At a solemn Mass of Installation and Reception celebrated at St. Mark the Evangelist Church, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, became the sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio on Nov. 23. His 76-year-old father, Gustavo García Suarez, and 75-year-old mother, Maria Cristina Siller de García, along with all of his siblings and their immediate families, were in attendance. Archbishop García-Siller, born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is the eldest of 15 children. Cardinal George was present to see his auxiliary bishop for eight years be officially installed. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston was also in attendance along with the papal nuncio to Mexico, Archbishop Christopher Pierre. Archbishop José Gomez, who will officially become the archbishop of Los Angeles in March of 2011, was there to celebrate the installation of his successor. Archbishop Gomez left the archdiocese in May to become coadjutor archbishop of Los Angeles. Sitting in the first pew at St. Mark’s for the Mass was Archbishop Emeritus Patrick Flores, who served as shepherd of San Antonio for almost two-and-a-half decades until his retirement in 2004. More than 30 archbishops and bishops attended the ceremony, coming from Honduras, and throughout Texas, California, Illinois, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. In addition to the hierarchy present, the Mass was concelebrated by the priests of the archdiocese, members of the archbishop’s religious order, the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, and visiting priests. Among the visitors concelebrating was Archbishop García-Siller’s brother, Eugene, who serves as a priest in San Luis Potosi. At the beginning of the Eucharistic celebration, prelude music by the San Antonio Brass was followed by the joyful strains of “Laudate, Laudate Dominum.” The 55-voice Archdiocesan Choir provided the singing for the solemn liturgy under the direction of Rick McLaughlin, who is also director of music for San Fernando Cathedral. Preceding the procession was a Knights of Columbus Honor Guard, followed by more than 300 deacons, priests, archbishops, and cardinals. Archbishop Pietro Sambi, the pope’s delegate to the United States, was introduced by Bishop Oscar Cantu in his last official act as apostolic administrator of the archdiocese. Archbishop Sambi then read an apostolic letter, or papal bull, confirming the appointment of the 54-year-old archbishop. Following protocol, the apostolic nuncio’s letter was then presented by Msgr. Terence Nolan, judicial vicar, to the College of Consultors. After this formal acknowledgment of Archbishop Gustavo’s appointment as archbishop of San Antonio, he was taken by Archbishop Sambi to assume his seat in a symbolic cathedra, the bishop’s chair. Their parting embrace here gave rise to a round of thunderous applause. The archbishop was then presented with the symbol of his pastoral ministry as archbishop, a crosier, a symbolic shepherd’s staff that belonged to Archbishop Jerome Droassaerts, who served as archbishop from 1918 to 1940. Representatives of Catholic affiliated groups and institutions then came forward to offer their respects to Archbishop Gustavo. Catholic school children, members of the Knights of Columbus and representatives from various cultural groups also greeted Archbishop Gustavo. The archbishop’s family was represented in the reading of the Scriptures at the Mass. His mother and father presented the bread and wine at the offertory. In comments at the conclusion of Mass, Archbishop Gustavo offered particular thanks to the Archdiocese of San Antonio, its leaders, and especially Bishop Oscar Cantú, who had been the administrator of the archdiocese for the last few months; to his parents, his family and relatives, especially those who came from Mexico, to his religious family, the Missionaries of the Holy Spirit, including those who also came from Mexico; to his former colleagues and friends from the Archdiocese of Chicago; and to those who were involved in the celebrations during the days of the installation. “My friends, thank you for your presence here this afternoon,” he said. “You have made this a very memorable celebration, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”