The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
February 2011
There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13
Today as you read this column on the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time it is also an unofficial holiday—Super bowl Sunday. Many will gather today with family and friends to watch the game (and of course, the commercials). The popularity of this day is supported by statistics which show that fans spend more than $50 million on food for this celebration resulting in some 14,500 tons of chips and 8 million pounds of guacamole. And while I am proudly supportive of all Michigan teams I will admittedly be rooting for the Black and Gold Steelers.
Of course after the chips and dips are put away we look forward to another winter holiday this month — Valentine’s Day. I often think how nice it is that February, our shortest month of the year, is host to Valentine’s Day. Tradition tells us that the day honors the martyrdom of Saint Valentine, a Roman priest imprisoned for marrying Christian couples and later killed for aiding persecuted Christians under the reign of Claudius II. His love for his people and his faith is certainly worthy of a fun-filled winter day dedicated in his honor. What better way to combat the winter doldrums then to brighten our hearts with the celebration of the greatest gift God has granted us as human beings—the ability to love.
Fun statistics about Valentine’s Day reveal that more than 1 billion valentines are bought each year along with an estimated 200 million roses. But here’s the statistic that really grabbed my attention: more than half of all marriage proposals happen on February 14th. Imagine the importance of this day marked for so many couples as the beginning of their journey together. And while many men and women will jump from the excitement of those first few moments as an engaged couple into the throes of wedding planning — spending hours selecting just the right dress and floral arrangements — the Church is working to ensure that even more time and energy is spent on strengthening this very important sacramental relationship — the beating heart of the domestic church.
As we look toward the days of candy hearts and roses, what a perfect time to reflect on what we believe about marriage as Catholics, what the Church is doing to strengthen marriages, and what we all can do as members of the faithful to ensure the vitality of the domestic church.
As Catholics we recognize that the marriage union is a blessing and gift from God and celebrate it as a sacrament. The foundation for this important teaching comes from the Old Testament prophets who saw marriage of a man and a woman as a symbol of the covenant relationship between God and man. The permanent and exclusive union between husband and wife mirrors the mutual commitment between God and his people. Just as we do with all sacraments, it is important to prepare and understand what it means to receive God’s grace through this life-defining union.
The Church also teaches that marriage is God’s design for bringing children into the world and nurturing them. Marriage also is intended for the mutual welfare and support of the couple. Neither of these can be deliberately excluded. Yet many influences exist in our society today that threaten to tear at the very fabric of marriage.
In addressing the seriousness of this issue the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI said:
“The family…is the “cradle” of life and of every vocation. We are well aware that the family founded on marriage is the natural environment in which to bear and raise children and thereby guarantee the future of all humanity. However, we also know that marriage is going through a deep crisis and today must face numerous challenges. It is consequently necessary to defend, help, safeguard and value it in its unrepeatable uniqueness. If this commitment is in the first place the duty of spouses, it is also a priority duty of the Church and of every public institution to support the family by means of pastoral and political initiatives that take into account the real needs of married couples, of the elderly and of the new generations.” (Angelus Talk, February 4, 2007)
The U.S. Catholic Bishops have made a serious, extensive commitment to the support of family life by identifying as one of their pastoral priorities the strengthening and protecting of marriage. Last fall I had the honor of being asked to serve on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth led by chairman Bishop Kevin Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind. While my time with this committee is just beginning, its work has already begun in earnest by producing initiatives such as the For Your Marriage campaign (www.foryourmarriage.org) and the release of the USCCB pastoral letter Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan.
Additionally, just this month two very important but separate initiatives affirm the need for all of us to be marriage building communities of faith and action. The first, celebrated on February 13th, is World Marriage Day, which first received the Apostolic Blessing of Blessed John Paul II in 1993.
Its celebration has continued to spread among many countries and even many faith expressions ever since. The second initiative, National Marriage Week USA, is in its second year and is observed February 7 -14 with the theme “Let’s Strengthen Marriage.” I am heartened to see all faith communities band together to recognize, support and affirm marriage.
The importance of marriage is also something I referenced in my Pastoral Letter, What I Have Heard and Seen:
It is my vision that the Church in Kalamazoo will speak out in defense of marriage as God
intended it to be, for the procreation of children and for the well-being of the man and woman
living the covenant of marriage; and that vital resources, including nationally proven programs,
will be enlisted to support, enrich, and encourage marriages at every stage so that they
are strengthened in their sacramental vows. Additionally, I would encourage and support the outreach to separated and divorced Catholics so that they may be comforted through this time of challenge in their lives [pg.13]
All of us, whether single, engaged, newly married or long-time married can have an impact on strengthening this sacramental relationship. I encourage everyone to learn more about the Church’s teaching. For those who are not married, consider affirming the importance of this sacrament by praying and supporting married couples. And for those who are married, take advantage of the many resources offered nationally and here in the diocese through the Office of Marriage and Family.
Strong, healthy marriages contribute not only to the Church, but to our communities and society as a whole. This month, and throughout the year, be assured of my prayers that our marriages continue to thrive as life-affirming unions and our families are strengthened in their commitment to love one
another.
May God bless you.
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
I hope you enjoyed a blessed Christmas season, celebrating the Birth of Our Savior amidst the merry holiday festivities with family and friends. As we put away the decorations and leave the Christmas season, we enter another important period in the church calendar with a return to the Ordinary Time of the Year on Sunday, January 9, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. The Scripture Readings for this very special feast signal the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, just as our new calendar year marks a new beginning for each of us.
Wherever Jesus traveled, crowds gathered because they wanted to learn from Him. Indeed one of the first titles He was given was “Rabbi,” which means “Teacher.” It was usual for people to follow prophets, teachers and gifted Rabbis because they wanted to grow in their Jewish faith. From those very beginning days of the Church, people who met Jesus were hungry for more — more teaching, more wisdom, more of a spiritual connection to the long-awaited Messiah.
As I have visited our parishes over these past 18 months, I have witnessed that same thirst for knowledge — a desire to have a deeper faith. Just like the disciples in Jesus’ day, people throughout our diocese want more opportunities for learning about our faith to deepen their connection to, and love for, our Lord. As I stated in my pastoral letter What I have Heard and Seen:
My vision in regard to the Word of God and evangelization is that all our parishes, or parishes joined together within the Deanery, would provide catechetical programs for both young people and adults that directly address the Scriptures as taught and lived in the Catholic Church. Every parish/parishes should provide some form of Bible study within our Catholic tradition [pg. 11].
