WASHINGTON - Not every bishop gets, at his episcopal
ordination, a color guard from both the Knights of Columbus
and the U.S. military. Nor do they get both "The
Star-Spangled Banner" and "The Navy Hymn" sung at the
ordination Mass.
But when you are newly ordained for the Archdiocese for the
Military Services, as Bishop Robert J. Coyle was April 25,
you get that and a lot more - like being told by his new
boss, Archbishop Timothy M. Broglio, that he'll be working in
"a global archdiocese."
Bishop Coyle's appointment was announced Feb. 11, the same
day Pope Benedict XVI announced his intent to retire from the
papacy. In Bishop Coyle's remarks at the end of the two-hour,
45-minute ordination Mass, he said that alone would be enough
to make it a memorable occasion.
The new bishop spoke of his great affection for both Pope
Benedict and his predecessor, Blessed John Paul II. He also
referred of one of Archbishop Broglio's predecessors, the
late Cardinal John J. O'Connor of New York, as one of his
heroes.
In their respective military chaplaincies, both had served on
Okinawa. "He had served in the 3rd Marines as well," Bishop
Coyle said, adding that he once got a letter from the late
cardinal, recommending that the priest "stay close to him
(Jesus). He will never fail."
Bishop Coyle had spent 10 years as a chaplain in the Navy and
the Naval Reserves. That service is reflected on his
episcopal crest, which pictures a ship on the waters in full
sail, with the letter "M" on the sail - a nod to the "M"
Blessed John Paul used on his papal coat of arms to signify
Mary.
His episcopal motto is "Lord bid me come to you," which has
its own nautical roots. It is taken from Matthew 14, when
Peter says to Jesus, "Lord, bid me come to you in the water,"
and Jesus answers, "Come." Peter scrambles out of the boat
and starts walking on the water, but begins to sink and calls
for Jesus to save him, which Jesus does. After Peter is
saved, Jesus says to him, "Ye of little faith. Why did you
doubt?" Peter's answer: "Because I took my eyes off the
Lord."
"I venture on to new waters, and a new ministry," Bishop
Coyle said. Archbishop Broglio said Bishop Coyle would be
responsible for a "vicariate" consisting of 90 military
installations in the eastern half of the United States.
"You will need the vigor of youth," he said to his new,
48-year-old, auxiliary in his homily, "and the fire of the
Spirit to carry out this arduous task."
Archbishop Broglio noted that the Crypt Church of the
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception,
the ordination site, had many mosaics on its walls and
floors, likening it to mosaic of the military archdiocese,
which ministers to five military branches, the Veterans
Administration hospitals, and Foreign Service personnel
working outside the United States.
He also recalled the words of the Mass' Gospel passage from
St. Mark - whose feast was also April 25 - to "go out into
the world" to spread the Good News.
"The Apostles responded to his mandate," Archbishop Broglio
said. "The feast of St. Mark reminds us of the importance of
evangelization."
The archbishop took note of the challenges to evangelize in
the military archdiocese, with "a shortage of priests, a
growing flock and daunting distances." He thanked Bishop
Coyle "for your willingness to give up the familiar and
embrace the nomadic."