JOLIET, Ill. — A diverse group of Catholics from Arkansas, west Tennessee and Illinois convened at the Cathedral of St. Raymond June 27 to welcome Bishop J. Peter Sartain to the Diocese of Joliet.
Bishop Sartain left Little Rock June 23 to prepare for his new ministry in the second-largest diocese in Illinois. The two-hour installation ceremony started with a 20-minute procession down Raynor Avenue with 41 bishops, 150 priests, 100 deacons and a 22-member Knights of Columbus honor guard, a sight many Catholics had never experienced.
Chicago Cardinal Francis George installed Bishop Sartain and escorted him to the cathedra, or bishop’s chair, as a sign of his new episcopal office.
Attending the Mass were Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald, who now lives in Palatine, Ill., Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD, of Memphis and Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran of Oklahoma City. Deacon Bo McAllister, chancellor for canonical affairs for the Diocese of Little Rock, proclaimed the Gospel.
Bishop Sartain replaces Bishop Joseph L. Imesch, who is retiring after leading the diocese for more than 26 years.
While admittance to the Mass was by ticket only, it didn’t bother members of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Home School Group. About 10 mothers brought their small children to the cathedral to witness the flurry of activities outside the church and get a glimpse of Bishop Sartain. A sign saying “Welcome Bishop Sartain” bore the signatures of the children and was later presented to the new leader of the diocese.
“We thought this would be a good experience, to welcome the bishop, to experience this,” Kim Martin of Plainfield, Ill., said. “It might inspire vocations. That is his (Bishop Sartain’s) goal. We want our children to appreciate the beauty of our faith.”
As the children watched the procession, they waved to Bishop Sartain. Some were even interviewed by the Chicago media. Other television reporters and camera operators were eager to get an interview with Bishop Sartain and Cardinal George before the ceremony.
At the beginning of the Mass, Cardinal George said, “I know with all my heart … that you will not only welcome him as a shepherd but will find in him a great friend in the Lord.”
In his thick Italian accent, Archbishop Sambi read the apostolic mandate marking Pope Benedict XVI’s new appointment of Bishop Sartain.
During the Mass, Catholics dressed in traditional Korean, Polish and Filipino garb greeted the bishop, as well as representatives from parishes, hospitals, city government, clergy and religious and a married couple with two children.
Bishop Sartain’s homily focused on the gift of peace.
“Jesus is peace,” he said. “As your bishop I am called to proclaim the peace of Christ to you. … We will make it a priority to grow in holiness. Holiness flowers in peace. We will trust in his peace for he, who gave everything for us, holding nothing back on the cross, is faithful forever.”
The bishop concluded the Mass saying by to his new parishioners, “Let us serve the Lord in peace.”
Deacon Bob Morris of Heber Springs said the bishop’s last words were important because he believes that is the mission Bishop Sartain has laid before the people.
“What was interesting is he gave everyone his mission,” he said. “I hope everyone was listening.”
Morris and his wife Marie said they made the trip to Illinois because the bishop has been supportive of them in their ministries.
“As much as he has done for us, the least we could do was support him,” Marie Morris said.
A portion of his sermon was spoken in Spanish, a familiar practice during the many bilingual Masses he celebrated while in Arkansas. He also issued his familiar call for young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood and religious life.
“You will hear me very often casting the net,” he said. “You will notice that sometimes I take aim.”
He also interjected a little Southern humor, instructing the congregation: “Cardinal George has issued a special dispensation to me as a Southerner. I am allowed to say ’ya’ll’ as many times as I want to. And for your information, the plural of ya’ll is ’all y’all.’”
Many of the people that have known Bishop Sartain the longest were beaming as their brother and friend began his next step in his episcopal ministry.
Dick Orians, principal of St. Louis School in Memphis, worked with Bishop Sartain for the eight years when he was assigned to the parish before moving to Little Rock. Orians, his wife and Bishop Sartain have continued their friendship since he moved to Little Rock.
“As someone said today, he is the real deal,” Orians said. “It is sad for us and it is sad for the people of Arkansas.”
Noting the bishop’s parents, Pete and Catherine Sartain are deceased, Orians said, “His parents are the Church.”
One of the bishop’s sisters, Jennie Alexander of Batesville, said she was grateful their mother was able to spend time with her only son before her death in Memphis last year.
“What a blessing it was that the Lord waited until my mom died so he could be with her,” Alexander said.
Also attending were his sisters Sister Marian Sartain, OP, of Nashville and Sally Hermsdorfer of Memphis, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins and “pretend cousins.”
Several Arkansans attended the Mass and stood in line at the reception to say their final farewell. Among those attending the Mass were Sister Cabrini Schmitz, OSB, prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, Msgr. Francis I. Malone, Msgr. Scott Friend and Father John Kerr of Little Rock, Dr. Bruce and Georgia Schratz of Little Rock and Deacon Richard Papini and his wife Andrea of Conway.
“What you see is what you get with him,” said Donna Gay, a member of St. Edward Church in Little Rock. “He is certainly capable of this bigger diocese. He is clearly a man of God.”
Before the installation Bishop Sartain gathered with his friends, family and visiting bishops at the Joliet Country Club for lunch.
The night before the installation, Bishop Sartain lead a vespers service for 200 people at the cathedral. Well-known liturgical composer Steven R. Janco’s responsorial psalm written for the vespers service and installation was sung. “Of You My Heart Has Spoken” is based on the bishop’s episcopal motto.
