Seating for installation Mass and Evening Prayer is by invitation only

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, apostolic administrator, left, prays part of a eucharistic prayer while Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin prays in silence during an Oct. 19 Mass at the St. Augustine Home for the Aged Chapel in Indianapolis. The liturgy with the Little Sisters of the Poor and elderly residents of the home was among Archbishop Tobin’s first pastoral visits after his appointment was announced by Pope Benedict XVI on Oct. 18. See related story on page 47. (Photo by Mary Ann Garber)

By Sean Gallagher

Seating for the installation Mass of Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin at 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 at SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis will be by invitation only, and attendees will need a ticket to enter the cathedral.

This is due to the large number of bishops, priests, family members and friends of Archbishop Tobin expected to attend.

Also participating in the installation Mass will be priests and deacons ministering at archdiocesan parishes and schools, and parish life coordinators and representatives of religious orders that minister in central and southern Indiana as well as representatives of other area faith communities and civic leaders.

Two tickets to the Mass have been offered to each of the archdiocese’s 147 parishes.

Those unable to attend the Mass will be able to watch it live on WHMB-TV40 in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, and on all cable and satellite networks throughout the archdiocese that carry the television station. Also, the television feed from the Mass will be streamed live on the Internet and can be watched by logging onto the archdiocesan website at www.archindy.org.

Catholic Radio 89.1 FM and 90.9 FM, based in Indianapolis, as well as EWTN and CatholicTV Network, based in Boston, also plan to broadcast the installation Mass.

Like the installation Mass, seating for the Solemn Vespers for the First Sunday of Advent at 5 p.m. on Dec. 2 in the cathedral will also be by invitation only. Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, apostolic administrator, will be the homilist.

Participating in this liturgy will be guests of Archbishop Tobin, archdiocesan clergy and parish life coordinators, religious priests living and ministering in central and southern Indiana, other members of the men’s and women’s religious communities in the archdiocese, and representatives of Catholic groups and fraternal organizations that have a special relationship with the archdiocese.

Other events connected to Archbishop Tobin’s installation are open to the public.

“A Mission of Prayer: A Year of Faith with Archbishop Tobin” will take place on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Our Lady of the Greenwood Parish, 335 S. Meridian St., in Greenwood.

Although the event is geared especially for archdiocesan youths and young adults, Catholics of all ages are welcome to attend.

Exposition and eucharistic adoration will begin at 7 p.m. on Nov. 30 and will continue until 3 p.m. on Dec. 1. A holy hour with praise and worship music and witness talks will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 30.

A holy hour for vocations organized by the archdiocesan vocations office and seminarians will take place from 11 a.m. to noon on Dec. 1. At noon, Bishop Coyne will lead the praying of the “Angelus,” and offer a reflection on Mary and the vocation to do God’s will.

A light lunch will follow in Madonna Hall. A rosary rally organized by the Archdiocesan Youth Council will take place from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. followed by praise and worship music from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Archbishop Tobin will be the principal celebrant of a 4 p.m. Mass on Dec. 1 for the First Sunday of Advent.

Archbishop Tobin will celebrate a Mass in Spanish for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 6 p.m. on Dec. 12 at St. Anthony Church, 337 N. Warman Ave., in Indianapolis.

In late January and early February, Archbishop Tobin will visit each of the archdiocese’s 11 deaneries. The time, dates and places of these events have yet to be determined.

Catholics across central and southern Indiana will have an opportunity to meet Archbishop Tobin at these events. †