Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

{{short description|Archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, United States}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}

{{Infobox diocese

| jurisdiction = Archdiocese

| name = Saint Paul and Minneapolis

| latin = Archidiœcesis Paulopolitana et Minneapolitana

| local =

| image = {{multiple image

| total_width = 300

| border = infobox

| caption_align = center

| image1 = St Paul Cathedral 2012.jpg

| alt1 = The Cathedral of Saint Paul

| caption1 = The Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul

| image2 = 2008-0705-BasilicaStMary.jpg

| alt2 =

| caption2 = The Co-Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis

}}

| image_size = 250px

| coat =

| coat_size =

| coat_alt =

| country = {{flag|United States}}

| territory =

| province = Saint Paul and Minneapolis

| deaneries =

| headquarters =

| coordinates =

| area_sqmi = 6,187

| area_footnotes =

| population = 3,337,219

| population_as_of = 2017

| catholics = 870,490

| catholics_percent = 26.1

| parishes = 186

| churches =

| congregations =

| schools =

| members =

| denomination = Catholic

| sui_iuris_church = Latin Church

| rite = Roman Rite

| established = July 19, 1850 ({{age|1850|7|19}} years ago)

| cathedral = Cathedral of Saint Paul (Saint Paul)

| cocathedral = Basilica of Saint Mary (Minneapolis)

| patron = Saint Paul (Primary)
Saint John Vianney (Secondary){{cite web|url=https://www.archspm.org/our-history/ |title=Our History - Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |publisher=Archspm.org |date= February 11, 2019|accessdate=February 24, 2022}}

| priests = 340 diocesan (208 active, non-retired)
78 religious

| pope = {{Incumbent pope}}

| bishop = Bernard Hebda

| bishop_title = Archbishop

| coadjutor =

| auxiliary_bishops = Michael Izen
Kevin Kenney

| apostolic_admin =

| vicar_general = Michael Tix, Charles Lachowitzer

| episcopal_vicar =

| judicial_vicar = Michael C. Johnson

| emeritus_bishops = John Clayton Nienstedt
Lee A. Piché

| map = Map of the Catholic archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis.svg

| map_size =

| map_alt =

| map_caption =

| website = {{Official website|http://www.archspm.org/|archspm.org}}

| footnotes =

}}

{{Infobox emblem

|name = Coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

|image = Coat of arms of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.svg

|image_width =

|caption = Barry-wavy of eight azure and argent, a sword in pale, point down, the grasp and guard shaped as a cross-patonce, between two crosses-patonce in fess gules.{{cite magazine |author= |title=Recent Episcopal Coats of Arms|magazine=The Ecclesiastical Review: A Monthly Publication for Clergy|volume=LXIII|year=1920|pages=40–41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6UgInB5MUGMC|access-date=June 26, 2024}}

The arms of the diocese features a field of waves representing Minnesota (from the Dakota mní sóta, "clear blue water"). The sword is a traditional symbol of Saint Paul the Apostle. Combined with the sword, the two crosses honor the Trinity. More recently, the double crosses have been taken to represent the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.{{cite news |title=Archbishop Hebda's Coat of Arms |url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/welcomearchbishop/archbishop-hebdas-coat-arms/ |access-date=June 27, 2024 |work=The Catholic Spirit |date=May 13, 2016}}

}}

The Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis ({{langx|la|Archidiœcesis Paulopolitana et Minneapolitana}}) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by an archbishop who administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. The archbishop has both a cathedral and co-cathedral: the mother church – the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, and the co-cathedral, the Basilica of Saint Mary{{cite web|url=https://www.mary.org/|title=The Basilica of Saint Mary|website=www.mary.org}} in Minneapolis.

The archdiocese has 188 parish churches in twelve counties of Minnesota. It counts in its membership an approximate total of 750,000 people. It has two seminaries, the Saint Paul Seminary and Saint John Vianney College Seminary. Its official newspaper is The Catholic Spirit.

