John Barres is installed as Diocese of Rockville Centre bishop

A new leader for Long Island Catholics

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It took more than 10 minutes for Bishop John Barres to reach the altar after a procession of nearly 200 clergy members led him to the head of St. Agnes Cathedral for his installation as the spiritual leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre.

But even by the time he took his seat, the excitement was evident on many faces in the crowd packed into the pews, as well as the priests, deacons and bishops who flanked the diocese’s new bishop.

The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre, the Vatican’s diplomatic representative for the United States, read a letter from Pope Francis — translated from Latin. In it, the Pope thanked his “old friend,” the outgoing Bishop William Murphy, for his 15 years of service to the diocese.

Murphy, 76, was moved to tears as the crowd erupted into a standing ovation. He was the diocese’s fourth bishop since its creation in 1957, and according to the Code of Canon Law, diocesan bishops must submit their resignations to the Pope when they reach age 75.

Pierre continued reading the letter and officially released Barres from his responsibility as Bishop of Allentown, Pa. — where he served as that community’s spiritual leader for more than seven years.

Barres will miss his old parish, as evidenced during a news conference announcing his incoming role on Dec. 9, when his voice cracked and he appeared to be overwhelmed with emotion while talking about the community that he was leaving behind.

After Pierre read the letter, Barres took it and proudly held it over his head as he walked around — showing it to all who were present. He doubled back to make sure people sitting towards the rear could see.

Barres returned to the altar, and his succession was officially completed as Murphy and Pierre, beaming, seated him in his ornate, high-backed chair, or cathedra, and handed him his golden shepherd’s cane, called a crosier.

In his 30-minute homily, the new bishop emphasized inclusivity, warned of the dangers of consumerism and implored the diocese’s 1.5 million members to reach out to inactive Catholics around them to try to bring them back into the religious community.

“I am so very sorry if you have been hurt or disappointed by the church in any way, and we stand here today to support you, to listen to you and to love you,” Barres said to any Catholics listening who may have turned away from the church.

He also thanked Pierre, Murphy, Cardinal Timothy Dolan as well as friends, mentors and family members who helped him to get to this point.

In his closing remarks, the bishop thanked the youth of the diocese for their commitment to the Catholic Church, both now and in the future. “I cannot wait to meet you. I cannot wait to serve you,” he said to them.

After leading communion, Barres followed the procession out, embracing anyone who reached out to touch him.

People who came out to see the new bishop enthusiastically welcomed his leadership.

“Phenomenal” was the only word Carol Auleta, 63, from Woodbury, could say to describe him after witnessing the installation.

“My first goal is to actually bring a non-active Catholic back to church,” said Toni Roma, 62, from Syosset — wanting to make good on the bishop’s call to bring lapsed Catholics back into the fold.

“It’s part of our discipleship,” responded Marianne Patrick, 67, from Jericho. She said she looked forward to the new bishop visiting local churches.

Younger Catholics who came to see Barres appreciated his acknowledgment of the church’s youth. “I really liked how he gave a special mention to the young people,” said Melissa Arnold, 27, from Stony Brook. “As a young adult myself who lives on a college campus … I was glad to hear us mentioned.”

Local officials were happy to hear the bishop’s words on understanding. “His message was very clear,” said Nancy Howard, deputy mayor of Rockville Centre. “It’s inclusiveness, it’s love, it’s ecumenicalism, it's reaching out to everybody."

She noted that in these times it's important for religious leaders to listen and include others.

After the Mass, a group of parishioners from the Church of St. Catherine of Sienna in Franklin Square stood across the street and waited in the snow and cold for a chance to greet the new bishop with music and chants of “Gloria” as he walked out of the cathedral.