In his farewell homily June 20 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock, departing Bishop J. Peter Sartain once again directed his listeners toward Jesus, the only one who he said can “answer every need.”
Addressing priests, religious, seminarians and parishioners who had come from across the Diocese of Little Rock, the bishop confessed he had been tempted to try to satisfy all the needs of the diocese himself, but “St. Paul reminds us that it is not ourselves we preach, but Christ Jesus, and him crucified.” (Click here for the complete homily.)
The 6 p.m. Mass was celebrated one week before he was installed June 27 as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, Ill.
“Tonight I would like to say to you, my friends, that I will always be grateful to God that he sent me to you. You have been a wonderful blessing,” Bishop Sartain said. “By sending me to you, God blessed me in ways beyond counting.”
Presentations by the Knights of Columbus, Catholic schools of Arkansas and Msgr. Scott Marczuk, cathedral rector, were given at the close of the Mass to thank the bishop for leading Arkansans to Christ for the past six years.
Arkansas State Council representatives Steve Bell and John Hertzog gave Bishop Sartain a spiritual bouquet and an Arkansas Traveler Certificate signed by Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Bell said the 6,626 members statewide had been praying the rosary for the bishop since his appointment to Joliet was announced May 16.
Hertzog read the certificate, which named the bishop “an ambassador of good will” to represent Arkansas anywhere he travels or resides.
On behalf of 8,000 Catholic school students statewide, Vernell Bowen, superintendent of Catholic schools, gave Bishop Sartain a “framed flower garden” created by some of the students.
Embedded in the petals of the rainbow of flowers, created from paper and paint, were the names of all 35 schools, and under each name was the religious medal of each school’s patron saint.
Pointing to the two lancet stained glass windows hidden behind the bishop’s chair, Msgr. Marczuk told the bishop he would be “forever etched into the fabric of this building.”
The two new windows featuring St. Peter Claver and Our Lady of Guadalupe were dedicated in memory of Bishop Sartain’s late parents, Joseph Martin “Pete” and Catherine Poole Sartain last fall. Photos of the two windows were framed and given to the bishop.
“As you look upon those windows and remember your parents, also remember the beloved family in Christ that you leave behind,” Msgr. Marczuk said.
After the Mass Mike Rose, a member of Christ the King in Little Rock, told Arkansas Catholic he is “really going to miss Bishop Sartain.”
“He’s a man who would give the shirt off his back for you,” he said.
Referring to the bishop’s homily, U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes, a cathedral member, said, “That’s what has made him a great bishop is the realization that he’s here to preach Christ and that’s what he’s done is brought Christ to us.”
After the Mass a reception was held in McDonald Hall were a line of people formed to say goodbye. The bishop stood and took photos with parishioners until after 9 p.m.
Juan Guido, 19, a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock, recently completed his first year of college as a seminarian for the diocese. He attends St. Joseph Seminary in Covington, La.
He recalled meeting the bishop in 2001 when he was 15 and learning to speak English. At the same time Bishop Sartain was learning to speak Spanish.
Guido said it is “really hard” to say goodbye. “He has become my friend, my father … (and) hero.”
“He didn’t think twice when the pope appointed him in 2000,” Guido said of the bishop. “This year the pope appointed him to go to another diocese and he said yes. He always says yes. So the answer for me in those times will be yes always. … It’s good to know I have a hero who leads you to say yes.”