Bible was given to the St. Benedict Monastery in Crookston by the brother of one of the sisters.

• GALLERY: Heritage Edition of Saint John's Bible

CROOKSTON — The Sisters of St. Benedict here at “the Mount,” their quiet, leafy monastery overlooking the Red Lake River, are enthused over the rare and holy gift they are receiving from their Brothers Benedict from St. John’s Abbey — one of the limited Heritage Edition full-sized reproductions of the massive, seven-volume Saint John’s Bible, the first hand-made, illuminated Bible made in five centuries.

“We think it’s a pretty big deal,” said Sister Denise Schonhardt, who handles public relations for the 80-some nuns who live, work and pray here in a community with traditions dating back 1,500 years.

The younger brother of one of the sisters is the donor behind the coming of the treasured set of over-sized leather-bound volumes filled with ornate script and gold-and-silver embossed art coming to the Mount St. Benedict Monastery.

“You better tell him about your brother,” Schonardt said to Sister Anita Whalen about a visitor’s questions.

Whalen’s brother, Dan Whalen, called her last spring and asked if the Mount would take one of the expensive Heritage Edition reproductions of the original Saint John’s Bible.

The answer was yes.

Four of the seven volumes arrived about two weeks ago, along with wooden furniture to house and display them, made by the monks of St. John’s.

The Whalens grew up in Argyle, Minn., and Dan graduated from Sacred Heart High School in East Grand Forks in 1965 before attending St. John’s and then the University of Minnesota.

“He got in early in the cellular phone business,” said Sister Anita, explaining her younger brother’s secular success.

Dan and Katherine Whalen live in Oakland, Calif., and are active benefactors, especially of Catholic institutions.

On Oct. 10, they will be at the Mount, along with St. John’s brothers and abbot, part of a ceremony in which the sisters officially receive the Bible.

Dan and Katherine Whalen gave a similar Heritage Edition Bible to their parish home in Oakland, the new Cathedral of Christ the Light.

Each Heritage Edition costs about $130,000, St. John’s officials said. If all 360 sets are bought, St. John’s share of the proceeds will pay not only for the $4.5 million cost of making the original Saint John’s Bible, but for much scholarship and building.

Brit Donald Jackson, who had been “the Queen’s calligrapher,” was commissioned by St. John’s in 1998 to make the first hand-written, illuminated Bible since Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1450. He gathered a team of 14 calligraphers and artists in Wales, who collaborated with a team of 100 or more theologians, scholars and artists from St. John’s.

The first words put down in 2000 by Jackson are not on paper but vellum — the thin parchment made from calfskin — with quill and natural, handmade inks, with gold leaf, as well as silver and platinum, were from the Gospel of St. John: “In the beginning was the Word … ”

It’s not complete, but Jackson plans to quill the final volume, on the New Testament Letters and Revelation, himself.

The original remains unbound because of the need to copy the pages for the Heritage Edition, Sister Anita said.

The Heritage Edition is a mixture of ancient craft and contemporary technology. Three Minnesota companies are doing the digital imaging of the original vellum pages, the gold and silver embossing and color management of the high-tech press needed.

Smallest holder

In receiving this version of the Word, the Mount is in some lofty company.

The Vatican, St. Martin-in-the-Fields Cathedral in London, the Naples Art Museum in Italy, St. Catherine’s and St. Thomas universities in St. Paul, are among the Catholic institutions that have received a Heritage Edition of the Saint John’s Bible.

“We’re the smallest institution receiving one,” Whalen said. “It’s museums, universities, cathedrals, the Vatican.”

Pope Benedict XVI, in receiving his copy of what the Mount is getting, called it “a great work of art” and “a work for eternity.”

The sisters are thinking of getting kid gloves to handle the tomes.

“These are not illustrations,” said Sister Denise, leaving the turning of the art-filled pages to Prioress Lenora Paschke. “They are illuminations, designed to evoke prayer.”

At passages that have special meaning to their order, a little cross appears next to the verse, “for Benedictine eyes only,” Whalen said.

“There are so many delicious things in there, like the way the flora and fauna of Minnesota are featured,” Sister Anita said, pointing to a Monarch butterfly alighting on what looks to be a purple-bloomed thistle.

The Mississippi River is used to illumine a flood.

