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Crown of purity Bishop John M. LeVoir places a crown of fl owers on Sr. Magdalena’s head after she and Sr. Regina Marie professed their fi nal vows with the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus at a special Mass June 3 at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. (Read more about the Mass and perpetual (Photo by Jeanine McMahon) professions, page 7.) Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 30 No. 10 July 2016 Window closes for child Homeless shelter ready for business! sex abuse claims On May 25, 2016, the deadline to report abuse during the 1960s and fi le claims under the Minnesota 1970s. Child Victims Act passed. “We’ve been humbled in listening For three years, victims and to the experience of victims and survivors of child sexual abuse survivors who have come forward. had been encouraged to come They have shown great courage,” forward and fi le a claim for said Bishop John M. LeVoir of restitution, no matter how long the Diocese of New Ulm. “The ago the abuse occurred. diocese is committed to helping protect children and young people By the end of the day on May from abuse and to helping victims 25, 101 people had made claims and survivors in healing. against the Diocese of New Ulm and parishes within the diocese. “The release of names and the Of the 75 parishes in the diocese, diocese’s eff orts since then 28 are named in claims. demonstrate a willingness by the Diocese of New Ulm to be (Photo from video by Dan Rossini) These claims report abuse from transparent about clergy who have NEW ULM - New Ulm Mayor Bob Beussman cuts the ribbon at the start of the June 18 open house several decades ago involving abused children,” said attorney at NUMAS Haus to the delight of organizers and community members. Brown County’s fi rst homeless priests who are now either Jeff Anderson, whose law fi rm shelter has come about through the generous contributions of many donors and volunteers, and with deceased or removed from public the support of the New Ulm Ministerial Association and the Diocese of New Ulm. It will accept single ministry. Almost all of the claims (Continued on page 12) mothers and their children up to age 13 beginning in late July. ( S e e s t o r y o n p a g e 1 4 . ) Catholics help Orlando shooting victims, families by Matt Hadro The Diocese of Orlando’s response Catholic News Agency to the tragedy, he added, follows the words of Pope Francis, who INSIDE “has called us to remember how ORLANDO, Fla. – Following Page 5 the mass shooting that claimed the important it is to simply love our Political activism lives of 49 in Orlando, Catholics neighbor.” have tried to be the hands and Catholic-style Early on the morning of June 12, feet of Christ in showing mercy 29-year-old Omar Mateen opened to victims and their families and fi re at a gay Orlando nightclub and Page 6 loved ones. Dawson native began taking hostages. He killed 49 people and injured 53 more “We’re in the Jubilee Year ordained a priest before he himself was killed by of Mercy. And here we have SWAT offi cers responding to the individuals who are in tremendous Page 10 scene. need of mercy – the repose of the Growing up in souls of those who are deceased, Authorities are still piecing NAZI Germany the family members, the friends, People visit a memorial down the road from the Pulse nightclub together background information the tremendous shock that has on June 18, 2016 in Orlando, Florida, where Omar Mir Seddique on Mateen, who pledged occurred personally,” Gary Tester, Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 on June 12. In the wake of allegiance to the Islamic State in a Visit us online! executive of Catholic Charities the shooting, the Diocese of Orlando and Catholic Charities Central 911 call made inside the nightclub. Central Florida, told CNA on Florida have responded in various ways to help victims, their Mateen’s ex-wife and one of his www.dnu.org June 15. families, and their loved ones. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Continued on page 12) The Prairie Catholic Page 1 July 2016 Be Not Afraid Commentary on the 2014-2015 fi nancial information for the Diocese of New Ulm the diocese for past abuse (see June 30, 2015 of $1,006,030. of households, the number of As this issue of The Prairie page 1). Now that we know The diocese is grateful for the parish households giving $50 Catholic is going to print, the how many claims the diocese generous donors who made this or more, and Sunday off ertory fi scal year July 1, 2015 – June faces, our attention must turn to possible. collections. The assessments 30, 2016 is coming to a close. discussions with the attorneys for totaled $1,525,843 for the fi scal It will take some time to pull the claimants to determine what The “Special Issues Expense” year. The DUF funds are used together those fi nancials and liability we face. represents expenses incurred by to fi nance the operations of the have them reviewed by an the diocese in connection with Pastoral Center that carry out the independent auditor. Meanwhile, While we expect that insurance the resolution of litigation of core operations of the diocese. the budgeting process for 2016- will cover much of this liability, 2017 has been delayed due to the we also expect the diocese will uncertainty of the outcome of the contribute to the settlement of . while the Diocese of New Ulm faces uncertain litigation of lawsuits and claims these claims. Over the coming fi nancial times ahead, with faith in our Lord and relating to alleged sexual abuse months, we will work to reach Savior, Jesus Christ, “we rejoice in our sufferings, of minors by clergy. a fair resolution for the victims knowing that suffering produces endurance, and and survivors, while allowing the We know that the troubles we endurance produces character, and character by Bishop John M. Levoir work of the Church to continue in face are the result of abuse; our 15-county community. produces hope” (Rom 5:3-4). they are not the fault of victims Presented for your review in this – Bishop LeVoir and survivors coming forward issue of The Prairie Catholic is Under “Revenues,” please note to share courageously their the “Statement of Activities” the signifi cant negative diff erence lawsuits and claims of sexual The Diocesan Ministries Appeal experiences and seek healing. We of the Diocese of New Ulm in the “Net Unrealized and abuse of minors by clergy. (DMA) supports ministries in must all come together to care for for the fi scal year July 1, 2014, Realized Gains on Investments” the diocese, some of which were those who have been hurt. through June 30, 2015 (see page from the fi scal year ended June With the addition of the “Change started after the fi rst DMA in 3). The fi gures are taken from 30, 2014 to the fi scal year ended in Net Assets” of $431,452 to the 2006. These ministries include We also know that while the the fi nancial statements of the June 30, 2015 of $1,311,182. July 1, 2014, balance of Catholic Charities, the permanent Diocese of New Ulm faces diocese audited by a certifi ed This diff erence is due to the $20, 674,163, the total “Net diaconate program, children and uncertain fi nancial times ahead, public accounting fi rm. negative downturn in the Assets” as of June 30, 2015, is youth programs and activities, with faith in our Lord and Savior, fi nancial markets from one fi scal $21,105,615. Latino ministry, and the ongoing Jesus Christ, “we rejoice in our It is important to note several year to the next. The current education of lay ministers who suff erings, knowing that suff ering things when viewing these policy of the diocese is to keep The pie charts show, by serve day in and day out in the produces endurance, and fi nancial fi gures. First, this its funds invested with Christian percentage, the various accounts parishes. endurance produces character, information is related to activities Brothers Investment Services for that compose the revenues and and character produces hope” in the fi scal year ending in June the long term. expenses of the diocese. Local Catholics contributed a (Rom 5:3-4). 2015. Since that time, the diocese total of $1,619,383 during the has received dozens of additional This signifi cant negative The Diocesan United Fund 2014 DMA campaign, with civil claims against it for past diff erence was largely off set by (DUF) is the total of the annual $749,121 going to ministries Bishop LeVoir’s summer 2016 sexual abuse of minors. a signifi cant positive diff erence assessments collected from the 75 administered by the diocese calendar can be found at in “Contributions and Bequests” parishes of the Diocese of New and $870,262 being returned to www.dnu.org/calendar/. On May 25, 2016, the window from the fi scal year ended June Ulm. Each parish’s assessment the parishes to be used for their closed for fi ling claims against 30, 2014 to the fi scal year ended is based on the parish’s number needs. THE Poor Handmaids’ Coming Home tour stops at St. George The Poor Handmaids of Jesus RA RIE Christ visited the Church of St.