Local News

Individuals and families in parishes across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis are springing into action in new ways to respond to people’s needs in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Because of her devotion to St. Joseph, Anne Spinharney wanted her wedding to be on his feast day, March 19. But when she and her now-husband, Jordan Spinharney, were planning their 2020 wedding, they noticed the feast fell on a Thursday.

Here’s the church and there’s the steeple. Open the door and see all the people. With the nursery rhyme, children interlock their fingers to form a church building, then “open a door” to show the people inside. In similar fashion, Sara Fleetham, elementary faith formation coordinator at Guardian Angels in Oakdale, used Zoom video conferencing March 23 to show students an image of Guardian Angels church and asked them, “What is this?”

Homeless shelters and food banks are among groups helping the needy who will receive assistance in a $330 million COVID-19 emergency response bill passed by the Minnesota Legislature March 26 and signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz.

Meet Wildflyer Coffee, employing young people in the Twin Cities who are experiencing homelessness and offering them a job and life skills training with experts in such things as time management and conflict resolution.

Many parishes are offering daily Mass in addition to weekend Masses, making it possible for Catholics to participate in Mass every day during Gov. Tim Walz’s stay-at-home order, which continues through April 10.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda held the Eucharist high over the City of St. Paul March 27 on the steps of the Cathedral of St. Paul overlooking the State Capitol, praying for the sick and suffering, those who care for them, lawmakers and others as the coronavirus hits Minnesota hard.