Father Robert Altier's July Schedule at Regina AND St Augustine's

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The Desert Voice Newsletter and website provides the following information about Father Robert Altier:

Fr. Altier will be filling in for Fr. Echert at St. Augustine’s parish in South St. Paul where he will pray one Mass every week on Sunday. The schedule for July is as follows:

July 9 at 11:30 am (Tridentine Mass)
July 16 at 7 am
July 23 at 7 am
July 30 at 11:30 am (Tridentine Mass)
Address: St. Augustine Church, 249 5^th Avenue North, South Saint Paul, Minnesota

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The regular Mass schedule at the Regina Nursing Home is
Monday – Saturday at 9 am
Sunday at 10 am
Confessions beginning at 3 pm on Saturdays
Address: 1175 Nininger Road, Hastings, MN

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Many of you have asked if recordings are available of Father Altier’s talks, and so we’d like to pass along some information about how to get copies of these. DesertVoice is not affiliated with the following media organizations and

Fr. Altier does not receive any money from sales. We are only providing this information as a service to you until the DesertVoice website can be fully operational once again, providing his inspiring words to you free of charge.

1. Father Altier’s famous catechism series, Fundamentals of Catholicism, is available through AVE Media, Inc. Here’s a copy of their ad:

Fr. Robert Altier is famous for his homilies and talks on the Catholic Faith. AVE Media, Inc., now presents his "Fundamentals of Catholicism" series live on video before an audience at St. Agnes Church, St. Paul, MN. Father Altier's 12-week course, with 23 solid lessons in the Catholic Faith is available in the following formats:

12 DVD set - $78
12 VHS tape set - $88
23 Audio CDs - $88

Wise. Entertaining. Absolutely reliable. One of a Kind. That's Father Altier. Ideal for catechetical students, introductory classes, RCIA, non-Catholics and Catholics alike. If you want to know -- or to teach -- what the Church Teaches this course is for you. Write or phone:

AVE Media, Inc.
525 Thomas Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55103
(651) 291-7777

2. Cassettes of the "Fundamentals of Catholicism" series and over 150 other talks by Father Altier are available through Divine Mercy Tapes (651) 454-8800 and Leaflet Missal Company in Saint Paul, MN.

3. Talks given by Fr. Altier at the Annual Central Minnesota Eucharistic Conference are available through Twin Hearts Media.

Catholic Media for the Twin Cities
TWIN HEARTS MEDIA
14815 Aberdeen Street NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304
Phone: (763) 757-4282 www.twinheartsmedia.org

Audiotape Order Form

2006 Conference Talks Last Years 2005 Conference Talks

___1) Talk #1 on Tape or CD ___4) The Eucharist + Homily #1

by Father. Robert Altier by Father. Robert Altier on Tape only

___2) Talk #2 on Tape or CD ___5) Love of the Real Presence + Homily #2

by Father. Robert Altier by Father. Robert Altier on Tape only

___3) Talk #3 on Tape or CD ___6) The Tree of Life and the Battle for Souls

by Father. Robert Altier by Father. Robert Altier on Tape only

___7) The Power of Prayer in Homeschooling

Recorded June 3, 2006 at the MN Home Education Conference

by Father. Robert Altier on Tape or CD

Number of Individual Tapes or CD____ x $(suggested donation):____________

Number of Complete Sets_______x $(suggested donation):____________

Make checks payable to

TOTAL DONATION Twin Hearts Media Inc
a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation

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For more Catholic tapes or past conference presentations go to www.twinheartsmedia.org

New Magazine Displays Talent of Young Catholic Writers, Artists

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Dappled Things, a new literary magazine that aims to nurture talent among young Catholic poets, essayists, storytellers, photographers, and artists, recently launched its third issue online (www.dappledthings.org) and is currently working towards releasing a print edition next December. The magazine seeks to feed the faith and delight the imagination of readers of all ages.

The founding board members of Dappled Things are college, graduate, and seminary students and young professionals. They are energized by the ubiquitous signs of renewal in the Church. Young people are flocking to religious life, exploring the Catholic intellectual tradition, rediscovering devotions and pilgrimages, and reintroducing to American public consciousness the great adventure that is the faithful Catholic life. [snip] Catholic OnLine

Joy Wambeke, wife of local Lumen Fidei blogger, Dan, who is enrolled in the Pastoral Theology Institute of Ave Maria University's Green Bay branch, was published in Dappled Thing's second issue as we mentioned a couple of months ago.

Terry, Fashion Maven and Blog World Star!

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Terry the Fashion Maven from Leaflet Missal has hit the big time, blog-wise.

National Catholic Register is featuring his Rome-ing Catholics blog [he also has Abbey-Roads] on their home page today! Let this be a tip to all of you. He's only been blogging since February, so if you can write a bit (spelling not necessary), you can attract attention quickly! So get your own blog. They're free at Blogger and other sites.

First Day of the Novena For Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel -- July 7

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Novena For Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel

Glorious Virgin Mary! Queen of Carmel, Mother of God and of poor sinners;

Special Protectress of all who wear Thy holy Scapular.

