One Vision, Two Bishops: Our Story
By Fr. Tim Biren
Director
St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Bishop Bernard Harrington of the Diocese of Winona, Minnesota is a visionary. Shortly after arriving in our rural Diocese in southern Minnesota, he realized that the Church would be able to provide more ministry opportunities if we focused on several areas in the Church including: vocations, evangelization and stewardship. During his tenure as the Shepherd of the Diocese of Winona, we have seen tremendous growth in these areas. Encouraged to make available more offerings of the Sacraments, the Diocese of Winona has seen an increase in opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration and, in some cases, perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, growth in our RCIA programs, doubling our seminarians (having the largest Ordination class in decades during his tenure) and teaching the faithful that all we have is a gift from God.
One of the ways that Bishop Harrington envisioned success in these areas was in the improvement of the ministry at the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato. This particular Catholic campus ministry was not associated with any parish, and for most of its 90 year history on campus, has operated on a minimal budget offering minimal programming. With Bishop Harrington’s experience in good stewardship, he took the leap of faith in bringing Petrus Development to work with the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center. He had the foresight and wisdom to understand that by creating a sustainable giving program (the first attempt in its history) the possibilities for expanded ministry would be endless.
Bishop Harrington, along with the Diocese of Winona made a commitment to strengthen Catholic campus ministry in good faith. They decided to pay the entire fee associated with hiring Petrus Development for the first year and pay for half of the fees the second year. Additionally, the Diocese of Winona provided the resources necessary to hire a development director for three years. We were given the opportunity to establish a sustainable development program and ultimately generate support to expand ministry, development efforts and sustainable giving programs.
After the first successful year in the development program and after 50 years in the priesthood and 10 years as our local Ordinary, Bishop Bernard Harrington was granted permission from our Holy Father to retire as Bishop of the Diocese of Winona. In his place we received our new Ordinary, Bishop John Quinn. Shortly after his arrival, he called the staff of the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center to his office to be updated on our involvement with Petrus Development and our development program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He was impressed with the efforts that began under his predecessor and promised to continue to support us in our ministry as had been previously arranged. The transition has been smooth and the support from the Diocese of Winona has been overwhelming.
Since beginning our relationship with Petrus Development, and with the ongoing support of both Bishop Harrington and Bishop Quinn, the results of God’s grace have been abundant. Since beginning our efforts to create a sustainable fund development program, we have seen tremendous growth in the level of ministry offered at the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center. FOCUS missionaries arrived on our campus in the beginning of our second year, 3 men have discerned entry as seminarians for the Diocese of Winona in the fall of 2010, 3 graduating seniors are becoming FOCUS missionaries, 21 students have been received into Full Communion with the Church in the past two years, and we have become the host for a Pre-Cana marriage preparation weekend, already giving retreats to over 80 couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage. The list goes on and on. Our success ultimately comes from the Lord, but also through the discipleship of a Bishop who had a great vision, and a successor who has been most supportive to allow that vision to expand, and an increasing number of benefactors that faithfully support the work of the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center.
Fr. Tim Biren is in his 3rd year as the Director for the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center and completing his 2nd year with Petrus Development.