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A VISION OF THE DIOCESE AS SACRAMENT
The Episcopal address for the 128th Diocesan Convention
of the Diocese of Newark
Friday, January 25, 2002
The Rt. Rev. John Palmer Croneberger, Ninth Bishop of Newark
INTRODUCTION
My sisters and brothers, Grace be to you, and peace from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ, I bring you
greetings in the fourth year of my ordination and consecration as a Bishop.
Surrounding us on these walls are depictions of our baptismal vows, vows that we re-affirmed earlier today at the
beginning of this 128th Convention. These tapestries of the baptismal vows were created from the work that each
of you, that all of us, did a mere 12 months and one week ago at our Visioning Convocation. These baptismal
vows were the structure within which we did our appreciative inquiry and our visioning. Tonight I offer my vision
of the diocese after this year of living in this tapestry, informed also by twenty-one years of ministry and observation
at close range. It describes what I love most about this diocese. It is A VISION OF THE DIOCESE AS SACRAMENT.
FIRST: IT IS A VISION OF THE DIOCESE AS BAPTISMAL SACRAMENT.
FACT: we believe that in baptism we make real the truth about being God's children, members of Christ's body, and
inheritors of the kingdom of God; that's what we say.
FACT; we believe that the baptismal covenant is a powerful, basic statement of our call to mission and ministry;
believing, continuing, persevering, repenting, proclaiming, seeking, serving, loving, striving for justice, respecting
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FACT: we believe in Christ's Great Commission to "Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and
teaching them.
These facts are the underpinnings of our continuing exploration of the vision. They have to do with our
intensely fierce commitment to being an open, welcoming and inclusive diocese. These facts have a great
deal to do with our understanding of this God who loves diversity…who is absolutely intoxicated with
it…and challenges us to embrace that diversity as well.
Out of these facts comes an understanding of our history of struggle with a world that is full of injustice.
I begin with the sin of racism. All of you here who are running for office, and many more of you who are
in leadership positions in your congregations, I am proud to say, have taken the anti-racism training provided
by the Mission to Dismantle Racism. For two consecutive years we have, as a Convention, struggled with the issue
and how best to address this sin that covers us all in a shroud. Just two weeks ago over 100 of you spent an entire
Saturday engaged in this process. Only 20 or so needed to be there because they were running office. I believe
all of you were there, because you understand the real truth about being God's children and that this mantle of
racism is one that we must cast off. However, I would also point out that of the 100 present that day only 3 were
persons of color. I call on my brothers and sister of Christ whose skin is not white to help us in this mission.
In the end a group of white people sitting around discussing racism can and does have a positive impact but we
are capable of something better. I want to especially commend Bert Jones and all of the facilitators who have spent
countless hours being trained and then leading the sessions.
Through the years of living into our baptismal promises this diocese has grounded itself as a national leader in
the battle against sexism.The Baptismal facts have provided us firm footing as we continue to insist that women
are equally honored and valued in their several ministries. The long history of that struggle has brought us to
a place where the ministries of women are not only championed in the obvious places: on the Women's Commission,
the Episcopal Churchwomen and the diocesan Altar Guild, but are actually championed on every commission
and committee in this diocese.
Maybe more than any other area of injustice , our diocese continues to live out its vision as baptismal sacrament
through our very public support for the full inclusion of gay and lesbian persons. The joy in the diversity of
God's creation, together with the covenant's call to respect the dignity of every human being undergird our work
in this ministry. The Oasis as been the cornerstone of this work. Work which has spread beyond this diocese and
indeed beyond this country to bear sacramental witness to the inclusive call of Christ. In the deepest recesses
of my soul I am committed to this absolutely essential ministry! I look forward to where God is yet leading us
as we explore with the Oasis and diocesan leadership ways in which the broadestr ministry of diversity possible
within this diocese might be served.
These same baptismal facts will also demand from us a much more serious commitment to the expansion of ministry
to and with the latino/latina community. We have only just begun the work but I, as I hope do you, have a firm
commitment to our basic call of mission and ministry. One example is that last year, one of our Diocesan Confirmations
was English and Spanish; this year there will be three, in Paterson, Hackensack and Dover. At the same time the
Rev. Margarita Swetman, a native of Bolivia, has been called to be the rector of Grace Church in Union City where
both an English and Spanish speaking congregation worship and where leadership is shared. We have also entered
into a partnership with Long Island, New York and New Jersey to raise up, educate and train indigenous Hispanic
leadership for ordination. And so while I salute the on-going ministries that are currently addressing the needs
of our Spanish speaking brothers and sisters, we have much hard work ahead of us.
