Deacon Duncan is a former Methodist pastor, a married father of nine and grandfather of one. Pope Francis made a special exception in July to allow his ordination — first to the transitional diaconate, which took place Aug. 20 at St. Ann Parish in Wadena, and then to the priesthood.

Deacon Duncan, wife Anne and their children completed the Rite of Christian Initiation — a step in the process of entering into full communion with the Catholic Church — in 2007. They were received into the Catholic faith and confirmed in 2016. 

“The Diocese of St. Cloud is blessed to be ordaining Deacon Duncan to the priesthood,” Bishop Neary said. “His gifts and experiences will make him a wonderful addition to the presbyterate.”

Bishop Neary described Deacon Duncan last August as a man with “a large and compassionate heart, a keen mind, gifts for administration and years of pastoral experience as a former Methodist minister,” adding that he gives “thanks to the Holy Spirit for inspiring him to pursue the priesthood and to serve in the Diocese of Saint Cloud.”

Learn more about Deacon Duncan’s vocational journey in the January issue of The Central Minnesota Catholic magazine. 

On the ‘pastoral provision’

Some may be asking how a married, former Methodist pastor can be ordained in the Catholic Church. The modern provision of ordaining select converting clergy into the presbyterate of the Latin Rite dates back to 1948. Lutheran clergy from Germany, who were disillusioned with their ecclesial community’s involvement with national socialism, petitioned Pope Pius XII for ordination. Pius personally ordained these men in 1952 after they completed a course of study.

Father Matthew Crane, diocesan vicar for canonical affairs, further explains:

“In 1967, after the close of the Second Vatican Council, Pope St. Paul VI promulgated an encyclical on priestly celibacy, ‘Sacerdotalis caelibatus.’ In paragraph 42 of that encyclical, written to affirm the discipline of priestly celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church, the pope offered an exception to the rule:

“‘In virtue of the fundamental norm of the government of the Catholic Church, to which we alluded above, while on the one hand, the law requiring a freely chosen and perpetual celibacy of those who are admitted to Holy Orders remains unchanged, on the other hand, a study may be allowed of the particular circumstances of married sacred ministers of Churches or other Christian communities separated from the Catholic communion, and of the possibility of admitting to priestly functions those who desire to adhere to the fullness of this communion and to continue to exercise the sacred ministry. The circumstances must be such, however, as not to prejudice the existing discipline regarding celibacy.’

“In the 1970s, aware of this statement, clergy of the Episcopalian Church in the United States approached Roman Catholic Bishops of the United States, seeking the possibility of entering into the full communion of the Catholic Church and receiving ordination to the priesthood. While the Roman Catholic Church could readily welcome them into the fold, the ordination to priesthood was another matter, as these were married men.

“Ultimately, in 1980, another pope, St. John Paul II, after consulting what was then called the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, established the ‘pastoral provision’ for these men, permitting them to be ordained and granting them a special exception to the discipline of celibacy otherwise required of Roman Catholic priests. This provision is overseen by a local delegate for the The number of married active and retired Latin Rite priests within the United States is estimated at 150-plus men. Some of the 23 Eastern-rite churches in communion with the Holy See, who are governed by the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches instead of the Code of Canon Law, regularly permit married men to become priests. However, all married clergy in union with the Holy See voluntarily consent to celibacy should their wife die.

“In relaxing Church disciplines and granting Holy Orders to a limited number of married former Protestant clergy,” Duncan explained, “the Church pragmatically balances its innate characteristics of mercy and justice within the framework of the Church’s hierarchy of truths. As in 1948, the Church’s current limited relaxation of the discipline of celibacy demonstrates the Church’s charitable universality and its desire to actively embody Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may all be one’ (John 17:21). At the same time, the Church is not surrendering its dogmatic and immutable teachings.”

The post Priestly ordination set for Deacon Jean-Claude Duncan appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

Anderson, who has worked at the school for over 45 years, said what led to her career in education stemmed from her own experience as a young student.

