VOL. 79 NO. 5 WWW.BISMARCKDIOCESE.COM MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action Reporting on Catholic action in western ND since 1941 Sacred oils

At the end of Mass, Bishop Kagan leaned over the chrism oil to say a prayer of consecration during which he breathes on the oil signifying the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Chrism Mass looked quite diff erent being live-streamed to the public from the Cathedral’s side chapel because of public Masses being canceled due to the coronavirus restrictions. Blessed and consecrated at the annual Chrism Mass

Fewer smells are more familiar in the Diocese of Bismarck. It’s Oil of the sick sick is placed near the altar during to Catholics than the sweet, earthy where ordinary oil becomes an The oil of the sick is used for the the Chrism Mass and is blessed aroma of the sacred chrism oil. extraordinary gift to the church sacrament of the anointing of the during the Eucharistic Prayer But, where does the oil come signifying the life-giving grace sick during which the priest lays within the Mass. from and when is it blessed to be bestowed by the Holy Spirit. his hands on the sick person. He The blessing prayer is this: “O, considered “holy oil?” The sacred oil has a distinctive says special prayers and anoints God, Father of all consolation, who The Church makes use of three purpose in the Church connected the person by placing the oil on the willed to heal the infi rmities of sacred oils for sacraments: the oil to the sacraments. Each is pure forehead and hands. the weak through your Son, listen of the sick, the oil of catechumens olive oil with the balsam being The urn containing the oil of the Continued on page 4 and the chrism oil. The fi rst mixed with the chrism oil. Once two are blessed and the bishop blessed, the oils are more than consecrates the third during mere extracts of plants; they the annual Chrism Mass held signify healing, comfort and A LOOK INSIDE during Holy Week, traditionally strength to all who receive them. on the Monday of Holy Week

Chrism Mass Eucharistic adoration Get a behind-the-scenes look at how Many parishes in our diocese that have ordinary oil becomes sacred during the embraced the practice of Eucharistic annual Chrism Mass ...... Page 5 adoration ...... Page 8-9 | MAY 2020 2 Dakota Catholic Action Bishop David D. Kagan Carry His light to the world Sunday. Saint Matthew is a real stepping forward During these difficult days, FROM THE BISHOP describes how the holy women along the way of Christ. It our faith and hope remain go the Lord’s tomb “as the first is following in the footsteps intact and hopefully we day of the week was dawning” of Christ, a discipleship have strengthened them by and encounter the angel of of Christ. This is why our our prayer, good works and the Lord who tells them: “Do sacred Christian Tradition sacrifices and thus, we have not be afraid!” He proceeds deliberately speaks not simply encountered the Crucified and to assure them that Jesus of Jesus but of following Risen One because we have Crucified is truly risen just Christ. We follow not a dead been following Him. If these as He said and then he sends man but the living Christ. To things are true of us, then we them to the Apostles with the say and do anything else is can bear witness to Him and message, “He has been raised to rob discipleship of what carry His light to the world. from the dead, and He is going is essential to it, what it is We can be His disciples. before you to Galilee; there by its very nature: Cross and The message of Easter is our you will see Him” (Mt 28: Resurrection and Christ’s message to the world. Easter 1-10). Divine Sonship. is not an account of a miracle St. John describes how As St. John said of Peter and that happened a long time ago, again the Apostles hear the himself, they saw and believed it is the event that has defined astounding news from Mary only after being in the empty the meaning of all history. Bishop David D. Kagan Magdalene that the tomb is tomb because until then, Let us tell the world: Christ is truly empty, and the Lord is experiencing the Crucified indeed Risen! We are living our precious not there, Peter and John run and Risen Christ, they had faith in these times of to the tomb and find it just as not understood the Scriptures NOTICE pandemic under the protection they had been told and then about His resurrection. Our of the Cross of Christ which, St. John says that “he saw and discipleship too is born of our Until further notice, all contrary to the world’s view of believed. For they did not yet experience of the Crucified Masses are closed to the it, stands as an ever burning understand the Scripture that and Risen Christ in the Church He had to rise from the dead” and the sacraments. public. Masses from the and undimmed torch lighting Cathedral of the Holy Spirit our way to follow Jesus. How (Jn 20: 1-9). Our discipleship, like that can this be? What do these Gospel of the Apostles, only happens can be seen on livestream It is the Crucified and passages teach us? The Risen in the light of the Cross, in at cathedralparish.com or Risen Lord Who reveals this Lord clearly calls them and the true losing of self for His via the diocesan website. to us that first Easter. Recall us to “Come, follow Me, sake; it is a stepping forward Check with your local parish the Gospel narratives for I am going before you.” into what is hidden in order to regarding the availability Resurrection-faith, our faith, find what it is to be a human the Easter Vigil and Easter of local Mass on livestream. being who has been redeemed by pure Love. The call to be Sunday Mass at 8 a.m. (CT) BISHOP IN ACTION joyful at Easter is a vocation from the Cathedral is also we must share because the being televised on BEK until Lord has given us joy and the further notice. For channel world is waiting for it because listings, go to www.bek.coop. the world needs it.

Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for May

For Deacons We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.

Photo by Deacon Joe Krupinsky SOCIAL MEDIA Bishop Kagan blessed the paschal candle during the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Follow the Diocese on Twitter @BisDiocese and follow Bishop Kagan @VescovoDDK

Dakota Catholic Action Bishop David Kagan Following Reporting on Catholic action in western ND since 1941 @VescovoDDK

