Moving up the priestly ranks
Msgr. Edward Meulemans recieves the distinctive hat of a monsignor, called a biretta, from
Bishop Peter Christensen. Msgr. Meulemans and one other priest were invested as to their
new roles June 27 at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior. They are the first to be installed
in the diocese since 1952. More than 300 people attended the Mass of investiture.
(The Catholic Herald/Bob King)
Cathryn Sprynczynatyk
Staff writer
SUPERIOR — People of the Superior diocese witnessed the investiture of two priests as monsignors for the first time in nearly 60 years. Msgr. Philip J. Heslin and Msgr. Edward G. Meulemans received the honor at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior, on June 27.
Msgrs. Heslin and Meulemans were each given the distinction of Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope Benedict XVI. According to Paul Birch, Director of the Office of Worship, the title dates back to the 14th century and allows priests who hold the honor to wear the regalia of a bishop.
“That’s the honor behind it,” Birch said. “You’re still a priest, but you have the honorary title of monsignor.”
The distinction given to the two priests recalls their service in the image of Christ as priest.
“Today all of us celebrate not just a title bestowed on two of our priests, but rather the life they have lived in service our Lord as priest,” Bishop Peter Christensen said. “In celebrating Fr. Heslin and Fr. Meulemans, we celebrate the vocation of the priesthood, and in celebrating the priesthood, we celebrate the good and faithful service of all our priests.”
Msgrs. Heslin and Meulemans have been priests for 53 and 50 years, respectively. Despite their earlier retirements, both priests continue to serve in various capacities.
Msgr. Heslin, ordained to the priesthood in 1957, has served in many parishes and ministries throughout the diocese. He has also taught at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and currently serves as Moderator of the Curia where he helps to standardize diocesan procedures and prepare for the shortage of priests.
“I didn’t get there all by myself; all of these people were there helping me get through all these things,” Msgr. Heslin said. “My work still goes on. This won’t improve my golf game any.”
In addition to his work within the chancery and parishes, Msgr. Heslin worked as executive director of the Superior Catholic Charities Bureau for 25 years. Current director Brian Soland worked with the monsignor during his tenure.
“He was a very inspiring and diligent leader,” Soland said. “He was always in what I would call an expansion mode. He wanted to make sure that the social ministry of Catholic Charities was represented throughout the diocese, not just here in Superior.”
After becoming a priest in 1960, Msgr. Meulemans spent the first part of his ministry in Catholic education. He worked as assistant principal and later diocesan superintendent of schools before being assigned as rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King.
“After 17 years I finally got to be where I always wanted to be — a pastor,” Msgr. Meulemans said.
He continued to serve as rector for 20 years before retiring in 1998.
“When I was ordained back in 1960, I had no idea how happy I would be, how fulfilled I would be as a priest,” Msgr. Meulemans said.
The monsignor currently serves at St. Peter Indian Mission School on the Gila River Reservation in Arizona. Sr. Elaine Turba, was one of several Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity connected with the Indian school who attended the liturgy.
“He’s very deserving,” Sr. Turba said. “He’s a very dedicated priest, a very humble man.”
Unlike pastors and bishops who are installed at parishes and dioceses, the ceremony for a monsignor is an investiture, as it is an honor signified by the ability to wear the regalia of a bishop rather than a new office. Although there is no prescribed ritual, for the past century it has been the custom to hold a public ceremony to honor a new ?monsignor.
At the Superior ceremony, each priest was vested in a white rochet, a garment worn over the cassock, and a distinctive hat called a biretta. These garments, blessed by Bishop Christensen, are meant to be worn at Mass. The monsignors were also given house cassocks with red piping and an amaranth red sash — the colors of a monsignor.
“It takes public acclaim to make a saint and public acclaim to make these two men monsignors,” Bishop Christensen said. |