By Janet Marcel
The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is rich in cultural diversity and the gifts of many cultures that make the church stronger, Bishop Shelton J. Fabre said Oct. 30.
He made the comments in the homily at his installation Mass at Cathedral of St. Francis de Sales in Houma.
On Sept. 23 Pope Francis appointed him as the fourth bishop of Houma-Thibodaux, succeeding Bishop Sam G. Jacobs, 75, who retired after leading the diocese for 10 years.
About 1,000 people attended the installation Mass at the cathedral. The congregation included religious, diocesan employees, staff members of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, where Bishop Fabre was an auxiliary until his appointment, as well as his family and friends and Catholics from throughout the diocese.
An overflow crowd viewed the installation on a large rear-projection screen in the courtyard outside of the cathedral.
New Orleans Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond installed Bishop Fabre in his new post. Concelebrants included Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio to the United States, three other archbishops, 20 bishops, one abbot, approximately 200 clergy, who included priests of the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese and friends of Bishop Fabre. Several deacons also were in the sanctuary.
Bishop Fabre, who turned 50 Oct. 25, began his homily by thanking those present for being with him as he began his new journey. He said that since the public announcement of his appointment, he has had the opportunity to meet many people in the diocese including diocesan clergy, staff and seminarians.
“It was during the course of a gathering with the seminarians that I was playfully asked by one seminarian if I planned after my arrival here to take a pirogue (small boat) ride down the bayou, just as (missionary) Pere Menard had probably often done when he first brought the faith to this immediate area,” said the bishop.
Bishop Fabre said he was “intrigued by this invitation to root myself in the rich, wonderful Catholic history of this area by re-enacting” the missionary’s travels.
“As I have been driving along the bayous in my initial ventures into the diocese, I actually envisioned Pere Menard, Father Souby, another pioneer in faith, and our other ancestors in faith traveling in the area as best they could to bring the presence and comfort of the church to so many.”
He spoke to the congregation about how each is called by the Lord, and how that call “is not only a vocational call to holy orders, the sacrament of marriage or the single life. The call is ongoing, renews itself and echoes in every single aspect of our lives.”
The Lord’s call “also has a communal dimension, as together we are called by God as the church,” Bishop Fabre said.
“Indeed, what a blessing to join together as individuals and as the church in Houma-Thibodaux to respond in trust to God’s call to go out into the deep,” he said. “We can therefore expect the miraculous blessings promised to those who recognize that what is needed is not always expertise, but rather simple, trusting faith.”
In his remarks to the congregation at the start of Mass, Bishop Jacobs said how grateful he was the pope had appointed Bishop Fabre as his successor. “After knowing (him) for seven years, I believe (he) is the right person for this diocese at this time,” he added.
Archbishop Vigano followed Bishop Jacobs’ remarks by quoting from an address Pope Francis gave to a group of recently appointed bishops: “Be pastors with the odor of the sheep, present in your people’s midst like Jesus, the good shepherd. Your presence is not secondary, it is indispensable presence!”
The pope said people “want to see their bishop walk with them and be near them. … A pastoral presence means walking with the people of God, walking in front of them, showing them the way, showing them the path, walking in their midst, to strengthen them in unity; walking behind them, to make sure no one gets left behind but especially, never to lose the scent of the people of God in order to find new roads.”
After Archbishop Vigano read the apostolic letter of appointment, Archbishop Aymond asked Bishop Fabre if he was willing to accept the leadership of the diocese. Bishop Fabre accepted and was escorted to the cathedra, the chair from which the bishop exercises his role as teacher of the church.
Archbishop Aymond presented the crozier to Bishop Fabre and he was seated in the cathedra to a thunderous round of applause.
The newly installed bishop was then greeted by members of the diocesan clergy, representatives from some of the different ethnic groups within the diocese, ecumenical representatives, civic leaders and diocesan staff.
Representatives from various cultural groups of the diocese read the intercessions. The Cathedral Choir of St. Francis de Sales, the St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Choir, and a brass ensemble of local musicians provided music for the celebration.
Following the installation, hundreds of people gathered at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center to meet and congratulate the new bishop of Houma-Thibodaux. – CNS