Pope Francis proclaims Year of St. Joseph

Bulletin Extras, January 2021
01Jan 2021 by rkranz
(CNA) - Pope Francis announced a Year of St. Joseph on Dec. 8 in honor of the 150th anniversary of the saint’s proclamation as patron of the Universal Church. The year begins Dec. 8, 2020, and concludes on Dec. 8, 2021, according to a decree authorized by the pope. The decree said Francis had established a Year of St. Joseph so “every member of the faithful, following his example, may strengthen their life of faith daily in the complete fulfillment of God’s will.” It added that the pope had granted special indulgences to mark the year. The Dec. 8 decree was issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary, the dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees indulgences, and signed by the Major Penitentiary, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, and the Regent, Msgr. Krzysztof Nykiel.…
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U.S. bishops approve use of coronavirus vaccines with ‘remote connection’ to abortion

Bulletin Extras, January 2021
01Jan 2021 by rkranz
(CNA) - The United States bishops’ conference has said that Catholics can take two of the three available COVID-19 vaccines, even though they were developed with a “remote connection” to “morally compromised” cell lines. In a statement released Dec. 14, the bishops also said it is morally permissible in some circumstances to receive a third vaccine, developed in close connection with aborted cell lines, but that Catholics cannot allow the pandemic to “desensitize” or “weaken our determination” to oppose the evil of abortion. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, the chair of the USCCB’s doctrine committee, and Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas, chairman of the USCCB’s pro-life activities committee, outlined their concerns about the vaccines in statement dated Dec. 11 and published on Dec. 14. “In…
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Pope Francis names Father Michel Mulloy of Diocese of Rapid City as bishop of Duluth

Bulletin Extras, June 2020
19Jun 2020 by rkranz
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has appointed Father Michel Mulloy, a priest of the Diocese of Rapid City and current Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Rapid City as the Bishop of Duluth. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on June 19, 2020 by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Diocese of Duluth has been a vacant see since December 2019. Bishop-elect Mulloy was born on May 20, 1954 in Mobridge, South Dakota. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Humanities from St. Mary University in Winona, Minnesota. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Sioux Falls on June 8, 1979. After ordination, Father Mulloy was assigned to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Diocese of Rapid City (1979-1981). He…
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Knights of Columbus founder Father Michael McGivney moves closer to sainthood

Bulletin Extras, May 2020
28May 2020 by rkranz
[caption id="attachment_5031" align="alignright" width="300"] Father Michael J. McGivney in "Founding Vision" by Antonella Cappuccio.[/caption] ROME – The Vatican announced May 27 that Pope Francis approved the promulgation of a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney, a Connecticut priest who served his flock during the pandemic of 1890, before himself becoming ill and dying of pneumonia. The pope’s action means that Father McGivney can be declared “Blessed,” the step just prior to sainthood. An additional miracle attributed to Father McGivney’s intercession will be required for his canonization as a saint. McGivney is best known for founding the Knights of Columbus in 1882. Nearly a century before the Second Vatican Council, his prescient vision empowered the laity…
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Pope Francis names Father Peter Muhich of Diocese of Duluth as bishop of Rapid City

Bulletin Extras, May 2020
12May 2020 by rkranz
WASHINGTON—Pope Francis has named Father Peter M. Muhich, a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, as the Bishop of Rapid City. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on May 12, 2020, by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Diocese of Rapid City has been a vacant see since July 2019. Bishop-elect Muhich was born on May 13, 1961, and ordained to the priesthood on September 29, 1989, for the Diocese of Duluth. Father Muhich attended Eveleth High School in Eveleth, MN and University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. He studied theology at American College of Louvain in Belgium. Father Muhich’s assignments in the Diocese of Duluth after ordination include: parochial vicar at St. Francis Parish in Brainerd (1989-1991); parochial vicar at St. Joseph,…
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Ordination Class of 2020 study provides hope for the state of vocations in the Church

Bulletin Extras
23Apr 2020 by rkranz
WASHINGTON – The release of the study of the Ordination Class of 2020 reveals a great sign of life and hope in the Church in the United States, despite the midst of uncertainty in the world brought by the coronavirus pandemic. At a moment when the faithful are prone to despair and struggle with the sadness of not having the sacraments available, and the public celebration of the Mass suspended, this profile of the 2020 Ordination Class is a ray of light. It is a tangible sign of God’s continued care for His Church. As a part of its mandate, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations sponsors an annual survey, in conjunction with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA),…
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President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops releases message for Holy Week 2020

April 2020, Bulletin Extras
06Apr 2020 by rkranz
WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement for Holy Week. Archbishop Gomez’s full statement follows: “Future generations will look back on this as the long Lent of 2020, a time when disease and death suddenly darkened the whole earth. As we enter into Holy Week, these most sacred days of the year, Catholics across the United States and the world are living under quarantine, our societies shut down by the coronavirus pandemic. “But we know that our Redeemer lives. Even in this extraordinary and challenging moment, we give thanks for what Jesus Christ has done for us by his life, death, and resurrection. Even now, we marvel at the beautiful mystery of our salvation,…
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Mount Marty College will soon be Mount Marty University

Bulletin Extras, January 2020
30Jan 2020 by rkranz
YANKTON, SD – Mount Marty College announced January 29 its intention to change its name to Mount Marty University. This change, which will go into effect on July 1, 2020, was approved by both the College’s Board of Trustees and the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery. This change promises to be another step forward for an 83-year old institution that has long made its impact known through a combination of liberal arts and career-oriented education steeped in the Catholic Benedictine tradition. Sister Maribeth Wentzlaff, Prioress of Sacred Heart Monastery, says she is proud of the institution for making this historical change. “Throughout Biblical history, when a person or place is given a name change, it has significant, long-lasting ramifications.  It is usually a call to assume a new role or to…
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Father Andrew Young making the most of his work as military chaplain

Bulletin Extras, January 2020
22Jan 2020 by rkranz
Father Andrew Young, military chaplain with the Air Force, serves the Holy Spirit Catholic community at Hurlburt Field near Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He makes the most of his ministry to the military personnel there. In the photo shared by Father Young's parents, he is baptizing his God daughter at the base chapel the last week of December. The Diocese of Sioux Falls is his home diocese.
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Bon Homme #4002 Knights gather for oyster feed

Bulletin Extras, January 2020
22Jan 2020 by rkranz
[caption id="attachment_4755" align="alignright" width="300"] State, district and neighboring council members attended the annual Rocky Mountain oyster feed.[/caption] Bon Homme Knights of Columbus #4002 gathered for a Rocky Mountain oyster feed in December at the Fr. Cronin Memorial Center at St. Leo the Great Parish in Tyndall. During the gathering, Bob Rennolet (immediate past Grand Knight) received his outgoing Grand Knight pin from current Grand Knight Ken Ranek. Ernie Bures was presented with his honorary life card. [caption id="attachment_4756" align="alignleft" width="225"] Bob Rennolet, immediate past Grand Knight, receiving his award from current Grand Knight Ken Ranek.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4757" align="alignright" width="225"] Financial Secretary Hubert Zimmerman presents Ernie Bures with his Honorary Life card.[/caption]
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