Mary, Protect Us!

Bishop John M. Quinn

Dear Friends in Christ,

In October, the Church celebrates the month of the Most Holy Rosary, an occasion to remember Our Blessed Mother’s special role in the history of salvation, and in our own lives as well. While on the cross, Christ gave the Blessed Virgin Mary to the Beloved Disciple John, to be the mother of the Church and all Christians. From her throne in heaven, she watches over and cares for each one of us as a loving mother. The rosary in particular is a wonderful way in which to meditate on the life of Jesus, the mysteries of our salvation, through the eyes of faith, and to ask Our Blessed Mother to intercede for us in all of our trials and needs.

Many of the greatest saints have found that having a close relationship with Mary, the Mother of God, has transformed their own lives of faith. One powerful way in which we can draw closer to the Virgin Mary is by consecrating ourselves to her, thereby entrusting her with all we are and have, so she can bring us to Jesus and safeguard us on the way to eternal life. Jesus Christ entrusted His Church to His mother, and desires that we entrust ourselves to her as well and seek to emulate her humility and life of perfect discipleship.

Every year, it is my privilege to renew the consecration of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, dedicating our entire diocese to Mary and her maternal protection. This year, the renewal of the diocesan consecration will take place on October 7, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary, at a special 5:15 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Winona. The faculty and staff of Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary will be in attendance, and all are welcome. May Our Lady, who only seeks to carry out her Son’s will, bring about in us a greater love and devotion to her Son, Jesus Christ.

In the last couple of months, we have witnessed the devastation and destruction that has occurred in Haiti and the southeastern United States. Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, and this summer it suffered from back-toback natural disasters, first a massive earthquake, and then a tropical storm. Citizens will not only have to deal with short-term needs, but also the rebuilding of basic infrastructure such as churches, schools, and clinics. In our own country, multiple hurricanes have caused widespread damage and flooding, with millions of people without homes, electricity, jobs, and resources such as water, food, and fuel.

To aid in alleviating the suffering of our brothers and sisters in the wake of these natural disasters, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has asked that dioceses in the U.S. take up special collections for the benefit of those suffering from the recent natural disasters. In September, parishes took up a collection specifically for Haiti, and in October another one will be held for hurricane recovery. The money will go to Catholic Relief Services, which is the international relief agency of the Church in the U.S. I thank you in advance for your generosity; Christ Himself said that whatever we do for those in need, we do for Him. Blessed are you, for aiding our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Last December, Pope Francis declared a Year of St. Joseph from December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021, to commemorate the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being proclaimed the patron of the universal Church. St. Joseph is silent in the Scriptures, but we can learn a tremendous amount from him by his example of being obedient to the will of God, sacrificing himself and his own plans for the sake of his wife Mary and foster son Jesus. From Joseph we have an example of devoted fatherhood, an example much needed in today’s world. In the Year of St. Joseph, we and the entire Church are invited to deepen our knowledge of and devotion to St. Joseph and his role in our lives.

One esteemed practice in our Catholic tradition is that of making a pilgrimage, a journey of faith, to some holy site. Oftentimes we think of making a pilgrimage to someplace far away, such as Rome or the Holy Land. However, we can also make pilgrimages to sites closer to home as well. Here in the Diocese of WinonaRochester, St. Joseph Parish in Owatonna is welcoming anyone who would like to make a personal pilgrimage in this year of St. Joseph. You can pray before a statute of St. Joseph, and there are also prayer cards, St. Joseph medals, and oil from the Shrine of St. Joseph started by St. Andre Bessette in Montreal, Canada. For more information, you can visit the parish website at stjosephowatonna.org or call the parish office at 507-451-4845.

Another way to increase devotion to St. Joseph is by having a statue of the saint in your home. This fall, the Diocese of WinonaRochester is teaming up with Christians in the Holy Land to sell blessed, handcarved statues of St. Joseph. Christians in the Holy Land have long relied on tourism to provide for their families, but with COVID their main source of income has dried up. Thus, by supporting the St. Joseph Project, you will not only receive a beautiful statue of St. Joseph, but you will also be supporting our fellow Christians who desire to stay in the land of Christ’s birth, despite the many hardships there. Statue order forms can be obtained from your parish and for more information you can contact Peter Martin at pmartin@ dowr.org or 507-858-1273.

St. Joseph also provides for us a wonderful example of someone who cherishes and protects life, especially the most vulnerable. Every October, the Church in the U.S. observes Respect Life Month, and this year’s theme is “St. Joseph, defender of life, pray for us!” The forces of evil are powerful in the world and it is only through the power of our Triune God, and the intercession of the saints, that we will be able to faithfully defend life from conception to natural death.

In the last few months, our country has seen many battles over laws protecting the unborn. Sadly, many in our culture see abortion merely as “health care” and not as the destruction of innocent human life. It is important for all of us to stand firm in our conviction that every human life is precious and deserves a right to live, and to not get discouraged in the face of failures and setbacks. We may not always see how our prolife efforts and witness affects others and changes lives, but we are called to be faithful in the fight for life, trusting that the Lord will bring our efforts to fruition in His time. Blessed are you!

Sincerely in Christ,

+ John M. Quinn Bishop of Winona-Rochester