Let us do our part, and God will then do what He wills. This is God’s cause, and all will end well. My hope is in Him. (St. Teresa of Ávila)
On October 8th, 30 alumni, former faculty, and other guests gathered for the annual Alumni Day reunion. The Votive Mass of Our Lord Jesus Chris, Eternal High Priest in the Crypt Church of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception was a meaningful beginning to the evening, which celebrated the essentiality, dignity, and joy of the priesthood. Very Rev. Timothy Kitzke, to be honored at the award banquet, was the main celebrant.
In his homily, Father Tim remarked how appropriate it was that we read Luke 22:14-20 (on the Last Supper) while celebrating Alumni Day with the greatest gift of the Eucharist. A priest for almost four decades, with myriad responsibilities over the years in urban outreach and multiple parish assignments, he realizes “more and more how important it is that we ignite an enthusiasm for the Real Presence as we seek to make Christ present in a world that needs him more than ever.”
He went on to say that our “Amen” to receiving Holy Communion is threefold as 1) a declarative statement that yes, Jesus is really present in bread broken and cup outpoured; 2) an enthusiastic yes to the interrogative statement asking us if we really believe He is present; and 3) a yes to the imperative declaration that we must BE Christ’s presence to the world as we move into mission outside church walls to the world at large. He went on to point out that participating in the Eternal Priesthood of Jesus helps us to mediate in the temporal on the eternal hope rooted in God’s love for us as we are, though sinful, moving to what we can become: full of grace and compassionate love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable. Father Tim concluded, “I am grateful for my time at Theological College, which nurtured my vocation and helped me to be the parish priest I am.”
During the lively reception and dinner that followed, with graduates from classes dating back over 40 years, priests representing 15 dioceses and former faculty reminisced about their time here, while promising their prayers for TC in hope for the future. And certainly, the Alumnus Lifetime Service Award was conveyed upon a man of great hope. Rector Bud Stevens introduced Father Tim as “a living reminder of what Pope Leo calls all of us to be.” His worthiness for the award is evident not only in what he has accomplished in his ministry of charity throughout his years as priest, but also as an example to seminarians. “The example of what a good and holy priest can do is of inestimable value,” Father Bud emphasized.
Father Tim began his acceptance speech, “Remember that all of our light in life is reflected light. The only Son of God is the real sun, and we are all called to reflect Him.” The fond memories he shared included those of friendships with former alumni award recipients, such as Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski (’84), Bishop Michael Olson (B ’89), and Monsignor Robert Sokolowski (B ’57), who directed Father Tim’s Basselin thesis, “Religion and Religious Action and Their Relationship to Justice in the Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas.” Father Tim lived across the hall on the third floor from another awardee, Bishop Robert Barron (B ’82), quipping to uproarious laughter, “I just want to publicly acknowledge that all of his ideas are mine!” His light-heartedness had a serious side, too, as he reached out to the seminarians present: “I am filled with gratitude for you and pray that you will persevere. I stand in witness to you that God can and will work great things in and through you. Don’t expect to be perfect. In your imperfection, tie yourself to Jesus Christ. As long as you have honesty and trusted advisors who support you, the Kingdom of Heaven will prevail. It is not up to our perfection; it is up to God and his powerful salvation for all of us in the middle of this crazy world.”
