JULY 2016 St.John the Apostle PARISH NEWSLETTER

“I Have Always Desired to Journey With People as They Encounter God” Meet Our New Pastor — Fr. David Richter

Inside this issue

3 A Letter From Our Pastor

4 Br. Symeon The Journey of Discernment

6 “The Apostle of and ” St. Francis Solanus The Richter family – (back row, from left) John, Msgr. Tom, Jerome and Luke; (middle row, from left) Fr. Richter, Patrick, Marc, Gary, Marlyn, and Andrew (in front of Marlyn); (seated, from left) Teresa, Mary Ann, Mary (mom), Victor 7 The St. John the (dad), Colleen and Lisa Apostle Welcoming Ministry iving on a farm is a highly appli- spending hours milking cows and fos- Lcable analogy to parish life. That’s tering a sense of the spirit of prayer.” what Fr. David Richter, the eighth child On a dairy farm about 20 minutes in a family of 14 children, believes. outside of Bismarck, Fr. Richter and “Growing up on a farm fosters a his siblings worked, played and prayed sense of stewardship, for everyone is together. His father spent five years invested in the farm,” says Fr. Rich- in the seminary before marrying his St. John the Apostle ter, St. John’s new pastor. “There is a mother. In his mother’s family, three of 2600 Central Avenue W. fairly consistent occurrence of people her aunts became nuns, and three of her Minot, ND 58701 who grew up on a dairy farm joining uncles became Benedictine priests. 701-839-7076 the religious life. I think part of that is www.stjohnminot.com continued on page 2 Meet Fr. David Richter continued from front cover “I was raised in a very Catholic home, and the Church was always a priority,” Fr. Richter says. “The priesthood and the religious life were very familiar to us.” Becoming a priest was always a possibility for Fr. Richter, like becom- ing an engineer or a farmer. With a degree in industrial engineering from North Dakota State University, Fr. Richter began applying for jobs, yet he attributed the certainty that his par- ents had in their marriage to his dad’s discerning the priesthood first. “I made the decision to spend at least one year in the seminary,” says Fr. Richter. “When I decided to enter the seminary, I was in college and dating a girl who was the oldest of 13 Fr. David Richter with the young people receiving their First Communion at St. Anthony in Linton and from a dairy farm in Minnesota. I thought God might tell me that this is and His mercy, love and beauty,” Fr. 30-day silent retreat in 2008,” Fr. the girl I have chosen for you.” Richter says. “I like being a Richter says. “Having that oppor- After a few years, however, it be- and doing retreats where people are tunity to be in God’s love and to be came obvious that God had plans for longing to know God.” guided by a spiritual director really Fr. Richter to be a priest, and when he As he recalls the past 16 years, made clear what a great gift and a opened up to his vocation, he expe- Fr. Richter shares that he has expe- great joy it is to be a priest.” rienced ineffable joy and peace. He rienced many moments when he felt On July 1, Fr. Richter officially was ordained on May 25, 2000, at the particularly blessed to have received a Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. vocation to the priesthood. became the new pastor of St. John’s. He feels privileged and honored to “I have always desired to journey “One of the most powerful and with people as they encounter God beautiful experiences was doing a serve as the spiritual father of our faith community. “I have always desired to journey with “I know I am not perfect and that the people I will be serving are not people as they encounter God and His mercy, perfect, but like God, I want to love love and beauty. I like being a confessor and them where they are and to help them doing retreats where people are longing to to grow to be what God wants,” Fr. Richter says. “I hope that they will do know God.” – Fr. David Richter the same for me.”

2 St.John the Apostle

A Letter from Our Pastor

“For Nothing Will Be Impossible for God”

