‘Clothe yourselves with compassion...’

Bishop Gilmore celebrates Mass, has lunch with St. Dominic pupils

By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

They are “God’s Masterpiece.”

The sign, on which was written “God’s Masterpiece” in colors reflecting the ethnic diversity of southwest Kansas, stretched above dozens of self-portraits, drawn in pencil and crayon, and each housed in a colorfully drawn frame and adhered to a wall at St. Dominic School in Garden City.

The students -- the artists -- slowly filled St. Dominic Church Sept. 13, where Bishop Ronald Gilmore and Father Joseph Bahr would celebrate Mass. It was the second of Bishop Gilmore’s annual visits to local Catholic schools, the second time in as many weeks celebrating Mass and then sharing a lunch with the pupils.

“I had an old red sweatshirt that was my favorite,” said Bishop Gilmore, microphone in hand as he walked amid the child-filled pews of St. Dominic.

Often when he came home, Bishop Gilmore said he used to change into his favorite sweatshirt and a comfortable old pair of kacky pants.

“Do you have clothes like that?” he asked. Immediately several young hands shot into the air.

“Shorts and a tank-top,” one girl said in to the mic held by Bishop Gilmore.

“Jeans and a T-shirt,” a boy said.

“Does the T-shirt say anything on it?” the bishop asked.

“I … um … I can’t remember,” the nervous boy responded.

“I ask you about that because of the lessons we just read,” Bishop Gilmore told the pupils.

The reading the bishop referred to, Colossians 3:12-17, read: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

“If you believe in Jesus Christ,” the bishop said, “that has to show up in how you live. What is inside you has to seep through to the outside.

“When you allow the lord to clothe you in these virtues, you are doing what Paul wants. Over all the good virtues, put on love. That’s what Paul asks of us. Think of this as you get dressed in the morning. Remember what St. Paul told us: Put on mercy, kindness, humility, and patience.”

And like the coat one puts on over their clothes when the weather gets cold, “Over all other virtues, put on love,” the bishop said.

At the lunch that followed Mass, Bishop Gilmore, Father Bahr, and Superintendent of Schools, Ann Depperschmidt, enjoyed conversation and a few laughs with several of the children. When he was finished eating, Bishop Gilmore moved from table to table, greeting the children, and sitting down occasionally for a brief conversation.