A whirlwind day ended on a prayerful note for Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost as he presided at night prayer following the Hillbilly Thomists’ concert the evening of his episcopal ordination.
“This is awesome,” he told the crowd that nearly filled St. Wendelin Church in Cleveland on Aug. 4. “I’m sorry I missed the concert,” he said.
(See photo gallery above.)
The Hillbilly Thomists, a group of Dominican friars who recorded three popular albums of Americana and bluegrass music, embarked on their first concert tour this summer, The Old Highway Tour. The Cleveland show was their last stop on the seven-city tour.
Father Damian Ference, diocesan vicar for evangelization and director of Parish Life and Special Ministries, coordinated the Thomists’ visit here. He met one member while in college and encountered another – rector of the Angelicum in Rome -- while pursuing his doctoral degree there.
To help promote the show, Father Ference said they rented two billboards and advertised in an alternative publication. It paid off, he noted, since more than 600 people attended the show, which started at 6:30 p.m. with local musician Tom Evanchuk. The event was a collaboration of the Young Adult Ministry, Parish Life and Special Ministries Office, St. Wendelin Parish and Tolle Lege Summer Institute.
The plan was to have food trucks, a beer tent, ice cream and music in the parking lot at St. Wendelin, Father Ference’s childhood parish. However, there was a threat of rain, so Father Ference considered moving the event into the parish hall.
“Although I offered a votive Mass for fine weather, I thought we should stay inside,” he said. But the parish office manager insisted on setting up outside. “She followed the Holy Spirit,” Father Ference said. “I’m glad she did. Had we used the hall, which is not air conditioned, it would have been very hot and the hall could not accommodate 600 people.”
After enjoying about two hours of music and food, many of the concert attendees headed into the air-conditioned church to greet newly ordained Bishop Woost, who presided at candlelight night prayer. Among the congregants were Bishop Edward Malesic, Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Perez, the Thomists and several other priests.
Bishop Woost, wearing a white miter and cope and carrying his wooden crosier, processed up the main aisle in the dark church while attendees held individual candles.
He told them that when we were baptized, God chose to take up residence within us. “We become like living tabernacles,” he said, adding that “God provides all we need. God loves us with a passion, sharing with us his life and grace.”
God wants to make us holy, he said, noting that others can experience God through us.
“Ask the God of peace to help us become bearers of God’s presence in the world,” he added.
After night prayer, Bishop Woost greeted attendees and posed for photos.
Meanwhile, outside in the parking lot, seminarians and other volunteers helped tear down the stage, put away the chairs and clean up after the concert.
The Thomists packed away their instruments, got into the van that has been ferrying them around throughout their tour, and headed to St. Casimir Parish, where they spent the night before heading to their next stop.
More information on the Hillbilly Thomists is available here.