Sunlight falls on bishop's chair at Smith's installation

New Archbishop greeted warmly in packed basilica

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez Archbishop Richard Smith processes out of St. Joseph's Basilica after being installed as archbishop of Edmonton May 1.

By GLEN ARGAN
WCR Editor
Edmonton

He was greeted with warm applause from the congregation when he entered the basilica. He received even warmer applause as he processed out at the end of the celebration.

And when Archbishop Richard Smith took possession of the cathedra and was given his crosier, the evening sun shone through the stained glass windows down onto the bishop's chair.

St. Joseph's Basilica has been the scene of many prominent events over the years - from the installation of archbishops to the Gretzky wedding to a visit from Pope John Paul II.

But rarely has one of its major liturgies had such a light and festive spirit as the May 1 installation of Archbishop Richard Smith, the eighth bishop in the diocese's 136-year history.

People began arriving five hours before the Mass began to claim their spot in the 1,200-seat basilica. By the time the parade of priests and bishops made their way down the centre aisle, the faithful had crammed every nook and cranny of the holy church.

It was the fruit of Smith's open style. Not content with restricting the Mass to an invitation-only crowd, he invited all the faithful of the archdiocese through announcements in parish bulletins.

The liturgy was a modest affair, if a Mass with 26 bishops, well over 100 priests, trumpets and the majestic singing of JoAnne Wachowicz can be said to be such a thing.

Smith himself sang the Preface in a clear beautiful voice the people of the archdiocese will come to love.

The new archbishop departed from the text of his homily to say a word of thanks to 82-year-old Archbishop emeritus James Hayes who had come from Halifax and had to be helped up the stairs into the sanctuary before the celebration.

Smith recalled that Hayes had confirmed him, ordained him and preached at his episcopal ordination in Pembroke, Ont.

- WCR photo by Ramon Gonzalez A rare sight! The last three archbishops of Edmonton – Joseph MacNeil, Thomas Collins and Richard Smith – pray the Eucharistic Prayer.

He also thanked Msgr. John Hamilton, who had served as archdiocesan administrator during the three months between Archbishop Thomas Collins' departure for Toronto and Smith's taking over on April 18.

With that burden removed, Smith said Hamilton is "the man who probably has the broadest smile of any of us this evening."

It was the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the patron of the Edmonton Archdiocese, the patron of the basilica and the patron of Canada.

"It is a blessed day to begin your episcopal ministry," said Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the apostolic nuncio.

In his homily, Smith contrasted Alberta's energy resources with the energy resource found in the Eucharist where "we encounter the mystery of divine love revealed to the world in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ."

This divine love provides "an infrastructure of reconciliation," which is the ground of true communion among peoples and nations, he said.

While God is the primary agent in building this infrastructure, our faith and respect for human dignity are "the raw materials that we bring to the construction."

Just as Alberta's energy resources have called forth labour, so too sacramental "energy" calls us "to work mightily for the spread of the Gospel."

In welcoming Smith to the cathedral at the start of the liturgy, basilica rector Father Adam Lech summed up the spirit of the evening: "With open hearts, with great joy and with profound hope, we welcome you Archbishop Smith as our new shepherd."

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