News

Large Cooperstown group sees ordination of native son

By Mary St. Pierre
Florida Catholic

	NOW A BISHOP: Card. Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, lays his hands upon Bp. Frank Dewane during his episcopal ordination at the Epiphany Cathedral in Venice, Fla. (© 2006 - Ed Foster Jr.)
	Multimedia Web link: • For an on-line slideshow of Bishop Frank Dewane's episcopal ordination, including audio, go to   www.edfoster.net/dewane_for_web/dewane.html Related articles: from April 28, 2006 issue: • Green Bay priest named Florida bishop   Sidebar: Biography   Sidebar: New bishop represented Vatican in many locales • New bishop possesses many skills • Bp. Zubik: News brings great joy to diocese • Bridging the Gap by Bishop David Zubik --     Bridging the Gap: A new bishop!

VENICE, Fla. -- The 1,500 people who attended the episcopal ordination of Bp. Frank Dewane outnumbered the total population of Cooperstown, the farming village 20 miles southwest of Green Bay that is the bishop's hometown.

But nearly 10% of Cooperstown's 1,403 residents - 126 people - came to Epiphany Cathedral in Venice July 25 for the ordination of their native by Bp. John Nevins as his coadjutor.

Four cardinals, 22 bishops, 200 priests and 53 nuns as well as deacons, Knights of Columbus and Knights and Dames of Malta contributed to the celebration. The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre served as honor guards for the ordination, which was televised live throughout the 9,000-square-mile diocese.

Co-consecrators were Abp. John Favalora of Miami and Abp. Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Ireland. Also participating were Cards. Adam Maida of Detroit, William Keeler of Baltimore, Renato Martino, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, and Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Then-Bp. Maida ordained Bp. Dewane as a priest of the Green Bay Diocese on July 16, 1988. Also present from the Green Bay Diocese were Bp. David Zubik, Auxiliary Bp. Robert Morneau and retired Bp. Robert Banks.

As coadjutor, Bp. Dewane, 56, will become the second Bishop of Venice when Bp. Nevins retires or dies; he will turn 75 on Jan. 19, 2007. Bp. Dewane was undersecretary of the justice and peace council in Rome at the time of his appointment April 25.

In his homily, Bp. Nevins recalled the closing scene of Sholem Asch's 1943 novel The Apostle, which takes place in a dungeon sealed by a trapdoor.

Prisoners knew they would die either in the dungeon or brutally in the arena. Asch describes the scene as one of darkness and horror. The door opens suddenly and there is a shaft of light for a brief moment as a man singing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God is lowered into this place of undesirable darkness and death and despair.

"The word spreads like wildfire among the people in the dungeon - 'It's Paul, it's Paul. Paul has come,'" the bishop said. "And Paul's joy is so contagious that before long, he has all the people in the dungeon singing songs of praise and thanksgiving. A whole new spirit has taken hold of them."

Asch gives us an accurate description of the Holy Spirit of the New Testament, present even in the darkest dungeons of life, Bp. Nevins said. "God gives his people joy and through his people, he gives joy to the world."

He encouraged Bp. Dewane, known for his diplomacy, to "always give joy to your people of this diocese" and to "always love and respect and appreciate" its people.

	Special Masses Celebratory Masses of Thanksgiving for Bp. Frank Dewane, a native of Cooperstown who was ordained July 25 as coadjutor Bishop of Venice, Fla., will be celebrated at: • 11 a.m. Aug. 20 at St. James Church, Cooperstown. • 7 p.m. Aug. 24 at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Green Bay. • 10 a.m. Aug. 27 at Sacred Heart Church, Oshkosh. Receptions will follow.

Acknowledging the cultural diversity of the diocese, including more than 200,000 migrant workers and Catholics of Haitian descent, Bp. Nevins repeated in Spanish and Creole, "Always remember, our Lord Jesus loves each of you very much. You have supported me throughout the years and I want you to support, in the same way, Bp. Frank Dewane."

Card. Martino reminded the new coadjutor that the Holy Spirit has brought him to this point in his life and he must evangelize, sanctify and give thanks.

"Your experience with the U.N. and your international venue has been enriched by your faith and charity and you will never be without my friendship," he said. "All (from the pontifical council) have asked me to convey to you that they are certain you will continue to pass on your social message of the church."

In his new fuchsia zucchetto, miter, pectoral cross, ring and crosier, Bp. Dewane erupted in a huge smile as he walked to the podium to give thanks to many who have walked with him since his ordination to the priesthood. His first words of gratitude were to God and then to his late parents, Ben and Eleanor Dewane.

"My parents aren't here with us today, but yet they are here," he said. "That is the good thing about people of faith."