The Roman Catholic The Diocese of Helena Joyfully Welcomes Diocese of Helena Bishop-Elect Fr. Austin Anthony Vetter! NEWSLETTER October 2019 In This Issue Pope Francis Has Appointed Pope Francis Appoints Fr. Austin Anthony Vetter Bishop-Elect Fr. Austin A. Vetter as the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Helena Msgr. O’Neill’s Message Carroll College On October 8, 2019, our Kinney at the Cathedral of and Director of Continuing Worship, Service, Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Holy Spirit in Bismarck, Education of the Clergy. & Evangelization appointed Father Austin An- N.D., on June 29, 1993. thony Vetter as the eleventh Father Vetter served as Bishop of Helena. Mass for Father Vetter’s first assign- Director of Spiritual Forma- his ordination as a bishop ment was serving as Paro- tion at the Pontifical North Respect Life Month and installation as Bishop of chial Vicar at the Cathedral American College in Rome, Helena will take place at the of the Holy Spirit. Father Italy, from July 2012 through Cathedral of St. Helena on Vetter was a religion instruc- June 2018. He currently tor at St. Mary’s Central High serves as Rector of the Ca- Profile On: Wednesday, November 20, 2019. School in Bismarck from thedral of the Holy Spirit and Sr. Lynn Casey, SCL 1994 to 1999. In North Da- is a Vice Chairman of the Austin Anthony Vetter was kota, he served as pastor of Board of Directors of Light born in Linton, N.D., on St. Martin’s Catholic Church of Christ Catholic Schools in September 13, 1967, to in Center, St. Patrick’s Church Bismarck, N.D. Good Samaritan Ministries August and Loretta Vetter. in Dickinson, and St. Leo the On-line Auction Bishop-Elect Vetter vis- The youngest of 12 children, Great in Minot. ited Helena on October he was raised on a farm and 8th where he held a press educated in the Linton Public From 2004 to 2007, Father Vetter was an adjunct faculty conference, visited Carroll Fraud Alert School System. After gradu- College, and celebrated ation, he attended North member for the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creigh- noon Mass at the Cathedral Dakota State University and of St. Helena before driving Cardinal Muench Seminary ton University in Omaha, Neb., where he taught The back to Bismark. An online Giving as Witnesses in Fargo, N.D. After receiving video of the noon Mass can his Bachelor of Arts Degree Spirituality of the Diocesan to Christ Priest. Father Vetter has held be found at https://dioce- in Philosophy, he studied at sehelena.org. the Pontifical North Ameri- various roles in the Dio- can College and the Univer- cese of Bismarck, including He will return to Helena on sity of St. Thomas Aquinas in serving on the Presbyteral November 15th to prepare Rome, Italy. He was ordained Council, Priest Personnel for his ordination and instal- Next Issue Board, Vicar for the Perma- lation and for his new role December 2019 a priest for the Diocese of Bismarck by Bishop John F. nent Diaconate, Master of as Bishop of the Diocese of Ceremonies to the Bishop, Helena. Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, P.O. Box 1729 Helena, MT 59624 Phone: (406) 442-5820 Fax: (406) 442- 5191 Website: www.diocesehelena.org God’s Call to Transforming Grace Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As Fall has now begun, so has the offer- Christian, with firm purpose and resolve, ing of opportunities to better know, love, in good times or in bad, answered Christ and serve the Lord through our Parishes, by saying, “Here I am Lord, I have come Schools, and college campus ministries to do your will in the goodness and light such as at Carroll, our diocesan college. which images to the world the face of Faith Formation Classes are available for God”? Would there be a more significant families to register for both youth and share of peace and mercy and justice for adult educational learning experiences. all, and would that enable us to become all Diocesan Priests, 33 are over the age of Fall offerings include the Rite of Chris- God has intended us to be? I answer, yes! 70; 14 are aged 60-69, and another 13 are tian Initiation of Adults and the Rite for The only way we can truly and completely aged 50-59. Children. Both serve as an invitation to fail at becoming saints is never to try; journey with, and through, Christ and never respond; never serve and never We have 57 Parishes, and 38 Missions, into the life of the Church. Catechists, love sacrificially. Why would we choose and our need for vocations grows with the ministers of the Liturgy of The Word and to refuse to grow through conversion and passing of each year. Thankfully, we do The Eucharist are encouraged