This is my 1,200th Capitol Correspondent column.
That number has been reasonably verified, thanks to assistance from Sister Patricia Radek, archivist for the Diocese of Lincoln, and a supplemental visit to the microfilm library at the Nebraska State Historical Society.
This is also my last column. Twelve-hundred will be it. Retirement has arrived, after 38-plus years of employment with the Nebraska Catholic (Bishops’) Conference. The columns have always been a part of it.
One wag, whose anonymity shall be preserved, has estimated that my columns have amounted to more than 900,000 words and if I had been paid by the word, suggesting two-bits, I would have a nice nest-egg for retirement. Now you suggest it.
Instead of once more trying to be informative or insightful or provocative or critical or clever or (even) humorous—I’ve tried them all—it is time to express sincerest gratitude to those who have made almost four decades and 1,200 columns possible.
First and foremost, I thank God for the many blessings of working for and under the leadership of 10 diocesan bishops: Archbishops Daniel E. Sheehan, Elden Francis Curtiss and George J. Lucas of Omaha; Bishops Glennon Patrick Flavin, Fabian W. Bruskewitz and James D. Conley of Lincoln; and Bishops John J. Sullivan, Lawrence J. McNamara, William J. Dendinger and Joseph G. Hanefeldt of Grand Island. Their support and encouragement, including for my role as a columnist, have been greatly valued and appreciated.
Each of these Shepherds has been the official publisher of the respective diocesan newspaper. Catholic Nebraskans are blessed to be served by these outstanding and remarkable publications: The Catholic Voice of the Archdiocese, the Southern Nebraska Register of Lincoln and the West Nebraska Register of Grand Island.
It also has been a blessing and a privilege to have coordinated with the diocesan newspaper editors. From my perspective, those of the past and those who currently serve must be regarded as special people in the work of the Church: From The True Voice/Catholic Voice: Father Bill Kelligar, John C. McGinn, Dave Hoberman, Steve Kent, Charlie Wieser and Deacon Randy Grosse; from the Southern Nebraska Register: Msgr. Tom Kealy and Msgr. James Dawson, both more-than-capably assisted by one of my most cherished mentors, Dean Lusienski, Ph.D.; Father Kenneth Borowiak and Father Nicholas Kipper, both more-than-capably assisted by Cathy Blankenau Bender; and from the West Nebraska Register: Father Bernard Berger, Father Francis Curran, Marilyn Zastrow and Mary Parlin.
The assistance of these people was consistent and invaluable, but no way did it exceed, or could it have exceeded, the patience they had with me. Newspapers have deadlines and space limitations, which I haven’t always fully appreciated. There were some clashes, some tension, typically over their headlines or my wordiness, but usually not content or opinion. John McGinn, on the other hand, had a knack for being brutally honest, sometimes with political overtones. We had a few shouting matches, but a lot more high-fives and a special friendship.
I’ve written columns at all sorts of times and in many types of places: late at night, before dawn in the morning; by long-hand in planes, trains and automobiles (not while driving), by dictation while driving (perhaps just once or twice). I’ve dictated columns via telephone in airports and hotel rooms and even while attending a sporting event; but never in church, although I have been inspired there. These admissions give context to the editors’ patience. The advances of technology have been useful, especially laptops and the Internet.
Topics? Gosh, when you daily traverse an intersection of Catholic teaching and public policy, the subject matter is vast and diverse, to say the least. Controversy was seldom lacking as fertile ground for commentary. What’s more, “try to lighten up on occasion,” was fairly common advice.
And yet, there were times when ideas didn’t formulate easily. Sitting and just staring at a typewriter or a computer monitor can be frustrating, especially since time doesn’t stand still. I have vented by throwing things (e.g., pens and pencils), but never a coffee cup that would break. Restless sleep was another nuisance.
My favorite and most cherished column was my first, 1,199 ago, in February of 1977. I wrote it in the form of a message to my then-5-month-old daughter; explaining, as best I could, Daddy’s new job. Now, she’s almost 39, has five children of her own and not much time to be particularly interested in Dad’s now-ended job.
Two other columns often come to mind. They were my efforts to express meaningful, adequate tributes upon the deaths of two wonderful gentlemen and scholars who greatly influenced my professional life: the aforementioned Dean Lusienski and Robert B. Crosby, one-time Governor of Nebraska, who later was legal counsel for the Nebraska Catholic Conference.
And so, a little too wordy once again. Time to move out and move on; to terminate what has been a magnificent journey.
But perhaps, just maybe, I won’t resist writing a letter-to-the-editor once in a while.
