Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The kitchen was the heart of our family home. My mom was a prodigious baker and seemed to be tethered to the stove, always just a few steps away from our rotary phone. (Those of you who are young can ask your grandparents what life was like before cellphones.) Tucked into the corner of the kitchen between the oven and the phone was a small table for important reading material—the weekly bulletin, a few stray copies of the National Geographic, the inserts from the Sunday edition of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, the annual directory from our parish, and a thick dog-eared book that I came to know as the documents of the Second Vatican Council. As a young boy, I could never imagine reading a book that thick, and it struck me that my mom would read a few pages as she was waiting for a cake to cool or the bread to rise.
It was a highly valued reference tool when she and her friends would get together over a few beers in a smoke-filled kitchen to debate the changes that they were experiencing in the Church. They weren’t ivory-tower theologians, but moms who were passionate about the life of faith. The book remained on that table, a trusted friend, for decades.
In these weeks, the Church is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, a global gathering of bishops that produced 16 documents over three years, concluding on December 6, 1965. Church historians often write that it takes decades for the teachings of a Council to “sink in.” Not surprisingly, the documents of the Council continue to be the touchstone for papal teaching. Pope St. John Paul II had participated first-hand in the Council as the bishop of Krakow, while Pope Benedict had participated as a theological expert. As a Jesuit preparing for ordination, Pope Francis devoured the documents as they were being issued, and they clearly shaped his priesthood and his ministry as bishop and pope. While Pope Leo was, like me, just a boy when they were promulgated, they have clearly influenced his understanding of the Church as well.
Along with faith leaders from around the world, Pope Leo has recently marked the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the groundbreaking document that has guided the Church’s relationship with non-Christians. The document offered a clear articulation of the Church’s recognition that we should reject “nothing that is true and holy” in other religions, noting that there are elements in other faiths that “reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all.”
Over the last 60 years, the document has been particularly relevant for fostering a closer relationship between Catholics and Jews. The document recognized that Christians and Jews have a “common spiritual patrimony” and unambiguously asserted that there is no place for displays of antisemitism.
I am very grateful to the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas for spearheading a local celebration of the Nostra Aetate anniversary. We were blessed by a presentation from Rabbi Abraham Skorka, the famous rabbi from Argentina who was a close friend of Pope Francis, having co-authored with him a best-selling book in 2010, On Heaven and Earth. I loved hearing about their work together in Buenos Aires and appreciated his reflections on the importance of dialogue and fraternal accompaniment.
We continue to be blessed by the closeness of our Jewish brothers and sisters here in Minnesota. They were well-represented at the prayer service held on the night of the shooting at Annunciation, and Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman’s almost-poetic reflection at the interfaith service held at the Basilica on the following day continues to give me food for thought. The congregation at Adath Jeshurun in Minnetonka, moreover, could not have been more welcoming at the 60th anniversary celebration. Please join me in praying that we Catholics might continue to grow in our understanding of Nostra Aetate and the other documents of Vatican II.
Fire on the Hill (Nov. 15)
On the third Saturday of each month, join for this time of Adoration with praise and worship. Prayer ministry will also be included for healing and prophetic encouragement.
Join the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women for this morning of reflection. The day begins with Mass with Bishop Kevin Kenney, who will speak about "Walking Hand in Hand with the Lord."
Places never planned: Trusting God’s path
At 26, Naomi Hasegawa is far from home. The Venezuelan immigrant grew up in Miami, where her immediate family still lives. She also maintains ties to Japan, her father’s ancestral home. And yet, she has come to love her current home in St. Paul, where she’s embracing a vibrant Catholic community and enjoying her work for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Brother of girl injured in Annunciation shooting pens letter to Pope Leo XIV, thanking him for prayers
Jimmy Kaiser, 17, a senior at DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis, is writing college applications in his spare time. One is to his dream school: Villanova University in Pennsylvania, which Pope Leo XIV attended.
Get The Catholic Spirit delivered right to your door and subscribe to the weekly newsletter.
Saints in the making: Stories of faith and courage
In this episode, Bishop Andrew Cozzens shares the remarkable story of Sister Annella Zervas, whose humility, devotion and unwavering faith are guiding her cause for canonization. Then, Mary Verrill reflects on the joyful, courageous life of Sister Thea Bowman, a teacher, singer and Franciscan Sister whose legacy continues to uplift communities today.
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: Visit from a future Pope
We know Pope Leo lived in the Twin Cities for a summer in the 1980s, but he wasn't the only future pope to visit the Archdiocese. Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli, who would become Pope Pius XII, visited the Twin Cities, met with his "dear and esteemed friend," Archbishop Murray, and celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Paul.
Cardinal Pacelli, left, Archbishop Murray, right
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
Forwarded this note by a friend? Click here to get Together on the Journey from Archbishop Hebda every week.
Nov. 10, 2025