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At ordination Mass, Bishop Cozzens says heart of Mary must be our guide

Bishop Andrew Cozzens has a brief prayerful moment before the start of his episcopal ordination Mass Dec. 9 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Waiting in line with him for the processional are Father Thomas Margevicius, second from left, who assisted Bishop Cozzens during the Mass, and Bishop Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Superior, Wis. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Cozzens as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Oct. 11.  (Photos by Dave Hrbacek)
Bishop Andrew Cozzens has a brief prayerful moment before the start of his episcopal ordination Mass Dec. 9 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Waiting in line with him for the processional are Father Thomas Margevicius, second from left, who assisted Bishop Cozzens during the Mass, and Bishop Peter Christensen of the Diocese of Superior, Wis. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Cozzens as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Oct. 11. (Photos by Dave Hrbacek)

What began in peaceful reflection ended in jubilant celebration when Bishop Andrew Cozzens was ordained in a packed Cathedral of St. Paul Dec. 9 on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In his address to the assembly of local faithful, clergy members and area bishops, Bishop Cozzens continued the Marian theme of the Mass, referencing the feast day and the motto he chose, “Praebe nobis cor tuum” (“Mary, lend us your heart”).

“Let us turn our eyes to Mary because she’s the one who was conceived without sin,” he said. “Sometimes we might think that makes her far from us or different from us. But we know it’s actually sin that separates us one from another. Because Mary is sinless, she’s even closer to us.

Archbishop John Nienstedt delivers his homily during the ordination Mass. The archbishop was the principal celebrant of the Mass, and Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn and Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth served as co-consecrators.
Archbishop John Nienstedt delivers his homily during the ordination Mass. The archbishop was the principal celebrant of the Mass, and Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn and Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth served as co-consecrators.
Bishop Cozzens lies prostrate during the Litany of Supplication.
Bishop Cozzens lies prostrate during the Litany of Supplication.

“Let us ask her to lend us her heart, so that we may love Jesus with the same humility and purity that she has, so that we might learn to love the way she loves, which is the way Jesus loves,” he said.

Archbishop John Nienstedt, principal consecrator and celebrant, led the congregation in verses from “Ave Maria” at the start of his homily and said that, just as God had a plan for Mary, he has a plan for the rest of the world, including Bishop Cozzens, who now faces “quite a job description.”

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Archbishop Nienstedt lays hands on Bishop Cozzens.
Archbishop Nienstedt lays hands on Bishop Cozzens.
All bishops present join in the prayer of ordination.
All bishops present join in the prayer of ordination.

“The title of bishop is one of service, not honor,” Archbishop Nienstedt said. “In that context, the bishop is to minister to the word of God in season and out.”

“The Church reminds every bishop to follow the example of the Good Shepherd, not only for the 99 that remain in the sheep pen, but also for the one or more who have wandered away because they were misinformed or weak, marginalized or a stranger, no longer practicing or alienated for whatever reason,” he said. “The bishop, because he is Catholic, has a universal perspective on his mission of evangelization. He is called to witness the truth of the Catholic faith on behalf of those who are Catholic, non-Catholic and even non-believers. None of these must escape his notice or his pastoral concern.”

After receiving his crosier and miter, Bishop Cozzens is applauded by the congregation, including Deacon Joseph Michalak, right.
After receiving his crosier and miter, Bishop Cozzens is applauded by the congregation, including Deacon Joseph Michalak, right.
Applauding the newly ordained Bishop Cozzens are his parents, Jack, right, and Judy Cozzens and other family members.
Applauding the newly ordained Bishop Cozzens are his parents, Jack, right, and Judy Cozzens and other family members.

Both Archbishop Nienstedt and Bishop Cozzens condemned the clergy sexual misconduct that has come to light recently and called for healing and justice. Bishop Cozzens said that the sinful members of the Church do not change the holiness of the Church, which has Christ as its foundation.

“You and I must seek to live the fullness of the truth of the Gospel that Jesus Christ reveals,” he said. “You and I must seek to become like Jesus. . . . When we have the love of Jesus in our hearts, then we can love like Jesus.”
Archbishop Emeritus Harry Flynn of St. Paul and Minneapolis and Bishop Paul Sirba of Duluth served as co-consecrators at the Mass.

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Cozzens as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis on Oct. 11. He joins Bishop Lee Piché, the archdiocese’s other auxiliary bishop, in assisting Archbishop Nienstedt in the leadership of the archdiocese.

Bishop Cozzens walks the aisles of the Cathedral to give his Episcopal Blessing to the congregation.
Bishop Cozzens walks the aisles of the Cathedral to give his Episcopal Blessing to the congregation.
 


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