Congregation for the Clergy's Letter to Priests

On the occasion of the feast of St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests, the Congregation of the Clergy has issued a Letter to priests.

Dear brother priests,
On the occasion of the August 4th feast of St. John Marie Vianney, the Curé of Ars, I greet you cordially with all my heart, and I fraternally send you this brief message.
The Church knows today that there is an urgent mission, not only “ad gentes,” but also to those Christians living in areas and regions where the Christian faith has been preached and established for centuries and where ecclesial communities already exist. Within this flock, the mission, or the missionary of evangelization, has as its target those who are baptized but who, for different circumstances, have not been evangelized sufficiently, or those who have lost their initial fervour and fallen away. The postmodern culture of contemporary society - a relativist, secular, and agnostic culture - exerts a strong erosive action on the religious faith of many people.
The Church is missionary by its very nature. Jesus told us that "the sower went out to sow" (Mt 13:3). The sower does not limit himself to throwing the seed out of the window, but actually leaves the house. The Church knows that it cannot remain inert or limit itself to receiving and evangelizing those who are seeking the Faith in its churches and communities. It is also necessary to rise up and go to where people and families dwell, live and work. We must go to everyone: companies, organizations, institutions and different fields of human society. In this mission, all members of the ecclesial community are called: pastors, religious and laity.
Moreover, the Church recognizes that priests are the great driving force behind daily life in local communities. When priests move, the Church moves. If this were not so, it would be very difficult to achieve the Church’s mission.
My dear brother priests, you are the great richness, the energy, the pastoral and missionary inspiration in the midst of the Christian faithful, wherever they are found in community. Without your crucial decision to "put out into the deep" for fish ("Duc in altum"), as the Lord himself calls us, little or nothing will happen in the urgent mission, either "ad gentes" or in the territories that have previously been evangelized. But the Church is certain that it can count on you, because it knows and explicitly recognizes that the overwhelming majority of priests - despite our weaknesses and human limitations - are worthy priests, giving their life daily to the Kingdom of God and loving Jesus Christ and the people entrusted to them. These are the priests who are sanctifying themselves in their daily ministry and who are persevering until the harvest of the Lord. Only a small minority of priests have gravely deviated from this mission, and the Church seeks to repair the harm that they have done. On the other hand, it rejoices in and is proud of the immense majority of its priests, who are good and exceedingly worthy of praise.
During this Pauline Year, and pending the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God to be held in Rome this October, we call those who are receptive to this urgent mission. May the Holy Spirit enlighten us, send us, and sustain us, so that we might go forth and proclaim once again the person of Jesus Christ, crucified and resurrected, as well as His kingdom!
I greet you again, dear brothers, remaining always at your disposal. I pray for you all, especially for those who suffer, for the sick and for the elderly.


Vatican City State, 15 July 2008




Claudio Cardinal Hummes
Emeritus Archbishop of São Paolo
Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy

A new Bishop for New Ulm!!!

After a 14 month wait, Rome has responded and given us a Bishop: Bishop-elect John LeVoir from the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis. The post in Italian can be found at the Vatican News Service, though it can be found at Whispers in the Loggia. The Diocese of New Ulm is already awake with the news: Statement by Bishop-elect by Monsignor Grams Statement by Bishop-elect
While I do not know Bishop-elect LeVoir personally, his reputation for being a wise pastor and a holy man is well-established. He is a published author on the thought of Pope John Paul II.

Welcome Bishop-elect LeVoir! Thank you for saying yes!

Here is the Official Press Release:

