Divine Mercy Lenten mission led by Norbertine

By LORI BERGLUND
Special to Lumen Media
 
            “Ever ancient, ever new,” such is the life in Christ as lived by St. Norbert of Xanten nearly 1,000 years ago. St. Norbert sought a life in community with other men of God, but his would not be a cloistered community, rather they would go out into the world, proclaiming Christ in word and action. 

            A modern day Norbertine will be coming to Divine Mercy Parish, St. Cecelia Church, in Algona during the Lenten season, bringing the message of Christ that does indeed remain, ever ancient, ever new.

            Father Ambrose Criste is a Norbertine priest from the St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California. A Colorado native, he was a Rhodes scholar before answering the call to religious life as a Norbertine. Now widely known as a speaker, he has also served as novice master and director of formation for his abbey.

            The Norbertines, sometimes called Premonstratensians, are one of the oldest religious orders of the church. While most religious orders are clothed in black or brown, the Norbertines are known for their simple, yet quite distinctive, white habit, a symbol linked to purity, the resurrection, and even a revelation of the Blessed Mother to St. Norbert.

            Delores Huemiller, a faith formation coordinator for the Diocese of Sioux City who has also served as parish director of discipleship at Divine Mercy Parish, first came across Father Ambrose on her YouTube feed during the Lenten season of 2024.

            “He was talking about fasting in Lent, and I thought it was fantastic,” Huemiller recalled.

            “The great fast,” as Lent is also known, can be challenging, Father Ambrose acknowledges in his talk titled “How to have your best Lent yet.” But while fasting may be sometimes difficult, it is worthwhile, he noted, because it imitates what our Lord did himself here on earth. The approximately four- to five-minute video is easily found online to help readers learn more.

            Even better, there is a chance to hear and interact with Father Ambrose during the annual parish mission at Divine Mercy.

            “When it came time to find a speaker for this year’s mission, Father Matthew Solyntjes and I looked at several options, and he was one of them,” Huemiller said.

            Through a series of emails, they connected and invited Father Ambrose to come and lead the retreat.

            Father Ambrose is known for his social media outreach in bringing faith to those who may otherwise not encounter it in daily life.

            “He’s interviewed Jordan Peterson and Peterson’s wife,” Huemiller noted.
Peterson is a Canadian intellectual who has also interacted with Bishop Barron and his Word on Fire ministry. While Peterson acknowledges being on a journey, his wife converted to Catholicism after a battle with cancer.

            “Father Ambrose does so many different things,” Huemiller said. “He’s very busy, we’re very lucky to have him, and he puts out great content.”

            The mission will run from March 23 through March 26, at St. Cecelia. Each evening will begin with the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 6:20 p.m., followed by a talk from Father Ambrose at 6:30 p.m. The mission lasts about one hour each night, with a reception to follow on the final evening. There will also be an opportunity for the sacrament of reconciliation each evening beginning at 5:30 p.m.

            The mission will kick off March 23, with a 5:30 p.m. soup supper at the St. Cecelia Presentation Center.
          
           For Divine Mercy Parish members who regularly attend Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in West Bend, Father Ambrose will concelebrate the 8:30 a.m. Mass on March 25. He will then return to Algona for a parish lunch at noon at the St. Cecelia Presentation Center.

            Father Ambrose will also be taking part in the student Mass at Bishop Garrigan School on March 24 and the 8:40 a.m. Mass at St. Cecelia on March 26. It will be a busy week with Father Ambrose also making time to visit and have lunch with students.

            There is no cost to attend any part of the parish mission, but offerings are welcome to help defer the cost. Parish members and others are welcome to attend all, any, or even just one of the mission nights. For those outside of Divine Mercy Parish that would like to attend the soup supper and/or the Tuesday lunch are asked to contact Huemiller at [email protected] to ensure an accurate meal count. 

            To Huemiller, it’s an opportunity to rekindle the light of faith in a world that often grows weary.

            “I am always encouraged in my faith,” she said of the mission tradition. “I love hearing what the speakers have to say, and listening to Father Ambrose is very encouraging. I hope parishioners come away encouraged in their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ.”
 
Fun Midwest connection
            While Father Ambrose is based out of the California abbey, the Norbertines have a very strong presence in the Midwest that is worth noting. St. Norbert College is located in De Pere, Wisconsin which is practically Titletown USA. St. Norbert College is less than 15 minutes from Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. So close, in fact, that it was at the chapel at St. Norbert College where legendary Packers Coach Vince Lombardi stopped in to pray before every game.

The Packers have long held a training camp at St. Norbert College, and when other professional teams added cheerleaders to the sidelines, Lombardi made it known that he wanted cheerleaders who would dress modestly and behave accordingly. 

Thus began the long tradition of St. Norbert Cheerleaders pulling double duty cheering on the Packers. That tradition continued for decades until being paused during the pandemic. Modesty mattered to Lombardi, who was also a 4^th Degree Knight of Columbus and daily Mass attendee.

It’s a football tradition based in the value of a coach who always stopped to pray.