Weather icon for Saint Paul79°F Saint Paul

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Newsletter
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

The Last Word

Local News

Minnesota Music Hall of Fame inductee Father Joncas reflects on music ministry

Father Joncas’ contributions as a liturgical composer are being recognized this month with his induction into the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame in New Ulm.
The Last Word

Church builders

Cathedral events honor founding women
The Last Word

Pray, work, pray, repeat

At their cloistered monastery tucked away on DeMontreville Trail near Lake Elmo, two priests and five brothers — one of whom is studying at the St. Paul Seminary — dedicate their lives to praying for others, looking to many great saints of the Carmelite tradition, St. Therese of Lisieux and St. John of the Cross among them. But one in particular guides them through their days not just of prayer, but also of study, outreach and craftwork, by which they support themselves.
The Last Word

Roots in the Emerald Isle

It was the summer of 1860. The bishop of St. Paul, Thomas Grace, needed more priests, specifically more priests from a certain island nation: Ireland. Irish who fled starvation and economic servitude at home and the crowded cities in the eastern U.S. came to Minnesota to farm and build the railroads as the country expanded westward. “The Irish people of his diocese were demanding Irish priests,” wrote sociology professor William L. Smith, and the second bishop of St. Paul knew where to look.
The Last Word

Stricken by cancer, defined by faith

After three years of fighting the disease, Hall’s body finally is giving way. He has dropped 20-plus pounds off his already ravaged body since Christmas, and he now weighs less than 100 pounds. His sunken, gray face gives away his current condition.
The Last Word

Faith & Fiddle

Scythian influenced by folk music, Catholic roots
The Last Word

Across archdiocese, service at heart of Catholic Schools Week

Every year since 1974, parochial schools across the United States have been celebrating National Catholic Schools Week — this year, Jan. 25-31.
The Last Word

Cardinal counts: Nominees nudge numbers toward greater representation

A pope's impact on the College of Cardinals is naturally discussed after his death when his nominees and those of his predecessors enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope.
The Last Word

Want a good book to read? To give as a gift? Clergy offer ideas

“My favorite book of the year is ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ by the pope who gives me hope.” That’s the word from Father Greg Esty, and he’s not alone in enjoying Pope Francis’ work; it appears on the top 10 list of book sales at St. Patrick’s Guild, then St. Paul merchant of religious goods. Father Esty, who is pastor of St. Genevieve in Centerville, was one of several clergy who responded to a Catholic Spirit email survey that asked what books they either were giving as Christmas gifts or recommending to others.
The Last Word

Donor says helping her pastor an easy decision: ‘He needed a kidney’

A parishioner walks up to her pastor and says, "I want to give you my kidney." Pastor smiles and says, "OK." Don't expect a punchline. It's no joke.
The Last Word

Police officer leans on Catholic faith during Ferguson crisis

In the situation that has become known as simply “Ferguson,” Sgt. John Wall of the St. Louis County Police Department knew in the second week of August that the time had come to stand up and be counted. Peaceful protests after the Aug. 9 shooting death of Michael Brown by a police officer during a confrontation had devolved into rioting and looting.
The Last Word

Sister helps pottery become prayer at Benedictine Center

Dennis Cavanaugh describes his time in the pottery room at the Benedictine Center as a “prayer event, where pottery is the vehicle.” In the midst of his third pottery series led by Benedictine Sister Virginia Matter on the campus of St. Paul’s Monastery in Maplewood, Cavanaugh enjoys working with clay, but said the experience offers so much more than practical pottery techniques.
Trending
Seminarians in St. Paul celebrate election of Pope Leo XIV
Archbishop Hebda celebrates a Mass for Pope Leo XIV
2 religious communities in Lake Elmo undertake new construction projects
Chicago native Cardinal Prevost elected pope, takes name Leo XIV
Free Newsletter

ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD 2022

ARCHDIOCESE OF ST. PAUL & MPLS.

Contact us: spiritwebmaster@archspm.org

777 Forest St., St. Paul, MN 55106
© 2022 TheCatholicSpirit.com. All rights reserved.

Facebook X-twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
Copyright © 2024 The Catholic Spirit. All Rights Reserved.
Facebook X-twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube

Before You Go!

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Sign Up Now!

Keep up to date with what’s going on in the Catholic world