Pope Bendict takes some pointers from Bishop Carlson

Local bishop of Saginaw, MI, Robert J. Carlson has been interviewed about his recent impromptu visit with the Pope.

Months after Carlson took over Saginaw the number of vocations in his dioceses jumped from zero to sixteen. Why?

Because Carlson is a true pastor of souls, and he is orthodox. Two qualities lacking in his predecessor.

Two sample questions from the interview:

"Dave Hartline What about the Eucharist? It seems Catholics are expressing an interest in knowing about the Eucharist & devotion to it.
"Bishop Carlson That’s what its all about it isn’t it, the Real Presence of Jesus. How anyone can not embrace that I do not know. This is not some abstract theory. We are talking about the Real Presence of Jesus. Wherever you see this happening, you see great things taking place in the Church. You see vocations, parish involvement, greater respect for one another. I could go on and on. Obviously, I am working on having more Adoration in the Saginaw Diocese.

Dave Hartline Well you certainly have your plate full. Do you have any other projects in mind or is that it for a while?
Bishop Carlson Oh, we are just beginning. Right now we are working on having better music and giving better homilies. You know the Lord helps those who help themselves.

Read the rest.

I study with many of Bishop Carlson's new seminarians. Saginaw has much to look forward to.

This article also contains some interesting quotes about Pope Benedict:

"I found Pope Benedict to be extremely knowledgeable about what was going on in the realm of vocations and in the seminaries."

"He certainly knows what does and doesn’t need [to be] done."

Encouraging words indeed.

[h/t: Amy]