News

Guests at vespers pledge to work with bishop in Arkansas

Hispanic parishioner says, 'He will be the shepherd we need'

Published: June 14, 2008   

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Tara Little

Bishop-elect Anthony B. Taylor kisses a crucifix held by diocesan administrator Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert as he enters Christ the King Church for the vespers service June 4 in Little Rock.

Tara Little

Bishop-elect Anthony B. Taylor kisses a crucifix held by diocesan administrator Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert as he enters Christ the King Church for the vespers service June 4 in Little Rock.

State, city and religious leaders attended a "liturgy of welcome" June 4 at Christ the King Church in Little Rock to welcome Bishop-elect Anthony B. Taylor to Arkansas.

The evening vespers service included several songs and a blessing of the episcopal ring, miter and pastoral staff that the new bishop would be given the next day at his ordination and installation.

The service began at the doors of the church where Bishop-elect Taylor knocked and was greeted by Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert, who led the diocese as administrator for nearly two years. Also at the doors of the church was Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran of Oklahoma City.

Upon entering the church, the bishop elect kissed a cut-crystal crucifix and sprinkled the entrance with holy water.

Among the dignitaries to issue a public welcome were Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, a member of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock; Little Rock Mayor Mark Stodola; Andres Chao, Mexican consul in Little Rock; Mimi Dortch, president of the Arkansas Interfaith Conference and member of the Cathedral of St. Andrew; Rabbi Eugene Levy of Temple B'Nai Israel in Little Rock; and Iman Johnny Hasan of the Islamic Center of Little Rock.

Lt. Gov. Halter's wife, Shanti, who is pregnant with the couple's second child, also attended. Bishop-elect Taylor later privately greeted the Rev. Nicholas J. Verdaris, pastor of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Little Rock.

Lt. Gov. Halter reminded the bishop-elect of his predecessors' long histories.

"You join a very distinguished line, but a very short line, of bishops ... If my Catholic High math instructors taught me anything, that means that the average tenure has been 27 and a half years for each bishop. We wish for you that you raise that average," he said.

He noted that even though Catholics make up a minority of the state's population, the Church has had a big influence on education, health care and social justice issues in the state.

"We as a state are richly blessed to have you here," Lt. Gov. Halter said. "I hope you take the presence of all these folks here tonight and the thousands of folks who will be with you tomorrow as symbols of our respect, our affection, our anticipation and our warmest and best wishes as we work with you for many years to come."

Chao, who met Bishop-elect Taylor a few months ago in Oklahoma, said, "He will be a great benefit for the migrant community, but also the well-being of the whole state of Arkansas. I wish to welcome you in the name of the whole Mexican community."

Individuals and groups representing different diocesan ethnic groups and ministries were invited to extend private greetings to the bishop. These included Hispanic, black and Asian Catholics, educators, diocesan employees, single people, families, youth, men and women religious and deacons.

Teens Kara McKinley of Tontitown and Daniel Mitchell of Hot Springs presented the bishop-elect with a framed Jerusalem cross, also known as a Search cross, with the inscription, "Our prayers are with you as you preach and teach to the four corners of our diocese, as symbolized by the Jerusalem Cross."

Each of the 58 priests in attendance was also asked to privately welcome the bishop-elect. Most of the priests shook the bishop's hand and introduced themselves, but Father James West, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in North Little Rock, gave Bishop-elect Taylor a fortune from a cookie that read, "Tomorrow is a good day for trying something new."

Two families from Christ the King Parish were chosen to represent Catholics across the state who are eager to meet and get to know the new bishop.

Juan and Maria Alvarez and their five children represented the Hispanic community.

"When he needs us, we are ready to work with him together," Juan Alvarez said.

Praising the bishop's "perfect" Spanish, he said, "He knows what he has to do to help the community grow in the Holy Spirit. ... He will be the shepherd we will need."

Dr. Paul and Kathy Wendel and their six children greeted the bishop-elect on behalf of all families.

In the interest of being brief during the liturgy, Kathy Wendel said they told the bishop elect they would introduce the children individually later.

"He said, 'No, I want to meet them all,'" she said. "He met them all, they introduced themselves. They were thrilled to do so. It was really a wonderful experience."

"He didn't want to hurry it," Paul Wendel said.

In his homily first delivered in English and then in Spanish, Bishop-elect Taylor repeated his belief that he is an "unworthy servant" -- the words he prays during the Eucharistic Prayer.

"I come to you with much enthusiasm and joy because God sent me to you," he said. "If it were up to me, I wouldn't be here because I would have never dared to hope to receive the privilege of being your bishop. The honor, and, yes, the burden of being a successor of the apostles, endowed and entrusted with the fullness of the sacramental priesthood of Jesus Christ.

"I know that I will one day have to give the Lord an account of my stewardship of the Diocese of Little Rock. Please pray for me that I, your unworthy servant, will be a good bishop, holy and wise."