Catholic Diocese of Jackson installs 11th bishop
The Most Reverend Joseph R. Kopacz, left, receives congratulations from fellow bishops following his ordination and installation as the 11th Bishop of Jackson at the Cathedral of St. Peter the Apostle in downtown Jackson on Thursday. / Joe Ellis/The Clarion-Ledger
Joseph Kopacz, the Catholic Diocese of Jackson’s 11th bishop, was ordained and installed today amid several dozen Mississippi priests, 25 fellow bishops from across the nation, the diocese’s 13 seminarians, and a brief dusting of snow outside St. Peter’s Catholic Cathedral.
The most Rev. Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read aloud a letter from Pope Francis that authenticates Francis’ choice of Kopacz as the new bishop. The ceremonies continued as Rodi questioned Kopacz on his resolve to uphold his faith and to discharge his duty.
“We need a bishop to be a visible sign of unity in the diocese,” Rodi, who served as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi before his appointment in Mobile, told Kopacz. “There are also sacrifices expected of you. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to other things.”
That includes leaving his longtime home of Pennsylvania, where he served the Diocese of Scranton in many capacities, including vicar general and coordinator of Hispanic ministries.
“I feel confident that you will quickly grow in affection and responsibility for the people of the Magnolia State,” Rodi told him. “Shepherd your people, and let the light of Christ shine through you.”
As is the custom in Catholic ordinations, Kopacz lay face down on the altar floor as bishops, priests and the congregation recited the Litany of Supplication, a song in which petitioners ask God to hear prayers and to pray for those requesting them.
During the heart of the ordination rite, bishops one by one laid their hands on Kopacz’ head and offered silent prayers to express the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, Rodi and the bishops held over Kopacz’ head the book of the Gospels as a sign of the power of God’s word, and joined together in the Prayer of Ordination, in use since the third century for the ordination rite.
After his head was anointed with oil by Rodi, signifying the full share in the priesthood of Christ he was receiving, Kopacz was given the book of the Gospel and other symbols of the bishop’s ministry: a ring, a miter, and a crosier or pastoral staff. The crosier presented to Kopacz was the very one carried by Chanche, a gift from Archbishop of New Orleans Anton Blanc in 1842.
An entire front row of the cathedral was filled with Kopacz’ relatives, including his uncles, brothers Amil and Joseph Calomino of Dunmore.
“He’s going to be terrific because he listens, and he wants to go forward,” said Joseph Calomino, 90, who also is Kopacz’ godfather. “We’re very proud of him.”
The new bishop “has married our family members, and he’s buried our family members,” said Amil Calomino, 89. “He’ll be a great asset to the state of Mississippi.”
Kopacz has selected “Fiat Lux,” the Latin translation for let there be light, from the Book of Genesis as his motto.
“It’s my prayer, not only to share the Gospel, but to share my very life as bishop,” Kopacz said at his installation’s conclusion. “I hope to know you and the state of Mississippi so well that the Northeast and the Deep South will be one in my heart.”
“I’d like to give a warm Mississippi welcome to the Kopacz family members who have traveled here to the sunny South to join us for this happy occasion,” Bishop Emeritus Joseph Latino, who retired in late 2012 as the Diocese of Jackson’s bishop, told a laughing overflow crowd that included Kopacz’ relatives from Dunmore, Pa., where Kopacz was a priest for 37 years.
Appointed by Pope Francis, Kopacz will lead more than 50,000 Mississippi Catholics spread among 75 parishes and 24 mission churches in 65 counties. Geographically, it’s the largest Catholic diocese east of the Mississippi River, but has a very small Catholic population compared to Kopacz’ former Diocese of Scranton.
His ordination brings to three bishops the Catholic Diocese of Jackson has living in residence, an unusually high number for most dioceses. Joining Kopacz, 63, and Latino is retired Bishop William Houck. Bishops can serve until they are 75.
Archbishop of Mobile Thomas J. Rodi led the ordination and installation ceremonies after first giving Kopacz a little history about his new diocese. Mississippi’s first Catholic bishop, John James Chanche, came to Natchez in 1841 at a time when there wasn’t even a Catholic church where he could say Mass. Chanche turned down appointments as bishop in Baltimore, Boston and New York, but “had the good sense to agree to serve on what was then the country’s frontier,” Rodi said.
