Bishop John Barres Installed As Leader Rockville Centre Diocese
ROCKVILLE CENTRE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Bishop John Barres was installed as the new leader of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Tuesday.
Bishop Barres, a Princeton basketball star turned priest, was appointed by Pope Francis to become the fifth bishop of Rockville Centre.
"In the history of the church where there are challenges, there are also beautiful opportunities, and my goal in the beginning is just to really listen," he said.
Retiring at age 76, Bishop William Murphy trusts the community is in good hands.
"This evening, we have prayed together as we open a new and exciting chapter in the life of this diocese," he said.
Scores of bishops, priests, leaders of other faiths and hundreds of people filled the pews at Saint Agnes Cathedral to hear and see the emotional installation, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.
"Such a feeling of love and respect for Bishop Barres," one man said.
"Good luck for being our new bishop," a young girl added.
Bishop Barres received a staff called a crossier and sat at the altar on a special chair with a crest, the cathedra, signifying his assumption of leadership.
"I am looking forward to experiencing the vibrant, welcoming new evangelization parishes of the diocese of Rockville Centre," he said.
Bishop Barres is a native of Larchmont in Westchester County, likes Twitter and Facebook and is fluent in Spanish. He's a former prep-school graduate, caddie, accountant and JV basketball point guard for Princeton University.
He said off the court, his thoughts of marrying his then-girlfriend vied with his thoughts of entering the seminary. After business school, the calling from God won out.
Before his move to Rockville Centre, he was the bishop of Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he welcomed the Hispanic community, now the fastest growing ethnic group on Long Island, CBS2's Magdalena Doris reported.
"He brings people together," one parishioner said.
"He's very accepting of everybody," another agreed.
"He's bright and alive and filled with the spirit. I'm very hopeful for the church on Long Island," Rockville Centre resident Troy Baydala said.
"Only 20 percent of the registered Catholics of Saint Agnes attend services," resident Jim Egan said. "Christmas and Easter you can't get in the church it's so crowded, but normally Sundays it's pretty much empty."
In a celebratory Mass before his formal instillation, Bishop Barres spoke directly to the children present in Saint Agnes Cathedral.
"I really want to lay down my life for you and I'm so excited about your future in the Holy Spirit," he said.
The bishop hopes to grow the community and Catholic school enrollment and his experience on the court may help reach the youngest believers.
"I liked how he talked about basketball and related to being a good leader in the church, you need skills," said 12-year-old Ciaran Murray.
The Rockville Centre Diocese is the eighth-largest U.S. diocese, serving 1.45 million Catholics on Long Island.
