My priestly ordination invitation had my motto on it, not in Latin, I was ordained in 1980 after all, but in English. It is: “Rejoice in the Lord Always” .
I wonder if Bishop Parkes saw my invitation?
My invitation cover:
Just saying! Of course Philippians simple expresses the same sentiment as the more ancient Psalm 100, no?
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9 comments:
As someone who appends almost everything he writes with that phrase, from Philippians, I heartily approve!
Whether in Latin or English, it says it all!
(BTW, my mother, Maureen Therese Bernadette King Sawicki, died on Friday. Please pray for the repose of her soul. Funeral Mass (EF Low Mass, Fr. George Rutler, celebrant, 10:30 AM Wednesday!).
Gaudete in Domino Semper!
Very nice! I wish the people of the Diocese all the best with their new bishop!
Richard, eternal rest grant unto her, o Lord! And an EF Requiem with Fr. Rutler, wow. You are in my prayers.
The Church desperately needs good bishops. Our new bishop is an unknown entity, so the best thing we can do is pray. Either he is going to be with us for a long time, or this is the first step in a vertical career. Either way, he needs our prayers and we need a good bishop. Please Lord, let him rise above the status quo and be one of the good guys.
Sophia here: Heartfelt Condolences on the death of your mother, Richard. The loss of a mom at any age, is existentially and singularly painful because of the unique bond between a mom and her "child". May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed RIP, Amen.
Pax
Sophia here:
Anonymous @ 12:28 PM. I heartily concur!
"Our new bishop is an unknown entity, so the best thing we can do is pray."
Under a hermeneutic of suspicion, maybe.
If one begins, however, without that burden, understanding that this man has served the Church well and honorably as a priest an pastor, that he has the trust of his former ordinary, that he is held in high regard by the clergy of his former diocese, that the papal nuncio has found him to be a worthy candidate for the office of bishop, then he is hardly an "unknown entity."
We don't start with A) This could be good or B) This could be bad.
There is every reason to think that his time as our bishop will be a blessing for the Church of Savannah and the Church universal.
Well, I guess he is unknown in the sense few laity in the diocese have ever heard of him. But then again, how many laity keep track of who is "runs the show" in other dioceses or which bishop is more prominent than another at the national level. I wonder when a papal nuncio does an interview, how tough it is and what he asks? In any event, the new bishop is probably glad he was not sent to North Dakota or some other polar opposite in climate from Orlando!!!
I don't think there is an actual interview with the nuncio. The idea is that a priest is not supposed to know that he is under serious consideration for the office fo bishop.
When a man is under serious consideration, the nuncio makes contact via the mail with priests who know him well. Usually these are priests who hold or have held curial positions in their dioceses. (I was vice-chancellor for 5 years, so I have received, I think three of them. One time I simply returned it - I didn't know the man under consideration more than in passing.) The questionnaire is very detailed. All the questions that might be asked of the candidate are asked of those who know him well.
The man's own bishop would be the one, I think who would have a person to person discussion with the nuncio. Anything he might have published is taken into account. (Posting a text of one's homilies every Sunday could work for or against him!) His academic record is examined, the private "notes" about him in the seminary evaluations are seen, questions about his physical and mental health are asked, etc.
It's a thorough vetting process and only very rarely does a real klunker get through the process.
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