Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Eight years ago today, on this feast of Our Lady of Fatima, you graciously welcomed me as your shepherd. It seemed so fitting to me that the Gospel that day told the story of the Visitation, which so encapsulates how the Lord can work within each of us in glorious and unexpected ways. Mary’s joyful acclamation in her Magnificat – “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” – resonated powerfully with me, and it seemed to be reflected as well in the joyful hope expressed by so many of you in attendance that day in our Cathedral. I will never forget how welcoming you all were that day to my father and family, as well as to me!
You might remember that our local church was going through some struggles at that time. It was certainly a time when much healing was needed, when the brave voices of those who had been harmed by representatives of the Church needed to be heard. I continue to meet with survivors of abuse and their loved ones, and I remain grateful that their courageous witness has led to so many necessary and important changes so that our parishes and schools are safer for all those we serve, particularly the most vulnerable. My prayer on the day of my installation was that Our Lady of Fatima would bring healing into their lives.
As much as I trust Our Lady, I never imagined when I was installed that we would one day be blessed to have someone who personally understands the scourge of abuse who would be willing to work with me and the Archdiocesan staff to guide us in our outreach to those who have been harmed. I’m convinced that Paula Kaempffer has been an answer to our prayers. She is an amazing listener and I remain so grateful that she has been called to this ministry. How wonderful that through Zoom, her ministry has been able to reach folks not only in our Archdiocese but also from around the globe!
In my installation homily, I expressed my conviction that the Lord had through our difficulties, weaknesses, and even our bankruptcy set the stage once again for us to recognize that all victory belongs to him. Jesus called us to trust in him.
While much work has been done in the areas of healing and renewal, I know that we are nowhere near the finish line. We have by no means finished that race that our patron St. Paul refers to in his Second Letter to St. Timothy – and that’s why I, both in the Synod process and now in our implementation of the Pastoral Letter, have continued to call on the Holy Spirit to guide our work. It is only through our docility to the Holy Spirit that we can really know that we are advancing the Lord’s plan for our local church – and the victory that surely will be his.
I ask that you join me in calling upon the Holy Spirit once again this Saturday, May 18, at the Pentecost Vigil Mass at our Cathedral of St. Paul. Please come to join me in asking the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, to continue guiding our local church.
In the meantime, please keep me in your prayers that I may serve you more worthily as your shepherd. Way back in 2016, I promised you in my homily that “I’m all in.” Please know that I still am! It has been a blessing to serve you these past eight years and I look forward to many more.
Ordination to the Priesthood (May 25)
All are welcome to attend the Presbyteral Ordination at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Thirteen Theology IV seminarians from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood of Jesus Christ!
The Oratory of St. Philip Neri invites you to an evening of prayer, reflection, and celebration in the spirit of St. Philip Neri.
Hundreds of Catholics, others rally at Minnesota State Capitol
Nearly 500 people gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul May 8 to speak out against the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).
“It’s moments like this that we realize what unites us as people of faith is much greater than what divides us,” said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Williams of St. Paul and Minneapolis over cheers and clapping during the rally in the Capitol Rotunda, remarking on the turnout.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Cardinal Dolan: Catholic Rural Life provides important assistance to the faithful
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, spoke about the late Bishop Edwin Vincent O’Hara, founder of Catholic Rural Life (CRL), at the May 8 celebration of the organization’s 100th anniversary at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He called the founder “perhaps the most influential leader in Catholic agrarianism.”
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The countdown to priestly ordination 2024
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"This universal call of witness might arouse fear in our hearts until we recall that the will of God will never lead us where the grace of God cannot keep us. If it is indeed possible to not be afraid in the face of the Church’s call to mission, it is only because the 'all' of the Church’s call is met by the 'all' of God’s grace: 'To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit' (1 Cor 12:7)."
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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May 13, 2024