{Photojournalism} Bishop Weisenburger's ordination/installation

About 2 weeks ago, I once again found myself at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. Not for a wedding, but for an ordination. I've been photographing ordinations for the Diocese of Salina for a few years now, but this was a special one. Instead of ordaining a deacon or priest, it was the Bishop of the diocese (the head boss) who was being ordained.

The priests you see above came to Salina from Oklahoma for the event, because Bishop Weisenburger is originally from Oklahoma. These guys are just a fraction of the more than 100 priests who were present at the event.

There is a LOT of ceremony in ordinations. It's stepped up even more when it's an Episcopal ordination (meaning, it's a Bishop). A representative from Rome comes with an official decree from the Pope. It is read, then examined by a panel of priests.

In the left column, Oklahoma City Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius Beltran extends his hands over Weisenburger in the Laying on of Hands.

In the right column of this photo collage is Archbishop Joseph Naumann, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, anointing Weisenburger with oil and praying the prayer of ordination. In the lower right photo, you'll see Deacons Brian and Gale holding the Book of Gospels over Bishop's head. In the last dozen years, I've been to 4 Episcopal ordinations, and this is the most memorable part (because it's not done at other types of ordinations I"ve seen before). I kept teasing the Deacons beforehand - don't drop the book on your new boss' head or you'll be exiled to a far corner of the Diocese! Fortunately, no book was dropped.