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Where Does Altar Bread Come From?
The Eucharist is a cornerstone of living out the Catholic faith. Every time a Catholic goes to Mass, he or she has the opportunity to encounter Christ in the Eucharist and contemplate the mystery of faith. For such a fundamental part of our shared spiritual tradition, we may have never stopped to wonder where the bread that becomes the Body of Christ is made.
Until recently, The Basilica of Saint Mary received its altar bread from the Contemplative Sisters of the Good Shepherd, an order of nuns in Saint Paul. The Sisters recently discerned that they will discontinue their altar bread ministry because of the advanced age of their sisters. The Basilica received their last shipment of 30,000 hosts from the Sisters in early January and will now look for a new source.
Altar bread is different than bread or crackers at the grocery store. It must be made with wheat and water and without any additives, said Johan van Parys, Director of Liturgy and Sacred Arts at The Basilica. Though it’s not required, hosts are typically made by religious communities like the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
This article and more in the spring BASILICA Magazine.
Download full article Baking the Bread to Become the Body
by Rachel Newman
The award-winning BASILICA magazine is sponsored by The Basilica Landmark, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to preserve, restore, and advance the historic Basilica of Saint Mary for all generations.
BASILICA is published twice a year (spring and fall) with a circulation of 20,000.
For advertising information please contact Peggy Jennings.
Dear Parishioners:
Last week we all heard the good news that an agreement had been reached to resolve the bankruptcy of the Archdiocese. As you know, the agreement establishes a trust fund of approximately $210 million for the victims/survivors. Some of the money for the settlement fund came in the form of voluntary pledges of financial support from parishes and priests of our Archdiocese. I believe this is a wonderful statement of our compassion and support for our brothers and sisters who were seriously wounded and hurt by my brother priests and by others in our church.
With this letter I would like to inform you that The Basilica of Saint Mary was one of the parishes that made a confidential pledge of financial support to the settlement fund. This decision was made in consultation with our Parish Council and Finance committee. After setting a range for this contribution they directed that our Parish Trustees and I make the final decision as to the amount of the contribution. The money for this pledge came from our parish reserves, which are funded by the rental income from our school building. Our financial pledge won’t be payable until the details of the settlement are finalized. It is our hope that making this pledge of financial support will send a strong message of solidarity and support to the victims/survivors.
While the settlement will resolve the Archdiocesan bankruptcy we need to continue to follow up with prayer and outreach to the victims/survivors. This needs to be and must be an ongoing effort. I hope you will join in prayer for those who have been so grievously wounded by members of our Church.
It is my firm and abiding belief that God’s Spirit continues to lead and guide our Church and our parish. If we are open to the gentle guidance of the Spirit, I believe it will lead us into a future full of hope.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
John M. Bauer
Pastor, The Basilica of Saint Mary
Vote Today!
Please take time to vote, The Parish Council represents you - our parishioners. The Council plays a key role in working with the pastor to ensure The Basilica of Saint Mary community continues to live out our mission and vision.
mary.org/vote.
Thank you in advance for your participation and your continued support of The Basilica.
Please remember, all ballots must be received by 5:00pm Monday, June 4, 2018.
Sanctuary Supporting Congregation
One of the values we strive to live every day at the Basilica is compassion. As such we become aware of our shared brokenness, and we deeply respect all of God's people, and gratefully welcome-as we would Christ-all those who come to our door. We embrace these people as our brothers and sister in Christ, and we share with them hospitality, love, acceptance and care. We are a community serving the needs of our neighbors. Every day we provide basic tangible and physical resources such as sandwiches, clothing, toiletries, shoes, bus cards, help with I.D. cards and assistance with transportation.
For almost a year, our parish leadership has been learning about and discussing the possibility of The Basilica becoming a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation. At the April meeting of our Parish Council, the decision was made to become a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation. In making this commitment we will continue to do what we currently do for those who come to our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, many of them from Ascension, our sister parish in North Minneapolis. We would also continue our advocacy work and our prayerful support particularly for those who are on the margins and in need. The major difference would be that we would be named as part of a network of congregations that are committed to supporting this work.
It is perhaps most important to note, though, that becoming a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation is very different form being a Sanctuary Congregation. Being a Sanctuary Congregation requires additional commitments that could put the Basilica at some legal risk. As your pastor, I cannot do that. Being a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation has significantly fewer commitments and would serve as a way to continue to compassionately serve a community in need and as a way of living our faith.
Now admittedly in today’s world, the word “Sanctuary” comes with some baggage. It may be helpful to note, though, that it shares the same root as the Latin word: “Sanctus,” which means holy. Jesus has told us that “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do for me.” Additionally, in his trip to Colombia this past September Pope Francis called on Catholics to “promote the dignity of all our brothers and sisters, particularly the poor and the excluded of society, those who are abandoned, immigrants and those who suffer violence and human trafficking,” Responding without judgement to the needs of those who come to our doors is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus Christ.
