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Parents, bishops, others share thoughts after the ordination

Published: June 14, 2008   

By Tara Little
Associate Editor

Bob Ocken

Deacons John Marschewski and Robert Wanless hold the Book of the Gospels over the head of newly ordained Bishop Anthony B. Taylor during his ordination and installation Mass June 5.

Bob Ocken

Deacons John Marschewski and Robert Wanless hold the Book of the Gospels over the head of newly ordained Bishop Anthony B. Taylor during his ordination and installation Mass June 5.

Rachel and Basil Taylor were "elated" after their son's ordination as seventh bishop of Little Rock. They spoke with Arkansas Catholic during the reception.

"Tony seems to be very happy," Rachel Taylor said. "This is meant to be."

"I try not to be proud, but I feel proud," Basil Taylor said with tears in his eyes. "I'm not an emotional person, really. Nothing ever gets to me. ... I can't tell you how I feel. I'm just elated."

"It was a beautiful ceremony. It was well planned and very meaningful," she said. "He seems to be very accepted by the people here."

The June 5 celebration at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock was the first time they had attended an episcopal ordination.

The Taylors and their six other children carried up the gifts at the offertory. Many of their extended family also attended the celebration, including a cousin from Guam.

Bishop Emeritus Andrew J. McDonald shared his thoughts about the ordination June 6. The 84-year-old retired bishop is celebrating 60 years of priesthood. He serves as chaplain for St. Joseph Home in Palatine, Ill.

The first thing he noticed at all the ordination events was "the warmth and wonderful welcoming spirit" given to Bishop Anthony B. Taylor by the people of Arkansas, he said.

He suspected waiting two years to get a bishop played a big role in that enthusiasm.

"If you go without water for a couple of days you get thirsty. Then you gulp it down," he said. "I think Bishop Taylor fitted in to this diocese as a hand fits into a glove."

Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert said the ordination "was extraordinary in its spiritual depth, liturgical beauty, human sentiment, musical perfection and sheer 'in-your-face' power." He served as diocesan administrator from June 2006 until Bishop Taylor's ordination.

"I was exceptionally impressed by the congregation, by their diversity, their joy, their faith and their devotion," he added. "It was clear that they already loved their new bishop."

"I have no doubt he will be a great bishop," he said about Bishop Taylor. "What adjectives would I use to describe him? Joyful, prayerful, dedicated, faith-filled, intelligent, gifted, profound, humble and above all, loving."

Bishop J. Peter Sartain told Arkansas Catholic he met Bishop Taylor in the seminary 32 years ago and he is the same now as he was then: "Warm and kind, deeply concerned about others, very intelligent and possesses a great gift to explain the Scriptures."

"I couldn't help but think what a great fit he is for the Diocese of Little Rock, and everyone will soon come to love him," Bishop Sartain said. "I told him I would continue to pray for him and the people of the diocese every day."

Seeing "Father Tony" installed as bishop was worth a 1,200-mile round trip drive from Guymon, Okla., for Elise Padilla, 71, of St. Peter the Apostle Church there.

"This is my first ordination and it is because of Father Tony," she said. "We couldn't hardly wait to get here."

"I met Father Tony when he first became a priest," Padilla said. "There was something special about Father Tony and I knew it then."

As the bishop blessed the faithful, his face lit up when he spotted Padilla and her husband near the back of the Governor's Hall.

"He was shocked to see me here," she said. "I know that he's going to grow with the state of Arkansas and he's truly a man of God. He is truly spirit-filled."

Mary Hightower contributed to this story.