Bishop seen as priest-servant

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	S p e c i a l   S e c t i o n : Farewell to Bishop Banks
	• 'Blessed be God Forever'     Bp. Robert Banks retires as the     diocese's chief shepherd and spiritual     leader  • Highlights of 13 years in Green Bay  • Bp. Robert Joseph Banks biography  • Accepted the hard times with grace     Bishop believes God at work  • A style that works     Bishop noted for his care and listening     skills  • Timeline of Bp. Banks' years in Green Bay  • College presidents remember Bp. Banks  • Lay Catholics remember Bp. Banks  • Diocesan employees remember Bp. Banks  • Bishops, priests comment on Bp. Banks  • Religious leaders discuss Bp. Banks  • Thirteen years as the leader draw to an end  • Bishop Banks' Corner --     Giving glory to our Father  • Editorial -- Job well done     Bp. Robert Banks has served the     church of the Diocese of Green Bay     well for 13 years

Dedication to the church and the Eucharist, concern for others, a good sense of humor and love of sports - especially golf - are hallmarks of Bp. Robert Banks, say his friends.

Several people spoke of Bp. Banks' love for the church.

Quotable ... "His Irish wit is widely appreciated and keeping up with his repartee is a challenge I have often failed. He is fun to be with."     -- Abbot E. Thomas De Wane

Auxiliary Bp. Robert Morneau noted how Bp. Banks traveled the diocese "proclaiming the message of Jesus, celebrating the sacraments, and doing pastoral service."

His support of Renew 2000 and Stewardship were mentioned as two accomplishments that will continue to bear fruit.

And while Bp. Banks' love for golf is legendary - as is his inability to outplay Bp. Morneau, he also enjoys other sports.

"Periodically," said Msgr. Paul Koszarek, former diocesan Vicar for Administration, "Bp. Banks would join me at my cottage on Hemlock Lake for a day of relaxation. On one occasion, Bp. Morneau was with us and we did some windsurfing. This was one sport at which Bp. Banks is clearly Bp. Morneau's superior. Ever after Bp. Banks has been trying, in vain, to get Bp. Morneau back on the windsurfer."

But the personal element stands out for many people.

Fr. Dave Pleier, pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Green Bay, said "Bp. Banks is a man of great focus. Whether on the golf course, in the pulpit, or at a hospital bedside, his attention is focused on that moment of grace. In my years as Director of Vocations for the diocese, whenever I would 'drop in' unannounced, he always had time to focus on whatever the need happened to be."

Dr. William Hynes, president of St. Norbert College, said Bp. Banks "is a man of heart, who has given exemplary service in his concern for the well-being of everyone in this diocese. I had the good fortune to observe this at a close range during my service on his Pastoral Council.

Don Long, president of the Catholic Foundation, said when the two first met to discuss its formation, "What I really admired was his great concern for the poor. He wanted to develop a form of giving to help the diocese for years to come."

Mike Ariens, a member of the diocesan Finance Council and Catholic Foundation board, said, "It's been a wonderful experience and a great joy to be a servant along with our priest servant, Bp. Banks, for so many years."

	Quotable ... "He has a nice blend of business and social relationship. For example, he never drinks coffee at his desk - that's for business - yet there would be Halloween jokes like rubber arms under your desk."     -- Sr. Ann Rehrauer, OSF

Dcn. Paul Grimm, diocesan director of the Diaconate and consultant in social concerns, noted how "Bp. Banks so readily adapted to the Midwest and the Green Bay Diocese. He became 'one of us' rather quickly and shared his appreciation of our lifestyle, values and ways of doing things. He immediately made the mandatory change to being a Packers' fan, toned down his Boston accent so we could understand him, and embraced the people of the Diocese of Green Bay as his people."

Barbara Biebel, director of Resettlement and Immigration Services, recalled how she got to know some of Bp. Banks' former parishioners in Massachusetts when he was installed as bishop and their concern that he be well-treated here.

As his Boston friends talked about him, "I heard the human side of an administrator, the extra measures taken to comfort the afflicted and bereaved, and the kindness shown to those with needs," Biebel said.

"The ladies concluded that he was going to be just fine in Green Bay, that this was a warm and welcoming place that would be good to their friend. I knew, too, that somebody with such a cadre of devoted and caring friends was a good person who was going to do well here," Biebel said.

And that - these people all agree - he has done.

(Pat Kasten and Jeff Kurowski contributed to this story.)