红桃视频

Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Bishop Walter A. Hurley has served as the pastoral and administrative head of the Grand Rapids Diocese since 2005. He has been at the forefront of many initiatives during his tenure in Grand Rapids, leaving a distinguished legacy to the diocese. Upon turning 75, Hurley submitted his mandatory letter of resignation, which was accepted by Pope Francis in April of 2013. In this time of transition, Hurley shares a few personal reflections on his service in the priesthood of Christ. He reveals the personal side of ecclesial ministry and service, imparting a vision of hope to us all.

Like many drawn to the priesthood, the witness of others was an influential factor in Hurley鈥檚 discernment. 鈥淲hen I was growing up and was very young, we had a very fine pastor at our parish. I always had a great deal of admiration for him. He was one of those people you say, 鈥業 wanna be like him.鈥� He was somebody who visited people in the parishes, in the hospital, was a leader in the community, and was very well educated and respected. Some of that I just had a lot of respect for, and it sparked some of my interest [in the priesthood] early on.鈥� Recognizing his call, Hurley entered Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1965.

Reflecting upon his 47 years of service, Hurley observes that his time in the priesthood has been very rewarding. 鈥淚鈥檝e had a wide range of experiences, not only within the Archdiocese of Detroit, but also work done nationally and internationally, and it all kind of makes you who you are.鈥� One of his most fruitful experiences early on was the cultivation of a faith community through parish ministry. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e a parish priest you walk with people in their lives and whatever it is that鈥檚 happening. There鈥檚 a sense of community, there鈥檚 people of all different ages; you鈥檙e there when people are married. You鈥檙e there when they鈥檙e baptized, you鈥檙e there when they die, and it鈥檚 all part of the pastoral nature of the priesthood..鈥�

After several years in parish ministry, Cardinal Edmund Szoka of Detroit asked Hurley to obtain a degree in canon law. He earned a licentiate in canon law (J.C.L) from Catholic University of America in 1984, and served as judicial vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal from 1984 to 1989, as well as moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1986 to 1990. In 2003 Hurley was appointed auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese, where he worked until 2005, when he was appointed Bishop of Grand Rapids by Pope Benedict XVI.

Upon his arrival, Hurley quickly saw the need for revitalization. 鈥淢y impression had been that the Catholic community had a very low profile. It is the largest Christian denomination in the Grand Rapids area, even though I鈥檓 not sure a lot of people recognize that. So it was a matter of how to pull people together.鈥� Using the same pastoral grace and administrative intuition that had proven successful in Detroit, Hurley embarked upon a broad campaign of reform and revitalization.

In a world obsessed with technological innovation, Hurley first worked to modernize diocesan ministries. 鈥淭he technology is there and we must use it in the best possible way. For over fifty years the Sunday Mass [at the Cathedral] has been televised on Fox News. But more recently we鈥檝e been able to livestream the Mass online, as well as many of our major celebrations. Technology is part of the real world in which we live, and if we want to engage with people, that鈥檚 how they want to be engaged.鈥� Hurley also played a central role in bringing FAITH Grand Rapids Magazine to the diocese, which is devoted to the cultivation of Catholic culture through sharing the personal faith stories found throughout the diocese.

With this spirit of renewal, Hurley initiated the 鈥淐athedral Square Project鈥� in 2008. The diocese previously had offices in a retired seminary building, which was off the beaten path and in poor structural condition. In order to change this situation, Hurley worked to combine diocesan offices and ministries into a new, centralized location in downtown Grand Rapids. The project sought to strengthen the diocesan faith life, raise the regional Catholic profile, and create an accessible environment for diocesan laity and clergy.

While the project made administrative sense, Hurley viewed its principles through a deeply personal lens. 鈥淚n growing up, every Sunday, my grandparents lived in the country, we lived in town, and some of my aunts and uncles lived nearby. Every Sunday we would go to my grandparents鈥� farm; we would get to know our cousins, and it was the gathering place for the whole family. Eventually my grandparents died, the farm was sold, and we didn鈥檛 get together anymore. Now I would have all kinds of cousins and relatives that I probably wouldn鈥檛 even recognize if I saw them. With that image, what the family farm was, for me, is what Cathedral Square was meant to be for the Diocese of Grand Rapids. It鈥檚 the place where people from all over the diocese gather.鈥� Thus, through centralizing diocesan functions and ministries, Hurley sought to cultivate a vital community of faith in West Michigan.

In 2009, 鈥淥ur Faith, Our Future鈥� became another defining moment of Hurley鈥檚 time in Grand Rapids. In light of shifting diocesan demographics, Hurley launched the pastoral planning process to streamline and strengthen the diocese. 鈥淲e鈥檙e dealing with the reality of several significant changes,鈥� he explained, 鈥渙ne being changing demographics and population. For example, in some parts of the diocese, you鈥檒l find there鈥檚 very little industry. So there鈥檚 no place for young people to find work, and they move out of the community; this changes things dramatically. The other thing is that there are fewer clergy than we once had. Many of these parishes were established when there were all kinds of priests available to serve them, and that鈥檚 no longer true. Also, sometimes when we鈥檝e been doing things one way for a long time, people become very complacent. You need to stir the fires, in a sense; that鈥檚 what really makes a vibrant and strong parish. So our goal, first of all, was to create stronger parishes. As a result, there may be fewer of them, but hopefully they鈥檒l be stronger and more vital.鈥� The diocese was subsequently reorganized from 103 to 85 parishes. Additionally, 鈥淥ur Faith, Our Future鈥� made way for the creation of a new church, Blessed John Paul II Parish, in Cedar Springs, Michigan.

However, Hurley sees engagement with the next generation as complementary to any diocesan initiative and necessary for the long-term vitality of the diocese. 鈥淚 would like to think that the youth bring the energy, excitement, and creativity that comes with being young into carrying out the mission of the Church. You always need to be injecting new life into things, and if you don鈥檛, they鈥檙e going to die.鈥� Thus, in order to fulfill this great mission of renewal, Hurley urges the youth to 鈥済et to know your faith, and be the people God has called you to be.鈥�

Pope Francis, upon accepting Hurley鈥檚 resignation, appointed Rev. David John Walkowiak as the new Bishop of Grand Rapids. The transition will be completed on June 18th, upon Walkowiak鈥檚 installation. Hurley expressed optimism, approving of Pope Francis鈥� choice, but observed that there will continue to be challenges. 鈥淪chools are always a challenge. The New Evangelization, presenting the Gospel in new and more exciting ways, is always a challenge. In the practical order, making some of the things we鈥檝e put together in Our Faith Our Future actually work; you don鈥檛 just issue a letter and say these parishes will be one, and they become one...it takes a lot of hard work. So, there are a few that come to mind right away, and I see those as significant.鈥�

While optimistic for the future, Hurley鈥檚 post-retirement plans are still unclear. He laughed when asked, admitting that he鈥檚 not quite sure what he鈥檒l do as bishop emeritus. 鈥淚鈥檒l keep busy, I鈥檒l do whatever the next bishop wants me to do. I鈥檒l help out in the parishes, and I鈥檒l help out other bishops if they want some help with confirmations and such... and then, I don鈥檛 know what I鈥檒l do the rest of the time! I鈥檒l find something to do.鈥�

As the only Catholic institution of higher learning in West Michigan, 红桃视频 College has maintained a unique role in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Hurley described his relationship with the school as very positive, and received a Doctorate of Theology, Honoris Causa, at 红桃视频鈥� 2013 commencement ceremonies. During this time of diocesan transition, 红桃视频 expresses deep gratitude for Hurley鈥檚 years of service, wishing him a blessed and peaceful retirement.