New Catholic Co-Adjutor Archbishop Brings Orthodoxy and Opposition to Homosexual Agenda to Minneapolis

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(www.LifeSiteNews.com) – The approaching installation of a new Catholic Archbishop known for his orthodoxy has liberal Catholics and homosexual activists fraught with worry that their novel creeds will no longer find welcome in the Minneapolis-St. Paul diocese.

In approximately two months, Archbishop-elect John Nienstedt will take over the administration of Archbishop Harry Flynn, known for its ambiguous attitude toward open dissent from Catholic moral teachings, especially by homosexual activists.

Nienstedt, the current bishop of New Ulm, however has been known as a defender of orthodox teachings in his diocese, and angered homosexual activists by teaching against homosexual behavior and his support for the Minnesota constitutional amendment banning same-sex “marriage.”

In 2004, he joined the eight other Catholic bishops in spearheading a campaign for a constitutional amendment defining marriage strictly as between a man and a woman and prohibiting any legal equivalent like civil unions.

Nienstedt wrote then in a pastoral letter that marriage could not be contracted between same-sex couples on the basis that “the nature of the marital relationship demands the establishment of a life-long commitment between one man and one woman that is fundamentally open to procreation and the upbringing of children within a bond of sexual complimentarity."

Marriage is not an institution based on “a desire for pleasure, mutual affirmation or even intimacy” but requires that the partners “intend the ends of marriage itself,” the procreation of children. Nienstedt wrote this requirement is biologically impossible for homosexual acts.

According to the Star Tribune, Nienstedt has opposed women’s ordination, and believes that homosexual tendencies are not biological, but largely derived from childhood psychological trauma. Nienstedt has also urged Catholics to be more open to having children and abandon the prevailing “contraceptive mentality.”

However when asked about whether he is “liberal” or “conservative”, the Archbishop-elect to rejected political classifications or criticism of his predecessor.

"I do not come as a politician but as a priest, as one who sees his life as being a bridge between God and his people," Nienstedt told the Star Tribune. “I do not come as a CEO, but as a pastor, as one who intends to teach the truth, to celebrate the sacraments, and to shepherd the people of God in the ways of Jesus Christ so that they might one day inherit eternal life.”

Nevertheless, Nienstedt will have to address the whole gamut of problems created during Archbishop Flynn’s administration, from the abysmal catechesis of Catholics to current diocesan policies. Among them is the controversial VIRTUS sex-ed program instituted by Flynn that includes the Talking About Touching (TAT) program endorsed by homosexual activists and Planned Parenthood. Parents objected to it as too sexually explicit for children, but Flynn brooked no opposition and even silenced and removed one outspoken VIRTUS/TAT critic, Fr. Robert Altier, from his parish ministry after the priest denounced the program for sexualizing children and placing on them the burden of safety rather than on adults.

Flynn’s archdiocese used to be popular with the homosexual activist Rainbow Sash Movement, whose members every year don the colors of the rainbow on Pentecost Sunday and receive Holy Communion in defiance of the Church’s moral teachings. The RSM even sent Flynn a personal “thank you” in 2004 for supporting their agenda. However, after that Flynn switched gears and told parishes in 2005 to withdraw the welcome mat and not give the RSM activists Communion, a message he also gave to the homosexual activist New Ways Ministry.

While both conservatives and liberals may hope (or fear) Nienstedt will make a dramatic clean-sweep of the archdiocese, this seems unlikely. The archbishop’s words seem to indicate he will make no policy changes unless driven by absolute necessity within the next year to give time for the people to get used to him. Most notably will be the change in personality, and the fresh air of orthodoxy he brings with him to an archdiocese stultified by confusion on the most basic of moral issues.

LifeSiteNews' heart is right, but unless they know something that most don't know, their timing schedule is off by quite a bit. Archbishop Nienstedt will be welcomed to the Archdiocese at a Mass on June 29 and will begin his duties as assigned by Archbishop Flynn on that date.

But he will not assume full duties until Arcbhshop Flynn's retirement in May of 2008, barring some now unforseen decision by Archbishop Flynn before that time.


Corrected Article by LifeSiteNews.com

Co-Adjutor Archbishop Nienstedt: I do not come as a Politician, but as a Priest

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It's the Roman Catholic confirmation season, and churches are packed with shiny teenagers and beaming parents.

At St. Pius X in Glencoe, part of the New Ulm Diocese, outgoing Bishop John Nienstedt presided at a recent confirmation, speaking directly to the young people as he blessed them, then patiently posing for photo after photo.

Controversy was nowhere to be found.

That stands in stark contrast to the buzz in the parking lots of Twin Cities churches and in the hodgepodge of blogs driven by Catholics. Many believe that when Nienstedt takes the reins of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis next year, change will sweep in like a relentless prairie wind.

Will Nienstedt's strict adherence to orthodox doctrine, strongly evidenced in his writings and actions, eclipse outgoing Archbishop Harry Flynn's culture of relative tolerance of diverse views? Will liberal parishes face crackdowns? Will he be, as one priest suggested, "a strong-arm corrector?"

Nienstedt himself expressed dismay at speculation that he'll overhaul the archdiocese. "I do not come as a politician but as a priest, as one who sees his life as being a bridge between God and his people," he said in an e-mail, the only way he agreed to be interviewed for this story.

A matter of emphasis

All Roman Catholic bishops are expected to support church doctrine. But the issues they emphasize lead observers to characterize them as conservative, moderate or liberal.

Flynn has been considered moderate by Catholic standards. For instance, although in 2005 he advised parishes to deny communion to worshipers wearing rainbow sashes, a symbol of support for gay rights, he did not punish a parish that defied him.

Nienstedt's record in New Ulm, where he will continue to preside until his replacement is named, has been unequivocally orthodox. Supporters and critics alike cite the following:

• After succeeding Bishop Ray Lucker, who died in 2001, Nienstedt denounced Lucker's call for dialogue on opening the priesthood to women.

• He rebuked the Rev. Harry Behan, a priest in St. Peter, Minn., for sharing communion with Lutherans on several Easters after a 1998 tornado destroyed the town's Catholic church.

• He led last year's drive to have Catholics pepper legislators with postcards supporting a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.

• He has written that homosexuality stems from childhood events rather than biology.

• He has decried "the contraceptive mentality" and urged Catholics to have more children if they want to help Catholic schools and provide more priests.

Changing course in New Ulm

Nienstedt, 60, a tall, athletic man with a rich speaking and singing voice who came to New Ulm from Detroit, was relaxed as he spoke to the teens at St. Pius, joking that he was confirmed "in the Middle Ages."

Mary Ann Thalmann, 61, of Plato, Minn., looked on approvingly. Nienstedt "took us back to basics after Bishop Lucker, and given the way the world is going these days, that's a good thing," she said.

Kathy Sonnek, a member of St. Mary's in New Ulm, said his approach "is not conservative so much as it is authentic. For instance, while his predecessor said, 'There are not enough priests, so let's ordain women,' he said, 'No, let's pray, fast and talk to young men about becoming priests,' " she said. "That is truer to what the church really is."

