THE GOOD NEWS
ARCHBISHOP BELTRAN

The Good News

....from Rome

With great joy, I am writing this report to you while still in Rome.  I have spent the past week here with the other bishops of Region X (Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma).  We have come here for our Ad Limina visit which is normally made every five years.  It is a special time for bishops to report to the Holy Father on the condition and faith life of the Church in our respective dioceses.  It is also a special time for the Pope to fulfill the biblical commission to strengthen and encourage his brother bishops.  He does this personally, joyfully and enthusiastically.

One of the principal requirements of the Ad Limina visit is to celebrate Mass at the tombs of the Apostles, Peter and Paul who were martyred here in Rome.  Therefore, on Monday morning, May 17th, the bishops of Region X gathered around the altar at the Tomb of Saint Peter for a concelebrated Mass.  Then on Thursday, May 20th, we went to the Basilica of Saint Paul (Outside the Walls) where we celebrated the Eucharist at the Tomb of Saint Paul.  The bishops, as successors of the Apostles, came to pray for wisdom, faith and courage to continue the mission Jesus gave to His Church.  We came also to pray for you, the people of our dioceses, that together we would faithfully collaborate and give witness to the whole world that Jesus is Lord and Redeemer.

During the Ad Limina week, we had the opportunity to visit many of the principal offices of the Church.  There we were able to express our hopes and our concerns and hear the advice and recommendations from the officials.  It was an inspiration as well as an opportunity to appreciate the Church Universal.  It was a time of sharing and learning - a unique time of God’s grace as we experienced our Catholicity in action.

As mentioned above, one of the principal reasons for the Ad Limina visit is to meet with the Pope.  In the past, Pope John Paul II met numerous times with each bishop and with the group.  Now, because of his age, he has somewhat reduced his time with us.  However, during our week, we did have three wonderful opportunities to visit with him, including the totally private meeting for each bishop.  I was fortunate to have my private meeting with the Holy Father on Tuesday, May 18th, which happened to be his eighty-fourth birthday!

After greeting the Pope and wishing him a very blessed and happy birthday, I then began to tell him about the great faith of the people of our Archdiocese.  He commented that this is a special blessing and we need to continue to grow in holiness.  I assured him that on both the archdiocesan and the local parish level, we would make every effort to follow faithfully the teachings and directives Jesus gives us through our Catholic Church.

The Holy Father also asked me about the vocation situation in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.  I informed him that while we do not have a large number of seminarians, our candidates are good and solid men of faith.  I told him that we would have two ordinations in June and continue to pray and work for more vocations.  He said he knew how difficult this is but it is essential.  He then inquired about religious life and said we must also encourage young women to become sisters.  I assured him that our Vocations Office strives to promote religious as well as priestly vocations.  I  mentioned that my oldest sister is a missionary in Liberia, Africa.  He asked many questions about her and her work and blessed her, too.

The Holy Father seemed very pleased when I informed him about the steps we have taken with our planning process, Quest 2000, which led us directly into RENEW.  He was most encouraging when I told him that following RENEW our principal endeavor will be evangelization.  And, indeed, I intend this to be our primary thrust from now on.

To meet privately with the Pope and to be encouraged by him is a wonderful blessing.  But he blessed not only me.  He directly and explicitly extended his blessing to everyone of you who make up this glorious Church of our Archdiocese.  May God bless all of us!

The day after my private meeting with the Holy Father, I attended his public audience in Saint Peter’s Square.  Despite his advanced age, he evidenced great stamina and determination as he addressed the crowds of thousands of people in many languages.

My third meeting with the Holy Father was on Saturday, May 22nd.  This was a special meeting for the bishops of Region X.  As spokesman for our region, I addressed the Holy Father briefly.  He then gave us a short version of his prepared talk.  Following that, I introduced each bishop by name and mentioned his diocese.  As each bishop came forward, the Holy Father blessed him and presented him with the full text of his talk and a beautiful Pectoral Cross.  This audience of the bishops of our region concluded our Ad Limina visit this year.  We all look forward to returning five years from now for Pope John Paul’s eighty-ninth birthday!