Father Kunath installed as pastor of Sts. Boniface and James Parish in centuries old

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Father Conor Kunath was officially installed pastor at Sts. Boniface and James Church, Ludlow, October 19, after two years of ministry as parochial administrator. Bishop John Iffert installed Father Kunath to his pastorate during a Mass celebrating the Rite of Instillation of a Pastor.

This rite has roots in the early fourth-century Church where the Latin verb “installare” can be found in the medieval apostolic constitution. However, the formal, liturgical rite was not formalized until the sixteenth-century Council of Trent. Now, the rite is practiced according to the modern Roman Missal.

Many pastors choose not to participate in the formal Rite of Instillation of a Pastor, as the Code of Canon Law 527 outlines that a pastor’s responsibilities begin, “from the moment he takes possession.” However, Father Kunath welcomed the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of his pastorate with the parish.

“I have wanted to be a priest since I was seven years old,” said Father Kunath. “I looked forward to days exactly like this. I prayed for the people I would minister to my entire life.”

As part of the rite of installation, Bishop Iffert said to Father Kunath, “remember to always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do.”

Together, Bishop Iffert and Father Kunath processed from the altar to each of the sacramental stations of the Church, where Father Kunath will confer to his parishioners the sacraments of the Catholic faith. The baptismal font, confessional, ambo, presidential chair and tabernacle were all incensed by Father Kunath, blessing them ahead of his pastoral ministry.

In a parting message to Father Kunath at the conclusion of Mass, Bishop Iffert said, “If you continue to carry with you the openness and standard of Christ wherever you go, I’m confident that will be your experience.”

Reflecting on his time already spent at Sts. Boniface and James, two years of which were as pastoral administrator and three months of which as pastor, Father Kunath said, “I got here and I got to meet this wonderful parish here in Ludlow … a place that I can truly call my own, a place where my flock lives. So, it has been one of the greatest blessings of my life that I get to be your pastor here.”