Impressive choice

Related articles ...  • Enthusiastic new bishop does plenty of visiting     On his first part-day he goes to school, pantry; meets press, employees, priests  • New bishop has plans     Spirituality, meeting people top the list  • Sidebar: Biography  • Wisconsin bishops welcome new appointment     Some of the state's bishops have known him from earlier associations with him  • Diocesan employees react with enthusiasm to new bishop     They find him to be young, pastoral, warm, engaging and also enthusiastic  • Bishop Banks' Corner --     Still busy for next two months Previous coverage ... From 10/10/2003 Compass Web issue:  • New bishop to lead Green Bay Diocese     Pittsburgh Auxiliary Bishop David Zubik will succeed Bishop Robert Banks (includes photos)  • Statement by Bishop David A. Zubik

It seems appropriate that the Green Bay Diocese's new bishop was named in the middle of baseball's American and National League Championship series runup to the World Series. Bp. David Zubik certainly hit a home run last Friday in Green Bay with priests, diocesan employees, the press, Holy Family School students and the people at Paul's Pantry.

And diocesan employees who asked their counterparts in Pittsburgh about the man who has been that diocese's top administrative official since 1996, heard reassuringly favorable comments. Pittsburgh diocesan employees said he is compassionate, easy to talk with, personable and concerned about others.

Bp. Zubik continually called himself a pastoral person who values highly what is happening in the parishes. He said he plans to meet with diocesan employees in groups of two to learn about them and their ideas for the church of Green Bay. He also plans to spend the first 6-12 months meeting people around the diocese to learn more about this church.

Then he began doing just that, eagerly greeting and talking briefly with everyone he saw at the diocesan complex before going out to Holy Family School and Paul's Pantry to meet more people and see the church in action. When Bp. Zubik comes to your parish, by all means go meet him.

He laid out his priorities: spirituality, prayer and the importance of the Eucharist; evangelization, particularly in teaching the elements of our faith to people of all ages; respecting all people - priests and laity - involved in church ministries; protecting all people in the church and enforcing the charter and norms on sexual abuse approved in June 2002 by the U.S. Catholic bishops meeting in Dallas.

Beyond that, he exhibited a splendid sense of humor and an engaging personal warmth and charm.

The one area of concern is that he said he's not sure if he's ready to trade the Steelers' Black and Gold for the Packers' Green and Gold. That contrasts to Bp. Aloysius Wycislo, who grew up a Bears' fan, but switched immediately to the Packers when Vince Lombardi gave him two tickets on the 50 yard line. Or to Bp. Robert Banks, who was more than happy to leave behind the New England Patriots for the Packers. As initially disappointing as Bp. Zubik's comments on football were, at least he was honest. And Packer fans do understand team loyalty.

We started here with a baseball allusion, saying that Bp. Zubik hit a home run in his first at bat. Now, let's end with a football one. For several months, many prayers have been said concerning the selection of our next bishop. Based on what we've seen so far, we really connected on this Hail Mary.