N E T M I N I S T R I E S

N E T WO R K SChallenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church Spring 2010

In this Issue: Directors’ Corner p 2 Loving with no Bounds p 3 Alumni Priest Retreat p 4

200 young Catholics attended

retreats hosted at the NET Center,

growing closer to Christ and learning

more about their Catholic faith

97 NET Team members received formation and training and led

5000+ young people on NET retreats

1000+ Christian college students visited the NET booths at

the URBANA and FOCUS Conferences, learning more about what

NET Teams are doing to evangelize young Catholics

900 Catholic teens

attended LIFELINE, a high-

energy youth Mass and

dynamic presentation held at

the NET Center each month

97 Youth Ministry workers

attended The Gathering, held

monthly at the NET Center,

offering a day of training,

formation, support and fellowship

Impact of NET Ministries During ONE MONTH of NET Events

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N E T M I N I S T R I E S

N E T WO R K SDear Friends,

With God’s grace, we have been doing something amazing with Catholic youth for 28 years. Since NET’s beginning, I have had the privilege of seeing thousands of young Catholics whose lives were changed because they served on a NET Team.

We were honored to have some of our 49 alumni priests attend our annual Catholic Youth Benefit Banquet recently. Many of these priests attest to the vital role that NET played in their vocational choice. Many of these men first learned how to pray and discern God’s call while serving with NET. These priests experienced the joy that comes from serving God wholeheartedly during their nine months on a NET team. These priests learned self-sacrifice and generosity while traveling from parish to parish in a twelve-passenger van. They helped young people make lifelong decisions about their faith through a bold proclamation of the Gospel in word and witness.

As you read this, 100 young Catholics are finishing their year of service on nine NET teams, traversing the country and proclaiming the same Gospel our priests proclaim every day. In fact, they are going places you and I, and even our priests, have difficulty getting to—the hearts of young people. They are out there with our youth precisely at the time when most young people are making lifelong decisions about faith. They are urging our young people to choose Christ tonight.

Next year we are prepared to send out ten NET teams—giving even more young Catholics an opportunity to choose Christ. With your help, we will be able to challenge over 60,000 Catholic teens to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. With your prayer support, young people are deciding to follow Christ. With your generosity, young people are embracing their Catholic faith. With your help, we can continue to do something amazing in the lives of Catholic young people.

As this Year of the Priest comes to a close, I invite you to remember all our priests in your prayers. You will be pleased to hear that two more NET alumni will be ordained to the priesthood this spring. Amazing!!

With my heartfelt gratitude,

Springl 2010

Challenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church

BO

AR

D O

f D

IRE

CT

OR

S

PreSident: Archbishop John C. nienstedt

exeCutive direCtor: Mr. Mark L. Berchem,

M.S.W., M.t.S.

treASurer: Mr. Jack J. Cozzens

Mr. Gerald d. Brennan, CiMAMr. Gordon C. deMarais, MAtMrs. Jan GloudemanMr. thomas L.

Grundhoefer, J.d.

Mr. daniel J. Hagen, CFAMrs. Helen HealyMrs. Patricia Huberdr. James C. Kolar, d.Min.Mrs. Barbara KochMr. Alan Kraling

Mr. Patrick o. regan

ePiSCoPAL AdviSory BoArd: Francis Cardinal George,

o.M.i., Ph.d., S.t.d.

Archbishop robert J. Carlson, d.d.

Archbishop dennis M. Schnurr, d.d.

Bishop Frederick F. Campbell, d.d.

Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, d.d.

net is under the ecclesial vigilance of the Most reverend John C. nienstedt, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. it is governed by a national board of directors, is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and has been audited by Lewis, Kisch and Associates, Ltd.

fROM ThE ExECuTIvE DIRECTOR

2010 ANNuAL BENEfIT BANquET

The 2010 Catholic Youth Benefit Banquet was held April 27, 2010 and featured an address from Archbishop John C. Nienstedt as well as testimonies from NET Team members and NET Alumni who are now serving as priests.

Clockwise from right: Dan Driver (NET Team 8), and Archbishop Nienstedt. Bill and Lana Miller with Ann and Norman Hoffman. Bonnie Frels with Board Members Pat Huber and Helen Healy.

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Matthew 5:48 says, “So be perfect, just as your heavenly father is perfect.” Godly perfection – sounds wonderful! When i ponder trying to “be perfect,” however, it seems that several obstacles interfere with my quest for growth.

one obstacle to perfection stares at me in the mirror: pride. the Christian striving for perfection works really hard to put into practice all sorts of helpful pointers, insights, etc. – all good things. But too much introspection can lead to belly gazing, “How do i measure up?” the focus resides no longer on the greatness and glory and perfection of God, but on me and My perfection.

recognizing my pride, discouragement can set in. i’m supposed to be like God, who is perfect. But i’m not God, and i never will be. And i know from experience that i will never be perfect, so what’s the point? Sadly, one reaction is often to give up before i start. But sometimes, i actually begin to make some progress: loving well, being generous, etc. Then WHAM! Sin rears its ugly head and I fall flat on my face, in disgrace, out of grace and out of the race for that “perfect” place.

