“Farewell, Milwaukee”

April 14, 2009

Year of St. Paul

Dear Friends united in love and service of Jesus Christ and His Church:

This Tuesday’s message, my last “Some Seeds,” comes not from the shores of Lake Michigan, but from the banks of the Hudson River. Tomorrow I become the Archbishop of New York. Pray with and for me, please! As my final message, let me just share my parting words from the 9:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass which we celebrated only 48 hours ago.

Everybody admired President Ronald Reagan’s ability to communicate. He was especially effective at sad times when he had to, for instance, address the nation after the shuttle disaster, or when 300 Marines were blown-up in Lebanon, or at the D-Day cemetery. When asked how he kept from breaking down during these speeches, he replied, “I just keep reading the speech over and over again until I stop crying. Then, I’m ready to give it.”

Well, that’s what I’ve done with these final remarks.  I’ve practiced them over and over until I cry no more.  In a moment, I’ll remove the pallium, the sign of my office as your archbishop; we’ll take down my coat-of-arms over the cathedra, I’ll get up from my chair, never to sit in it again, as it awaits a new sitter. Then, I’ll get on an airplane and fly to New York.

Lest I do start crying, in spite of all the practice, I’m going to cheat and just repeat to you expressions you’ve said or written to me in the last six weeks! Let me now say to you, with all the sincerity of my heart:

I will miss you!

I love you very much!

I will never forget you!

I am very grateful to you!

I apologize if I have ever hurt you. I’m worried about an unreturned wave, a letter unanswered, a visit not done, a gift not acknowledged, an appointment not kept, a phone call not made, a need untended to, a prayer promised but not offered.

As I leave you, I need a lot of hope, faith and trust. That’s why I’m sure glad it’s Easter and that you’re all here with me.

Thank you! I appreciate your company this Easter morning! God bless you until, please God, we meet again.

Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan

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