. . .waiting for a new bishop

What does the new bishop promise?

by Father Jerry Meidl

In the Catholic church, when a person comes for a sacrament, there is often a profession of faith or a profession of readiness to assume the responsibilities of the sacrament being given. For example, in Baptism we have baptismal promises, which are often repeated at the other sacraments of initiation, Confirmation, and Eucharist. In the marriage rite the couple is asked questions relevant to the couple’s readiness to assume the responsibilities of receiving the Sacrament of Matrimony. And the Ordination rite, the presbyterial candidate is asked about his readiness to assume the office of presbyterial priesthood in the Catholic church.

Likewise, the man chosen to lead us as our next bishop will be asked about his readiness to lead us as the Shepherd of the people of God in the New Ulm diocese. What will be asked of the candidate who will be our next bishop?

Some of the questions are similar to the questions asked of a priest before ordination. "Are you resolved to be faithful in proclaiming the Gospel of Christ?" As the priest promises obedience to his bishop, a bishop is asked, "are you resolved to be faithful in your obedience to the successor of the apostle Peter." The bishop promises obedience to the Holy Father.

A bishop has many responsibilities particularly his own. For example, the bishop elect is asked if he is willing "to maintain the deposit of faith." He is to keep alive the truths of our faith. He is to make sure we don’t lose any of the truths of our faith and make sure new falsehoods don’t creep into the body of truth that is already known and established in the church. The bishop is "to build up the church as the body of Christ and remain united to it." A bishop is to strengthen the faith of his people and make sure they are united in their faith to the rest of the church. A bishop is to keep the people, the sheep, of his diocese from wandering away from the church in its beliefs and practices. The bishop elect is asked if he is "resolved to sustain the people of God and to guide them in the way of salvation in cooperation with the priests who share" his "ministry." The bishop is in the work of the salvation of souls, but he is reminded of his helpers, the priests, in this ministry. He is to count on and rely on the help of his priests to guide all the people of the New Ulm diocese to salvation. The bishop is asked "Do you resolve to be a "good shepherd, to seek out the lost and gather them into the fold of Christ? Do you resolve to show kindness and compassion to the poor, the stranger, and those in need?" The bishop is asked some quite obvious questions but nonetheless important ones so that in the grace of this moment he remembers he is ordained and sent not to rule as much as to serve.

And finally the bishop is asked to do the most elementary and most important task of all, "Do you resolve to pray for the people of God?"

As we await our new bishop’s coming let us pray for him, that when he comes God may grant that we grow together, shepherd and sheep, as worthy stewards of the Gospel and instruments of God’s peace.