Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda

This weekend, you might have noticed something new at your parish. Maybe it was hanging in your church’s front entrance, or perhaps you noticed it in the parish hall while you were having coffee and donuts. Wherever it might be, I suspect that it will be hard to miss: It’s a large, blue poster marking the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese and inviting you to be an Archdiocesan Jubilee Pilgrim.

The Archdiocese was erected by Pope Pius IX on July 19, 1850, formed from territory that had previously been under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In the midst of the Universal Church’s Jubilee Year, we hope to celebrate our 175th as well, beginning with a Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Paul on Saturday evening, July 19, 2025.

To whet our appetites for the anniversary celebration, we are beginning our Archdiocesan Passport Adventure this weekend. We wanted to begin this adventure while we were still involved in the implementation of our Year 2 pastoral letter focus: the Mass. When we introduced Year 2, you might remember that I encouraged all the faithful to visit a variety of local parishes, as a way of deepening our appreciation of the liturgy and celebrating the diverse gifts we’ve enjoyed in this archdiocese for 175 years. Now, on our Archdiocesan website, you can download and print a passport and truly take to the road this summer and fall.

Here’s the challenge: Visit at least seven churches “new” to you between now and October and log them in your passport. Then join me or one of our auxiliary bishops on Sunday, October 12, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. There will be an ice cream social after all morning Masses on that date, and we’ll have a special celebration for all who’ve participated in this Archdiocesan Passport Adventure.

There are many different ways to fill out your passport this summer. Since none of the Churches are “new” to me, I’m thinking of visiting seven of our “border” parishes — have you ever been to Immaculate Conception in Marysburg, St. Luke in Clearwater, St. Michael in Pine Island, Sacred Heart in Rush City, St. Mary in Waverly, St. Patrick in Oak Grove, or St. Joseph in Taylors Falls? Perhaps you would rather visit seven of the parishes where Mass is celebrated in another language or find the parishes where the liturgy is celebrated in a different rite.

You may find out when different parishes are celebrating Mass by using the parish finder page on our website. Or look on each parish’s website to see if there’s an event coming up that you and your family and friends can attend.

As you make these mini pilgrimages across the archdiocese, this is a chance for all of us to be more unified as a local church. If you listened to Pope Leo’s homily yesterday, you would have heard that he’s hoping to unify our Church. We are one body, made up of many parts; our local church is comprised of many parishes making up one body.

The Archdiocesan Passport Adventure was born so that, in this Jubilee Year of Hope for our Universal Church and in our local 175th anniversary, we can have the opportunity to see different parishes, meet new people, and experience the liturgy in new ways. By coming to know parishes outside of our own, perhaps we will have the chance to collaborate better and to imagine new ways of spreading the Gospel to those around us.

I am so thankful for all our parish communities and the different charisms they bring to the body of Christ. I look forward to hearing how you experience the unity and diversity of our local church in the coming months.

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