By Lois Rogers | Correspondent

With soaring hymns by the choir for an accompaniment and hundreds of parishioners in attendance, Father Edward H. Blanchett was installed Aug. 23 as pastor of Brick's Visitation Parish at the 12:30 p.m. Mass by Bishop David M. O'Connell, C.M.

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Among those concelebrating with Bishop O'Connell and Father Blanchett were: Msgr. Leonard F. Troiano, episcopal vicar of Ocean County and pastor of St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish, Lavallette; Father Stanley P. Lukaszewski, pastor of St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville, who will soon succeed Msgr. Troiano as episcopal vicar of Ocean County; Father John P. Bambrick, pastor of St. Aloysius Parish, Jackson, and Dean of Ocean County, and Father Jason Parzynski, the Bishop's episcopal secretary.

With gentle formality, Bishop O'Connell presented Father Blanchett as pastor and commended him to the parish community. He shared that he had selected him after carefully considering who could best meet their needs and chose Father Blanchett a “gentle shepherd and wise teacher” to lead them in the faith.

Born in Flushing, N.Y., Father Blanchett studied for the priesthood in Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Md. Ordained May 15, 2004, in St. Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Trenton, by Bishop John M. Smith, and he served as parochial vicar of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, Lakewood, as administrator of St. Peter Parish, Riverside, and St. Joseph Parish, Beverly.

He was the pastor of Jesus the Good Shepherd Parish, Riverside, before Bishop O'Connell appointed him pastor of St. Denis Parish, Manasquan, in 2013.

In closing remarks, the Bishop would reference the fact that Father Blanchett is a widower, a topic Father Blanchett opened up by introducing his mother-in-law, Margaret Sherbert, before offering his homily.

“That's something you don't hear every day,” Father Blanchett said with a grin. “This is a joyous day in the parish community,” he said, “and I'm deeply honored that the Bishop has chosen me to shepherd the people in this section of Brick on their way to heaven.”

In his homily, Father Blanchett spoke appropriately of change and encouraged those present not to adopt the disinterest in the value of life and religion which plagues our society at this time, but to recognize that “the truth can never be changed.”

He urged everyone to “stay true to the course and walk with Jesus. “We don't know how the 21st century will evolve but we can hold fast to the truth knowing that God will never leave us. Brothers and Sisters, I take joy in knowing that I walk with you as a community of faith.”

In the rituals that followed, Father Blanchett was presented to the clergy, staff and parish trustees by the Bishop and admonished by him “always to be a loving father, gentle shepherd and a wise teacher of your people so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all you do.”

As the celebration drew to a close, the Bishop asked those in attendance if they ever wondered how he selects a priest for a community.

“It's not a roll of the dice,” the Bishop said. “He looks at the parish and all of the data. And, in the course of a year,” Bishop listens and gets a sense of the needs.”

That process led to Father Blanchett's name to “jump to the top of the list,” said Bishop O’Connell. “It is a good match. He is experienced in technology and he was a husband, making him closer to St. Peter than most people because he had a mother-in-law,” he said, drawing chuckles from community.

“He brings the gift that he had a wife that he loved and whom he had to return to the Lord. He's good and above all, he's kind.”