By Melissa Nann Burke
York Daily Record
August 19 2010
http://www.ydr.com/premium/ci_15816673
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| The newly installed Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of Harrisburg is welcomed by the faithful during his Mass of installation Wednesday at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL) |
The Most Rev. Joseph P. McFadden, an approachable cleric and former basketball coach known as a "bishop of the people," took his place Wednesday as the 10th bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg.
McFadden, 63, who served the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for six years as an auxiliary bishop, was officially installed during a 2 1/2-hour liturgy at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Harrisburg, a couple of blocks from the capitol.
Hundreds of white-clad priests from around the 15-county diocese, as well as many from Philadelphia, filled up the half-hour opening procession, followed by nearly 30 bishops in peaked miters and several archbishops, including Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore and Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia.
In his first homily as bishop of Harrisburg, McFadden encouraged Catholics to "not be afraid" in sharing their faith with everyone within the diocese. He wants to see more Catholics attending Mass and participating in confession, now called the sacrament of reconciliation.
He also urged the faithful to stand up for church teachings such as traditional marriage and the protection of human life "from the moment of conception until natural death," despite opposition in the culture.
About 1,000 people filled the pews, including state Sen. Jeff Piccola, R-Dauphin, who represents parts of York County; U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, D-Schuylkill; and Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico.
Ecumenical religious leaders in attendance included representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Episcopal and Eastern Orthodox churches and a rabbi.
Janet Olkowski, a parishioner at St. Joseph Church in Springettsbury Township, said she heard McFadden has been a "wonderful shepherd" in Philadelphia who cares deeply about Catholic education and about defending the faith.
"It's thrilling to see in action the heritage of our church," said Olkowski, whose son Brian is a seminarian in the diocese. "It's 2,000 years since Christ that the church continues peacefully to pass on the episcopacy to the next person God has chosen."
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| Amanda Holdoft, 22, of Springettsbury Township reflects on the excitement of getting a new bishop prior to McFadden's installation on Wednesday. She happened to be in Harrisburg for a job interview and dropped by the cathedral to see whether she could get a seat. She did. (DAILY RECORD/SUNDAY NEWS - PAUL KUEHNEL) |
McFadden succeeds Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who served in Harrisburg for five years until his transfer in January to the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in Indiana.
McFadden is the child of Irish immigrants who spent his entire career in Philadelphia until now. There, he served several parishes, led a Catholic high school and served as personal secretary to the late Cardinal John Krol for 11 years.
A former Catholic teacher, McFadden is known as a gentle but firm leader with innovative ideas for sustaining Catholic education, a love for the people and a great popularity among his brother priests. For a moment Wednesday, he spoke directly to the priests of Harrisburg:
"I want you to know from the beginning, that I love you, and I esteem you," he said. "I thank you for what you do."
McFadden also addressed the "terrible sin" of clergy sexual abuse and apologized to victims.
"The way that it was dealt with in the church was wrong, and we are sorry," he said. "I assure you, the victims, that you have my deepest love and concern, and I will do all in my power to see that no such tragedy occurs again in the church."
The most important point of the service came shortly before 2:30 p.m. when the letter from Pope Benedict XVI appointing McFadden to head the diocese was read aloud by the Vatican's representative to the U.S., Archbishop Pietro Sambi.
Afterward, Sambi and Rigali escorted McFadden to the cathedra, a green throne bearing his coat of arms, where he sat, taking official possession of the diocese.
Those in the pews stood for a lengthy ovation, and McFadden nodded in acknowledgment. Behind his glasses, his eyes creased in a smile.
"Thank you," he said. "Thank you."
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