We are often reminded that race and gender and sexuality are not the only areas to be affirmed within the inclusive
love of Christ. We need to step up our efforts and take more take seriously those with handicaps and disabilities.
Through the initiative of Ms. Jan Hardy the Bethsaida taskforce which was created. This group is working passionately
to urge lead us in an intentional way into an understanding of how we can act to become more inclusive of our brother
and sisters who live with handicaps and disabilities.
Be it racism, sexism, homophobia, the handicapped, ageism, this diocese will not relent in our drive to reject
the choice of who would make it their mission to exclude. We need to continue to be proud of and make real
the truth of the red, white, and blue sign that says "THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU…each of you…all of
you…all of us!
Of course the foundation of a vision of the diocese as baptismal sacrament rests upon the strong commitment of
this diocese to lay ministry…a ministry of all the baptized. So much of the strength of the leadership of our diocese
is found within the ministry of the laity: Beginning with the lay professionals, those who work in our parish offices,
in our affiliated organizations like Christ Hospital, Youth Consultation Services , our CDC's and at Episcopal
House, and then of course all of you. For you are the majority of the individuals in this room - committed
lay leaders, and lay ministers. The clergy can be identified by their collars, as laity you have no special clothes,
but you do have the baptismal sacrament - the sign of the cross that was made on your forehead - "marking
you as Christ's own forever." Time and time again as I sit with good lay persons presenting themselves for
ordination, I hear the words of my canon to the ordinary, "darn, another good lay person lost!" And I
wonder, I wonder whether ordination is becoming the only means of validating lay ministry. Yes we need to raise
up good lay persons for ordination but, we also need to develop better ways to discern, affirm, confirm, and celebrate
specific lay ministries.
Our Commission on Ministry is continuing to work on how it might enhance and strengthen our discernment process
for lay ministry and you will be hearing much more from them this year.
As your Bishop, I am so very proud to be part of this diocese and the outstanding leadership it continues to exhibit
throughout the Church in living the sacrament of baptism.
SECOND: A VISION OF THE DIOCESE AS A SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
Recently, I listened to a presentation on confirmation given by The Rt. Rev. C. Wallace Ohl Jr., bishop of Northwest
Texas (who by the way plays a mean banjo and guitar, and sings a better than good version of "God didn't make
no honky-tonk angels"!) Wally told us that there have been, over time, three understandings of confirmation:
the first being a focus particularly on the canonical expectation that all adult members of the church will be
confirmed; the second being an understanding that confirmation is a completion of baptism, something akin to Wesley's
experience of a second awakening, which came into full bloom in charismatic and Pentecostal communities. This view
seems to suggest that the Holy Spirit comes by at baptism, but you don't get all of Her (!) until confirmation.
The third view says, "well, you did get it ALL at baptism, and the focus of confirmation is really
to provide opportunity for a mature confession of faith…to affirm that which we have already received (about as
close as we Anglicans get to an altar call! It is the third view that makes most sense for me and influences how
confirmation is presently being administered in this diocese.
When, then, is the right time for confirmation?" The answer is the time at which you are ready.
I can't answer that specifically for each person, but I do know that our task as Christian educators and mentors,
both lay and ordained, is to take the time and opportunities available to us to prepare our young people and adults
in order that they might want to make such an affirmation. No longer does confirmation need to be trapped in a
peer group, rite-of-passage, everybody my age is doing it, kind of experience that frequently minimizes any sense
of a mature affirmation of faith.
At baptism one becomes a member of the church, which most often takes place within the context of a local community
of faith, the congregation. We come to baptism seeking faith, and, we believe we shall find it in
this local community of faith. In this local community, we are loved and nurtured and grow in that faith. When
we are ready to make a mature commitment, we are asked to affirm the baptismal covenant, to renew our commitment
to Jesus Christ, and take our place in the mission and ministry to the world around us. It seems to me that action
best takes place within the context of the larger church. This is the time to see ourselves as part of something
beyond ourselves, not alone, but called out to join with others in this grand undertaking.
So we will have 17 Diocesan Confirmations this year. And as another opportunity to break down parochial walls,
to bring districts and diocese together, these diocesan confirmations are preceded by a day with the bishops and
the director of youth ministries and other support staff in order to prepare for the confirmation event. At these
events we spend time getting to know each other, Not anything flashy but some practical steps towards for taking
our place in the mission and ministry to the world around us. Confirmation is intended to be an experience of welcome
into the larger church. I would hope that in your local congregations you will have a send-off on the morning of
the confirmation and/or a welcome back the following Sunday in order to experience the warmth and love of the nurturing
community as you and to continue the support of those persons making their mature commitment of faith.
A vision of the diocese as a sacrament of confirmation is a vision of a church larger than our own boundaries.
THIRD: A VISION OF THE DIOCESE THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF ORDINATION
How does the vision of this diocese impact the sacrament of ordination?. The introduction to the Ordination Rite
in the BCP preface to the ordinal (what is the ordinal?) states: "It has been, and is, the intention and purpose
of this church to maintain and continue these three orders (bishops, priests, and deacons".)
With regard to the deaconate, it seems to me that we have been trying to sit on a three-legged ordination stool
with only two legs. We are in the process of reviving the sacred order of deacons in this diocese. Deacons are
primarily responsible to the bishop. The commission on ministry's sub-committee on the deaconate is organized,
has met, and is ready to proceed. We have five deacons with us this weekend. For me, the presence of the deacon
in the local congregation will focus the bringing of the needs of the world to the church, and the empowering and
raising up of lay ministry to respond to those needs. We will give the ordination stool its third leg!
The Commission on Ministry is one of the hardest-working groups in the diocese and has spent a great deal of time
with me this year in our work on discernment and process toward priestly ordination. We are focusing on what one
might describe as a more front-end-loaded process of discernment, which means more time spent with aspirants to
help them explore their call. We are also trying to improve our process for receiving clergy from other denominations.
I also want to share with you the success of our already existing deployment strategy of justice. It is a strategy
that is, and will continue to be, not only non-discriminatory but, also one that actively seeks out and encourages
minorities of all persuasions to reach their full potential as persons called by God to the ordained ministry.
I found myself curious about how well we might have been doing over the past three years in this ministry and I
have a few statistics that might be interesting: During the past three years in this diocese we have placed 16
gay or lesbian clergy, 15 women clergy, 10 clergy of color, and 1 Latina priest, and yes, we have also been able
to place a number of straight white male clergy but the pool is shrinking!. In every congregational search for
a rector, the Canon to the Ordinary and the Bishop not only make it clear to search committees and vestries that
all searches in the diocese of Newark are non-discriminatory but are careful to always present names of minority
clergy, and to present them fairly and positively. We are clear and up front that never will this office screen
names based on any discriminatory profile. It is a deployment ministry and strategy that has at its heart this
diocese, and my commitment to justice and equality. We are very proud of the work we are doing in this area and
are committed to continuing exactly as we have been in these past years.
Let me say a few more words about the sacrament of ordination having to do with what one does after the ordination
event. A vision of the diocese through the sacrament of ordination includes the gifts of discernment and affirmation
as we gather together within the richness of God's diversity to undertake the ministry of equipping the saints
for the building up of the church .
Some months ago, John Hartnett shared one of his insights about scripture that I have shamelessly appropriated
and share with you tonight. Most of the ordinations I have attended have included the passage from Isaiah 6 about
the year that King Uzziah died…and more often than not, preachers have chosen that text on which to base the sermon.
This absolutely wonderful spiritual experience is being described, and Isaiah responds, Woe is me…I am lost…I
have unclean lips…everyone has unclean lips…then a seraph flew to him, carrying a burning coal from the altar…and
touched Isaiah's mouth…your guilt has departed, your sin is blotted out…the voice of GOD: Whom shall I send?…Who
will go for us? Isaiah says: Here am I…Send me! GOD says: GO!
