May New Earth 2013 - Section A

By S.L. Hansen

On Monday, April 8, the Feastof the Annunciation, theVatican announced that

Pope Francis appointed a newbishop of the Diocese of Fargo. Msgr.John Folda, rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary inSeward, Neb., will be ordained andinstalled as the eighth bishop ofFargo June 19.

Please turn to FARGO on page 3A

Appointed 8th Bishop of Fargo by Pope Francis on April 8, 2013

Episcopal Ordination andInstallation: June 19, 2013

Welcome

All that I am, all that I have

Haney’s Photography, Moorhead, Minn.

Keepsake IssueMay 2013 • Vol. 34 • No. 5

NewEarthCATHOLIC DIOCESE OF FARGO

for aNew BishopBishop-elect John T. Folda

2A ■ MAY 2013 Welcome for a New Bishop NEWEARTH

Sts. Anne & Joachim Church

Cathedral of St. Mary

“Then I saw a new heavenand a new earth.”

Revelation 21:1

NewEarth(ISSN # 10676406)

SERVING CATHOLIC PARISHESAS THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE

DIOCESE OF FARGO, N.D.

Member of theCatholic Press Association

Bishop David KaganApostolic Administrator, Fargo

Publisher

Tanya WatterudInterim Editor

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Tuesday, June 18:

7 p.m. Solemn Vespers (open to the public)A time of prayer and thanksgivingSts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church5202 25th St. S., Fargo

8 p.m. Reception (open to the public)Holy Family Social HallSts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church5202 25th St. S., Fargo

Wednesday, June 19:

2 p.m. Mass of Ordination and Installation of Bishop John FoldaCathedral of St. Mary604 Broadway, Fargo

Tickets required for upstairs Cathedral seatingTickets are available for some basement seating*Open seating available at First Lutheran Church, Celebration Center

619 Broadway, FargoHigh quality broadcast of the Mass will be shown “live”Communion will be available during the Mass

4 p.m. Public Receiving Line with Bishop Folda On the front lawn of the Bishop’s Residence,

608 Broadway, just north of the CathedralAll are welcome to greet Bishop Folda, even if you were not able

to attend the Mass4 p.m. time is approximate; it may be as late as 4:30 p.m.,

depending on the length of the liturgy

* Those wishing to request tickets for seating in the Cathedral basement may do so online at www.fargodiocese.org/cathedraltickets beginning May 22

Schedule of Events

Bishop-elect John Folda

“ ” ’

NEWEARTH Welcome for a New Bishop MAY 2013 ■ 3A

Continued from page 1A

He is one of the first bishops namedby Pope Francis. “It is certainly anhonor to be chosen by him for thisrole,” said Bishop-elect Folda. “I onlyhope I can follow the beautiful exampleof service, simplicity, and joyful faiththat he has already shown the world.”

Bishop James D. Conley, bishop ofthe Diocese of Lincoln where Msgr.Folda has served as a priest, said he is“thrilled to welcome one of our own tothe college of bishops… I look forwardto working with him as a brotherbishop.”

John Thomas Folda was born in Om-aha in 1961, the youngest of Mabel andthe late James Folda’s three children.

“My parents and family really livedour Catholic faith, and it was from themthat I first learned the faith and aboutmy relationship with our Lord,” Bishop-elect Folda said.

He is grateful that his parents wereable to provide him with 12 years ofCatholic schooling during his youth. Heattended St. Thomas More Grade Schooland Archbishop Ryan High School andserved at the altar, where he got to knowhis parish priests very well.

After high school, Bishop-elect Foldastudied architecture and electrical engi-neering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Newman Center was in-strumental in deepening his under-standing of the Catholic faith and God’scalling to the priesthood.

“The priests at the Newman Center

encouraged all of us to consider apriestly or religious vocation, and aftera certain amount of resistance, I even-tually realized that he might be callingme,” he recalled.

At the age of 22, Bishop-elect Foldaentered Saint Charles Borromeo Semi-nary in Philadelphia. He graduated witha bachelor of arts degree in philosophyin 1985. He earned his master of divinitydegree in 1988 and a master of arts intheology the following year.

He was ordained a priest for the Dio-cese of Lincoln by Bishop Glennon P.Flavin on May 27, 1989.

“Bishop Flavin was a man of great ho-liness and courage, and the Diocese ofLincoln was blessed by his steady lead-ership in turbulent times,” Bishop-electFolda remembered. “He was extremelykind and was known by many to be awonderful confessor.”

After serving for two years asparochial vicar at Cathedral of the RisenChrist and religion teacher at Pius XHigh School, both in Lincoln, Bishop-elect Folda was sent to Rome, where heearned a licentiate in sacred theology atthe Pontifical University of SaintThomas.

Two years later, he returned to Ne-

braska, where he was appointed byBishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz to a seriesof varied roles, including pastor, guid-ance counselor, religion instructor, as-sistant to the vicar general, director ofreligious education, co-vicar for reli-gious, master of ceremonies and censorlibrorum (the diocesan official who re-views texts and grants the nihil obstat,declaring the work free of doctrinal error).

In Bishop Bruskewitz, Bishop-electFolda found “a dynamic leader” whowas “never afraid to take a risk or swimupstream if he felt it was necessary.” Headded, “His sense of humor and positivespirit were always encouraging to me.”

Following Bishop Bruskewitz’s exam-ple, Bishop-elect Folda has continuedto study the riches of the Catholic faithso he can effectively share it with others.

“Being a priest has been more satisfy-ing than I could have imagined,”Bishop-elect Folda recounted. “It is anawesome experience to bring our Lord’sEucharistic presence to his people andto offer them his forgiveness throughthe Sacrament of Reconciliation.”

