Local
School Sister of Notre Dame Kathleen Storms, who is leading efforts to coordinate pilgrimages for the Laudato Si’ Movement Minnesota Chapter, works from her West St. Paul home Aug. 25 as she helps prepare for upcoming pilgrimages.

Local pilgrimages to focus on Catholics’ call to care for creation

Catholics often think of pilgrimages as long-distance journeys to shrines or other noteworthy sacred spaces. But across the United States — including in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis — hundreds of Catholics will make pilgrimages next month to special places that are not far away at all: The natural world in their own neighborhoods.
Nation + World
Pilgrims line up outside the Shrine of the Renunciation in Assisi, Italy, Aug. 21, 2025. The shrine, part of the Church of St. Mary Major complex, houses the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized Sept. 7 at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV.

Eucharist and charity: The traits that unite Pope Leo’s first saints

Pope Leo XIV will preside over his first canonization Mass Sept. 7, declaring the sainthood of two young Italians whose devotion to the Eucharist nourished a deep involvement in the cultures of their day.
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Pilgrims line up outside the Shrine of the Renunciation in Assisi, Italy, Aug. 21, 2025. The shrine, part of the Church of St. Mary Major complex, houses the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized Sept. 7 at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV.

Eucharist and charity: The traits that unite Pope Leo’s first saints

Pope Leo XIV will preside over his first canonization Mass Sept. 7, declaring the sainthood of two young Italians whose devotion to the Eucharist nourished a deep involvement in the cultures of their day.
inside the capitol

Pope Leo points to the City of God

Text of an Aug. 23 speech below comes from an address by Pope Leo XIV to an association of Catholic lawmakers from around the world gathered in Rome to consider how best to engage “the new world order.” 
School Sister of Notre Dame Kathleen Storms, who is leading efforts to coordinate pilgrimages for the Laudato Si’ Movement Minnesota Chapter, works from her West St. Paul home Aug. 25 as she helps prepare for upcoming pilgrimages.

Local pilgrimages to focus on Catholics’ call to care for creation

Catholics often think of pilgrimages as long-distance journeys to shrines or other noteworthy sacred spaces. But across the United States — including in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis — hundreds of Catholics will make pilgrimages next month to special places that are not far away at all: The natural world in their own neighborhoods.
Joe Hammell, a retired attorney and volunteer with Ignatian Volunteer Corps, spends time with a family at Casa Guadalupana in St. Paul Aug. 22.

Ignatian Volunteer Corps links service with spiritual growth

The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) is an organization comprised of senior volunteers committed to bringing Christ’s love into their own lives and the people they serve.
Micaela Verdeja, middle, stands with members of the St. Paul and Minneapolis ACCW who were in attendance at the NCCW convention in Orlando on Aug. 22.

Young Cathedral parishioner honored with NCCW Golden Rose award

Micaela Verdeja, 17, one of seven girls from Minnesota who won the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women (ACCW) Golden Rose award for their deaneries, said she is devoted to St. Therese of Lisieux and her “little way,” a spiritual path along which the saint encourages: “Do little things with great love.”
Pete Burds, chief mission officer for NET Ministries and a member of St. Joseph, both in West St. Paul, talks about prayer for a video series as part of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ “Reclaiming Sundays” initiative.

Video series to ‘encourage and fortify’ families in honoring the Sabbath

To help Catholics in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis elevate Sundays as a day for prayer and rest, the archdiocese is releasing a monthly video series starting in September.
Father Orlando Tatel

For 33 years, the archdiocese was the mission field for Father Tatel of the Philippines

A native of the Philippines, Father Orlando Tatel’s first visit to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was on a mission appeal for his newly formed diocese. He later found that his mission was here, and for 33 years he served in archdiocesan parishes.
Pope Leo XIV poses for a photo with members of the International Catholic Legislators Network Jubilee pilgrimage in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace Aug. 23, 2025. The pope is seated between Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, retired archbishop of Vienna, left, and Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon, Myanmar, who are honorary patrons of the network.

Catholic legislators must help build ‘city of God,’ pope says

Catholic legislators are called to enact laws that reflect love of God and love of neighbor, Pope Leo XIV told an international group of lawmakers.
Father Victor Valencia

Father Valencia, pastor of Maplewood parish, dies in Philippines

The pastor of St. Jerome in Maplewood — Father Victor Valencia — died unexpectedly while in the Philippines on a medical mission, Archbishop Bernard Hebda said in an Aug. 23 note to parishioners posted on the parish’s website.
Archbishop Bernard Hebda seeks prayers for peace in the world Aug. 22 ZACH JANSEN  |  OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Archbishop Hebda joins his prayers for peace to those of Pope Leo and the faithful

Archbishop Bernard Hebda sought Mary’s intercession Aug. 22 as he joined Pope Leo XIV and the world’s Catholics in asking the Lord to grant peace and justice in the world, particularly in Ukraine and in the Holy Land.
Maynard Warne

Deacon Warne remembered for his service to others

Deacon Maynard Warne, who was ordained in 1979 in the Archdiocese of Omaha and incardinated to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1989, served at St. Michael in St. Michael for 25 years before he retired in 2014. Deacon Warne died Aug. 17 age 99.
Faith
Jesus

God of mercy, God of justice

Anyone who has been to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., cannot help but notice the very large mosaic above the apse of “Christ in Majesty” sitting in judgment. 

The priest as spiritual father

Seeking understanding

Commentary
inside the capitol

Pope Leo points to the City of God

Text of an Aug. 23 speech below comes from an address by Pope Leo XIV to an association of Catholic lawmakers from around the world gathered in Rome to consider how best to engage “the new world order.” 

Who do you say that I am?

Hanging art, adding beauty

Why I am Catholic
Practicing Catholic

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