Minnesota and So. Dakota Catholic school students achieve new fundraising records though raffle program

Father James Peterson of St. Odilia’s Catholic Church in Shoreview, Minn., and former Diocese of New Ulm Bishop John LeVoir have some fun as they pull tickets from the nine-foot raffle drum on March 27th. Photo by Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit

ST. PAUL, Minn., – Catholic students and staff achieved more than a million dollars in ticket sales to support their schools through the 2025 Catholic United Financial Raffle. The raffle program is just one way Catholic United Financial fulfills its vision to help people be financially secure, faith-filled and engaged in their communities.

Students, families and staff at 72 Catholic schools in Minnesota and South Dakota participated in the raffle program. Between January 20 and March 2, 2025, more than 12,000 students sold $10 tickets, with their respective schools keeping 100 percent of the ticket sales.

Participating schools achieved a combined total of more than $1.3 million in ticket sales, the sixth highest total in the program’s 16-year history. Since its inception, the Catholic United Financial Raffle has contributed more than $16 million to Catholic schools in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

“We’re excited to see this level of success among our partner schools. Congratulations to everyone involved,” said Mike Ahles, Senior Vice President of Distribution for Trusted Fraternal Life. Catholic United Financial is a member of the Trusted Fraternal Life family of brands.

Of the schools participating this year, 18 had their best results ever. St. Peter’s School in Canby, Minn., and St. Anastasia School in Hutchinson, Minn., have been participants since the program’s beginning in 2009. Both schools raised record totals, making it their most successful year.

“We all know that living costs are high, so are educations costs. We believe that Catholic education is invaluable to our faith communities and society at large,” Ahles said. “We’re honored to offer this program free to schools and we’re ecstatic to see students and staff leverage the opportunity to make a financial impact for their schools.”

Many schools used social media to express their thanks to surrounding communities for supporting raffle ticket sales. Staff at St. Scholastica Academy of Isanti, Minn., posted: “We’re feeling the love and so grateful for everyone who has purchased raffle tickets for our school fundraiser sponsored by Catholic United Financial! Your support is truly a gift from the heart.”

During the March 27 prize drawing ceremony, Alyssa Niedenfuer of Ramsey, Minn., was announced as the grand prize winner of a new 2025 Chevy Trax SUV or $20,000 in cash. Catholic United Financial announced 40 additional winners of prizes, including vacation getaways, gift cards, Minnesota Twins tickets, Apple watches, and more. The live-streamed ceremony ended with 25 top-selling students receiving $200 tuition scholarships.

More details about the Catholic United Financial Raffle and a list of the 2025 prize winners can be found at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org/raffle.

About Catholic United Financial

Catholic United Financial is a brand of Trusted Fraternal Life™,  member-owned, not-for-profit dedicated to connecting people of faith, protecting their future, and generously impacting parishes, schools, and communities in the Upper Midwest since 1878. Learn about our products that protect and our programs that connect at www.catholicunitedfinancial.org.

Catholic advocate Barbara Heil keynotes Bishop Lucker Lecture held March 7; presentation available online

What inspired an Evangelical pastor, international missionary, and church planter to find her spiritual home in the Catholic Church?

REDWOOD FALLS, Minn. - This was the focus of evangelist’s Barbara Heil’s presentation during the Diocese of New Ulm’s Bishop Lucker Lecture held Friday, March 7 at the Church of St. Catherine’s in Redwood Falls. The yearly lecture, named after the late Bishop Raymond A. Lucker, is a significant event in the diocese’s calendar. Heil’s evening presentation, “Beauty of the Eucharist,” focused on her journey from Protestant missionary to Catholic advocate.

Heil’s journey to becoming Catholic is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith. In 2014, Heil found her spiritual home in the Roman Catholic Church in April 2014. Since then, her desire to share the deep love of our Heavenly Father led her to found From His Heart Ministries, a living testament to her unwavering faith and commitment.

Since becoming Catholic, Heil has traveled in the United States and worldwide. She has appeared on EWTN’s The Coming Home Network, spoken at the International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, and on numerous television and radio programs. As an associate of Renewal Ministries and Encounter Ministries, Heil conducts parish missions, revivals, retreats, conferences, and ministers in foreign missions.

NOTE: Heil’s presentation can be viewed online at https://www.dnu.org/bishop-lucker-lecture

Bishop Chad Zielinski celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass, marking the beginning of Lent

NEW ULM - Bishop Chad W. Zielinski, Bishop of New Ulm, celebrated Mass and distributed ashes on Ash Wednesday (March 5) at the Noon Mass at the Church of St. Mary in New Ulm.

