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Bishop Tom Gumbleton, presente!

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>> Click here to see a full report with video and photos from Tom’s funeral in Detroit, April 11-13.

Scroll below to read additional reflections, articles, and more, including videos, photos, a slideshow of pictures of Tom…

With heavy hearts and profound affection and appreciation, Pax Christi USA announces that Bishop Tom Gumbleton, our first bishop president, has died at the age of 94.

Ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1956, Bishop Gumbleton was named an auxiliary bishop and appointed vicar general of the archdiocese in 1968. He was invited to be the first bishop president of the newly-created Pax Christi USA in 1972 and served in that role until 1991.

“We entrust a real champion of peace to the Risen Lord during this Octave of Easter,” said Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., bishop of Lexington, KY and the current bishop president of Pax Christi USA. “Bishop Gumbleton took the gospel to heart and lived it day in and day out. He preferred to speak the truth and to be on the side of the marginalized than to toe any party line and climb the ecclesiastical ladder. When it came to speaking the prophetic word he was unafraid and lived with the consequences. I pray for more shepherds like Tom Gumbleton who lived the spirituality of nonviolence in all contexts. It is kind of fitting that he shares the anniversary of death of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.”

Inspired by the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and the 1971 encyclical Justice in the World, Bishop Gumbleton spent his life promoting peace, nonviolence, human rights, and equity. He traveled around the world to engage with and learn from people in impoverished and war-torn regions, and he was devoted to his neighbors and parishioners in Detroit. He was beloved for his gentleness and humility, and respected for his deep integrity and commitment.

“In every aspect of his being, Tom lived out the ‘peace of Christ,'” stated Johnny Zokovitch, Pax Christi USA Executive Director. “Tom was everything that our movement aspires to. All of Pax Christi USA grieves at this loss but we celebrate too the gift that his life and witness were for us and for the Church.”

Teachers of Peace Fr. Louis Vitale (2001) and Bishop Tom Gumbleton (1991)

Visitation and funeral arrangements

Visitation for Bishop Gumbleton began on Wednesday, April 10, from 1 pm until the time of the prayer service at 4 pm at the IHM Sisters Motherhouse, 610 West Elm Avenue, Monroe, Michigan. Visitation continued Thursday, April 11, from 2-8 pm at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1000 Eliot Street, Detroit (click here for video of the visitation) and Friday, April 12, from 12 noon to 8 pm at Chas. Verheyden, Inc., 16300 Mack Avenue, Grosse Pointe Park. Bishop Gumbleton lay instate on Saturday, April 13 from 9:30 am until the Funeral Mass at 11 am at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. The Mass video is available here.

Watch the visitation from Thursday, April 11 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church above. See Pax Christi Michigan state coordinator Mary Hanna speak at the 1:58:10 mark here. See Pax Christi USA Bishop-President Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. at the 2:15:18 mark here.

Watch the memorial video prepared by Jasmine Rivera
and shown at Tom’s visitation by clicking on the image above.

>> Click here to see more photos from the visitation, Pax Christi USA gathering of remembrance,
and funeral mass for Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, Pax Christi USA founding bishop-president,
Teacher of Peace, and Ambassador of Peace, in Detroit, April 11-13, 2024.

Thanks to Meta Peace Team for organizing these words of wisdom from Bishop Gumbleton
Pax Christi USA staff member Michelle Sherman interviewed Bishop Gumbleton in 2022

Read more…

More to read on Bishop Gumbleton…

Reflections on Bishop Tom

Tom possessed the rare combination of being profoundly prophetic and deeply pastoral. He was a prophet through and through, consistently denouncing injustice while calling the Church and its people to embrace lives of gospel nonviolence. He played a pivotal role in writing and releasing “The Challenge of Peace” which holds a prominent place in the U.S. Catholic Church’s peacemaking tradition. At the same time Tom was a pastor, one who “smelled like the sheep,” in the words of Pope Francis. He kept close to the lost sheep, the outcasts, oppressed and marginalized, showing them solidarity while working unceasingly for their liberation. And he smelled like the sheep of St. Leo’s Church, a parish community that he humbly served with great dedication. I remember Tom leaving Pax Christi USA national council meetings in time to preside and preach at Sunday morning liturgies, and his powerful homilies always proclaimed the Peace of Christ. The bright light that Tom was for the Catholic Church, Pax Christi and the larger peacemaking community now shines more brightly in heaven, and I pray that he will continue to illumine the Way of Peace for all of us seeking to walk it.

