from the bishop
i love what i get to do!
This is just a test to see if anyone reads this article – and the reason for a “test,” is because I hope to use the overall theme of this article in a future homily, and I am hoping either a) you will like the introduction and conclusion of the article, or b) that when you hear me use this “story” in a homily, you’ll be able to say, “I remember reading that in the June Catholic Connection!” …Again, just a test. When you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life. Some say that Confucius was the origin of the expression. Others say it was Mark Twain. I first came upon it watching a Humvee commercial. The setting is two military officers, one female the other male. She is standing next to her newly purchased Humvee – he is just standing nearby questioning her about her purchase. Somewhere in the initial dialogue between them, he asks her, with a twinge of skepticism, “why would you want to buy a Humvee?” She, who is clearly a big fan of the vehicle, responds, “when you love what you do, you’ll never work another day in your life.” I have a close friend who recently was attending Mass locally, and the pastor of the church was 6
CATHOLIC CONNECTION
lamenting in his homily (with justification) that with fewer priests available in our diocese, there might be a noticeable cut-back in services at the church. My friend told me that after Mass, one of the congregants commented to him, “why doesn’t the bishop get his butt up there to help out?” My reaction was to laugh, but then to wonder if the old adage, “in every bit of jest there is a bit of truth,” applied. You see your pastor at your parish church with regularity. You don’t see me unless there is a Confirmation or another special occasion. Which begs the question, “what does the bishop do when he’s not visible to the other parishes?” I love what I get to do! But, one of the most noticeable changes in my life since becoming a bishop is the reality that I no longer enjoy the frenetic pace of being a pastor of a parish. I loved being a pastor, and I didn’t mind the schedule. This was especially true when it hit me that I was not celebrating daily Mass for a congregation, or hearing confessions regularly, or having a regular schedule of baptisms. I miss that schedule – but it was quickly replaced by my present lifestyle of being responsible for all of the
