Father Cameron Faller installed as pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church

Father Cameron Faller was installed as the seventh pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church on Sunday, September 22, by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone. The Mass and reception were filled with members of the parish including the Parish Council and Holy Name of Jesus School students, teachers, and principal, Michael Miller.

As part of the Rite of Installation, Father Dan Nascimento, pastor of St. Anne of the Sunset parish, read Archbishop Cordileone’s appointment letter, and Father Faller was greeted by the staff and leadership of the parish.

A native of Marin County, Father Faller was born and raised in Novato and attended Marin Catholic High School.  In addition to his role as pastor, Father Faller will continue as the director of Seminarian Formation for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

In his homily for the Installation, the Archbishop spoke on the importance of servant leadership and also the nuptial essence of the Rite of Installation. The technical name of the ceremony is “Taking possession of the parish”—similar to the nuptial vows (“to have and to hold”). The Archbishop compared the role of a parish and pastor to that of the home and family.

“Servant leadership is taught most of all in the context of the family—in marriage and the children, and the home,” said Archbishop Cordileone. “And it is in the home of the parish that servant leadership is lived out in the Christian community. This is the kind of leadership, pastoral charity, that the pastor should have for his people.”

Just as Jesus led by example to His disciples in the way of faith, so too a pastor stands in that role in leading his parishioners. A pastor forms his people in the way of faith.

The laity of the parish also have a role in shaping the pastor, the Archbishop said, “They help to shape him into the man of God he becomes. This is what it means to be members of the Body of Christ, united with each other with Christ as our Head.”

The Archbishop went on to speak on the personal nature of this pastor installation.

“I have worked very closely with Father Faller for many years now,” said the Archbishop. “And I am well aware of his pastoral instincts. He is a man who is guided by the wisdom from above that teaches us what to ask for and gives us the desire to act accordingly.”

At the end of Mass, Father Faller spoke thanking the parish for their warm welcome, asking for their continued prayers and dedicating his time there to our Lady.

Following Mass, there was a vibrant reception in the parish hall.

Photos: Mary Powers, Archdiocese of San Francisco