DIOCESE OF OAKLAND

2121 HARRISON STREET, SUITE 100 • OAKLAND, CA 94612

510.893.4711  • FAX: 510.893.0945 • www.oakdiocese.org

 

 

 

 

5 January 2009

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

           As you learn that the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI is calling me from Oakland to Detroit, I want to share with you a brief message with some reflections on my transfer and with my request for your prayer.

 

           Our Lady’s fiat, her “yes” to the message from God which the Archangel Gabriel brought her is the template for every disciple’s response to learning God’s will.  In accepting this assignment I have tried to imitate Our Lady.  Please pray for me: that the same trust which brought me to this Diocese and sustained me in my ministry here, will be my support in the sadness of our goodbyes and in taking up the new responsibilities God is giving me.

 

           I am most grateful to God for all the graces he has given me in my years of serving you.  You yourselves are, in fact, among the best of those blessings.  I praise the Holy Spirit for the faith, hope and love which he has made to flourish in you.  I praise him, too, for the generous way you, in the great variety of your diverse cultures, share your spiritual gifts with one another.

 

           In this past year we have renewed our commitment to the Church’s mission by focusing it succinctly on “knowing Christ better and making him better known.”  Although soon I will be leaving you, you can count on the continued support of my prayer that God will bring forth great spiritual fruit from your efforts to fulfill the mission he has given us.  Please make that your prayer for me, especially when you are in the new Cathedral.

 

                                                       Sincerely yours in Christ,

 

 

                                                       The Most Reverend Allen H. Vigneron

                                                       Bishop of Oakland