Publisher: Most Reverend David D. Kagan, D.D., P.A., J.C.L., Divine Mercy Sunday, Easter Octave Bishop of Bismarck ends: may the beautiful, complete Editor: Sonia Mullally, [email protected] Center for Pastoral Ministry - Diocese of Bismarck USPS0011-5770 and humble profession of faith 520 N. Washington Street, PO Box 1137, Bismarck, ND 58501-1137 by St. Thomas be ours every day: Phone: 701-222-3035 Fax: 701-222-0269 “Dominus meus, Deus meus”! www.bismarckdiocese.com Visit our website at www.bismarckdiocese.com The Dakota Catholic Action (0011-5770) is published monthly except July Get news, photos, videos and more from around the diocese. by the Diocese of Bismarck, PO Box 1575, Bismarck, ND 58502-1575. Periodical postage paid at Bismarck, ND, and additional mailing offi ces. Search “Bismarck Diocese” on YouTube for POSTMASTER: Send address changes to address below. videos from the Church in western N.D. Dakota Catholic Action, PO Box 1137, Bismarck, ND 58501-1137 Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ The Dakota Catholic Action is funded in part by the annual Bismarck Diocese God’s Share Appeal. Get status updates, photos, videos, and links and share them with your friends. MAY 2020 Catholic Action Bringing Christ into everyday life Dakota Catholic Action | 3 Consecration to St. Joseph Local men complete 33-day devotion By Patti Armstrong our faith that people are so confused about so DCA Writer many things, even the teachings of the Church. Out of all the men in the world, St. Joseph Something like 60% of Catholics don’t believe was chosen by God to be the head of the Holy in the Eucharist as the Real Presence, for Family. In the Bismarck Diocese, 110 men example. Saint John Paul II wrote in one of his including six priests, also chose him on March books that we need to invoke the fatherhood 19, the feast of St. Joseph. of St. Joseph for the re-evangelization of the Using Fr. Donald Calloway’s new book, world. Saint Joseph was the fi rst one to bring “Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders Christ to the world, and he can reintroduce us of Our Spiritual Father,” the men completed to our Lord in our pagan culture.” a 33-day preparation for consecration based Father Calloway had a personal devotion on prayers, Scripture and refl ections; and to St. Joseph for many years and wondered if consecrated their lives to him as their spiritual there was a formal consecration to him similar father, to protect and guide them to heaven. to the consecration to the Blessed Mary as Around 40 of those men attended Mass developed by St. Louis de Montfort. When he Thursday morning on March 19 on the learned there wasn’t, he spent the next three feast day at St. Joseph’s Church in Mandan, years researching, praying and writing the presided over by Fr. Josh Waltz. They recited book. the consecration prayer together after Mass. There is no confl ict with also It was the last day before public Masses were consecrating ourselves to Mary as suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. our spiritual mother, according to The group was organized by John Berger, Fr. Calloway, and having a spiritual parishioner at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit mother and a spiritual father is who also began a “Dads in Prayer” group at St. actually the ideal. Mary’s Central High School (SMCHS) three Transforming mission years ago, open to all regardless of school Father Waltz said he had two affi liation. reasons for participating in the “Several years ago, when Fr. Josh Waltz consecration. “I wanted get to know was the chaplain at SMCHS, I completed the St. Joseph better because he is patron St. Louis de Montfort consecration to Jesus of my church and school. And, with through Mary,” he explained. “It had a big so many things going on within the impact on my life. I heard about Fr. Donald parish, I wanted to consecrate the Calloway’s new book on Catholic radio (Real whole thing to him.” Presence), and I thought it would be great to He explained that the school is participate in this consecration to St. Joseph taking on a new focus, reclaiming the with a group of men.” family, and they are placing it under He ordered 33 books hoping the Holy Spirit the patronage of the Holy Family. would help him fi nd 32 other men. “Before I Using the method pioneered by Marie knew it, I was out of books,” he said. “My son Montessori, treating the school as an Michael had invited Fr. Waltz to join us, and extension of families and the parish thankfully, I was able to partner with Shawna community centered on a sacramental Helbling from the Church of Saint Joseph in life, is transforming it. Volunteers Mandan in getting another 35 books.” Those are contributing everything from quickly sold out, as did another 40 books from woodworking to building furniture St. Joseph’s. to remodeling classrooms. “There “Fathers Jared Wolf, John Paul Gardner, are so many things that still need to Wayne Sattler and Josh Ehli all participated in be provided for this mission to be the consecration with our group,” Berger said. accomplished,” Fr. Waltz said. “I want “Father Wolf did a ‘kick off ’ at the St. Mary’s St. Joseph to provide; that was talked Academy with over 60 men physically in about over and over in the book. We attendance, and Fr. Gardner and Fr. Ehli each are even going to have a St. Joseph’s gave a talk along the 33-day journey.” workshop where we will teach children Berger did not think it was a coincidence woodworking.” that the last day of Masses in our Diocese due to the coronavirus was on the feast of Saint Participant feedback On the feast day of St. Joseph (March 19), a large group of men An anonymous participant shared gathered near the altar of St. Joseph Parish in Mandan and recited Joseph. “He is the Patron of Holy Church and the consecration prayer together. he will protect and lead us through this,” he that the consecration has increased said. “The Litany of Saint Joseph is a beautiful his resolve and focus and given him a silence and how he knew that his life was to prayer for us to be praying during these sense of calm. “I fi nd that St. Joseph be spent in raising up the Son of God and he diffi cult times.” really helps ‘lead me not into temptation.’ I also think he is helping with all the home chaos literally poured out his life in love for that Father Calloway’s book resulting from the social distancing and the purpose. I think about this when I feel at my “That’s awesome!” Father Calloway, distance learning.” wits’ end, particularly with family situations, member of Marian Fathers of the Immaculate John Dinius, another who took part in the and when I feel like I don’t know what to do or Conception, said when he learned about the consecration, said, “I would consider myself can’t see my way forward, I talk to St. Joseph Bismarck Diocese group. In an interview for a good father and husband, but after reading and remember his silence and hiddenness so this article, he explained his reason for writing that book, it has driven me to be even better, that Jesus could be everything.” the book. “St. Joseph is so important at this and more pure and lead my children (three Another participant, Jim Kuznia found time in the Church,” he said. “I think the boys) to all grow up like and be like St. Joseph. the consecration especially benefi cial in this reason is two-fold. One goes back to so much This book has truly changed my life and what it time of the coronavirus pandemic. His and confusion and misunderstanding about what means to be a father, and husband.” his wife, Tracy’s, daughter, Paige, was one marriage is.” Another anonymous participant, referring of the fi rst people in the state to test positive He explained that the culture has redefi ned to the lily as a symbol of St. Joseph’s purity with COVID-19 in March, from which she has marriage with so much gender confusion, all as a weapon against the devil, commented, “I recovered. “Our faith has been our greatest while men are being called toxic. The second was really moved by this and think of it when asset during this trying time,” Jim said “My reason, he said, is that it takes a father to I’m struggling or tempted, or anytime I see a studying the consecration to St. Joseph could restore order in a house, and we are in need of picture of St. Joseph. I talk to him (St. Joseph) not have come at a better time. It has taught order in our homes and in our churches. “We about it regularly and ask for him to help me me to be even more courageous, faithful and, need St. Joseph’s spiritual fatherhood more have the simplicity and purity of devotion to most of all, patient.” than we have ever needed it before,” he said. Jesus that keeps me safe through temptation.” The consecration is for everyone with some “That’s why I think the consecration is for our He also credited the consecration with, “the wives having joined their husbands in the time. We need the leadership, correction and ability to let go, to rest and trust in God and devotion. Only a month after Fr. Calloway’s the guidance of a loving father.” know that His power to act is greater than my book’s January publication, it had already sold Saint Joseph will help us get back to the own (and is often most fully seen when I am 40,000 copies. Books can be purchased locally basics, according to Fr. Calloway. “We’ve at rest and not working against Him). I was at Mayo Pharmacy in Bismarck or through Fr. gotten so far away from the central truths of deeply moved by the sections on St. Joseph’s Calloway’s website at fathercalloway.com. 4 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020

crown of the child’s head. Sacred oils Chrism oil is Continued from page 1 also used during favorably to the prayer of faith: send forth baptism of from the heavens, we pray, your Holy Spirit, adults. Other the Paraclete, upon this oil in all its richness, instances where which you have graciously brought forth from chrism oil is the verdant tree to restore the body, so that used is during by your holy blessing everyone anointed with the sacrament of this oil as a safeguard for body, soul, and spirit holy orders. In may be freed from all pain, all infirmity, and all the ordination sickness. May your holy oil, O Lord, be blessed rite of a priest, by you for your sake in the name of Jesus the bishop Christ our Lord.” anoints with chrism the palms Oil of catechumens of the new priest. The oil of catechumens is used for infant In the ordination and adult baptism. Adult baptism usually rite of a bishop, takes place during a process where the person the consecrating is preparing for baptism as part of the Rite of bishop anoints Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA. the head of the Due to the coronavirus restrictions, only a handful of diocesan priests in attendance included Near the end of Mass, the oil of new bishop. Fathers Josh Ehli, Dominic Bouck, John Paul Gardner and Nick Schneider (not pictured). This Mass is known for the renewal of priestly promises they made on the day of their ordination. catechumens, generally placed in an urn beside Chrism oil is the chrism oil, is blessed by the bishop with also used in this prayer: “O God, strength and protection of the consecration or dedication of a church or your people, who have made the oil you created blessing of an altar and vessels used at Mass. a sign of strength, graciously bless this oil, and The ritual for consecrating the sacred chrism grant courage to the catechumens who will is slightly different from the other oils. At be anointed with it, so that, receiving divine the end of Mass, the bishop says a prayer to wisdom and power, they may understand consecrate the sacred chrism oil during which more deeply the Gospel of your Christ, they he breathes on the oil at the opening of the urn may undertake with a generous heart the signifying the presence of the Holy Spirit. labors of the Christian life, and, made worthy A longer prayer of consecration is used for of adoption as your sons and daughters, they the chrism oil. The first portion reads, “Let may rejoice to be born anew and to live in your us pray, dear brothers and sisters, to God the Church. Through Christ our Lord.” almighty Father, that He bless and sanctify this Chrism oil oil, so that all who are outwardly anointed with The chrism oil is mixed with fragrant balsam it may be inwardly transformed and come to to represent the “aroma of Christ” noted in share in eternal salvation.” 2 Corinthians 2:15, “For we are the aroma of The Chrism Mass Christ for God among those who are being Each year, the bishop blesses new oils saved and among those who are perishing…” for the 97 parishes in the diocese during the Anointing with chrism oil signifies the gift Chrism Mass. After the Mass, the oils are of the Holy Spirit and is used to consecrate bottled into smaller vessels and distributed to someone or something to the service of God. each parish to be used in administering the The sacred chrism is used at the sacrament sacraments during that year. Father Nick Schneider held the order of blessing book of confirmation when the bishop traces Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the for Bishop Kagan as he blessed the oil of catechumens the sign of the cross on the forehead of the Chrism Mass looked quite different with only during the Chrism Mass. candidate saying, “Be sealed with the gift of the a handful of diocesan priests in attendance. Holy Spirit.” This Mass is known for the renewal of priestly the Cathedral’s side chapel to the public and Sacred chrism is also part of the baptismal promises they made on the day of their diocesan priests were asked to participate rite. A cross with chrism oil is traced on the ordination. The Mass was live-streamed from remotely in unity with the faithful. Mass of Chrism An important aspect of the virulent pandemic as an unjust most especially to pray to Chrism Mass is the annual and unwarranted limitation on the Lord to have mercy renewal of priestly promises our priesthood, on our zeal for on us and deliver us from manifesting the unity of the souls and on our desire to serve this disease. priests with their bishop. With Christ and His people as we As His priests, you all the priests of the diocese have been called to do. That is a and I are called first present before the bishop, they temptation, but it is of the world and foremost to offer renew their fidelity to him and and of the Enemy of Christ and sacrifice to God for His to Jesus Christ. This year, due to His Church. people and in our prayers the coronavirus restrictions, just Our good people know us to lift them up to Him a few diocesan priests were in and know that we would be for Him to bless and to attendance; others were asked to among them and with them in heal and to strengthen. participate online during the live their daily lives of prayer, good Recall the Gospel for Ash stream. Bishop Kagan addressed works and penance if that were Wednesday and what the priests in his Mass homily. possible. They know you and I the Lord says is most Sermon by Bishop Kagan suffer spiritually because we do pleasing to God by way of My dear brothers and sisters not have them with us at Holy prayer. It is not making a in Christ Jesus, and on this day Mass, they know we still want to spectacle, but it is going and in a special way, my dear offer them the opportunities for to our room and in private brother priests, we gather under confession and absolution. being fervent and sincere most unusual and unanticipated But, is there something more in our prayer to Him. circumstances. However, what you and I can do under these Let this be our hope, binds us as one is not really present circumstances? In a our consolation and our being in close physical contact word, yes. It is to give them strength in these difficult so, these times are the graced and proximity to one another. and one another our example times as we pray for and serve opportunities for you and me What binds us as one is our of humble obedience to what God’s holy people now and in to be the “bridges” to Christ for faith and hope in Jesus Christ, is imposed on us at the present this different way. Again, by our His people, leading them by our our Crucified and Risen Savior, and remain joyfully grateful in example of obedience they know example of humble obedience to who has called you and me from our prayers and in our priestly we love them and serve them the will of the Lord for us at this among His beloved people, to life. We are all aware that this because they know we love and moment. Our priesthood is never serve Him and them as His virus still presents a real danger serve Christ. to be about what we want but priests of the New and Eternal to the health and well-being of Pope Benedict XVI called what He wants for His people. It Covenant. our brothers and sisters and, as you and me as priests, “bridges” is for us to follow Him and, in so I said earlier, for us it is a matter to the encounter with Jesus In these times, we may be doing, be the “bridges” for His of justice and charity to do all we Christ. My brothers, these times tempted to see the restrictions people to do the same. placed on us because of this can to protect one another and will not last forever but even MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action | 5 Chrism Mass – Behind the Scenes

