The public is invited to gather with the diocese and Bishop Kagan on Monday, May 12 for the anniversary Mass of the ordination of the holy priesthood. Priests celebrating anniversaries this year are: 5 years – Fr. Mark Aune, Fr. Christian Smith; 15 years – Fr. Brian Gross, Fr. Christy Pathiala; 20 years – Fr. Paul Eberle, Fr. John Paul Gardner, Fr. Jolly George; 25 years – Fr. Stephen Folorunso, Fr. Daniel Berg, Fr. Fred Harvey, Fr. Chris Kadrmas, Fr. David Richter, Fr. Frank Schuster, Fr. Terry Wipf, Fr. Todd Kreitinger, Fr. Patrick Ojedeji; 35 years – Fr. John Guthrie; 50 years – Bishop David Kagan, Fr. George Pruys; 55 years – Fr. Michael Taras Miles and 60 years – Fr. John Pfeifer. The Mass will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck beginning at 11 a.m.

Please join us for the annual Blue Mass celebrated by Bishop Kagan at 5:30 p.m. at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. “Blue Mass” originated because of the color of the uniforms worn by law enforcement personnel and other emergency responders across the country. The “Blue Mass” is an opportunity to honor the memory of those who have lost their lives in service for truth and justice. We remember and pray for all active, retired and deceased law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel who have served in these invaluable disciplines. All are encouraged to attend!

Please join us for the first-ever Armed Forces Mass celebrated by Bishop Kagan at 8 a.m. at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Military Appreciation Masses are celebrations of the service and sacrifice of military personnel. These masses are often held to honor veterans, active service members and their families. They serve as a way for the Church to show its support and appreciation for those who serve in the armed forces. All are encouraged to attend!

Author and speaker Sal DiLeo will speak at Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck on Thursday, May 22 at 6:30 PM as part of his “Power of Gratitude” North Dakota speaking tour. He will share his story of being the second youngest in a family of 12 children growing up in an orphanage after their father abandoned them. As an adult, Sal aggressively sought success in business to validate his self-worth, but after chasing money and turning from God, everything fell apart. On a night he contemplated suicide, Sal called Sister Paul who had cared for him in the orphanage. She helped him to get back on the right path and to see that gratitude and forgiveness was the real way to success and freedom. The mission of his tour is to promote religious vocations for women as Catholic sisters or nuns. His book, Did I Ever Thank You Sister? is being made into the movie House of the Lion directed by Daniel Bielinski with Canticle Productions. For more information, go to houseoflionmovie.com.

Diocesan seminarian Colton Steiner will be ordained to the transitional diaconate on May 27 at 2 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Bismarck. The Mass will be livestreamed.

The mission of Worldwide Marriage Encounter is to proclaim the value of Marriage and Holy Orders in the Church and in the world. Experience a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and discover the beauty of your relationship. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekends in the region are May 30-June 1 in Valley City and Nov. 7-9 in Medora. Early registration is highly recommended. For more information visit ndwwme.org or contact Rob and Angie at [email protected] or 701-347-1998. Click on the title above to watch a short video from Fargo parishioners.