During the 2025 Archdiocesan Synod: Be My Witnesses Assembly on June 7, some 450 delegates from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gathered in the Joe Mauer Fieldhouse at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul. Assembly members gathered, discussed in small and large groups and voted on propositions they felt were the most important for the archdiocese in the coming years.
Mike Weibel, an assembly member from St. Patrick in Edina and member of his parish’s pastoral council, shared his thoughts on the gathering with “Practicing Catholic” host Patrick Conley and producer Rachael McCallum for an episode set to air at 9 p.m. June 6 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.
“Hearing other people’s perspectives in the table discussions has been very enlightening,” Weibel said. “We talked a lot about getting prepared to be a good disciple and that comes with community in your parish.”
Weibel described a parish as being a heart, and a strong heart is necessary to be an effective disciple.
Paul Mandell, a parishioner of St. Thomas Becket in Eagan, participated in a table discussion that noted the similarities among people from all over the Twin Cities metro. To Mandell, this was encouraging. He said social teaching from the Catholic Church is the Church’s best-kept secret.
Deacon Dan Brewer from Transfiguration in Oakdale said the Holy Spirit was allowed to lead each meeting.
“We’re sitting at tables in a process where we listen to other people with different viewpoints and we’re learning, we’re contributing and we’re coming up with ideas and things that we know the archbishop is listening to and is attentive to. And we know we’re being used as a simple little instrument to help the archdiocese in a big way,” Deacon Brewer said.
To hear more from attendees of the 2025 Archdiocesan Synod Assembly, tune into “Practicing Catholic,” which repeats at 1 p.m. June 14 and 2 p.m. June 15.
Also on the program, Archbishop Bernard Hebda shares about the spirit and experience of the 2025 Synod Assembly. Also, Nikelle Morris and Steve Broszko from Missed the Boat Theatre talk about their roles and vision behind the company.
Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, “Practicing Catholic” can be heard after it has aired at archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship/practicing-catholic or choose a streaming platform at Spotify for Podcasters.
