Members of the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans attended the retirement mass for Bishop Kettler at St. Mary’s Cathedral (St. Cloud, MN) on Sunday, February 7th. The mass celebrated the retirement and years of service of Bishop Kettler in the St. Cloud Diocese, and also included scriptural readings and a homily by Bishop Kettler that are very relatable to our Franciscan charism and tradition.

The Collect for the beginning of the mass invoked the mission of Catholic faithful as “called to be light of the world, salt of the earth” — a call often referenced by Bishop Kettler. The first reading was drawn from Isaiah 58:7-10, with its call to “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. ” The Gospel reading from Matthew 5:13-16 followed, including the exhortation that, “your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness and give praise to your heavenly Father.”

In his homily, Bishop Kettler explained, “God gives light to the world so that we may share it, in a marvelously healing way, because he loves us and wants that love to go out and bear fruit.” Bishop Kettler continued, “We have been called to make Earth the Kingdom of God for all people.”

In remarks before the end of the mass, St. Cloud Diocese Chanceller Jane Marrin commented that Bishop Kettler is “a bishop of healing and reconciliation.” Fr. Scott Pogatchnik, pastor at St. John Cantius Church, the home of the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans, also officiated at the mass, and remarked that Bishop Kettler is a servant leader who always said “Here I am” (Isaiah 6).

A reception was held after the mass, and St. Cloud Secular Franciscans recalled Bishop Kettler’s involvement over the years with ministry to the incarcerated.

Are you a person looking for a way to be “light to the world, salt of the earth”? Do you feel you may have a calling to “share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked when you see them”? Are you considering whether joining the Secular Franciscan community would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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