BY TERRY MCGUIRE
Source: http://www.seattlearchdiocese.org/Progress/ProgressSix.aspx
The Archdiocese of Seattle will say goodbye this month to a man described by colleagues and parishioners as brilliant, caring, faith filled and deeply interested in people and their cultures.
Bishop Joseph Tyson, auxiliary bishop of Seattle since 2005 and superintendent of Catholic schools since 2007, will share his many talents east of the mountains when he is installed as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Yakima May 31. Prior to that, two farewell Masses will be held at St. James Cathedral and St. Edward Church, both in Seattle.
"The Diocese of Yakima is very blessed to have Bishop Tyson as their shepherd," said St. Edward parishioner Jose Deleon in an email. He went on to describe his former pastor's ability to unify the different cultures found in southeast Seattle's St. Edward, St. George and St. Paul parishes, where then-Father Tyson was pastor for eight years.
Engaging, energetic and dynamic, he is "passionate in his desire to get to know the people and their culture,"Deleon wrote of Bishop Tyson, who speaks fluent Spanish. And "he is very clear in relating to the people the teachings of the Catholic Church, especially concerning the moral and social issues."
Organizational skills
Fellow St. Edward parishioner Bill Cranston, currently parish council president, remembers when Father Tyson arrived in the parish. Having been without a pastor for about a year, St. Edward's was in disarray, he recalled.
"We were in pretty sad shape emotionally and organizationally." He said Father Tyson came in and helped turn things around by putting his organizational skills, his positive spirit and his willingness to tackle difficult issues to work.
"He was instrumental in getting us back on track and getting us to look to the future," Cranston said. "I think those are [skills] he brings to any assignment. [He has] a willingness to take on those jobs that people of less capability would tend to sidestep or push off onto other people. His willingness to get it done was impressive.
"Cranston said the people of Yakima are also getting a spiritual leader whose faith is evident in everything he does, as shown by the way he cared for everyone in the parish.
"He's definitely a people person. I think he established himself very early [on] as the person in charge, but in a manner that welcomed outside opinions and welcomed different opinions as well," he said
A blessing for schools
During his tenure as Catholic schools superintendent Bishop Tyson emphasized Catholic identity and accountability.
He implemented Catholic identity standards "across all our schools," said Kay Purcell, assistant superintendent for school accreditation and instructional services. He also instituted visits to schools two years after their accreditation to ensure they were progressing toward the goals they had identified.
"That's been something I think has been real helpful for all our schools to know he supports them and has an expectation that they are continuing to move forward," she said.
She added that his knowledge of Spanish and his ability to engage the Hispanic community will serve him well in the Diocese of Yakima, which is predominantly Hispanic.
"He's going to be a true blessing for their Catholic schools," Purcell said. "He's going to bring a lot of energy and focus on building the church."
Kristin Kreilkamp Dixon, principal of Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Seattle and chair of the Executive Principals' Committee of the Archdiocese of Seattle, said Yakima is getting a "brilliant" spiritual leader with a ready grasp of the big picture.
"He is really a process thinker," she said. "He understands how all the pieces fit together — probably much ahead of the rest of us." At the same time, he nurtures relationships and identifies and affirms the gifts that people bring to the table, she said.
What's never been lost during his tenure is his "end goal," Dixon said: "To make sure we are graduating students of faith who are going to serve for years."
Bishop Tyson's predecessor as superintendent, Sister Joyce Cox of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, said Yakima will receive a multitalented leader who is an inquisitive learner, carries a passion for pastoral ministry, relates well with young people, works well with pastors, gives great homilies and is highly knowledgeable about the church at all its levels, from the parish to the universal.
He is "best of all, a priest," she said.
FAREWELL MASSES
St. Edward Church, Sunday, May 22, 11 a.m., in English and Spanish. Reception follows.St. James Cathedral, Friday, May 27, 5:30 p.m., Archbishop J. Peter Sartain presiding. Reception follows.
May 12, 2011
Categories
