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Leave No Trace speaks out strongly for resource protection

This weekend we embark on the last big weekend of the summer, the three-day Labor Day weekend with all of its normally nice weather and fun times. Many of us will spend at least part of the holiday outdoors. We’ll camp, hike, swim, go boating or fishing, or have a picnic. We’ll connect with the natural world. As we’re enjoying ourselves, it’s good to take at least a few minutes to think about how we treat our natural resources, We should ask ourselves if we’re using them responsibly, if we’re preserving them in a way that will make them pristine for many years to ...

Statement from Bishop Zielinski on Annunciation school shooting

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Our hearts are heavy as we grieve with Annunciation School as well as the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis following the tragedy that took place this morning. We extend heartfelt prayers for the victims, their families, the school community, and the local Church. May Christ, the Divine Healer, bring peace, comfort, and strength in the midst of this unimaginable sorrow. In moments like this, we are reminded of the sacred trust placed in us to care for and protect the children in our Catholic schools. Please be assured that in the Diocese ...

A major mower malfunction

It was sad to see her go. We’d been together for so long — nearly twenty years — that she had come to seem like a member of the family. Time had clearly taken its toll; she didn’t have nearly the same levels of vim and vigor as in her younger days. But I still very much enjoyed her company, especially when I rode her on balmy summer afternoons. I was with her the other day when she began to hiccup uncontrollably. This was deeply concerning. But then, a few seconds later, she stopped and would move no more. Something deep inside me told me that something was deeply wrong with ...

Dogging it

With the turn of the calendar page into September, the dog days of summer will soon be behind us, and the real dog days of fall can begin. With grouse openers in mid-September, primary waterfowl seasons starting later in the month, and pheasant season kicking off in October, those hunting seasons where our canine friends shine are just around the corner. Being prepared for those outings and expecting the unexpected is key in keeping hunting dogs at their peak for the entire fall. Move it Just like people need a little pre-season training to get into shape for fall hunting, ...

Where is it?

It was so comforting to feel the feeling. In all honesty, I do like my alone moments. Perhaps it’s my introspective leaning personality, but those times to collect, sort and arrange thoughts are very important to me. It’s my hope you have periods of peace, too. However and obviously, there is another element of life all of us need and that is the presence of other people. Presence is a powerful time for us to build relationships, to discover and to hang onto the past. In a bit of time, our family will be coming together to celebrate the presence of each other. ...

Looking at empathy

The word empathy is used a lot. Sometimes it is confused with sympathy, but they are different. When you feel sympathy for somebody those are your feelings, experienced by you. Sympathy involves what you feel when you witness another person’s suffering or terrible misfortune. You may feel compassion, pity, sadness, or sorrow for him or her. So what is empathy? Empathy is your ability to understand someone else’s feelings. In a way, it is something like putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. It involves recognizing, understanding, responding to, sharing, or even ...