Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Summer continues flying by: it’s hard to believe that we’re already at the end of July. My peers tell me that the sands of time seem to speed up the older we get. I ran into a number of our seminarians yesterday at the Mass for the annual Steubenville Conference, however, and noted that they were already talking about the return to school and wondered where the summer had gone. No matter where we are on life’s journey, we never want time to be simply passing by or evaporating.
This week, we celebrate the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order, also known as the Society of Jesus. I’m always grateful to him for sharing his amazing charism with the Church, especially through the men who continue to carry on his ministry as Jesuit priests and brothers. I was blessed throughout my time in major seminary with a Jesuit spiritual director, the late Fr. George Aschenbrenner. He was a great help when I was discerning my vocation...and in helping me get through two degrees (theology and canon law) at the Jesuit university in Rome, the Gregorian (the modern-day successor of the Collegio Romano that Ignatius founded). I was honored that he would eventually preach my first Mass.
Like Fr. Aschenbrenner, the Jesuits who taught me were giants. They lived in the most humble of quarters but really devoted themselves to developing their hearts and minds. We would sneak up to the floor of their residence at the Gregorian after lunch to watch a very curious post-prandial ritual: they would gather in groups of six, three on three, and engage in debate while they walked the corridor. When they came to the end of the corridor, they would switch languages and head back in the other direction. By the time that they had covered English, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin, they had earned a brief riposo before hitting the books again in the afternoon.
It should be no surprise that those sons of St. Ignatius were extraordinary. Their founder’s biography reads like an adventure thriller. Prior to his conversion, Ignatius, or Inigo, as called in his native Basque language, had always taken great pride in acts of chivalry and bravery, until the day he was injured in battle and nearly lost his leg. It was only then, as he spent months recovering in the hospital, that he was able to see past the outward quests to which he had been drawn and instead turn inward, to the even-more-noble movements of the heart.
I think of St. Ignatius today as we approach his feast and the two-thirds marker of this glorious Minnesota summer. In the midst of the vacation travels, sports and other activities that so often characterize this season, it can be hard to find the quiet that Ignatius so appreciated, and to take the time we need to reflect on how the Holy Spirit is moving in our hearts. That’s why – though it was developed nearly 500 years ago – St. Ignatius’ famed practice, the “daily examen,” is still such a valuable tool that equips us for discernment in 2025.
1. Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you.
2. Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
3. Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time.
4. Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away?
5. Look toward tomorrow — think of how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific and conclude with the “Our Father.”
It couldn’t be any easier, but I can share with you that the fruits are great. It has really helped me to appreciate more profoundly the events that make up my day and to develop a greater sense of gratitude for experiences that could otherwise slip by unnoticed. Along with the daily morning offering, it’s always the first practice that I suggest to those desiring to draw closer to the Lord. If it’s not already in your spiritual repertoire, the feast day of St. Ignatius could be a good moment to start.
Please join me in thanking the Jesuits in our Archdiocese who continue to embody Ignatius’ charism in this local Church, whether it be in their retreat apostolate at DeMontreville, their work at their Cristo Rey high school in Minneapolis or their leadership at St. Thomas More and St. Peter Claver parishes. St. Ignatius of Loyola, pray for us.
Cursillo Women’s Weekend (July 28)
The Cursillo way and its method are endorsed and encouraged by the Catholic Church. A Cursillo weekend is an opportunity to step away from the daily grind and set aside time to nourish your spirit. This encounter with Christ offers an opportunity to expand your prayer life, grow in your faith, and learn about a method to keep your faith journey vibrant within a supportive Christian community.
Seminary Information Night (August 3)
The Seminary Information Night is for Catholic junior and senior high school men and their parents who would like to learn more about Saint John Vianney College Seminary. The event, sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Office of Vocations, will begin with 5 p.m. Mass, followed by dinner, informational program and tour.
Archdiocesan apostolates together in first Partners in Mission meeting
A gathering under one roof of evangelization apostolates and mission groups in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been part of Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s vision for unity in the archdiocese since his 2022 pastoral letter, “You Will Be My Witnesses: Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room,” said Deacon Joseph Michalak.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Poland’s ‘living memorial’ to St. John Paul II marks 25 years of transforming lives
Thousands of young Poles made their way through the streets of Czestochowa July 19, singing and praying as they approached the Jasna Góra Marian shrine.
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A legacy of light: 175 years of the archdiocese
The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis just marked 175 years, a milestone rich with faith, service, and resilience. Archbishop Bernard Hebda joins us to reflect on the Church’s legacy, the evolution of the Catholic community, and what lies ahead for the next generation.
Listen to this episode with Archbishop Hebda now.
Listen to this episode with Archbishop Hebda now.
The cost and beauty of sacrificial love
Love often asks more of us than we expect, especially in family life. Sisters and moms Katie Steiner and Alison Johnson join us to talk about the highs and lows of sacrificial love, how it’s shaped their motherhood, and what they've learned along the way.
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: Fr. Goiffon's adventures
Father Joseph Goiffon came to the diocese of Saint Paul from France and founded many parishes in the Archdiocese that are still standing today. In serving the people in the harsh winter conditions of the Midwest, he needed to have his leg amputated. His wooden foot (pictured below) is still in the Archdiocesan Archives to this day).
Father Joseph Goiffon, 1871
Father Joseph Goiffon's wooden foot
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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July 28, 2025