May 9, 2004

Bishop McManus bids farewell to Providence

By Michael Brown And Margaret M. Russell

PROVIDENCE – Choking back tears, Bishop Robert J. McManus said goodbye to hundreds of well-wishers gathered at a Farewell Mass in his honor Tuesday night at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.

“I would be less than honest to say that I will not sorely miss our beloved Diocese of Providence,” the bishop said in his homily. “It is here that I first received the gift of faith, family and friends. It is here in the parish of the Blessed Sacrament that I received the precious vocation to be a priest of Jesus Christ."

“It is here in this Diocese of Providence that I have dispensed and received the saving and all-powerful grace of God in abundance. What a blessing! What a joy! What a privilege!” the bishop said, his voice cracking.

He noted the vibrancy of the faithful in Rhode Island, citing the second reading from the Acts of the Apostles when “Barnabas arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them to remain faithful to the Lord.”

“For almost 26 years, it has been my singular privilege to serve as a priest and bishop among the people of the Diocese of Providence. As I prepare to leave Providence for Worcester, I can only echo those words,” the bishop said, “because in so many ways and in so many places under so many circumstances, I too have seen the grace of God at work among you. The Gospel of Christ and the faith of the Catholic Church have taken deep root here in the state of Rhode Island and as a result, the grace of God has fallen on this part of the Lord’s vineyard like refreshing rain from the heavens.”

The bishop cited the strong sacramental life of Catholics over the years as a sign of God’s favor. “As a priest and bishop, I praise and glorify God this night for the extraordinary grace of playing a small part in this wonderful legacy of faith.”

He also recalled the words Pope John Paul II uttered at the time of his election. “You may remember that on the first night of his pontificate, as he stood on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, he began his ministry by exclaiming to the Roman crowd: ‘Do not be afraid.’”

“My dear brothers and sisters, there is no need to fear when it is the Lord who is calling us to follow him because, as Sacred Scripture reminds us, ‘perfect love casts out fear,’” said Bishop McManus.
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“As a priest and bishop serving here in the Diocese of Providence, I have seen the risen Lord in so many ways in and through the faith of the people of the Diocese of Providence. Therefore, there is absolutely nothing to fear. God is very, very good indeed,” he concluded, triggering a 30-second standing ovation.

Following Communion, Bishop Robert E. Mulvee added a touch of humor, noting that some diocesan officials had made the journey from Worcester, where Bishop McManus is to be installed as its fifth bishop on May 14. “Renounce all rights to him and you can leave now,” Bishop Mulvee said prompting laughter from the congregation.

Recalling Bishop McManus’ episcopal ordination on Feb. 22, 1999, Bishop Mulvee said, “It seemed so short a time ago, at least to me, that Bishop McManus was named an auxiliary here in the diocese.... In the passage of these five years, he has not disappointed us.”

Bishop Mulvee cited the impact that Bishop McManus has had on the diocese, especially on the priests, deacons and seminarians. “He’s made us better people for having known him.”

Poking fun at his auxiliary, Bishop Mulvee offered a story that he was confident that Bishop McManus could not later rework for a homily of his own “unless he changes it radically, which he is perfectly capable of doing.”

The story recalled a visit that Bishop Mulvee had made during his time as ordinary in the Diocese of Wilmington, Del., with an Amish bishop in an area in Pennsylvania believed to be the nation’s first turnpike. Bishop Mulvee said that there were many terms today that originated from those settlers who first traveled west into the frontier. For instance, “milestones” were the original stones laid out to mark each mile, and “teamsters” were merchants and suppliers of goods leading teams of horses west. Bishop Mulvee noted that teamsters kept bells on their wagons so that they could announce their arrival in towns along the route by ringing their bells - hence the expression “arriving with bells on.”

However, whenever a wagon broke down, other merchants offering help could only ask for the bells of the merchant they assisted as payment for their good deeds.

“As you and I look back on that road, we know how many people (Bishop McManus) stopped to help and the lives he touched,” Bishop Mulvee said.

“Although he didn’t ask for the bells, symbolically he arrives with bells on. We’re sending you one of the best. Let them know in the Diocese of Worcester that he’s arriving with many, many bells on,” Bishop Mulvee said.

More than two dozen deacons and six dozen priests attended the Mass. Bishop McManus was the main celebrant and homilist, and Bishops Mulvee, Louis E. Gelineau and Ernest B. Boland and Archbishop George H. Pearce were concelebrants.

Before Mass began, a visibly touched Bishop McManus halted the procession when he stopped outside the Cathedral to be serenaded by a small group of students from St. Patrick School singing an original song thanking him for his years of service. They sang: “Bishop McManus, it’s too soon to leave us. We love you. We’ll miss you. We’ll pray for you this way: ‘God help him know you, love you, serve you, more and more each day.’”

