Fr. Daniel Griffith, Pastor and Rector
Early July will mark the beginning of my fourth year as your pastor and rector. It seems like a proper time to look back at the highlights of the last three years and to present upcoming events and initiatives which will mark our path forward. It is not boastful or inaccurate to say that the state of The Basilica of Saint Mary is strong indeed and I am most thankful to our parishioners, friends, and staff colleagues for contributing to this positive reality.
Since the pandemic ended, we have added each year to the number of parishioners, friends, and visitors who worship at The Basilica. We continue to trend positively in this regard. In addition, parishes exist to spread the faith of Jesus Christ and to welcome new members into the Catholic Church. We have also seen positive momentum in this area – including this past Easter where we initiated several new members into full communion with the Catholic Church. What a hopeful sign – recent media reports confirm that this upward trend of new Catholics is happening throughout the country and globally.
As I began my service as pastor, I held several listening sessions to learn what was on the minds and in the hearts of our parishioners and friends. This was of significant help to me as pastor and led to the formulation of a strategic plan (2024-2026) which also resulted from a collaboration with many parish leaders and members of the parish council. A couple of takeaways from these sessions include: the strength of our liturgies and music and our Christian outreach programs. Areas that need continued vigilance are strengthening a culture of inclusion, attracting more young Catholics and families to The Basilica, and campus-wide security, which has seen demonstrable improvement since 2022. You can access the strategic plan here.
The arts continue to be a central focus of The Basilica. In the past three years we hosted several terrific concerts, including The Messiah and said goodbye to Sinfonia as it concluded its public concerts. In addition, we were the site of another stirring sculpture – “Let the Oppressed Go Free” – on the Basilica’s front plaza. One of the most unique offerings at The Basilica was a Puccini opera which was a truly moving event for those who attended. Several art exhibits were hosted in our gallery and in Teresa of Calcutta Hall. Lastly, we collaborated with both Minneapolis Institute of Arts and Thrivent on unique opportunities for our parishioners and friends to take in the beauty of the arts beyond our campus.
The past three years saw excellent adult educational series, including in the areas of Catholic social teaching, the Eucharist, and our Pilgrims of Hope series, which continues this fall. We also inaugurated the Hope and Healing Lecture Series in honor of the late Reverend David Link with a compelling dialogue on the topic of Catholic social teaching and education. The series continues this fall at The Basilica with Carolyn Woo, a noted national Catholic leader.
In the area of parish finances and fundraising, we also saw growth and improvement. Each year saw increases over the prior year, which is a hopeful sign. However, the rising costs of everything related to our day-to-day work and mission have been significant and have outpaced our increased giving. This remains a pressing challenge, including for the end of our current fiscal year where we are trying to close the financial gap. Fundraising for St. Vincent DePaul and the Basilica Landmark have been bright spots at The Basilica which saw a series of successful Landmark Spark events and generous leadership phase fundraising for our Restoring Beauty-Inspiring Hope campaign. These initial efforts have enabled us to fund significant work on the exterior of The Basilica as we prepare for the comprehensive restoration of the interior of the church in the coming months and years.
As we now look forward to the path that lies ahead at The Basilica, I briefly highlight several events and initiatives which will mark the future course of our parish life and mission. God’s grace and our faith will fill in the lines of how our exciting future takes shape.
The restoration of The Basilica is a generational project which will require the support of our entire parish family and friends. The responsibility and privilege of restoring America’s first basilica is ours and I am confident that we will be successful. My confidence lies in God’s generosity and your love for and commitment to The Basilica. I am also confident that the restoration of The Basilica church will lead to a renewal of The Basilica parish.
February 1, 2026, is the 100th anniversary of being named the first basilica in the United States. This significant anniversary and parish milestone will be celebrated with gusto – with a festive Mass and brunch. Our February 1 anniversary will also kick off a series of events which will celebrate this unique and fitting distinction throughout the year.
This fall we will host a synodal day where parishioners and friends will be invited to take part in important dialogue where we discuss the strategic plan, our dreams, our challenges, and collectively discern what a renewed Basilica parish would look like. Stay tuned for more details.
The coming months and years will also require continued work toward financial sustainability as we seek to increase our financial support, while also meeting the challenging reality of rising costs and economic uncertainty. Generosity, commitment, hard work, and creativity will all be required to meet this important goal.
Lastly, and most importantly, we exist as a community of faith to continue the saving mission of Jesus Christ and thus are perennially called to announce the joy of the Gospel. With God’s grace and St. Mary’s generous intercession, we will continue to grow and to flourish as we meet the needs of those who enter our doors and visit our campus. With God, all things are possible!