“I found out as an adult that I am dyslexic,” Anderson said. “This made school difficult for me. I had some very dedicated teachers who spent extra time with me and a mom who never gave up on me. They believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. They always encouraged me and helped present material in a way I could grasp it. Mrs. Halverson was so influential. She worked with me from first grade until I was in fourth grade. I wanted to be that kind, caring teacher. I knew what it was like to find school hard, and I wanted to help others the way I was helped.”

Following Mass which honored the three retirees, guests were invited to an open house at the school throughout the day. SJAS alumna Anna Stuckmayer, a junior at the College of Saint Benedict, attended with her mother, Carol, who also worked at the school for a number of years.

“When we were at Mass, I was thinking about my kindergarten teacher and that she and Mrs. Anderson are probably the biggest influences in why I went into education,” Anna Stuckmayer said. “I love coming back here and seeing Mrs. Anderson and all the staff who were such a big part of my childhood.”

Also retiring this year is Kathy Ross, who served SJAS for 15 years, starting as a volunteer and then moving to do all kinds of jobs from tutoring to serving in the lunchroom to providing music at school liturgies.

“When Kathy knew she was retiring, she wanted to spend as much time with the kids as she could,” said SJAS lunch director Denise Stawarski. “She does so much for the school and she always greets each child by name. If you knew her, you’d want to be her friend. We will really miss her.”

Both Anderson and Ross served alongside SJAS principal Christine Friederichs for the past nine years, who, after 42 years in education in the St. Cloud Diocese, also is retiring.

Friederichs credits her educational roots to the Benedictine sisters who taught her at St. Mary’s School in Melrose.

“They were so loving, kind, and patient,” she said. “Their gentleness and love for God inspired me to pursue a teaching education in the Catholic schools.”

All three women have left a lasting impact on the families they served.

“Our community has been blessed to have such faithful examples to share the love of Christ with our students,” said Father Michael Wolfbauer, pastor of the Foley Area Catholic Community. “The impact of their service will be felt for many years.  We give thanks to God for the ways they shared their gifts with our school community. I know they will continue to bring blessings to the Church as they walk forward in their own journeys of faith.”

More about Sandy

Q. What have been the highlights?

A. I think the biggest highlight has been working with so many wonderful students and families. I have taught parents and then their children. I have taught two of my four children and nine of my 11 grandchildren. The staff has always been awesome and I am still friends with most of them, even if we haven’t worked together for 40-plus years. The school has been a wonderful place to grow in faith and know that those you work with share your beliefs. Each year when the second graders made reconciliation and Eucharist, my own faith was renewed. To see their strong faith and love of God was truly inspiring!

Q. What challenged you over the years?

A. That would be technology! When I started, we had mimeograph machines and we threaded movies through a projector. Typewriters were for the secretary. Now we have computers and i-Pads and Apple TV. We teach entire lessons online or supplement online material to enhance our lessons. When Covid hit and we had to teach online, it was very challenging especially with first graders. I thank God for the wonderful teachers who helped me learn and navigate this new learning environment.

Q. What is one thing you hope you accomplished?

A. I hope I instilled a love for God and a love of learning in my students. I hope when they think of me, they smile because I do when I think of them.

More about Kathy

Q. What inspired you to begin your career in education?

A. The atmosphere at SJAS was so wonderful when my youngest kids started preschool there. I volunteered in the building first, and when the musician for the kids’ Masses retired, I knew it was a position I could take over. I’ve been playing and singing for all the liturgies, along with helping in other areas ever since. It’s been a very rewarding career, I can honestly say.

Q. What has challenged you over the years?

A. To be truthful, I haven’t really struggled or felt challenged all that much.
I was in a place where I felt valued and needed, working with staff and students whom I held dear to my heart, and was doing the work of God in a way that fit quite well in a Catholic elementary school. I’ve been quite blessed over the years.

Q. What has been a highlight?

A. Highlights include teaching the students to sing many different rounds over the years, playing different instruments during Mass and watching so many heads turn in unison to see what instrument is accompanying us for that song, hearing 4-year-olds say “hello” to me using my name in their tiny, tiny voices. Working in the lunch line, seeing the entire school within an hour and calling each of them by their name as they came through the line.

