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| Bishop Joseph McFadden concelebrating Mass of Installation with Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio, August 18, 2010 (John C. Whitehead, The Patriot News) |
Most Reverend
Joseph P. McFadden, tenth Bishop of Harrisburg, died suddenly and unexpectedly
on May 2, 2013, at the age of 65, just a few months from what would have been the third anniversary of his installation.
As happens at
times like these, I have been re-living several of my most recent encounters
with Bishop McFadden, never considering that my opportunities to speak with him
would be ending all too soon. I am now
even more grateful to God for our brief exchanges.
It was a
privilege to attend the Mass and hear the Homily which “my” Bishop preached at
the Harrisburg Diocesan Council of Catholic Women (HDCCW) Convention on April
15, 2013. Without a text, Bishop delivered
a dynamic message relating to the Council of Catholic Women’s mission of
spirituality, leadership and service. At
the time I thought it should have been recorded for a motivational CCW video. I even took notes in my program booklet (no, I
do not usually take notes during homilies)!
He tied in the themes with those from
His Holiness Pope Francis’ Homily for the first Mass he celebrated with the
Cardinals, including:
-
We need to “walk with the Lord, build His Church, confess Jesus Christ with our words and actions.”
- We must “build our lives based on the Truth.”
- Remember that the work of God is to “believe in the One He sent.”
The inspiring homily
made me--and more than 380 convention participants--feel renewed in our Catholic Faith and invigorated as members of the
Council of Catholic Women. Later in the day I was
able to thank Bishop McFadden for the wonderful homily as well as his help with
some paperwork I needed for the National Council of Catholic Women. His parting words to me became more powerful today, “Always: God’s will.”
May God grant
Joseph, our Bishop, the eternal rewards of his faithful witness to the Gospel. May our Risen Lord grant consolation and
peace to the priests and people of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and especially to
Bishop McFadden’s family and friends who mourn his loss.
Eternal
rest grant unto him, O Lord. Let the perpetual
light shine upon him. May he rest in
peace. May his soul and the souls of all
the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
http://www.hbgdiocese.org/
http://www.hbgdiocese.org/2013/05/02/death-of-bishop-mcfadden/
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/bishop_mcfaddens_funeral_slate.html#incart_river
So sorry to hear of your loss of Bishop McFadden.
ReplyDeleteSounds like God gave him many gifts to share with you and others. He left his footprints in your hearts.
You walk the walk and talk the talk and would make him proud to know you.
May God bless,
Diane