Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Today, I am off to St. Mary’s University in Winona for the Archdiocesan Presbyteral Assembly. Every other year, the priests in the Archdiocese gather for four days of prayer, learning and discussion, all with the intention of strengthening our fraternity as brothers in Christ. We are blessed this year to have Bishop Donald Hying, the bishop of Madison, leading us in our reflections. I always look forward to this time with our priests but am especially excited to hear from Bishop Hying. He is doing an amazing job in his diocese. I apologize to those of you who normally go to daily Mass that it may be harder to find a Mass this week, being that your priests will be away with their brothers. I hope, however, that you will be sure to say an extra prayer for all of us as we gather for our Assembly.
As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, and especially in conjunction with our Year II priority for our pastoral letter implementation, we have spent much time and energy as an Archdiocese over the last the thirteen months reflecting on the “Truth, Beauty and Goodness” of the Eucharist. I am grateful that Bishop Hying will be speaking to this priority in his talks in Winona. I am confident, however, that he will be building on a strong foundation, due to the many ways in which you and our clergy have invested yourselves in a true Eucharistic revival that propels us to service and evangelization.
In many ways, yesterday’s Corpus Christi celebration at the Cathedral marked the formal conclusion of our Year II implementation. I was particularly thrilled that so many had come out on such a hot day for our celebration, even though our procession was moved indoors. The Cathedral choir’s presentation of the traditional Corpus Christi sequence, Lauda Sion (English, Latin), was particularly moving: the text alone would give us food for thought for another year.
As we pass that milestone, I hope that you can look back on this last year and see that your love for the Mass and for Jesus present in the Eucharist has grown. Was there something that stood out to you in your small group this year? Or in watching the Teaching Mass series? I hope this year has helped you take your love for Jesus in the Eucharist, our source and summit, beyond Mass and Adoration hours – as important as those are – and carry it through to all areas of your life, letting him truly transform your heart.
It seems to me that there’s something particularly powerful about wrapping up our Year II implementation in this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If you’ve explored the Eucharistic miracles throughout the history of our Church – so lovingly catalogued by Blessed Carlo Acutis – you've likely read about several commonalities among them. One of these is that on those rare occasions when the Eucharist has transformed into flesh, it often becomes heart muscle. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us his Sacred Heart as our nourishment.
While I recognize that there’s still plenty of room for our love for our Eucharistic Lord to grow and for our understanding of the Mass to deepen, we now have to turn our focus to the next pastoral letter priority: Parents as Primary Educators of Their Children. Fortunately, the Blue Ribbon Commission that was established last year to help me plan for the implementation of that priority made a strong recommendation that we begin our support of families by focusing on a theme that builds directly upon our Year II work: Reclaiming Sundays as the Lord’s Day. That’s going to be our area of emphasis from now until the end of June 2026.
Pope St. John Paul II once noted Sunday is indeed the “day which is at the very heart of the Christian life.” In that perspective, Sunday Mass is just one part of the Sunday celebration. The whole day should be a celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. Sunday is not just another day and shouldn’t be seen as simply an opportunity for us to complete tasks that escaped us during the week. It is a day of grace in which we need to give our time to Christ and to others. St. John Paul II goes on to say: “I would strongly urge everyone to rediscover Sunday: Do not be afraid to give your time to Christ! Yes, let us open our time to Christ, that he may cast light upon it and give it direction.”
I am so grateful for the work of the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education and the Blue Ribbon Commission for their work creating a guide, “Reclaiming Sundays: Recover Sunday as a Day for the Lord and Family,” to help families – and all the lay faithful – find ways we can live out the call to keep Sunday holy. I encourage you to visit archspm.org/sundays to download this guide and choose the ideas that speak to you most with your family and those closest to you.
Be assured of my prayers this week from Winona!
Catholic Hope in Uncertain Times (June 25)
Join Jason Adkins, Esq., executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, and Dr. Tod Worner, managing editor of Evangelization & Culture, for an inspiring evening on living the Catholic faith with hope and courage. Drawing on their experiences in law, medicine, and public witness, they’ll explore how faith can be a beacon of light in today’s challenging world.
His Name Hallowed Outdoor Summer Concert (July 10)
Join for a night of praise and hope, celebrating faith, friends and families. Featuring Catholic artists Seph Schlueter and Aly Aleigha, this night is for all ages. Families are encouraged to come! We’ll have food trucks; spaces to run around and play; spaces for mothers, fathers, and their babies; and music that will lift your soul toward Heaven.
Hmong Catholic community giving $100K to the Cathedral of St. Paul
In the spirit of the Jubilee Year, a special time of grace and renewal in the Catholic Church, the Hmong community at Presentation of the Virgin Mary in Maplewood is giving $100,000 to the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Trump orders US attack on Iran nuclear sites, as Pope Leo, bishops plead for peace
The U.S. has attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran, in a move that comes amid repeated pleas from Pope Leo XIV and other church leaders for peace and dialogue in ending multiple conflicts throughout the world, including that between Israel and Iran.
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Revolutionizing Catholic education through Montessori
JoAnn Schulzetenberg shares how she’s helping pioneer a new approach to education through the Catholic Montessori Institute at the University of Mary.
Listen to this episode with JoAnn Schulzetenberg now.
Listen to this episode with JoAnn Schulzetenberg now.
Intentional holiness: When rest becomes renewal
Kathleen Soucheray joins us to explore how we can stay rooted in our faith during the slower pace of summer. From spiritual dryness to the pressure of perfectionism, she shares how to pursue holiness with intention and grace.
Visit Practicing Catholic to listen on your favorite podcasting platform. Listen Friday at 9 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., or Sunday at 2 p.m. on Relevant Radio 1330AM.
175th Snapshot: First parish
The first resident pastor, Father Lucien Galtier, was sent to present-day Mendota in 1840. Here the first St. Peter church was built; the second church, which still stands and is the oldest in the Archdiocese, was built in 1853. Father Galtier's altar from the 1842 church is still used today in St. Peter’s Adoration chapel.
Father Galtier's altar
Watch this summer for Archdiocesan Passport Adventure updates and snapshots from our 175-year history in each Weekly Word!
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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June 23, 2025