KOINONIA KRIER Central MN Newsletter Reflection Corner
KOINONIA KRIER Central MN Newsletter Reflection Corner
KOINONIA KRIER Central MN Newsletter Reflection Corner
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<strong>KOINONIA</strong> <strong>KRIER</strong><br />
<strong>Central</strong> <strong>MN</strong> <strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
WEBSITE: www.centralmnkoinonia.org<br />
"Amen, Amen I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;<br />
but if it dies, it produces much fruit." John 12:24<br />
_________________________________________________________________________Summer 2011<br />
<strong>Reflection</strong> <strong>Corner</strong>____________________<br />
“…And still you do not know me?”<br />
In Matthew, Chapter 25, Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. After separating them into<br />
two groups, the king says to the first group: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you<br />
gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison<br />
and you visited me.<br />
Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty<br />
and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we<br />
see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you<br />
did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Did you know….<br />
The wealthiest 1% of our population own more than 90% of us combined.<br />
The wealthiest 10% of our population own more than ¾ of the nation’s wealth.<br />
Many of us may know that there is a large and growing wealth gap between a tiny fringe of super-rich<br />
Americans and most of the rest of us. But how many realize that this gap robs all of us? And that doesn’t mean<br />
just financially. Such enormous wealth concentrated in the hands of the elite few is cracking the democratic<br />
foundation of our nation. It is long past time to ring the alarm bells. Why? Because an extreme concentration of<br />
wealth translates into political power, which is helping to shape our government’s actions and laws. The elite<br />
few can afford armies of lobbyists and legal expertise, and they can funnel enormous amounts of money into<br />
elections. This helps a small minority keep and grow their power and wealth – even though millions of people<br />
struggle and suffer at the economic margins.<br />
Wealth is, in itself, not bad. But when the disparities grow as huge as they are now, we have a problem –<br />
a problem that affects society at all levels. In response, we are called by our faith to be justice-seekers – to help<br />
ensure that the basic human needs of all people are met and that our government truly serves the common good.<br />
As Christians, we MUST be involved in working for justice by making sure that our leaders are doing what they<br />
can to care for the needs of the poor and vulnerable in our society. The rich can take care of themselves. The<br />
poor need our help.<br />
Blessings, and have a great summer!<br />
Fr. Bob Pierson OSB<br />
CMK #184 September 17-19, 2010 Lord of the Dance<br />
Candidates:<br />
Linda Scepurek, Little Falls Grant Bramhall, Milaca<br />
Jeff Aschnewitz, Fergus Falls Sam Everslage, Freeport<br />
Diane Aschewitz, Fergus Falls Diane Filipek, Milaca<br />
Janna Williams, Harris Sandy Altman, East Bethel
CMSK #9 October 2010 Summergeme<br />
Candidates:<br />
Wendy Aguilar, Mpls. Adelaido Raya, Melrose<br />
Rafael Celaya, Willmar Stephanie Mejia, Waite Park<br />
Ciro Snachez, Richfield Blanca Espinoza, Mpls.<br />
Matilde Mendoza, Melrose Jovanna Maldonado, Waite Park<br />
Hilda Logez, Mpls. Leoplodo Chavez, Pelican Rapids<br />
Giampiero Conti, Cold Spring Baldomero Barragan, Melrose<br />
Margarita Rosas, Mpls. Jose Valencia, Willmar<br />
Maria Elba Arias, Waite Park Ruperto Flores<br />
Sindy Argueta, St. Cloud<br />
Coming from a Koinonnia full of potential leaders in CMSK # 8, # 9 gave us a great look at how broken the<br />
world is. God allowed us to see, experience, and be part of the healing power of the Eucharist in <strong>KOINONIA</strong><br />
#9. People from all walks of life came searching to be sumerged in the cleansing and healing waters of life that<br />
can only come from our Lord Jesus. As our theme song stated "Sumergeme en el Rios de tu Espiritu" (Sumerge<br />
