- The metropolitan cross, carried in recession immediately preceding Archbishop Listecki, was used by the first Archbishop of Milwaukee, John Martin Henni, when the diocese was raised to the state of archdiocese in 1875.
- Politics on hold? Political foes each hoping to become the next governor of Wisconsin, Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker put aside their differences during the installation as they were seated next to each other in approximately the seventh row of the cathedral for the entire two-plus hour Mass. Both were called forward during the installation to greet the new archbishop as representatives of civic government.
- Also on hand to welcome Milwaukee’s new shepherd were Republican U.S. Congressman Paul Ryan from the 1st Congressional District and Democratic State Senator Jeff Plale from Wisconsin’s 7th Senate District.
- A future American pope might have been in the cathedral Monday. Some church-watchers think that if an American were ever to be elected pope, it would be Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan. The other? Well, when 5-year-old Jerome Listecki was once asked after a dance recital what he was going to be when he grew up, he replied, “The first American pope.”
- An overflow crowd of approximately 240 people viewed the installation Mass on eight large monitors set up by the archdiocese in the atrium of the cathedral.
- With Cardinal Francis E. George turning 73 on Jan. 16, how long before church-watchers start the, “Oh, Archbishop Listecki’s going to go to Chicago” rumor?
- The number of camera operators, photojournalists and reporters relegated to the cathedral balcony made the space reminiscent of the press box during winning seasons at Milwaukee County Stadium. Even the climb to the balcony paralleled the workout one got navigating the maze to the stadium press box. One notable difference: the smell of incense wafted into the former, while the smell of brats always permeated the latter.
- Among the cultural gifts presented to Archbishop Listecki during the offertory procession were two shadow puppets, characters in the Indonesian epic story, “Mahabarata.” Shadow puppetry is a prominent part of Indonesian cultural traditions. Other cultural gifts included ensaymada, Filipino sweet bread; phamai, a silk cloth made by the Lao people and Khaotoom, a gift of steamed sweet rice in banana leaves also from the Lao community and Bánh ch_ng, a traditional Vietnamese rice cake.
- The 12 degree temperature at the start of the installation procession felt more like -1 degrees due to the wind chill factor. The last Milwaukee archbishop to be installed in January was Archbishop Cousins in 1959.
- Had Archbishop Allan H. Vigneron been present for the installation, Milwaukee would have witnessed Detroit Catholicism’s version of the Big Three as his predecessors, Cardinal Edmund C. Szoka and Cardinal Adam J. Maida, were in attendance.
- Ten digital billboards were erected throughout the metro-Milwaukee area, Jan. 4 and 5, through the generosity of Clear Channel Outdoor to welcome Archbishop Listecki. The billboards featured an image of the new archbishop and read, “Welcome Archbishop Listecki,” and the Living Our Faith slogan, “See you at Mass.”
- In a press conference immediately following the installation, Archbishop Listecki, when asked about school vouchers, said out of fairness that he’d like to see the voucher program expanded nationally. Pointing to recently seated Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, a product of Catholic education, Archbishop Listecki noted that many leaders within the country are products of Catholic education.
- Among the more than 30 members of the hierarchy present at the Jan. 4 installation were Archbishop Timothy Broglio, of the Archdiocese for the Military Services and three bishops with Milwaukee ties, Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, Diocese of Lincoln, Neb.; Bishop emeritus Raphael Fliss, Diocese of Superior; and Bishop Joseph Perry, Archdiocese of Chicago.
— Compiled by Maryangela Layman Román and Brian T. Olszewski.