History

= Pre-diocesan =

The first Catholic presence in present-day Minnesota was recorded in 1680. Louis Hennepin, a Belgian Franciscan Recollect and explorer, found a waterfall on the upper Mississippi River. Hennepin named the waterfall the Chutes de Saint-Antoine or St. Anthony Falls after his patron saint, Anthony of Padua. The French formally claimed the territory in 1689.

In 1727, René Boucher de La Perrière and Michel Guignas built Fort Beauharnois on the shore of Lake Pepin. They established St. Michael the Archangel, the first Catholic chapel in Minnesota. The French abandoned the fort and the chapel in the 1750s during the French and Indian War.{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Minnesota |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10326c.htm |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=www.newadvent.org}} After the war ended, the Spanish took over the French territories in the Great Plains and Old Northwest, including Minnesota. Some French-speaking colonists from Switzerland moved from their original settlements near Fort Garry in Manitoba to a location close to Saint Anthony Falls. The settlement became known as Saint Pierre.

After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803, the United States gained control of vast areas in the continent, including present day Minnesota. Pope Leo XII in 1826 erected the Diocese of Saint Louis, giving it jurisdiction over Minnesota and other parts of the region.{{Cite web |title=Saint Louis (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dstlo.html |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}} In 1837, the Vatican erected the Diocese of Dubuque, with jurisdiction over the new Wisconsin Territory, which included Minnesota.

Bishop Mathias Loras of Dubuque in 1839 visited Fort Snelling and Saint Pierre. In 1840, Loras sent Lucien Galtier to Minnesota as a missionary. Galtier learned that a group of Catholic from the Red River Colony had settled on the east bank of the Mississippi River. He decided that it was a good location for a church as it was near a steamboat landing. Two French settlers offered a location for a church, and other settlers provided materials and labor to build a log chapel. Galtier wrote, "I had previously to this time fixed my residence at Saint Peter's and as the name of Paul is generally connected with that of Peter... I called it Saint Paul."{{cite book | last=Risjord | first=Norman K. | title=A Popular History of Minnesota | publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press | location=Saint Paul, MN | year=2005 | isbn=0-87351-532-3 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/popularhistoryof0000risj/page/57 57–58] | url=https://archive.org/details/popularhistoryof0000risj/page/57 }} With the gradual increase of population about the chapel, the community developed into a village known as Saint Paul's Landing.

= Diocese of Saint Paul (1850–1888) =

== Joseph Crétin ==

File:Avoca historical marker.JPG

Pope Pius IX on July 19, 1850, erected the Diocese of Saint Paul in Minnesota, taking its territory from the Diocese of Dubuque. The new diocese covered all of the new Minnesota Territory, which included Minnesota and the future states of North Dakota and South Dakota.{{Cite web |title=Dubuque (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/ddubu.html |access-date=June 28, 2023 |website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org}} The pope named Monsignor Joseph Crétin of St. Louis as the first bishop of Saint Paul in Minnesota. The log chapel built by Lucien Galtier became the first cathedral.{{rp|43,44}}

In addition to the French Canadians large contingents of Irish and German Catholics arrived, who located in St. Paul, and in places along the Mississippi, St. Croix, and Minnesota Rivers.{{Cite web |title=CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Saint Paul |url=https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13366b.htm |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=www.newadvent.org}} In 1851, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet came to St. Paul, and soon opened schools at St. Paul and St. Anthony Falls.

== Thomas Grace ==

In 1859, Reverend Thomas Grace was named Bishop of St. Paul. The number of Catholics in the diocese continued to grow, with many coming from Bohemia and Poland. The number of priests grew with the increase of the people, and they were so chosen as to correspond to the needs of the parishes. Hospitals were opened at Minneapolis and New Ulm, orphan asylums were erected at St. Paul and Minneapolis, and homes were established for the aged poor. In 1875, the Diocese of Saint Paul was transferred from the ecclesiastical province of St. Louis to that of Milwaukee. John Ireland was appointed coadjutor to Bishop Grace, whom he succeeded in 1884.