Nancy Small, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and former National Coordinator

Bishop Tom Gumbleton was a great friend to me and numerous Catholic Workers and many others. He embodied the Beatitudes, lived and proclaimed the Gospel of nonviolence, and inspired countless others to do the same. He truly made the Word flesh! God called him home on the anniversary of Dr. King’s martyrdom. He joins Dr. King and all the Holy Cloud of Witnesses who now advocate for us to be God’s peace and justice makers in this perilous time. Deo Gratias for his exemplary steadfast Gospel witness! Tom Gumbleton—PRESENTE!

Art Laffin, Pax Christi USA 2016 Teacher of Peace, Dorothy Day Catholic Worker (Washington, DC)

Bishop Gumbleton — Tom. To us all lived his life fully and with deep compassion, authenticity and integrity. From pulpit to protest — from honest encounter to tender care, concern and truth-telling.  Humble yet powerful in his words and by his actions — a man who lived the Gospel from Beatitudes to chastisement of those who bind heavy burden and lay them on the shoulders of others. Honored by many and loved deeply by those who had the privilege of working with/ beside him. He will be missed — but now will plead for us all before the heart of the living/loving God and with his mentor Jesus the Christi. Filled with the Spirit — a man who laughed, cried and most of all loved deeply. I will miss his gentle presence. 

Sister Kathleen Pruitt CSJP, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace, past vice president of Pax Christi International, and former chair of the Pax Christi USA National Council

I had the honor of knowing Bishop Tom Gumbleton since the foundation of Pax Christi in 1972. We worked and traveled together many times in the years that followed and I knew I was in the presence of a man who was deeply committed to the Gospel of peace. Tom was a quiet and humble man who epitomized for me Cardinal Newman’s “definition of a gentleman” in The Idea of a University (1852). He had a marvelous sense of humor and no social issue where people suffered escaped his priestly attention; this, of course, got him into a great deal of trouble through the years! I especially remember a trip to Dublin and Derry back in the late 1970s where Tom and Dom Helder Camara conducted international conferences on Gospel nonviolence. After a Mass in Derry, people asked some of us for our autographs and Tom politely asked for their autographs in return.  They were amazed that a bishop would show such respect–and love–for them. I had the honor of being inducted into the first class of Pax Christi USA Ambassadors of Peace with Tom, Eileen Egan, Gordon Zahn, and Gerry Vanderhaar in 1992.  May the angels guide you into Paradise, dear Tom.

Joe Fahey, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and first general secretary of Pax Christi USA

Bishop Tom Gumbleton was an authentic prophet and a humble pastor. His way of living Gospel nonviolence was an important challenge to the Catholic Church in the United States and around the world, a way of engaging the powers and principalities, and an invitation to each of us. To have witnessed his passionate, powerful, gentle stand for just peace and respect for human rights in places as diverse as Haiti and Afghanistan, El Salvador and Guatemala was an immeasurable gift. I remember so clearly his compassionate presence with Sister Dianna Ortiz in Guatemala as we stood outside the building where she was tortured and with a little girl, Amena, in Afghanistan, whose whole family was killed by a “wayward” U.S. bomb. He taught us all so much about solidarity and accompaniment of communities being destroyed by our militarism and greed and he showed us how to love. We have so much to celebrate as we reflect on the life of this beloved founder of Pax Christi USA and beloved friend of Pax Christi International. Bishop Tom Gumbleton, presente!

Marie Dennis, Pax Christi USA 2023 Teacher of Peace, Ambassador of Peace, and former co-president of Pax Christi International

Tom Gumbleton was a constant in the life of the Agape Community, and was the keynote speaker at Agape’s 20th anniversary at Holy Cross College 21 years ago, where he was feted before his talk with and introduction by Professor David O’Brien, and others who were present, including Mike True, and Agape’s co-founders, Suzanne Belote Shanley and Brayton Shanley.

In addition to his talk at Holy Cross, Tom joined Shelley and Jim Douglass, Billy Neal Moore, former Death Row inmate and long-time friend of Agape, at a rousing Francis Day celebration the next day.

A notable memory for both events was Tom praying in silence in the front row at Holy Cross, where none of the standing room only crowd would dare disturb him. …

We at Agape met Tom at the US Catholic Bishops’ Conference on nuclear weapons in 1983, where he spoke about deterrence and reluctantly embraced at that time, the bishops’ ambivalent approach to nonviolence at their 1983 gathering. Fr. Richard McSorley joined Agape at that DC conference where we prayed, fasted and help banners together with Art Laffin and folks from the Dorothy Day Catholic Worker. We asked the bishops to embrace nonviolence, which was not to happen.

