Archbishop Wenski exhorts new Florida bishop to give hope

Last updated on: June 7, 2012 at 6:04 am by CNA Daily News

Archbishop Wenski exhorts new Florida bishop to give hope 2012-06-07T06:04:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Tallahassee, Fla., Jun 7, 2012 / 12:04 am (CNA).- As Bishop Gregory L. Parkes was ordained a bishop and installed as head of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee on June 5, he was encouraged to give hope to those who lack it.

Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami was the principal consecrator at the ordination Mass, which was held in Pensacola’s St. Paul Catholic Church. He proposed to Bishop Parkes a “road map” for his ministry.

“You are asked to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to go ahead of and lead God's people; you are asked to teach the sacred heritage of our past; to defend and promote the doctrinal unity of the faithful; to show mercy and charity to the needy and the poor; you are asked to pray without ceasing,” Archbishop Wenski said in his homily.

Bishop Parkes, 48, is originally from Long Island in New York State. He moved to Florida to attend college at Florida State University in Tallahassee. In 1999 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Orlando, where one of his two brothers is a priest.

At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Bishop Parkes is believed to be the tallest bishop in the U.S.

During Tuesday's ordination, Bishop Felipe J. Estévez of Saint Augustine, Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, and the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee’s Bishop emeritus John H. Ricard served as Bishop Parkes’ co-consecrators.

Also among the co-consecrators was Diocese native Bishop Martin D. Holley, who is now an auxiliary bishop of Washington, D.C.

Archbishop Wenski exhorted the new bishop to “shepherd the flock entrusted to your care so that they and you will readily give to the world the reasons for your hope.” Citing Bl. John Paul II, the archbishop said a bishop is called in a particular way to be “a prophet, witness, and servant of hope.”

The archbishop’s homily lamented a “loss of hope” seen in “some people’s “seemingly insatiable appetite for illegal drugs, fleeting pleasures or elusive riches.”

“Without hope, people do not make any enduring or lasting commitments to the future – by responding to the call of a religious or priestly vocation or to the call of a project called marriage and a family,” Archbishop Wenski said.

A society that reduces religion to the private realm “expels hope from its midst,” he reflected.

Bishop Parkes visited Rome last month, and his remarks to CNA foreshadowed Archbishop Wenski’s focus on hope.

“I want to assure the Holy Father that I will be faithful to him and to the teaching of our Church and to let him know that there is great hope in the United States,” he said May 11.

Previous Post

June 7, 2012

Cardinal Bertone speaks of 'ferocious' Vatileaks attack on Pope

Next Post

June 7, 2012 Democrats leave party over marriage, religious freedom concerns

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In 1 Peter 1, what does Peter say is more valuable than gold?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Wisdom Righteousness Charity Faith