Issue link: http://archden.uberflip.com/i/1467679
21 SPECIAL EDITION | ARCHBISHOP'S CATHOLIC APPEAL Is there one of the 12 Apostles who you admire, AND why? I have a special admiration for St. Peter because of his impetuosity. I share this characteristic with him, and it was this impetuosity that allowed me to immediately leave the nets and follow Him (Mt 4:20). However, during the time of priestly formation I discovered that, like St. Peter, my impulsiveness could oper- ate for better and for worse. Peter went through a process of formation with the master to have discernment about his impetuosity, and this is one of the gifts that the seminary forma- tion gave me. Which Apostle do you think you know the least about or who would you like to know better? St. Thaddaeus Why do you think it's important for us to understand the 12 Apostles better? It is essential for Catholics to understand the 12 Apostles and their mission because the times that the Church is facing requires a transition from Christendom to Apostolic Mis- sion, and there is no better model to follow than the one revealed in the New Testament. What is one apostolic charac- teristic you hope to bring to your ministry as a priest? I hope to bring the zeal of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of souls to my priestly ministry. ⊲ DEACON LUIS GUILHERME DA SILVA MENDES Is there one of the 12 Apostles who you admire, AND why? Yes, the book In Sinu Jesu ("on, or in, the heart of Jesus") changed my life because it is based upon the spiritu- ality of St. John, who rested his head on Christ's heart. To hear that heart- beat in the context of his priestly ordination...it's mysterious, glorious, and even sorrowful as Christ enters his Passion. To rest on Jesus's heart is to hear the heartbeat of the Father. And so, John was pure of heart (and this is why he could accept Mary into his home). I also imagine, for some reason, that John had a special friend- ship with Judas, and had to experi- ence the pain of a brother betraying his Lord. John was so closely united to Jesus both in his Passion and his Resurrection, and nothing is more priestly. Which Apostle do you think you know the least about or who would you like to know better? I love St. Philip's request at the Last Supper: "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus's response is a minor rebuke that calls for more faith. "When you see me, you see the Father!" I love the raw desire of Philip's request, and I want to know what in Jesus's three years of preaching so ignited Philip's desire for the Father. Why do you think it's important for us to understand the 12 Apostles better? Because we have an Apostle in our midst; Archbishop Aquila is not merely the CEO; he is the "Bride- groom" of the Church, configured to Christ. It would be well if we prayed in gratitude for Archbishop and his ongoing conversion. He is anointed by the Spirit and has been a great wit- ness to me. What is one apostolic charac- teristic that you hope to bring to your ministry as a priest? I hope to bring John's faithfulness. John outlived all of the Apostles and many of the original disciples; he had to suffer his own martyrdom (yet he miraculously survived the cauldron of boiling oil) and the martyrdom of his beloved brethren. Even still, to his death, he contemplated in peace what he heard in Jesus's heart. DEACON TREVOR LONTINE