After the Chrism Mass, Diocesan Director of the Permanent Diaconate program David Fleck and diaconate candidate Kevin Leingang fi lled the 1 oz. bottles with each of the oils to be distributed for use in the 97 parishes.

Before the Chrism Mass, ordinary olive oil is poured into the urns.

Balsam is added and mixed in the olive oil that is to be the sacred chrism consecrated during the Mass.

Special wooden trays to nestle the bottles were crafted by Deacon Doug Helbing years ago. 6 | Dakota Catholic Action Catholic Action Bringing Christ into everyday life MAY 2020 Against the odds Two families say yes to God’s plan and welcome new life when doctors said it wasn’t possible

By Patti Armstrong DCA Writer As a barnyard chicken strutted around in doll cloths, Melody (Mel) Vetter and Marie Weigel giggled at their handiwork. They were third cousins and childhood friends, growing up four miles from each other in rural Napoleon on cattle and grain farms. Jumping on a horse or a bike was their mode of transportation on Sunday afternoons to get to one another’s house. Years later, Mel married Mike Haider and moved to Bismarck and Marie married Dan Vetter and they farm in the Linton area. The cousins lost touch with each other but always treasured their shared childhood memories. As their lives unfolded, however, both were to share an experience they never Submitted photo could have imagined: A doctor’s The Haider family—Mike and Mel Haider with Hailey, her husband, Trent, and Mike and Mel’s daughter-in-law and son, Mariah and suggestion to end the lives of their Jayden. unborn babies. That evening, Father Vetter said getting worse with more physical felt as if they had a second chance Bishop Austin Vetter in the Mass at their apartment with other problems expected. At one point, to love their daughter. They Diocese of Helena, Montana is a family present, too. “Surrounded all movement ceased for a couple prayed for healing, but also to relative to them both. He is Dan’s by our loving, faith-fi lled family, of days, so they thought their baby accept God’s will. youngest brother (of 12 children) a spiritual aura of peace and had died. When her heartbeat Mel thought of Mary who said and a cousin to Mel. As a priest in strength covered us,” Mel said. came through loud and clear on “yes” to God’s plan to be the the Bismarck Diocese, he was a big Yet, the medical news kept the heart monitor, Mel and Mike spiritual support to both couples Continued on page 7 during their diffi cult times. Mike and Mel Twenty-six years ago, after an ultrasound, Mike and Mel’s doctor informed them that their baby had spina bifi da and would likely never walk. The young newlyweds were devastated. They held each other and wept. A specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. determined that the baby’s head was fi lled with fl uid and there was no discernable brain. “After the specialist contacted our primary physician, he recommended terminating the pregnancy,” Mel explained. “He told us, ‘If you were to contact 10 Talking to Your Children About A Crisis of the best doctors in the world, they would all suggest ending this In today’s news, we see and hear about terrible events regularly. Children hear these stories too! Though they pregnancy.’” may not fully comprehend what’s happening, children are perceptive and understand when stories are They were scheduled for an frightening or cause distress in their parents. These events can cause a significant rise in the amount of stress induced birth in Fargo. “In our that children are forced to deal with and as a parent, you can help them deal with their stress and negative fear, our minds had not sorted emotions in a healthy way. through the decision,” Mel explained. “When my mother First, it is important to let children work out their emotions. It is important to answer the questions children asked if the Catholic Church would have honestly and to allow them to express the full range of emotions related to it (including fear or sadness). allow us to have a funeral for the Ask your children how they feel about the event, and have them label their feelings. When your child tells you baby, it perplexed me. I called my about their feelings, ask them what they would like to do about them and what you can do to make them feel cousin, Fr. Austin Vetter. He came better. Remember that no response is incorrect. over right away.” “’Melody, you are talking about Second, if your child asks you questions, it’s okay to answer them. It’s important to make your child feel heard having an abortion,” he told her. and also to help increase their understanding of the event. Let them know that no matter what you will always He talked about God being the have a plan and you will be there to care for them. Then, if your child has questions about the specifics of an giver of life and that He alone had event – such as how or why it happened – you can talk through those questions according to your own values the right to end it. and how well you think your child will understand. Again, what’s most important is to make your child feel “He said we would all be heard, nurtured and safe. praying for a miracle but either way, our baby should live or die Third, its important to give your child a sense of safety. Try to keep a normal routine. If school is dismissed according to God’s will,” Mel because of the crisis try to keep some sort of structure at home. Increase nurturing activities like spending time said of Fr. Austin’s advice. “His caring and reasoned words cut together, doing things that make you laugh, and physical activities like going for a walk. Set aside time daily to through our fear. We cancelled answer questions and to just talk about what is going on, even if you only have answers for tomorrow. And our appointment less than 24 remember not to make promises about things that are out of your control. It might feel comforting to say that hours before our baby’s life things will go back to normal soon, but that might not be the case. was scheduled to end. With our decision to hand everything over Some children will want help, others will want to play, and others may want to help! Children of all ages can to God, we gave Him not just help out by collecting supplies donations. They can draw, write poems, or letters to those affected. Older our unborn baby, but our entire children can give blood and help volunteer. beings. Mike and I suddenly understood our total dependence For more information on keeping kids safe, call (701) 323-5626. on God.” MAY 2020 | Catholic Action Bringing Christ into everyday life Dakota Catholic Action 7 Against the odds Continued from page 6 mother of His son. “God had a plan for her, and He had a plan for us too,” she said. “I abandoned my fear and was fi lled with trust. The initial glow that once fi lled me, returned. Mike, too, caught the excitement.” When Hailey Christina was born by C-section, she had an opening in her back, but it was not nearly as bad as expected. “I was wheeled to the nursery and heard her beautiful cries—the ones we were told she would be unable to make,” Mel said. Hailey was quickly baptized and then taken into a four-hour surgery to close the hole. It The Vetter Family —Nic and Katherine (Vetter) Kramer, Marie, Dan, Renae, Michael, Clara, John, Danielle, and baby Robert. was uncertain what her brain explained. “The fi rst few weeks development was. “At that point, were emotionally agonizing. I Mike and I loved her so much, we couldn’t sleep at night, I was so wanted her no matter what,” Mel sad and scared.” said. A week later, a shunt was Gradually, fear evolved into placed in her head to remove the acceptance. Marie began praying, fl uid. “God, I know you will take care “One night while I was rocking of this child. And, if I can’t be Hailey, God spoke clearly to my my baby’s mother on earth, the heart,” Mel explained. “He let Blessed Mother will be his mother me know that Hailey was healed in heaven.” according to His plan. Her spina A month before the due date, bifi da was a blessing that would a third ultrasound showed keep our family close to God. Mike no change, but Marie was and I would thank God for each unexpectedly fi lled with joy. “It milestone rather than take them was as if an angel had come down for granted, and we would remain from heaven and let me know he aware of our dependence on our would be okay,” she said. Still, Heavenly Father.” the ultrasound showed the same When Hailey was one year old, results. Undeterred by scientifi c she began walking with crutches reality, Marie went home ecstatic. and started talking. She did have “I felt so sure that our baby was learning challenges and there going to be fi ne. My enthusiasm were medical scares including rubbed off on Dan, but still, he was four years ago when she almost cautious.” died after a surgery. “But each Three weeks later, Marie went challenge has shown us more of into labor. Robert Daniel entered what God can do,” Mel said. “If the world with a loud, healthy someone would have told me all wail, surprising everyone. He was the ways we would be blessed by not supposed to realize he had just this, I would not have believed it. been born. His piercing screams But, we have experienced it.” continued until he was placed Mel and Mike’s son Jayden was in Marie’s arms. Then, Robert born three years after Hailey. He immediately quieted and gazed Robert Vetter, at age14, a month before the accident that took his life in 2008. is 23 now and married to Mariah into her eyes. “When he did that, (Weigel). Hailey, 26, married I was the one who cried,” Marie during the homily. “And, if God house.” Trent Hoff man at Cathedral of the said. had told them they would only Michael Robert was born on Holy Spirit on May 10, 2019. Robert passed the standard have their son for 14 years, they April 25, 2010. He was diagnosed would have still said ‘yes.’” Marie and Dan APGAR test with fl ying colors. with hydrocephalus at one year old Yet, the whole family deeply and had a shunt put in. “Instead of In 1994, at 13 weeks into The specialist did an ultra-sound grieved the loss of their beloved, Robert, it was Michael having the the pregnancy, an ultra-sound on his brain and announced with fun-loving Robert. “Sometimes brain problems,” Marie said. But revealed that the brain of Dan disbelief, “This baby is fi ne.” By the pain is so bad when you he’s doing well and keeping up in and Marie’s third baby was not now even the nurses were crying. lose a child, that every breath is his third-grade class. developing. They had two other Dan and Marie were convinced painful,” Marie said. “I prayed a “Michael has brought us so children, John and Renae; four that Robert had been miraculously lot to Mary. I knew she understood much hope, faith and love,” and two years old. Where there healed. He grew into a happy, because she herself went through Marie said. “Out of the sorrow should have been gray-colored active teenager, but there it. Watching our children was so and suff ering came a new depth matter, there were black circles. was hardship yet to come. On hard. We were there for them, but of joy. What we have, cannot A second ultrasound with a September 7, 2008, a couple could not take their pain away.” be explained or taught, but just specialist showed “bilateral frontal weeks before his 14th birthday, Marie and Dan had always experienced. Through all this, our atrophy”—no brain development. Robert was riding dirt bikes with wanted more children but were faith became so real.” The specialist explained that friends. They all wore helmets, but never able to have any more. “The Two families connected by women often miscarry in this when Robert collided with one of yearning for another child became blood, share a common bond of situation but if not, the baby the boys, a head injury took his intense after God called Robert choosing life when doctors told would probably not survive past life. home,” Marie said. She did not them it wasn’t possible. Guided six months. Termination of the It was an indescribable shock just ask God for another baby by prayer, their hearts were open pregnancy was presented as an for Marie and Dan and his three now, she also asked Robert to ask to welcoming their children, no option. Dan and Marie were fi lled siblings; John was a senior in high God. He had always wanted a little matter the health challenges that with fear, but also resolved that school, Renae a sophomore, and brother. might accompany them. whatever the outcome, God had Katherine a sixth grader. At his One year to the date of his given them this baby to love and funeral, the church overfl owed. Of note, Mel’s story was fi rst death, Marie learned she was care for. “We kept asking God Father Austin Vetter, Robert’s shared in Amazing Grace for pregnant. “I told our children for a healthy baby, but we also uncle, said the Mass. “Dan and Families and Marie’s story was on his birthday, Sept 29,” Marie asked Him to give us strength Marie said yes to God when they in Amazing Grace for a Catholic said. “The news was a huge gift. A for whatever lie ahead,” Marie thought their baby was going to be Heart, books co-written by Patti severely handicapped,” he stated new hope and joy returned to our Armstrong. 8 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020 MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action | 9

Coming before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament Savoring the fruits of Eucharistic adoration