me Lord in the River of your Holy Spirit). The candidates opened their hearts and souls to that Healing Power.<br />
Thank you Lord for loving us so unconditionally. Jonathan Walz<br />
CMK #185 November 12-14, 2010 And the Father Will Dance<br />
Candidates:<br />
Frank Dorsey, Buffalo Cathy Paquin, Somerset, WI<br />
Kim Bunke, Stewart Michael Hoffman, Little Falls<br />
Ruth Wochnick, St. Joseph Jim Steigauf, Andover<br />
Faye Diederich, Pierz Lisa Thomas, Litchfield<br />
Fran Meierhofer, Kimball Betty Kampa Miller, St. Cloud<br />
Lori Buckentin, Green Isle<br />
CMK185 was a wonderful weekend. Fr Ernie Martello was a great leader of a very<br />
spirit-filled weekend. Our theme song, “And the Father will Dance” and all the music that weekend was filled<br />
with excitement and enthusiasm as we had a wonderful leader in Pat Coffee. We had a wonderful Wheat Team<br />
as well with spiritual uplifting and great food. We hope all that were part of CMK 185 will always know how<br />
God touched our lives and all those around us.<br />
Unfortunately, we did not have a mini-reunion as the weather did not cooperate. The roads were very icy and so<br />
with great regret we had to cancel the mini-reunion. However, we did get in contact with most of you that day<br />
and shared a little of our forth days. We have since seen many of you at other Koinonias and are grateful for the<br />
connection we had at CMK185. God Bless. Ron & Karen Leither, Lay Directors<br />
CMK #186 January 21-23, 2011 Companions on the Journey<br />
Candidates:<br />
Gary Diederich, Pierz Dee Lehner, Albert Lea<br />
John Schmidt, Savage Kathy Oelschlager, Minneapolis<br />
Denny Floersch, Battle Lake Terri Jo Cadwallader, Long Prairie<br />
Roger Baas, Long Prairie Gene Ingebritson, Staples<br />
Lindsey Schmidt, Rice
CMK #186 was an amazing, Spirit-led weekend. We were blessed to serve wonderful<br />
candidates and work with an awesome team. As the Spiritual Director, Fr. Ernie Martello is a<br />
very gentle, thoughtful man who gave down-to-earth homilies. There several married couples<br />
who served on the team, including Greg and Darlene Brand, who did a great job leading music<br />
for the first time. During the weekend, we learned to journey together. Even in the dead of<br />
winter, the love that was experienced on the weekend lit up the room and warmed our hearts.<br />
It was a great experience for us as first-time Lay Directors. Thank you! Jeff and Rebecca Maciej<br />
CMSK #10 February 2011 Mi Padre Me Ama<br />
Candidates:<br />
Braulio Pedroza, Pelican Rapids Ana Zuniga, Willmar<br />
Natalia Caldera Ornelas, Little Falls Mario Alvardo, Perham<br />
Victor Torres, St. Cloud Carlos Perez Hernandez Pelican Rapids<br />
Manrrique Leyva, St. Cloud Jesus Prieto, Long Prairie<br />
Ana Leyva, St. Cloud Trinidad Gonzalez, Long Prairie<br />
Celia I. Aguilar, Minneapolis Cynthia Salazar, Brooklyn Center<br />
Pilar Perez, Pelican Rapids Graciela Franco, Pelican Rapids<br />
Aurora Cisneros Lemus, Long Prairie Maria Carrillo, Long Prairie<br />
Jairo Rodriguez Torres, Waite Park Miriam Montanez, Long Prairie<br />
Alberto Rodriguez Acevedo, Minneapolis Marisela Torres, Anoka<br />
Yuan Cruz, St. Cloud Alex Garcia, Waite Park<br />
Blanca Guajardo, Perham Erika Abrahamson, Waite Park<br />
Maria del Refugio Valencia, Willmar America Guadalupe Rodriguez, Waite Park<br />
Hermila Ornelas, Willmar Estela Ramirez Raya, Long Prairie<br />
Maria Orozco, Long Prairie Susana Franco, Pelican Rapids<br />
Rosa Howard Diaz, Spring Lake Park Patricia Hidalgo, Melrose<br />
Elena Torres, St. Cloud Ismael Hidalgo, Melrose<br />
Faviola Rodriguez, West St. Paul Susana Benitez, Coon Rapids<br />
Hilda Lopez Casales, Anoka Lidia O Huerta, Isanti<br />
Marta Chavez, Pelican Rapids Martrha Flores, Minneapolis<br />
Saul Chavez, Pelican Rapids Teresa Rosario Moctezuma, Minneapolis<br />
Deysi Moreno, Pelican Rapids Maria Vega, Minneapolis<br />
Maria Berta Garcia, Melrose Margarita Cervantes, Long Prairie<br />
Ivan Franco, Pelican Rapids Monica Galvan, Long Prairie<br />
David Barragan, Pelican Rapids Margarita Galvan, Long Prairie<br />
Imelda Chavez, Pelican Rapids Maricela Gallarzo, Fridley<br />
Servando Guitierrez, St. Cloud Reyna Aguilar, Hilltop<br />
