Text of Homily by Your Eminence Cardinal McCarrick, your presence always honors us, but today we are especially grateful for the extraordinary efforts you took to be with us. Warm greetings to Archbishop Gerety, Archbishop O’Brien and all my brother bishops, priests and deacons and all the Religious and laity who join in this sacred liturgy. Special acknowledgement goes to the families, friends, and parishioners of Bishops-elect Donato and Flesey. We share your joy and excitement. God formed His Church by sending Jesus, His Word, who in turn sent apostles who chose other men by the laying on of hands. The message we proclaim and the mysteries we celebrate are not of our own creation – they are not of man, but of God. They call us, assist us, and prepare us for eternity. This is why we must attend to them and welcome them, for therein is our salvation. And that is why we welcome the bishops and their cooperators, the priests and deacons, who are charged with handing on the divine tradition from generation to generation. The Holy Spirit has blessed us in the selection by Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, of Bishops-elect Donato and Flesey as bishops to share the ministry here in the Archdiocese of Newark. They are wonderful priests, rich in experience, each with the heart of a pastor. They will care tenderly for people, knowing that mercy and gentleness are properly placed in service of the truth of the Gospel. They have both been closely associated with our seminary and know the essential role of the spiritual life in the ministry of priests. They know well, as did the Blessed Virgin Mary, that the story is not about them or any one of us, but about God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We offer glory and praise to the Trinity for the goodness that surrounds us. We celebrate this liturgy on the Feast of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. He found great holiness in doing the ordinary works of a pastor generously and well. He had special love for the Sacrament of Penance and God touched thousands of souls through his priestly ministry. He was a “back to basics” sort of man. Today we honor all in pastoral ministry, especially our priests. May we all feel called to a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ and the holy way of life to which He invites us. As I have said, perhaps to the point of boring people, it is not a question of liberal or conservative, going left or right. The direction we seek is deeper – immersing ourselves ever more completely in the Mystery of Jesus Christ. With St. Paul, we must “do everything in the Name of the Lord Jesus.” Then we will be able to put on love “that is the bond of perfection” and we will know “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” With Jeremiah we are sent to proclaim whatever God commands us. And we do so without fear, for the Lord God Himself is with us. He is with us in a special way in the Most Holy Eucharist and with particular power and love as the life of the Church is enriched and provided for by the ordination of these wonderful men as bishops by myself and all the bishops who honor us by their presence here.
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