Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is a day of great joy for the Church in Huntsville and for this vibrant community of faith here at Holy Spirit Parish. It is an honor for me to be here with you today. I welcome all of you from near and far, especially our visitors. We gather to celebrate not only the Eucharist, but also the installation of your new pastor, Father Rick — a shepherd who comes among you to walk with you, to listen to you, and to lead you ever more deeply into the mystery of God’s love. It’s a simple rite, but it is one that allows Father Rick to take possession of the parish that’s entrusted to his care.

A shepherd who listens and accompanies

In the Book of Exodus, we heard of Moses standing on the hilltop as Joshua fought the battle below. When Moses’ arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur held them up — a simple image of faith and cooperation, but a profound one.

A pastor, too, stands among his people — arms raised in prayer — interceding for them before God, but just as Moses could not stand alone, no pastor can serve alone. He needs his people, his collaborators. He needs their prayer, their patience, their love.

Your new pastor comes not as a manager, but as a shepherd. A pastor is responsible for more than the leaks, locks, lights, and liturgy. He comes not simply to organize ministries, but to listen — to your stories, your struggles, your hopes, and your dreams. He sets a tone and vision. He comes to accompany you in the journey of faith, to walk beside you, to lift you up in prayer, especially in moments of difficulty or doubt and in moments of joy and elation. We all must do the same for him, so that he is a good pastor.

Psalm 121 reminds us: “The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever.” This same Lord watches over this parish, over your pastor, and over all who seek to do His will.

“Remain faithful to what you have learned”

St. Paul’s words to Timothy this morning are fitting for any priest beginning a new chapter of ministry: “Remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from Whom you learned it.”

The pastor is first a disciple. Before he teaches, he listens. Before he leads, he follows the Master. Before he speaks, he prays for the right words to lift up and console.

And what he teaches is not his own wisdom, but the wisdom of the Gospel — “the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

The priest’s mission is to keep this Word alive in the hearts of God’s people — to proclaim it in season and out of season, to correct, encourage, and inspire. He does this, though, with the heart of a shepherd, not the tone of a judge. Now, here is where it gets a little interesting because our Gospel passage puts forth the contrast between an unjust judge and a just judge.

God the honest Judge

Right away in our Gospel today, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow and the dishonest judge. Often, we imagine God as the judge and ourselves as the poor, unfortunate, widow, pleading for help, waiting for justice.

But perhaps, as we reflect more deeply, we realize that sometimes we are the judge — the ones slow to listen, hesitant to act with mercy, reluctant to let God’s persistent call move our hearts.

God comes to us — again and again — under the humble guise of the widow: in the poor, the forgotten, the struggling parent, the anxious teen, the lonely elder. God pleads with us relentlessly: “Render a just decision for Me against My adversary.” That is, “Open your heart. Let My love find a place there. Let My mercy flow through you.”

God does not force our hearts. He leaves our freedom intact, but when we turn to Him, we discover He is the honest judge — faithful, merciful, and just.

Your new pastor is called to reflect that honesty, that patience, that mercy — to listen as God listens, to judge as God judges, and to love as God loves.

Encouragement for Holy Spirit Parish

Holy Spirit Parish, you are already a living sign of the Church’s vitality and diversity. You are a large and vibrant family of faith, rich in ministries, in service, in generosity, but even more than your size, it is your spirit that gives glory to God.

With your new pastor, Father Rick, I invite you to deepen that spirit, to grow together in prayer, to welcome those who are searching, to lift up the arms of your priest as Aaron and Hur did for Moses. Support him, pray for him, work with him, and allow him to be the shepherd God has sent you.

To you, dear Father Rick, remember the words of Paul: “Proclaim the word. Be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient.” In that way, you will be a wise pastor — one who listens with the heart, one who accompanies with compassion, and one who leads with hope.

And may the same Holy Spirit — the very breath of God Who gives this parish its name — fill you all with renewed faith, joy, and unity so that together you may continue to bear witness to Christ in Huntsville and beyond.

“The Lord will guard your coming and your going, both now and forever.” May He bless this new beginning, and may Holy Spirit Parish continue to shine with the light of God’s presence. Amen.