As I approached my 75th birthday on June 4, and prepared to comply with the requirement of Canon 401, §1 of the Code of Canon Law that requires bishops to submit their resignation from office to the Holy Father upon reaching that age, I have been invited to offer a reflection on the latter seven year part of my tenure of 29 years as a bishop, which has been here as Bishop of Buffalo.

That prospect draws me to think back to how it all first came about, that the call for my episcopal service and ministry would take me from Nashville to Buffalo. Interestingly, the “call” was literally just that, a telephone call from then Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, the papal representative for the United States. The phone call went to the chancery, but I was yet at my residence preparing for presiding at the funeral of a religious sister later that morning of August 3, 2004.

My vicar general telephoned me that the Nuncio had called, and wanted me to call him back. Receiving a call from the Nuncio is a rare occurrence, and is always one of significance. Anticipation of its reason is ever a cause for some apprehension and a few extra heartbeats. Twice before, I had received such calls, and both times they were life-changing, namely, first to be an Auxiliary Bishop of Trenton, and 10 years later, to be Bishop of Nashville.

A bit nervously, I returned the call to the Nuncio, and after the exchange of some pleasantries, he advised me, in the usual form that I heard before: “I have good news for you. It is in the Holy Father’s mind to appoint you Bishop of Buffalo. Do you accept?” So simple, so direct. To be so honored by the Holy Father, at that time the now-Blessed Pope John Paul II, there is no real way to say no, but rather to offer gratitude and pledge to do one’s best.

So, there it was, as it were, “Shuffle off to Buffalo,” as the song says. In a confidential manner, this was made known to the authorities in Buffalo, especially to Bishop Edward Grosz, who was then administrator of the diocese. The date of public announcement was set for August 12, for my introduction to the people of the Diocese of Buffalo.

I offer this recollection to give an insight to my feelings at that time, not unlike most new bishops on assignment to a new diocese. On my part, I really knew nothing about Buffalo beyond its geographic location, and, yes, that it was a cold and snowy place.

What would it be like? What are the priests and people like? What is the pastoral situation there? What are the expectations of all? What kind of welcome, if any, would there be? And a host of other questions.

With apprehension, I flew to Buffalo. As the plane’s wheels touched down on the runway, I said a prayer and a “Here I am, Lord. I come to do Your will.” I was quickly comforted. In an anticipated “cold” Buffalo, I found a most warm-hearted and welcoming people, even enthusiastic. I was totally humbled and gratified by my reception. I went back to Nashville, eager to close up my ministry there, and start up ministry in Buffalo with an installation ritual on October 28.

That was a momentous occasion for me, as the warmth of my first reception in Buffalo was increased to the nth degree. What a beginning, and a blessing for me to be granted such a hopeful beginning by the wonderful people of Buffalo. Despite all that, I still expected an extended period of gaining an acquaintance with the diocese and the direction for pastoral ministry, to move forward the diocese in building God’s kingdom. Answers came much sooner than I anticipated.

Within months, a major situation was brought to my attention, both by the priests and the people. The configuration of the diocese was out of proportion for our pastoral situation, and something had to be done to bring it into alignment. We had too many parishes, too many schools for our current population and the efficient exercise of our mission. With 275 parishes, the diocese was configured for a church long past, when there were large families, full schools and churches, many priests and religious, and a much larger Catholic population that was reduced as did the general population over the years in an economical decline in our area.

With extraordinary communal awareness and resolve, and in a spirit of remarkable collaboration and commitment, we embarked on our Journey in Faith and Grace, a most challenging enterprise. In all respects, it was a courageous response to improve our pastoral situation to correspond to our current size and needs, as we read the “signs of our times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel…to carry out its task.” A process of consultation and decision was instituted and carried out over the course of several years, resulting in closures and mergers to reduce ourselves to appropriate sizing and configuration.

Since we lived out the experience of the “journey” and its publicity, I think I need not seek to retell its story. I think we all know it. Certainly, I think that there was a consensus that this was a task needed to be done, but that it was nevertheless very difficult and painful to bear, especially by those directly affected. Over time, some have found their way to their new “church,” whether the one merged or to a parish nearby to their liking.

Some others are still healing and searching, or some feel alienation, but my daily prayer is for all to find or re-find their pastoral path, pastoral place, and pastoral niche in the continuing life of the Church, so needed for their spiritual well being. Looking back on that part of the “journey,” a good measure of its success is to ask, what if we had not engaged in it? For one thing sure, we could not staff all that we had with a priest pastor. All in all, I agree with a consensus that it went as well as could be expected, or even maybe better. For that, we are grateful to God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We did the “hard thing.”

While the Journey in Faith and Grace was an initiative that was a matter of main focus and attention in my tenure here, there was so much more to our progress and growth in the faith life of our diocese, too much to seek to detail here. I do think of the fact that it was my privilege to ordain 18 priests and 37 permanent deacons, and to provide for the formation of a host of lay ecclesial ministers. And what a great thing it is that our efforts have led to the Church’s designation of one of our own, Msgr. Nelson Baker, as Venerable.

So now, the time nears to write that letter of resignation to the Holy Father. Please note, that’s “resignation,” not “retirement.” The latter is for the Holy Father to determine. In probability, that might be months away, so my ministry as shepherd continues. Our diocesan life goes on vigorously and energetically with pastoral planning, pastoral initiatives, and pastoral endeavors. And that’s how it needs to be. However, an end for my part in leadership nears.

While not in a farewell way, I take this opportunity to say a profound thanks from the bottom of my heart for God’s great gift to me, to place me among you, to experience your gracious and willing collaboration in fulfilling the mission of our diocese, through thick and thin, building God’s kingdom in our hearts and midst. For myself, I resonate with the words of our Blessed Mother in her Magnificat prayer: “God has looked with favor on His lowly servant. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.”

As I said in my Chrism Mass homily, I repeat again for a larger audience: “From my first day on the premises of our diocese, and on into the present, I have experienced a truly unique and wonderful acceptance, affirmation, cooperation, collaboration, and understanding in the often difficult pastoral life and works of our diocese, by all of you, clergy, religious, laity, our whole constituency. In you, far from my original home, I have found a home, a family, and a love here. Words cannot fully express what that has meant to me as shepherd. I am so very grateful to God and to you.”
In the final words of Psalm 90, for us all: “May the divine favor be upon us. Give success to the work of our hands. Give success to the work of our hands.”