August 25, 2016 - CatholicTV President, +Robert P. Reed, Ordained Bishop in Boston

On Wednesday, Bishop Robert P. Reed, President of the CatholicTV Network and CEO of iCatholic Media, was ordained a Catholic Bishop, along with Bishop Mark O’Connell, JCD. The Ordination Mass was celebrated at Boston’s Cathedral of the Holy Cross with Cardinal Seán O’Malley as its principal consecrator, and was broadcast live on CatholicTV. There were approximately 1,500 people in attendance at the Mass.  

In his homily, Cardinal O’Malley spoke about a bishop’s apostolic mission to serve the people, even to the point of martyrdom. He encouraged the newly ordained bishops to shepherd their flock, saying, “As bishops born in the Jubilee of Mercy, may you have a special love for the lost sheep, who was Jesus’ priority. And may your ministry allow many to glimpse the merciful face of the Father and the tender love of the Good Shepherd, Jesus of Nazareth.”

Wednesday’s Ordination Mass officially installs Bishop Reed and Bishop O’Connell in their duties to teach, govern, and sanctify for Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston. Bishop Reed, who also serves as Cabinet Secretary for Catholic Media in Boston, will now minister to the archdiocese’s West Region. Bishop O’Connell, who serves as Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Boston and was previously on the faculty of Saint John’s Seminary and Pope St. John XXIII Seminary, will serve the North Region. In addition, Bishop Reed will become pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Wayland, MA and Bishop O’Connell will become pastor of St. Thérèse Parish in North Reading.

Bishop Reed and Bishop O’Connell expressed their gratitude for their new roles and spoke about their enthusiasm for their ministry. Bishop Reed said, “We’re all sinners. There’s not one person in this room that has got it straight, but we’re loved by God without question. And Jesus proved that when he died on that holy cross. And he’s alive, he’s here with us right now. Because of his tremendous mercy, we all have the chance—the hope—of going to heaven. That’s why I can say to you that Jesus is our only hope.”

In Bishop O’Connell’s remarks, he said, “Now this day, I have become something new. Once again I have no idea … how God will call me to serve. There are so many people I want desperately to meet and to show them their Messiah.”

The CatholicTV broadcast of the Ordination Mass included introductory commentary by CatholicTV’s General Manager, Jay Fadden, and by Rocco Palmo, author of the blog Whispers in the Loggia. Ordination commentary was provided by Father Tom Macdonald. The Mass will be rebroadcast at 8pm ET and is available on demand at CatholicTV.com. It was also carried live by Salt + Light Media in Canada. Eternal Word Television Network will air the Mass on Thursday, August 25 at 3pm ET and Friday, August 26 at 12am ET.

About the CatholicTV Network: The CatholicTV Network is a national cable television network also streaming a live feed 24 hours a day at CatholicTVLIVE.com. The CatholicTV Network represents a cable TV station available in more than 14 million homes, an interactive website with television-like live streaming and video-on-demand, mobile apps, and a monthly printed and digital magazine.