Diocese of Duluth

Ultrasound fundraiser 

(Submitted photo) 

Knights of Columbus Itasca Council 2840 raised $36,000 to purchase an ultrasound machine for the local pregnancy care center in Deer River. Monies were donated by the Brother Knights above and beyond their usual donations to churches, pro-life organizations, and other worthy causes in their area and statewide. Pictured from left to right are New Beginnings representative Deacon Steve Schuler; Father Blake Rozier; Greg Johnson; Faithful Navigator David Andrews Jr.; and Grand Knight Justin Linnell. 

Schedule change 

On Sunday, May 28, ABC will be airing the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. This will preempt the regularly scheduled televised Mass from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The Mass will air at 12:30 p.m. instead. 

Bishop blesses stained glass at St. Benedict 

Father Seth Gogolin, pastor of St. Benedict in Duluth, holds the ritual book as Bishop Daniel Felton blessed refurbished stained glass windows at the parish April 23. (Photo courtesy of Buzzy Winter)

Bishop Daniel Felton celebrated Mass at St. Benedict Church in Duluth April 23 and then took time after Mass to bless a set of stained glass windows that had fallen into disrepair and have recently been refurbished and reinstalled. The windows were salvaged from St. Clement in Duluth after it closed and were originally installed when the gathering space at St. Benedict was constructed. 

Bishop Felton concelebrates chapel dedication of St. John Vianney Seminary 

 
(Photos courtesy of John Paul Narog) 

Bishop Daniel Felton was a concelebrant at Mass for the dedication of a new chapel at St. John Vianney Seminary in St. Paul. Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was the main celebrant at the Mass, at which benefactors and sponsors of the new chapel were present in the congregation. The senior class at St. John Vianney served for the liturgy that took place on Thursday, April 20. 

Mass celebrated at new Marquette School location 

(Submitted photo) 

Father Brandon Moravitz, pastor of Holy Spirit Church in Virginia and Marquette School, celebrates Mass at the school’s new building. All the parish’s weekend Masses for the weekend of April 22-23 were celebrated at the new $4.9 million school building in Virginia, formerly leased by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The purchase of the site was announced Jan. 28. 

CREED funding 

The Office of Catechesis would like to thank the CREED fund for the generous support of the work of catechesis and evangelization in the diocese, and especially for providing the following grants in this past fiscal year, 2022-23: 

• FORMED digital platform: This grant from the CREED fund provided 50% of the subscription costs for a year subscription to formed.org for 31 parishes in the diocese. Through this subscription, these parishes had unlimited access to the authentic Catholic content available on demand on the Formed digital platform. 
• Restored Adult Kerygma Retreat: The CREED fund generously provided a grant that allowed the Office of Catechesis to host the second diocesan Restored Adult Kerygma Retreat. 105 individuals from our diocese were able to attend the retreat, held in February 2023.
• Mileage reimbursement for principals, directors of religious education, and youth ministers for diocesan meetings: This grant from the CREED fund provided funding for those principals, directors of religious education, and youth ministers who live greater distances away to attend diocesan formation meetings. These meetings provide formation, resources, and an opportunity for collaboration.
• Supplemental DVD purchases: For the past number of years, the CREED fund has generously provided grants that allow for the purchase of DVD studies that parishes throughout the diocese are then able to use for different faith formation programs in their locations. Six programs were purchased and provided to parishes through this year’s grant.
• Catechetical Institute: This grant from the CREED fund provided eight institutions in our diocese with a year-long subscription to the Catechetical Institute (CI). The CI offers high quality formation for those involved with ministry and discipleship and can be accessed at any time.
• Sophia Institute workshop on Theology of the Body: Through the CREED fund’s generosity, the catechesis office was able to host the Sophia Institute for a workshop on the topic of Theology of the Body for catechetical leaders of our diocese. The workshop was hosted in September 2022 in Grand Rapids.
• St. John Bosco Conference for Evangelization and Catechesis: This grant is providing the funds to be able to send three directors of religious education from our diocese to the Bosco Conference for evangelization and catechesis, taking place in Steubenville, OH in July 2023. This will be a formative work, equipping these leaders for their specific ministries.
• Hallow app for the diocese: This CREED grant allowed all parishioners of all parishes of our diocese unlimited access to the Hallow app for the entire season of Lent. Hundreds of people were impacted by this opportunity and it greatly aided their prayer in the penitential season.
• Theology of the Body 1 Immersion: This CREED grant provided the funds for Grace Woitalla, director of catechesis for the diocese, to attend and receive formation at the TOB 1 Immersion course offered by the Theology of the Body Institute. This course will take place in May 2023. 

New director 

Catholic United Financial, a member-owned, not-for-profit financial services company, is pleased to announce that Renee Brod will be the new lead director of the Catholic United Financial board of directors. Brod will replace Robert “Bob” Krattenmaker, who will be retiring from the board at the end of this year, due to term limits. Krattenmaker served on the board for 13 years and Catholic United Financial is grateful for his service. Brod has been a member of Catholic United Financial for over 35 years, with roots in the German/Czech Catholic community of New Prague. She and fellow Catholic United Financial board member, Jean Hart, are both alums from St. Catherine University in St. Paul. Brod comes with considerable experience in corporate business and leadership.