The Rev. Jonathan J. Dalin was installed Sunday afternoon as the sixth pastor at St. Martha Catholic Church, 11301 Academy Road.
Bishop Michael Fitzgerald celebrated the Mass.
“The archdiocese has given you a good pastor,” said Fitzgerald, who taught Dalin at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary.
The Rev. John Babowitch, an archdiocesan regional dean and pastor at Our Lady of Calvary, read the decree from Archbishop Nelson Perez appointing Dalin as pastor.
Dalin had been the minister at Archbishop Ryan High School before moving to St. Martha. His predecessor, the Rev. Al Masluk, attended the installation. Other clergy on hand included the Revs. Anthony Rossi and James Callahan, pastors at St. Anselm and Christ the King, respectively.
A Knights of Columbus Honor Guard was also present.
A reception, with food, cake and Mummers, followed in the parish gym. Masluk delivered a champagne toast to his successor, calling him a “good shepherd.” Christopher Yengbeh, a St. Martha graduate now a sophomore at Ryan, sang the Star-Spangled Banner. The parish’s Tiger mascot gave the new pastor a big hug. ••
