The first weekend of August was the diaconate formation retreat at the Capuchin Retreat Center in Washington, north of Stoney Creek Lake. While this retreat which kicks off the formation year is primarily intended for the men in formation and their wives, members of the Formation Team also benefit from the weekend. This year our presenter was Sr. Dianne Bergant, CSA. One bit of trivia regarding Sr. Dianne: during her career she had Robert Prevost as a student!
When the retreat was wrapping up Sunday afternoon I was asked if I wouldn’t mind driving Sr. Dianne to the airport. Anyone who knows me and my passion for aviation knows I’d be hard pressed to turn down an opportunity to drive to the airport. Additionally, Sr. Dianne is from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which is a short distance from Oshkosh, the home of the huge air show put on by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Not surprisingly, Sr. Dianne was very familiar with the EAA. So, between Oshkosh and what it was like to teach the man who is now our Pope, I figured we had plenty to talk about during the hour drive to the airport. I’m not exactly sure what prompted the conversation to turn to the saints,
but as we made it through downtown on I-94, I mentioned to Sr. Dianne about the statues of the twelve apostles and the relics at the Cathedral. I could tell from her response that she was very intrigued with the fact that we host First Class Relics of the twelve apostles. On the spur of the moment, with plenty of time before her flight, I turned around and headed to the Cathedral. Sr. Dianne was greatly inspired by the statues and the relics, particularly St. Andrew.
Here was a woman who communicated regularly with Cardinal Prevost
before becoming Pope Leo XIV. She even still exchanges messages with the Holy Father, albeit less regularly, and she was most impressed with and grateful for the opportunity to see our saints and their relics. Sr. Dianne’s response was a reminder to me, and should be a reminder to all of us, what a rare opportunity we
have at the Cathedral, to be surrounded by physical connections to Jesus Christ when he walked on earth, and to be able to journey with those Saints.
As we reflect on the Gospel from Luke this weekend, as shocked as we might be to hear the words of Jesus, “I have come to set the earth on fire,” think about the relics of the apostles that surround us, and how those men might have reacted when Jesus himself spoke those words nearly 2,000 years ago. As Fr. J.J. prays the words of consecration, think about the relics, as small as they are, as being physically present with Jesus when he uttered the words, “This is my body…” and, “This is my blood…” We have something very special and extraordinary at the Cathedral with our Saints. Let the presence of their relics stimulate your imagination whenever their names are mentioned in Scripture during Mass. Be sure to take time to journey with them.
In the peace of Christ,
Dcn. Mike