In an address infused with humor, gratitude and Scripture, Pittsburgh's new Roman Catholic bishop spurred members of his flock to "get excited" about living and sharing their faith each day.

Following his installation yesterday as leader of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop David A. Zubik rose to stand above the altar of its mother church and to challenge its 764,000 members to "be excited about our faith, and how we live it."

"I dare you to join with me today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. I dare you to join me in being excited about our faith, not tomorrow but today," he told more than 1,700 worshippers who crammed pews, aisles and portable chairs to witness the three-hour, tradition-steeped ceremony at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland.

"May we not put off to tomorrow what God really wants us to do today."

Bishop Zubik, 58, grew up in Ambridge, served in Pittsburgh as a priest and auxiliary bishop and had been bishop of Green Bay, Wis., since 2003 before returning to replace Donald Wuerl, now archbishop of Washington, D.C.

His father, Stanley Zubik, his aunts, and dozens of other relatives and friends looked on yesterday as he accepted his apostolic mandate, received the crozier, or shepherd staff, that symbolizes his new office and acknowledged "the awesome responsibility to be shepherd of such wonderful people."

With resonant voice and conversational demeanor, Bishop Zubik cited Scripture and a parable about Satan's delight over Christians who procrastinate in responding to God's love and demonstrating their faith. He also set off widespread laughter and applause when he spoke of a story published earlier this week in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which referred to rumored "sanctified scalping" of widely sought tickets for yesterday's invitation-only installation.

"I knew about scalping, but I didn't know how sanctified went with it," he said, smiling. "Then I got really excited, really enthused. If people are scalping tickets to come to church, how much they must be in love with God."

Bishop Zubik turned serious when speaking of the airplane passenger with whom he'd chatted after flying back to Green Bay from Pittsburgh on the day after his appointment was announced in July. The man watched the bishop pray the rosary, then admitted in conversation that he'd fallen away from the church because he'd never encountered anyone who truly followed Christ's teachings in day-to-day life.

"I've been thinking about his answer," Bishop Zubik said. "The question I ask myself and the question I ask of all of you is this one: How excited are you? How excited am I? How excited are we about our God?

"Can people who see us day in and day out know without question that we're proud of our faith, that we're dependent upon God and that we're excited about doing his work?"

The bishop exhorted Catholics to seek God's help during prayer, to stand up for the sanctity of human life and to help the poor and "people on the fringes of society." He also thanked Archbishop Wuerl for "teaching me what it means to be a man of the church," and Auxiliary Bishop Paul J. Bradley for his pastoral oversight of the diocese during the 15 months after Archbishop Wuerl's departure for Washington.

Relatives and friends in the sanctuary smiled and dabbed at their eyes as the bishop spoke of his father and his late mother, Susan, saying they introduced him to God, the church and prayer -- "everything important in life."

"They taught me not only to live, but to love," he said.

In addition to family and friends from around Beaver County and Western Pennsylvania, yesterday's installation drew worshippers and clergy from Green Bay and other states, more than 30 bishops, archbishops and cardinals and about 400 priests to the newly refurbished stone cathedral.

Also in the pews were local leaders of other religious denominations and representatives of numerous government, civic and educational institutions. Among them were Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and former Mayor Sophie Masloff, Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll, Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy, and judges, lawmakers and county commissioners from around Western Pennsylvania.

By far, however, most of those in attendance had no direct connection with the bishop but came from parishes all over the six counties within the diocese. Many said they came away inspired by the new bishop's straightforward address and earnest, approachable bearing.

"He's a very natural speaker. We're very happy," said Bill Trozzo of Bethel Park, who stood smiling while his wife, Sue, used her cellular telephone's camera to shoot video and snap pictures of the bishop and others in attendance.

Emily Riehl of West Deer said the bishop's homily was particularly thought-provoking for her fellow members of Transfiguration Church, who have been holding Mass in their school gymnasium since a fire destroyed their near-century-old church last year.

"It was so appropriate, especially when we're trying to start a Tuesday-night group to get people back to church," she said. "It's been so hard, but we're blessed. I loved the message of evangelism."

With ringing of bells, pealing of brass instruments and a 80-voice choir soaring above two organs, the ceremony began at 2 p.m. with a 30-minute procession of sword-wielding members of Catholic orders in flowing satin capes and plumed hats, clergymen in flowing white vestments and other dignitaries. Bright beams of afternoon sunlight pierced the cathedral's stained-glass windows as the procession made its way down the center aisle and turned at the altar to await the bishop's entry.

Worshippers packed pews and jammed white folding chairs that had been set up in rows to permit 1,700 people to fit into the cathedral. About 750 others watched on closed-circuit television next door in Synod Hall.

During the ceremony, prayers were recited in several languages and the hymn "Praise God for Mary" was sung partially in Polish during the Communion procession to reflect the heritage of Bishop Zubik's family.

Returning briefly to the pulpit he'd held for 18 years, Archbishop Wuerl also told worshippers of a child who, after the announcement of Bishop Zubik's pending return to Pittsburgh, was asked: "How did he get to be bishop?" The child's answer: "Because God sent him."