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News Notes – July 21, 2011

Catholic-friendly movie coming soon to the Twin Cities

If you’ve ever complained about how the Catholic faith is treated in motion pictures, here’s a movie you shouldn’t miss. Watch for a special engagement of “Vito Bonafacci,” sponsored by The Catholic Spirit, coming soon. Catholic News Service reviewer John Mulderig had this to say about it: “Were the Catholic Church to begin giving cinematic imprimaturs, few films would be better qualified to receive one than ‘Vito Bonafacci’ (Cavu), writer-director John Martoccia’s meditative — and theologically impeccable — exploration of Scripture-based doctrine and spirituality.”

Minnesota Boychoir at Vatican

The Minnesota Boychoir recently completed a tour of Italy, where the group sang four songs for the 5:30 p.m. high Mass on the feast of Ss. Peter and Paul at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Although the pope was not presiding, Mark Johnson, the choir’s artistic director, said the stress level was especially high for the Catholic boys in the choir, who also were able to take Communion at the Vatican.

“The boys all realized and knew that they were about to do something pretty fantastic,” he said. With about 1,500 people seated for the Mass and many tourists also in the church, “they knew the significance of the event.”

All the concerts in Italy during the 12-day tour were in major cathedrals and venues, he said.

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“The Boychoir . . . is a lot about experiences that change lives and build character and change young men,” said Johnson, who added that before the tour he had received a letter from Archbishop John Nienstedt. The letter said, in part: “I can only imagine how memorable  your participation at Mass in St. Peter’s will be. Having sung there in a choir myself many years ago, I know how special this experience will be for you and your choir members.” For more about the Minnesota Boychoir and the Italy tour, read the blog and see photos on the web at http://www.boychoir.org.

Sister Thelma Vetsch to be honored

Sister Thelma Vetsch, a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, will be honored with a Mass and reception beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, July 24, at Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Parkway in St. Paul, where she has served the past 26 years. She is retiring to the motherhouse in Mankato after 67 years of active ministry as a teacher, principal, librarian and parish worker in the states of Washington, North Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. In this archdiocese, she also served at Assum­p­tion and St. Agnes in St. Paul and Corpus Christi in Roseville.

Sister Julia Maus dies at 106

Sister Julia Anne Maus, the oldest living Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration, died June 26. Services were held in LaCrosse, Wis., where her community is based.

Sister Julia Anne

Sister Julia was born in Albany in 1905. She graduated from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph in 1922, St. Cloud College in 1926 and the University of Minnesota in 1929 with majors in English and journalism.

She worked as a teacher in Eveleth before entering her community at age 42. She then taught journalism at Aquinas High School in LaCrosse.

After retirement she was a pastoral minister and religious education coordinator at Epiphany in Coon Rapids until 1990.

New Totino-Grace president

William Hudson was named president of Totino-Grace High School in Fridley on July 1. He succeeds Christian Brother Milton Barker, who retired after serving 24 years as the school’s president. Hudson served seven years as vice president for mission at the high school. He previously served with the National Catholic Educational Association in Washington, D.C., at Hill-Murray School in Maplewood and Trinity Catholic School in St. Paul. He also is an adjunct faculty member at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and serves on several archdiocesan Catholic school boards.

Reflection day for widows

Our lady of Grace in Edina hosted the first “Hope Rekindled: Widows’ Day of Reflection,” co-sponsoring the event with the Archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life and the Knights of Columbus.

About 200 widows from six states attended the event, which began with a Mass and featured reflections by author and television producer Johnnette Benkovic. Benkovic is the producer of Women of Grace on EWTN and Women of Grace Live, a call-in radio talk show.

 


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