Getting A New Bishop - Part Two

After a great dinner and vespers on Sunday night, I was excited for the main event. This was a historic moment for our diocese and I was able to be right in the center of it.
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I got to Steubenville much earlier than I needed to - I was just anxious to be there.

Once I checked in with some of the other priests who were working as MCs (and were responsible for much more than I was) I met up with Fr. Boniface Hicks, monk of St. Vincent and the voice behind much of WAOB radio. We recorded a conversation on Bishop Foys' homily from the night before at vespers. That was actually our first time recording together in person - everything else has been done with an iPhone app - so it was great to share the enthusiasm I was feeling with him and the station's listeners.
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The rest of my time until Mass started was spent in a mix of rehearsals, greeting people, and helping with whatever came up. The amount of planning and organization that goes into an event like this is staggering. I had a fairly small number of things to remember; the committee responsible for planning the ordination did a fantastic job managing the endless details.
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One of the best parts of being on campus all day was seeing people I knew arrive. We all shared that anticipation. One moment that stood out for me was walking down the main aisle of the rapidly filling field house and seeing my mom in the fourth row. I was happy (and she was happy) to get such a close seat where she could see everything up close.
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The Mass itself was beautiful. Everything went smoothly, the music was done very well, and, most of all, it was prayerful. Those three hours went quickly and there were too many powerful moments to really cover here: Bishop Monforton lying prostrate during the litany of saints; him receiving the ring, miter, and crozier and taking his seat as bishop and celebrant; me getting to escort the bishop's family up as gift bearers ...
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It was hard to believe that it was all over when we processed out. It was a long day - a day I'd been looking forward to since I found out our previous bishop was being transferred. The whole day was full, but one moment stands out for me above all. Our new bishop made some remarks before the dismissal, and when addressing the people of the diocese, he said this:

I am grateful to be your shepherd. Our faith is meant to be proclaimed and to be shared, I am delighted to be your bishop. I am yours

Thank God.