Three southern dioceses are set to have new bishops, St. Augustine and Pensacola in Florida and my diocese, the Diocese of Savannah. Last night we had our Chrism Mass at our Cathedral in Savannah. I think our bishop, Bishop J. Kevin Boland actually thought last year's Chrism Mass would be his last as Bishop of Savannah.
But no new bishop has been named yet, although rumor was that it would have been this past February or last month. But the rumors are flying that it could be immanent.
Last night, though, Bishop Boland didn't let on although in some ways his homily did sound like a bit of a farewell. But he used Sargent Schultz from the TV show Hogan's Heroes to say and I quote:
"I KNOW NOTHING!"
Of course when Sargent Schultz said that, the TV viewers all knew that he knew everything! So was there a hidden message in that statement from Bishop Boland? I report, you decide!
Bishop Boland last night, "I know nothing!"
"Very interesting" as the other Nazi from Laugh-in use to say!
Now for fact. Archbishop Wynski of Miami celebrated the Chrism Mass in Pensacola as they have no bishop and he is the Apostolic Administrator. In the past Pensacola always had their deacons and lay ministers renew their promises to serve the Church (this from the era that fearED "clericalism" to a fault, and clericalized the laity).
Well not this year. Only the priests renewed their vows. The Cathedral altar was vested in the Benedictine Mode and the Pater Noster was prayED in Latin.
Very interesting!
6 comments:
Hello. I just recently discovered your blog and have enjoyed it a lot. I was raised in the St Augustine Diocese and also lived in Georgia for a number of years (Columbus) but have been away from there for many years. I was interested to see that St Augustine will be getting a new bishop. Has he been named yet?
None of the three southern dioceses have had new bishops names. St. Augustine's bishop remains as does ours until the new one. The bishop of Pensacola had his resignation accepted due to serious health issues, so they are without a bishop altogether.
Bishop Boland has been giving what seemed to be going-away homilies for a couple years now, though. Was there a different feeling in the air last night, Father?
I wasn't able to make it this year: the first Chrism Mass I've missed since coming to the Church. :-(
And... a question for you, Father. I noticed in the Holy Father's Wednesday audience that he mentioned the Chrism Mass being on Thursday of Holy Week. I also read in the older Missals that this was traditional. Is there a reason we now have this Mass on Tuesday of Holy Week? It does seem much more convenient to not have it the same day as the Mass of the Lord's Supper.
I really think Bishop Boland is expecting the naming of the new bishop any day now! The Chrism Mass should be celebrated the morning of Holy Thursday. However, that complicates things in a far flung diocese in terms of priests getting there for it. So for pastoral reasons it can be done earlier in the week. Some places, though, and this is unfortunate, do it the week before Holy Week. That shouldn't happen. Also in the morning on Holy Thursday would preclude a great number of laity from attending.
Would there be some way of knowing who has been nominated? As I understand the process, several names are submitted by the Apostolic Nuncio for Rome to choose from.
No body knows except a privileged few in the hierarchy!
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