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Pope Francis invites everyone to join him on Friday, March 27 in prayer for the end to the coronavirus pandemic and for a special Urbi et Orbi blessing for the City and for the World. The prayer and blessing will be broadcast by Vatican News at 12:00pmCDT.
Stay Home. Stay Safe. Stay Connected.
A message from Fr. John Bauer, Pastor
Basilica Community,
I hope you and your families are staying well. As you know, we have suspended all public Masses and gatherings; however we are still connecting via conference call, Facebook, and Zoom.
We are live streaming Mass Monday-Friday at noon and Sundays at 9:30am at facebook.com/BasilicaMpls. The videos are available at here after each Mass.
We are also posting Stations of the Cross and Vespers. Many people have let us know how much they appreciate having access to these Basilica services.
Please let us know if you have questions, concerns, or suggestions to better serve you.
We know this is a challenging time financially for everyone. If you are able to continue to support The Basilica financially, we thank you. You may make a gift online at mary.org/donate.
If you find yourself needing financial support, we invite you to connect with our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.
Together, we will get though these challenging times. The threat of the Coronavirus has forced us to acknowledge that we need each other. As a community of faith we need to look after each other, to care for each other, to respond to the needs of each other, and perhaps most importantly to pray for each other.
Our newest Icon at The Basilica is Mary Untier of Knots. I would like to close today with a prayer to Mary, modeled after a prayer of Pope Francis.
Holy Mother of God and our Mother, to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots in our lives, we pray to you to receive into your hands all those impacted by the Coronavirus.
Through your intercession and your example deliver us from all evil. Untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that free from sin may find God in all things, may have our hearts placed in him, and my serve God always in our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Schedule Changes Due to COVID-19
A message from Fr. John Bauer, Pastor
As a Basilica community, we will plan to share information that may be helpful at this time.
Please note, this list is compiled from several sources; there are many different sources available.
Please verify all services offered.
A listing of community resources available:
Free lunches for students:
Learning websites:
http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
CDC
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/index.html
MN Dept of Education
https://education.mn.gov/MDE/dse/health/covid19/
As a faith community we are currently monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.
We are following all of the recommendations from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and CDC.
The CDC recommends everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses such as Coronavirus, flu, and the common cold.
For those Participating in our Liturgical Celebrations
When you feel ill, or someone in your home is sick, please stay home. Your Sunday obligation does not hold in case of illness. While at home feel free to pray for our community and for all those who are sick.
Holy Water will not be available in the usual places at this time. If you are in need of Holy Water we have a closed Holy Water tank in the sacristy.
We invite you to make use of the hand sanitizing stations that are available throughout The Basilica. We also encourage you to bring your own hand sanitizer so you can use it before receiving Holy Communion or after coughing or sneezing.
Please don’t feel obliged to use physical contact when greeting people upon arrival at church or during the Sign of Peace. A friendly nod with the head or a smile are equally effective in communicating your greeting of peace.
During the Lord’s Prayer, please refrain from holding hands. The fact that we all pray the Lord’s Prayer together is in itself a sign of our deep unity in Christ.
When receiving Holy Communion, we strongly encourage you to receive the Precious Body reverently in the palm of your hand. Reception on the tongue is discouraged as saliva may be a vehicle for the transmission of the virus. While the likelihood of spreading germs or viruses while receiving the cup is very small, we have suspended distribution of the cup at least until Holy Week. If you do not prefer to receive Holy Communion at all you may come forward and receive a blessing. Just present yourself to the Minister of Holy Communion with your hands folded across your chest. We have asked our Ministers of Holy Communion to use hand sanitizer before distributing Holy Communion.
At The Basilica we have also enhanced our regular cleaning practices.
We invite everyone to pray for all those affected by the Coronavirus or any other illness.
"We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern." Pope Francis, 9/16/13
As Catholics, we bring the richness of our faith to the public square. We draw from both faith and reason as we seek to affirm the dignity of the human person and the common good of all. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers us a document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, to guide us as we seek to exercise our rights and duties as citizens.
Everyone is called to participate in public life and contribute to the common good.
Consider participating in two ways:
Minnesota Caucus
Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00 p.m
Precinct caucuses are meetings run by all Minnesota’s political parties. They are the first in a series of meetings where parties may endorse candidates, select delegates, and set goals and values. Find your caucus and learn how to get involved at https://caucusfinder.sos.state.mn.us/
Minnesota Presidential Primary
Tuesday, March 3
In 2016, legislation was passed establishing a presidential nomination primary—the first in Minnesota for decades. Two major parties have submitted candidates for the ballot. A voter’s choice of party ballot will be recorded and is private data. Vote in this important Presidential Primary on Super Tuesday.
For questions and to learn where to vote, go to https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/how-elections-work/presidential-primary/
Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate
A non-partisan call to focus on the dignity of all people, even those with whom we disagree, and to put faith in action.
Pledge to root your political viewpoints in the Gospel and a well formed conscience, which involves prayer, conversation, study and listening. Stand up for your convictions and speak out when you witness language that disparages others' dignity, while also listening and seeking to understand others’ experiences.
We invite you to join Catholics throughout the United States and model love for our neighbors by pledging to Civilize It and committing to civility, clarity, and compassion in 2020.
Step 1:
Let our Basilica community know you are taking the Civilize It pledge.
Step 2:
Take the pledge at: CivilizeIt.org
As a community we will work together to honor human dignity through civil conversation.
Learn more at CivilizeIt.org or contact Janice.