New Bishop of Texas is Seated

C. Andrew Doyle was seated at Christ Church Cathedral, Houston on June 7, 2009 with trumpets volleys and kettledrums reverberating among the 1000 plus congregation. Bishop Doyle promised to “be a faithful shepherd and servant,” and processed with the dean to the front of the church where, facing Bishop Don Wimberly, he petitioned to be recognized, invested and seated as the new head of the diocese. Marking the historic transition of leadership, Bishop Wimberly invited the two former diocesan bishops, Claude Payne and Maurice Benitez to participate in asking. All three stood side by side to ask Bishop Doyle to reaffirm the promises he made when he was ordained and consecrated a bishop on November 22, 2008. He promised to support all the baptized, guard the faith, unity and discipline of the Church and share in the government of the whole Church. Then with all three holding the 160 year old, ornate brass crosier as Bishop Wimberly said, “Now I, by the authority committed to me, and with the consent of those who have chosen you, do invest you, Charles Andrew Doyle, as Bishop of Texas, with all the temporal and spiritual rights and responsibilities that pertain to that office … On behalf of the people and clergy of the Diocese of Texas, I give into your hands this pastoral staff. May Christ the Good Shepherd uphold you and sustain you as you carry it in his name...”

Bishop Doyle received the pastoral staff as he promised to fulfill the responsibilities and obligations of the office as leader of the 154 congregations, 67 schools and 11 institutions of the Diocese of Texas. Dean Reynolds escorted him to the Bishop’s see, a highly carved chair to the left of the Cathedral’s altar saying, in the name of the Cathedral and on behalf of the people of the diocese, “I install you, Andrew, in the chair appointed to our office. May the Lord stir up in you the flame of holy charity, and the power of faith that overcomes the world. Amen.” Bishop Doyle took his seat momentarily before proclaiming the Peace and Celebrating the Holy Eucharist.