A Message from Father Bill Swengros

My friends!

 Today we recall the Lord’s ascension into heaven to prepare for the sending of the Holy Spirit upon his disciples at Pentecost.  In today’s Gospel, St. John presents the last prayer of our Lord before his passion and death for our salvation: a prayer for unity in the Church. 

 Our Bishop, Robert Lynch, just returned from Rome where he completed his quinquennial ad limina visit or pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul.  Every five years, every diocesan bishop throughout the world travels to Rome to spend quality time with the Lord, to share with the Holy Father how God is working in and through the portion of the Church of God entrusted to his care, and to meet with the Holy Father’s collaborators in order to better shepherd the people of God.

 Due to the advanced age of the Holy Father, he no longer meets individually with each bishop.  Instead they meet in small groups and each is given five minutes to share the blessings and challenges of each diocese.  In preparation, Bishop Lynch met with the priests of the diocese and asked for our advice.  So if tell me, if you had five minutes to talk with Pope Benedict, what would you say? 

 I can tell you that I was blest to speak with Blessed John Paul II on two occasions.  The first time I think I was too overwhelmed to say much.  The second time it was on the occasion of my anniversary of ordination to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Father’s birthday - May 18, 2001.  I had recently been appointed to serve as pastor in Gulfport.  As I knelt before the Holy Father, I wished him a happy birthday and asked if he would please pray for me as I celebrated my anniversary and for those I would serve as pastor.  I’ll never forget the blessing I received that day.  (In fact, I have pictures in my office if you want to see them!)

 This October, I hope to travel to Rome for the canonization of Blessed Mother Marian Cope of Hawaii and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha of the Mohawk nation.  I seriously doubt if I’ll have the opportunity to speak with the Holy Father, but if I did, what do you think I should say?

 To be honest — I think I would thank him for his ministry.  And I would ask for his prayers for you and for me — that we may continue to grow together in Christ!

 May God bless you one and all!