Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known around the world for her whole-hearted and free service to the poorest of the poor, a virtue which lifted the hearts of many to God and inspired many to imitate her. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has officially recognized the holiness of Mother Teresa, and approved the miracle obtained through her intercession and therefore she will be beatified in Rome on Sunday, October 19, 2003. The date on which John Paul II beatifies Mother Teresa of Calcutta will coincide with three key celebrations - Mission Sunday, October 19, 2003, the closest Sunday to the 25th anniversary of the Holy Father’s Pontificate and the end of the Year of the Rosary. (Read more about Mother Teresa in the October issue of The Prairie Catholic.)

The theme for the pope’s message for World Peace Day 2004, celebrated January 1, will be "International law, a Way to Peace," reported the Vatican. Pope John Paul II, concerned about U.N. weakness, demonstrated by the Iraqi war, will dedicate his next World Peace Day message to the importance of international law in promoting harmonious relations between countries.

At the annual Knights of Columbus convention August 5-7, 2003, in Washington, more than 2,000 Knights and their families were encouraged to continue to stand up for their Catholic beliefs to have an impact on today’s political climate and on society and to continue to be leaders in the church, working with the bishops and priests. At the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick urged the Knights to "reach out in new ways" to address what he decribed as present-day Christian persectuion. In an August 5 homily, the cardinal spoke of modern-day "persecutions" including abortion, the maiming of children, warring of nations, corruption of business and industry leaders and the scandal of abused children. He also noted that the traditional definition of marriage needs to be protected amid the calls for same-sex marriage.

Recently, at the Minnesota Knights of Columbus annual mid-summer meeting, the 2003-2004 officers were installed. Assuming office were, Fr Laurn Virnig, Royalton, State Chaplain; Fr Robert Schneider, Albert Lea, Associate State Chaplain; Willard Strand, Owatonna, State Deputy; Darryl Tveitbakk, Thief River Falls, Immediate Past State Deputy; Larry Mottl MD, Loretto, State Secretary; H, Eugene Hippe, Willmar, State Treasurer; James Terwedo, Jordan, State Advocate; Ricardo Acevedo, Lacross WI, State Warden. These officers will direct the works of over 44,000 members of the MN KC’s in 240 councils throughout the state.

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic, Family, Fraternal, Pro-Life organization of over 1.6 million members worldwide.

"At the Crossroads: Nonviolence as Possibility, Power, and Spiritual Practice in a Time of Permanent War," is the theme of the Pax Christi Minnesota State Assembly September 27. The annual event will be held at Somers Hall on the campus of the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Kenneth Butigan, speaker, writer, and teacher who has conducted over 100 workshops in justice, peace, and nonviolence education across the U.S. Cost for the assembly is $25. Registrations should be sent by September 15 to Sister Timothy Kirby, OSB, Pax Christi Assembly, The College of St. Scholastica, 1200 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, MN 55811-4199. Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace movement, strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating and witnessing to the call for Christian nonviolence. Pax Christi MN is a coalition of local Pax Christi chapters throughout the state of Minnesota.