to consider prayerful conversation and continuation of have five men studying in seminary forma- participation within their Faith Communi- our pilgrimage of Faith? tion, but you can see our great need in this ties. All in all, it is a season of prayerful and crucial area of answering the Lord’s call. It makes no sense to be complacent or to willing response to the Lord as He calls us Similarly, we face a shortage of marriages become merely an observer and com- by name to be His own. It is a call to living and families that are authentic communi- mentator when we are capable of being out our Faith as stewards of the graces and ties of life and love as well as individuals a spark of divine love rekindling its fire in blessings we have received. who are committed, in the single life, to the lives of others. Perhaps no statue bear- form themselves in a lasting and honest One might say to themselves that their re- ing our likeness will grace the parishes of relationship with Christ. sponse does not make a difference in the the Church, but others will see in our eyes, overall life of the diocesan Church. That and in our lives, the living out of the call Let us then with sincerity, and in truth, understanding cannot be further from the of our names by Jesus - and be inspired prayerfully ponder the opportunities that Truth. For that Truth is that each of us to do the same. What a beautiful sight to are before us to be responsive through through water and the Holy Spirit is called behold, and its beauty is not fleeting! grace to the presence of Jesus Christ to be saints! This call can be an over- within and among us. Let us lovingly chal- You know, in responding, one may find whelming reality to come to accept, but it lenge one another, and ourselves, to live they have discovered they should be living is real. And it needs to be answered in the our lives anew in and for our Lord, to the out their life in Christ within a religious affirmative for the Church and the world; glory of the Father and through the Holy order or as an ordained deacon or priest. the world of our personal lives, families, Spirit! How our diocesan Church would be blest parishes, communities and beyond. by such a discovery! At present, there are Blessings Always, What would the future be like if one in only 12 Religious Sisters ministering in the ten individuals sought with all their heart Diocese of Helena. There is one Religious and mind and soul and strength to be- Brother, and there are 73 Diocesan Priests Msgr. Kevin O’Neil come such a noble servant of God? What and seven additional Priests from different would the hallmarks of society be if every religious communities or countries. Of our Diocesan Administrator When this article was first written, a bishop had not yet been named by Pope Francis to be the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Helena. However, in providential Grace, the article exhorts us to be a saintly people, a people called to minister. And now, we have one called among us, to lead us in that ministry, to affirm us in that grace, and to challenge us in its hope. -Msgr. O’Neill This Newsletter provided in part by the generous donors to the Annual Catholic Appeal. Carroll College: Worship, Service & Evangelization Fr. Marc Lenneman, Chaplain & Director of Campus Ministry at Carroll College Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Helena What a gift it is to serve here at Carroll. Every day I am privileged to witness the way God reveals the love He has for our students. And, what a blessing to be on a campus where each student, no matter their spiritual background, is encouraged to grow toward full maturity by embrac- ing truth and being formed in virtue. Of course, at a Catholic college, we believe such growth points toward and finds its ultimate fullness in Jesus Christ (see Eph. 4:13). Fr. Marc Lenneman Celebrates Mass in All Saints Chapel at Carroll College. In his Apostolic Constitution on Catholic anyone who so desires. the presence of student ministers in the Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae, St. John residence halls are all avenues by which the Second; service. Right worship will always Paul II notes that a Catholic university is message of God’s love is proposed in an conduce to service, especially to those “born from the heart of the Church.” This intentional way on campus. There is also a most in need. If you have had a chance is especially true of Carroll College, with need and opportunity to proclaim the Gos- to pray in All Saints’ Chapel, you’ve likely its unique relationship to the diocese of pel using the means that modern culture noticed the verse engraved on the facade Helena.