Preparing for the Changing of the… Spiritual Shepherd

Preparing for the Changing of the…

Spiritual Shepherd

 

The changing of the guard at the Vatican or Buckingham Palace is a moment that shows the respect in which we hold the service and protection of our leaders. The changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a moment that shows the somber and sacred respect in which we hold all of those - known and unknown - who gave their lives for a greater good: for our nation, for their neighbors.

 

This past Monday, Pope Francis began a different kind of “changing of the guard,” which will continue to unfold over the next three months and beyond. It started back five years ago, when Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley dutifully submitted his resignation, as is required of pastors and diocesan bishops at the age of seventy-five. The superior is free to accept the resignation or not, and Pope Francis was pleased to have this trusted servant of Lord continue his good shepherding the People of God in our archdiocese for a few more years. Finally, the Pope has acquiesced, allowing our now 80-year-old shepherd to step down (soon) from his pastoral and administrative duties as our archbishop. The job description for a pastor is lengthy, but the list of duties for a diocesan bishop is impossible to completely fulfill! So, after 21 years of leading us out of multiple crises and through many troubled waters into safe harbor, Cardinal Seán has more than earned his “retirement” (though clergy never fully retire, and it seems he will still have multiple duties in Rome). That said, he will still be the bishop of our archdiocese until the new archbishop elect is installed on October 31, so we will have some time yet to reflect on the many ways God has used Cardinal Seán to serve the People of the Church in Boston and the wider human family.

 

Meanwhile, this “Pope of surprises” has named the recently-arrived Bishop of Providence to succeed Cardinal Seán. Archbishop-elect Richard G. Henning, a native of the Diocese of Rockville Center (on Long Island, NY), has only been in Providence for a little over a year! I was quite surprised to hear from the Papal Nuncio (ambassador) that he would be moving forty-five minutes up Interstate 95. I was personally impressed by what Bishop Henning shared at the press conference, especially his desire to listen and learn from the people of our archdiocese as he gets acclimated to ministry here. His past experiences I think will be a good fit for our local Church at this moment in history, and I came away from watching the video with a strong sense of hope. Some lay leaders in our PWC collaborative know Father Paul Soper, our Vicar for Clergy and former Secretary for Pastoral Planning, who was present for the archbishop-elect’s introduction. He said, “My impressions are that he is humble, and genuine, and sincere. He is a deep scholar, a man of prayer, a listener...” I felt for Bishop Henning when he admitted it will be hard for him to say goodbye to the people of Rhode Island where he thought he would be serving for years to come. So let us pray for him and our neighbors in the Diocese of Providence as they deal with this unexpected transition so soon after his arrival there, and for the future of our Archdiocese of Boston, as we build on the history of so many people of faith and seek to be open to new leadership under our new shepherd later this fall.