I had the opportunity to meet Bishop Mengeling shortly after his appointment as the fourth Bishop of Lansing in November 1995 while I was a seminarian. He came to Mundelein Seminary in Chicago to visit a group of his new seminarians and to have some retreat time before his episcopal consecration. He joined the seminary community for Mass and then spent some time visiting with the group of us. None of us knew quite what to expect prior to meeting him. We knew that he was 65 years old, that he came from the nearby Diocese of Gary, Indiana, and that he had been a pastor and teacher. What we did not know about was his remarkable enthusiasm and boundless energy—but we soon learned about those as well.

“Enthusiasm” is an interesting word. Most often in our time, we use it to describe someone who possesses great energy, optimism, or verve. The deeper meaning of “enthusiasm” comes from the Greek words that mean “rooted in God.” In this more ancient sense, enthusiasm is an apt description for Bishop Mengeling. His life was rooted in God and his energetic ministry revealed this.

Anyone who ever attended a gathering, meeting, workshop, or even Mass with Bishop Mengeling often saw his enthusiasm as he came bounding through the door. He loved to visit with people of all ages, and many of us recall how his handshake could nearly dislocate one’s shoulder. His homiletic raspberries are the stuff of legend, as are his homilies that often came in several parts, sprinkled across various parts of the Mass.

Bishop Mengeling’s endless energy could only have one source — his deep faith in and love for God. He was enthusiastic — rooted in God — and those divine roots provided him with the daily energy, resilience, and purpose that were the hallmarks of his ministry as our bishop. His enthusiasm helped him to serve as a good shepherd, responding to the needs of the people of our diocese as he understood them.

How often did we hear him reflect on the importance of “happy Catholics!!”? I firmly believe that what he meant by that was that each of us finds our ultimate happiness and joy when we are enthusiastic — when we are rooted in God. The magazine that you hold in your hands and its sister publications that are now found in dioceses across the United States, sprang from Bishop Mengeling’s enthusiasm — and from his desire that we should all be rooted in our faith in Jesus. Thank you, Bishop Mengeling, for the ongoing mission of FAITH. Together, let us thank God for the gift of Bishop Mengeling, his ministry and his enthusiasm. And so, our journey in FAITH continues.