Bishop Reidy ordained and installed in Norwich

By Tanya Connor | The Catholic Free Press  

NORWICH, CONNECTICUT - Bishop Richard F. Reidy walked among the people, and used church artwork to teach them, during the Mass for his episcopal ordination and installation Tuesday at the Cathedral of St. Patrick.

Formerly vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Worcester diocese, he became sixth bishop of Norwich at that Mass.  

Previously, bishops of the Norwich diocese were sent to serve Worcester – Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan in 1959 and Bishop Daniel P. Reilly in 1994.  

Norwich’s previous ordinary, Bishop Michael R. Cote, retired last September. Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne, Metropolitan Archbishop of Hartford, has been serving as Norwich’s apostolic administrator, and was principal ordaining bishop for Bishop Reidy.  

Bishop Reidy is an answer to prayer, according to people who serve in the Norwich diocese. Those packing the cathedral – including clergy, religious and laity from the Norwich and Worcester dioceses and elsewhere – applauded repeatedly at Mass and lined up for his blessing afterwards.

“We were very lucky to get tickets,” Stanley Stradczuk, a Past Grand Knight of the Jewett City Knights of Columbus Council, said of himself and his wife. He said they got two of a limited number from their parish - St. Mary’s in Jewett City.

“It’s just so fantastic; you’re never going to see it again,” he said of a bishop’s ordination.
During the Mass, as Bishop Reidy walked through the aisles blessing the congregation, he had given Mr. Stradczuk, seated in a electric wheelchair in an open space, an individual blessing. Mr. Stradczuk beamed.

“It was priceless,” he told The Catholic Free Press. “It just hit me right in the heart.”
The blessing of the congregation was part of the concluding rites of the Mass. Accompanying Bishop Reidy for it were Bishop McManus of Worcester and Bishop James T. Ruggieri, of Portland, Maine, a former classmate of Bishop Reidy’s. They were co-consecrators of Bishop Reidy.  

Archbishop Coyne noted that this is a time of transition, and spoke of joining in prayer for Pope Francis and the cardinals preparing to elect a new pope. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, was to attend Bishop Reidy’s ordination, but he was in Rome preparing for the conclave, the diocese reported. Attending on his behalf was Msgr. Veceslav Tumir, chargé d’affaires (acting ambassador) of the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. He delivered the cardinal’s remarks and said Bishop Reidy was one of Pope Francis’ last gifts to this local Church.  

Msgr. Tumir publicly read Pope Francis’ Feb. 12 letter appointing Bishop Reidy, who showed it to the diocese’s College of Consultors, concelebrants, and the faithful, processing through the cathedral with it.  

For the homily, Archbishop Coyne gave an instruction about responsibilities of bishops.
He then questioned Bishop Reidy about his resolve to undertake his new office.  
Bishop Reidy prostrated himself as the Litany of Supplication, calling on God and the saints, was sung.  

Next came the laying on of hands by the bishops. Archbishop Coyne prayed the prayer of ordination as the Book of the Gospels was held over Bishop Reidy’s head to symbolize his task of proclaiming the Gospel in every dimension of his ministry. His motto, “Ut Cognoscant Te” (That they may know you, John 17:3) speaks of that mission.

Archbishop Coyne anointed Bishop Reidy with chrism, and presented him with the Book of the Gospels, an episcopal ring, a mitre and a crozier. Bishop Reidy was then seated on his chair, the cathedra. The bishops exchanged a sign of peace with him.

In closing remarks, Bishop Reidy said he was “overwhelmed, overjoyed and humbled by the great honor ... love of God ... outpouring” of family, friends, clergy and religious, and said his first thanks went to God.

Pope Francis signed the papal bull just two days before being hospitalized, Bishop Reidy noted. The pope must have felt weak, but still served, he said, adding, “I pray that I can emulate that dedication of giving fully to the Church.”

He drew lessons from cathedral artwork: a statue of St. Anne lovingly instructing the young Virgin Mary, demonstrating the importance of families passing on the faith, and a window of St. Patrick, who left home to spread the faith, both done by lifting up Christ, shown on a crucifix.  

“We’ve been praying” for a new, holy bishop, Father Brian Maxwell, parochial vicar for a tri-parish community in the Norwich diocese, told The Catholic Free Press. “He’s a gift from God.” He’s interested in talking with and listening to the priests, deacons and people.

“We were praying for a good bishop,” echoed Sister Mercy, one of the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Norwich diocese. “God heard our prayers.” The ordination Mass was “very beautiful and we experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit,” said Sister Mercy, who serves at St. Joseph Living Center in Windham, Connecticut.

Sister Gertrude Lanouette, a Daughter of the Holy Spirit who is external coordinator for members of her community living at that nursing home, said Bishop Reidy celebrated Mass there.

“He did a wonderful job of making those people feel they’re a very important part of the Church,” she said.

She also recalled the “magnificent” way he told her students about the stained-glass windows in St. Paul Cathedral in Worcester when he was rector there and she was director of religious education at St. Richard of Chichester Parish in Sterling.  

Sister Xinia Rodríguez, of the Sisters Oblates to Divine Love, knew Bishop Reidy when she served at St. John Paul II Parish in Southbridge and lived near Christ the King Parish in Worcester, where he resided. Now she serves at St. Mary Parish in New London, Connecticut, and was happy when learning he would be their new bishop.  

James Paulsen said he and his wife, Melinda, attend weekday Masses at their parish, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Bishop Reidy came unexpectedly after being named Bishop of Norwich. Despite the cold, he celebrated Mass, and greeted people afterwards, Mr. Paulsen said.

Among those greeting Bishop Reidy after his ordination was a busload of Catholics he served in Warren, who are now members of St. Paul Oratory there.