Installation will include centuries-old ritualsRead Time 5 min

With rituals and celebrations dating to the early 16th century, Catholics will welcome a new archbishop beginning Jan. 3, the feast of the Epiphany, and culminating with the installation Mass on Jan. 4, as Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki becomes the 11th archbishop of Milwaukee.

The by-invitation celebration starts with the Solemn Vespers Vigil of Welcome at 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukee. According to Dean Daniels, director of the office of worship for the Milwaukee Archdiocese, both celebrations are expected to be deep rooted in ecumenical traditions.

‘Quiet liturgy’

“It’s a very quiet, very contemplative liturgy, focusing on the psalms and on one Scripture reading,” Daniels said about the vespers service. “It’s not a big bombastic liturgy; it’s a very contemplative evening prayer liturgy, and that begins the whole celebration of the installation.

“The liturgy will begin with the Native-American community, the Congregation of the Great Spirit,” Daniels explained about the vespers service. “They are going to have a drumming circle in the center of the cathedral, which, in their tradition – a Catholic Native American tradition – is a call to prayer. It’s a calling of the four winds, of the four corners of the earth, to come together and to praise God.”  

As the drumming begins to fade, Archbishop Listecki will be outside and give a resounding knock on the cathedral doors, which will be opened by Fr. Carl A. Last, cathedral rector. Fr. Last will present Archbishop Listecki with a crucifix to kiss, and will then lead him to the baptismal font, where Archbishop Listecki will bless himself and then proceed to bless those around him in a sprinkling rite, including Bishop William P. Callahan, who will preside at the service, and Bishop Richard J. Sklba, who will deliver the homily.

The vespers music will be provided by the cathedral choir and some members of the archdiocesan choir, guided by cathedral music director Michael Batcho, with songs chosen especially by Archbishop Listecki. Two psalms will be chanted and one canticle will be sung, according to Daniels, although most of the music will not be determined until closer to the date of the celebration.

At the recessional, Archbishop Listecki will lead the bishops to the shrine of Mary at the northeast side of the cathedral. All will kneel as “Salve Regina” is chanted and then will go into the atrium for a modest reception.

Guide to planning

Daniels noted that the “Ceremonial of Bishops” – the book that lays out the liturgy for the installation of a bishop – notes that the celebration is intended to take place all in one day, but that the archdiocese generally chooses to expand it over two days as a way to allow more people into the cathedral to witness and share in the celebrations. Most dioceses in the United States have adopted that approach, he added.

According to Daniels, Archbishop Listecki has been working with an installation team that includes the two auxiliary bishops; Jerry Topczewski, chief of staff for the Milwaukee Archdiocese; Barbara Anne Cusack, chancellor; Julie Wolf, archdiocesan communications director; Gwen Fastabend, archdiocesan executive secretary; Faye Herrick, archdiocesan administrative assistant; Mark Kemmeter, coordinator of parish mission; Debra Lethlean, director of development; and Deacon Jorge Benavente of the multi-cultural office.

Because the cathedral cannot accommodate all who might wish to attend the vespers service and/or installation Mass, each parish has been invited to have one member represent its congregation, said Daniels. All priests are invited to concelebrate the Mass.

Installation Mass

Beginning at 2 p.m. Jan. 4, the installation takes place in the cathedral.

Approximately 45 people will comprise the opening part of the procession into the cathedral, according to Daniels. Civic and ecumenical leaders, deacons, and vested concelebrating clergy, including nearly 70 bishops, will process into the cathedral.

An honor guard comprised of the Knights of Columbus and the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver will lead the remainder of the procession, according to Daniels. Following them will be the main procession, which includes Fr. Last, Bishops Callahan and Sklba, Archbishop Listecki, papal nuncio Archbishop Pietro Sambi and the cardinals. The procession alone can take as long as 45 minutes, Daniels noted.

The opening part of the liturgy is specific to the instillation process, according to Daniels. After the procession, the papal nuncio will begin with the Sign of the Cross, and Bishop Callahan will welcome everyone to the ceremony. The College of Consulters – archdiocesan priests who have been consulting Bishop Callahan during his time as archdiocesan administrator – will come forward and stand in front of the presider’s chair where Archbishop Sambi will be seated. The apostolic letter that appoints Archbishop Listecki to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee is then brought forward.

“It is literately unrolled, because it is a scroll and it’s all written in calligraphy,” Daniels explained. “They examine it, to make sure that it’s authentic, and then Archbishop Sambi will go to the ambo and he will read that letter – which is from the pope – where he will appoint ‘Beloved Brother Jerome’ to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.”

After the reading of the apostolic letter, Archbishop Sambi will walk over to Archbishop Listecki and escort him to the cathedra – the archbishop’s official seat in the cathedral. Bishop Callahan will then present the shepherd’s crosier to Archbishop Sambi, who will then give that staff to Archbishop Listecki.

Soon after, Archbishop Listecki will formally be presented to representative leaders of parishes and Catholic schools, other Catholic and ecumenical communities, as well as Milwaukee civic leaders.

Different cultures represented

The remainder of the liturgy will proceed as would any other Mass, with a few atypical aspects taking place. The first two readings will be read in Korean and Polish, with the Gospel proclaimed in English. For the preparation of the altar and the presentation of gifts, various cultures throughout the archdiocese will be represented in the offertory procession.

Music will be sung by the archdiocesan choir under the guidance of music director Jeffery Honoré. The recessional hymn, “We are Your People,” sung to the tune of “For All the Saints,” was requested by Archbishop Listecki. One of his desires was that the music chosen for both days be songs “that everyone can sing,” according to Daniels.

“So we will be able to see the varied hue of humanity that is part of our archdiocese,” Daniels said. “In the language that we speak, in the music that we sing (and in) the dress of the different cultures that will be represented.”