SUMMARY:
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Francis begins his apostolic trip to Sri Lanka
-
Interreligious meeting: religious beliefs must never be abused in the
cause of violence and war
-
Pope's greetings to the presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the
European Episcopal Conferences
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Francis canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
-
At the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and
Sinhalese in rebuilding their lost unity
-
Pope Francis' telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
-
Other Pontifical Acts
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Francis
begins his apostolic trip to Sri Lanka
Vatican
City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) – This morning Pope Francis began his
visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines, the seventh apostolic trip of
his papacy. Like his predecessor St. John Paul II, he will visit the
two Asian countries with the greatest number of Catholics in a single
trip. The visit to Sri Lanka will last for two days and will include
an interreligious meeting, the canonisation of Joseph Vaz and a
Marian prayer at the shrine of Our Lady of Madhu. During his
three-day visit to the Philippines the Holy Father will meet, among
others, victims of the typhoon Yolanda. The last day of his trip will
coincide with the feast day of the Holy Child of Cebu in the
Philippines, whose shrine receives millions of pilgrims.
The
Holy Father, who left from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 6.50 p.m.
yesterday evening, and arrived in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka,
at 9 a.m. today, local time, where he was received by representatives
of the religious and civil authorities including the apostolic nuncio
of Sri Lanka, Archbishop Pierre Nguyen Van Tot, and the president of
the country, Maithripala Sirisena. Two young girls offered him a
floral garland and he was welcomed with hymns sung by a choir and
greetings from around two thousand children.
The
welcome ceremony took place at the same airport, and following the
president's speech, the Pope addressed those present.
“My
visit to Sri Lanka is primarily pastoral”, he began. “As the
universal pastor of the Catholic Church, I have come to meet,
encourage and pray with the Catholic people of this island. A
highlight of this visit will be the canonisation of Blessed Joseph
Vaz, whose example of Christian charity and respect for all people,
regardless of ethnicity or religion, continues to inspire and teach
us today. But my visit is also meant to express the Church’s love
and concern for all Sri Lankans, and to confirm the desire of the
Catholic community to be an active participant in the life of this
society.
“It
is a continuing tragedy in our world that so many communities are at
war between themselves. The inability to reconcile differences and
disagreements, whether old or new, has given rise to ethnic and
religious tensions, frequently accompanied by outbreaks of violence.
Sri Lanka for many years knew the horrors of civil strife, and is now
seeking to consolidate peace and to heal the scars of those years. It
is no easy task to overcome the bitter legacy of injustice, hostility
and mistrust left by the conflict. It can only be done by overcoming
evil with good and by cultivating those virtues which foster
reconciliation, solidarity and peace. The process of healing also
needs to include the pursuit of truth, not for the sake of opening
old wounds, but rather as a necessary means of promoting justice,
healing and unity.
“Dear
friends, I am convinced that the followers of the various religious
traditions have an essential role to play in the delicate process of
reconciliation and rebuilding which is taking place in this country.
For that process to succeed, all members of society must work
together; all must have a voice. All must be free to express their
concerns, their needs, their aspirations and their fears. Most
importantly, they must be prepared to accept one another, to respect
legitimate diversities, and learn to live as one family. Whenever
people listen to one another humbly and openly, their shared values
and aspirations become all the more apparent. Diversity is no longer
seen as a threat, but as a source of enrichment. The path to justice,
reconciliation and social harmony becomes all the more clearly seen.
“In
this sense, the great work of rebuilding must embrace improving
infrastructures and meeting material needs, but also, and even more
importantly, promoting human dignity, respect for human rights, and
the full inclusion of each member of society. It is my hope that Sri
Lanka’s political, religious and cultural leaders, by measuring
their every word and action by the good and the healing it will
bring, will make a lasting contribution to the material and spiritual
progress of the Sri Lankan people”. The Pontiff concluded, “Mr
President, dear friends, I thank you once again for your welcome. May
these days we spend together be days of friendship, dialogue and
solidarity. I invoke an abundance of God’s blessings upon Sri
Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean, and I pray that its beauty may
shine forth in the prosperity and peace of all its people”.
