The last two weeks have seen great attention paid to our new shepherd, Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan. From the time he knocked on the great doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral (twice) he has received a welcome from not only our faith...
The last two weeks have seen great attention paid to our new shepherd, Archbishop Timothy Michael Dolan. From the time he knocked on the great doors of St. Patrick’s Cathedral (twice) he has received a welcome from not only our faith community but from all people of goodwill. Both the Vesper Service and Mass of Installation were most impressive. The vastness of the particular church which he is called to lead was pointed out by the procession of the vicariates. His homily concluded with an appreciation of what was seen in Evening Prayer: “My new friends of this great archdiocese, would you join your new pastor on an ‘adventure in fidelity,’ as we turn to Staten Island Expressway, Fifth Avenue, Madison Avenue, Broadway, the FDR, the Major Deegan, and the New York Thruway into the Road to Emmaus, as we witness a real ‘miracle on 34th street’ and turn that into the road to Emmaus? For, dare to believe, that: from Staten Island to Sullivan County, from the Bowery, to the Bronx to Newburgh, from White Plains to Poughkeepsie… He is walking alongside us.”
It was a unique privilege to acknowledge the papal decree as a member of the College of Consultors. One had the recognition that a new chapter of ecclesiastical history was being inaugurated. Even before his homily our Archbishop embraced all the people as he exchanged in Kiss of Peace with his predecessor: Edward Michael Cardinal Egan, the apostolic nuncio to the United States: Celestino Migliore, the auxiliary bishops of New York, the ordinaries of the State, yours truly with my fellow consultors, representatives of various departments and ministries of the Archdiocese, and representatives of over forty ethnic groups present in New York, and leaders of other Churches, ecclesial communities, and faith traditions.
Reflecting on the nature of the Easter season, the experience of the early church as portrayed in the Acts of the Apostles, and the disciples’ experience of being catechized by the Risen Christ, Archbishop Dolan touched upon the gifts, opportunities, and challenges of the Church. Expressing his gratitude to God for placing him in our midst our “father in faith” acknowledged: “The risen Christ is alive here in the Church in and through her priests. My brother priests: you are the apple of my eye! You mean everything to me. Without you, I can do nothing. In you I still see St. Isaac Jogues, Venerable Felix Varela, Isaac Hecker, Fighting Father Duffy, Fulton J. Sheen, Richard John Neuhaus, Avery Dulles; in you I see men who continue the power of the resurrection at the altar, in the confessional, in the classroom, with the sick, searching, and the poor. I have long admired you from afar, but today for the first time I can say, ‘my brother priests’ of the Archdiocese of New York – my admiration, deep appreciation, and unflagging love to you; the Risen Christ is alive in…consecrated religious, women and men, in whom Elizabeth Ann Seton, Francis Xavier Cabrini, and Mychal Judge find most worthy heirs, as you continue to give the Word flesh in your simplicity of life, charity, and obedience. The awesome yet gentle might of Christ’s Resurrection continues in the Church of New York in her faithful people, women and men who love their church in spite of her wounds, who savor their baptismal call, rely upon the grace and mercy of prayer and the sacraments, live as committed husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, and generous single people, and who bring the person, teachings and initiation of their Lord to family, community, parish, and the public square, continuing the legacy of such lay leaders as Pierre Toussaint, Dorothy Day, and Governor Al Smith.”
The Archbishop in his assessment of our times notes that the Church continues in the dying of Jesus. This occurs: “As we are tempted to fatigue in our works of service and charity; as we continue realistically to nurse the deep wounds inflicted by the horrible scandal, sin, and crime of sexual abuse of minors, never hesitant to beg forgiveness from God and from victim survivors and their families, committed to continue to reform, renewal, and outreach Pope Benedict encouraged us to last year, when, among many other places, he urged us in this very cathedral, ‘to respond with Christian hope to the continuing challenges of this painful situation…’ the cross is there as more and more of our people are burdened under financial woe and uncertainty; as strains on the family take their toll, or as the Church is ridiculed for her teaching on the sanctity of marriage; as we struggle to keep our parishes and schools strong, and recognize a new harvest of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, and faithful, life-long, life-giving marriage; shortages and cutback, people mad at the Church or even leaving her, and our seeming inability to get the Gospel message credibly out there…are we not at times perhaps like those two dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus? They were so absorbed in their own woes, so forlorn in their mistaken conclusion that the one in whom they had placed their trust was dead, so shocked by the shame, scandal, and scorn of last Friday…that they failed to recognize Jesus as He walked right alongside of them!”
As Good Friday is followed by the triumph of Easter so “The Resurrection of Jesus goes on in our apostolate for the struggling, searching, and marginalized, as thousands of those closest to Christ’s Sacred Heart – the hungry, homeless, sick, troubled, and immigrants – find solace and help in our Catholic charities and healthcare. Conscious are we of former Mayor Ed Koch’s observation that the Catholic Church is the glue that keeps this city together …and,. the Resurrection goes on, as His Church continues to embrace and protect the dignity of every human person, the sanctity of human life, from the tiny baby in the womb to the last moment of natural passing into eternal life. As the Servant of God Terrence Cardinal Cooke wrote, “Human life is not less sacred or worthy of respect because it is tiny, pre-born, poor, sick, fragile, or handicapped.” Yes, the Church is a loving mother who has a zest for life and serves life everywhere, but she can become a protective “mamma bear” when the life of her innocent, helpless cubs is threatened. Everyone in this mega-community is a somebody with an extraordinary destiny. Everyone is a somebody in whom God has invested an infinite love. That is why the church reaches out to the unborn, the suffering, the poor, our elders, the physically and emotionally challenged, those caught in the web of addictions.
The risen Jesus remains alive in this archdiocese as the Church partners with respected neighbors and friends of other Christian families, our Jewish older brothers and sisters in faith, who today conclude Passover and have our best wishes, and with our Islamic and Eastern religious communities, as the church relishes the unique ecumenical and inter-religious concord of this greater New York community; and as the archdiocese collaborates with our political, civic, cultural, and business leaders, so very welcome here today, in all noble prospects advancing human welfare and dignity. Seven-and-a-half years ago, on September 11, 2001, New Yorkers gave a lesson of extraordinarily generous courage to the world. Selfless police officers, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel, saved lives, and many gave theirs. Their sacrifice was an ecumenical, inter-religious civic testimony to the worth of every human person. You did us all proud, and now how proud I am now to partner with all of you in that same spirit;
..and, maybe most of all Christ remains present in His church as people whisper prayers, worship at Sunday Mass, struggle with sin and pursue virtue, hunger for God’s word and Sacraments, and realize that, as much as we love New York, we have here no lasting home, for our true citizenship is in heaven.”
May God grant our enthusiastic spiritual leader a long life and may we pledge our cooperation with his apostolic mission
Vivat Jesus
Fr. Brian