I ask Thee to obtain for me the pardon of my sins, amendment of my life

Salvation of my soul, comfort in my suffering, and particularly, the grace I now ask:

Feast Day of Our Lady of Mt Carmel, July 16

Novena Dates: July 7-July 15
Tip O' The Hat To Catholic NewsNet

Iowa Catholic bishops support controversial reform for U.S. border policy

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When the Rev. Kevin Cameron, pastor of Our Lady of the Americas parish in east Des Moines, looks out over the congregation at Sunday Mass, he can see the pain caused by the U.S. immigration system reflected in the faces of many of his parishioners.
[snip]
The growing disconnect between the reality of immigrants' lives and the federal immigration system has led Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Charron to take a stand to encourage priests in the Des Moines Diocese to educate parishioners about the plight of immigrants and the church's stand on immigration reform.
[snip]
Charron asked priests to distribute the Iowa Catholic Conference statement on immigration reform to parishioners. In it, the conference, which represents the state's four Catholic diocese politically, states that immigration debate lacks the Christian mandate to "welcome the stranger."

"The love of God does not stop at national boundaries," the statement reads. "Immigrants crossing into the United States are in need of the love of neighbor that was commanded by Jesus."

The statement, reflecting the thinking of Charron, Dubuque Archbishop Jerome Hanus, Davenport Bishop William Franklin and Sioux City Bishop J. Walker Nickless, agrees that the United States has a right to secure its borders and that illegal immigration creates difficulties for people on both sides of the border.

"But efforts to patrol and secure our borders must be balanced with careful attention to protect the human rights of all immigrants," the statement said. [snip] DesMoines Register

St Paul's, Sauk Center, Celebrated Church Building Centennial

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“My brothers and sisters in Christ. You don’t look 100 years old, nor does the building.” Looking over the filled pews of St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre on Sunday, June 25, Bishop John Kinney offered these words during a celebration Mass. The Mass was con-celebrated by the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud; guest priests Father Fintan Bromenshenkel, Father Elmer Torborg and Father Tim Wenzel; current pastor Father Todd Schneider and Deacon Thomas McFadden.

Also attending the day-long event was Father Sylvester Kleinschmidt, Father James Statz, Father Richard McGuire and Father Pascal Otieno Ounga. It was all in honor of the 100th anniversary of the building of the church structure. The day-long celebration included a meal at the Holy Family School cafeteria catered by Sassy’s and a variety show put on by parishioners. While St. Paul’s Parish was formed in 1870. The cornerstone for this church building was laid in April of 1904 and construction completed.

The first Mass and dedication by Bishop Trobec was on April 25, 1906. Bishop Kinney made reference to how Bishop Trobec arrived at St. Paul’s for this first Mass. “I was driving my Jeep here and I wondered how Bishop Trobec got here in 1906, either by buggy or train,” said Bishop Kinney, noting there were many swamps between St. Cloud and Sauk Centre. He added, back then the diocese was “only 17 years old.”

“With a show of hands, how many of you were here in 1906,” he asked, as the church erupted in laughter, and no one raised their hand. He praised former priests, the Franciscan sisters and the first six families for their “faith filled beginning.” “They are your ancestors in faith,” said the bishop. “Their accomplishments have led, not only to the beauty of this building, but the planting of that faith.” Looking down the road 100 years, Bishop Kinney asked one favor of the children sitting in the pews. “All of you children, with all the medical advances, you may be around when the next 100 years rolls around. And when the bishop asks you if you were here 100 years ago, you’ll remember this old crotchety bishop was here,” he said, speaking of himself. And they will also remember the first 100-year celebration. [snip] Sauk Herald

Bill Bennet, One of Your Brighter Guys, Has Another Book Out!

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"America, The Last Best Hope"

Here is an extract dealing with the explorations of the North American Continent by the French Jesuits, including the Saint and Martyr, Isaac Jogues and the Voyageurs:

Under the leadership of the courageous Samuel de Champlain, French objectives were the rich fur trade and the conversion of the Indians. Champlain made the hazardous passage across the Atlantic no less than twenty times between 1603 and 1633. He founded Quebec City in 1608. From this outpost, trappers and traders—known as coureurs de bois (forest runners)—ranged deep into the interior of the continent. These adventurous French Canadians traveled as far as the Dakotas before the English had advanced to the crest of the Appalachians.

Far ahead of his time, Champlain saw Canada as an ideal location for New France, for the building up of a distinct society in the New World. But the royal government at Versailles was unwilling to send political or religious dissidents, or even criminals, to populate New France. Thus, French colonization never achieved the impact that massive English emigration did in the Atlantic colonies. This fact also contributed to the generally more favorable relations the French enjoyed with the Indian tribes. Their settlements, largely trading posts, intruded less on the Indian way of life. Unlike the English, where the marriage of John Rolfe and Pocahontas was an exception, the French coureurs were more likely to take Indian wives. [snip] Read More

A Good Shepherd --- Today’s Bishops – Wielding Miter, Staff --- and Pen! Bishop Victor Galeone of St Augustine

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National Catholic Register
November 13-19, 2005

As bishops meet in Washington, D.C., Nov 14-17, 2005, the Register begins a series of articles looking at bishops as teachers. Among other bishops, the series will feature Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D.; Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo.; Archbishop John Myers of Newark, N.J.; Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Ariz.; Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Ore.

