Happy marriages and families<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe fact that the archbishop has talked about supporting families from the time of his inauguration to the publication of his latest pastoral letter demonstrates \u201cthat that is the archbishop's priority,\u201d said Corey Manning, executive director of the archdiocese's Office of Discipleship and Evangelization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe really wants marriages and families to be filled with joy, that divine life and love,\u201d Manning, a member of St. Michael Parish in Stillwater, told The Catholic Spirit. The archbishop's desire \u2018hasn't changed in 10 years: to accompany and walk alongside\u2019 faithful families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The title of the letter is inspired by the Gospel of Luke, in which Jesus tells Martha that, in the midst of her distress, \u201cthere is only one thing necessary\u201d (Lk 10:42). \u201cJesus himself is that one truth,\u201d the archbishop wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a May 4 video entitled \u201cTogether on the Way,\u201d Archbishop Hebda said that \u201cOur Lord is the way through which Catholic families can be united in this life and in the life to come.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Example of saints Z\u00e9lie and Louis Martin<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nThroughout the letter, the archbishop refers to the example of Saints Z\u00e9lie and Louis Martin.parents of St. Therese of Lisieux<\/a>, The Church's Doctor of the Church - to guide families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cI have been constant in my prayers that you would intercede for the families of this archdiocese,\u201d Archbishop Hebda wrote in the letter's preface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drawing on his own family experience, the archbishop wrote: \u201cMy siblings and I often talk about how much we owe our parents for their witness of faith and their willingness to sacrifice for the family. We will always be grateful for how they introduced us to the love of God and made sure we found a home in our Church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Archbishop Hebda wrote that he has seen many parents express this same fervor during the prayer and listening sessions leading up to the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod. \u201cI heard again and again the love and concern that reside in the hearts of so many parents in this local Church, who desire nothing more than to lead their families to Jesus,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.omnesmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FamiliasMinnesota-1024x659.jpg\")
Faithful pray during a Mass at St. Mary's Basilica in Minneapolis on Feb. 1, 2026, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church's ordination as a minor basilica by Pope Pius XI (Photo by OSV News\/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u2018Parents, the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith\u2019.\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nA high number of votes during the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod indicated interest in the proposal that \u201cparents be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next steps included the formation of a High Level Commission, composed of clergy, religious, educators, parents and grandparents, to advise the archbishop on how to support parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response to the Archdiocesan Synod and the archbishop's 2022 pastoral letter, \u201cYou Will Be My Witnesses,\u201d one of the commission's recommendations was what eventually became the pastoral letter, \u201cOnly One Thing Is Necessary.\u201d The archbishop wrote that the new letter is \u201can expression of encouragement to parents and all those who support them pastorally.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An uphill battle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nArchbishop Hebda acknowledged what families have expressed to him as \u201cwhat may seem like an uphill battle,\u201d living in the midst of \u201ca widespread societal decline in religious practice and church affiliation.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, released in 2025 by the Pew Research Center, Christians - who represent the largest share of religiously affiliated adults in the United States - \u201chave been declining as a percentage of the U.S. adult population, while the share of people with no religious affiliation has been increasing.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The proportion of Catholics in the U.S. adult population is declining.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nMeanwhile, the share of Catholics in the U.S. adult population had also declined in recent years, according to Pew researchers. From 24 % in 2007 to 20 % in 2014 and 19 % in the 2023-24 study. However, as reported by Pew researchers, these declines appeared to have leveled off with the most recent data from the 2023-24 RLS study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Along with changes in religious affiliation and practice, the archbishop noted the challenges facing modern couples, including that \u201c(t)here is a significant decline in the number of couples seeking the Sacrament of Marriage or even choosing to marry civilly.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.omnesmag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/FamiliasMinnesotaEclesiasticos-1-1024x695.jpg\")
Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Feb. 27, 2026, at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn. With him, from left, Jesuit Father Christopher Collins, outgoing vice president for mission at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul; Cardinal Robert W. McElroy of Washington; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; and Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, N.J. (Photo by OSV News\/Dave Hrbacek, The Catholic Spirit).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nTrends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAccording to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2025, 47 % of U.S. households in 2025 were made up of married couples, which the bureau called \u00aba significant change\u00bb from 50 years ago, when 66 % were in 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his letter, the archbishop included the words of the late Pope Francis, according to which \u00abtoday's frenetic pace, fears about the future, lack of job security and adequate social policies, and social models whose agenda is dictated by the pursuit of profit rather than concern for relationships\u00bb could be considered factors contributing to declining birth rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Decrease in the number of married couple households in the U.S.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCensus data indicated that the proportion of U.S. households consisting of married couples with children under 18 had declined from 54% in 1975 to 37% in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The archbishop also acknowledged that many families face problems that are typical of the present age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2023, the Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, linked a \u201cepidemic of loneliness and isolation<\/a>\u201dwith decreased social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an overall decrease in social participation. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAlso the decades-long decline in family size and marriage rates; declining trends in community participation, \u201cincluding religious groups, clubs and unions\u201d; and booming technologies, including \u201csocial networking, smartphones, virtual reality, remote work, artificial intelligence and assistive technologies,\u201d that \u00abhave rapidly and dramatically changed the way we live, work, communicate and socialize.