The bishop has been everything for us

OGDEN — "What can you say about Archbishop-designate George Niederauer, who has been everything for us?" said Benedictine Sister Danile Knight, director of Our Lady of the Mountains Retreat House. "He is personable, a very deeply spiritual man, and an intellectual person. He can associate with anyone he meets and feel comfortable with them. Yet, you do not feel small. He always makes you feel welcome.

"He has been very supportive of me," said Sr. Danile. "I have appreciated how he has supported me and encouraged me at the retreat house. He met once a year with me and the retreat house council, and at all of our meetings he showed his interest and concern for our ministry. He is complimentary of the operation of the retreat house, and this pleases me."

Sr. Danile said there is a little joke between the bishop and the Sisters of St. Benedict, which goes back to their dedication in 1994 when they became an independent monastery. Sister Mary Zenzen, prioress, was thanking everyone at the end of the dedication ceremony, and all of a sudden said, ‘Oh, and Bishop Niederauer,’ who was sitting in the back, ‘you know, he didn’t get in the way.’ Well, you know how he would respond to that kind thing; he could not let that go.

"That is the way I feel about him and my work here; he does not get in the way," she said. "That to me is really a compliment. He allows you to do your job but is there to support you. He does not meddle or try to run your business.

"When the bishop comes to the monastery, the subject of not getting in the way comes up again and again," said Sr. Danile. "He brings it up, and then laughs. We have always said he is a stand-up comedian because he has little witty statements ready at hand."

Sr. Danile commented that she really appreciates his homilies, and she loves the book he wrote, "Precious As Silver." He is a deeply spiritual man, and a man of prayer, something Sr. Danile appreciates in a man of God.

"I am grateful for his leadership as our shepherd," she said. "He is there for his flock. He has been a shepherd for the whole diocese, including even the rural and outlying areas. He has really given himself to the people. He is broadly educated in music and art, and we especially love his humor. That is why shepherd is a wonderful title for him."

Sr. Danile said there are far more Catholics in San Francisco than in Salt Lake, including all the dioceses that will be under him. Going from this diocese of 200,000 Catholics to the huge job of many hundreds of thousands of Catholics who will be under him, and all that is going on in San Francisco, will be a big change for him.

"But he will be able to handle it," said Sr. Danile. "I just can’t imagine he won’t. He has all of the gifts, abilities, and talents he needs to be the archbishop of San Francisco, and needless to say, we will miss him."