Before his introductory news conference, Archbishop-designate Weisenburger spent time greeting about two dozen seminarians
DETROIT — When Archbishop-designate Edward J. Weisenburger arrived Feb. 11 at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the cameras and lights were already set for his introductory press conference as the sixth archbishop of Detroit.
But before he entered the Cardinal Mooney Parlor to face the media, he had an important meeting to attend.
Among the first to greet Detroit's new archbishop were about two dozen seminarians studying for the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Detroit. As Archbishop-designate Weisenburger rounded the corner near Sacred Heart's chapel, escorted by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron and seminary rector Fr. Stephen Burr, the seminarians burst into applause.
Archbishop-designate Weisenburger spent about 20 minutes praying, chatting with and encouraging the men who will — God willing — one day become priests for the Church in Detroit.
The archbishop-designate encouraged the men to "pray, study and get that experience of the pastoral dimension," but also to foster "good and holy friendships that will support you throughout your lives."
Although Detroit's seminarians might not have been familiar with Archbishop-designate Weisenburger before Tuesday, from their brief experience of him, many are already feeling encouraged, excited and hopeful about their new chief shepherd.
Archbishop-designate Weisenburger, the current bishop of Tucson, Arizona, will be stepping into the role held by Archbishop Vigneron for the last 16 years.
“I have been grateful to Archbishop Vigneron for his fatherhood, and I am proud to be a son of this archdiocese. I'm also grateful for the fatherhood that Archbishop-elect Weisenburger is stepping into for us,” third-year graduate seminarian Karl Finkbeiner of Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth told Detroit Catholic.
Finkbeiner said he and his fellow seminarians were heartened by Archbishop-designate Weisenburger's words — and humbled to be among the first who got to greet him.
The archbishop-designate encouraged the seminarians to devote themselves to formation and prioritize establishing good relationships with their peers that will last throughout their priesthood.
“At seminary, I made great friends; I had a wonderful time there, and it put me on a great trajectory,” Archbishop-designate Weisenburger said to the seminarians.
“Priesthood is so very dear to me, and I love the examples of the priest saints, and I never wanted to be anything but a priest,” Archbishop-designate Weisenburger continued. “In fact, I have two sisters who tease me quite frequently; they say if I had not made it to the seminary, I would be homeless because I had no plan B. So I am very happy with my life, and I will look forward to sharing it with you all.”
Finkbeiner said he was encouraged by the future archbishop's emphasis on community, a point he reinforced during the press conference.
“I was particularly moved by his focus on the importance of establishing and fostering community within parishes, and also his focus on the health and holiness of his priests,” Finkbeiner said. “I am very confident that the Lord raises up the saints and the leaders whom the Church needs every time, and so I’m confident that wherever the Holy Spirit is leading our archdiocese over the next years, that Archbishop-designate Weisenburger is the one to lead us into that.”
Jim Musgrave, another third-year theology seminarian from Our Lady of Good Counsel, likewise resonated with his new shepherd's focus on holy friendships.
“As someone whose vocation really was born out of community and discipleship and friendship, I think one of the keys to cultivating more vocations is building strong communities of discipleship,” Musgrave said. “That will go a long way toward inspiring more young men to be disciples, and then to see that their discipleship is to be lived out as a priest.”
When considering a shortage of priests, it can be tempting to reduce the role of a priest to an administrative one, said Deacon Benjamin Schroeder, but Archbishop-designate Weisenburger was quick to dispel that notion.
"It is clear he is a bishop who really loves his priesthood,” said Deacon Schroeder, who is currently assigned to St. Mary Parish in Royal Oak. “Often, when we talk about a priest shortage, we reduce priests to a functionary role that just needs to be filled by more people. But the priesthood is a very personal commitment to Jesus Christ, and Archbishop-designate Weisenburger loves his priesthood. He wants to support priests, and he’s committed to building that community and that relationship.”
Dan Whalen, a seminarian from Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Orchard Lake, was moved by the Archbishop-designate’s episcopal model, “Behold the Lamb,” taken from St. John the Baptist's words in John 1:29.
“Hearing his episcopal model is inspiring because that’s how we need to see each other to build up the kingdom again,” Whalen said. “That will be encouraging to guys who want to foster the vocation to the priesthood because they will realize they are not alone.”
In addition to getting a new archbishop, the seminarians are looking forward to getting a new hallmate; Archbishop Vigneron will be moving into the seminary after his successor’s March 18 installation.
“He will be living right down the hall from me,” Finkbeiner said. “(The seminarians) oftentimes will pray daytime prayer together, and someone will yell down the hallways, so maybe every once in a while, he’ll hear that yell and join us for prayer.”
Whalen said the archbishop emeritus can look forward to invitations to play Bocce ball and putt-putt golf with the seminarians from time to time, too.
During the press conference, Archbishop Vigneron expressed gratitude that "the conclusion of my ministry as the archbishop happens here at Sacred Heart," where his own priestly formation began in 1962.
“We always talk about how the chapel is always prayer-filled,” said seminarian Lizandro Barba of St. Alfred Parish in Taylor. “How many people have gone through that chapel discerning their vocation? What a great witness we have in Archbishop Vigneron. He was here discerning in these same pews, and now, our retired bishop is living amongst us. It will definitely be a good thing to interact with him in a different way in our community.”
Fr. Burr, the current rector of Sacred Heart, looks forward to welcoming the archbishop emeritus back to the building, fondly recalling his own formation as a seminarian, when Archbishop Vigneron served as rector.
“He is someone I've known for almost 30 years when I entered the seminary as a young man,” Fr. Burr said. “It’s been a pleasure not only to minister with him, but also to receive that paternal care from him. He’s been a great leader, a man of prayer and a man whose love for the seminary runs through all of his bones. He has loved being here at any moment that he possibly could.”
Fr. Burr is excited to work with Archbishop-designate Weisenburger and said the future archbishop seems to have a passion for working with seminarians.
The archbishop-designate has a "pastor's heart," Fr. Burr said, but also brings experience as a canon lawyer who has studied the Church's moral doctrines. "So he has a balance for ministry in the Church," Fr. Burr said.
"I look forward to seeing his wisdom," Fr. Burr said. "When there's a change like this in leadership, there is a chance for a new vision, new eyes to be placed on the seminary, upon the Archdiocese of Detroit, and that will cast a future of hope that the Lord wants us to have."
