Archbishop Bernard Hebda will preside at a 5:15 p.m. Mass July 19 at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul celebrating 175 years of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis bringing Jesus to the people of Minnesota.
Following Mass there will be children’s games, food vendors and at 7 p.m. the Archbishop’s Inaugural Bean Bag Tournament will begin, said Father Ryan Glaser, parochial vicar of the Cathedral.
“This 175th anniversary lines up with the Church’s Jubilee Year and its theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope,’” Father Glaser said. “We’re called to reach out, to make everyone a disciple of Christ.”
Cathedral young adults are hosting the event. They came up with the idea of a bean bag tournament, and a dozen teams are already on board, Father Glaser said. People can join the fun by signing up at cathedralsaintpaul.org/175th-anniversary-archdiocese.
“It’s really encouraging to have the young adults excited and helping organize these events,” Father Glaser said. Parishes can sign up teams to compete, and Cathedral staff are contacting religious orders and Catholic organizations.
“We’re hoping for some friendly competition,” he said.
In a nod to Archbishop Hebda having grown up in Pennsylvania, the food offerings will include Philly cheesesteaks. There will be a taco cart, desserts and more, Father Glaser said.
The beanbag tournament’s championship match will be held at about 8:30 p.m., at twilight on the steps of the Cathedral, which overlooks downtown St. Paul.
“It will be epic,” Father Glaser said.
