Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory, or archdiocese, of the Catholic Church in the central region of the U.S. state of Minnesota. Its ecclesiastical province covers the entire state and its cathedral is the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis serving as its co-cathedral. The archdiocese is a significant center for Catholicism in the United States and has played a major role in the religious and civic life of the Upper Midwest.

History

The diocese was originally erected as the Diocese of Saint Paul in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, with Joseph Crétin as its first bishop. Its territory was carved from the vast Diocese of Dubuque and initially covered Minnesota Territory and the Dakota Territory. The arrival of missionaries like Louis Hennepin and the work of figures such as Augustin Ravoux were pivotal in early evangelization. Elevated to an archdiocese in 1888, it was renamed the Archdiocese of Saint Paul in 1966 and received its current dual-city title in 1968. Key historical events include the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore and the construction of its iconic cathedral under Archbishop John Ireland, a prominent leader in the Americanist movement.

Leadership

The archdiocese is led by the metropolitan archbishop, who also serves as the ordinary. The current archbishop is Bernard Hebda, appointed by Pope Francis in 2016. Previous notable ordinaries include the influential John Ireland, the longest-serving archbishop William O. Brady, and Harry Flynn. The archbishop is assisted by auxiliary bishops, such as Joseph A. Galante and Andrew Cozzens, and a vicar general. The archdiocesan curia operates from the Pastoral Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Parishes and institutions

The archdiocese comprises 187 parishes and 15 Catholic high schools, including Academy of Holy Angels and Totino-Grace High School. Its higher education institutions are the University of St. Thomas and St. Catherine University. Major healthcare ministries are led by Allina Health and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. The St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity forms clergy for the province, and the archdiocese oversees numerous Catholic Charities agencies, such as Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Demographics and statistics

As of recent data, the archdiocese serves an estimated Catholic population of over 825,000 faithful, making it one of the largest ecclesiastical provinces in the Midwestern United States. The territory spans ten counties including Hennepin and Ramsey. The Catholic community is diverse, with significant ministries to Hispanic, Vietnamese, and African American populations. There are approximately 456 diocesan priests, 300 religious priests, and 187 permanent deacons active in pastoral care.

Controversies and challenges

The archdiocese faced a major crisis following the Catholic Church sexual abuse cases in the United States, leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2015 due to liabilities from clergy sex abuse claims. A 2013 investigation by Minnesota Public Radio and subsequent lawsuits, including those by attorney Jeff Anderson, revealed extensive clergy sexual abuse and diocesan cover-up. The Ramsey County Attorney filed criminal charges against the archdiocese itself in 2015. In response, Archbishop Bernard Hebda implemented reforms under a 2018 settlement agreement with the Ramsey County District Court and a memorandum of understanding with county attorneys.

Ecclesiastical province and suffragan dioceses

The Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis encompasses the entire state of Minnesota. The archdiocese serves as the metropolitan see, with six suffragan dioceses: the Diocese of Crookston, Diocese of Duluth, Diocese of New Ulm, Diocese of Saint Cloud, Diocese of Winona-Rochester, and the Diocese of Saint Paul. The archbishop holds canonical authority over the province and presides at provincial councils. Category:Roman Catholic Ecclesiastical Province of Saint Paul and Minneapolis Category:Religious organizations based in Minnesota