Good Homilies Have 2 Prerequisites

In a post at ZENIT, Father Dario Viganò, director of "Cinema" and president of Ente dello Spettacolo, an Italian foundation dedicated to the cinema, as well as president of the Redemptor Hominis Pontifical Institute at the Pontifical Lateran University, spoke with L'Osservatore Romano about the recipe for a good homily. While there are different styles and methods, he contends there are two basics that make a homily 'good': the consistency of the preacher's life and the brevity and concreteness of the message.

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who is Jesus Christ? Is he just a man, or is He God-made-flesh, dwelling among us? When we can answer the question (even if it is only a start of an answer), we can move forward to serve Him as He deserves. If we see him as a nothing more than a teacher, a leader, a revolutionary, or such, we might be tempted to simply follow whatever aspect. But if we know him to be Lord and Savior, we are more apt to give Him our life!

New Resources

We are adding to our resources made available to download. Please See our rooster of seminarians, as well as the list of young women discerning religious life. Also available is the newest prayer folder to print off. This lists a priest or pastoral administrator as well as a seminarian for every day for the next 6 months. Note that it should be printed off on 8.5 x 14 Paper and folded in half. It can be folded again and fits well into your Liturgy of the Hours book (hint, hint).

Prayers for Butch Hendrickson

We are asking for your prayers for one of seminarians, Butch Hendrickson. He had an accident water tubing last week and broke his nose. In the surgery to correct it, they discovered that he has also fractured his skull onto his sinus cavity. He will need further surgery, and additional time to heal and recover.

Yet Another Seminarian

We are pleased to publicly announce that we have accepted another young man as candidates for the seminary. Samuel Wagner will be in pre-Theology at St. Paul Seminary. He is from Sleepy Eye. This brings our total seminarians to 10! May God bless us with more!

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Lord's ministry, there were people that He seemed to 'lead on', as in this Sunday's Gospel. This pagan women comes begging for help, and he feigns disinterest, unwillingness, and general contempt. He tells her that is is wrong to give her what she wants when there are so many Jews who need Him, but does so in analogy - it is wrong to throw the food out to the dogs while the children are still eating. She respectfully admits that she is not worthy of His help, but that even an indoor dog will accept the scraps that are given to it. Jesus sees that she is sincere with her faith, and grants her request, complimenting her on her deep faith.

In our prayer, we might feel like the Lord is not listening, that He is putting us off. We might need to consider are we asking for something that is good and holy, and if so, are we being persistent? The Lord does answer sincere prayers. Some are: Help me to know You. Show me where I can serve you. In the Sacraments, He hears and responds to the prayer, give me strength, forgive me, renew my heart... Let us be persistent in asking, but always aware that we are made worthy by the the Lord.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend, we hear the episode of Peter strolling on the water with Jesus. He musters the courage to leave the boat behind, to get out on to the waves and to walk to Jesus. Everything goes well - until he realizes the waves and the wind. Only then does he start to fall. He cries out, and the Lord grasps him, chides him for his lack of faith. But they had to get back into the boat - how did they do that? They had to walk back, with Jesus beside him, Peter was able to walk again.

So often, we find it easy to walk wherever it is. It is really not our effort, but rather that our eyes are fixed on Christ. As long as we do, we will be alright. But when we take our eyes off of Him, when we focus on the things come at us instead of to Whom we are heading, we are destined to sink. We can cry out like Peter and the saints, "Lord, save me!", and He will. He will grasp us by the hand, pull us onto the waves, and take us for a walk. That is where we need to be. There is no comfort like being in the arms of our Lord, walking with Him.

May we continue to walk with Him in the discernment of our vocations. May He speak to us what plans He has for us.

Eighteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time

Jesus meets all human needs. While we say that, we might ask how. When He looks at us with the same mercy that He had with the crowds of His day, does He see our hunger, too? How does He meet this hunger? In the multiplication of loaves, He shows us.

He meets our needs through the Eucharist, when He takes our bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it back to his disciples (the priest) who give it to the people.

We cannot so easily dismiss this miracle without destroying our understanding of the Eucharist as Catholics. Let us remember, Christ is still multiplying the loaves in our own day, but now through the hands of the priest, taking the offering of the people of God, and making it His Body and Blood!

