New archbishop invites Catholics to embark on adventure in fidelity

By Scott McConnaha of the Catholic Herald Staff

MILWAUKEE — With family, friends, high-ranking church officials and various community representatives looking on and lending their prayerful participation, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan was installed Wednesday as the 10th shepherd of the Milwaukee Archdiocese.

Stretching the limits of St. John the Evangelist Cathedral’s seating capacity, more than 1,000 attendees at the Aug. 28 invitation-only event applauded several times, prayed and sang with apparent reverence and smiled with Dolan who beamed with joy throughout the three and a half hour celebration.

Beginning at 1:30 p.m., the procession alone, of church officials and invited dignitaries, took 35 minutes. Eight cardinals, 13 archbishops, more than 50 bishops and abbots, more than 350 priests, several leaders from other faith groups and civic representatives were among the honored guests. As Dolan stepped through the vestibule doors and began his walk toward the altar, he was greeted with enthusiastic applause and even a couple thumbs-up. His mother, brothers and sisters, other family and personal friends sat in the front, and he frequently exchanged smiles with several of them throughout the celebration.

The liturgy began with the sign of the cross led by Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, papal nuncio to the United States. Bishop Richard J. Sklba welcomed everyone, then Montalvo read the apostolic letter officially naming Dolan as archbishop of Milwaukee.

In a solemn gesture of handing over leadership of the archdiocese, Sklba presented the Milwaukee archbishop’s crosier — a pastoral staff fashioned into a shepherd’s crook — to Montalvo, who passed it on to Dolan. Then, at 2:20 p.m., Dolan took his place in the cathedra, or archbishop’s chair, and smiled wide as the congregation stood to cheer.

Dolan, 52, succeeds 75-year-old Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, who retired May 24 after almost 25 years as archbishop of Milwaukee. The inside of St. John Cathedral was bright with sunlight shining through the stained-glass windows into a slight haze of incense smoke as Dolan stood at the ambo to address his guests.

He thanked the many people who came to Milwaukee for his installation, calling attention to Montalvo, the many archbishops and bishops, men and women religious, priests, deacons, seminarians and lay ministers, family, friends and representatives of the community. He named each of the eight cardinals in attendance, and drew quite a laugh when he pointed out that if there were one more they could have a baseball team.

Dolan inspired more laughter when he expressed thanks for the newly-made, larger, more comfortable cathedra.

“This installation begins an adventure in fidelity,” he said, and invited everyone in the Milwaukee Archdiocese to join him. He said there are two challenges that accompany such an adventure: proceeding without fear and following a path to saintliness.

Dolan pledged to help the people of the archdiocese come closer to Christ. “Nothing is possible without God, and with him, all is possible,” he said.

Recalling a recent journalist’s question, Dolan said that his ultimate goal has not been met by becoming an archbishop. “I want to be a saint,” he said, and implored the people of the archdiocese to show him how to get there. “This call to sanctity is universal,” he said.

He reminded listeners that St. Peter was able to walk on water as long as he remained focused on Christ. He proposed that the faithful today can also remain focused on Christ if, like St. John the Evangelist, patron of the archdiocese, they stay close to Jesus until the very end and take his blessed mother into their homes.

Dolan apologized for not being able to present a more specific plan of action for his tenure here, but took comfort in the example set by St. Francis of Assisi. He told the story of how Francis went to Pope Innocent III to get permission to form his religious order, and when the pope asked what plans Francis had for his friars, he simply pointed to the Gospels and said, ‘This is my plan.’ Dolan’s homily drew another standing ovation.

Ten of Dolan’s 11 nieces were on hand to present the bread and wine to the new archbishop, whose seemingly ever-present grin widened as they walked up the aisle.

During Communion distribution, Dolan chose to hand out Eucharist in the cathedral’s new atrium, where the overflow crowd of about 350, watched the celebration on a large projection screen.

Shortly before the liturgy began, Bishop Roger White of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee, told the Catholic Herald that he looks forward to welcoming Dolan as a part of the community. He said, “There’s been a real upbeat sense about the whole week.... I’m very happy to be a part of this celebration.” White pointed out that he even wore his Irish pattern stole.

A few cardinals and bishops shared their observations of Dolan with the Catholic Herald.

Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit said Dolan will have “no difficulty” in getting along with Wisconsin Catholics. “He inspires. He is a wonderful church leader. He has an enthusiasm for people wherever he goes,” Maida said.

Formerly bishop of Green Bay, Maida said he admires Dolan’s sense of humor, sense of humanity, and sense of spirituality. “The whole area will be enriched by his ministry.”

“Archbishop Dolan brings a great personality, a fine mind and a familiarity with church history to the church of Wisconsin,” said Bishop Robert J. Banks of Green Bay.

Son of the Milwaukee Archdiocese, Bishop Raphael M. Fliss of Superior, observed that Dolan’s “stature and talents will continue all the good that Archbishop Weakland and all his predecessors accomplished. I look forward to working with him.”

Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington, D.C. said Dolan will bring grace to the church of southeastern Wisconsin. “He comes with great experience and a solid theological and historical background. He also brings an extraordinary joy in all things, and that will be catching,” said McCarrick.

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