Bishop Nienstedt installed Third bishop

to serve

New Ulm

Diocese

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- With its twin spires piercing nearly cloudless sky, St. Mary's Catholic Church played host Monday to the largest group of Catholic hierarchy, priests and lay people of all walks of life in recent history in consecrating the installation of a new bishop of the New Ulm Diocese.

The mercury toyed with over 90-degree readings as Bishop John Clayton Nienstedt was installed before a packed sanctuary which can hold 1,000 persons. An overflow crowd watched the proceedings on closed-circuit TV in the nearby St. Mary's School auditorium.

Nienstedt will serve a Catholic community with a total population of 70,835 members in 15 southern Minnesota counties. He succeeds Bishop Raymond Lucker who served as leader of the diocese from 1975 until his retirement in November 2000.

The installation ceremony started promptly at 1:40 p.m. with the procession of dignitaries, lay people, religious and clergy. Each group was proceeded by candle-and-ribbon pole bearers, accompanied by organ music, either up the right, left or center aisle to seating at the front of the church.

When the four cardinals and chaplains had been seated, a group of clergy led by the Rev. John C. Berger, the diocesan administrator who has been overseeing the diocese's work since Lucker's retirement, proceeded down the center aisle to the front door.

With three loud raps on the door, Nienstedt announced his desire to enter the diocesan community. Upon immediately entering the lobby of the sanctuary, the bishop was presented a crucifix and already blessed holy water by Berger.

After Nienstedt had blessed and sprinkled holy water upon the attending clergy, a procession to the altar was formed with the bishop following and sprinkling holy water on the assembled spectators as he walked up the aisle.

Having reached the dais, the bishop took a seat to the left of the altar, beside Berger and Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of the St. Paul-Minneapolis Archdiocese.

At this point, Nienstedt asked to be seated on the "cathedra," a Greek and Latin word for chair -- the bishop's chair. The church in which the bishop's chair resides is called the cathedral so, in this instance, the chair used in Monday's ceremony will be returned to its place in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New Ulm where it normally resides.

Speaking to Archbishop Flynn, Nienstedt said, "I, Bishop John Nienstedt, who God has ordained to be shepherd and servant, and who has been chosen by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, as bishop of the Church of New Ulm, come to you, desiring to be recognized and seated in the chair which is the symbol of that office."

However, before that can be done, Flynn responded, "We must hear the mandate given you by our Holy Father."

The Apostolic Mandate then was read by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo of St. Louis, Apostolic Nuncio to United States in which, in part, the Pope says, "Wherefore, by the fullness of our apostolic authority, we release you from all bonds towards the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Titular See of Alton, and with great confidence we appoint you bishop of the Church in New Ulm."

Flynn asked Nienstedt, "Are you willing to accept this Diocese in the tradition of the apostolic faith of the Church?"

"I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God in the Diocese of New Ulm. I resolve to serve faithfully the Church in this Diocese."

With that, the two archbishops escorted Nienstedt to the cathedra at the right side of the altar where he was welcomed with applause and singing of "Celtic Alleluia."

Flynn then presented the newly installed bishop the crosier (staff) used by Lucker who could not attend the installation because of illness.

The new bishop then was greeted individually by 23 representatives of diocesan priests, pastoral administrators, religious communities of women, ecumenical leaders, City of New Ulm, Diocesan Advisory Committee, Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, Diocesan Youth Council, Parish Ministries, Hispanic and Native American communities.

As another gesture recognizing the diocese's diversity, the installation program was printed in English and Spanish, and "Soy Feliz" was one of the prelude numbers.

Preceding the installation ceremony was a banquet-style dinner with no program for 750 invited guests at the Orchid Inn. Another banquet, also with no formal program, allowing attendees to meet and greet Nienstedt, was held at the Orchid Inn Monday evening.