Unforgettable moments of prayer and grace
On May 25 and June 29, I, as 13th bishop of Portland, had the great privilege and grace to ordain three men to the transitional diaconate and one man to the priesthood. At the end of the priestly ordination of Father Matthew Valles in June, I acknowledged, in my final remarks of thanks, many who made the celebration memorable and reverent. I thanked Msgr. Marc Caron, the vicar general of the diocese, who served as master of ceremonies and who meticulously coordinated the liturgical movements of the Mass. Msgr. Caron pays attention to detail and helps to make our major diocesan liturgical celebrations very reverent and prayerful. I said, “Msgr. Caron, with this ordination, you have completed the liturgical cycle for Holy Orders.” In addition to the diaconate ordinations of Deacon Erin Donlon, Deacon Hoa Tien Nguyen, and Deacon Thanh Duc Pham and the priestly ordination, Msgr. Caron coordinated the liturgy for my episcopal ordination on May 7. All three liturgies involved the reception of degrees of the sacrament of holy orders.
Being ordained a bishop on May 7 by Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston along with the other bishops who concelebrated, including the other principal concelebrants, Archbishop-elect Richard Henning of Boston and Bishop Robert Deeley, bishop emeritus of Portland, is something that I will never forget. In turn, ordaining the deacons and our newest priest are moments of prayer and grace that I will never forget. The outpouring of Spirit during these celebrations was tangible. God was so present in these celebrations in the sacraments of Eucharist and holy orders and present in His people gathered in prayer.
The sacrament of holy orders is one of the seven sacraments. By definition, sacraments are “outward signs instituted by Jesus that give grace.” The three degrees of orders are at the service of the Church. The bishop receives all three degrees. Thus, he alone experiences three distinct ordinations. The deacons help the priests, the priests help the bishops, and the bishops are the successors of the apostles entrusted with teaching, governing, and sanctifying the people of God within their dioceses. Deacons Erin, Hoa, and Thanh will be ordained to the priesthood next year in the spring. Men are ordained bishops only after being appointed by our Holy Father usually to shepherd a diocese (a specific geographic location of mission). Pope Francis appointed me to shepherd the Diocese of Portland, which encompasses the entire state of Maine. I am spiritually responsible for all of the souls that live in Maine, not just the 280,000 or so who are Catholic. It is an enormous responsibility that I share with the priests and the deacons of this diocese as well as the numerous laypeople who work and/or volunteer in ministries.
As part of my early priorities as your bishop, I have been trying to meet with our active priests. My travels have brought me to various parts of our beautiful state, even as far as “The County.” As I meet with our priests, I am edified by their goodwill, faith, and dedicated service. I am meeting men committed to the people of God whom they are sent to serve.
As you read this, I humbly ask that when you finish, you please say a prayer for your priests and deacons. Pray for them to continue to be zealous for their ministries. Pray for them to be courageous preachers who boldly and lovingly proclaim God’s word. Pray for our priests to always be conscious of the great responsibility they have to sanctify the people of God by their celebration of the sacraments and to carry out this responsibility with great reverence.
I came across a reflection written by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman, who died in 1890. I think it is appropriate to share it with you as I reflect on the sacrament of holy orders. He said:
“I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
“He [God] has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place….
“Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me.
“Still, He knows what He is about.”
Yes, God knows what He is about. I would call this reality Providence. In other words, God knows what He is doing, even when we may not. As a bishop, I am quickly learning that so much of what I am called to do has its foundation in trusting God. Trust in God allows me to lead with confidence.
In addition to praying for your priests and deacons, please pray for our eight seminarians, who soon begin their academic year of theological studies. Pray that they grow closer to Jesus, the one who has called them to discern their call to priesthood. Also, please pray for more men to respond to the Lord’s call to serve in ordained ministry. As you do this, please remember to pray for our families. The priestly vocation is often discovered in the family. May our families grow in unity, faith, and love. God bless you. I am honored to be your shepherd.
