MONTHLY DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER |
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Please feel free to put the Sunday TV Mass
March 6/7 ♦ Safe Haven Sunday – The weekend of March 6/7 is dedicated to bringing about awareness of the negative impacts of pornography on individuals, marriages, families and society. Safe Haven Sunday weekend is set aside by dioceses and parishes to directly address the harms of pornography in an appropriate way. Within the context of the Mass, dioceses and parishes are able to provide teaching and resources that will support and protect individuals, marriages and families in making all homes a safe haven. It is inspired by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ formal statement Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography. Year 3 Parish Resources can be found at https://www.covenanteyes.com/resources/parish-resources-year-3/.
March 25 ♦ Chrism Mass — The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Because of COVID restrictions, attendance at this Mass is by invitation-only. The Mass will be livestreamed on the cathedral's Facebook page. This special Mass takes its name from the chief anointing oil, the holy chrism, which can only be consecrated by the bishop. At the chrism Mass, Bishop Donald Kettler will bless the oils that will be used for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, holy orders and the anointing of the sick. Also at the Mass, priests of the diocese will come together to renew their priestly vows.
March 28 ♦ Senior High Youth Rally – Plans are in motion to have a Senior High Youth Rally on Sunday, March 28 from 1:30-4:00 p.m. Youth and leaders will gather safely at their parishes for small groups to reflect and discuss from the information given by speakers and presenters over Zoom. Watch the Youth Rallies/Conferences page of the Catholic Education Ministries site for the most up to date information, https://stcdio.org/cem/youthministry/youthrallies/.
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NOTES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICES |
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David Fremo ♦ (320) 251-0111
Catholic Schools – All of our schools are currently enrolling students for the 2021-2022 school year. The schools of the Diocese of Saint Cloud can be found here: https://stcdio.org/cem/catholic-schools/. We are proud to build a better future for our communities and world through the ministry of Catholic education. Please show your support for our Catholic schools as you are able, through prayer and your generosity.
Confirmation Resources – Resources to help ease the catechetical preparations for the Sacrament of Confirmation are available in the Catechetical Resources section of the Catholic Education Ministries Resources page found at https://stcdio.org/cem/cem-resources.
Emmaus Institute: As Catholics, we have the greatest story to tell – the story of Jesus Christ – Our Area Catholic Communities, now more than ever, need well-formed leaders to help tell the story. Are you, or someone you know, looking to deepen your understanding of the story? The Emmaus Institute invites you to join us for a virtual open house! Come hear the story of our formation journey from current students, instructors, and others. Open houses will be held in Spanish and English and registration is required. See the list of dates and times with their registration links below:
Becoming Eucharist: Mealtime Table Talk for Families (also for individuals or small groups) – Please remind your families to use/print the reflections offered at https://familytogether.stcdio.org. They can be viewed online each week, and offer a printable PDF that can be folded into a “table-tent” for dining room tables. Additionally, Lenten Virtual Mini-Retreats can be found on
https://familytogether.stcdio.org/. These retreats are reflections on the Lenten Gospels by local ministers, with a reflection/discussion question for sharing. Each weekly retreat is available in Spanish and English and can be used individually or in groups.
National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC 2021) – The Diocese of Saint Cloud is gathering interested participants for NCYC 2021 taking place in Indianapolis November 18 -20. Visit the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry’s event site https://nfcym.org/featured-events/ncyc/ for more information about the event. Anyone interested in attending the conference should contact Kent Schmitz at
Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders – Zoom meetings will be held on Monday, March 1 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. and Wednesday, March 17 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Wednesday, March 31 from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Reminders, topics, speakers, and Zoom links will be emailed to parish leaders soon. If you would like to be added to the email list for these meetings, please contact Laura Gorder at [email protected].
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Joe Towalski ♦ (320) 258-7624
Annual Appeal Update – As of February 22, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for 2021 has raised total cash and pledges of $411,311 toward our goal of $1,400,000 (31.64%). This was made possible through the generous donations of 2,831 people throughout the 16 counties of our diocese. Please remember to turn in gifts collected at your parishes since the launch of the appeal. Your prompt response helps us process gifts in a timely manner and set up pledges that are able to be complete by December 31, 2021.
Thank you so much to our pastors and parish staff who are working to make this year’s appeal a success and support our diocesan ministries.