Pope names Minneapolis Native Reverend John M. LeVoir
as Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm
New Ulm, MN - Pope Benedict XVI has named Rev. John M. LeVoir, 62, as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, MN. The announcement was made in Washington, July 14, by Msgr. Martin Krebs, charge d'affaires of the Apostolic nunciature to the Holy See. Bishop-designate LeVoir succeeds Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, third bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, who was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on April 24, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. Archbishop Nienstedt remained Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of New Ulm until December 13, 2007 and on May 2, 2008 succeeded Archbishop Harry J. Flynn as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Msgr. Douglas L. Grams has served as Diocesan Administrator since December. John M. LeVoir was born February 7, 1946 to Marvin A. and Mary A. LeVoir in Minneapolis, MN. He has two brothers and one sister. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1968 from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul; a Bachelor of Science in Business degree in accounting in 1971 from the University of Minnesota, becoming a certified public accountant in 1973; a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1974 from the University of Minnesota; and a Master of Arts degree in theology in 1981 from the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, MN. Prior to his ordination, he was employed from 1971-1976 as a public accountant for several firms and also as an instructor of accounting at the University of Minnesota. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on May 30, 1981 by Archbishop John R. Roach at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Following ordination, he served as Associate Pastor of the Church of St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony from 1981-1992; Pastor of the Church of the Holy Trinity in South St. Paul from 1992-2004 Pastor of the Church of St. Augustine in South St. Paul from 2000-2004. Since 2004, he has served as Pastor of the Church of St. Michael and the Church of St. Mary in Stillwater.

His publications include: Covenant of Love: Pope John Paul II on Sexuality, Marriage and the Family; Faith for Today: Pope John Paul II’s Catechetical Teachings; and Image of God Religion Series - theological consultant and author. The Diocese of New Ulm is comprised of 15 counties in southern Minnesota, a total of 9,863 square miles. The total population is 285,338 with a Catholic population of 68,087.
On July 14, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI named Bishop-designate John M. LeVoir as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, Minnesota. A date for Bishop-designate John M. LeVoir’s episcopal ordination and installation has not been set.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In our Gospel, Jesus tells us about the sower and the crop he reaps in various types of soil. The seed is the same for all, but in places, that seed cannot grow. So important is this that St. Matthew never used the word 'seed' in his telling of the story - it is not a variable. What is? The ground! Sometimes, the ground is packed hard. The seed cannot sink in before the birds take it away. Sometimes, the ground is shallow, and the roots cannot reach water and it dies. Sometimes the ground is covered in weeds and the seed grows but cannot grow. Sometimes, though, the seed hits good ground and sinks in roots, grows up strong and sure, and produces a bountiful crop.

We are that ground - our hearts are the place were the seed is sown. Can we allow Christ, the Sacred Sower, till our hearts, give us depth, remove the choking worries of the world, so that we can allow it to grow and flourish?

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us. Such an invitation might be seen as a burden, to take a heavy load. However, the terms seem to imply that the yoke is a two-animal yoke as in oxen. A properly-fitted yoke did not increase the load, but because it sat well on the collar of the animal and they were paired, the yoke actually made the work easier. Jesus tells us that this yoke is easy and the burden light, and when we know Him, and His infinite power, the burden on our part is almost nil - we just have to be willing to be yoked!

The yoke can be compared to the promises a priest makes. Instead of being a burden, the promise of celibacy, simplicity, and obedience frees us. Yoked to Christ, we can carry the burden, only with Christ's grace though.

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

This Sunday, our Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul. Two of the most famous apostles, St. Peter followed Christ before the Resurrection, St. Paul after his conversion on the road to Damascus. Both Peter and Paul ended their lives and proclamation in Rome. Both gave their lives for their witness to Jesus Christ. Peter was crucified, Paul was beheaded.

As we celebrate their lives and deaths, may we recall that the Church is nourished by the blood of the martyrs, and that the Church is founded on the proclamation of St. Peter and St. Paul.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fear not... It is one of the most repeated commands. Fear is a natural feeling for humans - it helps us to be aware of dangerous situations, and prepares us for a response (flight or fight). While in the presence of God is a dangerous situation, we have nothing to fear - God loves us and in His providence provides for us.

Jesus asks us to transform that natural fear for this life and instead fear the condemnation of God. God loves us, and we ought to freely love Him. May we know this love and providence...

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Beg the Harvest Master to send laborers. The harvest is abundant, but if it is not gathered soon, it will be lost. Laborers are needed and are few, and time is of the utmost importance. Jesus calls the Twelve to begin laboring.

The harvest remains abundant, and souls will be lost if there is not someone sent to tell them the Good News of Jesus Christ. We need to be laborers in the God's field, and like good farmers, we know that there are different duties for all of us. May we be good laborers!