News

True to his word: New bishop on road again

By Tony Staley
Compass Editor

	WARM WELCOME: Bp. David Zubik meets a youngster in Marinette during his visits to various regions around the Green Bay Diocese. (Rick Evans photo)

When Bp. David Zubik visited Green Bay Oct. 10 - the day his appointment was announced as the diocese's new leader - he said he wanted to get out, meet people and do some visiting.

Since his installation ceremonies Dec. 11-12, he's been doing plenty of that: celebrating Mass in at least 10 churches, and visiting seven Catholic schools, two Catholic hospitals, four retirement homes and two Catholic Charities offices.

He's also met and had dinner with many priests, parish directors, deacons and their wives, and two dozen young men with an interest in vocations to the priesthood.

Plus, he met two representatives of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), attended Christmas parties for seminarians and diocesan employees and met thousands of Catholics at regional celebrations.

Responses to the bishop have been overwhelmingly positive. Those who attend the Masses speak of his prayerfulness, his good singing voice, their belief that he is going to fit in well in the diocese and their desire to work with him.

Equally impressed has been Bp. Zubik. "I cannot begin to express my gratitude," he said. "Everybody, everywhere, has been so welcoming, not just the Catholics, but the secular community as well. I cannot thank everyone enough."

Bp. Zubik's busy schedule began Dec. 11 at a reception after the vespers service in the cathedral. The next day, he began greeting well-wishers in St. Agnes Church at the end of the Installation Mass before going to the official reception at the Radisson. There he spent more than four hours shaking hands and talking to anyone who lined up to meet him.

On Dec. 13, he presided at Masses for the Hmong and Spanish-speaking communities and then joined in meals and celebrations after both liturgies.

	Related article ... • New shepherd visits the Valley

A full schedule of regional visits began on Dec. 15 in Manitowoc, followed on successive days with trips to Antigo, Marinette, Green Bay, and on Dec. 21, to Appleton.

While a highlight of each visit was a Mass and reception at a parish in each city, in most cases that only scratched the surface of his schedule.

In Manitowoc, he visited Roncalli High School, St. Francis de Sales School, Catholic Charities and St. Mary's Home, in addition to celebrating Mass at Holy Innocents Church.

As the bishop toured St. Mary's Home, greeting staff and residents, Jack Gospodarek, the administrator, expressed surprise.

"I didn't expect to take him around and meet as many people as he did," he said. "He strikes me as a very outgoing individual and his energy and enthusiasm are remarkable. I'm sure the place is abuzz with excitement."

The trip to Antigo included a stop at Camp Tekawitha, the diocesan youth camp and retreat center near Cecil. In Antigo, he went to St. Mary and St. John schools and Langlade Memorial Hospital, in addition to celebrating Mass at St. John Church.

His visit to Marinette included stops at Holy Family School, Catholic Central High School, Catholic Charities, the Luther Home and Mass at Holy Family Church.

At Catholic Central, Bethany Skorik, a junior, said he is "a very personable man. He seems like he has a lot of ambition and he really cares about our school and our diocese. He seems like he is really going to try hard to listen to what the people want."

Becky Adams, also a Catholic Central student, said she "thought he was very honest and upfront" and Davie Ostrenga said he thinks "he will do a very good job as the new bishop."

In Green Bay, he visited Notre Dame High School, going to a biology class and a freshman theology class where he asked students about papers they had written on the Ten Commandments. He also spoke to freshmen before their class Mass, asking them to pray for him and write to him on what he should do as bishop. He also volunteered to return to the school to teach a class.

He then toured St. Mary's Hospital, followed by visits to Grellinger Hall - the priests' retirement home - and the adjacent McCormick Home before the evening Mass at St. Bernard Church.

At the Mass, he encouraged people not to give up on God when everything seems to go wrong because God never turns his back on us.

God always greets us with open arms, he added, and "reassures us that there will never be even a second in life when God is not with us. There will never be a moment when God turns a deaf ear to us. There will never be a time when God will give us his back because God will always give us his heart. He will share with us his mercy, his compassion and his unending care" just as he promised through the prophets.

