The Bishop Writes

(From the March 21, 2002 edition of the Inland Register)

On the national news a few weeks ago there was the story of a photographer who had taken photos of the events surrounding 9/11 and its aftermath at Ground Zero. This particular clip was about the opening of a display of his work. During the past few months all of us have seen hundreds if not thousands of pictures surrounding this tragedy. The images help us as we continue to process the events of that day; the pictures tell their stories and we, as a nation, reflect on those stories, those events.

Perhaps in some faint way, our frequent viewing of those tragic scenes can be compared to the reasons why we come back again and again to the scene of Easter morning and the empty tomb. During these coming days, we will celebrate Palm Sunday and the Sacred Triduum. The Easter Triduum begins with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaches its climax at the Easter Vigil, and concludes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Each year the liturgy of the Church holds up before us this special spiritual journey as we accompany Jesus through his Passion, death, and Resurrection. Sin, crucifixion, and death lead to Easter Resurrection.

Little children love to hear a favorite story repeated. It seems there are some stories they can never hear often enough. In the same way, we as a community of believers are never quite satisfied as we hear this marvelous story of Jesus’ life, again and again. Each year’s experiences mold our perceptions, and so it is not surprising that each year, we find something different, something we hadn’t noticed before, in this liturgy of the Church. Fragility and vulnerability as a nation and as a church have certainly taken on special meaning this year.

In the Gospel story on Easter morning, Peter and John come running to the tomb when they heard that it was empty. Can you imagine their amazement? All they see are the burial cloths, folded up. The cloths must have borne their marks of hurt, suffering, and blood shed. Peter as yet didn’t fully understand, because of all of the trauma he and the community had been through, but very quickly he and the disciples would come to know of the marvelous event that had occurred.

We, too, look at the symbolic empty tombs of our own lives and see the marks of hurt, tragedy, brokenness, and even death. These have been tough days for us as Church here in the United States, with the events in the Archdiocese of Boston and the resignation of a bishop in another diocese because of personal failure. There are signs of brokenness and blindness about what was really happening. And yet, with all of those tragic events, we express sorrow, ask forgiveness, and strive to be instruments of healing and greater responsibility.

Since 1989, our diocese has had a sexual abuse policy which states that when we become aware of anyone in ministry who abuses another person, he or she will be reported to public authorities and will immediately be removed from ministry. We have not and will not allow a minister who has abused to continue to function.

Once again, I offer an apology on behalf of the Church to all victims in our diocese and offer assistance in overcoming traumas of the past. Through this humbling of the Church, may we grow in greater awareness, face honestly the tragedies and sinfulness of the past, and with reflective responsibility strive to do better in the future. We are a Church constantly being redeemed by the blood of Jesus, and with hope we believe in the Resurrection.

In the Gospel account of St. John on Easter morning, we hear about Mary Magdala, who becomes the witness and messenger of great news. She couldn’t have possibly been aware of how momentous that morning would be, but she was the one who went running to Peter. We too, each one of us in our unique ways, can be messengers of the good news of the presence of Risen Lord in our lives. In our darkest moments of pain, hurt, and failure, the Risen Lord is at our side. In Eucharist, we celebrate his presence and are nourished by the Bread of Life. We are and must continue to be a Easter people. The power of Jesus with us can overcome any darkness. Ultimately we shall all be raised up.

As we approach the Triduum, I encourage you to attend and participate in the liturgical celebrations. In addition, on Holy Thursday at 11 a.m., in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes, we shall celebrate the Chrism Mass, as we bless the oil of the catechumens, the oil of the sick, and consecrate the chrism. The anointings with these oils for the coming year will have great impact on the life of our faith communities in the diocese.

I extend to all of you and your families prayerful best wishes for a blessed Palm Sunday, Sacred Triduum and Easter season.

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