Catholic Vancouver December 07, 2022
Alberta town’s population will swell for upcoming ordination
By Jarrod Thalheimer
While the town of St. Paul boasts a population of just under 6,000, locals can expect it to swell considerably in just a few short days.
At 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec 12, in St. Paul Cathedral, St. Paul, Alberta, Father Gary Franken will be ordained bishop of the rural St. Paul, Alberta, diocese. Joining him will be up to 100 priests expected to make the trip to attend as the 700-seat cathedral becomes standing room only. Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Bishop-elect Franken’s home bishop from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, will preside.
While an ordination Mass itself can be lengthy (and for a bishop, even more so) the opportunity to be present during such a grace-filled occasion should not be missed. Events that are so rich and abundant in both meaning and symbolism fill the heart and soul with God’s sincere love and joyful hope.
The procession, which will include all priests, deacons (and even some seminarians) will be a sight to behold as the brotherhood of religious come together for the anointing of one of their own. Expect the entry to the church to take a fair amount of time, as all brother priests, bishops, and religious move in silent, unified procession.
Every ordination is special but throughout the Mass certain points are universal and should be noted and appreciated for their importance in the rite. The Veni, Creator, Spiritus (“Come, Holy Spirit” prayer) chanted after the Gospel reading marks the official beginning of the Ordination Rite of the Mass where the ancient prayer invokes the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This, in turn, will be followed by the Presentation of the Elect, when Bishop-elect Franken will be presented to the consecrating bishop by two assisting priests of the archdiocese. They will then ask the consecrating bishop to ordain bishop-elect Franken in the name of the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
An apostolic letter from Pope Francis will be read aloud, testifying to the desire, on the part of the Vicar of Christ, that a man receive the third and final “degree” of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the episcopate. Once that is read, all those in the church will give their assent to the election of the new bishop by saying: “Thanks be to God.”
The Mass then proceeds normally, at least until just after the homily, when Bishop-elect Franken will be asked nine questions:
- Are you prepared to discharge this sacred duty until the end of your life?
- Will you remain “faithful and constant” in proclaiming the Holy Gospel?
- Will you maintain without change the “deposit of faith” that the apostles have passed through the ages?
- Wil you “build up” the Church as the Body of Christ?
- Will you remain united to it within the Order of Bishops under the authority of the Pope?
- Will you guide the People of God “as a devoted father?”
- Will you “be welcoming and merciful to the poor?”
- Will you “seek out the sheep who stray?”
- Will you pray unceasingly for the People of God?
After answering in the affirmative, Bishop-elect Franken will walk to the altar. When the Litany of the Saints is proclaimed, the main celebrant will invite all inside the cathedral to pray for the bishop-elect who will be lying prostrate (flat upon the floor).
After this comes the Laying on of Hands and the Prayer of Ordination. The principal consecrator, followed by the other bishops, will each lay hands upon the head of the bishop-elect. The open Book of the Gospels is placed over the head of the bishop-elect as the Archbishop offers the Prayer of Consecration (along with all of the consecrating bishops). The act of placing of the Book of the Gospels over his head illustrates that the preaching of the Word of God is the “pre-eminent obligation of the office of the Bishop.”
When the Book of the Gospels is removed from the new bishop, the Anointing and Investiture take place. The Archbishop will anoint the head of the new bishop with the sacred chrism and hand him the Book of the Gospels. He will then place a ring on his finger, the miter on his head, and give him the crosier or pastoral staff (symbols of the office of bishop).
The new bishop will then take the first place among the concelebrating bishops.
Finally, before the Mass continues, the Rite of Ordination concludes with a kiss of peace from the main consecrator and all the other bishops present. This gesture seals the new bishop’s admittance into the College of Bishops.
Also expected in attendance at Bishop-elect Franken’s ordination will be Patrick Le and Medard Kamanzi. On Dec 9, both were ordained to the transitional diaconate at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver. On the road to the priesthood, Patrick Le has been in seminarian formation for 13 years (since Grade 8) and is currently serving as a seminarian intern at St. Matthew’s in Surrey while Medard Kamanzi is finishing his final year of studies in theology. Some of Menard’s family from Congo hope to attend the ordination in person as well. Both men are expected to be ordained to the priesthood by mid-2023.
A livestream link for the ordination can be found at bccatholic.ca/franken2020.
Please remember Bishop-elect Gary Franken in your prayers.
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