“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
In a much-anticipated event, Venerable Fulton Sheen (d. 1979) will be beatified in St. Louis, Missouri, next Thursday, September 24, 2026.
Fulton Sheen Beatification Event Ticketing – Archdiocese of St. Louis
The Good News preached by the popular, engaging, and effective Catholic evangelist-Bishop resonates through the decades because as J.R.R. Tolkien observed, “There is no tale ever told that men more wish were true.”
For an interesting local angle, Kevin Jones wrote this story for our diocesan newspaper, The New Earth. In “When Fulton Sheen came to Fargo,” he recounts the September 1973 visit of Archbishop Sheen (pp. 12-13): NEWEARTH_Sept2026.pdf
Thanks be to God for soon-to-be “Blessed Fulton Sheen.”
It's About Time
Bishop Bances Visit
Bishop Ernesto Bances (left) and Bishop John Folda at Shanley-Sacred Heart’s Mary Garden
As noted last Friday, the Bishop of Chimbote, the Most Rev. Angel Eernesto Zapata Bances was scheduled to visit the Fargo Diocese as guest of Bishop John Folda, whom he hosted in Chimbote in early 2025.
Bishop Folda gave more background about the visit and the relationship between the two dioceses in his September New Earth column (p. 4): NEWEARTH_Sept2026.pdf
The bishops had a busy schedule, including the coin toss for the Shanley Deacon football game versus the Bismarck Demons. Bishop Ernesto enjoyed the tailgating, tour of the campus, and his first North American high school football game, even though the Demons rallied for a 29-22 victory over the Deacons.
After visits to Grand Forks and Wahpeton over the weekend, a Monday evening Mass, meal, and program at Holy Cross Church in West Fargo concluded the public events. The program included grateful, fraternal acknowledgments of the relationship of the Dioceses of Chimbote and Fargo as well as the good work of the Friends of Chimbote organization. Friends of Chimbote Thanks to all parishes, schools, and families for their recent generous support.
Shanley TV Interview
Left to right: Dr. Michael Smith, Bishop Bances, Bishop Folda, Nolan Snyder ’27, and Jason McAllister ‘27
At halftime of last Friday night’s football game, Shanley TV student announcers interviewed Bishops Bances and Folda about the visit and the good will between the two dioceses. Dr. Michael Smith, Friends of Chimbote Executive Director and my immediate predecessor in this role, served as translator.
Worth a listen. Well-done, STV! (The interview begins at 1:05:00 in the archive video below.)
Boys’ Varsity Football: Shanley vs. Bismarck High | Shanley TV
Homecoming Week – September 21-26
President’s Proverb
“Learning comes from books; penetration of a mystery from suffering.”
– Ven. Fulton Sheen
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 24:44b
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
- Lectionary Readings: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
- Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
- Responsorial Refrain: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.” (Ps 103:8)
- Chris Brunelle’s YouTube Recording: R&A Psalm 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026, Psalm 145
Psalm 145 is the final alphabetical acrostic Psalm (each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet). When used elsewhere in the Sunday Lectionary, the refrain, “I will praise Your name forever, my king and my God,” is consistent with the Psalm’s over-all theme of praise. Indeed, the subscript of the Psalm is, “A David song of Praise.”
But this Sunday the refrain illustrates a related dynamic: the Lord’s nearness to those who beseech Him within that framework of praise. The Psalm’s stanzas portray the Just and Faithful One, Who merits our praise, to Whom we can call out with our needs, for He is near.
This week let us turn to Him in thanksgiving and make known to Him our needs as we sing this reminder: “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him.”
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.
