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ASHEVILLE — Hundreds of parishioners and local dignitaries gathered to officially welcome Father Patrick Cahill as pastor of St. Eugene Parish in Asheville July 23.

Bishop Peter J. Jugis installed Father Cahill as pastor during the Saturday vigil Mass, which also featured special music by the Newman Singers, a liturgical and concert group from the Newman Catholic Student Center in Iowa City, Iowa.

"We are very excited to have him here," said parish council chairwoman Carol Jordan, adding that parishioners are already treating him like a son or grandson. "He will be well taken care of!"

"We are so thankful to Bishop Jugis for assigning him here," added parishioner Chris Cicotello. "I think he's a wonderful match for our parish, and I look forward to him shepherding us for a long time to come."

This is Father Cahill's first assignment as pastor, succeeding Father Ed Sheridan, who returns to retirement. Father Cahill previously served as parochial vicar at St. Gabriel Church and St. Matthew Church, both in Charlotte. Father Cahill will also serve as administrator of Asheville Catholic School and will continue to serve on the diocesan vocations board.

During his homily, Bishop Jugis encouraged Father Cahill to lead the parish with the Good Shepherd as his model, and he also encouraged the parish to support Father Cahill especially in his ongoing efforts to foster vocations.

"It is so essential that we have the whole parish involved," he said, in helping young men and women hear Jesus' call to follow Him.

In the installation ceremony, Father Cahill 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 Bishop Jugis' homily, he walked with Father Cahill around the church, pointing out the places where he would exercise his various responsibilities to serve 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 Cahill's role as leader and teacher for the parish.

At the end of Mass, Father Cahill thanked parishioners for his warm welcome.

He also acknowledged the presence of Asheville area leaders including several area ministers, interim Police Chief Wade Wood and Chief District Court Judge J. Calvin Hill, who attended the Mass to show their support for the new pastor in town. His parents John and Kathy Cahill of Atlanta, sister Rose and brother Sebastian also attended the installation.

"Faith, hope and love are alive and well in the parish of St. Eugene," Father Cahill said, adding that he feels privileged to begin a new chapter together with his parishioners.

-- Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor