July 8, 2011
Reflection
From the Church in southwestern Indiana: Welcome to our world
Bishop Charles C. Thompson is seated in the chair during the installation ceremony at Roberts Municipal Stadium in Evansville June 29. The ceremonial action calls to mind the various civil and ecclesiastical uses of the word “seat” — from “county seat” in civil government terminology to the “see city” of a diocese or archdiocese. (Message photo by Peewee Vasquez) Click for a larger version.
By ZOE CANNON (Sacred Heart Church, Vincennes)
One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church; a gift everyday! We have been blessed beyond measure! This great honor, this source of strength and hope, are all given to us by the power of God. There are many mysteries in this Catholic
faith: the Most Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the “Real Presence” in the Body of Christ; they all challenge us to trust in a loving God. If we spend all of our time trying to comprehend these mysteries, we fail to notice the power in the gift, and we miss something beautiful. The enigma was never meant for our understanding in this world, but the next. Welcome to our world; please make yourself at home by participating in these great gifts from God, these sacred practices called sacraments.
What a wonderful time to be a member of this universal Church, particularly in the Catholic Diocese of Evansville. The opportunity to participate in the Sacrament of Holy Orders twice in one month is encouraging. The Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacon, for Jeff Read and Brian Emmick, who will be ordained next summer to the priesthood, was June 18, 2011. It is no secret that we need the ordained priest who vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness. We must support one another in the journey to holiness, regardless of where God is calling us in life. He intentionally chose twelve apostles in whom he invested his life and began this Church. We too must support one another in each vocation, participating fully in each sacrament together. This intentional community of believers is exactly what God had in mind for the salvation of souls.
The Episcopal Ordination of our new Bishop Charles C. Thompson, on June 29, 2011, at Robert’s Stadium, was an amazing opportunity to witness the strength of the Catholic Church of Southwest Indi-ana. Participating in this Sacra-ment of Holy Orders was a powerful reminder of how significant each and every person is to the Church, from St. Pe-ter to Bishop Thompson, and everyone in between. Because Christian community is Trini-tarian, we must emphasize the Spirit, for without the Holy Spirit we cannot call God the Father, or say “Jesus is Lord” and live it. The essence of Christian community is baptismal brotherhood and sisterhood. Pope John Paul II called this “communio.” “This is our highest vocation: to enter into communion with God with our brothers and sisters. The Church in Christ is a kind of sacrament, that is, a sign and instrument of intimate union with God, and of the unity of the entire hu-man race.” The Community of believers gathered in Roberts Stadium, and those watching on television to welcome our new bishop, experienced real Holy Spirit moments in this episcopal ordination. As I entered the stadium that day, I was immediately reminded of a day in April, 1992, and an event called “Tradition 2000.” Then, newly ordained Bishop Gettelfinger was inviting us to embrace an era of newness with him as our “Chief Teacher” for the diocese.
On a personal note, since that special day in 1992, this bishop confirmed all four of my children with the Sacrament of Confirmation, ordained our young pastor, Father Jason Gries to the priesthood, and as I witnessed him baptize offenders from Wabash Valley Cor-rectional Facility into the Catholic Faith, I can say, I did learn many things from this “Chief Teacher.” In Colossians 2:7-8, we read: “So, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, rooted in him, built upon him, and established in the faith as you were taught. See to it that no one captivate you with empty philosophy according to the elemental powers of the world.” In other words, for knowledge to become wisdom and for the soul to grow, we must be rooted in God.
The people of Southwest Indiana are rooted in the faith. We are very blessed to be led by Bishop Thompson, a man who is a loving son, brother and uncle who has the heart of a pastor, and great passion for the Eucharist. Important words were shared at his ordination by Archbishop Daniel Buechlein: “be humble like Mary and you will be holy like Jesus.” He also reminded the clergy to be fervent in prayer, something we all need to practice, not just for ourselves, but for one another, “communion.” In my parish, Sacred Heart, as I am sure in all parishes, we had been praying for the announcement of our new bishop since the news of Bishop Gettelfin-ger’s retirement notice. At Roberts Stadium on this beautiful ordination day, I observed a very visible answer to our plea for a good shepherd.
There really is no mystery to the power of prayer. We witness this blessing every day, as we celebrate Mass, participate in reconciliation, marry young couples, baptize babies, anoint the sick and elderly, and ordain our deacons, priests and bishops. Our new bishop is a very central part of our faith community. Welcome to our world; make yourself at home while participating in these sacred practices. “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord” Eph 2:20-21. Amen!