I hope that all our parishes will be providing these opportunities in the near future, if they are not already doing so. But in addition to formal Bible study, each of us can develop the practice of reading the Scriptures each day as part of our own spiritual life. As the great St. Jerome taught, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”
Why is reading and studying the Scriptures so important? Because it equips and motivates us to share our faith with others. We often refer to the Gospel as “the Good News” because it is a message of hope so remarkable that we want to tell others about it. As I also mentioned in my pastoral letter, one does not have to be an expert or ordained to “evangelize.” In fact, more people are drawn to faith by the ways each of us live, rather than by the words we use. As we study the Scriptures, we learn how to live our faith in such a way that others will certainly be attracted to the faith.
In this month of new beginnings and resolutions, I invite you to consider this New Year’s Resolution: commit yourself this year to a deeper understanding of your faith. Just as the members of the early Church sought to learn from the One Whom John baptized — the One whose life, death and resurrection would change the world forever and the One Who would attract ordinary people like you and me to be His disciples and witnesses in our world, so too can we do the same.
I know that it’s not easy to make, and be faithful, to New Year’s resolutions. So I offer the following simple and practical suggestions as a help.
1) Don’t try to do this on your own; partner with someone else. Make your commitment a joint effort with your spouse, close friend or neighbor to read, and share your thoughts about, the daily Scriptures.
2) Make prayer a part of your daily life, whether that’s early in the morning or late at night in a quiet place in your home, or while you’re commuting to work or school. Or even with those who share your commute you might consider praying a decade of the Rosary together. Personal or shared reflection time is valuable but when we share our faith it can truly blossom into something vibrant.
3) Consider attending daily Mass once or twice a week.
4) Perhaps there’s a faith-based course you’ve wanted to take. Convince a friend to join you.
5) Find ways to share your faith experience. When we love something, we are compelled to share it — a great book/new blockbuster movie/great restaurant. What if we had that same enthusiasm for sharing our faith? Maybe you’ve discovered an inspiring daily reflection book you can share with others.
6) Let your faith be contagious. As you grown more deeply in your own faith, let it influence the way you live so that it draws others to Christ.
In his Apostolic Exhortation, Catechesis Tradendae (On Catechesis in our Time), our late Holy Father the Blessed John Paul II, underscored the importance of Christ’s teaching through His life as a whole, as he wrote:
“… the majesty of Christ the Teacher and the unique consistency and persuasiveness of His teaching can only be explained by the fact that His words, His parables and His arguments are never separable from His life and His very being. Accordingly, the whole of Christ’s life was a continual teaching: His silences, His miracles, His gestures, His prayer, His love for people, His special affection for the little and the poor, His acceptance of the total sacrifice on the cross for the redemption of the world, and His resurrection are the actualization of His word and the fulfillment of revelation. Hence for Christians the crucifix is one of the most sublime and popular images of Christ the Teacher. “
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, my hope and prayer for you in this new and blessed year is that we will all feel the love of Our Lord and Savior every day of this new year, and that you will be inspired to grow daily in your understanding of His teachings, and in doing so, that you will bring Christ to others in the way you LIVE your faith in convincing and persuasive ways.
May God bless you, now and always!
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
October 2010
A Listening Shepherd
As the temperatures dip, and the trees change into their new vibrant colors, and predictions of frost on the pumpkins creep into the weather forecasts, we know that Autumn has arrived in full force. This month of October with its unique and natural beauty is also a beautiful and special month for other reasons.
October is Respect Life Month — a month when all of us reflect on, and pray for a deeper appreciation for, the precious gift of human life. October is also the month of special devotion for our Blessed Mother, and in a particular way, special devotion to the beautiful prayer of the Rosary. And those two special intentions of this month of October — respect for human life, and praying the Rosary with devotion — come together as we, the faithful of our diocese, pray that our Blessed Mother will help and inspire all of us toward a greater respect for human life.
The longer I am your bishop, the more confident I become in the awareness that our Catholic faith is strong and vibrant here in our diocese. I offer you these three beautiful statements of some of our fellow Catholics as a sampling of the hundreds of parishioner-submitted questionnaires from my parish visits during my first ten months here in our Diocese of Kalamazoo.
“My Catholic faith gives me the strength and courage to bear all my crosses in all aspects of my daily life.”
“The beauty of the Mass and the emphasis placed on Holy Communion help me to be closer to God.”
“As a parish family we share a common path to the greater Glory of God and we have each other to lean on as we journey through life.”
Strength, courage, beauty, closeness to God along the journey of life are beautiful expressions of the vibrancy of Faith all around us, more beautiful than the glorious colors of this Autumn season. It is truly inspiring to realize how God is at work in the 59 parishes, 22 schools, and various institutions of our Diocese.
My first pastoral letter, “What I Have Heard and Seen,” will soon be distributed to parishes and as I mentioned in last month’s column this type of communication affords me, as bishop of the diocese, the ability to communicate directly with the Faithful in the tradition dating back to Peter and St. Paul.
My parish visits, interactions with my brother priests, visits to all 22 Catholic schools as well as many other Catholic institutions and organizations in our diocese have informed my impressions and serve as the guide for the synopsis of what I saw and heard, and most importantly, what I learned from all of you.
As the pastor of the diocese one of my primary roles is to listen. As evidenced by the few sentences quoted above, it’s amazing how easily common themes emerge from the thoughts and ideas expressed by the Faithful. I wish to preview for you some of those themes that I will share in more detail in What I Have Heard and Seen.
The Faithful are hungry for a deeper and more meaningful connection to their Catholic Faith. Throughout my visits many expressed a desire for more opportunities to learn their faith whether through parish Bible studies or adult faith formation programs. In addition to learning, the faithful yearned for a greater ability to share their Catholic faith with others.
The Faithful are concerned about the future of the Church: Many themes from a concern with the number of vocations to the priesthood to how to reach and engage the next generation of Church leaders confirmed what I knew and learned about many of you: the Faithful hold very precious the Catholic Faith and want to ensure its vitality for future generations.
The Faithful want Catholic schools to thrive: At each parish visit the topic of Catholic schools was raised. The circumstances in our diocese are not unlike the national situation — challenging economics and rising costs are dramatically impacting our schools. Many of the Faithful expressed heartfelt, and oftentimes tearful, concern for the future of our schools.
The Faithful want a unified community: In our diocese we are blessed with a large and growing number of our Hispanic/Latino sisters and brothers. Many parishes are challenged with finding and implementing the best ways possible to create a unified parish that is not segregated due to differences in culture or language.
