‘I CANNOT DO GOD’S WORK ALONE’

Bishop Mark O’Connell’s homily for the 10th anniversary of his ordination as bishop

(Courtesy photo of CINDY SCHULTZ)

Editor’s note: Bishop Mark O’Connell delivered this homily on Aug. 24 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany on the 10th anniversary of him becoming a bishop. Bishop Mark was consecrated on August 24, 2016, at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, with Bishops Walter Edyvean and Peter Uglietto serving as co-consecrators.

Can anything good come from Nazareth?

Perhaps, when you heard that Pope Leo had assigned me to Albany, some of you Bills and Yankees fans thought the same thing about Boston: “Can anything good come from there?”

Ten years ago today, I had the great honor of being ordained an auxiliary bishop of Boston by Cardinal Seán O’Malley, together with Bishop Bob Reed. Bishop Reed was perhaps the most well-known priest in the Archdiocese, serving as the face of CatholicTV. It was a very hot day, but Bishop Reed’s connections secured temporary air conditioning for the Cathedral, which made the ceremony at least somewhat bearable. Ever since, when people in Boston do not recognize me, I simply say, “Remember when Bishop Reed was ordained? I was the other guy.” The only request I vetoed in the planning was his desire to feature Saint Bartholomew, skinned alive, on the cover of the worship aid.

My goal throughout my priesthood had always been to serve as a parish pastor. When I was first called to the episcopacy, I felt a touch of sadness that I might never hold that title, having spent the greater part of my priesthood in central administration. To my great joy, Cardinal Seán assigned me to a region of 60 parishes and made me pastor of one of them — Saint Theresa Parish in North Reading. For the first six years or so I carried out those responsibilities with happiness. Later I became Vicar General of the Archdiocese. Then one day came the call — in the French-accented words of Cardinal Pierre — to become “the Bishop of Al-BAN-y.” For the past year, I have prepared for and undertaken the work entrusted to me by Pope Leo here in Albany, again with great joy.

Perhaps the three most joyful days of my life were my ordination as a priest, my ordination as a bishop, and my installation here in Albany. God granted me deep peace and joy on each of those occasions. I had already tasted the power of God’s grace at my ordination to the diaconate. All my doubts about whether I could live this life or preach effectively disappeared the moment I became a deacon. I simply felt prepared and ready. Above all, I learned the power of allowing Christ to preach through me. The thoughts and words that leave my mouth are mine, yet God transforms them between speaker and hearer in ways I could never invent or imagine. This happens only by God’s grace. My part is simply to listen to the Holy Spirit in preparation; God takes care of the rest, working through my lowliness.

That same surge of grace came at my priestly ordination, and so I anticipated it again as a bishop. “Here I am, Lord; I have come to do your will.” As I lay prostrate on the floor of Holy Cross Cathedral, I was overwhelmed by the Cross of Christ and accepted whatever cross I might be asked to bear. As each bishop laid hands upon me, I entered a new brotherhood of apostolic succession, knowing I was not alone. As the oil of anointing poured over my head, I became keenly aware of the mantle of leadership. For these 10 years I have felt the momentum of God’s grace beautifully at my back, continually waiting for the cross I knew would come — yet it has never arrived in the way I feared. Only in hindsight do I recognize the challenges already faced. God truly supplies all the graces of office we need when we choose His path.

All of us here share the grace of Baptism, the grace of Confirmation, the graces that flow from Holy Communion and Confession. So many among you also share the grace of Marriage. For some reason I used to dislike the line from the film “Chariots of Fire” in which the runner says, “When I run, I can feel His power.” The movie came out in 1981; I saw it long before God called me to the priesthood. Now I think of those words often, for I feel God’s power constantly and am humbled in its light.

The way to experience that grace more deeply is to strive to become more and more like Bartholomew — Nathaniel — whom Our Lord praised because there was no duplicity in him. The temptation to be duplicitous is ever-present in this world. How I long to hear the words Jesus spoke to him: “You will see greater things than this … Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Every time I allow my ego to reign, every time I give in to stubbornness, arrogance, laziness or pettiness, every time I take my eyes off the Lord, I not only distract myself from the journey toward heaven but I distract others from theirs. I am keenly aware that when I harm someone through a poor decision or by failing to respect their dignity, it is not only I who wound them — it is the Church, a successor of the apostles, who has done so.

The psalmist proclaims in Psalm 34: “Look to the Lord, that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame.” As I cross into the next decade of service, I ask you to remind me of this truth, so that together we may hear the voice of the Holy Spirit guiding us and together do God’s holy will here in Albany. Together may we present our meager credentials at the altar on high in heaven.

Thank you for joining me here today at this Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — those present, those watching the livestream, and those who will read these words. Thank you especially to all who have walked with me on this journey, prayed for me and assisted me. You are my inspiration and my companions. Early in my priesthood I learned that I cannot do God’s work alone. Only in community, as members of the one Body of Christ, is God’s will fully manifested. How richly God has blessed me with the people He has given me to serve alongside. These are the true children of Israel.

Thank you for marking this moment with me — with these higher reflections. Now we descend the mountain into the world of Albany, with its challenges present and still to come. I will continue to rely on all of you, on your prayers, and on God’s bountiful grace.

Most Rev. Mark O’Connell, JCD

Bishop of Albany