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St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Coin Banks are available in the church throughout Lent. Your financial gifts truly make a difference in people’s lives and 100% percent of every dollar you donate goes back to help someone in need locally. During Lent, please take a coin bank, fill it, and bring it back on Holy Thursday.
Last year alone, your donations to SVdP Ministry:
- Helped 286 families keep their housing and prevented them from homelessness.
- Provided bus cards or gas vouchers to more than 4,000 people to help them get to work, school, or appointments.
- Offered a meal and practical and spiritual support to 900 participants in our Pathways life-skills programs.
More information on our St. Vincent de Paul Ministy.
Currently, nearly two million young people who qualify as Dreamers are anxiously waiting for lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to come up with a bipartisan bill ahead of the March 5 deadline, when protections for DACA youth expire.
Archbishop Hebda has asked all people of good will to call their federal lawmakers on Monday, February 26, and urge them to move forward with debate on legislation to provide relief to Dreamers – those young people who were brought to the U.S. by their parents without proper documentation. For more information, vistit the Archdiocesan website.
The season of Lent is a time for reflection and meditation on the meaning of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. The sacred Psalms offer a beautiful, prayerful Lenten devotion in word and song.
Join us Fridays in Lent for Mass at 6:00pm and Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm.
Thank you to those who shared their gifts to create the video:
Johan van Parys: Director of Liturgy & Sacred Arts Liturgy
Walter Tambor: Contemporary & World Music, Piano
Julia Vikesland: Cantor, Parishioner
Jonathan Vikesland: Video Filming/Editing, Parishioner
Basilica Welcomes Transfer of Memory Exhibition
Immediately upon hearing Jesus’ call, Andrew, Simon Peter, James, and John left their boats and nets to follow Him. But in modern times it can be more confusing for us to heed Jesus’ call. We are surrounded by more distractions, more messages, and more noise. In the cacophony of texts, emails, advertisements, and social media posts which make up our daily lives, it is hard to find enough stillness to hear and discern God’s call.
Yet we must remember “God is not the wind or the earthquake or the fire. God is the gentle blowing” (1 Kings 19:12). It is our human challenge to be still and attentive enough to hear God. Basilica Young Adults group member Sunoh Choe recognizes to this challenge, saying “we live in a time with diversity of thought, differing lifestyles, competing priorities, and plenty of distractions. Life has more purpose when we incorporate ‘spiritual food’ into our lives.”
ENGAGEMENT OF YOUNG ADULTS
A 2014 Religious Landscape Study by Pew Research Center study shows growing rates of religiously “unaffiliated” people, most noticeably in the young adult demographic. Some estimates state US Catholic confirmation rates (typically between ages of 16-18) are less than half that of baptisms (often at birth or early childhood).
Because The Basilica is a recognizable landmark in the midst of a bustling urban center, it has long been a popular parish for young adults. Currently 21% of our parish members are between the ages of 23 and 37, commonly known as Generation Y or Millennials.
The Basilica intentionally reaches out to members in this age group to deepen engagement for many reasons. Young adults are constantly reshaping and redefining our secular world. Their perspectives and needs must be considered in our parish community as well. To paraphrase our vision statement from the prophet Jeremiah, in their well-being we will also find our own.
Basilica pastor Fr. John Bauer cites Saint John Paul II’s urging to “open wide the doors for Christ” as a reason The Basilica dedicates resources toward ministry for young adults. In his invitation to World Youth Day, Pope Francis recently told young people, “God is also watching over you and calling you, and when God does so, he is looking at all the love you are able to offer.”
BASILICA YOUNG ADULTS
Basilica Young Adults (BYA) is a Basilica group for social activities and service for people in their 20s and 30s. A visit to their web page or their social media page shows a dizzying array of opportunities each week varying from bible studies, speaker events, and sandwich making for our neighbors in need to sand volleyball and happy hours. The group’s coordinator and Basilica staff member Ben Caduff says there is intentionally “a spectrum of opportunities with something for everyone and a wide variety of on-ramps to participation.”
Rooted in the variety of BYA activities is a focus on religion and spirituality. “The Basilica attracts a diverse group of people in backgrounds, careers, skills, personalities, and stages of faith,” Choe observes. “The group recognizes the personal faith journey each person is on, and everyone is welcome,” adds Caduff. “People can feel comfortable getting more involved.”
Members say authentic relationships are a key difference between BYA and other non-religious social groups. BYA member Grace Kane explains, “within our one triune God we can see how relationship is integral to faith.” Core to all BYA events is the invitation for attendees
to grow in their faith and their relationship with God and Jesus. Participants share a common yearning for authenticity and actively living out their faith, even if they are still seeking answers. Kane defines relationship in this context as “being open, receptive, attentive, and loving.”
This focus creates a unique sense of welcome, community, and belonging because, as BYA member Kyra Knoff notes, "two or more are gathered." In one another they find a group of people intentionally building strong relationships with each other, with God, and with their Catholic faith. Despite modern technology which can promote impersonal communication, BYA members heed the Gospel call to real face-to-face relationships.
Full article BASILICA Magazine, Fall 2017, page 22
by Melissa Streit
www.mary.org/sites/default/files/assets/files/2415-2482-basilica-magazine-fall-2017.pdf
The award-winning BASILICA magazine is sponsored by The Basilica Landmark, a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is the preservation and restoration of the historic Basilica of Saint Mary and it campus. BASILICA is published twice a year (spring and fall) with a circulation of 20,000.
