MADISON — On June 1, Msgr. Kevin Holmes was installed as pastor of the newly established Divine Mercy Parish.

The canonical merger of the parish was announced last month.

Celebrated at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison presided at the Installation Mass.

That church, along with the churches of the former St. Christopher Parish — St. Andrew Church in Verona and St. William Church in Paoli — make up the new parish.

St. Maria Goretti School in Madison is also a part of the parish.

Serving the parish along with Monsignor Holmes are Diocese of Madison Judicial Vicar Fr. Gabriel López-Betanzos and newly ordained Fr. Ryan Ruhle. Both are parochial vicars.

At the Mass, Monsignor Holmes renewed his priestly promises, lead a profession of faith, and made an oath of fidelity in front of Bishop Hying and the congregation.

Recognized from the congregation were the parish’s new trustees, pastoral council, and finance council.

Speaking about Jesus’ Ascension, which was celebrated that day, and the upcoming Feast of Pentecost, Bishop Hying said, “Today, as I install Monsignor Holmes as your pastor and as we celebrate the unification of these parishes into the new parish of Divine Mercy, we rejoice in the gift of the Church.”

Continuing, Bishop Hying said, “I rejoice that all of you, who live out the Baptismal priesthood of the laity, join with Monsignor [Holmes] and Father Gabi [López-Betanzos] and Father Ryan [Ruhle] to live out this great mission of the Church,” which he went on to describe as “loving, forgiving, and saving others”.

“The whole point of Into the Deep is to unify our resources . . . to be able to, with greater focus, clarity, and fruitfulness, develop a mission to Go Make Disciples, which the Lord gave as the Great Commission moments before He ascended to Heaven,” said the bishop.

“I’m grateful to you Monsignor [Holmes] for your many, many decades of dedicated service.

“I’m grateful that you have taken upon yourself this task of pastoring this new parish,” Bishop Hying said.

Commenting on the day, St. Maria Goretti School Principal Bob Schell said, “Monsignor Holmes is a very holy priest.

“He leads our parish team in doing God’s work in His Church; we’re very fortunate to have him here,” Schell continued.

Pastoral Council member Ben Rouleau also praised Monsignor Holmes.

Rouleau said that he “came to know Monsignor Holmes through young adult events hosted at Cathedral Parish,” where Monsignor Holmes served as pastor from 2006 to 2023.

At that time, Cathedral Parish consisted of Holy Redeemer and St. Patrick Churches in Madison, along with the St. Raphael site, where the cathedral had burned down in 2005.

Under Monsignor Holmes’s guidance, the parish offered many hours of Confession and saw a flourishing of young adult life, which Rouleau appreciated.

“Having worked with him as a Pastoral Council member and through Divine Mercy Parish’s Young Adults and Knights of Columbus groups, I echo Bishop Hying in appreciating his wisdom,” Rouleau said.

“We are blessed to have Monsignor Holmes as pastor,” he added.