SIGN OF PEACE — Newly ordained Bishop Donald Bolen of Saskatoon exchanges the sign of peace with his predecessor, Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface. (Tim Yaworski photo)

Bolen ordained bishop of Saskatoon

By Kiply Lukan Yaworski

SASKATOON — Donald Bolen was ordained the seventh bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon on the Feast of the Annunciation March 25 in a joyful celebration that brought together family and colleagues, ecumenical guests, priests and bishops from several continents, and representatives from across the dioceses of Saskatoon and Regina.

Archbishop Daniel Bohan of Regina was the principal celebrant during the ordination liturgy, along with co-consecrators Archbishop James Weisgerber of Winnipeg and Bishop Brian Farrell of Rome’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

Thirty other bishops from across Canada, as well as Archbishop John Bathesby of Brisbane, Australia, and the Holy See’s representative in Canada, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro López Quintana, also participated in the ordination held at St. Patrick’s Church in Saskatoon.

Diocesan consultor Rev. Michael Koch read the apostolic letter from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Bolen, and those assembled gave their assent by saying “Thanks be to God” followed by a thunderous round of applause.

After making his promises to uphold the faith and carry out his duties as bishop, Bolen laid prostrate on the floor during a litany of the saints. Led by Bohan, the Catholic bishops present at the celebration laid hands upon Bolen’s head in silent prayer.

During the prayer of consecration, the opened book of the Gospels was held over Bolen’s head, signifying that the bishop is to live under the Gospel, and faithfully preach the word of God. Other elements of the celebration included the anointing of the bishop’s head, the presentation of the book of the Gospels, and the investiture with the ring, a symbol of faithfulness; the mitre, signifying the bishop’s resolve to pursue holiness; and the pastoral staff or crozier, symbol of the bishop’s role as shepherd of the flock of Christ, the Good Shepherd.

During the homily, Weisgerber reflected on the Feast of the Annunciation, which set the pattern of God’s action in our midst. “God continues to take flesh in his people,” Weisgerber said, in the presence of the community gathered and in the presence of the bishop.

He noted that the heart of the Gospel is repeated in the new bishop’s motto: Mercy within mercy within mercy. “This is a changeless message and it is a message that our world desperately needs to hear. We need to hear that this is a world in which God delights. We are called to joy; we are called to community; we are called to deepen our love,” Weisgerber said.
The papal nuncio, on his first visit to Western Canada, also reflected on the Annunciation, whereby through Mary’s yes God was able to take on a human face. The life of the church is renewed whenever the faithful receive in obedience the word of God, said Quintana.

At the conclusion of the ordination, Sister Teresita Kambeitz spoke on behalf of the religious communities of the diocese, pledging to place the new bishop at the centre of a community of colleagues.

“We welcome you with the hospitality and affection that Martha and Mary welcomed Jesus into their home in Bethany,” Kambeitz said. “Please know that we surround you with our friendship and you can count on us to be your community of prayer and support and love.”

Diocesan administrator Rev. Ron Beechinor surprised the assembly by calling up Bev Hansen, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools director of education, and enacting a dialogue about the arrival of the new bishop, with a name so similar to the Archbishop of Regina. The duo delighted the assembly with their presentation, touching on Bolen’s youth, personality, and smile, and his passion for Christian unity.

“On behalf of the priests and parish life directors of the Diocese of Saskatoon I would like to formally welcome you into the diocese, with the great hope that you will find a home with us,” Beechinor said.

As both of Saskatoon’s previous bishops have been transferred to dioceses in the province next door, Beechinor added a caution, greeted with laughter and applause: “Please, please, stay away from the province of Manitoba.”

Gertrude Rompré of the St. Thomas More College camous ministry office spoke on behalf of the laity, reflecting on the the words of the prophet Micah to act with justice, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God.

“In us, you will find a people who act with justice in our ministries to those in prison or as we referee our children’s hockey game. In us, you will find a people who love tenderly, be it as we teach our youngest in our Catholic schools or in the way we reach out to our loved ones in palliative care homes,” Rompré said. “In us, you will find people serving one another in the community gathered at Friendship Inn or in the potluck supper in our parish hall. And finally, in us, you will find people who walk humbly with God, be it farmers standing in rapt contemplation of God’s earth, or the wonderful, powerful and moving liturgies that we celebrate as a diocesan family.”

Bishop Brian Farrell of Rome brought messages from a number of international leaders, including Cardinal Walter Kasper of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.

Looking out at the assembly at the end of the celebration, Bolen said that it was a glimpse of the kingdom. “My whole life is before me — in the sense that people from every moment in my life are here, people whom I love a great deal and to whom I am profoundly indebted.”

The new bishop greeted the people from the diocese with whom he will share a future, and expressed his appreciation to the ecumenical guests, the representatives of the First Nations communities, members of the Jewish community and other community leaders attending the celebration.

“The greatest privilege I’ve known in life, beyond life itself and the love I’ve received, has been the sense of having been addressed by a word, of having been summoned by a word, and in a very profound sense, of being given a word to speak, over and over again,” said Bolen, whose coat of arms includes an open book on which is inscribed verbum vitae — word of life.

“I promise you that I will try to be faithful to that word, and with you to listen to that word, to walk with you, and being summoned by that word, together to be transformed by that word, and to find ways of speaking it,” he said, adding he also hopes to work closely with brothers and sisters from other Christian communities.