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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.
The Basilica of Saint Mary welcomes all to celebrate Holy Week and Easter, March 29 through April 1, 2018. The vibrant beauty and tradition at The Basilica will draw over 5,000 people for the sacred celebrations.
Parishioners are invited to nominate excellent candidates to represent Christian Life and Learning to the Parish Council by April 6.
Parish Council members serve as an advisory group to the Pastor and assist with strategic planning, creation of effective communication structures, policies and procedures, and educating parishioners about biblical stewardship.
Complete this online form or contact Terri Ashmore for more information.
Learn more about Parish Council.
Health care providers and trainees, churches, and others are being forced to participate in abortions or provide coverage for it in their health care plans. Federal conscience laws prohibit such coercion, but these laws continue to be violated—mostly because they don’t provide victims with the ability to defend their rights in court.
The Conscience Protection Act of 2017 (H.R. 644, S. 301) would address loopholes in current laws and provide victims with the right to sue in court. Congress will decide soon (most likely during the week of March 12) whether to include the Conscience Protection Act in must-pass government funding legislation. humanlifeaction.org
- Pray that Congress enacts the CPA, and activate prayer warriors, chains, and groups.
Intention: We pray that Congress will include the Conscience Protection Act in the Fiscal Year 2018 funding bill.
- Call and email your U.S. senators and representatives and forward the action alert to others. Members of Congress can be reached by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.
https://www.humanlifeaction.org/take-action?vvsrc=/campaigns/49865/respond
From Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz:
"Increasing and fierce attacks on conscience rights regarding abortion cry out for an immediate remedy. Nurses and other health care providers and institutions are being forced to choose between participating in abortions or leaving health care altogether. Churches and pro-life Americans are being forced to provide coverage for elective abortions—including late-term abortions—in their health care plans. Opponents and supporters of abortion should be able to agree that no one should be forced to participate in abortion. Congress must remedy this problem by enacting the Conscience Protection Act now as part of the FY 2018 funding bill.
We call on all the faithful to pray and to act by emailing and calling Congress in the coming week especially on Monday, March 12 with the message that enacting the Conscience Protection Act is urgently needed to protect Americans from being forced to violate their deeply held convictions about respect for human life. Your calls and emails to your Members of Congress really do make a difference, so please act now to protect conscience rights!"
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.