The 40th Anniversary of Humanae Vitae

Cardinal Stafford, of the Sacred Penitentiary in Rome and an American prelate, has a thought-provoking article in the California Catholic daily on his personal review of the events surrounding the publication of Humanae Vitae entitled “In 1968, something terrible happened in the Church”. While it is long, it is a well-written piece that helps to tell the history of the dissent. I will not begin to do justice to his clarity, so please take time to read it.

With the fortieth anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae today (promulgation was actually on the 25th, the Feast of St. James), perhaps we ought to recapture what Pope Paul VI wrote. In Humanae Vitae, for a little review, the Pope taught that there is an inseparable, intrinsic link between union and procreation in every sexual act. He stated that acts rendered infertile by artificial means cease to honor this link, and could not be viewed as moral. He predicted that the embracing of contraception would lead to several evils: The objectification of women (and I would add men), the rift of husband and wife and weakening of family, and the intrusion of the State into other affairs (while he meant forced sterilization and abortions, I think that a good read would also include other areas).

There was an immediate outcry of dissent. Dissent, for whatever reason, is never to be taken lightly, and when that dissent is against the Vicar of Christ, one is placing oneself in judgement against the Holy Spirit. With Humanae Vitae, too many dissented without even reading this beautiful encyclical. They 'taught' that one's conscience should be the sole guide in the decision to use contraception (except of course when it was rejected, of course). They belittled the Pope's suggestion of Natural Family Planning as unscientific and unsuccessful (such as the Rhythm method which does not work well because a women's fertility is affected by many variables), and mock the successful methods. We have seen the fruits of contraception and the contraceptive mentality: an increase of 'legal' abortions on demand, at all stages of development and by any means including Partial Birth, the spread of pornography including all sorts of perversions, the rift of husband and wife and denigration of the family, the shirking of responsibility of men who father children, a raise in single mothers, cohabitation, perpetual adolescence especially of men, increase in violent crimes, etc. This is not even to delve into the homosexual agenda or the push for euthanasia. We see that our culture says that the only unsafe sexual act is one of complete openness that could result in the transmission of life. Sex is no longer a gift given among two married adults, but a means of taking pleasure. While not all of these fruits may be solely and directly caused by contraception, there are connections. These fruits of dissension, the fruits of contraception are all around us.

On the other side, though, those who embraced Humanae Vitae, have developed methods and understandings in conformity with the Church. The science behind Natural Family Planning is solid, and freeing. By teaching a woman and man the signs of fertility that can be scientifically verified, a true empowerment has occurred. First, it recognizes that God is God, we are not. For grave reason, a couple may refrain for sexual activity during their joint fertile times (about 100 hours a month). But it also can assist a couple in bearing a child. Instead of treating fertility as a disease with pills and latex, NFP treats it as a state of health, a means of being responsible for one's choices. Women are revered. Those practicing NFP have also gained fruits: open and honest dialog (after all, if you can talk about fertility, what can't you talk about), an openness to life and love, an ability to see children as gifts, an ability to see the other as a gift, a profound respect for all humans, and of generosity in other areas of life. Couples practicing NFP have a low divorce rate. In my experience, couples using NFP and their families tend to be happier.

Following the fruits, I know what tree I want for my parishioners! It makes it easy to preach Humanae Vitae, the Theology of the Body, and in reality all that the Church teaches. It makes the recommendation of NFP programs easy. It reminds me that the Holy Spirit is in charge. I believe consensus for Humanae Vitae is building, despite the critical dissenters. It is simply because 40 years of the fruits of dissent have been far too bitter for far too many, while the fruits of assent sweet and refreshing!

Bishop-Elect LeVoir's Ordination

I have received notification (though not official yet) that Bishop-Elect LeVoir's ordination is set for September 15, 2008 in New Ulm. More details will follow.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary TIme

The kingdom of heaven cannot be bought or sold. It is received as a gift by those who love God and respond to His will for their lives. In this weekend's Gospel, we hear Jesus telling parables about the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, or a pearl of great price, that whoever would find it can immediately recognize its value, then go and sell all that he or she has in order to purchase it. These are beautiful parables for us to mediate on, when contemplating a vocation. But Jesus does only briefly mentions a step that His hearers must have understood - the person who finds it has to be looking for it, and has to know what a treasure or pearl of great value is, in order to know that he or she is indeed in the presence of something worthy of giving everything else in order to possess.

