Sunday
Jan312010
Archbishop Ireland
Sunday, January 31, 2010 at 7:00AM
My first assignment as a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was at the Basilica of St. Mary. The congregation at the Basilica was quite different in those years (the early 60’s). My pastor was Msgr. James Reardon. I treasured the opportunity to be associated with such a beautiful church. The pastor, Msgr. Reardon, was very proud of the fact that he had been ordained by Archbishop John Ireland. Msgr. Reardon loved talking about Archbishop Ireland. In his eyes there was no one quite like Archbishop Ireland. I think it was that first contact with Msgr. Reardon that gave me an interest to learn more about this Archbishop.
I learned that Archbishop Ireland had published two books. The volumes were made up of the “Lectures and Addresses” of the Archbishop. From those volumes I not only learned things about Archbishop Ireland, but I also began to appreciate how he worked to be a deeply theological and Pastoral Archbishop.
Many of these lectures of the Archbishop were a challenge to the members of the Church in the United States. At the turn of the nineteenth century he wrote some strong challenges to the people of that time. In an Assembly of the Bishops and Archbishops of the United States, Archbishop Ireland had this to say (among other things):
“I bid you turn to the future. It has special significance for us. The past our fathers wrought; the future will be wrought by us. The next century of the life of the church in America will be what we make it. It will be our own, the fruit of our labors…as we will it, so shall the story be, The duty of the moment is to understand our responsibility, and to do the full work that Heaven has allotted to us”
Our own Archbishop John Nienstedt, has great challenges to deal with today. I pray that we will be blessed in doing today what is needed for this day. Archbishop Ireland stands as a good example of dealing with the challenging tasks of this time. May we all pray that the Lord bless our efforts.
I learned that Archbishop Ireland had published two books. The volumes were made up of the “Lectures and Addresses” of the Archbishop. From those volumes I not only learned things about Archbishop Ireland, but I also began to appreciate how he worked to be a deeply theological and Pastoral Archbishop.
Many of these lectures of the Archbishop were a challenge to the members of the Church in the United States. At the turn of the nineteenth century he wrote some strong challenges to the people of that time. In an Assembly of the Bishops and Archbishops of the United States, Archbishop Ireland had this to say (among other things):
“I bid you turn to the future. It has special significance for us. The past our fathers wrought; the future will be wrought by us. The next century of the life of the church in America will be what we make it. It will be our own, the fruit of our labors…as we will it, so shall the story be, The duty of the moment is to understand our responsibility, and to do the full work that Heaven has allotted to us”
Our own Archbishop John Nienstedt, has great challenges to deal with today. I pray that we will be blessed in doing today what is needed for this day. Archbishop Ireland stands as a good example of dealing with the challenging tasks of this time. May we all pray that the Lord bless our efforts.
