Parishioners from All Souls Catholic Church gathered on Sunday, September 14, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, for Father Miguel Ruiz’s installation as pastor of the parish.
The bilingual Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone and included clergy from across the archdiocese. Father Roland De La Rosa, pastor of St. Bruno Parish, read the official installation letter formally recognizing Fr. Ruiz’s appointment in the presence of the congregation.
In his homily, Archbishop Cordileone reflected on the spiritual meaning of the cross, calling it a symbol of the great paradox at the center of the Christian faith: that through Christ’s suffering and humility came exaltation and eternal life.
“This is the path to heaven,” the archbishop said. “Jesus has paved it for us by going there first. And this is the pattern we see repeated all throughout the Bible: those who are proud, God brings low, and the lowly He exalts on high.”
He explained how this pattern of lowering and raising is not only at the heart of Scripture, but also shapes the life of the Church. The archbishop pointed to Mary’s Magnificat, Christ’s passion, and the vibrant faith of the All Souls community as examples of God’s power at work through humility and love.
“This is the fruit of living that pattern of lowering oneself so that God may exalt us,” he said. “That exaltation is seen in the vibrancy of a community living its faith together in communion under the care of its pastor.”
Archbishop Cordileone also expressed gratitude to Father Kazimierz Abrahamczyk, SVD, the previous pastor, for his faithful leadership and warmly thanked Fr. Ruiz for taking on the role.
“I want to express my thanks to the entire Society of the Divine Word for the pastoral commitment of their priests to our archdiocese,” he said. “They serve with true pastoral charity and a deep love for the Gospel, always working to build up communion in the faith.”
Following the Mass, the parish held a vibrant potluck luncheon bringing the community together to celebrate their new pastor.
Photos: Mary Powers