The Rev. Phil Schotzko, who succeeded Behan in St. Peter, said Twin Cities Catholics will find Nienstedt "a strong leader and a good organizer. There may be some conversations about things he'd like to see changed. You will know what to expect with him. There will be no curveballs."

A flurry of speculation

In the Twin Cities, reaction has ranged from delight to dismay, with many taking a wait-and-see attitude.

The Rev. John Ubel of St. Agnes, a traditional congregation in St. Paul, is distressed by criticism of Nienstedt. "It is contrary to the demands of Christian charity and justice to judge someone's intentions or motives before that person even begins his ministry in the archdiocese," he said.

Nienstedt's most vocal critic has been the Rev. Michael Tegeder of St. Edward's in Bloomington.

"Ray Lucker was a wonderful man, and for Nienstedt to come in and denounce his writings was horrible," he said. "And for him to come into our state and right away spearhead a campaign to change our Constitution without any opportunity for discussion -- why did he have to be a strong-arm corrector right from the start?"

The Rev. David Smith, a theology professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, said he has heard many expressions of concern at the college. The postcard campaign is one sore point, he said. Another is Nienstedt's beliefs about the origins of homosexuality, "which have no scientific support," he said.

The Rev. Patrick Kennedy of Pax Christi in Eden Prairie said some believe Nienstedt "has pastored his diocese in a way that indicates some rigidity.

"I'm not so bothered by the fact that someone is liberal or conservative, but rigidity on either spectrum would not be a good sign," he said. "I hope he will consult broadly before making decisions that affect the entire church."

At St. Stephen's, which deacon Bob Wagner called "a last-chance gas station of faith for Catholics leaving or reentering the church," worshipers expect Nienstedt to curb heavy lay participation in liturgical roles.

"Mostly, though, we wonder how ardently he'll be involved in social justice," Wagner said. "We certainly hope he'll be as engaged as Flynn" in immigration reform and similar issues.

Change and perception

Back in 1994, Flynn's appointment to replace Archbishop John Roach set off a similar frenzy of speculation, Kennedy said. He urged Catholics to give Nienstedt "time to get his arms around his new role."

For his part, Nienstedt said this won't be the first time people have assumed he'll be an agent of change. He told the story of how a woman at a Michigan parish -- where he had deliberately refrained from making any changes -- thanked him for changing things.

"I realized the sheer difference of my personality from the previous pastor had been interpreted as introducing changes," he said. "Since I did not look like the previous pastor, walk like him, preach like him ... all this seemed different to the people and was looked upon ... as so many 'changes.' " StarTribune, courtesy of Chrism Cathy at Recovering Dissident Catholic tip. Read her analysis of the article here.

I would just say that Strib reporter Pam Miller sure knows where the dissident priests/deacons are in the Archdiocese. She hit most of them. At St. Stephen's, which deacon Bob Wagner called "a last-chance gas station of faith for Catholics leaving or reentering the church," worshipers expect Nienstedt to curb heavy lay participation in liturgical roles. They must be getting nervous over there then. As well they might be. Rumor has it that they make St Joan of Arc look pretty 'middle of the road.'


Full text of Coadjutor Archbishop John Nienstedt's answers to questions from Star Tribune reporter Pamela Miller

Q Do you view yourself as more conservative than Archbishop Flynn?

A I find it curious that persons both inside and outside the church, who maintain a strict separation of church and state, nevertheless find it necessary to define persons and activities within the church in political terms. Like St. Paul, I come to the archdiocese to "speak of nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (1 Corinthians 2:2.) The fathers of the Second Vatican Council tell us that the apostles left bishops as their successors and gave them their own position of teaching authority so that the apostolic preaching would be preserved continuously until the end of time. (Dei Verbum, no. 7 and 8.) Therefore, in accepting this incredibly challenging assignment from our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, my only agenda is to preach the Gospel and to witness to the joy, the love and the reconciliation that we find in Jesus Christ.

I do not come as a politician but as a priest, as one who sees his life as being a bridge between God and his people. I do not come as a CEO, but as a pastor, as one who intends to teach the truth, to celebrate the sacraments, and to shepherd the people of God in the ways of Jesus Christ so that they might one day inherit eternal life. When I was named a bishop by Pope John Paul II in June 1996, I was asked to choose a motto that would characterize my Episcopal service. It did not take long for me to settle on "Ut Omnes Unum Sint" ("that they may all be one"). (John 17:21.) My hope in selecting this passage from Jesus' Last Supper discourse was that I might be an instrument of bringing about unity in our Catholic Church, unity among all Christian churches, and unity in our global society.

I also specified at my press conference on April 24, 2007, that I have the highest regard and personal esteem for Archbishop Harry Flynn. He has been a faithful successor to the apostles, a solid church leader locally as well as nationally, and one of the most gracious and charitable men that I have ever met. I hope to emulate these virtues that I find in him as I begin my work as his coadjutor next month and over the next year as well as in all the years to come.

Q Do you expect to be outspoken in defense of church doctrine when controversies arise?

A One of the things that I admire about Archbishop Flynn is the strong stands that he has taken in the midst of controversy, such as:

• His advocacy for the poor and the homeless in these Twin Cities.

• His strong support for immigration reform in order to allow the stranger in our midst to feel our nation's welcome.

• His prohibition of the illicit use of general absolution in celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• His refusal to allow protesters to use the Holy Eucharist to propagate their dissent from church teaching.

• His determined leadership to establish in civil law the definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman.

• And his having to discipline a religious congregation, who, while well-intentioned, nevertheless threatened the unity of the archdiocese with their activities.

In each of the circumstances surrounding these issues, the archbishop has been stalwart in his defense of church doctrine. I hope to follow his lead and to imitate the courage that he has shown.

Q Do you think that your tenure will feel and look different to archdiocesan Catholics than Archbishop Flynn's has?

A I wish to answer this question by telling you a little story of an event that happened during my first pastorate at the Church of St. Patrick in Union Lake, Mich. When I became a pastor for the first time, my mentor, John Cardinal Dearden, told me to wait six months before I made any changes in the parish administration. He then added that, at the end of the six-month period, I should take another six months before I implemented any of the changes that I wanted to make.

I thought this was good advice. Therefore, when I arrived at the parish, to the extent that I was able, I resisted introducing any new procedures or policies. I consciously took a "wait and see" posture.

About three months after my arrival, a woman came into the sacristy to tell me that her family was being relocated because of her husband's job and that they were moving the next week. She then added, "Thank you, Father John, for all the wonderful changes you have brought to our parish." I was startled and asked her, "Please, tell me, what changes have I made?"

I then realized the sheer difference of my personality from the previous pastor had been interpreted as introducing "changes." Since I did not look like the previous pastor, walk like him, preach like him, or respond in the same exact way that he would have, all this seemed different to the people and was looked upon by them as so many "changes."

