Announcements

Archbishop Bernard Hebda has announced the following appointment in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis:

In response to this week’s Executive Orders signed by President Trump, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) offered the following statement.

Pope Francis has called us in this Jubilee Year to be “pilgrims of hope.” How can we hope in a world with so many challenges? The Reverend Martin Luther King, who is remembered today throughout our nation, managed to be a great pilgrim of hope even as he confronted the scourge of racism.

Concerned about the harmful effects of online sports gambling on young people, families and the broader society, Minnesota’s Catholic bishops wrote an open letter to Gov. Tim Walz and legislative leaders Jan. 14 urging them to reject proposals that would legalize the practice in the state.

As the United States commemorates Religious Freedom Day on January 16, the Committee for Religious Liberty of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued its annual report on the state of religious freedom in the United States.

I was delighted that so many of you joined me on the weekend of Holy Family Sunday for the Archdiocesan opening of the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Please pray for all those affected by the wildfires in southern California, as well as the firefighters and first responders serving this area. For those who wish to support relief efforts, Catholic Charities USA has set up a donation portal.

Merry Christmas! Along with the Church universal, we continue our celebration of the Lord’s birth during this Octave.

The Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring the Golden Rose Award to recognize young women who are currently in high school, regularly attend Sunday Mass, and active in parish and community activities.

I hope you all enjoyed the rose-colored candle in the Advent Wreath this weekend as the Church celebrated Gaudete Sunday. While we continue our wait with the Church for the coming of Jesus, you probably sensed that there was a special emphasis on this Third Sunday of Advent—a focus on finding joy in the anticipation.

Today, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. It’s a Solemnity that is theologically important for us as Catholics and yet often misunderstood.

The Thanksgiving holiday is one of the true gems of our American culture: a time for us as a nation and individually to acknowledge all for which we are thankful and the many blessings that our gracious God has given us.