As I write this reflection, I am crossing the Atlantic Ocean, returning from a visit to Rome, Italy. Actually, it was far more than a visit; it was, in a real sense, a personal pilgrimage to the Eternal City whereby I fulfilled four goals: to visit four seminarians at the Pontifical North American College, to witness the ordination to the diaconate of one of these men, Joel D. Jaffe, to receive a blessing from the Holy Father for our diocesan church and my ministry as her chief shepherd, and to pray at the tombs of the martyrs and other saints, especially St. Peter. I departed on Oct. 7, the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, and am returning on Oct. 15, the Memorial of St. Theresa of Avila, so I asked Our Lady and St. Theresa to be the patrons of this pilgrimage, along with the Venerable Raphael Cardinal Merry del Val, whose holy life is truly an inspiration for those who exercise pastoral ministry in the Church.
I visit our seminarians once a year at the places of formation where they reside. I was eager to spend some time with the four seminarians currently enrolled at the Pontifical North American College. Two are in their fourth year of formation and both are now ordained to the diaconate. Our men are progressing well in all areas of their priestly formation: human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral. It was a joy to be with them. I found myself inspired and encouraged by their desire to become genuinely holy and competently equipped for their future service as priests in our diocesan church. The Pontifical North American College is truly an extraordinary place of priestly formation, training seminarians from the United States to become dedicated and dependable co-workers of the bishops. Should you visit Rome, I highly recommend a visit to this seminary and also invite you to support it by your prayers and offerings. For me, it was an added joy to return to my alma mater on the 40th anniversary of our class's arrival for the final four years of priestly formation (1962-1966). I can never be grateful enough to Bishop Vincent J. Hines, the second Bishop of Norwich, for the great gift given to me in being assigned to the North American College for priestly formation. I try to pass on that gift by inviting other men to complete their formation at this renowned seminary in Rome.
Besides visiting our seminarians, I witnessed with both joy and hope the ordination to the diaconate of Joel D. Jaffe. Twenty men were ordained as deacons by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, former Rector of the College and now the recently installed Archbishop of Milwaukee. The Rite of Ordination was celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica at the Altar of the Chair. (This spot is a treasured place for me, since my classmates and I were ordained priests there on Dec. 18, 1965). What joy and hope I felt as I watched Archbishop Dolan lay hands on “J.D.” (as everyone calls Joel), raising him to the order of deacon. How proud his family is, his mother and father and sister in a special way! God willing, next June 7, “J.D.”, Edward Horkan, Mark Mullaney and Edward Spinelli will be ordained priests for the service of our diocesan church. Because we are growing as a diocese in such a rapid fashion, we need many more priests, equipped to serve generously and competently, imitating the unselfish and chaste love of the Good Shepherd. I believe that God will raise up many such men for the church in the United States precisely in the midst of the purification through which we are now passing. When times are difficult, those with balanced personalities and generous hearts step forward, eagerly and willingly offering themselves to the Lord and to His people. Yes, in this diaconate ordination, I sensed real joy and fresh hope, not only for our diocesan church, but also for all those other dioceses represented by these newly-ordained deacons.
A bishop's bond with the successor of St. Peter is unique and deep. Imitating St. Peter, it is the special responsibility of each pope to strengthen his brothers in the College of Bishops. “But I have prayed for you [Simon] that your faith may never fail. You in turn must strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32). I was eagerly looking forward to the Holy Father's General Audience on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Bishops are usually seated on the platform, close to the Holy Father. When he gives his blessing to all those assembled, Pope John Paul II invariably invites the bishops to join him and, then, to be greeted individually by him. As I knelt before this successor of St. Peter, I asked him to bless our diocesan church of Arlington and me, her shepherd. This he did graciously and lovingly. As I rose, I experienced encouragement and renewed strength to serve ever more faithfully as a successor to the Apostles sent to be the source and center of unity within our diocesan church. I am writing this reflection on Oct. 15. Tomorrow, Oct. 16, marks the 24th anniversary of John Paul II's election as pope. I shall offer Mass for him and invite you to join me in praying for this extraordinary successor of St. Peter every day. I am convinced, along with so many others, that history will one day call him “John Paul the Great.”
Being in the Eternal City gives one the opportunity to visit the tombs of the martyrs and other saints. Obviously, while I was in St. Peter's Basilica, I prayed before the spot where St. Peter is buried. I also had the distinct privilege of offering Mass at the altar where the body of Blessed Pope John XXIII is now placed for the veneration of the faithful. I did so on Oct. 11, the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII. Fathers Marcus and Christopher Pollard concelebrated the Mass with me; also participating were Brother David Eddy, C.F.X. and our diocesan seminarians. I also visited the altar of St. Pius the X and the burial places of Popes John Paul I, Paul VI, Pius XII, Benedict XV and Cardinal Merry del Val. As I mentioned earlier in this reflection, this man, who served as Secretary of State under Pope St. Pius X, lived a truly saintly life and was an example of humility, pastoral zeal and mortification. His motto summarizes his entire life: “Give me souls; take away the rest!”
On Saturday, Oct. 12, I was again privileged to celebrate Mass in the Basilica of St. Lawrence-outside-the-walls over the altar where the body of Blessed Pope Pius IX is placed and venerated. Pope Pius IX is considered the founder of the Pontifical North American College, because he invited the bishops of the United States to establish a national seminary in the Eternal City. Our new deacon J.D. Jaffe had arranged for us to celebrate Mass in this holy place, exercising for the first time his diaconal ministry. Again, how proud all of us who gathered were, especially his dear family. In this ancient basilica, the slab of stone, which is said to be stained with the blood of Deacon St. Lawrence, holds a prominent place; the remains of the first deacon, St. Stephen, are also buried here. Yes, Rome is truly the city of martyrs and saints. As I walked along its narrow winding streets, I could imagine, for example, St. Phillip Neri walking those same streets.
The plane is beginning its final approach to Kennedy Airport. Later, I will board a plane for Ronald Reagan International Airport and home. I thank God for the many graces of this pilgrimage to the Eternal City. I prayed for everyone in our diocese as I celebrated Masses and visited the holy places in Rome. May we continue to seek deeper union with the Lord, becoming ever more clearly the reflection of His Truth and Love within our diocese and beyond.