For advertising information please contact Peggy Jennings.
You are invited to an Interfaith Gathering to Celebrate Unity and Shared Purpose January 28, 2018, at 2:00 pm.
Westminster Presbyterian Church at Nicollet Mall and 12th Street, Minneapolis.
In partnership with the Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee, this celebration will showcase Minnesota’s national leadership in multi-faith dialogue and cooperation, and will raise money to prevent homelessness through the Interfaith Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The celebration will feature music, testimonies from people helped by the Emergency Rental Assistance Program...and a few surprises!
Free shuttle from Hennepin Methodist to Westminster Presbyterian Church starting at 12:30pm.
For more information, contact Westminster at 612.332.3421
To donate to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program go to www.dceh.org/give
Minnesota faith leaders included in the video:
1. Rev. Dr. Tim Hart-Andersen
2. Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman
3. Rev. Dr. Laurie Pound-Feille
4. Rabbi Alexander Davis
5. Rev. David Breeden
6. Rev. Ralph Galloway
7. Rabbi Morris Allen
8. Imam Asad Zaman
9. Rev. John Bauer
10. Archbishop Bernard Hebda
11. Rev. Paula Northwood
12. Rev. Kelli Clement
13. Rev. David Shinn
14. Sri Ronur Murali Bhattar
15. Imam Hamdy El-Sawaf
16. Rev. Albert Gallmon
17. Imam Makram El-Amin
18. Rabbi Jill Crimmings
19. Dr. Carmel Tinnes
20. Imam Adnan Khan
21. Rabbi David Locketz
104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees
January 14, 2018
Message from Pope Francis
“You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:34).
Throughout the first years of my pontificate, I have repeatedly expressed my particular concern for the lamentable situation of many migrants and refugees fleeing from war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty. This situation is undoubtedly a “sign of the times” which I have tried to interpret, with the help of the Holy Spirit, ever since my visit to Lampedusa on 8 July 2013. When I instituted the new Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, I wanted a particular section – under my personal direction for the time being – to express the Church’s concern for migrants, displaced people, refugees and victims of human trafficking.
Full message
The Catholic Bishops of Minnesota have designated January 7, 2018 “Immigration Sunday MN” and encourage people to take action in response to Pope Francis’ Share the Journey (sharejourney.org) campaign, to support those who have left or been displaced from their home countries.
The Archdiocese is working with the Minnesota Catholic Conference to provide resources to learn about action they can take in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy.
Post cards to send to your legislators will be available at The Basilica January 6 and 7. The postcards and information are also available online at:
www.mncatholic.org/advocacyarea/immigration-sunday-mn/
The Basilica of Saint Mary proudly releases BASILICA Magazine, Fall 2017: The Basilica Community, Our history and our future.
Thank you to the volunteer Magazine team for their dedication creating this issue.
Melissa Streit, Carol Evans, Rita Nagan, Elyse Rethlake
www.mary.org/sites/default/files/assets/files/2415-2482-basilica-magazine-fall-2017.pdf
Inside this issue
Ascension: A Shelter from the Storms of Life
by Margaret Nelson Brinkhaus
Kristian Mauel Nguyen’s Next Milestone
Building a passion for The Basilica
by Steve Rudolph
Joint Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation
The 500th Anniversary: 1517-2017
by Dirk G. Lange
Reflections on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation
Local faith leaders share their perspectives
Introduction by Johan M.J. van Parys, Ph. D.
Welcoming Dr. Sharon Pierce
Leading collaboration in our community
by Janice Andersen
Come As You Are
Creating connections through Pathways Ministry
by Elyse Rethlake
Hearing Jesus’ Call
Basilica Young Adults - faith, fun, and service
by Melissa Streit
The Life of a Swiss Guard
Vatican Museums exhibit stops in Minneapolis
by Johan M.J. van Parys, Ph. D.
Innovative Gifts
Reflecting what matters most in life
by Peggy Jennings and Monica Stuart
The Basilica Block Party and Landmark Ball: Captured in images
by Mae Desaire
The award-winning BASILICA magazine is sponsored by The Basilica Landmark, a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is the preservation and restoration of the historic Basilica of Saint Mary and it campus. BASILICA is published twice a year (spring and fall) with a circulation of 20,000.
For advertising information please contact Peggy Jennings.
The Basilica of Saint Mary dedicated the new Timothy P. Schmalz Homeless Jesus bronze sculpture on November 19, 2017, the World Day of the Poor, designated by Pope Francis.
The bronze sculpture of a life-size Christ figure shrouded in a blanket on a park bench has been stopping traffic on Hennepin Avenue and creating a flurry on social media. This addition to The Basilica’s sacred art collection has generated responses that have ranged from disgust to tears of compassion.
The meaning of the Homeless Jesus sculpture is to truly change hearts and minds towards people in need. The sculpture is designed to challenge and inspire each of us to be more compassionate and charitable and to see Jesus in each person we meet, and to take action to help end homelessness locally and around the world.
The dedication events included a presentation from the artist Timothy P. Schmalz who shared images and stories from his body of work. His powerful sculptures create an impact in each city and community they are installed.
Parishioners and community members then joined together in prayer for a beautiful dedication around the sculpture in front of The Basilica with music from the Schola Cantorum and StreetSong-MN, a community choir for those who have been or are currently experiencing homelessness.
For more information about the sculpture mary.org/HomelessJesus.
