Nov. 19--Blase Cupich, the new archbishop of Chicago, expressed his gratitude to members of religious orders and lay movements during a Wednesday morning prayer service for them at Holy Name Cathedral.
Emphasizing that religious orders had shaped his faith significantly, Cupich said he could remember the names of all eight sisters who taught him in grade school.
Members of religious orders "have such a day-to-day real-life experience with those they encounter, they suddenly become family," Cupich said.
Cupich started his first full day as archbishop of Chicago with an 8 a.m. Mass at Holy Name before walking to work at the Roman Catholic archdiocese's headquarters. He returned to the cathedral for the prayer service. A second prayer service Wednesday evening for deacons, aspiring deacons and their spouses will cap the three days of installation ceremonies for Cupich.
During the morning service, he sat in the cathedra, or teaching chair, which had been moved in front of the altar from the rear of the sanctuary, since the service would not include a Mass.
"I hope you don't mind if I stay seated as I talk to you," he said.
Then, in a reference to the cathedra in a cathedral, he joked: "This building is, after all, named after a chair."
The chair will not return to the rear of the sanctuary, said Monsignor Dan Mayall, rector of Holy Name Cathedral. Cupich wants it to be closer to the people, he said. Just how that will be accomplished still needs to be determined, Mayall said.
But once it is in place, the new archbishop's coat of arms will go on display, he said. The coat of arms of retired archbishop, Cardinal Francis George, was removed Monday night. He was not present at Wednesday morning's service.
mbrachear@tribpub.com
