By Rita McInerney

Atlanta's fifth Roman Catholic archbishop, John F. Donoghue, was well supported by family and scores of priest friends and mentors as he celebrated his Installation Mass on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 19, at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

It was the third installation in the archdiocese since 1988 when Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, was installed. He resigned in 1990 and Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, who died of cancer Dec. 27, 1992, was installed in June, 1991.

The installation for Archbishop Donoghue brought three cardinals, and bishops from all around the country to Atlanta, including Archbishop Zeb Beltran of Oklahoma City, a priest of this diocese. Bishops and priests filled almost the entire right side of the cathedral. A few hundred lay people were in attendance, crowding the church to its walls.

The procession entering the cathedral at 1:30 p.m. was stately and lengthy: ecumenical participants, seminarians, deacons, priests, bishops. Father Don Kenny, chancellor of the archdiocese, led the new archbishop who carried a treasured symbol of his close friendship with the late Cardinal Patrick O'Boyle of Washington, D.C. This brightly burnished crozier had been given him by his mentor when Archbishop Donoghue was consecrated bishop of Charlotte. Three cardinals came last.

The representative of Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to the United States, completed the official installation which began the previous evening with canonical installation.

His duty was to present the Apostolic Letter of Appointment, written in Latin, and to read the English translation to the congregation. To begin, he mentioned how pleased he was to be in Atlanta for a happy occasion, since his last visit was to attend Archbishop Lyke's funeral.

He went on to say that "the Holy Father is present in a very unique way because he appointed Archbishop Donoghue and because the United States is still filled with his great presence (in Denver) ... The messages he announced are for our own interests ... the mission of the Church is to present authentic teachings."

Once Father Kenny had signed the document, Archbishop Cacciavillan relinquished the cathedra and Archbishop Donoghue was seated in the presider's chair he first occupied the previous evening.

Three red caped cardinals led a procession of well-wishers making their way to the new archbishop. Cardinal William Baum, a mentor while archbishop in Washington, and now at the Vatican, was first to embrace him, followed by Cardinal Hickey, also a mentor and present leader of the Washington diocese, and Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, of Philadelphia. The latter's amplified advice to the archbishop, "have fun" was greeted by laughter throughout the crowded cathedral.

Following the cardinals, the new archbishop was embraced by Bishop Joseph Francis, SVD, auxiliary bishop of Newark, NJ, Bishop Joseph Howze, bishop of Biloxi, MS; bishops of the Atlanta Province, Bishop Raymond Lessard, Savannah, Bishop David Thompson, Charleston, and Bishop E. Joseph Gossman, of Raleigh, NC, and Bishop Michael Begley, whom Archbishop Donoghue succeeded in Charlotte.

Principal concelebrants extending best wishes were Monsignor Edward J. Dillon, vicar general; Monsignor John J. McSweeney, who is chancellor in Charlotte, and Father Patrick A. Bishop, pastor of the Church of the Transfiguration in Marietta.

Deacon Alfred Mitchell, who assisted the new archbishop on the altar, brought greetings from the permanent diaconate, which he serves as director. Two transitional deacons, Rev. Mr. Greg Goolsby and Rev. Mr. Luis Zarama, also assisted.

Bringing greetings from the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta were Bishop Frank K. Allan and the Rev. Harwood Bartlett, director of community ministries for the diocese; Bishop Harold C. Skillrud represented the Southeastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Dr. Barbara King, of Hillside International Truth Center, and executive director of the Community Relations Commission, represented Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, while Rev. Robert Johnson, retired, represented the United Church of Christ.

Others offering their best wishes included Sister Mary-Beth Beres, OP, president of the Atlanta Conference of Sisters, and numerous others representing areas of archdiocesan life: youth, ethnic Catholics, members of archdiocesan councils, boards and commissions, and seminarians.

Ms. Mary Wells, of the Atlanta Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, gave the first reading from Deuteronomy 10:8-9. Sister de Porres, OP, from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home, gave the second reading from II Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7. The Gospel from John 21:15-17 was proclaimed by Rev. Mr. Goolsby.

In his homily, Archbishop Donoghue welcomed the new task God had brought him to, addressed the priests, thanked the ecumenical representatives attending, and spoke to the laity of healing and wholeness.

"... Since God has brought me to this place, and to this moment of time, in order to witness my faith before the assembly, I am constrained in obedience and humility, to say to you, no, to pledge to you, that I welcome this task, and embrace it with every ounce of fervor that I can sustain ... At the same time I must also confess that I stand in some trepidation before it. Consequently, I am greatly encouraged and honored by the support, the strength, the caring fraternity which I see gathered about me. I would be remiss, if after God, I did not thank those who are my brothers in the ministry..."

Speaking again directly to the priests of the archdioceses, as he had to previous evening at the Canonical Installation, he told them:

"There is much we need to do for one another ... I chose the second reading from Corinthians because I wanted to express right away, not only my solidarity with you, but the very words which will reinvigorate our ministry from this moment onwards. For indeed, in the heartening words of St. Paul ... 'we do not give in to discouragement. Rather, we repudiate sinful, shameful, underhanded practices. We do not resort to trickery or falsify the word of God. We proclaim the truth openly ... and it is not ourselves we preach but Christ Jesus as Lord.'"

He spoke of his hopes for their future together as bishop and priests.

"That we always speak the truth to one another and that we are able to commend our conduct, both private and public, to the conscience of every member of the Church ... without fear and without doubt ... and with every awareness that we are truly poor vessels, made only to hold the enduring light of God, to show the right way to those who seek it and to banish darkness and sin from those who would see and live."

