Planning preparations are underway as Bishop-elect Luis R. Zarama, in less than a month, is ordained to serve the archdiocese as an auxiliary bishop. Organizers are putting the final touches on the details of the two-day event.

What events are taking place for the ordination?

Solemn vespers will be held at the Cathedral of Christ the King the night before the ordination. The event, which is not open to the public, is a time of prayer for Bishop-elect Zarama and for him to be with the priests of the archdiocese.

The episcopal ordination on Tuesday, Sept. 29, will take place at the archdiocese’s mother church, the Cathedral of Christ the King, at 2 p.m. with cardinals, bishops, priests, and family members of Bishop-elect Zarama, among others, in attendance.

What will happen at the ordination?

Bishop-elect Zarama will become a bishop by the laying on of hands and prayer of consecration, similar to the ritual of a priest’s ordination. Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory is to be the consecrator. Atlanta Archbishop-emeritus John F. Donoghue and Oklahoma City Archbishop Eusebius J. Beltran, who served as an Atlanta priest for many years, are the co-consecrators.

How can I get the necessary tickets for seats?

Each parish and mission is to receive approximately 12 tickets to distribute for seating. And schools will receive two tickets for the ordination. How the tickets are distributed is up to each parish and school to determine.

How can the public participate in the event?

Seating will be reserved to ticket-holders only around the cathedral due to space limitation. There will be three locations for the public with tickets to watch the ceremony, the cathedral parish hall, the sanctuary of Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church, across the street from the cathedral, and the meeting room of Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church. The ordination will be shown on a large screen.

Bishop-elect Zarama will visit with parishioners at Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist Church immediately following the ordination.

I don’t have tickets but still would like to watch. Can I?

Yes, the ordination will be televised.

The Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB) TV station will show the episcopal ordination of Bishop-elect Zarama live. It will be shown on Comcast Channel 5 or Charter Communications (Smyrna, Roswell) on Channel 22. It can also be viewed streaming on the Internet at www.AIBNet.tv.

AIB is also airing a special program of a conversation between Archbishop Gregory and Bishop-elect Zarama. It is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29, preceding the ordination Mass.