St. Paul archdiocese's interim leader felt called to post

By Marino Eccher
Pioneer Press
July 12, 2015

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28473143/st-paul-archdioceses-interim-leader-felt-called-post

Interim Archbishop Bernard Hebda poses for a selfie with a parshioner Sunday, July 12, 2015, after he led his first Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul.

Interim Archbishop Bernard Hebda smiles after leading Mass at the Cathedral of St. Paul on Sunday morning, July 12, 2015, in St. Paul.

In the gospel reading before Archbishop Bernard Hebda's first homily in the Cathedral of St. Paul, the apostles were sent forth to new places.

They didn't come from New Jersey and they likely packed lighter than he did -- just a single shirt and pair of sandals, according to the reading -- but Hebda hinted their charge was not so different from his own: preach, purify and heal.

The passage "has the consequence," he said, "that all of us become locals."

Hebda, appointed by the Vatican in June to lead the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in the wake of resignations and legal issues, took a major step toward doing so Sunday in his first Mass here.

"What a joy it is for me to celebrate Mass here in this beautiful cathedral for the first time," he told the near-capacity crowd of worshippers.

A 55-year-old Pittsburgh native, Hebda comes to the Twin Cities from the Archdiocese of Newark, N.J., where he is co-adjutor archbishop, the planned successor for when the current archbishop there retires next year.

He was named apostolic administrator for the St. Paul archdiocese -- a caretaker role until Pope Francis names a new archbishop.

There's no timeline for his tenure. Hebda has said he plans to be here for several months.

Former Archbishop John Nienstedt, the top Catholic figure in the Twin Cities since 2007, resigned in June, 10 days after Ramsey County prosecutors filed criminal charges alleging he and other church officials had a hand in protecting a predatory priest.

He has since faced allegations of other misconduct.

Auxiliary Bishop Lee Anthony Piche, another top local official, also stepped down.

The archdiocese is also in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings as it sorts out claims and settlements for victims of clergy sexual abuse.

Hebda alluded to those issues during the Mass. He said the church ultimately would be judged "not on how quickly we resolve court cases," nor on its financial acumen nor the credentials of its leadership, but on how well it embraces and spreads a gospel of love.

That's his duty and the duty of the congregation, he said, "even when we think we might not be up for the job."

He won't be going it alone here: The first person for whom the deacon offered a call-and-response prayer of petition during the Mass was Hebda.

And as the Rev. John Ubel, the cathedral's rector, told the congregation about a post-Mass meet-and-greet, he had one request:

"I'm fearful we did not order enough cake," he said, "so if you could, at least leave one corner piece for Archbishop Hebda."