Following
his address, the Holy Father made the 28-kilometre journey from the
airport to the apostolic nunciature in Colombo by car. The transfer
took longer than expected due to the large number of faithful who
greeted the Pope as he passed. He therefore cancelled the scheduled
visit to the archbishop's residence to meet with the twenty bishops
of the Episcopal Conference of Sri Lanka, whom he encountered
recently in the Vatican. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin
attended as the Pope's envoy.
Upon
arrival at the archbishop's residence, Pope Francis lunched
privately, after which he transferred by car to the presidential
residence in Colombo to pay a courtesy visit to President Maithripala
Sirisena, with whom he had a private discussion. The president
subsequently accompanied the pontiff to the great hall where there
was a presentation by the State authorities and dignitaries, and a
short ceremony for the issue of commemorative stamps.
Interreligious
meeting: religious beliefs must never be abused in the cause of
violence and war
Vatican
City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) – The second stage of Pope Francis'
apostolic trip to Sri Lanka was his visit to the BMICH (Bandaranaike
Memorial International Conference Hall) in Colombo, where he
participated in a meeting with representatives of other religious
confessions.
The
main religious groups in the country are Buddhism (70% of the
population), Hinduism (12.6%), Islam (9.7%) and Catholicism (7.16%).
From a chronological perspective, Hinduism was the predominant belief
on the island until the arrival of Buddhist missionaries in the third
century B.C.; currently its followers are concentrated geographically
in the north and east of the country, and the majority belong to the
Tamil ethnic group. Theravada Buddhism reached the island in around
246 B.C., and was declared the official religion around 200 B.C.;
from the mid-nineteenth century onwards it enjoyed a revival linked
to national movements. Islam spread from the fifteenth century,
brought by Arab merchants who controlled the South Indian Ocean trade
routes, until the arrival of Franciscan missionaries along with the
Portuguese. According to tradition St. Thomas arrived on the island
in the first century after crossing Kerala in southern India.
However, the earliest documentation of Christianity on the island
dates from 1322, when the Franciscan Odorico da Pordenone stayed
briefly, and then from 1517 onwards, with the arrival of Franciscan
missionaries.
Around
one thousand representatives of the various religious communities
(Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and various Christian confessions) awaited
Pope Francis in the Great Hall of the BMICH. The meeting began with
the Buddhist chant “Pirith”, followed by a Hindu blessing, a
Muslim blessing and a prayer by the ecumenical group.
Following
a speech by the Buddhist monk Vigithasiri Niyangoda Thero, the Holy
Father gave an address in which he affirmed the Church's profound and
lasting respect for other religions, and reiterated that, for the
sake of peace, religious beliefs must never be abused to justify
violence and war.
“I
have come to Sri Lanka in the footsteps of my predecessors Popes Paul
VI and John Paul II to demonstrate the great love and concern which
the Catholic Church has for Sri Lanka. It is a particular grace for
me to visit the Catholic community here, to confirm them in their
Christian faith, to pray with them and to share their joys and
sufferings. It is equally a grace to be with all of you, men and
women of these great religious traditions, who share with us a desire
for wisdom, truth and holiness.
“At
Vatican Council II, the Catholic Church declared her deep and abiding
respect for other religions. She stated that she 'rejects nothing of
what is true and holy in these religions. She has a high regard for
their manner of life and conduct, their precepts and doctrines'. For
my part, I wish to reaffirm the Church’s sincere respect for you,
your traditions and beliefs”.
He
continued, “It is in this spirit of respect that the Catholic
Church desires to cooperate with you, and with all people of good
will, in seeking the welfare of all Sri Lankans. I hope that my visit
will help to encourage and deepen the various forms of interreligious
and ecumenical cooperation which have been undertaken in recent
years.
“These
praiseworthy initiatives have provided opportunities for dialogue,
which is essential if we are to know, understand and respect one
another. But, as experience has shown, for such dialogue and
encounter to be effective, it must be grounded in a full and
forthright presentation of our respective convictions. Certainly,
such dialogue will accentuate how varied our beliefs, traditions and
practices are. But if we are honest in presenting our convictions, we
will be able to see more clearly what we hold in common. New avenues
will be opened for mutual esteem, cooperation and indeed friendship.