At a reception following Mass, several people offered thoughts about Bishop McManus’ imminent departure.

Frank Almeida and his wife, April, live about four blocks from the cathedral. “We see the bishop all the time, it’s our parish,” he said. Their son, Michael, is an altar server and was serving at Bishop McManus’ last Mass. “We’re going to miss him and what he’s done with vocations,” Mr. Almeida said.

“I was wishing he’d stay,” said Sophie O’Leary, a parishioner from St. Rocco’s Parish in Johnston, who came to the Mass. “He’s always so pleasant,” she said, adding that he would always sit down and listen to people when he was visiting the housing complex where she lives.

“You’re getting the best,” said Sister Mary Frances Ryan, a Sister of Mercy in the diocese. “He’s a wonderful priest.”
“He’ll be a shepherd,” Sister Mary Angelus Gabrielle added.

“He’ll be missed,” said Father Lionel A. Blain, pastor of St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket, citing the bishop’s “intellectual clarity and his ability to state church doctrine in an articulate way.”

Father Blain also lauded the bishop’s courage. “He’s fearless. He speaks out when he has to, even when it’s not popular.”

Father Richard A. Donnelly, pastor of St. Mark Church, Cranston, praised the bishop’s teaching and preaching skills. “He’s always been an excellent teacher. I think the best advice would be for him to turn over some of his administrative duties to others and just get back into a classroom.”

Father Donnelly, who served as director of the diaconate program when Bishop McManus, 52, was a deacon, said that the bishop has hardly seemed to age in the 26 years since his priestly ordination.

“He still looks so young. He has to tell us the secret of his youth,” Father Donnelly said.

– Michael Brown is the editor of The Providence Visitor, diocesan newspaper

'This is my home'

By Michael Brown, Editor, The Providence Visitor

PROVIDENCE - Bishop Robert J. McManus, 52, announced March 9 that he would be leaving the Diocese of Providence to become the fifth Bishop of Worcester, Mass. Citing Romans 8, he added, "For those who love God, everything works together for the good."
Bishop McManus, born July 5, 1951, a member of Providence's Blessed Sacrament Parish, will succeed another former Providence priest, Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, whose resignation was accepted by Pope John Paul II earlier in the day. Bishop Reilly turned 75 last year, and under canon law was required to submit a letter of resignation to the pope. Bishop McManus was elevated to the episcopacy in 1999 at age 47, making him at the time the youngest bishop in the country.

"As I look over my life, I am deeply appreciative of the manifold graces that God has showered upon me," Bishop McManus said at a 3 p.m. press conference in Providence, following a similar event held earlier in Worcester. Bishop McManus is scheduled to be installed May 14 in Worcester's St. Paul Cathedral.

"It is not easy to leave the Diocese of Providence after almost 26 years of serving God's people here as a priest and bishop. This is my home," the bishop said. "It is here that I first received the precious gifts of my Catholic faith and my vocation to the priesthood."
"My priesthood and episcopacy have been filled to overflowing with wonderful priests, deacons, religious, parishioners and lay colleagues, many of whom have been inspirations of faith to me," the bishop said.
Bishop Robert E. Mulvee said that news of Bishop McManus' appointment "brings mixed emotions.... While his appointment is a blessing to Worcester, this native born Rhode Islander, this dedicated son of the Diocese of Providence will truly be missed."

Bishop Mulvee praised the work Bishop McManus has accomplished in Providence and was grateful for "all the wonderful things God has done for Bishop McManus and through him for this diocese and for the countless number of people whose lives he has touched as priest, bishop, counselor, comforter and friend.

"These five years have passed all too quickly," Bishop Mulvee said.
He asked Catholics in Rhode Island to pray for Bishop McManus and to "continue to bless and sustain this good priest, this good bishop, this good man for many more faith-filled years. May those years be imbued with the richest of harvests."

Bishop McManus also praised Bishop Mulvee's guidance throughout his ministry. "In a very real way, Bishop Mulvee has been my mentor in learning how to live out my vocation as a bishop. He is a man of deep faith and much kindness. As a bishop, Bishop Mulvee has shown the compassionate face of Christ to many, many people. Today, I thank him for being for the Church a shepherd after the heart and mind of Christ."

