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Tickets still available for the Basilica Block Party.
Friday, July 6 and Saturday, July 7
Band line up and volunteer information at basilicablockparty.org.
Join us for a great weekend of fun and music benefiting the restoration efforts of The Basilica Landmark and St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.
Due to the Basilica Block Party, on Friday, July 6, Mass is celebrate at 7:00am in the chapel. There is no Noon Mass.
On Saturday, the 9:00am Confession is canceled. There will be no 5:00pm Mass celebrated.
Sunday Masses are as regularly scheduled.
School Supply Drive to benefit Ascension Catholic School
Donations can be dropped off at weekend masses through Sunday, July 1 through August 5. Help fill backpacks at the Basilica Day celebration on Sunday, August 12.
Collection receptacles will be availabale at the rear of the church and east entrance.
Supplies needed:
- Backpacks
- 24 Pack Crayons
- 12 Count Colored Pencils
- Glue Sticks
- Highlighters
- Large Erasers
- Washable Markers
- Fiskars School Scissors
- Pencil Boxes
- #2 Pencils
- Spiral Notebooks
- Sturdy Pocket Folders
Catholic Social Teaching
Guidance for a faithful life
As we seek to live our life faithfully, how do we maneuver through the landmines of ethical and moral decisions of our day? In a given situation, the decisions we make and the actions we take can be driven by a complex array of experience, hopes and fears. What tools do we use to ensure we are living faithfully?
As Catholic Christians, most people are familiar with the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. There is another lesser known treasury of principles that speak to our lives today. Sometimes called the best kept secret of our faith, Catholic Social Teaching proposes principles for reflection, provides criteria for judgment and offers guidelines for action.
Catholic Social Teaching is a way of reflecting on the world today. It is not a fixed block of doctrine or ideology, but the result of prayerful reflection on the complex realities of human existence. Animated by the Gospel, it provides core principles that can address the demands of the time.
This article and more in the spring BASILICA Magazine.
Download full article Catholic Social Teaching
by Janice Andersen
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.
"At its core, asylum is an instrument to preserve the right to life. The Attorney General's recent decision elicits deep concern because it potentially strips asylum from many women who lack adequate protection. These vulnerable women will now face return to the extreme dangers of domestic violence in their home country. This decision negates decades of precedents that have provided protection to women fleeing domestic violence. Unless overturned, the decision will erode the capacity of asylum to save lives, particularly in cases that involve asylum seekers who are persecuted by private actors. We urge courts and policy makers to respect and enhance, not erode, the potential of our asylum system to preserve and protect the right to life.
Additionally, I join Bishop Joe Vásquez, Chairman of USCCB's Committee on Migration, in condemning the continued use of family separation at the U.S./Mexico border as an implementation of the Administration's zero tolerance policy. Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma. Families are the foundational element of our society and they must be able to stay together. While protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral."
http://www.usccb.org/news/2018/18-098.cfm
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.