Dinner with the Archbishop-Designate

This past Thursday evening the priests and deacons, together with their wives, of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois gathered with His Excellency Archbishop-Designate Lucas for a final farewell dinner.

Msgr. Kemme welcomes His Excellency and greets those gathered.

Such gatherings are always bitter-sweet, as fond memories return and mix heart-felt congratulations. Priests and deacons, with their wives, enjoying the dinner.

The clergy of the Diocese presented to the Archbishop-Designate the gift of a crozier that is currently being fashioned. The plans of the design of the crozier were on hand and His Excellency expressed his gratitude for the gift.Msgr. Kemme and Fr. House present the gift to His Excellency.

The Archbishop-Designate admires the design.

Around the node of the crozier are three wavy lines, calling to my the lines on the coat of arms of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, symbolic of the rivers that once formed the boundaries of the Diocese.

Within the crook is a cross, the beams of which each end in a fleur-de-lis, taken from His Excellency's coat of arms.

On the cross is found the crescent moon, symbolic of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.

Archbishop Lucas expresses his gratitude.
His Excellency stood for a picture with me after the dinner.

After dinner, we went to Christ the King Parish for Evening Prayer and a public reception to bid farewell for our Shepherd of the past nine and a half years.

Following the public reception, we stood for another picture.