On
July 16, we celebrated a special Mass in which Archbishop Etienne was
invested with the pallium, the sign of his office as metropolitan
Archbishop. Because of the pandemic, attendance was strictly limited,
but representatives of many different groups in the Archdiocese,
including women religious and multicultural communities, Chancery staff,
deacons, and seminarians were able to participate, maintaining physical
distance and wearing face coverings throughout.
Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States,
conferred the pallium on Archbishop Etienne on behalf of Pope Francis,
whose official representative he is.
Many
of the priests of the Archdiocese were able to be present as well.
The pallium is a band of wool which is worn around the shoulders of
metropolitan Archbishops.
It is rich in symbolism. It suggests the
gentle yoke of Christ, and is a reminder of the strong bonds betwen the
Archbishop, the local Church, and the Holy See.
Back
in 2015, Pope Francis restored an older tradition, whereby the pallium
would be conferred in the Archbishop's Cathedral, rather than in Rome,
so that the local Church can witness and participate in this important
moment.
"May
this pallium be a symbol of unity and a sign of your communion with the
Apostolic See,
a bond of love, and an incentive to courage."
Hundreds more joined in the liturgy via livestream!
In
his homily, Archbishop Pierre reflected on our prophetic call "to bring
good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim
liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, To announce a year of
favor from the LORD" (Isaiah 61:1-2).
At
the conclusion of the Mass, Archbishop Etienne spoke: "I want you all to
know that every time I put this pallium on—and my practice is to wear
this every time I celebrate Eucharist, not just on special
occasions—every time I place the pallium on my shoulders, it’s all of
you that I wear, because it’s all of you that, as pastor, I carry in my
heart and my prayer, and most especially who I take with me to this
altar every day."
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