Dear brothers and sisters,

am writing this article before I arrive years of high school and won the state title at I in person to take up my service as your the 145-pound weight class as a senior. pastor, so that you can have a knowledge of In college, I studied to be an engineer. In the basic background of the one called to 1994, I graduated from NDSU with a Bachelor be your spiritual father this next number of of Science degree in industrial engineering years. I feel extremely blessed by God and and entered the seminary at Cardinal Muench Bishop Kagan in being called to such an in- in Fargo. In 1996, I concluded my studies at credible assignment! It rightly is a grace that Cardinal Muench with a minor in Philosophy I am not worthy or deserving of, but rather a and a minor in Accounting. From there, I was gift that I am excited for. I have loved each sent to Kenrick-Glennon theological seminary assignment that my bishop has given to me, in St. Louis, Mo., where I received my Masters and the people that I have been privileged in Theology and was ordained a priest of Jesus to serve as a priest. I invest my whole heart Christ on May 25, 2000 along with five other in what I have been summoned to do, I will always do what men in Bismarck. is faithful to Mother Church and what is judged by me as My first assignment I served as the associate pastor at the greatest good for your eternal well-being. Let us truly the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck and chaplain/ believe what we hear in Luke’s Gospel, “for nothing will be teacher at SMCHS until July 2002. July of 2002, I was ap- impossible for God.” pointed as pastor of St. John the Baptist in Beach, N.D., and Now, let me share some basic family details; I am the the churches in Golva and Medora, as well as the chaplain eighth child of 14 children born to Victor and Mary Richter; at Home on the Range for boys and girls in Sentinel Butte. I have nine brothers (one is Msgr. Thomas, rector of our Ca- In 2010, I accepted the assignment as pastor of St. Anthony thedral) and four sisters. I am pretty sure that the number of Parish in Linton and the parishes in Hazelton and Brad- nieces and nephews that I presently have is 55. I was raised dock, serving them until now. I have also been involved in on a dairy farm 15 miles southeast of Bismarck. It seems the Bismarck marriage tribunal for 10 years. I am a lifelong that milking cows is a job that nurtures in boys a consider- Miami Dolphins fan, which has been the greatest source of ation to study for the priesthood! It may be just one of the my suffering the last 30 years! simplest ways that they conclude would get them away from I hope that this sketch will help you to know me a little milking cows for the rest of their life. bit and be a start for us to develop a lifelong relationship I attended first through eighth grade at a little country in Christ. Know that I have been praying for you for some school (Telfer), a few miles from our farm. At the start of months before now, and that there is already an affection for fourth grade, I was ill and later diagnosed with Type 1 diabe- you growing in my heart! Let us help each other become the tes and have been insulin dependent since. God has been very saints that God made us to be! good to me in this and used it to help me to develop a little bit of discipline in my life – however, I am still in need of more! Yours in Christ, After graduating from eighth grade, I attended high school at St. Mary’s Central in Bismarck, where I graduated with 110 Fr. David Richter, classmates in 1989. I competed in wrestling my last three Pastor

3 St.John the Apostle

Br. Symeon The Journey of Discernment s children of God, we are all if what God wants isn’t what you high school, I attended a retreat at Acalled to a vocation. Whether want? How can you be sure you are Assumption Abbey and realized how it’s answering that call to marriage, making the right decision? There are I enjoyed coming to prayer.” to the single life or to the religious never-ending questions, but as we In fact, it was at that very retreat life, a vocation is a gift from God, can learn from Brother Symeon, God at the Abbey where Br. Symeon first nurtured in prayer, which helps us would not have a plan for us if He met Br. Aelred Reid who jokingly find fulfillment and happiness ac- didn’t want us to know what it was. said to him, “You know this is your cording to His plan. But how do you But it might take some work. future.” At the time, however, Br. know what God wants for you? What “My grandmother was always Symeon was Matthew Rubbelke, and pushing for the right thing to be Matthew wasn’t sure what he want- done, even if it’s not always easy,” ed. He tried college, he worked, he Br. Symeon says. “And from her, I had endless theological discussions learned the importance of turning it with his brother, he became interest- over to God, that we need to let God ed in the Byzantine church, he went in, talk it out with Him and then lis- back to college, and for a while, he ten to Him – all the things we need even became involved in the punk to do when discerning.” community. But when his friend and To be sure, Br. Symeon would mentor, Br. Aelred, passed away and be the first to admit that discern- Br. Symeon returned to the Abbey ing God’s will is not an easy road to for the funeral, something shifted. travel – in fact, it’s a step-by-step “The moment I entered the process of moving forward, stop- grounds, I felt at home,” Br. Symeon ping, changing direction, and even says. “After all the searching, it’s doubling back to the exact place almost as if I ended up right where I where you started. And sometimes started. My mother later told me that you even have to resort to trial and when I told her about my decision, error. But through it all, Br. Symeon she could see a light in my eyes.” says there was always something This past April, he professed centered within him that kept him his first vows and received his new coming back to God. name, Symeon, after a Byzantine “I definitely had a lot of interests monk and poet who was the last of that pulled me in different direc- three saints to be canonized by the tions,” he says. “But I also knew that Eastern Orthodox Church, along for some reason, I was always drawn with the title, New Theologian. In to matters of spirituality and faith three years, he will make his final Br. Symeon professed his first vows – that I liked being around faithful vows to the Benedictine Order and on Saturday, April 16. In three people, that I enjoyed the summer the community at the Abbey. years, he will make final vows to the when my brother and I went to Mass In the meantime, Br. Symeon is Benedictine Order and his community at Assumption Abbey. and served every single day, that in embracing the natural rhythms of life