In October 2007, he was elevated toChaplain of His Holiness by Pope Bene-dict XVI, with the title Monsignor. Last

year, Bishop-elect Folda welcomed hisfriend for more than 20 years, BishopConley, to the Diocese of Lincoln.

“Although I’m biased, I believe he isa perfect fit for the Diocese of Lincoln,”Bishop-elect Folda said, noting that hewill follow Bishop Conley’s lead inreaching out to young people. “He hasalso embraced the new evangelizationand new media, and I would be wise todo the same!”

As seminary rector for the last 13 ac-ademic years, Bishop-elect Folda said ithas been particularly meaningful towork with young men who are discern-ing their vocational callings to thepriesthood.

“It has been a joy to watch them growin their relationship with God and tohelp them along the way towards thepriesthood,” Bishop-elect Folda said.

He added that his work at the semi-nary has helped him grow in his ownunderstanding of the priesthood andthe Church, and how each man’s expe-rience is unique.

“I hope this experience will help meunderstand the needs of my priests andmy new diocese better,” he said. “I knowit has heightened my awareness of theimportance of priestly vocations, and Iintend to do all I can to encourageyoung men to consider our Lord’s callto them. I will also certainly encourageyoung women to consider the religiouslife as well.”

Father Jeffrey Eickhoff, academic dean

Photo by Haney’s Photography, Moorhead, Minn.

When Bishop-elect Folda was in Fargo May 9 and 10, he moved some of his books and other items into the Bishop's Residence, had formal photographs taken, and met with several of those from theDiocese of Fargo who are helping plan the liturgies and other aspects of his ordination and installation as Bishop of Fargo.

“My parents and family really lived our Catholicfaith, and it was from them that I first learned thefaith and about my relationship with our Lord.”

Bishop-elect John T. Folda

Fargo Diocese to welcome a new bishop

Please turn to BISHOP-ELECT on page 4A



and teacher at St. Gregory the Great, said, “We will sorelymiss him here at the seminary where he has been a wonderful leader, but I rejoice for the Church that she haschosen a good and holy priest to be a successor to theApostles.”

While he’s honored to be chosen by the Holy Father forthis role, Bishop-elect Folda is humbled by the prospectsof overseeing a diocese.

“Although I have many shortcomings, I will do my bestto give the people of Fargo all that I am and all that Ihave,” he promised. “Most importantly, I will try to offerthe simple truth and beauty of our faith in Jesus Christwith all its richness. I can assure them of my love and myprayers for them already, and I can hardly wait to meetthem.”

Bishop Conley is confident in Bishop-elect Folda’s abilityto serve faithfully in Fargo.

“He will be a leader who brings with him a vast experi-ence of pastoral wisdom and clear decision-making,” hesaid. “All of this experience will be invaluable to him as hebegins his episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Fargo. Aboveall, Bishop-elect Folda will be the kind of leader after theheart of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.”

Bishop Conley complimented his predecessors for mak-ing theological formation of priests a high priority.

“The fact that four Lincoln priests have been namedbishops in recent years — by three different popes I mightadd — is a tribute to exceptional preparation and formationof priests in the Diocese of Lincoln…Obviously, this hasnot gone unnoticed by the Holy See,” Bishop Conley said.

Bishop-elect Folda said he will miss the people of theDiocese of Lincoln.

“I can only say a heartfelt thank you,” he said. “I havelearned how to be a priest from all of you, and I have nodoubt that my years here have in some way prepared meto be a bishop, too. I will always be grateful for the kind-ness, love, patience, and joy that I have experienced amongyou, and I hope you will continue to remember me inyour prayers.”

He sees significance in the announcement of his ap-pointment on the Solemnity of the Annunciation, whenCatholics around the world celebrate the Incarnation ofour Lord and Mary’s acceptance of her role as the Motherof God.

“This is a good reminder to me that God has a greatplan for all of us, and it’s exciting to be part of it!” he said.

Reprinted with permission from the Southern Nebraska Register and edited for New Earth.

Diocese of Fargobishops

of the past

Bishop-elect sayshe’s humbled bythe prospects ofleading a diocese

“We will sorely miss himhere at the seminary wherehe has been a wonderful

leader, but I rejoice for theChurch that she has chosen agood and holy priest to be asuccessor to the Apostles.”

Father Jeffrey EickhoffNewly appointed rector of

St. Gregory the Great Seminary

NEWEARTH MAY 2013 ■ 5A

Bishop David D. Kagan

Congratulations

Diocese ofBismarck

Bishop-elect John FoldaBishop David. D. Kagan

and the clergy, religious

and lay faithful of the

Diocese of Bismarck offer

sincere congratulations to

Bishop-elect John Folda and

a promise of prayers on his

appointment as the eighth

Bishop of the Diocese of Fargo.

“Just as the officewhich the Lord

confided to Peteralone, as first of theapostles, destined tobe transmitted to his

successors, is apermanent one, soalso endures theoffice, which the

apostles received, ofshepherding theChurch, a chargedestined to be

exercised withoutinterruption by the

sacred order ofbishops.” Hence theChurch teaches that

“the bishops have bydivine institutiontaken the place of

the apostles aspastors of the

Church, in such wisethat whoever listensto them is listening

to Christ andwhoever despises

them despises Christand him who sent

Christ.”Catechism of the

Catholic Church 862


Aug. 8,1961Born inOmaha, Neb.

Laterattended St.Thomas MoreGrade School.

1979Graduated Archbishop Ryan HighSchool.

1979-1983Attended the University ofNebraska-Lincoln, where hestudied architecture and electricalengineering.

August 1983Bishop-elect Folda entered seminaryformation for the Diocese of Lincoln.

1985Graduated from St. Charles BorromeoSeminary in Philadelphia with a bachelorof arts degree in philosophy.

