The Rev. Catherine Scimeca Roskam, elected Suffragan Bishop for the Diocese of New York's Region 2 (northern suburbs of Manhattan) was consecrated Jan. 27 in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The new bishop is the first suffragan ordained for a specific region of the diocese.

The three-hour service, attended by more than 5,000 persons who filled the cavernous cathedral, was punctuated by humor as well as solemnities. When Presiding Bishop Edmond L. Browning was in the midst of the collect which asks that we may see things "cast down being raised up," heavy photographic equipment crashed noisily to the floor. That caused a chuckle throughout the congregation, in which the bishops joined.

The sermon was a fast-moving and arresting dialogue by the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding, professor of New Testament at the Inter-Denominational Center in Atlanta, and the Rev. David Norgard, rector of St. John the Evangelist Church, San Francisco. After discussing with each other in the pulpit the historic responsibilities of bishops as leaders, unifiers, missionaries and martyrs, they turned to the bishop-elect and charged her to be bold in her duties. The preachers asked the bishop's husband, Philip, and daughter, Gemma, to stand and charged them to keep their home "a model" for all Christians.

Then all bishops were asked to stand ("This is the moment of my life" quipped Fr. Norgard from the pulpit as the bishops stood before him). They were bidden to be examples of excellence to their new sister in the House of Bishops. Priests, then deacons, and then members of parish organizations were told to stand and receive their charge. By this time, perhaps half the throng in the cathedral was standing. The preachers concluded their task by asking every other believer in Christ to stand and be charged to be faithful and loyal.

Bishop Browning was the chief consecrator, joined by the Rt. Rev. Richard Grein, Bishop of New York; the Rt. Rev. William Swing, Bishop of California; the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, Suffragan Bishop of Massachusetts; and the Rt. Rev. Leopoldo Alard, Suffragan Bishop of Texas.

Bishop Roskam, 52, is a native of Hempstead, Long Island. She was ordained in the Diocese of New York and has been diocesan missioner in the Diocese of California since 1991.

(The Rev.) James Elliott Lindsley