Maria Elena Gutierrez, St. Cloud Lidia Mancilla, Indio, CA<br />
Maria Salgado, Sauk Centre Elizabeth Chavez, Pelican Rapids<br />
Arturo Salgado, Sauk Centre Yesenia Escobar, Pelican Rapids<br />
Eloy Franco, Pelican Rapids Carolina Rivera, Long Prairie<br />
Gabina Rodrizuez de Marales, Crystal Maria Trinadad Santacruz Guzman, Little Falls<br />
Juan Carlos Castillo Gonzales, Pelican Rapids Gil Carrillo, Melrose<br />
Maria Guadalupe Villagomez, Pelican Rapids<br />
CMSK #10 marked the 10th anniversary. We were exited about it, expecting a good number<br />
and a good number in deed came 67 to be exact. As the Director of a retreat I have never work<br />
with such a focused group. They came looking for Love, they came to experience it, they<br />
came to live in love and in community. It was a difficult weekend, Wheat went to bed @ 1 or
2 in the morning the first night to get up again @ 5 AM the next day. We had to take some people from the<br />
Wheat team to help us in the Conference Room. We could see the Holy Spirit hard at work if you stopped and<br />
look closely. The one thing that struck the great majority of the candidates was the sense of humility and how<br />
personal we made the retreat. They all agreed that they all felt how attentive we were with them, therefore that<br />
feeling of truly being part of a Community. Thank you Lord for showing us the way. Jonathan Walz<br />
CMK #187 March 18-20 Prayer of St. Francis<br />
Candidates:<br />
Chris Heitz, Monticello Wayne Gotvald, Hillman<br />
Jess Dietl, St. Cloud Alan Gotvald, Hillman<br />
Michael Denzer, Belle Plaine Curt Mitchell, Woodville, WI<br />
Meghan Plotz, Clements Maristelle Binsfeld, St. Cloud<br />
Jared Spolar, Princeton Jackie Higgins, Rice<br />
Dawn Vant Hof, Milaca Brooke Richards, Hillman<br />
Irene Zens, Glenwood Jim Nowak, Silver Lake<br />
Claudette Moran, Little Falls Maureen Schaefer, Melrose<br />
Judy Killian, St. Cloud Deacon Matthew Crane, St. Paul<br />
Audrey Magedanz, Richmond Paula Bauman, Oakdale<br />
Stacey Watje, Clements<br />
CMK #187 was extra special because we had Fr. David Maciej as our Spiritual Director and Deacon Matthew<br />
Crane as a first time candidate. He did such a nice job helping with the masses, and we hope he will come back<br />
to serve once he is ordained in June. Our candidates had a wonderful weekend discovering God’s deep love.<br />
Our unofficial theme developed into the love of mothers, fathers, sons or daughters on the weekend together.<br />
Thanks again to the wonderful Wheaties who did a fantastic job praying and taking care of us. The food was<br />
awesome! We all became better instruments of God’s love, light, peace, and joy. We pray that everyone will<br />
continue to come to Koinonia weekends and keep the family growing. Shari and Rita<br />
CMK #188 May 13-15, 2011 Lord, You Have Come to the Sea Shore<br />
Candidates:<br />
Peggy Eiden, Cologne Corey Abrahamson, St. Cloud<br />
Joanne Engnell Princeton Danita Traut, St. Stephen<br />
Ron and Edna Goracke, Alexandria Edith Gerads, St. Stephen<br />
Dorothy Merten, Waite Park Darcy Cowing Frank, Battle Lake<br />
We were blessed with the spiritual leadership of Father Tony Kroll, a team that worked together like gears in a clock, the<br />
powerful prayers of our Wheat Team and best of all the many candidates of the weekend. With the prayers, hard work of<br />
all, and believe it or not, our theme song with half of it in Spanish, we truly became a community and encountered Christ.<br />
We are grateful to all who served and participated in the weekend and became a part of our lives. We look forward to<br />
serving our Lord together again soon. Renee Lofgren and Anita Goth<br />
Koinonia Prayer Network<br />
Do you need prayers? Do you want to serve the Koinonia community, but have<br />
difficulty finding the time? The Koinonia Prayer Network may be just what you are<br />
looking for! The primary purpose of the prayer network of <strong>Central</strong> Minnesota Koinonia is<br />
to get special and urgent prayer requests to the entire Koinonia community as quickly as<br />
possible. In other words, you can be available to pray for the requests of others, and/or<br />
you can have others praying for your requests.