At one point in our peacemaking journey, he advised us to stop trying to change or convince the Catholic bishops to a public position on nonviolence. Still, Bishop Timothy Harrington and Bishop Daniel Reilly of Worcester embraced on principal nonviolence, and Bishop Reilly was in attendance and spoke to the Agape anniversary in glowing praise of his brother, Tom, by which name, as we all know, he preferred to be called. So we greet you Tom, your death on the assassination day of MLK seems so fitting. Born into eternal life, two prophets for nonviolence.

Suzanne Belote Shanley, Agape Community, Pax Christi Massachusetts

SCROLL THROUGH PHOTOS OF TOM BELOW

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I knew, as former Secretary-General (1978-2007) of Pax Christi International, Bishop Tom Gumbleton. He was an active vice-president of Pax Christi International for several years. Bishop Tom Gumbleton was impressive in his commitment to peace. He played an important role in the creation of the 1983 U.S. Bishops Peace Pastoral and brought his enthusiasm to many national branches of Pax Christi International. He supported victims of violence and human rights abuse and accompanied them in their struggles worldwide. It was an honor to have known him.

Etienne de Jonghe, former Secretary-General of Pax Christi International

It was a great privilege to be part of a small group which joined Tom as he and Dianna Ortiz walked around the Ministry of Defense building in Guatemala City where she had been tortured. Tom and Dianna performed a kind of exorcism of that diabolical place, a typical role for this man who was always a light shining in so many dark places in the world.

Rev. Joe Nangle, ofm, Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace

Tom was a prophetic priest, extremely rare. He wasn’t afraid to do civil disobedience, with tireless trips to Haiti in his elder years. He learned compassion for compassion for LGBTQ because of his brother and advocating for LGBTQ was also prophetic at the time. He was an activist priest who always traveled to do talk and would fly back to say Mass at his parish. He came to Agape on a Friday night for our 20th anniversary and said that he had to be back to his parish to say Mass on Sunday. The most memorable quote: “Just because I’m a bishop doesn’t mean I have to hang out with bishops.” He implied that he wanted to be active and relevant, on the front lines of social justice. He was textbook nonviolence.

Brayton Shanley, Agape Community, Pax Christi Massachusetts

I was quite saddened when I heard about the death of Bishop Gumbleton. My first thoughts were, we have lost a good man and our church has lost a faithful advocate for justice and peace. … He indeed was a good man, faithful friend and truly a bishop of all humanity. He indeed loved tenderly, act justly and walked humbly before his good God! I know that his Spirit will continue to hover over the universe as we who are called to and seek justice, continue to create a Beloved community in which all of creation may experience life!

Sr. Patty Chappell, SNDdeN, former Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, Ambassador of Peace

Tom was an amazing beacon of light for all of us. I remember when he visited St. Joseph Church in Needham, MA in the 1970s and talked about war and nuclear weapons. I think it was just after our education in gospel nonviolence began, taught by Charlie McCarthy. For me, he will always be one of the “great ones” – consistent, loving, true to his convictions on nonviolence, despite the marginalization he probably experienced within the Church. 

Patricia Ferrone, Pax Christi Massachusetts

Tom was a gentle but passionate man who got that peace and justice are intertwined. I saw him too during his West Coast tour here in SoCal. I also met him at an earlier time when he came to our parish in Claremont in the 1980s to help educate us that nuclear disarmament was not only possible, but absolutely essential for our people and our planet. In my encounters with him, he witnessed kindness and humility, always. Presente, Bishop Thomas Gumbleton. Pray for us! 

Cathy Crayton, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

Bishop Tom will be sorely missed. He was genuine, courageous, and one of the kindest human beings I have ever met. I have some fond memories of the West Coast tour Kathy Kelly, Bishop Tom and I did when I was the Local/Regional Coordinator for PCUSA. He was, and will continue to be, an inspiration in my life. Presente Bishop Tom Gumbleton!

Phyllis Jepson, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

To us in the UK Tom was a hugely positive help. In the 1970s he took part in a PCI Council here and was a keynote speaker at the 1979 PCI Congress in London — amongst other occasions. I will always associate him with the creation of the US Bishops’ Peace Pastoral — a really significant and bold document, which influenced us across many countries at a time when the nuclear issue was top of the international agenda. He generously came to London to speak about it in 1983 — and no doubt in other countries too.

I also remember his friendship with the Jagerstatter family, visits to St Radegund, and support in spreading the message of Franz’s life and witness. He came to the beatification in 2007.