A. What is one thing you hope you accomplished during your career and ministry?

A. I’d love it if the kids whose education at SJAS happened during my tenure will have a fond memory of me. I have so many memories of them over the past 15 years. It would be lovely to be part of their memories from SJAS, too.

More about Christine

Q. What has been a highlight?

A. I have several, but one of the best is when you are teaching a classroom of students, all eyes are on you, they are hanging on every word you are saying, and you can see by the light in their eyes and the smiles on their faces — they get it! It’s the best! Another great personal moment was graduating with my master’s degree in leadership from Notre Dame at age 60!

Q. What has challenged you over the years?

A. There have been many challenges over the years — children, behaviors, parents, colleagues, educational trends, technology, to name a few. The two biggest challenges were going back to school to get my master’s degree at age 57 and keeping our school open during the pandemic.

Q. What is one thing you hope you accomplished during your career and ministry?

A. I hope I have passed on my love of Catholic education to those I have had the privilege of teaching, mentoring and administrating throughout my career and ministry. I hope I was able to pay it forward, repaying the love, kindness and patience from the Benedictine sisters by passing on my Catholic faith and teaching to the many children I have encountered over the years.

The post Foley school honors over 100 years of combined educational experience as three women retire appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

His quest began in 1991, before the current church building even existed. Don, along with Joanne and others who were committed to the concept, formed small prayer groups who gathered regularly and prayed that they could get the idea off the ground.

“St. Anthony’s has always been a church of prayer,” Joanne said. “In the old church, you could go and pray any time and there was always someone there praying. It was when they added an elevator in the old church that a classroom became accessible and that’s where we started adoration,” Joanne recalled.

That was Jan. 12, 1995; and when St. Anthony’s dedicated a new church building in 2001, it included a separate eucharistic adoration chapel. This is now it’s 28th year being open 24 hours, seven days a week, with a few exceptions during liturgical holidays.

Over the years, the need for adorers has waxed and waned, and it especially took a hit during the pandemic. Last fall, Nicky Carlson, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Waite Park, heard about the need for help organizing and finding more people to participate. She felt called to step forward to assist.

“It is such an important part of our community that I just want more people to experience it,” Carlson said.

Carlson herself first encountered the real presence of Jesus while coming forward for a blessing at a Catholic church in the Twin Cities several years ago. She grew up Baptist, and as a young adult her natural curiosity inspired her to ask questions about her faith and explore other traditions. While discerning with a Catholic priest, she often sat in the pew during Communion until he encouraged her to go through the line to receive the blessing.

“I was a little unsure, but I went up,” Carlson said through tears, recalling the sacred moment. “I could see the person next to me about to receive the host and, as the priest was holding it up, I truly saw Jesus present in the Eucharist.”

Because of her profound love and respect for the Eucharist, Carlson has found that, in addition to her love of Mass, she has a deep devotion to eucharistic adoration and wants others to have the opportunity to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament whenever they are able.

“Spending time [in adoration] helps you learn to live in the quiet and allows you to hear God’s voice,” Carlson said. “For me, it’s the only place I can really do that. There is noise everywhere. Having a place where you can go and really listen is important. When I look at Jesus in the monstrance, I feel like I am making eye contact with him. When I think about how many people are allowing Jesus into their lives, I can just imagine what that does for our whole community.”

Joanne added that she, too, is always touched by the ways adoration speaks to people in different times of their lives.

“We don’t know all the little things — or big things — happening in people’s lives but we know a lot of people come through here, some who are members and many who are not. We also see a lot of young people discerning vocations come here to pray. It is always so encouraging to see that,” she said.

Carlson has been so moved by the commitment and dedication of those who sign up for holy hours, sometimes multiple times a week, and people who drive from all over to come and spend time in the chapel. While the response is great, Carlson said there is always a need for more adorers. Interested people can contact her at nicolechristine789@gmail.com.

“When I look on our schedule and see how many people are committed, it is just overwhelming. Some have multiple hours, some come in the middle of the night, some come multiple days each week. Some people come alone, some bring their families. I just want that for more people.”

Since Joanne’s husband, Don, died in 2011, she has continued his legacy as an adorer and wants to encourage others to give it a try. For those who haven’t experienced it, the unknown can feel uncomfortable.