“And there are darling little things, if they left out a line,” Whalen said, pointing out how the calligraphers dealt with their own fallibility.

In the 30th chapter of Genesis, for example, an entire line was left out when the page was hand-written on the original vellum edition, in the story of Jacob’s wooing and working for Rachel.

Rather than throw out the entire, expensive page that took a day to complete, the calligrapher added the line in the bottom margin, then drew a fantastic bird flying up the left margin, pulling up by a silken rope the dropped words to the rightful spot.

It almost makes the mistakes more beautiful than perfection, the sisters said, glad their edition carries on the ornamental mistake and correction.

The Bible is in the New Revised Standard Version, a modern translation commonly used by Catholics and other Christian churches.

For all the old-fashioned technique and work, there are contemporary elements, some sure to be controversial perhaps.

The World Trade Center’s twin towers, on fire, show up, to illumine forgiveness in the gospel story of the Prodigal Son. And obviously, a decision that was made after work began in 2000.

For the creation story, the artists used a view of the earth taken from space.

The helix pattern of DNA shows up.

In the volume containing the Psalms, a sonogram image of the monks of St. John’s singing in their chapel is outlined in gold-lined design.

It’s inclusive, in line with the Benedictine rule on hospitality, Whalen said.

“There are allusions to Judaism in the illuminations, and to Islam,” she said. “All of us are people of the word.”

Adam and Eve are shown as black, a nod to modern anthropology putting human origins in Africa.

It’s a big book. Each volume is more than 2 feet high and, when opened, nearly 3 feet wide.

As Whalen shows visitors into the chapel where the rare Bible will be ceremonially received Oct. 10 from their Benedictine brothers, she said, “Here’s where we do most of our work. We pray here three times a day together, for everybody in the world.”

But the life of a Benedictine sister is not all contemplation and prayer. Sister Anita retired in early 2009 from 35 years as a dentist in Warren, Minn.

Now, the sisters are making plans. They will hold a sort of open house next spring to allow the public a look at their new old treasure.

The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition represents the values of the Benedictine order, of devotion to scripture and Christ, as well as to “the art of books,” and to ecumenical works, the sisters said.

“This gift has so many possibilities, and we are thinking how to use it,” said Prioress Lenora Paschke. “We know it’s more than a museum piece. It’s meant to be shared.” Grand Forks Herald

Bishop Samuel Aquila led a procession to Fargo's abortion clinic

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In time for the upcoming Respect Life Month of October, Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota presided over an annual Mass and led a procession over 700 people to a local abortion clinic last Saturday, encountering oppositional protestors for the first time.

The Diocese of Fargo estimated that on Saturday, 700 to 800 people from St. Mary’s Cathedral processed to the local Red River Women’s Clinic, North Dakota’s only abortion facility in downtown Fargo. Director of Communications for the diocese Tanya R. Watterud told CNA that Bishop Aquila led the procession several blocks, carrying a monstrance with Blessed Sacrament and also sprinkling the clinic with holy water amidst pro-abortion demonstrators.

During his homily at the Mass preceding the procession, Bishop Aquila stated that the purpose of the event was “to give witness to the gift of life and particularly the dignity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death.”

“Even reason and science would point to the truth that life begins at the moment of conception,” he noted. “For those who are unbelievers, they can come to know the truth of the dignity of human life through both reason and science.”

“We must also, when speaking of abortion, speak the truth about it,” and refrain from using terms such as “interruption of pregnancy” or “only a mass of cells.”

“Every time a child is aborted it is murder and it is important for us to call it by its proper name.” Individuals, he added, should not use the “politically correct language” of the media but “speak the truth and to speak it clearly.”

He then encouraged those present to pray for the gift of fortitude “to be those people who constantly remind our society and remind others that life is a gift…that every human being created is created in the image and likeness of God from the moment of conception…that every human being has the right to life.”

The bishop also explained that the holy water that would be used to sprinkle the facility showed “prayers for purification…in terms of reparation for what happens there because, ultimately, it is the murder of unborn that takes place there.”

