Two parishes celebrated the installation of pastors the weekend of March 1 and 2.
Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish
On March 1, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison installed Fr. Carlos Reinoso, SJS, as the pastor of Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Parish, located on the western edge of the diocese.
Father Reinoso’s installation took place at Immaculate Conception Church in Boscobel during the parish’s Sunday anticipatory Mass.
In addition to Immaculate Conception Church, the parish includes St. Joseph Church in Avoca, St. John Nepomuc Church in Castle Rock, St. Malachy Church in Clyde, St. Lawrence O’Toole Church in Mt. Hope, St. John the Baptist Church in Muscoda, and St. Mary Church in Fennimore.
St. Mary Church in Fennimore was chosen as one of six diocesan pilgrimage sites for the 2025 Jubilee Year.
After his installation in Boscobel, Father Reinoso said that this is his third pastor assignment; the first was in Chile and the second in Ecuador.
Acknowledging that a deeper relationship with Christ is always possible, Father Reinoso said, “I pray to God that this time we can accomplish the real conversion of the pastor and parishioners.”
Father Reinoso continued, saying, it was “a blessed coincidence to have had the installation so close to the beginning of Lent,” which he described as a time of conversion.
“I thank the Lord for this opportunity and entrust myself to the prayers of my parishioners,” who “have proved to be a very charitable and prayerful community,” said Father Reinoso.
Jake Stoeffler and his wife Katelyn, along with their three children, are lifelong parishioners of the parish.
Jake said that he’s “known Father Carlos for a few years, since he was the priest at St. Mary Church in Fennimore prior to Into the Deep”.
Jake has been impressed by Father Reinoso’s “deep spiritual life, spending several hours in the perpetual Adoration chapel each week” and when “he takes time out of his busy schedule to make himself available to his parishioners”.
Carol Rogers, a parishioner for 48 years, echoed Stoeffler’s comments.
Rodgers said Father Reinoso “makes an effort after every Sunday Mass to speak with the congregation as they leave the church, and he remembers people by name.”
“He is especially solicitous to bring the Sacraments to the sick and dying,” she continued.
Rodgers described the installation Mass as “especially meaningful because Father Carlos’ ordination anniversary is on March 3, just two days later” and said, “I loved seeing our parish priests together at the altar”.
In addition to Father Reinoso at the parish, parochial vicars include Fr. Cristobal Padilla, SJS, and Fr. Faustino Ruiz, SJS.
“It was very fitting to honor not only Father Carlos but all of our parish priests in the installation Mass,” Rodgers said.
Holy Cross Parish
The next day, on March 2, Bishop Hying installed Fr. Scott Jablonski as the pastor of Holy Cross Parish, located in the communities directly west of Madison.
The installation took place during a Mass for the whole parish, held at St. Bernard Church in Middleton.
In addition to St. Bernard Church, Holy Cross Parish includes St. Peter Church in Ashton, St. Francis Xavier Church and School in Cross Plains, St. Martin of Tours Church in Martinsville, and St. Mary Church in Pine Bluff.
At the conclusion of Mass, Father Jablonski had many people to thank.
Father Jablonski first thanked Mary, “the Blessed Mother who is a perfect disciple. She’s our spiritual mother, and she always draws us closer to her son”.
He thanked Bishop Hying next, saying, “Thank you for your confidence in me and your support, but also your great leadership.”
Then, a long list of thanks was given.
Father Jablonski thanked the Parochial Vicars Fr. Brian Dulli and Fr. Michael Wanta; parish and St. Francis Xavier School staff; the new parish trustees and pastoral council; lay members who contribute to the parish through their time, talent, and treasure; and he recalled the words of President John F. Kennedy, saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”.
“We have the ability to apply that to our parish,” Father Jablonski continued.
“If we all take that attitude together, God will bless our efforts, and He will help many other people come to know the love of Christ, drawing them into the walls of these churches, that they may worship Him,” said Father Jablonski.
After the Mass, parishioners were invited to stay for a community celebration.
There, Julie Gorman, a mother whose children attend St. Francis Xavier School, said that Father Jablonski “has been a huge asset to our school families and to our parish.
“We’re thankful for all of his efforts,” she continued.
Sharon Brummel, a parishioner for 30 years, said that “I am so looking forward to being a parish now, and seeing all these people here today gives me hope.”
Mike Sanders, one of two parish trustees, said that he is “grateful for the vision [Father Jablonski] has for Into the Deep”.
Sanders said that Father Jablonski has zeal for parishioners to “see Christ in a new way that brings them closer to God”.