Seminarian serves penance service for pope Third-year college seminary student Samuel Rosemeier, left- kneeling, who is currently studying in Rome, served for Pope Francis during the March 29 Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. (Rosemeier reflects on his journey to the priesthood, page 7.) Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 33 No. 6 April/May 2019 Diocese holds 16th annual Bishop Lucker Lecture in March New Ulm native Peter Herbeck presents on the New Pentecost by Troy Krause That has all dramatically talked about the New Pentecost Redwood Gazette changed, said Herbeck, quoting and the need for the fullness of the St. John Paul II who said culture Holy Spirit in the Church. REDWOOD FALLS - For more is witnessing the death of It is no secret the Church is facing than 1,500 years Christianity Christendom. challenging times, said Herbeck, played a significant role in the adding that is also reflected in the culture of the west, including that Herbeck talked about the reality broader culture which is facing of Europe and later the United of Christianity in the world confusion and upheaval. The States. today during the 2019 Bishop Lucker Lecture which was held question Herbeck said that needs to be answered is how does at the Church of St. Catherine in the Peter Herbeck, who grew up in Church respond in a time when Redwood Falls on March 11. New Ulm, said he recalls the days the number of people who are in when people respected the laws of attendance is shrinking and the God, even if they didn’t practice The annual event hosted by the level of respect for the Church in the Christian faith. He remembers Diocese of New Ulm is held to the culture is dwindling. the days when businesses were ensure the people of the diocese closed on Sundays. would “continue to be enlightened Over 200 faithful from around the diocese gathered at the Church If change is going to take place it and challenged by leading teachers of St. Catherine in Redwood Falls to hear New Ulm native Peter begins with people understanding “That wasn’t a business decision,” and practitioners of the Catholic Herbeck of Renewal Ministries talk about the New Pentecost during that the Holy Spirit is real and that said Herbeck, adding it was an faith.” the Bishop Lucker lecture on March 11. (photo by Christine Clancy) those who hold to the tenets of the expectation of the broader culture. Christian faith can be filled with “People respected and honored the The 16th annual Bishop Lucker Peter Herbeck of Renewal Arbor, Mich., home. Herbeck, an him. Lord’s day.” Lecture featured keynote speaker Ministries who now calls Ann international author and speaker, (Continued on page 3) Parish preparedness and planning for when disaster strikes INSIDE by Tom Keaveny disasters than in the past. Our weather watch and warning Page 2 Parish and community response to infrastructures help to save many Pope Benedict’s essay natural disasters is unfortunately lives and ensure the reduction addresses sex abuse not a new phenomenon in the of risk when weather disasters scandal Diocese of New Ulm. Over the actually occur. Unfortunately, past century, 58 individuals have property damages, clean-up, and lost their lives in tornados alone: the cumulative effects of natural Page 5 disasters remain, regardless of the Music retreat 36 in Tyler in 1918, 11 in North Mankato in 1946, nine in Tracy improved weather warnings we in Sleepy Eye in 1968, and one each with the have come to rely upon. Comfrey/St. Peter tornadoes in Page 9 1998 and in Granite Falls in the Over the past ten years, Catholic Woman of the Year year 2000. Charities of the Diocese of New On March 29, 1998, a tornado swept through southern Minnesota, Ulm has distributed over $200,000 At the same time, we are better devastating the town of St. Peter which included the destruction of to 157 households throughout the Visit us online! prepared and more adequately the historic 1912 Church of St. Peter. diocese, all affected by natural alerted to impending weather www.dnu.org (Photo from the Church of St. Peter archives.) (Continued on page 10) The Prairie Catholic l Page 1 l April/May 2019 Be Not Afraid Month of the Blessed Virgin programs can have a ceremonial important event in all of human Resurrection, Pope Francis said: years as area faith communities, I crowning of a statue of Mary, history. No one ever has, nor will “The faith we profess in the believe that it is now time to ask symbolizing that she is the Queen anyone ever, rise from the dead Resurrection makes us men and our smaller parishes to merge into of our hearts. The praying of the under his own power. Jesus has woman of hope, not despair, men our larger parishes and to make rosary by individuals and families accomplished this. Jesus was able and women of life, not death, for our larger parishes homes for the is also encouraged. to rise from the dead because he we are comforted by the promise many. If Catholics from smaller is both God the Son, the Second of eternal life, grounded in our parishes join Catholics from larger Special feast days of the Blessed Person of the Blessed Trinity, union with the risen Christ” (Nov. parishes and all work together, Virgin in May and June are Our and a human being, the Son of 3, 2017). parish life can be better for all. Lady of Fatima (May 13); the the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Pastoral Planning For example, with a larger Mary (May 31); and Mary, Mother Some are of the opinion that parish, there are enough people of the Church (June 10). It would Among other things upon which to the Diocese of New Ulm is to volunteer, the Masses have be most appropriate to attend meditate, we can reflect upon the the only diocese facing the more people, the singing at Mass Bishop John M. LeVoir Mass on these days. During May, Resurrection as a source of hope. challenges of pastoral planning is better, and the participation is better. Also, evangelization is Traditionally, the month of May let us strive to encounter Mary. We are in desperate need of hope due to declining population, critical to the Church. More robust has been dedicated in a special As St. Paul VI reminds us: “The today. So many people live in shrinking congregations, and parishes will mean a stronger way to the veneration of the person who encounters Mary hopelessness and feel that there is pastors aging and shepherding evangelization effort can be made Blessed Virgin Mary. Concerning cannot help but encounter Christ not a purpose in life or meaning to 3–5 parishes. This is not the case. by parishioners to invite people, the month of May, St. Pope Paul likewise.” it. However, Jesus teaches us that Many dioceses in Minnesota both young and old, to church. VI wrote: “We are delighted and he gives purpose to our life and and the Dakotas – and beyond The pastors are telling me that consoled by this pious custom The Easter season gives meaning to it. Real life is to – are experiencing the same this is already happening where associated with the month of The Church is now in the midst live in communion with God. phenomenon. parishes have merged or Mass May, which pays honor to the of the Easter season which began times have been reduced. Blessed Virgin and brings such on Holy Saturday evening, April The theological virtue of hope, For example, the Diocese of rich benefits to the Christian 20. It lasts through Pentecost which we receive at Baptism, can St. Cloud, our neighbor to the Let us all continue to work people. Since Mary is rightly to Sunday, June 9. This is a long 50 be defined as the gift God gives north, is facing the same pastoral together collaboratively to be regarded as the way by which days. The Church gives us this us that makes it possible for us to planning challenges as the Diocese meet the challenges of pastoral we are led to Christ, the person extended period to meditate on desire to share God’s life. Hope is of New Ulm. The Diocese of St. planning. I believe that when who encounters Mary cannot help the resurrection of Jesus Christ really the desire to live in intimate Cloud just issued its pastoral plan the number of parishes has been but encounter Christ likewise” from the dead. The liturgies union with God, that is, God in us which organized its parishes into reduced from sixty-eight to the (On Prayers During May for during this period will have this and we in God. Hope also helps “area Catholic communities.” This low fifties, and we come together Preservation of Peace, no. 2). purpose in mind and help us in our us to trust that, if we follow Jesus, is exactly what the Diocese of in larger numbers, the New meditation. we will share his life here on earth New Ulm did, calling groupings of Evangelization called for by Pope The month of May would be a and someday in heaven. parishes “area faith communities,” Francis will begin to flourish. good time to make a pilgrimage The Church gives us an a name and concept with which Bishop LeVoir’s May 2019 in honor of the Blessed Virgin.