Be the change in the world and be a person of joy.
That was the theme of the message Bishop Nelson Perez delivered to the more than 200 Young Catholic Professionals who came to hear him speak on Feb. 13 at John Carroll University as part of their Executive Speaker Series.
The bishop said he was impressed that they chose to spend Mardi Gras listening to him rather than the thousand other things they could be doing.
He said he is often asked, ?Was it hard to leave Philadelphia and Long Island and then come to Cleveland??
His response was two-fold. ?God?s ways are not our ways, but they?re always the best ways,? he said. While on a human level it was difficult to leave family and friends, he said the decision to leave was actually made 29 years ago when he became a priest. He said when he was ordained, he took a vow of obedience to the Church. So, if the Church needed him elsewhere, he went because he made that decision when he was ordained. He used the analogy of a married couple who take vows of obedience, fidelity and loyalty to each other ?until death do you part.?
The bishop told the group that many times since he was named bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland people ask about what is his plan. ?I have no plan,? he said. ?To come in with a plan would be arrogant. The Church in Cleveland has been here for over 170 years, so for me to come in and change things would be arrogant.? He said his plan is to continue the plan of the Church, which is to help us be missionary disciples.
In being missionary disciples, ?We need to take the initiative, take the first step and engage in the world.? Also, he said, ?We need to use our gifts to succeed, meet people where they are and always be joyful.? But in addition to meeting people where they are, Bishop Perez cautioned that we should