Watterud told CNA that later at the procession following the sprinkling, Bishop Aquila again took the monstrance into his hands and continued back to the Cathedral, while parishioners in attendance prayed the Rosary while walking. What Does The Prayer Really Say

Magnificat and Ignatius Press Join Forces to Publish Books for Children

Through a new partnership between Magnificat, the publisher of the popular daily devotional, and Ignatius Press, the primary English-language publisher of Pope Benedict XVI’s books, a new line of Catholic children’s books will be available.

Anyone familiar with the market will recognize that there are few publishers that publish beautifully illustrated Catholic children’s books. Pauline Press and Bethlehem Books come to mind. [Bethlehem Books is a real Christian apostolate located up in North Dakota a few yards from Canada, I think. They do wonderful work and are a real favorite with home schoolers.]

The first eight books in the Magnificat-Ignatius Press series will include a variety of titles for children of different ages. They’ll include sturdy board books, such as My First Prayers for My Family, My First Prayers for Christmas, and The Bible for Little Ones. They’ll also be publishing two hardcover titles for older children – John Mary Vianney: The Holy Cure of Ars and Bernadette: The Little Girl from Lourdes. Two additional titles will include: The Adventures of Lupio, Vol. 1: The Adventures and Other Stories and The Illustrated Gospel for Children. Both are told in a comic book style. Finally, the partnership is also publishing the first in a series of coloring books – Pictures from the Gospels: A Coloring Book.

“Ignatius Press is honored and excited to be working with Magnificat to publish this new line of such high quality, beautifully designed Catholic books for children,” said Anthony Ryan, marketing director for Ignatius Press.

The books will be available for purchase in October 2010. Tim Drake, National Catholic Register

Fargo Area Churches Connect to the Past with their Relics

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You don't need to go to Rome to find relics to aid in your spiritual meditation. Fargo will do!

The Apostle Paul wrote more of the Bible’s New Testament than anyone else, and a piece of him is resting in north Fargo.

This relic of John the Baptist is owned by
the Rev. James Cheney of Fargo.


• Relics at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church

Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church in south Fargo owns multiple relics, which are housed inside the altar of their sanctuary. Chris Franz / The Forum

The Apostle Paul wrote more of The Bible’s New Testament than anyone else, and a piece of him is resting in north Fargo.

In the altar at the Newman Center in north Fargo is a bone fragment believed to be from the body of Paul. It’s a relic, an item of religious significance.

And it’s not the only one in Fargo-Moorhead.

Among the numerous relics in the metro area are some that can be traced back to saints who lived hundreds of years ago, one believed to be a piece of a great philosopher and even the bone fragment of a pope.

It might be easy for people to consider the Catholic practice – though the veneration of remains is not limited to Catholicism – of keeping a piece of a dead saint’s body to be kind of morbid.

But the Rev. Paul Duchshere, pastor of Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, believes it’s not any stranger than wanting a late grandmother’s glasses or carrying around a lock of a girlfriend’s hair.

“In our viewpoint, the saints are our family members,” he says, referring to them as “brothers and sisters” in God’s family.

The Very Rev. Luke Meyer, chancellor of the Diocese of Fargo, says relics remind the faithful that “what happened in (the saints’) hearts and minds can happen in our hearts and minds, and that’s their purpose.”

“These people are alive with Christ in heaven forever, and their bones are not mere remains but historic shrines of God’s work in the world,” Meyer says.

Not all relics are created equal, and they’re not all body parts. Pieces of wood believed to be from the cross of Jesus, clothing worn by saints and items that martyrs owned or used are some of the examples of what can become a relic.

Controversy accompanies some of these relics. The authenticity of numerous relics has been disputed. And, though the sale of relics is prohibited by Church law, items advertised as relics can be purchased on Internet sites such as eBay.

The practice of venerating – or regarding with respect – the remains of saints can be traced back to the tombs of the dead in ancient Rome, says Msgr. Gregory Schlesselmann, rector of Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo. He says it’s a practice adapted by Christians.

Christians built churches over the tombs of martyrs. And as they discovered relics in those tombs, they would want them to be as close as possible to the altar, Schlesselmann says. Sometimes the tombs themselves would serve as the altars. Eventually fragments of, or sometimes the entire, bodies would be placed under the tops of the altars.

That basic tradition continues today as many Catholic churches have a relic of a saint – often a bone fragment – housed within their own altars.