The Faithful lack a sense of connection to the diocese: At each visit I posed the question of whether or not people felt connected to the diocese. Resoundingly the answer was usually “no.” As your bishop it is extremely important to me for every Catholic to feel connected to the diocese and to have the sense that together — bishop priests, and the people — are united as Roman Catholics to our Holy Father.
In addition to these common themes of concern my Pastoral Letter will also offer details on some of the newly implemented diocesan initiatives. Additionally, a large body of the letter is dedicated to the future as I lay out a number of key commitment statements as your bishop and offer a vision for our future as the Church in the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
As I revisit the many areas of challenge and share with you the concerns, I hope like me you are not disheartened but rather inspired and hopeful. Just within the past few weeks I have had the blessed opportunities to celebrate with Catholic Family Services the excitement of a groundbreaking for a new housing project for homeless youth; to worship with the Catholic school children at a number of opening school Masses as well as the Living Rosary to begin the month of the Rosary; to celebrate Confirmation with many of our young people; and to speak on crucial life issues at parishes. At each of these interactions with the Faithful, I am joyfully impressed by the vibrancy of people’s faith throughout our diocese.
My hope is that you will receive my first pastoral letter as I intend it — to be my personal communication to you as the shepherd of this diocese reaching out in love to his flock. I hope you will read it as a letter filled with hope as we continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus in our daily lives; a hope for the glory that awaits us in His Kingdom when all our joy is complete.
God Bless You.
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
What I have Heard and Seen/Bishop’s Perspective
By the time you read this we will have bid a semi-official goodbye to the summer with the passing of Labor Day. The welcome sounds of children playing on the playground of St. Augustine Cathedral School adjacent to my office signify the beginning of another school year, and the slight peaking of color on the trees and the crisp cool nightly breezes tell us autumn is approaching. Hopefully, you enjoyed a fun-filled summer taking time to soak in the beauty of Southwest Michigan from the rural landscapes to the shores of Lake Michigan.
As I officially completed my first year as the Bishop of the Diocese of Kalamazoo this past June, I also had the opportunity to experience a few more “firsts” as I began my second year. These included my first experience at a Boy Scout Encampment; my first ‘elephant ear’ at the county fair; and the first time I had all our priests to my residence in small groups for deanery picnics.
Soon I will be adding another “first” to the list — the release of my first pastoral letter — What I Have Heard and Seen. This time last year I was embarking on my first visits to all 22 Catholic schools and 59 parishes within the diocese. Those visits, as well as other important interactions during my first year, have most importantly afforded me the opportunity to grow in my love for the Faithful of this diocese but also to observe, to learn, and to begin to form a vision for a future — a future filled with hope.
Today, amidst the modern communication forms of cell phones and the internet a letter may seem outdated, but letters give us the opportunity to go beneath the surface and connect at a more meaningful level. In fact a “pastoral letter” is literally an opportunity for me, your bishop, to communicate directly with each member of the Faithful about the things that are important to us as followers of Christ and as the living Church in the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
In a tradition dating back to the time of St. Peter, our first pope, pastoral letters were addressed to all the faithful of a given group of believers for the purpose of teaching and inspiring as well as, if needed, outlining the goals and vision for that particular group of faithful Christians. Apostles such as Peter and Paul wrote letters, or epistles, to Christians in cities such as Rome, Corinth, and Ephesus. Perhaps the best known example of this type of communication are the letters of St. Paul. As a missionary Paul wrote to a variety of people as they faced various challenges. Some of his letters were explanatory for new Christians so early in their journey of faith. Other letters were admonishing as he learned of misinterpretations and bad behaviors. Still others were offered as words of encouragement even as he himself dealt with his own discernment coming from imprisonment, shipwrecks and personal suffering.
Today bishops, who are primarily pastors and shepherds, write to the faithful within their diocese. At its very essence, a pastoral letter gives each bishop a vehicle to connect intimately and directly with you; to teach, to inform, and most importantly to convey the inspiration and hope that our belief in the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ gives us. Emphasizing the importance of a bishop’s message and connection to the faithful entrusted to him, Pope John Paul II detailed the vision of the role of the bishop after a Synod for the New Millennium, in Pastores Gregis, and explains further what a bishop is called to do:
The Bishop is called in a particular way to be a prophet, witness and servant of hope. He has the duty of instilling confidence and proclaiming before all people the basis of Christian hope (cf. 1 Pet 3:15). The Bishop is the prophet, witness and servant of this hope, especially where a culture of “the here and now” leaves no room for openness to transcendence. Where hope is absent, faith itself is called into question. Love too is weakened by the loss of this virtue. Especially in times of growing unbelief and indifference, hope is a stalwart support for faith and an effective incentive for love. It draws its strength from the certainty of God’s desire for the salvation of all people (cf. 1 Tim 2:4) and from the constant presence of the Lord Jesus, the Emmanuel who remains with us always, until the end of the world (cf. Mt 28:20).
These words encourage me as I hope to relay to you the very positive and hope-filled future I know God has in store for the faithful of our diocese.
My pastoral letter to you, which will be published soon, will continue in the same tradition as I will share with you the insights that I believe are critical to our ongoing pilgrimage of faith. I will outline the key challenges and concerns which I heard during my parish visits, raised by you. I will report on some of the newly-implemented initiatives already adopted to strengthen the governance of our diocese; and I will lay out in some detail my own commitments and vision for where we as a diocese are going into the future.
I grew up in an era where it was not unusual to write and receive letters from friends and relatives. As much as we all benefit from the many new forms of communication — some of which I am still trying to master — I still enjoy receiving “newsy” and loving letters. I hope you do, too, and that as you read my first pastoral letter to you, What I Have Heard and Seen, you will sense my deep appreciation for your faithfulness as well as my excitement over where, with God’s help, we are heading.
God Bless You.
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
July/August 2010
Be still and know that I am God
They’re finally here — the dog-days of summer that we dreamed of while sloshing through the endless piles of snow only a few short months ago. During this time of hot humid days and turbulent weather, summer is upon us in full force. While Spring seemed to gently arrive allowing us to enjoy the gorgeous Dogwood and lilacs accented by the magnificent colors of the tulips and pansies, summer has arrived with a bang. Despite some of the more dramatic summer storms the season affords most of us a time to slow-down a bit from the daily bustle of jam-packed schedules. In these days of Fourth of July Fireworks, County Fairs, Family Reunions, Vacation trips, and daily visits to the favorite swimming pool, we can “kick back,” reconnecting to the beauty of the world around us. But we also need to consider the ways that we can reconnect to our Faith and deepen our relationship with God in new and creative ways.
