Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The Gospel for the day, moreover, reminded us of the good news that Jesus came to bring light to those of us born into darkness, a joyful truth that will be symbolized at the Easter vigil by the entrance of the Easter candle into our otherwise darkened church. In the midst of our Lenten regimen of increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving, Laetare Sunday points us to Easter and serves as a reminder that our Lord has already won the ultimate battle for us.
With that in mind, I’d like to take a brief moment to share an opportunity we will have following Easter this year to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s resurrection.
I know that many of you have been coming for weekly Stations of the Cross (the Via Crucis)—a beautiful prayer in which we are called to accompany Jesus as he carries the cross, walking beside him in his passion. A complementary devotion, called the Via Lucis (the “Way of Light”), gained popularity during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, consisting of 14 stations that begin with Easter and accompany Jesus and his disciples through the biblical accounts of the resurrection appearances all the way up to the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These Stations of the Resurrection are a great devotion for the 50 joyful days of the Easter season.
I was so inspired by the way in which the devotion has taken root at St. Paul in Ham Lake that I asked some of my staff to help turn this devotion into a video series that could be used by individuals and by small groups at parishes throughout the archdiocese. You’ll be able to watch each installment beginning Easter Monday, April 6, here in my weekly newsletter.
My hope is that the Stations of the Resurrection will remind us that just as we walk the way of the cross with Jesus, we are also called to walk in the way of the resurrection with him. The mysteries are closely related. We can’t really bear Lent without the hope of the resurrection, and we can’t appreciate the resurrection without embracing Jesus’ passion. As Laetare Sunday reminds us, we are an Easter people, even in the midst of Lent.
We, however, like the blind man in yesterday’s Gospel, need to have our eyes opened to find the light of Jesus, especially in the midst of the challenging situations being faced around the world in these days. Not surprisingly, at yesterday’s Angelus address, Pope Leo emphasized that we need to live our faith with “open eyes.” He reminded us, “Faith is not a blind act, a forsaking of reason, or a retreat into some sort of religious certainty that causes us to turn our gaze away from the world. On the contrary, faith helps us to see things ‘as Jesus himself sees them, with his own eyes: it is a participation in his way of seeing’ (Lumen Fidei, 18).” The Holy Father indicated that we can best understand faith as an invitation to “open our eyes,” as the Lord did, “especially towards the suffering of others and the afflictions of the world.”
Let’s be sure to pray for peace, to pray for those suffering and to pray for each other in these final weeks of Lent. By God’s grace, may we head to Easter with eyes opened by faith.
With that in mind, I’d like to take a brief moment to share an opportunity we will have following Easter this year to enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s resurrection.
I know that many of you have been coming for weekly Stations of the Cross (the Via Crucis)—a beautiful prayer in which we are called to accompany Jesus as he carries the cross, walking beside him in his passion. A complementary devotion, called the Via Lucis (the “Way of Light”), gained popularity during the pontificate of Pope John Paul II, consisting of 14 stations that begin with Easter and accompany Jesus and his disciples through the biblical accounts of the resurrection appearances all the way up to the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. These Stations of the Resurrection are a great devotion for the 50 joyful days of the Easter season.
I was so inspired by the way in which the devotion has taken root at St. Paul in Ham Lake that I asked some of my staff to help turn this devotion into a video series that could be used by individuals and by small groups at parishes throughout the archdiocese. You’ll be able to watch each installment beginning Easter Monday, April 6, here in my weekly newsletter.
My hope is that the Stations of the Resurrection will remind us that just as we walk the way of the cross with Jesus, we are also called to walk in the way of the resurrection with him. The mysteries are closely related. We can’t really bear Lent without the hope of the resurrection, and we can’t appreciate the resurrection without embracing Jesus’ passion. As Laetare Sunday reminds us, we are an Easter people, even in the midst of Lent.
We, however, like the blind man in yesterday’s Gospel, need to have our eyes opened to find the light of Jesus, especially in the midst of the challenging situations being faced around the world in these days. Not surprisingly, at yesterday’s Angelus address, Pope Leo emphasized that we need to live our faith with “open eyes.” He reminded us, “Faith is not a blind act, a forsaking of reason, or a retreat into some sort of religious certainty that causes us to turn our gaze away from the world. On the contrary, faith helps us to see things ‘as Jesus himself sees them, with his own eyes: it is a participation in his way of seeing’ (Lumen Fidei, 18).” The Holy Father indicated that we can best understand faith as an invitation to “open our eyes,” as the Lord did, “especially towards the suffering of others and the afflictions of the world.”
Let’s be sure to pray for peace, to pray for those suffering and to pray for each other in these final weeks of Lent. By God’s grace, may we head to Easter with eyes opened by faith.
Journey through this special Stations of the Cross with reflections on how at each station, Jesus’ suffering relates to mental illness.
Archdiocesan Men’s Conference
(March 21)
(March 21)
This retreat for men in the archdiocese will begin with Mass at 8 a.m. with Archbishop Bernard Hebda and Bishop Kevin Kenney. The conference will feature speaker Doug Barry, founder and director of the Catholic ministry RADIX, and Bishop Michael Izen will lead a Holy Hour.
3 Catholic educators in archdiocese recognized for service, leadership
Two Catholic educators in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have received papal honors from Pope Leo XIV for their exceptional service to the Catholic Church, particularly in education; a third educator is being recognized by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) for leadership, commitment to professional growth and dedication to proclaiming the Gospel through education.
What is the Christlike way to suffer?
The Gospel of Matthew tells us: “(About) three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Mt 27:46). This saying of the Lord raises the question of how the Lord inwardly related to the Father amid suffering.
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Trusting God in times of change
Change can be difficult—but it can also be a moment of grace. Bishop Izen discusses the faith and trust involved in priestly reassignments, and Dr. Mark Giszczak reflects on how Catholics can rediscover the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
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 Roach, the first native son
John Robert Roach was born in Prior Lake, Minnesota, in 1921. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 1946 and was appointed auxiliary bishop in 1971. He was president of what is now the USCCB, helped with two major pastoral letters and delivered the benediction at the inauguration of President Jimmy Carter. Locally, he instituted a permanent diaconate program and ordained the first permanent deacons for the Archdiocese in 1976. Moreover, he directed that the Archdiocese and its parishes reach out to a new wave of immigrant groups, including Latino, Hmong and Vietnamese people.
Archbishop John Roach with news media, St. Patrick's Day Parade, St. Paul, 1977, where he was the Grand Marshall.
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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March 16, 2026