So what’s one to do? i recently heard a priest say “Love abides all things, except this, the setting of limits.” the new Jerusalem Bible translates the above Matthew 5:48 similarly, “you must set no bounds to your love, just as your heavenly Father sets none to his.” When stated this way, the very use of the term “love” as opposed to “perfection” immediately turns my focus outward. one cannot love without relationship; it is inherent in the term. rather than focusing on my perfection, i now focus on the other, on love.

And not just any love, but love with “no bounds.” Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” Set no bounds. Love not only friends, family and people we like and get along with, but also the neighbor who smokes pot and revs his Harley at 10:30 at night. I like to define my enemy as the person that is hardest for me to love. insert your “enemy” here.

the familiar 1 Corinthians 13 brings more insight to boundless love. “Love is patient, love is kind…” the new Jerusalem Bible inserts a little adverb into the mix that raises the bar: “Love is always patient…” How many of us, as we try not to set bounds on our love, sometimes come to a point of exasperation where we say or think, “enough! i’ve had it up to here!” We think we have the right to be impatient, or to be unkind, or to be rude. ever have someone cut you off as you are about to enter a parking spot on a busy day? Has lack of sleep ever given you the idea that you had a “right” to be grumpy, irritable, etc.?

the next time you are trying to be perfect, forget yourself. remember love. i can do all things through Christ because Love never fails. And Jesus said that if we ask, we will receive. if we are unfaithful, he is faithful still. We can love with no bounds, because with God, all things are possible.

Christopher Kraker Associate Director

God’s Love Knows no Bounds

(and Neither Should Ours)

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PAidSt. Paul, Mn

Permit no. 469

110 Crusader Avenue WestWest St. Paul, Mn 55118-4427

AddreSS ServiCe reQueSted

Address change needed?receiving multiple copies?Want to switch to an e-newsletter?if so, contact us:Phone: 651.450.6833 | Fax: 651.450.9984www.netusa.org | e-mail: ministry@netusa.org

www.netusa .org

2010 A l u m n i P r i e s t r e t r e A t

www.netusa .org

the priests in attendance: Fr. John Amsberry (87-88,90-91), Fr. todd Arends (93-94), Fr. todd

Arsenault (91-92), Fr. Andrew Cozzens (91-92), Fr. den irwin (94-95), Fr. Keith Kitzhaber (97-98), Fr. tom Margevicius (84-85, 85-86), Fr. Scott McCaig

(87-88) , Fr. Joshua McCarty (98-99), Fr. Marc Syrenne (85-86, 86-87), Fr. Scott traynor (92-

93), Fr. Jon vanderPloeg (88-89, 89-90), Fr. Mark Wiesner (87-88)

Are you ready to do Something Amazing with net?

do you know someone who loves their Catholic faith and wants to share it with others? recruiting efforts for next year’s net teams are already

under way; log on to the website for more information and interview dates!

2010-2011 net t e A m s

t h A n k y o u f o r y o u r s u P P o r t o f net ministries

Sixty-five NET Alumni are in seminary formation or ordained as priests. in celebration of the year for Priests, and in conjunction with our annual Benefit Banquet, NET Ministries held an Alumni Priest Retreat this April, inviting our 49 Alumni priests to join their brother priests for two days of reflection, sacraments and fellowship at the NET Center and concluding their time together as guests at our Benefit Banquet. Many thanks to our alumni, whose donations made it possible for net to pay for all of the

travel expenses so that these men might attend.

“thank you so much for the wonderful retreat. it was great of net to give us the opportunity to bond as brother priests based on our common experience of brotherhood on net. net and its benefactors truly know how to show your appreciation for your priests.” - Fr. den irwin (94-95)

“it was wonderful to come back to net. Keep up this most important work! ” - Fr. John Amsberry (87-88, 90-91)

“thank you for the opportunity to gather with Priests that have the taste of the love of Christ in their lives. the generosity and hospitality of net

was very moving.” - Fr. Kurt Farrell (89-90)

DO SOMETHING AMAZING

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NETWORKS

N E T M I N I S T R I E S A L U M N I

N E T WO R K SChallenging young Catholics to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church

We need Alumni teams to staff D-weeks! Contact vanessa@netusa.org to sign up!

