November 16, 2025, 12:00 PM
At next weekend’s 5:30pm Mass, the linkage between St Ann and St Boniface Parishes takes another step. At that Mass, I’ll be installed as pastor of St Ann Parish. It’s an extremely simple ritual: a few words spoken, two pieces of paper signed. We can do it in any number of ways—an office visit with the Bishop or his Vicar for Clergy, a ritual moment within the community’s normal celebration of Mass.
If we imagine this is principally about the priest, we’d be wrong.
Listen to what I’m asked to say. Listen to the words to which I sign my name. It starts with the Nicene Creed. It starts with a statement about what God has done. I’m called to affirm my faith in the revealed God of the Jewish and Christian scriptures. I’m called to assert obedience to rules and structures of the Church Christ founded. This isn’t about my most cherished opinions—it’s about the gospel. This isn’t about my imagined plans for the next few years—it’s about seeking the Spirit’s guidance as we all move forward into God’s future.
And, of course, when we hear the priest say and sign these words, we should be reminded of the identity of every Christian. At baptism we—or our parents and godparents—assented to that same Creed. At most Masses, the transition from Liturgy of the Word to Liturgy of the Eucharist hinges on our public proclamation of that Creed. Again, it’s not about us—our opinions and plans, our connections to a building or a particular way of celebrating Mass. We’re all called to found our lives on the gospel. We’re all called to give the Spirit permission to lead us, along with all the Church, on the path to salvation. Let’s allow God to guide us forward.
Fr. McCreary
