Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
It’s hard to believe that we are already at that part of the summer when our attention turns to the opening of the Minnesota State Fair. While I had lived in several states, I had never been to a state fair before coming to the Archdiocese as Administrator in 2015. I was intrigued by all the hype and had to go for myself. I fell for the turkey sandwiches and pork chops on a stick and have tried to get there every year since then. I was deeply honored when I had the privilege of offering a blessing of the fairgrounds before the opening of the fair in 2021 and even had the chance to pray with some of the security staff. It honestly isn’t the fair food that attracts me but rather the chance to be with such a broad swath of our sisters and brothers, all God’s children.
I know I’m not alone in that assessment. You might remember a 2022 interview with Jerry Hammer in The Catholic Spirit. Jerry – who recently retired after 27 years running the State Fair – commented on the fair’s spirituality by noting that the fair, bringing together all of humanity, is “the antidote to what ails the world. What we do here is bring people together.”
It shouldn’t be surprising that the fair strikes a chord in the Catholic heart. Community has always been a pivotal part of Christian life. Think about all the times that Jesus found himself in the midst of a crowd. As Jesus himself said in the Gospel of Matthew, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am with them.”
We’ve seen recently in our Archdiocese how powerfully God moves when he brings us together. While the Source and Summit procession of 7,000 comes to mind – and it sure did look like a State Fair crowd that day – I also think of how many lives have been touched in the past year through parish efforts to create small groups.
You may recall that last fall, our parishes were asked to introduce the Parish Evangelization Cells System (better known as PECS), an approach to small groups that is intentionally designed to foster a lively faith and Christ-centered community through relationships. We’ve had hundreds of comments from folks who tell us that they have found new connections in their parish community and through that experience have deeply grown in their relationship with Christ as well.
If you joined a small group at your parish in the past year, you probably got to know others in different stages of life or different social circles, finding unity in our Lord. If you have not yet joined a small group at your parish, I hope that you will consider doing so this fall.
And if you do make a stop at The Great Minnesota Get-Together this summer – perhaps with your other small group members – do not be surprised if you find opportunities for Christian community and a sense of God’s presence there as well. In the diversity of food, vendors and art, we can see a kaleidoscope of cultures at the State Fair. Why not use the fair as a moment to thank God for the gifts each culture brings? We can also be prompted by the fair to have a greater appreciation of the beauty and mystery of God’s creation – I’m awestruck every time a see a calf or ewe. And I’m certainly grateful that there will be two opportunities for Mass at the fair this year: 9:15 a.m. at the Family Fair Stage at Baldwin Park on Sunday, August 25 and Sunday, September 1.
If you spot me at the Fair, please introduce yourself. I hope to see you there.
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Updated Mass location August 24, 2024
