But when they’re not anointing confirmation candidates or visiting a parish to celebrate a special event, they may well be “normal” folks — who for the most part have some above-normal passions.
In the cases of Bishops Donald Hanchon, Michael Byrnes and Arturo Cepeda, their interests vary.
Bishop Hanchon, since his youth, has had a love for music. He harkens back to when his father would call square dances for neighbors in the family’s basement in Wayne.
As for himself, once in a while he pulls out a decades-old banjo from his closet and starts strumming out a tune — “This Little Light of Mine” or an Irish-American ballad.
“I’ve always been very interested in music,” Bishop Hanchon admits. “I like to sing.”
Other passions of his include journalism and photography. It’s certainly no secret to his parishioners.
“Once I discovered I could put pictures in the bulletin, I did that a lot,” Bishop Hanchon says.
As for Bishop Byrnes, he’s partially known as “the priest who runs marathons.” Actually, he competes in triathlons, too — which also involve swimming and biking — and is an all-around health nut. His other passions include hiking and canoeing — many experiences of which he has shared with his brother and father over the years.
Last year, as vice rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, he encouraged dozens of seminarians to run in the Detroit Marathon. Not necessarily the full, 26-mile long run, as most took part in some of the shorter races.
“For me, running is a great outlet,” Bishop Byrnes says. “I wouldn’t say I’m a high-energy guy, but I just feel better when I run. And I think it’s just a good witness to having a sound mind and sound body.”
In fact, when Bishop Cepeda was named an auxiliary bishop for Detroit, he recalled a connection he had with Bishop Byrnes. They were housemates at Casa Santa Maria while studying in Rome. Though they didn’t get to spend much time together — the rigorous curriculum didn’t allow for much down-time — he recalled Bishop Byrnes as “a nice man, very quiet, spending a lot of time at the gym.”
For his own part, Bishop Cepeda has had a lifelong passion for art, and for taking in new sites and experiences.
“I love to travel. I love to visit. I love to explore,” he says.
When he visits a city for the first time, Bishop Cepeda says he always puts two experiences at the top of his list — visiting the city’s cathedral, and visiting its main art museum or center.
Asked whether he ever tried his own hand at art, he said he enjoys doing so.
“I like to do oil paintings,” Bishop Cepeda says. “My family has most of them. I will give them away to them. I used to be very into it when I was in college and just after college — but it slowed a bit when I got a little more busy.”
He says new forms of media took the place of painting for him, specifically the use of television and radio in his ministry.
Bishop Cepeda’s other passion is food. His family was involved in the restaurant business as he grew up. So, on his days off, it’s not uncommon to find him in the kitchen.
“Share a meal and share a good friendship and share a laugh — I love doing that,” he says. “I’m a good host.”
