40th Anniversary of Bishop Gossman’s Ordination as Bishop
Upon receiving notice in 2006 that the Holy Father had appointed me the Bishop of Raleigh, I called Bishop Gossman. Bishop Gossman was most gracious and conveyed the great love he had for the Diocese. He immediately told me of his willingness to support me in any way possible. Those words meant and continue to mean a great deal to me.
On the day of the press conference officially announcing my appointment, Bishop Gossman and I appeared for the first time together in public. The questions, while respectful, seemed to reflect a desire to pursue our differences. There is nothing wrong with acknowledging differences; different gifts have served the Lord since the moment Jesus called the first disciples. However, Bishop Gossman and I emphasized what we had in common: a profound love for the Lord and His Church and a deep desire to serve His people.
Bishop Gossman and I also believe firmly that it is the Lord who sends and sustains us. That truth is taught clearly by the Second Vatican Council: “Bishops, as successors of the apostles, receive from the Lord, to whom was given all power in heaven and on earth, the mission to teach all nations and to preach the Gospel to every creature...To fulfill this mission, Christ the Lord promised the Holy Spirit” (Lumen Gentium, 24). In an Address in 2006, Pope Benedict XVI also emphasized the One in whose name all things are accomplished: “Through Apostolic Succession it is Christ who reaches us. In the words of the Apostles and of their successors, it is He who speaks to us; through their hands, it is He who acts in the Sacraments; in their gaze, it is His gaze that embraces us and makes us feel loved and welcomed into the heart of God. And still today, as at the outset, Christ Himself is the true Shepherd and Guardian of our souls whom we follow with deep trust, gratitude and joy.”
At our Holy Father’s Address to bishops during his April pastoral visit to the United States, Bishop Gossman and I had the privilege of sitting next to each other. We heard Pope Benedict speak these words, “In every time and place the Church is called to grow in unity through constant conversion to Christ, whose saving work is proclaimed by the Successors to the Apostles and celebrated in the Sacraments. This unity, in turn, gives rise to an unceasing missionary outreach, as the Spirit spurs believers to proclaim the great works of God.” It is my hope and prayer that all in our Diocese recognize and celebrate the unity that Bishop Gossman and I share as brother bishops as well as the unity that is ours as sisters and brothers in Christ and as members of God’s Holy Family.
In addition to benefiting from Bishop Gossman’s constant support and sound advice, I am truly grateful for his wonderful example. His Episcopal motto, “To serve and not to be served,” has been manifested not only throughout his years as Bishop but indeed his whole Priesthood. I am inspired by his commitment to prayer, his humility, simplicity and generous service. In two short years, I have come to recognize him, as so many of you have throughout the years, as a gentle, loving and wise shepherd.
It is a special gift for our Diocese and the entire Church to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Bishop Gossman’s Ordination as Bishop. It is a special moment to thank God for the blessings that He has bestowed upon Bishop Gossman throughout these years, for allowing him to serve as Ordinary of the Diocese of Raleigh for 31 of those years and for giving him the strength and grace to continue to serve in our midst. As we celebrate Bishop Gossman’s faithfulness and dedication, we also use this special occasion to renew our promises to the vocation God has entrusted to us. We join together in expressing sincere and prayerful best wishes to Bishop Gossman and to pray that through Mary’s intercession and with God’s grace, he will continue to follow and imitate Jesus Christ, our true Shepherd and Guardian, with deep trust, gratitude and joy. Congratulations Bishop Gossman and God bless you always!
Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge