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What is New in Mission in the St. Cloud Diocese?
Here are some of the great goings-on in Mission througout the St. Cloud Diocese:
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HCA National Prayer Week is March 14-21st. Join us in praying: Dear God, Through our Baptism, we are called to share Your love and Your peace everywhere. We are Your ambassadors, sent to bring the "Good News" of Jesus to all, beginning in our own communities and reaching "to the ends of the earth." Fill our hearts with the love and peace of Jesus, especially as we meet Him in the Sacraments. Help us to be examples of Your compassion and a source of Your hope to all, especially those who are poor, lonely, suffering and sick. Give us strenth to show others what it means to follow Jesus. Help us to answer the call to be His witnesses, His missionaries. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who is Lord forever. Amen.
- Looking for treats to fill your Easter baskets? Try Fair Trade! To learn more about Fair Trade and our church's call to support just labor practices, visit Catholic Relief Services's Fair Trade website. You can also purchase Fair Trade coffee, chocolates, snacks, artisan crafts and other unique gifts from SERRV, Equal Exchange, Ten Thousand Villages, or the Mission Office.
- Every year our diocese participates in Catholic Relief Services' Operation Rice Bowl program. 25% of funds raised remain in the diocese and are used to offer grants to local organizations addressing hunger in our area. View and print the 2010 Local Rice Bowl Grant Application form here if your parish or organization is interested in applying for funds.
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 Caitie Tobin
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Welcome Caitie! Caitie Tobin is a Franciscan Community Volunteer (FCV) with our office until June, coming to us from Australia with various cross-cultural experiences, mostly in Asia, and a passion for Catholic social justice. Stop by and meet Caitie on Wedesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, or contact us to find out how you can invite her to come and share about her experiences with your school, parish or group. To find out more about the Franciscan Community Volunteer program, visit the FCV website or check out their blog.
- Check out our February Educators Bulletin, a special monthly 1-page bulletin with insights into how you can incorporate mission education into your school, parish or family activities this year! You can also view our Mission Education page for tons of additional resources and ideas!
- Thank you to everyone who has so generously donated to relief efforts in Haiti! Visit our Mission Education page for important resources on Haiti and how we can better stand in solidarity with them long-after this crisis.
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 The World Mission Rosary, a unique 5-colored Rosary representing the whole world!
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We are still in need of World Mission Rosary donations at the Mission Office, as well as schools, faith formation programs and groups to request these unique rosaries so that they can join in the prayer for our world! Contact the Mission Office if you'd like these unique rosaries, or if you're able to make and donate World Mission Rosaries to our schools, parishes or partners around the world.
"I cannot posses Christ just for myself; I can belong to him only in union with all those who have become, or who will become, his own. Communion draws me out of myself towards him, and thus also towards unity with all Christians. We become 'one body,' completely joined in a single existence. Love of GOD and love of neighbor are now truly united."
Message of Pope Benedict XVI
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What is the Mission Office?
A Message from Rosanne Fischer, Director of the St. Cloud Mission Office
The Saint Cloud Mission Office carries the primary responsibility for promotion of the global outreach of the Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud. The staff considers their role to be bridge-builders between our diocesan church and communities of faith throughout the world. We carry this out in numerous ways, including programs of the Pontifical Mission Societies and Catholic Relief Services, as well as our Global Solidarity Faith Partnerships with the Dioceses of Homa Bay, Kenya and Maracay, Venezuela. The overall goal of the office is to engage as many members of the diocese as possible in the global mission of Christ.
 Fr. Gregory Ombok from Kenya shares about his life and country with students from St. Ann's School in Wadena |
The office serves as a conduit for both people and monetary exchange with the missioners from our diocese as well as the numerous relationships we have with faith communities around the world. We encourage and support mission curriculum development in our schools and Faith Formation programs, the World Mission Rosary, sister parish relationships, our mission Speakers Bureau, the Missionary Cooperation Plan, the sharing of Mass stipends and prayers throughout the world, parish mission groups and the encouragement of mission vocations.
Our ministry is about building right relationships with GOD and with others. It is about transformation: healing ourselves and our world; building up and being taken up into the Reign of GOD. A profound realization that our own salvation is linked with the salvation of others guides our spirit and our work. For as the missionary document from Vatican II, Ad Gentes, states, we go to God "not just singly, apart from any mutual bond," but molded together as a people, made one by the Spirit.
 Mission Office staff: Rosanne Fischer (left), Kateri Mancini (center) and Mary Lou Janski (right) |
The office is staffed by 3 employees:
- Rosanne Fischer, Director
- Kateri Mancini, Coordinator of Mission Education
- Mary Lou Janski, Office Manager
Fr. Bill Vos, past office director, also volunteers in the office as Diocesan Director of Catholic Relief Services.
 Delegates from St. Cloud visiting their partner Diocese of Maracay, Venezuela |
Two 12-member Committees assist with coordination of the activities of our diocesan partnerships with:
- The Diocese of Homa Bay, Kenya
- The Diocese of Maracay, Venezuela
Our Board of Directors, which meets quarterly, includes:
- Fr. Marv Enneking, Vicar General of St. Cloud Diocese
- Rosanne Fischer, Mission Office director
- Kathy Langer, Director of Social Concerns for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Jim Schulzetenberg, permanent deacon for St. Louis Parish in Paynesville, St. Agnes Parish in Roscoe, and St. Margaret Parish in Lake Henry
- Fr. Bill Vos, retired diocesan priest and director emeritus
- Bishop Al Sowada, Crosier Fathers and Brothers, Bishop Emeritus of Agats, Indonesia
- Deacon Ernie Kociemba, Businessman and permanent deacon of St. Mary's parish in Melrose
- Sister Carol Schmit, OSF, Franciscan sister of Little Falls and minister at Clare's Well in Annandale
Our Corporate Board, which meets once annually, includes:
- Bishop John Francis Kinney, Ordinary of St. Cloud
- Fr. Marv Enneking, Vicar General
- Fr. Bob Rolfes, Chancellor
- Rosanne Fischer, Director of Mission Office
 Fair Trade chocolates for sale |
The St. Cloud Mission Office also serves as an advocate and small outlet for Fair Trade sales. The Office has a selection of Fair Trade coffees from various countries, chocolates, hot cocoa, artisan crafts, jewelry, etc. In addition, we also carry many items made and donated by the approximately 200 Mission Groups in parishes throughout the diocese; these items include quilts, baby quilts, embroidered dishtowels, homemade greeting cards, rosaries, and more.
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Regular office hours are 9am-4pm, Monday thru Thursday. However, due to limited staff and our busy outreach schedule the building will not always be unlocked during these times. Please call ahead to ensure that we will be available to help you. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Map and directions to the Mission Office. |
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