As shepherd of the Catholic of Diocese of Fort Worth, my travels take me to every corner of our Local Church, around the United States, and sometimes as far away as Rome, Italy. Through the “Shepherd of Fort Worth” blog, I wish to share with you important information about our diocese, the wonderful spirit of our Catholic faith, the people I encounter, and the blessings of daily life.
Tonight, at 7PM, in Fort Worth I will have the pleasure of presiding over evening prayer with the conferral of Pontifical Honors on five priests of the Diocese of Fort Worth. They are: Monsignor Stephen Berg, Monsignor Juan Rivero, Monsignor Raymond Mullan, Monsignor E. James Hart and Monsignor Publius Xuereb. These priests have faithfully served the diocese in various capacities and with great joy the local Church will recognize these men. Months ago we celebrated the conferral of pontifical honors on sixteen lay faithful as well. Now we get to extend this honor on members of the ministerial priesthood. This practice is an opportunity to both show our connection and filial devotion to the Holy See while at the same time recognizing years of service, an expression of evangelical charity. Thanks to these fine collaborators and their families.
Today the Diocese of Corpus Christi celebrates its centennial and marks 100 years of faith. In what is expected to be a major celebration, Bishop Michael Mulvey will host his fellow Texas Bishops and even USCCB president and archbishop of New York, Timothy Cardinal Dolan. I join the faithful of the Diocese of Fort Worth in congratulating Corpus Christi on this very special day. You can also click on the link below to the following site, where Bishop Mulvey also blogs!
Cristo Rey Monument to the martyrs of the Cristero Movement Photo: Iván Cabrerra
Guanajuato is the site of some of the now infamous battles of the Cristero War, so-called because its proponents described their 1926-1929 uprising as a fight for "Christ the King" (aka Cristo Rey), and in this region can still be found some of Mexico's most faithful Catholics. The rebellion, emerging in response to the Marxist anti-clerical Mexican Constitution of 1917, took place after years of peaceful resistance and in response to federal laws that appropriated the right to regulate any outdoor and public demonstration of faith.
Just in case you were wondering where exactly Guanajuato is located.
Guanajuato is a relatively small state with a capital city by the same name. It was long inhabited by native peoples prior to the arrival of Spaniards and their allies. Today, millions of Americans look to Guanajuato as their madre patria and spiritual homeland.
"The disciple of Jesus does not respond to evil with evil, but is always an instrument of good instead, a herald of pardon, a bearer of happiness, a servant of unity," Benedict said. "I will pray for all of you, so that Mexico may be a place in which everyone can live in serenity and harmony." - Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict greets kids upon arrival in Mexico. Photo:AP
On Tuesday morning, March 20, the Region X Bishops celebrated Mass at the tomb of Blessed John Paul II. This was an especially significant and personal day for us, because a number of us were either seminarians or student priests in Rome during the years of his Pontificate, and his ministry as Bishop of Rome influenced and touched us all a great deal. The principal celebrant for the Mass with Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, formerly a priest of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, but with family roots in Fort Worth!! During his homily, he recounted the fact that during his years as a seminarian at the North American College, he was present in St. Peter's Square for the election of John Paul II in l978, and the next year, was a deacon at the North American College when the Holy Father came to visit. While the other four Masses were truly important celebrations for us - in a true ecclesial and spiritual sense - the Mass at the tomb of Blessed John Paul II had a very personal dimension for many of us that day.
After Mass we had visits and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and in the second section of the Secretariat of State with Archbishop Dominique Mamberti. In the afternoon we were present at the Pontifical Council for the Family, and the Pontifical Commission for Health Care Workers.
The visits concluded in the evening with a beautiful Roman sunset and with the dome of St. Peter's Basilica being lit up beautifully as well.
Tomorrow back to the United States, and a final reflection later.
Arrivederci, e, Addio!
+Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Fort Worth
Mass at the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II
A picture of the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II
A spectacular view of St Peter's Square from the
terrace of the "Third Loggia"
A portion of a map which decorates the wall in the "Third Loggia"
St. Peter's at night, walking down the Via della
Conciliazione after our last meeting!