1988-1989Completed histheological studies atSt. Charles BorromeoSeminary, where heearned a master ofdivinity degree and amaster of arts intheology.

May 27, 1989 Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Lincoln.

1991 Went toRome,where heearned alicentiatein sacredtheologyat thePontifical University of St. Thomas.

1993Assigned as pastor of St. Paulinus Church inSyracuse and Holy Trinity Church in Avoca.He was guidance counselor and teacher ofreligion at Lourdes Central Catholic Schoolin Nebraska City. During this time, he alsoserved as assistant to the Vicar General ofthe Diocese of Lincoln.

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Affordable | Serious | Catholic

w w w . um a r y . e d u

The University of Mary

joyfully welcomes the

new Catholic Bishop of Fargo,

Monsignor John Thomas Folda

The University of Mary and the Benedictine

Sisters of Annunciation Monastery will pray

for Monsignor Folda, an effective and ardent

supporter of Catholic education, as he leads

the good people of the Diocese of Fargo.

We are Christian, we are Catholic, and we are Benedictine.

The University of Mary offers bachelor’s

degrees in nearly 60 majors, ten graduate

programs, study abroad in Italy, and

adult degree completion programs.

Ad Multos Annos!


1995Appointed pastor of St. Leo Church inPalmyra and St. Martin Church in Douglas.

1997 AppointeddiocesanDirector ofReligiousEducation,Co-VicarforReligious,Master of

Ceremonies, and Censor Librorum. He wasalso appointed Delegate of the Bishop toMadonna Rehabilitation Hospital andcontinues as vice president of the Boardof Directors.

1993 topresentA member of theBoard of theNebraska CatholicConference. Hehas also been amember of thePresbyteralCouncil, Collegeof Consultors,Finance Council,Priests’ ContinuingEducation Committee, Catholic SocialServices Board and the Ethics Committeeof St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center.

1999Appointed rector of St. Gregory the GreatSeminary in Seward, Neb.

2008 to 2010Served as president of the NationalAssociation of College Seminaries.

Oct. 10, 2007 Pope BenedictXVI named him“Chaplain of HisHoliness” with thetitle of monsignor.

April 8, 2013 Pope Francisappointed himBishop of Fargo.

Mount St. Mary’s SeminaryEmmitsburg, Maryland

16300 Old Emmitsburg Road Emmitsburg, Maryland 21727

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“The college orbody of bishops hasno authority unless

united with theRoman Pontiff,

Peter’s successor, asits head.” As such,

this college has“supreme and fullauthority over the

universal Church; butthis power cannot be

exercised withoutthe agreement of

the Roman Pontiff.”Catechism of the

Catholic Church 883


How the dioceses compareBishop-elect John Folda is moving from the Diocese of Lincoln to theDiocese of Fargo. They are similar in the number of parishes, with 132 inthe Fargo Diocese and 134 in the Lincoln Diocese. Following are otherstatistics reported in the 2012 edition of The Official Catholic Directory.

Diocese of FargoEstablished: 1889Total Population: 390,972Catholic Population: 72,219Square Miles: 35,786 over 30 counties132 Parishes141 Priests (76 active in the diocese;

8 outside the diocese; 48 retired;9 religious)

Permanent Deacons: 4517 Seminarians114 Religious Sisters11 Catholic Elementary Schools1 Catholic High School1 Catholic Middle School

Diocese of Lincoln

Established: 1887Total Population: 588,641Catholic Population: 96,625Square Miles: 23,844 over 40 counties134 Parishes160 Priests (122 active in the diocese;

8 outside the diocese; 20 retired;10 religious)

Deacons: 3 Permanent; 2 Transitional44 Seminarians148 Religious Sisters27 Catholic Elementary Schools6 Catholic High SchoolsFARGO

LINCOLN

“Bishop-elect Foldais a man of deep

faith, warmleadership, and

unwavering fidelityto the teachings of

the Church. Myheart is filled with

joy for the Church ofFargo, and I join theclergy and laity of

the Diocese of Fargoin offering him my

sincerecongratulations, my

prayers, and myfriendship.”

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila,Archbishop of Denver

and former Bishop of Fargo


By Tanya Watterud

When news of the appointment ofMsgr. John Folda as bishop for the Dio-cese of Fargo spread through the dioce-san Pastoral Center in Fargo on April 8,“I knew immediately who he was,”Tamara Splonskowski, assistant to thechancellor, said.

“I think that was probably the biggestshock of all, that I knew him — some-one you actually know who is going tobe your bishop!”

About 15 years ago, Splonskowski wasserving with a ministry group in Lin-coln, Neb., and discerning joining a re-ligious teaching order. She attended anevent where Msgr. Folda, who was Fa-ther Folda at the time, was a speaker.“He expressed to us what spiritual di-rection was and the importance of it,”Splonskowski said.

Afterwards, she told him she was dis-cerning a vocation. She met with him afew times during the midst of that dis-cernment. With his guidance and theguidance of the Mother Superior of theorder, Splonskowski came to the deci-

sion that she was not called to that par-ticular order at that time in her life. Fa-ther Folda advised her to move closerto home and continue discerning.

“I’m still doing that. I’m open to dis-cerning wherever God wants me to go,”

Splonskowski said. Now, she’s going tobe working for the man who helped hermake that pivotal decision.

Splonskowski often thinks of the sur-prising blessings of God as the “candy”of life. “I guess I kind of take the wholething as a little candy from God”, shesaid, feeling that God has expressed toher, “You had no clue when I firstbrought him into your life that I woulddo it again.”

A meeting between rectorsMsgr. Brian Donahue, a Fargo Diocese

priest who is currently pastor of MostHoly Trinity Catholic Chapel at theUnited States Military Academy at WestPoint, N.Y., remembered meeting Bishop-elect Folda during a trip to Lincoln.

