The following comes from an essay by Bishop Salvatore Cordileone that was published in the Oakland diocesan newspaper on August 6.
I was sitting in my room one very peaceful morning, working on homily preparation, when my phone rang. It was the Apostolic Nuncio (the pope’s representative to the United States). He informed me that Pope Benedict XVI had appointed me the Archbishop of San Francisco.
I didn’t know what to say. Of course, I knew I could not say, “no.” If obedience means anything it means accepting willingly whatever pastoral office one’s legitimate superior wishes to assign to one. And, of course, I am deeply humbled that the Holy Father would place such great trust in me as to charge me with such an important duty.
My first thought, though, was of the untimeliness of this move and how difficult it will be to leave Oakland. After three years of making the rounds of our diocese, meeting with and getting to know our priests and lay faithful, religious and deacons throughout the diocese, of meeting with them to analyze, strategize and plan for the future, I really felt that I had finally landed in the East Bay and was in a position to pursue some long-term strategic goals.
I will most especially never forget my parish pastoral visits. They were exhausting and exhilarating at the same time. Yes, a demanding schedule, but the tremendous outpouring of hospitality gave me the energy I needed. I saw how much our people love their parish and how alive they are in ministries and good works among their fellow parishioners and in the wider community.
This all makes it abundantly clear to me — and I wish to assure you of this — that Oakland is not a stepping-stone diocese, some sort of training camp for grooming future archbishops. Oakland is blessed with many wonderful resources, and most especially its people. On other occasions I have written about the great legacy of creativity and pastoral innovation that marks our diocese, most recently in the 50th-anniversary feature edition of The Catholic Voice.
The appointment of a bishop to this diocese always looks to the good of the diocese, without considering where he can be moved after a few years. Every time a bishop is named, though, there is a unique set of circumstances, often beyond the particular diocese, that have to be taken into consideration. Those in a position to make a recommendation such as this to the Holy Father see the broader picture of the needs of the Church. We might not see that full picture on our local level, but it is something I can understand well because it is very similar to the decisions a bishop makes with regard to the greater good of the diocese in assigning parish pastors.
This is not the first time I have undergone such an untimely move in pastoral assignments, but it is the most drastic. However, as I told the priests in my letter to them, every time this has happened, the Lord has later made it clear to me how it all fits into the working out of His will. Of course, the insight only comes with hindsight, and so we must trust that this is the case now….
To read original story, click here.
We should pray daily for the future Archbishop Cordileone. He will need help to tackle his new and difficult assignment. We should also thank God that Pope Benedict XVI had the wisdom and courage to name him to lead the San Francisco Archdiocese.
Now if you good Catholics will only quit bashing this Bishop and let him try to do his job and just pray and fast and suffer with him. +JMJ+
Don’t be so condescending.Holier than thou behaviour is ugly and quite telling,and quite pharaisical.
This is a huge loss for the Oakland diocese. There are many pastors in Oakland that are far out modernists taking liberties far beyond allowed and it will take a strong man to replace Bishop Cordileone.
It would be interesting to compare the number of “far out modernists” in Oakland to those in our diocese across the Bay. And not all modernists. If our new Ordinary wants to clean house, I’d welcome him to start with my parish, where the priests are dealing with the new translation of the Mass by largely ignoring it. The dew, for example, does not fall here.
GIL, very comment about the dew not falling at your parish!!!
our pastor, by contrast, gave a homily the other day, in which GOD sent the dewfall which dried up and left behind manna, telloing us that the new translation was linked to that ancient biblical story of GOD comibng to the aid of his peopel.
and how the new translation of the eucharistic prayer (“let your HOLY SPIRITS come down upon these gifts like the dewfall…”) links the old testman3et accoutn with transsubstatiation.
such preaching has really helped us not only UNDERSTAND the new translation better, butalso appreciate its beauty more…
“Oakland is blessed with many wonderful resources, and most especially its people”. Amen! I have often prayed that many of the pro life, pro marriage and NFP programs in Oakland would find there way to SF Archdiocese. I was over joyed with the news of our new Shepherd for SF–but at the same time sadden for Oakland’s loss. God is great and He will provide Oakland with another great leader for His blessed faithful in Oakland.
i admire archbishop-elect cordileone’s approach to obedience, which stands in stark contrast to some of the priests we read about who get into a big huff if THEIR superiors don’t allow them to write their own tickets.
the new archbishop knows darned well that moving to s.f. will mean more headaches for him than ever before, and yet he said “yes” because that is part of religious obedience when you become a priest or a religious.
god bless him, and the people of the arcdiocese of san francisco he will serve adn guide!
Please clean up that cesspool of anything goes “Catholics”,your Eminence.
Since your surname means “Lionhearted” and follows your reputation, may the Holy Spirit lead you on. Your coming battled are legion!
Before he leaves Oakland, can he finish what he started in declaring that the Catholic Association of Lesbian and Gay Ministries (CALGM) is an organization that is not in accord with the teachings of the Church? And while he is at it he should declare that Fr. James Schexnayder, of Dignity, NACDLGM, and CALGM (all pro-homosexual organizations trying to change the Catholic Church), is no longer entitled to exercise any ministry in the Catholic Church? That would give the new Archbishop some “creds” with faithful Catholics in San Francisco.
Marie pray for him please….Send him your letter of what you posted here…I beg!
Do not tell me Bishop was not Leon enough to shut these groups down cold..
All I’m getting with this and the contraception mandate at CCEB is: “We are looking into it.” I would be curious to found out if you hear anything beyond that; there is still time to address these vital issues.
Mphhhmmmmmmm
“great legacy of creativity and pastoral innovation that marks our diocese”??
That does not sound like ‘good’
Our new Shepherd was just on KQED FM radio this morning…..
And why am I NOT surprised, not one call was in support of him!!!
We all NEED TO PRAY DAILY for AB Cordielione and support him
in all ways!!!
The people who are against this appointment are vocal, organized and well funded. They do not want to loose any ground that they have claimed. Their purpose is to continue to change the church to their liking. It is good to pray, but also write, make calls and be vocal in your support of AB Cordilione.
CATECHISM:
894 “The bishops, as vicars and legates of Christ, govern the particular Churches assigned to them by their counsels, exhortations, and example, but over and above that also by the authority and sacred power” which indeed they ought to exercise so as to edify, in the spirit of service which is that of their Master.
on the solemnity of st. francis of assisi, patron of our archdiocdese, the most reverend salvatore joseph cordileone will be installed as the ninth archbihsop of san francisco, and as such, becomes the vicar of CHRIST in our three counties. i hope the faithful (and even the not so faithful) keep in mind he’s not like some elected official who comes and go at the whill of the moment…
say goodbye to another liberal…