The Bishop Writes

(From the Oct. 22, 1998 edition of the Inland Register)

Every five years a diocesan bishop is expected to make an ad limina visit to the Holy See. Before the visit an extensive report on the diocese is to be sent to the Vatican. Ours from the diocese was approximately 90 pages of small print. There is a format for the response so that various aspects of diocesan life are covered in a systematic way.

I write these comments flying back home after completing the visit from Oct. 4-11. Incidentally, ad limina literally means "to the threshold." The bishops of our region, along with two diocesan administrators (Boise and Helena), Bishop Brown of Orange, and Bishops Hannifen and Tafoya from Colorado, made up our group.

Coming "to the threshold" involves several events.

First, there are several meetings with the Holy Father. Understandably, the private visits with him have been shortened somewhat -- to about 10 minutes or less. I expressed to him our love, fidelity and gratitude. He had a map on the table, asking where the diocese was located. He was interested in the number of parishes. Did we have enough priests to serve the parishes? Were there enough seminarians? What about the Catholic schools, along with Gonzaga University? How is the quality of parish life, and how are our preparations for the Jubilee 2000 coming along?

After our brief visit, there was a quick photo session. Three of our four seminarians in Rome also were allowed to have a photo with him.

The other two times with the Pope consisted of an early morning Mass in his private chapel, after which Archbishop Hurley of Anchorage on behalf of all of us shared a message of greeting. The pope then gave us his own message on the liturgy. (Editor’s note: The text of the pope’s message is on page 7 of the Oct. 22, 1998 issue.) A humorous event occurred at the end of this meeting when he asked if we knew of "lazy boy." All of us were somewhat taken aback about the question, so he asked again a second time. When we finally acknowledged that we knew what a "Lazy Boy" was, he pointed to himself and said: "That’s me." Everyone laughed.

Our third time with him was for lunch. The conversation was general as we talked about various aspects of Church life and the situation in the world today.

A second focus of the ad limina visit is to celebrate Mass at the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul. The altar near the tomb of St. Peter is under the main floor of St. Peter’s Basilica. I had the privilege of presiding at that Mass. In the homily I reflected upon the contrast between the humble and difficult beginnings of Peter, crucified upside down near that spot and the great Basilica today where millions come every year. The Petrine ministry continues with Pope John Paul II as Chief Shepherd of a Church of almost 1 billion.

The second Mass as part of the visit is at the tomb of St. Paul celebrated in the beautiful Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Bishop Connolly of Baker presided and reminded us of the evangelizing spirit of St. Paul which should characterize our life in the Church today as well.

The final part of our visit consisted of visits to various dycasteries (congregations) and councils. This time we were able to visit eight: Congregations of the Doctrine of the Faith, Bishops, Catholic Education, Divine Worship, Clergy, and the Pontifical Councils for the Promotion of Christian Unity, the Laity, and Communication. In addition, we were invited one evening for a reception at Villa Stritch (where U.S. priests live who work at the Vatican), and another evening for a dinner with Cardinal Szoka (formerly of Detroit and now President of Vatican City).

The Congregations for Education and Worship were especially attentive to our ad limina reports sent in ahead of time. Cardinal Castrillon of the Congregation of Clergy made special note of the tremendous growth of the diaconate in the U.S. A strong theme in many of the discussions was the continuing need for evangelization within the Church and the responsibility to go forth and evangelize.

Twice I had pranzo (lunch) with our four seminarians at North American College and dinner with Benedictine Father Michael Mee of Mt. Angel Abbey in Oregon. Father Michael is a former priest of our diocese now studying for a doctorate in Rome.

This was my fifth ad limina. I return home once again deeply grateful for the gift of our Church universal, for the Petrine ministry of the Holy Father who even in ailing health and increasing age expends himself in service to the Gospel and to the Church. I am also humbled and grateful as a diocesan bishop to have brought the diocese along with me, so to speak, for this visit.

Our work and mission continue with the Holy Father and all of the other dioceses and Religious communities of women and men around the world.

May God continue to bless us as the Holy Spirit strengthens and guides us.

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