Easter faith centers on trust in the Lord and His promises

May 3, 2007

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we begin the month of May, the season of Easter continues to fill us with the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER

May first, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, begins a month dedicated to Our Lady. Pope Leo XIII wrote that working people "and all those laboring in condition of poverty will have reason to rejoice rather than grieve, since they have in common with the Holy Family daily preoccupations and cares". All of us, who are privileged to work, have a wonderful example to follow in Saint Joseph. This humble and just man gladly gave himself to the work at hand. All work has its share of trails and difficulties, but St. Joseph gives us example that work done with love, will be blessed by the Lord. Did you know that St. Joseph the Worker is the secondary patron of our Diocese? (Our Lady of Guadalupe is our principal patron.) I found out about these two patrons when I was preparing to come to Iowa as your bishop. I had shared the announcement of my appointment as bishop with Cardinal Francis Stafford who had been my bishop in Denver. One of his first questions was "Who is the patron saint of the Diocese of Sioux City?" After a little research, I discovered that we have two patrons, Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Joseph the Worker. How blessed we are to have these two saints watching over us and protecting us.

MARY AND THE MONTH OF MAY

May, the month dedicated to Mary, finds all of us grateful for spring and the new growth and life that are all around us. I cleaned out the small garden in the backyard of my home and am anxious to plant new flowers to add beauty and joy to the upcoming summer. People who have been in Iowa longer than me, warned me not to get too anxious to plant, it's all a matter of timing. Our farmers know that well. Mary's example of Easter faith is one of strong trust in the Lord and His promises. The Lord promised that he would indeed, rise from the dead. This is what we celebrate during these glorious 50 days of the Easter Season. We ask Mary to help us love the Lord as she did, unreservedly, holding back nothing for herself. Her joyful awareness of the Risen Lord permeated all her life, even in the depths of her sorrow. It should be the same for us. The rosaries that we pray this season should encourage us to live in joy, to know that the Risen Lord is truly present with us, bearing our burdens if only we let Him.

CONFIRMATION

This month finds us alive with Easter life and desiring the blessings of Mary, Mother of God. This season finds me (and other bishops throughout the world) celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation for hundreds of our young people. What a joy it is for me to travel all over our diocese to celebrate the Eucharist and administer the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is the sacrament that completes our Christian initiation. For our young people, it marks the beginning of their mission as evangelizers in the world. They receive the same Holy Spirit that came upon our Lord after his baptism in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist. This is the same Spirit that set the apostle's hearts on fire with love after they received the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Each confirmation celebration gives me an opportunity to see the potential in our young people, filled with the Holy Spirit. I remind them that they now share fully in the mission of Christ. They are sent forth to family and friends, to school, work and to the world to witness to Christ in the decisions they make and the way they live. God our Father is calling each of them to holiness of life and some to priesthood and the consecrated life. Others are called to the Sacrament of Marriage and to enrich the world with their children.

Please pray for all these young people. They face the temptations and seductions of the world. May the Holy Spirit and his seven-fold gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgment and courage, knowledge, reverence and spirit of wonder keep them holy and blameless all the days of their lives.

I take this opportunity to thank all those who help prepare those to be confirmed. First and foremost I thank their loving parents. You are the primary educators of your children in the ways of faith. Your example and sharing of the faith are extremely important to your sons and daughters. May your prayer, example and teaching be joyfully given to your children. Thank you as well, to the teachers, sponsors, pastors and others who share faith and encouragement with these young people. Your witness to the faith, and the witness of all of us, is part of the great mission we have received in our own baptism and confirmation.

GRADUATION

Each year it has been a tradition in our diocese to send special greetings from the Bishop to the young people on certain occasions. I have sent cards to all those making their First Communion. I will also send a letter to each high school graduate. Here is part of what I wrote to them this year. "In your baptism, you received your most basic and most important vocation: to be Christ in the world. In your education thus far, you have learned what this vocation means, how to live a holy life, and how to be part of the great communion of Christ in the Church. As you look to the coming years, I pray that your love for Jesus Christ will be the bedrock of all your decisions, especially in discerning with gratitude and humility what more God calls you to as an adult.

In the years to come, in the joys and the sorrows of life, follow the voice of God's Word, who told His disciples often, 'Do not be afraid.' In the love of Jesus Christ you will find the freedom from fear that makes it possible to love good and renounce the glamour of evil. Jesus offers you, in the sacraments of His Church, the same courage to be truly free from arrogance, anger, and despair."

MARYHILL

As you will see in this issue of The Globe, I have issued a formal decree suppressing the parish of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maryhill. The unexpected windstorm on August 1, 2006 destroyed the parish church. I have asked the parishioners of our Maryhill parish to become members of other parishes in the area. This is a difficult and sad move for many good people. I ask all of you prayerfully to remember those affected by this decision in this time of transition. I know that the people of our diocese will welcome them into their parish communities and support them with love and care. To the Maryhill parishioners, I encourage you to give thanks to God for all the fond memories of your former Church and parish community and to continue to celebrate your faith in a new parish home. Time will heal your loss, and your memories will bring you peace.

My brothers and sisters, enjoy these wonderful spring days. May Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Joseph pray for us and intercede on our behalf before the throne of Our Loving God.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City