A Glorious Day for the Archdiocese of New Orleans
This is my personal reflection on my day spent witnessing the installation of a new Archbishop. And what a day it was.
It’s been just a little over 2 months since the news came from Rome. The Archdiocese of New Orleans was getting a new Archbishop; and he would be a native son. The anticipation of the actual installation came to a head today with the installation Mass held in the historic and beautiful St. Louis Cathedral.
The day was somewhat typical for late August in the Big Easy. Hot, humid, rain threatening as you looked out toward the mighty Mississippi River. But the rain held off. The atmosphere outside the Cathedral was all anticipation and excitement.
As one of the many Permanent Deacons taking part in this beautiful celebration I and my brother Deacons were vested in the old Presbytere building along with hundreds of Priests. In the historic Cabildo were the Bishops and the 3 American Cardinals on hand to help usher in the new Archbishop.
We were lined up and preceded down the block so we would actually walk through Jackson Square and enter through an honor guard of Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver and other fraternal honor guards. In the background, a Mississippi river boat calliope was playing the Prayer of St Francis; Make me a Channel of your Peace. As you would expect the music was overwhelming and the Cathedral was beautiful. The procession of Deacons followed by Priests took over 15 minutes and then came the awesome sight of 60 Bishops. As Archbishop Hughes entered the Cathedral, he was greeted by generous applause; a recognition by those who know him best as a generous, pastoral, spiritual Archbishop who made the tough decisions and stood firm. Then the Cathedral exploded in joy as Archbishop Gregory Aymond, our 14th Archbishop and first native son entered in procession. It was an electric moment I will not soon forget. And then to see the red hats, the 3 American Cardinals; what a sight.
So the stage was set. Archbishop Hughes graciously bade his farewell, asking for mercy from anyone who may have been hurt or offended by his difficult, but necessary, choices in reconfiguring our Archdiocese. He pledged his total fidelity to Archbishop Aymond. Then the Pope’s representative, the Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, read the declaration of Archbishop Aymond’s appointment. And then, the new Archbishop of New Orleans was escorted by Archbishop Hughes and Sambi to the cathedral chair, the Cathedra. The cathedra, or bishop’s chair, is the most ancient symbol of the bishop’s ministry. Archbishop Aymond then took the crozier, another symbol of the bishop’s ministry that looks like a shepherd’s staff.
I was struck by the care and precision of the movements and the beautiful significance of the installation. This was me, a relatively new ordained Catholic Permanent Deacon, receiving a new spiritual father while witnessing the continuation of real Apostolic Succession with my own eyes. Praise God!
As we arrived at the homily; our first chance to hear the words of Archbishop Aymond, we all anticipated what he would say. The new Archbishop is definitely a speaker. He took a glance back to our past, reminding all that Catholicism arrived in Louisiana in 1682 and New Orleans made a diocese, receiving its first Bishop in 1793. What am amazing Catholic heritage in my home town, in the Archdiocese in which I minister. Again, praise God!
Archbishop Aymond paid tribute to his 3 predecessors; that’s right 3! With Archbishop Hughes along with the 96 year old Archbishop Philip Hannan and Archbishop Francis Schulte; the Archdiocese of New Orleans boasts of 4 living Archbishops. Our new shepherd quipped; “who’s really in charge.” The remainder of his homily was full of hope and direction and a pledge to cooperate with his brother Priest, the Permanent Deacons and all religious and all the laity.
The Mass continued and the communion procession was quite a sight, with hundreds of Priests, Deacons and guests receiving our Eucharistic Lord.
Overall, the liturgy was uplifting, the prayers and responses resounded with vigor from the voices of clergy and laity. The music inspired; I especially loved when they sang The Servant Song and We are Called.
Then it came time to process out of the beautiful old Cathedral, Deacons first, followed by Priests, Bishops, Archbishops and Cardinals. What a sight in Jackson Square as all the clergy gathered around. The celebration continued at a local French Quarter hotel as over 800 guests got a quick opportunity to visit with the new Archbishop and share, in fellowship, our rich Catholic culture and tradition.
When I reflect on the Apostolic Succession of a new Archbishop, the richness of the liturgy, the fellowship of so much clergy, the support of the greater community, the signs and symbols of the installation, I realize that we are blessed to be Catholic and blessed to be witnessing this historic event in the over 200 year history of the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
May God’s abundant blessings be with Archbishop Aymond as he shepherds his flock, the people in and of the Archdiocese of New Orleans!
And from Archbishop Aymond’s coat of arms we can all be glad because:
“God is Faithful” 1 Corinthians 1:9
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