Diocese rejoices as Bishop John E. Keehner takes seat at cathedra

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

Father John E. Keehner found “the epiphany” he had been searching for in his new home in the Diocese of Sioux City.

The priest of the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, was ordained the eighth bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City on May 1 with Archbishop Thomas R. Zinkula of Dubuque as the principal celebrant and ordaining bishop. Co-ordaining bishops were Bishop R. Walker Nickless, who is now bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Sioux City, and Bishop David J. Bonnar of Youngstown, Ohio.

Epiphany revealed
At the conclusion of the ordination, Bishop Keehner told the congregation that during his 500-mile trek on the Camino last September, he went on the pilgrimage with the hope of finding Jesus – which he did - and upon his return to parish life for months he kept asking the Lord for “an epiphany.”

“I kept asking the Lord to reveal his will to me so that I might, as my episcopal motto suggests, allow him to increase in me so that my own will, my own desires might decrease,” he said, noting that through the long winter he “kept waiting for my epiphany, for whatever it was that God might want to reveal to me.”

A glimpse of God’s will came via a phone call on Jan. 28 when Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, asked him to be the bishop of Sioux City. 

“Fast forward a few weeks to Feb. 12 when after it was announced that I was named the eighth bishop of Sioux City, I walked into this beautiful Cathedral of the Epiphany for the first time to join Bishop (Walker) Nickless and some of the priests and faithful of the diocese to celebrate the Eucharist,” he recalled. “I received my ‘Epiphany.’ God is good.”

Concelebrants for the ordination Mass were 14 bishops from various dioceses and an abbot as well as 80 priests of the Dioceses of Sioux City and Youngstown. Fifty deacons were present for the Mass as were the new bishop’s siblings and friends from Ohio.

Msgr. Ed Girres, a retired priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, presented the bishop-elect for ordination following the Gospel.

Official mandate
At that time, a representative of the Apostolic Nunciature, Msgr. Veceslav Tumir, offered some comments on behalf of Cardinal Pierre. He explained to the congregation that the cardinal had planned to attend the episcopal ordination but was in Rome to mourn the death of Pope Francis and prepare for the upcoming conclave to select a new Holy Father.

“When Cardinal Pierre is present for these occasions of installations of new bishops, he likes to remind those in attendance that even though the Holy Father is not physically present, he is in spiritual communion,” said the representative. “I think we can be confident, perhaps even more so now, that Pope Francis is spiritually present to us.”

Today, Msgr. Tumir added, there was an even “Keehner” awareness of the blessings God bestowed as the new bishop was one of Pope Francis’ last gifts to the Diocese of Sioux City.
The representative also extended gratitude to Bishop Nickless for his years of priestly service and 19-plus years as bishop of Sioux City.

“May God bless you Bishop Nickless and may you experience peace and joy in your retirement,” said Msgr. Tumir.

Msgr. Tumir hands the mandate - the official appointment to the bishop-elect.

SEE PHOTO GALLERYHe equally expressed gratitude to Bishop Keehner for saying yes to this new call.
“Your connection with Pope Francis will always be a special one since you were one of the 
last bishops in the United States whom he chose for service,” said Msgr. Tumir. “Together, with our late Holy Father, we have confidence you will be a good shepherd for the people of the Diocese of Sioux City, walking with them on the shared journey with the risen Christ.”

After reading the official mandate for the appointment of Bishop Keehner, it was presented to the bishop-elect who processed throughout the cathedral showing the decree first to the archbishop, then the College of Consultors, visiting bishops, priests and entire congregation.

Servant leader
The homily by Archbishop Zinkula followed. He called it a momentous and joyous occasion.

“Today in this Jubilee Year of Hope, we witness a moment of profound grace, the ordination and installation of John Edward Keehner as the eighth bishop of Sioux City. This isn’t just an ornamental act that we are about this afternoon. It is an act of deep faith. Faith in God’s providence, faith in the church and faith in a man God has called and shaped for this moment,” stressed the archbishop.

The archbishop reflected on the liturgy’s Scripture readings, the feast day of St. Joseph the Worker as well as the new bishop’s motto – he must increase, I must decrease – that converged to offer a powerful reflection on what it means to be a shepherd and servant leader in Christ’s church.

