Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

Msgr. Dan Mayall is the rector of Holy Name Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He was two years behind me in the seminary and lived with me in an assigned group called One North. The group would live in close proximity and meet for formational development under the direction of a Cam (Camaraderie) priest.

Msgr. Mayall has a good sense of humor; I have always believed that anyone with a good sense of humor has a solid spirituality. I am convinced that God is often smiling and even laughing at the antics of His children. A good laugh can help us get through a difficult day and a good joke spreads faster than a wildfire.

Last Christmas, Msgr. Mayall sent me a beautiful card that had, on the cover, Jesus surrounded by little children. Jesus was singing “Happy Birthday to me … Merry Christmas to you.” Well, if it’s good enough for Jesus, it certainly is good enough for me! So, “Happy Birthday to me … March 12 to you.” I now know that the cardinals chose the twelfth for the start of the conclave so that they wouldn’t have to throw me a birthday party or send me a card.

Today is my 64th birthday. When I was a kid, 64 was that magic year before retirement. But when you’re young, retirement isn’t on your radar. So to think that I am in the secular retirement zone is a bit scary. A bishop must submit his letter of resignation at 75, so it seems that I have 11 years to go depending upon God, who can take me out at any time, or the pope, who can remove me at any time.

It is shocking that another year has gone by. When you are young, days seem to pass so slowly but, as you grow older, time seems to speed up and you begin to realize that we have very little time left. I hope that my family and friends know how thankful I am to have their presence in my life. I hope that you know how grateful I am to be your archbishop. I know that we have our problems, every family does, but when you consider all the good that is accomplished by the bishops, priests, deacons, religious, parish directors, archdiocesan and parish staffs, and the dedicated lay men and women in our archdiocese out of love for God, I know that I and we are truly blessed. I pray that the next 11 years will demonstrate how we LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Note: This blog originally appeared as the March 12, 2013 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.