VOL. 78 NO. 7 WWW.BISMARCKDIOCESE.COM AUGUST 2019 Dakota Catholic Action Reporting on Catholic action in western ND since 1941 Well done, good and faithful servant! The Most Reverend Paul A. Zipfel, Bishop Emeritus died peacefully Sunday, July 14 at a nursing home in St. Louis while under the care of hospice after an extended and debilitating struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was 83 years old. His approachable and authentic nature will be how Bishop Zipfel will be remembered during his time as our chief shepherd. Few people ever forgot an encounter with him and his infectious, ever- present smile. We devote this issue of the Dakota Catholic Action to Bishop Zipfel and the gifts he left through his priests, the Catholic schools, his employees and, you, the faithful people of the diocese. Upon his arrival in Bismarck, he stated emphatically, “I tell you that my acceptance of this call is unconditional—in other words, with my whole heart.” And, that is what we remember about our beloved shepherd from some of his very fi rst words—his deep and unconditional love for the people of God. Bishop Zipfel, having been born and raised in the Midwest, understood the vibrant culture of hearty North Dakotans, blending right in with the traditions of food, friendship and fellowship. He was vocations and Catholic education. as comfortable in offi cial meetings His commitment to assigning as he was entertaining a crowd young priests to be chaplains with his impromptu magic tricks. and teach in our Catholic schools The native of Missouri had spent turned around our entire focus to his entire life near the city of St. foster vocations to the priesthood Louis, but embraced the people of and religious life for young men our rural diocese and you, in turn, and women. wholeheartedly embraced him. Bishop Zipfel left a letter The long, 20-month wait for containing brief and humble Bishop Zipfel’s appointment as instructions for the funeral Mass the sixth Bishop of Bismarck sermon not to be about him. was announced on New Year’s He wanted it to be about the Eve 1996. At age 61, the auxiliary priesthood. His entire life was bishop from St. Louis was the fi rst about the priesthood. May the bishop from outside the Province words of the stories that appear of the Archdiocese of St. Paul here speak for his legacy. (North and South Dakota and We pray, almighty and merciful Minnesota) to be appointed to God, that as you made your serve Bismarck. He was installed servant Bishop Paul Zipfel an on Feb. 20, 1997, at the Cathedral ambassador for Christ on earth, of the Holy Spirit. so you may raise him to be seated During his 14 years as Bishop with Christ in heaven, Who lives of Bismarck, one of the many and reigns forever and ever. A LOOK INSIDE indelible marks left upon the Amen. diocese was his devotion to Committed to education Vocations increase Bishop Zipfel began assigning full-time Vocations from the diocese increased chaplains to the three diocesan Catholic dramatically under the leadership of high schools ............................Page 4 Bishop Zipfel .............................. Pages 6 | AUGUST 2019 2 Dakota Catholic Action Bishop David D. Kagan A tribute to our beloved Bishop Zipfel Catholic Church that Our to the priesthood and his friends, he was a mentor to me FROM THE BISHOP Blessed Lady because of Her consecration as our bishop. He and, more importantly, he was singular life as the Mother of most certainly lived what we my spiritual father and brother. God, conceived without the believe of the Assumption in Bishop Zipfel was and is a stain of original sin, faithful his retirement and he lived this holy and virtuous man, a good to the will of Almighty God for faith with a joy, serenity and priest and bishop who only Her earthly life, received at good humor that I shall never wanted to serve you and me the moment of Her death the forget and for which I am most and everyone to the best of his eternal reward of being united grateful. ability. in body and soul with God for From the first day we met Eternal rest grant all eternity. Our Blessed Lady when I came to Bismarck unto him, O Lord, and let stands as our sure and certain for the announcement of my perpetual light shine upon sign of what we hope to have at appointment as bishop, he and him. May he rest in peace. the end of the world. Not only I hit it off immediately. Bishop Amen. this, Our Blessed Lady is the Zipfel and I became very close Bishop David D. Kagan perfect disciple and our model to imitate in our daily lives. s