= Archdiocese of Saint Paul (1888–1966) =

== John Ireland ==

{{Main|John Ireland (bishop)}}

File:John_Ireland_(archbishop_of_Saint_Paul).jpg

John Ireland was known as a strong-willed figure, and was called the "consecrated blizzard of the Northwest".{{cite web |last1=Osterman '11 |first1=Jordan |title=Founding Father: St. Thomas Celebrates Archbishop John Ireland 100 Years After His Death |url=https://news.stthomas.edu/founding-father-st-thomas-celebrates-archbishop-john-ireland/ |website=Newsroom {{!}} University of St. Thomas |date=September 25, 2018}} During his time as bishop, he established the College of Saint Thomas, Saint Paul Seminary, and Saint Thomas Academy. He constructed the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary. Pope Leo XIII elevated the see to the rank of archdiocese on May 4, 1888, and its name was changed to reflect this.[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10319a.htm Rainer, Joseph. "Milwaukee." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. March 13, 2020{{PD-notice}} Pope Leo XIII erected the Diocese of Winona in 1889, taking southern Minnesota from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul.[http://www.dow.org/history.html Diocese of Winona History]

While he was an empire builder, Ireland was not without controversy; the author of The Church and Modern Society (1897), Ireland opposed the use of foreign languages in American Catholic churches and parochial schools. National (ethnic) parishes were common at the time because of the large influx of immigrants to the U.S. from European countries. In this, he differed from Michael Corrigan, Archbishop of New York, who believed that the more quickly Catholics gave up their native languages, customs, and traditions in order to assimilate into a Protestant culture, the sooner they would forsake their religion as well. Different views on the so-called "Americanization" of the Catholic Church in the United States split the hierarchy in the 1890s. Ireland's insistence on Americanization led to the unfortunate circumstance of Ruthenian Catholic priest Alexis Toth and his congregation becoming Russian Orthodox. Ireland died on September 25, 1918.

== Austin Dowling ==

{{Main|Austin Dowling}}

On January 31, 1919, Pope Benedict XV appointed Austin Dowling to succeed Ireland. In his address at his installation on March 25, 1919, Dowling described himself as "the unknown, the unexpected, [and] the undistinguished successor of the great Archbishop Ireland."{{Cite book |last=Reardon |first=James Michael |url=https://archive.org/details/catholicchurchin0000rear |title=The Catholic Church in the Diocese of St. Paul : from earliest origin to centennial achievement : a factual narrative |publisher=North Central Publishing Company |location=Saint Paul, Minnesota |year=1952 |pages=435–505}} Downling's legacy included establishing Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary and the Archbishop Ireland's Education Fund. He improved Saint Paul Seminary and was on the board of Education of the National Catholic Welfare Council (or "NCWC," now known as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops or USCCB). Specifically, author Marvin O'Connell credited Dowling as "one of the leading lights" from the NCWC's inception, who headed NCWC's education department, which put him in direct contact with the Catholic Education Association.{{cite book| author = Marvin R. O'Connell| author-link = | title = Pilgrims of the Northland: The Archdiocese of St. Paul, 1840-1962| publisher = University of Notre Dame Press| url = https://undpress.nd.edu/9780268037291/pilgrims-to-the-northland/| page = 424| date = 2009| access-date = February 27, 2023}} He died on November 29, 1930.

== John Gregory Murray ==

{{Main|John Gregory Murray}}

Murray was appointed by Pius XI as the third archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul on October 29, 1931.

