Cheyenne, Wyo., Dec 10, 2009 / 18:11 pm
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, Bishop Paul D. Etienne (pronounced a-ten) was ordained a bishop and installed as the eighth bishop of of the Diocese of Cheyenne, filling a seat that had been left vacant since July of 2008.
“The spirit during the celebration was one of excitement and joy,” said Fr. Gary Ruzicka, Master of Ceremonies, who told CNA that he estimated close to 1,200 people attended the installation, despite severe snowstorms and road blockages.
The installation took place at Cheyenne's Civic Center and was attended by the Most Reverend Pietro Sambi, the representative of Pope Benedict XVI in the U.S. Also in attendance were Cardinal Roger Mahoney of Los Angeles, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of Indianapolis and Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay.
“We haven't had a bishop for 15 months now and as a result, the anticipation has been increasing month by month in the hopes that eventually we would have a bishop,” Fr. Ruzicka said. When the Holy Father appointed him back in October, he recalled, “we were really excited.”