CAMDEN – Reflecting on the life of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, “a man whose faith was wired to God and the Church,” Bishop Dennis Sullivan called the late pontiff a perfect example of how individuals can reveal to the world their “identity as a baptized Christian.”
PHOTO GALLERY: Bishop Sullivan celebrates Mass for Pope Benedict
Noting a man whose faith was greatly formed by the “kindness of his mother” and “his father’s clear-eyed faith,” Bishop Sullivan praised the vast writings that then- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and, later, Pope Benedict XVI, undertook throughout his lifetime, which included topics such as Jesus of Nazareth; relativism, or the belief “that doesn’t recognize anything certain,” and “the abandonment of moral truth.”
These “marvelous contributions to Western thought and civilization” will continue to influence others for centuries, Bishop Sullivan expressed confidently.
The Bishop celebrated Mass on Jan. 6 at Camden’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in remembrance of the influential spiritual leader and theologian who died Dec. 31 at age 95. The bilingual Mass, which was livestreamed on all diocesan media, was concelebrated by priests of the Diocese including Father Robert Hughes, diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Father Jason Rocks, diocesan chancellor and pastor of Holy Eucharist Parish, Cherry Hill; Father Nicholas Dudo, diocesan vicar for clergy; Father Adam Cichoski and Father Stephen Robbins, the Cathedral’s rector and part-time parochial vicar, respectively, and Father Robert Gregorio.
Bishop Sullivan led all in a prayer for the soul of the retired pope, with all asking God that this man who “governed your Church with love … and was an instrument of your peace [be granted] the reward of eternal happiness.”
After Mass, Father Robbins reflected upon the writings of Pope Benedict that he studied while in the seminary.
“Almost every course I took, we read something from him, such as ‘Jesus of Nazareth,’ ‘The Spirit of the Liturgy,’ or ‘Introduction to Christianity,’” Father Robbins recalled.
He said he was thankful to concelebrate the Mass and to “pray for the repose of the soul of someone who exuded such peace, tranquility and holiness … [someone] who has affected me so much, left his mark on the Church and set it on a good pathway forward.”
Kate Creel, a parishioner of Williamstown’s Our Lady of Peace Parish, made the trip to Camden to pay her respects to a figure who she admits she is just getting to know, though she has friends and family “who speak so highly of him.” She said she is excited to learn more about this spiritual giant and his faith.
“I wanted to be here to unite myself with the Catholic Church and pray,” she said.
To watch a replay of the livestream Mass celebrated by Bishop Sullivan, go to youtube.com/camdendiocese or CLICK HERE.
at the bottom and then tap “Add to Home Screen”