“Sometimes people don’t know what to expect or what to do when they first go, but all I can think of is what Mother Teresa said, just ‘come and see.’”

‘Come and see’ event

Joanne, Nicky and others are planning a retreat-like event at St. Anthony’s June 17 to help people grow in their faith, especially in light of the National Eucharistic Revival that began nearly a year ago. (See box)

The event will begin with Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Patrick Neary and include talks by Father Brady Keller and Fred Blonigen, and “eucharistic love stories” from local people including Nicky’s testimony.

“My greatest hope is that people who don’t understand or know the Real Presence would come to that understanding, and for those who do, to deepen their love for Jesus,” Carlson said. “It’s the same thing I tell my eighth- and ninth-graders when I teach faith formation — I don’t teach you about the Mass, or prayer or the Eucharist so you can memorize the facts. It’s so you fall in love with the Mass, with prayer and with Jesus.”

If you go…

• When: Saturday, June 17
• Where: St. Anthony Church, St. Cloud

The day begins with Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., followed by short talks from guest speakers Father Brady Keller and Fred Blonigen and with eucharistic love stories (testimonies) from local Catholics. Lunch will be available and requires an RSVP by visiting stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival. Following lunch will be a holy hour and Benediction.

For more information about this and other Eucharistic Revival resources, visit stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival.

The post All Called to Christ ACC will host ‘Come and See’ event June 17 appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

Con cientos de testigos esperando adentro, el obispo electo Patrick Neary, C.S.C., llamó a la puerta de la Catedral de St. Mary en St. Cloud el 13 de Febrero, donde el padre Scott Pogtachnik, rector de la catedral le dio la bienvenida como nuevo párroco.

Este acto marcó el comienzo de las Vísperas Solemnes, un servicio de oración que se llevó a cabo la noche anterior a la ordenación episcopal del obispo electo Neary el 14 de Febrero como el décimo obispo de la Diócesis de St. Cloud.

La homilía estuvo a cargo del padre William Lies, C.S.C., nativo de Little Falls, quien se desempeña como superior provincial de la Congregación de Holy Cross en los Estados Unidos, la comunidad de la cual proviene el obispo electo Neary.

“Generación tras generación, Cristo, nuestro Buen Pastor, ha enviado pastores para brindar orientación, protección e inspiración al pueblo de Dios”, dijo el padre Lies. “El que ha sido elegido para esta diócesis, tiene como nombre Patrick, un alma hermosa y un hombre maravilloso”.

Durante el servicio, el obispo electo Neary hizo una profesión de fe y un juramento de fidelidad, que él y su predecesor, el obispo Donald Kettler, firmaron. Se bendijo un anillo, una cruz pectoral y un báculo, que se entregarán al obispo electo en su ordenación.

“Pat vive con humildad y sencillez”, dijo el padre Lies. “Pat ha sido un sacerdote increíble y un religioso fiel.
Ha dicho que sí a todas las tareas que se le han pedido,
la mayoría de las cuales lo han acercado más a la cruz y a la vida al mismo tiempo. Pat ama a su familia: su mamá y su papá, sus cinco hermanas. Ama a sus hermanos de la Santa Cruz. Es muy bueno con sus amigos, no puede evitarlo. … Amará a su pueblo, a sus sacerdotes, diáconos y religiosos. Lo más importante de Pat es que es un hombre santo que ora, ama al Señor y ama a la Iglesia. Él ama como un pastor ama a sus ovejas”.

A este evento bilingüe asistieron laicos de toda la diócesis, la familia del obispo electo Neary, amigos y cohermanos de su comunidad religiosa, obispos visitantes, sacerdotes, diáconos, religiosos, seminaristas y estudiantes de las escuelas católicas del área. También se transmitió en vivo y está disponible para ver en stcdio.org.

Adrian Gallagher-Mancini, de 12 años, estudiante de séptimo grado en St. John’s Prep School en Collegeville, saludó a las personas en los escalones cuando llegaron a la catedral.

“Mi parte favorita fue lo tranquilo que era todo. También me gustó mucho estar en el comité de hospitalidad y poder ver a todas las diferentes personas que vinieron”, dijo.

