By Gretchen Keiser and Thea Jarvis

The installation of a new pastor, a Capuchin Franciscan, at St. Anthony's parish in Atlanta proved to be an opportunity for Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, to draw renewed strength from the sacrament and the community.

The archbishop, who was expected to be the homilist and to preside, was also able to be the celebrant at the October 4 Mass that lasted for over two hours.

Father John Salvas, OFM, Cap., who like his fellow Franciscans at St. Anthony's and Our Lady of Lourdes uses the title of "brother," was installed as the pastor. The Capuchin Franciscans received pastoral responsibility for the two parishes from the archdiocese of Atlanta this past spring.

"The church was packed, standing room only," said Father Robert Jones, OFM, Cap., parochial vicar at St. Anthony's.

The archbishop received a standing ovation after his homily, Father Jones said. He told the congregation any tears on his part were "tears of joy" at being with them to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

"Just to have him with us, to be so strong" for his people was a blessing, Father Jones said.

Archbishop Lyke presented Father Salvas to the congregation following the proclamation of the Gospel. The installation, which includes a profession of faith by the pastor and a special commitment of faithfulness to the pope and the bishops of the world, takes place after the homily. Archbishop Lyke also introduced the staff and parish council as part of a collaborative ministry with the pastor.

"All of us have tasks to do, and we all have burdens to bear," the archbishop said in his homily, reflecting on Jesus' promise that His yoke is easy.

"It might be something like the chore of this congregation as it looks to the upkeep and improvement of this church of St. Anthony's ... It might be the kind of challenge that faces your new pastor ... It might be the immense responsibility of parenting children in this world where charity and good feeling often come at a price too high to pay, the price of submission and subservience.

"It might be the inevitable and ominous burden of dealing with one's own health, and the acceptance of the fact that our time on earth comes to an end, and always too soon," he said.

"But Jesus came to tell us that we are not to worry or to concern ourselves. Nor are we to let the devil whittle us down in fear or anxiety over whether we will be able to win the battle or not," he added.

"If we believe in Him and the salvation He has gained for us at the cost of His own life, then our burdens will fit us to a T, our challenges will summon from us the strength and the ingenuity that God gave us at birth, and our doubts and fears will be roughened by experience and changed into the same courage and tenacity which welled up out of Jesus as He faced the final days of His own life."

While many projects and activities confront us, he said, "in the end, the heart, not the head, is the home of the Gospel. Simple deeds of human love win God's favor and the beautiful prize which awaits us at the end of the race ... For certainly the yoke which Jesus lays on our shoulders, and which fits us so well and so easily, is the yoke of loving one another and carrying one another's burdens."

Among those present for the Mass and installation of the new pastor were Father John LoSasso, OFM, Cap., minister provincial of the Province of the Stigmata of St. Francis in Union city, NJ, and Father Salvas' parents and sister and brother-in-law, all residents of New York State.

Father Robert Grix, OFM, Cap., and Brother Joseph Jacovini, OFM, Cap., who serve Our Lady of Lourdes also took part.

About 30 young people from the parish youth group and elementary school participated in liturgical dance and processionals. An opening dance with brooms, water and incense symbolized the preparation of the area. The group also performed the funga, an African dance of welcome.

In African dress a group of about 40 children from the parish early learning center sang a song and recited a poem following Communion.

The parish choir, led by Luther Washington, sang special music for the liturgy. At the offertory parish leaders brought forward gifts that symbolized each ministry, while the congregation also gave their offerings.

Deacon Fred Sambrone, who serves at the Atlanta University complex, was the deacon of the Word. Deacon Joseph Barker was deacon of the Eucharist.

The archbishop's presence "made it a blessed day," Father Salvas said. "God was with us," and the archbishop's presence "made us feel that."

This is his first pastorate and Father Salvas expressed joy at the "fantastic community, so willing to work with anyone who would come and to accept them as they are."

In closing remarks, Archbishop Lyke stressed the presence in St. Anthony's as a church, a Catholic elementary school and St. Anthony's child care center. While everyone is concerned for the plight of the black child, the archbishop said, the school and center are responding in a profound way to the needs of black children. "The child care center and the school are intimate parts of the ministry of the parish," and need the support of all parishioners, he said.

He also reminded the gathering that it is a Christian responsibility to vote. He asked parents to take a child with them to the polls, particularly teenagers, to impress on them the importance of taking part in elections and influencing "our country with our moral perspective."