“The unfolding of the Church’s history always occurs within the context of the history of the age. Today, here, that means Southeast Michigan’s struggle to find a new way to establish a vibrant economy, so that families have sufficient resources to obtain not only the material goods, but the spiritual as well, that they need in order to flourish. I recognize that this challenge for our civic community is – as all societal problems are – a pastoral challenge as well. To that challenge, as I begin my service as archbishop, I want to bring all the riches of grace which the Holy Spirit has bestowed on the Church.

By my reckoning, two particular graces standout: the grace of hope and the grace of wisdom.

About the grace of wisdom: In the matter of solving even the most practical problems, while material resources are important, human creativity and intelligence are the resources which count the most. The Church, with the wealth of her social teaching, has a particular set of insights to contribute towards the solution of our economic problems. In my service as archbishop, I will do all that I can to see to it that these spiritual resources are available to those responsible for charting our community’s way forward.

About the grace of hope: The flag and seal of the City of Detroit speak hope – Spera meliora, “Hope for better things.” Even more than a call for, they command us to hope. Were this hope founded only in ourselves alone, it would inevitably disappoint. But the Christian community which I am being appointed to lead testifies that we are right to hope even in times of trial, because our hope is rooted in God who is faithful, in the Father, who in Jesus Christ, has come to dwell with us and will never abandon us. This hope, born of faith, is an invaluable contribution which the Catholics of the archdiocese offer our community as we face the social and economic changes of our time.”