“Together we accept this mission in the eyes of faith,” said Archbishop Tobin.
Archbishop Tobin was recently a high ranking Vatican official and said he was surprised when Pope Benedict the XVI gave him the assignment.
“I was surprised, but I accept it as God's plan and I know God will give me what I need,” said Archbishop Tobin.
Archbishop Tobin succeeds the beloved Archbishop Daniel Buechlein who stepped down after 19 years because of health problems. Buechlein said the future for the Catholic church in Indianapolis is full of hope.
“I think it's very bright,” said former Archbishop Buechlein. “Especially with our young adult Catholics.”
The young Catholics agreed.
“It's exciting for us that he wants to be here to know he's been around the world but is a hometown Midwest kind of guy is great,” said parishioner Shannon Schmidt.
Now, for a diocese that's been without an archbishop for a year it means Catholic initiatives can get done in Indianapolis.
“We are really looking at the reorganization of our parishes, do we have the right parish in the right place, do we have enough to accommodate our Catholics,” said the chancellor for the Diocese Annette “Mickey” Lentz.
Archbishop Tobin is fluent in Spanish and said one if his missions is to reach out to immigrants, and he will focus on families.
“The families who struggle,” Archbishop Tobin said. “Families like my family with a single mother with the help of her husband in heaven had to raise 13 of us.”
But first things first, former Archbishop Buechlien gave the new archbishop a little gift and a suggestion on who to pray for.
“I love the Colts and I want him to do the same,” said former Archbishop Buechlein.
Archbishop Tobin held up his Colts cloth and accepted it with grace.
