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Catholic News Herald

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‘You are Father Bond’s mission’

110819 bondNewly installed pastor of St. Margaret Church in Maggie Valley, Father Christopher Bond (right), distributes Holy Communion to his parishioners during the installation Mass Oct. 27. (SueAnn Howell | Catholic News Herald)MAGGIE VALLEY — It was a picture perfect day for the installation of Father Christopher Bond as pastor of St. Margaret Church Oct. 27. The wall of windows behind the altar revealed autumn’s splendor as Bishop Peter Jugis presided over the installation rite and the Mass, officially turning over canonical possession of the parish to Father Bond.

Father Bond, ordained in 2017, most recently served as parochial vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte.

During the installation rite at the start of the Mass, Nicki Conroy, faith formation coordinator for the parish, read aloud Father Bond’s official letter of appointment. Bishop Peter Jugis and the congregation then witnessed Father Bond make his profession of faith, renew his oath of fidelity to the Church, and sign the official Church documents of his new office.

His documents were witnessed by his nephew, Charlotte seminarian Harry Ohlhaut, and Father Christian Cook, the new pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Hendersonville, who was also ordained to the priesthood in 2017.
During his homily, Bishop Jugis expressed his delight at presiding over the installation and explained why reading Father Bond’s appointment letter aloud during the Mass is important.

“When a priest does receive the assignment to become a pastor, he may be tempted to say, ‘Oh my goodness, where do I begin? What do I do? There is so much to do.’ That is why this letter of appointment that you heard read at the beginning of the Mass is so helpful. It helps him organize the responsibilities of the pastor so he knows how to categorize what he is supposed to do,” Bishop Jugis said.

He explained Father Bond’s new responsibilities as pastor, emphasizing that a pastor has three primary roles: teaching the faith, sanctifying the faithful and governance of the parish.

“The model in your ministry is the Good Shepherd,” Bishop Jugis said. “The most important work of the parish is the worship of God. The most important thing that happens in the parish is right here at this altar… The most important is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The Mass is the life and the love of Jesus Christ here present in our midst – His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, which we carry with us into all of the ministries in the parish.”

“You are Father Bond’s mission. You are why he is here,” Bishop Jugis continued. “But we also ask that you pray for your pastor, too, so that he may be successful in the work that the Lord has placed him here to do on your behalf; teaching, sanctifying and governing the life of the parish.”

After his homily, Bishop Jugis took Father Bond on what he called “a short tour of the church” stopping at the front doors, the baptismal font, the confessional, the presider’s chair, the altar and the tabernacle while giving some words of advice to the new pastor on celebrating the sacraments.

Reflecting on his first assignment as pastor, Father Bond said, “When I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Charlotte, I knew that I had properly discerned my God-given vocation. The peace I have enjoyed since my ordination day, even when the going has gotten tough, has been undeniable and palpable. Now that I have been officially installed as a pastor of a parish, I find that the many gifts God has given me (some perhaps dormant for years) are now at the full service of Holy Mother Church – both universally and particularly at this beautiful parish of St. Margaret of Scotland.”

“Somehow, I always knew I was to be a priest, but I never realized how fulfilling it would be, through God’s grace, to assume the awesome responsibility of the full care of souls with which a pastor is charged,” he said.
— SueAnn Howell, Senior reporter