by Father Mark Goldasich
There’s a quote, sometimes attributed to American sportswriter Red Smith, that says: “Writing is really quite simple; all you have to do is sit down at your typewriter, open your veins and bleed.”
If that sentiment is true — and in my experience, it is — then Archbishop Naumann must have had thousands and thousands of transfusions in his time here in the archdiocese! Except for the summer months, the archbishop wrote every week for The Leaven. In fact, page 2 was reserved for him. (If you don’t believe me, just look over at the previous page.) And he didn’t write just a little. Most of the time, he filled almost the entire page. That’s a lot of blood being shed!
Archbishop Naumann was always a big supporter of The Leaven. He continued the policy of his predecessors that every registered parishioner in the archdiocese receive a copy of the paper. He saw the value of a physical newspaper that was delivered to the home. Not only was it a tool for evangelization and communication, but The Leaven was also likely the only Catholic literature coming into most homes. For those who didn’t regularly attend church, he saw the paper as a way to keep up their relationship with the church.
I appreciated that the archbishop, although the publisher of The Leaven, was not a micromanager. He trusted the staff here to do its job, using our talents and creativity to spread the good news of the faith being lived out in the archdiocese, the country and the world. And he was a cheerleader for the paper, mentioning it in many of his visits around the archdiocese.
The archbishop’s writing was not limited, though, to the newspaper. In notes of thanks to the parish, he’d always include a handwritten sentence or two at the bottom of the typewritten letter.
A particularly inspirational practice of Archbishop Naumann was to handwrite a note to priests on their birthday. It was never some generic “enjoy your day” but always something specific about one’s ministry. It was an encouraging note that I suspect many priests (like me) kept and took out to reread on difficult or exhausting days.
Often at Christmas, priests would receive a gift book from the archbishop. It was a reminder to me to keep deepening my spiritual life. The archbishop modeled that behavior to constantly seek a more intimate relationship with Jesus. He’s like Pablo Casals in this story:
When he was 95, a reporter asked Casals, “You’re acclaimed as the greatest cellist that ever lived. Why do you still practice six hours a day?”
Casals put down his bow and replied, “Because I think I’m making progress!” (Story adapted from Brian Cavanaugh’s “Fresh Packet of Sower’s Seeds: Third Planting.”)
Something that often goes unnoticed is that Archbishop Naumann is still working hard even though he’s almost 76 years old. Many of his contemporaries, both priests and laymen, would have retired years ago to enjoy a more relaxed life. But the archbishop remains committed to living a life of service. He’d do something, I suspect, like the guy in this story:
A man was driving on a lonely road one summer day and noticed a car with a flat tire pulled over on the shoulder of the road. A woman was standing next to the car looking dismayed.
The man decided to be a good Samaritan and come to her aid. He grew hot, sweaty and dirty as he changed the tire in the hot sun. The woman was watching him and when he was finished, she said, “Be sure and let the jack down easily now, because my husband is sleeping in the back seat of the car!” (Story found in “Illustrations Unlimited,” edited by James S. Hewett.)
As this legacy issue illustrates, Archbishop Naumann was not one to sleep in his 20 years of leadership here. He’s inspired me to see my writing as a ministry, a chance to proclaim the good news beyond my parish. He’s challenged me to see the value in handwriting notes to others, whether just a few words on a formal thank-you note from the parish or in a card to congratulate someone or just keep in touch. He’s modeled for me an active spiritual life as well as a life of priestly service.
And for all these things, I’m grateful to Archbishop Naumann.
Oh, one last thought: For 20 years, I’ve had to endure my staff saying, “Where is your column? Yours is always the last one done! The archbishop has had his in way ahead of you!”
Maybe, just maybe, they’ll give me a break now . . . or at least take me in for a transfusion!
