COMMENTS AT LANSING PRESS CONFERENCE—February 27, 2008
Most Rev. Earl Boyea

Standing here before all of you today, and being so grateful that you are here, especially members of the Diocese of Lansing and members of the media, I am reminded of how St. Paul was always offering a word of thanks to God.  Early on, in nearly all of his letters, he states, “I thank God” either “for you” or “for your faith.”  Other motives leading him to express gratitude were the Church of Corinth’s “speech and knowledge” (I Cor 1:5) and the Church of Philippi’s “partnership in the Gospel” (Phil 1:5) and the Churches of Colossae and Thessalonika’s “love” and “hope” (Col 1:4; I Thess 1:3).

It seems to me that there is no better way to begin these comments than to imitate Paul by thanking God for the Church of Lansing, for her faith in Jesus, for her wonderful and happy priests, for her dedicated religious, for her great deacons and pastoral coordinators and seminarians and laity, but especially heaven is to be stormed with thanksgivings for her “angel” (Rev 2:1, etc.), Bishop Carl Mengeling.  Can enough be said for the dedication, love of Christ, untiring service, gentle leadership, joyous demeanor, dynamic preaching and unstinting love which have marked his time as the Bridegroom of this local Church?  Yes, our God is to be thanked greatly for him.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI’s, decision to entrust to me the leadership of and the care for the Church of Lansing moves me not only to giving thanks to God and to His Holiness but also brings me great joy. Who would not be joyful to become a part of such a faith-filled and love-filled family? The reputation of this diocese for its devotion to Christ Jesus is widespread. So being asked to be the presence of the Holy Apostles in this local church does me great honor.

However, my heart is not only filled with a desire to give thanks and with a fullness of joy.  It is also home to anxiety.  The words of St. Augustine, from several of his homilies, can best articulate that concern:  “For you I am a bishop, with you, after all, I am a Christian.  The first is the name of an office undertaken, the second the name of grace; the former means danger, the latter salvation. … The turbulent have to be corrected, the faint-hearted cheered up, the weak supported;
… the gospel’s opponents need to be refuted, its insidious enemies guarded against; the unlearned need to be taught, the indolent stirred up, the argumentative checked; the proud must be put in their place, the desperate set on their feet, those engaged in quarrels reconciled; the needy have to be helped, the oppressed to be liberated, the good to be given your backing, the bad to be tolerated; all must be loved.” 

St. Augustine noted in another homily: “I shall be giving [an account] both for myself and for you.”  This request of mine is thus offered to all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ in this Diocese of Lansing, to help me do my task well: “lead good lives” and let us pray for one another so that my time as your bishop will be fruitful both for me and for you.  Let us pray especially that together we may all reach heaven.  May our loving God grant us such a blessing.  

With joy, with some trepidation, let me end where these thoughts began, with thanks to God.

For more information, contact:
Michael Diebold, Director of Communications
Diocese of Lansing
mdiebold@dioceseoflansing.org
517-342-2475 Direct
517-342-2544 Fax

Web sites:
Diocese of Lansing:  www.DioceseofLansing.org
FAITH Magazine, Diocese of Lansing: www.FAITHmag.com