A Note from Archbishop Hebda

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I want to extend my deepest gratitude for the support, feedback, and friendship with which I was blessed in the time that I served in the Archdiocese of Newark. I consider myself privileged to have been welcomed into the life of your local Church. Please believe me when I say that I would have been thrilled to serve the rest of my days in the four counties of the Archdiocese and then to await the Lord’s return in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. You have left an indelible impact on my ministry as a priest and bishop and for that I will always be most grateful.  

While I cannot pretend to understand the reasoning behind my reassignment, I have great confidence in Pope Francis and his discernment and I trust that the Lord will bring to Newark precisely the shepherd that you need to lead you forward once Archbishop Myers begins his well-deserved retirement. I am sorry that I was not able to be of more assistance to him in the last nine months when flying back and forth to the Twin cities. I will always be indebted to Archbishop Myers for his friendship, patience, and support in the course of the past three years. It was a privilege to be able to collaborate with him in his ministry in the Archdiocese of Newark. 

I hope that there will be opportunities to express my gratitude to all of you in person before I begin my new assignment in Minnesota on May 13th. Please know that the Church of Newark will always be in my prayers. I ask that you, already knowing so well my weaknesses, might be so kind as to pray not only for me but also for the faithful of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. May the Lord richly bless both Archdioceses in this Year of Mercy. 

In Christ,

Most Reverend Bernard A. Hebda