Vicar general attends meeting as priest-observer

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
Nov. 22, 2007

The Diocese of Sioux City's vicar general participated in a new experience as he was able to attend and observe the fall meeting of the United States bishops.

"I truly enjoyed my time in Baltimore attending the USCCB meeting as priest-observer for Region IX," said Msgr. Mark Duchaine, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the diocese.

He mentioned that the chairmanship of the Region IX bishops is passed among all the bishops of that region on a yearly basis. This year it happened to be Bishop R. Walker Nickless' turn. Region IX includes Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska.

"As it is the chairman who gets to choose the priest-observer for the November meeting, I guess Bishop Nickless felt that as the diocesan vicar general I was qualified. I was happy to be asked and pleased to attend," said Msgr. Duchaine.

He said that he was gratified by the "very friendly and down-to-earth manner" of the bishops he was privileged to meet. He was impressed with the bishops and archbishops he met during the course of the meeting.

"Each one seemed genuinely pleased to visit with me," said Msgr. Duchaine.

He was able to have a session with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, papal nuncio to the United States during a mid-morning coffee break.

"I went out of my way to introduce myself to as many as I encountered," said Msgr. Duchaine. "You see someone like Cardinal George of Chicago on television or read an article by him in a magazine and you tend to think, 'He's a real churchman, intelligent, high-powered, way beyond anyone like me.' Then when you meet him in person - he's as genuine, low-key and pleasant as can be. I was really impressed with what I would call the 'chumminess' of the bishops. They really made me feel welcome and seemed glad to have me there."

He was able to look up bishops with whom he has had personal or professional dealings - through correspondence or telephone calls - in the recent past.

"Just having the opportunity to meet them and visit for awhile about whatever it was that originally brought us together, to associate a face with a name, was valuable," said the vicar general.

He said one thing that amazed him was how, at the general sessions, each bishop who wanted to address the body was quickly recognized and always acknowledged by name.

"With around 200 bishops in attendance - including many retired bishops - and everyone sitting wherever they wanted, I couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for the chair to correctly know the name of each and every one of them as soon as they raised their hand. A small thing, maybe, but it really impressed me," said the priest.

Msgr. Duchaine pointed out that the bishops have a good sense of humor - both in a group and as individuals.

"Although they work very hard, they also know how to relax and have a good time," he said. "As someone who loves a good laugh, I found that to be one of the most refreshing aspects of my time in Baltimore."

The amount of paper involved in the meeting made an impression on Msgr. Duchaine.

"Virtually reams of paper are used to produce the various reports that each bishop is supposed to read and study in preparation for the meeting," said the vicar general. "Then upon arrival at the meeting itself, those reports are supplemented by a number of revisions."

He said what impressed him most was the "great amount of work that is involved, both before and at the actual sessions."

"One thing is for sure, without a top-notch staff at the USCCB, starting with the General Secretary, none of this could happen," said Msgr. Duchaine. "Much of the real work takes place in the hallways, committee rooms and over lunch tables as the bishops hammer out the details of whatever work they are engaged in."

He said he left the meeting with an increased measure of respect for the work the U.S. bishops do. As a priest, he was especially gratified to have heard so many of them say how important their priests are to them and how much they respect and value their priests.

"I listened as several bishops acknowledged the need to rebuild relationships with priests in the aftermath of the sexual abuse scandal that rocked the church and, in many cases, damaged that bishop-priest relationship," said Msgr. Duchaine.