Rockville Centre’s New Bishop: ‘I Will Always Have The Heart Of A Parish Priest’

What a blessing he will be.

From Bishop John O. Barres’s homily yesterday at his installation:

I look forward to discerning together with you our priests, our deacons, religious and laity, the movement of the Holy Spirit in our parishes, parishes that are schools of prayer, holiness and the New Evangelization.

As I said at the press conference on December 9, I have a passion for parish life and will always have the heart of a parish priest. I am looking forward to experiencing the vibrant, welcoming, New Evangelization parishes of the Diocese.

I recently came across a copy of Msgr. Phil Murnion’s Do’s and Don’t’s on Beginning a Pastorate published by the National Pastoral Life Center and Church magazine in 1991. Msgr. Murnion showed a number of kindnesses to me as a young parish priest including publishing a reflection on the spirituality of the priesthood.

Msgr. Murnion had a passion for the realities and possibilities of the American parish and his do’s and don’ts reflect real parish experience and love for parish evangelization.

My favorite advice he gives is repeated in the Dos section which includes a total of 40 points. Point 5, Point 14 and Point 37 are all composed of a single word: “Smile.”

Msgr. Murnion understood the need to radiate the Joy of the Gospel and the Church’s mission and he wanted parish priests of all ages to experience and live that joy as they lay down their lives for the people they serve.

Vibrant parish life inspires and equips our families to bring their Catholic faith into the neighborhood, the workplace, the public square and every inch of our global society.

At the World Meeting of Families, Pope Francis said that “Families transform the World and History.” Our families need their parish family. The parish family needs each and every family.

And so I appeal on this day of my Installation as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre to every inactive Catholic in the Diocese to come back to the power of the Word of God, the power of the Sacrament of Penance, the power of the Catholic Mass.

I am so very sorry if you have been hurt or disappointed by the Church in any way and we stand here today to support you, to love you and to listen to you.

In turn, I am asking every active Catholic of every age in the Diocese of Rockville Centre between January 31st (today) and Ash Wednesday (which is March 1st) to invite one inactive Catholic friend or family to come with you to Mass and to gently, humbly, compassionately, non-judgmentally witness to the beauty of your intimacy with Christ and your love for the mission of the Catholic Church and how it has enriched and inspired your life.

The power of these gentle and compassionate invitations are enormous. They always plant a seed of grace. And now’s the time to make these invitations. Let’s all do it together and realize that it is the kindest thing any of us could do for anyone.