The Church in Minnesota

Scott Blackwood, the new head of school at Way of the Shepherd, shared his conversion to the Catholic faith during an episode of the program Practicing Catholic on Relevant Radio 1330 AM.

Blackwood, who grew up in southern California without a religious upbringing, said his interest in the Church began during college. He noted a fundamental difference in the lives of his Catholic friends compared to his atheist friends. His interest deepened after learning in a music class that Western musical traditions stem from Gregorian chant. He said the Church's music played a key role in his spiritual engagement.

Blackwood sought an institution with the full integrity of the faith and the correct doctrines guided by the Holy Spirit. He decided to explore the Catholic Church first due to encouragement from an Orthodox Catholic friend and the historical role of the Church.

Archbishop Bernard Hebda has reestablished the Archdiocesan Commission of Black Catholic Ministry in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to serve the spiritual, educational, and cultural needs of African American and African diaspora communities. The commission, which Archbishop Hebda formally reconstituted in December 2025, consists of approximately 14 members.

Lynette Graham of St. Peter Claver in St. Paul serves as chair, with David Kimori of St. Alphonsus in Brooklyn Center as vice chair. Leslie Philmon of the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis is the secretary, and Michael Essien of St. Peter Claver is the treasurer. The group intends to prioritize evangelization, social justice, and leadership development for young Black Catholics in alignment with Church teaching and the goals of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Black Catholic Congress.

The commission has been meeting since its reconstitution. Members are scheduled to meet on Oct. 30 at St. Olaf in Minneapolis, followed by a meeting on Nov. 11 at the Archdiocesan Catholic Center in St. Paul. That November meeting will include a Mass, dinner, and a report to the archbishop.

Jeff and Jenni Fuchs launched the YouTube podcast Kept In Her Heart in 2023 to share stories about the Catholic faith. The couple, who are parishioners at St. Patrick in Oak Grove, began the channel on August 15, the feast of the Assumption, following what Jeff Fuchs described as a spiritual sense that they were meant to share faith stories.

Jenni Fuchs, who entered the Church through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, serves as an OCIA teacher at St. Patrick. She said the channel was inspired by her own experience of learning about the faith and her interest in conversion and vocation stories. She uses her experience to consider what new Catholics should know, such as how to pray the rosary or the origins of teachings on the Eucharist and the papacy.

The couple also operates Sunset Blue Productions and Northern Lights Video. They met while attending St. Cloud State University.

The Diocese of Peoria has released a schedule of pilgrimage events leading up to the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on September 24. The schedule includes prayer services and masses in both Peoria, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, to help travelers turn the trip into a sacred journey.

The pilgrimage begins in Peoria with a nine day novena of holy hours held at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception from September 15 to 23. On Sunday, September 20, the cathedral will host an anniversary mass for Sheen’s ordination at 3 p.m., which requires tickets.

In St. Louis, the events continue with vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at 5 p.m. on September 23, which also requires tickets. On the day of the beatification, an expo will run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Dome at America’s Center. Attendees can access adoration and confession at 9 a.m. and a pre-mass show at 10 a.m. Following the 2 p.m. beatification mass, participants can venerate a relic of Sheen. Bishop Tylka previously noted that the diocese chose The Dome because it is indoors, offers sufficient space for large crowds, and is located near the Diocese of Peoria.

Providence Academy in Plymouth held a procession of police and fire vehicles to mark the anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Headmaster Todd Flanders, who has led the school since it opened just one week before the 2001 attacks, noted that the tragedy reinforced the school's mission to provide a Catholic education grounded in natural law. At the time of the attacks, the school served 205 students in grades pre-K through ninth.

The school's memorial traditions began a few years after the attacks when staff started placing small American flags on the main road leading to the campus to represent the lives lost.

Archbishop Hebda of Saint Paul and Minneapolis released his weekly column, titled "Where the Lord Speaks," on September 15, 2026. In the piece, Hebda reflects on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross and the connection between the crucifixion of Jesus and the hope of divine life.

The column discusses the sorrows of the Blessed Mother, noting how she found strength through the silence of her heart during moments of anguish. Hebda suggests that the faithful can follow Mary's example by seeking silence and participating in retreats to find healing during personal hardships. He notes that while the Church requires all priests to complete an annual retreat, these experiences also benefit laypeople.

One in six Catholic elementary school students in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis received a scholarship of $1,000 or $1,500 for the current school year through the St. Paul based Aim Higher Foundation.

Nine Catholics are preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation through a specialized program designed for people with disabilities.

Rachel Audi shared her personal reasons for being Catholic in an article for The Catholic Spirit.

Audi explained that her faith began with her parents, who taught her and her brother the religion at an early age through regular family prayer. She stated that her devotion grew through receiving the sacraments, attending adoration, and learning about the saints and modern Eucharistic miracles.