| 7/14/2009 11:19:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia greets people during his episcopal ordination at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington July 11. Behind Archbishop Di Noia is Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl. Archbishop Di Noia was consecrated an archbishop by Cardinal William J. Levada, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Di Noia to serve as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments. |
| | Family recalls newly ordained Archbishop Di Noia's early calling | Catholic News Service
It was clear Archbishop J. Augustine Di Noia would become a priest from the age of 11, when he would regularly celebrate Mass for his younger cousins using a box covered in cloth as an altar and sugar wafers as hosts.
"They all honored him as a priest at that age," said Alfred Mancuso, Archbishop Di Noia's uncle and confirmation sponsor 53 years ago. "He had that feeling way back."
Mancuso was not surprised, then, when Archbishop Di Noia was ordained an archbishop July 11 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. But it was still a big occasion.
This was a poignant moment for Dominican Sister Pat Walsh, who traveled to the ordination on a bus with Dominican nuns, lay Dominicans and laypeople from the New York dioceses of Rockville Centre and Brooklyn and the Archdiocese of New York.
"He's my Dominican brother," Sister Pat said, pointing out that his crosier was passed down from a Dominican. The fact that he's an American and a man from the Bronx also makes the day historic, she told Catholic News Service. "He might be the next pope, who knows?"
Dominican Father John Farren of the Manhattan borough of New York City also said he was proud that a fellow Dominican was ordained to this position. Father Farren, who served 12 years in Rome, also knows that Archbishop Di Noia is the right man for the job.
"He's somebody who knows Rome," Father Farren said, adding that he cares about the Church and its deep dimension instead of just politics. "His perspective is one that I think is exactly what's needed in this position."
The importance of the ordination was not lost on others in the crowd.
"If you've got somebody coming into the Church whose formation is great, then it's really powerful," said Barbara Lopes-Dias, a parishioner in the Diocese of Oakland, Calif.
Sandi Perez, also from California, was visiting the basilica on ordination day without knowing what was happening.
"It was a very pleasant surprise," Perez said. "You feel good inside after you've seen something like this."
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Vatican official ordained archbishop at National Shrine
Catholic News Service
More than 1,000 people gathered at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, N.E., for the episcopal ordination of Dominican Father Joseph Augustine Di Noia last Saturday afternoon. Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Di Noia Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments last month. During Saturday's formal liturgy, Father Di Noia was ordained first Titular Archbishop of Oregon City.
With visible emotion, Archbishop Di Noia praised God for the blessings of the Dominican religious community, which has its House of Studies located across the street from the shrine. At the mention of his fellow Dominicans, the new archbishop paused to collect himself before concluding his prepared comments with a prayer that his brother priests would continue flourishing while always seeking the truth. Archbishop Di Noia took as his official motto: In Oboedientia Veritatis or "in obedience to truth."
Later Archbishop Di Noia described his feelings at seeing more than 150 members of the community gather for his ordination "extremely moving."
Earlier Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and principal consecrator at the liturgy, praised Archbishop Di Noia's past seven years as undersecretary for the Congregation for Doctrine of the Divine Faith where "he developed a perspective of service to the universal church," Cardinal Levada said.
In his homily, the cardinal outlined three symbolic parts of the Rite of the Ordination of a Bishop which point to the three-fold ministry of Christ - as priest, teacher, and king. These gestures included Archbishop Di Noia laying prostrate in supplication, lifting open the Book of Gospels high above Archbishop Di Noia's head and anointing Archbishop Di Noia with Chrism.
Archbishop Di Noia's priestly vocation involves leading people to the holiness of life, the cardinal said. While Archbishop Di Noia lays prostrate in humility, the participants prayed for the newly ordained archbishop and Church. "Here today the prayers of all the saints lift you off the ground," Cardinal Levada said.
An ancient prayer of ordination was while the Gospels were held over the prelate's head. "Father Di Noia has labored for many years in the truth of the Gospel," Cardinal Levada said. "He has renewed his commitment to the truth of the Gospel in Christ." For the new archbishop, obedience to the greater truth begins with the little truths of daily life, Cardinal Levada added.
