Minnesota Catholics plan to fill Capitol Vault Room for 2027 prayer sessions
The Minnesota Catholic Conference is inviting constituents to attend four scheduled days of adoration during the upcoming legislative year.
By Michael Bennett ·
More than 1,000 people attended at least one of three prayer events at the Minnesota State Capitol during the 2026 legislative session.
Those attendees included Minnesota’s eight bishops. The Minnesota Catholic Conference, or MCC, is organizing four similar events for the 2027 session.
The MCC staff noted that they felt the effect of these prayers while engaging in conversations with legislators. They said this was especially true during key legislative battles.
The events for the next legislative year are scheduled for the first Fridays of February, March, April, and May. Each session will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Capitol’s Vault Room.
Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester addressed the purpose of the gatherings in a previous year. He stated that legislators need the prayers.
Bishop Andrew Cozzens of the Diocese of Crookston led prayer inside the Capitol last year. He observed that the living presence of Jesus impacts everywhere he goes.
The MCC encourages Catholics to look beyond the single day of voting to participate in the political process. They urge constituents to know their legislators and reach out on pressing issues.
To identify their representatives, the MCC directs residents to mncatholic.org/findmylegislators. Users enter their address to see the names of one state senator, one state representative, two U.S. senators, and one U.S. House member.
Once residents know these names, they can review the lawmakers' websites, email newsletters, and social media pages. This helps them understand where the officials stand on issues important to the Catholic Church.
The MCC also promotes direct contact with elected officials. They note that the state Capitol is open to the public and that legislators regularly meet with constituents upon request. They describe this face-to-face engagement as the most effective way to participate in politics.
Emailing legislators before votes on bills affecting life, dignity, and the common good is another recommended method. The MCC states that legislators read these messages, particularly when hundreds of Catholics send them simultaneously.
The organization provides the Catholic Advocacy Network to facilitate this communication. Members receive action alerts when their voice is needed. The network includes a tool that automatically populates the member's legislators and provides an editable message drafted by MCC staff. This tool reduces the contact process to approximately 30 seconds.