'Dessert with the Bishop' — Thank you to everyone who was able to attend the online "Dessert with the Bishop" Appeal fundraiser and tour of diocesan ministries. If you missed it, you can watch the video at www.stcdio.org/annualappeal.
Monday Morning Update — If you aren't already a subscriber, please consider signing up for The Central Minnesota Catholic's weekly e-newsletter, the Monday Morning Update. Each week, the newsletter delivers the latest local, national and international Catholic news straight to your in-box. Stay informed by signing up at https://bit.ly/3oBC7is.
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Bailey Ziegler ♦ (320) 258-7655
This month, learn about about important COVID-19 updates, 2021 employment updates, and some helpful tips on how to hold effective meetings: HR News (PDF)
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Patrick Flynn ♦ (320) 252-4721
Natural Family Planning Instruction for March & April 2021
Instruction will be by personal appointment following COVID precautions or virtual by Zoom or Google Meetings. A First Instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method will be offered in:
- Little Falls: Tuesday, March 2 & April 6 at 7:30 p.m.
- Long Prairie: Monday, March 22 & April 26 at 7:00 p.m.
- Rice: Monday, March 1 & April 5 at 6:30 p.m.
- Sauk Centre: Monday, March 15 & April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Cloud: Monday, March 15 & Thursday, April 15 at 6:30 p.m.
- St. Michael: Tuesday, March 2 & April 6 at 6:00 p.m.
- Wadena: Friday, March 26 & April 23 at 5:30 p.m.
March 20 – Spanish Speakers Marriage Course – Planned to be held in St. Cloud at the Pastoral Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Couples should register at least two weeks before the course and include the $110 registration fee per couple. For more information contact Janet at [email protected] or (320) 258-7616 or register here https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.
March 27 – 2nd Marriage Course – Planned to be held in St. Cloud at the Pastoral Center from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Second Marriage Preparation Course is for couples preparing to marry after the death of a spouse or an annulment. Marriage preparation must be completed at least three months before the date of the wedding celebration. It is recommended you complete the course well in advance (six months or more). Many couples take the course one year before their wedding. For more information, go to https://stcdio.org/engaged-couple-marriage-preparation/.
April 15 – Catholics at the Capitol – There is no time more important than now to speak out in defense of life and dignity at the State Capitol! Even just a handful of people can influence the laws passed by our elected officials; just imagine the impact of every Catholic voice joining together!
Catholics at the Capitol is designed for YOU! Whether you are an "old pro" in the political arena, exasperated with divisive politics, or someone who doesn't know where to begin, “CatCap” will fortify your faith, provide you with the hope needed to heal the cynicism and division in politics, and equip you to speak with your lawmakers.
Honoring Marriage Day, RESCHEDULED to Saturday, October 2, 2021
Location TBD. This event is for couples celebrating their 5th, 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th and 60 plus anniversaries in 2021. Parishes are asked to send names and addresses of parishioners celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60 & 60 plus years of marriage in 2021 to the Office of Marriage & Family, 305 7th Avenue North, Suite 100, Saint Cloud, MN 56303 or via email to Jan at [email protected] or fax (320) 258-7658 as soon as possible. Invitations will be sent to the celebrating couples.
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Elizabeth Neville Brown ♦ (320) 251-1100
The CRS/ Bishops Oversees Collection is the weekend of March 13–14. This collection provides funding for the USCCB offices of International Peace and Justice, Migration and Refugee Services, Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees, relief work for the Holy Father and the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. Thank you for your promotion and support!
Missionary Appeals scheduled through the Mission Office for 2021 can begin anytime from now until the end of September. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to help welcome your appeal into your parish community/ies.
Thank you to all who have contacted us for coming to your parish/ school, faith formation and youth ministry programs via ZOOM and/or in person if we are able. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you would like us to come teach Catholic social teachings, mission education and formation, solidarity and more topics.
The Mission Office is still open for unique gifts and Fair Trade coffee, chocolates and other food items! Please call (320) 251-1100 for hours.
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Linda Kaiser ♦ (320) 251-2340
YAY! To all the parishes and schools that have completed the training for children and youth. It is already March so be sure to put this training on your calendar if you have not completed it. Please put the data into the system or send your numbers to the Safe Environment office. If you have any questions, contact: Linda Kaiser at
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Kateri Mancini ♦ (320) 229-6020
Please share from all of the below information in parish bulletins and announcements, and/or plan to attend yourself as a parish leader.
