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SAN ANTONIO • San Antonio welcomed the installation of its fifth archbishop, José H. Gomez, at San Fernando Cathedral on Feb. 15 with weather fit for Fiesta. The street and plaza in front of the 264-year-old cathedral took on an air of celebration as well, filled with a festive multitude of hundreds of well-wishers, who gathered to watch the procession of priests, bishops, archbishops and two cardinals into the historic cathedral, the oldest cathedral sanctuary in America.
Inside the cathedral, over 600 persons filled the pews and watched the procession of over 200 clergy fill the remaining seats, including seating that extended back into the cathedral’s original sanctuary area, dominated by its imposing gilt retablo.
The Mass of Reception and Installation that followed saw leadership of the Archdiocese of San Antonio pass from Archbishop Patrick F. Flores, who had presided over it since 1979, to Archbishop Gomez, previously auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Denver.
Present as a representative of Pope John Paul II was Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. Cardinals in attendance were Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, former archbishop of Denver and Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary at the Holy See, and Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, archbishop of Lima, Peru, and a former classmate of Archbishop Gomez.
Forty bishops and archbishops were present, including Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap., of Denver, with whom Archbishop Gomez had served as auxiliary bishop; Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, who was to be elevated the following day as head of the new Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston; and Coadjutor Archbishop Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston.
Other prelates in attendance include Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, Ga.; Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, N.D.; and Bishop Ricardo Ramirez, CSB, of Las Cruces, N.M.
Prelude music by the San Antonio Brass was followed by the joyful strains of Laudate, Laudate Dominum, sung by the Archdiocesan Choir as the entrance procession entered the cathedral to the pealing of the cathedral bells. Preceding the procession was a contingent of Knights of Columbus, followed by priests, bishops, archbishops, Archbishops Gomez, Flores and Montalvo and the cardinals.
Ceremonial reception of the archbishop-designate took place at the cathedral doors, with presentation of the processional cross for him to kiss, his sprinkling of holy water, and the presentation and filling of the censer.
Archbishop Emeritus Flores, in his last official act as head of the archdiocese, introduced Archbishop Montalvo, the apostolic nuncio, whom he noted was present at the command of Pope John Paul II “to appoint the fifth archbishop of San Antonio, my successor.” Archbishop Montalvo’s expression of thanks to Archbishop Emeritus Flores for his more than 25 years of service was met with loud applause.
The reading of the papal decree, announcing the appointment of Archbishop Gomez followed, with announcement also made of the separation of the dioceses of Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Galveston-Houston, Tyler and Victoria from the Archdiocese of San Antonio to the province of Galveston-Houston. To remain under the Archdiocese of San Antonio and under Archbishop Gomez’ jurisdiction are the suffragan sees of Amarillo, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Worth, Laredo, Lubbock and San Angelo.
Following protocol, the apostolic nuncio’s letter was then presented to the College of Consultors, consisting of Father William McNamara, Father Kenneth M. Dakin, Father Michael J. Boulette and Father David Garcia, rector of the cathedral.
After this formal acknowledgment of Archbishop Gomez’ appointment as archbishop of San Antonio, he was taken by Archbishop Emeritus Flores to assume his seat in the cathedra, the bishop’s chair. Their parting embrace here gave rise to another round of thunderous applause, followed by representatives of the faithful, the ecumenical/interfaith community and the civic community individually coming forward to offer their respects to the new archbishop.
Representing priests of the archdiocese were Msgr. Balthasar Janacek, Msgr. Michael H. Yarbrough and Father Leopold Martin. Archdiocesan deacons were represented by Deacons John Landez and Oscar Valdez; while Sister Charlene Wedelich, CDP, represented men and women religious.
Ecumenical leaders paying their respects included United Methodist Bishop Joel Martinez; Rev. George Bithos of the Texas Council of Churches; Rev. Kenneth Thompson of the San Antonio Community of Churches; Rev. Ray Tiemann of the Southwest Synod of the Lutheran Church ELCA Synod; and Rabbi Barry Block and Rabbi Emeritus Samuel Stahl of Temple Beth-El.
