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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:
- Join the Multicultural Center of Central MN for the 3rd annual "Global Beats" Celebration of Cultures on Saturday, May 17th at the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud from 1-4pm. Free admission. Read more.
- Don't forget about mission over the summer months! The Mission Office has lots of Mission Education resources for your Vacation Bible School, youth group events, summer service trips and more! Contact Kateri for speakers, resources or ideas for how your can be involved this summer.
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Interested in practicing your speaking and listening skills of the Spanish language? The Mission Office is offering Spanish language noon hours every second Wednesday in May: May 14th & 28th. Bring your own lunch and join us at Noon at the Mission Office in St. Cloud on these dates for Spanish conversation.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for the Mission Rally on April 22nd, and especially to our speakers, presider, Bishop Kinney, and those who helped throughout the day to make it such a success! GOD bless you for your mission spirit!
- A delegation of 12 people from our diocese will be traveling to our partner diocese of Maracay, Venezuela in June. Please hold them up in prayer as they prepare for this pilgrimage of solidarity. Learn more about the partnership.
- Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Kenya! We have promised our partners in Homa Bay that we will pray for them following the difficult time in their nation; please pray the prayer for peace as peace and life is restored in Kenya.
- The following is a portion of a pastoral letter written by Bishop Philip Anyolo of Homa Bay, regarding their situation and struggles following the election:
My dear family of GOD in Homa Bay,
I greet you as my brothers and sisters, reminding ourselves of the words spoken by Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He says, “Those who listen to my words and keep them are my brothers, sisters and my mother” (Matthew 12:49-50). We know how fundamental it is to belong to a family, and to be told that our family is the family of GOD which includes all tribes, races, languages and nations.
This year we celebrated the Lenten Season at a time when Kenya was experiencing very trying moments. The crisis which followed the elections has left all of us shattered, hurt, suffering and so many completely hopeless - having lost their dear ones, their bread-winners and all their possessions, over 1000 dead and 300,000 displaced. The meaning of that situation is seen in all the destruction of life, homes, families and means of living. The cruel reality of the situation and the unbelievable behaviour of some of our own brothers to their own brothers and sisters with rape, murder, burning of children and helpless wazee etc! Such a list of senseless and beastly actions have left us weeping, mourning with bitter hearts and little faith and hope in ourselves.
The very sad situation must guide us now to turn to GOD again: “Come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning" (Joel 2:12). The post-election violence must indeed make us turn to GOD, the GOD of Truth, Justice and Love.
Read Bishop Philip's entire letter
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Learn how you can support our friends in Homa Bay
- The Mission Office is in need of people to make World Mission Rosaries (those with a different color for each decade, representing the different areas of our world. We are willing to provide any school or parish Faith Formation program with rosaries, as they are available. Please consider making these special rosaries available.
"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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About 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 and diocesan seminarians visit with Bishop Paride Taban of Sudan |
The office is staffed by 3 full time employees:
- Rosanne Fischer, Director
- Mary Lou Janski, Office Manager
- Kateri Mancini, Coordinator of Mission Education
Fr. Bill Vos, our past 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 the 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
- Rosanne Fischer
- Steve Bresnahan, Director of Catholic Charities
- Kathy Langer, Social Concerns Coordinator for the Diocese of St. Cloud
- Jim Schulzetenberg, Deacon Candidate, St. Andrew Parish in Greenwald
- Fr. Bill Vos
- Bishop Al Sowada, Crosier Fathers and Brothers, Bishop Emeritus of Agats, Indonesia
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 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 Friday. 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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Mission Home Page
Missionaries . . .