Finally Archbishop Di Noia received the oil like all the priests and kings in Old Testament history, said Cardinal Levada. "This anointing is a sign of the Lord's favor from the beginning," the cardinal said. "This mystical anointing is none other than the spirit of love."
"So too you are anointed with the Holy Spirit," Cardinal Levada said. "This governing Spirit that you will receive today is a gift - so that you can build up the world into a loving civilization."
Following the homily and supplication, the consecrator and all of the bishops placed their hands on Archbishop Di Noia inviting him into the community of bishops for service to the Church.
Cardinal Levada was joined by cardinals William Baum, archbishop of Washington from 1973-1980 and head of the Vatican's major penitentiar from 1980-2001; Adam Maida, archbishop emeritus of Detroit; and Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia.
Serving as co-consecrators were Washington Archbishop Donald Wuerl and Archbishop Thomas Kelly, a Dominican and the archbishop emeritus of Louisville. Also concelebrating the Mass were: Archbishop Timothy Broglio, archbishop for military services, U.S.A.; New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan; Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, former archbishop of Galveston-Houston; Franciscan Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, archbishop of Puerto Rico; Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell; Baltimore Archbishop Edwin O'Brien; and Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron.
The following bishops also participated in the liturgy: Toledo Bishop Leonard Blair; Bishop Michael Bransfield, bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, W.V.; Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz, bishop of Lincoln, Neb.; Washington auxiliary bishops Martin Holley and Barry Knestout; Bishop William Lori, bishop of Bridgeport, Conn.; and Baltimore auxiliary bishops Denis Madden and Mitchell Rozanski.
Once anointed as bishop, the newly ordained Archbishop Di Noia received the Book of Gospels, as well as the insignia of the office including a ring, miter and pastoral staff. Archbishop Di Noia was given the crosier belonging to Dominican Father Edward Dominic Fenwick, founder of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and the first bishop of Cincinnati. Archbishop Di Noia was seated with the bishops to great joy and applause.
Additionally Vincentian Father Davis O'Connell, president of Catholic University of America; Dominican Father Stephen Bogulawski, director of the John Paul II Cultural Center; Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, associate general secretary of the conference and Abbot Joseph Lee representing the Eastern Rite joined more than 130 priests of the archdiocese and Dominican community to concelebrate the Mass.
Dominican Father Bill Garrott, director of vocations at the Dominican House of Studies said the entire order was "just ecstatic. It's a great honor for the order and for the province." Father Garrott said Archbishop Di Noia's selection is among God's blessings to the order which has continued to grow with about 10 new vocations per year. The order also recently completed a new wing at the school which serves as a seminary and residence.
Father Garrott recalled Archbishop Di Noia as one of his best instructors. "He's so articulate - he's a great preacher and a great teacher." Archbishop Di Noia "has such a keen intellect and way of seeing to the logic and truth of the issues."
The archbishop's family also traveled for the ordination. Helen Cannavo, Archbishop Di Noia's aunt said she used to babysit her nephew. "He did have a calling from his faith," Cannavo said, "and we knew he would grow up to do great things." Cannavo who visited from Arizona said her nephew taught her as well. "I've learned that we should all try to keep up with him."
Diane Bellamy from Goshen, N.Y. described her cousin's deep love of God and felt he was someone who knew his calling. "We knew he was special since he was a boy. If anybody could do this - it's Cousin Joe," Bellamy added.
Archbishop Di Noia worked in Washington, D.C. for many years before being named the undersecretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in April 2002. He served as executive director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1993 to 2001, and also taught systematic theology at the Dominican House of Studies; was an adjunct professor at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies; and was director of the Intercultural Forum for Studies in Faith and Culture at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.
Mercy Sister Sharon Euart worked with Archbishop Di Noia at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops where he would often bring flowers from the market. "He's a holy man," she said. "He would take the time to explain something."
Mark Chopko, former general counsel at the conference said Archbishop Di Noia had a great perspective.
Sister Mary Ann Walsh, director of media relations at the conference agreed. "He was a teacher." In addition to showing great kindness, "he was very much a team person," the woman religious said. "He treated everybody the same."
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