April 11, 2008
A Shepherd's Message
Dedication Homily, Part 1
By Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Editor’s Note: The following are excerpts from Cardinal DiNardo’s homily at the Mass of
Dedication for the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. The Herald will run the conclusion of
the homily in its next issue.
Six weeks ago, I received a letter from Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, the Secretary of State of the
Holy See, in which he shared with me, and now the whole archdiocese, the Holy Father’s
greetings on the occasion of the Dedication of our new Co-Cathedral. It reads:
Your Eminence, the Holy Father was pleased to learn that on 2 April next, you will consecrate
the new Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Galveston. On this happy occasion, he sends
cordial greetings and good wishes to you, to Archbishop Emeritus Joseph A. Fiorenza who
was responsible for this significant pastoral initiative, and to all the clergy, religious and laity
of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
His Holiness prays that the new Cathedral will be a sanctuary where almighty God is glorified
in his majesty, a center of ecclesial life where the beauty and richness of the Catholic faith
are proclaimed with power, and a place where the faithful are spiritually nourished, to fulfill
their mission as joyful witnesses to the Gospel. It is his hope that all those who enter its doors
will draw inspiration from the rich Catholic heritage of the American Southwest and find
renewed strength to serve the spreading of Christ’s Kingdom and the growth of his Church in
holiness, unity and peace.
With these sentiments, His Holiness commends you and the flock entrusted to your care to
the infinite mercy and love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. To all of you, he cordially imparts his
Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of abundant divine graces. I willingly take the occasion to offer
my personal good wishes for the occasion.
We are truly honored by this communication from the Holy Father through the Secretary of State.
The succinctness of the letter runs the full range of the reality of this event. We are grateful to
Pope Benedict XVI, and the words above will set the tone for my homily on the readings, prayers
and gestures for this Mass of the Dedication of a Church.
As I look around, I realize that this local Church is blessed by representatives of other local
Churches from this country and other countries. I am grateful for the presence of Cardinal Roger
Mahony from Los Angeles; Cardinal Adam Maida from Detroit; Cardinal Henry Keeler, retired
Archbishop of Baltimore and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, retired Archbishop of Washington for
their presence. Not seen by us, but here with us doing the television commentary, is Cardinal
John Foley, for years the voice of the Vatican, broadcasting papal ceremonies and doing the
same today; thank you, Cardinal Foley.
There are archbishops and bishops here. I mention Archbishop Gomez of San Antonio, and the
Bishops of Texas. There are brother bishops from many states. From Canada, I mention
Archbishop Miller of Vancouver, who knows a great deal about Houston, and Bishop Camilleri
from Honduras, and Archbishop Thomas Caputo, Apostolic Nuncio to Malta, is here as an
honorary Houstonian.
We are a Church always in communion with other dioceses, in communion with those who have
gone before us, especially in communion with the See of Peter. This is a communion with the
Church “present.” The communion with the past, but never absent Church, can be seen in the
relics of saints soon to be placed under the altar.
Our communion with the present in this local Church leads me to the First Reading today. The
readings are proclaimed from this ambo, the place for the Word of God and for teaching the
Word. It is a table of nourishment, and from it comes the Word of Jesus Christ. Hearing us repeat
the words of Jesus, the Father’s joy wells up as He says, “These are my children.” The word of
Christ purifies and fills us with His fragrance. This allows us to receive the mind of Christ Our
Light, and to do what He does and says. This is the place for the Liturgy of the Word.
The books of Ezra and Nehemiah are considered mirror images of each other. The religious
leader, Ezra, and the national leader, Nehemiah, each exhibits important characteristics for the
re-forming of the Israelite nation after the disaster of the Babylonian exile. Intent on the God of
the Covenant, they help “rebuild” the city of Jerusalem by re-enlivening the people, exiles
returned and those who never left but lost heart. As Nehemiah 9 says, “We will not neglect the
house of our God.” The rebuilt Temple needs further work and purification. But that work most
especially concerns the knowledge of the Covenant of the Law. The Liturgy recorded in today’s
First Reading is one of catechists and instruction in the covenant, a rite meant for all the people,
even the young. Both Ezra and Nehemiah are present. The Levites care not only for the ritual and
liturgy but help in instruction.
If we could, in our imagination, combine Ezra and Nehemiah, we would find a person of spiritual
insight, a shepherd and a master of practical matters. We have that in Archbishop Fiorenza. I
want to express my deepest gratitude for the long labor of love that Archbishop Fiorenza has
performed in bringing this Cathedral to completion. For many years now, he has had the vision
and practical know-how to lead the work. From all of us, Archbishop, our thanks. By right you
should be dedicating this church, but cardinals being what they are, I am doing it, though you will
be completely involved in the consecration of the altar. I add my own personal gratitude for the
fact that Archbishop Fiorenza has worked tirelessly to make sure the building is paid for!
Archbishop Fiorenza has brought many donors to this project, and some, major donors of
immense generosity. Many are here today and I publicly thank them. But the donors are in the
thousands, and I want to thank you all for any contribution to this place, for it is our home as a
diocesan church. Working, as we say, in strict communion with Archbishop Fiorenza has been
our Development Office; under Roz Hill’s excellent leadership, the details of time, talent and
treasure about this building and the considerable logistics involved in preparation for this day
have been well orchestrated. To all in the Development Office, I offer our gratitude.
To have vision and know-how require bringing on architects and contractors, liturgical advisors
and artists, artisans and craftsmen. I want to thank Ziegler Cooper Architects and Scott Ziegler for
their architectural vision for this building, its sense of strength and transcendence and for the truly
striking play of light in this building. I thank Linbeck Construction and Leo Linbeck III for their
professional excellence and technical know-how for realizing the architectural plan. Amidst the
many carpenters, electricians, stone and glass workers, I want to point out Mark Gore who, as
project manager, truly has been conscientious and perseverant day by day for the realization of
the beauty present here. Our thanks! From the side of the Archdiocese, Tony Rourke was spirited
and dedicated and represented us daily in construction. I also thank Rolf Rohn and his liturgical
consultants group for their excellent contribution to the internal liturgical appointments for the
Cathedral.
Archbishop Fiorenza placed Bishop Rizzotto and a group of people, including Father Gately,
rector of this Cathedral, David Wood of the Worship Office and others for internal decoration, and
they have worked steadily for the realization of this beautiful interior, along with architects and
contractors.
The church building is realized, and it is meant for God’s People. The Bell Tower summons you
and the stained-glass window of Christ rising above Houston visually beckons you. The Lord calls
us as he called Zachaeus: “Come down and I will have supper with you today.”
I address my thanks to the faithful here present, to members of each parish of the archdiocese
who are here, to the Knights of Columbus and Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver, to the papal
Knights, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and the Knights of Malta, to representatives of various
ecclesial movements in the Universal Church, and a special welcome to our seminarians serving,
to the musicians, choir, cantors and liturgical assistants, our MCs, to a whole host of volunteers,
all who are here and fulfill their active role in the celebration of this Liturgy today. There are, in
your midst, leaders within the administrative and pastoral dimensions of the archdiocese. I salute
Bishop Vasquez, Christina Deajon, Msgr. Frank Rossi, the various department heads and all
chancery employees, together with all those who collaborated with me and them in the work of
the archdiocese.
Many are participants today through television; I want to thank the media for their attention and
genuine interest in this event and reality, and to thank Channel 13 for televising the Dedication
and their wonderful documentary on the new Co-Cathedral.