Bishop Richard B. Higgins

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE DAY

BY BISHOP NEAL JAMES BUCKON

On Saturday, 11 July 2020, the Feast Day of Saint Benedict, I climbed Mount Whitney. The mountain is 14,505 feet in elevation, and it is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 States. Mount Whitney is in east-central California and situated in the Sierra Nevada, the last wilderness found in the lower contiguous United States. I parked my car in the parking lot of the Mount Whitney Portal (8,374’) and began the ascent at 3 AM. I had the permit for a ‘Day Hiker’ and would return to the car at 10 PM, 19 hours later. The light of the moon lit most of the switchback trail, and the flashlight was rarely used before sunrise. The hike to the summit is 11 miles, and the round-trip journey is 22 miles. As you can imagine the 6,000 feet ascent through nature’s wilderness was a bit of a puff, especially since I was carrying enough water and food for the day. However, on this particular day the weather was perfect with blue skies and sunshine; the sunrise and sunset were spectacular; the panoramic views of the mountains, waterfalls, glaciers and glacial lakes were magnificent; and the spirit of fellow trekkers was always upbeat and convivial even when fatigued. As I hiked upwards, I noticed that the higher the elevation, the slower I walk; and the older I get the slower I go. As I approached the summit of Mount Whitney, a hiker who is half my age and had passed me earlier in the day and was now descending smiled and said to me as he passed by, “Slow and steady wins the day!” I returned the smile, nodded, and replied, “Right you are!”

It is always a joy to meet a challenge and succeed. I certainly savored my time atop the pinnacle that glorious day in July. It is a great place to count one’s blessings with a spirit of gratitude. On the return trip

BISHOP BUCKON ON THE PEAK OF MOUNT WHITNEY.

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FATHER BRIAN M. REEDY AFTER CELEBRATING THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM.

to the Portal, I thought about the reality existing in the valley below. The country we love is currently facing three problems: 1) a global pandemic, 2) civic unrest, and 3) an economic depression. I realize that finding solutions to our problems will not be quick and easy. Much like climbing a mountain, it is important for us to stay on the right path and have the mindset that “Slow and steady wins the day!” As Catholics we know that Jesus is the “Way;” we

are to be slow to anger; and we are also called to be steadfast in our faith. We should be praying to God every day for the courageous and steadfast faith with which we will transform our society and renew our world. America has long been a beacon of light in the world because it is one place where people from different races and creeds have been able to live in relative peace with one another under one law. If the American people embrace this as their vision, then with God’s love and grace we will slowly and steadily change to having sound public health, employment opportunities with a just wage, and a sense of being under God with liberty and justice for all. Slow and steady wins the day! Perhaps my next trip up a mountain will be with a Mass kit and a group of Catholic Veterans.

The next day, 12 July, a fire broke out aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) at the pier at Naval Base San Diego. Father Brian M. Reedy, S.J., had just finished celebrating the 0800 Sunday Mass at the 32nd Street Chapel when he smelled FATHER BRIAN M. REEDY SJ WITH THE USS BONHOMME RICHARD, NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO. smoke and learned of the fire on Pier 2. Lieutenant Reedy is a United States Navy Reserve Chaplain, and he rushed to the burning ship to comfort the injured and administer anointing of the sick. Fortunately, all of the sailors were in good health, and many were busy fighting the fire. Father Reedy returned to the chapel and celebrated the 0930 Mass; he then returned to the pier where he dutifully ministered to sailors from 1030 to 1530.

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Father Reedy said that he was simply amazed at the dauntless courage of the Fire Teams (Damage Control Sailors) when they faced the horrific fire aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard. Sailors with a Damage Control (DC) rating fight fires, and DCs from other ships rallied to help their mates assigned to the ill-fated ship. Father Reedy cited personal experience in seeing his own home and possessions go up in smoke; and from this experience he could tell which sailors were assigned to LHD-6. Father Reedy said, “The sailors of the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) had the look of someone whose home was on fire.” His empathy helps him to minister effectively. Finally, Father Reedy said that the U.S. flag was singed and charred, but it was still flying! The sailors spoke about it throughout the day. They took consolation in the fact that the Stars and Stripes was still flying on their ship. The Navy has three core values: Honor, Courage, and Commitment. For the sailors of the USS Bonhomme Richard, the presence of the flag symbolized that the values of the crew were still intact!

The Navy accessioned Father Reedy into the Chaplain Corps in 2016 while he was studying in Rome as a member of the Society of Jesus. His first assignment was to the USS Mount Whitney of the 6th Fleet based in Naples, Italy. As a Reserve Officer, he was called to active-duty this summer for 4 months of ministry to Destroyer Squadron 21 based in San Diego. He finished his reserve duty on 4 August and returned to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he teaches philosophy and theology. He finds ministry in the Navy Reserve rewarding!

On Friday 7 August, I visited Naval Medical Center San Diego. Father John Bosco Musinguzi is the contract priest. He works zealously and effectively at the large campus a.k.a. Balboa Hospital Monday through Fridays. Father John arranged for me to meet with Captain Bradford L. Smith, the Commander. We spoke about contracting a priest for the weekends, and the Catholic-specific ministry aboard the USNS Mercy, a hospital ship that was

deployed to the city of Los Angeles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Captain Bradford is proud of his Religious Support Team and is grateful for their efforts to keep the morale of the 6,500 member staff strong during this lengthy fight against the Coronavirus. I especially enjoyed visiting the medical staff caring for patients with the Coronavirus on Ward 5 North. After a few words of encouragement, I extended my arms to pray over them and bless them. Our GS health care professionals and Navy Corpsmen remain stouthearted in this fight. I then went to the chapel and joined Father John in celebrating a daily Mass with a masked congregation.

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L-R: FATHER JUDE SERAFINO AND BISHOP BUCKON AT MCAS MIRAMAR.

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THE WARD 5 NORTH HEALTH CARE TEAM FROM BALBOA HOSPITAL (BALBOA HOSPITAL IS TASKED WITH STAFFING THE USNS MERCY), BISHOP NEAL BUCKON, AND FATHER JOHN BOSCO.

On 25 July, I visited Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar. During the celebration of the Mass I baptized one sailor and conferred the sacrament of confirmation on nine enthusiastic and well-prepared candidates. On 30 August, I returned for the final Mass. It is heartbreaking to witness the piecemeal deconstruction of Catholic-specific ministry in the U.S. Armed Forces. My brothers and sisters in Christ, our vocations situation is an “uphill struggle.” Let us remember that “Slow and steady wins the day.” So, in addition to praying for a courageous, steadfast apostolic faith, we also need to be praying every day and at every Mass for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and the military chaplaincy. Thank you for your prayers for vocations and your financial support for our co-sponsored seminarians! V