BUFFALO, NY — Richard Joseph Malone, the 14th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, was installed Friday afternoon as leader of Western New York’s Catholic faithful at a Mass inside St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.
The ceremony was attended by more than 1,000 people, including dozens of bishops from across New York State and around the country, as well as hundreds of priests and laity members from the Buffalo diocese.
The installation ceremony began with the reading of a document from Pope Benedict XVI designating Malone as the new Catholic bishop for Western New York. He replaces Bishop Edward U. Kmiec.
Malone, 66, a Salem, Mass. native, was resplendent in scarlet robes, set off by red and gold tassels and a cream-colored mitre. He accepted leadership of the diocese in a warm and welcoming manner during a ceremony laced with thoughtfulness and good humor.
In his homily, Malone, who comes to the Buffalo diocese from his past position as leader of Catholics in the state of Maine, noted that his installment Mass happened to land on the feast day of St. Lawrence, the martyr who was memorably grilled for his faith on a hot gridiron.
“A sturdy legend has it as he was being burned to death on the gridiron, he said to his executioners, ‘I’m done on this side, turn me over,’” said Malone. “When the date for this Mass was being worked out, I received a gracious voicemail from Cardinal Dolan. … He said, ‘Hey, Richard, Aug. 10, isn’t that the date of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence? …What are you planning on getting grilled up there in Buffalo?’”
Malone’s Mass of Installation — which began with cloudy skies that turned sunny by the end, with beams of light setting off the colored stained-glass windows of St. Joseph’s — drew Catholic faithful from all over the diocese.
Among the crowd were Buffalo residents George and Jackie Wopperer, who have been parishioners at St. Joseph’s for 23 years.
“I don’t think I have ever seen anything like this,” said Jackie Wopperer. “We love Bishop Kmiec. We think he’s a wonderful person. From what we’ve read about Bishop Malone, he’s wonderful, too.
“He’s got some pretty big shoes to fill.”
Another guest at the Mass, which was attended by those with tickets, was Nicole Tzetzo of Williamsville, a member of the bishops committee for laity for eight years.
“I’m so excited,” Tzetzo said. “It’s so exciting today. We’re entering a new phase having someone new in charge.”
Tzetzo described the scene inside the cathedral as “mesmerizing.”
Although Malone has moved to Buffalo, he will continue to oversee the Maine diocese. Last month, Pope Benedict XVI appointed the bishop apostolic administrator in Maine, effective the day of his installation in Buffalo.
Malone will continue to serve Catholics in Maine and western New York until the pope names a new bishop for the Diocese of Portland.
i’m sure there was more than enough pomp and circumstance and whoop de doo, probably costing tens of thousands to celebrate this non-event. the catholic church is losing members right and left … any wonder why?
Actually the Catholic Church is doing just fine. Go by any CAtholic Church on Sunday and the parking lot is full. However, your local liberal Episcopal or Congregational Church is pretty empty.
And you keep track? The full parking lots could be due to parish consolidation. And quite a few Catholics are leaving the Church and they aren’t just young. Fortunately, several have found new spiritual homes.
Yes, parking lots are full due to parish consolidations, but they are still fuller than your average mainline protestant church with one service on Sunday. I too know quite a few older Catholics who have left the Church, but they haven’t been in agreement with the Church since the late 60’s. They have found their new “spiritual home” in some feel good, I am my own god or goddess church. The Church is growing with younger people because they are searching for some real spiritual truth not religious fluff that get you no where.
Does that make the experience more meaningful for you? Turning your religion political and into a competition about which is more populated?
You were the one who commented on the church’s membership being in declined. So what was your point?
People are waking up and not buying into hatred. Malone thought it was more important to get political than it was to adhere to the good teachings in the Bible. Be generous, help those in need, foster community, etc. The Church is getting increasingly political and insular and that is why people are leaving it.
Losing younger members, yes.
losing members maybe because people have lost their moral compass. They are also to lazy or have too many other “important” things to do rather than go to church…its called lazy.
Those who have left have not necessarily lost their moral compass. The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on morals. Not everyone who goes to church has a strong faith or morals.
I”m Catholic, go to Church weekly. Are my Faith and Morals as strong as they could be? No. I wouldn’t cast immediate judgment that it’s simply because people are lazy. I think a lot of it has to do with the way Children are being brought up. You don’t necessarily have to have Faith or believe in a God to have good Morals and be a good person. The Church needs to do more to connect with younger Parishioners rather than ask for money for the Bishops appeal or cutting the Priests homily to play recorded messages from the Bishop protesting Same Sex Marriage.
I say it is high time the Church (and all churches who politic from the pulpit or by officially supporting any political view) to PAY TAXES like the rest of us who spout our opinions do. Racial and Civil prejudice have NO PLACE in any church. I will vote as I see fit, thank-you! My faith and my morals are intact when I exercise my RIGHTS civilly. We raised our kids in the church and only 2 remain Catholic. Their choice and responsibility. They are “too busy” or have been sucked in by churches that offer “entertainment” and “rah-rah” sermons over doctrine and sacrament. I stay for my faith. I stay because it is my compass.
I agree. I go to Church to pray, not be told how to vote or who to give money too.
It may be a non-event to you, but for thousands of Catholics in Maine, it is a sad day to lose such a gracious leader. The people of Buffalo are fortunate to have Bishop Malone lead the flock. I think many more people are leaving other religions as they change their beliefs with the times, while the Catholic church stands steadfast. Try visiting a Catholic church during Mass, lots of people there!
But membership in the Catholic church isn’t steadfast. It’s on the decline.
Well, as a Catholic in Maine, I am pleased that he will continue to lead us from afar… NOT!
The Vatican is so out of touch … probably thinking we are just a sprinkling of hicks from the woods and not in need of an actual leader in our midst. The Church is losing members not because of slowness to act on appointing bishops, but because it still considers women chattel of their husbands and not worthy of leadership roles. Bah. I am a faithful Catholic who thinks her Pope is OUT OF TOUCH and plunging us back into the dark ages before John XXIII and Vatican II Council.
Well as a Catholic in Maine I am sorry to see him go. He lead the church in truth.
So how is the Vatican out of touch? Why don’t you do yourself a favor as a Catholic and actually study what the Church believes about the role of men and women in the Church and society. I too am a faithful Catholic that knows that the Church is not out of touch.
Our gain is their loss.
most faiths are losing members-not just the catholic. all of them need to make changes.
And how should they change?