In 1941, the archdiocese hosted the Ninth National Eucharistic Congress, which attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees and culminated in a Eucharistic procession that involved 80,000 people. Events for the congress were held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Saint Paul Union Depot, the Minneapolis Auditorium, the St. Paul Auditorium, the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Basilica of St. Mary elsewhere in Minnesota.{{cite web |last1=Steffel |first1=Nick |title=The Ninth National Eucharistic Congress In late... |url=https://hclib.tumblr.com/post/122526002296/the-ninth-national-eucharistic-congress-in-late |publisher=Hennepin County Library Special Collections |access-date=May 9, 2024}}

On June 16, 1956, Pope Pius XII appointed Bishop Brady Coadjutor Archbishop of St. Paul, Minnesota due to Murray's failing health. Murray died of cancer in St. Paul on October 11, 1956, at age 79. He is interred at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights, Minnesota.

== William O. Brady ==

{{Main|William O. Brady}}

Brady succeeded John Gregory Murray as archbishop of St. Paul upon Murray's death on October 11, 1956.

On November 18, 1957, Pope Pius XII founded the Diocese of New Ulm, taking its territory from the Archdiocese of Saint Paul.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dnewu.html|title=Diocese of New Ulm|publisher=Catholic-Hierarchy|accessdate=June 4, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/newu0.htm|title=Diocese of New Ulm|publisher=Giga Catholic|accessdate=June 4, 2013}} The pope named Monsignor Alphonse Schladweiler of Saint Paul as the first bishop of New Ulm.

Brady died on October 1, 1961.

== Leo Binz ==

{{Main|Leo Binz}}

On December 16, 1961 Pope John XXIII named Binz the seventh bishop and fifth archbishop of Saint Paul. He was installed on April 28, 1962.

= Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (1966-present) =

On July 11, 1966, the Holy See altered the name of the archdiocese to reflect the equal stature of the Twin Cities by naming the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis as co-cathedral of the archdiocese and adding Minneapolis to the title of the archdiocese. Subsequently, Leo Binz was the first archbishop to hold the title of Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

As seminary enrollment declined, Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary was closed down in 1971, with Saint John Vianney College Seminary established in 1968 as a replacement for the old high school system.

As Binz's health began to decline, he requested and received a coadjutor. Pope Paul VI named the Coadjutor Bishop of Wichita Leo Christopher Byrne coadjutor archbishop on July 31, 1967. Binz allowed Archbishop Byrne to take greater control of the administration of the archdiocese. Byrne, however, died on October 21, 1974.{{Catholic-hierarchy|bishop|bbyrnel|Archbishop Leo Christopher Byrne|January 21, 2015}}{{Self-published source|date=June 2015}}

Pope Paul VI accepted Archbishop Binz's resignation on May 21, 1975.

== John Roach ==

{{Main|John Roach (bishop)}}

John Roach, originally a priest of the Archdiocese and at the time of Binz's resignation an auxuliary bishop, was appointed archsbihop to succeed Binz. On February 22, 1994, Harry Flynn was appointed by John Paul II as the coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.{{cite web|first=Flynn|last=Harry J.|title=In God's Image|date=September 12, 2003|url=http://www.archspm.org/racism/Racism%20Eng.pdf|access-date=March 6, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120353/http://www.archspm.org/racism/Racism%20Eng.pdf|archive-date=September 28, 2007}} Roach retired on September 8, 1995.

== Harry Flynn ==

With Roach's retirement, Coadjutor Archbishop Harry Flynn assumed the full archbishopric. Under Flynn, the Saint Paul Seminary and Saint John Vianney College Seminary received major reforms, and the Cathedral of Saint Paul had its roof completely replaced.