What might it mean to our ordered ministries of bishop, priest, or deacon if we were to discover that we are in
this story, but maybe not as Isaiah?!…or, if we insist on being Isaiah, and God says who will go for me, and we
say, "Here am I, send me!…and God says GO… go be a seraph! What if as clergy we are really called to
be seraphs??? Are you telling me that Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam;, he wants me for a seraph! What if we
who are deacons and priests and bishops, are called to take the burning coal from the altar or the pulpit
or the lectern or the font and to touch the lips of the laity in order that they
might be cleansed and prepared for their ministries in the world. Might that not mean that some clergy
who come into a congregation and busily carry on all of the ministry in the community, might be able to share
the ministry rather than complain about the lack of lay leadership and ministry. Might that not mean that
search committees and vestries would be encouraged to take a careful look at the ministries to which each of us
is called, and not simply "hire" a priest to do the ministry for them? As my grandson used to say, "What's
up with that?
As Bishops, we seek to carry out our ministries among you as ministries of oversight, of proclamation, as guardian
of the faith, unity, and discipline of the church, and as chief priest and pastor. I will not always be successful
in all of this, but I will give you my best.
FOURTH; A VISION OF THE DIOCESE THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE
To see a vision of the diocese through the sacrament of marriage will call us to weave ourselves together in service
to our God.
Speaking metaphorically, a vision of the diocese through the sacrament of marriage will point to the many "marriages"
which have already taken place in the diocese…the marriage of ideas, the marriage of congregations,
the marriage of clergy and lay leadership, the marriage of causes, the marriage of needs and opportunities.
When I came to this diocese in 1980, I heard that it was a diocese which included some of the poorest cities and
communities in the country, together with some of the most affluent communities in the country, and that a great
gulf was fixed between them. I also heard time and time again about how inappropriate it would be for affluent
communities to reach out to neighboring communities in poverty, lest it seemed like "Lady Bountiful"
or "Lord of the Manor" reaching out in some patronizing way. The truth is, these could be marriages made
in heaven!
One of the strongest truths about this diocese is its commitment to stewardship; a stewardship of 50-50 giving;
a stewardship whose goal is to give away half of all that we have; a stewardship that relies solely on the need
of the giver to give, in thanksgiving for all that we have received, since all that we have and all that we are
is a gift from God. I can tell you that some of my proudest moments of being your Bishop have been with my sister
and brother bishops discussing stewardship. Do you know, that your commitment to stewardship, the commitment of
each of our congregations to stewardship has placed this diocese of Newark by far first on the list of percentage
giving to the national church! This year we have made a commitment to give as outreach almost 1/3 of our total
income. I dare say there is not another diocese in the country and possibly in the world that can match this commitment!
As we move surely toward our 50=50 goal, perhaps it is time for us to develop some "arranged marriages."
We have within our own diocesan boundaries the opportunity to bring together tremendous resources with tremendous
need …all of which could be done in the process of equipping the saints for the work of ministry for building up
the body of Christ. As you saw a few minutes ago in our recognition of Jubilee ministries there are exciting ministries
being planned and undertaken from east to west, from rural to urban in our diocese. Each faces the reality of limited
resources within their local communities, but each reaches out beyond that to a marriage with other communities.
A footnote about this: if you find yourself in a congregation with adequate financial resources, I commend you,
and will cheer you on in the carrying out of your ministries; offering to you whatever diocesan staff and program
resources might assist or complement your work. But, in the same breath I want also to encourage you to consider
ways in which you can offer resources and assistance to neighboring congregations as together we seek to be faithful
to the call we share.
A year ago we re-organized the districts because we believed there are ministries that will best be carried out
in a marriage. Marriage with several neighboring congregations working together. A partnership where some partners
will have more to give while others will have more to receive, but all will be done for the building up of the
body of Christ.
In the midst of all of my conviction about doing the important work of congregational development, there remains
a challenge to place this work in its sitz in leben. That is, we are being called to do this work within a particular
diocese, our Diocese - the Diocese of Newark -a diocese that has been loved, and hated by many people
(both within and outside these diocesan boundaries). (A further observation…actual knowledge about how the
Diocese of Newark lives out its life and ministry is apparently not a requirement for making strong judgments about
us!)
What an amazing opportunity to reach out and touch…to marry…to join in partnership by combining resources with
need. Now we are the Body of Christ and individually members thereof…and we simply have need of each other.
Combined with our inherent, God given need to give , we, in marriage can do things we can't even imagine trying
to do ourselves.
