Sara Kigin, 32, is one of four women and four men who will represent Team Minnesota in the swimming competition at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle July 1-6.

When you catch sisters Nikki and Tricia Walz together, it’s not hard to notice the family resemblance — their wide welcoming smiles, their long golden tresses and their happy laughs. But what people often notice is “more than just a pretty face.”

Cathy Bahmer, member of St. Mary Parish in Little Falls, has been named this year’s recipient of the Humanae Vitae Award. This year is especially significant as it is the 50th anniversary of the document, which was released in 1968 and explains the Catholic Church’s teaching about human life, married love, responsible parenthood and natural family planning. Pope Paul VI will be canonized in October in Rome along with martyr Oscar Romero.

A lot can happen when 16 young men in grades seven through 12 board a bus to tour churches around the diocese as part of a vocation camp experience.

Four men in the Diocese of St. Cloud are preparing for ordination June 16 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud. Three of the four will be ordained transitional deacons: seminarians Rick Aubol, Mark Botzet and Gregory Sauer. Dean Pawlowski will be ordained a permanent deacon.

The pews were packed, the aisles filled with children and the walls lined with people who stood for more than an hour at All Saints-St. Mary Church in Holdingford June 6 to listen to Father Carlos Martins tell dramatic stories of great miracles, inspiring conversions and chilling tales of the lives of the saints.

Bishop Donald Kettler presented them with certificates during a ceremony at St. Boniface Church in Cold Spring.

Michael Haney’s journey to becoming Catholic hasn’t always been easy, but he feels the joy that is in this parish is unbelievable and fun to be a part of.