The following is a selection of relics found the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church

In the marble altar at the new Sts. Anne and Joachim Church in south Fargo is a small area containing numerous bone fragments of saints behind grate-like doors. Each tiny fragment is housed in its own casing, with a window so that the object can be seen.

• Relic: bone fragments of Sts. Anne and Joachim

  The altar of the church houses what is believed to be bone fragments of the church’s patron saints.

  Though not mentioned in Scripture, tradition holds St. Anne and St. Joachim to be the grandparents of Jesus and the parents of Mary.

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Thomas Aquinas

  You can’t study the history of western philosophy without reading this brilliant, 13th-century Christian thinker pretty early on. New Advent, an online Catholic encyclopedia, says, “Since the days of Aristotle, probably no one man has exercised such a powerful influence on the thinking world as did St. Thomas.”

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Josephine Bakhita

  This Sudanese saint is the patron saint of the Sudanese community that meets at the church.

• Relic: St. Anthony of Padua

  Often invoked for help in finding lost articles, St. Anthony of Padua was canonized a year after his death in 1231. He was a zealous fighter of heresy and has been called “Malleus hereticorum” or “Hammer of the Heretics.”

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Gemma Galgani

  This Catholic mystic born in Italy in 1878 is said to have received the stigmata, or the wounds of Jesus, on her own body.

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Maria Goretti

  St. Maria Goretti is reputed to have been killed by a would-be rapist to whom she refused to submit. As she laid dying, tradition holds that she forgave her attacker.

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

  She is the first native-born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church, according to the Catholic Online website.

St. Paul’s Newman ­Center at North Dakota State University

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Paul the Apostle

  In the altar at the Newman Center is what is believed to be a fragment of bone from the most prolific writer in the New Testament, the Apostle Paul.

  The altar is in the chapel, which was built after the devastating 1957 Fargo tornado. The relic is located under a stone and cannot be seen.

Fargo Diocese archive

• Relic: bone fragment of St. Frances Xavier ­Cabrini

  She’s the patroness of immigrants and was canonized as a saint in 1946, becoming the first American citizen to achieve that status.

Fargo Diocese archive and Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church

The Fargo Diocese archive and Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church each have relics of Pope Pius X and St. Vincent de Paul.

• Relic: Bone fragment of Pope St. Pius X

  Born in Italy in 1835, Pope Pius X was the most recent pope to be canonized. Meyer says, Pius X was known to be “very humble” and was a “farm kid” from Italy whom no one would have thought would have become a successor to the papacy.

  Meyer, the diocese chancellor, also showed a certificate of documentation that accompanies this relic. The fragment itself is housed in a small case surrounded by an ornate setting that has the appearance of marble.

• Relic: St. Vincent de Paul

  The namesake of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul served the poor his entire life. St. Vincent lived from 1581 to 1660 and was known as “The Apostle of Charity” and “Father of the Poor.”

Office of the Rev. James Cheney

• Relic: bone fragment of St. John the Baptist

  In the office of the Rev. James Cheney, pastor at St. Paul’s Newman Center, is a fragment of bone from what is believed to be the body of John the Baptist. Cheney says this saint has “helped me a lot in my priesthood.”

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St. Benedict’s Catholic Church

St. Benedict’s Catholic Church near Horace has the skull of its first priest on display next to the altar of Mary, behind a pane of glass.

Joyce Rheault, director of pastoral care at St. Benedict’s, says it’s her understanding that the Rev. Alphanse Bernier was buried under the church. But when that area was excavated so a basement could be put in, the skull was enshrined in the wall.

At one time, the skull was covered in Sheetrock, Rheault says. But it has since been uncovered.

The piece is not considered a relic as Bernier is not a canonized saint.

Famous relics

• The Precious Blood of Bruges – This relic is reputed to be a drop of the blood of Jesus. It is held in Bruges, Belgium.
• Veronica’s Veil – Housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, this cloth was supposed to have been used to wipe the face of Jesus soon before his death. It is believed to have retained the print of the face of Jesus.
• The Holy Nails in the iron crown of Lombardy – This crown at the Cathedral of Monza near Milan, Italy, is believed by some to contain the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus.
• Bones of St. Peter – Remains believed to be those of the Apostle Peter are buried under the high altar at St. Peter’s Basilica. Fargo In-Forum
  

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