Two days of installation festivities begin with celebration of vespers and music

Intermountain Catholic

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Diocesan Chancellor Deacon Silvio Mayo, Bishop-designate John C. Wester, and Deacon Scott Dodge of the Cathedral of the Madeleine approach the altar of Saint Ann Church in Salt Lake City March 12, for the Vesper service, evening prayer before a social and dinner.

SALT LAKE CITY — "O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me," sang the choristers of the Madeleine Choir School and members of the Cathedral of the Madeleine Choir at the evening prayer service for the installation of Bishop-designate John C. Wester at St. Ann Church March 13.

"The choir put the congregation into a prayerful frame of mind with their beautiful music," Bishop Wester later said of the vesper service.

Bishop Wester welcomed the congregation, especially those who came from so far away. He said, "this is a time for me to allow all of you in the Diocese of Salt Lake City to offer your welcome to me.

"I thank your past bishop, Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco, for the blow by blow description he gave me of the cold winters here," said Bishop Wester. "I brought my gloves and hat and now it’s not cold at all. However, two weeks ago the movers stopped about a half a mile short of the residence because they could not get up the hill because of the snow...

"In the first reading, James is looking at different types of faith," said Bishop Wester. "There was a study performed in a school where teachers divided into three groups. The teachers told the first group that not much was expected of them. The second group was told they would do fine. The third group was told they were geniuses.

"The teachers gave all the students the same test. The first group did poorly. The second group did average, and the third group did very well.

"It is interesting because it seems our actions are centered around what we do instead of who we are. In the first reading, James contrasts one type of faith, a merely verbal faith, with another type of faith that is displayed in actions – a faith that is active, persevering, faithful, obedient, and loving. This kind of faith, James tells us, fully innovates our lives in all we do so our actions flow from who we are. Our actions flow from our faith."

Bishop Wester said this same story from James also occurs on the seventh Sunday in the B cycle and the 24th Sunday in the Gospel, where Jesus asks, "Do you know who I am?" The first part of the Gospel reflects on who Jesus is – a person who is deep in faith and love. In the second part of the Gospel Jesus tells us in order to follow him we must lay down our lives and take up our crosses. "Clearly Jesus is an example for us whose actions spring forth from faith."

Prior to his installation, Bishop Wester said he was thinking about all he had been doing and all he will be doing. He said it seems our first calling in this celebration and installation, is to concentrate not so much on what we do, but who we are. Who we are as leaders of the faith, as bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and all the wonderful people who make up this Diocese of Salt Lake City.

"I think it is wonderful that our first moments together are moments of prayer," said Bishop Wester. "They are moments of coming together in social interactions, forging those bonds that will see us through in the future. We place our trust in God. As you and I start on this threshold of a faith journey, I know that our actions will speak louder than words because our action are rooted in faith."