In Jesuit parlance, Ms. Archibald will be “director of the work” at St. Matthew’s and will run the day-to-day operations of the parish. Father Cullen, who has been in residence at St. Matthew’s for two years, will preside at liturgies and provide the sacraments for which priestly ordination is canonically required.
“What we see at St. Matthew’s is a people preparing to receive God’s gifts,” said Fr. Mark McKenzie, SJ, provincial assistant for pastoral ministries. “Cheryl is a woman of great gifts. We are grateful that she said yes to the invitation to lead St. Matthew’s Parish.”
Ms. Archibald has served as pastoral associate at St. Matthew’s for the past five years. While Fr. Mercier presided at the ceremony, it was the people of St. Matthew’s who truly welcomed Ms. Archibald. By symbolically presenting her with the “tools” of the job – the keys, a ledger, the parish seal and a crucifix to signify the ongoing commitment of the Jesuits to the parish – they demonstrated their wholehearted and jubilant acceptance of her leadership within their parish community.
Former pastor Fr. Patrick Quinn, SJ, leaves St. Matthew’s for a new assignment at Regis University in Denver, where he will serve as mission coordinator for staff outreach.