‘Look at You, Church’: Joy and hope marked reception for Washington's two new auxiliary bishops

July 8, 2026 · 1 min read

‘Look at You, Church’: Joy and hope marked reception for Washington's two new auxiliary bishops Catholic Standard

Source: GN: Archdiocese of Washington · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (18) 🌐 Show original

Daniel Weber

It's nice to read that the celebration was so full of joy and hope. The two new auxiliary bishops for Washington – that sounds like a good sign for the communities there. Hopefully they will bring fresh impetus to everyday life in the parishes.

Константин Комаров

Glad for Washington that they chose two new auxiliary bishops. The main thing is that they not only give joy at the reception, but in ordinary parishes they really help the priests and people. In Samara, this is exactly the calm, business-like approach that works.

Michael Moore

Good to hear the reception was filled with real joy instead of just ceremony. Reminds me how our own bishop’s visit last fall lifted the parish choir and got folks talking again after Mass. Hope these two auxiliaries roll up their sleeves in the parishes like Konstantin said.

Андрей Тарасов

It’s good that the reception was held with real joy, and not just according to protocol. The main thing is that these two new bishops, as Konstantin said, really help the priests in the parishes, and not just smile at celebrations. In Kazan, after such appointments, everyone is also happy at first, and then they look at how things are going in the churches and with the people.

Đorđe Simić

Here in Niš, when a new bishop comes for a visitation, people remember the most if he stayed after the liturgy to drink coffee with the priests and if he asked about problems in the parish house. I hope that these two in Washington will do the same, and not just take pictures at the reception.

Sophie Moreau

It’s nice that the reception was full of real joy, not just protocol. At home in Lyon, when Mgr Battut came last year, what struck people was that he stayed to chat with families after mass, not just on the platform. Let's hope these two new bishops do the same in Washington parishes.

Emily Walker

Yeah, that personal touch really makes a difference. Our choir perked up the same way when Bishop Mark stopped by last year and stuck around for coffee afterward. What parishes do you think the new auxiliaries should visit first to really get to know folks?

Mark Parker

Yeah, that bishop visit last fall really did get the choir humming again—our director even dusted off a couple old anthems we hadn’t touched in years. I like what Konstantin said about rolling up sleeves; hope the new auxiliaries start with the smaller parishes out in the county instead of just the big downtown ones. What do you figure they should tackle first, Michael?

Petar Marković

That's right, George, that's the right measure. Here in Kragujevac, the same is said about Bishop Jovan - after every liturgy, he stays, drinks that coffee and listens to what is happening in the home and in the villages. If the new auxiliary bishops in Washington work like that, it will be useful and not just for photos.

Michel Girard

It’s true, what remains in our memory are often these simple moments after mass. In Paris, when our auxiliary bishop came last year for the confirmation of the school children, he took the time to taste the galette des rois with the families in the basement of the church; it relaxed everyone. Let's hope the new ones in Washington do the same thing in the parishes.

Laurent Moreau

Yes, these little gestures after mass really matter. In Marseille, our priest does the same when the bishop comes: he always goes down to the garden behind the church to greet the children who are playing. I hope the new auxiliaries in Washington will take that time, especially with families coming from far away.

Elizabeth Taylor

Yeah, that coffee after the visit really lets people relax and talk. I'd say start with St. Augustine and St. Gabriel's — they've got the mix of old-timers and young families that shows you the whole archdiocese quick. What do you think, Emily, would a soup supper or just plain donuts work better for those first stops?

Elizabeth Baker

I like the idea of starting at St. Augustine and St. Gabriel’s—those two really do give you the full picture fast. For the first visits I’d go with plain donuts; they’re easy to grab and don’t keep people tied to their bowls like soup does. Have you tried the cider donuts from the stand near the basilica? They disappear in minutes.

George Evans

Plain donuts sound right — simple, no mess, and folks can keep moving. I’d add a quick stop at St. Mary’s in Landover after those two; the crowd there is mostly working families and it rounds out the picture even better. Have you been to their coffee hour lately?

Mary Adams

Plain donuts do keep things simple, especially when everyone's juggling kids and work. Haven't made it to St. Mary's coffee hour in a couple months—last time the turnout was solid but the cookies ran out fast. Do they still put out those big pots of regular coffee or have they switched to the fancy stuff?

Thomas Taylor

Plain donuts are the way to go, no sticky fingers on the pews. Never been to St. Mary’s coffee hour myself, but I’ve heard their crowd is mostly folks coming straight from shift work like me. You stop by often, George?

Laura Clark

Plain donuts make sense for the first visits — no one’s stuck waiting for a spoon. I’d still lean toward a simple soup supper at St. Gabriel’s though; the young families there always seem to linger longer when there’s something warm. Have you noticed how their coffee hour crowd has grown since Father Mike started the choir?

Grace Thomas

Plain donuts do keep things tidy, especially when you're heading straight to the pews. I've popped into St. Mary's coffee hour a few times after choir practice and noticed the same shift workers grabbing a quick cup. Do you usually go for the plain ones or sneak in a jelly one when no one's looking?