A Letter from Rome
Dear companion, friend, colleague, the peace of Christ!
On Sunday 1 September 2019 Pope Francis named thirteen new Cardinals and explained “Their nationalities express the missionary vocation of the Church that continues to proclaim God’s merciful love to all the men and women of the world.”
My gratitude goes to him, to God above all, and to you for your response of surprise and delight. In his letter to the new Cardinals, the Pope explained what this really means: “The Church asks of you a new form of service … a summons to greater self-sacrifice and a consistent witness of life.” Everyone knows that the scarlet robes represent the shedding of blood – usque ad effusionem sanguinis – in total loyalty and fidelity to Christ.
“May this new stage in your life,” Pope Francis continues, “enable you to imitate Jesus more closely (Mt 9:36; 14:14; Lk 7:13) and increase your capacity for compassion for all those men and women who, victimized and enslaved by so many evils, look with hope for a gesture of tender love on the part of those who believe in the Lord.” Please make the Pope’s words your prayer for me.
On Sunday 29 September at 10.30 am there will be a very special Mass in St Peter’s Square celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Migrants, refugees, displaced populations and victims of human trafficking have been the focus of my work since the beginning of 2017.
On Friday 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, at 5 o’clock the Holy Father will ordain four new bishops, including myself because this is a requirement for being a cardinal under 80.
The consistory creating the 13 new cardinals takes place on Saturday 5 October at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. It’s not a Eucharist because becoming cardinal is not a sacrament, rather an intense new way of assisting the Holy Father and serving the Church.
And Sunday 6 October, at 10 am , will feature the Holy Eucharist solemnly opening the Special Synod on the Amazon, “new paths for the Church and for integral ecology”. Since July, I have been on a special assignment as one of the two special Secretaries for this very important Synod.
If you are near, you are very welcome. Please ask for the tickets you need for one or more of these events at <consistory.rome@gmail.com>.
But if you’re far, please don’t make a special trip; you can follow at Vatican Media Live or at Vatican News – Youtube (choose your language from the list on the right) and we’ll be together in spirit and prayer and in the simplicity that the Pope Francis both demonstrates and asks us for.
Thank you for being near in my life and ministry until now, and in my new form of service from now on.
May God bless you very much, as ever,
Fr Michael
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Roma, Festa dell’Esaltazione della Santa Croce, 14 settembre 2019
Cari amici e colleghi, la pace di Cristo!
Maria Way
Posted at 03:43h, 26 SeptemberDear Mike (Your Eminence!), congratulations on this well-deserved honour. The news gave me great pleasure. I hope you have many years to enjoy (if that is the word) your new status.
Peter Bisson
Posted at 09:06h, 26 SeptemberThank you so much Michael!!
Roger Yaworski, SJ
Posted at 09:18h, 26 SeptemberMichael,
Thanks for this update.
Prayers as this journey continues.
Roger
Doris Barrett
Posted at 10:08h, 26 SeptemberDear Fr. Michael;
thank you for the information and your invitation to ‘log-in’ and be present in these celebration.
Sending you my best wishes and prayers.
Doris
Rosie
Posted at 16:14h, 26 SeptemberCongratulations Fr Michael
You are and will continue to
be in our daily prayers. May God
continue to guide you and
Bless you in your important
work for people and the Church.
Janet Somerville
Posted at 01:24h, 06 OctoberDear Bishop Michael…soon to be Cardinal Czerny,
So many of us here in Canada are delighted at the trust placed in you by our wonderful Pope Francis, and we are praying for you as you courageously undertake new and special burdens…May they be fruitful for the Synod on the Amazon, for which you are a special secretary, and may you help to bring the wisdom that will come through that Synod to all the rest of us…
A few days ago Father Bert Foliot and I were talking about you. I said that I have begun to hope that you will be the next Pope. Father Foliot said, “They couldn’t have two Jesuit Popes in a row!” I said, “Why not?” and Father Bert looked very thoughtful…
Anyway, may all your work and all your prayer bear fruit in the great struggle for faith and justice, and may you yourself be flooded with grace and with hope.
with love and admiration, and compassionate prayers, Janet Somerville (Toronto)