Su hermana, Lilly, de 11 años, estudiante de sexto grado en la escuela preparatoria, entregó tarjetas de oración a los invitados.

“Realmente me encantaron todas las culturas involucradas y especialmente cuando comenzaron a hablar Español para aquellos que hablan Español y/o Inglés”.

Dignatarios de la Comisión Ecuménica e Interreligiosa de la diócesis y el grupo de Líderes de Fe de Greater St. Cloud se adelantaron para dar la bienvenida al obispo electo. Los representantes de la Comisión Ecuménica e Interreligiosa incluyeron: a la hermana franciscana Helen Rolfson, presidenta; Benjamín Dürheim; el Rev. Andrew Jaye, pastor de la Iglesia Ortodoxa Holy Myrrhbearers en St. Cloud; y el reverendo retirado Peter Lundholm de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América.

Los líderes religiosos de Greater St. Cloud estuvieron representados por la hermana benedictina Eunice Antony, Ayan Omar, miembro del Grupo de Diálogo Cristiano-Musulmán; Ron Marotte, Asamblea Espiritual Bahai de St. Cloud; el obispo Dee Pederson, obispo del Sínodo del Suroeste de Minnesota de la Iglesia Evangélica Luterana en América; y el Rev. Darin Seaman, pastor de la Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana en St. Cloud.

“Nuestro exobispo Donald Kettler nos ha bendecido cien veces”, dijo la hermana Rolfson. “Y ha valido la pena la espera para tener al obispo Neary. Estoy emocionada de trabajar con el nuevo obispo y agradecida con Dios por el ejemplo del obispo Kettler”.

“Este es un momento muy emocionante y lleno de espíritu”, agregó la hermana Antony. “Tengo una gran confianza en el obispo electo Neary. Siento que Dios nos ha dado a la persona adecuada en este momento”.

Omar, hizo eco de que ella también está agradecida por el modelo del obispo Kettler y tiene esperanzas en el liderazgo del obispo electo Neary.

“El obispo Kettler estaba arraigado en la fe, arraigado en la comunidad, arraigado en el amor. Tengo muchas esperanzas de que nuestro nuevo líder lleve la antorcha y nos permita continuar nuestro diálogo interreligioso, así como con la comunidad musulmana, la comunidad de inmigrantes [y] la comunidad de refugiados para trabajar juntos para que podamos ir aún más lejos”, dijo Ayan Omar.

El Padre Lies se sintió conmovido por la rapidez y facilidad con la que su cohermano de Holy Cross ha adoptado la declaración de misión de la Diócesis de St. Cloud, para ser el “corazón de misericordia, la voz de la esperanza y las manos de la justicia” de Cristo.

“Este es el rebaño que ha sido llamado a pastorear”, dijo el Padre Lies en su homilía. “Junto a ellos construirá el Reino de Dios sobre esta tierra fértil, sobre esta tierra santa que es la Diócesis de St. Cloud. Condúcenos, obispo Pat, a la abundancia prometida, a los verdes pastos, a las aguas tranquilas, a la mesa que está puesta, a la copa que rebosa. …Juntos, contigo como nuestro pastor, seremos corazón de misericordia, voz de esperanza y manos de justicia”.

El obispo Donald Kettler preside el servicio de Vísperas (foto por Dianne Towalski / The Central Minnesota Catholic)

The post Vísperas solemnes appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

Desde Portland hasta Perú y muchos lugares intermedios, cientos de personas acudieron a la Catedral de St. Mary en St. Cloud el 14 de Febrero para presenciar la ordenación e instalación del décimo obispo de la Diócesis de St. Cloud, el obispo Patrick Neary, C.S.C., un Indiana nativo y sacerdote de la Congregación de La Santa Cruz.

El nuncio apostólico en los Estados Unidos, el arzobispo Christophe Pierre, quien se desempeña como representante personal del Papa, leyó un decreto del Santo Padre y ofreció breves comentarios al obispo Neary.

