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An installation mass for Bishop Mark O'Connell is set to take place today at Saint Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park, New York. The ceremony, which begins with a procession at 1:30 p.m., marks the official start of O'Connell's leadership of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. He was appointed by Pope Leo the 14th and succeeds Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, who served since 2014 and reached the mandatory retirement age in May 2023.
The event is open to the public, but in-person attendance requires an invitation. For those unable to attend, the mass will be livestreamed on platforms like YouTube and CatholicTV, allowing parishes and groups to host watch parties. The diocese encourages participation in these virtual celebrations to engage with the installation in real-time.
Bishop O'Connell's first mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany is scheduled for Sunday (December 7) at 11 a.m. The installation mass is expected to last approximately two and a half hours, and media coverage will include footage of Bishop O'Connell greeting attendees after the ceremony in a heated tent outside the church.
For more information on the event, including livestream links and details about watch parties, visit the Diocese of Albany's website.