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For many years now at the conclusion of Lent on Good Friday, we have held a Tenebrae Service. We have also invited one of the Rabbis from Temple Israel to join us for this service. The reason for this is that in the history of our Church, Christians have been especially cruel to Jews, often blaming them for the death of Jesus. If not actively encouraging this erroneous belief, the Catholic Church often kept silent in the face of it. This attitude continued until the church Fathers of the Second Vatican Council produced a document called Nostra Aetate (in our age), which dealt with the relationship between Catholics and other religions. One of the most important statements in the document is the declaration that “the Jews” are not to be blamed for the death of Jesus. On the contrary, Christians are to respect Jews as their elders in the faith. They are one ones with whom God entered into the Abrahamic Covenant in which we share.
Given the above, we invite a rabbi from Temple Israel to speak to us on this most sacred day in our Christian liturgical calendar so that we might emphasize that Jews and Christians both claim Abraham as our father in the faith and both of us enjoy a covenant with God. We differ greatly in our faith, but we are profoundly united in that we all worship the Creator of the Universe.
At the Tenebrae service each year we also take up a collection. The proceeds from this collection help fund the interfaith efforts and activities of the Downtown Clergy and Congregations.
If you've never attended a service at The Basilica between Palm Sunday and Easter, we encourage you to get to know each service and why you'll want to attend each one.
Planning your arrival
Throughout Holy Week, traffic on 17th Street will flow North only to ease congestion and provide more space for those parking on the street. Please watch for pedestrians crossing and use slower speeds on this road.
Parking
There are plenty of places to park but we encourage you to plan for extra time to find parking.
Holy Thursday - Good Friday
Free parking
Free parking is available on 17th Street on both sides of this one-way street. Parking may also be available in the lots to the west and north of The Basilica school and on the north side of Laurel Ave.
Free parking is also available for all evening services during Holy Week in the parking lot under the freeway. Please note: all spots marked "24 Hour Reserved" or "Reserved" are reserved for nearby businesses and residents, not guests to The Basilica.
Handicapped Parking
Available in the Cowley lot off 16th Street and throughout The Basilica campus, as marked. Please display your permit.
Pay-to-Park
o Minneapolis Community & Technical College Ramp (east side of church, entrance located off Laurel Ave)
o $5.00 for all-day parking; accepts credit cards
Holy Saturday - Easter Sunday
Free parking
o Free parking is available on 17th Street. This street will be available for one-way, northbound traffic only beginning on Good Friday, March 25 through Easter Sunday, March 27.
o Parking may also be available in the lots to the west and north of The Basilica school.
o Parking lot under the freeway (west side of church, entrance located off 17th Street)
o Minneapolis Community & Technical College Ramp (east side of church, entrance located off Laurel Ave)
Handicapped Parking
Available in the Cowley lot off 16th Street and throughout The Basilica campus, as marked. Please display your permit.
Click on the icons on this interactive map to see exact details on parking locations and costs.
Did you remember to pick up and fill a coin bank to support our St. Vincent de Paul Outreach ministry during this Lenten season? If so, don't forget to return them to The Basilica on Holy Thursday. If you forget, simply drop off your bank to any usher who will place it into the collection.
If you were unable to get a bank but would still like a chance to donate, you can make a pledge to help those most in need in our city.
Five days a week at The Basilica, more than 70 St. Vincent de Paul Outreach volunteers welcome people from our neighborhood. They carry out this ministry by visiting with people and listening to their concerns and needs. We offer help in many ways, and when we can’t assist financially, these volunteers offer a listening ear, a warm welcome, and help connecting people to community resources.
If you'd like to get involved, visit our volunteer section to learn more about how you can help us seek the well-being of this city to which we have been called to serve.
Rehearsals for The Basilica Children's Choir and Cherubs Choir are cancelled for tonight, March 9. For more information, please contact your individual choir director.
Not singing in one of our choirs but would like to join? Click here to learn more!
Our ministry to parents of young children is now just over a year old and we are grateful for what we have learned about helping and improving this ministry. One of our newest initiatives is Mass bags with activities for children ages 1-4. After getting many suggestions from parents and other sources, we are excited that these Mass activity bags are now available in the back of The Basilica (signs will be posted so you know where to get them).
You will find books, photos, activity sheets, and more to help our youngest disciples learn a little about their faith as they come week by week. You will be able to take a bag with you as you enter the church, and return it when Mass is over. We are grateful to our parents who brought the suggestion to us, and our hope is that we will be able to have seasonal supplements and activities to help keep the bags fresh over time. This outreach to families is a nice compliment to our recent beginning of our Children’s Liturgy of the Word during the 11:30am Mass, also brought to us by some of our active parents. Any suggestions on how to improve the bags and/or information about our ministry to parents of young children can go to bcaduff@mary.org.
In this Year of Mercy, The Basilica has continued to work on its initiative to sponsor a Refugee Family. For more information, and details about our partnership with Lutheran Social Services, visit us here.
Ash Wednesday services will be held at The Basilica on Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00am, Noon, 5:30pm, and 7:30pm. A soup supper will be available at 6:30pm on the lower level.