Today's Bishops -- Wielding Miter, Staff, . . . and Pen!
Bishop Victor Galeone of St Augustine, Fla.

by Tim Drake, Register Staff Writer

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ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Only two years after his installation as bishop of St. Augustine, Fla. in 2001, Bishop Victor Galeone released his first pastoral letter. Titled “Marriage: A Communion of Life and Love,” the letter addressed the sanctity of marriage
and the disorder of contraception. He didn’t expect the international response he received. Bishop Galeone’s first pastoral is one example of a trend among bishops today to press their role as teachers.

"I received well over 60 positive notes and e-mails from the laity and priests," said Bishop Galeone, who added that he got requests to publish it in Poland, Italy, Spain, Canada, Germany and Japan. "I am convinced that artificial contraception is a tumor growing in our society, and that it has been growing for years," he said. "Because of our silence, we bishops and priests are to blame."

He wrote in the pastoral, “Until the taproot of that disorder is cut, I fear that we will continue to reap the fruit of failed marriages and worsening sexual behavior at every level of society.”

When Pope Benedict XVI met with new bishops on Sept. 19, he stressed the bishops’ primary role as teachers. “Among your duties, I would like to underline that of being teachers of the faith,” said Pope Benedict. “As successors of the apostles you are ‘doctors of the faith,’ authentic doctors who, with the same authority of Christ, above all proclaim to the people the faith we must live and believe.”

This article marks the first in a Register series that will explore how some bishops are addressing the issues that most clergy have tended to avoid. Bishops across the United States are finding creative ways to address these very issues.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “episcopal consecration confers … the office of sanctifying…, teaching and ruling” (1558), but the bishop’s first task is “to preach the Gospel of God to all men” (888).

For many bishops, the pastoral letter remains one of the primary tools for teaching the faithful of his diocese. The use of pastoral letters goes back to the earliest generations of the Church and the New Testament epistles. Modern pastoral letters
often present a particular teaching by a bishop to his people and typically address a problem faced by his particular community.

Bishop Galeone has also released a more recent pastoral on stewardship. He also finds other ways to teach the faithful. He writes a letter in every issue of the diocesan bimonthly publication, St. Augustine magazine, which goes out to all parishioners in the diocese.

“I also meet with 65-75 businessmen four times a year, and have another four meetings each year with Catholic business women,” said Bishop Galeone. “I give 20- to 30- minute presentations.”

Jim Oliveros, a lifelong St. Augustine resident, said he has appreciated the bishop’s teaching. “There was a time in my life when
I didn’t know the Church’s teaching on contraception, and received misdirection from the clergy,” said Oliveros, an environmental consultant who is married and the father of four boys. “In our marriage, we saw the wisdom of the Church’s teaching. It’s been refreshing to have the bishop teaching and giving us guidance on issues that aren’t popular.”

Investment adviser Ellen Middleton has worked with the bishop on various diocesan committees. She has seen the bishop’s teaching in action. “The bishop’s breakfasts with businessmen and businesswomen are one of his teaching tools,” said
Middleton. “Last week, he spoke on intelligent design. He tells us what the teaching is and makes it clear what the Church teaches on the issues. He voices it with authority. He takes his teaching job seriously.”

John Paul Style

Papal biographer George Weigel said Pope John Paul II taught bishops how to be bishops. He said bishops today “had the
opportunity to watch a great teaching pontificate at work, so they’ve taken on the model of the bishop as evangelist and witness — as teacher of the enduring truths of Catholic faith.”

It isn’t just the new bishops who use John Paul as their model through the release of strong pastoral letters. The late Arlington, Va., Bishop John Keating released a teaching pastoral letter to his priests and flock on reverence for the Eucharist in December 1988. In February 1992, Cardinal Adam Maida, from the metropolitan Archdiocese of Detroit, released “Both in Life and Death We Are the Lords” addressing the immorality of assisted suicide.

Bishop Olmsted agreed with the defining role that Pope John Paul has played. “I am influenced by the example and exhortation of Pope John Paul II,” he said. “We saw in him someone who was very committed to evangelization. He had a real passion for catechesis and teaching. Most of us have been very influenced by him, especially those who have been bishops.”

Bishop Galeone said that Pope John Paul II “very definitely” played a role in how he exercises his office as bishop. “I had the privilege of meeting with him personally three times:in 1984, my Rome sabbatical; 2002, a workshop for new bishops; and 2004, my ad limina visit,” said Bishop Galeone. “But more important than the personal encounters have been his solid writings, his infectious priestly example and love for the Lord, and even some of his obiter dicta [incidental remarks], for example: ‘Parents, deprive your children of anything except another brother or sister."

For Bishop Galeone, the ultimate model is biblical. “When I put my head on the pillow each night I cannot go to sleep if I’m trying to gloss over something that needs to be addressed,” said Bishop Galeone. “I am simply following the instruction we hear in Ezekiel 33 about fraternal correction.

The Lord told Ezekiel that he was appointed watchman for his people. He says, ‘You shall warn my people for me.’ If I don’t live up to what God expects of me then I will have a harsher judgment.” That doesn’t mean speaking the truth with firmness is easy.

“No one likes to be ridiculed,” said Bishop Galeone. “You can’t worry about your image. You can’t sugarcoat the truth to make it appear not quite true.”