After serving as archbishop for 12 years, Flynn requested that the pope assign him a coadjutor archbishop. On April 24, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop John Nienstedt as Flynn's coadjutor.{{cite news | access-date = August 9, 2018 |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/9189/bishop-nienstedt-in-line-to-take-saint-paul-minneapolis-post |agency=Catholic News Agency |date=April 24, 2007 |title=Bishop Nienstedt in line to take Saint Paul-Minneapolis post}}

== John Nienstedt ==

When the pope accepted Flynn's retirement on May 2, 2008, Nienstedt automatically succeeded him as the eighth archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis.{{cite news |url=https://www.ncronline.org/news/directive-archbishop-flynn-ends-lay-preaching-mass | access-date = August 9, 2018 |title=Directive from Archbishop Flynn ends lay preaching at Mass |date=May 13, 2008 |work=National Catholic Reporter |agency=Catholic News Service |first=Maria |last=Wiering}}

Nienstedt's tenure as archbishop was tumultuous. In October 2010, Nienstedt announced a strategic plan that called for 21 parishes to be merged into 14 neighboring parishes. These and two later mergers reduced the number of parishes in the archdiocese from 213 in October 2010 to 188 in July 2013.{{cite web |url=http://planning.archspm.org/ |title=Strategic planning in Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis 2009–2010 | access-date = September 29, 2016}}

In November 2012, priest Curtis Wehmeyer pleaded guilty to 20 sex abuse and child pornography charges.{{cite web |title=Former St. Paul pastor admits to child sex abuse, possessing child porn |url=https://www.startribune.com/former-st-paul-pastor-admits-to-child-sex-abuse-possessing-child-porn/177967721/ |website=Star Tribune|date=November 9, 2012 }} In 2013, MPR News obtained a letter revealing that an archdiocesan officials, including Archbishop Nienstedt and vicar general Reverend Kevin McDonough - brother of Obama White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough - had known of the archdiocesan decision in 2011 to cover up an allegation suggesting that Wehmeyer had sexually abused two brothers in his camper.{{cite web |last=Baran |first=Madeleine |title=Archdiocese knew of priest's sexual misbehavior yet kept him in ministry |url=http://minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2013/09/clergy-abuse/ |website=Minnesota Public Radio News}} When the reported abuse took place, the camper was parked outside Blessed Sacrament Church in St. Paul, where Wehmeyer served for six years and where the mother of the boys was employed. In 2015, Wehmeyer was laicized by the Vatican while serving a five-year prison sentence.{{cite web |last=Cox |first=Peter |date=March 11, 2015 |title=Pope removes convicted abuser from priesthood |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/11/wehmeyer-laicized |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=MPR News}}

In January 2015, the Archdiocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{cite news |last1=Wiering |first1=Maria |title=Timeline of archdiocese's bankruptcy proceedings |url=https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/timeline-of-archdioceses-bankruptcy-proceedings/ |work=TheCatholicSpirit.com |date=May 31, 2018}}

On June 15, 2015, Pope Francis accepted the resignations of Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee A. Piché to help clear the air in the Archdiocese surrounding the abuse cases and bankruptcy. The same day, Francis appointed Bernard Hebda as its apostolic administrator to serve until a new archbishop would be installed, although Hebda remained as the Coadjutor Archbishop of Newark.{{cite press release|url=http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2015/06/15/0469/01027.html |access-date=March 25, 2016|date=June 15, 2016 |title=Rinunce e nomine, 15.06.2015 | language=it|publisher=Holy See Press Office}}{{cite news|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/us/archbishop-nienstedt-and-aide-resign-in-minnesota-over-sex-abuse-scandal.html |title= Catholic Archbishop and Aide Resign in Minnesota Over Sexual Abuse Scandal |access-date=March 25, 2016|date=June 15, 2015 |first1=Mitch|last1=Smith|first2=Laurie|last2=Goodstein}}

== Bernard Hebda ==

During Hebda's term as administrator, the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis reached agreement on a civil settlement with officials of Ramsey County on procedures to prevent child sexual abuse.