But, in order for us to really accept God's generous gift, we must rid ourselves of our resentments, angers, bitterness and whatever stands in our way of accepting God's love so we can fulfill our dream of being united forever with God, he said.

After meeting Bp. Zubik following Mass, Gregory Miller, a college student from Green Bay, said the bishop is articulate. "He said very well what he meant. I appreciated his words and I especially appreciated that he asked me to pray for him."

Dale Johnson, a disabled member of St. Bernard Parish, said he appreciated how the bishop spoke loudly and clearly so that he could understand every word.

His wife, Bev, called Bp. Zubik an "awesome man with a profound love of the Lord. And you can just see on his face how much he loves the people and how much he professes God. In today's world, the young people need to hear that so desperately."

Several people talked about how Bp. Zubik focuses on the person he is talking with.

"When you meet Bp. Zubik, he makes you the center of the world," said Dave Schonke. "You become his absolute focus. It's really wonderful. I really appreciate that."

Bonnie Brien likened him to "a breath of fresh air."

On Dec. 21, Bp. Zubik attended the final regional celebration at St. Bernard Church, Appleton.

A constant at all the regional Masses was an honor guard of Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, whom Bp. Zubik thanked for their participation in the services and for all the work they do for the church - locally, nationally and internationally. He also signed a card transferring his membership as a Fourth Degree Knight from Pittsburgh to Green Bay.

On Dec. 23, Bp. Zubik celebrated daily Mass in the diocesan chapel and later went to St. Francis Xavier Cathedral for a luncheon meeting with a group of young men who have expressed an interest in exploring the possibility of priesthood.

Later that afternoon, Bp. Zubik and Sr. Mary Bride Grubbs, diocesan chancellor and Victim Assistance Coordinator, had a long meeting with Peter Isely, Midwest regional director of SNAP, and a Green Bay member of SNAP, to discuss their concerns about clergy sexual abuse and outreach to the healing of victims.

Isely said SNAP both wanted to welcome Bp. Zubik to Wisconsin and to "begin an immediate dialogue between victims and the diocese to help resolve our differences."

Bp. Zubik said, "The tone of the meeting was positive and pastoral. We agreed to meet in good faith, that we would be honest with one another and keep at the forefront the concerns and needs of those who have been abused. I believe that happened."

Both Bp. Zubik and Isely said they look forward to continued dialogue.

On Christmas Eve, the bishop celebrated the 4 p.m. vigil Mass for families at St. Matthew Church, Green Bay.

Later that night, he presided at the Midnight Mass in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, which was televised live on WLUK (Fox 11). The Mass started amidst clouds of incense as the bishop sang the Proclamation of the Birth of Jesus before joining in the entrance procession to the creche in front of the cathedral.

Before blessing the creche, he used the time to explain a little of the history and reason for Nativity scenes.

In his homily, Bp. Zubik said we are called to welcome Jesus into our hearts and bring him into the lives of others.

Like the angels, he said, we are called to sing about the beauty of life and to protect life; like the shepherds, we are called to set aside time each day to spend with God; like the Magi we are called to share our gifts with others; like Joseph we are called to love unselfishly; and like Mary we are called to listen to the word of God and respond positively.

At the end of Mass, Bp. Zubik welcomed everyone who does not normally attend Mass at the Cathedral and said everyone is welcome to attend Mass there and at all churches in the diocese.

On Dec. 26, Bp. Zubik presided at a Mass before the annual Green Bay East and West Serra Clubs' Christmas party for the diocese's 14 seminarians. Serrans, clergy and Bp. Zubik's parents, Stanley and Susan, were among the guests.

On Dec. 28, Bp. Zubik celebrated the 11 a.m. Mass for the feast of the Holy Family at Resurrection Church, Green Bay.

In less than a month, Bp. Zubik has shown that he will indeed by getting out, meeting people and doing some visiting.

(Contributing to this report were Jeff Kurowski, Renae Bauer, Rick Evans and Thomas Beno)