Diocesan Mailing 11/3/11

November 3, 2011

Greetings:

He did all he could to care for the poor farmhands, blacks and mulattoes who were looked down upon as slaves, he dregs of society in their time. Common people responded by calling him “Martin the Charitable.”

October Count: Where has October gone? The numbers are flying in. Please send in your October Count numbers to Bonnie Sullivan at your earliest convenience.

Diocesan Chasubles: The diocesan chasubles are here. Please send a check to Bonnie Sullivan for $91.00. If you are in the neighborhood of the chancery please stop in to pick one up. Thank you to the Very Reverend Robert Schreiner for assisting with this project.

Calendar request: There was a request at the liturgy day in Mentor for more information regarding the liturgical calendar. This information is now available on the Worship and Liturgy Music and Planning Guides page: http://www.crookston.org/DOC_Worship_and_liturgy/music%20planning%20guides.htm

(This information is also attached to this email and referenced at the end of this letter)

Start Date: The start date for use of the new Roman Missal is the first Sunday of Advent. The first Mass at which the new Roman Missal can be used is the Saturday Mass of anticipation on November 26. Please do not use the new Roman Missal before this date. Please do not use the old Sacramentary after that date. Thank you to Bonnie Lee for leading us in our Roman Missal study day.

Disposal of liturgical books: As was mentioned at the Liturgy day, you were invited to bring your old Sacramentaries (old lectionaries and other liturgical books no longer used) to the chancery and we will dispose of them with proper dignity.

Annual Corporate Meetings: We are still waiting for several parishes to complete the annual corporate meetings. I ask that you attend to this work now or as soon as possible. Thank you.

Saint Mary’s Mission Appeal: You should have received information regarding the annual St. Mary’s Mission Appeal. If you have any questions please give Lisa Hatlestad a call at extension 424.

Second Collections: The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is scheduled for November 20, 2011. For information, please see:  http://old.usccb.org/cchd/index.shtml Please see the “CCHD in the Parish” link.

Out of the office: I will be out of the office November 13-28. As always, I am available via cell phone 218-308-1296.

Thank you for all that you do in sharing and living the faith.

Sincerely,

Msgr. David Baumgartner, VG

Moderator of the Curia

Please give your attention to the following:

From Fr. Augie Gothman and Bonnie Lee, Office of Worship & Liturgy: (these items are also attached to this email)
Mailing Letter – November 3, 2011
Table of Permissibility: Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs, or Votive Masses
Table Of Rubrics Governing Ritual Masses, Masses For Various Needs And Occasions,  And Masses For The Dead

From Dan James, Finance Officer:
Thank you to everyone who had anything to do with the 2011 High School Youth Rally in Warroad on October 20^th. It was an amazing, God filled day. Congratulations to Fr. Augie and St. Mary’s Youth Director Susan Ripplinger and to your staff of enthusiastic volunteers at St. Mary’s – who organized a wonderful day, centered around the ‘Nail It To The Cross’ theme. A special thank you to Bishop Hoeppner and Msgr. David and all your bother priests who attended the rally, allowing not only  the sacrament of Reconciliation to be celebrated by so many young people, but also the beautiful celebration of the Mass with almost 600 in attendance. Next year – Crookston will host!

From Jim Clauson, Safe Environment Coordinator:
The Parish onsite audits are beginning this month and continue through next May.  Please get your people certified as soon as you can.  I will be calling to schedule your audits per the monthly schedule that was sent out.  If you have any questions please call Jim at the Safe Environment Office.  218-281-4224

Diocesan Mailing 10/7/11

 

October 7, 2011

Greetings:

The Word was made flesh and even now dwells among us. It is by faith that he dwells in our hearts, in our memory, our intellect and penetrates even into our imagination. What concept could man have of God if he did not first fashion an image of him in his heart? (St. Bernard, Abbot)

October Count: It is October! How did that happen? I hope that arrangements have been made to do the October Count in your parishes.

Corporate Board Meetings: By now you should have had your end of year Corporate Board meeting for your parishes, if you have not already done so please send to Bonnie Sullivan the attached form as soon as possible.

Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, MN is hosting two informational retreat weekends, November 12-14, 2011 and March 17-19, 2012. See attached brochure.
This can also be found on the Vocations webpage: http://www.crookston.org/vocations/

Roman Missal: Some of you have the third edition of the Roman Missal in hand. I have yet to see it. I imagine materiality diminished both mystique and apprehension. I am looking forward to the priest/deacon gathering in Mentor on October 27. See you then. St. Lawrence in Mentor has a small debt on the building. Please feel free to bring with you large donations.

Safe Environment:  I hear from Jim Clauson that Safe Environment certifications are coming in at a very nice pace. I want to remind you that volunteers and employees are not to begin their ministry until the certification has been issued. Following this simple policy can save us from future heart ache and embarrassment. Any new employee or volunteer is now required to read the Diocese of Crookston Guide for new Employee and Volunteers.  There is a sign off sheet at the end that needs to be filled out and turned in to the Safe Environment Coordinator at the persons Parish.  It will be then forwarded to Jim Clauson.  To access this online.  Go to http://www.crookston.org/Safe_Environment/   and scroll down the page.  You will see 2 orange boxes.  The first one is for returning people to re-certify.  The second one is for the new people.  Once they have finished reading the new guide and printed off the sign off sheet it takes them directly to the Safe Environment AC and test.  If they do not do it online they need to see the SE person at their Parish to obtain a copy of it. 

Please be in contact with Jim if you need any assistance.

Senior High Rally: The senior high youth rally is just around the corner. I am looking forward to seeing you in Warroad. We understand that it is difficult to get commitments from teenagers, but registrations are due. It is not too late to make that last push to sign up your kids. Please seehttp://www.crookston.org/Youth_Ministries/events.htm

Permanent Diaconate: I want to extend my gratitude to Msgr. Patnode for all that he does to see to the formation of those who will be ordained permanent deacons. Msgr. Patnode has arranged a Come and See for men open to discerning this call. You can find more information at http://www.crookston.org/index_htm_files/DiaconateIntro2011.pdf

RENEW: The informational sessions for Arise are coming soon. Arise is the RENEW program that will assist us in responding to some of the goals from the synod and pastoral letter. We ask that leadership from each parish attend one of these sessions. Bonnie Lee has been in contact with the host parishes; please call her if you have any questions. Schedule for the Arise sessions are: St. Joseph’s, Moorhead, Saturday, October 15, 9:00 am; Cathedral, Crookston, Sunday, October 16, 3:00 pm;     St. Bernard’s, Thief River Falls, Monday, October 17, 6:30 pm; St. Philip’s, Bemidji, Tuesday, October 18, 6:30 pm; Holy Rosary, Detroit Lakes, Wednesday, October 19, 6:30 pm. There will be two Hispanic sessions: St. Francis de Sales, Moorhead, Saturday, October 15, 10:00 am and Sacred Heart, East Grand Forks, Sunday, October 16, 1:00 pm.

Office of Worship and Liturgy:
October 2011 Worship-Liturgy Mailing Letter
*Blessed Pope John Paul II Liturgy (attached)
*Scripture Options for Blessed JP II Liturgy (attached)
 *these two documents can also be found on the Worship & Liturgy website at  
        http://www.crookston.org/DOC_Worship_and_liturgy/music%20planning%20guides.htm

Thank you for all that you do.

Sincerely,

Msgr. David Baumgartner

Diocesan Mailing 9/1/2011

September 1, 2011

Greetings:

My mother will celebrate her 81^st birthday on September 3. She is happy and well. I invite you offer a prayer for her, as I pray for you and your families today.

CCF GRANT COMMITTEE: The Faith For Tomorrow endowment has approximately $280,000 eligible for distribution for grants. At the direction of Bishop Hoeppner and the Board of Directors of the Catholic Community Foundation I am in the process of forming a Grant Committee. I need the priests of the Diocese of Crookston to give immediate attention to the following:

1.      You are welcome to nominate people to the grant committee. I will be forming a committee of not more than 5 people. It has been suggested that they represent both large and small parishes. The committee will finalize and publicize grant criteria, create a grant application form, review applications and make recommendations to Bishop Hoeppner concerning the grant awards.