There are plenty of places to park but please allow yourself extra time to find parking.
Free parking
Free parking is available on 17th Street. This street will be available for one-way, northbound traffic only. Parking may also be available in the lots to the west and north of The Basilica school.
Handicapped Parking
Available in the Cowley lot off 16th Street and throughout The Basilica campus, as marked. Please display your permit.
Pay-to-Park
o Parking lot under the freeway (west side of church, entrance located off 17th Street)
o $4.25 charge on weekdays before 5:00pm and $2.00 after 5:00pm; cash only
o Do not park in the "reserved" spots closest to Hennepin Ave.
o Parking is also free during funerals, with the exception of the "reserved" spots closest to Hennepin Ave.
o "Reserved parking" spots in this lot are marked as "reserved" and are paid spots for nearby businesses only.
o Minneapolis Community & Technical College Ramp (east side of church, entrance located off Laurel Ave)
o $5.00 for all-day parking; accepts credit cards
Click on the icons on this interactive map to see exact details on parking locations and costs.
Mass will be celebrated at 7:00am in the Saint Joseph Chapel on Monday, January 18. There will be no Noon Mass. The Basilica campus and offices are closed in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
The Basilica of Saint Mary is proud to welcome the Rev. Dr. John MacDougall, spiritual care coordinator at The Retreat in Wayzata, Minn. MacDougall is one of the most respected voices in the field of addiction and recovery. A series of nine lectures, beginning on January 12, makes the wisdom of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous accessible to all people. No addictive behaviors required to attend!
Lecture Dates:
January 12
Staying Sober
January 14
Spirituality and Recovery
February 9
Surrender and Trust
February 11
Practice What Principles?
March 8
Spiritual Recovery from Trauma and Abuse
March 10
Love and Romance
April 12
Hope
April 14
Finding Joy in Life
May 10
Becoming Happy
All sessions are located at The Basilica School. Program is a part of The Basilica's Mental Health Ministry. For information, contact Janet.
If you've been to The Basilica at Christmas, you know it is a celebration you will remember forever. But we'd like to make this visit as easy as possible for you. Below are answers to a few frequently asked questions.
Q: Where can I park?
A: While there are a variety of places to park, we do recommend you plan ahead.
- Handicapped Parking
- Handicapped Parking is available in the Basilica surface lot off 16th Street. There is also handicapped parking along 17th Street and in the parking lot under the freeway on the west side of the Basilica.
- West side of The Basilica, parking lot under the freeway
- Parking is free beginning at 2:00pm on December 24, Christmas Eve through Sunday, December 27.
- Minneapolis Community and Technical College
- Parking is free beginning at 2:00pm on December 24, Christmas Eve through Sunday, December 27.
- This ramp is located at 1420 Hennepin Ave. S. The entrance to the ramp is off Laurel Avenue.
- Streets and Surface Lots
- Parking is free on 17th Street in designated "Basilica Parking Only" areas. All Basilica parking lots are also available for parking.
Q: Is there a Handicapped Accessible Entrance?
A: Yes. The best accessible entrance is located on the ground level of the church on the west side (click here for a picture). There is also a step free entrance on the east side of the church, however, the door is a manuel door.
Q: Do you have wheelchairs available for use?
A: Yes. Wheelchairs are available in the rear of the church at the main entrance off Hennepin Avenue.
Q: Does Midnight Mass really start at midnight?
A: Yes. Music for the midnight Mass begins at 10:30pm. Many guests and visitors come to The Basilica early to enjoy the beautiful music and decorations prior to the service.
Q: Can I hold a seat for a friend or family member?
A: We work hard to seat all our guests inside The Basilica at Christmas. If there is additional space available for incoming guests, our ushers will seat guests on a first come, first served basis. When inside The Basilica reaches capacity, please know that we provide the hospitality of overflow seating on the lower level of The Basilica by closed circuit television.
Q: Are pictures allowed during the service?
A: We ask that you please be respectful of those around you during the Mass. Basilica staff will be documenting the service and providing images on our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts. If you'd like to relive your experience after the Mass, we invite you to visit us online. If, however, you do take a stunning picture before the Mass begins, please share with us online!
Q: What type of music will be offered at each Mass?
A: Please see the information below about all our services.
Thursday, December 24, The Basilica
4:00pm Vigil Eucharist organ, cantor, children’s choirs
6:30pm Vigil Eucharist Mundus & Juventus
8:30pm Vigil Eucharist organ, cantor, oboe
10:30pm Prelude Music for Christmas organ, harp, flute, oboe
11:00pm Choral Music for Christmas choir, organ, harp
11:30pm Vigil of Lights organ, cathedral choir
*Midnight Solemn Eucharist organ, choir, brass, harp
The Birth of the Lord
Friday, December 25, The Basilica
7:30am Eucharist at dawn organ, cantor, violin, soprano soloist
*9:30am Solemn Eucharist organ, choir, brass, strings
Noon Solemn Eucharist organ, choir, brass, strings
4:30pm Eucharist music from around the world
*ASL Interpreted Services