WAUNAKEE — As Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison looked among those in attendance at Mass and delivered his homily, he said, “This is a strong parish within the diocese. You are a dynamo.”

The bishop emphasized to the community that they are “not only leaders here in your own community, but you’re leaders throughout the diocese.”

He said these words in front of Fr. Joe Baker, who would be installed as pastor of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish during the August 17 Mass at St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee.

The merger of the new parish was announced on July 19.

St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish is comprised of four churches: St. Michael Church in Dane and St. Patrick Church in Lodi (those two formerly part of Blessed Trinity Parish), St. John the Baptist Church in Waunakee, and St. Mary of the Lake Church in Westport.

St. John the Baptist School in Waunakee is also a part of the parish.

The merger was the 11th in the Diocese of Madison’s Into the Deep strategic planning initiative.

Celebrating the parish

Following Bishop Hying’s homily, Father Baker renewed his ordination promises to the bishop and in front of everyone in attendance, promising, among many statements, to bind himself “more closely to Christ” and with Christ to consecrate himself “to God for the salvation of your brothers and sisters.”

Bishop Hying announced the names of parish clergy and staff, including parochial vicars Fr. Anthony Kersting and Fr. Simon Tipps, who lined up and were each greeted by Father Baker near the sanctuary.

Next, Father Baker greeted members of the parish pastoral and finance councils and the parish trustees, newly established and elected for the new parish.

Father Baker then led the church in a profession of faith and read an oath of fidelity to the faithful.

In the oath, he promised, in his name, that “in my words and in my actions, I shall always preserve Communion with the Catholic Church.”

Words of thanks

Near the end of the Mass, Father Baker spoke to the parishioners in attendance and offered many words of thanks.

He thanked his brother priests, staff, volunteers, parishioners, and especially “all of you who went out of your way to be here to travel from throughout our pastorate — coming from Lodi or Dane, here in Waunakee, or Westport — it means a lot to me that you went out of your way to try to be here today to pray for your parish and to pray for me in a particular way.”

He added, “It warms me to see the church so full like this. It’s a beautiful thing.”