Archbishop Hebda speaks to EWTN News in August 2025. | Credit: "EWTN News Nightly"/Screenshot
Jan 13, 2026 / 13:11 pm (CNA).
Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis described a pervasive "heaviness" in the community over federal agents' deadly shooting of a U.S. citizen.
In his pastoral reflection on Jan. 12, the archbishop said he was on retreat with regional bishops last week when the shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official occurred.
"I find myself Googling 'Minneapolis' every few hours to learn of the latest developments in a situation that truly tears at the heart," he wrote, noting that some parishes with large Latino populations are seeing fewer than 50% of usual congregants at recent Masses.
"I hope that you might think about contacting any of our parishes serving immigrant communities to see how you might support them in their ministry," Hebda wrote.
During the retreat, he said he prayed for consolation for the Good family, wisdom for political leaders, prudence and safety for law enforcement, temperance among protesters, healing for those wounded by political divisions (especially young people), and courage for immigrants living in fear of deportation.
Hebda said he also prayed for parish priests, deacons, educators, and others who are navigating these tensions while striving to "bring the light of the Gospel and the balm of Jesus' love into these difficult situations."
After the shooting last week, Hebda in a statement pleaded for "all people of goodwill to join me in prayer for the person who was killed, for their loved ones, and for our community."
"We continue to be at a time in this country when we need to lower the temperature of rhetoric, stop fear-filled speculation, and start seeing all people as created in the image and likeness of God," he said.
Good was behind the wheel of an SUV after dropping off her 6-year-old at school when she was killed. Dueling narratives emerged, with the president and Homeland Security secretary saying the ICE officer's actions were justified against an "act of domestic terrorism," while Democratic officials said the administration is lying and urged the public to review videos of the shooting themselves.
In his Jan. 12 letter, the prelate noted the "providential" timing of the Church's psalm response at this past Sunday's Mass: "The Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalm 29), adding: "I am confident that the Lord keeps his promises, but I am hoping that he won't keep us waiting too long. Maybe I should be praying for patience."
To address the ongoing wounds, the archdiocese hosted Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston on Monday evening for a public presentation titled "A Wounded Church: Finding Peace and Healing," originally intended to address the shooting that occurred during the all-school Mass at Annunciation Church in August 2025. The event began with a Mass and concluded with Eucharistic adoration.
"How providential that the evening event, planned months ago, would have been scheduled to coincide with this challenging time," Hebda remarked in his letter. Cozzens also led a morning of recollection for archdiocesan staff on Jan. 13 on the same theme.
The archbishop urged the faithful to support immigrant parishes facing sharp declines in attendance since early December.
"A number of parishioners expressed to me their concerns about how the parishes will be able to continue their excellent ministry and outreach to the needy if Mass attendance (and offertory) remains low," he wrote. "I am confident that it would be a shot in the arm for them if you could join them some weekend."
Hebda also requested continued prayers for Father Greg Schaffer, an archdiocesan priest serving at a mission parish in Venezuela. Amid heightened dangers following the Trump administration's military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, the U.S. State Department has warned of risks for Americans, prompting the archbishop to ask for prayers for Schaffer.
Daniel Payne contributed to this story.
