Bishop-elect Alfred A. Schlert was ordained as bishop and installed as the fifth bishop of Allentown Aug. 31 at a special Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Catherine of Siena.

The church is located at 18th and Turner streets in Allentown.

The Mass began 2 p.m. The procession of deacons, priests and bishops led Schlert to the altar.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaputwas the principal ordaining bishop. Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, was also in the sanctuary.

Highlights of this special Mass included:a document from Pope Francis mandating that Monsignor Alfred A. Schlert be ordained and installed as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown.

After the litany, Schlertknelt before Chaput, who was to lay his hands in silence on the candidate’s head.

The co-ordaining bishops for the event were the Most Rev. Edward P. Cullen, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Allentown, who served as the third bishop of the Diocese of Allentown and the Most Rev. John O. Barres, Bishop of Rockville Centre, who served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Allentown.

After the ordination, Chaput anointed Schlert’s head with Sacred Chrism.

Following the presentation of the insignia, the archbishop and the papal nuncio seated the new bishop in his cathedra (ceremonial chair). It was at this moment he became the Bishop of Allentown.

Because of the limited number of seats available at the cathedral, a ticket was required to attend the Mass of Episcopal Ordination and Installation.

The Mass was streamed live on the diocesan website at www.allentowndiocese.org and the diocesan Facebook page www.facebook.com/DioceseofAllentown and was broadcast live locally by Service Electric Cable TV and Blue Ridge Cable Television.

A delayed broadcast of the ordination and installation Mass aired on EWTN.

Pope Francis appointed Schlert, 56, as Fifth Bishop of Allentown June 27.

A native of Easton, Schlert has been a priest of the Diocese of Allentown since his ordination in 1987. He is the first priest ordained for the Diocese of Allentown to become bishop of the diocese.