By Amanda Evinger to Eucharistic adoration, the parish approaching our Lord in the Eucharist DCA Writer community of St. Leo’s is learning to put God and prayer in general. Why? Gratitude For the last 17 years, Fr. Justin Waltz has in the center of their lives. acknowledges everything that we ascent to tried to make prayer his main priority, and “The real blessing behind adoration is that in faith as coming from God. Everything we he is now seeing the fruits of his eff orts. By it draws people closer to Christ, and brings have and are, is given to us by God.” spending time in front of the Body, Blood, them into a deeper communion with Him,” Further, these benefi ts can bring Soul and Divinity of Jesus in the Most Holy Fr. Justin said. incredible blessings into our lives—if we only Eucharist, abundant divine graces have Over time, the parish community let them. fl owed from Christ’s heart into his own, as soon began to see their prayers come to “The understanding that everything we well as into his priesthood. fruition. have and are is given to us by God, gets “I have made a Holy Hour every day since “We decided to remodel St. Leo’s and us to a place where we can love God more I was in seminary,” Fr. Justin Waltz said. make it more beautiful than it has ever perfectly,” Fr. Brandon explained. “While it “As seminarians, we were required to make a been,” Fr. Justin explained. “I believe the is good to love God for the things we have Holy Hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament renovation project is a direct result of our received in this life and for our life itself, this each day, and after I was ordained, I just dedication to Eucharistic adoration. The is only the beginning. A true love, or charity, kept doing it. All of my seminary and priestly church is such a great gift! The transcendent of God means loving Him not for the things formation has been based on these hours nature of its architecture helps parishioners He gives us, but simply because He is who He of prayer. The rock of my whole priesthood take their relationship with God much more is. This type of love of God is what makes the is my relationship with Christ in the seriously.” saints long to remain in front of the Eucharist Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Church of St. Leo the Great in Minot. all day and night, and it is the love that is the Eucharist.” Spiritual benefits In fact, as he looks around his parish in source of eternal bliss in heaven. Every time we get. This does not necessarily mean more I go to Him in the Eucharist, not because Although she picked up at least 60,000 dying The wonderful news is that St. Leo’s is just Minot, St. Leo the Great, he witnesses many we go to Mass or adoration we are confronted time in prayer. The amount of time in prayer He needs me to or is lonely, but because I and sick people off of the streets of Calcutta, one of the many parishes in our diocese that signs of God’s providence. with the reality of the meeting of heaven and or at adoration will depend on the state of life need Him. Those times of prayer help me to she never said she “didn’t have time” to have embraced the practice of Eucharistic earth in the here and now. It also increases that a particular individual is living. The key refocus on what exactly I am doing here as a pray. When she established her active- “I believe that what is within the pastor’s adoration. For example, Spirit of Life in the virtue of hope in us whereby we desire to is a regular and consistent time of prayer each priest of Jesus Christ and to remember that I contemplative order of nuns, the Missionaries heart fl ows out into the parish,” Fr. Justin Mandan has perpetual Eucharistic adoration, attain the glory of heaven above all else and day no matter how many minutes or hours it am not the Savior—He is.” of Charity, she made certain to put into the said. “After I came here, I began inviting the which means that the Eucharist is exposed experience the love of God without the veil of may be.” statutes a daily Holy Hour, no matter what parishioners to stay after daily Mass and at their parish 24 hours a day, seven days a Drawing closer to God make a Holy Hour along with me, and many earthly realities.” Ultimately, by adoring Christ in Eucharistic demands their rigorous schedule entailed. week, under normal circumstances. In 2005, Christ the King Parish in Mandan of them did. I soon assembled a committee Although we desire these benefi ts, it may adoration, we are more capable of showering She once said, “Every Holy Hour we According to Associate Pastor Fr. Brandon converted their cry room into the Madonna of to work towards having perpetual adoration. be very diffi cult to cut away time from our His love and mercy on others, according to make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it Wolf, the spiritual benefi ts of adoration are the Prairie Chapel. This gorgeous little hide- Within one month, my parishioners had demanding schedules to spend time with our state in life. will be recorded in Heaven and retold for all truly extraordinary. away is open 24 hours a day, year-round, fi lled daily adoration slots from 9 a.m. to Our Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Or, we may “The love we have towards God overfl ows eternity. It opens up the fl oodgates of God’s “Adoration fosters gratitude for God, love with a few exceptions for closure for people to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, and our simply not feel motivated to do so, for one into the daily living out of our lives and time merciful Love upon the world. Adoration of of God, and fi delity to God,” he said. “All come and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. younger parishioners committed to covering reason or another. spent alone with Jesus in adoration has an the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you three of these have to do with how we relate On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the Blessed the adoration slots from 4 to 10 p.m. on Fr. Brandon has some wise advice in this amazing eff ect on our relationships with will spend on earth. It will make your soul to God. The way in which we understand Sacrament is exposed on the altar following Mondays. It has taken off like crazy! It is area. “Fidelity, or faithfulness to God is the others,” Fr. Brandon shared. “The Eucharist, everlastingly more glorious and beautiful our relationship with God will infl uence the 8 a.m. Mass until 9 p.m. really an incredible miracle. I never expected motor that keeps us going in our spiritual life. at both the Mass and adoration, is the well- in Heaven. A Holy Hour of adoration helps everything we do. Gratitude is simply another Over time, Rev. Fred Harvey, Pastor of such an unbelievable outpouring of devotion The repetition of making acts of faith lead us spring from which I receive the refreshment bring everlasting peace to your soul and name for ‘Eucharist’, which in Greek means Christ the King Parish, has seen Eucharistic to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.” to the eventual desire of making acts of love that I am searching for. It draws me back into in your family. It brings us personal peace ‘thanksgiving.’ Gratitude is the fi rst and adoration serve as a source of tremendous Because of their wholehearted dedication toward God whether we feel it or not. We can the heart of Christ and the life of the Trinity and strength. It brings us a greater love for most proper disposition of worship when strength and encouragement for those who understand our prayer life like a muscle of the while pulling me out of the worldly anxieties Jesus, for each other, and for the poor. Every need it most. body. The more we exercise it, the stronger that are so persistently knocking at the door. holy hour deepens our union with Him and “I believe that spending time in an bears much fruit. Nowhere on earth are we adoration chapel or simply adoring Christ in more welcomed or loved than by Jesus in the the Blessed Sacrament can bring a necessary Eucharist.” peace to one’s busy life,” Fr. Fred noted. Finally, this magnanimous saint “Adoration can be a time in which people can understood the importance of lay Catholics pray for themselves and their families, as well taking time out for Eucharistic adoration. as the needs of their parish. It also provides As she reminds us, “When you look at the a beautiful time for one to draw closer to crucifi x, you understand how much Jesus our Lord, deepening their relationship with loved you. When you look at the Sacred God.” Host you understand how much Jesus loves When asked how one can make the most you now. This is why we need perpetual of their time in adoration, Fr. Fred has some Eucharistic adoration in every parish helpful advice. throughout the entire world. What will “There are many devotional prayer convert America and save the world? My books that people can use for their time answer is prayer. What we need is for every in adoration,” Fr. Fred explained. “I often parish to come before Jesus in the Blessed suggest reading through the Mass readings, Sacrament in Holy Hours of prayer.” or bringing their own Bible and just praying St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us, with Sacred Scripture. Many people also like that we may be faithful to Christ in the Most to pray the rosary, and others just come and Blessed Sacrament! quiet their hearts and minds and sit in silence before the Lord.” Editor’s note: Eucharistic adoration hours may have changed or been adjusted Mother Teresa’s devotion due to the coronavirus. Please contact the Taking these words to heart, let us parish for more details before going to the The Eucharist is exposed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, under normal circumstances, in the adoration remember St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Church to adore our Lord. The adoration chapel at Spirit of Life in Mandan. chapel at Spirit of Life in Mandan. who always found time to adore Our Lord. 10 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020 Thursday Photos by Deacon Joe Krupinsky Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Fr. Josh Ehli, rector of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, read the Gospel during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. On either side of the ambo are diocesan seminarians John Windsor (left) and Greg Hilzendeger.

Above, serving at Mass for Holy Thursday were seminarians John Windsor (right) and Isaiah Jilek.

All the Holy Week Masses were livestreamed from the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

this is to enlarge your heart in its desire for betrayer, the destroyer, and in so doing, Sermon by Bishop Kagan sacramental Communion and to appreciate overcomes the night, overcomes the darkness As we begin the great Paschal Triduum all the more Who it is Who loves you with that of evil. Only in this way is the gift of the with the beautiful Mass of the Lord’s Supper, eternal and perfect love. Eucharist, instituted in the upper room, commemorating that last meal Our Lord Holy Thursday is the day on which the fulfi lled; Jesus truly gives His Body and His Jesus ate with His chosen Twelve while He Lord gave the Twelve the priestly task of Blood. Crossing over the threshold of death, was still among them in the fl esh, and at celebrating, in the humble bread and wine, He becomes the living Bread, the true manna, which He anticipated His Crucifi xion and the sacrament of His Body and Blood until the endless nourishment for the journey to Death, I know all of our hearts desire to be He comes again. The paschal lamb and all the eternity. Jesus is the Bread of Life. present to Him and to one another and to sacrifi ces of the Old Covenant are replaced by Pope Benedict XVI in his address to the sacramentally receive His Body and Blood. the gift of His Body and His Blood, the gift of 49th International Eucharistic Congress And, this is as it should be for every Himself. Thus, the new worship instituted on reminded us: “We must come back again and Catholic. However, today it is the Lord’s will that fi rst Holy Thursday was because God fi rst again to the Last Supper on Holy Thursday that we accept this greater share in the Cross makes a gift to us, Himself, and fi lled with where we are given a pledge of the mystery of and not do so, but that we keep our gaze this gift, we become His; creation as it were our redemption on the Cross. The Last Supper upon Him from afar and realize that He is returns to the Creator. Thus, the Last Supper, is the place of the Church being born and the already gazing upon us with His merciful love. the fi rst Mass, reverses the damage our fi rst Church in every age. In the Holy Eucharist I ask each of you to intensify your spiritual parents and original sin did to creation. Christ’s sacrifi ce is constantly renewed, communion with the Most Blessed Trinity On that night of the Last Supper, Jesus Pentecost is constantly renewed.” as your personal act of sacrifi cial love. To do goes out and hands Himself over to the Praised be Jesus Christ! OBITUARY Public High School in 1970, he for a year under Sister Dennis is displayed on the east wall of the Br. Llewellyn briefl y attended the Minneapolis Frandrup, OSB. He returned home Abbey cafeteria. Kouba Institute of Art. He returned home to take over the Abbey Pottery Health problems plagued him and worked for Blue Star Honey Studio creating lovely pieces and Brother in later years, forcing him to Company in New England, N.D., keeping meticulous records in his Llewellyn Kouba, keep smaller fl owerbeds until he and Korte Interiors in Dickinson, recipe book of glazes, along with 69, monk of concentrated his eff orts near the before entering Assumption drawers of glaze specimens. His Assumption Abbey, Abbey Pottery Studio where he Abbey in January of 1977. After trademarks were ceramic leaves died suddenly in laid a path of ceramic tiles that his candidacy and novitiate, he on pots, and iris fl ower motifs that the early morning were designed and fi red in the pronounced monastic vows on were embossed on the pottery. hours of March 22, Br. Llewellyn Kouba kiln, and kept a large running July 11, 1978. He soon became 2020. All the while, Brother Llewellyn fountain during the summer grounds manager, using a push continued painting. Many of his months, also fi red in the kiln. A private Mass of Christian mower to cut acres of lawn. He pictures adorn the walls of the Burial was celebrated at Brother Llewellyn was preceded also kept immaculate fl owerbeds. Abbey. After taking a workshop in Assumption Abbey, followed by in death by his parents, and In winter months, he was part of the Black Hills on icon painting, burial in the Abbey cemetery. survived by his four brothers the maintenance crew. he began a large, altar-sized and two sisters: Chuck (Debbie), Llewellyn was born to Charles In 1988, Brother Llewellyn was triptych that took him two years of Bruce (Janice), Ken (Linda), H. Kouba and Helen (Jesch) assigned to the Abbey Pottery steady work to complete. The work Brian, Paulette (Gary) Peters, and Kouba on August 30, 1950, the Studio, and in 1994 he was sent to required egg tempera on specially Lunette (Reed) Dobitz, and many second of seven children. He grew the College of St. Benedict and St. prepared board and contains a nephews, nieces, grand-nephews up on a farm near Regent, N.D. John’s University to study pottery good deal of gold leaf. The triptych and grand-nieces. After graduating from Regent MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action | 11 Good Friday Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion

Photos by Deacon Joe Krupinsky

This crucifi x, that hangs behind the altar in the side chapel at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, was used in the Good Friday liturgy. The crucifi x is from the now-closed Church of St. Anthony in Donnybrook. On the day of the church closing in January 2018, it was gifted to Bishop Kagan who directed that it be hung in the Cathedral chapel.

Diocesan seminarian Greg Hilzendeger read one of the readings during the Good Friday liturgy.

and listen to Jesus tell you: “I did this for you. these temptations. The Cross of Jesus with Sermon by Bishop Kagan This is how I love you.” which we sign ourselves, which we hold in our With the stark, compelling and gruesome Jesus did not just accept His Cross and hands, which we gaze upon and which has words of the Lord’s Passion and Death still carry it to Calvary, He embraced His Cross as been indelibly etched on our souls with sacred echoing in our hearts and minds, the Prophet the visible sign of the Father’s will to redeem chrism in our baptisms and confi rmations is Isaiah’s words of the wrath of God being us by being nailed to it. In so doing, Jesus our sure, certain and only hope, in these days infl icted on His Suff ering Servant who was transforms it into the visible standard for our and every day of our lives. innocent yet willingly obedient are perfected lives of faith and discipleship and it becomes This Good Friday let us take to heart the in our Crucifi ed Jesus. I ask each of you to for all time what St. Rose of Lima called the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “Believers, read again tonight this fi rst reading for today’s ladder to heaven. It is no mystery why the therefore are not afraid of anything because Liturgy and, in your meditation on it, insert Church speaks of our fi rst vocation to holiness they know they are in the hands of God, they the name of Jesus. Do this with the knowledge only like this: “The way of perfection passes by know that it is not evil and the irrational and understanding that Jesus received what way of the Cross. There is no holiness without which have the last word, but rather that the you deserved to receive. renunciation and spiritual battle” (CCC, 2015). one Lord of the world and of love is Christ, the Then, I ask you to read and meditate on St. In these current days, we are experiencing Word of God Incarnate, who loved us to the John’s telling of the Lord’s Passion and Death. the Cross in a particular way, demanding of point of sacrifi cing himself for us, dying on the Read through it beginning to end and then each of us a greater renunciation of what I Cross for our salvation” (Angelus, June 22, go back and read aloud the words of Pontius want and a specifi c call to each of us to battle 2008). Pilate: “Ecce Homo!” “Behold the Man!” Look Satan’s temptations to the sins of despair, Praised be Jesus Christ! at a Crucifi x and repeat these words. Finally, anger, presumption and disobedience. Do after doing this continue to look at the Crucifi x not be afraid to embrace His Cross and defeat

NEWS BRIEFS fi rst-ever lifetime impact award. “Mother of Life” were recently letters of appreciation for the The banquet was held Feb. 20 available through the USCCB diocesan contributions to two Local artist honored in Omaha with United States Pro Life secretariat at www. national collections—Black and Minot artist, Nellie Edwards, Conference of Catholic Bishops walkingwithmoms.com/prayer- Indian Mission and Retirement was recently recognized by Life Pro-Life Committee Chairman for-pregnant-mothers. Fund for Religious. In support Runners with the organization’s Archbishop Naumann as a guest Nominations for marriage of the Black and Indian Mission speaker. The award was presented and through the generosity of by Life Runners founder, retired project the diocesan faithful, $19,127.14 U.S. Air Force Col. Pat Castle, due The 10th annual Worldwide was contributed to the cause as he said, to the inspiration of Marriage Encounter Longest that provides for the needs of Edwards’ artwork titled “Mother Married Couple Project is our African American, Native of Life.” The organization has accepting nominations through American and Native Alaskan used the image for their creed May 14. Nominations are open brothers and sisters. In another cards for more than 10 years along to all husband and wife couples generous eff ort, the diocesan with a 14’ banner, which Castle regardless of religious affi liation. faithful gave $31,110.35 to the said has contributed to babies Nominations can be submitted 2019 Retirement Fund for being saved from abortion. Also, at wwme.org or via email to Religious collection. The national the artist, as requested by Castle, [email protected]. Awards fund distributes fi nancial and presented Archbishop Naumann will be presented to state and educational assistance that helps with a large framed print of the national winners in June. religious communities provide for artwork. Archbishop Naumann National collections older members while continuing announced that prayer cards of Bishop Kagan recently received to serve the people of God. 12 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020

Saturday Easter Vigil

future. Mary’s faith in her Son is no less today is done, the Sermon by Bishop Kagan and tonight in vigil than when she told Him Cross is bare, This entire day of Holy Saturday has its at Cana that his newly-married friends had no our fi ght is won. dawning in the utter darkness of Good Friday. wine. O Earth, this This seems to be a contradiction, but it is not. This sacred vigil is ours, the Church’s, is the end of When Our Blessed Savior, having tasted wine only because it is hers. It began for Mary the strife, I give you for the last time, utters: “It is fi nished and He moment her Son died, and his battered Body Love, I give you bowed His head and gave up His spirit” (Jn was placed in her arms for the last time in Life! O lifeless 19: 30), He had completed what He had begun this world. The poet, Erwin Matt, expresses world! As God at the Last Supper, what He had lived and the sorrowful yet unwavering faith and hope it pleases, I give suff ered through in His Passion and Death, of Our Blessed Mother in his poem titled you now, my and now He is dead and to be buried. “Oblation.” He wrote: Son, my Jesus.’” That is all true and is attested to as true “She rests her lips upon His brow, bloodied, Let our faith by eyewitnesses and is recorded for our battered, beaten now. She stoops to kiss His and hope in benefi t so that our faith is true. Who is it that blood-seared eyes, and utters then her psalm the Light of Life, Jesus, be as unwavering accompanies Jesus throughout? His Mother of sighs: ‘Son Jesus, with Thee I have bled; and steadfast as that of Our Blessed Mother’s Mary. She has been His devoted and faithful dead Jesus, with Thee I am dead; for Thou as she kept vigil awaiting what she knew disciple from the moment of the Incarnation, wert all of Life to me, my life was only lived He would do on the third day. Our Blessed to His death on the Cross witnessed by us in Thee. Now Thou art dead, my heart is rent, Mother is here to lead us in keeping vigil, yesterday, and in her sorrow yet keeps a each bitter tear of grief is spent. My shattered awaiting her Jesus Risen from the dead. faithful waiting, a faithful vigil that she knows soul is seared with pain, my anguished loss Praised be Jesus Christ! will change human history, past, present and is mankind’s gain. My Son is down, my day

Photos by Deacon Joe Krupinsky

Music was provided for the Holy Week liturgies by Shana Klee, director of music at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, at the piano and Vicky Boechler as the cantor.

