Archbishop Rodi installed in Mobile By Terry Dickson
MOBILE, Ala. (CNS) — Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi, a native of New Orleans who as bishop of Biloxi, Miss., was lauded for his leadership following Hurricane Katrina, was installed as the second archbishop of Mobile during a pageantry-filled liturgy June 6 at the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Archbishop Rodi succeeds Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb, who shepherded the archdiocese for almost 28 years. The Diocese of Jackson is part of the Archdiocese of Mobile.
The new archbishop thanked his predecessor for his welcome, his kindness and his encouragement in the aftermath of Katrina.
“I am delighted that you will continue to be a blessing to all of us in your ministry among us and, on behalf of all of us, please know you have our respect, our affection and our gratitude,” Archbishop Rodi said in his homily.
Despite sweltering heat, hundreds filled the historic cathedral-basilica for the 90-minute celebration.
It began with a procession of nearly 200 priests and 25 archbishops and bishops, including Atlanta Archbishop Wilton Gregory, former president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; New Orleans Archbishop Alfred Hughes; retired New Orleans Archbishop Francis Schulte; Bishop Robert Baker of Birmingham; and Bishop Joseph N. Latino of Jackson, Miss.
Representatives of different faith communities also were in attendance.
In his homily, Archbishop Rodi remarked the date of his installation coincided with the anniversary of D-Day, commemorating the Allied invasion of Normandy during World War II, and offered thanks to all veterans and those currently serving in the armed forces.
He prayed “our military will always be a force of peace in our world.”
Archbishop Rodi, who will serve as apostolic administrator for the Biloxi diocese until a new bishop is named, thanked the people of the diocese for “the privilege to serve” as their bishop and for their “example of strength, character and resilience in the face of adversity,” as well as for their faith, generosity and love for the church.
He also thanked his family, including his two sisters, Sheila Rodi Sullivan and Dottie Rodi Kightlinger, who were at the Mass.
Archbishop Rodi, who delivered a portion of his homily in Spanish, also touted the Archdiocese of Mobile’s rich diversity, calling it a “source of unity.”
That diversity was reflected in the liturgy, which included prayers and hymns in Spanish and Vietnamese.
Noting Catholics are just a small percentage of Alabama’s population, Archbishop Rodi said, “When the Lord sent out his disciples, they were even a smaller percentage of the Roman Empire and he had confidence in them.
“With God’s help, serving with you and for you, I look forward that we, the people of the Archdiocese of Mobile, will be the yeast, the leaven of the Lord, in our beloved Alabama,” he said.
Those unable to attend the Mass at the cathedral-basilica watched the ceremony via closed-circuit video at a nearby theater.
Afterward, a line of well-wishers snaked around Cathedral Square for a chance to greet the new archbishop.
Mike Ladner, superintendent of education for the Diocese of Biloxi, said he had mixed emotions.
“Archbishop Rodi is a very, very good leader. We will miss that in the Diocese of Biloxi,” Ladner said. “He has brought us from ruins to a good position to move our Catholic schools forward — at least that’s where I’ve been working with him. I know the Archdiocese of Mobile is going to benefit from Archbishop Rodi’s stellar leadership. He’s a good leader. He’s a godly man.”
