In a recent column, Archbishop Hebda reflected on the 175th anniversary of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet and local religious vocations.
The Sisters of Saint Joseph traveled up the Mississippi River from Saint Louis in 1851 at the request of Bishop Cretin, the first bishop, to serve a missionary church. Within a few years, those early arrivals established four schools and a hospital.
Archbishop Hebda noted the milestone during a weekend when the community celebrated its presence in the Twin Cities. He praised the group for teaching the local community to love their dear neighbor without distinction.
Building on that history, more than a dozen religious communities opened their doors to the public for an Open House Sunday, culminating National Vocations Awareness Week. Families, youth, and young adults explored local convents to see where religious men and women live, pray, and serve.
Archbishop Hebda also met with young men discerning a path to the priesthood alongside Bishop Kenney and Bishop Izen during a recent Andrew Dinner. These gatherings, named after St. Andrew for bringing his brother Peter to Christ, rely on trusted pastors and youth ministers to guide participants.
The Serra Club assists with these events by serving meals at both Andrew Dinners and Miriam Dinners for young women. Upcoming events include a Vianney Visit for high school young men at St. John Vianney College Seminary, alongside another Miriam Dinner scheduled for January.
Archbishop Hebda attributed the region’s healthy number of seminarians to the fervent prayers of local parishioners, particularly before the Blessed Sacrament. He said sacramental marriage and the single life also provide foundations for the church community.
Each group contributes unique gifts to the mystical body of Christ, according to the column. The archbishop urged Catholics to view personal witness and daily sacrifices as the living stones that give a strong foundation to the church.
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