Installation of the 17th Pastor
of St. Patrick's Parish
Saint Patrick's Church - Washington, D.C.
Rev. Msgr. Salvatore A. Criscuolo
June 13, 2005
The following homily was delivered by Msgr.
Salvatore Criscuolo following his installation by Theodore
Cardinal McCarrick as 17th Pastor of St. Patrick's Parish on June
13, 2005.
In today's First Reading, the Lord speaks to
Moses and offers a beautiful description of how He sees and cares
for the people. The Lord lifts them up on eagle's wings. God does
this, not to be dramatic or merely to demonstrate power. God does
this because these Israelites are important in His eyes.
The image speaks to our heart and describes
our own value in God's eye. Special possessions are unlike
anything else we have or possess.
A treasured possession is something you
wouldn't part with under any circumstance. We all have
possessions, and we like them all, but sooner or later we get rid
of some of them and sometimes most of them, but there are those
special possessions, we will never part with. They don't
necessarily have to be valuable, in our eyes they are and that is
all that matters.
We are God's special possessions, all of us.
No matter who we are, or what we do, in the eyes of God, we are
the special possessions He talked about in the first reading
today.
I have had many important days in my life and
I want all of you to know that this day, as I am installed as the
17th pastor of Saint Patrick's, this is one of the proudest days
of my priesthood.
Twenty-seven years ago when I was ordained, I
didn't have any idea where the journey would lead. I learned
early on to hold on tight to the Lord and enjoy the ride. He has
taken me to so many places. Starting in Takoma Park, going to
Southeast D.C., being named Chaplain to Law Enforcement and our
Fire Firefighters and then coming to Saint Patrick's three and a
half years ago, to live in residence and continue to serve our
first responders.
Last August, my cell phone rang and Cardinal
McCarrick was on the other end. He asked how I was doing and
thanked me for my work with the fire department and police. Then
the cardinal said he needed a favor. I said, "Did you get a
ticket?" He assured me he didn't and asked me to become the
Pastor of Saint Patrick's.
The Cardinal still wanted me to serve as
Chaplain as well as become Pastor.
Our Gospel today from Matthew talks of the
harvest being abundant and the labors are few.
I told Cardinal McCarrick I would give it my
best and he assured me he would keep me in his prayers.
I am so pleased to be here today as your
Pastor and still serving as Chaplain. There have been some times
where juggling the two was not easy, but the Lord has gotten me
through and will continue to do so.
All of you have also been extremely supportive
these past 8 months.
You were there during Advent and Christmas,
Lent and Easter, Saint Patrick's Day and the Blue Mass. You have
shown me the true meaning of Church by being living examples of
giving and caring, and guiding. You have been patient with me,
when my patience was wearing a little thin.
You have been here to make suggestions, when I
was out.
You have been here day after day, week after
week, with your smile, your kind words, your gift of faith to me.
All of us need to realize the harvest is
growing greater and the laborers are not keeping up with the
growth. Continue to pray for those called by God to serve, and
that many more will answer the call to become laborers.
Today with my parents, my aunt and uncle and
sister and husband and friends who have been such a special part
of my life I give thanks to God for all of them and for all of
you, the people I am privileged to serve here at Saint Patrick's.
Please pray for me everyday and for my brother
priests.
In joyful response to the goodness of God's
choosing, our lives are meant to be living examples of God's
story. We are sent out with the disciples of every time and place
and called to reveal the value of all people as God's special
possessions.
God bless.