A bishop's basic mission

St Francis De Sales is the patron saint of journalists, but can also be considered as a model bishop. In his time, Protestants separated themselves from the Church, but with his gentle way, prayer and penance, he succeeded to persuade a great number of them to return to the fold. It is in the interest of all bishops to read in detail what this saint did in the Chablais region.

A bishop's basic mission is to overcome divisions among his flock, first and foremost those between the clergy themselves and between the clergy and their bishop. Christ the shepherd will go and retrieve even one single sheep that goes astray, be it a layman or a priest.

Certain ugly priestly cases are public, but others may be hidden. Some priests pass through a spiritual or psychological crisis.

The bishop's relationship with his priests is the key to his pastoral success. He should take time to listen to them in an atmosphere of trust and respect. A sincere interest in the spiritual, intellectual and material welfare of priests is very important because they minister in his name. If priests feel genuinely cared for, they will be confident of being judged fairly when complaints against them are made.

On the other hand, the bishop needs to be available to all people of his diocese and not just seen at Confirmation ceremonies or other formal occasions. He has to listen to them, also individually and privately, to know the real needs of his diocese. He must be to them a servant and always ready to lay down his life for them. So his pastoral life should imply an ongoing contact and dialogue.

Jesus himself was often visibly engaged in human conversation and acts of service. In persona Christi the bishop must make more informal pastoral visits all over his diocese. He can celebrate Mass, preach and hear confessions in different parishes. Many people, churchgoers or not, want to listen to him, but also have a lot of things to tell him.

A bishop's mission is vast and carries with it a great responsibility. But God has chosen him and will surely give him the necessary grace to fulfil it faithfully. Our duty is to pray for our bishops and co-operate with them in every possible way.