CROOKSTON, MNTraining Dates: June 11, 12, 13 (Fri-Sun)D-Week Retreat: June 14-17, 2010 (Mon-Thurs)

TWIN CITIES, MNTraining Dates: June 11, 12, 13 (Fri-Sun)D-Week Retreat: June 14-17, 2010 (Mon-Thurs)

DULUTH, MNTraining Dates: June 12, 13, 14 (Sat-Mon)D-Week Retreat: June 15-18, 2010 (Tues-Fri)

REDLANDS, CA D-WEEK 2010Training Dates: June 21, 22, 23 (Fri-Sun)D-Week Retreat: June 21-24, 2010 (Mon-Thurs)

VICTORIA, TX D-WEEK 2010Training Dates: June 25, 26, 27 (Fri-Sun)D-Week Retreat: June 28-July 1 (Mon-Thurs)

DEP will be held this summer June 18-28, 2010. DEP features relevant training through one-on-one mentoring, the sacraments, vibrant group dynamics, and a powerful mission opportunity. If you know someone looking for Catholic discipleship formation between the ages of 17 – 24, contact Susan at susan@netusa.org.

2009-2010 NET Alumni

Hello Faithful Alumni! Things are starting off well in recruiting. We have already received more applications and met more people who are interested in NET than ever before. Although things are going well, we need your help! This past year we had 101 NET team members, 99 of them came on NET because an Alumni told them about it. Please spread the word to anyone who you think would be good to serve on NET. If you would like any recruiting supplies or would like to pass on anyone’s information to us, pleasecontact Matt Reiswig in recruiting (matt@netusa.org).

Recruiting Update

Calling all Prayer Warriors!As you can imagine, we here at NET are blessed to

receive many prayer requests from our alumni. If you

would like to participate in being on a prayer team via

email for NET alumni intentions, please email

susan@netusa.org for more details.

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NETWORKS

Alumni Updates

Michael Speltz (1985-1996 – Team 1) and his wife Julie proudly announce the birth of their twin sons Isaac Michael and Jacob Benedict. Born on September 15, 2009.

Deb (Schwarz) Marino (2004-2005 – Team 7) and her husband welcomed their daughter in December. Deb wrote, “Proudly presenting the newest addition to our family: Gianna Joy Marino born Dec 1st at 10:40am, 6lb 7oz ,19 in. We had an early, short delivery with only a minor setback of an infection which put her in NICU for 3 days. Not expected, but all is well and we are happy and healthy at home now trying to settle into a routine. I know we are partial, but she just seems to get cuter each day! ”

Brandon Horn (2006-2007 – Team 4) celebrates his wedding!

Christopher Ortega (2001-2002 – Team 4 & 2002-2003 – Team 3) was ordained to the deaconate May 29, 2010. Fr. Chris Shocklee (2000-2001 – Team 7) and Deacon Mick Kelly (2000-2001 – Team 4).

Humberto Carbajal (1994-1995 – Team 8 & 1998-1999 – Team 1) shared the following, “I am wanting to share with the NET community my second child. He was born on August 11, 2009. We named him Mateo. We consider Mateo a miracle because we had a miscarriage in January. A few days later we had a routine sonogram and discovered that we were still pregnant. It turned out that the baby we had miscarried was Mateo’s fraternal twin brother or sister. We are thankful that Mateo held on and we consider him a big gift from God. We are going to baptize him this coming weekend. I’ve included a photo of him in his baptisimal outfit and a cool hat.”

Fr. Shawn Aaron (1989-1990 – Team 8), has been nominated president of Southern Catholic College (SCC) in Dawsonville. “His appointment, pending SCC’s board approval, comes in the wake of the announcement by Southern Catholic and the Legion of Christ earlier this month that they agreed that the college would become a Legion institution. ‘I believe Father Aaron is the ideal person to lead Southern Catholic,” said Father Scott Reilly, L.C., territorial director for the Legion. “He brings a broad educational and work experience to the position – and ample enthusiasm.’”

Br. Eric Burke (2002-2003 – Team 3). After graduating from California State University-Fullerton in May 2007 with a major in Health & Human

Development, Eric discerned a calling to the friars of the St. Barbara Province in California. He took his First Profession of Vows as a Brother in San Juan Bautista, California on July 3, 2009. He is working on his Masters in Theology. May we all pray for continued religious vocations.

Mark Todd (1989-1990 – Team 8) is running for the Republican gubernatorial candidacy in Wisconsin in 2010. Can you imagine a NETter as governor!? Go God!! Please direct any and all support to Mark: http://www.marktoddforgovernor.com/. “Thank you for your prayers--they are much needed during this time. I need to raise a great deal of money in a very short period of time. Please pray that God will shower down the finances so I can be his instrument in stopping abortion in WI first day in office, leading then to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade for our country. God Bless!” -Mark

Please call or email susan@netusa.org for alumni contact information.

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