“Such
positive developments in interreligious and ecumenical relations take
on a particular significance and urgency in Sri Lanka. For too many
years the men and women of this country have been victims of civil
strife and violence. What is needed now is healing and unity, not
further conflict and division. Surely the fostering of healing and
unity is a noble task which is incumbent upon all who have at heart
the good of the nation, and indeed the whole human family. It is my
hope that interreligious and ecumenical cooperation will demonstrate
that men and women do not have to forsake their identity, whether
ethnic or religious, in order to live in harmony with their brothers
and sisters.
“How
many ways there are for the followers of the different religions to
carry out this service! How many are the needs that must be tended to
with the healing balm of fraternal solidarity! I think in particular
of the material and spiritual needs of the poor, the destitute, those
who yearn for a word of consolation and hope. Here I think too of the
many families who continue to mourn the loss of their loved ones.
“Above
all, at this moment of your nation’s history, how many people of
good will are seeking to rebuild the moral foundations of society as
a whole? May the growing spirit of cooperation between the leaders of
the various religious communities find expression in a commitment to
put reconciliation among all Sri Lankans at the heart of every effort
to renew society and its institutions. For the sake of peace,
religious beliefs must never be allowed to be abused in the cause of
violence and war. We must be clear and unequivocal in challenging our
communities to live fully the tenets of peace and coexistence found
in each religion, and to denounce acts of violence when they are
committed.
“Dear
friends”, concluded the Pope, “I thank you once again for your
generous welcome and your attention. May this fraternal encounter
confirm all of us in our efforts to live in harmony and to spread the
blessings of peace”.
Pope's
greetings to the presidents of Doctrinal Commissions of the European
Episcopal Conferences
Vatican
City, 13 January 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a message to
greet the participants in the meeting of the presidents of the
Doctrinal Commissions of the European Episcopal Conferences with the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Esztergom, “the
religious heart of Hungary”. The text was read this morning, during
the opening session of the meeting, which will be held from 13 to 15
January.
“I
thank Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the
Doctrine of the Faith, for this timely initiative that emphasises the
importance of the local Episcopates, and in particular the Doctrinal
Commissions, in their responsibility for the unity and integrity of
the faith as well as its transmission to the younger generations. As
I wrote in my Apostolic Exhortation 'Evangelii Gaudium', resuming the
teaching of the dogmatic Constitution 'Lumen Gentium' of Vatican
Council II, 'Episcopal conferences are in a position to contribute in
many and fruitful ways to the concrete realisation of the collegial
spirit'. I hope that your meeting will contribute to enabling a
collegial approach to various doctrinal and pastoral difficulties
that present themselves in Europe today, with the aim of inspiring in
the faithful a new missionary zeal and greater openness to the
transcendent dimension of life, without which Europe risks losing the
very 'humanistic spirit' that it loves and defends.
“I
commend your works to the maternal intercession of the Virgin Mary,
model for every believer, and impart my heartfelt blessing”.
Francis
canonises Joseph Vaz, Sri Lanka's first saint
Vatican
City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) – On the morning of Wednesday 14
January, the Holy Father transferred from the apostolic nunciature in
Colombo to Galle Face Green. This urban park in the heart of the
financial district of Colombo spreads over five hectares up to the
coast of the Indian Ocean and can hold up to half a million people.
Twenty years ago, on 15 January 1995, St. John Paul II celebrated
Holy Mass in the same location and proclaimed Joseph Vaz blessed.
Francis then left the car in favour of the Popemobile to tour the
many faithful – more than half a million – gathered in the park.
Before entering the sacristy, the Pope was greeted by the mayor of
the city of Colombo, who presented him with the keys to the city.