Weigel expects the example of a teaching pontificate to continue under Pope Benedict. Said Weigel, “I think the bishops of the immediate future will get the same type of inspiration, if in a different style, from Pope Benedict XVI.”

Tim Drake is based in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

How do you read the Bible? Synthetically? Or Analytically? -- Part 2

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Dan who blogs at Lumen Fidei, Stella Borealis' resident theology student, and whose wife, Joy, is a published author at Dappled Things, from time to time freshes or refreshes our reading habits. Last week he discussed the use of "synthesis" in reading the Bible. This week he adds more to the discussion:
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Because the art of reading Scripture synthetically was such an enlightening experience for me, I thought I'd provide another passage from John J. O'Keefe & R.R. Reno's book Sanctified Vision: An Introduction to Early Christian Interpretation of the Bible. In this passage they really capture the differences between how we "moderns" instinctively read Scripture, and how the "premoderns" did it:
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"To our surprise, our views about the Bible’s meaning were not held by premodern readers. Premodern readers assumed that events depicted in the Bible actually occurred as described, but surprisingly little of their interpretation depended on this assumption. They simply did not ask: “What is the event or truth to which the Bible refers?” For them, the text was woven into the fabric of truth by virtue of being scripture. As Irenaeus affirmed, “the scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His spirit.” For Irenaeus and for the patristic tradition in general, the Bible was not a perfect historical record. Scripture was, for them, the orienting, luminous center of a highly varied and complex reality, shaped by divine providence. It was true not by virtue of successfully or accurately representing any one event or part of this divinely ordained reality. Rather, the truth rested in the scripture’s power to illuminate and disclose the order and pattern of all things." [snip] Read More

Parishioner Wants Bible Studies Taken Out Of Mass

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An irate "Latin scholar" writes to The Catholic Spirit:

I am writing in response to one specific change to the Mass translation that was approved recently by the U.S. bishops; namely, the change adding “to come under my roof’” to the “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,” which we say just before receiving Communion. I have heard two reasons for this change.

First, it more accurately quotes the passage of Scripture; and second, it more accurately translates the Latin original text of the Mass.

At the risk of making a mountain out of molehill, I would like to offer my reaction.

First, I think the change misunderstands the liturgical use of Scripture. Liturgy adapts Scripture for the purposes of worship. It is not intended to be a Bible study. [snip] The Catholic Spirit

If that is the case, one wonders why so much time is wasted then at Mass in reading the Psalms, the Epistles and the Gospels and having homilies based upon them. This fellow could get out of Mass a half hour early if "Bible study" would be eliminated from it.

God save us from experts.

Boys of Summer Enjoy Fellowship and Fun in Softball League

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Every Wednesday evening during the summer, more than 300 Catholic men in the Slo-Timers League descend upon softball diamonds throughout St. Paul.

The league — for Catholic men in their 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s — has been going strong for more than 20 years and shows no signs of fading. Helping to guarantee that the league will continue to thrive is the vicar general of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Father Kevin McDonough. Also the pastor of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul, he plays catcher for his parish team.
[snip]
Currently, 10 parishes take part, fielding a total 22 teams. Some parishes have up to four teams. Nine of the 10 parishes are in St. Paul — Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Peter Claver, Holy Spirit, St. Mark, Lumen Christi, St. Columba, Nativity of Our Lord, St. Francis and St. Luke. The other parish is St. Michael in West St. Paul. [snip]
The Catholic Spirit

Editors Note: Sliding into second in a fun time league when you win 25 to 9? Not for this old man!

StP-M Archdiocese May Cut Staff Due to $4,000,000 Budget Shortage

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Some archdiocesan employees may lose their jobs as chancery officials devise ways to reduce expenses by $4 million per year, according to Father Kevin McDonough, archdiocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia.

Although the archdiocese is in good financial shape now, as reported in The Catholic Spirit in February, future budget projections call for restructuring and reducing personnel, said John Bierbaum, archdiocesan central services division director.

“We’ve got a couple of trends that don’t look good, and rather than wait for them to manifest themselves, we think we ought to act now,” he said. [snip] Read More

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BUDGET CUTS

Here are some of the financial steps the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is taking:

• Significant cuts to non-personnel expenses

• Frozen salaries for management employees.

• Plans to reduce some administrative staff. The number of positions to be eliminated has not yet been determined. The archdiocese will offer severance and outplacement support to employees whose positions will be eliminated.

• Reorganizing pastoral and educational leadership staff to focus more clearly on services to parishes.

— Statement from archdiocese

Happy Fourth of July! A Real Shooting Star!

Italy shocks Cup host Germany in OT

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If you need any Papal favors, tonight is not the night to ask for them.

LONGINQUA -- ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON CATHOLICISM IN THE UNITED STATES

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Longinqua oceani spatia

[A contemporary survey of the relationship of the United States with the Vatican]

LONGINQUA
ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON
CATHOLICISM IN THEUNITED STATES

To the Archbishops and Bishops of the United States.

We traverse in spirit and thought the wide expanse of ocean; and although We have at other times addressed you in writing - chiefly when We directed Encyclical Letters to the bishops of the Catholic world-yet have We now resolved to speak to you separately, trusting that We shall be, God willing, of some assistance to the Catholic cause amongst you. To this We apply Ourselves with the utmost zeal and care; because We highly esteem and love exceedingly the young and vigorous American nation, in which We plainly discern latent forces for the advancement alike of civilization and of Christianity.

