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Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I write to you today following the sharing of our final Core Values with the Archdiocesan Catholic Center (ACC) staff. As you may remember, in the summer of 2020 we began working with a consulting firm to assess our internal operations and effectiveness. We are committed to becoming a healthier and more efficient organization by improving decision-making, communication, and focus, with the ultimate goal of serving you better. I am grateful to the many of you - priests, parish business administrators, Catholic schools staff, and others - who have been instrumental in guiding this work and continue to do so. Our Core Values were born out of that work, to set the standard of how we will interact with you and all others whom we have the privilege of serving and encountering.
Here are the Core Values and corresponding behaviors to which we are committed:
- Christ-centered: Model Christ-like humility, forgiveness, joy, and love. Learn from the Gospel and prayerfully act accordingly. Support the Church's mission to spread the Good News.
- Respect: Honor the God-given dignity of every person. Acknowledge the talents and good work of others. Listen attentively to the voices of others.
- Integrity: Responsibly perform our work and follow through on commitments. Communicate honestly, courageously, and charitably. Humbly admit mistakes and learn from them.
- Stewardship: Maintain accountability for all God has entrusted to us. Be modest and creative in the consumption of our resources. Use our gifts for the glory of God and the greatest common good.
- Service: Put the concerns of others ahead of our own. Show special care for the neglected and marginalized. Anticipate and promptly respond to the needs of those we serve.
Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Join our new Pastor, Fr. Daniel Griffith, for donuts and conversation after Mass in Teresa of Calcutta Hall (lower level).
Sunday, August 21, 5:00pm Mass
Sunday, August 28, 7:30am
Fr. Daniel Griffith, was named pastor and rector of The Basilica of Saint Mary effective July 1, 2022. He was ordained in 2002 and has served in a variety of assignments in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis since ordination including pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes for 10 years and as the archdiocesan delegate for safe environment in 2013 and 2014.
Fr. Griffith joined the University of St. Thomas School of Law faculty in 2011 and currently serves as the Wenger Family Faculty Fellow of Law. At St. Thomas Law, Griffith teaches courses in Catholic Thought, Law, and Policy, Jurisprudence, and Restorative Justice, Law, and Healing. Fr. Griffith is the founding director of the Initiative on Restorative Justice and Healing (IRJH) which launched in fall of 2021. Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition, IRJH seeks to respond to harm that occurs from leadership and institutional failures, racial injustice, and polarization in a way that promotes accountability and healing.
In addition to his work at St. Thomas School of Law, Griffith Fr. Griffith, preaches, teaches, and facilitates restorative practices in response to harm of the three focus areas of IRJH. His work in restorative justice has taken him beyond the Twin Cities where he regularly speaks and facilitates programming.
The youngest of nine children, Griffith grew up in Northeastern Wisconsin and is an avid golfer and sports fan who enjoys music, travel, and cooking.
Greetings once again from The Basilica of Saint Mary. I hope this message finds you and your family continuing to do well.
Today, I would like to talk about three things with you. First, I wanted to mention once again that as we re-open and renew our various ministries, services, and programs here at The Basilica, we are in need of volunteers to help us with this.
In our weekly newsletter/worship aid we have created a space listing the various areas where we need volunteers. This list is also available on our parish website. If it has been a while since you have volunteered, or if you are looking for a way to get involved, please check out these various volunteer positions.
Second, as always, I want to thank you for your ongoing financial support of our Basilica community. Your financial support, especially during the past couple of years has been especially important. Please know of my gratitude for your past support and for whatever financial support you are able to offer in the future.
Finally, I wanted to thank you for your support and care these past 15 years. I have been blessed in ways too numerous to count these past 15 years. Thank you for being a part of these blessings.
In addition to the blessings I have enjoyed, I will also take with me many fond memories of my time here. Please know of my great gratitude for the blessings and memories I will take with me.
As we continue the transition to a new pastor, I want to let you know of my ongoing prayers for our community. The Basilica is indeed a very special place--made so by our parishioners and staff.
As always, I would like to close today with a prayer.
Lord God, help us never forget all that you have done and continue to do for us.
Strengthen and sustain us with the hope you offer us and with the countless blessings you have given us.
Help us to strive to recognize your presence in our lives and to be open to your grace.
Through the witness of our lives, may your love be made known and experienced by those we encounter, those we serve, and those we love.
We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.
News and Resources
Ukrainian Families in Need of Housing
In partnership with St. Constantine Church, The Basilica is seeking housing for families coming from the Ukraine.
St. Constantine parishioners are prepared to sponsor families from Ukraine to Minnesota. The families are ready and paperwork is complete, but they can’t come unless they have housing.
The Basilica is partnering with St. Constantine to support their parishioners, as they sponsor families. We hope to identify possible housing options for the families.
Right now there is a family of 5 waiting to come.
If you have housing available that would work for a family, please fill out the Housing Form and contact Janice.
Second Archdiocesan Synod
Synod Parish Delegates
Last Call for Vatican Synod Survey
The Vatican Synod survey will close Tuesday, June 21 at 8 p.m. CDT. Please continue to encourage parishioners to take the survey at archspm.org/vaticansurvey. Find further information and resources below.
Homelessness in our Community:
A Zoom Forum
Saturday, June 25 at 9:00am CST
An update to Basilica Strategic Area of Focus:
Homelessness—Responding to the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homeless.
Homelessness is a reality in our community. As people of faith, we seek to learn from and support those experiencing homelessness. Together, we work to reduce its impact and make homelessness rare, brief, and a one-time experience.
Come to hear from people with lived experience of homelessness and from leaders in the state, county, and city. Learn about progress made through collaborative efforts to address homelessness in Minnesota. What has worked? What has not worked? How can we move forward to reduced homelessness in our community?
The Forum Panel will include:
- MN State: Cathy ten Broeke, Director to Prevent and End Homelessness for the State of Minnesota—along with consultants with lived experience of homelessness
- Hennepin County: David Hewitt, Director of Housing Stability
- Minneapolis: Katie Dillon, Director of Align Mpls
- Street Voices of Change: insight and wisdom from people with lived experience of homelessness
Register for the zoom credentials: Click HERE
For more information, call 612.317.3477.
Ending Homelessness
Resources and more information
