Bishop Neary: Advent is a time for ‘holy restlessness’

One of the most challenging realities we face in life is change. It arrives unbidden, often unsettling, and yet it is woven into the very fabric of our human journey. Change, whether gradual or sudden, joyful or painful, invites us to grow and to stretch beyond
what is familiar and to trust in the One who makes all things new.

We experience change in countless ways: the transitions of age, the movement from one vocation to another, the shifting of communities, the rise and fall of institutions and the tender moments of loss and renewal. Some changes we welcome with open arms; others we resist with heavy hearts. But in every case, change reminds us that we are pilgrims, not settlers, always on the move, always being called deeper into the mystery of God’s love.

As we enter the season of Advent, we are reminded that change is not only inevitable, it is sacred. Advent is a time of waiting, yes, but also of preparing our hearts for something new. It is a season that teaches us to be open, to be expectant and to be willing to let go of what is in order to receive what will be. Just as Mary and Joseph prepared for the birth of Jesus not knowing exactly how their lives would be transformed, we, too, are invited to prepare for the changes unfolding in our Church and in our communities. Advent reminds us that God often moves in quiet, unexpected ways. The Savior came not with fanfare, but in a manger. Change, too, often arrives gently, asking for our trust.

In our diocesan family, we are living through a season of change. All Things New plans are developing and moving forward. That may mean that some of our beloved places will conclude their mission. These decisions are not made lightly. They emerge from prayerful discernment, rooted in the Gospel and guided by the needs of our people. I know these changes bring sorrow, and I want to acknowledge that grief with compassion and respect.

Yet I also want to speak a word of hope.

The Church is, at her heart, missionary. From the moment the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, the Gospel has been carried to new places, new people and new generations. That movement — that holy restlessness — is not a disruption of our faith, but its very lifeblood. The apostles left the Upper Room not because it was comfortable, but because the Spirit compelled them outward. So, too, must we.

Throughout history, the Church has adapted to changing landscapes. Parishes have grown, merged and sometimes closed. Dioceses have flourished and faded. But the mission never ends. Even when a building is no longer used, the seeds planted there continue to bear fruit. The Spirit does not dwell in stone alone, but in the hearts of the faithful.

Pope Francis reminds us that love is not rigid. It is firm in conviction, but flexible in compassion. To love as Christ loves is to be open to change, to be docile, as he says, in the name of mercy and the good of others. That is our call today: to soften our hearts, to listen deeply and to move forward with courage.

Let us walk together through this season of Advent preparing room in our hearts for Jesus to enter.

Yours in Christ,
Bishop Patrick M. Neary, CSC

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