This season of Lent is a period marked by practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, allowing individuals to deepen their faith and prepare spiritually for the celebration of Easter.

Ash Wednesday begins the Christian observance of the season of Lent. As is customary, the ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by burning the blessed palms distributed the prior year on Palm Sunday. Lent ends with the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, the three holiest days of the year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday will be celebrated this year on April 20.

Click here for Pope Francis’s 2025 Lenten Message.

New Report Unveils $5.4 Billion Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota

Serving where government falls short, the Church strengthens communities and saves taxpayers billions

Saint Paul, Minn. – The Catholic Church in Minnesota is a pillar of faith and service, and it also plays a significant role in the state’s economic and social well-being. A new report released by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, Fruits of the Vine: The Economic Impact of the Catholic Church in Minnesota, estimates that Catholic programs contribute over $5 billion annually to the state’s economy and serve 1.2 million people across various communities.

 The report was commissioned by the Minnesota Catholic Conference and conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado and associated with the Institute for Policy Research at The Catholic University of America. The comprehensive study highlights the often-overlooked economic contributions of the Catholic Church in Minnesota - both economically and socially. The report provides an overview of these benefits and the estimated monetary value of each.

 “This report affirms the Catholic Church’s commitment to Minnesota goes beyond spiritual and moral leadership,” said Jason Adkins, Minnesota Catholic Conference Executive Director. “From creating jobs and supporting small businesses to easing the burden on taxpayer-funded programs, the Church delivers real, measurable benefits to Minnesotans in areas where government resources are limited. In return, all we ask of our elected leaders is the freedom to serve in accordance with our faith—without government interference.”

 Significant report findings include:

 Healthcare: As the largest non-governmental provider of healthcare in the world, Catholic healthcare organizations in Minnesota contribute $3.2 billion annually through hospitals, long-term care facilities, hospice care, and home care services.

• Education: Catholic schools serve 40,000 students from Pre-K through high school in Minnesota. Combined, from pre-K through higher education, Catholic education organizations provide $1.45 billion in economic benefits to the state.

• Volunteer Service: Catholic-affiliated organizations contribute over 500,000 volunteer hours each year, serving over 80,000 people and generating a combined benefit of nearly $80 million.

• Events: Weddings, funerals, festivals, and other events hosted by the Catholic Church attract 900,000 visitors annually, contributing over $56 million to local economies through spending on food, services, and lodging.  

Beyond the direct economic impact, the report also examines the social impact of the Catholic Church, citing the critical role parishes and independent organizations play in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and providing direct financial aid to those most in need in Minnesota communities.

 “These initiatives not only transform lives but also reduce the strain on public resources, demonstrating the Catholic Churches’ long-term mission of service,” Adkins said. 

 By releasing this report, the Minnesota Catholic Conference is highlighting the Church’s continued mission to serve Minnesota and inspire further collaboration with government agencies and community stakeholders to strengthen the state’s financial and social foundations.

 Read the full report at www.mncatholic.org/fruitsofthevine.

Bishops of Minnesota Statement on Immigration

 “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them.”
Leviticus 19:33 (NAB-RE)

 (February 6, 2025) - Sadly, our nation’s immigration system is broken. For too long, our laws on paper said “stop, no entry,” while in fact, for economic and political reasons, undocumented migrants were allowed inside, sometimes with the encouragement of business interests and even our government. As Pope Francis has said, migrants have been too often treated “as pawns on the chessboard of humanity.”

Elected officials in both major political parties have failed to rise above political calculation and collaborate on a solution rooted in respect for migrants and the common good of the nation. This leadership failure has resulted in repeated conflicts at the border and in our communities that have only grown worse.

The Biden Administration’s migration policies exacerbated these problems, and as a response, President Trump has resolved to instigate measures focused primarily on enforcement and deportations. Of particular concern is his decision to rescind the policies that had previously limited enforcement at “sensitive” locations such as churches, schools, shelters, and hospitals. It is often precisely in these places that we, as Catholics, respond to Christ’s command to care for our “neighbors” without discrimination. It is not difficult to imagine how the changed policy could interfere with the exercise of our faith to serve those in need (cf. Matt. 25:35).

To the extent that the new Administration’s actions focus on detaining and deporting those with criminal records who pose a danger to society, we offer our whole-hearted support. We oppose, however, any campaign of indiscriminate immigration enforcement that threatens to unnecessarily or unjustly separate the families of those we have come to know as our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We repeat our plea to Congress for comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken system, and we appeal to the Administration for a revised order that would establish that, absent exigent circumstances, no immigration enforcement action may take place on Catholic church or school property without a properly executed warrant.

