MASS OF CHRISM
TUESDAY, 7:00 PM, APRIL 7, 2009
CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Most Reverend J. Kevin Boland
Bishop of Savannah

Personal Observation:

In the Year 2010 Easter Sunday will be April 4th. My 15th anniversary as Bishop of Savannah will be April 18th and my 75th birthday on April 25th. Provided God spares me and grants me good health – on that fateful day I will submit, as required by Church law, my letter of resignation to Our Holy Father. I suspect my inner feelings will be tinged with both sadness and gratitude.

The occasion this evening could well be my penultimate opportunity of presiding over the Mass of Chrism. Prayerfully, my schedule for this coming year will be such that I can visit every nook and cranny of the Diocese for one last time.

Year of the Priest:

This past month, on Monday, March 16th, 2009, Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI gave a special address in an official audience to all the members in plenary assembly to the Congregation for Clergy.

The topic of the assembly was: “The Missionary Identity of the Priest in the Church, as Intrinsic Dimension of the Exercise of the ‘Tria Munera’”. It is a fancy title but some of the reflections and observations of Pope Benedict XVI are appropriate “food for thought” for both bishop and priests as we gather in communion. I share some of the teachings of our spiritual Father -the Vicar of Christ.

The assembly focused on the missionary identity of the priest and his mission to sanctify, teach and govern. Pope Benedict said the priestly ministry consists of total adherence to the ecclesial tradition of participating “in a spiritually intense new life and a new lifestyle which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and which the apostles made their own.”
The Pope underlined the necessary and “indispensable struggle for moral perfection which must dwell in every authentically priestly heart.”

During the assembly Pope Benedict XVI declared a year of the priest in an effort to encourage “spiritual perfection” in priests. The special year will open at the Vatican on Friday, June 19th, Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the day for the sanctification of priests. The Pope will close the celebrations during a world meeting of priests in St. Peter’s Square on June 19, 2010.

During this Jubilee Year, the Pope will also proclaim St. John Vianney to be the patron saint of all the world’s priests. At present he is considered the patron saint of parish priests. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the death of this 19th century saint who represents a “true example of a priest at the service of the flock of Christ” the Pope said.

The Pope dramatically points out: “the centrality of Christ brings with it the correct appreciation of the ministerial priesthood, without which neither the Eucharist nor, consequently, the mission and the Church herself would exist.”

The remainder of this reflection will briefly address the various sections of the renewal of commitment to priestly service which is an integral part of the Chrism Mass.

" --- Resolved to unite yourselves more closely to Christ --- sacrificing your own pleasure and ambition --- to celebrate the Eucharist with sincere devotion."

As priests there is little danger that we will lose our “jobs” or that we will be furloughed. The Church needs us, the people need and appreciate us, we are subject to criticism like anyone else, they will be forgiving of our faults and limitations but there is on essential expectation that they rightfully deserve to find in every priest – that he is prayerful and an instrument of the love of Christ. The celebration of the Eucharist, preparation of homilies and the daily recitation of the Breviary must receive the highest priority – there is no substitute. For this we were ordained to the priesthood! Praying for and with the Church is our ultimate fulfillment. It is God’s gift and blessing – we cannot avoid the call to holiness.

“--- Resolved to imitate Christ by teaching the Christian Faith solely for the well being of the people.”

The Church is blessed with marvelous catechists – some trained, some not – but we are the persons who have undergone intense theological and philosophical training. We must be constantly updating ourselves in these disciplines and be of assistance to the teachers in promoting and passing on the truth of God’s message to mankind.

“---Are you resolved to render obedience to your bishop and his successor in office ---?”

Do not cry “foul.” This is not one of the promises listed for renewal in this evening’s liturgy. However, it was a specific requirement of each one of us on the day we were ordained priests. In some respects it is the most demanding of the requirements and becomes more difficult as we age in the priesthood. Having said that we must always be conscious of the fact that we are ordained for the Church to be of service to the Church in whatever capacity that may be legitimately requested of us by the Church. The Son of God was obedient to the Father. Obedience is a sacred undertaking – not that of servitude but rather that of the servant who brings Christ to others.

Ordained Priesthood
This past week I officially called to the priesthood the following:

• Matthew Ericksen (Mount St. Mary’s Seminary)
• Luis Fonseca (St. Vincent’s Seminary)
• Pablo Migone (North American College)
• Scott Winchel (Mount St. Mary’s)

The ceremony will take place in this Cathedral Church on June 20, 2009. All are invited. Prayerfully many of you can attend.

The following remarks are directed to the priests, but my words are made on behalf of the diocesan family scattered over the ninety counties of south Georgia.

The work you do is invaluable; there is no substitute for our ministry of bringing Christ to others. We must put aside discouragement and let the world know we are who we are because we answered the call of Jesus Christ. The only thing that will make our ministry ineffective is when we fail to allow God’s love and reconciliation to be the bedrock of our spiritual journey. We must be witnesses and instruments of the Holy Spirit.

A distinguished Bishop once noted four aspects of hope:

• The future is truly open and not predetermined.
• Be confident that our collective and individual actions can shape the future.
• Concentrate on the future of the larger community (church, diocese, parish, ministry) rather than simply our own future.
• Develop a sense that we are part of a wider process, and in spite of difficulties, this process is in fact developing the future we hope for.

Gratitude again and again for what you do on a day to day basis in being “the bearer of the mystery.” Recent years have brought new demands, stresses and strains. Hebrews indicates that it is in our deficiencies and weaknesses that the efficacy of the priesthood of Christ lies.

We add our litany of thanksgiving for the following priests who celebrate significant jubilees this year:

• 25 years:
  • Father Gabe Cummings
  • Father Kirk Mansell
  • Father Michael Roverse
  • Father John Brown, GHM
  • Father Frank Ziemkiewicz
• 30 years:
  • Father Jerry Ragan
  • Father Ronald Gatman, OSB
• 40 years:
  • Monsignor John Kenneally
  • Father Patrick O’Brien
  • Father Richard Minch
  • Father John Madden, S.J.
• 50 years:
  • Father Wilfrid Logsdon, OFM Conv.
  • Father William Peterson

We also add a “thanksgiving” for our priests who have been ordained more than 50 years:

Father Tom Payne – 59 years
Monsignor John Cuddy – 56 years
Father Charles Hughes – 55 years
Father Ed Frank – 52 years

Deceased:
Father Richard Canty
Father Bill Dowling
Father Jim Mayo

Monsignor Marvin LeFrois celebrates his 60th anniversary on June 3rd in Valdosta. I will be present – God willing. On June 10th I will celebrate my golden jubilee here at the Cathedral. Hope you can all come. Blessings to you and your families.

AMEN.