Mardi Gras parades paled to the splendor of the procession that led the Rev. Charles Edward Jenkins III to his consecration as Bishop Coadjutor of Louisiana, Jan. 31, at St. Dominic's Roman Catholic Church, New Orleans.

The familiar strains of "When the Saints Go Marching In," played by The Easy Street Band Jazz ensemble, set the festive mood for the nearly 400 people who formed the six-part procession that passed through the massive brass doors of St. Dominic's. The site was chosen to accommodate the 1,900 Episcopalians and ecumenical visitors who attended the historic event, the first consecration in the diocese since 1976.

Fr. Jenkins had the distinction of being the first priest ordained to the episcopate by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. Bishop Griswold was joined by four co-consecrating bishops: the Rt. Rev. James B. Brown, Bishop of Louisiana; the Rt. Rev. Edward L. Salmon, Jr., Bishop of South Carolina; the Rt. Rev. Robert C. Witcher, retired Bishop of Long Island; and the Rt. Rev. Willis Henton, retired Bishop of Western Louisiana.

Thirty-one bishops from across the country joined in the consecration.

Louisiana's Gov. Mike Foster, an Episcopalian, read the epistle. The Most Rev. Francis Schulte, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New Orleans, and other ecumenical observers from the state, also were present.

The spacious nave reverberated with traditional and contemporary music featuring a 105-voice choir accompanied by handbells, brass and organ.

In his sermon, the Rt. Rev. Francis C. Gray, Bishop of Northern Indiana, spoke of the ministry of John the Baptist who pointed the way to God through Jesus. "The task of the bishop is to point to God, a difficult calling in any age, but especially in a time of extreme self-consumption," he said. "Charles' primary task is to be like John the Baptist who points to Jesus."

"There will be people who litigate for the very name of the church," Bishop Gray added, and he encouraged Bishop Jenkins always to ask the question, "Where is God?", in the difficult issues.

Following the three-hour service, the congregation greeted Bishop Jenkins, his wife, Louise, and sons, Edward and Benjamin, in front of St. Dominic's. The crowd moved across the street to St. Paul's Episcopal Church for a tented outdoor reception.

Bishop Jenkins, 46, was elected bishop coadjutor on Sept. 13, 1997. He will become diocesan following Bishop Brown's retirement at the end of March. Bishop Jenkins will be invested as the 10th Bishop of Louisiana March 28, at Christ Church Cathedral, New Orleans.