Josh Mcgovern

A shooting during an all-school Mass that took the lives of two students and wounded others sent the Annunciation community reeling Aug. 27, 2025. These four led the community in the aftermath.

The Church has long offered Masses that recognize special occasions and special needs. Among such Masses are those for professional groups, traditionally popularized by names of a color: Red Mass (lawyers and politicians), Blue Mass (first responders), White Mass (healthcare community) and Gold Mass (scientists).

Father Joseph Bambenek, associate director of the archdiocese's Office of Renewal of Structures, and Kim Williams, operations manager for the Center for Mission within the archdiocese, both have seen the importance of compassionate end-of-life care.

A long street near the University of Minnesota campus was alive with people the evening of Sept. 3 for the Gopher's first football game of the season. The sidewalks brimmed with fallen leaves and students wearing similar reds and yellows — overalls, jerseys and shirts showing school spirit.

Bishop Kevin Kenney recalled being on an episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show a few months ago. At the time, he had the hiccups and wondered where that came from. Since then, he has shared the difficult but unrelated news that he has lung cancer.

Meg Forgette, the associate director of educational quality and excellence with the Office for the Mission of Catholic Education (OMCE), said she is always grateful to be able to support families with special needs.

Beginning the Minnesota Catholic Conference (MCC) fall study day Sept. 1, Jason Adkins, MCC’s executive director, said a proper response to pain and suffering — rooted in the dignity of the human person — is especially urgent today.

On Sept. 3, a section of railing at TCO Stadium in Eagan collapsed after a football game between Cretin-Derham Hall (CDH) in St. Paul and St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, as reported by the Pioneer Press.

Bishop Michael Izen spent a month in Peru this summer for Spanish immersion. He considered opportunities in Mexico and Guatemala but decided on Peru because of a growing presence of Pro Ecclesia Sancta (PES) priests in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

“Sacrosanctum Concilium” — Latin for “Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy” — was the first document approved by the bishops at the Second Vatican Council, “Practicing Catholic” radio co-host Father Tom Margevicius said in an interview. The document details the sacred liturgy of the Catholic Mass.