2.      I have included a memo that I sent the priests on 18 February 2011. At that time I asked for your input regarding grant priorities. I received very little feedback regarding this issue. Please review the memo. I ask that you forward your comments to your Dean prior to the next Deans meeting, which is 18 October, 2011. Please do not forward your comments to me, but to your Dean.

BISHOP’S GUILD DINNER: Thank you to all who are members of the Bishop’s Guild and to those who attended the dinner last Sunday. Thank you, too, to the chancery staff who participated in this event. Thank you to Fr. David Super and to Sr. Debra Berry for your gracious hospitality. St. Mary’s in Fosston rocks!

SAFE ENVIRONMENT: The Diocese of Crookston has recently submitted itself to an audit of our safe environment programs and policies. On behalf of Jim Clauson I would like to thank you for all of your efforts in the last year. Thank you, too, for your encouragement to employees and volunteers to achieve their certification. I would like to remind you that neither employees nor volunteers should begin their ministry prior to receiving a SE Certificate.

A note from Jim Clauson, Safe Environment Coordinator: I just attended the VIRTUS Companies Conference in Chicago on Aug 24^th – 26^th.  Good information and met several other Safe Environment Coordinators.  Very busy right now processing certifications for the new calendar year.  The new online process is working great.  Saves time and money.  Thanks to those who have used the site.  Jim

CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE: Celebration of Marriage day is October 2, 2011. There will be a 2:00 PM Mass at the Cathedral followed by dinner. You can find the registration forms on the Diocese of Crookston web site: http://www.crookston.org/marriageday.htm . The parish secretaries have received information regarding the celebration of marriage day, along with a bulletin announcement.

CORPORATE MEETINGS and YEAR END FINANCIAL REPORTS: Please accomplish your annual corporate meetings by the end of September. The necessary form for reporting is attached to this email, or you can use this link: http://www.crookston.org/CorpBoardForms11/AnnualMeetingReport.doc . Thank you for your cooperation in this important matter. Thank you for submitting the year end financial reports for the parishes. We are still waiting for five of the parishes to comply. Your prompt cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you need assistance, please contact Chad Ryan or Dan James.

RESPECT LIFE: Respect Life packets have been sent to all of the pastors—we ordered one packet for each cluster of parishes. Additional materials are available at:  http://www.usccb.org/news/2011/11-164.cfm     

Thank you for all that you do. May God bless you and you people.

Sincerely,

 Msgr. David Baumgartner

Moderator of the Curia

 See also Memorandum, below:

Memorandum
TO:                  Priests of the Diocese of Crookston

FROM:            Msgr. David Baumgartner

DATE:                        February 18, 2011

RE:                              Catholic Community Foundation Grant Committee

At the last meeting of the CCF Board we learned that there are funds available for distribution as grant from the Faith for Tomorrow endowment ($280,744). As the grant committee has not been active for three years, I was asked to revisit the case statement for Faith for Tomorrow in order to give the committee some direction.

The priorities for grants as stated in the case statement are the following:

1. Continuing Education for Lay Leaders
2. Salary Subsidy for Faith –Formation Leaders
3. Parish Religious Education/Formation
4. Catholic School Subsidy
5. Develop Education Technology

Interestingly, the case statement determined that these priorities would expire after the first five years of the life of the endowment:

Once the initial five – year period has passed, the Board of Directors of the Catholic Community Foundation would determine the disbursement of the income for educational needs within the Diocese of Crookston. The Board of Directors will give preference to parishes with greater needs. (p. 10, Faith for Tomorrow: A Future With Promise; The campaign to Endow Catholic Faith-Formation and Education.)

Bishop Hoeppner would like your input in the determination of the next set of priorities for Faith for Tomorrow grants. I would appreciate your written input in the next four weeks. The next meeting of the Catholic Community Foundation Board of Directors is July 28, 2011. Hopefully we can have grant applications available shortly after that meeting with grants to be distributed in the fall of 2011.