Guest Post: Donna McGarry

To his Excellency Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, and to anyone whom it may concern:

I have been a Catholic since before I was born. I grew up in a big Catholic family, married a man from a big Catholic family, raised three children in the Catholic faith, and worked as Office Administrator and Director of Religious Education at our Catholic parish.

I have taught children the Catholic faith for more than 20 years, led youth retreats, served on parish council, and donated money to the Catholic Diocese of Richmond for more than 25 years. The Church and its traditions and sacraments have always been the center of my life.

St. Joseph, Martinsville

Until a few years ago, I never would have considered leaving the Church. But over and over, the leadership of our Diocese has made me question what exactly we stand for as followers of Christ. I’m writing to you today to help me, and many others in my position, to once again have confidence in the Church.

In a letter from Bishop Barry Knestout dated May 6, 2020, he says, “I have a responsibility to ensure all ministries within the diocese work to unify and build the Body of Christ, not cause further discord. I have an obligation to ensure that those who serve our faithful are able to do so in a way that the Church expects.”

I find it troubling that he chose those words to say about the situation in Southwestern Virginia. The faithful here in our small communities are diverse. We span the spectrum in terms of our politics, race, and ideologies.

Even given our varied experiences and outlooks, we have never been in discord about the way our pastor Father Mark White expects us to live our faith. He is adamant that we take advantage of the Sacraments. He speaks to us weekly–or more if he can–about the importance of attending Mass. He shows us by example how to care for the poor, welcome the refugee, stand up for the oppressed, and to respect the dignity of every single human life.

There were many times during my employment with the Diocese that I questioned our church leadership, under the authority of Bishop Knestout, and wondered how they could make decisions that adversely affected the concerns and needs of our parish. My calls and emails were never answered by the Diocese in any way that expressed that they heard and cared.

It was Father Mark I turned to in frustration, and it was Father Mark who always counseled me to do what I could to treat others in the way the Church expects, and to always concern myself with the needs of others.

Every time Bishop Knestout demonstrated a lack of compassion or goodness, Father Mark reminded me that goodness can always be found when we follow the Gospel, and to continue reading the Word.  When my voice was not being heard by Bishop Knestout, Father Mark was there listening to my worries and reassuring me that I was needed.

Although I never heard a word from my bishop, my pastor wouldn’t let me give up hope. He guided me to the sacraments for strength. I never felt hopeless under his care. In these weeks and months of being away from our beloved church walls because of the virus, Father Mark has always pleaded with his parishioners to remain faithful, through all adversity, and to pray without ceasing.

Bishop Knestout has tried his best to take that hope away from us. At a time when we needed the stability and reassurance of our parish priest, the bishop came to our sister parish, to a church left nearly empty by a national pandemic, and declared that he was the one with the power and that we best follow him, without questioning his authority.

We received a letter from Bishop Knestout urging us to make Father Mark forget his quest for justice and to fall in line with church leadership. The peace and harmony the bishop spoke of in his letter was never in danger in Martinsville. That is, until Richmond decided to get involved.

Parishioners of St. Joseph had no problem with Father Mark’s blog. The large majority didn’t even know it existed! That is, until Richmond decided to get involved.

In his letter, Bishop Knestout claimed that he was a shepherd who did not want to see his sheep lost. Before the bishop became involved, we knew where we were and where we ultimately wanted to end up. And we were being led on our journey by a true shepherd.

We had a shepherd who was leading by example and word, how to follow the goodness of the Gospels, to stay faithful to our Lord and Savior, to stand strong for righteousness, and to pray without ceasing. He was pushing us to dig deeper, to trust more, to participate in sacraments, and to forgive. He continues to show us how to be a living example.

When Father Mark first came to us in Martinsville, we used to smirk at how long he elevated the Host and Chalice during Mass. Parishioners would often time it, and we would be sure to let him know when he broke a record. He only smiled.

It didn’t take long, though, for us to quiet down in those precious seconds and see the love on Father’s face for his Lord. We started to feel that love as well. We came to cherish those extended seconds spent with Christ. Now, we smile with him.

Father Mark’s actions, as always, spoke so much louder than any words could have. This is how he has always led us to be in full communion with Christ and the Church. To smile when mocked by those who would want to belittle us, to be confident in your love for Christ. I’m incredibly proud of his unfaltering faith and his example of how to truly be the hands and feet, the visible expression of the invisible Lord.

No matter what difficulties he experiences, and there have been many, Father Mark remains compassionate, calm, and faithful. He reminds us that occasionally we need to question man’s word, but we can trust fully in the Word of God. He reminds us that the Church, while flawed at times, has remained our foundation for 2000 years, and that She will never fall.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. Matthew 7:24-27.

Father Mark White stands firmly on that rock. He stands strong against all the adversity thrown at him from Bishop Knestout and his brother priests. He is standing like a shield in front of the victims of abuse so that they too can feel the sturdy foundation of our faith. We cannot let him fall.

I respectfully ask that you listen to the pleas of the Catholic faithful in Southwestern Virginia and reverse the unethical and illegal position of Bishop Barry Knestout. Allow Father Mark to remain our pastor and to continue to live his life as a servant of Christ, and a shepherd to His people.

 

Thank you for your consideration,

Donna McGarry