Re-Watch The Ordination and Installation of the Most Reverend Michael McGovern here:
www.ewtn.com/tv/shows/cathedrals-across-america
Episcopal Ordination Aid
The Ordination and Installation of
The Most Reverend Michael McGovern as the Ninth Bishop of Belleville
Episcopal Ordination Aid
(
PDF)
Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
July 22, 2020
By CHRISTOPHER ORLET
Editor - The Messenger
Bishop Michael McGovern will be ordained and installed as the ninth bishop of Belleville on July 22 at 2 p.m. during a solemn liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Peter in Belleville.
A diocesan statement noted that as the planning for the Mass of Ordination and Installation began, both Bishop Edward K. Braxton and Bishop Michael McGovern desired that the faithful of the Diocese of Belleville be able to attend the Mass.
However, because of the limitation on seating due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Ordination and Installation Mass will be invitation-only. Each parish in the diocese has been invited to send two parish representatives to the Mass.
Additionally, the Mass will be broadcast live on Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN).
The last episcopal Installation Mass in the Diocese of Belleville occurred 15 years ago, when Bishop Edward K. Braxton was installed as the eighth Bishop of Belleville. Pope Francis accepted Bishop Braxton’s resignation on April 3, after Bishop Braxton reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops of 75.
The ministers of the ordination and installation liturgy will include Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, as presider and principal consecrator. Bishop Emeritus Edward K. Braxton and Bishop George Rassas, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chicago, will serve as co-consecrators.
Among the 20 concelebrating prelates will be Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., and the seventh Bishop of Belleville; Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee; Bishop Gerald Kicanas, Bishop Emeritus of Tuscon; and Archbishop Charles Thompson, Archbishop of Indianapolis.
The Mass of Ordination and Installation of Most Reverend Michael McGovern will begin with a procession including Blase Cardinal Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Metropolitan of Chicago, archbishops, and bishops. During the Mass, McGovern will be ordained a bishop, formally taking canonical possession of the diocese. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, will read the decree from Pope Francis formally naming McGovern as the ordinary of the Belleville diocese.
After the Apostolic letter is read, it is first presented to the College of Consultors in the presence of the Chancellor of the Curia followed by the members of the assembly who will affirm, support and, as the Church, join in the Pope’s call with applause.
Following Cardinal Cupich’s homily, Bishop McGovern will stand before the Cardinal, who will then ask him whether he is willing “to serve almighty God and the people of the Diocese of Belleville in faith and in love as their shepherd.”
Once Bishop McGovern accepts, the elect prostrates himself in prayer while the assembly calls upon the intercessions of the saints.
After the laying on of hands by the bishops and the prayer of ordination, the head of the newly ordained bishop is anointed with the Sacred Chrism. Then Bishop McGovern will be presented with the pontifical insignia which consists of the Bishop’s ring, miter and crosier, symbols of his teaching authority and signs that he has taken possession of the diocese.
He will then be escorted to the cathedra, the bishop’s chair.
Bishop McGovern then shares a fraternal sign of peace with his fellow bishops.
While seating will be limited, viewers from all over the diocese will be able to tune in live on EWTN to see the Ordination and Installation of Bishop McGovern. According to Msgr. John T. Myler, rector of the Cathedral of St. Peter, cameras, cables, and a control room will be added to the Cathedral for the live production feed of the Mass. The Millstadt family-owned company Arndt Photo and Cinema will produce the video feed.
“Because of the pandemic, the number of people able to gather in our Cathedral will not be as large as one might hope, so the nationwide telecast on EWTN—done professionally and creatively—will be of great interest to Catholics throughout southern Illinois, and to Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Bishop McGovern’s home,” Msgr. Myler said.
According to Msgr. Myler, Arndt Photo and Cinema was chosen to produce the video of the ordination because their professional team is—according to their website—“all family.”
“Their passion is to “completely outdo ourselves with every new project,” he said.
The Arndt family has appeared on the TLC channel, FOX and other networks, and their work has been featured on Bravo TV and U.S. Weekly.
“A live stream to a major TV network is quite an undertaking and we are excited to head up this broadcast,” Paul Arndt said. “We expect to have five cameras and other staff from the Arndt team producing the event. Creative camera placement and our use of special cinema equipment will allow us to capture everything in an artistic way without being a distraction to the congregation and television viewers.
“We are looking forward to sharing the final product with our Belleville friends and everyone globally who watches live via EWTN,” he said.
The ceremony will be the first EWTN broadcast from the Diocese of Belleville.
Added Msgr. Myler, “The modern means of communication are vital to keep the faithful connected to their faith-—especially in these days of pandemic. The diocese has to communicate the Gospel through all available means. That’s our mandate from Christ himself.”