CNS STORY: At 50th jubilee Mass, Archbishop Pilarczyk focuses on simple words

PILARCZYK-JUBILEE Dec-22-2009 (700 words) With photos. xxxn

At 50th jubilee Mass, Archbishop Pilarczyk focuses on simple words

By Tricia Hempel
Catholic News Service

CINCINNATI (CNS) -- In a solemn yet joyful Mass to celebrate 50 years of service as an ordained priest, Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk reflected upon five words people are taught as children: "please," "thank you" and "I'm sorry."

The latter phrase was a focus of what would be his final homily as archbishop of Cincinnati Dec. 20 at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral. Pope Benedict XVI accepted Archbishop Pilarczyk's resignation the next day and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, his coadjutor since October 2008, automatically succeeded him.

"I suspect that some have come here this afternoon wondering whether I was going to say anything about the sex abuse scandal that brought so much pain to so many of us. I am," said the archbishop, who was appointed to Cincinnati in 1982.

"Before the Lord and his people I want to say that I regret what happened," he added. "I made some inadequate decisions, and people got hurt, and I'm sorry."

In 2003 Archbishop Pilarczyk established a $3 million fund to settle abuse cases out of court after pleading "no contest" on behalf of the archdiocese to charges that archdiocesan officials in the past had failed to report abuse of minors to proper civil authorities.

At the time he said payments through the fund constituted "an act of contrition on the part of the archdiocese for the harm that its agents -- priests or lay employees -- inflicted on persons who trusted them."

In his Dec. 20 remarks, the archbishop said there were other things he was sorry for but that he would not list them, nor ask others to do so.

"However, I do want to acknowledge that, as I look back over these last 50 years I perceive more sorrow, more regret for the things that I have not done than for things that I have," he said. "Opportunities were lost, chances to do good were overlooked. The Lord's gifts were not always used wisely, or were used not at all. I suspect I am not alone in this experience and that all of us, as we grow older, find that we have not made the best use of what God has given us."

But a focus on "thank you" was also important, Archbishop Pilarczyk noted, wanting to acknowledge the many blessings that God has bestowed on him in his years as a priest, including grace, talents and the people in his life.

He also gave thanks for some of the gifts many take for granted, such as "living in a place of peace and opportunity, in a land where starvation is relatively rare and where medical treatment is relatively accessible. All this clamors for gratitude."

He added that those who have been gifted with a vocation to church ministry "have special things to be grateful for: for the call to preach God's word, to lead people into the life of the risen Lord, to help them deepen their grasp of the Lord's goodness."

The archbishop concluded with a discussion of the word "please."

"Please is a word of hope. It expresses the dignity and the worth of the one being addressed. It expresses the conviction that there is good to be expected from the one we address. We all say 'please' to God with some frequency," Archbishop Pilarczyk said.

"'Please' is always appropriate because we are always in need and because God always wants to reach out to us in blessing," he added. "Please, Lord, be with us and make us what you want us to be. Bring fulfillment to the hope that you put into our hearts."

The more than 150 priests in attendance led a standing ovation for the archbishop following the homily. It was an action repeated at the close of the Mass, with the overflow crowd of clergy, archdiocesan employees and friends at the cathedral rising to pray tribute.

Linking to the history of the local church, Archbishop Pilarczyk used items that belonged to former Cincinnati archbishops. He wore a ring that belonged to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell and was later worn by Archbishop Karl Alter. He also used a chalice given to Archbishop Alter by the bishops of the province on the occasion of his 50th jubilee as a priest.

END

Copyright (c) 2009 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250