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Bishop Paul Sirba: Pilgrimage to papal visit brings great graces

As I rode the train from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, I was texting Betsy Kneepkens, our director of marriage and family life, and Father Anthony Craig, pastor of St. Mary’s in Deer River, St. Joseph’s in Ball Club, Sacred Heart in Federal Dam and St. Anne in Bena, and associate in the office, and was delighting with them in our Holy Father’s visit to the United States and the World Meeting of Families.

The Diocese of Duluth was represented well. Along with Father Steve Daigle and Father Mike Schmitz (a presenter at the World Meeting of Families), we had several families attending: the Spry family, the Morrison family, the Pilon family, the Cazin family and the Toma family, as well as a group of devoted pilgrims from across the diocese.

Bishop Paul Sirba
Bishop Paul Sirba
Fiat Voluntas Tua

Our families weathered the unexpected turns of a pilgrimage always (or nearly always) reflecting the joy of the Gospel. What a wonderful group to come home and share the story of their experiences with all of you!

The bishops began the journey with mid-day prayer with the Holy Father in St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington and the canonization of St. Junipero Serra at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the campus of Catholic University on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The Holy Father’s challenging but fatherly words have served to inspire and to get us to think and to dialogue with each other and others about the important issues of our day. The hospitality of the people of the city of Philadelphia and the other cities has been remarkable.

Conferences and keynote addresses fill our days, as well as security checkpoints, long bus rides, box lunches and, for me, my first ride using Uber! I send to all of you the greetings of our former bishops, all of whom have been in attendance. Bishops Brom, Schwietz and Schnurr have visited with members of our delegation at the various events and with me. They remember you with great fondness and offer their prayers for all of you.

Our Holy Father is the source of unity. He brings us together in a world which constantly strives to divide and scatter us. He has offered us the Gospel of Jesus and always seems to find the right words and gestures to invite us in to a deeper encounter with Our Lord. I hope you have taken in the events via the media.

He calls us to be missionary disciples of the family as part of God’s plan. It is our great call to teach the world to rediscover the family as God intended. We do so by witnessing to the love of Jesus by lives of faith, hope and joy.

Many have remarked on the grueling schedule he has maintained since he arrived in the United States, especially since he just finished a visit to Cuba. He is 78, approaching 79 years old! No doubt the grace of God and the prayers of the faithful have sustained him. You can tell he gains strength from being with his flock. His love of Jesus is mirrored in him like man he canonized, St. Junipero Serra.

With over a million people, we celebrated Holy Mass with Pope Francis. Like the graces which flowed from our Eucharistic Procession through the city of Duluth at the conclusion of our 125th anniversary celebration as a diocese, the graces of the Meeting of Families and our Holy Father’s first visit to the United States will bless us with an assurance of God with us and an outpouring of his mercy.

Bishop Paul D. Sirba is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Duluth.

Register today for the Diocesan Assembly!

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Register by Sept. 28 to guarantee food and materials and save $10! (People may still register after Sept. 28 — a limited amount of extra food and materials will be available.) Register here.

Pope Francis has arrived!

If you’re a Catholic in the Diocese of Duluth looking to follow along with Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, here are some resources you will want to see.

  • The USCCB page set up for the visit.

  • Some live streaming options from Catholic News Service.

  • The Eternal Word Television Network and Catholic TV will have coverage available online too.

  • The College of St. Scholastica will be hosting a live stream of the pope’s historic address to a joint session of Congress, followed by a panel discussion featuring St. Scholastica faculty, students, and staff, at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Pope Francis is scheduled to address Congress in Washington, D.C. at about 8:20 a.m. central standard time on Thursday, Sept. 24. The College will feature a live feed of the event on a large screen in its Mitchell Auditorium. Participants are invited to stay after the address and take part in a Q&A and discussion panel.

  • One of the families from the Diocese of Duluth traveling to the World Meeting of Families, where they will be joined by the pope is blogging about the experience.

Be sure to check out the full text of the pope’s addresses whenever possible!

— Kyle Eller

See the moving video from Saturday

Shortly before Mass at the 125th anniversary celebration, a short video about the diocese was debuted at the DECC. Now it's available online for all to see and share.