“La misericordia es un gran regalo. El Santo Padre nos ha enseñado que la misericordia es el corazón mismo de Dios”, dijo. “El Padre Neary, le dijo a la gente cuando se mudó que aprendió el lema de la Diócesis de St. Cloud: ‘Corazón de misericordia, Voz de esperanza, Manos de justicia.’ … Este lema también describe su ministerio. Ha mostrado misericordia y justicia en sus múltiples cargos como sacerdote, pastor universitario, misionero… quizás la primera impresión que alguien tiene al encontrarlo es que es usted una voz de esperanza.

“Es obvio que ha conocido a Cristo, que lo encuentra cada día en su oración”, agregó el arzobispo Pierre. “Por eso, estoy deseoso de que comparta a Cristo con la buena gente de esta diócesis”.

El obispo ordenante principal fue el arzobispo Bernard Hebda de St. Paul y Minneapolis. Los obispos coordinadores fueron el obispo auxiliar Peter Smith de Portland, Oregón, y el obispo William Wack, C.S.C., de Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida.

“Si el Papa Francisco necesita alguna confirmación de que ha hecho una buena elección para la Diócesis de St. Cloud”, dijo el Arzobispo Hebda en su homilía, “todo lo que necesita hacer es considerar el lema que el obispo ha elegido para su episcopado, ‘ Ave Crux, Spes Unica,’ ‘Me abrazo a la Cruz, Nuestra Única Esperanza’. Claro, es el lema de la Congregación de la Santa Cruz, la comunidad religiosa que ha sostenido el ministerio sacerdotal del Padre Pat por más de tres décadas. Pero también es una idea de lo que el nuevo obispo encuentra importante e inspirador, donde ha encontrado su esperanza y como su ministerio abrazando la cruz traerá esperanza a otros, y muy especialmente a esta Iglesia local”.

Representantes de la diócesis y la comunidad también se adelantaron para saludar al nuevo obispo, incluído el alcalde de St. Cloud, Dave Kleis; el Comisionado del Distrito 3 del Condado de Stearns, Jeff Bertram; los líderes de la comunidad religiosa, la Hermana franciscana Carol Schmit, el Padre Crosier Kermit Holl, la Hermana benedictina Susan Rudolph y el Abad benedictino John Klassen; y miembros de la comunidad católica Lois Wesbur del Consejo Diocesano de Mujeres Católicas, Rogaciano Pacheco y Rigoberta Priego de la comunidad Hispana, Hannah Schindler, representante juvenil del Consejo Pastoral Diocesano y Ron Fink de Los Caballeros de Colón. Lleno de alegría, nos comentó. Tuve un encuentro con el nuevo obispo, y es un regalo. Estamos felices de tenerlo.

Los seminaristas de la diócesis también participaron en la Misa y rezaron una Hora Santa por el nuevo obispo justo antes de que comenzara.

“Fue increíble ver la participación de tantas personas, tanto a nivel local como de tantas partes del mundo”, dijo Jane Marrin, canciller de la Diócesis de St. Cloud recientemente jubilada. “Es obvio que el obispo Patrick ya ha tenido un gran impacto en los corazones de las personas a las que ha servido, y estamos listos y dispuestos a darle la bienvenida a nuestros corazones aquí en la Diócesis de St. Cloud”.

Courtney Huiras, estudiante de segundo año en la universidad y estudiante de teología en el Colegio de St. Benedict en St. Joseph, estaba emocionada de ayudar con la hospitalidad en la ordenación, especialmente después de perderse la ordenación del nuevo obispo en su diócesis natal de New Ulm.

“Tengo muchas ganas de que el obispo Neary venga a nuestro campus y vea lo que estamos haciendo en el ministerio universitario”, dijo.

Blake Fleege, estudiante de tercer año en la Escuela Preparatoria Cathedral en St. Cloud, también se desempeñó como ministro de hospitalidad.

“Cuando el padre Doug [Liebsch, capellán de CHS] nos invitó a ayudar, con mucho gusto dije que sí. Será muy agradable ver una cara nueva en la diócesis y ver lo que traerá. Esta es una experiencia que no mucha gente tiene, y estoy emocionado de estar aquí”.

Más de 150 obispos, sacerdotes y diáconos asistieron a la ceremonia, así como miembros de las comunidades religiosas de la diócesis. También asistieron muchos de los cohermanos del obispo Neary de la Congregación de La Santa Cruz, incluido el hermano superior general Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C.