Rural Resiliency Webinar Series – Catholic Charities is partnering with the UofM and Iowa State University Extensions to offer the “Rural Resiliency: Caring for You and Yours” 4 Week Webinar Series on Tuesdays, March 2, 9, 16 and 23 from 7:30 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. This webinar series will address rural behavioral and brain health, communication skills, and relationship enrichment for self, marriage and families. Farm families and those who work with them or neighbors are encouraged to attend. Local churches are encouraged to host a community site, following COVID restrictions, to allow farmers and interested neighbors to come together for group discussion and support. Registration is available at: http://www.aep.iastate.edu/stress.
Topics include:
- March 2—Farm Stress Resiliency and Grief
- March 9—Personality Keys When “Married” to Farm Stress
- March 16—Dealing with the Stresses of Men, Women, and Children
- March 23—Brain and Behavioral Health “Hacks” to Mitigate Distress
Conversations of Hope Series: Next session March 11 – The diocese is invited to join us for the Rural Life Initiative’s monthly virtual sessions, Conversations of Hope: Sharing Community Concerns and Resources. Participants will pray and share together in a community conversation around pressing issues in our communities; community leaders will also be part of the conversation to answer questions and share ideas for how to address these community concerns. Join us the second Thursday of every month at Noon. Our next session, on March 11, will focus on Chemical Use. To join in this or any upcoming Conversation of Hope, register online (for one session or the remainder of the series) at https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns.
Day on the Hill – The Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) is a state-wide advocacy group made up of the Catholic bishops, along with Protestant, Jewish and Muslim leaders from throughout the state. Together, these major faith traditions determine legislative advocacy needed to uphold our common values and enhance our state. Parishioners and parish staff are invited to join the Minnesota Bishops and other JRLC members for the annual Day on the Hill, this year being held virtually on Thursday, March 11, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Please mark your calendars and invite fellow Catholics to join in this opportunity for multi-faith prayer, education and advocacy. Find more information and register at the JRLC website: https://jrlc.org/2021-day-on-the-hill.
Catholic Century Farm Awards – Catholic Charities Social Concerns is now taking applications for the diocese’s third annual Catholic Century Farm Awards. Especially during this challenging year, our farmers have endured hardships and called upon their faith to help them persevere, and we want to honor them for that! If your family or members of your parish have been farming the same land for 100 years or more, please visit the social concerns website (https://www.ccstcloud.org/services/social-concerns) and look under “Rural Life” for the application form, which includes requirements and deadlines to apply. Recipients will be honored by the bishop at a special celebration Mass in August.
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Fr. Virgil Helmin ♦ (320) 251-6557
ANNULMENT PROCEDURE
The Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud has established a policy that the annulment process will not be started until six months after issuance of the final divorce decree.
No wedding date must be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered.
The annulment process requires the following:
A) The petitioner contacts his/her parish priest or a Tribunal staff member in order to petition and begin the annulment procedure.
1. The petitioner needs to present the following documents at the time of the application:
a) Baptismal certificate and/or Profession of Faith of self and of former spouse.
b) Certificate of marriage and/or Validation and/or Dispensation
c) Divorce decree (Final Judgment).
d) Current address of former spouse.
2. The petitioner has a recorded preliminary interview (conducted by a parish
priest, deacon, parish minister or a Tribunal Staff Member) -OR- writes a
narrative that covers in depth the following factual information about the
petitioner and his/her former spouse:
a) Description of childhood and home life of self and former spouse. Alcoholism
or chemical addiction in family background?
b) Description of dating process and maturity of self and former spouse.
c) Description of how the decision to marry was reached.
d) Description of ability to communicate and resolve conflicts.
e) Description of problems that developed in the marriage and when they
began.
f) Description of attempted solutions to the problems.
g) Description of performance of roles of husband/wife, father/mother.
h) Description of how the decision to divorce was reached.
B) When there are ground(s) for a declaration of nullity, the Tribunal will contact both, the petitioner and the respondent.
C) Prior to the formal hearing, the petitioner must complete and return the witness list. Witnesses include 2-3 adult people who knew them prior to and during their marriage and can give us information about the marriage. At the time of the formal hearing, the petitioner must bring these witnesses in with them. A witness can be a brother, sister, parent, friend, co-worker, neighbor or a member of the wedding party. Witnesses should not all be relatives. We do not interview children of the marriage. At the formal hearing the petitioner and the witnesses will be questioned privately.
