What to know about ordination of Bishop-elect Anthony C. Celino in El Paso

Bishop-elect Anthony C. Celino will have his episcopal ordination Friday at St. Patrick Cathedral. He will be the first auxiliary bishop for the Catholic Diocese of El Paso in its 109-year history. He is the third bishop in the United States of Filipino descent.

While a bishop’s ordination has many similarities to a priest’s or deacon’s, there are exceptional differences that highlight the three-fold ministry that bishops are ordained to exercise: to teach, to govern, and to sanctify, stated the Rev. Michael L. Lewis.

More: The Rev. Anthony Celino appointed by Pope Francis as auxiliary bishop for El Paso Diocese

Here is what to know about the ordination, according to Lewis.

When: The ordination Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N. Mesa St. Public seating will be limited.

Where to watch: People can watch via simulcast on Channel 7-KVIA and the Diocese of El Paso social media accounts.

Vestments: The bishop-elect traditionally wears the deacon’s dalmatic, or long, wide-sleeved tunic, under the priest’s chasuble, or outer vestment, during his ordination.

Rite of Ordination: The bishop is the successor of the apostles in communion with the pope, the only one who can appoint bishops. This is expressed at the beginning of the Rite of Ordination of a Bishop, when the pope’s decree of the bishop-elect’s appointment is read out loud. In the United States, this is often done by the apostolic nuncio, the archbishop assigned by the pope to be his ambassador. The people give their assent to the pope’s decree by their acclamation and applause.

The bishop-elect then promises to carry out his office “in accord with the mind of Christ and of the Church” and promises obedience not to the diocesan bishop ‒ as at the ordination of priests and deacons ‒ but to the pope as the successor of St. Peter. Then in the Litany of the Saints, which at a bishop’s ordination uniquely mentions each of the 12 apostles, all present implore God’s grace for the bishop-elect.

In the laying on of hands by the consecrating bishops and the Prayer of Ordination, the gift of the Holy Spirit for the office of bishop is conferred on the bishop-elect. In accord with ancient tradition, a bishop is ordained by at least three other bishops.

Ordaining bishops: El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz along with San Antonio Archbishop Rev. Gustavo García-Sillerand Lexington, Kentucky, Bishop John Stowe.

But bishops from around the country will be in attendance and take part in the essential words of the Prayer of Ordination, the text of which dates to the second or third century: “Now pour forth upon this chosen one the power that is from you, the governing Spirit, whom you gave to your beloved Son Jesus Christ and whom he gave to the holy Apostles ….” During this prayer, as a sign that faithful preaching of the word of God is the preeminent obligation of a bishop, the Book of Gospels is held open above the head of the bishop-elect by two deacons.

The new bishop, whose hands were anointed at his priestly ordination, now has his head anointed as a sign of sharing in the high priesthood of Christ. Then, as he is presented with the Book of Gospels, he is exhorted to “preach the word of God with all patience and sound teaching.”

Presentation of ring: The new bishop then receives the symbols of his office. “The presentation of the ring symbolizes the bishop’s fidelity to the Bride of God, the Church; the investiture with the miter signifies his resolve to pursue holiness; the presentation of the crosier signifies the duty of guiding and governing the Church entrusted to him,” the ritual explains.

Conclusion: The rite of ordination concludes with the bishop sharing the fraternal kiss with his brother bishops, symbolizing his admission to the College of Bishops. Mass continues, with the newly ordained bishop taking first place among the concelebrating bishops.

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: What to know about ordination of El Paso Bishop-elect Anthony Celino