Minn. Catholics Invited to Weigh in on Qualities of Next Archbishop

By Jennie Lissarrague
KSTP
September 30, 2015

http://kstp.com/article/stories/s3921737.shtml

Minnesota Catholics are invited to weigh in on what qualities they are looking for in the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who has been the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator since the resignation of Archbishop John Nienstedt in June, is asking for input on the strengths and challenges of the archdiocese. A series of listening sessions will take place in October and November.

Hebda says the meetings are an opportunity for the local church to help Pope Francis make the decision about the next archbishop. He also said the listening sessions are a reminder for people to be praying about the process and for the right leader.

It’s not known when Pope Francis will appoint a new archbishop to the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and few people will know about the decision before the Vatican officially announces it.

The sessions will be hosted at various parishes and Catholic institutions around the cities.

Here’s the schedule:

1-3 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Catherine’s University

7-9 p.m. Oct. 5 at St. Stephen in Anoka

7-9 p.m. Oct. 6 at Pax Christi in Eden Prairie

7-9 p.m. Nov. 2 at St. Peter in Forest Lake

7-9 p.m. Nov. 3 at Divine Mercy in Faribault

7-9 p.m. Nov. 4 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul

1-3 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Carondelet Center in St. Paul: This is will be for consecrated men and women.

The past few years have been challenging for the church and local Catholics; the archdiocese has faced various child sexual abuse allegations against members of the clergy, filed for bankruptcy in January, was criminally and civilly charged in June, and saw the resignations of both the archbishop and an auxiliary bishop.