Commentary : Remembering Bishop Johnson

There are many memories that I will always cherish from my personal relationship with Bishop William R. Johnson, the first bishop of the Catholic Church of Orange. Having been chosen by him to be his secretary for the past three years, I was privileged to live with him, to pray with him, and to be influenced by him in ways that many others were not able. Of the many memories that I have, probably the most vivid deal with some of the phrases that he used over and over again.

I know that on the night of July 28, when Bishop Johnson breathed his last, the first words that came to my mind while standing at his bedside were: “Thanks be to God.”

My use of that phrase was not just a reaction; rather, it came from a deep sense of relief that this man who suffered so much physical pain had been released from it and was now at peace. These words came from a belief that the bishop was hearing the Lord, whom he served as priest for 42 years, say to him: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” These words also came to my heart in personal thanks for all that Bishop Johnson meant to me--as my bishop, as a man, as my mentor, and as one who loved me very much.

In all honesty, the words “thanks be to God” were not representatve of my real feelings when I was asked by Bishop Johnson to be his secretary.

Enjoying the ministry as a parish priest, I thought that being his secretary would put me out of touch with the people--losing the ministerial dimension of the priesthood. I also did not really want to return to study. Part of my becoming the bishop’s secretary was to enter the masters of social work program at the University of Southern California.

When I asked the bishop why he wanted me to study social work, he said, “Because I have a degree in social work.”

Not content with that, I pressed him further. He looked at me and said, “Because going to social work school will hopefully get you to change your bourgeois mentality.” I remember being stung by that comment (and wishing that I hadn’t asked). Thanks be to God that I went.

Bishop closely followed my course of study and showed great interest in the field work I was doing with the homeless and the poor. His concern for my studies was overshadowed by the effect that it was having on me. We would sit for long periods of time and talk about the course work. His thoughtful and concise questions always challenged me to dig deeper, think more clearly and act with conviction.

Of special remembrance is the way bishop inspired me to work for a food center in the Wilmington area. He was most keen on not only providing a place for food but also a place of hope and new beginnings for the poor and homeless. Just giving a meal was not enough. Bishop’s point was that dignity must be restored and opportunities found for those whose lives had been devastated by mental illness, poverty and unemployment. In his quiet and inspired way he worked hard to get me to change my bourgeois mentality. Thanks be to God he did.

Another of bishop’s favorite phrases was “rejoice and be glad.” As I traveled throughout the diocese with him, he would usually end a meeting and day with this phrase. I was always struck by this. He carried the concerns and the hurts of his people and was well aware that living an authentic Christian life brought necessary pain and suffering.

In his own physical suffering and all of the confusion that came with it, bishop repeated again and again, “Rejoice and be glad.” His faith in God, his belief in each of us having an eternal destiny, and his fondness of simple joys must have been the foundation on which his perseverance rested.

Although difficult in his last few months, he worked hard at finding the bright side to his condition, goodness in others, and enjoyment in the successes and the growth of the diocese. Tempted toward bitterness due to his weakening condition, he found strength in his family, close friends, prayers that were offered for him, and the loving care of those attending to his physical needs. Sensitive to the pain that we all were experiencing for him, he would look at us and say, “Rejoice and be glad.” Those words came back to me as I stood at bishop’s coffin in Holy Family Cathedral. I could hear him say to me, “John, rejoice and be glad.”

Now that Bishop Johnson has gone to his Lord, as the days pass and the pain of him being gone begins to diminish, and our diocese looks forward in hope to a new bishop and new opportunities for spreading the Gospel message, I trust that I will not return to a bourgeois mentality.

I want to remember to rejoice and be glad, and to live my life in thanks to God. In those ways, I will give fitting testimony and honor to the one who ordained me as priest, inspired me to be fully human, challenged me to be more than I thought could be possible, and loved me with the affection of a father.

For me, there is nothing more to say except, “Thanks be to God.”