Coyne family enjoys emotional ordination Mass

Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, lays prostrate in prayer on March 2 before the altar and sanctuary at St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis during the praying of the Litany of the Saints as part of his episcopal ordination Mass. His mother, Rita Coyne of Woburn, Mass., center, and other members of his family kneel in prayer in the pews behind him. Bishop Coyne’s posture is a prayerful sign of humility before God and obedience to the ministry that he has been called by Pope Benedict XVI to serve the Catholic Church in central and southern Indiana. Seminarian Jerry Byrd, a member of St. Louis Parish in Batesville, is shown to the right of Bishop Coyne. (Photo by Sean Gallagher)

By Mary Ann Wyand

Joy tinged with sadness.

During the episcopal ordination of her son, Bishop Christopher J. Coyne, on March 2 as the new auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Rita Coyne couldn’t help feeling both happy and sad.

As she prayed at historic St. John the Evangelist Church in Indianapolis, she was reminded yet again that one of her sons would be living at the downtown parish while serving the Church in central and southern Indiana.

Bishop Coyne’s papal appointment to the Midwest means that he now lives more than 900 miles and 15 hours away from her family’s home in New England and his last ministry assignment as the pastor of St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood, Mass.

Rita Coyne also serves the Church as the secretary of St. Barbara Parish in Woburn, Mass., where she has ministered for more than 30 years. So she understands the sacrifices that priests—and their parents—make because of God’s call to the priesthood.

“That’s the hard part,” she said after the liturgy. “You can’t be as close. I never expected to be as emotional as I was. I really thought I had myself under control. But I was just looking at him, and all of a sudden realizing who he was and what he is now, and it was just so emotional. … I thought, ‘It’s not about me. It’s about him now, and what he can do for God. He can do very good things.’

“When he was ordained a bishop and he turned around, I realized that he’s not mine anymore,” she said. “Of course, he wasn’t from the day he was ordained [a deacon], but he really isn’t now. He belongs to the people. I cried a few tears. … My prayer is that he will never change from what he is today. He’s a loving, giving man, and I think that he will reach out to the people in [the Archdiocese of] Indianapolis, and I hope that they will respond to him. He will do a good job.”

Before the liturgy, Bishop Coyne escorted his mother to her seat in a front pew. Later, as he processed into the church, he looked over at her and smiled broadly then hugged her.

Rita Coyne also has served St. Barbara Parish as a lector and committee member.

“I’ve been involved in the Church all my life,” she said. “That’s what our [daily] life has been—our family, our Church and our friends.”

Her husband, William Coyne, was not able to travel to Indiana to attend their son’s episcopal ordination due to health problems.

“There was an empty space [in the pew] next to my mother because my father could not be there,” Bishop Coyne explained after the Mass. “I’m sure my mother felt it as we all did. I offered special prayers for him.”

Family members planned to share a video of the liturgy as well as lots of photographs with William Coyne when they returned to Massachusetts.

“He’s always been there for us,” Rita Coyne said of her son. “We’re a very close-knit family. That is the only hard part of the whole thing—having him so far away. But he will be home to visit us.

“It is joyful,” she said of her son’s papal appointment. “There’s no doubt about it. The people in this area have been just wonderful, and they give me a sense that he is going to be well taken care of. … Everybody is really caring, and I think they will do everything they can for him to make his way easier. That’s all I can ask.

“We met Archbishop [Daniel M.] Buechlein at the dinner,” she said, “and I think they seem to already have forged a bond between them. I think that he realizes that Chris will be a good help to him.”

Then Rita Coyne laughed and said, “I’m overwhelmed right now. I’m going to tell my husband that he should have come! But it really was physically impossible for him. We realized while we were traveling here that it would have been very, very difficult for him. But he was with us in prayer.

“One thing I’m really delighted about is to see so many priests here,” she said. “To see so many young priests from all over the country here today is inspiring. Chris has a very strong feeling for the priests in Boston, and I’m sure it will translate to the same thing here.”

Seated next to her mother, Anne-Marie Coyne said her brother was very happy during his years in ministry at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Westwood.

“I want that joy to continue for him here,” she said, “and I want that joy to come through him to all the people that he serves.”

Patricia Silverman said she hopes that her brother “will find happiness in his servitude to the people” in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

“You’re very lucky to have him,” she said. “You’ll be thrilled, and you’ll look back on his years [of ministry] here and feel very grateful that you had that time with him. I hope he keeps his Boston roots with him here.”

Maureen Coyne said she prays that God will give her brother the strength that he needs to carry out his episcopal ministries.

“Chris, we wish you every happiness,” she said, “as you continue your journey with God.” †