Wrap-up: Abp. Carlson installed in St. Louis

I'm writing this early in the morning because my flight back to DC was delayed due to inclement weather (thanks for the prayers!). Apologies if this post is a little scattered - I'm trying to fit in the important stuff before heading off to bed.

Here is the text of Archbishop Carlson's homily. 

An excerpt: "May I never be afraid to challenge the secular culture, which is growing everyday more indifference to the teachings of Jesus Christ, especially on the life issues. We will never compromise our commitment to life!"

A second line that struck me: "I will never ordain a man a priest that I do not know." He made this promise to the priests of the archdiocese. I know from experience that he really means it (having known some of his seminarians). He makes it a high priority to have a personal relationship with his priests, present and future.

A special thank you to the almost 1600 folks who followed my live updates via AmP Twitter. I'm surprised all of us were able to fit into that pew! ;-)

It was also such a joy to meet many AmP readers in person who weren't shy about coming up and introducing themselves! Sorry to have missed many of you - I would have loved to stay longer but I had a plane to catch. I will be back.

I commend you to your new shepherd, Archbishop Carlson! You are in the best hands.

For more good stuff, St. Louis review has a full installation page, including an updating photo gallery. 

My special congratulations to the entire media and communications team at the Archdiocese of St. Louis, who fruitfully and professionally used technology to share the joy of their local church with all of us papists, American or Universal.

Photos: Archbishop Carlson's Installation

I'm blogging tonight from the international airport in Charlotte (we're grounded for the time being by a lightning storm moving through). I just opened my email to find these beautiful pictures by Jerry Naunheim Jr. and Lisa A. Johnston for the St. Louis Review waiting for me:

I took a few myself but I'll wait until tomorrow to see if they turned out.

Video/Twitter: Live Coverage of Abp. Carlson's Installation Mass

Cross your fingers that this embedded player works. It should stream live video from the Mass at 2PM CST:

Here are three important links to follow-along:

• I am in the Church posting live updates at twitter.com/americanpapist
• St. Louis Review's special installation page will have photos up soon
• Archdiocese of St. Louis website features the program of the Mass, etc.

Today - Live Installation Mass Coverage in St. Louis!

I will be live-twittering from the magnificent St. Louis Cathedral Basilica today. Click here for more info!

Photo credit: Creativity+Timothy K Hamilton

Text: Homily of Archbishop-Elect Carlson on the Eve of His Installation

From the most-professional-archdiocesan-website-in-the-world (St. Louis) ... both text and mp3 of Archbishop-Elect Robert Carlson's homily on the eve of his installation Mass (which I will be covering live later today at 2PM CST):

"Here is the homily of Archbishop-elect Robert J. Carlson, delivered on the eve of his Installation as the ninth Archbishop of Saint Louis at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. You may also download an MP3 of his homily. Click through the 'Read more' link below to read the full homily. Also, pictures from Evening Prayer can be viewed on the Saint Louis Review's website."

One of my favorite parts:

"...we must not only 'preach to the choir.' The Church must also be willing to engage the culture. This gets us in trouble when our teaching conflicts with the "wisdom of the day,” but it is also our duty as a moral voice in the community.

Think about the values of the contemporary culture, and compare them with the values of the Gospel. Perhaps there was a time when the culture supported the values of the Gospel, or at least appeared to do so. But we now live in a culture that is not particularly friendly and is sometimes actively hostile to the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

How was his homily received? The Archdiocesan twitter reports it received "over a minute of applause!"

Next stop: St. Louis!

Today I'm traveling to St. Louis for the installation Mass of Archbishop Robert Carlson at 2PM tomorrow (and no, contrary to what this photo might suggest, I'm not parachuting in ... though that's not a bad idea).

Here are the important links to follow-along:

• I will be tweeting my travels at twitter.com/americanpapist
• St. Louis Review's special installation page (official Catholic newspaper)
• Archdiocese of St. Louis website (will include live video & Mass program!)

Photo credit: km6xo.

Picture: Abp. Carlson's Coat-of-Arms

Here it is:

More information here. When I was in St. Louis last summer, I took pictures of several of the various coats of arms used by previous arch/bishops which are featured in the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica.

Oh, and the Fans of Carlson Facebook Group has over 800 members now - great job, everyone!

Video: Abp. Carlson greets St. Louis

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

... "Archbiship"?

(by the way, I think this is a fantastic video - it just could use a spellcheck.)

Two Cool Too Cool Carlson-related follow-ups

The Facebook group started yesterday, "Fans of Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis" has well over 250 members now. I've told them that if they pass 1,000 members, I'll see to it that Abp. Carlson is notified!

Also, the Archdiocese of St. Louis has provided an MP3 audio download of Abp. Carlson's press conference.

Complete Coverage: St. Louis gets its next Archbishop

Called it last night, announced it this morning, and followed-up shortly after with more details.

Action Item: Join Facebook Fans of Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis!
(1pm update - almost 100 members already!)

Outside coverage:

• Archdiocesan newspaper: Bishop Robert J. Carlson appointed Tenth Archbishop of Saint Louis
• St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Michigan Bishop Robert J. Carlson named new St. Louis Archbishop
• Saginaw News: Carlson leaving

Photos: Archbishop-Elect Robert Carlson in St. Louis

A man of prayer in prayer to prepare:

Archbishop-Elect Carlson in the chapel at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.

