News

'Glad that he's in our midst'

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

The new leader of the Church of Green Bay on Dec. 11 invited 450 priests, deacons, parish directors and sisters to grow in faith and help others to do likewise.

Related articles ... • Bishop calls Catholics to emulate faith heroes     Bp. David Zubik at his installation Mass says     heroes live their faith with courage     • Sidebar: Bishop's schedule • Promises to learn Spanish     Guadalupe celebration enjoyed by Bp. Zubik     and Hispanic community • Their friend will be OK in his new home     Friends of Bp. Zubik impressed by welcome     • Sidebar: Enjoyed return visit • Manitowoc area Catholics welcome Bp. Zubik     Schools, senior living community among visits Past coverage:    December 12, 2003 issue:      • photos from installation and vespers service      • Special coverage    November 21, 2003 issue:      • Pittsburgh planning farewell Mass for Bishop Zubik Sunday    November 14, 2003 issue:      • Visits scheduled for bishop    November 7, 2003 issue:      • Bp. Zubik to be installed Dec. 12 at St. Agnes    Other coverage:      • Links to Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 Compass coverage of new Bishop

In a homily at a solemn vespers service in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, where Bp. David Zubik was welcomed as the diocese's 11th bishop, he said Jesus' call to St. Peter (Lk 5:1-11) to go out into the deep water and cast his net still applies.

When Jesus asked Peter to do that, he was first and foremost accepting Peter as he was, Bp. Zubik said.

But Jesus also was calling Peter and challenging him to grow in holiness and to be a living sign of God's saving love, Bp. Zubik said in a homily he delivered on the main floor of the cathedral after descending the numerous steps from the sanctuary.

Jesus also accepts us as we are, but he also calls us and challenges us as he did Peter, Bp. Zubik said. Repeatedly using those words of Jesus to Peter as an introductory refrain, Bp. Zubik said Jesus asks us to "Go out into the deep water and cast your nets":

• to become women and men of deeper prayer, who spend more time in quiet listening to what God is saying to them and to "take with you ever more prayerfully the needs of the people whom you are called to serve."

• to be more selfless in the ways we give of our time, talent and treasure "to serve the needs of those who are looking for the hand and heart of Christ."

• "to be a people who connect with his will through the Scriptures and to the spirit of our church."

• "to never turn a deaf ear or a cold heart to the poor."

Certain dates, such as Dec. 7, 1941, Nov. 22, 1963, and Sept. 11, 2001, are emblazoned in our collective memory, Bp. Zubik said.

"And I certainly hope," he added, "the dates of Dec. 11 and 12, 2003, will be among those dates. Dates that call us to be a people who work together, collaborating with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People who are willing to be alive with the love of the Lord. People who are called to build the Body of Christ. People who are called to accept themselves as God accepts us now, but also people who become more of who God wants us to be."

The vespers service opened with Bp. Zubik knocking three times on the cathedral door, which retired Bp. Robert Banks opened welcoming his successor to the darkened church.

There, Bp. Zubik was greeted by Fr. Doug LeCaptain, temporary rector of the cathedral. After lighting the paschal candle, kissing the crucifix and sprinkling holy water, he walked in a procession of bishops to the sanctuary while joining the congregation in singing "Christ, Be Our Light."

Bp. Zubik began his homily by thanking Bp. Banks for his service to the diocese. "Over the course of these past 13 years, you have poured out your heart. You have shared your love with people who are young and old, people whose faith is strong and people whose faith was challenged. And you have done so very unselfishly," he said, prompting a 35-second standing ovation from the congregation.

At a reception at the Riverside Ballroom after vespers, Bp. Zubik greeted worshipers, who expressed their delight with the new bishop.

"I so appreciated his homily this evening. The words came truly from his heart and I know they went into my heart as well. I look forward to hearing many homilies more from him," said Joan Bartman of St. Paul Parish, Wrightstown.

Dcn. Manny Torres of Nativity Parish, Green Bay, said he is "really impressed with the way he spoke tonight and I'm really looking forward to having him here in Green Bay."

Dcn. Mike Schmidt, also of Nativity Parish, said he "loved his homily. I thought it was very warm and I thought it was very touching in terms of his message on the direction and our support for all the people within the Diocese of Green Bay."

Sr. Lois Levandowski, SSJ TOSF, of St. Thomas More School, Green Bay, said she "was very pleased with the vespers service this evening. I felt that he was a very holy man and I'm certainly glad that he's in our midst."

Fr. Tom Farrell, pastor Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Green Bay, said Bp. Zubik "did a great job in his homily and it sounds like he's a great singer. But he really sounds like he's a very personable man for the priests of the area, as well as the sisters. He sounds like a very warm and fine man, so hopefully everything will go well. I wish him the very best. I'm happy for Bp. Banks, also. I know it's been a tough few years for him, so it must be nice to have this support."