The Basilica of St. Mary and Cathedral of St. Paul welcomed 157 catechumens (the unbaptized) and 486 candidates (baptized) for the Rite of Election, which is part of the process leading up to full communion in the Catholic Church during Easter Vigil Masses Saturday, April 23. Catechumens, who are preparing for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist, signed their names in the Book of the Elect and came forward to greet the archbishop/bishop. The candidates, who are already baptized and preparing to become Catholics, also participate in the event.
Planned to pledge?
If you need a reminder about supporting this year’s Catholic Services Appeal, consider yourself reminded!
Pledges and donations continue to be accepted to help fund seminary education, community services, Catholic schools and the ministries at your own parish.
Drop your pledge in the collection basket at Mass, mail it to your parish, send it directly to the Development and Stewardship Office, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul MN 55102, or make a donation online at http://appeal.archspm.org/giving.html .
Award to trustee couple
Jerry and Ursula Choromanski, members of St. Raphael in Crystal, received the 2011 Trustee of the Year Award from Aging Services of Minnesota for their volunteer board service to Saint Therese, a senior care and housing organization in New Hope, Brooklyn Park and Shoreview.
Catholic ed up $344,956
Catholic United Financial helped Catholic students and schools raise $344,956 this winter, smashing the $250,000 goal. CUF, formerly Catholic Aid Association, underwrites all the costs of the fundraiser’s promotions, printing and prizes. Students, parents and educators sold nearly 69,000 raffle tickets from Jan. 24 to March 4. The raffle drawing took place March 10. Winners will be announced as soon as they are verified. Prizes also are given to top student ticket sellers. All winners will be posted on the CUF website www.catholicunitedfinancial.org.
Basilica youth take honors
Basilica of St. Mary Youth Group won the Downtown Congregations to End Homelessness/Interfaith Youth Leadership Council video contest. The video was shown at the Basilica and put on YouTube. Go to http://tinyurl.com/4dno6zk to see the video.
New acolytes instituted
Spencer Howe of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was among 53 seminarians at the Pontifical North American College in Rome who were instituted to the Ministry of Acolyte on March 6.
Hill-Murray’s top teacher
Shane Rose, a teacher at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, was named the 2011 Social Studies High School Teacher of the Year by the Minnesota Council for the Social Studies. The MCAA lauded his “dedication to homeless advocacy and involvement of Hill-Murray students in that advocacy.”
New Maronite patriarch
Church bells rang, horns blasted and firecrackers echoed throughout Lebanon as it was announced March 15 that Bishop Bechara Rai of Jbeil, Lebanon, had been elected the new patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church. Patriarch Rai, 71, known for his courage to speak the truth, is seen as someone who can unite Maronite Catholics, who have been divided among political party lines. He replaces Cardinal Nasrallah P. Sfeir, 90, who retired.
