Auspice Maria: First-year Priorities

Approximately six months since I was ordained and installed as the Bishop of Portland. As I attend meetings and events and visit places in and outside our diocese, I am often asked, “How is it going?” I often respond, “It is a beautiful state with beautiful people.” I truly mean this.

People also ask me, “How many miles have you driven?” My response depends on the odometer reading. At present, I am approaching 17,000 miles! I have done much driving and enjoyed my time on the road, taking in our state's beautiful landscapes and outdoor grandeur.

When I began the ministry, I identified three initial priorities, which I have shared with people: the priests of our diocese, families presently coming to our churches, and vocations. I have had the privilege of meeting many of our priests and am still scheduling meetings with those I have not met. Meeting our priests personally helps me to get to know them. They are my collaborators. I often say during parish visits that the bishop comes and goes; however, the priests are the real heroes of parish ministry because they are there with you to console you in times of loss, attend to you when you are sick and dying, teach and preach to you, and offer the sacraments to you. I am grateful for our priests.

I have met many families of various ages and sizes in these months. I recognize that our families need much support in the secular society in which we live. Families with small children need “extra” support as parents assume the role of being their children's first teachers in the Faith. Meeting our families and confirming their/our children has been a joy.

I also got to know our eight major seminarians in these six months. Two of our men are studying at St. John’s Seminary in Boston, three are at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and two are at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. One of our seminarians is taking a pastoral year, earning precious pastoral experience in Lewiston, Maine. Our men in formation are serious-minded. I am grateful for each of them and consider myself a spiritual father to them. This is a serious responsibility that I humbly accept. I am blessed to be the father of eight good men!

These three first-year priorities will extend to many years after year one, but it is helpful to me to have a focus in these initial months. Regarding the third priority, vocations, I need your help.

In a recent conversation with a brother bishop, I asked him how he supports vocational discernment. He responded that priestly vocational awareness and interest increased by asking the people of his diocese to pray for vocations and by frequent Holy Hours and prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament in Adoration. Please pray for more vocations.

In addition to prayer, please consider recommending a young man to me for our upcoming priestly vocational awareness retreat. The retreat will be in Brewer on December 28th. If you know a man who is 18 years old or older and you feel that he has certain virtues and qualities to be a priest, please send his name and address to me at [email protected] or to Fr. Brad Morin, vocations director, at [email protected]. We will send him a personal invitation to come to the retreat.

I have found that a man thinking about the priesthood usually needs an invitation. Attending this retreat does not mean he is ready for or going to the seminary. That is much further along in the discernment process. However, he will hear talks about priesthood and discernment by attending the retreat. He will meet some of our seminarians. He will also meet other men like himself who are simply gathering information. Sometimes, a man thinking about the priesthood feels quite unique about entertaining such thoughts; that is why meeting others who are also thinking about the priesthood can be a real blessing of support and encouragement.

Thank you for considering my request for help. Again, please consider recommending a man for this retreat day. The retreat is Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at St. Joseph Church in Brewer, Maine. I eagerly await your recommendations. God bless you.

-Bishop James T. Ruggieri

Prayer for Vocations (adapted from usccb.org)

Almighty and eternal God,
in your unfailing love, you provide ministers for your Church.
We pray for those whom you call to serve the Church of Portland, Maine,
as priests. Inspire in them a generous response.
Grant them courage and vision to serve your people.
May their lives and service call your people to respond to the presence
of your Spirit among us. That, faithful to the Gospel and
the hope of Jesus Christ, we may announce glad tidings to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives, set prisoners free, and renew the face of the earth. Amen.