New Ulm, MN - Bishop Raymond A. Lucker, retired bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, was recently informed by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, that the melanoma (skin cancer) that he had been living with for over sixteen years has now moved into his bones. In January, he began a new treatment that is designed to help the body’s immune system fight the cancer.

Bishop Lucker commented, "I am not dying of cancer. I am learning to live with it. I am not defined by my cancer. I am defined as a beloved child of God, held in the embrace of our dear God, Abba. The last year and a half since my operation has been a blessed time. I have felt the loving presence of God in such an intimate way. I have experienced the prayers and support of thousands of people."

Bishop Lucker will be moving from his residence of 25 years at the Catholic Pastoral Center, New Ulm, to the Archbishop Leo C. Byrne Residence in St. Paul on February 2, 2001. From there he hopes to continue to help in ministry where he can read, write, and continue to do some family history and research into the life of Bishop Thomas L. Grace.

On a more positive note, in anticipation of the February 18, 2001 celebration of retirement and twenty-five years as bishop of the Diocese of New Ulm, Bishop Raymond Lucker is completing a self published collection of pastoral letters that were written over the span of his twenty-five years as Bishop of Minnesota’s most rural diocese.

Prairie Views, a 572 page collection of pastoral letters written to the people of the New Ulm diocese, offers a historic reflection of many pastoral issues experienced by Bishop, parish leaders, and the people of the diocese. It’s warm and personal style brings to mind the life and spirit of small communities, the joys and struggles of pastoral leadership, and many challenges facing Catholics in today’s society.

Bishop Lucker began the work of organizing the collection of pastoral letters in the fall of 2000. Bishop said that it is his hope that the book will be printed and available by the end of February. Bishop will present the book as a gift to pastoral leaders and family members. Any remaining copies will be available for sale at the Catholic Pastoral Center.

Excerpt from Prairie Views: Twenty-five years of pastoral letters.

by Bishop Raymond A. Lucker

"As those who live with me know, writing this article [for the Prairie Catholic] is the hardest thing for me to do every month. I stew and fret, struggle and procrastinate over it. It is an expression of my personality. I tend to be a workaholic and a perfectionist. I think that I have so many things to do. I want to do everything in the best possible way. All that is a form of pride, of course. The result is that I forget I am just an instrument and the Lord uses me in unexpected ways. The Lord does not love me for what I do. The Lord just loves me."