You can watch it here!

Eucharistic Procession overwhelms

Saturday’s Eucharistic Procession and Mass in honor of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Duluth leaves one at a loss for words.

From 11 a.m., when buses and shuttles of people, young and old and of every vocation, started arriving at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary to the massive 4:30 p.m. Mass at the DECC and through the stunningly perfect late summer day in Duluth in between, it was a time of communion, of peace, of prayer, of joy, of evangelization and of love.

Processing down Fifth Avenue West in Duluth toward the DECC.It’s hard to get a certain count, but estimates are that 2,500 to 3,000 people participated in the procession, at Mass or both, and the procession itself often stretched for blocks, even from the beginning of the four-mile route, which made prayer stops at Sixth Avenue East, St. Mary’s and the Damiano Center. Another highlight was at St. Mary’s, where Father Ben Hadrich was able to leave the hospital and briefly carry the monstrance.

To see hundreds of photos and other social media coverage, don’t miss the following resources:

Duluth media coverage included stories in the Duluth News Tribune and on Northland’s News Center, WDIO and FOX 21.

If you participated and would like to share your brief thoughts for possible inclusion in coverage for The Northern Cross, please email them to me at keller@dioceseduluth.org.

— Kyle Eller

Social media efforts for the Eucharistic Procession

As we approach Saturday’s historic Eucharistic Procession honoring the 125th anniversary of the Diocese of Duluth, there’s a 21st century piece of the puzzle you should know: the social media hashtag for the event, ‪#‎duluthcatholic125‬.

As you’re processing, if you see something beautiful or edifying or interesting, snap a photo and post it to Twitter or Facebook with the hashtag #duluthcatholic125, and it may be shared on the big screen at the DECC with those who are gathered there praying. (If you’re posting on Facebook, make sure that your privacy settings on such posts are set to “public” or those working at the DECC will not be able to see them.)

This way, as we bear witness directly to our neighbors, we can also reach out to the world of social media.

Throughout the event, we’re also going to try to live-tweet it from the Twitter account of The Northern Cross, and posts will be cross-posted to the diocesan Facebook page. Those will be good resources to like or follow if you want to keep in touch throughout the day.

Spread the word! See you on Saturday.

— Kyle Eller

Here’s detailed information about the 125th diocesan anniversary Eucharistic Procession Sept. 12

The Northern Cross

The Eucharistic Procession honoring the 125th anniversary of the Diocese of Duluth is nearly upon us. It is Sept. 12. Following are the main details you need to know.

Route

The route begins at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary (2830 E. Fourth St.) at noon. Participants will walk two miles to Sixth Avenue East and Fourth Street to the first prayer stop, then half a mile to St. Mary’s Hospital (400 E. Fourth St.) to the second prayer stop.

The procession will continue half a mile to Damiano Center (206 W. Fourth St.) to the third prayer stop, then one mile to the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center(350 Harbor Drive) for Mass. (This section has a steep hill to navigate.)

The procession will take place in the street. “Street Marshalls” will help guide people, and the Duluth Police Department will have barricades set up along the route.
There will be a rescue squad following the route to be available as needed.

Along the way

A hotdog lunch will be served, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, before the walk. Lunch will begin at 11 a.m. This is sponsored by the Cathedral parish.

Backpacks will be given to participants and will include a rosary, program, water and small snack; however you may want to bring your own.

Port-A-Potties will be available at the first and third prayer stops.

Parking and shuttles

All participants are asked to park at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. Parking at the DECC is $5. Buses will pick up people at the DECC and drop them off at one of the following locations: 1) Cathedral 2) Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue East, or 3) Damiano Center.

Important Note: If people choose to park at the Cathedral or along the route, there will not be a shuttle to return them to their car at the end of the day.

If people begin the procession and need to leave the walk, a shuttle bus will be available to take them to one of the stops or back to the DECC.

At the DECC

Clergy are welcome to leave their vestments in a designated area at the DECC.

Knights of Columbus — a room at the DECC will be reserved for your use.

