Editor's Desk: Help Wanted

By Michael F. Flach
Herald Editor
(From the issue of 7/11/02)

Wanted: Young men willing to lead the Church during a time of turbulence and distrust. Experience in seminary administration preferred.

If this were a job description for new bishops, then the first two episcopal appointments announced by the Vatican following the historic June meeting in Dallas meet the standard.

Archbishop-elect Timothy M. Dolan (appointed archbishop of Milwaukee) served for seven years as rector of the North American College, the U.S. national seminary in Rome.

Msgr. Michael F. Burbidge (appointed an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia) has been rector of St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook, Pa., since 1999. Both seminaries have been used for years by the Arlington Diocese to train its future priests.

The acceptance of viable candidates to the priesthood, and the subsequent training of these men at orthodox seminaries, undoubtedly will be an important part of the new bishops’ agenda, especially in Milwaukee.

Only time will tell whether these two appointments indicate the beginning of an attempt by the Vatican to change the overall complexion of the U.S. episcopacy. Their ages (Dolan is 52, while Burbidge is 45) and seminary backgrounds are in stark contrast to other appointments. Cardinal Edward Egan was 69 when appointed archbishop of New York. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick was 71 when appointed archbishop of Washington.

When ordained, Bishop-designate Burbidge will be the second-youngest bishop in the American episcopacy, behind only Auxiliary Bishop Joseph S. Vasquez of Galveston-Houston, who was born July 9, 1957.

Timothy Michael Dolan did his theological studies at the North American College and the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and was ordained a priest of the St. Louis Archdiocese June 19, 1976. He served for two years on the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington and returned to St. Louis as vice rector of Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. He was named an auxiliary bishop of St. Louis on the silver anniversary of his ordination and was ordained a bishop Aug. 15, 2001.

He is author of "Priests for the Third Millennium," published by Our Sunday Visitor Books. A collection of conferences given to U.S. seminarians in Rome, it discusses the joys and challenges facing priests today.

Bishop Raymond L. Burke of La Crosse, Wis., who was one year ahead of Archbishop Dolan as a seminarian in Rome, praised the new archbishop as "a distinguished teacher of the holiness of life required for the priestly ministry" and a man of "deep and practical faith."

Bishop-elect Burbidge studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He holds master's degrees in theology and administration and education, and also has a doctoral degree in education. He was a seminary classmate of Arlington priests Fathers Robert J. Rippy and Curtis Clark. He was ordained to the priesthood May 19, 1984. Between 1992 and 1999, he was administrative secretary to Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqua of Philadelphia.

Despite an apparently hostile environment toward the Catholic priesthood, Bishop-elect Burbidge said there could not be a better time to be named a bishop. "The church and the world, more than ever, are looking to their bishops for leadership and guidance," he said. "With the Lord's help, I will offer these gifts to God's people."

Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua said his new auxiliary bishop enters the episcopal ministry equipped with intelligence, experience and leadership. "Above all, he is a priest who, through a life of prayer and piety, strives to imitate Jesus, the Good Shepherd."

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