July 31, 2024 It’s been a very inspiring couple of weeks. Come with me as I share some highlights. On July 15, I attended the beautiful Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Most Reverend John McDermott as the new Bishop of Burlington. The next day, Bishop (Douglas) Lucia and I headed west for Indianapolis to participate in the National Eucharistic Congress. This event began with a Bishops’ Day of Prayer and Reflection. Cardinal (Timothy M.) Dolan reminded the bishops that we all walk by faith, not by sight. We must recover the power of the invisible. This is essential for our sacramental Church. Just because we don’t see something or Someone, that doesn’t mean that what’s unseen is less real. In many respects, we’ve lost the sacramental moorings of our faith. Bishop (Donald J.) Hying of Madison, Wisconsin addressed the question of diocesan pastoral planning, (something about which we are very much aware here in the Diocese of Ogdensburg). The challenges we face with declining population, Mass attendance, Church vocations, etc. are not unique to our local Church. He reminded us that we must go back to the Pentecost Event and focus on our personal relationship with Jesus and how this encounter informs and motivates the mission of the Church and our individual call to follow Jesus. Both presentations provided ample material for the bishops to reflect upon and to discuss insights in a sharing session that proved most helpful and affirming of our own local efforts to stay mission focused: Christ led, Christ fed and hope-filled. I had never been to Lucas Oil Stadium before. It is the home of the NFL Indianapolis Colts. Banners hung from the rafters noting legendary players and coaches of the team. This football gridiron where professional athletes and avid fans gathered for football contests was transformed into an extraordinary sacred space where over 60,000 fellow pilgrims gathered to celebrate our Eucharistic faith. I can’t imagine any Super Bowl event (even if it involved my NY Giants!) that could match the electrifying environment that God’s Spirit and the Presence of His very Body and Blood caused. We don’t need another strategic plan, we need missionary disciples whose ongoing, life-long encounters with Jesus change us into joy-filled disciples in mission, thousands of which we witnessed at the stadium. With the focus on the Eucharist, we heard many presenters tell their story of the Eucharist’s impact in their lives and in the lives of others. The Masses and Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration saw the stadium transformed into a worship space for thousands, including so many young people, consecrated Religious, Deacons, Consecrated Virgins, Priests and Bishops. It was so good to see moms and dads and their children participating. As I was visiting one of the numerous booths, I noticed in the distance a tall lad with a familiar John Deere cap on his head. Michael (Pierce) was one of thousands of our youth who participated in the Revival. It was good to see Heuvelton represented with Michael and his family. The Eucharistic Procession in the streets of Indianapolis was extraordinary. I saw many familiar faith-filled faces from our diocese lining the streets. So many knelt on the hard pavement and sidewalks as the Blessed Sacrament passed by. When we finally reached our destination, the city park, we sang “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name.” I looked out at the throng of people and felt so proud to be a Roman Catholic and so privileged to be your bishop. Even with all the blessings packed into the pilgrimage, it still feels so good to be home! As Mary Beth (Bracy), our Consecrated Virgin from Plattsburgh observed, “What an awesome taste of heaven!” AMEN to that! |
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