Bishop Jugis: Share light, love of Christ with others
Father Paul McNulty receives the Book of the Gospels during his installation Oct. 26 as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Waynesville. (Della Sue Bryson | Catholic News Herald)WAYNESVILLE — “May God be praised in all that we do as a parish, with the beautiful examples of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and our patron here at St. John, the beloved disciple, always ready to rest at the heart of Our Lord.”
Moments after officially being installed Oct. 26 as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Waynesville and Immaculate Conception Mission in Canton, Father Paul McNulty expressed gratitude to his parishioners and asked for their prayers. During the special Mass of installation, Father McNulty made a public profession of faith and took an oath of fidelity to the Church at the altar, in the presence of Bishop Peter Jugis.
The special Mass featured the combined choirs of the English and Spanish Masses at both churches. Father Julio Dominguez and Father Lucas Rossi concelebrated the Mass, and Deacon Brian McNulty, Father McNulty’s father, assisted. Seminarians Harry Ohlhaut and Darren Balkey served the Mass.
In his homily, Bishop Jugis reiterated to the congregation the three primary roles of a pastor: that of teaching, sanctifying and pastoral governance.
Striving to exemplify the Good Shepherd Himself, the pastor’s mission is to prepare them for eternal life and lead people to Christ, the bishop said. “That is why he is here ultimately, and that is what the Lord on the last day will ask in an accounting from him regarding everyone in his parish.”
The work of the parish – and the work of every pastor – begins at the altar where the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered, Bishop Jugis noted.
“Everything that we do at the parish flows from the life and the love that we celebrate here at this altar,” he said. “We receive Christ’s Presence, we receive Christ’s life within us, His life and His love, and we carry that to all of the ministries of the parish.”
“It all begins here, right here at the altar. This is the center of the life of the parish,” he continued, and thus the celebration of the Eucharist is the most important duty of a pastor in caring for his parishioners.
The Eucharist is like the sun at the center of our solar system, the bishop reflected. “Just as rays from the sun shoot light and the warmth of the sun to all parts of the galaxy, so also the Eucharist, the Son in the center of this universe, sends forth His rays of light, the Light of Christ, and the warmth of the love of Christ to all of the ministries of the parish.”
After his homily, Bishop Jugis escorted the first-time pastor around to places in the church that are significant to his ministry, including the baptismal font, the reconciliation room, the presider’s chair, the altar and the pulpit.
The bishop advised Father McNulty to keep the front doors open at opportune times, so that people may come in to the church and find comfort, peace and solace there in the presence of Jesus Christ. At the baptismal font, he told Father McNulty, welcome new children into the Kingdom of God and then, as their spiritual father, nurture their faith and love for Jesus. At the reconciliation room, he continued, help reconcile wounded souls and relieve their burdens by acknowledging their sins and extending Christ’s mercy and forgiveness. At the pulpit, proclaim the Word of God clearly and with fidelity, and at the presider’s chair, offer the prayers at Mass and unite his prayers to those of his parishioners.
In remarks after Mass, Father McNulty thanked people for their support and asked for their prayers that they all remain faithful to Christ and serve the parish in such a way as to help people get to heaven.
“That’s where I want to go, and I hope that’s where you want to go as well,” he said with a smile. Echoing the bish-op’s homily message, he prayed that the entire parish would be a united community of faith that “shines through-out Haywood County and on everyone that we meet here in Waynesville, Canton and in between.”
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor. Photos by Della Sue Bryson and Patricia L. Guilfoyle
