Those attending the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Jan 31 at St. Mary Parish in Hudson were surprised to see Bishop Edward Malesic greeting them as they arrived. He was with Father Larry Jurcak, parish pastor, and Deacon Carl Winterich.
“I got a call from the bishop’s assistant saying he’d like to visit us but there was one condition,” Father Jurcak said. “She told us he wanted us to celebrate Mass just like we do every Sunday. He said he was excited and it was difficult not to spread the word about the visit, but he agreed to be tight-lipped in order to ensure the church did not exceed the capacity imposed by pandemic safety guidelines.
Parish greeters kept watch be certain the faithful adhered to face mask, hand sanitizing, social distancing and other safety guidelines throughout the Mass.
“One of the priests I live with at the cathedral rectory said bishops always make people happy – some when they come and some when they leave,” Bishop Malesic quipped. He acknowledged the parish’s strict safety regime and thanked the volunteers for their efforts to keep everyone healthy and safe.
The bishop also noted that St. Mary is a cradle for priestly vocations, with 11 priests ordained from the parish in the past several years, including seven in eight years. Another seven men are in formation, including five at the diocesan seminaries. Photos of the ordained and those discerning a vocation are displayed in the gathering area.
“There are two permanent deacons from your parish, including Deacon Winterich who is serving at the altar with me today. Wow! But I hope that St. Mary’s is not just a cradle of priests, but a cradle of disciples who hear the call of the Lord and follow it – whether that is to marriage, consecrated life or single life. I think this parish gets it – that all of us are called to promote a culture of vocations where we support people in what the Lord has called them to be and to do,” the bishop said.
He noted that programs like Life Teen and Edge flourish at St. Mary’s. “Follow Jesus. Have courage. Have no fear,” he told the congregation.
The bishop shared a story about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic distance runner who served as combat pilot in World War II. His story was told in the book and movie “Unbroken.”
After being shot down, he miraculously survived, was captured by the Japanese and tortured during two years in captivity. When he returned home, he was a broken man who tried to distract himself from his nightmarish past. He was filled with anger, resentment and dishonor.
Even though God saved him during the war and brought him home, his inner pain caused him to tur away from God. But God never gives up. Bishop Malesic said Zamperini finally gave in to his wife’s pleading and attended a religious revival and found his way back to God. He even forgave his Japanese captors. “He had accepted the authority of Christ over him,” the bishop said, and Christ ordered the demons that plagued him to come out.
“Every true believer knows that salvation is always possible. Jesus came to find the lot. He wants to buy us back with his blood; he wants to redeem us,” he said.
Whenever we face a difficult situation in life, we can turn to Jesus and ask him for strength.
“Know that Jesus is real. He is alive. He is present to us 24/7. He wants us to be under ‘new management’ – his management. It is never too late,” Bishop Malesic said.
After Mass, the bishop told the congregation that the pandemic has taught us some valuable lessons, including the fragility of life. “I hope it also has taught us to be more prayerful.” He said, asking those gathered in the church and those watching the livestream of the liturgy to pray for him.