by Fred Moleck
Princes of the Church
Last weekend two events occurred that had special significance in the church of western Pennsylvania. Two giants were given public honors that excited sufficient public response that it needs to be shared.Bishop David Zubic was installed as the twelfth bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He succeeded bishop Donald Wuerl, now the archbishop of Washington, DC.
On Saturday evening well over five hundred alumni and alumnae and friends packed the auditorium of St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to honor Benedictine Father Thomas Devereaux, the primary force in the theater department of the college.
Both men have touched thousands of people in their distinct ministries in radically different lifestyles. Both men share a powerful charism of selfless giving and faithful friendships to their innumerable friends.
I shall not list examples after examples. What I will do is describe what happened in western Pennsylvania when it was announced that Bishop Zubic would be leaving Green Bay to return to his home diocese, where he had been an auxiliary.
It was difficult to escape the cheers and thanks from the church of western Pennsylvania to God Almighty for returning Bishop Zubic back to his home.
The media picked up on the announcement immediately and the public lovefest began.
At St. Vincent the plans to fete Fr. Tom were set months ago. When the invitations and announcements were sent, the response was almost immediate.
Who would not want to return to St. Vincent to honor the man who built new relationships with every new production?
Who married and baptized people who acted, sang, dance, built scenery, prepared hot dogs and a thousand tasks for him?
The love was strong—a love built on personal relationships and acts of great kindness.
Tickets for the installation ceremony for Bishop Zubic soon became rarer and rarer. In fact, there are tales about scalpers who made a few bucks with tickets to the cathedral and for his installation.
His ticketless faithful gathered outside the cathedral hours before the ceremony to give their public witness to their love for him—a love built on personal relationships and acts of great kindness.
The faithful in the cathedral sang lustily and applauded strongly. Their own bishop, who loved them and whom they loved, comes back home.
Do you see the running line—unabashed display of love, powerful love of two men who made a difference in the lives of so many people?
I will not even attempt to describe the liturgy of the bishop’s installation or the testimonial for Fr. Tom.
What I do offer here is that if the ancient practice of naming a new pope or naming a new bishop by acclamation, not by appointment, were still alive, the church today would be wildly different.
The assent of the people of God in God’s holy church acclaiming their own prince—it boggles the mind.
Viva, David!
Viva, Thomas!
You can reach Fred Moleck via email at fmoleck@comcast.net