Monday, March 19, is the Feast Day of St. Joseph, the patron of the Universal Church and one of the Patrons of Italy. All of the offices of the Holy See were closed, and Roman life was a little more subdued today. St. Joseph is beloved in Italy, and evidence of this can be seen everywhere. Because of this, there were no visits to any of the offices of the Holy See. The Bishops of Region X, however, did celebrate Mass at St. Paul Outside of the Walls. This was the last of the four major basilicas on our pilgrimage to visit as a group. Archbishop Paul Coakley was the principal celebrant. St. Paul is termed "Outside the Walls" because originally it was built "outside of the walls" of the city of Rome. Under the High Altar, (although it is not clear in the photograph which I took) St. Paul's sarcophagus was recently discovered, and one can plainly see part of it. It was a great moment of reflection today, when the second letter was being read (St. Paul's letter to the Romans) to realize that as we heard St. Paul's words, we were actually just yards away from his earthly remains.
St. Paul was martyred about the same time as St. Peter (circa 64-67 AD), and was buried in this area. As for St. Paul, Constantine erected a basilica over the tomb, which was intact until the 1700's when a fire nearly destroyed it. The Latin words over the side altar can be translated into English as "Vessel of Election, Apostle to the Nations", reflecting St. Paul's tireless missionary journeys to build up the Church and proclaim the Crucified and Risen Lord. Because one of St. Paul's well known image that the Church is the "Body of Christ" clearly teaches that Christ cannot be separated from the Church with this phrase and in other areas as well.
After Mass at St. Paul's, I visited the General Curia of the Franciscan Friars TOR, and was able to have a very good visit with Brother Mark, a member of the General Council and Treasurer General, and Father John, the Vicar General. Four provinces of the "TORs" are represented in the Diocese of Fort Worth, and their presence and ministry is a blessing for the entire diocese. Tomorrow morning we will begin our day with Mass at the tomb of Blessed Pope John Paul II.
A Domani!
+Kevin W. Vann
Bishop of Fort Worth
St. Paul Outside the Walls
The front part of the sarcophagus of St. Paul
under the high altar
Where Mass was celebrated in St. Paul's
The mosaic over the altar in the apse of St. Paul's
Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Restaurant near the Colosseum!
Side altar in St. Paul's
Archbishop Coakley as principal celebrant for the Mass
The Bishops of Region X concelebrated Mass at the Casa Santa Maria of the North American College. I referred to the chapel in an early entry. The chapel is dedicated to "Our Lady of Humility." The building goes back to the 1500, when it was first a monastery and accompanying public church for Dominican Sisters. The statues of the Saints were all sculpted by students of Gianlorenzo Bernini. Later the monastery was given to the Visitation Sisters, also known as the Visitandines. However, Napoleon Bonaparte suppressed many religious houses in Rome, and the Sisters were forced to leave, along with their neighbors the Augustinian nuns in the next door convent of St. Rita. Later, Blessed Pope Pius IX gave the building to the United States Bishops for a College in Rome, thus beginning the North American College. This was in about l859. This facility was the seminary residence and the U.S. Seminarians studied at the Propaganda Fide nearby. Accounts of this may be found in books entitled "The House on Humility Street" and "The History of the American College in Rome." After the Second World War the building was remodeled into a residence for priests who are undertaking further study in Rome. A new seminary was built on the Gianiculum Hill, next to the Vatican Hill. Today the Seminary Department of the North American College has an enrollment of around 260 students, and there is a waiting list. The graduate house of the Casa Santa Maria this year houses about 60 priest students who are studying, upon the assignment of their Bishops, at the various Pontifical University. Fr. Jonathon Wallis of our Diocese is completing his S.T.L. degree in dogmatic theology, and Matthew Tatyrak of Vernon and Joseph Keating of Denton are in their first year of studies. They are all doing very well. I was a resident at the "Casa" from l981 to l985, when I completed my J.C.D. at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (The "Angelicum").
We celebrated Mass at the Casa on Sunday, and had lunch, and then a visit with the priest students afterward. What follows is my homily for the Mass.
Later on in the day, I walked across Rome with several of the Bishops of Region X. You will see a "montage" of images from the Seminary Department of the North American College, and more evening and night images of the Eternal City.
Ci vediamo a più tardi!
