(Photo by Debra Skelley Blaschko) Christmas cookies! Ione Grossmann (left), Scott Mohr, and Anita Mohr dish out the Marvelous Macaroons on Nov. 29 at St. John the Baptist in Searles as part of the parish’s annual Cookie Bake. The event, which began as a modest effort in 1989, now draws donors, volunteers, and customers from across the region and raises over $14,000 for Minnesota’s Most Rural Diocese Diocese of New Ulm Vol. 31 No. 4 December 2016 Catholic education. (Read more on page 6.) At close of Jubilee, pope says it’s a reminder of what’s essential by Catholic News Agency heart of the Gospel, urges us In his homily, the pope pointed to give up habits and practices to the day’s Gospel from Luke, VATICAN CITY – On Nov. 20 which may be obstacles to in which Christ, “the Chosen Pope Francis closed the Holy serving the Kingdom of God” One, the King” appears “without Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, and urges us to align ourselves power or glory: he is on the offi cially marking the end of the “only in the perennial and cross, where he seems more to be Jubilee of Mercy, which he said humble kingship of Jesus, not conquered than conqueror.” is a reminder that love is at the in submission to the precarious core of God’s attitude, rather regalities and changing powers of Jesus’ kingship, he said, “is than power and prestige. every age.” paradoxical:” his crown is made of thorns, he has no scepter, no “This Year of Mercy invites us to Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims “luxurious clothing” or “shiny rediscover the core, to return to gathered in St. Peter’s Square rings” on his fi ngers, but is what is essential,” the Pope said for Mass marking the end of instead pierced with nails and on the Feast of Christ the King. the Jubilee of Mercy. He fi rst sold for 30 pieces of silver. announced the Jubilee during The “time of mercy” lived a March 13, 2015, penitential Francis noted that glory of during the Jubilee serves as a liturgy inside the basilica. The God’s kingdom “is not power call to look to “the true face of Holy Year offi cially began Dec. as defi ned by this world, but our King,” and to rediscover “the 8, 2015. the love of God, a love capable youthful, beautiful face of the of encountering and healing all After closing the Holy Door in Church, the face that is radiant things.” St. Peter’s Basilica, the pope when it is welcoming, free, processed to the square outside, faithful, poor in means but rich Pope Francis closes the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica on Nov. Christ “lowered himself to us out where he celebrated Mass with in love, on mission.” 20, 2016. He then processed to the square outside, where he of this love, he lived our human the 70,000 pilgrims present, celebrated Mass with the 70,000 pilgrims present, according to according to Vatican security. Mercy, he said, takes us “to the Vatican security. (Photo by Daniel Ibañez/CNA) (Continued on page 8) Bishop proclaims the ‘King of Kings’ is also ‘Lord of mercy’ INSIDE Closing of Year of Mercy celebrated at Cathedral in New Ulm Pages 3 by Dan Rossini beginning of Mass at 3:30 p.m. The Prairie Catholic A reception in Leifeld Hall Chaplaincy ministry concluded the celebration. brings hope NEW ULM – Several hundred members of the faithful, including The occasion marked the last time Page 5 priests, deacons, religious sisters, Catholics in the diocese could receive a special Jubilee Year New addition and lay people joined Bishop John M. LeVoir at the Cathedral indulgence by walking through for adoration of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm the Door of Mercy at the back Nov. 20 to celebrate the closing of the Cathedral and meeting the Page 7 of the Year of Mercy. other usual requirements for a Living with purpose plenary indulgence. in a secular world Exposition and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament began In his homily at Mass, Bishop LeVoir found in Jesus Christ the at 2 p.m., and the bishop led Pilgrims enter the Cathedral in New Ulm through the Holy Door connection between the day’s the Chaplet of Divine Mercy on Nov. 20 to participate in the diocesan celebration closing the Visit us online! feast, Christ the King, and the just before 3 p.m. Several Year of Mercy. It was their last opportunity to gain the Jubilee Year www.dnu.org priests off ered the Sacrament indulgence by walking through the door. (Photo by Dan Rossini) of Reconciliation up until the (Continued on page 8) The Prairie Catholic Page 1 December 2016 Be Not Afraid Christmas things in our recent