The
Mass and canonisation of Blessed Joseph Vaz began at 8.30 a.m. local
time. Sri Lanka's first saint, Vaz was born in Goa, India in 1651,
the son of Cristovao Vaz and Maria de Miranda, devout Catholics. His
father belonged to a prominent Goud Saraswat Brahmin Naik family from
Sancoale, and Joseph was baptised on the eighth day at the parish
church of St. John the Baptist. He studied Portuguese and Latin, and
entered the Oratory of St. Philip Neri. Since Ceylon, present day Sri
Lanka, was under the rule of Dutch Calvinists and therefore had no
Catholic priests, he moved there secretly, in the guise of a
mendicant. He eventually came to the attention of the Dutch
authorities, who imprisoned him. He was released in 1869 and obtained
permission to preach the Gospel throughout the Buddhist Kingdom of
Kandy. He also continued to do so secretly in the area under Dutch
occupation until his death in 1711.
Blessed
Vaz, said the Holy Father in his homily, “like countless other
missionaries in the history of the Church … responded to the Risen
Lord’s command to make disciples of every nation. By his words, but
more importantly, by the example of his life, he led the people of
this country to the faith which gives us 'an inheritance among all
God’s holy ones'. In Saint Joseph we see a powerful sign of God’s
goodness and love for the people of Sri Lanka. But we also see in him
a challenge to persevere in the paths of the Gospel, to grow in
holiness ourselves, and to testify to the Gospel message of
reconciliation to which he dedicated his life”.
“Saint
Joseph Vaz continues to be an example and a teacher for many reasons,
but I would like to focus on three”, he continued. “First, he was
an exemplary priest. Here today with us are many priests and
religious, both men and women, who, like Joseph Vaz, are consecrated
to the service of God and neighbour. I encourage each of you to look
to Saint Joseph as a sure guide. He teaches us how to go out to the
peripheries, to make Jesus Christ everywhere known and loved. He is
also an example of patient suffering in the cause of the Gospel, of
obedience to our superiors, of loving care for the Church of God.
Like ourselves, Saint Joseph Vaz lived in a period of rapid and
profound transformation; Catholics were a minority, and often divided
within; there was occasional hostility, even persecution, from
without. And yet, because he was constantly united with the crucified
Lord in prayer, he could become for all people a living icon of God’s
mercy and reconciling love”.
The
new saint, explained Pope Francis, “shows us the importance of
transcending religious divisions in the service of peace. His
undivided love for God opened him to love for his neighbour; he
ministered to those in need, whoever and wherever they were. His
example continues to inspire the Church in Sri Lanka today. She
gladly and generously serves all members of society. She makes no
distinction of race, creed, tribe, status or religion in the service
she provides through her schools, hospitals, clinics, and many other
charitable works. All she asks in return is the freedom to carry out
this mission. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. Each
individual must be free, alone or in association with others, to seek
the truth, and to openly express his or her religious convictions,
free from intimidation and external compulsion. As the life of Saint
Joseph Vaz teaches us, genuine worship of God bears fruit not in
discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the
sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others,
and loving commitment to the welfare of all”.
Finally,
“Saint Joseph gives us an example of missionary zeal. Though he
came to Ceylon to minister to the Catholic community, in his
evangelical charity he reached out to everyone. Leaving behind his
home, his family, the comfort of his familiar surroundings, he
responded to the call to go forth, to speak of Christ wherever he was
led. Saint Joseph knew how to offer the truth and the beauty of the
Gospel in a multi-religious context, with respect, dedication,
perseverance and humility. This is also the way for the followers of
Jesus today. We are called to go forth with the same zeal, the same
courage, as Saint Joseph, but also with his sensitivity, his
reverence for others, his desire to share with them that word of
grace which has the power to build them up. We are called to be
missionary disciples”.
“Dear
brothers and sisters”, he concluded, “I pray that, following the
example of Saint Joseph Vaz, the Christians of this country may be
confirmed in faith and make an ever greater contribution to peace,
justice and reconciliation in Sri Lankan society. This is what Christ
asks of you. This is what Saint Joseph teaches you. This is what the
Church needs of you. I commend all of you to the intercession of our
new saint, so that, in union with the Church throughout the world,
you may sing a new song to the Lord and declare his glory to all the
ends of the earth. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.
Amen”.
At
the end of the celebration, Pope Francis presented to Cardinal Albert
Malcolm Ranjith Patabendige Don, archbishop of Colombo, a
reproduction of the “Sannas”, a reproduction engraved on copper
of the document by which in 1694 King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe of Kandy
authorised Fr. Juan Sylveira of the Order of St. Philip Neri and his
companions to preach the Gospel and build churches in his kingdom,
and the people to convert to Christianity should they wish to do so.
