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June 6, 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
I have positive news to share with all of you as we continue together our journey of faith at Our Lady of Lourdes. Archbishop Hebda has appointed me Liaison for Restorative Justice and Healing in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, effective July 1, 2019. This new assignment is in addition to my assignment as Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes and on the faculty of the St. Thomas School of Law. I am humbled and heartened by this appointment and thank Archbishop Hebda for his confidence in me for this important work. Archbishop Hebda’s leadership and his embrace of restorative justice has opened up a pathway to broader and deeper healing for victim-survivors as well as for Catholics in our Archdiocese.
My primary duties will include preaching, teaching, and training in restorative justice and restorative practices. For example, I anticipate preaching monthly at parishes throughout the Archdiocese on restorative justice and the need for healing in the Church. My journey into restorative justice has been organic and Spirit-filled and I am excited about how this new ministry will complement my work here at Our Lady of Lourdes and at the St. Thomas Law School. I am thankful to Julie Craven for her invaluable assistance with communications regarding restorative justice ministry as well as her help in launching our new healing ministry at Lourdes. For more about restorative justice and its potential to bring greater healing to our wounded Church, please see the Catholic Spirit commentary I wrote this spring.
To help support this new restorative justice ministry, including my time away from the parish, Archbishop Hebda has appointed Fr. Bryce Evans to Our Lady of Lourdes as a half-time Parochial Vicar, effective July 1, 2019. Fr. Evans, a native of Corcoran, Minnesota, was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese in 2017. He has served for the past two years as Parochial Vicar of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Medina. Fr. Evans is a graduate of Marquette University, where he earned a Bachelor of Theology degree and is also a graduate of St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity.
Fr. Evans has a solid reputation in the Archdiocese as a gifted and able young priest. In addition to his sacramental and pastoral duties, Fr. Evans will focus on young adult ministry and adult faith formation at Lourdes. I am heartened that Fr. Haschka, SJ, will also continue his ministry at Lourdes as half time Senior Associate Pastor. Fr. Haschka’s ministry has been well received at the parish and I am thankful for his generous and effective service to our community. The strong talent of my two priestly colleagues allows for a diverse and strategic use of their gifts and energy. With the inclusion of Fr. Evans, the parish will be now served by a multi-generational team of clergy and an experienced staff who seek to communicate the joy of the Gospel and serve you on your journey of faith.
Finally, I am excited to announce that beginning this fall, the parish will launch: Lourdes Healing Ministry. As a pastor and fellow sojourner with friends, colleagues, parishioners, and family, it is apparent that many folks are in need of God’s healing grace. I have been discerning for some time whether Our Lady of Lourdes is called to become a “healing parish.” After consulting parish leadership and continued prayer, I believe that the Holy Spirit has confirmed this call as authentic. This call is consistent with the charism of Lourdes, France, which communicates a hope-filled message of healing.
What does it mean to be a healing parish? It means that Lourdes will be more intentional and strategic in offering a range of ministry and programming that seeks to foster greater healing in the lives of our parishioners and friends. Many people carry with them family of origin wounds and other crosses thatJesus, the Lord of Life, seeks to bind and heal. This call is also consistent with Pope Francis’ description of the Catholic Church as a field hospital. I anticipate a number of dimensions to Lourdes Healing Ministry, including quarterly healing Masses with the sacrament of anointing, small group healing circles, more intentional pastoral care, additional time for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and broader access to spiritual direction and Catholic counseling. Please keep this new healing ministry in your prayers as we prepare for its launch.
May Notre Dame de Lourdes continue to intercede for us!
With Gratitude to God,
Rev. Daniel Griffith