Gardens fascinate me, and what never fails to impress me is how suddenly the beauty of newborn life blossoms around us as if all of nature were celebrating the Easter season too. It seems no coincidence that Jesus’ passion began in a garden and triumphed in another. Even one of the women who first beheld our Risen Lord mistook him for a gardener. During this season when we particularly contemplate the mystery of the resurrection of Our Lord, my own reflections are drawn to what springtime gardens seem so naturally to celebrate: life and motherhood.
My mother, Helen, loved to garden, and with her caring hands, every springtime she skillfully nurtured a new garden’s life to maturity and fruitfulness. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why Mother’s Day is celebrated when it is: the season speaks so much to the nurturing gift that is particularly a mother’s.
Here is the text of my letter, which was read at all DOK parishes the weekend of April 17 and 18:
My dear friends in Christ,
As the bishop of the Diocese of Knoxville, I want to apologize to you all. The sexual abuse of minors by anyone is a travesty of the greatest magnitude and is an abomination before God. Last Wednesday a report of sexual abuse was brought to our attention, and I want to outline the steps we took as soon as we learned of it.
On Wednesday morning, April 14, Warren Tucker met with our chancellor, Deacon Sean Smith, and a member of our Diocesan Review Board. Mr. Tucker accused Father Bill Casey, a retired priest of the Diocese of Knoxville, of sexually abusing him while Father Casey was pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Kingsport between 1975 and 1980. At that time St. Dominic was a part of the Diocese of Nashville.
Following is the statement Bishop Richard F. Stika delivered to media representatives during a press conference at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 15.
I want to thank you all for being here this morning.
Last week when I spoke to the media about the topic of clergy sexual abuse, I was not aware of a credible allegation against any priest in the Diocese of Knoxville.
Knowing how difficult it is for a victim of sexual abuse to come forward, I want to personally thank Mr. Warren Tucker for his courage in bringing this allegation to our attention [on April 14]. I know that SNAP has been working with Mr. Tucker and I appreciate their assistance.
We were going to surprise him for his birthday. For a number of months, my brother Joe, a good friend Tim Trout and I were going to fly to Philadelphia and surprise Cardinal Justin Rigali for his 70th birthday. But history changed our plan. Just a few days earlier, the Servant of God, John Paul II was called home to "His Father's House". The Cardinals a week or so later entered the Conclave and then on April 19th elected our dear Holy Father to the Chair of Peter. And the rest is history, but no surprise party for the Cardinal on this birthday. He did however receive a "Happy Birthday" from the Holy Father however on the day of his election. Not a bad way to celebrate a birthday.
And so on this day and in the name of the good people of the Catholic Church of East Tennessee, i wish to offer our best wishes to two great men of the Church, Pope Benedict and Justin Cardinal Rigali!
Please excuse me for this very personal moment, but April 13, 2010, marks the 100th birthday of my late father, Frank Joseph Stika. Although my father died on Oct. 3, 1986, he is still with me in all that I do as a priest and now as a bishop. My father was not an emotional person, and the only time I can remember seeing him cry was at my Mass of Thanksgiving as a new priest. I was ordained on Dec. 14, 1985, and celebrated my first Mass the following day. It was during the Institution Narrative, as I raised the chalice, that I witnessed this remarkable event—tears flowing down his cheek.
My parents were very simple people. I am sure they would be mystified by their son blogging as a bishop of the Church!
Happy 100th, Dad! Thanks for everything!
Reception following Mass of Thanksgiving, Dec. 15, 1985
I am slowly working on the conversion of my brothers and sisters of faith in East Tennessee to become Cardinal fans. Today marks the Opening Day celebration of the Cards in St. Louis and I must admit, I am a bit homesick. I miss attending opening day!
In years past, I had the real treat of attending this annual event, which in many ways marks the beginning of summer. A special part of the program involves the introduction of the Hall of Famers. There is the usual thunder of applause for these great men of the past, but none could match the applause for Stan the Man Musial, a true legend and gentleman.
Recently, the former Mayor of New York, Ed Koch shared with the good people of New York the following. It is good material to reflect on given the recent news media blitz on the Catholic Church.
April 6, 2010
He [Or She] That Is Without Sin Among You, Let Him [Or Her] Cast The Next Stone… Enough Already
I believe the continuing attacks by the media on the Roman Catholic Church and Pope Benedict XVI have become manifestations of anti-Catholicism. The procession of articles on the same events are, in my opinion, no longer intended to inform, but simply to castigate.
The sexual molestation of children, principally boys, is horrendous. This is agreed to by everyone, Catholics, the Church itself, as well as non-Catholics and the media. The Pope has on a number of occasions on behalf of the Church admitted fault and asked for forgiveness. For example, The New York Times reported on April 18, 2008 that the Pope, “came face to face with a scandal that has left lasting wounds on the American church Thursday, holding a surprise meeting with several victims of sexual abuse by priests in the Boston area….‘No words of mine could describe the pain and harm inflicted by such abuse,’ the Pope said in his homily. ‘It is important that those who have suffered be given loving pastoral attention.’” Continue Reading »
The “great retreat” of Lent has given way to the great joy of Easter—that of Our Risen Lord! It is a time when we especially speak of joy—a word so often used today interchangeably with “pleasure” and “happiness.” But our joy is so much more than that of the body or the mind.
The joy the Church speaks of is both divine and human. I saw this joy in the faces of our priests, deacons, religious, and laity during Holy Week, despite its being a time when the Cross becomes even more predominant in our lives and calls us to a greater emptying of ourselves.
This is the joy I saw in the faces of my brother priests during the Chrism Mass, when I consecrated the chrism and blessed the oils that will be used in administering the sacraments this year. Biblically, oil is not only a sign of cleansing and healing, beauty and strength, but also a sign of an abundance of joy.
