Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
This past Saturday, Bishop Izen, Bishop Kenney and I joined Father Dennis Zehren, Deacon Kevin Conneely and many of their Annunciation parishioners and school families to celebrate a Rite of Reparation in the context of the Eucharist, making it the first Mass held in Annunciation church since the tragic loss of life that occurred there on Aug. 27. I was so proud of our priests and deacons who came out in great number to pray with us and to show their support for a community that still grieves for Harper Moyski and Fletcher Merkel.
The ritual is one that no bishop ever wants to celebrate. Nonetheless, I felt very privileged to have been able to preside on Saturday. I sensed the presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment that we all solemnly processed into the church, accompanied by the chanting of the Litany of the Saints, recalling the great cloud of saintly witnesses who continue to pray with us and for us from heaven. I felt especially close to them as the congregation sought the intercession of the Holy Martyrs: Stephen, Ignatius, Lawrence, Perpetua and Felicity, and Agnes. In our Church, we never walk alone.
Particularly meaningful for me was the sprinkling with holy water. Much as Archbishop Binz would have done when the present Annunciation church was consecrated in 1963, Fr. Zehren and I blessed with holy water the altar and sanctuary and then slowly processed throughout the congregation, blessing not only the nooks and crannies of the church but also the “living stones” who make up the congregation.
It was an honor to have a part in restoring this space to its sacred purpose. The highlight for me and for many was seeing Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament returned to the tabernacle. My prayer is that the sanctuary lamp, now burning bright, will be a comforting reminder for the Annunciation community that Jesus is indeed present in that holy place and that he desires to be with them in their suffering. While it understandably may be some time before the community returns to the church for the regular celebration of Mass, I know that many were grateful that they could now return to the church for Eucharistic adoration and for the daily recitation of the Rosary.
How providential that this Rite of Reparation was celebrated in proximity to today’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today’s solemnity reminds us not only of the singular grace that God granted our Blessed Mother (i.e., that she was free from the stain of original sin from the moment of her conception) but also of the Father’s loving commitment to restoring the order disturbed by the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve. As a loving father, God desires to bring healing into a world weakened by sin.
The violence of Aug. 27 tragically disturbed the harmonious order that God intended for his church and his creation. We know all too well that only He can restore that right order. What happened at Annunciation was a horror, but we know that God’s love is even greater. As is revealed in the Immaculate Conception, our Heavenly Father has plans for each of us so that we might have a “future filled with hope” (Jer. 29:11). Indeed, as our patron, St. Paul, proclaimed, “where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more” (Rom. 5:20). Please join me in asking the intercession of the Immaculate One for an outpouring of that grace this Advent: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Join for a morning of prayer, reflection and community with other moms in preparation for the coming of Christ this Christmas! Discover the transforming power of being seen through the loving gaze of Christ, allowing him to meet you in your stories, your wounds and your worth.
Lessons and Carols for Advent (Dec. 13)
Join The Saint Paul Seminary schola, mixed choir and instrumental ensembles for an evening of Advent hymns and readings preparing your heart and mind for the Christmas season.
Bishop Izen meets distant relatives in Lebanon during pilgrimage
Bishop Michael Izen holds baby Michael Kazan, one of his distant relatives in Lebanon. Kazan is the original surname of the Izen family before members of the family came to the U.S. Bishop Izen baptized Kazan on Dec. 2.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Read the full story from The Catholic Spirit.
Movies to watch during Advent
Just about everyone enjoys a Christmas holiday with all the trimmings, including Santa’s ho ho ho and Rudolph’s red nose. But the preparatory time of Advent can serve as an invitation to explore more deeply the true spiritual meaning of the Incarnation and to focus more intently on the virtues that reflection on that mystery should promote.
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From silent prayers to global stages
Two extraordinary musicians share how their journeys of faith have shaped the music the world knows and loves. Tim O’Neill reflects on 25 years with the O’Neill Piano Brothers, and Steven C. Anderson opens up about the road that led him into the Catholic Church and deeper into his craft.
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: Fair employment
In 1955, Fr. Francis Gilligan was honored at an event marking his retirement as chairman of the Governor’s Interracial Commission, a role he had filled since the commission was first established in 1943. Gilligan had first become interested in the problem of racism while doing advanced studies at Catholic University in Washington. Over the years, he built up relationships with many civil rights organizations. His greatest achievement was perhaps his fight to establish a Fair Employment Practices Commission in the state of Minnesota.
Fr. Francis Gilligan
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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Dec. 8, 2025