The Catholic Spirit

25/01/2025

“I dream of a communication capable of making us fellow travelers, walking alongside our brothers and sisters and encouraging them to hope in these troubled times,” the pope wrote in his message for the World Day of Communications.

Pope Francis urged communicators to use their platforms to inspire hope by avoiding aggressive language and rejecting rhetoric that dehumanizes others.

25/01/2025

In the archdiocese, there are 80 Catholic grade schools and 16 Catholic high school schools with over 30,000 students enrolled. Archbishop Hebda said Jesus gives to his Church the roles to educate, sanctify and lead.

Catholic schools are important to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis 52 weeks a year, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said, but Catholic Schools Week shines a light on Catholic schools and the work…

24/01/2025

Five issues have risen to a certain level of notice for the conference as the 94th legislative session begins. One issue is expanding a nation-leading child tax credit that passed in 2022 and took effect in the 2023 tax year.

Editor-in-chief of The Catholic Spirit, Joe Ruff, interviewed Maggee Hangge and Jason Adkins with the Minnesota Catholic Conference as the 94th legislative session began. Some takeaways included…

24/01/2025

Bishop Kevin Kenney, far left, gives the opening prayer for the Jan. 22 session of the Minnesota House in St. Paul. He prayed in part for respect and protection of the gift of life, promotion of human flourishing, care for creation and a dignified existence for all people of Minnesota. His full prayer: “Good and gracious God, creator of all that is good, we thank you for the gift of life. Each of us is called by you to steward this gift and help others to do so. Give those in this chamber the wisdom and grace to work collaboratively to respect the gift of life and protect it in its most vulnerable moments. May we work together to promote human flourishing, care for creation and a dignified existence for all people in our state. Help us to build a culture of peace and justice where people no longer turn to violence as an answer to problems, but respectfully dialogue through differences so divisions can disappear and growth will flourish. Finally, we remember that we are called to serve and not to be served. You challenge us to love and forgive our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Lord, this is sometimes hard. But with your divine assistance, we can model a better way of friendship and dialogue for the betterment of our society, culture and families. We ask this all in your holy name. Amen.” COURTESY STAFF OF THE MINNESOTA CATHOLIC (Minnesota Catholic Conference)

24/01/2025

“I am here today to thank the American people. They tell us every day, and I always like to underline it –– every day –– they pray for Ukraine, and they are aware of what is happening in Ukraine,” said Bishop Kryvytskyi, 52, of the Diocese of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, through an interpreter during his homily at the Cathedral.

Bishop Vitalii Kryvytskyi of the capital city in Ukraine sought prayers and expressed gratitude for support of his war-torn country as he visited Catholic bishops, parishes, a school and nonprofit…

24/01/2025

Sophia and Riley Wern hold their infant daughter, Savannah, during an all-school Mass at Saint Helena Catholic School in Minneapolis Dec. 18. Savannah was baptized during the Mass by the pastor of St. Helena, Father Marcus Milless. Sophia Wern is a middle school language arts teacher who gave birth to Savannah, her first child, on Oct. 17. “I wanted the whole school there,” said Wern, 27, who has been teaching at the school for three years. “It was just extra special to have all the students there and then to have that much community support blessing our baby.” When Wern shared her idea of having the baptism take place at a school Mass, Father Milless quickly and eagerly agreed. “For me, it brought great joy,” he said during an interview right after the Mass. “And then to see the kids’ expressions as they saw the little baby — how moving that was. I think it’s a great way for us to prepare for Christ’s coming at Christmas, as a school family.” DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

24/01/2025

Archbishop Bernard Hebda, right, helps assemble sets of clothes during a volunteer event for employees of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Jan. 17 at Guiding Star Wakota in West St. Paul. In addition to pitching in with other employees, including Theresa Matelski, left, Archbishop Hebda blessed various parts of the building during a tour. Providing guidance in the clothes sorting was Moriah Lippert, center, client advocate who speaks English and Spanish. DAVE HRBACEK | THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