The original decree was given to Pope Leo XIII by the then-archbishop
of Colombo, Christopher Bonjero O.M.I. The faithful of Sri Lanka
reciprocated by donating 70,000 dollars to Pope Francis for papal
charity.
Pope
Francis returned to the apostolic nunciature of Colombo to lunch and
to rest, then shortly after 2 p.m. he left for the heliport, in order
to depart by helicopter for Madhu.
At
the Shrine of Our Lady of Madhu: Mary accompanies Tamils and
Sinhalese in rebuilding their lost unity
Vatican
City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) – This Wednesday the Holy Father made
the 250-kilometre journey by helicopter from Colombo to the Shrine of
Our Lady of Madhu, the second stage of his trip in Sri Lanka. The
shrine is located in the north of the Island inhabited predominantly
by the Tamil people, and has a four-century-long history. In 1544
some Christians escaped from the massacres ordered by the King of
Jaffna, who feared the expansion of Portuguese influence, and sought
refuge in the jungle, where they built a rudimentary place for prayer
with the statue that is now located inside the shrine. In 1583 some
Christians, again fleeing from Mannar, began to build churches in
nearby areas. One of these, in Mantai, subsequently became the first
“home” of the statue of Our Lady of Madhu. Following the
persecution of Catholics by the Dutch, who arrived in Ceylon in 1656,
thirty Catholic families seeking refuge journeyed from village to
village, taking the statue with them. In 1670 they settled in
Maruthamadhu, where the shrine is now located. They were later joined
by other Catholics of Portuguese origin, who built the first small
church dedicated to Our Lady of Madhu.
The
Virgin of Madhu, protectress against snakebites, became well-known
throughout the island and, with the arrival of St. Joseph Vaz in
1987, Catholicism began to flourish and Madhu transformed into a
missionary centre. The construction of the current building began in
1872, and the papal legate crowned the statue in 1924 on behalf of
Pope Pius XI. The church was consecrated in 1944. The Marian shrine
is a place of prayer that is well-respected and frequented by
Catholic faithful and followers of other religions; nevertheless, it
was affected by fighting between Tamil rebels and government forces.
The bishops of Sri Lanka managed to ensure that the shrine became a
demilitarised zone, to guarantee the safety of pilgrims and the many
refugees who fled there in search of safety during the war. Indeed,
since 1990 the 160 hectares of land around the shrine have provided a
safe haven to thousands of displaced persons, becoming a refugee camp
recognised by both parties in the conflict. In April 2008 the shrine
passed once more to the diocese of Mannar and reopened as a place of
worship in December 2010.
More
than half a million people awaited the Pope, and prayed with him for
the consolidation of the peace reached in 2009 following a conflict
that had lasted over three decades. Both Tamil and Sinhalese
families, who suffered greatly as a result of the hostilities, were
present.
“We
are in our Mother’s house”, Francis began. “Here she welcomes
us into her home. At this shrine of Our Lady of Madhu, every pilgrim
can feel at home, for here Mary brings us into the presence of her
Son Jesus. Here Sri Lankans, Tamil and Sinhalese alike, come as
members of one family. To Mary they commend their joys and sorrows,
their hopes and needs. Here, in her home, they feel safe. They know
that God is very near; they feel his love; they know the tender mercy
of God.
“There
are families here today which suffered greatly in the long conflict
which tore open the heart of Sri Lanka. Many people, from north and
south alike, were killed in the terrible violence and bloodshed of
those years. No Sri Lankan can forget the tragic events associated
with this very place, or the sad day when the venerable statue of
Mary, dating to the arrival of the earliest Christians in Sri Lanka,
was taken away from her shrine.
“But
Our Lady remained always with you. She is the mother of every home,
of every wounded family, of all who are seeking to return to a
peaceful existence. Today we thank her for protecting the people of
Sri Lanka from so many dangers, past and present. Mary never forgot
her children on this resplendent island. Just as she never left the
side of her Son on the Cross, so she never left the side of her
suffering Sri Lankan children.
