Fr. Dan O’Neill O.Carm. was officially installed as the pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Tenafly, New Jersey. Bishop Flesey, the auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark presided at the Mass. After a greeting from the 8th grade Academy student council president and a letter from the Archbishop read by fellow Carmelite Fr. Emmett Gavin, O.Carm. Bishop Flesey spoke of the Holy Father’s recent trip to the United States and how he was struck by the idea that while we are a universal Church, we are also a Church made up of parishes and the role of Pastor is such a critical one.
At the conclusion of the Mass Fr. Dan spoke to his new flock. “I like sports analogies.” Fr. Dan began. “The star quarterback went down, they asked me, and with the mercy of God, I’m not here for one or two seasons, I’m signing up for a long term contract.” The parish erupted into thunderous applause and gave Our Lady of Mount Carmel’s 26th pastor a standing ovation.
