Midnight in River City -- a century ends... and nothing short of a new world begins.

Surreal as it is to say, church, The Hour has arrived:



Before all else, as logistics go, the traditional 10am presser is on and -- in a first for a Philadelphia Appointment Day -- Archbishops past and future will concelebrate a Noon Mass of the Holy Spirit in the Cathedral-Basilica that's open to one and all. Livestream info to come.

Having arrived quietly on Saturday, the archbishop-designate has spent the time since getting adjusted to Eastern time and, above all, taking his first briefings on the daunting situation he inherits.

To be sure, the challenges #9 faces are towering and exist on a host of fronts... then again, being responsible for this scribe's soul might just make for the toughest part of the job.

The installation is scheduled for Thursday, 8 September, the feast of the Birth of Mary.

For now, though, as we set into this new dawn -- lest any of us needed it -- Harry and fans, remind us of the best thing we can carry on the road ahead:


Archbishop, go get 'em. Saints John Neumann and Katharine Drexel, pray for us.

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