MONSIGNOR McPARTLAND INSTALLED AS SOUTH ATLANTIC’S FOURTH PREFECT APOSTOLIC
By J. Brock (SARTMA)
Normally a report on a Monsignor’s installation as head of Prefecture would warrant a few paragraphs, however, Monsignor McPartland’s parish reaches from Ascension to St. Helena, to Tristan da Cunha, to the Falklands and even to the South Pole. In order to give Catholics on the remote Islands of the South Atlantic a flavour of what went on, a more full transcript and report is presented.
The Holy Mass at which Monsignor McPartland was installed as The South Atlantic’s Prefect Apostolic began at 1100 on Sunday, 27 October 2002. "Tell Out My Soul," which is the Magnificat put to modern words and tune, was the professional hymn. The Mass began with a few words of welcome from Fr. Austin Monaghan.
"We welcome you all to this morning’s service, the installation of Monsignor McPartland, the fourth Prefect Apostolic of the Falkland Islands. We also welcome His Excellency the Governor, the Civil/Military Liaison Officer, who is representing the Military. We welcome Alistair McHaffie, Priest in Charge of Christ Church Cathedral, the Armed Forces Chaplain, and the Rev. Ken Newton of the Seamen’s Mission. We welcome you all to this wonderful occasion."
The Confession followed the welcome and this was followed by the Gloria. Fr. Monaghan then preyed for Monsignor McPartland.
"God, our Father, our shepherd and our guide, look with love on Michael, your servant, your appointed pastor of the Church. May his word and example inspire and guide the Church. May he and all those in his care come to the joy of everlasting life. We ask this through the Lord Jesus Christ, your son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever amen."
The Old Testament reading from the Book of Exodus, and the responses were taken by Mrs. Theresa Lang. This was followed by the Gospel reading from the New Testament Gospel according to Matthew.
Fr. Monaghan then explained a bit about the history of the Prefecture and the appointment of Monsignor McPartland.
"Just a moment, I forgot my glasses…It’s all right reading in English but when you have to read it in Latin, it is just a bit difficult.
We welcome you once again to St. Mary’s and the Prefecture. Perhaps it might be a little bit of interest to explain what the Apostolic Prefecture is and what it means. Many of you remember the Salesians that were here. Up until 1952, the Salesians ran the Parish. The Prefecture was then in Punta Arenas. Then, in 1952, when the Salesians left, Mill Hill were given the opportunity of looking after the Falklands. It became a Prefecture established by Rome. Many of you will remember Monsignor Ireland who was here in the Islands.
So, the Prefecture is the first stage in a Diocese. The second stage is a Vicariat and then you become a Diocese. So, the Monsignor is all things that a Bishop is except he is not an ordained Bishop. So he has all the power, and everything that goes with being a Bishop except, he is unable to ordain. It’s a very important post, a very humbling post. It’s humbling in the fact that it doesn’t have many assistants. At the moment, he has one, Fr. Joe Wheelin, in St. Helena. And, at the moment, he has myself, who will be shortly be leaving to go back to my former job.
So, it is a very sad occasion, too, handing over from Mill Hill after 50 years. It is also a sad occasion because 15 years ago, I stood here and did the same installation for Monsignor Agreiter. And, that was a very unhappy time for me as well – unhappy in the sense that I was, again, leaving the Islands.
And, so today we install Monsignor Michael McPartland as the fourth Prefect Apostolic."
Fr. Monaghan then pointed out the symbols of the office of the Bishop: The Gospels, which he has to preach, not only preach them but to keep them, to give an example to the people. The Pectoral Cross that symbolises the heart, the love that God has for each one of us that the Bishop has to show to his people was also on the table by the Altar. , The ring, which symbolises a marriage of the Bishop to the Church was ultimately put on Monsignor McPartland’s finger. He wears a Mitre that is a symbol of a leader so he can be seen. Fr. Monaghan then pointed out that Bishop DeWitt came for Monsignor Spraggon’s funeral, he didn’t need one because he was so tall (6ft 9 in.). "I felt very small in his presence," quipped Fr. Monaghan. There was included in the list, a shepherd’s crook or Crozier, the symbol that he is the chief shepherd of his flock.
Then, that Bequeath, written in Latin, the fact that he is appointed by Rome. It is signed by Cardinal Sceppie, who is the Prefect for Propaganda in Rome.
"What it entails is Mill Hill has now handed over the running of the prefecture to the Bishop’s Council of England and Wales., of which Cardinal C. Murphy O’Connor is now the head. So, he has nominated Michael McPartland to the Holy Father and that was accepted by the Holy Father, who then appoints Michael McPartland as the new Prefect Apostolic. And, at the same time, he accepts the resignation of Monsignor Anton Agreiter."
The letter went on to say that Monsignor McPartland was appointed to look after Ascension, St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha. It’s one of the biggest Diocese in the world – from the South Pole to the Equator.