I tell this little story on myself because it says something about most of the transitions that we have to make in a lifetime. When I came to the Diocese of New Ulm, many priests, religious and lay people wondered what I would be like, much like they wondered two years ago how Pope Benedict XVI would compare with the late, beloved Pope John Paul II. I assured the faithful of my diocese that I would work hard on their behalf. I believe I have kept that promise and that we have grown to appreciate, no really to love, one another.

This past year, we held our first ever Diocesan Ministries Appeal. The target was set at $600,000, but the total collection finished at $1.5 million. ($900,000 went back to the parishes.) I believe this is the kind of success one can have by working in a respectful and collaborative way.

I presume that whenever a new person enters a community of faith, there will be a period of "getting to know you, getting to know all about you." I think this is only natural. In charity, Catholics generally suspend their judgment in faith, demonstrating a willingness to work with whomever is appointed in order to strengthen our bonds of church unity and to build up the kingdom of God. It is my hope that I can build upon the solid foundation of faith, hope and love that Archbishop Flynn has so diligently and effectively established in this great archdiocese as well as to continue the good works that are a part of the legacy of this vibrant local church.

Like Archbishop Flynn, I, too, wish to be remembered as a good shepherd after the image and example of our great good shepherd who is Christ the Lord. StarTribune

Archbishop Nienstedt in His Own Words

As bishop in the Diocese of New Ulm, John Nienstedt often defended church doctrine in writings posted at www.dnu.org/bishop. Here are some excerpts:

JANUARY 2002

"Vocations: Our Number One Priority"

"The answer to [the acute shortage of priests] does not lie in women or married men being ordained. Even though that controversy continues in some corners, it is not an option for our consideration."

JUNE 2003

"The Catholic Church's Policy on Sharing Communion Between Catholics and Non-Catholics"

"The Diocese of New Ulm follows the theologically grounded practice of the Roman Catholic Church that prohibits the sharing of 'Holy Communion' between Catholics and non-Catholics in the context of our celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Mass as well as prohibiting the participation of Catholics in communion services of other Christian denominations, whether they be Episcopalian, Lutheran, Methodist or other evangelical Protestant churches."

MORE ON A7

IN HIS OWN WORDS

JUNE 2004

"Defending Marriage and the Family in the Light of Same-Sex Unions"

"The teaching of the Catholic Church is quite clear that marriage is the faithful, exclusive and lifelong union of one man and one woman joined through the mutual gift of each other in a 'two-for-one flesh' union that allows for sharing the gift of life in their children. It is equally clear that homosexual acts cannot achieve the two-in-one flesh union that either allows for the procreation of children or the true meaning of self-gift expressed through the complimentarity of the body."

APRIL 2005

"Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Benedict XVI"

"It seems to me that one of the greatest challenges for the present Holy Father is the conversion of the rather large number of our Catholic population who are straddling the fence between belief and nonbelief. ... If we are to be Catholic in a way that is worthy of the name we need to accept all that the Church teaches. Doing otherwise is to reject the share of Christ's Cross that is being offered to us."

FEBRUARY 2006

"Moral Corruption"

On the movie "Brokeback Mountain": "The story is about two lonely cowboys herding sheep on a mountain range. One night after a drinking binge, one makes a pass at the other and within seconds the latter mounts the former in an act of wanton anal sex. This sets off a lustful passion in both men that 'grabs hold of them' and which they find impossible to control. Rather than a sad symphony to a beautiful love that our homophobic society will not allow to show itself, this is a human tragedy. ... This is a story of lust gone bad."

MARCH 2007

"Homosexuality"

On a Bloomington conference of Catholics about gays in the church: "[Attendants] have compromised their Catholic identity in rejecting the Church's constant teaching. Complicating this scene is the scheduled appearance of priests, religious sisters and even three retired bishops. ... Their very presence at this gathering is a source of grave scandal. ...

"Many behavioral scientists tell us that our unique sexual identity does not begin to be formed until 18 months and continues until 3 years of age (see www.cathmed.org). During that time, the child reacts to his or her environment and relationships. It is thought that the homosexual inclination is the result of some psychological trauma that occurs in those relationships." StarTribune

The Roamin' Roman Rules! St Paul Cathedral by Night!

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Those of you veteran bloggers will remember that glorious year a couple of years ago when UST student, the Roamin' Roman spent her senior year in Rome at the Angelicum, studying not a lick, but taking photos of every church in Italy and posting them with knowledgeable comments for all to see on her blog, saving all a fortune in travel costs.

Well, she did graduate out of a sense of gratitude on behalf of UST one supposes, she returned, resumed her membership as a parishioner of the Cathedral of St Paul and found a job in a local parish, organizing the faiths of one and all.

But the occasion of the celebration of the Centennial of the laying of the cornerstone of the St Paul Cathedral in 1907 was too much for her and she couldn't resist and dug out her camera and spent the evening last Thursday for the lighting of the Cathedral's outside for the first time in unknown memory.

Check out her blog at Veritatis Splendor and be sure to click on the photos which will take you to her Picasa photo album.

How do we know if we have a vocation?

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A dear friend of mine, Adoro, who blogs as many of you know at a site known as Adoro Te Devote. We don't know if the blog was named after her or St Thomas Aquinas' poem and hymn of the same name. Adoro from time to time muses as to whether or not she has a vocation, being in her thirties and still single and very much a devout Catholic. And when she muses, crowds flock to her blog to see what she has to share. And you can see what they have to share, too.

Recently, after she was questioned by one of the priests at her parish if she thought she might have a vocation, and that being the first time a priest had ever raised the subject with her, she wondered on her blog why priests don't raise the subject of religious vocations with women more often.

Well, this is not quite on the same point, but Father Mark Pavlik, the pastor of St Olaf Parish in downtown Minneapolis, raised the subject of vocation discernment in the bulletin for next Sunday, using the metaphor of baking bread. And this is for you, Adoro:

When I lived on the East Coast before I was a priest, I had a friend named Mary whose mother was an amazing cook. Whenever I would stop by their house, it seemed her mother was always in the kitchen cooking or baking something. And if she wasn’t cooking when you got there, inevitably she would make something for you when you got there — “have a seat dear, I’m making cookies…” (always a good reason to stick around). Mrs. P., as she was affectionately known by everyone, is a woman of great faith and love who has powerful insight about the life of faith and the ways of spiritual life. She has the innate ability to see ways of God very clearly in the midst of everyday life.

Just before I left to begin my studies for seminary, I stopped by to say goodbye to Mrs. P., who was making bread in her kitchen. She listened intently as I explained how I was ready to begin my journey to the priesthood, and while I was not entirely sure I believed the things that I said, it was my story and I was sticking to it. I think Mrs. P. perhaps saw through my charade of assuredness and gave me some insight that has proved priceless for my years of study and ministry as a priest.

She encouraged me to think of myself in formation like the large ball of bread dough. The analogy was helped by the actual ball of dough that she was kneading as she spoke. “You just have to let yourself be dough in God’s hands, dear. Let our Lord work with you and form you. There are going to be times when you are going to swell up, like the yeast in the bread dough, and God is going to need to press you down and keep you on track. If you let Him, he can make something great and wonderful — like one of those big cinnamon rolls you get at the mall. If you don’t let Him, you may just end up dry crusty bread that no one’s going to want at all.”

