A closeness is shared among friends of Bishop Robert J. McClory who have worked both in proximity and far from each other, a testimony to more than just texting, but of admiration and faithfulness.
A brother priest and a Eucharistic preacher has maintained a spiritually close friendship with the bishop though their ministries have diverged. Father Roger Landry of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., recalls meeting then-seminarian Robert McClory in 1995 on a flight from New York to Rome enroute to studies at the Pontifical North American College.
Father Landry, who is a chaplain at Columbia University in New York City, looks with happiness on the Gary shepherd’s ministry.
“He’s retained his first love for the Eucharistic Jesus,” said Father Landry of Bishop McClory. “I’m thrilled to see that be a gift now for the faithful of the Diocese of Gary.”
Lauding Bishop McClory’s intelligence and organization, Father Landry said, “He likewise is clearly a man of prayer; he does not rely solely upon himself but relies heavily on the Lord’s help in things big and small.”
Father Landry is preparing no small plans for this spring and summer. He has committed to walking the entire 1,500-mile Seton Route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Among a small group of youthful “perpetual pilgrims,” he wishes to emphasize the core focus of Catholic faithful’s worship, and something he believes his brother priest and friend makes the center of his ministry.
“Jesus in the Eucharist is meant to be the source and summit, root and center of any Christian life and all priestly and episcopal life, and the Eucharist is clearly the source, summit root and center of Bishop McClory's life,” Father Landry said. “I saw that as a seminarian, how he would regularly make Eucharistic Holy Hours before the Lord.”
Bishop McClory and Father Landry are set to visit their priest-classmates this summer with plans for a larger-than-usual celebration of their silver anniversary of priestly ordination. The Eucharistic preacher said that his bishop-friend “has always been a catalyst to keep our class together and help us grow together.”
Father Landry sees “The Lord’s hand in matchmaking,” in sending Bishop McClory to Northwest Indiana.
“We, his classmates who love him very much and are very close to him have noticed the very positive impact of the Catholics of Northwest Indiana in helping to perfect his priesthood,” Father Landry said.
One corporate executive said Bishop McClory has an impressive record helping to build both the intangible, and the more concrete.
Mike Vlasic has built a business encompassing oil and gas exploration to venture capital management. The Bloomfield Hills, Mich. resident's mantra of “sustained success” for clients reflects the qualities he saw in his friend since early in his priesthood.
Both Vlasic and then-Msgr. McClory donated their talent, aiding Stewards of Tomorrow, an effort by the Archdiocese of Detroit under the direction of then-Archbishop Adam J. Maida to restore the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament and create a plaza in the distressed neighborhood.
Vlasic named certain qualities that make Bishop McClory a good leader and steward of resources.
“First of all, he’s a man of great faith, and that’s what drives his actions and communications,” Vlasic explained. “Second, he’s a realist in human behavior – he’s not the one to have wishful thinking. (Finally,) he said we have to be transparent and look truth in the eye.”
As chancellor to Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, Msgr. McClory assisted the diocese and greater metropolitan area through the financial crisis that gripped the country and hit Detroit hard in 2009.
Of course, Vlasic sees Gary’s shepherd through the eyes of friendship. He, his wife and three children grew in their relationships with him while he served in the archdiocese.
“I think of his big smile; I love Bishop McClory,” said Vlasic. “We’ve worked together a lot, but I would consider him a really good friend. I just think he has a great personality and is a really good guy to be around.”
Another brother priest whose association with Bishop McClory extends more than 25 years is Father Jeffrey Day, also a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit’s ordination class of 1999. He succeeded then-Msgr. McClory as vicar general and moderator of the curia in 2017.
Father Day remembers the day in April 1994 when the two searchers met a Sacred Heart Major Seminary for the first time. The Detroit institution was hosting a discernment weekend for those exploring calls to the priesthood.
“We hit it off and became friends and we entered the seminary together,” Father Day recalled. “I remember the day seeing him praying in the main chapel ... you can tell he was pouring his heart out in his private prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. I found out that was right after he received word he was going to be sent to Rome.”
Father Day said it was bittersweet to learn that seminarian McClory would be going to study at the Pontifical North American College in the Eternal City. However, the gift of a 1985 Pontiac Grand Am – signed over to him by his traveling friend – went a long way to helping him get around the Motor City.
Nine years his junior, Father Day has witnessed his older friend Bishop McClory blaze a vocational trail. He said with the bishop’s “good mind to think things through,” and “daily prayers on his heart" there is much the bishop can offer to the faithful of the Region.
From Detroit to Gary, the two men maintain a close bond of friendship with parallel responsibilities to build up the Body of Christ. Father Day recalled a message displayed on then-Msgr. McClory’s computer at the Detroit chancery that spells out how it can be done.
“When Bishop McClory had my job in Detroit, he had something on his screen saver, something along the lines of ‘putting ministry into administration,’” Father Day said. “I think he’s always tried to do that.”
Caption: The Sacred Heart Major Seminary priestly ordination class of 1999 gathers with Cardinal Adam J. Maida (center) in Detroit. Then-Father Robert McClory stands at bottom, left. (Archdiocese of Detroit photo)