political urge families, faith communities, wrote in their 2012 statement on bishops in the State Capitol elections. government leaders, and the immigration, “Unlocking the Gate rotunda. There will also be an international community to in Our Heart,” our nation has opportunity to learn about the key God understands us and our practice non-violence and work to the duty to regulate our borders issues facing our state, receive confusion, and he gives us the build a just peace. for the common good, ensuring training from experts on eff ective solution to our dilemmas. What the safety of our people and the advocacy, and see the potential is God’s answer to the confusing In our country, as well as integrity of our values. of a united Catholic voice in question that seems to describe countries throughout the world, Minnesota. so well our life on this earth after the solution to disputes seems But in doing so, we must also sin? God the Father’s answer to be death rather than dialogue. treat migrant men, women, and Finally, we will be able to is a Person: Jesus Christ. “Bu t The United States Conference of children as Christ among us, lobby Minnesota lawmakers when the fullness of time had Catholic Bishops encourages us off ering them love, compassion, with the bishops, connect come, God sent his Son, born of a to pray for peace, to learn about and hospitality. These twin pillars with other committed Catholics, woman, born under the law” (Gal the Church’s teaching on peace of the Church’s teaching on and most importantly, to live 4:4). (the Catechism of the Catholic immigration must never be set in out our baptismal call to faithful by Bishop John M. LeVoir Church is a good place to begin), opposition to one another. citizenship. Please join us on It is the birth of the Son, Jesus and to act for peace. March 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ever since the sin of our fi rst Christ, the Word made fl esh, that Let us take this year’s at the RiverCentre and the parents, Adam and Eve, life we celebrate on Christmas. On Immigration Sunday Immigration Sunday as an State Capitol in St. Paul. For on earth has been a mixture of the fi rst Christmas, God the Son, Immigration Sunday Minnesota opportunity to grow in faith by more information, go to www. good and evil. Life has been a sent by the Father, through the is on Jan. 8, 2017, the Feast reaching out to the strangers catholicsatthcapitol.org. combination of suff ering and power of the Holy Spirit, was of the Epiphany of Our Lord. in our midst and by forming pain, and of happiness and joy. born into our world to share in Immigration Sunday, celebrated stronger bonds of solidarity in our Two great Marian feasts A cursory examination of history our joys and sorrows. He comes in Minnesota since 2009, is an communities. December is a month that makes one acutely aware of these to bring us good and to conquer important moment for Minnesota contains two great feasts of the things. But, how are we to make evil. Catholics to address the realities Catholics at the Capitol Blessed Virgin Mary, Dec. 8 and sense of all of this? of immigration through prayer, The Minnesota Catholic Dec. 12. Dec. 8 is the feast of the “Each person needs to have education, and action. Conference, which supports Immaculate Conception of Mary Some people try to fi gure it ‘adequate responses’ to their the ministry of the Minnesota and Dec. 12 is the feast of Our out on their own, or seek the deepest existential questions.” This year, the theme is Building Catholic bishops, invites all of us Lady of Guadalupe. explanation of friends. Others Since “Jesus knows the heart Communities of Encounter – to the St. Paul RiverCentre and seek wise scholars and teachers, of man like no other, he is able communities that listen to one the Minnesota State Capitol on Mary, under the title of the past and present. Others look to heal and to give life and another with the ear of the heart, March 9, 2017 for Catholics at Immaculate Conception, is the to celebrities, the movies, consolation to humanity” (Pope acknowledging challenges the Capitol. patroness of the United States. and media personalities. Still Francis, Angelus address, June and diff erences but seeking to Under the title of Our Lady of others take their wisdom from 19, 2016). live together in friendship that We are invited to join more than Guadalupe, Mary is the patroness politicians and public fi gures. recognizes the inalienable dignity 1,000 Catholics from across of the Americas and is especially As Jesus himself told us: “I have of each human person.