News in brief

Clergy assignments 

Bishop Felton has made the following clergy assignments: 

The Rev. Scott Padrnos is appointed associate vocation director, effective immediately. While assisting the Rev. Nick Nelson, director of vocations, the Rev. Padrnos will remain parochial vicar of St. Francis, Brainerd; All Saints Church, Baxter; and St. Thomas of the Pines Church, Brainerd. 

The Rev. Keith Bertram is appointed as a priest in residence and sacramental minister of St. James Church, Aitkin; Holy Family, McGregor; and Our Lady of Fatima, McGrath, effective immediately. 

Open houses 

The Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus have a new home! They will host open houses from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2; Sunday, March 10; and Sunday, March 17. The house is located at 518 N. Hawthorne Road in Duluth. 

Catholic in Recovery program 

Immaculate Conception Church in Pine City is the pilot location for Catholic in Recovery meetings in the Duluth diocese. Catholic in Recovery was rolled out in January in response to Bishop Felton’s mission of healing, hope, and joy. Two meetings are held at Immaculate Conception Church every Sunday evening: a general recovery meeting for those suffering from addiction and unhealthy attachments, and a family and friends meeting for loved ones of the person suffering from addiction/unhealthy attachment. Individuals in recovery from addiction facilitate the general recovery meetings. The family and friends meetings are facilitated by those affected by the addiction/unhealthy attachment of a loved one. Anonymity is recognized as essential to the success of the program. Whomever attends a meeting and whatever is said at a meeting are not discussed outside the meeting. 

Catholic In Recovery is a 12-step program that is unique from other programs in that it explicitly claims Jesus Christ as higher power and incorporates Catholic teaching, scripture, and sacraments into each of the 12 steps. Catholic in Recovery was started by the passion of Scott Weeman as he found healing and new life through the help of 12-step recovery and the sacramental love and mercy provided by the Catholic Church. Catholic in Recovery is based in San Diego and has groups throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The program is open to anyone of any denomination or religion. Catholic in Recovery is intended to supplement, not replace, participation in other recovery groups. 

Addiction and unhealthy attachments are epidemic in our culture. Everyone is affected in some way, shape, or form. The disease cuts across all demographics. Through faith in Jesus Christ, and the fellowship of Catholic in Recovery, the addicted and their loved ones can find healing, hope, and the realization of joy in their lives. 

Family and friends meetings are held at 5 p.m. Sunday evenings. General recovery meetings are held at 7 p.m. Sunday evenings. Both meetings are held in the St. Mary’s room at Immaculate Conception Church in Pine City. 

The website for Catholic in Recovery is https://catholicinrecovery.com/. 

Please contact Frank Wilcox at (651) 895-5792 if you have questions or wish to discuss the program in more depth. 

Building fundraiser gala 

“Raise the Roof,” the second annual building fundraiser gala for St. Joseph Church in Crosby, will be held on Friday, May 10, at the Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd. Father Mike Schmitz will be the featured speaker. Known for his dynamic speaking abilities, Father Mike has preached to thousands locally and nationally. He hosts the widely popular podcasts “Bible in a Year” and “The Catechism in a Year,” produced by Ascension. In 2021, “Bible in a Year” ranked as the No. 1 overall podcast in the United States. Table and event sponsorships are available now. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at www.cuyunacatholic.org/gala. For questions, call or text Joanne at (218) 851-3750 or email [email protected]. Tickets go on sale March 25. Reserve your seat online at www.cuyunacatholic.org/gala or by calling the parish office at (218) 546-6559. 

Pastoral commissioning 

Submitted photo

On Jan. 24, Diocese of Duluth seminarian the Rev. Mr. Philip Mayer participated in the Mass for the Rite of Commissioning Seminarians Involved in Pastoral Service at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Deacon Mayer will serve at the parishes of St. Roman and St. Charles Borromeo, supervised by the Rev. Gideon Buya. 

Eucharistic Congreess volunteer opportunity 

If you are planning to attend the Star of the North Eucharistic Congress on May 17-19 in Bemidji and would like to participate in one or more of the needed volunteer opportunities, please contact John Ball at the Diocese of Duluth Pastoral Center at [email protected] or (218) 728-8343. Help is needed in the following areas: decor team, hospitality team, registration, set-up team and clean-up team. There are full-day or part-day slots available. Thank you for prayerfully considering this request to help make the Star of the North Eucharistic Congress a success. 

