Thanks for your legacies

By Bishop Robert Banks

	Bishop Robert J. Banks

Thanks.

That was the first word of my first column written back in March, 1991 and, with it, I tried to express my gratitude for all the prayers and expressions of support which I received from the people of Green Bay at the time of my heart by-pass surgery.

It is now the first word to express my appreciation for all the support and friendship and prayers which I have received from the people of Green Bay through the past 13 years. I am especially thankful to all those who helped me minister in and to the Church of Green Bay during this time. That includes the volunteers, parish and institutional staff, priests, religious, deacons and bishops.

I also owe sincere thanks to the many people who contributed to the Bishop's Appeal, the Crozier Society, the Catholic Foundation, and the various other causes which I began or encouraged personally.

As you must know by now, I am not a great one for talking about accomplishments or a legacy left behind. But it would be wrong to give the impression that nothing happened in this Diocese during my time here. So let me mention some of the things that have happened in the past 13 years with varying degrees of involvement on my part.

Religious communities

First, some of the communities of religious have made major investments in this Diocese during these years. I estimate about 100 million dollars has gone into new or improved facilities at our Catholic colleges, hospitals and other health care institutions. My only contribution was to be present with a blessing at the ground-breaking or the opening.

Just as important, if not more so, are the decisions made by the authorities of the various religious communities to continue assigning members to ministries in this Diocese. We have hundreds of religious sisters, brothers and priests working in this Church of Green Bay. My contribution is to welcome them and to let them know how much I appreciate those who minister here and those who assign or allow them to minister here.

Parishes

Next, I estimate that, during these years, our parishes have expended at least 100 million dollars on new or renovated churches, schools, and other facilities. We might be linking, merging or closing parishes, but at the same time we have been building or improving parish facilities. I consider myself an expert now on consecrating new churches and dedicating new altars. In all this, my contribution has only been to grant my approval to the projects proposed by the parishes, thanks to the initiative and industry of the parish leaders, both laity and clergy.

Diocesan facilities

Then there are the improvements to our Diocesan facilities. Perhaps the one closest to my heart is the renovation of the McCormick Home. The facility was always kept in the finest condition, but the idea of single rooms without a bath was from another era. So I was delighted when we could renovate the building and provide rooms with a bath for the residents. But Jim Gendrich, the administrator, was the one who came up with the financing plan that made it possible.

The other facility that caught my attention was Camp Tekawitha. The camp program was and is one of the best, thanks to the directors, Roberta and Ralph Larson, but the buildings were in very poor, even disastrous, shape. So I determined that we should replace the buildings with new ones.

Once again, someone else came to the rescue. Bob Endries volunteered to chair the fund-raising, with the help of his wife, Pat. And one of the early donors, who wishes to remain anonymous, gave a gift that ensured the success of the fundraising effort. We now have a great facility that serves as a camp for the summer, and a retreat and conference center during the rest of the year.

Another important facility that came into existence over the past 13 years is Grellinger Hall, a residence that can accommodate up to 16 of our senior priests. Fr. Phil Hoffmann was the promoter of the idea, and I fell in line once I checked with the priests of the Diocese.

Devotions

What else is new in the Diocese? Well, we have a Eucharistic Day in early November. It was my way of recapturing something of the Forty Hours celebration in honor of the Blessed Sacrament. It is my hope that in almost every parish special attention is given to the Blessed Sacrament on the assigned day.

Thanks to others who promoted the devotion, we now have Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in four locations within the Diocese. Once again, my role was simply to approve.

Liturgical life

Of course, I also made some changes which were not appreciated by everyone. Early on, I asked the pastors to end any practice of general absolution. I received a flock of letters from people, including the elderly, who protested the change. I get no credit for the change, since it came from Rome.

I have also been moving slowly to require First Penance for our children before First Communion. The large school/religious education systems have cooperated quite well, but individual parishes are still making up their minds. Once again, I get no credit, because the change comes from Rome.

Finally, there are two other changes that I would like to take credit for. The first is the preaching project that is headed up by Bp. Morneau. All our priests, in groups of six, are submitting their homilies for evaluation by the group. It seems to be well received. In any case, it is aimed at one of the most important things we do as priests.

The second change is the encouragment of parishes to use the little black or blue books for six minute reflections during Lent and Advent. But I have to admit I borrowed that idea and the books from Bp. Kenneth Untner of Saginaw.

There have been numerous other changes, but they won't fit in this column. There is just room to end with the same word I ended my first column 13 years ago.

Thanks.