After serving at Cardinal Muench

St. Thomas More Catholic ChurchOmaha, Nebraska

Rejoices in the AppointmentOf Our Native Son

Bishop John T. FoldaAs the Eighth Bishop of Fargo

We love you, Bishop Folda!

Ad multos annos!

“In his mind a man plans his course, but the Lord directs his steps.”— Proverbs 16:9

The Lord directs our steps, leading us to him

Please turn to the next page

“I think that was probablythe biggest shock of all, that I

knew him — someone youactually know who is going to

be your bishop!”Tamara Splonkowski

“Let all follow thebishop, as JesusChrist follows hisFather, and the

college of presbytersas the apostles;

respect the deaconsas you do God’s law.

Let no one doanything concerning

the Church inseparation from the

bishop.”Catechism of the

Catholic Church 896



Seminary in Fargo as spiritual director,formation director, vice rector and thenrector, Msgr. Donahue wanted to see St.Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward,just outside of Lincoln, and meet its newrector, Father Folda.

“I talked with him about what it’s likebeing a rector” and operating a seminary,Msgr. Donahue said. His impression ofFather Folda was that he was a humbleman with “a great spirit of joy in him— joy that just radiated from him.”

He saw him again during a vacationin Breckenridge, Colo., a few years ago.He was Msgr. Folda then, a title PopeBenedict XVI gave him in 2007. “I stillremember where he was standing andI was standing,” Msgr. Donahue said.Again he was struck with the impres-sion of Msgr. Folda as “a person of joy,humility and grace.”

So, when he heard the announce-ment that Msgr. Folda had been ap-pointed Bishop of Fargo, “The firstthing I thought was ‘Our prayers wereanswered in him.’ I think we are soblessed to have him as our new bishop.”

A broken-down van meetingWhen a van full of Fargo Diocese sem-

inarians broke down during a springbreak vacation in 2007, the men hadno idea they would be meeting their fu-ture bishop.

Philip Zubrod, who was a seminarianat the time and now works for CatholicUnited Financial in Grand Forks, saidhe and five other seminarians decidedto take a trip to Colorado to visit semi-narians there and snow ski.

They were driving Zubrod’s father’sDodge van through Nebraska, on theirway back to North Dakota, when “all ofa sudden the speedometer just went

“The first thing I thought was ‘Ourprayers were answered in him.’ I

think we are so blessed to have himas our new bishop.“

Msgr. Brian Donahue

(When he heard the announcement that Msgr. Folda had beenappointed Bishop of Fargo)

“They hobbled the van into town,thinking they would look for a

Catholic church and see if a priestmight be able to help them find aplace where they could get the vanrepaired. Before they knew it, theysaw a sign for St. Gregory the GreatSeminary. We were like ‘all right!’

They clunked up to the seminary doors and went in toexplain their situation. ‘The first person I find is the

rector.’ The rector was Father Folda.“Philip Zubrod

Bishop-elect Folda’s life touched North Dakotans earlier

crazy” and the engine malfunctioned.They took the nearest exit. After a lookunder the hood, they determined theycouldn’t figure out what was wrong ontheir own.

The only businesses at the exit were agas station and Ford dealership. “The

Ford guy told us of a town nearby andhow we could get there,” Zubrod said.

They hobbled the van into town,thinking they would look for a Catholicchurch and see if a priest might be ableto help them find a place where theycould get the van repaired. Before they

knew it, they saw a sign for St. Gregorythe Great Seminary. “We were like ‘allright!’ ” Zubrod said. They clunked upto the seminary doors and went in toexplain their situation.

“The first person I find is the rector,”Zubrod said. The rector was FatherFolda. Zubrod introduced himself andFather Folda said, “Oh, we have aZubrod here.” The summer before,Zubrod had learned of a fourth cousin,Chris Zubrod, who was studying as aseminarian for the Diocese of Lincoln,but he didn’t know what seminary hewas in. As the Fargo Diocese seminarianswere traveling through Nebraska thatday, just before the van broke down,Zubrod was thinking about how nice itwould be to meet his cousin. Little didhe know that God would bring themtogether that evening.

It was a Friday night, so Father Foldainvited them to stay at the seminaryand said they could check with theDodge dealership in the morning. Thatmeant Zubrod and his cousin wouldhave some time together to get to knoweach other. Chris Zubrod was going to aparish fundraiser and family gatheringon Saturday and wished that Philipcould come with. “I’m going to praythat they can’t fix it on Saturday,” hesaid of the van.

On Saturday, they found out theywould have to wait until Monday to getthe part the dealership needed to fix thevan, so they ended up staying the entireweekend at the seminary, and Philip gotto meet Chris’ family.

Monday came and the van was fixed.They traveled back to North Dakota

after being warmly welcomed in Ne-braska, not knowing that the man whofound “room in the inn” for a van fullof seminarians would someday be theirbishop.

“Helped by thepriests, their

co-workers, and bythe deacons, the

bishops have the dutyof authentically

teaching the faith,celebrating divine

worship, above all theEucharist, and guidingtheir Churches as true

pastors. Theirresponsibility also

includes concern forall the Churches, withand under the Pope.”

Catechism of theCatholic Church 939

By Tanya Watterud

When a seminarian at St. Gregory theGreat Seminary in Seward, Neb., men-tioned that he saw the rector, Msgr. JohnFolda, leave with a suitcase on April 6,the young men started wondering whatwas up, but Father Jeff Eickhoff quicklyput their thoughts to rest.

“I knew but, of course, I couldn’t tell,”said Father Eickhoff, academic dean andassistant professor of philosophy.

“He went to be with his family,” hetold the seminarians — a truthful story,but that wasn’t all that Msgr. Folda wasdoing. He traveled to stay overnightwith his mother in Omaha that Satur-day night, then boarded an airplane forFargo on Sunday.

The following morning, Monday,April 8, at 5 a.m. Central time, the Vat-ican announced that Msgr. Folda hadbeen named Bishop of Fargo.

Seminarian Anthony Kohel recalledhow he learned of the appointment.

“I was walking down the hallway inthe morning to get some coffee, and Isaw somebody come out of his room, ahuge grin on his face, and he was look-ing at his smart phone.”

Bishop James Conley had tweeted thenews on Twitter.

Bishop Conley and Bishop EmeritusFabian Bruskewitz had made plans withFather Eickhoff to be at the seminary at6:30 a.m. to make the announcementduring morning prayer.

“He wanted me to try to keep it quiet,”Father Eickhoff said of Bishop Conley.But news of the early morning tweetspread rapidly throughout the seminary,

before the bishops even arrived.

Time to get out of bedAfter seminarian Jordan Morehead

awoke that morning, he heard someonesay, “We have a new bishop!”

“I knew exactly who he was talking

about,” Morehead said. Msgr. Folda hasbeen “an excellent rector,” he said. “Wewere expecting that he might become abishop.”

Morehead went to wake another sem-inarian to tell him the news.

At first, the seminarian jolted awake,thinking he was late for morning prayer.

When Morehead told him their rectorhad been named Bishop of Fargo, theseminarian said, “No way!” then “hegot out of bed faster than I’d ever seenhim get out of bed,” Morehead said witha laugh.


Wishing you,

Peace & All Good

Bishop

John T. Folda

~ With our prayerful support ~

Franciscan Sistersof Dillingen

Immaculate Heartof Mary Province

Hankinson,North Dakota

The suitcase nearly gave it away

Photo submitted by St. Gregory the Great Seminary

Msgr. John Folda presides at a liturgy at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb., where he has been rector since 1999.


Congratulations toBishop-elect John Foldaon his installation asBishop of Fargo!May God continue tobless you as you leadthe Diocese.


The Most ReverendDavid J. Malloy

and theClergy, Religious and Laity

of theDiocese of Rockford

offer congratulations and prayers to

The Most Reverend John T. Folda,Bishop of Fargo

Seminarians in Nebraska weren’t surprised

Photo courtesy St. Gregory the Great Seminary

Msgr. Folda preaches at Mass with seminarians in the chapel at St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb.


Prayers and cheersThere was a “real celebratory tone” at

morning prayer that day, Father Eick-hoff said. At the end of morning prayer,they sang the “Te Deum” — “God wepraise you” — then rang the seminarybells.

“Then we had to get on the internetand find the interview,” Father Eickhoffsaid. Real Presence Radio aired a live in-terview with their rector – now Bishop-elect Folda – at 9:45 a.m.

“When he did the little shout-out [tothe seminarians in Seward] during theinterview, all of the guys cheered!” Fa-ther Eickhoff said.

As Bishop-elect Folda spoke of theseminarians during the radio interview,he said, “If any of them are listening, Isend my greetings, I send my love, andI ask for your prayers today. I really havecome to understand the role that a priesthas as father by living and working withthese great young men. They’re so ded-icated and generous. I admire them somuch each year for the way that theyput their trust in God, they put theirlives in God’s hands, and they try todiscern if he is calling them to the priest-hood.”

Bishop-elect Folda’s role as “father”has made lasting impressions upon hisseminarians.

Kohel said the seminarians have beenblessed to have Bishop-elect Folda “as arole for what we one day hope to be-come as priests . . . To see his virtue, his


character. It’s been a great blessing tobe a part of that.”

He continued, “He is an administratorhere, kind of like a principal. More im-portantly, as a priest, he is our father . . . He’s very approachable . . . He’s veryinterested in our lives, in our families,in what we’re doing.”

Kohel is a senior at St. Gregory theGreat Seminary, which is a college-levelseminary, and will go on for further ed-ucation at a major seminary next year,either St. Charles Borromeo Seminaryin Philadelphia or Mount St. Mary’sSeminary in Emmitsburg, Md. “He ac-tually visited those two places withBishop-elect Folda this spring,” FatherEickhoff said of Kohel.

Morehead is a junior at St. Gregorythe Great Seminary, so he’ll have theopportunity to get to know the personwho will be named the new rector whilehe continues his studies there. “He’s go-ing to have big shoes to fill,” Moreheadsaid. “Bishop-elect Folda has been like afather to us.”

In fact, the seminarians have some-times fondly referred to him as “dad”.“I have no doubt Bishop Conley will as-sign someone who can take on the roleof ‘dad’ for 40 seminary guys. I hopeand pray he’ll be a father to us likeBishop-elect Folda has been,” Moreheadsaid.

Well-preparedFather Eickhoff said he has realized

over these past several weeks how theLord has prepared Bishop-elect Folda for

the role of a bishop.Bishop-elect Folda has worked with

seminarians, served as co-vicar for reli-gious, has been a pastor for a numberof years, taught high school, workedwith the diocesan finance council andworked on building projects, he said.

When Bishop-elect Folda served asemcee for Bishop Bruskewitz and thebishop would make a request of him,Bishop-elect Folda would say “yes” with-out question, he said.

“At the time, Bishop-elect Folda wasjust answering the call of the bishop inhis own obedience . . . but when welook backwards we see God’s plan un-folding.”

Now, Father Eickhoff said, he is “allthe more convinced of God’s plan foreach of us, and his plan for Bishop-electFolda.”

‘A father’ to seminarians, rector called ‘well prepared’



Photo courtesy of St. Gregory the Great Seminary

Father Jeff Eickhoff, shown here with Bishop-elect Folda and his mother, Mabel, said he has realizedover the past few weeks how well-prepared the new bishop is for the post, with the great variety ofexperiences and positions he has had. After this story was written, it was announced that FatherEickhoff will be the new rector of St. George the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb.

