Dear Brothers and Sisters,

 

Fr. Mike Kellogg was present as the Dean of the Eastern Deanery of the Diocese of St. Cloud to formally install me as the pastor of the Parish of St. Joseph, Pillar of Families on behalf of the bishop last Sunday (10/25) at the 8:00 a.m. Mass in Milaca. It was a very nice event, with our Deacons present, along with a good number of the parish staff, trustees, and pastoral council members. Fr. Mike read the words of the bishop installing me as pastor, exhorted me to faithfully carry out the responsibilities entrusted to me, and then introduced the parish leadership in attendance and called us to collaborate for the good of all the souls of the parish. Then, after we prayed the Nicene Creed together, I made an Oath of Fidelity, which I signed after Mass.

 

It is true that I was installed as pastor of the four parishes of the ACC over three years ago after I was first assigned here. But it is important to recognize that those four parishes no longer exist in the same way – they have been merged into the one new parish of St. Joseph, Pillar of Families. In the decree establishing that canonical merger, the bishop also formally assigned me to be pastor of that parish. Thus, it makes sense that we would do a new installation Mass publicly expressing that new reality.

 

I am sorry we were not able to communicate the event better. Unfortunately, Fr. Mike needed to find another priest to cover his Sunday morning Masses in his parishes; and we did not get official confirmation that the date worked for him soon enough to communicate that in our bulletins or at the previous weekend’s Masses. I am grateful for all those who were able to be at that Mass and make it a special event.

 

Peace in Christ,

Father Timothy