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With prayer and pageantry, Philly Catholics welcome new auxiliary bishop

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Thursday consecrated Monsignor Edward M. Deliman, who has devoted much of his long career to urban ministry, an auxiliary bishop.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Thursday consecrated Monsignor Edward M. Deliman, who has devoted much of his long career to urban ministry, an auxiliary bishop.

Deliman, 69, will assist archbishop Charles J. Chaput in the administration of the 1.4 million-member archdiocese.

Although his new duties have not yet been defined, Chaput in his homily said Deliman's devotion to the poor and his fluency in Spanish played a major role in his selection.

In his homily during the long and ornate consecration Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Chaput said many of his priests would make fine bishops but that Deliman was a standout.

"St. Paul tells us that a bishop's role is to make up what is lacking in the Body of Christ," said Chaput, using a familiar metaphor for the church.

"We have a complicated apostolic ministry in Philadelphia," Chaput continued, in that few priests speak Spanish fluently enough to adequately serve its growing Hispanic presence.

After 43 years as a parish priest, Deliman, who is of Slovak heritage, becomes the fourth auxiliary bishop in the archdiocese. He was most recently pastor of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Bensalem.

Cardinal Justin Rigali, the former archbishop, was among the 26 bishops taking part in the service.

Assisting Chaput in the consecration rite were the Bishop Ronald Gainer of Harrisburg and Deliman's classmate at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, along with Bishop Nelson Perez, auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., a former priest of the archdiocese.

After all three had laid their hands on Deliman's head, Chaput anointed his head with consecrated oil and presented him with his miter, or bishop's hat, and crozier, or bishop's staff.

In his remarks at the close of the elaborate, 2 1/2-hour consecration Mass, Deliman said he prayed to be "a good Christian, bishop, and priest."

His manner was characteristically unpretentious and engaging, addressing the packed cathedral in Spanish before speaking in English. Many in the pews were of Hispanic heritage and gasped in surprise at the honor, then applauded.

Speaking in English, he got a laugh from the crowd when he looked his mother, who was sitting in a front pew an asked "Mom, are you enjoying the afternoon?"

Margaret Deliman, 93, smiled and nodded.

Several Hispanic Catholics who attended the Mass said afterward that Deliman's attentiveness to their needs had eased their transition to American culture and deepened their faith.

"He is the most humble man I have ever known," said Carmen Lytle, 51, of St Agnes parish in West Chester, where he once served as pastor.

"He is our Pope Francis."

doreilly@phillynews.com

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