I am in the process of resuming my blog entries. My hiatus from these entries has been due to the preparations for my move to Orange, California. What will follow is a reflection on some of the faith celebrations that I have been privileged to attend in these months of November. Upon my arrival to Orange, the format will change a bit, and also I have tentative plans to begin “tweeting” with a new Twitter account. But for now, Pazienza as it is said in Italian.
The month of November begins liturgically with the celebration of All Saints Day and All Souls Day (November 1 and 2), which gives the month a special character and identity, being dedicated then, to all of the "Faithful Departed". Both of these Feast days have been celebrated on these days since about the 800's and 900's respectively. These days are times to reflect on the reality of the Communion of the Saints, Eternal Life, the Paschal Mystery, Purgatory, and the spiritual work of mercy of Praying for the Dead. On November 2, for the first time since I have been in Fort Worth, I was able to celebrate Mass outdoors at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, and bless the graves following the Mass. A special thanks to Fr. Thu Nguyen for his pastoral care and liturgical expertise in preparing for this day.
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| Outdoor Mass at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth |
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| St. Ignatius Academy at dawn. |
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| St. Patrick's recently completed Parish Life building with a beautiful sunset in the distance. |
Following this, I was blessed to be able to travel to Loretto, Pennsylvania, to the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Friars, TOR, whose presence has been a blessing for the Fort Worth Diocese of 30 years. The Minister Provincial, Father Nicholas Polichnowski, TOR, had invited me on the behalf of the community, to celebrate the priesthood ordinations of Brother Ronal H. Hurl, TOR, and Brother Jonathon McElone, TOR, (both have been stationed in the Diocese of Fort Worth in pastoral internships) and the Diaconate Ordinations of Brother Patrick J. Whittle, TOR, Brother Michael A. Tinker, TOR, Brother Augustine A. Lieb, TOR, and Brother Staffan K. Jakobsson, TOR. Such occasions as these are providential opportunities that the Lord gives us to teach, once again, the Franciscan heritage in the life of the Church. Also, of the importance of working to construct a culture of “vocations,” prayer and support for the Franciscan Friars in their ministry, and a general reflection on how, in our community of faith, we are linked by the Lord in each of our respective vocations to build up His Body here on earth, the Church. On the Sunday following this celebration, I had the blessing of celebrating Mass at the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Thanks to the Friars both in Loretto and Steubenville for their welcome and hospitality.
A later celebration of another TOR Friar, was the celebration at All Saints parish in Fort Worth for Fr. Esteban Jasso, TOR, for his 80th birthday and his years of religious profession and ordination. Thank you, Father Jasso, for your tireless witness to the Faith, your Franciscan Vocation, and your concern for our immigrant families; that they receive the pastoral care that immigrant families of past generations (all of ours) received, and that we all work toward a just and faith based reform of immigration. Thank you, also, Father Jasso, for your unfailing support of All Saints School, which is having an increase in enrollment. (See my previously posted blog entry.)
The month of November also saw the annual Bishops meeting in Baltimore. Prior to this meeting, I attended the annual "Umilta" recognition dinner in Washington, DC, which recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to seminary formation in our country. "Umilta" stands for "Our Lady of Humility". This is the title of our Blessed Mother, from an icon with this name at the graduate house of the American College in Rome, the Casa Santa Maria. This year was especially important for us in North Texas, since one of the “Umilta" recognitions were given to Bill and Sue Cicherski of Dallas, for their long time involvement in the life of Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas. Holy Trinity this year, like a number of our seminaries, is now full, and has new Dioceses sending men for study there. Holy Trinity is under the capable leadership of Msgr. Michael Olson, of the Diocese of Fort Worth.
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| The Lincoln Memorial. |
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| The Washington Monument at night. |
Finally, on the Monday of Thanksgiving week, I was present at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston, Texas, for the installation of a number of men to the Ministry of Acolyte. Among them was Nghia Nguyen of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Congratulations to these men, and the Rector of St. Mary's, Fr. Trung V. Nguyen, and the faculty and staff of St. Mary's.
Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving,
+ Bishop Kevin W. Vann
Homily for the Mass of Installation for Acolytes
St. Mary’s Seminary
Houston, Texas
November 19, 2012
Dear Fr. Trung, staff and faculty of St. Mary's,
those being instituted as Acolytes today, and friends all,
Thank you for the invitation to be with you today at this important time in the lives and formation of our seminarians. I thank you also for your patience with the challenges of my scheduling, which has been made even more complex with my appointment to Orange. However, the important point is that, in God's Providence, we are here together to celebrate this important day in the journey toward priesthood for our brothers here.
When I was a student at Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, at a time that seems far removed now in many ways, the end of the month of May was always a joyful time in the seminary because it was a festive time of ministries and ordinations in the beautiful Gothic chapel of the seminary, which is dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul. Candidacy was always first, followed by the lector on the next night, then the ministry of acolyte, and then on to the various ordinations on the Saturdays of May and June. The music was always beautiful, there was a great celebration and party afterward with family and friends, and we always wondered who the Bishop was going to be and what he was going to preach about. From this distance, looking at it from that time, we were obviously concentrating on the wrong things! Those of us who were installed as acolyte that year (1979) were given the opportunity to think seriously about the responsibilities and importance of acolyte in strengthening the fabric of the Body of Christ that year. The celebrant was Bishop George Gottwald, one of the auxiliary Bishops of St. Louis who was always known as a great preacher. He had many responsibilities over the years, one of which was to be the administrator of the Archdiocese of St. Louis after the death of Cardinal Ritter and before the appointment of Cardinal Carberry - not a good time, nor an enviable responsibility. As he spoke to us before the liturgical rite of installation, he said that now "we were on the way to victimhood!"
Well, that obviously didn't match up with the party we were thinking of that would happen shortly on that beautiful day in May in St. Louis! But, now at the distance of these years, I can see the depth and the intent of his reflection.
After all, in this rite, you are exhorted to conform your lives to the mystery of the Eucharist, which you will not only distribute, but which you will distribute during the Liturgy and take to those in need. Thus, the Church proclaims that now you are officially to minister the living Body and Blood of the Lord, who is both victim and priest. Thus, you are drawn every closer to the Paschal Mystery in all its fullness, and you will be given the opportunity to live that reality in the people to whom you are sent, and to share in their sufferings and joys of their lives. You will walk, live and participate in that reality. After all the Gospel passage you chose – the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes - begins with “The crowds meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured.”
So, important as the Liturgical details are in ministering of the Body and Blood of Christ, even more important is that you are now being called to a deeper union with the Lord when you take His Body and Blood to those who are in need of His presence - just as the 5,000 were that day in Bethsaida. And the call to that deeper union will be Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and even Easter Sunday at times all in the same day with Christ, victim and priest. As you say “yes” to this today, you are also saying “yes” to a profound new reality and identity for your own lives.