Those are two visions of the marriage sacrament. I have one more 'traditional"" marriage story to share
with you. Our canonical requirements for marriage are actually quite minimal: one of the two persons has to be
baptized; the couple must legally be able to enter into this marriage; and pre-marital counseling of some kind
is required. Somehow, over time, many churches have developed elaborate hoops and requirements through which the
couple has to jump in order to get what they are seeking…marriage in the church. I am of the humble opinion that
grace might need to be more abundant in the granting of these requests, for this may well be a one-time
opportunity to evangelize. I know some will say…we are just being used…Ah, yes, I suppose we are.
Not long ago I was privileged to officiate at the blessing of a union between two women here in the diocese. After
checking the canons on marriage and the prayer book service and rubrics for the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage,
I could find only two significant differences between the canonical/prayer book/rubrics piece, and the service
of blessing at which I officiated: the description of marriage as a solemn and public covenant between a man
and a woman; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the state and the canons of this church. I think
it is time to eliminate those differences. Marriage is a solemn and public covenant between two people. Sometimes
those two people will be of the same sex. In my view, it makes it no-less a marriage, and we need to be able to
call it what in fact it is…a marriage. . In order to make this happen, we will need to confront our canons and
rubrics, seeking to make the changes needed to accomplish this goal. It will also mean taking our concerns to state
governments, seeking amendment to laws regarding marriage. YOU SEE, WORDS DO HAVE POWER…power to heal and make
whole, and power to hurt and wound and destroy. We choose each day how we will use our words. For some it will
take some adjusting.
SIXTH: A VISION OF THE DIOCESE THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS OF UNCTION AND RECONCILIATION
(Aren't you glad about now that the prayer book only lists seven of these things?)
As the diocese of Newark we have earned our reputation. We have been recipients of twenty-four years of profound
and prophetic leadership with Bishop Spong. We have learned to tackle the tough issues of our time, with task forces
and fierce debate. But, sometimes in the fierce debate and our drive for justice there have been casualties, some
people wounded, some discounted. Sometimes in our attempts to include, we inadvertently exclude. As Isaiah reminds
us, we are called to bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, to
comfort those who mourn, to give a garland instead of ashes, and the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
This is a vital, indeed necessary part of our ministry as a diocese. Given the geography and diversity of this
diocese it should not surprise us that there are still matters of justice to be explored and claimed. Both within
our common bond as Episcopalians and outside those bonds we have missed too many opportunities to be reconciled.
In the midst of all of the good work we do, we could miss out on the sacraments of unction and reconciliation at
our own peril.
When the House of Bishops met back in September, 2001, after September11, we issued a statement calling on all
of us to participate in a ministry of waging reconciliation. One of the New York papers carried an editorial in
bold type: SHAME ON THE BISHOPS! There is no shame in God's call for us to be reconciled one to another as we seek
the peace of Christ. We have entered into full communion with the Lutheran Church; we are close to some important
agreements with the Moravian Church; and we continue dialogues with the Roman Catholic Church and others as well…all
in the name of being reconciled.
But I believe the events of these past five months in particular have challenged us to find ways to be reconciled
to those who are significantly different from us, yet also called by this same God we seek to serve. I am told
there are 400,000 Muslims in the state of New Jersey. We need to open our eyes to the importance of the work of
reconciliation. We have already proven that if we choose to live to ourselves in separated and isolated communities
which breed fear and mistrust, all of us will be heading on a path of destruction. As we seek reconciliation we
will need to be on a journey of respect and understanding that will ultimately move our efforts from ground zero
to common ground. From where I sit, the enemies we face are not Muslims or Jews or Christians, but rather the enemies
are extremists, fundamentalists, terrorists; some of whom are Muslim, some of whom are Jews, and some of whom are
Christians.
I see a vision of the diocese of Newark as it offers and receives the sacramental gifts of healing unction and
reconciliation in order that we might be made whole and well, indeed in order that all may be well.
SIXTH: A VISION OF THE DIOCESE THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST
The psalmist writes: Thou preparest a table in the presence of my enemies. In these past months we have come face
to face with some of our enemies, those who would seek to destroy us. These external enemies have brought shock
and horror and fear and anger and cries for vengeance. They have also managed to bring out some of our interior
enemies that dwell within the human psyche. It is the psalmist who tells us that it is in the presence of our enemies
known and unknown, recognized and unrecognized, claimed and unclaimed, within us and beyond us, with bullets whizzing
by us, and bombs bursting in air, and planes and people and buildings being destroyed, in the presence of all of
that, the table is prepared. The table, our symbol of life and unity…The table, is the place where all of life
is affirmed and fed and nurtured. It connects us with a foretaste of the messianic banquet, and everyone is invited…everyone
is welcome to come to the table and sit down in the kingdom. It is the place where absolutely all can come and
be reconciled - reconciled with each other and reconciled with God.
