On the Solemn Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
Over 900 persons gathered in St. Dunstan’s Basilica on the afternoon of June 29 to welcome Bishop Joseph Dabrowski as the 14th Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown. They waited over two years for the new shepherd to be named by the Pope for the Island diocese. A great spirit of expectation and excitement filled the majestic Cathedral Basilica on that very warm afternoon! It was very fitting that the new bishop’s installation ceremony took place on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, a major feast in the Roman Catholic Church which commemorates the two pillars of the Church.
The installation ceremony solemnly began with Bishop-elect Joseph Dabrowski knocking on the door of the Church. He was accompanied by Fr. Brian MacDougall, Diocesan Administrator and Fr. Chris Sherren, Chancellor. The Apostolic Nuncio to Canada (Papal Ambassador) asked in a booming voice from the altar: “Who goes there?” Fr. MacDougall responded: “The Bishop of Charlottetown wishes to take his chair.” The Nuncio responded: “Let him proceed.” Bishop Dabrowski then entered the Cathedral Basilica and Fr. MacDougall presented him the crucifix and the bishop kissed it. The bishop was then presented with holy water, and he blessed himself and all those around him. He then proceeded to the altar accompanied by the opening hymn. Thus began the long and beautiful liturgy, rich with history, symbolism and meaning. Frs. Keith Kennific, Rector of the Cathedral Basilica, and Andrew Handrahan were masters of ceremony for the installation Mass.
Once Bishop Joseph arrived at the altar, the Papal Nuncio requested that the Papal decree which officially named Bishop Dabrowski to Charlottetown be read. Then the Bishop formally took his seat and was presented with the crozier, the sign of his pastoral office as Bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown. He was then greeted by thunderous applause and by a representative group of faithful from throughout the diocese. Included among this group were Indigenous faithful from the Mi’kmaq community who presented Bishop Joseph with an eagle feather, a powerful symbol in Native culture that symbolizes trust, high honour, wisdom and spiritual connection. Many understood from that symbolic gesture the Bishop’s deep commitment to dialogue and reconciliation with our Native sisters and brothers.
Readers for the various biblical texts for the Mass were in various languages, including Bishop Dabrowski’s mother tongue of Polish. A large, choir comprised of various parish choirs from throughout the diocese provided the beautiful music for the installation ceremony. They even learned a hauntingly beautiful Taizé chant that echoed throughout the basilica: during the communion rite: “Wysławiajcie Pana” or “Praise the Lord.” That chat still echoes in my mind to this day! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VADNIOibs8o
Bishop Dabrowski comes to the Island as a man of the Church with a rich, pastoral experience that has spanned continents and won the hearts of many people in his native Poland, Italy and most especially in the Diocese of London, Ontario, where Bishop Joseph served as priest and Auxiliary bishop prior to his appointment to Charlottetown this year. He paid special tribute to three individuals at the beginning of his homily: Pope Francis, Bishop of Rome, who named Dabrowski to Charlottetown, Bishop Richard Grecco, his immediate predecessor in the diocese (2009 – 2021) who, due to his health condition, was unable to be present for the ceremony, and Bishop Ronald Fabbro, CSB, with whom Bishop Dabrowski worked closely for the past eight years in the Diocese of London.
In thanking Pope Francis, Dabrowski said that the Argentine Pope was a true “Pontifex”, a builder of bridges in a world that too often erects solitudes, walls and divisions. For us, he is an extraordinary and gentle shepherd with a universal heart who won us over with his contagious smile, his genuine kindness, his pastoral wisdom and his common sense.” Those words did not fall on deaf ears in the Basilica.
In acknowledging Bishop Grecco, Dabrowski paid tribute to Grecco’s “outstanding leadership and his love and devotion for the priests, religious and people of this diocese.” Grecco’s brother, Fr. Dennis Grecco, current rector of St. Peter’s Seminary in the Diocese of London, represented his brother Richard at the Charlottetown installation Mass. Bishop Dabrowski also acknowledged the presence of many civic authorities and ecumenical and interfaith leaders and pledged his collaboration and support of each of them. Many of Bishop Dabrowski’s family traveled from Poland, Italy and Germany to the installation ceremony. Several members of the Bishop’s religious family, the Polish Michaelite Fathers were also present, along with the Michaelite Superior General, Fr. Dariusz Wilk who heads the international order.