God bless,
+Kevin W. Vann Bishop of Fort Worth
Region X Bishops at the Casa Santa Maria
Visiting at the Casa Santa Maria after Mass and lunch
Our Lady of Guadalupe in the halls of the North American College
Stained glass window of St. John Vianney in the
halls of the North American College
Image of Our Lady of Humility in the halls of
the North American College
A mosaic of the "Canticle of the Creatures" in front of the
chapel of the North American College
HOMILY FOR LAETARE SUNDAY
March 18, 2012
The Casa Santa Maria
Rome, Italy
On this Laetare Sunday we gather as Region X here at the historic and beloved Casa Santa Maria dell'Umilta of the North American College. We certainly thank Msgr. Kelly and the priests of the Casa Santa Maria for their welcome here today. This Chapel and this House were and are for me an important point of reference in my life and ministry. I was just three months ordained when in September of l981, I was sent here by the late Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas of Springfield, Illinois, to study Canon Law. In many ways this house, its history, my good priest friends and classmates at that time, the personnel like Angelo Valigi who took care of this chapel of Our Lady of Humility; taught me a lot about what it meant to be a priest. They all in fact, helped me to grow up and grow into the identity of a priest. It is most fitting for me, and indeed a great gift, that on this Laetare Sunday, when the liturgy urges us to be happy and rejoice, we are here together as brothers in the Lord with a common history and heritage of Faith.
In Region X of the Bishops' Conference, we have many rivers that ultimately come together and bring their waters collectively to the Gulf of Mexico: Some of them are the Brazos, the Trinity, the Colorado, and the Rio Grande (the Rio Bravo)! There are many others as well. In an analogous way today, here at the Casa Santa Maria of the North American College, there are many currents of history, that like the rivers of Region X, which come together in this Mass: the ancient Roman history when this was the site of the Roman fire department; the history of the Dominican Sisters who were founded here by Francesca Orsini; the Visitation nuns of later years. Then we have the history of the fledgling North American College: the seminarians at that time who would not go home until years later, and some of whom never made it home; and the generations of graduate priests of later years that include all of you here today. The lives of all of those people mirrored the dramatic events of the ages in which they lived, worked, prayed and studied here. For example the monasteries of the area were closed by Napoleon Bonaparte and the nuns expelled, their religious freedom taken away. It was just blocks away from here, in the Piazza Venezia, where Mussolini would “harangue” the crowds during the rise of the Fascist movement. It is in that context at St. Peter’s, just a few blocks further from here, that Pius XI established the Feast of Christ the King to powerfully remind the world that the only power to whom we are responsible and who indeed has the last word is the Lord Himself. It is in that historical reference, then, that you can read all of the writings on the organ in the loft above, and one sentence in particular which reads “College closed, books packed, and seminarians depart because of impending war.”
All of the events of the history and lives in this area of Rome, and this house, speak of the fidelity of the priests, seminarians, religious, and faithful laity of all of those ages. Just around the corner from here, in the Church of the Twelve Apostles, lived St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose witness to the love of Christ in that time of darkness we all know! A faithfulness, in fact, of all of those people which would outshine and out last all attempts to curb them. The truth indeed did come to light, and the works of those faithful people would be seen clearly as done in God!
Like all of those rivers in Region X which head toward the Gulf, we too, travel in rivers and currents of Faith with those who came before us and arrive at this port, this moment of Faith. This Sunday, the Word of God brings together for us the currents of Faith of Salvation History and, in that context, our own personal history of our vocations, and those of our people.
The first reading from the Second Book of Chronicles speaks in a timeless fashion of freedom of religion: when, through the power of God and His providence, freedom to live their covenant was restored to God’s Holy People by Cyrus. In St. John's Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man will be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, to look on Him and be truly free. This Word of God undoubtedly inspired all of those whose lives came before us here, and does so for us today in our present moment of history as well.
Thus, March 18, Laetare Sunday of 2012, we can rejoice and be happy that we are here celebrating Mass this day in the context of such great and faithful lives of this neighborhood of Rome, the neighborhood of the Trevi fountain.
The currents of the history of our lives and the times where we are, have brought us to this eternal proclamation of the presence of the Lord, and as well have brought us together with all of these witnesses who have gone before us. Not surprisingly, we have some of the same challenges today that these ancestors of ours in the Faith had in these very same locations in Rome: challenges to religious freedom, challenges to love, challenges to look on Christ in the midst of difficulties which are brought to us from the outside.
We bring the darkness of these challenges to our Faith and our lives to the light of that same Christ as we ride the currents of history and Faith in our times: Travel with them as they come together here and now at the Casa Santa Maria in Lent of 2012. For us as the successors of the apostles, that means the care and shepherding of the People the Lord has entrusted to us: a care in such a way that this calling and vocation may be clearly seen as done in God.
