Most Reverend J. Mark Spalding returned to the Catholic Business League for the first time in more than three years to the delight of more than 90 members and guests — a fitting site, since our group was one of the very first to host him upon his installation as the 12th Bishop of Nashville in February 2018.
Speaking at the Fleming Center at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on the continued growth of Catholicism in Nashville, Bishop Spalding emphasized that such growth only happens through evangelization – a practice in which the Diocese has thrived. “Our responsibility is to evangelize, Bishop Spalding began. “We’re all in this together.”
The growth of registered parishioners and of enrollment in Catholic schools is taking shape across the Diocese, rather than in one single neighborhood or parish or school. That progress, Bishop Spalding noted, comes from more than just the state’s financial benefits. Many parents speak to the value system present throughout Tennessee, one in which they are proud to grow their families and raise their children. He noted that newcomers here are often asked — and gladly — what parish they attend as readily as they are asked about their careers. At the Cathedral itself, 98 people entered the Church through OCIA at this year’s Easter Vigil, plus two children and a baby. He recalled Pope Francis’ message to grandparents, emphasizing that they instill in their grandchildren the values of faith, family and leaving the world better than they found it.
A focal point of this evolution has been through the Diocese’s vocational program. Upon Bishop Spalding’s arrival, the Diocese had 27 seminarians, which at the time was regarded fairly well; that number has now increased by almost 50% to stand at 38, with Bishop Spalding’s goal of 50 certainly within reach. He credited the Holy Spirit and the leadership of both Rev. Luke Wilgenbusch and Rev. David Lee — the Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of Vocations for the Diocese of Nashville — with fostering such a strong pipeline of seminarians who bring the love of Jesus Christ to each of us. These seminarians and newly ordained priests are integral as the Diocese continues to expand, with Bishop Spalding noting that Murfreesboro and Clarksville are top of mind: “Those parishes are pouring out of the pews.”
Given the value of Catholic education at the local and state levels, Bishop Spalding also highlighted the Education Freedom Scholarship program, noting that nearly half of families at both Father Ryan High School and Pope Saint John Paul II Preparatory School now receive tuition assistance through it. He urged CBL members benefiting from the program to personally thank their state representatives, cautioning that its future depends on continued legislative support. He praised Governor Bill Lee’s support for school choice and his administration’s and the diocese’s shared pro-life advocacy.
After his presentation, Bishop Spalding took questions from members, where he addressed the state of parish giving, which now grows between 5 to 6 percent annually. Circling back to the theme of evangelization, Bishop Spalding closed by encouraging CBL members — regardless of industry or role — to embrace their faith in the workplace and to step into parish leadership through finance councils, school boards, and similar roles, labeling such ministries a direct answer to God’s call. “When I would sit in the pews and I would hear a priest talk about vocations, I felt he was talking to me – directly to me,” Bishop Spalding said.
Thank you, Bishop Spalding, for your wonderful insights – and especially for your leadership across the Diocese of Nashville! We would also like to thank Catie Oryl of Buchalter (pictured above, third from right), who hosted our meeting this morning. We look forward to seeing all of you on September 10 for a discussion on Davidson County’s Specialty and Diversionary Courts, featuring Judges Ana Escobar and Melissa Blackburn!
