Lord, Renew Your Church Campaign
July 25, 2026
My Friends,
It is a notable time to be Catholic in the Archdiocese of Saint Pau and Minneapolis! You see we have much to be grateful for.
We have faithful young men from all over the Archdiocese desiring to follow Christ who will be ordained to serve as priests after having been prepared at the St. Paul Seminary where Fr. Steve Adrian and myself were prepared!
The seminary is just one of the dozens of important ministries offered by this Archdiocese. We have many priests in retirement (like me) who continue to provide the Eucharist, hear confessions, baptize children, and anoint people in parish celebrations or at their individual time of need.
Throughout the Archdiocese and here at St. Matt’s, we witness young people increasingly energized and engaged in church life. This is something to be excited about! As every Family needs to plan and prepare for the future, this is also true regarding our family of faith here at St Matthew and the Archdiocese.
Following several months of prayer, discussions, and discernment, the Archdiocese is pleased to announce the launch of Lord, Renew Your Church Campaign. The Parish of St. Matthew is participating in this campaign, along with all the other 185 parishes in the Archdiocese to help ensure that our faith and important ministries remain vibrant for future generations.
The money raised through this effort will support both St. Matthew’s ministries as well as Archdiocesan programs such as:
· Strengthening Our Parishes
· Educating our Children & Young People
· Caring for Current Clergy & Future Clergy
· Outreach Programs which provide for those in need
· The Sustaining of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the Basilica of Saint Mary
Over the coming months, you will have the opportunity to learn much more about this campaign including specific details on the allocation of funds, the programs these funds will support, and the endowments that will be created.
Today, I am simply requesting four things from you. Please:
1. Pray for the success of the campaign and our efforts here at St. Matt’s.
2. Welcome contact from other parishioners to discuss this campaign.
3. Prayerfully consider a sacrificial five-year financial pledge to the campaign.
4. Since we need lots of help to make this happen, please also consider volunteering to support this effort!
St. Matt’s has always been assisted by the reliable generosity of parishioners like you who have consistently answered God's call to support and to serve! This campaign will be no different. So, I ask each of you to prayerfully consider how God may be calling you to help, not only through your financial support with a five-year financial pledge but also through the gift of your time and energy.
In Christ,
Fr. Thomas M. Kommers
Campaign Prayer
Lord, Renew Your Church by the light of the Gospel.
Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us so that we might recognize you as the Giver of all good gifts.
Bless our Lord Renew Your Church campaign. May it strengthen the bonds that unite us and bring new fruitfulness to our parishes, schools and pastoral efforts.
Through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and Saint Paul, our patron, may our generous response give witness to Your love, Your power and Your plan.
We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.
AMEN
A visible expression of God’s love
Among its many initiatives, St. Matthew’s helped establish NeDA, a West Side Neighborhood Development Association. The parish became a host site for Loaves & Fishes and for St. Mary’s Health Clinic. The former rectory is now occupied by Casa Guadalupana. This ministry provides housing and support services for people seeking permanent asylum in the United States.
The parish began the practice of welcoming any grieving family seeking a funeral for one of its members, regardless of their religion.
St. Matthew’s School welcomed all families seeking a Catholic education for their children, regardless of whether they could pay full tuition. This policy continues at Community of Saints Catholic School, This regional school was established in 2012 when the schools of St. Matthew, St. Michael in West St. Paul, and St. John Vianney in South St. Paul were combined.
Today, St. Matthew’s Catholic Community continues to evolve as it works to carry out its commitment to exist in the world as a visible expression of God’s love.
