Thoughts from our Head of School, Dr. Joseph Vorbach:
On Wednesday, the day after the news was announced that Bishop Michael Burbidge, the current Bishop of Raleigh, N.C., would become the 4th Bishop of Arlington on Dec. 6, our Bishop-designate visited Bishop O'Connell. Bishop Burbidge had asked to have an opportunity to speak with a group of students representing all classes and he did this in the library with about 70 students, led by the Student Council Executive Board. This was a moment when the Bishop placed the students at ease, told them about his experiences of the past 48-hours, and fostered a dialogue with them about vocations, catholic education, and what makes Bishop O'Connell special.
There was a special continuity between Bishop Loverde's recent visit to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit and Bishop Burbidge's of just the other day. During Bishop Loverde's last formal visit to Bishop O'Connell, he showed once again his love for Catholic education and, perhaps in the most personal way he ever has during a visit to our school, reminded students of the power of prayer...his for all of us, and his wish that we would pray for him as well. Bishop Burbidge's visit provided great evidence of his love for Catholic education, his respect for those engaged in providing it (mentioning particularly the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary who were part of his education from as early as kindergarten), and the energetic and joyful spirit he is bringing with him to this new calling as our Bishop.
After the initial meeting in the library, the Student Council leaders took Bishop Burbidge on a tour of the school that began with a visit to our chapel, included a brief meet and greet with parents and school counselors who had just finished an informative coffee, and ended with a few drop-in visits to some math classes.
What a blessing it was to have Bishop Burbidge visit on Wednesday! I ask everyone in the school community to pray for both Bishop Loverde and Bishop Burbidge during this time of transition.