Referring to the Gospel where Peter is told by Jesus to “feed my sheep,” Archbishop Zinkula said love comes with responsibility.

“A bishop, like Peter, is called to love Christ deeply and to express that love by feeding, guiding, guarding and walking with the people of God,” he said. “This mission isn’t rooted in privilege or power; it is rooted in service.”

Archbishop Zinkula said it was fitting that the ordination was held on the feast of St. Joseph the Worker – a man of quiet strength and courageous action. He noted St. Joseph was a spiritual father to Jesus in the same way a bishop is called to be a spiritual father to his diocese.

“Bishop Keehner, today you step into that fatherhood not by biology but by sacrament. Like Joseph, you are called to accept people where they are, even when you can’t fully understand their circumstances,” he said. “You are known for your gentleness, your humility and ability to listen without judgement. These are marks of a spiritual father.”

He called shepherding a “sacred and sobering task,” but one the bishop-elect was prepared to undertake.

“May you live your motto with joy, may you lead with humility, may you serve with courage and may you walk always by faith,” said Archbishop Zinkula.

Ordination
Main elements of the episcopal ordination continued following the homily with the promise of the elect, litany of supplication where the archbishop prostrated before the altar, laying on of hands and the prayer of ordination, where two deacons hold the book of Gospels over Bishop Keehner.

The principal and co-ordaining bishops joined together for part of the prayer: “Now pour forth upon this chosen one the power that is from you, the governing Spirit, whom you gave to your loved son Jesus Christ and whom he gave to the holy apostles, who established the church in each place as your sanctuary, to the glory and unfailing praise of your name.”

Archbishop Zinkula anointed the newly ordained Bishop Keehner with chrism, presented him with the book of Gospels as well as the insignia – the symbols of the office – ring, miter and crosier.

At that point, Bishop Keehner took his seat at the cathedra – the bishop’s chair – and the cathedral packed with religious sisters, faith leaders of various denominations, civic leaders and invited guests from the diocese and Ohio gave a round of applause. 

Next, the principal ordaining bishop and all the bishops extended the fraternal kiss – the sign of peace to the newly ordained. The Mass continued with the Liturgy of the Eucharist with Bishop Keehner as the main celebrant.

After Communion, Bishops Nickless and Bonnar led Bishop Keehner in a procession throughout the cathedral as the new bishop imparted his first episcopal blessing upon the faithful.

With gratitude
Following the procession, the new bishop made remarks from the ambo, expressing his gratitude to God, to the late pope for his confidence, to the bishops and all those who helped plan the liturgy and gathered to celebrate with him.

“I am grateful to my parents, John and Betty who were good people,” he said with emotion raising in his voice, “who worked hard and who lived simple lives for teaching the meaning of true love. I’m grateful to my siblings – Jerry, Richard and my twin sister Carol for your unconditional love, for helping me to become the man I am today. I am blessed to be your brother and I love you.”

He expressed gratitude to other relatives and those who traveled from Ohio to celebrate with him as well as clergy, religious and all who served with him.

“To all of you, the good people of the Diocese of Sioux City – the priests, deacons, religious and lay members of Christ’s faithful – thank you for your warm and loving welcome. Thank you for showing to me the face of Jesus which I longed to encounter when I began my walk from France across Spain eight months ago,” said Bishop Keehner. “While I will certainly miss Ohio, I am so happy to make my new home in Iowa among all of you.”

The bishop also thanked the musicians who “led us so beautifully in prayer today.”

The Mass setting used for the liturgy, Mass of the Epiphany, was written by Father Ross Caniglia, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City. Music was provided by the Missouri River Choral Society and the Cathedral choir, directed by Dr. John Flanery with Cathedral resident organist Dr. Jeremy Owens and the Lewis and Clark Brass Quintet. Hymns were in English, Latin and Spanish.

The ordination Mass was broadcast and livestreamed by KTIV Channel 4, the local NBC affiliate. The livestream was also available on the Diocese of Sioux City’s YouTube channel and remains available on the site.