Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
While the extraordinary challenges of our times generally rule our news feeds—particularly in recent weeks—I find hope in the resilience and faith of our brothers and sisters overcoming tragedy. Dozens of you have sent me links, for example, to Erika Kirk’s remarkable address at her husband’s memorial service, expressing Christ-centered forgiveness for the man who had taken the life of her husband and the father of her children. That’s resilience. Or think about the Annunciation students and teachers who have returned to school this past week. That too is phenomenal resilience.
But I have also been finding hope in the quiet but powerful work of renewal happening throughout our community. The recent impact report from the Catholic Services Appeal (CSA) illustrates the tremendous effect your generous donations this year are having in this local church. This includes investments in our next generation, ranging from scholarships that help give children access to a Catholic education to funding for our 63 current seminarians in formation. Because of your generosity, moreover, corporal and spiritual acts of mercy are faithfully being carried out, spanning from service to the poor and unhoused on the one hand to ministering to the imprisoned and the sick on the other. I know that the impact of your CSA donations is also being felt in exciting discipleship and evangelization efforts, encouraging deeper renewal at each parish and in the heart of each Catholic. That’s faith in action that sustains us as pilgrims of hope.
I’m excited, moreover, by what lies ahead as we begin to see the first signs of success and early fruits of the archdiocesan-wide Lord, Renew Your Church campaign. I met last week with the director of the St. Lawrence Newman Center, serving University of Minnesota students, and was excited to hear about his campaign-related plans for broadening the reach of ministry to our young adults showing such hunger for Christ. I am so grateful that the Lord seems to be bringing success in the first wave of the campaign, just as he had blessed the pilot phase.
Whether you’re supporting these broader renewal efforts or those at your parish through your prayer, talents or generosity, know of my deep appreciation. You are pivotal partners in our mission as together, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, we work to make Jesus known and loved. Thank you.
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