Welcome Bishop Stika!
The ordination of Bishop Stika gave our diocese the opportunity to show forth the best qualities of the church in East Tennessee. Liturgies of 5,000 are not frequent in this part of the world, so I loved seeing this snapshot of our local church. It was a great blessing and honor to have been asked to organize the readers for our liturgy as well as communion. We were able to gather many of the young people from our diocese to assist priests as they were giving out communion and they did a fine job. The young church is still strong in Knoxville.
The thing that most strikes me at gatherings such as these is the ability to see a much clearer picture of my vocation as a priest. Yesterday I spoke to hundreds of people who have been with me along the journey. There were members of my current parish at St. Thomas, but also from my first two parish assignments at Sacred Heart Cathedral and St. Mary’s in Johnson City. There were students from my time at Notre Dame High School. There were young people and youth ministers that I grew close to in my time as diocesan director of youth ministry. I saw one of the readers from my own priestly ordination, families whose homes I have visited and families whom I have grieved with in times of loss. As I spoke to one our deacons, I thought back to sitting on the roof of a building in Haiti with him several years back when he introduced me to the poor of that country. It is a wonderful reminder that priesthood is about service and the relationships that are formed through the building of the kingdom. When we allow Christ to live in us, he binds us closer together in unity.
Our new bishop will need our prayers as he begins his time as the pastor of this small, but vibrant church in East Tennessee. He promised last night to bring with him all his gifts and weaknesses, knowing that God takes the weak and makes them strong. Thank you for the reminder to pray always, “Jesus, we trust in you!”
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Your new bishop looks like a very friendly and cheerful man, young and full of energy. I’m sure your parish and your diocese will be blessed to have him. Out of curiosity, is he also a Cardinal? I’m guessing he is, by his cassock. But as a non-Catholic, I know little about such things.
He is not a Cardinal, but he is a Cardinals baseball fan!
May God bless his Grace with wisdom, courage and humility as he leads you all.