Our thanks once again to our friend Teresa Chisolm for sending in these photos, along with her description of a very rare liturgical event, the traditional rite of installation of a pastor.
On February 5, His Grace the Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Archbishop of Detroit, installed Canon Michael Stein of the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest, as Pastor of St Joseph Oratory in Detroit. A Solemn High Mass with Palestrina’s Missa Aeterna Christi Munera followed the rare Installation ceremony. The ceremony beautifully displays the fundamental duties of a pastor. Here are photos of the day; the full album of images may be found on the St Joseph Oratory Facebook page.
With the Gospel placed on his lap, the Archbishop receives the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity of the Pastor.
Archbishop Vigneron guides Canon Stein to open and close the doors of the tabernacle and touch the ciborium.
The Schola chants the Magnificat antiphon and verse from Second Vespers of the feast of the church’s patron, St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the pastor sings the Collect from the same feast.
Finally, the Archbishop invites him to ascend the high pulpit. Canon Stein briefly reflected on how the Installation shows so beautifully that within Holy Mother Church, any and all authority is received. St Peter received it from Our Lord, the bishops receive it from the Apostles, the pastor from the bishop.
The Archbishop gave a moving sermon on the Epistle of the day, Colossians 3, 12-17, and the Gospel parable of the sower and the cockle, Matthew 13, 24-30. Speaking on the triumph of Christ, Archbishop Vigneron proclaimed, “He is victorious as a priest, as the one who offers sacrifice. And so whatever our trials are in life, whatever the cockle is that burdens us, that gets in our way, by facing it with confidence, with abandonment to God’s providence, it becomes a sacrifice, something pleasing to Our Father.”
The Archbishop first imposes the pastoral stole at the entrance.
Entrance procession with Ecce Sacerdos Magnus by Maximillian Stadler.
Chanting of the Veni Creator Spiritus.
With the Gospel placed on his lap, the Archbishop receives the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity of the Pastor.
Archbishop Vigneron guides Canon Stein to open and close the doors of the tabernacle and touch the ciborium.
The Schola chants the Magnificat antiphon and verse from Second Vespers of the feast of the church’s patron, St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the pastor sings the Collect from the same feast.
The Archbishop leads the pastor to ring the sacristy bell (alternatively, the church bell),
to open and close the front door of the church,
to open and close the baptismal font,
to enter the confessional, (here, one of four in the church).
Finally, the Archbishop invites him to ascend the high pulpit. Canon Stein briefly reflected on how the Installation shows so beautifully that within Holy Mother Church, any and all authority is received. St Peter received it from Our Lord, the bishops receive it from the Apostles, the pastor from the bishop.
During the Asperges, the Archbishop blesses the Ministers.
The Archbishop gave a moving sermon on the Epistle of the day, Colossians 3, 12-17, and the Gospel parable of the sower and the cockle, Matthew 13, 24-30. Speaking on the triumph of Christ, Archbishop Vigneron proclaimed, “He is victorious as a priest, as the one who offers sacrifice. And so whatever our trials are in life, whatever the cockle is that burdens us, that gets in our way, by facing it with confidence, with abandonment to God’s providence, it becomes a sacrifice, something pleasing to Our Father.”
