By Julie Godfrey Miller
Superior Catholic Herald
Bishop Peter F. Christensen ordained
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ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Bishop Peter Forsyth Christensen was ordained as the 10th bishop of the Diocese of Superior Sept. 14, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. The day of the ordination was the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The presider and principal consecrator was Archbishop Harry J. Flynn of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Co-consecrating were Bishop Raphael M. Fliss, the retiring bishop of the Diocese of Superior, and Bishop William Bullock, retired bishop of Madison, Wis. Bullock was the pastor of Christensen's home parish, St. John the Baptist in Excelsior, Minn., while Christensen was a seminarian.
Serving as gift bearers were members of Christensen's family; his father, Bob Christensen Sr.; his brother Bob Christensen Jr.; and sisters Joan Johnson, Beth Farrell, Mary Hanson and Patty Henjum. His godmother, Colleen Kirst, was one of the readers; the other was Jan Beren, director of liturgy at Nativity of Our Lord Parish in St. Paul. Christensen has been pastor at that parish since 1999.
Parishioners from Nativity also participated in the liturgy as ushers, and students from Nativity of Our Lord School served as greeters, as did honor guards from St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, Minn., and Cretin-Durham Hall in St. Paul. The Nativity Choir and the Nativity of Our Lord School handbell ringers joined the diocesan choir and other musicians from the Cathedral of Saint Paul as ministers of music.
Serving as acolytes were students of the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity.
The procession included Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver and Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulcher.
As in the ordination of a deacon or a priest, the ordination rite for a bishop is contained within a Mass, and follows the Liturgy of the Word.
Hymn: The rite began with the hymn "Veni, Creator Spiritus," ("Come Creator Spirit"), invoking the power of the Holy Spirit.
Presentation of the bishop-elect: Fr. Daniel Dahlberg, vicar general of the Diocese of Superior, presented Bishop-elect Peter Forsyth Christensen and requested that he be ordained to the office of bishop.
Apostolic letter: The letter from Pope Benedict XVI, received by way of the apostolic nuncio (the pope's representative in the United States), was read. It authenticates the discernment process of the church and the pope in selecting Christensen for the episcopate.
Consent of the people: With applause the people gave their assent.
Homily: Flynn, as principal consecrator, delivered the homily to Christensen and the people on the duties of a bishop. He noted that the traditions of the church have been handed down through the unbroken succession of bishops and with Jesus Christ it continues and grows to this time, and added, "The title of bishop is one of service. It isn't one of might." Every bishop can attest to that, he said. "The greater should behave as the least and the ruler as the servant. ... In that beautiful diocese where you are replacing a bishop that was everything a bishop should be, be a steward."
"There's plenty of wisdom out there. Listen to it and then back it up with what the church is teaching us."
Examination of the candidate: Flynn examined Christensen about his readiness for ordination. Christensen responded with a public expression of his fidelity to the apostolic faith of the church and the church's liturgical, pastoral and social mission.
Litany of the Saints: The company of saints and the whole church were called on to pray as Christensen lay prostrate before the altar.
Laying on of hands: This is the heart of the rite and expresses the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Flynn laid his hands on Christensen's head, followed by co-ordainers Fliss and Bullock, and all of the bishops present.
Book of the Gospels: The opened Book of the Gospels was held over Christensen's head to express the power of the word of God. As the ordination worship aid stated, "The life of this new bishop must be thoroughly imbued with the spirit of God's Word which is the foundation of his ministry."
Anointing of the bishop's head: As a final sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Flynn anointed Christensen's head with chrism oil.
Presentation of the Book of the Gospels: The Book of Gospels was presented to Christensen as a symbol of his ministry of preaching and teaching.
Investiture with ring, miter and pastoral staff: Flynn slipped a ring on Christensen's finger, placed the miter on his head and presented him with his pastoral staff, also known as a crosier.
Kiss of peace: All of the bishops attending gave Christensen a gesture of peace as a sign of welcome.
After the rite of ordination, the Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist, with Christensen now joining the Flynn at the altar.
Following the prayer after Communion, Christensen was led through the cathedral to bless the people while the choir and the people sang the "Te Deum" ("You are God"). Christensen then addressed the assembly.
In thanking everyone involved in the ordination, he singled out the children of Nativity of Our Lord School, for their prayers. Christensen's crosier was missing somewhere between Europe and St. Paul. With their prayers, Christensen said, the crosier finally arrived on the morning of the ordination.
He thanked the bishops who traveled from all over to attend the ordination, saying that he is proud to call them brothers. He thanked the priests, expressing his gratitude for every one of them. "You have shown me what it means to be a priest. I see you much more deserving of this. Thank you my brother priests."
A reception followed the ordination Mass.
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2007