We do not wait for the reconciliation of all things, or all people. Rather, in the presence of the enemies of our
time, the table is set and we are invited: food for the journey…strength for the work of reconciliation…and oh
yes…at this table there are no outcasts…all are welcome. Who could dare to do such a bold thing…to set up the table
in the midst of all that is around us…THOU! Thou preparest the table…Thou invites us all to come
from east and west and north and south and sit down at the banquet.
Now stay with me for a moment as I step away from the microphone.
[The diocesan staff gathered behind Bishop and Mrs. Croneberger.]
Here we are gathered around the altar with all of you present with us. This is the staff at 31 Mulberry Street.
A staff that I have deployed to the ministry of supporting you, to support our diocese, our districts, our congregations,
and each other in living out the sacraments.
We are here for you…the diocesan staff with all of its program resources (specifically organized around
the findings of the visioning convocation, where you told us what you were most concerned about in ministry). We
are here for you with a credible sum of money to fund the sacramental work you are doing. We are here for
you with an organizational structure that will facilitate the congregational and institutional development needed
to live into the call God has sent us within the diocese of Newark.
A credible sum of money (notice I didn't say Incredible!). Currently, we have placed one million five hundred thousand
dollars in a congregational development fund, with the understanding that all of that money is available and can
be allocated for projects that will support the development of congregations and their ministries. Another four
hundred thousand dollars will also be available for particularly urban ministries. In all truth, my heart would
be saddened to discover a few years down the road, that we still have a million dollars left in the congregational
development fund. It would bear stark witness to our inability to do much more than talk about what the church
ought to be. Now is the time to raise up the visions of our ministries and to get on with doing the work of being
the church. The congregational development fund is there to assist you in doing that.
We are also in the midst of change. After five years of service to the diocese and the Oasis ministry, having expanded
the vision of the Oasis within and beyond the diocesan boarders, The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton leaves this ministry
to begin a new phase of her ministry as rector of St. Paul's Church in Chatham. A new chapter in the ministry of
the Oasis is about to be written. I am pleased to announce that The Rev. Rose Hassan has accepted my invitation
to take on the responsibilities as acting missioner for the Oasis in a part-time position while the members of
the Oasis community and my office work with me to search for a person to join my staff as full-time missioner for
the ministry of the Oasis.
With your acceptance of this year's budget, we have increased our staffing and commitment to our ongoing work of
building healthy, vibrant, Christ filled communities. The office of Aging, currently run by Judy Seelbach is now
full-time. The Anand Center, currently run by Kitty Kawecki is now staffed at as a ¾ time position. At the
same time, led by Michael Francaviglia, the administrative support staff at Episcopal House is being reorganized
so that we can better do our work to aid in your congregational development in the most efficient and meaningful
way possible. And finally, tomorrow morning, I will welcome and introduce to you our Canon for congregational development.
The expectations that have been placed on this new office are extraordinary. There is so much to be done. However,
you should know that the primary responsibility of this Office is to deploy the resources of Our Diocese of Newark
to do the ministry to which we are called to. Each and every congregation and ministry in this diocese is called
by God into the world to do the work of Christ. We here stand ready to help you hear and respond to the call that
God is voicing for your community. We are here, our mission is to aid you in your discernment and then be there
to provide what ever resources we can garner to make that mission incarnate.
And, so, here we are, all of us gathered together, 750 strong this evening, 45,000 strong in this, Our Diocese
of Newark. Called together as the Body of Christ to live out our lives as ministers of the sacraments and proclaimers
of the Word. Here we are a bunch of sinners who have found fellow sojourners in the company of other sinners, in
each other, in the company of all the Saints.
And, so I end this evening with a prayer by Thomas Merton:
"God, we have no ideal where ewe are going. 'we do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain
where it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves, and the fact that we think we are following your will does
not mean that we are actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And
we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing."
May our places of worship and ministry be symbols of this feast prepared for all.
May we be witnesses and participants in a vision of OUR DIOCESE as sacrament.
Amen.
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