Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Bishop Izen and I were blessed this year to attend the Christmas concert at Annunciation School. The students did an amazing job in the midst of an incredibly difficult year. The telling of the Christmas story by the youngest students was brilliant, and the musical selections were thoughtful and well-presented. There’s obviously a great deal of talent in that community but even more “heart.”
The third graders and fifth graders opened the concert with two numbers dedicated to their fallen classmates: Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moyski. It was a memorable tribute to their love for their friends.
In some ways, though, what moved me most was the all-school rendition of Beyonce’s “I Was Here.” I’ve heard the song many times, but it never touched my heart as it did this past week, as I listened to these brave students, having suffered the loss of their friends and having had such a tragic brush with death themselves, sing about their desire to make a difference in this world, their hope to leave their footprints on the sands of time, and their commitment to touching hearts: “I was here, I lived, I loved, I was here.”
In just a few days, Christmas will remind all of us once again of the value and potential of each human life. We celebrate that Jesus, the Word made Flesh, was indeed actually “here,” and that he lived and loved in a way that made the ultimate difference. What always moves my heart is that the All-Powerful was willing to become vulnerable because of the value that he saw in each human life, including yours and mine.
In an interview in November, Pope Leo shared that one of his favorite movies is “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which is a Christmas favorite for many. Now I don’t want to give anything away about the movie for the sake of any of you who may not have seen it, but it’s a real masterpiece for illustrating the difference that we can all make in the ordinariness of our lives. In Pope Leo’s honor, I watched it again while writing my Christmas cards this year. I highly recommend it –and not just because Jimmy Stewart shares my Western Pennsylvanian roots. (My Pittsburghese is proof that you can blame Jimmy’s speech pattern and accent on Princeton and not on our corner of the Keystone State.)
If you would prefer, however, a Christmas classic with more of a Twin Cities connection, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is pretty perfect. You won’t be surprised that my favorite part is when Linus takes center stage to tell us what Christmas “is all about” and proclaims the Christmas narrative from Luke’s Gospel. I love how Linus drops his security blanket just as he recounts the angel’s proclamation: Fear not! I’ve read on the internet (so it must be true!) that Charles Schulz, our local boy “done good” and creator of the Peanuts comic strip, agreed to the Christmas special on one condition: that CBS allow him to include the story of the birth of Jesus. We should all be grateful for his insistence.
In these last days of Advent, let’s all take a cue from Linus. Let’s pause to recall, reflect and marvel at the wonder of the Incarnate Lord, come to us in that little town of Bethlehem: a humble King who came to save us from our sins and who continues to come to us today. May God bless you this Christmas and always.
When the Roman Empire crumbled into ruins in the 5th century, St. Benedict of Nursia responded to the collapse of an empire, the corruption of the church and blatant consumerism with a call to stability. So, what is stability? That’s exactly what we’ll explore together in this program. We’ll discuss what it means to be rooted in God, rooted in self and rooted in relationships. We’ll look at how to maintain stability in times of change and chaos and consider practices that can help.
Women’s January Weekend Retreat (Jan. 16-18)
Step away from the noise and life’s demands for a comforting weekend of peace. Enjoy prayer, reflection, and beautiful grounds with uplifting views as you revive yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Bishop Pates helps launch new high school in African country of Malawi
While Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates was a seminarian for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Rome in 1968, he visited the African country of Malawi, located in the southern half of the continent and bordered to the north by Tanzania.
Students, broader community learn about saints at St. Dominic School in Northfield
Students, parents and parishioners were among those who learned about the saints at St. Dominic School in Northfield Dec. 16 as seventh and eighth graders shared their newfound knowledge in a Gallery of Saints in their classroom.
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Faith that heals: Rebuilding after loss
Three months after a devastating school shooting, Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis held a Rite of Reparation to restore its sacred space and support a grieving community. Archbishop Bernard Hebda joins us to discuss the significance of the ritual, the role of faith in healing, and how resilience is helping the parish move forward. Then, Jamie Verbrugge, new president and CEO of Catholic Charities Twin Cities, shares how volunteers, parishes, and community support are making a real difference for families facing hardship this holiday season.
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: Return from war and growth of the local church
By the grace of God, all of the 50 chaplains from the Archdiocese returned from the war and Archbishop Murray had a special proposition for them. Those who had served would be given their own parishes, as pastors. The only catch was that in many cases, these parishes had yet to be built!
Good Shepherd in Golden Valley was one such parish. Its founding pastor was an Army captain, Fr. Thomas John McNamara. The first parishioners, numbering fewer than 100, gathered at the Boulevard Café on Wayzata Boulevard. There, on the portable altar he had used on the Italian battlefields during World War II, Fr. McNamara celebrated Good Shepherd’s first Mass on Easter Sunday of 1946.
Good Shepherd, Golden Valley, founded 1945. Used army barracks were used for a temporary church until construction was complete on a new church (1956).
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. 22, 2025