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How a bishop takes charge

On Dec. 11 and 12, Bp. David Zubik will take his place as Bishop of Green Bay. According to the ceremonies of our church, certain official acts will take place for the installation.

VESPERS

At this Dec. 11 ceremony, Bp. Zubik will be officially welcomed to St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay, which is his official church as Bishop of Green Bay. Brother bishops, fellow priests, deacons and their wives, and religious men and women will join the bishop for Evening Prayer (Vespers) at 6:30 p.m.

	Bishop David Zubik's Installation as 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay
	• New bishop taking office at Mass on Friday     The ceremony will be broadcast live on both     radio and television     • Sidebar: New bishop     • Sidebar: Setting priorities • Bp. Zubik's schedule for Dec. 11-24 • Bishop eager to start serving Green Bay church     Bp. David Zubik wants to work with priests,     laity to satisfy the hunger for God     • Sidebar: Getting to know him • Proud father: 'You're really going to like him'     Stanley Zubik says his son, the bishop, cares     about all people, rich, poor, young, old • Foundations of Faith -- The clothes don't make, but they explain, a bishop • Editorial -- New leader     Bp. David Zubik comes highly recommended     and he wants to get to know all of us Past coverage:    November 21, 2003 issue:      • Pittsburgh planning farewell Mass for Bishop Zubik Sunday    November 14, 2003 issue:      • Visits scheduled for bishop         Bp. Zubik planning visits to Manitowoc,         Antigo, Marinette, Green Bay and Appleton    November 7, 2003 issue:      • Bp. Zubik to be installed Dec. 12 at St. Agnes         The 2 p.m. Mass will be shown live on         Green Bay channel 11    Other coverage:      • Links to Oct. 10 and Oct. 17 Compass coverage of new Bishop

The ceremony will begin with Bp. Zubik knocking on the cathedral's front entrance door. Bp. Robert Banks will open the door and officially greet Bp. Zubik.

INSTALLATION

The Mass of Installation will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at St. Agnes Church in Green Bay.

Five parts of the ceremony make up the official taking possession of the diocese.

Greeting: Bp. Robert Banks, who is retiring as Bishop of Green Bay, will greet Bp. Zubik, his successor.

Letter: John Paul II appointed Bp. Zubik to Green Bay on Oct. 10, 2003. The official announcement, called an apostolic letter, will be read by Abp. Gabriel Montalvo, the apostolic nuncio.

Credentials: The presentation of credentials is a ceremonial tradition that may occur at either Vespers (as it did with Bp. Banks in 1990), in a private meeting or in a public ceremony. In modern times, knowledge of the new Bishop's background and expertise usually precedes his own arrival to the Diocese. The formal presentation allows the Bishop to show respect to those who have preceded him in the governance of the local Church, and to be accorded respect from them as the new leader of the Diocese. Bp. Zubik's credentials will be presented by Sr. Mary Bride Grubbs, chancellor of the Diocese of Green Bay.

Procession to chair: A bishop of a diocese is officially installed as he takes possession of his cathedra (chair), thereby assuming the pastoral office of chief shepherd of the local Church (Diocese) assigned to him by the Pope. The cathedra is a symbol of the dual leader-servant roles of a bishop: "For you I am a bishop, but with you I am a Christian," said St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

Acclamation: The acceptance by the flock of its new shepherd is an important part of the installation of a bishop. The public ceremony is not only a proclamation, but also a ratification of the bishop as head of a Diocese. With their applause, the faithful acknowledge the Bishop as head of their diocese and recognize his communion with his fellow bishops and the pope.