A priest's view of Bishop Hubbard

By REV. J. THOMAS CONNERY- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

(Editor's note: Father Connery, a retired priest of the Albany Diocese in residence at Immaculate Conception parish in Glenville, delivered a homily for the occasion of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard's 50th anniversary of priesthood as the Bishop approached retirement. Here are some excerpts.)

Bishop Hubbard was ordained as the Second Vatican Council was in process. Being in Rome at the time, he saw, as a student, history being made. A pastoral, biblical and ecumenical direction was given to the universal Church.

Within 15 years, being referred to as a "street priest" for his ministry in downtown Albany, he was ordained a bishop. Like Pope Francis, he chose to live simply, in a corner room of the Cathedral's rectory. He chose not to have a secretary-priest as a driver, master of ceremonies and keeper of his schedule. He has been unassuming in his ministry for 36 years as a bishop.

The local bishop is the authentic vicar and delegate of Jesus Christ for the life of the Church. The bishop governs the particular church assigned to him...keeping in mind that "he who is greater should become as lesser, and he who is leader, as servant."

Bishop Hubbard set up programs to incorporate the laity at every level in Church life: the diaconate; St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry, where one can receive a Master's of Divinity degree; and Catholic Charities' outreach throughout the Diocese, to name a few. He's never taken his eye off the marginalized of our society.

For the clergy, he provided sabbaticals, retreats, workshops and days of recollection. He provided a health program in which all of us had to have a physical. He invited a psychological team from the University of Notre Dame to come to the Diocese; all of us underwent psychological testing. In assigning pastors, he shares his knowledge of the parish where the priest is going. He also demonstrated great care for the religious of our Diocese.

He had to oversee the merger, consolidation and closing of churches, schools, rectories and convents. During my 10 years as pastor of St. Mary's parish in Little Falls, I had to close a grammar school and sell a grammar school, high school and convent; imagine the Bishop's role in terms of the entire Diocese!

His ministry to confirmands as he traversed the Diocese every spring and fall is more than admirable. He'd work in the office all day and then drive out to two or more parishes for confirmation. He spoke privately with every single teenager and affirmed them. He would then go to the parish hall for pictures and, if there was time, dinner with the catechists. If he had several confirmations in one evening, he'd drive up to the front door of the church, step out of the car with his vestments on and up the aisle we'd go.

As a Christ figure, he suffered rejection, especially when he was accused of immorality years ago - of which he was completely exonerated. During the clergy abuse crisis, he spoke boldly at a national meeting of bishops, disagreeing with their decision of zero tolerance, meaning that everyone was treated the same way. Bishop Hubbard felt that each case was unique. He was voted down, but his voice was there.

We have been blessed to have him, because he is a holy man. All you have to do is read his columns in The Evangelist to know that. The difficulty in being so long in one assignment is that, sooner or later, you're not liked by everybody; that's only normal. [But] we owe him a great deal of respect and gratitude for his 50 years of ministry, 36 as bishop. He's the longest active bishop in the United States. He's the dean of the American hierarchy.

May he continue to follow the Lord Jesus and minister to us so that, when his time comes, he will hear the words, "Good and faithful servant, welcome into the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of time."[[In-content Ad]]