Thousands celebrate episcopal ordination
Bishop-elect Robert W. McElroy, a San Francisco native son, priest for 30 years and pastor of St. Gregory Parish in San Mateo since 1996, was ordained the 17th auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Titular Bishop of the Gemellae in Byzacena on Sept. 7, 2010, before an assembly of 2,500 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Attending the rite of episcopal ordination were Cardinal William Levada, Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco and prefect for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith; more than 30 bishops from throughout the San Francisco Metropolitan Province; and some 300 hundred other priests and 50 deacons.
Archbishop Niederauer was principal celebrant and consecrator, with San Francisco Archbishop Emeritus John Quinn and Salt Lake City Bishop John Wester as principal co-consecrators.
In his homily, Archbishop Neiderauer reflected on the call to fearless service in the day’s reading from Jeremiah as a foretaste of Jesus’ words to the Apostles at the Last Supper.
“As we consider these readings we have heard, and as we listen to the words of the Rite of Ordination of a Bishop,” he said, “we need to hear them as the call of Jesus Christ in his Church to Bishop-elect McElroy to respond in loving service to his sisters and brothers in Christ.”
Also attending were members of the Order of Malta, Order of the Holy Sepulcher and the Knights of Columbus, and dignitaries including Dame Rita Bral, honorary consul general of Belgium.
Father William Brady, in the name of the clergy and faithful of the Church of San Francisco, presented Bishop-elect McElroy for ordination to service as a bishop. Msgr. C. Michael Padazinski, chancellor of the Archdiocese, presented the Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI, which testified to the worthiness of the Bishop-elect and his appointment by the Holy Father to the office of bishop.
Bishop McElroy’s family and friends presented the insignia of office which Archbishop Niederauer gave to the bishop in the name of the Church.
The liturgy featured a 75-voice choir representing parishes where Bishop McElroy has served as well as members of the St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir and the San Francisco Archdiocesan Choir.
From September 10, 2010 issue of Catholic San Francisco.