“Estamos absolutamente encantados de que el obispo Neary sea el décimo obispo de St. Cloud. Como dije anoche, tienen uno de los mejores. Es la ganancia de St. Cloud y la pérdida de Holy Cross, pero ciertamente lo apoyamos, lo amamos y estamos muy orgullosos de él”, dijo.

Para el Padre John Paul Igbokwe, un sacerdote visitante de la Arquidiócesis de Owerri, Nigeria, esta fue su primera experiencia de ordenación e instalación de un obispo en los Estados Unidos. El Padre Igbokwe asiste a la Universidad Estatal de St. Cloud y sirve localmente en parroquias en el área de St. Cloud mientras completa sus estudios.

“Estoy feliz de conocer nuevos sacerdotes y ver a los que he conocido antes. Es un día especial para reunirnos y compartir esa fraternidad y amor”, dijo el padre Igbokwe.

“Oramos para que tenga la luz del Espíritu Santo para guiar a toda la diócesis a través de estos tiempos difíciles y para mantener su confianza y esperanza en el Señor”, dijo el seminarista Kevin Soenneker.

Aproximadamente 45 personas viajaron más de 1,600 millas desde Portland, Oregón, donde el obispo Neary se desempeñaba como pastor de la iglesia Holy Redeemer, El Santo Redentor. Entre ellos estaba Carmen Salvador.

“Fue muy importante para nosotros estar aquí hoy para apoyar a [el obispo] Neary”, dijo Salvador. “Es un hombre muy santo que siempre muestra el amor de Dios a la gente. Ha ayudado a tantas personas a volver a Dios y a la Iglesia. Es un día muy triste para nosotros porque lo vamos a extrañar pero, al mismo tiempo, estamos muy felices porque sabemos que ayudará a muchas más personas aquí a conocer al Señor”.

El evento bilingüe se transmitió en vivo y muchas parroquias y escuelas de la diócesis organizaron fiestas de observación, incluida la parroquia St. Ann en Wadena, parte de la comunidad católica del área de Mary Mother of the Church.

Alrededor de 25 personas se reunieron allí para un almuerzo de sopa y sándwiches, seguido de la transmisión en vivo.

“Fue realmente bueno para la gente tener una idea del proceso y poder escuchar lo que la gente tenía que decir”, dijo Jessy Waldock, directora de comunicaciones de la ACC. “La gente disfrutó tanto de los momentos serios como de los alegres al mismo tiempo. Creo que fue tranquilizador para la gente ver en el nuevo obispo que puede ser divertido, espiritual y humano al mismo tiempo”.

El obispo Neary concluyó agradeciendo a todos los que estaban allí, especialmente a los muchos ministros, el personal y las personas que asistieron, así como a los que no estaban presentes. Después de la Misa, se paró en los escalones de la catedral y bendijo a la ciudad y la diócesis.

Los padres del obispo Neary, Jacob y Marybelle, ocuparon asientos de primera fila en la Misa, junto con miembros de su familia.

“Estoy muy orgullosa de mi hermano”, dijo Laura Duncan, una de las cinco hermanas del obispo Neary. “Lo vi desde muy temprana edad cuidar de todos nosotros y preocuparse por las personas. Es realmente emocionante saber que él pastoreará el rebaño de tantos y cambiará sus vidas. En eso es en lo que es mejor: en cambiar vidas”.

Ver Vísperas Solemnes, Misa de Ordenación

Puede ver las grabaciones de la Misa de ordenación episcopal del Obispo Patrick Neary del 14 de Febrero y el servicio de Vísperas Solemnes la noche anterior en el canal de YouTube de la Diócesis de Saint Cloud en bit.ly/3YVhU8S.

El obispo Neary muestra el mandato del Papa Francisco a la asamblea. El mandato es el documento oficial de la Santa Sede que especifica el nombramiento de un nuevo obispo para su diócesis. (foto por Dianne Towalski)

The post El obispo Neary: ‘Ave Crux, Spes Unica’: ‘Me abrazo a la Cruz, Nuestra Única Esperanza’ appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

The Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict in St. Joseph elected Benedictine Sister Karen Rose as their 18th prioress Feb. 25 at Sacred Heart Chapel.

Sister Karen, 66, is from Manchester, England. She entered the monastery in St. Joseph in 2007 and made perpetual monastic profession on July 11, 2012. She currently serves as the director of mission advancement at St. Benedict’s Monastery in St. Joseph. Her professional background is in nursing.

Sister Karen said that she knew she could potentially be among those selected for prioress but was stunned when her name was announced.

“It has been a very beautiful and holy process,” said Sister Karen following the election. “I knew it could be me, but nothing prepared me for how it felt when it actually happened. I am so honored that my community has chosen me, and I hope I can serve them in a way they deserve.”

The prioress serves as spiritual leader of the community, which currently has 157 sisters. She also acts as chief executive officer of the corporation and represents the monastery on the corporate board of the College of St. Benedict and the corporate board of St. Cloud Hospital, two institutions founded by St. Benedict’s Monastery.

Sister Karen said she would describe her leadership style as collaborative.

“We have such a wealth of talents and experience in this community,” she said. “I accept that I am the leader and the buck will stop with me. But I don’t feel I’ve got to do that on my own. I just really believe I am supported by the whole community of wonderful women.”

Through a canonical election process that began in October 2022, the community, through prayer and discussion, identified seven women to be considered for the role of prioress. In a two-day chapter process that began Feb. 24, the sisters gathered to hear the stories of the women, ask them questions and pray together to discern a new leader.

Benedictine Sister Nicole Kunze, vice president of the Monastic Congregation of Saint Benedict and prioress of Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, North Dakota, presided over the election. Typically, the president would preside, but because Sister Nancy Bauer, a member of St. Benedict’s Monastery, currently serves as president of the Monastic Congregation, she instead participated in the election as a community member.

Sister Nancy explained that, in December, the community developed direction statements for the years covering the term of the prioress which, for them, is six years.

“The direction statements are brief descriptions of what we wish to focus on for these six years. We had another meeting in January in which we talked about the qualities we need to have in a prioress at this time, and we named sisters who have these qualities. Finally, we came together this past Friday and Saturday to discern more deeply about which sister the Holy Spirit is calling forth to be our next prioress. We are very conscious that the Spirit is leading us in this decision. When we come to consensus around a particular sister, we hold the official election,” Sister Nancy explained.

Sister Christine Manderfeld, 84, has been through many elections in her 60-plus years as part of the community and was filled with emotion following the election.

“It is such a beautiful, prayerful process,” she said. “I feel so loved by my sisters and I know [Sister Karen] feels loved. The whole process of discussion, asking them questions and their beautiful openness to sharing with us, I wish everyone could hear it. We are so blessed.”

For Sister Laura Suhr, who made her perpetual monastic profession in July 2022, this was her first time through the election process.

“I am very happy to be a part of this and experience the wonderful trust the community has in this whole process,” she said. “Sister Susan [Rudolph] has done a wonderful job, and I think Sister Karen will do a wonderful job, too.”

“I felt a great sense of unity within our community and a deep love for each other,” Sister Nancy added. “The election of Sister Karen was a moment of great joy for me. She is a good, kind and spiritual person. She is down-to-earth, humorous, smart and Benedictine to the core.”

Sister Karen will succeed Sister Susan Rudolph, who has served as prioress since 2017, when she is installed June 4 at Sacred Heart Chapel.

“One of my priorities will be to be a spiritual leader for both the women here and the people we connect with in the greater world,” Sister Karen said. “I want them to become the best person they can be, the person God wants them to be. Although we are a very small part of the world, what each of us does really matters.”

Top photo: Benedictine Sister Nicole Kunze, vice president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict, presided at the election and the rite. Here she is pinning a corsage on Sister Karen. Sister Nicole is prioress of Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, N.D. She presided at the election because the president of the monastic congregation cannot preside at elections in her own community. (photo by Benedictine Sister Nancy Bauer)

This story was updated Feb. 26, 2023.

The post Benedictine sisters elect Sister Karen Rose as new prioress appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.