We can all relate to the Gospel story of Martha and Mary. Remember that they were two sisters who, along with their brother Lazarus, were dear friends of Jesus. Their home was one that Jesus liked to visit with some regularity; it was a place where Jesus could “kick back” and find some leisure time. Martha had the personality of “the worker bee”, while Mary had a more reflective personality. When Jesus came to visit, Martha had to scurry around, making sure that all the chores were being done, while Mary just sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to and visit with Him. Our American culture tends to herald the “Marthas” of the world, those “Type A” personalities who never slow down. However, it is Mary to whom Jesus points as an example for us to follow when He said to Martha for getting upset with Mary for not helping her:
“Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10: 41-42].
The “right thing,” of course, was spending time with Jesus. Martha, like many of us, viewed Mary’s “spending time” as idleness. There was work to be done. But Mary understood that the work can wait, and that taking some time to sit, listen, and learn is at least as important as bustling about in the kitchen.
German Catholic Theologian Josef Pieper explored this very theme in his critically-acclaimed book recently reissued by Ignatius Press, Leisure: The Basis of Culture. Pieper, a favorite philosopher and later beloved friend of then Cardinal Ratzinger, explains that for the first-century Greeks leisure originally meant stepping away from one’s day-to-day work in order to spend time learning about the deeper meaning of life. The explosion of Christianity expanded this practice of the contemplative life further as the early church gathered regularly to pray, study, and worship. What had been the luxury of the elite in Greek society, the church extended as a privilege for everyone — a blessing that we are invited to share today. When we gather on Sundays to celebrate Mass we acknowledge that the Sabbath is a special day, unlike the rest of the week. According to the Creation story, it was the “day the Lord rested,” and the Third Commandment beckons us to do the same. But while rest is important, there is a sacredness to our leisure that distinguishes it from mere idleness. “Cut off from the worship of the divine,” says Pieper, “leisure becomes laziness and work inhuman.”He further makes the connection between the ability to embrace leisure and it’s connectedness to the very core of our inner life: “[the unleisurely person “is not at one with himself...as the Middle Ages expressed it, sadness has seized him in the face of the divine Goodness that lives within him—and this sadness is that ‘sadness of the world’ spoken of in the Bible.”
Or as my mother used to say, “all work and no play....”
Perhaps no other pontiff so clearly illustrated this concept than Our Holy Father of blessed memory Pope John Paul II. A poet, actor, avid sportsman and athlete, Pope John Paul II clearly understood the value of recreation.
During a summer audience in July of 2000 he conveyed his thoughts:
“In today’s often frenetic and competitive society, in which the logic of production
and profit prevail, often at the expense of the individual, it is still necessary for
everyone to be able to enjoy adequate periods of rest, in which to regain their
energy and at the same time restore the right inner balance. Vacations, holidays,
must be wisely used in order to benefit the individual and the family through contact
with nature, tranquility, the opportunity to foster greater family harmony, good
reading and healthy recreational activities; above all, through the possibility
of spending more time in prayer, in contemplation and in listening to God.”
In accordance with these wise words, I had the wonderful opportunity during mid-June to join with more than 275 of my brother bishops from around the United States in a five-day retreat. And while being in steamy St. Petersburg, Florida in June is not all that comfortable, the spiritual experience provided a much-needed respite from our normally packed schedules, as we acted more like “Marys” than “Marthas” for a change.
Whether it’s a daily exercise or a more extended retreat, I urge all of you to enjoy these summer months, embrace leisure, and look for ways to explore your faith. Read a book with a spiritual angle — “My Life with the Saints” by Fr. James Martin is a wonderful introduction to many saints from St. Ignatius to St. Therese of Lisieux. Start a new daily prayer exercise. Consider following the Liturgy of the Hours or attending daily Mass. Consider making time for your own “retreat”—whether it’s a short hike through the woods or a day at the beach to connect with the splendor of God’s Creation. And most importantly of all: “Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.” There is no vacation from going to Mass each Sunday.
As the Church celebrates Ordinary Time, it is anything but “ordinary”. These weeks of Ordinary Time between now and late-November celebrate the mystery of Christ in all His aspects—-His life, teachings and miracles. The green vestments we wear in this liturgical season symbolize hope and growth, and are reflective of the opportunity we have to grow in our faith and hope in Christ for eternity.
My hope for all of you in these July and August months is that you are able to embrace this Summer season and focus more on being “Mary-like”, even while you still have “Martha-like” responsibilities to do. May we find the ways and take the time to gently listen at the feet of our Lord Jesus and experience the wisdom of what God has always invited us to do: “Be still, and know that I am God!”
May God bless you now and always.
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
June 2010
“It was not you who chose me, it was I who chose you” John 15:16
As I am learning here in Southwest Michigan, if you don’t like the weather just wait a little because it will soon change. Even as I write this we seem to have jumped from the cool breezes of spring to the the dog-days of summer. And by the time you read this, we may be shivering through a lake-effect, cold front.
Change is the one constant in life, isn’t it?
Over the last few weeks our Church has experienced its own change in seasons: the conclusion of our Easter celebration, followed by the birthday of the Church with the Solemnity of Pentecost; and as you read this we will be marking the Feast of the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on June 6th before the Church transitions into Ordinary time.
My own experiences over the last month have provided me with some interesting changes of scenery: I had the opportunity to visit our four men studying in Rome; attend a pastoral retreat with the bishops of the provinces of Michigan and Ohio; celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation at six parishes; and participate with our Catholic school graduates from Hackett Catholic Central at the baccalaureate Mass; with Lake Michigan Catholic’s seniors at their graduation ceremony; and with the St. Philip Catholic Central High School graduates at the all-school Mass honoring them.
There is still another “change,” or transition, occurring in the Universal Church about to take place as the special Year for Priests, which was designated by our Holy Father last year, comes to a conclusion on June 19th. I have been so pleased that here in our diocese, many of the faithful, as well as our priests, have found a variety of ways to celebrate “priesthood” as a way to express gratitude for this very special, and essential, gift to the Church. There have been cards sent, words of encouragement spoken, and a number of special events celebrated at various parts of the diocese over the course of this year. Our Holy Father wanted the Church to remember what a very important gift Jesus has provided for us, the Church, by giving us the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Our Holy Father also wanted this special year to be a way to inspire and encourage priests to take a deeper look at their own vocation and role as “priest” — to connect on an even deeper level how each priest is one with our Lord Jesus, the Great High Priest. Pope Benedict XVI, when calling for this special Year for Priests, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of St. John Mary Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests, said “This Year [for Priests is] meant to deepen the commitment of all priests to interior renewal for the sake of a stronger and more incisive witness to the Gospel in today’s world…”
As I reflect on all these wonderful experiences of the past year in anticipation of the first anniversary of my Installation as the Bishop for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, I feel my vocation as priest and bishop being renewed and refreshed. In last month’s column I was able to share with you the many benefits of my parish visits, and how it has afforded me the opportunity to come to know the wonderful people of this diocese a bit better.