Divine Mercy Sunday 

Several parishes are hosting Divine Mercy Sunday celebrations April 7. 

• Mary Immaculate, 10 Corey St., Coleraine, will have adoration and confessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. The rosary will be prayed at 2:30 p.m. The Divine Mercy Chaplet will be prayed at 3:30 p.m. Benediction is at 3:50 p.m. with a reception in the social hall to follow. 

• Queen of Peace, 102 Fourth St., Cloquet, will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayers, and confession. Benediction and reposition at 4:00 p.m. 

• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, 2801 E. Fourth St., Duluth, will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and confession from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a sung Divine Mercy Chaplet and Benediction beginning at 3 p.m. 

• Immaculate Heart, 35208 County Road 37, Crosslake, will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at 3 p.m., sung Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3:05 p.m., confessions at 3:15 p.m., exposition and procession with the first-class relic of St. Faustina at 4:00 p.m., Benediction and reposition at 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 5 p.m. in the social hall. 

Magnificat 

Annette Haas

Our Lady of the Lakes Magnificat, a ministry to Catholic women, invites you to meet Annette Haas at a breakfast on April 27 at St. Agnes Church in Walker. Annette is from Park Rapids and she and her husband, Tom, have been married for 38 years. They have three grown children and eleven grandchildren. Annette did not grow up in the Catholic Church but has always had a relationship with God. She works at St. Peter’s in Park Rapids as faith formation and youth ministry coordinator and participates in the music ministry as well. Our Lady of the Lakes also has been blessed to have her as part of its music ministry. There are so many adventures that can happen between now and April, so Annette is keeping her heart open to what the Holy Spirit wants her to share at the Magnificat event in April. One thing for sure is that there will be music, so be ready to sing. Mark your calendars and make your reservations today. Registration that day begins at 8:30 a.m., with breakfast at 9 a.m. The cost of the meal is $20. To make your reservations now, call Lorri at (218) 507-0953 or Jeanette at (218) 252-2777. If preferred, you may mail your reservation to Lorri Henning, 3080 20th Ave. NW, Hackensack, MN 56452. 

Basketball fundraiser 

The East Duluth faith formation staff is organizing a 3-on-3 basketball tournament as a fundraiser for students wanting to go on summer retreats such as the Steubenville Conference trip and Camp Survive. The tournament will take place at Stella Maris High School on March 23. There is a youth division for students ages 11-15 and an adult division for anybody ages 15 and up. The cost for the youth division is $45 per team, and the adult division is $60 per team. The tournament will begin at 9 a.m. with pool play and the top teams advancing to a single elimination bracket, although this format is subject to change based on the number of teams playing. Games will be played to 21 points, with baskets being worth one or two points rather than two or three. There will be prizes for the winners of each division. The deadline to register teams for the tournament is March 15. Adult division registration is available at https://form.jotform.com/240306336843049 and youth division registration is available at https://form.jotform.com/240315355296153. Contact [email protected] with questions. 

Pontifical Good Friday Collection 

Pope Francis has asked parishes in the Diocese of Duluth to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, Friday, March 29, which helps Christians in the Holy Land, where they are now less than 2% of the population. Your support is essential to help the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools, and offer religious education. The Pontifical Good Friday Collection also helps to preserve the sacred shrines of Christianity, including Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem, to name only a few. When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the church in the Holy Land. For more information about Christians in the Holy Land, visit www.myfranciscan.org or www.custodia.org. 

Reimbursed senior volunteer position 

Lutheran Social Service in partnership with AmeriCorps Seniors is looking for friendly, caring older adults, age 55 or older, to serve in its senior companion and foster grandparents services. Senior companions serve older adults by providing friendly in-home visits and transportation and foster grandparents share their wisdom and experience by mentoring and tutoring children and youth in the community. Benefits include an hourly tax-free stipend, mileage reimbursement, training and recognition, and finding purpose and creating new friendships. For more information, contact Christina Bartos at [email protected] or (218) 290-0186. 

Rite of Election 

The Rite of Election for the Duluth Diocese was held Sunday, Feb. 18, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary. The annual event is one of the liturgies that accompanies adults across the diocese who are preparing to enter full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. Registered to attend were 18 catechumens — those who are not baptized and are expected to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist — and 61 candidates who have already been baptized but are expected to receive the other sacraments of initiation. Including sponsors, godparents, priests, deacons, and religious education leaders, more than 150 people were registered for the event, representing 18 different parishes.