Three Catholic school students greeted the new archbishop: Joshua Sandoval of Antonian High School, Britny Vale of Rolling Hills Academy and Vincent Villareal of Little Flower School. The finance and pastoral councils were represented by Tom Tarrillion and Bernie DeNisio respectively.
Assumption Seminary’s representatives were Father Larry Christian and Sister Carmen Lazo, MCDP, followed by presidents of the Catholic universities of San Antonio: Dr. Louis Agnese of the University of the Incarnate Word, Dr. Tessa Martinez Pollack of Our Lady of the Lake University and Dr. Charles Cotrell of St. Mary’s University.
Civic leaders welcoming the archbishop included Martha Lara, Consul General from Mexico to the United States; Henry Cisneros, former mayor of San Antonio; and Mayor Ed Garza of San Antonio, who also presented greetings from Gov. Rick Perry.
Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Gomez were Archbishop Emeritus Flores, Archbishop Chaput, Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan, Auxiliary Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, Msgr. Larry Stuebben (vicar general and moderator of the curia), Msgr. Terence Nolan, (chancellor and judicial vicar), Father McNamara, Father Dakin, Father Boulette and Father Garcia. Serving as deacons were Enrique Barrera of San Fernando Cathedral and Arturo Marin of Prince of Peace.
The first reading was given in English by Jo Anne Bator, cousin to Archbishop Gomez; the second reading, in Spanish, was proclaimed by Sally Gomez-Kelly of San Fernando. Cantor Dorothy Cass delivered responsorial Psalm 110 (109): “You are a priest forever in the line of Melchizedek.”
The Gospel, proclaimed in Spanish and English, was John 10:11-16, telling of the good shepherd, and the intercession prayers that followed included petitioning God to grant Archbishop Gomez “the grace to shepherd his people after the manner of Jesus, who laid down his life for his sheep.” (The archbishop’s homily is covered in its entirety on page 12a.)
Bringing the gifts to the altar were the archbishop’s sisters: Alicia Gomez de Torres, Maricarmen Gomez de Celaya, Eugenia Gomez de Saldivar and Maria Luisa Gomez de Lobo. The sacred vessels used by the archbishop were those used by Pope John Paul II during his field Mass in San Antonio in 1987.
“God is present in this cathedral in a special way tonight,” said Archbishop Gomez at the conclusion of the Mass. He then proceeded to express his thanks to all present, including a special acknowledgment to his family members, many of whom sat in the pews before him. The archbishop’s maternal grandparents had been married in the cathedral, and he referred to their watching him from heaven that night, along with his parents.
To Archbishop-Emeritus Flores, he said, “My dear friend, thank you for the gift of this dynamic and faith-filled archdiocese.” After thanking Archbishop Montalvo, the apostolic nuncio, for his presence, Archbishop Gomez asked that he carry back thanks to the Holy Father for his prayers and trust, as well as prayers for the pontiff’s health. He thanked Cardinals Stafford and Cipriani for their long journey “to be a part of my memories of this night.”
To his fellow bishops, he said, “Thank you for helping this new archbishop take his first steps of his journey of faith.” He expressed appreciation to the priests, deacons and religious for their support as well. And to Archbishop Chaput, whom he had served as auxiliary and whose guidance he had looked to, he said, his voice filled with emotion, “I will never forget those four years in Denver.”
The archbishop’s friends and relatives from Denver, Mexico and across the United States who had attended were also included in his thanks, as were members of the interfaith community and Mayor Garza and all who serve the people of San Antonio. Father Garcia of the cathedral and the various committees and organizations whose efforts had gone into that night’s celebration were also praised. This included Catholic Television of San Antonio, which broadcast and taped the event for the thousands unable to be present.
Before his final blessing, Archbishop Gomez addressed the gathering. “Next time I come to San Fernando Cathedral,” he said, “I want each of you to know I will feel your music, your words, your faith and your gifts and, most importantly, your love.”
Following the jubilant procession out of the cathedral, a reception took place in the courtyard of San Fernando, where refreshments were served by the Canary Islanders (descendents of the founders of the cathedral) in native costume, mariachis played and the bells of the old cathedral rang on into the night. |