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ANDREWS — Father Brandon H. Jones was installed as pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Andrews and Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville during a joyful and prayerful Mass July 31 celebrated by Bishop Peter J. Jugis.

The small mountain church in Andrews – which happens to be the smallest parish in the diocese – was filled to capacity with parishioners, guests and well-wishers to welcome Father Jones in his first assignment as pastor. Father Jones is former administrator of St. Joseph Church in Asheboro and former parochial vicar of St. Mark Church in Huntersville.

Pictured: Father Brandon Jones was installed by Bishop Peter Jugis as pastor of Holy Redeemer Church in Andrews and Prince of Peace Mission in Robbinsville July 31. (Photos by Patricia L. Guilfoyle, Catholic News Herald)

In the installation ceremony during Sunday Mass, Father Jones took an oath of fidelity to the Church and to the bishop, and publicly signed documents officially taking over as pastor of the parish.

Following his homily, Bishop Jugis walked with Father Jones around the little church, pointing out the places where he would exercise his duties to administer the sacraments and teach the faithful: the front door – providing generous access to the faithful to come and pray; the baptismal font and the confessional – administering the sacraments of baptism and reconciliation, enabling the faithful to receive new life in Christ and restore their relationship to God; the tabernacle and the altar – celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to nourish the faithful with the Body and Blood of Christ; and the presidential chair – symbolizing Father Jones' role as leader and teacher for the parish.

Because of the standing-room-only crowd at Mass inside the small church, the attending Knights of Columbus sat inside the confessional. As Bishop Jugis and Father Jones approached the place where Father Jones would administer the sacrament of reconciliation, the congregation erupted in laughter as Bishop Jugis quipped, "I see you have three candidates already waiting!"

At the end of Mass, Father Jones thanked parishioners for their warm welcome and asked for their prayers as he begins his ministry in western North Carolina.

"This morning I am reminded of a poem attributed to St. Norbert: 'O priest, who are you? Not through yourself, for you are drawn from nothing. Not for yourself since you are mediator of men. Not to yourself, for you are married to the Church. Not your own, for you are the servant of all. You are not you, for you are God. Who are you then? You are nothing and everything.'

"I ask your prayers that I may be the shepherd you deserve and that, by God's grace, I might live up to those words of St. Norbert and truly be your servant as we walk the path of discipleship in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray that I may be faithful to the mission entrusted to me. May God bless you always."

— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor