I’m writing this week from the Marian Servants of Divine Providence Retreat Center, where I am making my annual retreat. Even in silence, it is a blessing to be with the bishops of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota and to be guided by Archbishop Alfred Hughes, the archbishop emeritus of New Orleans. At 90 years old, Archbishop Hughes has a great deal of wisdom to share with us, the fruit of his reflection on his more than six decades of ministry as a parish priest, seminary professor and bishop.
I’m so grateful that the Church requires bishops and priests to make an annual retreat and I wish that all Catholics would have this opportunity for extended prayer and listening. The experience makes me especially grateful for the retreat houses and spiritual renewal centers in our archdiocese and the many resources we enjoy for those interested in deepening their capacity to pray. If we’re going to be witnesses “called and sent from the upper room” as envisioned in our pastoral letter, we have to be women and men who are grounded in prayer.
We have recently been hearing a lot about prayer, even from unexpected sources. Just this past Saturday afternoon, I encountered three sports networks discussing Damar Hamlin, and each contemporaneously focusing on the power of prayer. While we expect archbishops to talk about prayer, we don’t always expect that from coaches, players and sports commentators. They rightly noted that when faced with situations beyond our control, it’s “instinctive” to turn to prayer. The image of the Buffalo Bills on their knees is one that few of us will soon forget. As a native Pittsburgher, I’ve been fervently praying for Damar Hamlin, even though he is an alumnus of the “other” Christian Brothers High School there (even old rivalries must give way at times like these).
As I reflect on all that has transpired since my last retreat, I have no doubt that prayer is powerful. For nearly 50 years, Catholic parishes prayed that Roe vs. Wade and its recognition of a constitutional right to the termination of a human life would one day be overturned. While political and legal analysts can point to all sorts of factors to explain how this past year’s Dobbs decision came about, I am convinced that those five decades of prayers had an impact. As we are reminded in Psalm 9, the Lord hears the cry of the afflicted. Knowing that there are still many hearts and minds to change on the issue of abortion, as discussed elsewhere in this edition of The Catholic Spirit, I hope that the prayers will continue.
The power of prayer, moreover, has been very evident to me as I recall the experience of our Synod. I will always be grateful for the prayers offered by so many of you that the Synod Assembly would be fruitful and that we would be able to discern a path for implementing the aspirations of the nearly 500 representatives who gathered last Pentecost for that historic event. I have no doubt that the pastoral letter is the fruit of your prayers and I’m counting on your intercession once again for the work of implementation that is now beginning in all our parishes. Please keep the newly formed parish Synod Evangelization Teams in your prayers.
I’m always grateful when people ask me how they can pray for me. While I often ask them to pray for the health of our excellent Catholic schools, or for strong families in our archdiocese, or for the Church’s efforts to provide for the homeless and the hungry, or that our young people would hear God’s call and respond, many of you know that I have recently been asking for prayers that the Holy Father would bless us with another excellent auxiliary bishop. Most of you will remember that the archdiocese had historically had two auxiliaries; but for the last seven years, we’ve had only one (first Bishop Cozzens and then Bishop Williams). While I am grateful that both of those extraordinary bishops have been able to do the work of two, I’m delighted that your prayers were recently answered with the appointment of Bishop-elect Michael Izen. Out of the many talented and capable priests of this archdiocese, Pope Francis chose the pastor of Stillwater for this new role. A superb pastor and joy-filled priest, Bishop-elect Izen is truly an answer to many prayers. As was true when Bishop Williams was ordained almost a year ago, I’m looking forward to seeing how in particular the Holy Spirit will be blessing this local Church through the ministry of Bishop-elect Izen. I know that God has a plan for us, and the appointment of this new auxiliary bishop is an important part of that plan. Please join me in praying for Bishop-elect Izen as he prepares for his upcoming ordination and for the parishioners of Stillwater and Bayport in this time of transition.
