Archbishop’s Weekly Word: The gifts that gather us together

Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda

Going way back to my days as an elementary school student, I would always get a little melancholic on the last day of June. I would wait the whole school year for summer to come, and the last day of June would signal to me that one of our three Pittsburgh summer months was already over. I would have been happy to vote for a 31st day of June, even if it meant knocking February down to 27 days.

There’s no melancholy this year. Though I have many reasons to feel blessed as the Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, this June has really been “chockful of wonderful,” with one mountaintop experience after another. Much like Peter, James, and John experienced Jesus in a new way atop Mount Tabor at the Transfiguration, this June has given me time after time to experience the Lord’s closeness in new ways—and for that I am most grateful.

The “bookends” at each end of the month were amazing. I’ll be ever grateful for the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit that we experienced at the beginning of month in our remarkable Synod Assembly. There was a perceived openness to listening and discussion, and real respect for the other participants. Our day of deliberation then concluded with a memorable Pentecost Vigil Mass in the Cathedral and even an extended opportunity for prayer and praise.

Equally as graced was the closing bookend of the month: four days of priestly fraternity at our Archdiocesan Presbyteral Assembly, held this year at St. Mary’s University in Winona. More than two hundred of our priests participated. We were blessed by our presenter, Bishop Donald Hying, the bishop of Madison, who offered relevant insights in the role of the Eucharist in the life of a priest, a perfect conclusion to our three-year National Eucharistic Revival. Bishop Robert Barron joined us for Mass one day as well and, as usual, blessed us with a phenomenal homily on St. John the Baptist and what he teaches us as priests serving in 2025.

I probably should confess the pride that I felt as the two bishops got to meet the priests of our archdiocese. They both noted that they could sense that our priests really enjoy each other’s company. There was indeed lots of laughter. I particularly appreciated the three talks given by our “jubilarian” priests celebrating different milestones in their ministry since the last time we had gathered in Winona. Fr. Marcus Milless represented those ordained 10 or 11 years, Fr. Mark Moriarty represented those ordained 25 or 26 years, and Fr. John Bauer represented those who were ordained 45 or 46 years. All three highlighted for me the graces that we priests can expect when we pour ourselves out in ministry.

I encourage you to thank your local priest for his ministry and offer to partner with him – using your gifts in volunteering, serving on a finance or pastoral council, assisting at your local Catholic school, adopting an Adoration hour, or in any other way you could be part of our collective mission: to make Jesus known and loved. The Lord needs us all to carry out the mission that he entrusted to his Church.

This year’s Presbyteral Assembly particularly reminded me that we are blessed that the Lord calls into service people with a variety of gifts and experiences, no two the same. If we needed to be convinced of the importance of that diversity, yesterday’s Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul proved that in spades. While very different in their experiences and backgrounds, Peter and Paul together provided just the foundation that Jesus intended for his Church. I loved how they were described in the Preface that we prayed at Mass: “Peter, foremost in confessing the faith, Paul, its outstanding preacher, Peter who established the early Church from the remnant of Israel, Paul, master and teacher of the Gentiles… And so, each in a different way gathered together the one family of Christ.”

We continue to need that breadth of gifts today if we are indeed to be gathered together as one family.

I felt particularly blessed for this year’s celebration of the solemnity in the Cathedral to have had present Archbishop Samir Nassar, the shepherd of the Maronite Archeparchy of Damascus (the place where our patron, St. Paul, first came to the faith). It has been a privilege to get to know Archbishop Nassar in the years that our two dioceses have been pursuing a spiritual partnership. His faith and courage in proclaiming the Gospel in difficult circumstances is nothing short of inspiring. Just last week, extremists burst into a church in Damascus and killed more than 20 members of the congregation, just because they were followers of Christ. I hope that you will join me in promising our prayers for Archbishop Nassar and for his brave flock.

Finally, we continue to pray for an end to senseless violence in our community. I know that many of you have shared with me your sympathy for the parents and children of Melissa and Mark Hortman, as they continue to face the tragic loss of their loved ones. I felt privileged to have had the opportunity to promise them the prayers of our archdiocese at this difficult time. May the Lord who so often supported and consoled Peter and Paul bring consolation to our whole community as well.

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