The Prairie Catholic L Page 1 L September 2020 Diocesan Church on Good Ground
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 35 No. 1 September 2020 “As time goes on, God lets you know what you need to know. He doesn’t show you miles down the road, but he shows you the next step.” — Bishop John M. LeVoir Bishop LeVoir retires (Read SPECIAL REPORT on pages 6-7 and 11.) (photo by Tamara Klawitter) A new normal. Catholic school students throughout the Diocese of New Ulm are back in class, but little is “normal” when it comes to education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pictured is third grader Lincoln Reinarts during class at St. Anthony Elementary School in New Ulm. (Read more on page 2.) Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 35 No. 1 September 2020 Parishioners say farewell to end of an era as five parishes hold final Mass by Katie Roiger Joe Steinbeisser on Sunday, June 7. Mass at St. Mary’s in Seaforth. Prairie Catholic correspondent Attendance was smaller than usual Concelebrants were parish pastor due to health concerns, but those Fr. Jeff Horejsi and Fr. Aaron NEW ULM – As Bishop John M. who were present appreciated the Johanneck, the Diocese of New LeVoir continued to shepherd the opportunity to gather. Ulm’s Director of Worship. Both implementation of the Fourth Plan priests are native sons of the for Parishes, he celebrated five last “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Seaforth parish. Sunday liturgies during June. In it was difficult bringing the order to ease the burden on parish community together for saying While the church building is now priests and recognizing smaller goodbye to the church and to for sale, one significant piece of parish’s decreasing revenues, celebrate the many years of parish the building will continue to enrich closing Masses were held at Sacred life together,” said Fr. Steinbeisser. its former parishioners and new Heart in Franklin, St. Mathias in “We are hoping that, when we audiences. The church’s treasured Wanda, St. Mary in Seaforth, St. can resume social gatherings, we pipe organ was dismantled and John in Hector, and Our Lady of will gather community members moved to the Church of St. Mary Victory in Lucan, now merged together again for a proper in Arlington. Community members with St. Anne in Wabasso. During welcome into their new parish,” he are happy to know that its life of each closing Mass, parishioners said. making music will continue. gathered to celebrate their long and vibrant parish histories. Following the Mass, many sacred At the closing Mass, Fr. Johanneck and blessed items were removed Sacred Heart, Franklin parishioners gathered for a last Mass celebrated shared some of his favorite The first to gather to remember from the building, including the by Bishop LeVoir on Sunday, June 28. In a nod to the parish’s steadfast memories of growing up in the their parish were members church bell, steeple cross, stained devotion to St. Patrick, siblings Tim, Molly, Pat, and Joe Sullivan sang the St. Mary parish community. of the Church of St. John in glass windows, and altar apparel. “Irish Blessing” after Communion. (Photo by Tom Keaveny) “I think it was really from the Hector. The closing Mass was According to Fr. Steinbeisser, some parish in Seaforth that I learned celebrated by Bishop LeVoir and of the liturgical items are being in Wanda for two years following there is a grieving process.” the importance of reverence for concelebrated by parish pastor Fr. incorporated into the Church of his ordination to the permanent Due to COVID-19 concerns, the sacred spaces like the church and St. Mary in Bird Island. “The altar diaconate and assisted Bishop last Mass took place outdoors, and reverence for the Eucharist,” Fr. angels now surround the tabernacle LeVoir at St. Mathias’s closing Communion was distributed to Johanneck said. “I remember that at St. Mary’s, and the Mary and Mass. He added that the church’s those dispersed around the church after Mass, the church would be Joseph statues have been placed in parishioners were aware of their grounds in lawn chairs or in their quiet, everyone would kneel, we’d St. Mary’s social hall,” he said. parish’s need to close, but wanted vehicles. all pray for a few moments, and INSIDE an opportunity to commemorate its then we’d quietly work our way out On June 20, Bishop LeVoir passing. “It was very different than what of church. All of our conversations Page 5 & 8 celebrated the last Mass with we had planned,” said Deacon would happen outside, even in the Preparing for parishioners of the Church of St. “Parishioners are certainly Pope, mentioning that the original winter! The church is holy and