Battersby installed as newest bishop for Diocese of La Crosse

It was an event that doesn’t happen often at La Crosse’s cathedral — the installation of a new Catholic bishop.

Monday, Gerard Battersby was installed as only the 11th bishop since the founding of the Diocese of La Crosse.

Battersby was an auxiliary bishop in Detroit when he received the call from the Vatican in March to succeed retiring La Crosse Bishop William Callahan, who had led the diocese since 2010.

Callahan stepped down after 14 years due to health concerns.

A formal part of the installation ritual involved a former La Crosse bishop, Jerome Listecki, who’s now the Archbishop of Milwaukee.

Another past bishop of La Crosse, Cardinal Raymond Burke, also joined dozens of visiting clergy members from around the U.S. at the ceremony.

A local congregation, plus clergy from around the U.S. joined mass at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral.

“Thank you for being here on behalf of the priests and the people of La Crosse,” Battersby said. “We are honored by your presence, and I am grateful beyond mere words.”

The new bishop told the congregation that the ceremony was not about him, but rather, about Jesus.

“It’s about the high Priest, and His priestly people, who are called from darkness to light, from futility to purpose,” Battersby said.

Battersby urged worshipers to “let your heart be an altar,” and had some humorous remarks, claiming “I’ve never met a microphone I didn’t like.”