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his letter, Archbishop Hebda acknowledged both the \u201cperennial challenges\u201d and the \u201cparticular challenges of our time\u201d experienced by modern Catholics. And he advocated taking time to engage in face-to-face dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at the faces of family members<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cWhat would our families and our society be like if we devoted just a fraction of what we spend on-screen<\/a> to look at the faces of our relatives?\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\nArchbishop Hebda encouraged families to \u201ctake heart,\u201d citing, among other things, the words of St. John Paul II in his letter: \u201cThe future of humanity passes through the family2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The archbishop suggested that families should embrace the \u201cnarrow way\u201d that Jesus mentions in Matthew 7:13-14. \u201cSurely, persevering on the narrow way requires the grace that flows from our deep friendship with Jesus Christ. Only within the context of that essential relationship can our other relationships be oriented toward our highest calling: eternal life with God.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Called to accompany families<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Throughout the letter, the archbishop refers to the example of Saints Z\u00e9lie and Louis Martin.parents of St. Therese of Lisieux<\/a>, The Church's Doctor of the Church - to guide families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have been constant in my prayers that you would intercede for the families of this archdiocese,\u201d Archbishop Hebda wrote in the letter's preface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drawing on his own family experience, the archbishop wrote: \u201cMy siblings and I often talk about how much we owe our parents for their witness of faith and their willingness to sacrifice for the family. We will always be grateful for how they introduced us to the love of God and made sure we found a home in our Church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archbishop Hebda wrote that he has seen many parents express this same fervor during the prayer and listening sessions leading up to the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod. \u201cI heard again and again the love and concern that reside in the hearts of so many parents in this local Church, who desire nothing more than to lead their families to Jesus,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A high number of votes during the 2022 Archdiocesan Synod indicated interest in the proposal that \u201cparents be the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next steps included the formation of a High Level Commission, composed of clergy, religious, educators, parents and grandparents, to advise the archbishop on how to support parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In response to the Archdiocesan Synod and the archbishop's 2022 pastoral letter, \u201cYou Will Be My Witnesses,\u201d one of the commission's recommendations was what eventually became the pastoral letter, \u201cOnly One Thing Is Necessary.\u201d The archbishop wrote that the new letter is \u201can expression of encouragement to parents and all those who support them pastorally.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archbishop Hebda acknowledged what families have expressed to him as \u201cwhat may seem like an uphill battle,\u201d living in the midst of \u201ca widespread societal decline in religious practice and church affiliation.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study, released in 2025 by the Pew Research Center, Christians - who represent the largest share of religiously affiliated adults in the United States - \u201chave been declining as a percentage of the U.S. adult population, while the share of people with no religious affiliation has been increasing.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, the share of Catholics in the U.S. adult population had also declined in recent years, according to Pew researchers. From 24 % in 2007 to 20 % in 2014 and 19 % in the 2023-24 study. However, as reported by Pew researchers, these declines appeared to have leveled off with the most recent data from the 2023-24 RLS study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Along with changes in religious affiliation and practice, the archbishop noted the challenges facing modern couples, including that \u201c(t)here is a significant decline in the number of couples seeking the Sacrament of Marriage or even choosing to marry civilly.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2025, 47 % of U.S. households in 2025 were made up of married couples, which the bureau called \u00aba significant change\u00bb from 50 years ago, when 66 % were in 1975.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his letter, the archbishop included the words of the late Pope Francis, according to which \u00abtoday's frenetic pace, fears about the future, lack of job security and adequate social policies, and social models whose agenda is dictated by the pursuit of profit rather than concern for relationships\u00bb could be considered factors contributing to declining birth rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Census data indicated that the proportion of U.S. households consisting of married couples with children under 18 had declined from 54% in 1975 to 37% in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The archbishop also acknowledged that many families face problems that are typical of the present age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2023, the Surgeon General of the United States, Vivek Murthy, linked a \u201cepidemic of loneliness and isolation<\/a>\u201dwith decreased social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as an overall decrease in social participation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also the decades-long decline in family size and marriage rates; declining trends in community participation, \u201cincluding religious groups, clubs and unions\u201d; and booming technologies, including \u201csocial networking, smartphones, virtual reality, remote work, artificial intelligence and assistive technologies,\u201d that \u00abhave rapidly and dramatically changed the way we live, work, communicate and socialize.\u00bb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his letter, Archbishop Hebda acknowledged both the \u201cperennial challenges\u201d and the \u201cparticular challenges of our time\u201d experienced by modern Catholics. And he advocated taking time to engage in face-to-face dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat would our families and our society be like if we devoted just a fraction of what we spend on-screen<\/a> to look at the faces of our relatives?\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archbishop Hebda encouraged families to \u201ctake heart,\u201d citing, among other things, the words of St. John Paul II in his letter: \u201cThe future of humanity passes through the family2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The archbishop suggested that families should embrace the \u201cnarrow way\u201d that Jesus mentions in Matthew 7:13-14. \u201cSurely, persevering on the narrow way requires the grace that flows from our deep friendship with Jesus Christ. Only within the context of that essential relationship can our other relationships be oriented toward our highest calling: eternal life with God.\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u2018Parents, the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith\u2019.\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
An uphill battle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The proportion of Catholics in the U.S. adult population is declining.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Trends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Decrease in the number of married couple households in the U.S.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Looking at the faces of family members<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Called to accompany families<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n