Pope Benedict XVI conferred an honorary title on Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert in recognition of how he has served the diocese “with distinction and commitment.”
The title, protonotary apostolic supernumerary, is the highest of the honors given to a monsignor. While Msgr. Herbert was named a monsignor in 1989, the additional title was requested by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor to recognize Msgr. Hebert, especially because he served as diocesan administrator from June 2006 to June 2008.
A Mass of investiture was held Nov. 20 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock. Concelebrating the Mass with Bishop Taylor were Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald of Palatine, Ill., Msgr. Scott Friend, the diocese’s new vicar general (See related story), and 40 priests of the diocese.
In attendance were Msgr. Hebert’s two nephews, Bart Newman and John Newman, both of Hot Springs, and niece Gay McCullum of Albuquerque, N.M., and their spouses.
As required for the investiture, Msgr. Herbert read a profession of faith to Bishop Taylor before the Mass. During the liturgy, he signed the profession of faith at the altar as well as signed and read an act of fidelity to the pope. The profession of faith and act of fidelity also were signed by the bishop.
In front of a congregation of 300 people, including members of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the bishop gave Msgr. Hebert the decree from Pope Benedict XVI making him a protonotary apostolic. The honoree was also presented with a papal stamp, similar to what notaries have, to use on papal decrees. Priests in the Vatican Curia would likely use the stamp, but Msgr. Hebert admitted, “I doubt I would ever use mine.” Outside the Vatican, the title is more honorary than functional.
Msgr. Hebert admitted that he was not completely familiar with the honorary title and what comes with it when the bishop notified him of the investiture by phone.
“I googled it, under Wikipedia,” he told Arkansas Catholic.
Before the Second Vatican Council, priests with the protonotary apostolic title could wear regalia similar to a bishop, including a miter, ring and pectoral cross. The only hold-over from the previous era was a floor-length, fuchsia ferraiolo, or cape, which can be worn on special occasions outside of liturgies. Bishop Taylor presented one to Msgr. Hebert to wear at the reception following the Mass.
“Until 1968, they wore a lot of the garments that a bishop would wear,” Msgr. Hebert said in an interview with Arkansas Catholic.
Three deceased Arkansas priests over the past 40 years have been able to put the initials P.A. after their name: Msgr. Francis McKee, Msgr. Francis Allen and Msgr. James O’Connell.
Msgr. Hebert, a native of Hot Springs, was ordained in 1960. He has worked as a teacher at Catholic High School and pastor at St. Paul Church in Pocahontas and Christ the King Church in Little Rock until he retired in 2001. He was the vicar general for the diocese from 1988 to 2006. Today he lives in retirement in Hot Springs.
In his homily, Bishop Taylor noted that the “priesthood is a labor of love.” (Read the entire homily.)
“From the outside it can look like a very demanding life, but it doesn’t necessarily feel that way on the inside — not if embraced with love, at least most of the time,” he said.
“I also want to remind you that even though you are retired, your labor of love has not come to an end — there’s no vacation from a vocation,” the bishop said. “I seem to recall that you were retired once before and when Jesus called you out of retirement two and a half years ago to tend his sheep once again, you responded ’Yes Lord, you know that I love you … I’ll do whatever you want.’ And I’m sure your response would be the same again today. In fact, what exactly is the job description of a protonotary apostolic supernumerary?”
At the end of Mass, Msgr. Hebert stood in front of the altar where he delivered homilies for 20 years as pastor of Christ the King and spoke from the heart about the honor. A couple of times he had to hold back tears as he spoke about the brotherhood he shares with the other priests.
Msgr. Hebert said he was grateful for the honor, but did not see himself differently than any other priest.
“I look at myself and I know there is nothing in me that is extraordinary,” he said. “Absolutely nothing beyond what each of you do. So in a sense, this honor is an honor of the priesthood of Jesus Christ in you. I know that I am not extraordinarily bright … Some of you are much better read and much better educated … I have been blessed with all of these things that came along. I was in the right place at the right time.”
Msgr. Hebert then reflected on his 48 years of priesthood and his various parish and diocesan assignments.
Speaking to the congregation, he said, “To me it has all been blessing. The little things that were difficult, they’re gone. The blessings came through you. That is how I was blessed. God, in his love for me, blessed me through you. So whatever we are honoring here tonight, it’s not me. It’s what God did in you to help me become whatever it is I have become.”