Bishop William Justice
Statement by Most Rev. William Justice on the occasion of his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco
It is with genuine humility and profound respect that I express my sincere gratitude to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, for appointing me Auxiliary Bishop of San Francisco. 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.
At the same time, I am honored and pleased to be called and collaborate with the Archbishop in the ministry and order of Bishop. It has been my privilege to serve with him in my capacity as Vicar for Clergy an to witness his faith-filled loving care for the people of this Archdiocese.
It has also been my pleasure to be associated with the senior Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese, Bishop Ignatius Wang. His concern for the growth of the Catholic faith throughout the world has guided his ministry in our Missions Office for many years and has helped develop a greater awareness in the Archdiocese of the needs of our fellow human beings, living in nations around the world. I am eagerly looking forward to our continued collaboration.
In the past year I have been privileged to be of service to the priests of the Archdiocese as Vicar for Clergy. It has been a grace-filled time as I have worked to ensure that those who are ministering as priests in parishes and chaplaincies of the Archdiocese are themselves being served. The desire they have to serve their people is inspiring. I have found my work with the 76 retired priests of this Archdiocese to be particularly rewarding, and I thank them for the example they continue to set for all of us.
The deacons, religious, seminarians, and laity of our Archdiocese are extraordinary people who day in out struggle to live the life and love of the Lord Jesus in such a rich multicultural environment as the Bay Area. How good God is to call me to be of service to them and for them to minister the Lord's grace to me.
I have had the gift of serving as a priest for nearly forty years in this local Church, encompassing San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin counties. Now the Lord has called me to share his love and mercy in a new way. I am excited about the prospect and with God's help, I pledge my faith and energy to do my best.
Más que nunca, por cuarenta años he tenido el privilegio de servir al pueblo hispano. Este es un gran don de Dios para mi y para mi vida sacerdotal. Ahora con esta nueva etapa de mi vida prometo que mi energía y fe en el Señor motivaran mi mejor servicio a nuestra comunidad hispana y todos las comunidades.
After the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus met the Apostles on the shore of the Lake of Galilee. He asked Peter, "Do you love me?" Peter responded, "Lord You know that I love you." "Feed my sheep," commanded the Lord.
The Lord calls us to love him and to respond to that love by nourishing his people with his Word, touching them with his mercy, laboring for the equality of all and carrying out his call for justice. I pledge to deepen my love for the Lord so that I might respond more wholeheartedly to his call in my new role. Pray that I may be faithful to that pledge and be an instrument of his peace.
Most Reverend William J. Justice
Auxiliary Bishop-elect of San Francisco
Titular Bishop-elect of Matara di Proconsolare
Archdiocese of San Francisco
One Peter Yorke Way
San Francisco, CA 94109
Given at the Pastoral Center
Thursday, April 10, 2008