we resume the ordinary Finally, as the Catechism of BISHOP’S SCHEDULE publication of our the Catholic Church teaches AUGUST 2019 A diocesan newspaper, us: “Finally, the Immaculate we are very much aware of the Virgin, preserved free from Aug. 3 • 63rd Annual Champions Flower, Minot, 5:30 p.m. death and burial of our beloved Ride, Home on the Range, Aug. 18: • Installation Mass for Fr. Nick all stain of original sin, when 1 p.m. MT Bishop Paul Zipfel. This issue the course of her earthly life Schneider at Church of will carry all of the news and Aug. 6 • FirstChoice Women’s Care St. Vincent de Paul, was finished, was taken up Center house blessing, Crown Butte, 9 a.m. details of the life, death and body and soul into heavenly Bismarck, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20 • Mass for the Catholic Home birth into eternal life of Bishop glory, and exalted by the Lord Aug. 8 • Serra Club Seminarian Educators, Cathedral of the Zipfel. However, I would like to as Queen over all things, so Gathering, Church of Christ Holy Spirit, Bismarck, offer a personal reflection on that she might be more fully the King, Mandan, 5:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. my predecessor and brother in conformed to her Son, the Lord Aug. 9 • Cabinet Meeting, Chancery, Aug. 21 • Ribbon cutting for St. Holy Orders as a priest and a of lords and conqueror of sin 10 a.m. Mary’s Central High School, Bismarck, 12:30 p.m. bishop. and death. The Assumption Aug. 10 • Installation Mass for I want to frame my reflection Fr. Grafsgaard for Church Aug. 22-24 • Region VIII Bishop’s annual of the Blessed Virgin is a of St. Joseph, Beulah, and meeting, New Ulm, Minn. in the light of the beautiful singular participation in her Church of St. Martin, Hazen Solemnity of the Assumption Aug. 27 • Installation Mass for Fr. Fred Son’s Resurrection and an at Hazen, 5 p.m. Harvey at Church of Christ of the Blessed Virgin Mary anticipation of the resurrection Aug. 13 • Real Presence Radio the King, Mandan, 5:30 p.m. into heaven at the moment of other Christians.” (966) interview, 9 a.m. Aug. 28 • Trinity Catholic Schools of her death. This is a holy All of this is not just a Aug. 14 • Directors’ staff meeting, Board of Directors meeting, day of obligation and falls on defined doctrine of our faith, Center for Pastoral Ministry, Dickinson, 1:30 p.m. MT Bismarck, 9:45 a.m. August 15 each year. Why do but it is of the very fabric of our Aug. 29 • Addition Dedication and this? For the simple reason Catholic life. Bishop Zipfel lived • 60th Jubilee Mass for the Blessing of St. Mary’s Grade that this has been the ancient Church of Our Lady of Grace, School, 8:30 a.m. this beautiful reality of our faith Minot, 5 p.m. and unequivocal faith of the Aug. 30: • Our Lady of Victory Stadium before and after his ordination Aug. 15 • Installation Mass for Fr. blessing, St. Mary’s Central Kenneth Phillips at St. High School, Bismarck, BISHOP IN ACTION Therese, Church of the Little 6:20 p.m. Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions for August Universal: That families, through their life of prayer and love, become ever more clearly “schools of true human growth”. Sta photo Bishop Kagan, with assistance from Deacon Dan Brooke and altar servers, blessed the land and animals during the annual Town and Country Celebration on July 7 near the SOCIAL MEDIA Neset Consulting Corporate O ce in Tioga. The event was hosted by Kathleen Neset, along with Fr. Corey Nelson and the parishioners of the Churches of St. Thomas the Apostle in Tioga, St. Michael in Ray and St. James in Powers Lake. Follow the Diocese on Twitter @BisDiocese and follow Bishop Kagan @VescovoDDK Bishop David Kagan Following Dakota Catholic Action @VescovoDDK Reporting on Catholic action in western ND since 1941 Sixteenth Week, Thursday, Feast of S. James the Greater, Apostle & Martyr, pray Publisher: Most Reverend David D. Kagan, D.D., P.A., J.C.L., Bishop of Bismarck for us pray for our Church. The rst of the Editor: Sonia Mullally, [email protected] chosen Twelve to die a martyr’s death Center for Pastoral Ministry - Diocese of Bismarck USPS0011-5770 for the sake of Name. May we be able to 520 N. Washington Street, PO Box 1137, Bismarck, ND 58501-1137 answer Jesus as he and John did: We can.” Phone: 701-222-3035 Fax: 701-222-0269 www.bismarckdiocese.com Tweets Tweets & replies Photos & videos Search “Bismarck Diocese” on YouTube for The Dakota Catholic Action (0011-5770) is published monthly except July videos from the Church in western N.D.