NORTH PALM BEACH | As Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez wished parishioners well Oct. 24 on the 42nd anniversary of the Diocese of Palm Beach and the feast of Our Lady Queen of the Apostles, patroness of the diocese, he installed Father Albert Dello Russo as pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in North Palm Beach.
Accompanied by 10 priests with ties to the diocese and parish, including Bishop Emeritus Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop Rodríguez thanked Father Dello Russo and the previous pastor, Father Tom Lafreniere, for their commitment to unity and love in a vibrant parish. In July, Father Lafreniere became pastor of St. Mark in Boynton Beach.
Referencing the day’s Gospel reading — the greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” — Bishop Rodríguez said it was an important sign that one of the first things Father Dello Russo did was restart the parish food pantry for those in need.
“We trust this parish to work together united in love and faith with your pastor,” he said, adding that the pastor is a sign of God’s care, leading his flock through the darkness and into the light.
“A pastor is like the father of a parish. Please listen to him and work with him,” the bishop said, urging Father Dello Russo to walk with parishioners and focus on togetherness.
“Your pastor is one who is well prepared and well trained for this job — a canon lawyer with tremendous experience in business administration,” Bishop Rodríguez said. For many years, Father Dello Russo was chancellor of the diocese and knows how to do a pastor’s job. He urged parishioners to embrace the newness God is offering them and move forward together.
To start the installation ceremony, parish manager Edwin Daniels read the bishop’s letter appointing Father Dello Russo as pastor. Parish leaders gathered as witnesses around the altar as Bishop Rodríguez urged Father Dello Russo to seek their advice.
Father Dello Russo pledged to serve the parish, united with Christ, to teach and preach the faith, and led the congregation in the Nicene Creed. He then agreed to submit himself to God’s word and the bishop’s authority, to follow the church’s teaching on faith and morals and the wisdom of the pope and the church’s magisterium.
At the end of the Mass, Father Dello Russo expressed gratitude to Bishop Rodríguez for entrusting St. Paul of the Cross to him, and to Bishop Barbarito for allowing him to become part of this diocese.
“Thank you for the opportunity,” he said.
For information on St. Paul of the Cross and its ministries, visit https://paulcross.org or call 561-626-1873. The parish gift shop is open seven days a week; check the website for times.
