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Before an invitation-only congregation at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo, Timothy Cardinal Dolan and outgoing Bishop Edward Kmiec escorted Malone to the bishop's chair on the sanctuary altar.
Several area priests and deacons were part of the opening procession, as the choir and musicians performed the opening hymn.
The retiring Bishop Kmiec offered opening remarks and received a standing ovation -- and laughs -- after introducing himself as the man who "used to be the bishop."
Later, in his homily, Malone said that evangelization, the work of all the baptized, "aims at the transformation of individuals in Christ, and the transformation of our increasingly secular culture into a civilization of love and a culture of life, respectful of human life from conception to natural death and at every moment in between; of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, open to new life; protective of religious liberty and conscience rights; compassionate toward the poor and toward immigrants, and so much more. We need the martyrs' conviction, courage, tenacity and selflessness -- and hope -- to stand up in our increasingly relativistic society in defense of these truths and values so threatened in our time."
"Recent popes have given us a wakeup call to engage it anew," Malone said as he continued. "... beginning with personal spiritual renewal, and extending it to every Catholic institution, and beyond."
Malone said he was delighted to learn evangelization among the top priorities in the Diocese.
The new bishop also received handshake greetings from Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, as well as several other visitors.
The 66-year-old Malone arrived in Buffalo Aug. 3 after spending eight years as bishop in Portland, Maine. Pope Benedict XVI chose him in May to succeed retiring Buffalo Bishop Edward Kmiec.
Malone will stay active in Portland as apostolic administrator while the Vatican searches for a replacement there. The appointment will allow Malone to continue to lead the church's fight to defeat a Nov. 6 referendum on legalizing gay marriage in Maine. Same-sex marriage became legal in New York last year.