This Saturday, July 19, marks 175 years since the founding of the Catholic Church in Minnesota. On that date in 1850, Blessed Pope Pius IX named Joseph Crétin the first bishop of the Diocese of Saint Paul, which at that time covered what is now Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In 1888, the Holy See gave the diocese the status of a metropolitan archdiocese, under the watchful eye of Archbishop John Ireland.
As waves of immigrants moved west from the late 19th and into the 20th centuries, the original territory of the Diocese of Saint Paul was progressively sectioned into the ten dioceses we have today – two in North Dakota (Fargo and Bismarck), two in South Dakota (Sioux Falls and Rapid City), and six in Minnesota (the Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Crookston, Duluth, New Ulm, Saint Cloud and Winona-Rochester). The territory of the Archdiocese now consists of the twelve counties in the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area with 186 parishes, 89 Catholic schools and even two Catholic universities that are based here, with hundreds of thousands of hardworking and faithful laity, along with hundreds of dedicated clergy and religious sisters and brothers, who all continue to strive to bring the love of Christ to our sisters and brothers living in our communities.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda, the ninth archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, said of the anniversary, “While the Church in Minnesota has had well-documented failures and shortcomings in our history, it is my hope that this year will ultimately remind us of God’s providential care for those who love him and inspire us to learn more about the people and events that have shaped this Archdiocese.”
All are invited to join Archbishop Hebda as he celebrates a special 175th anniversary Mass on Saturday, July 19, at 5:15 p.m. at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Following Mass, all are welcome to join him in the Cathedral courtyard, where there will be a social event, including the inaugural Bean Bag Tournament at 7 p.m.
To commemorate the special anniversary, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has partnered with Editions du Signe to produce two special books: A photo history book that features all parishes, Catholic schools and many Catholic entities in the archdiocese and a graphic novel (not suitable for younger children). All are also encouraged to join in the Archdiocesan Passport Adventure during this Anniversary year. To participate, “Archdiocesan Jubilee Pilgrims” are invited to print a bilingual passport at archspm.org/passport, visit Catholic churches other than their own, and then log those visits in the passport. All who have participated in this pilgrimage will be welcomed to the Cathedral October 12th for Mass and an ice cream social with the bishops.
Please continue to check archspm.org for special events and other ways to connect and celebrate with this local church during this special 175th anniversary.
