Bishop
Maginnis: ‘History does not just recall events’
By Lou Baldwin
Special to the CS&T
April 8, 2008, the 200th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of
Philadelphia by Pope Pius VII, marks the end of a process that began two-
and-a-half years ago for Auxiliary Bishop Robert P. Maginnis.
It was back then that Cardinal Justin Rigali asked him to put together
an anniversary book for the upcoming bicentennial.
That was just the beginning. Soon Bishop Maginnis found himself chair
of the Bicentennial Committee. He’d never put together a book, nor
organized a celebration of this type, so he did what every smart executive
does: He organized a team of capable assistants and, under his leadership,
they ran with it.
The two key individuals, he insists, were really Oratorian Father Philip
G. Bochanski, general editor of “Our Faith-Filled Heritage,”
the bicentennial history that was published last year, and Father Joseph
C. McLoone, the principal organizer of the many events of the bicentennial
year.
For the history, a task force of knowledgeable advisors was first assembled,
five writers were chosen to write segments of the book and, finally, Father
Bochanski edited the segments; he also wrote short histories for every
parish in the Archdiocese.
At 74, and a lifelong Philadelphian, Bishop Maginnis is no stranger to
archdiocesan history. Born in Maternity B.V.M. Parish, he attended St.
Aloysius Academy and St. Joseph’s Preparatory School before entering
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
He was ordained in 1961, and served as a parochial vicar at Our Lady Help
of Christians in Abington and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Chester, where
he became active in youth ministry. That service was followed by stints
as associate director and director of the archdiocesan Department of Youth
Activities.
In 1987, he was named administrator, then pastor, of St. Alphonsus Parish
in Maple Glen. In 1991, he was named regional vicar of Montgomery County,
an office he held until 1996, when he was ordained bishop and auxiliary
for Philadelphia.
“Having grown up in the Archdiocese and been taught its history,
I was pleased to be able to revisit parts of the history I had forgotten,”
Bishop Maginnis said. “History does not just recall events. History
records philosophies and attitudes, which impact events and impact the
lives of people. I think it is important for people to know their history.”
All anniversaries are important, Bishop Maginnis believes: “An anniversary
indicates a commitment has been made and has been kept. The theme this
year is, ‘Serving the People of God, in the Beginning, Now and Always,’
and that’s what the Church has done.”
That history of commitment continues. The Bishop points, for instance,
to the yearlong series of events that Father McLoone helped organize.
Some of those events that stand out for him include the various service
projects, the Priests Committee on Pardon and Peace, and the “Amazing
Race for the Grace.”
The “race,” he said, was outstanding: “I think it was
a culmination of the year to have four or five thousand youth participate
and assemble on the lawn of St. Charles Seminary for a Mass celebrated
by Cardinal Rigali.”
Lou Baldwin is a member of St. Leo Parish and a freelance writer.