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Homily
for the Chrism Mass “The
Church’s one foundation The Church’s one foundation – Jesus Christ – whom the author of Revelation tells us tonight is the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and ruler of the kings of earth. To him be glory and power forever and ever, especially to us who are his people, who constitute his Church. Last year at our Chrism Mass, I reflected with you on our call to communio – a call inherent in the very nature or being of God, a call that was of central importance to the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council. The Sacred Constitution, Lumen Gentium, defines the Church as a “Mystery” of communion in faith, hope and love, called into being by the Trinitarian God. This communion or koinonia is an internal reality of grace, the direct result of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, in whom we move and act and have our being and without whom we cannot claim to be Church. The point of that reflection was to provide us with a theological foundation for what was, at the time, the thirteenth draft of our Plan for Parishes. As you know, I was able to promulgate that finished Plan last November and the first phases of implementation to date have been very impressive. I wish to thank the Pastoral Leaders of the Diocese for that wonderful progress. Your cooperation and enthusiasm has been simply terrific. In taking hold of the concept of an “Area Faith Community”, you have not only begun to give shape to the concept, but you have interiorized the essential aspects of collaboration and mutual cooperation so vital to its ultimate success. I also want to thank publicly Mr. Mark Kemmeter who has been so very resourceful in the shaping and implementing of this project. As I have said so often, we have no blueprint here to follow, like our forbearers who first brought the faith to the Prairie, we are pioneers in building a new framework wherein the Catholic faith will be lived and handed on to other generations yet to come. But we must never forget that the dynamic quality inherent in “communio” of necessity gives rise to a “missio”, a being sent. The first word of Jesus in St. John’s Gospel is “Come” and his last word is “Go”. As our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II says in Christifideles Laici: “Communion gives rise to mission and mission is accomplished in communion.” (n. 32) We are, therefore, summoned to an interior life with God in Christ so as to be animated for being sent forth as disciples, as ambassadors of Christ’s reconciling love. This, too, was the vision of the Second Vatican Council, which referred to the whole Church, clergy and laity together, as the People of God, the Body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit. As such, this people is empowered not to be a social club concerned about the needs of its own members, but to be altruistic: empowered to bring the Good News of the Gospel to the very ends of the earth: to every man, woman and child of this age. In doing so, we as God’s people make the mission of Jesus so clearly set forth in both tonight’s first reading and Gospel proclamation, our own personal mission as well:
to bring good tidings to the poor, All the baptized, then, are united in a common and urgent task of being both a sign and an instrument of Christ’s sanctification of the whole world. The focus for the laity, according to the Council, is not the sacristy, but society; not ecclesial structures, but the very fabric of the family, the work place, the media, the world of sports, the relationships between all peoples. As such, they participate in being, for example, lectors, eucharistic ministers, volunteer catechists, married couples mentoring those engaged to be married, parishioners who sing in the choir, those who visit the homebound, parish council members, social justice advocates, to name but a few. Within this assembly of believers, however, some are chosen for the special task of governing, teaching and sanctifying in Christ’s name so as to keep the majority focused on their baptismal task of being a leaven in the world. Among their number are priests ordained for reserved and unique functions in which they stand, together with their bishop, in persona Christi capitas. Deacons, too, are ordained for special service in the areas of charity, liturgy and word. The ministry of the ordained is meant to assist and motivate the laity in their transformative duties. It is important that their mutually complementary roles be respected; the laity must not be over-clericalized and the role of priests must not be overly secularized. The two serve each other, giving life and strength to each other. While essentially distinct, they are ordained for each other and intimately linked.
Moreover, in the past thirty years since the Council, a new phenomenon
has appeared, virtually unforeseen by the Council Fathers, in the form
of lay ecclesial ministers. Here in this Diocese, we have been wonderfully blessed with lay ecclesial ministers in our Pastoral Administrators, our DRE’s, our Catholic School Administrators, our Youth Ministers and others. Their dedication and commitment is a source of apostolic energy for our ongoing diocesan efforts at evangelization and catechesis. While their roles are distinct from that of priests and deacons, they cannot be separate. As we affirm one group, we do not disparage the other since both contribute to the support and transforming mission of the faithful to the world. As we now begin to implement programs of formation for lay ecclesial ministers, I trust that their contribution will not only be recognized but truly valued. Theirs, after all, is a share in the ministry of Christ to govern, teach and sanctify his holy, yet sinful people. To my sisters and brothers who share in this missio, I offer my heartfelt thanks and the support of my daily prayer. You are valued as important collaborators in the mission of this local Church.
At the same time, I am aware that in a few moments I will ask our diocesan
priests to renew their commitment to ordained service. This is not something
we do casually, yet it is a pledge that we renew joyfully. The responsibilities
that you have been asked to bear have certainly increased over time.
Many demands are made on your time as well as your psyches. There is
no price that can be placed upon what you do and who you are. For you
have given yourselves unreservedly to Christ and only He can
adequately levy an appropriate recompense. As your bishop of now three
year’s time, I wish to say how personally supported I feel by you and
how encouraged I am by your dedication. I feel blessed indeed to be
a member of this presbyterate. So, please allow me to thank you in my
own name, in the name of the deacons and lay ecclesial ministers who
labor with you and on behalf of all the laity who benefit so directly
and so fully from your priestly service. We not only need your continued
ministry, we truly love you for giving it so generously and so selflessly.
And as you renew your commitment, let us never fail to encourage other
young men to follow in this wonderfully life-giving call. El Segundo Consejo del Vaticano nos enseña que fuimos bautizados y confirmados para trasformar el mundo de Cristo. Lo hacemos con nuestras familias, en nuestro centro de trabajo, en el sector público y con nuestros amigos. Eso lo hacemos con la gran fortaleza que nos da los sacramentos, las enseñanzas de la Iglesia y el poder del Espíritu Santo. Todos nosotros somos llamados a edificar la Iglesia mediante nuestra devoción, nuestro ejemplo, compartiendo nuestra fe y dandolé nuestro apoyo a nuestros sacerdotes y ministros laicos. Tampoco debemos olvidarnos de orar por vocaciones al sacerdocio y a la vida religiosa en nuestra Iglesia.
“Elect
from every nation,
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