Marty Denzer/Key photo Coadjutor Bishop Robert Finn speaks to well-wishers Denise Campbell and Mary Burgess at a reception May 6 in St. Joseph. The reception followed a Mass that was celebrated by the newly-ordained bishop at St. Joseph Cathedral.

Accompanied at the May 6 Mass by nine priests of the deanery and one deacon, Bishop Finn approached the altar to begin the Eucharistic celebration. He greeted the congregation, who came from the 10 Catholic parishes and missions in the St. Joseph Deanery, by recognizing the historic value of "this great cathedral, which is so much a part of the history of our diocese."

He began his homily by recalling the first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles (13: 13-35). The reading, "which is alive with the audacity and confidence of the early church, catalogues the journeys of Saint Paul and his companions to Paphos, Perga in Pamphylia, then to Antioch in Pisidia. As I begin my journey, the names of cities become more important: St. Joseph, Easton, Forest City, Savannah, Hirlingen.

"The Lord God sent me out on a new apostolic mission. My bishop, Bishop Boland, sent me to gain new insights into the places of that mission and you are my very first stop. Eventually I will visit Lee's Summit, Cameron, Blue Springs, Conception and Clinton. They are no longer just names on the map; they are the homes and sanctuaries of the people of God, dear families like the one I grew up in."

Bishop Finn expressed his admiration for St. Joseph's "historic cathedral" and recounted the bishops who had served in both the Diocese of St. Joseph and the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph since 1868: John Hogan, Maurice Burke, Francis Gilfillan, Charles LeBlonde, Thomas Lillis, Edwin O'Hara, John Cody, Charles Helmsing, John Sullivan and Raymond Boland.

He recognized the priests who were concelebrating the Mass: Father Don Sturm of Seven Dolors Parish, Hirlingen; Precious Blood Father Mike Volkmer of St. Francis Xavier Parish, St. Joseph; Father Tom Ludwig, dean and pastor of St. Mary Parish, St. Joseph; Father Matthew Brumleve, St. Patrick Parish, St. Joseph; Precious Blood Father Tim Armbruster, St. Francis Xavier Parish, St. Joseph; retired chaplain Father Leo Buhman; Father Greg Haskamp, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, St. Joseph, Father Vince Rogers, St. James Parish, St. Joseph, and Father Rick Dierkes, pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral.

He also recognized Deacon Steve Welsh of St. Joseph Cathedral, Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet Sister Barbara Jennings, pastoral administrator of St. Joseph Parish, Easton, and Gigi Orem, pastoral administrator of St. Rose of Lima Parish, Savannah.

The congregation laughed aloud when Bishop Finn said that when the March 1 phone call came from the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, announcing his new job, "the caller ID on the phone said, 'Vatican.'"

The coadjutor bishop said he immediately began looking for things to make himself feel more comfortable with his new status, such as the fact that his appointment was announced in March, St. Joseph's month, and his ordination was in May, the month of Mary.

Bishop Finn commended the "whole diocese" and himself to St. Joseph for protection, prayer and support.

He asked St. Joseph to protect the most vulnerable, mothers and their children. He called on the congregation to "respect a happy death, to allow death to come according to God's plan, and to give comfort, food and water to the dying as if we were giving it to Christ himself, as indeed we are. Remember, Christ said, 'As often as you did it for them, you did it for me.'"

He commended marriage and families to the protection of St. Joseph. "Jesus chose to enter the world through a family, the family of Mary and Joseph. Male and female were created by God to complement each other. In this increasingly secular society, a contraceptive/abortion culture has led to the sad deterioration of families. We as Catholics must focus on keeping married love together, with openness to children. This openness to children is an antidote to societal poisons.

"There is nothing as wonderful as a mother's love, especially the love of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Loving Mary in no way diminishes our love for our earthly mothers."

Bishop Finn commended to Mary Catholic education and vocations to the ordained and consecrated life.

Catholic education should be thoroughly and unashamedly Catholic, he said. Catholic schools should teach that salvation is achieved only through Jesus. Whether students are Catholic or not, the schools must teach Catholic doctrine and promote the use of sacramentals, prayers including the rosary and the Stations of the Cross, and veneration of the saints and the wearing of religious medals, he said.

Families should attend Mass together regularly and make frequent confession. He encouraged parents and teachers to work to maintain Catholicity in all levels of education. Christ is the way, the truth and the life, and Mary, the mother of the truth, is our best guide, he said.

As Mary is also the mother of priests and Queen of the Apostles, Bishop Finn urged Catholics to pray and make encouragement of vocations a "super priority in this diocese." "Will you support, encourage and pray for a young man or woman who may be considering a vocation? Young people who are considering a vocation, talk to an advisor, a parent. If no one will listen to you, find me, Bishop Finn, and God help me, I will listen to you. Because without priests there would be no Eucharist," he said.

He expects St. Joseph, Easton, Savannah, Hirlingen, Forest City and other cities in the diocese to become as dear to him as the town where he grew up, Overland, near St. Louis.

He said he had not come to effect change; rather he was "one who builds on the legacies of the great bishops. Let us take up the mission together."

The communion hymn, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God," reflected Coadjutor Bishop Finn's motto, "Quaerite primum regnum Dei," "Seek first the Kingdom of God," (Matthew 6:33), which was a favorite of Bishop Finn's mother. He adopted it in homage to his parents and family.

After the Mass, the new coadjutor bishop was presented with a basket filled with local items including a coffee cup, cookbook, and histories of St. Joseph. In thanking the congregation, Bishop Finn told them, "I'm just getting used to walking around with my hat and a stick (crozier) in my hand. It's wonderful to be here."

A welcoming reception followed the Mass in the church hall.

Bishop Finn was to celebrate Night Prayer at Conception Abbey on May 10, and a Mass at St. John La Lande Church, Blue Springs, on May 12.

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