FAITH Saginaw Summer 2009 : Page 2
Introducing the next bishop of Saginaw Philadelphia Auxiliary Bishop Joseph R. Cistone On the morning of his appointment as the next bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw, May 20, Bishop Cistone made the following statement during his introductory press conference: I wish to begin by expressing deep gratitude to His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the confidence he has placed in me by entrusting this wonderful Diocese of Saginaw to my pastoral care. I am humbled by this appointment and treasure this new ministry among the faithful of Saginaw. In my letter to Our Holy Father accepting this appointment, I renewed my filial obedience to him, as well as my fidelity to the magisterial teachings of the Church. You can imagine the plethora of thoughts and feelings I am experienc- ing at this moment. It is both humbling and exciting to be given the opportunity to serve God’s people as a diocesan bishop. It even occurred to me that I will no longer have a titular see, but that my personal coat of arms will be joined to that of the Diocese of Saginaw, expressing our oneness in faith and mission. Having been in administration of a large archdiocese for 16 years, I fully appreciate the responsibilities and challenges that await me here in Saginaw. At the same time, I have also experienced the tremendous gift of God’s providence and love, which the bishop is blessed to share with his people. I am respectful of this new relationship with the good people of the Diocese of Saginaw and, with the grace of God, will do my best to lead and serve this flock as the Lord intends. It is an honor and joy to become the new bishop of Saginaw, yet, at the same time, I know it will be difficult to leave my beloved home Archdiocese of Philadelphia. My parents, both of whom are 86 years old and anxious to see my new home, raised me and my two brothers in the same neighborhood Bishop Joseph Cistone will be installed as the sixth bishop of Saginaw on July 28. To learn more go to www.saginaw.org. and parish in which they grew up. My Catholic faith and priestly vocation were nurtured in Philadelphia. I have served as a priest of Philadelphia for 34 years, five of those years as an auxiliary bishop. So, it will be an adjustment to move away from my parents, my family, relatives and friends and, in particular, my brother priests. I ask your patience with me during this time of transition … Today, I commit myself to you, the faithful of the Diocese of Saginaw, to shepherd you in faith and love. I fully trust in the providence of God and I know it is the hand of God that has placed me in your midst to lead and serve. I look forward to being here with you and am anxious to get to know you – to meet my new brother priests, deacons, our treasured seminarians, the men and women religious who serve here and, most certainly, the faithful men and women, young people and boys and girls who make up the Church in Saginaw. I must admit that I do not know a great deal about the Diocese of Saginaw, so it would be presumptuous of me to speak today about priorities and plans. I was happy to learn the diocese has arranged a full schedule for me today to visit a few parishes, spend time with the schoolchildren and bring greetings to some of the diocesan institutions. What I do know, however, is this: Jesus Christ must be at the center of all we do – all our prayers, all our thoughts,all our actions. Pope John Paul II, in his great encyclical on the Eucharist, reminded us that “The Church draws her life from the Eucharist.” And so, what I can tell you is that I will do everything possible to foster ever greater devotion to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, whether it be by encouraging greater attendance at Mass, more worthy reception of the Eucharist or prayer- ful adoration in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. As I did five years ago at the an- nouncement of my appointment as an auxiliary bishop, I again call upon Mary, our Mother, Saint John Neu- mann and Saint Katharine Drexel to intercede for me to Jesus Christ our Lord that I may be a good and holy bishop, generous and kind to those in my care, faithful to the Word of God and the magisterium, and always open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In my daily prayer of intercession to God through Saint John Neumann, I pray: “Direct my first thoughts to the service of You and of others. Make my prayer ‘Your will be done,’ knowing that in your mercy and love, Your will for me is my sanctification” ... Today, I pray with you: Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy make me a shepherd, here in the Diocese of Saginaw, after your own heart, that I may walk in your ways and, with loving care, watch over your people. Make me a leader of vision and a teacher of truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified. I pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Thank you and God love you! Liturgical Calendar: Blessed Junipero Serra, priest July 1 • Feast of St. Thomas, apostle July 3 • St. Elizabeth of Portugal July 4 • St. Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr July 6 • St. Augustine Zhao Rong, pr meet the bishop
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