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more deeper and unselfish way, not just the Archdiocese of Newark to which I have been appointed, but also the Universal Church”. The Cardinal is both excited and nervous about his new role but is taking it in his stride enjoying each moment, not wishing it away.
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I was so surprised, but I have always prayed that Joe would be a good priest and he is still a priest no matter what job he has and that’s what it’s all about. Marie Therese Tobin, mother of Cardinal Tobin with his 93 year old mother, Marie Therese. When asked how she felt when she heard the news that her son was going to be a Cardinal, she said “I was so surprised, but I have always prayed that Joe would be a good priest and he is still a priest no matter what job he has and that’s what it’s all about.” Like a true Irish mother, she continues: “I am very proud of all of my children, and when they are together, that is when I am most happy, we have so much fun and we love each other dearly.” The Tobin family resemblance is striking: it’s easy to spot a Tobin in the crowd! Tall and red haired! When I asked Cardinal Tobin how his siblings felt about having a brother who was a Cardinal, he laughed and said “I know they are happy and proud, but they know the other side of me. The brother that can be annoying and grouchy, as well as the brother that loves them.” When talking to his family REALITY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
about the consistory in Rome, he told them there was no need to make such a journey as he knew they loved and supported him, his sisters replied: “ We don’t listen to you anyway, so we are coming!” “Family, and in particular sisters, keep you grounded!” he says. The deep rooted faith that so evidently runs through the Tobin family the Cardinal attributes to his parents and his Irish roots. Faith was very central to the family life. He shares a great story about his grandmother “who always prayed in Irish as she was afraid God didn’t understand English!” Mrs Tobin comments, “all my thirteen children went to college, but all thirteen of my children still practice their faith”, an achievement she is most proud off. When I asked the Cardinal now that he had some time to reflect how was he feeling, “I see this an opportunity to service in a
CARDINAL TOBIN’S REDEMPTORIST LIFE Cardinal Tobin is a very proud Redemptorist. He was born into, baptised at and attended elementary school in the Redemptorist Holy Redeemer Parish in Detroit. His parents were introduced to each other by a Redemptorist! When asked how his Redemptorist formation and training would influence and help him in his new role, he commented; “Firstly as Redemptorist we do whatever we do with great simplicity, it gives us sensitivity for the people who are not there in the church today, or feel that there is no room for them. That means I have work harder to create a space to embrace a wider group of people. It has also given the sense that, even as Bishops, we are not Lone Rangers! We are challenged to form a team, a community and it is that community that evangelises.”