Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As America emerges from the “dog days of summer," it seems fitting that we would be celebrating National Dog Day. One of my predecessors, Archbishop Flynn, was a great dog lover and always had a few four-legged companions keeping him company. After he passed, I had the pleasure of sharing a residence with his Megan and Katie until they found their way to Louisiana, where they had been promised by Archbishop Flynn to a dog-loving priest.
I’ve always loved dogs, but have to admit that I was formed by the culture of my home Diocese of Pittsburgh that frowned upon priests having dogs in their rectories. Ordained at a time where most parishes had multiple priests, my classmates and I were always reminded that pets made it difficult to assign and transfer priests. When I was newly ordained, one of our more seasoned pastors kept falcons, and I remember praying that I wouldn’t get assigned to him.
Archbishop Flynn, on the other hand, told me that he always found that our dog-owning priests were his best pastors. To his way of thinking, a pet owner always has to be attentive to another’s needs…and that makes for a good shepherd.
Given my first name, you won’t be surprised that I have always been particularly drawn to St. Bernards (even though our names are pronounced differently). You may be surprised to learn that the breed is not named for my heavenly patron, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, whose feast we just celebrated last week on August 20, but for another holy man with the same first name, St. Bernard of Menthon. As a priest of the diocese of Annecy, Bernard began a religious community that ministered to poor travelers passing through an ancient pass through the Alps which was particularly treacherous in the winter. It was in that setting that he erected a hostel, and the community began training dogs to be of assistance in finding and assisting those who were lost.
The pass, the hostel and the breed of dogs are all today named for St. Bernard of Menthon—how impressive is that! He’s not as famous as his 12th century namesake from Clairvaux (we have two churches in the Archdiocese–in Saint Paul and Cologne–named for St. Bernard of Clairvaux and none for St. Bernard of Menthon) but he was clearly an amazing man who continues to be a role model for us today. Let’s be sure to ask for his prayers whenever we’re traveling or spot one of those huge loveable dogs with a keg under his chin. St. Bernard of Menthon, pray for us!
Introducing the Reclaiming Sundays video series
In fall 2025, watch for a new video series on reclaiming the peace, rest and leisure of Sundays with the Lord and family. As the first part of the Year III priority of Parents as Primary Educators of Their Children, this Reclaiming Sundays series will offer lasting habits to anchor each week in a joyful, prayerful and restful observance of Sunday. Watch for each video on the first of the month and download the Reclaiming Sundays guide on the Archdiocesan website.
Special appeal for relief in Gaza – Aug. 30-31
Archbishop Hebda is asking all parishes of the archdiocese to join in a nationwide special appeal for humanitarian relief and pastoral support in Gaza on or near the weekend of Aug. 30-31. Find more information on the collection on the Archdiocesan website.
All women (age 16+) are invited to join Father Ryan Glaser at the Cathedral of Saint Paul for a morning of reflection and fellowship.
Autumn Retreat (Sept. 9-11)
The Franciscan Retreat Center invites you to a fall retreat as the center launches its new theme, Open the Door: I Make All Things New, and related conferences. Pray among 60 acres of secluded nature with trails, gardens, a pond, a labyrinth, and outdoor stations of the cross.
Catholic University of America Press to publish Pope Leo’s dissertation
Pope Leo XIV’s dissertation — which he defended in 1987 for his doctoral degree in canon law — will soon be widely available through The Catholic University of America Press in Washington. In 1987, the former Father Robert Prevost submitted “The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine” as part of his degree requirements at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, known as the Angelicum, in Rome.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
'If you can do it, you should’
With its new buttonhole and interior button, Henry Davis can better fasten his coat come colder days. After trying on his coat, Davis, 57, and a resident of Catholic Charities Twin Cities’ Higher Ground in Minneapolis, paused and regarded the woman behind her sewing machine atop a small table just inside the residence’s entrance.
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Answering God's call - In prayer, school, and beyond
How do we hear—and respond to—God’s call in our lives? Archbishop Hebda reflects on saying “yes” to the Lord, even when fear and doubt stand in the way. Then, Dr. Kate Soucheray joins us with practical wisdom for weaving faith into family life as the back-to-school season begins.
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: Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
In addition to the educational institutions, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet also founded orphanages, homes for the aging poor and a teaching hospital that educated nurses. In the 64 years St. Mary’s Hospital was training nurses, nearly 4,000 were trained.
St. Mary's Hospital, 1890
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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Aug. 25, 2025