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Bishop Burbidge and Superintendent Fedewa Video Interviews on Papal Visit
The Apostolic Visit of Pope Benedict XVI to the United States provided American Catholics and the entire country with an opportunity to learn more about the Holy Father, who celebrated his third anniversary as Pope during his six day visit.
Approximately 200 Catholics from the Diocese of Raleigh participated in the various events in Washington, D.C. and New York City. One hundred Diocesan faithful joined the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge and approximately thirty priests of the Diocese at the Papal Mass held at Nationals Park in the nation’s capital. Fifty recipients of tickets were present for the Papal Mass in New York City, along with fifteen Diocesan seminarians. The seminarians were also present at the Papal youth rally and prayer service at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York. In addition Father Anthony De Candia and Father Marco Antonio Gonzalez-Hernandez were among hundreds of priests who con-celebrated Mass with the Holy Father at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
“The high energy I felt at the Papal Mass was overwhelming,” wrote Francine Sabisch of Saint Mildred Catholic Church in Swansboro. “It truly was a once in a lifetime experience for me and my 14 year-old daughter.” Sabisch is one of a number of Diocesan faithful who wrote reflections on their pilgrimage to be with Pope Benedict.
“As a new Catholic, confirmed and accepted into full communion with the Church on Easter Saturday, it was a truly incredible experience of a lifetime for me to attend the Papal Mass in NYC,” wrote Candace McCuiston of Raleigh. “What struck me most was the aura of love that I saw reflected in the Holy Father. When he raised his arms and smiled, I saw a look of true and unconditional love for all of us.” (Read additional reflections here or at the link following this story.)
Bishop Burbidge called the Holy Father’s visit one of “great enthusiasm and great joy” that went beyond expectations. “He came preaching a message of hope,” Bishop Burbidge said, commenting on Pope Benedict’s confronting the clergy child sex abuse crisis. In discussing hope, the Bishop said, “We also have to admit the darkness that is in our midst. He is very aware of the darkness.” Bishop Burbidge added, “How does healing take place? Through an acknowledgement,” he answered.
As he reflected on the Apostolic Visit, the Bishop said “This is a time of great renewal.” He noted, “The Holy Father brought us back to the foundations of our faith and to the priorities we must have in our lives; that our eyes are found not just here on earthly things, but on that which is above.”
The Bishop added the Pope’s visit renewed us “in our commitment to serve Christ Jesus, to serve His Church and to serve those in most need, enthusiastically, sincerely, boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the reason for our hope and for our joy.”
Below is a video interview with Bishop Burbidge. In this edition of Diocesan Digest, the Bishop discusses key elements of the Holy Father’s talks and homilies. That is followed by a video interview with Dr. Michael Fedewa, Diocesan Superintendent of Catholic Formation and Education. Dr. Fedewa was among 200 Catholic educators who met with Pope Benedict at a special session on the campus of Catholic University.
The interviews are followed by a series of reflections submitted by Diocesan faithful who were present at one of the two Papal Masses. Additional reflections will be added to the Papal Visit web page of the site in the coming days, as will pictures submitted by those who attended the two Masses.
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Above: Bishop Burbidge meeting with four television news reporters from the Raleigh-Durham market in Washington to cover the Papal Visit. |