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Convocation
2005
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
Convocation is always an anticipated experience. This time around it was
a cut above average.
Every year since 1987, we priests have met in convocation for the better
part of a week for prayer, enrichment, to enjoy one another’s company,
and relaxation. Utilizing outside presenters, a variety of topics have
been covered over those 18 years. This year the theme was Christology.
The presenter was Father Kenan Osborne, a Franciscan who teaches at the
Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. Fifty years a priest this
year, a small man (some opined that he wore size 28 pants), Father Kenan
has traveled extensively in Asia where he has lectured at several
Chinese universities on the philosophy of religion. During a semester at
Tubingen (Germany), he attended lectures given by Father Joseph
Ratzinger. He got his doctorate from the University of Munich in
systematic theology. The author of several books, Father Kenan has been
involved in some 25 priests’ convocations from Nova Scotia to Singapore.
Father Kenan’s assignment was to explain the current status of
Christology. We were alerted up front that each day emphasis would be
placed on how Jesus is the basis of our theology, pastoral ministry and
self-identity as priests.
My Sunday Visitor Catholic encyclopedia defines Christology as
“the branch of theology which studies the person and nature of Jesus
Christ, particularly the union of the divine and human natures in the
one divine person of the Son.” As you can sense immediately, Christology
is a bit deeper than reading the sports page. It was, in fact, a major
preoccupation of the early Church.
Father Kenan presented eight different Christological periods in the
history of the Church, starting with Jesus and concluding with what he
called contemporary Christologies. Surprising to me was the revelation
that doctrinal development on Christological issues stopped with the
Third Council of Constantinople in 681. Do you know that it was common
for the early Fathers of the Church to speak of four Gospels and four
councils (Nicea in 351, First Constantinople in 381, Ephesus in 431 and
Chalcedon in 451) as the guiding source of Catholic faith? I didn’t. The
point made was that later councils of the Church simply restated the
positions developed by these councils.
A variety of interesting mind-energizers were put on the table. Most
fascinating to me were theories proposed to explain what is meant when
we refer to Jesus as Savior. That Jesus was Messiah was a matter of firm
conviction from the beginning. The meaning of his death on the cross is
something else.
The atonement or victim theory predominates, that is, that as a matter
of justice God demanded that Jesus, in his divinity, pay the price for
the offense against God caused by sin. It was a price no human could
pay. Redeemer/redemption is defined in the Catechism of the Catholic
Church this way: “Christ paid the price of his own sacrificial death
on the cross to ransom us, to set us free from the slavery of sin, thus
achieving our redemption.” But, there are other theories as well. There
is, in fact, no defined statement regarding this matter.
That was new territory to me, although the recent movie “The Passion of
the Christ” uncorked discussion about this very topic. The movie
proclaimed the atonement theory from beginning to end. Many of those who
criticized Mel Gibson’s effort objected to that emphasis. No doubt that
critique was rooted in an awareness that there are theories other than
atonement, such as the Victor and Illuminator (Revealer) theories. But,
those are discussions most proper to theologians who, having established
themselves in academia, are invited to lead convocations.
The great value of the convocation does not depend upon the presenter,
of course. Rather, it is spending time with brother priests. Our three
Nigerian brothers from the Diocese of Orlu who are currently serving in
our Local Church in Kokomo and Carmel took an active role in the
convocation. So did Father Stephen Snoich, pastor of St. Augusta, Lake
Village, who hails from St. Meinrad Archabbey. The Dominicans who staff
St. Thomas Aquinas, West Lafayette, also were in attendance. Not all
diocesan priests were present, but most were. It is expected.
Praying together and celebrating Mass together each day is a special
moment during the convo. Something special this year: The altar
furniture was hand-made by Father Donald Eder.
Brown County State Park has been our meeting site for all but two of our
18 convocations. It is the largest of the Indiana state parks with ample
opportunity for walking, swimming and sitting. For men whose lives are
filled with seemingly endless meetings and who do not otherwise have a
great deal of time to visit with their brother priests, just sitting and
talking is both enjoyable and enriching. Listening to the life
experiences of brother priests reveals insights that enrich and inspire.
If nothing else, that opportunity alone makes the convocation a valued
moment.
A highlight of the annual convocation is an affirmation dinner. It’s an
evening dedicated to affirming priests who are observing significant
jubilees of ordination. This year’s affirmation dinner was certainly
worth a detour, as the travel guides say. Father Don Hardebeck, 60 years
a priest this year, had us all roaring with laughter. Three men are
celebrating 60 years of ordination this year: Father Don Hardebeck,
Father Richard Puetz and Father Harold Weller. Three are golden
jubilarians: Father Edward Matuszak, Father Joseph Ruffing and Father
Ron Schiml, C.PP.S., while two have completed 40 years of service:
Father David Douglas and Father James Barnett, O.P.
A final dimension of the annual convocation dates back to 1995 when Pope
John Paul II suggested an annual day be set aside for prayer for the
sanctification of priests. The entire diocesan community, as John Paul
envisioned it, would be challenged to sustain priests through prayer and
sacrifice. He suggested that this be done on or about the time of the
feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That feast is celebrated annually on
the Friday after Corpus Christi.
The purpose, as envisioned by the Holy Father, was to encourage each and
every priest to rediscover the importance of holiness as an integral
part of the identity and mission of priesthood. The annual convocation
is the way this call for focus on the sanctification of priests is
observed in our Local Church.
Pray for your priests and your bishop. We are men with feet of clay who
want to be caring and compassionate and help people experience the
forgiveness of a loving God. Pray that we will be faithful to our
calling and never, never be arrogant. |
