If words could be used to describe the 10 a.m. Mass on Sunday, March 30, at All Saints Church in Berlin, they would be “gratitude” and “thanksgiving”.

The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass served as the time and place for the worthy to receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.

It also served as the setting to install Msgr. James Gunn as pastor of the newly-established Mater Dei Parish.

“I’m very grateful . . . to be the pastor for this parish and our six churches,” Monsignor Gunn said during his Installation Mass.

The parish, established on March 1 by Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison, is made up of All Saints Church in Berlin, Our Lady of the Lake Church in Green Lake, St. Mary Church in Kingston, St. Joseph Church in Markesan (the last two churches making up the former Holy Family Parish), St. James Church in Neshkoro, and St. John the Baptist Church in Princeton.

All Saints School in Berlin is also part of the parish.

Monsignor Gunn expressed gratitude for parishioners at the six churches of the parish and “their abiding love for God and the Church” and “the dedicated love and support that each of these [churches] has had over the last many, many years.”

He also thanked parish staff members, volunteers, and all of those able to bring the love of God and others to everyone in the parish.

Also serving with Monsignor Gunn at the parish are parochial vicars Fr. Eric Nielsen and Fr. Tony Thirumalareddy along with Deacon Terry Larbes.

Joy and mission

During the Mass, Bishop Hying commended Monsignor Gunn to the parishioners as their new pastor.

Monsignor Gunn had been serving at the churches as the parochial administrator since August 2024.

During his homily, Bishop Hying remarked that being the fourth Sunday of Lent, Laetare Sunday, it was a time to “rejoice even in the midst of this season of penance”.

He added that “We’re closer to Easter than we are to Ash Wednesday” and “We’re closer to salvation than we are to the beginning of our lives”.

Bishop Hying also talked about the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Go Make Disciples evangelization initiative in the diocese.

He said “The Mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel and lead every single person that God has created into the fullness of relationship with the Father through Jesus.”

Following the homily, Monsignor Gunn renewed his priestly promises in front of the parishioners and led them in the Profession of Faith.

Parish staff members and new pastoral council and finance council members were presented at the Mass.

Monsignor Gunn also gave an oath of fidelity to the Church and its people.

Closing the Mass with more words of gratitude, the new pastor said, “I couldn’t do it without all of these wonderful people who are so committed to the parish and to the Church.”