Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Yesterday, Bishop Izen, Bishop Kenney, and I were blessed to join many of you at the Cathedral of Saint Paul for the culmination of our Archdiocesan Passport Adventure. Thanks to all who made the pilgrimage to the cathedral and to all who participated in the Adventure over these past months, accepting the challenge to visit seven of our parish churches for Mass. You certainly deserved even more than the wonderful ice cream offered to all those who had completed the Adventure.
When we first began to dream about the Passport Adventure, growing out of our Year 2 focus on the Mass, my prayer was that the experience would give us new insights into both the beauty of our Catholic liturgy and the Real Presence of Christ. It was my hope that by participating in Holy Mass in new surroundings and perhaps experiencing the celebration of the liturgy in different languages and even different rites, we might together grow in our appreciation of how the Eucharist has been forming this local Church into a community of believers for more than 175 years. Whether Holy Mass is offered in the magnificent surroundings of a cathedral or the more humble setting of a country church, or whether the liturgical music is supported by a magnificent organ or even unaccompanied, the core ritual of the Eucharist always gives us an opportunity to worship our God, to be nourished with Word and Sacrament, and to be sent out for the mission of spreading the Gospel and loving our neighbor.
It seemed wonderfully providential that we would have been concluding the Adventure on the feast of Saint Carlo Acutis. You might recall that this newly canonized teen-aged saint had such zeal for the Eucharist that he created his own online “passport experience,” establishing a website that gave virtual pilgrims access to documented Eucharistic miracles throughout the world (amazingly, the website still exists today).
I was delighted to hear stories from so many of you about how you had encountered Jesus in your Passport travels across the Archdiocese and beyond. We are indeed blessed with many beautiful churches, excellent preachers, and welcoming communities. I was intrigued by the number of folks who indicated that they were bringing new ideas back to their parishes for how the Eucharist could be celebrated with renewed reverence and dedication. I was not surprised, however, to hear that the experiences more often than not heightened the appreciation that our pilgrims had for their home parishes and for our forebearers who both built our parishes and made sure that we would encounter the Good News of Jesus.
In his letter to the Romans, our heavenly patron, Saint Paul, quoted the Prophet Isaiah: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring [the] good news” (Romans 10:15). We must always be grateful to the men and women who planted the faith in this Archdiocese over the past 175 years. After a service that was held on Saturday morning at Resurrection Cemetery for families who had lost children in childbirth or in the course of a pregnancy, I stopped to pray for my episcopal predecessors and for the priests buried in the cemetery’s clergy section. I’m always amazed by how many of our priests came from overseas or from distant parts of our country to bring the good news to the faithful of our Archdiocese. What a blessing they were! That obligation now falls on all of us to do the same. While this year’s Passport Adventure has ended, how wonderful it would be if we could now commit as families and individuals to bringing hope to the corners of our Archdiocese and beyond, making Jesus known and loved. Indeed, “how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
Vatican Unveiled Coming to the Archdiocese
Archbishop Bernard Hebda invites you to Vatican Unveiled, the largest collection of papal artifacts outside of Rome, at Mall of America®, January 10-Febraury 1, 2026. Learn more at archspm.org/vaticanunveiled and join the waitlist for tickets!
Wave of Light (Oct. 15)
The Wave of Light is a profoundly meaningful event, held internationally on this evening in October, dedicated to remembering and honoring babies lost to miscarriage and stillbirth. This evening offers a special time for parents, family members, and friends to come together, light a candle, and find solace in shared grief.
Don’t Apologize, Evangelize! (Oct. 16, 30, Nov. 6)
Whether you’re a seasoned evangelist or just curious about sharing your faith, this event is for you. Jeff Cavins, from The Saint Paul Seminary Catechetical Institute, will tackle the tricky questions about our faith, from “Scripture only” to “being saved” to the biblical roots of the papacy, and teach how to share what we believe with confidence and conviction, resulting in a powerful new way of living.
Why I Am Catholic — Alex Harms
My journey started over 20 years ago as an armchair quarterback. I married my wonderful cradle Catholic wife, Gretchen, and I stayed a mix of Lutheran and Advent Christian. This allowed me to keep one foot in Catholicism and one foot out. I enjoyed the men’s camping trips, Mass every Sunday, and volunteering at my kids’ Catholic school in Webster, where all five kids went.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Archdiocesan priest is a witness to hope at Venezuelan mission
Many elderly and vulnerable Venezuelans living near the Jesucristo Resucitado mission parish in Ciudad Guyana couldn’t flee with their loved ones from the distressed South American country during its recent wave of emigration.
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Stories that witness: From newsrooms to hidden lives
What does it mean to tell stories through the lens of faith—and what does quiet resistance look like in the face of evil? Journalist Dave Hrbacek shares how nearly 30 years at The Catholic Spirit have shaped his mission to glorify God through storytelling, even amid tragedy. Then, digital content producer Zach Jansen unpacks Terrence Malick’s A Hidden Life, exploring its moral depth, poetic style and the cost of standing firm in faith.
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: Archbishop John Murray
Archbishop Murray was installed as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul on Jan. 27, 1932. He was known and beloved by the people for his "common touch," preferring to walk or ride the trolly instead of being driven. As Archbishop for over twenty years, he led the faithful through the depression and World War II by providing stability through the changing times.
Archbishop John Murray
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
777 Forest Street, Saint Paul, MN 55106 | 651-291-4400 | hello@archspm.org
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Oct. 13, 2025