I have also been fortunate in many other occasions to develop a deeper relationship with our priests through retreats, special events, and working collaboratively on several new diocesan initiatives. I have also gained a real appreciation for what our priests do, and who they are, by sharing experiences with them, beginning with the seminarians who are just beginning their journey toward priesthood, to the younger clergy, as well as to our older and senior men, including many of our retired priests who are “busier” in retirement than they were when they were on the “active” list.
A true highpoint for me in this Year for Priests was getting to visit the very center of our Catholic faith. Just last month, I, along with Father John Fleckenstein the Director of Vocations, had the great joy of making a pastoral visit to the North American College in Rome. During this very busy six-day trip, we were able to spend quality time with our four men studying there, Father James Adams, Deacon Ted Martin, and Seminarians Francis Marotti and Thomas McNally. While I was there, we got to celebrate Mass together at each of the four major basilicas in Rome, including St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major. At each and every Mass, we prayed for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for all seminarians, for all our deacons, priests and retired bishops, and all the faithful of our diocese.
I also had the greatest honor of all when I got to participate in our Holy Father’s Weekly public audience. I was one of about 25 bishops from all parts of the world who were invited to sit on the platform near the Holy Father during his catechesis, and then, we each had the opportunity to greet him individually after his address to the people in general. When I had my turn, I told him that the priests and people of the Diocese of Kalamazoo love him very much and that we pray for him with great devotion each and every day. I also thanked him for appointing me to be the bishop to serve the Church of Kalamazoo, and he asked me to thank you for your prayers. It was a very profound moment, to stand face to face, holding the hands of the Vicar of Christ on earth in mine. Pope Benedict is truly a brilliant teacher, but also a very holy man whose eyes are beautiful as he looks right into the heart of each person to whom he speaks.
So in our diocese, this Year for Priests has been quite eventful. During this year I have had the greatest joy available to any bishop: to ordain four new priests. I have strengthened fraternal relationships with our seminarians and our priests. I have personally spoken with our Holy Father. Each of these experiences has renewed my own spirit and strengthened my vocation.
St Augustine, patron saint of our diocese, speaking of priests said: “And as for us, what are we? Ministers (of Christ), his servants; for what we distribute to you is not ours but we take it from his store. And we too live of it, because we are servants like you” (Sermo 229/E, 4).
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ, even while we conclude the official Year for Priests, I ask that you join me in praying regularly for our priests who, like all of us, need your daily prayers and support that will lead to a stronger diocesan Church, and a deeper faith for each of us. I ask us to especially remember those priests who are celebrating special jubilees: Bishop Paul V. Donovan, Bishop Emeritus of our Diocese, who is celebrating his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination; Father Don Potts, pastor of St. Ann Parish Cassopolis, as well as Fr. Joseph Thatchet, retired, both celebrating 50 years; Father Tim Cuny, OSA, pastor of St. Peter Parish Douglas celebrating 40 years, and Father Ray Barth, retired, celebrating 25 years.
Even though the Year for Priests is coming to an end, I invite you to adopt the prayer at the end of my reflection as a daily prayer for priests. It was the great St. Augustine, our diocesan patron, who said about priests that they: “stand alongside their flocks as servants of Christ”.
Assuring you of my prayerful blessings upon you for a restful summer, as we remain waiting in joyful hope,
I am, Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Most Rev. Paul J. Bradley
April 2010
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
Christ the Lord is Risen, Alleluia. Risen Indeed, Alleluia, Alleluia.
Dear sisters and brothers in the Risen Christ,
It is my fervent hope that as you read this month’s letter to you, the Faithful of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, that your hearts are brimming with Easter joy. We have concluded our long lenten journey! And now, we experience, anew, the “new life” in our Risen Lord. As a result of our 40 days of self-denial and personal introspection through the season of Lent, I hope that we are all now reaping the benefits of those sacrificial practices and increased prayer times. As St. Paul tells us, when we unite ourselves with the sufferings of Christ, we truly also enter fully into the victory that Christ won for us through the Paschal Mystery of His suffering, death and resurrection. And that joy, brimming over in our hearts, leads us to shout/sing/proclaim the word that we have been unable to use during the Lenten Season:
“Alleluia”!!!
One of the Gospel accounts we will hear during these early days of Easter, which describes that kind of joy, is found in St. Luke’s account of what happened to the two disciples walking back to Emmaus on Easter Sunday evening. However, those two disciples hadn’t yet received the Good News; in fact, they were leaving Jerusalem, going back home, and their hearts were filled with nothing but discouragement and depression. Their Lord — the One they had hoped was the Messiah — had been killed and buried, and all their hopes and dreams for a new future were buried with Him. And so, they were walking back home, returning to their former way of life. But then, suddenly, a “stranger” joined them on the road and we know that “stranger” was our Risen Lord.
He began to teach them why all those things had to happen to the Messiah as was foretold in the Scriptures…and…”their hearts began to burn,” St. Luke tells us. It was a burning — a yearning — an excitement — a rekindling of those hopes and all the excitement they used to experience when their Lord and Master talked to them but it wasn’t until they urged the “stranger” to join them in their journey and eat with them and, when He broke bread and gave thanks to the Father…THAT’S when it hit them. IT WAS THE RISEN LORD! ALLELUIA!!! And just like that, He was gone — He had vanished. But, not really. He made Himself Present in that Bread He was breaking. It was in the “Breaking of the Bread” that they recognized Him. Their hearts were now “on fire” with the realization that Jesus is alive! And they raced all the way back to Jerusalem to tell the Good News to the rest of the Apostles and Disciples.
“Alleluia”!!!
