Episcopal transition team hits the ground running

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

On Feb. 12 Father John E. Keehner was named as the next bishop of the Diocese of Sioux City, but planning for the transition has been years in the works.

Executive transition committee
Deacon Mark Prosser, diocesan chief of staff and chancellor, said not long after Bishop Walker Nickless submitted his letter to the Holy Father upon the bishop’s 75^th birthday on May 28, 2022, the framework for the episcopal transition was set in place. At that time an executive episcopal transition committee, led by the deacon, was established to oversee the process.

“We met several times starting to deal with the what ifs and the whens of how we would proceed,” he said. “We established which committees would be doing what and how that would work.”

Among the executive committee with Deacon Prosser are the two vicars general, Msgr. Kevin McCoy and Father Brad Pelzel, Father David Esquiliano, Father Andrew Galles, Royce Ranniger, Renee DeMay and Margaret Fuentes. 

While not officially part of the executive committee, Deacon Prosser mentioned Bishop Nickless has been an advisor to the group, bringing perspective from his own episcopal ordination and having attended many through the years.

Bishop-elect Keehner

Bishop-elect Keehner has recently joined the meetings and offered his feedback.

Msgr. McCoy explained the executive committee oversees “the overall process of the transition which involves reviewing multiple logistics leading up to the ordination itself: scheduling, housing, reception venues, guests/invitations, liturgy and hospitality, the list goes on and on. On the larger team, my particular role is to serve as a liaison to the diocesan priests in active ministry.”

Transition team
In all, about 25 committees and even some additional subcommittees were established with chairpersons assigned to lead these groups and coordinate the various facets of planning for an episcopal ordination. It is from these individuals, coupled with the executive committee that the larger episcopal transition team formed. 

Along with committees that relate to the ordination, special guests and festivities, some committees are behind the scenes such as budget/finance, fundraising and communications.
After getting the framework set, Deacon Prosser noted, “We went into a long waiting game. 

No one knew if it would be six months or longer. Now we are at two-and-one-half-plus years.”

During this time the executive committee continued to meet every few months as they worked on “big ticket items” such as potential reception venues, housing for the new bishop, an overview of the ordination liturgy and so on. The larger, entire transition team was in place but did not meet for a time.

Although there was a sizeable waiting game, organizers have stressed that early planning was

KTIV staff recently did a walk-through and production checks in preparation for airing the May 1 episcopal ordination.

crucial to set a solid framework and overall plan for the May 1 episcopal ordination that will be held at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. With limited space in the Cathedral, this is an invitation-only event but the ceremony will air on KTIV Chanel 4 and will be livestreamed.

Deacon Prosser said once the bishop-elect was named, many of the initial plans could be firmed up.

“I think things are going very well at this stage of the transition,” added Msgr. McCoy. “Prior to the announcement of the bishop-elect, everything was rather fluid – dealing with possibilities. Now everyone is dealing with concrete realities and probabilities as many of the logistics can now be better defined: from the guest list to the practicalities of the hospitality for the guests; from the music for the ordination to the liturgical texts the bishop-elect selects for vespers and the ordination itself.”

Division of work
DeMay, executive administrative assistant for Bishop Nickless, along with serving on the executive committee has been tasked with invitations, mailing lists, reception and event venues along with other duties.

Starting early and meeting regularly for these many months, she stressed was very helpful to the process.

“There is only so much you can plan in advance, which is hard, but I think having those meetings where we’d touch base and talk through things has made us in a better position to plan a great event,” said DeMay, who added that while there are still some unknowns thus far within the next couple of weeks most plans will be locked in.

In addition to serving on the executive committee, Father Galles, diocesan director of worship and episcopal master of ceremonies, is leading the liturgy committee and is working closely with Bishop-elect Keehner in helping to navigate him through the liturgical aspects of becoming a bishop. 

“This even includes details such as working with him to obtain the necessary items for a bishop, such as the different colored cassocks, zucchettos, cords for his pectoral cross, and other small details. My experience and knowledge of episcopal liturgy will hopefully serve the bishop-elect well as he gradually becomes accustomed to his new role in the church,” he said. “Overall, my role is one of liturgical planning, being a hub of communication for several different groups, and assisting Archbishop (Thomas) Zinkula as he celebrates the Mass of Ordination.”

Deacon Prosser pointed out that in addition to staffers from Central Catholic Offices, committee members and some volunteers for the event include several who work in the parishes or are affiliated with groups such as St. Serra Club members.

Past experience and teamwork
While this bishop’s transition process is new to many on the transition team, some have been through this process a time or two. Msgr. McCoy has been involved in this transition multiple times.

“My first experience was the transition from Bishop (Frank) Greteman to (Lawrence) Soens.  I was stationed at the Cathedral at the time, so I was involved as one of the master of ceremonies for the ordination itself,” he recalled. “Then I assisted with the planning and execution of the overall plan for the ordination of Bishop (Daniel) DiNardo as co-adjutor to Bishop Soens.  In that role, it was clear that once you had the right people overseeing a particular aspect of the overall plan, it worked best to let them do it – assisting them with any particular need or issue as requested.”

The team concept has been a big part of all of episcopal ordination planning efforts through years including this one.

Deacon Prosser said there is a very dedicated group of people who are part of the team.

“They want it to be a wonderful, prayerful and fun event for Bishop-elect Keehner and all involved,” said the deacon. “We are going to do our best to make that happen, but there are lots of moving parts.”

DeMay called the process an interdisciplinary project and a true team effort. 

Father Galles also commented on the value of preparedness and the organization led by Deacon Prosser and the teams that were set in place.

“For over two years, we have been working and preparing for this moment,” he said. “Because we have been waiting for so long, I think everyone was ready to hit the ground running. It has been a very smooth process working not only with the transition team but also with Bishop-elect Keehner in making decisions for the ordination liturgies.”