‘Misfits’ Reading 8A • Senior Services Guide 16A – 21A • Financial Report B Section November 19, 2015 Newspaper of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Archdiocese all ears
Archbishop Hebda says wide input helpful for nuncio, next archbishop U.S. Catholics offer prayers, condolences after Paris attacks Catholic News Service
Archbishop Bernard Hebda gives his attention to a listening session participant Nov. 4 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Eric Wuebben/For The Catholic Spirit By Maria Wiering The Catholic Spirit An estimated 2,000 people attended 10 listening sessions Archbishop Bernard Hebda hosted throughout the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in October and November, and hundreds of other Catholics have shared their thoughts on the archdiocese’s future and next archbishop through letters, emails and its website. The two-hour events — the likes of which Church experts
have called “unprecedented” — “were a great opportunity for people to come together to talk about something that obviously was very important to them: this local Church,” Archbishop Hebda said. “I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came and impressed by how passionate they are about the Church.” Archdiocesan officials are in the process of preparing
An outpouring of grief, condolences and prayers came from Catholics across the United States in reaction to the Nov. 13 evening attacks in Paris, attacks the French government said were carried out by three teams of Islamic State terrorists. The U.S. Catholic bishops Nov. 14 pledged their prayers for those killed and injured at three sites in France’s capital and voiced their support for those “working to build just and peaceful societies.” “Terror always seeks to separate us from those we most love,” said a statement issued by the Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Through their suffering, courage and compassion, Parisians are reminding us that the common bond of humanity is strongest when the need is greatest.” “To the people of France, we mourn with you and honor the lives lost from several nations, including our own,” said the committee, which is comprised of USCCB’s officers, committee chairmen and other bishops representing every region of the United States. “To our brothers and sisters in the church in France, your family in the Please turn to CATHOLICS on page 12A
Please turn to LISTENING on page 6A
ALSO inside
Giving thanks
The trouble with ‘Hennepin’
Creatures of habit
Through Make-A-Wish, teen from St. John Neumann in Eagan partners with food trucks to feed the hungry and show gratitude. — Page 10A
A painting of Mississippi explorer Father Hennepin is at the center of a heated debate over appropriate art for the State Capitol. — Page 11A
Local religious sisters share what wearing a habit — or not — means to them. — Page 15A