Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Yesterday evening, I celebrated our annual Archdiocesan Solidarity Mass, which was held this year at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Each year, we come together at the Pope’s request to mark the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. This annual celebration is always one of my favorites, filled with music and readings in various languages, dance, cultural attire, and a sense of the beautiful diversity that appropriately exists within our Church (“Catholic,” after all, means “universal”).
This year’s celebration took on renewed meaning, as we recalled the tensions that so many of our brothers and sisters experienced last winter during Operation Metro Surge. Earlier in the afternoon, I had listened to the testimonies of a number of our faithful at a gathering organized by Unidos at St. Thomas More in St. Paul, who were able to speak about their experience earlier this year and the impact that it had on their families and parishes. There was also an excellent presentation on the bedrock principles of Catholic Social Teaching and what it means for us as Catholics to believe in the dignity of each human life.
Our Archdiocese has always been a Church of immigrants. That was brought home to me at a delightful celebration of the 150th anniversary of Assumption in Richfield on Saturday evening. The first reading was proclaimed in German, the language that was spoken by the first members of Assumption. While the number of German speakers in Richfield has greatly declined, I heard a great deal of Spanish, both in the Church and on the festival grounds. While the composition of our immigrant communities has changed, their contribution remains great.
That was apparent at St. Gabriel in Hopkins as well, where I celebrated two Masses this weekend in honor of the anticipated Solemnity of the Archangels. While both the English and Spanish Masses were very well attended, it was eye-opening for me that the Spanish Mass was even better attended than the English Mass (in spite of my poor Spanish).
While the number of Latin American immigrants continues to grow, we also have a growing number of faithful from Asia and Africa—and they bring great energy to our Archdiocese and parishes. That was very apparent at the Mass at the Cathedral. I trust that their joy will attract many to our Church. I was intrigued to meet a mother and son from the Cameroonian choir who told me that they are actually Haitians but have been made to feel very welcome among the Cameroonians. How Catholic!
In this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Leo turned his attention particularly to children and adolescents forced to leave their homes, many after having experienced unspeakable trauma (not unlike the experience of the infant Jesus, forced to flee with his family to Egypt). The Holy Father calls upon each of us to embrace a shared responsibility: “Even just one of these children calls each one of us, in our personal lives, to open our eyes and heart to a profound listening to his or her story, fears and dreams, overcoming that detachment which reduces the human person to a statistic that does not directly concern us.”
I’m convinced that we can overcome that “detachment” when we embrace the call to see Christ in all of our brothers and sisters, including the immigrants and refugees among us. That’s so much easier when we get to know each other. One of my priest friends has funded his parish’s meal center through a very successful operation called “Labels are for Jars (not for people).” We can get beyond the labels when see Christ in each other.
We know for sure that Our Lord loves all of us, without distinction, with a radical love beyond our wildest imagination. Let us pray that we may find new ways in our Archdiocese to embody that love to others. Please pray as well for our legislators as we continue to encourage them to enact just immigration policies.
Our Archdiocese has always been a Church of immigrants. That was brought home to me at a delightful celebration of the 150th anniversary of Assumption in Richfield on Saturday evening. The first reading was proclaimed in German, the language that was spoken by the first members of Assumption. While the number of German speakers in Richfield has greatly declined, I heard a great deal of Spanish, both in the Church and on the festival grounds. While the composition of our immigrant communities has changed, their contribution remains great.
That was apparent at St. Gabriel in Hopkins as well, where I celebrated two Masses this weekend in honor of the anticipated Solemnity of the Archangels. While both the English and Spanish Masses were very well attended, it was eye-opening for me that the Spanish Mass was even better attended than the English Mass (in spite of my poor Spanish).
While the number of Latin American immigrants continues to grow, we also have a growing number of faithful from Asia and Africa—and they bring great energy to our Archdiocese and parishes. That was very apparent at the Mass at the Cathedral. I trust that their joy will attract many to our Church. I was intrigued to meet a mother and son from the Cameroonian choir who told me that they are actually Haitians but have been made to feel very welcome among the Cameroonians. How Catholic!
In this year's World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Leo turned his attention particularly to children and adolescents forced to leave their homes, many after having experienced unspeakable trauma (not unlike the experience of the infant Jesus, forced to flee with his family to Egypt). The Holy Father calls upon each of us to embrace a shared responsibility: “Even just one of these children calls each one of us, in our personal lives, to open our eyes and heart to a profound listening to his or her story, fears and dreams, overcoming that detachment which reduces the human person to a statistic that does not directly concern us.”
I’m convinced that we can overcome that “detachment” when we embrace the call to see Christ in all of our brothers and sisters, including the immigrants and refugees among us. That’s so much easier when we get to know each other. One of my priest friends has funded his parish’s meal center through a very successful operation called “Labels are for Jars (not for people).” We can get beyond the labels when see Christ in each other.
We know for sure that Our Lord loves all of us, without distinction, with a radical love beyond our wildest imagination. Let us pray that we may find new ways in our Archdiocese to embody that love to others. Please pray as well for our legislators as we continue to encourage them to enact just immigration policies.
Listening Session: Care for Creation and the Climate Crisis (Oct. 3)
All people in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are invited to join the Center for Mission for breakfast, community and conversation. Come share your experiences, concerns and hopes around the care for creation and the impacts of the climate crisis. Your voice can help strengthen the Church’s response and support the needs of our communities. Archbishop Hebda will join and listen to the perspectives shared during the table discussions.
All people in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are invited to join the Center for Mission for breakfast, community and conversation. Come share your experiences, concerns and hopes around the care for creation and the impacts of the climate crisis. Your voice can help strengthen the Church’s response and support the needs of our communities. Archbishop Hebda will join and listen to the perspectives shared during the table discussions.
Transitus of St. Francis (Oct. 3)
The Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi commemorates the passing of St. Francis from this earthly life into eternal life on the evening of Oct. 3, 1226. This year is especially significant in commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis (1226-2026). This ceremony will include readings from early biographies and the Gospel, as well as singing of hymns. Hosted by St. Anthony of Padua Secular Franciscan Fraternity.
Archdiocesan faithful attend beatification of Fulton Sheen
Chesterton Academy students, seminarians from the St. Paul Seminary, and the Center for Mission all made pilgrimages to St. Louis, Missouri for the beatification of Fulton Sheen.
Community meals and hospitality at Tobit House in Crystal
St. Raphael in Crystal restores the former convent on its campus and are now hosting dinners, morning coffee hours, and young men in need of housing.
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Made perfect in weakness: How God works through us
What happens when God works through our weaknesses? Archbishop Hebda reflects on Venerable Fulton Sheen’s life, his struggles, and his powerful legacy of evangelization. Then, Allyson Schue shares how God met her in the midst of mental health struggles, grief, and suffering—and transformed her life through it all.
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Only One Thing Is Necessary: How Catholic Families Can Strive To Be United in This Life and the Next
Less of MeGolden Hour, Madeline Orsinger, Stillwater
Path the family is called to take
"During his Angelus address on July 12, 2020, Pope Francis explored the four 'paths' that are before us. He identified the first path as the 'path of distraction.' The 'busy life' can, at first glance, appear productive and efficient. Here, the birds flock and chatter, but they also eat the seeds immediately: 'Beset by lots of small talk, by many ideologies, by continuous opportunities for distraction inside and outside the home, we can lose our zest for silence, for reflection, for dialogue with the Lord, to the point that we risk losing our faith, not receiving the Word of God, as we are seeing everything, distracted by everything, by worldly things.' This insight leads us to ask: Where in our home life are moments and places of silence and reflection encouraged?"
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
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Sept. 28, 2026