2012, April 22 Third Sunday of Easter Homily
Given at St. Joachim Parish, Lockeford
This Sunday we find ourselves at a time when there are so many different emotions running through our minds and hearts. Each of us has been affected in a different way by Father Kelly’s trial. What is common is the hurt that we have experienced. To face these hurts we are gathered in the best place possible around the table of the Eucharist. And we are gathering in the best season possible, the Easter Days of the Lord’s Resurrection. We can reflect on the two disciples walking to Emmaus on Easter Sunday day, not knowing that the Lord had risen. They felt hopeless and abandoned. They felt all their effort in following Christ had been for nothing.Then a stranger joined them on their journey and in the breaking of the bread they recognized that it was Jesus. They quickly returned to Jerusalem and when they were recounting to the apostles what happened the Lord appeared to them. “Peace be with you.”
The Risen Lord is with us in all that we go through in life. Wherever we are coming from in our thinking, whatever our different perspectives, the Lord is with us and his love strengthens us to move forward together with respect for one another. Let us never forget that our overriding concern is always the safety and protection of our children and young people.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, in these few minutes to sort out all that has transpired in these past four and one half years, and particularly in these last eight weeks. The judge, as you know, divided the trial into two phases. The first pertained to the civil liability of Father Kelly, and the second to the civil liability of the diocese. During this past week, two weeks into the second phase, after consulting with our attorneys and insurance carriers I came to the conclusion that it would be in the best interest of the diocese to bring this matter to a conclusion. Based on the best legal advice we decided to enter into settlement negotiations. In fact the judge himself had recommended that we do so. We arrived at a $3.75 million dollar settlement, with insurance covering $2 million. We are now called and strengthened to move forward with healing and hope through our faith in the Risen Christ.
I am deeply concerned about the future of this wonderful parish. I have come here today because I want to be as supportive and helpful as I can. The church is people. The parish is people. The future of this parish rests with you who have built up this fine parish community. It will take some time for healing, but we at the diocesan level will work with you to ensure that this parish goes forward. We have been able to arrange with highly professional individuals skilled in leading group discussions on the effects of a trauma upon a parish community as well as counselors who are available for individual meetings to talk through any thoughts, questions, or emotions you may be experiencing. The schedule has been posted in the entrance ways of the church and on the diocesan web site.
(To access this schedule, click here.)
I began by recalling that this is the best place for us to gather at this time. And so it is, here at the table of the Lord. It is Christ Himself who gathers us and nurtures us in love, mercy and forgiveness. This is the Easter Season when we rejoice in the Risen Lord and celebrate our faith in God who is greater than any failure, sadness, or discouragement we face. What Jesus said to the troubled disciples, He says to us: “Peace Be With You.”
Bishop Stephen Blaire