Nov. 17--In the first dramatic ritual of his installation as Chicago's next archbishop, Blase Cupich on Monday night will knock on the front doors of Holy Name Cathedral, where predecessor Cardinal Francis George, auxiliary bishops, and other civic and religious leaders will wait to greet him.
Cupich will be installed as Chicago's ninth archbishop Tuesday. But celebrations and rituals begin Monday and end Wednesday, with morning and evening prayer services. All of the services will take place at Holy Name. Attendance is limited to those who received invitations and tickets.
At the 7 p.m. ceremony, called the Rite of Reception, George will preside over the liturgy of the word and Cupich will deliver the homily. Prior to the service, there will be a procession of parish representatives.
"This is a tradition that goes back hundreds of years," said Todd Williamson, director of divine worship for the Chicago Archdiocese. "What it comes from is the bishop knocking with his crosier (staff)."
Cupich will pound with a rubber mallet. Monsignor Dan Mayall, Holy Names' pastor and rector, along with George and the auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese will open the doors to welcome him. Once inside, Cupich will receive the archdiocesan stole, or mantle, and a small replica of the cathedral's custom-made wooden crucifix, which he will kiss and use to bless those there to greet him.
After processing up to the sanctuary, civic leaders including Gov. Pat Quinn, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Croatia's consul general in Chicago, Jelena Grcic-Polic, will file up to shake his hand. (Cupich is Croatian-American.) Leaders from other religious traditions also will welcome Cupich to the archdiocese, including Bishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago, Rabbi Herman Schaalman of the Chicago Board of Rabbis and Chicago Episcopal Bishop Jeffrey Lee.
More than 80 members of the Cupich family will attend the ceremony, seated near the front.
"We don't see these rites every day," Williamson said. "They're small, but major in the life of the diocese."
Monday's reception is one of the most symbolic, he added. "There's a knock to be let in, to be received. Like any knock on the door, you want that door to be opened to you."
mbrachear@tribpub.com
