Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
In the course of our celebrations last year for our 175th anniversary, I often expressed my deep gratitude for the many ways that the archdiocese has benefited from the ministry and witness of the Religious Sisters and Brothers—and others in consecrated life—who have served this local Church over the years. We clearly would not be the Church that we are today without their dedication, example and extraordinary witness to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
I was reminded of their contribution this weekend, as the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet celebrated the 175th anniversary of their presence in the Twin Cities. You will probably recall that they came here at the request of our Bishop Cretin, our first bishop, traveling up the Mississippi from Saint Louis in 1851 to serve a missionary Church. Within a few years, they had set up four schools and a hospital. What a blessing they have been in teaching us to “love our dear neighbor without distinction”! Please join me in congratulating the Sisters of Saint Joseph on this milestone and promising them our prayers.
In the years since those first courageous religious arrived, we’ve been blessed by the arrival of a number of communities who too have chosen to labor in our vineyard. Just yesterday, as a culmination of National Vocations Awareness Week, more than a dozen of those communities welcomed guests for an “Open House Sunday,” inviting all of us—and especially families, youth and young adults—to explore the convents where they live, pray and serve. At each of the religious houses that I was able to visit, I prayed that the Lord might bring more vocations to their communities and to this Archdiocese.
I know that the Lord is continuing to call our young women and men to do amazing things. Just last week, Bishop Kenney, Bishop Izen and I had the privilege of meeting with several young men discerning a path to the priesthood or religious life at an Andrew Dinner, so named because of the St. Andrew’s pivotal role in bringing his brother—the Apostle Peter—to know Christ.
I always enjoy those dinners not only because of how impressive I find these young men who are seeking to follow God’s will in a counter-cultural way but also because of the “Andrews” who bring them: trusted pastors, youth ministers or other influential models of faith in their lives. I’m grateful as well to the men and women of the Serra Club who volunteer to serve the spaghetti at our Archdiocesan Andrew Dinners and Miriam Dinners (a similar dinner for young women) in addition to their prayerful support for vocations.
With a Vianney Visit (an opportunity for high school young men to spend some time at our College Seminary, St. John Vianney) planned for next week and a Miriam Dinner scheduled in January, I trust that the Lord will be working in the hearts of many more young discerners. May his work continued to bear fruit in our Archdiocese.
I always attribute our healthy number of seminarians and renewed local interest in areas of consecrated life to the fervent prayers of the faithful of this Archdiocese, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. Many of our local parishes regularly lead parishioners in our Archdiocesan Prayer for Vocations, which invites parents in particular to cultivate vocations so that the Lord may “choose from our homes those needed” for the Lord’s work.
As important as it is for us to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to the diaconate and to consecrated life, let’s never forget to pray as well for vocations to sacramental marriage. A loving family is a seed-bed for all the other vocations. I know that I continue to learn so much about the Lord by observing the sacrificial love of my siblings and their spouses.
We would be remiss in not praying as well for those who have discerned that they are called to the single life. I’ve been blessed to have met so many committed singles who pour themselves out in selfless service to our Archdiocese, parishes and schools. They too are contributing crucial gifts to the mystical body of Christ. Each of us has a role to play in the Church not only through our prayers but also through the personal witness we offer and the sacrifices we make. May we all be the living stones that, with Christ, give a strong foundation to our Church.
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