BISHOP'S FAREWELL HOMILY AT CATHEDRAL - MARCH 30, 2008

Dear Believers and Friends in the Risen Christ -

On this Octave Day of Easter, I wish you Happy Easter, repeating Jesus' words to his apostles and to you - "Peace be with you"! Your presence in our Cathedral this evening increases my Easter joy. It means a lot to me as I say farewell to you as your bishop.

For over 12 years, I have had the blessed privilege, given by Pope John Paul II, of serving you as Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. Realizing that my 'time' will soon end on April 29 and reflecting on the time (12 years) passed, I turn to Christ, the High Priest, with a heart overflowing in thanksgiving for His love and mercy.

The company of the Saints, especially the Queen of all the Saints, Mary, the Mother of Jesus and his members - we, the Church - and the patroness of our diocese - and my special patron, St. Joseph, have blessed my journey with their intercession.

I am most grateful to you with me this evening, our priests and deacons and all in leadership and service, to all the dear Catholics of our diocese. Your steady and proven faith, abiding and confident hope and your generous Christ-like love are the dynamic heartbeat of our diocese in communion with one another in the mission of Christ.

The memories of these years are overwhelming for me at this time. So much has happened. Jesus has been with us in his Word, Sacraments and in our community. In union with Our Lord we have shared joys and sorrows; challenges and serious problems with mutual love and confidence. With open minds and hearts we accept and respond to his loving call to reconciliation and holiness.

For a dozen years, dear Believers, we made our journey of faith with our Good Shepherd - living and proclaiming His Gospel. As a Eucharistic people our eyes were fixed on Jesus to whom we present ourselves - with our love and sorrow, our gifts and graces, our sinfulness and limitations, our needs and our hope.

Our hope for the future of the Church of Lansing is in the hands of Believers and Eucharistic Catholics.

God's providence is always at work. These 12 years have blessed me with a heightened appreciation of Divine Providence. When I came here, I had little foresight of what lay ahead. That is true of any move we make at God's call.

Thirteen years ago - November 7, 1995, was the day for the public announcement and presentation of the new bishop. In the midst of a lot of people, priests, deacons, diocesan officials and staff, the press, TV, etc., and maybe some of you, there was a total stranger who did not know anyone and had no idea of how to be a bishop.

You came to my rescue. Your kindness, patience and sensitivity were a tremendous gift of support and confidence for a 65 year old - Johnny-come-lately bishop. How often it happened during my 'time' that so many of you offered words of kindness, appreciation and encouragement. I have always been grateful for your support and your every act of solicitude. They did what you intended them to do.

Words fail to express the esteem and affection I have for all my colleagues, clergy and laity in our Curia and Diocesan Offices. Day by day, the witness of their selfless dedication to all in the diocese and their exemplary faith were an inspiration and joy to me.

Truly, God's gracious providence was richer than I could have anticipated or imagined. I now use the words of John Paul II at his Golden priestly Jubilee on November 1, 1996: "I be pardon of God, and you my sisters and brothers, for my negligence and failures, the results of human weakness. I beg our merciful Lord to forgive the debt of sins which I have accumulated in the course of my life and in the exercise of my priestly and episcopal ministry".

Dear friends - the time allotted me as Bishop of Lansing is near its end. In God's providence, Bishop Earl Boyea, will be installed as your bishop on April 29. I know you will welcome him as you welcomed me. I ask you to love him, support him, to work with him, to listen to his words and accept his pastoral care for you.

Like all of us, he has human weaknesses and limitations, but he comes to you in Jesus' name. His mission, during he time, is to make present the love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, for you.

You new bishop will recall to you as Luke did today in Acts of the Apostles - "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to prayers, and every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved".

He will call to Christ and lead you in the prayer of Jesus. With Jesus he will pray for the Father to consecrate you in truth and perfect you in unity. He will proclaim to you our Risen Lord and his 'Peace', expressed in today's Gospel and the path of conversion of heart that brings peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

As the diocese prepares to receive a new Shepherd, I urge you to RENEW your fidelity:

- to Jesus Christ and His Gospel

- the teachings of His Church

- the sacramental life of His Church

- the Sunday Eucharistic celebration

- Eucharistic Adoration

- to liturgical and private prayer

- to devotion to our Lady and the Saints

Finally, remember John's words - "Beloved, since God so loved us, we must also love one another". I entrust you to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, our diocesan patron - may she be for us 'our life, our sweetness and our hope'.