Therefore, even with these challenges, which are so threatening in the curtailing of our religious freedom, and being present today in this location where such attempts have happened but have not endured, we know those shadows and that darkness can never have the last word, but will always be overcome by the light of Christ, to whom we look today, as He has commanded us to do. The darkness and shadows of oppression of faith tried to conquer before, but indeed have always failed.
St. Paul, whose last years were in this city, just as St. Peter, and whom we will visit tomorrow, says today looking into the future “That in the ages to come we might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Jesus Christ.” Let us go forward today from the center of the Eternal City that in the ages to come our lives and ministry will indeed shine forth with these "immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Jesus Christ."
Here at the Casa Santa Maria we have the grace and blessing of standing in this Liturgy in a true moment of eternity. The Dominicans, the Visitandines, and all of the seminarians and priests and lay faithful now speak to us as well to spur us on. The currents of history, guided by the Hand of The Lord, bring them and us together today at this Eucharist, so our lives are indeed the handiwork of the Word made flesh, the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. No force, no political measures of any kind can take that away: "For we are his handiwork, created in Jesus Christ for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them."
AMEN.
The gardens in back of the North American College
The beginnings of sunset in Rome from the
North American College with the dome of
St. Peter's in the background
The high altar of the North American College
A sunset seen from the North American College
At night, one of the fountains in St. Peter's Square
Our visits to the Roman dicasteries today took us to the Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes, The Congregation for Catholic Education, and the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. The meeting at the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity was hosted by Bishop Brian Farrell, brother of Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas. Bishop Brian Farrell is the Secretary for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity. Bishop Farrell gave us much insight and information on the blessing and complexity of the various dialogues that the Council hosts and oversees, and we relayed back to him our various experiences in the Dioceses throughout Region X. I had spoken of a general overview of this in our visit with Pope Benedict XVI.
In the afternoon, at 4:00 PM Rome time, we celebrated Mass at the Cathedral of St. John Lateran. The principal celebrant was Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, who preached on the significance of the Chair of the Bishop and tied it into the readings for the day.
The Basilica of St. John Lateran is officially called the "Basilica of the Most Holy Saviour of St. John the Baptist." It is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, and over the entrance it says "The Mother and Head of all of the Churches of the World." Over the high altar, on top of the Baldacchino, in the statues of St. Peter and St. Paul are the relics of the skulls of the Saints. It is from the Baptistry (bigger than some of our Churches) where the "Exultet" was first sung! The origins of St. John Lateran go back to the time when Christianity was no longer persecuted by the Roman Empire, and the Laterani family gave their palace and property to Pope Sylvester, for a place from where he could be Bishop, since he no longer had to go into hiding. This then became the "seat" or "Cathedra" from where the Bishop of Rome presided and taught, for centuries, until after the Popes returned from the Avignon exile, at which time they went to St. Peter's on the Vatican Hill.
This Basilica, and this Mass today, reminded all of us how we are united in a communion of Faith by the See of Peter, from which the Holy Father, as the Vicar of Christ, teaches and is the center of unity for the entire Church. The mosaic of Christ in the apse of the Basilica reminds us of this. The unity of the Church, built on St. Peter, points to the "Cathedra" of this Church, from which his successor, Pope Benedict XVI, teaches and guides us in unity.
+Kevin W. Vann Bishop of Fort Worth
Mass preparation in the sacristy of St. John Lateran
Mass at St. John Lateran
The altar of reservation at St. John Lateran
Bishop Vann in front of the high altar of St. John Lateran
As morning came here in Rome, and as the Liturgy of the Hours, chanted throughout the world, reminded us once again that Friday is a day of penance, with the chanting of Psalm 51 (Have mercy on me O God in your kindness), the Bishops of Region X greeted this day with joy and anticipation. Our first encounter was at the Congregation for the Clergy with the Prefect Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, and the Secretary and Undersecretary. Our spokesman for this meeting was Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, as he explained to the Congregation the challenges of meeting the needs of growing Diocese in the Southwest, especially Texas. We spoke about our seminaries and the fact that they are at near capacity, the blessings of our international priests, and how to help them to become accustomed and adjusted to the life of the Church in the United States; and finally some reflections on Canon Law and the status of priests who have left the ministry years ago.
