On this feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Archdiocese of Seattle celebrates our 175th anniversary!
May 31, 1850, Pope Pius IX created a new diocese of Nesqually in what was then called “Oregon Territory.” Today, exactly 175 years later, we come together in all our diversity to remember and give thanks: for the first lay Catholics who requested the ministry of priests in this region; for the pioneers who responded to that call; for the intrepid bishops, priests, and religious who helped build up the Church in western Washington.
Here is the homily from today’s 175th celebration. The video from today’s Mass is below and the homily can be found around the 50:45 mark.
We gather today primarily to give thanks to God for the 175 years the Archdiocese of Seattle has proclaimed Christ to the people of the Pacific Northwest. Anniversaries are a time to reflect upon the history, recognized significant achievements and growth and in the case of a marriage, it is a time to rekindle the romance or the love of a couple. I think this is significant for us as a people of faith, to take this moment to rekindle our romance, our love for Jesus Christ and to recognize, as did Mary in the Magnificat the great things the Lord has done for us.
Anniversaries are also times to look forward and to set new goals. To a large extent, our goals for the future as an Archdiocese are now outlined in the Partners in the Gospel process, which is aimed at renewing our capacity for mission by making the best use of all the resources at our disposal, the most important being the grace of God that is ours in Jesus Christ and the inspiration for mission that comes from the Holy Spirit.
Today’s readings are strong reminders that the Lord God is in our midst. From the Prophet Zephaniah we hear: “The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. The Psalm further states: “Among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.” The message from the Gospel is a bit more subtle as Christ enters into human history carried in the womb of Mary.
The visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth is the first public manifestation of the Son of God to the world, as Elizabeth, by the power of the Holy Spirit recognizes the presence of the Lord and her own child in the womb leaps for joy. In this moment Elizabeth proclaims: “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
This is a powerful instruction to all believers to look for the hidden manifestations of Christ in our lives and to always be joyful in the Lord’s presence and service. This is not always easy, but it is our goal.
Then, we hear Mary’s prophetic proclamation which has now become known as the Magnificat. In this beautiful hymn of Mary, she professes much more than her personal praise of God; “my soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, … for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” to something much more universal: “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has cast down the mighty, he has scattered the proud in their conceit, the rich he has sent away empty, he has come to the help of his people and remembered his promise of mercy.”
In her hymn of God’s praise, Mary prophetically outlines how God’s justice is at work even now, upending our human understandings of power. God’s justice is intimate, personal, mysterious, yet practical as it always keeps the poor and the oppressed at heart.
Mercy, humility and discipleship are at the heart of God’s justice which always seeks to uphold and defend human dignity. Mary teaches us that all of this unfolds for the believer by contemplating God’s Word which leads to a faithful and bold response.
As we reflect upon our history, we see the immense systems put in place to advance God’s Kingdom according to this prophetic vision of the Blessed Mother. From our many parishes and Catholic schools to a strong Catholic Healthcare system to our incredible Catholic Charities organization, each of which are here to serve all people to build up the common good, which is to build up the Kingdom of God according to the values of the Gospel. All of these Catholic ministries were established, sustained and continue today because of the many people who have heard Christ’s call to follow and serve him.
I close with the words of Pope Leo XIV to us on this 175th anniversary. Our mission now is to “build upon the profound [heritage that is ours] … to look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming…all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.”
May our celebration today be one of praise for all the great things the Lord has done for us!
Mary, Mother of the Church, Pray for us!
Our Lady of Seattle, Pray for us!
Above are the former Bishops and Archbishops of Western Washington: (top, middle, bottom reading left to right) Bishop Augustin Magloire Alexandre Blanchet, Bishop Aegidius Junger, Bishop Edward O’Dea, Bishop Gerald Shaughnessy, Archbishop Thomas Connolly, Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen, Archbishop Thomas Murphy, Archbishop Alexander Brunett, Archbishop Peter Sartain.
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