April 17, 2009
Vision of Bishop
Gerald A. Gettelfinger | 2005-2010
“You yourselves can testify that I said (that) I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him . . . He must increase, I must decrease.” John 3:28, 30
John the Baptist gave us a signal applicable to our time.
My brothers and I, committed to the Catholic Diocese of Evansville, must apply his centuries-old assertion to our time. Jesus and His teaching must be allowed to increase.
We are a sacramental church. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. All members are urged to unceasingly and actively encourage vocations to the Holy Priesthood that the Eucharist will be available to all until the end of time.
Lest we bishops and priests lose sight of our call to celebrate Eucharist, we must not allow ourselves to be enmeshed in the exercise of ecclesial control; we must decrease ecclesial control so as to allow Jesus’ baptismal call to laity to flourish; we must not suppress that urgency. We clergy must collaborate with laity so that the church may grow. We must empower others to do that which they are capable. Bishops and priests must keep focus on those things that only they are able to do.
Empowerment of the laity does not mean abdication on the part of the clergy be they the bishop, priests or deacons. Empowerment of the laity requires new skill-sets for clergy.
It demands re-training. Clergy must learn the skill of delegation without abdicating the responsibility intrinsic to their pastoral role.
All faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Evansville are called by Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist to assume responsibility in carrying out the mission of Jesus in our world and in our time including encouraging vocations to the priesthood.
Members of the laity of the Catholic diocese yearn for a fuller understanding of this ‘new’ and developing role in the church even though it is now forty years after Vatican II. Some, on the other hand, must disavow themselves of any false perception that the church is a democratic society.
The Catholic Diocese of Evansville must provide on-going formation for the laity.
Jesus’ power must increase: clerical control must decrease.
Collaboration with laity must increase. That requires the empowerment of non-clerics to assist in fulfilling Jesus’ Mission to proclaim the Gospel.
As John’s presence decreased, Jesus’ presence increased. His ‘simple presence’ must be the model for us clergy. Eucharistic presence is His gift to the church at the hands of the priest!