It was plain and simple — let God take control and there can be great transformation into something beautiful. This transformation is often times difficult and comes at a price. The price of a little divine kneading is minimal compared to what God can make out of us, through the process. And that process is very clear if we think of how bread is made and it’s a lesson which is perfect for us to consider on this Sunday as we celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi.

The grains of wheat are taken and crushed and pressed together and transformed into bread. Then during Mass, the bread is transformed into the Body of Christ, which is, in turn, broken and shared among the Body of Christ, the community of believers. And from our sharing in the Bread of Life, we are called also to be transformed — to allow God to work with us and change us into something wonderful for Himself and for the world.

But change is sometimes hard and we don’t often like to be broken or kneaded because that can mean moving on from a place that we find comfortable or secure. In those times in my own life when I am hesitant to change, I remember Mrs. P. and those words of hope she gave me that day in the kitchen: Let God work with you and do what it takes to make something wonderful for Himself and for the world.

If we want to change the world, we have to begin with ourselves. Begin in small ways and let God in, even in those times we feel broken, and realize the great and wonderful things that God can do when things are blessed and broken and offered to Him.

Erie, PA, Liturgy Cops Patrol NE Mpls, Seeking GIRM Errors

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As I was driving to my regular Saturday Holy Hour – Mass early this morning, I was startled to see a half dozen squads from the Erie, PA Diocesan Liturgical Police idling along side University Avenue near Surdyk's and Kramarczuk's while the drivers and navigators poured over maps of Northeast Minneapolis. The mitre-shaped red “bubbles” on the squads’ roof was what caught my attention.

Being a long time resident of Minneapolis and somewhat familiar with “Nordeast”, and always game for a “corporal work of mercy”, I pulled over and approached them, questioning if they needed help. They were a little jumpy, but when I showed them that I wasn’t wearing a scapular or a Miraculous Medal (Not having seen mobile liturgy cops before, I had taken my medal off before exiting the car), they dropped their guard.

One of them, a Lt. Col. Trautman, explained that they had heard that some of the parishes in that part of Minneapolis were known to use forbidden languages such as Polish, Old Slavonic, Ukrainian, Arabic and even Latin, he said, which is a Canon Law capital offense according to the “Bish” back home. “Nothing but English is the rule; and simple English!”, said Trautman.

He wondered if I could help them identify some of the 20 or so Catholic parishes in that neighborhood, and which ones would be most likely to be committing Canon Law language offenses. He was also interested in hearing about other offenses, such as priests disrespecting parishioners by turning their backs to them.

Well, I just happened to have received my monthly “Nordeast Catholic Parish Summer Directory” yesterday and had it in the car with a schedule of all the Masses, Reconciliation times, Novenas, Processions and Parish festivals which occupy most Minneapolis Catholic residents each Summer. I took six of the eight pages from my daytimer and gave them to Col. Trautman. He was amazed at how many Catholic churches there were in Northeast, and how many languages were spoken. He was so pleased that he gave me an autographed copy of the English language Mass Sacramentary without the recent amendments that added all those difficult words. He thought I would be pleased. I tried to look it.

As it was getting late, I wished the Erie Liturgy Cops luck in their search and headed out towards St Anthony of Padua (whose information was on the directory pages that I retained).

I arrived in time (7:30 a.m.) just as Father Glen had placed the Sacred Host in the monstrance on the altar and the Divine Mercy Chaplet was about to begin. This was followed by a Rosary, various prayers for the First Saturday of the Month and our usual intentions and then Benediction. So far, so good.

I noted that no Latin had been used and was nervously hoping that those Liturgy Cops wouldn’t find us before we finished singing O Salutaris Hostia and Tantum Ergo. They wouldn’t be happy if they heard those being lustily sung by the small congregation. [Perhaps “lustily” is the wrong adverb. Let’s say “energetically” if that word could be used to describe people who personally remember what times were like before Vatican II].

We would be in real big trouble if the Liturgy Cops popped in on us for the Mass. We have been singing Gregorian Chant in Latin for years. But before Mass began, Father asked us if we had noticed anything different? None of us seemed to and then he pointed out that the Low Mass candles were lit on the High Altar, not the “Front Altar” normally used for Novus Ordo Masses.

He explained that this was permitted for special occasions by the General Instructions of the Roman Missal (The “GIRM”). This is probably what St Agnes in St Paul uses to justify their Latin Novus Ordo Masses.

But today Father Jenson celebrated Mass in both English and Latin, at both altars. We started at the “Front Altar” with Gregorian Chant in Latin, Father facing the congregation. The readings were in English as usual. Then, after the Homily, Father and the two servers moved to the High Altar and from then on he celebrated the Mass “ad Orientem”, facing the tabernacle and the crucifix, only occasionally turning to face the congregation when there was a prayer to be said by him which called for a response by us.

Frankly it was wonderful and he looks forward to hearing our reactions. As an innate “detached critic” the only thing that I saw wrong today was that the credence table where the water, wine, etc. are kept was on the left, or Gospel side, of the High Altar. It shouldn’t be a big deal to move them to the right, or Epistle side, of the High Altar. That’s how we did it in the olden days.

Thank goodness the Pennsylvania Liturgy Cops never discovered us. I’m sure there would have been severe penalties and lectures about breaking the rules and how difficult it will be to teach older priests how and when to occasionally turn around and face the people.

Does anybody want a copy of the First Edition of the English Translation of the Mass? I’ll trade you it for a copy of the Northeast Catholic Parish Summer Directory.

We Have Feathers: 4:57 a.m. Stork Universal Time, Ustron~, Poland

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Celebration for Father Tim Vakoc, St Therese's, New Hope, Sunday, June 10

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CELEBRATION FOR FR. TIM:

WHERE: St. Therese’s Nursing Home
8000 Bass Lake Road, New Hope, MN 55428

WHEN: Sunday June 10, 2007 – 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel

Come join Fr. Tim Vakoc and his family as they celebrate the 15th anniversary of Fr. Tim’s ordination. In addition, those gathered will give thanks for the slow, but steady, progress Fr. Tim has made on his road to recovery. This celebratory Mass will commemorate both his ordination, which occurred on May 29, 1992, and his wounding in Iraq, which he sustained on May 29, 2004.


See more recent information here on Father Tim Vakoc, (pron. "Vakitch") recovering U.S. Army Chaplain (Major) from wounds in Iraq.

St Paul Cathedral Cornerstone Centennial June 1 - 3

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Cathedral Cornerstone Centennial
Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3
Cathedral of St. Paul
239 Selby Ave., St. Paul
Cost: FREE (except for food and beverages, $6 for Friday picnic supper)

The Cathedral of Saint Paul celebrates its 100th anniversary of
the laying of the Cornerstone of this magnificent Cathedral.

The weekend is marked with a parade, concerts, prayer,
fireworks, and a festival. Come and join the fun! Celebrate 100
years of faith at the Cathedral of Saint Paul!

