I am delighted to welcome you back from our summer hiatus of the Prairie Catholic to the beginning of a new year of Church activity.

"The light of the world,
the salt of the earth,
We scatter the darkness
when love becomes our way.
The light of the world,
Christ is our light,
We shine with his brightness,
The reflection of his light
from day to day."
(Theme song - World Youth Day 2002)

The highlight of "Summer 2002" for me was attending World Youth Day in Toronto with our Diocesan Youth Director, Bill Casey, and thirty-one young members of the diocese. Yes, World Youth Day was about being with Pope John Paul II, but it was oh so much more!

One participant described it as a "pivotal point" in her life: "I had gone to World Youth Day with so many questions and uncertain feelings, but I have returned renewed in spirit, faith, reverence, and understanding of our Catholic faith which I now realize is truly built on the rock." Another commented: "This will be life-changing for me because I have a deeper faith now. This is the best thing I have ever experienced."

For most of the week, our group rubbed shoulders (literally) with 250,000 contemporaries from 170 countries (the numbers swelled to 500,000 Saturday evening and 800,000 Sunday morning). Five of our eight seminarians were present and they proved to be credible mentors for the other young men and women of our group. (The next World Youth Day is in 2005 in Germany, where our diocese has historic ties. Therefore, I would like to see our diocese well represented on that occasion. Perhaps a side trip to Ulm should be added to our itinerary!)

The media seemed baffled by the joy and celebration of this experience of faith. Journalists and television newspersons wanted to focus on "the issues" of dissent, sex scandals, and the Holy Father’s physical disabilities. Perhaps the most extreme example of distorting reality was a television interview on Tuesday evening with a teen who was passing out condoms at the entrance to the World Youth Day site, telling participants they had "a choice" in the decisions their lives would face. The contrast was stark: the Pope was exhorting the youth to be light and salt to the world and this protester was promoting symbols of self-gratification, irresponsibility, and promiscuity. Fortunately, the young participants could see through the deception he offered and aspire to the higher standard to which Jesus was calling them.

In his concluding homily, the Holy Father told the crowds: "Although I have lived through much darkness, under harsh totalitarian regimes, I have seen enough evidence to be unshakably convinced that no difficulty, no fear is so great that it can completely suffocate the hope that springs eternal in the hearts of the young. Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son."

I believe that it is important for us to reflect on these words as we begin a new year of Catholic education in our schools, religious education programs, and youth groups. In each instance, our parishes form "catechetical communities" for passing on the faith. That faith is not just about content; although without content, faith has no depth. Above all, faith must be a living encounter with the Crucified and Risen Jesus who promises to be present where two or three gather in his name. (Matthew 18:20)

I am convinced more and more that the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) offers a model for how we should approach catechizing the young members of our parishes and our families. There is a great challenge here, of course, because so often the secular influences of our contemporary world have already caught their young attention. But, as the Pope says, there is an eternal hope that lies in their hearts. As parents, as catechists, as pastoral leaders, we must capture it and convert it to the heart of Jesus.

The same process is true for fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In that regard, I renew my appeal to the Catholics in our diocese to begin every meeting and every family meal with a prayer for vocations. I ask that every Prayer of the Faithful include a petition for the same. And yes, I again ask you voluntarily to join me in abstaining from meat on Fridays as a fast that "puts a punch into our prayer." I have been so edified by your generous response to my request last year that I have confidence in asking you to continue this formula for yet another year.

The Holy Father reminded the participants at World Youth Day 2002 that the world "needs to be touched and healed by the beauty and richness of God’s love." That can only happen, he said, if we are salt for the earth and light for the world. (Mt. 5: 13-14) As we begin another year of parish activity, let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will renew us in the dignity as well as the challenge of that calling.

God love you!

September, 2002

Falta Mucho por Recorrer
Por el obispo John C. Nienstedt

Estoy encantado de darle la bienvenida a nuestro Prairie Catholic después de un descanso de verano y dar inicio a un año nuevo de actividad parroquial.

Por mi parte el punto más sobresaliente este "verano 2002" fue asistir a la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud en Toronto con nuestro director del ministerio juvenil Bill Casey y treinta y dos miembros jóvenes de la diócesis. ¡Si, la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud fue el estar con el Papa Juan Pablo II, pero fue mucho más!

Un participante lo describió como "un cambio trascendente" en su vida: " Fui a la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud con tantas preguntas y sensaciones inciertas, pero he regresado renovado en espíritu, fe, reverencia, y entendimiento de nuestra fe Católica la cual ahora me doy cuenta que esta verdaderamente edificado sobre la piedra." Otro comentó: "Será un cambio en mi vida ya que ahora tengo una fe más profunda. Esta es la mejor experiencia que me ha pasado."

En su homilía de conclusión, el Santo Padre dijo a la muchedumbre: "Aunque he vivido a travéz de mucha oscuridad, bajo crueles regímenes totalitarios, he visto bastante para estar totalmente convencido de que ninguna dificultad, ningún temor es tan grande como para sofocar por completo la esperanza que mana eterna del corazón de los jóvenes. ¡No deje que esa esperanza muera! No somos la suma de nuestras debilidades y fallas; somos la suma del amor del Padre por nosotros y nuestra capacidad real de convertirnos en imágen de su Hijo.

Yo creo que es importante que nosotros reflexionemos sobre estas palabras ahora que empezamos un año nuevo de educación Católica en nuestras escuelas, programas de educación religiosa, y grupos juveniles. En cada ejemplo, nuestras parroquias forman "comunidades catequistas" de difundir la fe. Esa fe no solo es acerca del contenido; aunque sin el, la fe no tendría ningún significado. A pesar de todo, la fe debe ser un encuentro viviente con el Jesucristo crucificado y resucitado que promete estar presente donde dos o tres se reúnen en su nombre. (Mt. 18:20)

Lo mismo es verdad al fomentar vocaciones al sacerdocio y a la vida religiosa. Con esa consideración, quiero renovar mi petición a los Católicos de nuestra diócesis para que en cada reunión o cena familiar den inicio con una oración por vocaciones. Pido que en cada Oración de los Fieles incluir una petición por vocaciones. Y sí, pido otra vez que voluntariamente me acompañen los viernes a la abstinencia de carne, "que da fuerza a nuestra oración." El año pasado fui muy estimulado por su respuesta generosa y este año tengo la confianza de pedirles para continuar con esta práctica por un año más.

El Santo Padre recordó a los participantes de la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud 2002 que el mundo necesita sentir y ser sanado por la belleza y la riqueza del amor de Dios. " Esto sólo puede suceder, si somos la sal de la tierra, y la luz del mundo. (Mt. 5: 13-14) Ahora que empezamos otro año de actividad parroquial, oremos para que el Espíritu Santo nos renueve en la dignidad así como también en el desafío de ese llamado.

¡Dios los ama!