ONCE AND FUTURE BISHOP - Bishop Robert J. McManus, right, reads a prepared statement at his morning press conference March 9 in Worcester, shortly after his appointment as the fifth Bishop of Worcester. At left is Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, whose resignation was accepted the same day by Pope John Paul II. (Visitor photo from the Worcester Catholic Free Press)

Earlier in Worcester, Bishop McManus said he was "most fortunate" to be succeeding Bishop Reilly, who was still a Providence priest when Bishop McManus was in the seminary. "In his many years as a bishop, and certainly during these almost 10 years of episcopal ministry here in the Diocese of Worcester, Bishop Reilly has proved himself to be an enthusiastic and zealous servant of the Gospel and the Church," said Bishop McManus. "I am delighted that he will continue to live and serve here in the Diocese of Worcester."

Bishop McManus also recognized the efforts of Worcester Auxiliary Bishop George E. Rueger. "I look forward to his wise counsel and collaboration as together we seek to serve the Church in the name of the Good Shepherd."

Historically, Cardinal John Wright, a Boston auxiliary bishop, was transferred in 1950 to lead the newly-formed Worcester diocese. When Cardinal Wright was transferred nine years later to Pittsburgh, he was succeeded by Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan, who retired in 1983 for health reasons. Bishop Timothy J. Harrington was named the ordinary in the diocese and served until retiring in 1994. Bishop Reilly, appointed Bishop of Norwich, Conn., in 1975, was installed in Worcester on Dec. 8, 1994. He marked the 50th anniversary of his ordination as a priest in May. Bishop Rueger was ordained to serve as an auxiliary bishop on Feb. 25, 1987.

Bishop McManus said he received a phone call from Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States, on March 1 "to inform me that the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, had it in mind to name me the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Worcester. The nuncio wanted to know if I would accept."

"The telephone call from Archbishop Montalvo was a momentous occasion for me to make good on the promise I had made five years ago, on Feb. 22, 1999, when I was ordained a bishop," Bishop McManus said. "Without hesitation, I accepted the Holy Father's appointment. It is that telephone call and that act of obedience that brings me to the Diocese of Worcester today."

The bishop thanked the archbishop and Pope John Paul II for their confidence in assigning him to lead his own diocese. His assignment is the second in as many opportunities for a Providence auxiliary bishop to do so. Former Providence Auxiliary Bishop Kenneth A. Angell was appointed in 1992 as bishop of the Diocese of Burlington, Vt.

"I ask you, the people of the Diocese of Worcester, to pray that with God's grace, I may prove worthy of the pastoral responsibility that the Holy Father has confided to me," Bishop McManus said. "Indeed, let us pray for each other that in mutual love and support, we will joyfully journey after Jesus the Lord, who alone is our way, our truth and our life."

In a statement, Bishop Reilly said: "This is a very special day in the Diocese of Worcester. The Lord has blessed us with a new bishop to shepherd his people here in the years ahead."
"Bishop McManus is a very talented and dedicated bishop who has been blessed with good pastoral experience and tested by challenging administrative assignments. His years of service to the Diocese of Providence in education and ministry formation have prepared him well for his new responsibilities among us," said Bishop Reilly. "I am impressed by his academic accomplishments in theology as well as his ability to respond to the many challenges from the contemporary world to the teaching of the Church in the area of ethics and morality. There is no doubt that his sound theological background will be a great asset to his pastoral ministry in our diocese."

Bishop Rueger also expressed gratitude for the appointment. "With great joy, I welcome our new bishop and I look forward to working with him," he said.

After the press conference in Worcester, Bishop McManus returned to Providence where he sought the help of Rhode Island's Catholics in asking for the intercession of the Blessed Mother. "On the day of my ordination to the episcopacy five years ago, I confided my ministry to her maternal care. Today, I would also request all the people of the Diocese of Providence to pray to Mary, Mother of Divine Providence, for me."

The Most Rev. Robert J. McManus

Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, Titular Bishop of Allegheny and Bishop Elect of Worcester
"Christ, The Splendor of Truth"

Robert J. McManus was born in Providence and educated at Blessed Sacrament School and Our Lady of Providence Seminary High School and Our Lady of Providence Seminary College in Warwick. He studied for the priesthood at The Catholic University of America and the Toronto School of Theology.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1978, by Bishop Angell at Our Lady of Mercy. He served as assistant pastor at St. Matthew's, Cranston, and St. Anthony's, Providence. He was chaplain at the Community College of Rhode Island; as director at the Office of Ministerial Formation; as Vicar for Education at the Diocese of Providence; and as consultant/editorial writer for The Providence Visitor.

He pursued advanced studies in Rome, earning licentiate and doctoral degrees in sacred theology from The Pontifical Gregorian University.

Pope John Paul II named him Prelate of Honer to His Holiness with the title Reverend Monsignor in 1997. He became Auxiliary Bishop for the Diocese of Providence in 1999. Bishop McManus also serves as Rector of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.

Bishop McManus was named Bishop Elect of Worcester on March 9, 2004. He will be installed in Worcester on May 14, 2004.