Schedule at a glance

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2007:

Noon: Wreath Laying Ceremony at the site of the first Cathedral of Saint Paul
1:00-6:00 p.m.: Guided tours of the Cathedral
5:00-7:30 p.m.: Cornerstone Centennial Picnic supper
- Entertainment by the Middle Creek Spunk Boys

8:00 p.m.: Choral Festival at the Cathedral
followed by an ice cream reception & fireworks

SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 2007:

10:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: Booths open
11:00 a.m.: Cathedral Cornerstone Centennial Parade from the Capitol to the Cathedral
1:15 p.m.: "Ringing Bells for Peace" - Bring bells from home!
1:30-6:30 p.m.: Guided tours of the Cathedral
2:00-6:30 p.m.: Entertainment on Festival stage
7:00 p.m.: Solemn Mass at the Cathedral

SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2007:

1:00 p.m.: Guided tour of the Cathedral
2:00 p.m.: Interfaith Prayer Service
6:00 p.m.: Solemn Vespers and Benediction

Celebrating the Cathedral of St Paul

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One place has brought together thousands of people from across the world and this weekend, the Cathedral of Saint Paul will do it again. It will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the day the cornerstone was laid. [...snip] Read it all with slide show WCCO

It's Alive! 2:37 pm Stork Standard Time, Ustron Poland

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Momma is sitting down again, so it might be a while before the "chick" (?) fully emerges. And it might take several days for all of them to hatch.

Father Tim Vakoc, Wounded Combat Chaplain: The Healing Continues

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Please Pray For Father Tim's Recovery!

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This wonderful season of new life strikes me as just the right time to give you an update on the condition of Father Tim Vakoc, the first U.S. military chaplain wounded in the Iraq war. I say “just the right time” because the news about Father Tim is both hopeful and upbeat – so much so that the story is brimming with new life all on its own. If this doesn’t reflect the power of prayer, I don’t know what does.

Father Tim, you might remember, suffered a terrible head injury when a roadside bomb exploded near his unit three years ago. His wounds were uncomfortably close to being fatal. He survived, however – just barely – and was flown back to the U.S. and ultimately to the Veterans Administration Medical Center in his home Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. As I wrote last year: “He has received wonderful care, of course, but the outlook hasn’t always been bright. Most of the time, in fact, it’s been downright discouraging.”

Still, prayers on his behalf were working overtime. A year ago I relayed the promising story of a slight improvement in Father Tim’s condition, reported by Linda Louie, one of the friends invited by his family to be among his regular visitors.

Now the reports are even more encouraging. I caught up with them in AMS News, the newsletter published by the (U.S.) Military Archdiocese, which reprinted a recent story written by Jeremy Olson of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. Briefly, here are the highlights:

After a year of therapy at the VA Medical Center, Father Tim had little strength in his legs and was able to move his left hand and wrist slightly – nothing more. Speaking was apparently out of the question. Doctors told Father Tim’s family that his recovery probably would progress no further.

Family and friends thought otherwise. The prayers continued, and so did the miracles. Continuing his exercise therapy, the chaplain gained balance and added strength. The tube in his throat was removed last summer, and he spoke his first clear words two months later. In December he was strong enough to be discharged from the VA facility, and became a resident of St. Therese nursing home in New Hope, Minn.

The healing, and the hard work of therapy, go on. Father Tim has a laptop touch-screen communicator on which he’s able to provide not only simple yes-or-no answers, but can indicate some basic wishes. “I need a break from talking” is one of them. From someone who hadn’t uttered a word for more than two years, it’s a powerful thought.

A highlight of his recovery – his recovery so far, that is – came not long ago when he attended the annual award banquet at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, his old high school in St. Louis Park. He was seated in a wheelchair and a friend lowered a microphone in front of him, asking him for a greeting. As Jeremy Olson reported: “For 20 seconds, only the gymnasium lights hummed in the quiet. ‘Thank you,’ Father Vakoc said. Silence returned as he labored for breath. ‘And,’ he whispered, ‘God ... love ... you.’”

Father Tim Vakoc, priest and chaplain, gives honor every day to both of his callings. His ministry goes on as he inspires all those with whom he comes in contact. And as for the power of prayer? Never count it out. Catholic Online

An Update from Father Tim's Sister, Anita:

Greetings.

This is Father Tim's sister. He has made even more progress. Today the 30th is Father Tim's 15th anniversary as a priest. Yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of his injury.

He continues on his healing road. The prayer support and people support is truly a blessing.

The staff at St Therese work him hard. Speech has worked with Tim so he now is eating a little. Oatmeal. Yes it is a long way from a steak and a scotch but it is a huge step forward. He is now able to receive communion when he goes to daily mass. Physical Therapy has him on a recumbent step machine and in a standing table. And his head is so much straighter. Occupational Therapy has him using his right arm and doing some of his ADLS.

Please continue the prayers. Miracles do happen.

Anita

Celebration for Father Tim Vakoc, St Therese's, New Hope, Sunday, June 10, 2007

Caring Bridge, Vakoc Family Site

"Father Tim Updates", Fabrizio Azzola, Catholic Online Forum

Novena to St Michael for Father Tim Vakoc

St Paul Seminary Honors War-Wounded Priest, KARE-11, April 27, 2007

Chaplain injured in Iraq to receive seminary's Distinguished Alumnus Award today, St Thomas Bulletin, April 26, 2007

"A Prayer for Father Tim", StarTribune, Slide Show with Narration, December 15, 2006

"A Prayer for Father Tim", StarTribune, Article, December 15, 2006

He Could No Longer Explain Why He Wasn’t Catholic

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Tim Drake, National Catholic Register's Senior Writer, who gets to work from his home in St Joseph, MN, has got a great article this week, profiling Francis Beckwith, former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, former because he has now returned to the Catholic Church.

Until a few weeks ago, Francis Beckwith served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society, an association of 4,300 Protestant theologians.

That was until he made the announcement on the Right Reason blog of his return to the Catholic faith of his youth. Beckwith returned to the Church after 32 years as an evangelical. The online “storm” that followed led Beckwith to resign as president of the prestigious society. [...Snip] Read it All in the NCRegister

New Members of the USCCB National Review Board Include Fargo Psychiatrist

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Judge Michael R. Merz, of Dayton, Ohio, has been named chair of the National Review Board (NRB) by Bishop William S. Skylstad, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Judge Merz’s appointment becomes effective June 1. He succeeds Patricia O’Donnell Ewers, Ph.D. as chair. He was named an NRB member in 2004.

In accepting appointment, Judge Merz said he would continue the Board’s strong role as lay collaborators with the bishops in protecting children, healing the damage done by abuse, and preventing its recurrence. “Our present goals,” he said, “are to complete the Causes and Context study, to audit Charter programs in place to ensure they are effective, and to recommend to the bishops best practices in implementing the Charter.”

