Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Please join me in congratulating Bishop Kevin Kenney, our auxiliary bishop, as he celebrates the second anniversary of his ordination to the episcopacy. You might remember reading about a humorous moment at the press conference held the day he was named bishop. When explaining the date selected for the ordination—this week’s feast of Saints Simon and Jude—he jokingly included himself among the "hopeless causes" for which Saint Jude is so famously the patron. These two years, however, have proven him to be anything but "hopeless." I remain so grateful to him for his extraordinary ministry as bishop and pastor of Saint Olaf, and for his leadership as the Archdiocesan Vicar for Latino Ministry. Wearing all of these hats, he has surely impacted thousands through his ministry. He’s in good company with his apostolic intercessors, Simon and Jude, who both gave their lives to the spreading of the Gospel.
Bishop Izen and I have both felt so blessed by Bishop Kenney’s fraternal support and powerful witness. The months since his unexpected diagnosis of lung cancer have given us even greater insight into his deep faith and resilience. Despite the uncertainty ahead, Bishop Kenney consistently bears eloquent witness to how God is present in all situations, no matter how challenging. In these last few months, Bishop Kenney has humbly kept his focus on prayer: asking the faithful not to pray only for him but also to pray for the medical professionals involved in his care, for all those who are suffering and struggling, and particularly for those who may feel hopeless. His team and parishioners at Saint Olaf have appropriately dubbed this effort "Project Hope."
Saint John the Evangelist recounts in his Gospel that Jesus on the night of the Last Supper prayed fervently for unity: "May they all be one, Father, as you and I are one…" (Jn. 17:21). It’s hard to imagine a better path toward that unity than prayer, which both creates and sustains true communion. By rooting in prayer his response to his treatments and whatever sufferings might come his way, Bishop Kenney is concretely teaching us the efficacy of prayer. Sure, he’s hoping that his cancer will be miraculously cured but he’s also hoping that all of his prayers—and the prayers of so many others—will lead us to a greater union with God and with those around us.
I’m told that Bishop’s reliance on prayer has captured the attention of the medical professionals who have been involved in his treatment. Many of his medical team are amazed when he explains to them that they are receiving prayers from all over the globe. From a worldly perspective, it may not always seem that prayer accomplishes much, but through the eyes of faith we can see how prayer is so effective in bringing a deeper unity to the people of God.
As we continue to pray for Bishop Kenney, Pope Leo, and all those with cancer diagnoses, and more broadly for all who may be sick and suffering, let us remember the words of Saint Paul: "Hope does not disappoint." Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us!
Saint John the Evangelist recounts in his Gospel that Jesus on the night of the Last Supper prayed fervently for unity: "May they all be one, Father, as you and I are one…" (Jn. 17:21). It’s hard to imagine a better path toward that unity than prayer, which both creates and sustains true communion. By rooting in prayer his response to his treatments and whatever sufferings might come his way, Bishop Kenney is concretely teaching us the efficacy of prayer. Sure, he’s hoping that his cancer will be miraculously cured but he’s also hoping that all of his prayers—and the prayers of so many others—will lead us to a greater union with God and with those around us.
I’m told that Bishop’s reliance on prayer has captured the attention of the medical professionals who have been involved in his treatment. Many of his medical team are amazed when he explains to them that they are receiving prayers from all over the globe. From a worldly perspective, it may not always seem that prayer accomplishes much, but through the eyes of faith we can see how prayer is so effective in bringing a deeper unity to the people of God.
As we continue to pray for Bishop Kenney, Pope Leo, and all those with cancer diagnoses, and more broadly for all who may be sick and suffering, let us remember the words of Saint Paul: "Hope does not disappoint." Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us!
This week
SATURDAY, OCT. 31
Prison Ministry Workshop
Hear the importance of Prison Ministry and discover how you can be involved as you answer Jesus’ call … both inside and outside prison walls.
More information
IN THE NEWS
Lumen Christi parishioners encourage voting
More than a dozen Lumen Christi parishioners gathered at the four corners of Cleveland Avenue and Ford Parkway with nonpartisan signs encouraging registered voters to vote in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
SUNDAY, NOV. 8
Religious Communities Open House Sunday
All the faithful of the Archdiocese are invited, especially families, youth and young adults. Come and see! Visit where religious pray and ask questions to learn more about their life and vocation.
More information
IN THE NEWS
Turning snowplow blades into moving art
Middle school artists from St. Dominic School in Northfield transformed snowplow blades with sweeping landscapes featuring fiery sunsets, brilliant night skies and wildlife silhouettes.
PRACTICING CATHOLIC SHOW
The unexpected places we find God
Boyd Huppert shares how faith shapes his storytelling and sustains him through hardship, while Dave Hrbacek reveals how hunting and fishing have helped him encounter God in creation.
Less of Me, Madeline Orsinger, Stillwater
ARCHBISHOP'S LETTER TO FAMILIES
Only One Thing Is Necessary
"Finally, we arrive at the fourth path, the good soil: 'Here, and here alone does the seed take root and bear fruit. The seed fallen upon this fertile soil represents those who hear the Word, embrace it, safeguard it in their heart and put it into practice in everyday life.' At last, we have the path that we and our families must travel, a path that we must show the world. For, as John Paul II observed, 'As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live.'"
Sent forth by the Holy Spirit to make Jesus known and loved.
777 Forest Street, St. Paul, MN 55106 | 651-291-4400 | hello@archspm.org
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Oct. 26, 2026