Farrell Installation Ceremony at 2 P.M.
CBS 11
May 1, 2007
http://cbs11tv.com/local/local_story_121085943.html
Dallas Bishop Kevin Farrell will officially take over as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas today.
Hundreds are expected to attend an installation ceremony at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Farrell replaces Bishop Charles Grahmann, who turned 75 In July 2006 and has served as the diocese's leader since 1990.
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| Bishop Kevin Farrell will succeed Bishop Charles Grahmann (left) as bishop of Dallas today. Grahmann has been bishop of the Dallas diocese since July 14, 1990. |
The 59-year-old Farrell was born in Dublin, Ireland and served as an auxiliary bishop in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. since 2002.
Catholic bishops usually submit their resignations to the Pope at age 75.
On March 6, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Grahmann's resignation and the Diocese introduced Farrell. In that ceremony, Grahmann called Farrell the diocese's new shepherd.
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| Farrell added then he looks forward to working with ecumenical leaders and civic officials to "build a community that truly respects the dignity of every human person." |
Fluent in Italian and Spanish, Farrell's brother, Bishop Brian Farrell, is on staff at the Vatican.
"It was a great surprise to me when I was informed I was going to come to Dallas," Dallas' Ferrell said in March.
Farrell added then he looks forward to working with ecumenical leaders and civic officials to "build a community that truly respects the dignity of every human person."
Since his ordination as an auxiliary bishop in 2002, Ferrell has been involved in administering the archdiocese's sexual abuse policy for members of the clergy, employees and adult volunteers. His bio states Ferrell has met with 84 people who have alleged incidents of abuse.
"Certainly I believe there is zero tolerance for anyone who harms a child. I cannot emphasize that more," Farrell said at the March news conference. "I believe the church has done more than any other institution over the last few years to protect children."
"At this particular moment, this is my dream job," Farrell said to applause from a small group of parishioners who gathered at the Cathedral.
The Dallas diocese is the 10th largest in the nation with about 1 million members in 74 parishes.
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