Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey installed seven new pastors over a three-week period in August and September. When a new pastor is appointed for a parish it is appropriate that the bishop publicly install him at a liturgical rite.

The new pastors installed by Bishop Mulvey include Father Peter Martinez at St. Paul the Apostle; Father Patrick Donohoe at Holy Family in Corpus Christi; Father Richard Gonzales at St. Joseph in Beeville; Father James Stembler at St. Gertrude; Father Paul Hesse at St. Pius X; Father Dennis Zerr at Holy Family in Taft; and Father James Farfaglia at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Corpus Christi.

After the gospel, the pastor stood before the bishop. Bishop Mulvey told the people present at Mass that he was aware of their pastoral needs and expressed confidence in the qualifications the priest he had named for the office of pastor. Bishop Mulvey then commended the priest as their new pastor.

“The pastor is the first shepherd in the parish. He assists the bishop in building up faith among the people, building up love and building up hope,” Bishop Mulvey said at the installation of Father Hesse.

The bishop went on to say that priests are there in the person of Christ. “Father Paul, I ask you to consider walking with all priests in the person of Christ and to remind all of us that through baptism we are all priests,” Bishop Mulvey said.

The bishop said that the three functions of Christ a pastor undertakes are those of priest, prophet and king.

As priest, he asked the new pastors to celebrate at the altar the sacrifice of Christ on the cross “with great reverence and great dignity” and to lead people in prayer so that they will look to the church “for meaning, reconciliation and purpose in their lives and find love.”

In their role as prophet, the bishop asked his new pastors to prepare themselves well to proclaim the word of God.

“Let it have meaning to you first, let yourself experience it first so that when you speak to your people it will be written in your heart and life,” Bishop Mulvey said.

The bishop jokingly told the congregation that he was not there to enthrone their pastor as king.

Nevertheless, as head of the parish, the pastor makes decisions that are reserved for the head. He sees that the community functions as a unit, he speaks up when change is needed, when forgiveness is called for, when action is need for the poor and when he needs to guide the community.

“When decisions come up there are two answers, yes and no. There are times when it is not prudent to say yes. Sometimes we have to say no. If he is wrong, the will of God will always come through,” Bishop Mulvey said about a pastor’s decision-making responsibilities.

“Build unity of minds, of thought, of action. Guide your people with the gentleness of a good shepherd but be firm if you must.

“If he makes mistake you still have to love him and you have to forgive him,” the bishop said to the people.

After the homily, Bishop Mulvey asked the parish council, who were seated in the front pews, to stand. Bishop Mulvey said that the parish council “is the voice of your people and will assist and counsel you as you minister to this parish. Always be attentive to the needs they express.”

At the conclusion of the profession of faith, the pastor turned to the bishop and pledged, “With firm faith I also believe everything contained in God’s Word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church, whether in solemn judgment or in ordinary and universal magisterium, as divinely revealed and calling for faith.

“I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by the church definitively regarding teaching on faith and morals. Moreover, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman Pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.”

The pastor then led the congregation in the profession of faith.

The bishop reminded his new pastors to “always be a loving father, a gentle Shepherd and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.”