For 100 years, Jesus has made himself present in our diocese through the Eucharistic mystery and through the gift that each one of us is. How wonderful it is to see ourselves this way and be grateful for the inheritance passed down by our ancestors, recognizing that we are stewards and missionaries in this moment in history! By placing our gifts at the service of our neighbors—and through them, Jesus— we honor our heritage and make our diocese shine as the best in the world because we strive to speak the language of love.
The Eucharist has also opened our eyes to the physical needs of others, inspiring us to act with compassion. Through Catholic Charities, we offer material aid, especially food, to those in need. We provide legal assistance in migration cases, teach sustainable food practices for healthy diets, and offer emotional and practical support during natural disasters. Every service we provide is rooted in our calling to see Jesus in those who are in need.
How do we serve our children and youth in their faith formation? It is a question we continually ask as we seek to improve. Faith formation happens when we share what we have received, love as we are loved, and serve as we are served. This mission falls on our parishes, where hundreds of children and youth are prepared to live their faith. Parishes complement what is taught, or should be taught, within the family —the domestic church— becoming a center of faith life and place of celebration.
What a treasure it is to be entrusted with the hearts of children and young people! It is a beautiful responsibility to help them discover God's plan for their lives and how to live out the grace and love of Jesus every day.
We are all part of this Church in the Diocese of Raleigh, the best diocese in the world. But what is the Church? It is each one of us—a living stone, a temple of the Holy Spirit. While physical churches are necessary, buildings without people have no meaning.
As we see ourselves as a living Church, with priests of many nationalities and a congregation representing even more cultures, we become a microcosm of Catholicity. This diversity presents both a challenge and a great richness. The Lord entrusts this moment to us, asking for our cooperation so that, through our diversity, he can make his love known.
However, we do not own this moment; we are merely its stewards!
When we believe we are the masters of this moment, we fall into selfish thinking, deceiving ourselves into believing we aren't accountable for our actions and can dispose of things as we please. But when we embrace our role as stewards, we gain a broader perspective, understanding that God's plan affects not just us but others as well.
Recognizing that we are stewards requires an act of humility, acknowledging that God has entrusted us with a mission and given us a responsibility to fulfill.
Being a steward means accepting that someone beyond ourselves knows the plan, trusts us, and grants us the graces necessary to fulfill our responsibilities. That someone is God, who is always ready to accompany, guide, correct, and celebrate our achievements as we serve him, our neighbors, creation, and ourselves. This is God's plan in our hearts.
Being stewards means not waiting for others to act, nor being paralyzed by fear. Instead, it calls us to prayerfully discover our own missionary spirit and contribute to the growth and beauty of our Church and diocese.
Despite our varied cultures, languages, and backgrounds, it is our faith—the Eucharist—that unites us. Whoever knows how to celebrate the Eucharist and how to love understands the universal language of a missionary and steward of God's plan—a plan of love and salvation.
I am deeply grateful to the Lord for choosing me to serve in this diocese, which has captured my heart. In these seven years, I have seen the beauty of my priests, deacons, religious men and women, and the people God has entrusted to my care. The richness of each heart and the joy of celebrating the sacraments of our faith are truly moving.
As we celebrate this centennial, it is our responsibility –mine and yours– to do so with gratitude, to rejoice in love, and to renew our missionary spirit for the next 100 years. May this be the legacy we pass on to future generations. Thank You, Lord, for the best diocese in the world! May you continue to make it so.