Nienstedt assumes the office of Shepherd - to teach, pray, and serve with ". . .such zeal that the glory of God within each will shine . . ."
Feast of the Transfiguration
". . . My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, you and I have journeyed to this metaphorical mountain on the Prairie here in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota as present-day disciples of Jesus who likewise seek to do the Father’s will. My predecessor, Bishop Lucker said so often in his monthly column which appeared in the Prairie Catholic, our mission as followers of Christ is contained in the three-fold task of: 1) proclaiming and teaching the Word; 2) celebrating the Sacred Mysteries and building up the bond of unity which is fellowship in the life of the Spirit, and 3) reaching out in loving service to those in need, especially the poor, the infirm, and the stranger.
Herein lies the mission of the local church of New Ulm at the beginning of this third Millennium of God’s grace and favor. And herein lies the mission of its new bishop who before you today pledges all the energy and devotion of his heart to this awesome task of building up the Kingdom of God for as long as God grants me strength and life.
I join my voice with that of our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in proclaiming that: "Jesus alone is the solution to all your problems. He alone is the way, the truth and the light. He alone is the real salvation of the world. He alone is the hope of salvation."
So as we stand here pondering the mystery of God’s Providence, as we look to the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, as we discern our individual roles and God’s plan for that salvation, we look to Jesus and the glory of the Father radiating from his most Sacred Heart.
When I first entered this magnificent church on June 28th in the company of Father Brian Oestreich, I was overwhelmed with the evident faith of the people whose loving devotion built such a magnificent edifice to the intercession of Our Lady, Help of Christians. Then I spied the towering statue of the Sacred Heart on the side chapel, with St. Therese close by his side, and I knew I was home. Please God with the powerful assistance of these three (Jesus, Mary and Therese), there is no reason for any of us to fear whatever may come, there is only the hope of future glory.
And so, that’s my agenda - that’s my game plan - that’s what lies in the head and the heart of your new bishop as he assumes the office of Shepherd - to teach, to pray and to serve with such zeal that the glory of God within each of us will shine forth before the world.
On the day of the announcement, June 12th, I quoted the advice that the late John Cardinal Dearden gave me when I became a pastor for the first time. Essentially it was to wait a year before changing anything. I believe that is very wise counsel in that it gives the priests, pastoral administrators, religious and people of the diocese time to get used to me. And it gives me time to observe, listen and contemplate their lives of faith.
In the meantime, however, all other activity does not stand still. You still have to eat, to sleep, to brush your teeth and wash behind your ears. And so, the pastoral plan "Hope for Years to Come" must continue to go forward, our commitment to our mission in Guatemala must not waiver, our support for Catholic schools and religious education must be reaffirmed and our efforts to end the culture of death by overcoming the scourge of abortion on our society must never let up.
But among all these responsibilities that make up our perennial duties is the work of inviting young men to the priesthood and young women and men to the religious life. St. Matthew quotes Jesus in the ninth chapter of his Gospel as saying: "The harvest is good but laborers are scarce. Beg the harvest master to send out laborers to gather his harvest."
Now we know this is the age of the lay apostolate and our Holy Father reminded us in Mexico City that the New Evangelization will require the dedicated involvement of lay ministries, but that vocation cannot be gained at the expense of ordained ministers.
The hierarchy is a constitutive element of the church established by Jesus Christ and that means without it we do not measure up to what Jesus intended. I am convinced that Jesus is calling young men, and older men as well, to act in his priestly person. My brothers and sisters, we must believe this if we are to be faithful to Christ.
I also want to assure you that this is not simply a numbers game, a mere program of recruitment. No, it is a call to liberate the hearts of those individuals who have been chosen by Christ for his service, in order that they may realize the potential that God has given them. I have known that sense of fulfillment in my life as a priest these past 27 years. With all my heart, I want others to know the joy and satisfaction of that commitment in their lives as well.
The work of fostering priestly and religious vocations is a number one priority for the third Bishop of New Ulm and with the help of all of you I want us to begin a full-court press to see that it takes place.
But let us remember that vocations come from God, not from us. Jesus gives the grace, only he sustains the call. Therefore, I ask that for the next year every meeting on a parish or diocesan level begin with prayers for priestly, religious, diaconal and missionary vocations. I ask every family for the next year to pray for vocations whenever they sit down to bless their food or kneel down to give thanks for their abundance. I ask that for the next year every Prayer of the Faithful whether at a Eucharistic celebration or a Scripture service likewise include such a petition for vocations.
Secondly, our fervent prayer must be accompanied with fasting. Therefore, I ask that for the next year abstinence from meat on Fridays be undertaken specifically for vocations. At first, this may strike you as a simplistic request, but I can assure you that I have experienced in my own life how acceptable such fasting is to God when it is offered with a devoted heart.
So that’s my heartfelt request of every Catholic in this diocese -prayer and fasting for priestly, religious, diaconal and missionary vocations.
A second source of concern for me is the present crisis facing family farmers in this rural area. As a church we must work with State and Federal government agencies to ensure that the dignity of the farmer is protected and the common good promoted. One thing is very clear: the economy exists for the people, not the other way around. I support the 1999 statement of the Bishops of Minnesota on this issue and I pledge to do whatever I can to help us respond positively to present day challenges and to find solutions that are just, supportive and long-lasting for our farm communities.
On behalf of the whole diocese, I wish to acknowledge the positive leadership exercised by Father Jerry Berger and the Board of Consultors during the past nine months. I am delighted to know that I will continue to have their wise counsel during the weeks and months ahead.
And last, but certainly not least, I wish to raise up for our recognition and gratitude the tireless ministry of my predecessor, Bishop Raymond Lucker, over these past 25 years in this diocese. I was able to visit with Bishop Lucker during my second visit here some weeks ago and to receive his personal blessing. In that meeting I also experienced first-hand the deep love that this man has for the priests, religious leaders and people of the Diocese of New Ulm and for our mission in Guatemala. I spoke with him again yesterday morning and he reassured me of his support as well as his love for all of us. With you I pray that these days of suffering and pain for him be accompanied and sustained with our love and appreciation for all that he has done on our behalf to build up the Kingdom of God in the Diocese of New Ulm.
My dear friends, old and new, we have all been so blessed in the rich gift of faith that flows from the heart of our crucified Lord. We dare now to continue this Eucharist in his name, asking to be fed with his Body and Blood that we, too, might experience the Father’s glory and be transformed more and more into the self-giving image of his Beloved Son."
Excerpts taken from the Installation Homily, August 6, 2001.
Installation Mass Homily
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota
Bishop John C. Nienstedt