Months and months and hours upon hours of planning culminated into one day of prayer, pageantry and joy as we welcomed our new shepherd, Bishop David J. Malloy, during his ordination and installation ceremony, Monday, May 14.

Those of us who were consumed in the details of the planning process during those months are still enjoying the wave of positive energy that emanated from the event and from those who attended, watched on television or the Internet.

One of the centerpieces of the day was the altar space. Many people have commented how lovely the backdrop was and how it was subtle enough to let the importance of the ceremony take precedence but still powerful enough to evoke reverence.

I can honestly tell you that it took more than a few brains to agonize, create and tweak that look. But I can also tell you, that it was the Holy Spirit that made it meaningful.
Here is the story behind what you saw.

In the fall of 2011, a committee was formed to prepare for a new bishop. The committee was divided into specific planning categories such as liturgy, hospitality, communication, logistics, etc. Ideas and advice were gleaned from dioceses across the U.S. who also recently had to prepare for a new bishop. The structure of the planning process was put in place, agendas were set, outlines were written and all that was left to do was wait.

Immediately after the March 20 announcement naming Bishop Malloy as the ninth bishop here,  the flurry of planning began. 

One of the first things that could be done was choose a design for the program or worship aid for the ordination and installation and for vespers. The details could be filled in later. But the program is a big job and the more you get done early, the better.

Sharon Boehlefeld, features editor of The Observer, got the job of preparing mock programs for the ordination ceremony and for vespers.  Eight different designs were prepared. Msgr. Eric Barr said “show them around.” So at the very next monthly departmental meeting everyone got to critique the designs and we made a list of why people liked certain designs and why they disliked others. Everyone was brutally honest. The various designs featuring the Rose Window were not popular.  The design with an image of the Cathedral itself was the favorite.

Remember … all took this place before the date of the ordination was chosen.

At the time, the only thing the committee knew for sure is that the event absolutely could not be held at the most obvious place … the Cathedral of St. Peter because of space constraints. It had been 18 years since a new bishop was ordained and installed. The Rockford Diocese was getting a bishop that was within driving distance and many, many people knew him and wanted to be part of the happy and historic occasion.

The alternate venue was  the BMO Harris Bank Center. Planning a big event wasn’t the problem, after all, we had experience in planning the Diocesan Centennial in 2008 at the Convocation Center in DeKalb. 
But there was still some trepidation. How would we be able to turn the home of the Rockford Ice Hogs Hockey Team into a sacred space? How could we have a Mass in an arena surrounded by team banners and advertisements of soda brands, financial services, health centers and beer?

Use stained glass of course. Cover the advertising, take down the banners, get a crucifix and you’re good to go.

That’s when the Rose Window came back into view.

If stained glass would be used to cover advertising, why not go back to the program cover that would complement them?

A theme was born. The Rose Window would be used for the programs because it is part of the Cathedral that will be the bishop’s new home. The border of the window would be the model for the stained glass covers for all the advertising lights in the BMO Center.

Now enter, the Holy Spirit.

By this time, Bishop Malloy had chosen his motto and his coat of arms was created.

Not only did Bishop Malloy’s blazonry include symbols of his family heritage, but it included a lily symbolizing purity and virginity and the fact that Mary the Mother of God and her title of the Immaculate Conception is the patroness of the diocese and the U.S.

In the center of the Rose Window, Mary stands with a lily scepter.  The theme continued.
Bishop Malloy also chose the date for his ordination. It would be on the feast of St. Matthias. The liturgical color of the day would be red. Red is the predominate color of the Rose Window  and the color of the thin border chosen for the program.

One of the last details in preparing the BMO Center was to make sure the images projected behind the altar were clear and beautiful. On Friday, May 11, the images were put up for the first time. It was awful. The Rose Window looked good, but the two side images—the diocesan seal and Bishop Malloy’s Coat of Arms originally chosen for the projection were too detailed and disappeared into the background. What to do? How about more stained glass! The Cathedral of St. Peter not only has a stained glass window of St. Matthias, it also has a window in the  sacristry depicting King David. The Holy Spirit strikes again and the theme gets better.

So there you have it. After months of meetings, long hours and late night worries about every detail, the ordination and installation was a beautiful event reinforced by early little ideas we didn’t know we would like and to the behind-the-heart guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to all of you and thanks be to God.