bishop foys?

Answer 1

In a 2-hour ordination ceremony filled with incense, pomp and circumstance, Monsignor Roger J. Foys was ordained Monday 15, 2002 as the 10th bishop of Covington, and installed to oversee the 89,000-member diocese.

Thirteen bishops current and retired joined the incense-rich procession down the aisle of Covington's Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption to participate in the rites.

Bishop Foys, 56, said he was overwhelmed and humbled by the standing-room, invitation-only crowd of 1,100. Before the conclusion of the ceremony, he told the audience that up to the moment he was ordained and installed, he had thoughts of gratitude, anxiety, joy and hope.

“For my part, I pledge that I, unworthy as I am, with the help of God, will be the best bishop I can be to and for you,” he said.

As he was trying to keep his comments brief to the crowd, an errant note rang out from the organ. The new bishop said, “I'm almost done!” And the crowd burst out in laughter.

During the ordination rite, Most Rev. Gabriel Montalvo, the apostolic nuncio and the Vatican's official representative to the United States, read a letter from Pope John Paul II, calling the new bishop to his office.

Retired Bishop William Hughes, who led the Diocese of Covington from 1979 to 1995, anointed Bishop Foys' head in the ordination rite.

The new bishop was presented with his ring, his miter and his pastoral staff, and took his seat in the bishop's chair known as the cathedra

It was 79 years ago to the day the last time a bishop was simultaneously ordained and installed at the Basilica. On July, 15, 1923, the Most Reverend Francis W. Howard was installed, at the same age as Bishop Foys. Bishop Howard served until 1944.

Bishop Foys, who served for 20 years as vicar general of the Diocese of Steubenville, replaces Bishop Robert Muench. Bishop Muench became bishop of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La., on March 14 after six years in Covington.

Bishop Foys learned of his appointment to Northern Kentucky just one day after a $50 million class-action lawsuit was filed against the diocese in Fayette County