24/01/2025

Father Paul Jaroszeski speaks to the congregation gathered for Christmas Mass Dec. 25, 2024, in St. Katharine Drexel's new building in Ramsey. After the parish sold 18 of over 33 acres it had acquired through a donation, 15 acres were left for a new church construction site. Construction work took place last year, following a groundbreaking ceremony in June. “Thank you to everyone who joined together to celebrate Christmas Masses in our new parish home!” a message in the parish’s Jan. 5 bulletin read. COURTESY AMANDA LUTES | ST. KATHARINE DREXEL

24/01/2025

As a scientist and a researcher, Kostick's natural skills are practiced over time, but prayer helps make the gifts of teaching and knowledge more effective in her career.

Sarah Kostick, a researcher at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, works to develop new apple varieties. This ability of research and knowledge, Kostick said, is a charism, or a gift given to…

24/01/2025

Among the first acts of his second term beginning Jan. 20, Trump signed a slew of executive orders. Some implement his hardline policies on immigration, including seeking to change the interpretation of birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment, an order that prompted a legal challenge.

Executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on issues including migration, the environment and the death penalty are "deeply troubling," Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S.…

24/01/2025

Trump’s order, signed just hours after he returned to the White House, also directed the attorney general to “seek the death penalty regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime” that involves the “murder of a law-enforcement officer” or a “capital crime committed by an alien illegally present in this country.”

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the federal death penalty Jan. 20, among the first actions of his second term, directing the attorney general to "pursue the death penalty for all…

24/01/2025

Richards, the daughter of the late Texas Gov. Ann Richards, left Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, in 2018 after 12 years at its helm. She was one of the country’s most well-known advocates of legal abortion. The role, as well as her advocacy for abortion, often placed her on the opposite side of political issues as pro-life advocacy groups, but many of them recognized her as a formidable political force.

Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president and progressive activist, died Jan. 20 after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. She was 67.

24/01/2025

According to multiple news reports, the White House confirmed Trump’s remote appearance Jan. 23. Earlier the same day march organizers announced Vance would address the crowd, and his appearance will mark Vance’s first public event as vice president outside of inaugural events.

President Donald Trump will deliver a video message to the March for Life rally in the nation's capital Jan. 24, and Vice President JD Vance will speak to the rally in person.

24/01/2025

Catholic Schools Week, MCC legislative preview, Catholic school stalwarts, Bishop of Kyiv, Houses in schools, Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Student's legacy

23/01/2025

“They should not have been prosecuted. Many of them are elderly people,” he told reporters. “This is a great honor to sign this.”

On the eve of the national March for Life rally in Washington, President Donald Trump announced Jan. 23 he was issuing pardons for 23 protesters arrested for violating the federal Freedom of Access…

23/01/2025

The unapologetic display of Christian faith by both teams — on the field, in press conferences and through personal testimonies — offered a refreshing reminder that faith is not meant to be hidden but lived boldly in the public square.

In a culture whose leaders often seek to privatize religious belief and marginalize expressions of faith, the college football national championship showdown between Notre Dame and Ohio State told a…

23/01/2025

"The many forums for evangelization with our school children include the school Mass, Eucharistic adoration, Eucharistic processions, sacramental preparation (especially confession, Communion and confirmation), and Scripture reflections. Formation happens at Mass, but it also happens in the classroom, the lunchroom and even on the playground."

I know I speak for Archbishop Hebda when I tell you how grateful we are for our wonderful Catholic schools here in the archdiocese. In my first 18 years of priesthood, I was blessed to have a…

23/01/2025

Since I was already in the habit of brushing my teeth twice a day, I simply needed to put the flosser in the space where I usually kept my toothbrush. That way, when I would automatically reach for the brush, I’d remember the nudge to floss first.

During my husband's years in business school, he learned about the power of the "nudge": how to form a new habit by connecting it to a habit you already have. This practice changed my life, because…