Archbishop Fabre Farewell
The Archdiocese of Louisville is ‘us, you and me,’ says Archbishop Fabre By RUBY THOMAS The Record On March 29, the eve of his installation as Archbishop of Louisville, Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre enacted a centuries-old ritual, knocking three times on the front doors of the mother church from which he will lead close to 200,000 Catholic faithful. Archbishop Fabre was installed as the 10th bishop and fifth Archbishop of Louisville March 30 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. Upon entering the Cathedral of the Assumption in downtown Louisville, Archbishop Fabre prayed solemn vespers, where he shared with the members of the clergy, laity and religious who’d gathered, that Jesus Christ needs them, the church needs them and that he needs them. Archbishop Fabre expressed gratitude. “I am grateful to be here in this cathedral and grateful that you are here with me,” he said. “What a blessing it is for me to be called to be a part of the family here in this wonderful archdiocese.” He also thanked his predecessor, Archbishop Emeritus Joseph E. Kurtz, saying, “I am honored to be given the opportunity to build on your good work here.” Archbishop Fabre told his listeners that an archdiocese is often thought of abstractly, but the “reality is that we are the archdiocese.” “The archdiocese is you, the good people … you and I. We are over 180,000 Catholics together,” he said. “We are 110 uniquely beautiful parishes in harmony with the one who serves you as archbishop. The Archdiocese of Louisville is a particular people with a rich history and unique personality. … We are the Archdiocese of Louisville and, my friends, we are in this together. I need you, the Lord Jesus needs you and the church here needs you.”
LAWRENCE CHATAGNIER/BAYOU CATHOLIC
Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre ceremonially knocked on the doors of the Cathedral of the Assumption during vespers March 29, the eve of his installation as the fifth Archbishop of Louisville. The cathedral is the mother church from which he will lead close to 200,000 Catholics. Archbishop Fabre drew the congregation’s attention to the Scripture reading from the second chapter of the Book of James in which the apostle speaks to early Christians about the importance of faith and works. “The apostle James is speaking to us tonight with those very words. Our words express our faith. Our work makes visible to the world the Gospel of
60 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • April 2022
Jesus Christ. Our work, not merely on behalf of Jesus, but with Jesus, reveals Jesus to a world that is in desperate need of his guidance and mercy,” said Archbishop Fabre. He went on to say that it was important for that work to be done together. Unity, he said, doesn’t mean individuals share the same vocation, do the same thing or share the
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