Charlottetown’s new bishop seized the opportunity to reflect on the biblical readings in a masterful, multi-lingual homily in English, Polish, French, Italian and Spanish for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, pillars of the Church. His words gave the people of his new diocese a glimpse into who their new shepherd is. Dabrowski said: “As ordinary men, Peter and Paul might have avoided each other from time to time. Peter was a fisherman from the Sea of Galilee and Paul a Greek-educated intellectual. But Jesus brought them together as a sign that His Church, in which the entire spectrum of humanity, would find a new place to call home. Together they worked to build the Church. Together they witnessed to Christ. Together they suffered the death of their Lord at murderous hands. They had a unity that transcended all differences. They teach us about the depth of Christian commitment.”
The Bishop also reflected on the poignant Gospel story for the day in speaking about Jesus’ journey to the area of Caesarea Philippi in northern Israel… “to an area that was a foreign place to the apostles, who were more familiar with towns and the lakeside. In this centre of power, sophistication, and widespread pagan worship, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks what people are saying about him. How do they see his work? Who is he in their minds”… Undoubtedly the Disciples were surprised by his question and search their memories for “what they have heard about Jesus” in Galilean fishing towns. Some say individual Christians should be Elijah figures, publicly confronting systems, institutions, and national policies. That was the way Elijah saw his task. Some say, like Jeremiah, that the reign of Christ is the personal and private side of life. And there are indeed many who would like to reduce religion and faith to a private affair in our world today. Jesus probes beyond both approaches and asks, “You, who do you say I am?”
In Peter’s answer, “You are the Messiah,” blurted out with his typical impulsiveness, we are given a concept that involves both of the above ideas and goes beyond them. The Messiah came into society, and into individual lives, in a total way, reconciling the distinction between public and private. The quality of our response to this question is the best definition of the quality of our discipleship. Everyone at some stage must come to Caesarea Philippi and answer the question, “You, who do you say I am?” We all need to ask ourselves, “Where are the Caesarea Philippi places in my life where I have been challenged to identify Christ for whom he really is for me, for the Church and for the world?”
Following the scriptural reflection, Bishop Dabrowski, though a stranger to the Island, told his audience that he knew something about PEI! He shared his personal reflection of seeing the Confederation Bridge for the first time several weeks prior to his formal installation ceremony. He said that this massive bridge “is a powerful symbol for us and for the Church in Charlottetown. Our Diocesan Church is about the work of building bridges, as well as being a bridge.”The bridge symbolism gave him the opportunity to acknowledge the many people, religious communities and institutions of Charlottetown that have built bridges and been a bridge to the world of learning, education, health care and religious dialogue. Dabrowski pledged to be a strong bridge builder and encouraged all those present in the Basilica to be bridge builders with PEI society and the nation around us. He even acknowledged the personal privilege and honor he now has to be the bishop of Anne of Green Gables!
Dabrowski concluded his homily at Mass reminding the faithful that his name is Joseph, like the figure of Joseph of the famed Old Testament Genesis story. Dabrowski said: “In scenes worthy of a great opera, Joseph questions his brothers, who do not recognize him, about their beloved father, who was still grieving over the supposed death of his missing son. Joseph turns aside to weep, then reveals his identity to the trembling consternation of his brothers: “I am Joseph, your brother.”
It was eminently clear to all that the Diocese of Charlottetown has received a great pastor with a heart open to the world, an eloquent and multilingual shepherd who is a bridge builder, shepherd, friend, and brother to all. Ad multos annos, Bishop Dabrowski in Charlottetown! In your native tongue: “Sto lat!” (Traditional Polish song expressing good wishes, good health and a long life to someone!)