Peter Smith becomes bishop in East Anglia

BY CECILIA
BROMLEY-MARTIN
LAST SATURDAY, Mgr Peter Smith was ordained in St John's Cathedral, Norwich as the new Bishop of East Anglia.
Cardinal Basil Hume, who ordained Bishop Smith to the episcopate, spoke in his sermon of the rich symbolism in the ceremony: the Gospel book held over the head of the ordinand to remind the new bishop that he is under the word of God, the anointing with Chrism to show he is conformed to the priesthood of Christ anointed by the Holy Spirit for that purpose, the ring to indicate that he will be married to the Bride of Christ, the Church in East Anglia.
But it was the importance of the crozier and the bishop's role as a shepherd on which the Cardinal concentrated: "Remember that your priests, religious and people must see in you an icon of that Good Shepherd, who came not only to be served, but to serve," he said.
"There is a special grace given to bishops on the day they are ordained. The grace to love the people and to serve them."The desire to serve them and at whatever cost, selflessly and totally. These are the qualities of the Good Shepherd."
Bishop Smith was given the crozier by the retiring bishop, Alan Clark, a moment Cardinal Hume described as important, moving and significant, telling the congregation:"You say good-bye to the bishop who saw this Diocese of East Anglia come into being and has guided it so well ".