2. Not long ago, when your whole nation, as was fitting, celebrated, with grateful recollection and every manifestation of joy, the completion of the fourth century since the discovery of America, We, too, commemorated together with you that most auspicious event, sharing in your rejoicings with equal good-will. Nor were We on that occasion content with offering prayers at a distance for your welfare and greatness. It was Our wish to be in some manner present with you in your festivities. Hence We cheerfully sent one who should represent Our person. [Archbishop Francis Satolli] Not without good reason did We take part in your celebration. For when America was, as yet, but a new-born babe, uttering in its cradle its first feeble cries, the Church took it to her bosom and motherly embrace. Columbus, as We have elsewhere expressly shown, sought, as the primary fruit of his voyages and labors, to open a pathway for the Christian faith into new lands and new seas. Keeping this thought constantly in view, his first solicitude, wherever he disembarked, was to plant upon the shore the sacred emblem of the cross. Wherefore, like as the Ark of Noe, surmounting the overflowing waters, bore the seed of Israel together with the remnants of the human race, even thus did the barks launched by Columbus upon the ocean carry into regions beyond the seas as well the germs of mighty States as the principles of the Catholic religion. [snip] More
Tip O' The Hat to Josephus at Cornell, who make his commentary about the use of Latin in this Encyclical

Somehow, I don't think Pope Paul VI Would Have Watched the World Cup

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Rocco the Exasperating who is generally correct and who blogs at Whispers in the Loggia, has an important message:

World Cup public service announcement

This is important: If you need to call Pope Benedict XVI for any reason Tuesday night [3:00 E.D.T], wait until halftime or risk a canonical trial. As Rocco Palmo reports:

It's definitely summer at the Vatican. Further proof of this is that the Pope, together with his trusty secretary, Msgr Georg Ganswein, and the four laywomen of the Memores Domini who assist in the papal apartment, will be spending Tuesday night watching the World Cup semifinal pitting the German pontiff's native side against the Italians.

This news comes from no less a source than Ganswein, who told the ADNKronos news agency that, indeed, Germany-Italy "is at the center" of discussion and interest in the papal apartments. A big-screen television is being brought in just for the occasion, to boot.

But who's the Ratzi-Bear rooting for? While Ganswein readily admitted to waving the flag for Germany, and the MD contingent are hard-core Italy fans, he made it known that "The Pope is always impartial and will have as great a heart on Tuesday for Germany as for the team of blue," a reference to the Italian side.

Apparently, on Friday, Georg was watching the match against Argentina that won Germany its semifinal berth. The Pope was by his side, holding up dinner for a few minutes to keep an eye.
Tip O' The Hat to New Advent, a welcome addition to St Blog's Parish who you should visit now and then.

A Blessed Fourth of July

A Roman Catholic Fourth of July

Tip O' The Hat to the Ironic Catholic

A Prayer For Our Governments

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"Father Z", Minnesota's permanent ambassador to Rome, via St Agnes, who blogs at W.D.T.P.R.S?, even though he is a temporary expatriate, recalls today a prayer that is said at St Agnes on important national holidays. The prayer was originally written by America's first archbishop, John Carroll of Baltimore in 1891, two years after his appointment to that position. The Carrolls were a prominent Maryland family and a cousin, Charles, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Father requested that all of us say this prayer tomorrow, and on other important civic holidays:

PRAYER FOR GOVERNMENT

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope Benedict XVI, the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state , for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen. Here

Church O' The Day: St Anthony, Lismore, MN

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St Anthony's Parish, Lismore, Nobles County, MN

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God’s Children Monthly Support Meeting

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Thursday, July 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Nativity of Our Lord Parish
324 S. Prior Ave., St. Paul.

Support meeting for families that have lost a child via miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death. Meets the first Thursday of every month. (651) 291-4488.

Faith, hope, redemption are themes in Jon Hassler’s novels

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Jon Hassler may be the most famous Catholic novelist in Minnesota. He’s certainly made an impact on the national scene after nearly three decades of storytelling. Father Andrew Greeley, a renowned sociologist and novelist himself, once described Hassler as “one of the leading lights of contemporary Catholic fiction.”

Hassler turned to his Catholic faith in developing some memorable characters in his 13 novels. Beloved Agatha McGee, a crusty, old woman who struggles with the changes of the post-Vatican II Catholic Church and falls in love with a priest, appears in five of Hassler’s novels.

“Agatha is a combination of my mother; my Aunt Elizabeth, a spinster schoolteacher who lived with us in the summer; and myself,” said Hassler, who was born in Minneapolis in 1933.

“It’s fun to work her into a novel, and writing about Agatha’s struggles with the church actually released me from my own hang-ups with Catholicism — it’s been quite freeing,” he said. [snip] Catholic Spirit

New Ulm Celebration of Marriage and Families planned for October

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All the faithful of the diocese are invited to attend a Celebration of Marriage and Families scheduled for Sunday, October 1, 2006, at the Church of St. Mary in Bird Island, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., followed by supper. Bishop John C. Nienstedt will preside at the opening prayer service in the church and offer a special blessing to all those in attendance – married and unmarried, widow and widower, young and old.