For many of us, that may sound very familiar. We experience lots of frustrations, discouragements, disappointments, possibly even major life crises or terrible tragedies in our lives. These life experiences can make us feel like we’re defeated, or that life is just too much. We may feel like we’re left all alone in the midst of those pains and difficulties of life. Our hopes and dreams seem dashed; what we had planned for the future now seems lost. But, my sisters and brothers, that’s when we need to look really hard and see, with the eyes of faith, that the “stranger” is walking right along with each of us as well. And when we pour our hearts out to Him, and when we listen to Him, our hearts will begin to burn as well. And when we invite the Lord to “stay with us”, when we invite Him into our hearts to “break bread” with us, that’s when we, too, will recognize that the Risen and Living Christ is with us, and that He makes Himself really and truly Present to us in the Holy Eucharist. “Alleluia”!!!
This Easter Joy is so great that we can’t just celebrate it on one day. In fact the Church gives us 50 days in the Easter Season to tell and retell the Good News of Easter, and to experience the Real and Living Presence of Christ with us in the Eucharist every time we gather together as God’s holy people around the table of the Lord.
One particular group that gives me very great Easter joy are those 175 catechumens and candidates who entered into the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in so many of our parishes throughout the diocese. After such a long journey through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) that each of them has experienced, they now, as full members of the Catholic Church — our brothers and sisters in the Risen Christ — enter into the period known as “Mystagogy,” or “Period of Post-baptismal Catechisis” throughout the 50 days of the Easter season. As we rejoice with them, the neophytes, let us also promise to keep them in our prayers.
On the Second Sunday of Easter, the whole Church celebrates a special dimension of Easter Joy as we observe “Divine Mercy Sunday.” On that Sunday, we hear the Gospel account of Jesus appearing to the Apostles on Easter Sunday evening, and then one week later, which is when Jesus gives the Apostles, and all priests, the authority to forgive sins in the name of the Risen Christ. Because of that, that Sunday was designated by our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II in 2000 as “Divine Mercy Sunday.” This is part of the insight that Saint Faustina received in the revelations she received from Our Lord about God’s desire that we experience His Love and Mercy through the regular celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. In a decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on May 23, 2000, we are told that “throughout the world the Second Sunday of Easter will receive the name ‘Divine Mercy Sunday,’ a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that mankind will experience in the years to come.” On this day Catholics reflect, in a very special way on the abundant, unending, healing mercy. That’s also part of our reason to have our hearts filled with Easter Joy and to proclaim even more loudly “Alleluia”!
And so, there are multiple reasons why our hearts should be “burning” with the Love of the Risen Christ who is with us, and remains with us always.
May this Easter Season fill your heart with joy, cause your hearts to “burn” with love for the Presence of the Risen Christ with you always, and allow you to shout/sing/proclaim, no matter what else is going on in your lives, “Alleluia”, as we continue waiting in joyful hope.
May the Peace of the Risen Christ be with you and remain with you always!
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
March 2010
" An Olympic-size Challenge”
Peace be with you!
As we continue our Lenten Journey in these blustery, and I hope final, days of winter, I have been heartened to once again hear the sweet chirping of birds in the early morning hours and to note longer periods of daylight — clear signs that Spring is quicky coming our way after what seems like months of recurring ice, snow and even a blizzard (although I must admit that my first southwest Michigan winter was a “walk in the park” compared to the winter I left behind in southwest Pennsylvania). It is particularly befitting at this time of year to see “Mother Nature” beginning to transform from the stark white and grey of Winter to the bright colors and vibrancy of Spring. Seasonal signs, such as melting snow and budding trees serve as analogies to the kinds of spiritual growth and new life taking place within each of us during these 40 days of Lent.
In fact, the derivation of the word “Lent” comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for “Spring” — a time of new growth and new life. Perhaps one of the best examples of this new life are those tens of thousands of Catechumens and Candidates around the globe who will be entering into full communion with the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.
On the First Sunday of Lent at St. Augustine Cathedral, the Mother Church of our Diocese, I had the joy of celebrating the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, officially welcoming the 175 Catechumens (those who are preparing to be baptized) and Candidates (those already baptized who are preparing to be received into full communion with the Church) as members of the Elect. These 175 men, women and children come from 29 parishes across our Diocese. What a lovely site it was to behold the beaming faces of these Catechumens and Candidates, accompanied by their godparents, sponsors and family members. Though they come from a variety of different life experiences and backgrounds — some with new babies in tow and others with grown children and grandchildren — they share in common their decision to become Catholics and soon will be united with us as full members of the Catholic Church.
Whatever their life experiences, I commend each one of these 175 persons who have answered the promptings of the Holy Spirit and chosen to have a deeper and more fervent relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior through the Catholic Church. They are an inspiration to me and to all of us. And when we realize that the Rite of Election is celebrated in every diocese in the world on the First Sunday of Lent, and that literally tens of thousands of Cathechumens and Candidates are preparing to become Catholics, we should realize what an important day for our Church here in the Diocese of Kalamazoo, and the Universal Church throughout the world. In fact in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, there were over 2,000 Cathchumens and Candidates entering into the Church, so many that they had to use the Civic Center to accomodate them.
It is in light of the joyful enthusiasm and passionate excitement of these soon-to-be-new Catholics that I challenge each of us — already Catholics — to consider the degree to which we practice our faith. Are we practicing our faith passionately? Are we living our faith enthusiastically? I am the first one to admit that sometimes, we can take our faith for granted, especially if, like me, you were born into the faith and had the advantage of a loving Catholic family to support you. Perhaps it is hard to imagine any other way of life. But along with the blessing of feeling so “at home” in our Catholic faith comes the tendency to just go through the motions, treating the practice of our faith at times like an obligation rather than experiencing the passion and joy from seeing our faith as a Gift, and therefore actively engaging in the lived practice of our faith.
During almost every one of my Parish Visits — currently at #39 and counting — one of the number one concerns expressed by parishioners has been that of those who have left the Church, or who are no longer regularly practicing their faith. The question consistently is: what is the diocese doing both to evangelize those who have no faith and to reach out to those who have fallen away from the Church, and how do WE help people to become more engaged and active in the Catholic faith, especially those who were once Catholic and have turned away for one reason or another? While there are no easy answers to those questions, we only need look at the 175 Cathechumens and Candidates from across the diocese who will join the Catholic Church on Easter to find hope!
