Bishop Mulvey renews call for parish life

Meeting with some 100 priests at the Holiday Inn-Emerald Beach in Corpus Christi on Oct. 10 on the opening night of their second convocation under his episcopacy, Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey renewed his call for the “necessity and importance of the parish” in the life of the church.

“The parish must provide a life in Jesus Christ,” Bishop Mulvey said. “It is where we need to proclaim, explain and be a witness to the word of God.”

The bishop urged his brothers in the presbyterate to become familiar with Verbum Domini, the post-synod apostolic exhortation of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the bishops, clergy, consecrated persons and the lay faithful on the word of God in the life and mission of the church. Pope Benedict issued his call on Sept. 30, 2010.

The pope called for an emphasis on the word of God in the church’s life, and urged a greater biblical apostolate as a means of letting the Bible inspire all pastoral work. Adding a meeting here or there in parishes or the diocese is not enough, the pope said. An examination of the ordinary activities of parishes is called for to determine if they are truly concerned with fostering a personal encounter with Christ.

Bishop Mulvey stressed a great need to foster spirituality and communion in the parishes of the diocese; starting with how the Eucharist and other sacraments are celebrated. “We must make our liturgy always more beautiful,” Bishop Mulvey said.

The bishop also urged the priests to go out and listen to the people. Being a pastor to God’s people requires more than a “maintenance mode.” He urged them to provide for active and viable pastoral and finance councils in their parishes.

In his address, billed as a State of the Diocese, Bishop Mulvey also urged priests to make the Centennial Jubilee “a priority, not just an addendum.” He said the centennial was providing the diocese an opportunity not only to remember their past but also to rejoice in their faith, renewal and formation.

He also expressed enthusiasm for the prospects of vocations to the priesthood. He noted that Vocation Director Father Joseph Lopez is working with some 25 young men who have expressed an interest in the priestly vocation. He urged all priests to become recruiters for vocations, telling them that they are in the best position to recognize an interest in the call to vocation since they had experienced it in their own lives.

The bishop also noted that he is continuing to work closely with the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLTs) to secure Pontifical status for the order. The bishop expressed appreciation to Father Ogie Rosalinas, SOLT, General Priest Servant and General Sister Servant Sister Anne Marie Walsh, SOLT, for relocating from Rome to the diocese to work closely with him on this project.

Finally, the bishop expressed a desire to begin the celebration of rural Masses to recognize the important contributions of the rural areas of the diocese. He urged the priests to continue to pray and to urge their parishioners to pray for rain.