The celebration will highlight the importance of the Sacrament of Marriage and the reality that we are all members of God’s family. Preparations for the event are coordinated by a joint committee of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

Following the prayer service will be age-appropriate focus sessions on marriage and family. The adult session will feature a panel of married couples facilitated by Christopher Loetscher, Director of Family Life. The couples are Christy and Steve Arnold of St. John in Morton, Lori and Don Clasemann of St. John in Hector, and Joanne and Glenn Pohland of St. Pius X in Glencoe. The couples will offer reflections on the Church’s teaching about marriage followed by questions and answers.

Bishop Nienstedt will meet with high school students. This session will provide an opportunity for students to better understand the Church’s teachings about marriage and family. There will also be activity sessions for grades 5-8, and kindergarten-grade 4. Child care will be provided.

The celebration will conclude with prayer followed by a catered supper.

For further information contact the Diocesan Pastoral Center, (507) 359-2966; email: www.dnu.org.

Diocese of New Ulm: Parish Festival Dates

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CITY	PARISH NAME	FESTIVAL DATE 2006-2007
APPLETON	St. John	8/20/2006
BENSON	St. Francis	9/10/2006
CANBY	St. Peter	9/10/2006
CLONTARF	St. Malachy	8/13/2006
COMFREY	St. Paul	10/22/2006
COTTONWOOD	St. Mary	9/10/2006
FAXON TOWNSHIP	St. John - Assumption	6/25/2006
GREEN VALLEY	St. Clotilde	9/17/2006
HECTOR	St. John	9/6/2006
HUTCHINSON	St. Anastasia	9-9-06 to 9-10-06
IVANHOE	Ss. Peter & Paul	8/27/2006
LAKE BENTON	St. Genevieve	10/8/2006
LEAVENWORTH	Japanese Martyrs	7/30/2006
LITCHFIELD	St. Philip	8/13/2006
MINNEOTA	St. Edward	9/17/2006
MORGAN	St. Michael	8-12-06 fall festival
		10-8-06 ladies beef dinner
		1-28-06 mens sausage dinner
MURDOCK	Sacred Heart	9/24/2006
NASSAU	St. James	9/17/2006
NEW ULM CATHEDRAL	Holy Trinity	6/25/2006
ORTONVILLE	St. John	9/24/2006
REDWOOD FALLS	St. Catherine	9/10/2006
ROSEN	St. Joseph	8/27/2006
SEARLES	St. John the Baptist	8/27/2006
SILVER LAKE	Holy Family	10/1/2006
SPICER	Our Lady of the Lakes	9/23/2006
SPRINGFIELD	St. Raphael	9/17/2006
ST LEO	St. Leo	6/25/2006
TYLER	St. Dionysius	9/10/2006
WABASSO	St. Anne	9/24/2006
WATKINS	St. Anthony	8/27/2006
WEST NEWTON	St. George	9/10/2006
WILNO	St. John Cantius	7/4/2006

A Good Shepherd --- Bishop Robert Finn Gets It Done -- A teaching bishop for the "Show Me" State

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Tim Drake, writer for the National Catholic Register and other Catholic periodicals, who lives in St Joseph outside of St Cloud, has a nice profile of Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City - St Joseph, MO, who has been doing a bang up job since he has been appointed to that position just over a year ago.

[snip] Bishop Finn became bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph in May 2005, after spending a year there as coadjutor. During that time he assessed the distinct needs of the diocese. Not long after his appointment in Kansas City, he established two commissions to examine diocesan catechesis and evangelization.

“I asked my vice chancellor to take a zero-based approach,” explained Bishop Finn. “Assume if we didn’t have any programs at all, what would we need? What do people and pastors want?”

One commission surveyed the diocese, sought the assistance of others, such as Claude Sasson, a history professor who had a decade of experience developing catechetical programs, and ended up replacing the Center for Pastoral Life and Ministry — the diocese’s 27-year-old lay ministry program — with the Bishop Helmsing Institute, a faith-formation model aimed at adults. [snip] Read More

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This article continues the Register’s series exploring how some bishops are finding the voice to address the issues that most bishops, priests and deacons have tended to avoid.

Among others, it will feature Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D., Bishop Robert Baker of Charleston, S.C., Archbishop John Myers of Newark, N.J., Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker, Ore. The series previously featured Bishop Victor Galeone of St. Augustine, Fla. and Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix.

In asmuch as Archbishop Harry Flynn has requested of Pope Benedict XVI that a Coadjutor Bishop be appointed to ultimately replace him when he retires, we will be sure to cover the profiles of these fine men so that readers may become aware of the characteristics of a good Archbishop for which they should be praying.

+Veritas+, Perhaps Better Known to You as "The Roamin' Roman" is Home

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Our very own +Veritas+, who has been disguised as The Roamin' Roman for the past year as she travelled up and down the length of Italy, camera in hand and now and then attended classes (so she says) at the famous Angelicum in Rome as a part of a St Thomas University junket, errr. year of study abroad, becoming a Blog Parish star for her photography and descriptions of every single basilica, cathedral and chapel in the country, is now home in St Paul and has resumed her life as a blogger on the Veritatis Splendor blog where she began her blogging career.

