(On April 4, 2019, Pope Francis named Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory as the new archbishop of Washington.  To mark the first anniversary since his appointment, here are some of the things that Archbishop Gregory said in homilies or talks or wrote in columns as the archbishop of Washington.)

Opening statement 

This is excerpted from Archbishop Wilton Gregory’s opening statement at an April 4 press conference at the Archdiocese of Washington’s Pastoral Center after Pope Francis had named him that morning as the new archbishop of Washington.

“…This is obviously a moment fraught with challenges – throughout our entire Catholic Church certainly, but nowhere more so than in this local faith community. And as in any family, challenges can only be overcome by a firmly articulated resolve and commitment to be better. To know Christ better. To love Christ better. To serve Christ better. I would be naïve not to acknowledge the unique task that awaits us. Yet I know, as I have always known, that I can and will rely on the grace of God and on the goodness of the people of this local Church to help me fulfill these new responsibilities. 

“I want to come to know you, to hear your stories, to listen to the emotions, experiences, and expectations that have shaped your precious Catholic faith – for better or for worse. I want to offer you hope. I will rebuild your trust. 

“I cannot undo the past, but I sincerely believe that together we will not merely address the moments where we’ve fallen short or failed outright, but we will model for all the life and teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and we will reclaim the future. For our families. For those who will follow us. That is my greatest – indeed, it is my only – aspiration…”

Installation Mass

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s homily at his May 21, 2019 Mass of Installation as the seventh archbishop of Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception:

“…We stand at a defining moment for this local faith community – our hearts are filled with hope and eagerness. The storied history of this great Archdiocese is a gift to the Church in the United States of America. Our recent sorrow and shame do not define us; rather, they serve to chasten and strengthen us to face tomorrow with spirits undeterred. Together, we implore the Holy Spirit to fortify us with the grace, perseverance and determination that only Christ Himself is able to provide as a gift of His presence, peace and promise.

“…While I know in my heart – and I believe that you know in your hearts as well – that Jesus is in the boat with us during tempestuous times, I confess that I don’t possess the words to put every soul at ease, to assuage every fear, to lessen every pain. But I do remind you – even as I sometimes have to remind myself – that He is here. He is here when the seas are calm, and He is here during every moment of uncertainty, anger, fear, and shame. He invites us to place our trust in Him – not in trite and easy answers or programs – but in Him and Him alone. He will calm and steady His Church not through any single minister. Rather, He wants nothing more than for us to trust Him to bring us back safely to shore and even be bolstered by the trials that we have endured. And He always does.”

A child’s insight

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Aug. 22, 2019 “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“As you may imagine, I have received a great many messages of welcome since my appointment as your archbishop. Overwhelmingly they have been kind, supportive and reassuring. Some have outlined detailed courses of action for my consideration. Others have recommended things that I ought to do – or ought not to do. Nearly all have offered heartfelt prayers for my success as your new archbishop, and I sincerely appreciate and reciprocate every promise of prayer.

“One such message in particular touched my heart deeply. It came from a youngster at St. John the Evangelist Catholic School in Silver Spring, and simply said; ‘Make Jesus Proud!’ With the profound simplicity and innocence of a child, that poster card-written note captured intentions that many lengthier and perhaps more sophisticated expressions have attempted to convey but simply could not match – in either their impact or their brevity!”

Young adult Catholics

The following are excerpts from Archbishop Gregory’s talk with young adult Catholics at an Aug. 13, 2019 Theology on Tap gathering at Public Bar Live in Washington, D.C.:

“You cannot be a Catholic and sit on the sidelines. To be a member of the Church means you’ve got to get in and get your hands dirty in the mix of the whole arena of faith from what we believe and profess to how we live and treat one another…

“To belong to a family means that you are invested in the life, the struggles, the pain, the joys that belong to being a member of this family, and that includes our faith, what we hold as true, and also it involves our investment in social justice dimensions of our faith. You can’t be a good Catholic invested in Eucharistic Adoration, but unconcerned about the poor, those waiting to be born, those on death row. You’ve got to buy the whole lot.”

Against divisive speech

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Aug. 1, 2019 statement against divisive speech.

“In my brief time in Washington, I have been doing a lot of listening and learning. I have promised to try to preach the Gospel, tell the truth and attempt to heal wounds in the body of Christ and our broader community. I have stressed that I am a pastor and fellow disciple of Jesus, not a political leader.

