Our faithful are looking at us, their shepherds, to see how we behave, how we relate toward one another, not only in words but by example. Christ has entrusted us with the task of proclaiming Him credibly by our words and lives.

I would hope that people see me as a shepherd and that people will grow to trust me. Trust is important in our life together, and I want to do what I can to establish trust. As for how I would like people to understand me, I would appreciate people recognizing that my task is to establish, along with the clergy and lay faithful, a vision for our future in southern Illinois. A key responsibility I have is to foster and preserve unity among us as we move into the future.

In the face of growing confusion about the doctrine of the Faith, many bishops, priests, religious and laypeople of the Catholic Church have requested that I make a public testimony about the truth of revelation. It is the shepherds' very own task to guide those entrusted to them on the path of salvation. This can only succeed if they know this way and follow it themselves.

You can judge the quality of their faith from the way they behave. Discipline is an index to doctrine.

Be a true shepherd to your people — caring, loving and available. Although you will not always succeed, a loving shepherd will make an impact for years to come. Don’t neglect your own spiritual life. The temptation, when priests get busy, is to give up times of prayer and spiritual development in order to do more pastoral work.

Shepherds of the flock should . . . seek the good of their flock, and every ruler the good of the people subject to him.

The first person to whom we are accountable is Christ, who is the good shepherd, and we're called to act in his place. That's a very serious responsibility to the Lord himself.

We are wounded as we journey through life and I know that there are wounds in this place as there are everywhere and one of the most important things a good shepherd does is communicate the healing presence of Christ so I will humbly ask the Lord to help me to do that.

Speaking of Jesus accompanies his actions and interprets them: the lordship of God is demonstrated through works and illustrated through words. [...] to authentically proclaim the Gospel it is necessary to some extent to veil it.

As their shepherd have a deep concern for the condition of my flock. Help us, save our souls.

We are called to be witnesses to Jesus; if we are witnesses we are missionaries. To be witnesses we must learn to live with Christ who is always with us.

Being a good shepherd means being able to accompany God's people and live close to them, not being isolated. Pope Francis has said this clearly many times. He does not want bishops who live in palaces. He wants bishops who live in relationship with God, with the rest of the episcopate, with priests and, above all, with the people of God in a way that reflects the compassion and love of Christ, creating community, learning to live what it means to be part of the Church in an integral way that includes much listening and dialogue.

We need be proclaimers of the word of God, to do that we need to be listen to the word ourselves.

We must remember that the test of our religious principles lies not just in what we say, not only in our prayers, not even in living blameless lives - but in what we do for others