Don't give up on visiting her Roamin' Roman pages yet because she probably has another five or ten thousand photos to display and describe for us, saving us all a fortune by not having to pay for a trip to Italy.

Today is the 99th Anniversary of the Publication of Pope St Piux X's SYLLABUS CONDEMNING THE ERRORS OF THE MODERNISTS

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"Fashion Maven" Terry, of the Rome-ing Catholics blog was in research mode today and discovered that today is the 99th anniversary of Pope St Pius X's encyclical "Lamentabili Sane" (Syllabus Condemning the Errors of the Modernists), a landmark document condemning certain modern interpretation of Church dogmas, teachings and interpretation of Holy Scripture that said that not all were divinely inspired. There are 65 items in the list. See More

Short-sightedly, those without a sense or knowledge of history, think that dissent in the Church had a long break between the time of the Protestant Revolution (the 16th century) and the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council. Just reading the list in this syllabus shows that that is not correct.

Two months later, on September 8, 1907, the Pope issued another encyclical, "Pascendi Dominici Gregis" (On the Doctrine of the Modernists), that elaborated further on the problems that have faced the Church since that time.

This second encyclical of that year has a more direct connection to the Archdiocese of St Paul-Minneapolis in that its Archbishop at that time, the famous John Ireland, was considered to be one of the leaders in the movement to modernise the American Church to make it easier for immigrant Catholics to succeed in a Protestant country. The Pope frowned on such innovations.

Father Robert Faricy, S.J. to Hold Healing Masses

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FATHER ROBERT FARICY, S.J. is a Jesuit priest and theologian who lives at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and at the Pontifical Gergorian University in Rome. From February to June he teaches at the Regina Mundi Institute in Rome. He has written over thirty books, most having been tanslated into several languages and several hundred articles on theology, spirituality and philosophy. Fr. Faricy ministers all over the world, speaking at conferences and giving retreats. He is active in the Charismatic Renewal and Marian movment.

He will be celebrating healing Masses at the following Parishes in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area:

Monday, July 10
HEALING MASS AT 7:30 P.M.
Lumen Christi Catholic Church (formerly St Leo's Church)
2055 Bohland Avenue, Highland, St Paul
Info: Sister Mary Ann Letendre 651- 690-1501

Tuesday, July 11
HEALING MASS AT 7:00 P.M.
Church of St Paul, Ham Lake
1740 Bunkder Lake Blvd NE, Info: 763-757-6910

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12
HEALING MASS AT 7:00 P.M.
(Location to be announced)

Thursday, July 13
HEALING MASS AT 7:00 P.M.
Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights
4030 Jackson St NE, Info: Mary or Larry 763-574-0092

Friday, July 14
TALK AT 7:00 P.M.
BILINGUAL (English & Korean) HEALING MASS AT 7:45 P.M.
St Andrew Kim, St Paul
1449 Cleveland Ave N, Info: Theresa 763-323-9112


> A freewill offering will be taken at each event <

"May the Lord bless you and keep you and let his face shine upon you." (NM 6:24)

Terry IS the only guy blogging this long holiday weekend!

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Terry of Abbey-Roads, who apparently is the only guy blogging this long Fourth of July (and if you don't like to eat, Here, too) weekend, reminisces about old movies and customers who walk into the store.


I seem to be the only nut case blogging on this holiday weekend. So what's my deal? It is hot out, I'm on vacation and I'm avoiding repairing a statue for a client, or finishing a painting, along with mowing the lawn and painting the trim on my house. And I feel guilty - High Anxiety! (Which, by the way, I finally found the video. I watched it and it just isn't as funny as I remembered it - although still enjoyable. The characters are so great and the parody on Hitchcock films is wonderful. I owe many of my lines at work to this film - "These are desperately sick people we're dealing with here!" when defending my crew from criticism. Or, "My father is just as sane as I am!" when my management style is questioned.) [snip] More

What about ME, you ask? Me? I'm not blogging, I'm reporting!

Who Wouldda Thunk It? Terry of Leaflet Missal Got His Start in the Fashion Industry!

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Terry our Binary-Blogger, who posts at Abbey-Roads and Rome-ing Catholics, and is a manager at the Leaflet Missal catalog and retail operation in St Paul got his start working for one of the "high flyers" in the ladies fashion industry. For a young guy, that must have been a dream job. Might have been an occasion of sin now and then, too, I guess.

"C'mon, it's just a fun movie!" That's what I tell people when they act surprised that I actually left the house to see a movie in a theatre and tell me my choice is wierd - for a guy. When I was just a boy I started out retail in fashion and went onto management for a large department store. A friend from all those years back stayed on and got a corporate position as Senior Designer. We sort of 'grew up' in a segment of the fashion business and had to know our stuff. I read Vogue, Women's Wear; I went to the markets, I knew who every designer was and who was wearing them, I also knew who were all the top models. (Do you know who the first real super model was? Suzie Parker, a 1950's cover girl who did a stint in the movies.) Yeah, I knew too much, it was my job! [snip] Read the Rest

Stop the ACLU -- Free Speech Outrage

Slow News Holiday Weekend: Trends in Traditional Weddings

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Father Jim Tucker of Northern Virginia, who blogs at Dappled Things, has some thoughts on the modern bride and a link to a story in the Washington Post:

