News

Bp. Zubik to be installed Dec. 12 at St. Agnes

By Renae Bauer
Communications Department

	Bishop David Zubik
	Previous coverage ... From 10/17/2003 Compass Web issue:  • New bishop has plans     Spirituality, meeting people top the list  • Sidebar: Biography  • Wisconsin bishops welcome new appointment     Some of the state's bishops have known him from earlier associations with him  • Diocesan employees react with enthusiasm to new bishop     They find him to be young, pastoral, warm, engaging and also enthusiastic  • Bishop Banks' Corner --     Still busy for next two months  • Editorial -- Impressive choice     The new bishop of the Green Bay Diocese makes a favorable first impression in visit From 10/10/2003 Compass Web issue:  • New bishop to lead Green Bay Diocese     Pittsburgh Auxiliary Bishop David Zubik will succeed Bishop Robert Banks (includes photos)  • Statement by Bishop David A. Zubik

Approximately 1,500 Catholics will witness first-hand Bp. David Zubik become the 11th Bishop of the Green Bay Diocese at the Mass of Installation at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 in St. Agnes Church, Green Bay. A reception will follow at the Radisson Hotel.

Others will be able to watch the Mass live on WLUK-TV (Fox 11) or listen on WJOK radio (1050 AM). Sr. Ann Rehrauer, president of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross in Bay Settlement, along with Fox 11 personalities will guide viewers through the symbolic and ancient rituals as they unfold. The Mass is expected to last until 4 p.m.

Priests, deacons and their wives, parish directors and men and women members of religious communities will gather to welcome him to the diocese the night before at a Vespers Service (evening prayers) in St. Francis Xavier Cathedral on Dec. 11.

Both the Vespers and Mass of Installation are by invitation only.

Numerous cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons and their wives, parish directors, men and women of religious communities, parish representatives, and friends and members of Bp. Zubik's family will attend the Mass.

Abp. Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio (the pope's ambassador to the United States), will read Bp. Zubik's letter of appointment. He then will join Abp. Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee in escorting Bp. Zubik in a solemn procession to the Episcopal chair, or cathedra, and will present Bp. Zubik with his crosier, or staff.

At the moment he takes his seat on the cathedra, Bp. Zubik assumes the pastoral office as chief shepherd of the diocese as assigned to him by Pope John Paul. The assembly will acknowledge and welcome Bp. Zubik as their spiritual leader by applauding.

Because the Installation will be on Dec. 12 - the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe - the Mass will include several Spanish components. The feast day celebrates the 1531 apparition of Mary at Guadalupe to Juan Diego, a Mexican Indian. The apparition and subsequent related miracles are credited for beginning the massive conversion of Latin Americans to Catholicism.

Pope John Paul appointed Bp. Zubik to Green Bay on Oct. 10. Bp. Zubik, 54, will be one of the youngest diocesan bishops in the U.S.

He is a native of the Pittsburgh Diocese, where he was ordained a priest in 1975 and consecrated a bishop in 1997. He has served the Pittsburgh Diocese his entire life.

Bp. Zubik succeeds Bp. Robert Banks who has served since 1990. Bp. Banks submitted his resignation to the Holy Father on Feb. 26, 2003, at age 75 in accord with church law.

Bp. Banks was elected on Oct. 10 by the Diocesan College of Consultors to serve as diocesan administrator until Bp. Zubik's installation. Church law requires election of a diocesan administrator when a diocese is temporarily without a bishop.

The Green Bay was established in 1868. It is home to 381,000 Catholics - 41% of northeastern Wisconsin's population. The 186 parishes are served by 128 pastors or associate pastors. The diocese covers 10,728 square miles in 16 counties: Brown, Calumet, Door, Florence, Forest, Kewaunee, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago.