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40 Months in Phoenix
with Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
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40 MONTHS IN PHOENIX
What have been some of your greatest joys since you came to Phoenix in December 2003?
BISHOP OLMSTED: Some of the greatest joys have been the wonderful liturgical celebrations that I’ve had the privilege of being part of, such as ordination of priests, celebration of the Easter Vigil and the privilege of baptizing adults who are making such a courageous and important decision in their life. Also the Masses and other events I’ve had with other young people, such as Southwest Youthfest, the march up “A” Mountain and going out to all the parishes.
As a bishop, you don’t have the same kind of sense of family that a parish priest does, where you have Mass with the same people, week after week, day after day, working with them on a much closer basis. I find that going out to all the parishes and traveling around the diocese to its different parts is something that I very much enjoy. I enjoy meeting people of different cultures and languages. There’s hardly any diocese that’s probably more diverse than our diocese.
I also love being outdoors, I love hiking, I love all the great variety of this state of Arizona. So traveling around is invigorating.
Your greatest challenges?
BISHOP OLMSTED: A huge challenge, of course, was to restore hope for people who have been wounded through abuse by members of the Church. There will always be a great need to bring healing and hope to people. To be a person of hope, a person who brings people to meet Christ, who is their hope and their life.
Are there any new initiatives or events that Catholics can look forward to this year?
BISHOP OLMSTED: One of the big events is the 20th anniversary of John Paul II coming to Phoenix in 1987. We’re in the process of planning that right now.
It’s a wonderful time. He was here on Sept. 14 and 15, which is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It’s a great feast day for us to remember John Paul II, because he showed us that suffering can indeed be a way to a deeper union with Christ. So the triumph of the cross is what his whole life was a proclamation of.
— Robert DeFrancesco
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