The second of a four-part series reflecting on the significance
of the Second Vatican Council.

Truly, a challenging task! How does one adequately capture the participation of the 14 Maryknoll bishops who attended the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)? A simple glimpse of the group photograph begins the story.

Bishop John W. Comber, who was Maryknoll superior general at the time of Vatican II, attended all four sessions of the Council. He was chosen to be a member of the commission on missions, which eventually produced the Ad Gentes document. Bishop Comber noted that “the mission schema, in addition to providing a basic theology of mission, explores the different stages of missionary activity, calls for a new international body to coordinate mission work, and urges the Church, as ‘People of God,’ to enter into a full and intensive participation in mission work.”

After his ordination in 1931, Father Comber served in mission in Fushun, Manchuria, China, for 11 years. At the outbreak of World War II, all U.S. missionaries in Japanese-held countries, including Father Comber and his two siblings, both religious sisters, were interned by the Japanese military. Along with other internees, in December 1943 the three were repatriated to the United States on the Swedish liner M.S. Gripsholm.

Bishop Raymond A. Lane, who also served his early days of mission in China, was interned by the Japanese in Fushun for the duration of the Second World War. He called this experience “our Babylonian Captivity.” Though there were numerous difficulties, he noted later, “still we must say at the end of it all, that from a spiritual point of view, it has been a real blessing,” providing extensive time for personal prayer. 

Within a year, Bishop Lane was elected the third superior general of Maryknoll by the 1946 Chapter. He recalled that in the Council there were “many things that give us great encouragement. But first let me say that success will require a complete about-face in our attitude, among high and low, on the world mission of the Church. This requires courage and conviction and great generosity.”

Two of the Maryknoll bishops at the Council served in Tanzania: Edward A. McGurkin in Shinyanga and John J. Rudin in Musoma. They considered themselves fortunate, because they had the assistance of Bishop Joseph Blomjous, their neighbor in Mwanza, in preparing for the Council. Bishop Blomjous, a scholarly Dutch White Father, helped them understand the vision of Pope John XXIII when he said that Vatican II was called to examine “new conditions and new forms of life … which have opened up new avenues to the Catholic apostolate.”

Pope Paul VI greets Bishop Joseph Regan during a papal audience. Fourteen Maryknoll bishops attended the sessions of Vatican II. (Maryknoll Mission Archives/Vatican City)

During the Council, the Maryknoll bishops had the advantage of staying at the Maryknoll residence on the Via Sardegna, where the procurator, Father John M. Martin, and Brothers Philip Morini and Gilbert Figundio provided for their needs. Archbishop John Krol of Philadelphia, one of the four moderators who guided the daily proceedings of the Council, also resided at the Maryknoll house during the entire Council; he truly loved the missions and was most generous in helping missionary bishops. In addition, Maryknoll often hosted several bishops from the States or from mission countries where Maryknollers worked.

Bishop William J. McNaughton, first bishop of the Diocese of Incheon in Korea, was one of the youngest bishops at the Council; he was only 35 when Vatican II began. The last surviving Maryknoll bishop who attended the Council, he died in 2020 at age 93. Significantly, he shared at great length his reflections and insights, widely published in various journals.

When asked what were the “greatest achievements” of Vatican II, Bishop McNaughton identified the three documents on the Church, the liturgy, and the laity. The Church is identified as the “universal sacrament of salvation” (Lumen Gentium 48); it is to be a clear sign of God’s profound love for all humanity. Bishop McNaughton noted: “I found the teachings on the liturgy, and especially on the Eucharist, very powerful.” Regarding the laity document, the bishop affirmed that “all the lay faithful, because of their baptism and confirmation, have the grave obligation to make the Gospel known. … Our Catholic lay faithful are sleeping giants.”

Other Maryknoll bishops at the Council played a variety of roles. For example, Bishop Frederick A. Donaghy was the main celebrant of the morning Mass in Saint Peter’s on Sept. 21, 1964, the 25th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

From a panoramic view of Vatican II, one sees how the Holy Spirit used the 14 Maryknoll missionary bishops to assist in the renewal of the Church. Our hearts overflow with gratitude!

Maryknoll Father James H. Kroeger recently published Walking with Pope Francis: The Official Documents in Everyday Language (Orbis Books – 2023) and Exploring Vatican II Treasures: Actors, Events, Insights (Faith Alive Books – 2024).

Featured Image: (Left to right) Bishops Edward Fedders, Thomas Collins, William McNaughton, Charles Brown, Frederick Donaghy, William Kupfer, Joseph Regan, John Comber, Edward McGurkin, Raymond Lane, John Rudin, Alonso Escalante, James Pardy and Hugo Gerbermann brought to the Council mission experience from countries such as Bolivia, China, Guatemala, Korea, Peru, the Philippines, Taiwan and Tanzania. (Maryknoll Mission Archives)