Habemus Papam! We have a Pope!
I knew that it was unlikely that we would have the announcement of a new Pope before our bulletin went to print, but I was hopeful. As the white smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday afternoon, the bulletin printing was already underway. So, this is the first opportunity to comment here about this historic moment.
The 1978 election of Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the Archbishop of Krakow as John Paul II, was historic in its own right. Coming from the atheistic and oppressive Communist bloc, the first non-Italian Pope in over 450 years, the youngest in 140 years, there was a great deal of global interest. In addition, his election was highly personal to the Polish people. Our next-door neighbors were of Polish descent, and I still remember their pride in the election of a Polish pope. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, formally known as Robert Francis Prevost from Chicago, I recognize again not only the historic reality of a U.S. born Pope, but the personal connection it brings for the Catholics of our nation.
As I took in the surprise of the selection of Cardinal Prevost, I also began to make the connection to our parish. Pope Leo served a missionary in Peru, first as a missionary priest, and then later on as the Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru. Our parish patroness, St. Rose of Lima, is the patron saint of Peru, and, therefore, another personal connection to our new Holy Father.
With these personal connections in mind, we may more easily identify with the new successor of St. Peter. We may also think we know him because of our common culture and history. He has a social media history and a history of pastoral ministry. It is my hope and prayer that this personal connectivity will assist the mission of the church in the U.S. We must also be mindful, however, that the person whose history we know has given way to the new person who is Pope Leo XIV. We don’t yet know Pope Leo, but we will. The challenge for us is to listen, observe and continue to walk the path of conversion.
Pope Leo is a man of our time, mindful of the challenges we face. In one example, he has already noted the “immense potential” for the good of humanity, but also warned that it poses “new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.” I also found his words to journalists as a particularly astute observance that peaceful communication is a means to actual peace.
Let us disarm communication of all prejudice and resentment, fanaticism and even hatred; let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and of gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice. Let us disarm words, and we will help to disarm the world.
With thanks to God, we are grateful for Pope Leo, and we pray for him. We pray, too, for Pope Francis, that he may be granted an eternal reward for his Petrine ministry.
NEW PASTORAL ASSIGNMENT – Bishop Barres has assigned Fr. Allan to serve as the Associate Pastor of St. Anthony of Padua East Northport and St. Francis of Assisi in Greenlawn with residence at St. Francis. He is being assigned to assist the pastor of both parishes with the day-to-day administration of St. Francis. The transfer date is June 25. There will be further announcements about celebrations thanking Fr. Allan for his five years of priestly ministry to our parish. Another priest will be assigned to us, although those details are not finalized.
DIOCESAN EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS – As part of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Diocese of Rockville Centre is hosting a Diocesan Eucharistic Congress to be held on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025 at St. Anthony’s High School in Huntington. This Congress is more than a gathering; it is meant to be a spark for a renewed fire of evangelization across Long Island. It will be a day of prayer, catechesis, and communion with Jesus Christ, truly present in the Most Holy Eucharist. The Congress will feature keynote talks, breakout sessions in multiple languages, Eucharistic Adoration, sacred music, confessions, and the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
In addition to the congress itself, there will be Eucharistic Pilgrimages taking place across the Diocese in the days leading up to the Congress as well as revival nights to accompany the pilgrimages. All the information about the Eucharistic Congress, the processions and the revival nights can be found at drvc.org/congress. Registration for attending the conference can also be found on the website.
Peace,
