Surrounded by his brother bishops, priests and deacons, archdiocesan seminarians and family and friends, Cardinal Cupich celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with Mass at Holy Name Cathedral on Aug. 16.
Members of the Chicago Neocatechumenal Way stood outside the cathedral and serenaded the clergy entering the cathedral before Mass. Sitting at the side of sanctuary, ecumenical and interfaith leaders lent their presence to the occasion. At the end of Mass, the cardinal received a standing ovation from the gathering.
During his homily, Cardinal Cupich reflected on the Gospel, which was the same one proclaimed during his ordination Mass a half-century ago and which reflects the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, he said.
“I have often said that the Second Vatican Council, which began when I was in eighth grade and lasted until the fall of my junior year in high school, had a great influence on my vocation to be a priest,” Cardinal Cupich told the gathering.
In the Gospel (Mt 15: 21-28), Jesus has an encounter with a Canaanite woman who calls out to Jesus and refers to him as the Messiah, the Son of David. His disciples want him to ignore the woman because she is not one of their people, but Jesus responds differently, taking pity on the woman.
Cardinal Cupich was born in Omaha, Nebraska, one of nine children, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Omaha in 1975. He served as pastor of two parishes there. He also served as secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. (1981-1987) and president/rector of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio (1989-1996)
He was appointed bishop of Rapid City, South Dakota by Pope John Paul II in 1998, and Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Spokane, Washington, in 2010. Cardinal Cupich was appointed archbishop of Chicago by Pope Francis on Sept. 20, 2014, and installed as the ninth archbishop of Chicago on Nov. 18, 2014.
On Oct. 9, 2016, Pope Francis named him a cardinal and he was elevated to the College of Cardinals in a consistory on Nov. 19, 2016, at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Cardinal Cupich earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the College of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota (1971) and a baccalaureate (1974) and master’s degree (1975) in theology from the North American College and Gregorian University in Rome. He earned a licentiate (1979) and doctorate (1987) in sacred theology from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Additionally, Cardinal Cupich has served in several Vatican dicasteries and positions of leadership in committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council made a similar intentional decision to speak beyond the church and to engage the world, recalling that Christ is the light of all the nations,” Cardinal Cupich said. “Instead of a church that is closed in on itself, a self-referential church that is fearful of the world and modernity, we are to read the signs of the times and include all of humanity in our mission. It is a posture that puts aside fear and self-interest and is open to benefiting from this engagement through inculturation and making our faith and worship more understandable and relevant to the needs of the world.”
In the Gospel passage, Jesus is patient with the woman and draws out her faith while walking with her. That is also something the council talked about, he said, as did Pope Francis with his focus on synodality.
“Finally, it is worth noting that the woman’s faith does not primarily benefit her, but it does bring healing to her daughter,” Cardinal Cupich said. “In fact, she, more than the disciples who had been accompanying Jesus, is in communion with his healing ministry. In fact, she is an agent and instrument of that healing. The council called all the baptized, not just the ordained, to participate in the saving work of Jesus.”
These insights from the council give the church new life, he said.
“They have been at the core of my decision to respond to the call to be ordained,” Cardinal Cupich said. “They have served as my North Star in keeping fresh the excitement, energy, and commitment that I experienced on the day I was ordained 50 years ago today. While there have been many unforeseen turns in the road and unexpected challenges, sometimes very painful, I am convinced that in this past half-century we have been living in extraordinary times, historic times for the church, following the council. Let us never take that for granted. For this I give thanks to God today.”
People who attended the Mass said they give thanks for Cardinal Cupich’s ministry.
Donna Ciszewski is on Holy Name Cathedral’s liturgy committee and has served at Mass alongside Cardinal Cupich for several years. She said she hopes it continues for a long time.
“We’re blessed to have the cardinal with us for these years,” Ciszewski said after Mass. “Anytime that he has the liturgies, they are just that much more meaningful to the people, to the people who serve him as minsters.”
Franciscan of the Eucharist of Chicago Sister Jaime Mitchell attended Mass with her community. As a young religious woman, she said, it is hard to comprehend celebrating a 50th anniversary like Cardinal Cupich.
“Fifty years of dedication and of service to the church and to Jesus and to be a witness and to be a priest for that long, it’s been a gift and a blessing to all of us and to look up to him as a model for all of us to incorporate how to follow Jesus Christ in a faithful and dedicated way,” Sister Jaime said.
Jill Boos, a member of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Mundelein, sang in the choir alongside singers from multiple parishes.
“It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate with the cardinal his 50th anniversary,” she said. “We hope he continues to be as blessed as he has been.”
Her husband, John Boos, also lent his voice to the Mass.
“What a wonderful milestone for the cardinal,” he said. “We sure wish him all of the best.”