Bishop Warfel installed as seventh bishop of Great Falls-Billings

Published: 2008-01-22

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (CNS) -- More than 1,000 Catholics from eastern Montana welcomed Bishop Michael W. Warfel as the new bishop of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings during a Jan. 16 installation Mass at the newly constructed Holy Spirit Church in Great Falls. Bishop Warfel, who had led the Diocese of Juneau, Alaska, since 1996, took possession of his new diocese in a liturgy filled with song and ceremony. His symbolic chair, known as a cathedra, was transferred for the occasion from St. Ann Cathedral in downtown Great Falls to the new church. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, read the mandate from Pope Benedict XVI appointing Bishop Warfel to the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings and Archbishop John G. Vlazny of Portland, Ore., questioned the bishop regarding his willingness to receive the assignment as the seventh bishop of the diocese.

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