Our society does not value a vocation to priesthood or religious life, at least as Christ and the Church define it. True, the media seems to enjoy running stories of priestly scandal, mock ceremonies, and dissenting voices. When it comes to someone embracing the vocation as it is, they simply do not know what to do, and often reduce the priest or religious to a social worker, a psychologist, or something less. But those who see the true value are willing to give it all up for this one vocation!

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The parable of the weeds and the wheat provides some comfort to all who deal with evil, in other words, all who are seeking good. Jesus tells this parable as an explanation of why there is evil in the world (that it was sown by the evil one), and why it continues (because it is too destructive to remove it now). Those who dwell among those who seek destruction and the ruin of souls know that his traps are all around us, that like the roots of weeds, they are intertwined. But we can take comfort in the fact that Jesus promises that they will be removed when He comes again - first those who seek evil to their destruction, then those who have responded to God's will to glory.

But there is perhaps another level here than just dealing with people who are evil. We are all plagued by sins, we all harbor destructive thoughts. We go to Confession, we seek to have them rooted from our hearts and minds, but like weeds, they keep coming back. Like weeds, the smallest part of the root may remain and allow it to sprout back. While it is minimally comfortable to understand that this is part of the human condition, we know that Jesus will remove these evils from our hearts and minds, that He can perfect us.

In discernment, there are times when we do not have a clear understanding of God's will for our lives. Like the weeds and the wheat, we pay attention to the grain, not the weeds. We nourish what is good, not seeking to destroy the doubt. We need to ask Christ to remove the doubts, certainly, but we can respond despite the doubts!

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!

A Priest's Anniversary

This weekend, a Fr. Leonard Jenniges, a priest from Wanda, Minnesota, is celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination. Ordained almost 10 years before the formation of the Diocese of New Ulm, he was ordained and remained a priest in the Archdiocese of St. Paul Minneapolis where he was a teacher at Nazareth Hall (the local High School and college seminary) and then a pastor. He retired a number of years ago and returned to his home town.

Some time ago, not only because I was assigned the pastor of his home town, but also because I am the Director of Vocations and we are still without a Bishop, he asked if I would preach his anniversary Mass. As I prepare, I cannot help but think of all that he has done these 60 years.

These are the hands that 60 years ago where placed into the hands of the archbishop, and therefore into the hands of the Church, as an act of obedience and submission. These are the hands that were anointed with Sacred Chrism. These are the hands that were given the chalice and paten, the offerings of the Church, to be offered to God. These are the hands that held those offerings, and received back the very Body and Blood of our Savior. These are the hands that took that Sacred Gift and gave it back to the People of God.

These are the hands that poured the water, making clean the body and soul of those washed in the sacred bath of Baptism. These are the hands that assisted at countless confirmations, seeing the Gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out into the hearts of the faithful. These are the hands that were raised in absolution, restoring the penitent to God and the to the community. These are the hands that brought the consoling oil of Sick to those suffering from affliction and preparing for surgery. These are the hands raised in blessing, sealing the bond of husband and wife. These are the hands that were imposed in prayer and extended in peace to the newly ordained brothers in the priesthood.

These are the hands that held those who were grieving the loss of a loved one, taken in tragedy or sickness, young or old. These are the hands that comforted those weary from the battles of life, finding the strength to continue on. These are the hands that rejoiced with those receiving the gift of a child, a success, a deeper awareness of God's grace. These are the hands that modeled the need for peace and forgiveness. These are the hands that gave freely to those in need. These are the hands that loved all.

These are the hands that years have served the Church. These are the hands that have ministered to all in need without counting the cost. These are the hands of a priest. May these hands not grow weak under the burden of years, gnarled by the crippling affect of disease, and silenced by the attempts of the evil one. May the bearer of these hands be honored for his 60 years of priesthood.