I would encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about this issue to take them to prayer. If, after praying about them, you would like to share them with me, please contact me.
Fr. John M. Bauer
Pastor
The Basilica of Saint Mary
For more information visit mary.org/sanctuarysupport
The new BASILICA Magazine Spring issue, Our Christian Life-The Basilica’s Faith in Action, is out now, sponsored by The Basilica Landmark. This issue explores our social justice calling at home and across the world, plus in depth features about the people and history that make The Basilica a vibrant, welcoming community. Thank you to the volunteer Magazine team for their dedication creating this publication.
www.mary.org/magazinespring2018
Inside this issue: Spring 2018
South Africa: Global Witness Experience
Understanding racial reconciliation
by Kimberly Vrudny
Guidance for a faithful life
by Janice Andersen
St. Vincent de Paul ID Program
Helping those in need secure identification documents
by Doug Hovelson
Homeless Jesus by Timothy P. Schmalz
An internationally recognized symbol of compassion and awareness for the homeless
by Johan van Parys, Ph.D.
Where Does Altar Bread Come From?
by Rachel Newman
Half a Century of Faithful Service
Weekend Presiders at The Basilica
by Melissa Streit
Catholic Community Foundation 25th Anniversary
A Conversation with Anne Cullen Miller
by Melissa Streit
Mass of Solidarity and Cultural Celebration
In support of migrant and refugees
by Joe Eiden
Basilica Receives Award for Energy Efficiency
Stewardship of our historic campus
by Rick Moore
Envisioning The Basilica
Planning for the future
by George Norman
A look at where we started
by Heather Craig
The award-winning BASILICA magazine is sponsored by The Basilica Landmark, a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to preserve, restore, and advance the historic Basilica of Saint Mary for all generations.
BASILICA is published twice a year (spring and fall) with a circulation of 20,000.
For advertising information please contact Peggy Jennings.
Hennepin/Lyndale Exit Closures
As summer road construction season begins, please watch for updated road closures.
Interstate 94 in Minneapolis, between Interstate 394 and Interstate 35W, is scheduled to close from 10 p.m. Friday, May 4 until 5 a.m. Monday, May 7. In addition, Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue between Dunwoody Boulevard and Oak Grove Street, near Loring Park, will be closed during the same time.
The closures are needed to repair and paint the Irene Hixon Whitney Bridge, the pedestrian bridge over I-94 between the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Loring Park. To continue repairs and painting, two additional weekend closures for the same stretch of I-94 and Hennepin Avenue/Lyndale Avenue are scheduled for May 11-14 and May 18-21. Restoring the bridge’s wooden deck will continue into August.
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/news/18/04/20-i94ramps.html
Three parishes in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis are participating in a parish pilot program on restorative justice and healing in response to the clergy sexual abuse. Janine Geske will lead two forums on this topic on Sunday, April 29. Justice Geske is a former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice and Marquette Law School Professor who has led conversations on restorative justice at the Vatican and throughout the world.
Justice Geske will be joined by Doctor Mark Umbreit, Director of the Center for Restorative Justice and Peacemaking at the University of Minnesota.
The sessions will take place at two locations: St. Joseph the Worker, hosted by Father Mike Sullivan, and Our Lady of Lourdes, hosted by Father Dan Griffith. Everyone is welcome.
April 29
St. Joseph the Worker, Maple Grove 1:00-3:00pm
Our Lady of Lourdes, Minneapolis 4:00-6:00pm
Sunday, April 15
Cancelled:
- Children’s and Cherub choirs for 11:30am Mass
- Children’s and Youth Ministry
- MN Sinfonia Concert
Saturday, April 14
The Archdiocesan Confirmation scheduled for April 14 has been cancelled. Participating churches will be rescheduled and questions should be directed directly to the individual parishes.
St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Ministry is cancelled for Saturday morning, April 14.
The Engaged Couples Retreat from 1pm - 5pm has been cancelled. The Marriage office will be forthcoming with alternatives.
The Downtown Festival rehearsal at Westminster Presbyterian Church to take place on Saturday morning, April 14 has been rescheduled for Sunday, April 15 at 5pm. It will still take place at Westminster.
Sanctuary Supporting Congregation: Listening Sessions
Basilica volunteers and leaders will hold a conversation with parishioners on the call to support our neighbors through becoming a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation and how it is different from a Sanctuary Congregation.
Sanctuary Supporting Congregation: Listening Sessions
Sunday, April 15, Following 7:30, 9:30, 11:30am and 4:30pm Masses
Saints Ambrose/Teresa Room, Ground Level
The Basilica parish community is committed to accompany, serve, and defend immigrants in our community. We co-sponsor refugee families, partner with Advocates for Human Rights, and support families seeking asylum. We are also following the call of our Pope to offer support to those who rely on the protection of DACA to avoid deportation. Come to learn more about The Basilica’s commitment to this ministry supporting people who face deportation. For more information, call 612.317.3477.