'Life would not be same again'

	S p e c i a l   S e c t i o n: Bishop David Zubik: Teacher, Priest, Leader Celebrating the 10th anniversary of his ordination as a bishop
	Only in the Print Edition ... Articles found only in this 24-page special section of the Mar. 30, 2007 Compass print edition: • David Zubik becomes Pittsburgh     auxiliary bishop in 1997 • State's bishops congratulate Bp. Zubik • Cardinals, archbishop offer best wishes     to bishop • Catholics express their thoughts     to the bishop • Pope appoints auxiliary bishop     to Pittsburgh in 1997 • Bishop leads a diocese in three     main ways • David Zubik called to vocation     at an early age • Bishop pledges loyalty after his     appointment in 1997 • Bp. Donald Wuerl welcomes news     of appointment • Coat of arms tells a story about     the bishop • Subscribe to print edition

By Jeff Kurowski
Compass Assistant Editor

"I knew my life was never going to be the same again. Once you say yes to what God wants you to do, your life is never going to be the same."

That's how Bp. David Zubik describes the moment he found out he was becoming a bishop. He received the news on the morning of Feb. 11, 1997, a day he vividly remembers.

Bishop David Zubik

"I was on the telephone checking on my good friend Fr. (Edward) Farina, who was not in good shape after having a serious surgery," he said. "I got a call from Bp. (Donald) Wuerl. He wanted to see me. He told me, 'I have some news. The Holy Father has chosen a new auxiliary bishop for Pittsburgh.' I said, 'That's great, who is it?' He said, 'It's you.'"

"I was really shocked," said Bp. Zubik. "I didn't anticipate anything like that. I asked Bp. Wuerl if he thought I could do it. He said yes. I said yes to the nuncio. The rest of the day I was in lots of meetings, but I felt very uncomfortable. I felt like the pope had made a mistake. I was tempted to call the nuncio back."

Bp. Zubik turned to prayer to deal with his conflict. He was serving as chaplain at a motherhouse at that time. That evening, he took a Bible and an autobiography of Pope John XXIII into the chapel to sit before the tabernacle.

"I prayed over the moment Mary was asked to be the mother of Jesus," he said. "Mary felt disbelief, fear and uncertainty. I remembered Angelo Roncalli (Pope John XXIII) felt a lot of the same discomfort as I did when he was named a bishop. I wanted to read about each of them when they were being asked to do something that they felt was impossible."

"I was inspired by both," he added. "It was very conflicting for me because I know my own sinfulness and my own limitations and I realized the awesome responsibility of being a bishop. It is a matter of giving God a blank check. You never know how God is going to fill in that check."

Not only did his prayer provide strength and guidance, it inspired the inscription for Bp. Zubik's coat of arms - "Nothing is impossible with God" - the last words Gabriel the Archangel said to Mary.

The official announcement of his appointment as an auxiliary bishop was scheduled for the next week. He was able to tell his parents the evening before the news became public.

"I made up a story that I was going to pick up someone at the airport and asked if I could come over for supper," said Bp. Zubik. "My parents' home was not far from the airport. I remember that I was eating slowly and my mother was concerned that I would be late for my pickup. I took the zucchetto (red beanie worn by bishops) that I received from Bp. Wuerl and the letter I received and put them in a box. I told them that I had some news. I gave them the box and said, 'Why don't you open it?'"

The envelope containing the letter was addressed to Msgr. Zubik, which led his parents to believe that he was being named a monsignor. After reading the letter, they discovered his appointment. It was overwhelming at first for his parents, said Bp. Zubik.

Another fond memory for Bp. Zubik, prior to his ordination as a bishop on April 6, 1997, at St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, is his trip to Rome in March. He went to buy things he would need for his ministry as a bishop. He arrived at the Vatican on a Wednesday in time for a public audience with Pope John Paul II, but he didn't have a ticket.

He asked the Swiss Guards for access. He was allowed to join the crowd after showing them his zucchetto. While among the crowd, the Swiss Guards motioned for him.

"I thought they were going to throw me out," said Bp. Zubik. "They took me way up on top of St. Peter's Square to be with the other bishops. I felt embarrassed because I didn't have a cassock. I was dressed in my suit and raincoat."

Pope John Paul II invited the bishops to his apartment.

"I apologized to the pope and tried to explain that he just named me a bishop three weeks ago and I did not have a cassock," said Bp. Zubik. "He was laughing. He said, 'That's OK, it's good to have you here.' That was one of those rich moments, human moments, I will never forget."

Pope John Paul II gave Bp. Zubik a pectoral cross, which he wears faithfully.

"It is a sign of my love for Jesus and it has a lot of sentimental value because it expresses my love of Pope John Paul II as well," he said.

While his more than six years as an auxiliary bishop would appear to be a preparation for his 2003 appointment as bishop of the Green Bay Diocese, Bp. Zubik said his preparation unknowingly began years earlier.

"My 17 years working so closely with Bp. Wuerl was outstanding preparation," he said. "I also benefited from the seven months I worked with Card. (Anthony) Bevilacqua. It was on the job training to get me ready for what God wanted me to do, even though at that time I never knew I would become a bishop."

Reflecting on 10 years as a bishop, Bp. Zubik said he doesn't focus on specific events or accomplishments, but on the people he serves.

"For me, it's the privilege of first serving the people of Pittsburgh as an auxiliary bishop, and then the awesome privilege of coming to Green Bay to be the leader of a diocese of such wonderful people," he said. "It's also an awesome responsibility. What happens, what is on the line with all of this is my salvation. How well I do in leading God's people will get me to heaven or not. When Harry Truman was president, he said, 'The buck stops here.' I consult with a lot of people, but in the end I have to make decisions and take responsibility for them. I'd be sunk if it wasn't for God's guidance."

Bp. Zubik understands that there will be people who oppose his decisions.

"The crozier bends at the top," he said. "The shepherds used the crook to bring back the sheep. The crozier symbolizes the bishop's responsibility to bring people closer to God. I certainly hope I'm doing that. I realize that everyone is not going to agree with the decisions I make. I hope in the end that people see that I act with my deepest sincerity for the people of the diocese. I hope I can bring people closer to God, and I believe the people in this diocese help bring me closer to God."

Bp. Zubik embraces the bishop's role as a teacher. He served 13 years as an educator.

"As a bishop I try to take a more pastoral approach to teaching," he said. "I try to present a message in the Bible and teachings of the church in a practical way that people can understand."

"I enjoy the teaching moments, but the most exciting thing for me as a bishop is to pray with the people," he added. "Celebrating the Eucharist is my greatest joy."

When considering the public nature of being the bishop of the Green Bay Diocese, Bp. Zubik said he is reminded of a quote by St. Francis of Assisi who said, "Always preach and teach the gospel and sometimes you use words."

"We often talk about the graces of the office," he said. "As a bishop, I'm going to be a public billboard of God's love. I try to do the best I can. Obviously there are times I fail. I am the same person in private as the person I am in public. I try to be a man who is sincere in his love of Christ and his church."

Bp. Zubik admits that becoming a bishop has changed him significantly in one way.

"It's made me absolutely trusting in God," he said. "When I found out I was coming to Green Bay, I didn't know anything about the diocese or know anyone here. I put my trust in God and it's been a wonderful experience. The faith is so strong. I don't know what God wants for me in the future, but as far as I'm concerned, this is home for me."