Priests recognize Bishop's retirement at celebration

By DEIRDRE C. MAYS

CHARLESTON -- In warmth, brotherhood and in Christ, priests of the Diocese of Charleston gathered to recognize formally Bishop David B. Thompson's retirement in celebrations held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist June 10-11.

Approximately 75 priests gathered in Charleston to honor their fellow priest and Bishop of nine years.

During a dinner held at the Mills House Hotel, Msgr. James A. Carter, diocesan vicar general, expressed the sentiments woven through their celebrations that started with an evening prayer at the Cathedral and concluded with Mass and a breakfast gathering the next day.

"You, Bishop Thompson, have been a source of inspiration and priestly example to us," he said. "You have been our Bishop, a fellow priest, a friend."

He spoke of the prelate as the answer to their prayers and as a leader who demonstrated that his top priority was his priests. In gratitude, they toasted him and then presented a check to him for $8,340 to furnish the chapel in the Bishop's retirement house. In his thanks for what proved to be a celebration of priesthood for all present, Bishop Thompson announced that he had already chosen a name for the chapel, "Christ the Priest."

"I guarantee that every day you will be in my prayers," he said.

Those prayers commenced with the Bishop celebrating a special Mass the next morning with the priests that was a memorial of Barnabas the apostle. In his homily, Bishop Thompson drew from three areas most commonly used for homilies -- Sacred Scriptures of liturgies, the saint of the day and a special occasion.

Referencing the readings and Gospel of the Mass which were taken from the Acts of the Apostles and St. Matthew, he discussed how Paul and Barnabas were chosen by the Holy Spirit for the Church at Antioch.

"We priests have to believe that," Bishop Thompson said of that action by the Holy Spirit, "and we have to re-believe it day in and day out. Each day we wake up we have to say, 'I want to be a priest.' Why? Because God has chosen us."

Bishop Thompson then congratulated the priests who sat before him.

"This is a chosen priesthood and you are members of that," he said. "You are special ... In reverence and all sincerity, I bow to you."

Bishop Thompson went on to describe St. Barnabas as their patron saint because he stepped aside from his leadership role in the Antioch church to support St. Paul. He said that the priests in the Diocese of Charleston have the role of St. Barnabas because they prepared the way for the Bishop and defended him in the positions he has taken in the name of the Church. He thanked them for that.

"You have been my faithful collaborators, you have been my St. Barnabas," he said.

Bishop Thompson bid them farewell "in the spirit of the Lord and Gospel" and offered them peace in Christ in three forms: the Bishop's episcopal motto, Christi Impetus Pacis -- working for the peace of Christ, Pax Romana -- peace of the Roman Empire at the birth of Christ, Pax Carolopolitana -- the peace of the Diocese of Charleston, for which he strove in his nine years here.

"Blessed are the peacemakers," he said. "We have to work at making peace. I ask you to continue to work on that among your faithful. I have prayed for all of you just as you have prayed for me."

As he formally took leave of the priests as their Bishop, Bishop Thompson prayed that they would be kept in truth and protected from evil, the prayer of Christ for priests.

"I have been a priest a lot longer than I have been a bishop, so I am one of you," he said. "In the not too distant future, I shall again be one of you. I have been a very happy bishop. I have had difficult times within my episcopacy but I have never been unhappy. I am home here in Charleston among you to stay with you in service and in prayer."

PHOTOS: 1) Bishop Thompson enters the cathedral June 11 to celebrate a special Mass with his priests that was a memorial of Barnabas the apostle. 2) Msgr. James A. Carter, diocesan vicar general, stands with Bishop Thompson. (By Deirdre C. Mays)