4 The Journey of Discernment at the Abbey – morn- ing prayers, communal meals, work, lessons, vespers, and evening recreation, enjoying board games such as Clue. And in his new life, with his new name, does Brother Symeon ever think of himself as Matthew? “The answer is both ‘yes’ and ‘no,’” Br. Symeon says. “Yes, because I’ll always be Matthew – the son, brother and friend. But Br. Symeon with his parents, Dean and Cindy Rubbelke the answer is also no because with my new to trust in God will take you where parents, friends, and teachers. Most name, there is promised change, and you are supposed to be. And while importantly, as Br. Symeon keeps I am looking forward to growing discernment for anyone requires all of us in his prayers, our faith into the community here.” personal prayer, we are not meant community must continue to do our In looking back on his faith to discern alone, and that God often part to foster, affirm and support journey, Br. Symeon admits that speaks to us through the advice and vocations to the priesthood, diaconate discernment is not easy, but learning wisdom of priests, spiritual directors, and religious life.

“I definitely had a lot of interests that pulled me in different directions. But I also knew that for some reason, I was always drawn to matters of spirituality and faith – that I liked being around faithful people, that I enjoyed the summer when my brother and I went to Mass and served every single day, that in high school, I attended a retreat at Assumption Abbey and realized how I enjoyed coming to prayer.” – Br. Symeon

5 “The Apostle of Peru and Argentina” St. Francis Solanus oday, St. Francis Solanus is remembered as the “Wonder In 1589, St. Francis sailed from Spain to the New World TWorker of the New World,” and we occupiers of a digital aboard a slave ship. Several accounts tell of the devastating age might feel distanced from this fearless missionary and healer. hurricane this 16th century ship encountered. The storm would Yet, his story shares details of his humanity. He fostered a eventually split the ship in two! Yet, while the captain and the talent for music. He learned languages to nurture hospitality. He crew abandoned the frigate, St. Francis selflessly gave up his was close to his mother. He desired to bring Christ and be Christ place in the lifeboat and stayed with the slaves to baptize and for others each day. comfort them until their rescue. As we look again at his narrative, St. Upon beginning his work in South Francis Solanus and the virtues and hab- “O powerful St. Francis America, St. Francis braved hitherto its of his daily life seem clearly relevant Solanus, you who explored nearly unexplored savage regions of to us today, more than 400 years later. and evangelized in the wilds of present day Argentina and . In 1549, individuals of local nobil- When he had studied philosophy and South America, please assist ity and renowned piety, Mateo Sanchez theology in seminary, St. Francis also Solano and Anna Ximenes, welcomed me in the wilds of this world pursued music and now played the their son into their home in Montilla and obtain for me, through our violin for the native people. He also near Cordoba, Spain. One story shares Lord Jesus Christ, the grace I diligently learned multiple challeng- that his mother consecrated her son to St. ask of thee. Amen.” ing native languages and dialects to Francis of Assisi while still in her womb. communicate with others in their own This consecration might account for Offer up your petition and language. St. Francis’ proclivity to the Franciscan St. Francis predicted his own death, spirituality, for he entered the Franciscan say one Hail Mary in honor which occurred in 1610 in , Peru. order at Montilla and then studied in of St. Francis Solanus. In that same year, while preaching in seminary at . He spent the first 40 Trujillo, Peru, he foretold the calamities years of his life living and working lo- that would occur in that city, which was cally in Andalucía, a region of Southern nearly destroyed by an earthquake nine Spain. St. Francis first felt drawn to North years later. Africa, desiring to achieve martyrdom Pope Benedict XIII canonized the there. But his vision would shift to the “Apostle of Peru and Argentina” in American missions. 1726. St. Francis’ feast is kept through- During his years in Spain, St. Francis out the Franciscan Order on July 24 and first gained the reputation of a wonder- in the United States on July 14. He is worker and healer, a reputation later the Patron of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, fortified by hundreds of witnesses who Paraguay, and Peru. gave testimony to his works. While many Our vocations might not bring us accounts exist of his tending the sick and across unexplored shores, but let us even nursing victims of the plague, St. endeavor to model St. Francis’ strength, Francis also found time to return to his selflessness and devotion to the Gospel hometown and quietly care for his mother as we pursue our own paths to sainthood after the passing of his father. in our current age.

6 St.John the Apostle

“As a Stewardship Parish, We All Need to be the Positive Face of the Parish” The St. John the Apostle Welcoming Ministry ere at St. John, we have a group of people who are On a monthly basis, the members of the ministry meet Hcharged with the responsibility of welcoming new to review the new memberships and to make assignments members to the parish. Under the leadership of Marie as to who will contact whom. Then, the assigned person or Sidener, this ministry group makes a personal visit to each persons make the contact and proceed from there. new member and new member family. As a parishioner at “The welcome packets contain valuable information St. John for more than 25 years, Marie has been active in about the parish with a list of ministry opportunities and this ministry for eight years, and she has served as coordi- other contact information which might be useful and help- nator of the Welcoming Ministry for five years. ful to them,” Marie says. “We also present the newcomers “When we are notified that a new family or individual with a loaf of bread and a container of salt.” has registered in the parish, we contact them to arrange a The gifts of bread and salt have a longstanding tradi- time when we can come to their home to officially wel- tion among Christians. In fact, in the classic movie It’s a come them and to provide them with information about the Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, a parish and answer any questions they may have,” she says. staple on television at Christmas, George and Mary Bailey “One of the major changes in recent years is that, increas- welcome the Martinis to their new home in this way. Mary ingly, people would prefer to meet us at the parish, which presents a loaf of bread and says, “Bread, that this house we now do more often. Sometimes, people are understand- may never know hunger, and salt, that life may always ably anxious about meeting. After a Mass, usually at a time have flavor.” That is exactly the attitude that the Welcom- that is convenient to them, we will meet with them and ing Ministry exudes. present them with a packet of information. Our new facili- “Welcoming people is so important,” Marie says. “We ties provide a comfortable and pleasant place to meet.” want them to know what a wonderful parish this is. You might say, to paraphrase the movie, ‘It’s a wonder- ful parish.’ However, to be the kind of parish we are and need to be, we must always show our best face. In fact, welcoming and hospitality are really every- one’s job. As a stewardship parish, we all need to be the positive face of the parish. It is amazing what a smile can do. The people in our ministry smile and try to make others comfortable and wanted. We all need to do that. Smiling is one of the easiest things each of us can do.” continued on back cover

Welcome7 St. John the Apostle Sacrament of Reconciliation Weekend Liturgies Wednesday - Friday: 8:30 AM - 8:50 AM Saturday: 5:00 PM Mass 2600 Central Ave. West Saturday: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PM Sunday: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM Mass Minot, ND 58701 Sunday: 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM 701-839-7076 www.stjohnminot.com NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID MAILED FROM ZIP CODE 58040 PERMIT NO. 3

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The St. John the Apostle Welcoming Ministry continued from page 7

Also, in recent years, the Welcoming Ministry has made a special effort in relation to families who are in the area stationed at Minot Air Force Base. “It is amazing what “In addition to us, there is a warm and caring Military Appreciation Minis- a smile can do. The try,” Marie says. “It is dedicated to ‘those who serve.’ There is a display high- people in our ministry lighting our military families and personnel in the church. We are all blessed and aware of their presence, and we want them, like our other newcomers, to smile and try to make feel both welcome and involved. others comfortable and “I think we do a pretty good job of welcoming, but there is so much more wanted. We all need to we could do,” she says. “We used to have a lady in the parish who hand-made kitchen articles, which we included in our packets. After she died, we were un- do that. Smiling is one able to do that anymore. If anyone else has an idea or a talent of something we of the easiest things could include in the packet, we encourage them to do it and become active with each of us can do.” us. We are aware of parishes where the new people receive gifts of rosaries or crucifixes or other practical items as newcomer packet gifts.” – Marie Sidener

As stewards, we are all called to be hospitable. If you would like more information about the Welcoming Ministry, or are interested in becoming a part of it, please contact Marie Sidener at 701-852-5703 or [email protected].