With the present chapter of our lives together coming to a close and my imminent installation on July 2 as the bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia coinciding with the nation’s 250th anniversary two days later, General George Washington taking his leave after the Revolutionary War comes to mind. In particular, a few things from his letters to the nation and to the troops he called a “band of brothers,” spoke to me, which I in turn recommend to you – his imperative plea for unity even amidst the many differences between people and states, his affection for the brave men he had toiled with, and his astonishment that the Continental Army had prevailed over such formidable British forces, overcoming almost every possible hardship, suffering, and temptation to discouragement.
General Washington attributed the winning of independence and the establishment of a free nation to both divine providence and to the soldiers’ “invincible fortitude in action,” but there is another reason as well – Washington’s own great virtues of perseverance and determination. The Continental Army lost most of its battles, but Washington remained resolute and refused to give up or lose hope.
Meanwhile, 250 years ago, the Continental Congress in Philadelphia solemnly declared those self-evident truths upon which this nation was founded: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” But as timeless and precious as these words are, as Pope Leo XIV says in his new encyclical, “It is not enough to state simply that men and women have equal dignity and rights; it is necessary that this be reflected in concrete decisions” (Magnifica Humanitas, 57).
Until we meet again, I urge you, like General Washington did, to continue working for solidarity and unity in diversity in the Church, in our communities, and in the nation. We are all, in fact, one human family – brothers and sisters in a fraternity that transcends the barriers of geography and station in life. And “when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human” and thus respect the reality that each of us is endowed with an infinite human dignity that “does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth or position in life” and we are responsible for caring for one another (Magnifica Humanitas, 15 and 50).
This obligation is especially pressing on those who occupy positions of power, such as public officers, who must refuse to be complicit in grievous assaults on human rights and other evil, and it is pressing also on those of us who call ourselves Catholic or another form of Christianity. We must always be a community ready to welcome, protect, promote and integrate; not a society that reacts, exploits, denigrates. We must show the utmost respect for the dignity of every person and build bridges, not walls.
Washington was in the field with his troops for eight long years. I have journeyed with you, walked with you, for longer than that as a priest and bishop, both in formal processions, as we did on Corpus Christi, and in daily life – walking with you in sharing your struggles, celebrating with you, and even crying together. I do so, in part, because I am so thankful for the people who have walked with me – family, friends, and most especially, the Lord. When I have faced fearful ordeals, I have known that God is with me, which allows me to persevere.
The episcopal motto that I chose when I became a bishop, “Ibat cum illis” (which means “He walked with them”), refers to the Risen Jesus walking with and comforting the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). It serves as both a reminder of my personal journey and a vow to remain at the side of the downtrodden and those who are in pain. Very much aware of my own personal limitations, if I have been able to offer some encouragement or solace, I give glory to God for it. Furthermore, I want you to know as you look to your own future – even if it is fraught with challenges – that even though I may be hundreds of miles away, you are not alone, the Lord is at your side, and so are an entire “band of brothers (and sisters).”
Just as importantly, if you know people who are like the disciples from Emmaus who were still grieving at the Crucifixion of Jesus, people who are struggling, who are in pain and running out of hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit, you can be the living presence of Jesus who walks beside them to sooth their wounds and rekindle hope (Acts 1:8, 2:1-4). “In a mysterious way, His love becomes present through our service,” Pope Francis affirmed in his final encyclical. And if you accept this summons to spread goodness in the world in your own way, he added, “you will have an enriching experience that will bring you much happiness” (Dilexit Nos, 214-216).
I have been overjoyed and inspired in the last year to see so many people coming out and speaking out for justice and human dignity, so many people showing their solidarity with the marginalized and disadvantaged among us. Certainly, the Church and society need people like you who give of yourselves and are protagonists of a new humanity and a new society, people who are resolute in working for good and to build a better life for all.
That the Lord calls us and asks us to share in this work of His love and justice is a great honor and blessing. Another great thing about being Catholic specifically – where the Church is our Mother who embraces each and every one of us – is that wherever we might travel in the world we will find our family, whether we are from D.C. or Maryland, El Salvador or the Appalachian holler. Should you, then, decide to come calling in West Virginia sometime, a place that has been called “almost heaven,” know that you will be welcomed not merely as a guest, but because you will be coming from home and going to home.
While the country roads will soon take me from our home here to our home there, I do not say “goodbye” or “adios,” at least not in their usual sense. The Lord has plans for us all and our paths will cross again. So, instead, I affectionally express to you the original meaning of those words, which is to pray that God be with you now and always.
(On May 1, 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar, an auxiliary bishop of Washington since 2023, to become the new bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia. Bishop Menjivar will be installed as the bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, which includes the entire state of West Virginia, on July 2 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Wheeling.)