Archbishop-Elect Carlson in front of the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis.

(I visited this magnificent church last summer and took plenty of pictures and video.)

Archbishop-Elect Robert J. Carlson sings a song of welcome with Kenrick-Glennon seminarians.

(I am told they sang him the traditional Te Deum - "God We Praise You").

[photo source: St. Louis Review]

(post #4,900!)

AmP predicts Carlson for St. Louis ... now here's what you need to know about him

In March I began receiving reliable reports that Bishop Robert Carlson of Saginaw MI would be the next Archbishop of St. Louis, filling the vacancy left by the mighty Archbishop Raymond Burke, so much so that I said:

"I'm also seeing a particular name rise to the surface in these various reports - which would be extremely exciting for me and good for the Catholic Church in America if he proves to be the one."

Perhaps the appointment was postponed to allow Archbishop Dolan the limelight, and conversely, so that New York would not overshadow the importance of the St. Louis vacancy being filled. Regardless, last night I called Bishop Carlson for St. Louis at about 6PM.

I have some measure of personal experience with Bishop Carlson and here's what you should know:

Bp. Carlson is already a legend among Catholics in Michigan, for the following reasons.

He is a vocations magnet and cultivator par excellance, creating a culture of vocations in his diocese and supporting his candidates through their formation and education. Before he came to the diocese it had not had a vocation for four years. In the past two years Bp. Carlson has ordained eight men and there are more than 20 currently in formation.

He is a passionate defender of life, personally hopping on the bus with the young people of his diocese to attend the March for Life in DC whenever he is able. He will not shy away from speaking out in defense of life - that's a promise.

His episcopal motto is "Ante crucem nihil defensionis," or "Before the cross there is no defense" - I think that says a lot about how he views his episcopal ministry.

I have heard he enjoys a particularly close relationship with Pope Benedict. In 2006 when Carlson was in Rome and Pope Benedict heard about it - the pope cleared his schedule and sent a message to Carlson saying that he wanted to meet with him.

In 2003 Bp. Carlson told Tom Daschle he could no longer call himself Catholic, when he was his bishop.

He moves quickly: look at this seminarian post detailing his second year accomplishments in Saginaw.

He called a Eucharistic Congress in 2007 and has gradually been re-establishing sound liturgical practice in his formerly-liberal diocese of Saginaw.

He started a house of formation in the diocese of Saginaw so that it would not have to be farmed out. He has written four pastoral letters and four other documents. He has founded an order in Columbia which is very close to his heart. He chairs the well-regarded Institute for Priestly Formation.

This interview with Bp. Carlson presents his comments on his 2006 meeting with the pope, and gives a decent glimpse of his pastoral style. This story published just today also should prove useful.

Breaking: Robert Carlson is the next Archbishop of St. Louis!

As reported on American Papist last night (and rumored back in March), Bishop Robert Carlson of Saginaw, MI has been named the 10th bishop of St. Louis.

St. Louis Archdiocesan website:

Bishop Robert J. Hermann, Archdiocesan Administrator for St. Louis, called Archbishop-elect Carlson “a very energetic, articulate, warm and gifted pastor and administrator. He thinks and works with the Church he loves, and will continue to build upon the legacy of his predecessors here in St. Louis.”Archbishop–elect Carlson was installed as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Saginaw on February 24, 2005 at the direction of Pope John Paul II. A native of Minneapolis, MN, he was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970 for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He was later ordained as an auxiliary bishop for his home archdiocese on January 11, 1984 and went on to serve as Bishop of Sioux Falls, SD, from 1994 to 2005.

Follow the day's events & more info:

• 10:30 am: Watch the press conference online.
• View pictures of the Archbishop-elect, as he visits various locations in the Archdiocese.
• Follow the Archdiocese on Twitter for up-to-the-minute postings.
• Press Release: "Vatican Announces Appointment of Bishop Robert J. Carlson as Archbishop of St. Louis"
• Press Release: "Statement of Bishop Robert Hermann on the Appointment of the Most Rev. Robert J. Carlson as Archbishop of St. Louis"
• Press Release: "Pope Names Saginaw's Bishop Carlson as the ninth Archbishop of Saint Louis"
• Biography and Curriculum Vitae in the Leadership pages of archstl.org

Updates to follow....

It bears repeating: Bishops who speak, speak this way

At least in the overwhelming majority of cases. Bishops who are not adopting this strong rhetoric calling Catholics to vote an informed conscience on the issue, particularly, of abortion can be counted on one hand.

Another case in point to close-out the day: Bishop Robert Carlson of Saginaw whose statement (PDF) treats the presidential election as well as pro-ESCR Proposal 2 in Michigan (which I have discussed here).

Since I see no need to reduplicate work already done well, please see Fr. Z's analysis of the document.

The seminarians of Saginaw have a blog!

The fine guys who are studying to be priests for the diocese of Saginaw now have a blog of their own up and running.

Also, the diocese of Saginaw has a nice page up with pics and a report from this year's March for Life, which Bp. Carlson attended.

Here's a picture of him at the March. The fellow to his right is Chris, one of the Saginaw Seminarians. And in this picture you can see Rich, a good buddy of mine and also a seminarian of Saginaw.

They both recently became fourth degree Knights of Columbus, passing me up. Good men!