Catholics welcome Bishop Amos to Iowa

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By Deirdre Cox Baker | Tuesday, November 21, 2006 1:04 AM CST | () comments

Kevin E. Schmidt/QUAD-CITY TIMES Bishop Martin Amos celebrates the Eucharist during his installation Mass on Monday at St. John Vianney Church in Bettendorf.

Bishop Martin Amos knocked on the doors of a Quad-City church, and the people of the Catholic Diocese of Davenport stood to welcome him into their arms during his formal installation ceremony Monday.

Archbishop Jerome Hanus of the Archdiocese of Dubuque officially welcomed Amos through the open doors of St. John Vianney Church, Bettendorf, and bade him be a “loving father, gentle shepherd and wise teacher” to the faithful of the diocese that stretches over 22 counties in southeastern Iowa.

Later, during his homily, the new bishop discussed life’s journey. He spoke of an experience when he became lost during a walk and finally, after some difficulty, found his way back to a monastery.

“Life is like this,” he said, noting that the journey is not made alone but in concert with others and with Christ.

Amos said he will reach out to those who were sexually abused by priests and try to promote healing. He also will work to restore financial health to the diocese, which last month became the fourth one in America to declare bankruptcy.

“I will continue the journey and listen to God’s word on the gentle breeze, move with Jesus and trust the shepherd,” he said.

Amos, who becomes the eighth bishop to be installed in the 125-year history of the Diocese of Davenport, will begin his new job by doing a lot of listening, he said, repeating his intentions to go out and meet the people of the 84-parish diocese.

The service

As the service got under way, the capacity audience of about 1,000 filled pews that are set in a circular pattern around the altar and sang the hymn “Water of Life,” which includes the refrain “Water of life, cleanse and refresh us; raise us to life in Christ Jesus.” Amos dipped a frond of greens in a fountain of holy water and circled the congregants to sprinkle drops of them.

Volunteers scurried to wipe the tile floor of errant drops before one of the many guests could slip or fall.

A dozen members of the Knights of Columbus, dressed in black with black-and-red satin capes and feathered hats, led a procession down the main aisle to the sounds of “Alleluia, alleluia” that rang through the church. The procession included dozens of deacons and priests of the Davenport Diocese as well as some from the Diocese of Cleveland, where Amos, 64, had lived and served his entire life. Entering last were the bishops from Iowa, Ohio and other locales.

A group of “consulters” examined the Vatican mandate that included the installation paperwork, and the Rev. Robert Gruss, diocesan chancellor, announced that it was in order.

Letter from the pope

Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States and the top Vatican representative in this country, thanked retired Bishop William Franklin — Amos’ predecessor — for his years of service to the Davenport Diocese and read a letter from Pope Benedict XVI.

“You, brother, are endowed with proven qualities and pastoral experience,” Sambi read by way of informing Amos of his new Iowa assignment.

“With faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ, and with the love of God in my heart, I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God in the Diocese of Davenport, and I resolve to serve faithfully the spiritual needs of this local church,” Amos said.

The assemblage stood and applauded in approval before bowing to show “respect and obedience” to the new bishop.

The service continued with Bible readings from the books of Ezekiel, Revelation and Matthew. The disciples saw Jesus Christ in Galilee and doubted him, Amos read, “But he said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations. Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you.’ ”

In his homily, Amos talked about the call he received to move to the Davenport Diocese.

“The nuncio told me what the pope wanted to do to me,” he said, adding that Bishop Franklin assured him he would find that many good people live in this area of the country.

“I was then calm, but that didn’t last,” he said with a laugh.

Deirdre Cox Baker can be contacted at (563) 383-2492 or dbaker@qctimes.com.