Lord, Renew Your Church by the light of the Gospel.
Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us so that we might
recognize you as the Giver of all good gifts.
Bless our Lord Renew Your Church campaign. May
it strengthen the bonds that unite us and bring new
fruitfulness to our parishes, schools and pastoral efforts.
Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church,
and Saint Paul, our patron, may our generous response
give witness to Your love, Your power and Your plan.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
AMEN
It is with great gratitude and excitement that I write to you as we begin our capital campaign, Lord, Renew Your Church. I feel privileged to shepherd an Archdiocese in which the work of the Holy Spirit is so evident. I am frequently reminded of your faithfulness to the Gospel and your sharing of my hope that God desires to renew His Church. I am so grateful that throughout my time as Archbishop, you have shown your trust in me by sharing your dreams and ideas for the future; dreams that include a keen yearning to know Christ and our faith more deeply, a desire to introduce your children to Jesus, and to pass on the richness of our Catholic faith to future generations and to those who do not yet know or recognize God’s love. Those aspirations can become a reality only with a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Your dreams for our future as a Church are the source of the excitement that I shared with you in my 2022 pastoral letter You Will Be My Witnesses: Called and Sent from the Upper Room. As we desire to live more deeply the mysteries of the Upper Room (the Washing of the Feet, the Eucharist, and the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit), it has become apparent that we need to strengthen our parishes, renew our commitment to educating our youth for discipleship, work to preserve our Cathedral and Basilica, provide for the needs of our active, retired and future clergy and renew our embrace of the works of mercy as a means of caring for those in need. The Lord, Renew Your Church capital campaign presents us with a transformational opportunity to fund those five priorities in a way that will shape the future of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.
In Saint Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus assures us that, “the harvest is plentiful.” Confident in that promise, I ask that you join me as laborers for the bountiful harvest that is to come. We need not labor alone: Jesus encourages us to ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers for this work. It is only by working together in this effort and remembering our role as collaborators in what we know to be the Lord’s work that we will be able to reap the amazing harvest he is bringing forth for us. I am praying that you will generously join me in this important endeavor.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Since the humble beginnings of this local Church in 1850, the faithful of this Archdiocese have walked together as brothers and sisters on an impressive journey of faith. Today, home to hundreds of thousands of Catholics who worship in 185 parishes, educating young people in more than 90 Catholic schools, and serving neighbors in need within our diverse communities, the Archdiocese continues to bring the Good News to life in the hearts and neighborhoods of its faithful, helping others to encounter Jesus Christ through our witness.
In response to the call of Pope Francis inviting the entire Church to participate in the New Evangelization as missionary disciples and reflecting on our community’s evolving needs and challenges, we must now work together to assist our parishes and the Archdiocese in identifying and calling forth the resources we need for renewal.
Experience tells us that we can do this most effectively if we prayerfully work together, supporting, and empowering parishes as we take our next steps. With this in mind, we embark upon an Archdiocese-wide capital campaign, Lord, Renew Your Church, to support the work of this local church. Archbishop Hebda fully trusts that the collaboration over the next few years will help us build upon the foundation laid by previous generations in a way that optimizes our long-term success in mission and ministry while fostering greater financial and organizational stability.
Parishes will enhance their spiritual and pastoral lives by utilizing 60% of raised funds for local priorities, in turn, fostering deeper discipleship and drawing people into closer relationships with Jesus Christ. Ensuring strong, vibrant parishes is essential for shaping the future of our faith.
This initiative will support faith formation in schools and parishes, in line with the Archdiocesan Roadmap for Excellence in Catholic Education. Funds will enhance talent management, provide scholarships, support Drexel Mission Schools, strengthen catechetical and leadership formation, and bolster campus ministries to guide young adults in their faith journey.
Critical renovations, infrastructure upgrades, and preservation efforts will be funded to maintain our Cathedral and Co-Cathedral as vital centers of faith and community for future generations so the Archdiocese might continue to shine the light of faith for generations to come.
Retired and active clergy will be supported through a fully funded pension plan, specialized care, and wellness and training programs. Financial assistance will also be provided for future clergy, ensuring continuous support for their education and well being.
An endowment will be established to support those directly serving individuals in need. This fund will enable the Church to respond proactively to crises such as natural disasters, homelessness, and other extraordinary requests for assistance.
Through Lord, Renew Your Church, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will be taking the next step in ensuring the vibrancy of the Catholic Church for generations to come. By fully embracing our mission of evangelization and seeking to be instruments of renewal as set forth in the pastoral letter, You Will Be My Witnesses, we are establishing a future of unification for an energized church that is prepared to face the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Archbishop Hebda is grateful for your example and support and asks you to invite your families, fellow parishioners, and neighbors to participate and boldly answer this call of engagement, formation, and renewal within our Church.
• Supporting local parish needs
• $21.5 million endowment for the Pursuit of Catholic Educational Excellence aligned with the Roadmap for Excellence in Catholic Education
• $20 million to grow financial assistance and scholarships
• $13 million endowment for Catholic Faith Formation Initiatives
• $3 million toward bolstering Campus Ministry
• $15 million investment in the Cathedral of Saint Paul
• $15 million investment in the Basilica of Saint Mary
• $10 million investment in the priest pension plan
• 15 million endowment assisting retired priests with special needs, clergy wellness and training, and support for future clergy
• $12.5 million endowment to extend resources to those in need
Pledges made during the campaign can be fulfilled over five years. As pledges are fulfilled, the ministries outlined by the campaign will receive proportionate funding to ensure the needs of the campaign are met. Informed by principles of Catholic stewardship, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is working with the Catholic Community Foundation of Minnesota (CCF) to hold and invest funds raised through this campaign. Through this partnership, alongside other trusted partners, we will ensure that campaign funds are protected in perpetuity, and always honor the donor’s intention.
Bequests and estate gifts are often considered the easiest ways to give because they:
Any portion of an estate gift designated for a campaign fund can have a lasting impact on our Catholic community.
“Remember the past with gratitude. Live the present with enthusiasm. Look forward to the future with confidence.”
