New auxiliary bishop's heart, wisdom, experience praised
The "pastoral experience, generous heart and wise judgment" of Bishop - elect William J. Justice were underscored by San Francisco Archbishop George H. Niederauer as announcement of the appointment of the Archdiocese's next auxiliary bishop was made last week in Rome and San Francisco.
Pope Benedict XVI appointed Father Justice as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and titular bishop of Matara di Proconsolare early April 10. The priest's episcopal ordination has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 28, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Cathedral, San Francisco. Archbishop Niederauer will be principal consecrator.
In an English and Spanish statement released April 10 and read by the bishop - elect to employees of the Archdiocese's Pastoral Center that morning, Father Justice expressed his "genuine humility and profound respect" as well as "sincere gratitude to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI."
"I am overwhelmed at the enormous challenge he has entrusted to me to be of service to Archbishop George Niederauer in his pastorship of the Archdiocese of San Francisco," he said.
In his April 10 statement, Archbishop Niederauer said, "While every bishop serves in a local Church, he also serves the universal Church as a member of the Apostolic College of Bishops. Bishop - elect Justice will also take his place as a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops."
The bishop - elect succeeded then - Auxiliary Bishop John Wester as vicar for clergy on March 1, 2007, and will continue in that post and to reside at St. Mary's Cathedral.
Now bishop of the Salt Lake City Diocese, Bishop Wester will be a co - consecrator at the May 28 rite with Archbishop Niederauer and Bishop Randolph Calvo of Reno.
"The news of Father Bill Justice's appointment as auxiliary bishop of San Francisco is absolutely wonderful," Bishop Wester said in a communication from Salt Lake.
Lauding the bishop - elect's "unfailing concern for others, his effective outreach to a multicultural Church and his deep spirituality and fidelity to Christ the Priest," Bishop Wester said his successor would "bring his considerable abilities to the service of unity, which underscores the bishop's ministry as envisioned in the Second Vatican Council."
Archbishop Niederauer's and Bishop Wester's commendations of Bishop - elect Justice were echoed by other priests who also praised his leadership skills, forthrightness and spiritual depth.
"Bill is a very committed priest and a wonderful choice," said Father Mario Farana, pastor of St. Paul Parish, San Francisco, who served as a parochial vicar with the bishop - elect at the parish in the 1970s. "Bill is a hard worker, a good listener, a very good co - worker and not a one - man band with an ego that needs to be fed. He is smart, creative and forthright with his parishioners and his brother priests. He will take on any task and does not skirt issues. Bill is honest and does not play games. I think he is a wonderful choice."
Father James MacDonald concurs. Pastor of St. Pius Parish, Redwood City, Father MacDonald and Bishop - elect Justice were "hiking buddies" in years past and continue to be friends.
"Bill is very well respected among the priests and people of the Archdiocese," Father MacDonald said. "He is honest and forthright and speaks his mind. He exercises very good leadership and as a former chairman of the Council of Priests he helped in many ways, especially in formulating ways to assist priests coming here from other countries."
Msgr. Conrad Gruber, pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Oakdale in the Diocese of Stockton, said he and Bishop - elect Justice have been friends since their seminary days.
"Bill is a very good choice for bishop," Msgr. Gruber said. "He is very well organized, very compassionate and deals very well with people. In the best sense, he is a man of the Church and very loyal to the Church. He has shown a great capacity for leadership and is a very prayerful man."
Father James O'Malley has known the bishop - elect since he was "a little kid at St. Gregory's." The auxiliary - to - be also resided at St. Kevin Parish, San Francisco, in the early 1980s during Father O'Malley's pastorate there.
Bishop - elect Justice has been heard to say, "Father O'Malley is one of the major reasons I am a priest."
"He came from wonderful parents and was a great kid who has done great work for the Archdiocese," said Father O'Malley, now a resident of Nazareth House in San Rafael.
"Bill is endlessly full of energy, always has a big smile and is ready to help. The people love him and he is always a real plus. It's been a privilege to know him. Bill is totally committed to Christ and the Church. There is not a lazy bone in his body. Bill has made the most of the gifts has given him. He hasn't squandered a thing."
Bishop - elect Justice is a trustee of St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, from which he graduated with a master's in divinity degree in 1968. He currently chairs three archdiocesan boards – the Priest Personnel Board, the Ongoing Formation Board, and the Priests' Retirement Board.
He chaired the Priests' Council from September 2006 to June 2007 and took part in the Alliance of Mission District Catholic Schools while pastor of Mission Dolores Parish.
His first parish assignment shortly after ordination was as parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco (1968 - 70). He has also been parochial vicar at All Souls Parish, South San Francisco (1970 - 76) and St. Paul Parish, San Francisco ( 1976 - 79 ).
Bishop - elect Justice's first pastorate was at St. Peter Parish, San Francisco, were he served from 1985 - 91. He was pastor of All Souls from 1991 - 2003, and of Mission Dolores from 2003 - 2007.
From 1979 - 81 he helped spearhead Spanish Ministry while also working as part - time director of the Permanent Diaconate Program. From 1982 - 85 he headed the Pastoral Ministry Office.
Bishop - elect Justice has lived nearly his entire life in the Archdiocese, having moved to San Mateo with his family in 1946 from Lawrence, Mass. where he was born May 8, 1942.
He was ordained on May 17, 1968 by Archbishop Joseph McGucken, shortly after graduating from St. Patrick Seminary.
The bishop - elect was awarded a master's degree in applied spirituality in 1980 from the University of San Francisco.
He is also a graduate of St. Joseph's College, Mountain View, Calif. (1962); Junipero Serra High School, San Mateo (1960); and St. Gregory Elementary, San Francisco (1956). He attended St. Matthew Elementary from 1948 - 51.
Fluent in Spanish, Bishop - elect Justice studied the language during the summer of 1969 at Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He took additional instruction at the Intensive Spanish Language Program at Cuernavaca, Morelia, Mexico during the summer of 1971.
