An Edmond church has been selected as the site for the installation of the new archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Friday, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese said Archbishop-designate Paul S. Coakley has chosen St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 924 S Littler Ave., as the location for his installation ceremony set for Feb. 11.
Archdiocesan chancellor Loutitia Eason said the Edmond church holds about 1,200 people.
She said the 1993 installation service for the Most Rev. Eusebius J. Beltran as Oklahoma City archbishop was held at the Civic Center Music Hall.
The Rev. John Metzinger, pastor of St. John, said word is spreading about installation service location.
“We look forward to welcoming representatives of the archdiocese,” he said.
“We've heard wonderful things about the new archbishop and we look forward to welcoming him to our church.”
A native of Virginia, Coakley served 21 years as a priest in the Diocese of Wichita (Kansas) and the last six years as the bishop of Salina, Kan.
Last month, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Coakley, 55, archbishop of the Oklahoma City archdiocese.
Beltran
is serving as apostolic administrator of the Oklahoma City archdiocese,
overseeing archdiocesan affairs until Coakley's February installation.
SIC: NOK/USA