|
News Items:
|
|
Headlines
|
|
News Briefs
|
|
Stories
|
|
Movies
|
|
Word To Life
|
|
More News:
|
|
Vatican
|
|
Africa
|
|
Special Sections:
|
|
2006 in review
|
|
Inside the Curia
|
|
Archives:
|
|
Vatican II at 40
|
|
John Paul II
|
|
Other Items:
|
|
Client Area
|
|
Links
|
|
Origins
|
|
.
|
|
Did You Know...
|
The whole CNS
public Web site
headlines, briefs
stories, etc,
represents less
than one percent
of the daily news
report.
Get all the news!
If you would like
more information
about the
Catholic News
Service daily
news report,
please contact
CNS at one of
the following:
cns@
catholicnews.com
or
(202) 541-3250
|
|
.
|
|
Copyright:
|
This material
may not
be published,
broadcast,
rewritten or
otherwise
distributed.
Copyright
(c) 2006
Catholic News
Service/U.S.
Conference of
Catholic Bishops.
|
|
 |
|
CNS Story:
|
SOTO-VESPERS Nov-20-2007 (790 words) xxxn
Sacramento Diocese welcomes Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto
By Julie Sly
Catholic News Service
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CNS) -- In a welcoming Mass acknowledging the diversity of the Diocese of Sacramento, Coadjutor Bishop Jaime Soto encouraged his new flock to "hope and hold the kingdom of God, to live reverently in the spirit of welcome and worship, both in sacred space as well as in the public square."
About 1,300 invited guests packed the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento Nov. 19 for the two-hour bilingual Mass.
More than 100 priests from the Sacramento and Orange dioceses entered the church in the opening procession, followed by more than 30 bishops from California and across the nation. Some 50 members of Bishop Soto's family were also in attendance.
Catholics have "glad tidings" to offer the world that spring from their faith, Bishop Soto said in his homily.
"What we offer is also reasonable and beneficial to the common good of all. We come not to impose but to welcome the truth and worship the goodness of God revealed in the human person," he said. "This is a task we are eager to share with men and women of all creeds."
Bishop Soto, 51, had been an auxiliary bishop of Orange for more than seven years when he was named Sacramento's coadjutor by the pope Oct. 11. He will automatically succeed Sacramento Bishop William K. Weigand upon his retirement or death.
The new coadjutor is one of 24 active Hispanic Catholic bishops in the United States.
Bishop Weigand was the presiding bishop at the Mass; Cardinal Roger M. Mahony of Los Angeles was also present.
Bishop Soto concelebrated the Mass with retired Sacramento Bishop Francis A. Quinn, Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco and Bishop Tod D. Brown of Orange.
"You bring extraordinary gifts and talents to assist me in shepherding this large and growing diocese," Bishop Weigand told his coadjutor in introductory remarks.
"We are delighted you are young, vigorous, bright and wise -- you are just what we need. You are well prepared to lead us in ministry to our large Hispanic population and also in working toward unifying and celebrating our multicultural reality," he added.
The readings from Scripture at the Mass were spoken in English and Spanish. Seven languages that are spoken in the diocese were heard during the prayers of the faithful -- English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Polish, Korean, Italian and Portuguese.
Bishop Soto, delivering his homily in English and Spanish, told the congregants that while he was honored by the beautiful Mass all must remember that "our time is best spent in preparing for another coming."
"The approaching kingdom promised by Christ looms over our happy gathering this afternoon and keeps us mindful of why we do this," he said. "Our days together have a purpose and our efforts are charged with a mission -- to announce the glad tidings of the kingdom and prepare for the coming of the King of Glory."
In the Eucharist, Catholics both welcome and worship Jesus, Bishop Soto said. "We live to welcome and worship the Lord who stands knocking at the door of our heart."
The signs and gestures of liturgical rituals, he added, "also awaken our hearts and accustom our eyes to see the King in those encounters less solemn but no less sacred: our brothers and sisters wearied and unwelcomed by the world -- the immigrant, the incarcerated, those living with AIDS and the homeless.
"The eucharistic manner calms our fears so that those who come to us are not a threat to avoid but an opportunity to welcome and serve," he said.
At a vespers service Nov. 18 in the cathedral, some 40 interreligious leaders as well as public officials and parishioners joined in the first official event to welcome Bishop Soto to the diocese.
In remarks in English and Spanish, Bishop Soto admitted to those present "the nervous clumsiness that comes with such first encounters."
Drawing hearty laughter from the crowd, he added, "I am sure we will all do fine" with local residents "bringing the best manners" of the area "and me trying my best not to embarrass my mother."
He told the gathering: "This is my prayer -- while we worship together, work together, study and pray the Scriptures together, discern and deliberate together God's call, work hand in hand to bring God's saving charity to others, strive together for a just world where peace prospers -- may we always reverence one another as brothers and sisters, saving the joy and encouragement of our communion in Christ."
Bishop Soto planned to participate in several regional events beginning Nov. 20 to give parishioners in the 20 counties of the diocese an opportunity to welcome him.
END
Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
CNS · 3211 Fourth St NE · Washington DC 20017 · 202.541.3250
|
|
|
|
