Updates from Minnesota

I’ve got zero energy for a creative title. But please read this.

1. To listen

I’ve been on many podcasts in the past week, talking about what’s happening in Minnesota.

Minnesota Catholics respond to ICE occupation with Chris Damian and Jacqui Skemp (watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify or Apple).

The Empathy List from Liz Charlotte Grant: What’s really happening in frozen Minnesota?

The Theology Girls podcast with Elizabeth Berget: Minneapolis and Loving Like Jesus. I’d especially recommend this for conservative listeners (political or religious) because we talked about who’s been impacted the most, including women, children, and churches, as well as the Christian response, no matter which side of the aisle you find yourself on.

2. To share

Thanks to Ashley Brooks here is an example of how to draft a letter to your bishop.

Here is a profoundly pastoral statement from a bishop to his people, from Bishop Neary of the Diocese of St. Cloud, MN.

Here are examples of Prayers of the Faithful that could be used—especially with children—to speak to the current crisis.

On Saturday I’ll be publishing a talk I recently gave at my parish’s prayer service about our call—indeed God’s command—to welcome the stranger. Stay tuned here and please share.

3. To read

Elizabeth Berget wrote an important piece for Christianity Today: “Here in Minneapolis, our immigrant neighbors are scared. Local churches like mine are working to meet their needs.”

A powerful and poetic essay from Commonweal Magazine about the migrant workers on whom we depend to pick our food in the U.S.: Growing Heavy for the Vintage.

Grateful to Rebecca Slocum for this lovely reflection (and honored that my poem played any small part)—Beauty and Blueberry Muffins: An Ode to Resistance.

A first-person perspective from a great local writer: “My parents thought we had made it. Now we carry papers” by Laura Yuen.

4. To pray

My friend Lauren Winter from Brick House In The City wrote the prayer above (in the Catholic tradition, a novena is a special prayer prayed nine days in a row for a particular intention, like an end to violence in our country). You can find more from The Dorothea Project of Catholic women here.

I’ve been preaching on Instagram about the daily Mass readings in light of what’s happening in Minnesota. Many folks have asked about the prayer book I’m using. It’s Give Us This Day, and you can get a free copy here.

5. To give

Lots of you are asking me about where to give, especially if you’re from outside the state or country. Financial support is the most important way to help Minnesotans now. Here are a few ideas: Catholic Charities. Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota. Church of the Ascension. Many more available online. But frankly my attention has been focused on more local mutual aid efforts because:

ACTUAL GOOD NEWS

In the past week, my Instagram followers (including many of you) have donated over $20,000 to help get groceries and household supplies to people in Minneapolis who are unable to leave their homes right now. We have helped two churches and two schools who are serving immigrant populations, and there is still MUCH more to come because of you incredible humans.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for loving our neighbors. Your generosity is changing lives.

p..s. Dear friends of mine are launching books in the midst of this chaos, so I wanted to give a shoutout to artists, writers, musicians, and anyone trying to do creative work right now. Check out this ongoing list of their efforts and please support them/add your own! If we make the promotion side of publishing more communal, we can carry the work for each other in times of crisis.