Following this meeting, we left to arrive at the Cortile San Damaso in Vatican City, to prepare to meet the Holy Father. A number of priests accompanied the Bishops of the Provinces of San Antonio and Oklahoma City, including Fr. Dan Kelley, Chancellor of Fort Worth, and Fr. Isaac Orozco, priest secretary to Bishop Vann. In our meeting with the Holy Father, I brought him the greetings and prayers of all of the people of our Diocese. The Holy Father welcomed us to this meeting, and reminded each of us that we are at home with St. Peter here. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller gave an opening reflection and each Bishop then reflected for a few minutes on an aspect of the life of the Church in the Province of San Antonio. My reflection was on the theme of Ecumenism.
Bishop Kevin Vann with the Holy Father
(Photo: L'Osservatore Romano)
Fr. Dan Kelley with the Holy Father
(Photo: L'Osservatore Romano)
Fr. Isaac Orozco with the Holy Father
(Photo: L'Osservatore Romano)
Pope Benedict XVI poses for a photo with bishops from Texas
during a March 16 meeting during "ad limina" visits to
the Vatican (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
(CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano)
Following pictures, we then departed back to the Domus Santa Marta, to prepare for Mass at St. Mary Major (or St. Mary the Greater -- the oldest Church in the West dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, following on the Council of Ephesus) and then after that, to meetings with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.
On the way to the Audience
St. Peter's in the morning
The Bishops of North Texas
Bishop Kevin Farrell and Bishop Kevin Vann
Bishop Vann, Fr. Dan Kelley and Fr. Isaac Orozco on the Third Loggia
St. Mary Major
Preparing for Mass at St. Mary Major
Mass in the Borghese Chapel of St. Mary Major
with the icon of "Salus Populi Romani"
History of St. Mary Major
Part of the Roman pilgrimage for the "Ad Limina" visit is to make a visit and celebrate Mass at all four of the basilicas: St. Peter's in the Vatican, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside of the Walls, and St. John Lateran, which is the Cathedral of Rome. Today, as I stated, was the Mass at St. Mary Major, or St. Mary the Greater, as or as it is sometimes called the "Liberian Basilica" because it was Pope Liberius who began the construction of the Basilica, which was finished by Pope Sixtus II. When Pope Liberius was looking for a sign where to build this church in honor of the Council's declaration that Mary was the Mother of God, there was a snow fall on the Esquiline Hill in August!! The Pope took this, it is said, as the sign from God where the build this great church. The Basilica was built in response to the Council of Ephesus' (375 AD) decision to declare that Mary was the Mother of God. This is a "Christological statement" because it states that Jesus was truly human and divine, and that Mary therefore was the Mother of God. This statement of the Council was, in turn, a response to the Nestorian heresy that said that Mary was the Mother of the human Jesus only. The Mass was celebrated in the Borghese chapel of the Basilica, where an ancient icon of Mary entitled "Salus Populi Romani", meaning the "Health of the Roman People". The Romans have a long devotion to the Mother of God under this title. During a time of plague, the icon was taken in procession around the city and the plague ceased. It is of note that Pope Pius XII celebrated his first Mass in this chapel when he was ordained as Fr. Eugenio Pacelli. Also, to the right of the High Altar is buried Gianlorenzo Bernini, the Renaissance architect who left his stamp on the city of Rome to this day. The Confessors for this Basilica are the Dominican Fathers.
This major basilica teaches us of the importance of the Mother of God in salvation history, and our lives as well. This basilica was once called a "Christmas Church" by then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in a series of reflections on the Roman Churches. It is a "Christmas Church" because central to this church is the mystery of the Incarnation. On even the noisiest Roman days, the basilica is a quiet place of prayer and contemplation.
Tomorrow, Saturday, we will visit the Congregation for Religious and Secular institutes and celebrate Mass at the Cathedral of Rome. St. John Lateran.
Tonight, at 7PM, in Fort Worth I will have the pleasure of presiding over evening prayer with the conferral of Pontifical Honors on five priests of the Diocese of Fort Worth. They are: Monsignor Stephen Berg, Monsignor Juan Rivero, Monsignor Raymond Mullan, Monsignor E. James Hart and Monsignor Publius Xuereb. These priests have faithfully served the diocese in various capacities and with great joy the local Church will recognize these men. Months ago we celebrated the conferral of pontifical honors on sixteen lay faithful as well. Now we get to extend this honor on members of the ministerial priesthood. This practice is an opportunity to both show our connection and filial devotion to the Holy See while at the same time recognizing years of service, an expression of evangelical charity. Thanks to these fine collaborators and their families.
