The Glory of the Bishop’s Presence
Fr Henry Opara
There is always an aura of joy and excitement at the announcement of the coming of the Bishop of a Diocese to any parish or institution of his jurisdiction. The Father of the Diocese is coming. There are very high expectations. The whole parish or ecclesial community is agog with preparations and other forms of responsiveness towards his arrival. These preparations vary from spiritual to material domain. This development carries some sorts of anxiety. There is need to prepare the candidates for the reception of the sacrament of confirmation. Every part of the aforementioned event will be given proper attention.
The Bishop is appointed by the Pope (Can. 377) as the chief shepherd of the Diocese entrusted to his care. Bishop possesses legislative, executive and judicial powers in overseeing the Episcopal functions in his Diocese (Can.371). He is a minister of governance. (Can 375 ≠1). According to Canon 393, the Bishop represents his Diocese. St. Ambrose once said where the Bishop is, there is the Church and where the Church is, there is the Holy Spirit.
For the Priest, the presence of the Bishop has different dimensions:
(a) The visit of the highest authority apart from God in his life or chosen vocation. This immediate experience has many implications that ordinarily has its own anxiety. His minds will begin to reflect on the T’s that needs to be crossed and “I”s to be dotted in order to prevent his master’s reactions and inactions. Since, he is the head of the catholic community under his watch, he is very much aware of the responsibility that surrounds the programme and the resultant effects of the parish life. This is so because the whole responsibility lies on the desk of the pastor of the parish. It beholds on him to lead, guide and direct the flocks to the different duties towards the coming of the Bishop at the moment in particular.
The Bishop’s presence should also be a source of encouragement and support to the priest. Canon 384 identifies the Diocesan Bishop as the source of care, challenge, and support of priests in exercising their rights and fulfilling their obligations.
During Pastoral visit, the Bishop meets his priest in his particular domain, shares his worries, feels his environment and plays the fatherly role in all its ramifications. In his retreat talks to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria; Christian Cardinal Tumi admonished the bishops on fair attention to their priests in the following words; ‘‘Fairness is another aspect of integrity: our people and especially our priests expect us to be consistent, clear, evenhanded, and judicious. Especially when sniff favoritism in assignments and appointments.”
Furthermore, if within the occasion there is need for caution, let it be done in brotherly manner with every sense of love and care from the chief shepherd.
The Parish Pastoral Council as collaborators of the pastor will be expected to support and contribute meaningful ideas to the success of the pastoral visit. These include works to be done either in the Church or the parish house. There is added attention to what we call the Bishop’s room in the parish. They are to encourage other parishioners to participate fully including the likely candidates for the sacrament of confirmation.
John M. Huels, directs “The faithful are obliged to receive confirmation at the proper time. Parents, pastoral ministers, and especially pastors should see to it that the faithful are properly instructed for receiving this sacrament and that they come for it at the opportune time.”(Can. 890)
From the above citation all hands must be on desk towards the hosting of the prelate.
The candidates themselves have their own responsibility: availing to be present and attentive to their catechism classes; disposing themselves spiritually for the reception of the sacrament. This phenomenon has its peculiar anxiety especially as assessment for successful candidates and the celebration day proper take place.
RELEVANCE OF THE BISHOP’S VISIT
The first question is, must the Bishop visit parishes or chaplaincies within his jurisdiction? Canon 396 states “(1) A Bishop is obliged to visit the Diocese annually either in the whole or in part, so that he visits the entire Diocese at least every five years either personally or, if he has been legitimately impeded, through the Coadjutor Bishop, an auxiliary, vicar general, Episcopal vicar, or another presbyter.” “2. A Bishop is permitted to choose the clerics he prefers as companions and an assistant on a visitation; any contrary privilege or custom is reprobated.”
(a) It affords the Bishop the opportunity to meet his people and interact with them.
(b) Administration of the sacrament of confirmation which he is the primary minister. This sacrament completes the sacraments of initiation (the individual having received the sacraments of baptism and the Holy Eucharist). For Anselm Grun, in his book; the Seven Sacraments: “confirmation is connected with the Latin verb firmare, which means “to make firm or fast , strengthen, fortify, support, encourage, animate, strengthen in resolution, secure, affirm, help to stand firm’’. Confirmation is intended to strengthen young people in their Christian life and support them through the Holy Spirit , so that they can stand up for themselves in this world, so that they can find their own standpoint, and live a spirit-centred life in an often unspiritual, uninspired and spiritless world.
(c) The presence of the Bishop demonstrates the unity of the parish with the entire Diocese or Archdiocese as the case may be.
(d) According to the Ceremonial of Bishops “The Bishop in fulfilling the obligation to visit the parishes or local communities of his Diocese should not appear to be satisfying a purely administrative duty. Rather the faithful should see in him the herald of the Gospel, the teacher, shepherd, and the high priest of his flock.” The primary office of the Bishop is to teach. He is the first Catechist of his Diocese. For a more enriching outcome, Cardinal Tumi earlier quoted admonished them in these words: “To be able to deliver meaningful teachings, the Bishop need to be close to the life of the people of his Diocese. It is by meditating on the word of God as a Christian with his community and drawing nourishment for himself, that the Bishop is able to provide spiritual nourishment for his flock.”
(e) it helps the Bishop to gather more and direct information for his ad limina report to the Supreme Pontiff (According to Canon 399, a bishop is expected to give comprehensive report of the Diocese entrusted to his care to the Pope every five(5) years).
(f) The visit of the Bishop gathers people of all sort within the community in which the parish or institution is located, Catholics and non Catholics alike. It is really welcome as a special day in the community the presence of a spiritual ‘August visitor’.
In conclusion, despite the paraphernalia that follows the presence of the Bishop; let us not lose sight of the sacramental character of the visit. Like Mary (Luke 10:42) let us create time to listen to him, draw closer to enjoy his presence and the numerous blessings that accrue from it.
For those confirmed, let them be mindful of the graceful maturity this sacrament has placed on them. Thus, in the same vein Fr. James Mallon encourages them “As parishioners mature in their Christian life, they ought to be called into service according to their gifts and equipped to serve in that ministry. In this way, they become missionary disciples who are equipped and released into ministry -a ministry that they are not just doing as a favour to the priest, but one over which they have taken ownership in communion with the priest.’’ Let them always be conscious of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the numerous gifts bestowed on us His Children. As we appreciate the Parents and the guardians in helping these candidates thus far, we solicit for continuous sustainability in nearest future.
As Jesus would say “No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub, they put it on a lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your father in heaven”.(Matthew 5:14-16)
At this point my heart echoes this beautiful song;
Holy Ghost is already here
I can feel His presence
He is already here
All I have to do
Is to open up my hearts
For, He is already here.
May our Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of all Christians continue to intercede for us all, Amen.
Rev Fr Henry Opara
Immediate Past Youth Chaplain
Archdiocese of Owerri.
