Archbishop Cordileone's farewell: 'Everything happens in God's time'

May 2009: Oakland Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone ordains Giopre Prado, the first time Bishop Cordileone ordained a priest and the first ordination in the new Cathedral of Christ the Light. Standing next to the bishop is Deacon Stephen Taylor. JosÉ Luis Aguirre/The Catholic Voice

By Most Rev. Salvatore J. Cordileone

"There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens … . God has made everything appropriate to its time, but has put the timeless into their hearts so they cannot find out, from beginning to end, the work which God has done."

So teaches the Book of Ecclesiastes. Everything happens in God's time, according to His plan, which so often remains a mystery to us. And so it is that this time for me to say "good-bye" has come much sooner than I had anticipated or would have chosen. I felt that during these three years I have come to know the Diocese well, and was looking forward to working together with you all to put plans into place to further our mission to "know Christ better and make him better known" here in the East Bay. I will always remember the dynamism of your faith, how you celebrate and take delight in the rich ethnic diversity here, and your gracious hospitality which I most especially experienced during my many weekend parish visits. They will remain a memory I will treasure for the rest of my life.

While it is difficult to move at this time, I am grateful to Archbishop Alexander Brunett, the Archbishop Emeritus of Seattle, for accepting the appointment to serve as the Apostolic Administrator here after I become the Archbishop of San Francisco until a new bishop is named and takes possession of the Diocese. Archbishop Brunett has a wealth of experience, and has enjoyed much success in dealing with the same kind of issues we are facing right now, such as long-term development, support for Catholic education and strategic planning. His enthusiasm and well-founded confidence will serve the diocese well during this critical time of transition. You will all be in good hands!

Please know how deeply grateful I will always be to you for all of the love, prayers and support you have shown me during these three years, and especially during these eventful days of my own transition. Thanks to you I have learned much about what it means to serve as the bishop of a local Church, and I pray that it may serve me well in my new ministry to the priests and people of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. And while I'm sorry to be leaving, I'm happy that I will be nearby and will have occasions to keep in contact with the Church of Oakland in the future.

We often do not know why God allows some things to happen when they do and the way that they do. In His wisdom, He often reveals this to us later. This has happened to me many times in my own life. He is working out His plan in His own way, all according to the time He has appointed. He knows what is best. Let us, then, place our trust in Him, hold each other in prayer, and move forward in faith.
I wish you peace and every good blessing from God.

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