“I have no doubtBishop Conley will assignsomeone who can takeon the role of ‘dad’ for

40 seminary guys. Ihope and pray he’ll be afather to us like Bishop-elect Folda has been.“

Jordan Morehead, seminarian at St. Gregory the Great Seminary


Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary700 Terrace Heights #43

Winona, MN 55987

CongratulationsMost Reverend John FoldaWe congratulate you on your appointment to

Bishop of the Diocese of Fargo.

From the faculty and seminarians atImmacululate Heart of Mary Seminary, Winona, MN.

Clergy, Religious andLaity of the Diocese of Grand Island

Bishop William J. Dendinger

Congratulations

Bishop John T. Folda

on your ordination as bishopfor the Diocese of Fargo

Photo courtesy Folda family

Bishop-elect John Folda is pictured with several of his family members, including his sister, Mary, to his right, and his mother, Mabel. His brother, Jim, andwife, Paula, are not pictured, but are included in the family photo on page 16A.

By Tanya Watterud

The Folda family gathered around thetable for dinner on Saturday night, April6, in the small town of Adams, Neb.,south of Lincoln.

Just as Mabel Folda’s grandchildrenwere rising to say goodbye, her son,Msgr. John Folda, said, “Just a minute,guys. I want to tell you something.”

“He said, very quietly, I have been ap-pointed Bishop of Fargo,” Mabel said.“There was silence for a minute andthen we just erupted. There was lots oflaughter, and some tears, and many,many questions.”

Msgr. Folda’s sister, Mary Gramann,and her husband, Karl, hosted the din-ner at their house. His brother, Jim, andhis wife, Paula, were there from Brook-field, Wis., and Mary and Karl’s fourchildren and granddaughter were allpresent to hear the news.

The timing was perfect.They had been together at a family

wedding in Howells, Neb., the night be-fore, at which Msgr. Folda was the cele-brant, and Jim and Paula hadn’t yet leftto return to Wisconsin, so Msgr. Foldawas able to tell all of them at the sametime.

Then, just as he had been required tokeep it a secret since March 26, whenhe was asked to accept the appointmentas Bishop of Fargo, his family membersnow had to keep the news to themselvesuntil Monday, April 8, when the Vaticanwould officially announce his appoint-ment.

“I didn’t sleep real well that night,”

A son, a brother, a bishop

Please turn to FAMILY on page 15A


May God Bless Youand the

Holy Family Protect YouBishop-elect John Thomas Folda

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CongratulationsBishop Folda, from

all of us at Our Ladyof Good CounselRetreat House

Welcome Bishop

John Thomas Folda

From the Students and Staffs of Blessed John Paul IICatholic Schools Network

“A Community Inspiring ExcellenceThrough Faith, Learning and Service”

Family ‘almost speechless’ at first,but sees new bishop’s many gifts


Mabel said, “I’m sure he had a coupleof those nights himself, so it was myturn.”

‘A natural pick’Msgr. Folda’s brother, Jim, recalled

their initial reaction. “I think all of uswere almost speechless” but “after re-flecting on it, from my perspective, Icould see how he would be a goodchoice for a position like that, based onhis background, his accomplishments,and all he has done over the years . . .His experiences up until now, the dif-ferent assignments he has had . . . haveprepared him quite well for this newchallenge.”

Although Mary had been told manytimes “Your brother one day will be-come a bishop” by those who knew andworked with him, including BishopEmeritus Fabian Bruskewitz of the Dio-cese of Lincoln, “it was shocking whenhe actually sat there that day and saidit,” she said. She understands why PopeFrancis would appoint him a bishop,though. “His demeanor . . . He’s ex-tremely intelligent and very well spo-ken. You can just see it. It’s a naturalpick.”

Mary and Karl’s youngest son, Jacob,is a seventh grader. The night Msgr.Folda told them of his appointment,“Jake was with us and he immediatelygot on the computer and Googled‘Fargo’,” Mary said. “Before the nightwas over, we knew quite a bit about it.”

Now the family is getting ready foranother memorable day, when Msgr.Folda will be ordained and installedJune 19 as Bishop of Fargo.

“It will truly be a celebration for ourfamily,” Mary said. “All of us feel soblessed to be a part of it.”

Details to addressAlthough most of the arrangements

for the ordination and installation arehandled through the priests and staff ofthe Diocese of Fargo, there are manydetails to address in the Diocese of Lin-coln, too — from larger things like thereception at St. Gregory the Great Sem-inary in Seward, Neb., where Msgr. Foldais rector, which Mary is helping plan,to smaller things like finding the rightclothes to wear to a once-in-a-lifetimeevent.

Please turn to CLOSE on page 17A

“Jake was with us andhe immediately got on

the computer andGoogled ‘Fargo’.

Before the night wasover, we knew quite a

bit about it.”Mary Gramann


Congratulationsand

WelcomeBishop-electJohn FoldaAS YOU BEGIN YOUR MINISTRY IN THE

DIOCESE OF FARGO

Familyportrait

Both of Bishop-elect Folda'sparents, his

mother, Mabel,and his father,

James, are in thisfamily portrait.

James Foldapassed away in2010. Bishop-

elect Folda'sbrother, Jim, and

his wife, Paula,are on his right.His sister, Mary

Gramann, herhusband, Karl,

who is standingbehind her, and

their four childrenare on Bishop-

elect Folda's left.

Photo by BillingsPhotography,Omaha, Neb.

“Bishops are likeumpires. You have tohave them to call the

close decisions.”Father Chuck O’Malley

(spoken by actor Bing Crosby in thefilm “Going My Way”; attributed to

screenwriter Frank Butler)


CongratulationsBishop Folda!

