The Changing of the Ordinary . . .

Yesterday, at a packed Cathedral, the clergy, religious and laity paid a found farewell to His Grace, Archbishop Burke, SJ, the 4th Ordinary for the Archdiocese of Kingston. Just shy of four (4) years Archbishop Burke offered his resignation at the time of his 75th birthday in October 2007. On October 12th a Coadjutor was appointed by Pope Benedict, and at the recent ad limina visit to Rome Archbishop Burke's resignation was accepted, effective Saturday, 12 April 2008.

At the end of the Liturgy Archbishop Burke removes his pallium (the symbol of his being an Archbishop) and then he turns and offers his crozier (his pastoral staff, and sign of his authority as Ordinary in the Archdiocese) to his sucessor. In these two gestures he ends his tenure as the seated Bishop for the Archdiocese and a seamless succession to His Grace, Archbishop Donald Reece, 5th Archbishop of Kingston.

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If ever there was a man who epitomizes what this Sunday's lesson is: the Good Shepherd; Archbishop Lawrence Burks is that man. In the 32 months that we have been here- he has been a leader and a friend; a father and a brother; a true Good Shepherd. On behalf of the friars and sisters, and the entire faith community of St Mary's and Missions, we extend prayerful support to Archbishop Burke as he retires and to Archbishop Reece as he assumes the office.

The picture at the top is of Archbishop Burke greeting the people of God after Liturgy, a Missionary of the Poor is greeting His Grace. Below is a picture of Archbishop Reece greeting some of the ladies after Liturgy.