On March 24, 2016, Hebda was named archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, at which point his appointment as coadjutor archbishop of Newark ended. He was installed in the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota, on May 13, 2016.{{cite news| work=Minneapolis Star-Tribune| access-date=May 13, 2016| date= May 13, 2016| title=Thousands turn out to welcome Archbishop Hebda| first= Jean |last=Hopfensperger|url= http://www.startribune.com/hebda-to-be-installed-as-twin-cities-archbishop/379379551/}}

In May 2018, the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis agreed to pay victims of clergy sexual abuse a total of $210 million in settlement, which awaited court approval.{{cite web |last1=Hopfensperger |first1=Jean |last2=Olson |first2=Rochelle |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Clergy abuse victims settle with Twin Cities archdiocese for $210M |url=https://www.startribune.com/clergy-abuse-lawyer-will-announce-massive-settlement-in-bankruptcy-case/484187041/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=Star Tribune}} By the time the settlement was issued, 91 priests who served in the archdiocese were accused of sexually abusing 450 victims.{{cite web |last=Madhani |first=Aamer |date=May 31, 2018 |title=Archdiocese paying $210 million to 450 priest sex abuse victims: Catholic 'church let you down' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/05/31/st-paul-minneapolis-archdiocese-priest-sex-abuse-settlement/661530002/ |website=USA TODAY}} In June 2018, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy reorganization in order to find enough money to pay for the settlement.{{cite web |date=June 29, 2018 |title=Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis files reorganization plan with U.S. Bankruptcy Court |url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/06/28/archdiocese-of-st-paul-and-minneapolis-files-reorganization-plan-with-u-s-bankruptcy-court/ |website=Twin Cities Pioneer Press}}{{cite web |last=Moylan |first=Martin |date=June 21, 2018 |title=Archdiocese files reorganization plan |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/06/28/archdiocese-files-reorganization-plan-in-bankruptcy-court |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=MPR News}}{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/archdiocese-files-plan-for-repaying-sex-abuse-survivors/486884111/|title=Archdiocese files plan for repaying sex abuse survivors|website=Star Tribune|date=June 29, 2018 }} Once approved, the settlement became the second largest in any Catholic bankruptcy case in United States history and largest overall for any archdiocese which was forced into bankruptcy.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/31/us/catholic-abuse-settlement-minnesota.html|title=Archdiocese in Minnesota Plans to Settle With Abuse Victims for $210 Million|first=Jacey|last=Fortin|work=The New York Times |date=May 31, 2018|via=NYTimes.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/06/01/616187545/minnesota-archdiocese-reaches-210-million-settlement-with-450-clergy-abuse-victi|title=Minnesota Archdiocese Reaches $210 Million Settlement With 450 Clergy Abuse Victims|website=NPR.org|date=June 2018|last1=Romo|first1=Vanessa}} In September 2018, survivors of clergy abuse officially concluded a month-long vote which resulted in the approval the settlement;{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/twin-cities-clergy-abuse-survivors-ok-210-million-settlement/494005191/|title=Twin Cities clergy abuse survivors OK $210 million settlement|website=Star Tribune|date=September 22, 2018 }} the vote had started on August 21.{{cite web|url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/08/09/archdiocese-bankruptcy-plan-headed-to-vote-of-abuse-victims|title=Archdiocese bankruptcy plan headed to vote|website=MPR News|date=August 9, 2018 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.twincities.com/2018/08/10/twin-cities-archdiocese-abuse-victims-to-vote-soon-on-reorganization-plan/|title=Twin Cities archdiocese abuse victims to vote soon on reorganization plan|date=August 10, 2018}} The settlement was then approved by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge.{{cite web|url=https://www.startribune.com/210-million-st-paul-archdiocese-bankruptcy-settlement-approved/494266341/|title=$210 million St. Paul Archdiocese bankruptcy settlement approved|website=Star Tribune|date=September 26, 2018 }}