“Today
we want to thank Our Lady for that presence. In the wake of so much
hatred, violence and destruction, we want to thank her for continuing
to bring us Jesus, who alone has the power to heal open wounds and to
restore peace to broken hearts. But we also want to ask her to
implore for us the grace of God’s mercy. We ask also for the grace
to make reparation for our sins and for all the evil which this land
has known.
“It
is not easy to do this”, acknowledged the Holy Father. “Yet only
when we come to understand, in the light of the Cross, the evil we
are capable of, and have even been a part of, can we experience true
remorse and true repentance. Only then can we receive the grace to
approach one another in true contrition, offering and seeking true
forgiveness. In this difficult effort to forgive and find peace, Mary
is always here to encourage us, to guide us, to lead us. Just as she
forgave her Son’s killers at the foot of his Cross, then held his
lifeless body in her hands, so now she wants to guide Sri Lankans to
greater reconciliation, so that the balm of God’s pardon and mercy
may bring true healing to all”.
Finally,
he added, “we want to ask Mother Mary to accompany with her prayers
the efforts of Sri Lankans from both Tamil and Sinhalese communities
to rebuild the unity which was lost. Just as her statue came back to
her shrine of Madhu after the war, so we pray that all her Sri Lankan
sons and daughters may now come home to God in a renewed spirit of
reconciliation and fellowship”.
“Dear
brothers and sisters”, he concluded, “I am happy to be with you
in Mary’s house. Let us pray for one another. Above all, let us ask
that this shrine may always be a house of prayer and a haven of
peace. Through the intercession of Our Lady of Madhu, may all people
find here inspiration and strength to build a future of
reconciliation, justice and peace for all the children of this
beloved land. Amen”.
Following
the Lord's Prayer and after blessing the assembly with the image of
Our Lady of Madhu, the Pope returned by Popemobile to the Madhu
heliport, a journey of one and a half kilometres, greeting the crowds
of faithful along the way. He then returned to Colombo.
Pope
Francis' telegram to the President of the Italian Republic
Vatican
City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has sent a telegram
from Sri Lanka to the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio
Napolitano, who today stepped down from the position he has held
since May 2006. The eleventh president of the Italian Republic and
the only one to have been re-elected twice, Napolitano visited the
Vatican to greet Pope Francis on 8 June 2013, the first official
state visit of his second mandate. The full text of the telegram is
published below:
“Having
learned of your resignation from the role of Head of State during my
apostolic trip in Sri Lanka and the Philippines, I am spiritually
close to you and wish to express to you my sentiments of sincere
esteem and keen appreciation for your generous and exemplary service
to the Italian nation, performed with authority, loyalty and tireless
dedication to the common good. Your enlightened and wise action has
contributed to strengthening within the population the ideals of
solidarity, unity and harmony, especially in a European and national
context marked by considerable difficulties. I invoke divine
assistance for you, your wife and your loved ones, with the assurance
of your constant remembrance in my prayers”.
Other
Pontifical Acts
Vatican
City, 14 January 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has appointed Msgr.
Joseph G. Hanefeldt as bishop of Grand Island (area 108,800,
population 316,000, Catholics 55,800, priests 61, permanent deacons
7, religious 56), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Creighton,
Nebraska, U.S.A. in 1958 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He holds
a bachelor's degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian
University, Rome, and a diploma in sacramental theology from the St.
Anselm Pontifical Athenaeum, Rome. He has served in a number of
pastoral roles, including parish vicar of the “St. Mary” parish
in West Point and the “St. Joan of Arc” parish in Omaha; director
of the archdiocesan office for pro-life activities; moderator of the
archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women; parish priest of the “St.
Joseph” parish and the “St. Elizabeth Ann Seton” parish in
Omaha; and director of spiritual formation at the North American
Pontifical College. He is currently parish priest of the “Christ
the King” parish in Omaha and member of the presbyteral council and
Priests' Personnel Board. In 2010 he was named Chaplain of His
Holiness. He succeeds Bishop William J. Dendinger, whose resignation
from the pastoral ministry of the same diocese upon reaching the age
limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
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