Little Rome to Celebrate One of Its Own

Some happy news from the part of Washington that is so Catholic it used to be called Little Rome. With the exception of papal visits to Washington, the concerns of the American Federal City and the Eternal City do not overlap all that often, but one long-time Washingtonian is about to assume the reigns of a powerful curial office in Rome. Fr. J. Augustine Di Noia, a Dominican priest and influential theologian, has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

A beloved professor of theology at the Dominican House of Studies, near Catholic University, for two decades Fr. Di Noia has been an assistant in the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (first under then-Cardinal Ratzinger) for the past several years. Now he will assist Cardinal Llovera, prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship, in overseeing the Catholic liturgy (especially the implementation of the new form of the English Missal). In response to an e-mail, the Prior of the Dominican House of Studies, Fr. Giles Dimock, told DCist: "Fr. Di Noia taught in this house for twenty years and this is his home. His brothers here are overjoyed because he's a good theologian who is a great human being and a great priest, who loves to laugh and loves all things Italian. It's an honor for our house, for our Province, and for the Church in America."

Because the holders of offices of this rank are traditionally appointed to the stature of archbishop, Fr. Di Noia will be ordained Titular Archbishop of Oregon City this Saturday (July 11, 2 p.m.). Such Ordination Masses almost always take place in Rome, but Fr. Di Noia has chosen to be ordained in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (4th St. and Michigan Ave. NE), across the street from his former home. William Cardinal Levada, former Archbishop of San Francisco and now the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (the office held for many years by Cardinal Ratzinger), will come from Rome to celebrate the Mass, as will presumably a gaggle of the American hierarchy.