If you are interested in sending prayer requests or in joining the group receiving prayer requests, please<br />
e-mail Brother Dan Stang at dstang@crosier.org<br />
Because we would like this prayer network to be a source of support and not gossip, we require that<br />
people maintain confidentiality. One way to help maintain confidentiality is that any names listed in your prayer<br />
request be limited to first names only.<br />
Scholarships and Donations<br />
We, the Board of Directors, would like to thank each and every one of you who were able to donate to the first<br />
annual Koinonia Fundraiser. Also, to those of you who prayed for it’s success. It was very successful and a total<br />
of $4,023. $1,315 was raised and donated towards the Ray & Cele Silver Scholarship Fund (this fund is for<br />
Hispanic and English Koinonia Scholarships for those in need). Another $2,453 was donated towards the<br />
General Fund. There was also another $255 donated towards the Spanish Koinonia Fund. We hope you feel<br />
confident that we will be very careful with the dollars you entrusted with us to keep <strong>Central</strong> Minnesota<br />
Koinonia financially healthy. Following are two testimonials from Scholarship recipients:<br />
Sandy: When I first heard of the CMK retreat program, I was curious about going and learning what it was<br />
all about. However, there were two major problems. First, my disability made getting away difficult and<br />
second, I did not know if I would be accepted for who I am. I was excited about Koinonia, but put it in the back<br />
of my mind until my sister asked me if I wanted to attend in September for CMK #184. I was nervous and<br />
excited but agreed to attend. My friend Greg – and what a friend he is – told me about it as we drove up from<br />
Minneapolis for the weekend. When we arrived I was so surprised because the two things I mentioned – my<br />
disability and desire to be accepted for who I am – were no problem at all. The weekend was full of surprises,<br />
love, new special friends, and was beyond expectation. I was able to attend the weekend in part due to the<br />
scholarship money available and am grateful for the help. I would recommend the weekend to anyone! God<br />
Bless.<br />
Joanne: This year my world began to crash around me financially, emotionally, and physically. We made our<br />
rent payments, but the landlord quit making the mortgage payments and as a result all her properties, including<br />
this one, went into foreclosure. There are four generations amounting to 8 people. This winter, my 12 year old<br />
grandson was diagnosed with Chrome’s disease and my 19 year old granddaughter went from<br />
“pre-schizophrenic” condition to full blown Schizophrenia. During this time our little Dominick was taken to<br />
the ER with +105 fever. My grandson came home for a two week visit from Afghanistan then went back. With<br />
all this going on my stress level was off the charts. I knew I needed a break, but I didn’t have the money to pay<br />
for the weekend. In come Mary Lou and LeRoy with a scholarship. I came home recharged and while a lot did<br />
not change at home, I seem to be more at peace. God bless all of you for a wonderful weekend.<br />
Other donations include: new vinyl banners for each day of the weekend, a banner of Christ, a banner for our<br />
large wooden frame for the team and candidate photo, and a banner for candidates to see which door to enter for<br />
registration. All the banners were designed by Kristi Floersch and donated by her and her husband, E.B., from<br />
Battle Lake.<br />
Thanks for sharing your time, talent and financial gift that can be enjoyed by many. We will again be sending<br />
out a request letter later this year so that we don’t need to raise the cost of a retreat weekend and that we will not<br />
have to turn a candidate away from making a Koinonia Retreat because of financial difficulties. We hope you<br />
feel good about the decision you made to support the Koinonia Retreat Program. We truly thank you for your<br />
generous gifts. Mary Lou and LeRoy Raden and the CMK Board
Death Announcements<br />
Mark Coleman, husband of Amy Coleman<br />
Notice<br />
In two years the term will be up for LeRoy and Mary Lou Raden as Area Coordinators. Think about this and let<br />
them or another Board Member know if you are interested in finding out what the position entails. Please pray<br />
that we have someone come forward especially from the St. Cloud Diocese.<br />
Miscellaneous<br />
We really count on your to invite family, friends and co-workers to come and experience a Koinoina Retreat.<br />
We appreciate your evangelizing efforts. Check out our website centralmnkoinonia.org Our new email address<br />
is cmkoinonia@gmail.com. Please change the email on your application before you give them out. Thanks!<br />
Contact Mary Lou or LeRoy Raden at (320)293-2080 if you would want a paper copy of the Krier rather than<br />
the email copy. The Krier is also available at centralmnkoinonia.org.<br />
For people who are using GPS’s to get to the TEC Center, the best address to use is for Holy Family Church.<br />
The address is 18777 Riverwood Drive, Little Falls, Minnesota.<br />
UPCOMING WEEKENDS<br />
CMK #189 September 16-18, 2011<br />
CMSK #11 Spanish, October 7-9, 2011<br />
CMK #190 November 11-13, 2011<br />
CMK # 191 January 27-29, 2012<br />
CMSK #12 Spanish, March 2-4, 2012<br />
CMK #192 March 16-18, 2012<br />
CMK #193 May 4-6, 2012<br />
CMK # 194 September 14-16, 2012<br />
CMSK # 13 Spanish October 2012<br />
CMK #195 November 9-11, 2012