People can arrive at the DECC at any time. A program, prayers and pictures will be happening. A concession stand will be open.

Parishes might think of having name tags (name and city) for their participants.

There will be an area at the Mass reserved for altar servers. Servers can wear their cassocks and albs during the procession or change into them at the DECC.

Mass will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the DECC Arena. Signage will be present. Parishioners can join the People’s Choir for Mass. Music has been sent to parishes.

A cookie and punch reception will be held after the Mass.

Bishop Sirba: Recent, upcoming events show the Eucharist is ‘source and summit of our faith’

The Eucharist is the foretaste of the wedding feast of the Lamb in the heavenly Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 11:20; Revelation 19:9). The sacrament is called by a number of names to express different aspects of this inestimable gift.

It is called “the Eucharist,” because it is an action of thanksgiving to God. It is named “the Lord’s Supper,” because of its connection with the Last Supper the Lord took with his disciples on the eve of His Passion.

Bishop Paul Sirba
Bishop Paul Sirba
Fiat Voluntas Tua

It is also called the “Breaking of the Bread,” the “Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,” and the “Holy and Divine Liturgy.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about the Eucharist in Part Two, Article 3. Please take the time to reread this section of the Catechism.

Food for our journey

As I look back over the month of August and look ahead to the month of September, the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life in our diocese. I offer a few examples that you can add to your own meditations about the Eucharist, as we thank God for giving us Jesus as our food for the journey.

On Aug. 15, the Monastery of St. Scholastica celebrated the installation of its new Prioress, Benedictine Sister Beverly Raway. Congratulations, Sister Beverly!

I had the privilege of celebrating Mass with the sisters on the Feast of the Assumption as they welcomed Sister Beverly as Christ. It was a moving ceremony that involved, among many other beautiful and symbolic actions, the individual greeting of each member of the community by Sister Beverly. Each sister placed her hands within Sister Beverly’s hands and offered her life anew to Christ through her, obedience being a “yes” to Jesus. The transition of leadership took place within the context of the Mass. Jesus is with us in times of change.

During this Year of Consecrated Life join me in prayers of thanksgiving for the prayer and work of the sisters of St. Scholastica over the entire lifetime of the diocese and for God’s blessings upon their future.

The faithful have been remembering Father Ben Hadrich at Mass and praying for his speedy and complete recovery from a brain hemorrhage. I witnessed firsthand the expression of the healing power of the sacrament, as a brother priest offered Mass by Father Ben’s bedside with his mother and father and siblings present. Jesus, Himself, came to heal and to love Father Ben. Jesus comes to us in times of hurt and pain, when we are powerless and not in control.

Mass is offered daily throughout our diocese thanks to the efforts of our priests and your joyful participation. Thank you!

Hope amid many trials

Our world needs Our Lord Jesus Christ to save us. Daily we face the inhumanity of the acts of our “throwaway culture” and their painful consequences.
We witness the destruction of innocent human life through the scourge of abortion — the horror of Planned Parenthood’s actions and our indifference.

Wars rage, families are broken or redefined, and entire nations are displaced. Addictions abound, and the poor get poorer. Even our planet groans under the weight of human sin. We bring our own afflictions, daily difficulties and sometimes overwhelming obstacles. We would be crushed if we did not have Jesus. We always have Jesus!

God knows we are powerless without Him. He knows our need. God the Father sent us His beloved Son, Jesus Our Savior, so that whoever believes in Him might have eternal life. Jesus is the Bread of Life. He comes to invite us to the eternal banquet in heaven and gives us Himself as manna for our journey. Jesus is our hope!

Procession to be a sacred act

On Sept. 12, our diocese will have a unique opportunity to walk with Jesus and to receive Him. As we conclude our 125th Year of Faith as a diocese, our expression of belief will take the form of a Eucharistic Procession, Benediction and Mass. The sacred action will prepare and strengthen us in our work of the New Evangelization in our beloved diocese.

Jesus remains with us always. I look forward to being with Jesus and with you as we give thanks together for God’s love these past 125 years and look forward with great anticipation to His coming again in glory!

Bishop Paul D. Sirba is the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Duluth.

