Miehm installed as bishop
Nearly 1,000 attend ceremony at St. Peter-in-Chains Cathedreal
Nearly 1,000 people packed the Catholic cathedral in Peterborough on Wednesday for a special mass to receive a new bishop.
Bishop Daniel Miehm was installed at St. Peter-in-Chains in a service that lasted two hours.
Miehm, 56, is the 13th bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Peterborough.
He replaces Bishop William McGrattan, who was installed in 2014 and re-assigned to Calgary in February (where he replaced a bishop who retired).
Miehm was most recently an auxiliary bishop in Hamilton.
There was nary a seat in the church for his installation mass, and Miehm said it gave him “joy and hope” to see such a crowd.
During the homily, he told the faithful that he’s eager to meet each of them individually.
“I want to meet you ... to hear about your joys and sorrows,” he said.
The mass was attended by dozens of catholic priests and bishops, many from Hamilton.
Bishop McGrattan was there from Calgary, though he didn’t speak. Rev. Luigi Bonazzi, the Pope’s representative in Canada, was also there (he lives in Ottawa).
Bonazzi told the crowd that Miehm would be visiting Rome to meet with Pope Francis later this month. (Bishops meet regularly with the Pope to report on the state of their dioceses.)
Bonazzi called Miehm “a beautiful person” and wished him well in his new role.
“May your words cut to people’s hearts,” he said.
There were also many politicians, in the church: Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal was there, as well as Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock MPP Laurie Scott.
Peterborough-Kawartha MP Maryam Monsef was in the riding, but she was at another event.
Mayor Daryl Bennett was at the mass and so was Coun. Dan McWilliams.
As he processed into the church, Miehm blessed the assembly: that’s done by dipping a brush in Holy Water and shaking it repeatedly so droplets rain over people in the pews.
Although a new bishop is said to be “taking possession” of the church, Miehm said in his homily he doesn’t use that expression.
“I’m simply a pastor – not an invader,” he said.
Miehm also said he knows it’s difficult for Catholics “to go and announce the Lord” in an increasingly secular world.
“We’re in a society where faith is often pushed to the margins,” he said.
But he promised the faithful that he would walk alongside them “and carry out the mission that is ours.”
Miehm also made a few lighthearted remarks – at one point, he apologized for his somewhat lengthy homily.
“I rarely preach this long,” he promised. “I’m aware – for better or for worse – you’ll have years to listen to me.”
He added another personal note at the end of the service, pointing out his 93-year-old father, Jerry, in the church.
Miehm said he was delighted his father made the trip and was able to be at the service, despite frail health.
To have his father at the installation mass meant a lot, Miehm said: “It’s a source of great joy, and a blessing beyond measure.”
NOTE: See more photographs from the ceremony in the online gallery at www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com.