Diocese of New Ulm - November 2005

New Ulm - The 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Diocese of New Ulm (1957-2007) occurs on November 17, 2007. That date will begin a year-long observance of the anniversary throughout the diocese. Plans for the observance were developed by the Diocesan Pastoral Council following a year of consultation with parish and area pastoral councils, diocesan councils and committees, and the Priests’ Council.

Anniversary Theme:

The theme for the observance is 50th Anniversary - a Loving People in a Holy Place, which captures the belief that God calls us into a loving relationship with Him and with others and that we must lovingly respond to the call.  It also reflects that the diocese is located in a place that is sacred and that we must work with the Spirit to make all things holy.

 

The Logo:

The chosen logo (pictured above) represents the anniversary theme and includes images that represent the Diocese of New Ulm:

- The cross  is meant to reflect the centrality of Jesus and His mission to the diocese.

- The wheat symbolizes the rural

nature of southwestern Minnesota and how the "fruits of the field" nourish us physically and spiritually as the wheat that will become the Body of Christ.

- The half circle suggests various interpretations. It reminds us of the host and the Eucharist that gathers us as God’s people each Sunday. It may reflect how God watches over us and guides us in all that we do. Some may perceive a "firmament" or "dome," from the creation story in Genesis 1, calling us to continue "to create the world anew." Others may recognize an "unfinished circle" that challenges us to renew our commitment to proclaim and live out the message of Jesus like our ancestors in faith.

 

The 50th Anniversary observance will include three diocesan celebrations, located at eastern, western, and central sites. There will also be parish-based events and resources, including special liturgies, historical displays, and a video history. The events will be planned and prepared by diocesan and parish or area committees and coordinated by the Diocesan Pastoral Council.

 

Diocesan Celebrations include:

Remembering the Past - Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 3:00 p.m., Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm. This will be a special Mass for deceased bishops, priests and deacons of the diocese.

                               

Celebrating the Present - Sunday, June 29, 2008, at 3:00 p.m., Our Lady of the Lakes in Spicer. This will be a diocesan festival commemorating the first Mass celebrated in diocesan territory by a Jesuit missionary in 1746, on the eastern shore of Green Lake, near Spicer.

 

Looking to the Future - Sunday, November 16, 2008, at 3:00 p.m., Holy Redeemer in Marshall. This will be a gathering of pastoral and parish leaders which will coincide with the release of the new Plan for Parishes – 2008-2013.

 

On the Parish Level:

Displays - Each parish will set up a display of parish history.  A small display of diocesan history will be provided to each parish. 

 

Video production - A video history of the diocese will be supplied to each parish for use with groups of all ages.

 

Feast of Mary - Liturgy preparation suggestions will be made available for the parish celebration of the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God on Tuesday, January 1, 2008.  Mary, the Mother of God, is the patron of the Diocese of New Ulm.

 

A pictorial history of the diocese and each parish is under production by a French company with extensive experience at publishing diocesan histories. The books will be available for purchase through the local parish.

Diocesan Pilgrimage - Bishop Nienstedt would lead a diocesan Pilgrimage in June or August of 2008, to Ulm, Germany and Rome, Italy. The trip would be for any interested faithful as a way to celebrate our religious and secular roots.

 

The observance of the 50th Anniversary presents the church of the Diocese of New Ulm with some excellent opportunities to remember the past, to celebrate the present, and to look to the future.