By Terry McGuire

SEATTLE — As the newest and youngest American bishop at the start of the Second Vatican Council in 1962, now-retired Seattle Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen recalls being overwhelmed by it all at first.

But it was to impact his episcopal ministry in the decades that followed, particularly in the areas of ecumenism and shared responsibility — two hallmarks of his 29 years of active ministry as archbishop of Seattle and bishop of Helena, Mont.

He was one of the keynote speakers at last weekend’s 40th Anniversary of Vatican II Symposium at Seattle University. Considered as one of the pioneers of the ecumenical movement, Archbishop Hunthausen said two of the most treasured moments in his life came through being able to share with church leaders of other denominations.

One was when he returned home to Helena from the council and was invited to speak before the Montana Council of Churches. It highlighted a period of shared services and other joint efforts that would have been unthinkable in previous years, he said.

The other was the weekly Thursday morning breakfasts that he had with area church executives while archbishop of Seattle. The meetings enabled them to become friends and confidants, and to get on with the business of promoting ecumenism.

He said both experiences showed him their commonalities they shared. “We’re all looking for ways to get to God.”

The archbishop said the world today would be striving for peace instead of war if the leaders of the various cultures would only get to know one another. “Fundamentally, it means becoming friends...knowing one another, respecting one another, loving one another,” he said. “It’s what Jesus said.”

Vatican II also impressed upon him the importance of shared responsibility. Finding the “right vehicle” to promote that concept takes much time and energy, he said, but it’s the only way to listen to everyone and “respect who we are.” During his time in the Archdiocese of Seattle, one of his “vehicles” became the Parish Leadership Development Program.

Archbishop Hunthausen was followed in his talk by four “respondents” who were asked to reflect on what he had said. All praised his leadership during his 16 years in Seattle. Lutheran Rev. Loren Arnett, former executive director of the Washington Association of Churches, said the archbishop was instrumental in opening new doors of ecumenism in the state.

Esther Lucero-Miner, former archdiocesan director of Multicultural Ministries who had been recruited to the post by Archbishop Hunthausen, said Vatican II “challenged the church to become more inclusive.” She said the archbishop responded to that call by establishing the office and visiting the communities to listen to their needs and hopes.

In a question and answer period that followed, several people commented on the Vatican’s two-year investigation in 1986-87 that temporarily reduced Archbishop Hunthausen’s powers as bishop.

Everybody was angry about the visitation — except for one person: the archbishop, said Sulpician Father Peter Chirico, a longtime archdiocesan theologian. He said the archbishop remarked to him at the time: ‘Well, they’ve got a job to do.’”

Another person asked the retired archbishop if he would have done anything differently surrounding the visitation. “No,” he replied. Though “a lot of the decisions weren’t easy...I always had a sense, in prayer, that I was being true to myself.

“Were there mistakes? Sure...but I was always at peace with myself.”

Archbishop Hunthausen opened his talk with humorous personal anecdotes about attending Vatican II.

Once, one of his bishop friends reached into his briefcase for his new tape recorder so he could capture the opening address of Pope Paul VI. But the bishop accidentally hit the play button, and a tape of John Philip Sousa music quickly filled the hall.

Archbishop Hunthausen is believed to be the last living American bishop who attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.

“We’re a vanishing breed, an endangered species,” he joked. “Kind of like the spotted owl, (only) new legislation won’t keep us in existence.”

Archbishop Hunthausen was guest of honor at a banquet sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Friday night.

In his remarks, Auxiliary Bishop George Thomas said, “In the words of the Second Vatican Council, ‘a bishop should stand in the midst of his people as one who serves.’