We will miss you

St. Vincent de Paul Parish & SchoolSeward, Nebraska


Mabel said her daughter and niecestook her shopping one day. “The de-partments in the stores that are for themother and relatives of a bishop are notvery big!” Mabel said with a smile inher voice. Still they were able to findclothes they wanted to wear for the in-stallation.

There are also the challenges of thephysical move of a son and brother whohas been so close to his family all theseyears. “He called this morning and askedif I would come up next week to helphim pack,” Mary said of her brother.“I’m honored to do that.” Thinkingabout the many miles that will be be-tween them after his installation asbishop is hard for Msgr. Folda’s family.

“We’ll miss him a lot,” his mothersaid. “He would come home, particu-larly on Saturdays. We would talk abouteverything from soup to nuts. He wouldalways go downstairs and play piano foran hour or two and I would have a con-cert all to myself.” Then they wouldhave supper together before he wentback to the seminary.

Mary agreed that it will be hard hav-ing him so far away. “No matter howbusy he is, he’s always so good aboutcoming to family gatherings. He nevermisses a birthday.”

She knows he will have to miss somefamily gatherings now, but he assuredher the bishop’s residence in Fargo hasroom for them to come and visit.

Still ‘John’ to momMabel said she wishes her husband,

Close family will ‘miss him a lot,’ but Fargo trips ahead“He would come home,

particularly onSaturdays. We wouldtalk about everythingfrom soup to nuts. He

would always godownstairs and play

piano for an hour or twoand I would have a

concert all to myself.”Mabel Folda


Newly ordained, Father John Folda posed with his father, James, and mother, Mabel, on his ordinationday, May 27, 1989.

James, who passed away three years agothis August, could be at the Mass of or-dination and installation of their son.“My pastor said he was pretty sure [myhusband] knew about [John’s appoint-ment as bishop] before I did, so that’s agood way to look at it,” she said.

Several of Mabel’s friends have beentalking to her about Msgr. Folda’s ap-pointment. “One of them asked mewhat I was going to call him and I said,‘Well, I think — John’. I don’t knowwhat else I would call him and I knowthat’s what he would want to be called.”

The idea that her son will soon be abishop is “still hard for me to believe,”she said. “I say it and I think, ‘Is thatJohn I’m talking about?’”

“I’m very proud of him, without adoubt,” she said.

“We all are.”


The history of St. Gregory the Great Seminary


Bishop-elect John Folda stands in front of the chapel at St. Gregory the Great Seminary with Lincoln Bishop James D. Conley, left, and Bishop EmeritusFabian W. Bruskewitz, whom Bishop Conley succeeded.

In April, when it was announced thatMsgr. John Folda would be the next Bishopof Fargo, Msgr. Folda was serving as rectorof St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb.

St. Gregory the Great Seminary is a col-lege-level seminary, which means thatseminarians receive their early studies forthe priesthood there before enrolling at amajor seminary (or theologate).

The history, which has been edited forNew Earth, is shared by the seminary’swebsite, www.stgregoryseminary.edu.

The dream of having a diocesan sem-inary began to be realized when BishopGlennon P. Flavin authorized a two-yearcollege program that began operationin September of 1984.

The men enrolled in that programlived at Good Counsel Retreat House inWaverly, Neb. They registered at theUniversity of Nebraska for the secularsubjects in their curriculum, while theecclesiastical subjects and spiritual for-mation were provided at the seminary.

The dream of a diocesan seminarypersisted.

from Bishop John M. LeVoirand the faithful of the

Diocese of New Ulm

Congratulations and Prayerful Best Wishes

BISHOP-ELECT JOHN T. FOLDA May you enjoy many years

in the service of God’s people inthe Diocese of Fargo.

www.normanfuneral.com“The Community’s Choice Since 1882”

701-746-4337

Bless youand yourministry

Bishop-electJohn Folda

524 17th St. N. ◆ Grand Forks, ND 58203(701) 746-9401 ◆ www.stannesguesthome.org

Please turn to OPENING on page 19A



In 1996, Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitzappointed a task force to study the pos-sibilities of such a project and then tofind a suitable site. The site that seemedto fulfill most of the requisites for a sem-inary was located south of Seward, Neb.Its proximity to Lincoln offered the ad-vantages of a municipality, while the48-acre campus provided a quiet andserene atmosphere conducive to intel-lectual and spiritual growth.

The sturdy building with its kitchen,dining area, private rooms, gymnasium,and courtyard added to its advantages.

Through many fervent prayers, espe-cially those of the people of the Dioceseof Lincoln, the prayers of Bishop Flavin,and the intercession of Mary Immacu-late, Patroness of the Diocese, the seem-ingly impossible dream became a reality.

On June 16, 1997, Father John C.

Rooney was appointed pro-rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary to beopened in August 1998.

On June 18, 1997, he offered the HolySacrifice of the Mass for the first time inthe temporary chapel of the recently ac-

quired building. St. Gregory the Great Seminary

opened on Aug. 20, 1998, with an en-rollment of 24, making it the first free-standing diocesan seminary to beopened in the United States for many

decades.” In June 1999, Father John Folda was

appointed rector of the seminary. InApril 2013, he was named Bishop ofFargo. Father Jeff Eickhoff will now serveas rector.

We want to welcome Bishop John Folda to Fargo! We look forward to his participation in our community and are excited he is here!

3803 13th Avenue South ~ FargoPhone: 701.282.2700 | Web: www.fargohi.com

Come see the All-New...“Shipwreck Bay Water Playland.” Opening Mid-May, 2013!