PROTECTING OUR CHILDREN CODE OF CONDUCT The Diocese of Bismarck is fi rmly committed to the health and The Catholic Church must be exemplary: Clergy, staff , whether protection of our children, young people and vulnerable adults. With the diocesan or parish, and volunteers are held accountable for their hope of healing the pain and suff ering from sexual abuse in the Catholic behavior. To enable the highest level of accountability, there must be Church, we encourage anyone who has suff ered from this abuse to a clear and unambiguous defi nition of appropriate behavior. To this please come forward and let us know. To report allegations of sexual end, this Code of Conduct is defi ned for the Diocese of Bismarck and abuse, please contact: Dale Eberle, Chancellor, Diocese of Bismarck, it provides a foundation for implementing eff ective and enforceable PO Box 1575, Bismarck, ND 58502-1575. Phone: 701.223.1347 or standards for all personnel. View the Code of Conduct at http://www. 1.877.405.7435. Email the victim assistance coordinator, Joyce McDowall, bismarckdiocese.com. at [email protected]. MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action | 13

Photos by Deacon Joe Krupinsky

CLERGY The Reverend The Reverend The Reverend Monsignor Patrick Raphael M. Jarad P. Wolf, APPOINTMENTS A. Schumacher, Obotama, to Parochial Vicar for S.T.L. to be Pastor St. Mary Parish, Bishop of Bismarck be Parochial of Corpus Christi, Bismarck, to be also David D. Kagan, Administrator Bismarck. Chaplain for Light D.D., P.A., J.C.L. for Holy Trinity, Hettinger, Sacred of Christ St. Mary Central High School. The following appointments, with Rev. Monsignor Patrick Heart, Reeder, Rev. Raphael M. Rev. Jarad P. Wolf A. Schumacher, S.T.L. Obotama the permission of Bishop David D. and Sacred Heart, The Reverend Kagan, D.D., P.A., J.C.L., are eff ective The Reverend Scranton. Brandon Wolf, July 1, 2020. Robert P. Shea, Parochial Vicar to be Pastor of The Reverend for Spirit of Life, The Reverend St. Wenceslaus, Patrick Ojedeji, Mandan, to be also Paul D. Becker, Dickinson. to be Parochial Chaplain for Light until now Pastor Administrator for St. of Christ St. Mary of Corpus Christi Patrick, Crosby, St. Academy. Rev. Brandon Wolf Parish, Bismarck, to Rev. Robert P. Shea Luke, Noonan, and The Reverend retire. St. John the Baptist, The Reverend Mr. Christian Portal. Rev. Patrick Ojedeji Rev. Paul D. Becker Joshua K. Waltz, Smith, following The Reverend to be Pastor of St. ordination, to be William P. Joseph, Mandan. The Reverend Chaplain for Trinity Cosgrove, until Jordan J. Dosch, to Catholic Schools now Parochial be Diocesan Director and part-time Administrator for St. of Vocations. Parochial Vicar Rev. Joshua K. Waltz Rev. Mr. Christian Patrick, Crosby, St. for St. Patrick, Smith Luke, Noonan, and Dickinson. St. John the Baptist, Rev. William P. The Reverend Rev. Jordan J. Dosch The Reverend Portal, to retire. Cosgrove Terry R. Wipf, to Mr. Mark Aune, following The Reverend be Pastor of St. The Reverend ordination, to be Charles A. Zins, Bridget, Parshall, St. Dominic F. Bouck, to be Chaplain for Parochial Vicar for until now the Pastor Elizabeth, Makoti, Corpus Christi, of Holy Trinity, and Sacred Heart, the University of Mary and Assistant Bismarck, and Hettinger, Sacred Plaza. part-time Religion Rev. Mr. Mark Aune Rev. Terry R. Wipf Diocesan Director of Heart, Reeder, Instructor for Light and Sacred Heart, Vocations. of Christ St. Mary Scranton, to retire. Rev. Charles A. Zins Rev. Dominic F. Bouck Central High School. 14 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020 Balancing Church & State CHRISTOPHER DODSON Everyone should have a health care directive

The North Dakota Catholic directives from top to bottom. The health care directive, however, is protection Conference urges everyone to have questions and answers received an the peace of mind that preparing to you. a health care directive, especially update. one can provide. The discussions However, during these diffi cult and uncertain Most importantly, the directives among family members, loved ones they pose some challenges during times. themselves were redesigned to and friends about what should this time of emergency. It might A health care directive, also fi t on to letter-size sheets. The happen and who should make be near impossible to fi nd or be known as an advance directive, prior version was legal-size. The decisions eliminates fears, confl icts near impartial witnesses or notary allows you to state who would reformatted directive now consists and anxieties. During this time publics. Although hospitals usually make health care decisions for you of three pages rather than two, of social distancing and spending have notaries on staff , many and what you would like done if but it has two distinct advantages. more time at home is a good time are not on location during this you cannot speak for yourself. A First, it is now easier for the to talk about and complete a health pandemic. health care directive, especially one average person to download and care directive. Do not wait until The North Dakota Catholic that conforms to Catholic teaching, print at home. Second, it is easier you are admitted to a hospital. Conference is working with is the best way to ensure that your for your health care provider to The North Dakota Catholic Governor Burgum’s offi ce, the wishes are respected and that your electronically scan and make it Conference has health care Secretary of State, the North physical and spiritual care refl ects part of your medical fi le. If you directives available for download Dakota Hospital Association and Catholic teaching. already have a health care directive at: ndcatholic.org/chd. Catholic others to resolve this problem. To repeat, everyone should have from the North Dakota Catholic and non-Catholic Christian In the meantime, complete the a health care directive. They are Conference completed on the legal- versions are available. form as much as possible and not just for people who are nearing size paper, do not worry. It is still The conference will also mail discuss it with your loved ones. death, sick or old. Anyone of any valid. hard copies of the directives to Take the form with you if you are age and condition could become The new website and directive anyone free of charge. Persons hospitalized, even if it is missing unable to speak for themselves, size were ready to launch when the wanting hard copies can order some signatures. Even if a notary even if the inability is temporary. virus hit. Suddenly, the completion online or contact our offi ce at 701- public is not immediately available, Moreover, the best time to have of health care directives became 223-2519. hospitals will work with you to try discussions with your loved ones more timely than ever. North Dakota law requires a to get your form offi ciated. about your care is before you are The pandemic, with its resulting health care directive to be either The options for getting a health nearing death, sick or old. stay-at-home practices, might also witnessed by two individuals or care directive notarized may The North Dakota Catholic have provided the best opportunity notarized. Neither the notary change during this emergency. Conference has a Catholic health to complete a health care directive. nor the witness may be: a person Please contact the North Dakota care directive and has provided A health care directive serves many you designate as your agent or Catholic Conference with any guidance on the use of health care purposes. It provides some legal alternate agent; your spouse; a questions and for the latest directives for many years. Several protection to health care providers person related to you by blood, information. months before the COVID-19 when issuing orders based on the marriage, or adoption; a person  Dodson serves as executive director of the virus hit our country, the directive or a health care agent’s entitled to inherit any part of your N.D. Catholic Conference, the o cial liaison conference started work to update instructions. It respects a person’s estate upon your death; or person for the dioceses of Fargo and Bismarck in and improve our health care right to determine their care. It who has, at the time of executing matters of public policy. directive outreach. We completely expedites decision-making during this document, any claim against redesigned North Dakota Catholic critical times. your estate. Conference’s website on health care The greatest advantage of a These requirements provide