Bishop Skylstad also named four new board members: Emmet M. Kenney, Jr., M.D.; Diane M. Knight, ACSW, CISW; Robert C. Kohm, J.D.; and Susan Steibe-Pasalich, Ph.D.
[...Snip]
Dr. Kenney is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist at Prairie St. John’s, a Catholic health care organization offering psychiatric and chemical dependency services in Fargo, North Dakota. He has worked at Prairie St. John’s since 1996. He is a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine. He is an executive council member of the Northern Lights Council of the Boy Scouts of America and a member of the board of directors of the Dorothy Day House, Moorhead, Minnesota; and the Fargo Catholic Schools Network Council.
[...Snip]
The National Review Board was established by the USCCB in June, 2002, when the bishops adopted their Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The board’s purpose is to collaborate with the USCCB to prevent sexual abuse of minors by persons in the service of the Church in the United States. USCCB

Another "late vocation" starts with Mass in childhood church; God is good!

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As a kid, growing up in Janesville, Matt Fasnacht spent an hour just about every Sunday in beautiful St. Ann’s Catholic Church.

How fitting it was, then, that the first Mass he presided over as a priest was celebrated yesterday at his hometown church.

Fasnacht “Mass of Thanksgiving” — a new priest’s first Mass — took place Sunday under a perfect blue spring sky in Janesville. With several hundred well-wishers packed in pews and overflowing to the church entryway, Fasnacht’s career of celebrating mass began in the same building his religious life did decades ago.

“It was a great joy,” he said afterward. “It was very overwhelming. I’m just very thankful to God.”

While no two journey’s to a life of religion are alike, Fasnacht’s must certainly be among the more unique. He tells it like this:

After attending church regularly as a kid, his interest in the Catholic mass went the way of most teenaged boys — out the window. While he didn’t entirely abandon his faith, he certainly paid less attention to it than other aspects of his life.

He says he was living what he calls a secular life until, in his early 20s, a series of events occurred that drove him to his current occupation. He recalls being 23 years old when he began to feel an emptiness inside. He noticed it affecting him in subtle ways.

Slowly, he began wondering about God and whether turning back to his faith would help him get rid of the emptiness he felt inside. The feeling grew stronger — almost unexplainably intense — and he decided to follow it. He began to attend church regularly again. He returned to the Bible. He prayed. He woke up one day to the feeling of a spirit-like presence all around him. He wept, certain that it was God calling to him.

Then, on an April Sunday several years ago, he was attending Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica in Minneapolis when a similar but much more intense feeling overcame him. He sobbed uncontrollably until he says God communicated to him the message that prayer is powerful.

He enrolled in a seminary. The rest is history. He was ordained Saturday in Winona. And on Sunday, he became a practicing priest.

Fasnacht’s ordination is the Winona Diocese’s only one this year.

“Over the past several years, we have not had as many vocations to the priesthood,” said Rose Hammes, a spokeswoman for the Winona Diocese. “But the numbers are growing. It’s cyclical. There’s a lot of young men very much affected by (former Pope) John Paul II.”

Marny Fasnacht, Matt’s mom, attended Saturday’s ordination and was seated in the front row of St. Ann’s to watch her son run the show. Even his grandparents, Jack and Peggy Sexton, formerly of Mankato, flew in from New Mexico for the event.

“He’s fired up for the Lord,” Marny Fasnacht said. “We’re very proud of him. Couldn’t be prouder.”

She was also proud of another son who made news in Janesville, although itwasn’t the kind of news anyone wants to be the center of. On her wrist was a black bracelet bearing the name of Lt. Michael Fasnacht, who was killed in Iraq on June 8, 2005.

The back of the program for Sunday’s Mass read: “This Mass was offered for 1st Lt. Michael J. Fasnacht out of love
and devotion.” Mankato Free Press

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Matt Fasnacht was studying to be a Roman Catholic priest when his older brother Michael, an Army Ranger, was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2005. Instead of causing him to question his faith, the loss renewed his determination to enter the priesthood.

"It's so painful and harsh. You either run from it, or you trust in God even more," says Fasnacht, 32. "I became closer to God." USA Today

"Steubenville North 1" to Meet in Rochester, June 15-17

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The Franciscan University of Steubenville will be hosting a Youth Conference in Rochester on June 15-17. The conference will be held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota.The conference will be held at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota. For information, or to register go to: www.franciscanyouth.com

St. Peter Claver graduates first class since reopening

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From left, eighth-graders Abigail Awode and Allias Porter work on vocabulary during language arts class at St. Peter Claver School in St. Paul. They will be in the school’s first graduating class since it reopened five years ago.

Seven eighth-graders at St. Peter Claver School in St. Paul will make school history June 5 as the first graduating class since the school reopened in 2001.

“It’s a very proud day for the parish,” said Father Kevin McDonough, pastor of St. Peter Claver.

St. Peter Claver School first opened in 1950 to serve the urban, majority African-American community of St. Paul’s Rondo neighborhood. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, St. Peter Claver School flourished. But in 1989, it closed due to a lack of funding and dwindling enrollment.

In 2001, with strong parish support, St. Peter Claver School reopened with between 50 and 60 students in kindergarten through third grade. Each subsequent year, an additional grade level has been added. Today the student population consists of 150 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Principal Teresa Mardenborough came out of retirement from the St. Paul Public Schools to take control of the school in 2002.

“I prayerfully discerned whether or not to come to St. Peter Claver School because I knew what it was going to take” to make the school succeed, Mardenborough said. “I came to St. Peter Claver School purely because of my love for my parish and because there was a need I could help with.”

Though Mardenborough had intended to stay only for a short time, after five years, she said she has not regretted one day.

“When I see the way students are achieving, when I see how parents understand or are beginning to understand what we are trying to achieve, it makes it very clear to me why I came,” she added.

The first year Mardenborough was principal, she doubled enrollment. More than 20 students have been added each year since 2002.

The first and second grades have reached their capacity for the 2007-2008 school year. Other grade levels are nearing capacity, with students coming from all over the metro area, Mardenborough said. [...Snip] Catholic Spirit

The Catholic Spirit is looking for a Web Page Coordinator: Call your Catholic Geek Friends; Or Convert One of Them!

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The Catholic Spirit Web site coordinator is expected to work in collaboration with all departments of the publishing company to develop and maintain a useful, interactive Web site for the publishing company. In collaboration with the news team, the Web coordinator will gather, develop and create content appropriate for Web users and execute placement of that content on the Web site in as timely a manner as each situation demands. The Web coordinator will place and monitor all advertising on the Web site and will collaborate with other departments to create content pages with advertising, marketing and news potential. The Web coordinator will keep abreast of technological advances to enhance the Web site, and will keep abreast of local, national and international news to ensure Web news content is timely and relevant.

Required attributes: 1. Knowledge of 1Up software OR the ability to quickly master it. 2. Tech savvy – Mac skilled 3. Understanding of audience for online products 4. Awareness of potential for online product as a ministry 5. Awareness of potential for online product as a revenue source 6. Awareness of potential for online product as a service 7. Creative idea person 8. Ability to turn ideas into reality on the Web 9. Active Catholic faith life 10. Willingness to meet with advertisers to learn their needs and offer suggestions for copy and style. 11. Understanding of other software with possible Web applications, such as credit card functions. 12. Problem solving attitude. Bachelor’s degree in communications or related field required.

