“Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know Himself— so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth and themselves.”
-St. John Paul II Preface to Fides et Ratio
Fides et Ratio Reflections
Last week, I noted the Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the U.S. Catholic Bishops on Thursday, June 11. I included the link to the Consecration prayer. At Holy Spirit Parish las Sunday, we prayed the prayer as well with the encouragement of our Bishop, John T. Folda, and Pastor, Fr. Ross Laframboise.
I have also been using a prayer card provided by the USCCB at meetings in our schools this week. You may find it helpful, too:
Sacred Heart of Jesus Consecration Prayer Card
In this month of June, we honor and revere the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and that annual renewal of devotion is amplified as we approach our nation’s 250th birthday on July 4.
May devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus increase and abound in love.
It's About Time
Rome Pilgrims
Shanley High School Pilgrims
Yesterday 41 Shanley Seniors-to-be (half the Senior Class of 2027!) left the comforts of home as part of our annual Rome pilgrimage sponsored by the University of Mary. That number bodes well for the coming school year as leaders at Shanley High School.
The opportunities our students have in this program coordinated are simply breath-taking:
The Colosseum, St. Mary Major, Catacombs, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, St. Peter’s, the Vatican Museum, St. John Lateran, Scala Sancta, Assisi, Siena, Orvieto, and Papal Audiences, etc. The culminating highlight for the pilgrims is attending the Mass for the Solemnity of Sts. Pater and Paul on June 29. May the graces they gain from that Mass and this pilgrimage be a boon for them and for our schools. Prayers for them, please.
Sr. Anne Lyons
Sr. Anne Lyons, PBVM, is the Postulator for the Cause for Venerable Nano Nagle—the “Cause” for potential beatification and canonization of the Foundress of the Order which founded our Catholic schools in 1882.
She recently visited the Presentation Sisters and their associates and others of goodwill in Fargo and Aberdeen.
As part of her visit, she toured our schools on Monday morning this week and met with interested staff members.
In Monday’s staff session, she 1) gave a tour de force presentation on Nano’s heroic life of virtue and the on-going call to emulate her witness; 2) heard examples of how we are teaching students about Nano and her legacy; and 3) spoke about the next phase of the Cause—intercessory prayer to Nano for a miraculous healing. Sr. Anne’s “class” was spell-binding and inspiring.
Thank you Sr. Anne for your visit to our schools and for your important work as Postulator!
You can learn more specifics about the Cause here: Cause for Sainthood – PBVM
June 21 – Fathers Day and More
Sunday is Father’s Day, and I wish a hearty, happy Father’s Day to all dads, grandpas, great-grandpas, and “father figures” who make all the difference in the lives of children. May you be blessed in your indispensable roles.
Please consider praying this Prayer to St. Joseph for fathers from Pope St. John XXIII:
St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary,
you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty.
You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands.
Kindly protect all the fathers who trustingly come to you.
You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes.
They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor and weariness. But amid the worries of material life your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you and with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over him faithfully as you have done.
AMEN.
Early Father’s Day morning this year—at 3:24 am in Fargo to be precise—we also see the Summer Solstice. With that, we will officially welcome summer.
The early sunrises and late sunsets have peaked, and now the reality is that the long hours of daylight will gradually shorten.
Enjoy your summertime and all the unique blessings it offers.
President’s Proverb
“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”
–Mark Twain
Hagstrom’s Attempt at Humor (HAAH!)
Sunday Psalm Sampler
“Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
-Luke 24:22b
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
- Lectionary Readings: Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69:8-10, 17, 35
- Responsorial Refrain: “Lord, in Your great love, answer me.” (Ps 69:14c)
- Chris Brunelle’s YouTube Recording: R&A Psalm 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026, Psalm 69
After Psalm 22, Psalm 69 is the second most-quoted Psalm in the New Testament, which aligns with the Risen Lord Jesus’ explanation quoted at the beginning of this weekly blog feature—that all that was written of Him in the Old Testament “must be fulfilled.” From Psalm 69:21b, for example, the Evangelists note the prophecy, they “gave me vinegar for my thirst.”
Both these Psalms are Psalms of the Suffering Servant, a typology which Jesus perfectly fulfills. Both articulate the Lord’s cry of distress and anguish in suffering His Passion for our sake. Both Psalms appeal to God for help in time of affliction.
In today’s section of Psalm 69, there rises a spirit of confident trust in the Lord, Who rescues the needy who trust in Him, as well as a spirit of praise which echoes throughout the earth. This week, let us praise the God Who rescues as we sing in confidence, “Lord, in Your great love, answer me.”
Our President
Mike Hagstrom
Mike Hagstrom was named President of St. John Paul II Catholic Schools and Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Fargo on March 15, 2016, and officially assumed the role on July 1, 2016. In his application for the position, he described his leadership philosophy as one of stewardship, writing:
“My approach would be that of stewardship of the great gift of Catholic Schools. With the help of God’s grace and all our stakeholders, we can be good stewards together, ensuring that our schools not only survive, but thrive. They are designed for human flourishing, forming the whole person, each and every student made in God’s image and likeness, endowed with a transcendent dignity and destiny.”
Before stepping into diocesan leadership, Mike dedicated 31 years to Shanley High School, where he taught Religion and served in a variety of leadership roles. During his time there, he embodied the spirit of St. Bede’s words: “I have always found delight in learning, teaching, and writing.”
Mike earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He and his wife, Shawn, are the proud parents of two Shanley graduates, Therese (’08) and Joseph (’16), and grandparents to James and Oliver.
