Editor's Note: If you plan to attend or watch the Most Rev. Michael J. Sis' Ordination/Installation Mass at 2 p.m., Monday, January 27 at The Junell Center in San Angelo, what follows is an explanation of some of the rituals and moments in the Mass that may or may not be familiar to you. Msgr. Larry Droll, pastor at St. Ann's in Midland, spoke with West Texas Angelus editor Jimmy Patterson about what to expect in this historic event.
West Texas Angelus: First of all, before we talk about the Mass itself, Bishop-elect Sis comes to San Angelo from Austin, where he served as Vicar general, and moderator of the curia. What is the moderator of the curia? Monsignor Droll: The moderator of the curia, in Canon Law is a person who has coordinating function of the various offices at the diocesan level. Exactly what the moderator of the curia does is probably going to vary from one diocese to another, depending on what the needs are. Some dioceses have many different departments that need to be coordinated and the moderator of the curia might do that, while smaller ones might have the moderator of the curia working more in the function of a human resources director.
Bishop-elect Sis is being both installed and ordained. What is the difference between the two and why is there a need to have both? Monsignor Droll: The Ordination of the Bishop is the sacrament of holy orders in which the bishop receives the charism of being a bishop and a successor of the apostles. The Installation is the time when the bishop, as it is phrased, takes possession of the diocese. It has two different movements, the ordination comes first, then the installation. If you had a bishop already ordained as a bishop in some other diocese, then when he moves into his new diocese he would only have an installation ceremony because that is when he is taking canonical possession of the diocese.
The Angelus: Why are there three co-consecrators at the ordination? Msgr. Droll: There are three co consecrators as a back-up to assure apostolic succession.
The Angelus: What would you say would be one of the most visually unique moments of the Mass? Msgr. Droll: One of the most observable moments is when the archbishop prays the Prayer of Consecration over the bishop, and the two deacons hold the Book of the Gospels over the head of the bishop who is being ordained. That, of course, is to symbolize the word of God and the importance of the bishop as chief teacher of the word of God in the diocese. One of the deacons helping to hold the Gospels over Bishop-elect Sis will be his own father, Deacon Raymond Sis.
The Angelus: After a hymn invoking the Holy Spirit, there is the presentation of Bishop-elect Sis … Msgr. Droll: As part of the presentation of the bishop, the papal nuncio will read the official apostolic letter from Pope Francis that names him Bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo. That is followed by the Consent of the People, which is shown by applause.
The Angelus: Who will be the homilist at the ordination Mass? Msgr. Droll: Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, the metropolitan archdiocese of the Diocese of San Angelo, will give the homily. There are suggested words in the ritual that talk of the role of the bishop in the Church as a successor of the apostles and of his role of teaching, sanctifying and governing the local church. He may choose to use all or some of those words.
The Angelus: What are the questions asked by Archbishop Garcia-Siller during the Promise of the Elect, which follows the homily? Msgr. Droll: The Promise of the Elect, according to the Ancient Rule of Holy Fathers, is that a bishop-elect is to be questioned in the presence of the people on his resolve to uphold the faith and to discharge his duties. The questions he will be asked to respond to are: — Do you resolve to discharge until death the office entrusted to you? — Are you resolved to preach the Gospel of Christ with constancy and fidelity? — Do you resolve to guard the deposit of faith, namely the teaching of the Church? — Do you resolve to build up the Body of Christ and work toward unity in the Body of Christ? — Are you resolved to render obedience faithfully to the pope? — Do you resolve to guide the holy people of God, as a devoted father, and sustain them with the help of your fellow ministers, the priests and deacons? — Are you resolved to be welcoming to the poor, the strangers and all who are in need? — Do you resolve as a good shepherd to seek out the sheep who stray and to gather them into the fold? — Do you resolve to pray without ceasing that you will be able to carry out this ministry?
The Angelus: Next up is the Invitation to Prayer. Msgr. Droll: The invitation is for everyone to join in the Litany of the Saints, where we invoke a number of saints to pray for us and our new bishop.
The Angelus: Why do priests and bishops who are being ordained lie prostrate on the floor? Msgr. Droll: It is a sign of deep prayer. We often kneel before God as a sign of submission to Him and supplication and prayer, but to lie prostrate before God is an even deeper sign, you might say, than kneeling itself. It demonstrates humility before God.
The Angelus: The Laying On of Hands on the bishop differs from that of a priestly ordination. Whereas a newly ordained priest receives the Laying On of Hands from his fellow priests, the ritual at a bishop’s ordination includes the Laying On of Hands of all bishops in attendance, of which there will be over twenty, I believe? Msgr. Droll: Yes, the Laying on of Hands is the moment of ordination. First, the archbishop lays hands on Bishop-elect Sis’ head, and then all the other bishops will follow.
The Angelus: What makes that the moment of ordination?
Msgr. Droll: When you look at the Scriptures, the sign of passing on the office is the laying on of hands. That goes back to Scripture in the Acts of the Apostles. And then with the Prayer of Consecration that follows it. In many instances what we pray tells us the significance of the particular ritual act. You can look at the prayers and what they say and it helps to understand what is being done at the time.
The Angelus: Anointing is next? Msgr. Droll: Bishop Sis will be anointed on his head with the oil of chrism used in the Sacrament of Holy Orders, making him a sharer in the high priesthood of Christ. The wording again tells us a little about what it means. He is handed the Book of the Gospels and the archbishop says, ‘Receive the gospel and preach the word of God with all patience and sound teaching.’
The Angelus: Define, if you will, the ‘Investiture with Ring, Miter and Pastoral Staff’ portion of the Rite, which comes next. Msgr. Droll: Investiture means the items you wear or carry that signify your office. The ring is a sign of fidelity that the bishop is, in a certain sense, married to the church. The miter distinguishes a bishop so that he might be seen as the chief shepherd. The crosier is a sign of his pastoral office to watch over his whole flock.
The Angelus: Why is ‘The Seating of the Bishop’ denoted in the program? Msgr. Droll: The kiss of peace comes before, and is the sign of all the bishops receiving him into the college of bishops, or the collection of bishops as they try to work together, so it’s a sign of unity. The Seating of the Bishop is the actual installation. If Bishop Sis were in the cathedral, he would be seated on the cathedra, the principal chair of the bishop in the church. He won’t be in the cathedral but will be seated as the bishop on the stage at The Junell Center.
The Angelus: What comes at the end of the Ordination and Installation Mass? Msgr. Droll: The archbishop and another bishop will lead Bishop Sis around the congregation to greet the people. He will circle around the floor of the arena and offer his blessing just prior to the final blessing.
The Angelus: Will Bishop Pfeifer play a role in the Mass?
Msgr. Droll: He will be one of the co-consecrators, so he will have an active role in the ordination itself as co-consecrator.
The Angelus: Is it tradition that the outgoing bishop has a role in the ordination of the bishop who succeeds him? Msgr. Droll: It is customary but not required.
The Angelus: Finally, Saturday, February 1 at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral, will be the first Vigil Mass of the Sunday liturgy of Bishop Sis’ apostolate in the diocese. What happens at that Mass? Msgr. Droll: This is when the bishop comes to his cathedral for the first time, and is welcomed at the door by the rector of the cathedral. He is presented with a crucifix for him to kiss because he is assisting with bringing the presence of Christ into the assembly. And then he is taken into the church. It is a simple ceremony but what makes it special is that he has come to his first liturgy in his cathedral church.