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CSC Alumni receive the honor of monsignor
By Kevin Kelly
Special to Tower Topics
Nine alumni of Conception Seminary College were among the 11 priests of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph elevated to the honor of monsignor at a Solemn Vespers Nov. 26, 2006.
Among them was Father Donald Miller, 90, who died less than a month after receiving the honor.
When Father Miller was told of his honor on Oct. 3, he told Bishop Robert W. Finn that Pope Benedict XVI must have made a mistake.
"I assured monsignor that the Holy Father is infallible and could not be mistaken in this," Bishop Finn quipped in his homily at the Nov. 26 vespers at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Kansas City, Mo.
Four new monsignors, alumni of Conception Seminary College, with the title Prelates of Honor pray during a Nov. 26 Solemn Vespers. They are, from left, Msgrs. Bradley S. Offutt, Robert S. Gregory, A. Robert Murphy and Richard M. Dierkes.
The service, held on the afternoon of the last day of the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend, drew a near-capacity congregation. Most of the hundreds who came to pray stayed to honor the monsignors at a reception at Donnelly Hall.
Bishop Finn noted that the new monsignors, the first named since 1968, are a fitting tribute to the priesthood of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph as the diocese celebrates the 50th anniversary of the merger of the former Diocese of Kansas City and the Diocese of St. Joseph.
The new alumni monsignors are:
- Msgr. William J. Blacet, a monsignor since 1968 and now elevated to the highest title of Monsignor Protonotary Apostolic. Msgr. Blacet is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Kansas City.
- Msgr. A. Robert Murphy, named Prelate of Honor, the second highest rank. Msgr. Murphy serves as diocesan vicar general.
- Msgr. Bradley S. Offutt, named Prelate of Honor. Msgr. Offutt serves as diocesan chancellor.
- Msgr. Robert S. Gregory, named Prelate of Honor. Msgr. Gregory serves as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
- Msgr. Richard M. Dierkes, named Prelate of Honor. Msgr. Dierkes serves as rector of the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph.
- Msgr. A. William Caldwell, named Chaplain to His Holiness. Msgr. Caldwell is pastor of St. Ann Parish in Excelsior Springs.
- Msgr. Ralph L. Kaiser, named Chaplain to His Holiness. Msgr. Kaiser serves as pastor of Church of the Santa Fe in Buckner.
- Msgr. Donald S. Miller, since deceased.
- Msgr. Lawrence E. Speichinger, named Chaplain to His Holiness. Msgr. Speichinger is retired.
Like Monsignor Miller, the other priests reacted with humility, Bishop Finn recalled.
"Others expressed some embarrassment at the honor, not wishing to be singled out over their brothers," the bishop said. "Perhaps this humility is one factor that recommends them for these titles."
Bishop Finn acknowledged that there were more priests as worthy of the honor as the 11 publicly recognized at Vespers on the afternoon of the Feast of Christ the King.
"We are truly blessed with many wonderful priests. We thank God for them all," he said.
But the honors bestowed on those 11 men serve as a reminder of the importance and mission of the priesthood as the diocese celebrates its golden jubilee, the bishop said.
"The admission of these priests to the distinctive ranks within the household of the Pope is a visible reminder of our charge to be priests, not only of the local diocese, but at the service of the greater apostolic mission of the church throughout the world," Bishop Finn said.
"The church is not formless or vague," he said. "It is a fully functioning Body of Christ. It requires every member to participate in the holiness of Christ the head––each according to their particular station in life: ordained, consecrated or lay faithful."
Noting that Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the U.S., reminded the U.S. bishops at their November meeting of the "joy of fidelity" to the church and her magisterium or teaching authority, Bishop Finn also noted Pope Benedict's words to the bishops of Ireland that "only the fullness of the faith can communicate the liberating power of the Gospel."
"We are entrusted with the privilege of teaching as an expression of authentic evangelization, 'good news' to be shared in its integrity and power with every human heart," Bishop Finn said.
"The Church is a procession of God's providential love," the bishop said. "It moves steadily toward the Father's house as the Church Triumphant in heaven, the Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering in purgatory.”
"We journey as ranks of angels and men, saints and sinners," Bishop Finn said. "Each celebration of the Sacred Mysteries, the liturgy of the church, is a directing of our minds and hearts, and the vitality of the Church, not toward ourselves or each other, but rather toward Jesus Christ the King."
Bishop Finn said that "this holy order of the Church is the machinery of Christ - touched and softened by the personal and saving love of his Sacred Heart."
"He is at the center of what we do," Bishop Finn said.
"In our prayer tonight, we gather as members of the universe of living mankind over which we beg Jesus Christ to take his rightful place as king," the bishop said.
Bishop Finn also invoked the protection of St. Joseph, patron of the former Diocese of St. Joseph. "May this manly patron protect our families and the whole household of faith," he said.
He also invoked the aid of Mary, the mother of God.
"May Mary, in her patronal title of the Immaculate Conception, keep this Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in unity around its bishop and steady on the path to her son. May she who is the 'mother of priests' bless our brothers, our new monsignors, with every grace of joy and peace."
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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