D) If the petition comes to formal hearing the following will occur:
- All testimony is gathered and sent to the Court Members.
- The defender of the bond presents its brief to the Judge.
- Judge(s) renders a decision. Petitioner and respondent are notified.
- Both the petitioner and the respondent have the right to appeal the decision of the Court of First Instance. Also, both are notified of the decision and given 15 working days to review that decision and/or to appeal the decision.
- If the decision is not appealed by either person, the defender of the bond signs off on the waiver. Once that is returned to the Tribunal office the process is complete and the petitioner and the respondent are notified along with the parish of baptism and parish of marriage.
- A vetitum (prohibition) may be attached to the decision, requiring that either or both spouses must attend professional counseling with a counselor approved by the Tribunal before being allowed to marry in the Catholic Church.
The average length for the Tribunal to process a petition is 12 months. If the process is appealed by either parties, the process may take longer than 18 months. No wedding date can be set until an affirmative decision has been rendered. The Court could require that the person participate in an evaluation or counseling with their intended spouse. This requirement is made so that the future marriage may be happy and fulfilling.
As of July 1, 2016, the Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud no longer charges a set fee for annulments. If you wish to make a donation to help defray the cost(s) of the work of the Tribunal, it would be greatly appreciated. Please make checks payable to: Tribunal of the Diocese of St. Cloud. Or, you may go to: www.stcdio.org/pay to make an online donation, under “Tribunal – Annulments”. Thank you for your kind donation.
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Bethany Tollefson ♦ (320) 251-2700 Ext. 54621
Save the Date – The Faith Community Nurse Partnership of Central MN will be offering a workshop discussing Grief and Loss during the difficult and complicated time of the pandemic. Mark your calendars for June 8, 2021 from 8 a.m. to Noon.
If you wonder who your Faith Community Nurse is in your region or parish, please reference the FCN Finder.
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Catholic Charities ♦ (320) 650-1641
Catholic Charities Pack the Porches Food and Fund Drive – This March, Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf joins other food shelves, faith communities, businesses and organizations across Minnesota in acting to end hunger and food insecurity during the 40th annual Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, March 1 through April 11, the largest annual grassroots food and fund drive in the state.
Join us Friday, March 19 for our 11th annual Pack the Porches Food and Fund Drive, benefiting Catholic Charities Food Shelf. Visit ccstcloud.org/pack-the-porches to learn more.
Can’t make it to Pack the Porches? Join us during the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. Please bring nonperishable items to Catholic Charities Food Shelf and donate funds in person or online. Visit ccstcloud.org/minnesota-foodshare to learn more.
Together we can give our neighbors the hope and stability they need. Together we can ensure food for all throughout Minnesota. Together we can make a different tomorrow.
Catholic Charities Senior Dining Frozen Meal Expansion Project – Catholic Charities Senior Dining has adapted services amid the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to serve our most vulnerable population. With all our congregate dining sites suspended since March 2020, the Frozen Meal Expansion Project provides our community seniors with easy-to-prepare, healthy food options in a no-contact, drive-through format.
These nutritious frozen meals meet one-third of the recommended daily allowance for seniors. The meals are packaged in oven-safe containers that are easy to heat and eat in both conventional and microwave ovens. Meals are available in quantities of 10 and up to 30 per calendar month. Participants must be 60 years of age and older to be eligible, and all clients must complete an annual registration form. There is no cost to participate; however, donations are accepted.
At the time of writing, events are currently scheduled in the following locations in March: Avon, Ogilvie, Mora, Brainerd, Wadena, Hinckley, St. Cloud, Foley, Milaca, Pillager, Little Falls, North Branch, Askov, Long Prairie, Sandstone, Rush City, Staples, Paynesville, Pierz and Sartell. Visit ccstcloud.org/events for a current schedule of locations.
The project is partially funded under a contract with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging as part of the Older Americans Act.
About Catholic Charities – The mission of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is to serve and enhance human dignity for people of all faiths and beliefs. Learn more at ccstcloud.org.
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Happy Birthday to our Retired Priests
Reverend Gerald Dalseth will celebrate his 83rd birthday on March 10.
308 Third Street S, Apt 105
Sauk Rapids, MN 56379
Telephone: (320) 250-3686
Reverend Albert Holmes will celebrate his 77th birthday on March 26.
302 Balmoral Avenue
Henning, MN 56551
Telephone: (612) 716-4977
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