Congratulations Most Rev. John Folda

Bishop of Fargo

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide you as you

shepherd your new flock.

from Bishop Robert D. Gruss and the Diocese of Rapid City

www.rapidcitydiocese.org

Openingof seminaryin 1998 madeit unique


On a recent graduation day, Bishop-elect John Folda, seminary rector, posed with the graduating class of St. Gregory the Great Seminary.


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Ordination/Installation Massto be broadcast on TV, radio

The Mass of Ordination and Installation of Bishop John Folda will be broadcast in multiple ways:

KXJB-TV: Will broadcast the Mass “live”, including commentary with Msgr. James Shea, president of University of Mary. Due to the commentary,the broadcast will begin at 1:30 p.m. (30 minutes prior to the Mass) on KXJB-TV (Channel 4 in the Fargo area). It will also be streamed live at www.valleynewslive.com.

EWTN-TV: Will broadcast the Mass “live” and web stream it at www.ewtn.com.

CatholicTV: Will broadcast the Mass “live” and web stream it atwww.catholictv.com.

Real Presence Radio: Will broadcast the audio of the Mass “live” onAM1370-Grand Forks, AM1280-Fargo/Moorhead, FM91.3-Bismarck/Mandan,FM91.1-Minot, FM89.1-Williston and FM101.9-Dickinson, and on www.yourcatholicradiostation.com.

Additional details are still being determined. Please visit the diocesan website atwww.fargodiocese.org and watch your parish bulletins for updates.

Our bishop-elect as a senior

Mike Howard Photography

John Folda graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in Omaha in 1979.

Bishop Folda to visit parishesVisits to three communities are planned to help introduce Bishop John Folda

to the churches and people of the Diocese of Fargo.Each visit will include a 7 p.m. Mass, followed by light refreshments and the

opportunity to meet and talk with Bishop Folda.

The dates and locations are:

Tues., June 25: St. James Basilica, JamestownWeds., June 26: St. Joseph’s Church, Devils LakeThurs., June 27: Holy Family Church, Grand Forks

He will also celebrate the June 23, 10 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary,Fargo.

Comingin the

July/Augustissue of

NewEarth

Stories and photosfrom the

Episcopal Ordinationand Installation



As a newly ordained priest in 1989, Father John Folda presides at his first Mass.

A new priest’s first Mass

Bob Wolf Ryan Brunner Wayne Cherney Jeff RisenauerGeneral Agent, Fargo Grand Forks Devils Lake Fargo

(701) 356-6664 (701) 757-0523 800-906-6780 (218) [email protected] (218) 779-3625 [email protected] (701) 356-8889

Glenn Hangaard Pat Dolan Ryan Geigle John EdwardsHankinson Fargo Jamestown Velva

(701) 242-7736 (701) 298-9922 (701) 320-8802 (701) 721-7689(701) 680-0870 [email protected] (701) 251-9019 (701) 338-2499

Welcome and Congratulations

Bishop-elect John FoldaBishop of the Fargo Diocese

May God Bless Your Work!


Serving others prepared new bishop for service

“My time as theApostolic Administratorfor the Diocese of Fargohas been a blessing to

me and I must sincerelythank all the Catholicfaithful of the Diocesefor their prayers and

cooperation. In aspecial way, the priests

and deacons of thediocese and the entire

diocesan staff havebeen so good duringthis interim time. I

know that Bishop-electFolda will find the same

cheerful and willingcooperation that I

have.”Bishop David D. Kagan,

Bishop of Bismarck,Apostolic Administrator of Fargo

Earlier in his priesthood,then-Father John Foldaserved as master ofceremonies for LincolnBishop Fabian Bruskewitz.The bishop-elect is seenhere at far left in this photofrom 1999.Photo courtesy Southern Nebraska Register

-


From seminary rector to Bishop-elect

Bishop Michael Hoeppnerand the faithful of theDiocese of Crookston

Welcome Bishop John Folda as theeighth Bishop of Fargo

WelcomesBishop-Elect

John Thomas Foldato North Dakota!

“His vast experience,as well as his keen

intelligence, hispersonal humility, and his dedication

to Jesus Christ and HisChurch will prepare

Bishop-elect Folda wellto teach, govern and

sanctify the faithful ofthe Diocese of Fargo.”

Bishop James D. ConleyBishop of Lincoln

Photos courtesy St. Gregory the Great Seminary

Bishop Emeritus Fabian Bruskewitz, left, and his successor as Bishop of Lincoln, Bishop James Conley, with Bishop-elect John Folda at the seminary this spring.

Bishop-elect Folda, seen in the chapel at St. Gregorythe Great Seminary in Seward, Neb.

Villa Maria, Fargo Rosewood on Broadway, Fargo Ave Maria Village, Jamestown Prairieland Home Care, Fargo

St. Andrew’s Health Center, Bottineau Maryhill Manor, Enderlin Presentation Medical Center, Rolla Sheyenne Care Center, Valley City St. Aloisius Medical Center, Harvey

SMP Health System along with its sponsor, the Sisters of Maryof the Presentation, Valley City, welcome Bishop John Folda

to the Diocese of Fargo. God Bless you in your work.


Looking forward to service in the Fargo Diocese

Congratulations& Best Wishes

BISHOP-ELECTJOHN T. FOLDA

on your appointment asBishop of Fargo

MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDTArchbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

BISHOP LEE PICHÉ

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS HARRY J. FLYNNArchbishopJohn C. Nienstedt

“Although I havemany shortcomings, I will do my best togive the people ofFargo all that I amand all that I have.Most importantly,

I will try to offer thesimple truth and

beauty of our faith inJesus Christ with all itsrichness. I can assurethem of my love andmy prayers for themalready, and I can

hardly wait to meetthem.”

Bishop-elect John T. Folda

Haney’s Photography, Moorhead, Minn.

Documents

May New Earth 2013 - Section A