Valerie Flessati, Pax Christi England and Wales

I knew and loved Tom for 40 years. He was such a help and a mentor and a source of encouragement to me. I must have done 25 events with him around the country, and we traveled around the world together too. I don’t know what life would have been like without Tom Gumbleton. He was such a rock for all of us. Since I heard the news, I keep returning to one moment with him, in 1988, when we flew to El Salvador together and spent several weeks there. First thing, we took a cab to the old cathedral, and went immediately to Oscar Romero’s grave. In those days, it had a massive oil painting of Romero hanging above it, which was very beautiful. I took a lot of photos, and will try to dig them out some day soon, but I remember kneeling there and praying to God through Romero’s intercession for peace, with Tom. I vividly remember seeing Tom kneeling there and thinking that he was our Romero. Over the decades since, whenever I introduced him at an event, I called him our Archbishop Romero. He was always embarrassed by this, but it’s so true. We didn’t deserve Tom. Those of us who were his friends could never really give up on the church because of him, because he was so great. He was not only the greatest bishop in US history, but one of the greatest bishops in history. I hope Jesus sat him down, gave him a drink, waited on him, and then threw a massive party in heaven to welcome him home. I praise the God of peace for the resurrection of the nonviolent Jesus because now we know our survival is guaranteed, death does not get the last word — we will see Tom again in the new life of resurrection  peace with Jesus. So I take heart with everyone, and we go forward in the footsteps of Tom and Jesus and do what we can for justice, disarmament and creation

Fr. John Dear, Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace

“Thank you for sending me an autographed copy of Are You Still A Priest – True Stories of Tension and Trust. I thoroughly enjoyed the stories. What I most appreciated about your book was the sincerity of your desire to be a priest who wants to be the presence of Jesus’ love in whatever community you serve – and you do that by listening deeply – to the people and to the message of the Gospel. You also seem to know yourself well and you understand the racism and white privilege we come from. I wish there were more books like yours. I hope Are You Still A Priest becomes a best seller.” ~from Bishop Gumbleton’s cover blurb for Fr. Gerry Kleba’s book

I met Tom Gumbleton when he had his sleeves rolled up and his hands in a deep sink washing dishes. I was drying the lunch dishes at the retreat house of the Gethsemani Trappist Monastery in Kentucky. I was a newly ordained priest who at the age of 26 was making my first retreat at a place other than the seminary where I had been studying for twelve years. Tom was 38 years old and had just been chosen by Pope Paul VI as the youngest bishop in the history of the United States Catholic Church. Our retreat was a silent retreat as were most things Trappist, but we retreatants did spend a few moments introducing ourselves to one another. Tom said he was making a retreat to prepare for his ordination as bishop. Cardinal Joseph Ritter, who had ordained me, died three months later so I really didn’t know any bishops. Only later did I noticed how many bishops lived in mansions tended by servants. Meeting Tom doing kitchen chores was unlike other bishops and certainly set a high standard for service and solidarity. It didn’t take long for many to notice that Tom marched as a drummer for peace, justice, and inclusion. Many observers of US bishops wondered whether he sat alone at meals  during the meetings of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

I have received few episcopal accolades in my 57 years of priestly ministry, but the one I most treasure is the cover blurb printed above. Tom Gumbleton knew me and loved me. I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful that this holy bishop called me his friend. 

Fr. Gerry Kleba, former pastor of St. Cronan’s parish, St. Louis

J’ai appris avec tristesse, le décès de Mgr. Thomas Gumbleton.

Toutes celles et tous ceux qui, comme moi, ont eu le privilège de faire la connaissance et de cheminer en quelque sorte avec Bishop Gumbleton, ont été frappé-e-s et témoignent de son humilité, sa capacité d’écoute, son accueil simple, réconfortant et chaleureux, son empathie, sa présence rassurante et sa force agissante pour redresser le mal… vertus qui font si cruellement défaut au monde d’aujourd’hui !

En cette période si difficile où le monde entier est témoin du calvaire qu’endure le peuple haïtien, ce dernier vient de perdre un ardent défenseur des pauvres et des opprimé-e-s, un « Bon berger » !

C’est au nom de vertus dans lesquelles je crois; également en tant que citoyenne d’Haiti et ancienne Secrétaire Générale de Pax Christi International (2007-2010), que j’ajoute ma voix aux nombreux autres témoignages pour rendre un hommage bien mérité à Bishop Gumbleton.

Claudette Werleigh, Ambassadrice de Paix, Pax Christi International

Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace Jean Stokan with Bishop Tom in El Salvador

Read more about Bishop Gumbleton in No Guilty Bystander, a biography written by Frank Fromherz and Sr. Suzanne Sattler, published in July 2023 by Orbis Books.

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