The combined years of wisdom seated in the pews of the Greenspring retirement community chapel in Springfield was beyond measure Friday morning. More than 150 seniors, caregivers and members of management gathered for a special Mass with Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge Oct. 27.  

"Walk humbly with your God — that word walk is not so much the ability to walk from here to there, that gets harder for us to do as we move on in life no doubt, but walking in the spiritual sense." Arlington Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

It was Bishop Burbidge’s first visit to Greenspring and the residents were excited to meet him. Several of the residents had the pleasure of meeting Bishop Burbidge at the deanery Mass at St. Bernadette Church in Springfield earlier this year when they enthusiastically invited him to celebrate Mass in their chapel.

The Greenspring community includes retirees with a variety of mobility and health needs. Many are able-bodied seniors who moved to the 58-acre complex to be close to their loved ones who have medical needs.

The community was overjoyed when it received word Bishop Burbidge was coming. On that bright autumn morning he concelebrated Mass with Father Robert J. Wagner, the Bishop’s secretary; Father Donald J. Rooney, pastor of St. Bernadette Church in Springfield; and Father Joseph D. Q. Vu, parochial vicar at St. Bernadette Church.

During his homily Bishop Burbidge explained the meaning of his moto.

“Walk humbly with your God — that word walk is not so much the ability to walk from here to there, that gets harder for us to do as we move on in life no doubt, but walking in the spiritual sense no matter if we are young or elderly or anywhere in between,” he said. “I think that word walk is such a beautiful meditation for us. Walk in the sense that as you go through the day, am I able to pause and just look around this beautiful day that God has given to us, the beauty that surrounds us on this campus. Am I able to pause and be mindful of the fact that there may be someone God wants me to notice today, someone who is having a tough day who is pretty down,” said Bishop Burbidge. “But if I am not mindful of that I’m going to miss the blessings right in front of me. How important it is in our spiritual lives to simply walk.”

After Mass, Bishop Burbidge met one-on-one with residents and their families and caregivers.

Rodger Tancreti has lived at Greenspring for the past two years and was honored to assist Bishop Burbidge as an altar server during the Mass.

“I’ve overheard a lot of residents just saying ‘what a beautiful Mass, what a beautiful morning.’ Having him here definitely made their day.”

“It was so simple and sweet,” said Mary Noon, who served as lector. “It was just wonderful to have the readings for the sick people. They will get the benefit of the prayers.”