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Our Bishop

James D. Conley

 
 

Homilies

Episcopal Ordination Closing Remarks

Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

First of all, I would like to give thanks to almighty God, the Father and the love of His Son, Jesus Christ, as we honor his Most Sacred Heart on this day, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Thank our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI for his call for me to be a Successor to the Apostles and for the confidence he has placed in me. Also thank the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi, who could not be here, for his help and advice.

Thanks to Archbishop Chaput for his kindness and encouragement from the very first moment I learned of this appointment. On the day of the appointment he remarked that although I have some knowledge about how bishops are made, I have no experience about how to be a bishop. Like I said last night, I look forward to learning from someone whom I have admired for years.

Thank my co-consecrating bishops, Paul Coakley, bishop of Salina, my oldest and closest friend, to Bishop Michael Jackels, my former bishop in Wichita.

To my two chaplains: my long time friend from the seminary for over 30 years, Fr. Jerry Baker, and Msgr. Fryar, VG and Rector of the Cathedral.

To all the bishops who came - Bishop Daniel Thomas, Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and with whom I worked side by side for ten years at the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, who preached the opening of the Eucharistic Vigil last night.

To priest and deacons of Denver for their warm welcome, generosity and support. I look forward to working along side of you as a brother and a friend.

To my dear brother priests in Wichita who came last night and today. I will miss you but I count on your prayers. Be assured of mine.

To my brother priests from Rome, who traveled across the ocean to be here and to my other Roman friends who are here. I want to thank, in a particular way, Fr. Alois Felder, FSO, who was my spiritual director in Rome and who representing the Spiritual Family of the Work, a new community of Consecrated Life, a community with whom I have been associated for over 30 years.

To my dear parishioners from Blessed Sacrament in Wichita who came in such great numbers. You have taught me how to be a pastor of souls and for this I will always be grateful.

To all of my friends, from the University of Kansas and the Integrated Humanities Program and to our professors, Drs. John Senior, Dennis Quinn and Frank Nelick, who taught us that there is a such a thing as truth, goodness and beauty - and who shaped us and formed us in our early college years.

My two close friends from the monastery of Clear Creek, the prior, Fr. Philip Anderson and Br. Joseph Marie Owen, the monk who looks after the farm and the sheep at Clear Creek and is a true shepherd

Dr. Horst Buchholz and choir and especially Deacon Chuck Parker and all the deacons and seminarians who have put so much time and effort into this liturgy. Deacon Chuck is a blessing to the archdiocese.

Thank my mother, Betty, who has always been there for me through all the changes in my life and has been such a strength for me over the years, along with my father Carl, of happy memory who would have been so proud today. May he be looking down on us today from heaven. And to my sister Susan and her family, to my aunts and uncles, cousin who are here today.

The chalice used for this mass was my first mass chalice and given to me by Msgr. Charles Walsh, former VG of the Wichita diocese who died this past Saturday and was buried on Wednesday, may he rest in peace. The chalice was recently restored and my mother's wedding diamonds were placed on the base surrounded by my father's wedding band.