Labor Day Statement 2015 from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

 

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami,of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, citing Pope Francis, wrote in this year’s Labor Day statement that the issue of a living wage is directly connected to issues of family that are getting so much attention these days.

He added:

... Even with some economic progress, things have not truly improved for most American families. We must not resign ourselves to a 'new normal' with an economy that does not provide stable work at a living wage for too many men and women. The poverty rate remains painfully high. The unemployment rate has declined, yet much of that is due to people simply giving up looking for a job, not because they have found full-time work. The majority of jobs provide little in the way of sufficient wages, retirement benefits, stability, or family security, and too many families are stringing together part-time jobs to pay the bills. Opportunities for younger workers are in serious decline.

The continuing struggles of most families to make ends meet are on display before our eyes, both at home and abroad. This Labor Day, we have a tremendous opportunity to reflect on how dignified work with a living wage is critical to helping our families and our greater society thrive.

If you'd like to take up that call this Labor Day and reflect on the importance of this issue, here are some selected resources going into more detail about the Church's social teaching on human work and a just wage:

— Kyle Eller

 

Media coverage of pope's gesture on confession causing confusion

Yesterday, Pope Francis announced that during the Year of Mercy, which runs from Dec. 8, 2015 to Nov. 20, 2016, he is granting all priests “the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it.” You can read a Catholic News Service stories here and here that explain it in greater detail.

Unfortunately, largely due to the complicated meaning of that gesture in Church law, some of the media coverage has been terribly inaccurate and has ended up causing confusion and pain — including for some of the very people this gesture was intended to help.

Some have wondered if Pope Francis is trying to “change” Church teaching on abortion. Others have wondered if, before this holy year, abortion was somehow an “unforgivable sin” — and if it will be so once again after the year is over. Worst of all, some people who have been involved in abortions and confessed it may be wondering: “Was my confession valid? Am I forgiven? Have I been excommunicated all this time, and I didn’t even know it?”

So here are some points to remember:

  • People who have been involved in abortions and have gone to confession should be at peace. The church supplies mercy here. However, if you are troubled in conscience and wish to have further clarity or peace of heart, you should feel free to bring it up with a priest in confession.
  • Pope Francis is not changing, is never going to change and in fact cannot change Church teaching on abortion. He said so himself in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, where he reiterated this while also echoing the mercy of the Church toward those who have had abortions: “Precisely because this involves the internal consistency of our message about the value of the human person, the Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question. I want to be completely honest in this regard. This is not something subject to alleged reforms or ‘modernizations.’ It is not ‘progressive’ to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life. On the other hand, it is also true that we have done little to adequately accompany women in very difficult situations, where abortion appears as a quick solution to their profound anguish, especially when the life developing within them is the result of rape or a situation of extreme poverty. Who can remain unmoved before such painful situations?”
  • Penalties in Church law are applied “strictly,” meaning that there are many mitigating factors that would lead to it not applying. For instance, the penalty of excommunication would not apply to people who, through no fault of their own, didn’t know a penalty was attached to the crime of abortion or who acted under a state of grave fear. It’s still a serious sin that needs to be confessed, but there was no excommunication attached.
  • For many dioceses in the United States, including the Diocese of Duluth, priests have already been given this faculty by their bishops. So in the Duluth Diocese, things will be no different during the Holy Year than they already were.
  • For anyone who is truly penitent, forgiveness of this sin and the lifting of the penalty of excommunication has always been available in the Church and always will be. The main point of such a penalty in Church law is to bring people to conversion. This gesture of Pope Francis simply makes that process simpler and easier for people who need it.
  • Always remember: The whole point here is mercy — forgiveness of sin and reconciliation with God and the Church and with each other. That is not a “conservative” thing or a “liberal” thing, it’s a Gospel thing, so it’s the Church’s thing. To read more about the Year of Mercy, here is the papal bull announcing it.
  • One of the hallmarks of Pope Francis’ ministry is his emphasis on mercy, and one of the overlooked aspects of that is his emphasis on confession — on the “sacrament of forgiveness” where, whatever our sins, we can go to find mercy and healing. That is a call we all can heed.
— Kyle Eller