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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2009 /  Archbishop visits parish where he was ordained for a Mass of welcoming

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published February 13, 2009

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron accepts the gifts of bread and wine from parishioners, escorted by fourth-degree members of the Knights of Columbus.

Romeo — Archbishop Allen Vigneron's welcoming Mass last week at St. Clement of Rome, Romeo, was in many ways a kind of homecoming for him — and a chance for long-time parishioners to celebrate with someone who had served their parish years ago.

In 1974, then-Deacon Vigneron served at St. Clement before being ordained a priest at the parish by Cardinal John Dearden. Last Tuesday night, many of the long-time parishioners remembered that ordination Mass clearly.

Rosalyn and Edmund Redlawski, 51-year parishioners, were among those who attended the ordination Mass. They'd braved blowing snow that night to get to the church, even though they had to take back roads from their rural home, because "We wanted to see him again," as Rosalyn Redlawski said.

However, they weren't too keen about waiting in the long line that had formed after Mass to meet Archbishop Vigneron and shake his hand. The couple was stalling by enjoying a few cookies at the post-Mass reception. "I'm waiting until the line gets down," Rosalyn Redlawski said.

The welcoming Mass was one of 10 to be celebrated through early March to allow people of the archdiocese to meet the new archbishop.

In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron referenced that day's first reading, from St. Paul's letter to the Romans, in which St. Paul says we boast of our afflictions knowing that those afflictions produce endurance, then character, then hope, "and hope does not disappoint."

"That's the Good News that we are called upon to share with the whole of creation," Archbishop Vigneron said, adding that the secular world finds that boasting of our afflictions is "stupid." However, we're able to do that because Jesus Christ died and is risen from the dead — and through that boasting, it's possible "for God to draw close to us, and for us to find fulfillment," he said.

Having hope, especially in this tough economy, is important, and part of our mission of announcing the Good News is also announcing that we have that hope. Husbands and wives should preach the Gospel to each other, he said, "to live this hope in the midst of trial."

These difficult times bring us closer to God, he said. "This is why you came to church tonight — not because of me, but because of Jesus. Because of this Good News. Because you've set your heart on this fulfillment.

"You and I are not foolish to place all our trust in Jesus Christ."

Last week's Mass was billed as a bilingual celebration in English and Spanish, and although the vast majority of the people at St. Clement, led by pastor Fr. Stephen Reckker, were English speakers, Bishop Daniel Flores, assisting at the altar, gave a quick summary of Archbishop Vigneron's homily in Spanish. Other parts of the Mass were incorporated in Spanish into the celebration.

After Mass, a line formed quickly for people to meet Archbishop Vigneron, shake his hand, and even take their picture with him. Barbara Bickmann, after speaking with the archbishop for a few moments, said she was taking home with her the message of preaching to your family at home, and setting an example for others.

She and her husband, Michael, agreed the welcoming Mass was a special event not to be missed. "We don't normally get an archbishop here," Michael said.

Paul Pataky, a member of St. Kieran Parish who sang in the choir at the special Mass, said he'd had the opportunity to attend Cardinal Adam Maida's farewell Mass, so "I figured we'd come tonight and welcome the new one," he said. "We came to welcome the archbishop to our neighborhood."

He chatted with fellow Mass-goers while waiting in line to shake the archbishop's hand. "It's an honor to be here," he said. "It really is."