There has been a lot of movement in our archdiocese this summer. Five new priests were ordained. Other priests moved to new assignments. Three were called to be bishops, and another bishop retired.
It’s easy to view these changes as simply administrative moves and personnel decisions. And they are. But more importantly, we believe the Holy Spirit has guided these decisions for two thousand years.
Our confidence in the Holy Spirit’s guidance goes back to the very beginning of the Church. Shortly after Jesus ascended to Heaven, Peter began the process of replacing Judas, the betrayer. Two candidates were suggested – Joseph (also called Barsabbas and Justus) and Matthias – and Scripture tells us what happened next:
Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.”
Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the 11 apostles. (Acts 1:24-26)
We no longer cast lots, but Church leaders still seek and receive the Holy Spirit’s guidance through prayer, discernment, and discussion. We have seen the fruits of that guidance with three local priests who were ordained as bishops earlier this month.
Bishop Gary Studniewski, a good friend of mine who has been pastor of Blessed Sacrament for the last four years, is one of our new auxiliary bishops here in Washington. He will seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit as he takes on responsibility for the care and assignments of our priests.
Bishop Robert Boxie is one of our great young priests and our other new auxiliary bishop. He is now the youngest bishop in America. Bishop Boxie was chaplain at Howard University up until a few weeks ago and is a graduate of Harvard Law School. He left the legal profession to follow God’s call to the priesthood.
Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero is a Capuchin priest who was pastor of Shrine of the Sacred Heart, which is run by the Capuchins. He did wonderful work serving the parish at 16th Street and Park Road. Because of his leadership there, he was called to lead the Diocese of Venice in Florida.
I know that these new bishops are up to the responsibilities they face. I also believe strongly that the Holy Spirit guided their appointments and will continue to guide them in the future.
In many ways, this is true for all of us. God often calls us to responsibilities that seem larger than we feel prepared to handle, but I am always amazed at how we all seem to grow into new roles. I think of young mothers and fathers having their first child. They are overwhelmed, too, hoping and praying that they will be good parents. Yet somehow, with God’s grace, most grow into the good moms and dads they hoped they would become, worthy of loving and caring for a new life given by God.
As bishops are ordained to the episcopate, they must be wondering, “Why was I chosen? Why am I in this particular role?” God's Spirit guides them, strengthens them, and supports them as they take on the greater responsibilities of teaching the faith, spreading God's kingdom, and caring for those in need.
I think that is what happened with two excellent bishops who are moving on from their current roles. Bishop Roy Campbell is retiring as auxiliary bishop but will remain pastor of St. Joseph’s in Landover. He is doing wonderful work, especially in helping our archdiocese acknowledge and address injustices experienced by African Americans in its early history.
Bishop Emilio Enjivar-Ayala has been a strong advocate for immigrants here in our country. He himself came from El Salvador, and he has done a magnificent job in his time here in Washington. He now leads the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia, where another good friend, Bishop Mark Brennan, is retiring after nearly seven years there.
We are blessed to send new leaders to other dioceses while also celebrating great local priests who have been called to greater service here at home. Most of all, we are blessed to have the Holy Spirit still guiding Church leadership. We are all sinners, so not every decision has been perfect, but I believe the Spirit is still at work even in difficult times. The Church endures after two millennia.
Please join me in praying for all these bishops, that God will watch over them and take care of them. We celebrate and give thanks for all who are called to greater roles in the Church and who say “yes” to that call. May God’s Spirit guide them and us as we also seek to say “yes” to whatever God asks of us.
(Msgr. John Enzler serves as the mission advocate of Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington and is a chaplain at his alma mater, St. John’s College High School in Washington. He writes the Faith in Action column for the archdiocese’s Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites.)