the Eucharist is there – it’s not a social Election Day 2020 Mathias in Wanda. understanding that the church as a intention before the pandemic whole is much bigger than even our was to have the last Mass inside hall. That really had a deep impact on me.” Page 9 “It’s difficult,” Deacon Ryan Pope local diocese and that the church the church one last time. “It was a said regarding church closings. “I isn’t necessarily a building – it’s a somber moment, but also one that Mathiowetz assumes think that because of what happens, people,” Deacon Pope explained. had an air of family to it. So many Fr. Horejsi recalled the impact of role as DCCW president we almost identify ourselves with “But the church itself is a physical could get together and reminisce the former St. Mary’s pastor, the a parish. So many sacraments representation of an invisible about it.” late Monsignor Stan Grabowski, Page 10 happen at a parish, within a church reality. It’s a way for parishioners on the parish’s faith life. “He was Ask a Canon Lawyer building, that there are memories to experience all of those things According to the parish a strong influence in the faith,” attached, there are life events that are sometimes hard to put into community’s wishes, the Church of Fr. Horesji shared. “He was in the attached, and that’s difficult to words in the beauty of the building St. Mathias has now been razed. Dachau concentration camp as a Visit us online! imagine ever coming to a close.” and the gathering of the people. young priest, and he certainly That’s what a parish is all about, On Sunday, June 21 Bishop LeVoir www.dnu.org Deacon Pope served St. Mathias and when it gets merged or closed, celebrated an early morning (Continued on page 11) The Prairie Catholic l Page 1 l September 2020 diocesan church On Good Ground priests and must be at least 35 appointed bishop could come from when I was ordained by Bishop years old. another province. Raymond A. Lucker. Prayer for On Aug. 10, the Diocese of New These names are submitted to the I had the privilege of serving as a new bishop Ulm college of consultors met to apostolic nuncio in Washington, the chancellor for Bishop Lucker elect a diocesan administrator. I D.C., who then forwards the during his last year as bishop Almighty God, was elected and entrusted with names to the Congregation of of New Ulm. I was also part of Who by the Holy Spirit moves the responsibilities and authority Bishops at the Vatican. From this the transition process when Fr. the hearts of Your people, of a diocesan bishop until a new roster of candidates, a list of three John Berger served as diocesan bishop is appointed. I felt humbled names is usually presented to the administrator in 2001. Direct the counsels of those but was confident that with the Holy Father, who makes the final who are appointed to choose a help of God, our pastoral leaders, decision. For the past 19 years, I have had bishop for the Diocese of New and you, the faithful of the the privilege of serving as vicar Ulm, that we may be given a diocese, I would be able to serve During this interim period, I will general for both Bishop John C. pastor who in faithfulness and by Msgr. Douglas Grams until the fifth bishop of New Ulm devote myself to serving the Nienstedt and Bishop LeVoir. wisdom shall lead Your people Diocesan Administrator is installed. Diocese of New Ulm as diocesan Although there may be speculation in the way of holiness. On Aug. 6, 2020, Pope Francis administrator. At age 60, I am in about who the next bishop of accepted the early resignation of Many of you may be wondering my thirty-third year as a priest. New Ulm will be, there is no Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Bishop John M. LeVoir due to how long we will have to wait. campaigning. Rather, we pray in Amen. health concerns. Of the 196 dioceses in the United I have had the good fortune thanksgiving for our past bishops States, there are currently seven to know the four bishops who who have guided us during these Mary, Mother of the Church, last 63 years as a diocese. According to canon law, when a dioceses without a diocesan have served our diocese. Bishop pray for us. See (diocese) becomes vacant, bishop. Normally, there is an eight Alphonse J. Schladweiler (who the diocesan college of consultors to 15 month waiting period. built the church, school, and As we await the appointment of must convene and elect a The bishops of each province convent of my home parish, the the fifth bishop of New Ulm, we diocesan administrator within gather to nominate candidates Church of the Holy Rosary in pray in anticipation that we may To download a copy of eight days after the See is known for the episcopate.