Monsignor McPartland was examined by Fr. Monaghan with questions from Canon Law. He was then blessed and the items on the table were presented to him. The ring was placed on his finger, he was given the crozier and the mitre was put on his head. Prayers were then said for him.
MONSIGNOR McPARTLAND’S HOMILE:
Your Excellency, the Lord has made Squadron Leader Anthony Core, representing Commander British Forces, Mr. Speaker, Hon. Tim Blake, distinguished guests, my brothers and sisters in Christ, this day. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Today I stand before you as a simple pilgrim and I dedicate myself to help you, my fellow pilgrims as we journey through life towards our common destiny. That is, to say, to be with God, our Heavenly Father for all eternity.
To this community, today is a historic day in more than one sense. And, for this reason, I would like it to be seen as a great opportunity for renewal. First of all, it marks the end of a period of nearly 50 years in which the Mill Hill Missionaries have assumed the pastoral responsibilities for the Church here in the Falkland Islands and, indeed, the whole of the South Atlantic. In that time, the church has been staffed by dedicated, colourful and, yes, heroic priests and brothers. Their contributions will always be part of the history of these Islands.
Mill Hill has now handed over the mantel to the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. They now and for the foreseeable future assume full pastoral responsibilities for the Falkland Islands and the other ecclesiastical jurisdictions in the South Atlantic. His Eminence, Cardinal C. Murphy O’Connor, as President of the Bishop’s Conference of England and Wales, nominated me to succeed Monsignor Anton Agreiter on Friday, 09 August this year. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul, formally appointed me as the new Apostolic Prefect of the Falkland Islands and ecclesiastic Jurisdictions of the Islands of St. Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha.
Now, as in every other walk of life, when someone new arrives on the scene, it is only natural for people to wonder about the person – Who is he? What’s he like? Will he fit in? What will his approach be? – and so on. Well, I hope you will very soon find me friendly, sympathetic, and very easy to get along with. However, I think it is important to share with you at the outset, how I see my new role as your Chief Shepherd and the kind of pastoral approach I intend to follow.
First of all, I believe that God, out of his infinite love, has created each and every one of us for a special purpose. We all have a task that only we can do. For one, it may be to be a doctor, another, a scientist, it may be to build a city or simply sweep its streets. Whatever your task may be, only you can do it in order to fulfil God’s universal plan. However, at a deeper level, I believe that God has an even more fundamental purpose for our lives.
And this, in the words of your penny catechism is to know God, to love Him and serve Him in this world, in order to be happy with him now and forever in the next. At a deep spiritual level, nothing else matters. In our Gospel today, Jesus is very explicit when he answered the question put to him by the Pharisees "What is the greatest commandment?" He says, You shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and the second great commandment is you shall love your neighbour as yourself. How are we expected to live our life in this world in order to be faithful to those two great commandments? To help us, God has provided all the guidance we need. He has given us his divine word in sacred scripture, we have the 10 commandments, the Old Testament, the New Testament, the 6 precepts of the Church, to provide us with a framework in which to live our Christian lives. He has also given us – and this is very important – the Church and the sacraments as well. All these things combined to foster and deepen the sacred relationship that exists between Our Heavenly Father and the individual person and, indeed, the whole Christian Community.
I see my role as Apostolic Prefect as doing everything I can to assist you in your life and all its humanity. This, I intend to do. Furthermore, I make this pledge to you as one pilgrim to another, as one pilgrim eager to help another.
My prayer at the start of my new ministry is that not one soul that has been entrusted to me will be lost, that we will journey together, united in faith until we reach our common home in heaven. There, with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, together with our blessed lady, all the angles and saints, we will enjoy supernatural happiness for ever and ever, amen.
This was followed by a hymn "God is Good" while the offertory was taken up. The Desloges family took the gifts to the Altar during the singing of the hymn. Communion was then prepared. Following Communion there was an address by H. E. the Governor Mr. Donald Lamont.
H. E. the Governor Mr. Donald Lamont’s Remarks:
"It is a great honour and privilege as a flawed Presbyterian to be with you on this very special day for this Church and for the wider community. We often think of Tony Agreiter. I remember a very early conversation with him soon after Lynda and I arrived here and I remember in particular how he subsequently conducted the first communion of Danielle under some very difficult circumstances and the way he gave us all a deeper sense and were inspired.
I was pleased to hear from you, Monsignor McPartland, of the good progress he is making.
It is one of the things that is unique in the Falkland Islands to see how the churches do co-operate and the relationship between them.
Unfortunately, the quality of the broadcast tape degenerated and further transcription was impossible. H. E. the Governor Mr. Lamont mentioned Fr. Austin Monaghan’s calligraphy and how it was used on some formal letters.
Nonetheless, Michael McPartland has been welcomed here in the Falklands. He will be with other Catholic congregations in the South Atlantic as his schedule permits.
(100X Transcription Service)
