As Brisbane archdiocese prepares for the installation Mass for its new leader Archbishop Mark Coleridge on May 11, liturgist ELIZABETH HARRINGTON explains some aspects of the liturgy that will be celebrated on that day. Other aspects will be covered in a second article next week
ARCHBISHOP Mark Coleridge has been appointed the next Archbishop of Brisbane. He has already been ordained a bishop, so Archbishop Coleridge will not be ordained when he arrives in Brisbane but will be solemnly received in the Cathedral of St Stephen by the clergy and people of the local church when he officially takes up his new position on May 11.
This liturgical reception of the new bishop is sometimes called installation; its principal element is the Eucharistic celebration at which the bishop presides for the first time with the college of priests and the deacons, and with people of the diocese taking full and active part.
Archbishop Coleridge will arrive at the door of the cathedral to be received by the dean of the cathedral.
The Archbishop is presented with a crucifix, which he kisses, and then he is offered a sprinkler and holy water with which he sprinkles himself and all who are present.
After a period of prayer in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, the Archbishop vests for Mass. He will be wearing a ring and mitre and carrying a crozier, insignia of the office of bishop with which he was invested at the time of his ordination to the Order of Bishops.
The bishop’s ring is described in the rites as the seal of fidelity and sign of the faith and love with which the bishop protects the bride of God, his holy Church.
The word mitre comes from the Greek for “headband” or “turban”. It is the traditional ceremonial head-dress of bishops and certain abbots in the Roman Catholic and some other Christian Churches.
The crozier or pastoral staff is a sign of the bishop’s pastoral office: “Keep watch over the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has appointed you to shepherd the Church of God.”(Rite of Ordination of a Bishop)
The entrance procession takes place, while the entrance song is sung. When the bishop has arrived at his cathedra, he greets the people and sits.
The cathedra, from which the word “cathedral” comes, is the Latin word for “a chair with armrests”, and became the name given to the chair or throne of a bishop in his cathedral church.
It is a symbol of the bishop’s teaching authority and only the diocesan bishop sits on the cathedra.
Then the Chancellor of the archdiocese reads the apostolic letter of appointment. Through this act, the new bishop takes canonical possession of the diocese.
The people respond by saying “Thanks be to God” and with acclamation.
After the reading of the apostolic letter, the bishop is greeted by those who received him at the door of the cathedral and then by the board of consultors, representatives of the priests’ and pastoral councils, some of the priests, deacons and lay people of the local church, by members of other churches and ecclesial communities, religious bodies, civil authorities, and others.
The Penitential Rite is omitted but the Gloria is sung and the bishop sings or says the opening prayer of Mass.
The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are celebrated in the usual way. After the gospel, the bishop addresses the people of the local church for the first time.
Elizabeth Harrington is the education officer with The Liturgical Commission in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Note: Due to cathedral size, attendance at the installation is by invitation. The installation will be webcast live as well as being available “on demand” after the event via a prominent link on the archdiocesan website www.bne.catholic.net.au
