On August 28th, The Feast of Saint Augustine, Bishop David Ricken was installed as Bishop of The Diocese of Green Bay. It was in this diocese where I spent my formative years. While the last several leaders of this diocese were good men, they never seemed to really "click" with the priests and the people of northeastern Wisconsin. From first appearances, Bishop Ricken seems to have made an initial connection with his flock. During the homily at his installation Mass, he sang some songs, including "Drop Kick Me Jesus Through The Goalpost of Life" - very appropriate in Green Bay given that the Packers were to play their final exhibition game a few hours after the Mass and even fewer miles away from St. Francis Xavier Cathedral.
Perhaps the best sign that Bishop Ricken is one of us came when people from the community greeted him during the Mass. One woman tripped and fell immediately after greeting Bishop Ricken. She fell onto his shepherd's crosier, causing him to lose his balance and fall. Not one to be flustered, he later mentioned that "My people are falling for me already and I am falling for them." May Bishop Ricken bring some fresh and humble air to the flock of shepherds in Wisconsin.
To see a video clip from Fox 11 news that includes Bishop Ricken's singing and falling, go to: http://www.myfoxnewisconsin.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=CC174EB1626759AF6D2E65DBA0B1D5FE?contentId=7311495&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
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