Reflection / Daniel Conway

The Church in southwestern Indiana welcomes its new bishop

Newly-installed Bishop Joseph Mark Siegel of Evansville, Ind., likes to call attention to his rural roots. Along with his eight siblings, Bishop Siegel knows what it’s like to work the land. He has a deep love and appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation, and for the precious gifts we have been given as stewards of the Earth and its abundant resources.

Much of the 5,010 square miles that make up the Diocese of Evansville is rural, and Bishop Siegel is quick to say that, although his assignments in the Diocese of Joilet, Ill., were in urban and suburban communities, he feels equally at home in the cities and rural communities of his new diocese.

The bishop is not a stranger to southwestern Indiana. His college seminary years were spent at the former Saint Meinrad College in St. Meinrad, Ind., and although he traveled to Rome and, later, Chicago, for his graduate studies in theology, Bishop Siegel says he treasures the formative years spent “on the holy hill” under the guidance of the Benedictine monks.

That made the bishop’s installation at Evansville’s St. Benedict Cathedral a true homecoming. Established 105 years ago, “St. Ben’s” has been staffed by monks from Saint Meinrad from the beginning. Sisters from the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception in Ferdinand, Ind., provided for the education of children of the parish and have served in a variety of parish ministries throughout the years.

A vibrant parish community, St. Benedict’s was designated as the cathedral for the Diocese of Evansville by then-Bishop Gerald A. Gettelfinger on April 11, 1999.

Bishop Siegel considers the presence of women and men religious, who serve alongside diocesan priests, deacons and lay ministers, as a gift to the diocese. He also notes that his many diverse pastoral experiences have provided him with an excellent perspective on the mission of his new diocese. Serving people in 12 counties of southwest Indiana, the Diocese of Evansville seeks to “continue the mission of Jesus Christ in the world today by joyfully living the Gospel, ministering to all in justice and charity, and inviting people into a personal encounter with the living God through word, sacrament and service.”

Bishop Emeritus Gettelfinger, who was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and served as pastor, school superintendent and vicar general in this archdiocese until his appointment by Pope John Paul II as the fourth bishop of Evansville in 1989, attended the installation. He was joined by Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, who served as the fifth bishop of Evansville from 2011 to 2017, until he was appointed as the metropolitan Archbishop of Indianapolis. Also in attendance were Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Louisville Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Seattle Archbishop J. Peter Sartain, Joliet Bishop R. Daniel Conlon, and many other bishops, abbots, priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful from the Evansville and Joliet dioceses and other neighboring dioceses.

Courage is a consistent theme in Bishop Siegel’s homilies and prepared remarks. “Love, wisdom and courage are required,” the bishop says, “if we are to take up the Cross of Christ and follow him as missionary disciples.” The ministry of a bishop is not always popular, he added. “The Good Shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. He protects them against all dangers, and he anticipates threats against their well-being.”

In his installation homily, quoting Pope Francis, Bishop Siegel described the three-fold leadership responsibility he has been called to accept: To lead God’s people with wisdom and discernment, to accompany God’s people walking alongside them and sharing in their sorrows and joys, and to follow God’s people making sure that no one is left behind.

During his homily for Solemn Evening Prayer the night before his installation, Bishop Siegel told a story attributed to St. John Vianney, the patron of parish priests. On his way to his new assignment as the Cure of Ars, the new pastor lost his way and had to ask directions from a little boy. The boy told him the way, and after thanking him, the new pastor said, “You have shown me the way to Ars. It’s now my responsibility to show you the way to heaven.”

Acknowledging that this is also his responsibility as the new bishop of Evansville, Bishop Siegel asked that everyone in the 12 counties of the diocese pray for him—that he might be faithful and courageous in his new ministry.

The episcopal motto of Bishop Siegel is “In you, Lord, I place my hope.” His installation as the sixth bishop of Evansville during Advent, the season of hope, is a powerful moment for the Church in southwestern Indiana as it continues its journey on the way to heaven.
 

(Daniel Conway is a member of The Criterion’s editorial committee.) †