In the summer of 2019, Hebda announced that he would be calling an archdiocesan synod. This would be the first synod held in the archdiocese in eight decades; in his initial announcement on June 7, Hebda said that, "In the time that [he has] served in this archdiocese, [he has] come to believe that [the] local Church is particularly ripe for a synod".{{Cite web|last=CNA|title=Archdiocese of Saint Paul-Minneapolis announces synod |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/41493/archdiocese-of-saint-paul-minneapolis-announces-synod|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Catholic News Agency|language=en}} In a Mass the following Saturday evening for the Solemn Vigil of Pentecost, Hebda formally announced that a synod would take place; two years later, at a Mass commemorating the same holy day, the synod was officially convoked. It culminated in June 2022 with an archdiocesan synodal assembly.{{Cite web|date=May 22, 2021|title=Decree to Convoke the Second Synod of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis|url=https://archspmmainsite.s3.amazonaws.com/Synod/Convocation+Decree+May+22+2021.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630230720/https://archspmmainsite.s3.amazonaws.com/Synod/Convocation+Decree+May+22+2021.pdf|archive-date=June 30, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|website=Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis}} Hebda released a pastoral letter, "You Shall Be My Witnesses", on the feast of Christ the King in 2022.

Seminaries

The Archdiocese has two seminaries,

Both seminaries are located on the campus of the University of St. Thomas. From 1923 to 1971, the archdiocese operated a high school seminary, Nazareth Hall Preparatory Seminary.

While the majority of archdiocesan seminarians receive their formation at Saint Paul or Saint John Vianney, some go to Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota or the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Bishops

{{unreferenced section|date=March 2020}}

This is a list of the bishops who have served the archdiocese.

Forty-two priests of the diocese have become bishops.

=Bishops of Saint Paul=

  1. Joseph Crétin (1850–1857)
  2. Thomas Langdon Grace, O.P. (1859–1884)
  3. John Ireland (1884–1888; coadjutor bishop 1875–1884), elevated to archbishop with elevation of diocese

=Archbishops of Saint Paul=

  1. John Ireland (1888–1918)
  2. Austin Dowling (1919–1930)
  3. John Gregory Murray (1931–1956)
  4. William O. Brady (1956–1961); Coadjutor Archbishop (1956)
  5. Leo Binz (1961–1966); title changed with title of see

=Archbishops of Saint Paul and Minneapolis=

  1. Leo Binz (see above 1966–1975)
    - Leo Christopher Byrne, Coadjutor Archbishop (1967–1974); died without succeeding to see
  2. John Robert Roach (1975–1995)
  3. Harry Joseph Flynn (1995–2008); Coadjutor Archbishop (1994–1995)
  4. John Clayton Nienstedt (2008–2015); Coadjutor Archbishop (2007–2008)
  5. Bernard Hebda (2016–present)

=Current auxiliary bishops=

=Former auxiliary bishops=

=Other priests of the diocese who became bishops=

{{unreferenced section|datte=March 2020|date=March 2020}}

Education

The Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Saint and Minneapolis, as of 2023, had 79 elementary schools and 16 high schools, with a total student enrollment of approximately 31,000.{{Cite web |title=About Us - Catholic Schools |url=https://spmcatholicschools.org/about-us/ |access-date=October 6, 2023 |website=Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis |language=en-US}}

= Archdiocesan high schools =

Ecclesiastical Province of St. Paul and Minneapolis

[[File:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Provinces of St. Paul and Minneapolis.svg|thumb|right|300px|Diocesan map of the province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

{{legend|#00A2E8|Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis}}

{{legend|#A349A4|Diocese of Saint Cloud}}

{{legend|#ED1C24|Diocese of Winona–Rochester}}

{{legend|#B5E61D|Diocese of New Ulm}}

{{legend|#9E9E9E|Diocese of Duluth}}

{{legend|#FFC90E|Diocese of Crookston}}

{{legend|#EADEAD|Diocese of Fargo}}

{{legend|#C8BFE7|Diocese of Bismarck}}

{{legend|#22B14C|Diocese of Rapid City}}

{{legend|#3F48CC|Diocese of Sioux Falls}}]]

=Minnesota=

=North Dakota=

=South Dakota=

Notable parishes

See also

References

{{reflist|2}}