Mississippi’s lone priest at the time “decided the state was not big enough for the two of them, so he left,” Rodi said. “No one was on the deck when his steamboat arrived to greet him.
“But, your welcome to the Diocese of Jackson has gone much better,” Rodi said to Kopacz. “And, at least to my knowledge, no one else has left the state because of your arrival.”
Appointed by Pope Francis, Kopacz will lead more than 50,000 Mississippi Catholics spread among 75 parishes and 24 mission churches in 65 counties. Geographically, it’s the largest Catholic diocese east of the Mississippi River, but has a very small Catholic population compared to Kopacz’ former Diocese of Scranton.
His ordination brings to three bishops the Catholic Diocese of Jackson has living in residence, an unusually high number for most dioceses. Joining Kopacz, 63, and Latino is retired Bishop William Houck. Bishops can serve until they are 75.
Archbishop of Mobile Thomas J. Rodi led the ordination and installation ceremonies after first giving Kopacz a little history about his new diocese. Mississippi’s first Catholic bishop, John James Chanche, came to Natchez in 1841 at a time when there wasn’t even a Catholic church where he could say Mass. Chanche turned down appointments as bishop in Baltimore, Boston and New York, but “had the good sense to agree to serve on what was then the country’s frontier,” Rodi said.
Mississippi’s lone priest at the time “decided the state was not big enough for the two of them, so he left,” Rodi said. “No one was on the deck when his steamboat arrived to greet him.
“But, your welcome to the Diocese of Jackson has gone much better,” Rodi said to Kopacz. “And, at least to my knowledge, no one else has left the state because of your arrival.”
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The most Rev. Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read aloud a letter from Pope Francis that authenticates Francis’ choice of Kopacz as the new bishop. The ceremonies continued as Rodi questioned Kopacz on his resolve to uphold his faith and to discharge his duty.
“We need a bishop to be a visible sign of unity in the diocese,” Rodi, who served as bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi before his appointment in Mobile, told Kopacz. “There are also sacrifices expected of you. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to other things.”
That includes leaving his longtime home of Pennsylvania, where he served the Diocese of Scranton in many capacities, including vicar general and coordinator of Hispanic ministries.
“I feel confident that you will quickly grow in affection and responsibility for the people of the Magnolia State,” Rodi told him. “Shepherd your people, and let the light of Christ shine through you.”
As is the custom in Catholic ordinations, Kopacz lay face down on the altar floor as bishops, priests and the congregation recited the Litany of Supplication, a song in which petitioners ask God to hear prayers and to pray for those requesting them.
During the heart of the ordination rite, bishops one by one laid their hands on Kopacz’ head and offered silent prayers to express the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Then, Rodi and the bishops held over Kopacz’ head the book of the Gospels as a sign of the power of God’s word, and joined together in the Prayer of Ordination, in use since the third century for the ordination rite.
After his head was anointed with oil by Rodi, signifying the full share in the priesthood of Christ he was receiving, Kopacz was given the book of the Gospel and other symbols of the bishop’s ministry: a ring, a miter, and a crosier or pastoral staff. The crosier presented to Kopacz was the very one carried by Chanche, a gift from Archbishop of New Orleans Anton Blanc in 1842.
An entire front row of the cathedral was filled with Kopacz’ relatives, including his uncles, brothers Amil and Joseph Calomino of Dunmore.
“He’s going to be terrific because he listens, and he wants to go forward,” said Joseph Calomino, 90, who also is Kopacz’ godfather. “We’re very proud of him.”
The new bishop “has married our family members, and he’s buried our family members,” said Amil Calomino, 89. “He’ll be a great asset to the state of Mississippi.”
Kopacz has selected “Fiat Lux,” the Latin translation for let there be light, from the Book of Genesis as his motto.
“It’s my prayer, not only to share the Gospel, but to share my very life as bishop,” Kopacz said at his installation’s conclusion. “I hope to know you and the state of Mississippi so well that the Northeast and the Deep South will be one in my heart.”
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