“There are, however, sometimes, when a pastor and a disciple of Jesus is called to speak out to defend the dignity of all God’s children.

“I fear that recent public comments by our President and others and the responses they have generated, have deepened divisions and diminished our national life…

“Our faith teaches us that respect for people of every race, religion, gender, ethnicity and background are requirements of fundamental human dignity and basic decency. This include newcomers to our country, people who have differing political views and people who may be different from us. Comments which dismiss, demean or demonize any of God’s children are destructive of the common good and a denial of our national pledge of ‘liberty and justice for all.’

“…As an American, a Christian, a Catholic pastor, I pray that our president, other national leaders and all Americans will do all we can to respect the dignity of all God’s children and nothing to further divide our nation. The growing plague of offense and disrespect in speech and actions must end.”

The Eucharist

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Sept. 5, 2019 “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“Occasionally, a married couple will approach the Eucharist side-by-side – even holding hands as a sign of their married union that is strengthened by the Lord’s own gift of self. The aged and infirm sometimes need our assistance and support as they approach the altar or wait for Communion to be brought to them. They too are an impressive symbol of how the Church must continue to strengthen and to accompany those who seek the Lord. First Holy Communicants are a universally cherished sign and reminder of the excitement we all felt when first we received the Lord’s Eucharist.

“…We all need the Eucharist, from the archbishop to the youngest communicant. The Eucharist is the Church’s very source of life.”

Welcoming people with disabilities

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Oct. 3, 2019 “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“This past weekend, I had a very poignant and wonderful visit with Saint Francis Parish for the Deaf. It was an important reminder for me of the presence and the blessings of this community of people who may need a little modification for their involvement in parish life, but who provide a double dose of warmth and goodness. Our Church must always keep in mind the special grace our brothers and sisters with disabilities bring to our parish families. The modest adjustments that we make to help them to participate in the community’s life are always well worth that effort.

“These wonderful folks who may have the need for some modest accommodations in our parishes help us to see God’s hand in creation. They remind us of the gifts that so many of us may simply take for granted. They also witness the great strength and determination that people often have in rising above the challenges that we all might face in life.

“Almost every parish currently has a box or step behind the ambo to help shorter adults or kids to reach the microphone and the lectern when they are readers at Mass. Handrails that are placed in strategic locations to assist those with mobility issues enter the sanctuary are now commonplace. A few parishes have pews that are designed to accommodate people who are seated in wheelchairs or who might need some extra space in church. Then there are the many communities who use people who sign for the hearing impaired. Almost every parish has designated parking places for those who need to be closer to the church entrance than most of us. 

“Each of these gestures of welcome make life easier for a number of our folks to take part in parish worship and activities. They have become so routine that most of us do not even notice them. But those who need them do find them to be welcome conveniences that allow people to feel at home in parish life.”

Opposing the death penalty

Archbishop Gregory participated in an U.S. bishops’ roundtable discussion on the death penalty live streamed on Oct. 10, 2019 by the Catholic News Service in Washington. Here are excerpts from a CNS article by Carol Zimmermann quoting the archbishop’s comments on that issue:

When the bishops were asked how opposition to the death penalty can be seen as a pro-life issue, Archbishop Gregory said, “It makes us violent to do violence against another human being,” whether that person is waiting to be born, has reached the end of life or has committed a serious crime. They all “belong to God’s creation,” he said.

…The bishops also spoke about problems with the death penalty. Archbishop Gregory mentioned cases where plaintiffs of color were not given a jury of their peers and also when DNA results have exonerated death row prisoners.

…Archbishop Gregory said victims’ families often “offer a wonderful witness of mercy when from the depths of their hurt, the depths of their sorrow they find it in their heart to forgive.” That act of forgiveness, he said, is the “antidote to the violence that seems to surround us.”

Archbishop Gregory stressed that Catholics need to understand what is at stake for the nation as a whole with its continuing use of capital punishment. “We need to find a way to make sure that our people understand that the Gospel calls us to mercy, and that is a nonnegotiable dimension of our faith,” he said.

The archbishop also acknowledged that this isn’t an easy message to follow. “Mercy is never cheap,” he said. “Mercy has a price, but the price of not being merciful is more destructive than most people will understand.”

Interfaith cooperation

This is excerpted from some of Archbishop Gregory’s comments at an Oct. 9, 2019 panel discussion at Washington Hebrew Congregation on anti-Semitism and addressing hatred in today’s culture:

“We cannot live apart. If we live apart, we allow the hatred that seems to need the soil of ignorance to develop, to take root. The involvement we have as Jews, as Christians, as Muslims, as Hindus… has never been more needed. We need to work collaboratively and closely to respond to these issues of hatred and violence, no matter who the target might be.”

