'Jesus wants everybody,' says newly ordained Oregon bishop

(OSV News) -- The newly ordained bishop of Baker, Oregon, said he plans to minister as he did while still a priest -- and that he's looking to transcend political and cultural divisions while proclaiming the eternal truth of the Gospel, since "Jesus wants everybody."

Bishop Thomas J. Hennen was ordained Sept. 29 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Bend, Oregon, with Archbishop Alexander K. Sample of Portland, Oregon, as principal consecrator.

Also on hand were Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the U.S., and over a dozen bishops and other clergy.

The new bishop, whose appointment was announced by the Vatican July 10, succeeds Bishop Liam S. Cary, whose resignation -- submitted in 2022 when he turned 75, in accord with canon law -- was accepted by Pope Leo XIV.

In his post-Communion remarks at the liturgy, Bishop Hennen began by giving thanks to the Lord, stressing, "Without God, I am nothing. Without God, I can do nothing."

He also expressed his gratitude to Mary, saying, "More than 21 years ago, I entrusted my priesthood to Jesus through her loving hands. This morning, I entrusted myself once again to her maternal care. She is ever faithful and will only ever lead us closer to her son."

The bishop also honored the support of the angels and saints, as well as Pope Leo, Cardinal Pierre, bishops, clergy, laity and his family and friends.

At just 47, he said, "Obviously, I am a young bishop," one who has "never done this before."

Yet "in the grand scheme of things, that doesn't matter much for God," said Bishop Hennen. "And wisdom is vindicated by her works."

And his work, he said, will be to "be wise, gentle, courageous and loving," seeking to bring Jesus Christ's love and salvation to all -- even, and especially, amid a polarized society.

"Many are undoubtedly wondering, what kind of bishop will I be?" he said, admitting, "I don't know yet. I've never done this before."

But as for whether he will be "a liberal or a conservative ... a progressive or a traditionalist," the answer was clear, said Bishop Hennen.

"If I may be blunt, I don't have time for any of it," he said. "Jesus does not think in these categories, and neither should we."

Instead, said Bishop Hennen, "I am first and foremost a child of God, a Catholic Christian, a disciple of Jesus of Nazareth."

He emphasized that "as such, I don't have the luxury of cultivating my own preferred flock and saying, in so many ways and words, 'To heck with the rest.'"

Rather, he said, "as Christians, we want everybody, because Jesus wants everybody."

He warned that "we have seen where the paths of the extremes lead, both to places of death" -- a possible allusion to recent political violence and mass shootings in the U.S.

But, said Bishop Hennen, "Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life."

The bishop said his stance was not one of "playing (the) middle, but standing fast in the faith of Jesus Christ, the ancient faith of the church."

Bishop Hennen noted that "the church has always been far too consistent to make sense to the world, hasn't it?"

"I promise to be faithful. I promise to love you," he said. "I promise to pray for you, to teach, govern, and to lead you in the ways of holiness as best I can" -- and, he said, referencing St. Paul's Second Letter to the Corinthians -- "very aware that I hold this treasure, as we heard in our second reading today, in an earthen vessel."