Together on the Journey: A Weekly Word from Archbishop Hebda
Please join me in congratulating Bishop Kevin Kenney, our auxiliary bishop, as he celebrates the second anniversary of his ordination to the episcopacy. You might remember reading about a humorous moment at the press conference held the day he was named bishop. When explaining the date selected for the ordination—this week’s feast of Saints Simon and Jude—he jokingly included himself among the “hopeless causes” for which Saint Jude is so famously the patron. These two years, however, have proven him to be anything but “hopeless.” I remain so grateful to him for his extraordinary ministry as bishop and pastor of Saint Olaf, and for his leadership as the Archdiocesan Vicar for Latino Ministry. Wearing all of these hats, he has surely impacted thousands through his ministry. He’s in good company with his apostolic intercessors, Simon and Jude, who both gave their lives to the spreading of the Gospel.
Bishop Izen and I have both felt so blessed by Bishop Kenney’s fraternal support and powerful witness. The months since his unexpected diagnosis of lung cancer have given us even greater insight into his deep faith and resilience. Despite the uncertainty ahead, Bishop Kenney consistently bears eloquent witness to how God is present in all situations, no matter how challenging. In these last few months, Bishop Kenney has humbly kept his focus on prayer: asking the faithful not to pray only for him but also to pray for the medical professionals involved in his care, for all those who are suffering and struggling, and particularly for those who may feel hopeless. His team and parishioners at Saint Olaf have appropriately dubbed this effort “Project Hope.”
Saint John the Evangelist recounts in his Gospel that Jesus on the night of the Last Supper prayed fervently for unity: “May they all be one, Father, as you and I are one…” (Jn. 17:21). It’s hard to imagine a better path toward that unity than prayer, which both creates and sustains true communion. By rooting in prayer his response to his treatments and whatever sufferings might come his way, Bishop Kenney is concretely teaching us the efficacy of prayer. Sure, he’s hoping that his cancer will be miraculously cured but he’s also hoping that all of his prayers—and the prayers of so many others—will lead us to a greater union with God and with those around us.
I’m told that Bishop’s reliance on prayer has captured the attention of the medical professionals who have been involved in his treatment. Many of his medical team are amazed when he explains to them that they are receiving prayers from all over the globe. From a worldly perspective, it may not always seem that prayer accomplishes much, but through the eyes of faith we can see how prayer is so effective in bringing a deeper unity to the people of God.
As we continue to pray for Bishop Kenney, Pope Leo, and all those with cancer diagnoses, and more broadly for all who may be sick and suffering, let us remember the words of Saint Paul: “Hope does not disappoint.” Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us!
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