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Reflect on the

Joys of the Past Life, Marriage & Family

provides opportunities for individuals to grow closer to Christ through promoting the dignity of life, preparing for marriage as well as renewal of marriage, and protecting lives in our

parishes and schools.

Totus Tuus

Catholic SchoolsDid you know that there are a total of 30 Catholic schools throughout southern Minnesota with a total enrollment of 10,000 stu-dents all of whom are grow-ing closer to Christ through their Catholic school experi-ence?

Our diocesan offices serving the Catholic faithful across Southern Minnesota.

Youth & Young Adultsfocuses on opportunities for young people across south-ern Minnesota to connect, encounter Christ, and grow

closer to Christ through their ministry experiences.

Net MinistriesTEC

NCYC

World Youth Day Camp Summit

Intermission

Steubenville

March for Life

Pre-Cana Marriage PreparationMarriage Retreats

Anniversary MassRespect Life

Parish Support

Faith Formationprovides opportunities for individuals to grow closer to Christ through life-long catechesis and spiritual formation for all –

Catholic youth and adults as well as non-Catholics interested in learning more about the faith through RCIA.

Catechetical Day RCIA

Together in Faith Endow

ACE Collaborative

Northwest Evaluation Association

Standardized School Policies

Vocationsdedicated to providing support for young men and women

in their discernment and response to grow closer to Christ through the priesthood, religious or consecrated life.

One-on-One DiscipleshipLiving the Fourth Videos Vocations Presentations

Discernment GroupsPriest Formation

Lay Formationfocuses on leading people closer to Christ through prayer,

study and reflection on the Catholic Faith while training adult-aged disciples to go forth and lead others closer to Christ.

Institute of Lay Formation Ministry Days125th Anniversary CelebrationSymbolon

Communicationstells the stories alive in southern Minnesota and responds to the call to provide timely and accurate information to our

media-driven society.

Sunday TV Mass

Website & Social Media The CourierRadio/TV

Virtual Conference Rooms

January, 2015 w The Courier

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9Rejoice in the Hope of the Future

“In the future, we will have more Intermission rallies throughout southern Minnesota and more camp offerings for Camp Summit. There is something very powerful at work when youth from all over are brought together in prayer, catechesis and fellowship – you see the Holy Spirit setting hearts on fire for God and the Church.” – Ben

Frost, Director of Youth and Young Adults

Directors of our diocesan led ministries

throughout southern

Minnesota share some

of their goals and dreams for the new

year and beyond.

Each new year brings the expec-tation of a better

world. I ask God to grant us concord

and peace, so that the aspirations of all for

a happy and prosperous life may be achieved. -

Pope Benedict XVI

“I envision offering more marriage retreats

throughout southern Minnesota so a greater number of couples

have many opportunities to participate. When couples take time to grow in their

faith together, they go forth renewed in their desire to help one

another get to heaven.” – Peter Martin, Director of the Office of Life, Marriage, and Family

“My future goals for the Superintendent’s Office entail (1) creat-

ing a Leadership Development Program for emerging leaders on staff at the Catholic

Schools who have the potential to become principles, (2) provid-ing ongoing professional devel-

opment for teachers, and (3) housing a master database to more efficiently and accurate-ly manage school records.” –

Marsha Stenzel, Catholic Schools Superintendent

“As more interest in discerning vocations develops,

I seek to create opportunities for those who are discerning a religious vocation to con-

nect with another who can guide them in their discernment process. I want to build upon the resources the Office of Vocations has to

offer, particularly in multi-media resources. I also want to tell the stories in more detail and creative ways of the many

individuals throughout our diocese who are fully living their religious vocations. One idea I have is to make a card deck of

priest trading cards.” – Fr. Will Thompson, Director of the Office of Vocations

“In the future, I hope to expand the Office of Faith Formation to provide

individualized faith formation for cat-echists to prepare them intellec-tually and spiritually to teach

the Catholic faith in a profound way.”

“In the future, we plan to enhance

and strengthen our spiritual formation

offerings in the Institute

– i.e., our retreats, days of reflection, pilgrimages, etc. for

Institute alumni and stu-dents. Deepening one’s relationship with Christ is always at the center of our formation pro-gram.” -- Todd Graff,

Director of the Office of Lay Formation

“We will continue to improve and broaden our communications

efforts to keep pace with the ever-changing ways people commu-nicate. We must be evangelists in everything we do and utilize whatever means is available to make disciples and invite peo-ple closer to Christ. Establishing a seamless and instantaneous

communication network across our diocese connecting every Catholic parish, school, and organization is a priority in our future planning.” -- Joel Hennessy, Director of the Office of Mission Advancement and

Communications

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare

and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." Jer 29:11

– Sr. Paul Mary Rittgers, Director of the

Office of Faith Formation