It was a homecoming of sorts on June 2 when Bishop Edward Malesic installed Father Michael McCandless as pastor of Holy Family Parish in Stow. He has served as parish administrator since the previous pastor, Father Paul Rosing, retired in January 2023.
Holy Family is Father McCandless’ childhood parish and he said he was excited to be back serving in a new position. Many of his family members and friends were at the installation Mass.
Prior to Mass, concelebrating priests – including Father Rosing and Father Joe Mamich, vicar for clergy and religious – as well as other clergy and servers witnessed Father McCandless recite the oath of fidelity and watched as he and the bishop signed the documents making his appointment as pastor official.
(See photo gallery above.)
In the homily, Father McCandless said much like at his priestly ordination he is accepting his new role as pastor but he will rely on the help of God in his ministry. Friendships, bonds and relationships are unfleshed unless followed with action, he said.
Noting that it was Corpus Christi, the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, it was important to reflect on the Word made flesh. “Blood was life for the ancient Jewish people. It was a kind of currency,” he explained. God and his people became enjoined on the altar, much like in Exodus (the book of the Bible).
“The Word made flesh is the new covenant in flesh and on this altar. What happens on this altar is where commitment and covenant are made and renewed,” Father McCandless said.
“Why do we come to church?” he asked. “Because it’s a place of commitment. There is character development in the Bible, Father McCandless said, explaining that the ancient Jews in Exodus had a journey from there to here – the altar. The journey included Jesus’ death on the cross, which finished or consummated the covenant.
“One section from today’s Gospel (from Mark) really hit me,” he said, mentioning the passage that told the disciples to go and ask about the upper room. “They found it just as he told them. Whatever Jesus says is reality. He is the word who is real, the word made flesh. What Jesus says is reality. “
Then, he said, they were given the sacrament of the Eucharist when Jesus said, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you. Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me. It is the word made flesh. Jesus’ promises are never lacking,” Father McCandless said.
“Together, we set off on a great and holy journey. I want to serve, worship and experience charity with you. I want to seek with you and speak the truth to you in good times and in bad, and to bury the dead with great reverence. May we invite many into our community to the Word made flesh, the unity of the new commitment, the new communion that ties the Eucharist, worship and aspiring saints together,” he said.
“Today, we ask that all see in a promising way that what the Lord says is real, that we draw around this altar frequently and that we will move from here to a new place, a new chapter to keep walking together. I am glad to walk with you. It is good to be with you as your pastor,” he added.
Father McCandless thanked Father Rosing for his guidance of the parish and for his assistance as he settles into his new role. “Every (new) pastor needs a Father Rosing,” he quipped. The old and new pastors met when Father McCandless was a junior at Archbishop Hoban High School and remained close through his seminary formation and into his priestly ministry, including his recently concluded term as vocation director for the diocese.
Father McCandless also expressed his appreciation for the staff and volunteers who helped plan and implement the installation Mass and reception.
Other concelebrating priests were Father Michael Denk, recently installed as pastor of St. Matthias Parish and a former Holy Family parochial vicar, Father John Hengle and Father John Terzano. Deacon John Green, who ministers at the parish, and Deacon Scott Proper, who is assigned to Visitation of Mary Parish in Akron but is a son of Holy Family Parish, assisted at the Mass.
Bishop Malesic told the congregation that a good pastor is able to lead his people to heaven and to bring a bit of heaven to earth, “so we can know what to do when we get to heaven. This is a place where the Gospel is proclaimed. Come with open ears and take that faith out of this parish and into the world. This parish should be a place of evangelization. The walls of this church should be porous so God’s word gets out,” he added.
A parish also is a place of service, the bishop said, noting that Father McCandless will build on Father Rosing’s legacy. “He has a difficult job in a difficult time, so don’t break him,” he quipped. “Help him, support him, be his collaborators in the work of ministry.”
The bishop also encouraged everyone to listen for the call to their vocation, no matter what it might be. “Pray not only for more priests, but for more people in the pews for those priests to serve,” he said.
“It’s said that a prophet isn’t welcome in his own home. I know that’s not true for you here,” he said, noting the enthusiastic reception Father McCandless received when introduced as the pastor.
He offered one more piece of advice: “Mary has the ear of her So. Use her as your advocate.”
After Mass, the congregation moved downstairs to the parish hall for a reception.