Each one of those 175 was inspired in some way, and by someone, to take that first step. Do we inspire anyone in the way we practice our faith? Actually, if we open our hearts, the passion of those Catechumens/Candidates to follow Christ more faithfully in the Catholic Church can actually inspire us and re-ignite our own faith. As we watch them moving into a deeper relationship with the Church, think back on your own decision to join the Catholic Church, or when you were preparing for Confirmation, and reaffirm that decision! Let the weekly celebration of the Mass and the realization of the Real Presence of Christ with us in the Eucharist breathe new life into your own faith! Make up your mind to treasure your faith as the precious gift it is, and refuse to just go through the motions of faith. Take the time to invite one person, perhaps someone in your own family, who has fallen away from the regular practice of the faith, to come to Church with you during these Lenten days. Approach each day with the expectation and hope that flows from the Good News that our faith promises.
The truth is that when we live our faith with passion and excitement, others will be attracted to our faith. Our human nature works like that; we yearn to be a part of things that are rich, exciting and so important to people that it makes them better people. We want what they have! The recent Winter Olympics in Vancouver found many of us glued to our TV sets. Hundreds of young athletes from more than 80 countries around the world from all five continents came to Vancouver to compete in the 21st Winter Games. How inspiring were the athletes’ dedication and drive! They had worked and sacrificed and practiced for years and years just for the chance to win that Olympic Medal of excellence. No doubt countless future athletes watched in awe as the seeds of Olympic dreams were planted. As inspiring and exciting as those Olympic games were, how much MORE inspiring it is to watch those 175 new Catholics here in our Diocese, and the tens of thousands of other new Catholics throughout the world, bravely beginning their journey of faith in the Catholic Church! And what is even more exciting is that ALL of us are already moving forward on that very same journey of faith.
The late great Pope John Paul II explored that very topic in his Apostolic Exhortation The Church in America when he wrote: “The Church is the place where men and women, by encountering Jesus, can come to know the loe of the Father, for whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father (cf. Jn 14:9).”
The late Holy Father then continued as he emphasized the importance of the Sacraments: “Communion of life in the Church comes through the Sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. Baptism is the ‘doorway to the spiritual life; it makes us members of Christ and draws us into the Body of the church’. (102) In Confirmation, the baptized ‘are joined more completely to the Church, they are enriched with special strength by the Holy Spirit and thus are more solemnly obliged to spread and defend the faith in word and deed as true witnesses of Christ’. (103) The journey of Christian initiation comes to completion and reaches its summit in the Eucharist, which fully incorporates the baptized into the Body of Christ.”
This time of Lent is a time of amazing opportunities for grace as we grow in our Faith. I urge all of you — myself included — to allow this time of Lent, and the impressive example of our soon-to-be-new Catholics, be a challenge to us to renew our own baptismal commitment. Let it be a time when we pray to the Holy Spirit to re-ignite the Flame of Faith in all of us so that we can truly be “on fire” as we live our lives of Faith — and in the process attract more and more people to accompany us on this exciting journey of Faith.
God bless you now and always!
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
February 2010
“Angels Along the Way”
Over the course of these past eight months since I’ve been in Kalamazoo, I’ve had my share of challenges in finding my way around the nine counties of our Diocese. Having grown up and lived most of my life in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I am often disoriented in getting my bearings as I travel throughout my new diocese. In fact, for the first couple weeks I was here, I had a hard time finding my way from the Diocesan Pastoral Center to my residence, only two miles away. One of my greatest joys these days is when I can set out to go somewhere and not need to look for directions. But for the many times that I still do, I am fortunate to have the assistance of an Angel. And I’m not just referring to my Guardian Angel assigned to me at birth; but also the trusty and invaluable GPS system built into my automobile, to which I have given the name “Angel”.
I actually find myself talking to “her” (since the GPS gives instructions via a pleasant and very polite
female voice) as I travel here and there for Parish Visits, Confirmations, meetings and other special occasions Through it all, in daylight and when it’s pitch black at night, whether it’s snowing or clear—-I rely on “Angel” to keep me on course. When I make a wrong turn, or even when I get a little curious about an alternate route, “she” kindly, and quickly, indicates: “Recalculating”.
As I was thinking about the quickly approaching Lenten season with the celebration of Ash Wednesday on February 17th, “Angel” serves as an interesting analogy. Each year the Church calls us to this special “season of grace”——these 40 days during which we are called to conversion of mind and heart and to a time of renewed commitment to the Good News of Jesus. We will all embark on this Lenten Journey on what may seem like a familiar journey, but one—-not unlike my travels around the Diocese—-which can benefit from the assistance of “Angel”—-some “GPS”-type Lenten directions.
For our Catechumens and Candidates going through the RCIA process, this journey began months ago, and they will soon find their own faith journey culminate at the beautiful Easter Vigil Mass when they will be welcomed as members of the Catholic Church. I look forward to the Rite of Election on February 21st when these “faith travelers” will all gather at St. Augustine Cathedral to formalize their journey of faith into full membership in the Church. Their resolve and commitment is impressive to me, and I’m sure, to all of their brothers and sisters in the faith. Many of them, like me in trying to become familiar with southwest Michigan, have little “frame of reference” for the Catholic Church, and they are being formed in the faith by the expert
guidance and teaching of our many RCIA volunteers and religious education directors.
There is a great deal that we can all learn from these “new” Catholics, and from observing their journey of faith. Because we are all on that same journey as we try to deepen our faith and to regularly experience a conversion of mind and heart to draw us closer to our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Lent gives each of us that opportunity to take advantage of the “GPS”-type directions the Church provides for us to keep us on
course. Traditionally, we look to the three grace-filled practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to be our Lenten “Angel”.
Prayer is essential in our lives, kind of like “Rest Stops” along the highway, which serve as regular times to “recalculate” and to turn our attention to God’s Presence inour lives. During Lent, many parishes offer a variety of programs, from parish missions to Lenten reflection series, to Friday night Stations of the Cross, to increased opportunities to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All of these are valuable ways to deepen our ongoing spiritual growth.
Fasting is another wonderful practice throughout the 40 days of Lent. Of course, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent have some obligatory fasting and abstinence practices which we’re all required to do (within the age requirements). However, beyond those to which we are obliged, we should all consider voluntary fasting practices as ways to keep us on course. The great Pope John Paul II (of blessed memory) taught that the benefits of fasting are an integral part of conversion.He said that in seeking interior conversion, “fasting has great value”, as “it is a need of the spirit to relate better to God.” He continued to point out that fasting reflects “a sincere desire for interior purification, willingness to obey the divine will, and
thoughtful solidarity toward brothers, particularly the poorest. There is, then, a close link between fasting and prayer. To pray is to listen to God and fasting favors this openness of heart.”
