Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert
On April 30, I drove to Dallas to attend the installation of Bishop Kevin Farrell as the ordinary of the Diocese of Dallas. It appears that Dallas must have been in line to get a bishop before Little Rock; next time I’ll know to break into the line. Knowing that we will eventually receive a new bishop, I wanted to see exactly what went on during an installation. Knowing that Texans would do things really well, I wanted to pick up whatever pointers I could. I was not disappointed: It was a true celebration worthy of a successor of the apostles.
Bishop Kevin Farrell is the new bishop of Dallas. He was born and reared in Ireland and has a brother who is also a bishop. He has already served as an auxiliary bishop in Washington; his brother serves in the Vatican. He is exceptionally intelligent and possesses the legendary Irish charm. He speaks several languages fluently, one of them being Spanish, which would be a necessity in Dallas with its ever-growing Hispanic population. A good number of bishops attended from the Washington area, as he is obviously held in high esteem there. Cardinal McCarrick added a splash of red to the occasion. Bishops representing almost all of the 15 dioceses in Texas were there to welcome and support their new brother Texan bishop. I wonder how long it will take them to train an Irish bishop to properly pronounce, “Howdy, partner, and peace with ya’ll.”
As administrator for the Diocese of Little Rock, I was invited to attend a luncheon honoring Bishop Farrell prior to his installation. It was an honor to sit at a table with five bishops and two archbishops from Texas. Naturally, I felt like something of a country bumpkin and knew that I was way out of my depth both intellectually and theologically. Perhaps no one would have noticed had I possessed the good sense to keep my mouth shut.
They were all very gracious to me and listening to them was uplifting and informative. Lunching with them gave me a real appreciation for the integrity of the hierarchy and the process which must have led to their selection as bishops. Also present at the luncheon was the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, through whose office we will receive notice when we are given a new bishop. Knowing that patience is a Christian virtue, I refrained from asking him to hasten the process.
The installation ceremony itself was perfect. It took place in the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. As it seats only about 1,100 people, a large tent was erected next to the cathedral to accommodate an overflow crowd which would be able to view the installation via television. There were hundreds of priests there, and they all seemed overjoyed with their new bishop. The procession began precisely 15 minutes prior to the ceremony itself. Beautiful music was played by a Mexican band outside the cathedral as we filed in two by two. Bishop Farrell came at the end of the procession, knocking at the cathedral doors, which had been symbolically closed. The former bishop of Dallas then opened the doors, welcoming the new bishop to his cathedral.
As the liturgy continued, the multi-cultural face of the Church became increasingly obvious. Readings were proclaimed in Vietnamese, Spanish and English. The prayers of the faithful included not only those languages but Igbo, a Nigerian language; Tagalog, from the Philippines; and American Sign Language. The inclusive nature of this Irish-born Texas bishop’s ministry was being clearly delineated.
Bishop Farrell officially became the bishop of Dallas when he accepted his crosier and took his place on the cathedra, the episcopal throne. That event elicited joyous, prolonged applause from his flock. It was a gorgeous moment, and I was grateful to be part of it and grateful for being able to represent you there.
I was truly impressed with what I witnessed at the cathedral. The ceremony was moving, joyous and truly spiritual. Jesus was present there in the hearts of all who attended. The Church was celebrating. It was not overly elaborate, not overdone. The ceremony was reverential, flawless, uplifting in its perfect simplicity. It was not a show; it was a prayer.
Now that I know how to welcome our new bishop, I’ll be waiting for that call from Archbishop Sambi telling me his name. I have no idea how long that wait will be. Maybe your prayers can hurry the process along.