"This we will accomplish together," he went on to say, "aided by our devoted deacons, our dedicated Religious, and the lay professionals of the Church. All of these devoted Catholic workers have pledged, in their own solemn way, the same fidelity and truthfulness and they will gladly assist us as we go about caring for the faithful and glorifying God in His holy Church."

He made a promise to the representatives of the other denominations in the assembly.

"You honor the Catholic Church by your presence, and signify the good will which points to the ultimate unity of God's people. I promise, in whatever ways are possible, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta will continue to reach out to and cooperate with the churches of our city that the fruit of true ecumenism may be shared together by our people."

He extended the hand of friendship and cooperation to the civic leaders saying, "I think you all realize the extent of the good work done by the Church on behalf of society, and we look forward to assisting you in achieving that just and equitable society, where all may live in peace, and free from want."

Finally he turned his words and his "open heart" to the laity. He spoke of the Holy Father's solicitude for the Church family in North Georgia expressed to him during two recent visits to Rome.

He said the pope "underscored the manner in which healing and wholeness" are gained. "It is through the Eucharist ... that we are able to find what God has planned for us. In our preparation for the sacrifice, in the manner that we maintain the holiness of our souls, in the style, the richness and the solemnity of the liturgies we plan and conduct, and in the enthusiasm for good works which flows from our sacramental participation, by these signs and thousands more, we show the power of Christ's sacrifice to unite us."

"In the months and years to come, as I live out the great confidence that has been placed in me by the Church, it is to the Eucharist that I will turn for my strength, for perseverance and for the patience to do the Lord's will. And as I look out over this ambo, it is to you, to the faithful, that I will turn for help and guidance as I try to be strong, and faithful, and patient."

In closing, the archbishop said, "may Holy Mary, the Mother of God and our perfect teacher in faith, inspire us all to the singular trust which she placed in her only son. For in that trust is to be found the light of love and the salvation of all people, the glory of God shining on the face of Christ."

Music for the celebration noted the diversity of the archdiocese. The prelude, while the congregation gathered in the cathedral was sung by 40 singers from the Archdiocesan Mass Choir directed by Jack Tilson, choir director at Sts. Peter and Paul in Decatur.

Selections were "He Shall Feed His Flock," by James Cleveland; "He's Never Failed Me Yet," by Robert Ray, "How excellent," Walt Whitman, and "The Lamb Has Overcome," Jim Cymbala.

Mr. Tilson later expressed regret that the singers had been listed in the program as the Diocesan African-American Choir. He said that's a "misnomer" since it is "an inclusive choir, more Catholic than ethnic, that welcomes everybody in the archdiocese to join and sing." Members of the choir said that Archbishop Lyke had named the group the Archdiocesan Mass Choir.

Kevin A. Culver, choirmaster at the Cathedral of Christ the King, said in planning the music for the installation there was the awareness that many would attend from other parts of the country and "we wanted to make sure we had music that crossed regional borders ... Ninety-five percent of what we did worked out."

H. Hamilton Smith, cathedral music director, was principal cantor which general intercessions were sung by several people from ethnic congregations. Dong Nguyen sang an intercession in Vietnamese; Ofelia Alvareh Beulla, Spanish; Min Hong Park, Korean; Krystyna Soltys, Polish; Nila Alexander and Dan Smith, English.

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, "Jesus, the Very Thought of You," a hymn of particular beauty was sung by the choir. Composer Richard Proulx is music director at the Cathedral of the Holy Name, Chicago, and one of the most notable of the 20th century Catholic composers, according to Culver.

After the prayer over the gifts, two acclamations by Hamilton Smith were sung. He composed them within the last two years and dedicated them to Archbishop Lyke. "Pan de Vida," sung in Spanish and English at Communion, was a recent composition of gentle faith by Bob Hurd. Dr. Timothy Wissler, cathedral organist, helped plan and perform music for the liturgies.

Four members of the archbishop's family brought up the offertory gifts: his brother Dan and his daughter, Sister Mary Eileen, a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul; and two nephews, Dennis and Jack Donoghue, sons of the archbishop's youngest brother, Patrick.

In all, there were 18 Donoghues in Atlanta for the installation. Brothers Daniel, Edward and Patrick and their wives, Patricia, Mary and Vickie, 11 nieces and nephews and a daughter-in-law.

Sister Mary Eileen from Jacksonville, Fla., was accompanied by several members of her congregation.

A large number of guests were priests from Washington, D.C., and Charlotte. The first pastor the archbishop served with, Monsignor Thomas Dade, of St. Bernard, Riverdale, Md., shared a bench on the second floor of the Hyland Center reception area with Patrick Donoghue.

Lou and Helene Schwartz, of Chevy Chase, Md., were pleased to be among the invited guests. Lou Schwartz, who attended seminary with the archbishop for seven years, expressed great admiration for his friend's skill as a preacher. "There was a lot of leadership in that sermon today," he said Thursday afternoon. He had also been impressed by the homily the archbishop gave the night before.

"Leadership has always been thrust on him ... He stayed steadfast through very difficult times. John never wavered on Humanae Vitae. It's taken 25 years to vindicate that encyclical."

"He won't waver in his strong traditional faith. He's not one to be a crusader. He has total faithfulness to the Church and the pope."

Schwartz felt that his friend's "spiritual life had come to fruition in Charlotte. I think he was able to become very conversant with the needs of his people and had a chance to show his great compassion and zeal. Now it's bearing fruit."

Another friend from Washington, Father Godfrey Mosley, pastor of St. Columbia Church, was brief. "You have a bishop who adheres to the teachings of the Church. He is a healer," reaching out to hurting people and asking them to look to the Church for guidance and security.