Parish Administrator’s Notes
By Phil Grant, Administrator and Safe Environment Coordinator
July 13, 2025
Service and Community
Phil Grant, Pastoral Administrator and Safe Environment Coordinator
On Saturday, June 28, the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis hosted the double funeral of Melissa and Mark Hortman. Recall that they were killed just two weeks previously.
Fr. Dan Griffin, the Basilica’s pastor, presided at the funeral liturgy and preached an excellent homily. Indeed, it’s the best statement on current affairs I’ve yet heard from a Catholic leader in our Archdiocese.
Among the high points:
The Hortmans greatly valued service and community. They lived their lives actively promoting those values.
As Catholics, they lived out our faith’s teachings on social justice. One of the main concepts is “the public good”. This is the opposite of the current emphasis on individualism and autonomy.
Our current political reality is dystopian—the opposite of utopian. Our nation is increasingly divided. Our nation needs healing.
Minnesota was Ground Zero for police brutality in 2020, with the killing of George Floyd. Now in 2025, Minnesota is Ground Zero for political violence, with the killing of the Hortmans and the attempted killing of others.
Griffin concluded by calling all of us to work together to make Minnesota Ground Zero for the restoration of good government that promotes the public good.
I wish I could say more, but my notes are incomplete. That’s because I was driving back from Danebod summer camp. I could only scribble a few words as I listened to the Mass on the radio.
As for summer camp, I’m heading back to Danebod for the July session (July 13-19). I anticipate another great week. Should you need anything from the office, please call or email Angela.
Thank you for your support, and have a great week!
Parish Administrator’s Notes July 6, 2025
