Many bishops, priests and others gathered at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul May 13 to celebrate Bishop Emeritus Richard Pates as he received the Spirit of Francis award from the Catholic Extension Society for his service to the Catholic Church.
Guests mingled during a social hour before the dinner and presentations. During dinner, Bishop Pates spent time making his rounds around the room, saying hello to people and thanking them for coming.
Father Jack Wall, president of Catholic Extension, spoke highly of Bishop Pates before introducing his friend to the stage.
“He (Bishop Pates) certainly embodies the mystery of one who believes in the transformative power of the risen Christ,” Father Wall said, “and believes that it’s in you; that walking around the room tonight, looking in your face, connecting once again with you, is that reminder of what this mystery is.”
The Catholic Extension Society, which is based in Chicago, was founded in 1905 and helps build Catholic faith communities in the poorest regions of the United States, cited Bishop Pates’ roles in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Twin Cities in honoring him with the award. The society invests in church facilities and ministries, and it offers education and training to seminarians, priests, religious sisters, deacons and lay leaders.
In two videos shown during the dinner, Bishop Pates was honored by Bishop John Doerfler of Marquette, Michigan; Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle; Bishop Jim Powers of Superior, Wisconsin; and Archbishop Bernard Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Archbishop Hebda attended the event and offered a few remarks.
“It’s really powerful to experience somebody in the flesh who really exemplifies and lives out the spirit of Francis,” the archbishop said. “Bishop Pates to all of us has been the model of what it means to be a good shepherd.”
Bishop Pates, after receiving the award, shared stories of spending time with relatives in Ireland and his experiences interacting with the late Pope Francis.
“I told him of the program in the Diocese of Des Moines of preparing our priests to be agents of ‘Laudato Si’,’ the environmental encyclical,” said Bishop Pates, who served as bishop of Des Moines and as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. “His eyes locked onto mine with full strength and he said, ‘Avanti, avanti!’ (Go for it! Go for it!).”
Bishop Pates concluded his speech with everyone in the room reciting the prayer of St. Francis, which was provided on a card at each table.
