Catholic Reviewdecember 2016

Catholic ReviewDECEMBER 2016 Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore Pope Francis appoints two new auxiliary bishops for Baltimore Monsignors Adam Parker and Mark Brennan will be ordained Jan. 19

BY CHRISTOPHER GUNTY monsignor in Sep- [email protected] tember 2011. He will be 45 when PHOTOS BY KEVIN J. PARKS he is ordained a [email protected] bishop. Bishop-desig- ope Francis named two new aux- nate Brennan was iliary bishops for the Archdiocese born Feb. 6, 1947, Pof Baltimore: Monsignor Adam J. in Boston. He was Parker, current vicar general and modera- ordained a priest tor of the curia in Baltimore; and Monsi- of the Archdiocese gnor Mark E. Brennan, pastor of St. Mar- of Washington tin of Tours Parish in Gaithersburg, in the in May 1976. He Archdiocese of Washington. The appoint- will turn 70 a few ments were announced Dec. 5 in Wash- weeks after the Archbishop William E. Lori announces the two new auxiliary bishops for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Bishop-designate Adam J. Parker (center) and ington by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, ordination. Bishop-designate Mark E. Brennan (right), during a press conference at the apostolic nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Catholic Center. At the same time, the pope accepted Lori said the arch- the resignation of Bishop Denis J. Mad- diocese has been den, auxiliary of Baltimore since 2005. blessed by the dedicated service of Bishop noted that there had been rumors he Bishop Madden submitted his resigna- Madden. “I’m pleased that he will contin- might be chosen. tion on his 75th birthday in March 2015, ue serving our local church as our beloved “But at the same time, when that call as is the custom for bishops, but it was auxiliary bishop emeritus,” the archbish- comes and your life changes in an instant not accepted until the appointment of the op said. “I am grateful for his selfless ser- – really just in the blink of an eye – I have new auxiliaries. vice and his willingness to continue serv- to admit it took me a few moments where Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori ing God’s people and I look forward to I just needed to sit down by myself here expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father our continued work together.” in the office and consider and pray about for the appointments of the new bishops, what had just happened,” he said. which he called “an early Christmas gift” ‘Life changes in an instant’ Bishop-designate Parker said it was a from the pope. “This is truly a joyous day Bishop-designate Parker said he little hard for him to focus on the rest of in the life of the Archdiocese of Balti- received a call from Archbishop Pierre his regular schedule of meetings that day. more,” the archbishop said. Nov. 28, telling him that he had been “My real desire is to have a real pas- The bishops-designate will be ordained nominated by the Holy Father as an aux- toral presence in the archdiocese in addi- Jan. 19, 2 p.m., at the Cathedral of Mary iliary bishop of the archdiocese. tion to my role here as vicar general and Our Queen in Homeland. “And then he asked me the question: moderator of the curia,” Bishop-designate Bishop-designate Parker was born ‘Do you accept?’ and I told him that I do Parker said. “By that I mean making visits Jan. 13, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was accept and I pledged my fidelity to the to parishes, celebrating Sunday Masses in raised in Severna Park. He was ordained Holy Father and thanked him for the call,” parishes throughout the archdiocese, cel- to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of the bishop-designate said. ebrating confirmations – which I’m really Baltimore in May 2000 and was made a He said he was initially stunned, but excited about doing – and also engaging

For fresh Catholic news everyday, visit CatholicReview.org ©2016 The Catholic Review. Reprinted with permission. and French. The speaking Catholics suits him well for the bishop-designate duties of auxiliary bishop, which include speaks all three helping to oversee our efforts to grow and languages. care for the spiritual needs of Spanish- The parish has speaking Catholics throughout the Arch- a soup kitchen, a diocese of Baltimore.” food pantry and a At the 12:10 p.m. Mass Dec. 5 in the tradition of direct undercroft of the Basilica of the National service to people in Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed need. Virgin Mary, Archbishop Lori welcomed Bishop-desig- again the new bishops-designate, con- nate Brennan said celebrating for the first time wearing he hopes to bring the zucchetto – a violet-colored skullcap a love for immi- which is one of the symbols of their new grants to his min- office. The archbishop noted that Advent Bishops-designate Mark E. Brennan and Adam J. Parker bless a young family istry in Baltimore, is a time of expectations. following daily Mass in the undercroft of the Basilica of the National Shrine of noting that as a “I guess you might say the Archdiocese the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. history major in of Baltimore has been going through a college, he studied very long Advent, as it has waited nearly my relationship with my brother priests the experience of immigrants – especially two years for bishops to be appointed. Let at a deeper level.” Italian, Irish and Polish, at that time – me say – it was worth the wait,” Archbish- At a news conference in Baltimore and later as a priest worked directly with op Lori said in his homily. announcing the appointments, Bishop- people coming to this country. “Perhaps your greatest service, in the designate Parker said he is honored to be Bishop-designate Brennan said Arch- fullness of the priesthood, is to encour- following in the footsteps of the Apostles, bishop Lori has asked him to be available age, to inspire, to lead and to sanctify who took to heart Jesus’ exhortation at for the Hispanic community “to do what many priests and deacons and religious the Ascension to “Go, make disciples,” I can to strengthen the ties of the His- and seminarians and above all lay men which he said will become his motto panic Catholics to the archdiocese and and women, so that they can be those as bishop. to the parishes. So, I’m going to have to people, whose faith is so great, and so Archbishop Lori said he has been visit people and talk with people and see alive that they are constantly bringing “blessed to work with Bishop-elect Park- what’s going on, get to know the lay of people to Jesus. … er on a daily basis for much of my time the land.” “In a word, you assist me in the prima- since arriving as Archbishop of Balti- Archbishop Lori recognized Bishop- ry work of raising up missionary disciples more. … Bishop-elect Parker is widely designate Brennan’s four decades of to carry forward the church’s mission of regarded by his co-workers and fellow priestly service “in a variety of settings, spreading the Gospel.” ● priests and is well-prepared to assume including most recently as pastor of a the duties of auxiliary bishop, while con- large parish with a significant Spanish- Contributing to this article was Erik Zygmont. tinuing to manage the day-to-day opera- speaking population.” FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE NEW tions of the Central Services offices of the He added, “His pastoral leadership BISHOPS AND THE UPCOMING ORDINATION archdiocese.” and experience working with Spanish- MASS, VISIT bitly/cr-bishops

‘Total shock’ Bishop-designate Brennan said getting the call from the nuncio about his nomi- nation as a bishop was “a total shock.” Considering his stage of life and what he called “modest attainments” in the priesthood, “I was certainly not expecting to be named a bishop by Pope Francis – or any- one else. So, it really took me completely by surprise.” He said, “You don’t get much time to react. It ran through my mind, ‘Should I say no?’ I thought, I’ve always tried to do what the church asked of me, so if this is being asked of me now, if I don’t have a serious reason to decline, then I think I should accept, so I did.” St. Martin of Tours Parish is known From left, Bishop-designate Mark E. Brennan, Bishop Dennis Madden, Archbishop William E. Lori and for welcoming people of various cul- Bishop-designate Adam J. Parker celebrate Mass in the undercroft of the Basilica of the National Shrine tures, with Masses in English, Spanish of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore Dec. 5.