to ask God for further help. A brief prayer, such as “God, help me to love them the way you love them,” can help with this. Questions Next, we must actually love our enemy. Again, this does not mean we like them. Rather, it means we choose to do something for their good. Choosing to pray for them is one way for us to love them. As we pray, I was afraid to ask remember that we need not be specifi c in what we ask of God. While we might want to, we should not pray something like “God, please FR. JASON SIGNALNESS give them a terrible disease and let them suff er!” We should also not be insincere, praying something like “God, please bless my enemy with long life and happiness.” How do I pray for my enemies? Instead, put it into God’s hands and pray something like this: “God, Q: give them whatever it is they need to be in your grace,” and “do It is true that we must pray for our enemies. Jesus himself not let them die in mortal sin.” After all, if someone, or some group, said, “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute really does hate us and seek to hurt us, they are sinning. It is in their A: you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father…” best interest to stop. They should not meet God at their particular (Matthew 5:44-45). If we want to be faithful Christians, we judgments with such anger on their hearts. must love and pray for our enemies. How will God answer such a prayer? He might, in fact, allow an enemy This is very hard to do. If someone has hurt us, and especially if they of ours to contract a disease, if it will lead to their conversion and continue to hurt us, the last thing we are inclined to do is to love and repentance. Or, he may let them see how Christians “turn the other to pray for them. Instead, we often become angry. The problem with cheek” when we are struck, how we have joy in the midst of hardship, such anger is that it can only hurt the one who is angry. In fact, it is and bring about their conversion in that manner. The point is, we often a sin on our part, as Jesus explained: “… if you are angry with don’t have to worry about it. Turn it over to God and let Him give an your brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:21- enemy what they truly need. 22). This advice comes from personal experience. There was a time when So, how can we proceed to obey the Lord’s command? Before I I was struggling to forgive. I was angry and could not get over it. A off er some suggestions, let us recall a few defi nitions. “To love” spiritual director told me to pray a rosary and to off er two prayers does not mean “to have aff ectionate feelings for.” Rather, it means before every single bead. The fi rst prayer was to help me overcome “to will the good of the other,” to choose what is best for someone my anger, and it was something like this: “God, help me to love them else. Likewise, the word “pray” does not mean we like the one we’re the way you love them.” The second prayer was for the benefi t of praying for, it simply means “to ask.” With those in mind, here are a few those who had hurt me, and it was this: “God, give them whatever recommendations. they need to come back to you.” I prayed that rosary for quite some time, and it really did help. First, we should reconcile with God, which is always possible, and  Fr. Signalness is pastor of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Stanley with our enemy, which is not. If our anger is sinful, we ought to seek and St. Ann in Berthhold. If you have a question you were afraid to out God’s mercy in the sacrament of reconciliation, repeatedly if ask, now is the time to ask it! Simply email your question to info@ necessary. This will be a great help. If temptations to anger linger even after confession, as they often do, the solution is to continue to pray, bismarckdiocese.com with the “Question Afraid to Ask” in the subject line. MAY 2020 Dakota Catholic Action | 15 Making Sense out of Bioethics FR. TAD PACHOLCZYK Thinking through the rationing of ventilators

When ventilators are in short supply, several receive not only suitable alternative forms of patients, without turning to biased “quality of key ethical principles can assist clinicians: medical treatment and palliative measures to life” assessments. Even in a pandemic, the fi rst 1) Ventilators should not be rationed based manage their discomfort, but also spiritual priority remains the provision of outstanding on categorical exclusions such as a patient’s support rooted in their particular religious patient care. age, disability (e.g. being paraplegic) or other tradition. This would include visits from Triage scenarios involve emergency secondary traits, but rather on the basis of a pastor, minister, priest, etc. where fi nal situations. In an emergency, as the plane’s clinical data including likelihood of survival, requests, last sacraments and other needs can engines fl ame out, the captain should not organ function and other clinically relevant be attended to. be sidelined in favor of a remote “landing medical data or test results. Various medical During the COVID-19 crisis, some committee” working to bring the plane to a “scoring tools” can be used to objectively commentators have recommended taking safe touchdown. Instead, passengers should evaluate this information about a patient’s tough choices out of the hands of front-line be able to entrust themselves to a pilot with status and to make comparisons among clinicians, and handing them over to dedicated professional skills, instincts and expertise, patients. triage offi cers or triage committees to decide. somebody who is fully invested in the critical 2) If two clinically similar patients arrive In a recent article in the New England Journal task at hand. The pilot’s personal involvement at the emergency room, the allocation of a of Medicine (NEJM), for example, Dr. Robert in the fate of his passengers mirrors the ventilator to one patient over another can Truog and his collaborators off er this approach physician’s accompaniment of his patients in be done on a fi rst-come-fi rst-served basis, a as a way to “protect” clinicians: a time of crisis, with these front-line clinicians lottery or another randomized approach. “Reports from Italy describe physicians properly assuming a key role in making 3) It is generally immoral to take away ‘weeping in the hospital hallways because of decisions about the allocation of limited without consent the ventilator of a patient the choices they were going to have to make.’ medical resources. still in need of it in order to give it to another The angst that clinicians may experience when Rather than trying to offl oad responsibility patient who may die without it. asked to withdraw ventilators for reasons to a committee to “mitigate the enormous 4) In situations where a patient on a not related to the welfare of their patients emotional, spiritual and existential burden ventilator is clearly deteriorating, and should not be underestimated — it may lead to which caregivers may be exposed,” as the where COVID-19 and its complications can to debilitating and disabling distress for some NEJM article phrases it, front-line clinicians, reasonably be expected to cause the patient’s clinicians. One strategy for avoiding this tragic together with their patients and/or health care death even with continued ventilator support, outcome is to use a triage committee to buff er agents, should manage these critical decisions, dialogue should be initiated with the patient clinicians from this potential harm.” with triage committees serving in advisory, or his designated health care agent to obtain The main goal during triage, however, rather than decision-making or adjudicating consent to remove the ventilator. Obtaining cannot be to “buff er clinicians” or “soften capacities. free and informed consent helps resolve nearly the angst” of what is clearly a diffi cult and If rationing becomes necessary, sound every problematic angle in the ventilator challenging set of decisions. Nor is it to ethical principles not only enable responsible rationing process. Scoring tools can be used “save the most lives possible in a time of triage decisions to be made, but can also help to decide which patient’s health care agent unprecedented crisis,” as proposed in the clinicians to avoid panic and calmly accompany should be approached fi rst. Attention must NEJM article. Nor is it to favor those with each patient entering a health care facility, always remain focused on establishing and “the best prospects for the longest remaining including those facing their fi nal days and maintaining honest and open communication life,” as others have suggested, by relying on a hours. with the patient, family and the health care utilitarian calculus that favors the young and  Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate agent throughout diffi cult triage situations. the strong. in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and 5) Patients who relinquish a ventilator in The goal must instead be to make allocation serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic triage situations, or who cannot be given a decisions based on evenly applied practices, Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. He also serves as a professor ventilator due to lack of availability, should as fair as possible, across the spectrum of of bioethics at the University of Mary in Bismarck. See www. ncbcenter.org Ag Attitudes JAMES ODERMANN Spiritual communion is another of God’s gifts

Spring time in the county side There is, however, one major receive Jesus in the Eucharist. communion?” Good question; so, usually means rural producers are missing element—the Eucharist. The Mass is centered on the I used technology (the internet) to sequestered at home. Livestock For me, the Mass is the sacrifi ce Eucharist where God gives me the fi nd an answer. producers spend their time Jesus made to redeem a sinner ultimate gift—Jesus Christ through St. Alphonsus Liguori in the welcoming a new generation of like me. Jesus invites me to the communion. 18th century had written: “… animals. Agronomic producers celebration of the sacrifi ce of the I was hit with the realization that Since I cannot now receive You turn wrenches getting equipment Mass, at which God, through Jesus, the absence of the Eucharist during sacramentally, come at least ready for planting. feeds me with the precious body current times highlights a lesson spiritually into my heart. I embrace This year the “hibernation” and blood of Christ. from God. As I pondered this You as if You were already there, is exacerbated by the pandemic The virtual livestreaming of further, I recalled St. John (20:25) and unite myself wholly to You. that has gripped the world. the Mass is a gift in today’s times, when St. Thomas said, “Unless Never permit me to be separated Technology is the panacea to social but it feels incomplete. I recalled I see the mark of the nails in his from You. Amen.” distancing—but it is a far second to a paraphrased expression from hands and put my fi nger into the God always provides an answer. face-to-face interaction. the School Sisters of Notre Dame nail marks and put my hand into I just need to listen—better. Technology has replaced and the Benedictine monks his side, I will not believe.” Care to join me? attendance at Sunday Mass and the in elementary and secondary Jesus answered St. Thomas  Odermann lives with his wife, Leona, Easter Triduum this year. It is a education years: “Appreciate what (verse 29), “Have you come to on the family farm in Billings County. They virtual world when parish priests, you have because someday it may believe because you have seen me? are members of the Church of St. Patrick by default, became televangelists, be gone.” Blessed are those who have not in Dickinson and assist with eucharistic off ering Mass to the congregations. That hit home as I participated seen and have believed.” celebrations there as well as at the Churches of St. Bernard (Bel eld) and St. Mary (Medora). And, by metrics being reported, in virtual church. I missed the My wife asked as we discussed “attendance” has been quite good. opportunity to sacramentally this, “How about spiritual 16 | Dakota Catholic Action MAY 2020

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