There's an interesting piece in the Post this morning about the growing number of non-traditional and non-religious weddings. Partly it's about brides (and in my experience it's hardly ever the grooms) insisting on extra-special customized weddings, tailored to their individual tastes. But, more significant, it's about young people who don't practice any particular religion, who don't belong to any community of faith, and who only have a vague, private sort of spirituality. Add that together, and it's logical that they would choose an independent route for celebrating their nuptials.
[snip]
I'm sure one of those build-it-yourself weddings would better capture what they understand a wedding to be and allow them to do their day however they want. There are even rent-a-ministers and rent-a-chapels that allow people to simulate a Catholic marriage without all the hassle of following Catholic rules and having to live a Catholic life. You don't even have to be a Catholic to have one! [snip] More

Christ the King Seminary, La Crosse, Wisconsin

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Well, I don't want to say "April Fool!", so how about "July Fool!?"

Matthew Alderman, recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture and one of the principle creators of and contributors to The Shrine of the Holy Whapping blog, needed a fitting project to submit in order to get his degree. Being that he is, like most of the Whapping folk, a great admirer of the traditional in the Roman Catholic Church, dare I say, Tridentine, and tells well the tale of how he came up with this proposal for a seminary for the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, a post Vatican II religious order founded in Italy in 1990.

The Institute's priests say Mass in the Tridentine rite, their numbers are still small after only 16 years, but three of their parishes are in Green Bay, Cashton and Wausau, Wisconsin. Since their only seminary is back in Italy, Matthew proposed that a Western Hemisphere seminary be constructed in La Crosse. It's an interesting article with great images of his proposal that he has posted on the Whapping blog. He did a lot of research with the Institute so maybe it will come to pass. See it Here!

A bit ago, we posted a picture of the sanctuary of St Mary's Oratory in Wausau and some information on the Institute.

The Tragic Loss of Father Todd

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Father Todd Reitmeyer of the Diocese of Sioux Falls , who blogged at A Son Becomes A Father, died May 24 in a tragic jet ski accident while on vacation in Austin, TX, near his birthplace. Someone has posted some of the details on the blog.

A priest friend dating from their seminary days at the North American College in Rome has reminisced and posted Here

The tragic accident was reported by us Here and Here

Two Priests, Transitional Deacon Ordained at Superior Christ the King Cathedral

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Bishop Raphael M. Fliss ordained two men to the priesthood and one to the transitional diaconate in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior on June 25. Bernard Michael Byrne and James Patrick Hardy, both graduates of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wis., are the new diocesan priests. Ronald William Levra will complete another year of studies as a deacon before his expected ordination to the priesthood next year.

The three men, all came to their vocations after full lives that included marriages, child-rearing, grand parenting and diverse careers in law, education, military service, manufacturing, law enforcement and sales. Ranging in ages from 62 to 72, they come from New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Their ordinations drew families, friends and former business associates from all over the country giving the formal ceremony a special poignancy and celebratory joy.

Two of Byrne's adult children were readers during the ceremony and his nephew, a deacon from the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Ga., was a server.

During the ordination ceremony, the candidate is called forward and presented toÊthe bishop. After testimony that the candidate is worthy, the bishop elects him for ordination. The assembly demonstrates its approval through applause. The elect make promises to undertake the responsibilities the church charges them with and those being ordained to the priesthood also promise obediance.

As part of the ceremony, the elect lie prostrate on the floor before the bishop and the congregation, to indicate their humble submission. The assembly petitions for the elect by chanting the Litany of the Saints. The sacrament of holy orders is conferred when the bishop lays his hands on the head of the candidate. As part of the ordination of the priests, the bishop annoints their hands with sacred chrism to signify that the priest, like Christ, the annointed one, is called upon to make sacrifices to God and to sanctify the people.

Fliss added to the mood of the service as he counseled the men to take up their "sacred duties," follow the example of the Good Shepherd and be servants reminding them that that their new jobs will be demanding. But then lightheartedly added: "Although we don't expect prophecies from them today."

As for the future, Byrne and Hardy will quietly say their first Masses and then be assigned to diocesan parishes; the locations will be announced in the near future. Levra will continue to intern as a chaplain at St. Mary Medical Center in Duluth, Minn., this summer and will return to seminary work in the fall.

Fliss has ordained 25 men to the priesthood during his 27 years in the Diocese of Superior. Of this number, two have passed away and two have left the priesthood. Fliss' first ordinand was Fr. James Brinkman on Aug. 9, 1981. At the time Fliss was coadjutor to Bishop George Hammes.

The ordination took place at Brinkman's home parish of Immaculate Conception in New Richmond. Brinkman is now 60 years old and after many assignments throughout the diocese, has returned to pastor Immaculate Conception along with St. Patrick Parish in Erin.

Since the completion of restoration of the cathedral in 2005, it has been decided that all ordinations to the priesthood will take place in Superior. During Fliss' tenure, up to now, it has been the custom of the diocese to ordain men in their individual home parishes.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2006

Prayer Intentions of the Holy Father for the Month of July

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General Intentions: That all those in prison, especially young people, may receive the necessary support from society to help them rediscover the meaning of their existence.

Mission Intentions: That in missionary territories, different ethnic and religious groups may live in peace and together build a society inspired by human and spiritual values. Thanks to Catholic NewsNet