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• Technology, global travel boost numbers of sister parishes
• Chrism Mass
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Chrism Mass Photos
Bishop Kinney pours balsam fragrance into a large jar filled with sacred chrism which is held by confirmands from the Church of St. Pius X in Zimmerman and Deacon Peter VanderWeyst. Some of this chrism will be poured onto Deacon VanderWeyst’s hands on June 16, the day he is scheduled to be ordained as a priest of the St. Cloud Diocese. Chrism is used in the sacraments of initiation — baptism and confirmation — and holy orders.
Nick John, a member of St. Peter Parish in St. Cloud, transports the newly blessed oil of the sick.
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Technology, global travel boost numbers of sister parishes
by Sue Schulzetenberg
Visitor Staff Writer
ST. CLOUD DIOCESE — Young members of St. Joseph Parish in Migori, Kenya will soon be taking final tests before graduating from high school. On the other side of the globe, young members of St. Paul and Our Lady of the Angels parishes in Sauk Centre will be praying for those scholars to pass those tests.
Migori women’s groups will pray for the Sauk Centre parishioners during their all-night vigils.
The reciprocal praying is one of the blessings flowing in both directions from a “sister parish” relationship, that has grown greatly from its infancy in 2003.
Sister parishes in the diocese are becoming more popular as greater numbers of people take opportunities to travel globally and as technological advances in communication make the miles between nations seemingly melt away, said Rosanne Fischer, director of the St. Cloud Diocesan Mission Office.
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Parishioners and teachers from Kenya and Deacon Dirck Curry and Mary Lauer, representing the St. Cloud Diocese, stand behind a sea of orphans who use the church, in the background, as their classroom. The church, that doubles as a school, is a part of St. Joseph Parish in Migori, Kenya. Our Lady of the Angels and St. Paul parishes in Sauk Centre are in a sister parish relationship with the parish in Migori. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Knoblach) |
Established sister parishes in the St. Cloud Diocese as well as parishes contemplating beginning a sister parish relationship, met at St. Paul Church in Sauk Centre March 17. About five parishes in the diocese are in official sister parish relationships, and about five others are planning or contemplating forming an official sister parish relationship.
The 28 people in attendance, representing nine parishes, shared ideas about their experience with sister parishes, which can be in another country or in the U.S. The meeting might become an annual event, Fischer said.
“This forum was a big step because it brought together” for the first time multiple sister parish groups, Fischer said. Sister parishes share each other’s faith journey, learning from each other and sharing concern for each other’s well-being.
“This is a contemporary model of mission today,” Fischer said.
Chrism Mass
ST. CLOUD — Around 800 people gathered at St. Mary’s Cathedral March 29 for the chrism Mass, celebrated in the St. Cloud Diocese annually on the Thursday preceding Palm Sunday.
During Mass, pastors renewed their commitment to priestly service. And, Bishop John Kinney blessed the oil of the sick, the oil for catechumens, and the sacred chrism — a balsam-scented oil used for baptism, confirmation and holy orders.
“We come from all areas to show we are the one body of Christ; the Church is meant to include all of us,” Bishop Kinney told the assembly. He spoke of an iconic image depicting the Father, Son and Holy Spirit surrounding an altar table, but with extra room at the table, symbolizing the welcoming church.
Christ, who himself is the anointed one, uses his gift of oil to consecrate to holiness the members of his church, the bishop added.
 After Bishop Kinney’s chrism Mass homily, priests of the diocese renew their commitment to priestly service.
 Flanked by Deacon Stephen Pareja (left), who serves St. Francis Xavier Parish in Sartell, and Father Robert Rolfes, chancellor, Bishop Kinney presides at the chrism Mass.
 
Photos: At far left, Phil Zehrer, member of St. Anthony Parish in St. Cloud, and Deacon Leo Kosiba, who serves St. Mary’s Cathedral, watch as Fred Meyer of St. Mary Help of Christians Parish in St. Augusta, pours chrism oil destined to be dispensed into small bottles and distributed to each parish.
Top right, Deacon Kosiba pours oil from jar to urn.
Bottom, in the Cathedral’s downstairs crypt, oil is spigotted into small bottles while the chrism Mass is celebrated upstairs. |
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