Almsgiving is the third, and a very concrete special Lenten practice. As of this writing, many of us have joined in the global effort to help those hundreds of thousands of our fellow human beings who have been catastrophically impacted by the earthquake in Haiti. The outpouring of generosity and heroic acts of rescue and medical assistance is very impressive. However, as we all know, there are those who are in need of our assistance around us here in Kalamazoo, or on other parts of our country and our world, every day. The sacrifice that almsgiving requires of us, when we take something that belongs to us, to share with those who have a greater need than we do, is a wonderful way to keep us from making “wrong turns” and taking tragic
detours which would require “Angel” to say “Make a U-turn as soon as possible!” (which I’ve heard in my car many times). Almsgiving brings us closer in solidarity to our less fortunate sisters and brothers.
I am very much looking forward to celebrating my first Lenten season in the Diocese of Kalamazoo. But while it may be my first 40-day Lenten season here, I have been observing this great “Season of Grace” every year of my life for many years. Some years my Lenten season has been very grace-filled; there have been some years, I’m sorry to admit, when for one reason or another, that was not the case. So much depends on God’s grace, but also on our own interior disposition.
One of the practices that I learned in the Seminary, and which I try to be faithful to every year, is to
make Lenten Resolutions. In the Seminary, this practice was called “the Bona Opera”, which is Latin for “the Good Works” that we intend to focus on during these 40 days. As seminarians, and for just about every year of my priesthood, I take some time before Lent begins to write down my “Bona Opera”, i.e. the resolutions that I intend to focus on during the upcoming Lenten season. What “good works” do I resolve to do every day? What acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving do I resolve to put into my daily practices? What changes in my own spiritual life do I feel God calling me to make, and how will I allow God’s “Angel” to lead and guide me to accomplish? That’s why I urge each of you to consider making your own “Bona Opera” sometime before the Lenten Journey begins so that you have some sense of direction of where you think God is calling you to go.
As we all chart our Lenten journey this year— —as we “plug it into our spiritual “GPS” system—-
it is my hope and prayer that your destination on Easter will be one that will result in a deeper faith
and a stronger love for Christ and for God’s holy people. Make some time for the “rest stops” of
prayer; resolve to keep the rules of fasting, both obligatory and voluntary; sacrifice some of your
own worldly goods for the sake of meeting others’ needs. When you do, your Angel” will bring you
safely to a deeper communion with our sisters and brothers and to a true conversion of mind and heart.
May the grace of Christ, who suffered and died for us and rose in glory, bring us to embrace the Joy
of that Good News, and may all His holy Angels be with you and guide you during this holy season.
Peace be with you!
The Bishop’s Perspective
By Bishop Paul J. Bradley
December 2009/January 2010
“The old and the new”
Peace be with you!
As I write this month’s “Perspective,” I have just returned from the annual meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Baltimore — a convening of the more than 300 bishops (active and retired) from throughout the country who come together for collaboration and discussion of the major issues facing the Church today. This year’s meeting marked the first time for me to attend as the Shepherd of the Diocese of Kalamazoo, and that important change in my responsibilities put the entire flow of the meeting into a much more focused perspective for me. During the general sessions of the meeting, I was struck by the rich diversity of my brother bishops — some, like me, were attending for the first time as an Ordinary; others had been attending for more than 20 years. I was also struck by the significant intersection of the “old” and the “new” when it came to dealing with the important issues of the day. During the three-day meeting, the Bishops discussed issues which are long-standing and age-old: the sanctity of human life at every stage of development; the preservation of marriage as an institution exclusively between a man and a woman; the changes of the Liturgy. However in our own day and time, each of these “old” issues takes on its own set of “new” challenges, whether that challenge is an attempt to redefine marriage, a new scientific technology that challenges the definition of life; or even a new translation of our liturgical prayers, challenging us to rethink an “old” theme.
By the time you are reading this, the Church will be observing the Second week of the Advent season. Once again, I am struck by this intersection of old and new — a “new” liturgical Church year has been initiated, while we are rooted in the “age old” season of Advent. Some Church historians date the beginning of the celebration of the Advent season to the fourth century — a season that was to be observed by fasting and self-reflection. For the Church, Advent, from the Latin “adventus,” which means “coming,” is a preparatory season: a time of looking forward and waiting for something greater; both for the annual celebration of something “old,” that is, the historical event of Christ’s birth, AND for the celebration of something “new,” the moment in a still-to-be-determined future when Christ will come again in glory.
The themes of our Advent Sunday Readings are also chosen carefully to remind us of the preparation needed for Christ’s return to us (the new), while also directing us to commemorate the first coming of Christ through His birth (the old).
The Old Testament Readings for our Sunday Mass celebrations focus our attention on those who came centuries before us who were waiting, with great longing and hope, for the coming of the Messiah. The “Advent” prophets Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah and Micah — all proclaim the coming of the Messiah whom we recognize as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Baruch captures the celebratory nature of the event upon us with his words:
Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery; put on the
splendor of glory from God forever: wrapped in the cloak of justice
from God, bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the
eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be
named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.
– Bar 5:1-9
But what is so distinctive about our own reflection during Advent, and the intersection of “old” and “new”, is the combination of being mindful of Christ’s Presence with us here on earth through our Liturgical and Sacramental celebrations; yet, we also prepare ourselves, and try to be vigilant for, His Presence when He comes in glory. It is in that sense that my own Episcopal Motto — “waiting in joyful hope” — describes our constant posture and attitude as Christians in this intersection of “old” and “new”.
Pope John Paul II, of blessed memory, in one of his beautiful Advent homilies, captured the essence of the Advent season in these words: "The Lord Jesus is at hand at every moment of our life. He is at hand if we consider him in the perspective of Christmas, but he is also at hand if we look at him on the banks of the Jordan when he officially receives his messianic mission from the Father; lastly he is at hand in the perspective of his return at the end of time.”
My dear sisters and brothers, while we all journey thorugh this year’s Advent, and enjoy “new” experiences mixed in with “old” traditions, my hope and prayer is that you remain truly engaged in the message of Hope of our new Advent season. May you be renewed in spirit during this new Church year as we remain confident in the “old”, and as we continue waiting in joyful hope for all that is “new” and still to come.
Since this is the only opportunity I have to publicly express my Christmas greetings to all the Faithful of the Diocese, I want to take this occasion to do so now. May the celebration of the Birth of Christ fill your hearts with Joy, and help you all to know how special and precious each and every one of you is to God. “For God so loved the world that He sent us His only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him...may have eternal life.” (John 3:16) May you, and all your loved ones, have a blessed and merry Christmas!