Keeping Families Together

In the past few decades, millions of migrants have settled in the United States. Many have built their lives in our communities and started their families here. Their children born here, like us, enjoy U.S. citizenship.

Many of these immigrants have been long strengthening the fabric of our society and American life.

The reality is that even though we, as a nation, have come to rely on undocumented migrants and their many contributions to our communities, they have far too often been treated as political pawns. Their labor is exploited, and they are threatened with deportation and demonized whenever it is politically expedient. They are forced to live in fear and operate often within the shadows of society and the economy. And now they are at risk even in our Catholic churches and schools. Such behavior is a hallmark of what Pope Francis calls a “throw-away” culture.

We encourage the Administration to conduct immigration enforcement prudently, cautiously, and always with human dignity in mind. Central to protecting human dignity is respecting the security and integrity of the family. And families—especially those with minor children and those whose children or siblings are citizens—should not be separated and deported. As church leaders ministering to many of the immigrant families in Minnesota, we see the wisdom in compassionate “families first” policies, such as the “deferred actions” for childhood arrivals (DACA) and for parents of Americans (DAPA) that have been suggested in the past.

We are a nation of laws that must be respected, but taking immigration enforcement actions using a simplistic calculus based on an individual’s legal status is unjust. Justice is about establishing right relationships with one another and giving the other their due. Some proportionate penalties for those who have broken the law may be warranted, but many of our migrant brothers and sisters deserve better than swift deportation given their contributions to our society.

Not ‘Open Borders’

The fact that we advocate for comprehensive immigration reform and the just enforcement of laws against those already residing here is not simple-minded advocacy for “open borders.” We recognize that public officials have the responsibility of protecting their citizens and both promoting public safety and putting the needs of their people first. When necessary, governments should institute orderly migration policies, which sometimes require strong border security measures. Walls, for example, can have doors in them for those who need refuge and who exercise the right to migrate.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) states, “[p]olitical authorities, for the sake of the common good for which they are responsible, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions.” A nation is not required to receive all who seek to enter. It may, from time to time, pause immigration and refugee resettlement when necessary to ensure or restore an orderly system free of corruption and abuse, or when the well-being of citizens needs to be prioritized due to limited resources or other concerns. (See, e.g., Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, “The Church and Racism: Towards a More Fraternal Society,” 1988). Among those concerns includes the ability and desire of immigrants or refugees to “respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens” (CCC 2241).

It is incumbent, however, on the nation to ensure that it continues to evaluate in justice how, in solidarity, it can welcome the stranger consistent with its duties toward its citizens.

A Human Rights Test

In his book, Immigration and the Next America, Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles describes our response to the broken immigration system as an important human rights test for our nation. We repeat our call for citizens to appeal to Congress and the President for comprehensive reform of our broken system that includes resources for improved border security, a generous but also prudent welcome of refugees and those seeking asylum that does not overly burden local communities, and pathways to legal status for long-term undocumented residents.

May Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, intercede for us so that we can see and respond to each other, immigrant and citizen, through our common identity as children of the one Father, and therefore as brothers and sisters. This is the identity that transcends all others, including legal status.

Inside the Capitol video series keeps Minnesotan's informed; Governor’s Budget Puts Nonpublic School Students at Risk

ST. PAUL - The Minnesota Conference of Catholic Bishops, (the political voice of the Catholic bishops of Minnesota) Inside the Capitol video series provides weekly updates on key legislative developments in Minnesota, offering insights into the work of Minnesota Catholic Conference staff at the State Capitol. Each episode breaks down policy issues, advocacy efforts, and how Catholics can take action to promote the common good.

In the LATEST EPISODE, Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, breaks down the Gov, Walz’s proposed budget and its call to eliminate nonpublic pupil aid, a move that could significantly impact families across Minnesota. Plus, hear about the Minnesota bishops’ letter to the governor and legislative leaders urging them to reject the push to legalize online sports gambling.

Subscribe to our YouTube page here or visit our website here to stay updated on new episodes.

GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PUTS NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AT RISK

The governor's new budget proposal targets Minnesota’s nonpublic school students by eliminating nonpublic pupil aid and transportation aid—cutting more than $100 million in aid over two years. This proposal defunds essential services such as busing, textbooks, nursing, and counseling that support students regardless of their school choice.

Ensuring all students have access to essential educational resources—regardless of where they attend school—is critical. The staff of Minnesota Catholic Conference are working with stakeholders from other associations and faith traditions to prevent legislators from enacting the proposed elimination of aid, but we need your help! 

Click t below to send an email to your state Senator and state Representative, asking them to oppose the governor's efforts to eliminate critical aid for students. 

Learn more about this issue by reading out latest blog post here.

Contact Legislators