By Most Rev. Joseph L. Bernardin, Archbishop of Cincinnati

My stay in Atlanta as auxiliary bishop lasted only two years: from May of 1966 to July of 1968. But they were happy and interesting years. The city itself was exciting and for the Church it was a time of hope and promise. The Second Vatican Council had just ended and we were anxious to begin implementing the Council’s directives. We were very much aware of the fact that a new era was beginning in the Church. Then, too, coming to Atlanta meant that once again I would be close to a man for whom I had a great respect and affection: Archbishop Hallinan who had been my bishop in my home diocese of Charleston.

As a matter of fact, completely unaware that I was soon to be named auxiliary, I had planned to visit the archbishop on March 2, 1966, as I had done a number of times before during his long illness. On that very day, several hours before I left my office in Charleston to board the plane, the letter arrived from the apostolic delegate in Washington informing me that Pope Paul VI intended to name me auxiliary to Archbishop Hallinan. I was told that I should wire back my acceptance. To ensure secrecy, I was given a code to use: “No record of formal document in files.”

After sending the requested telegram of acceptance, I boarded the plane and was met at the Atlanta airport by the archbishop who knew, of course, that an auxiliary was to be appointed but did not know that I had already been notified. Needless to say, he was very pleased when I gave him the news.

An interesting thing happened the next evening. Together with several other priests of the archdiocese, I had been invited to have dinner with the late Monsignor Patrick J. O’Connor of St. Thomas More Parish, a close friend who had taught me when I was a seminary student at Catholic University in Washington.

Because of the archbishop’s poor health, it had been rumored that an auxiliary might be named. When Monsignor suggested that it might be I, I felt a little awkward since I was not free to mention the appointment until it had been finalized in Rome. At one point, in the friendly give and take, he jokingly said that, from the way I blushed when he mentioned the possibility, I must have had the letter of appointment in my pocket. As a matter of fact, I did! And I told him so. Naturally, he thought I was joking. So we all had a good laugh and the matter was dropped. The remarks made that evening were the subject of many conversations in clerical circles the day the appointment was officially announced!

My time in Atlanta was divided between the Cathedral Parish of Christ the King, of which I was pastor, and the general pastoral care of the archdiocese which I shared with the archbishop. I will be forever grateful for the warm response I received from the clergy, religious and laity.

At Christ the King, I was blessed with wonderful priest associates. Even before “team ministries” became popular, we worked together as a team. The parishioners were also friendly, generous, committed and eager to become involved in the life of the parish. Initiatives were taken in a number of areas: religious education, liturgy, ecumenism, etc. Many efforts were made to give the parish a greater sense of community. For example, on the first Christmas more than 500 people came to an open house at the rectory. There were a number of frustrations, too. For example, the relatively new air conditioner in the church never seemed to work when it was needed most!

At the level of the archdiocese, I was privileged to take part in the first archdiocesan synod and many other projects, which were undertaken by Archbishop Hallinan. Together we published several pastoral letters. The archbishop was one of the most respected prelates in the country and the experience of being with him was very helpful and satisfying to me. While I enjoyed the bustle of Atlanta itself, I also liked visiting the mission parishes in the rest of the archdiocese which reminded me so much of South Carolina.

The two year period ended almost as quickly as it began. Even before the archbishop died, the process which would ultimately result in my leaving for Washington as general secretary of the Bishops’ Conference had begun. At the archbishop’s funeral, which was attended by many people from all over the country, Reverend Martin Luther King (who was assassinated shortly afterwards) and Governor Lester Maddox sat together in the front pew. Many remarked that the presence of two men with such different views was indicative of the archbishop’s ability to win the respect of all sides. Several days after the archbishop was buried, it was announced that I was being transferred to Washington.

Beginning in mid-April, I divided my time between Washington and Atlanta since I had been elected to serve as administrator of the archdiocese until the arrival of the new archbishop. Then in mid-July Archbishop Thomas Donnellan arrived. We gave him a warm welcome, two days later I said my final goodbyes and, in the midst of a big thunderstorm, I departed for the last time with many wonderful memories and a heart filled with gratitude for all that had happened during the previous two years.