Opposing anti-Semitism

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Dec. 30, 2019 statement, following a string of attacks that targeted the Jewish community:

“…Along with Catholics of the Archdiocese of Washington, I stand in support of and solidarity with all members of the Jewish community in these difficult moments. We must work together with all people of good will to eradicate all attitudes of hatred and bigotry that lead to such actions, and seek to build bridges of trust, mutual respect, and dialogue among members of all faith communities.

“I invite Catholics of the archdiocese to accompany and support our Jewish neighbors in these tragic times. In walking together, we can give an effective witness against anti-Semitism and work to protect the rights of people of every religious tradition to practice their beliefs openly and without fear.” 

Dr. King and life issues

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s Jan. 23, 2020 “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“Two national commemorative events have coincided during the month of January for the past four decades: the national activities that mark the observance of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision, and the annual tributes in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“While these observances are distinct in origin, they are linked in very many ways as they call our nation to our glaring need to recommit ourselves to the unfinished quest for the recognition of the worth of all human life.

“…It is encouraging to see how many young people will gather here in our nation’s capital and in places throughout our country to offer witness to their commitment to the dignity of all life. Other folks will gather in churches and public venues across the USA to honor the legacy of freedom that Dr. King struggled to proclaim throughout his 39 years of life. They too challenge us to respect all people who are fashioned in the image of God Himself irrespective of their race, culture, religion, or national origins. The backgrounds of these two movements are different, but their end is the same – to recognize and defend each human person as a creation and reflection of God Himself.

“One might imagine that these two different observances are far too distinct to be interconnected, but the glue that binds them together is their joint focus on human dignity. 

“…So whether we march with those who witness to the sacredness of all human life or sway to the rhythmic religious songs that belong to the African-American spiritual heritage, we must see the importance and the value of all human life – a vision that is too often forgotten or dismissed by far too many people in our world today.”

On the coronavirus

This is excerpted from Archbishop Gregory’s March 19, 2020 “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard newspaper of the Archdiocese of Washington:

“What we face in COVID-19 is unsettling to us because it is so unpredictable, so pervasive, so close and so current. As our planet grows smaller, events half a world away can rapidly find their way into our neighborhoods and even our homes. We find ourselves both concerned about and responsible for one another in ways that only a few weeks ago we would not have imagined.

“Our lives have been altered indefinitely by a virus that seems to have originated halfway around the world and is now everywhere.  Despite laudable best efforts, our medical and scientific communities have been unable to assuage our anxiety. It is a disease that reminds us how incredibly fragile we are, how little control we exercise, and how completely we rely on the One who made us and keeps watch over us.

“I honestly never dreamed I would live in a moment where the same disquieting circumstances that compel us as Catholics to want to gather more frequently in worship, prayer and solidarity would also prevent us from being able to do so securely – when so many of a generation who find their deepest solace in the Mass would find themselves most at risk simply by their participation in it.

“I never dreamed as a bishop that one day my best pastoral option would not involve expanding access to the Eucharist but suspending it, let alone at a time of such distress in the Church and in the world. Even the term, ‘social distancing,’ while scientifically understood to be the most efficacious approach to averting the potential catastrophe that is the coronavirus, seems like an oxymoron that wholly contradicts the mission of Christ’s Church to go and make disciples.

“Yet even in the uncertainty of this current situation, if we are open, God will use this moment to bring our hearts closer to Him and more firmly in union with one another. 

“As we grudgingly distance ourselves physically to slow the spread of this heinous virus, we find ourselves missing many things we, myself included, may have come to take for granted. We long for opportunities simply to be together again, whether at work or school; a restaurant or store; a stadium, concert, museum, or play; or worshipping with our family of faith around the Lord’s Table.

“…As life seeks out its new normal, I pray that we are able to apply the lessons of this exceptionally barren Lenten journey to redefine ‘normal’ so that it includes more gratitude, appreciation, service, mercy and joy. Returning to our ordinary patterns of life is something that we all hope will occur very soon. Let us bring the memories of these moments with us into the future so that we better value and cherish what may have become under-appreciated opportunities to be in the presence of our Savior and each other.

“This disease will not get the best of  us; rather, we implore our merciful God to use it to bring out the best in us.”