Position reports to the associate publisher and editor.

Send resumes with samples of work/links to your work on the Web to: gibbsm@archspm.org Mary Gibbs
The Catholic Spirit
244 Dayton Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55102

Google, Inc.'s Memorial Day Logo

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Google, Inc.'s Persian New Years Logo
(ayd-e no rooz)

Limbo is part and parcel of God's Infinite Mercy, say the Theologians!

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I'll buy that. The Lord said "My Father's house has many mansions [John 14:2]." Some are probably a tad nicer than others. The Blessed Virgin's, for example. What's so improbable about the Lord God providing an eternal reward for the totally innocent?

(Zenit.org).- The key concept for the recently released study on the theological concept of limbo is hope based on God's mercy, said the secretary of the International Theological Commission.

Jesuit Father Luis Ladaria explained why the commission theologians decided to study the question of salvation for infants who die without baptism.

Father Ladaria, a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University, said it was urgent to reflect on the salvation of these infants.

The 41-page document, "The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die without Being Baptized," was released April 20 and posted on the Vatican Web site on Sunday.

Father Ladaria said it is necessary to remember that limbo "is a theory with no explicit basis in Revelation" and is a concept that "was progressively abandoned in recent times."

He said the theologians who have reflected on this theme over the last few years concluded that "from a theological point of view, the development of a theology of hope and an ecclesiology of communion, together with a recognition of the greatness of divine mercy, challenge an unduly restrictive view of salvation."

Beatific vision

The document, Father Ladaria told ZENIT, concludes that "there are theological and liturgical grounds for hope that unbaptized infants who die will be saved and enjoy the beatific vision."

The key concept of this document, said the theologian, is hope, based on God’s mercy.

The Jesuit said the document touches on pastoral and doctrinal points and recalled that it is not a teaching of the magisterium, but a text with "a certain theological authority."

The function of the International Theological Commission is to help the Holy See to examine doctrinal questions of great importance.

The commission is made up of theologians from various schools and nations. The members are named by the Pope after receiving suggestions from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and consulting the respective episcopal conferences. ZE07052815

"There aren't many feasts where I can praise God and look like a tart"

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The Ironic Catholic sure has a way with words!

Top Cannes Award For Harrowing Romanian Abortion Film

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Terry, at Abbey-Roads2, has blogged on the Romanian film depicting a mid-term abortion that had the world's "cultural elite at the Cannes Film Festival glued to their seats to the point that they sat through it and ultimately rewarded the film with their top prize, the Palme D'Or. Read about it here but be warned that there is a disturbing image that you should also look at.

You can find the news article reporting about the award here.

Terry rightfully wonders if the movie will be "Banned in Boston" for frightening people out of having abortions.

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Archdiocesan Marriage Day Celebration: Saturday, June 16, 10:00 a.m., St Paul Cathedral

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All couples celebrating silver and golden anniversaries in the 2007 calendar year are invited to join Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn, Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis for Mass, on Saturday, June 16, 10:00 a.m., at the St Paul Cathedral for a renewal of vows and a short reception.

Couples married over 50 years will also be honored and are invited to attend. Families and friends of honored couples welcome!

For more information, call 651-291-4488 or visit www.archspm.org/family. Sponsored by the Archdiocesan Office for Family, Laity, Youth and Young Adults.

Rainbow Sash Demonstration at Cathedral a Washout!

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Inveterate church shopper that I am, I slept in late this morning and went to the 12:00 at the St Paul Cathedral to observe and pray, pray and observe, as the local Rainbow Sash organization had put out a call to all of its minions to make a show of force on Pentecost in honor of our new Coadjutor Archbishop John Nienstedt of New Ulm. They have heard rumors that he might be conservative and they want to remind him and Archbishop Flynn "that our glbt sexuality is a gift from God, which we proudly celebrate on Pentecost."

Well, the 12:00 Mass is the last of the morning Masses and as could be expected on a nice Spring day, there were only a few hundred in attendance, total, in the large structure. As I had forgotten to bring my customary disguise, I decided not to walk up and down the aisles doing a "sash count" but waited until after Communion, when they were all committed to stand in defiance of GIRM instructions to do my count.

I did note one Pharisee and his daughter, both be-sashed up in the front pew. He genuflected on both knees to display his reverence. His teenage daughter didn't think genuflecting was necessary.

The celebrant was Father J.P. Erickson, the assistant pastor (wash my mouth out with soap if you ever hear me saying "Parochial Vicar") of the Cathedral. There was a con-celebrant whose name I didn't catch and two deacons were present for the Communion. Father Erickson gave a short admonition before Communion, noting that the reception of Holy Communion was a Sacrament and an awesome sacred experience and not an occasion for protesting. Those wearing sashes were asked to remove them if they wanted to receive Communion. They would be refused if they came with the sash on. Other members of the congregation were asked not to interfere with anybody wearing a sash.

Communion is received only under one species at the Cathedral. Lay Extraordinary Ministers were sent to handle the rear pews. No doubt it was assumed that the demonstrators would want to confront the priests, not laypeople. The priests and deacons remained at the altar rails.

Everything went smoothly, all of the be-sashed were refused Communion and in my view only one incident occurred when a non-sashed person did not consume the Sacred Host but kept it in his hand and with a smirky smile gave it to the Pharisee's daughter.

After the priests had finished purifying the sacred vessels and had sat down, I did turn around and counted maybe 20 people still standing, resplendent in their sashes.

Not much of a turnout, I would say. Mass soon ended. And somehow the Pharisee forgot to genuflect when he left at the end of Mass when nobody but me was watching him.

Battle of the St Paul Centennials

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The electrons were hardly dry when I posted on the St Paul Cathedral's Centennial celebration which begins next Sunday when all of a sudden, news of the Assumption Parish's Sesquicentennial (That's a "Centennial-and-a-half") hit the monitor, also beginning next weekend. For those familiar with Catholic history, it is not surprising that the Germans didn't like going to Irish churches, and vice versa; so when Archbishop Ireland (sic) build his two mammoth structures as "co-cathedrals" in St Paul and Minneapolis, the Germans probably just poured more money in their parish, which predates both of them by 50 years.

The Irish have taken over Assumption Catholic Church, which once was known as the German Cathedral.

"Social progress," said Father John Malone, longtime pastor at the historic downtown St. Paul church.

But there remain a substantial number of families in the congregation with German roots. So, for festivals, the church's heritage often is honored with brats and beer in the parking lot.

"The Irish will put up with the brats as long as there's beer," Malone said, laughing.

This will be a brat-filled summer at the church where German was spoken until World War I, when the language became too politically volatile to be acceptable.

Beginning next Sunday, Assumption will be celebrating its 150th anniversary.
[...Snip]
German immigrants built the first Assumption at what is now 51 W. 7th St. in 1857. Construction on the current two-spire building, built from the same plans as the Ludwigskirche in Munich, began in 1871. That means it's older than the State Capitol (1905), the Cathedral (1907) and the St. Mary's Basilica in Minneapolis (1914).

"The oldest landmark in the Twin Cities," Malone points out. [....Snip] StarTribune

I won't quibble with the definition of the word "landmark" with Father Malone as one can make a case that the Missisisippi River and maybe even "Pilot Knob" could be considered to be "landmarks" but the current extent of the "TwinCities" has expanded far beyond it first two urban burgs.

So the good parishioners of St Peter's parish in Mendota, founded as a French church in 1840, might like to point out that the construction of it's historic stone church began in 1853, four years before Assumption in St Paul. It is still used today.

Cathedral of St Paul Timeline

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1841 Log chapel built on Mississippi riverfront and named for St. Paul.

1851 The log chapel becomes the first Cathedral of St. Paul after arrival of Bishop Joseph Cretin.

1858 First mass is celebrated at the third cathedral.

1888 Rome creates the Archdiocese of St. Paul, and John Ireland becomes its first archbishop.

1896 Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, later known as F. Scott Fitzgerald, is baptized at the Cathedral.

1904 Ireland decides to build a new cathedral on St. Anthony Hill, overlooking downtown St. Paul, and selects Emmanuel Masqueray as architect.

1907 Cornerstone is laid for the new cathedral.

1915 Ireland celebrates the first mass in the new cathedral, before congregation of 2,500.

1958 With interior work essentially complete, the cathedral is consecrated by Archbishop William Brady.

1962 Two weeks before the Cuban missile crisis, John F. Kennedy, the first Catholic president, attends Sunday mass at the cathedral.

1987 Five new bells are installed.

2000 $25 million restoration project begins to restore the copper dome and clean the cathedral's exterior.

2002 A new cross is installed on the cathedral dome, marking the end of the restoration project.
StarTribune

Centennial Celebration Plans

The Story of the Cathedral of St Paul

Chrism Cathy of Alex Does It Again!

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The featured star of St Blog's Parish this weekend on both Amy Welborn's fabulously popular Open Book and the National Catholic Register is none other than our own recently confirmed Cathy of Alex, who blogs at Recovering Dissident Catholic and has a tremendous following.

Tim Drake's (Senior Writer from St Joseph, MN) article in the NCRegister deals with the role of the Internet in Cathy's (Janice LaDuke) reversion back to the Church a couple of years ago.

Don't pay attention to her post for May 27, though!

Do What You Can - God Understands

Mitchell, once again.

Apropos of the expected Rainbow Sash hubbub on Pentecost Sunday, I was struck by the following from the June/July issue of First Things. In it, Fr. Neuhaus quotes David Gelernter, professor of computer science at Yale University.

Gelernter is probably best known for surviving an attack by the Unibomber (about which he wrote in the excellent Drawing Life), and his marvelous book on the 1939 New York World’s Fair, 1939: The Lost World of the Fair. He’s also a noted writer and critic on culture and society.

In this month’s First Things, Gelernter is writing of the recent decision by the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) of New York to accept gay students for the rabbinate. While the excerpt below refers to Judaism and the rabbinate, I think the logic involved regarding the view of homosexuality is particularly appropriate when considering the question of homosexuality and the Catholic Church, as well as serving as a prime example of how Catholicism grew out of Judaism. (It also serves as a pretty good defense of the all-male priesthood, but that’s a topic for another time.) Gelernter’s words and Fr. Neuhaus’ commentary:

Gelernter, who is writing a book in Jewish theology, does not want to read gays or lesbians (women were admitted to the rabbinate a few years ago) out of Judaism, but he notes that not every Jew is qualified to be a rabbi.”‘Do what you can – God understands.’ That is Judaism’s view – the view of normative, rabbinic, ‘orthodox’ Judaism. But consider the case of a Jew who openly refuses to keep kosher, and loves ham sandwiches. In this respect he is not a good Jew – but he might be a good human being … A rabbi is a teacher and must do his best to show us how a Jew should live. We don’t expect our rabbis to be perfect, but we do expect them to do their best to show the way. A rabbi is like an officer in the Israeli army – he is expected to lead his men into battle and to say, ‘Follow me!’” The openly gay rabbinical candidate, writes Gelernter, is saying, “I have an urge to commit homosexual acts, which I can’t or won’t suppress.” Like a married candidate who says the same about his urge to commit adultery, such a student should be told to “find another line of work.” In the Talmud, writes Gelernter, there are only three sins for which a Jew must be prepared to pay the price of martyrdom rather than commit: idolatry, murder, and illicit sexual relations. In view of the decision of JTS, says Gelernter, “we learn, at last, what it is to live in a world where nothing is sacred.” It is perhaps more accurate to say that we live in a world where, for many Jews and non-Jews, nothing is more sacred than the expression of one’s “authentic self” as defined by one’s chosen identity and desires, including sexual desires. Which, of course, abrogates both the prohibition of illicit sexual relations and of idolatry, in this case the idolatry of the authentic self.

The point, it seems to me, is twofold: 1) it is a reinforcement of the “love the sinner, not the sin” motto that we are all familiar with; and 2) it shows that there are, in fact, things that are to be considered privileges and not rights, and that furthermore there are good reasons why such privileges are not available simply for the asking.

“In this respect he is not a good Jew – but he might be a good human being.” Could we not say that about our brethren who do not follow Catholic teachings? They may be good human beings, all in all – and God will not ignore this. Nonetheless, they are not “good” Catholics in the sense that, by their choice, they do not live by the teachings of the Catholic Church. This is not something that can be ignored, or simply wished away. For teachings, for beliefs, for standards – for truth – to mean anything, there have to be consequences. Life is full of them – the consequences of breaking the law, of eating too much, of original sin. Maybe some of them are fair, some not – but the consequences are real nonetheless.

“We don’t expect our rabbis to be perfect, but we do expect them to do their best to show the way.” Such is the way of the Christian witness, the calling to show others the way to leading a Christian life. This is a profound responsibility, and its greatest potential for impact on others comes from how the Christian life is lived in view of others – in other words, publicly. None of us are perfect, but our best efforts are required.

In showing others the way, we reflect not only on ourselves, but on that which we profess to believe. And therefore the question comes down to this: do we believe the teachings of the Catholic Church or not? And can we truthfully say that our behavior – private as well as public – coincides with, reflects, that belief? Again to quote a familiar saying, if we were accused of being orthodox Catholics, would there exist the evidence to convict us?

And so sometimes the consequences are unhappy ones, and it becomes an unhappy duty to comment on them. It should always be done with charity rather than righteousness – and, yes, even a little sadness. But on the other hand, are we really so arrogant as to suppose God is incapable of understanding us without resort to means of human measurements? As in, "I must be allowed to do x in order to reach true fulfillment, to realize my ultimate potential." Realized in the eyes of others, perhaps, but God surely is capable of deeper understanding than that. "Do what you can - God understands."

We are all called to our vocations to display our gifts, to assume our roles, to do our work, to show others the way. Each of those vocations is unique, all equally borne of dignity from God, as is anything which He creates. And while they are all equally dignified, they are not all for everyone. Sometimes by circumstance – and sometimes by choice.